Category: News

A TEAM of paranormal investigators have finalised the report into their findings at Loop Head Lighthouse, and maintain there are ghosts at the lighthouse and surrounding buildings.

Modern day ghost buster Anthony Kerrigan of GhostEire said that the team have learnt specific information about a number of the 24 spirits – 14 men and 10 women – they contacted during their experiments which included the use of a lazar board dial that could be manipulated by spirits and a ouija board.

A lot of the “activity was detected” in the modern day light keeper’s cottage.

Mr Kerrigan reported that in the mess room “the initials W.G. for a name questioned and the year of ‘21’” were picked up using the laser board.

“Only did we find out a couple of weeks afterwards that a William Gordon worked at the Lighthouse around 1830 and a William Gardener pre 1860, other names that came through were ‘JEF’,” he said.

Upstairs in the cottage Mr Kerrigan said the team made contact with the spirit of a body washed up on the shore line in the 1940s.

The body had no head or arms, just a tattoo.

The paranormal investigator claimed that the spirit was an agent or spy.

“He was very secretive. The only name we got was the nickname Faz,” said Mr Kerrigan.

He added that spirits by the name of Michael and Trayloch detected in the lighthouse might have existed even before the building.

Dates were also detected during the investigation he explained, including the date March 3, 1916.

Mr Kerrigan believes this is re- sidual energy that refers back to the week before the Easter Rising, during which Eamonn Fennell of the Clare eighth brigade got information about Bristish boats along the coast from his brother who worked at the lighthouse.

Asked how he answers those sceptical of his work and findings, the founder of GhostEire said that he looks at all findings with a sceptical eye and that the team do not always find spirits or ghosts.

COUNCILLORS at Ennis Town Council will next month decide if they want to follow the lead set up Clare County Council last year and impose a ban on fracking or hydraulic fracturing.

A motion will be put to the local authority’s June meeting by Cllr Brian Meaney (FF). The former Green Party councillor is hopeful that a second local authority vote will put pressure on the Minister of Communications and Energy, Pat Rabbitte (LAB), not to grant a fracking license to Energi Oil – a UK-based company who are exploring fracking options in Doonbeg and the Clare Basin.

“We welcome any occasion at which the issue of fracking is raised. We welcome that people are made aware of the dangers of fracking, and we welcome particularly the fact that, if successfully passed this motion will be forwarded to the other town councils in Clare and nationally,” said a spokesperson from Fracking Free Clare.

Any ban on fracking imposed by Clare County Council or Ennis Town Council has little or no actual legal standing. The decision to grant or refuse permission to frack is a reserved function of the Department of Energy.

The department are currently awaiting a report on the possible impacts of fracking, which is being carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA report is not due until mid-2014 and any proposed fracking in Clare will not start until late 2014 at the earliest.

Fracking involves injecting large amount of water and other liquids into underground shale rock at high pressures. This action shatters, or fracks, the rocks which release trapped natural gas. The biggest environmental threat from fracking is that the water and other chemical will enter the ground water.

NORTH Clare is set to become the world’s biggest film set in 2014 with two massive Hollywood blockbusters – with a combined budget of more than € 200 million – likely to film in the Burren.

The team behind the new Star Wars film are currently in discussion with the Irish Film Board (IFB) about filming in Ireland with the Burren mentioned as a possible site while it was confirmed over the weekend that a € 80 million on the life of Brian Boru will be shot in-part at the Cliffs of Moher.

The biopic, which is based on the graphic novel ‘Freedom within the Heart’ confirmed that some battle scenes will be shot at the Cliffs – but no other location has yet been confirmed. The bulk of filming could take place at Brian Boru’s traditional stronghold at Killaloe.

Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experience, Katherine Webster, said that the film could be a major boost for the North Clare Tourism.

“We would love to see parts of the Boru movie shot at the Cliffs of Moher and we know from experience how movie locations can help promote a tourism destination,” she said.

“We see the positive effect from a promotional perspective of the Cliffs being a location for Hollywood movies like ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ and ‘The Princess Bride’ as well as Irishmade movies like ‘Into the West’ and ‘Hear My Song’. Hopeful the Boru movie will be the next big blockbuster to be filmed in County Clare.”

Meanwhile, Star Wars director JJ Abrams is currently in negotiations with the Irish Film Board about bringing some filming for the new Star Wars film to Ireland.

Abrams, who wife Katie McGrath is of Irish descent, spend a holiday along the Irish coast in 2011. The couple spent time in North Clare, as well as Donegal and Sligo and it is understood that these three areas are in a possible short-list for filming.

