Month: October 2011

FANS of television’s The Apprentice will be familiar with the new upcoming artist called TBC, who is set to take the Irish music scene by storm. The moniker TBC, or To Be Confirmed, was accidentally used by Team Spirit to describe the first act on a CD to be distributed free with the Irish Daily Mail .

The gaff eventually lost the team the task, which resulted in Yinka being shown the road by Bill Cullen in the boardroom. The Clare People has discovered that the mystery artist who was mistakenly named as TBC was none other than Sixmilebridge singer-songwriter Lou McMahon.

Despite the loss of the task, 100,000 copies of the CD, which features Lou’s song alongside her real name and details, will be distributed across the country in this Saturday’s Irish Daily Mail .

“I am overwhelmed by this, I really didn’t expect to make it onto the CD. I entered by song ‘The River’ into a competition being hosted by the newspaper and, out of the blue, one day I got a call saying that I had been shortlisted. At this point ,I knew noting about The Apprentice, I just made my way to Dublin for some interviews,” said Lou. “I managed to get my track as the lead song of one of the CDs which was great. I was called in by both teams – both wanted the song to be on their CD but I ended up being used on Team Spirit’s CD. Anyone who has seen the show will know that I was mistakenly not told about the photo-shoot for the cover art and was listed on the album sleeve as TBC – or ‘to be confirmed’.

“The Irish Daily Mail thought that calling one of the artists TBC was such a big mistake that they have decided to repackage the whole CD and my name will be included on the CD that people get this weekend – not TBC.”

One hundred thousand copies of the CD featuring Lou will be distributed in this Saturday’s Irish Daily Mail. Lou’s latest single entitled ‘Into the Wind’ will be released in November and all of her music is currently available on i-Tunes.

A 20-YEAR-OLD’s chronic alcohol problem and misuse of cannabis are at the root of his bad record, a court has been told.

The comments from a barrister came in the case of a defendant who pleaded guilty to burglary last year.

Ian Murrihy (20), of Lisdoonvarna Road, Kilfenora, was charged with burglary of a house in Ardnaculla, Ennistymon, on June 25, 2010. A mobile phone was stolen during the break-in.

Ennis Circuit Court heard yesterday that a man was woken up from his sleep by noise coming from a front room of his home.

Garda Christopher Healy told the court that the offence was committed at 4am. The accused was arrested some six hours later. He said that the stolen mobile phone was never recovered and that another man involved in the incident has since died.

The court heard that the accused had several previous convictions.

Defence Counsel Emer Carey, BL, said that her client, who was inebriated at the time, went into the house via a side door that was open. “They let themselves in,” she said, adding that her client’s recollection of the incident was “sketchy”.

She said that her client had been “a chronic alcoholic” and has abused cannabis in the past. She said that her client has had a difficult background and lived rough at one point.

“The majority of his previous convictions relate to his chronic alcohol problem and his misuse of cannabis,” she said.

Ms Carey said that her client became a father for the first time in August, but has not yet seen his child as he has been in custody since July.

Judge Carroll Moran said he was taking the accused’s poor background into consideration. However he said there were aggravating factors in the case: the accused’s “very bad record” – including 10 previous convictions for theft and one for burglary – and the fact that this was “an invasion of somebody’s home in the middle of the night when they are asleep”.

He said he had to impose a prison sentence and jailed the accused for four years, the last year of which was suspended.

He backdated the sentence to July 26 last, when the accused went into custody.

A 19-YEAR-OLD who launched a “completely unwarranted and uncalled for” attack on a man who he overheard talking about him has been warned that he may face three years in jail.

Karl Haugh, of Marian Estate, Carrigaholt Road, Kilkee, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Darren Clarke and also admitted assaulting Denis O’Connell, in Kilkee on August 7, 2010.

Detective Garda Oliver Downes told Ennis Circuit Court yesterday that the defendant was refused take away drink in a pub in Kilkee on the night in question.

“Denis O’Connell was working in the premises and Darren Clarke was a customer,” said the garda.

He said that Mr Clarke and Mr O’Connell left the premises in the early hours of the morning.

As Mr Clarke made his way home he was attacked as he approached the entrance to a housing estate.

“A blue car pulled up and the accused jumped out. The accused caught Mr Clarke and punched him to the back of the head and then punched him a few times to the head and chest,” said the garda.

The court heard that Mr Clarke fell to the ground and was punched again as he tried to get up. “The accused grabbed him in an arm lock. He was choking as a result,” said the garda.

“Denis O’Connell came to his assistance. He received two punches to the face,” he added. Mr Clarke sus- tained a number of injuries including a graze to the forehead, small cuts to the lips and a shoulder injury. He was out of work for a month, due to the attack. Mr O’Connell sustained a swollen jaw and black eye.

