News

A MART operator has been ordered to pay €10,000 in personal damages to a young female Limerick dairy farmer from injuries she sustained after a one ton bull escaped from a pen at Ennis Mart five years ago. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Colin Daly has ordered Clare Co-Operative Marts to pay Rose Keating (28) €10,000 for the incident on May 25 2017 that left three other people injured by the Charolais bull. Judge Daly stated that the appropriate general damages in the case was €20,000. However, he halved the pay-out to €10,000 after finding that Ms Keating was 50pc responsible for the injuries she suffered. Judge Daly made this finding after concluding on the balance of probabilities Ms Keating opened the latch to the pen that allowed the bull escape. In evidence, Ms Keating had denied opening the gate that allowed the bull escape. Judge Daly made the award after Ms Keating earlier rejected a settlement offer by Clare …

THE importance of a strong voice to represent business in Ennis has been emphasised by newly elected Ennis Chamber president Colin Ryan. The Bank of Ireland branch manager was elected president at the Ennis Chamber AGM held on Monday, with Sheila Lynch, partner, Cashin Clancy Solicitors elected vice president. On election, Colin who last year served as vice president, thanked Darragh McAllister, outgoing president for his hard work and commitment. He stated, “Ennis Chamber has been fortunate to have had strong presidents during the Covid years, first Allen Flynn, owner Old Ground Hotel, followed by publican Darragh McAllister over the past year.” Outlining his focus for the year ahead, Colin said, “My mission is to build membership. Already we are back to pre-Covid numbers, and I’d like to grow membership further over the coming year.” He added, “It’s critical we have a strong voice to represent business in Ennis during these rapidly changing times and Ennis Chamber fulfils that role.” …

A Clare family syndicate had a truly life-changing week after walking into Lottery HQ and leaving with a cheque worth an astonishing €30,928,078. The winners scooped the incredible jackpot sum in the Friday February 11 draw after purchasing their winning ticket at Larkin’s service station in Ballina, Co. Tipperary. The family admitted that there was a mix of excitement, shock and delight following the days and weeks after the life-altering draw, although, they did not realise their good luck immediately. “The draw was on the Friday night but we didn’t check our ticket straight away so we were totally oblivious to the big win at the start. It was probably about two days before we found out that we won the jackpot so you can imagine the range of emotions that we went through then.” “When we heard on the radio that the winning ticket was sold in a shop located on the border of Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, that …

THE tightly-knit community in Broadford was united in mourning following the death last week of a popular plumber in a tragic road accident. Ger Gunning, (47) Kilbane, Broadford, was killed when he was a passenger in a van that struck a ditch at the junction of Old Cratloe Road and Woodcock hill Road on Thursday. Community activist, PJ Mason said the deceased was one of the nicest people you would meet and was always willing to help out with Broadford GAA. Mr Mason said the Broadford area has been hit hard by tragic deaths in recent years. In a tribute posted by Broadford GAA club, the club said it mourns the tragic passing of its former underage player and current coach. “Ger was part of the well known Gunning family, owners of the renowned Gunnings Bar in Kilbane. “Ger played to minor level for Broadford, winning U14 and U15 championships with the club. He is remembered as a tigerish corner …

THE Clare economy is in a very strong position and is “providing jobs at a ferocious rate”, according to a leading county council executive. The Council’s Director of Economic Development Liam Conneally told this week’s meeting of Shannon Municipal District Councillors that many of the multinationals with bases in the county are doing particularly well. At the meeting Mr Conneally, giving an update to the members, said despite the pandemic, Foreign Direct Investment in the Mid-West had been “very considerable” between 2019 and 2021. “We are close to reaching full employment,” he added. He said that across the board, in terms of foreign direct investment, indigenous businesses and micro businesses supported by the Council, there is very considerable job creation. Mr Conneally said that sometimes the good work done by agencies of the State is overlooked, while he said the Council has been working very positively with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, while he said that the Clare Local Enterprise …

SCHOOL places for Ukrainian children fleeing the war will be allocated based on capacity and existing enrolment, the Education Minister has told a Clare TD. On foot of three Dáil questions from Deputy Cathal Crowe, Minister Norma Foley outlined a range of supports for children forced to flee Ukraine and come to Ireland. She said the Department of Education already has school capacity data based on annual enrolment returns. However, the location where families are living will also have a bearing, she confirmed, and coordination will take place with other Government departments. In the first instance, Deputy Crowe asked what steps that her Department of Education has taken to mark sure schools “are adequately equipped with teachers, accommodation, furniture, schoolbooks, special needs assistants and so on, to cater for the influx of Ukrainian children that will be entering their schools”. Deputy Crowe also asked that Departmental staff might be appointed as coordinators “to oversee the even distribution of Ukrainian children to …

THIS Friday, April 1, marks the official launch of The National Spring Clean 2022 and with 42,000 tonnes of litter collected over the lifetime of the initiative, it’s clearly no joke. The nationwide clean-up takes place in the month of April and for the past 23 years National Spring Clean participants have volunteered over 12 million hours of their time to remove litter across the country. In County Clare over 3,500 volunteers registered to carry out over 200 clean-ups throughout the county in 2021. In 2022, over 130 groups and communities already registered to carry out a clean-up as part of the National Spring Clean, with some groups who have already been carrying out some clean-ups while waiting for the official launch of the campaign today. Among them, Tulla Tidy Towns have been carrying out regular clean-ups and have encouraged people in the area to “adopt a patch” and carry out a #2minutestreetclean before the month of April, receiving a …

EMERGENCY services in East Clare have united to spearhead a fundraiser initiated by former RTE broadcaster Charlie Bird. The former news reporter has been hailed as an “inspiration” as despite his personal battle with Motor Neurone disease he will climb Croagh Patrick on Sunday, April 3. His heart-rending Late Late interview has been cited by some of the local blue light emergency representatives who are supporting his courageous fund raising drive by climbing 1,745 feet to Moylussa a few miles from Killaloe, starting at 11am on April 3. Members of An Garda Siochána, the Clare Fire and Rescue Service, Killaloe Coast Guard and the National Ambulance Service are all supporting the “Climb for Charlie”. Suggested donations are €10 per person or €25 per family. All proceeds from the Croagh Patrick Climb and other associated events will be split between the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) and Pieta House. Kieran Ruane, who is a member of An Garda Siochána, said …