East Clare

RTÉ’S outdoor recreation series, Tracks and Trails, will focus on Lough Derg next Thursday, June 30.  The hugely popular show returns to the national broadcaster for its tenth series, with a total of four programmes that will cover every corner of the country. This season, viewers are taken along trails that showcase Ireland at its most beautiful with a chance to explore some of the many walking and Blueway trails on offer for the outdoor visitor. There is also an easy urban trail by bike from Titanic Quarter in Belfast along the River Lagan and then for something totally different to a mountain trail for a hike steeped lyrical mysticism on Slieve Gullion outside Newry,; to the winding, mystical forest and pilgrim trails of County Wicklow; to heart stopping views of the Blasket Islands and the soaring majesty of the mountains on the lakes in Killarney. In this series producers promise  something for every level of hiker or visitor. In …

THE Bunratty Manor hotel was the venue for the official launch of the 170-page Centenary Book of the ambush at Glenwood which took place on January 20, 1921.  This launch, which had previously been deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, was performed by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor PJ Ryan. The Council chairperson was assisted by Mr Flan McCarthy and Mr Mick Ryan, who are joint presidents of the Glenwood Ambush Memorial Committee.  The publication contains a number of different versions of what actually happened on ambush day in January 1921, and accounts of the later reprisals by the Black and Tans. There are some details too of a number of the participating volunteers, in as much as was possible for researchers to get the information. These include Martin ‘Neighbour’ McNamara, Joe Clancy, Tom McGrath, Mattie McGrath, James Hogan, Paddy McCarthy, Jackie Ryan, Jimmy McInerney, Miko Neville, Dinny Minogue, Mick Moloney, Mick Shaughnessy, Tom McInerney, Michael Cleary, Peter St Ledger, …

A South-East Clare primary school teacher has scooped a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to study in the USA. Eimear Millane has won the Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship (FLTA) scholarship to teach in the University of Connecticut for ten months. One of the 40  Fulbright Irish Awardees, Eimear was presented with her award at a ceremony in Iveagh House, Dublin, recently in recognition of the excellence of her study and research. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Eimear recalled she completed an interview for this scholarship last January, having applied the previous October. Under the Fulbright Programme, she will be teaching Irish as a minority language in the University of Connecticut for ten months, having opted to take a career break from her current job as a primary school teacher in Bunscoil Bhríde in Co. Kildare, where she oversees the Coiste Gaelach. The scholarship covers her flights and accommodation, while she will also be paid during her time as a teacher. …

A COMPANY planning to build a controversial wind farm in County Clare has pledged €4,000 in sponsorship for a local GAA club. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, EDF Renewables Ireland confirmed it is sponsoring a pitch upgrade at Broadford GAA Club, providing €4,000 towards the project. The sponsorship funding will be used to help enhance the pitch surface at Coolagh and, the company says, demonstrates EDF Renewables’ commitment to supporting local and community initiatives in the areas surrounding its projects. Earlier this year, EDF Renewables Ireland announced its plans to develop the 50MW Lackareagh Wind Farm on land to the east of Broadford. The proposed wind farm, which could power more than 35,000 homes, will be located in the townlands of Killeagy and Shannaknock. EDF Renewables Ireland intends to submit a planning application and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report in support of the project, which could consist of up to seven turbines, to Clare County Council in …

FINAL preparations are underway ahead of the return of the legendary Spancilhill Fair to the festival calendar on Thursday, June 23.  The event, which had to be cancelled for the last two years due to the pandemic, was almost mothballed permanently, due to insurance issues. In April, an eleventh hour intervention by Clare County Council secured its future and paved the way for celebrations this year to mark the 400th anniversary of the world renowned horse fair.  “It’s the 400th anniversary and we really hope that people will come along and enjoy the event,” said PRO and local vet Paddy Hassett. “People tend to arrive the night before and, on the day of the fair, we’ll have the car parks open from around 6.30am. We have significant visitor parking in place, as well as a large parking facility for those transporting horses. We’re finalising the traffic management plan and would ask people to respect the stewards and the Gardaí.” With …

FOND tributes have been paid on the passing, at the age of 92, of Fr Brendan Lawlor, Assistant Priest of Tulla.  At his funeral mass Bishop Fintan Monahan gave thanks for Fr Brendan’s long, happy and fruitful life and his “remarkable breath of pastoral experience”. The bishop paid tribute to Fr Brendan’s decades-long ministry. This was mainly in the priesthood, but Fr Brendan also ministered as a lay person and counsellor after being dispensed from his vows in his mid 40s to marry. After the untimely passing of his wife, Paula Jean Anthony, he returned to the priesthood and spend the last 22 years of his life in Tulla.  Michael Patrick Brendan Lawlor was born in O’Brien’s Bridge on March 4, 1930. He began studies for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1948. He was ordained to the priesthood on the June 19, 1955 for the diocese of St. Augustine Florida. His first appointment was to St. Rose of Lima Parish …

THE joy and enthusiasm brought by Swiss native, Cornelia Wahli, to her adopted home in Tulla, was remembered at her funeral mass last Sunday (June 12). A passionate environmentalist, Cornelia came to Ireland as an au pair, bidding farewell to her native Frauenfeld in Thurgau, Switzerland. She lived for a time in Dublin, and later on Tory Island, before moving to Clare and becoming deeply involved in community life and environmental activism. She was a prominent member of The Clare Public Participation Network (PPN) and the instigator of climate initiatives including ‘Operation Deplastification’ and ‘Slim Your Bin’. Cornelia had also made a major submission to the forthcoming Clare County Development Plan. In it, she urged people to work towards an organic and chemical-free Clare over the coming decades. She told The Champion, at the time, that the inspiration for this vision was her granddaughter and other children whom she hoped would grow up in a flourishing environment.  In Tulla, Cornelia …

PEOPLE in Killaloe have been urged to cast their votes to elect up to nine new community councillors for the town. Candidates for election are invited to contact the chairperson, Graham Lightfoot, at killaloecommunitycouncil@gmail.com for nomination papers, which will have to be returned by this Friday June 17. A new Community Council in Killaloe has now been incorporated and registered with the Companies Registration Office as a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) under the auspices of Muintir na Tíre, which supports the establishment and development of community councils throughout Ireland. According to the Census, the electorate in the Killaloe Electoral Division comprises of about 1,600 eligible voters, who will be able to vote electronically and in person at a location during the last weekend in June. A steering group is now preparing for the initial election of up to nine community councillors, which will take place on June 24 to 27, with the results being announced on Sunday, July 10. …