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A MAN, who was murdered while sleeping rough in the Phoenix Park in Dublin at the end of November, will be laid to rest in a family grave in Kildysart Cemetry today (Tuesday).

Gerard Donnelly will be buried along side his father after 11am Mass tomorrow.

The 36-year-old was found burned to death at Wellington Road, in the Phoenix Park, in the early hours of November 29 and it took Gardaí some time to identify the murder victim who grew up in Tallaght.

An only child, he has no remaining family in Dublin and so has been brought to West Clare to be laid to rest where his uncles and cousins still live.

His later father Flan was a native of Cranny and his mother is believed to be in hospital.

It is understood that the Gerard opted to live outdoors in the Phoenix Park on occasions as a “lifestyle” choice and was “not a typical homeless person”.

The father of one also had € 130,000 in a bank account following the sale of the family home five years ago.

Mr Donnelly’s remains reposed in Kildysart Church last night before his funeral Mass and burial today.

Ciaran Moran (27), who has an address at Camden Hall, Camden Street, Dublin, has been charged with his murder at Dublin District Court.

Two other people – a 20-year-old man and 17-year-old woman – were also arrested but both were later released without charge.

MONEYPOINT Power Station will be fuelling the West Clare economy for at least another decade, but concerns have been expressed for the future of Kilrush and the environs if and when this station closes.

“A power station that was built in the 1980s would have probably been designed at that time to run for maybe 30 to 40 years or what ever would be typical enough for a plant. I suppose we have done the maintenance over the years to keep that in line. I would be surprised if the station didn’t have it running for another decade any- way,” said, Brendan Kennedy, Station Manager at the ESB plant.

“I would expect Moneypoint to run on a high merit in the national grid for the next number of years,” said the Ennis native.

The ESB company pays up to € 12 million in rates to Clare County Council every year, as well as supporting sport facilities, clubs, organisations and the Christmas lights in Kilrush and West Clare.

“I hate to think what Kilrush would be like if Moneypoint never came,” said former mayor of Kilrush Liam O’Looney.

A CLARE hat maker, whose began her career as a 12 year old knitting dolls of Brian Lohan, last week sold a hat to the worlds biggest fashion icon.

Margaret O’Connor, from Tubber in the middle of the Burren, says she want to help put Irish fashion designers on the map, after Lady Gaga choose one of her hats to wear to an event in London last week.

Margaret opened her millenery business in London just six months ago and is already the talk of the town after Lady Gaga wore her creation to a public appearance at the Isabella Blow Exhibition in London last week.

It was all a far cry from hand knitted dolls of Clare hurlers in red helmets.

“It all started off with hurling. When I was 12 years old I began making little Clare men and selling them in the wool shop in Ennis. I remember I used to make so many of Brian Lohan’s red helmets – I still see those dolls around the place when I come back to Clare,” said Margaret.

“I nearly had a stroke when I heard [about Lady Gaga], I was so happy. When you make something, it’s like your child and you are putting it out to the world and all you need is for one person to like it.

“I showed that piece [that Lady Gaga wore] to lots of people and they didn’t like it. I told them to trust me, that it was a statement but they didn’t get it. That’s why it was so brilliant when someone like Lady Gaga decided to wear it. It just showed that somebody gets it.”

Margaret studied at Cluain Mhuire in Galway before continuing her fashion education in Scotland, Edinburgh and South America. Last year she worked under the watchful eye of Irish milliner Philip Treacy and worked on a number a hats for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Following last week high profile experience with Lady Gaga, Marga- ret is hoping to help Irish fashioner designers to become better know in the UK and across Europe.

“I want people to hear about Irish designers. A lot of Irish designers are not breaking through and I want to help them break through. I think there is a lot of Irish talent going under the radar in Ireland. I don’t think there is a voice for Irish designers at the moment – the struggling artist is really struggling,” she said.

THERE is just one candidate to date declared to run in the local election from the largest urban area in West Clare.

Two of the town’s urban councillors have however indicated that they may join their colleague Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) in the race as independent candidates.

Cllr Ian Lynch (FG), who was unsuccessful at his party’s convention last October said he would take time over Christmas to consider running as an Independent candidate in the Clare County Council election.

Meanwhile Tom Prendeville (FF) has not ruled out also going it alone next May if he is not added to the Fianna Fáil ticket, having also been unsuccessful at his party’s convention.

Cllr Lynch said, “I was disappointed that Fine Gael did not add me to the ticket but as the newest member it was always going to be tough to get the nomination through convention.”

