Category: News

ST JOSEPH’S Secondary School Spanish Point is continuing the fight to raise funds for the county’s first second level education unit for students with Autism.

In its second year, the ‘Fight for Autism’ white-collar boxing competition has been organised again to raise funding to equip the specialised unit.

Last year € 20,000 was raised for the cause, with the organising committee hoping to reach the same fundraising milestone this year.

As many as 12 women and 20 men from all over west and north Clare have been training to get into the ring for this cause since January 1.

So popular is the event that the 700 tickets have already almost completely sold out, even though they only went on sale on Saturday morning.

The Fight for Autism will take place in the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, on Sunday evening next.

The boxers parade will begin at 6.30pm, with six women’s fights and 10 men’s fights then scheduled to take place.

Deputy principal at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point, Paul Reidy paid particular tribute to Ennis Boxing Club.

“We have to say a huge thanks to the club, without them this would not be possible,” he said of the boxing club that provided training and facilities to train to the 32 participants.

A TOURISM venture, which is expected to increase the number of visitors to Clare this year, was launched on Thursday in Dublin, much to the annoyance of some West of Ireland tourism bodies.

The Government chose to launch the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s first long distance touring route along the West coast, in the East.

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring promised visi- tors the “journey of a lifetime” as he officially launched 2,500-kilometre route.

Fáilte Ireland is investing € 10 million during 2014 in the route which stretches from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork, and incorporate west and north Clare.

Minister Ring said, “It’s the world’s longest touring route through some of Ireland’s most beautiful places, and is already proving a hit in our key overseas markets like Britain, the US, France and Germany.

“It has massive potential to bring more visitors and more jobs to rural communities right along the western seaboard.

“That’s why we will soon be promoting it even further a field in places like Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.”

The minister has also said that while the Government has invested in the promotion of the venture it would not be providing specific finances to repair any damage along the route due to recent storms.

Clare County Council has to date paid out € 1 million in repairs along the Clare part of the tourism route.

Director of Services with Clare County Council Ger Dollard told The Clare People , “Responsibility for roads rests with the council but we are dependent on funding from Government.

“We see the Wild Atlantic Way as a major tourism project for County Clare with huge economic and tourism potential.

“We are obviously anxious that the overall product is presented to the highest standard possible.”

DONALD Trump could become the unlikely bed-fellow of Fracking Free Clare following the purchase of Doonbeg Gold Course and the Lodge at Doonbeg by the American billionaire last month.

UK-based company Enegi Oil are currently exploring the prospect of hydraulic fracturing or fracking in the Clare basin and an abandoned mine just south of Doonbeg is the centre for its exploration.

With the Doonbeg site less than ten kilometres from Doonbeg Gold Club, it is likely that some evidence of fracking will be visible from Trump’s new purchase, should Enegi Oil be granted a license to proceed to a commercial operation.

Trump has, in the past, been a vocal supporter of fracking in America. In a tweet from 2012 he said that fracking would lead to American “energy independence” and described it as a “tremendous advantage” for the country. In more recent times however, he has opposed a number of energy producing developments which interfered with his own property, most notable an off shore wind energy factory in Scotland.

Fracking Free Clare said yesterday that it would welcome Mr Trump to join the anti-fracking campaign in the Clare basin and said that if he is serious about tourism, he will oppose fracking.

“Time will tell if he will become an ally. If he is interested in devel- oping tourism in West Clare, and in particular in the Doonebg area, then he could be a great help to our cause, because you cannot have tourism and fracking in the same place,” said Lorraine Hughes of fracking Free Clare.

“If he is really interested in tourism and developing what we have in West Clare, then he could be a brilliant ally. People are not going to want to go on holidays or play golf beside a big fracking platform.

“If this goes ahead there would definitely be a drilling platform next door to the golf club in Doonbeg. If he [Donald Trump] is up for developing tourism and stopping fracking in West Clare then we would absolutely welcome him into out group.”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are currently completing a major investigation into the possible effects of hydraulic fracturing on the Clare basin. The Minister for Energy, Pat Rabbitte (Lab), says no decision on fracking will be made until after the EPA report is made available.

