Tag Archives: County Limerick

‘LEGEND’ Maureen Cronin was given two standing ovations by delegates at the annual INTO Congress when the 99-year-old was honoured for defying the marriage ban and working for a year without pay in Mountcollins National School, County Limerick. Kerry-born, Maureen  taught for many years before marrying in 1950 and immediately came under the marriage ban. However, Maureen continued to work for almost a year before being told if she continued she would be removed by the gardaí. Maureen subsequently worked in temporary jobs before taking up a permanent job in a private school in Castlecomer. She moved to Rockchapel, County Cork after the ban was lifted in 1958 and has resided in Ennis in her retirement. The appreciative audience of INTO delegates welcomed Maureen when INTO president Sean McMahon told them ” a legend has entered the room” and during his speech showed their appreciation with two standing ovations. Maureen told The Clare Champion that she never expected to receive the reception she got …

Gardens, it is said, are a reflection of heaven on earth, and a new book about Glenstal Abbey gardens would seem to emphasise such a view. The Benedictine Community arrived in Glenstal from Belgium in 1927 and Fr Brian Murphy began to carry out restoration work in the garden in 1986. Now he has defined his life’s work in the garden, by writing an illustrated history of Glenstal Abbey Gardens in a new book. Although in County Limerick, Glenstal Abbey was home to Fr Bernard O’Dea from Inagh, who was the first Irish monk to join the Benedictine community at Glenstal, after it had been founded by the Belgian monks from Mardesous Abbey in Belgium in 1927. He became the first prior at Glenstal and, to this day, several members of its community are from County Clare. Fr Murphy’s work is a garden book with a difference, as not only does it engage with many matters of horticultural interest, but …

CLARE road users tavelling to or from Cork City or parts of County Limerick can expect to encounter serious delays on a number of dates in the weeks ahead, starting on this Wednesday. The gardaí have said it is anticipated that delays will occur along the N20 between Charleville and Limerick City, and along the N69 from Limerick City to Foynes, due to the transportation of abnormal loads from Charleville to Foynes along these routes. Road users are advised that delays will occur along this route from 10am to 5pm on Wednesday; this Friday, Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15. Gardaí are requesting that all road users exercise caution and patience when travelling along the planned route when the convoys are present. The abnormal loads being transported are significantly higher and wider than normal loads, extending approximately 2 feet beyond the width of standard HGV trailers. Gardaí will be escorting these loads while they are travelling on public roads, and they …