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CLARE Ógra Fianna Fáil has elected its first female chair, Ennistymon’s Aoíbhann de Búrca Quinlivan, at its recent AGM. Youth wing members from across the county came together with Oireachtas members Cathal Crowe TD and Senator Timmy Dooley to elect the leadership team for the year at the meeting. The newly elected chair replaces outgoing chair Fionn Sexton of Miltown Malbay. Clare Ógra veteran and national political staffer David Griffin will remain on as deputy chair with Liam Hayes as secretary, Jack O’Dea elected PRO and Colm Maher taking the role of treasurer. Aoíbhann said, “I’m delighted to take on the role of chair of Clare. There is a lot of work to do but we are all very excited to see what we can achieve in the coming year. “We have a fantastic team in place with excellent support from our public representatives. “The main focus over the next few months will be getting our name out there and …

A FARMER has had to use silage bales to prevent illegal encampments beside a graveyard in East Clare, in a situation described as “crazy, outrageous, and scandalous”. At the July meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, incoming Cathaoirleach Alan O’Callaghan appealed to the Council to put in a long-term solution, saying the problem at Ballysheen Graveyard is an ongoing one.  “The ground was given to Clare County Council for the graveyard, in order to facilitate parking,” the Kilmurry man outlined. “Unfortunately, it was being used for other things. A local farmer hat to put bales out. I would not be in agreement with them being taken away, until something long term is actually done in order to stop the issue of illegal encampments. “When pressure is on in other places, that’s when encampments arrive there. Kerbing might work. We have to remember that the farmer has forfeited several bales of silage.There are a good few there.” The Fianna Fáil member …

A SHANNON councillor is calling for ‘Action’ in promoting the positives of the town. Councillor Donna McGettigan has proposed that the Shannon Municipal District create a video showcasing Shannon and involving community volunteer groups, drone and photo footage. “Our town has some beautiful spots such as the loop and pump track for people to come to visit,” she said at a meeting of the Shannon Municipal District. The councillor stated, “A lot of time people tend to focus on the negative, but we need to focus on the positives.” She pointed out that Shannon has a number of community groups “who help make our town what it is” including Tidy Towns and Meals on Wheels who could be featured in the video. She added that Shannon is also home to sporting world champions who could also make an appearance in the video “and talk about growing up in Shannon.” She said the video would be a means of “showing Shannon …

MONDAY, August 1, will see a gathering in East Clare to commemorate two Old IRA volunteers, who were involved in a number of ambushes at the height of the War of Independence. Following extensive research, the family of Captain Mattie McGrath and his brother Dinny of Annaghneal, will remember their contribution to the fight for Irish freedom, and that of their comrades in the Sixth Battalion of the East Clare Brigade. The brothers were involved in up to six ambushes on Crown forces in East and South East Clare, including attacks like the high-profile Glenwood Ambush. “We knew a bit about Mattie and Dinny when we were growing up, but we’ve found out a lot more since then,” said Mike McGrath, a nephew of the men. “The Sixth Battalion organised ambushes all over East Clare, during the War of Independence, with Mattie and Dinny involved in many of them.” Research by Mike’s nephew, Seán, and his daughter Aoife, show that …

TOURISTS coming into East Clare could be at a serious disadvantage if they are driving an Electric Vehicle (EV), due to a lack of rapid chargers.  That was the view expressed by Councillor Pat Hayes who made an appeal, at the July meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District committee, for better infrastructure to support EVs.  “I’m being asked every day about this and I’d like a progress report,” he said. “I’m wondering about the rapid charging points in particular. If someone comes off the motorway and wants to charge their EV in Killaloe or Scariff, we don’t have a plan for that yet.” The Caher man pointed out that as more motorists make the switch to EVs, charging infrastructure needs to keep pace. “There’s a huge amount of people moving to electric cars and asking where the fast-charging points are,” he said. “The fact is, we don’t have any. There is urgency around this now. We need at least one …

VANDALISM in the local playground has prompted a staff of Clare County Council to contact Crusheen Gardaí. The matter was raised by the incoming Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District when members held their July meeting. Councillor Alan O’Callaghan said he had been asked by locals in Crusheen to raise the issue. He tabled a motion calling for lighting or other works to stamp out the problem.   “There have been a few incidents of anti-social behaviour recently within the playground,” he said. “I think that a few lights leading into the playground would be ideal.” The Kilmurry man thanked Community Playground Coordinator, John Treacy for a reply to his motion. He said the problem of anti-social behaviour wasn’t widespread, but that there were concerns in Crusheen. “There are a lot of lovely playgrounds, on some occasions, anti social behaviour happens,” he said. “We don’t have too much of it, but the problem is rising in Crusheen area and I hope …

I MET with former Primary School principal in Mullagh, Co. Clare, Seán McMahon and church gate collector organiser in Clare for Self Help Africa in Ennis last week, writes Ronan Scully. We spoke of the need for volunteers across County Clare for the next three to four weekends to help out with our charity church gate collections.   Self Help Africa, as you might be aware, is an agricultural development charity and the official charity of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA). The upcoming collections are the first to be held in County Clare since before the coronavirus pandemic, and we need every bit of help they can get in order to mobilise a local network of support. I know that people are finding it challenging at present because of rising fuel prices and cost of living, but it is nothing compared to the challenges being endured by Africa’s poorest. They have seen prices of fuel and fertiliser spiral out of …

Eoin Brennan looks ahead at the Clare junior hurling championship which gets underway today With Ogonnelloe showing them the way, the big question is can Banner and Ennistymon follow suit in becoming only the fifth flagship side to win the Junior A Hurling Championship title since the turn of the millennium. The Banner will certainly be ranked as favourites, having welcomed back county senior Shane Meehan from injury for 2022. Even any early banana skins can be recovered from as the 12 competing teams are only reduced to eight by the quarter-final stage. Just as well as the Ennis side are embroiled in a difficult group involving last year’s semi-finalists Clooney-Quin, 2019 and ’20 finalists Kilmaley and Cratloe’s second string that have just come down from intermediate level. 2021 was also noteworthy for Crusheen’s progress to the final while St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield were also back in the mix by reaching the last four stage. It will also be interesting to …