Category: News

A JURY has returned verdicts of accidental death at the inquests of two men who drowned off the West Clare coast last year.

64-year-old Skipper Michael Galvin and his 35-year-old neighbour Noel Dickinson drowned when their boat, the Lady Eileen, sank off the coast of Quilty last August. Their disappearance sparked a massive search that at one stage involved around 20 boats various search and rescue services.

Inquests into the men’s deaths were held at Clare County Coroner’s Court on Wednesday. They heard that Liz Galvin was the last person to see her husband and Mr Dickinson alive be- fore they left for sea.

In her draft deposition read in court, Ms Galvin stated it was not unusual for the men to spend a long day working at sea.

Martin Kiely of Aughinish Diving Club and James McMahon of Burren Sub Aqua Club told the inquest they found the bodies of the men in the wheelhouse of the Lady Eileen.

The inquest heard that the men had been part of a dive team searching the water off Breaffa South. The bodies of the men, who both lived at Seaview Park, were taken ashore at Seafield Pier, Quilty, on August 14. Death was pronounced by Dr Billy O’Connell.

Both men were fishermen but the inquest heard that Mr Dickinson also worked as a chef. Autopsies were performed at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.

Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy told the inquest that blood analysis revealed a negative or zero reading for ethanol in both men.

Dr Mulcahy said that in her opinion, death was due to drowning.

County Coroner Isobel O’Dea suggested to the jury that the appropriate verdict to return was one of either accidental death or death by misadventure.

After declining an offer to retire to consider their decision, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of accidental death with drowning as the cause of death. Ms O’Dea extended her sympathy to both families on the tragic losses of Michael Galvin and Noel Dickinson. She also paid tribute to the rescue services who assisted in the search.

Ms O’Dea noted the findings of the official Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report, which found that the Lady Eileen probably encountered wind or wave action on the day it sank. Ms O’Dea noted the weather had been particularly bad at the time.

She said she was conscious that the first anniversary of the men’s death would be marked this week.

Inspector Michael Gallagher expressed sympathy on behalf of the gardaí.

Family members were present in court for the inquests.

AN EAST Clare company is planning to treble its staffing numbers as it begins exporting its worldwidepatented rainwater recovery product to the United Kingdom.

Founder and director of Rainsavers Denis Sheehy said that the rain water recovery and optimisation company is in the early stages of drawing up plans to further export the unique product across Europe, North America and possibly worldwide.

The company based in Tuamgraney was set up two years ago by Mr Sheehy along with his brother-in-law Shane Kelly from Whitegate, after the former mechanical electronic engineer and newly qualified architect invented the product.

Mr Sheehy described his product: “It is essentially saving rain water from your roof and putting it back into your building as drinking water.

“It is gone from the old technology. There are quite a lot of companies out there doing rain water harvesting which is quite archaic technology, where the water is only really used for the toilets,” he said.

“We decided if you are going to look at rainwater at all you have to be able to optimise it. You have to be able to use it in the entirety of the house.

“We developed units that will click very easy on to your down pipes, pump the water away, filter the entire system and put it back into your house as drinking water standard. That way you can use it for your showers, sinks, hand basins, toilets, washing machines and for cooking,” he said.

“It is a hybrid system by way that when you have rain water the whole house is on rainwater and when your rainwater runs out it will automatically switch back on to the main system.”

Enterprise Ireland also believes in this new company as it is assisting in the plans to export the product.

“As part of the next five-year strategy, we are looking at the UK market this year and next year and to integrate ourselves into the UK market. Then we are looking at the European market in year three, and the US market then in year five,” said Mr Sheehy.

During the next two years the company intends to grow its staffing number from the current six members to “15 to 20 staff”.

With the onset of water charges, Rainsavers is already seeing an increase in domestic demand for its product, although the majority of its clients are still commercial.

To date a system has been fit for a chain of gyms in Limerick and Scarrif Community College.

