Category: News

CLARE County Library will be hoisting the flag for children’s books once again this October, offering a month-long festival of authors, illustrators, artists and storytellers designed to spark the imagination of young readers all over the county.

Activities will be running in all libraries, including readings by popular authors, art and craft workshops, space “exploration” and puppet making, giving Clare’s young people countless opportunities to explore a wide array of books.

The festival gets a head start this year with the return to Glór Theatre, Ennis, of one of the world’s best-selling children’s and teenage authors Darren Shan, on September 26. ‘Zom-B’ is his new epic series, launched in September 2012 with a new book publishing every three months. The Ennis Book Shop will join with the library to promote the event selling copies of Darren’s latest book and others in the series on the day.

The second of the library’s book festival events taking place in Glór, this time on October 1, is a storytelling extravaganza by the master of tales, Niall de Burca.

Raised in the West, he emigrated at a young age and lived for many years in New Zealand where he married into a large Maori family. Now living in Dublin, Niall travels worldwide, inspiring people of all ages with his traditional and original tales.

Bestselling author, Michael Smith, whose biography for younger readers, ‘Tom Crean – Iceman’, led to the story being incorporated into the schools’ national curriculum, will be visiting Kilrush and Kilkee Libraries.

Sports Journalist Ger Siggins will introduce young readers to his love of rugby through his book ‘Rugby Spirit’ published last year by O’Brien Press.

Anna Carey is also a journalist who has written for the ‘Irish Times’, ‘Irish Independent’ and many other publications. Her first book, ‘The Real Rebecca’, was published in 2011, and won the Senior Children’s Book prize at the Irish Book Awards. To the delight of many readers, Rebecca returned in the sequel ‘Rebecca’s Rules’ in 2012. ‘Rebecca Rocks’ is book number three in the series.

Full details on www.clarelibrary. ie of all CBF events here in County Clare in October.

CLARE County Council yesterday decided to transfer almost € 4 million worth of property to a new government agency being set to act like a NAMA for local authorities.

It emerged at yesterday’s North Clare Area Meeting of Clare County Council that the local authority paid in excess of € 3.5 million for two parcels of land in Ennistymon in 2007.

The land, which totalled around 10 acres, was earmarked for the development of social housing, but only of the fraction of the land at Glen North in Ennistymon was ever developed.

The council is due to start repaying the loan used to purchase the land next year and face a bill in excess of € 260,000 for each year between 2014 and and 2034.

Councillors, including Lahinchbased Bill Slattery (FG), raised questions about how the decision was first made to spend the € 3.6 million on the land.

“To be hit with these figures today is something else. We have a 91 per cent take up in property tax in this country, and we are now being asked to pay back this money [€ 260,000 per year],” he said.

“This all happened before I was a member of this council but I am annoyed that this was a reserved function of the council. The councillors should have known that this much money was being spent back in 2007.”

Councillors yesterday agreed that they had no choice but to transfer the land, which is now worth a fraction of its original cost, to the new agency agency.

“We don’t really have an option but to transfer this land. We now need to ensure that the community groups, who all had plans to develop something on the land in 2007, get a chance to fulfill their plans with this new group,” said Cllr Michael Hillery (FF).

“A lot of community groups submitted plans for this land and we need to ensure these proposal are forwarded to the new agency and are given preferential treatment.”

Once the properties are transferred to the new agency, any arm of the Government – including the HSE and the gardaí – can apply to the agency for the use of the land.

Locals have been campaigning for a playground and a home soccer pitch for Sporting Ennistymon for a number of years.

SCORES of families who have been living in the shadow of the Ballyduff beg Waste Management Facility in Inagh for almost two decades are finally to be directly compensated by Clare County Council.

Councillors at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council agreed to take a new approach to dispersing the final € 108,000 tranche of the facilities controversial community fund.

The fund, which was set up as a means of compensating the people in Inagh and Kilnamona for the inconvenience of the waste facility, has been a source of local conflict for more than a decade.

The new scheme will see the final tranche of funding being ring-fenced for the 54 houses who live within a 1.5 kilometre of the centre of the dump. These houses will be invited to submit applications for € 2,000 for projects which will have a positive environmental impact.

