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CLARECASTLE based Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI) has been named the overall national winner of the Ulster Bank Achievers Awards’ Social Enterprise category.

Judges described ABI as an organisation that positively impacts the community, generating an outcome with a long-term benefit.

Driven by social innovation and structured as a business model, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland provides community based neuro-rehabilitation services to those who have acquired a brain injury.

ABI Irelands residential assisted living service, and community ABI service, is based in Clarecastle, providing personalised quality rehabilitation and support following a brain injury.

Founded in 2000, in direct response to a personal need for an acquired brain injury service for her brother Peter Bradley, CEO Barbara O’ Connell, her husband Maurice and members of the Bradley family set up Ac- quired Brain Injury Ireland; ensuring people with a brain injury could live a meaningful life at home in their community.

Ms O’Connell who received the award on behalf of the organisation said;

“This award is a huge honour for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland.

“I accepted it humbly as recognition for the inspiring personal achievements of the people who access our services, and also in acknowledgement of the dedication and commitment of all ABI Ireland staff who work continually to advocate on behalf of our service users every day.”

“People with ABI often look normal, but can have hidden problems which mean they cannot resume their previous lives.

“We tailor our services around the individual and their family to support them through the journey of rebuilding a meaningful life for themselves.

“Believing there is a better way, is the passion behind any successful social enterprise.

“At ABI Ireland we have seen the remarkable impact and long term benefits that can be achieved through neuro-rehabilitation; for us that’s our return on investment,” said Ms O’ Connell.

Approximately 13,000 people acquire a head injury in Ireland each year.

The severity of brain damage can vary with the type of brain injury.

With the support of the HSE, ABI Ireland has grown to provide a wide range of supports and services to people with ABI nationwide.

It has 235 staff and over 40 services throughout Ireland.

TRUSTWORTHY and reliable volunteers living in North Clare are being sought to provide cancer patients with safe, comfortable and confidential transport to and from University Hospital, Galway.

The Irish Cancer Society is working to extend its Care to Drive Service for Clare patients to include the Galway hospital.

Last month the charity announced that the service would be provided to Clare patients being treated at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle.

Care to Drive allows cancer patients access to free transport to and from their chemotherapy treatment, removing the stress and difficulty of travelling at a particularly challenging time.

The Irish Cancer Society is looking for drivers in North Clare, who would be willing to drive patients to and from their treatments.

The service is free to both the hospital and the patient with volunteers being paid a contribution towards their fuel allowance and toll road costs.

The Society recruits and extensive- ly trains volunteers and asks only that volunteers have free weekday availability, can commit to two weekdays a month and have access to a car.

There are a number of reasons why a cancer patient may need to use the Care to Drive service.

They may have been advised not to drive by their doctor due to the aggressive nature of treatment; the patient may have no family in the immediate vicinity or they may be unable to take time off work to transport them to treatment.

In response to these needs, Care to Drive was developed in 2008 by the Irish Cancer Society and is now in its fifth year of the national rollout of the service.

It is currently available in ten hospitals nationwide and will be available in another five hospitals by the end of 2013.

Last year, the Society brought a total of 402 cancer patients on 6,392 journeys.

If you think you can help and are interested in becoming a volunteer or are looking for further information, then you can contact Gail at ‘Care to Drive’ at the Irish Cancer Society on (01) 231 05 66, email transport@irishcancer.ie or see www.cancer.ie.

CLARE residents could face an annual charge of up to € 145 to fund the cost of water meters – even though the meters themselves are likely to cost a fraction of that amount.

Clare County Council has been directed to survey all houses in Clare to determine the number of type of water connections that exist in the county.

Councillors at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council raised a number of questions about the roll out of water metering by the newly formed Irish Water – specifically the cost of water meters and the possibility that houses with existing water meter could be forced to pay for these functioning meters to be replaced by Irish Water.

“I think that the public should be informed that there will be an ongoing charge, which could amount to as much as € 145 per annum, for this meter that will cost a couple of euro,” said Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND).

“We may no longer be responsible for water but I think the least that we can do as a local authority is to ask if the department [of the environment] a number of questions- like will there be an allowance, will there be a standard charge for the metres, will there be bulk metering for large apartment complexes – who will have the responsibility for collecting water chages. I think that it is our responsibility to ask these questions of the department – whether we will have a role in this or not.”

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (IND) said that there is a lot of pubic confusion about the roll out of water metering.

“A lot of people had to replace water meters a few years ago during the big freeze – it seems, from looking to this information, that these might have to pay for new meters now,” she said.

“It seems like the more we heard about this, the more confusion that there seems to be. The sooner that the department brings some clarity to this the better. Every answer seems to bring another questions and there is a lot of confusion out there.”

