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TWO new candidates have entered the race to represent their respective areas on Clare County Council.

The county’s first candidate from the Fís Nua (New Vision) party, Niamh O’Brien will contest the Killaloe Municipal Area, while Noleen Moran will take up the mantle for Sinn Fein in West Clare.

Ms O’Brien said she found herself in politics more by accident than a burning political career.

“I never had an interest in politics, but politics took an interest in me. I wanted to be able to tell my grandchildren in 30 years time when they complain about how bad things are that I tried my best, rather than just sitting there shouting at the television,” she said.

From O’Callaghan Mills, this East Clare woman is a founding member of the first Women’s Shed in the northern hemisphere.

She was also involved in the Know Your Number Campaign and works in a voluntary capacity supporting people with debt issues.

She went to primary school in Kilkishen and secondary school in Tulla and has an honours degree in Law and Business.

In the west, Ms O’Brien from Ballyvaughan has been a member of Sinn Féin for ten years and is the current county secretary.

Throughout her time in Sinn Féin she has been involved in campaigning on a range of different issues and is particularly concerned about the lack of women public representatives, because she believes that “the consequences of austerity and emigration are having a significant impact on the lives of women”.

She was educated at Lisdoonvarna Secondary School and worked in agriculture and in tourism for a time, before continuing to third level, where she attained a degree in Public and Social Policy from NUI Galway and an LLM from the Irish Centre for Human Rights.

A LIMERICK man has appeared in court in Ennis charged with 32 offences relating to the alleged theft of car parts across four counties in the West and South.

The alleged thefts relate to the taking of catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters mainly from highpowered vehicles in Clare, Galway, Limerick and Kerry between January 24 and February 22, 2014.

It is alleged that criminal damage was caused to the vehicles when the parts were removed.

Darren O’Driscoll (20), with an address at Monaclino Halting Site, Ballysimon Road, Limerick, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

He is charged with stealing of cata- lytic converters and causing criminal damage to cars at the Radisson Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick; Dromoland Castle Newmarket on Fergus; Bunratty Castle; on dates between January 24 and January 26.

He is further charged with theft of catalytic converters and criminal damage at Kenna Metal Eastpark, Shannon; Modular Automation Shannon – the location of four alleged offences: Ennis Golf Club; Dunnes Stores, Ennis; Dromoland Castle and West County Hotel, Ennis on dates between February 4 and February 9.

Mr O’Driscoll is facing six charges arising from the alleged theft of catalytic converters and criminal damage to three vehicles in the car park of Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Ballybane, Galway, on dates between February 19 and February 20.

New charges relating to alleged thefts from vehicles in Kerry were brought against Mr O’Driscoll on Wednesday.

Detective Garda Emma Mullane of Tralee Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

She said Mr O’Driscoll made no reply to any of the charges after caution.

Mr O’Driscoll is charged with stealing catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters from vehicles in Farranfore Railway Station; Manor West Retail Park, Tralee, and thefts from two cars at Ballygarry House Hotel, Tralee, on dates between February 18 and 22.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the charges in the District Court. He outlined a summary of the alleged facts to allow Judge William Early to consider jurisdiction.

Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged Mr O’Driscoll used a battery powered saw to cut the catalytic converters from underneath the car.

Insp Kennedy said the purpose of the alleged thefts was to gain access to a valuable metal found in the converters and diesel filters.

Judge Early initially accepted jurisdiction but later changed his mind and refused it in all cases. He said he was doing so because of the cost of the damage to the car owners and the number of alleged thefts.

Judge Early adjourned the case to June and requested the DPP provide clarity on which jurisdiction the cases will be heard in.

Mr O’Driscoll was remanded on continuing bail.

A NORTH Clare family has been hit by tragedy for the second time in six months, following a fatal house fire that occurred in Ballyvaughan at the weekend.

Patsy O’Loughlin died in the house fire at her home in Derrynavahagh, Ballyvaughan on Sunday evening, just months after her brother Brian McMahon was killed in a road traffic accident in San Francisco.

The mother of two, originally from Kilfenora, had been alone in her home at the time of the fire, which is being treated as accidental.

It is understood that that fire started in the kitchen of her bungalow home, while Ms O’Loughlin was in the bedroom at the time.

Her son who lives next door raised the alarm at 7.15pm.

Three units of Ennistymon Fire Brigade were dispatched and arrived at the scene at 7.46pm.

The ambulance service was already in attendance and was attempting to resuscitate the victim.

Unfortunately the emergency services were unsuccessful in their attempts and Ms O’Loughlin who was in her fifties died at the scene.

Her brother Brian was laid to rest in the family cemetery in Kilfenora after he was hit by a car while out walking during a sunny October morning in San Francisco just over six months ago.

Ms O’Loughlin is survived by her father, her son and daughter who lives in South Africa, relatives and friends.

This is the first fatal fire in the county this year, and records show there were no deaths due to house fires last year in Clare.

