Month: September 2013

TWO Clare men have appeared in court charged separately with possession of child pornography.

Both men are charged with offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1988. The alleged offences are alleged to have been committed in two different parts of the county.

A 33-year-old man is charged that on June 28, 2013, at a location in County Clare he did knowingly have in his possession child pornography featuring naked male images.

He was previously brought before Kilrush District Court before making his serious court appearance at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that gardaí are awaiting directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Defence solicitor William Cahir said his client was reserving his position with respect to bail. Judge Patrick Durcan granted a State application to change the date of the alleged offence on the charge sheet. Mr Cahir did not consent to the application. The man was remanded in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on October 2.

Reporting restrictions have previously been placed on the case. Superintendent Seamus Nolan (Kilrush Garda Station) previously requested that the court impose reporting restrictions. He said the investigation is ongoing and to identify the accused or the location of the offence would impede the investigation.

Separately, a 48-year-old Clare man has appeared in court, charged with possession of images of child pornography.

It is alleged that the man, on dates unknown in September 2009 in an area of Clare, did knowingly have in his possession child pornography, to wit, five images of a child under the age of 17, engaged in illicit sexual activity or witness to illicit sexual activity. Detective Garda Frank Browne gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that a Book of Evidence is being prepared in the matter. He said the Book would be ready for service by October 16. Legal aid was approved for solicitor Daragh Hassett.

Judge Patrick Durcan granted Mr Hassett’s request for reporting restrictions to be placed on the case.

AS TOWN councils resume this month for their last ever term, and the county council regroups for the last time in its current format, political parties must now begin to look seriously to next summer’s local elections.

The two largest political parties in the county both agree that the county’s hurling success has somewhat delayed the party conventions and the only sport the people of Clare are interested in these weeks is hurling. The blood sport that is local politics will have to wait another day.

That day for the Government party, Fine Gael is most likely November or perhaps late October as the party are anxious to get the process of selecting their candidates started.

Fine Gael currently has its strongest ever membership in Clare County Council, while also dominating the town councils.

There are also some new names being considered as candidates for the party, with the final election candidates being selected at four different conventions – one for each new Municipal Electoral Area.

Each member of more than two years will have a vote at convention.

Regional organiser Jim McMahon explained that a local committee has been set up to consider dates for the conventions, which they will then propose to the party’s National Ex- ecutive Council.

Fianna Fáil, who are promoting a new look party at every opportunity and insisting there is change since Michael Martin took over as leader of the party, must have their new candidates selected soon too if the public are to get to know the new blood ahead of polling day.

Local representatives are to meet with Mr Martin in Galway on Thursday at his request, followed by a second meeting with the National Director of Elelections Michael Moynihan in Ennis.

Fianna Fáil constituency organiser Michael Neylon said the party intends to have five selection conventions in early to mid-October.

As well as having a convention for the new Ennis, Killaloe and Shannon electoral areas, it plans to have two conventions for the West Clare area dividing the selection process between the outgoing Ennistymon and Kilrush Electoral Areas.

“Our intention and desire is to have a female in each area, even if it is not yet a requirement. Gender balance is very important in itself,” said Mr Neylon.”

“We are looking for a balance of youth and experience and we have to get that if we are in the process of reforming.”

For the first time ever, every Fianna Fáil member of a year or more will have a vote at conventions, with sitting councillors also required to go before the members for selection.

SURFING could soon become Clare’s most valuable tourism product as a study on the impact of the sport in the Lahinch area has put its annual local payout at a whooping € 33 million. The study, which was completed by professional town planner Neil Cooney, records the financial impact of surfing on the coastal towns from Doolin down as far as Doonbeg. As well as the direct impact on surf towns such as Lahinch, the report also looks at the impact on satellite towns close to surfing areas like Miltown Malbay and Liscannor. The reports is based on similar monitory analysis of surfing in Spain and includes extensive interviews of Ireland’s estimated 60,000 surfers. It tracks the direct employment of businesses such as surf schools as well as many indirect effects such as accommodation. “Surfing has brought international attention to Lahinch as a surf location and to Clare as a place for activity-based tourism. It has had a massive impact but really the possibilities of where it could go are endless; the Burren is brilliant place and adventure tourism is a major contributor to the Irish economy,” said Neil. Despite financial benefits of surfing, Neil is of the opinion that not enough is being done by the powers that be to promote and develop surfing. “I like surfing in Australia now and the difference between there and here is massive. The infrastructure there is better, there are grants to encourage new businesses to start up, there are lots of supports and I just don’t see that happening in Clare. “Some simple things could go a long long way. Things like changing room, warm public showers in surfing areas, how difficult would that be? Some simple things would really boost the product and that benefit the businesses in the area. “In addition to infrastructure, the sponsorship and promotion of the surfing clubs and events would be a great benefit which would be enjoyed by not only the surf community but also the many businesses in the area that thrive on the activity.”

