Parish secure senior status by the minimum SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP RELEGATION FINAL St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-21 Corofin 2-14 Every club at the start of the year aims, dreams and trains for Canon Hamilton glory. But the Clare Championship is so cutthroat, so competitive, that any injuries…

Lissycasey youth face daunting Éire Óg challenge Lissycasey v Éire Óg at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg Ennis, Saturday 4.30pm (Niall Quinn, St. Joseph’s Miltown) Best to temper expectations when dealing with a senior semi-final derby involving Éire Óg. After all, only last Saturday, the stage was…

Clarecastle canter into the final four Premier Intermediate Hurling Quarter-Final Clarecastle 4-19 Tubber 0-22 The Magpies might just have found their mojo at the perfect time as they comfortably avenged last year’s quarter-final defeat to the same opposition when running out convincing nine-point…

Five days to save Furglan National School Furglan National School in North Clare is in a race against time to secure its long-term future and is appealing for four new students to enrol over the next five days. The school currently has seven pupils, four short of the 11 needed to guarantee that it…

‘We’re looking to prove ourselves and we’re going to annoy teams’ Aisling Heapes is itching to get out on the pitch with her Ennis Rugby teammates, to prove themselves on the pitch. They are not going to be a pushover for any side across what is to be a momentous season for the club. The second…

Want to buy your first house? Here’s what you need to know about getting a mortgage For many people in Ireland, getting onto the property ladder feels like a huge challenge. House prices remain high, lending rules are strict, and the process itself can seem like a maze of forms, fees, and legal…

‘The fridge goes off, the lights go out’ Rising power costs are a minor nuisance for some, but have the potential to do real damage for low income households according to Denis Carty, President of St Vincent De Paul in Clare. He said that the charity frequently comes across households where people…

Credible threats to three Clare activists en route to Gaza A credible threat to sink the boats carrying three Clare based activists in the Mediterranean was received by the Global Sumud Flotilla yesterday evening, September 24. Speaking to The Clare Champion from international waters close to…

Uisce Éireann crews working to repair burst water main in Clarecastle

Appeal For Missing Clare Resident The family of Paul Whitmore are urgently seeking information about his whereabouts  of the Trim native who has been residing in Clare for more than 20 years. Paul was last seen on Sunday, September 21 driving a blue/silver 07 Mitsuibishi L200 jeep. According to a…

Ennis 2040 DAC acquire vacant Ennis Boys National School site The site of the former Ennis Boys National School on the Kilrush Road, Ennis has been acquired by the Ennis 2040 DAC. The town centre site which has laid vacant since 2013 was purchased for €3.1 million, following an independent…

Cab of articulated lorry burst into flames on M18 last night A section of the southbound carriageway of the M18 motorway Co Clare had to be closed for a time last night after the cab of an articulated lorry burst into flames. The incident occurred shortly after 9.00pm at Derrygarriff close to the…

Council has discussions with locals over dog park While it had previously been ruled out, Clare County Council now says that it has had discussions with local groups about the delivery of a local dog park. This week's meeting of Shannon Municipal District heard that even those who are nervous of…

No one nominated for presidential election by Clare County Council Clare County Councillors listened to pitches from five prospective future presidents of Ireland on Monday afternoon, but didn't give any of them a nomination. The five candidates who spoke were Searlait Ní Chianáin, Diarmaid…

Eight days to save Furglan National School Furglan National School in North Clare is in a race against time to secure its long term future and is appealing for four new students to enrol over the next eight days. The school currently has seven pupils, four short of the eleven needed to guarantee…

Draining the Shannon will raise all boats, says Minister Despite concerns in Clare about plans to extract water from the River Shannon and pipe it across the country to bolster the Dublin water supply, Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon (FG), said the plan will be a boost for the Clare…

O’Leary says that Government is not supporting Shannon Airport Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has said Shannon is no longer being considered for a major aircraft operation that would have employed 500 people. Mr O'Leary has been a near constant critic of successive Irish governments for more than 20…

Editorial: Time to open a political window For the past few days, a motley crew of Irish citizens have dragged themselves from one regional town to another, seeking attention perhaps, but also seeking a route to the highest office in the country. Dressed in ill-fitting suits and well-worn skirts,…

