Category: News

A FACILITY for Kilrush, similar to Lee’s Road in Ennis, will be the “premier project” for Clare County Council this year.

The project planned for the Cooraclare Road in Kilrush is to include pitches, running tracks and astro turf facilities.

The project has been submitted for national sporting grants by Kilrush Town Council previously but with as yet no success.

The town council executive is confident that the project will be successful in securing grant funding this year and has also submitted it for consideration in a new national fund.

Town manager Anne Haugh explained that the county manager had agreed that the Kilrush project would be the primary project on a list seeking funding from the new national scheme – Sport Nation.

The new grant aid system is supported through the Public Bodies and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, with each department providing one third of the funding up to € 58,124. The remaining third needs to be raised from the local authority’s capital fund.

The council agreed that the first phase of the project to require funding should be the astro turf area.

The town council had previously agreed to set aside € 150,000 of money earmarked for special projects to the proposed Cooraclare Road Sports Development.

A lease for 25 years has also been signed for such the facility on the Cooraclare Road.

SHANNON Chamber of Commerce has received a big boost this week following the news that its chief executive has been appointed to the board of Chambers Ireland.

Helen Downes was ratified in the post at the Chambers Ireland AGM, held in Dublin last Wednesday, with her appointment announced on Friday last by Shannon Chamber president, Kevin Thompstone.

Congratulating Ms Downes on her appointment, Mr Thompstone said, “It’s a great honour for Shannon Chamber via Helen Downes to have input at board level in a national organisation. Helen’s nomination by the Chambers Ireland CEO Forum for a position on the board, and her existing representation as a member of Chambers Ireland Human Resources Policy Council, is both indicative of the high esteem in which she is held within the organisation, and her ability to make a valuable contribution to strategic considerations.

“Membership of Chambers Ireland board gives Shannon Chamber a forum to make representation on behalf of members and to input their views and commentary on national policy issues being considered by Chambers Ireland for presentation to government and key stakeholders. It will ensure that Shannon’s voice is heard at another key national level.”

About Helen Downes: Chief Executive of Shannon Chamber 2008, Helen Downes has spearheaded many new chamber initiatives to promote and encourage business growth and economic development in the Shannon area. These initiatives, which have also led to increased chamber membership, include a number of EU-focused seminars, a chamber HR forum, a CEO forum, a Business Watch scheme, and linkages with national and international business organisations in both the public and private sectors.

Shannon Chamber currently has over 250 member-companies drawn from a wide cross-section of business sectors that employ approximately 7, 500 people in the Shannon hinterland. Helen is responsible for representing their interests to key influencers and stakeholders, achieved through voicing membership concerns on issues that affect or impede enterprise development at local, regional and national levels

Ms Downes is also an active member of Chambers Ireland’s Human Resources Policy Council.

A JUDGE has issued a stark warning that more lives will be lost to addiction if drug treatment services in Ireland continue to be under resourced.

Judge Gerard Keys was commenting following the death of Ennis man James Sherlock Jnr earlier this year.

The 24-year-old wheelchair-bound amputee was found unconscious by his brother near the green of the eighth hole of Ennis Golf Club in August. It is thought Mr Sherlock had spent a period of time squatting in the area.

Mr Sherlock, formerly of Childers Road, Ennis, was a heroin addict who lost both his legs as a result of complications arising from his addiction.

He lived rough for a while in an abandoned squat in Ennis and was awaiting sentence for setting fire to the Lakes Nursing Home in Killaloe on August 20, 2010. Judge Keys had adjourned sentencing for the purpose of ascertaining what help Mr Sherlock could get to deal with his drug addiction and what accommodation could be found for him.

“It is with a great degree of sadness that I read in the newspapers the circumstances of the death of James Sherlock,” Judge Keys said at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday.

“He was a troubled young man with huge problems and with little or no adequately-resourced facilities to assist him in dealing with his drug addiction and the medical complications which arose there from. In this court I said this man cannot be abandoned,” added Judge Keys.

He continued, “I am now compelled to say that until the problem of drug addiction in this country is tackled and a sufficient number of properly resourced facilities put in place by the State, there will be more deaths of this kind and our prison population will increase.

“I passionately believe that if a sufficient number of properly-resourced facilities for drug addiction were established it would radically reduce crime levels, reduce our prison population and save lives.”

He conveyed his sympathies to the Sherlock family.

At James Sherlock Jnr’s funeral in Ennis last August, parish priest Fr Tom O’Gorman also spoke of the dangers of drug addiction.

“Drugs led him [Jimmy] down the wrong path and the shackles that they hold on people can lead to death,” Fr O’Gorman told mourners.

LAHINCH is in mourning today following the sad and sudden passing of one of the great figures in Irish surfing, Tom Buckley.

Tom, who along with his wife Rosemary founded of Ireland’s first surf shop in Lahinch in 1989, passed away over the weekend while on a boating holiday in Greece. Along with establishing Ireland’s first surf shop, Tom was a key member of the Lahinch-based West Coast Surf Club and encouraged thousands of young people to take up the sport over the last 25 years.

