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A TEAM of inspectors from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) visited Shannon on Wednesday to carry out an investigation into an “appalling and overpowering” odour that has been present in the town for almost a week. The inspectors will try to establish the likely cause and origins of these odours and determine the appropriate corrective and preventative actions necessary to address the problem. Their visit coincides with a call for a full independent audit of all Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control (IPPC) licences held by the EPA on industries in the town amid fears, expressed by Senator Tony Mulcahy, that there is a “serious accident waiting to happen”. The Clare Champion has learned that a Clare County Council employee, who was delivering goods in Shannon, was forced to leave the site after experiencing difficulty breathing. He contacted senior officials in the environment department, who commenced their own investigation. However, the council is not authorised to enter a number of sites …

A CLARE senator has accused his party, and the Government, of lying to the electorate ahead of next Friday’s referendum. Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy said he will not be towing the party line in the referendum and will vote against the abolition of the Seanad. The Shannon man slated his party’s claim that the cost of the Seanad is €20 million per annum. Fine Gael states the figure is made up of Seanad members’ salary costs of €4.2m, members’ expenses of €2.5m, staff costs of €2.1m, indirect costs of €9.3m, including ICT at €1.9m, superintendent at €1.6m, procedural sections of €2.8m and other supports of €3m. There is a further cost of €2m in Seanad pensions. “The savings of €20m are a lie. My party aren’t telling the truth to the public. The savings are actually €8.6m and you have to divide that in half because you have to take out the USC (Universal Social Charge), the PRSI and …

TWO County Clare attractions have been shortlisted for the 10th annual 2013 World Responsible Tourism Awards. The Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark and Loop Head Peninsula have been shortlisted alongside six other sustainable tourism destinations and organisations in the Best Destination for Responsible Tourism category. They are the only Irish attractions to make the list. Tourism destinations in Brazil, Bhutan, Austria, Lithuania, Kenya and Wales have also been nominated in that category. Loop Head Tourism chairman Cillian Murphy expressed his delight at the West Clare peninsula’s nomination. “Four years ago, we set out our stall to become one of the pre-eminent responsible tourism destinations in Ireland. We have achieved much since then, with both the EDEN award in 2010 and more recently being awarded the Best Place To Holiday In Ireland by The Irish Times,” the Kilkee businessman said. “The Loop Head Peninsula has made the jump from being relatively unknown to being a nationally recognised holiday destination and …

IN recent weeks, Kilrush Town Councillor Tom Clyne retired from his role as a FÁS job initiative worker in the town. The former town mayor, who was first elected to the local council in 2004, has worked in the position since 1998. As he remembers it, a significant amount of people were employed on the jobs initiative scheme 15 years ago. That figure has since drastically reduced. “There are about 10 people on the scheme in Kilrush at the moment. We have lost a lot of people through retirement or death in the last few years. I think there was 21 on the scheme in 1998,” Mr Clyne said this week. The Westmeath man, whose wife Breda is from Kilrush, worked primarily as a maintenance man on the scheme. “I was one of the people assigned to do the house maintenance for Kilrush Town Council, who were our sponsors. I was a general operative starting off but as we progressed, …

Brother Colm O’Connell is an athletics coach with credentials. He has led five Kenyans to Olympic gold medal glory, most recently David Rudisha at London 2012. A Catholic missionary, he is also a proud Cork man. He spoke to Nicola Corless about bringing the best out of athletes and the Banner’s ambition to beat his native county in the All-Ireland hurling final replay   ACCORDING to Brother Colm, Davy Fitzgerald and his charges already have the hard work done but some last-minute nerves are to be expected. “Getting an athlete ready for the biggest day of their sporting career is a long-term preparation. It is not something you do at the last minute. It is something you do for a couple of months before a big competition. It is the way you prepare your players, or in my case your athlete, for the fact they have to face a pressure situation. Sometimes you have people who can perform fantastic in …

DAVID Rudisha stands on the Mondo track at London’s Olympic Stadium. The 23-year-old shifts his weight from his left foot to his right and back again, bending his knees as he does so. As he gently sways, his face is nothing but steely focus. “On your mark”. The 6ft 2in figure strides to the white line. His eyes are set with determination. Leaning forward, he stretches his left leg in front of him and he takes his position. Lane four – he’s sandwiched between his countryman Timothy Kitum in three and Botswana’s Nijel Amos in five. There is a delayed response from the crowd as the runners launch their attempts to earn Olympic medals. Rudisha takes the lead. Kaki is on his shoulder. Aman follows. It looks fast. It is fast. The tall man in Kenyan livery completes the first 400m in 49.28 seconds. The battle for second place begins as Rudisha pulls away. Aman is in second, Kaki third …

Don’t forget to buy your Clare Champion tomorrow to read our special supplement in advance of Saturday’s replay. ‘Burning Desire’ will give you everything you need to know about the upcoming clash between Clare and Cork.

A NURSING union has expressed relief that no patients or staff were injured following a fire at Limerick University Hospital (LUH) on Sunday evening. Up to 14 children had to be evacuated from the paediatric unit of LUH after a fire broke out in the building some time about 6.00 pm. All children were back in the Children’s Ark at 10 pm. The waiting room of the emergency department was also emptied while the fire brigade checked out the scene. Irish Nurses and Midwifery Organisation, Mid-West representative, Mary Fogarty expressed relief that none injuries were sustained by patients or staff as a result of the fire. Speaking to the Clare Champion, Ms Fogarty said that none of her members had voiced any concern to date about the cause of the fire. She added that she wasn’t aware what had caused the blaze. The Health Service Executive (HSE) believes the smoke from the fire entered the main building from a plant …