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TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has intervened in the controversy over the ending of a farming scheme designed to protect the world-famous ecosystem of the Burren. The matter was raised with by Deputy Michael McNamara who told him that farmers participating in the Burren Programme and on the Slieve Aughtys would lose out in the new ACRES scheme. In the Dáil, the Independent TD called on the Taoiseach to review plans to subsume the programme into ACRES Burren Aran.  “The new ACRES scheme will disadvantage the farmers in that [Burren] scheme as it were the farmers on the Slieve Aughtys who are in the Hen Harrier area. The standard they will have to reach is lower, but they’ll get less money.” Responding, the Taoiseach said farmers should not suffer a loss of income due to the new ACRES scheme. “I will take that up with the Minister of Agriculture, because we want more and more people engaged in environmental friendly farming. I …

SHANNONWATCH has organised a peace protest for this Sunday at 2pm against the ongoing US military use of the airport. The event takes place two days after Armistice Day which is intended to mark the end of fighting in World War I and to honour those killed in it. Shannonwatch says Sunday’s protest will draw attention to how little peace there is in the world today and how Ireland’s increasing support for militarization is escalating global instability. Armed US troops pass through Shannon on a daily basis, despite the fact that the country claims to be neutral. “What is happening at Shannon Airport is in breach of international laws on neutrality and makes the Irish people complicity in US war crimes and torture,” said Edward Horgan of Shannonwatch. The group has been protesting at the airport on the second Sunday of every month since 2008, while they say that the human and financial costs of the military movements through Sahnnon …

ENNIS-BASED online company Mama’s Boobie Box was out front and centre on display in last Friday night’s edition on the Late Late Show. The company took part in the Small Business Special, and its prominent position on the show has meant a boost for the two-year-old venture. Founder, Petrina O’Halloran has said, “Since Friday night we have being inundated with messages of goodwill and support for the business”. “We weren’t sure which spot we would get on the show, as there was nearly 100 businesses represented. We are so proud to have Mama’s Boobie Box centre on stage, it definitely lit up on set.” Mama’s Boobie Box offers the practical essentials a new mum needs for breastfeeding all packed in a gift box. Petrina, a native of Galway, now living in Ennis with her family, founded the business back in November 2020, and went live with the website in March 2021. Petrina who held a role in finance in London, …

THIS Sunday will see the launch of a World War I Memorial in the garden of Kilrush Community Centre, dedicated to all those from the town who fought in the conflict. Dr Joe Power will complete the official launch and Paddy Waldron, PRO of the Kilrush and District Historical Society said, “It’s to commemorate everyone that we know of from Kilrush who took part in the first World War. Some of these memorials are for people who died but we’re looking at everyone who took part.” Around 400 names are included in the memorial and at the time the population of Kilrush was approximately 3,000 showing how high the level of local involvement was. Explaining how the information for the memorial was obtained, Paddy said, “Mostly it is based on the work of Charles Glynn who was from Kilrush and was one of the principal recruiters for the army at the time. “At the end of the war he published …

TWO fatal road collisions, which happened within days of each other, have left the community of East Clare reeling.  The incidents, which claimed the lives of a two men, have also prompted an appeal from Gardaí for vigilance on the part of all road users, particularly in bad winter weather.  Last Saturday night, Billy Hickey, a man in his 80s died in an incident on Main Street, Mountshannon, shortly before 8pm. Warm tributes were paid by those who knew him. Senator Timmy Dooley, a Mountshannon native, extended his sympathies to Mr Hickey’s family.  “I’ve known Billy all my life,” he said. “The entire community is just shocked at his untimely passing. He was a kind and friendly gentleman and deeply rooted in the area, even though he was a native of Tipperary. “His wife is from Scariff and the community is in shock there too. His grandchildren are part of the GAA community and well known, particularly in Clare camogie. …

A GROUP of Clare firefighters have voted in favour of proposed industrial action in a dispute over pay and working conditions. While the final result of the ballot for industrial action in Clare hasn’t been made public, SIPTU Sectoral Organiser, Brendan O’Brien told the Clare Champion members in the retained fire service have voted “strongly in favour” of taking some form of industrial action. Mr O’Brien said the union hadn’t received any meaningful proposals to resolve this dispute from the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) or engagement from Clare County Council, apart from an acknowledgement letter. Having referred this matter to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) and dealt directly with employers, Mr O’Brien said the union had to ballot its members for industrial action. Despite a number of recent recruitment drives by Clare County Council, Mr O’Brien claimed they had attracted very few new applicants in some cases because the overall package is not attractive enough for new entrants. Acknowledging …

A search is due to resume this morning for a person reported to have entered the River Fergus in Ennis late last night. The alarm was raised shortly after 11pm when Gardaí observed a male at a bridge in the town centre. It’s understood the man entered the river and that Gardaí deployed life-buoys in an effort to rescue him. Despite the best efforts of Gardaí, the man was quickly taken downstream in the strong current. The River Fergus is currently quite high and fast moving following recent heavy rain in the county. A major multi-agency search and rescue operation was quickly mounted. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station were mobilised including specially trained swift water rescue technicians (SRTs). The National Ambulance Service also dispatched paramedics and a rapid response advanced paramedic unit. The Irish Coast Guard was notified and the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter was tasked. Clare Civil Defence was also requested to …

TRESPASSING on farm land across the county is generating concern, now that the season has opened for hunting.  The ICMSA is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Justice on what it has described as “the growing countrywide problem of gangs trespassing farmland on the pretext of hunting and the levels of intimidation and threat associated with this activity”. In Clare, ICMSA County Chair Martin McMahon said the problem has increased since open season begin on November 1.  “Having people with packs of dogs coming onto farm land is a very big problem,” he said. “Dogs are driving cattle mad and they’ll break through every fence to get away from them. Often, the farmer doesn’t know the cattle are out until they get a call and they could be out on the road at that stage. Farmers have to have public liability insurance in that case because there’s such a risk.” ICMSA headquarters described themselves as “deluged with complaints” …