News

LAHINCH Seaworld and Leisure Centre could close within a year without an injection of funds or a major increase in business.

CUIMHNEAMH an Chláir, the Clare Oral History and Folklore Group, that has been recording the memories of Clare’s oldest citizens over the last year, has received a boost from singer songwriter Damien Dempsey as the 2011 collection programme begins.

A SUCCESSOR to replace retired Minister Tony Killeen should have been sought last year and not a few weeks before the General Election, former Clare Fianna Fáil Deputy, Brendan Daly has declared.

THE winds of change blew through the portals of Leinster House in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon when Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, was elected as Taoiseach of the 31st Dáil by a record margin of 117 votes to 27.

I READ an awful amount of rubbish over the weekend in some newspapers that would like us to take them seriously, about the formation of the new Government.

IF there is a whipping boy in Ireland these days, it can reasonably be said to be the public service. Everybody wants the wage bill cut, the numbers drastically reduced and the ranks of private sector workers to be swollen by the castaways.

TAKING 8,572 votes in the first count, Michael McNamara became the first Labour party TD to be elected in Clare since 1992, ending a run of three barren general elections.Before last Friday’s ballot, many gave him a chance of taking the final seat but against the odds, the Scariff man took the second one, something even he didn’t see coming. “Up to today I wouldn’t have expected to come second. I predicted coming third in The Clare Champion and that was cheeky,” he acknowledged in the early hours of Sunday morning, shortly after reaching the quota.However, he did say he had got good feedback on the campaign trail and felt he was in with a shout of a seat. “To be honest, we were getting a very good reception. We had a huge team out there and I’m very grateful to everyone who came out in fairly horrible weather conditions and campaigned. I’m also very grateful to everyone who answered …

LAST Friday more people voted for Pat Breen than had ever voted for any Fine Gael candidate in a general election in Clare.It was a huge result for the West Clare man, who topped the poll, taking 9,855 first preferences, 1,283 ahead of his nearest challenger Michael McNamara. His vote increased by just over 2,800 on the 2007 election.On Saturday evening Mr Breen said he was thrilled with how he polled. “When I heard the final tally earlier this afternoon tears came to my eyes. To me it’s a lifetime achievement to be at the top. This is my third election, in my first election I got 4,400 votes, in my second election I got 7,000 votes and now tonight I have 9,800 votes. That shows that the work on the ground and the dedication to the job has paid off as I’ve gone from strength to strength. I’m so delighted, I want to thank the people of Clare for …