Month: April 2006

THE SHANNON Airport Authority (SAA) has generated an estimated €14 million in revenues from US troop traffic in the first quarter of this year. Figures released by the SAA show that 116,540 US troops have flown through Shannon on 743 flights. The figures for March show that 41,138 troops used the airport during the past month. This is in addition to the 75,315 troops that have used Shannon for the first two months of this year.

The figures show that there has been a 21 per cent increase on the corresponding period for last year where a total of 95,984 US troops used the airport’s facilities.

The figures released for the first quarter confirm that the airport is on course to exceed the record number of American troops that passed through Shannon Airport last year.

The estimated €14 million generated from troop traffic brings to almost €100 million the amount Shannon has received from the US Government as a result of its campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent times.

Troop traffic has also been instrumental in sustaining the airport’s catering operation in recent years. Last year troop traffic accounted for 10 per cent of the overall traffic numbers going through Shannon Airport.

Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) told The Clare People , “The business is very welcome and has assisted Shannon in its transition to a low-cost airport.

“I understand that the greater numbers of troops going through Shannon is as a result of shorter terms for the troops in Iraq.”

The number of troops going through Shannon represents 16 per cent of the overall total. It is expected that this percentage will significantly decrease during the peak Summer season.

It is estimated that there are currently 150,000 US troops in Iraq and an unknown number of troops that flew to Iraq via Shannon have not made the return journey home.

However, Senator Dooley said: “The troop business is welcome, but the airport would not want to depend on it going forward as we don’t know when the US will pull out of Iraq.”

Along with civilian aircraft carrying troops, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that last year the Government granted permission for 753 military aircraft to land in Ireland.

It is understood that the vast majority of these aircraft were US military landing at Shannon.

The Department also confirmed that the Government gave permission to 3,582 military aircraft to overfly Ireland last year. This figure represented a decrease of three per cent on the 3,691 military aircraft that overflew Ireland in 2003.

BRUCE Springsteen could be in line for a surprise Clare concert in the near future, The Clare People can exclusively reveal. This is according to Jim Aiken, head of Ireland’s largest promotion company, Aiken Promotions. The company are currently promoting the New Jersey rocker’s sold-out concert in the Point Depot in Dublin next month.

Mr Aiken also revealed that the Lisdoonvarna Music Festival in its former glory will never again take place, but that a revamped festival could take its place in Lisdoonvarna or elsewhere in the county.

“To revive the old festival would be impossible. It would be just too hard to get planning. But there is no reason why a new festival cannot be designed,” said Mr Aiken. “If Paddy Doherty and Christy Moore came on board, I would be more than ready to listen.”

Aiken Promotions attempted to revive the music festival in Lisdoonvarna in 2004 but were forced to relocate to the RDS in Dublin when planning permission was refused by Clare County Council.

While he refused to criticise Clare County Council directly, he did say that planning permission was the main stumbling block to resurrecting the festival and commented on “the fantastic endorsement that Galway City Council has given” for the recently-announced Andrea Bocelli concert.

“We attempted to revive the Lisdoonvarna festival but it is very difficult,” continued Mr Aiken. “Look at Bruce Springsteen’s new album. If he decided to do a folk festival and someone asked me where to go with it, I would say Clare.”

Interestingly, Mr Aiken also indicated that he would be interested in bringing big-name performers to Clare if the GAA go ahead with plans to build a new stadium capable of hosting major events.

“Nobody can predict what way music is going to go but, in the future, I can see a lot of venues hosting more than one type of sport, along with musical events,” continued Mr Aiken. “You need to have a good audience that appreciates music and a venue that is the right place for the right act.

“It is the way music is developing. It is also a business decision. People like coming to the West of Ireland and this just gives them one more reason to do so.”

CRIPPLING legal costs have forced Doolin-based company, Aran Islands Fast Ferries, to cease their operations at Doolin.

The company has claimed it will use its liquidated assets in order to take a case against the Department of the Marine to the European Court.

They say the Department has refused to allow them operate their boat, the Galway Bay, out of Doolin, on the grounds that it is too large.

Three years ago, the company moved to break the dominance of Doolin Ferries on the lucrative tourism routes to the Aran Islands.

The rivalry prompted tensions between the two, resulting in Clare Council Council last year enacting by-laws for the regulation of affairs at the harbour and numerous court appearances involving the two businesses.

However, Dick Grant confirmed to The Clare People yesterday that Aran Islands Fast Ferries would no longer be offering a service out of Doolin, due to costs associated with their forthcoming legal bid and from various previous legal battles.

