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Regional

Council impasse on hosting of conference

THERE was some animated debate about the possibility of Shannon hosting an Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI) conference in 2013, when the town council met on Tuesday night. In response to a question from Independent Councillor Cathy McCafferty, town manager Bernadette Kinsella said a previous meeting of various interests had agreed that it be recommended to the council that a bid to host the conference be made.However, Councillor McCafferty said she was dubious about it, given the level of expense that could accrue. “I don’t know. I’m very sceptical about putting in a bid because we have to have the money up front and we were already told we are looking at a figure of €15,000.”She said if the council wasn’t able to raise the money through sponsorship and support, it would cause serious financial trouble to the council.Ms Kinsella acknowledged that if a bid is made Shannon will have to go ahead with the conference, even if …

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Enterprise Ireland and Chamber team up for R & D seminar

SHANNON Chamber has teamed up with Enterprise Ireland to deliver a half-day seminar on the practical benefits of accessing and utilising national and EU research and development (R&D) funding for product, process and/or technology development. The seminar, which takes place at Intel Shannon on Tuesday, April 24 from 8.30am to 12.15pm is supported by Shannon Development and Intel.This is the second year an event of this nature has been held at Intel Shannon, to highlight the benefits of R&D to a company’s ongoing sustainability and international competitiveness.As Shannon Chamber chief executive Helen Downes explains, “Since hosting an EU Innovation Supports conference in May 2010, the Chamber has witnessed an increase in interest in the topic among its membership. The initial seminar focused on the whys and wherefores of research funding. Last year’s seminar moved a step further and addressed the sourcing and outcomes of such funding. This year’s panel of speakers will broaden the discussion and also showcase Shannon-based and …

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New festival to celebrate work of Dylan Thomas

A FESTIVAL celebrating the life and works of poet, short-story writer and playwright Dylan Thomas, along with his ties to North Clare, is the latest addition to the county’s cultural tourism offering. The inaugural festival is expected to draw visitors from across the country when it takes place next month.Dylan Thomas’ wife, Caitlin, was the youngest daughter of Francis MacNamara, who transformed Ennistymon House into the Falls Hotel, the venue for the inaugural Dylan Thomas Literary Weekend from Friday, May 18 to Sunday, May 20. The three-day festival will feature lectures, poetry recitals, a documentary screening and a history tour outlining Ennistymon’s connections to the Welsh literary legend and other poets, including Brian Merriman.Barbara Faulkner, chair of the Clare Tourism Forum, stressed the importance of the county showcasing its culture to attract more tourists. “Cultural tourism is becoming increasingly popular throughout Ireland and Britain. In Clare, we are particularly fortunate to be associated with numerous world-renowned poets, writers, artists and …

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100th birthday celebrations for Crusheen emigrant

NORTH Clare man Joe Cunningham celebrated his 100th birthday recently with a party in his honour at the Aisling Irish Community Centre in New York.Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Pat Breen, who visited the centre, described Mr Cunningham as “one of the most interesting Clare people” he met there.“Joe was celebrating his 100th birthday and I was delighted to be present with his family and friends to pay tribute to Joe, a Clareman who became a legendary band leader in the United States for over 60 years,” Deputy Breen stated.Joe from Doon, Crusheen remains very active and he regularly drives to see his wife Rose, who now suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease and lives in a retirement home.A deeply religious man, who loves his wife and family, Joe is also a man who retains a deep love for Crusheen and Clare and enjoys meeting people from his native county and catching up with the news from …

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New chamber campaign to target GAA

BUSINESSES in Gort are hoping to cash in on some of the thousands of cars and buses passing the town daily. Gort Chamber of Commerce is working with local companies on a new campaign to attract groups into the town to eat, shop or stay.“Recently, during the GAA league, a number of stars stopped off in Gort. On one Saturday recently the Cork football panel stopped off for refreshments on their way to Castlebar to play Mayo. “On the same weekend, Waterford hurling star John Mullane was spotted walking about Gort before he made a successful return against Galway. The chamber is now working with businesses within the town to see if there is potential to attract similar business,” explained the chamber’s newly-elected secretary, Pauline Scully.According to Ms Scully, the chamber would welcome ideas from people in the area, local businesses and organisations that would bring sports teams and other groups into the town.“We are hoping to take this further. …

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Kinvara pupils develop new study aids

THREE South Galway girls are hoping to revolutionise study with a simple and innovative pupil stationery set. With the Leaving and Junior Certificate exams just two months away, second-level pupils are beginning to step up their study, with many going into study overdrive during the Easter holidays. With this in mind, three transition-year pupils, Ellen McCrossan, Helen MacMahon and Nicole Brennan of Seamount College, Kinvara, have just launched their range of study stationery. The group designed the set to help fellow students through the Junior and Leaving Cert.Made up of Revise Me bookmarks and Remember Me stickers, NerdMe study aids are new learning tools, which aim to increase organisational skills, avoid pupils over-highlighting, encourage focus on examinations and also aid pupils struggling with dyslexia using specific colours to highlight important information.Each NerdMe Study Aid pack comprises 56 Remember Me stickers in four colours, which allow pupils to highlight the section of the page they need to revise and eight Revise …

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Students Captured by the film bug

Two East Clare teens were involved the production of a new original short film that had its world premiere recently, in association with the Fresh Film Festival.Alfie Hollingsworth and Dylan Bickerton from Feakle were among 11 young Irish filmmakers who came together from all over the country in the first initiative of its kind in Ireland and set out to achieve funding and on their own to conceive, shoot and create an original short film shot to professional industry standards.The two 16-year-olds, who are students at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla, were involved in the production of film, entitled Captured. Alfie took on the role of editor, while Dylan was director of photography. The pair were previously recognised for their filmmaking talents having scooped a highly commended award for the production of The Elwood Killing: The Beginning, at the Young Irish Filmmaker’s Awards in 2011 and the Brown Bag Animation Award in 2010 for their animated film, Reflection. The …

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Return of award-winning Celtic concert series

The East Clare Heritage Centre will once again open its doors to the arts as the award-winning Celtic ­Tradition Concert Series returns this week for another season of weekly concerts at St Cronan’s Church, Tuamgraney. Winner of the Best Tourism Hospitality Award 2011 at the Ennis Chamber of Commerce/FBD Awards, the concert series showcases the music and culture Clare has to offer. The series was founded by well-known Clare ­entertainer Kate Purcell and now enters its third season, where it will continue to present a sample of the very best of Clare entertainment in a friendly, cosy environment in historical surroundings. The weekly concerts take place each Monday night from 8pm until 9.30pm at the East Clare Heritage Centre in St Cronan’s Church, Tuamgraney. The church itself is a very popular and unusual venue as it dates back to the time of Brian Boru, whose brother was Abbot of the monastery on the site. The church is used by the …

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