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All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Round 2 Qualifier Cork 3-19 Clare 1-23 CLARE were agonisingly denied a dramatic reprieve at the death as a relieved Cork finally held out to inch into the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals in the LIT Gaelic Grounds this afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. Despite timely suckerpunches at the end of the first two quarters, a Tony Kelly inspired Clare not only made a full recovery on both occasion but actually managed to edge ahead for the first time in over 40 minutes through the overlapping Diarmuid Ryan in the 57th minute at 0-21 to 2-14. However, Clare simply couldn’t sustain that momentum as their fourth match in five weeks appeared to be catching up with them when Cork’s sprightly bench raided for 1-2 including a devastating goal through Shane Barrett in the 66th minute on their way to a six point advantage. Game over surely? Not with Tony Kelly leading the side as the 2020 All-Star …

Clare Local Sports Partnership showcases initiatives to Minster Frank Feighan at Lees Road PROJECTS aimed at ensuring all members of society have an opportunity to take part in physical activity and sport were showcased during a visit of Minister of State Frank Feighan to Ennis last week. The Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy witnessed two of the projects in action which have been led by Clare Sports Partnership while he was at Active Ennis John O’Sullivan Park, Lees Road. John Conroy from Fitness for Fun, led an outdoor exercise class which has become a popular weekly event among older adults. Also, James O’Donohue, disability representative to Clare Sports Partnership, and Liam Casey, a wheelchair user from Ennis also showcased handcycles for those who use wheelchairs. The TD was met by board members and staff of Clare Local Sports Partnership including chairperson to the board, Tim Forde, Councillor Ann Norton, Mayor of …

THE Chief Executive of the local authority has pledged to spend the summer working to secure the national support that will be needed if Shannon Heritage’s Clare attractions are to transfer to the council. At July meeting of the authority, a number of members welcomed the announcement that a process of due diligence involving the council and Shannon Group is underway. Chief Executive Pat Dowling told members that he is putting a council team together with the necessary financial and legal expertise and that he himself will meet staff at the Clare attractions in the month of August. News of the potential transfer was announced at the end of last month. It followed a protracted period of uncertainty and intermittent closure, caused by Covid restrictions, for Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen, as well as Shannon Heritage’s other sites. The matter was noted at the local authority meeting by Councillor Joe Garrihy who described the potential transfer …

THE frustration of residents in Corrovorrin who are awaiting the introduction of much sought after traffic calming measures has been highlighted at a meeting of Ennis councillors. Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Councillor Johnny Flynn commented, “The residents of Corrovorrin are getting very frustrated, they are wondering when the work will be done.” He said that locals had hoped to see works progressing over the summer months, when schools are closed, however the works are now not likely to go ahead until the autumn or winter. The councillor raised the issue as he proposed that in addition to the proposals for Corrovorrin, that the council look at providing additional traffic calming measures east and west of the railway bridge. He pointed out that there are 15,000 vehicles a day on the main Tulla Road, suggesting pedestrian crossings should be introduced in locations such as the Lifford Road and New Road junctions. He said there is an …

A DECISION to close mental health supported accommodation in Ennistymon has been confirmed by the HSE, writes Jessica Quinn. The closure of Prague House has been criticised by trade union SIPTU, with union representative Mark Quinn calling for the decision to be reversed. According to the HSE the closure of the facility is due to decreasing demand for the service in recent years and the need for “significant” repair and refurbishment of the building. Most recently there was one resident of Prague House who has now been moved to alternative accommodation in the county. Mr Quinn has insisted that the building should be modernised to allow the service to continue operating in Ennistymon. He also expressed concerns that anybody needing the accommodation service in the future will have to travel outside of North Clare. He said two union members working in the facility were informed last week that their jobs would be moving to another location in Ennis, and there …

COMMUNITIES around North and East Clare have come together to unite a man from Carron with a new puppy after the passing of his wife, Catherine, and the death of his dog in quick succession, writes Conor Clohessy. Paddy Hynes (93) is well-known in the region for his storytelling, having honed his craft at the Teach Ceoil in Corofin and in Ennistymon. Burren Riding Club was instrumental in finding the pet for Paddy, asking their members for any help they could get – and found themselves very fortunate. Margaret Corry, secretary at the club, said: “One of our members, Hazel Frawley, answered the call, saying she had just been to the vet with her own dog because of a phantom pregnancy, but promised to keep a look out. “A few weeks later, she called me and said that the phantom pregnancy was a real pregnancy, and she now had three pups! When I dropped the pup to Paddy at his …

A MILTOWN Malbay man has been found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of his friend in a single-vehicle collision three years ago. The jury returned the verdict at Ennis Circuit Court at the conclusion of the trial of Tadgh O’Neill. Mr O’Neill (22), with an address at Poulawilliam, Miltown Malbay, and who previously lived and worked in Glasgow and London, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Inagh man Alan Rynne (30) at Caherogan, near Miltown Malbay on June 18, 2018. At the outset of the trial, Mr O’Neill pleaded guilty to driving while in excess of the legal alcohol limit and driving without insurance. He is due to be sentenced for those offences on July 22. Mr Rynne was a back seat passenger in a Volkswagen Golf driven by Mr O’Neill when it crashed into a bridge on a country road in the early hours of June 18, 2018. Members of Mr O’Neill’s …

A WELL known Ennis estate agent has made his own move to raise much needed funds for charity. Last Saturday Diarmuid McMahon, of Sherry Fitzgerald McMahon, took the plunge and swam from Clare to Galway, across Galway Bay, in aid of Cancer Care West. The former chair of Ennis Chamber has raised almost €2,500 for the charity, with funds still being donated. Speaking to the Champion, Diarmuid described the response to the fundraiser as “phenomenal” and he has expressed his appreciation to everybody who has shown support. His solo togs swim was part of this year’s virtual Frances Thornton Galway Bay Swim which over the years has raised more than €900,000 for Cancer Care West. The funds raised are used to help meet the costs of residential and cancer support services, which are provided free of charge to cancer patients and their families. This is the 16th year of the annual swim, which would normally see 150 people cross the …