Tag Archives: clare champion

STUDENTS of Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna scooped four awards at this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition. Oisín Jackson won the second prize in the Junior Individual category of the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences. His project was entitled “An investigation into the differences in height of adjoining clints in limestone pavement in the Burren”. In this project he looked in detail at the difference in height of adjoining clints and seeing if prevailing wind may contribute to their formation. As well as getting this award he also got the Geological Survey Ireland special award. Ciara McDonnell was awarded highly commended for her project entitled “House searching by hermit crabs” This project was in the Junior Individual Biological and Ecological Sciences category. In this project Ciara was looking to see if the choice of shell by hermit crabs is related to shell size and their size and shell availability. Anna Mae O’Driscoll was awarded highly commended for …

GARDAÍ in Clare are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the occupants of a car suspected of being used in two burglaries in different parts of the county. A dark blue Audi A3 hatchback was spotted at the scene of the incidents in Clarecastle and Sixmilebridge. On Friday, January 8 at approximately 8.10pm a car reversed into the driveway of a house in the Hillview Estate, Clarecastle. Two males ran to the rear of the house and broke into the house through the patio door. They were disturbed by the teenage son in the house and left empty handed. This car then went in the direction of Sixmilebridge and at 8.20pm four males wearing gloves and balaclavas smashed in the front door of a house in the Woodview Heights estate. All the rooms were ransacked and a safe containing a substantial amount of money and an Apple IPhone 12 was stolen. Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks is urging anybody …

THE completion of 30 residential units under social housing developments in County Clare alongside 163 additional units currently under construction will provide “badly needed homes for the people of Clare.” That’s according to Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor Mary Howard who welcomed the developments adding, “It is essential that Clare County Council continues to build homes as part of our plans to address our social housing requirements, and to continue to do this in a planned and strategic way.” The completed units are located in Quilty, Kilmihil, Sixmilebridge and Roslevan. Construction on a new development of 18 units at An Cladach, Quilty West, Quilty, commenced on April 25, 2019, and was handed over to Clare County Council on December 18, 2020. This development was constructed by Martins Construction Ltd and comprises a mix of two, three and four-bedroom single and two-storey semi-detached houses. These residential units were constructed to a high standard and achieved Building Energy Ratings (BERs) of …

VOLUNTEERS with the Irish Red Cross in Clare completed more than 8,000 hours helping the people of Clare last year, with the organisation vowing to continue supporting those in need into 2021 despite Covid-19, However, in order to achieve this the Irish Red Cross will need the people of Clare to help them, with the organisation making a renewed appeal for support in their ongoing fundraising efforts. An online fundraising campaign has been launched aiming to raise €20,000 for the Red Cross in Clare, with just over €2,200 pledged so far. James Lafferty, Irish Red Cross Clare Area Treasurer and Community Support Officer paid tribute to the organisation’s volunteers and loyal supporters as he urged members of the public and local businesses to get behind the Red Cross. “Despite Covid-19  which hit all of us in March 2020 and which is getting a whole lot worse at this time at the start of 2021 we plan to continue supporting the …

THE growing popularity of Ballybeg Woods during Covid-19 restrictions has seen motorists park on footpaths, blocking access to those using wheelchairs or pushing buggies, a meeting of the local authority has heard. Mayor of Ennis Councillor Paul Murphy urged the council to install signage at the natural amenity and carry out other improvements in a bid to tackle the problem. Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Councillor Murphy stated that during Covid-19 times the general public are maximising all of our public spaces and amenities. The councillor requested that creeping ivy and overgrowth in the public car park be tidied up in the short term “in order to maximise the space available for parking”. In addition to this he said that advisory signage should be installed at the Ballybeg Road entrance, requesting patrons to use the carpark to alleviate the problem of cars being parked on footpaths in this area. Repair of damage to a picnic bench …

IT can take as little as three minutes for thieves to steal a catalytic converter gardaí in Clare have warned. Gardaí are urging motorists are to take steps to secure the devices following a spate of converter thefts recently. The equipment is coveted by thieves due to their high scrap metal value. Gardaí in Clare are investigating a number of catalytic converter thefts over the Christmas holidays, many of which occurred in the early hours. On Wednesday, December 23 at 1am a man was woken by noise outside his house in Aughanteeroe. He saw two males who left in a red car and he later found that the catalytic convertor had been stolen. On Thursday, December 31 at 1.35am a man was also awoken to noise outside his house on St Joseph’s Road, Ballyvaughan. He saw three or four males outside who they left in the direction of Lisdoonvarna and again the catalytic convertor had been removed from his car. …

IRELAND’S only Irish Sign Language Interpreted pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk at UCH Limerick has been extended due to overwhelming public demand. The panto will now run until midnight on Sunday, January 10 with a choice of online streams with or without signing. With people watching everywhere from Panama to Portlaoise and Brisbane to Bantry, the UCH Panto has already been viewed thousands of times right across the world. People have tuned in over Christmas from countries including Australia, the US, South America, Canada and New Zealand, as well as throughout Europe and of course, in every corner of Ireland. The smash hit international sensation can now be enjoyed for an extra week, keeping the kids entertained during their prolonged holiday. Jack & The Beanstalk features long time UCH Panto favourite, Richie Hayes, joined by the always irresistible Dame Myles Breen. Liam O’Brien of Emmerdale fame makes his UCH Panto debut as the baddest of baddies! Dayl Cronin, is back …

A CLARE teenage boy was blackmailed for money after he sent explicit images of himself to another person through social media. Gardaí in Clare are now urging parents to become better aware of their children’s online activity in light of the recent incident. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks has described the matter as “very upsetting and traumatic for the parent and teenager”. A report was made to gardaí by the teenager’s mother over the Christmas period. According to Sergeant Brooks the teenage boy believed he was in contact with a woman through Facebook and he sent the explicit pictures of himself to that person. Shortly after this a demand was made for a substantial amount of money, or else the pictures would be shared. “No money was given over and the link was shared with some of his friends but fortunately the link could not be opened,” she outlined. Sergeant Brooks has encouraged parents to speak to their …