Category: News

CLARE suicide prevention charity, the William Winder Rainbow Foundation, will be forced to close in the coming weeks if urgent funding cannot be found.

The charity, which has provided more than 700 hours of free counselling to vulnerable Clare people over the past two years, is appealing to the people of Clare to get behind the service and help save the organisation.

The charity currently spend roughly € 1,000 a month on counselling hours – all of which must be raised from local fundraising. The foundation was set up by Mark and Caroline Winder in memory of their son William who took his own life in 2012.

According to Mark, suicide is a bigger issue in Clare than anywhere else in Ireland and the demand for counsellor hours is great.

“We need Clare to get behind us. We can only go far but beyond that we need the community to get behind us. This is need in Clare more then anywhere in Ireland. The death toll [from suicide] here is higher than anywhere,” he said.

“To put it plain and simple, if we can’t get the public behind us there is only one way that the foundation will go, and that is to close down. It’s been two years since our son died and we are breaking our backs. The community has been fantastic; we know everyone is on hard times, we’re on hard times ourselves. But we’re talking about people not buying a pint or not buying a packet of fags – that’s saving a life. The public have been fantastic, they really have, but we can’t do this by ourselves anymore. We need the support of the Clare people.

“We can’t colour it up any more than that. We’re looking at what’s coming in and what’s going out and it doesn’t match. I’m not a millionaire, I’m not earning the money to fund this ourselves, I wish I was.”

Despite the huge demand for its counselling service, the William Winder Rainbow Foundation currently operates without any government or HSE funding.

“Without a shadow of a doubt this service is needed in Clare. There are people out there who have no other options. We have not received any government support so far. So I’m basically calling around to companies asking is there any chance for a donation. I’m on the road doing that,” he said. To f nd out more or to make a do nation visit www.williamwinderrainbowfoundation.ie.

will be rescheduled in the coming days.

An Post announced in late October that they plan to bring an end to all services currently provided in Cratloe Post Off ce from March of 2015. The local community were shocked by the announcement, which came in the wake of the Cratloe Post Off ce Action Group collecting more than 1,000 signatures from local people and businesses who are committed to supporting the post off ce. The future of Cratloe Post Off ce came into doubt in June of this year when it was discovered that the post off ce was not registered in the name of its current operator, Dermot O’Brien, but in the name of his brother who formally operated the business. This prompted An Post to conducted a review of operations in Cratloe, which found that the post off ce was not generating enough income to justify keeping it open. The Cratloe Post Off ce Action Group has appealed to An Post to give the facility a f veyear stay of execution, to see if the situation could be rectif ed, but that has been turned down by the postal service. According to the Cratloe Post Off ce Action Group, a number of local businesses could also be in jeopardy if the post off ce closes.

SINN Fein members were prevented from carrying party banners during Saturday’s Ennis protest against Irish Water.

A number of party members, including local election candidate Noeleen Moran, took part in the Ennis protest, but were asked not to carry materials belonging to the Sinn Fein party, including banners.

According to the Clare Says No To Water Charges group, who organised the Ennis protest, Sinn Fein was not targeted in the march but it was instead decided that no posters from any party should be displayed.

“It was a non-political protest. We had a meeting last Wednesday and, as a group, we agreed that we were not going under the banner of any political party. That was agreed as a group and that is the way we want to have it,” said Paul Whitmore of Clare Says No To Water Charges. “That is not just an issue with Sinn Fein, it was the same for all the political groups. We are not about politics or a political party. We are Clare Says No To Water Charges and there is no great plan beyond that – this is just about us beating the water charges.” Fianna Fail’s Timmy Dooley was Clare’s only Oireachtas member to take part in the protest but a number of county councillors including Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) and James Breen (Ind) marched in Ennis. The Shannon protest was co-organised by Sinn Fein under the Right to Water organisation with local councillor Mike McKee (SF) addressing the marchers alongside Seónaidh Ní Shíomóin, local elections candidate for the Anti Austerity Alliance. No other elected member from the Shannon area attended the Shannon protest but it is understood that Cllr Gerry Flynn (FG) attended the Dublin anti-water charge protest on Saturday.

continue in Clare, even if the Government introduces measures to water down the controversial charges in the coming days.

The membership of the Clare Says No To Water Charges group has swelled dramatically since Saturday’s protest and the group are now setting up local sub-groups in towns and villages across the county to spread information and organise members who are not contactable online. The group conf rmed yesterday that its members will also attend two national protests in Dublin on December 6 and 10 while a meeting will take place this Wednesday to discuss a number of local actions, which could include pickets and further protests.

An estimated 2,500 people attended protests against Irish Water in Ennis, Shannon and Westbury on Saturday. In excess of 1,500 people turned out in Ennis, with 50 protesting in Westbury and estimated numbers for the Shannon protest ranging from 500 people to 1,200 people.

“It was a good turnout, especially with the bad weather. We’re not shocked though, there is a lot of anger out there. What has happened over the weekend has highlighted this fact and there is more and more people getting involved. We’ve taking more than 200 new people into the group since Saturday alone,” said Paul Whitmore of Clare Says No To Water Charges.

