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CLARE County Council will formally ask Clare’s six Oireachtas members to jointly propose a motion that would strengthen the local authority’s powers to move on illegal encampments.

The motion, which was put forward by Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) was aimed specifically at rural seaside towns during the summer months. According to Cllr Nagle, members of the Travelling community are consistently taking up residence in public areas in seaside towns – even though they have already been provided with accommodation elsewhere.

“We are now is a situation where we are not talking about just transient visitors, we are talking about people who have accommodation and choose to park in public areas,” said Cllr Nagle (FF).

“We were told that when we provided accommodation in these [local authority Traveller accommodation] sites that this chaos would come to an end. The people were given guarantees, promises were made and they have not been kept.

“It is difficult to wind down about this issue; we are being told that we are essentially helpless. There don’t seem to be any regulations that will help us deal with this properly. I don’t know how we can be so proactive with some people, who will face the full rigour of the law for their indiscretions, but it doesn’t seem to apply to everyone.

“There seems to be no law at all in connection to this. It is a pity when the Traveller accommodation scheme was being discussed that people were not told that this would be the situation. I find this situation totally frustrating. I think we need to write to other councils about this, we need to put pressure on our Oireachtas members to put in a private members motion. This is putting an intolerable strain on local communities and it cannot be continue. This is very very frustrating.”

According to the council’s director of services, Bernadette Kinsella, Clare County Council have previ- ously made attempts to strengthen the legislation, but without success.

“In 2010 we made a submission [on this subject] to the department asking for a review of the provisions and strengthen the legislation. We do take action as soon as we hear about these illegal encampments but it does take time. We can only do that in regard to the existing provisions,” she said.

“After the submission this was also raised with Oireachtas members but we haven’t as yet been given any indication that this legislation will be strengthened.”

GARDAÍ were forced to intervene when members of two Ennis famillies were allegedly involved in an confrontation at Ennis Courthouse on Wednesday.

The alleged incident took place just inside the door of the courthouse shortly before 10.30am. As many as three men were allegedly involved in the incident.

Sittings of Ennis District Court and the Family Law Court meant a large number of people were in the Courthouse at the time. One man required hospital treatment as a result of the alleged assault he occurred.

Two men were arrested, with one appearing before the District Court that afternoon.

Edward McDonagh (33), with an address at 18 Davitt Terrace, Cloughleigh, is charged with assault and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the accused appeared before the court following a “fracas” that developed outside the courtroom.

He said the State strongly opposed bail for Mr McDonagh. He said he did not think the conduct that is alleged in a public place could be condoned. “Its happening too often,” he added. Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged that the incident stemmed from a “violent feud” that developed in the town over the last 12 months.

He said the State opposed bail because the “public interest demanded something be done.”

Insp Kennedy added, “How much more are going to have to take, short of them coming into the courtroom and attacking all and sundry, if they can’t restrain themselves from disrespecting this courthouse.”

Defence solicitor Fiona Hehir told the court that her client will say he was spat at and provoked. Detective Garda John Casey, who gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution, said he accepted there may have been an element of provocation.

Judge Durcan said he shared some of Insp Kennedy’s concerns. He said he heard some of the “consternation” outside the courtroom.

Judge Durcan ruled that no issues arose under the Bail Act. He remanded Mr McDonagh in custody with conset to bail. A surety was later approved for the accused and he was released on bail.

Judge Durcan ordered the case be listed for hearing tomorrow (Wednesday).

He said, “I’m not going to have people coming in and treating this Courthouse and the public the way he allegedly did.”

A LIMERICK man who spat in the face of garda in Kilkee last summer has been sentenced in eight weeks in jail. Lee McNamara (25) had to be restrained by three gardaí during an incident at Strand Line, Kilkee on August 15, 2012.

Mr McNamara, with an address at 150 Glenbrook, Old Singland Road, Limerick, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

He pleaded guilty to charges of intoxication and provoking a breach of the peace. The court heard that Mr McNamara was sitting on a wall and shouting obscenities. Inspector Tom Kennedy said that when gardaí intervened, Mr McNamara got more aggressive and spat into a garda’s face. The court heard it took three gardaí to restrain Mr McNamara. The accused has 38 previous convictions, the court heard. Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said, “He apologises unreservedly. He was incredibly intoxicated”. Ms Godfrey said Mr McNamara, a father of one, had been involved in a family dispute on the day. She said her client has lived a life of “misery, drug abuse and addictions. It is about the saddest case I’ve ever seen. There is a sense of sadness pervading Mr McNamara,” she added. Ms Godfrey said her client is a man without hope and without much prospects. Insp Kennedy said that while he did not know the circumstances of Mr McNamara’s life, “his behaviour on the day was deplorable to his child and to the gardaí.”

