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CBS Ennistymon held a CD launch in the town this week to kick off the school’s annual arts week which is packed as ever with workshops, performances and outings. The CD, launched in the Cheese Press on Monday, features three original songs written by the students, namely “The Burning of Ennistymon”, “Summer in Lahinch” and “Inis Oirr”. English teacher Eimear Griffey explained that the songs were written about places and feelings close to the students’ hearts, having learned about the local stories from their history teacher, John Galvin. She said, “We kept the songs about simple things, things the students could draw inspiration from through their own experience. “We were lucky enough to get the funding to take part in the Creative Engagement programme, and this was what this particular group decided to do with it with the help of our artist in residence John O’Connell.” Both the lyrics and the music were composed by the students, and Eimear attributed …

CONCERN has been expressed over the inspection rate for private accommodation rented with the support of the Council. The matter was raised by Councillor Johnny Flynn at the monthly local authority meeting, on foot of the Chief Executive’s Report. The Fine Gael member noted that while 1,000 private rental inspections had been completed, some had not been able to proceed. “It is very disappointing to read that a lot of scheduled inspections are being frustrated, genuinely or otherwise, at the last minute,” he said. “It is important to send a message that this work is being done on behalf of tenants. Unfortunately, they are not cooperating In some cases.” Director of Housing, Anne Haugh acknowledged that progress with inspections could be “frustratingly slow”. “We rely on the cooperation of landlords to access properties,” she said. “All relevant resources are being applied to meet the target. Over 1,000 have been done for 2022.” Ms Haugh said that virtual inspections are also …

SCOTTISH company Prestwick Aircraft Maintenance whose sole client is Ryanair is set to open a Shannon base, where up to 200 people will be employed.  The aircraft maintenance company provides services to the Irish carrier’s aircraft and will take on a hangar that had previously been used by Lufthansa, but has been vacant more recently.  It would be a significant jobs boost for Shannon, and it is understood that Shannon Group and Prestwick Aircraft Maintenance are close to signing a contract.  The company already employs around 500 at Prestwick Airport in Scotland and around 1,300 at other locations around Europe. Clare TD Joe Carey said that getting the company to Shannon is very welcome. “This is very positive news for Shannon and the whole aircraft maintenance sector locally. The Mid West had a blow last year when Lufthanasa Technik Shannon announced they were to cease operations, but thankfully Atlantic Aviation Group came in and acquired a large part of that …

COUNTY Clare has been included in an orange fire hazard warning by the Department of Agriculture. The warning is in place from this Monday, April 25 until Friday, April 29. The forecast dry, warm smell has prompted the warning with the high fire risk deemed to exist in all areas where there are hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse. The current low-pressure system located to the south of Ireland will gradually give way to high pressure centred over Ireland as the week progresses. Continued largely dry weather will continue to influence flammability of fuels until at least Friday of this week. Fire behaviour and rates of spread are likely to be influenced by light wind speeds and higher temperatures as the week progresses. While lower windspeeds are forecast, humidity levels below 50% RH may influence more difficult fire behaviour in many areas. While some light rainfall is forecast in coming days, this …

Two American octogenarians have gone on trial accused of criminal damage and trespass at Shannon Airport on St Patricks Day three years ago, leading to the closure of a runway, writes Isabel Hayes. Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), both with addresses in the US, are accused of damaging a perimeter fence before allegedly trespassing the lands of the Co Clare airport, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard this Monday. The pair, who were wearing high vis vests bearing the words ‘Veterans for Peace’, walked on to a taxiway at the airport, causing airport personnel to close the runway for a period of time, Tony McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting, told the jury. A plane which was due to land at the airport was unable to do so for the course of that warning, the court heard. Mr Mayers and Mr Kauff have each pleaded not guilty to three counts in relation to the alleged incident. Mr Mayers, of Monte Alte Road, …

A STRIKINGLY original artist working in the field of jazz, folk, and contemporary music, Edel Meade will be in Glór on Thursday, April 28. Described as the “most courageous Irish album of the year” in The Irish Times, Brigids and Patricias Edel’s stunning new solo album was released on International Women’s Day 2021. Her new collection of original songs and spoken word reflects on what it means to be a woman living in 21st century Ireland. Shaped by Irish history, folklore and contemporary society, the album draws on the stories and experiences of Irish women including Tipperary woman, Bridget Cleary, Limerick aviatrix Lady Mary Heath and contemporary trailblazing women including Catherine Corless and Vicky Phelan. Standout songs include Song For Bridget Cleary, (Bridget Cleary was burnt alive by her husband in 1895, not far from where Meade grew up in Co. Tipperary, although he insisted she had been taken away by the fairies!). Long Way To Go is a provocative …

As part of the Creative Engagement Programme 2021-22, Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon has been exhibiting work completed by its Transition Year and fifth year students. The exhibition, named ‘Transcendence in the Landscape – Painting with Emotion and Memory’, was created in response to the local environment of the students, with help from artist Sara Foust. Alongside the art teacher Ellen McMahon, the students collaborated with Sara through a range of workshops carried out throughout the duration of the project. Ellen said, “The school gets involved in the Creative Engagement programme every year. It involved the full group of TYs and five fifth year art students. “Sara came up with a plan for us and the workshops took place out at her gallery, before moving out into the landscape to make work from that with Sara’s work as inspiration.” Each of the workshops focused on the different aspects of Sara’s work, including concepts and processes, application of paint and her use of …

WAR and spiralling costs have put the focus firmly on our dependence on fossil fuels and accelerated the pace of the hunt for alternatives. In East Clare, a pilot project looking at the potential of ‘biomass’ is nearing a conclusion and exciting results are set to boost the case for the use of organic matter, like rushes, as fuel and fertiliser. The Biomass to Biochar project, headquartered close to Mountshannon, is a European Innovation Partnership (EIP) funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. It has been investigating the treatment of biomass created from rushes to turn it into what is called ‘biochar’. a charcoal-like substance which can work as a fertiliser. Briquets for domestic use have also been developed. Farmers are paid to supply rushes and can qualify for carbon credits. Not only that, but the urgency of investing in carbon removal, in the interests of the climate change, has …