News

A KILFARBOY couple have come together with eight other ‘dyed in the wool’ sheep farmers to champion a rare Irish breed and to campaign for a fairer price for their produce. Kieran and Bernie Shannon are among the founding members of The Galway Wool Co-op, who overcame the challenges of lockdown, to champion the merits of the Galway sheep. On Saturday last (June 26), members got to meet in person at Athenry Mart, when they took part in a ‘Wool Meitheal’ and sell their wool to a major processor in Donegal. “Wool prices are shockingly low,” Bernie explained. “An awful lot of wool is now coming in from China and our aim is to get a better price for Galway wool.” The award-winning farmers have 37 sheep currently and also farm suckler cows on their 100 acres. Kieran, a fourth generation farmer, said that while breeds like the Galway sheep produce high quality snow-white wool, many buyers are no longer …

Board requests ‘significant further information’ A DECISION on a major windfarm project proposed for the slopes of Slieve Bearnagh in North East Clare will not now be made before 2022, The Champion has learned. The 19-turbine plan from Coillte is currently being assessed by An Bord Pleanála under the Strategic Infrastructure Act. The board has confirmed that it has now asked the company for significant further information on a number of aspects of the project, including its environmental impact. The initial phase for public submissions closed early last February, with the appeals board originally indicating that a decision on the windfarm might be made in June. It is understood that observations from members of the public have raised significant concerns about the visual impact of the turbines, the effects on wildlife and the landscape, as well as dissatisfaction with the local consultation process – much of which was hampered by lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings. A spokesperson for An …

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final (Extra-Time if Necessary) Clare v Tipperary at LIT Gaelic Grounds Limerick, Sunday 3.45pm (James Owens, Wexford) Strange at may seem, Clare’s faltering finish wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened on Sunday. If Clare had pummelled Waterford by 15 points which wouldn’t have been unjustified, it would have perhaps given Clare a false air of invincibility and certainly would have alerted Tipperary as to the strength of the challenge that faced them. However, Clare’s 22 wides have given Brian Lohan and Co. plenty to keep their side working on while also allowing Tipperary to view the quarter-final as a battle of two underperforming sides. It’s difficult to know if momentum from last Sunday can override any fatigue as it was a bruising high paced encounter. Having a match under their belts should be beneficial against a Tipperary side that are stepping into the unknown really after a mixed league. The most common critique of …

THE Clare chair of the Vintner’s Federation of Ireland (VFI) has described the government’s plans to restrict indoor hospitality to vaccinated people only as “a total smokescreen”. Charlie O’Meara characterised the mood of the county’s 160 VFI members as one of “annoyance, anger and frustration” at news that indoor hospitality will not now resume until July 19, at the earliest, and that unvaccinated people may be banned. The Ennis publican said he now fears for what faces the trade this winter when government supports come to an end and vintners try to restart their businesses, without the benefit of the normal summer takings. “There has been absolutely terrible treatment of our members,” he told The Champion. “There’s been no respect whatsoever and the government would have been happy enough, once again, to leave this issue to the eleventh hour, but for the fact that the VFI in Dublin put pressure on them to make a decision. It’s just not good …

CLARE national school students have been making their voices heard as part of a new radio project. The third class students of Ennis National School and fifth and sixth classes of Broadford and Kilbane National School have created their very own podcasts which are now available to stream. In partnership with the Clare Arts Office and Creative Ireland, Glaoch! is a commissioned recording project that aims at amplifying the voices of national school children in Clare. Artist/producer John Lillis was invited to work with national schools in Clare to develop the two unique podcasts which were created, directed and presented by primary school students. John explained, “In our current social climate of restricted movement and distanced interactions, our dependence on each other and our ability to communicate lies at the core of our wellbeing. “Listening remains one of the more potent skills available to us. Our ears do a lot of the work, but the rest lies in our imagination. …

CLARE have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s Munster Hurling Championship semi final against Tipperary. Manager Brain Lohan told The Clare Champion that forward Shane O’Donnell is still out but is “making progress” in his recovery from a concussion sustained prior to the league game against Kilkenny. Other than that Lohan is expected to be able to call on the same panel of players that won impressively against Waterford on Sunday. That includes talisman Tony Kelly who was again outstanding against Waterford. The Ballyea sharpshooter appeared to go pull up in the game’s final minutes but Lohan says Kelly is fit and ready to go against Tipp. On the factors behind last week’s impressive victory, Lohan pointed to the players’ pre-match mentality and desire make a statement early on. “I suppose we arrived to the ground with a good level of intensity, a good level of hunger, among the players and that was reflected out on the field. “They …

ENNISTYMON and Lahinch are to feature among the case studies of an inter-university study on the impacts of pre and post-Covid commuting on people and places. The InPLACE: Investigating Place, Planning and Commuting two-year research programme has been launched by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD). According to the team behind the study, the findings will have significance for a range of public policies, many of which are within the remit of local authorities, and all of which directly influence local communities. Issue such as health, housing, environment, community development, social policy, transportation and spatial planning would all be affected. The InPLACE study represents a unique research collaboration between Maynooth University, Ulster University, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, University College Dublin, and the University of Maryland in the US. The study team is headed by Professor Des McCafferty of Mary Immaculate College. Local level data are currently being collected by Brendan O’Keeffe of O’Keeffe Social Research. Brendan has been on the ground in …

LUCKY teachers and pupils in a West Limerick national school were left licking their lips after eating home made brown bread and marmalade made in West Clare. Children in Gerald Griffin National School, Loughill were thrilled to receive home made baking from Geraldine Moloney of Killofin House, Labasheeda, as part of the “Gift Cargo Boxes” that were exchanged by the renowned Ilen ship from communities on both sides of the Shannon Estuary. Gift boxes included loose tea and sugar from Kildysart and grain, seaweed and lace from Kilrush town and a Gandelaw anchor from Clarecastle along with a variety of gifts from Labasheeda and horseshoes from Ballynanally. Skippered by Gary McMahon, the Ilen sailed between Cappa, Foynes, Limerick City, Labasheeda, Ballynacally, Clarecastle, Glin and Kilrush. It is believed the Ilen is one of the only surviving ocean-going ship in Ireland from the age of sail. Limerick City was also represented with hampers from Treaty City Beers, The Milk Thistle Café …