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CLARE musician Johnny O’Loughlin this week presented the proceeds of a CD he recorded to Cahercalla Hospice. Johnny released ‘Iontas na Nollag’ prior to Christmas and donated the sales to Cahercalla in appreciation for the care his uncle in law, the late Kieran O‘Regan and his family received at the hospice. Johnny said, “I really enjoy performing and recording. Family members and my violin teacher Claire Egan helped me with the tracks. “I wanted to do something positive and I remembered the great care that my uncle-in-law Kieran O’Regan received in Cahercalla Hospice. “I’m delighted with all the support from family and friends, including some in America! We’re planning some great collaborations for our next CD,” he promised. Thanking Johnny for his valuable contribution, a spokesperson for Cahercalla Community Hospice said, “Everyone who comes through our doors is on a journey and they stay with us at various times along that journey. “At times, it is when they are in …

Laura Cronin tells Fiona McGarry how writing and poetry have helped her explore issues and navigate her life POETRY has proven to be a lifeline for a Killaloe woman in overcoming depression and breaking a cycle of pain sparked by childhood trauma. Two months before she came into the world, Laura Cronin’s father died by suicide and that loss sent ripples right throughout her life. At an early age, she developed a love of writing and turned to poetry to help her explore difficult issues and the sense of having been born “irreversibly broken”. Writing poetry proved to be cathartic and when Laura began to share poems on social media, she tapped into a network of people living through similar experiences. Delighted as she was with that connection, she could never have dreamed her Facebook page would lead to a publishing deal and the launch, this week, of her debut collection of poetry. “It’s a dream come true,” she said. …

A PLAQUE has been erected at the bandstand in the Town Park, in memory of the late Mike McKee. Mr McKee was a member of the Shannon Town Council for many years, while in 2014 he was the first Sinn Féin representative elected to Clare Council Council since the 1970s. While he retained his seat in 2019, he was seriously ill by the time of the election and died that November. Donna McGettigan was co-opted onto the Council in his place, and she said the plaque honouring Mike is a very suitable gesture. “It was proposed by PJ Ryan, just before I came onto the Council, he proposed naming the bandstand after Mike, which was very appropriate considering Mike was involved with music. “Mike worked hard with his Council colleagues to get that park going, so it’s very fitting.” Due to Covid restrictions only a small number of people attending the unveiling of the plaque, but she said it went …

Heading in to this Sunday’s Munster Intermediate Club Final, Corofin manager Douglas Hurley is aware his side need a strong showing around the middle third if they are to cause an upset. Corofin come up against a Na Gaeil outfit who certainly don’t lack in the midfield department with Stefan Okunbor, who impressed in Kerry’s comfortable McGrath Cup win over Limerick last week, Jack Barry and Diarmuid O’Connor all capable of dominating the aerial exchanges. Hurley knows his side face a tough task in this sector as they come up against a fancied Na Gaeil outfit. “They have three potential Kerry midfielders. If we can be 50-50 in that area of the field then we will be doing well. If we can win our own ball and try disrupt theirs then we have a chance. If we come out with any type of parity then we will be doing well.” “There are a lot of areas they can hurt you. …

Munster Intermediate Club Championship Final Na Gaeil (Kerry) v Corofin at Mallow, Sunday 1.30pm (Jonathan Hayes, Limerick) The wheel has come full circle for Corofin who, 15 years after being Clare’s first Munster Intermediate Club Final representatives, are back vying for honours once more against Kerry opposition this Sunday. Only a late Ardfert goal denied the North Clare side of a historic provincial breakthrough in the Gaelic Grounds in 2006, which would prove a major turning point for both sides. Victory that day would have been a crowning achievement for Corofin goalscorer Colm Clancy and his brother player/manager Seamus, the duo that had been instrumental in a similar provincial giant-killing feat for Clare over Kerry at the same venue 14 years earlier. On the flip side, Ardfert went onto capture Kerry’s first All-Ireland Intermediate success for what was the start of an utter dominance of the grade. Since Ardfert’s 2006 trail-blazing feat, Kerry clubs have annexed 12 of the last …

DIVERS from the Garda Water Unit have recovered the body of a man from the base of a cliff after a week of poor conditions hampered previous efforts, reports Pat Flynn. The operation was completed this morning having been postponed as a result of poor weather since the alarm was first raised last weekend. Emergency services were alerted on Sunday after a person was seen falling from the Cliffs of Moher. The man is believed to have been living in the east of the country. Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue sub centre on Valentia Island in Kerry mounted and coordinated a multi-agency search operation. Gardaí responded to the scene while the Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter – Rescue 115 – the Doolin unit of the Coast Guard, National Ambulance Service, Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat were all tasked to the incident. While search crews were able to pinpoint the location of the body at the base of …

AROUND 1,000 people came together at the Fairgreen in Ennis this evening to mark the tragic passing of Ashling Murphy. Beginning with a walk at 4pm, as day turned to night, traditional musicians, some who knew Ashling personally, took centre stage. This poignant moment was followed by a minute’s silence in honour of the school teacher.

A CLARE-based podcast is attracting a growing international listenership with inspiring contributions from artists of various disciplines who are living in or originally from this county. ‘The Creative Souls of Clare’ podcast is hosted by Lahinch author and social innovator Ruairí McKiernan. Since its launch just over a year ago, the podcast has been making waves, boasting listeners in over 27 countries, including Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Qatar, Iran, the Philippines, Finland, Portugal, and Mexico. The podcast first came about following the cancellation of the launch for Hitching for Hope, Ruairí’s hugely popular book documenting his travels around Ireland in the wake of the economic crash. The pandemic forced him to cancel all events, including his planned ‘World tour of Clare’. This was to involve events in various County Clare libraries as part of an initiative by Creative Ireland to promote creativity in the community. Ruairí’s response to the enforced cancellations might be considered to be an act of …