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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query, regarding the legitimacy of meetings being held online which was supported by the CHC, so Fahy’s ban was rescinded.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 …

A BAREFIELD teacher renowned for her love of languages has been remembered as an “inspiration” following her passing. Hilary Anne Niehues (nee Doyle) grew up in Dublin and spent several years in Germany before returning with her husband Wilhelm to Ireland and settling in Barefield. She taught in a number of Clare schools and has been fondly remembered by her many neighbours, colleagues and friends. Her good friend Marion Coughlan Flynn, former principal of St John Bosco Community College, Kildysart was recently moved to honour Hilary by gathering together a collection of moving tributes from those who knew her. She first met Hilary as a mature student of German in the ‘90s. “A real lady she was; kind, empathetic, selfless, good humoured – a real decent human being. Many an evening I returned from school to find a bag of scones, a tart, a carton of cream and of course home-made marmalade hanging on the back door. Birthdays were never …

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed it doesn’t have a direct enforcement role concerning an installation or activity that is not subject to a licence issued by the agency. Responding to Clare Champion queries, the EPA recalled it received a complaint raising planning and environmental concerns about Burrenside Oil in September 2020. The EPA acknowledged receipt of the complaint and informed the complainant that Clare County Council has responsibility for dealing with the planning and environmental protection concerns described in the correspondence. The EPA also informed the complainant that it had reviewed the documents submitted and noted that the substantive complaint was one of alleged unauthorised development. It stated that it does not have a role in enforcing application of the planning and development legislation or the enforcement of planning permission conditions. After obtaining permission for GDPR compliance purposes, the EPA referred the complaint to Clare County Council for their investigation and action as appropriate in relation to the …

Clare County Council, on the advice of the HSE has placed a temporary prohibition on swimming in Cappagh due to elevated bacterial levels. Ongoing motoring is being undertaken and the prohibition on swimming will be removed when bacterial levels recede to acceptable levels. The elevated bacterial levels are as a result of turbulent sea conditions which occurred over the weekend. The Council advises that people should not swim there until further notice.

Shannon Chamber was named as the winner of the ‘Most Successful Policy Campaign’ category in Chambers Ireland’s Awards 2022. The awards, hosted by Chambers Ireland, recognise the work of chambers of commerce throughout the country in supporting local, regional, and national business. The announcement was made at the awards ceremony in Dublin. Shannon Chamber’s entry into this category was the preparation of the business case for a multi-annual, fully funded regional air access recovery and growth action plan, which was presented to Government. The business case was prepared by Shannon Chamber in collaboration with the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), and supported by Ennis, Limerick, and Galway Chambers. The objective of this policy campaign was to demonstrate that, while the funding allocated by Government to support Irish airports up to 2021 was welcome, a reform of funding strategy would be needed in the future. The collective business and hospitality representative grouping wanted the Government to consider providing three forms of sustained …