Lifestyle

RTE sports commentator and broadcaster, Marty Morrissey has been named April Cork Person of the Month, to mark his contribution to sport, especially GAA sport, over the years. Marty, born in Mallow, told Brendan O’Connor on a recent Saturday Night Show, ” I am very proud of my Cork blood and my Mallow roots, and although a Clareman, I am deeply honoured at receiving this award”. Mallow’s Michael O’Neill, now living in Dublin but a frequent visitor and activist in Mallow, nominated Marty Morrissey for the award. “Marty’s mother was Mallow native, Peggy Twomey and his father taught at a local Mallow school. The family finally settled in Clare, where Marty’s father came from,” said Mr O’Neill. Marty Morrissey said, at the recent Cork award ceremony ” Yes, my father came from West Clare to teach in Mallow and rented a room from the Barrett family, just around the corner from that famous mallow pub The Mouse Trap. “He met …

EXACTLY 1,200 years since Scattery Island off Kilrush was attacked by Viking invaders, the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland (RWYCI), which is based in the town, will host as many Vikings as they can unearth in July 2016 for the Viking Challenge. In the summer of 816 AD, a Viking raiding party sailed southwards around Loop Head for the first time and proceeded up the Shannon Estuary to attack the entirely unsuspecting monastic settlement on Scattery Island. Having plundered and pillaged, the Vikings sailed off with their spoils in terms of slaves, treasure and food, not to return again until 835 AD. The RWYCI is to host a sailing regatta from July 27 to 30, 2016 to mark the anniversary. Among the family surnames believed to be of Viking descent are Halpins, Doyles, McLoughlins and O’Loughlins. “It’s based on fact. It’s something that hasn’t been done in Ireland before or at least anywhere that I’m aware of. I’m not …

Tuesday March 31st Breakfast 8:00 30g of porridge with skimmed milk and water with a green tea. Mid morning 11:00 A pear and orange with a glass of water. Lunch 13:00 Bowl of home made vegetable soup with a slim bagel and a green tea. Dinner 17:30 A scoop of mash made with skimmed milk and loads of vegetables and chicken in lemon juice and a pint of water. Snack 20:00 A green tea with stewed apple. Wednesday April 1st Breakfast 7:15 Two crumpets with a banana and a green tea. Mid morning 12:00 A coffee and a Weightwatchers walnut and carrot cake. Lunch 14:00 A spicy chicken wrap with salad and a diet coke. Dinner 18:00 Scrambled eggs with two slices of porridge bread and a green tea. Snack 20:00 A green tea and stewed apple. Thursday April 2nd Breakfast 8:00 30g of porridge with skimmed milk and water with a green tea. Mid morning 11:00 A pear and …

A COMBINATION of good weather, the Wild Atlantic Way and a public holiday saw huge numbers of people flock to the Clare coast at the weekend. Tourism providers across the county are reporting one of the busiest Easter weekends in recent years. One prominent hotelier said it was “more like August than April”, which meant that seasonal staff could be hired over a month earlier than usual. Attractions across the county also recorded high visitor numbers, with the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, Bunratty Folk Park and Craggaunowen all recording increases this year compared to last. “It was a super weekend,” John Burke from the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point and Hotel Doolin stated. “We had a surge in customer numbers. People just want to flock to the coast to cool down and it was great to see it pick up so early in the season. It has allowed us to recruit earlier in the year. Normally, seasonal staff wouldn’t …

Tourism Ireland in Milan invited a leading Italian tour operator, Cocktail Viaggi and 12 of its top-producing travel agents, all specialists in coach tour and group travel, to visit Clare over the holiday weekend. One of the main themes of the travel agents’ itinerary, prepared by Fáilte Ireland, was the Wild Atlantic Way. It included visits to the Cliffs of Moher and the Aillwee Caves. They also sampled some of Clare’s fantastic cuisine, at the Long Dock Pub and Restaurant in Carrigaholt. Niamh Kinsella, Tourism Ireland’s manager in Italy, said: “Italy is an important market for tourism to the island of Ireland and 2015 has got off to a positive start, with the most recent CSO figures showing growth of +39% for the December 2014 to February 2015 period, an additional 15,000 Italian visitors compared with the same three-month period last year.  

‘LEGEND’ Maureen Cronin was given two standing ovations by delegates at the annual INTO Congress when the 99-year-old was honoured for defying the marriage ban and working for a year without pay in Mountcollins National School, County Limerick. Kerry-born, Maureen  taught for many years before marrying in 1950 and immediately came under the marriage ban. However, Maureen continued to work for almost a year before being told if she continued she would be removed by the gardaí. Maureen subsequently worked in temporary jobs before taking up a permanent job in a private school in Castlecomer. She moved to Rockchapel, County Cork after the ban was lifted in 1958 and has resided in Ennis in her retirement. The appreciative audience of INTO delegates welcomed Maureen when INTO president Sean McMahon told them ” a legend has entered the room” and during his speech showed their appreciation with two standing ovations. Maureen told The Clare Champion that she never expected to receive the reception she got …

STAR hurler, Shane O’Donnell is fronting a Clare County Council campaign to promote greater litter awareness in the county. Billboards have been erected at some of the county’s busiest locations, including Shannon Airport, Crusheen and Ennis Train Station to encourage tourists and the people of Clare to take responsibility for their litter. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe, said: “It is great to see the ‘Respect The Banner’ message being promoted in a way that will attract as much public attention as possible.” Shane O’Donnell, said, “Clare people are very proud of their county and it is important that we showcase this pride by preventing litter. I hope my involvement will encourage others to ‘Respect The Banner’. After all, every piece of litter dropped is a point against Clare.”

The Burren Smokehouse, based in Lisdoonvarna, is to feature in a new documentary series being produced by ITV. Wild Ireland, a primetime six-part series, sees presenter Christine Bleakley returning home to Ireland to travel the length of its 1,500-mile west coast – the longest continuous coastal route – known as the Wild Atlantic Way. The series is devised by Big Mountain Productions, a Newry-based production company, but supported by Tourism Ireland, within their strategy to highlight the Wild Atlantic Way around the world. The Burren Smokehouse will feature in the first episode of the series to be broadcast on ITV and UTV Ireland on Monday April next from 8pm to 8.30pm. ” As a Wild Atlantic Way Food Ambassador for Fáilte Ireland, we hope this wonderful exposure will help us grow the 30,000 visitor figure at our visitor entre, said Birgitta Hedin-Curtin.