Category: News

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.

KILRUSH has been put forward as the location for a National Famine Commemoration Ceremony in 2013.

The announcement was made by Director of Service Ger Dollard who said Kilrush had been selected by an expert panel.

Mr Dollard made the comments after a group of West Clare councillors proposed that Kilrush’s Famine history be recognised as part of events for the Gathering tourism initiative.

The motion was put forward by councillors Bill Chambers (FF), Pat Keane (FF), Oliver Garry (FG) and Gabriel Keating (FG) at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council.

The motion called on the council to nominate Kilrush as the location for the National Famine Commemoration Ceremony 2013 “as the case for Kilrush was exceptionally strong given the severe impact of the famine on the area”.

According to the three councillors, “a very strong group has been established to promote such an event”.

Cllr Chambers told the meeting that Kilrush, along with Westport and Skibereen was one of the worst areas hit by death, disease and evictions during the Famine.

Cllr Pat Keane said Kilrush had suffered hugely during the Famine and deserved to be commemorated during the Gathering events in 2013.

Cllr Oliver Garry said Kilrush met all the criteria in terms of logistics for the Gathering.

In his reply, Mr Dollard said the council had placed a public advertisement inviting submissions or observations in relation to locations within Clare where the National Famine Commemoration could be held. He said the council had received three submissions. He added, “Each County Council has been asked to submit only one proposal for each county. It will be a matter then for the National Famine Commemoration Committee to determine which location will host the 2013 National Famine Commemoration.

IN AN era when the HSE is relying more on air travel to attend serious emergencies in West Clare and other rural areas, concerns have been raised that one busy town is without a publicly designated helicopter pad.

The population of the seaside town of Kilkee also multiplies during the summer months, making the need for emergency access more urgent.

Mayor of the coastal town, Cllr Claire Haugh (FF) said that the need for the helicopter pad had to be a priority, especially as a support to the entire local emergency services.

Helicopter support has proven essential to voluntary organisations such as the Kilkee Marine and Rescue Service.

For many people rescued off the cliffs and in the sea, time is of the essence when it comes to accessing medical help.

Kilkee is more than 95 kilometres from the nearest Centre of Excellence at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick.

“For a coastal town like Kilkee, this is vital. We must take it on as a project for the coming year and ensure it is installed,” said Mayor Haugh. “We are now asking Clare County Council to get working on a helicopter pad in Kilkee. We have services here for emergencies yet we haven’t this necessary facility.”

Kilkee’s first citizens said that the cost of putting a helicopter pad is Kilkee is estimated at € 30,000.

“All we need to do is to find a designated area for the helicopters to land.”

She suggested that the area adjacent to the Garda Station, which had been spoken of before, would make an ideal location. “It would be just along the beach and beside the rescue centre,” she said.

The council must now contact the Department of Justice about the possible location.

“This has been in the mix for a few years. It is a very urgent thing. It is imperative we this facility fast,” said Mayor Haugh.

GARDAÍ will take to the roads of Clare on Saturday for the 29th annual Clare Garda Cycle, details of which have been announced.

This year’s event is being held in aid of Pieta House, a nationwide service that provides a treatment programme for people who have suicidal ideation or who participate in self-harming behaviours. This year’s cycle also coincides with National Suicide Awareness Week, which runs from September 10 to 17.

The 116km cycle will commence at 9am from Ennis Garda Station on September 15. From there, riders will pass through Corofin, Carron, Ballyvaughan, Lisdoonvarna, Cliffs of Moher, Liscannor, Lahinch, Ennistymon, Inagh and back to Ennis.

There will be some delays to traffic and motorists are asked to be extra careful along the route of the cycle.

Garda Declan Keavey said delays will be kept to a minimum and all support is greatly appreciated on the day.

Tom McEvoy of Pieta House in Clare said the organisation are delighted to have the support of the gardaí. “They have come across Pieta House in their work in the community and we are thankful that they have considered supporting us in this way. We’re having collections in the town and villages that the cycle will go through. We’re going to have a collection in Ennis on Saturday September 15.”

Of the 358 people that visited Pieta House in Mungret, Limerick in 2011, 38 came from Clare. Tom says that the support of local communities is vital to Pieta House in the absence of government support.

