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TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has come under fire after an impatient response when quizzed about the future transfer of Shannon Heritage properties to Clare County Council. Responding to questions from Deputy Michael McNamara, the Taoiseach said if the council wanted to take over the sites, they should just get on with it. A due diligence process regarding the transfer of the assets, (including Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen) began last summer, but with the 2022 tourist season approaching, it still has not been concluded. It is understood that Clare County Council is looking for a commitment that it will receive around €9 million in capital funding over a few years if it takes over the assets, with significant improvement and maintenance works set to be required in the coming years. Clare TD Michael McNamara raised the future of sites with the Taoiseach on Tuesday, asking him for a commitment to provide Clare County Council with the backing it needs. “I …

Ivan Smyth catches up with Dean and Dylan Casey who along with Niall Murphy and Mark Hanrahan brought home team gold from the European U20 Cross Country Championships BACK home after their gold medal heroics in Portugal on Sunday the twin brothers who led Ennis Track to European glory have been reflecting on their feat. Dean and Dylan Casey ran first and second as Ennis Track secured team gold in the Junior Men’s grade at the ECCC Cross Country Championships. Niall Murphy produced a gritty display of racing as he crossed the line in 11th place on a morning where Ennis Track simply obliterated the field. Murphy was fourth inside the opening kilometre but despite falling back slightly, he displayed admirable heart to hold on and help his team win gold. Mark Hanrahan finished in 18th as Ennis Track were the only club to have four athletes finish inside the top 20. The Casey brothers ran an aggressive race in …

THE stunning scenery of west Clare has been enjoying more national exposure recently with the return to screens of RTE’s hit drama Smother. Smother has been supported from its inception by Clare County Council, whose arts officer, Siobhán Mulcahy, said: “Clare County Council is delighted to support and accommodate Smother logistically and behind the scenes, as we value its potential to promote our beautiful county, to provide investment and employment opportunities and to encourage the further development of local talent. “It has also provided us with a valuable opportunity to deepen our engagement and further our partnership with regional film supports such as WRAP and Film in Limerick.” The production has also been supported by Innovate Limerick through Film in Limerick, who have a regional remit for developing the sector in the Mid-West and they have produced a short behind-the-scenes film on the filming in Lahinch. Funded by Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland and the WRAP Fund and with BBC …

A CLARE Dáil Deputy has called for increased resources for the ambulance service after personnel assisted her to have her sixth child outside Kilrush Golf Club on Monday, writes Dan Danaher. The ambulance that collected Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne didn’t even make it to University Maternity Hospital Limerick in time and the baby girl, who weighed 6.10oz was delivered in the ambulance beside Kilrush Golf Course. Having commenced her maternity leave in January, Deputy Wynne’s due date was not until March but she instinctively suspected it would be early. Mother and baby are doing well and the Kilrush-based Deputy was due to be discharged on Wednesday evening. She told The Clare Champion that she is delighted with her new baby. “I am over the moon to announce the arrival of my sixth child. Albeit an eventful labour and birth, I couldn’t be happier to be holding her in my arms. “I am thrilled to welcome the newest member of our family …

IN the second half of last year the prices of three-bedroom semi-detached houses rocketed in Clare, increasing by a greater percentage than any other part of the country. That’s according to the latest residential property price research from the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers. In a report issued this week they stated, “In the three-bedroom semi segments of the market, Clare scored the strongest growth rising 13.53% to an average of €206,250.” According to its findings the average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in Clare is €120,750, while for a three-bedroom semi-detached house it is €206,250 and for a four-bedroom semi it is €260,000. Writing in the report, Pat Davitt IPAV Chief Executive, stated that house prices are close to where they were at the end of the Celtic Tiger years. “Our barometer tracks house prices achieved by auctioneers, as opposed to asking prices. During 2021 in particular that differential was crucial given the intense demand against a scarcity …

IN late 2001  Spancilhill publican Mike Duggan approached the late Robbie McMahon about starting a monthly singing session.  Local resident Pat Liddy quickly got involved and in January 2002 the first session was held in Duggan’s Pub in Spancilhill. Twenty years on, the sessions are still going, and while they are online for the moment, they will hopefully be going back to a local pub in the near future. After they first began the sessions quickly gained in popularity primarily due to the legendary Robbie. The first Friday became known as a welcoming session for singers of all standards with as many coming to listen as those who came to sing or recite on the night. People travelled from all over to spend a night in good company. Camper vans parked overnight were regularly to be seen as people arrived from all over the country. During the tourist season singer’s from Canada, the USA, Britain, France, Australia, Argentina all frequented the …

A CLARE-BASED driver education programme has launched Ireland’s very first e-scooter safety course which is set to be rolled out in schools across the country. The Irish School of Excellence, founded by Clare native Kieran O’Brien, has joined forces with Bird, a leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, to launch the course. The announcement of the new programme comes just weeks after the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind highlighted the hazards caused by e-scooters, calling for a ban on their use on footpaths and a reduced speed limit of 12km/h among other proposals. Mr O’Brien, CEO and founder of ISOE, explained that when it came to setting up the new course he was moved by the organisations’ statements to the Oireachtas Committee on Transport highlighting their concerns about e-scooters. “We were going to add e-scooter training as part of our overall driver education programme in schools, Mr O’Brien …

A SALMON poacher threatened to stab a fisheries officer with a knife during a foot-chase on the west Clare coastline almost two years ago, a court has heard. At Kilrush District Court sitting in Ennis, Judge Mary Larkin convicted John Linnane (43) of making a threat to Inland Fisheries Ireland Officer, Raymond Byrne intending Mr Byrne to believe it would be carried out to kill or cause him serious harm at Carrowdotia, Killimer on June 1st 2020 contrary to Section 5 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. In evidence, Mr Byrne told the court that during the chase, Mr Linnane of Griffin Road, Kilrush said to him that “he wouldn’t do time for this and that he had a knife in this pocket and he would take it out and stab me with it”. Mr Byrne said that he then withdrew from the scene following Mr Linnane’s threat. He said: “I was taken aback by what he …