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A North Clare family from both sides of the Atlantic will be reunited next week in Doolin for the Ireland premiere of an award-winning documentary about their family history. This film, showing on May 4 at Hotel Doolin, highlights the story of a traditional Gaelic clan of the Burren, the O’Dubhdaboreinn. The film, called ‘Burren Girl,’ (www.burrengirldoc.com) follows the quest of Irish American Rita Davern as she searches ancient records and wanders the Burren interviewing friends and distant relations to learn more about the land and people her grandmother left behind in 1887. Ms. Davern, who produced and directed the film, said, “I am excited to bring this film back home to the Burren, where the my family’s story began more than 1200 years ago. “Twelve people from the extended Davern branch, and a few filmmakers will also come over from Minnesota for the premiere. They are excited to finally meet the Davorens they encountered in the film. “Our ancestors …

“BRAVE decisions” on housing people fleeing Ukraine has been called for, as the numbers seeking refuge in Clare continue to rise.  Councillor Mary Howard, called at the April meeting of the local authority, for a centralised facility to coordinate the distribution of support to the 2,000 Ukrainians known to have come to Clare to-date. Responding to the government’s outline this week of proposals relating to accommodation, the Fine Gael member said the time had come to “stop talking and start doing”.  Earlier this month, Council CEO Pat Dowling told elected members that people are being accommodated at 16 venues in seven locations, but that the authority had been mandated to step-up its support efforts. This week, the Department of Housing has announced that a Director of Service level member of staff at each local authority, along with a small team, will be assigned to coordinate the local response to the crisis.  “We now need very brave decisions,” said Councillor Howard. …

THE decision not to include any representatives of Clare County Council to the new Shannon Estuary Economic Task Force has been criticised by Clare Senator Timmy Dooley, who said he is “shocked and frankly very disappointed”. Ten people are included on the Task Force, including Shannon Group CEO Mary Considine and Ennis-based business consultant Siobhan Dolan Clancy.  However there is no representative from Clare County Council, or indeed from the local authorities in Limerick and Kerry. The full membership of the taskforce is as follows: • Barry O’Sullivan (Chairperson) – formerly of J&J and current IDA Board Member • Mary Considine – CEO Shannon Group • Siobhan Dolan Clancy – Managing Director – SDC Business Consulting Ltd • Seán Hegarty – ESB Generation and Trading • Seamus Hoyne – Dean of Flexible and Work Place Learning – Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest • Pat Keating – CEO Shannon Foynes Port Company • Professor Eamonn Murphy – University of …

Ciarán Russell can never be accused of not being committed to the cause. Due to work commitments, the Garda had been commuting up and down from Dublin for training and games since rejoining the Clare panel in 2020. However, in February, Russell has been relocated and now works out of Mayorstone Park Garda Station in Limerick. The 30-year-old admits the move is a major help to his inter-county career as he no longer needs to endure the arduous road trips from the capital down to Clare. “I’m spending less time travelling and less time in a car so that’s better for the body. I’m able to train a lot more. I’d try travel up and down as much as I could but sometimes it might not have been possible. “Balancing everything is probably getting harder from when I started out. At the end of the day you make room for what you like doing. If you enjoy it you will …

RESEARCH by the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) shows that up to 18 housing estates in the county could have defective concrete blocks.  Dr Martina Cleary said that information received by the action group also suggests that up to eight public buildings could be affected. “We have had contact from people all over the county about suspected pyrite,” she said. “It is very important to say that this is suspected pyrite, as testing might not yet have been done in some cases. Our group has had contact and photos and videos sent in from people in every corner of Clare, and more people are coming forward all the time.” Clare County Council is still in a process of negotiation with the Department of Housing over a report submitted last July to make the case for inclusion in the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. Meanwhile, the scheme itself is being revised after a government decision last November. While homeowners had hoped …

With Championship season now in full swing, players from across the land are desperately trying to find that extra one per cent that can be the difference between victory and defeat. As more counties encounter the heat of Championship battle, the focus needed to compete and ensure a player is ready for peak performance has never been more important. With Cillian Brennan trying to recover from a hamstring injury sustained in his side’s league defeat to Meath, he has had enough to keep him occupied. However, throw in the fact that he is in the final stages of completing his PhD at Mary Immaculate College and it is easy to see why when initially questioned about his studies, Brennan admits the past few weeks have been hectic and the next few will be even more so. With his research exploring the experiences of PE specialism graduates as PE teachers and leaders in Irish primary schools, Brennan is passionate about the …

PARANORMAL investigators have captured an eerie image of what they believe is the spirit of a child at a window of the former Our Lady’s Hospital in Ennis. Paranormal Supernatural Investigations Ireland visited the site of the old Ennis Asylum last week where the took hundreds of photographs as well as video footage and voice recordings from outside. Among the images taken is the picture of a window with what they claim is a small child’s face in the bottom right corner. Richard Morrison, of Paranormal Supernatural Investigations Ireland insists, “I believe that building is very, very active paranormally without a doubt. Places like that are going to hold a lot of negative energy and that stonework is going to contain all that sadness.” The photograph was initially posted to social media by the group at the weekend without comment on what it could be, other than “a very interesting picture taken by ourselves at Ennis Asylum” and some of the history …

Eoin Brennan looks ahead to the latest round of the Clare Cup with some tasty duels in store Clare Cup Division 1A Round 5 Sixmilebridge v Cratloe at O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge, Friday 7pm (Rory McGann, Newmarket-on-Fergus) While their last Garneyside derby clash saw Sixmilebridge do their best to prevent Cratloe from winning the Clare Cup last July, this time the shoe is on the other foot as it’s Sixmilebridge that possess the only chance of making a late push for the knock-out stages. Ironically, a home victory would also send their neighbours deeper into relegation peril so it’s the perfect test for both and let’s not forget a repeat of the county final less than three years ago. Ballyea v Crusheen at Ballyea, Saturday 1.30pm (Niall Malone, Éire Óg) With honours even so far in Crusheen manager Kevin Sheehan’s duel with his native Ballyea in 2021, a new season inevitably brings renewed hope. A ten point Clare Cup victory is …