Gda Downes said that Haugh “is well known to us in Kilrush and Kilkee. He has 24 previous convictions”. Asked about the motive for the assaults, the garda told Judge Carroll Moran, “The accused alleges he overheard Darren Clarke call him a scumbag in the pub and that was the reason for him to go after him. This hasn’t been verified.”

Defence Counsel Pat Whyms, BL, said that Mr Clarke did concede that he was talking about the defendant, but hadn’t realised that he was listening to him. “There is a discrepancy in relation to what was said,” he said.

The court heard that Mr Clarke did not wish to give evidence to the court.

Mr Whyms told the court that his client was involved in a serious car accident eight years ago and has been on disability since the age of 18. He said that his client wished to publicly apologise for what Counsel described as a “completely unwarranted and uncalled for” incident. He said that his client took umbrage as a result of “this perceived slight and not at the refusal of the drink as such”.

Mr Whyms said that his client was on his way home from his night out at the time and was “not pursuing Mr Clarke”.

“However it was completely unjustifiable to assault Mr Clarke in the way he did. Thankfully Mr Clarke was not seriously injured,” said Mr Whyms.

He said that his client had brought € 1,870 to court and was prepared to raise further compensation to bring the total to € 5,000. He said that the accused is selling his car and is hopeful of raising € 2,000 from this, which will go towards the compensation. “I think that is a reasonable offer on the basis of injuries sustained by Mr Clarke,” he said.

Judge Moran said, “It seems to me he is facing the possibility of three years in prison. Let’s see if he can sell the car in three weeks.”

He adjourned the case until November. “I’m not making any promises at all. This is a serious gratuitous attack,” said the judge.

COCAINE valued at € 940 was found during a Garda search of a house in Shannon earlier this year.

Michael Delaney (27) with an address at Cronan Lawn, Shannon, appeared at Shannon District Court on Thursday on charges of possession of drugs and possession of drugs for sale or supply.

Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that jurisdiction had been accepted in the matter. He said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal.

Insp Kennedy said that gardai conducted a search of 50 Cronan Lawn in June of this year. He said 16 bags of cocaine, valued at € 940, were found in the house. He said the gardaí believed that the cocaine was for the purposes of dealing. A sum of € 1500 was also found during the search, the court heard. Solicitor Jenny Fitzgibbon told the court that after her client had broken up with his partner, his life had “spiraled into addiction”. She said that after the break up, her client had been forced to look for new accommodation and had been “very short of cash”. She added, however, that this was no excuse for his actions. Ms Fitzgibbon said Delaney had developed “a huge drug addiction”. She said he had made every effort to deal with his addiction including taking urine tests.

For having drugs for sale or supply, Judge Aeneas McCarthy imposed a nine-month sentence, suspended for a period of two years on condition that the accused be of good behaviour. He also imposed a three-month sentence, suspended for two years, to run concurrent to the first sentence. 1.Ba llin r u a n Co mm u n it y Ha ll 2.Ba lt a r d P r ima r y S c h o o l 3.Bo s t o n P r ima r y S c h o o l 4.Bu r r a n e P r im a r y S c h o o l 5.Clo o n a n a h a P r ima r y S c h o o l 6.Clo o n e yg o la n e P r im a r y S c h o o l 7.Clo u n a P r im a r y S c h o o l – En n is t ymo n 8.Co n n o lly P r ima r y S c h o o l 9.S c a r r iff P r ima r y S c h o o l 10.S t Co n n a ir e ’s P r ima r y S c h o o l – S h a n n o n

CLARE Supported Employment Service (CSSE) has found work for 242 people affected by illness, injury and disability over the past five years, new figures show.

The highest number of work placements in that five-year period occurred in 2009 (53). Figures for 2011 show that 26 people have found employment through CSSE though that number also includes 19 short-term self-employment contracts.

Team leader Alice O’Carroll explains that the service has developed close links with a wide range of employers and organisations such as Ennis Chamber of Commerce, IBEC, Shannon Development and Network Ireland.

One well-known company that has benefited from their links to CSSE is McDonalds, where, Alice explains, 10 per cent of the workforce in the Ennis and Shannon branches have been employed through the service.

“Our clients are very varied in terms of their experience, education and qualifications,” she adds.

Earlier this year, CSSE launched a five-year strategy (2011-2016) that seeks to make Clare an exemplary area in Ireland for providing employment for people with an illness, injury or disability.

According to Richard Collins, Chairperson CSSE, the strategy has been put in place to enable the service to “weather the economic storm and to put a comprehensive structure on its operations over the next five years”.

In his introduction to the strategy, Mr Collins says, “It demonstrates a deep-rooted commitment to our jobseeking clients and a compulsion to encourage employers throughout the county better understand our raison d’etre.

Over the lifetime of the strategy, CSSE aims “to respond appropriately to the current job market by being innovative in identifying and following through on different pathways to employment” and “support all clients who actively engage with the service; to secure and maintain the highest quality work outcomes possible”.

