Category: News

THE courage shown by pioneering author and broadcaster from Clare, the late Máiréad Ní Ghráda, will be celebrated in Glór in the coming weeks thanks to a series of workshops that built around her most acclaimed piece work.

The workshops on Ms Ní Ghráda’s play called ‘An Triail’ comes in the wake of the move by the Department of Education to include the work on the current syllabus for the Leaving Certificate Irish exam.

The workshops are being provided by Irish language enthusiast Fidelma McDonnell, starting this Wednesday and continuing for six weeks – a programme that’s seen as the first step towards a fully-blown production of the play in Glór next year.

“The play’s storyline features a single mother in 1960s rural Ireland who was forced to go into a Magdalene Laundry due to pressure from family and society around her,” reveals Ms McDonnell. “This theme was very controversial to write about at the time and Ms Ní Ghráda showed great courage in raising this subject through her writing.

“It is a great thing for a playwright from Clare to feature on the Leaving Cert and it will bring her work to the forefront of people’s consciousness once again,” adds Ms McDonnell.

Ms Ní Ghráda, who hailed from Kilmaley was the first female pre- senter on Ireland’s first national radio service, then known as 2RN that started broadcasting in 1926.

An Triail is thought to have been based on an incident near her home that Ms Ní Ghráda remembered from her youth: the victimisation of a pregnant young single girl while the man involved escaped condemnation.

While some people were shocked at the “filthy immoral” drama others saw it as being ahead of its time. Tomás MacAnna, who produced the play, praised it as the precursor of women’s lib. It still ranks with Brendan Behan’s ‘An Giall’ as the most successful play in the Irish language.

CLARE Gardaí have received no reports of cyber-bullying in the county’s schools.

According to Community Liason Officer Sergent Joe Downey, the best approch to the bullying is first through a trusted adult, then the school, the parents of the bully and finally, if the issue cannot be resolved, the Gardaí.

Cyber-bullying is not restricted to social media sites, but includes texting, Twitter and emails.

This type of bullying is particularly harsh as it follows the child or teenager into their own home, and they find it almost impossible to escape.

“The first thing they should do is bring it to the attention of someone they trust,” said Sgt Downey.

From there, the school should be contacted and then the parents of the bully.

If the issue cannot be resolved through the school’s anti-bullying policy, Gardaí can investigate a charge of harrassment under Section 10 of the non-fatal acts.

However, an offence is committed only after unwanted, persistent contact is made after the person has been asked to stop.

“It must be considered persistent and the person must have been asked to stop before it is considered an offense,” said Sgt Downey, as he explained the law.

For example, if someone receives unwanted texts, they must reply, asking the sender not to text them again.

“In relation to schools, we like to see it resolved between the kids, parents and the school,” he said.

He advised those who are targeted on social network pages not to reply and block the access of the bully. He also advised reporting the abuse to the internet provider.

A child should always be encouraged to tell someone about it, he reiterated.

The long-serving Garda said he has to date never investigated a school cyber-bullying complaint.

MICHEÁL Martin used the occasion of his first Eamon de Valera Commemoration in Ennis as party leader to blast the Fine Gael/Labour coalition for ignoring the former Taoiseach, President and Clare TD’s pivotal role in the making of modern Ireland.

In his address to a small gathering of the Fianna Fáil faithful at the de Valera Monument in Ennis’ People’s Park, the Fianna Fáil leader rounded on the parties of government for failing to honour Mr de Valera 75 years after his crucial role in drafting Bunreacht na hÉireann in 1937

“This is the 75th anniversary of the adoption by the people of Bunreacht na hÉireann,” said Mr Martin, “and the constitution is rightly seen as primarily the result of Eamon de Valera’s determination that this country should have a modern republican constitution. It has been continuously in place longer than the written constitution of any other European state.

“It is a great pity that the coalition government refused to take any step whatsoever to acknowledge this anniversary.

“They have to begin to step outside of the non-partisan consensus on the past which I mentioned, and have shown an unwillingness to acknowledge the work of people of other parties at all stages in our recent history,” he added.

Continuing, Mr Martin told the Fianna Fáil gathering that it was Mr de Valera – who served as a Clare representative for 42 years between his famous East Clare by-election victory of 1917 through to 1959 – and Mr de Valera alone, whose leadership and statesmanship secured Ireland’s place in international affairs.