He explains, “To date the Government have not stood behind what they said they would do for us, which is unfortunate. We are really living in hope that we will get support. But we’re not standing still waiting for government support. We’re developing our own niche in fundraising. This Darkness into Light charity walk has really been taken on by the community to help us try to eliminate as much as possible, people dying from suicide. That is our endeavor.”

PRIMARY schools across County Clare are now among the most overcrowded anywhere in the country.

These alarming statistics from primary education in the county have been revealed this week in new study published this week, prompting the county’s Irish National Teachers Organisation supremo to describe them as “a wake up” call for the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn.

The figures show that now almost 90 per cent of primary pupils in the county are in classes that are greater than the European Union average.

And almost 90 per cent of pupils in Clare schools are in classes of 20 or more, while over a quarter are in “supersize” classes of 30 or more children.

The latest figures show that 27 per cent of primary pupils are in classes of 30 or more, which translates into 3656 pupils in the county being in classes of 30 or more. In addition to this, 58 per cent of pupils are in classes of 20 or more and 15 per cent of pupils are in classes under 20.

The INTO said the figures showed the impact of government cutbacks on the ground in schools. The General Secretary of the INTO, Sean McMahon, the county’s representative on the national executive, described the findings as a wake-up call for the minister. He said Irish class sizes were now the highest in the EU and called on the minister to stop the rise in over-crowded classes.

“Irish class sizes are back to where they were a decade ago and getting worse. In 2002, average class size in Ireland was 24.5m the same as it is today. More than one hundred thousand children (112,821) are in classes of 30 pupils or more, up 10 per cent on the previous year,” said Mr McMahon

The INTO General Secretary, Ms Sheila Nunan commented that the primary school classroom is the frontline of the education service.

“It is where most children spend the majority of their time,” said Ms. Nunan.

AN Ennis woman is helping to raise awareness of the painful spinal condition scoliosis.

Eileen Farrell’s life turned upside down when she was diagnosed with the condition.

Eileen (48) first became aware of the condition after going to the swimming pool to partake in a session of water aerobics.

She says, “I was really shocked by what had happened at the pool. Normally I feel flexible and healthy after a session, but that day I was in agony before I even did anything”

Ignoring the discomfort, Eileen went to work the next day and, by the end of the day, Eileen had decided that she had to visit her GP.

When Eileen visited her GP a few days later, he diagnosed scoliosis and advised her of the different methods of treatment that were available to her.

Scoliosis affects more than four per cent of the population and, if left untreated, it can lead to fatal heart and lung problems.

The condition involves both adults and children but progresses more rapidly during the teenage years.

Spinal surgery is an extreme process that involves the insertion of two metal rods into the back, on either side of the spine, before the spine is fused back together.

Following the appointment with her GP, Eileen started to search the internet for an alternative method to treat her condition.

Eileen was eventually treated at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic in London.

She explains, “The initial consultation was very important to my overall treatment. I was educated by the consultant, who put my mind at rest. I was so relieved at the end of my consultation and I enrolled onto a course of treatment the very same day.”

Eileen began her course at the start of the following month.

By the end of the second week, her pain levels had reduced.

She added, “I was so happy when I was given my before-treatment and after-treatment scans. I looked like a different person. I was really pleased with myself for making it happen. My pain has gone and I look more upright; I have even grown a few centimetres as well.

“But most importantly I am back in the pool and hopefully not making too much of a splash.”

CLARE County Council is now issuing leaflet information to Clare households in relation to the regis tration of domestic wastewater treatment systems.

This registration of septic tanks is proving as controversial as the household charge among mostly rural homeowners.

The local authority has been charged with ensuring people are well informed about the issue well before the February 1 deadline.

The Local Government Manage ment Agency (LGMA) has developed a central online registration system and will manage the system on a shared-service basis for the water services authorities, including Clare County Council.

All septic tanks and other types of treatment and disposal systems for domestic wastewater are to be registered not later than February 1, 2013. However, there are savings to be made by registering before the end of this month. Registration payments received by September 28 will be subject to a € 5 fee with the registra tion fee increasing to € 50 thereafter up to 1 February.

