Category: News

SHANNON boasts Ireland’s longest r unway and is to play host to the world’s largest charter airline, after the decision announced last week by Thomson Ai rlines to use Clare’s international air por t as a training base for pilots on its Boeing Dreamliner passenger jets.

Thomson Airways officially took deliver y of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner last week, making it the first British car rier to receive one of the jets – with the leisure car rier’s deliver y flight leaving Boeing’s factory in Washington for Manchester.

The next stop is Shannon as it’s one of several ai rports selected for training flights – the other airports being Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield, Newquay, Prestwick and Hanover.

“Thomson have indicated to us that they wish to use Shannon for a series of touch-and-go procedures for a three-week period in June,” said Head of Operations and Services at Shannon Air por t Niall Maloney.

“Shannon has always been to the forefront of flight training and new technology and has a proud history of facilitating all types of aircraft. Concorde trained here as did the Ai rbus A380 while several ai rlines continue to use Shannon for training “Thomson’s decision to use Shannon fur ther highlights the potential of the ai rport with the longest r unway in Ireland and excellent weather conditions for such training flights,” Mr Maloney added.

The Dreamliner jets have been beset with difficulties since entering service last year. Ai rlines operating the Dreamliner were forced to ground them in Januar y following a number of serious incidents involving overheating batteries. Operators have however started to return their jets to service after Boeing remedied the problem.

Shannon was the first commercial air por t outside the US that a Boeing 787 Dreamliner visited and the jet has visited the ai rport five times in the past three years.

A SIGNIFICANT number of visitors would prefer later shopping and earlier entertainment on the streets of Ennis, according to the findings of a new survey.

The survey by the Ennis Purple Flag committee found that 83 per cent of respondents were in favour of late shopping in the town centre.

In February, Ennis became the first Irish town to receive the Purple Flag. The award aims to broaden the ap- peal and improve the standard of nighttime destinations.

A survey was carried out after Ennis received the flag, which was erected at O’Connell Square.

At a meeting on Thursday night, Brian O’Neill, Chairman of Promote Ennis, said the initial results of the survey show a significant interest in both later shopping and earlier entertainment.

The survey was distributed to visitors at three participating accommodation providers, Old Ground Hotel, the Temple Gate Hotel and the Rowan Tree Hostel.

Mr O’Neill, who runs the Rowan Tree Hostel, said, “The outcome of the survey, which was ‘would you be interested in more entertainment and shopping in Ennis in the early evening hours’ showed that over 83 per cent of respondents wanted shopping later or entertainment earlier. I face it on a daily basis with tourists, some of them with young families who are going off to visit places in the early morning. The issue they have is that the majority of them check in at 5 to 6pm. They head uptown and the feedback we’re betting is that when they head up town, the town itself is shutting down.”

He continued, “That is the reality of it from a tourist perspective. It would be fair to say that the majority of the 10,000 people working in an around the town of Ennis, may come into town, or not, because the town is shutting down.”

Mr O’Neill said tourists are also looking for more early evening entertainment in Ennis. “Most of the pub sessions are on at 9.30pm or 10pm and that’s because for publicans that’s when most people are coming out these days. But there are a large amount of visitors to the town who would like to experience earlier evening entertainment. Not necessarily in the pubs, it could be more cultural, alcohol free events in appropriate locations in the town centre but they do want more earlier entertainment.”

He added, “There are about 10,000 people working in and around Ennis. They are probably the most important users of the evening and nighttime economy. This is not just about tourists.”

ONE Ennis businessman who has adapted to changing consumer trends says retailers must work together to develop a successful “culture of late opening” in Ennis.

David Woodford operated the wellknown Record Rack store in lower market street for 28 years. But with the decline in CD sales, he switched from music to tourist-based arts and crafts.

Mr Woodford told a meeting that the Irish Shop now regularly stays open to accommodate tourists returning to Ennis from day trips.

Speaking at a meeting in Ennis on Thursday night, he said businesses must “adapt” to customer needs.

He continued, “We need to give customers a broader timescale in which to shop. When it comes to choosing what nights to open late. Probably Tuesday is our best late night for shopping possibly with flights coming in and out of Shannon, that might be the case. My own feeling on it is that if we are to try this, and people may groan at this, I would suggest we try it every night.

“From a tourist’s perspective they don’t really come back into town ‘til around 5.30pm because they are out on daytrips. When they arrive back into town, the town is closing.”

