The Clare People Archive

THE daughter of well-known musi- cian Pecker Dunne is making head- lines of her own this week as she represents the Banner County in an international beauty and personality eel e

West Clare beauty Sarah Dunne will spend a busy week promot- ing the county in the Maiden of the Mourne competition, and hopes to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Clare Maiden who won the competi- tion outright.

The 19-year-old from Kilimer has just completed a business course in Kilrush Community School and has received two scholarships for Irish Music in the University of Limerick.

Not surprising her hobbies include singing and playing musical instru- ments.

Sarah also works part time in Kel- ly’s Bar and Restaurant in Kilrush and plans to go to college next year.

Her beauty and talent ensured her the Clare Maiden crown at the Miss Clare competition this year.

On Saturday she travelled to War- renpoint with her mother Madeleine and sister also called Madeleine.

The talented young Clare woman will spend this week on numerous official duties including a visit to Parliament Buildings in Stormount.

She will also enjoy a trip through the Mourne Mountains, boat trips and other activities organised by the festival committee and local businesses, as well as visiting local

shops, shopping centres and the local council offices.

The highlight of the week-long fes- tival will take place in the Whistle- down Hotel on Saturday, with a se- lection of this year’s winner.

Last year west Clare woman Grainne Larkin was crowned “Maid- en of the Mourne”.

The 22-year-old Kilkee woman saw off competition from as far afield as America, Northern Ireland and Rus- sia to secure the title for the Banner County.

When the young Kilkee woman hands over the crown on Saturday night to this year’s winner the people of Kilimer will be hoping that it is to another west Clare woman.

While unable to travel due to ill- ness, musician Pecker will also have his fingers crossed for his daughter.

Regarded by many as the last of the “Travelling musicians” the 76-year old is best known for his banjo play- ing although he is also considered “a fine fiddle player” and singer.

ALMOST 40 per cent of objections lodged nationally against special des- ignation areas for the protected bird, the Hen Harrier, have been lodged in County Clare.

In a Dail response, the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley stated that across the country 804 objections against Special Protec- tion Area (SPA) designation have been received by his department in relation to six areas with 744 being declared valid.

Minister Gormley confirmed that in relation to plans to designate an SPA in the Slieve Aughty mountains on north-east Clare, his department has received a total of 238 objec- tions.

Speaking in relation to all the ob- jections received, Minister Gormley said, “Approximately three-quarters of these relate to requests to have land removed from the SPA, with the remainder requesting land to be included.”

Only the Stacks’ to Mullagha- reirk mountains in west County Lim- erick have received more objections at 340.

The largest SPA is the Slieve Aughty mountains and involves the designation of 61,000 hectares where the National Parks and Wildlife Serv- ice (NWPS) believe that 24 pairs of Hen Harrier are present or 17% of the overall Hen Harrier population in Ireland of 130-150 pairs.

The NPWS describe the Slieve Aughty site as one of the top two sites in the country for the species and states “that the main threat to the long-term survival of Hen Har- riers within the site is further affor- estation, which would reduce and

fragment the area of foraging habitat, resulting in possible reductions in breeding density and productivity”.

Minister Gormley said that there is a two-stage process for assessing objections.

The first stage 1s an internal scien- tific review of the area under objec- tion. Following completion of this stage, objectors dissatisfied with the outcome may have their case referred to an independent Appeals Advisory Board.

He added, “Ienvisage that the internal review stage of all objec- tions will be completed by end Sep- tember 2008. The timeframe for the second stage review will depend on the number of cases that are re- ferred to the appeals.”

Earlier this year, the Director of the NWPS, Ms Oonagh Buckley tried to allay landowners by stating that the designation would not affect plans for one-off housing in the area and Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said, “The east Clare area is already experiencing no growth in population and there have been worries that the restriction would further stymie growth.”

THE number of cases prosecuted in the Circuit Court in Ennis in 2006 fell significantly, according to figures released by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Twenty-eight cases were dealt with in 2006, which is a decrease on 41 in 2005. It is a further drop on the figure of 49 in 2004.

