Month: March 2007

ORDER, order in the school. The transition years students from Lis- doonvarna’s Mary Immaculate Sec- ondary School have been opening up their minds to the Irish legal system in recent weeks through their par- ticipation in the Public Access Law Day.

Indeed, the school was one of just 25 schools from all over Ireland picked to take part in the latter stages of the competition which took place in Dublin’s Four Courts over the weekend.

They placed sixth of the 25 schools narrowly missing out on a place in the final.

Eighteen students from the school travelled to Dublin where they pit- ted their legal wits against other schools.

“We were given three differ- ent cases to contest with the other schools. We had to be the prosecu- tion on the first case, but for the other two we were defending it. The bar- risters have to make opening and closing arguments and question two witnesses,” said transition year stu- CCS al me-b aXe Moy DUR Ki Ko) mm COME MCE Dh Aa WI EDITS STi

“Each school put forward 18 stu- dents to take part in the trial. These include two barristers, four witness- es, the jury, solicitors and reserves.”

The students have been working

overtime over the last number of months and have been well prepared by Galway based solicitor James Fahy.

‘Firstly, we had a barrister in talk- ing to us about the legal system and how it all works. It was really very educational and very very interest- ing. He thought us about a lot of things and helped us to prepare for Dublin,” continued Aisling.

‘He spoke to us about how the legal system works here in Ireland, about our own rights and how the consti- tutions works. We also had a mock trial and learned how all the differ- ent parts of the court work.

‘In the court it’s about having basic manners, knowing how to conduct

yourself and how to express yourself without being biased.

“We have learned an awful lot. Not just about the legal system, but also about our own legal rights. I have also learned a lot about speaking in public and expressing myself clearly to other people.”

Four schools go forward from the competition to compete in the All- Ireland Final which takes place in the Four Courts on April 21.

IT’S NOT often you can say this, but Bono may have been talking sense, at least when he sang about the streets having no name way back in 1985. This certainly seems to be the case in Lahinch at the moment as the development of recent years have left many new areas of the village with no recognised title.

For the sake of tourists, not to men- tion the poor postman, Clare Coun- ty Council have decided to tackle the situation and plan to introduce a number of new street and estate names in the coming months. The Lahinch Community Council have come on board to help people bring

suggestions on possible names to the council.

“The idea is to allow everyone to have their say. We just want to help facilitate people, but they can submit their ideas directly to the council if they like,” said Mary Comber of the Lahinch Community Council.

“It’s all about the people who live in the area getting an input. A name is going to be picked and if they can come up with something local, his- torical, in Irish or in English, then all the better.

“People might know some histori- cal fact about their street that has been lost. Like William Ellis who used to live in the house beside the Church, he raised the money to build

the wall and the prom. So maybe that might be a good name for a spare corner here or there.”

Besides putting names on previ- ously untitled areas, the council also hopes to sort out a number of con- fusing situations such as two estates who both have the same name in the AUN E:TSxen

“There is an estate called Sandhill Lodge on the Ennistymon Road but there is also an estate called Sandhill Lodge down opposite the Golf Club on the Liscannor Road. There are a lot of houses down there as well. So there are two sets of Sandhill Lodges at the moment,’ she continued.

“We also have the back lane which runs parallel to main street. This has

always been there but it is a proper street now. The only name that has been proposed to the council for that so far is to name it after Arzon, the French town that Lahinch is twinned with. It 1s all coming about because of the expansion of Lahinch. It’s no longer a case of the old fashioned postman who knows where everyone lives. When you build a new housing estate people have to come up with a name. So they are taken care of but there are other areas that don’t have any names.”

Anyone interested can submit sug- gestions to Donogh O’Loghlin or Gerry Hartigan of the Community Council or directly to Clare County Council on 6821616.

REDUCING headline crime and increasing garda resources in tour- ist locations during the summer will be among the priorities for the new Kilrush Superintendent, Declan Bro- eee

The Kinvara native has just taken up the post as Superintendent of the Kilrush District, replacing Joe MckK- eown, who has gone to Dublin, after a year-and-a-half in Kilrush.

Supt Brogan has moved to Kilrush, having spent the vast majority of his years in the garda force, in Dublin.

Prior to moving to Clare, he worked in the regional traffic unit, based at Dublin Castle, for six years. During that time he was involved in some major infrastructure projects, includ- ing the development of the Port Tun-

nel and the Luas.

He has also spent almost 18 years working in the Special Detective Unit, based at Dublin Castle, while he has spent three-and-a-half years working overseas, mainly in Croatia.

‘IT have been looking at issues that have been happening here (in west Clare) over the past year. I will be fo- cusing on decreasing headline crime, like public order and assaults.

“You have to look at where public disorder arises from and try to ad- dress it, through CCTV and enforce- ment,” he said.

