FOUR decades ago the centenary of St Flannan’s College was commemorated with an album of traditional music featuring some of the best of Clare’s musical talent. The album was originally issued on cassette in 1981 and marked a peak in the success of traditional music at the Ennis school, buoyed by the folk revival and the growth of the Fleadh Cheoil movement through the ‘70s. Now in 2023 that album has been remastered to its original pristine condition, and it will be relaunched this weekend at a very special concert. The relaunch of the classic trad music album St Flannan’s Céilí Bands Reunion takes place in glór on Sunday, January 22. A nostalgic night is in store, bringing old musical comrades back onstage together, who haven’t met for 40 years – and they will share the limelight with the college’s current crop of trad music talent. By the early 1970s, the traditional music revival in Clare had brought many young …

A WOMAN was knocked down and injured in Clarecastle, sparking calls for action to be taken on a “dangerous junction” in the village. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District last week heard Councillors Paul Murphy and Tom O’Callaghan voice their fears for public safety at the junction where three roads meet. Councillor Murphy proposed that a Road Safety application be prepared and submitted “as soon as possible” seeking funding to improve safety at the junction of Barrack Street, Old Road and Church Drive / Creggaunahilla. “This is a dangerous junction where three roads meet and there is the added complication of a carpark being adjacent to it also, a number of pedestrians have been knocked down and this needs to be given priority urgently,” he said. While Councillor O’Callaghan also asked the council to review the Church Drive road “on safety grounds in Clarecastle due to increased traffic to and from Creggaunnahilla Housing Estate”. Responding to both councillors’ proposals …

RETAILERS in Ennis have weathered “the perfect storm” in recent years and are now facing “retail Darwinism – survival of the fittest”, believes Ennis Chamber’s CEO Margaret O’Brien. The county capital has seen some retail outlets shut their doors for good, and there are fears that more closures are yet to come. However Ms O’Brien insists Ennis is “in strong position to attract new outlets”, adding that support is needed from the local authority and landlords to realise the town’s full potential. Meanwhile, Gwen Culligan, one of the county’s best known retailers, believes the coterie of agile, independent retailers in Ennis have given the town a strong backbone. “We can’t hold back change, but we can do our best to work with it, in order to survive and thrive,” she says. Ms O’Brien toldThe Clare Champion, “Recent years must have felt like a running battlefield for retailers. The Covid pandemic wreaked havoc for two years, then came the war in …

ONE of the overall winners of this year’s BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) has strong connections to the Banner County it has emerged. Shane O’Connor, who along with his teammate Liam Carew took home the coveted top award, is the son of Mary O’Connor from Kildysart and her husband Michael. His cousin Owen O’Connor has wished the pair and their families “heartiest congratulations”. Shane’s uncles are Mike and Pat Casey, Kings Road Kildysart, his grand aunt is Maureen Corbett of Lisheen, Ballynacally and his grand uncle Tommy Eustace is also from Kildysart. “The lads were very dedicated and all of their work was recognised with this award. Shane loves spending time in Kildysart,” said Owen. Shane and Liam, both aged 18 and in sixth year in the Abbey School, Tipperary won with their project Assessing the impact of second-level education on key aspects of adolescents’ life and development. The coveted prize was presented to the winners in the RDS in Dublin …

THE town of Ennis is set to be put in the frame as part of a collaboration between a local artist and well-known hotel – and inspiration is being sought from the public. Artist Cathal Butler has been commissioned by Treacys West County Hotel Ennis to create a selection of paintings showcasing the very best of Ennis town and its environs. A photographic competition has now been launched urging members of the public to send an image they believe best captures Ennis which will be transformed into works of art. Five photos will be chosen for Cathal to bring to life on canvas, and the original paintings will be displayed in the hotel’s new Clare Art Display in the hotel lobby. As well as having their winning image immortalised in the hotel, they will also receive a night’s stay at any of the Treacy Group Hotels and a print of the painting. The new paintings will join other works by …

TEACHERS and staff at St Flannan’s College have voiced opposition to plans for the development of a €25 million 100-bed community nursing unit on land used as playing grounds by the Ennis secondary school. According to a statement issued by the staff of St Flannan’s the proposal “will have a seriously negative impact” on the student population. “The green field site in St Flannan’s College is the last remaining site of its kind in Ennis. Urban sprawl is taking up much more of our green spaces each year. Once this land is built upon it will be gone forever,” it states. The teachers and staff have detailed reasons for their opposition to the plans including that during the academic year many teams of various sports regularly train on the pitches. “With so many students on the fields at any one time all our field space is utilised, including much of the space that is suggested for development under the proposed …

THE Drehidnagower Bridge in Ennis has been described as “lethal” as fresh calls have been made for a separate footbridge and footpath to be built to protect the safety of pedestrians. Councillor Mary Howard said she felt like a “scratched record” as she “once again” asked for funding to be sourced for the works at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. Responding to the motion Conor McDonagh, Executive Engineer, Road Design, said, “Transportation consultants have been appointed under this Active Travel scheme to carry out a transportation assessment, which includes a feasibility and option selection report to examine pedestrian / cyclist permeability over the Drehidnagower bridge. “They are currently undertaking necessary surveys on-site and preparing a suitable Multi Criteria Analysis under which all viable options will be assessed to determine the most appropriate solution. “When the emerging preferred option has been established, it will be necessary to apply to the NTA for further funding and seek approval to progress …

Has your dog got star quality? If your pet pooch is something of a Brad Pitt-bull or a Sandra Bull-dog, then they could win a place in the spotlight in the beautiful and romantic opera La Bohème, coming to University Concert Hall on April 6, 2023. Award-winning opera director and producer Ellen Kent said, “People say never work with children or animals, but I love to do both. “The first time was 20 years ago when my pet cat Holly Go-Lightly was in one of my productions and was an instant hit. “Since then we’ve had horses, dogs, goldfish and even a golden eagle with a 6ft wingspan on stage. “Many years ago, when we last did La Bohème and asked local people to volunteer their pets it was a huge success. “We even used a rescue dog once and found him dozens of new owners! We’re a nation of animal lovers after all. I’m sure there is plenty of doggie talent out there.” Your …