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ONE of the only planned towns in the country, somehow Shannon has developed without a conventional centre or streetscape, and it is something locals have been seeking for years. Only recently the group behind the Venue (a proposed multi-functional Community, Civic and Arts Centre for the town) stepped away, after several years of unsuccessfully seeking funding. Derek Barrett was part of that group and has lived in Shannon since he was a child, arriving in the late 1960s. A former member of Shannon Town Council and Clare County Council, Sean McLoughlin has been in the town since 1970. The two met with the Clare Champion on Monday, and Derek said in his view the town is missing something important, which was there in his youth. “Shannon was well planned, it had the community hall, the shopping centre, all around Drumgeely Hill. There was a focal point. I know a streetscape is now being mentioned as the thing that Shannon needs, …

https://soundcloud.com/clarechampion/the-champion-report?fbclid=IwAR3WGEvGmDANeOfGyvmGqZGxL6576ewCtb-7fMTbCfTaz6mbFojau2SZgKM In the first edition of our new current affairs podcast The Champion Report, Carol Byrne and Owen Ryan discuss the inquest into the death of Gerard Tubridy, why Shannon Airport is being left behind and the sky high prices being sought for Lahinch accommodation during the Irish Open.

JOBS are at risk at Shannon IT company Avocent today. The company is a subsidiary of Vertiv, and in a statement it said, “Vertiv has notified the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection that we are considering staffing changes at our Shannon site. We are keeping our employees and customers informed. This is part of our efforts to deliver our products and services to our customers in the most effective and affordable way possible.” According to its accounts, Avocent International Designated Activity Company employed 84 people in the year to September 30, 2017. It had an after tax profit of US$6.4 million. Owen Ryan      

CORK’S Coroner’s Court has returned an open verdict into the death of West Clare man Gerard Martin Tubridy, who died following a head injury sustained on March 18, 2017 at Clohanmore, Cree, County Clare. At the inquest into his death assistant state pathologist Margaret Bolster told Thursday’s sitting of Cork Coroner’s Court that 59 year old Gerard Tubridy suffered a large linear fracture to the skull consistent with blunt force trauma on March 18, 2017 at Clohanmore in Cree. She detailed to the court that the injury which was sustained by Mr Tubridy was not consistent with a simple fall from an upright position as was the account presented to her, and was more likely associated with an accelerated fall. As to what caused the acceleration she said she could not definitively say. Having heard evidence from five individuals who travelled with Mr Tubridy on a short journey from Walsh’s in Cree to Mr Tubridy’s homeplace at Clohanmore, and also …

NORTH Clare homeowners are looking for more than €8,000 to rent out their properties for the Irish Open and this week has seen calls for more moderate pricing. On Monday, on airbnb.ie, a house described in its blurb as a “Lahinch Irish Open house in Miltown Malbay”, could be booked for €8,169. On the same site, €7,879 could secure a golf fan a three-bedroom house, which was described as being an eight minute walk from Lahinch’s main street. Another property in the village was available for the princely sum of €7,022 for the week. Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner, Offaly’s Shane Lowry and world number 13, Tommy Fleetwood, were confirmed this week for the tournament, which is taking place from July 4 to 7. Local hotelier Michael Vaughan is a past president of the Irish Hotels Federation and he said some of the prices being sought are very high. “As far as we’re concerned in Lahinch and North Clare, the …

KILRUSH Gardai have acknowledged support from members of the public for their assistance and help in searching for a missing pensioner late on Monday evening. Gardai said that the elderly man “has now been located safe and well.” “Particular thanks to Kilrush GAA, Kilrush Chamber of Commerce. Special mention of thanks to the staff of SuperValu, Kilrush for staying open and providing torches to searchers,” the Garda statement added. The search was led by Gardai, along with the Coast Guard and Cappa based RNLI. The man lives in the town and he was reported missing on Monday evening.

AS of this Monday, Stephen Warde from Kinvara, who was last seen in Malaysia on December 28, has still not been located. Mr Warde’s mother, Mary Morrissey travelled out to Kuala Lumpar,Malaysia over the weekend to help with the search for her son and is accompanied by two of her daughters. The Department of Foreign Affairs is is providing consular assistance and is co-operating with local police in the investigation to find his whereabouts. Stephen Warde (32) from Kinvara, Co Galway arrived in Malaysia alone on November 15 last and rented a unit at the Mercu Summer Suites along Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpar. He was last seen on December 28, a day before his tenancy was to expire. All of his belongings were still in the unit when searched by police. Police chief Assistant Commissioner Dang Wangi Shaharuddin Abdullah said, “Investigations are ongoing.” “He was supposed to check out from the unit on December 29, but did not …

Approximately 500 houses and some businesses across Clare experienced overnight power cuts following strong winds in the early hours of Sunday morning. Most of the power cuts were experienced in West Clare, Sixmilebridge and parts of North Clare. Outage updates are available on powercheck.ie