News

An Ennis ballet student has been named the first Irish winner of the International Theatre Dance Awards in ballet this week. Sarah Nolan, aged 16, a transition year pupil at Coláiste Muire in Ennis, is a student at the Dinan School of Ballet.  The International Theatre Dance Awards take place annually at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and encompasses four dance categories, ballet, theatre craft, tap and modern jazz. It is not an open competition and all students participating in the awards earn their place by being nominated by IDTA examiners as a result of receiving particularly high marks in IDTA exams. There were only three Irish candidates nominated for the 2013 awards, with Sarah the only one nominated in the ballet category. She went on to compete against 76 other ballet students, both male and female, nominated worldwide. She made it through to the final on Saturday last and then at the end of the day, was …

THE St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield organised Hurley-Hoey Memorial Run/Walk on Saturday, March 9, will have a worldwide dimension with similar events in eight countries, spanning six continents on the same day. Organisers are expecting in the region of 1,500 participants to take part in the Gurteen element of the run/walk. However, sister events will be held in Centennial Park, Sydney; Albert Park, Melbourne; Hyde Park, London; Pitsford Reservoir, Northampton and in Dubai, Cape Town, New York, Madrid and Buenos Aires at times and venues to be confirmed.Proceeds raised from all runs will be donated to St Anne’s School in Ennis and The Sunshine Children’s Ward in the Regional Hospital, Limerick. “The international element has gone huge. If people hear about a GAA run in these regions, they’ll do it. This has come from Mary White’s contact base. Mary is the late Niall White’s mother. The international dimension has really been energised by her specifically,” organising committee chairman Lorcan Hassett explained.Amongst those …

CLARE TD Michael McNamara this week recalled how, as a child he was measured and fitted as an altar server in what he now knows was a Magdalene Laundry.Deputy McNamara also said the Taoiseach’s historic, heartfelt and emotional apology to the women who suffered in the Magdalene Laundries was “the most moving moment I experienced since I was elected to Dáil Éireann”. “The Taoiseach described what happened as a national shame but it is also a shame for every county and parish all over Ireland from which those women were sent,” he said.Deputy McNamara also noted the McAleese Report identified 261 women from Clare who spent time in Magdalene laundries, although the real figure is likely to be much higher. “I remember, as a child who served mass, being measured and fitted with a surplice and soutane in what I now know was a Magdalene Laundry. I may never see those women again or many of the other women from …

Clare’s bus service can only be maintained by keeping Clare Accessible Transport in its entirety, the manager of the rural transport company has said. The future of Clare Accessible Transport was cast into doubt this week following the leaking of a draft report from the Department of Transport, which signalled the abolishment of 35 community-based rural transport companies. Speaking following the leaking of the report, Laura Ward, manager of Clare Accessible Transport, which services 50,000 passenger trips per year, said the National Transport Authority is exploring ways of making a direct awards process available to fleet-owning companies such as Clare Accessible Transport within the restructuring process.She said, “A direct award contract will enable the company to remain intact, maintaining Clare’s local bus service and local jobs.”  “Clare Accessible Transport will work to make sure we have strong representation to the minister, that services will continue for the community in the way they have been since 2003 and that jobs are …

CLARE’S roads are far better than they once were but much of the progress is in danger of being lost due to swingeing cuts – around 40% over five years – in funding, that was the message at this week’s meeting of the county council.Sixmilebridge Councillor PJ Ryan asked the council how they propose to carry out the same level of maintenance on our secondary and primary roads in the county due to the big reductions in the NRA and Department of Transport Tourist and Sport road allocations.In her reply, Transportation director of services, Anne Haugh, said the county’s roads can’t be fully maintained with the level of funding currently being received. “Reduced levels of funding means reduced levels of response to maintenance and restoration needs. In general, funding levels have reduced by well over 40% since 2008 and this is unsustainable – particularly when one considers the extent of the investment put into the network during the Celtic Tiger …

SHANNON Airport chairperson, Rose Hynes has often said there is no silver bullet for recovery and flight movement statistics for January show that the newly independent airport authority faces a major challenge.The amount of commercial movements at the airport in January of this year was down by 10.70% on January 2012, falling from 1,279 to 1,142.While it is a disappointing start to life as an independent entity for Shannon, a spokesperson said that the early months of the year are always difficult and that improvements are expected as the year goes on. “The early months of the year are always the most challenging and particularly in the current climate but we are fortunate that we can look forward to increased traffic over the course of the year thanks to the commencement of new routes and a strengthening of existing ones. This wasn’t the case over previous years.“On transatlantic alone, we have 25% increase in capacity during the summer season (March …

Ennis Chamber has a new president and in her new role, businesswoman Michelle Madden is ready for the challenge and is looking forward to helping work towards boosting the local economy. At the 2013 AGM of Ennis Chamber, outgoing president Brian O’Neill spoke about the progress of Promote Ennis projects such as the town successfully attaining the Purple Flag, the publication of the Visit Ennis brochure and website as well as the creation of the Ennis App. Mr O’Neill also spoke about Ennis Chamber’s support for the independence of Shannon Airport and working with other chambers in the region to ensure the development and growth of this vital asset for our economic future.At the AGM, vice-president Ms Madden was elected to the role of president.  Ms Madden operates the family business of Madden Furniture on Station Road. In taking on the role, she committed herself to supporting the business community, particularly the traders, through focusing on the strengthening of the …

Investigations are being carried out into a number of burglaries across the county over the past week. The Dairygold Co-op at Clonmoney, ­Bunratty, was broken into between 3am and 4am on Friday, February 15. Nothing appears to have been stolen but two bags of four-stone Dairygold rolled nuts, bags of beef and dog nuts and hydraulic oil were found abandoned outside the building. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, between 6.45pm and 9.45pm on Friday, February 15, a house in Tullyvarraga Crescent, Shannon was broken into by forcing open the rear window. A sum of money was stolen. Anyone with information is asked to contact Shannon Garda Station on 061 365900. In Ennis, gardaí are appealing for witnesses following the burglary of a house in Kincora Park last Friday. It occurred between 9.30am and 7.30pm by forcing the rear window and although the house was disturbed, nothing was taken. At around 2.30pm a dark-coloured car was parked in the driveway and …