Category: News

THE MAJORITY of councillors are set to boycott a meeting with Irish Water due to take place this Wednesday – with the utility company refusing to host the meeting in public.

The one-to-one meetings were due to take place, behind closed doors, from 10am to 12 noon this Wednesday, however, it now appears that only a handful of councillors plan to attend.

The original format for the meeting would have seen each councillor given just four minutes and 18 seconds to discuss issues with the Irish Wa- ter representatives – and the media banned from attending.

The council last week passed a resolution asking Irish Water to abandon the private meeting and instead come before Clare County Council in a full meeting that could be attended by the public and the media.

This request was declined by Irish Water – and a number of councillors have now decided to boycott the meeting.

“The upshot of all of this is that they [Irish Water] are refusing to meets us in the council chambers and because of that I will be boycotting that meeting,” said Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF).

“It [one-to-one meetings] is a point- less exercise and is completely non democratic. There are a lot of macro issues involving Irish Water that concern Clare County Council, staff ng

TWO men who drunkenly wandered onto a Shannon road in the early hours of October 19 last were described as an intoxicated “human tandem bicycle” by Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Thomas Faulkner (30), with an address at Shannonbanks in Corbally and Martin Faulkner (21), with an address at Bay 6, Long Pavement, Watch House Cross in Limerick, both pleaded guilty to being intoxicated to such an extent as to be a danger to themselves or to others at Tullyvarraga in Shannon in the early hours of October 19, 2014.

The court heard that both men were very intoxicated at the time and wandered onto the main road.

Gardaí were alerted to the incident by a number of motorist who narrowly missed the two men as they staggered on the road.

Judge Patrick Durcan described the mens behaviour as extremely dangerous and said that they would have been like a “human tandem bicycle” for the motorists to avoid.

Thomas Faulkner also pleaded guilty to damaging a cell at Shannon Garda station later that morning.

The court heard that Thomas Faulkner, who has 26 previous convictions, ripped a mattress when incarcerated in Shannon Garda Station, rendering the bedding unusable. Both men were f ned for their be haviour with Judge Durcan warning them to stay out of Clare.

“This is not a day that the Faulkner family will be writing about in the history of their family,” he said. “Stick down in Limerick.

“Do you follow me? Stick down in Limerick.” ENNIS man Liam Griff n has been presented with The Award of Life Governor by Irish Water Safety to honour his particular dedication towards the humanitarian goal of saving life from drowning. Liam Griff n has been Water Safe ty Development Off cer (WSDO) in Clare from 1996 up until his recent retirement. He followed in the large footsteps of the late Noel Carmody, who died before his time and was regarded by his contemporaries as one of the best WSDO’s ever. Liam has maintained and then improved standards in the performance of his duties as WSDO and as a member of IWS. Clare is one of the most challenging counties in which to hold this brief, being surrounded by water on three sides. To the West is the Atlantic Ocean, and the renowned West Coast of Clare is famous for its many wonderful swimming and surf ng beach es, from Bishop’s Quarter in North Clare, to Fanore, Lahinch, Milltown Malbay, Spanish Point and Kilkee in

the South. Inland, Clare is bounded by the Shannon and Lough Derg in the East, where thousands of people enjoy these waters each year angling, sailing and cruising. We then have the Fergus and Shannon estuaries to the south which are also busy waterways with strong tidal currents enjoyed by the public.

There are many small lakes in Clare, and several other substantial rivers.

Every conceivable use is made of those waters, including angling, bathing, surf ng, diving, dolphin-watch ing, sailing, kayaking and commercial f shing. Managing public safety in these contexts is therefore a signif cant and onerous responsibility, which Liam has discharged very well over fourteen years.

Liam is held in the highest regard by his colleague WSDOs in all other local authorities, and his contributions to debates at their conference and meetings have always been renowned for his wisdom gained through experience and his endless common sense, which has carved a sensible drowning prevention strategy carefully executed by Clare County Council during that time.

of almost € 30,000 from the annual court poor box payout.

A total of € 28, 500 will be distributed to 23 groups and organisations, after details of this year’s recipients were released by the Court Services.

In some cases, instead of imposing a conviction, a district court judge can order that a defendant donate a sum to the court poor box, which in turn will be given to a charity.

The St Vincent De Paul is this year’s largest recipient.

The society’s branches in Ennis and Kilrush will each received a donation of € 5,000.

John Cullinane, Clare Area President SVP, welcomed the donation, saying the poor box has become an “essential” source of funding for the SVP.

“There is a big demand each year on our services. In the past three years, requests for our assistance have doubled, its gone up 100%. Our income is down about 25% in the past year. We are very grateful for funds from any source.

“We’re very grateful to Judge Patrick Durcan (District Court Judge for Clare and Gort, Co Galway). Over the years he has given us considera- ble funding each year and it’s something we are grateful for”, he said.

Mr Cullinane continued, “We give out a lot more food and toys at this time of year, additional to what we would normally give.

