Category: News

THE students of Scoil Mhuire in Ennistymon have started a trend which could be replicated in schools all over the country in the coming years by taking up Chinese as a foreign language.

Transition-year students from the school have just completed an eightmonth-long introduction to Mandarin Chinese.

The language classes were delivered to the girls by native Chinese speakers from the Confucius Institute, while Business and Certified Programme Facilitator, Miriam Higgins, delivered classes in Chinese culture.

“We are one of approximately 50 schools in Ireland to adopt the programme that was developed by the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland under the guidance and support of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA),” said Ms Higgins.

“This exciting and innovative Chinese programme has been a resounding success.

“Seosaimhín Uí Domhnaillín [Scoil Mhuire principal] and Geraldine Barry [Transition-Year Coordinator] have been very enthusiastic and supportive in offering the Chinese Studies Programme.”

Along with language classes, the unique initiative also teaches the girls about Chinese culture, travel, family, music, festivals and the economy. The cultural topics were taught using multimedia technology in various forms such as PPT, audio and video.

There was also additional classes in Chinese cookery given by home economics teacher Nicola Honan, as well as classes in paper cutting, calligraphy and other traditional Chinese activities.

The Confucius Institute is currently working with the Irish Government, businesses and academic institutes to develop stronger educational, cultural and commercial links between Ireland and China.

“Our aim in Ennistymon is to instill a curiosity in all things Chinese by introducing students to aspects of both modern and traditional Chinese culture and Chinese language,” continued Ms Higgins.

“Scoil Mhuire is privileged to work with the UCD Confucius Institute and to offer our students, what I believe, is a wonderful opportunity to learn about China and to study Mandarin Chinese.”

A NORTH Clare woman who lost her sight almost five years ago has become the spokesperson for one of the country’s most high-profile charities and has now been charged with organising its biggest fundraiser for 2012.

Áine Mae O’Mahony was declared blind after a series of laser treatments and surgeries when she was just 25 years old.

The former café owner adapted to her condition with such grace and bravery that she has since become a “poster girl” for the charity Fighting Blindness Ireland, representing the charity and sharing her story both locally and in the national press.

This year, the charity asked the Lahinch woman to organise a major fundraiser.

Sticking to her roots, she has planned and organised a triathlon and family fun days for the last weekend in July, which was traditionally Gala Sunday.

The Áine Mae Fighting Blindness Weekend is scheduled to take place on July 28 and 29 in the seaside town.

Ms O’Mahony said the weekend will have something for everyone.

“It will include a vision challenge consisting of a run, one-kilometre paddle on boards, another run and a cycle with an early morning start. Seaworld have given us a venue to host a kiddies disco, bouncy castles and other events and we already have many more sponsorships,” she said.

“There will be many mini events and novelty ideas on the days. John McCarthy of the Lahinch Surf School has given his premises at the back so we can host a barbqueue and music for all the volunteers who have taking part.

“I have full support from Senator Martin Conway (FG) and the local county councillors, as well as the community itself. We have had several meetings with a positive outcome,” she said.

As well as raising much needed funds for Fighting Blindness, a charity that supports research into the causes of blindness and any possible cures, Ms O’Mahony also hopes the Áine Mae Fighting Blindness Weekend will resurrect the traditional Gala weekend in Lahinch.

CLARE’S six Oireachtas members gathered in front of Daniel O’Connell on the top of O’Connell Street, Ennis, on Friday last, canvassing in unison for a Yes vote on the Stability Treaty.

TDs and senators across the three parties – Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil – agreed that accepting this treaty was in Ireland’s interest.

Clare Fianna Fáil TD and the party’s Director of Elections for the referendum, Timmy Dooley was aware, however, that although his Clare Dáil colleagues of all political persuasions were in agreement with the treaty, the same could not be said about all within his own party.

As the Fianna Fáil frontman on the Stability Treaty Referendum, the Clare TD must deal with the decision of former minister Éamonn Ó Cuiv, and his supporters in Galway West, not to support the treaty.

Deputy Dooley told The Clare People that he was not particularly worried about the Galway West TD’s stance, stating that the party’s recommendation for a Yes vote had received a lot of support in Galway West.

“Éamonn Ó Cuiv from the get-go was not an advocate of the European project to the best of my knowledge,” he said.

“He is a member of the party and has a right to his own views. It is my understanding that he won’t be canvassing against it (the treaty) either,” added Deputy Dooley.

