Category: News

A MAN has appeared in court charged in connection with a robbery in Ennis town centre last month.

James Connors (20), who is originally from the Shannon area, appeared before Ennis District Court yesterday.

Mr Connors, who is stated of being of no fixed abode, is accused of committing a robbery at Riverwalk, Woodquay, Ennis, on July 22. He is alleged to have robbed a HTC 1 mobile phone worth € 600 from a man.

He initially was brought before Ennis District Court earlier this month and the case came back before Judge Grainne O’Neill yesterday.

Garda Inspector John O’Sullivan told Judge O’Neill that an issue concerning an address for Mr Connors had to be resolved for bail to be finalised.

Judge O’Neill rose for a few minutes to allow gardaí check out the address supplied by Mr Connors.

When the case resumed, Insp O’Sullivan said the address – given in court as Caherdavin Meadows, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick – was acceptable to gardaí.

Mr Connors was granted bail sub- ject to a number of conditions.

He was ordered to reside at the stated address; sign on at Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick and observe a curfew between the hours of 12 midnight and 8am.

Mr Connors was ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victim or witnesses in the case.

He was further ordered to stay out of Ennis except for court appearances and pre-arranged consultations with his solicitor.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey requested the conditions be amended to allow her client collect a social welfare payment in Ennis.

She said Mr Connors is currently in the process of transferring collection of his dole money from Ennis to Limerick.

Insp O’Sullivan said this was acceptable to the gardaí. Judge O’Neill granted bail and remanded Mr Connors on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on September.

Addressing the accused, she told Mr Connors that any breach of bail would be treated by the court as a serious matter.

Judge O’Neill warned Mr Connors that if he were to breach the terms of his bail, he could be brought back to court and potentially be taken into custody.

FRIENDS of a Polish man who died in tragic circumstances in Ennis earlier this year turned out in large numbers on Friday night to celebrate his memory.

Over 80 people attended a memorial soccer match in Ballycasey between an international selection of players and local club Rineanna Rovers.

The charity match was held in memory of the late Robert Godzisz.

Mr Godzisz, a factory worker who lived in Ennis since 2005, died following a suspected suicide in Ennis in June, four days before his 33rd birthday.

The father of one was a popular figure and respected figure in the community and was known for his love of soccer. He was actively involved in anti-racism campaigns and through his association with the Clare Intercultural Network, helped found the Ennis International soccer team.

Robert worked at the Organic Lens factory in Ennis.

A total of 52 players: Irish, Polish, Slovakian, French and Filipino – all united by soccer and their friendship with Robert – were involved in the game on Friday, which was organised by the Robert’s former club Rineanna Rovers.

Marcin Piotrowski, a friend and former work colleague of Robert, said the purpose of the game was to raise money to cover soccer fees for Robert’s 11-year-old son in Poland.

“From now on every year we are going to play a memorial game,” Marcin explained.

Marcin said he hoped the game would also help highlight the issue of suicide and generate discussion on how it can be addressed.

“In the last few months, two Polish people took their own lives. Our community is shocked about it because everyone knows them well. There are around 2,000 Polish people here in Clare and we all know each other well. People are quite close. For everyone, it was quite a shock. That’s the reason why people are trying to help as much as possible,” he said.

“He was a very important member of our community, always in- volved in soccer, in preparation of the games and building international teams, fighting against racism,” said Marcin of his friend.

LARGE crowds turned out in Ennis yesterday to say goodbye to a woman who made an indelible mark on life in the town and beyond.

Friends and former colleagues joined family of the late Monica Gallagher at her funeral mass in Ennis Cathedral yesterday.

Mrs Gallagher, a mother of six, passed away following illness on Saturday, August 23. A former teacher at Coláiste Muire secondary school in Ennis, Mrs Gallagher was actively involved in a number of charities, community and sporting organisations.

She was one of the founding members of the Clare branch of the Samaritans and was actively involved in the Clare Daffodil Day committee. She was associated with the Sláinte an Chláir cancer support centre and worked with St Patrick’s pre-school for children with special needs.