“The company has had seven trips to the Circuit Court, nine trips to the High Court and another two trips to the district and circuit involving Clare County Council. We just want a level playing field, but the legal costs have been crippling.

“She is a perfect vessel, but the Department won’t let the boat operate from Doolin because they claim that the boat is too big. I am very disappointed and so is John-Joe Fitzpatrick. It’s tragic really and I am heartbroken after all the effort that we have put into it.”

Mr Grant said that the struggle to get Aran Islands Fast Ferries established at Doolin has been “a long miserable battle.”

Asked if he would be involved in operating a passenger ferry service out of Doolin, Mr Grant said, “I can’t see it in my lifetime.” Mr Grant said that he did not know the cost of the various legal battles. He said, “I don’t know, but it is colossal.”

The move by Aran Islands Fast Ferries to cease operating at Doolin now leaves three companies operating out of Doolin – the two separate companies operated by Bill and Kevin O’Brien and Cliffs of Moher cruises, who also offer services to the Aran Islands.

GARDAÍ are investigating how a deadly arsenal of weapons came to be buried in the woods in Cratloe.

The cache of weapons — discovered embedded in an old stone wall in the woods — is described as being the biggest find made in Clare in recent years.

Gardaí involved in a search for stolen goods unearthed an improvised rocket launcher, four revolvers, three rifles, two shotguns, explosives and ammunition.

The army bomb disposal squad was called on and carried out a number of controlled explosions at the scene.

A Garda spokesman said that army personnel involved in the operation, “said that the missile was the first of its kind seen by them and had the potential to cause massive loss of life.”

Gardaí are investigating a number of possibilities as to how the items came to be left in the woods but cannot say as yet whether the weapons were intended for criminal or paramilitary use.

The spokesman said that while the rocket launcher was improvised, it was nonetheless “very sophisticated. This was a substantial find, the biggest in Clare in recent years, and it is all modern weaponry.”

He added that it was, “a very good day’s work when people’s lives are saved by removing these weapons off the street.”

After the bomb disposal team carried out their controlled explosions, samples of explosive material were taken to the Garda forensic laboratory for examination.

A team of 15 gardaí kept the area sealed off so that a full examination could be carried out.

The Garda search of the woods was prompted by investigations into a number of robberies in the East Clare area in recent times.

Stolen items are often recovered from the area as thieves use the woodlands to either dump or hide stolen items.

The Garda spokesman said that the cache was “well buried and we cannot say at this stage how long they were there.”

The last very significant weapons find in the county was in March 2004 when a quantity of arms was found close to the River Shannon’s edge near Parteen.

The find included 1,000 rounds of ammunition and a quantity of mercury, which could be used in making bombs.

AFTER weeks of speculation about his political future, Fianna Fáil Senator Brendan Daly has issued an ultimatum to his party.

The former Minister has said he will not agree to be added to the party ticket for next year’s general election, unless issues such as Ennis General Hospital and the ongoing wait for sewerage schemes in the county, are adequately addressed.

“I do not believe in issuing ultimatums or making unattainable demands, but in the matter of the development of Ennis hospital, unless there is a clear unambiguous decision, as far as I am concerned Fianna Fáil will have to seek another candidate other than me to stand in the next election,” he told The Clare People .

“Unless there is a clear understanding that the Ennis hospital project is on track, the political positions is unsustainable,” he added.

“This time last year, I made it clear that I would stake my political future on the safeguarding of Ennis General Hospital and was given assurances in that regard.

“A clear commitment and assurance has been given by the Taoiseach to the continuation of 24 hour Accident and Emergency facilities at Ennis General Hospital. Any change in that position would have very serious political consequences in the constituency and as far as I am concerned, would be totally unacceptable,” he said.

“No amount of ambiguity will disguise the issue,” said Senator Daly, a member of the Oireachtas for 30 years.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney, and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern gave a commitment on the future of acute services at the hospital to the Ennis Hospital Development Committee last year. But the lobby group have been unable to secure a similar commitment from the CEO of the Health Service Executive, Prof Brendan Drumm.

Senator Daly is the favourite to be added to the Fianna Fáil ticket for the next election, according to a party spokesperson.

Last week Kilrush Comhairle Cheantar also gave unanimous support to the senator, with a show of hands endorsing any move to add him to the Fianna Fáil election team.

Junior Minister Tony Killeen and Senator Timmy Dooley were selected at the party convention two weeks ago.

BISHOP Willie Walsh, might have saved the life of a man living in Clare, if he had been responsible for handling the man’s clerical sex-abuse claim, the family believe.

A spokesman for the One In Four group told The Clare People that the bereaved family, “believe that if Willie Walsh had been the one dealing with Peter’s case, he would be alive today. He was a source of real comfort to Peter, as was his parish priest.”

