Category: News

WOULD-be barbers, hairdressers and stylists are being offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – the chance to shave or dye the hair of an Ennistymon barber.

Barber Ed has offered his head in a good cause, with all money raised going to the William Winder Rainbow Foundation.

Tickets are on sale locally for just € 5 and the winner will be able to shave the barber’s head with any design they wish or shave their name on to his head.

There is also the option of dyeing his hair any colour they wish on September 21.

This event will be the highlight of the ‘Barber Ed’s head to cut, to shave to dye and to make Ed cry’ event.

The night is in aid of a foundation set up in memory of a local schoolboy William Winder who took his own life last June.

His heartbroken parents, Mark and Caroline, have set up the foundation to help other struggling teenagers and make them aware of the different options and support groups available to them.

The foundation aims to provide a safe and confidential counselling service to teenagers, and provide support to families.

Its website, which is a one-stop shop for teen support and counselling, is www.williamwinderrainbowfoundation.ie and is currently being completed, but people can also log on to the organisation’s Facebook page for more information.

A MAJOR event of national significance will be coming to Kilrush next May if Clare County Council’s bid to bring the National Famine Commemoration to the West Clare capital in 2013 is successful.

The local authority has formally backed Kilrush’s bid to host commemoration day, which was originally floated at a meeting of the Kilrush Town Council last May by the local historical society.

Last month the county council invited local and community organisations, historical societies, local Famine Commemoration Committees, schools and other interested parties to propose a location in County Clare to host this event in 2013.

Three submissions were received from Killaloe/Ballina, Tuamgraney/ Scariff and Kilrush, and were assessed by a specially appointed panel.

“Kilrush’s well known links with the Famine will make it a solid con- tender to host the National Famine Commemoration next year,” explained council official Congella McGuire.

“There were 20,000 people evicted in the Kilrush Poor Law Union between 1847 and 1850, representing one quarter of the entire Union population. The majority of the evictees suffered dreadfully in the work house and subsequently died. Illustrations from Kilrush at the time of the famine featured in the London Illustrated News and these illustrations are the best recognised images of the famine conditions in Ireland.

“A formal submission on behalf of the county will now go forward for Kilrush as the bid to host the 2013 National Famine Commemoration in County Clare. We will work with Kilrush to submit a very strong expression of interest to the National Commemoration Committee before the 5th October 2012. I have no doubt there will be other bids from the Munster area but Kilrush certainly has very strong credentials to be the host for 2013,” she added. 30/09/2012

RESCUE services recovered a body from the foot of the Cliffs of Moher on Friday, five days after the body was initially sighted.

A number of attempts to recover the body from the bottom of the 600-foot-high cliffs had been attempted last week but dangerous conditions created by high winds had prevented a number of attempts made by the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard.

The body, believed to be that of an Eastern European woman, was spotted at the foot of the Cliffs of Moher on Monday evening last, September 10, by a group of tourists walking north of Hag’s Head.

The Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard made several unsuccessful attempts to reach the body by boat last week and had been planning to abseil down the 600-foot-high cliff on Friday morning, but discovered that the tide had washed the body off the cliff edge.

Search teams continued to walk the cliff tops conducting visual searches of the waters below in the hope that the body would surface. Just before 2pm on Friday, a Cliffs Ranger from the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience, spotted the body in the sea and raised the alarm.

The body was located and recovered from the water by the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard in an area about 200 metres north-west of the main viewing platform at the Cliffs of Moher.

The body was recovered from the water and taken to the pier at Doolin from where it was taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for a post mortem examination.

A number of other rescue services, including the Killaloe Unit of the Irish Coastguard and the Shannon- based rescue helicopter, had taken part in the recovery attempts.

If the body had not been washed free of the cliffs, two members of the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard had planned to abseil down the cliff on Friday and collect the body.

A large abseil like this could have taken more than six hours to complete and is considered dangerous in fine weather and extremely dangerous if any wind or poor weather takes place.

AN INDEPENDENT Shannon Airport is crucial to redressing the imbalance in tourism numbers between the East and West of Ireland, a meeting has heard. The comment was made yesterday at a meeting of Clare County Council’s Community, Enterprise, Tourism and Emergency Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).

Committee chairman, Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) said the airport must be marketed as a “point of entry” for tourism in the west of Ireland.

