TRANSPORTATION was a common form of penal punishment by the Westminister government for centuries, usually to the West Indies or the American colonies. After American independence, a new destination was needed and Australia was chosen. Transportation of convicts was a lucrative business and one of those entrepreneurs was a gentleman named Duncan Dunbar. Dunbar entered the convict transportation trade in the 1840s and he owned almost a third of the ships sailing to Australia. One of his ships was named the Hougoumont, which had a very varied life. Built in Burma in 1852, it was named after a chateau overlooking the site of the battle of Waterloo. That name was temporarily changed when it was hired by France to act as a troop carrier for the Crimean War. Once that war ended it reverted to its former name and business.Between 1790 and 1853 – the last year of direct transportation from Ireland – 30,000 men and 9,000 women were shipped …

PROFESSOR of Medicine at the University of Limerick, Austin Stack gave talk on End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) before a large attendance during a recent information evening hosted by the Clare branch of the Irish Kidney Association.His talk focused on the treatments available to the dialysis patients for ESKD and the outcomes for transplants.Professor Stack was welcomed by Clare branch chairperson, Miriam O’Brien.Clare IKA branch secretary said Professors Stack’s excellent presentation was patient-centred and embraced everything that was beneficial to the kidney patient. She thanked him for empowering their patients with medical knowledge. Bríd Collins dialysis co-ordinator in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, who is from Cratloe and Connolly nurse Mairéad Monahan from Unit 7 Merlin Park who also attended felt the evening was informative and relevant for renal patients and their families. They were very encouraged by the support available to patients from the Clare branch of the IKA in partnership with the medical and nursing staff.Professor Stack said …

Caoilinn McCormack, Kilfenora, was this week selected on the Irish ladies team to box against Germany in Dusseldorf at the beginning of March.

Ennis native Simon Moroney has returned to the post of Munster GAA council secretary/CEO four and a half years after he resigned from the position.

AS Friday’s Clare Ladies Football County Board AGM approaches, the county’s senior management vacancy has yet to be filled.

Clare darts history was made at the weekend in Rathkeale House Hotel in Limerick when the Banner county team won the Munster title for the first time in their history.

FORMER president of the GAA and current MEP Sean Kelly has lent his support to Limerick City’s bid to host the 2018 Gay Games.“Limerick is a landmark and historic city in an accessible location with top-class sports facilities, availability of accommodation and a very welcoming community,” said Mr Kelly.“Hosting the 10th Gay Games would be a wonderful honour for Limerick, which held the prestigious title of European City of Sport in 2011. Limerick has also been designated our City of Culture in 2014-16 by the Irish Government, reflecting the vast range of arts and cultural attractions,” the Kerry man added.“Since 1982, the Gay Games have inspired equality and inclusiveness in society through sport. The games define winning as achieving one’s personal best. That is an encouraging concept worthy of support. Sport has enormous power to build community spirit and bring people together, as well as promoting positive physical and mental health and the Gay Games epitomises these objectives,” he concluded.The …

FORMER Clare senior football manager, Micheál McDermott has been appointed manager of 2011 Leinster club champions Garrycastle. The Westmeath club were beaten in the 2012 county final and have won six senior championships since the club was established in 1981.