“Coming from a road traffic back- eround, I have particular interest in the Road Traffic Act,” said Supt Bro- eee

“The legislation is there for the guards to implement random breath testing and it is up to us to do it.

Since its introduction last year, it has had a huge effect on the number of road fatalities. If it works… great,” he said.

He also plans to increase garda re- sources in areas where populations dramatically increase during the summer months.

“You have a summer issue and a winter issue. The population of plac- es like Doonbeg and Kilkee increase during the summer and we have to look at putting extra resources out there,” he said.

While he is not opposed to alcohol, its abuse and that of drugs, lead to many problems.

“The abuse of alcohol and drugs leads to public disorder and people have to be responsible,” he said.

Additional resources have recent- ly been pumped into the detective

branch in Kilrush, on a temporary basis, and Supt Brogan is hopeful that these may remain in place, to tackle drug use and other serious crime in west Clare.

The Brogan name is well-known in Clare – Declan’s brother Paddy, an Ennis publican, is a prominent spokesman with the Vintner’s Feder- ation in Clare, while another brother, the late Enda Brogan, was County Registrar for Clare, prior to his death four years ago. Their father Michael was a garda based in Kinvara for many years.

Declan is happy to be back near his roots in Kinvara. “I am looking forward to it. It is great to be able to drive to work in the morning and not be stuck in traffic jams. Rural po- licing has a lot to offer and is more community-based,” he said.

She is ott: that people who made

their Holy Communion on that fate- ful or even faithful day on June 16, 1957, would be able to meet up again on Saturday, June 16, 2007.

Now living in Cork, Mairead said that many of the girls from that class are scattered throughout the country and beyond and she is hoping that family members who may still be living in Kilrush would make them aware of her plans.

As many as 34 girls for the Convent of Mercy School made their holy communion that day. They were in senior or high infants at the time and were just about to enter first class.

While Sr Alacoque was their class teacher, Sr Mary Carmel was the nun responsible for religious instruction and the months of preparation that

went into the event. At 8am the chil- dren went to their Holy Communion Mass after fasting for the requested wneeles

Afterwards they went to the con- vent where they had jelly and trifle to celebrate. It was home then, meeting the neighbours on the way who had a half crown, or if you were extremely lucky, a ten shilling note to give as a present.

Some boys from the boys school joined the girls on the day.

Mairead has had mixed results in tracking people down so far for the reunion. The following is a list of names of the girls that made their communion that day.

They were Ann McMahon, No- reen Twomey, Teresa Whelan, Nuala

Chambers, Mairead Walsh, Clare Houlihan, Ita Lowe, Mary Guerin, Assumpta Kelly, Mary Kemp, Chris- tina O’Brien, Patricia Enright, Imelda Blunnie, Betty Keller, Marie Walsh, Margaret Keane, Kathleen Shannon, Maeve McGuane, Marie Brennan, Marion Shannon, Concepta McMa- hon, Dorothy Humphries, Carmel Cahill, Ann B McMahon, Taimse O’Leary, Kathleen Gorman, Mary Flanagan, Phyllis Flynn, Ena McMa- hon, Mary Kennedy, Mary MclIner- ney, Siobhan Keating, Kathleen Fitz- patrick, and Eileen Sullivan.

Mairead can be contacted on 021 4244797 or 086 0533073.

More information on the night can be found on the Kilrush Connect website.

CONSTRUCTION work began last week on a rural west Clare school – the first major permanent develop- ment to be carried out there since the eVeebuslon

Originally constructed in 1846 Mullagh National School is undergo- ing its biggest transformation in its proud 160-year history.

The chairperson of the school’s Board of Management Tim Don- nellan hailed the work as one of the largest state supported projects ever to reach the village.

Mr Donnellan also took the op- portunity to highlight the need for a proper sewerage plant for the area.

“This, to my knowledge, is the single largest capital infrastructure investment in Mullagh village since the foundation of the state and we whole heartedly welcome it.

“We feel that the provision of a state of the art school building in as- sociation with the proposed and long awaited mains sewerage system will be central to this communities de- velopment and vibrancy out into the future,” he said.

The three-teacher school was al- located a devolved grant by the De- partment of Education to complete the works.

The project will include two modern classrooms, a general purpose room for art, drama and PE, principals of-

fice as well as the modernisation of existing classrooms, resource rooms, library and computer facilities.

After months of planning, seeking permission and putting the project through the tender process the local contractor Thomas Lineen moved on site on Tuesday.

Mullagh National School principal, Sean McMahon said that staff and parents were delighted with progress and that this was the beginning of realising a dream, which had been a long time incubating.

The principal has, however, to con- sider the well being of the pupils and staff during the on-site construction V0) 0.@

He requested on-going vigilant care

by parents, pupils, staff and commu- nity in relation to health and safety considerations over the duration of the project.

