Category: News

THE PEOPLE of Shannon are being afforded the opportunity to build their own boat, which in time is expected to be involved in regattas.

The Shannon Traditional Boat Building Club was set up a couple of years ago, and facilitated the building of a fishing currach in September 2009.

The interest was such that the club has now decided to build another boat – in the SkyCourt shopping centre.

The club has started building the boat and meets every Thursday evening for 12 weeks at a vacant unit in SkyCourt to continue with the work. The base has been built during the past four weeks and further touches will be added over the next eight weeks until it is completed.

Greg Duff is one of those involved in the committee. “It’s about holding on to the old skills and traditions,” he said. “There has been a lot of interest, including from people who are out of work or retired. They are different ages, mostly people in their 40s and 50s,” said Mr Duff.

The adult education committee in Shannon provides a tutor who assists with building the boat. The tutor, Steve Morris, who hails from New Zealand, has experience in this area, having worked on an old turf boat in Querrin.

“The long-term thing would be we want to build a few currachs and get the younger people to get involved in the regattas around the coast,” said Mr Duff. “We gave the last one to the West Clare Currach Club. This one will be kept by ourselves to use. We are right on the estuary. We would love to have small little sailing boats and have a sailing club in the future,” he said. Members of the public are welcome to turn up for any of the weekly sessions every Thursday from 6.30pm to 9pm. “There is good interest. It is a new club and a club that is something different in this time of recession with loads of people off work,” he said.

ALCOHOL abuse has become a significant issue among people checking into the Bushypark Treatment Centre in Ennis.

“The main issue is alcohol. Alcohol is the big one,” said the manager of the centre, Margaret Nash.

“People can’t believe they are alcoholics because they drink pints,” she said.

“It has taken years for alcohol to be included in the National Misuse Strategy,” she said.

Polydrug use – a combination of alcohol, prescription drugs and illegal drugs – is the biggest issue among those who check in for treatment at Bushypark. This is followed by alcohol issues and this in turn is followed by illicit drugs on their own.

“Anyone who is taking illegal drugs is taking prescription drugs as well,” she said.

“Prescription drugs is huge. There isn’t a client that doesn’t take them. People take repeat prescriptions without ever analysing what the problem is. 80 per cent of clients would be coming in on prescription drugs because of their addictions,” she said.

“There are guys as young as 19 taking fistfuls of sleepers at night and something else to pick themselves up the next day. It is a quick fix solution. That is a national trend. It has not decreased,” she said.

“There is a complexity of issues that clients are presenting with. It seems to be more deep rooted. People have very complex addictions. It is very difficult to get people off prescription drugs,” she said.

There has been an increase of four per cent in admissions to Bushypark last year and a number of patterns have emerged.

“We would see that increase spread across the 18 to 35 age group. The 26 to 35 age group would have stayed consistent over the years but that has increased. More people are acknowledging their difficulties. You can get away with addictions for many years,” said Ms Nash.

In 2007 and 2008, there was an increase in the number of women presenting for treatment, but this has since steadied off. Younger women in the 18 to 25 age group attend in quite high numbers, often in relation to alcohol, polydrug use and food addictions.

PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Michael D Higgins will be back on home soil next month for this year’s Merriman Summer School.

Higgins was one of a host of new speakers announced for this year’s event, which is expected to generate some fireworks in Lisdoonvarna with a number of very topical issues up for discussion.

Besides the focus brought to the events by the Presidential Election, a number of speakers have been added to the programme who have had, and continue to have, an intimate connection to the upcoming Children’s Rights Referendum.

The Summer School will be opened by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald (FG).

Also added to this year’s programme is former minister, Mary O’Rourke (FF), who played a role in the development of the Children’s Rights Referendum, as well as Fintan O’Toole, Joseph Dunne and Maria Corbett.

“I think when you look at the Cloyne Report and all the issues that have been in the media for the last number of days, then you do realise the importance of the topic,” said local organiser Marian O’Callaghan.

“Mary O’Rourke, who was very involved in the commission which looked for rights for children, will chair a heavyweight group in a discussion on the whole topic, so it should be very interesting stuff.

“Overall, though, this year’s programme will have the usual great mix that you would expect from the Merriman and, speaking as a Lisdoonvarna person, I am very happy to have it back here again this year.”

