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Scariff are preparing for yet another Munster Final after making an impressive bow against Limerick champions Blackrock by 2-11 to 0-9 in the Killeedy Junior B series. With Scariff-Ogonnelloe securing two of the last three Munster Senior camogie crowns and the hurling club’s flagship team denied a provincial opportunity due to COVID in 2020, Scariff’s second string took up the mantle. The team admirably bridged a near five month gap since their county final victory over Sixmilebridge to take out a Blackrock side that had 15 points to spare in their quarter-final [against Waterford’s Forumilewater seven days previously. A strong wind dictated matters throughout but it was a Cian Foley goal at either end of the tie that effectively shaped the outcome. Quickest to react to a Mikey Duggan save from a Conor Downes shot in only the fourth minute, Foley’s second was a worthy clinching score as he cut in from the left to rifle to the net and …

THE Russian ambassador to Ireland Yuri Filatov should be sent home, Senator Timmy Dooley believes, having been part of a campaign of misinformation in the build-up to his country’s invasion of Ukraine.  “I’m very slow to say things like that, I’m not given to that kind of carry-on, calling for people to be expelled, but I just think it has reached a threshold beyond which general diplomacy isn’t relevant. He has told lies all the way through. What purpose does it serve any of us having an actor in place who is not telling the truth?  “We’ve often had countries like that, but the ambassador would shut his mouth, he’d stay back from the front line and would remain behind the scenes and act as a back channel to the jurisdiction. “Of course they’d represent their country, but if they couldn’t tell you the truth they’d say nothing. This fella’s actions and his utterances were absolutely part of the campaign …

CLARE artist Thomas Delohery has been selected as a finalist for a prestigious Australian portrait prize. Delohery’s portrait of actor Jared Harris is in the running for the Percival Portrait Prize 2022 which carries a $40,000 prize. The final exhibition opens on April 22. Harris whose credits include Chernobyl, Mad Men and The Crown among many others sat in person for Delohery in Limerick City in 2015. Delohery did two drawings from life of Harris and has done various paintings of the actor since returning to Australia. The last one he only finished a few months ago which is now in the running for the Percival prize. “Jared posed a bit of a challenge on the day of the sitting,” Delohery explained, “He is one of the hardest working Actors in Hollywood so he has trouble sitting still, a lot of nervous energy. “I knew what I wanted from the sitting and Jared takes direction really well which explains why …

A FAMILY who left Ennis in recent years have opened their hearts, and their home, close to the Polish / Ukraine border to those fleeing the Russian invasion. Marcin Piotrowski and his wife Marina Sestasvili-Piotrowska who lived in Ennis for more than a decade with their children have been playing a key role in providing support to Ukrainian people escaping the conflict. As well as giving Ukrainians refuge in their guest house Chutor Gorajec in Poland, just a few kilmotres from the border, they have also been co-ordinating the gathering and distribution of vital supplies including food, tents, medicines and blankets for those still waiting to cross the border. Marcin and other volunteers regularly cross the border into Ukraine to bring donations to those in need, while Marina looks after those who have come to their guest house seeking shelter. A warehouse has been set up to house the donations which have been flooding in from all parts of Poland …

AMERICAN accents will be heard around Clare more frequently from next Thursday, with transatlantic flights finally resuming from Shannon. With Americans well known as big spenders, it is great news for the Banner’s tourism sector, which has had to cope without them for the last two years. Maurice Walsh is general manager of Durty Nelly’s in Bunratty and he said the return of the Americans will be very welcome. “We are looking forward to it with anticipation. It’s going to be a great bonus to the airport and a great bonus to the area. The flights at Shannon at the moment are really just moving Irish people in and out of the country, but the American flights will bring the tourists back into the area.” He says that he expects business to pick up significantly. “We have a lot of bookings at the start of next week. It’s the usual St Patrick’s Day rush that comes in through Shannon. They …

WITH her grandmother in a war zone, every day is filled with worry for Vlada Gorbunova, who lives in Ennis, having arrived in Ireland as a six-year-old child in 1997. “You’re constantly worried that you could get that phone call or text message, to say something happened. It could be the worst, or it could be that she lost her home where she’s lived for 40 years or more, that she has nowhere to go and I can’t give her a hand because I can’t get that deep into Ukraine. “It’s constant worry and constant stress and every time my phone rings I’m thinking it’s her ringing to say that something has happened,” she says. Her grandmother is in Luhansk, in the east of the country, and fighting is happening all around her. “I know they were shooting this morning, because when I rang her you could hear the gunfire behind her. She had to hang up very quickly and …

WEST Clare councillors are to write to the ESB to condemn the sourcing of coal from Russia for the Moneypoint power plant. It comes against the backdrop of sanctions taken by western nations against Russia over its attack on Ukraine. This coincides with the revelation that Russian coal accounted for almost all of the fuel consumed in Moneypoint in 2021. Responding to Clare Champion queries, the ESB outlined prior to 2021, electricity generation from Moneypoint had reduced significantly, requiring only small quantities of coal in those years. However, in 2021, a combination of factors saw an increase in electricity generation from Moneypoint to meet demand on the Irish electricity system, resulting in more than one million tons of coal being burned over that year. The ESB has seen that trend continue into the early part of 2022. “ESB sources coal for Moneypoint on international markets. Russian coal accounted for almost all of the coal consumed in Moneypoint in 2021,” the …

THE reopening of the night-time economy has seen an increase in public order offences, according to Clare’s most senior Garda. Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran outlined, at the most recent Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting, a sharp rise in public order offences and minor assaults. The figures relate to the months from last November to January. When compared to the same period in 2020/21, they show an increase of 54% in minor assaults, with public order offences up 27%.  “In terms of public order offences, for the three months up until the end of January 2021, there was 37,” the Chief told JPC members. “That has increased 27% up to 47, you’ll appreciate, as the night-time economy has opened. Those figures come with the opening up of society in general. The figures for the previous period were quite low, when compared to previous years.” By comparison, the number of assaults causing harm was less than ten and showed no change on …