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CULTURE Night makes a welcome return this Friday and glór has a couple of contrasting events that will keep everyone entertained. To get the ball rolling at 5pm, Cracking Light Productions presents My Nature, a film for young people, by young people; showing us the things in Nature that mean the most to them in their own words and through their eyes. This unique and heart-warming film will lift anybody’s spirits and remind us of the bond we have had with nature since we were little kids. Following this gorgeous film screening, glór presents something completely different. At 9pm The Latchikos take to the stage for a wild night of trad! The Latchikos are fronted by well-known storyteller and musician Aindrias de Staic on fiddle and vocals. Spanish multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Gonzalez on Guitar and Mayo Percussionist Dominic Keogh on bodhrán and percussion. They will be joined especially for Culture Night by special guest dancer Siobhan Butler. The Latchikos’ blend a …

CLARE’S Fine Gael TD has moved to scotch claims circulating online that he has not publicly backed the campaign for 100% redress for homeowners affected by pyrite and mica, writes Fiona McGarry. Deputy Joe Carey pointed out that, contrary to assertions by the Mica Action Group in a number of social media posts, he supports 100% redress. He said he has “consistently articulated that position publicly and in representations to Minister O’Brien”. During Minister Darragh O’Brien’s visit to Clare at the end of last month, Deputy Carey was asked specifically whether he supports increasing the level of grant support available under the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme from 90 to 100%. “I have advocated to Minister O’Brien the need for a 100% redress scheme across the board,” he told the Clare media. “I don’t think it’s right at homeowners, through no fault of their own, should have to bear the costs of associated with pyrite and the follow-up from it. “I’ve …

CLARE’S cultural community will come together on Friday to showcase the very best the county has to offer. Clare Culture Night 2021 will see 30 free cultural events being held, with a mix of live and virtual events allowing audiences across the county and beyond to connect through culture. The myriad of events will run throughout the evening from 4pm. This year’s programme, which is organised by Clare Arts Office and funded by Clare County Council and the Arts Council, is filled with free live events across the county from Ennis to Doolin, Lissycasey to Mountshannon, Feakle to Ennistymon, and free online events. The host of virtual events will provide culture from all corners of the county and will be available to view throughout the evening. This year, artist Ana Colomer has created a unique piece for Culture Night, combining puppetry, storytelling, film and music, which was filmed in various locations around the county. Malbay Studios presents ‘Lugh – The …

Another series of scheduled walk-in vaccination clinics for adults, and children aged 12 and over, has been organised across the Mid-West COVID-19 Vaccination Centres in Limerick, Ennis and Nenagh this weekend. These local clinics form part of the nationwide effort to maximise uptake for Pfizer Dose 1&2 and Modern Dose 2 vaccinations, and to provide easy access for those people who have received AstraZeneca Dose 1 and who now, as per national guidance, can receive the Pfizer vaccine as their second dose. In Ennis people can get Pfizer Dose 1 or 2 from 4-7pm on Friday at the West County Hotel, or on Sunday between 9am and 6pm. At Limerick Racecourse people can get Pfizer Dose 1 or 2 or Moderna Dose 2 from 2-7pm on Friday. Also at Limerick Racecourse Pfizer Dose 1 and 2 will be available on Sunday, between 9am and 6pm. On Satuday people can get either of the Pfizer Doses at the Abbey Court Hotel, …

A HANDBALL alley in West Clare might not seem like the obvious place to showcase artistic talent, however this weekend at Querrin Pier the local sports facility will play host to a visual workshop for teenagers. The workshop with artist Ruth Wood is just one of many events taking place in the county as part of this year’s Call & Response youth music and arts festival presented by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s Local Creative Youth Partnership. The festival, which kicks off on Culture Night in Clare, will bring a host of free creative events to the young people of the county including the launch of a new pilot theatre project in Kilkee. Monica Spencer, Creative Youth Partnership Co-ordinator with the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board tells us that Call & Response is all about encouraging and engaging youth voices. “The name of the festival came from the call and response term in music, but really …

A LARGE number of people in West Clare may experience disruption to water supplies between September 17 and September 30. Construction is taking place on an upgrade of the New Doolough Water Treatment plant, which serves the West Clare regional water supply scheme. This is the largest water treatment plant in Co Clare with the works being the most significant in terms of investment at the plant in over 30 years. The works are being advanced to remove the West Clare water supply scheme from the EPA’s Remedial Action List (RAL) and to provide a better supply for the future. Outlining the upgrade, Regional Operations Lead for Irish Water, Duane O’Brien explained: “We are at a very crucial stage of these works now and as part of this phase of the construction, the capacity of the water treatment plant will be temporarily reduced. During this period, customers may experience intermittent reductions in pressure or supply between Friday, September 17 and …

A POSTMAN got “bull thick” with a garda after he found out he was getting a speeding ticket, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Garda Darren Lynch said he was operating a speed detection point at Cahercalla More, Kilrush Road, Ennis on January 14, 2021, when he stopped a vehicle driven by Gearoid Noel O’Brien (25). Garda Lynch said the vehicle was detected driving at 82 km per hour in a 60km zone The garda said Mr O’Brien told him he had been “caught here before” and that he was not going to pay any speeding ticket. Garda Lynch said Mr O’Brien then said to him, “Shove it (ticket) up your hole, you fat b*****d”. Mr O’Brien, with an address at Villa Park, Monmore, Kilrush, denied speeding and contested the summons against him. In cross examination, defence solicitor Daragh Hassett put it to Garda Lynch that it appeared that he and his client did not get on too …

ENNIS bus and rail station is being “run into the ground” a county councillor believes. Councillor Mary Howard has criticised both Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann accusing them of neglecting the station and leaving it to become a “sad and lonely place”. Her comments came in the wake of images circulating on social media showing bus times at the station written in marker which was heavily criticised online. When contacted about the timetables, Bus Éireann said that it worked to ensure the timetables were replaced as soon as possible, and confirmed there are no plans to introduce a supervisor to the station. While Iarnród Éireann has insisted that it is “committed to providing a quality service to our customers at Ennis”. Councillor Howard has called for a permanent bus inspector and station master to be installed in Ennis, fearing that there is a risk of future anti-social behaviour at the station. “If you go to any country in the world, …