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CLARE could soon have a direct connection to the British throne following the bizarre revelation that Queen-in-waiting, Kate Middleton, has ancestry in the Banner County.

Middleton’s Clare connections were revealed in the House of Commons last week when a detailed genealogy of the Duchess of Cambridge was presented at an event attended by Taoiseach Enda Kenny (FG) and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

According to the genealogy, Middleton is a blood descendant of Killaloe warrior Brian Boru. The research, which was carried out by Tourism Ireland, reveals that Middleton’s ancestors, the Lupton family from Yorkshire, are descendants of a Fitzmaurice family from Kerry, who are themselves blood descendants of Brian Boru.

This news could prompt a stop in the Banner County for Kate, who is currently five months pregnant, and Prince William during their planned trip to Ireland next year. Buckingham Palace is currently finalising plans for the royal couple to visit Ireland in early 2014 but the exact itinerary for the visit has not yet been decided.

The trip is expected to take place in the first half of next year and has been planned since before Middleton’s pregnancy. The trip had been expected to be focused on the east coast, given Prince William’s time served as a rescue pilot in the Irish Sea, but the Clare connection could prompt organisers to plan a flying visit to Killaloe.

This visit would coincide with the 1,000-year anniversary of Brian Boru’s death, with thousands already expected to descend on Killaloe to mark the man who drove the Vikings from Ireland.

Middleton was in London on Sunday, where she presented shamrocks to the Irish Guards regiment in Hampshire. Should a royal visit to Clare take place, it would mean tens of thousand of extra visitors, as well as the world media, descending on the Banner County.

THE arts community in County Clare will once again be feeling the pinch this year with further cuts in the amount of funding being available by the Arts Council.

Clare County Council’s Arts Office will be the worst hit of the pillar projects with its funding being cut by just under 7 per cent – from € 75,000 to € 70,000. Glór will also be badly hit with an annual funding cut of almost 5 per cent – down from € 90,000 to € 86,000.

The total Arts Council finding for Clare’s four main arts projects – including the council’s Arts Office, Glór, The Willie Clancy Summer School and Salmon Poetry – comes to just € 278,000. This is in stark contrast to neighbouring County Galway, whose main arts projects will receive a staggering € 2.7 million, including € 820,000 for the Druid Theatre Company and € 470,000 for the Galway Arts Festival.

County Clare Arts Officer, Siobhan Mulcahy, says that Clare is holding its own in terms of arts funding and believes that the quality of the artistic community in the Banner is our biggest asset. “Clare has done relatively well with both Salmon Publishing and Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy remaining at the same level of funding as they received last year. This is the context of an overall decline in arts funding from the Arts Council, so to hold their own in the current climate is a sign of their resilience and is an acknowledgement by the Arts Council of the importance of these organisations locally, nationally and internationally,” she said.

“Cuts to Glór and the Arts Office of Clare County Council are indicative of the overall funding cuts applied to local authorities and venues this year. Whilst both continue to provide quality and ongoing services to Clare artists and the people of Clare, such cuts are a significant challenge.

“However, from the point of view of the Arts Office, the greatest resource we have is the number and quality of artists of all disciplines in the county and we consider ourselves fortunate to have such a pool of artists with which to work. It should also be noted that whilst annual funding is down, increased funding has been made available to arts festival and events in the county this year with funding for the Gathering and funding through the Culture Connects Programme of the EU Presidency.”

A SECOND school in the Burren region was broken into last week as criminal activity in the area reaches worrying levels.

The offices of Seamount College in Kinvara were broken into on Thursday last, March 14, just over a week after a similar incident took place in nearby New Quay National School in North Clare.

Gardaí car ried out a technical examination of the Seamount College on Friday after the break-in, which is believed to have taken place at some time between 8pm on Thursday evening and 7.30am on Friday morning.

Three offices at Seamount College were broken into and ransacked and a small sum of cash was also taken.

The nearby HSE Medical Centre was also targeted in the raid and it is understood that both incidents are connected. Nothing was taken from the medical centre.

Gardaí from Gort have car ried out door to door enquiries in the area and are asking anyone who might have information about the incident to contact them on 091 636400.

These latest break-ins come just a week after the theft of eleven laptop computers and a number of other pieces of electrical equipment from New Quay National School in North Clare.

The New Quay School break-in took place some time between 10pm on Wednesday night, March 6, and 9am on Thursday March 7.

The thieves gained access to the school’s computer room by forcing open a back window.

