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THE descendants of the Clare volunteers who took part in hunger strikes in Mountjoy and Dundalk prisns in 1917 will travel from near and far to Ennis today for a special commemoration. The Mid Clare Brigade Commemoration Committee have managed to track down the families of the Clare hunger strikers in time for the commemoration taking place this Sunday at the4 Peace Park neaqr Glór. According to Mary Crawford, chairperson of the committee, the families are “delighted” that their ancestors are to be remembered in their home county. “The committee is very pleased to have tracked the descendants of all of the hunger strikers from as far away as Sydney, Paris, the UK and nearer to home. The families have expressed their deep appreciation that their forebears are being commemorated in this way. “We’ve only just got in touch with the granddaughter of one of the hunger strikers, James Madigan, in Australia, who would have loved to have come to …

IT is understood that the family of Eimear Noonan will return home from France this Thursday, after the Department of Justice in France issued a permit, enabling them to bring their 21-year-old daughter home. The young teacher from Caher in Killanena, a recent graduate of University College Cork,  the only daughter of Flan and Mary Noonan. She died tragically following a fall while out running in a public park in Annonay in the south of France were she was a teacher at Font Chevalier Primary School. Her funeral mass is expected to take place this Sunday at 12 noon. In a statement on social media, her brother and Clare U-21 hurler, Cathal, said the family would like to “thank all of those who have supported us in recent days”. He said, “French authorities have now confirmed to us the heartbreaking news that our beloved Eimear died, following a fall while running on Wednesday, November 8. “Eimear celebrated her 21st birthday in …

The Probation Services is recommending that a 22-year-old east Clare woman not be jailed concerning her neglect of a then five-month-old baby who suffered a catalogue of injuries including a skull fracture while in her care. At Ennis Circuit Court on Wednesday, Judge Gerald Keys said that the Probation Report on the woman recommends that she be placed under the supervision of the Probation Services for a period. Judge Keys said that the Probation Service report states that in order to assess the risk of re-offending, it was necessary for the services to have contact with the woman and that TUSLA staff engage with the Probation Service to ensure the safety and well being of the baby. In the case, the mother – then aged 19 – presented to her GP on February 13, 2015 in a distressed state with the baby as her daughter’s left arm wasn’t moving and she had bruising to her face. Her GP referred the …

A number of searches are currently under way in Counties Limerick, Clare and Tipperary led by members of the Criminal Assets Bureau. The searches are being conducted as part of ongoing investigations into the purchase of land, vehicles and other assets by organised criminal groups based in the region. The operation is being led by Bureau Officers assisted by members of the Regional Support Unit and local Gardaí. Searches have are been carried out a number of locations including private residences and business premises. Documentation, mobile phones, devices and computer equipment have been seized. There are no arrests planned during this phase of the investigation.

A Co Clare woman was sitting on a winning €500,000 EuroMillions plus ticket for a month before she realised there was a chance she could be a winner. It was only through a casual conversation at home that she learned the winning ticket was purchased at Barry’s Mace Store in Ardnacrusha, where she played EuroMillions on October 6 last. The winner, who arrived at National Lottery at the weekend, with her large family to collect her cheque, revealed she is not a regular player of Lottery games. “I was in the car on October 6 when I heard that night’s EuroMillions jackpot was €190m so I pulled into the nearest shop to buy a ticket,” she said. “I heard the following day that the jackpot was won in Spain, so I didn’t even bother checking the results. I didn’t know anything about a €500,000 EuroMillions Plus prize. “Despite the fact there was a lot of talk over the weeks of …

The occupant of a vehicle which was involoved in a crash near Killaloe last week has died in hospital from his injuries. The fatal traffic accident occurred between 4.05am and 4.12am on Tuesday morning, November 7 last in the townland of Cloonfadda which is not too far from Clarisford on the Killaloe to Limerick Road. The car contained five occupants which were all injured in the crash and removed to University Hospital Limerick. Unfortunately one of the occupant’s injuries were so severe that he later died. Gardai in Killaloe are investigating the circumstances surrounding this accident and are appealing for information from any person who may have witnessed the accident or who has any information concerning this car and its occupants either before or after the accident.

PLANS for the development of a supermarket and medical services centre on the outskirts of Ennis town centre have been put on hold, with an appeal lodged to An Bord Pleanála. Clare Car & Tractor Parts Ltd and Lohan Property Ltd were granted planning permission by Clare County Council for the development of the existing retail warehouse site on the Kilrush Road. The application sought the amalgamation and change of use of the four permitted ground-floor retail warehouse units to provide for: a supermarket, including a licensed alcohol sales area; eight neighbourhood centre retail units, with new independent shopfront entrances and neighbourhood centre management areas. The plans also include a medical services facility, including consultant rooms and associated waiting and administration area and more than 200 parking spaces. A total of 14 third-party submissions were received in relation to the development. Among those making submissions were local businesses, including Tesco Ireland Ltd, O’Sullivan & Hansbury Motors, Musgrave Retail Partners, as …

THE stars have aligned for well-known Ennis man John Cullinane, who is set to make an appearance on television’s Winning Streak tonight (Saturday). The retired public servant found it hard to believe his neighbours when they told him his name was pulled out of the drum to appear on the show. He had to watch the rerun the following day just to rest his mind. John was at an anniversary mass for his parents, which was in a rural church, so he missed Winning Streak. When he and Anne went into the local hotel bar later that evening, the neighbour called over to him and said, “John, I hear you’re in the money now!” Seventy-three-year-old John worked for the Mid-West Health Board before his retirement and describes himself as a “very proactive person”. He is an avid golfer and works on his handicap at Ennis Golf Club. He is also president of the Clare region of St Vincent de Paul, …