Regional

THE River Fergus could be flowing green this St Patrick’s Day under proposals to transform the entire town for the national holiday.

  The sound of gentle crackling of flames fills a room that is sprinkled with numerous black and white family photos. The seaside breeze hisses beneath the rafters at the home of Carrigaholt’s oldest resident. As she speaks, Margaret Boland’s eyes glisten with thousands of memories. This is the 103rd birthday she has celebrated and some might forgive her for growing tired of the ritual.   “I’m 103,” Margaret proudly exclaims, with a wink. “You wouldn’t think it, would you?” She has lived through a century, experiencing events that have been confined to history books for most. Yet she has hardly set foot outside of West Clare. Born and reared in the rural seaside village of Carrigaholt, she bid farewell to her siblings at a young age as they set sail for New York. “She stayed behind,” her daughter Margaret Jr explains. “I think she just liked to be home to look after her mother. She died at 84.” A …

A SHANNON woman claims the HSE are abandoning her 23-year-old daughter, who has Down’s syndrome.Gail Fean’s daughter Sarah had been receiving care in Shannon and Ennis over numerous years. The services she had received in her hometown ended some months ago, while the services she has been receiving two days a week in Ennis are concluding this Friday.

WORLD champion fly caster and Scariff man, Ruairí Costello has netted another medal at the world championships, taking silver for his country at the World Championship in Fly-casting 2012 held in Fagernes, Norway over the weekend.

AS August gives way to September, the annual Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival kicks off and thousands of hopeful singletons will be making their way to North Clare.

THE children of Clarecastle could soon have their very own playground if plans by the Clarecastle Community Development Company get the go-ahead.

THE Lady Gregory Autumn Gathering celebrates its 18th birthday in Coole Park on the last weekend of September.

South East Clare’s Paralympians, the only two Clare people to represent Ireland at the London games are gearing up to show the world what they can do.