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RECRUITS about to finish their training as part of the Shannon Airport Fire Service/Police climbed Croagh Patrick recently while wearing full fire kit, to raise money for Milford Care Centre. Nine people took part including Mark Kirwan, who said several of the group had an attachment to the chosen charity. “As a group we decided to do something for charity and we chose Milford Care Centre because a number of us would have had someone who went through there at some point. “The transport and food was organised by the airport itself, we left the airport at around 7am and arrived up there around 10am. It took us about two hours to get to the top.” While the weather was quite good, it was a very tough challenge. “It was pretty tough with the fire gear and the boots, but there was an awful lot of support from other people going up and down. In total it would have taken …

THE Russian invasion of Ukraine has presented new problems for the Burren Chernobyl Project, which has worked to help victims of the Chernobyl disaster. Spokesperson Liam O’Meara said, “It’s a challenge in several areas. We’ve been working away with the orphanages, a load was sent there at the end of January, it got as far as Lithuania and was held up in a port, which meant we’d be paying more every day it was in the port. We thought it might never get through, but luckily it did.” Burren Chernobyl Project provides support to Belarus, and there are concerns that the vulnerable there will not get support. “A friend of mine in Belarus said will we be North Korea? Will we be shunned and people not want to help, will people think differently of the country?” The war may mean less resources for the orphanages there, he feels. “They’re just coming out of Covid, they were very much locked down …

The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, has announced his intention to appoint Conal Henry to the position of Chairperson of Shannon Group. Mr Henry is expected to be formally appointed as Chair following his appearance before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications which the Minister hopes can be arranged at the earliest opportunity. Speaking today, Minister Ryan said “Given the important role of Shannon Group to the economy of the Midwest region and nationally, I am pleased that Conal Henry is willing to accept the position of Chairperson of Shannon Group. “Conal has 15 years’ experience at board level in both executive and non-executive positions and his career spans the aviation, telecoms, retail and banking sectors. I am confident that he will play a key role in leading Shannon Group in its continued recovery.” Welcoming his appointment, Mary Considine, CEO, Shannon Group said: “I am pleased to welcome Mr Henry in his new role as Shannon Group chair. …

CLARE gardai have appealed for witnesses to a traffic collision that occured on Monday of last week in Ennis. At 1.20am on Monday, March 21, a traffic collision occurred at the Tulla Road/Lifford Road roundabout and the second vehicle failed to remain at the scene. The driver of one car was travelling from Clonroad in the direction of the Tulla Road/Lifford Road roundabout intersection. The driver was taking the second exit at the roundabout when the offending vehicle which approached from the Lifford Road direction collided into her car. The only description available currently is that it was a black car. If anyone witnessed this collision or anyone has dash cam footage of it, they are asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 6848100.

AN Ennis store has struck gold achieving a coveted national award. Donnellan’s Centra on the Lahinch Road was among the big winners at the ShelfLife National C-Store Awards 2021 held recently. Picking up the Gold award for Convenience Store of the Year (Medium) on behalf of Donnellan’s were a delighted Joan and Edwina Donnellan. The awards celebrate exceptional standards of Ireland’s convenience store sector celebrated at national industry event. Other Clare stores taking home awards on the night were: Londis McNamee’s Darragh, Ennis which was awarded Convenience Store of the Year (Large) Bronze; Spar, Back Lane, Lahinch, Co, Clare Convenience Store of the Year (Small) Joint Bronze; and Mace, Lissycasey, Convenience Store of the Year (Medium) Bronze. Originally due to be held in November 2021, the ceremony was postponed due to the increase of Covid-19 hospitalisations occurring at that time, and to ensure the safety of all involved. Proving the adage that good things come to those who wait, the …

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has warned consumers not to buy or eat Wonka branded chocolate bars, due to an increase in reports that counterfeit chocolate bars bearing this brand name are for sale on the market in Ireland. The authority warned the counterfeit chocolate bars may be unsafe to eat, as there is a possibility that they may not have been produced in line with food safety, hygiene and/or food traceability legal requirements to protect public health. Some examples of the issues identified to date with these counterfeit Wonka branded chocolate bars include: failure to provide an accurate ingredients list e.g., undeclared ingredients and allergens on the label false business name and address on the label the rewrapping of various shop bought or homemade chocolate bars in Wonka wrappers unregistered food businesses selling products online Commenting, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI urges consumers to be aware of the possible risks posed by these counterfeit chocolate bars. …

THE traumatic impact of living in a home with defective concrete blocks is to be explored in a two-day conference hosted by the Technological University of The Shannon (TUS) in May.  The international event entitled ‘Losing Your Home – ‘The Impact of Defective Concrete Blocks in Ireland’ will hear from a host of experts in the fields of engineering and geology as well as mental health and arts specialists.  The event is being organised by the founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG), Dr Martina Cleary and Dr Rita Scully of the Department of the Built Environment at TUS. “The issue of Defective Concrete Blocks, containing deleterious materials, particularly Pyrite, Mica and Reactive Sulphates is one currently impacting thousands of homeowners in the western seaboard counties of Ireland,” said the organisers. “As walls crack and homes crumble, the financial, legal and psychological consequences on very ordinary people is becoming a widening crisis, affecting all parts of our communities. “In …

THERE has been a 33% hike in the number of young Clare people waiting for appointments from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) over the last three years, according to newly published HSE figures. The health authority was asked at the HSE West Forum by Councillor Cillian Murphy to provide a breakdown of the number of young Clare people awaiting appointments with CAMHS for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Fianna Fáil Councillor was told that the total number of Clare people waiting for this service increased from 61 at the end of 2019 to 82 at the end of 2021. At the end of 2019, 43 children and adolescents were waiting up to three months; 14 were waiting from three to six months; three were waiting six to nine months and one was waiting nine to 12 months. The numbers waiting at the end of 2020 increased to 74 with 31 waiting up to three months; …