Lifestyle

A working group is literally pushing out the boat to achieve Blue Flag status for the popular bathing and recreational amenity at Ballyalla Lake, on the outskirts of the town.

Diners tucked into yet another culinary delight at Cassidy’s Pub in Carron recently, unaware that their succulent goat stew had been prepared by Aussie celebrity chef Lyndey Milan.

PRIOR to last weekend, Phil Mickleson had an unenviable record in the US PGA Open Championship. He had finished runner-up on five occasions. Unfortunately for him he has now stretched that record to six.

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THE mid-summer sunshine beating down on Tullabrack West, just off the Cooraclare-Kilrush Road, partly concealed the sense of loss pervasive in the Wilson-Pierce household. The throng of people, young and old, who had navigated the narrow boreen leading to the family home indicated that all was well. However, Mark Wilson-Pierce would have infinitely preferred if the anniversary gathering at Rathlir Farm had not been taking place at all. Almost 12 months ago, Mark lost his wife Margo (née Wilson) to cancer, leaving him widowed and seven-year-old Síofra and five-year-old Phoebe without their mother.“Monday (June 10) would have been the 10th wedding anniversary for myself and Margo. She passed away last July, having struggled hard to fight against ovarian cancer. It was found very late and there was unfortunately no hope,” Mark told The Clare Champion on Saturday, momentarily removed from the teeming crowd celebrating Margo’s life and raising money for the West Clare Cancer Centre in Kilkee.Margo, who was a …

A GROUP of 12 carers from all over the county have been presented with certificates recognising their participation in a European Commission-funded training course specialising in enhancing carer skills and competencies.Ennis-based Caring for Carers Ireland provided the caring skills and competencies training as one of six EU partners involved in the Leonardo da Vinci (Transfer of Innovation) Project KEYFORA, a two-year project focusing on education and training for family carers, professional care workers and migrant care workers.Among those to receive certificates at a ceremony in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis recently were Breda Connaughton, (Newmarket); Theresa Curtin (Crusheen); Caroline Davoren, (Kilmihil); Seyi Ejidem (Ennis); Teresa Hickey (Feakle); Teresa Hogan (Ennis); Cora Long (Scariff); Margaret Scanlon (Cranny); Kitty Ward (Cratloe); Godfrey Odiase (Ennis); Mary B Vaughan (O’Callaghan’s Mills) and Breda White (Ennis).Commenting on the initiative, Brigid Barron, KEYFORA project manager, Caring for Carers Ireland explained, “The lack of key competencies is recognised as one of the main challenges to the …

INCREASING the marketing of Shannon Airport overseas is one of the critical challenges facing the new independent board to help generate a substantial jump in passenger numbers.That’s according to Dromoland Castle managing director, Mark Nolan, who believes a good team has been assembled by the new board under the stewardship of Rose Hynes.Mr Nolan has also issued a rallying call to tourism and business interests in the Mid-West and West to get behind the airport to ensure it becomes successful.He confirmed Dromoland Castle has beefed up its sales drive in North America where his director of sales has spent 12 out of the last 16 weeks working to generate new business for the hotel.Stressing the importance of marketing, he believes the new board need more resources and creative ways have to be used to ensure the region provides greater support to the airport.Having spent two years on a previous airport board, he claimed the previous model, prior to separation from …

IRELAND’S recent 1-1 draw with England at Wembley wasn’t particularly exciting, apart from the fact that we did not lose. It was also important in that it was the first meeting of the two countries since the abandoned match in Lansdowne Road. Thankfully, there have been other more memorable matches.Following the foundation of the FAI, what were called the Home Nations – England, Scotland and Wales, were very reluctant to play us. England were in fact the first of those countries to play us but that was not until 1946 when the FAI had already played 32 internationals over the previous 20 years. That friendly in Dalymount Park resulted in a one-goal win for the visitors. The next meeting was much more memorable when Ireland became the first foreign country to defeat England at home. The 1949 match in Goodison Park ended in a 2 – 0 Irish win. The 1958 World Cup qualifying group saw an English win and …