Tag Archives: clare champion

AN Ennis car dealership and the Clare Senior Hurling Team are helping to drive the campaign by late Laura Brennan’s family to raise awareness of the HPV vaccine. On Saturday the Sheils Motor Group presented Senior Hurling manager Brian Lohan alongside players Conor Cleary, David Fitzgerald and David Reidy, and kitman Niall Romer, with their new kit van. For the second year in a row the van has been emblazoned with the HPV vaccine logo, highlighting Laura’s message to get the vaccine and save lives. Laura’s parents Bernie and Larry were at the presentation to see first-hand how much their daughter continues to be an inspiration two years after her tragic passing. Larry told The Champion, “We are truly thankful to T Sheils, the management and staff, for continuing Laura’s legacy in this way by putting the HPV logo on the side of the van along with the hashtag ‘Thank You Laura’, and to Brian Lohan and the Clare senior …

AN Ennis project delivered by Irish Water in partnership with Clare County Council has been shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious Water Industry Awards, which celebrate excellence across the water sector in Ireland and Britain. The optimisation work and improvements to the treatment process undertaken at Ennis North Wastewater Treatment Plant made the final shortlist in the ‘Asset Optimisation Initiative of the Year’ category. Teams from Irish Water and Clare County Council worked closely together to deliver this project which resulted in significant improvements in the performance and sustainability of the plant, serving a population of 25,000. As a result of this work, the energy consumed at the plant was reduced by 53%, or the equivalent of 789,000 kiloWatt hours per annum. Noise issues at the plant were also addressed, while its overall capacity was increased. The Ennis project is one of six Irish Water projects to be shortlisted for an award. Niall Gleeson, Managing Director of Irish Water, …

THE skin on his hands may be sore and blistered, but for Michael Casey it has all been worth it. The Ennis man has raised more than €10,000 for the ISPCC’s Childline by recently completing 100 pull ups every day for 100 days. And on his final day, he decided to make the challenge even more difficult by doing 800 pull-ups, including 300 with added weights. He explains that he chose to do 800 reps on his final day to represent the 800 children and young people who contact Childline every day. He took on 500 pull ups using his own body weight, another 200 with 10kg attached, 80 more with 20kg and his last 20 reps with 25kg attached. Speaking to the Clare Champion after completing the mammoth endeavour he says, “That was tough, by the end of it I was just doing two reps at a time. Physically that was the hardest part of the whole thing. “I’d …

AN ambitious roadmap for tourism development which aims to make Clare a “globally-renowned sustainable and vibrant destination”, is being unveiled this Thursday. Clare County Council, supported by Fáilte Ireland, is launching the ‘County Clare Tourism Strategy 2030’, setting out the development of tourism in County Clare post-Covid and over the next decade. The focus of the strategy is on strengthening leadership and collaboration, improving connectivity, building vibrant experiences, enhancing supporting infrastructure and knowledge, and creating awareness.  Strategic priorities set out in the plan include working to develop the profile, experiences and infrastructure of Ennis as a core hub attraction and gateway to the county, as well as working with community partners to strengthen the role of towns and villages as destination hubs. Others include working with Shannon Airport to secure and sustain new routes; prioritising the development of the West Clare Rail Greenway; promoting the Lower Lough Derg as a signature destination; establishing sustainable travel options designed to support tourism …

PEOPLE in Clare will soon be able to apply to build a house from the comfort of their couch, with plans in place for the introduction of online planning applications. It is expected that the new system will be implemented by Clare County Council next year. Councillor Cillian Murphy outlined the need for an online system to submit planning applications at the monthly meeting of the council. He described it as “crazy” that people prepare planning applications digitally on a computer before printing them out and travelling to the planning office, where they are then digitised again by scanning. He said this is a waste of resources, pointing out there would be environmental benefits if planning agents did not have to travel to the planning office. Councillor Donna McGettigan agreed that it “makes sense” to allow planning applications to be made online. Councillor Gerry Flynn stated that it “seems practical”, however he cautioned that not everybody has computer skills. “This …

CLARE County Council will light up Áras Contae an Chláir in teal next month to show its support for World Ovarian Cancer Day. At this month’s meeting of the local authority it was confirmed that the council’s headquarters would be lit up on May 8 to raise awareness of ovarian cancer which has been dubbed ‘the silent killer’. The date also marks the 11th anniversary of the founding of the Clare Cancer Support Centre (Sláinte an Chlár) in Kilnamona. A joint motion requesting that Áras Contae an Chláir be lit up in honour of World Ovarian Cancer day while also acknowledging the anniversary of the Clare Cancer Support Centre was proposed by Councillors Clare Colleran Molloy, Susan Crawford and John Crowe. The council headquarters will join other high profile buildings nationwide in the action including the Mansion House, the National Concert Hall, the Titanic Building, Cork City Hall, UCC, NUIG, Kilkenny Castle and the Rock of Cashel. Councillor Colleran Molloy …

Plans to honour group that has been instrumental in Clare’s cultural life ‘when the time is right’ THE instrumental role that the Ennis Brass Band have played in the county has been highlighted this week with plans now underway to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Local representatives in the Ennis Municipal District have agreed to mark the historic anniversary, however because of Covid-19 it is unclear when the celebration will take place and what form it will take. Councillor Ann Norton, at the monthly meeting of the local authority, proposed that the band be honoured for “their work and dedication to the town and county”. The motion was widely agreed with tributes paid to the work of those involved in the band. Putting forward the motion, Councillor Norton said she was “very conscious of the fact we are in a pandemic” but she believed it was appropriate to bring to the attention of the Council that the Ennis Brass Band is …

AN online consultation portal alongside videos, webinars and public events are just some of the measures Clare County Council has developed in a bid to encourage public engagement with the preparation of the Clare County Development Plan 2022-2028. Details of the communication methods, which will also include traditional and social media, were released at a meeting of Clare County Council, at which Councillor PJ Ryan stressed the importance of keeping the public informed on changes to the plan. The councillor urged the Council to “put in place a robust communication system to inform people whose property status changes in the new county development plan and also communicate with communities where alternative energy zoning is under consideration”. He stated that he has met members of the public after the completion of development plans who were not aware of changes that would affect their properties. “I think the traditional way of conveying to people is just not working, we need to come …