Eleven Toshiba laptops were taken along with a white camcorder, two Fuji digital cameras, a black Ni kon camera and a small amount of cash.

There is no evidence that the two school break-ins were connected in any way.

Gardaí in Ennistymon are investigating the New Quay break-in and anyone with information is asked to contact 065 7072180.

TWO Limerick brothers have been fined € 500 each after they were caught illegally attempting to import rhino horns worth almost € 500,000 through Shannon Airport three years ago.

Jeremiah O’Brien and (33) and Michael O’Brien (28) were stopped in Shannon Airport on January 13 (2010) due to their demeanor and the size of their luggage. Ennis District Court heard on Friday that customs officers seized eight rhino horns from the brothers who had returned from Faro, Portugal.

Jeremiah O’Brien, with an address at 22 Roche’s Road, Rathkeale, Limerick, pleaded guilty to the illegal importation of four rhino horns valued at € 231,760.

His brother, Michael O’Brien, also with an address at 22 Roche’s Road, Rathkeale, Limerick, pleaded guilty to the illegal importation of four rhino horns valued at € 260,400.

Denis Twohig of the Revenue Commissioner’s Investigations and Prosecutions Unit told the court that it is an offence to import rhino horns without license.

Evidence of valuation was given by George Mealy of Mealy’s Fine Art Ltd. Mr Mealy, a Castlecomerbased valuer and auctioneer, told the court that at the time the brothers were stopped rhino horn was valued at € 20,000 a kilo. He said the same quantity is now worth € 60,000. Mr Mealy said, “It’s worth more than gold at the moment per ounce.”

Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction on the basis that the offence was germane to the breach of the regulations and not the value of the horns.

Defence solicitor John Cussen told the court that the horns were antique, dating from the 1960s, and not from a freshly killed rhino.

He told the court that the trade in rhino horn is fuelled by a “superstition in the Far East” that rhino horn is an “aphrodisiac that enhances sexual performance”.

He said the brothers acquired the horns from a Portuguese antique dealer named Hernandez. He said Mr Hernandez had entrusted the horns to the O’Briens who were to mount them on a board in Rathkeale before returning with them to Portugal.

Mr Cussen said the brothers are antique dealers who travel frequently throughout Europe. He said their circumstances are not good and that their families live in caravan parks in France and Germany. They have no previous convictions.

Mr Cussen said the brothers wished to apologise to the court. The brothers faced a maximum fine of € 1,250 and/or 12 months in prison.

Judge Patrick Durcan said, “In my relatively short time as a judge, this is one of the most interesting and intriguing cases I’ve had to deal with it.”

State solicitor Martin Linnane said, “I’ve never come across a case like this before.”

Judge Durcan said he was satisfied the horns were antique. He said the brothers had made no efforts to conceal the horns and that their actions had not in any way harmed a worldwide campaign aimed at protecting rhinos from poaching. Noting their guilty pleas and good record, Judge Durcan fined each man € 500 with three months to pay.

KILKEE is the cheapest place to own a home in all of Ireland, according to the house tax guidelines as set out by Revenue.

According to Revenue’s controvertial new property valuation guide, all properties in Kilkee have an average guide value between € 0 and 100,000 – or the lowest valuation possible.

Revenue’s interactive pricing guide divides Clare into 156 different pricing areas. Each area is giving a specific price guide for apartments, terraced houses, bungalows, semidetached houses and detached houses built either before or after 2000. Kilkee is the only area in Clare, and indeed in Ireland, to receive the lowest possible valuation (between € 0 and € 100,000) in each of the categories.

This guideline valuation would seem at odds with the state of current property prices in the West Clare town. According to the Daft.ie property site, of the 83 properties currently for sale in Kilkee, 55 are on offer at prices in excess of € 100,000.

Indeed, over a quarter of the total stock currently for sale in Kilkee is valued at € 200,000 or more with a large number of properties in the area with valuations close to half a million euro.

The valuation system has come in for much criticism since it went live last week but a revenue spokesperson has stressed that the prices are only a guideline and homeowners must pay what they believe to be the market value of their home.

“The guidance is primarily based on the market value of properties sold since the year 2010 in the area, adjusted for average price movements in the interim,” said a Revenue spokesperson.

“This guidance will be helpful in the majority of cases but there are always properties in an area that differ from the average.

“Self assessment requires property owners to honestly assess the market value of their own property. If a property is smaller or larger than the average for the area, is in a significantly poor state of repair or has exceptional or unique features, these will have to be factored into the assessment.”

