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Shay, 16, raises €6k for Pieta with successful Tractor Run

A cheque for almost €6,000 has been presented to Pieta House, the proceeds of the Keep’er Lit tractor run, which took place in Kilmurry on December 17 last year. It was organised by 16-year-old Shay O’Sullivan from Kilmurry. “We’re very proud of him and he’s a very driven fella,” said Shay’s sister Shauna this week. “When he came up with the idea we just said we’d get behind him if he was willing to do it. He put in an awful lot of work. There were sponsors’ prizes and everything on the night. “The weather hampered it a little bit, it was frosty weather so he didn’t get the turnout that he deserved. But he did great work, he raised close to €6,000 for Pieta House,” she added. The tractor run began at Sixmilebridge mart, then went through Newmarket and Quin, going back through Kilmurry and back into Sixmilebridge. There were around 75 participants on the night, and Shauna said …

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Balance of power lies in the water between canal and river

CONTROLLING the water levels on the River Shannon and the Head Race Canal continues to be a key aspect of Ardnacrusha Power Station, according to an experienced retired electrician. Looking back on his 44-year stint in Ardnacrusha, Francis Moloney (73) from Clonlara has outlined other statutory obligations staff fulfilled, apart from vital electricity generation. In the winter time, he recalled during high water levels Ardnacrusha was responsible for maintaining certain levels on the River Shannon. “People working up along the Shannon in places like Killaloe and Portumna would report what the water levels were to staff in Ardnacrusha where they are logged to determine the input into the River Shannon, which dictates what generation is going to be done at a particular time. “If the levels in the River Shannon go above the statutory level, you commence spilling of excess water down the Old River Shannon where people like Bertie Poole would operate the gates at Parteen Weir on behalf …

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Clare man’s epic desert race to raise funds for SADS fight

A SHANNON man is preparing for the toughest foot race in the world through the Sahara Desert to raise awareness and funds for sudden adult death syndrome treatment. Matthew Halpin will take on the six-day, 250km Marathon Des Sables through the famous desert where he will potentially face 50 degree temperatures. It’s happening in April and Matthew is doing it to commemorate his late friend Kevin Hayes, and to raise funds for Heart House, which is a free family heart screening clinic at the Mater in Dublin.  Thirty-two years of age, Matthew now works for MeiraGTx and moved back to Shannon last October after a decade in Cork.  Speaking about his late friend Kevin, he says, “I was in college with him in UL, I did industrial chemistry, he did industrial biochemistry. In UL you go on work placement in third year and we were both placed in Eli Lily in Cork, we lived together down there. We really bonded …

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‘Dying for Ireland and still true to the Republic to the last’

Ahead of a special commemoration at Clooney Cemetery at 1pm on Sunday, January 23, at which he will be the guest orator, Dr Tomás Mac Conmara writes about the controversial Civil War executions of Clare republicans, Con McMahon and Paddy Hennessy.   Readers of the Clare Champion on 3rd March 1923 were informed of the outcome of a Clare GAA Convention, held over the previous week. It was announced that the new County Secretary of the GAA in Clare, a position of some significance, was twenty-three-year-old, P.V. Murphy, better known as Vincent, from Knockanimana, outside Ennis. No reference was made to the man he replaced. Five weeks earlier, when it carried a brief report on eleven Anti-Treaty IRA prisoners, executed by the Free State on 20th January, the Clare Champion referred to two men shot in Limerick as ‘C McMahon’ and ‘P. Hennessy’, with no elaboration on their identity. The men, both from Clooney, were IRA Volunteers, Con McMahon and …

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CYS volunteers’ contributions to young Clare people honoured

THE contribution Clare Youth Service volunteers make to young people in Clare has been celebrated at the recent annual CYS Volunteer Awards. After two years of virtual events CYS were thrilled to be able to hold their annual Volunteer Awards in person with the support of Ei Electronics. The annual Volunteer Awards are a key feature of the Clare Youth Service calendar in which CYS recognise important milestones in the voluntary service of the people upon whom the Service depends. The Volunteer Recognition Pin is awarded across the country to Youth Work Ireland Volunteers who give their time and energy to help and support young people by running youth clubs and schemes, supporting programmes, supporting organisations as advisers, fundraisers and as members of local and national boards. The scheme is based on recognizing length of service through the presentation of pins; Silver for five years and Gold for 10 years. In total there are 222 volunteers currently registered with Clare …

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Daisy poses by the tree in Bourton-on-the-Water.

Daisy’s Cotswold Christmas

I knew the original plan was to hit Dublin early to get a run on the day, but you know how it is with hoomans and their packing – it was nearly 3.00pm when we finally parked the car. Our first stop was at the live crib, now in St Stephen’s Green, but they were already closing up when we arrived. Despite our pleadings and my howlings, they wouldn’t let us in – the big meanies. My disappointment was eased once we walked around the city, admiring the lights and being admired in my smart raincoat. We repaired to the Galway Bay Brewery Bar for a quick drink before heading to my Dublin pied-à-terre, Dylan Hotel, where we had a lovely dinner and drinks before I settled down for a restful sleep. It felt like only a few short hours later when I was rudely awakened by an alarm and it was still pitch dark outside. As we drove through …

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Cliffs and schools team up to spread Christmas cheer

The Cliffs of Moher Experience and two North Clare schools are continuing their Christmas tradition of sending some love to local care home residents. Pupils of Liscannor National School and Mol an Óige Steiner National School in Ennistymon are visiting the residents of St Dominic Savio Nursing Home in Liscannor and Ennistymon Community Hospital to perform Christmas carols and spread some Christmas cheer. The children of Liscannor NS children visited Liscannor Nursing Home last week, while this week children from Mol an Óige Community NS visited Ennistymon Community Hospital. “Christmas is about reaching out with compassion, staying connected and sending love to each other,” says Melanie Lennon, Sales and Marketing Manager, Cliffs of Moher Experience. “This is the third year running that we have undertaken this community initiative with the schools, and it is lovely to see both the children and the residents enjoying it so much.”  The Craft and Gift store (Shannon Heritage) and the Cliffs View Café, operated by Brambles, …

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St Stephen’s Day walk at restored O’Briensbridge Loop

PEOPLE in South-East Clare have been offered a chance to get back in shape after enjoying all the food and treats of the Christmas festivities by participating in a fundraising walk on St Stephen’s Day. The picturesque O’Briensbridge Loop Walk will provide the ideal backdrop for a 7.5 kilometre sponsored walk to Ernagh Bridge and back to the village. Starting at 12pm, donations will be accepted on the day for the upkeep of lovely walks, which were reopened recently thanks to members of the O’Briensbridge Montpelier Community Group. Refreshments will be provided in Bonner’s Bar after the walk. The O’Briensbridge loop walk is a fantastic amenity used by thousands of people each year. It is a great asset in the community, providing locals and visitors with countless hours of enjoyment on the serene banks of the Shannon. The group recently redeveloped the walk, improving the surface. It appeals for assistance raising funds to buy equipment and materials to maintain this …

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