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CLARE’S legal community extended a warm welcome to its newest member at Ennis District Courthouse last month.

Dundalk native Angela Byrne recently started work with Clare law firm Loughnane and Co. Solicitors. She previously worked as a solicitor in the Dundalk offices of Sean T O’Reilly and Company.

Ms Byrne was officially introduced at a recent sitting of Ennis District Court. Welcoming Ms Byrne to court on behalf of the Clare Law Society, solicitor Stephen Nicholas said Ms Byrne had worked in general law practice for nine years.

He said Ms Byrne is an experienced legal practitioner who would be warmly welcomed to Clare. Inspector Michael Gallagher welcomed Ms Byrne to Clare on behalf of the Gardaí. He wished her all the best on her career in Clare.

Judge Patrick Durcan told Ms Byrne that they shared something in common in that they are both law- yers who do not hail from the Banner County.

Referring to the drawn All-Ireland final between Clare and Cork earlier this month, Judge Durcan remarked, “The people of County Clare often surprise, as people in Cork will know, in the last minute!”

He told Ms Byrne she worked for an office of practitioners that is “highly regarded and respected both professionally and personally”.

“I wish you all the best with your current practice here in Clare,” he added.

Ms Byrne said, “I thank you all for your very kind words and I look forward very much to working with you.”

Loughnane & Co Solicitors is a long-established law firm with offices in Ennis and Scariff. The firms also have consultation rooms in Galway City and serve clients nationwide. The firm was established by Billy Loughnane in 1980.

THE Burren has two new world champions and a host of new medalists following a brilliant performance by the Gort Taekwon-do club at the World Championships in England.

The club, which attracts members from all over North Clare and South Galway, sent seven athletes to take part in this year’s world championship, with all club members coming home with a medal.

The medals haul included two high performing families with father and son, John and Darragh Murphy, winning seven medals between them and mother and son, Gina and Cathal Casey, winning a medal each.

“This was out first ever World Championship as a club and every- one came home with something. It was an amazing performance club. It was a great performance over there. It was like a dream, everything went really really well for the club,” said Lisa Connolly of the Gort Taekwondo, who was also an international referee for this year’s competition.

“I was there as an international referee, which means that I ran a ring for three days, 12 hours a day. I was the centre referee so I was a challenge. You have to be very focussed when you are refereeing these matches – especially if you are going it for 10 or 12 hours every day.”

The leading medal winner was Darragh Murphy, who was awarded four golds and two silvers, followed by Cathal Casey who claimed one gold medal. There were silvers for David Neilan, David Joyce and Gina Casey while John Murphy and black belt John Flanaghan, taking a bronze.

Two on the club’s medalists are also in training to take part in the Kickboxing World Championships in Greece later this year.

“Cathal and Darragh are both training for the Kichboxing World Championships, which take place next month. Cathal is already a World Champion after winning in Florida last year so we are very hopeful,” continued Lisa.

A CONVICTED rapist who failed to tell gardaí in Ennis he had moved address last month has received a suspended sentence.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan warned the man that if he again failed to comply with his obligations under the Sex Offender’s Act, he would go to jail.

The 41-year-old man pleaded guilty to failing to notify gardaí of a change in his Ennis address in September, as required under the Sex Offenders’ Act (2001).

This is the second time in 12 months the man has committed such an offence.

Last September he spent three weeks living rough near the River Fergus after leaving rented accommodation.

At the time gardaí admitted they were extremely concerned when the man fell of their radar. He subsequently received a two-month prison sentence that was suspended for two years.

On Wednesday, Detective Garda John Casey of Ennis Garda Station, told the court the man was convicted in April 2005 of the sexual assault of a male and rape contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990.

The man moved to Clare in 2010 whereupon gardaí explained to him that he was required to tell them of any change in his living arrangements.

Defence solicitor John Casey told the court his client was between accommodation at the time.

