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MILLIONAIRE Clare farmer JJ McCabe has added to his growing property portfolio in the past week by buying one of the most famous stately homes in the county.

And, in making his latest purchase, the colourful Clarecastle man has stayed close to home in purchasing Carnelly House in his native parish, which dates from the mid 1700s and is just 1km from his farm.

“It was up for auction in Ganley’s of Dublin and I bought it,” he told The Clare People .

“I belong to one of the oldest families in Clarecastle and we have been farming there for over 200 years. Carnelly is one of the oldest houses, it was up for auction and I went for it,” he added.

Mr McCabe, who earlier this year bought the Kilkee Bay Hotel and Ashford Court Hotel in Ennis, paid € 600,000 for the period mansion and its adjoining 74 acres.

This purchase price represents an 80 per cent fall in eight years – before the height of the property boom, the house and adjoining lands was sold by the Gleeson family in 2005 to a Dublin-based consortium called the Master Group for € 3m.

Carnelly House was built between 1830 and 1840, having been designed by Clare-born architect Francis Bindon as a wedding present for his sister, Anna, who married George Stamer.

The house has nine bedrooms, a gate lodge, a walled garden, original two story outbuildings and a courtyard.

Up until 2005, the house, which is in very good condition, was owned by the Gleeson family, who operated it as an up-market bed and breakfast.

The largest room in the house is the drawing room of 17’ by 33’, which has ornate stuccoed ceilings and walls by the Francini brothers and an elaborate niche with Corinthian pillars: doors on either side lead to the house’s conservatory. Other rooms include a formal dining room, morning room, library with extensive bookshelves, and all the working rooms for the house like kitchen, utility and boiler room.

After its sale eight years ago, Clare County Council granted planning for an € 80m development being promoted by Master Group. This included the construction of a 64-bedroom two-story private nursing home, as well as therapy room, a chapel, security room and 135 residential units. The foundations for this development were laid, while the planning permission was renewed in July 2011 until April 2017.

ENNIS Hospital has finally received a clean bill of health from the health watchdog HIQA.

Following years of reports outly ing dangers to patients health and indeed life, the County Clare hospital was hailed the cleanest and safest in the country on Thursday when the Health Information and Quality Authority.

The unannounced inspection was refined to the new hospital extension, with its two wards the Burren Ward and Fergus Ward, inspected.

“Overall, both areas assessed in Ennis Hospital were very clean with very few exceptions,” the report said of the state of the art single-room wards officially opened by Minister for Health James Reilly in April.

“The risk of the spread of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) is reduced when the physical environment and equipment can be readily cleaned and decontaminated. It is therefore important that the physical environment and equipment is planned, provided and maintained to maximise patient safety.”

The inspectors found this to be the case in the multi-million euro building it demanded in a previous damming report.

When it visited the hospital on September 4 for the most recent report it found that it was one of the cleanest in the country although there were a few minor issues relating to the standards set to control hospital infections. These included one finding of dirt on a door joint but mostly related to inadequate signage in certain parts of the wards.

Hand hygiene was criticized in the region’s maternity hospital in the last set of hospital reports, but Ennis Hospital was found to be following HIQA protocol.

“Hand hygiene is recognised internationally as the single most important preventative measure in the transmission of HCAIs in healthcare services. It is essential that a culture of hand hygiene practice is embedded in every service at all levels,” the inspector said.

“Ennis Hospital must now develop a quality improvement plan (QIP) that prioritises the improvements necessary to fully comply with the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.

“This QIP must be approved by the service provider’s identified individual who has overall executive accountability, responsibility and authority for the delivery of high quality, safe and reliable services. The QIP must be published by the hospital on its website within six weeks of the date of publication of this report.”

However, the good news at Ennis wasn’t replicated in four other hospitals including Nenagh, which is also in the University Limerick Hospital Group.

A litany of problems at the Tipperary hospital means a follow-up inspection is required within six months, while the Mater Hospital was told that “many improvements were required” within the same time frame.

