Category: News

THOSE of us who have endured years of the “hilarious” comments of “You’re Claire and you are from Clare” or other derivatives of this hilarity, can now have our ultimate revenge; there is a full weekend dedicated to us and we get lots of free stuff and discounts for a week.

Claires and Clares from all over the world are to gather in the Banner County for the weekend of June 23 as part of the ‘Welcoming Claire to County Clare, Ireland’.

Not only will the Claire/Clares be welcomed to their name sake county with a special discount card for businesses around the county, they will also be part of a world record attempt – to gather the most people of the same name in the same area.

The Mohammads of Dubai currently hold the record of 1,096, but they have yet to gather in a place called Mohammad making the Clare record attempt unique.

The quirky Gathering event is not just about encouraging support in numbers for all the Claire’s who have endured years of unfunny amateur comments, it is also a chance to promote the county on a worldwide stage.

One family from North America have already been in touch with organisers to say they will be bringing their daughter Claire to the event.

They want her first trip on as plane to land on Clare ground.

A group from Manchester are also planning to travel to support their friend Clare and benefit from the many discounts being provided through Ennis Chamber of Com- merce.

Leading the project is the Clare Volunteer Centre.

“You don’t have to be from County Clare, you may not have even heard of County Clare but you may know someone whose name is synonymous with being ‘clear, bright and famous’”, explained Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre.

“We hope it will encourage people to come to Clare. It will showcase the county and all it has to offer,” she said.

A special Youtube video – featuring Clare Daly from Clare – was also launched last week to promote the event and can be seen on http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=MIyn2jCxw6 w&feature=youtu.be. Information is also available on facebook and twitter. Tue2April13

MAUREEN Mason is alive today and living a full life thanks to the generosity of an organ donor.

And while the mother of four from Scariff is grateful for this act of generosity on her own behalf, she is also thankful to two other donor families, whose decision to donate their loved ones organs, saved and improved the standard of life of two of her brothers.

When Maureen and her brothers were teenagers their mother was diagnosed with polycystic kidneys, a hereditary disease that eventually leads to the failure of the kidneys.

The family were tested for the condition and it was discovered Maureen and two of her brothers Tommy Joe and Andrew Sheedy also had the condition.

Eight years ago Tommy Joe became very ill but by 2008 he was well enough to under go a kidney transplant.

In 2010 Maureen received the news she had been expecting but which was still a shock to the system – she would also require dialysis.

“After my brother’s diagnosis they were keeping a check on me in the renal clinic. Then in 2010 I was told I was facing dialysis, it was a terrible downer to hear it,” she said.

From that day on Maureen’s life was structured around dialysis.

Every Tuesday at midnight she would sit in the renal unit in Limerick while she received the life-sustaining treatment. On Thursday at 4pm and again on Sunday at midday the process would be repeated.

“We were made very comfortable but I was not able to sleep. There were two needles in my hand – one for the blood leaving and one for its return. You would be very conscious of that because you had to keep your hand very straight, but other than that it was comfortable. You could read and watch television,” she explained.

The Feakle native was to receive a second shock just four months after she started dialysis.

There was a kidney available for her.

“I was shocked when they called so quickly. I was told most people wait for at least two and a half years. I got the call at work. It was marvellous but then you don’t know how you feel,” she said, conscious all the time that someone else had passed away to allow her this life saving operation. The all-important call came at noon that day, and thanks to a Garda escort from Scariff to Dublin Maureen had her operation at 5pm. “The kidney worked straight away and I was discharged six days later,” she said. “I am so grateful to the family who made the decision to donate at a very difficult time. It was a happy time for me but I was aware that it was a sad time for someone else. He or she [the donor] is always in my thoughts and prayers,” she said.

“Hundreds die every year waiting for a call. I was lucky.”

Since her transplant, Maureen has the freedom to live a life free of dialysis, full of energy and free of dietary restrictions.

She now enjoys spending time with family and friends, and of course chocolate, coffee, milk and other treats again.

“On dialysis it is difficult to arrange anything.”

