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CLARE had some positive economic news lately, when OLED Material Manufacturing Limited and PPG combined to create 100 jobs in Shannon, taking the former Avara site in Shannon. Formerly of Roche in Clarecastle, Gerry Cahill is now the PPG Plant Manager for Shannon, as preparations begin for manufacturing. While there is a long and very successful history of US companies coming to Ireland, he says it was very complex during a pandemic, with the whole thing having to be arranged virtually. “One of the biggest challenges was the purchase of the site without ever physically being on the site. These guys have made quite a leap of faith. They’re currently leasing the site and early next year they’ll buy it. “Until last week, no one from either PPG or UDC had been on the site, it was all done virtually. The second biggest challenge is that the site had been closed down for a year. We’re starting to reactive systems, …

Ivan Smyth speaks to Clare ladies football coach Evan Talty ahead of today’s crucial clash with Westmeath AFTER conceding 16 goals in their five games across the league and Championship so far this year, Clare manager Evan Talty is keenly aware of the need to address his side’s defensive issues. When Clare travel down to Tuam Stadium on Sunday afternoon to face Westmeath (throw in 2pm), they will need to produce their best defensive display to have any hopes of reaching the semi finals of the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship. After holding Wexford to 1-8 in an opening round league win, Clare have since shipped 4-13 to Kerry, 4-18 to Meath (both league games), 4-7 in an opening round Championship defeat to Leitrim and 3-6 in their final round group win against Fermanagh. Talty admits that the defensive displays have “not been good enough.” “It’s not been good enough from us defensively this year. You cannot win football games conceding three, …

DIABETES patients faced a five-year waiting time for an outpatient appointment back in September, 2020, a new document with input from local advocates has claimed. Diabetes Ireland Volunteer and Advocate, Gráinne Flynn, her husband, Phil Miesle and another Clare local, Adrian Donnelly were involved in drafting Diabetes Ireland’s Pre-Budget Submission, which was presented to Clare Oireachtas members recently. They highlighted some of the recommended actions that are really important for the estimated Clare 10,000 people living with diabetes need to be implemented, and how approximately 60% of the HSE’s annual diabetes related spending is on treating the largely preventable complications, such as limb amputations. On average, the diabetes-related expenditure accounts for 10-12% of the annual HSE budget. In 2019, the HSE annual budget was €16 billion; the diabetes-related expenditure equalled €1.6 billion with an estimated 60% (€1 billion) of this spent on avoidable complications. However, Ms Flynn pointed out very little has been invested directly into basic diabetes care delivery …

Ivan Smyth catches up with the Clare skipper ahead of their do-or-die clash with Westmeath AS Clare prepare for a do or die clash against Westmeath, Caoimhe Harvey is keen to ensure the hard work that her side put in during the third lockdown does not go to waste. After losing their All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final on November 28 of last year, Harvey would have expected to be able to quickly go about avenging that defeat. However, the third lockdown saw all GAA action called to a halt with players across the country forced to train at home. The Clare captain insists her side were eager to make up for lost time when they got back on the pitch. “We were out until late last year but we couldn’t go back until April. There was uncertainty when we were returning with questions about whether it was safe to be back. We followed the guidelines so we’ve been training away ever since. …

Clare v Westmeath at Tuam Stadium Galway, Sunday, at 2pm (Garryowen McMahon, Mayo) IT’S essentially a crossroads of sorts for the Clare ladies’ footballers this Saturday. Having failed to win a knock-out championship tie since contesting the All-Ireland Intermediate Final five years ago, the Banner crave a breakthrough against a major opponent just to even validate their developmental progress, writes Eoin Brennan. And they certainly don’t come much bigger than Westmeath who are not only favourites for the title, having paid their dues in the 2020 final against Meath in December but are also only down from senior level since 2019. Experienced forwards Leona Archibald, Fiona Claffey, Ciara Blundell and Lucy McCartan are still in situ from their last knock-out meeting with Clare in the 2016 National League Division 2 Semi-Final. Clare will be extremely wary of that attacking prowess, having conceded seven goals so far in just two group outings. Perfect timing then for the potential return of former …

FOLLOWING consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Irish Water, working in partnership with Clare County Council, has issued a Do Not Consume Notice for consumers on the Shannon/Sixmilebridge Public Water Supply due to elevated levels of manganese. The notice applies to approximately 7,500 customers and is effective immediately. It does not apply to customers in Shannon, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Bunratty. It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants. Please note this is not a Boil Water Notice. Boiling the water will not reduce manganese levels and is therefore not a suitable measure to make the water safe to consume. This notice does not apply to other water schemes in County Clare. Tankered water will be in place at the following locations to provide an alternative water supply to customers. Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tanker and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure. …

REAL concern about the spread of giant hogweed in south east Clare was voiced at the July meeting of Shannon Municipal District councillors, writes Owen Ryan. Councillor Michael Begley requested a “comprehensive programme” to eradicate it in the Clonlara, Mountcatherine and Gilloge areas, which would include both public and private lands. He said that there is a lot of frustration with how it is being dealt with, and that there is much if not more of it on private, rather than public lands. “We need a programme urgently,” he claimed. Councillor Begley said it is very important to get it at the right time of the year, and that changes to weed killers mean that more frequent treatment is required in the early stages of growth. He said that this year nearly all of the hogweed in the area had come to seed, and that if even one percent of what had come to seed came to root, the situation …

CLARE County Council has expressed concerns about the visual impact of a proposed holiday development near Ogonnelloe on a strategic regional road, writes Dan Danaher. John Walsh, c/o Roy O’Shea, 20 Lower Hartstonge Street, Limerick, recently lodged a planning application for a change of use from residential to recreational camping site, and the construction of six cabins for short stay accommodation, a gravel access path, seven car parking spaces, a waste water treatment system at Kilana Lodge, Rahena More, Ogonnelloe. The application also included the preparation of an Natura Impact Statement and ancillary works. In its request for further information, the local planning authority stated the information submitted with this application is insufficient to enable the authority to make a complete planning assessment of this proposal. The proposed site is accessed via a regional road R 463, which is a strategic regional route. The authority claimed the development proposal would result in an intensification of use of an existing entrance …