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  UNVACCINATED Clare people can get a Covid-19 vaccine in another series of scheduled walk-in vaccination clinis in the Mid-West over the coming days.   Clinics for Pfizer/BioNtech Dose 1 and 2, and second doses only of Moderna, have been scheduled across the centres this weekend. They the Abbey Court, Nenagh from 3 to 6pm on Friday, September for Moderna Dose 2 and the Limerick Racecourse from 4 to 7pm. Pfizer Dose 1 and 2 is available in the Limerick Racecourse from 4 to 7pm; and Treacy’s West County, Ennis from 4 to 7pm.. On Saturday, Pfizer Dose 1 and 2 will be available in the Limerick Racecourse from 8.30 am to 5.30pm, the Abbey Court Nenagh 8.30 a, to 5pm, Treacy’s West County 8.30a, to 5pm. On Sunday, Pfizer Dose 1 and 2 will be available in the Limerick Racecourse 8.30 am to 5pm, Abbey Court Nenagh from 8.30am to 5pm and Treacy’s West County Ennis from 8.30am to …

Ballyvaughan  hotel facing short-term closure due to staff shortages THE Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) should be dramatically scaled back and only paid to employees whose businesses can’t operate, according to a well known hotelier. Woodstock Hotel manager, Sean Lally has called on the government to operate a more targeted PUP support for those who can’t work in view of the chronic staff shortages facing the hospitality and other industries. His appeal coincides with the revelation Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, will have to close for ten days in September and five in October, because it hasn’t enough staff to operate its business. Staff shortages in the hospitality sector in the Burren could hamper Autumn bookings, following one of the busiest summers in the region in recent years in terms of Irish visitors. Hotels and self-catering accommodation providers have reported bookings are up on last year, due to a combination of recent fine weather and the desire to holiday at home due …

U-15C Hurling Championship Final Wolfe Tones 4-13 Crusheen/Tubber 1-11 A dream final for 3-8 hero Sean Murphy greatly aided Wolfe Tones passage to a first ever Under 15C Hurling title in Cusack Park on Monday evening, reports Eoin Brennan. The clinical full-forward was simply unstoppable as the Tones produced a 15 point turnaround over a Crusheen/Tubber side that will rue early missed opportunities and indeed their luck as the ball certainly didn’t bounce their way at key moments early on. Still, in James Costello, the amalgamation had a real leader while Joe Clancy, Oisin McNamara, Osgar Dunford, Peter Farrell and Ian Taaffe did most to stem the tide. The Shannon side’s philosophy was more ‘who dares wins’ and in Murphy, the skilful Niall Fitzgerald, Georgie Pyne, Aaron Shinners and goalkeeper Sean Guilfoyle, they ruthlessly outscored the North Clare amalgamation by 4-10 to 0-04 in the middle 30 minutes of the tie. Such a sea-change is difficult to comprehend as Crusheen/Tubber …

More family-friendly policies needed to encourage women into politics, says Violet Anne Wynne CLARE’S Sinn Féin TD has revealed that she is expecting her sixth child and is due to give birth in February. Deputy Violet Anne Wynne said the news came as a pleasant surprise to herself and her family, and underlined the need for more family-friendly policies to encourage other women to enter politics. In February 2020, the Psychology graduate was elected after securing just over 15% of first preference votes. The first SF TD elected in Clare since 1922, Deputy Wynne is the third female deputy to represent the constituency since the foundation of the State. The Offaly native will make electoral history again next spring and is determined to prove that motherhood and a busy public role are compatible. “We saw Minister Helen McEntee this year, the first Cabinet member to take maternity leave while in office,” Deputy Wynne noted. “Oireachtas members, in general, are excluded …

Revenge is a dish best served cold when a title is on the line and Lissycasey used the Under 15A final defeat as a motivator to take the Féile A title at the expense of the county final conquerors St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in perfect conditions in Clareabbey on Saturday morning. The rerouting of Darragh Culligan who was nursing a slight injury, to deep into the Barefield backs did wonders for their challenge as it took the challenge directly to their opponents. The game was in its infancy when the talented Culligan skated through the Barefield defence and notched up the game’s only goal. Diarmuid McMahon who was to the fore for the winners throughout added a well taken score in the 3rd minute before Culligan stretched his sides lead to five points as Barefield had yet to raise a flag. This was remedied following a rare upfield foray by St Joseph’s that ended with Oige Fanning converting a free before …

Senior Hurling Championship Round 2 Group 1 Inagh-Kilnamona v Clonlara at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2.45pm A ‘Group of Death’ Super Sunday commences with the tie of the entire round as one perfect record has to fall between Inagh-Kilnamona and Clonlara. Originally pencilled in for a fortnight ago, the switch of Round 2 and 3 at Clonlara’s request gave Inagh-Kilnamona the opportunity to build further momentum by adding the scalp of O’Callaghan’s Mills to neighbours Kilmaley. Of course, Clonlara also overcame the Mills in their opening bout but considering the performances of both sides so far, it’s not overstating it to suggest that neither Inagh-Kilnamona or Clonlara are the finished article quite yet. Considering their strength-in-depth, attacking flair and inter-county experience, unfulfilled potential has been a nouse around their necks over the past decade. Inagh-Kilnamona have certainly benefitted from their two outings, with incremental improvements displayed against the Mills, even if they still have a tendency to leave their opponents …

FIRE crews have dealt with a fire at an ESB sub-station on the outskirts of Ennis this afternoon, reports Pat Flynn. An explosion and fire were reported at the building in the Doora Industrial Estate at around 1.30pm. Workers reported hearing a large bang and seeing smoke billowing from the concrete structure. Two units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station responded to the incident along with Gardaí. On arrival, firefighters could see thick smoke being emitted from the building above its metal doors where a gap is believed to have been created by the explosion. Firefighters were however unable to open the doors and tackle the blaze until ESB Networks engineers were contacted and arrived at the scene. ESB crews also had to disconnect power from the local area before firefighters could safely approach the building. When cleared to do so, fire service personnel wearing breathing apparatus were able to unlock the metal doors and begin …

Bethan Eustace from Lissycasey will be awaiting her Leaving Certificate results on Friday, alongside just over 50,000 other Irish students. The 19-year-old chose to have her grade awarded to her through her results throughout the year, an option given to the class of 2021 earlier this year. Bethan completed the Leaving Cert cycle with the subjects English, Irish, Maths, Geography, Technology, History and German, and cited Technology as the subject she was most confident in. Bethan said, “I had been doing Technology since first year and enjoyed the subject. I don’t think many schools have it, but I have seven years of it done now. “In first year, I had always hoped to do something with technology in college, but I’ve now decided I hope to go into social care in September.” This will involve Bethan taking on a four-year course in Early Childhood Education and Care, hosted by the Limerick Institute of Technology; something she is currently nervous about, …