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MISS Munster Ivanna McMahon from Barefield rolled up her sleeves at the weekend for the Miss Ireland 2022 nationwide beach and waterways clean-up. From August 12 to 14 the 37 finalists vying for the coveted Miss Ireland 2022 title, including Ivanna, put their collective strength and unity together to co-ordinate a big beach clean-up all over Ireland.   Thousands have flocked to our beaches and waterways during the recent warm weather but the glorious sunshine also brought ‘rubbish weather’ as many beaches and waterways across Ireland were left in dire conditions by sun seekers leaving their rubbish behind. Ivanna, 27, gathered her friends and family to do a clean up at Lahinch beach. The over-riding theme for Miss Ireland is ‘Our World Our Future’ with a focus on the environment and global citizenship.  Each of the finalists all over Ireland gathered all of their friends and families to help make a real impact and highlight the importance of communities coming together to protect our …

AN URGENT warning has been issued to Clare’s business community following a sharp spike in cyber attacks targeting small to medium enterprises. Cyber security expert Edel Mee, who is based in Clarecastle, backed a recent appeal sent by The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) to the Small Firms Association (SFA). Both the NCSC and GNCCB warned of “a trend of small and medium-sized businesses being increasingly targeted by ransomware groups”. Ransomware attacks are just one of the multiple types of cyber crime directed at business and other organisations. They involve sending malware, mainly by email, which encrypts the user’s data. The cyber criminals then demand a ransom to unlock the system. While high profile cases involving the Health Service Executive (HSE) and other large organisations have received significant media attention, Edel said they are happening regularly to smaller enterprises. “IT security on a network is like your immune system,” she said. “If …

A WARNING has been issued about the impact of long Covid on the health system, with new figures suggesting that over 30,000 people in the Midwestern region are impacted.  Medical experts have outlined that up to 200 symptoms are linked to the condition, which persist from between three months and two years of contracting Covid-19.  Data compiled by Independent TD Denis Naughten suggest that 8,368 people in Clare have long Covid, with chronic symptoms that including brain fog, cognitive issues, exhaustion, sleeplessness, and other psychological and physical difficulties. The figures are based on an analysis of data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), showing that there had been 41,055 positive PCR tests taken in this county, up to August 10.  The long Covid estimate for County Limerick is 14,317; while for Tipperary, it is 10,511.  Deputy Naughten has provided the first analysis and county-by-county breakdown of the 336,451 adults nationally who are likely to be suffering from long Covid …

AT just 12 years of age Clarecastle’s Sophie Mae Kerin is galloping ahead in her dream to be a champion jockey. The youngster was a winner at the high profile Dingle Racing Festival, following in the footsteps of such giants of the sport as Pat Smullen, Richard Hughes, Oisin Murphy, Nina Carberry and many more. First getting in the saddle at eight years of age, Sophie Mae began her equestrian life in showjumping, but it was racing that was always her ambition. In the recent three-day Dingle festival she rode the aptly named Little Lioness to victory in the 12.2hh pony derby for Ballinasloe’s Tony Beegan. Proud dad Kenneth tells us the whole family are thrilled with Sophie Mae’s success. “Dingle is the biggest pony race in Ireland of the year and this was her first proper race with thoroughbreds. “Before this she had run in a beginners race coming in second. She has only been entering races for the …

Ballyvaughan Fanore Walking Club is seeking planning permission for a new-single storey clubhouse and community recreation facility at New Pier Road, Ballyvaughan. A document accompanying the application outlines that the proposed clubhouse is envisoned as a gathering place for the club as well as a recreational space for the local community. The site is owned by the club and is located on the New Pier Road in Ballyvaughan Village. Regarding the design, the document says, “The clubhouse is designed as a sympathetic, timber frame that sits on a limestone plinth. The height and proportion of the building are in keeping with the scale of the surrounding dwellings. A defining tower marks the entrance to the building and gives the clubhouse a civic character. “The structure is to be clad in larch and will in time weather, allowing the building to blend into the mature hedgerow and trees that surround the site. The limestone plinth ties the building into the surrounding …

KILLALOE Coast Guard has appealed to members of the public not to block the narrow access road to Pier Head by parking in places where it is impossible for volunteers to pass with their vehicles. Over the past week on a number of occasions access to the Coast Guard station at Pier Head Killaloe has been blocked by cars leaving this cul-de-sac completely inaccessible for its crews responding to emergency calls. No parking signs, which were only erected a few months ago were also illegally removed from the walls on this cul-de-sac route. A Killaloe Coast Guard spokesman appealed to all people using the fantastic facilities at Pier Head to keep the access to the Coast Guard station clear and keep in mind volunteers need to respond to some incidents by towing a rescue boat. The spokesman acknowledged that Killaloe Gardai erected Garda no parking bollards at the start of the laneway, where it is extremely narrow only allowing room …

THE ROAD less travelled is very definitely the choice of a German national who recently passed through Clare, after leaving his day job and his hometown to walk around Europe.  Forty-one year old Karsten Rinck, a trained lorry mechanic, was set to take over the family business in Steinkirchen outside Hamburg, but decided that that wasn’t for him. On May 1, 2021, he decided, for the good of his mental health, that he needed to do something that would take him off the beaten track. “I had been struggling with my mental health and I decided to get out and walk,” he said. “My aim is to visit 40 countries. It’s a personal walk and I want to let others know that there is a good way out of issues, but it’s really up to themselves to act.” Since last Summer, Karsten and his faithful dog, Lotte, have put more than 6,000 kilometres behind them and visited 11 countries, including …

Michael O’Connor watched Newmarket on Fergus take the Under 13B academy final from Cratloe on a score of 3-3 to 1-7 As the Under 13 season winds down with the school season lurking ominously on the horizon next week the academy finals at under 13 and under 15 are providing great entertainment for club supporters. In some cases, the excitement is at a greater level as seen already this season. Meelick was the latest venue on Thursday evening for two sides who have a storied history in competition an the latest chapter was his academy final. Over the course of the game the tackling was fierce with match official Joe Mullins requiring the proverbial eyes in the back of the head. There was a player sent off and a mentor asked to leave the field such was the excitement engendered. It matters little the title on offer, be it all Ireland or Under 12 because when two GAA sides go …