“People donate a lot of food to us and we will be giving that out over the next few weeks. It’s a busy season”.

Mr Cullinane said the society is also receiving more requests for assistance from people in employment.

“About 70% of our requests are repeats. Over the years, there would be a lot of the same people.

“In the past years, with the austerity measures, some people that are employed, because their salaries and wages have gone down, they are coming to us for assistance as well. That would have increased the demand on our service as well. But we’re in a position to cope with all requests”, he said.

The full list of court poor box recipients is as follows.

Clare Immigrant Support Centre (€ 500); St Senan’s Kilrush Conference of SVDP (€ 5000); St Vincent de Paul Ennis (€ 5000); District Day Care Centre, Clarecastle (€ 500); Hand in Hand (Childrens Cancer Charity) (€ 1000); Diabetes Ireland Clare Branch (€ 1000); Ennis CDP (€ 1500); Dream Believe Achieve (€ 1000); Lions Club of Ennis (€ 1500); Rape Crisis Midwest Clare Centre (€ 1000) ; Seeking Vision (€ 500); Clare Crusaders (€ 1000); Cahercalla Hospice (€ 1000); Poor Clares, Ennis (€ 1000); The Samaritans, Ennis (€ 1000); Clarecare (€ 1000); Clare Haven Services (€ 1000); Pieta House (€ 1000); Childline (€ 1000); Doolin Search & Rescue (€ 500); Kilkee Marine Rescue (€ 500); Killaloe/Ballina Search and Rescue (€ 500); St. Caimins Search & Rescue, Mountshannon (€ 500).

ONLY ONE quarter of Clare people have the opportunity to pass away in their own home – despite research showing that the vast majority of people in the county would prefer to die at home, as apposed to a hospital or nursing home.

According to a new survey compile by the Irish Hospice Foundation, only 26 per cent of Clare people have the opportunity of passing away in their own home – a fraction of the 74 per cent who would prefer to pass away at home. The report also found that that areas with no local hospice that delivers Specialist Palliative Care (SPC) Services through home care teams, have a higher proportion of deaths in their own homes compared to areas with a hospice.

The Irish Hospice Foundation be- lieve that more detailed research is needed to determine why more Clare people are not offered the chance to be at home when they pass away.

“It may be that those areas without hospices have better developed homecare teams.

“Other reasons may be at play, such as urban rural differences in allocation of community supports. But we need to f nd out,” Irish Hospice Foundation CEO, Sharon Foley.

“The IHF believes that enabling people to fulf ll their wish to die at home is not just a matter of effective health services and f exible, respon sive, people-centred systems.

“It is fundamental to the very basis of humanity in an evolved society.

“Allowing choice and dignity in end of life care, and in the experi ence of dying, is a strong indication of how we care for Irish society as a whole. ” A BUMPER Christmas, with an anticipated 15% increase in passenger numbers from 12 months ago, kicked off at Shannon Airport this weekend as close on 2,000 children, including from Clare and parents got to meet Santa in the skies. In an initiative to thank the public for its support over what has been a year of strong growth, as well as raise some much needed funds for two local charities, Shannon Airport, in partnership with Ryanair, made Christmas come early for the excited children as 12 f ights took the skies over Saturday and Sunday. Among those getting to savour this special moment were special needs children from the Clare Crusaders clinic, St Gabriel’s school in Limerick and Mirmear Autism Unit in Tipperary. Demand for the f ights’ was so high that they booked out in all of 12 minutes when they went up for grabs ten days ago. The fun weekend at the airport, which also saw the children get to enjoy a wide range of entertainment from costumed cartoon characters to puppet shows, heightened the Christmas cheer at the airport. Said Airport CEO Neil Pakey; “It was great to see children enjoying the treat. The excitement was unbelievable and we’re delighted to have partnered with Ryanair on what was a really special occasion. Special thanks too to all our staff who volunteered over the weekend.

THE GREEN Party is on election footing in Clare with North Clare woman Roisín Garvey among the frontrunners to represent the party in the next General Election.

It is understood that the party leader Eamonn Ryan met with the An Taisce Green Schools off cer for County Clare and south Galway during a visit to the county last week, but told

not at his place of residence, having possession of an axe with the inten tion that it be used in the course of or in connection with a burglary. Mr McDonagh is alleged to have had the axe at Ennis Golf Club, Golf Links Road.

Also on November 28, Mr Mc Donagh is charged with entering Ennis Golf Club as a trespasser and attempting to commit criminal dam age. He is also charged with possession of cannabis at 32 Clancy Park, Ennis. Mr McDonagh, an unemployed sin gle man, appeared before Ennis Dis trict Court on Friday. Garda Frank Browne of Ennis Gar da Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He told the court Mr McDonagh made no reply to any of the charges after caution. Legal aid was approved for solici tor Tara Godfrey. Ms Godfrey said she had no ques tions regarding the arrest, charge and caution of her client. She said she was applying for bail for Mr McDonagh. Inspector Tom Kennedy said the State objected to bail. He told Judge Patrick Durcan the reasons of the State’s objections to bail.

