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Two Clare clubs have discovered their opponents in Round Four of the FAI Junior Cup, writes Ivan Smyth. Avenue United and Ennis Town will meet Wexford and Limerick opposition respectively. Avenue United face a tricky trip to Wexford as they take on Courtown Hibs in the fourth round. The Clare side had an impressive 1-0 win against Desmond League side Abbeyfeale United FC as Dylan Casey headed home the only goal of the game to send Avenue United through. The Clare side have impressed since the season started as they are unbeaten in the Premier Division with their only blemish a defeat to rivals Newmarket Celtic in the Premier League Cup final. Abbeyfeale had defeated Newmarket Celtic earlier in the competition. Avenue have struck 17 goals in their three games in the competition to date and will be hoping to add to that tally against Courtown Hibs. Meanwhile, Ennis Town have been drawn away to Limerick side Star Rovers in …

ENNIS singer and guitarist Síomha has released her new single ‘Spéir Rua’ (Red Sky) ahead of this weekend’s performance in glór. The single gives a first glimpse of what to expect from her upcoming album ‘Infinite Space’ which is due for release in 2022. Speaking of the track, Síomha says, “Spéir Rua is a love song for the landscape of the West of Ireland. It was inspired by many late night drives after gigs when I lived right on the West Coast at the edge of The Burren. “As I got closer to home, I was lucky to witness the beautiful red blaze of the morning sky. Nature was giving her best performance and in those moments it felt as though I was the only spectator. I would stop and sit alone and watch the night sky light up and become a new day.” She continues, “Spéir Rua is one of my favourite tracks from my upcoming album. It’s exciting, …

UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick has been criticised as “most overcrowded and under-resourced hospital in the state” by Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne, as the number of patients on trolleys increased from 70 to 77 this week, writes Dan Danaher. New figures produced by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show UHL was the most overcrowded hospital with 1,269 patients on trolleys last month. This compares to 943 patients waiting for beds in University Hospital Letterkenny: 829 in University Hospital Galway and 688 in University Hospital Cork. In fact, the number of patients on trolleys increased fivefold in UHL from 244 in October 2013 to 1,269 in October 2021. The number of patients on trolleys in Ennis Hospital increased from just three in October 2020 to 30 last month. The current levels of Covid-19 have had an impact on staffing. The number of staff on Covid-19 related leave has increased from 50 last week to 71 this week. In addition, there are 27 staff …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …