Category: News

THERE have been calls for the town of Ennis to be made available to rent.

In a motion to be debated at today’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, Green Party councillor Brian Meaney is asking that the Council give consideration to make Ennis available to rent.

Speaking yesterday, Cllr Meaney explained that the Council, working in conjunction with businesses and civic groups, should come together to make all of the amenities in the town available to use to a person or group for an agreed period of time.

He said the proposal would be at- tractive for international conferences and similar large-scale events.

Cllr Meaney added that the initiative could also involve re-naming the streets of Ennis after the person who was renting the town and allowing them to graze “cattle, sheep or goats on the post office field”.

“I think it is an innovative means by which you can market the town and bring more tourists in,” he said.

Cllr Meaney said a similar initiative exists in Lichtenstein, where the entire principality is available to rent to private clients for $70,000 a night.

Cllr Meaney said, “It has a population of around 25,000 people so it’s quite similar to Ennis in that sense.”

A LOCAL priest has called on people to make a new commitment to communication and openness.

Fr Jerry Carey was speaking at the funeral of Ennis man Niall White, who died suddenly last week.

In his homily at St Joseph’s church on Thursday, Fr Carey said Niall had been loved by his family and wide circle of friends.

He recalled visiting the White family home last week and seeing many young people who had called to pay their respects. He said it was important that friends of Niall know they are loved and valued by their community.

He said, “Some questions will be left unanswered, some questions only beg us to see the answer that’s right in front of us. To look around at the faces in the back garden these last three days, the first thing you knew was the love with which Niall is held and because of that love, the pain of his passing.”

He continued, “He is much loved and adored. There is also something that is yelling at us to recognise…. each person who stood in that back garden is much loved and adored without exception.

“Our immediate challenge is to find a new language, a new way to communicate that to each other, to make this a propriety.”

Fr Carey said people had travelled from across the world to attend the funeral.

He added, “I think it’s fair to say that when sudden death comes our way, we are forced to pause, put a lot on hold…. Over these days we have seen people fly from Canada, Aus- tralia, England, from all over, gathered around the hearth of the White family to pay our respects, not so much with words as with the mere act of presence…often in silence. Knowing that questions were forming in our minds yet knowing that answers would be impossible to come by.

“There has been much love shown these past days within family and between families, between friends and new acquaintances, between neighbours and travellers from all parts.”

Addressing Niall’s parents, Pat and Mary and his sister Ciara, Fr Carey said the ceremony would honour “Niall’s life, his spiritual being, his love of family, his loyalty to friendship, the part he played in sport through Lifford FC, St Joseph’s Doora Barefield, and Clare county teams”.

He acknowledged Niall’s capacity as a “dreamer, of who he might be”.

Fr Carey continued, “When death comes suddenly, it does force us to put our lives on pause, to consider, maybe briefly what really needs our attention, our concern and our worry.

“We’ve seen over these past days the value of the bond of family, the value of the bond of friendships. That these things have a pricelessness of unimaginable measure….yes these bonds of affection, love and friendship ebb and flow they are all part of a bigger picture that sometimes creeps in and out of focus”

Remembering Niall’s warm personality, he quoted the words of the Polish cleric, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, saying, “I believe in hands that work, in minds that think, in hearts that love. A friendly look and a smile often say more than friendly speech.”

A CLARE businesswoman, who suffers from a painful and debilitating bent spine, has begun a campaign to have medicinal marijuana legalised in Ireland.

Bunratty woman Niamh O’Brien believes that legalising cannabis could benefit thousands of Clare people suffering from a variety of medical complaints and would also help stop the spread of organised crime in Ireland.

Niamh set up LCI Clare, (the Legalisation of Cannabis in Ireland, Clare branch), just two weeks ago and has already gained more than 650 friends on the organisations Facebook site. She believes that legalising cannabis for medicinal use, as has been done in many American states, could have a positive impact on people in Clare.

“To start with cannabis is an antiinflammatory, which reduces swelling and inflammation. It is a pain relief, it is used to combat depression, anxiety, to promote appetite, to help people who have Alzheimers, MS, Parkinson’s and for a variety of other conditions,” she told The Clare People yesterday.

