Category: News

THE merger of Credit Union branches in Clarecastle, Ennis and Lissycasey will see no change in the day-today operation of their local branch, according to Credit Union chairpersons. St Francis Credit Union, Ss Peter and Paul Credit Union and Fergus Credit Union are to amalgamate in a process called a ‘Transfer of Engagements’.

In their addresses to members, the chairpersons of Lissycasey and Clarecastle branches say they are “confident” that the transfer of en- gagements will be an “extremely positive development” for members.

“The enlarged credit union will have offices in Ennis, Lissycasey, Kildysart, Kilmihil, Clarecastle, Tulla and Newmarket on Fergus. Members will see no change in the dayto-day operations of the credit union. Members savings and loan accounts will be unaffected by the transfer,” they state.

Madeleine McCarthy, Chairperson of Fergus Credit Union, Lissycasey, said the board took the decision to amalgamate with branches in Ennis and Clarecastle in the “belief that the interests of all our members will be best served by a combined entity providing enhanced services”.

Kevin Collins, Chairperson of Ss Peter and Paul Credit Unions, Clarecastle, states the board of directors “has been engaged in a process of seeking a credit union to partner to enhance services currently provided by your credit union”.

“I am happy to report to the membership that your credit union has approached St Francis Credit Union Limited, Ennis, to form such an alliance,” Mr Collins explains.

On completion of the Transfer of Engagements, members of Fergus Credit Union and Ss Peter and Paul Credit Union will automatically become members of St Francis Credit Union and will be entitled to avail of the range of services and benefits provided by St Francis Credit Union.

Details of the amalgamation are outlined in a document circulated to members.

In a statement under Section 130 (2) of the Credit Union Act 1997 (as amended), St Francis Credit Union Limited states, no payments to members of the three branches concerned is proposed in connection with the Transfer of Engagements.

The document states that “Staff at St Francis Credit Union Limited, Fergus Credit Union limited and Ss Peter and Paul Credit Union Limited have been fully informed of all aspects of the Transfer of Engagement and are very much involved in the merger process.”

Further details of the merger will be outlined to members at information meetings next month. Meetings will take place at Temple Gate Hotel on September 1 for members of St Francis Credit Union; St Mary’s Hall, Lissycasey, on September 1 for Fergus Credit Union and The Inn at Dromoland on September 1 for members of Ss Peter and Paul Credit Union. All meetings start at 8pm.

THE drinking water ban was finally lifted in Kildysart after four weeks and the people of Corofin and Ruan can once again use the water from their taps following a one-week ban.

Approximately 1,500 people were affected by the water restrictions imposed on July 29, by Clare County Council, acting as agents on behalf of Irish Water.

A further 1,800 were affected when a similar ban was imposed in Corofin town and its environs, Ruan village and the area served by the Killeen Group Water Scheme on August 14.

While the Killeen scheme is still not considered safe, customers are now being provided their water from the Dysart-Toonagh Group Water Scheme and Ennis Public Water Supply Scheme.

On Friday, following consultation with the HSE, the council confirmed the removal of drinking water restrictions that were affecting 3,300 customers in Kildysart, Coolmeen, Corofin and Ruan.

Kildysart Public Water Supply scheme had been advised as a precautionary measure that water on the scheme was not suitable for drinking due to the discolouration of the water caused by increased Manganese levels.

“However, extensive testing of the water provided by the Kildysart Public Water Supply scheme has shown that the water being supplied continues to meet the drinking water standards. All water restrictions have been lifted as a result,” a council spokes- person said.

Likewise water from the Kileen Group Water Scheme was not suitable for drinking due to the presence of an algal bloom in Inchiquin Lake.

“While water quality on the scheme has not improved sufficiently to warrant a lifting of restrictions, Clare County Council has confirmed that customers in the affected area are now being provided with an alternative supply via the Dysart-Toonagh Group Water Scheme and Ennis Public Water Supply Scheme. All water restrictions have been lifted as a result,” a spokesperson said.

