Month: February 2014

BURREN film ‘Songs for Amy’ will be given it’s full Irish big-screen premiere in Dublin on May 1.

The film, which was both written and produced by Burren based writer Fiona Graham, was premiered in Los Angeles in 2012, but Irish audiences will now finally get the chance to see it on the big screen.

The film was recorded in the Kinvara area in 2011, and features a number of local actors and musicians including Jim McKee from Belharbour and Ultan Conlon from Kinvara. The film features a number of well know stars including Sean Maguire, Lorna Anderson and Patrick Bergin – who plays an older musician in the film.

It has already won a number of awards on the international film festival circuit, including the Jury Award for for Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California.

Following the Dublin premiere on May 1, ‘Songs for Amy’ will open in selected IMC Cinemas from May 2. It is not yet clear if the film will be shown in cinemas in Ennis, Limerick or Galway.

Burren based Sonny and Skye Productions, which produced the film, have also just joined forced with Los Angeles based company Traverse Media, in a effort to help ‘Songs for Amy’ get a widespread screening in America.

They have launched a crowd-funding campaign to help support the promotion of the film. The Indiegogo campaign asks members of the public to pledge support for the film in return for t-shirts, location tours and even meeting the cast.

“We are truly excited to be bringing American audiences ‘Songs for Amy’. It’s got all of the elements that make for a great movie, and we expect film fans everywhere will fall in love with this movie like we did,” said Jason Tyrrell, acquisitions director at Traverse.

THE number of serious drug offenses in Clare increased by almost 70 per cent 2013 as Gardaí crack down on dealers in the county.

Figures release by Clare Gardaí last night reveal a dramatic increase in Section 15 drug offenses last year, which deals with the sale and supply of illegal drugs. There was also a sizable increase in both minor, Section 3, drug offenses in Clare as an increase in the number of drug driving offenses.

There was a total of 74 Section 15 offenses in the county last year, an increase of 30 offenses or 68.18 per cent on 2013. These figures do not include a major crackdown on cannabis grow houses conducted by local Gardaí in January of 2014, with more than six grow houses in the county being raided during this period.

Indeed, according to Superintendent Derek Smart, the public has played a role in the increased detection of serious drug offenses, with landowners reporting unusual activity in rented or abandoned rural houses.

“It is thanks to the public that a number of these seizures took place. We put the word out through the media and it was thanks to information received from the general public that we were able to make some of those recent seizures,” said Supt Smart.

Drug driving offenses increase by 62.5 per cent in Clare last year, with 13 offenses in total, rising from eight in 2012. There was also a sizable in- crease in Section 3, drug possession offenses last year with 200 incidents in total, up from 154 incidents or a 29.87 per cent year on year increase.

East Clare Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) urged members of the public in rural parts of the county to report anything suspicious taking place in isolated buildings.

“I would like to compliment them [the Gardaí] on the number of cannabis grow houses which have been tackled around the county,” he said.

“With the number of isolated houses that we have around the community I think it is important to get the message out to people that people need to look in on these houses.”

It was also confirmed yesterday that were 53 behavioral warnings or ASBOs issued by the Clare Gardaí in 2013.

CATTLE rustling is becoming a major problem in Clare with more than five incidents taking place on the county’s farms over the past nine months.

Thieves are now understood to be entering farms at night, feeding animals under the cover of darkness in order to gain their trust, before attempting to steal them at a later date.

According to Superintendent Derek Smart, thieves are now able to gain access to cattle ear tags on the blackmarket, allowing them to reintroduce stolen animals into the food chain.

At present, all cattle must have a valid ear tag, which tracks the animal from birth to slaughter. The accurate tagging of cattle is important to ensure the tractability of meat – to ensure that meat from animals is labeled correctly.

This is important not just in terms of preventing stolen cattle from entering the food chain, but also from preventing horse and donkey meat from being labelled incorrectly as beef.

“In the last six or nine months we have had five incidents with cattle being stolen in Clare. We work very closely with the Department of Agriculture officials on this, conducted a search over the past two weeks and interviewed one individual with reference to cattle being taken in and we will be sending a file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP),” said Superintendent Derek Smart at last nights meeting of the Joint Policing Committee of Clare County Council and Clare Gardaí. “People are getting tags from somewhere – that seems to be the case. These people are obviously building up the trust of the animals over a number of night. So they can come in the dead of night and take the cattle.”

East Clare Councillor Pat Hayes (FF), also confirmed that people have been entered farms at night – attempting to build up a relationship with animals before attempting a theft.

“There have been a number of incidents around our part of the country where people have tried and failed to rob cattle,” he said.

“There has been plenty of evidence that they [the cattle rustlers] have been feeding the cattle in order to gain their trust which is incredible.”

Mayor of Clare, Joe Arkins (FG), said that there could be another horse meat scandal in Ireland if tags are allowed to be traded on the black market.

“I have had several hundreds of cattle since the new tagging system came in and there is no problem getting new tags. I think there is need for some sort of vetting system before a farmer can can get new tags,” he said.

