Category: News

CLARE could soon be celebrating a once in a thousand year religious occasion as the process has begun to make Liscannor man Thomas Cusack a saint.

The Korean Church has applied to the Holy See to begin the process which could one day lead to the Columban priest being beatified.

If he is successful, Fr Cusack would become Ireland’s fourth saint of the past thousand years; joining Cellach of Armagh, Saint Oliver Plunkett and Charles of Mount Argus.

Fr Cusack was killed by communist forced in Korean in 1950 and the Korean Church are seeking his beatification as a martyr.

The Liscannor man’s 15 years in Korea were marked by intense bravery and hardship. He refused to flee the county during the Japanese invasion in World War II and as a result spend a number of years in a brutal prisoner of war camp.

He again refused to leave the country when the Korean War erupted and was captured in 1950 by communist troops as they retreated north of the border following a battle on July 24, 1950.

Fr Cusack, along with a number of other Catholic priests, were martyred in “the massacre at Taejon Prison” with took place on September 24, 1950.

To mark the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the Columban in Korea in 1933, the Korean Church has put forward a number of priests martyred during the Korean War for sainthood.

According to Fr Malachy Smyth, who has recently completed a documentary on the Columban Fathers in Korea, Fr Cusack would most likely have been more concerned with the work on the ground than any future accolades.

“The Korean Church has started the process and we will have to wait and see what happens from here. I’m not too sure how long this will take but it could be a large number of years,” he said.

“We [the Columbans] are not the sort who look for sainthood. We are much more interested in the work amongst the grass roots.”

Father Cusack was born in Ballycotton in Liscannor on October 23, 1910. He was educated in Ballycotton National School before going on to St Mary’s College in Galway.

He entered the Columbans in 1928 and was ordained in 1934. The following year he was sent to Korea and at the time of his death he was serving in Columban mission in Mokpo.

At present Ireland boasts a total of 166 saints. The vast majority of these saints were lived during the fifth, sixth and seventh centuries for which Ireland was known as the Island of Saints and Scholars.

AN APPLICATION to build a major extension to an aircraft and helicopter leasing facility in Shannon has been ruled not to be of strategic importance by an Bord Pleanála.

The planning authority last week turned down an application from Westair Aviation to a have a 253 square metre extension of their Shannon hanger deemed to be a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID).

If the company had succeeded in gaining SID status, it would then have been allowed to apply for planning directly to an Bord Pleanála – and not through Clare County Council. In addition to this, an Bord Pleanála would also have worked with the company to ensure that the planning process would be navigated as smoothly as possible.

Having failed to receive SID status the company must now apply directly to Clare County Council, should they decided to go ahead with the hanger extension. Any decision made by Clare County Council would then be open to an appeal to an Bord Pleanála, a process which could take a number of years to complete.

The proposed expansion would see Westair Aviation develop the large extension to the south side of their existing hangar, which currently forms part of their corporate jet hire centre.

Detailed plans for the proposed extension were not submitted to the planning authority but it was stated that the extended hangar would be not be higher than the existing structure and would accommodate larger aircraft. It was submitted that the use of the building would remain the same, just with an increased floor area. There is no indication from the submitted plans whether the expansion would have led to an increased workforce at the company.

In his report inspector Philip Green stated that the proposed development was too small to be considered a SID.

A BODY piercing artist has been fined € 1000 after pleading guilty to careless driving in Shannon earlier this year.

Douglas Ashton (26) was pursued by a garda car after driving in a figure S fashion on the N19 in April.

Mr Ashton, with an address at Ballycaseymore, Shannon, had previously been charged with driving in a manner that was dangerous to public on the N19 near Smithstown, Shan- non on April 12 (2013).

The case originally came before Ennis District Court in July when Judge Patrick Durcan refused a defence application to reduce the charge to one of careless driving.

The court heard Mr Ashton would plead guilty to a reduced charge.

