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CLARE County Council is to write to Health Minister, James Reilly (FG), demanding that A&E services are reopened in Ennis until a new state of the art building is opened at the Limerick Regional Hospital.

This comes in the wake of a damning report of services at the Limerick facility by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) which described the Limerick A&E as “not fit for purpose”.

At last night’s meeting of Clare County Council, councillors voted unanimously to contact the Department of Health demanding both the temporary reopening of A&E services at Ennis General Hospital and the fast-tracking of funding for the promised state of the art A&E services at Limerick General Hospital.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) also confirmed that local Fine Gael councillors held a meeting with TDs Pat Breen (FG) and Joe Carey (FG) yes- terday morning – and requested they secure a meeting with Minister Reilly and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

It was also claimed at last night’s meeting that the Limerick A&E was “cleaned up” during a recent visit by Minister James Reilly, with 35 people on trolleys on the day before the meeting and only 10 during the meeting.

Last week’s HIQA review found serious delays and risks for patients and staff due to persistent overcrowding in A&E in Limerick.

It also found that there were delays in transferring patients from the Emergency Department to the Intensive Care Unit and the High Dependency Unit, partly due to the absence of a single clinical governance structure.

The report found that there was just one toilet in the Emergency Department for all patients, adults and children, and there were no single rooms to isolate patients with communicable diseases.

“The review also found that people in Clare were not using the minor injuries units in Ennis General Hospital.

In a statement to The Clare People

THE number of people signing on the Live Register in Clare continues to plummet, with figures for Clare last month the lowest since February of 2009.

The lion’s share of the reductions were recorded in the Ennistymon and Kilrush areas with an increase in the number of people employed in the tourism sector believed to be contributing to the reduction.

There was a total 8,585 people signing on the live register last month, a drop of 154 people or just under 2 per cent on the 8,739 who signed on in April.

When seasonally adjusted and compared to same month in 2013, the figures show a even more remarkable reduction of 933 or 9.8 per cent.

Should the reduction in people signing on the live register continue at the same rate the number of people signing on the live register in Clare will reach Celtic Tiger levels by mid2017.

The number of people signing on the live register in the Ennistymon area fell from 1,403 in April to 1,331 last month. This represent a month on month fall of 72 people or more then 5 per cent.

There was also good news in the Kilrush area where the number fell from 1,271 to 1,198 – a drop of 73 people of 5.7 per cent.

Each of the Clare areas recorded a reduction with the numbers signing on in Ennis falling by three to 4,848 and the numbers in East Clare falling by six to 1,208.

Despite this good news, the number of vacant commercial units in Clare has risen in the first three months of 2014.

A total of 863 of the 7,062 com mercial addresses in Clare in the first quarter of 2014 were vacant – a vacancy rate of 12.2 per cent.

Frank DAFFY,
Harbour Village, Killaloe, Formerly of Corofin. Laid to rest at Mount Jerome Crematorium, Dublin. Donations if desired to ICU Limerick Hospital. May he rest in peace.

Noreen O’GORMAN
, Pella Road, Kilrush, At St Joseph’s Hospital Ennis. Funeral Mass on Tuesday at 10amat St Senan’s Church, Kilrush. Burial afterwards in Old Shanakyle Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

John SCANLON
, Crawford Street, Kilrush, Funeral mass onTuesday at 12pmat St Senan’s Church, Kilrush, followed by burial in NewShanakyle Cemetery. Donations in lieu to the Palliative Care Unit, Regina House, Kilrush. May he rest in peace.

Steve SOUTHBY
, Laghtagoona, Corofin, Funeral MassTuesday at 11amat St Bridget’s Church, Corofin. Burial afterwards in the New Cemetery, Corofin. Donations if desired to cancer research. May he rest in peace.

Evelyn KELLY
, Lahinch, Clare. Laid to rest in Kilmacreehy Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

James (Sox) McINERNEY
,Ardkyle, Sixmilebridge. Peacefully at the University Hospital, Limerick. Laid to rest in Feenagh Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Stephen MCKNIGHT
,Walkinstown/Kilrush, At St James Hospital. Laid to rest in Bohernabreena Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Bridget (Bridie) MORONEY (née Good
win) formerly of Parteen. Peacefully at Kiltipper Woods Care Centre, Dublin. RequiemMass on Tuesday at 11amat St Patrick’s Church, Parteen with Funeral afterwards to Mount St Lawrence Cemetery (Extension). May she rest in peace.

