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Munster U-16.5A PPS Hurling Championship Quarter-Final St Flannan’s College 1-19 Midleton CBS (Cork) 1-11 AN auspicious start for St Flannan’s in their Dean Ryan Cup quest after a powerful second half display brushed off the opening challenge of Midleton CBS on away soil to progress to the last four on Wednesday afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. With 19 Dean Ryan titles between them, this heavyweight contest inevitably began with a blow-for-blow pattern before St Flannan’s had to respond to a Midleton goal to regain parity by the break at 0-9 to 1-6. A miserly full-back line of Joe Casey, Paddy Nagle and Ronan Kilroy were instrumental in keeping the home side at bay while inspirational centre-back James Hegarty and midfield duo Eoin Kennedy and Dylan Keane Hayes were perfect linkmen as St Flannan’s upped the ante to outscore their hosts by 1-10 to 0-5 in the second half. Full-forward Oisin Whelan, who finished with nine points to his name including three …

Element Six is marking 60 years of operations in Shannon today. First established in 1961, the Element Six Limited facility in Shannon develops and manufactures synthetic diamond solutions supplying global Oil & Gas, Automotive & Aerospace and Mining & Construction industries. Since 2017, the company has invested €16m on the Shannon site and has created 100 jobs in the area, bringing the total number of people employed to over 500. Over the next three years Element Six Limited will embark on further significant infrastructure programmes aimed at paving the way for the site’s future and improving the overall operational efficiency at its Shannon facility. Commenting on the anniversary Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD said, “I’d like to congratulate the entire team at Element Six on reaching their diamond anniversary. It’s an incredible milestone and I know the company is proud of its long history in Shannon, employing over 500 people. Thank you for your …

IRELAND’S national tourism body has launched a strategy to leverage the popularity of Ireland’s most popular outdoor attraction and increase the dividend to north Clare. Fáilte Ireland’s plan launched on Wednesday aims to drive and sustain tourism in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher by extending the tourism season and spreading business across all parts of the region over the next five years. Entitled the ‘Visitor Experience Development Plan for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher’, the focus of the plan builds on a number of projects that will help distribute visitors more evenly across the region and make it easier for the visitor to enjoy the world-class experiences available. Projects include the Burren Discovery Trail – a new touring route for visitors; the upgrade of a 2km Cliff Walk at the Cliffs of Moher; and a new ‘Be a Custodian for a Day’ online industry training programme to promote responsible tourism.” Key stakeholders in the area and the local …

Deputy English praises the hard work of Clare LEO for supportive role THE “determination of the indigenous SME sector to succeed in the Mid-West” has been praised by a Minister of State on a visit to Clare. Damien English, Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, met with the Clare Local Enterprise Office (LEO), as part of a series of nationwide visits to meet the LEO teams and engage with some of their client companies. Minister English said, “The Local Enterprise Office in Clare have worked hard with businesses across the county over the past 18 months and have continued to offer exceptional services such as mentoring, training, upskilling and financial supports during the pandemic. “I am grateful to Padraic McElwee and the LEO team for helping local firms stay afloat and protecting local job opportunities, and especially for their commitment in assisting businesses to make the transition to online trading. “People have shown that by ‘Looking for Local’ …

OIDREACHT an Chláir presents a lecture, The War of Independence: events in Miltown Malbay and district, 1920-21 by Dr Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc this Saturday, October 16 at 8pm in the Community Centre, Miltown Malbay. The talk will examine some of the key events of the War of Independence in Milltown Malbay and the surrounding district, including “The Canada Cross Massacre” in April 1920, the Rineen Ambush, the murder of Charles Lynch, the assassination of Constable Stanley Moore and the IRA’s execution and “disappearance” of two British soldiers from the Royal Scots Regiment. Dr Ó Ruairc is a native of Meelick, Co. Clare.  He has a PhD in History and has published half a dozen books on the Irish Revolution of 1913-1923, including Blood on The Banner – The Republican Struggle in Clare. He is a regular contributor to RTÉ Radio & History Ireland Magazine. Admission is free. Fáilte roimh chách. Vaccination certificate required. As part of this commemorative project, which is …

THE Clare edition of TG4 show “Moving West”, hosted by Mary Kennedy, will air on Thursday at 9pm and repeat on Monday, October 18, at 7:30pm, writes Conor Clohessy. The series, produced by Dundara Television and Media in partnership with the Western Development Commission, follows families and individuals who have moved to the west of Ireland searching for a better work/life balance and new career opportunities. Moving West began airing on September 23; its fourth episode follows the journey of Aoibheann Boyle and Adam Coleman, who moved to Kilkee and Lahinch respectively. Aoibheann said: “My mother and I escaped to Kilkee for a few days before the December lockdown, and while we were there I saw an ad for a job in the Tourism Space. Within the year I was moving for that job. When I was abroad, I would always say I’m from the east, but my heart is from the west. Kilkee was more home than home – …

AFTER many years of involvement in the promotion and administration of the game, Danny Liddy was named 2021 winner of the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland’s President’s Award. It’s a prestigious honour for the genial and modest Crusheen man, who has helped bring the pleasure of bridge into many Clare people’s lives.  Danny began playing back in 1986, and soon developed a huge love of the game. “We used to play Solo (another card game) with Marie and Gerry Kennedy, lord have mercy on Gerry. In the course of playing that game one night we were watching the television, and there was a thing on bridge. From that we decided we’d go to bridge classes and it was like a drug after that. We were hooked on it. Gerry was my first partner, we went to classes and that’s where it went from.” He was delighted with this new passion. “Our mentor at the time was a man called Jim …

PLANS to improve the accessibility of Ennis’ town centre, including upgrading disabled parking spaces, have been approved by the Ennis Municipal District. The proposals involve works at Friary Carpark, Abbey Street Carpark and Lower Market Street. Discussions had been held at the design stage with the local branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association whose views were taken on board. According to Barry Conway, executive engineer, “The progression of this scheme will be of great benefit to the local community and visitors to the town and will make the area safe in terms of accessibility and safety of travel.” Details of the plans were outlined at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, with councillors giving their backing to the proposals. The works involve: upgrading of disabled parking spaces to meet current standards; adjustment to footways; provision of kerbing and dropped kerbs; provision of uncontrolled pedestrian crossing; provision of all associated signage and road markings, and associated drainage and ancillary …