Category: News

TAOISEACH and Fine Gael Party leader Enda Kenny said this week that Fine Gael would not increase the Local Property Tax if elected to local government.

In a whistle-stop visit to the Banner County just a week after polls indicate a swing towards independent candidates and people’s dissatis- faction with the introduction of the LPT, Mr Kenny admitted that being in Government was not an easy position.

But as the Mayo man kissed babies, high fived teenagers and shook hands with pensioners it quickly became apparent that he was not about to run into the hostility he was met with an hour earlier in Limerick.

Instead, supported by the party faithful, a two person anti-abortion protest outside the Temple Gate all but went unnoticed, while the mother of a disabled child who lost her medical card had her say in a peaceful manner.

Among those waiting to meet the leader of the country was Noel O’Driscoll, originally from O’Callaghans Mills, whose late father became secretary of the local Fine Gael branch in 1922 and was there until he died 56 years later.

Mr O’Driscoll showed the Taoiseach an original Land League membership card owned by his great grandfather.

Flanked by MEP Sean Kelly, local election candidates and the county’s two Fine Gael TDs – Pat Breen and Joe Carey – Mr Kenny was remaining coy on how he believes his 16 local election candidates will fare in Clare come May 23.

“Far be for it me to guess what the good people of Clare are going to do when they go to the polls but I will say this for our party we offer a very strong team of candidates.”

“Whoever the people elect for the county council elections they need to understand that these candidates and these councillors are being given responsibility that has never been handed out before to councillors. They are going to have to make decisions about the expenditure for property charges. The Fine Gael candidates will not be voting to increase them, they will be reducing them where possible. They will have to make decisions about rates and about property charges and development plans for their own areas,” he added.

“It is not about electing people to sound off at council meetings. It is a case of electing people to make decisions, the authority being displaced down to the councils.”

CLARE County Council has been allocated € 368,000 under the Government’s Special Resolution Fund (SRF) for Unfinished Housing Developments.

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government has approved the council’s application for funding to enable works to be undertaken at two local housing developments, namely the Aisling Estate on the Lahinch Road in Ennis and Bruachlan/An Grianan in Westbury.

Clare County Council says it will now commence a period of engagement with the relevant stakeholders at the locations concerned with a view to commencing works.

Mayor of Clare Councillor Joe Arkins welcomed the funding announcement, adding, “Engagement from all key stakeholders is critical to progressing the proposed resolution of these sites. I believe the funding enables Clare County Council to provide a solution to these unfinished estates which have been deteriorating over the past number of years and impacting negatively on the residents and the landscape in the area.”

Commenting on the background to the funding allocation, Bernadette Haugh, Administrative Officer, Planning & Enterprise, stated, “The successful application is part of the council’s ongoing focus on unfinished estates throughout the county. A team from the Planning & Enterprise section of the council has been focusing on this issue and will continue to work towards solutions on the many developments where difficulties are being experienced throughout the county.”

Ms Haugh explained that Clare County Council will now engage with the Bondholders AIB, NAMA and the owner of the land in relation to the Aisling site to agree how the proposed site resolution will be progressed. Similar discussions will be undertaken with Grant Thornton who are the appointed receivers in relation to the Westbury site.

“The drawdown of approved funding will commence immediately in order to advance the early execution of the works. Once the programme of works has been agreed Clare County Council will organise an information session with residents in the area of these development to outline how the proposed resolution process will proceed. The condition of the funding requires that the proposed works are completed by the end of 2014,” added Ms Haugh.

ONE of the biggest primary schools in the county is set to go Gallic this week as it plays host to a group of students from the south of France as part of a ground-breaking exchange programme.

The students from the town of Bressuire, which is half-way between Nantes and Potiers at the lower end of the Loire Valley, will be spending a week at Ennis CBS primary school.

The project is being overseen by Ennis CBS teachers Anne Ó Béarra and Colm Daveron, with the relationship between the two schools having been fostered a number of years ago while she lived and worked in Bressuire.

“What happened was that when I was living in France the school there approached me to know if I could get my Irish school involved in the Caminus Project in June 2010,” she reveals.

