News

A NORTH Clare tillage farmer and agricultural contractor has claimed a government initiative encouraging more tillage production in response to the Ukrainian war is “waste of time” and a “hair brained scheme”. Previously involved in electronics, Shane Nolan left his work in Dublin in the early nineties and took over his father’s farm in Finavara and started renting land for tillage. The secretary of the Western Division of the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors of Ireland (FCI) pointed out a dairy or beef farmer would have to reduce the amount of cattle on their land to try and grow a tillage crop. “It would be like me milking cows. I might know what a cow looks like but I wouldn’t know how to maintain a cow. At least with tillage crops I know what I have to do. It is like asking a doctor to go and wire a house.” He said non-tillage farmers have approached him seeking advice …

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has advised that Ferrero is extending its current food recall to include some additional Kinder products due to a link with an ongoing food poisoning outbreak of Salmonella. The outbreak is affecting Ireland, the UK and a number of other European countries and to date, there have been ten cases in this country with the same strain of Salmonella responsible for the UK outbreak. A number of these Irish cases have involved young children, all of whom have fully recovered. The FSAI is warning consumers who may have the recalled products at home not to eat them. This recall relates to other Kinder products that have been added to the recall. The products and batches being recalled are as follows: Kinder Mini Eggs, 75g, all best before dates between 20th April 2022 and 21st August 2022 Kinder Egg Hunt Kit, 150g, all best before dates between 20th April 2022 and 21st August 2022 …

THE Lough Derg RNLI Fundraising Branch are making a ‘wheel’ effort to raise funds with the announcement of the first ever RNLI Lough Derg Charity Cycle this summer. The 130km Lap the Lake cycle which will see participants circuit beautiful Lough Derg will be held on May 8. The fundraising cycle is being “widely supported all around the country” says Niamh McCutcheon, Chairperson of the Lough Derg RNLI Fundraising Branch. The cycle will start and finish at the RNLI Lifeboat Station in Dromineer. The 130km route around Lough Derg will give participants an opportunity to delight in the outstanding beauty of the lake and River Shannon through counties Tipperary, Clare and Galway. As part of the safety measures there will be first aid, out riders, marshals and bike maintenance provided throughout the course. There will be a comfort stop at Le Bateau, Emerald Star Line in Portumna, where tea, coffee and a lunch pack will be provided for participants. Lough Derg Yacht Club …

ENNIS’ first ever ‘Friendship Seating Area’ will be launched next week by the Ennis Mental Health Association with hopes high that it will become a special place to for people to meet and connect with one another in the town centre. The seating spot at Abbey Street Car Park has been developed in co-operation with the Ennis Municipal District and will be officially launched on Thursday, April 7 by Mayor of Ennis Councillor Ann Norton. On the same day Ennis MHA will mark national ‘Hello, How Are You?’ Day with an information stand in O’Connell Square. As well as providing seating, the area has a specially designed plaque featuring the words of William Butler Yeats, “There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met yet.” Maria Molloy, chairperson of the Ennis MHA explained that the Friendship Seating Area, located by the River Fergus has been “designed to provide an attractive and inviting space where people can sit and be …

GARDAI are appealing for witnesses to an assault and robbery that took place on Friday night/Saturday morning. Gardaí in Kilrush are investigating the robbery which occurred at 12.30am on April 2 at Toler Street, Kilrush. A man was walking along Toler Street when he was approached by a male wearing dark clothing. This male knocked him into bushes at the side of the street and took a sum of money from him and left on foot. If anyone was in the area of Toler Street between 12 midnight and 12.45 a.m. and saw this male or anyone who has dash cam footage they are asked to contact Kilrush Garda Station on 9080550.

A HORSE race held in memory of a young Killaloe girl with special needs, who touched the lives of countless people, has shone a much needed spotlight on a life-threatening condition. There was a great buzz of excitement at the second Brianna Lynch Memorial Cup, which was the last race on the North Tipperary Foxhounds Point-to-Point at Lisboney, Nenagh recently. In November 2019, Brianna Lynch (9) died in her sleep from suspected Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), leaving her family devastated. Her mother, Arabella Scanlan has used this memorial race to highlight the risks associated with SUDEP. SUDEP refers to deaths in people with epilepsy that are not caused by injury, drowning, or other known causes. Studies suggest that each year there are about 1.16 cases of SUDEP for every 1,000 people with epilepsy, although estimates vary. It is the leading cause of death in people with uncontrolled seizures. Epilepsy – which affects 40,000 people across the country – …

GARDAI are appealing for witnesses to the attempted robbery of a woman in broad daylight in front of her two children. On Sunday, April 3, at 1.10pm the woman was walking on Drumcliffe Road, Ennis, with her two children when she was approached from behind by three males. One grabbed her from behind and another tried to take her handbag and broke the strap in the process. The children both had mobile phones in their hands and one of the males took these and smashed them off the ground. While this was going on the third male was talking on a mobile phone. This was very traumatic for the mother and her two children. If anyone witnessed this incident or anyone that may have dash cam footage gardai are asking them to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065-6848100.

TAKING part in a national competition has added up to success for one Ennis school student. St Flannan’s College first year student Jack McAuliffe achieved top marks in the recent Irish Mathematics Teachers’ Association (IMTA) Junior Maths Quiz. As well as being named a national winner, he also scooped a Prim-Ed Maths Box valued at €225 for the school.  Peter Sexton, maths teacher, commented, “The Maths Department in St Flannan’s are delighted for Jack on winning first prize in the Irish Maths Teachers Association Junior Maths Competition.” The Junior Mathematics Competition, held annually for first year students, was developed and organised by Michael Moynihan  and has been running since 1994. It consists of multiple choice brain teasers answered within a 40 minute period. Since 2021 the competition has been run online and available in both English and as Gaeilge.