News

Models from the Holman-Lee agency will showcase the latest fashions from more than 10 boutiques and shops in the Limerick, Shannon and Ennis areas at a fundraising fashion show in Bunratty next week. The event, which will also include displays in beauty and health care and a pre-show punch reception, will be held at the Bunratty Castle Hotel on Thursday next, September 18 with proceeds going to the Sixmilebridge National School Development Fund. “We are really pleased and welcome the presence of the Celia Holman-Lee Agency, the country’s leading model agency, at the upcoming show. It will be a great night of fashion and maybe there will be a few surprises to add to the enjoyment of the evening. It’s the must-go-to event for this autumn; the first winter and autumn show in the area,” according to chairperson of the fashion committee Tanya Walker. Speaking at the fashion show announcement, school principal Gareth Heagney praised Shannon Precision Engineering for “the …

Two men  in their 20s arrested in connection with an aggravated burglary at Shyan, Kilmihil  this week have been released without charge. On Wednesday at 12.15pm gardai arrested two men from Limerick city in connection with the aggravated burglary, which occurred between between 6.30pm and 7pm on August 10. Both were detained at Ennistymon and Kilrush Garda stations and were held overnight. They were released without charge on Thursday evening and a file is to be sent to the Director of Prosecution. Gardai in Kilrush would like to appeal to anyone who has information concerning this crime to come forward and assist the Gardai with their enquiries. This can be done by calling Kilrush Garda Station on 065-9080550 or by calling the garda confidential line 1800 666 111.

AN 18 year-old man has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for making a hoax 999 call, prompting a response by two units of the fire brigade, gardaí and the coast guard helicopter on a night when their services were needed elsewhere. Nathan Coughlan of 16 Station Court, Ennis pleaded guilty to sending a message which he knew to be false, by means of the telecommunication system for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another, contrary to section 13 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act 1983. Outlining the details in the case, Detective Garda Stephen Hession said on November 30 last, at 8.57pm, the 999 emergency number received a call from a man who told them “a fella had thrown himself into the river” in Ennis. The detective said the call was made from a phone with no SIM card. He said the call resulted in the response of a number of emergency services including …

Revenue has seized 18kgs of tobacco at Shannon Airport this Thursday morning. The seizure was made as a result of routine profiling when officers from Revenue’s Customs Services at Shannon Airport discovered 18kgs of roll your own tobacco with a retail value of approximately €7,000. The “Amber Leaf” tobacco was discovered in the luggage of an Irish male who had arrived on a flight from Tenerife. Investigations are ongoing and a file is being prepared with a view to a prosecution. The seizure represents a potential loss to the Exchequer of €5,800. This is assuming that it would have displaced the equivalent full tax paid quantity of cigarettes and tobacco. This seizure is part of Revenue’s on-going operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes in the shadow economy. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number …

APPROXIMATELY 40,000 people are expected to attend the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival this month, one local hotelier has claimed. The renowned festival began last week and among the first guests looking to meet her match was television presenter and journalist, Janet Street Porter. Ms Street Porter was in the North Clare village on Tuesday and Wednesday last week and her experience was discussed on ITV’s Loose Women on Monday. She also wrote about her trip looking for love in Lisdoonvarna in her column in the Daily Mail. Ms Street Porter introduced the festival, and the art of traditional matchmaking, to a British audience. The four-time divorcee was matched with John Richardson, who she described as “a very attractive, single, professional man”. Marcus White of the Hydro Hotel believes her visit is already having repercussions for businesses in the area and for the festival itself. “It was fantastic to get someone as high-profile as Janet Street Porter come to the matchmaking festival. …

SMALL and medium enterprises in County Clare are being invited to participate in an EU project aimed at improving the IT capabilities of rural businesses. The Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly Mid-West Office, formerly MWRA, is one of six lead agencies in CREATE, which aims to deliver a full package of advice and support to SMEs to enable them to fully exploit the potential of an improved online presence, faster broadband, and hardware and software investments. The project also aims to stimulate the virtual clustering of rural SMEs across partner regions of North West Europe, to help reduce expenses and the need for investment in expensive hardware technology for businesses through the shared use of hosted services. An expert workgroup of IT and online marketing professionals from across the CREATE partner regions are presently conducting a review of the Irish and European rural-based businesses before presenting them with individual actions plans aimed at introducing efficiencies. CREATE advisors were in Ennis …

Two students in County Clare have received maximum marks in the Junior Cert results announced on September 10. Only four students in Ireland achieved 12 As in the Junior Cert this year, one in the West of the county and one in Ennis. Criostóir King from Kilrush Community School and Róisín Ní Fhallúin from Ballynacally, a student in Gaelcholáiste an Chláir in Ennis, were both described as “very deserving” of the results. According to Áine Uí Chonsaidín, muinteoir í bhfeighil at Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, teachers and management at the school are delighted with Róisín’s results. “We knew she was going to do well but she surpassed all our expectations. She is a fabulous girl. She is a great all rounder; she plays sport and music and has huge academic ability as well. The Gaelcholáiste always gets great results but it is a huge achievement to get one of the best results in the country and a great reflection on the …

GARDAÍ are appealing for information in relation to a number of crimes which have taken place in the county in the past number of weeks. In Kilmaley witnesses are being sought after the Kilmaley Inagh Water Treatment Plant was broken into between 6pm on Sunday, August 31 and 8.30am on Monday, September 1 last. The water treatment plant is located at Lisroe and entry was gained by forcing in the front door. Thieves made off with a Grey Pedrello water pump, two yellow 20 foot Toby hoses, a shovel, and a red M6 power washer model Max 11 litres. Also in Kilmaley, gardaí are investigating after a number of items of property were stolen from a shed at Knaockadangan. This incident occurred between 9.30am and 11am on Monday, September 1. A rubber material bridle, pinchers, and a black saddle with brown girth and stirrups were stolen. Meanwhile, in Sixmilebridge a house in the Cluain Droichead estate was burgled between 1.30am …