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THERE are now more people over 65 living alone in the county than ever before, the latest statistical report from the 2011 census which is entitled ‘Households and Families Living Arrangements in Ireland’ has revealed.

According to the Central Statistic Office figures, it means that 29.3 per cent of people in the county over 65 are living alone, a figure that jumps to 34 per cent for over 70s in the county. The figures show that women make up the majority of people who are living alone in the county. Of the 3,904 over 65s who are liv- ing alone, women make up 2,354 of these, which represents 34.1 per cent of all women of pension age. There are 1, 550 men of pension age (29.3 per cent) living alone.

When it comes to over 70s, women are also in the majority with 40.1 per cent of the 4,618 in the county over that age living alone which gives a figure of 1,853. The figure for men is 26.8 per cent, which represents 1,066 out of 3,976.

This figures are in line with earlier statistical evidence which points to women living longer than men in the county. The 2006 census returns for the county showed that there were 12, 519 people of retirement age, which represented 11.5 per cent of the total population of 110, 590.

Five years on there has been a jump of 2,065 in the numbers of people of retirement age living in the county, with the increase to 14, 519 meaning that 12.4 per cent of Clare’s 117,196 population are now of pension age.

In releasing the breakdown of figures of those of retirement age, the CSO has split the post-65 generation into five different groups – 65-69, 70-74,75-79, 80-84 and 85 and over.

The biggest gap between females and males is to be found in the 85 and over category, with females outnumbering males by more than two to one. There are 1,581 of 85 and over in the county, 1,070 of them being females to only 511 males.

FORTY thousand euro has been put aside to directly compensate families most affected by the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff beg in Inagh.

The independent community board, which oversees the allocation of the Central Waste Management Facility’s community fund, has taken the unprecedented step of putting € 40,000 on ice from the fourth tranche of community funding — and has asked Clare County Council to change the way in which funding is allocated.

The facility, which stopped taking landfill waste earlier this year, has been hugely controversial in the locality, with a large number of complaints about ongoing odour and pest problems. While a number of community organisations have benefitted from funding from the community fund, a number of families living closest to the facility have been unwilling to interact with the fund because of their ongoing opposition to the facility itself.

This has created a situation where those affected most by the facility have benefitted the least from the community development fund.

“This has been a festering issue in Inagh for a number of years. The fund should have targeted the individuals most affected by the landfill. This has not happened with the previous tranches of funding and I agree with the notion of putting some of this tranche of funding on ice with a view to making it so the people who were most affected by the landfill in the past get some benefit out of this,” said Cllr Joe Arkins (FG).

“One has to wonder how some of these projects, which are six or seven miles away from the landfill, have a benefit to the people in Ballyduff beg. I think that the fund lost track of itself from day one and I am pleased to see that it is coming back to what it was supposed to be.”

Eleven applications totaling € 388,000 were submitted for the fourth tranche of the community fund. The independent local group recommended that seven of these projects are granted funding totally € 100,000, with € 40,000 being ringfenced for future allocation.

Their recommendation must be rubberstamped by a full meeting of Clare County Council but, if accepted, it would mean that the fifth and final tranche of funding would amount to € 152,000, with € 40,000 of this being ringfenced for Ballyduff beg projects.

CLARE farmers will be allowed to be buried on their own property in the future, provided Clare County Council gives the burial the thumbs up. The Department of the Environment have confirmed they there is no longer any statutory legislation preventing a Clare landowner being laid to rest on their own land. However, each home burial will have to receive official permission from Clare County Council before a burial can legally take place. Kilnamona farmer Cllr James Breen (Ind) says he now intends to apply to Clare County Council for permission to be buried on his farm when he passes away.

“I’m delighted with the news from the department and I can’t see any reason now why a local authority should not allow a farmer or his family to be buried on his own land if that is what they wish. I think that this is something that a lot of people will opt for in the future,” said Cllr Breen.

“It is a wish of my own – I want to be buried on my own land when I go to my eternal reward. You see farmers who love their land and the next thing they die and they have to go maybe 20 or 30 miles away to be buried. If they could, I think a lot of them would want to be buried on their own land. I can’t see the floodgates opening up but I think if anyone wants to be buried on their own land they they should now be allowed.”

In an official letter from the Department of the Environment to Clare County Council, it was confirmed that once environmental matters such as water contamination were taken care of, the department had no objection to Clare County Council granting approval for home burials to take place.

“I’ve no intention of dying just yet but when the time comes I will be getting buried on my farm. I have 40 acres in Kilnamona and I have identified one field where I would like to be laid to rest. It is entirely up to the rest of my family then if they would like to join me there after that,” continued Cllr Breen.

“There is nothing more sacred than a mans own land. The birds, the bees, the foxes, the wildlife will run wild over it. It is a sacred place.”

AN Ennis woman who was convicted of soliciting a man to murder her then partner would like to return to live in her native town again.

However, Sharon Collins is not planning on moving back to Ennis anytime soon. She was released from the Dochas women’s prison centre last Monday. Ms Collins is on temporary release and will not be on full release until her sentence ends in December.

