Ennis

AN Ennis-based designer has been chosen to showcase her work at the British Museum, writes Jessica Quinn. Laetitia Sorohan told The Champion she is “delighted” to have been selected, among other designers, to sell her pieces alongside the “Thomas Becket Murder and the making of a Saint Exhibition” in London. The exhibition will take place at the British Museum from May 2021 until August 22. Laetitia is the Irish-based French designer behind the locally-based brand NAIIAD Contemporary Designer Jewellery. She explained that her pieces were selected for the British Museum because of the link between her designs, which are inspired by chainmail, and the medieval period on which the exhibit is focused. One of the star objects in the show is an alabaster plaque showing the murder of Thomas Becket, featured on the exhibition posters and book, and has armoured knights wearing what is likely to be chainmail. A selection of Laetitia’s designs have been chosen by the British Museum …

FOR the second year running Fleadh Nua will not be taking place in Ennis due to Covid 19 restrictions, organisers have confirmed. But Fleadh Nua chairman Frank Whelan is looking forward to the return of the festival in 2022, when he promises it will be bigger and better than ever. In the meantime, he hopes that memories of the great Fleadhannas down through the years will sustain the many lovers of traditional music, song and dance for whom the Fleadh Nua has become a much anticipated annual event. “Those of us who are old enough remember the ‘70s and ‘80s when the Fair Green became a tent village for the last week in May,” said Frank. “Then there were the huge parades and colorful floats winding their way through the narrow streets of the town, with set dancers batterin’ away on the back of a moving truck, and no one ever fell off! But sadly Health and Safety regulations did …

AN Ennis park, described as a “little oasis” is set for a makeover with plans by the local authority to carry out repairs, cleaning and repainting, writes Jessica Quinn. Calls for the examination and assessment of the park opposite Mill House were made at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy told the meeting that she had been approached by a number of people concerned about the state of the amenity. She said she was “pretty sad to see the state of it”. The councillor called for the park to be examined and assessed for maintenance. “The benches, fencing, lighting and lawns are in very poor condition with the benches being in such a state of disrepair as to render them unusable even on a sunny day,” she stated. She commented that the area provides a “beautiful break” in an urban setting, pointing to the “fabulous” sculpture Memory and Meaning created by Colin Grehan and …

FIRST day of term for the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest has been announced as October 1, writes Jessica Quinn. From that date, Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) and Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) will cease to exist, and more than 15,000 students and 1,200 staff across the Midlands and Midwest will be teaching, learning and researching at the newly designated TUS: Midlands Midwest. On this day also, Ennis will become a university town for the first time, given the presence of a campus there, while Athlone, Clonmel and Thurles will also become university towns. The recruitment of a president for Ireland’s first cross-regional university has also begun, with the application process now opened to suitably qualified persons. The inaugural president will be charged with leading transformational change across adjacent regions linked by the River Shannon. Chair of LIT Governing Body Tony Brazil said, “October 1, 2021 will not only be a significant day in the history …

AN Ennis family are the raining champions following success in a nationwide conservation competition. Green-Schools, in partnership with Irish Water, recently announced the winners of its Water Conservation Photo Competition, with one of the five winning families being from Ennis. The winning entry from Ennis was taken by Áine Purcell of her daughter Róisín and Róisín’s Grandad working together on a rainwater harvesting system. The competition encouraged families all over Ireland to save water by asking students to do water saving activities at home, and for parents/guardians to put a photo of them on Twitter or Instagram. The best five photos were chosen by Green-Schools, with winning families getting waterproof cameras. Other winners for the competition this year included a system to keep plants watered in the summer; a smart way to save water when washing a car, an inventive idea to use the water from a tumble dryer for watering plants; and a family who always saves water washing …

THE professionalism and dedication to duty of Clare Civil Defence was highlighted this week at the opening of the group’s new headquarters. The new facility, at the Quin Road Campus in Ennis, was officially opened this Tuesday by Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs. The headquarters is a state-of-the-art, purpose-designed building that will be utilised by more than 100 Civil Defence volunteers from around the county, and includes training facilities, office accommodation, a records management centre, storage and garage. Speaking at the official opening Minister Coveney said: “I am delighted to be here on this important occasion. It is a fantastic facility and a tribute to everyone who has been involved in this project. “We have some of the Civil Defence volunteer community here and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to them. “Clare Civil Defence has undertaken 300 separate Covid-19 related tasks, and multiple other roles including a number of …

Gardaì are appealing for witnesses to a traffic collision that occurred three weeks ago in Clare’s county town. The gardai are investigating a hit and run traffic collision that occurred at approximately 3pm on Saturday, May 15, at the Gort Road Roundabout. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a grey Range Rover. Both cars involved were travelling from the Ennis direction approaching the Gort Road Roundabout. A white Opel Insignia was on the inside lane turning right for the Gort Road. The grey Range Rover was on the outside lane and was heading into Shiels filling station/McDonalds, this vehicle collided into the side of the Opel causing extensive damage. If anyone saw anything suspicious or has dash cam footage, they are asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065-6848100.

WHEN Wexford native, Sr Carmel Kehoe moved to West Clare over three decades ago, it wasn’t so much a new departure, as another stopping-off point along the road less travelled. A member of the Community of the Sisters of St John of God, Carmel has always taken an independent approach to her work. As someone who is passionate about art, writing and all things creative, she also developed the habit of documenting her extraordinary life and has just published a memoir. Much of the book deals with Carmel’s life and times in Clare, where she is well known and much loved for her teaching and community activities. Carmel’s busy life has seen her work in hospital chaplaincy, teaching, and has even involved a short, but successful, stint as a jockey. “That was as part of a fundraiser for people in religious life,” Carmel recalled. “I was asked to get involved and, even though I had never won anything in my …