In 2011, Andrew, Maureen’s younger brother was the third member of the family to receive a kidney transplant.

Maureen said that she would encourage people to carry a donor card and speak to their families about any such decision.

She thanked her employer and the local community for their support and assistance with fundraising for the IKA.

PLANS for the development of a community-owned pier is in stalemate, as a cash-strapped local authority does not have the funds to pay for a report that would allow the community to access Government funding.

Doonbeg Community Development and the Doonbeg Fisherman’s Association have spend years working on plans to develop Doonbeg Pier but have now been told a change in the planning process and the inability of the council to pay for a € 40,000 EPA report means their plans of developing tourism and the fishing industry can go no further.

The Doonbeg Pier was constructed in 1995, and was later extended by 35 metres.

Hundred thousand euro plans were then drawn up that would extend the capacity of the pier to allow boats to moor at high and low tide.

These plans to dredge the inner harbour, build a protective breakwater, which would protect Doonmore Tower House, reclaim the shore space and construct a larger slip way received planning approval from Clare County Council in 2007.

Shortly afterwards a foreshore lease application was submitted to the Department of the Environment but no conclusion was reached.

While the lease application gathered dust in government offices planning legislation changed, which meant that the planning permission granted in 2007 became null and void.

It was then recommended that the planning process would have to begin again.

In a letter to TDs senior engineer with Clare County Council Tom Tiernan said, “A new application would more than likely have to be submitted to An Bord Pleanala and there are significant costs involved with the preparation of such an application and the fee which would have to be paid in association with same – € 40,000 to € 50,000 is my best estimate. Clare County Council doesn’t have resources at its disposal to pursue this.”

An allocation in 2008 of € 525,000 from the Minister for Agriculture for the project also cannot be allocated until full planning permission is granted.

Tommy Commerford, PRO of the Doonbeg Fishermans Association, said that the current Minister or Agriculture, Simon Covney, has also reassured the community of his financial support for the project, but the council must first pay for the EPA report.

Michael Flanagan, Chairman of the Doonbeg Development Company, said the development of the pier would provide a new source of income for fishermen. There is currently just one fisherman working full time from the pier that once provided a livelihood for half a dozen local families.

The developed pier would also create extra jobs by stimulating the promotion of sea angling, leisure trips to view the cliff scenery off Doonbeg and help promote Doonbeg as an angling centre.

“In order for businesses like that to flourish we need to have the facilities,” said Mr Flanagan.

A WEST Clare school principal is expected to become the second president of the INTO from the county in six years.

At the primary teacher’s union 145th Congress in Cork this week, Mullagh’s Sean McMahon is likely to be elected vice president of the national union.

Traditionally this means he will become president at the union’s 2014 congress next Easter.

In March 2008, Corofin man Declan Kelleher was appointed president of the INTO after a long career in teaching and working for the union.

Like Mr Kelleher, Mr McMahon has been a strong union man championing the cause of small rural schools, class sizes and teaching principals.

The North Clare man has been involved in the INTO since the 1980s and had represented District 11; Clare, Tipperary and Waterford, on the CEC since 2007.

He will lead a strong delegation of 20 from the Clare branch of the INTO to a congress that will put forward such motions as calling for larger taxes for high earners and for free primary school education to live up to its constitutional claim.

The Clare West branch will also call for the INTO to fully investigate the proposed changes in school patronage with a view to ensuring that teachers’ rights are fully protected during these changes.

This proposal will be put forward by secretary of the branch Brid Hanrahan INTO and Liam Woulfe Principal of Labasheeda National School.

WAS it a flair, was it a light aircraft, no, it was a meteorite that fell from the West Clare skies on Tuesday afternoon last and resulted in a massive land, air and sea search.

Around midday, a number of callers reported a “red flare” or a “fire ball” on the sky and making its way inland from Cappa towards Kilrush town.

Another caller later reported seeing what they believed to be a light aircraft on fire.

The Kilrush RNLI was one of the rescue services called to the scene of the mystery light and searched the area from Querrin Point to Cappa village.