Council spokesperson Carmel Greene commented that the cost of metering was a matter for Irish Water and Clare County Council had no role to play. She also said that, as far as she was aware, functioning meters would not have to be replaced by home owners. Tue11June13

AS MANY as 250 Claires, Clares and Clairs from as far away as Hawaii, Australia and Europe have already signed up to be part of a record breaking attempt in Ennis on June 23. Organisers of the Gathering Event are now asking home grown Claires and those from all over Ireland to join in the attempt to break the World Record held by the Mohammads of Dubai, by having the largest ever gathering of persons with the same first name.

As many as 250 people from all over Ireland, the UK, Europe, and as far away as Australia and Hawaii have so far registered to participate in the event with many hundreds more expected to sign up closer to the time.

The largest gathering of people with the same first name is 1,096 Mohammeds in Dubai in 2005. The Clare event is being oraganised by the Clare Volunteer Centre, supported by the Gathering Clare Steering Committee.

“This is a family event where everyone from babies to grandparents are welcome to attend. You don’t have to be from County Clare, you may not have even heard of County Clare but you will share a name that is synonymous with being ‘clear, bright and famous’,” explained Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre:

The Electoral Register shows that there 608 people aged 18 or over named Clair, Claire or Clare in County Clare alone so there is clearly a large pool of people in the region that can contribute to this world record attempt.”

“The Guinness World Records insist that the only proof of identity we can accept is a Birth Certificate,” added Ms Meaney.

A MILTOWN Malbay supermarket is to open this week creating up to 90 local jobs. Jones’s SuperValu on the Ennis Road will become one of the biggest employers locally when it opens its doors tomorrow (Wednesday). John and Claire Jones have already employed 50 full time staff to work at the € 4 million supermarket. Plans are also in place to employ a further 20 part time staff at the 10,000 square metre shop in the coming months and 20 more full time staff within the year. Employing staff for the West Clare business was a long process with Mr Jones receiving 500 job applications. Leading the team will be Nathan Mhar (sic) who has seven-year experience working as an assistant manager for other Super Valu, before securing the top job in Miltown Malbay. “We are delighted we have come to this stage,” said Mr Jones who also owns the Centre shop in the town. He told The Clare People that 95 per cent of the staff were local with the remaining staff coming from elsewhere in the county. “Obviously we would like to take on more but for now all of the jobs are full time,” he added. The town’s first ever playground will open adjacent to the supermarket next week, with an Astro turf pitch also part of the project. This community part of the development was built as part of the supermarket with LEADER support funding. “I would like to thank all the local community for their patience in waiting for the shop,” said Mr Jones. “There seems to be a lot of local excitement about the opening and I am sure there will be a spin off benefit for the local community.” Jones’s Centra on Church Street, Miltown Malbay will also remain open.

A SUNNY June has already seen a much need boost to the Kilkee tourism trade, and the party mood will continue this weekend as The Kilkee Bay hotel is officially reopened under new ownership by Clare football manager and Kerry great Mick O’Shea.

Owner JJ McCabe said he is looking forward to the opening and the new venture in the hotel business.

The hotel has already been open to the public for two weeks, with a good trade reported.

A champagne reception, food, music and dance planned for Saturday night will be the icing on the cake for the millionaire owner Mr McCabe.

The Clarecastle farmer, hotelier and businessman purchased the 41bed hotel on the entrance road to the seaside town in March, creating more than a dozen local jobs.

The 74-year-old purchased the west Clare hotel for € 320,000 – € 5,000 over the initial reserve and has since invested a quarter of a million euro in upgrading the property.

As well as providing accommodation to visitors and tourists, Mr Mc – Cabe said there will be entertainment at the hotel every weekend, including live bands and discos.

Mr McCabe, who’s land sold for € 18.8 million in the biggest deal in Clare during the property boom, also has property in France.

He has also run as an independent candidate in local and general elections in Clare, but has ruled out returning to politics.

ENNIS Town Council has been urged to step in and demolish a derelict apartment block in Ennis amid fears it has become a haven for antisocial behaviour.

The Fairways apartment block near Steele’s Terrace and Marian Avenue has already been declared a derelict site the Council. It follows concerns from residents living in the area about the condition of the privately owned building and the level of antisocial behaviour it has attracted.

Marian Avenue resident Noel Purtill says the building is an “eyesore”.

He adds, “Marian Avenue is one of the oldest estates in the town. It’s a quite area. But you look at that (Fairways) and not to put too fine a point on it, you’d think you were in Beirut. And the residents of Marian Avenue have to put up with this eyesore.”

