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Beauty and the Beach as Ivanna leads clean-up

MISS Munster Ivanna McMahon from Barefield rolled up her sleeves at the weekend for the Miss Ireland 2022 nationwide beach and waterways clean-up. From August 12 to 14 the 37 finalists vying for the coveted Miss Ireland 2022 title, including Ivanna, put their collective strength and unity together to co-ordinate a big beach clean-up all over Ireland.   Thousands have flocked to our beaches and waterways during the recent warm weather but the glorious sunshine also brought ‘rubbish weather’ as many beaches and waterways across Ireland were left in dire conditions by sun seekers leaving their rubbish behind. Ivanna, 27, gathered her friends and family to do a clean up at Lahinch beach. The over-riding theme for Miss Ireland is ‘Our World Our Future’ with a focus on the environment and global citizenship.  Each of the finalists all over Ireland gathered all of their friends and families to help make a real impact and highlight the importance of communities coming together to protect our …

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Sophie Mae, 12, follows her dream and saddles up for success

AT just 12 years of age Clarecastle’s Sophie Mae Kerin is galloping ahead in her dream to be a champion jockey. The youngster was a winner at the high profile Dingle Racing Festival, following in the footsteps of such giants of the sport as Pat Smullen, Richard Hughes, Oisin Murphy, Nina Carberry and many more. First getting in the saddle at eight years of age, Sophie Mae began her equestrian life in showjumping, but it was racing that was always her ambition. In the recent three-day Dingle festival she rode the aptly named Little Lioness to victory in the 12.2hh pony derby for Ballinasloe’s Tony Beegan. Proud dad Kenneth tells us the whole family are thrilled with Sophie Mae’s success. “Dingle is the biggest pony race in Ireland of the year and this was her first proper race with thoroughbreds. “Before this she had run in a beginners race coming in second. She has only been entering races for the …

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National Learning Network to hold Ennis open day event

THOSE with learning challenges are invited to an open day in Ennis next week to find out more about training and development opportunities.  Clare training provider, National Learning Network (NLN), part of a national organisation that has supported more than 2,400 people into employment since 2017, is opening its doors to the public on Wednesday, August 24.    The NLN, based in Ennis, is a progressive leader in the delivery of personalised education, training, and development opportunities for people with disabilities or people requiring additional supports throughout Irish communities. The certified training courses, which offer nationally recognised qualifications including QQI, ECDL, and City and Guilds, have impacted significantly on the progression of people with a disability and/or health conditions into employment and have seen some participants land jobs in companies such as Facebook, eir, Ryanair, Mr. Price and across the hospitality and tourism industry. People attending NLN include those claiming any form of disability benefit, those recovering from an accident …

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12 O’Clock Hills Heritage Walk a huge success

RECORD temperatures, touching 29 degree Celsius, and a cloudless sky were the backdrop for the recent 12 O’Clock Hills Heritage Tour, which attracted participants from across East Clare and further afield. The tour, organised to mark National Heritage Week, set off from the Belvoir carpark. The route taken was via the Crag River to view the 19th century Crag Bridges and the river’s mini-waterfall. Much to the satisfaction of the participants, there was a cooling breeze between the trees for this section of the walk. Walkers were next guided onto the Famine Road. This was to be a link from East Clare to Limerick City to keep people employed back about 1846 during Famine times. Participants were then guided back to see some of the heritage gems dotted around the area. These include sites whose names are reminders of the lore and legacy of the Hills, such as Paddy Kippin’s place, Matt Moloney’s, Dysart Lyons Stephens, the Stepping Stones and Butter Hole. …

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JP Guinane remembered in new tournament

THE O’Callaghan’s Mills GAA Club will host the inaugural JP Guinane underage hurling tournament on Saturday, August 20, at the GAA grounds in Kilkishen.  JP was a much loved, lifetime member of the club. He played at all levels and was a key member of the 1968 Intermediate Championship winning team. After his playing career, JP assisted with the management of various teams and fulfilled numerous administrative roles including Chairman. He was the club President at the time of his death in August of 2021. This year, the tournament will be run at U11 and the participating teams are Ruan, Whitegate, Broadford and the Mills. The games will commence at 3pm with proceedings expected to complete by 5.30pm.  Refreshments will be provided in the clubhouse after the games with a social gathering planned for Gallagher’s Bar, Kilkishen, later that night.

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New screening team to help enhance Shannon Airport experience

SHANNON has nine new Airport Screening Unit officers, who received their official certificates after completing an intense training course in airport security.   The new officers have undergone training, which included the operation of the airport’s multimillion euro state-of-the-art 3D x-ray screening system. The high-tech system has in-built explosive detection software, which eliminates the need for passengers to separate liquids and electronics from their cabin bags. Shannon is the first state airport to introduce this new technology which halves the time spent going through screening.   Since March this year, the airport has recruited a total of 19 ASU officers to add to its existing team. The new recruits hail from various parts of Clare as well as from  Galway, Lithuania, Poland, and as far away as Bangladesh and New Zealand.   Welcoming the latest nine recruits to the team, Shannon Airport’s Head of Security John Francis said, “I would like to congratulate our latest group of newly trained ASU officers, and thank …

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Gem of social history from Tulla’s ‘New Shop’ remembered

ON A recent trip to New York, Tulla native Seán Fitzgerald recalled a piece of Tulla’s social history that was in danger of vanishing into the mists to time. The retired school principal from Knockjames, who now lives in Edenderry, County Offaly, was on a visit to his aunt, Eileen McNamara (née Dooley) when she recited a poem composed by the owners of ‘The New Shop’ in the middle of the last century. Now SuperValu, the New Shop operated on Main Street from the 1940s to the ‘60s.    “Like some local shops of that era, it served as a pub too and you do could then do your grocery shopping after having a few pints,” Seán said. The proprietors of the shop, who were forward thinking and modernised their shop  to the point of having a cold room installed for meat storage.   “By way of advertising the latest technology, the owners composed, displayed and promoted a little ditty,” …

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Jyoshna to launch exciting new album in Mountshannon

A MESMERISING new album, meditating on live and love, will be launched by New Zealander Jyoshna La Trobe in Mountshannon later this month.  The acclaimed music researcher, singer and songwriter will launch Unity Hours IV, with a very special concert, on Saturday, August 27 at St Caimin’s Church of Ireland, which will feature her Clare Band.  As well as being a prolific composer and performer, Jyoshna is an accomplished ethnomusicologist, specialising in the Music of Rarh, India, and holding a PhD in Music, from SOAS, London on Marai Kirtan and the Performance of Ecstasy in West Bengal, India. She has authored over 30 albums of original and ethnographic material including Dharmacakra, ancient and modern songs in Sanskrit (2015). Unity Hours I (2006) was recorded in London, as was Unity Hours II (2010). Unity Hours III (2019) was recorded in New Zealand and the latest album was recorded in here in Clare.  “All the experiences here are written with the ink …

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