“The information that was relayed was that people on the coast saw what looked like a small aircraft, which approaching turned into what seemed a ball of flame.

“At this time the same sightings were reported in the Shannon region,” explained Kilrush RNLI PRO Pauline Dunleavy.

The lifeboat was supported in the search by the Shannon helicopter, and crews from the Kilkee and Mallow Coast Guard, who at this time were involved with another incident in Ballybunnion and crossed the waters and joined in the search following the reports.

At about 2.30pm the search was called off as there was no sight of the mystery-flying object.

“After two and a half hours the search was stood down as the Aviation Department stated there were no aircrafts in the region and the conclusion was that it was perhaps a meteorite landing,” explained Ms Dunleavy.

The mysterious meteorite was just the first call out for a buy RNLI that day.

Just before 9.30pm Valentia Coast Guard again paged the lifeboat crew as a member of the public saw flares in the Kilrush area.

“We launched and after an hour we were stood down as there was no evidence along the shore from Cappa to the Moneypoint area.

“The unit of the Kilkee Coast Guard also carried out an intense shore search,” said a busy Ms Dunleavy.

She praised the members of the public that called in both possible emergencies, and urged anyone who does see anything suspicious out on the water to dial 999 without delay.

TWO East Clare men alleged to have committed offences at Scariff Garda Station last week are due to make their second appearance in court tomorrow tomorrow.

Brian Moloney (34) and Neil Kelly (38) appeared before a sitting of Ennis District Court on Thursday having been charged in connection with offences allegedly committed in the hours between March 18 and March 19 at Scariff Garda Station.

It is alleged that Mr Moloney, with an address at Bohatch, Mountshannon, did cause criminal damage to two windows of Scariff Garda Sta- tion on March 18. Mr Kelly, also with an address at Bohatch Mounthshannon (separate residence), is charged with arson of a car owned by a female garda at Scariff Garda Station on March 19.

Garda Bernard Casey of Shannon Garda Station gave evidence of arrest charge and caution in respect of Mr Kelly.

He said Mr Kelly made no reply to charge after caution. Detective Garda John Mulvihill gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in respect of Mr Moloney.

Det Mulvihill said the accused said he had “nothing to say” in response to charge after caution.

Inspector John O’Sullivan said the State strongly objected to bail in respect of both accused. He said that while the charges are different, the State would allege that the circumstances of the offence are the same.

He said it would be alleged that this alleged offence was a direct attempt to intimidate a young member of the gardaí from doing her job.

Insp O’Sullivan said the State opposed bail on two grounds: the nature of the alleged offence and the strength of the alleged evidence.

Defence solicitor for Mr Kelly, Eileen Whelan said her client would be willing to abide by strenuous bail conditions Mr Moloney was represented by solicitor Turlough Herbert. Mr Herbert said his client would also abide by any bail conditions set down by the Court.

Judge Patrick Durcan approved bail subject to a number of conditions.

Judge Durcan said the Court required an independent surety of € 3000 for each accused.

Both men were ordered to reside at named addresses, to sign on at garda stations in East Clare, be law abiding and to surrender their passports.

Judge Durcan directed that a letter be written to the Department of Foreign Affairs advising that both accused had surrendered their passports. Both men were remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on March 27.

NEW procedures aimed at reducing the risk of residents choking on food have been implemented at Kilrush District Hospital, an inquest has heard.

A full review of supervision at the hospital took place following the sudden death of Bridget Griffin (86) at the hospital on November 17, 2012.

Ms Griffin, a resident of the hospital for two years, died after choking on a piece of chicken, an inquest into her death heard yesterday.

Originally from Labasheeda, Ms Griffin lived in Kildysart prior to becoming a resident of the hospital.

An autopsy found that cause of death was asphyxia due to choking. A verdict of death by misadventure was returned at Clare County Coroner’s Court.

The inquest heard that Ms Griffin was served a dinner of chicken, vegetables, soup and a glass of milk on the day.

