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Representatives of Clare County Council met with senior executives from Tourism Ireland in New York over  St Patrick’s weekend. They were briefed on Tourism Ireland’s extensive promotional programme for 2017, which is in full swing right now. Tourism Ireland aims to build on the success of 2016, which was the fourth record-breaking year in a row for Irish tourism from the United States. Tourism Ireland is prioritising North America this year, as a market which offers a strong return on investment, in terms of holiday visitors and expenditure. Our important ‘culturally curious’ and ‘social energiser’ audiences are being targeted with distinctive vacation experiences, events and special offers tailored to their interests. Tourism Ireland is creating ‘stand out’ for the island of Ireland in the US, highlighting experiences like the Wild Atlantic Way, the Causeway Coastal Route and Ireland’s Ancient East. Promotions aim to grow travel to the regions of Ireland, during the shoulder and off-peak seasons. With the recent announcement …

A group of more than 20 people from Langenfeld, located in North-Rhine-Westphalia between Düsseldorf and Cologne, have travelled to the county capital to participate in the 2017 Ennis St Patrick’s Day Parade today (Friday) Since the Irish Embassy in Berlin first facilitated contact between Ennis and Langenfeld in 2009, relations have been strengthening between both towns in the areas of culture and youth affairs. Ennis and Langenfeld became official twinning partners in 2013. Langenfeld is already twinned with Senlis (France), Gostynin (Poland), Montale (Italy) and Batangas City (Philippines). Mayor of Ennis Ann Norton; Leas cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Paul Murphy and Councillor Michael Begley, chair of the twinning committee, welcomed the delegation to Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis.

Tourism Ireland has unveiled a new online film for St Patrick’s Day 2017, to encourage prospective holidaymakers to come and visit Ireland this year. The 60-second film includes wonderful footage shot around Ireland, including the Cliffs of Moher, interwoven with some great images from Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening initiative, which sees hundreds of famous landmarks and iconic sites across the globe illuminated in green each year to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on this Friday. The film is being promoted through Tourism Ireland’s social platforms, including Facebook with 3.8 million fans worldwide; Twitter with 379,000 followers and YouTube. Last month, Tourism Ireland announced details of some of the famous attractions and sites around the world which will join its Global Greening initiative this year to mark St Patrick’s Day. From Rome to Rio and from London to Las Vegas, a host of major landmarks and iconic sites around the world will be illuminated in green this week – including the Colosseum, …

THE Central Bank has today (Monday) confirmed that 8% of mortgages in Clare are currently in arrears. The Central Bank has also noted almost 66% of people are unaware that there are free support services available to home-owners who are in mortgage arrears, as outlined in a new study conducted by the Citizens Information Board (CIB). The finding comes on foot of the recent launch of the communications campaign for Abhaile by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald and Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar. Angela Black, chief executive of CIB welcomed the report, which forms part of the communications campaign, aimed at increasing awareness of Abhaile, the Free Mortgage Arrears Support service dministered by MABS. Since its introduction last October, Abhaile has helped in excess of 4,800 people in mortgage distress. “We very much welcome the launch of the communications campaign, which has been developed specifically with the distressed borrower in mind. While this service has already brought much …

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed it will challenge efforts by the independent health watchdog HIQA to impose restrictions on new admissions to St Joseph’s Geriatric Hospital in Ennis. HIQA is on a collision course with the HSE over regulatory issues at the hospital, which provides vital public step-down facilities to elderly people. The Clare Champion has learned that admissions will continue at St Joseph’s, pending the outcome of a court appeal being prepared by the HSE. A SIPTU spokesman told The Clare Champion that its members have been providing the best quality care to patients in St Joseph’s. The spokesman explained the regulatory issues do not cover patient care but moreso difficulties in relation to the physical infrastructure, which HIQA have been highlighting for some time. Over the last three years, he said there have been plans to carry out remedial works at St Joseph’s, as well as an overall plan to construct a new facility on the …

KILRUSH historian Rita McCarthy, who investigated the operation of the County Clare Nursery on the Cooraclare road in the town, believes it is unlikely that any babies are buried on or close to the site. It follows revelations of the discovery of human remains at the site of the Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway. The nursery in Kilrush is one of the mother and baby homes nationwide that is part of the Mother and Baby Home Commission of Investigation, which was established on February 17, 2015 and is chaired by Judge Yvonne Murphy. The home in Kilrush was operated by Clare County Council from 1922-1932. Ms McCarthy told The Clare Champion that she could not yet reveal details of her contribution to the report, which is likely to be published in 2018. “I can’t talk about the specifics in that report because that is subject to the commission releasing it. But before that, I had done quite …

BISHOP of Killaloe Fintan Monahan has expressed “shock” and “sorrow” at the discovery of human remains at the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam. He served as a priest in the Tuam diocese and as diocesan secretary from 2005 to 2006. The find came at the conclusion of test excavations at the site. They were carried out at the behest of the Mother and Baby Home Commission of Investigation, which was established on February 17, 2015 and is chaired by Judge Yvonne Murphy. The commission has been asked to establish the circumstances for the entry of single women into mother and baby homes and the living conditions they experienced there. It has also been asked to examine mortality among mothers and children who lived in these institutions. “The reports that have emerged over the past few years have made for me such sad, shocking, disappointing and sorrowful reading. The level of shock and sadness among the …

The inward investment potential of the Shannon Free Zone is set to be significantly boosted following the sod-turning by Shannon Commercial Properties for a €10 million state-of-the-art new office block. The high-spec 55,000 sq ft facility, built to LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) Gold standards and located on the newly named Airport Avenue, is the first speculative new-build by Shannon Commercial Properties, a Shannon Group Plc company. The build is part of a €25 million first phase redevelopment programme at the Free Zone. Launched by Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Pat Breen TD, the facility will be built to top international standards and is designed for FDI and Irish enterprises seeking high-end office space. In excess of 120 construction jobs will be sustained during construction. The site, located adjacent to Shannon Airport perimeter which was demolished ahead of this investment, work on which will be completed by in May of next year. …