Mr Woodford said Ennis could attract more shoppers if it developed a well-known “culture of late opening”.

He explained, “I’ve heard it said that for certain trades its not worth doing. For example, a hardware shop, they might not benefit from tourists. The fact of the matter is that we all need to do it together. If the town develops a culture of late opening and it becomes known that Ennis is open late, I think it’s only natural that the locals would start coming into town. We would all have to work together. People would also come in from the surrounding areas if they knew the town was open late.”

These sentiments were shared by Mike Buckley, a former President of Killarney Chamber of Commerce. Mr Buckley said Killarney worked hard over 20 years to become one of the busiest tourist towns in the country. He said co-operation between various business and volountary sectors and local authorities meant the town could effectively be “customised” to attract large business conferences or tourist groups. He said, “The whole town buys into it. That’s the secret. It creates a feel good factor and people will come back to Ennis.”

team. “They have a policy they work with and we couldn’t meet that target,” he admitted.

AT A recent sitting of the Circuit Court in Ennis, presided over by the President of the Circuit Court Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, a quarry operation carried out at Moveen, Kilkee was forced to close its gates when the judge granted an injuction to six co-owners which ordered the defendant, M Gerry Whelan to cease quarrying the lands in question.

The case arose from the ownership of some 174 acres at Moveen, near Kilkee and the operation of a quarry on part of the commonage by Gerry Whelan.

Plaintiffs Andrew Curtin, Caroline McMahon, Michael Murrihy, Damien McInerney, Eileen Walsh and Thomas Collins are six of eleven co-owners.

The defendant, Mr Gerry Whelan is another co-owner and operates the quarry.

The court heard that up to 2007 an agreement existed between most of the co-owners and Mr Whelan for the operation of the quarry, but this had expired in September of 2007. Mr Whelan however continued to operate the quarry and the plaintiffs alleged that Mr Whelan was obliged to account to them for royalties since that time.

The Circuit Court heard from one of the plaintiffs, Mr Whelan and also from engineers on behalf of the plaintiffs and defendant. Judge Groarke advised that Mr Whelan was obliged under the law to account to his co-owners.

He granted an injunction to the six plaintiffs directing the defendant, his servants or agents to forthwith cease quarrying the lands at Moveen together with an injunction restraining the defendant, his servants or agents, from the repitition or of continuance of the acts of trespass and nuisance as complained and an injuction in further acts of buying or development of or upon the commonage lands.

The judge also awarded the sum of € 83,427 to the plaintiffs, to be divided at one sixth each. He awarded costs to the plaintiffs.

He dismissed the defendants counterclaim with no orders to costs. Counsel for the plaintiffs was Lorcan Connolly BL, instructed by John Callinan and Co Solicitors, while counsel for the defendant was Pat Whyms BL, instructed by O’Keeffe Moylan Solicitors.

In his evidence to the court one of the plaintiffs, Andrew Curtin, indicated that the quarry provided local employment and that he didn’t wish to see it closed down, but wanted the exploitation of the commage to be regulated.

A VIGILANTE painter has struck at Clare’s most dangerous traffic junction, with a zebra crossing being painted at the notorious Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon.

The zebra crossing was painted in the early hours of last Tuesday morning, May 21, on the Lahinch side of dangerous junction. The identity of the vigilante painter is unknown, but some local people have started using the new zebra crossing.

Blake’s Corner has been the site of ongoing difficulty for Clare County Council, who have had to shelf long-awaited plans to create a new traffic flow system at the junction. Local group, Saving Ennistymon Heritage, opposed the new junction on the ground that two listed building, known as Blake’s and Linnane’s, would have to be demolished as part of the joint National Roads Authority (NRA)/Clare County Council project.

The process has been stalled for the last two years as Clare County Council have been unable to secure funding from the NRA to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed development. More than two million people use the tiny junction every year to access the Cliffs of Moher and Lahinch beach.

Council engineer, Tony Neville, yesterday describe the vigilante action as a “dig” against the council.

“We have to take it out. It is emulsion so white spirits won’t take it out. We are scrubbing it at the moment,” he said.

“It is a bit of a dig. We have to condemn it and to note that is dangerous. People are using it and it is causing confusion. If anyone has information we would urge them to contact the gardaí.”

Local councillor Joe Arkins (FG) said that the action was a direct prompt from the local community aimed at the council.