At the time Garda Noel O’Rourke of Shannon Garda Station told the court that at five minutes past midnight he observed Mr Ashton drive in a figure S fashion at high speed across two lanes of the N19.

Garda O’Rourke said during his pursuit of the car down the 1.8km stretch of road, his garda patrol car reached a speed of 100km.

Judge Durcan refused to reduce the charge and indicated that another Judge would hear the case.

On Wednesday, defence solicitor John Casey urged Judge Durcan to reconsider his decision.

Mr Casey told the court that his client was in the process of selling the car at the time. He said Mr Ashton accelerated too quickly on the night.

Mr Casey said his client, a body piercer, needed his new car for work and family reasons. He urged the court not to disqualify his client from driving. After hearing a summary of the facts, Judge Durcan agreed to reduce the charge.

“There was no endangerment to any third party. The only danger was to the accused man himself.”

Judge Durcan imposed a fine of € 1000 for careless driving. He also fined Mr Ashton € 250 for not having a valid NCT. A 23- Y EA R – OLD man has been given 100 hours community service in lieu of two months in prison, for beaching the peace, and had a drug charge adjourned until March. Ben Farrelly, St Bridgits, Kildimo, Kilrush, Co. Clare was out with his partner in Kilrush on May 24, when he got involved in an incident with other unnamed people. Solicitor for the defence Patrick Moylan told the court that his client was verbally abused by others on the evening in question. “When the gardaí arrived they scampered and my client stayed with his girlfriend. It wasn’t that he was drinking and he was out looking for trouble, trouble came looking for him,” he said. Mr Moylan said,“Alcohol doesn’t mix well with him.” “When he drank he drank to excess, he nowfeels he can moderate his drink.” The court also heard that on November 10, 2012 when gardaí called to Mr Farrelly’s house they found cannabis plant “in a healthy state of growth” and evidence of cultivation in his room. Mr Moynihan said that cannabis was an issue for Mr Farrelly and that he was addicted. He suggested that he engage with a counsellor that comes to Kilrush on a regular basis. Judge Patrick Durcan adjoined the drug charges until March 18, 2014 and placed Mr Farrelly under the supervision of the probation officer. He sentenced himto 100 hours of community service in lieu of two months in prison on the Section 6 Public Order offence and took into consideration an intoxication charge under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. A MA N CH A R GED with robbing a shopworker at knifepoint in Ennis earlier this month is due back in court tomorrow. The 30-year-old woman was on her way to work when she was allegedly approached by a man allegedly carrying a nine-inch kitchen knife, Ennis District Court heard onWednesday. It is alleged that WilliamDonovan (20) grabbed the woman’s handbag before running away. Mr Donovan, with an address at Clancy Park, Ennis, appeared in Court onWednesday. He is charged robbing a handbag containing a purse, cash and a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone. He is also charged with the production of an article, a nine-inch blade, while committing robbery. The alleged offences are alleged to have occurred at Clon Road, Ennis on September 1. Garda Claire McDermott of Ennis Garda Station told the court that the woman was on her way to work when the alleged robbery occurred. Gardaí opposed solicitorTara Godfrey’s bail application on behalf of her client. Separately, Mr Donovan is also charged with the theft of clothes, keys, a mobile phone and cash fromDough beach, Lahinch on August 28. Judge Patrick Durcan refused bail. He remanded Mr Donovan in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on September 18. A 71- Y EA R – OLD

POSTERS advertising a swingers nightclub have been described as “sleazy” and a “publicity stunt” by one of the organiser of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival.

Marcus White – who operates the Hydro, the Imperial and the Burren Castle hotels in Lisdoonvarna – has hit out at the posters, which appeared in the village last week.

The posters advertise a Limerick venue called ‘i-kandie.ie’ and de- scribes the club as “Ireland’s only real swingers’ club venue”.

