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THE fundraising and water safety awareness efforts of two Ennis business women have seen them recognised with a national award. Danielle Kenneally and Chantell Keane were the recipients of the Water Safety Ireland Community and Social Responsibility award at their national awards ceremony earlier this year. Danielle’s brother Jack was just 15 when he and his friend Shay Moloney lost their lives after getting into difficulty swimming in a disused quarry in 2018. Danielle and her best friend Chantell co-founded home fragrance business Wix and Wax in 2020, and this year they decided to donate a month’s profits from a specially created ‘Daisy snap-bar’ to WSI in memory of Jack. The daisy has a strong significance to the Kenneally family as Jack kept a daisy on the back of his phone, and that’s something that Danielle holds dear. A water safety tips leaflet was included with every fragrance bar sold. A total of €2,500 was raised from the sale of …

CLARE homeowners affected by pyrite are being encouraged to explore their legal options in accessing redress, as part of a series of ‘pathfinder’ cases being taken to the High Court in the coming months. Founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG), Dr Martina Cleary confirmed she will be participating in the action, alongside several homeowners in Donegal, who are affected by mica. “I am happy to say Clare Pyrite Action Group will have a number of pathfinder cases going forward with Coleman Legal in the New Year,” she said. “I personally have signed up to this action, as none of our local representatives have been able to secure justice for impacted homeowners in County Clare.” Dr Cleary also confirmed that solicitor Dave Coleman will meet Clare homeowners soon to outline their options. Under Irish law, class actions are not currently permitted, hence the need to file several individual cases, as so-called ‘pathfinders’. “In path-finder cases, the courts are asked …

THE family of a young Kilrush woman who was murdered 16 years ago are “up in a heap” over the release of her convicted killer before Christmas, according to her brother. Ann Walsh from Pella Road, Kilrush, was 23 years and four months old when she was strangled by her former boyfriend, Raymond Donovan from Cooraclare in the grounds of St Senan’s Church, Kilrush, on August 24, 2005. Mr Donovan was convicted of her murder at the Central Criminal Court in Ennis with Mr Justice Paul Carney imposing a mandatory life sentence following a unanimous guilty verdict by a jury. Ann had been going out with Donovan for three years, but had split from him a year previous to the attack. Her brother, Stephen Walsh said the Walsh family are “up in a heap” over the decision to release Raymond Donovan before Christmas. Mr Walsh claimed he was informed by the prison service recently there would be nothing done in …

A TOTAL of 165 sites are being processed by Clare County Council, under the Derelict Sites Act, with 35 of these on the register of derelict properties. The figures were given to Councillor Paul Murphy, who tabled at motion at the December meeting of the local authority. The Fine Gael member sought an outline of the number of sites in each Municipal District, as well as an update on those being pursued under the Derelict Sites Levy, and the monies recouped to-date. In a written response, Carmel Greene, Senior Executive Officer (SEO), outlined how there has been an increase in activity since the derelict sites function was transferred to the Economic Development directorate in 2020. “Derelict sites that we are dealing with are at various stages from inspection, establishment of owners, discussions with owners, dealing with financial institutions regarding debt, sales being organised or proposals being developed for planning applications,” she stated. “Our priority is to try to work with …

CLARE broadcaster Marty Morrissey has thanked the public for their “wonderful love and support” following his mother’s tragic passing earlier this month. Peggy Morrissey lost her life in a car accident at Annagh, Miltown Malbay in the early hours of Tuesday, December 7. Her only son Marty took to social media on Christmas Eve to pay tribute to all of those who have offered him support during what he described as “the most difficult” time of his life. The RTÉ sports commentator wrote, “The last few weeks has been the most difficult in my life as I lost my beautiful Mom so heartbreakingly. But my grief has been comforted by your wonderful love and support. “It’s a particularly hard time for a lot of people especially this year more than most. Life is precious. On Christmas Eve night, can I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers, cards, phonecalls and texts. May I wish you and …

ADDITIONAL infection control measures have been put in place at University Maternity Hospital Limerick following an outbreak of Covid-19. Access for nominated support partners to hospital inpatient wards is being limited to one two-hour slot per day between the hours of 2pm and 8pm. These slots will be co-ordinated at ward level by our staff, who will link directly with service users and nominated support partners. The UL Hospitals’ Group recognise that this represents a considerable reduction in access on their inpatient wards. The hospital will facilitate additional access for inpatients on compassionate grounds on a case-by-case basis where these restrictions are causing considerable distress. It is committed to increasing access for partners on inpatient wards as soon as possible. An online system is available for nominated support partners to complete a Covid-19 questionnaire in advance of attending the hospital. The group also encourage partners to consider taking an antigen test in advance of attending UMHL should they have one …

Rice College Ennis 1-15 Our Lady’s Secondary School Templemore 1-09 RICE College, Ennis, captured the Corn Shéamais Uí Dhonnchú in ideal hurling conditions at the LIT grounds, Limerick before Christmas. 1979 was the one and only time that Rice College won the Munster U16½ B Munster PPS, formerly known as Corn an Chuinneánaigh. On their way to this year’s final, Rice College defeated Castletroy College, St Joseph’s Tulla, JTBCS Hospital and Charleville C.B.S. In front of a big crowd, they defeated Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore in glorious December sunshine to finally bridge a 42-year gap and claim the U16½B Munster hurling title. Joint captain, Jack O’Neill, got Rice Colleges scoring underway within the first minute with a fantastic score from the half way line, before Eoin Lahiffe and Tom Curran chipped in with a point apiece either side of a Templemore free leaving the score 3 points to 1 at the first water break. Another point from Templemore was …

The Grade 1 BoyleSports Faugheen Novice Chase was the highlight at Limerick on Sunday with the prestigious St Stephen’s Day feature going to 10/1 shot Master McShee, writes Michael Duggan. One of just two horses his Dungarvan, County Waterford owner/trainer Paddy Corkery has on the go at the moment, Master McShee was ridden by Ian Power. Some of the top novices in the country lined-up for this two-mile, three-furlong contest worth almost €60,000 to the winner. Gordon Elliott’s Farouk D’alene went off 11/10 favourite under Jordan Gainford. The ground was heavy at the Patrickswell venue, with Joseph O’Brien’s Fire Attack taking them along in the early stages. Heading across the track for the final time, the early leader began to wane with the patiently-ridden favourite taking over up front. Master McShee was also creeping into contention, however, and rising to the final fence there was little separating the duo. The pair settled down to scrap it out on the run …