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THE St Stephen’s night storm was responsible for 61 per cent of all of the Christmas callouts for Clare’s Fire and Rescue Service.

As many as 70 of the 115 incidents attended by the emergency services between December 20, 2013, and January 3, 2014, involved falling trees on the night of December 26, at a cost of approximately € 60,000 to the Fire Service.

Meanwhile, non-weather related callouts – 45, were down across the county for a fourth successive year.

The call-out figures for the period were less than those recorded during the corresponding periods in 2010, 2011 and 2012 when the Fire Service was mobilised to 81, 64 and 48 incidents respectively.

This Christmas, six of the callouts related to house fires with a further six call-outs involving chimney fires, while fire-fighters also attended 14 road-based incidents, foor agricultural building fires, three storage building fires and five false alarm.

The busiest station this Christmas was Ennis, attending to 61 of the calls, followed by Shannon who attended 23.

“This was one of the busiest periods experienced by Clare County Fire and Rescue Service since the serious flooding which affected Clare in November 2009,” explained Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Officer.

“The extremely windy conditions late on St Stephen’s Day and in the early hours of December 27 brought down a lot of trees throughout the county leading to some roads being blocked. Furthermore, other roads were impassable for a time due to flooding brought about by heavy rain. Due to the assistance of members of the public, together with staff from Clare Local Authorities, we were able to deal quickly with these incidents so as to ensure any disruption was minimised,” he said.

AER Lingus passengers planning to fly from Shannon Airport to Boston have been forced to cancel or postpone their flights as the new schedule has been delayed yet again.

The New Year round transatlantic schedule was initially to begin yesterday (Monday), but the new flights have now been delayed until February 4, leaving customers high and dry.

The options being offered to disappointed passengers by the airline in clude changing travel to a later date or flying with Aer Lingus from Dublin to Boston, with ground transportation being provided between Shannon and Dublin.

Alternatively, customers may choose to cancel their travel plans, and receive a full refund.

The airline has attributed the delay to an “unforeseen scheduling delay” with the delivery of a new B757 aircraft.

At first the plan for the ShannonBoston flight was held up for one week with a new start date of January 26 announced.

That was postponed again yesterday by just over another week.

Last July the airline announced that it was to begin a year round daily schedule to Boston and New York, having cut back on the winter schedule in 2011 due to losses.

The new service to begin in February will use two Boeing 757 aircrafts, which will be smaller than the Airbus 330 aircraft currently in use. However the number of flights to Boston will increase to five times a week from next month and will reach seven days a week in March. During the summer months 12 flights a week will travel to the US from Shannon, compared to seven last year.

SHANNON looks set to once to be a strong player in the world aircraft leasing industry following news of a multi-billion-euro takeover by Irish company AerCap.

It has emerged that Shannon based company AerCap have just agree a € 4.3 billion deal which will see it buy out American giant International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

The takeover, which is likely to be finalised between April and May of this year, will dramatically swell the number aircraft on the books of AerCap from its current number, understood to be in the region of 380, to a massive 1,300. This would make it one of the biggest aircraft leasing companies in the world.

Although the corporate headquarters of AerCap are currently in the Netherlands, it is understood that the impact of the merger will be heavily felt in Shannon. The company formed following the collapse of Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) and its global business is headed by Aengus Kelly, who previously worked at GPA in Shannon.

Meanwhile, Shannon Airport recorded an increase in passenger numbers for the first time in five years in 2013, the first year since it came under local control.

A total of 1,400,032 passengers flew through the Clare airport last year, an increase of just over 5,000 on the 1,394,781 who used the facility in 2012.

The increase was achieved despite a difficult start to 2013 as month-overmonth passenger numbers continued to decrease in the immediate wake of the airports de-coupling from the Dublin Airport Authority.

However, strong growth from June onwards saw the airport halt the fiveyear slide in passenger numbers.

“Last year was always going to be challenging, not least at the beginning of the year as we emerged from the State airports group,” said Shannon CEO Neil Pakey.

“After a slow start in terms of passenger numbers over the first five months, trends improved considerably as the year drew on and the second half of the year was very positive.

