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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. The Division One quarter-final is set for the weekend of June 5, with the semi-finals and relegation playoffs taking place a week later. The Division One final and Relegation final are both fixed for the weekend of June 19. Group Two in Division One is made up of Cork, Tipperary and Waterford with Kilkenny, Dublin and Offaly competing in Group Three. The Junior side, who missed out on last year’s championship after “second teams” were forced to stand down amid Covid-19 restrictions, will also get their Division Three campaign underway on Saturday …

There will be plenty Clare interest in today’s Aintree Grand National as Tubber’s Derek O’Connor will be among the 40 strong field for the prestigious event. The point to point legend is set to take on the famous fences in one of the world’s biggest races for the first time in his career, as he partners with the Nicky Henderson trained OK Corral. The JP McManus owned runner is currently around an 80/1 shot with Henderson bidding for his first ever win in the race. O’Connor has already faced the big fences this week at the Aintree Festival, and finished fourth aboard Snugsborough Hall in Friday’s Topham Chase. The big race is set to go post this evening at 5.15pm.

ENNIS’ Temporary Covid-19 Town Centre Mobility Plan, resulting in parts of the town closed to traffic, has been described as “very conservative” with calls being made for restrictions to be lessened. The Ennis Municipal District have confirmed that a review of the plan is scheduled to take place after the current lock-down measures are eased. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the local authority, Councillor Pat Daly urged that the council and the mobility stakeholder group keep the traffic situation under constant review with a view to re-opening selected streets if the county’s Covid numbers continue to improve. He said that many business owners are “tired and upset” over the ongoing street closures. “The pandemic has caused severe damage to their livelihoods” he said, expressing the hope that there may be “light at the end of the tunnel” in the near future. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy voiced her support to the motion, saying the pandemic has been “very, very hard …

THE Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District has called for more financial incentives to prevent vacant properties from become derelict and dangerous. Councillor Pat Hayes’s comments following the closure of a section of the footpath on Main Street in Tulla after a dangerous structure notice was issued on an empty building. “The situation typifies a problem I have been raising for a considerable period of time,” he said. “The new rural development strategy encourages the redevelopment of buildings in towns and villages and it is not in anyone’s interest to have a situation like we have in Tulla at the moment. Traffic problems are being created, as well a negative image of the place. I would encourage the owner of the property to engage with the council and for all of the owners of vacant buildings to do the same.” The Fianna Fáil member said that existing schemes to support owners to redevelop vacant properties are not working. “Under the …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of fewer than five additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare and 34 additional deaths related to Covid-19 nationally. Of the deaths reported today three occurred in April, four occurred in March, 19 occurred in February, five occurred in January, and three occurred in December or earlier. The median age of those who died was 81 years and the age range was 33 to 96 years. There has been a total of 4,769* Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Thursday, April 8, the HPSC has been notified of 473 confirmed cases of Covid-19.There is now a total of 240,192** confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 224 are men / 247 are women 76% are under 45 years of age The median age is 29 years old 229 in Dublin, 32 in Kildare, 21 in Mayo, 19 in Meath, 30 in Donegal and the remaining 142 …

PRE-PLANNING consultation has begun in South East Clare as a German renewable energy company prepares to lodge an application for an eight-turbine windfarm, early next year. RWE Renewables Ireland Limited (RWE), which describes itself as one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, launched an eight-week pre-planning consultation exercise at the start of this month. It says that feedback received from residents and stakeholders – whom it aims to meet virtually while Level 5 restrictions continue – will inform the design of the windfarm, proposed for a 320-hectare site 6km south west of Killaloe and 1.5km north of Bridgetown. As a mandatory element of windfarm projects, RWE will administer a community fund in the event of securing planning permission from Clare County Council, a figure which could range from €168,000 to €288,000 per annum for 15 years. A brochure on the project also outlines the potential for community shared ownership. It details the creation of up to 70 jobs during …

THE people of Clare are being urged to show their support for people living with cystic fibrosis and their families by donating online at 65rosesday.ie on Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s 65 Roses Day, Friday April 9. The annual fundraising flag-day is the largest fundraising event of the year for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and unfortunately collections have had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. At this time of unprecedented challenge, now more than ever, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland need support so they can continue to provide much needed support for people with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland. Ireland has the highest incidence of CF in the world and some of the most severe types. There are almost 1,400 people living with CF in Ireland and the number is increasing each year as a result of improvements in treatment and care. According to recently-published statistics from the Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Ireland, there were 37 people with CF registered as being from Co. Clare in …

THERE was shock in Ennis this week with the confirmation that one of the county town’s most popular establishments would be closing its doors for good. The multi-award winning Food Heaven has been a firm favourite since it was first opened on Market Street in 2006. However on Friday it was confirmed that the cafe and delicatessen had closed permanently. Since the announcement owner Noirin Furey has been “overwhelmed” with the number of good wishes which have been described as “very humbling”. A post on Food Heaven’s social media page stated, “I am very saddened to announce that Food Heaven will close on a permanent basis, on Saturday, April 3 2021. I sincerely thank all those who over the last 14 and a half years have worked closely with me, and have made such a positive contribution to the success and reputation of the business. It was a pleasure having you on this journey.” The statement continued, “I would like …