While the local prices differ de- pending on the type of property in each area, the Revenue’s valuations have identified a 29 area ‘golden zone’ stretching from the hinterland of Ennis down through South-East Clare and into Limerick where they believe properties are generally worth more. Ennis itself is divided into four areas with the northern quarter, identified as Ennis Urban No.1, generally having a higher value than the other three quarters of the town. Tue19March13

FLIGHTS in and out of Shannon Airport dropped by 17 per cent last month, when compared to the same period the previous year it was announced this week. Coinciding with those figures was the announcement that Shannon’s early morning Heathrow flight is to be put back to a later time. According to figures released by Irish Air Traffic Control, the drop of traffic into the Clare airport was significant when compared to the other State airports, who also suffered a drop in numbers.

Shannon was down an average of 44 commercial daily movements when compared to February 2012.

Dublin had a drop of 1.6 per cent while Cork was down 2.1 per cent. However Irish air traffic is set to increase over the next seven years, according to the latest air traffic forecast published by Euro Control.

There was mixed reaction this week to the news that Shannon’s daily morning flight to Heathrow will now fly on a later schedule. Previously the flight left Shannon at 7.30am, landing in Heathrow at 9am. From March 31st the flight goes back to 8.45am meaning passengers will not now be in London until 10.15am.

The switch will affect many people in the Mid-West region who commute to London every week for work, the change meaning they cannot be in their offices before at the earliest, 11.30am on Monday mornings.

The remaining two flights to London Heathrow, at 12.50pm and 5.10pm remain unaffected.

The change may offer an opportu- nity for another airline to come into Shannon and offer an alternative early morning flight into London. The Aer Lingus slots at Heathrow have long been a source of envy from other airlines, not least Ryanair who are said to covet the routes in and out of Heathrow, which would have been an attractive part of their purchase of Aer Lingus, which they are still pursuing.

Shannon Airport will fall under the complete control of the ‘Newco’ in three months times, with a new CEO expected to be appointed in April.

A NORTH Clare farmer who threatened his brother in a dispute over money has had the charges against him struck out. Last month Gus Howley (56), of Ballytigue, Lisdoonvarna, pleaded guilty to threatening his brother at Larrakea, Kilfenora on November 8, (2012).

He also pleaded guilty to causing € 1500 worth of damage of his brother’s car.

Mr Howley brought a slash hook with him but broke it on the way to a site where his brother Michael was working. Michael Howley was on a scaffold and rang the gardaí because he feared for his life.

Gus Howley had come to the site “in a fit of rage” after money owed to him by his nephew was not repaid. The court previously heard that Gus Howley’s nephew has moved to the United States.

After hearing the case at Ennis District Court last month, Judge Patrick Durcan urged the family to make peace. He adjourned the case pending the outcome of family negotiations.

The case came back before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. The court heard that meetings had taken placed between the brothers.

Asked by Judge Durcan if there was “black smoke or white smoke” arising from the meetings, Ennistymon based Garda, Noel Carroll said, “We have white smoke.”

Garda Carroll told the court that Gus Howley apologized to his brother at a meeting in Ennistymon Garda Station. Michael Howley accepted the apology and the brothers agreed to put the incident behind them, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Jim Finnegan said, “They shook hands and peace has broken out between the brother’s concerned.”

Mr Finnegan said his client had brought € 500 compensation to court. Judge Durcan told Gus Howley that he accepted his word he would pay his brother back for the damage caused. Describing Gus Howley as a “decent man”, Judge Durcan commended the brothers for working out their differences. He struck out the charges against Gus Howley.

He said, “I’m satisfied you won’t offend again.” Judge Durcan also praised the role played by Garda Carroll, saying communities in West and North Clare are “lucky” to have a guard of his quality.

TWO friends who engaged in what a Judge described as “intolerable behaviour” on a main street in Kilrush last year have received prison sentences. John Keenan (31) and Martin O’Brien (31) were involved in a fight on Henry Street, Kilrush on July 6 (2012).

Both men appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Mr Keenan, with an address at Waterpark Heights, Ennis and Mr O’Brien, with an address at the Bungalow, Wood Road, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the scuffle between the pair led to the window of a nearby pharmacy being broken.

Mr O’Brien has 35 previous convictions and Mr Keenan has 72 previous convictions, the court heard.

Solicitor for Mr O’Brien, Daragh Hassett said the pair had fallen out “over something so stupid they can’t even remember.”

He said Mr O’Brien immediately had the window replaced after the incident.

Solicitor for Mr Keenan, William Cahir, said this was an incident between two friends that would not normally occur.