“The Irish Film Board, working with Trina Vargo of the US-Ireland Alliance, has been in discussions with JJ Abrams and his team at Bad Robot about filming a number of projects on their slate in the Republic of Ireland,” said IFM chief executive, James Hickey.

“We have provided them with briefings about Ireland’s tax incentive Section 481, our accessible locations, world-class crew and production companies.”

It is understood that original Star Wars cast members Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher will have roles in the new film.

A MAN who engaged in what a Judge called “wild west behaviour” in pubs in Ennis has been sentenced to four months in prison.

Darren Maughan (21) threw a keg at the door of Kelly’s Bar in the Market, one of a number of offences committed in Ennis during April.

On Wednesday at Ennis District Court, Mr Maughan pleaded guilty to three charges of theft.

He also pleaded guilty to provoking a breach of the peace at Dan O’Connell’s bar, Ennis and criminal damage at Kelly’s Bar on April 8.

The court heard Mr Maughan stole nine bottles of Blossom Hill wine from Fine Wines off-license over two days, April 14 and April 15.

Mr Maughan, with an address at 20 Stonecourt, Drumbiggle, Ennis, also pleaded guilty to the theft of four bottles of Blossom Hill wine from O’Keeffe’s off-license on April 14.

The court heard that on each occasion, the accused walked out of the premises without paying for the alcohol. None of the property was recovered.

Inspector John Galvin told the court that the accused entered Dan O’Connell’s bar on April 8. He said Mr Maughan was barred from the premises and became abusive and threatening towards staff when asked to leave.

The court heard Mr Maughan was also refused entry to Kelly’s Bar. Insp Galvin said the accused threw a keg at the door of the premises causing € 500 worth of damage.

Mr Maughan has 39 previous convictions predominantly for public order offences, the court heard.

Defence solicitor William Cahir told the court that his client is a young man with serious problems with alcohol.

The court heard two of Mr Maughan’s brothers died because of alcohol-associated problems.

Mr Cahir said his client’s older brother is trying to assist him. He added, “He was out of control with alcohol consumption.”

Judge Patrick Durcan asked Mr Maughan to explain his “wild west type behaviour in the pubs of Ennis.”

Mr Maughan replied, “I was drunk. I was on medication. I am very, very sorry for what I did.”

Prior to passing sentence, Judge Durcan asked if Mr Maughan preferred red or white wine. Mr Maughan said, “I’d prefer to have none at all.”

Judge Durcan said he had deemed probation or community survive not to be a suitable sentence.

He said Mr Maughan had committed very serious offences against the people of Ennis, particularly those working in licensed premises.

Judge Durcan imposed sentences totaling four months in prison. He warned Mr Maughan that he would deal with him more harshly if he appeared in court again.

Judge Durcan commended Mr Maughan’s elder brother for the help he has given his sibling.

He told the Mr Maughan that he hoped his time in prison would benefit him.

THE town of Kilrush is back in the national eye, one week after it hosted the National Famine Commemoration, as it has been shortlisted for Best Kept Tidy Town in Ireland.

The Heritage town is one of just four nationally in the final stage of the competition.

Chairman of Kilrush Tidy Town Committee Paul Edson said that winning the award would be “a great stepping stone for the national Tidy Town Awards”.

Mr Edson said that while the town has never looked as good there are still some contentious areas that need addressing. He explained that the town could not become complaisant. Boundary walls in areas such as Pella Road, O’Gorman Street, Grey Street, and St Senan’s Terace needed to be addressed he said.

The Tidy Town’s committee is tak- ing the issue in hand by going door to door to residence and offering to help them to paint their wall if they wish to take on the project.

In what is likely to be the last every report to Kilrush Town Council the Tidy Town’s chairman said, “This might be our last ever meeting with the town council so we want to achieve as much as possible in the next 13 months.”

The council contributes € 4,000 to the Tidy Town fund.

Mr Edson fears that such funding will not be available from the amalgamated Clare County Council.

He said the Tidy Towns also want to concentrate on Francis Street, the largest and widest street in the town.

“It is like a beautiful around a painting that is not completed,” said Mr Edson.

He said the committee were seeking extra funding to put a three tier planter and hanging baskets for the street.

AN AMERICAN tourist says she is “extremely embarrassed” after her driving resulted in a two car collision near Shannon earlier this month.

No one was injured as a result of the crash involving two cars that occurred at Hurler’s Cross on May 14.

The court heard that Julie Dowling (31) was driving in convoy with her family on the day in question.

The court heard that Ms Dowling looked left but never looked right before turning onto the main road near Hurler’s Cross.

Inspector John Galvin told Ennis District Court that Ms Dowling pulled out in front of an oncoming car, causing a collision.

