Tag Archives: shannon

CLARE boxer David Ryan is set to make his professional debut on November 19 in Belfast, in a fight that will be shown on TG4.  Speaking this week he said he was delighted that the fight has been made. “I was actually meant to fight the week before in Glasgow, but I got offered this one. My manager decided to go for this instead, it’s better exposure and it’ll build my profile a bit more.” As of yet his opponent hasn’t been finalised with David telling the Champion that a few contracts had been sent out with the expectation that someone will sign this week. Does that make it harder to prepare? “Ah, you just go in and do your thing, don’t care what they do. That’s all you can do.” The bill on which he fights will be headlined by two Celtic title fights, featuring Belfast fighters.  David says that training has been very intense, and the fact a …

TWO Clare companies have been awarded Ireland’s Best Managed Companies accolades at the 14th annual awards programme, led by Deloitte in association with Bank of Ireland. Amongst the winning companies this year were Modular Automation in Shannon and TTM Healthcare Solutions in Ennis. The companies requalified as winners at the awards for 9 and 11 years in a row respectively. This year, Deloitte recognised 136 indigenous companies at the awards representing 25 of the 32 counties across Ireland. This is the first year where the awards programme returned as an in-person event following the pandemic and culminated with a gala awards ceremony at The Convention Centre Dublin. The network of companies has a combined turnover of €13.9 billion providing over 51,000 jobs across Ireland across a range of sectors – from retail and hospitality to manufacturing and construction. The companies received recognition following a detailed judging process that evaluates the entire management team and business strategy in some of Ireland’s top privately …

HAVING run the Wings festival in Shannon this summer, Damian O’Rourke has endeavoured to keep live music happening regularly in Shannon, and is now behind a couple of ongoing events around the town. One of these is a monthly Wings session  in the Shannon Springs hotel. “It’s the last Sunday of every month, it has come out of the Wings festival in June,” Damian explained. “We had the wind down session for that, it was an immense day, and we just wanted to keep it going. We had something the following month and I was thinking of having it every second Sunday, but a friend of mine recommended doing the last Sunday of the month because it’s easy for people to remember. “We’ve been doing it since June and it’s going well, it starts at 1pm on the Sunday and it keeps going until whenever.” It is open to everyone, whether they want to play or just listen. “It’s a …

THE weather is changing and the days are shortening, but the Shannon Tidy Towns group is still active. “We’ll still be doing litter picks, that’s important because you’re never free of rubbish in any town or village, group secretary Derek Clune told The Champion. “It’s important to keep the River Walk tidy because it’s very well used, the Town Park is the same. When the Town Park was developed the Council introduced this Leave No Trace, the idea is that everyone takes away everything, and it’s great in theory but in practice it doesn’t work I’m afraid. “If that wasn’t done two or three times a week it would look bad. It’s very well used, families use it,  you have the pump track there, the River Walk is the same, even people from outside Shannon use it.” The group is also hoping to complete a long-planned project this month. “We have a big project in the pipeline for a long …

THE number of people employed at Shannon company Element Six increased by almost 100 in 2021, newly filed accounts show. The overall number employed jumped from an average of 378 in 2020 to an average of 477 last year. The number working in production increased by 90 year on year, from 277 to 367, with small increases in the number working in engineering, sales and marketing and finance and administration. Its accounts are prepared in US dollars, and the amount spent on wages and salaries increased by over $5 million year on year. Turnover increased significantly, up from $159.33 million in 2020 to $221 million last year. Operating profit also increased, from $5.848 million to $7.43 million. The Director’s Report was very positive about the year and confident about the future. “2021 saw a return of demand to pre-Covid-19 levels with an overall increase in revenue of 39% year on year. “Key areas of focus for the business in 2021 …

HAVING had a very enthusiastic response to his one-man show A Night in November at the Hope Café in Shannon, Aodán Fox is putting on three extra shows on October 13, 14 and 15. The play is about the night of the infamous soccer match between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in 1993, when a hateful atmosphere prevailed. It leads to Kenneth Norman McAllister, a Protestant who has previously been anti Catholic, starting to question his beliefs and identity. Aodán says he has been amazed by the response to the play. “I’m blown away by the reaction to be honest. The first three nights that we did sold out within a couple of days. A lot of people were asking me about it, a lot of people who were away and a lot of people who wanted to see it again. “It had a bit of traction so we decided to put it on again …

A NEW direction in design undertaken by Clare County Council to create a beautiful public realm space at a Shannon cemetery has been praised. The extension to Illaunmanagh burial ground in Shannon was officially opened by Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Tony O’Brien. The Council undertook a different approach to the design and layout of the extension moving away from the traditional dense grid layout. The new space, Councillor O’Brien observed, combines an homage to the nature, geography, heritage, and the people of Shannon The newly opened extension allows bereaved families to reflect in the comfort of nature and the Shannon Estuary. Councillor O’Brien, said, “Our graveyards are so important to us all here in County Clare. This project has taken many influences from scores of historic graveyards across Clare, where those who built this county now rest. “I know this place will be a fitting resting place for those we lose in the coming decade, and a place of …

SUPERMARKET giant Aldi has said the decision to deny it permission for a store in Shannon was unfortunate for the town, but it hasn’t indicated whether it will make another application. Colin Breslin, Regional Managing Director, ALDI Ireland, said, “ALDI Ireland is extremely disappointed at the decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for our proposed new store in Shannon. “This application has been six years in the making and we have gone to considerable lengths to meet all that was asked of us by planners and others. “We will be reviewing this decision by An Bord Pleanála carefully, as it is really unfortunate news for the people of Shannon, Clare and the entire mid-West.” “The cost-of-living crisis is impacting every household and we are very aware what it means for our customers. Being able to offer our customers the best value at locations most convenient to them matters more than ever. Against this backdrop, the decision of …