Month: August 2007

ALLEGATIONS that an attempt was made to abduct a nine-year-old girl from a shop in Killaloe at lunch- time on Friday are now the subject of a detailed garda investigation.

The young girl has claimed that a man attempted to take her by the hand and bring her out of a local su- permarket, at the Green, at around lpm on Friday afternoon.

The girl, from Killaloe town, was

with her cousin and a sibling — aged five and 10 — at the time of the al- leged incident.

She claims that she was approached by aman — believed to be around 40 years of age — near the deli counter of the shop, who attempted to hold her hand. She told gardai she resisted the approach and managed to raise the alarm. The young girl and her mother made a complaint at the local garda station, a short time after.

A number of people who were in

the shop at the time agreed that a man fitting the description was on the premises, but nobody saw any- thing untoward happening.

Gardai have issued a description of the man. They say he is around 40 years of age, six foot tall and was bald with a grey beard. He was wear- ing pale blue shirt and jeans, a grey hoodie and white runners.

‘The man described by the girl was unusual looking. She says he wanted to bring her with him, but she re-

sisted.

“This is an isolated report and would have happened in a matter of 10 seconds. We have not had any other calls in relation to this,” said a garda spokesman.

Local County Councillor Tony O’Brien (FF) is urging parents to be vigilant. “I would be concerned that something like that would happen in a town such as Killaloe. Of course parents of young children would be anxious,’ he said.

IT WAS Spm before the panic set in. Watched by almost 1,000 eager spec- tators from the Lahinch Promenade, 250 surfers had tried in vain for two hours to once again make history. To prove that lightning can indeed strike twice.

But the Atlantic Ocean can be an unpredictable master. From mid-af-

ternoon the swell had steadily grown, the waves were messy, strong and un- predictable, and the troop of young surfers stood little chance.

After a short respite to rest their tired limbs, 60 surfers re-entered the water for one last attempt. Three quarters of an hour later they returned to dry land – no longer mere surfers, they were now surfing heroes, World Record Holders.

‘The swell was almost too strong, we tried for more than an hour with about 250 surfers but we had to call them in and try again with just 60. The waves were breaking in sections and it was very difficult to get all of the surfers on the one wave,” said co- organised Brian Nevin.

“We tried again and because the tide was further in the waves were much cleaner and easier to ride. At

the third attempt we managed to break the record.”

Just before 5.45pm on Saturday, 49 surfers managed to ride the same wave for more than five seconds. Just four more than last years attempt but good enough for the Guinness Book of World Records, good enough for aes

“We are all so excited about it. It’s a really fun event, open to every level of surfer and it has really put Lahinch on the map. It has grabbed people at- tention all over the world. A lot of different challenges have now been laid down in other locations so it all bodes well for next year’s event,’ continued Brian.

“We are looking at building the world record attempt into a whole weekend event for next year. I mean, there was 700 or 800 people on the the prom and more than 250 in the water on Saturday.

“We are also looking at putting a charity element in for next year. Maybe do the world record on the Saturday and have a different charity event on Sunday.

“This can only help Lahinch, there is also the serious surfing event hap- pening at the Cois Farraige in Kilkee next month, but this was more of a bit fun event. It was great.”

Anyone who registered to take part in the world record attempt can col- lect their official certificates from the Lahinch Surf School by checking out www.lahinchsurfschool.com.

THE Burren coastal village of Bally- vaughan is becoming a weekender’s paradise and a weekday ghost town.

That is the view of two Bally- vaughan residents who made their claim during the course of an objec- tion against plans by Kevin Tuohy to build 44 homes in the village.

In their objection, Brendan and Katherine O’Donoghue stated that, “further holiday homes are not re- quired for Ballyvaughan. The com- munity cannot thrive or support a

range of services with empty houses most the year round”.

“This village is becoming a week- ender’s paradise and a weekday and winter ghost town. A balance is needed now in the village and any unnecessary development pressure must be avoided.”

The land is zoned ‘other settlement land’ which allows for restricted housing development, however, the O’Donoghues state that the develop- ment represents total overdevelop- ment in the small village.

“This development does not rep-

resent controlled settlement growth and its scale does not keep pace with the village infrastructure.