“Inchiquin Lake meanwhile, remains closed to the public as is not suitable for recreational purposes. Signage has been erected notifying the public of the ongoing closure at the lake.”

CREDIT Union branches in Clarecastle, Ennis and Lissycasey are to amalgamate under a new arrangement that involves over 31,000 customers.

St Francis Credit Union (Ennis), Ss Peter and Paul Credit Union (Clarecastle) and Fergus Credit Union (Lissycasey) are to join together in process called a ‘Transfer of Engagements’.

The three credit unions have a combined membership of 31,180. The combined assets of the three branches total € 151,484,415 million.

The move is being undertaken “in the spirit of co-operation to enhance efficiency and to work together to manage regulatory requirements”, according to Raymond O’Mahony of St Francis Credit Union.

The chairpersons of all three credit unions say the amalgamtion will have no impact on the day-to-day operations and that offices will be retained in all three areas.

Details of the amalgamation are contained in a document circulated last week to credit union members.

Chairman of St Francis Credit Union, Raymond O’Mahony says the three branches have been engaged in a process of negotiations over the past 18 months.

“All three credit unions have examined the benefits of coming together in the spirit of co-operation to enhance efficiency and to work together to manage regulatory requirements with the main objective of enhancing service provision to valued members at the credit unions,” he said.

“Following a considerable amount of work by the three credit unions, we are joining in what is known as a ‘Transfer of Engagements’. This will, we trust, result in a strong, vibrant credit union with an increased membership.”

Mr O’Mahony says he is “confident that the decision to work together with Fergus Credit Union and Ss Peter and Paul Credit Union will result in a strong credit union that will continue to provide efficient and relevant services to the combined membership. We appreciate the loyalty and support that our members have shown to their Credit Union down the years.”

The Transfer of Engagements document states that it is expected that legal requirements relating to the Transfer of Engagements will be completed in the coming month.

An extract from a meeting of the board on August 18 states that the board of directors of St Francis Credit Union resolved to undertake the transfer of engagements of Ss Peter and Paul Credit Union Limited and Fergus Credit Union Limited in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Credit Union Act 1997 (as amended).

The assets and membership of the three branches is as follows:

St Francis Credit Union, Ennis € 100,858,082 (assets), 20,552 (members); Fergus Credit Union, Lissycasey – € 33,018,876 (assets), 4,760 (members); Ss Peter and Paul Credit Union, Clarecastle – € 17,607,457 (assets), 5,868 (members).

THE Employments Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has found that a council foreman who allegedly threatened to set himself alight in a work van four years ago was unfairly dismissed.

Awarding Joseph Floyd Snr, Lower Main Street, Tulla, € 30,000 for unfair dismissal, the EAT also found that the Clare County Council employee was not given sufficient notice of his dismissal and awarded him just over € 4,000.

Clare County Council can appeal the finding to the Circuit Court.

While the EAT ordered the council to pay Mr Floyd compensation it ruled out his reinstatement.

On May 13, 2010, local gardaí assisted by the armed Garda Emergency Response Unit, and the Fire Service were called to the incident at Feakle during which Mr Floyd had a petrol can and lighter with him in his van, while he protested against the outsourcing of council work to sub-contractors.

In the course of the hearing, the council gave evidence that the fore- man threatened to set himself and council property alight, leading to a lot of concern for his, and others’, safety.

Mr Floyd challenged this later claim in the tribunal.

The tribunal also heard that a letter was given to Mr Floyd during the stand off ass“uring him his job was safe.

Clare County Council official Leonard Cleary said he issued a letter “under duress” and “this formula of words used worked to save a life”.

He added that a union official on site during the “difficult and volatile situation” had seen the letter and was aware of the situation.

The day after the incident Joseph Floyd presented to work at Clare County Council, but was placed on administrative leave “for health and safety reasons and for his own well being”.

Mr Floyd then spoke to the local radio station Clare FM. Later that day Mr Floyd was informed by letter that he was suspended from work and an internal council investigation got underway.

