North Clare

Details of two major mass-participation events that will bring thousands of people to North Clare were announced this week. The Tour de Burren cycle event will return this summer, taking place on June 18, it has been confirmed, while this year’s Clare Burren Marathon Challenge will take place on May 21. The two events are likely to result in a boost of approximately half a million euros to the local economy.

A US couple whose newborn son tragically passed away at the Cliffs of Moher in July 2006 have made a moving return visit to the world-famous tourist site.

NEARLY €100,000 has been allocated to flood works in North Clare under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme. Brian Hayes, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), announced the funding for Clare County Council to carry out flood-relief works at Roughan, Kilnaboy, Corofin. “These works will include the provision of a new 750mm pipe and an increase to embankments around dwelling houses,” Minister Hayes said.“The provision of funding for minor flood mitigation works complements a range of other ongoing OPW programmes, including carrying out major flood-relief schemes and flood studies, that are aimed at managing national flood risk in a proactive and comprehensive way into the future,” he added. Newly elected Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara said the proposed flood-alleviation works at Roughan is one of a number of projects to have been progressed in Clare since the introduction by the OPW of its non-coastal flood relief scheme.“This funding will enable flood-alleviation works …

ENNISTYMON could be about to get its own scout troop. A group of parents have come together in the hope of setting up North Clare’s only branch of Scouting Ireland.Scouting Ireland has more than 40,000 members incorporating beaver scouts between the ages of six and eight, cub scouts who are aged between nine and 11, scouts from 12 to 15 years old, venture scouts aged 15 to 17 and rover scouts from 18 to 20. However, there is no branch in North or West Clare. Róisín Ní Ghairbhith is one of those who wants to set up a troop in Ennistymon.“I have asked the commissioner of the scouts in Clare to come and facilitate an open evening where Scouting Ireland will inform people of what training is available to those who are interested in becoming scout leaders and they will also tell us what we need to do to start scouts in Ennistymon for our children. It would be great …

It is a long story. How could it be anything else when the chairman of a Kilkenny hurling club, a Clare man, not even a farmer, is organising an international sheep shearing competition.

The Department of Education and Science has advised the board of management of a North Clare school to familiarise itself “as a matter of priority,” with guidelines on the constitution of such boards and their rules of procedure.

FR Damo Lennon, better known as comedian Joe Rooney, will take part in the inaugural Father Ted Festival, it was announced at the event’s launch on Tuesday.The festival will take place in Ennistymon, Kilfenora and the surrounding area over the weekend of May 13 to 15 in an effort to boost visitor numbers to North Clare in early summer.Ennistymon and Kilfenora were the sites of many of the iconic scenes of the Father Ted series and the weekend of fun and frolics will take people on a journey to these sites, celebrating some of the most memorable scenes from the cult television programme.The inaugural festival is three days of reenactments, partying and recognition of 25 episodes of hilarity, which will include tea in the infamous parochial house in Kilnaboy.The official opening on May 13 will be followed by the Lovely Girls Competition in Vaughan’s Bar in Kilfenora, the original venue used when filming the Lovely Girls Competition.MC on the night …

THE Burren this week became Ireland’s newest ecotourism destination. Ireland’s most famous chef and slow-food and ecotourism advocate, Darina Allen officially launched the