Regional

The 11th Burren Charity Challenge takes place on December 27 and offers walkers, runners and cyclists the perfect way to fight the festive bulge.The challenge consists of a 5km or 10km walk, a timed 10km road race, a 37km bike race taking in Corkscrew Hill and the coast from Blackhead to Ballyvaughan or a duathlon, including a 37km cycle, followed by a 6km run.The charities to benefit from the event are the Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard and the Billy Riordan Memorial Clinic.“There is something for all shapes and sizes, abilities and attitudes, not to mention generations,” explained organiser Fergus Glynn.There is an entry fee, which includes a t-shirt and post-race refreshments but organisers promise “very substantial discounts for families and groups”.“We’d absolutely love to see as many of you there as possible. Those of you that have been there before can vouch for the irreproducible Burren Challenge atmosphere and let’s face it, it is what brings you …

A CLARE County Councillor this week called for a reduction in parking charges in Ennis from €1.30 per hour to €1. Councillor Pat Daly was speaking after Ennis Town Council announced details of a new parking incentive scheme it is introducing in a move to promote Christmas and new-year shopping in the county capital.At the November Ennis East Area Meeting, Councillor Daly had called for the first hour of parking in Ennis to be free of charge “particularly as so many rate-paying businesses in the town are struggling to survive”.On Wednesday, Ennis Town Council announced that free parking will be applicable to the town’s 759 off-street and 783 on-street public car-parking spaces up to 12 noon daily from this Saturday to January 7 inclusive.Councillor Daly said he was delighted to see the free early morning parking for December and the beginning of January and suggested that “the council should now reduce the one-hour parking fee from €1.30 to €1 as …

COUNTY Clare victims of rape and sexual assault will have essential counselling services at their doorstep after a new rape crisis outreach centre was officially opened in Ennis last week.Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes officially opened the new Ennis Rape Crisis Centre saying that it was encouraging in times of recession to see positive initiatives such as the opening of a new centre in the Mid-West Region.“Rape Crisis Mid-West has been providing free and confidential services to survivors of rape and sexual assault for over 30 years now. This new centre has been opened in response to the needs of service users in County Clare – many were finding the journey to Limerick difficult and it became necessary to provide the counselling services nearer to home. “It is a mark of the determinedness of the staff at Rape Crisis Mid-West to open here at Ennis without any direct Government funding for the overheads. They will rely on the generosity of …

CHRISTY Healy collected his certificate from Guinness World Records at the weekend after the organisation confirmed he is the first man to complete a 10km dive without surfacing. The Barefield man undertook the dive in Lough Derg recently to raise money for Limerick-based charity, Share A Dream Foundation. He completed the task in six hours and 21 minutes.This length of the dive, recorded with photographs, video and technical evidence, proved sufficient for Guinness World Records to award Christy with a certificate confirming his accolade. The award was presented to Christy at the annual Share A Dream Foundation Children of Courage Awards in Limerick on Saturday night. The successful dive was Christy’s second attempt at the record in three weeks having previously attempted the task off the North Clare coast in October, where he managed 9.4km before surfacing.“I have the evidence that I did it. I have the plaque and I have the card and the whole lot and I’m happy …

Fears have been expressed that one of the main garda stations serving more than seven communities in South-East Clare could be included in a list of 10 Clare stations that are facing possible closure as part of Government cutbacks.Justice Minister Alan Shatter has refused to rule out the possibility of closing down Broadford Garda Station and other stations in the county before the Garda Commissioner’s draft 2012 Policing Plan is finalised.In fact, Minister Shatter warned that like all public sector organisations, the Garda Síochána would to have to manage with reduced resources next year.Councillor Cathal Crowe requested Clare County Council to seek immediate clarification from Minister Shatter about the future status of Broadford Garda Station at a recent meeting of the Killaloe Electoral Area.This motion was supported by his five electoral area colleagues and a letter will be issued to Minister Shatter. In a statement issued to The Clare Champion, Councillor Crowe stressed it was vital that every pre-emptive effort …

Businesses in Ballina and Killaloe are looking forward to Discover Killaloe Day, which is expected to take place next March or April.Funded by Tourism Ireland and Waterways Association, the initiative will provide traders in Ballina and Killaloe with the ideal platform to showcase their vast array of services and recreational activities on the shores of Lough Derg.Ballina Killaloe Business Association vice-chairman James Whelan confirmed local traders are working hard at trying to maximise the best possible benefit from Discover Killaloe Day.“It is expected this event will be held in March or April. Every business will be doing its utmost to put their best foot forward on the day. It is vital that everything will be in tip-top shape to help the local business community kickstart the tourism season.“The traders’ association have also been working very hard since last July, trying to secure funding from LEADER for various promotion initiatives for the area and for new training in areas such as …

MEMBERS of the Shannon area Fianna Fáil organisation are urging people in the locality to think of local jobs and have launched a campaign to encourage everyone to consider shopping local and buying Irish this Christmas.At a recent meeting in the Oakwood Arms Hotel, concern was expressed at the closure of shops during the year in the SkyCourt Shopping Centre and the difficulties facing many of the traders in the centre, who have seen a serious downturn in business in recent years.This worry is shared in many other towns and villages throughout Ireland, where local shops and businesses are competing with shops in the North or the attractions of buying from abroad over the internet.In an effort to focus attention on the goods and services available locally and the return to the economy when buying Irish goods, this Friday will see members and friends gather in the SkyCourt Centre to promote a Shop local-Buy Irish campaign.Ted Germaine, chairperson of Shannon …

ON Monday night’s episode of The Apprentice, Bill Cullen said “you’re fired” to Shannon’s Chris Harold, thus ending his chance of getting a €200,000 investment in his business. The Shannon man spoke to The Clare Champion about the highs and lows of the programme and how life really was behind the scenes. Even though he was fired, Chris said the experience was “well worth it”.“It’s hard to be negative about something that I got so much out of. I think to be able to see your weaknesses and strengths from outside yourself, that’s how you work on things,” he explained.Going into the process, Chris said he had two goals, “I wasn’t going to lie and I wasn’t going to screw anyone over”.Chris sat in the final boardroom on four previous occasions, only to be fired on Monday’s show but he said he learned to pick himself back up very early on and fight his own corner.“I was rubbing people up …