Known affectionately as ‘the Bear’ or sometimes ‘Buckaroo’, Tom’s first experience of surfing in Lahinch came as a wind-surfer in 1988 when he accidentally caught a wave.

“It was pure fluke that I happened to get everything right. I just happened to arrive in on the surf in Lahinch, in the right direction and at the right part of the wave. It was a great rush. A really great rush and I was hooked. Simple as that,” he told The Clare People in an article published in 2007.

“The sail wasn’t doing anything, it was just pure wave power that was taking me along. To be honest, it was a long, long time afterwards before I managed to get a surf board to do the same thing.

“People started surfing in Lahinch from around 1970. It would have been mostly Limerick people really and the lifeguards were always into surfing. But as for who was the first, I’m not sure. I personally know of at least three people who are completely convinced that they are the first people ever to surf Lahinch.

“In those days, before there were lessons, we had to teach ourselves. We used to watch a lot of videos – that was about all the lessons that we had. We would see someone in a video doing something new, and we’d try it ourselves the next day and probably end up in the water. It was a tough way to learn. We used to just go out there and pray, try this, try that. It was all trial and error.”

Tom is survived by his wife Rosemary and their grown up children Eileesh and Thomas. His remains will be flown home to Ireland later today (Tuesday), or Wednesday with the funeral expected to take place over the weekend.

MEMBERS of Ennis Town Council have backed a call for the use of Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to deal with the behaviour of what was described last week as a “small group of untouchables”.

ASBOs were introduced in Britain in 1998. They were designed to correct minor incidents that would not ordinarily warrant criminal prosecution.

In a motion tabled at the October meeting of Ennis Town Council, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the council should recommend a “planned pilot scheme of greater usage of Anti Social Beahviour Orders (ASBO) for the Ennis town centre area by the Gardai and Court Services”.

He said the orders could be implemented against criminal and public order offenders.

“Following a half year review, if the pilot is successful, the scheme would be extended to other areas to deal with scourge of this behaviour by a perceived small group of untouchables,” added Cllr Flynn.

Cllr Flynn told the meeting Ennis has a very low crime rate in comparison to towns like Killarney.

However he said the behaviour of a small group of people is putting the reputation of the town at risk.

“I think this would be the start of a campaign of no messing in Ennis,” he added.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said attempts to deal with anti-social behaviour had not been helped by repeated cuts to Garda budgets and the closure of stations around the county.

“My sympathy does go out to the gardaí. They are doing their very best,” he added.

Cllr Guilfoyle told the meeting there had been a number of disturbances in Ennis Courthouse over the past year.

He also spoke about an incident that occurred on the Kilrush Road in August when a man in his 20s was brutally assaulted while on his way home at night.

Chairman of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee (JPC) Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) said he would support the use of ASBOs in Ennis.

He said, “There is a lot of fear among the community because of this small group of untouchables.”

Deputy Mayor, Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) told the meeting the gardai are doing the best they can with limited resources. “I would urge anyone that has any kind of problem to ring the confidential line to the Garda,” he added.

In response to Cllr Flynn’s motion, town clerk Leonard Cleary said it would be referred to the Joint Policing Committee. “Ennis Town Council is working with the gardaí on an ongoing basis in relation to the specific current items raised in this motion,” added Mr Cleary.

A LIMERICK man has appeared in court charged in connection with a burglary of Tinarana House in Killaloe earlier this year. Jeffrey Lee (41), with an address at Cosgrave Park, Moyross, Limerick, was brought before Ennis District Court on Thursday. He is charged with entering Tinarana House as a trespasser on dates between August 17 and September 24 and committing theft therein. Detective Garda Bernard Casey gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He told the court Mr Lee made no reply to charge after caution. Inspector John O’Sullivan sought to have the accused remanded in custody with consent to bail. He said bail would be subject to a number of conditions; Mr Lee must reside at Cosgrave Park, Moyross, stay out of County Clare and Ballina, County Tipperary, and observe a curfew between 11pm and 7am. Mr Lee must also provide his own bond of € 100 and an independent surety of € 1,000. Judge Patrick Durcan remanded Mr Lee in custody with consent to bail to appear against at Ennis District Court on October 16. Legal aid was approved for defence solicitor Tara Godfrey. The property is the home of Gary McNamara and his wife, Michelle. He is the son of Dolores McNamara, the Limerick woman who won € 115m in the Euromillions lottery draw in 2005. The period 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. Dr Carmody was acquitted in Ennis Circuit Criminal Court earlier this year of the final remaining charges relating to obtaining money by deception from the families of terminally ill cancer patients.

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) advised last evening (Monday) that all patients who will be affected by today’s strike by junior doctors would already have been contacted by phone.

The health service was not able to say however how many operations, clinics and medical procedures at Ennis Hospital and the University Hospital Limerick have been cancelled as a result of the industrial action.

