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THE Health Services Executive (HSE) has been asked to provide a report on a mother of three caught in possession of almost € 5,500 worth of prescription drugs in Ennis earlier this year. Officers from the Clare Garda Divisional Drugs unit seized € 2,732 diazepam tablets when they raided the home of 33-year-old Kelly Corbett on January 1 (2013).

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Ms Corbett, with an address at 71 Westbourne Court, Watery Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to having the drugs for sale or supply.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court the tablets had an estimated value of € 5464.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client co-operated fully with gardaí. He said Ms Corbett was struggling to raise three children when she was approached by someone with the offer of “making a quick euro”.

The court heard Ms Corbett took possession of a large consignment of benzodiazepine tablets and began selling them.

Gardaí began to suspect illegal activity when known drug users began calling to the house, the court heard.

Mr Hassett described it as an “amateurish operation” and said his client was “very embarrassed and very worried”.

He said, “There are people in this town who can access large consignments of drugs and prey on people like Ms Corbett to be their mules.”

Mr Hassett added it could also be questioned if the tablets would make close to € 5,500 on the open market.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he re- garded the crime as being at the upper end of District Court drugs offences. He adjourned the case for the preparation of a Probation report.

He ordered the Probation Services to liaise with the Health Services Executive on this case, explaining that it is incumbent on the Court to obtain advice from the HSE where a child protection issue may exist.

Judge Durcan said he also wanted to hear from the investigating Garda.

Ms Corbett was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on November 27. A S H A N N O N man who kicked a neighbour’s child up the backside after he repeatedly banged on his door has had the charges against him struck out. Gerr y Walsh (54), with an address at Tradaree Cour t, Shannon was charged with assault following the incident in Shannon on May 2 (2013). He pleaded guilty to the charge at Ennis District cour t on Wednesday. Outlining details of the incident, Inspector Michael Gallagher described it as a “most unusual and sad case”. He said the child was banging on the door when Mr Walsh came out an gave him a “small slap which he’ll probably regret for the rest of his life.” The cour t heard Mr Walsh was upset because there was a young child tr ying to sleep in the house. Solicitor John Casey said his client had just put a child to bed when the knocking star ted on the door. He said Mr Walsh gave the injured par ty a “kick up the backside”. The cour t heard that the boy told his father who in turn went to the Garda station. Mr Casey said there were no independent witnesses to the incident. Judge Patrick Durcan said he was striking out the charge. He told Mr Walsh to be more careful in the future. Speaking in cour t, Mr Walsh said the incident developed from an “ongoing matter” in the area. A TRUCK driver who crashed a vintage car into a roundabout in Ennis has been told to pay a substantial contribution to charity. Judge Patrick Durcan said he was making the decision because he “did not want to make an order putting a man out of a job.” Brian Nestor (38) crashed a vintage Ford Escort into a Clare County Council sign at Beech Park roundabout on January 19 (2013). Mr Nestor, with an address at Beech Park, Ennis, was driving home when the accident occurred, Ennis District Court heard on Wednesday. Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court that Mr Nestor left the scene without reporting the incident to gardaí. The accused later told gardaí he was coming from a friend’s house where he drank a can of Heineken.

He was unhurt after the accident. A Garda inspection of the car found that it was not in good overall condition. Solicitor John Casey told the court that his client entered the roundabout driving at 40 miles per hour, when the car left him. He said the condition of the vintage Ford Escort was a probable contributor to the collision. Mr Nestor pleaded gulty to a reduced charge of careless driving and failing to report the accident. He has no previous convictions. Mr Casey said a conviction and driving ban would seriously hurt his client’s ability to work. Judge Patrick Durcan said Mr Nestor’s failure to remain at the scene “raised considerable concerns.” Adjourning the case to tomorrow, Judge Durcan said he expdected Mr Nestor to make a substantial contribution to the court poor box. A T EEN A GER who broke into a Sixmilebridge school has been warned he must comply fully with the directions of the Probation Ser vices or face jail. Mark Burke (19), with an address at Beechwood Grove , Sixmilebridge, stole laptops after breaking into St Finnachta’s National School on August 27. All of the items were recovered and at Ennis District Cour t on Wednesday, Mr Burke pleaded guilty to the offence. The accused was also the subject of a repor t from the Probation Ser vices, which was handed into Judge Patrick Durcan. Judge Durcan said the repor t was “not good”. Defence solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick said his client was put under pressure by his peers and had borne the brunt of this latest offence. “When he consumes drink and prescription drugs, all sense goes out the window”, he added. The cour t also heard that the death of his father had a major impact on Mr Burke . Mr Fitzpatrick said his client is at a “crossroads” in his life. Probation Officer Eoin Ryan told the cour t that the accused had carried out community ser vice but missed other appointments. Judge Durcan adjourned the case for a brief period. When the case was re-called, Mr Ryan told the cour t that Mr Burke was willing to engage fully with the Ser vices. “He is aware of the consequences if he doesn’t,” Mr Ryan added. Addressing Mr Burke, Judge Durcan said; “If there is any breach, this matter will be brought back to me and I will deal with it.” The case was adjourned to October 3.