“We are very confident that we will now achieve real growth as we move into 2014 and beyond.”

The increase in the latter half of the year was more pronounced on transatlantic routes where 22 per cent growth was achieved, thanks to new services to Chicago and Philadelphia.

A DUBLIN man who allegedly struck another person with a glass on the night Clare welcomed home the county’s All-Ireland champion hurlers will have his case heard in the Circuit Court.

Judge Patrick Durcan refused jurisdiction of the case after hearing details of the alleged assault at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Darren Brady (39), with an address at Abbeyville Green, Swords Manor, Swords, Dublin, is charged with as- sault causing harm to a man at Dan O’Connell’s Bar, Ennis on September 29, 2013.

Garda Cormac Kelly of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

He said Mr Brady made no reply to charge after caution.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of case.

Garda Kelly outlined a summary of the alleged facts to allow Judge Patrick Durcan consider jurisdiction.

A medical report outlining the alleged injuries suffered by the man was given to Judge Durcan.

Garda Kelly told the court the alleged injured party was in the bar with his girlfriend.

He said it would be alleged Mr Brady started to behave inappropriately towards the woman.

Garda Kelly said, “He (alleged victim) asked him (Mr Brady) to leave her alone at which point he head butted the alleged injured party and struck him in the head with either a glass or a pint bottle”.

Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction. He said he was doing so based on the alleged evidence and the injuries allegedly suffered by the alleged victim.

Insp Kennedy said the case would now be referred back to the DPP. He told the court that a book of evidence would also be prepared.

Mr Brady is also charged with two public order offences arising out of the alleged incident at the pub.

He was remanded on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on March 12.

IRISH folk star, Luka Bloom, has joined a host of Clare’s finest musicians to record a single to help raise money for the Lahinch Playground Rescue Fund.

The playground, which was completed just three years ago, was devastated by Storm Catherine, which ripped away most of the ground works and cause damaged estimated to be well in excess of € 100,000.

The song, ‘Seaweed in Ennistymon’ was written by local musician Darragh McGlynn as he listened to the storm from his sea front property in Lahinch.

“I live by the sea front in Lahinch and we were getting trashed by every high tide. I worked on the song right through the storm and it was pretty much finished by Sunday night,” said Darragh.

“On Monday night, I went to a session in Cooley’s in Ennistymon and played it there. Everybody loved it, they were singing the song back to me before I had finished it. Within a week it was recorded and the rest is history.

“It was great to get Luka Bloom involved. He was a big fan of the song – he was all over it once he heard it. He played guitar and sang with me on the chorus and we were all really happy in the way that it turned out.”

Alongside Luka and Darragh, the song also features some of the vest of Clare musicians including Yvonne Casey, Quintan Cooper, Jon O’Connell and Adam Shiparo.

The song is currently available to download from I-Tunes for a cost of 99 cents. Darragh and Luka Bloom will perform the song at the Lahinch Christmas Frolics which will take place at Lahinch Seaworld this Saturday. Proceeds from the song will be donated to the Lahinch Playground Rescue Fund.

It was confirmed last week that the damage done to the Lahinch Playground by the recent storm will not be covered by insurance. The playground was sealed off to the public for 10 days amid fears that the ground works in the area might be unstable.

The Lahinch Playground Rescue Fund committee have launched a number of fundraising drives locally in recent days including a Wellington Collection Campaign as well as asking people to purchase sponsored bricks.

A special account for donations has been set up at account number 02334222, sort code 93-51-58. For more info search for “Lahinch Playground Project” on Facebook.

THE people of Cloughnainchy were well aware of coastal erosion and the problems it would eventually cause them.

They had warned the council and their TDs many times during the last decade, but no one was prepared for the destruction the high tide and ferocious winds of January 6 would bring.

The sea invaded 14 homes and it swept away an acre of land out to the sea.

“We couldn’t see the ocean, we can see people walking on the beach now,” said Danny McCarthy, speaking from the back upstairs room of his house that looks in the Atlantic Ocean.

“The ministers and the TDs haven’t a clue as to what is going on or how we are suffering here, and it has been highlighted since 2011 that this was happening then,” he said.

