Tag Archives: clare champion

THE Cuban Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Hugo Ramos Milanes, will be the speaker at an event in North Clare next week. On Thursday, October 28 at 8.30pm in Hotel Doolin the ambassador will speak about Cuba’s place in the modern world, including the country’s links with Clare and its work in helping fight Covid-19. Denis Vaughan of the North Clare Labour Party is urging people to come along to what he describes as a “very interesting evening”, adding, “Cuba is a fascinating story and Ambassador Milanes is an inspirational speaker”. “His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Hugo Ramos Milanes will discuss Cuba’s place in the modern world, its struggle for independence similar to Ireland, Cuba’s amazing medical help to 15 countries in fighting the Covid Virus, Ireland – Cuba relations and Che Guevara’s visit to Clare in the 1960s.” Denis continues, “Could we in Ireland survive if we had 11 million people and were embargoed illegally for the last 60 years by the USA? …

AN Ennis man has been promoted to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) for the Defence Forces. Major General Adrian Ó Murchú, originally from Hermitage and son of the late Christy and Bridie Murphy, took up his new role from September 29 having been appointed by the government.  In this role he is responsible for personnel, logistics, infrastructure, finance, legal, medical and other combat service support functions for Defence Forces activities at home and overseas.    General Ó Murchú joined the Permanent Defence Forces in 1982 as a member of the 59th Cadet Class. Prior to that, he spent several years in the Army Reserve (22nd Infantry Battalion FCA) in Ennis. After commissioning, he saw early service in the 6th Infantry Battalion, the Army Ranger Wing, Military Intelligence and the Infantry School. Later appointments included Second in Command of the 5th Infantry Battalion, Chief Instructor of the Cadet School, School Commandant of the UN Training School Ireland and Commanding Officer of the DF’s …

A PORTRAIT of the late Ennis health campaigner Laura Brennan has been unveiled at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Laura, who died in 2019 of cervical cancer aged just 26, worked tirelessly in her final months to promote the HPV vaccine. Laura’s portrait is the first of a health advocate who is not a doctor to be added to the RCPI’s collection. Laura’s family travelled to Dublin for the unveiling, describing the portrait as a “fitting tribute to Laura who was a truly wonderful person and is testament to her outstanding contribution to boosting the take up of the HPV vaccine in Ireland. Her legacy will continue  into the future and we are delighted to be here today in this historic building for this very special occasion.” The portrait was launched at the start of the RCPI annual flagship event, St Luke’s Symposium that focuses this year on Global Vaccination. The painting has been hung in the Stearne room in No 6 …

PLANS by Clare hurling manager Brian Lohan for a new Aldi store in Ennis are being challenged by a number of objectors who have lodged appeals to An Bord Pleanala. Among those opposing the proposal are the representative body for independent grocery store owners The Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA). The group stated, “If left unchecked the cumulative effect of significant new convenience retail developments at multiple neighbourhood locations poses a real threat to the future vitality and viability of the town centre. “This has the potential to compromise the delivery of town centre expansion.” Appeals have also been lodged by Paul and Kay Ryan of Ryan’s Centra and Harnett Homes and Estate Developers. Moam Property Ltd & Lohan Property Ltd are behind the plans for a change of use from a retail warehouse to a discount foodstore at the Westpoint Retail Park on the Kilrush Road. Last month Clare County Council gave the proposal the green-light …

A VISION for the future of Ennis will be launched this Friday by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD. The much anticipated Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy is, according to Clare County Council, “a bold vision to deliver economic investment and make housing, jobs, amenity and services easier to access for all. The strategy is about building communities and creating one of the best places in the world to live, work and visit.” The strategy has set out ambitious growth targets and proposes the prioritisation of sustainable economic activities that will grow its population on average by 1.6% per annum and deliver an additional 5,000 jobs by 2040. Nine transformational projects have been identified through which the Ennis 2040 vision can be realised. The projects deliver on the concept of the ‘10-minute town’, attracting investment and delivering quality of life. In the implementation of this strategy Ennis will become Ireland’s first Climate Adaptive …

DIVIDED opinion on car-free streets in Ennis has prompted the local authority to carry out a first of its kind public survey. The local authority is planning to give the public their say on the future of pedestrianisation in the county capital. The Ennis Municipal District is urging people to get involved with the two-week survey which opens to the public this Friday. Leonore O’Neill, senior executive officer Ennis Municipal District said, “We strongly encourage people to take part in this survey, this is a huge opportunity. “We received hundreds of emails throughout the Covid-19 Mobility Plan about pedestrianisation from people of all walks of life. “It is really important that we get as many responses to this survey as possible. This is the first time we have gone out and undertaken a full survey of pedestrianisation and the results will inform future decisions. “This is people’s opportunity to have their say in shaping the future of their town.” In …

A WOMAN was scammed out of over €1,700 while trying to rent a property she saw online, Clare gardaí have confirmed. This is one of a number of economic frauds that have been reported to gardaí prompting Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks to advise would-be renters to be alert for potential scams. Sergeant Brooks said the woman saw a property to rent on Daft, and began a WhatsApp conversation with the person purporting to be the landlord. “She was requested to pay €1,742 into his account which she did. This advertisement has since been removed from Daft and she can’t contact the landlord,” Sergeant Brooks explains. The crime prevention officer urged, “Don’t be tricked into paying a deposit for a property that does not exist or has already been rented.” She advised “Do your homework – look at the average rent price in the area and if the rent is unusually low and it seems too good to …

BURGLARIES rise by up to 20% during the winter months with one in six winter time burglaries involving entry through an unsecured access point, gardaí in Clare have warned. According to Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks, “Operation Thor is a nationwide Garda operation which increases the number of Garda patrols carried out during the winter months in an effort to prevent burglaries from rising. Unfortunately, they do rise by up to 20% during the winter months. Operation Thor was first launched in 2015 and it has proven to be very successful in the fight against household burglaries and related crimes. It is hoped that people will feel safer in their homes but of course they too have a part to play in crime prevention.” She has issued advice on how home owners can make their homes more secure. “Whether at home or going out, turn on some lights, use timer switches. We are coming into the dark winter …