He adds, “It’s a disgrace that Clare County Council have to come along now and tidy up someone else’s mess.”

Mr Purtill says teenagers have been observed entering the building and throwing rubbish from windows.

The Council has issued a notice to the owner and is seeking to establish the market value of the site.

Ennis Town Clerk Leonard Cleary states, “The structures on the land are in a ruinous and derelict condition. The building is not fit for human habitation; the glazing is missing from most of the windows. The structure on the land is in unsightly and objectionable condition. The building is in need of re-painting; the curtains are flying out the unglazed windows.

“The surrounds of the land are strewn with litter, rubbish, debris and waste.”

Mr Cleary added, “It should be noted that there is no immediate solution in this type of situation and is subject to the owners cooperation or court proceedings.”

Cllr Brian Meaney (FF) says it is open to the Council to issue a vesting order and take control of the building. He told a meeting of Ennis Town Council that the building should be “demolished.”

He said problems with the Fairways building have “festered” for too long and now require “direct intervention” from the Council.

Deputy Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said residents in nearby Marian Avenue have “put up with hell over the past couple of years.” The Clare People has previously highlighted the case of one homeless wheelchair bound man who had been sleeping in a squat in Fairways.

A NORTH Clare action-group designed to formally oppose the construction of Ireland’s large fish-farm off the Fanore coast was established last week.

The action-group, which contains 15 active local members, met last week to establish a strategy for opposing the farm.

A petition set up by the group last Thursday has already received almost 500 signatures and is on target to reach 1,000 by the end of the week.

According to local GP and action group member, Fergus Glynn, the group is made up of a large cross section of the local North Clare community.

“We are not against a project like this taking place, we just have a lot of serious concerns that have not been met yet.

“We are not against fish farms at all, in fact aqua-culture is an essential part of our future, but not like this.

“Oyster fish farming, for example, is far more sustainable and cleaner than salmon farming,” said Fergus.

“We have set a number of goals fro the campaign.

“The first is to get this petition off the ground, the second is the Tour de Burren – which will bring more than 2,500 thousands visitors to North Clare.

“We plan to target this event in two weeks time and we will plan to spread as much information as possible among the people at that event.

“We understand that there will be a Junior Minister at that event and we would hope to make our feelings own.”

According to the action group, no local politicians have attended to any of the public meeting organised in Clare to date.

“We have had representatives from the national politicians. the Clare TD, but we haven’t heard from any of the county councillors.

“We will be organising a meeting fore the local politicians later this month and we will let them know well in advance,” continued Fergus.

“We will also be inviting BIM [Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the government agency proposing the fish farm to the meeting.

“We have always been keen to engage with BIM and we will continue to do so. We want to here every side of the argument.”

THE new West Clare area will be the largest local election constituency in the county, almost mimicking in size a small county such as Louth.

The eight new councillors will represent 34,449 people spanning an area from Kilballyowen on the tip of the Loophead peninsula to Gleninagh on the constituency’s most northerly point.

The 96 kilometre-long local electoral area was designed by merging the current Kilrush area and part of the Ennistymon Electoral Area.

This new area will also absorb not one, but two, town councils, Kilrush and Kilkee – coastal towns with very distinctive identities who looked af- ter their own needs for more than 120 years.

In its report the Boundary Committee said, “It is proposed that there would be a local electoral area covering the western side of the county along the Atlantic seaboard to be titled West Clare. This would include the towns of Kilkee, Kilrush, Lahinch and Ennistymon.” Despite having a number of urban centres to base the name of this new constituency on, as it the preferred option, West Clare like West Mayo and Cork is unique.

“In a few cases the committee felt it more appropriate to recommend names that reflect a wider local community identity attaching to a geographic location. This situation arose, for example, in the case of the recommended new local electoral areas of West Clare, West Cork and West Mayo.”

It is hoped that this all encompassing name will merge all these very cultural distinctive areas, which have been traditionally considered North and West Clare.

To cover this vast area the eight new councillors will require a quick study of new towns, villages and parishes and a reliable car.

Each councillor will represent an average of 4,306 people. WEST CLARE

A SHANNON man has been convicted of having cannabis for sale or supply in the town last December.

Aaron Connolly (22) fled after he was seen carrying a weighing scales and cannabis near the Rossbracken estate on December 5 (2012).

Mr Connolly, who was described in court as suffering from an intellectual disability, was pursued by a detective garda into his home at 19 Rossbracken where he was arrested on suspicion of having cannabis for sale or supply.

At Ennis District Court on Tuesday, Mr Connolly denied a charge of having the drug for sale or supply.

