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ENNNIS U16s showed their mettle as they outscored Rugbaí Chorca Dhuibhne 29-0 in the second half of their Pan Munster Phase Two clash winning the game 39-14, writes Ivan Smyth. On what was an extremely windy day with the occasional hail shower, conditions were certainly not ideal. Ennis managed to adapt quickly and some physical carries from Caoimhin Enright and Michael Sweeney created gaps in the Dingle defense which Jacob Cassen Rennie exploited as he crashed over for Ennis’s first try.  The Kerry side struck back through their pack with some strong carries leading to a converted try. Both seams swapped scores again before half time with Nicolis Roos muscling his way over for the visitors and a quick reply from Dingle saw the half finish 14 – 10 in their favour.  Ennis started the second half just like the first with Seán Queally and Odhrán Flynn leading a very hard working pack around the field constantly stretching the Dingle defense. Roos …

FUNERAL details have been announced for the 78-year-old Clareman who was killed in Lisdoonvarna last Friday morning. The late John O’Neill (better known as Jack) of St. Brendan’s Road, Lisdoonvarna, was found dead in unexplained circumstances on January 7. Mr O’Neill will repose at Cullinan’s Funeral Home, Ennistymon, this Thursday, January 13, from 5pm with removal at 7.30pm to The Corpus Christi Church, Lisdoonvarna. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday (January 14) at 11am with burial afterwards in The Holy Rosary Cemetery Doolin. Mr O’Neill had run a tourism business in Lisdoonvarna and was bereaved on the death of his wife Chris last year. Speaking to The Clare Champion several local people said he was a friendly and sociable person, who was popular in the area. Predeceased by his wife Chris, sisters Geraldine and Philomena, Mr O’Neill is deeply regretted by his loving sons Séan and Graham, daughters-in-law Norma and Deirdre, adored grandchildren Conor, Síofra, Cara, Odhran and Donagh, …

A CLARE man charged with the murder of a pensioner in Lisdoonvarna has been further remanded in custody, writes Ronan Judge. Thomas Lorigan (32), of no fixed abode, appeared at Ennis district court this Wednesday via video link from Limerick Prison. Lorigan is charged with the murder of John O’Neill (78) at St Brendan’s Road, Lisdoonvarna at a time unknown between January 6 and January 7. The charge against Lorigan is contrary to Common Law. During the brief hearing, the accused spoke only to confirm that he could see and hear the court proceedings. Sergeant Aiden Lonergan told the court the matter had first come before the court on Saturday, January 8. Sergeant Lonergan said directions from the director of public prosecutions (DPP) are already known and that a book of evidence is awaited in the case. The DPP has directed trial on indictment. The sergeant said it was the State’s application to have the accused remanded in custody for …

WITH Clare people continuing to fall foul of bogus callers and rogue tradesmen, gardai have issued security advice to the public. Clare crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks has provided a check list of advice to follow should you be confronted with suspicious callers • Are you expecting callers? If not, look out the window to see the caller. • Have a viewer fitted in your door – you are safer behind a closed door. • Have a door chain / limiter fitted and keep the chain/ limiter on, if you must open the door use the limiter. There are electric doorbells that link to your mobile phone. • Make sure your back door is locked before you go to the front door • If you are going to engage, ask for ID – a genuine caller won’t mind! • Use recommended tradespeople, avoid using the services of cold callers. • The basic rule is if you don’t know the …

ONE person has died and another has been injured in a road traffic collision in County Clare this morning. The two-car crash happened shortly before 6am on the main R352 Ennis to Scarif Road between Tulla and Feakle. It’s understood that one car travelling east from the Ennis direction lost control on a bend in the townland of Ballinahinch and collided with an oncoming car. Gardaí, National Ambulance Service paramedics and units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Scariff station responded to the scene. A fatal road traffic collision has occurred on the R352 Ennis to Scarriff Road at Ballinahinch.Eastbound traffic is currently diverted at the R352 via the R467 Black Sticks Road to Broadford and Bodyke.Westbound traffic on the R352 is diverted at Bodyke Village via Broadford. pic.twitter.com/HChXI2iSL4 — Clare County Council (@ClareCoCo) January 12, 2022 On arrival they found that the driver and sole occupant of one car had been fatally injured. The driver of the …

A SUM OF €500,000 has been granted by government for the advancement of a section of dual carriageway to provide better access to Shannon Airport. Speaking about the allocation, Clare TD Cathal Crowe said it will improve safety. “The works on a dual carriageway at Shannon Airport will see a stretch about 2km long put in place on safety grounds. “As you enter Shannon Airport and pass the security hut on the approach, the road becomes a single lane each way. “This has been assessed by experts as not being safe – as in a case where emergency services and so on need to access the airport, passing may be an issue.” “Whilst our first priority must be rebuilding air connectivity in and out of Shannon, it’s also encouraging to see groundworks taking place to improve things at the airport too.”

FRUSTRATION with the waiting time for decisions on planning appeals has been expressed by members of Clare County Council.  A joint motion from Councillors Pat Daly, Mark Nestor and John Crowe made a call for staffing levels at the appeals board to be increased. The members also agreed that more planners should be appointed to Clare County Council to handle a predicted surge in applications in 2022.  “The normal planning appeals decision time with An Bord Pleanála is four months,” Councillor Daly told the December Council meeting. “In recent times, the decision process at the board has totally gone over control… So many appeals in Clare are with An Bord Pleanála for up to 12 months. “One, in particular is a proposed plaza for the outskirts of Ennis. Clare County Council gave its full planning permission 12 months ago creating up to 130 jobs and there’s still no decision [on the appeal]. The reply the frustrated applicant get from the …

Munster Senior B Post-Primary Schools Camogie Championship Semi-Final Coláiste Muire, Ennis 4-19 Laurel Hill (Limerick) 2-7 COLÁISTE Muire powered into a Munster Senior B decider following a commanding victory over Laurel Hill in a floodlit John O’Sullivan Park, Ennis this evening, reports Eoin Brennan. Two years after falling at the final hurdle of the provincial junior C equivalent, the Ennis school demonstrated the significant strides made in the intervening period when leading from start to finish in impressive fashion. An outstanding central quintet of Tierna Hegarty, Ellen Casey, Aisling Moloney, Emily Costelloe and Emma Considine were greatly aided by Hannah Doyle and Mary Hanrahan as Coláiste Muire moved incrementally through the gears. Firing the first five points, the home side were pegged back by a scrambled goal for Jayne Meaney just before the water break at 0-6 to 1-0, a score that would be wiped out when Emma Considine cooly dispatched a 19th minute penalty to the left corner after …