In her objection, Pauline Burke of the Ballyvaughan Lodge said, “It should be quite clear already that this development is unsustainable due to water and traffic alone.

“The resident make-up in Bally- vaughan at present is approximately 70 per cent holiday home owners. Given these statistics, it 1s clear that the developer intends to market this development as holiday accommo- dation. We do not feel that this is in

keeping with the current government policy on development in villages in the west of Ireland.”

“We would consider that the lack of two bedroom accommodation will price local people out of the market and is a further example of the inten- tion to market this development as holiday accommodation.”

Ballyvaughan resident, Barry R1- chards said that, “the public sewerage is insufficient to cater for an extra 44 dwellings and to use septic tanks for such a large development would be damaging to the environment.”

IN THE twelve months since the Environmental Protection Agen- cy (EPA) launched its “Dump the Dumpers” phone line, 32 calls have been registered from Clare with most of them related to fly-tipping, illegal landfill and illegal dumping.

Nationally, 2,184 calls had been received on the illegal dumping line to the end of July with EPA Envi- ronmental Enforcement Director Dara Lynott describing it as a valu- able mechanism for the public to re-

port illegal waste activities.

The “Dump the Dumpers” service was designed to encourage report- ing of illegal dumping of waste or of abandoned illegal dumps via a 24 hour call save telephone number – 1850 365 121. This information is followed up and checked by the enforcement authorities – local au- thorities, the EPA’s Office of En- vironmental Enforcement and the Gardai – through the Environmental Enforcement Network.

While information can be provid- ed anonymously, callers are encour-

aged to leave contact details so that clarification can be sought if nec- essary and so that feedback can be provided to the caller if requested.

This allows the enforcement au- thorities to gather information about illegal waste activity and to act on this information.

Sp.4 o.oo u lo Com UUMOlAmeeleNeuCocm Iles as England and Scotland suggests that a national phone-line for report- ing illegal waste activity is and will continue to be a central plank in the fight against illegal waste activity.

Serious incidents of illegal dump-

ing are reported immediately to the Gardai and the relevant local authority so that activities can be investigated as appropriate. These include, for example, the contents of a 40 foot trailer being dumped in a field or the dumping of diesel laun- dering waste.

This phone line complements and builds on existing local authority litter hotlines and offers the public a single point of contact to report in- formation about the more serious in- cidents of illegal dumping of waste, both past and present.

THE issue over the appointment of a new Clare senior football manage- ment may have been on the under- card to the hurling debate but it is hoped that by the September meeting in Carron a candidate will be found.

After receiving nominations from the various football clubs around the

county, the chairman was asked how many people were currently in the picture, to which he indicated that out of six nominations, four of those would be serious contenders for the job.

A committee with the task to come back with the new manager was then ratified. It will be made up of the chairman Michael McDonagh,

Tom Downes who will chair the committee, PJ McGuane, Michael O’Doherty, Colm Collins and Joe Garry. Peter O’Connell was also appointed but later withdrew his in- volvement from the committee. Meanwhile, Cooraclare man Joe Garry was returned as county un- der 21 manager along with selectors Odran O’Dwyer, Peadar McMahon,

Brendan Reilly, John Joe McMahon and Michael Madigan. Garry also mentioned the lack of facilities avail- able to the under 21 squad, citing Ballyline as the only option available to them. In reply, the chairman out- lined the several pitches which will soon be ready for use by the county board, singling out Clarecastle’s two new fields as possible alternatives.

over the weekend, Tim Crowe said he was “shocked” when he heard while on holidays that Tony Considine had been axed as Clare manager.

“There were huge similarities with the methodology used by Aer Lingus in Shannon. People on holidays, no consultation with the parties involved and no opportunity to put the other side of the argument. Just guillotined without the right of reply or appeal.”

He has now called on the people of Clare to stand up and be counted in a bid to allow Considine put forward his side of the story to the board.

“IT would appeal to all the wonder- ful people who support Tony Consi- dine and his management team to go to their clubs and demand that their views are represented and that natu- ral justice prevails.”

Continuing his statement, he felt

that time for a new dawn in Clare GAA and called for a total clearout of all officials in a bid to start afresh for the sake of hurling in Clare.

