By Dan Danaher RE-ENACTMENTS of Brian Boru’s heroics against the Vikings are planned for Killaloe next year but a Great Dane has made a pre-emptive strike and stolen the hearts of a local family. Charlie, a two-year-old member of the much-loved dog breed, has become so attached to toddler Brianna Lynch, who suffers from epilepsy, that he has developed an uncanny ability to detect her frequent seizures, 20 minutes before the start of each episode. The giant dog simply adores Brianna and is very protective of her any time he senses she is about to have an epileptic fit. In fact, the family pet will pin the child to the wall and not leave her until someone comes to her aid. Her mother, Arabella, describes the dog’s sixth sense without any training as “amazing”. “Charlie is so sensitive to her needs; if the other dogs get boisterous, he will stand by her side to ensure she doesn’t get knocked over. …

By Peter O’Connell A PROPOSED windfarm extension in Kilmaley parish could power up to 11,000 homes nationwide, if a joint ESB Wind Development Ltd/Coillte application is successful. Details relating to the proposed extension to the Boolynagleragh windfarm will be outlined at a public information event in Kilmaley GAA Club from 3pm to 8pm next Tuesday. ESB Wind Development Ltd, in conjunction with Coillte, will host the event. “The proposed windfarm will potentially generate enough electricity to power over 11,000 homes,” Wind Development Ltd and Coillte stated in a joint statement. “ESB International is preparing the Environmental Impact Statement, as well as the planning application for the proposal. Representatives from ESB Wind Development and Coillte will be present to provide information and answer any queries regarding the proposed windfarm,” the statement added. On Wednesday, Stephen Cosgrove of ESB International said it could take more than two years for electricity to be generated on the site, if planning permission is approved. “It …

By Jessica Quinn THE chairman of Ennis’ Joint Policing Committee (JPC) has come out in support of the use of ASBOs (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) to target a group of “untouchables” in Ennis’ town centre. Councillor Paul O’Shea, chairman of the JPC, was speaking after a proposal was put forward by Councillor Johnny Flynn for greater use of ASBOs at this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. The proposal is now to be referred to the JPC, where the committee, which includes the gardaí in Ennis, will further discuss it. Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Flynn called on the local authority to send out a strong message of “no messing in Ennis”. He proposed that the council “urgently recommend that a planned pilot scheme of greater usage of ASBOs for Ennis town centre area by the gardaí and the court services be implemented against criminal and public order offenders, including juvenile and other age groups of offenders”. He added that following …

By Peter O’Connell St Joseph’ Miltown 3-15 Kilmihil 0-9 A YEAR after losing their senior status for the first time, Miltown Malbay is again home to a senior club. The club regained their status with a fluent, attacking display of open football, which cut through Kilmihil, particularly in the second half. Yet there is a but – a big one. The injury-time dismissal of Graham Kelly, on a straight red, cast an unwarranted shadow over his side’s display. Ironically, he had played with discipline and control up to that point. Kelly was red-carded following an incident with Mark Coughlan, while the Miltown centre-back also became embroiled in a short altercation with Mark O’Connell seconds later. Miltown were 12 points up and less than a minute of normal time remained when Kelly was dismissed. The only other card issued by referee Pat Cosgrove was a yellow to Kilmihil midfielder Timmy Ryan. Aside from the red card, the game was devoid of …

By Peter O’Connell Éire Óg 0-15 Cooraclare 1-10 WHAT a difference 86 phone calls can make. After giving a walkover to Moy in their Division 6 League fixture on May 12, Éire Óg called an emergency meeting attended by Mattie Murphy, Pat Fitzpatrick, Robbie Malone and junior football captain, John Griffin. They weren’t overreacting, as Éire Óg had already given earlier walkovers to Killimer, Kilmurry Ibrickane and Wolfe Tones. Speaking after Éire Óg had won the Junior A Championship, selector Mattie Murphy recalled that fateful meeting. “We were after giving three walkovers because we couldn’t field a team. I think we had 11 for the Wolfe Tones game. I brought every team list from last year and we went through every name available. John Griffin took the phone number of every one of those 86 players and contacted them. We played two league games after that. We beat O’Curry’s by a point and we beat Kilkee,” Mattie recalled. Fast-forward five …

By Seamus Hayes Kilmaley 2-15 Tubber 1-13 TWO goals in the third quarter, both of which were fortunate, turned the tie in Kilmaley’s favour at Cusack Park on Sunday. A point separated the sides when Daire Keane’s effort for a point deceived Ronan Taaffe in the Tubber goal and dipped into the net, nine minutes into the second half. The score rattled Tubber and four minutes later, they were in further trouble when Pádraig Talty’s overhead flick found the net, putting the Kilmaley men eight points clear. From here on, they always looked the likely winners and while Tubber tried hard to get back into contention, Kilmaley held firm. “Whichever side got the goal was going to create some kind of a gap and maybe they were a bit fortunate but we will take them any day,” Kilmaley manager, PJ Kennedy said. “Overall, I was delighted with the display. We had three minors out there and overall we have a …

WHEN it comes to in-house health and safety performance, Clare Local Authorities lead the way. This week, at a ceremony in Galway, Clare Local Authorities was named overall winner of the Local Authority Award in the 22nd annual national safety awards scheme. Organised by the National Irish Safety Organisation (NISO) and Northern Ireland Safety Group (NISG), the scheme recognises organisations which demonstrate a consistently good or continuously improving health and safety performance and an outstanding contribution to occupational safety, health and welfare during the previous year. Mayor of Clare, Councillor Joe Arkins lauded the success. “The fact that Clare Local Authorities were deemed the overall winner out all local authority areas on the island of Ireland is a recognition of the strong leadership and commitment demonstrated by management, influencing of stakeholders and particularly the engagement of staff at all levels of the organisation to continuously improve health and safety performance and comply with the law as a minimum standard of …

TWO All-Ireland senior hurling championship winning managers participated in the launch of the West of Ireland’s first Age Friendly Strategy. Ger Loughnane and Davy Fitzgerald, accompanied by the Liam McCarthy Cup, joined more than 300 people at Treacy’s West County Hotel in Ennis for the launch of Clare’s Age Friendly Programme. The multi-agency initiative has been prepared by the Clare Age Friendly County Alliance Board and Clare County Development Board, with the support of the National Ageing Well Network. Among the actions contained in the plan is an expansion in the number of Voluntary Housing Schemes for older people. The programme also seeks to make pedestrian crossing times more age appropriate, support the development of community gardens, provide more shelters and better lighting in bus shelters, and host of an annual celebration of the contribution of the county’s older musicians and artists. The newly launched programme has been developed in the context of the growing international awareness of the need …