THE reconvened meeting of Bord na nÓg football, the first ordinary meeting of the year, dealt with a lot of business last week including ratifying the competition structures.

THE annual Cooraclare 10k Fun Run, with all proceeds in aid of Voices for Autism West Clare, attracted 120 competitors.

THE Athletics Association of Ireland Masters Track and Field Championships were held at the new indoor arena in Athlone. There were many fine individual performances with Clare athletes doing very well.

THE annual Riverlodge Health and Fitness Club four-mile race in Ennis on Sunday was a huge success with almost 200 competitors starting. Frank Landy (Ennis Track) went through the mile mark in 5:11 with a group of three following him. John Hannon (BMOH), Thomas Grimes (East London Runners) and Colm Daly (Ennis Track) were moving closer with every stride as they made their way towards the two-mile mark in 11:20.

CLARE people have less disposable income than the national average, according to new information from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Average Clare people were worse off in 2010 than they were five years earlier the report stated and the county is one of eight with between 90% and 95% of the State average disposable income for that year. It is estimated that Clare households benefit from €613 million in social transfers, while paying €471 million in taxes.The disposable income per person in Clare is €18,111, a little less than the average for the Mid-West at €19,122.The survey looked at the 26 counties in the Republic, but broke Tipperary into north and south for its purposes. Of the 27 areas included, eight had less than 90% of the State average; Clare and seven others had 90-95%; another seven counties had 95-100%; three had 100-110%, while Dublin alone had greater than 110%.Of the seven Munster regions included in the survey, Clare finishes …

An Ennis ballet student has been named the first Irish winner of the International Theatre Dance Awards in ballet this week. Sarah Nolan, aged 16, a transition year pupil at Coláiste Muire in Ennis, is a student at the Dinan School of Ballet.  The International Theatre Dance Awards take place annually at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and encompasses four dance categories, ballet, theatre craft, tap and modern jazz. It is not an open competition and all students participating in the awards earn their place by being nominated by IDTA examiners as a result of receiving particularly high marks in IDTA exams. There were only three Irish candidates nominated for the 2013 awards, with Sarah the only one nominated in the ballet category. She went on to compete against 76 other ballet students, both male and female, nominated worldwide. She made it through to the final on Saturday last and then at the end of the day, was …

THE men’s committee at Lahinch has appointed team managers for all club teams that will represent Lahinch in GUI competitions in 2013. Invitations have been extended to club members who are interested in representing the club to get in touch with any of the managers.

THE St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield organised Hurley-Hoey Memorial Run/Walk on Saturday, March 9, will have a worldwide dimension with similar events in eight countries, spanning six continents on the same day. Organisers are expecting in the region of 1,500 participants to take part in the Gurteen element of the run/walk. However, sister events will be held in Centennial Park, Sydney; Albert Park, Melbourne; Hyde Park, London; Pitsford Reservoir, Northampton and in Dubai, Cape Town, New York, Madrid and Buenos Aires at times and venues to be confirmed.Proceeds raised from all runs will be donated to St Anne’s School in Ennis and The Sunshine Children’s Ward in the Regional Hospital, Limerick. “The international element has gone huge. If people hear about a GAA run in these regions, they’ll do it. This has come from Mary White’s contact base. Mary is the late Niall White’s mother. The international dimension has really been energised by her specifically,” organising committee chairman Lorcan Hassett explained.Amongst those …