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Clare seek strength in unity as camogie campaign begins

Clare’s ongoing quest to dine at the top table of camogie takes an intriguing new direction in 2022 with the integration of junior and senior squads under a collective management team, writes Eoin Brennan. It’s not an innovative model as it has proven successful in other counties. However, in Clare’s case at least, an ill-fated initial attempt to field teams at both senior and intermediate in the county’s first season in the top tier in 2009 under Bertie Sherlock, seemed to leave a lasting scar. Those wounds were only tentatively healed when Ann-Marie McGann and Tim McGrath resurrected Clare’s second team five years ago and since that departure, there has been a growing pool of adult players proud to play for the Banner. Playing numbers were an issue in 2009 as was the additional work-load on management, with Clare in a much healthier position on both fronts this time around according to joint-manager John Carmody. “When you think about it, …

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Locals suffer as holiday homes and Air BnB lets abound in Clare

THE fact the local authority is prohibited from acquiring second hand houses means more and more properties will end up as holiday homes, a meeting of Clare County Council has heard.  Councillor Cillian Murphy put forward a motion asking that Clare County Council request that counties with large numbers of holiday homes be exempted from an embargo in place on acquiring houses. He said he knew of a case where a family had been reared in a local authority house. In recent times when the mother of the family had wanted to move away, she had gone to the Council first as she wanted another generation to have the option that her family had. However she was told that was not possible, as the the Council have been directed to focus on the construction of homes, and that there is a country wide embargo, with only 200 houses per annum to be purchased. Councillor Murphy said that in west Clare …

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Proposed new windfarm could power 35,000 homes

TWO wind farms with a total of 15 wind turbines could be located in close proximity to each other in South-East Clare after a developer unveiled new plans for another renewable energy development, writes Dan Danaher. EDF Renewables Ireland has announced plans to develop a 50 megawatt wind farm with up to seven turbines on land to the east of Broadford. The proposed Lackareagh Wind Farm, which could power more than 35,000 homes, will be located in the townlands of Killeagy and Shannaknock. The project team is currently gathering wind data and mapping the environmental constraints on site which will be used to create a preliminary wind turbine layout. Detailed environmental studies will also be carried out at the site, including ecology, noise, landscape and visual assessments. The results of these studies, together with feedback gathered in consultation with local communities, will be used to determine the final wind farm layout and number of turbines. This is in addition to …

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GALLERY: Back to school for Minister Eamon Ryan in Ennis

IT was back to school for Environment Minister Eamon Ryan when he visited Ennis last week. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport paid a visit to Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg where he joined in with their walking bus. The walking bus has proven to be a massive success with pupils at the Gort Road primary school since its introduction two years ago. And on Friday the Green Party Minister got to see first hand how the children have been doing their bit to help the environment by walking to school. During the visit the minister also spoke with principal Dónal Ó hAiniféin on the importance of cycle lanes for the town, as well plans for the school’s new extension. Mr Ó hAiniféin told us,“Like other schools we have been dealing with traffic issues for many years, the dropping off and pick up in those 15 or 20 minute period when things are quite busy. “Instead …

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Security worker: ‘Tesco treating us like yesterday’s rubbish’

AN Ennis security worker who faces losing his job in the coming weeks as part of plans by Tesco to outsource nearly 100 security jobs says they are being treated “like yesterday’s rubbish”. Fredrik Osterberg has been working security in the Ennis branch of Tesco for over 16 years. Last week Tesco security workers were called into meetings and told their jobs were being outsourced with three options: severance payment; redeployment to other positions in their store, if available; or a transfer to OCS security services. Employees were told they had until March 1 to make a decision. The move has been condemned by Mandate Trade Union and SIPTU. Fredrik, a father of two young children, tells us, “We have done everything that the company has asked of us, we have always been loyal but it has just not been shown back to us. “I have had knives pulled on me, I’ve had a hatchet pulled on me. I’ve been …

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Ennistymon CBS one step away from historic double

ENNISTYMON CBS are just one win away from completing an historic double this weekend, writes Ivan Smyth The north Clare school face Tipperary’s Presentation Ballingarry in the Munster Post Primary Schools C final at UL’s north campus this Saturday (throw in 12.30pm). Last weekend, the Ennistymon school comfortably accounted for Dungarvan CBS in the Munster Post Primary Schools C football final. This Saturday they play in the hurling equivalent as they try to lift the Corn Risteard Uí Mhathúna. Manager Jason Daffy is proud to see the school compete on both fronts as he believes his charges are ready to produce a big performance against a Presentation Ballingarry side that will prove stiff opposition this Saturday. “It is a huge achievement for the school to get to both finals. Now we have won one so we would love to win this too. I’ve been part of the groups that have won 15s and 16 and a half at the D …

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Clare’s farming councillors give minister both barrels

WHILE Eamon Ryan wanted to stress how aware he is of the importance of farmers in preserving the environment, he would have been left with few illusions about how suspicious farmers are of his party after last week’s meeting. Councillor Pat Burke left little room for doubt where he stood when he addressed the meeting. “I’m a full time farmer and I’m not a fan of the Green Party” He claimed that the party is “very anti-rural” while he stressed the care that himself and many other rural dwellers have taken good care of their environment for many years. Councillor Burke said that he had contacted the office of Minister of State for Land Use & Biodiversity about ash dye back, but hadn’t heard anything at all in return. He also told the Minister that his department has been able to find money for cycle lanes and the likes around Ennis, but hasn’t been able to do anything for a …

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Ireland’s example guides Europe’s deliberative democracy

Over the last decade, Ireland has led by example, strengthening democracy through citizens’ assemblies. This has inspired the Conference on the Future of Europe – a citizens-led series of debates, which is now coming back to Ireland for more inspiration. The Conference takes place across borders and languages, across cultures and histories, aiming to leave no one behind. This weekend, Dublin Castle will host around 200 citizens from across Europe. These citizens, from all walks of life, will discuss Europe’s future, from the perspective of a ‘stronger economy, social justice, jobs, education, culture, sport, digital transformation’. Being European, means you are part of a unique, living project that enables everyone to reach their full potential and exercise their rights. It means living in societies that aim to maintain peace and unity, while appreciating and protecting our diverse backgrounds, cultures and languages. However, we cannot take this for granted. Democracy is not static and we should be able to respond to …

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