“As it stands at present people in Ireland are being criminalised for taking a responsible attitude towards their own health and their own care. We have researched the ingredients of some of the medications that people are legally taking in Ireland today and people would be shocked and horrified if they knew what does into it.”

The membership of the Legalisation of Cannabis in Ireland has been growing in recent time. Having traditionally drawing most of its membership from Cork and Dublin, branches have been founded around the country in recent months.

According to Niamh, the current laws are forcing law-abiding people into interacting with criminal elements in order to obtain the cannabis which allows them to overcome their illness and live normal lives.

“Having to go down to a street corner and deal with criminals is not what we should be doing. In fact, this is the only situation where cannabis being seen as a gateway drug to other harmful drugs actually makes sense. You are forced to deal with people who have other dangerous substances that they want you to buy,” she continued.

“There is no guarantee in what you are getting from people like this, who are just out to make a profit. Putting people into the position where they have to deal with dangerous people who don’t care what they are selling you is not a good situation.”

To find out more about the organisation search for “LCI Clare” on Facebook.

THE taxi industry in Clare is “dying”, a well-known taxi driver has warned.

Martin White, of Ennis-based AAA Taxis and the Irish Taxi Driver’s Federation, said the high number of taxis in Clare allied to a reduced level of business is putting serious pressure on the industry.

He explained that in many cases earnings are down “60 to 70 per cent” while drivers often earn as little as € 30 for a typical 10-hour shift.

He said, “Fridays and Saturdays are good days but you can forget about it for the rest of the week. Most days we’re just sitting here on the rank looking out at the river.”

He explained that since regulation was introduced to the industry in 2000, the number of taxis operating in Clare has risen from 20 to 230.

“It’s like everywhere. Everyone is suffering. 90 per cent of drivers are self employed. They don’t get any hand outs, no medical cards. It’s hard to make a living out of it at the moment, hard for fellas that have to pay a mortgage…This is a dying trade.”

Mr White said that recent revelations of alleged bad practices in the taxi industry and at a National Car Test (NCT) centre in Dublin were not reflective of the vast majority of drivers.

He said incidents highlighted in RTE’s Prime Time expose “were not happening in Ennis” and that taxis undergo “rigorous tests” every year at the local NCT centre.

He added, “Most of the taxi drivers in Ennis are honest, hardworking guys, trying to make a living but its a dying trade.”

Mr White said the industry would be aided by a “buy back scheme” that would allow drivers to claim back the cost of a taxi license when they finish driving and by the presence in every county of an enforcement officer. “You’d have no nonsense in the industry and no cowboys,” he said.

The taxi industry is due to be discussed at today’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) has submitted a motion seeking support from councillors to contact the Minister for Transport regarding the operation of the NCT and the regulation of taxis.

PARTS of Ennis came to a standstill on Thursday as huge crowds gathered to say a final goodbye to local man Niall White, who passed away last week.

Family, friends and former teammates lined Lifford Road as Niall’s coffin made the short journey from the White family home to nearby St Joseph’s Church.

Members of the three teams that Niall played for – Clare, St Joseph’s Doora Barefield and Lifford AFC – took it in turns to carry the coffin before members of the White family carried Niall to the church.

Representatives of all three teams formed an exemplorary guard of honour after the ceremony as mourners queued for almost an hour to pay their respects to the family.

A talented sportsman, Niall played both hurling and football for St Joseph’s Doora Barefield. He had been a member of the Clare senior football panel for the past three years, having previously represented his county at minor and under 21 level.

Niall was also a committed soccer player and had been a key member of Lifford’s junior team in recent years.

Items carried to the altar reflected Niall’s love of sport and music. They included a pair of football boots, a Doora Barefield jersey, a Clare jersey, an Abercrombie and Fitch hoodie and an iPod.

Hundreds of mourners filled the church, with more people standing outside as Fr Jerry Carey and family members paid warm tributes to Niall.

