Tag Archives: Banner County

A website dedicated to the promotion of tourism in Clare has gone live, as the Banner County prepares to welcome hoards of people for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in August. Clare Tourism’s new website, Clare.ie features details on where to stay, what to do and where to dine, and forms part an overall strategy of strengthening the county’s reputation as a leading domestic and international tourist destination. The website is dominated by the ‘Visit Clare’ brand, which was launched in early 2016 to showcase the key brand qualities of County Clare, including its landscapes and locations, its people and music. The ‘Visit Clare’ brand is the spine of Clare Tourism’s marketing strategy and the new website is a welcome addition to the Clare Tourism proposition, according to Paul Madden, chairperson of the organisation. “The year-long programme that promotes Clare as a County of Culture is serving as a great boost to every corner of Clare, while the upcoming Fleadh Cheoil …

WHILE pre-Christmas and festive trading was certainly no worse than in previous years, there hasn’t been much evidence of increased spending in the Banner County, according to retailers. This week, Pat Kelly, manager of SkyCourt shopping centre in Shannon, said trading was quite similar to 12 months previously. “It was on a par with previous years, not better, but on a par with previous years. There was a lot of talk about the uplift but I thought we’d see more of it.” He said that Dealz, which sells goods at discount prices, had a very good Christmas but that most of the businesses at SkyCourt “generally found it was similar to last year, not the uplift we had probably expected”. Patrick Bourke, who has men’s clothes shops in Ennis and Kilrush, said there had been an improvement, albeit not a dramatic one. “We were busy, I have to say. We’d be up on last year, not hugely up. There were …

THE Clare Champion supplement for the All-Ireland hurling final of 1995 contains a fine interview with the most senior member of the squad, Cyril Lyons. At the end of the interview, in a very thoughtful observation, Lyons, a man who has given sterling service to Clare hurling as a player, manager, selector and coach, expressed the opinion that the GAA in the county ought to capitalise on this golden opportunity of an All-Ireland appearance, to promote hurling among youngsters. “Young boys and girls, who are just beginning to play the game, will be very excited about seeing Clare in an All-Ireland final and clubs must nurture this enthusiasm. Now is the time to prepare for the future,” he said. It is now very evident that the Clare victory of 1995 marked a watershed in the fortunes of Clare hurling. Some may argue that Clare should have won more All-Ireland trophies since 1995. But when one compares Clare’s All-Ireland appearances and …

THE year 1914 was significant in both a national and international context. In June, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, in Sarajevo, an incident which would lead to the outbreak of World War 1. John Redmond’s Woodenbridge call to arms for that war, in September 1914, created a split in the Irish National Volunteer Force from which would emerge the National Volunteer Force and the Irish Volunteers. The latter would go on to shape the Irish political landscape in the years following the 1916 Rising. However, during this turbulent time, the subject dominating the headlines, in the Banner County at least, was the fact that the Clare hurlers had made history by becoming the first county to capture All-Ireland senior and junior honours in the same year, beating Laois in both finals. By Tomás Mac Conmara The story of 1914 in Clare, from a sporting, social and historical context, is told  in  this week’s …

The Clare Champion-sponsored Clare Primary Schools hurling and camogie finals were played out in splendid sunshine at Cusack Park on Tuesday and Wednesday Hundreds of children from all over the county participated in 12 finals, which produced top class fare. In fact, judging by the skill level shown by the boys and girls augurs well for the future of  hurling in the Banner County. Sixmilebridge won the Division 1 title with a hard-earned victory over Inagh/Cloonanaha. In camogie, Flagmount/Dromindoora defeated Clonlara to win the Division 1 title. Reports and photographs from all games are in this Thursday’s Clare Champion.