“The foundation of Ireland’s strong standing in the world is undoubtedly his leadership in those deeply troubled times,” said Mr Martin.

“Because of Eamon de Valera, we have a strong and democratic constitutional tradition as a country which is founded on nationalist ideals but is fully committed to the international community. He raised the standing of Ireland in the world and built a republican constitutional tradition of which we should be proud,” he added.

MORE than 200 women and their children could not be accommodated by Clare’s women’s refuge so far this year, as cuts to the budget and an increase in the number seeking refuge from domestic abuse increases.

Manager of Clare Haven Denise Dunne told The Clare People that since the cut to the statutory budget began in 2009, Clare Haven has managed to retain its essential services to the detriment of educational programmes.

However when the fifth consecutive cut to the budget comes next year, vital services will more than likely be affected, she warned.

As many as 208 women and 303 children fleeing from domestic abuse were unable to find accommodation at the centre this year, as all six units were full to capacity.

Ms Dunne explained that Clare Haven staff gave these families the numbers of other refuges around the country or helped them to locate one, but finding a place was often difficult as most women’s refuges are working to full capacity.

The staff work hard to ensure that no woman is left on the street however, even though they are not able to directly accommodate them.

As many as 73 women and their families, which included 109 children, have stayed in Clare Haven’s Refuge Centre this year.

While the service has helped as many as 186 in total through its support visits, outreach programme and refuge centre.

It pains the staff however to have to turn away more than 200 families from the shelter, as the organisation struggles to keep vital services open for those women it helps.

CLARE Haven’s refuge service provides emergency accommodation to women and children experience violence in the home.

While staying in one of the organisation’s six units they receive oneto-one support, medical assistance, legal assistance including a court companion and financial direction including help accessing housing and social welfare payments.

Childcare services are also provided to help care for the children and liaise with the child’s school where necessary.

Clare Haven also provides support services that include a drop in centre in Ennis and outreach centres in Kilrush, Shannon, Scariff and Killaloe.

During these visits women meet privately with support workers.

“It is important to note that when a woman come to us we don’t tell her what to do. We outline her options.

“We will support them around what they want to do,” explained Ms Dunne. Often this support can take years, with many women returning to the services years after they first made contact.

Domestic abuse is not a straight forward issue with a straight forward solution, according to Clare Haven’s manager, and the support workers work with the woman at her own pace. The service also provides a 24hour helpline.

While 73 women and their children stayed in the refuge so far this year, it is not as high as other years, not because there are less cases of abuse but there are less follow on services.

Accessing homes for these women is proving particularly difficult in the last 12 months, so they have to stay longer in what should be temporary accommodation at Clare Haven.

This causes somewhat of a backlog in the refuge adding to Clare Haven’s problems.

“The volume of women needing support has increased so much in the last number of years,” said Ms Dunne. Yet the funding continues to be cut. Clare Haven has to fundraise every year to ensure its doors stay open, with the Clare 10K providing most of its charitable funds.

It also relies on one-off donations from the public and the donation of goods especially food, clothes, baby goods such as nappies, and underwear (new) to help the families survive until social welfare payments come through.

“That [donations] keeps us going,” said Denise, outlining how they have had to cut their school’s education programme and awareness programmes in the community.

“We’re left with the critical service. If they cut us any more, the board will have to look at cutting back services next year,” the manager warned.

“We are a critical service in this county. By cutting funding you are cutting the service.”

“16 Days of Action and Awareness on Violence against Women” begins on November 25 to December 10.

The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness on the whole issue of violence against women.

A FORMER GAA coach who indecently assaulted two young boys in areas of Clare over a two-year period in the early 1980s will be sentenced next January.

James ‘Tony Lowry’ Maher (69), of Clonroadmore Beg, Ennis would drive the victims around Clare, buying chips, cigarettes and alcohol before performing sexual acts on them. Ennis Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday that the abuse of one young boy began in 1982 when the accused was the manager of a hurling team.

One of his victims told the court that he was ‘scarred for life’ as a result of the abuse.

Mr Maher previously pleaded guilty to 14 counts of indecent assault in respect of this victim, committed in areas of Clare between January 1982 and July 1984.

Mr Maher, a founder member of the Banner GAA Club, would call to the boy’s house after going for drinks with his father.

A Banner GAA club spokesperson confirmed to The Clare People on Monday night that Mr Maher has not had any involvement with club ‘for well over twenty years’.

