Breaking News

AT Friday’s West Clare Municipal District meeting Councillors Ian Lynch and Cillian Murphy requested that the Council set up a Designated Activity Company to deliver the Maritime Training Centre in Kilrush. However it emerged at the meeting that such a company is already in place, having been established in 2018 as part of an application for funding, and an allocation of resources has been assigned for a business manager. The project has been awarded almost €3.5m in Rural Regeneration Development funding, with €700,000 match funding from the county council. Speaking afterwards Councillor Murphy said that it’s time the company became active and the over €5 million allocated in funding be used. “There is a necessity now for this to be taken off the shelf and activated. It is sitting there as a shell company but now it needs to be activated and directors taken on board. “There was an Enterprise Ireland grant of €1.7 million and somewhere in the order …

FRIENDS, family and fans of the late Dennis Cahill, will gather on Saturday night in Feakle to honour the renowned musician. A long-time musical collaborator with fiddle player Martin Hayes, the two men have played at some of the world’s most prestigious venues and toured extensively. Together, they breathed fresh life into a diverse traditional music repertoire and founded the acclaimed five piece, The Gloaming. For more than two decades, Dennis joined Martin as he returned home to his native Maghera and the Chicago native became part of the Hayes family and a valued member of East Clare’s musical community.  “Saturday evening in Pepper’s will be a moment for people to come together and to remember Dennis,” Martin said. “It will be informal, in the same way that Dennis was. Music brought him to Feakle and the festival. East Clare made a big impression on him and the event will give people here the chance to talk and chat and …

A WINDFARM development proposed for a site in west Clare will not be fast-tracked, An Bord Pleanála has decided. Whitebeam Renewables had made a case to allow plans for six turbines, an energy storage unit and a substation to go directly to the board, under the provisions of the Strategic Infrastructure Act. The development is earmarked for a site covering the townlands of Doolough, Glenmore and Cahermurphy, 4.5km north of Kilmihil. In a decision made earlier this month, the appeals board decided that while the development would meet the criteria as an energy infrastructure project, it does not qualify for the fast-track application process on the grounds of its scale.  The board received a request in June from Whitebeam Renewables for a determination on whether or not the development could be submitted as a Strategic Infrastructure application. This would cut down on the likelihood of hurdles like objections and appeals. Consultation meetings took place in July and September and Whitebeam …

GLÓR’S director Orla Flanagan will be stepping down from her role in the new year the venue’s chair and board have announced. After six years at the helm of the Ennis cultural venue, Ms Flanagan is set pursue her own artistic interests and to embark on new creative projects. She has been appointed as senior producer for Once Off Productions and said she intends to remain living in Clare. “I am very proud of what we have achieved in glór over the past six years,” Ms Flanagan commented. “I will really miss the great staff, supportive board and our fantastic partners and artists as well as the buzz of the events and the vibrancy of the building. “I am especially proud of our collaborations with a range of artists and projects as well as the many exceptional artists celebrated and featured as part of the MÓRglór Award.” She said she is looking forward to working with a wide range of …

Eoin Brennan watched as 27 players from Clare competed in a tight affair that saw the Limerick school through to the knockout stages on a score of 0-12 to 0-10 CLARE’S Harty Cup interests rest solely on Ardscoil Rís’ shoulders after a brace of injury-time points edged an understandably anxious final group decider against St Flannan’s College in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge on Wednesday afternoon. With defending champions St Joseph’s Tulla bowing out against Midleton CBS, all eyes remained on a compelling Group 1 showdown between these heavyweights that saw 27 Clare natives play their part and even pitting Ballyea protagonists Paul Flanagan and Jack Browne against each other on the sideline. For St Flannan’s, having already lost to Cashel Community College, it was simply a must-win tie, with the only way that the Croke Cup holders could exit the competition would be with a six point win for the Ennis side. What followed was an anxious end-to-end slugfest that could …

AN Ennis mother has been named Clare Family Carer of the Year by Family Carers Ireland. The  national charity supporting Ireland’s family carers, has announced that the 2022 Netwatch Clare Family Carer of the Year is Anne Micks from Ennis. Anne cares full time for her daughter 20-year-old Ciara who lives with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a debilitating condition which affects the connective tissues of the body and causes complications including chronic pain, fatigue and partial dislocation of joints. In nominating her mother for the award, Ciara said that Anne gave up a high-profile job in order to care for her, fought incredibly hard to secure a diagnosis and is an amazing advocate for her and other families affected by EDS. She describes her mum as her hero and her idol and says she couldn’t be more proud of her. Now in their 15th year, the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards seek to recognise and shine a light on the …

A JUDGE has revoked bail for a man who threw a petrol bomb into a family’s home in Ennis.  At Ennis circuit court, Judge Francis Comerford granted the State’s application to revoke bail for Martin Mongans (34) who is awaiting sentencing for his role in a feud-related violent attack.  Judge Comerford made the order after hearing evidence Mongans breached his bail conditions on nine or 10 occasions since he was first admitted to bail 11 months ago.  Mongans, a father of seven with an address at College Grove, Ennis, has pleaded guilty to a charge of endangerment contrary to section 13 of the Non Fatal Offences Against The Person Act.  The charge against  Mongans relates to an attack at 25 Pearse Avenue, Cloughleigh, Ennis on November 22, 2021.  The charge states Mongans intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct – throwing a petrol bomb and the reckless discharge of a firearm – that created a substantial risk of death or serious …

All-Ireland winning Clare hurler Patrick O’Connor has retired from inter county duty. The defender, who started when Clare secured All Ireland glory in 2013, has decided to step away from the inter county set-up after a nasty knee injury. He suffered the injury during a challenge game against Limerick in May 2021 which ultimately meant he was unable to see Championship action for the past two years. The Tubber native brings the curtain down a career that also saw him win Munster and All Ireland U-21 titles. He also lined out in the full back line when Clare won the National Hurling League title in 2016, ending a 38 year gap since their previous success in the competition. O’Connor made his senior debut under Ger O’Loughlin in 2011 and captained the county in 2017. His first game at senior inter county level was in the opening round of the Allianz National Hurling League in 2011 against Limerick. He made his …