Month: May 2012

A CRANNY native has won a bursary from the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation to help fund her education research.

Úna Ní Sheanain now teaches sixth-class students in the Galway gaelscoil Scoil lognaid.

The ambitious and successful West Clare woman also manages to study for her doctorate while educating the 11- and 12-year-olds of Galway city.

Originally from the West Clare village of Cranny, where her parents Agnes and Pat still live, she attended the local primary school before studying at Cahercon Secondary School.

She has also worked with missionary nun Sister Ethel Normoyle from Lissycasey.

Ms Ní Sheanain is now studying at NUI Galway towards a Doctorate entitled ‘Re-imagining the Gaelscoil’. Her research examines how best to foster interculturalism in the primary Gaelscoil.

It aims to create links with a local intercultural school and attempts to engage teachers and students in collaboration through critical dialogue, democratic classrooms and artsbased enquiry.

Speaking at the presentation of the bursaries in Dublin, the President of INTO, Noreen Flynn, said it was a source of pride to the INTO that at least 75 per cent of primary teachers voluntarily undertake additional training and study.

“By acquiring new skills and expanding their knowledge, teachers enhance their practise and ultimately everyone benefits,” said Ms Flynn.

Every year since 1993, primary teachers undertaking research have been supported by the INTO through the Bursary Scheme.

A 10-PERSON steering committee, including members form Clare, Kerry and Galway, was established in Ennis last Friday to oversee the organisation of the Irish Citizens Party. The party, which was established last month by West Clare man Jim Connolly, will be led by this steering committee for the months ahead, until a formal party structure an be established.

Mr Connolly, who ran as an Independent in last years’ general election, has previously said that he will not put himself forward as a candidate for the party, but is hoping that some of the new members will decide to run in upcoming elections.

“I am more than happy with how it went. We have established a steering committee to move the party forward. This committee has members from all over Clare, from Killarney and from Ardrahan in Galway,” said Jim.

“Everyone was very enthusiastic. The meeting started at 8.30pm and at 11pm everyone still wanted to be there and still had a lot to talk about. We discussed everything under the sun – it was a very good first meeting.

“The party has no rigid doctrines like left or right, this is purely about the citizens of Ireland and upholding humanitarian values. The meeting gave me great courage; three days ago this was me, all by myself. Now we have 10 people on a steering committee and they will move us forward.

“The steering committee will bring things forward for a while and, once we determine how things work and grow a little, then we can talk about more definite structure.

“There were different voices at the meeting and they didn’t all agree, and that is the way it is going to be in this party.”

To find out more about the new party, visit www.irishcitizensparty.com.

A MAN has been found guilty of the defilement of a child who he claimed he was in an arranged marriage with.

The 22-year-old Clare man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had pleaded not guilty to defilement of a child at a guesthouse in Ennis, Co Clare between July 11 and 12, 2010.

A jury of seven men and five wom- en took just under four hours to find him guilty. Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded him in custody to appear before her later this month (May) for sentencing.

The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence that the man drove the 16-year-old girl to a guesthouse in Clare and had sex with her. The accused claimed that he thought she was aged 19 and that she had agreed to marry him after two earlier meetings.

He told prosecuting counsel, Martina Baxter BL, that he planned to go with her to the Bishop of Offaly, named in court as Fr. Cox, because he was “sympathetic to these quick marriages”.

Giving evidence via video link the victim denied agreeing to marry the man and said that he had destroyed her life.

She said that after the sex she told him that she would marry him in six months if he took her home because she was terrified.

She said: “All I wanted to do was go home to my mother and father.”

She said the man told her to act normal and “pretend nothing happened”. He told her to tell his own family that she told him that was 16 and a half years of age.

He told her not to let anyone take her clothes.

The victim told the jury that she was scared in his presence and was putting on a brave face because of her discomfort.

The accused said that on the night he and the girl were on a bed kissing and that “one thing led to another” and they agreed to have sex.

Ms Baxter put it to him that what actually happened was he ordered the victim to take off her clothes and he threw himself on top of her.

Counsel said that the victim was upset and told him to get off her. She said that she lay there sobbing in bed and was too scared to leave.

THE Ennis Town Manager has defended the price of parking in the town amid claims it is damaging businesses.

Ger Dollard was speaking at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in Ennis east electoral area.

The matter was raised by councillor Pat Daly (FF). In a motion, Cllr Daly called for the Council “to seriously look at reducing the cost of parking per hour in Ennis from € 1.30 to one euro per hour particularly due to the fact that business in the town is down substantially.”

In his response, Town Clerk Lenoard Cleary said Ennis Town Council is currently in the process of reviewing parking byelaws in the town.

He continued, “This will involve a public consultation process. The parking fees are an integral part of the income utilised to balance the Ennis Town Council budget.

“Any reduction in parking fees would reduce the budget income available and hence impact on the delivery of services in Ennis.”

