News

Árdscoil Rís in Limerick has made a huge contribution to the development of Clare and Limerick hurling over the past decade and more and the imprint of the school will be all over this Sunday’s Munster final, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh, who spoke to Ennistymon man Niall Crowe about a success story that keeps on running. When Paul Flanagan joined the staff of Árdscoil Rís a number of years ago it wasn’t long before he came across a picture montage outside the school gym that brought back a few memories. They were shots in celebration of Árdscoil’s first coming as a force in Munster Colleges hurling, even if it was at Paul Flanagan’s expense, and his Ballyea club mate’s Tony Kelly too. “We were looking at them one day,” recalls fellow teacher and Clareman Niall Crowe and Paul just pointed at one picture and said, ‘that’s me there’. Straight away you could make him out because of the distinctive red …

Mike O’Neill from Kilkee may have been involved with Na Piarsaigh in Limerick for many years but he’s a Clare hurling man to his very core – he told Joe Ó Muircheartaigh that the Banner boys will feel at home in the Gaelic Grounds because the dividing line between the two counties is the River Shannon. “Ye’re getting cocky, coming to Limerick.” “We’re the only crowd that beat ye and we beat ye in the Gaelic Grounds.” It was Wednesday of last week and this was the main business of the telephone conversation between Shane O’Neill and Mike O’Neill – a hurling son and his hurling father. And, hurling soulmates for sure – they’re even club mates as well, with both fiercely loyal to the sky blue of Na Piarsaigh in Caherdavin. But that’s where the hurling kinship ends. After that battle lines are drawn and they keep either side of the county boundaries between Clare and Limerick. Shane is …

Hikers in East Clare have been dealt a huge blow following the closure of the 12 O’Clock Hills Trails following a very significant forest fire on the Upper Hills on Thursday evening. Two residents were evacuated from their homes as a precaution on Thursday night after 8pm. This popular walking and hiking amenity is now closed until Monday due to health and safety concerns after claims the forest fires may have been started maliciously or as a result of carelessness. It is expected the 12 O’Clock Hills committee may make a further announcement pending an inspection on Friday night. Firefighters from Shannon Fire Station, Killaloe Fire Station and a Limerick City Fire Station battled the blaze on Thursday evening. It is understood Shannon Fire Station was alerted about the fire at 5.3opm and Killaloe Fire Station was tasked at around 8.55pm. The overall response involved three fire applicances and three fire vans. Personnel included four firefighters and station officer from …

AN appeal for witnesses has been made after a man in his 20s was assaulted and had his mobile phone taken by four other men in Ennis last week. The victim received minor injuries during the incident which occurred last Thursday at Dalcassian Drive. Urging witnesses to the assault to come forward, Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks outlined, “On Thursday evening last, May 25 at approximately 8.30pm four males assaulted a male in his mid-20s at Dalcassian Drive and took his mobile phone. He received minor injuries as a result of the assault. We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw this incident or anyone that may have dashcam footage to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.”

GARDAÍ seized over €100,000 of suspected cannabis and arrested one man during the course of searches conducted in the early hours of Thursday, May 25, in Ennis. The searches were conducted as part of Operation Tara targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the Clare division. At approximately 12.20am, Gardaí from the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit stopped a vehicle in the Tobarteascain area of Ennis. Approximately €100,000 of suspected cannabis was seized and an occupant of the vehicle, a man in his late 20s, was arrested. During the course of a follow-up search of a residence in the area, a further €5,000 of suspected cannabis was seized, along with a weighing scales and other drug paraphernalia. The seized drugs (totalling €105,000) will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. The arrested male is being detained at a Garda station in Clare under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. Investigations are …

AN APPEAL is being made for information on the final resting place of a 21-year-old Canadian, whose body was washed ashore at Doughmore Beach, more than 80 years ago. James Hutton, a sailor, was among 207 people who lost their lives with the sinking, off County Donegal, of the troopship, the SS Nerissa on April 30, 1941. In the weeks and months that followed, bodies were discovered along the western seaboard, as far south as Clare. The remains of James Hutton were discovered on May 27, 1941, and laid to rest the same day in Clohanes Graveyard. In the intervening years, knowledge of the exact location of his burial plot has been lost. This week, retired officers of the Canadian Navy travelled to Clare in a bid to find the grave. They are hoping that local knowledge may identify exactly where James Hutton is buried and that the grave will be formally marked.  Retired Lieutenant Commander with the Royal Canadian …

GARDAÍ have renewed an appeal for information on a missing Kildare teenager, last seen in this county. Sixteen year-old Briain Holmes is missing from Kildare town and was last seen in Clare on the afternoon of Thursday May 11. Since then, two more possible sightings have been reported in the North of the county. Briain is described as being approximately 5 foot 10 inches in height, of slim build and has fair hair and blue eyes. When last seen, he was wearing black jumper, dark black trousers and black runners. Gardaí and Briain’s family are concerned for his wellbeing. They are appealing to landowners in the North Clare area to check any sheds, outhouses, unoccupied houses or other remote buildings on their lands. Anyone with information on Briain’s whereabouts are asked to contact Kildare Garda Station on 045- 527 737, Ennistymon Garda Station on 065-707 2180, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

FORMER US President Donald Trump has arrived in Clare. While he was expected at Shannon Airport between 3pm and 5pm this afternoon, it was around 6.30pm when his aircraft touched down. He later left Shannon for Doonbeg in a motorcade consisting of approximately 20 vehicles, while a helicopter kept watch overhead. Neither Shannon nor Doonbeg saw protests of any note this evening and in fact there were a small number of Trump supporters in both areas. One woman brandishing a Trump banner outside Shannon Airport as his motorcade passed said she was thrilled to have come so close to him. “I’m absolutely delighted. I came down from Ballinrobe in Mayo, I brought the kids down, it’s a once in a lifetime experience and I wanted them to see it and feel it.” She claimed that Trump was the winner of the last US Presidential election. “Trump’s amazing isn’t he? He’s the one. Trump won!” Mr Trump is being accompanied by …