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THE late Caitríona Lucas was posthumously named Clare person of the year at a ceremony in the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon last night. Over 300 people were in attendance at the Clare Association function, as the award was accepted by the late Ms Lucas’ husband Bernard, her son Ben and daughter Emma. Speaking to The Champion at the Falls, Bernard said “It means an awful lot for all of us, for the family, the extended family, it’s a huge honour.” Bernard, who also volunteers with the coastguard, added, “it’s a very proud night for all of us and it’s a great honour to have. Unfortunately it’s posthumous, but she would be very, very honoured by it.” He also paid tribute to those who have helped him and his family since last September. “We’ve had a lot of support from friends and neighbours. It would have been very difficult without them, but we have great neighbours, great friends and great extended …

THE most expensive property sold in County Clare last year was also the most expensive outside of Dublin, the latest Property Price Register (PPR) has revealed. It was a student accommodation complex, Thomond Village, in the University of Limerick, which sold for €33 million. The most expensive house was Quinville Abbey in Quin, which sold for €1.4 million, while Suite 7 at Donald Trump’s Doonbeg Golf Club, which sold for €675,000 made the top five. At the other end of the scale, the cheapest houses sold in Clare was The Old Post Office, Cullenagh, Labasheeda, which sold for €6,000. Three other properties in Kilrush, Carron and Cooraclare sold for €10,000. Countrywide, the level of property transactions fell by 3.5% in 2016 to 47,175 according to an analysis of the Property Price Register carried out by the property website MyHome.ie. However, while the level of transactions may have fallen, the total value of property transactions actually increased by 7.4% to over …

BALLYEA are flying high in the club hurling championship but another Ballyea native, Niamh Kelly, has enjoyed her own taste of success, after being selected as the 2017 Abu Dhabi Rose, destined for the Rose of Tralee festival from August 16 to 22. A farmer’s daughter, Niamh started a nursing degree at University of Limerick in 2009, after which she moved to London, before heading to the Middle East in July 2016. Niamh will be among the 65 Roses from Ireland and Irish communities around the globe who will travel to Kerry for the seven-day festival. “I am a proud Clare woman, who can be found reciting The Banner Roar whenever the opportunity presents itself. My main loves are sports, fashion, travelling the world with my best friends, Irish music and craic and keeping up with my 94-year-old grandad on Skype. “I’m looking forward to representing the Irish community in Abu Dhabi and my family from Clare at the Rose …

AN alleged illegal moneylender has appeared before a sitting of Kilrush District Court accused of engaging a man to threaten to shoot or torch the home of a debtor. John Thomas Naughton (64), with an address at O’Gorman Street in Kilrush, appeared before the local district court this week charged with engaging in moneylending without a moneylender’s licence granted by the Director of Consumer Affairs on a date unknown between April 1, 2014 and May 31, 2014. The offence is contrary to section 98(1) of Consumer Credit Act 1995. He is further charged that at O’Gorman Street, Kilrush he did without lawful excuse, through a third party, make a threat intending that it would be feared it would be carried out, to damage the house belonging to the injured party in the case. The offence, which is contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991, is alleged to have occurred on a date unknown between July 18, 2016 …

Clare holiday makers and those planning any trip abroad, have been advised to apply for a passport well in advance of travel. Minister for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen said, “I have had numerous calls to my constituency office in Ennis from people who are waiting weeks for a new passport, with many fearing they will not have their passport returned in time to travel. My advice therefore is to apply for your passport as early as possible.” “However, if you are travelling for business, even personal business, and require a passport within 15 to 20 days it is advisable to avail of the Passport Appointments Service rather than the Passport Express System,” he said. There has been an unprecedented number of applications for Irish passports since the vote on Brexit. According to figures revealed by the Department of Foreign Affairs there has been a 72% increase in applications from Northern Ireland and a 70% increase from Great Britain …

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Twenty eight teams will compete for the under 21 A, B and C hurling titles over the next two months and the draws have thrown up some interesting pairings. Title holders Inagh-Kilnamona will meet Wolfe Tones in a first round tie in the race for the A title. The full draw is Under 21 A;  A; Feakle-Killanena v Kilmaley; B; Clonlara v Eire Og; C; Sixmilebridge v Newmarket; D; Inagh-Kilnamona v Wolfe Tones; Semi-finals; D v E; B v A Under 21 B; Preliminary rounds; A; Crusheen-Tubber v Cratloe; B Clarecastle v Broadford; C; Scariff-Ogonnelloe v Smith O’Briens; Quarter finals; D; St. Josephs v C; E; Ballyea v O’Callaghans Mills; F; Clooney-Quin v B; G; Tulla v A; Semi-finals; F v G and D v E Under 21 C; Preliminary round; A; Kilmaley v Whitegate; Quarter finals; B; Ennistymon v Scariff; C; Eire Og v Corofin; D; Parteen-Meelick v Ruan; E; A v Bodyke; Semi-finals; E v C and B …

Wolfe Tones will face the reigning champions in the first round of both the Clare senior hurling and football championships in 2017. The Shannon club’s name was last out of the drum in both draws which were made at the February meeting of Clare GAA tonight. The footballers will face Kilmurry-Ibrickane while the hurlers will take on All-Ireland finalists Ballyea. Delegates rejected the masters fixtures proposal to have the first round of the football championship on the first weekend in May opting instead for a June 10/11 or June 17/18 date. The first round of the hurling championship will go ahead on the weekend of May 13/14. The draw for the under 21 hurling championship will take place on this Thursday night at Clare GAA headquarters in Clareabbey after a number of clubs asked to put their case to the CCC as to why they should be in a lower grade. The following draws were made Senior Hurling;  Miltown v …