Care assistant Singiata Kuckauskaik stated in a deposition that cut the chicken into pieces for Mr Griffin. She said that Ms Griffin declined an offer to cut the chicken into smaller pieces.

Another hospital witness told the inquest the chicken had been cut into “reasonable” pieces.

The inquest heard that Ms Griffin did not like gravy so staff always ensured she always had plenty to drink.

Ms Kuckauskaik returned to check on Ms Griffin at 12.55 and found her pale and unresponsive, the inquest heard.

The emergency services were called and nurses performed CPR for 45 minutes. A doctor pronounced Ms Griffin dead at the scene. Gardaí attended the hospital and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) were informed of the incident.

Person in Charge, Tricia Joy, told the inquest that Ms Griffin underwent a procedure to have a lesion removed on the day before her death.

She said Ms Griffin underwent a full choking assessment on her return to the hospital. She was found to have a low risk of choking, the in- quest heard.

Ms Joy stated that reducing the risk of choking had been on the hospital’s agenda for the monthly quality, risk management and safety meeting since May 2012.

Ms Joy stated, “Significant changes involving the reallocation of staff have occurred to ensure that every communal room is supervised by at least two members of staff. Provisions have been made to ensure that residents assessed as being medium or high risk of choking are facilitated to eat in their room if they wish, under direct supervision of staff.”

A number of recommendations were made and implemented at the hospital following Ms Griffin’s death, the inquest heard.

These included the replacement of chicken fillets for chicken stew; mashing of vegetables using an electric mixer; full menu analysis; and the inclusion of a full choking risk assessment in every resident’s care plan.

Nurses are no longer allowed to leave the floor they are assigned to until every resident has completed their meal.

County Cororner Isobel O’Dea said she was happy that all safety procedures were carried as best as possible on the day. She returned a verdict of death by misadventure and expressed sympathy with the Griffin family. Insp John Galvin expressed sympathy on behalf of the gardaí to the family.

THE MYSTERY of the missing plaque commemorating three Ennis Republican Volunteers shot during the Civil War has been solved, as Ennis Town Council confirmed to the Clare People that it is “safely with a local community group.”

Republican Sinn Fein Clare plans to call for the reinstallation of the plaque on New Jail Road after its Easter memorial service this week- end.

According to a council spokesperson a local community group, who feared it would be damaged during the work, took down the plaque during the construction of the new road.

“It is still in safe keeping,” he said.

The town council plans to erect new signage on the New Jail Road next month and said it was happy to reinstate the plaque at that time, if the group wish them to do so.

The plaque remembers Patrick Mahoney (25), Christopher Quinn (21) and William Shaughnessy (18) who were executed on Station Road at the old gaol in 1923.

The three men will also be remembered at a memorial service on Easter Monday at the Republican plot in Drumcliff Cemetery at 3pm organised by Clare Republican Sinn Fein.

The group will also remember James Glynn who died on May 2 1934.

Wreaths will be laid afterwards by RSF Clare and the James Connolly Cummann.

SOME teenagers in Ennis are being forced to commit crimes to pay off debts to a ‘Fagin’ type figure in the town.

The man was referred to during a sitting of Ennis District Court on Friday where a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, trespass and the unauthorised taking of a vehicle.

His solicitor, John Casey, said there had been an element of force attached to the crimes.

He explained that a situation might arise whereby the man would offer to lend a young person money.

Mr Casey said, “You might never pay this back but he might say to you to do this or do that.”

“A vulnerable young man like this can never get out of it. His mother is genuinely disturbed by all of this.” he added.

The man, whom the court heard is known to gardaí, was compared at a previous court sitting to ‘Fagin’, the criminal mastermind from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.

The court heard that the boy has now moved out of Ennis to a rural part of West Clare.

He has also removed the SIM card from his mobile phone so he could not be contacted by people in Ennis.

Addressing the court the teenager said; “Since I left the court the last day, I’ve done everything the court asked me to do.” Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the case until May. SEPARATELY a different 17-yearold boy has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of theft and burglary at premises in Ennis and Kilfenora.