The court heard the men, who are both currently serving prison sentences, pleaded guilty to the offence at the first possible occasion.

Judge Patrick Durcan said this was a row that occurred at 12.15pm while people in Kilrush were going about their business.

He added, “This kind of behaviour on a street in daytime is intolerable.”

Noting their guilty pleas, he imposed a two-month sentence on each accused, consecutive to the sentences currently being served.

Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Judge Durcan remarked he had observed both accused during proceedings. He said they seemed to be enjoying their day in court.

He added, “It seems (they got) as much enjoyment as sitting down for the day watching Cheltenham.” A T EEN A GER who admitted damaging and stealing fromcars in areas of Sixmilebridge last year has been told he must abide by the directions of the Probation Services. Last December Mark Burke (19), with an address at 26 Beechwood Grove, Sixmilebridge, admitted to the theft of Sat Nav systems fromcars in O’Garney Heights and Oakwood and to the theft a wallet and portable cd player fromcars in Oakwood and O’Garney Heights. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal damage at Beechwood Grove and O’Garney Heights.All of the charges relate to September 9 (2012).The court heard Mr Burke forcibly entered two cars and took items fromthem.The court heard Mr Burke was intoxicated on the night having consumed 20 Xanax tablets and vodka.The accused co-operated with gardaí and paid compensation. Mr Burke has no previous convictions. Sentence was adjourned pending a report from the Probation Services. At Ennis District Court onWednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said he was concerned that the report stated that Mr Burke had been reluctant to engage with the services. Defence solicitor Stiofan Fitzpatrick acknowledged issues had arisen but said the report ended on a positive note for his client. He said Mr Burke had commenced a training course and is currently abstaining fromalcohol and other substances. Mr Fitzpatrick added,“I believe he is on the cusp of turning a corner.” Judge Durcan noted the accused’s difficulties, good record and the support provided by his family. He also acknowledged the traumatic effect of the death of the Mr Burke’s father. However, Judge Durcan said these were serious offences and the Probation report had indicated a high risk of re-offending. Directing Mr Burke to remain under the supervision of the Probation Services, Judge Durcan adjourned the case until April 10. Judge Durcan said if he was happy that progress was made, he would adjourn the case after that for a further two months. T W O MEN have been ordered to pay a contribution to charity after pleading guilty to their roles in a “serious public order incident” that occured in Shannon on NewYear’s Day The incident, which Ennis District Court heard, involved as many as 14 people, occurred at the Cluann Alainn estate near Hurler’s Cross on January 1 (2013). Two Sixmilebridge men John Cahill (21) and David Aherne (21) appeared in court onWednesday charged in connection with the incident. Mr Cahill, with an address at 32 Cluain Driochead, Sixmilebridge, pleaded guilty to a charge of trespass. Mr Aherne, with an address at Riverview, Ballysheen, Sixmilebridge, pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Inspector TomKennedy said this was a “serious public order incident” that occurred in the estate at around 4.45amon the morning in question. The court heard Mr Aherne and Mr Cahill travelled to the area fromShannon town centre in a taxi. The court heard the accused went to the house of a person alleged to have been involved in a dispute with their friend. Inspector Kennedy said between 12 and 14 people arrived at the house in three taxis, two fromShannon and one fromEnnis. A married couple, their two children and one grandchild were in the house on the night. In total, seven people have been charged in connection with the incident. The court heard that on the night, David Aherne was shouting and roaring while John Cahill trespassed on the property. Inspector Kennedy said the accused’s invovlement “forms part of a bigger issue” alleged to have occurred on the night. Addressing Judge Patrick Durcan, Insp Kennedy said,“It is a very unusual public order incident and you will hear more about it.” Neither man has any previous convictions. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his clients had been on the way home to Sixmilebridge and were brought by taxi to the house. “They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he added. He said there had been a “herd mentality” on the night in question. Mr Hassett said he was confident his clients would not be before the court again. He said,“This was an unsavory incident but they were at the very edge of it.” Judge Patrick Durcan said it was obvious that alcohol had played an involvement, a point accepted by Mr Hassett. Judge Durcan said,“They were souped to the gills and didn’t knowwhether they were coming or going.” Judge Durcan noted the accused’s good record and early guilty pleas. He said that while he wished to emphasise his revulsion at what happened on the night, he was not going to criminalise the pair. He said that if each man paid of sumof €600 to the court poor box by April 17, he would strike out the charges.