“We are now organising for little groups to be set up in the small towns and villages for the people who don’t have broadband and who don’t have a way of communicating with us. People have a lot of questions and if they don’t have access to the group [online] they can feel isolated. We want this to be one big community group. It’s everyday ordinary people coming together.”

A large group from Shannon are also planning to take part in the Dublin protests – with local organiser Cllr Mike McKee (SF) promising to bring Dublin to a ‘standstill’.

“We’ve had reports of there being up to 1,200 at the Shannon protest so it was a really big turnout – it was the biggest protest in Shannon for very many years,” he said. “We are aff liated with the Right to Water protest on December 10. We will be going to the Dáil on that day and we hope to bring Dublin to a complete standstill.”

WHILE Irish Water may not be anyone’s favourite semi-state company just now, it did begin a process last week which could bring an end to one of Clare’s longest running issues as it formally applying for planning permission for an upgrade of the Shannon Town Wastewater Treatment System.

The system, which is used by both domestic consumers and a number of factories in Shannon, has been blamed for series of gas emissions in recent years – including a prolonger period of emissions in September and October of 2013.

Irish Water last week applied for planning permission for the construction of a new inlet works within the boundary of the existing wastewater treatment plant, located approximately 4.8 kilometres southeast of Shannon Town.

The development will include the construction of a large domestic and industrial balancing tank, more than one tenth of a hectare in size, as well as an odour control unit.

The work is part of an proposed € 3 million overhaul of the Shannon Sewage Scheme announced by the Department of the Environment in February.

The current Shannon scheme is more than 40 years old and is understood to be operating far beyond its original capacity.

Already this year work has been undertaken on four pumping stations on the scheme but the current pressure from domestic and industrial sources is understood to be preventing growth in the area.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Clare County Council received more then 50 complaints about the smell in Shannon in September and October of last year.

A RARE home performance from one of Clare’s best-known singers will herald the start of a new era for music in the county on Friday.

Maura O’Connell, the Nashville-based singer, will perform at the launch of Music Generation Clare (MGC) in Glór, Ennis, on November 7, at 7.30pm.

The twice Grammy-nominated singer and MGC patron will share the stage with Mike Hanrahan on a night that will celebrate the best in Clare music.

Artists and groups performing include Dave Flynn and the Clare Memory Orchestra Chamber and Vocal Group, Clare Youth Service, Scoil Chríost Rí Trad Rock Fusion Band, and the Burren Children’s Choir.

At 9pm there will be an announcement celebrating the launch of Music Generation Clare (MGC), followed by a performance by Maura O’Connell. MC for the evening will be Marty Morrissey.

George O’Callaghan, Chairperson of the Clare Music Education Partnership, stated, “Music Generation in Clare presents us with a wonderful opportunity to build, develop and enhance the rich musical tradition in County Clare.”

A series of new initiatives delivering music education in school and community settings throughout the county are currently being rolled out by Music Generation Clare. The Escalation primary school singing programme is reaching almost 700 children in more than 20 schools throughout the county, with nine performances in December scheduled to take place. A representation of the schools partaking in this new programme will perform together on the night. The Early Years programme will commence its pilot phase in November, where 3 to 5 year olds will embark on a journey of experiential learning to include live music experience, listening, responding, interaction, performing and composing original pieces. These will be followed by instrumental tuition and song-writing programmes in January, 2015.

“With the wide range of partners supporting Music Generation Clare, it hopes to complement the vibrant music initiatives in the county, to further and ensure access to a high quality music education which nurtures creativity, self-expression, inclusion and a life-long love of music in a generation of musicians of all genres,” explained, Emer O’Flaherty, Development Off cer with Music Generation Clare.

Rosaleen Molloy, National Director of Music Generation, commented, “We are delighted to be working with all of the partners involved in Music Generation Clare to make music education happen for thousands of children and young people in the county over the coming years. Through the combined philanthropic support of U2, The Ireland Funds and local partners over € 800,000 will be invested in music education in County Clare over the next three years and beyond that the programme will continue to be co-funded and supported by the Department of Education and Skills. This exciting launch event marks the beginning of terrif c things to come for music education in County Clare.”

Summerhill house ransacked
BETWEEN7pmonTuesday, October 28, and and 9amonWednesday, October 29, a house in Summerhill, Ennis, was broken into by forcing open the rear window.The house was ransacked.

Kilrush burglary
A HOUSE in the Pella Road area of Kilrush was broken into between noon and 10pmon October 29.A 3 mobile phone dongle and a black Compaq laptop were stolen.

Passports stolen
A NUMBER of passports were stolen following a break in at a house in Ennis last week.The break in occurred in a property at the Hawthorns, Limerick Road, Ennis, when the side windowwas forced open. It occurred between 6pmand 9pm on Friday, October 31.Two Chinese passports, an Irish passport and a yellowsafety deposit box containing cash was stolen.

Burglary in Tobartaiscain, Ennis

A MAN charged in connection with an attempted robbery at a shop in Shannon has appeared before the Circuit Criminal Court.

