SEVERAL fundraising swims and walks will be held across Clare on Christmas Day and on St Stephen’s Day. The Kilrush swim will take place at Aylevaroo beach at 11.15am. Proceeds go to Kilrush RNLI and Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation. Contact Therese on 086-8717452 for sponsorship cards.
Meanwhile the 12th annual swim in Gortlass Lake, Kildysart will again take place on Christmas Day at 12noon. All funds raised are donated to the cancer centre in Kilkee. Contact John O’Connell on 087-9672442.
Doonbeg GAA club will host a Jack and Jill Foundation fundraising swim at the White Strand at 12.30pm on December 25 while the GAA clubs in Killaloe and Ballina will benefit from the Christmas Day swim at Two Mile Gate on 12.30pm on Christmas Day. More information is available from Christy McGrath on 061-376245.
The annual Christmas Day swim will take place at Flaggy Shore, New Quay on Christmas morning while a swim will be held at Fanore on St Stephen’s Day from 11am. A Christmas Day walk will take place from Whitegate GAA clubhouse at 12 noon in aid of Raheen Community Hospital.
A 5km run and walk will take place in Kilkee on St Stephen’s Day in support of West Clare Gaels ladies football club. Registration will take place at Kilkee Community Centre from 10.30am while walks will also be held at Mount Callan on December 26 from 10am in aid of The Ray of Sunshine Foundation.
The Clare GOAL Mile will be held at The Fairgreen, Ennis (St Joseph’s hospital side entrance) on Christmas Day from 11am to 1pm. GOAL is hoping this year’s run will help highlight the plight of people displaced from Syria, South Sudan and other conflict regions of the world.
The annual five kilometre Turkey Trot, promoted by Marian Athletic Club, will take place at 12 noon on Saint Stephen’s Day. Registration at Waterpark House, Drumbiggle, Ennis from11.15am. Beneficiaries from this year’s event will be the RNLI, Ennis Branch and Cahercalla Hospice. There will be no entry fee for participants, however all donations will be gratefully received and will be divided equally between the beneficiaries.
Ennis Sub Aqua Club will embark on a serious fund raising effort during the next three weeks to raise funds to support their search and recovery activities and the running of the club. On St Stephen’s Day there will be a sponsored Fin Swim on the River Fergus passing over the Falls at the Mill Road and under Five Bridges.
By Peter O’Connell
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.