“Erosion is on going, and that is why there was an appeal in 2011, because the area was vulnerable.”

Gerry McCarthy who lived across the road 25 years ago but moved a short distance away said, “We thought it was rectified when they put the culverts in, but this is more serious, this is the Atlantic Ocean.

Martin Clancy is one of the senior members of this small community and he has lived in the area for more than 80 years. He said that he re- members lobbying the council in the early 1990s for coastal protection work, following a similar flooding. “There was [coastal] land to build on at that time. We looked for something to be done and it wasn’t done. All they gave us was one culvert, and we were fighting for it hard. And we fought then for the second one because it wasn’t able to take all the water. We are waiting a long time for that,” he said. “Then we looked for something to be done along the beach, outside the boundary wall of the land. There was a whole lot of land at that stage that they could have built on but they didn’t and now it’s gone – the boundary wall, the land and some of the [private] land inside the wall is gone itself,” he added. Clare County Council has applied for € 2,581,250 to undertake the long overdue work. In its application to central government it proposes the construction of coastal protection over approximately 800 metres centred around rock armour construction. “This section of coastline is in close proximity to 15 to 20 vulnerable private residential properties and it also is required to provide protection of the integrity of the local public road network,” the council said. Two weeks on from the storm and no decision has been made by the Government on the application for funding.

A TEENAGER has pleaded guilty to the robbery of a 73-year-old woman in Shannon.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered the guilty plea after being arraigned at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court yesterday (Monday).

He admits stealing the woman’s handbag, which contained € 40 at the time. The charge relates to an incident at Tullyvarraga, Shannon, in July 2012.

Jurisdiction of the case was declined in the District Court after Judge Patrick Durcan heard details of the robbery.

The court heard woman was walking on the footpath when the accused came up behind her and grabbed the bag.

A Detective Garda gave evidence the victim gave chase but in doing so, fell and broke her pelvis.

A 17-year-old boy has already pleaded guilty to handling stolen property arising out of the same circumstances.

In court yesterday, Counsel for the 16 year old, Elaine Houlihan requested a probation report be prepared in respect of her client.

She said the court was required to seek probation reports where juveniles are concerned.

She said reporting restrictions also applied given her client’s age.

Judge Carol Moran asked if would have to consider the imposition of a prison sentence in respect of the robbery charge.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Stephen Coughlan BL, said, “When you hear the evidence in the case you may consider a prison sentence.”

Counsel for the 17-year-old boy, Pat Whyms said his client was charged with a handling offence.

He said there was no evidence linking the boy to the original robbery.

He said the court would not have to consider a prison sentence in respect of his client.

Judge Moran adjourned the cases for sentence to March 3.

He directed a probation report be prepared in respect of the 16-yearold boy.

FARMERS with land around Farihy Bay in Doonbeg are facing the possibility of a serious fodder shortage next winter as hundreds of acres of farmland remain water logged as a result of damage to a nearby sluice.

The sluice was installed by the Land Commission to channel water from the land when it would inevitable flood during extensive rainfall.

Heavy rainfall, coupled with storms and high tides resulted in land covered in salty water in the last fortnight.

A blockage coming from the back of the sluice means that water cannot flow freely and drain the land, leaving up to an estimated 300 acres of prime farm land flooded with sea water.

Thomás Flanagan and Gearoid Greene are just two of more than a half a dozen farmers affected by the break down in the infrastructure.

The farmers had employed a digger to clear the sluice of rocks lodge in the large concrete pipe, but to little or no avail as waves continue to carry debris over the sluice, which then lodges at the back of the sluice and eventually gets stuck in the stones of the main flow pipe blocking the water again.

Even high land that is not susceptible to flooding is not accessible to the farmers. Mr Flanagan explained that he cannot access prime grazing land which lies high above sea level as the access road has been washed away in the storm and the surrounding land remain water logged. At least 70 acres of Mr Greene’s land, which he would have used for silage in the spring, remains under seawater, the salt content of which continues to burn the land. He said he was very concerned about how he will access fodder for his cows next year.

“There will be houses in danger if this water rises again and the sluice is not sorted,” said Mr Flanagan.