Mr Donnellan complimented the consultant, Gerard McGrath, Project Design and Building Consultants Ltd, Kilrush, for his work to date. He also thanked all relevant personnel in relation to the securing of planning permission. He then wished Mr Tho- mas Lineen and Co building contrac- tors success with the project.

, a diverse collection of work by the Finnish born artist is currently on show at the the Burren College of aval

Kaiya Poijula was born in Northern Finland and now currently lives and works in Ennis. She holds a Master of Arts from Helsinki University of Art and Design.

Kaiya works mainly with mixed media, sculpture, installations and

oLau Cee serNeGom-vam

Death, loneliness, shadows, the in- visible world and macabre humour all come into play in her ethereal and minimalist work. She works with materials such as textiles, skulls, glass, and water.

The colour white runs like a thread through the exhibition and is used to simultaneously express joy and sor- row.

These themes and materials will be seen in her sculptures and instal- lations on display during the exhibi- tion.

She has had several public and pri- vate commissions, the latest one be- ing in the Cultural Centre of Beth- lehem, in Palestine, designed by

renowned Finnish Architect Juha Letviska.

Since 1992 Kaiya has had several solo and group exhibitions around the world. Some of her solo shows include, St Paul’s Church at Smith- field, Dublin in 2004, Gallery of the Institution of Finland and Berlin in 2004 and Gallery Katarina, Helsin- ki in 2003.

She has also exhibited in the Em- bassy of Finland in Washington, DC, USA in 1999 and Gallery Maronie in Kyoto, Japan (together with Sato and Rokumura) 1n 1997.

In 2005 she participated in the Soho Chelsea International Art Competition, in the Agora Gallery in New York and in the 175th Annual

Exhibition, RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy) Dublin.

Awards and grants include; Sculp- ture in Context, Dublin in 2005, Project Grant (The Arts Council of Finland) in 2003, Public Display Grant for Visual Artists in 2002 and The Arts Council of Uusimaa in 2000.

All the work will be available for sale throughout the exhibition. The exhibition will run until April 12. For further information on this ex- hibition, please contact Limerick Printmakers Studio and Gallery at 061 311806.

The gallery is open Monday to Fri- day llam to 5.30pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm. All are welcome.

A PARACHUTE jump by local woman Pauline Nagle has helped raise vital funds for the Brothers of Charity.

On Saturday, March 10, in the skies over Edenderry, County Offaly,

Pauline and two staff members from the Brothers of Charity jumped out of a plane from 12,000 feet.

Despite some understandable last minute reservations the jump went perfectly

This was a tandem jump and was done with Pauline strapped to an in-

structor. Conditions on the day were perfect and after a brief instruction it wasn’t long before Pauline was speeding down the runway.

After some screaming on the way down and at a rate of 200 feet a sec- ond and 125 miles an hour the para- chute opened after a drop of 7,000

rel

Her efforts helped raise €5,000 for the Brothers of Charity holiday fund – an internal fund within the service which enables other people in receipt of the service to go on holidays.

28-year-old Pauline Nagle origi- nally from Ballyea, but now living in Ennis has been in receipt of services from the Brothers of Charity for the past ten years.

A number of months ago she ex- pressed a wish to do a parachute jump as part of her personal plan.

After she informed her support staff within the Brothers of Charity of what she intended to do she set about making her dream a reality.

Pauline nominated the Brothers of Chairty holiday fund as her chosen charity. A committee was formed in November and comprised of Pauline and staff from within the Ennis serv- ice.

In total four people took the plunge, Pauline, Eamon Finn, Maria Cahill and Kevin Delaney.

Before the main event a number of other fund raising events took place over the Christmas period.

These included pub quizzes, a six- ties night, a garage sale and a number of other smaller events. There was nearly €5,000 raised which was a fantastic achievement.

The focus within the Brothers of Charity over the past few years has changed dramatically.

According to those involved this has been a slow process, but with a lot of hard work and commitment from all involved, the focus of atten- tion is now based on the individual and what the organisation can do to help them.

According to Maria Cahill of the Brothers of Charity, “The fulfilment of Pauline’s dream of a parachute jump is as a direct result of this change of focus within the organisa- nO)

“Can we take this opportunity to thank all involved in the fundraising, both the committee members and all those who gave so generously.”

MINISTERS have raised doubts over the findings of an independ- ent review by Irish Rail consultants, dealing with the likely costs of the Ennis to Athenry railway line.

The review claims that only 600 people a day will use the line and that it could lose up to €12 million in its first five years.

Speaking in Athenry last week, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon O Cuiv questioned the accuracy of the fig- ures used in the consultants report.

“Look at the number of homes which are being built or planned to

be built. 300 to 400 passengers are already using the Ennis-Limerick line, even though there are only two stations open on it at present,’ said elo cODEODISI Kose

“What will those numbers be like when this service into Galway opens up fully, with stops at many stations along the route including Gort, Ar- drahan, Craughwell and the Oran- more station which will also be re- opening?, he asked.