Merlyn QUINN (née Lyons)
, Castleside, Bunratty. Peacefully at Milford Hospice. Laid to rest in Bunratty Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Mary KEOGH- MOLONEY,
Scart, Kilkishen and late of Ballysheenmore. Laid to rest in Ballysheen Cemetery, Sixmilebridge. May she rest in peace.

Noreen NORMOYLE MPSI (née Roche)
, Normoyles Pharmacy, 47 O’Connell Street, Ennis, Peacefully at University Hospital Limerick. Laid to rest in Drumcliff Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Flan O’GORMAN
, Glasgowand formerly of Moveen East, Kilkee. Peacefully in Glasgow. Funeral will take place in Scotland, a memorial Mass will be held in Kilkee Church at a later date. May he rest in peace.

Eddie COTTER
, Clare Road, Ennis/Kilmihil. Peacefully. Laid to rest in St Michael’s Cemetery, Kilmihil. May he rest in peace.

Kathleen KELLY (née Linnane)
, Scoole, Corofin. Peacefully in her 95th year. Laid to rest in Dysart Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

John (Johnny) O’CONNELL
, Querrin, Kilkee. Suddenly. Laid to rest in Lisdeen Cemetery Kilkee. Donations in lieu toWest Clare Mini Marathon Fund. May he rest in peace.

Margaret TOBIN (née O’Shaughnessy)
, Furnacetown, Feakle. Formerly of Dromod, Bodyke.Laid to rest in the newcemetary Moynoe. Donations if desired to Milford Hospice. May she rest in peace.

COUNCILLOR John Crowe (FG) is the new Mayor of Clare – the first Sixmilebridge councillor to be elected as Clare’s first citizen in exactly 100 years.

Crowe will be assisted in his duties by Deputy Mayor Tony O’Brien (FF), who returned to council chamber today after losing his council seat in 2009.

Cllr Crowe is the first Sixmilebridge Mayor of Clare since James O’Regan was elected in 1914. O’Regan was the father of the late Brendan O’Regan, who pioneered many developments at Shannon Airport including both Duty Free and the Shannon Free Zone.

Speaking just after receiving his chain of office, Cllr Crowe became visibly emotional when he thanked his family and supporters.

“This is my proudest day as an elected member. I look forward to representing my family, the ‘Bridge and the people of Clare,” he said.

“I wasn’t sure that I would be elected as a councillor this time around, never mind being afforded the hon- our of representing all of you as Mayor of Clare. I accept this honour knowing that I follow in the footsteps of so many councillors who have done great work for this county in the past.”

Crowe’s elevation to the office comes 100 years ago to the month that James O’Regan was made mayor in 1914. James and his son Brendan are synonymous with Shannon Airport – with Brendan leading many innovations in Irish and international aviation in the 1960s and 1970s.

“Brendan O’Regan’s spirit and innovating thinking are in this chamber, as his believe in local people. These are characteristic which are very valuable this day,” continued Cllr Crowe.

“Make sure you support our airport, because without our airport we have nothing.”

Cllr Crowe was formally proposed as Mayor by his party colleague Joe Cooney (FG) and seconded by Independent Shannon Cllr Gerry Flynn.

GARDAÍ are investigating early morning armed robbery at a business in Ennis town centre yesterday.

The incident occurred at around 7.30am at the Xtra Vision store in the market area of the town.

A man carrying a weapon entered the home entertainment and electrical goods store and made away with a quantity of cash.

A member of staff was opening up when he was set upon by the assailant at the front door of the premises.

It is understood the man who carried out the robbery was carrying a hammer. It was unclear yesterday if the victim suffered any injuries in the ordeal.

Gardaí in Ennis are investigating the robbery and are looking at CCTV footage from the area.

The incident follows a similar robbery at a family-run shop in Ennis last month.

