Category: News

A NORTH Clare woman is taking an innovative new approach to starting her own business by launching an online, crowd-funding campaign – with the public essentially sponsoring her to get her business off the ground. Corof n woman, Camilla Roelants (pictured right), is hoping to raise € 16,500 to fund her new pasta take away restaurant Bosca Pasta, which she hopes to launch in the new year in Ennis.

She has until Christmas Day, December 25, to receive pledges for the entire amount on the crowd funding website kickstarter, or all the money raised will go back to those who pledged it.

Crowd funding has been used by a number of charities or budding musician to get projects off the ground in recent year – however, it is understood that this is the f rst time that a Clare business has attempted to raise start-up capital in this way.

Camilla has been out of work since she was made redundant by Sykes Enterprises in Shannon in 2012, and has completed a number of business training programmes since them, with a view to getting her own business off the ground.

“I lived in France for eight year when these types of restaurants were just getting off the ground.

“When I came home I found that I missed them, the only things you can get in Ennis were burgers is burgers and chips or something similar.

“So I decided I would try something different,” she said.

“I’ve done a lot of research into this idea and now I’m ready to go. I’ve been unemployed for two years and I really want to be able to launch this new business and get myself off the live register, and this way of funding it is how I can do that.

“I like the idea of having thousands of people funding you € 1 each, rather than going to the banks.

“I’m looking for € 16,500 from the crowdfunding site. I put my start-up costs at about € 30,000, including hiring three staff members, and I have about half of that from my own savings, family and friends.

“I haven’t gone to the banks, I’ve been unemployed for a few years and chances are I would be refused.

People can pledge any amount to the project. For more information or to pledge visit www.kickstarter.com/ projects/858962211/bosca-pasta

A MAN who pleaded guilty to a break-in at an Ennis business and the theft of four bottles of wine escaped a prison sentence at Ennis District Court last Wednesday, December 10.

Gary Simms (43) with an address at Laurel Lodge in Ennis, pleaded guilty to the burglary which took place in Ennis on the early hours of December 3, 2014.

The court heard that a window was broken and the alarm set off at the Wine Buff off licence in Ennis at 3am on the morning of December 3 – with four bottles of wine being taken. Gardaí stopped Mr Simms on O’Connell’s Street in Ennis at 4.30am on the same morning and recovered the four bottles of wine which had a combined value of between € 80 and € 100.

Judge Patrick Durcan said that Mr Simms had a “dreadful record” with 77 previous convictions – although none of the previous conviction were for burglary. Council for the defence said that Mr Simms was a recovering alcoholic who was on the track to recovery, except for his slip on December 3.

The court heard that on the day of the incident Mr Simms had contacted his former partner with a view to organising a visit with his children before Christmas – but she had refused to allow him to visit.

Address the court, Mr Simms said that it was this incident which had led to his ‘set back’.

“Give me a chance, please,” he said to Judge Durcan. “Twice I have seen my kids this year. I’ve never exposed my kids to my alcoholism. I miss my children.”

The court also heard that Mr Simms is due to move from supported accommodation to his own home in January, if his recovery continues.

Judge Durcan placed Mr Simms on a probation bond for 12 months but warned him not to break the law during that period.

“Don’t come back before me again. I remember some of the names that come through here and I will remember yours,” he said.

Although Slough Hall began life as a mess hall for the army, it was better known locally as a dancehall during the Irish show band era of the 1950’s and ‘60’s. The barracks was also the home of Irish League basketball in Clare during the 1980’s and early 1990. In more recent years the hall has hosted a number of productions by the local Ennistymon Choral Society as well as other community organisations. Slaugh Hall and the Army Barracks, which lie on a prime stretch of land between the Old (Championship) Course and Castle Course in Lahinch, was purchased from the Irish Defense Forces by Lahinch Golf Course for € 560,000 earlier this year. At the time a last ditch attempt was made by members of local community to raise enough money to purchase the property on behalf of the local community, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Local campaigners had hoped that the land, which borders the Lahinch Community Field, could be retained in community ownership and developed as a community centre and amenity park.

THE MAJORITY of councillors are set to boycott a meeting with Irish Water due to take place this Wednesday – with the utility company refusing to host the meeting in public.

The one-to-one meetings were due to take place, behind closed doors, from 10am to 12 noon this Wednesday, however, it now appears that only a handful of councillors plan to attend.

The original format for the meeting would have seen each councillor given just four minutes and 18 seconds to discuss issues with the Irish Wa- ter representatives – and the media banned from attending.

The council last week passed a resolution asking Irish Water to abandon the private meeting and instead come before Clare County Council in a full meeting that could be attended by the public and the media.

This request was declined by Irish Water – and a number of councillors have now decided to boycott the meeting.

“The upshot of all of this is that they [Irish Water] are refusing to meets us in the council chambers and because of that I will be boycotting that meeting,” said Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF).

“It [one-to-one meetings] is a point- less exercise and is completely non democratic. There are a lot of macro issues involving Irish Water that concern Clare County Council, staff ng

THE GREEN Party is on election footing in Clare with North Clare woman Roisín Garvey among the frontrunners to represent the party in the next General Election.

It is understood that the party leader Eamonn Ryan met with the An Taisce Green Schools off cer for County Clare and south Galway during a visit to the county last week, but told

not at his place of residence, having possession of an axe with the inten tion that it be used in the course of or in connection with a burglary. Mr McDonagh is alleged to have had the axe at Ennis Golf Club, Golf Links Road.