There were also risks to patients from infections discovered at St Vincent’s and Tallaght hospitals in Dublin because of unclean environments in wards.

TRADE unions representing staff at Shannon Airport and Shannon Development have raised concerns about the future viability of the newly independent Shannon Airport.

Speaking at the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Debate on the Shannon Aviation Services and Miscellaneous Provision Bill 2013, Owen Reidy of SIPTU said, “We have serious reservations and concerns about this prospect actually flying and working because we believe that ultimately, the success of this project is based primarily on planned growth on the airport site and on passenger numbers.”

He maintained that the projected numbers of the business plan for the airport does not stand up to the scrutiny of an appraisal by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. He said the projected or planned growth from 1.39 million passengers in November 2012 to 2.5 million passengers by 2021 were based on assumptions that do not stand up to scrutiny in the current economic climate.

“We are concerned that if this does not work, the overall project may suffer and fail, notwithstanding the fact that we wish it well. Should that arise, we would be concerned about any implications for the workers concerned in both entities,” he said.

During the same discussion Neil Pakey, Chief Executive Officer of the Shannon Airport Authority, received support for his call to extend the borrowing facility limit for the group to € 100 million.

This, he claimed, would allow the Shannon group to deliver on the recommendations of the task force and to ensure it can be as competitive as its European peer group airport companies.

“As any such borrowings would be subject to business cases and ministerial consent, we should not have a more restrictive limit than our competitors, be they private or public operators,” he said referring to previous operators he worked for who borrow and invest in their airports.

Chair of the meeting Clare TD Timmy Dooley said the committee would forward the recommendation to the Minister.

Clare County Manager Tom Coughlan reiterated the need for an extended borrowing limit.

“For the group to carry out its functions as envisaged, and one hopes there will be wider functions than those envisaged at present, it must be in a position to finance itself and it must be empowered to raise the necessary capital and finance to achieve its objectives,” he said.

Mr Pakey also proposed the renaming of the new look SFADCo to Shannon Enterprise.

HIP replacement patients from County Clare gathered in the Old Ground Hotel yesterday (Monday) to hear from a law firm that is taking a group action against the firm that manufactured their faulty hip implant.

Personal injuries law firm Peter McDonnell and Associates are already representing 30 Clare patients who received a hip manufactured by De Puy ASR, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, between 2003 and 2010.

In 2006 the company ceased to sell any more of the implants in America, but continued to import them into Ireland and Europe.

On August 24, 2010 there was a worldwide recall on the hip implants, with patients reporting side affects from the prosthetic.

The implant was constructed of metal, and those with the implants are now subjected to on-going blood tests and scans amid fears of cobalt poisoning. Those that are found to have a high level of cobalt in their blood are then advised to have the DePuy hip removed and replaced with an alternative.

Mr McDonnell said that while to date DePuy has paid for the replacement costs of removing the hip, after care for patients, scans, blood tests and other associated costs, patients must take a case to cover any costs resulting to further damage as a result of metal poisoning.

The legal firm behind the suit un- derstands there are 170 more Clare people affected by the faulty implant and have advised them that it is not too late join the civil action.

DePuy ordered a recall of the medical device in 2010.

One woman from Kilrush who attended yesterday’s meeting, and did not wish to be named, said she was very worried.

In February 2009 she received her DePuy hip replacement, but after the operation suffered great discomfort.

In October that year, the surgeon operated on her hip again in a bid to fix the problem.

“That was two in the afternoon, at one that night I was back in surgery and had to have the whole thing replaced,” she said.

As it was 2009 she once again received a metal hip replacement and is now concerned about the longterm affect.

“I have had the blood tests but I never got the results, and my doctor can’t read them. I am worried,” she said.

Mr McDonnell said that the reading of the blood tests differ greatly from America to the British reading used in Ireland and can lead to a lot of confusion even among the medical profession.

The Kilrush lady said she was now considering yet another surgery, and would be looking for more blood tests and scans.

As there are no class actions each person must file an individual claim, according to the law firm.

When it is over a per centage of the claim is paid in fee to the firm.