At around 11.30am on Wednesday, May 21, a man went into a shop at the top of O’Connell Street in Ennis brandishing a knife and demanded money.

He was wearing a hoodie and a scarf to cover his face. He stole a sum of money from the till and then fled the scene on foot. No one was hurt in the robbery.

On May 27, Cassidy’s Pharmacy in Ennis was the scene of a raid occurred at around 2.30am.

Two raiders, believed to be males, used a sledgehammer to smash in the reinforced glass paneling on the front door of the premises.

The thieves filled bags with stock, mainly brand name men’s fragrances and cleared several shelves before leaving the scene in a black Volkswagon Golf.

Gardaí have urged business owners in the town to be vigilant and take appropriate security measures such as lighting and security cameras to protect their premises.

MANY of the storm repairs announced by Clare County Council earlier this year will not be done – unless the government allocates a second wave of money to fund damage done during the February storm.

Clare County Manager Tom Coughlan yesterday expressed his frustration with a lack of information and clarity from government concerning a second allocation of money sought by the local authority.

Just over € 16 million in funding was allocated to Clare County Council to fund repairs sustained during unprecedented storms in January of this year. However, Mr Coughlan yesterday said that repairs works are being frustrated because of lack of information coming from the government regarding the second wave of funding.

Indeed, he also confirmed that some of the money allocated in respect of the January storm has been used to fund emergency repairs cause during the February storm. If no allocation is made by government in relation to the February storms, Mr Coughlan confirmed that the council will not be in a position to complete all of the work previously announced in relation to the first € 16.8 million in funding.

“The second allocation [in relation to the February storm] has been on the agenda for cabinet on a number of occasions but has yet to be decided on. We have sent a number of reminders to the Department [of the Environment] but we haven’t had a response to our request yet,” said Mr Coughlan.

“We’ve done works at Kilkee and a number of other areas hit by the February storm without funding being allocated. That’s fine if funding comes through, but if we don’t get funding for the February storms, then all we can do is use the funding for the January storm. That is not a satisfactory situation. We need to see the overall level of funding.”

Clare Senior Engineer Tom Tiernan, also said that a lack of clarity from government is hindering the repair works.

“We need clarity for government, that’s the nub of the issue,” said Mr Tiernan.

“We have taken half steps in some areas, but we can’t take half steps without going to full hog. We can’t engage consultants at the moment because we don’t know what work they will end up doing [because of a lack of information from government].

“We were allocated a programme, we want to produce that programme but we can’t do it because of a lack of clarity about the bottom line.”

A MAN charged with possession of items with the intention they be used for theft will appear before Ennis District Court tomorrow.

Martin Ward (27), with an address at Gort Na Rí, Galway, was brought before the court on Thursday and subsequently granted bail.

He re-appeared before the court on Friday where Judge Patrick Durcan agreed to an application from defence solicitor, Daragh Hassett, to amend the terms of Mr Ward’s bail.

Mr Ward is charged that at Roscliff, Ballynacally, Ennis on June 4, when not at his residence, he had possession of bolt cutters, gloves and a torch with intention they be used in a theft. Mr Ward was granted bail at Ennis District Court on Thursday on a number of conditions including one that he stay away from all piers, quays, marinas and areas containing boats and boat engines.

His co-accused, a 33 year-old man from Ennis, was remanded in custody and is also due to appear in court on Wednesday.

Mr Ward’s case was called again at Ennis District Court on Friday.

Mr Hassett applied to have the bail conditions amended to allow his cli- ent sign on at a different garda station than the one previously agreed.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he wanted an assurance the State consented to the amendment before making any order. He said the case is a “very serious matter”, one where he had insisted bail conditions be written down.

Mr Hassett told the Judge he spoke with the prosecuting Garda Inspector, Tom Kennedy.

He said Insp Kennedy consented to the amendment. Judge Durcan made the amendment and remanded Mr Ward on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on June 11.

MOTORISTS accused of speeding offences on Clare roads have been told their cases will not be dealt with until a High Court case on the Go Safe speed camera network is resolved. At Ennis District Court on Friday, Judge Patrick Durcan ad- journed 17 speed camera prosecutions to September 19.