The 48-year-old was jailed for six years in November 2008 after a jury found her guilty of soliciting a man to murder her partner, PJ Howard, and his two sons, Robert and Niall Howard, on August 15, 2006.

Her co-accused, Essam Eid, was also jailed for six years for demanding money with menace and handling stolen property.

Her solicitor, Patrick Moylan of O’Kelly Moylan Solicitors, said Ms Collins would like to return to live in Ennis again but is worried about the impact of media intrusion on her family.

He said, “She would like to return to the town. She has always been supported by her family and friends and that support has continued. However, she knows that the level of media attention her moving back to Ennis would bring on her family and friends would be unfair.”

The former administrative worker with Clare VEC has continued to maintain her innocence. Under the terms of her release, Ms Collins is not permitted to engage with or speak to the media until her full release in September.

She is currently working on two books that will focus on her experiences since 2006. Mr Moylan explained, “She is writing two books. One will be about the case and one will about her life inside prison.”

Neighbours are said to be unhappy with the level of media interest in the area. It is understood that a reporter from a Dublin tabloid was chased from a garden near the home of a relative of Ms Collins last week.

A LIMERICK man, who stole a television and games console from a hotel in Lahinch and then promptly returned them, has been ordered to make a contribution to the court poor box.

Christopher Murphy (41) was told by a judge that he had engaged in “bizarre” behaviour in the seaside town last year.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday Mr Murphy, with an address at 2 Sheelin Drive, Caherdavin, Limerick, pleaded guilty to stealing a Black Phillips flat screen TV valued at € 500 and a Nintendo Wii valued at € 200 from the West Coast Lodge, Lahinch, on November 26, 2011.

Inspector John Galvin said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case. Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction.

Insp Galvin told the court that the manager of the hotel contacted gardaí alleging that the accused had taken the television and games console from the hotel. The court heard that Mr Murphy had checked into the hotel under the name John Ryan.

Insp Galvin said Mr Murphy drove back to the hotel a few hours later and returned the property.

Mr Murphy admitted to gardaí that he had taken the property.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client had been staying in the hotel with his partner.

He said Mr Murphy didn’t know why he stole the items.

“It was a spur of the moment thing,” he added.

Mr Hassett told the court that Mr Murphy had become involved in a “show of bravado” with another guest, after which he drove of with the television and the Wii.

Inspector John Galvin described the sequence of events as “very unusual”. Judge Patrick Durcan said, “This was bizarre behaviour.” He ordered Mr Murphy to pay € 250 to the court poor box. The case was adjourned to October 24.

A MAN charged with a spate of crimes in the Kilmihil area has been ordered to appear before the December sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Thomas Farrell, 30 Riverdale Green, Clondalkin appeared before Kilrush District Court accused of taking a van and crashing it, and on another date taking power tools during a burglary.

Detective Garda Ollie Downes told the court that at 5pm on July 6, a white Berlingo can belonging to Kevin Callahan was taken from outside his workshop.

“Later we got a report that it was crashed about one mile from the village,” the detective said.

The van valued at € 5,500 was subsequently declared a write-off.

“Mr Callahan said he left the keys on the pier outside the workshop on Quay Street. Mr Farrell was subsequently arrested and admitted seeing and taking the keys and taking the van,” said Det Downes.

The court also heard that during a burglary at a private resident at Lackin, Kilmihil, between July 27 and July 28 a number of items were take including a number of named power tools. On July 28 Gardaí stopped a bus at Ballismore, and found the stolen goods on board.

Mr Farrell told Gardaí that he found the goods in a pile in the front garden, the court heard.

Judge Patrick Durkin remanded Mr Farrell on continuing bail to appear before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on December 18.

As he granted bail he said he was taking into account that Mr Farrell came from Dublin to Kilrush for the court hearing.

The defendant has six previous convictions including road traffic, public order and an assault conviction going back to 2000.

AN INDEPENDENT Shannon Airport is crucial to redressing the imbalance in tourism numbers between the East and West of Ireland, a meeting has heard. The comment was made yesterday at a meeting of Clare County Council’s Community, Enterprise, Tourism and Emergency Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).

Committee chairman, Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) said the airport must be marketed as a “point of entry” for tourism in the west of Ireland.

He added, “We’re going back to the days when we were reliant on tourism and agriculture…we have to arrest decline of visitor numbers.”

He was speaking during a presentation on the Wild Atlantic Way – a new tourism drive from Fáilte Ireland aimed at re-packaging and promoting the west coast of Ireland.

Director of Service Ger Dollard told the meeting that the initiative is aimed at increasing visitor numbers and increasing the movement of tourists around the west of Ireland.

Last week a majority of councillors backed a motion calling for a clear plan for Shannon Airport to be in place by the end of September.

Cllr PJ Ryan (Ind) said a decision on the airport is vital to the tourism industry in the region.

He added, “If it’s a thing that the American soldiers pull out of Shannon, we’ll have no traffic at all.” He said “aggressive marketing” of the airport is required.

Flann Quilligan of Shannon Development said that discussions are underway to separate Shannon from its parent body, the Dublin Airport Authority. He said the seperation would end the “stifling” of the airport.