Transport minister, Martin Cullen has confirmed that Irish Rail’s busi- ness case anticipates that the line will lose €2.4 million per annum.

Minister Cullen gave the go-ahead for re-opening the €106 million En-

nis to Athenry rail-link, despite Irish Rail stating that it didn’t meet the eco- nomic criteria required for approval of large-scale capital projects.

‘‘An independent review of the busi- ness case for that project indicated that Irish Rail may have underesti- mated the likely demand somewhat, which would tend to overstate the estimated deficit,’ said Minister Cul- len.

“The extent of the subvention re- quired to meet the deficit will be- come clear when services commence operation. At that stage, the subven- tion required will be determined in the context of the overall subvention requirements of Irish Rail and CIE.

This is determined annually, as part of the estimates and budgetary proc- Con

Clare’s Green Party candidate Bri- an Meaney has called on all parties to continue to support the Ennis to yall ilosst marae eb iten

“It 1s important that the operation of the service is fully supported by government. There is no business that has a model that delivers profits in its first year,’ he said.

“There has to be a long-term com- mitment from all players and I have no doubt that the line north of Ennis will be an economic success and be as viable as the Ennis to Limerick rail line,” he added.

THE €36 million deal struck be- tween management and unions at Shannon Airport will collapse if the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) does not secure 200 voluntary re- dundancies.

Balloting of SIPTU members at the airport is due to commence today (Tues) and continue until next Thurs- day, April 5. A count is to take place later on that day.

All three unions concerned, SIPTU, IMPACT and the TEUU recommend acceptance. The deal is expected to be endorsed in the ballot prior to SEN Coe

However, 200 workers must then accept the voluntary redundancy package that the SAA has put for- ward.

The deal makes it more attractive

for staff to remain with the lump sum payment increased from €10,000 to €16,000. The SAA will be seeking the first of the redundancies before the end of April.

According to the 1l0-page docu- ment drawn up after marathon nego- tiations, “‘all parties understand that in the absence of 200 volunteers for severance from the company, this agreement will not be capable of 1m- plementation”.

It is understood that there are 105 working in catering, which is to be completely outsourced. However, the deal allows those workers to transfer to the new operation with the same terms and conditions enjoyed and not take the redundancy package.

The deal also allows for the rede- ployment of catering staff to other areas of the company.

The airport will revert to a 16-hour

operation instead of the 24 hour op- eration that is currently in place.

The deal states that “it is acknowl- edged by all that this agreement is based on exceptional circumstances — the long term viability of Shannon — and as such, its terms will not be used as a precedent for any future claims by either side”.

According to the document, the payment of €16,000 to staff re- maining will be paid in two phases, €10,000 to be paid on the agreement going through and €6,000 four and a half month later. The lump sums to be paid to staff who remain on 1s ex- pected to cost €6.5 million.

The agreement also states that “the acceptance of these terms by the un- ions will not imply that the unions accept any of the conditions set out in the State Airport Acts 2004 have been met”’.

PROVISIONAL agreement from the unions on the Shannon Airport cost restructuring agreement has been welcomed by management at Shan- non Airport and by the Dublin Air- port Authority (DAA).

“On the basis that this agreement delivers the €10m in annual cost sav- ings required, and that it has the full support of the LRC, the trade unions and management, we welcome it as a significant first step towards ensuring Shannon Airport’s financial viability and safeguarding its role as a key economic generator for the west of Ireland,” said Pat Shanahan, Execu- tive Chairman of Shannon Airport.

“Shannon Airport faces many busi- ness challenges including the advent of Open Skies and growing competi-

tion from other airports.

“But if this agreement is approved by staff, we can establish the cost base and flexibility that will enable Shannon to compete successfully and secure a vibrant future for the airport, its customers and staff,’ he added.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Labour Affairs and Clare TD Tony Killeen said that the provisional agreement had “enabled management and work- ers to develop and market the facility in partnership.”

The minister said he was hopeful that the deal would shortly lead to full services, including fully opera- tional bars, shops and restaurants.

According to Minister Killeen, “The reaching of a provisional agree- ment between managers and unions at Shannon Airport on a revised cost-

cutting plan is amajor breakthrough for everyone involved, as well as the passengers using the airport.”

He called on all the union members who would be balloted on the issue to “carefully consider the deal that has been presented to them and I look forward to a favourable outcome for all parties involved.”

Minister Killeen said that accept- ance of the deal by workers would result in Shannon moving one step closer to becoming an independent airport.

“I believe that a strong independ- ent Shannon Airport will be well placed to win a significant share of new passengers and services that will become available when up to 20 additional U.S. gateways are open to business to Shannon,” he said.