The director of this year’s Summer School is Professor Nóirín Hayes,who is a highly regarded expert in early childhood education and children’s rights and will attempt to address issues relating to Irish childhood, past and present, and consider a vision for the future.

“I think most of the topics are very timely.

“We often finish the festival with a general talk or chat and Michael D will taking time out from the campaign trail to do that this year,” continued Marian.

This year’s Summer School, which is on the topic of ‘Changing Irish Childhoods’, will take place in Lisdoonvarna from Wednesday. August 17 to Sunday. August 21.

For more information, visit www. merriman.ie.

THE number of gambling addicts presenting for treatment at the Bushypark Treatment Centre has increased slightly – the issue is so acute that € 100,000 bets on horses have been placed by those in the throes of the addiction.

Those presenting for treatment for gambling problems range in ages.

“There hasn’t been a huge increase in gambling. Gambling has always been very steady. There was an increase of about three per cent on other years,” said the manager of the centre, Margaret Nash.

“Before, gambling was very much a lone activity. Now, we are seeing it combined with alcohol and drugs. Ennis is well known for its gambling. It’s not about people playing poker. It’s the illegal sessions,” she said.

“Gambling is a social activity. The defining part is escape from reality. It’s about the buzz of things. We have had clients who would put € 100,000 on a horse and not wait to see how it gets on,” she said.

She said that those addicted to gambling commonly suffer from blackouts, ranging from just minutes to an hour.

Bushypark provides a range of services for those seeking help, but a lack of funding will curb its ambitions to widen its range of programmes.

“There is a need for more family support programmes. There is lack of services for children of addicts and those living in homes with an addictive person. There is funding there for family therapy but you need more peer-led groups. You can’t have those without funding,” she said. “Family is a key part of the work. If the family doesn’t encourage it, no change will happen,” she said. Outside of Dublin, there is only one facility where people are referred on after their treatment and more places should be provided, according to Ms Nash.

“We would like more half way houses where people can be referred on to after treatment,” she said.

“We refer everybody on to a twoyear aftercare programme. They are run in 14 centres around the country. The two years aftercare is very important. We have reviews during that time. Relapse is part of recovery for people,” she said.

“Our government funding is cut. We are endeavouring to do fundraising ourselves. We are fundraising in conjunction with Clarecare. . . Also, clients are finding it harder to access funds compared to three years ago,” she said.

“The core is in our residential treatment programme and our two-year aftercare programme.

“In 2009, we secured funding under the cocaine initiative and we are in our third year of that. It is to support aftercare,” she said.

This is an interagency programme between four treatment centres – Talbot Grove in Kerry, Aljeff in Limerick, Cuain Mhuire in Bruree and Bushypark.

“In addition we run a family support programme and an after care support programme, targeted at cocaine users,” she added.

AN EAST Clare woman has spent the last month going door to door around thousands of houses in the east Clare area, looking for her dearest friend her 13-year-old dog, Punch.

Carmel Gooney has spent hundreds of hours over the past four weeks travelling along roads and across country looking for the missing Pomeranian, who has had prayers said for him and even a candle lit in his name in Knock.

Punch, who has a heart condition and is partially blind, is of great sentimental value to Carmel’s family, having been nursed back to health by Carmel’s late mother when he was just a puppy.

“His eyesight isn’t the best and he is on heart medication. He is of fierce sentimental value. My own mother died about four years and, when Punch was a puppy, he was in a traffic accident and lost all of the power in his legs. Myself and my mother taught him how to walk again. So there is a great connection there to my mother. Now that he is gone and she is gone, it is very lonesome, to be honest,” said Carmel.

“He went missing around June 17. He went missing from my house in Scariff on June 16 and was found by a local woman. Unfortunately, she didn’t realise that he was lost so she let him go. So the last sighting was on June 17.

“He wouldn’t normally roam anywhere but if a neighbouring dog was out for a walk he might follow them. But his eyesight isn’t great so he could find himself somewhere and not be able to find his way home.”

One bright side of Carmel’s monthlong search for Punch is the support that she has received from the local people.

“I’ve been covering as much ground as I can. I’ve covered Scariff, Mountshannon, one side of Woodford, around Feakle, Killanena and Caher. We also have people looking out for us through the animal welfare groups,” continued.

