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A YOUNG man yesterday recalled being dragged a mile, while attached to a car, being driven by a man who had almost twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

The horrific evidence emerged in the case of a Kildysart man, who pleaded guilty to charges in connec- tion with a hit-and-run accident in which two pedestrians were struck, in Ennis, on January 13, 2008.

One of the victims was trapped as he was unable to detach himself from the car, as it took off at speed.

Moments earlier, his friend was struck by the same car and flipped up into the air.

Donal Holohan (23), of Aylroe, Kildysart, admitted a charge of dan- gerous driving, thereby causing seri- ous bodily harm to Tommy Walsh.

Holohan, a plumber, also admitted failing to stop at the scene, at Clon- roadbeg, Ennis; driving with excess alcohol in his breath at Friar’s Walk, Ennis and driving dangerously, at Clonroadbeg.

Garda Dermot Siggins told En- nis Circuit Court that Sean Cud- dihy, Tommy Walsh and two of their friends were walking along Clon- roadbeg at 3.10am.

They were en route to Tesco, in pursuit of cigarettes, when the first incident occurred.

This involved Mr Cuddihy, who

was struck by the defendant’s Nissan Almera, before being flipped into the Za

Mr Walsh and another man pursued the Almera and tried to prevent it from leaving the scene. Gda Siggins said that Mr Walsh stood in front of the car and put his hand on the bon- aoe

However, the vehicle took off at speed and Mr Walsh’s leg became entangled with the car. His chest got caught under the right wheel and he was unable to release himself from the car.

As the car took off at speed, he was dragged along and was trapped un- der it. The car travelled a distance of 1.7 kilometres before he became

detached.

Mr Cuddihy told gardai all he could remember was waking up in hospi- tal, while Mr Walsh said he and his friends were practising marching up the road – as some of them are mem- bers of the defence forces – and he could see Mr Cuddihy being struck by a car.

“He was flipped into the air and landed on his head,” he recalled.

He said he himself was caught under the vehicle and could not get EEN

He said the car kept moving and failed to stop. He remembered wak- ing up on a roadway but had no idea where he was.

Mr Walsh (21) suffered multiple in-

juries – including injuries to his chest, abdomen, shoulder, elbow, groin and a severe injury to his left hand – and underwent surgery on a number of occasions.

He is still undergoing medical at- tention and requires further surgery. Medics say he may never fully re- cover from his hand injury.

Taking the witness stand, he told the court he has lost more than a year in the army and has missed out on duties on overseas missions.

He said he returned to work a month ago and must undergo tests to ascertain if he is capable of rejoining the army.

AUDITIONS for a talent competi- tion that has proved a major hit in west Clare will take place later this month.

The inaugural ‘West Clare’s Got Talent’ was hugely popular last year — so much so that the organisers were keen to follow on with a second con- test this year.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) 1s the beneficiary of the event, which 1s Open to young people aged between 10 and 18 years.

Last year’s winner, 12-year-old Lisa Falsey from Cooraclare, has since built on her success. She won the accolade due to her musical and singing talents and has won several rounds of the national Scor talent

competition over the past year. Lisa, a daughter of Joe and Maura Falsey, has also won awards in piano, over the years.

The chief organiser of the compe- tition Teresa Carrig was delighted with the success of the first year of the competition. She said that en- trants can do “anything they want to do, as long as they entertain us for two or three minutes”’.

Thirty-four youngsters entered the competition last year and 20 were shortlisted for the final.

“Last year there was music, dance, poetry, hip-hop, Irish dancing and aerobics. Lisa had a confidence in herself and she had a great ability to perform.

“Tt was very broad last year and we would hope to have it as broad again this year,” she said.

€2,000 was raised through the event last year and hopes are high that this will be surpassed this year.

‘Helping children is the theme of it. There is a great buzz about it, this year more so than last year,’ said Ms Creare

She is encouraging young people across west Clare to take part. The auditions will take place at the com- munity centre in Kilrush on April 29, between 3pm and 5pm. The final will take place in Kilrush Commu- nity School on May 16, starting at 7pm.

Lisa’s mother Maura Falsey was delighted with the success in last year’s contest.

“It was great. She has a lovely little voice. For a 12-year-old, a lot of peo- ple would say she has a very mature voice. She loves music and is an all-

rounder,” she said.

Lisa —a sixth class student in Kilm- ihil national school — played the keyboard and sang the song Whitney Houston made famous, ‘One Mo- ment in Time’ in last year’s final.

There will be plenty of excitement on the evening of the final as Bert and Victor — who starred in

AN extra councillor, extra area to canvass and extra people to vote.

