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ONE of Clare’s oldest traditional music festivals has been short listed for the prestigious IMRO Music Festival of the Year 2013 award.

The world famous Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay is in a strong category that includes Electric Picnic, Other Voices, Music Trail, Body and Soul, Longitude, Life, Sea Sessions, Kilkenny Rhythm and Blues, Galway Arts Festival and the Temple Bar TradFest.

More than 8,500 members of IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organisation) nominated their favourite Irish venues and festivals for the awards.

The Best Live Music Festival of the Year will be announced at a special prize giving ceremony, which will take place on Tuesday, February 4.

There will also be a special Hot Press Readers Award presented at the event for Hot Press Best Live Music Venue, as voted by the general public, and by readers of Hot Press Magazine.

The award ceremony will take place at the IMRO HQ from 6.30pm to 9.00pm and will be presented by Paddy McKenna from RTÉ 2FM.

Live Performances on the night will include Kodaline, Gavin James and I Am The Cosmos.

The Willie Clancy Summer School said they are happy to be nominated in the category and are in “good company”.

The members are now just philosophically waiting “to see what happens”.

THE Burren and the Cliffs of Moher have been shortlisted for the world’s most prestigious award for developing sustainable tourism.

Over the weekend the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark project was shortlisted for the prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Award – alongside 17 other destinations from around the world.

The award, which is operated by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), saw scores of entries from more then 56. The winners and finalists will be recognised during the WTTC Global Summit, which will take place in Hainan in China this April.

The Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark has been shortlisted alongside Bonito in Brazil and Temes SA – Costa Navarino in Greece in the Destination Award, which recognised the development of sustainable tourism.

“Since 2008, Clare County Council has been working in the Burren to develop a truly sustainable tourism destination that gives direct benefits to the local community, promotes and celebrates local culture and produce, preserves the environment and provides a great experience for our visitors,” said Carol Gleeson of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.

“This has been achieved with great support and partnership from local communities and businesses and agencies responsible for tourism and conservation and local development.

“This work includes establishing the Burren Ecotourism Network as far back as 2008, achieving UNESCO recognised Global Geopark status in 2011 and providing environmental and business training, developing a destination brand, promoting certification, and importantly linking high responsible tourism standards with economic benefit to the area.”

TWO KILRUSH pubic houses have been ordered to close and the publicans to pay fines for selling spirits on which no duty was paid.

Describing Michael Johnson of Johnson’s Bar, Henry Street, Kilrush as “the worst kind of publican” District Court Judge Patrick Durcan fined him € 4,000 and ordered him to close the pub for seven days from February 4.

“I do not accept he bought these bottles over the counter from someone he did not know and if he did he showed a level of irresponsibility,” he said at the hearing in Klirush on Tuesday.

Mr Johnson had pleaded guilty of having 14 litres of vodka on which appropriate rate of alcohol products tax had not been paid_ Contrary to Section 79 (2) &(7) of Finance Act 2003 as substituted by section 62 of the Finance Act 2005.

In evidence to the court Customs and Excise officer Chris Mulqueen outlined that he called to Johnson’s Bar, on June 20, 2013 and located the bottles of vodka for which no duty had been paid.

He took samples from a bottle of this vodka, tests confirmed that it was under strength and inconsistent with “Smirnoff vodka”. The sample recorded a 33.1 per cent volume as opposed to a 37 per cent volume.

The court heard that Michael Johnson had been running the bar and could not confirm where he got the vodka. He was asked for documents to confirm purchase but did not produce these documents.

Solicitor for the defence Patrick Moylan said his client had paid € 144 for 12 bottles of vodka.

He told the court that if Mr Johnson could identify the seller he would, and that it was not unusual for people to turn up and the pub to sell alcohol.

He said Mr Johnson told him the pub is due to close at the end of February.

Mr Moylan said his client was a good publican and had never been in court before.

Judge Durcan said, “Mr Johnson bought drink from someone he doesn’t know, the quality he knew nothing about and he shelled that out to his customers.”

“In my view, he is the worst kind of publican you can find and not someone who in my view should be authorised to hold a publican’s licence.

“Any publican not knowing the source of alcohol and then dishes it out to their customers – don’t tell the court that he has been a good publican,” he added.

The district court judge said he sympathized with the licensing trade as it was “under extreme pressure.”

He said it was important that customers had faith in their publican however, and it was important that other law-abiding publicans were not put at a disadvantage.

In a separate, but in the words of Michael Linnane, prosecuting for the revenue commissioners, “similar case” the judge fined David Bond of Sheananigans Public House, Frances Street, Kilrush € 2, 500.

He ordered that the public house be closed for two days.

Mr Bond pleaded guilty to not paying the appropriate duty on 10 Litres of spirits.

