News

ENNIS’ St Columba’s Church will be showcased to the nation on television this weekend. The West Clare Church of Ireland Parishes of St Columba’s Ennis with Christ Church Spanish Point and Kilnasoolagh will be featured in the RTÉ One Sunday Service on September 5. The programme was recorded partly in the RTÉ studios with the numbers restricted to 10 because of social distancing. The Rector, Revd Kevin O’Brien, also filmed part of the programme in the parishes featuring local musicians performing in St Columba’s making a total of 28 parishioners taking part in Dublin or from their homes or the church. Revd Kevin also included footage of the beautiful West Clare scenery found in his parishes. Revd Kevin has been honing his video skills during the pandemic and each week posts services and reflections on the parish website www.clareanglicans.ie

Ballyvaughan  hotel facing short-term closure due to staff shortages THE Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) should be dramatically scaled back and only paid to employees whose businesses can’t operate, according to a well known hotelier. Woodstock Hotel manager, Sean Lally has called on the government to operate a more targeted PUP support for those who can’t work in view of the chronic staff shortages facing the hospitality and other industries. His appeal coincides with the revelation Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, will have to close for ten days in September and five in October, because it hasn’t enough staff to operate its business. Staff shortages in the hospitality sector in the Burren could hamper Autumn bookings, following one of the busiest summers in the region in recent years in terms of Irish visitors. Hotels and self-catering accommodation providers have reported bookings are up on last year, due to a combination of recent fine weather and the desire to holiday at home due …

More family-friendly policies needed to encourage women into politics, says Violet Anne Wynne CLARE’S Sinn Féin TD has revealed that she is expecting her sixth child and is due to give birth in February. Deputy Violet Anne Wynne said the news came as a pleasant surprise to herself and her family, and underlined the need for more family-friendly policies to encourage other women to enter politics. In February 2020, the Psychology graduate was elected after securing just over 15% of first preference votes. The first SF TD elected in Clare since 1922, Deputy Wynne is the third female deputy to represent the constituency since the foundation of the State. The Offaly native will make electoral history again next spring and is determined to prove that motherhood and a busy public role are compatible. “We saw Minister Helen McEntee this year, the first Cabinet member to take maternity leave while in office,” Deputy Wynne noted. “Oireachtas members, in general, are excluded …

Revenge is a dish best served cold when a title is on the line and Lissycasey used the Under 15A final defeat as a motivator to take the Féile A title at the expense of the county final conquerors St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in perfect conditions in Clareabbey on Saturday morning. The rerouting of Darragh Culligan who was nursing a slight injury, to deep into the Barefield backs did wonders for their challenge as it took the challenge directly to their opponents. The game was in its infancy when the talented Culligan skated through the Barefield defence and notched up the game’s only goal. Diarmuid McMahon who was to the fore for the winners throughout added a well taken score in the 3rd minute before Culligan stretched his sides lead to five points as Barefield had yet to raise a flag. This was remedied following a rare upfield foray by St Joseph’s that ended with Oige Fanning converting a free before …

Senior Hurling Championship Round 2 Group 1 Inagh-Kilnamona v Clonlara at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2.45pm A ‘Group of Death’ Super Sunday commences with the tie of the entire round as one perfect record has to fall between Inagh-Kilnamona and Clonlara. Originally pencilled in for a fortnight ago, the switch of Round 2 and 3 at Clonlara’s request gave Inagh-Kilnamona the opportunity to build further momentum by adding the scalp of O’Callaghan’s Mills to neighbours Kilmaley. Of course, Clonlara also overcame the Mills in their opening bout but considering the performances of both sides so far, it’s not overstating it to suggest that neither Inagh-Kilnamona or Clonlara are the finished article quite yet. Considering their strength-in-depth, attacking flair and inter-county experience, unfulfilled potential has been a nouse around their necks over the past decade. Inagh-Kilnamona have certainly benefitted from their two outings, with incremental improvements displayed against the Mills, even if they still have a tendency to leave their opponents …

FIRE crews have dealt with a fire at an ESB sub-station on the outskirts of Ennis this afternoon, reports Pat Flynn. An explosion and fire were reported at the building in the Doora Industrial Estate at around 1.30pm. Workers reported hearing a large bang and seeing smoke billowing from the concrete structure. Two units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station responded to the incident along with Gardaí. On arrival, firefighters could see thick smoke being emitted from the building above its metal doors where a gap is believed to have been created by the explosion. Firefighters were however unable to open the doors and tackle the blaze until ESB Networks engineers were contacted and arrived at the scene. ESB crews also had to disconnect power from the local area before firefighters could safely approach the building. When cleared to do so, fire service personnel wearing breathing apparatus were able to unlock the metal doors and begin …

Bethan Eustace from Lissycasey will be awaiting her Leaving Certificate results on Friday, alongside just over 50,000 other Irish students. The 19-year-old chose to have her grade awarded to her through her results throughout the year, an option given to the class of 2021 earlier this year. Bethan completed the Leaving Cert cycle with the subjects English, Irish, Maths, Geography, Technology, History and German, and cited Technology as the subject she was most confident in. Bethan said, “I had been doing Technology since first year and enjoyed the subject. I don’t think many schools have it, but I have seven years of it done now. “In first year, I had always hoped to do something with technology in college, but I’ve now decided I hope to go into social care in September.” This will involve Bethan taking on a four-year course in Early Childhood Education and Care, hosted by the Limerick Institute of Technology; something she is currently nervous about, …

A beautiful evening cruise to the Cliffs of Moher and skirting the Aran Islands will take place on Friday evening, September 10, on board the O’Brien Family Doolin Express passenger boat. The cruise, which is a fundraiser for the RNLI lifeboats, will begin at 5pm on the pier in Doolin with a sparkling wine reception as well as fresh, locally grown strawberries and fruit. Boarding for the cruise will be at 6pm where there will be good food and drinks on board as well as music. The cruise leaves for the Cliffs of Moher at 6.15pm and out to Inisheer to view the beauty of the Island from the sea and then sailing back to take in a view of the Burren’s rugged landscape. It is hoped to be back on the pier by 8.30pm approximately. Tickets are €50 each and can be booked from Joe on 087 6260301 or email joequeally@yahoo.com. The cruise had to be called off last …