Niall’s parents Pat and Mary and his sister Ciara listened on as Fr Carey recalled Niall’s warm personality, saying he had an “electric smile” that would brighten up a room “stronger than any words would”.

Niall’s uncle recalled arriving at the White household last week and seeing a pile of photographs of Niall in his nephew’s room. He described Niall as a popular young man with a wide circle of friends. He said everyone that knew Niall has their own favourite memories or shared moments. He said Niall was a “truly kind and loving person”, adding that in order for a person to love they had to be loved. He said, “You were loved and you will be in our hearts for eternity.”

A 29-YEAR-OLD man has received a suspended sentence in connection with the possession of almost € 8,000 worth of cannabis.

Maurice Crotty, with an address at 11 Bridge View, Roslevan, appeared at Ennis District Court on Friday.

Garda Alan Kelly told the court that the accused had been charged after Gardaí recovered a large amount of cannabis, a small amount of amphetamine, € 2340 in cash and a weighing scales. Garda Kelly said the value of the cannabis was € 7945.

He said the man had not come to garda attention since the drugs were found and added that he believed the man “had learned from his error”.

Solicitor for the accused, John Casey, said his client had made a full admission to gardaí and had since completely dissociated himself from drug dealing.

He explained that his client had been given drugs to sell along with drugs he had used himself. Mr Casey said this was not meant to act as an excuse, that it had been his client’s decision to do it, adding, “He had to do what he was told”.

He said the man had played hurling at underage level for Clare, had won numerous sports awards and had recently been named badminton player of the year.

He said his client believed that the discovery of the drugs by Gardaí had been ‘the best thing to happen to him.’

“It’s a serious charge. He knows it’s a serious charge”, he added.

Mr Casey said the man, who was previously a factory worker, had stopped taking drugs and was now on a good path.

Asking that a custodial sentence not be imposed, he said that if his client went to prison, “he would meet the people he has been trying to avoid for the past few months”.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a four-month prison, suspended on the condition that the man be of good behaviour for two years and that he consented to a community service order of 150 hours. He ordered the man to appear back before court on July 15.

TWO mothers are hitting back against the recession by setting up Ireland’s first ever online craft fair.

Fondelifair.com is the brainchild of Alice Quinlan who decided to set up the website to offer craft-makers in Clare and around Ireland a place to meet, talk and sell directly to customers.

Crafters can sell everything from photographs to jewellery to knitwear.

Originally from Killaloe but now living in Ennis, Michelle Harding is Fondelifair’s creative director.

Michelle, a former Clare FM presenter, said, “We had absolutely no chance of getting a job and, both being keen crafters, we couldn’t find anywhere online where we could sell our crafts. This site is for anybody who would be good enough in their craft that they could sell online. There are people out there who might be at home, feeling down and depressed at the moment because they can’t get work, and this is a great opportunity for crafters to get back to their pas- sion and sell their goods.”

The site provides information on upcoming craft shows and events taking place around the country. Members can also upload images of their products.

Michelle explained that while members to date have enjoyed free membership, following the website’s launch, crafters will pay an annual fee of € 25 and have only to pay Fondelifair.com a five per cent commission on their sales to cover running costs.

Michelle added, “We are averaging approximately three new sign-ups a day since the site went live and that was before we launched officially on Monday. And we haven’t even advertised either. We have had huge interest and we’ve been very busy. It’s going brilliantly so far. We really need to be looking after each other in these tough times and this interactive web community is a great way for people to buy and sell their own unique goods.”

Since going live two weeks ago, the website has so far attracted 177 members.

WHAT we have we hold – that was the message emanating from Shannon that held sway among delegates to last Thursday night’s Fine Gael selection convention in Bunratty to elect a successor to Senator Tony Mulcahy on Clare County Council.

Shannon town councillor Sean McLoughlin secured Senator Mulcahy’s county council seat on a 42-35 vote against Marinella Raftery from Newmarket-on-Fergus – a decision already endorsed by Fine Gael party headquarters that will pave the way for his co-option onto the council at next Monday’s monthly meeting of the local authority in Ennis.

