News

A MILLIONAIRE Clare farmer has escaped a speeding conviction after disputing a garda’s “geography” of the area where he was stopped, writes Ronan Judge. At Ennis District Court last week, Judge Mary Larkin told John Joseph McCabe (84) that she was giving him the benefit of the doubt and striking out the speeding summons against him. Mr McCabe, a retired farmer with an address at Skehanagh, Clarecastle, denied the allegation that he was driving in excess of the speeding limit at Ennis Road, Clare Commons, on August 7, 2020. In evidence, Garda Darren Lynch said he recorded a Toyota Hilux driven by McCabe, allegedly at a speed of 73km in a 50km zone. The court heard a fixed charge penalty notice was issued and went unpaid. McCabe sold 48 acres of land near Clarecastle in the mid-2000s in a multi million euro deal that was the largest in Clare during the Celtic Tiger era. He is also a former local …

Sandra Lefroy speaks about their houseboat where she and her family have enjoyed many happy years on the River Shannon. IT is easy to understand why Sandra and John Lefroy consider their almost unique 1872 vintage heritage boat part of their family. Based in Killaloe for much of her life, mostly in the ownership of the Lefroy family, The Phoenix has been home, Sandra estimates, to her and husband, John at different stages for a total of over seven and a half years. Now regarded as one of the most important historical boats in Ireland, it was their full time home for 18 months from May 1971 to December ’72, and for nearly two-and-a-half years from September 1989 to December ’91. Their part-time life on board for regattas, sailing courses and other events over the past 46 years would amount to some 180 weeks, thereby adding an extra three-and-a-half years. In an interview with The Clare Champion, Sandra outlines what …

BISHOP of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, has asked parish priests and pastoral councils not to set dates for communions and confirmations in the Diocese “for the near future”. It follows confirmation, received by the organisation representing Catholic bishops, that the government’s forthcoming guidance documents will expressly advise against these ceremonies. Writing to parents, priests and schools on Wednesday, Bishop Monahan said that “in view of the letter received from the HSE last week, the strong recommendation of NPHET… and the clear advice from the Taoiseach’s Office, I believe it would be very unwise to celebrate the sacraments in the coming weeks”. The Bishop acknowledged that cancelling these important occasions will be “very inconvenient at such short notice” and he asked for “patience and understanding”, in the interests of public health and safety. The Bishop’s letter also said that: “Because of the vulnerability of the virus situation and the evolving nature of the whole process it would, in my view be best …

PROGRESSING East Clare projects, including Inis Cealtra and the Killaloe bridge and bypass, have been identified by the incoming cathaoirleach of the district as key priorities for the coming year. On Thursday last, Councillor Joe Cooney took over the role of Killaloe Municipal District chair from Councillor Pat Hayes, with both men welcoming the return of in-person meetings after long months of lockdown and remote communication. The Fine Gael member was proposed for the role by party colleague Councillor Pat Burke and seconded by Fianna Fáil’s Councillor Tony O’Brien. This is Councillor Cooney’s second term as chair, having previously held the role in 2013. “I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “I’ll be there to work with other councillors to achieve as much as we can. There are some major projects in the district, including the Killaloe bridge and bypass and Inis Cealtra. A lot achieved and we will work to achieve more. These projects will take time and …

CONNECTIONS between Mountshannon and the United States were instrumental in honouring a woman who played a central role in the success of the Allies in World War II. On Saturday last, Maureen Sweeney, who was a post office attendant at Blacksod lighthouse and post office in North Mayo, received a commemorative medal from the US House of Representatives for ‘laudable actions’ during the war. Producing hourly forecasts was a routine part of the Maureen’s duties in the post office, but the one that issued at 1am on June 3, 1944, changed the course of history. Maureen, who had just turned 21 that day, issued the fateful forecast predicting an impending Atlantic storm. The dispatch prompted General Dwight D Eisenhower to delay the planned invasion of Normandy. Maureen’s role was marked after a long process that began with a chance meeting in Mountshannon. Holidaying in Mountshannon, John J Kelly, an Irish-American, who led the design and production of modern lunar landing …

Pandemic’s effect on coastal property market evident with prices in one popular town climbing 39% since last year NEW research from Daft.ie shows the asking prices for properties in Lahinch has increased by some 39% since the start of the pandemic. Searches on the website for Lahinch properties have gone up by 49%, according to research conducted by Dr Tom Gillespie, an Environmental Economist at NUI Galway, who himself moved to the north Clare village just before the pandemic. The figures for Lahinch are included in the Daft.ie Coastal Report for 2021, which found that the prices sought for coastal properties in a number of selected areas around the country is up by an average of 23% compared to those sought prior to the pandemic. The average increase for the country as a whole is just 8.7% in the same period. In his report, Dr Gillespie stated that the increase in achieved prices is likely to be greater than those …

CLARE County Council has passed a motion calling on the Minister for Health and Department of Health to improve menopausal care, writes Owen Ryan. The motion asked that funding and support in hospitals and general care be provided for menopausal care; for a campaign to inform the public of the multiple and diverse symptoms attributable to the menopause; that all necessary resources be provided to train and upskill Irish GPs on menopause care; that HRT ‘body identicals’ be included in the drugs scheme and finally that there be communication with health insurance providers to ensure that menopausal care coverage be provided. Introducing the motion, Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy said, “Even young women can be affected by hormonal changes brought about by their medical history or surgery. “No woman can avoid this change that will come about in our lives. For our male friends, their experience is clearly indirect, be it as a result of changes they may observe in the …

FIVE Clare schools have been chosen to take part in a new programme aimed at supporting walking and cycling infrastructure for primary and post-primary schools. St Flannan’s NS, Inagh, Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg, Inis, Holy Family Junior School, Ennis, Holy Family Senior NS, Ennis, and Clonmoney National School, Newmarket-on-Fergus, were among 170 schools nationwide selected in the first round of the Safe Routes to School Programme. The scheme was announced in March of this year, with 932 schools, representing almost one in four schools in the state, expressing interest. The schools selected were assessed against a range of criteria including school type, location and the school’s commitment to sustainable travel. Clare’s Green Party Senator Róisín Garvey has said that the scheme will offer a variety of benefits. “Safer routes to school are needed outside every school in Ireland. This is something I’ve worked passionately on for years inside and outside of politics. “We know that children in schools across Clare want …