THE odds on Clare having a representative in the European Parliament have lengthened following the redrawing of the constituency boundaries last week.

Clare has been removed from the now defunct Ireland North West constituency and has instead been placed in a new South constituency – which includes all of Munster as well as Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford.

Current Labour TD, Michael Mc Namara was Clare’s leading vote getter in the last EU election – claiming 12,700 first preference votes. However, depending on the turnout and voting patterns, a candidate in the new constituency will need to win in the region of 100,000 votes even be in the running for a seat.

In fact, it is difficult to see how a Clare candidate could even get on the ticket for any of the major parties, who will likely contest the seats. Current polls suggest that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael would claim a seat each in the constituency if elections were held today, with Sinn Fein, Labour and second candidates from the main two parties likely to battle it our for the remaining seats.

With Fianna Fáil’s Liam Aylward (Kilkenny) and Brian Crowley (Cork) both elected at a canter last time out, it is difficult to see the party putting forward a Clare candidate. Similarly, with Sean Kelly’s location in Limerick, Fine Gael are unlikely to pick a candidate from his back yard who might draw suport away from Kelly.

Sinn Fein are likely to put their weight being one main candidate with Toireasa Ferris, who claimed 64,000 votes last time out, currently in the driving seat. Tipperary’s Phil Prendergast is likely to get the nod from Labour – even if she can’t spell Clare [she last week welcomed “Claire’s” inclusion in the new South constituency].

Despite the current political lay-ofthe-land, Clare TD Michael McNamara believes that the new boundary will help Clare candidates in the future. “The larger constituents will make it more difficult for new candidates, unless they’re already well known or have a party organisation,” he said. “If anything, the prospect of a Clare-based candidate would be improved. It seems to me that as a county we have a stronger link to Munster than Connaught. Just look at the Clare [hurling] team, more of them go to college in Limerick, Cork or Waterford than in Galway.”

MEMBERS of Clare’s Nigerian community will gather in Ennis this week for events to celebrate the African country’s Independence Day.

The Association of Nigerian Community in Clare (ANCC) has planned a series of activities in Ennis that include football, a party with dancing, singing, fashion and Nigerian food.

A number of events including a fashion parade and a children’s awards ceremony are planned for Ennis CBS.

It is 53 years since the first Independence Day.

The association has invited the Mayor of Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council, Bishop of Killaloe, Garda Superintendent in Clare and other guests to grace the occasion.

The ANCC was first set up in Clare in 2007. One of the prime objectives of the Association of Nigerian community in Clare is to foster closer working relationships within all communities in Clare and also with the Nigerian embassy in Dublin. It exists as an advocate and to suppor t the welfare needs of Nigerians as well as to progress integration and to be valued, valuable residents of Clare.

“We are delighted to be celebrating Nigerian Independence here in Ennis which is home to many of us now, these events will give us an opportunity to showcase and share our culture and rich heritage from food music, fashion and dance as well as the history of Nigeria,” said ANCC President Francis Okeyebulor.

The father of five who was elected president of the ANCC in August said the association is also planning a number of charity events.

He adds, “As an organisation we want to help Nigerian people who are in Clare. We believe that integration to the Irish way of life is very important. We thing it is integral that people integrate with their local communities. We want to help Nigerian people who maybe in difficulty. The association had been dormant for a few years but we have a good committee in place now. We have resuscitated it and we hope the association can play a role in helping people in Clare.”

A NORTH Clare poet and writer has just won one of Ireland’s most prestigious short story competition for a story on Ireland in the recession.

Mary O’Donoghue saw off competition from more than 300 writers from all over Ireland to claim the Legends of the Fall short story competition.

He story, which is entitled ‘The Sweet Forbearance in the Streets’, tells the sport of a middle-aged woman whose husband has died and whose son has emigrated to Australia.

“It means a great deal to have been selected by writers whose work I deeply admire, Eilís Ní Dhuibhne, Donal Ryan and Fintan O’Toole. I wrote this story from a distance, so I’m especially honoured to be included in a series of writers responding to my home country’s thoroughgoing hardship and malaise,” she said

Miss O’Donoghue was born in Kilreedy in North Clare in 1975 but emigrated to America in 2001 and now lives in Boston. She teaches creative writing and literature in Babson Col- lege, Massachusetts, but returns to Ireland regularly to visit her family.

Her first book of poetry, ‘Tulle’, was published by Liscannor-based publishing company Salmon Poetry. She has since published a second collection of poetry, ‘entitled Among These Winters’, while her first novel, ‘Before the House Burns’, was pub- lished by Lilliput Press in 2011.