Also on November 28, Mr Mc Donagh is charged with entering Ennis Golf Club as a trespasser and attempting to commit criminal dam age. He is also charged with possession of cannabis at 32 Clancy Park, Ennis. Mr McDonagh, an unemployed sin gle man, appeared before Ennis Dis trict Court on Friday. Garda Frank Browne of Ennis Gar da Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He told the court Mr McDonagh made no reply to any of the charges after caution. Legal aid was approved for solici tor Tara Godfrey. Ms Godfrey said she had no ques tions regarding the arrest, charge and caution of her client. She said she was applying for bail for Mr McDonagh. Inspector Tom Kennedy said the State objected to bail. He told Judge Patrick Durcan the reasons of the State’s objections to bail.

Ms Godfrey asked Garda Browne if he would be satisf ed if Mr Mc Donagh gave a commitment to reside at home, sign on three times a week at Ennis Garda Station and make himself contactable at all times. Garda Browne said he would be sat isf ed.

But after hearing the full bail ap plication, Judge Durcan refused bail. He remanded Mr McDonagh in custody to appear again at Ennis Dis trict Court on December 10.

after a court heard he was “acting the maggot” in an Ennis supermarket.

James O’Grady (37) was in a drunken state when gardaí were called to a public order incident at Lynch’s Centra on the Gort Road, Ennis District Court heard on Wednesday.

A schedule of Mr O’Grady’s arrest, charge and caution was handed into court by Inspector Tom Kennedy.

Legal aid was approved for defence solicitor Daragh Hassett, who told the court his client was pleading guilty to the charges.

Mr O’Grady, with an address at Gort Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace may be occasioned.

He further admitted a charge of being intoxicated in a public place to such an extent as would give rise to a reasonable apprehension that he might endanger himself or any other person in his vicinity.

The charges arose from Mr O’Grady’s behaviour at Lynch’s Centra on November 30, 2014. Insp Kennedy told the court that at around 8.45pm on the night in ques tion, Mr O’Grady, in a drunken state, entered the shop and started shouting at staff.

The gardaí were called and Mr O’Grady left after being asked to do so.

Insp Kennedy said that a short time after the gardaí left, Mr O’Grady returned to the shop.

“He got verbal with the staff and made a general nuisance of himself”, Insp Kennedy explained.

The court heard the gardaí returned to the scene and Mr O’Grady ran to the rear of the shop.

Insp Kennedy said, “He tried to evade the gardaí by hiding in the shop and generally acting the maggot”.

The court heard Mr O’Grady, an unemployed painter, has previous convictions for public intoxication and drink driving.

Mr Hassett told the court his client had recently been injured in a fall from horse.

He said on the night of the incident, Mr O’Grady had consumed Nurofen and alcohol.

He agreed Mr O’Grady had “acted the maggot” but has since apologised for his behaviour.

“He is highly embarrassed”, Mr Hassett added. Judge Durcan imposed a € 250 f ne for the breach of the peace offence. Judge Durcan said he was making the order due to Mr O’Grady’s previous convictions. He struck out the intoxication charge.

A 28-YEAR-OLD Shannon man is to face trial in the circuit court in connection with two alleged burglaries in the town.

Gerard Delaney, with an address at Inis Eagla, Shannon, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

The court heard the book of evidence in respect of two alleged burglaries in Shannon was ready for service.

Mr Delaney is accused of entering a building at Cluain Aoibheann, Shannon, as a trespasser with intent to commit an arrestable offence on September 20, 2014.

He is further charged with entering a house at Carraig Donn, Shannon, as a trespasser and stealing a handbag, also on September 20, 2014.

Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station told the court she served a copy of the book of evidence on solicitor John Casey for his client Mr Delaney. Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consented to the accused being returned for trial to the current sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

Solicitor John Casey said he was not making a bail application but asked that he be certif ed for legal aid along with one junior counsel.

Judge Patrick Durcan granted the legal aid application. He delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial.

THE Boghill Centre in Kilfenora was the big winner of this year’s Burren and Cliffs of Moher GeoparkLIFE Award which took place over the weekend. The centre took three of the 15 awards on offer on the night, including the main prizes in both the GeoparkLIFE awards and the Burren Ecotourism award.

The annual awards recognise achievement of Burren businesses in the development of sustainable tourism in the region. There were two sets of awards up for grabs on the night with eleven GeoparkLIFE awards and three awards from the Burren Ecotourism Network.

The Boghill Centre took the overall Sustainable Business of the Year award and the Energy Management award in the GeoparkLIFE awards while also being crowned Member of the Year by the Burren Ecotourism Network.

It was also a good night for the Burren Nature Sanctuary who won the Visitor Interpretation and Leave No Trace awards, while the Cliffs of Moher Experience, Sea View House, Heart of Burren Walks, Burren Free Range Pork, Cafe Linnalla, Kil- shanny House, St Tola’s Goat Farm, Doolin Hostel, Burren Food Trail and Martin Waldron of Cragmoher House, all won awards.

“These awards help to promote and give of f cial recognition to the wide range of fantastic work that is ongoing throughout the Burren through sustainable business practices. The awards also help us to monitor progress in relation to the Geopark Sustainable Code of Practice for Tourism programme,” said Carol Gleeson of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.

“Since 2008, Clare County Council has been working in the Burren to develop a truly sustainable tourism destination that gives direct benef ts to the local community, promotes and celebrates local culture and produce, preserves the environment and provides a great experience for our visitors. “This has been achieved with great support and partnership from local communities and businesses and agencies responsible for tourism and conservation and local development. These awards reward those who have contributed to this process.”

CLA RE County Council is in discussions with Shannon Commercial proper ties