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ONE of Ireland’s premier celebrity couples have been living it up in the Banner county in recent days. Brian O’Driscoll and Amy Huberman have been busy making their appreciation for Clare known via their instagram accounts. Recent posts by the couple have attracted a huge amount of attention and a thousand welcomes from Clare users of the platform The former rugby international sought dining recommendations on his Instagram stories. Actor Huberman has also been busy posting highlights of her trip. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Huberman (@amy_huberman) Clare people were quick to weigh in with suggestions to O’Driscoll’s request and some al fresco dining on Kilkee beach ensued. Huberman’s picture of her chips from Nolan’s attracted over 17,600 likes.

THIS morning it has been confirmed that Shannon Heritage’s visitor attractions in Clare including Bunratty Castle, will transfer to Clare County Council, with King John’s Castle transferring to Limerick City and County Council. IN response to a query regarding the transfer, a spokesperson for Shannon Group said, “The transfer of these heritage sites aligns with the two local authorities’ tourism development strategies and will provide opportunities for enhancing synergies and maximising the potential of these heritage sites in the region. The central role which local authorities are playing in tourism product development and sustainable tourism development make them a natural fit for Shannon Heritage.” The Shannon Group statement added, “State agencies in the region are committed to recovery from the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the airport and on overseas visitors to the Mid-West. The arrangements announced today will assist Shannon Group to focus on the recovery of the airport, building back international passengers as soon as possible, while …

IT is understood that Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton will today bring a memo to cabinet proposing the takeover of the Shannon Heritage sites in the county by Clare County Council. In Clare, Shannon Heritage (which is a part of Shannon Group) has assets including Knappogue Castle, Craggaunowen and Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. The takeover of the attractions by the County Council has been mooted for some time, especially as Clare County Council have expertise in tourism, having run the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre for a number of years. Attractions like Bunratty have been very severely impacted by the pandemic, and with reduced international travel likely for some time to come, their difficulties are not over. Even prior to the pandemic, it is understood they were not delivering large returns to Shannon Group.

“BEGGARS can’t be choosers” Aer Lingus CEO Lynn Embleton was told on Tuesday, in response to the airline’s repeated demand that the airline not be required to give guarantees on connectivity, in return for taxpayer’s money. Ms Embleton ruled out any reversal of the decision to close the Shannon cabin crew base, a move that she claimed would actually hinder the resumption of Aer Lingus flights from the airport. At the meeting Clare TD Joe Carey put it to her that the real reason for the closure, was to get out workers who have been with the company for long periods. “I’d like you to back up your charge that the cabin crew base in Shannon is inefficient, because that’s your charge. “Really and truly could you not admit that the only reason you’re targeting Shannon is because of the loyal service that the base has delivered there, because these people are working there between 20 and 34 years,” he …

AER Lingus have exploited the pandemic, using it to address industrial relations issues, Clare TD Cathal Crowe alleged at Tuesday’s sitting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. Deputy Crowe said that the State had been paying the vast majority of the Aer Lingus wage bill, but the airline had still not treated its workers with respect. He said he had sight of a Shannon employee’s pay slip, which showed how little the airline had been paying. “They got €635.89 in a fortnight. The Irish taxpayer paid €600 of that, Aer Lingus’ net contribution was €35.89. I think when the taxpayer is contributing majorly to the airline there’s a certain onus on you to commit to airports, to your workforce and not wait until the eve of reopening, to the final furlong of Covid, before pulling the carpet from under them and use terms like inefficiency.” He accused the airline of abusing the support it has got from …

THE Spancilhill Fair would have taken place this Wednesday, but, due to Covid-19 has been cancelled for the second year in a row. Crusheen’s Christy McNamara has come up with a mixed media piece as an artistic response to the absence of the Fair, drawing on his experience of photographing it for more than 30 years and attending it for even longer. Having grown up just a few miles from the site of the Fair, it was one of the highlights of the year for him as a boy, and he has always had a great fondness for it. “I love it. I’ve been going to it since I was a young fella. When we were growing up our house was on the way to Spancilhill for a lot of people. “One of the things I remember vividly was the Travelling people on their way to Spancilhill passing our house in convoy, with horsedrawn barrel tents and flat cars. “It …

WITH the first indications of a hot summer popping up this week, Clare County Council has issued some water conservation tips. In partnership with Irish Water, the Council is urging the public to conserve water to ensure a consistent supply for all, especially at a time when that supply comes under more pressure. The utility is predicting an increase in domestic and commercial demand for water over the coming months and customers are asked to take some simple measures to conserve water in their homes, their businesses and on their farms. Small changes can have lasting results, says Irish Water. Examples from the bathroom include taking a shorter shower, which can save up to 10 litres of water per minute. Or, just turning off the tap wile brushing your teeth or shaving, can save up to six litres of water per minute. Fixing dripping taps or leaking toilets in your home is another way of saving water. And excess collected …

GARDAÍ are seeking the public’s help in identifying a car which is thought to have been used in a South East Clare burglary. A shop in Broadford was broken into in the early hours of last Thursday morning and a cigarette machine and the drawer of the cash register stolen. A silver Audi is believed to have been used in the incident, and gardaí are appealing to anybody with information to contact them. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks explains that the break-in to the shop on the main street of Broadford village occurred between 3.30am and 3.45am on Thursday morning, June 24. “The shutter mechanism was interfered with and the front door was smashed in. The cigarette machine was forced off the wall and stolen along with the drawer of the cash register. A silver Audi A3 five door vehicle was believed to be used in this burglary. If anyone was in the area between 3am and 4am …