“Under the Act, owners of domestic waste water treatment systems are required to ensure that their systems are on the register,” explained Mr. Paul Moroney, Senior Engineer, Clare County Council.

“No decisions have been made regarding the numbers or locations of inspections to be carried out, or the risk-based criteria to be used when targeting those inspections. Inspec- tions under the new legislation will not commence until 2013 and the commencement of inspections will be publicised in the national and local media,” he added.

“You should take care not to allow uninvited persons, or persons claiming to be septic tank inspectors, to enter onto your property in advance of the launch of inspections. You will be formally notified by your water services authority if your domestic wastewater treatment system is to be inspected. Inspectors will be required to carry identification and you should ask for this to be presented to you,” he concluded.

The charge can be paid online at www.protectourwater.ie or by cheque/postal order/bank drafts at a local authority office. Registration forms may be obtained from public libraries, citizen information centres, Aras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, and at the following area offices: Kilrush, Shannon, Ennistymon, Scariff, Ennis and South East Clare. For further information, contact or Lo Call 1890 800 800 or visit www. protectourwater.ie.

ENNIS could literally turn green next March as part of proposals put forward to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2013.

Ennis Town Council is to investigate the possibility of dying the River Fergus green as part of the ‘Green the Town’ initiative.

The proposal was tabled by Cllr Mary Howard (FG) as part of a motion at yesterday’s council meeting.

Cllr Howard called for the council, in conjunction with local businesses and venues, to ‘Green the Town’ by illuminating buildings with green filters and lights and hanging hundreds of Irish flags.

Cllr Howard told the meeting that businesses are very keen on the idea.

She said that in a year when Ennis celebrates the 25th anniversary of its twinning arrangement with Phoenix, Arizona, the green plans would help capture attention and generate plenty of publicity for the town.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine (FF) backed the motion. However Cllr Frankie Neylon (FG) questioned if the council could justify the cost of turning Ennis green when it has had to cut back on other vital services. Cllr Howard said there would be very little cost to the council, adding that green filters cost just € 12.

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) suggested that councillors pay for the cost with their expenses.

In response to Cllr Howard’s motion, town clerk Leonard Cleary stated that the technical staff of the council will research the feasibility of the project.

He continued, “With regard to turning the River Fergus green, there are non-toxic dye products that are used for tracing water courses that could be used for this purpose. The river through the town is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and consultation will be required with other agencies. The council are trying to ascertain the cost of these products as the quantities required would be larger than normally used for dye tracing. The council will respond once the information is received.”

THE President of Ireland is set to follow in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali by becoming an honourary freeman of Ennis.

Michael D Higgins is due to accept the award at a ceremony in Ennis on February 13 (2013).

Ennis Town Council wrote to the President in November inviting him to accept the freedom of Ennis. A letter from the President’s office to the council has confirmed that Mr Higgins has accepted the invitation.

Denise Lynch, events office, stated, “The President has asked me to let you know that he has agreed in principle to accept your kind invitation for Wednesday, February 13, 2013, subject to the usual requirements of State and other business that may arise later. The President will arrive at a time to be confirmed. In the meantime, we would be glad if you could send details of the arrangements for the occasion and I have enclosed a note to assist you in preparing the programme.”

Former World Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali was named the first ever freeman of Ennis when he visited the town in September 2009.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine (FF) welcomed the announcement that the President would be visiting the town to become an honourary freeman.

Mr Higgins has strong Clare connections. He was raised by his uncle and aunt at their home in Ballycar and went to school in St Flannan’s College. Prior to taking up a job with the ESB in Galway, he worked in Progress International in Shannon.

In June, President Higgins was granted a civic reception by Clare County Council. He spoke about his strong affinity for the county at the time. “Yes indeed I associate myslef with Clare. There are many origins I have that are very simply understood,” he said. “My father and my grandfather and my greatgrandfather have been associated with county Clare since time immemorial. I am glad to say in the 1901 census in the town land of Ballycar there are four families of Higgins. And once again as a result of my brother’s [John] activites and his sons there are four families in Ballycar again.”