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A MILTOWN Malbay father who died in an air crash at the weekend has been remembered as a “gentleman” with his loss described as a “terrible tragedy” ahead of his funeral mass this Thursday. Michael Flynn of Kilcorcoran, Miltown Malbay lost his life when a powered hang glider he was piloting crashed in a field off the Ballard Road about a kilometre from Miltown Malbay on Sunday. Family and friends gathered for an emotional goodbye at his funeral mass on Thursday in St Joseph’s Church, Miltown Malbay. Speaking to the Clare Champion Fr Donagh O’Meara said Mr Flynn “was a lovely character, a lovely man, just a gentleman. He was very well got in the community, very well liked.” Mr Flynn’s death has sent shockwaves across the local community. He was well known in the local area and worked as a plumber as well as being involved in farming. “It has been an awful shock for everybody. It is just …

CLARE TD Violet-Anne Wynne made history last night when she became the first woman to bring a baby into the Dail chamber. The Independent TD and young Collins Mountaine, aged seven months, were greeted with a sustained round of applause from fellow members on Wednesday evening. Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghaill quipped that it was the first time there had been “an actual” baby in the Dail. Deputy Wynne was present for the weekly voting blocks and given that the Dail creche closed at 6.15, she felt she had no other option than to bring Collins in with her to the Chamber. 'History' was made in the Dáil when Clare TD Violet-Anne Wynne brought her 7-month old daughter Collins into the chamber. Ceann Comhairle Séan Ó Fearghaíl commented that it was the first time an 'actual' baby was in the Dáil pic.twitter.com/awD4CZWJTs — RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 21, 2022 She told the Irish Examiner, “It’s a learning curve, but it’s …

IN an act described as “wanton vandalism” a sign which had been erected by a community group to highlight the history of Clarecastle Quay has been stolen. However the Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage Group has vowed not to let this stop its plans for a ‘heritage trail’ of the area, with some signs already in place and more planned for the future. The stolen metal sign for ‘Dromoland Road’ was taken sometime overnight on Monday, September 12, after 9pm. Eric Shaw of the Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage Group told The Champion the group was very disappointed to discover that the sign had been taken under cover of darkness. He fears that it may be offered for sale to an unsuspecting pub as a decorative feature, urging anybody who comes across it to contact their local gardaí. Gardaí have been notified of the incident and are checking CCTV footage from the area in a bid to identify the culprit. The sign …

A man alleged to have carried out an unprovoked attack on his 74-year-old neighbour in Barefield earlier this month has been unable to take up bail, a court has heard. Ciaran Cullinan (32), with an address at Curraderra, Barefield, appeared at Ennis district court this Wednesday, via video link from Limerick Prison. Cullinan is charged with assault causing harm to Noel Meere at Curraderra, Barefield on September 3. He is further charged with possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for the purposes of sale or supply. Those charges arise from a garda search of Cullinan’s address in Curraderra, Barefield, also on September 3. Cullinan was granted bail at Ennis district court earlier this month subject to a number of conditions. At the time, Judge Patricia Cronin granted Cullinan bail on his own bond of €500 with €250 to be lodged in court. The court is also seeking an independent surety of €2000, with €1000 to be lodged in court. …

THE Willow Counselling Centre was recently presented with funds raised from the annual When in Doubt – Pedal it Out cycle for mental health. A total of €1,575 was raised for the Ennis based service from the cycle which took place last October. Plans are now underway for this year’s cycle which is due to be held on October 29. The Willow Counselling Centre is an affordable counselling service established in 2016 to meet the needs of the people in County Clare and surrounds. They are based on Chapel Lane in Ennis and together with a team of 10 qualified and dedicated counselling/psychotherapists provide support and often a life line to those with mental health issues. They offer one to one, phone and on line counselling and deal with a variety of issues with clients of all ages. The centre recently started to develop a Play and Art Therapy Room which now has new flooring and furniture.  It is ready …

AFTER many years as a youth worker serving Shannon, Thomas O’Hara is moving into the world of academia. Thomas, who worked with Clare Youth Service in Shannon from 2006 to 2008, and again from 2011 until this year is taking up a position with TUS in Limerick (formerly Limerick Institute of Technology). Speaking to the Champion, he said he had really enjoyed working with the young people of the town, and found the level of community spirit in Shannon to be very strong. “The people there, the sense of community is absolutely amazing. Once people find out you are doing anything in the area they’re very quick to support it, I’ve found, and that was always an advantage to me in working with young people.” “It was a great way of showing young people how community supports itself, how to get involved in your community. “Sometimes that’s one of the key things for young people; where do I fit into …

COMMUNITIES across Clare are being urged to gather a group this Thursday and do coffee their way for the 30th Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice. And if they can’t host a coffee morning social, people are being asked to donate to help raise much needed funds to support the work of Cahercalla Hospice. “We are delighted Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice is back for another year raising funds in support of Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland,” said Mary Malone of Cahercalla Hospice. “The ongoing support for this campaign over the last 30 years is a testament to the generosity of our coffee morning hosts, donors, ambassadors, and our long-time sponsor Bewley’s. “The funds raised each year by the Irish public ensure we continue to provide vital support to individual patients and their families every day.” Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 22, or on a date that suits you, at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie or Call save 0818 995 996. …

AN Ennis family has been left heartbroken following a tragic diving accident in Lanzarote. 18-year-old Hernán Lopéz Shanahan, son of Leona Shanahan from Ennis, lost his life while free diving at Playa Chica on the Canary island. During his now short life he had lived in Ennis, France and Lanzarote.  Hernán went to primary school in Ennis Educate Together before moving to France with his mother and later to Lanzarote where he was a student. Ennis remained close to his heart and he regularly returned to see his extended family including grandparents Cornelius and Nora Shanahan. A resident of Tías in Lanzarote, Hernán was a student of Underwater and Hyperbaric Activities at the Escuela de Pesca in Arrecife. His death on August 29 was met with shock and among the local headlines in Lanzarote were, “The death of young Hernán Lopéz Shanahan makes Lanzarote cry.” Paying tribute to her grandson Hernán’s grandmother Nora describes this headline as “touching” with the sentiment evident by the huge …