North Clare

RTÉ Radio 1 star, Ray D’Arcy has predicted a warm welcome for the shape-shifting Púca when the controversial statue is installed in North Clare on Saturday week (June 25).  The broadcaster has frequently expressed his fascination with the colourful controversy that saw the two-metre horse-headed figure ultimately rejected by the people of Ennistymon. Sculptor Aidan Harte has spoken on the popular mid-afternoon radio show on a number of occasions since the debacle originally erupted in May of last year. In recent days, D’Arcy visited the Dublin-based foundry where the folklore figure has been cast in bronze, and even got to rub the toe of the Púca for luck.  Now that the mischievous Púca has found his “forever home” at The Michael Cusack Centre, its creator expressed his optimism that the reaction of locals and visitors in Carron will be a positive one. “The reaction most artists get to their work is apathy,” Mr Harte told Ray D’Arcy. “When the row …

‘PAINTING is a Treasure’ is the title of the upcoming solo exhibition, by Carmel Daly which opens at the start of next month at the Courthouse Gallery in Kinvara. Carmel’s motto and philosophy is that “painting is a treasure and a pleasure,” and it is and adage she has lived by. Carmel is a visual artist, born in Galway and living locally. Her work is mainly representative of everyday life and scenes which she paints in vibrant colours. Her work is inspired by the beauty of the Burren, from observing rural pastures and pastimes, and people at their work and leisure. Well known in the Banner, Carmel is a former librarian with Clare County Libraries. She has facilitated access and provision for arts and creativity. Carmel helped to implement library policy to support community and cultural organisations, as well as promoting cultural events in Ennis and Shannon Libraries. Believing in access and provision of information, education and recreation, Carmel encouraged arts and …

THE chair of Clare Labour is among objectors to plans for the construction of housing in Lahinch, saying the proposal should be refused until the local sewage treatment system is improved. John Talty Construction Ltd has applied to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a development of eight houses, comprising six detached and two semi-detached homes together with all associated site development works, wastewater pre-treatment and connections to public services at Cill Stuifin, School Road, Attycristora, Lahinch. Objecting to the plans, Denis Vaughan who in January was elected chair of the Labour Party in Clare, argues, “There are reports of people swimming at that place becoming ill because of untreated sewage in the water. “For that reason permission should be refused until the sewage treatment system is improved. I also believe the Lahinch water supply is inadequate and that is another reason to believe the application must be rejected at this time.” He outlines that a recent application …

FUNGI are the inspiration for a new exhibition which celebrates our connections to each other and to the natural world.  Entitled ‘Mycorrhizal Connections’, the show, curated by Kinvara Area Visual Artists (KAVA) member Hugh Murphy, will present works by 18 artists. Mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic symbiotic relationships with plants and trees, without which this network would not survive. Not only do we share almost half of our  DNA with these fungi, our future is entirely dependent on their contribution to a healthy planet. Artists Helen Roberts Greene, Louise O’Boyle, Heather Watson, Roisin Doherty, Deirdre Crowley, Anne Greene, Caoilfhionn Ní Cheallaigh, Maria Donegan, Tonita O’Dwyer, Katie Burke, Toireasa Ward, Emer MacDermott, Megan Lucy, Beatrice Stapleton, Áine Doherty,  Hugh Murphy, Herminia Ayala Reyes, Laura Angell all reflect on the connections these phenomenal fungi create, as they draw together all the elements in the natural world. They also explore how we, through our own personal connections, depend on and support those around us. …

SEVEN decades after the discovery of Doolin Cave one of the original cavers who made this amazing find returned to North Clare at the weekend to help mark the momentous anniversary. Doolin Cave has celebrated its 70th birthday marking its discovery by cavers, Brian Varley and J M (Mike) Dickenson in 1952. Brian, who celebrates his 90th birthday this year, returned to Doolin where a commemorative plaque acknowledging the cavers’ achievement was unveiled. Helen Browne, proprietor of Doolin Cave Visitor Centre with husband John, explained that the plaque has been placed on the way into the cave so everybody who visits will be able to share in Brian and Mike’s story and the hard work which led to their great discovery. “It was very special for us to be able to welcome Brian to Doolin Cave, he is such an amazing character. We were honoured to have him return to the cave to unveil a plaque dedicated to him and …

HUNDREDS of volunteers in this county have answered Clean Coasts and National Spring Clean joint call to organise a clean-up to protect the wild Atlantic ocean this month. Ten clean-up events took place in Clare this Wednesday supported by 200 volunteers who had been provided with free clean-up kits by the two non-governmental organisations (NGO).  World Ocean Day is celebrated annually on June 8 to highlight the important role the ocean has for our life and the planet. In 2022, the focus was once more be on the 30×30 campaign: to create a healthy ocean with abundant wildlife and to stabilise the climate, Experts believe it is critical that 30% of our planet’s lands, waters, and ocean are protected by 2030. One of the big issues affecting the Atlantic is marine litter which has become a global problem for both humans and marine life. Research shows that the number one cause of marine litter is litter dropped in towns and …

A NORTH Clare student has showcased his skills and scooped a national award. Shane Price, who attends Ennistymon Vocational School, has been named a winner in the 2022 Career Skills Competition. Shane came first place in the Transition Year category of the competition with an impressive career investigation on Computer Programming – Artificial Intelligence and an essay detailing his work experience in a health pharmacy. The aim of the competition is to encourage independent career research among second level students and to foster awareness around the importance of career skills, which can be developed as a result of completing a work experience placement. Shane tells us he “found the whole experience amazing”. He explains, “The competition was all about writing an essay of having a critical view of skills required for careers observed in work experience and the second part of the essay required you to do your own research into another career that you do not have any work experience in. “It requires you …

Students from Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon have taken Second prize in the Junior Category at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals. The winning students Bríd-Áine Rouine, Áine Hennigan and Eimear Lernihan, all 13 years old, who worked under the guidance of their teacher, Caitríona Hynes were awarded for their BEA Body Scrubs. BEA Scrubs produce eco-friendly body scrubs. Their ethos is based on the circular economy, they use bi-product from coffee granules sourced from a local coffee shop and use this product as the core ingredient for their scrubs. The students also enjoyed the support of the Local Enterprise Office in Clare. The scrubs are made from 100% sustainable and by-products as ingredients and are sold to customers, locally, regionally and nationally. The coffee granules are purchased from local coffee distributor Anam Coffee.   The Finals of the Local Enterprise Office initiative were held physically for the first time in three years at the Helix in Dublin with An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and host …