A total of 18 people faced prosecutions for alleged speeding offences allegedly captured by cameras mounted in Go Safe vans.

Judge Durcan struck out a case against one person following an application from the State. The privately run Go Safe has operated speed camera vans in Ireland since winning the Garda contract in 2009.

The cameras operate on sections of road, which have a history of collisions occurring where speed was a contributory factor.

In recent months, Judge Durcan has been critical of Go Safe and has struck out a number of speeding charges brought against motorists in Clare. On Friday, Judge Durcan told all those who had answered summons issued by Insp John McDonald, that the law with regards to issuing of fixed charge penalty notices is the “cause of some controversy in the land”. He said a colleague has sent a case to the High Court seeking clarification of the law under-pinning the speed camera system.

He said he was adjourning all cases until the issue in the High Court has been dealt with.

He told those people facing prosecutions their cases were adjourned to September 19. He told them they are not required to be present in court on the day.

There was a brief exchange when the Judge told a Cork man facing a Go Safe prosecution he would get “brownie points” for being present in court on Friday.

To laughter in the court, the man replied, “Which points?”

Judge Durcan said, “Brownie points, a different category of points to the ones concerned with here.”

Five Go Safe Inspectors were present in court for the adjournments. As they left the courtroom Judge Durcan asked them to convey to Inspector McDonald “that it is a total waste of time and public money you guys turning up here until after September 19. Any prosecutions before then will be adjourned.”

“I don’t like to see State money wasted seeing five strapping men sit here all day,” he added.

THE acclaimed debut album from two Clare men has caught the ear of one of the biggest rap stars on the planet.

John Lillis and God Knows will perform the biggest gig of their lives tonight when they share the stage with hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg in Dublin.

Ennis DJ John (mynameisJohn) and Shannon MC God Knows are among the support acts for the veteran rapper’s shows in The Academy, tonight and tomorrow.

John and God Knows landed the prized support slot at one of the most eagerly anticipated rap shows of the year on the strength of their acclaimed debut album, Rusangano/ Family.

A copy of the album found its way to Snoop’s management team who were said to be very impressed by John and God Know’s thrilling blend of grime and hip-hop.

“We’re delighted with it. We’re buzzing. I remember listening to Snoop when I was 13. It’s hard to believe we’re going to be playing with him,” said John last week.

Rusangano/Family has attracted huge critical praise since it’s release in May.

Hot Press described the album as a “hip hop stunner”. Influential music writer, Nialler9 hailed Rusangano/ Family as “a game-changer in the way it drags Irish hip-hop into a fully-formed album/mixtape format with a confidence and skill that is unfamiliar in this country’s rap output”.

Music blog The Point of Everything said Rusangano/Family is the “best album of 2014 so far.”

“The reaction to it has been absolutely amazing. Its something that we definitely didn’t see coming” says God Knows, “When we started out, we just wanted to make music for ourselves.

“We’ve enjoyed every minute of it. The amount of support we have got from people in Clare and Limerick has been brilliant.”

The pair describes themselves as a “Zimbabwean Christian and Irish Pagan who sat down with a cup of tea to discuss making an album.”

“We’re two people who really enjoy making music. We’re gob smacked at how it’s been received so far,” said John.

John has been involved in DJ’ing and music production for the best part of a decade. In 2013 he released ‘The Struggle’ EP with Limerick producer Graeme S.

God Knows moved to Ireland with his family from Zimbabwe.

The former St Caimin’s Community School student is a founder member of the music collective Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK).

The pair will hold an album launch at Limerick’s Belltable theatre on July 4.

A 15-YEAR-old boy charged with the false imprisonment of a teenager in Ennis last year is to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court. Jurisdiction of the case was refused by Judge Patrick Durcan on Wednesday after he heard an outline of the alleged facts of the case against the boy.

The Ennis boy – who was accompanied by his mother at Ennis Children’s Court – is charged with falsely imprisoning a 17-year-old at Quin Road, Ennis on August 19 last contrary to Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

He is also charged with unlawfully taking possession of a car without the consent of the owner or without lawful authority at the Quin Road, Ennis on the same date.

