News

SHANNON Airport’s summer schedule is getting off to a flying start with four destinations to the UK, US and Europe taking off within a 36-hour period on Sunday and Monday. On Sunday, March 27 Aer Lingus services from Shannon to London Heathrow will see the return of the daily early morning 7.40am flight. This will mark the full restoration of Heathrow services, providing 20 services per week. At 10.55am that day passengers will see the return of the popular Ryanair service to Palma Mallorca which will operate three flights per week (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays). Later that afternoon the first flight to Malta will depart Shannon. This new Ryanair service will operate twice weekly (Thursdays and Sundays). On Monday March 28th, the much-anticipated New York/Newark service with United Airlines will make a welcome return after almost two years, with services running seven days a week. All US bound passengers at Shannon will be able to avail of US preclearance ensuring …

A DEBATE on hate speech legislation has prompted a furious reaction from the Clare-based chairperson of The Irish Freedom Party.  Speaking in the Dáil, where the Justice Minister sought support for a measure to extend EU crimes to include hate crime and hate speech, Deputy Cathal Crowe was sharply critical of the party. “It practises hate messaging and it is how it operates,” he said. “Its members message on topics of gender, transgender and immigration. They are the issues on which they campaign. It can be argued it is a political party with a right to represent and speak, but it does not have any elected mandate in this country. “If its members believe they have a right to speech, they will have less of a right to make their statements when we sign up to this because any form of rallying people or inciting hatred in that regard will be illegal.” In a statement following the debate, Michael Leahy …

DERELICTION in the centre of Kilrush is to be tackled, following representations by Councillor Ian Lynch.  The Independent Council member raised the issue at the West Clare Municipal District meeting earlier this month when he highlighted the state of Moore Street in the heart of the town. He asked that the area be considered for inclusion on a suitable scheme to address dereliction and also that overhead electricity lines be put underground, if possible.  In a written response, Mairead Corbett, Administrative Officer in the Housing section stated: “The Vacant Homes Office is currently undertaking a study of Moore Street, Kilrush with a view to identifying vacant properties with potential for redevelopment.  Assessment is ongoing on a number of properties to determine their potential and decide on future action”. A second response was supplied in relation to the electricity cables. Alan Kennelly, Senior Executive Engineer (SEE) under took to contact the ESB in relation to their requirements relating to the possible …

A CLARE woman armed with an air gun and posing as an escort robbed a man in Ennis after falsely claiming she was a garda, a court has heard. Clara Chapman (27) carried out the robbery of €300 during the incident that occurred in a residential area of the town in November 2019. Chapman, with a former address at Church View apartments, Main Street, Miltown Malbay and with previous addresses in Ennis, pleaded guilty to a single count of robbery. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Eoin Garavan sentenced Chapman to two and a half years in prison, saying the offence “warrants a custodial sentence, clearly”. The judge described the robbery, which occurred around 2pm, as a “nasty, planned and ruthlessly executed crime”. In evidence, detective garda Niamh O’Malley said that on November 21, 2019 a 36-year-old man contacted Chapman after viewing her profile on the Locanto website. Det O’Malley said the man was looking at adverts for “young Irish escorts” …

THE partner of newly independent Clare TD, Violet Ann Wynne has pleaded guilty to drugs possession, writes Gordon Deegan. At Kilrush District Court sitting in Ennis, solicitor for John Montaine (39), Patrick Moylan entered a guilty plea on behalf of his client to the illegal possession of cannabis at the family home at Pella Road, Kilrush on February 11 last year. Mr Moylan said that Mr Montaine was unable to come before the court as he currently has Covid-19. Mr Montaine uses cannabis for medicinal purposes and no evidence was provided to the value of the drugs seized and the facts around the seizure will be heard in court in June. Mr Moylan also entered a guilty plea on behalf of Mr Montaine to driving with no insurance while driving a 192 registered black Ford Grand C-Max at Decomede, Lissycasey, Co Clare on February 8 2021. Judge Larkin said that what was before the court “is a serious matter”. Mr …

PALESTINIAN Ambassador her Excellency Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid will visit Ennis this week where she will speak at an event organised by Clare Labour Party. The meeting, on Tuesday, March 22 at 8pm at the Woodstock Hotel, Shanaway Road is open to the public. Denis Vaughan, Clare Labour Party chair said, “Amnesty International have recently reported indisputable evidence of crimes of apartheid against millions of Palestinians committed by the State of Israel. “To better understand what is happening, why it matters to all of us and what we should do, please join us, the Clare Labour Party, in welcoming the Palestinian Ambassador, her Excellency Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid who will offer insights and perspective.”

IRISH Water, working in partnership with Clare County Council, is progressing plans to deliver the Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme that will end the discharge of raw sewage into the River Fergus and Shannon Estuary. Project Delivery Lead for Irish Water, Seamus Glynn said, “Wastewater from the public sewer network in Clarecastle is currently discharged untreated into the River Fergus and the Shannon Estuary. “The discharge of untreated wastewater is unacceptable, threatens water quality and detracts from the amenity value of the area.” “Once completed, the Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme will improve the water quality in the River Fergus in compliance with national and EU regulations relating to the treatment of wastewater, and will enhance the environmental amenity of the Clarecastle area. We will be sure to keep the local community informed regarding traffic management as this essential project progresses.” The project will involve the design and construction of new below-ground infrastructure at the site of the existing Quay Road Pump Station, and …

A MEELICK family’s dazzling light show which brought festive cheer to the community has raised €3,300 for charity. Childline has extended a huge thanks to the Hunt family and the wider community of Meelick and beyond for the role they have played in helping to keep its active listening service available to every child and young person in Clare, Limerick and across Ireland. The Hunt family’s spectacular light show ran at their Meelick home for the second year over the Christmas period, with its dazzling colourful lights and crisp music sequences attracting interest and intrigue from near and far. (See Champion story with video here) An 18 foot mega tree, eight mini trees, candy canes and an animated singing Christmas tree were just some of the magical lights which the Hunt family used to festoon their home at the festive period, providing a real treat for the senses to all who visited. The innovative hosts once again generously harnessed the …