Mr White yesterday hit out the club – describing it as sleazy and not at all in line with the spirit of traditional matchmaking which takes place at the Lisdoonvarna festival.

“This is a traditional festival with roots going back hundreds of year and we don’t want to be associated with anything sleazy like that [the swingers club]. No one is Lisdoonvarna would tolerate that,” he said

“This is just a publicity stunt. Anything like that would tarnish the reputation of this festival. I can tell you for certain, no one up here would have anytime for the likes of that.”

The posters advertised weekly swingers parties at the venue at Eastway Business Park, Crossagalla in Limerick. It is understood that the club, which has been in business for more than five years, attracts in excess of 30 people for its club night.

The facilities is described as including a sauna, a tv lounge with movies and a reception area with an open fire where people can meet and chat. The club generally opens on a Satur- day night, with couples arriving at 12 noon and festivities continuing until 5am.

It is believed that the Limerick club deliberately targeted this year’s matchmaking festival in the hopes of drumming up some extra by enticing a portion of the traditional Lisdoonvarna crowd into partner swapping.

The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival has been in operation for more than 150 year. The festival, which is overseen by local matchmaker Willie Daly, attracts thousands of people to North Clare each year.

Esther (Essie) FEELY (née Duggan)
, Parkview,Wexford and formerly Ennis, wife of the Late JimFeely. Reposing at Mackens Funeral Home, Distillery Road,Wexford, onTuesday from 5pmwith Memorial Service at 7pm. Ceremony onWednesday in St Joseph’s Church, Lifford, Ennis, at 12.30pm, followed by burial in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

John (Jack) O’BRIEN,
Ballyglass, Doora, Quin. Laid to rest in St Bricken’s Church grounds. May he rest in peace.

Patrick MORONEY,
Gortavrulla, Feakle. Peacefully. Laid to rest in Kilclaren Cemetery. Donations, if desired, to Raheen Hospice. May he rest in peace.

Teresa WILSON
, Kilkerrin, Labasheeda. Peacefully. Laid to rest in Killofin Cemetery. Donations, if desired, to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. May she rest in peace.

Gerry WHYTE
, Springfield Drive,Templeogue, Miltown Malbay. Peacefully in the wonderful care of the staff at the Beacon Hospital. Laid to rest at Mount Jerome Crematorium. Donations if desired to St.Vincent de Paul. May he rest in peace.

Eithne KEAVENEY
, Ennis, Roscommon. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Andrew (Andy) HOGAN
, Carrigoran and late of Hermitage, Ennis. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Brendan TWOMEY
,Adare, Knock. Formerly of Knock, Clare. In his 91st year. Laid to rest in Kilmurry McMahon cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Kevin MCKEE
, 25 Shannon Park, Ennis. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. Donations, if desired, to Kilmaley Day Centre. May he rest in peace.

Brid WARREN (née Doolaghty)
, Cappalea North, Kilmaley. Peacefully at her residence, in the presence of her loving family. Laid to rest in Mount Temple Cemetery Kilmaley. Donations, is desired, to the Irish Kidney Association or the Irish Cancer Society. May she rest in peace.

John (Johnny) HOGAN
, Bronx, NewYork and Lislanahan, Kilkee. Suddenly in NewYork. Husband of the Late Noreen (Clancy), son of the Late Patrick &Teresa Hogan (Lislanahan, Kilkee) and brother of the Late PJ (London). Laid to rest in St John’s Church, Kingsbridge, NewYork on September 14. May he rest in peace.

Elizabeth (Betty) GRIMES
, 18 Lee Park, Drumgeely, Shannon. Laid to rest in Illaunumanagh Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Michael O’GRADY
, Oatfield, Sixmilebridge. Former member of Clare and Limerick Fresian Breeders Association. Laid to rest in Doonass Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

John PENDER
, England, and formerly of Einagh, Monmore. Laid to rest in NewShanakyle Cemetery, Kilrush. May he rest in peace.

