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Lifestyle

Blogging about life and other stories

A SHANNON woman is stirring up quite the online following and is now a finalist in the UK Blog Awards. Claire McCarthy’s blog, www.clarewiththehair.com, is a finalist in the lifestyle and food and drink categories. “It’s kind of like an online magazine, the kind of thing that I would like to pick up and read. There’s a bit of fashion, a bit of beauty, a bit of celebrity gossip but the majority of the focus is around food and cooking easy, family-friendly meals.” Claire lives in Ballycasey and works in the marketing department of an IT services company. She started www.clarewiththehair.com at the start of September and says she had long been interested in blogging. “I always loved blogs and reading other people’s blogs. But I would have thought that blogging would have been a million miles away from me, I’d have thought other people do blogging, I don’t do blogging. But there were loads of blogs I was following …

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First Clare Baby

Cratloe GAA Club, which swept all before them in 2014 to win the Clare senior hurling and football titles, will have another great reason to celebrate at their sold-out victory function this Friday night. Cratloe has won the honour of being the Clare parish to welcome the first baby of 2015. Weighing in at 3.5kg, Mylo Molony  was born at the Regional Maternity University hospital in Limerick  at 5.38am on New Year’s Day, to proud parents, Cratloe’s Clodagh and Barry Molony.   Clodagh is a member of a well-known  O’Hara family that has strong ties with Cratloe GAA Club. In congratulating the Molonys on the birth of their new year son, a club spokesman said they all hoped that one day Mylo would don the Clare jerseys and experience the thrill of winning an All-Ireland hurling title.      

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Happy New Year

Out with the old and in with the new. Happy new year! 2015 was welcomed in by hundreds of people at discos, hotel functions and parties all over County Clare.  There was a great party atmosphere everywhere, with both friends and strangers sharing in the excitement of the occasion. Hotels were well booked with people from many locations,  even from  close proximity, who wanted to extend the new year break. There was also the traditional gathering of regulars in their local pubs for the countdown to midnight and the singing of Auld Lang Syne. On a quieter note, many churches had special prayer and reflection services to mark the transition from 2014 to 2015.    

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Charity cheques instead of cards

The Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe has foregone his Christmas card allowance to support local organisations and charities. Councillor John Crowe will present Cahercalla Hospice, the RNLI, Clarecastle Daycare Centre and Going Strong Sixmilebridge with cheques for €250 each. “I am delighted to contribute my Christmas card allowance to the respective fundraising efforts of these organisations who for very different but important reasons rely on such donations,” he said.

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A Canadian perspective on Clare

Canadian TV personality and travel writer, Frank Greco travelled to Ireland before Christmas to film for his popular show The Travel Guy. The special Ireland episode, which will be seen in millions of households in Canada and elsewhere around the world, will include footage from the Cliffs of Moher, Loop Head Lighthouse, the Music Makers of West Clare in Miltown Malbay, and a traditional Irish music session at McGann’s Pub in Doolin. During their time here, the crew stayed at Crotty’s Pub and B&B in Kilrush and Hotel Doolin. They were in Ireland as guests of Tourism Ireland in Toronto. The Travel Guy series is broadcast on many networks across the world including Discovery World HD (Canada), the Back9 Lifestyle Network (United States), Asia Television Network, Japan Television and U7 (Russia) – reaching millions of potential holidaymakers for Ireland. “We are delighted that Frank Greco has chosen to film in Ireland, giving potential visitors in Canada and elsewhere around the …

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A busy Christmas for Childline

Childline, the ISPCC’s listening service for all children and young people in Ireland was busy on Christmas Day. A total of 57 dedicated volunteers from across Ireland provided support to hundreds of children who needed to talk. Christmas Day saw ISPCC volunteers listening to and responding to 1,208 calls, texts and messages from children through Childline’s 24 hour telephone, text and online service, with over 73% of these coming from male contacts. Childline faced an unprecedented funding crisis in 2014, which threatened its ability to maintain the 24 hour nature of the service. Childline reached out to the general public through its emergency appeal and the people of Ireland responded wholeheartedly with donations of €400,000; a reflection of the place that Childline holds in the hearts and minds of the Irish public. Furthermore a recent agreement between Childline and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will greatly assist in maintaining the overnight service and ensuring that Childline remains open …

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Cutting through the red tape for companies

The new Companies Bill passed in the Houses of the Oireachtas last week will ease the burden of red tape for Clare business people and simplify many existing company law requirements, according to local TD, Joe Carey. The Bill, which is the largest substantive piece of legislation in the history of the State, has now been sent to the President for signing. “The passing of the new Companies Bill through the Oireachtas is great news for entrepreneurs and business owners in County Clare as it will significantly ease the burden of red tape on small business,” said Mr Carey. It is estimated that 200,000 SMEs and 12,000 start-ups every year will be able to substantially reduce the costs and time associated with establishing and running a company, as a result of this Bill. “The vast majority of companies in Ireland are private companies limited by shares and for that reason they will be placed at the centre of the legislation. …

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Childline remains open

A funding agreement, which will assist in ensuring that Childline stays open 24 hours a day, has been confirmed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and ISPCC/Childline. Recently thse ISPCC, which operates Childline, had warned that funding difficulties in the organisation could force the closure of overnight services. The agreement respects the desire of ISPCC/Childline to remain independent, while at the same time ISPCC has agreed to work with the department in supporting developments in the area of child protection. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly who completed the agreement with Mr Dan Flinter, chairman of the ISPCC, congratulated both sides on the successful discussions that have led to today’s announcement. The agreement will see funding provided over a two year period and is aimed at supporting the ISPCC to return to financial sustainability in respect of the Childline service. Dr Reilly has also strongly welcomed the ISPCC agreement involving his department and the …

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