THOSE dying for a bargain have the opportunity to avail of a once in as lifetime sale this month, as graves in a West Clare graveyard are part of a once-off sale.

The new extension to Burrane Cemetery can accommodate more than 50 double graves and from now until the end of the month they are available at a knock down price.

The Graveyard Committee hope that the sale of some grave plots in the coming weeks will offset the cost of extending the full to capacity cemetery in Kilimer.

Sean Culligan of the Burrane Graveyard Committee said that while there have been a number of enquires about the purchase of a last resting place in the new graveyard, sales have been slow.

It is hoped that by reducing the cost of the graves for a limited period, people will be encouraged to pur- chase this inevitable commodity in the coming weeks.

A double grave at Burrane Cemetery costs € 550, but a hundred euro reduction will see the cost drop to € 450 for this month.

A single grave at the cemetery overlooking the Shannon Estuary will set the buyer back € 350 but this will drop to € 300 if bought in the next four weeks.

The new graveyard extension will have a modern green field layout, with no kerbs and there will be guidelines when it comes to headstones.

The design of the modern layout shows headstones back to back so that there will be a single path to a row of graves.

“This will help with the maintenance of the graveyard,” explained Mr Culligan.

There are three cemeteries in the parish of Kilimer-Knockerra – Burrane, Knockerra and Molougha, and all three are either full or nearing full capacity.

THE promise of a belated Lisdoonvarna pub crawl is bringing Oscar winning director Cynthia Wade, to North Clare this St Patrick’s Day where she will film one of the most original musical groups ever to form.

Wade, who won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2008 and was nominated for a second Oscar in 2012, is currently producing a documentary on groundbreaking American group, the Hutchins Consort.

The Hutchins Consort is the only group in the world who play violin octets – a collection of eight violintype instruments, which are each of a different size and produce a different sound.

Wade is currently working on a new documentary on the group and its founder, the late Carleen Hutchins who invented the instruments. The family of the band’s leader Joe McNally visited the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna two years ago and that prompted him to bring filming all the way to Ireland.

“When I heard of the group I sent an email to them them over in San Diego, saying that they had got me interested. The man I spoke to was Joe McNally and as luck would have it his whole family had been in the Roadhouse in Lisdoonvarna two years ago and Joe had missed the night,” said Peter Curtin of the Roadside Tavern,

“So when he decided to come over, he said it was make up for the pub crawl that he missed two years before. It’s a very exciting event. Where else in the west of Ireland would you get an Oscar winning director coming to film this incredible group on St Patrick’s Day.”

Footage from the Roadside Tavern will be used as part of Wade’s latest film, ‘Second Fiddle’, which tells the story of Carleen Hutchins. Wade has won festival accolades all over the world including at the Academy Awards, Primetime Emmys, Sundance Film Festival, Palm Springs, Aspen and the Hamptons, as well as film festival awards in Spain, Italy, Argentina and Belgium.

The Hutchins Consort will perform at the Roadside Tavern St Patrick’s Day, Monday March 17, from 2pm.

BURREN film ‘Songs for Amy’ will be given it’s full Irish big-screen premiere in Dublin on May 1.

The film, which was both written and produced by Burren based writer Fiona Graham, was premiered in Los Angeles in 2012, but Irish audiences will now finally get the chance to see it on the big screen.

The film was recorded in the Kinvara area in 2011, and features a number of local actors and musicians including Jim McKee from Belharbour and Ultan Conlon from Kinvara. The film features a number of well know stars including Sean Maguire, Lorna Anderson and Patrick Bergin – who plays an older musician in the film.

It has already won a number of awards on the international film festival circuit, including the Jury Award for for Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California.

Following the Dublin premiere on May 1, ‘Songs for Amy’ will open in selected IMC Cinemas from May 2. It is not yet clear if the film will be shown in cinemas in Ennis, Limerick or Galway.

Burren based Sonny and Skye Productions, which produced the film, have also just joined forced with Los Angeles based company Traverse Media, in a effort to help ‘Songs for Amy’ get a widespread screening in America.

