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Adult competitive club action could return as early as Monday, June 7 according to the proposed Clare GAA Club Masters Fixtures Programme for 2021 that was issued to the clubs on Tuesday. Scheduled for ratification at the re-convened May meeting of the county board next Monday evening, the draft plan sets out a condensed Football and Hurling League structure over June and July before the County Championships commence in August and conclude with both the senior hurling and football finals on the first weekend in November. Comprised of Martin Hehir (Ballyea/Clondegad), Tony O’Donnell (Crusheen), Paraic Boland (Broadford), Tom Duggan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), David O’Brien (St Joseph’s Miltown) and Colm Browne (Kilrush Shamrocks), the Masters Fixtures Committee, in their accompanying notes, outlined their reasoning for their scheduled calendar. “We have approached the 2021 Masters Fixtures Schedule with a mindset of getting clubs back playing games after the long layoff since Autumn 2020 and this is very much the focus with the …

Clouna pupils treated to display of sheep shearing as part of their Story Of Wool project for Cruinniú na nÓg THE creative work of children in a North Clare national school will be showcased as part of an exhibition for Cruinniú na nÓg on June 12, subject to Covid-19 guidelines. Scoil Cholmcille, Clouna has been a hive of activity and imagination in recent weeks as the children were introduced to The Story of Wool, first from a heritage perspective, including where the wool comes from, how it is carded, dyed and spun. They learned how wool takes on various forms moving on to the various uses such as felting, knitting and crochet. Students discovered how felt is made through the process of bonding wool fibres together and have designed and made their own pieces of felt, using the wet felting method, which they have used to make a pencil case. They are currently in the final phase of the project …

With a first competitive outing as Clare Ladies’ Football Manager inexorably drawing closer, there is an understandable excitement and anticipation in Evan Talty’s voice ahead of a welcome Cusack Park National League showdown with Wexford this Sunday (2pm). A nine time County Senior Football champion with his native Kilmurry Ibrickane, Talty is more than comfortable in Clare headquarters and is also familiar with the Clare ladies football camp after answering the call from his cousin James Murrihy to get involved in the backroom team twelve months previously. Three lockdowns later and the hectic existence of an inter-county manager has suddenly hit home for Talty after an admittedly comfortable initial transition period. “I suppose I thought this inter-county management craic was very easy there as for the first couple of months [during lockdown] as I was saying ‘Jesus I don’t have to do anything.’ Joked Talty. “But I’ll tell you one thing, I’m really get a dose of reality now in …

RESIDENTS of a Clare Direct Provision centre have been moved to Dublin following the detection of cases of Covid-19. All 36 residents have left Clare Lodge in Ennis after some of them tested positive. They have been brought to the capital where they will be accommodated in individual rooms to prevent the spread of Covid-19. According to a source, some staff members have also contracted the virus. Co-ordinator of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre Orla Ní Éilí told The Champion she is aware of the movement of the residents from the centre run by Bridgestock Care Ltd and believes this was the “correct practice” to ensure people’s safety. She said the decision to remove the residents from the centre was taken in the interests of public health. “It was decided for everybody’s sake to move everyone to a designated centre in Dublin where people will have their own rooms for the couple of weeks to get over Covid if they …

CLARE’s Oireachtas members need to address deficits in services for people who have suffered from various forms of abuse as highlighted by South Galway mother-of-three Sourney Linnane. That’s according to Clare Haven manager, Dr Siobhan O’Connor, who stressed it is vital that the voices of women who suffered from coercive control and other forms of domestic abuse must be heard and addressed in the formation of a new updated national strategy on domestic sexual and gender based violence in Ireland. Dr O’Connor acknowledged there was a huge increase in domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic, which was addressed with additional funding for Clare Haven from Tusla, Clare County Council and the Department of Community and Rural Development. There was a 21% in the demand for the service across the board, the Clare Haven helpline numbers went up by 24% and the numbers using their refuge increased by more than 20% from December 2019 to December 2020. “20% more women and …

IN a statement this morning, Aldi has said it will appeal against Clare County Council’s decision to refuse its application for planning permission for a new store in Shannon. It expressed disappointment that it had not got the green light. “We are naturally disappointed with Clare County Council’s decision concerning our proposed new Shannon store.” “Our revised plans for the new store feature several facilities that will benefit the wider Shannon community, including a dedicated connection to the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists, the addition of a two storey café or restaurant unit with associated external terrace area and free-to-use electric vehicle charging points.” It vowed to appeal and said the development would be good for Shannon. “We are committed to bringing our fantastic prices, value and greater choice to shoppers in Shannon and will be appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanala.” “The environmentally friendly store will bring considerable investment to the town, creating 25 new permanent jobs, …

STUDENTS in Ennis are making their voices heard about the effect Covid-19 has had on their lives as part of a poetry initiative. Coláiste Muire recently awarded prizes to staff and students who had taken part in a poetry competition around the theme of Covid-19 organised by the school’s guidance counsellor Fiona Christie. She explained the endeavour was organised as part of her role in supporting the well being of students at the school. The prize giving event was held virtually as celebrations took place across the country for Poetry Day Ireland. “This cross curricular guidance counselling/wellbeing/English initiative was run across the whole school and the response was just overwhelming from both students and staff,” she said. “The aim of this was to capture the student voice around Covid, the student voice is very important. “By inviting students to pen a poem, I hoped they would share their experiences with us so that their voices could be heard. And it …

GRANTING a licence allowing Irish Cement to burn waste material instead of fossil fuels at its Castlemungret plant has been condemned as a “retrograde decision” by Deputy Cathal Crowe. The Environmental Protection Agency has given Irish Cement the green light to proceed with its €10 million plan to change its production process. In 2018, An Bord Pleanala granted the go-ahead to Irish Cement to construct the buildings, which would be used for the storage of the materials and the granting of a licence was a major boost for the company plans. This development, which supports 105 full time positions at the factory, has been opposed by a number of local environmental campaigners, Deputy Cathal Crowe and anti-incineration lobby group Limerick Against Pollution (LAP). Irish Cement has previously stated it is no plans to construct an incinerator and noted using alternative fuels is safe and has been standard practice in cement factories throughout Europe for 30 years. It has claimed extensive …