He added, “If a decision were to be made to reduce parking fees, this would have to be coupled with a decision as to which services would be curtailed or withdrawn.This matter will be considered by Ennis Town Council as the local authority for this functional area.”

Cllr Daly told the meeting that cost of parking had been cited by a number of businesspeople he had spoken to as a factor in declining sales.

He said customers were now choosing to shop in large retail stores in Limerick and Galway where parking is free.

Mr Dollard said, “Ennis Town Council is very conscious of the pressures on business”.

He said that he did not accept that the cost of parking was to blame.

He said there is “very good value” to be found in the long term car parks in Ennis.

Mr Dollard explained that the price of parking in the town centre has to be higher to ensure turnover of spaces.

THERE have been calls for safety measures to be introduced to ensure Ennis doesn’t become the “sheepstealing” capital of Ireland.

It follows concerns raised by the theft of a number of sheep sculptures in Ennis recently.

The May meeting of Ennis Town Council heard that pieces from the ‘Clon Road Fair’ were stolen while they were being transported for repairs.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) proposed that the council provide a pen for the remaining sheep. However, the meeting heard that all of the pieces had been stolen.

Cllr Meaney said the sculptures had been subject to constant vandalism since they were installed on the Clon Road. “We shouldn’t give into vandals” he said.

Cllr Meaney said that the pieces cost around € 3,000 each.

He added, “We don’t want the sheepstealing tag attached to Clare.”

Town Clerk Leonard Cleary said that gardaí are investigating the matter. He said an insurance assessment is also being carried out.

Mr Cleary said the council’s existing sculpture budget would go mainly towards maintaining existing pieces around the town.

He said funds are not available for new projects.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said that if the sheep are re-installed, then they should be filled with concrete to make them more secure.

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) said he was against the proposal. He told the meeting that if money is not available for defibrillators, then it should not be available for sheep pens.

THE chairman of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee (JPC) is to propose that all meetings are held in public.

Currently, the committee meetings between gardaí, local politicians, council officials and community representatives are held in private. There is one public meeting every year.

Now, the Chairman of the committee, Councillor Paul O’Shea (Lab) is calling for all meetings to be held in public.

Cllr O’Shea told last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council that he had been calling for public sessions for the past two years. He said he would raise the matter at the next JPC meeting.

It followed criticisms of the current format by Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind).

He said, “I was quite disappointed with the last meeting. You got the feeling that we could ask as many questions as we wanted but we weren’t going to get any answers.”

Cllr Neylon proposed that any sensitive matters could be dealt with before the public session of the meeting.

He said the current format is not doing any service to the public.

Town Manager Ger Dollard told the meeting that the JPC is a separate body from the council and, as such, any changes could only be implemented by the committee members.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the JPC is a worthwhile project and had helped develop closer links between the council and Gardaí. He backed calls for meetings to be held in public.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said the proposal was a matter for the JPC.

The next JPC meeting is due to take place on June 11.

BUSINESS-owners in Ennis have been urged to make premises available for a new arts initiative aimed at breathing new life into the town centre.

Latest developments under the recently launched the Ennis Access to Spaces Initiative (EASI) were discussed at last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.

Coordinated by Ennis Town Coun- cil, Clare County Council and Ennis Chamber of Commerce, the scheme aims to revitalise Ennis town centre by facilitating the use of unoccupied spaces for commercial, creative and community use.

A license agreement has been drawn up that provides for a mechanism for a formal agreement to be put in place between the council and participating parties.

Siobhán Mulcahy, Arts Officer, explained;

“A number of initiatives are hap- pening in the town and negotiations are underway with other landlords to facilitate the use of underused spaces in the town.”

She told the meeting that the agreement provides for a waiver of rates on non-commercial activities in participating properties.

Town Clerk Leonard Cleary said that the agreement would protect the interests of all parties involved.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said the initiative would “enhance the streetscape of Ennis” and should prove successful.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said the iniative could be used to attract even more tourists to Ennis:

“It is a worthwhile initiative and hopefully it will turn Ennis into a town that people want to visit.”

Empty and underutilised space, such as the premises beneath Sunkiss in Market Street, has already been transformed into a pop-up space highlighting work by some of Clare’s very best craftworkers and artists, including textile artist Steph Gahan, ceramicist Helen Griffin and contemporary furniture-maker John Hogan.

Mr Cleary urged business people in the town to support the initiative.

He said, “A number of crafts people have approached the arts officer and we need that reciprocated from the property-owners.”

Mr Cleary added, “This is an appeal, a special request, to create an arts cluster in the town to breathe new life into Ennis.”

A MAN who carried out a “vicious assault” on his brother with a hatchet has received a prison sentence.

James McDonagh (38), with an address at bay six Ballymurtagh, Shannon, attacked Michael McDonagh at the rear of their father’s home at the Ballymurtagh halting site on August 31 (2011). Half of Michael McDonagh’s left ear was severed in the assault while the father of four also suffered injuries to his scalp and abdomen. He spent four days in hospital receiving treatment for his injuries.

