Lifestyle

A FUNDRAISER entitled Marching For The Maternities has raised over €27,000 for the neonatal intensive care units in Limerick and at the Coombe in Dublin. The fundraiser was the initiative of Sergeant Eddie O’Brien from Killaloe and Lieutenant Jonathan Hughes of Limerick both had children who were born very prematurely last year. The event saw soldiers complete the Great Limerick Run half marathon in uniform while carrying gear weighing 30 pounds, while colleagues based in Lebanon and Kosovo also took part in events at their bases. Eddie, whose son Max was born 12 weeks prematurely last October, said his little boy is doing very well now. “He’s doing great thank God, there’s no issues, he’s hitting all his markers and doing great, very healthy.” Max was born on October 1 instead of the due date of December 22, and spent ten weeks in hospital. Lieutenant Hughes’ daughter Daisy arrived at just 23 weeks, and Eddie says she is also quite …

ENNIS twins have had success again at an Irish Kennel Club obedience competition in Dublin recently. Nine-year-old Natalie Ryan placed first with her young dog Rita, while her twin Stella placed second with Riley. They competed against adults from both north and south of the border at the championships show held by the Working Trials Club of Ireland in Tymon Park in Dublin. Natalie commented, “I was so excited to win! I never thought I would. We were expecting to be competing against other kids but it was all adults there. I am super proud of Rita too. She’s only young but was so calm in the ring”. Stella was delighted with her place too, “Riley can get a bit worried in the ring and always likes to know that mom is around to reassure her. But working towards this competition has really improved our bond and she was much improved from our last outing. She did her best and …

WOULD you like the chance to subject yourself and your family to a gruelling physical challenge while being barked at by Davy Fitzgerald? Of course you would! Clare fitness fanatics are being invited to take part in the new series of Ireland’s Fittest Family, with producers promising the competition will be more challenging than ever before. The programme team is scouring the country to find the fittest, fastest and strongest families to be coached to victory by the super competitive coaches, including Fitzgerald, Anna Geary and Donnacha O’Callaghan. Last year camogie star Geary coached the Kinsellas from Wexford to victory, this year it might be your family. If you think your family has what it takes to win the €15,000 cash prize and be crowned Ireland’s Fittest Family, then what are you waiting for? Applications are open now at www.rte.ie/irelandsfittestfamily. As long as your family meets these requirements you are in with a shout * Minimum age is 14 years …

Entries for the Irish Food Awards, Blas na hÉireann, in which Clare producers have enjoyed significant success, will close on Friday May 20. This year’s awards ceremony will be the first in-person event in two years and will take place as usual in Dingle over the last weekend in September, kicking off on Friday the 30th. Regarded by many as a key event in the Irish food industry’s calendar, Blas na hÉireann, like so many others, celebrated their finalists and winners online over the past two years leaving a significant gap in the food and drink calendar. “We’re absolutely delighted to be planning our awards in Dingle this year,” says Blas na hÉireann Chairman, Artie Clifford. “We were lucky to have been able to move quickly in 2020 and while we were in a position to run our judging throughout the summer months in the last two years, we weren’t able to welcome everyone together for the networking and awards. …

ONE of the most famous names in Irish fashion circles met with Ennis Rag Trade retailers for an intimate fireside discussion in the Temple Gate Hotel. Louis Copeland, Ireland’s most celebrated tailor, and by now a household name, regaled the audience with stories of his early days in fashion, bringing those gathered all the way back to his childhood, his father a tailor and his mother a trouser maker. With over 60 years of experience in retail, Louis enthralled the crowd who shared their own triumphs as well as their battle scars. The atmosphere was fun and lively; the energy of the retailers present was palpable as the audience brainstormed progressive ideas for leveraging Ireland’s Boutique Capital. The lively discussion was organised by Experience Ennis, an organisation whose aspiration is to make Ennis the best town in Ireland in which to live and the top destination to visit. The five pillars of Experience Ennis are Culture, Community, Aesthetic Impact, Business …

A FEASIBILITY study on the proposed greenway from Scariff to Limerick has concluded that there is potential for a high-quality and well-connected amenity, which will form part of the proposed Shannon Greenway.  A briefing was provided in late April to Oireachtas members on the route which will be around 40km in length. Oireachtas members were told that progress so far includes the completing of Phase 1 work on the Concept and Feasibility of the Limerick – Tuamgraney/Scariff Greenway. This work involved developing a study area and establishing the planning context as well as identifying constraints and establishing viability.  TDs and senators were shown two Preliminary Route Options (PROs). The first, Green PRO would follow The Shannon from Limerick to meet the Shannon Tail Race/Head Race. It would then proceed along the Parteen Basin to meet the Killaloe Bypass. The second, Red PRO would follow the Park Canal/River Shannon from Limerick to The University of Limerick (UL). It would then follow …

Newmarket on Fergus Agricultural Show Results 2022

IRELAND’S third oldest citizen and a man with strong Clare connections has been awarded a silver medal by the President of Ireland ahead of his 108th birthday next week. Matthew Crowley, who is resident in Youghal, County Cork received his medal from President Michael D. Higgins, in anticipation of his 108th birthday on May 12. In keeping with Matthew’s generation, he also received a a congratulatory telegram. Mathew Crowley was born In Askeaton, County Limerick in Ireland, the son of a Principal Lighthouse Keeper, James (Jimmie) Crowley, at Loop Head Lighthouse, County Clare. Matthew’s wife of 62 years Matilda was born in Ballyvaughan, while his mother Amelia (Millie) Crowley (nee Colfer) was from Fethard-on-Sea, County Wexford. Matthew was recruited from Ford Motor Company, Cork City, to Ford Motor Company, Dagenham, Essex, UK. With the advent of WWII, Ford Motor Company changed over to aircraft engines from automobile engines, and his subsequent designation was as an “essential worker” for the British …