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SPIRALLING energy prices are providing an electric shock to Clare County Council after costs almost trebled from €2.5 million to about €6 million over the past year. Outlining his Draft Budget 2023, Chief Executive, Pat Dowling has revealed there has been a 250% increase in electricity, fuel and gas up to a level of almost €6 million compared to €2.5 million in 2021. This dramatic increase will only be partially covered by the government who will provide €1.9 million, leaving the council with a considerable shortfall. Mr Dowling also confirmed a further provision of €0.45 million for a combination of energy savings, stabilisation of the market and or additional government supports has been budgeted for. However, this is not confirmed and if the actual energy pricing materialises as forecast, without these additional supports, this will result in a deficit in the income budget for 2023. The chief executive admitted it has been necessary to reduce expenditure in some areas with …

A COMMEMORATIVE plaque to the late Pat Liddy, acknowledging a lifetime of work for Cois na hAbhna and Comhaltas will be unveiled in Cois na hAbhna this Friday by Dr Labhrás Ó Murchú Ard Stiúrthóir Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Pat Passed away on Monday, December 21 2020 in the middle of the Covid pandemic and, although his funeral mass at Clooney Church could only be attended by close family members, many made the journey from all over the country to line the roadside in a fitting Guard of Honour to a man whose parting gift to all of us was the legacy of a living tradition that is Cois na hAbhna. From the time he became a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in the 1960s Pat was very active. He set up a number of branches throughout County Clare, but it was in set dancing that his true passion could be found. Along with his wife Nora, he ran the hugely …

SHANNON Airport Group and the ESB are to team up on the development of a hydrogen fuel project that it is hoped will play a key part in decarbonising the aviation sector. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to explore the development of what is called a “hydrogen lighthouse project”, in the area surrounding the airport. Hydrogen procured from renewable energy is set to be key to the decarbonisation of the aviation sector – either via Liquid Hydrogen or Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Lighthouse projects demonstrate the use of hydrogen in sectors such as heavy goods and long-distance transport, aviation, shipping and power generation. This kind of work offers a blueprint for a net zero integrated energy system in the future. The project will have the aim of exploring the development of a sustainable green hydrogen plant at Shannon, Speaking this week at a Hydrogen Ireland Conference in Dublin, Shannon Airport Group CEO Mary Considine said, “Innovation has always been …

AN INDEPENDENT Clare TD has pledged to seek clarity on the trade relationship between Ireland and Britain, after joining a prestigious political grouping on the Good Friday Agreement.  Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne was appointed this week to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.  She joins the panel of nine TDs and seven senators to tackle matters including reconciliation, legacy issues, North-South co-operation, and Brexit and outreach. The Independent TD will be working alongside three members of her former party, Sinn Féin, as well as another ex-member of that party, Peadar Tóbín of Aontú. Clare’s other Independent TD, Deputy Michael McNamara was a member of the committee from September 2020 to October 2022.  On her appointment to the committee, Deputy Wynne described the trade relationship between Ireland and Britain as “incredibly significant” to Clare’s farming and business communities. She vowed to work to get answers to their questions on the future of trade, and to work …

THERE was a poignant moment long distance swimmer Rosie Foley at an awards’ ceremony when she received one of her latest “Triple Crown” awards. Padraic Casey passed away swimming across the English Channel in 2013 and his widow Riana presented Rosie with an award in his honour. The 2022 Padraic Casey Munster Swimmer of the Year award was presented at the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association Awards on Saturday evening. “I met his wife for the first time on Saturday and she presented me with the award, which was a poignant moment,” said Rosie. “Padraic is gone but he is not forgotten in swimming circles. I was very proud to get this award because Padraic was a fantastic person. I never met him, but I met loads of his friends that swam with him so I was honoured to get this award,” she said. She was also presented with a Certificate of Recognition in honour of completing the Triple Crown …

Ennistymon boxer Louis Griffin is set to travel to Poland to compete against fighters from across Europe in the Carpathian Cup which takes place this weekend. The Kilfenora Boxing Club member is part of a seven-strong team sent by Munster Boxing Council to fight in Przemyśl. There will be fighters competing from countries including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania. The young fighter has shown a rich vein of form in recent times. He claimed gold at the Eger Box Cup in Hungary last month. Griffin progressed through to the semi final stage where he downed a dangerous Hungarian fighter to progress through to the decider before receiving a walkover. He has shown his talent domestically also in recent times. The Ennistymon man struck gold once more when he won the Wexford Box Cup recently. Meanwhile, in March, Griffin became a national champion as he secured gold in the 52KG weight division. He stopped his quarter final opponent inside …

CLARE TD Cathal Crowe has publicly rowed with Ennis Sinn Féin in recent days, over the naming of the Peadar Clancy Mairead Farrell Cumann. Originally from Cranny, Peadar Clancy was killed on Bloody Sunday, in November 1920 and Deputy Crowe was involved in a Facebook spat this week with the Ennis Sinn Fein Cumann over the use of his name. “I think it’s disrespectful and insensitive to the surviving members of Peadar Clancy’s family. They’ve made it clear that they don’t consent to his name being used, they’ve written to Sinn Féin headquarters and their complaints have been ignored. “Normally I would confine my political debating with Sinn Féin to the Dáil chamber but I do place a high value on history and historic accuracy. I don’t see how the Sinn Féin cumann in Ennis can in any way claim lineage or connection to Peadar Clancy and I think it’s disrespectful that they continue to do so with his family …

Eoin Brennan watched as St Flannan’s College got their Corn Uí Mhuiri campaign back on track with a 4-10 to 2-14 defeat of Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore (Kerry) SAINT Flannan’s College are back in contention for a place in the last eight of the prestigious Corn Uí Mhuiri after finally getting off the mark at the second attempt in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale on Wednesday afternoon. Agonisingly edged out by Tralee CBS in their opening bout four weeks previously, nothing but a victory was sufficient to stay alive in the competition and they duly responded by leading from start to finish to knock opponents Rathmore out. Four goals in a 15 minute period through outstanding targetman Luca Cleary (2), Fionn Cotter and James Hegarty in the middle third of the contest helped St Flannan’s to ease ten clear by the turn of the final quarter. It should have been enough to finish the tie as a contest but credit …