“I’ve met people who have been looking for him, people who I have never met before in my life. I have found one thing out, though, the good will of people is amazing. People have been ringing up and saying prayers. One woman even lit a candle for him in Knock. The good will of the people has been something else.”

Punch is orange with a small white spot on his chest – similar looking to a small fox. Anyone who comes across Punch is asked to contact Carmel on 086 2699317.

A CLARE member of the HSE West Forum has called for trolley watch figures for Ennis General Hospital to be clarified.

Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney made the comment in the wake of INMO (the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation) figures showing that the number of people waiting on trolleys at Ennis General Hospital increased during the first six months of this year, to reach the highest levels in four years.

The INMO says that, nationally, there is an increase in overcrowding in hospitals.

Between January and June of this year, there were 363 patients on trolleys in Ennis. This is an increase on 215 during the first six months of this year and an increase on 251 two years ago.

The figure for 2008 was 160 and 804 in 2007, according to the figures.

Nationally, the increase so far this year compared to 2006 was 37 per cent; 67 per cent compared to 2007 and 20 per cent compared to last year.

However, Councillor Meaney says he would like to see a breakdown on how the figures are compiled.

“I would like to see how these figures are being calculated. I’ve gone to the accident and emergency at night. You do have people on trolleys but it would be in the accident and emergency. These are not corridors.

“I know many people whose lives have been saved because they have been on a bed with wheels. I am not underestimating genuine instances of people having spent long hours on corridors across the country, but I would like to see how the figures are being calculated,” said Cllr Meaney.

Mary Fogarty, who is the INMO spokesperson in the mid-west, said there is insufficient capacity at Ennis General Hospital.

“There is a concern. We have always had a concern that there aren’t enough beds in the system,” she said, adding that there are fears the situation may worsen.

“There is a shortage of nursing staff. There is a concern that if any more acute beds close in the region, they (figures) will get higher,” she said.

“In the short term, we don’t see it improving but we would hope that it would improve,” she added.

A CASE alleging VAT fraud relating to amounts totalling € 1.55 million has been adjourned in the circuit court.

Derek Floyd (36), of 21 Lower Main Street, Tulla, is facing 41 charges, on dates between March 2001 and January 2004.

He is facing 14 charges of failing to remit bi-monthly VAT returns; 12 charges of claiming VAT repayments which he was not entitled to; 11 charges of making false tax returns and four charges of making incorrect VAT returns.

At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Judge Carroll Moran said that an extra judge would be brought in to hear the case, which is expected to last for at least three weeks.

However, he said that in advance of this being organised, “we have to be certain that the case is in a position to proceed next term”.

Defence Counsel Pat Whyms said that documents were sought and this were only received last Friday.

“I’m not saying we are not in a position to go on, but we just received this material,” he said.

The judge adjourned the case until September, while the court will be told when then case is likely to proceed.

A BARRISTER yesterday told a court that a 22-year-old Kilrush man developed an addiction to heroin while in prison, having been drug-free prior to his admission.

The statement was made at Ennis Circuit Court, in the case of Eamon Hall (22), of Wood Road, Kilrush. He admitted burgling a house in Kilrush in May 2010 and a shop in the town in October 2010.

Garda Donal Corkery told Ennis Circuit Court yesterday that in the October incident, property and cash valued at more than € 10,000 was taken (including cigarettes, clothing and cash), while € 750 damage was caused to the premises.

The court heard the shop was ransacked.

In the other incident, two people were seen running away after a man heard noise in the bathroom of his home in the early hours of the morning. The other individual, a juvenile, has since been dealt with by the courts, the court was told.

The keys to the man’s premises were stolen from his home, which the defendant told gardaí he threw away. He told gardaí he was looking for money in the house.

The court heard at the time, Hall, who has more than 20 previous convictions, had a “chronic drug problem”.

His barrister Yvonne Quinn (instruct- ed by Eugene O’Kelly solicitor) said that he made “full and frank admissions” to gardaí. She said he had been drinking and was on drugs at the time.

She told the court that her client was jailed in 2009 and while in prison he developed an addiction to heroin.

“Prior to going to prison he was drug free. When he was released he was a heroin addict,” she said.