He said the man slept in a garden shed at the rear of his former house while his new accommodation was being renovated.

Mr Casey said that if his client was sent to prison he would lose his accommodation, possessions and go back to “square one”.

“For someone like him to get permanent accommodation would be very difficult”, he added.

Judge Patrick Durcan said the accused is “someone who has fallen to the bottom of the barrel, very considerably.”

However Judge Durcan added, “It is incumbent on the defendant to comply strongly with obligations imposed on him by statute.”

Noting that the man had spent the past week in prison having been remanded in custody, Judge Durcan imposed a four-month sentence, suspended for two years.

He also decided not to activate the suspended sentence handed down last November.

Warning the accused as to his future behaviour Judge Durcan added, “If non-compliance is proven, I will put you into prison.”

BOAT owners are being encouraged to install tracking devices after a raft of engine thefts from Clare piers in recent days.

A Mariner 65 HP engine was stolen from a boat at Seafield Pier in the early hours of Sunday morning. Thieves pulled the boat ashore and the engine was forcibly removed. Engines were also stolen from boats at Doonbeg pier overnight between Friday and Saturday and overnight between Wednesday and Thursday.

One of the stolen engines was valued at € 16,000. Sgt Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer, said Gardaí have not received many reports of suspicious activity as passers by may think thieves are actually the owners working on a boat.

He is encouraging boat owners to install tracking devices on engines. Similar devices are required by insurance companies for the owners of cars valued at € 50,000 or more.

The owners of JCBs can also use tracking devices to send out text messages to alert when machinery has been moved outside a certain set area.

Sgt Downey explained, “People are going to have to seriously ask themselves is it really necessary to keep engines overnight at piers? And if so have they installed tracking devices. A well installed tracking device can be be very useful.

“For instance tracking devices are very useful in laptops. People should seriously consider installing tracking devices when the value of the item is high.”

Despite a small number of breakins around the county over the AllIreland weekend, Sgt Downey said homeowners and businesses are heeding advice for someone to keep an eye on properties during major events.

“When the whole county is gone to the All-Ireland final, someone has to stay behind to mind the house. A lot of people heeded that advice. We had a couple of break ins in that period (match) and one that happened around the time of the homecoming on Sunday”.

A number of items were stolen from a houses in Newmarket and Corofin between Saturday and Sunday morning. A ladies handbag was stolen from a house in the Drumcliff Road area of Ennis between 6pm and 10pm on Sunday night.

Thieves ransacked house in the Hawthorns estate on the Limerick Road overnight between Sunday and Monday. The rear window was forced open.

AFTER lying empty for almost a month, the old Ennis National School will re-open on Friday for the upcoming referendum.

The building has traditionally served as polling station for elections and referendums and will swing open its doors once again on October 4.

The site has been practically vacant for the best part of a month since pupils and teachers moved to the new school building at Ashline at the start of September.

The project involved the construction of a new 32-classroom school including ancillary accommodation. The design is of a St Bridget’s Cross layout – a central area with four separate wings of eight classrooms ema- nating from the core.

The school has moved from its former site on the Kilrush Road near Carmody Street where it had been located since 1973.

Ennis Town Football Club, who have been based at the Kilrush Road for a number of years, have retained the use of the pitch and dressing rooms at the old site but the building has been vacant. The Ennis Parish Council were asked about the possibility of opening the builder to cater for voters on referendum day.

Electricity will also be re-connected at the building this week. Polling cards have already been printed bearing the name of the old school. Voters are being asked to decide whether or not to abolish the Seanad and whether or the country needs a new Court of Appeal.

AS NEW hurling Clare heroes were being written into the sporting annals on Saturday, a former Clare hurling great was inaugurated into a sporting hall of fame in Limerick.

Sean McMahon was one of the first 16 sports stars of all disciplines to be inaugurated in the new University of Limerick Sports Hall of Fame at the University Arena.

