Tag Archives: Ennis

Fleadh organisers are celebrating a major coup after securing global dance superstar Michael Flately to perform the official opening of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ennis next month. The man who revolutionised Irish dancing will take to the Fly Shannon stage in Abbey Street car park on Sunday, August 13. The 59-year-old dancer, choreographer and musician will briefly address the gathering, before taking up the flute with uilleann piper and composer, Gerard Fahy, from Ballinakill in County Galway. “It is a great honour to be asked to open this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ennis. It is such a great home of traditional music and a place I have very fond memories of, including winning the All-Ireland there many years ago. “It is vitally important for all of us to nurture young talent and to encourage young people today to play Irish music. I’m really looking forward to it and am sure it will be a huge success,” said …

A bat talk and outdoor walk hosted by Bat Conservation Ireland and supported by Clare County Council will take place in Ennis this Thursday from 8pm to 10pm. The event forms part of efforts by John Curtin of Bat Conservation Ireland to recruit volunteers for BATLAS 2020. The group is resurveying the entire island of Ireland 10 years on from BATLAS 2010 to record the changing distribution of Ireland’s common bat species. Persons with previous experience surveying bats are particularly invited to attend Thursday evening’s event at the Civic Room, Drumbiggle, Ennis. Anyone interested in attending is asked to email info@batconservationireland.

Mayo 2-14 Clare 0-13 AT half-time a huge shock looked on but Clare were outscored 2-8 to 0-5 in the second half of their third round All-Ireland qualifier game against Mayo in Ennis on Saturday. The O’Connor brothers, Cillian and Diarmuid, buried two early second half goals and from there, Mayo were in control. In front of an attendance of 11,576 in Cusack Park, Clare led 0-8 to 0-6 after 35 minutes. They made an electric start and led 0-6 to 0-1 after 19 minutes. Andy Moran, who put over 0-3 from play in the first half, kicked the games opening score in the first minute but Clare racked up 0-6 in a pulsating spell. Mayo were also dealt a very early setback when Donal Vaughan was black carded for a tackle on Gary Brennan in the fourth minute. Brennan was one of Clare’s point scores in that period, while Eoin Cleary, David Tubridy, Keelan Sexton and Jamie Malone also …

Patients and medical professionals in Ennis and surrounds were united in mourning following the death of Dr Eugene Casey at his home on Tuesday night. Doctors, nurses and countless medical staff who would have worked with Dr Casey over five decades of general practice are deeply saddened by his passing. Dr Casey (67), Shanaway Road, one of the best-known and highly-respected doctors in the county, worked as a locum on a regular basis for Dr Michael Harty in Kilmihil since his election to the Dáil, Dr Eamon Ralph in Kildysart and Dr Maura O’Meara in Doonbeg. Having first opened his doors as a GP in the late 1970s, the father-of-three built a thriving practice until 2010, when it was taken over by Dr Colum Gavin. While Dr Casey officially retired a year later, he went back working as a locum in recent years. Dr Harty said he would miss Dr Casey a great deal, as he was a great medical …

A 20 year old man was before a special sitting of Ennis District Court this afternoon on a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Eugene McNamara at Lifford, Gort Road, Ennis on October 26 of last year. He also faces a charge of unlawfully taking a vehicle at Lake Villa, Gort Road, Ennis on the same day. The defendant, Rene Miko, is a 20 year old man originally from Slovakia and now with an address at Place de Plouzane, Kilrush. Judge Gráinne O’Neill agreed to grant bail subject to several conditions. These included that the defendant reside at his address in Kilrush, sign on at the local Garda station daily and that an independent surety of €6,000 be provided, with €2,000 to be lodged. Alternatively, she said two sureties of €3,000 each could be provided, with a total of €2,000 still to be lodged. A separate bond was required from the defendant and he was also required not …

The Minister of State with responsibility for Employment, Trade, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection Pat Breen said the Department of Housing has approved support capital funding of €45,600 for the purchase of six apartments in Ennis. “The €45,000, which is 10 per cent of the cost of the Loreto Apartments in Ennis, will be provided to the Approved Housing Body (AHB) – CHI, by Clare County Council to secure their purchase for social housing. The funding will then be reimbursed to the council by the Department,” said Minister Breen. “This Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is capital support provided to AHBs, by local authorities, to assist with the financing of the construction or acquisition of units that will be provided for social housing use,” said the Clare minister of state. CALF is a loan facility that can support up to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the project, where the units will be provided under …

BISHOP Fintan Monahan has defended his appointment of Fr Ignatius McCormack as principal of St Flannan’s College in an interview with The Clare Champion, following concerns raised and reported in The Irish Times. The Bishop of Killaloe said direct appointment is the way priest principals were appointed in the past, that it is “not without precedent” and that he had it “utterly checked” beforehand. He said direct appointment “is normal practice”. “That’s the way all past priest principals would have been appointed and there is a facility for doing that in diocesan colleges. There is a thing called the articles of management and under Article 20, the patron of the school is entitled to appoint a priest directly to be principal of the school, so that is allowable in diocesan colleges”. He outlined that lay principals would be advertised publicly and filled following an interview process. He added that St Flannan’s College is “very fortunate to have Fr Ignatius in …

BISHOP Fintan Monahan has defended his appointment of Fr Ignatius McCormack as principal of St Flannan’s College in an interview with The Clare Champion, following concerns raised and reported in The Irish Times. The Bishop of Killaloe said direct appointment is the way priest principals were appointed in the past, that it is “not without precedent” and that he had it “utterly checked” beforehand. He said direct appointment “is normal practice”. “That’s the way all past priest principals would have been appointed and there is a facility for doing that in diocesan colleges. There is a thing called the articles of management and under Article 20, the patron of the school is entitled to appoint a priest directly to be principal of the school, so that is allowable in diocesan colleges”. He outlined that lay principals would be advertised publicly and filled following an interview process. He added that St Flannan’s College is “very fortunate to have Fr Ignatius in …