Gerard Delaney (28) made a brief appearance before the Circuit Criminal Court in Ennis when his case was called on Wednesday.

A day earlier, Mr Delaney appeared before Ennis District Court where he was served with the book of evidence.

Mr Delaney, with an address at Inis Eagla, Shannon, is facing two charges arising from his alleged involvement in an attempted robbery at Mace Stores, Ballycasey Crescent, Shannon on June 24, 2014.

It is alleged Mr Delaney attempted to rob from a woman at the shop on the day in question.

He is further charged with the production of a knife during the course of attempted robbery, contrary to the f rearms and offensive weapons act. At Ennis District Court on Tuesday, Sgt Tim Ryan of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on the accused.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consented to Mr Delaney being returned for trial, in custody.

Legal aid was approved for solicitor John Casey and one junior counsel. Judge Patrick Durcan delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial.

The case was called before Judge Gerald Keys in the circuit court on Wednesday.

Defence solicitor John Casey said he was seeking to have the matter adjourned to the call-over of cases on January 12, 2015.

Judge Keys remanded Mr Delaney in custody to appear again in court on January 12, when a date for trial will be f xed.

rity staff member Aidan O’Connor and Mr Cooper.

“I was taken from behind and put out the door for no reason”, he said.

Mr Sherlock said he repeatedly asked to see the manager but was pushed back by Mr Cooper.

“Kevin Cooper kept pushing me till I fell to the ground and when I was on the ground, I received a kick to the head”, he added. The court heard Mr Sherlock was taken to Limerick hospital where he received four sta

IS IT a bird? It is a plane? No, it actually is Superman. The hunt is on to discover the true identity of a mystery man who has taken to running along the dual-carriageway from Bunratty to Shannon dressed in a full Superman outf t. The Clare man-of-steel, who is believed to be a student in the Shannon College of Hotel Management, caused a big stir last week when he was spotted by motorists running the wrong way along the N-18 between and Bunratty and Shannon.

A large number of people reported spotting the runner early last Wednesday morning, October 29, with a number of motorists also reporting the bizarre incident. A picture, reported to by the mystery man himself, was posted online last week but, just like Superman himself, The Clare People has as yet not been to discover his true identity.

A spokesperson from the National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday warned against people running on the N18, describing the practice as dangerous and a potential hazard.

All runners, cyclist and people using low powered or slow vehicles are prohibited from travelling on motorways, with runners only allowed on National Primary Roads with the permission of the Gardaí.

“The NRA would not recommend that anyone would run on this stretch of road,” said Sean O’Neil from the NRA.

“Runners are not permitted on the motorway under any circumstances. They are considered to be putting both themselves and motorists at risk.”

It would have taken the mystery runner more then half an hour to run the 8 kilometre roadway between Bunratty and Shannon – with the runner most likely turning off the main road just before it became a motorway.

THERE were unruly scenes at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin last week after Michael Maughan of Stone Court, Ennis, was convicted of murdering Piotr Nowakowski (peter nova kovskee) in Ennis last year.

Supporters of the accused man shouted abuse at the jury and overturned a bench in the court room.

It took the jury under 2 and a half hours to unanimously convict Michael Maughan (40) of the murder of Piotr Nowakowski at Sandf eld Mews in Ennis in July last year.

He had admitted manslaughter. The jury heard he stabbed the Polish man twice after they’d spent the day and night drinking together.

In a victim impact statement relatives said his loss is like ‘a big sadness taking our soul’.

Maughan’s lawyers offered his apologies and said he really regrets what he’s done. Justice Paul Carney imposed the mandatory life sentence for murder and the court rose.

After that there was uproar as a couple of Michael Maughan’s supporters overturned a bench and hurled verbal abuse at the jury before gardaí intervened to restore order.

Michael Maughan, had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Piotr Nowakowski, aged 31, at Sandf eld Mews, Ennis, on July 23, 2013.

The Central Criminal Court was told that the manslaughter plea was not acceptable to the prosecution and a jury was sworn in for the one-week trial. Maughan had also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Declan O’Dea at the same address on the same date. The jury of seven men and f ve women found him guilty on both counts by unanimous decision after two hours and 23 minutes.

Mr Justice Paul Carney handed down the mandatory life sentence for the murder to run concurrently with four years for the assault. He backdated both sentences to July 24, 2013, for time spent in custody.

Mr Nowakowski was stabbed twice and died in an ambulance on the way to Shannon Airport, from where he was to be airlifted to hospital in Cork. The court heard that Maughan and his brother had been drinking with the men in the apartment in the Sandf eld complex earlier that day and returned there that night.

He told gardaí he was angry when he was not allowed in.

He said he lifted his brother in through a window so he could let him in the front door.

Maughan told gardaí that he went into the bedroom where Mr O’Dea and Mr Nowakowski were asleep.

After Mr Nowakowski followed him into to the kitchen, he got paranoid and grabbed a carving knife from the counter.

He told gardaí he “just went berserk” and he stabbed him twice in the side. The court heard the deceased received several blows and was stabbed before receiving a further kick to the head.