Tag Archives: clare champion

A CLARE woman who tragically lost her husband last year has described as “heartwarming” the support she and her family have received in marking his first anniversary with a touching tribute. People from all over the country, and around the world, came together from a distance to get involved in #fiveforfran, honouring the memory of Fran Harding who sadly died in a drowning incident in Lahinch in January of last year. The idea came about when, due to Covid-19 restrictions, Fran’s family were unable to get together to remember him on his anniversary. His wife Sarah Jane tells us she found this “particularly difficult” and in trying to come up with ways to honour his memory, she thought of Fran’s love of the outdoors. “We were always walking, cycling and of course, the day he passed away he was swimming which was another love of his. We were always embracing the outdoors, no matter what the time of year. He …

HOMEOWNERS are being warned to take precautions to ensure they are not victims of fuel theft during this cold spell. This comes after men were disturbed while trying to steal diesel from a tank at a farmyard in Liscannor earlier this month. At 11.55pm on Friday, January 22 a man disturbed two others in his farmyard at Ardacra, Liscannor. “When they left he found a hose and the nozzle of his diesel tank on the ground which would indicate that they were going to syphon the diesel from the tank. Weather is very cold at the moment and home owners are ordering their home heating oil,” said Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. She has issued advice to householders who wish to protect their fuel supply. “Place the tank as close to the house as regulations allow and in view of one or more windows. Try and ensure that the tank is not visible from the road to passing traffic,” …

A CLARE mother whose daughter was born with a rare combination of serious birth defects has been “overwhelmed” with the response to a fundraising drive launched this week. Little Sarah Summerly has been defying the odds since being born on June 25, 2019 with OEIS complex, resulting in her liver, intestines and bladder developing outside of her body. The 18 month old who lives in Ennis with her mother Michelle, father Ger, brother Tony and sister Rosemary also has a form of Spina Bifida. With plans for two major surgeries in the UK later this year and the need to adapt their home to make it wheelchair accessible, family friend Padraigh Sutton set up a GoFundMe campaign. Donations to the Support Sarah Summerly campaign can be made at https://ie.gofundme.com/f/29eev2rag0. The campaign has been running since Monday, and already it has exceeded expectations with donations flooding in from people touched by Sarah’s story. Michelle recalled that while pregnant with Sarah she was …

ENNIS’ success in this year’s Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, which saw the county capital take third place nationwide, has been attributed to the hard work and dedication of volunteers as well as council staff. Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Paul Murphy, in acknowledging the results of the IBAL survey, said, “I am delighted to see Ennis once again achieve best in class for litter cleanliness, particularly given the increase in the numbers enjoying recreational activities outdoors. This success can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers in community groups, especially Ennis Tidy Towns, as well as Council staff.” Cllr Murphy acknowledged and supported the positive comments regarding the presentation of the sites inspected. Carmel Kirby, Director of Services, Physical Development Directorate, Clare County Council, said, “Maintaining the highest level in the IBAL nationwide litter survey is not an easy feat to accomplish, and huge credit goes to all who contribute to maintaining the town’s cleanliness. …

THE final litter survey of 2020 by business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) shows Ennis taking third place in the ranking of 37 towns and cities, behind Kilkenny, which took the crown for a record fifth time, and Killarney. For the first time in 13 years, fewer than half of the towns surveyed nationwide were deemed clean. The An Taisce report for Ennis stated, “A typically strong performance by Ennis has placed it among only 4 towns to be deemed Cleaner than European Norms. Eight out of the ten sites surveyed received the top litter grade. Only Gort Rd Business Park was heavily littered. Both O’Connell Street and Abbey Street were pedestrianised, creating an enhanced shopping environment. There were some vacant / closed down outlets on Abbey Street but there was no litter directly associated with them. Other top-ranking sites in Ennis included Tim Smythe Park, Ennis Friary and Ennis Recycle Centre – not only were they very good …

CATALYTIC converters continue to be a target for thieves in the county with a number of thefts reported to gardaí throughout Clare. “Unfortunately again there have been a number thefts of catalytic converters in various parts of the county during the week,” said Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Triona Brooks. Between 6pm last Monday and 11am on Tuesday morning last week two were taken from cars parked on Ballard Road in Miltown Malbay and one parked on the Galway Road, Lisdoonvarna. “One of the car owners on Ballard Road heard an angle grinder and when he looked out he saw two males leaving in a red Saloon car after stealing the convertor,” stated Sergeant Brooks. At 1.15am on Tuesday morning last a red saloon car was seen leaving the Woodview estate on the Killimer Road, Kilrush after taking a convertor from a car. And between Friday, January 15 at 1pm and the following Saturday evening at 6.30pm the convertor was stolen …

“NEAR miss’” accidents on a local road on the outskirts of Ennis have sparked calls for measures to be taken to slow down motorists. The L8172 road in Doora is regularly used as a shortcut between the Quin Road and the Tulla Road a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District has been told. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy urged, “Further to report of near-miss incidents on the L8172 road in Doora and its use as a shortcut between the Quin road and the Tulla road, that efforts be undertaken to slow down the traffic that is using this narrow and windy road.” The motion was seconded by Councillor Pat Daly who said it was a “very, very busy road”. Eamon O’Dea, senior engineer, replied, “The Ennis Municipal District Office has inspected the road and is consulting with the Road Design Section and other Municipal Districts to confirm the appropriate provision of warning signs at the entry points from the Knockanean and …

“NOT only are we frightened for our exams, but we are frightened for our lives, and the lives of those around us.” Those are the words of Ennis Leaving Certificate student Jake O’Loughlin who is pleading with the Taoiseach Mícheál Martin and the Minister for Education Norma Foley to listen to students’ worries about how Covid-19 will affect this year’s state examinations. The Gaelcholáiste an Chláir student believes that the government have up until now “been extremely hesitant to listen to the pleas of my fellow students” and he is calling for clarity on plans for the Leaving Cert this year. He says there is “intense worry” among students. He expresses appreciation to the Taoiseach and Minister for Education for “finally addressing the physical health of me, my fellow students and our families, by not forcing us to return to school on January 11”. However, he insists that the government needs to address the mental health of students immediately. “The …