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James McConigley speaks to Emmet McMahon about the highs and lows of last year and his hopes for this year 2021 was a real mixed bag for Emmet McMahon. The 21-year-old enjoyed fantastic highs and crushing lows. From the heartbreak of Kildysart conceding two late smash and grab goals and ultimately falling short to Corofin in the Clare Intermediate Final to capturing a landmark first U-21A championship, then joint-captaining Cill Cúl Gaels only seven weeks later and registering a 1-10 to 0-08 victory over Éire Óg, the Kildysart native had a rollercoaster time of it. And so begins another year with a jam-packed football season in store. Now in his third year of Physical Education and Maths at the University of Limerick, McMahon is enjoying his chosen course. Speaking to the Clare Champion he said, “The course solely revolves around sport and it’s a great help with the fitness and that side of things. I had a huge interest in …

WITH restrictions having been relaxed from last Saturday morning, suddenly people were given more freedom than they have seen in almost two years. It should mark the beginning of a positive spring season for Clare retailers, with Covid fears presumably set to fall along with the risk of infection. Gwen Culligan, proprietor of the County Boutique on O’Connell Street in in Ennis said things are finally looking up. “Yes, we are looking forward to a good season ahead, it’s all very positive and we’re looking forward to better times,” she told The Champion. It was only on Friday evening, January 21, that people found out the restrictions would be gone the following morning, and she said the Saturday, generally the busiest shopping day of the week, wasn’t unusually hectic, but given the time of year that wouldn’t have been unexpected. “We were busy, but this time of year would be a quieter time for us anyway. People will mostly be …

THE Parish Priest of Tulla has repeated his call for a period of reflection and healing, as pandemic restrictions finally lift and a day of national commemoration is planned.  Fr Brendan Quinlivan, who is also Diocesan Communications Officer, welcomed plans for remembrance events on Sunday, March 20, and urged that all of the losses and sacrifices endured since early 2020 be acknowledged. Figures released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) show that 150 people in Clare died with Covid-19 between March 3 2020 and January 18 of this year.  Last March, in the height of a Level 5 lockdown, Fr Quinlivan warned of an impending crisis of unsolved grief and loss, and urged the Government to address those issues as soon as the Covid emergency abated.  “It’s very important that we acknowledge in a formal way and a ritual way, the great sense of loss experienced in so many ways over the last two years,” he said. “First and …

KILLALOE Coast Guard has greatly enhanced its search capability after becoming an approved drone unit, writes Dan Danaher. Two volunteers have been fully trained on how to use a drone during a search and this footage can be live streamed back for viewing in the new Coast Guard Communications Vehicle, which was obtained last year. Images from the drone can also be sent back to Valentia Coast Guard Coordination Centre, which is significant in terms of directing Rescue 115 to a precise location if a casualty is detected. A drone can be used on most occasions, apart from rain and very strong wind. Officer in charge, Damian Quigley said a drone can search inaccessible areas very quickly. New recruits to Killaloe Coast Guard were shown what to expect if the rescue helicopter had to land in a field to airlift a casualty. Killaloe Coast Guard, Killaloe Fire and Rescue and members of An Garda Siochána from the Killaloe station took …

THE Ennis Musical Society has confirmed that this year’s production of Legally Blonde has been postponed until next year, writes Jessica Quinn. However, the local group has said there are plans for a smaller scale project for this April or May. The society had planned to hold auditions for the popular musical production of Legally Blonde earlier this month. However, a spokesperson for EMS has said that the society has made “the difficult decision to officially postpone Legally Blonde until 2023”. Just last November the society announced plans for the much anticipated show which was set to run in glór from the end of March and into early April. The society had been unable to put on a show in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions, and their 2020 production was cancelled after just two performances. Society chairperson Rachael Culligan at the time had said they were looking forward to getting back on stage in 2022. She also made an appeal …

Ivan Smyth speaks to Clare defender Cian O’Dea who insists his side are prepared for the challenge of trying to secure promotion to Division One. WITH the old format for the league returning whereby the top two teams out of eight secure promotion, the margins will be fine as Clare go in search of a place at the top table. Cian O’Dea knows his side are not among the favourites for promotion but after coming up short against Mayo last year, he insists belief among the group remains high as they commence their campaign this Sunday against Offaly (throw-in 2pm). “We’ve been back since December and have had a couple of challenge matches. Things have been going really well. The depth we have on the panel right now is really good. We have new lads pushing old lads like myself,” says The Kilfenora man. “We love playing the league. The matches come thick and fast as you have a match …

SHANNONDOC insists Clare patients continued to receive an out-of-hours service, despite there recently being no GP in the county on five successive nights after midnight, writes Dan Danaher. Between January 3 and 14, ShannonDoc never reached more than 32% of total doctor capacity available from midnight to 8am. An average of five patients in Clare were treated every night between midnight and 8am by one of ShannonDoc’s remote or mobile doctors. Noeleen Moran of The Reinstate Shannondoc Commmittee (RSC) claimed there was no GP available in Clare after midnight from January 7 to January 12 inclusive. In addition to this period, Ms Moran stated there was no doctor in Ennis after midnight on January 4, 12 or 14 either. “Not alone are centres in Shannon, Ennistymon and Kilrush closed, centres at Ennis, Miltown Malbay and Killaloe are not operational on some nights after midnight,” claimed Ms Moran. “The out-of-hours service in Limerick is being stretched to cover the whole of …

THE tourism attractions of Clare and Limerick are to be highlighted to a potential audience of 155 million people in the US and Canada in March. US TV travel show ‘Ireland with Michael’ first showcased Clare and Limerick as holiday destinations last May on the PBS network which has a vast reach across north America. Now the show will run again on PBS on March 24, when St Patrick’s Day has stoked interest in all things Irish. A native of Wexford, now resident in the US Michael Londra visited a host of attractions in the two counties for this second season of the show. In each episode, he takes viewers on a journey to both popular and lesser-known destinations to learn about local history, meet local artisans, experience small-town pubs and food, and enjoy unique musical and cultural experiences. The show combines glorious footage of Ireland’s landscapes and destinations, exciting cultural experiences, and performances from Irish stars. In the Clare-based …