He added, “We’re going back to the days when we were reliant on tourism and agriculture…we have to arrest decline of visitor numbers.”

He was speaking during a presentation on the Wild Atlantic Way – a new tourism drive from Fáilte Ireland aimed at re-packaging and promoting the west coast of Ireland.

Director of Service Ger Dollard told the meeting that the initiative is aimed at increasing visitor numbers and increasing the movement of tourists around the west of Ireland.

Last week a majority of councillors backed a motion calling for a clear plan for Shannon Airport to be in place by the end of September.

Cllr PJ Ryan (Ind) said a decision on the airport is vital to the tourism industry in the region.

He added, “If it’s a thing that the American soldiers pull out of Shannon, we’ll have no traffic at all.” He said “aggressive marketing” of the airport is required.

Flann Quilligan of Shannon Development said that discussions are underway to separate Shannon from its parent body, the Dublin Airport Authority. He said the seperation would end the “stifling” of the airport.

Mr Quilligan added, “It is not happening as fast as we would like but it is happening.”

The meeting heard that € 2 million would be allocated to local authorities along the route for signage and other infrastructure.

Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said the initiative was welcome as the region is “undervalued and underutilised”.

Ennis hotelier John Madden said the venture would fail if not marketed properly. He said many tourists coming to Ireland “don’t have a clue” about many of the towns and areas in the West of Ireland.

He told the meeting that in recent months he had noticed an increase in the number of tourists visiting Ireland to trace their family roots.

Mr Quilligan told the meeting that Fáilte Ireland are aiming to place the Wild Atlantic Way on a par as internationally known scenic areas such as Australia’s Great Coast Road.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said he hoped the entire Clare coastline would be included on the route.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) urged Fáilte Ireland not to concentrate solely on international visitors at the expense of Irish tourists.

THE two men arrested following the shooting of a wedding guest at a Bunratty hotel have been released without charge.

Gardaí investigating the death of Robert Sheehan confirmed that they released the two Limerick men arrested in connection with the September 2, shooting.

A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Sheehan of Pineview Gardens, Moyross was shot a number of times by two gunmen as he stood having a cigarette outside the Bunratty Castle Hotels at approximately 3.40am on the Sunday morning.

He died on Monday evening September 3, at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick from his injuries. The father of one, who turned 22 years-old last week, was attending a family wedding in the County Clare hotel.

Shortly after the shooting two men were arrested in Cork and were ques- tioned in Ennis and Shannon Garda Stations before being released on Friday morning last.

Mr Sheehan was buried in Limerick on Thursday.

Speaking at Corpus Christi Church in Moyross during the funeral mass, his father Patrick Sheehan, called for no retaliation for his son’s murder.

“As a family, we would not like to see any other person in the world go through what pain we are going through at the moment. No parent should ever have to bury their child through senseless violence or any other reason,” he said.

CLARE County Council is considering the introduction of new waste byelaws, as figures estimate that up to 25 per cent of all household waste in Clare is unaccounted for.

It follows a report, which shows that almost 53 per cent of households avail of a regular waste collection service. The collection figures are taken from 2010 waste records complied by the Environmental Protection Agency. They are contained in a report prepared by the council in response to concerns raised by members of Ennis Town Council over household waste.

Anne Haugh, Director of Services Transport, Water Services and Environment, explained that 53 per cent is a “stark figure” that needs to be put in context before any conclusions can be drawn.

Ms Haugh cites figures from the Regional Waste Management Office in Limerick showing that 14 per cent of households share a bin service.

Ms Haugh adds that almost 8,400 tonnes of household waste was deposited at the council’s “five civic amenity sites and 54 bring banks” in a single year. The report states that this equates to waste from 20 per cent of households in Clare.

Ms Haugh adds, “This means there are approximately 20 to 25 per cent of households in County Clare where their waste cannot be accounted for. It is in this context that Clare County Council is examining the introduction of updated presentation of waste byelaws that would, with some exceptions, require households within 200 metres of an existing waste collection route to avail of a waste collection service.”

The waste byelaws were due to be presented at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council.

The report states that local authorities in Clare work closely to address waste and litter issues. Ms Haugh added, “Environmental patrols, CCTV surveillance and a joint gardaí / waste enforcement checkpoints are carried out on an ongoing basis to counter illegal waste and litter activity.”

The council recently secured three separate prosecutions against people found to be illegally disposing of waste.