Peter had been locked in a fouryear debate with the Diocese of Limerick over his abuse at the hands of Fr Denis Daly, when he was a ten year old altar boy.

His family said that Peter was particularly distressed to discover that the Church knew that Daly had been run out of his parish in Sydney by the police for a “moral lapse”, but did not admit this.

Peter was found dead at his home in Kilkee after years of fighting depression, and just days after a mediation conference with the diocese.

At an emotional press conference in Dublin yesterday (Monday) afternoon, Peter’s mother, Mary, said it was, “with deep sadness and immense grief that I am here to speak the truth for Peter, following his final battle with Dr Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick and the Diocesan legal representatives.

“It was the unbearable weight of the denial of the truth that became too much for Peter. That denial must end.”

Mrs McCloskey said the abuse caused her son, “untold emotional and psychological suffering”.

She also pointed out that, “this suffering continued through his teenage years, into his adulthood and up to the day he died”.

Rejecting the Bishop’s statement that Peter had walked out of the mediation meeting, she said: “Dr. Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick and his legal representatives had Peter nailed to the cross, well in advance of Good Friday.”

A spokesperson for Bishop Murray said the recent death of Peter Mc Closkey was “profoundly sad and deeply upsetting for all who knew him.”

The spokesman said that Bishop Murray gave an extensive interview to RTÉ’s Prime Time and the Irish Times concerning issues raised.

“Bishop Murray has been, and will continue to be available to meet Peter’s family and support them in any way he can at this difficult time, and to discuss concerns that they have.

“In order to respect the confidentiality due to Peter’s family Bishop Murray is making no further public comment for the time being.

“Bishop Murray invites anybody with concerns regarding abuse to contact in confidence the diocese, the gardaí, or the health authorities,” the statement concluded.

THE tightly knit community in Kilmihil is preparing to say goodbye to one of its young people this evening following a fatal road traffic accident at the weekend.

Trainee Garda Martin Coen, from Lackeen, lost his life during the early hours o f Saturday morning, when his car hit two horses at Garlow Cross in Navan, Co Meath.

It is believed the 26-year-old had been working in Kells Garda Station since the beginning of the year. Described by colleagues as a “promising garda” with a promising career ahead of him, Martin was due to graduate from the Garda College in Templemore, in the coming months.

The young garda was the sole occupant of the car that collided with two horses at 5.50am on Saturday. The two animals also died in the accident. Gardai in Navan are investigating the incident.

A GAA enthusiast, Martin played football for Kilmihill. He attended primary schools in Kilmihill and was also a past pupil of the Community College in the village. He was the youngest son of Ann and Billy and brother to Mandy and Brendan. He is also survived by nieces and a nephew. Martin will be buried with full Garda honours after noon Mass in St Michael’s Church, Kilmihil, tomorrow (Wednesday).

Meanwhile, the Shannon based Irish Coastguard helicopter airlifted a critically injured motorist after his car lost control and struck a wall in north Clare on Sunday evening.

The 23 year old sole occupant of the vehicle was only yards from his home, at New Quay, when his car swerved across the road before colliding with a stonewall.

Emergency services from counties Galway and Clare rushed to the scene, on the main Ballyvaughan to Kinvara road, shortly after 5.00pm.

Fire engines from Ennistymon and from Gort assisted an ambulance crew in removing the victim from the wreckage. An off-duty member of the ambulance service, who assisted colleagues at the scene, sought the assistance of a helicopter, such was his concern for the condition of the injured man.

The Shannon based Irish Coastguard helicopter, which was in the area at the time, made its way to the scene.

The chopper set down in a field next to the crash site and the injured man was quickly airlifted to University College Hospital in Galway where his condition was described yesterday as “serious, but not lifethreatening”.

NUMEROUS teaching principals in County Clare have resigned their position of responsibility and returned to teaching full time, due to what the INTO has described as lack of government support.

Clare representative on the Central Executive Committee of the INTO, Declan Kelleher, told The Clare People that teaching principals are among the most exploited group of workers in the entire public service.

Later today, the Corofin teacher will highlight the plight of the teaching principal when he addresses the annual primary teacher’s union conference, held this year in Killarney.

“So callous is the disregard of principals by the Department of Education and Science that they must be accused of denying proper health and safety standards to primary principals. Many principals are suffering damage to their health, because they are being allocated a workload which cannot be carried out without the required infrastructure,” he said.

The Clare INTO representative pointed to developments such as the Education Act, Education Welfare Act and the revised primary curriculum, summer work schemes and devolved grants as some of the extra responsibilities landing on school principals’ overcrowded desks.