Asked if it made his job as Director of Elections more difficult, he said,

“Things are difficult for Éamonn. He has lost the deputy leadership and his front bench position as a result of his stance.”

Deputy Dooley said he has been working in Galway West and around the country on the referendum.

Referring to Galway West he said, “There is a very committed organisation there who supports the treaty. I expect the Fianna Fáil vote will come out in support of the treaty in that constituency.”

One Clare-based party that will not be canvassing with the others is Sinn Féin.

Yesterday (Monday), Clare Sinn Féin welcomed the Civil Public and Services Union to the No camp, along with Mandate, Unite and the TEEU.

SHANNON Airport has a viable future if it is finally freed from the strictures of Dublin Airport Authority control – that’s the gospel according to a DAA memo that has been drafted ahead of the imminent announcement of a new blueprint for Clare’s international airport.

The memo that has been circulated amongst key government departments in recent weeks includes a landmark concession on the part of the DAA that Shannon Airport would be perfectly placed to sur- vive and prosper as an independent entity.

And the memo has revealed that any government decision to grant Shannon full independence could pave the way for the airport to attract an additional 250,000 passengers through the former hub of the aviation world.

This passenger growth forecast by DAA chiefs comes against a backdrop of a haemmorhage of traffic over the past five years, with numbers through the airport plummeting from the record high of 3.6 million in 2006 to under 1.5 million in 2011.

Traffic through Shannon Airport is now at a 15-year low with figures for 2012 so far showing an alarming loss of 20 per cent for the same period in 2011 – a slide that, if continued for the rest of the year, would see passenger numbers decline to under 1.3 million by the year’s end.

Now, the decision by the DAA to back the concept of an independent Shannon for the first time is seen as another link in the chain towards the Government’s long-awaited announcement on the new blueprint for the airport.

This decision was put back until this month, because of what Min- ister for Transport, Leo Varadkar calls “issues with due diligence”. But ahead of the formal announcement, the minister publicly stated his intention to “give Shannon the autonomy and the tools it needs to turn the situation around to get passenger numbers up and get employment up and investment into the area”.

The Government announcement is being made on the back of the Booz and Company report that put forward five separate options for Shannon, with the most favoured being an independent Shannon that will be under State ownership, but run by a new holding company.

EVIDENCE of an ancient tsunami that may have hit the north Clare coast some 6,000 years ago could explain what became of the first people ever to live in Clare.

Archeologists working on an ancient shellfish midden on Fanore beach have discovered a mysterious black substances, which they believe could have been left behind by an ancient tsunami.

The substance, which is two or three inches deep, disintegrates when it comes in contact with air. The fact that a large slab of this material has remained intact on an ancient settlement site on Fanore beach, indicates that a large amount of it was laid down at once, possibly as the result of a tsunami.

“We have found a mysterious layer of black organic material on the site and it is under that level that we have fond all the oldest archeology. We have not been able to identify exactly what this black layer is yet but, as it happens, it is that layer which helped to protect the ancient settlement that we are currently excavating,” said Michael Lynch, the Field Monument Advisor for County Clare.

“If we can establish a date for this black material it will help us to peace together more of the mystery of this site and it could tell us a bit about what happen here that brought the use of the midden to an end.

“It is possible that this is the result of a major climatic event, a massive storm or possibly a tsunami, or some other major event of that sort which would have thrown up a large amount of debris all at the one time.”

Another mystery of the Fanore site is a series of upright, placed stones which appear to be the foundations of an ancient dwelling.

“The upright stones are from the period after the midden but they could be very early all the same. They are certainly earlier than the majority of major climatic events which have thrown up stones around the beach,” said Michael.

Excavation work will continue on Fanore beach for four weeks. The work is part funded by the Royal Irish Academy and made possible with the help of volunteers, including volunteers from the BurrenBeo Trust.

IT WAS mixed news about the quality of the county’s bathing waterways, when the EPA published its quality report on Thursday.

The once bathing water quality blackspot of the county – Ballyalla Lake – has improved its water quality to acceptable. The news was not as good, however, for the White Strand in Miltown Malbay, which was the only one of Clare’s 11 bathing areas to fail the tes`t. Paul Moroney, Senior Engineer, Clare County Council, explained, “Nine samples were taken at this beach during the 2011 bathing water season. One sample out of the nine exceeded guideline and mandatory pollution limits. The sample was taken on June 7, 2011. At the end of the season, a compliance percentage rate is calculated, upon which this location was 89 per cent compliant with the mandatory limits. However, this exceeded the acceptable allowable failure rate of 95 per cent.”