“The Caminus is a project between six countries that concluded in June 2012, but afterwards we maintained contact with this school and as a result there are 28 students and four teachers coming over. They’re going to integrate into the classes during the week,” she adds.

The cultural exchange is the second one undertaken by Ennis CBS in recent years, while it is hoped that as part of this latest venture that students from the school will undertake a visit to Bressuire next year.

“The idea of it is to continue to foster the link between the two towns,” says Ms Ó Bearra.

“They students arrived in Ennis on Monday evening, are attending the school from this Tuesday and while they’re here they’ll be doing their bit for Clare tourism and are going to be brought on a walking tour around Ennis where the history of Ennis will be explained as well going to places like the Cliffs of Moher and the Ailwee Caves.

A LIMERICK man said he caused noise and disturbance in Ennis Courthouse yesterday because he only got potato wedges and chicken nuggets for lunch instead of a snack box.

Eddie O’Sullivan (25) was in custody awaiting sentence for stealing money and a bus pass from a disabled man in Ennis last August.

Shouting and banging could be heard from the cell area below the courtroom where Circuit Criminal Court sat on Monday.

When Mr O’Sullivan was called for arraignment a prison officer told Judge Carroll Moran that Mr O’Sullivan was naked. Judge Moran asked that the accused be brought into the courtroom to inform him how he intended to plead to the charge.

Mr O’Sullivan subsequently appeared wearing just boxer shorts and a pair of socks. “I know I’m not dressed appropriately, I’m sorry,” Mr O’Sullivan told Judge Moran.

Mr O’Sullivan, with addresses at Parkview Apartments, Limerick and, John Street Limerick, pleaded guilty to theft of wallet, cash, bank cards and bus pass from a 50-year-old partially paralysed man at Newbridge Road, Ennis, on August 31, 2013.

Mr O’Sullivan represented himself having dismissed his legal team last week. Judge Moran told Mr O’Sullivan his case would be dealt with later in the day.

“Put on some clothes Mr O’Sullivan, you’ll feel more comfortable,” he said.

Mr O’Sullivan reappeared in court some hours later wearing a white striped hoodie; black t-shirt, jeans and runners.

Garda Cyril Paige of Ennis Garda Station said the victim, who walks with the aid of a walking stick, had stopped to rest near the Club Bridge. He said Mr O’Sullivan approached the man, distracted him and stole the items.

A passing motorist witnessed the theft. Gardaí were alerted and Mr O’Sullivan was arrested at the nearby Ennis Swimming Pool.

The court heard the accused has 121 previous convictions. Prosecuting counsel Stephen Coughlan told the court Mr O’Sullivan was on bail when he committed the offence.

Mr O’Sullivan told Judge Moran he had suffered the loss of a number of family members including the recent death in Limerick of his aunt.

Asked by Judge Moran why he had made such a racket earlier in the day, Mr O’Sullivan said he had received wedges and three chicken nuggets while other people in custody got snack boxes. He pleaded with Judge Moran not to impose a consecutive prison sentence. Noting that the accused will spend the next 18 months in prison serving another sentence, Judge Moran adjourned the case to September for a probation and psychiatric report.

THE Lisdoonvarna Spa Well has been reopened for the first time in nearly four years, with members of the public now free to enter the historic premises and take some of its famous mineral waters.

The well, officially re-opened last week, will be staffed by paid employees from Monday to Friday with members of the newly reconstituted board of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte volunteers to staff the premises at the weekends.

The famous mineral water already helps to attract around 10,000 German tourists to the Spa town each year and it is hoped that the reopening of the Spa Well could increase that number dramatically.

A fund was also launched last week to begin raising the estimated € 1.3 million needed to redevelop and reopen the famous sulfur baths, which once made Lisdoonvarna one of Europe’s premier spa destinations.

These changes follow a change in the management structure of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte in January with a large number of new people taking up positions on the board of management.

A public meeting will take place in Lisdoonvarna this Wednesday, when members of pubic are invited to hear updates on the recent progress of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte and comment on the future direction of the company.

“The Victorian pump-house is reopened so people can go in and take the water. People come from all over the world to take the water and now people can come in for free and take the waters,” said Paddy Dunne of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte.

