Month: August 2013

A GROUP of Clare artists beat off competition from the giants of the comic industry at the weekend when their digital publication became one of the top-selling comics online.

Acclaimed comic, ‘Blackstar’, the latest from the Banner County’s vibrant comic book scene, is now number one on the Top Paid Comics Chart on iTunes.

‘Black Star’ is a collaboration between Ennis writer Mike Lynch and artists Dwayne Moloney and Trystan Mitchell. Released through Abandoned Comics press, ‘Black Star’ is an Irish-based superhero sci-fi adventure for all ages.

‘Blackstar Book One’ has already earned rave reviews and has now gone toe-to-toe and won in a sales battle against the world’s top comicbook publishers.

Mike Lynch said the team behind ‘Blackstar’ are delighted with it’s success.

“It’s a big step forward for us. It’s our first digital comic and for it to reach number one is a big achievement, especially when we are up against the big guys like Marvel and DC,” he said. Clare artists have made a big splash in the comic book world over the past few years.

Former CBS and St Flannan’s student Declan Shalvey is currently working with Marvel and has earned acclaim for his work on titles such as ‘Venom’ and ‘Dark Avengers’.

Ennis writer Mike Lynch is among a talented crop of comic publishers following the trial blazed by Shalvey.

Dwayne Moloney is an Ennis born Limerick-based cartoon artist who has done work for ‘Coimicí Gael’ and ‘Ríra’. Trystan Mitchell is a Cornwall based freelance illustrator who has provided work for the likes of Macmillan and Oxford University Press.

Lynch set up Abandoned Comics with fellow Clare man Martin Greene last year. Lynch supplies the words with Greene adding the visuals. Their first publication – Nestor, a vampire inspired tale – earned wide acclaim, winning two awards from Irish Comic News.

FAMILY and friends gathered on Sunday to say goodbye to Seamus Higgins whose body was found in the Claureen area of Ennis last week.

The 22 year-old had been missing from the home of his foster family in Ennis since Saturday, August 10.

His funeral took place at Ennis Cathedral on Sunday. He was last seen jumping a wall after leaving the house at Dun Na hInse on the Lahinch Road. He was wearing jeans, new navy and white, laceless, Nike runners and a grey jumper. His body was discovered in the River Claureen at around 3.45pm on Thursday.

Gardaí had issued a renewed appeal for information on Seamus’ whereabouts. Gardaí had expressed concern for his wellbeing as Seamus left the house without his phone and wallet. Appeals for information were also issued through social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook.

His foster mother Tina Whelan had also sought for a photo of Seamus to be shown at Croke Park during half time of Sunday’s All Ireland hurling semi-final between Clare and Limerick. Friends posted messages of sympathy on a special Facebook page. One poster wrote, “No words can bring solace to your feeling now. But Seamus is at peace and will be your guiding light forever.”

The discovery of Seamus brought to an end a major search opera- tion carried out around Ennis since last Saturday. Extensive searches of the River Fergus and woodlands areas around the town were carried out by members of Clare Civil Defence. Volunteers had just concluded a search of woods in Ballybeg prior to making the discovery in Claureen. Up to 12 and 14 volunteers took part in the search on a daily basis.

Head of Clare Civil Defence Liam Griffin paid tribute to all those who took park in the search. He said, “These people give freely of their time and take time off work to do it. We have some guys who are firemen, paramedics and advance paramedics. They are fantastic people. They do a wonderful job and I know it is appreciated.”

THE validity of the scientific research used by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) in its application for a large fish farm of the North Clare coast has been cast in further doubt this week with a number of international scientists stating their opposition to the Marine Institutes research, especially the conclusions drawn about the impact of sea lice.

This has prompted a number of organisations opposed to the construction of the fish farm – which would be the largest ever built in Europe if it gets the go ahead – to call on the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney (FG), to reject the licence application right away.

No Salmon Farms At Sea (NSFAS) has called for the fish farm to be shelved until an “independent scientific examination” of the possible impact of the farm can be completed.

