Breaking News

A SUM of €6.327 million is being allocated to Shannon, under the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme 2021, Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton announced this morning. Knock, Donegal and Kerry Airports will also be receiving a combined total of almost €4.8 million. Announcing the allocations, Minister of State Naughton said: “I am delighted to be approving these capital allocations in what has been an incredibly difficult year on our regional airports. This funding represents a strong commitment by Government to help Ireland’s regional airports remain financially sustainable as they plan to move beyond the largest exogenous shock that the sector has ever faced.” Minister Naughton added, ‘I am pleased to say that this year’s funding has also taken climate objectives into account for the first time, representing an important step in the process towards the ‘greening’ of Irish Airports. I am confident that today’s allocations, coupled with the impending funding to address the impacts of Covid, will help airports regain …

NEW Clare County Council byelaws would see the use of jetskis prohibited at White Strand in Miltown Malbay, White Strand in Doonbeg, at Ballycuggeran Lake in Killaloe and Ballyalla Lake in Ennis. The move towards a ban is being criticised by Peter Conroy, the Miltown-based chairman of the Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club, who says it is regressive, and will limit the club’s ability to carry out the training it requires to provide rescue services. He says the club was founded after it became apparent there was a need for safety services. Mr Conroy said, “It was set up about 12 years ago when we started tow surfing at the Cliffs of Moher, that big wave underneath there. “We started surfing there and we started realising that the Coast Guard couldn’t help us if we got in trouble in certain areas, so we started to get professionals over to train us up in jetski rescue and certain medical procedures. Basically …

TRIBUTES have been paid to the late Maureen Cronin who passed away at her home in Ennis in her 105th year this week. The pioneering educator, talented musician and avid writer was not only well-known in her adopted home-town of Ennis, but she also rose to national prominence. She appeared on radio and television including RTÉ’s Nationwide in 2014, as well as 2015’s The Local Eye where she was seen on one of her regular visits to The Clare Champion offices. She was born Maureen O’Carroll on Christmas night 1916 in Toureenfineen, Rockchapel, County Cork and grew up in a house surrounded by music. After school she trained as a teacher, and on marrying her beloved husband Seán she blazed a trail by defying the marriage ban on women teachers. In 2014, she was honoured at the 2014 Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards for the part she played in getting the ban lifted, becoming a test case for the INTO Teachers’ …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of one additional death related to Covid-19. There has been a total of 4,836 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Saturday, April 17, the HPSC has been notified of 269 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There has now been a total of 243,508* confirmed cases of CovId-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 133 are men / 131 are women 70% are under 45 years of age The median age is 31 years old As of 8am today, 181 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 47 are in ICU. 6 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of April 16, 2021, 1,188,354 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland: 838,644 people have received their first dose 349,710 people have received their second dose Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said: “We have already seen the fantastic impact of vaccination amongst our healthcare …

AN initiative from the office of the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council is looking to celebrate kindness and good deeds done by members of the public around the county during the pandemic to date. Cathaoirleach Mary Howard is inviting Clare people to nominate fellow citizens for recognition as ‘Clare Covid Heroes’ for the help and support they have provided to others during Covid-19. Councillor Howard said the idea is to provide recognition for people who have helped others, with no expectation of any reward. “This initiative is about celebrating the ‘everyday heroes’ all around us who have been quietly helping and supporting others during the past year under the various Covid-19 restrictions. “From providing practical assistance, such as ordering online shopping for older relatives and neighbours, to offering emotional support, perhaps through socially distanced visits or video and phone call check-ins, people in our communities have really been there for each other. Little gestures can mean a lot, and can …

KILKISHEN Community Playground will shortly have its full range of facilities restored, after a successful campaign to raise funds for vital repairs. A risk assessment recently revealed problems with some of equipment in the popular amenity and meant that the swings had to be removed. When the repair bill ran to €2,500, it presented a challenge for Kilkishen Development Association, who look after the playground. “The risk assessment identified items we needed to repair as soon as possible,” said Treasurer, Olivia King. “The swings had to be taken out. The bill looked massive when we got it first, because all of our traditional ways of fundraising were closed off to us. We couldn’t hold the usual fundraisers like cake sales because we couldn’t bring people together during lockdown.” The solution came by way of a Go Fund Me campaign which received a hugely positive response from the local community. “It worked out really well and, in the end, the target …

CLARE’S Garda chief has promised a “proactive” approach to an illegal encampment at the Station Yard in Sixmilebridge. The matter was raised at this week’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) by Councillor PJ Ryan. The Independent representative said there was considerable concern because those involved had turned down an offer of Council accommodation, and were refusing to move on until they are provided with housing at an alternative location of their choice. Deputy Cathal Crowe expressed his annoyance at the situation, saying it threatened the integrity of the social housing system. “At this stage, they are absolutely taking the mick,” he said. “They have obviously travelled from somewhere, during Covid, and despite the travel restrictions. They now say they can’t travel back to the UK, because of Covid, and that the Council has to house them as a solution. “It is important to say that Travellers have the right to housing. Everyone respects that. However, there are a …

CLARE County Council and Creative Ireland are encouraging children and young people to get creative at home to celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg, which takes place on June 12. This ‘Gathering of Young People’ encourages artistic expression and creativity for everyone aged 0 to 18 years, and is also supported by RTÉ. The one-day event is designed to empower, to develop creative potential and to foster the expression of creativity. The Creative Ireland Clare Culture Team is inviting children and young people to create a piece of art with the theme ‘My Happy Place’. This can be a painting, poem, anything creative. This will give all young people a chance to showcase their creativity. Art work will then be posted on the Creative Ireland Clare Facebook page and Clare Cruinniú Instagram Page. The office will also feature the art work on the Cruinniú na nÓg’s National Day Programme in June. Those who would like to take part are asked to like …