WITH a reduction in council staff of almost 20 per cent in just over five years, councillors fought hard to retain what they could in their own areas at a hotly-contested meeting on Tuesday.

Suggestions from four members that a special workshop should be set up to decide where staff should be employed once the town councils are dissolved on June 1 was met with a firm rejection by the council’s most senior executive.

Sharp exchanges continued between the county manager Tom Coughlan and members, as Mr Coughlan pointed out that staffing issues were not the responsibility of the elected members.

“If that is the kind of system you want then you don’t need a county manager,” he said.

“I have to deal with staff and unions. Staff is not an issue for the council members and that is the law.”

Staff from Kilrush are to be moved to Ennis once the Kilrush and Kilkee Town Councils cease to exist, but 20 members are to remain in the Kilrush office to deal with local issues.

Shannon is to go through a similar process.

Concerned about the Ennistymon office, Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) argued that it would be humanly impossible to continue a service in the North Clare area if more staff were redeployed to Ennis.

Mr Coughlan said that the staffing levels should be sufficient in Ennistymon once some members are moved to Ennis to work in the Environment section. He said he would keep the situation under review.

He said he was already going “against the grain” by keeping two council offices open in the West Clare Area – one in Kilrush and one in Ennistymon.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said that this move was acceptable by the Government due to the huge geographical West Clare area, and was not against any policy.

And it was not just the county manager that came under fire at the meeting.

Cllr McCarthy said of Minister Phil Hogan – “This Minister should be shot”.

Minutes later on reflection the Shannon councillor said, “I would like to withdraw the action that should be taken against the minister and use the word sacked.”

THE provision of a safe space where men can talk openly about issues of mental health can help address such as isolation and depression, a meeting has heard.

Frank McNamara, facilitator of the Ennis Men’s Shed, was speaking at the opening of the ‘No Man an Island’ conference in Ennis on Saturday night.

The conference, the first of its kind to be held in Ireland, was organised by members of the Ennis Men’s Shed. Mr McNamara was one of those who set up the Ennis Men’s Shed in Hermitage last year.

Outlining the aims of the initiative, Mr McNamara said, “It is hoped that the well being of its members will be improved and issues such as isolation and lack of self esteem and self worth can be addressed. In tackling these issues it’s not just the shedders that benefit but also their families and the wider community. It gives the men something to focus their time and energy on, which in turn promotes healthier more productive relationships with their partner and / or children.”

Mr McNamara said a meeting at the West County Hotel in May 2013 kickstarted the movement in Ennis. With support from a Clarecastle businessman and Ennis man Tony Mulqueen, who supplied premises, the shed was established at Centrepoint, Hermitage.

“We are now 10 months on and the Ennis Men’s Shed wouldn’t be where it is today without the support and backing of Tony and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him.”

Mr McNamara told the conference that the shed is open to all men over 18. He said the Ennis Men’s Shed committee has received fantastic support from the community, the Clare / Limerick Education Training Board and Clare Arts Council.

He added. “With the Ennis Men’s Shed going from strength to strength and in order for the shed to have the positive impact on the local community that its committee and members envisage, it is vital that we link in fully with other community support groups and government agencies so they have a confidence in suggesting Ennis Men’s Shed as an option to those presenting with issues such as depression isolation, exclusion etc.”

A SPECIALISED drug and alcohol initiative aimed at helping those addicted to drugs and alcohol in the West Clare area is to be officially launched next month.

The multi-agency support service for people affected by substance misuse and their families was set up six months ago as a “trial”.

Since then it has helped 22 people, and the five agencies involved in the programme now plan to extend its reach.

Margaret Nash from Bushy Park, one of the organisations involved in the programme, said the majority of the people seeking help are dealing with polydrug use – an addiction to both drugs and alcohol.

As many families in West Clare are reaching out to the service as individuals with addictions, she explained, adding that the service is open to helping not just addicts but their loved ones.

Ms Nash who has years of experience working with people with addictions said it is impossible to say what it the most prevalent drug in the area.

“To say ‘drug of choice’ is very simplistic. They may have a favourite drug, but any drug will do,” she said.

The new service is a drop-in service at the Clarecare Offices, Toler Street, Kilrush, and is free of charge.

“It is a safe and confidential area in Kilrush to find help,” said Ms Nash.

She added that isolated areas of the West Clare needed this service to be brought closer.

“It is to cover the whole of the south west area.”

The drop-in service is free of charge and is open every Thursday from 12.30pm to 2pm.

As well as Bushy Park, the service is also supported by the Mid West Regional Drugs and Alcohol Task Force, the Community Substance Misuse Team, HSE and Anna Liffey Drug Project.

FIANNA Fáil leader Michéal Martin has responded to criticism from within elements of the party in Clare that no new blood was introduced during the selection process for its local election candidates.

