THE year has reached its end, so let’s dive right into it.
Here, The Clare Echo brings its readers some highlights on the year just gone. What were the biggest stories, which local characters caught our attention in 2022? It’s time for the 2022 News Year in Review.
Most read online
1 Viral Lisdoonvarna video poses questions
THE Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival took a dark twist when a video of a man and woman having sex on the main street was widely circulated on social media.
A number of media outlets carried reports on the footage and subsequently a tragic outcome involving one of the people featured was reported. Speaking at a meeting of Clare’s Joint Policing Committee, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) spoke on the dangers of sharing videos on Whatsapp and social media, adding there is a “moral responsibility of people behind the camera”.
2 Clare GAA fundraiser breaks €1m
THOUSANDS of online readers were eager to find out the winner of Clare GAA’s Win a House In Lahinch fundraiser. In May, we reported that the initiative raised over €1.1m and was won by Lahinch man Shane Curtin. Tickets were snapped in 31 of the 32 counties on the island of Ireland with no buyer from Co Derry.
3 ‘Clare should withdraw from hurling championship’
AS ALWAYS, reports on Clare GAA were consumed with interest by Clare Echo readers and 2022 was no different, with another GAA story in our top 3 most read. Former Clare TD James Breen said the county hurlers should withdraw from the championship if appeals to have suspensions of Rory Hayes and Peter Duggan were not rescinded after the Munster final.
“Clare always seem to get the rough end of the stick” he fumed, adding criticism to Sunday Game pundits Shane Dowling and Brendan Cummins for their alleged biased opinions.
The stories that shocked us all
Traveller feud escalates
ENNIS has been on high alert this month with Gardai ramping up efforts to quell a “turf war”.
Gardaí at Ennis Station investigated numerous incidents including a firearm being discharged on Cloughleigh Rd, three caravans in Doora being destroyed and a grave at Drumcliffe Cemetery was firebombed, and a hit and run. Ennis Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) told The Clare Echo, “I have a deep concern with the escalation of a turf war which is putting innocent people at risk and in particular vulnerable children in these households.”
Clare landlord’s sickening sex bid
CLARE people were praised for the welcome the extended to the Ukrainian refugees this year however it emerged in March that a Clare landlord offered accommodation to a Ukrainian woman in a sex-for-rent arrangement. The Irish Examiner first reported that a property in Clare was on offer for free to a “slim Ukrainian” woman, with an expectation of sex.
Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) voiced his disgust with the conduct, “this is disgusting, abhorrent and pathetic in every way possible”.
Tragedy in Lisdoonvarna
LISDOONVARNA grandfather John O’Neill (78) was found dead at his home on January 7, in an incident that numbed the entire community and county.
He had been noted as an “intrinsic” member of the community in North Clare having operated a B&B O’Neill’s Town House with his late wife Christine since 1973. Gardaí subsequently charged a 32-year-old man, Thomas Lorigan – of no fixed abode – with the murder of at St Brendan’s Road in Lisdoonvarna.
A good year for…
1 Céid Mile Fáilte
The welcome in Clare for Ukrainian people has been second to none, tipified this week by children from Doora NS who presented Christmas gifts to the Ukrainian children at the Ennis Educate Together school
2 Shannon Airport taking off
The car park is full again, new routes are being announced and passanger numbers have dramatically risen this year. Long may it continue
3 Celebrations
With the return of social gatherings, there were numerous reasons for cheer in 2022, including Michael D Higgins’ visit to mark the Samaritans turning 40 in Ennis along with the Tidy Towns win for Ennis.
Good things come to those who wait…
Puca finds its home
AFTER much controversy, An Púca was officially unveiled in North Clare in June.
On International Fairy Day, the ‘Scare of Clare’ was let loose on the people of Clare at The Michael Cusack Centre in Carron.
The unveiling came over a year on from the initial furore which saw the people of Ennistymon tear down the 2m tall bronze art piece, designed by Aidan Harte, before it was even put up. Ennistymon priest, Fr Willie Cummins from the altar described the Púca as “sinister”, a petition presented to Clare County Council contained 263 signatures from Ennistymon against the €30,000 statue. Ultimately, it was decided a new home would be needed to home Mr Púca, with the Michael Cusack Centre being given the contentious honour.
Muhammad Ali Plaza?
A SUPERMAC’S Plaza on the outskirts of Ennis was given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála in October – more than six years after plans were first lodged with Clare County Council.
The €10m plaza is to be located in Kilbreckan, Doora adjacent to junction 12 of the M18 and while Supermac’s says 120 jobs will be created within a year of development beginning, the Clare facility will not be to the same scale as the Barack Obama Plaza in Moneygall. It is the fourth application the fast-food chain made for a plaza in the Banner County. An application was marred in controversy when it emerged in 2018 that bogus letters of support were submitted to the local authority from a Clarecastle group supporting the development. It came after strong opposition from the local business community, who argued that the “excessive scale” of the development would have a “significant negative impact” on Ennis, Clarecastle and Crusheen.
Other notable developments granted planning permission included a new Aldi store in Ennis at the Westpoint Retail Park, while on the Station Road in Ennis, plans to increase the size of a primary healthcare facility were also approved by An Bord Pleanala, which would include the provision of an additional floor despite the upset of some local residents.
Meanwhile, Aldi expressed “extreme disappointment” with the decision of An Bord Pleanála to refuse them planning permission for a second time to construct a new store in Shannon.