The East Clare secondary school decreased its water usage from 12,000 litres a week to 3,000 litres a week.

The company is also in talks with a prominent national hairdresser business who want to use the rainwater for colouring, as colour as been found to react negatively with the chemicals in water.

Rainsavers system does not have any chlorine or chemicals and lime would not be a problem either according to the systems inventor.

“One of the main ethos with it was we had to have a system that was easy to fit on to any house, and the water had to be 100 per cent usable and we had to create as little interference with the existing house as possible. In theory if you sold your house you could take the system with you,” said Mr Sheehy.

The unit is approximately the size of an alarm or bell box, water is collected in a little tank that when it fills up the water is pumped away to another storage tank which can be build outside or in the attic of smaller houses, he explained.

AN EAST Clare manufacturing company has begun lobbying the Government to provide grant assistance for water conservation in domestic homes next year when the home insulation grants finish.

RainSavers, a Tuamgraney company that builds and installs the world’s only rain water recovery units that pumps water of drinking quality back into the home, believes that the system will not only save householders on their water charges but will also take pressure off local authority water supplies.

Denis Sheehy, Director of RainSavers, said, with the onset of domestic water charges next year, he feels now is the time for Government to make such a commitment.

“It actually benefits county councils massively because at the moment the councils’ municipal water supplies are over stretched. What has happened is housing has increased drastically but the infrastructure to provide water to houses hasn’t.

“We believe that if the county council would consider grant aiding rainwater recovery within urban areas then there would be an enormous reduction on the municipal supply systems, thus allowing the present infrastructure to return within optimum operating capacity and reducing the cost on local authorities,” he said.

He said the system, which retails at approximately € 4, 500 would also benefit the householder and pay for itself in four years. “Of a standard 2,000 square foot house with four people occupancy, one of our systems would supply enough water for that house for the year. What the house would only be using is the standard charge and their free water usage, they should not be going above that at all in a year,” he said.

A NEW tourism initiative aimed at opening up the five major ecclesiastical centres of Clare to more visitors gets underway at the weekend.

The Clare Pilgrim Way is a 21-day series of walks that move through Scattery Island, Kilfenora, Kilmacduagh, Inis Cealtra, and Killaloe.

The walks begin each morning at 10am on August 19 and 20. Each evening, the group will eat and sleep in Carron. The walk has been established by the Clare Pilgrim Way Group, who have looked at setting up Camino-style routes in Clare.

Group member Brian Mooney explained, “This walk will begin in Kilfenora on August 19 and travel via Noughaval, Cahermacnaughton, Kilcorney Valley and Mega to Carron. On August 20, it will follow the route St Colman himself took beginning at his well near Oughtmama and continuing over Turlough Hill and Slieve Carron mountain to his hermitage at Eagles’ Rock. The final day, August 21, the walk will begin at Colmcille’s Well in Glan and proceed via Tierneevin to Colman’s monastery at Kilmacduagh.

Brian continued, “When finally set up, the overall walk from Scattery back to Scattery will take 21 days. It is divided into two main sections: looking back and looking forward.

“The Irish were obsessed with linking everything back to their past; what Frank O’Connor describes as ‘the Backward Look’. So, it was important to them that, whatever Christianity brought, did not mean discarding their own original culture.

“But they were also deep into cosmology, probably as a result of the work done by the Druids in their observations of the night skies before them. For whatever reason, they looked on their knowledge of the cosmic system as vastly superior to anyone else’s. And, so they were fascinated by what one might call the Cosmic Christian tradition, God’s ultimate plan for the universe. This is the tradition that will be explored on the final part of the Clare Pilgrim Way, via the journey from Killaloe back to Scattery, where the main theme will be seeking greater insight into those mysterious words of Christ: ‘If I be lifted up, I will draw all things to myself’.”

