The Clare People Archive

THE ongoing failure of pump sta- tions to work has resulted in drains being blocked and foul smells ema- nating in Shannon.

This was the view of Councillor Pa- tricia McCarthy (Ind) who has called for a report to be presented on the reasons for the problems.

She has asked for details to be out- lined as to the number of times the pumps have failed and why the re- serve pumps have also failed.

A written response from Clare County Council executive engineer Liam Murphy accepted that the Shan- non wastewater network is “more

prone to blockages than networks in other catchments. The topography of Shannon results in flat gradients to sewer pipe runs, although they are still within the parameters allowed.”

It stated that: “there is a designated crew responding to all reports of blocked sewers and unusual smells in the Shannon area and they are also proactive by inspecting troublesome areas before and after weekends and following dry spells.”

He stated that the numerous pump houses were continuously monitored by Response Engineering, as part of their operation and maintenance contract to the council and log books were kept at each house.

“Blockages may occur at pump houses occasionally, but there are at least two pumps installed at each pump house operating on a duty and standby scenario as a safety valve,” added the response.

However Councillor McCarthy said she was not happy with certain aspects of the response.

“I am concerned as to why the standby pumps are not working. It is happening at such a frequency. We are all aware it is happening too of- ten not to be noticed,” she said.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) said, “Shan- non is so low-lying, we are dependent on the pumps and the back-up system we don’t have. We get lots of com-

plaints from Newtown football club, where there pitch was flooded.”

“With modern technology, there is no reason why there shouldn’t be a warning system in place, where they are problems and a second system to kick in,’ added Cllr Flynn.

Councillor Tony Mulcahy (FG) said “a permanent solution” 1s desir- able. “The update report isn’t good enough,” he said.

Senior Executive Engineer Donal Hogan said there are “checks and balances to ensure everything is checked out. There are regular meet- ings. There are daily checks on pump houses. We are up to speed with what is happening.”

LIAM Cleary of Liam Cleary Mo- tors in Ennis and Roche (Ireland) Ltd may know more about the mak- ing of motors and managing motor neurones than making music, but that hasn’t stopped them helping Tul- la comhaltas to make the 2008 Clare County Fleadh one of the best yet.

The two businesses are backing the east Clare music makers to stage the event.

“We are so grateful to them for their support. This couldn’t happen without them,’ said Helen Mulqueen, PRO for the fleadh committee.

Tulla comhaltas was established in September 1957 and went on to host the county fleadh cheoil in 1958.

Which makes it highly appropriate that the town is hosting the 2008 Clare County Fleadh on the 50th an- niversary of that event.

At a fun-packed event last week, the programme was unveiled for Fleadh Cheoiul an Chlair an Tulach 2008 which runs from June 18 to 22.

Along with more than 80 competi- tions there will be public concerts, live music in pubs in the village and all the craic associated with the im- portant music event.

On Wednesday, June 18, there will be a launch of the archive dvd and cd at the courthouse at 8.30pm. Re- freshments will be served and ad- mission is free.

On Thursday, the courthouse is the venue for the fleadh concert at 8pm.

Among the performers will be Brian Rooney, Brian McNamara, Tim Col- lins with Mick Conneely, Lorraine O’Brien and Eoin O’Neill, and this will also feature the official open- ing of the fleadh by Senator Labhras O’Murchu.

Friday sees the launch of a tradi- tional Irish music cd by Senator Lab- hras O’Murchu.

Local concertina player Kate Mc- Namara launches her first cd at Minogues Bar at 9pm

On Saturday, there will be a fleadh céili with Andrew McNamara and friends in Minogues Bar, Tulla, at 10pm. Admission is <8. At llam on Sunday the Fleadh Aifreann will be said and at lpm there’s a singing session with Robbie McMahon at Teach OI. Sunday is also the day to enjoy the gala open air concert with the Tulla and Kilfenora Céili Bands at 7pm. It will also feature guests, Aiden Vaughan and half-set, brush dancers and sean nos dancers. All set dancers are invited to come and kick up their heels in informal sessions in pubs around town on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

EAST Clare councillors have made impassioned calls to have measures put in place to stop Traveller groups setting up camp on the bog road be- tween Kilkishen and Tulla.

Cllr Joe Carey (FG) told a meeting of the Scariff Area Committee of the council last week that tempers were flaring since a large group of Trav- ellers parked up on the side of the road for the second time in less than cimeecennisey

‘This happens twice or three times

every year and we have to do some- thing to stop it. Local people are in- timidated and afraid to drive down that road because of the sheer number of caravans and there are children and vans out on the road every day. There will be a serious accident if we don’t do something.”

The councillor said that recently a local landowner “took the law into his own hands and went down and confronted them. He shouldn’t have done it but that’s the level of frustra- tion that people feel.”

Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said there was

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a serious public health issue here with so many people parked up there with no toilets and no running water. When previous groups left, they left the place in an awful state behind them. We have to fine them for lit- tering – that’s what would happen anyone else.”

ClUlr Colm Wiley (FF) said that it is “hard to do anything while they are there but when they move off we should make sure no new groups can park up”.

Senior engineer Sean Lenihan told the meeting that he had been in con-

tact with the gardai.

“They have the power to move them on but that just sends them up the road. It’s not council policy to bank up ditches or put in boulders because if you do that in one place, then peo- ple want you to do it wherever there are encampments,” he said.

Mr Lenihan said that the council is “actively pursuing” litter offences on the bog road.

Councilors agree that if the group had not moved off by this week, they would seek an emergency meeting with the gardai.

“THAT Sounds Like Music’ is the project being proposed by a Killaloe after school group who are hoping to scoop the €10,000 which is up for grabs from the AIB Better Ireland aN VETO e

The project aims to make a real dif- ference to the music experiences of the children of Killaloe.

The Killaloe Out of School Project has been operating since August 2006. It started life as a pilot initia- tive and received short-term funding from the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme.

More than 30 children attend the project, the focus of which is “to provide high quality care and crea-

tive learning opportunities for each child,” according to the organisers. Over thirty children attend the after school group each week. During the after school sessions, the youngsters get to listen to classical and world music which they’ve grown to like. “Using music in this way can help children to learn as it helps to focus their attention. How easy it is to learn off Westlife lyrics or the rap tune – so why not the maths tables? Compos- ing music can help with a child’s self-expression, while at the same time improving listening and pro- moting creativity. Learning a musi- cal instrument can help to build con- fidence and to increase self esteem,” a spokeswoman for the project said. If they get the funding, the project

plans an initial ten week period, dur- ing which the children will be in- structed by two members of the Irish Chamber Orchestra to compose and to learn to play music.

Both music facilitators have previ- ously worked on successful children’s music projects. The funding pays for music tuition, and the purchase of musical instruments, computer, computer software, and recording equipment.

‘That Sounds like Music’ aims to uncover untapped musical talent in the young students and to allow the children themselves to learn about reading, writing and playing their own musical compositions.

“The after school team believes that offering children this intensive,

fun, creative, way of experiencing and expressing themselves through music is something that will surprise them and is something that will en- rich the community. The team will use this initiative as a building block for future programmes and will of- fer the use of the music equipment to other community groups work- ing with children in Killaloe,” the spokeswoman said.

The AIB will award the cash to the group which gets the most votes in a text vote. Each group voted for will get a contribution for every text sent. Texts cost 60 cents each.

To help the Killaloe youngsters to make beautiful music, supporters should text the word ‘Killaloe’ fol- lowed by the letter °C’ to 53099.

TENSIONS within an Ennis Travel- ler family have escalated since one brother killed another last year.

The revelation emerged during the sentencing hearing of Patrick Mc- Donagh for the manslaughter of his brother, Charlie, in January 2007.

After hearing prosecution and de- fence submissions at the Central Criminal Court yesterday, Mr Justice Paul Carney adjourned sentencing until this (Tuesday) morning and re- manded the accused in custody over-

night.

McDonagh’s | barrister, Brendan Nix, SC, said his client’s family has ostracised him since the incident.

Sergeant Darragh O’Sullivan told the court yesterday that “there were numerous allegations of incidents on both sides”.

However, Mr Nix replied to this, “On both sides? I suggest not.”

He said that the windows on his client’s caravan, which has been lo- cated on the Bishop’s grounds in En- nis for several months, “were put 1n” Ais CO)M nents glare

Caroline Biggs, BL for the Prosecu- tion, told the court that the DPP takes the view that this case came “at the higher end of manslaughter”’.

The accused’s wife Donna — who is pregnant with the couple’s fifth child — told the court she and her husband “deeply regret the death of Charlie and miss him very much”.

“Patrick used to love Charlie to come down to the house,” she said. ‘Patrick is the best husband there 1s. He does everything for me and the kids. His kids are his life, his prior- ity,’ she sobbed.

Psychiatrist Dr John O’Mahony said the accused suffers from post- traumatic stress disorder and depres- sion and is currently on the maxi- mum dose of anti-depressants.

He said he would have “grave con- cerns” about the availability of such treatment in “an average prison” in Ireland. “There is no forensic psy- chiatric service outside the Pale,’ he said.

Asked did McDonagh have remorse for killing his brother, Dr O’Mahony said, “I have no doubt. He sees my- self and a psychologist and a recur-

rent theme is he would do anything he could to bring his brother back. He has frequently expressed a death wish, if he could be dead and his brother alive.”

