Tag Archives: clare champion

A MILTOWN Malbay father who died in an air crash at the weekend has been remembered as a “gentleman” with his loss described as a “terrible tragedy” ahead of his funeral mass this Thursday. Michael Flynn of Kilcorcoran, Miltown Malbay lost his life when a powered hang glider he was piloting crashed in a field off the Ballard Road about a kilometre from Miltown Malbay on Sunday. Family and friends gathered for an emotional goodbye at his funeral mass on Thursday in St Joseph’s Church, Miltown Malbay. Speaking to the Clare Champion Fr Donagh O’Meara said Mr Flynn “was a lovely character, a lovely man, just a gentleman. He was very well got in the community, very well liked.” Mr Flynn’s death has sent shockwaves across the local community. He was well known in the local area and worked as a plumber as well as being involved in farming. “It has been an awful shock for everybody. It is just …

THE Willow Counselling Centre was recently presented with funds raised from the annual When in Doubt – Pedal it Out cycle for mental health. A total of €1,575 was raised for the Ennis based service from the cycle which took place last October. Plans are now underway for this year’s cycle which is due to be held on October 29. The Willow Counselling Centre is an affordable counselling service established in 2016 to meet the needs of the people in County Clare and surrounds. They are based on Chapel Lane in Ennis and together with a team of 10 qualified and dedicated counselling/psychotherapists provide support and often a life line to those with mental health issues. They offer one to one, phone and on line counselling and deal with a variety of issues with clients of all ages. The centre recently started to develop a Play and Art Therapy Room which now has new flooring and furniture.  It is ready …

DISABLED parking spaces are regularly being “abused” according to Ennis community activist and member of the Clare Leader Forum Dermot Hayes. He was speaking as concerns were raised about a “shortage in availability” of disabled parking in Ennis at a recent meeting of councillors by Councillor Paul Murphy. There are a total of 78 disabled car parking spaces in the Ennis Municipal District urban area including four spaces due to be constructed later this year at Lower Market Street and the Friary Car Park the local authority has confirmed. Mr Hayes believes that greater enforcement is needed against those who misuse disabled parking, while also calling for more parking to be put in place suitable for the needs of people with disabilities. “People are abusing car parking for people with disabilities, it’s a regular occurrence all over the county and all over Ireland. “We fought hard and campaigned a long time for disability parking and the excuses of ‘I’m just …

ENNIS native Professor Niamh Stack has recently been appointed as the new Head of Psychology at Mary Immaculate College (MIC). She takes up the position at an exciting time for the discipline at MIC as the college welcomes the first students on the new Bachelor of Science in Psychology this September. Professor Stack joins MIC following a two-decade long spell at Scotland’s University of Glasgow, where she latterly served as Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Psychology & Neuroscience. Professor Stack’s research focuses predominantly on highly able young people but also includes a wider interest in all forms of difference and diversity in development and the important role psychology has to play at a societal level in issues around development, poverty and social justice. This interest led to important research collaborations with the Children’s Wood and G20 Youth Group charities in Glasgow and to long term volunteering roles within the British Psychological Society, where she is currently Chair of the Education and Training …

AN ART project in Ennis has helped to bring some light into the darkness in more ways than one. Working with Clare Haven, children who have been subjected to coercive control and domestic abuse have helped create two colourful murals in the town with the help of a local artist. The murals were created as part of Clare Haven’s summer therapeutic programme, with the paintings not only helping to brighten up the surroundings but also giving the children an opportunity to talk and share their feelings and experiences. The artworks were developed with the help of artist Larisa K Bevillard at the rear of Clare Haven’s office building and also at a sensory and wellness garden in Clare Haven’s refuge. Dr Siobhán O’Connor, manager of services at Clare Haven explained, “During our recent Summer Therapeutic Programme a group of young people who have been subjected to coercive control and domestic abuse, worked with local artist Larisa K Bevillard on a …

MOVING into her new home in Ennis’ newly launched Co-operative Housing Ireland Development has been an emotional “restart” for Amanda Shannon and her teenage son. Amanda sadly lost her husband five years ago, telling The Clare Champion her new home has become “healing” for her. “I think the attachment to the old house was too much so this new house has big, big meaning for me. It’s a restart.” A qualified teacher Amanda has been unable to work recently due to health issues including long Covid. Before moving into the Moínear development in Ros Leamhain she had been renting for eight years. She describes renting as “a challenge”, with her family experiencing issues such as damp and mould. “It would even be summer time and I’d have to wash the walls with a mask on because I didn’t want to breath in the mould. “During lockdown it was difficult to access care and we were in the house all the …

A ‘World of Welcome’ has been extended to local primary schools as part of a new inclusive arts and education programme launched by Clare Libraries. The programme consists of a five-week course that encourages children to celebrate diversity through the arts. Pupils will visit their nearest library branch each Monday to attend interactive workshops with arts practitioners, where they will explore the topics of diversity and inclusion through puppetry, drama, music, creative writing, and podcasting. Arts practitioners include children’s author Debbie Thomas, musician Niamh O’Brien, podcaster Oisín O Cualáin, puppeteer Sarah Fuller, and actor and theatre maker Zara Starr. The participating schools are Flagmount National School in Caher, Doonaha National School in Kilkee, Ennis Educate Together National School, St Conaire’s National School in Shannon, and Ballyvaughan National School. All participating students will come together for a special celebration in glór, Ennis on Wednesday, October 19, where storyteller Niall de Búrca promises to deliver a “hooley of tales” guaranteed to captivate his …

NEW homes officially launched in Ennis this week are a “significant contribution” to meeting the county capital’s social housing need. That’s according to Ennis Mayor Clare Colleran Molloy who was speaking at the launch by Co-operative Housing Ireland of 69 new homes in Moínear, a development in Ros Leamhain, Ennis. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor Tony O’Brien officially opened the estate on Wednesday saying, “The direct delivery of homes by local authorities, and Approved Housing Bodies such as Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI), is pivotal in addressing housing need across Ireland. “The homes in Moínear are truly affordable, with rents linked to household income, and will provide security for CHI members. In addition to the 69 homes in Moínear, CHI has helped to deliver 78 much-needed homes in Clare since 2020.” He pointed out the new houses are in a residential area within easy reach of Ennis town centre and near local amenities including a shopping centre which is served …