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IF you are wandering around Ennis on the afternoon of St Stephen’s Day, you might see some heads bobbing in the Fergus. Don’t worry! That will be members of the Ennis Sub Aqua Club taking part in the annual sponsored Fin Swim. Gerry Gilroy, chair of the club said, “The annual Fin Swim been going on for over 20 years, and is always great fun. All funds raised from the activity go to support the search and recovery activities undertaken by the club.” The swimmers enter the chilly river at Droichead na Gabhar near Lees Road, float along the quiet stretches before rounding the bend to Victoria Bridge on the Lahinch Road. The rapids at the Mill have torn a few wet suits over the years so they get out upstream of the Mill Bridge and jump back into the dark waters at the Mill wheel. The ducks and geese of the Post Office field look on in surprise at …

MORE than 140 people took to their bike on Sunday last, following Santa, as part of Gort’s very first #GortChristmasCycle. In his festive garb, Sean O’Neill led the group from Gort PlayGround to Sullivan’s Hotel where we were treated to hot chocolate, coffee. Entertainment followed by well-known local puppeteer Tommy Baker and Seamus, aka ‘Your Man’s Puppets’. There was a great mixture of big bikes, small bikes, trikes, electric bikes, fold-up bikes, cargo bikes, and even a recumbent bike. The event was made possible with the help of An Garda Siochana, who escorted participants safely, the marshals from various cycling groups such as Oranmore Cycle Bus, I Bike Oranmore, and Axa Community Rider David Murray frown Clarinbridge, were also involved. High Vis jackets and other merchandise donated by Galway Cycling Campaign and Tribeson Bikes. Organisers also thanked The Road Safety Authority and Cyclist.ie for supplying flashing bikelights. Nadine Reichel was on hand to take the pictures. Anyone interested in cycling …

GARDAÍ are advising those handling large amounts of cash this Christmas to be aware of a type of theft known as ‘Jugging’. Bank ‘Jugging’ is a theft method where customers of financial institutions are watched by persons who wait for them to come out of those premises with a bank bag, coin box or bank envelope that looks like they may have a large amount of cash. The customer may then be followed with the thief looking for an opportunity to steal the cash, maybe by breaking into their car or a distraction theft from the victim directly. If you are carrying out cash banking transactions gardaí urge that you take the following general advice: • Be aware of your surroundings, especially if something seems strange as you enter the bank. • Conceal your bank deposit bags, coin boxes or envelopes as you enter and leave the bank. • Take your bank bag or envelope with you into your next …

In the third instalment of our audio series preview the Limerick Racecourse Mr Binman Christmas Festival we hear from the trainer of the favourite for St Stephen’s Day’s big race. Gavin Cromwell speaks to Dave Keena about the prospects of his exciting young chaser Gabynako. Cromwell himself is an interesting character whose background in the sport is literally at grassroots level – he is a farrier by trade. In that discipline he has shod Gold Cup and Grand National winning horses along with an Olympic Gold Medalist. His farrier skills are a passion and a trade that he is still very much in demand for by some of the biggest operations in the sport. Nowadays however his reputation as a trainer outstrips that and he runs one of the shrewdest operations in the sport. He has good associations with Limerick Racecourse too, his Espoir D’Allen, that romped away with the 2019 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, won one of his prep …

  The Coast Guard and RNLI are appealing to Clare people to exercise caution when participating in any activity on or near the water during the Christmas and New Year period. People who wish to engage in recreational activities are advised to be mindful of the restrictions in place to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. With many traditional Christmas and New Year swims cancelled, anybody planning this activity should check on the up-to-date guidance and ensure that they have made the appropriate safety arrangements. Both organisations have thanked the public for their cooperation during the past year and in particular to the positive response in adhering with severe weather warnings. 2021 proved to be a busy year with an almost 20% increase in callouts, placing extra demand on search and rescue providers, including Coast Guard and RNLI volunteer crews.   With the increased levels of open water swimming, both organisations are highlighting the risks of cold water shock, which is …

THE HSE has announced the opening hours for Community Testing Centres in the Mid-West over the Christmas/New Year period, and have asked the public to remember that, at present, walk-in testing is not available. The are directing those who require a PCR test to book an appointment online. The online booking system, and further details, are available via https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/testing/get-tested/ Opening hours for Covid-19 Community Testing Centres are as follows: December 25 – Limerick Test Centre – 10:15 – 13:30 Clare Test Centre – CLOSED Nenagh Test Centre – CLOSED December 26 Limerick Test Centre – 07:45 – 17:15 Clare Test Centre – 09:15 – 16:45 Nenagh Test Centre – 08:30 – 17:45 December 27 – 31 – Normal CTC Hours Limerick Test Centre – 07:45 – 19:00 Clare Test Centre – 09:15 – 18:30 Nenagh Test Centre – 08:30 – 19:45 January 1 and 2, 2022 Limerick Test Centre – 07:45 – 17:15 Clare Test Centre – 09:15 – 16:45 …

Under 21A Football Championship Final Cill Cúil Gaels 1-10 Éire Óg 0-08 THE John Marrinan Memorial Cup will remain around the Shannon Estuary after Cill Cúil Gaels deservedly overcame Éire Óg to garner the U-21A Football crown in Hennessy Memorial Park in Miltown Malbay this evening, reports Eoin Brennan. With Shannon Gaels/Kilmihil soaring to the last title in 2019, Paul Reidy returned with an accentuated amalgamation of the Gaels, Kilmihil, Kildysart and Coolmeen to secure the perfect finish to 2021. It was Diarmuid O’Donnell’s goal only seconds before the opening water break that proved decisive as it provided the perfect buffer between the sides for the rest of the hour. Targetman O’Donnell led the line superbly with 1-5 while county senior Emmet McMahon’s influence and long range scores were inspirational along with the relentless running of fellow joint-captain Thomas Kelly and Gearoid O’Grady. Missed goal chances either side of the final water break to put the result beyond doubt was …

CLARE Champion mascot, Daisy, will feature in an RTÉ calendar after a photograph taken by company director, Shelly Galvin beat off stiff competition to secure inclusion in this almanac. A photograph of Daisy standing in a pumpkin patch is the October image for the ‘Today Show Animals in my Life Pet Calendar 2022’. Shelly Galvin recalled she took this photograph during a visit to Ballycross Apple Farm in Bridgetown, County Wexford, in late September. “I took a few photographs of Daisy standing on a pumpkin on the farm and sent them in to RTÉ. “I am delighted that this photograph will be included in the Today Show calendar. It is a very nice feeling because I have not been taking photographs that long. “I got an email to say I was shortlisted in the last batch, and then I got confirmation that my photograph was selected in the final 12. “Daisy has been selected for the month of October. This …