James (Jim) MCCARTHY
, Donadea, Naas/ Ballynacally. Formerly of Clonfurish, Ballynacally. Laid to rest in Kilcreast Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Margaret (Peg) O’DONNELL (née Al
len) , 11 Drumgeely Ave, Shannon. Late of Rosbrien, Limerick. Laid to rest in Lemanagh Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Martin CAHILL
, Cahermurphy, Kilmihil. Suddenly. Laid to rest in Kilmihil cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Claire KENNEDY
, Stone Park, Coolmeen. Peacefully. Laid to rest in Kilfidane Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

A DISTRICT Court judge told a defendant that while he sympathised with the fact he suffered from a condition whose symptoms included severe bouts of fatigue, he could not use the rare medical condition as an excuse to break the law.

Martin Haugh of Farrihy, Kilkee, suffers from Addison’s Disease.

On the morning of July 29, 2013, he was found lying in the foetal position on the grassy margins on the Miltown Malbay Road out of Kilkee by Garda John Cahill.

The court heard he was very intoxicated and the gardaí had difficulty getting him to stand. They took him into custody for his own safety.

A bag of cannabis resin worth an estimated € 40 was also found in Mr Haugh’s pocket.

Supt Seamus Nolan told the court that gardaí accepted this was for his own personal use.

The 24 year-old was charged with being intoxicated in a public place under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order Act) 1994 and unlawful possession of a controlled drug – cannabis resin contrary to Section 3 and Section 27 (as amended by Section 6) of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Pleading guilty to the charges, solicitor for the defendant Joe Chambers said his client suffered from “the top level” of Addison’s Disease and “one of the symptoms is he can be overcome by fatigue”.

He said Mr Haugh was out in Kilkee and was to stay with his brother. As he couldn’t get into his brother’s house he decided to walk home, got tired, and lay down on the side of the road. Mr Chambers told the court that his client uses cannabis on occasion to relieve the symptoms of his condition.

“It is not acceptable to the law, but science would accept it to get such relief,” he added.

“He is not a troublemaker. He lives at home with his family and can’t work because of his condition.”

He previously received the probation act from the court, because of his condition.

“I accept he suffers from the disease but I am forming the view that he is using it as an excuse. This is not an excuse to break public order or drug offences,” said residing judge Patrick Durcan.

“He is not a violent person by any means,” said Mr Chambers.

“Should the gardaí on this fine morning come along and poke him with a stick and say he was okay, the superintendent would be here with a team of counsel as part of an inquiry. Addison’s Disease or not your client must abide with the law,” said Judge Durcan.

The judge advised Mr Haugh to seek pain relief from a medical practitioner. He adjourned the case until March 18. THE CASE against a 19-year-old has been adjourned for a probation report, after he pleased guilty to obstructing a garda in the course of his duty and possession of cannabis at Kilrush District Court on Tuesday. The court heard that Alan Clohessy, of 9A Willow Green, Kilrush tried to evade a garda warrant on June 26, 2013 by running inside his house and locking the door. Supt Seamus Nolan told the court that gardaí forced their way into the defendant’s room, at which point he threw an object out the window. The object was not recovered. In the bedroom gardaí found four cannabis cigarette butt ends. Solicitor for the defence Gearóid Williams said that since the incident a bill of € 217 was issued for repair work on the door by Clare County Council.He told the court that Mr Clohessy lives at home with his brother, mother and her partner and is currently unemployed. Judge Patrick Durcan said while he has no issue dealing with the Section 6 offence [drug possession], the second charge was “a complete affront to gardaí and society.” “This is not just a drug matter but an offence against gardaí,” he said. Judge Durcan said he would take into consideration that the defendant had no previous convictions and he was “slow to hand out sentence that would have repercussions down the line.” He asked for a probation report and remanded Mr Clohessy on continuing bail until November 12.

EXPLORING sacred places around her native Ennis provided the inspiration for Caitriona Sheedy’s contribution to Culture Night.