Detective Garda David Laing told the court that Mr Connolly “turned on his heels and fled” after he was seen carrying a bag containing weighing scales, zip-lock bags and cannabis.

Analysis subsequently confirmed that the substance was 8 grammes of cannabis, the court heard. Mr Connolly told the court the cannabis was for personal use.

Solicitor Caitriona Carmody said it was the defence’s case that the evidence was illegally obtained by gardaí.

In evidence, Mr Connolly claimed Detective Laing could not have known what was in the bag because it was a non-see-through Dunnes Stores, lined plastic bag.

His mother Christine Connolly also told the court that the bag was non-see-through.

Under cross-examination from Inspector Tom Kennedy, Mr Connolly admitted having cannabis when first seen by Detective Laing.

He said he had removed the drugs from home because he though the house was going to be “raided”.

Mr Connolly did not give an explanation for having the weighing scales.

Addressing the accused, Insp Kennedy said;

“I put it to you that you did not have the weighing scales for baking a cake.”

Judge William Early said if gardaí observe someone committing an arrestable offence, they are entitled to go into that person’s house for the purposes of arrest.

He said he did not believe the evidence of Mr Connolly or his mother. He convicted Mr Connolly of the charge. The accused has previous convictions for public order offences. Solicitor Caitriona Carmody said her client suffers from an intellectual disability and is a “young man who is easily led.”

She said Mr Connolly would benefit from the intervention of the Probation Services.

Judge Early remanded Mr Connolly on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on July 3 for a pre-sentence report.

He said he would recommend 120 hours of community service. A POLIS H mechanic was “extraordinarily reckless” when he bought stolen quad bikes from a man in Ennis last year, a court has heard. Lukas Staszynski (30) purchased the bikes for €800, around an hour after they were stolen from theWoodstock Hotel, Ennis. Mr Staszynski, with an address at 79 Dromard, Ennis, Lahinch Road, appeared before Ennis District Court onTuesday. He pleaded guilty to two charges of handling stolen quad bikes at the Doora Industrial Estate, Quin Road, Ennis on November 16 (2012). He was not charged in connection with the theft of the bikes The court heard that Mr Staszynski runs a breaking shop for spare vehicle parts in the Doora Industrial Estate. Gardaí received a report that two quad bikes had been stolen fromWoodstock at around 9amon November 16. Garda Adrian Diviney of Ennis Garda Station explained that a GPS systemfitted on the bikes enabled gardaí to track the vehicles to Mr Staszynski’s garage. Garda Diviney said he arrived to Mr Staszynski’s buisness premises at around 10am. He told the court that the accused brought himto a lorry that contained a number of vehicles including the quad bikes. The court heard that Mr Staszynski intended to transport one of the quad bikes to his brother in Poland as a present. Garda Diviney said the accused told himthat a man showed up at his premises that morning offering to sell the bikes. He said Mr Staszynski could not provide any information on the seller.The court heard this was a one off transaction. Mr Staszynski has no previous convictions except for road traffic offences. Defence solicitor John Casey said his client cooperated fully with gardaí. He said his client told gardaí that he“thought there might be something wrong” with the bikes. Mr Casey added,“He did pay for thembut he was somewhat anxious about them.” “He should have been more careful.” The court heard that Mr Staszynski’s business is still in operation. Mr Casey said,“He realises he has to be more careful particularly in dealing with the merchandise he is dealing with.” JudgeWilliamEarly said Mr Staszynski had been “extraordinarily careless and reckless” in accepting the bikes. He said if people were not willing to receive stolen property then the incentive would not exist to steal property. Judge Early imposed fines totaling €800. A MA N has appeared in court charged with handling property allegedly stolen during a burglary of a premises in Ennis town centre in March. Martin Donovan (37) is alleged to have handled a stolen Apple MacIntosh Pro laptop valued at €1200 at 14 Carrig an Oir,Tobertascan, Ennis on May 21 (2013). Inspector TomKennedy told Ennis District Court onTuesday that it would be alleged that the computer was stolen during a burglary of Wilson’s Camera shop on O’Connell Street in March. Mr Donovan, with an address at 14 Carrig an Oir, Ennis, is not charged in connection with the burglary. Insp Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed summary disposal of the case. JudgeWilliamEarly requested an outline of the alleged facts to consider jurisdiction of the case. Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged that Mr Donovan brought the laptop to the CarphoneWarehouse shop in Limerick.The court heard that it would be alleged that a security signal was activated after the laptop was switched on. Gardaí went to the store and identified Mr Donovan fromCCTV footage, it is alleged. Judge Early accepted jurisdiction. He also granted a statements order for defence solicitor Daragh Hassett. Mr Donovan was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on June 26.