Category: News

SPORT has given plenty of joy to the Twumasi family since they moved from Ghana to Ennis 10 years ago. Brother Nicholas and William are talented GAA players with Eire Óg and Clarecastle respectively. Both have also excelled at athletics and on the soccer field. Last year 17-year-old Nicholas was part of the Avenue United team that reached the semi-finals of the under 17 National Cup. He is on the cusp of winning a Premier Division title with the Ennis club’s junior side. Nicholas dreams of playing at higher level, maybe in England or Scotland. Soccer is his favourite sport. But while sport has given Nicholas great days and memories, it has also introduced him to some of life’s uglier attitudes. Racism never encroached on the Twumasi family’s life except on the sports field. Nicholas explains, “I experienced it a lot. It got me in trouble a few times. It only stopped two years ago. I was surprised because we are all playing sports just for the fun of it. There is no need to do any of that when I haven’t done anything to you. I just lose it when things like that happen. It was players and people on the sideline.”

Dad Kwame says he too was surprised when insults were hurled at his son. He says, “They called him names when they played football. It is a game. You have to close your ears and not listen to them.”

Nicholas says he only ever experienced racism on the sports field. He explains, “That was the most difficult part, when you are playing sport and someone keeps racially abusing you. We reported it a few times but the referee would say there is nothing he could do if he didn’t hear it. With Avenue we reported it a few times and we were told there is noting we can do about it if the ref did not hear it.”

He adds, “The last time it happened, a guy started abusing me straight in front of the ref. It has died down since last year. It’s a lot easier now.”

The family moved to Ennis in 2002. After a 10-year wait, they secured citizenship last year. Kwame, a selfemployed former Dell worker, and his wife Comfort have five children and one foster child. Kwame says the family were welcomed to Ennis and enjoy their life in Ireland.

Citizenship, he says, has made it easier for the family to travel. Nicholas hope to study in England after completing his Leaving Cert. For him, citizenship didn’t come soon enough.

He says, “I couldn’t go through to ‘Football’s Next Star’ (football talent show) with Celtic because I didn’t have Irish citizenship!”

KILRUSH Town Council will be levied with a local property tax of approximately € 4,000 this year, a figure that will double next year.

It is as yet unclear however if this tax will be paid by the council or passed on to tenants with a rent increase.

The Kil rush local authority was a total housing stock of 185 units, and other properties including the town hall.

According to Liam O’Connor, Senior Staff Officer, Housing Social and Cultural Services, the details on how the council will pay the local property tax is limited at present.

He said that local authorities are still awaiting guidance from the Revenue as to how the registration of council houses will take place.

“All local authority property is to be valued on valuation band 1 (€ 0 – € 100,000). Properties for tenants with special needs are exempt from the tax. Local authorities will have to remit payment of the local property tax by year end,” he said.

“Cer tain issues have to be clarified such as are long-term voids liable for tax, and will local authorities recoup the charge from tenants. For further years local authorities will have to make a provision in their budgets for the payment of the LPT,” he added.

Kil rush town manager and director of Services Anne Haugh estimated that the payment this year will come to € 4,000, half of the annual property tax valuation.

A MEETING will take place in Ennis on Thursday night aimed at helping families affected by the growing problem of drug abuse.

The Mid-West Regional Drugs Task Force, together with members of the community from around Clare, is hosting a Substance Misuse Services Information day on Thursday, May 23, from 11am to 2pm at the Temple Gate Hotel. Fr Peter McVerry, from the McVerry Trust, will speak at the event.

Mary Leahy, Clare Community Forum, says; “If you want to know more, please come along to the Temple Gate Hotel.

“You may not be aware of what is available and this is an opportunity to have a cup of tea and see what services are here in our community, for our community. It’s not an area that many of us feel very comfortable about, so we want to encourage people to come along to this informal event.”

Those involved from the community came together after completing the FETAC 5 component certificate in Community Addiction Studies, hosted by Ennis Community College and supported by Clare VEC and the MWRDTF.

Pat Talty, of the organising group said;

“The course focused my interest in wanting to do something further, at a local level.

Together we decided that a starting point for this was to hold an information event, to inform ourselves and the people of Clare of the services available to us, our families and our community when substance use becomes problematic.”

Since last year, a number of new services have started in the mid-west region.

This includes the Community Substance Misuse Team (CSMT), which assists young people, families and communities develop effective and supportive coping strategies to deal with substance misuse issues.

