Regional

ENNIS’ newly elected Mayor Michael Guilfoyle wasted no time in outlining his plans for his year in office, announcing moments after his election this week that he intends to honour people who have made a difference in the town.Speaking after taking the chain of office on Monday, he said, “With the support of the members of the council, I would like to see a return of civic recognition for people who have made a difference to the town. In the next couple of months, I would like people who have made a difference, whether this year or 20 years ago.”At the mayoral election, Councillor Guilfoyle, who lost his seat on the council in 2004 and regained it again in 2009, was likened to that other Turnpike man Muhammad Ali, with Councillor Frankie Neylon describing him as “The Comeback Kid”.“They say people from the Turnpike are great fighters and you proved that when you came back,” said Councillor Neylon.Councillor Guilfoyle was …

FOLLOWING the rowing success of last year’s Clarecastle Regatta, the event will return once again this July. Organisers are promising an event to remember, with activities to entertain both the young, and young at heart.Performing the official launch will be Sean McGowan, who single handedly rowed across the Atlantic Ocean last year. Sean’s grandmother was originally from Clarecastle and he has strong ties to the area. He said he is delighted to have been asked to launch the regatta adding, “Clarecastle is a lovely place with lovely people and I am really looking forward to the regatta.”This year’s regatta will take place on Saturday, July 9 on the River Fergus and its banks. The regatta was a popular annual summer event in years gone by and last year, it was revitalised.According to Donal Carey, chairman of the organising committee, “The Clarecastle Regatta was staged last year for the first time in over 20 years and a very successful and enjoyable …

AT the opening of the new €240,000 state-of-the-art Tim Smythe Park playground this week, Councillor Peter Considine moved to allay the concerns of local residents after the playground became the scene for anti-social behaviour in recent months.“The CCTV cameras are up and running and the lighting is well on its way… I’m sure it will settle down and the playground will benefit families from both inside and outside the town of Ennis. The vision of this is of a family orientated facility,” he said.Councillor Considine, who performed the opening ceremony alongside then mayor of Ennis, Councillor Tommy Brennan, commented, “Like all projects, there are teething problems and initial fears and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of Ennis Town Council who early on when the worries of local residents began to raise their heads, they went into an intensive consultation process. This process is ongoing and I think it has been very, very successful,” the …

THEY say every dog has its day. Well in Ennis this weekend, hundreds of dogs will have their very own doggy day in aid of two local charities. Darren O’Connor of Doggy Daycare at the Ballymaley Business Park has organised a five-kilometre dog walk and family fun day for this Sunday. He is expecting nearly 500 pooches to get involved and help raise money for these worthy causes.The sponsored walk will raise funds for Paw Pourri Rescue Centre and Clare Animal Welfare and Darren is encouraging dog lovers to come along and show their support. You don’t even have to own a dog to get involved, as a number of dogs currently looking for foster homes will also be there on the day for people to walk.The event begins at 11am at Doggy Day Care and owners and their dogs will walk five kilometres from the Ballymaley Business Park to Ballyalla and back again. As well as the walk, there …

SHANNON businesses are being urged to get behind a new group looking to cut commercial rates.Tenants at the town centre were written to last week with information about the ‘Employers for Affordable Rates’ group and Darragh O’Connor, who has the Texaco station in Shannon, said he is hoping Clare business people will support it. “I heard about it starting up and I got in contact with them. “I found there wasn’t much happening in the Clare area so I offered to try and get businesses in. It turns out John Dillane in the Ennis Chamber is involved and both of us are trying to get businesses in Clare working. This started off as Wexford Employers Against Rates and it has turned into Employers For Affordable Rates and it’s being rolled out to the other counties,” he said.He said while other people may be suffering more than himself, the burden of rates is still very onerous. “It’s very serious. For me, …

ON Tuesday night Councillor Mary Brennan was elected Mayor of Shannon for the coming year. She has already held the mayoral chain for the last couple of weeks, having taken office a little early following the election of Tony Mulcahy to Seanad Éireann. Councillor Brennan was elected unopposed on Tuesday and speaking to The Clare Champion afterwards she said she is enjoying her role. “I took over a few weeks ago and I’m really enjoying it. I’ve been to loads of functions and it’s a great honour.”She feels employment is the biggest issue facing local Government and her own family has been hit by emigration. “One of my sons went to Canada three weeks ago and the other one is going to Perth next Wednesday. 2It’s a shame that the airport is being used more for goodbyes than hellos,” she said.Councillor Brennan said she wants to see co-operation across party lines on the council. “All of the councillors have been …

History hung heavily in the Meelick air last Sunday at the commemorative celebrations honouring the 90th anniversary of a local ambush.Members of the Meelick Ambush Committee were rewarded for their months of hard work when a number of events to mark the death of two members of the IRA’s East Clare Brigade went off without a hitch. Even the gods smiled kindly on the committee, as the sun shone throughout the proceedings.Christopher McCarthy and Michael Gleeson were shot dead by British soldiers during the War of Independence when an IRA plan to raid the Limerick to Ennis train went awry on June 15, 1921.Just before the new monument was being unveiled honouring the deceased duo near the railway bridge on the Woodcock Hill Road, Meelick, the Limerick to Ennis train flew past and the driver blew the horn.Michael Gleeson’s grand-nephew, Tom Gleeson turned to the re-enactment group and joked, “Don’t attack this train today”. Three generations of the Gleeson and …

OVER 60 businesses in the twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe have supported the biggest line-up of family fun-filled events for the eagerly-awaited Féile Brian Boru Festival.Local traders are anticipating a major boost in their tills over the coming days as people from the Mid-West flock to the lakeside town for an action-packed programme.Speaking at the official launch of the festival in the Lakeside Hotel, Ballina, Killaloe on Thursday night, committee chairman, John Grimes confirmed the support they received on a local level was phenomenal.“The 2011 programme of events is the biggest yet. Féile Brian Boru 2011 is another milestone on the road to the build-up to the millennium celebrations in 2014,” he said.Speaking to The Clare Champion, Mr Grimes said over 100 young Irish dancers took part in the feis in the Lakeside Hotel on Sunday. They included entrants from Cork, Dublin and one from the United States of America.He said initiatives such as the Arts Trail brought a …