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GUITARIST Dennis Cahill who collaborated to great acclaim with Feakle’s Martin Hayes passed away last week. Born in Chicago to Kerry parents, he was widely regarded as an exceptional talent. A statement on Cahill’s website written by fellow musician Jimmy Keane announced his passing, this Monday, June 20. “Our dearest Dennis passed away peacefully on Monday evening, with his beloved Mary by his side as she has throughout his journey. “Just moments before — we were comforting Dennis while The Lament for Limerick from Dennis’ album with Martin was on in the background — and as the track advanced to My Love is in America, Mary turned off the player, leaned over to hug and kiss Dennis one last time – and then he was gone…” President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to Dennis. “It is with great sadness that those with a love of traditional Irish music across Ireland, his native Chicago and around the world will have heard …

THE publication of a strongly critical report of the Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has prompted a range of emotions for a local hospital campaigner. Marie McMahon from Ennistymon has been actively campaigning for the restoration of 24-hour casualty cover in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals for years. Her husband, Tommy died on a hospital trolley in April 2018 after spending about 36 hours waiting to get a bed. In an interview with the Clare Champion, those sad memories lingered for Marie, but she was happy that the HIQA report had vindicated the long, hard fight by the Mid-West Hospital Campaign for decent health provision for the people in the region. “The HIQA Report has validated all the things we have been saying that have been missed. Finally a body with some authority has stated in a report what those in authorities have been denying. “Everyone was putting their own spin on things. This report shows we …

THE provision of a pre-school at Clooney National School has been given the green light by the Department of Education. Consent has been granted for the operation of the service by a third-party childcare provider in an empty classroom in the school. The move has been welcomed by Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara who said, “I was delighted to be able to assist in securing go ahead for this preschool service, which will help the school to retain its three-teacher status and increase enrolment numbers. “Clooney NS, like many other rural schools across Clare, faces the ongoing challenge of consolidating and growing the number of students enrolled there,” he commented. Deputy McNamara continued, “I want to acknowledge the Principal and Board of Management for their efforts in seeking out a third-party childcare provider to operate a preschool at Clooney NS.  “Up to a dozen children are already provisionally enrolled in the new service, which bodes well for future enrolment numbers …

RESIDENTS living close to a new Community Nursing Unit (CNU) proposed for a green-field site close to St Flannan’s College in Ennis voiced concerns over increased traffic and other issues, at a public briefing this week.  Up to ten residents turned up for the briefing which unveiled Health Service Executive (HSE) proposals for the state-of-the-art, 100-bed facility for older people. While residents stressed that they have no objection to the nursing home and appreciate the need for it, many expressed concern over the loss of the green area as well as a potential increase in traffic.  The briefing heard a warning from HSE officials that any delay in the planning process could put the multi-million Euro project, which will comprise 75 long-stay and 25 short-stay beds, at risk. Aisling Ryan of the HSE told residents that planning hitches “may delay us to the point that the funding leaves”. “That’s really key and it’s really important that people understand that” she …

The hurling Gods! You just can’t be up to them. Who knows, maybe that’s what makes the game so great. We never know what they have ordained and they hardly know themselves, but when we saw Bill Murray take his seat beside his golfing pal JP McManus in Semple’s Ard Comhairle, we should have known that this would be different. We should have known too when Frank Murphy suddenly appeared — and like any good backman was touch-tight on Murray — that it was already different. There was more: Murphy had a hooded eye and concentrated look bearing all the hallmarks of a man up for championship; meanwhile, Murray always has those crazy eyes that say, “I’m up for championship.” We all were up for it — at least we thought we were, but truth told for long periods of the afternoon we weren’t; instead, we were underwhelmed. It helped Bill Murray take centre stage — he was the man, …

A Killaloe mother-of-three has revealed the surreal moment watching her partner’s kidney being transported in a box for her son’s kidney before his vital transplant operation. Nuala Conway admitted she got upset outside Beaumont Hospital in Dublin after experiencing an emotional rollercoaster over the last year as she and her partner, Denis Costelloe tried to source a living donor for Jayden (13), who was on dialysis due to kidney failure. “I really broke down when I went out to get some fresh air after Jayden was put to sleep in theatre and saw the surgeons arrive from Beaumont Hospital with Denis’s kidney in a red box. “It was just crazy and surreal. We recognised the surgeons from Beaumont. It was unbelievable. “I hadn’t heard too much from Beaumont at this stage and was aware of the sacrifice Denis had made to donate his kidney. “It has been very emotional over the last year trying to get a kidney for Jayden. …

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship QF Derry 5-13 Clare 2-8   An anti-climactic finish to the Clare footballers memorable All-Ireland Senior Championship adventure as five timely goals eased Ulster champions Derry into the last four. Despite being Clare’s second outing in Croke Park in the space of three weeks, it was Derry who appeared far more familiar to their new surroundings as the renowned defensive kingpins got to show off their offensive ruthlessness as well. Two first quarter goals effectively tore up Clare’s gameplan as having frustrated Derry to four early wides, Colm Collins side coughed up two goals in the space of four minutes through Benny Heron and Conor Glass at 2-2 to 0-0 by the 13th minute. Clare finally got off the mark through an Eoin Cleary free two minutes later but any glimmer of hope flickered out for the Banner just before the break when a Pearse Lillis goal in the 33rd minute was wiped out in injury-time …

Clare manager Evan Talty wants his side to end their poor run of form in knockout football as they seek to stop a dangerous Longford outfit. With Clare having not won a knockout Championship game since 2016, the Clare manager is keenly aware that his side simply must find a way to win this Sunday in Birr (throw in 2pm), something which has proved problematic in recent years. Clare had failed to win an opening round Championship game since 2018 but rectified that statistic when defeating Down. They suffered a one point defeat to Louth, having already reached the knockout stages before a ball was kicked in Cusack Park two weeks ago. Talty now has his sights set on ending Clare’s poor run of form in knockout Championship football. “I’d be a fan of calling things as they are. We have experience. Our 20 year olds would have four years inter county behind them. They are young but mature. We …