“The issues of people, who are closest to the landfall, has always been disregarded up to now. Funds were appointed to every corner of Inagh and Kilnamona who never had to look at, or to deal with the landfill. Their case has never been heard up to now,” said Cllr Joe Arkins (FG).

“There were proposals in the past about a new waste treatment plant and a wind turbine in that local area – and all of those proposals were pushed aside. I want it to be clear that this is open to any environmental project that could have an environmental benefit.

“It is high time that the people effected by this are to be compensated.”

A spokesperson from Clare County Council confirmed that the finding will not go outside the buffer zone. If any of the 54 households do not apply for a portion of the € 108,000 funding – a second tranche will be set up to disperse the remainder.

A NORTH Clare councillor has challenged Clare County Council to release all cor respondence with has taken place between the local authority and the National Roads Authority (NRA) in relation to Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon.

Lahinch councillor Bill Slatter y (FG) yesterday submitted a motion concerning the procedure used for de-listing buildings in Clare. Councillors are prohibited from submit- ting motion on local issues, but Cllr Slattery used his motion on de-listing to bring up the controversial buildings at Blake’s Corner – which are both listed structures.

A joint plan between Clare County Council and the NRA to develop the junction has been stalled for a number of years because no funding is available to complete an Envi ronmental Impact Statement (EIS) – even though the local authority has already invested a sizable about of money to purchase the buildings.

Councillor Slattery was ruled as being out-of-order when he raised the issue of Blake’s Corner but argued that he only raised it because the council has not responded to requests for information made at the Ennistymon area meetings, where local issues can be raised.

“This is no longer a North Clare issue, it is a Clare issue, it is a national issue. Why did the council, for some reason, spent the money [on buying the buildings at Blake’s Corner] without having them checked out and having them de- listed? ” he asked.

“We have brought this up for the past two years at the local area meeting and we are getting no responses from the council and no response from the NRA. We want to know what is going on with this development.”

Cllr Slattery was suppor ted by fellow North Clare councillor Michael Kelly (FF).

“The difficulty is huge. We are putting huge investment into tourism and this is being stifled. This is going on for more than 20 year, it has been discussed and analysed out of existance,” he said.

County Engineer Tom Tiernan said he would provide Cllr Slattery with the information he asked for if it was in his possession and of it was appropriate to do so.

“At the end of the day the primary interest is to resolve the traffic problem at that junction. We are doing everything we can to move this forward. The next step is to forward a planning application to an mBord Pleanála and get an EIS completed,” he said.

LOCK UP your houses and have a neighbour keep an eye on your property when going to the All-Ireland hurling final replay is the message from gardaí and community alert groups alike as criminals target an empty county on September 28th.

Following a spate of burglaries and attempted break-ins all over Clare on September 8th, the date of a drawn final, Banner supporters are being warned in advance to secure their property before heading to Croke Park.

A number of premises, including one closed public house, was targeted while the Banner took on Cork in Croke Park nine days ago.

Recent incidents have shown that criminals are now taking note of local events as well as hurling matches to strike at houses and premises.

As a result communities in parts of Clare are being forced to arrange for neighbours to police their property when they attend weddings and funerals – as organised groups of burglars have started targeting major community events.

According to the Spancilhill/Clooney Community Alert Group, members are working around the clock trying to keep their area safe.

The group have recently agreed a partnership with Barefield Community Alert in an effort to pool resources and help maintain cover.

“There is no doubt in my mind that these criminals are targeting specific events in specific areas. Weddings, funerals, big matches – anything that they can find out about in the paper,” said Joe Corbett of the Spancilhill/Clooney Community Alert Group.

“When my mother died last year I had to arrange for two people to look after the property while the funeral was on. People are living in fear. It used to be the case that you could lock the door behind you and be confident that your property would be safe, but that is not the case anymore. A number of places were targetted during the the All-Ireland final, which is a really horrible thing for people to come home to.”

His comments come as gardaí investigate a spate of burglaries across Clare.