Ms Godfrey asked Garda Browne if he would be satisf ed if Mr Mc Donagh gave a commitment to reside at home, sign on three times a week at Ennis Garda Station and make himself contactable at all times. Garda Browne said he would be sat isf ed.

But after hearing the full bail ap plication, Judge Durcan refused bail. He remanded Mr McDonagh in custody to appear again at Ennis Dis trict Court on December 10.

after a court heard he was “acting the maggot” in an Ennis supermarket.

James O’Grady (37) was in a drunken state when gardaí were called to a public order incident at Lynch’s Centra on the Gort Road, Ennis District Court heard on Wednesday.

A schedule of Mr O’Grady’s arrest, charge and caution was handed into court by Inspector Tom Kennedy.

Legal aid was approved for defence solicitor Daragh Hassett, who told the court his client was pleading guilty to the charges.

Mr O’Grady, with an address at Gort Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace may be occasioned.

He further admitted a charge of being intoxicated in a public place to such an extent as would give rise to a reasonable apprehension that he might endanger himself or any other person in his vicinity.

The charges arose from Mr O’Grady’s behaviour at Lynch’s Centra on November 30, 2014. Insp Kennedy told the court that at around 8.45pm on the night in ques tion, Mr O’Grady, in a drunken state, entered the shop and started shouting at staff.

The gardaí were called and Mr O’Grady left after being asked to do so.

Insp Kennedy said that a short time after the gardaí left, Mr O’Grady returned to the shop.

“He got verbal with the staff and made a general nuisance of himself”, Insp Kennedy explained.

The court heard the gardaí returned to the scene and Mr O’Grady ran to the rear of the shop.

Insp Kennedy said, “He tried to evade the gardaí by hiding in the shop and generally acting the maggot”.

The court heard Mr O’Grady, an unemployed painter, has previous convictions for public intoxication and drink driving.

Mr Hassett told the court his client had recently been injured in a fall from horse.

He said on the night of the incident, Mr O’Grady had consumed Nurofen and alcohol.

He agreed Mr O’Grady had “acted the maggot” but has since apologised for his behaviour.

“He is highly embarrassed”, Mr Hassett added. Judge Durcan imposed a € 250 f ne for the breach of the peace offence. Judge Durcan said he was making the order due to Mr O’Grady’s previous convictions. He struck out the intoxication charge.

A 28-YEAR-OLD Shannon man is to face trial in the circuit court in connection with two alleged burglaries in the town.

Gerard Delaney, with an address at Inis Eagla, Shannon, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

The court heard the book of evidence in respect of two alleged burglaries in Shannon was ready for service.

Mr Delaney is accused of entering a building at Cluain Aoibheann, Shannon, as a trespasser with intent to commit an arrestable offence on September 20, 2014.

He is further charged with entering a house at Carraig Donn, Shannon, as a trespasser and stealing a handbag, also on September 20, 2014.

Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station told the court she served a copy of the book of evidence on solicitor John Casey for his client Mr Delaney. Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consented to the accused being returned for trial to the current sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

Solicitor John Casey said he was not making a bail application but asked that he be certif ed for legal aid along with one junior counsel.

Judge Patrick Durcan granted the legal aid application. He delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial.

THE Boghill Centre in Kilfenora was the big winner of this year’s Burren and Cliffs of Moher GeoparkLIFE Award which took place over the weekend. The centre took three of the 15 awards on offer on the night, including the main prizes in both the GeoparkLIFE awards and the Burren Ecotourism award.

The annual awards recognise achievement of Burren businesses in the development of sustainable tourism in the region. There were two sets of awards up for grabs on the night with eleven GeoparkLIFE awards and three awards from the Burren Ecotourism Network.

The Boghill Centre took the overall Sustainable Business of the Year award and the Energy Management award in the GeoparkLIFE awards while also being crowned Member of the Year by the Burren Ecotourism Network.

It was also a good night for the Burren Nature Sanctuary who won the Visitor Interpretation and Leave No Trace awards, while the Cliffs of Moher Experience, Sea View House, Heart of Burren Walks, Burren Free Range Pork, Cafe Linnalla, Kil- shanny House, St Tola’s Goat Farm, Doolin Hostel, Burren Food Trail and Martin Waldron of Cragmoher House, all won awards.

“These awards help to promote and give of f cial recognition to the wide range of fantastic work that is ongoing throughout the Burren through sustainable business practices. The awards also help us to monitor progress in relation to the Geopark Sustainable Code of Practice for Tourism programme,” said Carol Gleeson of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.

“Since 2008, Clare County Council has been working in the Burren to develop a truly sustainable tourism destination that gives direct benef ts to the local community, promotes and celebrates local culture and produce, preserves the environment and provides a great experience for our visitors. “This has been achieved with great support and partnership from local communities and businesses and agencies responsible for tourism and conservation and local development. These awards reward those who have contributed to this process.”

CLA RE County Council is in discussions with Shannon Commercial proper ties