News

NORTH Clare artist, Michael Hanrahan has been invited again to Buckingham Palace to deliver his painting, entitled The Horse-Drawn Carriage At Windsor. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth gave Michael permission to paint various scenes from the historic visit of Irish President, Michael D Higgins to the United Kingdom last April. She also said she wished to see the work on completion. She has now written to the artist, accepting Michael’s gift of this painting. The painting depicts the Australian State carriage as it made its way to Windsor Castle, carrying the Queen and President Higgins. Michael will deliver the painting to Buckingham Palace at 12.30pm on Monday, October 6. This is the artist’s second visit to the palace, having presented a further painting, entitled The Queen at the Garden of Remembrance. This painting followed Queen Elizabeth’s historic visit to Ireland in 2011. Michael was the only artist accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs to capture this visit on canvas. The …

Shannon author and broadcaster, Rachael English’s second novel, Each and Every One, has just hit the bookshops. Rachael’s voice is among the most well-known in the country, as she presents Morning Ireland, and has more than 20 years’ experience on RTÉ Radio, after starting out on Clare FM, when Irish local radio was launched in 1989. Her first novel, Going Back, was quite well received on its release last year, but her nerves were still jangling last week, as she prepares to see how readers and critics react to the latest novel. Even presenting a radio show to hundreds of thousands of listeners isn’t adequate preparation, she said. “I’d love to be one of those people who doesn’t get nervous about these things but I do get far more nervous about book things than I have ever done about anything to do with broadcasting. It’s mad.” She said she feels like people will almost be passing judgement on a part …

By Seamus Hayes Clare 2-20 Wexford 3-11 Nobody said it was going to be easy and it certainly wasn’t but the sheer brilliance and class of Clare saw them create history and win a third successive All-Ireland under 21 hurling title at Semple stadium in Thurles on Saturday evening. The defending champions and competition favourites were made fight every inch of the way by a Wexford that never gave up but each time the threatened to hit the front, Clare stepped up a gear and none more so that Colm Galvin and Tony Kelly who fired over some magnificent points in the closing minutes. Two Wexford goals in as many minutes inside the final ten, had the big Wexford following in full voice but Clare captain Kelly and Colm Galvin replied with some outstanding points to seal a truly wonderful win, Clare’s fourth in six years at this level Wexford made their intentions clear from the throw in and immediately …

CLARE County Council is still waiting to find out how much, if any, funding will be provided for repairs to infrastructure damaged in the February storm. Most of the damage from both the January and February storms occurred in the West Clare Municipal District but more than seven months on, the council is none the wiser on how much money it will receive from Government. At the recent district meeting, Councillor Michael Hillery asked when repairs to Spanish Point beach would be completed, following the January/February storms. Tom Tiernan, Clare County Council’s senior engineer responsible for transportation, responded in writing outlining the work completed in Spanish Point to date. He said decking and access steps were rebuilt and some retaining walls were constructed. Footpath and bridge works were carried out and replacement of railings is continuing. “Outstanding works include kerbing and other relatively minor concrete works, fencing and more than 100m of retaining wall. The retaining wall is the single largest …

THE West Clare Municipal Authority is to meet with Kilrush Chamber of Commerce because the town “needs to be pushed on” according to a local representative. Councillor Bill Chambers requested that a meeting be set up with the chamber and “any other interested parties, with the view of promoting Kilrush as an industrial, commercial and tourism centre”. At the recent West Clare Area meeting, Councillor Chambers claimed, “This was a very active town until 30 years ago. There was lots of employment….it is backwards we have gone.” The Fianna Fáil councillor said he believed the town was missing out on tourism business, particularly from the Killimer ferry, because of the lack of a hotel in the town. “This town badly needs a lift and, if Kilrush is going well, then the whole area is going well,” he said. Responding to the councillor’s request, meetings administrator in the municipal district, John Corry said he would arrange the meeting, if councillors agreed. …

THE recent boycott of Israeli goods by Kinvara businesses has been a catalyst for change elsewhere and was a welcome show of solidarity with the people of Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Ahmad Abdelrazek. His Excellency Mr Abdelrazek was in the South Galway village with his wife, Rania Abdullah, on Friday to acknowledge the collective action taken by the pharmacy, retailers, restaurants, cafés and salons there, in response to the bombardment of Gaza last month. The boycott was the brainchild of John Griffin, Frank Naughton and Vicky Donnelly, who guided the couple around the village during their short visit, introducing them to business people and members of the community. His Excellency Mr Abdelrazek was welcomed by those who met him and even gave an impromptu address to the busy Kinvara Farmers’ Market. In an interview with The Clare Champion, the ambassador stated that people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were aware of the move …

Clare Fianna Fáil councillors are up in arms over the distribution of the Local Property Tax (LPT), following claims that €5.6 million will be used to “bail out” other “inefficient” local authorities. Councillors have criticised the transfer of over €2m from Clare County Council’s 2015 LPT allocation of €10.406m to the national equalisation fund, which, in turn, will be distributed to local authorities who don’t have a high yield from this tax. The council was urged by Councillor Cathal Crowe to consider taking a legal challenge against the proposed redistribution of another €3.597m, to self-fund local housing and roads services, at a meeting this week. Councillor Crowe felt it was important the council took a stand if the Government continue to implement its proposed “unfair distribution”, which he claimed penalises the council for being “the best in the class”, while other authorities had adopted a more “casual approach”. The political row over where the proceeds of the LPT will be …

THE Miles of Memories charity walk, which will take place in the Burren next month, was officially launched by musician Chris Droney this week. The walk will take place on the Caher Way on Sunday, October 12 at 1pm and is an important fundraiser for Cuimhneamh an Chláir, the Clare oral history and folklore group. The organisation has amassed a significant archive since it was established in 2009, with over 540 of Clare’s most elderly citizens recorded. The walk will include talks on the heritage of the Burren, using interviews from the archive, as well as speakers on the day, covering topics like botany, geology, local history and archaeology. Walk co-ordinator Linda Quinn explained, “The walk will take place on Sunday, October 12 with registration from 12pm at the Fanore Beach car park. The walk will follow the scenic Caher Way, with stunning views across the Burren and Atlantic Ocean. We are inviting people to come and join us for …