Ennis

FIONA Staunton has given her heart and soul to scouting in Ireland and this week she reflected on the life changing effect it has had on her. On the day when scouts past and present gathered to celebrate the opening of the new scout hall in Ennis, some of the biggest cheers and warmest tributes greeted Fiona as she accepted a special award for a lifetime of service. “I’m humbled and I’m emotional. It’s nice to get an acknowledgment from your friends and your peers and people who mean a lot to me. We’ve put an awful lot of work and effort into this, particularly over the past two years”, Fiona told The Clare Champion. Now chairperson of Ennis Scouts, Fiona’s links with the organisation go back to a time when women were not allowed to be involved. But her love of the great outdoors and the support of fellow scouts would see Fiona go onto become the first female …

AN Ennis mother of a child with Cystic Fibrosis has vowed to continue to fight so her child and others can access ground-breaking treatment at the centre of a dispute between the HSE and a pharmaceutical company. Barbara Buckley was among hundreds from across Ireland who last week gathered outside Leinster House for the “Support the Kaftrio 35” protest. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland estimate that around 140 children aged six-years-old to 11-years-old are already are on the drug Kaftrio, but 35 children with a particular genotype are not as they are outside the 10-year Portfolio Agreement that was signed by the HSE and Vertex in 2017. Barbara’s daughter is almost six years old and had expected to begin the treatment after Christmas, however without a resolution to the dispute she is set to join those who have been excluded. “Time is vital. Every day and every week ahead counts, CF won’t wait for the HSE and Vertex,” she told The Clare …

IN an act described as “wanton vandalism” a sign which had been erected by a community group to highlight the history of Clarecastle Quay has been stolen. However the Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage Group has vowed not to let this stop its plans for a ‘heritage trail’ of the area, with some signs already in place and more planned for the future. The stolen metal sign for ‘Dromoland Road’ was taken sometime overnight on Monday, September 12, after 9pm. Eric Shaw of the Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage Group told The Champion the group was very disappointed to discover that the sign had been taken under cover of darkness. He fears that it may be offered for sale to an unsuspecting pub as a decorative feature, urging anybody who comes across it to contact their local gardaí. Gardaí have been notified of the incident and are checking CCTV footage from the area in a bid to identify the culprit. The sign …

THE Willow Counselling Centre was recently presented with funds raised from the annual When in Doubt – Pedal it Out cycle for mental health. A total of €1,575 was raised for the Ennis based service from the cycle which took place last October. Plans are now underway for this year’s cycle which is due to be held on October 29. The Willow Counselling Centre is an affordable counselling service established in 2016 to meet the needs of the people in County Clare and surrounds. They are based on Chapel Lane in Ennis and together with a team of 10 qualified and dedicated counselling/psychotherapists provide support and often a life line to those with mental health issues. They offer one to one, phone and on line counselling and deal with a variety of issues with clients of all ages. The centre recently started to develop a Play and Art Therapy Room which now has new flooring and furniture.  It is ready …

A POPULAR Ennis chipper announced “with sincere regret” that it was shutting its doors for the last time this week. Brannock’s Fish and Chips in Market Place made the sad announcement they would be closing as of last Monday, September 19. A notice was put on display at the shop thanking their customers for their support. The notice read, “It is with sincere regret that we inform you that the Brannocks’ Fish and Chips takeaway is closing its doors as of Monday, September 19. We would like to thank all of our very loyal customers for your support over the years.” The take-away was a popular eaterie in the town with news of the closure sparking dismay on social media. Among those to comment, Rene Cusack’s Fish Ennis stated, “So sad to lose our neighbour. Wishing them all well for whatever the future holds.” A fan of the take-away wrote, “Sorry to see Brannock’s Fish and Chips in the Market …

DISABLED parking spaces are regularly being “abused” according to Ennis community activist and member of the Clare Leader Forum Dermot Hayes. He was speaking as concerns were raised about a “shortage in availability” of disabled parking in Ennis at a recent meeting of councillors by Councillor Paul Murphy. There are a total of 78 disabled car parking spaces in the Ennis Municipal District urban area including four spaces due to be constructed later this year at Lower Market Street and the Friary Car Park the local authority has confirmed. Mr Hayes believes that greater enforcement is needed against those who misuse disabled parking, while also calling for more parking to be put in place suitable for the needs of people with disabilities. “People are abusing car parking for people with disabilities, it’s a regular occurrence all over the county and all over Ireland. “We fought hard and campaigned a long time for disability parking and the excuses of ‘I’m just …

ENNIS native Professor Niamh Stack has recently been appointed as the new Head of Psychology at Mary Immaculate College (MIC). She takes up the position at an exciting time for the discipline at MIC as the college welcomes the first students on the new Bachelor of Science in Psychology this September. Professor Stack joins MIC following a two-decade long spell at Scotland’s University of Glasgow, where she latterly served as Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Psychology & Neuroscience. Professor Stack’s research focuses predominantly on highly able young people but also includes a wider interest in all forms of difference and diversity in development and the important role psychology has to play at a societal level in issues around development, poverty and social justice. This interest led to important research collaborations with the Children’s Wood and G20 Youth Group charities in Glasgow and to long term volunteering roles within the British Psychological Society, where she is currently Chair of the Education and Training …

AN ART project in Ennis has helped to bring some light into the darkness in more ways than one. Working with Clare Haven, children who have been subjected to coercive control and domestic abuse have helped create two colourful murals in the town with the help of a local artist. The murals were created as part of Clare Haven’s summer therapeutic programme, with the paintings not only helping to brighten up the surroundings but also giving the children an opportunity to talk and share their feelings and experiences. The artworks were developed with the help of artist Larisa K Bevillard at the rear of Clare Haven’s office building and also at a sensory and wellness garden in Clare Haven’s refuge. Dr Siobhán O’Connor, manager of services at Clare Haven explained, “During our recent Summer Therapeutic Programme a group of young people who have been subjected to coercive control and domestic abuse, worked with local artist Larisa K Bevillard on a …