Opinion with Steo Wall: On the long road to diagnosis it’s clear that the parent knows best I’m the proud parent of two beautiful boys and my youngest child was diagnosed with Autism last year. This is the story of that journey. The reason I have decided to write this story is for the parents out…

Minister ‘would absolutely welcome’ Trump to Doonbeg A Government minister says that he would welcome Donald Trump to Clare next year, even though he “doesn’t agree with everything” that the American president says. Minister for Agriculture, Simon Heydon (FG), made the remark following the…

‘Everyone is frightened of the roads’ in North Clare North Clare road safety campaigner, Helga Himmelsbach, says she is only now truly feeling the loss of her husband Jerry, two years after he died. Jerry O’Connor was killed just outside of Ballyvaughan on July 27, 2023, when the motorbike he was…

Local plans to re-enact John Ford at this year’s playwright festival Cultúrlann Sweeney Theatre will be the venue for a diverse programme of events for the Kilkee Playwright Festival this coming weekend. This Saturday, September 20 will see local, national and international performances, talks and…

God Knows to take centre stage Shannon rapper, God Knows, is set to release his debut solo album ‘A Future of the Past’ on September 26. Following the momentum of previous singles The Art of Alienation, The Observer, and Misplaced Empathy, the album has been described as “the first chapter of a…

Jan and Hilary have a loo for you Knock, knock. Sounds like the start of a joke right? But instead it was a fateful rap on the door of an Ennis home that has led to the start of a county-wide campaign aiming to tackle an issue that is no laughing matter. At just seven years of age Jan Strozer was…

New Mountshannon Visitor Centre Will Boost Tourism – Minister Dooley A new Mountshannon visitor attraction will increase the number of day trippers and tourists visiting East Clare, according to a local Minister of State. Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, made this…

Kilmihil need to use all their experience to halt Rovers return Senior Ladies’ Football Championship Semi-Final Kilmihil v Fergus Rovers at Kildysart, Sunday 1pm (Paul Howard, Ruan) It’s funny how things work out sometimes as while they couldn’t be much closer in terms of proximity, they somehow…

Solar farm plans for massive 98 hectare site near Shannon Planning permission is being sought for a solar farm in the townlands of Ballycunneen, Drumline, Ballycasey More, Clonmoney West, Firgrove, and Ardkyle, in County Clare. It would be across a site of 98 hectares, while permission is being…

Brenda Fricker on a quest for eternal art in the Burren Oscar winner, Brenda Fricker, will come to the big screen later this week in a new feature film made in North Clare. The film, which is entitled The Swallow, explores the conflict between the challenges of climate change and the human need to…

Wesley at work for his late father Growing up with his late father who was an amputee has inspired Killaloe tennis coach, Wesley O’Brien, to help people with physical disabilities to play Para-standing Tennis. Para-standing Tennis is geared towards people with a physical disability who have…

Fiona and the book of lost tunes Ennis woman, Fiona Tyndall, walks the wooden steps down into the basement of her home in Princeton, New Jersey, with trepidation. A pipe had burst while the house was unoccupied during the holiday period, and when she came home, what she found was every homeowners’…

War is brewing over Ennis cannon A Russian gun which was captured during the Crimean War and gifted to the people of Ennis should be moved from the grounds of Ennis Courthouse to the Clare Peace Park, believes the Mayor of Ennis. However, the idea has been questioned by local Councillor Tommy…

Ballyea face Clooney-Quin test Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final Ballyea v Clooney-Quin at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg Ennis, Saturday 3.30pm (Jim Hickey, Cratloe) If you’re a believer in omens, and at this stage of the championship supporters will cling to anything to get their sides over…

Clare’s life was never the same following brother’s tragic death Ennis councillor, Clare Colleran Molloy (FF), says her life has never been the same since the loss of her brother in a car accident in 2002. Colleran Molloy joined North Clare road safety campaigner, Helga Himmelsbach, for the final…

Holders determined to finally lower Banner Senior Ladies’ Football Championship Semi-Final Kilmurry Ibrickane v Banner Ladies at Páirc Mhicheál Ó hEithir Ballynacally, Sunday 3.30pm (Barry Kelly, St Joseph’s Miltown) Between them they have hoovered up 15 of the last 17 senior crowns in what is the…