“The wells themselves is a longer term project. We launched the Spa Wells Restoration Fund on Monday and that went great. We raised € 1,500 in a few hours. We have a long way to go. Hopefully if we can raise a good amount the Government might be able to come in with matching funding.

A public meeting will take place this Wednesday, May 14, at the Pavillion Theatre from 8pm.

“The meeting is about updating members of the community about the developments and to share ideas about how things might proceed in the future,” continued Paddy.

“We want to keep this process as open and transparent as possible and to involve as many people as possible. We are still looking for people with a background in tourism or finances to get involved with the board of management.”

TWO new independent candidates joined the hustings in the West Clare electoral area at the 11th hour.

Just before the deadline on Saturday last Jackie Dale declared as an Independent candidate for the area.

It is understood Ms Dale is living in Cahermurphy, Kilmihil and has registered as non-party.

Meanwhile retired Garda Sergeant Joseph Enright has begun his campaign in earnest since he both registered and declared as a candidate on Thursday last.

A native of native of O’Gorman Street, Kilrush this Irish speaker now lives in Kilmihil village, having moved there in 2007.

Educated in the Convent of Mercy, and CBS Kilrush, he joined the Irish Army in 1997 and rose to the rank of sergeant within four years.

In 1983 he joined An Garda Síóchána and developed services in Irish as Garda sergeant in charge of the Irish language policy in the Garda College.

Mr Enright continued his education throughout his life and now holds a PRII Certificate in Public Relations; an Honours Degree in Public Management (Human Resource Management) and a NUI Certificate in Training and Education and a NUI Post-Graduate Honours Diploma in the Arts (Language Planning).

Mr Enright said he was propelled to run for the local elections through a consciousness of “poverty and hard- ship suffered by many people and the impact this has on our people. I am also conscious of depopulation in West Clare through annual emigration due to lack of sufficient investment in West Clare going back to 1922.”

Among the many issues he is campaigning on he said, “I am highlighting the lack of Irish language cultural facilities in West Clare and government inaction to give Gaeltacht status and facilities to West Clare since 1926.”

He said he is also committed to abolishing the property tax and the proposed water charges for poor families in West Clare and wants improvements to the enterprise office, road infrastructure and public library network in West Clare.

THE Church of Ireland on Bindon Street, Ennis, is the venue for a new live music experience coming to Clare.

“Switch” – a Clare Youth Service initiative aims to showcase old and new music talent from all over Ireland in unexpected locations around Clare. The group of volunteers involved promise a “unique live music experience” and is aimed at 18 – 25 year olds in the Clare area.

“Switch aims to give you a concert experience with a professional at- mosphere, and introduce you to your new favourite Irish artists” – Shane Killowry, volunteer EMP. Their first show this Friday, May 9, will present local alternative rock band “39 Shots”.

The group have been writing and performing together for over 6 years and have achieved a honed, unique and utterly fantastic original sound.

They will be joined by Ennis rap veteran Clerk 5 who will be showcasing his forthcoming EP which he recently recorded with music producer Deviant & Naive Ted.

Other acts will also perform on the night.

Switch is an alcohol and drug free event and offers an alternative Friday night experience for young people around Clare, the first event is Free but donations are welcome.

For further information check out the Ennis Music Projects Facebook page “ www.facebook.com/ennismusicproject

Doors open at 8.30PM this event is not to missed. This event is kindly supported by the Clare Youth Service, Phillip Walsh Audio Hire, Supermac’s and Suas Coffee House.

A JUDGE has asked gardaí to investigate further if a comment on the social media site Facebook or an assault was the reason behind a violent altercation at a house in Ennis last year.

Three men used weapons in the row that occurred at 57 Cahercalla Estate, Kilrush Road, Ennis on March 16 last. Two of those men – Darren Long (28) and Blaine Kearse (25) – appeared before Ennis Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on Friday.

In March, they pleaded guilty to offences arising from the incident at Cahercalla.

Both men pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to Jamie Greene (21), who is not charged with any offence.

