ECONOMIC data has been less grim than usual lately, and when the CSO revealed on Tuesday that 58,000 more people were at work in the third quarter of 2013 compared to the third quarter of last year, there was more cause for optimism. The CSO figures also showed a decline of over 41,000 in the number unemployed, a decrease of 12.8% in the overall figure. In Clare the third quarter of the year matched the national picture, with 9,849 people signing on in July but the figure was 8,943 in September, a decrease of 906. Rita McInerney of Ennis Chamber said she was pleased things are going in the right direction, and said that the increase in the numbers at work is the most significant number, giving that factors other than an economic improvement can make a hole in the numbers on the live register. “I think that looking at employment growth is a much more realistic example or indication …

MEP Sean Kelly has called for the establishment of an online local skills database to promote Irish rural locations like Ennis, with a view to increasing the geographical spread of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). “In order to encourage a more regional spread of FDI in Ireland, we need to promote the advantages of our regions and the educated workforce people based there,” said Mr Kelly, who is MEP of the Year for Research and Innovation. He noted how an excellent initiative running in the US State of Indiana provides a working example of how Ireland could launch a skills database. “The Indiana Economic Development Corporation launched a website which provides prospective investors/business owners with a quick search facility listing population, percentage of people with degrees and other useful statistics for each town/region.So if we were to launch that service in Ireland, an investor could easily examine the possibility of locating a business in Ennis, for example. “We already have a …

The original Nissan Qashqai was a huge hit for Nissan, both here and worldwide. It could reasonably be said to have kick-started the mid-size crossover segment, which is now a hugely important and hotly contested sector of the market. The first Qashqai was revolutionary and it has now been replaced with a new model that, while improved in every way, is clearly an evolution of the original. New technology is a big part of the new Qashqai, which will go on sale in time for the January sales rush. Park Assist is available for the first time. Not only will it park the car automatically but it also provides an Around View Monitor, which gives a ‘helicopter view’ of the surroundings – a class first. Park Assist can park the car into a parallel space with the system taking care of the steering and allowing the driver to control the accelerator and brake. It needs a space just 80cm longer …

Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-20 Inagh/Kilnamona 0-16   Newmarket-on-Fergus completed the first three-in-a-row in the Clare Champion Cup for over 30 years on Saturday, their club pocketing the €3,500 winners prize in the process. The Blues were without doubt the better side and as early as the ninth minute, when Shane Liddy had their second goal, it was hard to see them being beaten at a Clarecastle venue that was in great condition for the time of year. Inagh/Kilnamona trailed for nearly 90% of the game, but they fought as best they could and did mange to cut an eight-point half-time deficit to four but, crucially, they never brought the gap back to a single score, which could have really tested Bob Enright’s men. The early goals were crucial and the Blues had clearly decided to focus on green flags. After seven minutes they trailed 0-3 to 0-2, but had already gone for majors on three occasions when points were there for the …

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Clare County Council were both under fire at this week’s meeting of Shannon Electoral Area councillors, as members discussed the smell that has plagued Shannon. One of the councillors, Fine Gael’s Sean McLoughlin, even said that locals might have to erect barricades to keep out trucks carrying hazardous materials. Both Councillor McLoughlin and Councillor Gerry Flynn brought motions to the meeting regarding the smell. Councillor McLoughlin was asking that the council request the Department of the Environment to organise an independent review of all industrial and waste licences in Shannon. He said that such a review should be carried out by an independent body, from outside the country, rather than the EPA, who he made it quite clear he didn’t have any faith in. A reply from the council’s Environment and Water Directorate stated; “Clare County Council are currently considering requesting the review of existing licences of a number of facilities in Shannon as …

EIGHTY-seven jobs, which were going from Shannon, were secured on Wednesday, after IMPACT members of Aer Lingus’ cabin crew accepted proposals that emerged from talks at the Labour Relations Commission. Aer Lingus had written to employees telling them the Shannon base would be closed and work outsourced, following a dispute over how new aircraft to be used on transatlantic flights would be crewed. The company had been insistent that only four cabin crew would be on each flight, while Impact had wanted either five or six. Under proposals, which were hammered out at talks at the LRC, the transatlantic operation will start with five crew where possible, but this will change to four at the end of March. A joint review will take place in July of next year to consider patterns of traffic and whether crewing arrangements should respond to seasonal factors. IMPACT spokesman, Michael Landers said there will be some rewards for staff working on flights with four-cabin …

By Seamus Hayes Na Piarsaigh, Limerick 4-14 Sixmilebridge 0-8 Sixmilebridge’s dream of a fourth Munster club senior hurling title was well and truly buried at Cusack Park in Ennis when they had no answer to the power of their Limerick counterparts Na Piarsaigh. Before an attendance of 3,689, the Clare champions were beaten in all sections and Na Piarsaigh had secured their place in the All-Ireland final long before the final whistle sounded. Managed and coached by Sixmilebridge man Sean Stack, the Limerick champions dominated in almost every sector and they led from the first minute when Kevin Downes found the net in their first attack. They were six points clear at half time when the score was 1-8 to 0-5 and any hopes of a Sixmilebridge fight back were rocked thirty seconds after the resumption when the visitors had their second goal, Kevin Ryan deflecting a Shane Dowling delivery past Derek Fahy.         Goal number three arrived …

By Seamus Hayes Clyda Rovers, Cork 0-10 Miltown St.Josephs 0-7 An impressive start at the Gaelic grounds in Limerick on Saturday suggested that Miltown’s dream of becoming the first Clare club won win the Munster intermediate football championship title might be realised. However, after landing four points in the first six minutes, they didn’t score again in the half and, in fact, had to wait until the twelfth minute of the second half, all of thirty six minutes for their next score. In between the Cork champions had kicked eight points, six of which came in the first half at the end of which they were 0-6 to 0-4 in front. The greater experienced, patience and superior physical strength of the men from Mourne Abbey near Mallow proved too much for the Clare champions and there is no disputing their victory on a day when one of their best performers was recently appointed Clare senior coach, Paudie Kissane.     Things looked …