At Ennis District Court on Friday the boy pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Samsung Galaxy phone on Newbridge Road on October 31; handling a stolen Samsung phone in Considine’s Road, Cloughleigh, Ennis on January 20 (2013).

He also pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone on Watery Road, Ennis on February 4; theft of a black Apple iPod from Old Gort Road on February 8 and stealing a Nintendo DS and camcorder from Hermitage, Ennis on dates unknown between December 30 and 31.

He also pleaded guilty to entering Ennis Rugby Club as trespasser to commit the theft of a 32 inch television on dates unknown between December 1 and 25.

Also listed was theft of a Playsta- tion at Doctor’s Hill, Kilfenora on dates unknown between December 25 and 27; entering 66 Westwood, Ennis as a trespasser to commit the theft of jewelry worth € 300 and a mobile phone on dates unknown between December 25 and 26; entering 8 Showgrounds View, Ennis, as a trespasser to commit theft of a Samsung TV, laptop computer and Playstation on dates unknown between December 26 and 27.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he was very concerned about the teenager. He sought a pre-sentence report from the Probation Services. The case was adjourned until April 17.

ALLEGATIONS of council corruption led to an hour-long debate, that went round in circles in the council chamber on Friday evening last, and eventually ended up back where it started, albeit with a happier council membership and executive.

Elaborating on his questions into council contractors, how the contracts are awarded and if the contractors are compliant with employment law, Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) quoted a paper “Political Corruption is not just about Brown Envelopes” and presented by Frank Flannery at the MacGill Summer School in Donegal last year.

“Among the public there is a belief that corrupt practices are endemic in political life,” said the councillor.

County Manager Tom Coughlan was quick to raise concerns about any accusations of corruption that may be contained in quoting an article that specifically referred to political corruption.

“Are you alleging corrupt practices yes or no please?” he asked the Shannon Councillor.

Cllr Flynn said he was merely quoting from Frank Flannery, adding he carefully worded his motion with council workers and union representatives.

The county manager said that none of the issues had been brought to his attention when he met with the union just “a couple of weeks ago”.

“The chamber is not the place for these issues to be raised,” he added.

In reference to a query as to whether council staff, elected members or members of their immediate family, provide goods or services either directly or indirectly to Clare County Council the manager replied;

“It is a small county. A lot of people are related to a lot of people.

“You cannot expect me to carry out a witch hunt,” adding there was a contingency in place that put the onus on the contractor, employee or council members to reveal any such information.

“If any councillor considers there are any corrupt practices in this council let me know,” he said.

“You may not be aware but your members are aware that not all contractors are compliant,” said Cllr Flynn.

“You say you are aware. Will you give me that information?

“I don’t see how I can do something if I am not given the facts,” replied the county manager.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) told the chamber the issue could not be disbanded with until Cllr Flynn made it clear who he was accusing of corruption, stating a grey cloud now hung over the council.

Different members of the council called on the controversial Shannon councillor to make clear his accusation.

In an attempt to bring an end to the debate, Mayor Cllr Pat Daly (FF) “I do not think anyone is corrupt”, to which Cllr Flynn said “I didn’t say the manager or the executive was corrupt.”

“We take it from that it was the councillors that are corrupt,” said Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind).

“She’ll know next year when the elections are on I’ll give her a chance to come back,” retorted Cllr Flynn.

“I am the only female member here to say her is to suggest he is referring to me,” she replied angered.

“Are you corrupt?” said Cllr Flynn.

“Take that back,” Cllr McCarthy replied.

“Not for one minute did I state Cllr McCarthy or the manager is corrupt,” he conceded.

The manager then noted there were now not allegations of corruption at executive level.

Councillors then called on Cllr Flynn to name who he considered corrupt.

“Don’t start the innuendo and walk away from it and leave the mud on the rest of us,” said Cllr Joe Arkins (FG).

Eventually Cllr Flynn conceded somewhat – “not once did I say the council elected members or executive are corrupt. I was speaking in terms of speech from MacGill Summer School.”

This was enough for the council and we all got to go on with our lives – one hour later.