East Clare

A COUNTY Clare sports club has described funding received through Healthy Ireland as a “lifeline”. Derg Athletics Club received €22,000 of the total €374,100 allocated to county Clare under Healthy Ireland funding. On Friday the club hosted Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan in Killaloe to see first-hand the benefits the funding has brought for local and voluntary groups in Clare. The TD was greeted by the Cathaoirleach and elected members of Clare County Council, Clare Oireachtas Members, and local representatives and stakeholders, together with staff from Clare County Council and representatives of the wider community in Killaloe. Established in 2013, Derg Athletics Club offers physical activity programmes for all in Clarisford Park, Killaloe. Healthy Ireland funding is helping to sustain the club’s inclusive athletics programmes and is essential to enabling participation in athletics activities for children with a physical disability or those on the autism spectrum. It is available …

THE leader of Sinn Féin expressed her “shock” at the damage caused by pyrite to a family home in East Clare and pledged that her party will do all in its power to ensure homeowners get 100% redress to rebuild their lives. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald made her remarks on a visit to Kilkishen this week where she was briefed by the Clare Pyrite Action Group and saw first-hand the home of Dan Moloney and his wife Teresa. The family built their home 23 years ago, and have recently learned that the severe cracks in the building are due to pyrite. “It’s very shocking,” Deputy McDonald said. “When you consider the case of Danny and Teresa, they were working in New York planning to come home to raise their family here in this wonderful part of Clare, invest their hard-earned money in their family’s forever home and now they’re faced with this. The damage to the house is very, very …

A NEW centre for natural medicines and therapy has been given the go-ahead by Clare County Council for a site outside Feakle. The owners of the Satmya Vedic Living Centre, which has been in operation in Killaloe since 2007, told county planners they wish to create an eco-friendly building on lands that they own in Magherabawn, Feakle. The project will involve a single-storey building to replace existing demolished stables and will contain a classroom, treatment room, consultation facilities and dispensary. Six parking spaces will be created beside an existing yard and a hay barn will be removed. The business will offer naturopathy as well as an Indian traditional therapy called Ayurveda. Yvette and Douglas Hyde have described the proposed new building as being in the style of a traditional Irish farmhouse or outbuilding with a corrugated red iron roof and external cladding of plaster or wood. According to the planning application, the treatment room will be used for teaching Ayurveda …

TWO of Clare’s most renowned heritage sites are to be considered for inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List for Ireland. The Cultural Landscape of the Burren Uplands and Inis Cealtra are among six sites nationally being considered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for inclusion on the list. The sites on the highly prestigious list are updated every ten years. Following a public call and a deadline of June 30, six entries were received by the Department. In addition to the two Clare sites, the entries include the Trans-Atlantic Cable Ensemble going from Valentia, County Kerry to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; the Royal Sites of Ireland located in Counties Kildare, Westmeath, Tipperary, Roscommon and Meath; the Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo; and Glendalough Valley in County Wicklow. An independent advisory group will now consider the applications to determine which may be included in the next list of World Heritage sites in Ireland. “It’s a huge …

AN EAST Clare man’s efforts to find long-term love for up to 30 single men, by leading a dating tour to Ukraine, are to be the subject of a new video documentary. Scariff’s James Treacy, a professional photographer and pilgrimage organiser, made national news when he announced his plans last month. The trip to Ukraine, slated for next year, will be documented in a film directed by Malcolm Willis of Icy Peaks Productions, based in County Kerry. Some advance scenes for a trailer were shot at Kilmallock Mart last week, where Mr Treacy often works photographing livestock. “The documentary is starting next Monday, we are only filming now but this is going to take a year to put it together,” Mr Treacy said. “We are planning to go onto the Late Late Show on Valentine’s Day and we are applying for the Graham Norton Show.” In June, Mr Treacy announced that he has teamed up with an American tour operator, …

BECKMAN Coulter staff in East Clare have wrapped up a month-long programme of Pride celebrations that included learning the history of gay rights, podcasts, a wear your Pride colours competition – and even special Pride donuts. Pride Month, which is dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities all around the world, kicked off with an onsite display that charted the evolution of gay rights in Ireland and Europe. Staff also took part in a Pride quiz with Pride mugs among the spot prizes. They then participated in a company-wide ‘The Freedom to Be Yourself’ event that connected staff worldwide at other company sites. A special canteen day on June 10 saw staff enjoy specially-baked Boston Donuts in the distinctive Pride colours. “We will always support our employees regardless of their individual preferences or differences, we proudly celebrate differences here at Beckman Coulter,” Beckman Coulter Senior Director Operations, Orlaith Lawler, said. “We were particularly delighted to show our support to the LQBTQ community during the month of …

THE organisers of Féile Brian Ború are considering modifying the way it runs next year’s festival even if Covid-19 is no longer an issue, writes Dan Danaher. Most of the events for the recent 28th Annual Féile Brian Ború were held online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Arlene White of Féile Brian Ború admitted this year’s experience had changed their overall view on how the festival should be run over the coming years. “We didn’t miss the running and racing between venues. This year’s festival has changed the way we will run it in 2022. “There is no harm in changing things. There will be a change in how we do things. Previously, we had a dog competition, but the pet photographic competition worked very well. “The performance by local singer, Norma Manley with Brendan Pooley on guitar in Killaloe Cathedral on Saturday night was beautiful. There doesn’t have to be a huge concert for people to enjoy an intimate performance …

TULLA Scouts have been getting behind efforts to showcase their local community by putting the spotlight on Clondorney Lake. Working with Tulla Tidy Towns, Tulla District and Angling Club and Clare Walks, the 12th Tulla Scouts group have been working to improve facilities at the 40 acre late which is located 2km north of the village. “If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to appreciate our local area and it has made us realise how lucky we are in Clare to have such beautiful amenities on our doorstep,” the scouting group said. “For years, Clondorney lake has been noted for its excellent Rudd and Bream fishing. But it came into its own during the last year with its nine concrete fishing platforms, each with its own parking bay, it is ideally suited for social distancing, while admiring the view, watching nature, fishing or having a picnic. Clare Walks have completed a loop walk from Tulla and the area …