Work will begin later this year on extending the M18, which runs from Shannon to Gort, on to Tuam, according to Clare Fine Gael representatives.

The Munster Juvenile U-14. to U-19 Indoor Track and Field Championships were held at the Nenagh Indoor Arena last Saturday and Sunday.On day one, Clare athletes started off in fine style bringing home six gold, four silver, and 12 bronze medals.Alex O’Neill, St Cronan’s, took gold in the girls U-14 800m and Gearóid McMahon, Shannon, won gold in the boys U-14 1,000m walk. Katie Taylor, St Cronan’s, won gold in the girls U-15 long jump and Caoimhie Harvey, St John’s, clinched the gold in the 800m U-15.In both the U-16 high jump and shot putt Derbhile Ryan, Clonlara and Nenagh AC, won gold while Laura Power, Ennis Track, won gold in the U-18 800m and Niamh Markham Ennis Track captured gold in the U-19 800m.On day two the medal haul increased with three more gold medals added to the tally along with 11 silver and two bronze.Angharad Loughnane, Marian, took home gold in the girls U-15 1,000m walk, and Niamh …

Glór Irish Music Centre in Ennis has been named Munster’s Live Music Venue of the Year 2012.

Tubber’s Derek O’Connor stole the show when riding a terrific four-timer at last Sunday’s well-attended East Clare Harriers’ point-to-point at Garranboy, Killaloe.  

THE 2012-2013 coursing season wound up on a high note thanks to members of the Limerick Coursing Club, whose efforts more or less guarantee the continued use of Limerick Racecourse as the venue for the JP McManus Irish Cup. After some disappointments and fairly average coursing at this event in recent seasons, there was a marked improvement last weekend.A new stretch with the escape brought forward, a few improvements throughout and a slightly smaller card all played their part in making the final meeting of the season meeting the success it was.However, there were no causes for celebrations from the Clare point of view as owners from the Banner County drew a blank.Last year’s winner, Killimor Matey, reached the last eight in the JP McManus Cup but was beaten in the first of the quarter-final heats on Sunday when the start was delayed by half an hour because of overnight frost. He was beaten one length by Carricktobin Lad, the …

THERE were two Clare winners from first-round heats of the Deal of the Month A6 stake at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last Friday night.The rail-hugging Fred The Pilot, in the inside trap, went into an early lead in heat two with the rest of the field – with the exception of Malbay Kearney (trap five) – going wide at the opening bend. While Fred the Pilot was still setting the pace down the back, Malbay Kearney had moved up a gear or two and was moing in fast. Now on terms as they rounded the home bend, Malbay Kearney (College Causeway-Malbay Alex) representing Ciara Burke, Miltown Malbay, just got in front as they approached the finishing lineto record a a 29.61 win, beating Fred The Pilot, owned by Aisling Hannon, Tulla, by three parts of a length.Inagh owner-trainer, Colman O’Loughlin, provided the winner of heat four with his Pal Ruso (Balltymac Ruso-Best By Mile). Drawn in trap five, the …

THERE was no joy for Clare or South Galway owners in the final of the feature race, the Food Packages A4 525 final in Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Saturday night. The honours went to Tuam owner, Frank Connolly, with the Barry Connolly-trained Combo Taylor, the money-on favourite.Best to break were Mine Echo in trap five and Hurling Nun in one but before they had reached the opening bend, Combo Taylor in trap three was in command. The son of Hades Rocket-Tyrur Hayley had moved into a three-length lead down the back and even though he moved to the centre of the track off the home bend, he  had enough to spare to win by six and a half lengths 29.15. The runner-up nwas Hurling Nun, owned and trained in Gort by Noel Mullins, followed by Mine Echo, owned and trained in Quin by Frank Browne, two and half lengths farther back.There was a strong Clare-South Galway finish to the …

THE Mid-West Health Service Executive has started a validation process of waiting lists at the Regional Orthopaedic Hospital in Croom, Limerick, following reports there are 10,347 public patients on the outpatient waiting list at the hospital.