Tag Archives: Quin

THE Friends of Clooney/Quin GAA Club prepare are reminding locals of their sponsored climb of Clare’s highest mountain, Moylussa, in Killaloe on December 28. The climb has been organised to raise funds for the Oncology Department of University Hospital, Galway and is being held in solidarity with one of their own who is battling cancer currently, as well as to all the others in the club and parish who have been affected by the disease. The club is reminding those interested in participating that it is a climb that will be no trouble to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Participants are asked to gather at 12 noon on December 28 and are advised to wear good hiking boots and to bring a walking stick. Following the event there will be a social gathering at The Village Inn in Quin. Further information is available from Haulie Hannon on 086-3456233 or  Pat Ryan on 087-2906766. By Carol Byrne

SCOIL na Mainistreach in Quin will have to wait for funding for a PE hall and general-purpose facilities, after it was revealed by Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan that funds were not available for the project at this time. Responding to a parliamentary question posed by Clare Fianna Fáil Deputy, Timmy Dooley, Minister O’Sullivan said, “Due to the competing demands on my department’s capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of essential additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it is not possible to provide for a PE hall at this time.” Deputy Dooley heavily criticised a visit to the school by former Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, before May’s local elections. He commented, “I am extremely frustrated and angered that Minister Jan O’Sullivan has reneged on a promise by her predecessor to ensure funding was made available for PE facilities at Scoil Na Mainistreach in Quin. In a deeply cynical …

THE people of Quin have decided to set up a Community Alert for the village and its surrounds, following a public meeting held this week. Organised by Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, the information meeting discussed crime in the area, crime prevention and issues around anti-social behaviour. A large gathering attended Quin Community Centre on Monday night, where presentations were given by Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Joe Downey, Peter Butler of Task Community Care, deputising for Bernard Kearney of Muintir na Tíre and Quin liaison garda, Caitríona Mangan. Mr Butler spoke about the benefits of personal alarms for older people in the community, while Sergeant Downey gave a presentation on crime prevention measures that homeowners can take to secure their properties. Questions were taken from the floor and the primary issue raised was the desire to re-open Quin garda station. If this is not possible, the community want an increased garda presence. The gathering was anxious to have a garda stationed …

Orlaith O’Neill from Quin, an employee of McDonald’s in Ennis, has been served up a scholarship to help her with her college studies. Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English, TD recently presented McDonald’s employees with their awards at a recent event to mark the McDonald’s Scholarship Programme, an initiative which celebrates the hard work and dedication of McDonald’s employees who are completing college and further education studies. Orlaith, who works in the McDonald’s restaurant in Ennis which is owned and operated by Kieran McDermott, was part of a group of 15 McDonald’s employees from restaurants around the country to receive an award from the McDonald’s Employee Scholarship Programme at a ceremony in Dublin on the last week. McDonald’s Scholarship Programme rewards and encourages employees who want to further their education by awarding each winning employee €1,500 towards their education costs.

Re-enactors dressed in costume spanning the Iron Age and early Medieval period to the 16th century will add a time-travel feel to a  special Lughnasa celebration being organised by Shannon Heritage at Craggaunowen visitor attraction near Quin over the bank holiday weekend. John Ruddle, chief  executive Shannon Heritage said, “The ancient pagan festival of Lughnasa marks the first day of autumn and the start of the harvest season. The event will be staged by Claíomh Living History Group whose members have many years of experience as historical interpreters and living history specialists.” Visitors to Craggaunowen will have the opportunity to celebrate Lughnasa on Sunday and Monday August. “Claíomh Living History Group will add a time-travel feel to the event, giving visitors a glimpse of what living conditions were like for Hiberno-Norse families living in a Crannóg. On display will be a range of replica Viking Age clothing, artefacts, weapons and silverwork,” Mr Ruddle continued. A number of showcase events from …

QUIN was where all the celebrities seemed to be hanging out in the last week, as locals got to meet with Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson and BBC chat show host, Graham Norton. Graham Norton clearly enjoyed the fun side of being in the village, tweeting that he was #lost and #hungover in Ireland, while posting pictures of a statue of a monk at Quin Abbey stating “Oh Brother where art thou? Any ideas? I’d really like to know”. He also included a second picture, one of a headstone which had Rice written on it, to which he commented, “It never stood a chance, [sic Long] live the potato”. Speaking about meeting the well-known television host, Ger O’Halloran, who runs Abbey Stores in Quin, said Graham came into the shop for a bottle of water. “I had an inkling when he walked into the shop of who it might be. He comes across as being much bigger on television …

A Clare county councillor has called for the micro-chipping of livestock, as a measure to reduce the risk of theft, following yet another cattle rustling incident in the South East Clare area. Independent Cratloe councillor, PJ Ryan said that in light of the number of livestock thefts, the Department of Agriculture should consider micro-chipping all animals in preference to the tagging system currently in operation. “It’s way too easy to remove tags with the result that stolen animals are rarely, if ever, traced. Dogs and cats can be micro-chipped; maybe it is time cattle were also. Certainly, it would be a more foolproof system,” he added. Councillor Ryan was commenting as gardaí are investigating the lifting of livestock from lands at Woodcock Hill in Meelick during the past week. In the latest incident of cattle rustling, two cows and six calves were stolen and gardaí are investigating. Similar incidents of livestock thefts have occurred in Sixmilebridge and Quin.

By Owen Ryan PROBABLY the most emotional scenes of the day so far broke out when Clare Colleran Molloy took the final seat in Ennis, just pipping Ger O’Halloran. It was hard to get to talk to the new councillor, as she was under siege from excited well wishers and friends, and she said she was over the moon with winning a seat. “It’s fantastic, as I said earlier it’s wonderful when you put in the effort and you get the reward you’re looking for. It goes to show the importance of knocking on all the doors or at least as many of them as possible.” At the last local election in 09 and at the time of the general election three years ago Fianna Fáil candidates were getting a hot reception on the doorsteps, but she said that didn’t happen this spring. “I didn’t hear that on the doors, people want to move on from the mistakes of the …