Clare Youth Services, Bushypark House and the Health Services Executive Drug & Alcohol Service, CSMT and Limerick Youth Service recently responded to a clear need, and established a youth support group.

This group provides help to young people aged 14 to 18 years who are affected by a close family members drinking or drug use. Further information on all groups will be available on the day.

A MAN who engaged in what a Judge called “wild west behaviour” in pubs in Ennis has been sentenced to four months in prison.

Darren Maughan (21) threw a keg at the door of Kelly’s Bar in the Market, one of a number of offences committed in Ennis during April.

On Wednesday at Ennis District Court, Mr Maughan pleaded guilty to three charges of theft.

He also pleaded guilty to provoking a breach of the peace at Dan O’Connell’s bar, Ennis and criminal damage at Kelly’s Bar on April 8.

The court heard Mr Maughan stole nine bottles of Blossom Hill wine from Fine Wines off-license over two days, April 14 and April 15.

Mr Maughan, with an address at 20 Stonecourt, Drumbiggle, Ennis, also pleaded guilty to the theft of four bottles of Blossom Hill wine from O’Keeffe’s off-license on April 14.

The court heard that on each occasion, the accused walked out of the premises without paying for the alcohol. None of the property was recovered.

Inspector John Galvin told the court that the accused entered Dan O’Connell’s bar on April 8. He said Mr Maughan was barred from the premises and became abusive and threatening towards staff when asked to leave.

The court heard Mr Maughan was also refused entry to Kelly’s Bar. Insp Galvin said the accused threw a keg at the door of the premises causing € 500 worth of damage.

Mr Maughan has 39 previous convictions predominantly for public order offences, the court heard.

Defence solicitor William Cahir told the court that his client is a young man with serious problems with alcohol.

The court heard two of Mr Maughan’s brothers died because of alcohol-associated problems.

Mr Cahir said his client’s older brother is trying to assist him. He added, “He was out of control with alcohol consumption.”

Judge Patrick Durcan asked Mr Maughan to explain his “wild west type behaviour in the pubs of Ennis.”

Mr Maughan replied, “I was drunk. I was on medication. I am very, very sorry for what I did.”

Prior to passing sentence, Judge Durcan asked if Mr Maughan preferred red or white wine. Mr Maughan said, “I’d prefer to have none at all.”

Judge Durcan said he had deemed probation or community survive not to be a suitable sentence.

He said Mr Maughan had committed very serious offences against the people of Ennis, particularly those working in licensed premises.

Judge Durcan imposed sentences totaling four months in prison. He warned Mr Maughan that he would deal with him more harshly if he appeared in court again.

Judge Durcan commended Mr Maughan’s elder brother for the help he has given his sibling.

He told the Mr Maughan that he hoped his time in prison would benefit him.

THE town of Kilrush is back in the national eye, one week after it hosted the National Famine Commemoration, as it has been shortlisted for Best Kept Tidy Town in Ireland.

The Heritage town is one of just four nationally in the final stage of the competition.

Chairman of Kilrush Tidy Town Committee Paul Edson said that winning the award would be “a great stepping stone for the national Tidy Town Awards”.

Mr Edson said that while the town has never looked as good there are still some contentious areas that need addressing. He explained that the town could not become complaisant. Boundary walls in areas such as Pella Road, O’Gorman Street, Grey Street, and St Senan’s Terace needed to be addressed he said.

The Tidy Town’s committee is tak- ing the issue in hand by going door to door to residence and offering to help them to paint their wall if they wish to take on the project.

In what is likely to be the last every report to Kilrush Town Council the Tidy Town’s chairman said, “This might be our last ever meeting with the town council so we want to achieve as much as possible in the next 13 months.”

The council contributes € 4,000 to the Tidy Town fund.

Mr Edson fears that such funding will not be available from the amalgamated Clare County Council.

He said the Tidy Towns also want to concentrate on Francis Street, the largest and widest street in the town.

“It is like a beautiful around a painting that is not completed,” said Mr Edson.

He said the committee were seeking extra funding to put a three tier planter and hanging baskets for the street.

AN AMERICAN tourist says she is “extremely embarrassed” after her driving resulted in a two car collision near Shannon earlier this month.

No one was injured as a result of the crash involving two cars that occurred at Hurler’s Cross on May 14.

The court heard that Julie Dowling (31) was driving in convoy with her family on the day in question.

The court heard that Ms Dowling looked left but never looked right before turning onto the main road near Hurler’s Cross.