Addressing Mr McNamara, Judge Patrick Durcan said; “You may not like the gardaí but the guards are empowered to do a job. They do a difficult job.” He said tourism is very important to areas like West Clare and people have the right to go for a walk without seeing such behaviour.

Judge Durcan said he accepted that Mr McNamara has had a difficult background but this did not give him the right to visit these difficulties on the public. However, he added, “someone who spits on the gardaí deserves very little sympathy.”

He fined Mr McNamara € 400 and imposed a 10 week prison sentence. Judge Durcan reduced the sentence by two weeks. A JUDGE

A MAN who committed a series of offences on Holy Thursday that included the theft of two Jack Russel terriers has paid compensation of € 1700 to victims of his crimes.

William Donovan (20) appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday having previously pleaded guilty to a number of offences committed in North Clare on March 28.

Mr Donovan, with an address at 54 Clancy Park, Ennis admitted stealing two tan and white terriers worth € 200 from 18 Ardnaculla, Ennistymon on March 28. The dogs were returned to their owner.

He stole an alloy wheel at Station Road, Lahinch. He also entered a building on Station Road, Lahinch as a trespasser.

Mr Donovan admitted damaging the front window of Kenny’s Pub, Lahinch, causing € 1000 worth of damage.

Mr Donovan broke a window at the Claremont Hotel causing € 125 worth of damage.

The court was also told that the accused smashed the window of a silver Toyota Avensis before attempting to hotwire the car.

The court heard Mr Donovan then broke the windscreen of another car, belonging to the mother of the previous car owner, causing € 400 worth of damage.

Gardaí stopped Mr Donovan around 40 yards from where he stole the alloy wheel.

The court heard the accused’s car had only three wheels as it appeared a tyre may have blown out.

The court heard that gardaí were able to trace Mr Donovan’s movements on the day by following the tracks made by the three wheel car.

On Wednesday, solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that Mr Donovan’s family had gathered € 1700 for compensation to injured parties.

Of the series of incidents on Holy Thursday, Ms Godfrey said;

“There was a lot of prescription drugs taken and he lost the proverbial run of himself.”

However Ms Godfrey added that Mr Donovan is a “completely different person” from the one who appeared in court in March.

She told the court that her client is committed to entering a residential treatment programme.

Addressing Mr Donovan, Judge Patrick Durcan said; “You’re a young man and there is no reason why you can’t face up to challenges in life.”

Judge Durcan placed Mr Donovan on a probation bond for nine months. He ordered him to abide by all directions of the Probation Services.

INTERNATIONALLY renowned acoustic group Lúnasa have announced their plans to break a Guinness World Record next month in Ennis.

The group is calling out for more than 1,020 musicians to take part on June 21 in Abbey Street car park, Ennis, in order to break a world record for the largest tin whistle ensemble.

Tracy Crawford, of Ennis Roots Music Weekend, has said that the event has received a massive response from an international audience because of its promotion during Lúnasa’s American tour and that they are expecting a lot of visitors from overseas.

Bands, groups, and music schools have also been invited to take part alongside anyone who wants to learn to play ‘The Siege of Ennis’ on the tin whistle for the first time.

According to Tracy, “The event is for everyone and it’s a chance to take up an instrument. It will be very exciting to try break the world record and we are really looking forward to it.”

The current world record for the largest ensemble of tin whistlers stands at 1,015 which was achieved at an event organised by Scoil Acla in Keel, Achill Island, on July 31, 2010. The ensemble performed the “Dawning of the Day”.

Custy’s and The Irish Shop in Ennis have a range of whistles available for the event in store.

“When purchasing a tin whistle,” Tracy continued, “make sure and tell them that you are taking part in the Guinness World Record Attempt to claim your free copy of the ABC tune notation.

“We chose the ‘Siege of Ennis’ because of its obvious connection with the county and to make it interesting we are going to play it in two different keys.”

Tracy has also announced that the weekend will further feature an International Street band competition and the chance to perform with the Kilfenora Ceilí Band.

The event coincides with the Gathering 2013 and will feature a free open air concert by Lúnasa, Socks in the Frying Pan, The Kilfenora Ceilí Band and special guest Maura O’Connell.

For video tutorials and more information on the record attempt visit www.ennisrootsweekend.com.

GONDOLA type boats and greater use of the Rover Fergus could see Ennis become Ireland’s answer Venice. That’s according to one local councillor who wants to see Clare become the romance capital of the mid-west.

Ennis councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) is urging Ennis Town Council to draft new byelaws that would al low gondola boat journeys through the town centre.

Speaking earlier this month, Cllr Flynn explained that gondolas are boats that were traditional to the River Shannon and Fergus Estuary.

