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CLARE students are being warned about the “serious impact” of becoming a ‘money mule’ . A Money Mule is a person who transfers money illegally on behalf of other people. “They allow their account to be used for the transfer of ill-gotten gains. They may or may not be aware of the crime. However, they are complicit if they recklessly allow their account to be used to launder the proceeds of these crimes,” explains Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. Students are often targeted by organised crime gangs to act as money mules, laundering thousands of euro through their accounts in exchange for a few hundred euro, she outlines. “Anti-money laundering legislation is designed to prevent organised crime gang members from opening up accounts so they need money mules to launder their money. Students are an easy target for these “money herders”. “They are often approached online, on campus, or while out socialising.” She advises: do not allow anyone to …

AN ex-principal of St Flannan’s College in Ennis has emerged as one of a number of objectors to new plans for a €25m elderly care unit on diocesan owned lands at the college. Last month, the HSE lodged plans for the 100-bed Community Nursing Unit (CNU) on a seven-acre green field site at Clonroadmore at the post primary St Flannan’s College. The hospital is to replace the existing bed capacity at St Joseph’s Hospital in Ennis. The new unit is to contain 75 long-stay and 25 short-stay beds and according to planning documents lodged most residents will have high dependency needs “and a number may also suffer from Alzheimer’s/Dementia”. A total of 11 objections have been lodged against the proposal and in a detailed, hard-hitting objection against the application, Colm McDonagh has told Clare County Council that the proposed CNU “is inappropriate at this location and is not in the best interests of proper planning and development of the area”. …

Tommy Corbett of Carey Corbett Financial Solutions gives some examples of the tax change implications in Budget 2023.

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 …