“You don’t mind if you get have rain for a day or two and the water builds up once or twice a year; it will go eventually, but the problem we have here is the bits of rubbish get stuck between the stones and it blocks the stones. It will slow down the flow every time,” he said.

“About 80 per cent of the water went down when we cleared the sluice, but it is filling again. And if we get heavy rain it will be as bad again,” said Mr Flanagan.

In the 1990s their fathers paid to have the sluice repaired, but the cost of repairing the public infrastructure this time will cost significantly more, the farmers have warned.

The farmers fear that the repair of the sluice will fall between Clare County Council and the OPW and are anxious that one of the bodies take responsibility and rectify the problem immediately.

These full time dairy farmers rely on the income from their farms to support their young families, and while the sluice remains damaged their livelihood remains under threat, they explained.

LIVING in a house overlooking Farhiy Bay in Baltard, Doonbeg is a blessing most of the year, but the storm and high tides at the beginning of the New Year made it a precarious place to call home.

Gearoid Greene along with his wife and five children were shocked as the spray from the storm and high tide of January 7 beat off the back of the house.

What made it all the more surprising was the fact that the house was far above sea level, looking down on the sea from a great height.

Shortly after 8am as the storm took hold the family were in fear of severe damage to their home and even considered moving while the storm abated.

The winds and strength of the sea blew in the stones from the periphery wall into the garden, leaving the back of the home, which faces on to the sea, exposed.

Wiring securing electric poles were also up rooted, in damage never witnessed in the area before.

As well as dealing with the clean- up of the storm and the rebuilding of the secure wall, this farming family must also contend with reseeding land covered by seawater, when and if it eventually dries, in time for this year’s harvest.

The cost of the bad weather continues to be counted.

COMMUNITY activists in Doonbeg have warned that the village and surrounding lands all the way to Cooraclare will be under water if a membrane of land holding back the sea breaks.

The land barrier at Doonbeg Bay was compromised in recent storms that did more than € 800,000 worth of damage to infrastructure of the area.

Tommy Commerford and Tommy Tubridy, both local publicans and local community activists, have now warned that if repair damage and reinforcement work is not carried out soon, the damage to the area will be more severe if there is more bad weather.

“Unless a reinforcement barrier put in there, if the sea breaks it, and it is breaking here already, you are going to have the whole area flooded right down,” said Mr Commerford pointing to land at the edge of the bay just metres from the village on the Dun- more Road.

During the storm on January 7, the land was flooded up to 150 metres from the village, reaching the 50 kilometres per hour sign at the bridge.

“The whole area down to Cooraclare will flood because it is a pure low land caucuses, shragh, land. It is a pure bog land if the membrane goes. “The membrane is only about five metres in parts of it and if it breaks it will sweep the bridge away going down and it will sweep into Shragh and down into the townlands of Cooraclare,” warned Mr Commerford. He said the county council must now look at how best to protect the land bank, as when it is compromised the financial cost and the cost to people’s lives will be significantly more. “Definitely the council need to reassess that whole area. It is a dangerous position,” he said. Two houses along the road were flooded during the storm, but reinforcement works carried out further up the bay saved more homes. The men point to armour rock just metres away that saved their homes and land, previously put under water. “That is what they wanted to do at Doonbeg Golf Course. If that was done at Doonbeg Golf Course there would have been no damage done there,” said Mr Tubridy. There are also concerns for an area across the bay at Rhynnagonnaught. The road leading to the houses in the area was compromised in the storm, and if it is not underpinned it will be completely washed away in the next storm, marooning the residents on an island similar to what happened at Kilcredaun on the Loop Head peninsula.

Clare County Council has requested € 547,500 from central government for the work.

Whitestrand and Doonmore, also experienced € 237,500 worth of damage.

Not only was the sea wall compromised, but holes were also blown open on walls across the road from the sea wall so fierce were the waves and the wind.

Local farmers and neighbours began removing stones from the road at Whitestrand last Wednesday.

As much as 6 to 7 metres of farm land and fencing was also washed into the sea as a result of the storm.

This area will also need to be reinforced with rock armour of galleons the men maintain.