A DISTRICT Court judge has criticised “some solicitors in Ennis” for abusing the legal aid system.

Judge Patrick Durcan made the statement when Ennis solicitor Tara Godfrey failed to appear at Kilrush District Court on Tuesday, to defend a client who was on free legal aid.

Ms Godfrey, a sole practitioner, was in Ennis Court House on that morning, where the circuit court was sitting.

At the beginning of the Kilrush hearings Kilrush solicitor Michael Ryan told the judge the Ennis solicitor was on her way and the case was put to the end of the list of hearings.

Just after 12.30pm the case was called again, but Ms Godfrey was not in attendance.

Mr Ryan said he had just spoken to her and she was leaving Ennis. Judge Durcan said that the hearings in Kilrush were finished for the day and criticised what he believed were “some solicitors abuse” of the legal aid system. “The inspector is here, the witnesses are here and the person who is in receipt of the free legal aid is here. If people have too many balls in the air they should pass some of those balls on,” he said.

He remanded the case to Ennis court the following day stating he wanted an explanation as to why the solicitor who was assigned under the free legal aid scheme was not in court. The judge then told the senior law practitioner in the court, Gearoid Williams, that he wanted the issue brought to the attention of the Clare chair of the Law Society.

He asked him to express his “complete disquiet at the total abuse of the free legal aid system”.

Mr Williams said Ms Godfrey did intend to be at the Kilrush court and was sure she meant no disrespect.

“It does appear to be abuse of the free legal aid system. This is a total abuse and our country cannot afford this,” said Judge Durcan.

He added some solicitors in Ennis were behaving like this but said he had not any issues with the solicitors that come before his in Kilrush Court.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Ms Godfrey said she “apologized unreservedly” for what happened in Kilrush on Tuesday. She told the court she had been out of the office on Thursday and Friday and was unaware she had a conflict between the district court and circuit court.

Ms Godfrey said had she known, she would have passed the case to a colleague in Kilrush. “I apologise unreservedly….I can say it will not happen again,” she added.

Judge Durcan said he accepted Ms Godfrey’s apology. He said he raised the issue because gardaí, clients and the court services were discommoded.

“I felt that the public were let down by what happened,” he added.

VISITING restrictions have been put in place at the region’s largest hospital in a bid to curb the spread of influenza.

Last week the HSE advised that people be vaccinated against the seasonal flu as eight people have died so far this season as a result of the flu.

Just last night, (Monday) University Hospital Limerick was added to the list of hospital with visitor restrictions, which bans children visiting the hospital at any time during this period.

Visiting is permitted during normal visiting hours only, from 2pm to 4pm and 6.30pm to 8.30pm, with one visitor only allowed to visit a patient.

“Visitors who arrive outside of these times will not be permitted to enter the hospital,” a spokesperson said.

“Hospital authorities have reminded the public of the importance of complying with these restrictions, as visiting is a major contributing factor in spreading the disease,” she added.

The public are requested to co-operate fully with the advice and instruction of staff.

The HSE confirmed that there are no reports of any patients with flu in any of the four elderly units or hospitals in Clare or at Ennis Hospital.

The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre figures show that five children aged under four years have been required to go into an intensive care unit in hospital and there has been a total of 31 under fours admitted to hospital with flu symptoms.

There were 34 people with confirmed influenza hospitalised last week, up from 26 the week before, and bringing the total to 118.

There has also been one confirmed case of swine flu in Cork.

A FAMILY has been plunged into sadness following the tragic death of a grandmother in Ennis on Sunday.

The 74-year-old woman was with her two young grandchildren in the Francis Street area of the town when the accident occurred.

Josephine Lucas was struck by a reversing car near the Aldi and Tesco shopping centres. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Gardaí are investigating the incident, which they have described as a “tragic accident”.

They have appealed for the members of the public who may have witnessed the accident to contact them at Ennis Garda Station.

CCTV footage of the area will also be studied as gardaí attempt to piece together the sequence of events that led to Ms Lucas’ tragic death.

It is thought she was at the rear of the car putting shopping into the boot, when it suddenly reversed and knocked her over.

Ms Lucas’ granddaughter and grandson who were with her were unhurt but were treated in hospital for shock.

The accident occurred at around 1.30pm and the road was closed for a period. Two units of the fire brigade from Ennis along with two ambulances and rapid response advanced paramedic responded to the incident.

AN ENNIS man who was trapped inside his home for a number of hours by fallen trees on Wednesday says he fears further damage if storms strikes again.

Terry Hayes was sitting with his daughter and grandchildren at his home in Shallee Drive, Cloughleigh, when he says he heard a loud crack on Wednesday afternoon.

“There was this noise. I didn’t have clue what has after happening until this big tree fell down in the front of the house. Two more trees fells later on,” explained Terry.

Ennis was battered by strong storm force winds on Wednesday with dozens of trees uprooted and knocked over at locations around the town.

Terry says the family were trapped in the house for a number of hours and required the assistance of friends and neighbours to get out.

