Regional

Kickboxing in Galway has never been stronger and after the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) sanctioned event in Gort community hall on Saturday night, it has moved to an even higher level.Local fighter, Eric Daly, the current All-Ireland and five nations full-contact kickboxing champion, took on European number one ranked fighter, Sarwar Hamid, who fights out of the well-respected Kicks Gym in Brighton under the guidance of Chris Kent.The prize on this occasion was the IKF European Super lightweight full-contact kickboxing title.The fight, which was, the main event, lived up to all expectations and went the full championship distance between the two world-class athletes and had the crowd in a frenzy throughout.“Both men tipped the scales spot-on the weight division and entered the ring in tip-top condition and their fitness was a credit to both camps. The pace was incredible, with Daly and Hamid showing superb kicking ability coupled with excellent boxing skills but it was Daly who really impressed the …

SPORTS tourism is being hailed as the key to generating a significant economic spin-off from Lough Derg, after the first open water swim event generated an estimated €250,000 for businesses in the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina.According to Shannon Development, over 250 people participated in the inaugural Immersed in Ireland (i3) open water swim event, which took place on Lough Derg at Killaloe/Ballina recently.This included 87 people who completed the gruelling 5km swim from the University of Limerick Activity Centre at Ballycuggeran through the new canal gates opened by Waterways Ireland and onto the slipway in Ballina.Pat Day, tourism and marketing manager, Shannon Development, said the company is very pleased with the event. “Over 900 spectators and competitors, 25% from outside the Shannon Region travelling from as far as Donegal and Sligo, visited Killaloe/Ballina during the course of the two-day event. “In association with the University of Limerick Activity Centre and with the continued support of the local authorities …

A NORTH Clare woman was named the winner of the county’s 2011 Grandparent of the Year competition. Ann Droney from Lisdoonvarna was nominated by her 10-year-old grandchild, David Droney.National Grandparents Day, held on the last Sunday of September each year, encourages all grandchildren across Ireland to visit their grandparents and say thank you for all the love and support they have given over the years.According to David, his nana is a very special person and a well-deserved winner of the best grandparent in Clare accolade.“My Nana and Granddad live on a farm in Lisdoonvarna and I want to be a farmer when I grow up. Since I was born, my Dad has taken me to the farm every Saturday. My Nana plays tractors with me and tells me all about the farm and how things work. We have great fun together and I love her and Granddad so much. My Nana has a very sore back and can’t play on …

There are many pieces of research that show if parents are interested in what their children are doing in school, children do much better. This is the main theme of a Comenius Regio EU-funded RoFaL project running in Ennis between four groups – Clare Family Learning Project, part of Clare Adult Basic Education Service, Clare Immigrant Support Centre, Educate Together National School and Ennis Community College. The project in County Clare is twinned with six partners in Aydin, Turkey, including a local primary school and university. One of the main objectives of the partnership is to produce a booklet for supporting parents to help their children learn. The booklet, called Helping Your Children Do Well In School, is in Czech, Slovak and English and has been illustrated by children in Ennis Educate Together National School and Ennis Community College.The booklet was officially launched in Ennis Community College by Anca Minescu, lecturer in psychology in UL and researcher for the Migration, …

Traders in Ennis have united to oppose the proposed variation in the Ennis and Environs Development Plan to facilitate a proposed large district centre on the outskirts of town.The current variation, which is expected be voted on at Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council next month, includes a provision that would support a planning application for a major new retail development of over 7,834 square metres with 610 car parking spaces on the Limerick Road.Gearóid Mannion, of O’Connell Street traders, warned “Ennis Town Centre was on its knees” and stressed the town council had to do its utmost to protect its retention as a viable shopping area.Expressing grave concern about the impact of an out-of-town district centre on the town centre, he said this would be too risky because of the expected adverse impact on local traders.Noreen Walsh, of Parnell Street, traders appealed to the council for its assistance because business was on its last legs in the town …

THE possibility of developing a tourist ferry between the Loop Head peninsula and the Kerry coast was raised at this week’s Kilrush Electoral Area meeting.Councillor Pat Keane proposed that Clare County Council, in conjunction with Kerry County Council, examine the possibility of a ferry link between the two peninsulas during the summer months.The meeting heard suggestions that the ferry on the Clare side could operate from Kilbaha, Kilcredaun or Carrigaholt, depending upon the depth of water required at the pier on the Clare side.“It is hoped that the pier in Carrigaholt is going to be extended,” Councillor Gabriel Keating commented.“On the basis that the motion is agreed by the members of the West Clare Electoral Area, this council has no difficulty in engaging with Shannon Development and representatives from Kerry County Council to assess if potential exists for the development of a ferry service between the two peninsulas,” Ger Dollard, director of services, said on behalf of Clare County Council. …

TOURISM-related developments in areas such as Holy Island on Lough Derg could be adversely affected by a re-designation of a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds, Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes has warned.Councillor Hayes has expressed concern that the classification of all of Lough Derg as a SPA for birds will impose even more restrictions and obstacles for people who want to seek planning permission for new tourism enterprises on the shores of the lake.The mayor said people in West Clare were extremely concerned the SPA designation would hinder development on the Shannon Estuary.“Lough Derg is the equivalent of the Shannon Estuary for people in East Clare. I am not happy to see all of Lough Derg designated as an SPA. We don’t have too many areas open in East Clare for new projects and I don’t want to see any more obstacles being put in front of local residents and business people,” he said.He proposed at a recent …

There’s a new dog in town as Ennis National School welcomes Mackey their Reading Education Assistance Dog (READ), as part of a new initiative aimed at improving students reading skills.Students at the school are having regular reading sessions with Mackey, that follow on from a reading to dogs movement that began in the US.  Now a widespread practice in libraries, schools and even correctional facilities both in the US and in Canada, a number of educational authorities in the UK have also begun to introduce this experience to their students. Teachers at Ennis National School became interested in the idea last spring but it took some time to find a willing dog-owner with a suitable dog. Luckily, Ennis resident Hilary O’Sullivan heard about the project and came forward with her dog Mackey. Hilary has nephews attending the school, and she was delighted to bring Mackey in for a trial run. Fortunately, the children took to her straight away, and Mackey …