Regional

THE young at heart community of Páirc Na Coille Retirement Village are hoping to find volunteers to help them learn to surf the Internet.Since Páirc Na Coille Retirement Village opened its doors to the people of Ennis and surrounds early this year, it has been welcomed with open arms by the generous-spirited people of Ennis.

AS part of their three month Equality and Diversity programme, which is being funded by a European Commission programme, Shannon and District Chamber will host a breakfast seminar in Westpark on Tuesday from 7.30am to 10.30am.

ENNIS is to host the first ever national gospel choir festival next May with gospel choirs from all over the country set to sing in the town. It has emerged that the Really Truly Joyful Gospel Choir in Ennis, who this week celebrate their fourth birthday, have been chosen to host the festival next year. “We’re delighted to be chosen to host this brand new festival. Ennis is a perfect town for such an event in that it has a wide variety of accommodation options, professional concert venues, excellent transport routes, city-style amenities in a town environment and an inspiring community spirit as seen for Muhammad Ali’s visit,” said Fiona Walsh of the Really Truly Joyful Gospel Choir.   The festival will feature workshops for choirs, as well as performances.“There are so many gospel choirs setting up in Ireland now and we don’t have a tradition of gospel music in Ireland. We need support in training, repertoire and, of course, …

AN Ennis teenager was named as the winner of the Miss Ghana Ireland 2009 competition at a ceremony in Dublin at the weekend.Jennifer Dsane, a pupil at Coláiste Muire, took the title after competing against a host of beauties of Ghanian descent living all over the country. And she now hopes to become the next Tyra Banks or Miss Universe.  

THE controversy over the closing of rights-of-way at Cluain Airne and the building of housing on a green area there was up for discussion at Monday’s meeting of Shannon Town Council and a group of protestors gathered outside to make their feelings known.

THE right-of-way, which residents objected to being blocked at Cluain Airne was not registered, Shannon Town Manager Bernadette Kinsella told this week’s meeting of the town council, although she accepted that things hadn’t been done correctly.At the meeting, Councillor Cathy McCafferty put forward a motion calling for the council to examine if correct procedures had been used in relation to the temporary extinguishment of the right-of-way between Cluain Airne and Illaunagowan Point and asked for a guarantee from the manager that the right-of-way be reinstated following the temporary extinguishment.

TOURIST attractions in the Lough Derg area have been put firmly on the digital map.Shannon Development and North Tipperary County Council teamed up to map over 220 visitor attractions and accommodation providers on Sat Nav systems, which should provide a tangible spin-off for the local economy.  

A NORTH Clare woman will highlight her talents to an international audience when she produces a show as part of the 15th annual Dublin Fringe Festival taking place later this month. Emma Pearson, who hails from Ennistymon, has performed in the festival for the past five years but this year has taken the plunge, coming up with her own show, titled Crash Test Cabaret. “It is very exciting to be in the festival. I have performed in it for the last five years in other people’s shows but this is the first time I’ll be producing my own show. It is quite difficult to get into the fringe. You have to submit a proposal but it has to be very detailed and very strong to get selected,” Emma stated.  Emma’s family is originally from the UK but her parents moved to Clare, from Leitrim, when she was a teenager. She was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Ennistymon and Salesian …