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Dementia has the capacity to rob people of their dignity and joy in life, if not properly addressed and supported, President Michael D Higgins has warned.Speaking at the official opening of the Waterman’s Lodge Day Care and Respite Centre on Wednesday, President Higgins stated the more he sees of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s work, the more he is impressed by their patient and determined response to this cruel affliction. Describing the event as a day of “great pride” for everyone involved in creating the centre, the society’s patron said he was delighted to be in Ballina/Killaloe. “We all know people in our families, our friends and our communities who have been affected by dementia; people who had hitherto lived full and engaging lives in society until this illness gradually disconnected them from the normal interaction of life; people who now live in the shadows rather than the full light of life. “The apparent arbitrary occurrence of dementia is a …

A MEMBER of the board of Shannon Airport Authority from 2003 to 2008, Tadhg Kearney claims the Clare airport is on the cusp of being made a victim of ‘corporate larceny’.

FIANNA Fáil TD Timmy Dooley has claimed that leaving Shannon without any claim to Aer Rianta International (ARI) is “the closest thing to highway robbery”.Speaking on Wednesday evening, he also reiterated his view that leaving the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) umbrella is not good for Shannon.

SHANNON Airport should receive in excess of €300 million on a phased basis over the next 10 or 15 years to ensure its successful transition as an independent airport, a former director has claimed.

Long after Scropul National School closes its doors for good on June 29, the school’s 152-year history will be kept alive in a book that will be launched at 8pm on Saturday in the Bellbridge House Hotel. The school, which caters for just four pupils, will close on the last Friday of this month and will amalgamate with Coore National School next September. Having taught at Scropul National School for 30 years, Patricia Rynne, who was appointed school principal in 2000, told The Clare Champion that the idea to compile a history book emerged about two years ago. “When the 150th anniversary came up, we decided we would do something on it. It was important to celebrate 150 years of education and the achievement of the pupils. We visited the archives in Dublin many times and the local studies centre in Ennis. We also interviewed quite a few past pupils and those interviews are in the book,” the retiring principal …

COMMENT EAMON Gilmore told us at the weekend that “the people of Ireland have spoken” when endorsing the European Fiscal Treaty. Well, I have news for the leader of the Labour Party: the people of Ireland have not spoken. Some of the people of Ireland have spoken. Nobody asked the people of Derry, Antrim, Down, Armagh, Fermanagh or Tyrone for their opinion.  

Hundreds of soccer fans from Clare are travelling to Poland to support Trapp’s Army as they take part in the UEFA European Football Championship Finals, which begin at the weekend.  Ireland will play their first match on Sunday evening against Croatia, watched in Poznan by between 15,000 and 20,000 Irish fans including many from the Banner County.

MAYOR of Clare, Pat Hayes, has said he is concerned about the pending loss of Aer Rianta International to Shannon. He has also criticised the decision not to appoint any representative of Clare County Council to the steering group, or the two subcommittees of that Steering Group; which has been created to examine the restructuring of Shannon Airport or Shannon Development.