Regional

HEAVY rain and flooding in parts of North Clare earlier this year have caused the earth to move in Dromore Wood. A local man, out for a walk in the area noticed a large piece of marsh, approximately 18 metres by 11 metres, had washed up on the shore of Black Lake, which forms part of Dromore Lake.

MEMORIES of the Shannon Scheme in Ardnacrusha, the banshee, old trades, farming in the old days, house dances and other traditions will be recalled in Killaloe this weekend.People will have the unique opportunity to hear the voices of some of Clare’s oldest citizens with recollections of a fading way of life.Killaloe Ballina Family Resource Centre Training and Education Programme, Clare VEC Community Education and Cuimhneamh an Chláir present Come here till I tell ya… Killaloe!Memories from the Cuimhneamh an Chláir archive and the official launch of the Folklore and Oral History Community Education Programme being run at the centre takes place in the Family Resource Centre on Saturday at 6pm.Cuimhneamh an Chláir’s popular listening room experience will travel to Killaloe as part of the group’s attempt to spread interest in the lore and tradition of Clare across the county.The group, who have voluntarily documented more than 500 interviews with Clare’s oldest citizens over the last three years, have already held …

A KILLALOE couple have clashed with a local businessman over alleged representations he made on behalf of a developer, who purchased a local ghost estate where their unoccupied house is situated.Michele Burke and William Buck, who have been forced to pay rent and a mortgage for over four years, while services at Ard na Deirge, Killaloe remain unfinished, have sent Brian Whelan a solicitor’s letter.Mr Whelan has declined to comment on the contents of the solicitor’s letter or a copy of sworn affidavits sent to The Clare Champion by the couple and another property owner, John Ryan, who also can’t get into his house in the estate.In the solicitor’s letter, Leahy and Partners stressed there is no foundation to statements made in recent telephone calls to their clients that they have not paid for the property and have no right of access to it.“Michele Burke and William Buck are the full registered owners of the above property with a State-guaranteed …

THE 2013 tourist season at Loop Head Lighthouse commences this weekend as the West Clare landmark opens to the public for the first time this year.The 19th century lighthouse will be opened for its third successive season on Saturday and will remain open each weekend, including Easter Weekend and Bank Holidays, up to and including September. Clare County Council says 12 full-time and part-time jobs will be created when the lighthouse reopens.17,423 people (13,441 adults, 3,982 children) visited the lighthouse during the May to September opening period in 2012.  Seventy-one per cent of the total visitor figure was represented by domestic visitors, of which approximately 50% were holidaymakers and 35% were day-trippers, with local visitors accounting for the remainder. Overseas, visitors accounted for 29% of the total figure. It is estimated that the 18-week opening period was worth approximately €650,000 to the local economy.“Clare tourism, particularly the sector in the Loop Head Peninsula, has benefited greatly from this visitor project …

SAMARITANS’ signs are to be placed on the Cliff Walk in Kilkee and at the bridge on route to St George’s Head on the opposite side of the resort. One sign apiece is to be placed in each location. The matter was discussed at the February meeting of Kilkee Town Council, while councillors decided upon the location for the signs at this week’s meeting. “I propose that we put them up at the start and at the end of the Cliff Walk on a low level. I’m still not sure if there’s a necessity for them but I can understand people feeling that there should be signs,” Councillor Paddy Collins commented. “Personally, I think they should be strategically placed on the cliff walk. If people are in a difficulty and are going on for their walk and they see that sign, it may help that person. I think they should be placed there at a low level,” Councillor Claire Haugh …

A 10k walk takes place on Sunday, March 24, at the Flaggy Shore, New Quay. The walk will benefit North Clare -run charity Pemba Support, which works in educational and community development on Pemba Island off the coast of Tanzania. Pemba, along with its larger neighbour Unguja, makes up Zanzibar.Fr Mathius Ng’oja is currently visiting North Clare. He has worked in Pemba for more than three years and will shortly take up a role in Unguja, an island that has recently witnessed increased religious tensions peaking with the murder of Catholic priest, Evarist Mushi last month.Fr Mathius is originally from Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He recently finished preparatory courses in physics, biology and chemistry with the hope of studying medicine in August.“I am looking forward to it. I don’t know which part I would like to specialise in, I like caring for the sick and that is what I really like and I would like to serve the sick,” he said.Before …

The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award in the Green Awards 2013.Now in its fifth year, the awards scheme celebrates excellence in sustainability and encourages green best practice amongst Ireland’s business and tourism organisations.The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience has been shortlisted in the Green Tourism and Leisure category alongside Croke Park, Fota Wildlife Park, Carlton House, Bellinter House and Fitzers Catering.The announcement comes on foot of new figures from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience that show considerable progress being made in the implementation of green, sustainable actions at the North Clare facility.Director Katherine Webster says that there was a 9.5% reduction in electricity usage at the Centre during 2012 compared to previous year, along with a 24% year-on-year reduction in water usage, and a 12.7% increase in the level of recycled waste.Ms Webster noted that the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience also increased its use of local food suppliers during 2012, …

THE largest class yet at Shannon College of Hotel Management graduated last week.At the graduation ceremony, Philip Smyth, director of the Shannon College of Hotel Management, said the experience of the college shows the Irish third-level sector should consider the world its oyster when it comes to student recruitment.“Over 45% of our students are from outside Ireland, some from as far afield as China and India, which are huge potential markets for international education.  We have a really good international reputation and that helps but we have had to get out, roll up our sleeves and sell ourselves very hard in these markets because that’s what required.“We do have many advantages because of the standard of education we provide, the fact that we are an English-speaking nation, because Ireland is less expensive now to live in than what it was, especially for students and because we are smart in how we target them. “But none of those qualities are exclusive …