Category: News

SATURDAY night fever is gripping the county as once again we travel in our thousands to back the Banner.

Up to 40,000 Clare supporters are expected in Croke Park for the 5pm throw-in and despite the relatively awkward scheduling of the replay, this has not affected the quest for tickets. Croke Park’s decision to reduce ticket prices for the replay has also added to the demand.

The team to play Cork in Saturday evening’s eagerly anticipated AllIreland hurling final replay will be named after training on Wednesday night and there are no late injury worries reported in the squad.

Due to the fact that there is no minor game preceding Saturday night’s game the GAA are urging support- ers to get into the ground in plenty of time for the 5pm start.

“With over 82,000 expected in Croke Park patrons should try and get there early because if the vast majority of spectators arrive just before the game, it is inevitable that processing that many people through the turnstiles in an orderly fashion could take time,” a spokesperson told The Clare People . Westmeath referee James McGrath will be the man in the middle for Saturday’s replay.

News of his appointment was greeted with a comment from Cork County Board Chairman Bob Ryan which stated that Cork would not have an issue with McGrath, despite his sending off of Cork star Patrick Horgan in the Munster final back in July, a red card that was later rescinded.

POSITIVE Ageing Week will be celebrated with a wide number of events around Clare from September 27 to October 5.

This is the 11th year Age Action has marked UN International Day of Older Persons, which takes place on October 1.

Clare County Library has compiled a programme of events to celebrate this very worthwhile week. In association with Bluebird Care, there will be a Positive Ageing Photo Exhibition on display in the De Valera Public Library, Ennis, from Monday, September 30, to Friday, October 11. The exhibition showcases older people getting out and enjoying life. Some are still working, while others are continuing to enjoy hobbies and some are captured passing on their skills to another generation. The exhibition has been displayed in art galleries, libraries, nursing homes, schools, town halls and businesses. It is made up of 28 images with 28 separate descriptions. It can be viewed during normal library opening hours so don’t miss your chance to see these inspiring photos.

To coincide with the exhibition’s residency in the library Bluebird Care will also present a ‘Safe at Home’ security seminar there on Tuesday, October 8, at 6pm. This seminar is one in a nationwide series of security seminars that Bluebird Care has organised in response to a growing fear among older people about security at home. It will be attended by local Community Policing members of An Garda Síochána, security consultants and community representatives. This is a free event and everyone is welcome.

Senior citizens will have an opportunity to get in touch with their artistic side at an art workshop entitled.

During Positive Ageing Week, and throughout the month of October, Clare County Library will take a small section of the Local Studies Library on tour when library staff will visit nursing homes and day centres throughout the county. A selection of ‘Clare Champion’ newspapers from times past will be transported, along with photographs and books, so that extracts can be read and discussed, evoking memories of times past. The newspapers are part of a complete set of ‘Clare Champions’ dating back to 1903 which are housed at the Local Studies Centre on Harmony Row, Ennis. They are available to the pub- lic for reference use.

Remember too that senior citizens can avail of free library membership in all of Clare County Library’s branches. For more information on these events and much more visit Clare County Library’s website at www. clarelibrary.ie or telephone 065 6821616.

A MYSTERIOUS two metre-long, phallic-shaped object has been creating a stir in North Clare since it was discovered imbedded in sand on Lahinch beach on Sunday.

The object, which has already been christened the ‘Lahinch Langer’, appeared on the southern end of the beach and has been baffling locals and tourists alike.

The heavy object, which was discovered lodged in heavy sand, not too far from the 12th tee at Lahinch Gold Club, appeared to be covered with a mixture of shells and tentacles prompting speculation that it may be a previously unclassified species of sea animals.

The object was yesterday examined by Dr Eamon Doyle of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, who determined that the object is in fact a collection of thousand a crustaceans known as Goose Barnacles.

Goose Barnacles are unlike other crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters. Instead of crawling along the sea bed, they attach themselves to floating materials and filter food from the water.

“It is difficult to tell what they are attached to because there are so many of them. Normally you might see them attached to a log or even a floating piece of plastic, but I have never seen them in these numbers before,” he said.

“They need moving water to wash through so they can feed, so they don’t move around like other crustaceans. They are relatively common but this is the first time that I have seen them in these number.”

A large number of the Goose Barnacles were still alive yesterday but unless the colony is returned to the sea soon they will all die.

“There was a lot of people stopping to look at them. Up until I arrived yesterday, I don’t think anyone really knew what it was. They there was a lot of people interested and taking photographs but I don’t think they realised that they were Goose Barnacles,” continued Dr Doyle.

“They are still alive at the moment but they won’t last for long if they are not re-floated. The way that the log is buried in the band it is hard to see how they would be released, even in high tide. It is hard to know how long the would last.”

LAHINCH will be the hub of the Irish hip-hop world next weekend for a festival that brings the best local and national talent to the Banner County. Senses is a three-day event that runs from September 27 to 29 at venues in the seaside town.

Organisers say the event aims to promote the existing youth culture within Lahinch and examine how interaction with new media and art forms can help promote a modern local arts environment.

Senses kicks off in Flannagan’s Bar on Friday night with a show by Community Scratch collective, Deviant, Mikey Fingerz and Ennis DJ / Producer MyNameIsJohn.