A SEARCH is expected to resume today for a man missing from his home in Ennis since Saturday. Seamus Higgins (22) was last seen jumping a wall after leaving his house at Dun Na hInse on the Lahinch Road at around 3pm on Sat- urday. He was wearing jeans, new navy and white, laceless, Nike runners and a grey jumper. Members of Clare Civil Defence have carried out searches of the nearby Claureen river and riverbank area. Extensive searches have also taken place in Lees Road and in vacant houses and abandoned buildings in the town. That search is expected to be expanded around Ennis today (Tuesday). Gardaí in Ennis were notified within five hours of Mr Higgins’ disappearance on Saturday. They have asked for the public’s assistance in finding Mr Higgins. An appeal for information has also been issued through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Gardaí have expressed concern for Mr Higgins. He left the house without his phone, wallet and passport. Mr Higgins’ foster mother, Tina Whelan, said she is concerned for Seamus’ well being. She said, “He just got up and left the house without saying a word which isn’t like Seamus. He would always say where he is going. One of the neighbours saw him hopping over a wall. His friends are very upset. I am upset. We just hope that he turns up.” Anyone who may have seen Seamus Higgins or who may have information as to his whereabouts is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.

CLARE farmers are being urged to be vigilant following a marked increase in cattle rustling in recent months – with fears now growing that an organised gang could be targeting farms in the county.

The latest incident, which took place on a farm in Quin earlier this month, saw more than € 10,000 worth of cattle being taken from the farm of Anthony Flannery in the early hours of the morning.

The raid specifically targeting high value animals, which the thieves would likely attempt to resell rather than slaughter.

However, in order to resell the animals the criminals would need to provide valid documentation and tags for the animals – which has led to a belief that they could be an organised operation rather than opportunist thieves.

According to Clare ICMSA chairman, Martin McMahon, a theft of animals at this time could be enough to put already stretched farmers out of business.

“The value of this stock to a farmer now is huge. After such a costly winter a lot of farmers have been trying to get cattle in shape so they could get as much money from them as they could. There are loans to banks and credit to be paid and a theft like this could put someone out of business,” he said.

“These people [the cattle rustler] would have to have a knowledge of farming and a way of disposing of these animals. If there is someone out there who is helping people to dispose of stolen animals then this is a very serious risk to farmers in Clare and something that needs to brought to an end quickly.

“The Guards and the Department of Agriculture needs to row in behind this quickly and bring an end to this situation. The paperwork needs to all add up, they need to have the right tags on their ears and they need to have the licence to dispose of these animals.

“If somebody is interfering with this then it is a very very serious crime.

“When they are caught then need to be severely dealt with.”

Gardaí in Ennis are currently investigating the incident which took place in the early ours of Friday, August 2. Among the cattle stolen was a six year old black Limousin cow, two other in-calf cows as well as an Aberdeen Angus.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gardaí in Ennis on 065 6848100.

THERE were increased sightings over the weekend in Ennis of a “rogue” fox blamed for killing three dogs in a housing estate in recent weeks. Authorities have issued a warning over the behaviour of the fox amid fears it could attack small children. County Dog Warden and Clare IS- PCA officer Frank Coote says he has received numerous reports of sightings since highlighting the fox attacks last week. The animal is believed to be moving through land in the Tobertascáin area of the town. Mr Coote said the fox is responsible for attacking and killing the dogs. “To be honest I didn’t really believe it at first. It’s rare enough for something like this to happen. But I have the evidence of it, these dogs were half eaten. I interviewed the families. I took photos. These dogs were all attacked in properties,” explained Mr Coote. Though instances of fox attacks against humans are rare, Mr Coote said there is evidence in England that it has happened before. The long-serving animal welfare officer says this is the first time that he has encountered a “rogue fox” in the Ennis area. Mr Coote explained, “I’ve met a rogue badger before up in Lees Road when it opened. It was chasing people up and down the path but it had eaten a poison. I’ve seen one rogue fox in Tulla before but never around Ennis.” Mr Coote said he would be concerned that the fox could attack small children. A trap has been laid in the area where the fox is thought to travel through. But so far it hasn’t been caught. Mr Coote is liaising with officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Services. He said efforts would continue to trap the fox. “It has quite bad mange and I was talking to a vet who said he would probably die during the winter anyway. But this fox is a danger and I will stay out there to try and catch it,” Mr Coote added. Tue13August 13

THE inquests into the deaths of two fishermen who died off the coast of Clare last year are due to take place at Ennis District Court tomorrow (Wednesday).

