Lifestyle

TEN Centra stores in Clare have helped raise over half a million euro for the Irish Cancer Society’s Action Breast Cancer in 2012. This is Centra’s third year providing nationwide support of the charity, with all funds raised going to provide information, advice and support services for women with breast cancer Jones’ Centra Miltown Malbay, Rodger’s Centra Scariff, Ryan’s Centra Clonroadmore Ennis, Lynch’s Centra Gort Road Ennis, Deasy’s Centra Clarecastle, Crowe’s Centra Sixmilebridge, Donnellan’s Centra Loughville, Michael’s Centra Kildysert, O’Keeffe’s Centra Tulla Road Ennis and Johnston’s Centra in Kilmihil joined forces with Centra stores nationwide in October 2012 and generated the much-needed funds through a dynamic fundraising campaign. Crowds of people took steps to raise funds and awareness through 80 Pink Umbrella Walks which took place throughout Ireland and contributed over €145,000 to the overall campaign. Jones’ Centra in Miltown Malbay held a local community walk and raised almost €4,000 for the charity through this fundraising initiative.A host of other …

FEELING sluggish, lacking energy, craving foods you might otherwise avoid?  One of the biggest issues for those struggling to lose weight is controlling the desire for late-night munchies. When feeling lethargic, we tend to crave foods to comfort us and evenings tend to be the most difficult time to control these cravings.  After dinner, as we settle down for some relaxation after a busy day, we tend to start foraging for a snack. Whether it’s early or late in the evening, this is the time that people consume most of their excess calories.The metabolism slows down at night as we’re winding down for bed, so eating a lot at this time isn’t ideal when we’re trying to lose weight. However, according to Motivation Weight Management, the main thing to realise is that if you’re mindful of your hunger, and mindful of your food choices, you will always feel in control. For most of us, snacking in the evening is purely …

“RUDE and barbarous”, sometimes “uncivil”, the Irish have been called many things in their pursuit of land rights.But no one could call us unfocused. From Michael Davitt’s denunciation of “the hoary-headed culprit of landlordism” to Charles Stuart Parnell’s skilled negotiation of the land acts that pushed the rights of Irish tenants through Westminster, we patiently established a claim to what we believed was rightfully ours. Leaders of the world’s eight wealthiest countries would do well to remember this as they arrive in Fermanagh on Monday next for the G8 Summit. A century after Parnell stood on the plinth in Ennis and called on Clare men to shun any man “that takes a farm from which another has been evicted”, poor countries are losing an area of land the size of a football pitch to banks and investors every single second.In a land rush that makes the cruel actions of the Vandeleurs and a host of other Clare landlords and agents …

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Former young historian of the year, Paul Gleeson, talks to John Rainsford about a remarkable renovation project in Kilrush  

IN the dead of what was a chillingly cold winter night on January 25, 1917, 354 men onboard the SS Laurentic lost their lives in Lough Swilly, Donegal.

  HIGH standards were maintained and crowds came out in big numbers to support the annual North-West Clare Agricultural Show in Ennistymon last weekend. While many winners from last year came back to defend their titles, most of the cups travelled to different destinations this year. The two-day event, held in the grounds of The Falls Hotel, kicked off on Saturday with the jumping events and a very attractive display of vintage cars, tractors and machinery. Judging the horse section was George Chapman from Gorey. He said there was an excellent turnout for the show, one of the best he had seen for a long time. He added that it was unusual to have a filly named as supreme champion of the show, describing the Ennistymon champion as a very correct filly. The showgrounds was a hive of activity from early Sunday morning, as the main parts of the show got underway. While some of the showing classes did not …

EVEN with the Gathering hoping to tempt those of Irish descent to visit the country of their forebears, we still tend to think only in terms of North America, England and Australia.