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SHANNON Airport and Ireland West Airport (Knock) have become the first two in the world to be recognised as Age Friendly airports by the World Health Organisation (WHO).  The achievement was marked at a ceremony in Ireland West Airport, officiated by Hildegarde Naughton TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport.  Congratulating the airports, Ms Naughton said: “Ireland has taken an international lead in making the airport environment age-friendly and we now look forward to sharing this learning with other airports around the world. “Making sure that airport facilities are age friendly is an effective way to enhance their accessibility and usability for everyone. “It ensures that domestic passengers feel confident in organising a trip abroad and it makes Ireland more attractive as a destination to older travellers from other countries.”  Commenting on the initiative Mary Considine, CEO, Shannon Group said: “It is wonderful to be one of two airports on Ireland’s west coast leading the way to being …

AFTER a two year Covid-related hiatus the popular Clarecastle Regatta returns this coming Saturday June 25 from 1.30pm to 6pm. According to organisers the Regatta promises to be a day of fun with a wide range of events to thrill all members of the family. Returning favourites include a children’s fancy dress parade from the church grounds meeting at 1.15pm, dog show, bonny baby and best dressed lady competitions as well as the market stalls, vintage cars live music and food. Other events include the “Hanging Tough” challenge, children races and amusements. There will be hurling shootouts, the Long Puck and footballs tests of skills. The local Currach Club Fergus Rovers will be on hand to give people an opportunity to sit into and manoeuvre the currachs. Other water events will include kayaking and Stand Up Paddle Boards. The Regatta was revived over 13 years ago and has been a resounding success offering the community of Clarecastle and surrounding areas …

ANGELA Lyne, a name synonymous with the success of some of Ennis’ most well known businesses, has been remembered as “inspirational and a woman ahead of her time” as she was laid to rest this week. Mrs Lyne (nee Canny) played a key role in The Queens Hotel, Cruises Bar, Restaurant and nightclub and the Auburn Lodge on the Gort Road alongside her husband Robert, known to most as Bob. Mourners gathered at Ennis Cathedral to say their final goodbyes to the mother of five on Tuesday. Paying tribute her son Riobard remarked it was appropriate the funeral was taking pace on the longest day of the year. “Mam, for decades, would be up before dawn and finish late in the night. It would seem for her that there was not enough hours in the day.” He recalled his mother’s early years in Tullabrack near Kilrush, and her move to Listowel to work as a telephone operator. She was then …

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has released the preliminary results from Census 2022, documenting a number of key changes in county Clare. In Clare the preliminary figures show that the population on April 3 was recorded at 127,419, an increase of 8,602 (+7.2%) since 2016. The population increase in Clare is largely in line with the national trend which showed a 7.6% increase in population from 4,761,865 to 5,123,536. The population in Clare included 64,733 females and 62,686 males. This was made up of a natural increase (ie births minus deaths) of 3,122 and an estimated net inward migration (ie population change minus natural increase) of 5,480. The total housing stock in Clare in April 2022 was 58,148, which represented an increase of 2,369 (4.2%) since 2016. The increase in housing stock in Clare is below the national average of 6%, which will not come as a surprise to those seeking to access a home. The increase in housing stock …

CLARE campaigners have voiced concern at the amount of time available to address an Oireachtas committee this Thursday afternoon on the bill underpinning the new defective concrete blocks grant. Last Tuesday, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien confirmed that homeowners in Clare and Limerick are to be given access to the revised scheme. The legislation to activate the grant will come before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing on Thursday, via a mechanism that has been described as “accelerated scrutiny”. This falls short of full Pre-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS), which had been sought by homeowners’ groups including the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG). However, it is seen by some as a compromise position, in that it reduces the likelihood of delays in passing the legislation before the summer recess. The Housing Committee will sit from 1pm to 8pm on Thursday to discuss the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022. The founder of the CPAG, Dr Martina Cleary, has been …

Burren Cycling Club secured some notable finishes as the club competed in the Rás Tailteann for the first time. With Burren CC being the first representatives from Clare to compete in the prestigious event since 1991, there was pressure on the team to deliver. They rose to expectations as the team of Mark Shannon, Danny MacDonald, Simon Kelly, Paul Kennedy, Richard Meaney and reserve Ger Troy all played their role in a terrific team effort. Burren CC finished as the sixth county team overall after five days of tough racing. Meanwhile, Lacey Cup winner Danny MacDonald showed his potential by securing a seventh placed finish in Stage Four, which started in Lisdoonvarna. The Clooney man also grabbed a top 10 finish in the final stage as he highlighted his growing reputation on the circuit. The Clare club certainly ended their first ever Rás campaign on a positive note with MacDonald the third county rider to cross the finish line while …

Sharon Malone, Marketing and Green Manager of the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon, tells Bridget Ginnity how her work has inspired her personally. It is one of only two carbon neutral hotels in Clare, the other being Hotel Doolin My interest in the environment started when I was about 13, when my dad bought me a book called “50 Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth” – I’d say he rued the day. I drove the family demented with all the ideas I got from it, like when I had them all turn off all the taps to check if we had a leaky house. There was a chapter on vegetarianism and I gave up eating meat. My parents humored me completely though. I am the oldest of six and concern for the environment filtered down – my brother even stopped throwing tyres on Halloween bonfires! I went on to study marketing and was delighted to get the opportunity to …

A MULTI-million euro redevelopment of Knockanean National School has moved a step closer as planning permission is now being sought for a ‘decant’ temporary school at a local GAA club. The board of management at Knockanean has lodged an application with Clare County Council for a temporary school on lands at St Joseph’s Doora – Barefield GAA Club to be used during construction of a long awaited new school development which has already been given the go-ahead. The temporary primary school will consist of seven prefabricated buildings to accommodate 12 classrooms, five SET Rooms, staff room, principal office and administration. Other works include roads, parking and a drop-off area. According to a services report lodged with the application on behalf of the school, no set-down or pick up will be facilitated on the public road. The proposed development will use the existing gates which are 6 metres wide with adequate sight lines available without works. It is proposed to provide …