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THE indelible mark left by the late Joss Lowry on sporting and community groups in Killaloe and Ballina has been acknowledged this week. The former Coillte forester from Killestry, Killaloe, died peacefully surrounded by his devoted family in the tender care of the staff of Milford Care Centre towards the end of last month. The 75-year-old’s legacy included decades of voluntary work to a plethora of groups including Clarisford Park Committee, Killaloe Ballina RFC, Killaloe-Ballina Tennis Club, Smith O’Brien’s GAA and Camogie Club as well as fundraising for Milford Hospice in Limerick. Leading the tributes, Clare County Council chairman, Tony O’Brien recalled Joss was a very proactive community activist who immediately immersed himself in community activities when he came to Killaloe in 1980. Councillor O’Brien said Joss quickly joined Killaloe Ballina RFC where he volunteered as a staunch member. “Joss initially started playing rugby and then got involved in the committee at officer level. “He went on to become the …

LATE November and December is the peak book-selling time, and the author of a new major Irish political biography was in Ennis last week. Former TD Shane Ross came to town to sign copies of Mary Lou McDonald – A Republican Riddle, which grapples with an intriguing but often unasked question: how did a private school and Trinity College-educated South Dublin woman become leader of Sinn Féin of all parties? There are other questions, such as why Mary Lou wasn’t active at all in politics until her late twenties? Even when she joined a party it was Fianna Fáil; where was her commitment to republicanism? And, perhaps most worryingly in many people’s eyes, to what extent is she really the leader or are ‘shadowy figures’ in West Belfast in control of the party that won most first preference votes in the last General Election? Of particular Clare interest is the experience of Violet Anne Wynne, who Ross spoke to in …

TOM O’Callaghan, set to become the county’s newest Fianna Fáil councillor, has vowed to do what he can to help the Clare community, recalling the support his own family received when struck by tragedy. The postmaster was chosen by Fianna Fáil party members at a selection convention in Hotel Woodstock on Sunday evening. He will fill the role on the Ennis Municipal District vacant after former councillor Mark Nestor left to join the priesthood. Mr O’Callaghan, who is from Kildysart but is based in Clarecastle, secured 48 votes at the convention and was declared victorious on the first count. He will be formally ratified as a member of the local authority at the December meeting of Clare County Council. He told The Clare Champion that on the night of the election, thoughts turned to his sister Yvonne who sadly lost her life 20 years ago in a horse-riding accident. “It was very devastating, a very tough time for my family. …

THE IDA hosted 28 in-person and remote visits to Limerick for the first six months of this year compared to 12 in Clare, new figures have revealed. Deputy Michael McNamara recently asked the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to break down the number of site visits hosted by the IDA in counties Galway, Clare and Limerick this year. A new survey has also found the total employment in IDA supported industries increased by 13.9% in the Mid-West compared to 15.2% in Dublin and 63% in the South East from 2012 to 2021. What was also worrying was the Mid-West recorded one of the lowest increases in employment in IDA firms of just 2.6% from 2020 to 2021. This was in contrast to the South-West, which enjoyed a hike of 10.8%, the Mid-East 8.4%, the South-East 4% and Dublin 5.3%. Acknowledging the disparity between the number of IDA visits in Clare and Limerick, Deputy McNamara pointed out there has been a number of …

ORANGE shoes were placed around a monument in Ennis as part of a national campaign calling for the elimination of violence against women. Soroptimist Ennis & District recently painted 80 pairs of shoes to acknowledge women and children who have been killed through domestic or gender violence. The shoes were placed around a monument in Ennis’ Peace Park which marks the centenary of the foundation of Soroptimist International. November 25 marked the UN International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, ending on December 10 (Human Rights Day). During this time, Soroptimists across Ireland are taking action and calling for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Eadaoin Lawlor, President of Soroptimist International Ireland, comments, “In Ireland, violence against women is a significant issue that has worsened since the pandemic. We have seen 244 women murdered since 1996 (Women’s Aid, 2022), and 87% of these women were killed by …

THE highest honour an adult can receive in scouting in Ireland has been presented to Clare’s Fiona Staunton. Fiona, who has been involved in scouting for over 40 years, has received the Order of Cú Chulainn award in recognition of her dedication to scouting in Ennis over the decades. She was nominated by the 1st and 4th Clare Scouts, whose citation outlined Fiona’s life in scouting from beginning in 1982 with then Scoutmaster Bernie Dilger through the many roles she has undertaken. “It’s very hard to measure, nearly impossible, the impact Fiona has had on scouting in Ennis Scout Group, in Clare Scout County and at national level,” it stated. “Fiona has been a guiding light and steady hand when needed through good times and bad.” She has been group leader, chairperson of the group committee, served two terms as County Commissioner and was instrumental in setting up the Clare County campsite in Ruan. She taught several teams for the …

THE MEDIATION process employed by the Irish Coast Guard to try to resolve differences in Doolin Coast Guard last year was only a “box ticking exercise”, a former volunteer has alleged. Bernard Lucas, who spent 20 years volunteering with Doolin Coast Guard, claimed things could have been done differently during the mediation process. “Mediation by its definition is ongoing and could take weeks or two or three months,” Mr Lucas told The Clare Champion. After an extensive process, you might come to the conclusion this isn’t working and we need to rejig it. But how can you do that after after spending 90 minutes apiece with two groups with the six that resigned and the 12 that were left for a total of about three hours? “I was very disappointed with the mediation process,” he said. According to an IRG document, the mediator Kieran Mulvey is a well-respected national mediator and is the former Director General of the Workplace Relations …

CLARE HAVEN Services has launched four “powerful hard hitting” poems on a short video as part of the annual 16 Days of Action on Violence Against Women campaign. Den of Iniquity: Behind Closed Doors – Poetry on Film, is a collective of four short videos created by Paul Corey using the words of Feakle-based domestic abuse survivor, Liz Pouch, which were recited on camera by Ennistymon actor, Jacinta Sheeran. This novel media production was unveiled by Clare Haven manager, Dr Siobhán O’Connor who welcomed the participants for what proved to be an emotionally charged session on Friday afternoon in their educational and administration building. “It is a raw and gritty testimony of living through the horrors of abuse as both an adult and child. The films use the incredible acting skill of Jacinta Sheeran, who gave powerful recitations of the poems cutting to the heart of the pain and torment of the domestic abuse experience. The films can be viewed …