“The limits only failed on one occasion during the entire season and all other results were in the ‘good status’ for the season. The weather in the days preceding the test was wet, with in excess of 15mm of rain falling in the region. It was deemed at the time that the reason for the failure was most likely due to high rainfall and wash-off from land,” he added.

The 10 bathing areas around Clare that were found to have complied with the minimum standards in 2011 included Ballycuggeran (Lough Derg), Ballyalla Lake (Ennis), Cappa Pier (Kilrush), Bishopsquarter, White Strand (Doonbeg), Kilkee, Spanish Point, Lahinch, Fanore and Mountshannon (Lough Derg).

“In particular, the council is pleased that Ballyalla Lake had good results in 2011 and is working to ensure that that improved status is maintained this year and for the future,” said Mr Moroney. “The bathing water results show that Clare County Council’s bathing waters have excellent quality. In the unlikely event that a result fails, Clare County Council implements a protocol to warn bathers of the failures, including advice to bathers that the water is unsafe for bathing. This was done at White Strand Milltown Malbay last June when the test result was obtained,” he said.

CLARE’S fire service and the University of Limerick are leading the way when it comes to educating emergency response professionals.

The Advance Trauma in the Community initiative was developed by Accident and Emergency Consultant Cathal O’Donnell, and Mark Dixon through the University of Limerick.

Dr O’Donnell is clear, however, that the progressive training for professionals when faced with major traumas and emergencies could not take place without the enthusiasm of the Clare County Fire Services, under the direction of Fire Chief Adrian Kelly.

In its fifth year, the course aims to bring the HSE national ambulance service, the fire services, Irish De- fence Forces, GPs, Gardaí, civil defence, Order of Malta, coast guard and the Irish Red Cross for an all-inclusive training course.

The course takes place over one day, usually in Ennis.

“Prior to this, all the organisations trained in isolation but responded together. The concept of training together gives the patient the best possible care and outcome,” explained Dr O’Donnell.

In many cases, terminology differs between the professions, and many services are unaware what the other professional can and cannot do, explained the A and E expert.

“For example, a GP would not be familiar with how the fire brigade cut the top off a car, and that there is a slow way and quick way to do it. Being aware of this, the GP at the scene can tell the fire service how quickly the patient needs to come out and the decision on how to cut him or her out can be made,” he said.

Understanding each other’s use of language, terminology and expression, and the role each party can undertake at the site of an accident, can save valuable time.

To date, at least 200 professionals from all over the country have taken part in the highly respected course.

“It was largely started with the support of the Clare Fire Service. We couldn’t do this without the Clare service and the University of Limerick,” explained Dr O’Donnell.

“There is a big issue of safety at the site of an accident and not just for those involved but also for the emergency staff. We take the lead from the fire service who have a strong safety ethos and a strong appreciation of hazards,” he added.

A CLIMBER narrowly escaped serious injury on Saturday after a large rock, dislodged by another climber, fell on him from the top of a climbing cliff in North Clare.

The climber, who was holding a safety rope for another climber at the time, broke his femur in the incident but escaped a life-threatening injury by a matter of millimetres. The men were climbing at a popular climbing wall at Ballyreen, just north of Doolin, when the accident took place.

The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast- guard received the call just after 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon and rushed to the scene where they located the injured man at the bottom of a high cliff. They reached the injured man and helped make him comfortable until the arrival of the paramedics, splinting his injured leg. A winch was lowered to the bottom of the cliff and the injured climber was then stretchered to the shoreline.

From the shoreline, the injured man was airlifted by the Shannon-based Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter to Limerick Regional Hospital for further treatment. He is expected to make a full recovery.

“He had a broken femur and was very lucky that it was not a more serious incident. The femur is the strongest bone in your body and there is a big risk of severing a major artery and bleeding to death in a situation like this,” said Mattie Shannon of the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard.

“We were able to reach him along with the HSE paramedics and he received medical attention. He was in a lot of pain but he was conscious throughout the rescue.”

Meanwhile, a body was recovered from the water around Poll Cnaimhín, north of Doolin, early on Saturday morning.