Ms Dowling, with an address at 1210 W Indian, TRL Apartment 4, Aurora, Illinois, 60506, USA, appeared in court charged with dangerous driving.

After hearing the facts of the case, Judge Patrick Durcan agreed to reduce the charge to one of careless driving.

Defence Solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick told the court that his client had been traveling in a convoy of cars with 10 members of her family when the collision occurred.

He said this was the first time that Ms Dowling had driven in Ireland.

He added, “She is extremely nervous to be here before the court. She is driving for 16 years in her home state.

“She is extremely embarrassed. Fortunately no one was injured”.

The court heard Ms Dowling cooperated fully with gardaí. People were taken to hospital as a precaution but were all released, the court heard.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he could understand how an accident like this could happen.

He said he would prefer not to impose any order. Ms Dowling paid € 300 to the court poor box and the charge was struck out.

Judge Durcan told Ms Dowling that the money would be donated towards charity.

He added, “You are very welcome in this country and I hope this hasn’t dampened your visit.”

MORE than three quarters of a million euro was yesterday allocated to 26 different community roads works projects in Clare.

A total of € 767, 529 will be spent on the 26 Clare projects – with a € 614,023 coming from the Department of Transport and the remaining € 153,506 coming from the local communities where the roads will be built.

The scheme is specifically targeted a more rural roads in the county and requires that a portion of funding to be put forward by local communities.

Half of the allocated projects are located in the Killaloe electoral area, where 13 projects have been earmarked funding totally € 420,000. Shannon was the least represented electoral area with just one successful project receiving funding of more than € 15,000.

There were six successful projects in the Kilrush electoral area, four in Ennistymon and two in Ennis.

Clare County Council’s roads maintenance budget has been cut drastically in successive years with decreasing budgets meaning that a large number of roads projects are being delayed by years – or indefinitely.

This funding crisis was compounded by the unseasonably cold and wet winters in recent years which have caused unexpected damages to a large number of roads, with most or sometimes all of the annual roads budget being spent on repairing these roads.

“Local authorities have asked communities to come up with a portion of the cost of road maintenance ei- ther through funding, labour provision, machinery supply or other forms of benefit,” said Alan Kelly, Junior minister at the Department of Transport.

“This funding is then being added to my department’s spend to prioritise maintenance in rural isolated areas and will allow communities have a direct input along with their local authority into local road maintenance.”

It is expected that the funding will effect a total of 108 households in Clare, 56 farms and two forestry plantations.

A TEENAGER has been ordered to stay away from parts of Ennis town centre after being released on bail.

The 16 year old pleaded guilty to multiple charges of burglary and theft at Ennis District Court in April

He was one of two people who stole a car from Castlewood Park, Ennis last summer. The teen pleaded guilty to trespassing on a farmhouse in Lemenagh, Kilfenora last October. He admitted stealing items from a house in the Lifford area of Ennis, also in October

He also pleaded guilty to his role in burglaries at houses in Westwood, Ennis on dates unknown between December 25 and 26 and at Showground’s View, Ennis on dates unknown between December 26 and 27. He appeared back before Ennis District Court on Wednesday having been remanded for a month to Oberstown detention centre.

Reports handed into court offered contradictory views on the teen’s behaviour, the court heard. Inspector John Galvin said it was hard to be “optimistic” given the boy’s attitude to bail conditions previously imposed by the court.

Defence solicitor John Casey said his client was fully aware of the consequences of not abiding by the court’s orders.

He added, “If he betrays this trust, he will be putting himself away. He will be throwing away the keys.”

The court previously heard that the boy had been led astray by a man described in court as a “Fagin” type character.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he was willing to give the boy a chance.

The teen was ordered to abide by the directions of gardaí; stay away from named individuals; stay away from parts of Ennis town centre. He was remanded on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on June 28.

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A MAN alleged to have had drugs for sale or supply in Ennis has been returned for trial.

Sean Slattery (23), with an address at 39 Park Avenue, Clon Road, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

He is charged with the unlawful possession of ecstasy and cannabis at 39 Park Avenue, Clon Road on February 17 (2013).

He is further charged with having cannabis for sale or supply at the same location and same date.

His case was adjourned to Wednesday to allow time for the service of the Book of Evidence.

Inspector John Galvin applied to amend some of the charges against Mr Slattery.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said he could not consent to the changes.

Judge Patrick Durcan permitted the State to amend the charge sheets.

He consented to the deletion of the word ‘herb’ in two of the charge sheets.

Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on Mr Slat- tery.

Insp Galvin told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consented for the accused being returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

A legal aid application for one junior counsel was approved. Judge Patrick Durcan delivered the alibi warning.

Judge Durcan made the order returning Mr Slattery for trial.