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National Hurling League Division 1 Group B Round 4 Clare 0-34 Dublin 2-23 A MOMENTUM building victory for Clare who secured their first victory over Dublin in Parnell Park since 2005 to leapfrog their hosts in the Division 1 table this afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. Highlighted by a 20-point haul for talisman Tony Kelly, Clare were full value for victory too after leading for the majority to cement back-to-back league victories for the first time this season. Recovering from a slow start in which the visitors found themselves trailing by 0-5 too 0-2 by the ninth minute, Kelly popped up with three in a row to ensure a 0-6 to 0-6 stalemate by the water break. Despite facing into a stiff breeze, Clare grew in confidence with six of the next seven points including two from Shane O’Donnell to move 0-12 to 0-07 clear by the 23rd minute. However, the Banner would be sucker-punched by a brace of late goals …

SHANNON’S James Sexton has been chosen as a juror for the 2021 International Emmy Awards. These awards recognised the best television shows that are initially produced and aired outside the United States. Speaking this week, James said he was delighted to be chosen as a juror. “I’m a member of the board of the Emmys anyway. I’ve been a member for two years. A friend of mine invited me to an open day of television professionals and they asked would I be interested in joining. “So I’m a member of the International Emmys and this year they asked would I be interested in being a juror. I’ve actually a lot of my work done already, you have to watch X amount of programmes and judge them, and the Emmys are on in New York in November, so I’ll be going over to that. It’s great to be picked.” There are a few hundred jurors around the world, generally very accomplished …

Half a loaf is considerably better than no bread as following the postponement of last year’s secondary adult club competitions, a condensed county league schedule is set to commence this bank holiday Monday. Four of the seven football leagues begin their campaigns on the first day possible of the government’s Covid-19 guidelines, with all divisions in both football and hurling limited to five matches which are based on last year’s fixtures. With no promotion or relegation at stake, the county leagues are primarily intended as a reintroduction to playing action following a minimum eight month absence. However, while clubs will be without their inter-county contingents, there’s still silverware on offer to retain a competitive edge remains intact as following the completion of the group stages, the top team in each division will be crowned champions. Cusack Cup – Division 1 Football League Round 1 Kilmurry Ibrickane v St Joseph’s Miltown at Quilty, Monday, 3.30pm (Referee: C Maguire) It’s a post-lockdown …

AN Ennis student has been named as the overall winner of a prestigious all-Ireland competition. DCU student Eoin Murphy is the 2021 winner of the €2,000 Mary Mulvihill Award, the science media competition for third-level students that commemorates the legacy of science journalist and author Mary Mulvihill (1959–2015). Eoin, a student on DCU’s MSc in Science and Health Communication programme, won the top prize for his audio documentary Black Market Oxygen – The Peru Project, which examined the contrasting experiences of Ireland and Peru during the Covid-19 pandemic. The piece was inspired by a photograph in The Guardian showing a stand-off between hundreds of impoverished and desperate families attempting to leave Peru’s capital, Lima, on foot to return to their home villages, and riot police, who blocked their path in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The documentary, which Eoin wrote and narrated, is a stark reminder that old age and underlying conditions are not the only …

NEW facilities will be available to the public at Lahinch Sea World when it reopens in 2022, after an ambitious regeneration project. In a statement, the board of the amenity outlined how, thanks to a significant fundraising boost, it has now secured money for a new children’s learner pool and other enhancements as part of a total of investment of €5.8m. The board has credited the pandemic with creating a “window of opportunity” to pursue every possible funding stream, enabling them to respond to the concerns that arose last year when it was feared that the children’s pool would have to be left out of the refurbishment project. “The board of Lahinch Sea World are happy to be able to confirm that a new children’s learner pool will now be included in the redevelopment,” the statement said. “The Covid-19 pandemic has left a devastating impact on our society and economy, but the closure of construction for the first four months …

PERSONNEL changes are in the pipeline at Clare FM with a new presenter set to take over the hugely popular Morning Focus current affairs show from Tuesday next, June 8. Clonlara resident Alan Morrissey (40) takes over the award-winning daily talk show from Gavin Grace, who had fronted the programme since 2015. Alan has an extensive background in broadcasting, having worked for a variety of radio stations around the Mid-West. “I am delighted to have been given the responsibility of presenting such a prestigious show and to be allowed the opportunity to connect and engage with our listeners each weekday,” he said. “Morning Focus is many people’s go-to source for all of the news and issues that matter to Clare, and that will remain the case under my stewardship. “I want to maintain what is attractive about the show, while over time hopefully adding my own style and some newer elements in terms of content.” Meanwhile, Fiona Cahill has been …

THE rain may have been falling, but that didn’t dampen the spirits at Clare’s hotels, B&Bs, guest houses and self-catering accommodation on Wednesday as they welcomed guests for the first time this year with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. “It’s an exciting day, it really is, you can feel it around the place,” Sharon Malone, Falls Hotel marketing and digital media manager told The Clare Champion. “Everybody is back in their uniforms, some who haven’t seen each other in quite a while, and everything looks fantastic. Even the rain has made the flowers outside look so fresh and colourful, everything looks brand new. “We had training in the hotel last week which brought the teams back together and, it’s funny, but by the end of it you could tell it had just lifted everybody’s spirits and focused everybody again on getting back to doing what we enjoy doing. “We’re lucky that we have most of our core crew coming back …

Star architect Bannon’s new TV series showcases, impressive and lovingly restored Kilrush project this Sunday HOLIDAY accommodation with a difference in West Clare will feature in a new television series with Dermot Bannon this weekend. On Sunday at 9.30pm Dermot Bannon’s Super Small Spaces on RTÉ One will showcase The Merchant’s House and Store overlooking the Market Square in Kilrush. The property provides two unique heritage holiday homes in the heart of Kilrush having been lovingly restored to preserve their heritage, while also offering 21st century comforts. Paul Gleeson of The Merchant’s House and Store told The Champion that the well-known architect isn’t the only famous face to have stepped inside the historic building. In 1963 The Dubliners performed in the back bar when the building was in the hands of the McDermott family. “Taking part in the show was a good experience and everyone was excited to meet him. “When Dermot came here he said it was like he …