A FATHER figure for councillors, a wonderful ambassador for his native county and a gentleman were just some of the words used to describe Clare County Council’s longest ever serving member who was laid to rest on Saturday.

PJ Burke, also known as Pa Joe, represented the Miltown Malbay Electoral Area from the 1940s up to the end of the 1990s, spending a record 45 years an Independent member of Clare County Council.

Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) who gave the oration at the late West Clare man’s large funeral said Mr Burke would say he was “a councillor in the 1940s when council expenses were a penny ha-penny a mile”.

Describing him as an iconic figure Cllr Curtin said, “He gave good description of what a democratic representative should be. He was honest in all of his dealing and was an example to any public representative on how to deal with the public.”

The late councillor began his political career as a member of Sinn Fein but later declared as an Independent councillor. Coming from a long local political lineage, PJ Burke was first elected to Clare County Council in 1941. He held the position for only one year before Minister Sean McEntee announced the abolition of the local authority and the appointment in its place of a commissioner.

PJ successfully ran for election again in 1945 when the council was reconstituted. He lost his seat in the 1950 Local Election but regained his Council position in 1960. He retained his seat in the Miltown Electoral Area in five subsequent elections until 1999.

His father Tom was also a County Councillor from 1924 until his death, at the age of 65, in 1941. His grandfather, Garret Burke, was elected a Sinn Féin Rural District councillor in 1905 and later became a County Councillor.

Mayor Cllr Joe Arkins said, “PJ was very genuine. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was always seen as a father figure for colleagues. He was very much involved in the campaign for the development of health services at Ennis General Hospital and vehemently opposed any downgrading of the facility.”

Tom Coughlan, Clare County Manager, added, “He was a gentlemen and a pleasure to work with.”

Labour TD Michael McNamara said Pa Joe was a man who represented the best values and traditions of rural Ireland. He is survived by his wife Mary and family.

A 33-YEAR-OLD man from County Clare has been charged with possession of child pornography, and is to appear again at Ennis District Court tomorrow (Wednesday).

The accused, who cannot be named by order of the court, was before a special sitting of Kilrush District Court on Friday. He is accused of possessing images of naked boys.

Supt Seamus Nolan requested reporting restrictions be imposed, as he said the investigation was continuing.

The Kilrush Superintendent said that identifying the accused, or the location of the alleged offence, would impede the continuing inquiry.

The accused man was charged, that on June 28 at a location in Co Clare, he did knowingly have in his possession child pornography featuring naked male images, contrary to section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.

Solicitor for the man William Cahir made an application for free legal aid, which was granted by District Court Judge Eugene O’Kelly.

There was no application for bail but the accused reserved his position in relation to the matter.

He was remanded in custody.

GARDAÍ in Clare are continuing the fight on drugs with the seizure of thousands of euros worth of cannabis plant and resin in East Clare on Tuesday last.

Gardaí from Shannon seized the drugs with an estimated street value of € 12,000 during the planned search of a property at Magherabaun, Feakle.

The seizure of a number of cannabis plants and resin was part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of cannabis in County Clare. According to Gardaí, during the course of the search, the cannabis was recovered.

No arrests have been made, and the area was sealed off for a technical examination. Investigations into the find are ongoing.

SEAMUS Heaney’s love of County Clare that shone through until his untimely death last Friday has been recalled this week by the chairman of Cumman Merriman, Liam Ó Dochartaigh. Heaney made his last visit to the county over under three weeks ago when attending the annual Merriman Summer School in Lisdoonvarna on an occasion when Ó Dochartaigh revealed he had his audience “in the palm of his hand and blew us away”.

The world renowned poet and Nobel laureate was patron of Cumman Merriman for the past five years, following in a list of distinguished patrons that went before him, all of whom were presidents of Ireland – Eamon de Valera, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh and Dr Patrick Hillery.

“On the passing of President Hillery in 2008, Cumann Merriman decided to invite Seamus Heaney, who had translated a large portion of Brian Merriman’s famous poem, ‘Cúirt an Mheán Oíche’ to be its Éarlamh,” revealed Mr Ó Dochartaigh.

“He accepted our invitation willingly thereby honouring the memory and legacy of Brian Merriman and the annual Merriman Summer School far more than we could ever have honoured him,” headed.

“He featured memorably in a number of Merriman Summer Schools but most memorably and most recently, a little over two weeks ago, on Friday evening, August 16, in the Pavilion Theatre in Lisdoonvarna.

“Along with his life-long friend, fellow Northerner, and fellow poet, Michael Longley, he read turn and turn about. The Pavilion Theatre was packed to capacity, with some 400 patrons in attendance to hear them; it was a night to remember, a night of our lives, which will live long in the memory. Both poets’ affinity with County Clare was evident on the night but it can be said that with the reading of the last poem in his own selection, and the final poem of the evening, Seamus Heaney had us in the palm of his hand and blew us away,” continued Mr Ó Dochar- taigh.