The county councillors in Shannon must be inwardly smiling, but out- wardly they are panicking.

The very last thing any elected politician wants to hear about them- selves is that their seat is safe.

A scandal they can survive; a faux pas in the council chamber, no prob- lem; even taking the “wrong” side in a controversial local issue can be overcome — but for some journalist, political pundit or barman to say that they are a sure thing come June 5, that is the kiss of death.

So even though there are five sitting Shannon electoral area councillors hoping to be returned to a new six- seater area, they are taking nothing for granted.

All five — John Crowe (FG), Tony Mulcahy (FG), Gerry Flynn (Ind), Patricia McCarthy (Ind) and Pat McMahon (FF) — are putting their names on the ballot paper again, but this time around there are a few new strong contenders.

Already five new possibilities have declared as candidates, and at the time of going to press, there was one more Fianna Fail possibility from the Shannon town area waiting in the wings awaiting head office approval.

Fianna Fail in the area has always maintained that a strong Shannon town candidate was required, and this likely contender has the name and family history to his benefit.

His nomination will all depend on the powers that be in Dublin, some- thing that does not sit well with the grass roots level in light of the selec- tion process in the Shannon electoral area So far.

Many believe that former Fianna Fail stalwart PJ Ryan should have been put on the ticket ahead of new- comer Eamon Fennessy. While Mr Fennessy will have a strong GAA backing, it was felt Mr Ryan had a higher profile on the ground and was geographically better placed.

Head office disagreed, however, and Fianna Fail on the ground, who

are determined to secure that new seat, feel hard done by.

Mr Ryan was just ousted last time by newcomer Gerry Flynn (Ind), who was elected without making the quota. They fear the Ryan factor in Fianna Fail — and are determined that by letting this fear be known, he too may receive that kiss of death, the safe seat curse.

Even with the securing of a much needed town candidate in this elec- tion, the ‘Soldiers of Destiny’ will struggle to double their seats from one to two.

The big hope for the party is Patrick

O’Gorman, who was close to being elected to the council four years ago when he lost his seat, but who is in a new electoral area this time around.

With the transfer of Cratloe and Killeely into the Shannon area, the former councillor will be hoping to secure the majority of that vote to see him back in Clare County Council’s chamber.

Fine Gael is running three candi- dates, well aware that the extra seat is there for the taking.

Having nominated sitting council- lors Tony Mulcahy and John Crowe from the start, it later added Marcella

Rafftery Frost to the ticket.

A smart move — the party picked from a strong Fine Gael pedigree. Ms Rafftery Frost is the niece of former MEP Tom Rafftery, and is living in Bunratty.

A strong Independent and Labour support base has always been part of Shannon.

Cllrs McCarthy and Flynn have proved high-profile and _ popular campaigners in the last five years, and both were mayors of Shannon Town, with Cllr McCarthy the first woman to be selected as mayor of Orie

Another woman contesting the Shannon area is Cathy McCafferty from Sinn Fein. While there are high hopes for the Shannon woman in the town council election, her first out- ing in a county council election four years ago had her eliminated in the third count.

With a new seat for the taking in the Shannon area, however, the final shake down is anyone’s guess.

THE Mayor of Clare has said it is imperative that the Criminal Justice Surveillance Bill be quickly imple- mented in an effort to bring crimi- nals to justice.

Councillor Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) was speaking as she launched the International Police Association (IPA) annual conference in Ennisty- mon at the weekend, which was at- tended by the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.

Police from Luxembourg, Poland, USA and the UK attended the two- day conference, which is one of the major events of the IPA (Irish sec- tion).

She spoke of the importance of the police force in the community and said the new bill — the details of which were announced by the Gov- ernment last week — would provide much assistance to gardai.

She said that the community has a crucial role to play in the detection and prevention of crime.

‘The co-operation of the public re- lating to crime is essential for crime detection and prevention. We cannot afford to remove ourselves when we have knowledge or sightings of acts or behaviour that could be helpful to police investigations.

“Democracy is based on_ the strength of the security of our citi- zens. The public and gardai are in- terdependent. We are secure because of their presence and they can only

be as effective as the public enable them to be,” she said.

She said the IPA should be com- mended for the work it carries out at local, national and international levels.

“The building of transnational rela- tionships between current and retired members of police forces across the world greatly assists and enhances the work of Interpol and other inter- national police organisations. It also serves to assist the members’ under- standing of other cultures, traditions

and police practices in the many na- tions represented,’ she said.

Retired Garda Sergeant and presi- dent of the IPA (Irish section), Billy Saunderson said the conference pre- sented members with the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual personal and professional concern.