THE National Roads Authority has been asked to clarify its position on the placing of signs on motorways and dual carriageways amid claims it is causing confusion.

Independent councillor PJ Ryan told the October meeting of Clare County Council, clarification on the policy is needed.

In a motion, Cllr Ryan stated that “this council would clarify with the NRA the position re: signs on or just off dual carriageway, motorway or primary roads as there seem to be a lot of confusion on this matter”.

Tom Tiernan, Senior Engineer in the Council’s Transport Department, said for road safety reasons, all illegal signs are removed from the motorway.

He explained, “Because of the fact that the motorway and dual carriageway system accommodates very large volumes of traffic moving at high speed, the safety of those using the system is of paramount importance. Drivers using the primary route network need certain basic elements of information to facilitate them in terms of destination etc.”

He continued, “The motorway signage system is designed to provide basic minimum information while at the same time it seeks to ensure that the information given isn’t overly detailed or cluttered and that it isn’t too much for a driver travelling at 120 km/hr to absorb without distraction. Effectively, the objective is to provide optimum information of the kind needed by an average motorway driver and to minimise the potential for distraction thereby facilitating complete focus on driving safely.”

Mr Tiernan stated, “For the reasons outlined in the foregoing, no signage other than that designed and approved by the NRA is allowed on the motorway system and any signage placed within the confines of the primary route system without approval is unauthorised and illegal.

“Since the NRA took over maintenance and management of the motorway system recently, this policy has been implemented fully by virtue of the fact that it is a clear stipulation in the NRA’s contract with the contractor who has been engaged to look after the motorway and dual carriageway network.”

Mr Tiernan told the meeting that any signs, which have been removed to facilitate this requirement, can be retrieved by owners at the new motorway maintenance depot adjacent to Junction 13, Tulla Road Interchange on the M18.

PRIESTS in both the Killaloe and Galway/Kilfenora dioceses have been specially trained to perform exorcisms on possessed parishioners. According to Fr Fiontán Ó Monacháin, secretary to the Archbishop of Tuam, three unnamed Irish priests have received special training in how to combat evil spirits and perform exorcisms.

Father Ó Monacháin said that while exorcisms are not common practice – they do take place and the priests involved are given special training to assist them in battling evil spirits.

He said that three priests – an unnamed priest in the Killaloe Diocese, a Jesuit father based in the Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Diocese, a priest based in Carlow – have received special exorcism training.

Spokesperson from the Killaloe Diocese, Fr Brendan Quinlivan, told The Clare People yesterday that no priest in the diocese has the specific job of conducting exorcisms but that all priests receive basic training in conducting exorcisms.

Fr Sean McHugh of the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora, said that he was not aware of any priests in the diocese who had received special training for conducting exorcisms but that the nature of the work meant that the priests identity would be kept secret.

Before an exorcism can take place, the person involved is first assessed to ensure that he or she is suffering from a spiritual possession and not a psychological issue. The local parish priest will then generally attempt to help the effected person, usually by speaking with them or performing a mass in their home. Only when this fails is permission sought from the bishop for an exorcism to take place.

“That [local] priest would have a good idea if it’s a psychiatric or a spiritual issue. If it’s a spiritual problem, the priest would usually say prayers or celebrate Mass in the house, or give a special blessing using holy water,” said Fr Ó Monacháin.

“If that doesn’t work and if they are still suffering, a formal exorcism may be necessary. And if that’s the case there are priests in the country who are trained in that field. There aren’t many. I know of a Jesuit priest in Galway and there is another priest in the Killaloe Diocese and a Franciscan priest from Carlow.”

Fr Quinlivan stressed yesterday that every care is taken to assess the psychological state of the person involved before a exorcism is considered.

“The first consideration is always the psychological condition of the person involved. This is something that we are extremely careful about,” he said.

These revelation about modern day exorcisms came to light in the ‘Díbirt Deamhain’ programme shown on TG4 on Sunday.

