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FIFTEEN athletes from Clare are among the 74 students who received sports scholarships from the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) this academic year. The fifteen recipients from Clare are Callum McNamara, Gearoid McMahon, Meg Brennan, Eoin Guerin, Norah O’Dwyer, Patrick Doherty, Cian Broderick, Páraic Donnellan, Aisling Morrissey, Chloe Towey, Gavin Cooney, Robin Mounsey, Seán Rouine, Emily Murphy, and Oran O’Reilly. The 74 recipients announced represent a variety of sports including GAA, boxing, soccer, basketball, athletics, rowing, swimming and rugby. The TUS Sports Scholarship programme which is sponsored by PMI supports students who are at the forefront of their chosen sport from intercounty to international level, encouraging them to reach both their sporting and academic potential during their time at TUS. President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane said, “We are committed to supporting young athletic talent here at TUS and it is fantastic to see such a variety of disciplines among our scholarship recipients which is something we very much …

Clonlara Development Association has erected a new Biodiversity information board at the entrance of the Errina canal and the Lough Derg Way in the centre of the village.  The Errina Canal, part of the Limerick Navigation system, was built in the late eighteenth-century and this canal also forms part of the East Clare way. This walkway continues to be enjoyed by multiple generations and is now more accessible following recent upgrades in terms of gravel pathways and swing gates. Research and the development of the information board before funding was secured was completed by Colm Honan, Maire Ní Ghráda and Peggy Ryan. Colm and Peggy recently completed the course “Be a Leader for Biodiversity in your community”. The information board is seen as the first step in building awareness around the diverse ecosystem along the Errina canal but also educating everyone in the community. The canal and its bank are home to a diverse ecosystem of plants and animals. The …

U-15B Hurling Shield Final Broadford 1-16 Corofin/Ruan 1-11 THE U-15 Hurling competitions finished in style in Glenomra Park on Wednesday evening when hosts Broadford secured a merited B Shield Final victory over Corofin/Ruan. Having lost this decider last year along with the U-14B Championship Final, it was an encouraging step in the right direction for Broadford who picked off some fine scores over the hour. Aodhan O’Driscoll, Michael Vaughan, Cormac Gunning and Hughie Vaughan were impressive marksmen while captain John Moran, Fiachra McNamara and goalkeeper Jack Lovett were others to shine for the home side. Corofin/Ruan who also suffered defeat in the Féile B Final, were without a handful of players but aside from an excellent leadership display from scorer-in-chief James Cullinan who raided for 1-9 along with Daniel Guinnane, Jack Lordan and Daniel McInerney, they found it increasingly difficult to match Broadford’s appetite and intensity. With whatever conditions there were in balmy Broadford at their backs for the opening …

EXPANSION is on the cards at Beckman Coulter’s O’Callaghan’s Mills plant, with the company seeking permission for facilities to accommodate an additional 60 staff. Details of the new jobs are revealed in a planning application currently being considered by Clare County Council. The medical diagnostics company is looking to create additional first floor laboratory and office space, as well as a new roof plant area at its existing eastern warehouse. The planning application has stated that an 60 additional staff will be added to its existing 420-strong workforce, and will occupy the new extension. A planning report, from DRA Consulting Engineers, outlined that the first floor area would more than treble in size, if given the go ahead. On the issue of the visual impact, the report stated that this would be minimal as most of the new development would be located internally, within an existing structure. A new roof plant area, of 80 square metres, would have the most …

CLARE received a boost ahead of this weekend’s All-Ireland senior hurling quarter final against Wexford with news that both Peter Duggan and Rory Hayes have had their one-match bans overturned. The pair are free to play after the GAA’s Central Hearing Committee found a procedural issue regarding the suspensions set by the Central Competitions Control Committee following alleged off the ball incidents in the Munster final. Galway’s Cianan Fahy has also had his ban thrown out following an incident in the Leinster final. Galway had made an administrative query, regarding the legitimacy of meetings being held online which was supported by the CHC, so Fahy’s ban was rescinded. The  Clare bans were dismissed on the same basis.

THE chair of Clare Labour is among objectors to plans for the construction of housing in Lahinch, saying the proposal should be refused until the local sewage treatment system is improved. John Talty Construction Ltd has applied to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a development of eight houses, comprising six detached and two semi-detached homes together with all associated site development works, wastewater pre-treatment and connections to public services at Cill Stuifin, School Road, Attycristora, Lahinch. Objecting to the plans, Denis Vaughan who in January was elected chair of the Labour Party in Clare, argues, “There are reports of people swimming at that place becoming ill because of untreated sewage in the water. “For that reason permission should be refused until the sewage treatment system is improved. I also believe the Lahinch water supply is inadequate and that is another reason to believe the application must be rejected at this time.” He outlines that a recent application …

MUSIC has always been a part of John Hennessy’s life, and the soundtrack to his childhood was an eclectic one. No surprise, because the Drumcliffe native’s dad is the legendary Michael, a music teacher and an inspiration to generations of budding performers.  Now based between Berlin, Cork and Ennis, John is fast making his own name in music. Credited by none other than Mojo magazine with developing a “neo rock ’n’ roll” style, John’s on stage persona is Black Pope. Blending darkly beautiful lyrics with impeccably smooth guitar riffs and a flavour of fizzling glam rock, Black Pope’s sound defies easy comparisons. A multi-instrumentalist and song writer, John is modest about the waves he has been making since bursting onto the music scene. Ahead of a hometown gig at Glór later this month, he is reflective about his musical influences.  “The piano was a constant when we were growing up,” he tells The Champion. “I played violin for a while, …

WHAT started as a pastime reviving old craft skills has helped to weave a unique Clare Quilt, which could raise up to €20,000 for three charitable causes. Before the onset of Covid-19, Valerie Larkin enjoyed visiting places of interest throughout the county that she had only read about. Ms Larkin thought it would be an interesting project to try to make a quilt that showed places of historical interest, lessor known sites, Irish dancers, musicians, fiddles and harps. “I felt wouldn’t it be great to have a tapestry for Clare,” she recalled. Measuring ten feet by six feet, this beautiful quilt, which was featured on RTE’s Nationwide, was created by women living in the four corners of Clare during lockdown last year. It consists of individual handmade squares, created using many different mediums including appliqué, embroidery, felting and quilting. Depicting some of Clare’s historical sites, lesser-known places, music, dance and sports culture, it is a unique record for what locals …