News

THE highest honour an adult can receive in scouting in Ireland has been presented to Clare’s Fiona Staunton. Fiona, who has been involved in scouting for over 40 years, has received the Order of Cú Chulainn award in recognition of her dedication to scouting in Ennis over the decades. She was nominated by the 1st and 4th Clare Scouts, whose citation outlined Fiona’s life in scouting from beginning in 1982 with then Scoutmaster Bernie Dilger through the many roles she has undertaken. “It’s very hard to measure, nearly impossible, the impact Fiona has had on scouting in Ennis Scout Group, in Clare Scout County and at national level,” it stated. “Fiona has been a guiding light and steady hand when needed through good times and bad.” She has been group leader, chairperson of the group committee, served two terms as County Commissioner and was instrumental in setting up the Clare County campsite in Ruan. She taught several teams for the …

THE MEDIATION process employed by the Irish Coast Guard to try to resolve differences in Doolin Coast Guard last year was only a “box ticking exercise”, a former volunteer has alleged. Bernard Lucas, who spent 20 years volunteering with Doolin Coast Guard, claimed things could have been done differently during the mediation process. “Mediation by its definition is ongoing and could take weeks or two or three months,” Mr Lucas told The Clare Champion. After an extensive process, you might come to the conclusion this isn’t working and we need to rejig it. But how can you do that after after spending 90 minutes apiece with two groups with the six that resigned and the 12 that were left for a total of about three hours? “I was very disappointed with the mediation process,” he said. According to an IRG document, the mediator Kieran Mulvey is a well-respected national mediator and is the former Director General of the Workplace Relations …

CLARE HAVEN Services has launched four “powerful hard hitting” poems on a short video as part of the annual 16 Days of Action on Violence Against Women campaign. Den of Iniquity: Behind Closed Doors – Poetry on Film, is a collective of four short videos created by Paul Corey using the words of Feakle-based domestic abuse survivor, Liz Pouch, which were recited on camera by Ennistymon actor, Jacinta Sheeran. This novel media production was unveiled by Clare Haven manager, Dr Siobhán O’Connor who welcomed the participants for what proved to be an emotionally charged session on Friday afternoon in their educational and administration building. “It is a raw and gritty testimony of living through the horrors of abuse as both an adult and child. The films use the incredible acting skill of Jacinta Sheeran, who gave powerful recitations of the poems cutting to the heart of the pain and torment of the domestic abuse experience. The films can be viewed …

Gardaí are searching for a number of people reported to have fled the scene of a hit-and-run incident on the outskirts of Ennis this afternoon. Details are still vague but it’s known that a major ground and air search has been carried out in the area around Gauras between the Tulla Road and the Quin Road. It’s understood that around 3.00pm, a vehicle was rammed on the road between Ballaghboy and Gaurus. Gardaí are treating this as a hit-and-run road traffic collision. It’s also believed that a number of men left one of the vehicles and fled the scene by crossing through the garden of a local house and escaping into the fields behind. Uniformed Gardaí and armed detectives responded to the incident while the Armed Support Unit was also requested to dispatch a unit to the scene. It’s understood that on arrival, Gardaí found debris on the roadway indicating that a collision had taken place. Later, a helicopter from …

AN Ennis family’s home is set to make things merry and bright this festive season – and all in the name of a very worthy cause. For the seventh year in a row the home of Gerry and Carmel Keane in Ashfield Park has been donned from top to toe with a dazzling array of Christmas lights to raise money for charity. Over the years the Keane family’s stunning festive displays have raised funds for a variety of organisations, with people who visit encouraged to leave a donation in a secure box outside of the home on the Gort Road. This year the family have chosen the Samaritans as their chosen charity with all funds raised going to the worthy cause. The Christmas lights will be officially lit this Friday at 6pm with Gerry telling us he is really looking forward helping to bring some festive cheer. He reveals that the energy crisis and rising electricity costs meant that this …

RYANAIR Group CEO Michael O’Leary praised the negotiating skills of Shannon Airport’s management when he appeared at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport & Aviation on Wednesday. In a question to Mr O’Leary Clare TD Cathal Crowe rather casually mentioned that the airline plays “hardball” with Shannon, but the Ryanair boss said the Shannon management wouldn’t easily be rattled.  “Firstly Deputy, nobody hardballs Mary Considine (Shannon Airport group CEO). If anything the hardballing goes in the other direction. The management of Shannon Airport are tough operators,” he said. Looking forward to meeting with Michael O’Leary of @Ryanair at 1:30pm today to discuss further expansion of his airline’s presence at @ShannonAirport pic.twitter.com/MEUeDakSlh — Cathal Crowe T.D. (@CathalCroweTD) November 30, 2022 Mr O’Leary said that Dublin’s domination of Irish aviation is somewhat inevitable. “If you’re talking about international aviation I always like to quote the example of Bristol. Within an hour of it there are ten million people, but there’s one airport. …

PREPARATIONS are now fully underway for homelessness campaigner Josie O’Brien’s last year cooking Christmas dinner for vulnerable people in the county. Josie is busily getting ready to cook her final batch of festive meals, and she is urging the county’s homeless as well as others in need of a hot meal at Christmas time to get in touch with her on 087 1868530. She has also revealed that the work she began is set to continue with Fiona Faulkes and Dean Billet taking over supplying food to the homeless and others. Josie described the pair as “very passionate” as she wished them well in the endeavour. Earlier this year The Clare Champion highlighted a fundraising campaign by Fiona to develop shower facilities for the homeless. Donations can still be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/uusbyp-mobile-shower-for-the-homeless Josie is stepping back from her volunteering work after 18 years assisting the homeless as well as struggling families and others. Over the years Josie has invited people …

REPRESSION of protests in China made headlines across the world in the last week, but weren’t even mentioned when the Chinese ambassador met with Clare County Council on Monday. The local authority hosted China’s Ambassador to Ireland, He Xiangdong, to mark Clare’s twinning relationship with Yunnan Province in China. Yunnan Province, which has a population of more than 46 million, is in the far southwest of China and borders Vietnam, Laos, and Burma. In a statement issued through Clare County Council, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Tony O’Brien said he had been honoured to host the ambassador. “A lot of work and time has been invested in nurturing the relationship between Clare and Yunnan Province and it was an honour to welcome the Ambassador to County Clare. “Though separated by thousands of miles, the twinning relationship has already made significant strides towards bridging this gap through a shared spirit of cooperation, mutual understanding, exchange of knowledge and more importantly, friendship.” …