2006 recorded a remarkably low rate of convictions by juries in the county – just two juries decided to

convict. This was a huge drop on 12 convictions in 2005, while there was just one conviction recorded in 2004.

Of the cases that went to trial in 2006, three defendants were ac- quitted by juries. The figure was four in 2005 and two in 2004.

The high rate of guilty pleas en- tered in the Circuit Court in Ennis continued in 2006, with 23 defend- ants entering pleas. This was on a par with the figure for the previous year – 24 – and a significant drop of

aa ewAelers

The figures contained in the DPP’s annual report show that 89 per cent of cases finalised in 2006 resulted in convictions. The figure was 88 percent in 2005 and 86 per cent the previous year. This high figure took into account the high rate of guilty pleas entered, prior Komnur-e

Meanwhile, 44 complaints were made against gardai in the Clare Division in 2006, which was a sig- nificant rise on the figure for 2005,

when 31 complaints were made. Previously the highest figure was 43, in 2003.

That’s according to the Garda Complaints Board annual report, which was published last week. It also showed that up to May 8, 2007, seven complaints were made against gardai in Clare.

The complaints board ceased to accept new complaints on that date. The Garda Ombudsman Commis- sion took over that role, when it was Set up.

CLARE people are adapting to the recession by looking for deals on in- ternet shopping sites, a new survey has revealed.

The county has topped an All-Ire- land survey of internet shoppers in terms of the amount of computer software, health and beauty products and hi-fi equipment bought using the eBay website.

According to the Head of Products at eBay Ireland, Eamonn Galvin, the recent downturn in the economy has led to many Clare people turning to the website in search of a good deal.

“It is very interesting to see how well Clare has done – I’m not sure of the reasons for it, maybe it’s to do with Ennis and the good connectivity but certainly Clare People are amaz- ingly active on eBay,” he said.

“One of the big difference between e-bay in Clare and markets like

America is that the people in Clare seems to use it more to buy every day items that they could easily get in the local shops. In America it’s a lot about collectibles – we do have good sales on them in Clare but we also have great sales on mainstream items like clothes and accessories, computers, home electronics.

‘We did a price survey on a number of products from mainstream retail- ers and eBay and some prices are up to 72 per cent cheaper on eBay, with the average being about 42 per cent cheaper on e-bay. With the current economic climate people are going online more and looking for bar- eT eae

Clare shoppers also came second behind Wexford in the amount of home furnishing bought per head of population which the county came third in both the amount of books and computers bought using the eBay website.

A WOMAN who has established herself as the public face of Clare Haven women’s refuge for female victims of domestic abuse is leaving the organisation.

Eileen Murphy has decided to end her association with Clare Haven, having played a key role in its work over the past 10 years. She had taken the decision to take some time out and concentrate on her personal life, in the immediate future.

During the past decade, she was involved in the creation of a Clare Haven refuge (in 2002), while she also played a central role in the es- tablishment of programmes which raised awareness of the existence of domestic abuse in the county.

In 2001, she assumed the role as funding and public relations co-or- dinator with Clare Haven and since then has played an integral role in promoting the work done by the or- ganisation across Clare.

She was particularly proud of her involvement in The Clare 1OK over

the past three years as it involved dozens of small organisations who raised money in a fun way.

‘“T was involved in funding applica- tions, organising various events and fundraisers and was involved in the Clare 10K. That has been a huge suc- cess,” she reflected.

‘Those events were promoting the work that we did,’ added Ms Mur- phy.

Last year, Clare Haven engaged in a sticker campaign, geared towards encouraging victims of domestic abuse to come forward.

The initiative was called “Behind Closed Doors’ and stickers were placed on the backs of doors of pub- lic buildings. She believes this was a huge success and helped victims to come forward.

‘People were always afraid to come forward. Since we did that campaign in November, there has been a huge increase in people coming forward. Before Clare Haven was set up in 1993 there was no help for women. They had to travel to Limerick and Galway. Women are coming forward

much earlier now,” said the Kilkenny ELON Lon

Over the past decade, she has no- ticed a changing trend, in relation to domestic abuse.