“The process begins with a silent walk, while observing any sensations, thoughts, feelings and then drawing a map of first impression,” she reveals.

“Then an area that you feel drawn to is chosen as the place that you carry out the next stages for the rest of the process,” she adds.

The Old Mill in Ennis became the focal point of Ms Sheedy’s study and for his exhibition she has created a wheel. “The overall feeling at the summing up was one of ‘hopelessness – afraid to die, afraid to live’,” she says.

“The wheel sits idol and I learned as a result of the project that there has been efforts by two different parties to get this place in motion again.”

The first stage of this project was undertaken by way of exploring the energy of place.

Ms Sheedy’s work already explored energy and she had decided to deepen this work by learning more about what it is her work communicates and how the energy of a particular subject could be channeled.

“Drawn to explore the energy of sacred sites, I was delighted to take part in a Goethean study of place which gave her the steps she felt would be hugely beneficial to her own work.

“On the walks in the first stage I knew that it was a huge space to take on and thought to repeat the process on my own again in different areas.

“However it seemed much more logical to invite other artists to get involved and so a call for artists was sent out and part two of the project began in May,” she adds.

AN ENNIS man who used a curtain pole to attack a Garda car “like a knight of old in armour” has been sentenced to seven months in prison.

Damien Sherlock (21) smashed the car after attempting to gain entry to a house in Childer’s Road, Cloughleigh, on January 25 (2013).

Gardaí were called to the scene after a woman and her three-year-old child fled the house. Details of the incident were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Mr Sherlock, with an address at Dromard, Lahinch Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to criminal damage, un- lawful possession of a curtain pole and trespass in a manner likely to cause fear. Detective Garda Claire O’ Shaughnessy was the garda who attended the scene on the night. She told the court she saw Mr Sherlock smash the windows of the unmarked and empty Garda patrol car. She said the accused hit the car so hard, the pole shattered to pieces.

Mr Sherlock fled the scene but was subsequently arrested and made admissions. He also pleaded guilty to breaking a window in the woman’s home on the morning of January 26.

He previously pleaded guilty to five burglaries targeting small businesses in Ennis town centre between August 11 and August 15. Quantities of cash, laptops, electronic cigarettes and a hairstraightener were taken from premises in O’ Connell Street, Parnell Street, Chapel Lane and Market Square.

Mr Sherlock has 51 previous convictions. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client had been drinking heavily on the night he attacked the Garda car. He said Mr Sherlock comes from a large family and that his life was full of “chaos and addictions”. The court heard that Mr Sherlock’s elder brother, Jimmy Sherlock, recently died because of drug abuse.

Mr Hassett added, “The sad reality of Mr Sherlock’s life is that if he keeps go- ing with the same behaviour, he will end up dead as well.” Judge Patrick Durcan said that though Mr Sherlock was dealt a hand of cards none of us would wish on our own children, this did not entitle him to commit crime.

He said Mr Sherlock had attacked a “squad car like a knight of old in armour”. Of the burglaries, Judge Durcan said main streets are tottering on the brink because “businesses cannot take the type of hit that the likes of Damien Sherlock perpetrate against them”. Taking into account Mr Sherlock’s problems with addiction, Judge Durcan sentenced him to a total of seven months in prison.

CULTURE NIGHT at The 5 Star is an exhibition featuring an array of lens-based media that includes installation, sound, video, photography and painting.

Ennis artist Shelagh Honan curates the exhibition which is the third from the series ‘Call It What You Will’, which began in the small village of Ballyferriter outside Dingle in a house called Tig An Tobar in 2012.

“It attracted much curiosity from the local villagers who had not previously witnessed a Camera Obscura installation” reveals Honan.

“Fiona O’Dwyer’s installation turned the streetscape outside the house upside down and projected the image on to the walls of the living room.