Mr Saunderson, who was based in Ennistymon for a number of years, said members of the IPA have the op- portunity to avail of support during difficult times.

‘There are many benefits for retired

and serving members of An Garda Siochana in joining the organisation. Members are provided with immedi- ate support at times of crisis while at home or abroad. The children of members engage in international cultural gatherings and exchanges, and members engage in fundraising for local and community causes,” he said.

WEDDINGS in the former “capital of County Clare” are being affected because of a lack of signage on the N18 Ennis bypass, a meeting has heard.

Cllr Bernard Hanrahan (FF) told a meeting of the Ennis electoral area that Clarecastle has become a popu- lar spot for couples tying the knot.

However, Cllr Hanrahan claimed that many people on their way to at- tend weddings in Clarecastle end up in Doora because there is no sign for the village on the N18 Ennis bypass.

“You have people coming into Clarecastle and they end up travel- ling all the way up to Doora because there isn’t a sign on the bypass for Clarecastle,” said Cllr Hanrahan.

He continued, “You have signs for Quin, you have signs for Carrigoran. I mean, what do Quin and Carrigor- an have to offer more than Clarecas- tle? Clarecastle was once the capital of Clare.”

“All I want ye to do is erect sig- nage on the main road. I spoke to the deputy head of the National Road’s Association (NRA) and they were in favour of it,’ added Cllr Hanrahan.

Supporting Cllr Hanrahan’s call, councillors urged Clare County Council to erect signs on the Ennis bypass.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) told yesterday’s meeting that the issue of signage for Clarecastle had been raised repeatedly at area meetings.

“That came up at the last meet- ing. It’s coming up at every meeting. Could we not just put the signs up?” he said.

Cllr Brennan added, “Why can’t we just go ahead and do it?” Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said a sign for Clarecastle should be situated at the roundabout near the Clare Inn hotel.

Cllr Sonny Scanlan (FG) also called for clearer signage along all sections the N18 Ennis bypass.

‘People are going up as far as Bare- field. When you are coming from the other direction, you see signs for Scariff and Tulla and none for Ennis. How are people supposed to know’? It’s a pure joke. We need signs for Clarecastle and we also need them for Ennis as well,’ he said.

DURING the Celtic Tiger era prop- erty prices in Quin grew exponen- tially. But, those days have gone and even in trendy Quin you can now find some great property bargains.

The pick of the crop this week is on the books with Costelloe Estate Agents. It’s a detached bungalow located in Arbutus Grove, occupy- ing a half acre site, priced at just €285,000.

Arbutus Grove is situated in the heart of the picturesque village of Quin, opposite the post office and overlooking the church.

According to selling agent Noel Moore, “This is a truly well laid out family home with very generous ac- commodation and it is right beside all the key amenities in Quin village, yet the site is private.

The 135.45 square metres (1458 square feet) of internal space com- prises an entrance porch leading into the entrance hall, a good sized sit- ting room, a kitchen/breakfast room, family room, family bathroom, and there are four double bedrooms, with the master bedroom en-suite.

In addition there is a detached ga- rage that incorporates a utility room and WC.

The house occupies a very attrac- tive site with mature gardens. The front and rear, featuring trees, ex- tensive shrubbery, flowerbeds and a

patio area.

“While this property does require some refurbishment and redecora- tion, at this asking price it is an abso- lute bargain buy,” said Noel.

For further information contact

Costelloe Estate Agents on 065 6821299.

WITH just six weeks to polling day it is believed that Fianna Fail are preparing to enter another candi- date into the race for a seat on Clare County Council.

The party’s headquarters are ex- pected to ratify Shannon pharmacist Shane Hillery as a candidate for the newly expanded Shannon electoral area.

With a strong local political pedi- gree, the son of outgoing town coun- cillor and former county councillor Sean Hillery, it is hoped that the father of two will get the nod from headquarters.

Mr Hillery spent his early life in Sixmulebridge before moving to Shannon and opening his own phar- macy in the Shannon Shopping Cen- tre 18 years ago.

Although his current address is out- side the electoral area, Fianna Fail are hoping his strong business pres- ence in Shannon and the strong fam- TUNA et-bo elem ADU MEoLO1ED Roam O0losO0 MEN Olomoy.@0 0:1 seat in the six seater area.

Married to Ennis woman Valerie Normoyle they have two children.

While Fianna Fail is considering entering a new candidate into the lo- cal election race, the party has lost its MEP candidate for the North West area.

