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NÓIRÍN Hegarty, whose late father came from Carhugar, Lahinch, and whose mother is from Miltown, has been appointed Ireland editor of The Times and The Sunday Times and will join the paper this November. She has significant experience as an editor in print and digital journalism and in leading digital transformation projects. In her role prior to this, she was vice-president digital content at Lonely Planet, spearheading its new digital strategy. She was previously editor of the now defunct The Sunday Tribune, editor of independent.ie, and deputy editor of the the Evening Herald. Ms Hegarty said: “I am delighted to get the opportunity to lead The Sunday Times and Times Ireland team at a very interesting time in the politics and current affairs of Ireland and Northern Ireland. I look forward to working with journalists I have long admired, and to joining the iconic Sunday Times and Times brand, which is globally recognised for excellent journalism.”

THE West Clare Mental Health Association is hosting a number of events to mark Mental Health Week 2021, writes Owen Ryan. On Thursday October 7 there will be a Facebook live event on The Lighthouse’s page with music and chat on The Lighthouse Page. Hosted by Marie Nolan and Breda Latham, the guests will include Paul Clegg, Edel Burke, Jessey McNamara and Marie Nolan. Then on Friday, October 8 from 7-9pm there will be Farm Connect event at Curtins Farm, in Lacken, Kilmihil, which has the Eircode V15E197. Guest speakers will be former rugby star and farmer John Hayes and George Graham, a farmer and chairman of Awareness Head to Toe, a voluntary group which promotes physical and mental health, as well as farm safety. At 11am on the morning of Saturday, October 9, there will be a guided woodland walk at the Vandeleur Walled Gardens and Woods. It will be led by botanist Eanna Ní Lamhna. Ms Ní Lamhna …

ONE of Ireland’s foremost practitioners in the field of psychology will be among the guest speakers during Mental Health Week in Ennis this month. Dr Tony Bates, who founded Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, will be the keynote speaker at one of a number of events in the county town next month. Ennis Mental Health Association has organised a varied programme of events around the town, where it aims to promote and educate on positive mental health and wellness. This year’s Mental Health Week takes place from October 7 to 13. “In bringing you this year’s programme, EMHA is truly delighted to work with such renowned experts in their respective fields,” said a spokesperson for the group. Dr Bates’ appearance is at the final event of the week, on Wednesday, October 13 in the Temple Gate Hotel at 7pm. Dr Bates was head of psychology for 30 years in St James’ hospital, Dublin and established and directed …

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Clare Community Games, Ivan Smyth spoke with Emer Considine about what the Games mean to her As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Community Games in Clare, Ivan Smyth spoke to Emer Considine about what the Games mean to her, her husband competing in the same discipline at the Games and performing for royalty Emer Considine’s passion for everything associated with the Community Games is evident when she lists off the events she competed in. Camogie, athletics, basketball, tennis, and the board game draughts are just a few events she threw her hand to as Emer admits the goal was always reaching Mosney to compete in the Community Games National Finals Her love of the Meath venue is evident throughout the interview. “Mosney was special Getting your tracksuits and staying in the chalets was unique to Mosney. “Those things really made it seem so important because for us it was. It’s where …

Reigning Harty Cup champions St Flannan’s College face a tricky first defence against Thurles CBS when the Munster Senior A Post-Primary Hurling Championship recommences after a two year gap on Wednesday, November 10th. The Ennis school, who bridged a 15 year gap in 2019, will be wary of a Thurles CBS side that were All-ireland Junior A (Under 16.5) finalists as recently as 2018. The other opening round tie of note is the All-Cork rematch of Midleton CBS and CBC Cork that the latter last won to book their place in the 2019 decider against St Flannan’s. Indeed, regardless of the result, St Flannan’s College and Thurles CBS will take on the winners and losers of that Rebel showdown for places in the quarter-finals. St Joseph’s Tulla are the other Clare representative in the flagship hurling championship, with their opener against De La Salle Waterford being a winner-takes-all tie for a direct passage into the last eight. In the Munster …

CLARE County Council is to go back to the drawing board after a number of complaints about a metal ladder installed at a very popular swimming area at Clahane in Liscannor. The busy local beauty spot has seen a big upsurge in sea swimming since the pandemic, but the installation of a steel ladder has irked a number of bathers. One of those who contacted The Champion described the structure as “medieval” and said it was causing problems for those entering and exiting the swimming area. While efforts were made by the authority to respond to swimmers’ concerns and adjust the structure, dissatisfaction reigned. “What on earth did we do to deserve the medieval addition to the ladder in Clahane, Liscannor, County Clare?” bather Margaret Hough said in an email to this newspaper. “The new ladder which was put in during the summer was causing a lot of problems for entry and exit to the swimming area. “Clare County council …

LOCAL vets have come out in support of plans for the development of a pet crematorium in Ennis which has been proposed in response to “a lack of this service” within the county and surroundings. The nearest such facility is in Kerry, with the developers of the proposal stating that the associated delay following the loss of a pet “can be very distressing” for owners. An application for planning permission has been lodged with Clare County Council for alterations to be carried out to an existing vacant unit at the Ennis Enterprise Centre in the Gort Road Industrial Estate to allow for the development of a pet crematorium for domestic pets. According to a document lodged with the planning authority on behalf of applicants Aimee and Danny Keller, there is currently no such service in the county, with only five in the Republic of Ireland. “The proposed service will be ideally suited in the mid west where there is significant …

SHANNON Group and Ennis, Limerick, Shannon and Galway Chambers of Commerce have teamed up on an initiative designed to stimulate hotel bookings and highlight the range of air services available from Shannon Airport. Their #StayAndWin campaign will see visitors who stay at a Chamber of Commerce member hotel in Clare, Limerick or Galway get a pleasant surprise during October as they will be eligible to enter a free competition to win one of four flights for two people to a choice of any of the 18 Shannon Airport destinations this winter, which includes services to six new destinations. Free airport parking is also included in the prize. Running until November 1, four winners will be selected, one from each Chamber district, Limerick, Shannon, Ennis and Galway. The idea behind the promotion is to support local hoteliers in the shoulder season and raise awareness of the exciting range of air services available from Shannon Airport. Hoteliers will benefit as it gives …