AN AGE-OLD tradition will be marked in the Carron this Sunday as a group of local herdsmen will drive hundreds of cattle to their winter home on the upland Burren pastures.

The cattle drive is the centre point for the second annual Burren Winterage Festival, which is expected to attract hundreds of late-season tourists and visitors to the Burren this weekend.

The festival is aiming to mark the age-old process of winterage, which saw hundreds of cattle being moved to the Burren at the end of the summer, where they would spend the winter in relative dryness because of the porous limestone rock of the Burren.

The process of winterage has actively helped to shape the Burren over the centuries as the cattle helped control the spread of hazel and other scrub plants into limestone pavement.

“The Winterage Weekend is all about celebrating the local commu- nity and their traditions which have assisted in the Burren receiving such international recognition,” said Brigid Barry of the Burrenbeo Trust, who are organisers the event.

“Visitors and locals alike have the opportunity to get involved in some really interesting and fun events and all completely unique and connected to the magnificent landscape that is the Burren.”

Along with the cattle drive the Winterage Festival will also include a number of unique Burren events including the Burren Food Fayre, a number of open-farm events and even a prize for the best shorthorn heifer in the Burren.

The Burren last month became the first place in Ireland to receive a European Diploma for protected areas. The diploma, which is awarded by the Council of Europe, was in recognition of the natural and cultural heritage of the Burren, something that the process of winterage has been key to over the years.

The full Winterage Festival Weekend programme is www.burrenwinterage.com.

THE Burren region is set to lead the Irish tourist industry in a large scale transformation in how tourism in Ireland works. More than 200 people turned out for a major eco-tourism in Ennistymon last week, making it the largest conference of its kind ever undertaken in Ireland.

The conference, which was organised by the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark LIFE Project, attracted delegates from emerging eco-tour- ism sports from all over the country.

The conference, which was entitled ‘Developing Sustainable Tourism Destinations’, also included a number of international leaders in sustainable tourism.

“A number of the younger delegates at the conference, the next generation of tourism managers, voiced the opinion that sustainability should not be an issue. They believe that it should automatically be a part of all we do, without question,” said Carol Gleeson of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark LIFE Project.

“If this is how the younger generation think, then there is definitely a future for sustainable tourism and all it stands for. We are already making a name for ourselves in sustainable tourism here in Clare. Both the Geopark [Burren and Cliffs of Moher] and Loop Head have been shortlisted for the Best Destination for Responsible Tourism Awards this year which is a great achievement.”

The conference attracted delegated from Achill Island, the Dingle Peninsula, Malin Head, Meath, Louth, Galway as well as 50 students from GMIT and from FETAC.

The Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark is a Clare County Council initiative. This ‘LIFE’ section of the project is 50 per cent funded by Europe with match funding is provided by the lead partner Clare County Council along with Failte Ireland, the Geological Survey of Ireland, Office of Public Works, National Monuments Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Heritage Council, National University College Galway and University College Dublin.

THREE members of the same family charged over a row that occurred in the grounds of Ennis Courthouse earlier this year will be sentenced next month.

Adjourning sentence at Ennis District Court last week, Judge Patrick Durcan said, “It’s just the gross lack of regard for law and order is what troubles me.”

His comments came as a solicitor admitted there were times this year when legal practitioners feared for their safety due to a spate of disturbances.

Details of a public order incident were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday where Michael Molloy (19) and sisters Laura Molloy (22) and Rose Mahon (23), all with addresses at Bay 2 Ballaghboy Halting Site, Quin Road, Ennis pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening and / or abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at Ennis Courthouse on June 19.

Laura Molloy and Rose Mahon also pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the directions of garda.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court the altercation developed when two groups of people met in the grounds of the Courthouse on a day of scheduled sitting of Ennis District Court.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said Michael Molloy was pursued into the courtroom by a woman who “read him chapter and verse.”

The court heard Laura Molloy then received a phone call from the woman who told her she wished to make peace. A large number of people then gathered outside the Courthouse where a dispute developed.

“Not only was there no peace talks but war had been embarked upon” explained Mr Hassett.