Inspector John Galvin told Ennis District Court that Ms Dowling pulled out in front of an oncoming car, causing a collision.

Ms Dowling, with an address at 1210 W Indian, TRL Apartment 4, Aurora, Illinois, 60506, USA, appeared in court charged with dangerous driving.

After hearing the facts of the case, Judge Patrick Durcan agreed to reduce the charge to one of careless driving.

Defence Solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick told the court that his client had been traveling in a convoy of cars with 10 members of her family when the collision occurred.

He said this was the first time that Ms Dowling had driven in Ireland.

He added, “She is extremely nervous to be here before the court. She is driving for 16 years in her home state.

“She is extremely embarrassed. Fortunately no one was injured”.

The court heard Ms Dowling cooperated fully with gardaí. People were taken to hospital as a precaution but were all released, the court heard.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he could understand how an accident like this could happen.

He said he would prefer not to impose any order. Ms Dowling paid € 300 to the court poor box and the charge was struck out.

Judge Durcan told Ms Dowling that the money would be donated towards charity.

He added, “You are very welcome in this country and I hope this hasn’t dampened your visit.”

MORE than three quarters of a million euro was yesterday allocated to 26 different community roads works projects in Clare.

A total of € 767, 529 will be spent on the 26 Clare projects – with a € 614,023 coming from the Department of Transport and the remaining € 153,506 coming from the local communities where the roads will be built.

The scheme is specifically targeted a more rural roads in the county and requires that a portion of funding to be put forward by local communities.

Half of the allocated projects are located in the Killaloe electoral area, where 13 projects have been earmarked funding totally € 420,000. Shannon was the least represented electoral area with just one successful project receiving funding of more than € 15,000.

There were six successful projects in the Kilrush electoral area, four in Ennistymon and two in Ennis.

Clare County Council’s roads maintenance budget has been cut drastically in successive years with decreasing budgets meaning that a large number of roads projects are being delayed by years – or indefinitely.

This funding crisis was compounded by the unseasonably cold and wet winters in recent years which have caused unexpected damages to a large number of roads, with most or sometimes all of the annual roads budget being spent on repairing these roads.

“Local authorities have asked communities to come up with a portion of the cost of road maintenance ei- ther through funding, labour provision, machinery supply or other forms of benefit,” said Alan Kelly, Junior minister at the Department of Transport.

“This funding is then being added to my department’s spend to prioritise maintenance in rural isolated areas and will allow communities have a direct input along with their local authority into local road maintenance.”

It is expected that the funding will effect a total of 108 households in Clare, 56 farms and two forestry plantations.

TWO local men are set to jet-ski from Clare to France this coming September in aid of three local charities.

The voyage, which begins in Liscannor on September 8, aims to raise vital funds for TLC4CF, the William Winder Rainbow Foundation and Burren Sub Aqua Search & Recovery.

Darren Hayes and Liam Cleary completed a round Ireland Jetski in 2010 and are now trying to raise corporate funds to support the cost of their check list and ensure that 100 per cent of the funds raised go directly to the charities.

According to Katie Murphy of TLC4CF, “we are thrilled that Darren and Liam are taking on this immense challenge again this year and this time going even further afield. “We are still falling short of approximately € 500,000 to completely the new state-of-the-art Cystic Fibrosis adult unit in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

The charity has said that they are overwhelmed to be chosen to benefit from this unusual yet wonderful fundraiser yet again alongside two other great charities.

“All of the funds raised from this challenge event will contribute to providing life-saving facilities for our members and of course it is so important to continually raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis both locally and nationally,” Katie continued.

Katie lives with Cystic Fibrosis and stressed the importance of having isolated rooms for CF patients in hospitals to reduce infection and prevent further illness.

“It is through fundraisers like this that we are making these advancements to reach international standards of care for people with CF.

“Liam and Darren have been wonderful supporters of TLC4CF throughout the years and we would like to acknowledge their hard work and dedication.”

The 1,300 miles trip to France is hoped to be completed in seven days return, according to Darren, “covering 240/250 miles a day”.

For more information visit their Facebook page, Ireland to France Charity Jetski.

THE death of a homeless man on the streets of Ennis earlier this month may draw greater attention on the plight of people badly in need of help, a court has heard.

Judge Patrick Durcan was speaking last week following the death of Czech Republic national Josef Pavelka (52).