Customs officer John Grehan gave evidence of finding what he described as “counterfeit vodka” in Shenanigan’s Bar on May 31, 2013.

He said Mr Bond “made frank admissions. He told us where he got it and co-operated fully. He has no previous convictions.”

Solicitor for Mr Bond, said his client was “shocked when he discovered the alcohol was not genuine”.

Mr Linnane informed the court that the maximum fine in cases like these was a fine of € 5,000, which could be mitigated to no less than € 2,500. There is also a mandatory closure order in respect of this, which had to be a minimum of two days, but no more than seven days.

“THE traditional Irish pub as we know it will be extinct in the next few years.”

That was the fear expressed by the Clare representative on the Vintners Federation of Ireland, Charlie O’Meara as he explored the change in people’s attitudes, especially young people, to public houses.

“People get tired of hearing how difficult it is for the publican, but it is true. The rural pubs are suffering there is no doubt, but town pubs are struggling as well,” he said.

“The social scene has changed, so the next generation growing up has no allegiance to a pub,” he explained.

The Ennis publican said the new generation is drinking at home and then going straight to a late bar of nightclub.

The majority of pubs in Clare to- day are surviving by providing food also.

The operator of Moroney’s Bar in Ennis said most Irish pubs now have more in common with the traditional English pub.

He made the comments when asked about the number of licence holders in the county dropping again.

In 2005, there were 373 licensed premises in Clare according to official revenue figures.

Last year that figure had dropped to 306, a drop of just one in the last year.

Many of those licences accounted for however, refer to anyone who holds a seven day licence such as off licence, hotel or shop and do not reflect a full picture of the number of public houses forced to close due to lack of trade.

Many publicans that did call time for the last time transferred or sold their licences to businesses other than pubs.

WHILE the local authority tackles one of the largest flood relief projects in the county town of Ennis, a new form of flooding has taken hold in other parts of the county.

During the last number of years, rural roads in Clare, which previously went unaffected by heavy rainfall, are now subjected to significant flooding.

The reason for the floods, according to the council, is blocked drains and ultimately a staff shortage, which has continued since a Government moratorium and a major early retirement scheme in the public service.

Tom Tiernan, Senior Engineer with Clare County Council, confirmed, “Blocked drains and subsequent flooding has increasingly become a problem around the county in recent years.

“Clare County Council is unable to carry out drainage clearing work as regularly as it would like to due to curtailed resources,” he said.

Frustrated local county councillors have been inundated with calls relating to the issue.

Cllr Tom McNamara said, the finances simply are not there to regularly undertake even the most basic of road maintenance works.

This has led to the deterioration of our roads, particularly in rural areas.

“For example, in recent weeks I have seen flooding occur on sections of the R474 between Ennis and Miltown Malbay as well as smaller regional and local roads where flooding has not occurred before, such as that experienced recently on the Bushypark Road. This flooding is the result of roadside drains not being maintained and becoming filled with debris. The blocked drains simply cannot cope with the volume of rainwater,” he said.

THE ban on cutting turf on two east Clare bogs has been lifted following the publication of a new National Peatlands Strategy – but the much contested ban on cutting at the Tullaher Lough and Bog in West Clare still remains.

Restriction turf cutting will now be allowed on a total of 45 bogs, including two in east Clare, which had been deemed to be Natural Heritage Areas by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The situation at the Tullaher Lough and Bog in less clear however, as it is classified as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a bad on turf cutting will remain in force – for the time being at least.

The National Peatlands Strategy also included a biodiversity for the Doonbeg Bog. The bog received poor ranks in term of its Habitat Quality and Ecological Diversity, receiving an D and E grade respectively.

These negative marks could work in local turf cutters favour as the bog could now be seen as a site of lesser ecological importance and less become less important to protect.

The new National Peatlands Strategy plan is pending European approval, but local turf cutting campaigners are hopeful that it may herald the beginning of a u-turn in government policy towards raised bogs and lead to the lifting of restriction at Tullaher.

A TEENAGER has pleaded guilty to the robbery of a 73-year-old woman in Shannon.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered the guilty plea after being arraigned at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court yesterday (Monday).

He admits stealing the woman’s handbag, which contained € 40 at the time. The charge relates to an incident at Tullyvarraga, Shannon, in July 2012.

Jurisdiction of the case was declined in the District Court after Judge Patrick Durcan heard details of the robbery.

The court heard woman was walking on the footpath when the accused came up behind her and grabbed the bag.

A Detective Garda gave evidence the victim gave chase but in doing so, fell and broke her pelvis.

A 17-year-old boy has already pleaded guilty to handling stolen property arising out of the same circumstances.

In court yesterday, Counsel for the 16 year old, Elaine Houlihan requested a probation report be prepared in respect of her client.

She said the court was required to seek probation reports where juveniles are concerned.