Ambitious plan to save Clare pubs Clare pubs are on the floor, but the Vintners Federation of Ireland have a plan to help stop them being counted out. Almost 30% of pubs in the county have shut since 2005, with the majority of those that have survived closing at least one night a week. With…

Neighbours prepare for derby showdown Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final Kilmaley v Éire Óg at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg Ennis, Saturday 4.30pm (Fergal O’Brien, Broadford) It’s difficult to believe that it’s 33 years since Kilmaley and Éire Óg clashed in a semi-final. Considering their…

Pensions for the Self-Employed – Why October is the month to act If you’re self-employed, you’ve probably got a never-ending list of things to do: managing clients, paying suppliers, chasing invoices, maybe even employing staff. But let me pause you for just one moment with this question: have you…

Teen left to wait in agony for two hours in West Clare The lack of adequate ambulance cover in West Clare is back in the spotlight again after a young teenage girl was left in pain for more than two hours with a knee injury waiting for an ambulance. This latest case is one of a series of incidents…

Ennis man connecting Clare with the Arab world An Ennis man who works in venture capital is set to be a prominent speaker at the Arab-Irish Business Summit taking place this week at the Mansion House in Dublin. In its fifth year, the business summit is regarded as the flagship forum for trade and…

Gavin bigs-up Clare connection as presidential race starts in earnest After prevailing over Billy Kelleher, Jim Gavin will contest his first election next month, not for a council or even the Dáil, but looking to be President of Ireland. Speaking on RTÉ after being selected as Fianna Fáil…

Councillors pay tribute to late Bill Chambers Glowing tributes have been paid to former Fianna Fáil councillor Bill Chambers at Clare County Council on Monday. The first meeting of the new term of Clare County Council was postponed as a mark of respect to the former West Clare councillor, as well…

Clare barrister says flotilla strike may be a war crime North Clare barrister, Leigh Brosnan, says an apparent attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla could amount to a war crime. Ms Brosnan, who is a member of the flotilla’s legal support team on the boat the Shireen, is one of three North Clare…

Council ready to learn Cliffs of Moher lesson Clare County Council is willing to learn lessons about major land purchases if they are identified in audit reports, according to the new Chief Executive Gordon Daly. Two North Clare land owners benefited from a huge financial windfall after Clare…

Major reshuffle of council management structure A major revamp of Clare County Council’s management structure has been unveiled by the new Chief Executive Gordon Daly. The changes announced include a newly established Housing Delivery, Infrastructure Provision and Land Activation Directorate. This…

‘I have questioned whether my life matters’ A young North Clare woman, who is suffering from a chronic stomach condition for years, has claimed she spent five weeks “begging” for help at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), but didn’t receive appropriate healthcare treatment. Sarah O’Reilly, Dough,…

Sailing for a glimpse of what a new world could look like Opinion: By Sarah Clancy When I agreed to write some opinion pieces for The Clare Champion, I wasn’t expecting to be writing the first one from a dusty little internet cafe just off the main street in Tunisia’s capital city Tunis. Much less…

Donovan loses on split decision in Belfast Paddy Donovan is a heartbroken man in Belfast last night, just coming up short for the IBF world welterweight title. While one judge gave it to the Ennis fighter by four points, 115-111, the two others gave it to the home fighter, 114-112 and 114-113…

Clare trad is turning Japanese Stalwarts of the Clare trad scene Siobhán Peoples and Áine Hensey, took to the stage in Japan on Monday night for a very special concert with a number of traditional Japanese performers. The pair joined the five other recipients of this year’s illustrious Gradam…

Reclaiming Clare’s peat heritage with Ireland’s first ever bog sauna A group in North Clare are hoping to rekindle Ireland’s relationship with bogs and reclaim them as a positive heath and community space. Ireland’s first ever bog sauna will open this weekend at Common Knowledge in Kilfenora. The…

In search of the Great Clare Auk A new wildlife book by Conor W O’Brien celebrates the extensive efforts being undertaken to revitalise lost species across the island of Ireland, such as the successful reintroduction of the White-Tailed Eagle with the first successful breeding occurring in 2012 in…