Category: News

A NORTH Clare woman is taking an innovative new approach to starting her own business by launching an online, crowd-funding campaign – with the public essentially sponsoring her to get her business off the ground. Corof n woman, Camilla Roelants (pictured right), is hoping to raise € 16,500 to fund her new pasta take away restaurant Bosca Pasta, which she hopes to launch in the new year in Ennis.

She has until Christmas Day, December 25, to receive pledges for the entire amount on the crowd funding website kickstarter, or all the money raised will go back to those who pledged it.

Crowd funding has been used by a number of charities or budding musician to get projects off the ground in recent year – however, it is understood that this is the f rst time that a Clare business has attempted to raise start-up capital in this way.

Camilla has been out of work since she was made redundant by Sykes Enterprises in Shannon in 2012, and has completed a number of business training programmes since them, with a view to getting her own business off the ground.

“I lived in France for eight year when these types of restaurants were just getting off the ground.

“When I came home I found that I missed them, the only things you can get in Ennis were burgers is burgers and chips or something similar.

“So I decided I would try something different,” she said.

“I’ve done a lot of research into this idea and now I’m ready to go. I’ve been unemployed for two years and I really want to be able to launch this new business and get myself off the live register, and this way of funding it is how I can do that.

“I like the idea of having thousands of people funding you € 1 each, rather than going to the banks.

“I’m looking for € 16,500 from the crowdfunding site. I put my start-up costs at about € 30,000, including hiring three staff members, and I have about half of that from my own savings, family and friends.

“I haven’t gone to the banks, I’ve been unemployed for a few years and chances are I would be refused.

People can pledge any amount to the project. For more information or to pledge visit www.kickstarter.com/ projects/858962211/bosca-pasta

A MAN who pleaded guilty to a break-in at an Ennis business and the theft of four bottles of wine escaped a prison sentence at Ennis District Court last Wednesday, December 10.

Gary Simms (43) with an address at Laurel Lodge in Ennis, pleaded guilty to the burglary which took place in Ennis on the early hours of December 3, 2014.

The court heard that a window was broken and the alarm set off at the Wine Buff off licence in Ennis at 3am on the morning of December 3 – with four bottles of wine being taken. Gardaí stopped Mr Simms on O’Connell’s Street in Ennis at 4.30am on the same morning and recovered the four bottles of wine which had a combined value of between € 80 and € 100.

Judge Patrick Durcan said that Mr Simms had a “dreadful record” with 77 previous convictions – although none of the previous conviction were for burglary. Council for the defence said that Mr Simms was a recovering alcoholic who was on the track to recovery, except for his slip on December 3.

The court heard that on the day of the incident Mr Simms had contacted his former partner with a view to organising a visit with his children before Christmas – but she had refused to allow him to visit.

Address the court, Mr Simms said that it was this incident which had led to his ‘set back’.

“Give me a chance, please,” he said to Judge Durcan. “Twice I have seen my kids this year. I’ve never exposed my kids to my alcoholism. I miss my children.”

The court also heard that Mr Simms is due to move from supported accommodation to his own home in January, if his recovery continues.

Judge Durcan placed Mr Simms on a probation bond for 12 months but warned him not to break the law during that period.

“Don’t come back before me again. I remember some of the names that come through here and I will remember yours,” he said.

Although Slough Hall began life as a mess hall for the army, it was better known locally as a dancehall during the Irish show band era of the 1950’s and ‘60’s. The barracks was also the home of Irish League basketball in Clare during the 1980’s and early 1990. In more recent years the hall has hosted a number of productions by the local Ennistymon Choral Society as well as other community organisations. Slaugh Hall and the Army Barracks, which lie on a prime stretch of land between the Old (Championship) Course and Castle Course in Lahinch, was purchased from the Irish Defense Forces by Lahinch Golf Course for € 560,000 earlier this year. At the time a last ditch attempt was made by members of local community to raise enough money to purchase the property on behalf of the local community, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Local campaigners had hoped that the land, which borders the Lahinch Community Field, could be retained in community ownership and developed as a community centre and amenity park.

