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PLANS for the future development of Ennis have been described as “incredible, proactive and visionary” by the municipal district’s new mayor Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy. The Fianna Fáil councillor was elected mayor of the county capital at Friday’s AGM of the Ennis Municipal District. Speaking following her election she made reference to the Ennis 2040 Strategy, providing a comprehensive framework for the sustainable development of the town and the region. “This plan is a plan that sets out a future that isn’t one of stagnation but rather vibrancy for our capital town. It is a town that you will want to visit, will want to work in and will want to live in and that is something that we must applaud,” she said. This is the Ballybeg-based councillor’s second term as mayor of Ennis, having previously held the title in 2018. She also served as Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council in 2020. She told the AGM that it was her …

The Irish Red Cross Clare, Lough Grainey Nature Sanctuary and the Clare Local Sports Partnership CLG have been selected among 35 national finalists in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards. The awards honour the inspiring work and achievements of thousands of projects, clubs and individuals from all over Ireland who, with the help of National Lottery Good Causes funding, have had an extraordinary impact on their local communities. Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes all over the country. With the support of a National Lottery HSE Grant, the Irish Red Cross Clare purchased a new community support vehicle which provides free transport to the people of Clare for medical appointments, travelling from all corners of Clare to hospitals all over Ireland. More recently, the Irish Red Cross Clare have also been supporting the Clare Immigrant Support Centre with Ukrainian Refugees. Lough Grainey Nature Sanctuary, is a not-for-profit community organisation that …

RTÉ’S outdoor recreation series, Tracks and Trails, will focus on Lough Derg next Thursday, June 30.  The hugely popular show returns to the national broadcaster for its tenth series, with a total of four programmes that will cover every corner of the country. This season, viewers are taken along trails that showcase Ireland at its most beautiful with a chance to explore some of the many walking and Blueway trails on offer for the outdoor visitor. There is also an easy urban trail by bike from Titanic Quarter in Belfast along the River Lagan and then for something totally different to a mountain trail for a hike steeped lyrical mysticism on Slieve Gullion outside Newry,; to the winding, mystical forest and pilgrim trails of County Wicklow; to heart stopping views of the Blasket Islands and the soaring majesty of the mountains on the lakes in Killarney. In this series producers promise  something for every level of hiker or visitor. In …

JAPANESE Knotweed and other invasive species continue to create problems for communities in County Clare. They can have a devastating impact on biodiversity, environmental health, and community well-being, and they hamper our efforts to slow the pace of climate change. To help counter its effect, the Clare Local Development Company is conducting practical training seminars in a number of locations in the county. This practical training is for all interested residents living in or near Connolly, Doolin, Lisdoonvarna, Miltown Malbay, and Mountshannon. At the seminar you will learn: How to identify Japanese knotweed and Himalayan knotweed. How to assess the severity of an infestation and to work out the best method of control. What biosecurity means and how to avoid introduction and dispersal of invasive species. Legislation you must comply with. How to use herbicide safely without causing undue harm to yourself and the environment. You will be the first to see CLDC’s mobile invasive species control unit, which is …

Liscannor Ferry Company Limited, known as Doolin2Aran Ferries and owned by the Garrihy family, has agreed the sale of its Doolin ferry service to Baid Farantoireachta An Chosta Teoranta, owned by the O’Brien family, for an undisclosed sum. Under the terms of the agreement, two 200-passenger ferries The Star of Doolin and The Spirit of Doolin, along with the Doolin Discovery, offices and equipment will transfer to the new owners. Owned and operated by brothers Joe, PJ, Eugene and Donie, the Liscannor Ferry Company has been a family business for over two decades. The Garrihy family have deep traditions and connections in the North Clare, Doolin and Aran Islands areas, with the family involved in the local fishing industry for many years before founding Cliffs of Moher Cruises and Aran Island ferry service in 1999. Over the past 23 years, the business has grown strongly adding more vessels and staff to a position where it carries over 100,000 passengers per …

THE world premiere of a play focusing on one of the most intense incidents in the War of Independence in Clare will be staged in Doolin next Thursday, June 30. The drama, entitled Two Days in September, secured funding support from the Decade of Centenary Arts Project Awards, 2021, and will premiere at The Attic at Hotel Doolin, with curtain up at 8pm. Written by Doolin-based playwright Dermott Petty, the play tells the story of the Rineen Ambush. It traces, in film and theatre form, the events of autumn, 1920, when a British Army convoy was ambushed by the Mid-Clare Brigade of the IRA. It also follows the aftermath of revenge and the sacking, looting and burning of the villages of Ennistymon, Lahinch and Miltown Malbay by the Black and Tans on September 22 and 23. “West Clare in 1920 was recovering from a land war, famines, World War 1 and Spanish influenza,” said Dermott. “While a beautiful part of …

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances of a fire which caused extensive damage to a section of a protected building in Co Clare. https://twitter.com/tomhehir68/status/1540957797558386691?s=20&t=jBHRKwq18Y7SrlizoqcTWA The blaze at the former Our Lady’s Psychiatric Hospital in Ennis was reported at around 6am on Sunday when emergency services received a number of 999 calls. Three units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station responded to the incident at Dulick on the Gort Road, a short distance from the town centre. On arrival, fire crews found a large section of the building’s entrance area ‘well alight’ with flames bursting through the roof. Firefighters used a hydraulic platform to tackle the blaze from above and however, after the fire had been brought under control and contained to one section of the facility, crews continued to deal with small pockets of fires for some time afterwards. In one section of the three-storey building, all three floors collapsed into the basement making the scene particularly …

ENSURING students are placed at the centre of all aspects of the new €23 million Ennistymon Community School will be a key priority for newly-appointed principal, Orla Conway. Working as a teacher for 19 years, Ms Conway previously held an Assistant Principal position and is currently Acting Principal of Ennistymon Vocational School. In an extensive interview with the Clare Champion, she confirmed work is on track to ensure staff and pupils from the three Ennistymon second level schools will move to the new state-of-the-art facility in September 2023 following a 35-year wait. “My vision is that Ennistymon Community School will be student-centred in all aspects and will have a very happy inclusive culture,” she stated. Catering for 750 pupils, the new school will have 70 teachers in total including two deputy principals. With construction work almost reaching the third floor, it is expected the main metal part of the overall structure is due to be finished by next spring. Facilities …