The service also states that it aims to achieve these goals through a number of initiatives including, “establishing successful placements with larger employers in Shannon, and utilising these examples to generate further placements in the greater Shannon area” while also “empowering clients, who have the capability, to seek out opportunities for themselves”.

FOR John Kearney, the chance to reenter the workforce after two frustrating years was one he seized with both hands.

When the Kilmaley man was 17, he had an accident, which left him with a serious back injury. For some years following the accident, John was out of work. Then, he found part-time work as a school caretaker under a Community Employment Scheme.

However, in 2004, John was lifting heavy pipes at work and suffered a relapse. His back was now worse than it had been when he had the accident initially and he had to undergo medical treatment for a period. But gradually he improved and from September 2005 he was ready to go back to work.

Besides the financial incentive of work, John found he missed the routine of a job and really missed making a contribution in terms of his work. However, any of the vacancies he encountered were full time or in- volved either sitting or standing for long periods, both of which would prove detrimental to his physical health. He grew more and more frustrated as he wondered what he could do. He wanted to work and wasn’t content to rely on a disability payment on an ongoing basis.

Enter Gaelscoil Mhichil Ciosóg and Clare Supported Employment Service (CSSE).

In December 2005, the school’s parents’ council voted to employ a part-time maintenance person. CSSE heard about the position and contacted then school Principal, Mairín Ui’ Dhuinneacha to find out more. After careful consideration of the school’s requirements, CSSE employment facilitator Deirdre Ball found that she had the perfect candidate.

Initially, John began working just six hours per week. Given his physical disability, John needs to take an individual approach to work. Tasks may need to be adjusted slightly or physically demanding tasks alternated with lighter tasks. John com- menced work at Gaelscoil Mhicil Ciosóg in early 2006 and quickly became a valuable member of staff.

John is now a full-time staff member at the school and is no longer in receipt of a disability payment.

After five years, John says he is delighted to be working at the school. He explains, “I still get regular physiotherapy but I can do more work. It’s great. The work will always be done. I get on very well with them. It’s brilliant to be working with all of them. Donál (O hAinifin, current principal) is a great man. He’s very understanding. There’s no better man.”

For his part, Donál describes John as a person “with loads of ability”.

John is a firm advocate for CSSE. He says, “I was eager to get back into the workplace with any type of job. It was great to be directed to Clare Supported Employment. They are brilliant for me and for everyone.”

HELPING people with illness, injury or disability to secure employment has been the goal of Clare Supported Employment Service (CSES), which this week celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Events to mark CSES’s 10 years in existence were launched yesterday at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis. Open information mornings are being held today (Tuesday) at Skycourt Shopping Centre in Shannon; Wednesday lunchtime at Tesco in Kilrush; Thursday morning at Scarriff Adult Education Centre; and Friday afternoon at the Family Re- source Centre, Ennistymon.

The service is holding a table quiz fundraiser for Clare Crusaders on Wednesday at the Temple Gate Hotel at 8pm. Employment-related workshops will be held during the week. Further details can be obtained from Karen at 065 6844007.

Supported employment originated in the United States in the late 1970s when it was recognised that people learn best on the job with practical instruction.

A successful funding application by the Brothers of Charity, Clare, together with Enable Ireland, led to the creation of a Supported Employment programme in Clare. A team of four staff began providing a countywide supported employment service to people with a range of disabilities, from its office in Carmody Street, Ennis, in 2001.

Since then, the team has expanded and developed but the purpose of the service has remained constant: to offer a highly professional service that is clearly focused on matching the employment needs of people with disabilities and the recruitment needs of County Clare employers.

“We monitor key performance indicators on a monthly basis and are constantly striving to improve the service we provide,” explained Alice O’Carroll, team leader with the service.

After finding suitable employment for clients, the service also provides extra workplace training, if it is deemed necessary.

“Some of it is on-site but the majority is off-site. It’s about ironing out any difficulties that might arise and providing reassurance,” Alice added.

Additional staff have been recruited over the years and business coaching was implemented in 2006. In 2007, placement numbers rose significantly as an additional project, ‘Career Link 2007’ delivered an 80 per cent employment outcome.

CSES was the first FÁS-funded supported employment service to be awarded the Q Mark Standard in 2009.

Alice explained that, as the current recession took hold, the service began to explore a wider range of employment options for job-seekers, such as self-employment and raising awareness of the wage subsidy scheme and other grants.

Under the scheme, employers who employ a person with a disability for 21 hours a week or more may be eligible for a subsidy of € 5.30 per hour. Alice said, “As the candidates we put forward are carefully matched to the business needs, this is really an allround win for employers.”