Research carried out by the Marine Institute, which was key to the application, was last week challenged by a team of researchers, led by Dr M Krkosek of the University of Toronto. This follows a similar conclusion being reached by Dr Mark Costello of University of Auckland earlier this month.

“The [Marine Institute] research incorrectly leads the reader to a conclusion that sea lice play a minor, perhaps even negligible, role in salmon survival. Such a conclusion can be supported only if one is prepared to accept at least three fundamental methodological errors,” said Dr Krkosek.

Indeed, new research produced by the University of Toronto concludes that the impact of sea lice on the wild fish stock in Galway Bay will actual- ly be 30 times higher than indicated by the Marine Institute study.

“This proves what we have been saying all along. BIM and the minister have stated that they are relying on the science to justify the salmon farm proposal, despite counter arguments from scientists at Inland Fisheries Ireland, Canada and New Zealand,” said Paddy Keenan of NSFAS.

“This work by Dr Krkosek completely demolishes the scientific basis for the proposal and indeed calls either the motives or the capabilities of the Marine Institute into question.”

AS MANY as 33 babies’ blood results may have been reported incorrectly at the two maternity hospitals serving County Clare.

According to a statement issued by the HSE there are two mothers from the Maternity Hospital Limerick who may have required anti-D but did not receive it, as a result of incorrectly labelled blood testing kits.

One of the blood group test kits, Ortho BioVue System Cassette, used as part of routine hospital blood group check at the time of delivery, was reported to the HSE by Irish Medicines Board.

A number of the testing kits sup- plied worldwide had been incorrectly labelled.

These kits were used at the maternity hospitals in Limerick and Galway.

This means that there is a small chance that the results of some blood group tests may have been incorrectly reported in some cases. The manufacturer has estimated that the potential risk of a kit being labelled incorrectly is less than 1 in 11 million.

As a result of this error, it is estimated that 27 mothers at the maternity hospital Limerick and 31 at the Galway hospital got anti-D when they many not have required it.

No babies at either of the regions maternity hospitals received red blood cells when they did not need it, according to the HSE.

There may be mistakes in the blood tests however in up to 14 babies born at the Limerick hospital and 19 born in Galway.

All mothers and babies who were tested using the affected kits have been contacted by letter.

“As part of the response to this, every hospital who used these type of kits has completed an inspection of the remaining kits in stock and has removed any potentially affected batches. Each hospital has also conducted a review of the results of the testing done using these kits in each hospital,” said a HSE spokesperson.

“There is a small chance that babies who were tested using these kits may have been incorrectly blood typed,” he said.

“The risk of a baby’s blood group test result being incorrect is extremely low as the manufacturing error related to a label being incorrectly affixed to the test kit.”

GARDAÍ are investigating a spate of burglaries that occurred at a number of businesses in Ennis town centre last week.

Thieves targeted shops and restaurants with businesses in O’Connell Street and Parnell Street affected over a four-day period.

The first burglary occurred last Monday when a café on O’Connell Street was broken into through the rear window. The offence occurred between hours of 7pm on August 12 and 9am on Tuesday, August 13. A small amount of cash was sto- len. Gardaí in Ennis say this was the second effort to gain access to the premises. Between 10pm on Tuesday, August 13 and 10am on Wednesday, August 14, a restaurant in Merchant’s Square was broken into by forcing open the rear window. A small amount of cash and a laptop were stolen.

Thieves stole electronic cigarettes and a silver Sony Vaio Laptop from a shop in Chapel Lane. The break in occurred between 6.15pm on Wednesday, August 14, and 8.30am on Thursday, August 15. On this occasion access was gained when a person or persons forced open the front door. A number of hair products were stolen from a hairdresser’s on Parnell Street, Ennis, sometime between the hours of 7pm on Wednesday, August 14, and 9.05am on Thursday, August 15. A large number of electronic goods and mobile phones were stolen from a shop on Parnell Street last week. The break in at the cash-exchange store occurred between 6.10pm on Thursday, August 15, and 9.20am on Friday, August 16. The rear door of the premises was forced open. The items stolen were: X Box 360 with two controllers, 120 X Box and various Playstation games, a pink Lumix camcorder, a black Blackberry mobile phone, a white Blackberry mobile phone, a pink Sony camera, a black Compaq laptop and a black Apple iPhone 4. Gardaí in Ennis are investigating the break-ins.