In the seven days between September 6 and 15, gardaí recorded multiple burglaries in areas such as Mullagh, Crusheen, Corofin, Kilmaley, Ennis and Killaloe.

Tinerana House, the 19th century mansion believed to be owned by Euromillions winner Dolores McNamara, was among the properties hit by criminals while all taps, light fittings and a copper cylinder were stolen from one Killaloe property.

Crime Prevention Officer, Sgt Joe Downey, is encouraging people attending major events to leave someone behind to look after property.

He added, “If that isn’t possible then hopefully they would have alarms or some form of electronic surveillance at the house.”

EVERY house in Ennis will be contacted by the Ennis Evangelical Church over the next week as they attempt to revive religious faith in the county town and bring Clare people back to God.

More than 10,000 postcard style messages will be delivered in Ennis in the coming days inviting people to re-engage with God. The postcards, which have been dubbed the “Ask Campaign”, invite Ennis people to devise one question which they would like God to answer.

The Ennis Evangelical Church are hoping to collect the questions and answer as many of them as they can – using the bible to gain the answers. A spokesperson from the church told The Clare People yesterday that the campaign has not been organised to convert people to the evangelical church – but was instead organised to encourage people to speak to God.

“The aim is to deliver the message to every single residential property in Ennis. Our aim is to try and let people know that they can have a relationship with God,” said Philip Pain of the Ennis Evangelical Church.

“We are relational beings and we were made that way. He wants us to have a relationship with him so I think it is quite reasonable for us to ask him questions. I think he wants us to come to him with our hopes and concerns.

“We would also like to understand the concerns of the people here in Ennis, where our church is based. It is all very well being spiritual but it has to be real as well. We want to understand the issues that are on people’s hearts.”

The church has already received a number of responses from people and will soon begin to answer these questions through their website. The Ennis Evangelical Church stressed they did not instigate the “Ask Campaign” as a means of recruiting people into their church.

“We really don’t care where people go to church and do their worship. The important thing is that they get to know the living God and are saved for eternal life. Whether they choose to come to church with us on a Sunday morning or attend one of our bible studies classes is not the issue, the issue is that souls are saved for the lord and his glory,” continued Mr Pain.

A GRANDMOTHER blew a whistle and claimed to be a whistleblower on war crimes as Ennis District Court was disrupted for a brief period on Wednesday.

Anti-war activist Margaretta Darcy (79) shouted, “there are US warplanes at Shannon. The Irish Government is guilty of complicity and if you are against war, say ‘no to war’.” during the brief hearing.

Ms Darcy, with an address at St Bridget’s Place, Woodquay, Galway, and her co-accused, Niall Farrell (60), received loud cheers and a round of applause from supporters following their actions.

Earlier, Mr Farrell, had been ordered to leave the courtroom after making a number of statements.

Mr Farrell, with an address at Ballynacloghy, Maree, Galway, claimed “murder is being committed at Shan- non Airport” and that there is “blood” on the hands of all Irish people.

There was an eruption of laughter after Mr Farrell pulled on a rubber mask of US President Barrack Obama as he was escorted from the courtroom by gardaí.

Both Ms Darcy and M Farrell wore orange Guantanamo style jumpsuits.

Both accused are charged with two offences under the Air Navigation and Transport Act.

It is alleged that Mr Farrell and Ms Darcy on October 7 (2012) and September 1 (2013) interfered with the proper use of Shannon Airport by going on the runway without permission.

Outlining the alleged facts, Insp Kennedy said the pair was discovered by airport security on the runway.

The accused were conveyed to the terminal building, charged and brought before Limerick District Court on September 2.

Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction. Insp Kennedy said the pair had declined legal representation. He said the State would transmit all papers relating to the alleged offences to the accused.

Mr Farrell asked Judge Durcan to strike out the charges, claiming, “these were not actual crimes, it was an act of humanity.”

At a court appearance in July, court was adjourned for a few minutes after Ms Darcy, who walks with the aid of a walking frame, jumped up on a bench and demanded her case be heard.

On Wednesday, Judge Durcan adjourned the cases to October 2. The accused were accompanied by a large group of supporters including a sketch artist.

