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FUNDING of €4.3 million has been announced for Shannon Airport under the Regional Airports Programme 2022. Welcoming the allocation by Hildegarde Naughton TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Shannon Group CEO Mary Considine said the funding was very welcome as the airport continued its recovery. “The funding for Shannon Airport announced today by Minister Naughton will enable the airport to invest in vital infrastructure and rebuild in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ms Considine. “While we have made good strides in restoring air services at Shannon with 26 services to 11 destinations for summer 2022 secured, there is still a challenging few years ahead for the aviation sector. We are grateful for this Government support and will use it to continue to fund vital improvements to our airport infrastructure.” Positive news for @ShannonAirport of €4,347,750 Capital Allocation Funding announced by Min @1Hildegarde. Continued investment & promotion of the airport crucial for Clare & Mid West …

THE REGULATOR of planning, Niall Cussen, is to address councillors, amid ongoing concerns over the impact of regional and national strategies on rural Clare. A motion inviting the CEO of the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) was tabled by Councillor PJ Kelly. The Lissycasey man, a long-time advocate for rural development, was described by Councillor Gerry Flynn as “our own expert in terms of planning”. Outlining the motion, Councillor Kelly noted Mr Cussen’s close connections to Clare. “Planning law is very complex and we now have to deal with the OPR’s views and other regulatory guidelines,” he said. Describing the issues that have arisen, particularly in relation to the growth of rural Clare, during the drafting of the Development Plan for 2023-2029, the Fianna Fáil member remarked, “Many questions have been asked, but not answered.” The motion was seconded by Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, who described moves to invite Mr Cussen as “very positive”. Referring to a response to …

Eoin Brennan previews the Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 3 clash between Clare and Waterford at Cusack Park, Ennis There was a real sense of deflation for Clare as they left Semple Stadium with nothing to show for their efforts in a game they felt that they were seemingly in control of. However, Tipperary’s quickfire brace of second half goals did reveal a lot about Clare’s pack as some stood up to the challenge while others faltered under the increased intensity. Being a first outing, it was hardly going to be a perfect competitive bow anyway and manager Brian O’Connell only has to consult fellow mentors Cyril Lyons (seniors reaching All-Ireland Final in 2002) and Donal Moloney (winning 2010 Munster Minor title) about bouncing straight back from opening defeats. However, with two guaranteed matches remaining, a victory may not a prerequisite against Waterford on Tuesday evening but it would certainly grease the wheels ahead of the quarter-finals according to manager …

In the third instalment of our climate change series Noirin Lynch, Traditional Singer and Director of FCJ Spirituality House, Spanish Point tells Bridget Ginnity that community and co-operation are key to our success I HAD what I call a “head moment” when I first read Laudato Si in 2015. That’s the papal letter by Pope Francis on climate change. I realised then that the climate crisis is serious but there’s a difference between the head moment and the heart moment. Even though Laudato Si was convincing, I wasn’t really emotionally engaged. Shortly afterwards I moved to Dublin to run a spirituality centre, and unexpectedly found myself in the heart of nature. The place was incredibly beautiful, with amazing 200-year-old trees and wonderful planting of flowers and shrubs by a sister now in her nineties. We had hedgehogs, squirrels, foxes, all kinds of birds. When I became aware of the seasons of nature, it transformed me. Something in me moved from …

ENNIS Scouts have paid tribute to members of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service for the fundraising support they received for their new Scout Hall. The Fire and Rescue Services raised a substantial amount of money for the development of the Scout Hall on Station Road with a collection day in Ennis pre-Covid. On the day firefighters parked emergency tenders in the Square, showed some of their equipment and offered fire safety advice while also collecting donations for the scouts. Ennis Scouts have recently thanked the Clare County Fire and Rescue Service for their support with Station Officer JP McGrath accepting a plaque on behalf of the service. Fire fighter Danny Keller tells us that the service were “delighted” to be able to help support the Ennis Scouts in their development of the new modern scout hall. He also acknowledged the generosity of the people of Ennis in their donations to the cause on the day.

AN Ennis sporting club which has to travel to Limerick to play matches is hoping an upcoming fundraising event will help achieve its dream of building its own multi-sport facility which will also benefit the wider community. Established in October 2019, Ennis Hockey Club came from the love of hockey with the driving force behind the club a group of volunteers passionate about the sport and bringing this sport to kids and adults of Clare. It is the club’s ambition to build a multi-sport 2G facility in Ennis where they can play, compete and develop the next generation of people passionate about this Olympic sport. As well as members having to travel to Limerick for home matches, club trainings are currently held either at the CBS School or at the Planet Entertainment Centre however the surface of these pitches is not really suitable for the game. A spokesperson for the club explained, “The support has been great. However, none of …

RECORD overcrowding at the Mid-West’s main hospital has been strongly condemned at a meeting of Clare County Council, with an urgent call for a new regional facility for elective procedures. A motion from Councillor Johnny Flynn at April’s meeting called for a public, electives-only hospital, “in light of the record trolley numbers, lack of bed and clinical capacity at UHL”. The Fine Gael member said it would be “a failure of government” if no such facility was provided, given the worsening issues at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), in terms of emergency care and the growing waiting lists for elective procedures. “Everyone is very familiar with the Teamwork Report, published in 2009, because it recommended the closure of three Emergency Departments,” Councillor Flynn said. “At that time, they had combined admissions of 39 people per day. In March 2022, that figure was 245. In January 2012, there were 304 people on trolleys and that was considered to be an emergency. “In …

THERE were over four thousand people signing on the live register in Clare last month, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office. Its figures show that there were 3,850 people signing on in February, but this went up to 4,120 in March. There were 2,053 people on the live register attached to the Ennis Social Welfare Office in March, almost half the county’s total. The number signing on in Ennis was up by almost 200 on the February figure. The number in Ennistymon increased by 36 in March to 779. In Kilrush the number increased by just 10, from 698 to 708. In Tulla the number increased by 30, from 550 to 580. The last payment of the PUP was made on March 29, and people out of work would have been transferring to jobseekers benefit from then. As recently as February 8, 1,608 people were still receiving it in Clare. Despite the numbers on the live register, there …