News

Gardaí in Ennis are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 28-year-old Lucas Pereira, who was last seen in Ennis, County Clare, on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Lucas Pereira is described as approximately 5 feet 11 inches in height with a stocky build, short black hair, and brown eyes. When last seen, he was wearing a blue jacket. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Ennis Garda Station at 065 6848100, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

GARDAÍ in Ennis are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a “serious” assault in Clarecastle at the weekend. An investigation has been launched into a number of incidents that occurred in the village on the afternoon of Sunday, April 14. Shortly before 1pm, it’s reported two men entered a retail premises and assaulted two males before fleeing the scene in a car. One of the injured males, aged in his 20s, is currently being treated for serious injuries in hospital. The other injured male, a youth in his late teens, received treatment in hospital for non-life threatening injuries and has since been released. A female in her 50s was also injured during the course of this incident and is receiving hospital treatment for non-life threatening injuries. The scene is preserved and a technical examination is being conducted. An Incident Room at Ennis Garda Station has been established and an investigation is continuing. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to …

  A former Smith O’Brien’s hurler who died in Milford Hospice following an illness bravely borne with great courage and dignity has been described as an “inspiration” during his Funeral Mass  recently. Thousands of mourners lined the Main Street in Killaloe on Sunday to pay their respects to Liam Walsh, Walsh’s Bar, Killaloe and Ballykildea, Killaloe for what was one the biggest funerals held in the town since the death of former Munster and Ireland rugby legend Anthony Foley. Members of Smith O’Brien’s GAA  and Camogie club shouldered his coffin from Rory Scanlan’s house to the entrance to Reilig Lua graveyard. A guard of honour of club members was formed from the church past his beloved GAA grounds onto the graveyard. Fr James Grace said the community felt deep sadness and grieving following the death of Mr Walsh. Expressing his sympathy to his “broken hearted” family, he assured them of the support of the community during this terrible time. A …

A fighter, a musician, a businesswoman, a lovable rogue, a leader of the late-night sessions, Lahinch woman Susan O’Sullivan was a one of a kind. Born in Bartrá, just outside Lahinch, in 1892, Susan took up the fiddle when she was eight years old. As well as being a talented player in her own right, her house became the main Sunday evening venue for some of the greats of the Clare trad scene, including Willie Clancy, Seamus Ennis and Junior Crehan. Later in life, she was also a great advocate of passing on the tradition to the young, and served as president of Clare Comhaltas in the 1960s. But in her younger days, in the heat of the War of Independence, Susan lent her considerable intelligence and skill to the Republican cause, and it was this involvement that led to her family home in Lahinch being burned by the Black and Tans in the wake of the Rineen Ambush in …

ENNIS ratepayers are facing an “inordinate burden” due to increased valuation on properties while ongoing roadworks disrupt many businesses in the town centre the Mayor of Ennis has said. Speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Councillor Pat Daly (FF) commented that for many ratepayers in Ennis, “They are finding it very difficult and business is way down”. At the meeting he sought advice on “how best to postpone the inordinate burden on Ennis rate payers arising from the recent increase on valuation of properties, pending the completion of the current works taking place in the town.” However he was informed that there is no mechanism in the absence of Ministerial approval for the waiving of all or part of the annual rates in any part of County Clare for upgrade and or development works. Trina Rynne, Financial Accountant, Finance and Support Services,with Clare County Council told the meeting that in 2023 the National Revaluation programme, managed …

Another new councillor will be elected in the Ennis Muncipal District following confirmation Ann Norton (Ind) will not be contesting the June local elections. Following the shock departure of Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn from the election race, Councillor Norton’s decision not to run again boosts the chances of a new independent candidate winning a seat. Having served two terms from 2014 to 2024, Councillor Norton (52) said she had always given herself a ten-year timeframe to achieve certain goals in local Government. The Independent councillor believes she used her time in politics to highlight various issues affecting people with disabilities. She now wants to spend more time looking after her daughter, Nicole, who has cerebral palsy and other issues, as her health has deteriorated in recent years. Due to the increase in hospital visits with Nicole, Ann explained it is hard to focus on caring for her in the hospital when her phone is ringing in connection with council …

Multitalented Clare vocalist, musician and composer, Lou McMahon, has just released Mysteria, the first single from her upcoming concept album, Butterfly Wars. The song merges the structures of video game music with a pop sensibility, underscored by a classical orchestral tapestry. Mysteria is the theme song from Lou’s concept album Butterfly Wars, and possesses the characteristics of both a video game underscore and a theme song. The music carries a hypnotic, minimalism reminiscent of Radiohead’s style or Massive Attack, yet with an orchestral instrumentation. Mysteria represents a digital realm within the game that blushes with botanical beauty, a rogue femininity and wilderness. The song aims to paint a gothic tapestry, reflecting the sullen disposition of the AI protagonist, X. Mysteria is accompanied by a music video featuring an anime representation of X, created by Paul Andre Fortin. “The genesis of X stems from my fascination with Japanese culture, especially my experiences in Tokyo and Yokohama, alongside my deep appreciation for …

PEACE group Shannonwatch have organised what it calls “a major national mobilisation” against the US military use of Shannon Airport, which will take place this Sunday. The demonstration will call for an immediate end to the use of the airport by the American military, and it is being supported by a number of antiwar organisations and the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign. It comes on the back of a number of recent protests at the airport, one of which restricted passengers ability to use escalators in the terminal, and another which saw people go past the perimeter fencing around the runway. “We welcome the Irish government’s calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and their intervention in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel,” said Edward Horgan of Shannonwatch. “However, this means nothing if they don’t do everything in their power to cut off the supply of weapons and other support to Israel. “One of the immediate actions Ireland must take is to …