News

CLARE Cancer Support Centre has launched a men’s health initiative to provide specialist physiotherapy treatment for cancer patients. It is believed the Clare Cancer Support Centre is one of the first charitable organisations to provide this specialist service to local male cancer patients. According to a recent medical study, men who complete five full weeks of specific exercises before pelvic surgery have less incontinence and better sexual function after surgery. In line with international men’s health week, Sláinte an Chláir and local physiotherapy practice, YOUtherapies are linking up to provide Clare men with support around rehabilitation from prostate cancer. During the week, Clare men are asked to make the connections, check in, check up and check it out to safeguard their health. Chartered physiotherapist, Aideen Farrell, told the Clare Champion the centre believes there is a gap in the rehabilitation that Clare men receive after prostate, pelvic and colorectal cancer surgery. Ms Farrell explained after surgery men are usually offered …

THE lives of two of Ennis’ best known figures are to be remembered in the county capital this Wednesday evening, June 23. A memorial plaque will be unveiled at 6.30pm at the Queen’s Hotel dedicated to the late Laura Brennan. While at 7.15pm, the late Michael Tierney and his dog Paddy will be remembered opposite Ennis Cathedral with a plaque dedicated in their memory. Unveiling the plaques will be Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor Mary Howard in one of her last functions in the role. “For many years I have tried to have something permanent in the town of Ennis to remember the larger than life character that was the late Michael Tierney. Last June when I became Mayor of Clare I promised that both Michael and Laura Brennan would have a permanent presence in the town, my term is finished on Friday,” she said. All are welcome to attend, with plans underway for an event to be held …

A NEW funding stream has opened up to give Ennis town centre properties a facelift and maybe encourage a few ‘Insta’ moments. Councillors have committed money from their general municipal allocations (GMA) to fund painting, gutter cleaning and repairs to properties adjoining the public realm works on Parnell Street. A fresh look and facelift will hopefully result in some pretty Instagram pictures, according to Councillor Mary Howard, as Ennis looks to attract more visitors over the coming weeks and months. Properties adjoining the Parnell Street works are to benefit from the additional funds from local councillors’ GMA in a move described as “fantastic” by the Mayor of Ennis. Ennis Municipal District councillors agreed to allocate a further €8,000 from their GMA towards the painting, gutter cleaning and repair scheme of the properties. This additional allocation, in conjunction with the €10,000 available for the Ennis Municipal District area under the Community Support Scheme (Town/Village Paint works), will be ring-fenced for this …

MEMBERS of the public are being urged to have their say on plans for the transformation of Ennis town centre, writes Jessica Quinn. An online consultation clinic hosted by the project team will be open to all this Thursday, while details of the plans have also been put on display at the offices of Ennis Chamber. Clare County Council was recently approved for funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund for a public realm enhancement project for O’Connell Square, Bank Place, O’Connell Street, High Street, Old Barrack Street and Barrack Square. Part 8 planning permission was granted for the O’Connell Square, Bank Place, High Street, Old Barrack Street and Barrack Square element. The Council is now developing proposals for the O’Connell Street element, with modifications for Barrack Street, and is seeking people’s input on the preliminary design for the project with a view to informing the detailed design process. The Project Team, comprising Tom McNamara & Partners and Nicholas …

THE sprint for this year’s Cusack Cup is still wide open following the weekend’s action as half of the contenders are locked together at the summit of the table, reports Eoin Brennan. Without their county contingents, there have been some erratic results thus far but fundamentally no perfect record remains in the top flight after two rounds. An eagerly-anticipated derby clash of opening round victors St Josephs Miltown and Ennistymon perhaps failed to live up to its heightened billing but still possessed a compelling finale. Following a toothless first half in which the sides struggled to trouble the umpires too often, Ennistymon appeared to snatch the whip hand on the restart and turned a 0-3 to 0-2 half-time deficit into a two point lead entering the final quarter. However, as the clock ticked inexorably down, a Darragh McDonagh solo goal dramatically nudged the home side in front only to see it wiped out in the next passage of play when …

BROADFORD Post Office was just one of four nationwide that closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, it emerged this week. Deputy Cathal Crowe has called on An Post to review this branch closure after representatives from An Post appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications recently. Deputy Crowe disputed claims the post office was closed due to Covid-19 or contractual changes. “When I asked about the reasons behind the closure, a number of policies were laid out to me – distance between branches, size of communities and so on. This, however, is not the reasoning behind Broadford’s case,” said Deputy Crowe. “There had been a commitment to keep Broadford open and only for personal reasons necessitating the postmaster’s retirement, this branch would be open today. “So it is incorrect to say that Broadford’s closure has been a result of Covid-19 or contractual changes or so on. “I believe there is cherry picking going on here and I don’t …

FEAKLE and Clonlara have set the early pace in the Clare Cup following the completion of back-to-back victories over the weekend, reports Eoin Brennan. 2016 champions Clonlara, a week on from overcoming last finalists Inagh-Kilnamona, managed to add the scalp of their nearest neighbours and reigning champions Kilmaley on home soil on Sunday afternoon. Leading from start to finish, a fortunate Dylan McMahon goal from distance provided the clear daylight that Clonlara needed to build up a nine point half-time advantage. And with Cian Moriarty excelling around the centre, that six point cushion would be maintained into the final quarter. Kilmaley inevitably rallied predominantly through Daire Keane and Mikey O’Malley. However, three points was as close as the visitors would come to Clonlara who deservedly held on for a 1-16 to 0-15 win. The previous evening, a strong finish to both halves saw Feakle lower home side Crusheen by 1-18 to 1-14 in another first round winners clash. Having been …

A mum at 17 just after her Leaving Cert, Rachel O’Connor spoke to Owen Ryan about her journey and featuring in a documentary on single mothers NEARLY everyone who does the Leaving Cert finds it stressful, but there are different levels of stress. Rachel O’Connor did her Leaving Cert six years ago. At the tender age of 17 she was eight months pregnant, and as stressful as that on its own would have been, it was even more difficult as she had kept her situation to herself. Other students would have felt they had plenty on their plate with theorems, formulas, French and Irish grammar, Rachel had all of that on her mind, along with the fact that she was on the brink of becoming a mother, while still a child herself. Her daughter Ella will turn six in a few weeks, and since her birth Rachel has gone on to get a degree from Mary Immaculate College and is …