“I think when Tony is given an op- portunity to defend himself to the clubs of Clare, it would be very con- structive to the future of the GAA in Clare that the management would step aside along with the county board officers. A new beginning for Clare GAA must be born with a group of people who have vision, ability and no agendas. They must put in place a progressive structure to lead Clare forward to a brighter future. Because as my old history teacher told me “Absolute power cor- rupts absolutely’.”

On hearing the board’s decision on Wednesday, Crowe felt that the out- going management had only two op- tions open to them.

“First was to walk away and sec- ond was to stand up for our right to continue the fight that we have been

fighting since a certain player walked out of the panel and all hell broke loose. We have decided to fight to the end to establish our right to de- fend ourselves and put our case to the Clare County Board and to the peo- ple of Clare who privately supported our stance throughout this year at the various attempts to remove us.”

The Sixmilebridge mentor went on to defend Considine’s management and coaching methods which were questioned in certain circles during the year.

“IT have been involved in manage- ment and coaching of inter-county teams and club teams for thirty years and I must say without a shadow of a doubt that the coaching and organi- sational ability of Tony is right up there with the best. The support and co-operation he received from the players was excellent. Of course, it’s only natural that you have disgrun- tled players in any sport who don’t make the starting team. That hap-

pens in all sports, that’s just natural self-disappointment.”

Finally, he pondered why ‘Tony Considine was removed and singled out in a year in which results on the field were no worse than previous years.“Tony’s results were on par with any team since °97. The fitness, discipline and coaching of the team was of an excellent standard. The support of the players wasn’t in ques- tion. Was it that he stood for good over evil or was there a rump in the county board that wanted to control them and manage the manager but couldn’t achieve that goal?

“The question must also be asked ‘1f Paidi O Sé continued as manager of the football team, would he have been sacked or would his results, coaching, discipline and fitness levels

and player support be acceptable?”’

IT ALL finally came to a head on Tuesday evening. After postponing the decision about the future of the Clare senior hurling management in May, once Clare exited the champi- onship three weeks ago it was clear that this issue would be revisited at the August monthly meeting.

Such was the anticipation that there wasn’t a seat to be had in the West County Hotel. Everyone who attend- ed could sense that something was going to happen and while there was certain debate over the initial topics such as the future of Clare football, girls playing in boys teams past un- der 14 level and the ratification of the under 21 football management, it was nothing like the heated discus- sion which greeted the executive’s proposal to change the Clare senior hurling management.

It was county chairman Michael McDonagh who broached the sub- ject first. In an emotive speech he outlined the harsh media intrusion which even affected his family and how much progress has been made under his tenure with regard to GAA property and its increasing value. Then he then touched on the sensitive topic of the management itself.

He detailed each controversy in turn. He began by announcing the resignation of selector Pat O’Connor before the meeting. He also dis- cussed the media frenzy which ac- companied every aspect of the year so far, the incident in Mellick, the Davy Fitzgerald saga, Dave Mahedy, Ger Ward and the club champion- ships fixtures in June.

McDonagh then got more specific. He mentioned that a Clare selector had called him a “weak chairman” during the year, that he had backed

the management to the hilt and in fact kept the management team to- gether by persuading a selector (Pat O’Connor) to stay before the Antrim game in July before stating that this was probably one of the last speeches

he would make in his role as Chair- man. And because of all the rea- sons he outlined, the executive had weighed up the season and had come to a decision to propose a change of the Clare senior hurling manage-

ment.

The Miltown man then opened the discussion to the floor. Clare selec- tor Ciaran O’Neill, on behalf of the management, asked that seeing as Tony Considine and Tim Crowe

were on holidays, that they be given a chance at the next meeting to rep- resent themselves and tell their side of the story.

This request proved to be the cen- tre of the debate for the next hour. Shannon delegate Tony O’Connell agreed with O’Neill, stating that the management shouldn’t be held up as scapegoats and were entitled to show their case because everyone had ques- tions to ask. Eugene McGirr of The Banner club pledged his allegiance to the executive and suggested a line be drawn in the sand. Scariff’s Jim Jones also disagreed with bringing the management to the Carron meet- ing citing that it would only end up as an inquisition.

