Clare Haven Services plans to mark 16 Days of Action on Violence Against Women over the coming weeks. The 16 days of activism against gender-based violence is an annual international campaign which started on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until Human Rights Day on December 10. The United Nations have recognised violence against woman and girls as a very specific violence globally, and Clare Haven Services is opening up the initiative with this concept in mind. Because domestic abuse continues to happen unabated in the county, Clare Haven Services is aiming to raise awareness and call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. The organisation works to protect women and children who are already being subjected to abuse and violence in the home by providing frontline services such as refuge, outreach support and advocacy in the legal and judicial systems. It also works to prevent it happening …

This morning’s funeral mass of Tras Honan heard she was a beacon of hope, justice and equality and, through her strong beliefs and perseverance, she broke barriers. Her son, TV Honan told mourners at St Joseph’s Church, Ennis on Thursday of last week the word ‘formidable’ had been used many times to describe his mother, and both he, his sister Ann, father Derry and the extended family could testify to that. Describing his mother’s passing he said, “a giant tree has fallen gently in the forest in the loving hands of the gentle team at Kilbarry Care Centre in Waterford.” “Tras was a republican in every sense of the word. She believed in the value of the state, and the people in the state, and if people needed a hand, they should get it. Now we are here to give Tras a hand and bring her back to Derry. Tras is and will remain our lovely rose of Clare,” he …

Gardaí are continuing to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Claire and Joe Collins at a domestic residence in Kilnaboy on Thursday, November 9. The post mortems of both individuals have been completed.  The results of these post mortems will not be released for operational reasons. The scene remains preserved and technical examinations are ongoing. The primary focus for Gardaí at this time is the preparation of a file for the Coroner. Gardaí are not looking for any other individual in relation to this incident at this time. No further information is available. Anyone with information is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 684 8100 the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Sunday, November 5, marked the closing of the last shop in Knockerra parish with Power’s Shop calling time on trading after an estimated 150 years in existence. It was a sad day for the community because the shop was an asset to the locality and the personal service offered by the Power family over the years was much appreciated by their customers. Killimer Local History Group spokesperson, Nora Madigan told The Clare Champion it was a “very sad and lonesome” day for Knockerra saying, “every child loved Power’s for the sweets and ice-creams.‘Twas more than a shop, ‘twas everything and like a social hub in the community”. She added it was the social aspect of the shop that was important and recalled how in the ‘Ballroom of Romance’ days, revellers from the Knockerra Hall would go in there for refreshments. Ms Madigan said generations of people were well served by the local family saying her own mother who was born …

There is widespread shock in the north Clare community as news of two deaths emerged last evening. The deceased couple, named locally as Joe Collins and Claire Collins, were found at a house in Kilnaboy in unexplained circumstances. The couple were well known in the wider area. Speaking to The Clare Champion, local community advocateand former President of the Irish National Teacher’s Organisation (INTO), Declan Kelleher said, “The community is absolutely stunned and shocked at what has happened. They were two lovely people that everybody knew and nobody can understand what happened. And the community want to show their solidarity and support to the family at this time – that is the focus. “Everyone is well and truly shocked, baffled and horrified and all they do is try to be as supportive as they can for the familyin these awful sad circumstances.” Mr Kelleher added you couldn’t meet two nicer individuals and that they were both “exceptional” people. Speaking on …

A petition of 3,500 signatures requesting county councillors to halt plans to build on two riverside car parks in Ennis, was presented to Ennis Mayor, Pat Daly at Clare County Council buildings this morning. This was following a silent march of over 200 townspeople and business owners who marched from the Abbey Street car park to Clare County Council’s buildings on the New Road. The atmosphere on the morning was convivial with a number of marchers holding a large inflatable elephant to symbolise the potential of the proposed development becoming a ‘white elephant’. The march was organised by the Save Ennis Town voluntarily group who are opposed to the council and Ennis 240 DAC proceeding with plans to build on the two car parks. The group says the move would deprive the town of vital civic and amenity spaces and view such plans as “destructive”. Joan Duggan, a concerned citizen with limited mobility delivered the red petition box to Councillor Daly and …

As Budget 2024 looms, it will be delivered against a back-drop of a cost-of-living crises and an imminent general election. Housing provision is undoubtedly the single biggest economic and social issue facing Ireland currently, and as a result, this hot political issue will remain firmly on the government’s agenda, as they frame and fine-tune next Tuesday’s budget. The housing market is in a position of excess demand over supply and is characterised by increasing rents, affordability concerns for first time buyers, and a lack of availability of rental accommodation. These factors combined with thousands of small and medium-sized landlords leaving the rental market have lead to a perfect storm in housing. And Ireland’s strong economic performance, a low four per cent unemployment rate, and a rising population all mean there are high levels of housing demand in both the purchase and rental sectors. Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) has indicated he will consider “efficient and effective” measures to attract …

THE war of words between Ennis 2040 DAC and Save Ennis Town has heated up in recent days with Ennis 2040 DAC responding to claims made by the voluntary group about the Abbey Street Car Park in Ennis. The claims came at the start of an archaeological dig at the car park last week, ahead of controversial plans to develop the area. The Save Ennis Town group had described the re-development plans as “destructive” to the town. The ‘big dig’ as it is being referred to locally, are excavations undertaken by Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd, under licence, to investigate the ground at the site and obtain archaeological and heritage information. It is hoped the findings will shed light on the archaeological heritage of the site before any proposed development, and will inform the design process of a landmark building. Ennis 2040 Designated Activity Company (DAC), the entity responsible for delivering nine transformational projects for Ennis town, has rejected a …