News

SHANNON Group got a share of stick at Monday’s meeting with the County Council, but at least one element of it was undue. In his speech to the meeting, Mayor of Clare Cathal Crowe criticised various decisions made, and also claimed that Clare’s local representatives had been ignored at a recent celebration. “It was disappointing that the airport held a significant event just last week to mark the 80th anniversary of its operations and didn’t invite the Chief Executive Pat Dowling, Councillor Gerry Flynn (Chairman of the Shannon District) or myself, as Mayor of Clare, to attend. “Shannon Group must do better to improve its working relationship with this County Council.” However some time later when Acting Shannon Group CEO Mary Considine responded to questions raised by members, she said that there actually had not been a celebratory event to mark the 80th anniversary, although Shannon had used the date to help with its own promotion.   Owen Ryan

THE Clare County Show went ahead last Sunday, in superb weather conditions with temperatures running as high as 25 degrees. The crowd exceeded expectations with up to 3,000 people on the grounds at peak time. “It was an outstanding success and possibly the best show we have had for the past 20 years,” show chairman, Joe Lillis, commented. “Our show jumping figures had 400 entries and the programme finished at 8pm.  Our cattle entries were 60% up on 2018, as were our horse showing entries, while miniature horses and donkey showing were in good supply.  Trade stands and machinery filled one section of the grounds.  Our dog show was very entertaining and entries exceeded 100. The arts, crafts and horticulture sections doubled in entries from last year while  the highlight of our indoor section was the small animal pet farm,” Mr Lillis added. The winner of the Champion Young Horse of the Show (De Valera Cup) was Cyril Stevens, Cranny and …

Bakers in Clare rose to the occasion this April, as they raised a total of €2,642 at this year’s Great Irish bake for Temple Street. People from all over the county took to their kitchens for the cause. Temple Street was also delighted to welcome broadcaster and mum Karen Koster in the kitchen as Great Irish Bake Ambassador, who helped raise awareness and encourage people all over Ireland to put on their aprons and raise money for a great cause. Bake sales were held in homes, schools and businesses across the Ireland, with a total of €226,152 raised by Temple Street’s Great Irish Bakers nationwide. The money raised will help buy vital, lie-saving equipment for our wards, departments, theatres and ICU, which is going to directly benefit thousands of sick children.

UL Hospitals Group has “sincerely apologised” to patients facing long waits Emergency Department (ED) during busy periods. On Friday there were 75 patients on trolleys, compared to 81 on Thursday. “The Emergency Department at UHL continues to be one of the busiest in the country. There has been a surge in presentations to Emergency Departments this week. We have been working hard to progress patients through the system to discharge, so that we can free up beds for the patients in the Emergency Department who are awaiting admission. Surgery at UHL has been curtailed over the last number of days to enable us to use that bed capacity for patients in the Emergency Department,” the group said in a statement issued on Friday. “Access to transitional care and home care package funding has been reduced over the past two weeks, which has led to an increase in delayed discharges. However, we continue to work with our community colleagues to progress transition …

A Clare couple were toasted Lotto success on Monday in the National Lottery Winner’s Room after claiming a cheque for €1 million and revealed that the winning ticket was kept safe inside a cushion in their bedroom for more than two weeks The husband-and-wife syndicate won €1 million after winning the top prize on Lotto Plus 1 from the draw on Saturday June 22. They waited until the news had properly sunk in before claiming their windfall. This winning ticket was sold at Reddan’s Store and Sixmilebridge Post Office, in Sixmilebridge. The husband said: “I occasionally buy my tickets in Reddan’s Store as I pass by on the way to work. It was the Sunday when I checked the ticket and when the app told me to contact the National Lottery we knew it was us. We haven’t told anyone so we just unzipped one of the cushions in the bedroom, put the ticket inside, and then put the cushion …

Last weekend there were poignant scenes in New Quay, North Clare, when relatives and friends gathered to remember the nine children and teenagers, who died in a drowning accident 50 years ago. See this week’s Clare Champion, for an interview with Kieran McInerney, who survived but who lost his brother Francis and his best friend Seamus Gaynor in the tragedy. Kieran spoke about his recollections of that awful day on June 29, 1969. Pictured are some of the scenes from last weekend’s moving ceremony, while there are more in this week’s Clare Champion.

The sun shone on Clarecastle last weekend for the annual regatta. See this week’s Clare Champion for more photographs of the event.        

A SITE has been secured for the construction of a new €25 million St Joseph’s Hospital in Ennis. The construction of the 100-bed, community nursing unit on five acres of Diocesan lands located near the Turnpike in Ennis will ensure that elderly care services remain at the heart of the county town, according to Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen. Deputy Breen said, “I am delighted that a site has been secured at this central location in Ennis for the construction of the new €25 million St Joseph’s Hospital. The sale of the 5.09 acres of land remains subject to planning permission for the development of the 100 bed Community Nursing Unit, but I believe the site provides the best option following the appraisal of a number of sites in the Ennis environs by the HSE. “The new state-of-the-art St Joseph’s Hospital building has been prioritised in the HSE Capital …