News

CLARE shoppers are being advised to be aware of their rights when shopping online in the January sales. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has issued further guidance to help consumers be aware of their rights before they shop online in the sales in January. “It can be confusing to know exactly what your rights are when you are shopping in the sales. Can you return something if it doesn’t fit, if something turns out to be faulty do you have the same rights, do you have to accept a credit note? Your rights are different depending on if you buy online or in-store and with more of us than ever buying online, it’s important you know what you can expect and what you are entitled to if something goes wrong,” said a spokesperson. Here are  the CCPC’s top consumer rights tips.  Top tips for buying online: ·         Know your rights: If you are buying from a website that is based …

A CLARE woman is flavour of the month after becoming the inspiration behind a new recipe book backed by celebrity chef Darina Allen. The time-perfected desserts created by the residents of Mowlam Healthcare will be remembered forever in the ‘Nursing Home Bake Off’ publication. But the idea to gather a collection of residents’ favourite recipes from across Ireland was inspired by the trailblazing baking skills of a 91-year-old woman in Ennis Nursing Home. Ardent hurling fan and Liverpool FC supporter, Cissie Collins, bakes scones and apple cakes for fellow residents during baking demonstrations hosted by her every Wednesday. It soon became evident that there was a large group of enthusiastic bakers throughout the group – sowing the seed of a book with recipes from bygone days. Cissie is one of the 51 kitchen-savvy pensioners living in Mowlam Healthcare nursing homes across Ireland who contributed recipes ­– some dating back three generations – and features on its front cover. “I haven’t …

A FORMER Clare Person of the Year, who was instrumental in raising funds for Clare GAA, was laid to rest at the end of last month. Seán Hegarty was a native of Carhugar, Lahinch and spent over half a century working in Dublin, heading up Hegarty Demolition, one of the country’s leading civil engineering companies. A past pupil of CBS, Ennistymon, Seán won a scholarship to University College Galway (UCG) and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. In 1971, along with his wife Carmel, he established Hegarty Earthworks, a company specialising in industrial development, site development and road construction. In 1990, he founded Hegarty Demolition, in response to the huge growth in urban renewal, regeneration and conservation. When the redevelopment of Croke Park began in 1993, Hegarty Demolition was the contractor selected for the demolition of the Cusack Stand. Seats salvaged from the project were later donated by Seán to the Michael Cusack Centre in Carron. A passionate supporter …

ANYONE who picked up a EuroMillions ticket at Paper Chase in Ennis is being urged to check their numbers as they could be half a million euro richer. The National Lottery has confirmed the winning location for Tuesday night’s €500,000 EuroMillions Plus top prize win. The winning Quick Pick ticket was sold on December 29 at Paper Chase in Ennis town centre. The all-important winning numbers are: 01, 02, 06, 09 and 19. Paper Chase newsagents first opened its doors in Ennis in 1992 and owner, Sharon Casey started her career as a shop assistant when the store first opened before becoming manager and finally taking over the business in 2008. Celebrating her first big National Lottery win as the store’s owner, Sharon has now called on her customers to check their tickets to see if they have won this life-changing priz. “It’s absolutely incredible, we still cannot believe it! I got the call from the National Lottery late last night and …

GREATER reassurance around privacy of the HSE’s Tracker App is critical, a Ballyvaughan GP has said. Dr Liam Glynn, who is a professor of General Practice at the University of Limerick (UL) made his remarks after a research project, in which he was involved, revealed that 40% of app users are unconvinced of its benefits in the fight against Covid-19.D Dr Glynn, who is a member of the COVIGILANT research partnership between UL and NUI Galway, said the reopening of the economy next year would lead to an increase in risk of contracting the disease and said every tool was necessary in keeping levels of transmission to a minimum. Almost four in ten users of the HSE’s Covid Tracker App reported they are unsure of its benefit in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, researchers found. The COVIGILANT team has now called for the results of the survey to be considered when planning communications around the value of …

THE Minister of State for Local Government and Planning Peter Burke has given “a firm commitment” that the government will complete the “funding jigsaw” to develop Ennis’ historic town centre. Last year Ennis received €3.85 million in Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) support as part  of the town centre regeneration programme, which involved extensive works at Parnell Street and the network of lanes and bow-ways in the medieval heart of the town. Earlier this year Clare County Council submitted a proposal for further support under the second call of the URDF. The ambitious proposal sought funding for vital public realm works at Barrack Street, Old Barrack Street, O’Connell Square, High Street and Old Connell Street. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Joe Carey urged Minister Burke and his department “to give this key rejuvenation scheme favourable consideration”. The local Fine Gael TD said, “A number of months ago, Clare County Council lodged a further ambitious urban regeneration and development fund application to …

A SCARIFF-born scientist has taken a prestigious funding award, for the second time, and has described the funding grant as “a dream come true”. Dr Pauline Scanlan has been awarded a prestigious Royal Society-Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) University Research Fellowship, which recognises her outstanding early career achievements, competing alongside the best for her research on microbial activity in the human gut. Dr Scanlan, who went to Scariff National School and then Scarriff Community College, is a role model and ambassador for careers in STEM.  She currently participates in many educational and public engagement activities such as hosting transition year and other students in their labs, primary school visits (which happened virtually in 2020). Her public activities involve her giving career talks, acting as mentors, providing guidance to students for BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSE) projects but also through her day-to-day interactions with students, and other trainee researchers. She is a firm believer in the adage, ‘If you can’t …

THE reopening of Ryanair’s base in Shannon Airport on April 21 has been lauded as a major boost for tourism-related businesses throughout Clare, which have been very badly hit by Covid-19. Speaking to the Clare Champion in Shannon Airport, Shannon Group chief executive officer, Mary Considine said the recommencement of 14 routes from Shannon next April is a “big boost for business in the region”. “Talking to businesses, they need to get their people back out travelling in the market place once it is safe to do so. “We have seen first hand the devastation caused not only by the pandemic but the lack of international visitors into the country and the impact it has had on all these businesses. “There will be a lot of hoteliers, tourism and hospitality providers who will be relieved to see this Ryanair base is back and that we have some services next year. “As we rebuild from the devastation of the pandemic this …