Tag Archives: clare champion

FILM MAKERS in Clare will have the opportunity to produce their own documentaries as part of a newly-launched scheme in the Mid-West. A training and production scheme for emerging documentary film makers has been launched by Innovate Limerick through Film in Limerick. ENGINE Docs, supported by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and delivered in partnership with the Sheffield DocFest in England, will train and support regional up-and-coming talent to work as documentary directors and producers. Up to 12 shortlisted teams will receive training from Irish and international documentary experts to develop their project ideas leading to four teams being awarded production funding of up to €10,000 each to produce a short 10-minute documentary film. Shortlisted directors and producers will also receive accreditation for the Sheffield DocFest’s 2021 online programme running from June 4 to 13. Paul C Ryan, regional film manager at Film in Limerick, said, “This new scheme will offer aspiring and emerging documentary talent a professional …

AN Ennis man has been elected to a key position within the Union of Students in Ireland. Victor O’Loughlin is the next vice president for the Border Midlands and Western Region of the USI. Due to the ongoing public health restrictions, USI Congress was held via Zoom with delegates voting online for the 2021-2022 executive team and numerous policies and motions. Congress was also streamed live on Facebook so students could watch the action as it happened. The 22-year-old is no stranger to student politics, having been elected as president of the student union of GMIT last year. He has been an active member in the student movement since 2016, involved in gathering students for protests, registering them to vote and of course, standing for election. He spent two years as a class rep before his election in 2018 as deputy president for education with GMIT’s student union, and his election as president in 2020. With this year’s USI election …

TEN years ago Damian Casey set out on a journey of faith, which has led him to being ordained as a priest of the Franscican Order this weekend. His ordination will take place this Saturday at 4pm, and on Friday, April 30, the newly ordained Fr Damian will celebrate the 7.30pm mass in Ennis Cathedral. Brother Damian is currently the Deacon of the Franciscan Order and his ordination, along with his first mass on Sunday at 12 noon, is being broadcast on the internet. Damian was born in Waterford, a past pupil of Mount Sion CBS. After school his life took him on a career in teaching, ending up as Principal of Mother of Fair Love School, Kilkenny. In 2011 Damian began exploring his vocational calling and this led him to the Franciscan family. Two years late Damian came to Ennis as a novice and in September 2014 in the Friary here in Ennis he made his first profession. His …

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 …