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CLONLARA has benefited from a major clean-up after the local development association entered the national 2022 Tidy Towns’ Competition for the first time in 25 years. Spearheaded by the Clonlara Development Association (CDA), local volunteers have been very busy preparing for the visit of the national tidy towns’ judges, which can take place any time from June 11 to August 5 without any advance notice. Philippa Keogh of CDA said the village is looking “fantastic”, and noted all the hard work is greatly appreciated by local residents. The last time Clonlara entered this competition was back in 1996. CDA asked the local primary school St Senan’s National School would they get involved with Tidy Towns and they decided to take up their offer of running a colouring competition. The winning posters were then printed on corriboard, when the theme was anti-litter and Pollinator messaging. The group has just received the printed signs and has placed them in key areas around …

A transatlantic passenger jet made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport yesterday evening after the crew reported “fumes in the cabin.” United Airlines flight UA-941 was travelling from Heathrow Airport in London to Newark, New Jersey in the United States at the time. There were 171 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 767-300(ER) jet. At around 5.30pm, while the flight was about 100 kms northwest of Mayo, the flight crew declared an emergency and advised air traffic controllers they wished the divert to Shannon Airport. The crew had been in contact with the airline’s dispatch centre to discuss a course of action for the emergency divert. It was decided that Shannon was the best option for the aircraft to divert to. On the ground in Shannon emergency procedures were put in place. This involved alerting the HSE, National Ambulance Service, local authority fire service and An Garda Síochána. Units of the Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Shannon …

CLARECASTLE Show makes its return this weekend offering a fantastic level of prize money and a wonderful day’s entertainment and diversion for all the family. And, what’s more, after an absence of two years the boutique show in the Clarecastle GAA grounds on Sunday, August 7 will be free to enter. The move to make entry to Clarecastle Show was made by the board of the Society as a gesture to the people of Clare and beyond who had endured a lot over the past two years. Clarecastle Show Chairman Michael Slattery explained, “Entry to the show is free, a decision taken by our board because of the stress and strain people have been through caused by Covid and the escalating costs of everything. “Perhaps a day at the show in the fresh air amongst friends will compensate for the difficulties of the Covid years.” Speaking about what makes the Clarecastle Show special he said, “We do not compare. Clarecastle …

All-Ireland Minor C Ladies Football Final Clare 3-13 Wicklow 3-12 ABBY Downes’ injury time point ensured Clare were crowned ZuCar All Ireland Minor C Ladies Football champions after a thrilling showdown with Wicklow, writes Ivan Smyth. This was a stunning triumph for David O’Brien’s side as they faced a five point deficit at two separate stages of the second half. They had also shipped 1-2 without reply to go in level at the break despite dominating much of the opening period. Throw in the loss of goalkeeper Katie McMahon, who was withdrawn four minutes in to the second half after landing awkwardly towards the conclusion of the first period and Clare faced no shortage of adversity. The win appeared unlikely when Wicklow scored 2-4 without reply either side of half time to leave Clare trailing 2-10 to 1-8. Even when Abby Downes fired a ferocious left footed effort to the net to slash the deficit to two points after 40 …

A UKRAINIAN refugee, who was forced to flee Odessa, is thoroughly enjoying working in North Clare where her safety is guaranteed. Anastasia Hordieieva (31) is working as a swim teacher in Lahinch Leisure Centre, as part of an eight-hour shift three days a week. In an interview with the Champion, Anastasia revealed she only started to have a good night sleep when she felt safe in her new Lisdoonvarna hotel residence. “When I was travelling through Romania I couldn’t sleep properly and would wake up after just two hours. Now, I can have a good sleep. “The war in Ukraine is a horrible nightmare,” she outlined. On March 20, Anastasia arrived in North Clare on her own, having escaped the horrors of the Ukrainian war. Her mother, who is an accountant in a pharmacy company, is still living in Odessa, as she has to take care of her grandmother, who recently suffered from a heart attack. On February 24, Anastasia …

Michael O’ Connor rounds up the action in the Junior A hurling championship first round. Crusheen 0-14 Eire Óg 1-11 The start of the race for the John Daly cup for Junior A hurling commenced at the weekend. Corofin was the venue for the keenly fought out tie between Crusheen and Eire Óg. The countryside team who were finalists in 2021 defeated Eire Óg by 13 points last year. It was a far different story on this occasion as Crusheen led (0-8) to (0-6) at half time with Ethan O’ Donnell and Niall Kearney to the fore for Crusheen in the scoring stakes. Both defences were on top in the second half. Barry Murphy put Crusheen four ahead entering injury time. Eire Óg did not succumb and scored a goal from a free and added the equaliser. Rory Brennan and Colin Malone worked hard at midfield for the Ennis side as Niall O’Connor was efficient from placed balls. Kevin Moynihan …

ABDUCTIONS by fairies, and other nefarious activities of Ireland’s ‘sídhe’, are detailed in a new book by Quin’s Michael Houlihan. The Kerry man, who is a founder of the Quin Heritage Group, has not been sitting on his laurels for long and Irish Fairies – A Short History of the Sídhe is now available in local bookshops.  The recent Púca controversy proves the persistence of superstitions around fairy folk, and Michael outlines where this mischievous character sits in the pantheon of the sídhe, alongside creatures like the banshee, the fairy queens Clíodhna and Medb, the nobles Aengus Óg and the Dagda. “For thousands of years, the Irish have believed in ‘the fairies’,” Michael said. “In present-day Ireland, however, as in so many modern societies, fairies have been retreating, almost to the point of extinction. Nevertheless, the question might still be asked, what if the fairies were not created or imagined, but remembered?” As well as considering that key question, the …

NO safety recommendations have been made following the publication of a report into an incident on Shannon Airport’s runway in December 2, 2019 when the nose gear of light aircraft collapsed after landing. The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of the Department of Transport has issued its final report into an incident the nose landing gear of the Piper PA23 aircraft collapsed, causing the aircraft’s two propellers to strike the runway. The aircraft came to rest on the left side of the runway. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured and exited the aircraft safely. The 36 year-old had 284 hours flying experience, of which 82 were on type. There was no fire after the landing. The Airport Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene, and as a precaution, covered the aircraft and the adjacent runway surface in a blanket of fire-retardant foam. On January 12 2022, the perator informed the Investigation that following a take-off from Shannon …