All appointments have been reviewed, theatre-by-theatre, clinicby-clinic, for all hospitals in the University Limerick group including Ennis Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, Croom Hospital and St John’s Hospital.

“The message we wish to give to the public is a simple one, if your procedure or operation has to be cancelled you will be contacted directly by phone call. If you do not hear from us you should present to the hospital as normal,” a spokesperson for the hospital group said.

Any patient appointment that has to be cancelled will be rescheduled he added.

Urgent care for areas such as oncology, dialysis and emergency will be provided. This means that the Emergency Department in Dooradoyle will be open and also the local injuries units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals.

More than 3,000 medical doctors will force hospitals into a Sunday standard service from 7am to midnight in an unprecedented action over working hours.

Junior doctors have warned that tomorrow’s one-day strike may not be the last as negotiation with the HSE fail to find a resolution to the issue of non-consultant doctors working shifts of more than 24 hours. Tue8October13

THE tourism and hospitality sector in Clare is anxiously waiting to see if next week’s budget will retain the 9 per cent VAT rate that has boosted their business in recent times.

Ennis-based tax expert Fergal Cahill says the matter is particularly important in Clare.

“Given the nature of the local economy and the high profile of the hospitality and tourism sectors, this is a touchstone issue for the county. The foregone tax revenue is being costed at € 350 million yet the industry can ill-afford to raise prices. There is considerable pressure on the minister in both directions, leading to speculation about a compromise move to a rate between 9 per cent and 13.5 per cent.”

Other issues that will be closely watched locally will be a possible harmonisation in pension tax relief to a single rate somewhere between 30 per cent and 35 per cent, replacing the current reliefs at marginal tax rates of 20 per cent and 41 per cent.

An extension of capital gains tax exemption past the end of 2013 is also likely to feature given that with- out it NAMA will be hard pressed to dispose of its enormous property portfolio.

Cahill Taxation Services is hosting its annual budget breakfast briefing next Wednesday in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis. Over 100 business owners and civic leaders attended last year’s event to hear Fergal Cahill and his team interpret and analyse all aspects of Budget 2013.

TWO Clare investment properties are to go under the hammer at a massive auction in Dublin next Tuesday.

Allsop Space, which has previously included distressed Clare properties on its list, said it has taken a decision, in conjunction with several interest groups, not to sell repossessed family homes.

On October 15, what is being de- scribed, as two Clare investment properties will go on sale in the east and south of the county.

The Clare properties include a vacant three-bed terraced house in Shannon with a reserve of € 30,000 and a 10.77 acre plot of land in Collar with a reserve of € 45,000.

Allsop Space director of auctions Robert Hogan said the company had in recent weeks turned down a number of offers to sell repossessed properties for sub-prime lenders.

“The commercial properties on sale here will house the future businesses and enterprises that will support jobs, growth and investment all across Ireland. The people who will come here to buy shops, factory units and offices are the people who will work to get Ireland out of its current difficulties. Essentially the purchasers here are buying the cradles of Ireland’s future prosperity. We wish them all well and are happy that we at Allsop Space are aiding this much needed process,” he said.

“We are also really delighted to be part of what I hope is a new beginning for Irish property and how Irish property is bought and sold here. The published reserve price is key to this system and we believe that will become the gold standard for all auctions in the future. I think the large number of residential properties that are on sale here are an unequivocal vote of confidence by Irish people in our open way of doing business.”

AN INCREASE on the price of alcohol in next week’s budget could have a very positive influence in helping to prevent many Clare youngsters from abusing alcohol.

According to David McPhillips, Community Substance Misuse Team, limiting the availability of alcohol is the only real way that problem drinking among young people can be tackled.

Mr McPhilips, who works with teenagers affected by alcohol and drug problems in the Clare area, believes that changing the binge drinking culture amongst Irish youths can only be tackled once the immediate problem is tackled through limiting access through cost.

“Price and availability are the big things. If a young person has € 10 and the price of a bottle of vodka is € 20, then they are going to have a difficulty in buying it. Price and availability are the two things that you can impact on,” he told The Clare People yesterday.

“I think cultural factors have to come later. It is hard to change a culture and create a situation where, to be hammered drunk, is not an excuse. That has to change but that is something that can only be changed person to person, and family by family and that is not an easy thing to do.

“So you have to look at what you can act on and price and availability are the two things you can effect. But how do you change a culture. If you look at consumption in Ireland I think you find that consumption has gone down [in recent years] because it is directly related to availability, price and disposable income. The issue is not overall consumption but the quantity that we drink in a single drinking session.

“Binge drinking is the big concern and always has been. It is not the overall consumption, which is probably not much more than anywhere else, it is the way that we drink.”

Early this year, Clare’s U21 AllIreland winning manager Donal Moloney revealed that measures were taken to rid Clare hurling of the damaging effects of alcohol after a number of “dangerous situations” arose with the underage teams.

“If somebody says to a player, if they are out drinking heavy then they are not getting on the team, that can have a massive effect. Those kind of brief interventions can be very positive and could help changing people’s culture towards drinking,” continued David.