North Clare

COVID-related issues are among the topics that Gort Family Resource Centre can offer counselling support with. It is urging people to come forward if they need support with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, relationship difficulties, stress, grief, bullying o illness. The centre offers low-cost professional counselling face-to-face and by phone. The service, which includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is described as confidential, respectful open and non-judgemental. Appointments can be arranged by calling 085-7706674. Details of all of the supports offered, including support programmes, family support, social welfare advice, homework and after-school club, and more, are available from 091-630902 or 085-2022066.

THE working from home revolution, prompted by the pandemic, has inspired a creative trio to make the move to the Banner county, where they hope to breathe new life into a much-loved North Clare venue. Kymann Power, Áine Leech and Diarmaid Keane who are all digital creatives, with a strong interest in arts, culture and music, have made Daly’s in Ennistymon their new home. The three have been reaching out to musicians and those in the arts with a view to using their digital skills to support them in finding new audiences online and on social media. “Before the pandemic, I was working from home in Dublin,” explained Áine, a Westmeath native. “I was tired of looking at the four walls and got out just before lockdown.” Clare was the destination of choice according to Kymann. “I had travelled here with Áine a few times and when we were looking for a base in the west of Ireland, we happened …

ONE of the highlights of the autumn calendar in North Clare, the Burren Food Fayre is to go virtual this year, enabling audiences to enjoy a host of demonstrations, discussions, tips and advice. The eagerly anticipated event boasts an impressive line-up of food producers and chefs from all over the Burren, who will be taking part in a series of free online events last this month. The event now, in its ninth year, will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube over 12 days from October 23 to November 3 at 7pm each evening. “Our aim is simple, we want to showcase the rich food culture we have here in the Burren, and bring the recipes of our hugely successful book, Burren Dinners, alive,” said Jarlath O’Dwyer, CEO of Burren Ecotourism Network and organiser of the fayre. “This event is particularly important this year as it brings the Burren to attendees who are unable to travel, due to Covid-19 restrictions, …

KILNABOY native Manus Malone has been selected as one of Ireland’s young creative contributors to a new online series on the challenges that face those who choose the path less travelled in life. ‘Creative Flow’ is produced and created by Limerick native Sarah Edel Hayes, who interviews Manus, and a number of other seasoned and emerging voices from a range of artistic fields. The short series, which launched on SarahEdel.com earlier this month took inspiration from the many conversations that began out of lockdown in Ireland. Sarah said that she wanted to chat to creatives about what it’s really like to follow a creative passion in modern-day Ireland and the challenges that brings to an individual pursuing a creative career. Manus Malone is an up and coming DJ and producer who has played on the stages of Electric Picnic. Since the pandemic restrictions, he has recently turned his hand to writing and producing his own music. In late August, Manus …

THE significant contribution to Irish culture by the founder of the GAA will be celebrated next Sunday, with the inaugural Michael Cusack Day in Carron. A Shane Gilmore sculpture representing the central role of gaelic games in communities across the island of Ireland will be unveiled, exactly 173 years on from Cusack’s birth in Carron. A tree for each county will also be unveiled, along the Burren Fairy Trail and GAA Trail near the Michael Cusack Cottage, thanks to the support of the TOMAR Trust. Sunday’s event also will feature the launch of Going WeLL, a national wellness experience programme being developed nationally by the GAA to encourage people to take better care of their mental and physical health, and by so doing, to reconnect with their communities. Going WeLL is being rolled out on a pilot outreach basis to a range of communities, schools and FET (Further Education and Training) Centres from the Michael Cusack Centre this winter. It …

INTERNATIONAL tributes have been paid following the passing of the acclaimed Bellharbour concerntina player, Chris Droney, who passed away on September 9, at the age of 95. Broadcaster, teacher and musician Kieran Hanrahan, who spoke at Chris’s funeral on Saturday last, said, “He was a chieftain in Clare. Some called him a druid and leader.” The Ennis man credited Chris Droney with inspiring a blossoming of traditional music in the county town and across Clare. “When Chris would come to Ennis for the Fleadhs, he was really what I would call a mega figure,” Mr Hanrahan said. “He was a national figure in the ‘60s and ‘70s and yet he was still so accessible. He always had a word of encouragement, especially for the youth of Ennis in those days. He took a delight in young people playing music. He was always so lovely and so decent. As a person, he was unassuming and an absolutely gorgeous character.” In one …

THE RNLI  Lifeboat fundraising schedule, like that of every other charity, has taken a big hit  over the past six months with little or no income coming in to keep the fleet afloat. Clare has been at the helm in fundraising down the years, and in coming up with new fundraising ideas to involve people in walks, rambles, cruises, concerts and many more events. Over the past six months, the lifeboats have been as busy as ever and have answered every call to save lives and bring people back to their homes and loved ones. The Burren Ramble, which takes place at this time every year, has to be called off as has the Cruise to Galway Bay from Doolin pier. The risk is too high in Clare to put anyone at risk. There are, however, some fundraisers still in the pipeline at present. West Clare man Tony Henchy from Derryard in Doonbeg is doing a 100-day consecutive swim in …

UPGRADES are being sought for a heavily trafficked section of the Wild Atlantic Way running through North Clare to the Cliffs of Moher. The call came at the meeting of the West Clare Municipal District when Councillor Joe Killeen said local people and visitors alike would benefit from improvements to the route from Ballyvaughan, through Fanore and Doolin. “There are around 1.5 million tourists using this route every year going to the Cliffs of Moher and traffic is often tail-to-tail,” he said. “I was on the road recently when four cars pulled over to look at a fishing competition. Until they returned to their cars, nobody could pass. This area is the jewel in the crown of the Wild Atlantic Way and there are issues with the road surface and alignment, as well as a lack of areas to pull in.” The Corofin native noted that the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar had recently visited Ballyvaughan and that action needed to be …