East Clare

A KILLALOE tennis coach has netted signed jerseys from high profile international sports stars that will be auctioned to raise money for an Irish and an international charity, writes Dan Danaher. The items that will be auctioned by Wesley O’Brien include a signed Usain Bolt shirt; a signed Rafel Nadal shirt; a signed Franz Beckenbaur Bayern Munich shirt, a print of the Formula One car driven by Lewis Hamilton, which is signed by Mr Hamilton and other key figures in Mercedes; and a signed Rory McElroy golf flag. All of the jerseys are included in a special frame that has been professionally inserted. The raffle winners will also receive a certificate of authenticity with each of the jerseys. Any Irish winner will have the bonus of free postage, unlike people outside Ireland who will have to pay for the cost of receiving it by mail. The sports memorabilia were posted on idonate under the Access Foundation banner on Monday as …

A MEMORABLE weekend in Meelick was confirmed on Sunday morning when O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke retained their Minor B crown, writes Eoin Brennan. Only 24 hours after O’Callaghan’s Mills’ flagship side had consolidated their senior status by a whisker at the same venue, it would need just as much of a steady hand for the minor amalgamation to overcome their sticky neighbours Scariff/Ogonnelloe. A first half brace of Jamie Howard goals certainly helped as it provided some clear breathing space for the Mills/Bodyke to lead from start to finish. Howard, Sean Boyce, Thomas Wiley, Tadhg Kilkenny, joint-captains Darragh Moroney and Sean Cooney and a formidable half-back unit of Cathal McNamara, Billy Scanlon and Liam Minogue led the O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke challenge superbly while centre-back Scott Cairns, Sean Hartigan, Aaron Collins and Donnacha McNulty provided the greatest resistance throughout. Scariff/Ogonnelloe’s attacking division of Sean Treacy, Rossa Keelan, Liam Madden and Tadhg Minogue had their moments but realistically they required more of a cutting edge …

FOOTPATHS in Tulla are to be upgraded, thanks to a significant allocation from The Active Travel Fund. Designs are being drawn up currently, with works due to get underway early next year. “Around €100,000 has been secured,” Chairperson of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Joe Cooney confirmed. “Some works have been done in the past in Tulla, but some of the existing paths are now in bad condition. I’ve been working on this issue for a number of years and the funding is very welcome. “Clare County Council is drawing up designs. We had hoped that the works would start before the end of 2021, but with the pandemic and other factors, it will now be the first quarter of 2022 when the works begin.” Councillor Cooney added that in light of the ongoing development of Tulla, improvements to local infrastructure were particularly important. “Tulla is thriving and there’s lots of development underway” he said. “It’s fantastic news now that …

Controversial proposed telecommunications installation attracts negative submissions from groups and individuals PLANS for a new telecommunications mast in Quin village have generated considerable local opposition, on the grounds of the size, location and potential health and environmental impact of the proposed 24-metre structure. As the public consultation period drew to a close last Monday, at least eight submissions had been received. A number of these are group objections, containing petitions signed by several residents of the village. Among the objectors are the Quin Heritage Group, who describe their village as “a microcosm of past history”. “Bridges, abbeys, 13th century churches and about a dozen Big Houses, dating to the 18th and 19th centuries lie around,” the group’s objection outlines. The organisation describes the proposed mast as “intrusive” and “incongruous”. “While we have no objection to progress,” the group says, “Quin is not the place for this structure.” Another objection, signed by some residents of Dún na Mánach and Manor View, …

TO celebrate the 50th anniversary of Derg Credit Union in Killaloe and Scariff, a former board member Jim O’Brien, launched his historical account of the institution at the Killaloe Hotel, writes Conor Clohessy. While no longer a board member, he currently serves as a volunteer on the promotions and development committee. He works as a freelance journalist. Jim was approached about compiling the piece of work by two of the longer serving members of the board, William McLysaght and Michael Cleary, who were both present at the founding of Derg Credit Union in 1971. Jim said: “They asked if I would write this as part of the commemoration, and it was a huge amount of work. I had to read fifty years’ worth of minutes, which was time-consuming, but it was inspirational to see what these people have achieved.” The momentous feat began with the reading of said minutes last March, which was an endeavour that had be completed within …

LIKE most entertainers, Norma Manly couldn’t wait to get back to singing in front of a live audience, writes Dan Danaher. The Ballina singer/songwriter had to be content with online performances during the Covid-19 lockdown. However, she feels there is no comparison between performing live and online. “Watching lockdown sessions on line was fantastic. However, you have to be at a live gig to experience the atmosphere and the energy. When I am buying music, I want to listen to live performances. “You can’t beat a live gig. I have met so many people at live gigs who are now lifelong friends. You share a lovely bond, even though people have different tastes. I love being introduced to new music.” She says the return of live audiences is very welcome following Covid-19 restrictions that were previously imposed since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. “When you are singing, you are trying to create something. You can feed off …

SAINT Flannan’s Cathedral will reverberate to the sound of music again this Friday night at 8pm when it hosts a fundraising community concert, writes Dan Danaher. Cathedral Dean, Vicar Rev Paul Fitzpatrick, is very happy to acknowledge the generous voluntary support of all the performers, supporters of the cathedral and wider community. Rev Fitzpatrick said there is no shortage of extraordinary goodwill, talent and commitment towards the cathedral. Rev Fitzpatrick and Dean Rod Smyth were keen to organise an event that would reward local community groups. This follows in the footsteps of a programme of musical evenings that were streamed live from St Flannan’s Cathedral during the month of May thanks to the support of Dean Rod Smyth and Rev Fitzpatrick along with members of the St Flannan’s Vestry. The Sunday Selections proved to be a big hit in the local community. All the proceeds from Friday night’s concert will be donated to the Killaloe Community Enhancement Group and the …

Glowing tributes were paid to an Ogonnelloe solider at his Funeral Mass on Sunday following a tragic accident while on holidays in Spain a few weeks ago, writes Dan Danaher. There were heart-rending scenes when Private Gerard McMahon (24) was laid to rest with full military honours in the New Cemetery, Ogonnelloe. His sudden death came about a week after he had just returned home from a six-month tour of duty with the 63rd Infantry Group in Syria. Speaking at his Funeral Mass, the chief celebrant, Reverend Father Paul Murphy, the chaplain to the 1st Infantry Battalion in Galway recalled how one of his friends summed up the deceased. “One of his best friends said: ‘he didn’t say much, but you could write a book about him”. In a moving tribute, his mother, Carmel, recalled their lives changed forever on October 15 when they got the dreaded phone call that no parents wants that their beautiful son, Ger had died. …