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Eoin Brennan previews the All-Ireland secondary schools action this weekend with Ennistymon CBS and St Joseph’s Tulla looking to advance to the finals It’s All-Ireland Semi-Finals week in the senior post-primary schools competitions, with CBS Ennistymon leading the way with a commanding Senior C Football victory on Tuesday afternoon in the state-of-the-art Air Dome in Bekan. However, there’s wasn’t much time to soak up the unique atmosphere in the dome as once the final whistle went, the management team of Tara Rynne, Jason Daffy and Michael Clohessy were already plotting the hurling equivalent, once more against Ulster opposition in Dublin this Saturday. “We’re thrilled to be in an All-Ireland Final with this great bunch of players,” admitted Tara Rynne immediately afterwards. “I suppose we have a lot done between hurling and football in the last few weeks but have more to do. “There’s not much of a break until the All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final on Saturday so hopefully the momentum stays …

THERE was a broad welcome in Clare today for the allocation of €50,000 to Corofin under the latest round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The money will go towards a property feasibility study and streetscape enhancement plan; defining new use for an existing derelict building; public realm improvements and improvements to the tourist experience through signage strategy. The allocation is part of an overall €850,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development to support 19 rural regeneration projects across the country. “Today’s allocation of funding to the village of Corofin is the culmination of many months of hard work by the locals in the community,” said Deputy Cathal Crowe. “I’ve been out to visit the local residents and business owners and have seen first-hand the work that they’ve been doing, as well as their ambitious plans for the area. “I want to commend my colleague, Councillor Joe Killeen, who has been instrumental in leading this project and …

SINS of the Father, a book by local survivor of sexual abuse Shaneda Daly has just hit the shelves. In 2011 Shaneda’s father Harry, who worked as a prison officer for years and who is formerly of Lanna, Lisycasey, pleaded guilty to 227 sample charges of offences including rape, indecent assault and sexual assault.  While he received a 15-year sentence, in reality the time served was far shorter and Shaneda has been a prominent voice in recent years, seeking reform and mandatory sentencing. Shaneda had been faced with very frequent sexual abuse from the age of five until she turned 17 and moved out of home.  In an interview with the Clare Champion in 2018 she said, “When I was 17, me and my brother had a fight. I went down to the Garda station and it came out in the Garda Station. The next day my father left the house for a year, supposedly to get therapy. “Then he …

WALK-IN Covid-19 vaccine clinics have now been extended to the 5-11 age group, and will be offered alongside scheduled clinics in the Mid-West from this Friday. The clinics will be available at the three Mid-West Covid-19 vaccination centres all this weekend, from Friday March 4 to Sunday March 6 and going forward. Parents are reminded that the vaccination centres in Ennis Hospital, Scoil Carmel Limerick and the Abbey Court Hotel Nenagh are healthcare settings, and, in line with national guidance, face masks should be worn when attending the facilities. This weekend, walk-in clinics for 5s-11s will be held in Ennis (Friday, 10am-4pm; Saturday, 1.30-4pm; Sunday 8.30-11.30am); Limerick (Friday, 8.30am-6.30pm; Saturday, 1.30pm-5pm; Sunday, 8.30am-12.30pm); and Nenagh (Friday, 1.30pm-6.30pm; Saturday, 8.30am-12.30pm; Sunday (1.30pm-5pm). Scheduled clinics for the 5-11 age group will continue at all three centres, and parents can book an appointment for their child at this address Walk-in clinics for all ages are added to the centre schedules all the time, …

NUMEROUS severe storms recently forced some residents of homes with pyrite to go to extreme lengths to secure their properties. The harsh weather conditions have also prompted fears that the condition of some houses has deteriorated even further in recent days.  Storm Eunice brought a Red weather warning for Clare recently and was followed by even more severe conditions during Storm Franklin the following weekend. In Kilksihen, Danny Moloney whose home has tested positive for pyrite, said the situation has been very frightening for himself and the three generations of his family who share the house. Mr Moloney’s home, which has been assessed by an expert engineer and had expensive core testing done to prove the presence of pyrite, has severe external and internal cracks.  “Things got so bad, at one stage last weekend, with the high wind, rain and hail that I had to get foam to block the wind coming in around the frame of the patio door,” …

TWO Clare teenage DJs are hitting the high notes after securing a record label for a joint production in the highly competitive music industry. Shayne Mulrooney, 16, is a DJ, music producer, radio presenter, who started releasing music at the start of 2020 and has gained support from a host of stations. Among them are Juice 1038, Gorgeous Fm, Global Radio Cork, Midlands 103, Deep Dance Amsterdam, Ibiza Stardust, Broke Fm, Spin South West and Spin 1038, BBC sounds, Beat 102 103, Iradio and many more besides. Dave Falconer, 16, who lives in Clarecastle, became a disc jockey at the age of 14 during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. The two DJs who are friends worked together on a music production “Do You Feel It”, which has just been released on Spotify and iTunes by DaCosta Records. Their goal is to secure regular work as DJs in night clubs and pubs. This was Dave’s first record label deal, having …

CENTENARY events for An Garda Síochána must avoid linking the force to the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD has insisted.  In 2020, when he was Mayor of Clare, Deputy Cathal Crowe initiated a boycott of the ill-fated national commemoration plan for the RIC. Last week, at a meeting of the local Joint Policing Committee (JPC), he warned against conflating An Garda with the RIC, which was set up during British rule in Ireland. Deputy Crowe’s remarks followed an outline by Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran of plans to mark the 100th anniversary of formation of the Civic Guards/An Garda Síochána in February 1922.  “I’m glad you’re holding commemorations,” he said. “We’re delighted with everything you do as a force. You should be very proud of your 100-year history, but your history began in 1922. “Please resist the minority effort to link yourselves to the Royal Irish Constabulary, because your lineage doesn’t belong there.” Referring to the first Garda …

Analog Devices is to invest €100 million over the next three years in a new custom built facility in Limerick that will see 250 new jobs created by 2025. ‘ADI Catalyst’, a 100,000 sq ft facility for innovation and collaboration will be located at its campus in the Raheen Business Park. Commenting on ADI’s latest investment, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said, “ADI’s ongoing commitment to Ireland, as witnessed over many decades, is to be celebrated today as we mark yet another significant milestone. In a world where technology continues to permeate every facet of our lives, continued investment in today’s modern digital economy has never been more important. ADI Catalyst further reinforces Limerick and Ireland’s position as both a manufacturing hub for semiconductors and a centre of excellence for innovation in Europe.” Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar said “Congratulations to the Analog Devices Inc team on this latest expansion, which will create 250 new …