The boy is one of a number of people gardaí say were in a car that went on an “escapade” around Ennis last year. Three teenagers have been charged in connection with the incident. Inspector Tom Kennedy said it would be alleged the 15 year-old pushed the driver and forced him to sit in the car.

Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction. A book of evidence will be prepared and the case will be heard in the Circuit Court.

He adjourned the case for mention to tomorrow, June 11.

The boy was remanded on continuing bail. Two other teenagers have also been charged in connection with the incident on the Quin Road.

Patrick McCarthy (18) is charged with the robbery of a Sony mobile phone and € 5 worth of tobacco from a male on August 19.

Mr McCarthy, with an address at Westbourne, Watery Road, Ennis, is also charged unlawfully taking possession of a vehicle without the consent of the owner or without lawful authority. Insp Kennedy told Judge Durcan the DPP had directed summary disposal of the matters in the District Court. He outlined a summary of the alleged facts of the case to allow Judge Durcan consider whether or not to accept jurisdiction.

The court heard Mr McCarthy was one of a number of people who got into a car they waved down on O’Connell Street on August 19 last.

The court heard the driver was asked to go to a number of different housing estates and areas around the outskirts of Ennis.

Insp Kennedy said people were drinking in the car. He said the driver was assaulted at one point on the “journey” but not by Mr McCarthy.

Of the robbery charge, Insp Kennedy said that at one stage of this “escapade”, the car stopped on the humpback bridge on the Quin Road.

He said it would be alleged Mr McCarthy got out of the car and demanded money from a pedestrian.

Insp Kennedy said it is alleged the accused put his hands into the alleged victim’s pocket and took items.

He said Mr McCarthy then got back at the car, which at this point was being driven by another man.

Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction, meaning the case will now proceed to the Circuit Court.

Mr McCathy was remanded on continuing bail. The case was adjourned for mention to June 11.

A 19 year-old man also charged with an offence arising from the alleged incident on the Quin Road on August 19 last is also to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court.

He is due to appear before Ennis District Court tomorrow.

NORTH Clare has a new animal superstar. A Snowy Owl, the animal made popular by the Harry Potter series of films, has set up home in the Burren, three thousand miles away from it usual habitat.

The massive bird was photographed by Welsh tourist Mark Lewis, hunting over Black Head near Fanore last week, but it is now thought that it has based itself in Clare since August.

Although Snowy Owls normally base themselves in Arctic regions, they are known to settle in warmer climbs on certain rare occasions and it is hoped that this owl has taken a shine to the Burren.

This is only the third time in more than 100 years that a Snowy Owl has been sighted in Clare – and in each of the previous occasions the animal did not make the county its home.

There is though to be a resident Snowy Owl based in Donegal, how- ever the exact location of birds are often kept secret to avoid poaching. The birds are much sought after in collections and the price and demand for Snowy Owls has increased dramatically since the character of Hedwig appeared in the Harry Potter books and movie franchise.

Snowy Owls nest in the Arctic tundra of the northernmost stretches of Alaska, Canada, and Eurasia and sometime winter in south Canada and parts of Greenland.

It is understood that the Burren Snowy Owl was part of a large group which migrated from Nova Scotia in August of last year.

“This bird possibly arrived with those birds that left North America last autumn. I would suspect that this bird came into the Burren last October or November. They have an incredible range. This bird might just make the Burren its home. If it is able to get a good source of food and it likes the place,” said John Murphy of Clare Birdwatching.

“These birds are kept in collections and falconers and have because very popular since the Harry Potter films. People may try and capture the bird for breeding with their own captive Snowy Owls.

“A wild bird like this could be bred with a tame bird in a collection to create a wilder offspring. I’m not overly worried about this bird being caught because this one will roam so much that it should be safe.”

The bird was photographed by Welsh tourist Mark Lewis and his wife last week.

“I recognised it as a Snowy Owl when I saw it but I didn’t believe that it could be a Snowy Owl. Having photographed it I decided that it just couldn’t be a Snowy Owl in this location – but it was,” said Mark.

“I’m glad we got the pictures – because if we hadn’t taken the pictures no one would have believed us.”