Mr Pavelka’s body was found in a laneway beside Supermac’s Fast Food restaurant on O’Connell Street on Saturday May 4.

Mr Pavelka and his Polish friend Piotr Baram had lived rough on the streets of Ennis.

Their plight attracted nationwide attention in April when Judge Durcan described as a “scandal” a situation whereby Mr Pavelka had spent time living in a public toilet.

Judge Durcan read about the men’s circumstances in a report handed into court by the Probation Services. Mr Pavelka appeared in court on public order charges.

Emergency accommodation was secured for Mr Pavelka and Mr Baram at a tourist hostel in Galway but they returned to live rough in Ennis.

When his case was called at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Durcan was informed that Mr Pavelka had passed away.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said no evidence was being offered in the case.

Judge Patrick Durcan said, “This man’s life in this country is a matter of which nobody can be proud.”

Acknowledging that Mr Pavelka had serious “self-inflicted difficulties” with alcohol, Judge Durcan said;

“It is shameful and sad that this man died in the circumstances that he did.”

The court previously heard that Mr Pavelka acquired a certain “celebrity status” after his plight came to national attention.

Judge Durcan said this status reflected the generosity of the people in Ennis towards Mr Pavelka.

Judge Durcan said he hoped that Mr Pavelka’s death would alert more people to the plight of people in need and “impel them to act.”

Judge Durcan added, “He always struck me as a kindly gentleman.”

Ennis Town Council has denied that the men lived in the two public toilets, saying it has no evidence that they were used for accommodation purposes.

Judge Durcan said he was “concerned” by the denial of the men’s living conditions by the local authority.

Mr Pavelka was a client of solicitor Daragh Hassett of Ennis based lawfirm, Hassett Considine solicitors.

Mr Hassett said that through his involvement with Mr Pavelka, he witnessed the enormous good work that charities and other organisations do for people in need.

He said that unfortunately help came too late for Mr Pavelka. Mr Hassett said, “He was a gentle man in every regard.”

Inspector Tom Kennedy said Mr Pavelka was always easy to deal with from a garda perspective. He added; “Most of our concern was for his own safety.”

Insp Kennedy said very good progress had been made in contacting the deceased’s daughter and sister in the Czech Republic.

He said discussions were ongoing with Czech authorities with regard to burial arrangements.

Judge Durcan commended the gardaí on their handling of the matter.

ENNIS is getting ready to rock for the annual Fleadh Nua festival, which kicks off in the town on Sunday.

A fixture on the town’s calendar since 1974, this year’s festival features an expanded programme of events. There will be a special celebrity concert in honour of one of Clare’s foremost musicians, Brendan Mulkere. Recognised as an accomplished fiddle player, Brendan’s dual achievements as a teacher and musician will be recognised at a concert in the West County Hotel on Saturday, May 25.

Brendan’s guests will include brothers, John and James Carty, Niall Keegan, John Bowe, Terence O’Flaherty, Sinéad Egan and the Whelton Family. There will also be a performance by double All Ireland winners the Thatch Céilí.

Trad super-group ‘Four Men And A Dog’ will bring their high-octane live show to the West County Hotel on Friday, May 24.

The Gathering provides the inspiration for ‘Spraoi’ – The Kilfenora Ceilí Band’s latest concert presentation on Sunday, May 26.

The concert will also feature the vocal talents of Don Stiffe as well as the dancing skills of the West Clare Set Dancers.

Following a successful streaming of last year’s concert, which was viewed by almost 10,000 people in 40 different countries, ‘Spraoi’ will be available on www.livetrad.com.

Thursday, May 23 is Ladies’ Night at the Fleadh as the spotlight shines on musicians Joan Hanrahan, Bríd O’Gorman, Geraldine Cotter and Paul O’Regan.

CD launches are a relatively recent addition to the Fleadh Nua but have already proven hugely popular with festival goers.

There will be launches by Niamh Ní Charra and The Bonnymen in The Old Ground Hotel on Saturday, May 25. Enda Seery and Michelle Mulcahy will launch their album at the Temple Gate Hotel on Sunday, May 26.

Other events to look out for are the Gathering Parade, photographic displays, open-air entertainment, street entertainment, café music sessions and a tribute night for Ennistymon Comhaltas.

The popular Riches of Clare, free lunchtime concert series, will also continue to run during the Fleadh. The usual residency in the Clare Museum, Ennis, begins during the Fleadh Nua festival and continues each Wednesday afternoon during June and July.