TWO Galway men have received prison sentences after pleading guilty to the burglary of a house in Druncliffe last March.

Christopher Morrison (25) and Michael Flaherty (26) were discovered attempting to enter the building at Drumcliffe on March 23 (2012).

Passing sentence at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said this was an “appalling offence because it damages rural Ireland”, creating suspicion and fear.

He said, “This is the kind of offence that is becoming all too prevalent in rural Ireland.”

Mr Morrison, with an address 117 Slí Geal, Ballymoneen, Road, and Mr Flaherty, with an address at 11 Lismoor, Cappagh Road, Barna, Galway, were found to have engaged in a joint enterprise.

Mr Morrison was discovered by the property owner’s father on the curtilage of the building. A window at the rear of the house had been forced open, the court heard.

Mr Flaherty was in a car in which both men fled the scene. The men were later stopped outside Gort.

Two laser lights were taken and subsequently recovered, the court heard.

Outlining the facts of the case, Inspector Tom Kennedy said the house owner’s father noticed the car parked outside his daughter’s house.

Insp Kennedy said burglaries of this type in rural areas are on the rise. He said it was “lucky” that the owner’s father was in the area at the time. The court heard Mr Morrison has 53 previous convictions and is currently serving a sentence for burglary. Mr Flaherty has a previous conviction for a road traffic offence.

A charge brought last year against Mr Flaherty for the offence was dismissed due to a “breakdown in the State’s case”, the court heard.

Solicitor for both accused, Daragh Hassett said Mr Morrison, a father of two, had turned to crime after coming under “severe financial pressure.”

Mr Hassett said, “There were a number of options open to him but he took the unlawful option.”

The court heard Mr Morrison met Mr Flaherty while they both worked in a hostel.

They had come to Ennis to buy car parts before committing the offence.

Both men admitted their roles to gardaí and cooperated fully, the court heard. Mr Hassett said the pair admitted they were part of a joint enterprise.

Mr Flaherty, the court heard, is still in employment and well regarded.

Mr Hassett said, “He’s come back, manned up to the charges and pleaded guilty almost 12 months later.”

Mr Hassett urged the court to impose suspended sentences in both cases.

Judge Patrick Durcan said it was obvious that the accused had “cased the joint knowing it would be empty.”

He said Mr Flaherty had shown a total disregard for the law of the land while Mr Morrison has a “record as long as your arm”.

Judge Durcan sentenced Mr Flaherty to eight months in prison with the final three months suspended.

Mr Morrison was sentenced to 10 months in prison; consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving. The new sentence is to begin on August 25

Both men were also disqualified from holding a license for five years.

Judge Durcan said he was of the view that both defendants used the car as an aid in the commission of a serious offence. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

THE bowel cancer screening service at Ennis General Hospital will save lives.That is according to consultant gastroenterologist Dr Maeve Skelly who explained that Irish men have the worst survival rate from bowel cancer in Europe and the fourth worst survival rate in the world.

As many as 970 people die from bowel cancer in Ireland every year.

Now people aged between 60 and 69 years of age from the mid-west area, and slightly outside the region, will be invited to take part in a bowel screening programme at the state-of-the-art and highly accredited endoscopy unit at Ennis General Hospital.

“This is a great development for the people of the mid-west. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland, and we have known for some time that screening for it can prevent cancers and save lives,” said Dr Skelly.

Although the cancer is slightly more common in men, both genders will be invited to take part in the screening programme.

People in their sixties will receive a letter inviting them to provide a sample of their bowel motion through a system called a FIT test. For the vast majority of people, this sample will not contain any trace of blood and they will be reassured that no more action is needed.

Dr Skelly explained that 94 per cent of people will be found to have a clear sample and assured that they are bowel cancer-free. A small percentage of people, approximately six per cent, will be found to have traces of blood (FIT positive) and they will be contacted by the nurse specialist based in Ennis hospital who will arrange for them to have a colonoscopy. This is a camera test of the bowel, which takes approximately 40 minutes and will be done in Ennis hospital as a day case.

Many of the colonoscopies will be normal. Some people, approximate- ly 50 per cent of those invited for a colonoscopy, will be found to have polyps, which are benign growths in the lining of the bowel. These will be removed at the time of colonoscopy to prevent the patient developing cancer at a later date.

Some people will be found to have cancer and they will be fast-tracked to surgery in the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick. This hospital already does more colorectal cancer surgery than any other hospital in the country so it has considerable expertise.

Dr Skelly paid tribute to all HSE staff in the mid-west for securing the screening service.