The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
FIGURES published by the parish show 634 people have died in Shannon since 2000, with 2013 the year when most deaths were recorded.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, parish priest Fr Tom Ryan (pictured) said the town’s demographics are maturing.
“Maybe 30 years ago, there would be 10 baptisms every Sunday but now, the town is maturing and it’s an ageing town. That’s reflected in the amount of grandparents in the town and even great-grandparents, which wouldn’t have been there in the past.”
It’s not that long ago since the cemetery was put in place at Illaunmanagh. “The cemetery opened in 2001 and a number of years later, an extension was sought for it. That’s filling up as well but there’s still plenty of space available.”
The parish was founded on Christmas Eve of 1967, although people had been living in the town for some years before, as part of the Newmarket-on-Fergus parish.
The number of deaths per year are: 2000- 23; 2001- 32; 2002 38; 2003-32; 2004-34; 2005-53; 2006-51; 2007-50; 2008-59; 2009-61; 2010-41; 2011-43; 2012-45; 2013-72.
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