He said, “These were common to the River Fergus and what I would want to see is Ennis become Ireland’s answer to Venice.”

Cllr Flynn’s proposals are due to be discussed at today’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council.

In a motion, Cllr Flynn states that Clare needs to develop a unique selling point to capitalize on the Wild Atlantic Way tourism initiative.

He says that the town’s waterways could be utilized more. According to Cllr Flynn boat tours could run from Knox’s Bridge to Steele’s Rock.

He states, “In order for Ennis and Clare to benefit in terms of jobs etc from the development and the promotion of the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ tourist trail from Donegal to West Cork there is a need to develop a Unique Selling Point, a USP, for the county and its capital town to attract stayovers in the county. Clare is home to the month-long world famous Matchmaking Festival at Lisdoonvarna.

“Ennis due to foundation on an island and its history of flooded streets has been known over the decades as ‘Ireland’s Venice’.”

Cllr Flynn states that the council should seek to build “on Lisdoonvarna’s world renowned matchmaking reputation by promoting Clare and Ennis town as the premier romance county and town destinations along the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ by immediately drafting byelaws to permit and regulate: (a) horse drawn journeys in jarveys in and around the town centre; (b) gondola boat journeys on the Fergus River from Knox’s Bridge to Steele’s Rock to Post Office Field. Steele’s Rock is so called as result of Tom Steele famously serenading across the Fergus the woman of his dreams living on the opposite riverbank.”

UNMANNED flying drones could be used by gardaí to combat mobile crime gangs, an Ennis councillor has suggested.

Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn said the small, unmanned aircraft could form part of a Pilot Policing Technology (PPT) scheme to assist gardaí.

Cllr Flynn is calling on the Minister for Justice to start an initial phase of the scheme which he says would “assist the war on crime by putting in place immediately a scheme to fund mobile CCTV and other tech- nologies for Ennis Gardaí to combat anti-social behaviour and in housing estates”.

Details of the scheme are contained in a motion submitted by Cllr Flynn to today’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.

Cllr Flynn explained, “This funding mechanism scheme could be modelled along the lines of a similar one that is currently in place under the responsibility of the Minister of Environment.”

Cllr Flynn states that the scheme was used by the council to fund the purchase of mobile CCTV equipment to deal more effectively with fly tipping and other forms of illegal dumping.

He says that mobile CCTV systems should be positioned by the gardaí, for periods as long as is necessary, on streets and estates in Ennis affected by anti-social behaviour.

He adds, “This scheme should also consider the use of unmanned flying drones as a resource for Gardaí in its battle with mobile criminals and other anti-social elements in society.”

Drone aircraft have been used most recently by the United States army for surveillance and armed missions in parts of the Middle East and Africa. The motion is due to be discussed at today’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. Meanwhile, the quality of life in Ennis’ estates is also due to be discussed at the meeting.

Fianna Fáil councillor Brian Meaney is urging the council to consider developing a Neighbour Investment Plan for some estates in Ennis.

In a motion, Cllr Meaney said the plan could aid estates “improve their performance across a range of quality of life indicators, which in come cases are below regional and national averages”.

Deputy Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) is calling on the council to “apply to become one of the pilot towns in Retail Excellence Ireland’s National Town and City Project.”

A RESIDENT has described what he called the “neglect” of Ballyalla Lake over the past 30 years as “an absolute disgrace”.

Noel O’Driscoll who has lived across from Ballyalla Lake for 33 years, was speaking at public meeting in Ennis last week.

Mr O’Driscoll said the area has been blighted by the illegal dumping of waste.

He said he has seen all types of waste dumped around the lake. Mr O’Driscoll said numerous promises had been made during election cam- paigns but nothing had ever been done to solve problems at Ballyalla.

He added, “It has been an absolute disgrace the way this amenity has been neglected.”

Around 47 people attended the meeting at the Auburn Lodge Hotel, which heard a number of proposals for Ballyalla including unlocking the lake’s Blue Flag potential.

13 people expressed an interest in joining a working group.

A majority of people present also voted in favour of pursuing Blue Flag status and protecting the area’s unique biodiversity status.

The meeting was called by local councilor Johnny Flynn (FG).

Cllr Flynn told the meeting that Blue Flag status would be accompanied by byelaws that could prevent the use of speedboats and jet-skis, an issue that arose as a point of concern for some contributors at the meeting.

At the May meeting of Ennis Town Council, Cllr Flynn is calling on Ennis Town Council to draft byelaws that would allow for Gandelow boat journeys on the River Fergus, from Knox’s Bridge, to Steele’s Rock to the Post Office Field.

A Gandelow is a boat that had been used on the River Shannon and Fergus Estuary.

