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THIS Sunday is the 80th birthday of Uachtaráin na hÉireann, Michael D Higgins. Now well into the second term of his presidency, he has generally enjoyed very high levels of public approval. Michael D grew up in Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus and went to the local school there before going on to St Flannan’s. This week his brother John, who still lives in Ballycar, said he couldn’t have envisaged the success he would enjoy in public life. “That’s true, that’s true. Politics is a funny game and a good game.” As a boy the future president was a voracious reader, he recalls. “He’d read a lot of books, whatever books were available in the library at the time.” In 1993 Michael D became the country’s first ever Minister for Arts, and John says that helped bring him to greater prominence, although he had already been a TD for several years. “Eventually Labour got into Government with Fine Gael and that was the …

Secretary of Clare GAA Pat Fitzgerald has claimed that there is a witchhunt aimed at him going on in the county. The comments came during tetchy exchanges at this week’s board meeting, in which issues relating to the still to be completed €4.8 million Centre of Excellence at Caherlohan were once more to the fore. Whitegate delegate David Solan raised the issue when querying the content of an Irish Independent article in recent weeks, which claimed that the pitches at the venue were in “pristine condition”. “It is my opinion that when we got someone in to see what is wrong with the pitches and to cost how much it would be, he came out with a figure of €70,000 per pitch for six pitches which is nearly €500,000. It is what I would call negligence by somebody in the county board, because when you do a sand based pitch, you are given a maintenance plan. We have one in …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of five additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare and eight additional deaths related to Covid-19 nationally. Of the deaths reported today, four occurred in April, two occurred in February and two occurred in January or earlier. The median age of those who died was 79 years and the age range was 43 to 92 years. There has been a total of 4,820 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Wednesday, April 14, the HPSC has been notified of 309 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There has now been a total of 242,402* confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 168 are men / 141 are women 71% are under 45 years of age The median age is 35 years old 107 in Dublin, 30 in Kildare, 14 in Offaly, 21 in Meath,14 in Limerick and the remaining 104 cases are spread across 18 other counties** As of …

Fixture details have been announced for the Clare senior and junior camogie squads 2021 Littlewoods National League campaigns. Ger O’Connell’s charges have been grouped with neighbours Galway and Limerick in Group One of Division One, and begin their campaign with a trip to take on the Tribeswomen on Saturday May 15. Clare will have home advantage a week later against Limerick, before a bye in the final round. Last weekend also saw the Camogie Congress taking place, where the trial rules introduced last year were ratified for the coming season. Clare captain and Inagh-Kilnamona clubwoman Clare Hehir, feels it was a progressive step. “It was all very positive with the new rules being passed which is good to see. We are no longer allowed handpass goals or drop the hurley, but hopefully things like the contact rule will make a big difference. It is something we had been waiting to happen so it was good to see that passed and …

THE Board of Clare FM have today said they are “delighted” to announce the appointment of Ronan McManamy as their new CEO. Ronan has extensive experience in the media and radio industries in Ireland. Most recently Ronan was Managing Director of the Irish Examiner, and previously was Chief Executive Officer of Wireless Radio Ireland (formerly UTV Radio). Ronan was also Chief Executive Officer of Cork’s 96fm and C103 for more than a decade having previously been Commercial Director at the two stations. In addition to his role at Clare FM, Ronan as also been appointed as CEO at Tipp FM, with whom Clare FM have operated a successful operating alliance for over a decade and in which Clare FM also holds a significant shareholding. Commenting on the appointment the Chair of the Clare FM Board, John Evans, commented, “This is a critical appointment for both Clare FM and our sister station in Tipperary. The Boards of both companies invested significant …

THE HSE has announced the opening of the Mid-West Covid-19 Vaccination Centre in Ennis from Monday, April 26, marking a significant scaling up of the Covid-19 vaccination programme across the region. The centre in the West County Hotel, will open on a phased basis, scaling up in line with availability of vaccines. Along with the centre at the Radisson Blu Limerick, and the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh, the facilities form a tripartite vaccination network to accelerate the delivery of Covid-19 vaccine in the Mid-West. With work ongoing at the Radisson Blu Limerick to vaccinate the Group 4 cohort of patients at very high risk of serious illness from Covid-19, the opening of the Ennis centre coincides with the move to Group 5 (people aged 65 to 69 at high risk) and Group 6 (other people aged 65 to 69) in the Government’s list of Provisional Vaccine Allocation Groups. UL Hospitals Group management gave the go-ahead for the phased opening …

CLARE’S top Garda has responded to concerns over the use of tourist facilities in Ennis to provide homeless accommodation. In recent weeks, the situation has been blamed for a spike in anti-social behaviour, including drug dealing, in residential areas close to the town centre. The issue was raised at this week’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) by Deputy Joe Carey, who said the location and nature of the Ashford Court Hotel make it unsuitable as a homeless service. “There is fall-out on the streets of residential areas nearby,” he said. “This has been raised by a number of people. I don’t believe that the tourist accommodation being used is adequate. The proper supports are not there, especially to support complex cases. There is spill-out on to the streets and residents have been contacting us as public representatives, to voice their concerns. “We need a multi-agency approach to nip this in the bud and root out unsavoury behaviour.” Cathaoirleach …

THE State has been granted extra time to serve a book of evidence on a man accused of murdering a woman in Ennis. Patrick Ballard (34), with a former address at Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, is charged with the murder of Sharon Bennett at Garraunakilla, the Market, Ennis on January 28, 2021, contrary to Common Law. Ms Bennett (29), a native of Wexford who lived in Clare, died 13 days later at University Hospital Limerick. Ballard appeared before Ennis District Court yesterday via video link from Limerick Prison where he has been on remand since January. Sergeant Aiden Lonergan told the court that the charge of murder was put to the accused on March 24 and the State has 42 days, up to May 5, to serve the book of evidence. Sergeant Lonergan said the book was not yet available and he was seeking to have the case further adjourned to May 12. He said the State was also seeking …