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Community’s history comes back to life on the big screen

It was lights, camera, action in the twin parish of Flagmount Killanena in 2009 when young and old were involved in capturing on film the history, folklore and tales of a bygone era.This weekend however, all will be revealed, as the public learn all there is to know about the area at the premier screening of Inside Out: A Film About our Parish, in Glór, Ennis this Saturday. Lough Graney Youth Club were thrilled to be awarded an AIB Better Ireland Award last year and were even more ecstatic to learn that their idea of creating a documentary about their community could become a reality. Having set the wheels in motion and with the help and guidance of project co-ordinator Kathleen McNamara, artist in residence, Hilary Dully, and her husband Joe Comerford, the members of the youth club learned all there was to know about operating a camera, sound, lighting and interview techniques. It was a daunting task and a …

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Jobs blow with Halifax closure

EIGHT jobs will be lost in Ennis following the announcement that Halifax is to close its retail banking business in the Republic of Ireland.A spokesman for the company said that the job losses in Ennis included full and part-time workers and that it is likely that the branch would close in June.Joe Higgins, chief executive officer of Bank of Scotland (Ireland), said that their decision hadn’t been taken lightly. “It is with deep regret that we announce our intention to close our Halifax retail business and our Bank of Scotland (Ireland) intermediary business in the Republic of Ireland, both for the colleagues who contributed strongly to building these businesses and for the customers who joined us. We have arrived at this difficult position only after an extensive and exhaustive review of all options to secure a viable future for the bank overall and for these businesses. We will be engaging in consultation with our union partners, Unite, and we will …

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Endoscopy unit funding concerns

Concern has been expressed about the absence of a written commitment from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fund the new endoscopy unit at Ennis hospital this year. Clare Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen expressed his disappointment that the 2010 HSE Service Plan contains no commitment to fund this vital diagnostic facility.“Last month, I was advised by the HSE that the new endoscopy unit at Ennis general hospital was at design stage and that following a decision being finalised on the fire certificate application that they would then be moving ahead to tender stage.  “Following the publication of the HSE Service Plan for 2010, I am very disappointed to note that there is no commitment to fund this unit this year at Ennis hospital.  “However, at the same time an additional €1.5m is earmarked for the provision of a similar unit at Nenagh hospital.  It appears that one Independent deputy in Tipperary North has far more influence than two Government …

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Mayor’s Ball to go ahead

WHILE the Shannon Mayor’s Ball was set to be a casualty of the recession, a U-turn has been made and it will now go ahead later this year.The Mayor’s Ball is one of the more notable events on Shannon’s social calendar but before Christmas, Mayor Seán McLoughlin announced that it would not be going ahead in 2010, due to the prevailing economic conditions.Councillor McLoughlin said that instead he was hoping to organise smaller fundraising events to benefit the Shannon Flyers Special Olympics Club and the Shannon Senior Citizens’ Club.However, he has now announced that the ball will go ahead, in part due to the reaction of the local public.“A lot of people came to me and they said it was a shame it wasn’t going ahead. People said that it was one of three main social events in Shannon, along with the St Patrick’s Day Parade and the performance by the Shannon Musical Society. “They are the three events that …

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Extra car-parking spaces ruled out

A LACK of finance was the reason put forward for not providing new car-parking spaces at O’Brien Park, by Clare County Council engineer Eugene O’Shea.At the February meeting of Shannon Town Council, Councillor Michael Fleming introduced a motion asking for Clare County Council to look at providing spaces in the area but in his response, Mr O’Shea ruled it out.“Due to financial constraints, it is not possible to provide these car-parking spaces in the current year,” he stated.Councillor Fleming said that there was a real problem in the area. “People come out to go to work and there are three or four cars parked every way, blocking you.”He said he understood that the council’s coffers weren’t overflowing but said that an effort might be made to find some funding.Councillor Tony McMahon said that there had been a failure of long-term planning.“This was designed for families that had one car and it should be obvious to these enlightened people that remedial …

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Shannon allotments still cheaper than Ennis

THERE will be an increase in the cost of allotments in Shannon for the coming year but they will still be less than one-third of the price being charged in Ennis.At the February meeting of Shannon Town Council, Councillor Seán McLoughlin asked for a change of dates for tenants to vacate the allotments from January 31-March 1 to November 31-January 1. He said that, if required, each tenant could be asked to sign a waiver that squatters’ rights cannot be claimed due to the change and he requested that the price of renting an allotment be frozen.In reply, Michael McNamara of Clare County Council claimed there was little point in changing the dates.“Given that a practical approach is being taken to issues that have arisen following on from the request to the allotment users to vacate their allotment for a month, it is not deemed necessary to change the dates as suggested in the motion. “In any case, having spoken …

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