In September 2011, the council told Mr Floyd that he was dismissed after finding him guilty of three charges of gross misconduct.

Mr Floyd appealed the findings and an unfair dismissal hearing as well as a hearing into failure to give minimum notice was heard over four days during dates on June 2013, October 2013, February 2014 and May 2014.

The tribunal satisfied itself that the claimant’s employment ended on 6 September, 2011, when he was dismissed without notice but the tribunal was not satisfied that a dismissal without notice was justified.

“The claimant had more than the 15 years’ service required to seek the maximum minimum notice award of eight weeks’ gross pay,” the three-person tribunal found.

The tribunal also found it unfair that the council found Mr Floyd guilty of serious insubordination, as he had not been charged with that.

“There was a lack of evidence to substantiate the charge of bringing the name of the council into disrepute. The tribunal was not satisfied that this charge was sufficiently proven to warrant dismissal.”

THE PEOPLE of Liscannor, Doolin and all of North Clare are in mourning today following the tragic death of local man TJ McDonagh.

TJ, who was 38-years old, passed away on Wednesday evening after a tragic accident while working on his family farm in Moher.

This is the third time that tragedy has touched the McDonagh family with TJ’s brother Declan losing his life in a motorcycle accident in Lisdoonvarna in 2002, while his uncle also died in a motorcycle tragedy in the 1960s.

TJ’s funeral took place at St Brigid’s Church Liscannor on Saturday, on the same day that his brothers 12 year anniversary mass was due to take place.

Mr McDonagh, who was an agricultural contractor by trade, was responsible for much of the restoration work which took place in the area following this winter’s devastating storms.

Indeed, TJ cleared the devastated Doolin Pier on three separate occasions in January and February, restoring access for the ferry operators and Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard.

TJ was also a great lover of the Aran Island and was planning to visit Inis Oirr for the curragh races this weekend. A number of boats servicing Doolin pier flew at half mast over the weekend in his honour.

“He was a great person and a great friend of everyone on the boats,” said Donnie Garrihy of the Doolin to Aran Ferries.

“He was a great worker, a great businessman and a real man.

“He came to our assistance on three separate times over the winter when the storms hit Doolin. He will be missed.”

TJ passed away while he was fitting a wheel at his family farm on Wednesday evening.

TJ’s father Tommy heard a loud bang just after 7.30pm and ran and discover his son, who had sustained a serious head injury understood to have been caused by the wheel exploding.

An ambulance from Ennistymon along with a second ambulance and rapid response advanced paramedic unit from Ennis were sent to the scene. Gardaí and a local doctor also responded to the emergency call.

He was airlifted to Galway University Hospital where he died shortly afterwards.

He is survived by his mother Mary, father Tommy as well as his brother Brian and sisters Fiona, Stella and Marian.

A MAN has appeared in court charged in connection with a robbery in Ennis town centre last month.

James Connors (20), who is originally from the Shannon area, appeared before Ennis District Court yesterday.

Mr Connors, who is stated of being of no fixed abode, is accused of committing a robbery at Riverwalk, Woodquay, Ennis, on July 22. He is alleged to have robbed a HTC 1 mobile phone worth € 600 from a man.

He initially was brought before Ennis District Court earlier this month and the case came back before Judge Grainne O’Neill yesterday.

Garda Inspector John O’Sullivan told Judge O’Neill that an issue concerning an address for Mr Connors had to be resolved for bail to be finalised.

Judge O’Neill rose for a few minutes to allow gardaí check out the address supplied by Mr Connors.

When the case resumed, Insp O’Sullivan said the address – given in court as Caherdavin Meadows, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick – was acceptable to gardaí.

Mr Connors was granted bail sub- ject to a number of conditions.

He was ordered to reside at the stated address; sign on at Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick and observe a curfew between the hours of 12 midnight and 8am.

Mr Connors was ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victim or witnesses in the case.

He was further ordered to stay out of Ennis except for court appearances and pre-arranged consultations with his solicitor.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey requested the conditions be amended to allow her client collect a social welfare payment in Ennis.