“The community are prompting us to take on certain works here. We have a real problem there [Blake’s Corner] and the sooner we can apply outselves to solving this the better,” he said.

In an official statement yesterday Clare County Council urged local people to forward any information on the new crossing to the Gardaí.

“We will be removing the zebra crossing as soon as possible. If any member of the general public is aware of the identity of the person or persons who did this, they should report it to the Ennistymon Area Office or directly to the gardaí. Unauthorised surface markings can cause confusion for road users and can be hazardous for both pedestrians and motorists,” said senior engineer Tom Tiernan.

HEAVY drug use led one young Ennis man from a life in college to searching for food in a wheelie bin, a court has heard.

Evan McCormack (29) developed serious mental health problems from smoking an extremely potent form of cannabis, Ennis District Court was told on Wednesday.

Mr McCormack appeared in court charged with intoxication at Roslevan, Tulla Road, Ennis on April 6 (2013). He has previously pleaded guilty to shoplifting offences committed in Dunnes Stores Ennis in August 2012.

Mr McCormack, with addresses at 38 Maiville, Kilrush Road, Ennis and 28 Castlerock, Tulla Road, Ennis, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court that sentencing had been adjourned on condition that Mr McCormack be of good behaviour.

Judge Patrick Durcan enquired if Mr McCormack was the same man he had previously been told had gone from studying in college to searching bins for food to survive.

Mr Hassett said he was, adding that Mr McCormack developed an extreme bi-polar disorder from smoking an extremely strong form of cannabis known as ‘skunk’.

Mr Hassett said his client had “es- sentially fried his brain” from smoking cannabis.

The court heard Mr McCormack is currently serving a sentence imposed at Galway District Court.

Judge Durcan said he was conscious that Mr McCormack had tried to address his problems “but had fallen.”

He said he did not penalise people who made such efforts.

The case was adjourned until July 24 for a report from the Probation and Welfare Services.

A MAN has appeared in court charged with assaulting a garda in North Clare earlier this year.

Paddy Harty (40), with a former address at Lisheen Park, Partrickswell, Limerick, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

It is alleged that Mr Harty assaulted Garda David Keneally at Roughan, Kilnaboy on February 8 (2013).

He is further charged with possession of two stolen handbags at Roughan, Kilnaboy, on February 8 (2013). The court heard that a charge of illegal trespass was withdrawn against the accused.

Sgt Siobhan Redpath of Ennistymon Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in respect of the assault charge.

The court heard that in response to charge after caution, Mr Harty said, “I was drunk guard. I apologise. I didn’t mean to do it.”

Evidence of arrest, charge and caution in respect of the second charge was given by Garda David Keneally of Ennistymon Garda Station.

Garda Keneally told the court that in reply to charge after caution, Mr Harty said, “I did not know those handbags were stolen. The car was open all day and I was drinking. There was another man with me.”

The court heard that the DPP directs summary disposal of the cases. Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction.

A legal aid application from solicitor Fiona Hehir was approved. Mr Harty, who is described as of no fixed abode, was remanded on bail to appear again in court on July 28.

MULTIPLE cases involving members of two different Traveller families are due to be heard at a special sitting of Ennis District Court in July.

Allegations of assault and criminal damage in areas of Ennis and Clarecastle allegedly involving members of the McDonagh and O’Donoghue families have been adjourned to July 1. Seven men charged in connection with the incidents alleged to have occurred over a nine month period appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Darren McDonagh (20), Simon McDonagh Jnr (18) and Patrick McDonagh (32), all with addresses at 7 Aonach an Chláir, Clarecastle and Edward McDonagh (33), with an address at 18 Davitt Terrace, Cloughleigh are alleged to have caused € 1000 damage to a Ford Mondeo car at An tSean Dún, Tulla Road, Ennis on March 2 (2013).

Edward McDonagh (33) and Simon McDonagh Snr (38), with an address at 7 Aonach an Chláir, Clarecastle are both charged with criminal damage.

It is alleged both men threw stones through windows at Clarehill, Clarecastle on October 29 (2012).

The cases of three men involved in an alleged assault at Ennis Courthouse on May 1 (2013) have also been adjourned to July 1.

Simon McDonagh Jnr (18) and Edward McDonagh (33) are both charged with assaulting Shane O’Donoghue. Both men are also charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Shane O’Donoghue (18), with an address at an unofficial halting site, Cragroe, Tulla, is charged with assault of Edward McDonagh.