64 year old Skipper Michael Galvin – a married father of three and his 35 year old neighbour Noel Dickinson drowned when their boat – the Lady Eileen- sank off the coast of Quilty last August.

Their disappearance sparked a massive search involving coastguard units from Kilkee, Doolin along with a rescue helicopter and the Aran Island Lifeboat.

The bodies of the men were subse- quently recovered in the wreckage of the boat.

The official report into the tragic sinking of the “Lady Eileen” found that the 10.85 metre boat probably encountered wind or wave action on the day when the local fishermen lost their lives at sea.

“It is probable that the “Lady Eileen” encountered wind or wave action or a combination of both. This caused the vessel to be swamped and loose reserve of buoyancy beyond which it was able to recover for its loaded condition, resulting in its sinking,” the report said.

The inspector who carried out the “Report into the Sinking of FV “Lady Eileen” on August 13, 2012” also had questions regarding recent work carried out on the boat.

The report was clear however that the incident that resulted in the sinking of the vessel, and the death of the two men, was sudden.

“Both men were active able-bodied experienced individuals. The evidence would suggest that the incident happened very suddenly and that neither Mr. Galvin nor Mr. Dickinson had any time to react to the situation and access the emergency equipment,” the report said.

The report did claim however that “Neither crewmember was found wearing a lifejacket,” and “the wearing of lifejackets would increase the chances of survival.”

A CLARE food company is to increase its work force by almost 50 per cent after it was given the go ahead to build a new café and restaurant in Bunratty.

Shannon based company Zest is expected to begin building the new eatery on the site of the former Avoca building early next year, the construction also providing up to 40 new jobs. The site has been vacant since the landmark building along the N8 dual carriage way was destroyed by fire in 2007.

It was purchased by Zest, which is the retail division of EFG Inflight Ltd, in 2011.

Last December Zest was granted conditional planning permission to demolish the existing structure on the old Avoca site, and build a new 680 square metre facility comprising of a restaurant, café, food hall and kitchen, as well as associated works, by Clare County Council

The local authority’s ruling was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by Maurice Walsh of Durty Nelly’s, who claimed it would “severely detract from the setting and character of Bunratty”.

An Bord Pleannala rejected the appeal and the project was given the green light in the last week.

A total of 15 conditions have been attached to the Bunratty development.

These include an order that a bat survey be carried out on the site, further changes to proposed signage, as well as other measures in the interest of visual amenity, traffic safety and local wildlife.

The new project is expected to create 40 jobs to add to the 100 more Zest jobs at its base in Knockbeg Point, Shannon Airport, and at its shops and cafes in Ennis and Limerick.

The company was founded in 2006, and the first Zest shop opened in Ennis in June 2010.

The Limerick branch is open in Pery Square at the Limerick City Gallery of Art and in the last few weeks the company opened a new store for Killaloe.

LOCALS in Doolin are growing angry with a small group of visitors who are ignoring advice from residents and continuing to get in the water with Dusty the dolphin.

Despite national and international media coverage for Dusty’s numerous dust-ups with the public over the past 10 days, swimmers did attempt to swim with the dolphin over the weekend.

“One lady did try to enter the water and swim with her – despite all the warnings. There is no getting through to some people,” a local told The Clare People .

It has also been revealed that Dusty is unlikely to leave Doolin as a result of recent violent interactions with swimmers – indeed, these interactions could actually encourage her to stay forever.