“The awareness of domestic vio- lence has increased hugely. It’s not just spouse or partner abuse. There are adults and children abusing mothers now,” she said.

The introduction of outreach cen- tres in Ennistymon, Scariff, Shan- non and Kilrush has also encouraged victims of domestic abuse to come forward and Ms Murphy feels this has had a profound effect.

“Opening these centres has been a huge success story in one sense. In another sense it is terrible that there are sO many victims of abuse out there,” she said.

A WORLD title in fly fishing has been landed by an east Clare angler.

Ruari Costello (31) from Scariff has been fishing since he was just five years old and years of practice on the lakeshores of Clare has now Oem) ee

Ruari took the world Salt Water Distance Championship with a cast

of 41 meters recently.

He won the title, one of two which were up for grabs, at the CLA Game Fair in Blenheim Palace in Oxford.

The CLA Game Fair is one of the world’s original, largest and most prestigious countryside exhibition. The fair celebrated its 50th anniver- sary this year at Blenheim Palace.

Now a very capable May Fly fish- erman, Ruari started fishing in the

lakes of Clare at his father’s knee and has been hooked on the hobby ever since.

‘“T’ve been fishing since I was five but I’ve only been involved in com- petition in the last few years”, said NUE ee

Ruari is being sponsored for his equipment and his travel by Scot- tish-based tackle company, Carron Jetstream. He is part of a team of an-

glers sponsored by the company, the others all being Scottish.

“We came together by accident re- ally. They saw me casting at a game fair in England four years ago and the following year, they asked me to join the team.”

Since then, Ruari, who is also a member of Mountshannon Angling club has travelled extensively to com- pete and has cast in three competi-

tions in San Francisco, in Norway, Scotland, England and he is hoping that he and the team will be able to travel to Japan in October to com- pete there. Closer to home, Ruari has a boat on Lough Derg, which 1s his favourite place for fishing in Clare.

He says that the lake water has im- proved and the fishing “is very good. The real problem is the weather now – that’s just rotten.”

A MAN who did not remember driving without insurance because he was under the influence of drugs could have killed someone, a judge remarked yesterday.

Gerard Delaney (22), of Inis Ealga, Shannon, was stopped by gardai driving without insurance, twice – at Inis Ealga Shannon on April 16, 2007 and at Finian Park, Shannon, on May 25, 2007.

He also pleaded guilty to assault- ing Adrian Gilligan, at Supermac’s restaurant, Shannon, in the early hours of March 18, 2007.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told En- nis District Court yesterday that Mr Gilligan was headbutted into the side of the head by the accused. He sustained a wound over the fore- head, as a result. He said it appeared that the taxi driver had got caught in the cross-fire of an incident.

Defending solicitor Caitriona Car-

mody said her client’s problems stemmed from a Serious addiction to drugs and said he hailed from a very difficult background.

‘At times he does things he can’t remember why he did them. He’s on a methadone programme at the mo- ment. He’s determined to deal with these problems,” she said.

Referring to the road traffic mat- ters, she said he did not remember the incidents mainly because of his problem with drugs.

Judge Leo Malone remarked, “You are saying he doesn’t remember the road traffic offences because he was under the influence of drugs. Sure he could have killed somebody.”

He imposed a three-month sen- tence for the assault, and suspended it on condition that Delaney pay €1,000 compensation to the injured party. He imposed fines totalling €1,500 for the motoring offences and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

IT’S going to be as much about style as sizzle when the Queens Hotel in Ennis hosts a Tarantino theme night to kick off its line-up of spectacular summer events on this Friday night, August 8.

There will be fancy dress, a twist competition, music inspired by the films of Quentin Tarantino, Taranti- no twist cocktails, Tarantino burgers and hot dogs – all that will be miss- ing will be the enigmatic filmmaker himself .

Security staff will be dressed as the cast of Reservoir Dogs — with Mr. Black, Mr. Blonde, Mr. White, Mr. Pink, Mr. Blue and Mr. Red making sure that everything runs smoothly on the night.

Bar staff will be kitted out in retro movie outfits and a touch of glamour will be provided by a bevy of Taran- tino beauties.