A jury found James McDonagh guilty of assault causing harm and possession of a hatchet earlier this month.

He was sentenced to five years in prison for assault and three years for possession of the hatchet. The final year of the sentence was suspended. The sentences are to be served on a concurrent basis.

Judge Gerald Keyes said James McDonagh, who has 97 previous convictions, has an “appalling record.”

He added, “Since your conviction on those charges you have not shown any sign of remorse.”

Referring to Michael McDonagh’s victim impact statement, Judge Keyes said the family are in fear of their lives. Judge Keyes added, “The information would suggest that you are a danger to society, to your brother, your family and extended family.”

He noted that James McDonagh had shown signs recently that he is willing to improve his behaviour by completing a relapse prevention programme while in prison

He added, “There is a letter from the Governor of Limerick prison, which I’m told is unusual, that supports the view that at this late stage you have decided to change your ways.”

Judge Keyes also noted Michael McDonagh’s request for any sentence to include some element of rehabilitation for his brother.

He suspended the final year of the sentence on condition that James McDonagh keep the peace for two years and enter a programme under the supervision of the probation and welfare services.

James McDonagh was ordered to not come within 500 yards of the Ballymurtagh halting site and to not approach Michael McDonagh or his family without first getting the permission of gardaí.

Judge Keyes ordered James McDonagh to abstain from the consumption of alcohol and drugs.

He said the fact that the offence had been committed shortly after James McDonagh had been released from prison was an “aggravating factor” in the case.

He added, “The severity of the attack on this man justifies the sentence.” A we e k o f c lo u d a n d b u rst s o f su n sh in e . Th u rsd a y w ill p ro b a b ly b e t h e wo rst d a y. Ne xt we e k lo o ks sim ila r e a rly in t h e we e k, b u t n o h e a t wa ve o n t h e h o rizo n .

LIFE IS returning to normal today for the family of an East Clare farmer who, after becoming trapped in his own slurry tank on Saturday, was rescued without suffering serious injury.

The man, who is in his 40s, was cleaning the slatted house on his farm in Aughrim, just outside Scariff, on Saturday when a manhole cover gave way.

The man fell into the 10-foot-deep slurry tank which, luckily for him, was only half-full at the time. The man was discovered by his mother when she heard him shouting and contacted the emergency services.

Two neighbours were able to res- cue the man before the arrival of the emergency services, lowering a ladder into the pit and allowing the man to climb free. The fire service’s first responders assessed the man in his home and established that he did not require hospitalisation.

According to East Clare farmer and Clare President of the ICMSA, Martin McMahon, it will take the man and his family some time to get over this traumatic experience.

“It is a big shock to the whole community. When you hear about an incident like this, with a man falling into a slurry pit, well my sympathies do go out to the man and his family,” said Martin.

“I am sure they are all overjoyed that he was able to come out of this alive but his confidence will have taken a knock.

“The biggest problem for farm safety in Clare now is farmers work ing on their own. Too many farmers have no choice but to be alone. They could be out of contact with anyone for six or eight hours at a stretch and, no matter how good or how careful you are, something can always go wrong.

“There is always a risk, you can always slip. That’s why it is so important for farmers to keep their mobile phones with them at all time. A lot of farmers in Clare are part-time farmers at the moment, so there may not even be a neighbour in the vicinity to hear you. You could be working three or four miles from the nearest other person, and that is dangerous.”

VICTIMS of clerical child sex abuse or those with knowledge of abuse that has been perpetrated against children in Clare have this week been urged to step forward and alert the relevant authorities of these crimes.

The move that has been signalled as part of a new clerical child sex abuse awareness campaign being mounted by the Diocese of Killaloe throughout the county during the month of May.

This campaign was launched in the past week, just as the Catholic hierarchy was rocked by fresh abuse allegations surrrounding the investigation of notorious paedophile priest, Fr Brendan Smyth, that has left future of Cardinal Sean Brady as primate of all Ireland hanging in the balance.

As part of what the diocese has called “the importance of safeguarding children”, those who have suffered abuse in Clare have been urged to alert the Garda Siochána, the Health Services Executive or the Killaloe Diocese directly.

Throughout Clare those “concerned that someone you know is at risk in relation to a child safeguarding concern, or you wish to raise a matter from the past” have been told to come forward immediately.

“If you have grounds for concern about the welfare of a child you must act immediately to the statutory authorities and/or diocesan designated persons as soon as possible,” the Diocese of Killaloe has said.

“The designated persons will liaise with the statutory authorities – the Gardai the HSE and also the Bishop and the National Board for safeguarding children,” the diocese has added.

Since 2003, over € 2m has been paid out to victims of clerical child sex abuse in the Diocese of Killaloe. Money given victims are labelled as ‘Special Payments’ in the annual diocesan accounts published every year.