News

DESPITE the impact of Covid-19, Pieta provided 1,712 hours of counselling in 2019 and 2020 in the Clare area and supported 109 local people in 2020. Pieta and Electric Ireland are now urging the people of Clare to share ‘One Sunrise Together’ on May 8 for Darkness into Light. One year on from when the country went into lockdown, Pieta’s services are in demand more than ever and they need the public’s support. Clare people are being encouraged to register at www.darknessintolight.ie to take part in a special Darkness into Light that can unite us all whilst still staying physically apart. This year, participants can walk, run, swim, hike, bike or simply share One Sunrise Together for Darkness Into Light, as organised walks are not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions. Last year when it wasn’t possible to all walk together for Darkness into Light, Pieta faced a funding crisis, but the people of Clare came together as one community and got behind the event, rising at dawn and sharing sunrise moments with others from …

THE twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe were united in mourning following the recent death of an “iconic” publican. Marie Reddan (née McMahon), Main Street, Reddan’s Bar, Killaloe, and formerly of Castleconnell, County Limerick died peacefully at her residence in the loving care of her family. Tributes have been paid to the 93 year-old, who was one of Killaloe’s best known and respected people. Councillor Tony O’Brien described the former Ahane camogie player as an “iconic figure” in the life of Killaloe. The Killaloe councillor stated Reddan’s pub is synonymous with family celebrations. “It is a place we all gather to celebrate and indeed to mourn, it is a place where our families gather for a pint when our loved ones return home. A massive part of all those family and community gatherings was Mrs Reddan. She ran a house of a thousand welcomes, a house of laughter and fun, which is known the world over. “When meeting people who …

ENNIS is to become a university town with the green light being given for a new Technological University in the Mid West and Midlands. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has designated Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology Ireland’s next technological university. LIT’s Ennis campus on Bindon Street will fall under the remit of the new institution. Announcing the designation of the new TU, Minister Harris TD said, “This is another hugely important day for higher education in Ireland and in particular for the Midlands and Mid-West regions. “The higher education landscape is rapidly evolving and the people of the Midlands and Mid-West will henceforth be at the heart both geographically and practically of that evolution. This new technological university designate will increase higher education access, provide enhanced research-led teaching and learning, drive enhanced regional development and increase opportunities for students, staff, business and enterprise, local communities and regional stakeholders, …

A CELEBRATION of the rich food culture of the fertile rock of North Clare’s limestone landscape will be the focus of this year’s Burren Slow food Festival. The virtual event which begins this Thursday, April 29, will see producers and chefs come together in a series of online pairings with events streamed online up to May 5 at 7pm and hosted by Tina O’Dwyer of The Tourism Space. Over the course of the festival, viewers will have the opportunity to see the region’s spectacular landscapes, as the events will be hosted by different members of the Burren Ecotourism network in their own home venue. Festival regular John McKenna of McKenna Guides, will set the scene with a short introduction, which will be followed by lively discussions between producers and chefs, along with food tastings. Each event will be wrapped up with traditional Irish music performed by some of the Burren’s finest local musicians. Geologist Eamon Doyle from the Burren and …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of fewer than five additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare and two additional deaths related to Covid-19 nationally. There has been a total of 4,908 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Monday, May 3, the HPSC has been notified of 383 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 250,672* confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 194 are men / 189 are women 79% are under 45 years of age The median age is 28 years old 129 in Dublin, 40 in Kildare, 32 in Meath, 25 in Donegal, 25 in Louth and the remaining 132 cases are spread across 21 other counties**. As of 8am today, 144 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 41 are in ICU. 10 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of Sunday, May 2, 1,604,644 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland: 1,159,083 …

ENNIS woman Claire O’Meara describes herself as “just a girl who fell in love with a dance and a culture”, and that love has now brought her to international acclaim. Claire is a Kizomba dance instructor, and she has just been named as the Kizomba ambassador for Ireland, joining an elite group of performers and instructors promoting the dance globally through festivals and international workshops. Claire has been dancing Afro-Latin for over 20 years after living for 10 years in Florida. She stumbled across Kizomba at a salsa dance club in Limerick and was instantly hooked. Kizomba is a dance which is native to Angola in West Africa. It is a new genre of music hailing from the late ‘70s early ‘80s influenced by Semba music and Zouk from Carribean French Antilles. Claire specialises in Angolan culture and the roots of the dance which has become a global phenomenon and is danced in all corners of the world. It is …

CONCERNS shared by the family of the late Laura Brennan about the effect Covid-19 has had on the roll-out of the HPV vaccine have been highlighted in the Seanad. Senator Martin Conway has urged the government to “think outside the box”, suggesting Covid-19 vaccination centres could be used to administer the HPV vaccine alongside drafting in pharmacists. The Fine Gael Senator recalled the “phenomenal work” that Laura Brennan did in promoting the vaccine prior to her death. “We are all fully aware of the immense challenges that have been posed by the Covid-19 pandemic but this vaccine is extremely important. It is critical to the future health of girls and boys,” he said. He continued, “The pandemic caused difficulties, particularly in the delivery of the programme within schools. It is well-recognised that giving the vaccine in schools has resulted in a significantly higher uptake. We need to think outside the box. “We have had vaccine capacity in some of the …

A WEST Clare father is taking on the challenge of running four virtual 10Ks in just one day to raise much needed funds for four children’s charities, while also paying tribute to the memory of his young son who passed away two year ago. Supported by his wife Ailish, John McMahon has undertaken to run the 40 kilometres in memory of Cormac, a little young boy who touched the hearts of all who met him. The fundraiser called “4 10Ks 4 Cormac” will take place on May 15, 2021 at 8am when John will begin the mammoth task of running the four 10Ks, four hours apart, at the West Clare Sports and Fitness Facility in Cooraclare. John, a school teacher in Cooraclare, has invited people to join him virtually on the day by doing one of the 10Ks in their own neighbourhood or favourite walking spot. He said, “This event is being held in memory of a very special little …