Separately, Gardaí in Shannon are investigating a burglary that occurred in Drumgeely Avenue. The house was broken into between 6pm on Saturday, August 17, and 12.30am Sunday, August 18. Access was gained through the rear door. A small amount of cash and a black mobile phone were stolen.

TRIBUTES have been paid to the late Gerry Gilligan who passed away in Ennis last week.

Hundreds of friends and neighbours joined with the Gilligan fam ily as they said the final goodbye to Gerry who was well known in sporting circles in Ennis.

Mr Gilligan (61), who lived in the Golf Links Road area of the town, played soccer for Hermitage and was a member of Ennis Golf Club, where he was a former and recent winner of the Captain’s Prize.

At his funeral mass in Ennis on Tuesday, Mr Gilligan was recalled as role model and someone whose life was “filled with love”.

Fr Tom Hogan told mourners, “Gerry in his life was blessed, blessed by a great interest in sport. He was very successful in soccer and hurling. He had loads of photographs and memorabilia including winning the Captain’s Prize at Ennis Golf Club. I understand he broke the course records with the highest score at the time. But above all else he has been blessed by love.” Mr Gilligan passed away peacefully last week. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife Bernadette, daughter Louise, sons Damien and Brian extended family and many friends.

THE true identity of the € 6 million Lahinch lotto winner has yet to be confirmed – with speculation centering on an eight-person syndicate including staff from Flanagan’s bar in the village.

The winning ticket, a € 4 quickpick, was purchased in Kennedy’s Centra in Lahinch on Friday evening last, but no one has yet contacted the National Lottery in relation to the win, and neither staff nor shop owner Robert Kennedy have any idea who the lucky millionaires might be.

An image of staff at Flanagan’s bar celebrating an “anonymous syndicate” win emerged online on Sunday and yesterday bar manager Shane Keane was hopeful that he still might be a winner.

“We all put money in on Friday evenings for the weekend lotto there is a few different syndicates going. Then on Sunday we got a call from two of the lads in Dublin saying that we had won. Their phone ran out of batteries and we haven’t been able to contact them since,” said Shane.

“We were trying to get them all day Sunday and they weren’t on the busses back from the match. So one of the lads, Thomas Finnucane, has gone up to Dublin to try and find them.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve won our not. I came in to work today in case I didn’t win. I just don’t know.”

Shop owner Robert Kennedy said yesterday that no matter who receives the money, the lotto win has given a boost to the whole village.

“There is huge excitement in Lahinch after this. The lotto was last won in the area about 25 years ago and it was an aunt of mine that won it, would you believe – she shared it with six people – but it has not been won since,” said Robert.

“Six million is a huge amount of money and no one really knows who is involved. There are so many tourists in Lahinch this time of year that there is no way of knowing if it was a local or a tourist. I’m thrilled for whoever won it.

“I’d be delighted if it was a local who won it but the truth is that we might never know. It’s been a great pick-me-up or the village no matter who has won it.

“I was talking to Olan [owner of Flanagan’s bar] there a few minutes ago and he was giving nothing away. He wasn’t confirming of denying anything and good luck to them if it turns out to be them.”

The winning numbers were: 4 11 16 33 43 45 and bonus 10 and the jackpot was a tidy € 6,158,375.

A DISTRESSED mother has told how she relied on the kindness of strangers who were themselves at the mercy of the health services, as she waited more than three hours to have her two-year-old daughter’s head injury assessed.

The long wait at the University Hospital Limerick’s Emergency Department (ED) began at 6.45pm on Tuesday.

The little girl had received a bang to the head earlier that evening after a gate swung back on her. The family travelled to the only hospital in the region permitted to take injured children under the age of five to have the head injury examined and treated.

After a long wait to see a nurse, the worried mother was less than satisfied when she was “asked how it happened, my name, my contact number and advised there were two people ahead of us and it would be approximately an hour before she would be seen”.

The little toddler was then sent back out to the waiting room with her wound open and uncovered.