Mr Hassett said there had been a period in the first half of the year when the Courthouse had been the venue for a number of rows and dis turbances. However he told Judge Durcan there had been a significant improvement in recent months.

“There was a period in here, two months, where you would fear for your safety,” he added. Mr Hassett said his clients wished to apologise profusely to the gardaí and court. Judge Durcan said it is important that people can come into the court and not observe “wild west lawlessness”.

He said it was his job to ensure respect is maintained and given.

He said this was a most serious offence and he required time to consider sentence. The case was adjourned to November 6.

TWO men stole used cooking oil from a hotel in Ennis to use as fuel for their cars, a court has heard.

Lithuanian nationals Linas Mitkus (40) and Gedminuas Paskauskas (33) stole € 56 worth of used cooking oil from the rear of the Old Ground Hotel on April 18. Both men pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday to the theft of burnt oil the property of Frylite Ltd.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court a white van belonging to one of the men was captured on CCTV on the day. He said the men admitted the theft but told gardaí they thought it was waste oil.

The court heard Frylite Ltd, the company who supply cooking oil to the hotel, take away the used product oil to sell as biofuel.

Mr Mitkus, with an address at Tirellan Heights, Headford Road, Galway, and Mr Paskauskas, with an address Lana An Bhaile, Ballymore Lane, Craughwell, Galway, have no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court his clients collect waste cooking oil as they have interest in recycling oil.

He said they took the oil for personal use and had brought € 56 compensation to court. The court heard both men have cars that run on biodegradable oil.

Judge Patrick Durcan said this was a serious offence and people do not have the right to enter private property and take goods.

“The hotel proprietor is entitled to believe that what is left there (premises) isn’t moved around and is protected,” he added.

He said the men’s early guilty pleas meant the State did not face any extra expense or burden. He said both men were non-nationals who had lived in Ireland for a long period and had clear records.

Both accused were ordered to pay € 200 to the court poor box. Judge Durcan said he did not want to criminalise the men.

A MAN
charged with the burgalry of a historic mansion in Killaloe has been further remanded in custody. Jeffrey Lee (41), with an address at Cosgrave Park, Moyross, Limerick, appeared before Ennis District Court onWednesday. He is charged with enteringTinarana House as a trespasser on dates between August 17 and September 24 and committing theft therein. Inspector Michael Gallagher sought to have the accused remanded in custody to November 6 to allowthe Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to issue directions. Defence solicitor Tara Godrey consented to the remand.Tinarana House is the home of Gary McNamara and his wife, Michelle. He is the son of Dolores McNamara, the Limerick woman who won €115min the Euromillions lottery drawin 2005.The mansion is located on 270 acres on the shores of Lough Derg.Tinarana was previously owned by Dr Paschal Carmody and his wife, Dr Frieda Carmody.

A 17- year
-old boy has been in court charged in connection with a large drugs seizure in Ennis last year.The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. He is charged with possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply in the Kilrush Road area of Ennis in March 2012. Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court the drugs have an estimated value of €12,800. He said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed trial on indictment and that a book of evidence will be prepared.The case was adjourned to November 13 for service of the book of evidence. A JUDGE has refused jurisdiction of a case where a man suffered a fractured jaw in an alleged assault at a fast food restaurant in Shannon earlier this year. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said he made the decision, as the injuries are “very serious.” Details of the alleged assault at Supermacs were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Josh Vincent (20), with an address at Finian Park, Shannon, is charged with assault causing harm in Shannon town centre on May 26. The case was adjourned previously for the production of a medical report on the alleged victim. Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court it would be alleged Mr Vincent was involved in a brief altercation with a man in a Shannon nightclub. He said the pair met again in Supermacs that night where it is alleged the accused punched the man in the head. The court heard the alleged victim suffered a fractured jaw and had four screws inserted into his gum as part of the treatment. Insp Gallagher said the man was left unconscious for 20 seconds following the alleged assault. After reading details of the medical report, Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction. Mr Vincent was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on November 13. A book of evidence is due to ready by that date.