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ENNIS has once again claimed the title of ‘Ireland’s Friendliest Place’. The county capital scooped the award at the AIBMS Retail Excellence Awards ceremony at the Galmont Hotel last weekend which also saw Clare’s Wild Atlantic Optician win Optician of the Year. Ennis retail stores made a huge impression on the mystery shoppers in July of this year to secure the town a shortlisting for this award, along with Ashbourne and Moynalty in County Meath, Monaghan Town and Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim. This was followed by a public vote which took place in October.   Mayor of Ennis Municipal District, Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy said, “This recognition is testament to all those retailers in the town who are committed to making Ennis a great place to visit and shop. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to vote for Ennis.” She added that this award follows other recent successes for the town with awards …

A DOOLIN-BASED expert rock climber has recalled how a team drilled around 120 bolts along the wall of a sea cave to rescue a man that had been trapped for almost 22 hours. The man was forced to remain on a ledge after a freak wave washed him into a cave at Downpatrick Head on the Mayo coast beyond Killala at 6pm on Saturday, September 17. Former Doolin Coast Guard volunteer, Conor McGrath said, “It was probably the most technical rescue ever undertaken in my 40 years’ experience. To rescue the man alive after such a long time was a great bonus. It was a very good result for all the team.” Mr McGrath recalled a few people were swimming and climbing along the coast when they were washed off a ledge into the water around 5.30pm. The RNLI Lifeboat was tasked to the scene after a woman was rescued by kayakers, but a Polish man in his forties was …

RUSSIA has banned three of Clare’s Oireachtas members from entering the country. The names of Senator Timmy Dooley, Deputy Cathal Crowe are Deputy Joe Carey are on a list of 52 Irish citizens who have been sanctioned by Vladimir Putin’s regime. Since last Wednesday’s (November 16) announcement by the Russian Embassy, those who face sanctions have now been informed. Responding to his ban, Senator Dooley said he refuses to be intimidated or threatened. “Putin is a brutal dictator and his black list is clearly meant to frighten and intimidate those identified on it – a dog whistle to his supporters to visit harm on those of us who have been named – I have never given way to bullies and that won’t change,” he said. This evening I was informed I was part of Putin's blacklist. A digraceful action of intimidation by a desperate dictator This is nothing but a dog whistle to his supporters to visit harm on those of …

AT Friday’s West Clare Municipal District meeting Councillors Ian Lynch and Cillian Murphy requested that the Council set up a Designated Activity Company to deliver the Maritime Training Centre in Kilrush. However it emerged at the meeting that such a company is already in place, having been established in 2018 as part of an application for funding, and an allocation of resources has been assigned for a business manager. The project has been awarded almost €3.5m in Rural Regeneration Development funding, with €700,000 match funding from the county council. Speaking afterwards Councillor Murphy said that it’s time the company became active and the over €5 million allocated in funding be used. “There is a necessity now for this to be taken off the shelf and activated. It is sitting there as a shell company but now it needs to be activated and directors taken on board. “There was an Enterprise Ireland grant of €1.7 million and somewhere in the order …

A WINDFARM development proposed for a site in west Clare will not be fast-tracked, An Bord Pleanála has decided. Whitebeam Renewables had made a case to allow plans for six turbines, an energy storage unit and a substation to go directly to the board, under the provisions of the Strategic Infrastructure Act. The development is earmarked for a site covering the townlands of Doolough, Glenmore and Cahermurphy, 4.5km north of Kilmihil. In a decision made earlier this month, the appeals board decided that while the development would meet the criteria as an energy infrastructure project, it does not qualify for the fast-track application process on the grounds of its scale.  The board received a request in June from Whitebeam Renewables for a determination on whether or not the development could be submitted as a Strategic Infrastructure application. This would cut down on the likelihood of hurdles like objections and appeals. Consultation meetings took place in July and September and Whitebeam …

AN Ennis mother has been named Clare Family Carer of the Year by Family Carers Ireland. The  national charity supporting Ireland’s family carers, has announced that the 2022 Netwatch Clare Family Carer of the Year is Anne Micks from Ennis. Anne cares full time for her daughter 20-year-old Ciara who lives with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a debilitating condition which affects the connective tissues of the body and causes complications including chronic pain, fatigue and partial dislocation of joints. In nominating her mother for the award, Ciara said that Anne gave up a high-profile job in order to care for her, fought incredibly hard to secure a diagnosis and is an amazing advocate for her and other families affected by EDS. She describes her mum as her hero and her idol and says she couldn’t be more proud of her. Now in their 15th year, the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards seek to recognise and shine a light on the …

A JUDGE has revoked bail for a man who threw a petrol bomb into a family’s home in Ennis.  At Ennis circuit court, Judge Francis Comerford granted the State’s application to revoke bail for Martin Mongans (34) who is awaiting sentencing for his role in a feud-related violent attack.  Judge Comerford made the order after hearing evidence Mongans breached his bail conditions on nine or 10 occasions since he was first admitted to bail 11 months ago.  Mongans, a father of seven with an address at College Grove, Ennis, has pleaded guilty to a charge of endangerment contrary to section 13 of the Non Fatal Offences Against The Person Act.  The charge against  Mongans relates to an attack at 25 Pearse Avenue, Cloughleigh, Ennis on November 22, 2021.  The charge states Mongans intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct – throwing a petrol bomb and the reckless discharge of a firearm – that created a substantial risk of death or serious …

A CLARE woman held against her will for four hours was forced to listen to her captor inform her ex-partner by phone that she had an affair with another man towards the end of their relationship, a court has heard. At Kilrush District Court, Detective Garda Donal Corkery said that the woman was put through the four-hour ordeal on November 9 when she was threatened with a knife by the 37-year-old man who also told her that he had a shotgun in his car and a Glock hand-gun. In the case, the man is charged with the false imprisonment of the woman at his Co. Clare home on November 9 contrary to Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. The man denies the charge. Opposing a bail application for the man, Detective Garda Corkery said that the woman felt pressured to go to this man’s house on November 9 as he was threatening that he would ring …