Mr Kearse, with an address at Ard Aóibhinn, Lissane Road, Clarecastle, pleaded guilty to the production of a hurley during the course of a dispute contrary to the firearms and offensive weapons act. He also admits damaging the front door window of a house. Mr Long, with an address at Castleview, Tiermaclane, pleaded guilty to the production of a crutch and a tyre iron during the course of a dispute. He also admits criminal damage to a door window. Detective Garda Gary Stack of Ennis Garda Station told the court the pair went to Cahercalla to confront Mr Greene at his home.

The court heard the victim and his younger brother went into the porch when a green Suzuki Jeep, driven by Mr Long pulled up outside.

Det Stack said Mr Greene picked up a hurley as Mr Kearse approached him shouting, “Come out. You picked the wrong people to f*** with”.

Mr Kearse also had a hurley. Both men swung at each other with Mr Kearse breaking the porch door.

Mr Greene received a blow to his arm and suffered a fractured wrist.

Det Stack said that just prior to the altercation, Mr Kearse told Mr Long to go back to the jeep and get a doublebarreled shotgun.

Mr Long came back from the jeep carrying an implement, later shown to be a tyre iron, hidden from Mr Greene’s view. The altercation continued with Mr Greene picking up a hurley and chasing Mr Long and Mr Kearse back to the road. As Mr Kearse attempted to evade Mr Greene, Mr Long got into the jeep and made two attempts to run over Mr Greene, the court heard.

Mr Kearse and Mr Long were later arrested and interviewed by gardaí.

Det Stack said they both alleged Jamie Greene had produced a knife.

Det Stack said CCTV footage from the house tied with Mr Greene’s version of events on the day.

When asked by gardaí about his attempt to run over Mr Greene, Mr Long said, “He was lucky I didn’t run him over”. Det Stack said Mr Long later insinuated that gardaí gave him the wrong medication in an attempt to make him talk and accused gardaí of making up stories about him.

Mr Long told gardaí the visit to Mr Greene’s house was meant as a “scare tactic”. He admitted having the tyre iron. The court heard Mr Kearse told gardaí he should never have gone to the house in the first place.

Mr Kearse told gardaí he may have “clipped” Mr Greene with the hurley. The court heard both accused have no previous convictions.

In his victim impact report, Mr Greene said the attack had a big impact in his life. He said he had to give up his job as a welder because of his injuries. He said his younger brother was afraid to be at home alone for a month after the attack. Asked about the background to the incident, Det Stack said Mr Greene would say he was attacked after he was involved in a violent assault against a friend of both accused.

Det Stack said Mr Kearse and Mr Long would say the argument started over a comment made by Mr Greene on Facebook.

Judge Gerald Keys asked the gardaí to investigate the background to the incident further.

“It seems to me there is more behind this than what the gardaí have revealed to me today”.

He adjourned sentencing to May 7.

STUDENTS from St Michael’s Community College Kilmihil brought home gold in two categories in the prestigious eircom Junior Spider Awards.

First year student Jamie Mulqueen won the overall best design category for his site www.greenkilmihil.wix. com/green.

The site focuses of the School’s environmental policies, the work of the students and related projects as the school takes part in the Green Flag initiative.

Jamie has a keen interest and knowledge in both technology and environmental issues.

The judges praised the layout, design and content of the teenager’s site.

Teacher Ruth Morrissey praised the work of the young student.

“As a first year student Jamie was put into the Giga spiders category where he competed against students up to third year. Yet Jamie created a dynamic site full of resources and information,” she said.

The school’s club gaeilge website www.gaeilgegaga.com designed by Kieran Moroney and Micheál Clancy was also among the big winners at the awards winning the Suimoh is Fearr in the Tera Spiders category.

“The website is based on our club “Gaeilge Gaga” which has won many national and regional prizes. Kieran and Micheál are two transition year students in the school. They are both responsible for gaeilge gaga and both have a real passion for the language,” explained Ms Morrissey. “Micheál is responsible for the social media side of the site he regularly tweets and uploads pictures to Instagram. Kieran designed the site and is responsible for updating the site and writing about the various activities we undertake in our club gaeilge. The judges praised the passion and dedication of the students but more than anything else they said that the love for the language was evident from the site.”

