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Clare players set to feature in historic Ireland game

Eimear Considine and Edel McMahon have been named in the Ireland women’s rugby team for their test against the USA this Friday, writes Ivan Smyth. Considine switches to the centre after lining out in the Six Nations and World Cup 2021 European qualifiers at full back. Kilmihil’s McMahon will wear the no.7 jersey against a USA. Ballina’s Maeve Óg O’Leary is named among the replacements as she looks set to make her international debut after a stellar year. O’Leary impressed when representing Munster in the Interprovincial series. She made her debut against Ulster in August and started all three games for her province as her rich vein of form has been rewarded as she looks set to make her international debut. This has been a turbulent week for the players and everyone involved in women’s rugby in Ireland. The Director of Irish women’s rugby Anthony Eddy made controversial claims to the media about the team’s lack of success. Irish women's …

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Inaghmona go extra mile to land Clare minor A hurling crown

Eoin Brennan reports on the minor A final which Inagh-Kilnamona will hope is a good omen for the big one this Sunday The power of persistence effectively clinched Inagh-Kilnamona’s first Minor A title in four years after finally holding off Clooney-Quin in what was a superb wrestle for supremacy that went all the way to extra-time in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon. Trailing by two by the 56th minute after frustratingly failing to fire, crucially Inagh-Kilnamona never panicked and led by the electric Sean Rynne, grabbed ten of the next twelve points to effectively seal victory. Clooney-Quin captain Callum Hassett and the relentless David Considine did their utmost to stem the tide with both firing injury-time points to force extra-time. However, that was as good as it would get for an impressive Clooney-Quin side that more than matched their opponents for the first hour as having finally found their feet, Inagh-Kilnamona stormed out of the blocks in the additional periods …

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Clare film maker’s work on ‘father of cyborgs’ airs on RTE

THE groundbreaking work of a neuroscientist known as the father of the cyborgs is the subject of an Ennis film maker’s documentary to be screened this Thursday. RTE will screen David Burke’s film, which is called Father of the Cyborgs, this Thursday night. It’s about groundbreaking Limerick neuroscientist Dr Phil Kennedy, who made global headlines in the 1990s for implanting several wire electrodes in the brain of a paralyzed man and then teaching the locked-in patient to control a computer cursor with his mind.  He was compared to Alexander Graham Bell in The Washington Post and became known as ‘The Father of the Cyborgs’. He made headlines again in 2014 when he travelled to South America and had tiny electrodes implanted inside his own brain in order to continue his research. The documentary examines the ethics of self-experimentation and the unintended consequences of a future where technology and human brains combine. When it comes to tech – how far is …

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Toxic working environment at Coast Guard, claim Clare TDs

A TOXIC culture of bullying faces volunteers with the Irish Coastguard, two Clare TDs have claimed in the wake of the decision last week to stand down the Doolin unit. Six members of the north Clare unit resigned early last week, causing the unit to be benched. One source that is close to the Doolin Coastguard said that claims of “bullying and harassment” that led to the departure of the six volunteers from the unit was not caused by the 12 remaining members. Speaking in the Dáil, independent Michael McNamara said, “We need to get the Doolin Coast Guard unit reinstated but we need to address the issues that led us to where we are because the reality is there is a toxic working environment in the Coast Guard station in Doolin and there has been for some time. “Unfortunately it is not unique to Doolin; it exists the length and breadth of this country. There is a lack of …

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Rescued angler underlines value of Doolin Coast Guard unit

THE need to reinstate Doolin Coastguard for cliff rescues has been emphasised by a Lahinch angler who was previously rescued by the unit a few years ago, writes Dan Danaher. Bill Rothwell has urged the government to fast-track the process for the return of Doolin Coastguard, which was controversially stood down following the resignation of six members. His appeal coincided with the latest revelation that Killala Coastguard is operating with only 14 members including four new recruits, while 12 volunteers of Doolin CG, with 175 years of combined experience behind themselves aren’t allowed to operate. Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton has pledged to discuss the appointment of a mediator with officials in her department after Doolin CG was stood down “to ensure the safety of volunteers”. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Martin Conway called for an independent mediator to visit Doolin and engage with all parties. Min @1Hildegarde today has committed to appointing independent expert / mediator to work with …

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Ennis Trad Fest returns after Covid-enforced break

THE Ennis Trad Fest returns to the county capital this week following the cancellation of last year’s event due to Covid-19. The 27th year of the festival, running from Thursday November 11 to until Monday, November 15 will be a scaled back event from previous years because of the ongoing effects of the pandemic. However a host of events have been organised including a session trail throughout the town, album launches, trad discos and concerts. Highlights include three concerts in the Queens Hotel featuring renowned performers. On Friday night Tola Custy and Cyril O’Donoghue will perform live tracks off their critically acclaimed 1994 album “Setting free” followed by a trad disco with DJ Ollie Mullooly. Saturday night the popular and multi-award-winning quintet Goitse will perform with another trad disco afterwards. And on Sunday Angelina and Peter Carberry, Dan Brouder and John Blake, the Five Star Quartet and Colm Murphy will take to the stage. Organisers say they are “delighted” to …

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Make A Difference: reducing waste and upcycling

In our most recent Make A Difference article here Bridget Ginnity explored how we can control our consumerism and waste generation. Here she profiles a group and an individual tackling waste in different ways Christy Collins, Shannon Men’s Shed We pick up old stuff from the recycling centre and do them up, bikes, old timber and so on. We use wood we get to build outdoor furniture of the primary schools, buddy benches, picnic benches, bug hotels and so on – maybe we need buddy benches in parks for adults too. We upcycled old steel seats from Shannon park for the new wetlands area, and they’re like new. We are lucky to have a premises in the industrial estate, with three workspaces and a meeting room. The meeting room is the best part of it, it’s great to see men talking, an alternative to the pub We make all kinds of thing. We have a woodturning lathe that is great …

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Clare trader ordered to issue refunds over missing PS5s

ENFORCEMENT action has been taken against an Ennis business man who promised Playstation 5s to customers which never arrived. Unwar Anwar trading at Innovate has been directed by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to immediately issue refunds to consumers who have not yet been refunded and to cease engaging in misleading commercial practices, including providing misleading information to consumers Despite the findings of the investigation, when contacted by The Clare Champion Mr Anwar insisted that he didn’t mislead anybody. “The issue was dealt with months ago. I don’t believe I was misleading anyone. We were let down and so were many other retailers. Everyone has been issued a refund now,” he said, adding he had no further comment to make. The consumer watchdog took the action against Mr Anwar following a number of complaints by consumers who placed orders for Sony PlayStation 5s, but failed to receive them or a refund. Mr Anwar has been directed by the …

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