They have launched a crowd-funding campaign to help support the promotion of the film. The Indiegogo campaign asks members of the public to pledge support for the film in return for t-shirts, location tours and even meeting the cast.

“We are truly excited to be bringing American audiences ‘Songs for Amy’. It’s got all of the elements that make for a great movie, and we expect film fans everywhere will fall in love with this movie like we did,” said Jason Tyrrell, acquisitions director at Traverse.

DONALD Trump (Snr) is due to play his first game of golf on his newlyowned golf links – Doonbeg – within the month.

Representative from the Trump Organisation are to sign the final contract later today (Tuesday) in Doonbeg, for the Greg Norman-designed golf course which is reported to have cost them € 15 million.

Executive Vice President Eric Trump said he was excited to be signing the final papers, but it would appear he is not as excited as his billionaire father about his latest acquisition. Mr Trump asks about the course and its development at least five times a day.

“He will be very excited to play it. He will be very excited to get out here and obviously we speak no less than five times a day, and he is always asking how it is, he couldn’t be more excited,” said Eric.

“He is the one that came across this property. We have all so many friends who have played this prop- erty and who are members here, so he is truly, truly excited.”

While an exact figure is not yet available on how much will be further invested in the property, Eric Trump who is in Doonbeg today for the signing of the contract said it would be in the millions.

“We will spend what ever is needed to make it the best,” he said, stating that any work and labour will be provided locally.

“Just about everything will be local. If you just look at the operational team that we have already on the ground it is phenomenal. The number one hotel in Europe, you don’t just get that award by not having the best, and the team is incredible and Joe Russell is incredible. It is his team, and they are true professionals. Quiet frankly not always do you walk into a property that has such an amazing team. We plan on making very few changes in that regard. And in terms of labour as we move in to executing our plans it will all be local,” he told The Clare People .

He said the company has already received some permission from Clare County Council to carry out coastal erosion works and will continue to work with the council in that regard.

The whole process taking Doonbeg Lodge and Golf Links to Trump International Golf Links, Ireland has been completed in record time.

“It has been exceptionally quick. I think to be able to effectively find, go hard and then close on a deal like this in two and a half weeks is certainly unheard of, and it is how we like to work. We like to move very quickly. We have that ability as a private company and when we find something we like and we find something we love and something that has this kind of potential, we hop on it very quickly and we get it done,” said Mr Trump.

AN explicit ban on hydraulic fracturing or fracking has not been written into the Clare County Development Plan – more than two year after councilors voted unanimously for its introduction.

A spokesperson from Clare County Council say yesterday that the local authority has taken legal advice on the matter and says that it cannot introduce a ban until the national position on fracking has been made clear.

Fracking Free Clare yesterday urged Clare County Council to move on a fracking ban – saying that both Donegal and Leitrim local authorities have placed a ban on fracking.

“Leitrim and Donegal have managed to amend their County Development Plans so we don’t see what the issue is in Clare,” said Lorraine Hughes of Fracking Free Clare.

“Fracking Free Clare would love to see a similar amendment here in Clare and will keep this issue on the table until there is a complete ban on fracking in Clare and the whole of Ireland.”

A spokesperson from Clare County Council said the County Development plan is “adequate” to deal with the current situation regarding hydraulic fracturing.

“The elected members of Clare County Council unanimously adopted a resolution some time ago to introduce a ban on fracking in the County Development Plan. We have taken legal advice on how best the decision of the Elected Members could be given effect within the planning laws,” said the spokesperson.

“We are also aware that the EPA has been required by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte to undertake a detailed study and research on fracking.

“Until there is a national position on fracking there is little progress that can be made locally. We are also confident that the existing environmental objectives and safeguards in the County Development Plan as it stands are adequate to deal with any issues that arise at present.”

AN open verdict has been returned at the inquest of young Ennis man whose body was discovered following an extensive search in the town last summer.

Seamus Higgins went missing from his foster home in Dun Na hÍnse, Ennis on Saturday, August 10, 2013. He was last seen jumping a wall at the rear of the estate.