Detective Garda Beatrice Ryan of Ennis Garda Station told the court that the former Clare County Council employee would drive the boy home from training and matches.

Victims have told how they battled addictions and attempted suicide after the abuse they suffered at the hands of the Ennis man.

Detective Garda Beatrice Ryan read out the man’s victim impact statement in Ennis Circuit Criminal Court. The man stated, “It’s sad that I was always blaming myself and family for what this paedophile was doing to me.”

The man first met Mr Maher through his involvement with the Banner GAA Club. He stated, “At 15, I was hospitalised for drink and I tried to commit suicide.”

The man’s statement added that he tried to commit suicide for a second time aged eighteen.

Another victim of Mr Maher read his victim impact statement in court yesterday.

He told the court that he was 11 when Mr Maher first assaulted him. He said the incidents had a “horrific impact” on his life and that he would be scarred permanently as a result.. Judge Caroll Moran adjourned sentencing until January 14, 2013.

GLÓR’S continued survival as a centre of excellence for the performing arts in Clare is down to grant aid provided by cash-strapped local authorities in the county.

New figures released this week show that Glór wouldn’t be able to operate as a beacon for the performing arts, but for the grant aid given to it by both Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council.

The figures reveal that an addi- tional € 154,000 was given to Glór by Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council last year, so that historical financial losses could be addressed at the centre which first opened its doors 11 years ago this month.

This aid comes on top of the annual € 270,000 subsidy that the two local authorities provide between them to the state-of-the-art facility that can cater for up to 600 people.

Glór’s losses of € 112,103 last year were on top of the € 154,146 accumulated losses that were in place at the start of 2011.

The figures for 2011 show that Glor’s income last year decreased from € 1.16m to € 1m with its spend remaining static at € 1.164m.

The centre has received huge financially backing over the past 12 years, since it was announced as a flagship arts project for the county under Sí le de Valera’s watch as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from 1997 to 2002.

Only a few months before it opened, Minister de Valera stepped in to secure the future of the € 8.2m the centre after a short-fall of € 2.5m emerged in the project by securing the money through her departments Access Scheme.

That allocation now brought Minister de Valera’s total contribution to the project to € 5.7m.

Along with the € 5.7m allocated by the minister, the project also received € 1.9m from Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council, as well as € 635,000 in European Union funding.

Glór’s new director, Gemma Carcaterra, has said that the additional grant aid from the two local authorities was to deal with accumulated losses, with the centre projected to break-even for 2012.

“This is a significant achievement within the current climate when all arts organisations are facing considerable challenges,” she said.

“For the past number of years, the recession impacted on the organisation and continues to do so.

“This is a similar situation to the majority of arts organisation across the country and Glór is surviving well in comparison,” she added.

STAFF from Clare Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) are unlikely to be redeployed away from Clare or Limerick under the formation of a new Education and Training Boards, a meeting has heard.

Clare VEC will join with Limerick City and Limerick County VECs as part of a new structure that will see 16 ETBs replace the existing 33 VECs.

Legislation to allow for the establishment of new ETBs is expected to be finalised by March.

At the November meeting of Clare VEC, CEO George O’Callaghan said there was a “remote possibility” of staff being redeployed away from Clare or Limerick.

He said such decisions are unlikely as the new Clare/Limerick ETB will have responsibility for a large area.

Clare VEC currently has responsi- bility for more than 2,300 post primary school students.

He told the meeting that the new entity would be responsible for 19 post-primary schools in Clare and Limerick.

In response to questions from former committee chairman Flan Garvey, Mr O’Callaghan told the meeting that VEC staff are unlikely to be offered a specific early retirement package.

He said any offer would more like- ly apply across all the public sector.

Mr O’Callaghan has been named as CEO Designate of the new city of Cork and Cork County ETB.

Mr O’Callaghan told the meeting that following the establishment of Cork ETB, he will be seconded to the new Clare / Limerick ETB.

The new 18-member ETB committees will comprise 10 local authority councillors; four representatives from the community and business sector; two staff members and two parents.

The meeting heard that until the establishment of the new boards, all current 21 members of Clare VEC would attend ETB meetings.

In total, around 60 people will sit on the Clare / Limerick until after local elections in 2014.

Mr O’Callaghan said there had been some discussions around the formation of sub-committees.

He said such groups would not have statutory powers.

A FORMER GAA coach who indecently assaulted two young boys in areas of Clare over a three-year period in the early 1980s will be sentenced next January.

