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Breaking News

The dream shall never die

The huge turnout at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at St Joseph’s Church in Ennis last Friday reflected the popularity of the Killimer-born businessman, who gave over 40 years of service to the promotion of Gaelic Football in Ennis, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh. Pat Fitzpatrick loved his politics, be it locally or nationally and that’s why at General Election time he’d regularly decamp to Dublin to canvas for his Killimer cousins Pat Upton and Mary Upton in their Dublin South Central constituency. You can be sure he helped them win election to Dáil Éireann; by dint of his charm, his smile and most of all by his handshake that brought people into his world. He brought these same qualities to business on the Tulla Road where he was based since the mid-1970s when establishing Banner Motors with his brother-in-law Noel Glynn, after cutting his teeth in the industry in Ted Sheils’ on the Gort Road from the late 1960s. And …

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Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience unveils new brand identity

A BRAND identity for the Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience was unveiled this week as the landmark projects continues to advance. At the end of next month, a further funding application will be made to progress the project beyond the design stage. The work of consultants, Design Works, was showcased at a presentation on Monday last (March 14). The brand identity focuses on the symbolism of the archways of the island’s ecclesiastical buildings and highlights the theme of transformation linked with stepping through these portals. At the briefing, chaired by Tourism Officer Joan Tarmey, Project Manager Tom MacKey, from Tobin Consulting Engineers briefly outlined some of the work to-date. Mr MacKey coordinates a team that includes Design Works, McCullough Mulvin Architects and Tandem Partners. “We’re currently focusing on on detailed design for the re-purposing of The Old Rectory building,” he said. “In general, we’re hoping to be in a position to have a contractor on site mid-summer to start working with …

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Lidl plans labelled a ‘threat to town centre’

PLANS by Lidl Ireland to develop a €20 million new store and mixed use development in Ennis “represents a significant threat to the vitality and viability of the town centre and should not be permitted,” according to the representative organisation for the independent retail grocery trade in Ireland. The Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association RGDATA have lodged an objection to the development, which according to Lidl will create 30 local jobs along with 100 more during construction. Lidl unveiled plans last year for the new store and mixed-use development at the junction of the Clare Road (R458) and Toberteascain Road, which if given the go-ahead will include 20 residential apartments, a café and two commercial units. In its objection to the plans RGDATA state it supports new shops and new formats in town centres and retail zones. However, it goes on, “RGDATA is particularly concerned with the planning implications of such a large scale retail development at this ‘out-of-town’ …

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Chance of recession depends on length of Ukrainian conflict warns financial expert

INFLATION was a reality before the invasion of Ukraine, but the war is going to exacerbate it significantly, says Tommy Corbett of Ennis based Carey Corbett Financial Solutions. “We’ve had inflation for the last 12 months, mainly driven by supply chain side and the disruption of supply chains on goods coming from afar. There was also pent up demand. “People hadn’t spent money during Covid, and when it was finished they had a lot more money in their pockets and tended to spend a bit more. But from now on what’s happening in Ukraine is going to drive it even further. Things like wheat will come into play and the supply of gas and oil is going to dry up and that’ll drive things even further.” The rise in petrol and diesel prices is one of the starkest reminders, he feels. “It’s hitting home when you got to the pumps and see it’s €2 or even €2.14 or €2.15 a …

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Lahinch Mourns Death of Community Leader

  PEOPLE in Lahinch are mourning the loss of a community leader following the passing of Tomsie O’Sullivan. The long serving community activist died at his residence in Doonboy, Station Road, Lahinch, on St Patrick’s Day. After reposing in Lahinch Church on Friday, his Funeral Mass took place on Saturday morning before burial afterwards in the Old Cemetery, Ennistymon. While Tomsie was involved with numerous community organisations for decades, he is synonymous with the RNLI, who presented him with a Long Service Award for reaching 58 years with the organisation last September. The RNLI was very much a family affair as Tomsie’s children used to help him with church gate collections and flag days.   In an interview with the Clare Champion last year, Tomsie estimated the Lahinch branch used to raise between €6,000 to €8,000 annually over a 28-year period. Born in Main Street, Tomsie’s father, Thomas, who was a carpenter fell off a roof in the early fifties …

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‘I don’t want to die during the war’

Ukrainian teenager pleads with her mother prior to fleeing bloody conflict A Ukrainian refugee, who is now living in Ennis, has revealed her eldest daughter asked to be killed because she didn’t want to die during the bloody war. Maryna Biriukova-Stefaniuk is one of five Ukrainian adults and five children who are now residing with her friend Mariya Nikishanova in Park Avenue, Ennis. The 35 year-old mother was forced to flee Kyiv with her two daughters, Anna-Mariya (9) and Solomiia (13) due to safety concerns. In a heart-wrenching interview with The Clare Champion, Maryna said she wanted to stay close to her husband but her eldest daughter, Solomiia started crying and pleaded with her “please kill me because I don’t want to die”. “She was hysterical, she couldn’t stop crying and was hiding under a coat. It was very very scary. There were lots of tears. We decided we would leave. We had 30 minutes to pack all of our …

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