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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 …

The Clare Champion are looking for an Advertising Sales Representative to cover Clare and the surrounding areas. We’re looking for someone with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to develop new leads and service existing clients.

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 …

Minister Helen Mc Entee is in Brussels today (Tuesday) to address a conference on Active Ageing and Mental Health. She is there on the invitation MEP South Deirdre Clune and the conference was organised by the European Peoples Party and Mental Health Europe. A group of about 40 MEPs and key representatives from European mental health and active ageing organisations are at the conference, which is being addressed by various experts from around Europe. The main theme of the one day conference is ‘Ensuring opportunities and participation in society at all ages’ – and relevant policy issues covered included why active ageing matters, the European dimension of active ageing, and Mental Health and Active Ageing in the workplace. Discussions are centring on how best EU countries can progress this important issue over coming years, particularly given looming demographic pressures.

AN investigation has been launched following an armed robbery at a filling station on the outskirts of Ennis on Sunday night. Gardaí are appealing to the public for information after two men dressed in dark clothes entered the Maxol filling station at Clareabbey roundabout at around 10pm. One of the men was carrying what appeared to have been a handgun, while the other man was armed with a crowbar. A member of staff was tied up by the men who got away with a sum of cash. There were no injuries during the incident. Gardaí in Ennis are anxious to speak to anybody who may have seen anything suspicious in the area between 9.30pm and 10.30pm. Anybody with any information should contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 68 48100.

The Green Party has published legislation, which will be debated and voted on in the Seanad on Wednesday, aimed at tackling vacancy and dereliction in city and town centres. This is an issue that has been discussed on numeroous occasions in County Clare where such problesm exists in a number of towns, large and small. The Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017 aims to increase the levies on vacant sites from 3% per annum to 5%, to bring forward the date from which they apply from 2019 to mid-2017, and to include all sites under the legislation, as currently sites under 500m2 are exempt. Speaking ahead of the debate in the Seanad, Green Party Senator Grace O’Sullivan said,“We are bringing this legislation to tackle what we see as fundamental flaws in the Government’s approach to vacancy and dereliction in our town and city centres. Throughout the country, in our villages, towns and cities, we are seeing countless examples of underutilisation …

Ballyea 1-19 St.Thomas 2-14 Ballyea had to survive a huge fight back by Galway champions St.Thlmas in the finalten minutes of this All-Ieland club hurling semi-final at Semple stadium in Thurles this evening. In the end the Clare champions prevailed and deservingly reecorded a two point win to seal their place in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park on St. Patricks Day when they wll face either Cuala from Dublin or Slaughneal from Derry who meet in their semi-final at the end of February. For three quarters of this tie Ballyealooked set to record an easy victory.Ballyea were in a strong position at half time when they held a seven point advantage, leading on a score of 0-10 to 0-3, and they were full value for that lead. The Galway champions may point to some missed opportunities from inter county man Conor Cooney, but there is no denying the fact that the Ballyea defence was well on top and gave …