News

WHILE the sun was shining and temperatures were well over 20 degrees, the children of Ennis National School were in their classrooms on Wednesday, their summer holidays over once again. Under normal circumstances very few people, either teachers or pupils, would look forward to going back to school, but with so little time having been spent in the classroom since Covid jolted everyone out of their old routines, the late August/early September blues might be a little softer this year. Ennis National School principal Brian Troy said that while much work had to be done to get his school ready, it wasn’t nearly as severe as when reopening in 2020. “There was a lot of preparation, but it wasn’t as intense as last year with all the changes in relation to Covid-19. All of those changes are remaining in place, we’re advised by the Department to keep those going and we have all the normal stuff, there’s the maintenance of …

THE HSE and Clare County Council have this evening issued a Do Not Consume Notice for members of the Cappa Rossmanagher Group Water Scheme until further notice. Water tankers will be made available adjacent to the Railway Station, Sixmilebridge, and Crowe’s Shop, Minister’s Cross. It is advised to boil water obtained from tankers at 2 locations before consumption. A statement from Clare County Council advises that, “due to discolouration of the water caused by increased Manganese, Health Service Executive (Mid West Area) have issued a Do Not Consume Notice with immediate effect.” The statement goes on to advise “this is not a Boil Water Notice. All consumers affected by this notice must not drink their water.” Under a Do Not Consume notice, water must not be used for drinking, preparing drinks made with water, preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating, brushing of teeth and/or gargling, making of ice. Mains water may be used …

Booksellers, book launches and talks will fill every available space this weekend in Ennistymon, as the Book Town Festival takes place. The festival has proved a popular addition to the calendar locally and has developed a large following across the whole region over the last ten years. In addition to the local bookshops, Salmon Bookshop and Banner Books, booksellers such as Charlie Byrnes of Galway, Joe Collins Rare Books from Dublin and Cooney Books from Cork will set up throughout the town. Joe Heddon of the organising committee said, “We are getting a great response from book lovers who are keen to get back to events after the last 18 months and expect the shops and events to be busy over the whole weekend.” On Saturday, bookshops will open at 10am and close at 6pm; from 2pm, Salmon Poetry will be celebrating 40 years of publishing poetry and music in the Salmon Bookshop walled garden on Parliament Street, where numbers …

Group 1, Round 3 Kilmurry Ibrickane v Cratloe at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday There wasn’t even a debate surrounding the headline act for this week’s resumption of the Jack Daly race as this is not only a top-of-the-table clash and a repeat of last year’s final but more significantly a 13th championship meeting between these overly-familiar rivals in the last 12 seasons. Crucially however, holders Kilmurry Ibrickane have won the last four clashes, bookended by county final victories in 2016 and ’20. So while this Saturday’s result probably won’t hold any earth-shattering overall significance in terms of the group, there has never been any such thing as a half-blooded encounter between the pair. In typically seesaw fashion between the three group favourites, both Kilmurry Ibrickane and Cratloe have drawn with St Joseph’s Miltown so far, with the defending champions fortunate to grab a draw in the end whereas it was Cratloe that let slip their advantage last time out. It …

Clare v Armagh at Conneff Pk Clane (Kildare), Saturday 4.30pm (Alan Doheny, Laois) CLARE face a tough task on Saturday afternoon when they come up against reigning champions Armagh in the All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie semi final. The Northerners came back from conceding two first half goals against Limerick in last week’s quarter final to return to the last four stage. Ann Marie McGann, joint manager of the Clare team, is aware that Armagh will seek to bring strong physicality to the game while she is aware of the threat their captain Ciara Donnelly, who scored 13 points in last year’s All Ireland final win, will provide. “We’ve seen Armagh play. Limerick were on top in the first half against them last weekend, then they brought a sweeper which invited Armagh on. They are a very physical team so we have to match that and outwork them. Ciara Donnelly is a top class player. She was scoring from everywhere against …

THE Housing Minister has assured Clare homeowners affected by pyrite that his department make a decision on giving them access to a redress scheme “within a matter of weeks”. Speaking on an official visit to the county today (Friday, August 27), Minister Darragh O’Brien said he wanted an application by the local authority for the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme to Clare to be decided on without delay. Following a meeting in Ennis with Dr Martina Cleary and two other members of The Clare Pyrite Action Group, Minister O’Brien said: “I want to bring the submission part and the review of the submission part to a conclusion in a matter of weeks… Subject to the submission meeting the criteria that is set there, then we can move along quite quickly. It’s a serious issue for homeowners My priority is for homes, principal private residences that we can start to look at getting them remediated soon.” The minister also …

ONE of the country’s most senior police officers walked the beat in the county town last Friday afternoon (August 20), following a visit to Ennis Garda Station. Formerly the Deputy Police Chief of Toronto, Dr Shawna Coxon was appointed to the role of Deputy Commissioner of An Garda Síochána earlier this year. She is responsible for Strategy, Governance and Performance, and, alongside West Clare Native, Anne Marie McMahon, is one of two officers who hold the rank. At Ennis Garda Station, she was welcomed by Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran and Superintendent Brendan McDonagh. Dr Coxon toured the station which is Divisional Headquarters for the new Clare-Tipperary Garda Operating Model. She met frontline personnel and expressed her appreciation for the commitment and dedication shown by Gardaí, particularly during the pandemic. Deputy Commissioner Coxon also noted the imminent retirement of Superintendent McDonagh next month, and thanked him for his 40 years of service to the force, 33 of which were in the …

WITH the pandemic having caused all sorts of upheaval, suicide prevention charity Pieta has recorded a 22% increase in demand for its services, and Clare based Tom McEvoy, who is its fundraising and advocacy manager for much of the country, says the distress is being seen in this county too. “It’s affecting everywhere, demand for all our services have increased significantly, so the growth has been seen all over, including in Clare and the surrounding counties,” he said. While the overall growth in demand for one of the country’s top suicide prevention charities is disturbing, the fact that far more younger people want its help is another concern. “In July of last year 15% of our clients were 18 and under. In July just gone that figure was up to 32%. It has increased hugely. “It is a concern obviously that more people underage are reaching out, we can cope with it, but if the trend continues that way it …