Mr Nix read out a letter from the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, who referred to the incident as a “dreadful family tragedy”.

Mr Nix said, “People set out to have a few drinks and enjoy each other’s company. Nobody went out that night to cause any insult or injury to any- body. Tempers certainly got the best of everybody.”

GIOVANNI Trapattoni may be look- ing to west Clare for future interna- tional stars as the county’s newest soccer club goes from strength to strength.

West Clare United Soccer Club takes its players from Cooraclare, Cree, Doonbeg, Mullagh, Quilty, Milltown Malbay, Kilmihil, Inagh and has two players from Ennis.

The club is based in Mullagh vil- lage with the sports field in Mullagh as the home pitch. There are more than 100 children – boys and girls – involved with the club.

“We are delighted with the phenom- enal response we have received in

getting the club off the ground in an area which would by many have been viewed as a GAA stronghold,” said one of the organisers Tom Egan.

This year the club is training teams at Under 8’s, 10’s, 11’s and 13’s level.

“We have three teams entered into the Clare Schoolboy League, two at under 11 and one at Under 13. We have brought in experienced coach- es, one of whom is Derek Dolan who has previously managed the county’s Kennedy Cup team, along with local people from the community with an interest in soccer to assist in training the children,” said Mr Egan.

“The committee of the sports field in Mullagh have been wonderful in helping us organize training and

match days and maintained the pitch in great condition which has been re- marked upon by all who have played on it. Our sincere thanks go out to them for all their help,” he said.

Mr Egan also paid tribute to local businesses that helped in the initial stages with sponsorship, particularly John McInerney Construction who paid for new goalposts.

The club’s jerseys, bibs, balls, first aid kits and other training equipment were all funded as a result of gener- ous donations.

“We have established a link with Avondale United in Cork who trav- elled to Mullagh to provide us with our first game. It gathered a large crowd for what was an entertaining

match played in great spirit and en- joyed by all.”

“We are also working with League of Ireland club Athlone Town and will be bringing children to Athlone for some training and some chal- lenge games against local opposi- tion,’ added Mr Egan.

This Sunday night the busy young club will hold its only fundraising event.

The fundraising Race Night will be held in the Quilty Tavern on Sat- urday, May 31 beginning at 9.30pm Serna oy

Anybody interested in any further information about the club or who might like to help in the coaching can contact Tom Egan at 085 7455391.

THE innovative and progressive work of a west Clare primary school has ensured its place on the shortlist for the coveted AIB Better Ireland aN WLNKels

St Senan’s National School Kilrush has a long and distinguished history in providing specially tailored edu- cation for children with leaning and emotional disabilities.

As well as providing main stream education for the children of the west Clare capital, the 24-teacher school also caters for the specific needs of children with autistic spectrum dis- order, sever and mild general learn- ing disabilities and diagnosed emo- tional disturbance.

Since the introduction of a ground- breaking programme that uses tactile

and stimulatory equipment, the qual- ity of education as well as the quality of life of the children attending the school has improved significantly.

The aim of the initiative is to pro- vide a multi sensory programme that would increase the confidence and self esteem of the children so that they would be able to integrate with their peers, explained school princi- pal Paddy McInerney.

“We have many years experience in dealing with special education. We are the only school in west Clare with special need classes and an au- tistic unit attached,” he said.

Although the autistic unit is in place just over a year and a half the school principal has already seen the benefit of the programme especially for children with autism.

As the school has such a wide range

of children with different needs, they all respond differently to the various programmes and therapies provided. The impact of each therapy also var- ies from child to child.

“Sensory therapy and deep pres- sure techniques, musical therapy and Cranio Sacral are just some of the programmes that the children are ex- posed to,” said Mr McInerney.

The more therapies available to the children the more it improves their lives at school and at home as it has a very calming affect, he explained.

Should the school win the text competition for a €10,000 award from AIB Kilrush through the Better Ireland Programme the money will go towards providing more therapy equipment and supporting the pro- gramme that is already in place.

The branch will award the €10,000

to one of three local projects that tops the poll in a public text vote. Friends of St Senan’s school can do their bit to ensure the local school avails of the prize by simply texting KILRUSHC to 53099 before June 6.

If the school does not top the poll it will still benefit from the texts. Each text vote costs 60 cent and proceeds generated by the texts for the school will be donated to its special educa- tion project.

MILTOWN Malbay will experience the revival of a previous era next Fri- Cr MA The town that has developed the first ever Satellite e-town in the country will experience the long forgotten smells, sounds and sights of a farm- ers’ market as the Miltown Malbay Farmers’ Market opens for business. On Friday from 4.30pm to 7.30pm local people and visitors to the town can avail of the fresh produce of the local market.