The iconic director, who burst onto the scene with his hyper-violent de- but Reservoir Dogs, is sure to inspire some outlandish fancy dress efforts. as his films such as Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill and Jackie Brown are laden with iconic characters.

Prizes for best – and worst – dressed Tarantino characters should exer- cise the imagination and stretch the boundaries of good taste.

And the prizes are nothing to be sniffed at.

Top prize for the twist competi- tion will include a table reservation

at Q nightclub for up to 12 people with champagne on arrival, design- er cocktails by “BarlOder” for all guests, pictures of the winner’s party on the new Queens website and big screens as well as invitations to the Queens customer appreciation night

for the entire party to bring the value of the prize package to over €1000.

The Queens Hotel is made up of two clubs — the main room which focus- es on chart and commercial sounds and The Sanctuary which features a broader range of music.

Next on the line-up at the Queens summer series will be celebrity DJ’s RED N’HED on Friday August 22.

A SENIOR inspector with An Bord Pleanala has endorsed Clare County Council’s policy of refusing to allow new houses built in seaside resorts be used as holiday homes.

Last year, Patricia Stackepoole secured planning permission to con- struct 26 homes in the north Clare resort of Lahinch. However, one of the conditions attached stated that the homes be used as the permanent place of residency.

In the planning appeal lodged on behalf of Ms Stackpoole, it stated that in Lahinch, where a large pro- portion of development is driven by tourism, it 1s considered reasonable that a proportion of any proposed residential development would be used in a manner other than conven- tional “permanent” residences.

The appeal states, “Such uses would include the use of dwellings as retirement homes, second homes or investment properties.”

The appeal went on to state that the condition “represents an artificial restriction on the housing market in Lahinch which relies on externally driven demand to support the local tourism economy.’

In his assessment, the board in- spector stated, “I agree that normally a condition such as imposed on the

associated development at Cois Tra should be sufficient, but it appears that the condition has not been com- plied with to any great extent.”

The inspector went on, “It is also clear from the appeal that it is desired that a proportion of the development should be available to be used in a manner other than conventional “permanent” residences, and _ that the appellant considers it reasonable for a house in the development to be used for holiday accommodation.

“In the circumstances where the Local Area Plan recognises that La- hinch has experienced a development imbalance, whereby housing for the permanent resident population has been limited, the Board may consid- er that this condition should not be omitted from any planning permis- sion for this development.”

In spite of Ms Stackpoole appeal- ing a number of conditions relating to the decision, the Board Inspector recommended that she be refused planning permission outright.

He said, “Having regard to the fact that a major part of this site was to be used for the provision of public Open space in the recently developed adjoining housing estate at Cois Tra the proposed development would not be in accord with the Clare County Development Plan 2005 or the North Clare Local Area Plan 2005.”

THE west Clare village of Carriga- holt was in shock yesterday as news spread that a local teenager was the latest victim of the county’s roads.

Just weeks before she was due to receive her Leaving Certificate re- sults, Tace Gould-Duff died when the car she was driving collided with another vehicle in Dough, Kilkee.

The 19-year-old St Joseph’s second- ary school student was on a break from her job in Hayes Supermarket Kilkee when tragedy struck at 4.15 pm on Sunday afternoon.

It is believed that Tace, who moved to Carrigaholt from England with her family a number of years ago, died instantly. The occupants of the other car – a husband and wife -were removed to the Mid Western Re- gional Hospital Ennis with injuries

described “as not life threatening”. Shocked locals, yesterday paid tribute to the well-respected young woman they described as “popular”, and “a girl with a great personality”. Mayor of Clare Madeleine Taylor Quinn said the sympathy of the com- munity was with Tace’s family. “Tt is an unnecessary loss of a life that had a huge potential,” she said. Her grieving parents Kate and Sean were in England on holiday at the time of the tragedy and were due back in the country yesterday after- noon. She is also survived by her two brothers, Davis and Brennan. Friends of the Carrigaholt girl were being contacted yesterday and of- fered assistance and counselling. Gardai are still investigating the circumstances that led to the fatal accident.