Heated debate continued down the same lines and at one stage the chairman threatened to leave the meeting, emotionally walking to the back of the boardroom before being coaxed back to the chair. McDonagh outlined that if the three remaining mentors were allowed to speak that it was only right that Ger Ward, Dave Mahedy and Pat O’Connor be given their chance to defend themselves and at this stage, it seemed like a vote would never actually take place.

However, after Clarecastle chair- man Paschal Russell made a stir- ring speech backing his clubman Ger Ward whom he declared was an “honest man” and who had been “done a foul deed’, debate subsided, common sense prevailed and the vote was finally taken. It led to the dismissal of the Clare senior hurling management by 45 to 6 with 14 ab- stentions.

MUCH like his brief tenure in charge, Tony Considine’s dismissal as Clare manager was charged, fraught with tension and at times extraordinary.

A heated debate that ran for almost two and a half hours culminated in clubs overwhelmingly voting in fa- vor of a motion put forward by the Executive to change the management team. 45 voted for Considine to be sacked and only six voted against.

After the business of appointing a five-man committee to lead the search for Paidi O Sé’s successor as Clare senior football manager, County Board Chairman Michael McDonagh dropped the bomb that many were expecting.

“I am making a proposal that we change the senior management team for next year” said McDonagh.

“I have to accept mistakes were made,’ he said before stating “he wouldn’t recommend this job to his worst enemy’.

The executive, said McDonagh, were all in agreement that Tony Con- sidine was no longer the right man to lead Clare hurling. A few key reasons emerged for this.

The fact that sponsor Pat O’ Donnell and County Secretary Pat Fitzgerald were asked, along with others not directly involved with the team, to leave the Clare dressing room before a match in Meelick, was one.

The circumstances surrounding the withdrawals of physical fitness coach Dave Mahedy, goalkeeper David Fit- zgerald and selector Ger Ward.

It was revealed that another selec- tor, Pat O’Connor, told McDonagh that he would not be taking part in the county set up.

And then there was Considine’s close friendship with Ger Loughn- anne, a man viewed by many in the room as the de facto spokesperson for the Clare team.

Kilmurry Ibrickane delegate TJ O’Loughlin, who seconded the Board’s motion, raised Loughnanne’s

comments when he unfavorably com- pared club delegates to “mushrooms” and “village idiots”. *“Tony Considine only listens to what Ger Loughnanne tells him” said O’Loughlin. Loughn- anne’s words were clearly unhelpful KOM SNR (ONCE

The mercury burst the glass when the row over the availability of play- ers for club fixtures was aired.

Inflammatory newspaper com- ments by selector Tim Crowe where he robustly challenged anyone who couldn’t stand the heat to get out of the kitchen, were mentioned by Clarecastle’s Paschal Russell, raising the temperature further.

As the debate swayed back and forth and McDonagh vowed this would be one of the last speeches he would ever make, there was barely a mention of the team’s performances on the pitch.

It was as if personal grudges out- weighed any analysis of how Clare under Considine actually played.

In the middle of this, fighting a

losing battle was selector Ciaran O’Neill. With Tony Considine and Tim Crowe both away on holidays it fell to O’Neill to put forward the management’s side. He appealed for the trio to be allowed the opportunity to have their say. McDonagh chal- lenged him to do it on the night, but O’ Neill, declined saying it would not be right to talk without Considine or Seem tion

His appeal won support from some quarters. Kilmaley delegate Eugene McMahon said everyone should have the right of reply.

Noel Welsh said, “it is a very seri- ous matter to terminate someone’s contract, maybe we should hold back and allow a little breathing room”’.

Dan O’Connor from Doora Bare- field and Tony O’Connell from Wolfe Tones also advocated the right of re- ply. A proposal for delegates to re- convene at a special meeting to hear from Considine, Crowe and O’Neill was also shot down. As was a motion for clubs to consult with their mem-

bers before casting their vote.

Considine clearly didn’t help his own cause. He was evasive with the board and the media and refused to entertain accusations that the res- ignations of selectors and the with- drawal of players were impacting on the team’s preparation.