A hard working group of local home bakers, local vegetable growers and keen food enthusiasts got together to revive an old tradition that will take place every week in the Muiltown Malbay Business Park car park, for- merly known as McDonough’s.

Hilary Gleeson, Rural Development Officer with EIRI Corca Baiscinn, 1s a big fan of farmers’ markets.

“With the increase in consumers concerns about the long distances food travels before it gets on our plate, many are seeking local, fresh and in-season vegetables, eggs and

home baking,” said Ms Gleeson. “There are freshly baked breads and cakes and also gluten, dairy and sugar free baking for those on special diets. There are also some local jams, organic eggs, chutneys and cheeses. Stock up on fresh seasonal veg- etables, herbs and seedlings, flowers and plants or seed potatoes. Sample some olives, sun dried tomatoes and freshly made salsas and dips. The market also has some beautiful gift ideas from locally produced crafts. Many new and seasonal foods will appear every week so there is always

something different to try,” she said.

Many of the producers also supply the Kilrush Farmers’ Market, which is held every Thursday from 9am to 2pm at the Square.

In its fifth year the Kilrush market has been supplying the people of west Clare with delicious local foods and bringing back that buzz around the market square.

Anyone intersted in joining the markets or for further information please contact Cora O’Grady 087 1354192 or Hilary Gleeson 086 PRP Tee

MOVEEN National School is leading the way as Gaelige in west Clare. The pupils and staff of the school had reason to celebrate their Irish speaking abilities this week when they were the only school in Munster to be awarded the prestigious Foras na Gaeilge award for the promotion

of Irish in a non Gael scoil.

Having submitted a project in Oc- tober last the school was shortlisted for the award. This followed a visit by Maire NiNeachtain senior lec- turer in the Irish department of Mary Immaculate College of Eduction, Limerick and Sean O Cathallan also of Mary Immaculate who spent the day in Moveen National School ob-

serving and questioning the children in all classes.

The senior classes dramatised the story of Irish folk hero Cuchulainn to end the day.

Schools from Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon and Longford were also shortlisted but it was Moveen who Came out on top.

Sixth class pupils, Ruth Carmody

class teacher, Catriona Roche parent and Assumpta Concannon principal will travel to the Foras na Gaeilge Centre in Dublin today (Tuesday) to collect their prize of €3,000 and a plaque for the school.

The presentation will be made by the newly appointed Minister for Education and Science Mr Batt O’ Keefe.

MAKING the change from a life of 24-7 work and constant travel to one of walking the dog and tending to the garden every day would be consid- ered traumatic in anyone’s life, but for former TD Brendan Daly change or Ne slommyal ems stom (0) oy

One year into retirement the Coor- aclare man is beginning to “unwind” in his native parish and become ac- customed to this next stage in his Tate

Change had always been part of the deal when he entered politics.

First he, and his family, had to get use to life as a TD.

“When you are elected you are thrown in the deep end and you have to fend for yourself and then it all changed again when you are made a minister,’ he said.

His wife Patricia helped to keep it

all in perspective however.

‘When I came home with the State car Patricia said you go in one door and out another. She was very practi- cal about it all,’ he said.

‘One week the red carpet was rolled out for you the next week someone else was walking on it and you had to stand back.”

It is just 12 months since the last election and although he is no longer a full time politician he said he can- not yet leave behind completely the different issues and people that made up the last 34 years of his life.

“Unwinding after 34 years of high power activity, it takes a while to get back to what other people would call normal activity,” he said.

The former Fianna Fail TD and senator said he missed the travelling and his work in Europe.

“It is not possible yet to completely switch off. I wouldn’t like to totally

abandon issues I was involved with over the years and the people that supported me.”

He continues to follow closely the world of politics and current affairs. He is particularly interested in the development of west Clare, Ennis General Hospital, Shannon Airport and the Lisbon Treaty.

The former TD praised the Ennis hospital for finally discovering that his wife had a broken ankle after two years of misdiagnosis and lack of diagnosis in so called centres of excellence.

Daly was elected to the Dail in 1973 when fellow Clare man the late president Paddy Hillary went to Eu- rope as Ireland’s commissioner.

He remains committed to Europe and is hoping that the Lisbon Treaty will be accepted by the people of Ire- land.

“I try to remind myself that I did

my best for 34 years in Leinster House.”

He is now hoping that legislation relating to the internet he worked on before the election will come to frui- tion in this new Dail.

Although he enjoyed politics and misses it from time to time he said, “in political life it sometimes felt that life was going in reverse rather dereDO MOM c-0 Klee

“It took about 20 years to get the government offices to Kilrush. It took a long time for that to happen, it doesn’t take that long for a head of cabbage to grow,’ he said referring to his garden.

“T now have more time for myself, home and the garden and I go to the beach every day with Ross, the red setter.”