The Clare Echo

FOR the fourth month in a row, Shannon Airport recorded the strongest passenger growth among the major airports in the country. Figures published by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) show an 8.8 percent increase in traffic at Shannon compared to one percent at Dublin Airport and a drop of four percent for Cork Airport. Shannon served as the fastest growing airport in Ireland for the entirety of summer 2026, having also recorded the highest rate of growth in May, June and July.

*Ennis Train Station. IRISH RAIL’s income from parking charges from its train station in Ennis tops €200,000 over the past three years. New figures provided by the CEO of Irish Rail, Mary Considine show that the train station car park at Ennis last year raised €85,754 in car-parking charges in 2025 and this was a 29.5 percent increase on the €66,209 raised in 2024. In 2026, the car park at Ennis has raised €50,840 by September 6th.

*Fred Hegarty celebrates scoring Inagh/Kilnamona’s first goal of the championship. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. INAGH/KILNAMONA’s shift to playing more as a team has been credited as a central reason for the club advancing to a first Clare SHC final in five years. Collectively stronger all over the field, Inagh/Kilnamona were deserving seven point winners over Éire Óg on Sunday to seal their place in the Clare SHC final and end the Ennis side’s reign as county champions.

*Éire Óg’s Ronan Lanigan. Photograph: Ruthie Griffin. A ROUND three meeting between Éire Óg and St Joseph’s Miltown is “irrelevant” ahead of their rematch in the semi-finals according to the manager of the Clare SFC champions. Éire Óg brushed aside the challenge of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield with ease on a score of 3-20 2-11 to set up the semi-final tie with St Joseph’s Miltown which is the curtain raiser of the last four double header on Sunday in Cusack Park (13:00).

*Keelan Sexton. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. PLEASED to be back in the Clare SFC semi-finals, Kilmurry Ibrickane are adamant that they cannot afford to be as wasteful if they are to remain in contention to lift the Jack Daly. Four wins out of four have Kilmurry Ibrickane preparing for a novel semi-final clash with Kildysart on Sunday in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg (15:00).

*Tom O’Rourke’s goal chances just goes wide of William Kavanagh’s net. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. STRONG EMPHASIS was placed on ending a twenty two year wait to qualify for the Clare SHC final from Kilmaley and they are now sixty minutes from lifting the Canon Hamilton. A 0-25 1-11 victory over Scariff has teed up a novel county final for Kilmaley against neighbours Inagh/Kilnamona.

*One of the offences took place in Ballybeg. A 31-year old Ennis man, who has pleaded guilty to sending lewd images of himself to his counsellor and masturbating in public places has committed his third and fourth offences of a sexual offensive nature while on bail.

TRAFFIC calming measures at Hawthorn Estate are to be reviewed again by Clare County Council, after councillors raised concerns about speeding and road safety in the area. The update came at the September meeting of the Ennis Municipal District following a question from Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), who sought an update on the previously agreed installation of speed ramps and signage at the estate.

*Kildysart’s Liam Casey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. KILDYSART “are following the plan” having secured their place in a first Clare SFC semi-final for the first time in thirty nine years. Having led by ten points against Lissycasey at half time, Kildysart had to come from behind with Luke McGrath’s last gasp two pointer seeing them advance to the semi-finals.

Pictured at the launch of Shannon Airport’s “The Best Place To Fly From” campaign in February are brothers Fionn, Darragh and Oisin O’Connell from Newmarket On Fergus. Photograph: Arthur Ellis. A BRAND campaign from Shannon Airport has been shortlisted for a national marketing award. Shannon Airport’s campaign ‘The Best Place to Fly From’ is nominated in the “Best in Class – Brand” category at the Digital Media Awards 2026.