Wishing Cllr McMahon well, who was added to the ticket last week, he said, “I’m getting an awful lot of contact from people disappointed I was not added and there has been considerable advice to run independent. I do feel there is a great hunger out there for a young candidate that will represent the entire West Clare area.

“At the end of the day my role is to represent the people. A lot of support is coming in for me and I believe I can represent the people and if the hunger for a young candidate is on the ground I will have to take all things into consideration,” he said.

The councillor also admitted that dividing the town vote between a lot of candidates is a concern, and could cost the urban area a representative.

Cllr Prendeville, who failed to be selected at the Fianna Fáil party convention said he was approached by a senior member of the party and asked if he wanted to be added to the ticket. He also has not ruled out run- ning independently.

Following the announcement of the successful candidates at last Monday night’s convention, he said he was disappointed not to have made the cut and added that the party had a serious problems in urban areas.

“Fianna Fáil has a problem; and has a big problem; has an organisational problem. For example within our town of Kilrush there is no registered members within five or six miles. I know we have two beside us but they are attached to another cumann up the road. We haven’t got the members.

“People aren’t coming forward so don’t be lulled into a false sense of security and say everything is ok,” he told delegates.

“We are in trouble, big big trouble in the urban areas and tonight does nothing to rectify that.”

“We effectively tonight sent out a message that we are a rural organisation in our constituency, and it is inconceivable to think that where we have the municipal capital of the new electoral area we won’t have a Fianna Fáil candidate,” he said.

Chariman of the Fianna Fáil convnetion Nial Collins TD asked the delegates had to ask themselves why there wasn’t a strong membership in Kilrush and rectify the situation for themselves.

THE last Kilrush Town Council meeting of the year was abandoned after it descended into chaos as the town manager walked out following a heated row with a council member.

It emerged during the course of the debate about a proposed lay-by for the Back Road to facilitate the drop off of children to school, that Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) had been asked to apologise to a council exec utive engineer following February’s REMS meeting – a special meeting on traffic not open to the public.

The engineer has refused to attend any further meeting on the issue until he has been given an agreed apology.

“I know we had hard words with people and I regret many of the hard words I had and I apologise for it too, but I tell you this now, this is a bit of an insult and it is spoiling the spirit of Christmas for me a small bit,” said Cllr Prendeville on Thursday night, referring to the information and two draft designs of the lay-by provided by Ms Haugh.

Ms Haugh described the councillor’s comments as disingenuous and unfair. She pointed out that the maps were dated February 13 as agreed with the council, and not 10 months old. She added that numerous attempts were made to meet with the council on the issue since but a format could not be agreed due to unfinished business.

The manager was interrupted by Cllr Prendeville, “Why was that, can you tell the press why that was.”

Ms Haugh, “It was due to remarks made by Cllr Prendeville to a staff member present the meeting and further more…”

Cllr Prendeville interrupted her again, “and do you want to say what he said.”

“…And furthermore there was a commitment given by Cllr Prendeville to subsequently apologise to that officer at the subsequent REMS meeting.”

She said she understood the agreed apology was to be read into the minutes of the next meeting. Numerous meetings were scheduled on the issue, but were cancelled as the councillor failed to come back to say if he was agreeable to the wording of the apology to the engineer.

“No further mention was made of the Back Road or an alternative plans even though this work has been done since February until Cllr O’Looney (FF) put down his motion,” said Ms Haugh.

She asked Cllr Prendeville to acknowledge his part in the delay.

“I did at that particular meeting put forward a wording that was accepted and written into the minutes but you took it upon yourself manager, and I am going to blow this right open now, to actually send me an email suggesting the wording I would put. Listen I have studied. I have a lot more qualifications than you have and you are actually suggesting to me …” he said, his voice getting louder.

As the members interjected, Ms Haugh asked that he withdraw the last comment. “What qualifications have I got? How dare you,” she said.

“You were telling me what to say,” he replied.

“So continue councillor and I won’t be attending the next meeting you want to discuss this at either, how dare you.

“That’s what ye do. Ye get in a huff. You were suggesting to me the wording,” he shouted.

Ms Haugh apologised to the other council members and the mayor and left the meeting.

“And that is what your executive engineer did as well. He got in a huff as well and he walked out,” shouted Cllr Prendeville.

“Happy Christmas to all,” said Ms Haugh as she left the room.

As the meeting was abandoned Cllr O’Looney said his colleague should have withdrawn the comments, with Cllr McMahon Jones (FG) saying “You will be confronted with another apology now.”

