Tag Archives: Ogonnelloe

INDEPENDENT Deputy Marian Harkin will launch a new collection of columns by author and columnist, Jim O’Brien at the Community Hall, Ogonnelloe on Saturday, December 3 at 7pm. Matters of Great Indifference Volume II is the second collection of O’Brien’s weekly musings taken from the pages of the Farming Independent. It contains a selection of pieces published between November 2020 and October 2022 and, according to the author, matters of all sorts are covered. “From the end of the pandemic to the start of a war, from the arrival of a new pup to the departure of a Queen, I have a look at everything and anything,” he said. The pieces are inspired by the life Jim is living and the context in which he is living it. “I draw on my childhood in Kildimo, and other places I have lived including Foynes in West Limerick, Rosenallis, Co. Laois and, of course, in Ogonnelloe, Co. Clare, where I now live. …

Eoin Brennan gives his take on the deferred Junior A hurling final, while Ivan Smyth catches up with the managers of Crusheen and Ogonnelloe ahead of Sunday’s clash Junior A Hurling Championship Final Ogonnelloe v Crusheen at Knockalisheen Park, Sunday 12pm In terms of club development, there’s conflicting mentalities entering Sunday’s decider. There’s no question about the buzz surrounding Ogonnelloe which, following their beneficial underage amalgamation with Scariff, has finally started to produce young talent to populate their flagship side after scraping the barrel in terms of numbers in recent seasons. An unblemished ten match league and championship run which included a real scare against Clooney-Quin last time out has armed Ogonnelloe with all the ingredients and confidence to finally bridge a 33 year gap to their last Junior A crown and it would be a major step in the right direction. On the flip, what started as an encouraging sign of the strength of their adult wing for Crusheen …

Glowing tributes were paid to an Ogonnelloe solider at his Funeral Mass on Sunday following a tragic accident while on holidays in Spain a few weeks ago, writes Dan Danaher. There were heart-rending scenes when Private Gerard McMahon (24) was laid to rest with full military honours in the New Cemetery, Ogonnelloe. His sudden death came about a week after he had just returned home from a six-month tour of duty with the 63rd Infantry Group in Syria. Speaking at his Funeral Mass, the chief celebrant, Reverend Father Paul Murphy, the chaplain to the 1st Infantry Battalion in Galway recalled how one of his friends summed up the deceased. “One of his best friends said: ‘he didn’t say much, but you could write a book about him”. In a moving tribute, his mother, Carmel, recalled their lives changed forever on October 15 when they got the dreaded phone call that no parents wants that their beautiful son, Ger had died. …

The Junior A Hurling Final between Ogonnelloe and Crusheen which was down for decision this weekend has now been postponed, writes Ivan Smyth. The decision comes after the accidental death on holiday in Spain of Ogonnelloe’s Gerard McMahon, a son of Pat and Carmel. Gerard had just had just returned home from a six-month tour of duty with the 63rd Infantry Group in Syria. Speaking on the decision to postpone the game, Ogonnelloe manager Alan Maher believes the correct decision was made. “Gerard is coming home so we couldn’t go ahead with the game. His removal is on Saturday afternoon and the funeral is on Sunday so we had no choice. Hurling hasn’t been to the forefront of our minds recently for obvious reasons so we are just trying to rally around and look after the family.” Maher also thanked Crusheen for their understanding of the situation as the clubs and the county board will be working together to find …

COMMUNITIES in South-East Clare were united in mourning last weekend when news filtered through of the sudden death of young Ogonnelloe man, writes Dan Danaher. A serving soldier, Private Gerard McMahon (24), had just returned home from a six-month tour of duty with the 63rd Infantry Group in Syria. The death of Mr McMahon following a tragic accident while on holidays in Spain has left his heartbroken family and Ogonnelloe residents devastated. A postmortem is expected to take place at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Malaga. Gerard was a skilled marksman, winning brigade and all army competitions during his military career. Described as a keen sportsman, he participated in a number of sports notably hurling, football and rugby. At the time of writing, no definitive date was known for the arrival of the deceased’s body back to his residence in Ballyloughnane, Ogonnelloe, which is located a short distance from St Mary’s Church where it is expected a military funeral …

SAFETY works are being sought in South East Clare where a busy summer of staycations has brought record visitor numbers to the area. Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Joe Cooney welcomed the boost to the local economy and commended everyone involved in developing amenities in areas around Ogonnelloe, Ballycuggeran and Two-Mile Gate. However, he repeated an appeal to Clare County Council for safety and traffic management works to facilitate locals and visitors alike. “It’s really important that traffic calming goes into Ogonnelloe,” the Fine Gael member said “We are all aware that this is a long, drawn-out village and with the Killaloe Bypass and bridge crossing set to come on stream, where will be additional traffic travelling through Ogonnelloe. It’s vitally important, going forward, that traffic calming goes in.” The chairperson also noted the ongoing work of volunteers in Ogonnelloe. “There is a very active community council in the village,” he said. “They’ve done wonderful work and they …

CLARE County Council has expressed concerns about the visual impact of a proposed holiday development near Ogonnelloe on a strategic regional road, writes Dan Danaher. John Walsh, c/o Roy O’Shea, 20 Lower Hartstonge Street, Limerick, recently lodged a planning application for a change of use from residential to recreational camping site, and the construction of six cabins for short stay accommodation, a gravel access path, seven car parking spaces, a waste water treatment system at Kilana Lodge, Rahena More, Ogonnelloe. The application also included the preparation of an Natura Impact Statement and ancillary works. In its request for further information, the local planning authority stated the information submitted with this application is insufficient to enable the authority to make a complete planning assessment of this proposal. The proposed site is accessed via a regional road R 463, which is a strategic regional route. The authority claimed the development proposal would result in an intensification of use of an existing entrance …

THE husband of Euromillions winner Dolores McNamara has died in Killaloe. Adrian McNamara, who was in his late 60s and a bricklayer by trade, passed away following an illness this morning. He died peacefully and surrounded by his family, at his son Lee’s home in the Clare village. Mr McNamara along with his wife, who won a €115m Euromillions jackpot in 2005 after purchasing a €2 Quick Pick ticket, had lived together at Lough Derg Hall, a vast property and estate in Ogonnolloe, overlooking Lough Derg. Ms McNamara purchased the 10,000 sq ft hill-top property for €1.75m in 2005, after it had reportedly attracted the interest of Hollywood actor Robert De Niro. The lavish country manor, boasting amazing lakeside views, at the end of a half-mile long private entrance, fronted by electric gates and an eight-foot high wall, is set on 38 acres, including a coach house. The high-end property is a far cry from the modest 1,200 sq ft …