In reference to driving along Clare’s Flaggy Shore on a windy day in September or October, Heaney read: ‘You are neither here nor there, A hurry through which known and strange things pass, As big soft buffetings come at the car sideways, And catch the heart off guard and blow it open’.

“But another deadly breeze came in the night,” said Mr Ó Dochartaigh mourning his death, “caught us off guard and swept our hero-poet away. Cumann Merriman mourns the loss of Seamus Heaney but our loss and the nation’s loss is as nothing compared to that of his wife, Marie, and their children, Michael, Christopher and Catherine Ann,” he added.

A LARGE crowd turned out in Shannon yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of EI Electronics. EI, which is the largest indigenous company in the region, celebrates 50 years in business by hosting an open day in its facility inside the Shannon Free Zone.

The Open Day attracted a large crowd of current and former employees and their families, as well as members of the local community and anyone who has been associated with the factory over the past five decades.

An ever-present on the industrial landscape of the Shannon Free Zone, EI Electronics, has been an Irish- owned company since 1988, as is one of the leading employers in the county.

A world leader in the field of fire safety in the home, EI employs 430 people in its Shannon headquarters and an additional 50 in the UK, Germany and France. It plans to swell its workforce by a further 20 staff members before the end of the year to bring its total employee numbers over 500.

Its annual contribution to the local and Irish economies is estimated to be € 30 million.

“As a major employer for 50 years, many thousands of people have worked at EI, covering three generations. This EI diaspora is spread over the counties of Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Galway and Mayo. The Open Day gives these past employees the opportunity to come back to their alma mater, see the factory and possibly meet up with old colleagues,” said managing director Michael Guinee.

The focal point of the day was a tour of the factory, where a representative sample of the manufacturing will be operational. Visitors saw first hand the world-class manufacturing cell production, the highly automated electronics assembly, and one of the largest injection moulding operations in Ireland.

They will see the wide range of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms, and learn about the sensor technology behind these products. They will see how the products have evolved over the 50 years.

THE Clare jersey is the fashion accessory of the season, with hundreds of names on the waiting list for the en-trend clothing item and reports of some shops selling as many as six jerseys a minute.

Last evening (Monday) Elvery’s Sport, Ennis, reported that there were at least 200 names on the list for the stock of jerseys due in later today (Tuesday).

“There has been a huge impact on sales in the last three to four weeks,” said assistant manager Trisha Howard.

While there are some Clare tee shirts, jackets and hoodies still available it is the jersey, both saffron and blue and the new pink ones that are selling out in their droves.

More pink jerseys are due in later in the week, but those hoping to have number one on their back will be without a goalkeeper’s jersey until after the match as they are not going into production again until after Sunday.

“We are completely sold out,” said Bernie Chapman of Lifestyle Sports in Ennis, who is expecting a delivery by special courier on Wednesday.

“They will be gone before they even hit the floor,” she said explaining that with the waiting list well over 40 they have stopped taking names so to avoid disappointment.

“Every second customer is looking for a jersey. We counted the number of people looking for the jersey today and in one minute six people asked for a jersey,” she said.

Ramona Gleeson of All Stars Sports on the Quin Road, Ennis, had just returned from Dublin last evening (Monday) with a van full of jerseys and tee shirts when The Clare People called.

“I went four times in the last two weeks because I couldn’t wait for them to be delivered. I would have a load sold by the time they would be delivered.

“I have to go again on Friday,” said the woman who also has “pages and pages of waiting lists”.

She also brought some goalkeeper jerseys to Clare yesterday, as there will be no more available until after the All Ireland.

Tommy O’Donnell in Ennis has been providing sportswear and equipment to the people of Clare for decades, and he is also reporting a busy few weeks.

“We are tipping along,” he said not giving too much away.

He explained that while they shop sells out of the prized jersey every few days, the stock is usually back the following day.

Asked to compare the build up to 1995 he explained it was difficult “as there are less people in Ireland now and less people in Clare, but exciting nonetheless!”

THEY may be married just a month but newly weds Cathal Crowe and Maeve Fehilly admits they will be pulling in different directions on Sunday.

Cathal is a well-known member of Clare County Council living in Meelick, a border town with Limerick.

Maeve is a native of another town that borders Limerick, but this time it is on the other side of that county – Charleville in County Cork.

“There is a very heightened sense of identity when you are that near the border,” explained Cathal, and each of them are loyal to their own county.

“There will be two different jerseys going off in the car that morning,” he added, knowing there will only be one happy newly wed arriving home on Sunday evening – bar a draw of course.

This will be the second game the couple has attended as man and wife.

The first was the less controversial semi final Clare against Limerick.

“We arrived back from honeymoon that morning to Shannon Airport and drove straight to Dublin. Maeve drove home afterwards,” said Cathal who was that day celebrating victory.

The big question now is who will be driving home on Sunday evening and will they still be travelling together?