The average number of applicants for a teaching principal position is now down to two from 10.

The INTO representative claims the added responsibility, without remuneration or appropriate infrastructure, is the root cause of the unpopularity of the job.

“Likewise, how can it be logical to acknowledge that at 179 pupils a school will have an administrative principal with 183 days to administer the school, whilst the principal in the school of 178 pupils has only 22 days substituted cover per annum provided for her or his administration time,” he added.

The Clare branches of the INTO will also highlight difficulties with class sizes during the week-long conference, amid claims from delegates that the Minister for Education has discriminated against small and medium-sized primary schools.

Under new Department of Education regulations, a 15-teacher school can expect a reduction of nine pupils on the staffing schedule, but at eight teachers there is only a drop of one.

“Obviously the minister feels that there is no class size problem in small and medium-sized primary schools. Rural schools feel totally frustrated and let down by this minister for education,” said Mr Kelleher.

THE bottles were well shaken and then uncorked, sending showers of champagne around the parade ring during this Easter Sunday celebration of returning Grand National heroes Martin Brassil and Numbersixvalverde.

Fittingly, the Dromoland Point-toPoint attracted one of its biggest ever crowds. Most of them had gathered to see Newmarket-on-Fergus man Brassil return in triumph to his home Point-to-Point after Numbersixvalverde’s stunning success in the 159th running of the greatest steeplechase in the world.

Sustained applause rang out around the old Dromoland Castle estate as Brassil and Numbersixvalverde arrived in the parade ring. A crowd of over 1,000 people had gathered to witness the historic occasion and show their appreciation.

“We’re in the presence of greatness here today,” came the announcement over the public address and everyone displayed their approval.

Brassil, whose introduction to national hunt racing came at the famous Dromoland Point-to-Point fixture, was bowled over by the reception.

In the emotion of the occasion, the National hero recalled how Dromoland and its racing had always inspired him.

“This is where it really started for me. When I was a young fella I would stand on top of the pier of the gate at home in Lisduff to see the top of the Turret Hill where the Point-to-Point used to be staged,” Brassil told The Clare People .

“I’d be looking up to see if I could see them setting up the course – if the tents were being erected and the fences were going up. It was the biggest day of the year and to come back here having won the Grand National and to get this reception is unbelievable.

“It’s great to be back in Dromoland in these circumstances – I’m amongst my own.

“I grew up with horses – horses were my life but you never dream of winning something like the Grand National.

“It’s the race everyone bets on, it’s the race that everybody watches – to win it has been an unbelievable experience for me and the reception I have got has been unbelievable. But this is extra-special for me, as I have come home.

“In one way, you could say that it goes in the family.

“My grandfather’s first cousin bred the winner of the Grand National – his name was William Reidy, from Rineanna, who bred Shannon Lass who won the race way back in 1902. I was aware of Shannon Lass growing up, but didn’t realise that there was a family link there,” added Brassil.

LISCANNOR looks set to be twinned with the town of Paterson in New Jersey, to commemorate the invention of the submarine by local man John Holland 125 years ago, this year.

An open invitation has also been extended by the Mayor of Paterson, José Torres, to the people of Liscannor, to join in the celebration of the invention in New Jersey on May 1.

Holland was born in Liscannor on February 24, 1841, but later moved to the small New Jersey town, where he set up a naval company and won the contract to build the world’s first working submarine, ‘the Fenian Ram’ in 1881.

A public meeting was held in Liscannor last week to discuss the possibility of setting up a twinning agreement with the American town.

After attending St Macreehy’s National School in Liscannor, Holland spent some time in the Christian Brothers School in Ennistymon. He moved to Limerick, following the death of his father when he was 17years-old.

His father was in the coastguard and, as a young man, Holland expressed an interest in following him in this career. His eyesight was not of the required quality however, and he instead joined the Christian Brothers.

While in training to enter the Brothers he came into contact with a science teacher named Brother Dominic Burke, who encouraged him in his designs for a submarine.

Just before his final ordination into the Christian Brothers in 1873, he decided to leave the order and join his mother and his two brothers in Boston.

After working for a brief time in an engineering firm, he took up a teaching position at St John’s Catholic School in Paterson, New Jersey.

His original attempt to attract the US Navy to invest in his design were rejected, but following help from his brother Michael and funding from the Fenian movement, he constructed the 14-foot prototype, the Holland No 1, in 1877.

Using further money invested by the Fenians, Holland built the Fenian Ram in Delamater Iron Works in 1881.

He later set up the John Holland Torpedo Boat Company, which won the contract to build the first submarines for the American Navy in 1896.