While he was shouting on his fellow Clare men on the pitch in Croke Park, miles away, back in Limerick, UL President Professor Don Barry announced the Doora Barefield man as one of the country’s sporting heroes at an event in the university.

Regarded as one of Clare’s greatestever hurlers, the 40-year-old holds the record as the highest scoring back in All-Ireland Championship history with 0-97 from 51 games.

In his book, ‘Raising the Banner’, Clare hurling manager Ger Loughnane famously said of the hurling star, “There are men, then there are men, then there’s Sean McMahon.”

The event on Saturday was open to members of the public to attend free of charge and was followed by a live screening of the replay of the All Ireland Hurling Final between Clare and Cork on a large screen at the University of Limerick Sports Club.

The other inaugural University of Limerick Sports Hall of Fame inductees were Dr Sarahjane Belton Rugby; Brian Mullins – Gaelic Football; Eimear Cregan – Hockey; Seán O’Grady – Paralympic Athletics; Jimmy Deenihan – Gaelic Football; Eddie O’Sullivan – Rugby; Gerard Hartmann – Triathlon; Ciara Peelo Sailing; Dr Liam Hennessy – Athletics; Ray Silke – Gaelic Football; Dr Eddie Keher – Hurling; Pat Spillane – Gaelic Football; Carmel Vekins Kayak and Canoe Polo; Tony Ward – Rugby and Sinéad Millea – Camogie.

CLARE’S most senior local authority has been shortlisted for a national engineer’s award.

Clare County Council is in the running for Engineers Ireland Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Employer of the Year Award.

The council, which has a long and successful record of CPD, has been short listed for its achievements in using in-house expertise, local knowledge and innovation to develop the Clare County Flood Forecasting System (CCFFS).

The unique system has proven highly successful and is being replicated by a number of organisations throughout the country.

Dublin City Council, Dromone Engineering Limited, global healthcare company Abbott Ireland and PM Group are among other lead- ing organisations shortlisted for the awards.

Commenting on the shortlist, Engineers Ireland director general and chartered engineer John Power said, “Every year we are hugely impressed by the quality of entries and the organisations’ commitment to CPD, this year is no different. The shortlist reflects companies that have demonstrated how the strategic use of CPD enables tangible business transformation, helping to establish Ireland as a centre of excellence for engineering.

“I would like to congratulate Clare County Council for reaching the shortlist and encourage them to continue investing in professional development.”

The winners will be announced this Wednesday, October 2, at the Engineers Ireland CPD Symposium and Awards in the Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin.

POSITIVE Ageing Week will be celebrated with a wide number of events around Clare from September 27 to October 5.

This is the 11th year Age Action has marked UN International Day of Older Persons, which takes place on October 1.

Clare County Library has compiled a programme of events to celebrate this very worthwhile week. In association with Bluebird Care, there will be a Positive Ageing Photo Exhibition on display in the De Valera Public Library, Ennis, from Monday, September 30, to Friday, October 11. The exhibition showcases older people getting out and enjoying life. Some are still working, while others are continuing to enjoy hobbies and some are captured passing on their skills to another generation. The exhibition has been displayed in art galleries, libraries, nursing homes, schools, town halls and businesses. It is made up of 28 images with 28 separate descriptions. It can be viewed during normal library opening hours so don’t miss your chance to see these inspiring photos.

To coincide with the exhibition’s residency in the library Bluebird Care will also present a ‘Safe at Home’ security seminar there on Tuesday, October 8, at 6pm. This seminar is one in a nationwide series of security seminars that Bluebird Care has organised in response to a growing fear among older people about security at home. It will be attended by local Community Policing members of An Garda Síochána, security consultants and community representatives. This is a free event and everyone is welcome.

Senior citizens will have an opportunity to get in touch with their artistic side at an art workshop entitled.