James ‘Tony Lowry’ Maher (69), of Clonroadmore Beg, Ennis would drive the victims around Clare, buying chips, cigarettes and alcohol before performing sexual acts on them.

Ennis Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday that the abuse of one young boy began in 1982 when the accused was the manager of a hurling team. Mr Maher previously pleaded guilty to 14 counts of indecent assault in respect of this victim, committed in areas of Clare between January 1982 and July 1984.

Mr Maher, a founder member of the Banner GAA Club, would call to the boy’s house after going for drinks with his father. The boy was staying with another relative at the time.

Detective Garda Beatrice Ryan of Ennis Garda Station told the court that the former Clare County Council employee would drive the boy home from training and matches.

“He would’ve been classed as quite a close friend of the family,” she said.

The court heard that the abuse progressed from Mr Maher masturbating the victim to performing oral sex on him. On one occasion, Mr Maher assaulted the boy when they were parked at Drumcliff graveyard.

Detective Ryan said the abuse carried on for five to 10 times a month from 1982 onwards. She said the abuse stopped when the boy got old- er and decided to move away from Ennis. Mr Maher was arrested on January 6, 2010 and made admissions to gardaí, including to offences that the complainant had not told gardaí about.

Mr Maher told gardaí that he developed a liking for young boys after starting coaching with the GAA club.

Mr Maher also pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault against another young boy committed in areas of Clare between July 1984 and April 1985.

The court was told that Mr Maher first met the boy when he picked him up hitchhiking. The court heard that the boy had endured “quite a difficult upbringing”. Mr Maher would call to the house with clothes and food for the family.

Detective Ryan said, “He saw himself as somewhat of a helping hand.”

She told the court that Mr Maher told the boy to ring him at work. On one occasion, he assaulted the boy in the toilets of offices of Clare County Council.

Assaults also took place in the victim’s home while members of his family were in another room. The court heard that Mr Maher also brought the boy to a bed and breakfast in Dublin, checking in as father and son.

Mr Maher was interviewed in January 2010 and made admissions to gardaí.Mr Maher previously worked with Dublin Corporation and Limerick County Council before moving home to work as a draughtsman with Clare County Council. The court heard he played with the Banner GAA Club, as well as serving as President and PRO.

Counsel for Mr Maher, Andrew Sexton SC, told the court that he had been instructed at an early stage to apologise unreservedly to the victims.

He said Mr Maher suffers from depression and diabetes. He said Mr Maher had cooperated fully with gardaí but had lived his life in a “very bizarre way.”

Mr Sexton said prior to engaging in this “outrageous criminal conduct” Mr Maher had contributed a lot to his local community.

He said Mr Maher is very well known in the community and would suffer “utter shame”. Judge Caroll Moran adjourned sentencing until January 14, 2013.

He said reporting restrictions applied to the identity of the complainants but not the accused.

THE organiser of a vigil for Savita Halappanavar in Ennis on Saturday said there will be further demonstrations and other actions if the government does not legislate for the X case.

According to organiser Ann Cronin, who ran as an Independent candidate in the last general election, action must be taken in the coming weeks to resolve the legal uncertainty highlighted by the death of Savita Halappanavar at University College Hospital in Galway last month.

The vigil attracted a crowd of almost 150 people, with a large number of passers-by joining in to show their support.

“It was a really good turnout. We had a nice turnout and a lot of people joined the vigil from the street. It was very encouraging that so many people showed up. It just shows you that this is such a personal matter and it affects a lot of people,” said Ann.

“No representative from any of the political parties showed up but then we didn’t go out of our way to invite anyone. I don’t think anyone in politics wants to touch this – it is too much of a hot potato. I think it is notable that all four of our elected candidates voted against legislation for this when it was proposed last year.

“I think it shows you exactly that they think of women’s health and how important it is for them.”

According to Ann Cronin, more events will be staged in Ennis in the weeks ahead if the government does not move quickly to resolve the situation.

“We will hold another event if there is no action. This isn’t going to go away, this is an issue that really upsets me and a lot of other people and I think that people realise that they have to do something about it – because if you wait for other people to do something then it will never happen,” continued Ann.

“This wasn’t just me and a bunch of my friends. This vigil was made up of strangers – men, women and families with children. People feel really strongly about this and the issue is not going to go away. People are not happy to wait for this to be resolved.”