Tag Archives: Sixmilebridge

SIXMILEBRIDGE athlete Timmy Crowe was in flying form at the Athletic Ireland Games in Santry at the weekend. He romped to victory in his specialist event, the 400m hurdles, in a time of 51.76, the fastest time recorded in Ireland this year. Crowe, who runs in the singlet of Limerick club Dooneen AC, has come through a 10-month uninterrupted training schedule. He quickly found his feet in Santry, turning in an eye-catching performance which augurs well for the season ahead. His target is to trim his time down to 51.10, the qualifying time for the European championship in Zurich in August. This week he heads to Belgium to compete at two meets hoping to achieve the standard qualifying time. Two years ago he was a member of the Irish 400m relay team that competed at the European championships in Helsinki.  While he will make the relay team for Zurich, he is determined to qualify in his specialist event.

THE Ennis to Limerick railway line will reopen from the start of business on Tuesday morning The line had been closed since February 2, due to extensive flooding in the Ballycar area, with water levels peaking at almost two metres above the rail line. The closure was prolonged due to the slow draining nature of the karst landscape in the area. Bus transfers had been substituting the rail service throughout the closure. However, water levels have now receded and following a final inspection and test train this Monday, full services will resume on Tuesday for Ennis to Limerick services (including Sixmilebridge Station), and full Galway to Limerick services. As trains will once again be operating on the route, users of level crossings have been reminded by Iarnród Éireann to be vigilant and to use level crossings safely at all times.  

Sports Editor Seamus Hayes THE race for the 2014 Senior Hurling Championship begins this weekend and while all 20 teams aspire to winning the title, the battle to hold onto senior status takes on a new focus this season. In the current format, one team is relegated at the end of the campaign. This year, however, there are major changes, with five teams to lose their senior status. Following a competitions structures review in 2011, a new format for the championship was put forward and accepted by delegates for 2013. However, at a special meeting of clubs, as Clare progressed to the All-Ireland senior and U-21 finals last year, delegates unanimously voted to defer the change for a year. For 2015, the Clare Senior Hurling Championship will be run in the same format that was introduced for the senior football last year, which has been retained for this season. The group system is being replaced by a format that will …

By Dan Danaher THE four main political parties have been accused of wasting hundreds of thousands of euro on electioneering for European elections, which would be better spent on delivering community projects throughout Clare. That’s the verdict of Richard Cahill, who entered the Euro South race on Monday, just before the close of nominations, to become the only new Clare candidate in this constituency. The Sixmilebridge community activist, who doesn’t have any money to spend on a traditional campaign, believes the main parties – Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin – are squandering money on posters, election fliers and advertising, while some people are struggling to put food on the table. “There are people who are wondering where they are going to get food to feed their family. Political representatives are spending hundreds of thousands of euro on posters and election literature. They are saying they are true representatives; they must be joking. This type of spending is …

By Dan Danaher A young Sixmilebridge woman wowed MEPs with an “impressive” power presentation with the need to create employment for adults with Down Syndrome. Orla Hannon (27), who is chairperson of Down Syndrome Ireland and represented Ireland in the European Parliament, in Brussels for World Down Syndrome Day on Friday. Fine Gael MEP, Jim Higgins praised Ms Hannon for her “impressive” presentation to members of the European parliament, which highlighted the need to create employment opportunities so that adults with Down Syndrome can take their place in society. Friday, marks the nineth anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day, which has been incredibly successful in creating global awareness about Down Syndrome and also of the contribution made by people with Down Syndrome to our society. The Fine Gael MEP said that it was an absolute honour to meet Orla and her mother Marian Hannon. “At just 27 years Orla is a very young and inspirational leader. She wowed MEPs by …

SIXMILEBRIDGE played host to an enthusiastically supported St Patrick’s Day Parade. Both young and old turned out in strength to show their appreciation for efforts which participants put into preparing their floats and marching units.

By Seamus Hayes THERE was great excitement and debate following the 2014 GAA championship draws at the West County  Hotel on Friday evening. A great deal of attention focused on the senior hurling and football champions, Sixmilebridge and Cratloe respectively, and who would challenge them in the group stages. Football champions Cratloe were first to learn who their opponents will be in the opening round as the draw for the Jack Daly cup was the first to take place. Its a repeat of last year ‘s as the champions will take on Eire Og in what many believe will be the game of the round. Doonbeg, beaten finalists in 2013 will take on Ennistymon. Neighb ours Cooraclare and Kilrush will clash in the opening round for the second year in succession. Cooraclare were victorious last year on a scoreline of 0-11 to 0-8. Hurling cham;pions Sixmilebrige have been drawn in the same group as Crushen, Cratloe and Kilmaley. “A very …

NATION and Blackwell Bluegrass Band, which features Dolly Parton’s band leader, is heading to Sixmilebridge next week to headline a fundraising concert for the local school development fund. The event takes place in the Mill Bar, this one-off concert will feature the band, which previously played in the village as the Curtis Blackwell Bluegrass Band. The group, from Georgia in the United States, will offer classic, hard-driving bluegrass. Nation and Blackwell is made up of Curtis Blackwell, Chuck Nation, Gary ‘Biscuit’ Davis and Susan Nation on bass and vocals. Curtis is a member of the Atlanta Country and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and is a former member of the legendary Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys, replacing Peter Rowan. During his 40-year career, he has performed on the Grand Ole Opry and travelled extensively throughout the eastern US, performing at many of the historic bluegrass festivals during the 1960s and 1970s. In June 2010, he was honoured by the International Bluegrass Museum …