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THE first interment of ashes has taken place at the new columbarium at the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul. Ennis Cathedral is the first Cathedral in the country to offer a columbarium for the interment of ashes. The development of the columbarium was approved by the Pastoral and Finance Committees of Ennis Parish last year while planning permission was granted by Clare County Council. Local builders Michael Clancy and Michael McInerney recently installed the facility which was consecrated as a place of rest by Bishop Fintan last month. On Saturday the ashes of Michael Fitzgerald were the first to be interred in the Columbarium in a ceremony led by Fr Tom Ryan. Mr Fitzgerald, who passed away in August made the decision with his wife Ann and his family that he would be cremated and interred in the Cathedral. Mary Quinn, who was married to Ann Fitzgerald’s brother Jim and who died in London in May 2019, was also …

THERE are still 1,735 people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in Clare, with latest figures also showing that 3,783 people were signing on the live register in October. The number receiving the PUP fell by almost 400 between October 19 and November 2, while it is way down from its peak in 2020 of almost 15,000. On the live register side, the October figure increased by 73 on September. The majority of people signing on in Clare (1,929) were attached to the Ennis Social Welfare office. The figure for Kilrush was 657, for Ennistymon it was 643, and for Tulla it was 554. Of those signing on in Clare, 2,031 were male and 1,752 were female. Despite more than 5,500 people getting unemployment supports, there are also labour shortages in a number of sectors. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council PJ Ryan, a businessman himself, said that workers are in short supply. “Definitely there’s a major problem for businesses trying to …

WITH the long awaited and welcome return of live entertainment, an exciting event like no other is on its way to glór. The Iron Annie Cabaret will be travelling the country in style, with 15 dates scheduled this autumn including right here in Ennis on Thursday, November 18. The show is based on Luke Cassidy’s critically acclaimed debut novel which The Irish Independent described as “probably the most ambitious and well-written debut this year.” Now, as producer, Luke Cassidy is bringing that same story to the stage. The Iron Annie Cabaret tells the story of Aoife, and her doomed relationship with the beautiful but capricious Annie. Set against the backdrop of a larger-than-life criminal underworld of Dundalk, their adventures also take them on a whirlwind trip across the Irish Sea to offload ten kilos of cocaine swiped from a rival. A Juncture Arts production, the Iron Annie Cabaret stars actor Eleanor McLoughlin as the inimitable Aoife, and is directed by …

Mary O’Mara said she was stunned to be named winner of the older people’s volunteer of the year DECADES of volunteering for different community organisations ensured a Ballina woman “with a heart of gold” won the 2021 Clare Older People’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Nominated by the Killaloe Ballina Family Resource Centre, Mary O’Mara, (68) was completely taken aback when she announced as the overall winner at a function in the Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis on Thursday. “I knew I would get a certificate after I was shortlisted but when my name was called out as the overall winner I couldn’t believe it,” she said. Mary received an engraved glass trophy and a One4All voucher from Mike Hanrahan, Stockton’s Wing, Clare’s Age Friendly Ambassador. Staff in the centre were thrilled to learn the mother-of-four who has 11 grandchildren had won this award. Family support worker, Marie Moroney said Mary is a very worthy recipient of this honour. “We are …

Quin man Declan McEvoy on the freedom, fears and challenges of his 5,000 mile motorcycle trip around Africa AN ADVENTURE addict from Quin is back on his motorbike with the easing of travel restrictions and making his way up the continent of Africa, a journey of around 5,000 miles. Declan McEvoy set a new Guinness World Record, just before the pandemic, when he rode across a frozen Lake Baikal. He now describes himself as being on Stage 5 of a ‘Round the World by Motorbike’ adventure. After arriving in Johannesberg in South Africa on October 7, with his beloved bike, Declan began the process of getting to the most southerly point of the African continent. At Cape Agulhas on October 18, he pointed his bike north and has been carefully plotting his course back home ever since. This journey, like many other of Declan’s has been fraught with challenges and hitches – both mechanical and bureaucratic. He admits some of …

OVER €9 million came to Clare from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) in 2018 and 2019, according to figures provided at last week’s meeting of the Ennistymon and Kilrush Municipal Districts. The projects and amounts to receive funding were: Ennistymon Innovation Centre, €1,023,300; Lahinch Seaworld, €2,908,750; Vandeleur Estate in Kilrush, €1,975,819; Loop Head Visitor Attraction, €868,500; Inis Cealtra in Lough Derg, €920,500; Doolin Pier, €465,571; and Cnoc na Gaoithe in Tulla, €900,000. A report accompanying the figures stated, “The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major programme of investment established under the National Development Plan which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. “The Fund is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) with targeted investment in rural Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027.  “The purpose of the fund is to support job creation in rural areas, address depopulation of rural communities …

At aged 22, Cian McInerney has accomplished more than most on the hurling field. However, he isn’t satisfied to just add a county final appearance to his ever expanding CV with the talented hurler hoping to be part of history by helping Inagh-Kilnamona lift the Canon Hamilton Cup on Sunday afternoon. He wants to atone for previous defeats, most notably his side’s 2019 semi final defeat to Sixmilebridge. The secondary school teacher believes his side took plenty of lessons from that loss but he does not want a repeat result when coming up against an experienced Ballyea outfit. The former Clare minor insists his side have developed a greater mental toughness since that loss, highlighted by their gritty win against Éire Óg in the semi finals a fortnight ago. “Two years ago in that semi final we led for most of it but the ‘bridge used their experience to get over the line. We lost that game and it was …

From the outside looking in, Ballyea have the experience while Inagh-Kilnamona have the momentum ahead of Sunday’s novel showdown for the Canon Hamilton Cup in Cusack Park. Having been down this road twice before and managed to prevail on both occasions, Ballyea’s senior triumphs in 2016 and ’18 will still be fresh in the memory while the heightened county final build-up, occasion and understandable nerves will be a completely new experience to an Inagh-Kilnamona side competing in their first senior decider. There is one obvious flaw in that theory however as Ballyea’s Jack Browne quickly pointed out. “We happened to win the first county final we were in too so there is no secret formula. Look, you’d hope that having played in finals before that it helps but there’s no guarantees. “Take us for example, it’s fair to say that every year you play in championship, you don’t want to lose any game and we’d love to be in a …