“At 9.30pm, 2.45 hours later, I approached the reception desk at AandE and pleaded with the lady that she be reviewed as she was a child with a head injury. There were tears in my eyes by now,” said the upset mother.

“The lady behind the desk seemed surprised that she wasn’t reviewed and said she is a child who should be given priority,” she said, adding that she told her to go through to a room inside in the emergency department.

“I met a nurse there and I advised her that the lady in reception suggested I bring her in …. There was only one other patient in there at the time but the nurse advised I would have to leave and wait outside.”

Eventually more than three hours later she was called through to ED.

“During this time I stood with my child in my arms and tried to console her as much as I could. An elderly man on a stretcher bed actually got up and let her lie down on his bed for a few minutes so she could try and get comfortable. After a few minutes I felt bad for the man and moved her. Another woman gave me a chair.”

“When she was eventually called by the doctor at approximately 10pm she was extremely upset as she was tired, exhausted and sore. She got upset on entering the [examination] room and I tried to calm her down, she ran out and I followed her, as she was scared of what was going on. As I left the doctor shouted after me ‘you answer my questions and the nurse will go after her’. I kept walking after my daughter but I could hear a nurse saying to him the child needs her mother.

“I eventually calmed her down, with the help of a lovely woman who gave her some chocolate from her hand bag. The doctor approached us and asked if she was okay now and I advised yes – she understands what will happen, to which he replied, good I will see another patient and I will be back. I could not believe this, neither could patients or people in the area that witnessed it. My daughter is two and a half years old, had been waiting in a strange place for over three hours for a doctor and she got scared. She is only a child. I find it absolutely unacceptable that my daughter had to wait over three hours for a doctor to assess her head injury,” said her tired mother.

She paid tribute to the other patients who helped her through the ordeal stating “They were people who cared more about me than the nurses and doctors.”

Since the episode in the ED the little girl was taken to her GP at the weekend, as the cut was badly infected. She is now on antibiotics for the infection.

THE famous Kilfenora Céilí Band will lead an audacious attempt to bring a new Guinness World Record back to Clare later this month.

The band will lead an attempt on Sunday, August 25, to set the world record for the largest Irish band ever to play a tune. Amateur and professional musicians are invited to make the trip to Kilfenora on the day and help the Clare village set a new world record. Officials from the Guinness Book of Records will be in Kilfenora for the event and 250 musicians will be needed to set the world first.

“We want to get as many musicians as we possibly can in Kilfenora for the day and if we can get 250 or more to play then we will have set a world record,” said one of the organisers, Gerard Linnane.

“The attempt will be led by the Kilfenora Céilí Band who will come on stage at 3.30pm. We will have rows of chairs set up for the musicians in the square and the hope is that enough musicians will turn up on the day to help make it a reality.

“Anyone who is aged 12 years or older can take part and all that the need to know is how to play the famous Kilfenora Jig. There will be music in the village all afternoon and we will get a rehearsal in with everyone who is taking part before the main vent.”

Anyone who wants to take part can register in Kilfenora on the day be tween 12 noon and 2.30pm. Volunteers will also be collecting money for Kilfenora Senior Citizens and The Irish Cancer Society at the event.

More information is available from www.largestirishband.ie or by ringing Gerard Linnane on 065 7088157.

IT WAS birthday celebration on the double for the newly-crowned Rose of Clare this weekend, as she was named the over all winner of the contest on the eve of her 23rd birthday.

Una Dowling who represented Kildare at the 34th annual CooraclareCree contest beat off strong competition from 16 other contestants from all over Clare, Australia and England, hours before her birthday.

The Kildare woman has strong Cooraclare-Cree heritage as her mother Eileen Chambers comes from Dromelihy.

Una, the daughter of Eileen and Christy Dowling, grew up in Castledermot, Kildare.

She is a third year student at Mater Dei Institute of Education, where she studies English and religion.

Una wasn’t the only festival success on Friday night, as local man Pat McMahon was named Overall Escort following a vote by all the roses.

The popular engineer won them over with his quick wit and charm, and no doubt with tales of his charity work with the Niall Mellon Trust.