A CASE where it is alleged a GAA fan ran onto a pitch during a Clare club football game and kicked a player in the head is to be heard in the Circuit Court.

After hearing an outline of the alleged assault, Judge Patrick Durcan refused jurisdiction at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Eamon Leahy (51) has been charged with assault causing harm of football player Richard Carmody (29) during a football match at Wolfe Tones camogie grounds on May 12.

The alleged assault is alleged to have occurred during a Division 6 Junior B football match between Wolfe Tones and Killimer.

Mr Leahy, with an address at Cronan Park, Shannon, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case in the district court on a plea of guilty only.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said he had reviewed evidence and written to the DPP. Mr Hassett said his client had indicated he would plead guilty on the basis that he struck the alleged injured party just once.

Mr Hassett said witnesses had given varying accounts of what happened on the day.

Insp Kennedy said it was acceptable to the State for the case to proceed on the basis Mr Leahy struck one blow.

Judge Patrick Durcan requested an outline of the alleged facts to allow him consider jurisdiction.

The court heard Mr Leahy’s son Daragh was playing corner forward for Wolfe Tones when an incident developed on the pitch.

Insp Kennedy explained Eamon Leahy left his position on the sideline when a skirmish involving a number of people developed on the pitch.

“The State will say Mr Leahy came in from the sideline and kicked Richard Carmody (Killimer) in the head on the ground.

“It was a severe kick,” he added.

After viewing a medical report of the injuries suffered by the alleged victim, Judge Durcan said, “This man was kicked into the face, into the teeth. He was kicked unconscious.”

Insp Kennedy said, “He [Carmody] was dizzy, when he tried to get back on his feet he collapsed and lost consciousness.”

After hearing the alleged facts, Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction. He extended time for the service of the book of evidence.

IT WAS once Ireland’s largest horse fair but the fair in Kil rush will be lost if steps are not taken to retain the accompanying traders.

That was the message from Kilr ush Town Council on Thursday night, when it emerged that casual traders were struggling to make the € 200 annual casual trading fee.

“One of the biggest attractions of the horse fai r is the traders believe it or not.

“They are the ones that bring the people into town. I think the people of the town don’t realise what we have. It is something we should be marketing better,” said Cll r Liam O’Looney (FF).

“Kilr ush horse fair was the biggest horse fair in Ireland one time, there was no such a thing as Ballinasloe. I don’t think we will ever get back to those heady days,” he said.

“I think we are killing something. I think the regulation on the traders there at the moment is quite good. I think the quantity is sufficient but I can see them dying out very very fast if we don’t do something here.”

Town clerk John Corr y said that the council staff have been accepting the payment in four installments and during the November fai r, 30 of the 33 bays available were sold on the day.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) said she was concerned that if the town council did not move to protect the horse fair now, it could go the way of the town council next year and be dissolved.

“It is only four days a year and it is something we should be nurturing and maintain because we are going to lose it,” she warned. M EA NW HI L E the Cooraclare Road sports facility in Kilrush came a step nearer to reality this week as it was announced that € 58,000 was provided for the development.

The funding will go towards phase one of the project – the development of artificial playing surface (Astro turf), floodlighting, security fencing and CCTV.

Kilrush town clerk John Corry told town councillors at Thursday night’s meeting that they “had been ready and waiting for the grant awarded”.

Tenders have already been sought for the project and members had also agreed on the work to be contained in phase one of the project that is expected to mirror Lees Road, Ennis.

Funding to a maximum of € 58,000 was available for the project from the Department of Sport and Irish Public Bodies with Clare County Council to contribute a further contribution in the form of a capital grant.

“It is as lot less than we were hoping for a number of years ago,” said Mr Corry, adding however that Kilrush Town Council had also ringfenced money for the project during the last number of years.

A WOMAN who claims she has fallen into debt to moneylenders in Ennis has told a Judge she will have to pay the money back from her social welfare payments.

The woman, who is facing a possible 18 month prison sentence for a string of shoplifting offences, says she owes € 1,000 to a moneylender.

At Ennis District Court on Thursday, the 19-year-old woman told Judge Patrick Durcan the moneylender will be looking for her.

Asked by Judge Durcan how she would re-pay the money, the woman said, “I’ll have to give them money out of my dole.”

Her solicitor Tara Godfrey said, “I’ve done what I can to get her to make a statement but she won’t”.

Ms Godfrey said the woman fell into debt because of her cannabis addiction.

“This is not like AIB or the Bank of Ireland, the terms are quite severe. My client was afraid to be at liberty,” she added.