Judge Durcan ordered that one man put down a sign reading “War Is The Crime”.

THE world’s most famous middle distance runner is waking up in North Clare this morning, and preparing for a leisurely jog around Ennistymon. World and Olympic 800 meter champion, David Rudisha, will today pay a visit to all three secondary schools in Ennistymon – starting in the vocational school, before taking on the big climb to the Ennistymon CBS and finally on to Scoil Mhuire. Rodesia and his wife Lizzy are the guests of Ennistymon couple Pat and Neilus O’Doherty, who have hosted a number of Olympic champions in Ennistymon over the years.

On August of 2010, Rudisha broke Wilson Kipketer’s 800 metre World Record and was also the first man to run under one minute and 41 second for the event. Indeed, so complete is the 23 year old’s domination of the event that h- has now ran the three quickest 800 metres ever recorded.

Rudisha is famously trained by Irish Christian brother Colm O’Connell. Brother O’Connell first arrived in the Rift valley from Cork in 1976 on a two-year placement to teach at a Catholic boarding school and over the last 30 he has helped establish kenya as the powerhouse of middle distance running. O’Connell first spotted 14-year-old David Rudisha in 2004, running the 200 metre sprint at a provincial schools race.

“He only came fifth, but I noticed he was a tall, elegant runner, and that he was focused, so I made a mental note to watch out for his progress,” he said.

“He had never run an 800m before so I wasn’t expecting anything. Then the surprise came.”

The young Rudisha ended up beating the then Kenyan national champion and record a time just eight second off a world record – in his first ever 800 metre race.

A MAN allegedly told his neighbours he would “burn them out of the house” during a disturbance at a housing estate in Ennis earlier this year.

Details of the incident at Dun na hInse, Ennis on May 9 were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that gardaí were called to a dispute between residents of two houses.

The court heard Shane Constable (25) was in one of the houses shouting at his neighbour.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr Constable shouted that he was “going to burn them out of the house.”

Gardaí arrested the accused to defuse the situation, the court heard.

Mr Constable is charged with two public order offences – intoxication and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that there was nothing in the garda statements to say that her client had threatened to burn down the house.

Ms Godfrey said Mr Constable had not been charged with making a threat and that the house was not burned down.

Judge Patrick Durcan said that if the allegation was true, it was a serious matter “reminiscent of what happened with the Black and Tans in this part of the country.”

He adjourned the case to allow the arresting garda give evidence in the case.

The case was adjourned for mention to tomorrow (September 18).

THE North Clare economy could be set for an annual boost of more than € 3 million if the Burren Farming for Conservation Project is rolled out across all of the regions 600 farmers.

Funding for the project, which currently totals € 1 million for 160 conservation farmers, is due for regeneration in 2015. The Burren made history at the weekend by becoming the first location in Ireland to win the European Diploma of Protected Ar- eas Award and it is thought that this award could prompt the full roll-out of the Burren Farming for Conservation Project across the Burren.

“This is awarded to areas of high environmental value that are also been managed to a very high standard. It is a very prestigious award, and this the first time that it has been received by any region in Ireland,” said Brendan Dunford of the Burren Farming for Conservation Project.

“A lot of people worked to get this award, everyone made a contribution. The awards are not as important as the work on the ground. If you get the work on the ground done properly then the awards will follow.

“The real significance of the award is probably for the future of conservation farming in the Burren. This is a real signal that what we are going here is working. It is delivering in a cost effective way for the tax payers; it is popular among the farmers and it is producing real environmental gains. We don’t want that to stop, in fact we want to increase it.

“This programme really should be rolled out right across the Burren and not just for the areas we are at the moment.”

Funding for the Burren Farming for Conservation Project comes from unspent Single Farm Payment finding, which is redistributed by the Department of Agriculture.

“This money goes to farmers who employ other people to help make quantifiable environmental improvements on their farm. They shop locally for equipment and supplies, so there is a huge recycling of that money,” continued Mr Dunford.

“The funding has a benefit to the North Clare economy which is far in excess of € 1 million.”