“The trees fell from a private property. We couldn’t get out. We were ringing the emergency services but they didn’t come but I understand they were probably stretched because of all that was going on around the town.

“I rang someone in the council and they told me to stay inside. I told them I was ringing them because I couldn’t get out of the house!

“I rang friends of mine and they came down with two chainsaws and cut back some of the branches. I was able to get out the front and we man- aged to get the kids out the back,” explains Terry.

Terry says the experience as particularly frightening for his grandchildren. “It was a very scary experience, especially for the kids. I was trying to stay calm but I was shaking inside. All of it happened in the space of 10 to 15 minutes. I’ve never seen anything like it. I have to say thanks to the neighbours for all their help,” he adds.

The trees knocked the boundary wall and damaged a car parked in the front drive way.

“There are other trees that are loose now and the fear is that if we got another strong storm like that they could fall at any moment,” he says.

WORK has begun on the regional road through Kilbaha, but the good news stops there for the Loop Head residents.

Last week residents protested when Clare County Council insisted that the regional road through the village of Kilbaha must remain closed as it was seriously compromised by the high tides and winds on St Brigid’s Day, February 1.

This weekend the West Clare area branch of Clare County Council has begun work on “interim remedial works” on 120 metres of the sea wall in the village.

Senior area engineer Cyril Feeney said that this work will allow the council to reopen the road, which is its priority. The work is expected to be completed in just over a week.

Meanwhile for residents in Ross Bay life remains difficult, as it is unlikely that money will be available to repair the local road in the near future.

Children going to St Cuan’s National School, Kilbaha, are being driven up to 50 kilometres daily to get them to school and home. For families like the Magners who live just three kilometres from the school, they must take a round trip of more than 16 kilometres just to make class, as the Ross road is impassable since the Christmas high tides and storms.

For Pat Magner the added time taken to get his children to school is among the least of his worries, as 20 per cent of his farm land has been flooded three times in a month.

This prime grazing land will not be useable until late autumn and will take a huge financial investment to put right. The dairy farmer may even be forced to sell some of his herd affecting his livelihood further.

Mr Magner is not alone in his plight as farmers from all over the peninsula are facing another tough year, having already come through a fodder crisis just last spring.

“No one has given us any assistance or help,” said Mr Magner.

Meanwhile in Kilkee Clare County Council has engaged a specialistconsulting engineer to assess the seawall and Strand Line.

When work can begin on the wall however is subject to if and when financial assistance becomes available from Central Government.

The Strand Line from Jimmy’s Hill to Minster’s Place remains closed to traffic but pedestrian access is being maintained via the town side of the street. Council engineers are monitoring the structural stability of the road and seawall on a continual basis.

AN ESTIMATED 62 customers in the county were still without electricity at time of press last night, as Storm Darwin blew out transmitters and damaged lines on Wednesday last.

At the height of the storm as many as 8,400 homes in the county were without electricity.

ESB crews worked around the clock and over the weekend to restore light and energy to homes, but four areas in the county are still in darkness.

As many as 30 customers in Ennis North were still reported to be without power yesterday evening (Monday), while 10 customers in Kilrush, 10 in Rineanna and 12 in Cranny are also without power since Wednesday afternoon.

Last night ESB crews suspended power for almost four hours at 52 homes in the Miltown Malbay area to fix a fault, and 15 homes in Drumquin.

As 130 kilometres per hour winds blew across the county on Wednesday, emergency services in Clare responded to more than 150 separate weather related incidents.

As many as 8,400 homes in Clare were without electricity on Wednesday, with many homes still without power today. At the height of the storm 11, 500 Eircom customers also had their communications systems interrupted.

ENNIS Golf Club is counting the cost of Storm Darwin after dozens of trees were knocked over on the course on Wednesday afternoon.

It is estimated that around 130 trees were knocked over or uprooted along the 107-year-old course.

A full assessment of the damage has been carried out.

The course is expected to remain closed for a number of days to facilitate removal work.

In a message posted on the club’s Facebook page, Club Manager Pat McCarthy thanked all members who had volunteered to help out.

He stated, “In common with the rest of the country, Ennis Golf Club has suffered seriously from the recent storms. The unprecedented winds of Wednesday have knocked large numbers of evergreen and deciduous trees all over the course. Many more have been left in a weakened and dangerous state.”

Mr McCarthy continued, “A full assessment of the damage has been carried out and contractors are quoting for the clean up at present and we expect work to commence early next week. In the interests of safety and to allow the heavy work of removal we have no alternative but to close the course for at least a week. We will keep members updated via email regarding the reopening of the course. We are grateful to our members who have volunteered their help but, until such time as the dangerous work is successfully completed, we cannot allow members onto the course.”

The club was among numerous areas of the town where trees were knocked over by storm force winds on Wednesday.

A number of patients had to be evacuated from the top floor of Ennis General Hospital because of fears that winds could damage the roof.

No signs of damage was found and the patients were able to return to the building.

Fallen trees near St Flannan’s College forced the closure of a busy road while gardaí were called to deal with an overturned truck on the M18 motorway outside Ennis.