In what was a shock to many, sitting MEP Sean O Neachtain announced his intention not to run for re-elec- tion on Raidio na Gaeltachta, having

being ratified by the party in Mayo just week’s ago.

On Sunday former European Par- liament President Pat Cox launched the election campaign of Independ- ent Marian Harkin MEP.

“Times were too serious, and the stakes too high, to allow policy myths to displace or replace policy substance in public debate during the European Parliament Election,’ he said.

Meanwhile Republican Sinn Féin is considering running a candidate in the North Clare area, having origi- nally considered a candidate for En- nis West.

The party will meet on Thursday night to consider putting forward a candidate for the county council elections.

It is believed well-known member Paddy Kenneally is to consider run- ning for the party in the new five-seat

area.

The Crusheen man said, “The ap- palling treatment that Clare has suf- fered at the hands of the Fianna Fail and Green coalition must be raised with the local election candidates on doorsteps throughout the county.”

IT’S advantage Avenue United B in the race for the second division championship after Sunday’s win over Lifford B.

Richie O’Grady’s goal six min- utes from full time sealed a win that pushes Avenue four points clear of Lifford at the top of the league.

The victory also ensured Avenue’s promotion to division one and three more points from their final game against Rhine Rovers will guaran- tee that Ben Mulcaire’s side go up as champions.

O’Grady’s goal also inflicted on Lifford their first defeat of the season while at the same extended Avenue’s unbeaten league record to 17 games.

Lifford B, meanwhile, are not yet assured of their place in division one for next season.

They are three points ahead of third placed Rhine Rovers but will need to secure four points from their final two games against Sporting Ennisty- mon and Kilmaley in order to ensure promotion.

Sunday’s local derby was fiercely contested, if a little low on quality and goalmouth incident. Though the game never spilled over into anything nasty, referee Michael Rock was still forced to issue five yellow cards, four to Lifford and one to Avenue.

Cassidy Park was no place for the faint hearted.

Keith Dormer, Albert Hardiman

and Gary Seery kept it tight at the back for Avenue. Likewise Adrian Walsh, Marty O’Regan and Mark Whelan for Lifford.

Both sides lined up with five players across midfield. In such a condensed area, players were allowed pre- cious little time on the ball and the first half unfolded as a full-blooded

drama of hard tackles and thumped clearances.

Pumped up by their stunning cup win over Newmarket Celtic, Lif- ford’s best chance of the half arrived in the 26th minute when Eddie Kil- leen dispossessed Seery and laid off to Francis Franks. Franks’ crossed to McDonagh who lifted his shot nar-

rowly over the bar.

McDonagh and Darren Daly had other chances for Lifford but at the break the sides were level 0-0. Liam Meeney’s right wing cross, six min- utes after the re-start, picked out Mannion at the back post but the midfielder saw his half volley held by Avenue goalie Cillian Culligan.

Killeen fizzed another effort straight at Culligan minutes later. Avenue weathered the storm and gradually took a grip on the game.

Cian Griffin, lively on the left flank, fizzed a half volley that was held by Lifford goalie Joe Burke.

Then Michael Dinan crossed to Richie O’Grady who squared to Conor O’Brien who’s stabbed effort had Burke scrambling.

By now, Avenue were well on top and the goal arrived from their best move of the game. Hardiman pushed a fine pass to Dinan on the right. The midfielder squared to O’Grady who finished from close range.

BALLYEA kept their championship hopes alive by the skin of their teeth on Sunday morning as a last gasp Gary Brennan goal earned them a dramatic reprieve. A Daire Keane free for Kilmaley deep into injury time appeared to have been enough to finally see off Ballyea’s challenge but they had one last sting in their tail when Niall Keane’s long free into the square first broke to Don Flannery whose pull was partially blocked, only for Gary Brennan to react the quickest to finish to the net.

It was a bitter pill for Kilmaley to swallow, especially considering that they were six points clear by the 41st minute but in many ways, they were the architects of their own downfall.

Instead of killing off the game, they sat back and invited Ballyea onto them and tired legs resulting in indiscipline gave Ballyea a renewed window of opportunity that they eventually grasped.

There were some contentious deci- sions towards the finish but with the crowd totally immersed in the drama, the tension was heightened on the field as the tie reached it’s dramatic and ultimately fitting conclusion. Both sides had their moments over the hour with Ballyea’s haltf-back line and midfield bossing the open- ing half, despite facing the breeze that blow towards the clubhouse.

It meant that Kilmaley only led by 1-3 to 0-3 at the break, with Kilma- ley’s Michael O’Neill proving a con- stant irritant to the Ballyea defence, hitting 1-1 of that total with the goal coming in the 17th minute when John Cabey’s ball inside was fumbled by goalkeeper Seamus Doohan.