She said Mr Connors is currently in the process of transferring collection of his dole money from Ennis to Limerick.

Insp O’Sullivan said this was acceptable to the gardaí. Judge O’Neill granted bail and remanded Mr Connors on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on September.

Addressing the accused, she told Mr Connors that any breach of bail would be treated by the court as a serious matter.

Judge O’Neill warned Mr Connors that if he were to breach the terms of his bail, he could be brought back to court and potentially be taken into custody.

FRIENDS of a Polish man who died in tragic circumstances in Ennis earlier this year turned out in large numbers on Friday night to celebrate his memory.

Over 80 people attended a memorial soccer match in Ballycasey between an international selection of players and local club Rineanna Rovers.

The charity match was held in memory of the late Robert Godzisz.

Mr Godzisz, a factory worker who lived in Ennis since 2005, died following a suspected suicide in Ennis in June, four days before his 33rd birthday.

The father of one was a popular figure and respected figure in the community and was known for his love of soccer. He was actively involved in anti-racism campaigns and through his association with the Clare Intercultural Network, helped found the Ennis International soccer team.

Robert worked at the Organic Lens factory in Ennis.

A total of 52 players: Irish, Polish, Slovakian, French and Filipino – all united by soccer and their friendship with Robert – were involved in the game on Friday, which was organised by the Robert’s former club Rineanna Rovers.

Marcin Piotrowski, a friend and former work colleague of Robert, said the purpose of the game was to raise money to cover soccer fees for Robert’s 11-year-old son in Poland.

“From now on every year we are going to play a memorial game,” Marcin explained.

Marcin said he hoped the game would also help highlight the issue of suicide and generate discussion on how it can be addressed.

“In the last few months, two Polish people took their own lives. Our community is shocked about it because everyone knows them well. There are around 2,000 Polish people here in Clare and we all know each other well. People are quite close. For everyone, it was quite a shock. That’s the reason why people are trying to help as much as possible,” he said.

“He was a very important member of our community, always in- volved in soccer, in preparation of the games and building international teams, fighting against racism,” said Marcin of his friend.

LARGE crowds turned out in Ennis yesterday to say goodbye to a woman who made an indelible mark on life in the town and beyond.

Friends and former colleagues joined family of the late Monica Gallagher at her funeral mass in Ennis Cathedral yesterday.

Mrs Gallagher, a mother of six, passed away following illness on Saturday, August 23. A former teacher at Coláiste Muire secondary school in Ennis, Mrs Gallagher was actively involved in a number of charities, community and sporting organisations.

She was one of the founding members of the Clare branch of the Samaritans and was actively involved in the Clare Daffodil Day committee. She was associated with the Sláinte an Chláir cancer support centre and worked with St Patrick’s pre-school for children with special needs.

She was a former lady captain at Ennis Golf Club and was heavily involved alongside her husband Hugh, with the Ennis Players.

Supporters of the annual Daffodil Day fundraiser, along with former captains of Ennis Golf Club, performed a guard of honour outside Ennis Cathedral yesterday.

Ennis Golf Club also remained closed for a time yesterday as a mark of respect to the Gallagher family.

At her funeral service, Fr Jerry Carey told mourners that Monica’s life brought her on myriad journeys and into contact with many people.

“Each of us was held dearly by her and I trust she too was held dearly by us,” he said. “She revelled in irreverence. She revelled in reverence by its very self; such was her stand on the take of life. Monica knew only generosity…she had the ability to enable others to be generous, learning that through generosity, happiness could be reached,” Fr Carey added.

Fr Carey told mourners that Mrs Gallagher was a woman who climbed the heights of the Alps, the hills and valleys of New Zealand, walked the Great Wall of China and did the Camino pilgrimage.

He continued, “She won her hearts because she had no limits. Her horizons were fabulous.”