Margaret SMITH (nee Cahir)
of 55 Cahercalla Heights, Ennis, and formerly of Ballyshannny, Kilfenora. Laid to to rest in Drumcliffe cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Michael MOLONEY
of Drimeenagun, Doon Road, Broadford. Late of Ballymcdonnell, Bodyke. Funeral mass onTuesday at 11.30amat St. Patrick’s church, O’Callaghan’s Mills, followed by burial in Killuran Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Peter GRIFFIN
of Cloonlaheen, Mullagh. In his 93rd year. Laid to rest in Mullagh. Donations if desired to the Alzheimers Unit, Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Ennis. May he rest in peace.

Teresa O’NEILL (née Kilmartin)
of 8 Church Drive Clarecastle. Peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Laid to rest in Clarehill Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

John SCANLON
of Chicago and late of Cooga, Kildysart and Cloncolman, Lissycasey. Funeral has taken place in Chicago. May he rest in peace.

Elizabeth (Lilly) DONNELLAN
(née Fagan) of 34 ConnollyVillas, Ennis. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Nora McGUANE (née O’Sullivan)
of Letteragh, Kilmaley. In her 96th year. Laid to rest in Kilmaley Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

John QUEALLY
of Drumcliffe, Ennis. In his 96th year. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

James CASEY
of Kilrush Road, Kildysart. Laid to rest in Kildysart. May he rest in peace.

Chrissie O’HALLORAN (née Garvey)
of Ballyliddane, Sixmilebridge, Suddenly. Laid to rest in in Ballysheen Cemetery, Sixmilebridge. May she rest in peace.

Mary KIELY
of 16 Fearnog, Shannon. Late of Tullamore. Laid to rest in in Newlands Cross Crematorium, Dublin. May she rest in peace.

Bernadette MINOGUE
of 6 Station Court, Quin Road, Ennis. Formerly of Glendree, Feakle. Peacefully. Laid to rest inTulla Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Jack O’DEA
of Ballygannor, Kilfenora. Peacefully, surrounded by his family. Laid to rest in Kilfenora. May he rest in peace.

REPRESENTATIVES from Ireland’s largest provider of addiction treatment services may be forced to appear before Ennis District Court to explain why a Kilrush man has not been admitted to one of it’’s centres.

Cuan Mhuire Bruree, County Limerick have been ordered to send a letter to the court confirming that Martin Burke (30) has applied for a place at the centre.

The order was made by Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. He said that if a letter were not forthcoming, he would issue a witness summons to Cuan Mhuire.

Mr Burke (30), with an address at 4 St Senan’s Terrace, Kilrush, previously pleaded guilty to handling stolen property at John Street Kilrush on June 25.

The court previously heard that Mr Burke was found by gardaí rolling a wheelie bin containing a keg of Budweiser down a street in Kilrush. Mr Burke has also admitted to charges of criminal damage, theft and public order.

The court previously heard that on April 29 (2012) the accused damaged the side of a car at Convent Road, Kilrush and then stole a handbag valued at € 20.

The other offences were committed on May 5 (2012) when the accused smashed a window of the Central Pharmacy causing an estimated 200 euros worth of damage.

Mr Burke also pleaded guilty to be ing intoxicated in a public place on the same night. Mr Burke has 82 previous convictions.

In June, Judge Durcan ordered that Mr Burke enter a treatment centre to deal with his alcohol and drug addiction problems.

He had also previously requested a letter from a doctor recommending that Mr Burke enter a residential treatment programme.

On Wednesday, solicitor Fiona Hehir said her client is still on a waiting list for Cuan Mhuire.

She told the court that Mr Burke is clean of drugs but may have to wait another month before gaining a place in Bruree.

She explained that Bruree does not accept doctor’s letters as a form of recommendation.

Ms Hehir said Mr Burke had been in near daily contact with the centre.

Judge Durcan ordered that a letter be sent from Cuan Mhuire confirming that Mr Burke had applied for a place in Bruree.

THERE were five Clare centres awarded in the National Tidy Towns Awards initiative on Monday as the results for the 2012 competition were announced at a gala presentation in the Helix in Dublin.

Ennis, a former winner of the overall national title, led the way for the Banner County as the county capital was named the tidiest large urban centre in Ireland.

The other big winners, along with Ennis, were Ballynacally and Kilrush, who also produced Gold Medal performances, while Mountshannon, which won the overall title back in 1981, captured a Silver Medal, with Bronze going to Kilkee and Tuamgraney.