With only O’Neill, John Cabey and the impressive Noel Casey propping them up in the first period, Kilmaley were fortunate to hold that three point advantage into the interval as Ballyea hit nine wides against the conditions but on the restart, Kilmaley finally

began to assert themselves.

Chief marksman throughout the championship, Daire Keane came to life and along with the lively O’ Neill, they tacked on a brace of points each with only Gary Brennan replying for Ballyea as Kilmaley opened up a 1-

7 to 0-4 lead with less than twenty minutes remaining.

However, Ballyea got themselves back into the game through placed balls, although their recovery was slow and tense. The first signs of a fightback came when Declan Keane

was fouled and Francie O’Reilly stepped up to take the resulting 20 metre free but his effort was tapped over the bar by goalkeeper Bryan O’ Loughlin.

A Niall Keane free followed soon afterwards to cut the deficit to four

and the crowd were also left gasping when a Gary Brennan shot from close range was though to have gone past goalkeeper O’Loughlin but in fact, his effort was just left of the post.

Ballyea kept up the pressure though and after Don Flannery hit a huge point from distance, Niall Keane converted another free to claw it back to two points.

Not having scored in over twenty minutes, Kilmaley finally lifted the siege when Daire Keane pointed a free after being fouled himself in the 63rd minute but there was still time for one last attack and when Cathal O’Connor was fouled on the *45, Bal- lyea finally got themselves out of jail with that Gary Brennan goal.

It was to prove the final puck of the game and with the sides due to meet again this weekend, Kilmaley will pray that this late laspe won’t come back to bite them.

JUST as the three quarters point of this final was passing, Sixmilebridge pulled the trigger and rattled home 1- 2 in less than three minutes.

Before this, the teams were locked together at 0-9 each and once that deluge of scores rained down from the Bridge’s front six, Crusheen couldn’t react or, more accurately, they weren’t allowed react.

For the remaining 15 minutes, Sixmuilebridge — who hadn’t won this competition since 2003 — defended with serious authority. They allowed Crusheen just one more score, a point from Conor O’ Donnell a minute into injury time.

That Crusheen played most of the final 20 minutes of the game swith- out scoring wasn’t entirely surpris- ing. They went through a similar drought in the opening half, failing to put a score on the board from the 17th minute until just after the re- eae

It typified the game and in fairness, the real beauty of the hurling over the hour lay in the sound defening of both sides. Strong and fair chal- lenges, effective hooking and hard blocking pockmarked the evening in Clarecastle and in the end, it was Sixmulebridge’s forward line tha picked most locks through their op- posite defence.

They opened up a quick two- point lead with a score from Barry O’Connor along with a free, half way out the field, from Caimin Mo- rey. But from there, Crusheen settled into the momentum of the game, found their rhythm and blasted off five unanswered points with Joseph Meaney orchestrating and executing the bulk.

After his side’s fifth score, though,

the Sixmilebridge defence really closed for business and though Ci- aran O’Donnell’s presence at centre back for Crusheen was immense in that opening half hour, neither he nor his colleagues could prevent Sixmi- lebridge going in at half time two points to the good.

Speaking after the game, Sean Stack, Sixmilebridge manager said

he was pleased with the first half and content to lead by two but waiting for the game to resume and with the wind to come for Crusheen, it was easy to speculate that Sixmilebridge may not have made the most of their dominance of the final 10 minutes of Werle nee

When Crusheen started with a blaze of scores, that theory was bolstered

but Stack knows his team far better than us sideline speculators.

With thirteen minutes of the game to come, the best move of the game arrived and produced the defining moment. All evening it looked as if Declan Morey could open up at any moment and in possession on the right wing, he dropped his shoulder and headed for goal. Having sla-

lomed past a handful of Crusheen de- fenders he let fly from 20 yards out. In the first half, a similar shot from Morey was brillianlty saved from Donal Touhy but this time, Morey’s precision was flawless.

His shot nestled in the top corner of the net and at last, Sixmilebridge had some daylight. Crucially, they immediately followed up with two more points, a 65 from Caimin Mo- rey and a lovely point from substitute who showed sublime control of the ball before firing over from a tight enough angle.

Lynch’s point meant Sixmilebridge scored three off the bench, a tidy haul in a game that at times, looked like an extra score or two could make all the difference. In the last ten, Sixmi- lebridge tacked on a smattering of points and eased their way over the line. A soft enough finish to a game that never lacked intensity or heat and a result that will be celebrated with zeal in the Bridge.