He is further charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Alan O’Donoghue (20), with an address at 18, Old Forge, Tulla and Shane O’Donoghue (18) face a charge of criminal damage arising out of an alleged incident at 18 Davitt Terrace, Ennis on September 22 (2012).

It is alleged that Shane O’Donoghue and Alan O’Donoghue did without lawful excuse damage a motorcar.

Shane and Alan O’Donoghue are also alleged to have damaged a Silver Ford Focus at 7 Aonach an Chláir, Clarecastle on March 2 (2013).

Shane O’Donoghue is charged with breaking the front windows of 7 Aonach an Chláir and damaging a Ford Focus car on October 26 (2012).

He is also charged with criminal damage at 18 Davitt Terrace, Cloughleigh, Ennis on March 2 (2013).

Shane O’Donoghue is further charged with unlawful possession of a slash-hook at 7 Aonach an Chláir, Clarecastle on March 2 (2013). All cases are due to be contested.

All accused appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Judge Patrick Durcan said if an application is made to vacate the hearing date he will refix matters to July 18. Judge Durcan added, “I am reluctant to move around the hearing date.”

A BOUNCER who broke the jaw of a West Clare man outside a pub in Ennis has had the charge against him dismissed.

Colin O’Donoghue (33) denied the charge of assault causing harm to Diarmaid Kelly (23) at Yolo Bar, Abbey Street in the early hours of March 11, 2012.

CCTV footage of the incident shown at Ennis District Court on Wednesday showed Mr O’Donoghue punching Mr Kelly in the face.

Mr O’Donoghue told the court that he lashed out because he feared for his life. Mr Kelly, the court heard, had earlier been ejected from the premises.

The court heard that after a 10minute period during which Mr Kelly demanded to be let back into the pub, he told Mr O’Donoghue;

“I’ve got something in my pocket for you. I’m going to cut your throat.”

Mr O’Donoghue, with an address at 19 Waterside, Cappahard, Ennis told the court that Mr Kelly was very drunk, kept cursing at him and banged his hand on the door behind the Mr O’Donoghue’s head.

Giving evidence, Mr O’Donoghue said, “I thought he had a knife or blade in his pocket. I wasn’t waiting to find out.”

The court heard that Mr Kelly contacted gardaí on March 14 to say that he “thought” he had been assaulted. He said he had received text messages from friends to say he had been assaulted.

Security officer Declan Flynn was working with Mr O’Donoghue on the night.

He told the court that Mr Kelly was very loud, aggressive and intoxicated. He said he heard Mr Kelly making the threat to cut Mr O’Donoghue’s throat.

After the punch was thrown, Mr Flynn attended to Mr Kelly.

He said he brought him a glass of iced water. He said Mr Kelly got back on his feet and walked away with a friend.

Mr Flynn added, “He seemed dazed and confused. I asked him if he needed an ambulance and he said he didn’t.”

Under cross-examination from defence solicitor John Casey, Mr Flynn said Mr O’Donoghue had a “non-aggressive” stance and kept his hands by his side while Mr Kelly demanded to be let in.

Mr O’Donoghue told gardaí that hit Mr Kelly to protect himself.

Staff from the nearby Queens nightclub and Front Bar gave evidence that Mr Kelly had earlier been ejected from the premises for being a nuisance and “squaring up to people.”

Mr O’Donoghue apologised for the injuries suffered by Mr Kelly. He claimed that Mr Kelly told him he would “get him and the pub.”

Mr O’Donoghue said Mr Kelly has passed the pub on several occasions since the incident, “making gun gestures.”

Under cross examination from Inspector Tom Kennedy, Mr O’Donoghue said he had never been assaulted in 14 years working as a doorman.

He added, “At the time I thought my life was in danger and I struck him.” Solicitor John Casey said his client “reacted in full defence of himself.”

He added; “This wasn’t a concentrated assault.

“It was one punch.”

Judge Aingeal Ní Chonduin dismissed the charge of assault against Mr O’Donoghue.

Mr Kelly, with an address at 6 Kilrush Road, Cooraclare, was convicted of provoking a breach of the peace arising out of the same incident. He denied the charge.

He has no previous convictions. Mr Kelly was ordered to pay € 300 to the court poor box within two months. Judge Ní Chonduin said;

“He was the author of his own misfortune, very clearly.”