The results from the competition, which is now in its 54th year and attracted a record entry of 856, were announced by the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan on Monday. Ennis was marked against strict adjudication criteria and beat off stiff competition from other large urban centres, such as Kilkenny City. It’s the fourth time that Ennis has been designated Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre, having won the award in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Meanwhile, Ennis also retained the Clare County Award for the 14th successive year, while it has received its 12th Gold Medal in as many years.

Furthermore, the town was named overall winner of the Gum Litter Task Force National Award, a category in which Newmarket-on-Fergus was also a finalist. Ennis also won the Mid-West Endeavour Award, for which the villages of Connolly, Ballynacally and Mountshannon were also named finalists.

“The standards in County Clare were extremely high again this year and I am delighted to see that our county capital has received national recognition in numerous categories,” said Deputy Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald, who attended the presentation ceremony in Dublin in the absence of Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly.

“I would like to congratulate all participants from Clare who have done their county proud. There was unprecedented interest in Tidy Towns this year, and I would urge everyone to participate in 2013,” he added.

Thirty-four Clare centres participated in the 2012 competition, the same number as last year, with O’Callaghan’s Mills coming in as a new entry, while Kilmurry did not take part. The only centre to fare worse in 2012 than it did in 2011 was Kilmihil as their overall score dropped from 266 to 265, while the biggest mover was Newmarket-onFergus as their score jumped by 18 from 256 to 274.

A 19-YEAR-OLD man has received a four-month prison sentence after being convicted of two charges of criminal damage in the Loughville area of Ennis.

Thomas McCarthy, with an address at 12 Pearse Avenue, Cloughleigh, pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday to damaging Drumkerrin Lodge sometime between the hours of February 15 and 16 (2012).

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr McCarthy was among a group of people who entered the house, broke a window and forced open the garage door.

A total of € 250 worth of damage was caused to the garage door and a total € 800 worth of damage was caused to the double glazed windows during the incident.

The State struck out a charge of trespass against Mr McCarthy. Insp Kennedy said the house as undergoing renovations at the time.

He said it had been raining and the group entered the property to drink alcohol.

The court heard that the accused told Gardaí that he entered the property to take shelter.

He also admitted damaging the window.

The court heard that Mr McCarthy is currently serving a two-year period of detention in St Patrick’s Institution.

Mr McCarthy was also charged with contravening a barring order at his family home on February 2.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said the barring order had been put in place because her client’s family could not come to terms with his drink and drug abuse.

She said Mr McCarthy “unreservedly apologises” for the damage he caused to the house. Ms Godfrey said the prospect of compensation was nil.

Mr McCarthy has 12 previous convictions. Judge Patrick Durcan imposed a two-month sentence in respect of each criminal damage charge.

The domestic violence charge was taken into consideration. Judge Durcan said no further breach of the order had occurred between February and Mr McCathy’s earlier conviction in July.

MEMBERS of Clare County Council voted by the smallest margin possible to overturn the advice of the county manager relating to the Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan 2012 to 2018.

In his report, Tom Coughlan recommended that land at Drumgeely Hill in Shannon be divided in two with part of it zoned community and part zoned open space. The Shannon members of the council objected to this element of the plan and proposed an amendment that would zone all of the land open space.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) raised concerns that there would be no space available for car park spaces should the land zoned community be used for a community centre.

“A community hall there would only serve a small catchments albeit an important group,” she said.

Cllr Sean McLoughlin (FG) also recommended voting for the amendment. He said, “I don’t think it is fair for these senior citizens (residents of Drumgeely Hill) to have to fight planning for the next five years of the plan.”

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) called on all of his council colleagues to support the Shannon councillors move, as they, he said, had the local knowledge. He said many of the residents had spent 50 years living in the area.

“I hope the councillors can live with allowing them to continue to fight planning for the next number of years,” he added.

Senior planner with Clare County Council Gordon Daly said it was the belief of the planners that the split zoning gave the best option to that area of the community. He admitted that a lot of trust would have to be given to the planners should a planning application reach the council relating to that area.

The 15 members of Clare County Council present voted 12 to 11 in favour of the amendment and against the recommendation of the council executive.

Two councillors – Cllr James Breen (Ind) and Cllr Tony Mulqueen (FG) abstained.