His disappearance sparked a major search operation involving family, friends, civil defence, local diving groups and gardaí.

His body was discovered five days later by search divers in the Claureen River. At Clare Coroner’s Court yes- terday, Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy stated the post mortem report concluded that the cause of death was asphyxia secondary to drowning.

Foster brother Jordan Whelan was one of the last people to see Seamus alive. He described Seamus as an artist and someone who loved to fix things with his hands.

Victor Moloney, a member of Clare Marine Search and Rescue, told the inquest he found Seamus’ body submerged in nine feet of water in a river at the rear of an astro-turf pitch in Cloughleigh.

In her deposition to the inquest, foster mother Tina Whelan said Seamus had returned to Ennis for a holiday. He was living with his father Danny in Southampton.

The inquest heard Seamus had been diagnosed with a stress disorder, psychosis and depression and had previously attempted suicide.

“In my opinion Seamus’ mental health was deteriorating”, she added.

Ms Whelan said that on the morning he went missing, Seamus was in good form, having spent time with his brothers and best friend Thomas Molloy.

“He was very much loved and is missed very much by everybody” Ms Whelan told the inquest.

Blood and urine analysis revealed trace or very small levels of alcohol and anti-depressant drugs, the inquest heard. County Cororner Isobel O’Dea said the appropriate verdict was an open verdict.

Ms O’Dea explained no note had been left by the deceased.

“No absolute intention has been displayed to me that he intended to take his life”, she added.

Ms O’Dea extended her sympathies to Seamus’ family and friends.

Insp John O’Sullivan extended his sympathies on behalf of the gardaí.

The deceased’s father Danny Higgins said his son, a former student, had every intention of returning to Southampton.

“I had a bad feeling immediately,” said Mr Higgins of the moment he received a call from Tina Whelan to say Seamus was missing.

THERE was a 31 per cent decline in the number of post offices operating in Clare in the last seven years, a meeting has heard.

A total 17 offices closed between 2006 and 2013 bringing the number of offices in Clare down from 54 to 37. According to the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU), closures took place in Liscannor, Kilnamona, Kilmaley, Crusheen, Bodyke, Dunsallagh, Kilmurry, Ennis, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Spanish Point, Maurice Mills, Mountshannon, Bellharbour, Ballynacally, Ruan, Connolly, Tubber and Flagmount.

The figures were revealed at a public meeting in the West County Hotel, Ennis on Thursday night.

The meeting was organised by the IPU who are urging Clare TDs to vote in favour of a bill aimed at protecting the future of the post office network in Ireland.

Clare residents in favour of the motion are expected to travel to Dublin on Wednesday to express their support. The motion calls on the Government to produce a comprehensive plan setting out measures to deliver on their commitment to sustain the network as contained in the Programme for Government.

Speaking at the meeting, Clare Postmaster Tom O’Callaghan said, “The Post Office network is under serious threat. The network as we know it will be wiped out unless we get Government action now.

“While An Post has retained the Social Welfare payments contract for a possible six-year term, this is only a temporary respite. We need a plan to ensure that Post Offices play a central role in the delivery of wel- fare payments and other Government services and we need that plan now.”

Mr O’Callaghan, a native of Kildysart added, “The Post Office network will be decimated if the income from the welfare payments contract is lost.”

There were a number of speakers on the night including West Clare councillor Pat Keane.

Cllr Keane (FF), whose wife runs a post office in Kilkee, urged An Post to show the same faith in rural Ireland as American businessman Donald Trump has.

“There is a post office in Doonbeg that they are fighting hard to retain. It’s ironic that an American is after spending € 15 million for an infrastructure in Doonbeg. That’s the kind of confidence he has in places like Doonbeg. Yet An Post hasn’t the confidence to keep post offices open,” he said in reference to Donald Trump’s recent purchase of Doonbeg golf club.

President of the IPU, Ciaran McEntee told the meeting that a list of TDs names who vote against the IPU motion in the Dáíl on Wednesday, will be put on the wall of every post office in the country.