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A MEMORIAL inscribed with the message ‘Inár gCuimhne go deo/Always Remember’ marking the County Clare Nursery (Mother and Baby Home) has been unveiled in Kilrush. The memorial to the women who gave birth in the Kilrush-based County Nursery, the children who spent their lives there, and the infants who died there, was unveiled at Toler Street in the west Clare town by outgoing Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor Mary Howard, in the presence of Council Chief Executive, Pat Dowling. Following publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in January of this year, Clare County Council apologised for its role in the County Nursery, which was owned and financed by Clare County Council during its decade of operation, 1922-1932. Clare County Council acknowledged, “with profound regret”, its role in the failure to meet the care needs of women and children resident in the County Nursery. As part of addressing its role in …

MORE Irish people are interested in producing home-grown fruit and vegetables, according to the new manager of Irish Seed Savers Association (ISSA), Elaine Bradley. Four weeks ago, Ms Bradley was appointed the new manager of ISSA and learned via a Guaranteed Irish webinar, that Bord Bia believes the renewed interest in producing home-grown food isn’t a flash in the pan. Earlier this year, she recalled seeds produced by ISSA sold out very quickly. She explained the big difference with seeds produced by ISSA is consumers can use them again and again. “Our seed has adapted over the millennia to the environment and climatic conditions of the country. One of the positive things of the lockdown was it gave us time to pause and take stock of our lives and what we want. “A lot of people have started growing food in their gardens, spending more time outdoors and researching where food is coming from. “People are concerned about climate change, …

A MILLIONAIRE Clare farmer has escaped a speeding conviction after disputing a garda’s “geography” of the area where he was stopped, writes Ronan Judge. At Ennis District Court last week, Judge Mary Larkin told John Joseph McCabe (84) that she was giving him the benefit of the doubt and striking out the speeding summons against him. Mr McCabe, a retired farmer with an address at Skehanagh, Clarecastle, denied the allegation that he was driving in excess of the speeding limit at Ennis Road, Clare Commons, on August 7, 2020. In evidence, Garda Darren Lynch said he recorded a Toyota Hilux driven by McCabe, allegedly at a speed of 73km in a 50km zone. The court heard a fixed charge penalty notice was issued and went unpaid. McCabe sold 48 acres of land near Clarecastle in the mid-2000s in a multi million euro deal that was the largest in Clare during the Celtic Tiger era. He is also a former local …

Sandra Lefroy speaks about their houseboat where she and her family have enjoyed many happy years on the River Shannon. IT is easy to understand why Sandra and John Lefroy consider their almost unique 1872 vintage heritage boat part of their family. Based in Killaloe for much of her life, mostly in the ownership of the Lefroy family, The Phoenix has been home, Sandra estimates, to her and husband, John at different stages for a total of over seven and a half years. Now regarded as one of the most important historical boats in Ireland, it was their full time home for 18 months from May 1971 to December ’72, and for nearly two-and-a-half years from September 1989 to December ’91. Their part-time life on board for regattas, sailing courses and other events over the past 46 years would amount to some 180 weeks, thereby adding an extra three-and-a-half years. In an interview with The Clare Champion, Sandra outlines what …

BISHOP of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, has asked parish priests and pastoral councils not to set dates for communions and confirmations in the Diocese “for the near future”. It follows confirmation, received by the organisation representing Catholic bishops, that the government’s forthcoming guidance documents will expressly advise against these ceremonies. Writing to parents, priests and schools on Wednesday, Bishop Monahan said that “in view of the letter received from the HSE last week, the strong recommendation of NPHET… and the clear advice from the Taoiseach’s Office, I believe it would be very unwise to celebrate the sacraments in the coming weeks”. The Bishop acknowledged that cancelling these important occasions will be “very inconvenient at such short notice” and he asked for “patience and understanding”, in the interests of public health and safety. The Bishop’s letter also said that: “Because of the vulnerability of the virus situation and the evolving nature of the whole process it would, in my view be best …

PROGRESSING East Clare projects, including Inis Cealtra and the Killaloe bridge and bypass, have been identified by the incoming cathaoirleach of the district as key priorities for the coming year. On Thursday last, Councillor Joe Cooney took over the role of Killaloe Municipal District chair from Councillor Pat Hayes, with both men welcoming the return of in-person meetings after long months of lockdown and remote communication. The Fine Gael member was proposed for the role by party colleague Councillor Pat Burke and seconded by Fianna Fáil’s Councillor Tony O’Brien. This is Councillor Cooney’s second term as chair, having previously held the role in 2013. “I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “I’ll be there to work with other councillors to achieve as much as we can. There are some major projects in the district, including the Killaloe bridge and bypass and Inis Cealtra. A lot achieved and we will work to achieve more. These projects will take time and …

CONNECTIONS between Mountshannon and the United States were instrumental in honouring a woman who played a central role in the success of the Allies in World War II. On Saturday last, Maureen Sweeney, who was a post office attendant at Blacksod lighthouse and post office in North Mayo, received a commemorative medal from the US House of Representatives for ‘laudable actions’ during the war. Producing hourly forecasts was a routine part of the Maureen’s duties in the post office, but the one that issued at 1am on June 3, 1944, changed the course of history. Maureen, who had just turned 21 that day, issued the fateful forecast predicting an impending Atlantic storm. The dispatch prompted General Dwight D Eisenhower to delay the planned invasion of Normandy. Maureen’s role was marked after a long process that began with a chance meeting in Mountshannon. Holidaying in Mountshannon, John J Kelly, an Irish-American, who led the design and production of modern lunar landing …

Pandemic’s effect on coastal property market evident with prices in one popular town climbing 39% since last year NEW research from Daft.ie shows the asking prices for properties in Lahinch has increased by some 39% since the start of the pandemic. Searches on the website for Lahinch properties have gone up by 49%, according to research conducted by Dr Tom Gillespie, an Environmental Economist at NUI Galway, who himself moved to the north Clare village just before the pandemic. The figures for Lahinch are included in the Daft.ie Coastal Report for 2021, which found that the prices sought for coastal properties in a number of selected areas around the country is up by an average of 23% compared to those sought prior to the pandemic. The average increase for the country as a whole is just 8.7% in the same period. In his report, Dr Gillespie stated that the increase in achieved prices is likely to be greater than those …