Lifestyle

The late David Kelly  was one of our great character actors and played many memorable roles since the 1950s. He played many roles on British television. He appeared regularly in Me Mammy, Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width and Robins Nest but to some he will forever be associated with Fawlty Towers where he played the hopeless builder, Mr O’Reilly.To a younger generation, he will be remembered as Grandpa Joe in the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while to an older group, he will forever be Rashers Tierney in Strumpet City.Written by James Plunkett, Strumpet City has to be one of the great Irish historical novels of the last century. It can only be described as an epic as it follows the lives of a motley group of characters caught up in the events which affected Dublin 100 years ago, the great strike and lockout of 1913 in particular.Its main issue is with the striking workers and …

One of the country’s best-known communicators, Terry Prone was in Ennis recently as guest speaker at Clare County Enterprise Board’s latest Women in Business Network event.Terry has nearly 40 year’s experience providing advice at the highest level on PR. As strategic communications advisor to more than one EU Commissioner, Terry has been involved in the planning of major PR campaigns, particularly those involving attitude and behaviour change. Furthermore, Terry has presented radio and TV programmes, written 26 books, sold her first company, started another – The Communications Clinic – in the teeth of a recession where her son, Anton, is her boss. Terry spoke with great enthusiasm on running a business in a male-dominated environment and of the key challenges facing women in business in Ireland today. She also held a very informative questions-and-answers session.Madeline McAleer of Clare Focus, who also spoke at the event, outlined how she has developed her business, www.clarefocus.ie, the support she has received and how …

There has been much media debate regarding the 100,000 plus people presently in mortgage arrears. The situation unfortunately is worsening and we are going to see this number increase significantly over the coming months unless guidance and action are taken.The reality on the ground for people both working and unemployed is that they may have been experiencing huge difficulties over the past number of months just to meet their mortgage repayments. This is unsustainable as they have done without essentials such as food, clothing and electricity to make ends meet. In addition, the effects on people’s mental health and relationships are hugely at risk and could result in serious social issues. With incomes down over 14% and increased taxes imposed in an effort to establish economic stability, the funds are not there to meet mortgage repayments for loans agreed in the boom years.What are the options? Well the most important advice anyone could give to someone in difficulty or potentially …

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People were “blown away” by the quality of miniature models on display at the second Clare Diecast and Model Show in the West County Hotel, Ennis on Sunday last.

THAT violence was endemic to 19th Century Ireland will come as no surprise to readers of Patricia Byrne’s The Veiled Woman of Achill, which is published this month.

Burren College of Art reached another milestone on Wednesday with the first conferring of a PhD in Studio Art by the National University of Ireland, Galway.

CO-FOUNDER of livestock aid agency Bóthar, Peter Ireton is preparing for his mammoth 60km ‘Siúl go dtí Seasca’ trek this Saturday.