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A NUMBER of Clare tourism attractions and companies were in London recently promoting the Banner at the ‘Flavours of Ireland’ 2022 expo. Representatives from Caherconnell Fort and Sheepdog Demonstrations, the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Doolin Ferry Company, Secret Ireland Escapes (based in Killaloe), Shannon Ferries and Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg were among 60 Irish tourism companies present. ‘Flavours’ is Tourism Ireland’s annual B2B tourism workshop, where tourism companies from Ireland meet and do business with top global inbound tour operators. Now in its 20th year, ‘Flavours’ took place in the Guildhall, in the City of London, and was attended by around 100 global inbound tour operators who deliver business from all over the world, including the United States, Mainland Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa. ‘Flavours’ provided an excellent opportunity for the participating tourism providers from Clare to highlight and sell their tourism product and build valuable relationships with the key decision-makers in attendance. The global inbound …

CHANGES to an award-winning scheme that has supported farmers to deliver million of euros worth of conservation measures in the Burren have been branded “an unholy mess”. The Burren Programme incentivises those farming one of the most sensitive landscapes in the country, with payments to promote sustainable agricultural management. Since its inception, the pioneering programme has supported more than 400 local farmers who have delivered at least €33 million worth of landscape and biodiversity improvements. Despite its internationally-recognised achievements, the programme will change radically as of January 1, 2023. From the start of next year, farmers will have to transfer to the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, ACRES Burren Aran, which covers a territory from the Aran Islands to Loughrea in East Galway. It is feared the move will lead to a drop in payments to farmers and decrease incentives for conservation measures.  Burren IFA member, Michael Davoren has sought an urgent meeting with Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. “This is an unholy …

The Shannon cluster of aviation businesses has just gotten bigger as Dublin based AerAdvise announced plans at the Shannon International Leasing Conference (SILC), to establish a new office at Shannon employing seven people. Welcoming the announcement, Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, who officially opened the SILC conference said, “With over 90 aviation companies employing over 3,000 people having now made Shannon their home base, the Shannon aviation cluster is growing from strength to strength. “As an island nation, we rely on aviation to maintain our connections with families, friends, and business, wherever they may be. Aviation is at the forefront in providing access to our island and plays a pivotal role in maintaining and growing our economic, political, and cultural connections with the rest of the world. “Aviation also plays a central role in supporting our tourism industry, which is fundamental in providing employment on a regionally distributed basis, such as here in the Mid-West …

AN EAST Clare man reached speeds of 100kmph on his quad bike in a high speed chase with Gardai across four townlands near the village of Tulla over two years ago. At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, Judge Alec Gabbett banned Jake James (27) of Uggoon Upper, Tulla in east Clare from driving for two years and told him that “you are very lucky you are not going to Limerick prison”. Judge Gabbett said that quad bikes are “very dangerous” and noted that Mr James – who works in tree surgery and tree care – and his pillion passenger were not wearing helmets on the day. Garda Darren McLoughlin said that the chase continued for 6.8km and he terminated the chase due to safety considerations for Mr James and his pillion passenger. Garda McLoughlin said that Mr James’s unregistered green yamaha reached speeds of 100kmph during the chase through the townlands that included Rine, Drumullan and Milltown. Judge Gabbett …

“WE don’t feel safe accessing our community”. That was the strong message of service users of the Brother’s of Charity’s Streetwise programme who made their voices heard at this month’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District calling for a safe route in and out of their base at the Clonroad Business Park. Members of the Streetwise programme were in the public gallery during the meeting where a video presentation they created was played for councillors and the executive. Introducing the video Councillor Ann Norton urged her fellow councillors to support the service users in their request for a safe route and a designated, fit for purpose accessible walkway. The video featured the voice of a service user who outlined their experiences of using the “unsafe route in and out of the Clonroad Business Park”. It detailed how “cars swing to avoid us” as they make their way to the pedestrian crossing on the Clonroad heading into Ennis where they regularly …

GARDAÍ are appealing for witnesses after a fatal road traffic collision on the R352, Mountshannon, last night (November 5). Officers said that at around 7.45pm last evening, a car collided with a pedestrian, a man in his 80s, who was later pronounced dead. The R352 was closed, with local diversions put in place, to allow for a technical examination to be conducted by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Gardaí in Ennis are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users with camera footage (including dash-cam) from the R352 between 7.30pm and 8.00pm last night, are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí. Anyone with information is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065-6848100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111, or any Garda Station.

ALMOST a year after a revised grant scheme for homeowners with defective concrete blocks was agreed, campaigners say thousands are still “trapped” in unsafe houses.  In a strongly-worded letter to the housing minister, action groups in Clare, Mayo, Donegal and Limerick, have pleaded for an update on when the new scheme will be live. In the correspondence seen by The Clare Champion, action group leaders, including Crusheen’s Dr Martina Cleary, said “homeowners are trapped in unsafe, unhealthy homes because they have no other option”. The letter, copied to all Cabinet members, has also sought an assurance that enough temporary accommodation will be provided when homeowners need it. “Given that thousands of affected homeowners will have to avail of the scheme in the years to come, and there is a national crisis in availability of rental properties all over Ireland, how is the Dept. [sic] of Housing working with the Local Authorities in the counties affected to ensure there will be …

FOUR flight diversions were facilitated at Shannon Airport on Wednesday afternoon due to adverse weather conditions. A Shannon Airport Group spokesperson said: “Four flights were diverted to Shannon Airport, three originally due to land at Cork Airport and one due at Dublin Airport. This is the second time in a fortnight that Shannon Airport has facilitated diverted flights. “The first of these flights arrived from London Gatwick at 1.20pm on Wednesday. Other flights were diverted from Edinburgh, Bristol and Malaga.”