She said reporting restrictions also applied given her client’s age.

Judge Carol Moran asked if would have to consider the imposition of a prison sentence in respect of the robbery charge.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Stephen Coughlan BL, said, “When you hear the evidence in the case you may consider a prison sentence.”

Counsel for the 17-year-old boy, Pat Whyms said his client was charged with a handling offence.

He said there was no evidence linking the boy to the original robbery.

He said the court would not have to consider a prison sentence in respect of his client.

Judge Moran adjourned the cases for sentence to March 3.

He directed a probation report be prepared in respect of the 16-yearold boy.

IRISH folk star, Luka Bloom, has joined a host of Clare’s finest musicians to record a single to help raise money for the Lahinch Playground Rescue Fund.

The playground, which was completed just three years ago, was devastated by Storm Catherine, which ripped away most of the ground works and cause damaged estimated to be well in excess of € 100,000.

The song, ‘Seaweed in Ennistymon’ was written by local musician Darragh McGlynn as he listened to the storm from his sea front property in Lahinch.

“I live by the sea front in Lahinch and we were getting trashed by every high tide. I worked on the song right through the storm and it was pretty much finished by Sunday night,” said Darragh.

“On Monday night, I went to a session in Cooley’s in Ennistymon and played it there. Everybody loved it, they were singing the song back to me before I had finished it. Within a week it was recorded and the rest is history.

“It was great to get Luka Bloom involved. He was a big fan of the song – he was all over it once he heard it. He played guitar and sang with me on the chorus and we were all really happy in the way that it turned out.”

Alongside Luka and Darragh, the song also features some of the vest of Clare musicians including Yvonne Casey, Quintan Cooper, Jon O’Connell and Adam Shiparo.

The song is currently available to download from I-Tunes for a cost of 99 cents. Darragh and Luka Bloom will perform the song at the Lahinch Christmas Frolics which will take place at Lahinch Seaworld this Saturday. Proceeds from the song will be donated to the Lahinch Playground Rescue Fund.

It was confirmed last week that the damage done to the Lahinch Playground by the recent storm will not be covered by insurance. The playground was sealed off to the public for 10 days amid fears that the ground works in the area might be unstable.

The Lahinch Playground Rescue Fund committee have launched a number of fundraising drives locally in recent days including a Wellington Collection Campaign as well as asking people to purchase sponsored bricks.

A special account for donations has been set up at account number 02334222, sort code 93-51-58. For more info search for “Lahinch Playground Project” on Facebook.

THE St Stephen’s night storm was responsible for 61 per cent of all of the Christmas callouts for Clare’s Fire and Rescue Service.

As many as 70 of the 115 incidents attended by the emergency services between December 20, 2013, and January 3, 2014, involved falling trees on the night of December 26, at a cost of approximately € 60,000 to the Fire Service.

Meanwhile, non-weather related callouts – 45, were down across the county for a fourth successive year.

The call-out figures for the period were less than those recorded during the corresponding periods in 2010, 2011 and 2012 when the Fire Service was mobilised to 81, 64 and 48 incidents respectively.

This Christmas, six of the callouts related to house fires with a further six call-outs involving chimney fires, while fire-fighters also attended 14 road-based incidents, foor agricultural building fires, three storage building fires and five false alarm.

The busiest station this Christmas was Ennis, attending to 61 of the calls, followed by Shannon who attended 23.

“This was one of the busiest periods experienced by Clare County Fire and Rescue Service since the serious flooding which affected Clare in November 2009,” explained Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Officer.

“The extremely windy conditions late on St Stephen’s Day and in the early hours of December 27 brought down a lot of trees throughout the county leading to some roads being blocked. Furthermore, other roads were impassable for a time due to flooding brought about by heavy rain. Due to the assistance of members of the public, together with staff from Clare Local Authorities, we were able to deal quickly with these incidents so as to ensure any disruption was minimised,” he said.

BARBARA Cusack knew nothing about the flood in her home until she stepped on to the floor at 6am on the morning of the flood.

“I was woken by the rescue people who knocked on the door around 6am to see if we were okay. That was the first I saw of it,” she said.

Immediately she feared for her daughter who was just days from giving birth.

“I told her she would have to move out of the house somewhere when I saw all the damage in the area. How would she get to a hospital?” she said.

Since then Charlotte has given birth to a healthy boy Shane Joseph, but now Barbara fears the house is not safe to bring her first grandchild home.

The oil is still not working, she explained, making looking after her husband who is ill all the more difficult.

It is also making it more difficult to dry out the house and get life back to normal.

For three days after the storm, Barbara, like her neighbours, had to contend with no sewerage system, as the water got into the system and the nearby pumping station.

Barbara explained getting on with every day life is difficult as people try to dry out their houses, replace every day white electrical goods and live in fear of the next wave.