“To keep this council seat in Shannon was important,” said Cllr McLoughlin told The Clare People after his selection convention victory in the Bunratty Manor Hotel. “It was important for me personally, but the entire branch of the Fine Gael branch in Shannon that I was a founder member of in 1994 were adamant that someone from Shannon should get Tony Mulcahy’s seat.

“Outside the Fine Gael Shannon branch, the feeling in the town was that it was Shannon people who elected Tony and that it was still a Shannon seat and that it should be kept within the town limits. That was the overwhelming opinion that I was getting.

“This is something I’ve been working towards for the last 15 years. I have an awful lot of work done for the Fine Gael party for the last 15 years – putting up posters, knocking at doors and dropping off literature. Whatever Fine Gael wanted, I did it. Church Gate collections, organising functions.

“As long as Tony Mulcahy was on the county council, I would never have stood against him. Our vote is very much entwined, but the understanding was always there that if Tony every got further in politics and moved on from Clare County Council that I would be the person to try to step into his shoes and keep the seat in Shannon,” added Cllr McLoughlin.

However, the former Mayor of Shannon has pledged to play his part in working towards securing three Fine Gael seats in the Shannon Electoral Area in the 2014 local elections.

“I have no doubt about it that there are three seats to be got in the Shannon Electoral Area for Fine Gael in the next county council election,” said Cllr McLoughlin, “and I think Marinella Raftery will be there in future.”

A 48-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in Ennis District Court in connection with the alleged possession of child pornography. The man is charged with possession of 641 images of child pornographic material at his home in the South Galway area in March. On Friday, garda John Keating gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. Insp John Galvin told the court that gardaí had no objection provided certain conditions are met. Insp Galvin said the man must reside at a certain address and sign on once a week at a local Garda station. The man was ordered to notify Gardaí of any intention to move away from the area and to surrender his passport. He was also ordered to stay away from Coole Park and Garryland Woods. Solicitor for the accused consented to the bail conditions. Judge Joseph Mangan remanded the man to appear at Gort District Court on June 28.

MEMBERS at the inaugural meeting of the Shannon Green Party have pledged support to campaign for a light rail link to Shannon Airport and want to see any money collected in water charges reinvested in Shannon to tackle leaking pipes.

The first meeting of the new branch under Shannon representative Gerben Unk discussed the possibility of having the link to make Shannon more acessible by public transport. The members said they also want to see an upgrade to provide safe and continuous cycle paths in the estate. But one of the most pressing issue, Mr Unk said at the meeting, is that of water charges.

“It appears that the present govern- ment is intent on bringing in water charges in advance of the roll out of an effective water metering system. Families may be faced with a flat fee of € 175.

The local Shannon Greens are concerned that this will be inequitable because everyone will pay the same regardless of the amount of water they use and ultimately counter-productive as it gives no incentive to user water wisely. Equally, there was concern among the membership for the prospect of an additional drain on the resources of already struggling families. There are fears that it will be introduced without proper processes in place to deal with those who are on low incomes or social welfare who are simply unable to bear the cost.

Just as important is the upgrading and ring-fencing of water charges for small- and medium-sized businesses who can barely survive in the current economic climate,” he said

On the issue of cycle paths for Shannon, Mr Unk said, “The environmental and health benefits of cycling are well documented and it is eminently feasible to cycle from anywhere in Shannon to work in any of the business parks around the town. Cycle paths should be implemented as much as possible, linking local housing estates to the business parks. This must be coupled with a renewed focus on the Bike to Work Scheme. This renewed focus should target local businesses and the community generally.”

The branch now plans to hold a public meeting focused on the water charges issue.

“We will invite all political representatives in the Shannon area, to attend this meeting.

“We are aware there is a lot of leakage due to insufficient piping in the Shannon area and a lot of water gets wasted and we all experienced the effects of this last winter. Sadly this is not unique to Shannon and affects many parts of the country. The Greens demand the proceeds of these water charges are spent at local level to improve the water infrastructure in local communities, for example waste water treatment systems, upgrading and repair of broken/leaking pipes, and educational initiatives focusing on the need to conserve water,” added Mr Unk.