Mr Quilligan added, “It is not happening as fast as we would like but it is happening.”

The meeting heard that € 2 million would be allocated to local authorities along the route for signage and other infrastructure.

Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said the initiative was welcome as the region is “undervalued and underutilised”.

Ennis hotelier John Madden said the venture would fail if not marketed properly. He said many tourists coming to Ireland “don’t have a clue” about many of the towns and areas in the West of Ireland.

He told the meeting that in recent months he had noticed an increase in the number of tourists visiting Ireland to trace their family roots.

Mr Quilligan told the meeting that Fáilte Ireland are aiming to place the Wild Atlantic Way on a par as internationally known scenic areas such as Australia’s Great Coast Road.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said he hoped the entire Clare coastline would be included on the route.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) urged Fáilte Ireland not to concentrate solely on international visitors at the expense of Irish tourists.

A 79-YEAR-OLD farmer was confused when he drove the wrong way up the dual carriageway near Bunratty earlier this year, a court has heard.

Stephen Costelloe had been driving to Shannon Airport to meet his son when the incident occurred on the N18 at Bunratty on January 27, 2012. At Ennis District Court on Wednes- day, Mr Costelloe, with an address at Busherstown, Moneygall, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of careless driving.

Garda Barry Doherty of Shannon Garda Station told the court that Mr Costelloe drove in the wrong direction after becoming “confused”. The court heard that the incident occurred at around 6.50pm.

Defence solicitor Tom Stamp said his client had been “very confused” on the night.

He said Mr Costelloe was very “lucky” not to have been involved in an accident.

Garda Doherty told the court that he had seen “numerous” incidents where drivers had travelled the wrong direction on the dual carriageway and motorway.

Noting Mr Costelloe’s good record, Judge Patrick Durcan ordered him to pay € 250 to the court poor box by January 9, 2013. No conviction was recorded against Mr Costelloe.

Judge Durcan said that there is an onus on drivers to drive responsibly.

However Judge Durcan added that if the fine was not paid by January, then Mr Costelloe would be convicted of careless driving.

Addressing Mr Costelloe, Judge Durcan said, “I understand completely what happened. I wish you a safe journey home.”

A DISTRICT court judge showed his determination to have his court run efficiently and on time on Tuesday last when he issued up to eight bench warrants for people missing from the body of the court when their case was called.

Judge Patrick Durkin was also annoyed when one defendant who was resident in Limerick Prison was not taken to Kilrush in time for the 10.30am start.

“I don’t see why I should drive a considerable distance, up to three hours, and members of the Gardaí can’t be here on time,” he said.

Superintendent Gerry Wall reminded the judge that it was the prison service that was responsible for getting the prisoner to court on time in this case.

Those responsible for their own appearance were also chastised for their lethargic attitude.

One defendant was not present when the registrar called his name as he had according to his solicitor Patrick Moylan, “gone to sign on this morning”.

“Mr Moylan, I am hearing of fellas who are never in court when they are called but were there before and there after.

“If you are not at the station when the train comes you miss the train,” remarked Judge Durkin as the second bench warrant was issued.

A bench warrant was then issued for a defendant who was believed to be in the restroom at the time her case was called.

“There is no point being in the lavatory in the station when the train leaves,” said the judge.

Within 20 minutes of the court sitting four bench warrants were issued.

By lunch time the figure had more than doubled.

It later emerged that one of the defendants had gone home for a cup of tea.

Supt Wall told the court he agreed with the actions taken.

“I am in total support of what is going on his morning. We have to get some order,” he said.

In the afternoon four of the defendants came before the judge to explain their absence and had their bench warrants vacated.

A MAN and a woman charged with the neglect and ill treatment of seven children have been returned for trial.

The two appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. In separate charges, it is alleged that the man and woman did willfully assault, ill-treat, neglect, abandon a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the child’s health or seriously affect their well being, contrary to Section 256 of the Children’s Act.

The woman is facing eight charges of neglect. The man is facing six charges of neglect and two charges of sexual assault.

The alleged offences took place on dates unknown between March 2001 and July 2010. The charges relate to seven children.

The man and woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, both have addresses in Clare. Inspector John Galvin requested an amend- ment concerning the wording of two charge sheets in relation to the man.

Defence solicitor John Casey consented to the amendments. Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of having served the books of evidence on both co-accused.

Insp Galvin said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for both persons to be returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on October 16.

Legal aid was granted for Mr Casey, one junior counsel and one senior counsel. Mr Casey said, “They are very serious charges.”

Mr Casey requested a change in his client’s bail conditions to allow him to meet two of his sons.

Insp Galvin said he had “reservations considering the nature of the charges.”

Judge Durcan refused the application. The man was remanded on continuing bail, on the same terms heretofore, to appear at the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

Solicitor for the woman, Tara Godfrey, requested that the court impose reporting restrictions. Judge Durcan said reporting restrictions had previously been imposed.

He said the restrictions would continue to apply. Legal aid was approved for Ms Godfrey and one junior counsel.

The woman was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.