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

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

A WEST Clare teenager has proved himself to be an “honourable man” by admitting a driving offence and paying compensation, a court has heard. All charges against Drew Clancy (19) were struck out at Ennis District Court last week after he paid full compensation for the damage his driving caused.

Mr Clancy crashed his car into the side of a van as Mr Clancy exited a car park and drove onto the road at Dough, Spanish Point on February 13.

At a sitting of Ennis District Court earlier this year, Mr Clancy, with an address at Fintra More, Miltown Malbay, pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention. He also admitted charges of driving without insurance and failing to report the occurrence.

In October, Garda Margaret Leahy of Ennistymon Garda Station told the court she responded to a report of a hit and run accident at Spanish Point on the date in question.

Garda Leahy said a van driver told her the car that struck his vehicle drove away from the scene. No injuries were suffered as a result of the accident, the court heard.

Garda Leahy said Mr Clancy later made a cautioned statement to gardaí in which he admitted hitting the car.

The court € 1500 worth of damage was caused to the van.

Judge Patrick Durcan asked Garda Leahy why the accused left the scene.

“He panicked. He had no insurance and he was aware he had no insurance”, Garda Leahy said.

Judge Durcan adjourned the case to allow time for payment of compensation. On Friday, defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said full compensation of € 1460 had been paid.

Mr Clancy, a farm labourer, told Judge Durcan he saved the money from work.

Judge Durcan told Mr Clancy he had proved himself to be an “honourable man” by facing up to the charges and paying compensation. “I’m striking out all charges against you which means you’re record is clean”, Judge Durcan added.

THE case of a Kilrush man charged in connection with the alleged sending of indecent telephone messages has been adjourned to the new year.

Conor Haugh (21) appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. He is charged with sending indecent telephone messages on two dates in November. Mr Haugh, with an address at Killballyowen, Cross, Kilrush, is charged with sending by telephone a message that was indecent on November 6, 2014.

He is further charged with sending an indecent message by phone on November 10, 2014. The charges state the alleged offences were allegedly committed at a named location in West Clare. Defence solicitor Patrick Moylan told the court the matter had previously been adjourned following an application from the State.

The court heard that directions are yet to issue from the DPP on how the case against the accused is to proceed. Inspector Tom Kennedy said he required time to obtain directions from the DPP.

Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the case to February 18, 2015 Mr Haugh was remanded on continuing bail.

THE ACCOUNT in the name of S Barrett, listed in a whistle blower’s dossier on alleged tax evading accounts held by politicians, did not belong to the late Clare TD and minister, Sylvie Barrett, according to his family.

Gerard Ryan, a civil servant in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation who was charged with investigating such accounts, recently availed of the whistleblower legislation to send a dossier containing allegations about tax evasion by former politicians to the Public Accounts Committee.

These names were read into the Dáil record last Wednesday by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, although no evidence has emerged in investigations to sustain the allegations.

The politicians named have denied any involvement in tax evasion.

While the other politicians were named in full, the last name was read into the record of the Dáil as S Barrett. Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett denied immediately that the account was his.

Meanwhile the family of the late Sylvester Barrett stated;

“Our late father did not have any bank account with wither Guinness Mahon or Ansbacher therefore any account in the names of S Barrett had nothing to do with our late father.”

The late Deputy Barrett was a popular Fianna Fáil TD who was f rst elected to the Dáil during the 1969 by-election.

He served his constituency as a TD and Minister until his retirement in 1984. He passed away in 2002.

Having lived most of his life in Clarecastle, he had studied engineering as a young man and served as an army cadet.

Mr Barrett, widely known as ‘Sylvie’ was appointed Minister for the Environment in 1977 by then Taoiseach Jack Lynch, and also served as a member of the European Parliament. He famously voted against then leader of Fianna Fáil Charles Haughey in a leadership heave, becoming a member of the renowned ‘Club of 22’.

His father Frank, a member of Clare County Council, was a member of Sinn Fein prior to joining Fianna Fáil.

Last week the deputy leader of Sinn Fein was criticised for using Dáil privilege for listing some of the names allegedly contained in the dossier submitted to the PAC.