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A YOUNG Clare gaeilgeoir features in a new creative series for children on TG4 called Cruthaím. Cathal Ó Conghaile who is nine years old and from Ballycorick features in the series of videos that are broadcast on Cúla4’s YouTube channel. Cathal loves art and spends his time drawing and colouring in. He loves art because of how fun it is and because it allows him to use his imagination. Cathal also builds models and he writes and designs comics. You can watch Cathal’s video on www.cula4.com/Cruthaím The initiative is part of a TG4 partnership with the Creative Ireland Programme of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg 2021. Cruthaím highlights the talent of young Irish speakers across the country and in Gaeltacht areas and their unique creative processes. One young Irish speaker from each county and a representative from the diaspora of Irish speakers showcase their creativity in the series of videos …

Political manoeuvring will intensify amongst Clare county councillors ahead of a council meeting next Monday to secure support for a controversial €10 million loan for what has been described as a new public-private partnership to provide a major development facelift for Ennis. Ennis 2040 Designated Activity Company (DAC) has been registered as a company to assist in formulating identified opportunities for development and employment in Ennis and making the town an attractive place to live and work. The new high powered committee, which is chaired by former Roche Clarecastle chief executive, Gerry Cahill, includes TTM Healthcare Ennis chief executive Brian Crowley, Kieran Considine, head of AIB in Clare, Limerick and Kerry, Corporate Excellence Ireland chief executive, Linda Barron, Councillor Claire Colleran-Molloy, economic director of service, Liam Conneally and director of finance, Noeleen Fitzgerald. It is expected that Councillor Johnny Flynn and Councillor Ann Norton will become members of the board in the near future. This plan is expected to generate …

THIS Tuesday, the Kilrush and District Historical Society conducts a lecture on one of the most famous evictions and resistance movements during the Land War which took place in July 1888 on the Vandeleur Estate near Kilrush. The Vandeleur evictions are still remembered locally as one of the darkest periods in the area’s history. Spectators to these evictions numbered in the hundreds, and there was even a sizeable press corps to document the events. Major E. J. O’Shaughnessy, a visiting Irish-American activist, his wife Margaretta Dunn O’Shaughnessy, and her sister Ellen Dunn, were among the witnesses to the evictions, and Major O’Shaughnessy subsequently wrote extensively about his experiences. Major O’Shaughnessy’s great grandson, Ed O’Shaughnessy, has spent over six years studying the many photographs taken during the evictions and the photographers who took them. He has the wonderful advantage of access to family archives and memories handed down since 1888. KDHS has arranged with Ed to deliver a lecture on his …

Lahinch author honoured by president for his book on hitch-hiking adventures around Ireland LAHINCH author, charity founder and campaigner, Ruairí McKiernan has been lauded by the President for his new book, Hitching for Hope – A Journey into the Heart and Soul of Ireland. President Michael D Higgins said the work “offers hope” during turbulent times. He described the best-selling book as being “in the fine tradition of a search for what is most valuable in the different spaces of Ireland and how they might help us craft a new way forward together.” He added that it is “empathic in approach, well written, and crucially, it offers hope.” President recently invited Ruairí to present the book at Áras an Uachtaráin. The event had been due to take place last year but was postponed due to pandemic restrictions. Although Ruairí had been to the Áras on numerous occasions previously, while serving on the Council of State during 2012-2019, he said this …

GRANTS totalling almost €7 million have been approved for 251 projects by the Clare Local Development Company (CLDC), it emerged this week. The final project approved in March 2021 is a €190,000 LEADER investment in renewable energy technology in Lahinch SeaWorld. This will see the installation of a ground source heat pump and solar panels at the popular North Clare community-run leisure facility, enabling the decarbonisation of their heat system and providing renewable heating and cooling systems for their amenities. The project will complement the existing renovation works and will deliver a major carbon offset of 216 tons annually. Speaking at the final board meeting of the 2014-2020  Programme, Clare Local Development Company chairman, Mike Hogan, stressed the importance of LEADER in supporting not only community-led local development projects but also helping communities to reach climate action targets. “Looking to the next rural development programme, LEADER will be more important than ever to rural communities who want to take environmental …

THE presence of pyrite in a number of Clare homes has been “definitely proven”, following a process overseen by the local authority and the Department of Housing, writes Fiona McGarry. Scientific evidence of defective blocks has been welcomed by the Clare Pyrite/Mica Action Group. They said the findings of a study of a sample of their members’ homes strengthens their campaign for access to a redress scheme which currently only applies to homeowners in Donegal and Mayo. The group took part in a protest this Monday in Ennis to highlight the issue and further their claims for access to the system. Tomorrow, members of the Clare group will join protesters from other affected counties outside a Dáil sitting at the Convention Centre in Dublin and added their voices to calls for the redress scheme to cover 100% of the costs associated with restoring their homes; in some cases this will involve demolition and rebuilding. “Our group is now up to …

AS WE face into a second summer of restricted events, Relay for Life Ennis won’t let a pandemic stop them from keeping up the fight against cancer. Instead of gathering at Tim Smythe Park, Relay for Life Ennis will be gathering virtually again this year to help raise awareness and needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Auriol Considine, Relay for Life Ennis Chairperson, said: “Relay for Life Ennis has grown into an important community event, and we didn’t want that community spirit to lose momentum. We are challenging teams to collectively walk 240kms by June 19 sticking with the 24 [hour] theme of the actual event. We have some other enthusiastic teams that have decided to do their own events such as hiking Mullaghmore and Carrauntoohill or running in Lahinch. We’re thrilled with whatever way people want to get involved as it all helps to raise awareness and builds community spirit which is at the heart of Relay for …

FUNDRAISING has been severely restricted since the onset of Covid-19, but Shannon Tidy Towns is trying to get some cash in once again. The group recently held a Flag Day in the Town Centre, currently has a GoFundMe page open, and is asking the people of the town to get behind its efforts. On the GoFundMe page it outlines the work the group has been doing of late. “Shannon Tidy Towns keep our town of Shannon clean and environmentally friendly. As soon as one of our members see or hear of an area that needs litter to be removed, we rally together to make it happen. “So far this year we have removed hundreds of bags of rubbish from our streets, walkways and play areas. “2019 funds were used to fix and paint the bus stops, railings and electrical boxes, we hung new hanging baskets along the main road, we planted new beds and of course replanted the many others. …