Breaking News

Banner 5-9 Feakle-Killenana 0-5 Banner GAA club continue their winning ways as they proved too strong for Feakle/Killanena in the feile C final played in Tulla on Bank Holiday Monday. Based on semi-final results over the weekend the odds favoured a win for the Ennis side with the emerging talents of Scott O’Loughlin-Kelly and Cailum Henchy leading the way. Feakle/Killanena with a younger side at their disposal had achieved much in reaching the final. The Banner started the game on the frontfoot with positive attacking play with the simple ploy of fast unhindered delivery of the ball into O’Loughlin-Kelly on the edge of the square. His first effort went over the bar with less than a minute played. The first goal was created by a 70metre delivery from Eoin Fitzpatrick that reached O’Loughlin-Kelly who finished with power past Simon Periera in the Feakle/Killanena net. Fitzpatrick and O’Loughlin-Kelly ensured there was no let off for the East Clare side as they …

The Committee of the Shannon Town Community Wetlands last week welcomed and worked alongside volunteers from SES Ltd, a local aircraft engine leasing company, based in a major practical conservation outing. Prior to Covid the company had been in touch with an offer of assistance, and their offer finally became a reality on a gloriously sunny April morning.  After initial introductions the group were welcomed on site by Olive Carey of the Shannon Town Community Wetlands gave a brief outline of the history of the project. Ruairí Ó Conchúir, Community Water Officer with the Local Authority Waters Programme also gave an overview of the importance of wetland sites and then gave outlined the planned work for the day, keeping in mind health and safety considerations. Working with Ruairí and voluntary members of the Shannon Wetland Committee a group of about 15 broke into work teams and set about a general site clean-up, including litter picking, removal of all materials from …

A 71-year old west Clare man has pleaded guilty to the assault causing harm of a brother-in-law in a dispute concerning an animal. At Ennis Circuit Court this Monday, Flan McNamara pleaded guilty to the assault causing harm of Tom Casey on June 3 2020 contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act at Carrowreagh West, Cranny, Kilrush. Mr McNamara of Carrowreagh West, Cranny, Kilrush also faced a separate charge of producing an ash-plant capable on inflicting serious injury during the course of a dispute at Carrowreagh West, Cranny, Kilrush on the same date contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. Counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly BL told the court that the plea to the assault causing harm charge is acceptable and that a nolle prosequi would be entered concerning the second charge as the State was not proceeding with the charge. Mr Connolly stated that the sentencing hearing will …

Entries for the Irish Food Awards, Blas na hÉireann, in which Clare producers have enjoyed significant success, will close on Friday May 20. This year’s awards ceremony will be the first in-person event in two years and will take place as usual in Dingle over the last weekend in September, kicking off on Friday the 30th. Regarded by many as a key event in the Irish food industry’s calendar, Blas na hÉireann, like so many others, celebrated their finalists and winners online over the past two years leaving a significant gap in the food and drink calendar. “We’re absolutely delighted to be planning our awards in Dingle this year,” says Blas na hÉireann Chairman, Artie Clifford. “We were lucky to have been able to move quickly in 2020 and while we were in a position to run our judging throughout the summer months in the last two years, we weren’t able to welcome everyone together for the networking and awards. …

The Garda Water Unit has joined the search for a man believed missing at a popular beauty spot in County Clare. The alarm was raised on Sunday evening when Gardaí were notified that a car had been located at the Bridges of Ross on the Loop Head peninsula and may have been there for several days. Gardaí visited the scene and after taking the details of the car, commenced efforts to identify and locate its owner. Gardaí established from speaking to locals that the car may have been parked in the area for almost a week. Gardaí also learned that the man, an experienced cave diver, had gone to the area possibly to explore a local cave. It’s understood the man is Eastern European but has been living in Ireland for some time. The Kilkee unit of the Irish Coast Guard and Gardaí carried out a search of the area where the man’s car was found late last night. The …

CONCERNS over the pressure of forestry and farming activities on the catchment of Lough Graney in North East Clare have prompted its selection for an EU-funded project.  The Lough Graney catchment, which is made up of eight water bodies, is to benefit, alongside five other catchments nationally, from inclusion in the Waters of LIFE project. The scheme was launched last week in Kilmallock, County Limerick, by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan.  Managed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the strategic project involves 16 partners including government departments, State agencies, local authorities, and local development companies, with an overall budget of €20 million.   The aim of the project, which will run until 2028, is to reverse the long-term trend of decline in Ireland’s “high status” waters. High status rivers are those considered to be in pristine condition and rich in biodiversity and Ireland is one of a small number of EU …

ARDNACRUSHA was the starting point for the highly successful second annual charity cycle organised by O’Neill Industrial to highlight the issue of homelessness.  The event, in aid of Mid-West Simon, saw 75 cyclists set out from South East Clare at 9am and cover 75 kilometres through Broadford, Mountshannon and down to Killaloe.  A warm sunny day created ideal conditions and made the scenery all the more beautiful along the shores of Lough Derg.  Organisers expressed “a massive thank you” to all the cyclists and volunteers as well as BikeMarshals.ie and St John’s Ambulance for keeping everyone safe and making the day such a success. The cycle ended at 2pm with a barbeque at McMahon’s Bar Ardnacrusha, with a vibrant atmosphere and glorious sunshine. Michael O’Neill, Sales Director at O’Neill Industrial said the organisation was pleased to support Mid-West Simon. “We are absolutely delighted with the charity cycle, such was the demand, that I had to close the online Eventbrite bookings a week …

POST Covid-19 restrictions there is a significant shortage of labour across the economy, according to Joe Robbins of CareerWise Recruitment, which operates from Shannon, as well as having bases in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Mayo. While many jobs in the western world went to China over the last 30 years, he says that trend is now being reversed, which is leading to more jobs here, but they aren’t necessarily easy to fill. “It’s called in-sourcing, they’re trying to bring stuff away from China and to become less reliant on China. Obviously it’s leading to inflation, but more importantly in the long run it’s going to mean a lot more opportunities for the likes of Ireland to supply the big multinational companies. In fairness during Covid we kept everything going as a country, which was great. “A lot of the American corporates were very impressed that the Irish subsidaries kept everything going. That’s one big factor that’s going to lead to …