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Tag Archives: lisdoonvarna

Reciting poetry aloud

SCION Flanagan from Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna is the winner of the intermediate category in the annual Poetry Aloud competition, organised by the National Library of Ireland and Poetry Ireland. Poetry Aloud, an annual poetry speaking competition for post-primary school students across the island of Ireland, was launched in 2006. Since then, it has grown enormously from just a few hundred entries to over 1,700 this year alone. The Poetry Aloud competition comprises three stages: the regionals; the semi-finals; and the final. This year, over 118 schools took part in the competition, including Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Clare, at 18 regional heats in venues across the country. Today’s finalists were then chosen at two semi-finals involving 149 participants. Three other Lisdoonvarna students reached the semi-final stage

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A lotto luck for North Clare syndicate

A  North Clare group collected their prize of €556,194 in National Lottery offices in Dublin on Tuesday (November 4). The “Rum for Me” syndicate, so-called as spiced rum is their drink of choice, raised a glass to celebrate their big win after matching five numbers and one lucky star number in last Tuesday’s EuroMillions draw. The lucky group comprises seven winners, aged 26 to 55, who live and work in the Lisdoonvarna, Corofin and Doolin areas. The group members have decided not to release their names. “We started this syndicate just six weeks ago”, said a member of the group. “Each week, we won small amounts and today’s winning ticket was bought with the money we’d won the week before.” The winners have lots of interesting plans for the win. “I’m going to pay for the damage I did to my father’s car this summer’, said one; another said he intends to pursue a career in 3-D animation; another member …

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Janet Street Porter proves a match in Lisdoon

APPROXIMATELY 40,000 people are expected to attend the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival this month, one local hotelier has claimed. The renowned festival began last week and among the first guests looking to meet her match was television presenter and journalist, Janet Street Porter. Ms Street Porter was in the North Clare village on Tuesday and Wednesday last week and her experience was discussed on ITV’s Loose Women on Monday. She also wrote about her trip looking for love in Lisdoonvarna in her column in the Daily Mail. Ms Street Porter introduced the festival, and the art of traditional matchmaking, to a British audience. The four-time divorcee was matched with John Richardson, who she described as “a very attractive, single, professional man”. Marcus White of the Hydro Hotel believes her visit is already having repercussions for businesses in the area and for the festival itself. “It was fantastic to get someone as high-profile as Janet Street Porter come to the matchmaking festival. …

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William’s Winning Streak

William O’Sullivan from Bog Road in Lisdoonvarna is the latest Clareman to strike it rich on the national lottery’s Winning Streak game show on RTE. William, who purchased his winning ticket at Spar in the North Clare town, won €50,000 including a holiday to Turkey on last Saturday night’s show which was co-hosted by Marty Whelan and Sinead Kennedy. Five players from Galway, Leitrim, Kerry, Clare and Louth won prizes to the value of €271,000. The biggest winner on the night was James Behan from Co Louth who won prizes to the value of €78,000.

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Jim White, Hydro Hotel, Lisdoonvarna

Tributes paid to Lisdoonvarna hotelier

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny led tributes to the former Fine Gael TD Jim White who died in hospital on Tuesday night aged 76. Although born and reared in Ballyshannon in County Donegal, Mr White had strong links with Clare having bought the Hyrdo Hotel in Lisdoonvarna in 1974. This was the foundation for the development of Whites Hotel Group which now owns the Imperial Hotel, the King Thomond and the Burren Castle Hotel in North Clare as well as hotels in Tralee and Donegal. According to his son Marcus, Jim was involved in the running of the businesses up to his admission to hospital five weeks ago. Marcus described his father’s passing as ‘dignified’ and paid tribute to the staff of the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin for the care they provided. He visited Lisdoonvarna before his mobility was reduced last year. An Taoiseach Enda Kenny recalled Jim as “a man of enormous positivity and generosity with huge credibility in …

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Two motorcyclists die in Lisdoonvarna

Gardaí in Ennistymon  are investigating what has been described as a “rare” and “tragic” road traffic collision in which two motorcyclists were killed after they collided with one another at Lisdoonvarna on Thursday evening. It is understood that the motorcyclists were travelling in opposite directions on the Ennistymon Road, just outside Lisdoonvarna when the collision occurred at approximately 6.45pm. Both motorcyclists were pronounced dead at the scene, while a female pillion passenger was airlifted to Galway University Hospital. Her injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Gardai have sealed off the road for technical forensic examination and it is due to re-open later today. It is understood that both deceased motorcyclists are not Irish nationals. One garda described the collision as “tragic and freakish. You would rarely hear of two motorcyclists colliding head on with one another”. Formal identification of the deceased has not yet taken place. The area where the collision occurred is on a small bend, and there …

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Two Clare areas in top 10 for food

LISDOONVARNA, ‘the Gateway to the Burren’ and the Loop Head Peninsula, were both named in the The Restaurants Association of Ireland, in association with Admailer.ie from An Post, 10 finalists in the search for the ‘Foodie Town of Ireland’. Both areas will be looking for public votes to win the competition which is run in conjunction with Irish Restaurant Awards. The top ten ‘Foodie Towns’ of Ireland were announced at the weekend and among them were Cork City, Kinsale, Dingle/Daingean Uí Chuis, Galway City, Sligo Town, Howth, Kilkenny and the Westport and Clew Bay area. The ‘Foodie Town of Ireland’ award recognises a destination that actively promotes itself through joint promotional activities such as food festivals, gourmet trails or farmers’ markets as well as great dining experiences. Each of the ten finalists will now receive a  visit to the town by a representative from the Restaurants Association of Ireland and a representative from An Post. Combined with a national public …

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Cycle challenge to honour Seamus Mullane

HUNDREDS of cyclists will set off from Ennis this month for a very special fundraising event to remember an avid member of a local cycling club who died suddenly last year. This year’s Dolmen Challenge Tour is being dedicated to the memory of the late Seamus Mullane, a keen cyclist and member of Dolmen Cycle Club. The father of four was also known to many through his work with Aer Lingus in Shannon and more recently the court service in Ennis. As part of the cycle, the participants will pass the Mullane family home in Kilnaboy and will mark a minute’s remembrance at the nearby graveyard. The cycle will take place on April 27, leaving from the Woodstock Golf and Country Club on the Shanaway Road at 10am. As well as honouring the life of the late Mr Mullane, the event will also raise money for the valuable work of Doolin Search and Rescue. According to John Colleran of Dolmen …

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