A FORMER road sweeper who suffers from a serious heroin addiction has been told the court will help him if he takes steps to improve his life.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Edmund Lyons (47) with a former address at 2 Clare Villas, Clare Road Ennis and currently of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to theft. The charge relates to the theft of a wallet at O’Sullivan Hansbury, Kilrush Road, Ennis on July 28 (2011).

Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court that a person dropped a wallet in the shop. He said the accused picked up the wallet, which contained € 130 and a number of bank cards.

Insp Gallagher said the man reported the lost wallet to gardaí. He said the accused was subsequently identified by CCTV footage from the shop.

Insp Gallagher said Mr Lyons made a full admission to gardaí in February 2012. The court heard that neither the cash nor the cards were recovered.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client, a father of two, had worked as a road sweeper for a local authority for almost 20 years.

She added, “He developed an addiction to heroin. 90 per cent of his life has been taken away.” Ms Godfrey said the drug had destroyed Mr Lyons’ life. Asked by Judge Patrick about what he had done with the bank cards, Mr Lyons said he had left them on a wall outside the shop.

After hearing the case, Judge Durcan said that Ms Godfrey must come back to court in two months time with confirmation that Mr Lyons is taking steps to “look after himself.”

He said, “If this court sees he’s making every effort, the court will be there to help.”

Judge Durcan said he wanted to see that a positive plan for Mr Lyons is in progress.

He added, “If not there will be a prison sentence.” Judge Durcan adjourned the matter until July 18.

A MAN has been found guilty of assaulting his brother with a hatchet at a halting site in Shannon last year.

James McDonagh (38), with an address at bay six Ballymurtagh, Shannon, attacked Michael McDonagh at he rear of their father’s home at the Ballymurtagh halting site on August 31.

Details of the assault were heard during a four-day trial at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court last week.

It took a jury 96 minutes to convict James McDonagh on one count of assault causing harm and another of possession of a hatchet with intent to cause injury. The court heard he has 97 previous convictions.

Half of Michael McDonagh’s left ear was severed in the assault while the father of four also suffered injuries to his scalp and abdomen.

He spent four days in hospital receiving treatment for his injuries.

James McDonagh, referred to throughout the trial as Michael James McDonagh, had denied the charges, claiming that he had acted in self-defence after his brother had attacked him with a hurley.

The court heard that a row over a car parked at the entrance of 81-yearold Frank McDonagh’s home at Ballymurtagh sparked the assault.

Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan BL, told the court that Frank McDonagh, father of Michael and James, blamed James for blocking the entrance.

He asked Michael to ring the gardaí who came and removed the car.

Michael McDonagh said that at around 8pm on the night in question, James McDonagh came running into his yard at bay five Ballymurtagh, wielding an orange and black handle hatchet.

He said, “He was roaring and shouting and swinging the hatchet and saying he was going to kill me.”

Michael McDonagh told the court that he ran from his home, where he had been watching television with his wife and children, and into the adjoining yard of his father’s bay.

He said he picked up a hurley to defend himself after he was “cornered” by James.

A struggle ensued and Michael McDonagh eventually managed to take the hatchet from his brother and throw it over the wall.

Frank McDonagh gave evidence of seeing James hit Michael “two or three clouts in the head with the hatchet.”

He added, “I heard Michael’s wife and kids screaming….I saw Michael running like a hare into my bay.”

Garda Barry Doherty of Shannon Garda Station attended the scene on the night. He said both Michael and James were covered in blood.

He said, “Michael McDongh’s ear was cut and half hanging off.” The hatchet was found in a field behind the halting site. James McDonagh was arrested and subsequently interviewed by gardaí.

In his closing speech, Mr Coughlan said. “The State’s case is that this was a willful attack by James McDonagh on his brother and he used a hatchet to do it.”

Counsel for the accused, Pat Whyms, said the State’s witnesses had given different accounts of the incident. He said the jury had to decide if the witnesses are “truthful and reliable.” He said James McDonagh had picked up the hatchet to defend himself.

Addressing the jury, Judge Gerald Keyes said, “If you are satisfied that the accused was the aggressor then it precludes him from using the defence of self defence.”

Mr Whyms urged the court to consider to suspending a portion of the sentence on condition that James McDonagh enters a treatment programme.

Sentencing of James McDonagh will be finalised on Thursday. The court heard he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years.