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HOME for Natalia (25) and Pedro (28) is now at the Oakwood in Shannon, having left their native Lviv after Russia’s invasion. Also with them are Natalia’s 16-year-old brother and her six-year-old sister. At the moment her brother is still getting online education from Ukraine just as Irish children did during the various lockdowns, while her sister is one of 13 Ukrainian children at St Conaire’s. While both want to return to Ukraine as soon as will be possible, Natalia is delighted with the welcome they have received in Shannon. “It’s lovely here. We have a place to stay, food, schools, English classes, everything we need is here.” Her parents are still at home in Ukraine, and due to the nature of their jobs in a medical company there, they cannot leave. Pedro’s father is also still at home, but his mother and sister have left for Italy, where they have relatives. Pedro himself was already out of Ukraine by …

Munster Under 20 Football Championship Quarter-Final Clare 3-15 Tipperary 2-5 It’s 26 years since Clare last beat Tipperary at this grade but one would be forgiven for thinking the derby relationship was quite the opposite as the Banner eased into the Munster Under 20 Football Semi-Finals in Hennessy Memorial Park in Miltown Malbay on Monday evening, reports Eoin Brennan. To say it was one-sided was an understatement as Clare could afford to kick 12 wides and still soar 17 points clear by the hour mark. The powerful spine of joint-captains Fionn Kelleher and Eoin Rouine, Cooraclare duo Brian McNamara and Micheál Garry along with Brendy Rouine and the roving Sean McNamara excelled but one could easily add Shane Griffin, Eoin Walsh, Odhran Cunningham and indeed the rest of the collective such was their utter superiority throughout. Granted, the challenge will get infinitely harder next Monday when Kerry roll into town but simply on the merits of this opener alone, it …

Eoin Brennan previews Clare’s opener in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship against Tipperary in Semple Stadium Thurles tomorrow WITH the championship already underway, the Clare minor hurlers are immediately embroiled in a group decider when making their competitive bow against Tipperary in Semple Stadium on Tuesday evening. With the Banner having a bye while the Premier County edged a compelling opening battle with Waterford on away soil this week, Clare will have to hit the ground running on Tuesday evening to get up to championship speed. However, with former county senior captain Brian O’Connell at the helm along with former senior managers Cyril Lyons and Donal Moloney, Clare aren’t short of experience or leadership from the sidelines as they prepare to enter the championship fray. Even if O’Connell admits that most of that experience isn’t “I’m a complete novice at it but I’ve been involved with this team since Under 15’s,” admits Wolfe Tones clubman O’Connell. “I’m living in Oranmore …

SPANCILHILL Fair has secured an eleventh hour reprieve with confirmation that insurance cover has been secured for the world-famous event.  For the last two years, thousands of dedicated traders were deprived of one of the most important horse fairs in the calendar, due to the pandemic. Hope were high that the internationally renowned and centuries-old fair would return this year, offering the opportunity to mark the 400th anniversary of the event, which fell in 2021. Insurance concerns threw a spanner in the works and the difficulty in securing cover the event was flagged in the Dáil by Deputy Michael McNamara.  At this afternoon’s (April 11) meeting of Clare County Council, it was announced that cover has now been secured. The Council’s CEO, Pat Dowling, confirmed – to a round of applause from the chamber – that the event will go ahead in June. The news followed a cross-party motion tabled by Councillors Clare Colleran Molloy, PJ Kelly, Pat Hayes, Pat …

THE Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society will reopen the doors to one of south Galway’s premier attractions, after a two-year closure, on Easter Saturday, April 16. Plenty of work has been going on behind the scenes at Thoor Ballylee during these challenging two years – on the thatch, the mill, and most recently, on the Tower during the spring clean-up. “We wish to thank our many helpers, contractors, and volunteers who are primed and ready, and excited to welcome you back,” said a spokesperson for the society. In the run up to the spring reopening, the Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society is premiering a series of short new films about WB Yeats and Galway. These short films highlight places in County Galway that were important to Yeats and that feature in some of his finest poems, from ‘The Tower’ to ‘Coole and Ballylee 1931’. “Working with the Spot-lit programme for literary tourism, the society has been grateful to benefit from their expertise, …

The vagaries of race-riding were never more clearly illustrated than at Naas recently, where in-form local jockey, Mark McDonagh, picked up a nasty injury in a freak accident. McDonagh went through an unbelievable spell in recent times where his glorious haul included a Cheltenham Festival winner, but he now faces a race against time to be back in the saddle for the start of the high-profile Punchestown Festival on Tuesday, April 26. He told The Clare Champion, “Unfortunately, it looks like I’ve broken my shoulder blade (scapula). It was just a freak accident when my horse (Barnwick) was brought down on the flat in the bumper. “A horse slipped-up in front of us and there was no blame attached to anyone involved. It was just one of those things. A fall on the flat is actually worse than a tumble over jumps. “At least over hurdles or fences you have that second or two to brace yourself for the impact, …

A UNION has warned that further industrial action may be initiated this Thursday, April 14 following a recent one-day work stoppage, if a company doesn’t implement a Labour Court recommendation. SIPTU members employed in LISK Ireland Ltd commenced a campaign of industrial action at its manufacturing plant in Gort on Monday, April 4, with a work stoppage that began at 8am and concluded at 12 midnight. LISK Ireland’s 150,000 square foot facility is home to both manufacturing and sales of control devices, solenoids and solenoids valves since 1979. SIPTU organiser Stephen Lavelle said members placed pickets at the entrance to the plant on Monday morning. “Our members were left with no option but to begin industrial action due to a management refusal to respect a Labour Court recommendation that the company engage in negotiations with their union. “Management has ignored several invitations from SIPTU representatives to discuss and resolve concerns its members have expressed in relation to their terms and …

QUESTIONS have been asked over why the national award winning volunteers of Ennis Tidy Towns were omitted from a planned mayoral reception organised by the Ennis Municipal District. Councillor Mary Howard, a member of Ennis Tidy Towns, raised the matter under Any Other Business at the monthly meeting of the local authority. She stated she had been “surprised” not to see the Ennis volunteers among the list of people to be honoured at the reception. The councillor asked “was this a genuine oversight or was there a reason? I can’t work it out”. She pointed out that the work of the Ennis Tidy Towns is done by volunteers, many of whom have been involved for decades and she would like to see their work acknowledged. However, Mayor of Ennis Councillor Ann Norton assured that the Ennis Tidy Towns groups would be honoured at a reception being given by Clare County Council. Councillor Howard replied that the volunteers are from Ennis …