She will be sadly missed by husband Hugh and children Siobhan, Hugh (Jnr), Sinead, David, Paul and the late Fergus, brother Seamus, sister Eugenie (Murphy), grandchildren, daughter in law, sisters in law, brothers in law, nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

THE Clare tourism sector is leading the economic recovery in the county with tourism providers from all over the county reporting significant increases in numbers this summer.

The Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience is set to shatter the 1 million visitor mark in 2014 – recording a nine per cent jump in tourist number so far this year. Coming on the back of a 14 per cent increase last year the North Clare tourist attraction is on course to take in 1,056,150 visitors this year, if current trends continue.

This massive increase could puts the Cliffs of Moher on course to become Ireland’s most popular tourist attraction – with Dublin Zoo and the Guinness Storehouse both likely to record similar visitor numbers for 2014.

Loophead Lighthouse has also seen a five per cent jump in tourism numbers with just under 17,879 people have visited the 19th century lighthouse since it was opened for the summer period in April.

According to figures compiled by Clare County Council, 57 per cent of these visitors were from Ireland, with North America, Germany and the United Kingdom accounting for 10 per cent, 9 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

The White Tailed Eagle Viewing and Information Point in Mountshannon has also proven a large draw this year with 7,626 tourists visiting the eagles between July 4 and August 21.

This facility is being operated by the Mountshannon Eagle Group, Mountshannon Community Council and the Golden Eagle Trust and was funded by Clare County Council.

Visitor increases at the Cliffs of Moher have been driven in part by the new routes servicing Shannon Airport.

“We noticed an immediate im- pact when the new European routes started to Shannon Airport in April, especially from the German market and additional ferry services from France to Cork have also added to French family self-drive numbers,” said Katherine Webster of the Cliffs of Moher.

“We’re also delighted to see that British holiday makers seem to have rediscovered the west of Ireland and after a lengthy absence are here in numbers. We are confident that the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience will exceed the symbolic one million figure before the end of 2014.”

The Wild Atlantic Way has been credited as one of the driving forces behind the increase.

“The launch of the Wild Atlantic Way, the development of new services at Shannon Airport, and the upgrading of visitor facilities at the lighthouse have been significant contributory factors to the growth in visitors. There is a noticeable increase in visitors from Germany and North America with the French and Italian markets also appearing particularly strong,” said Kathy Lordan of Clare County Council.

“The success of the Loophead Lighthouse visitor project is indicative of the wider Peninsula’s increasing popularity as a sustainable, visitor destination.”

THE Cliffs of Moher have been selected as the favourite place in Ireland to bring foreign visitors.

According to the results of the fifth National Heritage sur vey, more than 30 per cent of people say that they would take tourists to see the world famous tour ist at t raction.

Indeed, the Cliffs of Moher would seem to have developed a cer t ai n addictive qualit y for visitors with 22 per cent of those sur veyed saying they visited the Cliffs more than 10 ti mes this year.

The Cliffs of Moher have also been identified as Ireland’s most scar y heritage site with 79 per cent of people admit ting that it is t he heritage site they are most afraid of.

This news comes as t he Cliffs of Moher reveals that it is on course to at tract more than one million tourists to Clare this year – the largest number of visitors since records began.

“It’s great that t he nation are continuing to t ake enor mous pride in our herit age sites and landmarks and enjoying showing these off to overseas visitors. Our heritage sites are vital to the tourism industr y in Ireland but also in defining where we have come from and t he r ich legacy we hold i n Ireland,” said David Lane of Ecclesiastical Ireland.

“The research highlights the need for heritage proper t y owners to continue to protect the sites to ensure t hese remain prominent in t he lives of Irish people.”

Newgrange in County Meat h was voted as Ireland’s favourite heritage site, while al most all of those sur veyed, 99 per cent, rate Ireland’s heritage as ver y impor tant to the tourism indust ry.

A tot al of 46 per cent of people believe t here should be st ricter laws gover ning the protection of heritage sites, while 98 per cent of people thi nk t he Gover nment needs to conti nue to provide tax incentives to heritage proper ty owners regarding the maintenance and upkeep of t hei r heritage proper ty.