Earlier this year, the teenager admitted stealing € 1,300 worth of goods from Clare businesses in an 11-month shoplifting spree.

She pleaded guilty to 14 thefts from shops and pharmacies in Ennis and Clarecastle between November 2012 and September 2013.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the woman had committed a high number of thefts. “We’re at the sentencing stage and where to go next is a big deal. “I would be delighted to see her rehabilitate herself,” added Insp Kennedy.

The court heard the woman’s father and mother are both dead and her younger brother died when he was just three years old.

The woman was described in court as a “vulnerable person at the end of her tether, financially speaking”. The court heard she was a victim of neglect as a child.

After reading a Probation Report on the woman’s family history and apparent troubles with moneylend- ers, Judge Durcan said,

“In my time as a judge this is one of the saddest reports I have read.”

Judge Durcan told the woman she is facing between 15 and 18 months in prison.

He said if the woman shows a genuine willingness to engage with the Probation Services, he would put the matter off further.

Judge Durcan remanded the woman in custody, on consent, to appear again at Ennis District Court on January 8, 2014.

Earlier this month, gardaí launched a massive operation against suspected illegal money lending in Clare. Gardaí have urged anyone affected by money lending to contact them.

ONE of the key reason cited for low passengers number on the Ennis to Galway section of the Western Rail Corridor has been removed following the introduction of online booking by Iarnród Éireann.

Nearly two years after the issue was first raised with the rail company – Clare passengers can now book their journey up to 60 days in advance and collect their ticket at the station.

The issue of problems with the booking system came to light in January of 2012 when a report into the railway indicated that as few as eight passengers were using the service on an average trip.

While these figures were bitterly disputed by rail campaigner such as West-on-Track, the issue of a lack of online booking was recognised by all concerned as a major problem.

Passengers numbers on the route have been growing on commuter routes such as Ennis/Limerick and Athenry/Galway and it is hoped that online booking may also help to pro- mote business from Ennis, Sixmilebridge and Gort.

“We know this is something which our customers and the wider community have been anxious to see provided for some time,” said a spokesperson from Iarnród Éireann.

“In particular, we’re pleased to be able to provide this in the run-up to Christmas, to give an opportunity to those who have not used the route previously to experience the service, and do their Christmas shopping and other activities without worrying about traffic congestion and parking charges. Our fares from € 5.99 each way for adults and € 2.99 each way for children are extremely competitive, giving big savings to families at a time of year when every cent counts.”

Meanwhile, Corofin company Corporate Catering Services won the contractors award at this year’s Iarnród Éireann Customer Services Awards. The North Clare company operate catering services on the Dublin to Belfast rail line.

The award was presented to Teresa Keenan and Joe Sloan on behalf of Corporate Catering Services.

INCREASED foot patrols will be among employed by gardaí this month to tackle the seasonal rise in shoplifting.

Details of the crime prevention measures were outlined at a meeting in Ennis last night between local gardaí and businesses.

The Ennis Chamber Garda Accord was established in 2003 to formalise meetings between the business community and the local Gardaí.

Members of the Garda Crime Prevention Unit and Business Liaison Team will be in attendance to give advice to businesses on how best to protect themselves, cash and premises in the busy Christmas period.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, crime prevention officer Joe Downey said businesses are encouraged to take appropriate security measures.

The businesses most at risk tend to be chemists, newsagents, off-licenses and fast food outlets.

He said appropriate measures helped to protect staff, reduce losses and avoid the risk of increased insurance premiums.

Practical security steps that can be taken include: not leaving large sums of cash in tills; training staff in security procedures; maintaining safe keys under dual control and varying the times when cash is transferred to the safe.

Sgt Downey said, “This time of year you can typically have a rise in shoplifting.

“These meetings are an opportunity to emphasize and remind businesses about having the right security features and settings in their businesses.”

CEO of Ennis Chamber, Rita McInerney said businesses are also concerned about levels of anti-social behaviour on the streets of Ennis.

“It’s not widespread but there has been a few instances in the last few weeks.

“The gardaí cannot act unless they are informed about what is happening by businesses.

“There is a lack of reporting of these things, and I can understand that as well.

“But that shows the value of the Garda Accord, these concerns can be raised by businesses as a group.”

Ms McInerney said businesses are also hoping to discuss the possibility of using Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to deter offending among young people.

At Ennis District Court last week, Judge Patrick Durcan said that shoplifting offences and thefts are creating major problems for small businesses in Clare and promised the courts would tackle the issue.