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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 …

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 …

SAINT Joseph’s Secondary School Tulla have raised the bar for other Clare schools to achieve hurling success following their fairytale first Harty Cup victory, according to Davy Fitzgerald. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Davy said St Joseph’s were well deserved winners over Ardscoil Rís in the Harty Cup final, having followed their meteoric rise all year. “I am a Clareman, you can’t get away from watching Clare teams and results. The one word I would use to describe St Joseph’s is resilience. They never gave in, they never gave in and fought on their backs. “That augurs well for young hurlers in Clare, the way St Joseph’s have led this. Hats off to them the way they fought on the field. St Joseph’s were underdogs on a few occasions, but just because you are underdogs doesn’t mean you are going to be defeated.” “That is what we want in Clare, they have given us that light, St Flannan’s …

SHANNON Commercial Properties has lodged a planning application for an Air Cargo hub and logistics/distribution facility, along with an office area. Part of the Shannon Group that owns and manages the Shannon Free Zone, Shannon Commercial Properties lodged the application for a one-storey, high-bay building. In the past Shannon Group has held talks with Amazon about the company opening a distribution facility in Shannon, but as yet it is unknown whether this proposed development is to accommodate them. In a statement to the Clare Champion a spokesperson for Shannon Group said, “The upgrade of our cargo facilities is part of our overall plans to enhance the facilities Shannon has to offer to cargo operators using the airport. “The 2,705m2 distribution facility will be located on a three-acre development site on what is regarded as one of the airport’s most prominent locations and will incorporate an additional 335m2 of office accommodation. This facility will provide direct landside/airside access. “The distribution facility …

The Bunratty International Chess Festival will be held online again this year as its host venue is undergoing refurbishments. The festival has been held every February since 1994 in the county Clare village and attracts hundreds of players each year from over a dozen countries. Organsiers says it has become the strongest weekend chess tournament in the world, attracting more grandmasters and top-level chess players than any other comparable tournament. Covid restrictions in 2021 meant that Bunratty moved online. Chess.com – the world’s no.1 chess website – hosted the 2021 tournament as a speed chess competition on its platform enabling thousands of players to enjoy a taste of the Bunratty experience while still in lockdown. This year’s Bunratty will once again take place online on chess.com on Saturday February 19, in advance of the full return of the in-person competition next year. Entry is free, but given the enormous demand last year, is being restricted to players who either participated …

Due to the Status Red wind warning issued by Met Éireann for Clare between 3am until 8am on Friday February 18, all outpatient appointments and elective procedures in Ennis Hospital are being cancelled. Impacted patients are being contacted directly by Ennis Hospital. A weather station at Moneypoint in Clare shows how winds decreased to almost dead calm as center of #StormEunice moved in but winds suddenly increasing again now. pic.twitter.com/wqWABCTBvi — Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) February 18, 2022 Vaccination clinics at the West County Hotel, Ennis are also postponed. Anyone affected by these cancellations will be notified as soon as possible about a rescheduled date. The Medical Assessment Unit in Ennis Hospital will operate as normal, as will the Injury Unit which will open from 8am to 8pm. Services at all other hospital sites in the Mid-West; University Hospital Limerick, Nenagh Hospital, St John’s Hospital, Croom Orthopaedic Hospital and University Maternity Hospital Limerick will operate as normal. Meanwhile Bus Éireann services …

A RECENT launch by Lough Derg RNLI to investigate a report of a kayaker in difficulty turned out to be a false alarm. Rather than an overturned kayak, a water board being used as a safety buoy by swimmers turned out to be the object of the calls Valentia Coast Guard had requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to investigate a report from a member of the public that a kayaker was in difficulty by Navigation Mark J, at the northern end of Lough Derg.   The lifeboat launched with helm Keith Brennan, crew Owen Cavanagh, Chris Parker and Tom Hayes on board. Winds were south-westerly Force 4 and gusting and visibility was good.  When the lifeboat arrived at Navigation Mark J, north of Gortmore, it began a thorough search of the area. From shore, two swimmers at Gortmore observed the lifeboat and called the RNLI boathouse in Dromineer, suspecting that the water-board which they had been using as a …

THE Clare COVID-19 Vaccination Centre is relocating from the West County Hotel back to the old outpatients department in the grounds of Ennis Hospital, opening for business on Friday of next week, February 25. The decision to relocate has been taken as the vaccination programme enters a new and steadier phase nationally, following the period of intense demand for booster doses prior to Christmas, amid the spike in transmission of the contagious Omicron variant of SARS CoV-2. A HSE spokesperson said, “As the relaxation of pandemic restrictions continues, Treacy’s West County Hotel, in common with hospitality businesses nationally, is in a position to resume regular business activities, and we wish them well in the time ahead, and sincerely thank them for providing UL Hospitals Group with the space necessary to deliver a large scale vaccination programme for the local population. “We anticipate that the centre at Ennis Hospital, which previously served as the centre from November 20th to December 22nd, …