During Positive Ageing Week, and throughout the month of October, Clare County Library will take a small section of the Local Studies Library on tour when library staff will visit nursing homes and day centres throughout the county. A selection of ‘Clare Champion’ newspapers from times past will be transported, along with photographs and books, so that extracts can be read and discussed, evoking memories of times past. The newspapers are part of a complete set of ‘Clare Champions’ dating back to 1903 which are housed at the Local Studies Centre on Harmony Row, Ennis. They are available to the pub- lic for reference use.

Remember too that senior citizens can avail of free library membership in all of Clare County Library’s branches. For more information on these events and much more visit Clare County Library’s website at www. clarelibrary.ie or telephone 065 6821616.

A MYSTERIOUS two metre-long, phallic-shaped object has been creating a stir in North Clare since it was discovered imbedded in sand on Lahinch beach on Sunday.

The object, which has already been christened the ‘Lahinch Langer’, appeared on the southern end of the beach and has been baffling locals and tourists alike.

The heavy object, which was discovered lodged in heavy sand, not too far from the 12th tee at Lahinch Gold Club, appeared to be covered with a mixture of shells and tentacles prompting speculation that it may be a previously unclassified species of sea animals.

The object was yesterday examined by Dr Eamon Doyle of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, who determined that the object is in fact a collection of thousand a crustaceans known as Goose Barnacles.

Goose Barnacles are unlike other crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters. Instead of crawling along the sea bed, they attach themselves to floating materials and filter food from the water.

“It is difficult to tell what they are attached to because there are so many of them. Normally you might see them attached to a log or even a floating piece of plastic, but I have never seen them in these numbers before,” he said.

“They need moving water to wash through so they can feed, so they don’t move around like other crustaceans. They are relatively common but this is the first time that I have seen them in these number.”

A large number of the Goose Barnacles were still alive yesterday but unless the colony is returned to the sea soon they will all die.

“There was a lot of people stopping to look at them. Up until I arrived yesterday, I don’t think anyone really knew what it was. They there was a lot of people interested and taking photographs but I don’t think they realised that they were Goose Barnacles,” continued Dr Doyle.

“They are still alive at the moment but they won’t last for long if they are not re-floated. The way that the log is buried in the band it is hard to see how they would be released, even in high tide. It is hard to know how long the would last.”

CLARE County Council yesterday decided to transfer almost € 4 million worth of property to a new government agency being set to act like a NAMA for local authorities.

It emerged at yesterday’s North Clare Area Meeting of Clare County Council that the local authority paid in excess of € 3.5 million for two parcels of land in Ennistymon in 2007.

The land, which totalled around 10 acres, was earmarked for the development of social housing, but only of the fraction of the land at Glen North in Ennistymon was ever developed.

The council is due to start repaying the loan used to purchase the land next year and face a bill in excess of € 260,000 for each year between 2014 and and 2034.

Councillors, including Lahinchbased Bill Slattery (FG), raised questions about how the decision was first made to spend the € 3.6 million on the land.

“To be hit with these figures today is something else. We have a 91 per cent take up in property tax in this country, and we are now being asked to pay back this money [€ 260,000 per year],” he said.

“This all happened before I was a member of this council but I am annoyed that this was a reserved function of the council. The councillors should have known that this much money was being spent back in 2007.”

Councillors yesterday agreed that they had no choice but to transfer the land, which is now worth a fraction of its original cost, to the new agency agency.

“We don’t really have an option but to transfer this land. We now need to ensure that the community groups, who all had plans to develop something on the land in 2007, get a chance to fulfill their plans with this new group,” said Cllr Michael Hillery (FF).

“A lot of community groups submitted plans for this land and we need to ensure these proposal are forwarded to the new agency and are given preferential treatment.”

Once the properties are transferred to the new agency, any arm of the Government – including the HSE and the gardaí – can apply to the agency for the use of the land.

Locals have been campaigning for a playground and a home soccer pitch for Sporting Ennistymon for a number of years.