West Clare

THE son of a former Loop Head Lighthouse keeper continues to break records for longevity, recently celebrating his 108th birthday.  One of Ireland’s oldest citizens, Mathew Crowley was born In Askeaton, County Limerick in 1914. The son of James Crowley, Principal Lighthouse Keeper at Loop Head, Matthew’s mother was Amelia ‘Millie’ Crowley (née Colfer) from Fethard-on-Sea in Wexford.  Plenty of hard work and lots of excitement may be the secret to a long and happy life, as Matthew played in a central role in Britain’s war effort from 1939 to 1945, before later working for Irish Lights. Matthew was recruited from Ford Motor Company, Cork City, Ireland, to Ford Motor Company, Dagenham in Essex. With the advent of World War II, aircraft engine production superseded automobile engines, and Matthew’s subsequent designation was as an ‘essential worker’ for the British war effort. With the advent of the Hawker Hurricane fighter airplane, he was initially recruited to the assembly team of Hawker-Sidley …

NESTLED in the rolling hills between Inagh and Cloonanaha, Michael Callinan’s family farm is both productive and peaceful. “It was a different world, coming out here on a Friday,” said Occupational Therapist (OT), Kathríona Moloney. Along with Imelda Hogan from Ennis, Kathríona formed part of a group who visited the farm between February and May, experiencing the changing rhythm of the seasons and enjoying the benefits of social farming. Activities for the group included feeding cattle, growing vegetables, planting hanging baskets and the odd visit to see ‘Romeo’, the bull – depending on his mood. Imelda’s face lit up when she recalled her weekly visits. “I loved it,” she said. “It was a lot of fun.” Michael is one the first Clare farmers to open up his home and farm, so that people from all walks of life can access social and other supports. He has around 80 livestock, on a 50-acre suckler farm with another 20 acres rented out. …

Doonbeg locals do not want a repeat of “very nasty comments” made about Doonbeg online by ‘anti-Trump people’ ahead of the ex-US President’s planned private trip to his golf resort in west Clare next month. Doonbeg publican, Tommy Comerford said that President Donald Trump’s 2019 visit to west Clare was marked by “nasty comments” made by ‘anti-Trump people’ about the west Clare village. The visit coincides with speculation that Doonbeg could be chosen to host a golf tournament on the controversial LIV Tour, which is attracting big name players away from the established PGA and European Tours. Two of Trump’s golf courses in the US, Bedminster and Doral are staging LIV Golfevents in 2022 and Trump’s Doonbeg Golf Course was designed by Greg Norman, LIV CEO, who is said to be determined to bring an event to the west Clare venue. Doonbeg publican, Tommy Comerford said that President Donald Trump’s 2019 visit to west Clare was marked by “nasty comments” …

Joseph Woulfe believes the energy crisis means we must continue to burn turf   EVERYONE in our family visits the bog almost every year. It’s our pilgrimage in some ways. it has been done for generations – to use what nature offers in our locality to heat us through the winter period. I remember my late father, Charles, building a special timber wheelbarrow to bring the sle’an turf from the bank and carefully laying the sods out to dry in the summer sunshine at Jack at Rita Moroney’s Bog near Mullagh. On the way home from a hard day’s work, we would be given a treat (or perhaps you could call it a bribe) of ice cream at Sexton’s Shop in Mullagh or the Crosses of Annagh. Over time, we moved to a more mechanised bog system in Kilmihil where the Coughlan family use a hopper. In primary school, we learned all about fossil fuels, how they grew and, over …

Halla Eoin, Kilbaha, which served as the parish national school until 1962, has been given a new lease of life and is set for an official reopening this Sunday, writes Mary Keane. The hall has been transformed into a local community hall which incorporates a heritage display. Following a public meeting, held in a dilapidated hall in Halla Eoin in 2018, a committee of dedicated volunteers, with Krystyna Pomeroy as chairperson, was set up to progress the dream and bring it to fruition. It was most certainly the support given by the local Fine Gael county councillor Gabriel Keating along with his pledge of funds from the General Municipal Fund which helped to make the dream a reality. This money, together with a substantial grant from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme enabled the work to begin. The refurbishments were carried out over a period of three years. Most of the work took place during the Covid 19 pandemic. Halla …

OFFSHORE energy opportunities could turn West Clare into the “Aberdeen of the wind industry”, local authority members have heard. A debate on the potential of the renewable energy sector to transform the local economy was triggered at the July meeting of Clare County Council by a motion from Councillor Joe Killeen. The Fianna Fáil member sought an outline of current and future efforts to harness offshore wind and wave energy and “efforts to position Clare as the location that companies throughout Europe will choose when considering investment in renewable energy”. Councillor Killeen also called for a seminar, in the autumn, on renewable energy. “If you’re not pushing forward, then you’re in reverse,” he said. “We will be overtaken when it comes to renewable energy. This is a Europe-wide issue. The most appropriate place for this industry is along the West Clare coast.” Referring to the deadline for submissions on the work of the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce, which is Friday, …

BROADCASTER Therese McInerney will launch her new album at The Westbridge in Miltown Malbay on Saturday, July 30 at 8pm.  Entitled ‘The Youth that Belongs to Miltown’, the album is a stunning collaboration with fellow Miltown native, Marian Curtin. Already garnering rave reviews, this exciting new album of traditional Irish fiddle and flute music comprises of selections of tunes deeply rooted in West Clare. It also features newer compositions paired with fine accompaniment. Joining Marian and Therese are some of Ireland’s finest musicians including Aileen O’Callaghan on piano, Ger Naughton on bouzouki and bodhrán, Eimear Coughlan on harp and Sharon Howley on cello all sewn together beautifully in studio by the talented Martin O’Malley. The timeless blend of the flute and fiddle is enhanced by the addition of piano, bouzouki, bodhrán, harp and cello as well the added bonus of a few steps from Conor and John Fennell. The talented young musicians were described by Harry Hughes of Scoil Samhraidh …

Last Friday week proved to be an emotional day for Gerry O’Malley, as he closed the door in Kilrush Post Office for the last time after 51 years’ service to An Post, including 15 years as a contractor. Kilrush Post Office in Francis Street, which was built in 1957, is now closed to the public for counter services apart from undelivered mail as retail services have transferred to SuperValu in the town. This building will still be used by local postmen. “A big crowd turned up to see me retire. We were told to close at 4pm because of the transition. We took photographs had a party in my house afterwards. It is a big change not having to get up for work in the morning,” he said. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Gerry said the new buzzword in An Post is co-location as they want post offices to be located in existing business premises. The 69-year-old father-of-two …