“While this is an analoguue technique that was used by renaissance artists it is still as exciting to witness in todays digital age where technical virtuosity is now common place,” she adds.

The exhibition was further developed and become part of the Photography Ireland Exhibition in Faber Studios in Limerick this summer.

“Here Maria Finucane’s video piece ‘Blow’ featured the artist blowing dust against the dark night sky these images were then projected against an old whining machine,” says Honan.

“The final piece is housed in a small glass box, where the captured performance of Blow loops endlessly to the whirring sound of the old machine being cranked up.”

For her own installation that’s entitled ‘Below The Surface’, Ms Honan features a male figure fully clothed plunging and drifting in to the depths of the Atlantic ocean.

“The final piece is then projected on to the surface of a disheveled bed,” she reveals. “I filmed the piece on the pier in Doolin with underwater diving instructor Christy Healy and his son Stephen,” she adds.

The exhibition will also feature painting from John Hanrahan and a video piece entitled ‘SongLines’ based on the Shannon estuary from Dutch artist Trudi van der Elsen that deals with imemory of neglected aspects of the land and reflects the loss of emotional engagement with our surroundings and ancient symbols.

COACHES and managers have “huge power” to change attitudes towards alcohol among teenagers, a meeting has heard.

All-Ireland under 21 winning joint manager Donal Moloney told a public meeting in Ennis that coaches have a greater responsibility to players beyond training.

He explained, “Some of these coaches and managers are sometimes the most important people in that teenager’s life in that point in time. They will actually listen. I don’t know if many coaches realise that and utilise the power that they actually have. They can have a massive impact on a player’s outlook and a player’s behaviour.”

Since 2010, Moloney and joint manager Gerry O’Connor have guided Clare to six Munster and All-Ireland titles at minor and under 21, a level of success unparalleled in the county’s hurling history.

Speaking in the Temple Gate Hotel at a meeting organised by the Labour Party, Moloney told how educating players on the harmful effects of alcohol has become a central component in preparing Clare teams.

He said, “When Davy Fitzgerald came back to Clare he brought that philosophy with him as well. He’s not anti-drinking but in terms of how that senior team is managed, behaviour and lifestyle are the elemental building blocks of any sporting career. There are two aspects: from a playing perspective it’s a non-runner but even outside of playing, in terms of their social behaviour on an on- going basis beyond hurling, it is also critical that they understand and are educated about the impacts of it.”

He continued, “That’s the focus we have. We can put the evidence in front of players. We can contrast (performance) when they were drinking and when they weren’t drinking. It’s quite vivid. It just doesn’t affect you athletically in terms of your stamina, it affects decision-making and their ability to train. We try to educate them as much as possible. We use science as well as common sense.”

A DISTRICT Court judge has warned he will stop granting legal aid if accused persons continue to fail to attend court. Judge Patrick Durcan said courts in Clare are “unduly lenient” when it comes to granting legal aid to so- licitors. However he said this practice would come to an end if the high rate of client “no-shows” continues. He made his comments at Ennis District Court on Wednesday after issuing a high number of bench warrants for accused people who failed to turn up for scheduled court appearances. He described the number of people who failed to attend court as “appalling”. “There is going to have to be some sort of crackdown,” added Judge Durcan. After being told that one man was unable to attend court because he had to attend hospital because of gland problems, Judge Durcan said he would consider withholding legal aid unless people turned up in court. “There is no medical certificate for this man,” he added. Describing the day as an “eyeopener”, Judge Durcan added, “It is up to practitioners to inculcate their clients to be here.” Judge Durcan has previously been critical of the time keeping of people brought before courts in Clare. In July he said, “I am reaching the conclusion that timekeeping in this county is the worst in the country.” He was speaking after a woman was not present when her case was called at Ennis District Courthouse. Judge Durcan said he finds it “enraging” when defendants do not show up on time. He said he had been dealing with matters in chambers since 10pm but defendants could not be on time for court, which usually starts at 10.30am.