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Tag Archives: The Clare Champion

Hair today, gone tomorrow for Liam

A LONG, golden era is about to end. For many years Liam Duggan’s moustache has been a constant presence in The Clare Champion office, but there are just weeks left for his colleagues, family and friends to enjoy its magnificence. It has now been officially announced that the long serving accounts department manager will shave it off on December 8 as part of a Shave or Dye fundraiser for Down Syndrome Clare. Indeed, if Liam raises over €2,500 he is set to dye his hair as well as removing the celebrated moustache. Speaking this week Liam was unsure how long the moustache has been around for. “I couldn’t tell you to be quite honest, but it’s going back years. I have it over 25 years anyway.” If the hair is also dyed, what colour has he in mind? “It won’t be pink anyway. If some people got their way it’d be multi coloured, I could be like Pogba! But it’s …

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Clare man Dion, first snapped in Champion, making waves as model

A YOUNG East Clare native whose photogenic potential was first spotted by The Clare Champion has since appeared in leading magazines including Italian Vogue and Irish Tatler.  Dion Mahoney was snapped, as a young boy, by Champion photographer John Kelly. He and his dad Paul were attending the Brian Ború reenactment at the East Clare Heritage Centre in Tuamgraney in 2005, when they were photographed for the paper.  When Dion recently reminded Paul of that picture, The Champion was fascinated to hear that Dion has been enjoying a high successful career in modelling. As a keen young sportsman, Dion enjoyed regularly playing rugby, soccer and hurling. A student at Scarriff Community College, Dion was in Junior Cert year when sustained a debilitating and recurring injury while on loan to Young Munster Rugby Club from Scarriff Rugby Club. Despite regular physiotherapy and osteopathy sessions, the injury would return after a few matches, requiring yet another period of treatment and rest. It …

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Where West showcases tourism offering on Wild Atlantic Way

From Carrigaholt in the Loop Head pensinsula to Carron in the northern part of the county, the Clare coastline offers unrivalled and breath-taking views. All along the Wild Atlantic Way, the world’s longest defined coastal touring route, the spectacular scenery embellishes the tourism offering from quaint eateries, to pretty seaside villages, sandy bays and cliff top walks. Put simply, the Wild Atlantic Way is inspiring, renewing, relaxing and invigorating and this week The Clare Champion, in collaboration with The Connacht Tribune, has published the first ‘Where West’ magazine, the ultimate guide to planning your holiday break along the west coast of Ireland. Business Development Manager with The Clare Champion, Leo O’Connor said Clare is renowned for its tourism offering and the development of the Wild Atlantic Way has added another important string to its bow. He said Where West is designed to showcase businesses and events throughout counties Clare and Galway encompassing all that is best along the Wild Atlantic …

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Get snapping for Ennis Rotary

BUDDING photographers are being encouraged to showcase their skills by taking part in a photography competition, run by Ennis Rotary Club, with the support of The Clare Champion. Young people, aged between seven and 18, have the chance to win some picture-perfect prizes, while the overall winner will compete in the Rotary International All-Ireland final. Participants are being asked to submit an image based on the theme ‘My Best Friend’. Judging the competition will be award-winning Clare Champion photographer John Kelly, commercial and wedding photographer Paul Corey and Chris Copley, a member of the committee of Ennis Camera Club. The competition is now open, with April 6 the closing date for submissions. According to organisers, they have already been blown away with some of the entries that have been received. However, it is not too late to get involved. Photographs for the competition must be entered in digital format and winners will be printed and presented at an awards night …

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Carol Byrne honoured at Justice Media Awards

Clare Champion journalist Carol Byrne has again been acknowledged for her outstanding work in the field of legal reportage and features. At the annual Justice Media Awards event, held in Dublin on Thursday (June 22), Carol received her fifth Justice Media accolade for her story on how law researchers at the University of Limerick worked with the late Judge Michael Reilly, Ireland’s first inspector of prisons, on a report recommending the creation of a database to record deaths in Irish prisons. The judging panel awarded a certificate of merit in the regional print category to the Ennis resident for her article entitled ‘Breaking new ground in prison law: the late Judge Michael Reilly’. The graduates’ work with the late Judge Michael Reilly, was compiled in a report which was presented to Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald last year. The Justice Media Awards recognise outstanding print and broadcast journalism that contributes to the public’s understanding of law and justice, the legal system, or specific …

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Champion reporters shortlisted for media awards

TWO Clare Champion reporters have been selected as finalists in this year’s Local Ireland Media Awards. Peter O’Connell has been selected as a finalist for the second year running, this time in the news category, for his story, Death by Geography, while Dan Danaher has been shortlisted for his news series focusing on the EPA. This is the second year of the awards. Last year, The Clare Champion was also shortlisted in two categories and went on to win the prize for Feature Story of the Year. The awards event is organised by Local Ireland, which is the promotional brand of the Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland (RNPAI). The group represents 35 companies across the country, including newspaper titles and printing companies. In his selected entry, Peter O’Connell revealed that the Shannondoc service in Kilrush, Ennistymon and Killaloe was to be drastically slashed. Residents throughout West Clare, particularly the remote villages of Carrigaholt, Cross and Kilbaha, expressed concern …

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Loop Head Tourism gets involved

LOOP HEAD tourism is to be the Clare representative in the Get Involved sustainable communities initiative, developed by 51 local newspapers, including The Clare Champion, throughout Ireland. Get Involved is a way for communities to work together to improve their own lives, create local jobs and protect the environment. Local newspapers, with the support of the SEAI, help to drive voluntary sustainability projects, where citizens will collectively play a more pro-active, inclusive and coherent role in shaping the future of their local environs. The initiative brings clear benefits to the local economy and the In 2015, Clare was represented by Moy Hill Community Farm near Lahinch. This year, Loop Head Tourism, which was established in late 2009, will represent the county. The group has 45 members, all of whom are tourism operators on the peninsula. “There is a great Irish saying: Ní neart le cur le céile. We can go and market the place in a way that any one …

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Another award for Champion journalist

Long serving Clare Champion journalist, Tony Mulvey has been honoured with a Media Award for his distinguished service to the regional press. A native of Colonroad in Ennis, Tony joined The Clare Champion staff all of 58 years ago and during his time with the newspaper, owned by the Galvin family, he has chronicled events be they news, current affairs or sporting events that have defined the Banner County. His late father, George was editor of The Clare Champion prior to his death in 1958. Tony was presented with his award at the annual Mid West Press Ball in The Strand Hotel, Limerick by special guest, Finance Minister Michael Noonan. Limerick Live95FM’s Len Dineen, who has been working in radio locally since the 1970s, was also honoured. JT McNamara, the Limerick jockey who died tragically in July from injuries sustained in a fall, was the posthumous recipient of the biennial Shannon Group Media Merit award. Presented by special guest Finance …

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