She has also won a number of awards including the Salmon Poetry Prize, a Hennessey New Irish Writing Award and two artist fellowships from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

TWO Galway men involved in a row at a stag party in Lahinch earlier this year have been told to be more careful when they are out.

Martin Frehill (31) and Kevin Kilkenny (42), both with addresses at Kill, Kiltormer, Ballinasloe, Galway, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Frehill pleaded guilty to provoking a breach of the peace and failing to comply with the direction of a garda.

Mr Kilkenny (42) pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the direction of a garda.

The charges relate to an incident at The Promenade, Lahinch, on July 6.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court that gardai were called to deal with an incident at O’Looney’s pub.

The court heard Mr Frehill verbally abused and pushed one garda, calling him a “f***ing p**** and a f***ing b*****x”.

Insp Gallagher said Mr Kilkenny then intervened and refused to leave the scene when directed to do so by a garda.

Neither man has any previous convictions.

Eight people in total were charged in connection with the incident.

The court heard that a number of the men have since returned to work in Australia.

Bench warrants were issued for their arrest when they failed to show up in court in July.

Defence solicitor John Casey told the court that a younger member of the group became involved in a row when he was refused entry to the pub.

Mr Casey said his clients had spent the day drinking.

He said they never behaved like that before and rang gardaí the next day to apologise.

Judge Patrick Durcan said the men were welcome to attend stag parties in Clare but were not entitled to abuse gardaí and members of the public.

“If you’re involved in a stag weekend again, be more careful,” he added.

Judge Durcan ordered both men to pay € 250 to the court poor box.

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.

THE students of Gaelcholáiste an Chláir have proven to be top of the class and leading the way for other students, especially those sitting the Leaving Certificate.

A radio project, which the students were involved in, has not just been broadcast on national radio but is also shortlisted for the annual national radio awards.

‘Scrúdú Béil na hArdteiste’ was produced by Conn Ó Muíneacháin at his studio in Ballynacally, with the help of student teacher Áine Pyne from Ennis. The stars of the show were the transition year students of Gaelcholáiste an Chláir who took part in mock interviews based on the “sraith pictiúr” section of the Leaving Certificate oral test.

The series of four programmes was commisioned by RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta, who broadcast it twice in the lead-up to the oral exams in April. RTÉ subsequently nominated the series for the PPI Radio Awards, and it was announced in the shortlist last month.

Mr Ó Muíneacháin paid tribute to the staff and students of Gaelcholáiste an Chláir. “It was essential that the programme would have student voices,” he said, “and vital that they had a high standard of Irish. The Gaelcholáiste students deserve great credit for the success of the programme.”

The five students from transition year who took part in the series included Conal Ó hAiniféin, Sally Ní Mheadhra, Nicole Ní Chathasaigh, Áine Mhaoir and Alex Maguidhir under the guidance of teachers Íde Bhreathnach and Orla Ní Dhonncha.

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.”

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.

CLARE County Library will be hoisting the flag for children’s books once again this October, offering a month-long festival of authors, illustrators, artists and storytellers designed to spark the imagination of young readers all over the county.

Activities will be running in all libraries, including readings by popular authors, art and craft workshops, space “exploration” and puppet making, giving Clare’s young people countless opportunities to explore a wide array of books.

The festival gets a head start this year with the return to Glór Theatre, Ennis, of one of the world’s best-selling children’s and teenage authors Darren Shan, on September 26. ‘Zom-B’ is his new epic series, launched in September 2012 with a new book publishing every three months. The Ennis Book Shop will join with the library to promote the event selling copies of Darren’s latest book and others in the series on the day.

The second of the library’s book festival events taking place in Glór, this time on October 1, is a storytelling extravaganza by the master of tales, Niall de Burca.

Raised in the West, he emigrated at a young age and lived for many years in New Zealand where he married into a large Maori family. Now living in Dublin, Niall travels worldwide, inspiring people of all ages with his traditional and original tales.

Bestselling author, Michael Smith, whose biography for younger readers, ‘Tom Crean – Iceman’, led to the story being incorporated into the schools’ national curriculum, will be visiting Kilrush and Kilkee Libraries.

Sports Journalist Ger Siggins will introduce young readers to his love of rugby through his book ‘Rugby Spirit’ published last year by O’Brien Press.

Anna Carey is also a journalist who has written for the ‘Irish Times’, ‘Irish Independent’ and many other publications. Her first book, ‘The Real Rebecca’, was published in 2011, and won the Senior Children’s Book prize at the Irish Book Awards. To the delight of many readers, Rebecca returned in the sequel ‘Rebecca’s Rules’ in 2012. ‘Rebecca Rocks’ is book number three in the series.

Full details on www.clarelibrary. ie of all CBF events here in County Clare in October.