Cllr Flynn said the initiative would seek to promote Ennis as the midwest’s premier romance town.

Brian O’Neill, Chairman of Promote Ennis, said Ennis would benefit from having a top class environmentally friendly waterside amenity in close proximity to the town.

He said, “The benefits are simple. It would be more likely for tourist to come to Ennis, to stay for longer to spend more money, which in turn would create more employment. It could be a major employer for the town of Ennis.”

He added, “With the motorway you can now be in Dublin in two-hours. For this reason it’s now feasible for tourists to go to the Cliffs of Moher and back without spending € 1 in Clare. The Wild Atlantic is fantastic for towns and villages in the west of Ireland but it is giving them another reason to bypass Ennis. We need to give people as many reasons to divert into town.”

He said, “There is something missing. From my own conversations with tourists; they are looking for something else to do. Whether it’s a couple or a group of friends. Lees Road is a fantastic amenity but it is mainly a sports amenity. But there is a demand for activity-based tourism, surfing kayaking rock-climbing. There is a demand and the demand is growing.”

BIDS from all over the world have already been made for a priceless piece of JRR Tolkien memorabilia, which will go under the hammer as part of the first ever Burren Tolkien Festival this month.

A signed copy of ‘Tree of Leaf’ will be auctioned for charity in Lisdoonvarna next Thursday, May 16. The book is the first run of the first edition of the book and was personally given to Lisdoonvarna resident Jeremy Prince, when he was a student of Tolkien’s at Oxford.

The silent auction will be managed by Scéal Eile bookshop in Ennis and will form the finale of the Tolkien Festival.

A number of digital bids have already been received from international collectors and bids will be accepted through email or in person until 3pm on May 16. No detail of the bids will be made public during the auction and the largest bid will receive the priceless copy.

“People are already bidding by email and people will be able to bid in the room on the day,” said Pat Hynes of Scéal Eile.

“The book is special because we know Tolkien has handled it. He took it off his book shelf and handed it to Jeremy Prince 50 years ago. But it is also facsimile signed – so we know that it came from the very first print run, which is always the most valuable.”

The book has been fully restored by Scéal Eile in preparation for the auction.

“The book will be on display during the festival so people can come and have a look at it. We have had a lot of interest in the book already but I would imaging they will be a rush in the days before the auction,” said Eibhleann Ni Ghríofa of Scéal Eile.

“We should know soon after the deadline who will get the book; everything should be sorted out in 15 or 20 minutes. There are a few events due to take place after the auction close so it should be a great finale for the festival.”

Anyone who wishes to register to make a bid in silent auction can do so at a cost of € 50 at www.scealeilebooks.ie.

AN estimated € 240 million of ordinary hard-working Clare people’s money is being put under threat by a Government policy that “requires credit unions to give banks preferential access to creditors”.

According to MEP Marian Harkin (Ind), there are up to 66,000 people from the banner county, who are members of the county’s nine credit unions, and they must insist their public representatives oppose the Government policy and that of the Central Bank and regulators.

The MEP for Ireland North West accused the Government and the central bank of threatening the future of the credit union movement in the interests of banks, which, she said, had undermined the country’s economy and caused incalculable harm to individuals, families and the entire social fabric of the country.

“It is astounding, to say the least, that the Central Bank acting for the government, is attempting to weaken the credit union movement in the interest of the banks and in doing so is undermining a financial support mechanism which has, unlike the banks, done nothing but good for the community. The latest spokesperson for ‘official Ireland’ to engage in an unworthy attack on the credit unions is the registrar of credit unions Sha- ron Donnery. In her speech to the AGM of the Irish League of Credit Unions last weekend, she has warned of dire outcomes for the peoples’ credit movement if they fail to concede to the banks. For the Regulator of Credit Unions to demand concessions for banks, which broke every rule in the book by pushing excessive mortgages on people, is totally unacceptable.

“Even more unacceptable is the pressure being exercised by various representatives of ‘official Ireland’ that the banks must have preference over credit unions in debt recovery,” she said. “The banks, and the Central Bank, as their regulator, have lost any moral or business right to main- tain that mortgage repayment has primacy over the repayment of credit unions which are community-owned not for profit financial institutions.

“Over € 100 million of credit union funds were written off in the failures of Anglo Irish, AIB, Bank of Ireland and TSB. In no way can credit unions again be sacrificed to the benefit of badly-performing financial entities, many of whom are now raising interest rates on mortgages,” she said.

The nine credit unions in Clare include Derg Credit Union, Scarriff; Ennistymon and District, Ennistymon; Fergus, Lissycasey; Kilrush; SFADCo Staff, Shannon Town Centre; Sixmilebridge; St Peter and Paul, Clarecastle and St Francis, Ennis.