Regional

ENNIS was the scene for a record-breaking gathering of people at the weekend, including one little girl aged just 10-months-old. Earlier this year a call went out to people named Clare, Claire or Clair to join together at Ennis Cathedral in a bid to break a world record for the largest gathering of people with the same name. While targets for a European or world record were missed out on, the gathering did break an Irish record and organisers believe they have created a new record for the most people with the same name gathered in a place of the same name.The event was organised by the Clare Volunteer Centre, held in association with The Gathering Clare 2013 and the Ennis Love: Live Music concert. During the official count, 296 people with the same name were recorded, with visitors from all over the world taking part.Sharon Meaney of the Clare Volunteer Centre said, “We were absolutely delighted with the event, …

FINE Gael Councillor Mary Coote Ryan has been elected the last mayor of Ennis before the abolition of Ennis Town Council next year. Councillor Coote Ryan was elected on Tuesday evening, after fellow Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard withdrew her name from the race. Claims were made at the meeting by Fine Gael’s Councillor Johnny Flynn that the outcome of the mayoral election was a foregone conclusion. However, this was rejected, with Councillor Tommy Brennan insisting there was never a power-sharing agreement made by the town council. Councillor Howard, who was proposed by Councillor Flynn and seconded by Councillor Paul O’Shea, withdrew her nomination stating, “The last thing I want is any more division in the chamber”. She went on, “The best honour you can have is to serve the town as mayor and the last thing I want is any trouble”.The election for the role of Deputy Mayor also saw Councillor Howard nominated, with Councillor Frankie Neylon her opponent. …

THE people of Ennis and visitors to the county town will be given a unique opportunity to pick up a piece of free art or crafts as part of this year’s Ennis Street Festival in July, all they need do is look out for the signs. The Art Bomb Project, which is the brainchild of local artist Minnie Keane, is designed to promote a closer relationship between art and the community and during the festival, the town centre will be bombed with signs. There’s no need for anybody to shout “take shelter” – if you find a sign, you get to collect a free art or craft piece from the Art Bomb Project Headquarters. Speaking about the initiative, Minnie said, “It’s a fantastic treasure hunt for the family and a fun way to travel between the many exciting events the Ennis Street Festival has planned this year.” “Signs, shaped like little bombs, will be posted in various locations within the …

TWO action-packed days of the most competitive drifting in Europe are in store for enthusiasts when the Irish Drift Championship rolls into Ennis Mart this Saturday for the third round of the 2013 series.The tight custom-built technical course will push the drivers to their limits, drifting as close to the walls as drivers can go to give a spectacle of car control not seen in any other form of the sport.Saturday will host the amateur and semi-professional drivers, three of whom are from the Banner County. They include Ross Kenny in his newly built Blue Nissan S14, Francis O’Shea from Moyasta, Kilkee, in his newly sponsored WKD, SI5, who is pushing his way up the ranks and is knocking on the door of the professional circuit and Trevor McInerney from O’Callaghan’s Mills in his new Nissan S13 with an RB25 engine from an R33 skyline and a holsett truck turbo.Drifting will commence on Saturday morning at 10am sharp. IDC promotional …

Outgoing Mayor of Shannon, Michael Fleming has been accused of breaking a power-sharing pact, which facilitated the surprise election of Councillor Greg Duff to the position.Councillor Patricia McCarthy was expected to become the last Mayor of Shannon before the town authority is abolished after the 2014 Local Elections in line with an electoral pact agreed with Fine Gael and some Independent councillors.However, in a dramatic turn of events Councillor Fleming (FG) broke party ranks at the annual general meeting of Shannon Town Council on Tuesday night to ensure Councillor Duff beat the favourite, Councillor McCarthy, 5-4 after a vote.Councillor Duff became mayor for the second time thanks to the support from his Labour colleague, Tony McMahon, Councillor Gerry Flynn (Independent) and Cathy McCafferty (Independent) and Councillor Fleming.Councillor McCarthy was supported by two Fine Gael Councillors Vincent Coleman, Sean McLoughlin and Mary Brennan (Independent).The Clare Champion has learned that a power-sharing agreement for the position of mayor, deputy mayor and a …

Prospective new entrants to politics from the Shannon Electoral Area will be adversely affected by the abolition of Shannon Town Council, according to the new Shannon Mayor, Councillor Greg Duff.Describing the abolition of town councils as a “retrograde step”, Councillor Duff has expressed grave concern that the next local election candidates including young people and those from ethnic minorities will be denied an opportunity to cut their political teeth at town council level first before considering a step up to the county council.He believes the requirement for even a party candidate to between €7,000 or €8,000 to properly promote themselves at the local elections will also hinder new entrants.“Minister Hogan had an opportunity to take powers from city and county managers and give them to councillors. Instead he failed to do this and abolished town councils,” he said.He admitted some people in the Labour Party advocated the party should remain in government because things could be worse if they left …

A CO-ORDINATED search and rescue operation involving up to 11 emergency services helped to avert a major tragedy on Lough Derg last Friday night.Thirty-five rowers, who were participating in an FISA international rowing race, had to be taken ashore at the University of Limerick Activity Centre in Two Mile Gate, where they were assessed and treated by paramedics after a sudden deterioration in weather conditions.In total, 15 casualties required treatment for hypothermia by the national ambulance service. However, no patients required transportation to the University Hospital, Limerick and they returned by bus to their hotel in Limerick following treatment.Less than 24 hours later, 22 schoolchildren had to be rescued after they got into difficulties while kayaking.Volunteer lifeboat crews were launched on Friday evening after 18 rowing boats got into difficulty at Parker’s Point. The rowers, who had set out from Terryglass at the northern end of the lake at 2pm, were en route to Killaloe when the weather deteriorated.The event …

THERE was a mass exodus from Clonlara village last Wednesday, as the local sporting faithful made their way to Cusack Park. For the first time in their proud history, Scoil Seanáin Naofa, Clonlara had both camogie and hurling teams competing for Division 1 honours.It had been 21 years since Scoil Seanáin Naofa’s camogie team last contested the Division 1 final and between them and the title stood Feakle, a team they had beaten in the group games.Clonlara, having won the Division 2 camogie final last year, managed to retain a few experienced players in Leah Hawes, Chloe Ryan, Becky Foley, Hannah Horgan, Róisín Powell, captain Áine Gully and Sarah Fahey and they formed the spine of the team.In the opening half, Róisín Powell’s pace and power caused havoc for the Feakle backs as her scoring exploits helped Clonlara lead 2-2 to 0-1 at the break.Hannah Horgan showed great composure throughout the match as she converted two frees while, crucially, she …