EAST Clare Youth Reach is to benefit from an additional classroom facility in Tuamgraney after planning was granted this week for the change of use of a retail unit at Áras Bhriain Bhoru for educational use.

START-UP companies seeking incubation facilities and enterprise support to allow grow from business idea stage to commercialisation can apply to join the 2013 Ennis Innovate Programme.

THE waiting game continues for three homeowners who can’t access their houses in a Killaloe ghost estate, despite some recent progress.

LAUGHTER and tears mingle freely as John and Mairead Lavery talk about their late daughter, Maureen, who died on January 21, 2012. Aged just 27 when she passed away, Maureen was diagnosed with cancer in December 2010 and although she fought it for as long as she was able, her condition deteriorated and eventually took her. Employed as a beautician at Rochford’s Pharmacy in Ennis, Maureen had an immediate concern once the diagnosis was confirmed.

TWENTY years ago, PJ Kennedy (RIP) walked the 500-mile Choctaw ‘Trail of Tears’ walk from Oklahoma to Mississippi. With the National Famine Commemoration (May 3 to 12) launched this Friday in Carrigaholt, PJ’s wife, Maureen, last week recalled her husband’s month-long walk with the AfrI charity in September 1992.

Clare Education Centre has recently become involved in the STAYON European Union-supported educational initiative. Last week, partners from Norway, Sweden, Greece and the UK attended a three-day meeting in Clare to progress the project.

Orla Hannon from Pollough in Sixmilebridge is one of 16 designers of a unique Dublin tour guide, which was designed for people with Down Syndrome by people with Down Syndrome.

WE have seen where traditionally strong parishes are being forced to amalgamate to compete in underage GAA competitions. Looking at the reported number of hurling and football players who have emigrated in recent times, how long will it be before the same will have to happen at adult level or before the authorities are forced to reduce the size of teams in order to allow clubs compete?