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Bridget Ginnity speaks with Cormac McCarthy an ecologist with Waterways Ireland who is responsible for its Climate Action Plan. He is also chair of Ennis Tidy Towns which has many biodiversity and sustainability projects BIODIVERSITY is one of the ways that we can address both the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis. For example, pollinator management with reduced grass cutting is a climate action in itself. In Ennis we’ve increased the amount of wildflowers on the roundabouts, just by changing our mowing regime. We even have orchids. Longer grass sequesters more carbon, and because you’re using machinery less often, you have less diesel emissions. Planting loads of trees isn’t the only nature-based way of sequestering carbon. It really needs to be properly thought through, because in taking what is well intentioned action, you may actually be doing more harm than good. For example, if you push for afforestation to sequester carbon you may be losing peatland areas or farmland. We …

Lifford AFC 1 Bridge United 2 Bridge United secured a final day victory as Mark Colbert’s side finished comfortably in fourth place. A victory here for Lifford would have seen them finish fifth. However, this defeat coupled with Mountshannon Celtic’s victory over Shannon Hibs ensured that Adrian Walsh’s side finished sixth. Lifford will be relatively pleased with their season as despite some early poor results, they were able to finish comfortably in the middle of the pack. Leon Daly gave Bridge an early lead but that strike was cancelled out by Niall Guinnane as the sides retired to the dressing rooms level at 1-1. The second half saw both sides push forward in search of a winner but with little in the line for either outfit, the game lacked the necessary cut and thrust that both of these sides have displayed throughout the 2021/22 season. Bridge managed to find the winning goal when 16-year-old Darragh Hayes struck a late winner …

A WINDOW of opportunity for creativity at St Joseph’s Hospital was created as part of the recently held National Arts in Nursing Homes Day. Clare based artist Rachel Macmanus visited the Ennis hospital and painted an artwork inspired by the stained glass windows of St Joseph’s church to the delight of residents. The project was one of a number of nationwide events for National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, held as part of Age & Opportunity’s Bealtaine Festival. Rachel, who has been a part of other creative projects at the hospital pre-Covid 19, tells us she was happy to be able to return to St Joseph’s. Drawing upon the stained glass windows of St Joseph’s Church as inspiration, Rachel painted her own version of the windows directly onto the windows of the hospital’s Sun Room, a congregational gathering space for the residents of the hospital. “The windows of St Joseph’s Church are very beautiful and tranquil and my idea was to bring some of …

IRISH aviation policy needs to change, new Shannon Group chairman Conal Henry told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications last week, but acknowledged that it would be difficult to make the changes required and that he didn’t have all the answers to what needs to be done. He warned that if there isn’t an effective policy solution a meeting like the one he was attending will “take place over and over again” with people speaking about imbalance. In general he said that one outlet having 87% of the market is something that would need to be adjusted. “If we were a private business and 87% of the widgets were being made in one factory and 13% in another four we would re-evaluate our strategy.” At the meeting Timmy Dooley claimed that in previous years Shannon Group had not been focused enough on aviation, which he said is by far the most important aspect of its operations. He claimed …

SIXTH year student, Odhran Cunningham has been awarded the Kilrush Community School Sports Scholarship Award for 2022. Ramona McCarthy, Deputy Principal, Kilrush Community School praised the student saying, “Odhran is a most worthy winner. During his time in KCS, Odhran displayed excellent leadership qualities and no little amount of skill as he represented the school with distinction.” Odhran has represented his club, Kilrush-Killimer, and Clare. He played wing back for the Clare U20 Football team in their recent Munster Championship run, as well as their successful Liam O’Connor Cup campaign earlier on this year. He was selected as Clare FM’s Man of the Match in their final outing against Kerry last month. This annual award is sponsored by Saint Gobain. “Odhran is an excellent role model for our students and we wish him every success in his future sporting and academic endeavours,” the deputy principal concluded.

A local environment lobby group has accused Galway county councillors of showing a “blatant disregard to their legal obligations” after their call to halt the decommissioning of the controversial Derrybrien Wind Farm. The ESB has confirmed it will begin work on dismantling the 70 wind turbines in accordance with planning laws and regulations after An Bord Pleanála refused its application for substitute consent for the development. The application for retrospective permission was made after the EU’s Court of Justice found Ireland was in breach of environmental standards in relation to the works carried out at the site. Galway County Councillors recently supported a motion calling on the government to direct the ESB to recommence operation of the Derrybrien wind farm and in doing so provide whatever legislative requirements that are necessary to ensure it may not be legally contested. EU fines amounting to a lump sum of €5 million and a daily fine of €15,000 plus legal costs were imposed …

SHANNON Heritage attractions Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and Craggaunowen are set to come alive with entertainment this June Bank Holiday weekend with street theatre and Viking recreations all part of the fun. Craggaunowen is bracing itself for a Viking invasion with a thrilling exhibition of Norse Culture planned on Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6 from 10am to 5pm. Hide your valuables because the Vikings are going to be rampaging through the lands of Craggaunowen – you’ll feel as if you are travelling back through time to an era when Viking warriors roamed Ireland! Several battles will place during the day with warriors unleashing their fierce battle skills for visitors to witness. Battles will take place at 12.30pm and 3pm daily on the Craggaunowen Castle Green. Fighting is expected to be hot and heavy but unlike historic battles of yesteryear there will be no blood spilt. Away from the battle front, visitors can experience demonstrations of Viking skills …

It promised to be a great occasion. The renewal of a rivalry that has seen few battles between these sides at this grade saw a well regarded Galway outfit and a Clare side hurting from Munster final anguish lock horns. With a healthy crowd on an ideal afternoon for hurling the stage was set for a ferocious contest. Considering this was just the fifth time Clare and Galway have met in the Minor Championship this century, all indications before throw-in was that this was going to be a rip-roaring battle between two counties with eyes on putting one foot in the knockout stages. Instead, Clare struggled with all aspects of the game as they fired nine points and 15 wides during the hour of hurling. By contrast Galway notched 0-25 and just 10 wides as Fergal Healy’s side blitzed their opponents. Aside from a 10 minute spell in the second quarter where Clare outscored their opponents by 0-6 to 0-3, …