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Clare contractor to appear on TG4 show this week

A CLARE farmer and teacher will appear on TG4 later this month, as part of a six-episode observational documentary titled Contractors, writes Conor Clohessy. The show will air on Thursday, February 24, at 9:30pm, and will explore the working lives and personal narratives of seven agricultural contracting families from diverse locations over the critical period between April and September. Eoin Collins, who teaches Irish at Ennis Community College, is part of Collins Agri, a business his father started in 1994; Eoin specialises in silage, baling, tillage and slurry alongside his father and three brothers. Eoin said: “The camera crews came around first in April and stayed with us until the end of October. They were in no way invasive; they were able to be a fly on the wall, shooting as we went about the day’s business from morning to evening. It’ll be very true-to-life and straightforward.” He admitted that the process was a busy experience, to have the camera …

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Young Offenders star to launch Clare teen disco Saturday

IN CORK parlance, Billy Murphy might known a ‘scobe’, but Shane Casey, the actor who plays him in hit comedy Young Offenders, will be on his best behaviour when he visits North Clare at the weekend. Shane shot to fame in the Cork-based comedy and became a cult hero after serenading a hijacked bus with a blistering cover of The Frank and Walter’s ‘After All’. He will be in Lisdoonvarna on Saturday night (February 12) to officially launch the new teenage disco at The Hydro Hotel. The pandemic put a spanner in the works for the planned disco back in 2020 and organisers are thrilled that it’s all systems go. “We are delighted that Shane was available for this launch –  we had to postpone this event in March, two years ago, when the pandemic hit – so we are delighted it’s back,” said Marcus White, Managing Director of the Hydro. “There is a huge pent-up demand for teenage discos from young people …

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All systems go for Bellharbour point to point

A BUMPER crowd is expected to attend Bellharbour on Sunday, where the County Clare Hunt are hosting their eagerly-awaited point-to-point fixture, writes Michael Duggan. The recent lifting of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions have come at just the right time for pointing fans, and Sunday promises to be a fantastic day’s racing. Quin man, Paul O’Neill, who is one of the chief organisers of the meeting, told The Clare Champion earlier this week: “We are so looking forward to this weekend. Thankfully, things are slowly but surely returning to normal post-Covid, and the easing of restrictions has been sweet music to our ears. “Anybody travelling to Bellharbour on Sunday does not have to do anything other than turn up on the day. All the pre-registering issues and stuff like that have been done away with and that certainly makes life easier for all concerned.” In recent times, the hosting of a point-to-point has evolved into a fun day for all, and …

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Clare hotel plans major expansion

PLANNING permission is being sought for a 27-bedroom extension at Hotel Doolin. The extension would also include a new entrance and reception area, along with 28 new parking spaces. The area of the extension would be 1,688 square metres, over two floors. A document accompanying the application points out that the hotel’s success, and that of the Wild Atlantic Way means additional capacity is required to cater for increased tourism. “The hotel wishes to ensure that all tourists wishing to stay and provide economic stimulus in the area can be accommodated in a quality environment.” It claims that without the additional accommodation there would be negative economic results for Doolin and West Clare. Recent years have seen frequent complaints that Clare isn’t getting the benefit it should from the Cliffs of Moher, with many visiting and then leaving the county straight away. The thrust of Clare’s tourism policy is now to address this issue, and the application says the new …

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Man of note hands on baton to next Inagh correspondent

AFTER five decades of reporting the news from Inagh, Flan Garvey has handed on the mantle of notes correspondent and is just beginning a well-earned retirement.  A retired school principal, Flan has been at the heart of local news and notes for almost 50 years. He was Inagh’s very first notes correspondent, after spotting a gap in The Clare Champion’s coverage in the early 1970s.  “I was a very young, enthusiastic teacher in the parish and joined the staff of Gortbofarna National School in 1965,” he outlined. “In 1973, I started at the national school Inagh and was there until I retired. I was an avid reader of The Champion and noticed that some areas had notes and details of local events. I approached Frank O’Dea, the editor at the time and Flan Galvin, the owner, with a view to starting the Inagh notes. They said, ‘Yes, by all means’ and it took off from there. I suppose I wanted …

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Ennistymon honours Ashling

DUSK was gathering as the town of Ennistymon came to a standstill last Friday to honour the memory of Ashling Murphy. In solidarity with the town of Tullamore and communities all over Ireland, hundreds stood silently in The Square. The sense of sadness and shock at the murder of the 23 year-old teacher was palpable. The only sounds were the traditional airs that rang out to honour the talented young fiddle player, and muffled sobs when emotion became too much for some to bear.  Tiny children, helped by the guiding hand of their parents, lined up to leave their candles and flowers. The pool of light around the memorial slowly grew brighter and stronger. Many children were the same age as the members of Ashling’s own first class at Durrow National School. Too young to take in such a terrible tragedy, they stared up at the solemn candle-lit faces of the adults around them. Stealing shy glances at each other, …

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Liscannor homes approved but only for full-time occupation

PLANNING permission has been granted for the development of four houses at Holland Street, Liscannor, on the proviso they are for permanent residents only. A planner’s report on the application by John Vaughan says that the site comprises two parcels of land on the north side of the street. Planning has been granted subject to nine conditions, one of which is that the dwellings be for permanent occupation only. Another condition requires that the buildings “shall be single storey or single storey with attic accommodation and shall have regard to the design and character of the built environment in the vicinity of the site.” This is said to be required in the interests of visual amenity. Another condition requires that the existing road boundary “be retained in its entirety except where its removal is required for the construction of an entrance to serve the dwellings”. “Side walls and piers of the proposed entrance shall be tied into the existing roadside …

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Lenihan pitches for Púca after Ennistymon says no

THE hunt is on for a new location for the controversial Púca statue, after it was rejected in a public poll by the people of Ennistymon.  Interest has already been expressed by leading folklorist Eddie Lenihan who has been a long-time champion of the half-man, half-horse sculpture. The Crusheen man said his own village would make the ideal location, given its legendary links to the mercurial character reputed to lure people into all kinds of nocturnal adventures. “We have a place named Cathair an Phúca and there is a roundabout there,” the story-teller said. “What could be more appropriate? It’s an amazing coincidence really and maybe this is where the Púca was meant to be all along.” It remains to be see if Crusheen will fit the bill for the new location for the 2-metre high bronze figure, as Clare County Council announced its intention to find it an alternative home, somewhere in North Clare. Following a survey, which attracted …

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