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Back Daffodil Day, urges Lahinch cancer survivor

LAHINCH’S Rachel O’Mahony is urging the public to support vital cancer research, by supporting Daffodil Day this Friday, March 25. Rachel was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. As part of her treatment, she took part in a clinical trial for a cancer drug. Today, 14 years after her breast cancer diagnosis, Rachel is back to full fitness and health. She is a patient advocate for research that looks at new ways to prevent, detect or treat cancer, including the world-class research funded by the Irish Cancer Society, the largest funder of cancer research in Ireland. Originally from Cork, she has lived in Lahinch with her husband Declan for the last 25 years. When she was struck by cancer, it was a huge shock, as she was young and fit. “I was 38 at the time and it was a bolt from the blue. Not that I ever took my health for granted, my Mum was a nurse and we …

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More power to hurling legend at Ardnacrusha

One of the greats of the game spent his working life at Ardnacrusha and ended up buying his home from the ESB, writes Dan Danaher LEGENDARY Limerick hurler, Mick Mackey enjoyed working in Ardnacrusha Power station for almost 50 years, according to his son, Michael. Mick Mackey was one of the greatest hurlers who has been repeatedly voted on to teams representing hurling greats, including at centre-forward on the Hurling Team of the Century in 1984 and the Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000. While Mick Mackey is a household name in GAA circles, his strong association with Ardnacrusha isn’t as widely known. In addition to working in Ardnacrusha Power Station for five decades, the burly centre-forward also lived in an ESB house just a stone’s throw from the station for 29 years until his untimely death in 1982 at the age of 70. During his 17-year career with Limerick hurlers, he won three All-Ireland medals, five Munster medals …

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Clare man was a force for good in the gardai

Lisdoonvarna native Jack Marrinan’s tireless advocacy improved life for gardai and shaped the modern police force, writes Fiona McGarry ONE hundred years of An Garda Síochána will be be celebrated this year and among the key figures in the force’s history, a Clare man looms large. John ‘Jack’ Marrinan was one of a family of nine from Lisdoonvarna and among the second generation of Garda members to take on the role of guarding the peace in the turbulent period through the 1960s and ‘70s. He travelled to the capital to make his life with the force along with several other Banner men who distinguished themselves in their dedication to duty. Jack’s biographer, former Garda-turned-author, Tim Doyle, describes the North Clare man as “a hero” and a natural leader who fought consistently for better conditions and pay for rank and file members. Instrumental in winning a landmark battle for better working and living conditions for Gardaí, Jack was just 28 when …

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From crippling debt to near death, Danny’s days were never dull

From Cross village to Texas for gruelling US Navy training; from running festivals to nearly drowning in debt; from earthquakes in Manila to almost dying in Mondello, Danny Boland has experienced many highs and lows which he shares with Dan Danaher. WHEN he was working on major construction projects all over the world, Danny Boland always gave thanks for the training he received in Ardnacrusha Power Station. “It was the greatest training anyone could ever have,” says Danny, “It was unbelievable. I would not have been able to work on any of these projects without the ESB. The training and skills I learned in Ardnacrusha made all these jobs so easy. “If I ever ran into a problem on a job, I can pick up the phone and get advice from one of the ESB fitters or electricians I worked with.” “We were trained to weld, operate lathes, maintenance work, construction work, piping. I learned about five different trades in …

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Cotter stays calm on road to recovery from near-fatal crash

The morning before a training accident which could have ended her life, Ruan cyclist Imogen Cotter was finally seeing the fruits of her hard labour. She spoke with Ivan Smyth from her base in Girona. The struggle and sacrifices Clare cyclist Imogen Cotter has made to earn a professional contract were rewarded when Belgian based team Plantur Pura signed the 28-year-old this year after a rapid upturn in her form towards the latter half of 2021. Enduring the 3.30am starts which came with working for the Belgian postal service or completing eight-hour shifts at a bakery all led her to fulfilling her dream. She moved to Spain at the start of the year as her career looked destined to reach new heights in the upcoming months. On the morning of January 26, Cotter moved in to her new apartment in Girona and in that moment, it felt as if her life couldn’t be more perfect. At roughly 2pm that afternoon …

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Ennis Daffodil Day diamonds seek new flower power people

EVERY year the town of Ennis transforms itself into a field of golden yellow for Daffodil Day as the county capital embraces the annual fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society, writes Jessica Quinn. Volunteer fundraisers can be seen on almost every corner selling bunches of the spring flowers as well as other items in aid of the charity’s flagship fundraising day which is always generously supported locally. Behind this monumental effort has been a dedicated volunteer committee, many of whom have been involved with the charity for more than 30 years. After decades of service to the community, the organising committee are taking a well deserved retirement and they are encouraging others to take up the mantle to ensure that Daffodil Day in Ennis continues to be as successful as ever for the charity. Daffodil Day was brought to Ennis in 1989, one year after its initial launch in Dublin, by Michael Guerin Snr and following his passing, that baton …

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Clare school children launch their own newspaper

SAINT Enda’s National School in Lisdoonvarna launched its first newspaper, The Lisdoon Leader, this week after months of preparation and teamwork, writes Conor Clohessy. Brian Carty, principal at St Enda’s, emphasised that the past few years have been a tough time for children, and the staff wanted to make the process a little bit more fun through team learning. Throughout the academic year, the students learned how to present broadsheet newspapers, and became more familiar with media office vernacular. Roles were also assigned within the class group to give the students a clearer impression of how a press office works, with teachers only giving a final glance over the copy otherwise. Brian said, “They’ve been brilliant, and they deserve to have something at the end of it. There was a lot of learning in it, but it was nice to be a fun environment. The children attacked it with gusto and got stuck in with the work.” He added that …

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Burren’s Michael Cusack Centre looks ahead to big year

THIS year marks the 175th anniversary of the birth of Michael Cusack, founder of the GAA, and the Burren-based Centre named in his honour has big plans, writes Conor Clohessy. Born on September 20, 1847, Cusack’s love for education, Irish culture and sport led to the foundation of what is today the world’s largest amateur sporting organisation. Situated in Carron in the heart of award-winning Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, the Michael Cusack Centre is inviting the public to explore the heart and soul of the GAA in the valley where Cusack was born, as part of their commemoration to his legacy. Sheila Keane, Education Officer at the centre told the Champion they will be dedicating all of 2022 to “Cusack 175”, hoping to run the “Camán to the Burren” Team Building Weekends, where wellness and wellbeing are a key component of the mentally and physically stimulating experience. This initiative takes place at the centre and select …

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