Lifestyle

Anne Hamilton, Fox Garden Design, Enniskeane in County Cork took top prize in the engaging space category for her “Islands” garden. The garden, which wowed the judges, included natural stone from Clare along with specialist engraving techniques from an Ennis-based craftsman.Anne based her design on the use of Liscannor flagstone supplied by Liscannor Flagstone Quarries, of Rockmount, Miltown Malbay. As a feature on one wall, Anne had a flagstone engraved with a floral design by Kanelaser, Four Seasons Drive, Ennis.David O’Connor of Liscannor Flagstone Quarries said he expects the Bloom success for Anne Hamilton will add to the demand for flagstone, which already been boosted by the recent spell of good weather.Stephen Kane of Kanelaser, who specialised in engraving stone such as slate, granite, Kilkenny marble and Liscannor flags, is delighted with exposure that his work received through the award-winning garden.“The show was very successful from our point of view and has already generated enquiries from other garden designers and …

My father always says: ‘There is nothing as constant as change’. Here I am today in Ecuador writing these lines, well emailing for The Clare Champion. I never imagined doing anything like this. I now depend on reading The Champion on-line. What a service! Great technology.

As wedding season really kicks off, Ennis boutique owner Gwen Culligan speaks to The Clare Champion about marrying accessories to outfits.  

TIME LINE FRANK Ryan was a native of Limerick with strong Clare connections – his mother’s family came from Kilfenora. The family were well educated and Frank attended St Colman’s, Fermoy, where he won a scholarship to UCD.  

CLARE priests, Fr Micheál McInerney and Fr Gerry Fitzpatrick, will celebrate a very special occasion next Friday as both celebrate the 60th anniversary of their ordination.

PUPILS from green schools all over Clare will show their support for a healthier environment by participating in National Bike Week from June 14 to 18.

FOR Ennis woman Máire Coll, Padre Pio is an especially relevant figure. Her own experience of the saint inspires her and she organises an annual pilgrimage to Italy and is part of a group that meets during the summer months to acknowledge the saint through prayer.

A 58-year-old cancer patient will complete a 600-mile cycle all over the West of Ireland in June to raise funds for a local cancer charity.Originally from Clancy Strand in Limerick, Martin Connery moved to Mayo 25 years ago with his wife Leona, where they reared their two sons, Ian and Mark. They currently reside in Ballyhaunis.The Life Cycle starts in Letterkenny on Saturday, June 12 and will finish at Inis Aoibhinn, Cancer Care West’s residential facility in Galway, on Sunday, June 20.Martin will cycle from Letterkenny to Sligo on the Saturday, Sligo to Ballyhaunis the following day and from Ballyhaunis to Mountbellew a day later. Loughrea will be his next destination and he will take a rest day in Limerick on Thursday, June 17.He then heads for Kilrush on Friday, June 18 before travelling to Lisdoonvarna on the eighth day, arriving in Galway on the Saturday.Having astounded medical professionals by remaining well and healthy through an active lifestyle and positive …