Gda Corkery replied, “He became addicted to heroin in the past two years.”

However, he added that he was not aware of where the addiction was born.

Ms Quinn added, “Drink and an addiction to drugs were the sole motivation behind these crimes. . .

“The sole motivation was a desire to obtain money to feed his drug addiction and his alcohol addiction. He realises they are the root of his difficulties.”

She said that her client’s life began to “spiral out of control” when his addiction developed, but added that he is now drug free, having undergone counselling.

Judge Carroll Moran said he accepted that the offences were committed to feed an addiction and that the accused is now off drugs.

He added, “He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. Without his admissions there would not be any case against him as a matter of probability.”

He imposed a three-year jail sentence suspended for four years and bound him to the peace.

A TEENAGE boy falsely imprisoned his mother and sister and assaulted his mother in their own home, a court has heard.

Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan told Ennis Circuit Court yesterday that gardaí were called to the accused’s home in Ennis at 10.30pm on July 29, 2009.

He said that the boy – who was then aged 15 – was being restrained by his mother in a bedroom of the house. Five knives were removed from the scene, which, he said the accused had discarded during the incident.

“The accused came into the bedroom of his mother while she and her daughter were getting ready for bed. He produced five knives and threatened to kill his mother and subjected his sister to urinate into a rubbish bin,” said Mr Coughlan.

Arising out of the incident, the boy’s mother sustained a laceration to her finger and received treatment in hospital.

He said that earlier that day, the mother had disapproved of her son visiting patients in the acute unit of a hospital and had also refused to al- low him to use the internet.

“He admitted threatening to kill his mother and intimidating his mother and sister and causing his sister to urinate in a rubbish bin and cutting his mother’s hand with a knife,” said Mr Coughlan.

He told the court that the boy did not have contact with his father for some years and had a “good relationship with his mother”.

The court heard that the boy’s mother and sister did not wish to give evidence.

Defence Counsel Pat Whyms said that the boy has since undertaken an intensive programme which included counselling. The facilitator of the programme he has engaged in told the court that the accused was admitted towards the end of 2009. “He would have presented quite a fragile young man, quite distressed in himself, quite guarded,” she said.

She said he has fully co-operated with the programme and contact has been rebuilt between the boy and his mother.

Judge Carroll Moran ordered that the boy committed to keeping the peace and be of good behaviour for a period of three years.

WORK ON A 22-unit housing development in Shannon which has raised concerns among locals is to resume this week, after a new contractor was appointed.

Clare County Council has entered into an agreement with Atlantic Developments Ltd. to complete the affordable homes at Glaisse na Rinne.

The scheme started in 2009 and came to a standstill in August 2010. The council terminated the contract with the original builders and the work has been at a standstill since then. The work is expected to be completed within 16 weeks.

While it is expected to assist in reducing housing waiting lists in Shannon, residents living in the nearby Cluain Airne estate say they want a number of issues clarified.

“While it is great that we can get it finished, we are still unclear about the new legislation by Minister Willie Penrose that the affordable scheme is gone. When these 22 are finished as affordable, our problem is if the next phase goes ahead, will they be social? Do they still go ahead as affordable or do they have to reapply under social?” said the secretary of the Concerned Residents of Cluain Airne group, Nicole Murphy.

“Do they still go ahead or do they have to reapply under social? We were objecting completely to the houses from day one because of where they were built and if they were social houses we were objecting. We were promised it was going to be affordable,” said Ms Murphy.

“There may be a start date but what is the actual story on these houses?” she asked.

“We want to know if parking has been allocated for the residents of Cluain Airne as parking was promised. Also the last bit of the green area needs to be restored. We want it done as soon as possible. We want a guarantee. We don’t want social housing down there, not when affordable were agreed to,” she added.

Since the concerned residents group was set up in 2007, they repeatedly stated that they did not want the houses built in the area and argued that there was inadequate infrastructure in the area to cope with the new houses. Residents also expressed concerns over the closure of the right of way.

Meanwhile, Shannon councillor Patricia McCarthy (Independent), paid tribute to the existing residents of the area who she said “have had to endure living beside a development site and the consequent inconvenience for much longer than they had ever anticipated”.

Cllr McCarthy is one of a number of elected representatives in the town who raised the issue since the project came to a standstill last year.