TWO NEW state-of-the art rescue boats were officially named in Clare over the weekend with the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard welcoming ‘Lir’ to active service while the Killaloe Unit launched the boat ‘Dalton’.

The Lir was officially named by Senator Martin Conway (FG) in Doolin on Saturday. He pledged that the boat was a good first step but his main aim was to ensure that funding is made available for construction of a rescue centre in Doolin as soon as possible.

Spokesperson for the Doolin Coastguard, Mattie Shannon, said that the new boat would be a great benefit to the unit, which is one of the busiest in Ireland.

“It’s a great new boat to have. It seats four people and can travel up to 48 knots per hour – which could very useful in the future for helping members to escape from danger ous or hazardous sea conditions,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Senator Conway said that the big occasion that he wanted to attend in Doolin was the sod-turning ceremony for a new rescue centre.

“The fact that they have been giv en this boat is a reflection of how busy the unit is and also the level of professionalism that they have in Doolin. I think this boat is a strong endorsement from Government of the work that is done in Doolin and I would see this very much as a preamble to something a lot bigger, which is the provision by the Government of the funding needed for the long overdue new rescue centre,” he said.

“This campaign has been going on since 1997 and the current facilities are completely unacceptable for one of the biggest units in the country. It is imperative that all the various strands of this are pulled together and we get a timeline.

“I would hope that the next big event in Doolin is the turning of the sod for this new centre. The message has to go out loud and clear that Friday was just the beginning and we need.”

Meanwhile, Minister of State, Alan Kelly (FG), was in Killaloe on Saturday to officially name the new eight-metre Redbay Stormforce Rescue Boat. The boat was given the name ‘Dalton’ after Thomas Dalton, who tragically lost his life on Lough Derg in 2006.

To date this year, the Killaloe Coast Unit has responded to 27 call-outs, provided safety cover for a number of local events and visited five national and one secondary school to give safety talks.

A FUNDRAISER to help pay the remaining costs for the renovation and extension of Quin Community Centre will take place on Saturday night.

A traditional music concert, featuring a blend of local and national musicians, will take centre stage at Quin Community Centre at 8pm on Saturday.

Among those due to perform include Mary Liddy’s Music School, Karen McMahon, Fergal Breen, the Maher School of Dancing, Frank Custy, Flan Murtagh and Pat O’Loughlin, along with Quin’s Young Talent.

The major renovation and extension project of the community hall has been completed, to the tune of around € 500,000. While around two-thirds of this was provided in funding, local fundraising was required for the remainder. Most of this has been raised and the debt has been reduced to single digit thousands, according to the treasurer Daire Ó Criodain. “The operational revenue should run ahead of the operational outgoings, but just to accelerate it, this is being organised,” he said. “It is a combination of local talent and Munster and All-Ireland traditional musicians.”

Since the work on the project was completed, the centre has been a hive of activity with several groups holding meetings both during the day and in the evenings. “As a physical space, it is top class,” he added.

Admission for Saturday’s concert is € 7.

IRISH language groups are hoping the use of cuplá focal will boost business and encourage cultural tourism in Ennis. The objectives have been set out as part of Inis Dom, a new marketing and promotion campaign that will be launched in the Temple Gate hotel on Thursday night (8pm).

The initiative has been organised by An Clár as Gaeilge Teo, Glor na nGael Inis and Conradh na Gaeilge with the assistance of Foras na Gaeilge, Comhairle Baile na hInse, Ennis Chamber and Ennis Town Council.

As part of the campaign, businesses will receive information on the advantages of marketing through Irish along with Irish in-house promotional and advertising material. Local groups involved in the promotion of Irish will also provide support and ongoing advice while helping businesses identify promotional opportunities.

Inis Dom will build on Gnó Means Business, a special branding campaign that aims to facilitate the practical use of Irish within the business sector.

Research on the links between Irish and business promotion was carried out over the past 12 months while 1,000 leaflets outlining the initiative were delivered to businesses in the past seven days

Domhnall O Loinsigh, secretary of An Clár as Gaeilge Teo, explained, “We are focusing on traders to show how Irish can be attractive as a mar- keting tool and it will cost businesses nothing to take part”.

He added, “We’re trying to raise the profile of the town as a cultural shopping destination. If we can do that, this will raise the profile of Ennis as a centre of excellence in promotion of traditional culture.”

Mr O Loinsigh said, “Hopefully traders will benefit from the increased focus on Ennis as a shopping destination”.

The new marketing campaign follows the work of An Clár as Gaeilge Teo. Established in 2002, the group has promoted Irish in Ennis and throughout the county.

Ennis has won the Glór an nGael National award on four occasions and the ‘Tidy Towns le Gaeilge’ twice. According to Mr O Loinsigh, the long-term aim is to introduce the Inis Dom concept across all sectors of the local economy.

“We’re very much thinking of the future with this. The better response we get, the more we’ll provide,” he added.