Local MCs Bubba J and God Knows will hold a beatbox showcase at the T-Shirt shop on Saturday, September 28. Some of the county’s brightest young DJs and beatboxers will per- form at the open-air event.

Clare filmmaker and photographer, James Skerritt will curate screenings of short films on Saturday, September 28, at Flannagan’s Bar.

James is a well known as a local surf photographer, having worked on a large number of local film projects and directed 2012’s surf-comedy ‘The Element’.

James will be curating a screening of a number of short surf films from around the country, highlighting the creative talents of young Irish surfers and also the dramatic scenery unique to the coastline around Ireland.

The festival concludes on Sunday, September 29, with a special trad special by the people behind hit Limerick club night, ‘A Love Supreme’. The event takes place at the Nineteenth from 3pm to 8pm.

The Love Supreme team will be inviting renowned Clare flautist Conor Crimmins, along with a host of other local talent, to join them on the day for a very special trad performance. Also spinning on the day is one of Ireland’s finest producers and DJs, T-Woc from Dublin’s Alphabet Set collective.

Senses Festival Lahinch is supported by the Clare Arts Office, The Claremont, Flanagans Bar, The Nineteenth, Danny Macs, The Celtic T-shirt Shop. For further information log onto sensesfestivallahinch.wordpress.com and check out the Facebook page.

FUNDING cutbacks has forced Clare Youth Services to close two popular youth cafés in Ennis, it has emerged.

The cafés, which are located in Ennis town centre, were both drug and alcohol free areas. One of the buildings has closed completely, while the youth services have been forced to reduce the opening hours of another facility for young people.

Speaking at a meeting to discuss issues around alcohol misuse, Clare Youth Services CEO, Margaret Slattery said the Government must invest more money in preventative services.

She said the service had suffered a 40 per cent cut in funding over the past three years, a situation that forced the closure of alcohol-free facilities for young people in Ennis.

Ms Slattery said three groups have approached the service appealing for the cafés to be re-opened.

“It would cost around € 14,000 to re-open the cafés but we just don’t have the resources,” explained Ms Slattery.

Retired consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee told the meeting there is a chronic lack of treatment programmes for young people in Ireland with alcohol and substance misuse problems.

He said, “We have all these young people on Saturday night and Sunday morning having all these problems but where do you go for your detox.

Dr Bhamjee continued, “How do you get detox? The GPs will put you on a detox programme but that’s only for certain selected people. The psychiatry hospitals don’t do it anymore. The Department of Health has no policy on treatment programmes. The mental health commission doesn’t see alcohol and drug abuse as their responsibility. So who is responsible to help these people? I know we have Bushypark and other places but first you have to detox the person and there is nowhere to go.”

Former Labour party councillor and now Independent councillor Paul O’Shea described as a “dis- grace” the lack of treatment centres for young people in Ireland.

Cllr O’Shea said the situation with alcohol abuse has grown so bad in Ireland that the HSE should consider using separate Accident and Emergency units for people presenting with drink related problems.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) called for the off-trade sale of alcohol to be priced out of the market. He said pubs, restaurants and other businesses are being forced to deal with the effects of high volumes of alcohol consumed before 10pm.

THERE will be no big screen put up for public viewing of the All-Ireland hurling final replay on September 28.

A crowd of between 1, 500 and 3,000 people watched the drawn match between Clare and Cork on September 8 on a big screen in the Abbey Street car park.

The screen was erected at a cost of € 8,000 to Ennis Town Council.

However in a statement last week, town manager Gerard Dollard the timing of the replay for an evening throw-in on a Saturday evening presented “a different set of circumstances”.

He explained, “The logistics associated with the replay are significantly more complex than a Sunday afternoon showing. The revised ticket prices for the replay at Croke Park should make it more accessible to families with the reduced price for all tickets, including juvenile tickets at € 10. The cost and weather factors must also be taken into consideration. The council was delighted to stage such a family-friendly occasion last Sunday but due to cost, logistical and weather factors does not plan to repeat a similar open-air event for the senior replay.”

Local community activist Dermot Hayes is calling on the council to re-consider the decision. He said, “The big screen does not have to be in Abby Street car park. It could easily be in the Fair Green and remain erected until the home coming on Sunday. Our elected councilors should support the citizen, hurlers and fans.

We have seen many dark days in Clare in the last few years. The hurlers of both under 21 and senior have brought us great joy and excitement. It unites us as citizens of county and it brought so many families and friends together. A gathering in Ennis would bring to life a real passion that could be captured on film and used world wide in promotion.

The council has confirmed that a joint homecoming for the Clare senior squad and the All-Ireland winning under 21 panel will take place at Tim Smythe Park (Fair Green) on Sunday, September 29.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of one of Clare’s biggest GAA clubs has written to the President of the GAA requesting that a portion of the gate receipts from the replayed All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final between Cork and Clare on September 28 be allocated towards the respective county holiday funds. Pat Daly, who is Chairman of Éire Óg GAA Club, Inis, and is a former Mayor of Clare, said the players had trained nine months of the year to provide the people of Ireland with one of the most memorable sporting displays ever seen at Croke Park and should be rewarded for their efforts.

The sitting member of Clare County Council has suggested that funds of € 200,000 and € 100,000 respectively be provided to the All Ireland Hurling Championship winning and losing sides.

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”.