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  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 …

People in Clare are being urged to play their part in preventing the amount of waste generated leading up to and during the Christmas period. Christmas time is a time of year that generates a lot of waste. By managing our waste responsibly and taking steps to prevent, reduce and reuse this Christmas, we can reduce our carbon footprint and help preserve our earth’s limited natural resources, according to Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer, Clare County Council. Ms Foley explains, “Where packaging cannot be reused or upcycled much of this packaging can be recycled. When uncertain what can or cannot be recycled, make sure to visit www.mywaste.ie. “Recyclables can also be brought to one of County Clare’s five recycling centres and transfer stations. A carload of recyclable waste brought to Ballyduffbeg, Lisdeen, Shannon, Scariff and Ennis costs as little as €5. Our recycling centre locations, opening times and recycling costs are available at www.clarecoco.ie “Householders can also bring bottles and …

IN the second of our audio series previewing the Limerick Racecourse Mr Binman Christmas Racing Festival, we hear from Patrick Mullins on one of the biggest stars of the sport. Mullins was in the plate when Faugheen rolled back the years at Greenmount in the Grade One Novice Chase on St Stephen’s Day 2019. The top amateur and assistant trainer to his father Willie, the dominant force in Irish national hunt racing, tells Dave Keena of the epic contest with Gordon Elliot’s Samcro. Samcro, of course, would go on to win the Grade One 2m5f novice at the Cheltenham festival that season, but this day in Limerick belonged to Faugheen. As for Patrick, well he might speak to Frankie Detorri about improving one aspect of his post-race celebrations… Relive the moment below

A CLARE priest will be the voice of opera singer Andrea Bocelli to millions of people around the world this Christmas. However Fr Brendan Quinlivan, the parish priest of Tulla, won’t be striking a chord with his singing. Instead, Fr Quinlivan has done the voice-over for a new radio Christmas special in which the multi-award winning Bocelli sits down with Ennis journalist and presenter Colm Flynn. The programme, ‘Andrea Bocelli, Christmas Special’ will be broadcast on the ‘Heart & Soul show on the BBC World Service on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The show goes out to around 22 million listeners on the BBC radio network around the world and Colm had exclusive access to Bocelli for the interview in Florence, Italy. Fr Quinlivan’s involvement with the programme came by chance, as he happened to be in Italy just as Colm was trying to find the ideal English speaking voice to dub over Bocelli’s Italian. “The whole thing was fortuitous …

U-21A Hurling Championship Final Corofin/Ruan 1-18 Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-14 HAVING dominated the minor ranks in recent seasons, Corofin/Ruan took their development to the next level with a first ever U-21A crown in Gurteen this evening, reports Eoin Brennan. Leading from the start to finish, the North Clare amalgamation justified their favourite’s tag with a strong performance. And while Newmarket never really looked like causing an upset, they still provided an obstinate challenge right to the final whistle. Overall however, Corofin/Ruan’s superior firepower and edge on balance won the day, with a powerful finish to the opening half that saw them outscore the Blues by 1-8 to 0-2 in the final ten minutes, essential to providing an unassailable ten point cushion by half-time. Shane Punch excelled with 1-10, with all but two points coming in a dominant first half with the aid of the conditions as his metronomic freetaking was perfectly accentuated by an injury-time goal. The Blues, led by captain Jack …