A West Clare farm leader has joined a new political alliance which will see three farmers contesting the Local Elections on June 7. Independent candidate, Joseph Woulfe has joined Independent Ireland following recent discussions with its main political leaders in recent weeks. Interestingly, Independent Ireland now has two candidates contesting the Kilrush Electoral Area Mr Woulfe and Kilkee-based dairy and beef farmer, Kevin Hassett. The alliance’s third candidate, Mathew Moroney has thrown his hat into the election ring in the Killaloe Electoral Area. Before Mr Woulfe joined Independent Ireland, he had wrongly assumed the new alliance used a party whip system like other mainstream political parties, which is not the case. The West Clare barber says joined the party because it is geared towards supporting rural development and tackling issues affecting people living in rural areas. “I believe it will benefit constituents for me to be part of an alliance of like-minded people,” he said. “Independent Ireland candidates can share …

“If it ain’t red, leave it in the shed” the old tractor saying goes. And Joe Whelan Senior of Whelan’s Garage tractor dealership in Kilrush has gone one step further in elevating the humble Massey to legendary status at his newly opened Ferguson Family Museum. The tractor museum, which is dedicated to the life of Harry Ferguson, opened on March 18, the day after 80-year-old Joe was honoured as Grand Marshall of the local St Patrick’s Day Parade. The museum is part of the Museum of Irish Rural Life located on the Cooraclare Road in Kilrush, which is already firmly on the West Clare tourist map. The tractor museum has 14 fully restored vintage Ferguson tractors on display including the Ferguson Brown which was the first modern tractor from which all tractors are copied. There are also a number of grey models up to the 100 series, and reds like the Ferguson MF35 four-cylinder engine, the Massey 65 Mark 1 …

An Cathaoirleach for West Clare has urged Clare Mental Health and the HSE to reconsider their decision to withdraw night-time assistance for independent living clients in Kilrush saying residents safety and well-being must be protected above all else. The Clare Champion has seen a letter from Councillor Ian Lynch (Ind) to Nursing at Clare Mental Health where he has expressed his urgent concern regarding the withdrawal of night-time assistance for independent living clients in Kilrush. He has urged Clare Mental Health and the HSE to reconsider their decision to withdraw night-time assistance saying any transition of property assets must protect residents safety and well-being above all else, and must ensure that they continue to receive the level of care and support they require. Mark Quinn, SIPTU Health Official for the Mid-West who represents supervisors working with the Sophia Housing home explained that people with mental health issues who live in the residence are being cared for by the HSE employees …

Two Ennistymon area councillors in North Clare have expressed mixed reaction to newly released figures from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience showing coach activity to the attraction consolidated last year. Clare County Council has been told by Cliffs of Moher chief, Geraldine Enright fewer coaches could alleviate traffic issues, and help matters in and around the popular site in North Clare. Emphasising that the key areas for concern for North Clare Fianna Fáil councillors are traffic, transport and the ability of local people to enjoy tourism benefits, Leas Cathaoirleach of West Clare Municipal District (MD), Councillor Joe Killeen (FF) said the tourism benefit to the community needs to be balanced against the inconvenience it causes. The councillor expressed his disquiet saying he is “a little bit alarmed” there are more people on buses and it may be difficult for the county’s roads to cater for increased bus sizes without road upgrades. “So when I look at the 1.38 million …

THE Kilkee based West Clare Cancer Centre has started a new chapter by opening the doors on its renovated Corry Street drop-in centre. The McGrath family, who run the charity, hosted an open day event at their cottage base on Friday of last week, and welcomed members of the public in to explore the new state-of-the-art centre and learn more about the treatments and supportive services offered there. Co-founder of the charity, Mary McGrath told The Clare Champion she and her family hope they are a community for people who are undergoing treatment for cancer. “From the start, we are here for anybody that is anxious about anything really. They can make contact with the centre, and we will give them the information as to what we know is available to them,” she said. “The whole of West Clare is now using this service which wasn’t always there. The reason we are getting the support we are getting is because …

Sinn Féin have announced they are fielding a West Clare candidate to contest the local election for the Kilrush local electoral area with the party revealing Dawn Bennett from Kilkee as their chosen candidate. Ms Bennett, who owns CocoLemon hairdressers in Kilrush, becomes the fifth Sinn Féin candidate in the county for the upcoming June elections. She said she first became interested in politics from listening to what party leader, Mary Lou McDonald had to say. “She was offering common sense solutions and was so down to earth. Mary Lou and Sinn Féin are for the people and I love to help people whenever I can, so it was the right party for me. I’m a carer myself so I know how difficult it is to get access to the services people need,” she explained. Originally from Limerick, Ms Bennett moved to West Clare five years ago where she has made home. “It’s a beautiful place to raise a family, …

Plans are underway in Kilrush to restore the former Mars Cinema building to its former glory with Clare County Council confirming the site is to be evaluated for potential re-development. Following a public tender process, the Council have commissioned a private tourism consultancy, Tourism Development International (TDI) for advice, and a feasibility study of the site commenced in January. An Cathaoirleach for West Clare Municipal District, Councillor Ian Lynch (Ind) has said he hopes a public meeting to be held in Kilrush in early summer will outline the study’s findings and seek community feedback on the emerging concepts for the former cinema. The Council says the aim of the study is to examine if there is a market opportunity to develop a viable attraction or business at the buildings and lands, for the benefit of the local community and visitors alike. And it maintains a future concept plan for Mars Cinema must be fully informed by the local economic context …

A commemoration for Titanic bugler, Percy Fletcher who was newly married to a West Clare woman took when he died in the disaster 112 years ago, took place last Sunday at Tooting in London. The young 25-year-old man tragically died when the ocean liner struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912. A mere three months previously, he had married a Kilrush woman called Mary Meaney at St Gregory’s Catholic Church in Wandsworth. Local historian and county Tyrone native, Geoff Simmons had put out an appeal in March via local Clare media and social media for descendants of Mary Meaney’s to attend the unveiling of an historic blue plaque in Percy’s honour at his former home at 26, Lessingham Avenue on April 14, the eve of the anniversary of the ship’s sinking. Mr Simmons had hoped The Cliffs of Doneen would be sung on the day in recognition of Mary and the …