Tag Archives: clare champion

WORLD Refugee Day is being celebrated in Ennis this weekend with Clare Immigrant Support Centre organising a gathering to celebrate the day this Sunday, June 19, in Ennis’ Fair Green at 5.30pm. Orla Ní Éilí of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre explains World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. She explains that Sunday’s event is an opportunity to celebrate refugees in our community. “It celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding of refugees life circumstances and to recognize the resilience involved in rebuilding their lives.” World Refugee Day has been marked in Ennis since 1998 with Ms Ní Éilísaying Clare Immigrant Support Centre “is privileged to have a unique role in supporting and working with and for refugees in Clare”. This year, the focus …

A KILMALEY woman who recently ran the VHI women’s mini-marathon in memory of her father has raised more than €2,000 for a national cancer charity. Mary Griffin’s father Brendan passed away last year following a battle with oesophageal cancer. On Sunday, June 5 Mary alongside two of her father’s nieces braved the pouring rain to run the mini-marathon in Dublin, the first time that the event has been run physically since 2019. She tells she was inspired to do the marathon in memory of her “precious father Brendan, who passed away in November, aged 65, after a tough battle with oesophageal cancer.” She explains she decided to run in the 10km event as she wanted to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer as well as raising much needed funds for the Oesophageal Cancer Fund, the national charity for Oesophageal Cancer in Ireland. Mary recalls her father was first diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in April 2019 after experiencing food sticking …

THE chair of Clare Labour is among objectors to plans for the construction of housing in Lahinch, saying the proposal should be refused until the local sewage treatment system is improved. John Talty Construction Ltd has applied to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a development of eight houses, comprising six detached and two semi-detached homes together with all associated site development works, wastewater pre-treatment and connections to public services at Cill Stuifin, School Road, Attycristora, Lahinch. Objecting to the plans, Denis Vaughan who in January was elected chair of the Labour Party in Clare, argues, “There are reports of people swimming at that place becoming ill because of untreated sewage in the water. “For that reason permission should be refused until the sewage treatment system is improved. I also believe the Lahinch water supply is inadequate and that is another reason to believe the application must be rejected at this time.” He outlines that a recent application …

THE Lough Derg RNLI were called on to help two people whose cruiser had run aground recently. Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist two people on a 36ft cruiser aground outside the Garrykennedy old harbour wall. At 7.15pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Doireann Kennedy, Joe O’Donoghue and Ciara Lynch on board. As the lifeboat was launching, Valentia Coast Guard informed the volunteers that a person on shore had reported that local boats had taken the cruiser off the rocks, but requested the lifeboat proceed as they were not given an update on the two people on board or the current whereabouts of the cruiser.   The lifeboat arrived at Garrykennedy within seven minutes and RNLI crew identified the casualty vessel tied alongside an outside jetty in the new Garrykennedy Harbour. After RNLI volunteers established that both people were safe, a crew member went aboard the casualty vessel to check under …

A BESPOKE video and series of interactive maps that introduce newly arrived Ukrainian people to vital county services has been developed by the Clare Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC). The project, led by Tusla staff member Sinead Collopy, coordinator with the CYPSC in Clare, is an information and signposting initiative delivered in the Ukrainian language. Identifying gaps in service provision and signposting is one of the Clare CYPSC’s key strategic aims. Together with other CYPSC partner agencies, the initiative gathered momentum as numbers of Ukrainians arriving in the county increased rapidly. The Clare Ukrainian support video introduces Ukrainians to the county, simply explaining where the main towns and cities are and what facilities are available, from transport links to educational services. The video also describes what the principal industries are, from farming and tourism to manufacturing parks and industrial estates. There are four maps to cover areas in Clare – Ennis; Shannon; Kilkee village and Kilrush town in …

SEVEN decades after the discovery of Doolin Cave one of the original cavers who made this amazing find returned to North Clare at the weekend to help mark the momentous anniversary. Doolin Cave has celebrated its 70th birthday marking its discovery by cavers, Brian Varley and J M (Mike) Dickenson in 1952. Brian, who celebrates his 90th birthday this year, returned to Doolin where a commemorative plaque acknowledging the cavers’ achievement was unveiled. Helen Browne, proprietor of Doolin Cave Visitor Centre with husband John, explained that the plaque has been placed on the way into the cave so everybody who visits will be able to share in Brian and Mike’s story and the hard work which led to their great discovery. “It was very special for us to be able to welcome Brian to Doolin Cave, he is such an amazing character. We were honoured to have him return to the cave to unveil a plaque dedicated to him and …

OBJECTORS to plans for the construction of a new housing development in an historic Ennis area designated an Opportunity Site in the County Development Plan have insisted they don’t want it to become an “opportunity lost”. Two separate appeals by residents against the proposal have now been lodged with An Bord Pleanala following the granting of permission by Clare County Council to Eko Integrated Services Ltd for the ‘Buttermarket Development’ of 37 residential units and a cafe with digital working hub at the Drumbiggle Road, Buttermarket Street and Simm’s Lane. The site is in an Architectural Conservation Area of Ennis. An appeal has been lodged by Mary Burke and Pat Conboy who have purchased and are renovating a property on Carmody Street. In a previous submission to the council during the initial planning application, they argued that the proposed density of the development “will entirely destroy the fabric of this neighbourhood.” And a separate appeal, lodged by local Stephen Loftus …

A WINDOW of opportunity for creativity at St Joseph’s Hospital was created as part of the recently held National Arts in Nursing Homes Day. Clare based artist Rachel Macmanus visited the Ennis hospital and painted an artwork inspired by the stained glass windows of St Joseph’s church to the delight of residents. The project was one of a number of nationwide events for National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, held as part of Age & Opportunity’s Bealtaine Festival. Rachel, who has been a part of other creative projects at the hospital pre-Covid 19, tells us she was happy to be able to return to St Joseph’s. Drawing upon the stained glass windows of St Joseph’s Church as inspiration, Rachel painted her own version of the windows directly onto the windows of the hospital’s Sun Room, a congregational gathering space for the residents of the hospital. “The windows of St Joseph’s Church are very beautiful and tranquil and my idea was to bring some of …