The Corkman was the first of the party leaders in town for the local and European election campaign, visiting Kilrush, Shannon and Ennis. “It is a very challenging campaign as the number of county councillors have been reduced from 32 to 28. If you had a larger county council it would be easier to bring in new blood,” he said.

The party leader also responded to criticism relating to gender balance with just two female candidates among the 16 Fianna Fáil candidates contesting the election.

“Despite the loss of large numbers of councillors in the 2009 election, Clare held quite well, so we have the best balance we could realistically have,” he said referring to the fact that the five candidates in the eightseat West Clare area are all out going councillors.

“In West Clare six would have been too many to run in an eight-seater, and some would say even five is too much,” he said.

“We want more women participants at party level and particularly at election. The change needs to come at a cultural level. It is an awful pity we don’t have the urban councils. They are a great option for women and indeed young people to test the water,” he said.

“Clare is losing out, meanwhile Dublin is getting 60 new seats. I believe rural Ireland could be under represented and could suffer,” he said.

He admitted that the party had to “refine” its selection process, which again came under criticism this year for not informing the delegates how many candidates would be selected until after they voted at convention.

Deputy Martin also denied that any deal was done with former Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney, when he joined Fianna Fáil.

Cllr Meaney was added to the Ennis ticket after convention, and Mr Martin said that the party was anxious “sitting councillors would get to run wherever possible”.

A POLISH man charged following the alleged discovery of cannabis at Spancill Hill earlier this year has been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court.

The charges relate to alleged offences at Kilvoydan, Spancill Hill, on January 21, 2014.

Krzyztof Sobolewski, with a former address at The Island, Kilvoydan Spancill Hill, is charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or sup- ply.

It is alleged the accused had cannabis for sale or supply at a time when the market value of the controlled drugs amounted to € 13,000 or more.

Mr Sobolewski (37) is also charged with unlicensed cultivation of cannabis.

The book of evidence was served on the accused at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Pubic Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to the accused being returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on April 29.

Defence solicitor John Casey told the court a Polish translator would be required in the Circuit Court. Mr Casey also applied for the book of evidence to be translated into Polish.

His application was granted by Judge William Early.

Judge Early also approved a legal aid application going forward for Mr Casey, junior counsel and senior counsel, in view of the seriousness of the charge. Judge Early delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial.

VISITORS to a Kilrush graveyard have blatantly ignored no dumping signs.

The Mayor of Kilrush has appealed to people to take away their own litter and rubbish from the parish graveyard, as it is not only an eyesore but also a huge cost to the graveyard committee.

People have ironically started to dump old wreaths, flowers and candle holders inside the gate of All Saints Graveyard, directly in a front of a sign that asks people not to dump in the graveyard.

Black bags containing visitors’ rubbish are piled high in front of a sign that says, “Thank you for bringing home discarded wreaths and flowers.”

The mayor, Cllr Paul Moroney (Ind), said the sight is very disturbing to mourners who visit the graves and take such good care of their own family plot.

“Most of the things piled up there are things that can be put in a compost heap. If people brought them home hey may be able to do some good with them,” he said.

“I would appeal to people to take these things home and put them in their own bins. It is quite upsetting for other people visiting family graves,” he added.

The mayor, whose parents were laid to rest in the cemetery in the last six months, said however that the majority of people respect the grounds and do not dump their rubbish inside its gates.

Chairman of the local cemetery committee that cares for the up keep of the town’s third graveyard Tom Prendeville said clearing the rubbish puts added pressure on the committees finances. It costs € 1,500 every year to remove the waste accumulated in the graveyard. This money must come from church gate collections and other fundraisers.

THREE teenagers charged in connection with the robbery of money from two men in the grounds of a school in Ennis last year are due to appear before the Circuit Criminal Court today.

Evan Toomey (18), with an address at Oak Park, Ennis; Shane McCarthy (18), with and address at Shalee Drive, Ennis; and Jordan Whelan (18), with an address at Dun na hInse, Ennis, are charged with robbery at the Colaiste Muire school at Harmony, Ennis on December 21, 2013. The charges relate to the robbery of money from two men.

Mr McCarthy and Mr Whelan are charged with the robbery of money from Alan Markham – a member of Clare’s All-Ireland winning hurling panel in 1997. Mr Whelan is further charged with assault causing harm to a man at Abbey Street.

Mr Toomey is charged with the robbery of € 100 from another man, Sean Hogan.

Books of evidence were served on all three accused at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the Director of Public Prosecu- tions (DPP) had consented to the accused being sent forward for trial to the next sittings of the Circuit Criminal Court in Ennis on April 29. Mr McCarthy was sent forward on bail subject to conditions.

Defence solicitor for Mr Toomey, John Casey, told Judge Early he was reserving his position in relation to bail for the time being.

Mr Whelan was remanded on bail as set. Judge William Early approved legal aid for the men’s solicitors and a junior counsel in respect of each accused. He delivered the alibi warning and made orders returning all three men for trial.