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AN animal loving local family is set to feature in not one, but two, episodes of a new Irish language television show. The O’Brien family from Ennis are appearing in Peataí!, a show where experts give advice to pet owners, broadcast on both BBC2 Northern Ireland and RTÉ One. The second show in the series, which will be broadcast this week, will feature 12-year old-Sophia and her brother nine-year-old Sam bringing their pet tortoise Dr Smallfoot to the vet. Next week’s show will see six-year-old Ben and their mother Maggie bring their Old English Sheepdog Lollipop to Paul the groomer. Dad Kieran told The Champion that the family, including little brother Max, are “very excited” to see themselves appear on screen this week. He explained that they first became aware of the show when flyers were distributed at the children’s school. “The kids asked me could we do it, and I sent off a few pictures. There was a lot …

HARPS Alive Lá na Cruite│Harp Day 2021 takes place on Saturday October 16 and Aisling Lyons will be playing in Glór to mark the event. From Clare, Aisling is a multi-award winning harpist and concertina player. Her family are steeped in the tradition of Irish music and Aisling is the holder of eight All-Ireland titles. An experienced performer and much sought after teacher, she has performed and taught masterclasses in the UK, Shetland, Norway, France, Germany, USA, China, Canada & Australia. Aisling graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Irish Music from The University of Limerick in 2018, was awarded First Class Honours from the Professional Master of Education course in 2021 & holds a Grade 8 award with Distinction from the London College of Music. Alongside playing with various groups and being involved in many collaborations, she is a competent composer of original music in the traditional Irish idiom. In 2021, Aisling performed with Tolu Makay on RTÉ’s …

QUERRIN National School closed two years ago, having been open since 1877. Now, on October 23, Querrin Community Development Group, in association with O’Curry’s GAA, the West Clare Gaels, the local IFA, and the Doonaha Community Development Group, are holding an externally facilitated workshop to help guide the next steps for the school building, as it moves towards being a new community space. In a leaflet being distributed in the area, the Querrin Community Development Group explain that the building has a lot to offer the community. “This is a great opportunity for the area where we could develop a multi-purpose community asset with its direction set by a wide cross-section of those vested in making the future of Querrin NS a success. “At the workshop, attendees will be split into groups and invited to express ideas for the facility, with the output being a list of feasible options that could then be reviewed, circulated and prioritised for action.” A …

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 …