Regional

THE square in Carrigaholt teemed with people and rain last Friday night as the Crack’d Spoon Theatre Group staged a re-enactment of Famine scenes.The actors were dressed in costumes contemporary to Famine times at the event, which marked the start of the National Famine Commemoration in West Clare. Part of the scene involved the local landlord family being introduced to the crowd and sitting down to dinner, while impoverished children and their families looked on. The civic reception was staged by local landlords Westby, Burton and McDonnell for Crofton Moore Vandeleur and his wife, Grace Toler.As Carrigaholt was the last port of call for the ill-fated immigrant ship, The Edmund, intending passengers were depicted queuing for tickets in the square. Research in the lead-up to the Famine Commemoration has thrown light on twilight vigilantes variously named The Rockites, Lady Clare Boys, White Boys and Terry Alts, which were agrarian secret societies who met after dark and dressed in terrifying costumes …

KILKEE town councillors have expressed concern at the derelict state of a number of buildings in the town, while they have also highlighted issues relating to the dumping of rubbish.At Monday’s May meeting of the town council, Councillor Elaine Haugh Hayes asked that Clare County Council “force” the owners of a derelict petrol station on the Kilrush Road, “to enhance the forecourt”, while she also noted the state of the Ocean Cove Hotel.“This site is deteriorating at a rapid pace,” Councillor Haugh Hayes claimed.“The site on the way into Kilkee is a huge eyesore. Something needs to be done with it. These sites are going to have to be looked after. Their condition is affecting the rest of places that are open,” she added.In reply, Kilkee town clerk John Corry said Clare County Council is looking into derelict site concerns in the town.“I spoke with the area planner on this matter. She said that the sites are contained as Opportunity …

  HAVING called time on his own boxing career, Marty Hannan established the Shannon Boxing Club late last year and the next Katie Taylor or Bernard Dunne may be training in Smithstown under his direction. Having been involved in amateur boxing for many years in clubs in Ennis and Limerick, Marty finally turned professional but couldn’t make a living because the crowds buying tickets for fights were way down. “Within six months, four shows were called off. When you’re a professional boxer, you’re self-employed, your work is your training and you’re relying on the fight night to get paid and if it’s called off, you get nothing. That happened so many times and to be honest, I fell behind in bills,” he says of his abortive pro career. He is now self-employed, running a company that works with fitness instructors and personal trainers. And since last year, he has been working on bringing boxing to Shannon. “Marie Rowland would always …

AN RTÉ broadcasting mast that had been towering over East Clare for half a century on top of Maghera Mountain is no more, as the final parts of the mast were taken off site this week.

AS part of the National Famine Commemoration 2013, Clare Roots Society has organised the unveiling of a memorial gravestone to mark the nameless burials of more than 2,000 victims of famine and fever.

THE collective efforts of local businesses to market the area as a perfect place to holiday will be showcased on RTÉ on Wednesday at 8.30pm.

NORTH Clare farmers, as well as an NGO, have called on the Department of Agriculture to extend the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme (BFCP) across the entire region.

SEPTEMBER 1993 and nine teenagers were about to embark on a brand new chapter in the provision of education in Ennis. These students were the first to enrol in Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, which this week celebrates its 20th anniversary.