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ALREADY one of the county’s largest employers, Ei Electronics is going to be a seven-day operation from this October. It has announced it will have weekend shifts for the first time and says the move is “in order to support increased market demand and employee flexibility”. The shifts will be from 8am to 8pm on both Saturdays and Sundays and the company say there will be jobs for test technicians, production line maintenance and quality inspectors. They also say that the roles may be attractive to third level engineering students. In a statement this week Ei said that it has a lot to offer potential employees. “With double digit growth, and 1,100 employees worldwide, Ei Electronics commands a leadership position globally as a manufacturer of home life safety devices. “Working with one of Ireland’s leading indigenous electronics companies provides a wide array of opportunities and possibilities to grow as well as offering an attractive pay and benefits package. “This means …

While the county’s fingers and toes were crossed in anticipation of Shane O’Donnell getting back in time for the Munster Championship, behind the scenes the marquee Éire Óg forward was actually contemplating not being able to return at all. Not dissimilar to Clare ladies football captain Laurie Ryan’s prolonged absence a few years back, a concussion injury sustained at training in June 2021 further demonstrated just how debilitating the condition can be. As a result, O’Donnell’s first taste of championship action in 17 months against Tipperary last month was much more triumphant than just long-awaited return to the fold. “It was tough to come back into it to be honest.” Admitted the 2013 All-Ireland winner in front of the dug-outs in Cusack Park on Sunday. “I definitely had a long few months thinking whether I would be back on the pitch at all and it was a major milestone getting back on the pitch, togging out with Clare again.” “It …

SHANNONDOC has defended its service after official figures confirmed a drop in patient response times from last January to February when it treated almost 1,000 fewer patients. Figures obtained by The Clare Champion from the HSE through the Freedom of Information Act revealed 6,069 urgent and routine cases were seen by Shannondoc last January, which dropped to 5,074 a month later. In spite of seeing 995 fewer patients, 1,226 patients were seen within 30 minutes in January compared to 573 in February – a drop in percentage terms from 20.20% to 11.29%; 2,894 patients were seen within an hour in January compared to 1,685 in February – a fall from 47.68% to 33.21%; 4,403 patients were seen within 90 minutes in January compared to 2,780 a month later – a decline from 72.55% to 54.79%. The number of patients seen within two hours totalled 4,771 in January compared to 3,588 in February – a drop from 78.61% to 70.71%; 5,225 …

THERE are reasons to be confident about Shannon’s recovery from the downturn caused by Covid-19, but it is not a given and ongoing support will be required, Conal Henry, the incoming chairman of Shannon Group told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this week. A Belfast native now based in Dublin, he said that he does have a good understanding of issues in the Mid West. “It is important to stress that I have spent a significant amount of time in the Mid-West over the years. As well as running enet in Limerick for 12 years, I also served two terms as a director of the Shannon Foynes Port company. So, I think have a good understanding of the challenges associated with the region, and the region’s economic issues as well.” He said that there are reasons for optimism about the future of Shannon Group. “Over the years Shannon Group has contributed significantly to economic activity and growth …

WARM tributes have been paid on the passing of Scariff’s Seán Brogan, described as “a man who did so much in the course of his life”. Mr Brogan, of Cappabane, was Chairperson of Scariff GAA Club. He was widely known and highly respected in sporting and political circles across the county and further afield. On Sunday last, in Cusack Park, ahead of the meeting of Clare and Waterford in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship, supporters showed their respect during a minute’s silence. At his funeral mass on Monday (May 23) in Scariff, mourners shared fond memories of Mr Brogan’s many achievements and the impact he made on his community.  Requiem mass was concelebrated by Parish Priest, Fr Joe McMahon and Fr Brendan Moloney. Fr McMahon spoke of Mr Brogan’s “preoccupation with the GAA” and remembered him as “a man who did so much for the young people of the parish”. Tributes brought to the altar included a Scariff Hurling jersey, …

Clare finished at the summit of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship table after overpowering Waterford in their final home match of 2022 to complete an unbeaten group campaign and yet despite the contrasting form guide, it was still seen as a surprise. From the outside looking in, Clare, having blazed a trail safely through to a Munster Final showdown with Limerick with a game to spare, didn’t appear have much to play for outside of giving valuable game-time to new and recovering players. For Waterford however, off the back of two successive defeats, a stirring response was simply a prerequisite to back up their National League winning form and just stay alive in the championship. From the inside looking out though, nothing could be further from the truth as captain Cathal Malone, deputising for the rested Tony Kelly, outlined immediately afterwards. “Every match you get to play for Clare is valuable. You want to play every single game and win …

A hospital campaigner has claimed the reconfiguration of casualty services including the removal of 24-hour casualty cover from Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals has “failed dismally”. Addressing the hospital rally in Ennis on Saturday, Conor Reidy stressed people in the Mid-West need to protest on the streets for the upgrading of Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals as people could no longer be the government’s “guinea pigs” in their “failed experiment”. After outlining stories about his father Johnny Reidy’s colourful life, Mr Reidy claimed he was a “victim of the HSE” in his last months as an 89 year-old in 2018. The Nenagh Needs Its A&E Campaign representative recalled his father who was Type Two diabetic medical card patient was was often left waiting at the end of the queue at the Eye Clinic at UHL. When Mr Reidy queried a five-hour wait for his father one day, he was told by a clinic nurse that a senior medical person wanted the private …

Heading in to this Sunday’s TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship, Clare manager Evan Talty admits his side are trying to replicate the success of the county’s camogie side. With Clare travelling to face Down this Sunday, Talty wants his charges to show the same grit and determination during their Championship campaign that the camogie side have displayed thus far. In recent weeks, John Carmody and Conor Dolan’s side have pushed last year’s All Ireland finalists Cork to extra time in the Munster final, eventually losing 0-24 to 1-18. Then they struck the final two points of the game to pick up a share of the spoils against Tipperary in the opening round of the Glen Dimplex Senior Camogie Championship last weekend. The Kilmurry-Ibrickane clubman wants his side to show the same mettle in this Championship campaign, starting with Sunday’s tricky away assignment. “I’d have a good relationship with Conor (Dolan) with us having dual players. The Camogie team have …