The ill-fated closed doors friendly in Thurles also caused unnecessary tensions between board and manage- ment.

But still, as stormy as it might have been, Considine should have been given the right of reply.

He was sacked without getting an Opportunity to explain or defend himself. By Friday, three days after the event, he had not been officially informed that he was no longer the manager of the Clare senior hurling team.

No matter what way you cut it, that’s just wrong. There was a lot of talk on the night about not repeating the mis- takes of the past year, but the board haven’t made the best of starts.

ALLEGATIONS that a 17-year-old Kilrush woman was the victim of a gang rape in the town last week are being investigated by local gardai.

The young woman alleges she was attacked by two or three men, at around 2.45am last Thursday, in the Moore Street area of the town – just hours after she had been out socialis- ing to celebrate her friend’s Leaving Certificate results.

The young woman has claimed that she was set upon and attacked by up to three men – who were unknown to her – and sexually assaulted, on the Street.

She had been socialising in Kilkee earlier that night and had just re- turned to her home town, when the alleged incident took place.

The complainant was alone at the time. She alerted her brother, who phoned Kilrush Garda Station.

An investigation was immediately mounted and the area of the alleged incident was sealed off for a number of hours on Thursday.

The woman was later interviewed by investigating gardai and she made a full statement in relation to the matter. She was treated at the sexual assault unit at the Mid Western Re-

gional Hospital, Limerick, while her clothes were sent away to Dublin for forensic analysis.

Although she was deeply trau- matised, the young woman was not physically injured.

Gardai were due to interview the young woman for a second time yes- terday (Monday) evening.

They have also obtained CCTV footage of the area in question and have viewed this, as part of the in- vestigation.

They say they know little about the alleged perpetrators at this stage.

Kilrush Superintendent Declan Brogan said that no witnesses have yet come forward. However, he is appealing to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the town between 2am and 3am that night tocome forward.

‘There was a festival on (Eigse Mrs Crotty traditional musical festival) over the last week and a lot of people were on the streets that hour of the morning,” said Supt Brogan.

“As of yet, no-one seems to have seen anything. We are appealing for anyone who was in the town that night and who may have informa- tion to contact us,’ he added. Kil- rush gardai can be contacted on 065 9051017.

A QUESTION mark has been thrown over an ambitious proposal by a County Clare construction company to develop a strategic site in Ennis.

Ennis couple Vincent and Ann Coffey of Clonroad, Ennis lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala against a plan by Galvin Construction Ltd to build a retail outlet on Ennis’s Fran- cis Street.

In 2004, it emerged that the Cof- feys withdrew their objection against a €20 million housing scheme at the Quin Road, Doora by Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd after the company paid them £85,000 (€107,930) and gave them two free sites.

A letter to the board from the Cof- feys stated that at no time did they approach the developers with the in- tention of securing payment of mon- ey, gifts or consideration of other in- ducement by any person.

An Bord Pleanala has already up- held the Coffeys’ concerns in relation to the Galvin Construction Francis Street proposal by refusing planning permission to the development last year.

The Coffeys property is adjacent to the Galvin development and the building company re-lodged plans to develop the Francis Street site.

Ennis Town Council gave the com-

pany the go-ahead and now the Cof- feys have appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

Consultants for the Coffeys state, “The proposed development will devalue our client’s property by vir- tue of its proximity along the lateral ere) UbALe rN AYA

“It will result in overshadowing, loss of amenity and privacy. The wrap-around balcony at second-floor level, if permitted, will directly over- look our client’s property…

“We would respectfully submit that this application should be refused pending a more appropriate design solution for the site.” A decision is due on the appeal later this year.

The appeal stated that “the current planning application involves the de- velopment of part of one of the most important sites in Ennis town centre, situated at the junction of Francis Street and Clonroad and, whilst the Site 18 vacant, it 1s deemed suitable for a mixture of uses”.

“The council will recognise that this stand-alone proposal jeopard- ises the potential for the proper plan- ning and development of the entire area and must be assessed in those ACCU N AHEAD Gree

“An overall proposal is required for the entire area to ensure that the land’s true potential is exploited,” the appeal stated.