A third group from the school also made it as far as the finals in the Dublin Google offices.

Aoife Lynch, Keeva Corry and Aoife Daly designed www.gaeilgelecheile.weebly.com “ – an Irish vocabulary site.

“Technology is the future we need to embrace it. We were thrilled with our victories. As mere novices we felt perhaps it wouldn’t be our year. We had three entries and won two of them. We were delighted to make the shortlist with all three entries. We competed with schools who have been doing web design for years and the standard was the highest ever. The students are a credit to their teachers, their school and their parents,” said Ms Morrisey.

FOUR men involved in a violent confrontation at family home in Shannon two years ago “behaved like a lynch mob from the days of Wild West”, a Judge has said.

Judge Gerald Keys told Daniel Larkin, Jake Egan, Shane O’Connor and Gearoid Condron that it was patently clear they were “fueled by alcohol” and out of control when they arrived for a planned confrontation at the Murphy household in the early hours of January 1, 2012.

All four received two year suspended sentences and were ordered to pay compensation to the victims. The judge also told the men that they should apologise to their parents immediately after the hearing for the grief they had caused them.

Grandfather Michael Murphy (45) suffered cuts to his face, lip and knee during the incident at the Cluain Alainn estate in Shannon at around 4.30am

Mr Murphy and his then 19-yearold son Kieran had to run a “gauntlet” of kicks and punches during the ordeal, the court heard.

Four people appeared before Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on Friday to be sentenced having pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Schoolmates Daniel Larkin (22), from Mount Ivers, Sixmilebridge, Jake Egan (22), from Aidan Park, Shannon, Shane O’Connor (23), from Ballycasey Manor, Shannon and Gearoid Condron (22) from Drumline, Newmarket on Fergus, were among a large gang of people that traveled in cars from Shannon and Ennis to the quiet residential area near Hurler’s Cross.

Mr Murphy, his wife, son, daughter and young granddaughter were in the house at the time.

Details of the incident were first heard at the Circuit Court in March. At the time Garda Colm Moriarty told the court that at one point a person, not one of the four men before the court, threatened to burn down the house.

When Mr Murphy Snr pleaded that there was a young child in the house, the reply from the person was “F*** the kids”.

Garda Moriarty said Daniel Larkin organised people to go to the Murphy home to confront Kieran Murphy.

He said Mr Larkin alleged that he had been “jumped” by Kieran Murphy in Shannon at around 1.30am that night.

Judge Keys adjourned sentencing to allow the men time to pay compensation to he victim.

He ordered each man to pay Mr Murphy € 2000. Counsel for Mr Larkin, Michael Collins said his client had the money in court.

Counsel for Jake Egan, Lorcan Connolly, said his client had € 250 in court but had set up a standing order to pay Mr Murphy € 50 a week.

Defence Counsel Elaine Houlihan said her client Gearoid Condron had brought € 2000 to court.

Counsel for Shane O’Connor, Pat Whyms, said his client would pay a sum of € 50 a week when he begins employment in June.

All four men expressed remorse through their barristers for their actions on the night.

Judge Keys said all four men were equally responsible for their “very, very wrongful acts”.

Addressing the accused, Judge Keys said, “You behaved like a lynch mob from the days of the Wild West”.

He told them they had taken the law into their own hands because of some perceived slight.

Judge Keys said behaviour of this kind would not be tolerated by the court.

He said the court is frequently being forced to deal with violent cases that arise from a “macho type of attitude”.

Judge Keys told the accused that despite the opportunities afforded to them by their backgrounds and education, they had behaved in an “appalling” manner.

He said it was clear alcohol had an effect them and he urged them to moderate or abstain completely from drink.

Noting the men’s good previous records, Judge Keys imposed a twoyear sentence on each accused.

He suspended the sentences on condition each man pay compensation within two years; refrain from contact with the Murphy family and not be found intoxicated in public places or licensed premises.

Addressing the four men as they stood with heads bowed in the dock, Judge Keys said, “When you leave this courthouse, the first thing you should do is apologise to your par ents for the grief you have caused.”