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THE highlight of Shannon Toastmasters Club open night event on Wednesday of last week at Treacy’s Oakwood Hotel was the launch of the Bridget Sunderland Perpetual Memorial Trophy. The newly launched trophy, is a co-operative venture of Shannon Toastmasters, Ennis Toastmasters, Kilrush and District Toastmasters, and Raheen Toastmasters clubs. It will be awarded annually to outstanding members who exemplify the core Toastmasters’ values of respect, integrity, service, and excellence from any of these clubs, who together comprise Area 13 of District 71 of the Toastmasters organisation. The event was a poignant opportunity for the host club as people remembered and paid tribute to their deceased former member and friend Bridget Sunderland at the launch of the trophy named in her honour. These many memories of Bridget’s exemplary Toastmasters service, included serving as Club President of Shannon 2018/2019 until her last role as Area 13 Director 2019/2020. Her loss could not be adequately expressed at the time when she passed away …

WE shot a series of videos with Tommy Corbett of Carey Corbett Financial Solutions to give you a better handle on this year’s Budget. Look out for the videos throughout the day on our Facebook and YouTube pages and on the website. First up, Tommy gives an overview of the main points of the Budget in the context of the economy. Secondly, he takes a closer look at tax changes and what they mean for a variety of different households. Finally he speaks about the new and once-off social welfare supports and when they will be paid.

After a sporting weekend which saw Mark Rodgers produce a spellbinding four goal display while Shane O’Donnell showcased his class once more, it is unfortunate that the biggest talking point from the weekend was in fact not the action on the field. The nasty ankle injury suffered by Inagh Kilnamona centre back Jason McCarthy, who was forced to wait almost an hour for an ambulance to arrive, overshadowed his side’s SHC quarter final encounter with Éire Óg. Meanwhile, Kilkishen Celtic AFC player Paddy McInerney broke his tibia and fibia in a game against Shannon Hibs in the FAI Junior Cup and the 38-year-old was forced to wait an hour and a half for an ambulance to arrive. A nurse from Shannon, who attended the game, helped to comfort the player until the medical personnel arrived and transported him to hospital. A freak accident saw McInerney suffer the cruel blow with both himself and Jason McCarthy left with long waits before …

CLARE Youth Service is this week launching its 2022 Development Groupwork programme which will run in nine locations countywide over the coming months. Originally developed by Clare and Limerick Youth Services in collaboration with the University of Swansea and first rolled out by Clare Youth Service in the 1970s, the hugely popular programme has since been delivered to over 10,000 young people in every corner of Clare, helping them in their personal journeys as well as producing community leaders across the county. The programme is now being modernised, thanks to a three-year investment by the community support programme of EI Electronics, Shannon’s global leader in fire and CO detection products. In this phase, it will include over 100 participants in Ennis, Shannon, Kilkee, Kilmihil, Kilrush and Killaloe-Ballina. CEO of Clare Youth Service, Margaret Slattery says that the programme’s ongoing success is that it accepts every young person where they are at. “This is a great opportunity for young people who …

BILLED as Ireland’s newest mini festival, Fómhar in Fanore, comes to O’Donohue’s Pub early next month. It will be headlined by Clare-born multi-instrumentalist and producer Daithí with his signature fiddle and dance infused sounds. “I feel like I’m more connected to where I’m from than I’ve ever been,” Daithí said about his latest album I’m Here Now, which was heavily inspired by his home place. Off the back of this release, Daithí is coming home with an exclusive performance at Fómhar in Fanore on Saturday, October 8. Daithí will be joined by trad-hip-hop fusion poet Strange Boy, heavy folk outfit Bog Bodies, R&B artist Toshín along with her six-piece band, and Clare based sing-songwriter and dancer Dora Gola. Daithí’s name has become synonymous with raising the bar for the live dance experience, mixing in unique elements like his signature fiddle – a symbol of his traditional Irish upbringing – alongside a chorus of talented musicians who elevate songs that have been …

An ENNIS Nursing Home has pledged to carry out an upgrading of its premises and equipment following concerns expressed by inspectors during a recent visit conducted by an independent health watchdog. Mowlam Healthcare Services has told the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) a planned programme of refurbishment that was put on hold due to Covid-19 will be recommenced at Ennis Nursing Home, Showgrounds Road, Drumbiggle. This will include painting, floor repair, upgrade to Bain Marie storage area in both dining rooms and repair to skirting and door frames. The person in charge will ensure that the facilities team undertake a review of lighting, particularly near lift exit and corridors upstairs. The PIC has completed a comprehensive review of all resident equipment. Any resident equipment deemed not suitable has been discarded and replaced; for equipment that required cleaning, a new tagging system has been introduced whereby cleaned items can be tagged after cleaning with a date stamp. The management team …

AS THE evenings draw in, an exciting programme of music and song will play out at venues on the shores of Lough Derg in Mountshannon.  ‘Autumn by the Lough’  is curated by local musician Clí Donnellan, and an initiative of Clare Arts Presents (CAP). Supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, through Clare Arts Office, and Mountshannon Arts, the eclectic programme will include traditional and contemporary sounds.  Events get underway this Friday, September 30, at 8pm at St Caimin’s Church of Ireland in Mountshannon with a performance from AWNYA. Drawing on the tradition of storytelling, this Clare conceptual artist and singer-songwriter promises to take audiences on a theatrical journey through her songs, to create a full immersive experience. There is honesty and comedy woven into her songs, as well as what is described as “a refreshing view of the world of broken hearts!”. AWNYA’s music has been described as ‘Vaudeville Folk’ and a highly entertaining …

THE eight-year-old Ukrainian girl discovered at a house near Clarecastle on Tuesday morning with serious injuries has been transferred from University Hospital Limerick to a hospital in Dublin and remains in a critical condition. The girl’s serious injuries are understood to be the result of a suspected stabbing. A female adult, understood to be the child’s mother, was also found unconscious at the scene, and was removed to University Hospital Limerick where she is also in a critical condition. Gardai have issued an appeal for anyone who might have information about the incident to come forward and assist with their investigation. Shortly before 8am this Tuesday morning, September 27, Gardaí and emergency service attended a scene at a domestic residence in Clarecastle where the child and woman were discovered with serious injuriies. An incident room has been established at Ennis Garda Station and a Senior Investigating officer has been appointed to oversee the investigation. A Family Liaison Officer has been …