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A mother has described as “pure evil” the actions of a woman who stole from and desecrated her daughter’s grave on three separate occasions. At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, Kirsty Donnellan told the court that she was “in a state of shock, anger and despair” when finding that her daughter, Scarlett’s grave had been desecrated in May 2020. Ms Donnellan said that to have someone disturb your child’s grave and steal items from it is “the most hideous crime one could ever be a victim of”. During the course of her victim impact statement, the mother of three told the court that eldest daughter, Scarlett (17) had died just 20 months prior to the thefts from her grave at Tulla graveyard. Concerning the grave thefts, Mairead O’Sullivan (41) has entered 18 separate guilty pleas concerning charges of stealing goods with a combined value of €597.50 from graves at cemeteries at Drumcliffe and Templemaley outside Ennis and also from Tulla cemetery. There are 14 victims in the case as …

PRACTICAL demonstrations of the benefits of some of the latest advancements in antenatal education and neonatal care will form part of International Day of the Midwife celebrations in the regional maternity hospital this Thursday. University Maternity Hospital Limerick is issuing commemorative birth certificates to the mums of all babies born in UMHL on May 5 to mark the day which celebrates a century of continual progress in maternal and child care through quality midwifery. The day is acelebration which has the theme of ‘100 Years Of Progress’, and also encourages all members of the global community of midwives to advocate for investment in quality midwifery care around the world, improving sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in the process. Midwives from UMHL will also be participating in the National Midwifery Conference, ‘Coming Together to Showcase and Celebrate’, which is hosted by the National Women & Infant Health Programme and Office of Nurse & Midwifery Service Directorate. The national …

SHANNON Tidy Towns carried out a litter pick in conjunction with the An Taisce National Spring Clean recently which enjoyed a high level of community engagement. Derek Clune of the Tidy Towns said it had gone very well and there had been a good level of support. “It was a great day, an enjoyable day. I’d say we had around 50 people, maybe a few more. There were people from different parts of the town and a group of Ukrainian people came out as well. “We met at the Town Park and from there we headed out north, south, east and west for two hours. Over the course of it we collected 35 bags of rubbish. “We came back again to the band stand and had some refreshments, we had tea, coffee and some cakes and biscuits. “It was a great day, an enjoyable day and it was a successful day that we got that much rubbish collected off the …

BURREN in Bloom, the annual celebration of the Burren’s rich biodiversity returns this May. The event, running from Thursday, May 19 to Sunday, May 22 will include a range of guided walks, evening talks and family events to coincide with the UN International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22. Áine Bird, Coordinator of Burrenbeo Trust says, “Burren in Bloom is more than a celebration, it is an important reminder that the wonder of the Burren’s wildflowers must not be taken for granted. “Careful management and continuation of the ancient practice of winterage by hundreds of farmers in the Burren, the scientific and economic support they receive, and the informed pride of the local community in our natural heritage – all play a crucial part in keeping the Burren blooming each year.” This year, the festival will start with an online talk on the evening of Thursday, May 19 on ‘Nature as a partner – changing attitudes to nature and …

THE convenience of travelling from Shannon Airport was a common theme with holiday makers boarding the inaugural service to Barcelona this morning. There was a holiday buzz in the departures lounge of the airport this morning as passengers boarded the 8.40am service to the new destination with Ryanair. This is the second service by Ryanair to the Catalonia region from Shannon Airport. Commenting on the route, passenger Jim Lynch from Clarecastle, said he is delighted with the new service. “I am lucky enough to have a house just over the border in France. I will arrive now in Girona, and I will be able to pick up my car and will hopefully be in my house in about 45 minutes. “That basically means leaving Shannon Airport at 8.40am and being in my house in the South of France at about 12.30pm Irish time, which is just incredible. I hope people use this flight. “Just to go to Barcelona for the …

HERITAGE projects across county Clare are to benefit to the tune of more than €120,000 of State funding. Community groups from Spanchilhill to Spanish Point will receive funding from The Heritage Council. Initiatives to received support range from the preservation of local monuments to the creation of audio guides for those with visual or literacy issues. Green Party Senator Róisín Garvey outlined the full list of projects to benefit from the funding boost. “As spokesperson for Rural Development, I am delighted to announce securing funding of €120,621 in support of Heritage activity all over Clare and across a wide range of events and topics,” she said. “Thanks to my Green Party Colleague, Minister Malcolm Noonan, for the funding. Investing in our Heritage is important for ourselves and our communities as well as being another great draw for visitors to our beautiful county. “From Caherconnell, to Killaloe, Kilrush, Clooney, Spanish Point, Clarecastle, Shannon, Ketts Lough and for our cultural heritage with …

CLARE gardai are seeking assistance from the public after a number of premises were broken into over the past week. For the second time in two weeks, access was gained to a business premises on O’Connell Street Ennis by removing roof slates. This latest crime occurred between 12.30am and 12.40am on May 2. Entry was gained through the roof by removing slates and an internal partition wall and a number of items were stolen. In west Clare, a house in Derrymore, Lahinch, was entered and a sum of money in coins and cash was stolen. This crime took place between 8am and 3pm on Tuesday, April 26 last. In Kilrush, meanwhile, between 6pm on Friday, April 29 and 8.30am the following morning the front door of a cabin located on a building site in Vandaleur Gardens, was forced and a Milwaukee Jig Saw, Milwaukee Angle Grinder and a Milwaukee Impact Driver were stolen. All these tools are battery operated. During …

Two men have been convicted for being in the possession of illegally caught salmon on the River Fergus in Ennis, and were ordered to pay fines following prosecutions taken by Inland Fisheries Ireland. Cousins Gerard Considine and Niall Considine, both with addresses in Clarecastle, Co. Clare, received a fine of €200 and costs of €471 each following their conviction at Ennis District Court on Friday, April 22, by Judge Bernadette Owens. Inland Fisheries Ireland Officers gave evidence in relation to the offence which occurred on July 1 2021. They outlined the facts of the case to the court of how Gerard Considine and Niall Considine had been apprehended following a night time surveillance operation in the area after suspicious activity had been detected. The men were found to be in possession of eight illegally caught salmon from the river Fergus in Ennis. David McInerney, director of the Shannon River Basin District at Inland Fisheries Ireland said, ‘Inland Fisheries Ireland has …