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IT wasn’t a case of their eyes deceiving them when shoppers in Ennis last Friday observed moving statues in the town’s main thoroughfare. Bringing statues to life was an innovative art project and publicity stunt by students of two local schools, Ennis Community College and Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, to promote the upcoming Winter Fashion Show and Christmas Fair being held in aid of the schools. Each ‘statue’ was played by a student, dressed in a costume made from fabric stiffened with glue and painted to create the effect of stone. Each represented a well-known figure associated with French history and culture, such as Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, Marcel Marceau, Coco Chanel, footballer Eric Cantona and the band Daft Punk. The idea arose recently during preparations for French Day at the two schools, which share one campus in Harmony Row. French teacher Brendan Carragher came up with the idea of depicting well-known French figures and the concept of the statues came from …

Cratloe’s Munster double dream may be over for this year but they have a major assignment on Sunday. With views of the rolling Cratloe Hills, the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick is the venue for the meeting of the Clare champions and their Limerick counterparts, Kilmallock, in the provincial hurling decider at 2pm. Adding to the huge interest in the game is the fact that Kilmallock are managed by Clare All-Ireland hero from 1995 and 1997, Clarecastle’s Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin. Two of O’Loughlin’s former team mates, Brian Lohan and Alan Neville, are part of the Cratloe management team. It remains to be seen if Cratloe’s defeat in the Munster football semi-final last week, when they had to play extra time, will have any impact. It’s 14 years since the provincial title last came to Clare. In 2000, Sixmilebridge defeated Mount Sion from Waterford (2-17 to 3-8), the sixth title in-a-row for the county. Sixmilebridge (1995), Wolfe Tones (1996), Clarecastle (1997) and …

Kilrush man, Judge Eugene O’Kelly has been nominated by the Government for appointment by the President to the circuit court. He is one of seven new appointees announced today (Thursday) to fill vacancies arising from a judge’s retirement, the appointment of a judge to the Court of Appeal and the appointment of five serving circuit court judges to the High Court, among them Mr Justice Caroll Moran. Judge O’Kelly, who currently presides over the Limerick District Court area, began his legal career as a solicitor in Kilrush. His practice covered all of Clare and far beyond. . Prior to his elevation to the bench, he was senior partner in the firm of O’Kelly Moylan Solicitors, with offices in Kilrush and Ennis. With wide experience in criminal law and civil litigation, he has been involved in a number of high-profile cases. In 2009 he was a solicitor to The Commission of Enquiry into the death of Gary Douch. Judge Eugene O’Kelly …

The public are being invited to have their say on the preparation of a new regional plan that will set out a framework for waste management in 10 countries 0ver the next six years. The Southern Region Waste Management Plan, which encompasses Carlow, Clare, Cork City, Cork County, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick City and County, Tipperary, Waterford City and County and Wexford, is one of three being developed in Ireland. It sets out a range of policies and actions in order to meet the specified mandatory and performance targets. The launch in Galway this week coincided with the commencement of a period of public consultation which will continue until January 30, while the regional waste management plans are expected to be finalised by the end of March 2015. “Most importantly the plan seeks to assist and support the community and local business to develop resource efficiency and waste prevention initiatives,” explained Philippa King, regional waste co-ordinator, Southern Waste Region. “A key plan target …

In the countdown to Christmas, the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal has moved online, so that those who failed to meet the deadline can now participate at the click of a button. All you have to do is go to www.teamhope.ie where you can donate a shoebox on line, decide whether you’d like your gift to be for a boy, a girl or both and Team Hope will do the rest. Niall Barry, Team Hope executive director, said, ‘Our new online shoebox is a great idea for anyone who hasn’t had the time to go shopping, can’t get out, or just never got round to it. Our team in Kenya will use the money donated to create a Christmas gift (just like the ones we do here) and give it to a needy child.”

Tourism Ireland, together with a delegation of 20 tourism enterprises, including Killaloe-based Secret Ireland Escapes, is undertaking a three-city trade and media blitz in the United States this week. The last of the 2014 Jump into Ireland (JITI) events is taking in the key cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. The Jump into Ireland schedule includes a B2B event in each city, showcasing the island of Ireland via a special travel TV show format to the influential American travel professionals in attendance. The events also include an opportunity for networking with influential travel and lifestyle media. Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s head of North America, said, “The United States is one of the most important markets for tourism to the island of Ireland and Tourism Ireland has undertaken a busy programme of promotions throughout 2014, to grow American visitor numbers. Our Jump into Ireland sales blitz to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle this week provides an excellent platform …

An 80 year old former national school principal. who “robbed his victims of their childhood” has received an 11 year sentence, with five years of it suspended at Ennis Circuit Court today, Wednesday. Patrick Barry, of Well Road, Kilkee had pleaded not guilty to charges of indecently assaulting 11 women, who were pupils of his at Moyasta National School between 1964 and 1985. Having been found guilty by a unanimous verdict by a jury last July on 59 counts of indecent assault  Barry was sentenced by Judge Gerald Keys this week. Judge Keys structured the sentence so that Barry received a year sentence on each count of indecent assault in respect of the abuse he caused to each victim. While these sentences were to be served concurrently he ordered they run consecutively to one another giving a total sentence of 11 years. Judge Keys said he would suspend five years of the sentence given the mitigating factors in the case, …

A landmark hotel in the Mid-West, the Limerick Strand Hotel, has been bought by an internationally known US investor for a figure in excess of €20m. The purchaser, Irish-American billionaire, John Malone is chairman of Liberty Global and also owns the Discovery Channel, UPC and several other global cable providers and is also the largest landowner in the US, with holdings of over 2.1m acres. The sale was confirmed in a joint statement issued by CBRE and Savills hotel groups. Built from new in 2007, the 4 star Limerick Strand, situated on the Ennis Road, overlooks the River Shannon and is a short stroll to Limerick’s main shopping area. This award winning hotel is highly regarded as an excellent base for all of Limericks major sporting events, as it is also within walking distance from the Gaelic Grounds and even closer to the world famous Thomond Park. The hotel features 184 bedrooms, several bars and restaurants, extensive conference and banqueting …