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A TULLA priest is “privileged” and “humbled” to become the new Bishop-elect of Ferns to replace Bishop Brennan following his retirement. In bis first address as Bishop of Ferns, Ger Nash said he is privileged to be be chosen by Pope Francis to lead this historic Diocese. The former Killaloe Diocese part-time secretary thanked His Excellency, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, for leading the celebration of the Eucharist, as well as his kind support and detailed preparations for this announcement. In 2010, Fr Nash moved to Crusheen and six years later, took on the role of pastoral development director. His links to Ferns Diocese is principally through the Ferns students who were classmates in Maynooth. Father John Carroll, Diocesan Secretary, has been a source of both welcome and help over the past week to Bishop Nash and whose deep knowledge of the Diocese he know he will draw on frequently during the coming years. He also …

A CLARE artisan producer of utensils and kitchenware will feature on a popular RTE cookery programme tonight. The current series of How To Cook Well, with Rory O’Connell draws to a close tonight and will showcase the work of Éamonn O’Sullivan of Hewn in Ennistymon. Éamonn works with greenwoods, using traditional techniques and tools to create some of the most tactile kitchen utensils on the market. Hewn makes vibrant and characterful wooden utensils and kitchenware, and the Galway-based Michelin star restaurant Aniar serves up some of its dishes with Éamonn’s signature spoons. Éamonn describes his work as a reaction to mass production and the lack of character of everything you see in a shop. You can now join a virtual queue for spoons at https://t.co/yHVvvh1b3q. I'm trying to bring some class tranquility to the process of buying a spoon…let's all be chill. pic.twitter.com/IpeD20ow7n — Éamonn O'Sullivan (@HewnSpoons) December 2, 2020 Popular chef Rory’s sixth series of ‘How To Cook Well …

IT’S expected that Lufthansa Technik will have decided whether to sell, close or restructure their Shannon operation by the middle of next month. Should the decision be made to close, it would be a huge economic blow to Clare, with in the region of 500 people employed there. It is understood that the preferred option of the company is for a sale and there is some optimism that this will happen, with more than one interested party. Workers were told that representatives of another Shannon firm, Atlantic Aviation Group, were coming to the plant last Friday for a facility tour and a meeting with members of management. Management also indicated to them that a decision on the future of the company is expected in the first half of July. According to accounts for Lufthansa Technik Shannon, it employed 476 people in 2019.

A RICH display of music and song greeted the education minister as she visited Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg in Ennis this week to announce a new multi-purpose hall and two Early Intervention rooms. In a socially-distanced ceremony, some of the school’s 481 pupils showcased their talents to a small but appreciative audience including the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Mary Howard, board of management representatives and parents. Addressing the gathering bilingually, the minister said she was very proud of the work being done. “It’s a very positive day for the school and an endorsement of the very positive work that goes on an ongoing basis,” she said. “There has been very strong commitment from the entire school team. The ongoing engagement with the Department of Education has been very positive. This school has grown and developed spectacularly in the last number of years. That’s a tribute to the excellent work that goes on here on a daily basis.” Príomhoide Dónal Ó …

Culture changing but stigma still exists, says director A SHORT documentary entitled Deliver, looking at the perception and reality of being a young mother in Ireland today will be screened online by glór as part of the Lasta Festival. It was made by Leah Moore, and focuses on two young women who became mothers in their teenage years, while taking a stylised exploration of women’s experiences throughout previous decades. The two women are Rachel O’Connor from Doora and Lauren Byrne from Dublin. “Basically it’s a documentary about the perception of young mothers in Ireland today and how our past has kind of shaped that perception, and trying to break down stigma around being a young mother. “That’s kind of the premise and the goal of the documentary,” said Leah. Both Rachel and Lauren are in their twenties now, having become mothers while still teenagers. In previous generations becoming a mother at such an early stage of life would have been …

National Football League Division 2 Semi-Final Mayo 2-22 Clare 2-18 SO near and yet so far for Clare after a second-half recovery wasn’t sufficient to prevent Mayo from returning to Division 1 at the first attempt in Cusack Park this afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. Ultimately, it will go down as a missed opportunity for Colm Collins’ side to bridge a two decade gap to Clare’s last appearance in the top flight after a rousing revival just fell short. After an encouraging start in which Eoin Cleary (2), Gavin Cooney, Cathal O’Connor and David Tubridy edged the Banner 0-5 to 0-3 in front by the ninth minute, Clare rather lost their way for the remainder of the half. Indeed, for the final 25 minutes of the opening period, Mayo were allowed to swiftly move through the gears to outgun their hosts by 2-10 to 0-03 for the remainder and soar 11 points clear by the break. Goals from Cillian O’Connor (Penalty) …

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is in the spotlight for the month of June as people are asked to host virtual fundraisers for vital services. Here, Andy Minogue from Ardnacrusha shares his experience of the disease. IS OUR fate or destiny decided when we are born or does it evolve over the years? I had my palm read by a lady when I was in my late teens. I didn’t pay for it and I can’t remember where it was, except I think it was in a fair or something like that. She told me that there was a definite break in my lifeline that indicated a very dramatic or life-changing event. I didn’t think too much about it but it didn’t sound good to me. After that, if anyone ever told me that they were going to a fortune teller, I would advise against it, as a bad forecast would have you worrying and if something bad is going to …

Owen Ryan SHANNON digital marketing company Core Optimisation is taking on 13 new staff, bringing the total number of employees to 30. Founded in 2015, it is now one of the country’s top digital transformation agencies, focusing on digital transformation strategy, search engine optimisation, paid search advertising, paid social media advertising and conversion optimisation. Limerick man Kieran O’Brien has joined the company as its Director of Marketing and Communications. He said that Core Optimisation is going through a period of rapid growth and it now has some remote workers. “It has kind of exploded in the last couple of months, and there’s a need to ramp up. The majority of people would be from Clare and Limerick, but there are people working from Portugal and Spain. One guy is working from Granada, one woman went home to Portugal when Covid came and she’s staying out there now. At the moment no one is really in the office, but when we …