She was a former lady captain at Ennis Golf Club and was heavily involved alongside her husband Hugh, with the Ennis Players.

Supporters of the annual Daffodil Day fundraiser, along with former captains of Ennis Golf Club, performed a guard of honour outside Ennis Cathedral yesterday.

Ennis Golf Club also remained closed for a time yesterday as a mark of respect to the Gallagher family.

At her funeral service, Fr Jerry Carey told mourners that Monica’s life brought her on myriad journeys and into contact with many people.

“Each of us was held dearly by her and I trust she too was held dearly by us,” he said. “She revelled in irreverence. She revelled in reverence by its very self; such was her stand on the take of life. Monica knew only generosity…she had the ability to enable others to be generous, learning that through generosity, happiness could be reached,” Fr Carey added.

Fr Carey told mourners that Mrs Gallagher was a woman who climbed the heights of the Alps, the hills and valleys of New Zealand, walked the Great Wall of China and did the Camino pilgrimage.

He continued, “She won her hearts because she had no limits. Her horizons were fabulous.”

She will be sadly missed by husband Hugh and children Siobhan, Hugh (Jnr), Sinead, David, Paul and the late Fergus, brother Seamus, sister Eugenie (Murphy), grandchildren, daughter in law, sisters in law, brothers in law, nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

THE Clare tourism sector is leading the economic recovery in the county with tourism providers from all over the county reporting significant increases in numbers this summer.

The Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience is set to shatter the 1 million visitor mark in 2014 – recording a nine per cent jump in tourist number so far this year. Coming on the back of a 14 per cent increase last year the North Clare tourist attraction is on course to take in 1,056,150 visitors this year, if current trends continue.

This massive increase could puts the Cliffs of Moher on course to become Ireland’s most popular tourist attraction – with Dublin Zoo and the Guinness Storehouse both likely to record similar visitor numbers for 2014.

Loophead Lighthouse has also seen a five per cent jump in tourism numbers with just under 17,879 people have visited the 19th century lighthouse since it was opened for the summer period in April.

According to figures compiled by Clare County Council, 57 per cent of these visitors were from Ireland, with North America, Germany and the United Kingdom accounting for 10 per cent, 9 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

The White Tailed Eagle Viewing and Information Point in Mountshannon has also proven a large draw this year with 7,626 tourists visiting the eagles between July 4 and August 21.

This facility is being operated by the Mountshannon Eagle Group, Mountshannon Community Council and the Golden Eagle Trust and was funded by Clare County Council.

Visitor increases at the Cliffs of Moher have been driven in part by the new routes servicing Shannon Airport.

“We noticed an immediate im- pact when the new European routes started to Shannon Airport in April, especially from the German market and additional ferry services from France to Cork have also added to French family self-drive numbers,” said Katherine Webster of the Cliffs of Moher.

“We’re also delighted to see that British holiday makers seem to have rediscovered the west of Ireland and after a lengthy absence are here in numbers. We are confident that the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience will exceed the symbolic one million figure before the end of 2014.”

The Wild Atlantic Way has been credited as one of the driving forces behind the increase.

“The launch of the Wild Atlantic Way, the development of new services at Shannon Airport, and the upgrading of visitor facilities at the lighthouse have been significant contributory factors to the growth in visitors. There is a noticeable increase in visitors from Germany and North America with the French and Italian markets also appearing particularly strong,” said Kathy Lordan of Clare County Council.

“The success of the Loophead Lighthouse visitor project is indicative of the wider Peninsula’s increasing popularity as a sustainable, visitor destination.”

THERE are more than 100 extra vacant commercial premises in Clare compared to this time last year – despite anecdotal evidence of improvement in the local economy.

The latest report from the Geo Directory tracker has found that the rate of vacant premises has risen from 11.4 per cent last year, to 12.9 per cent in the second quarter of 2014 – meaning that 904 of Clare’s 7,030 premises are now vacant, compared to 801 last year.

The chairperson of Ennis Cham- ber of Commerce, Rita McInerney, described the figures as disappointing but stressed that sections of the Clare economy are experiencing a recovery.

“I am disappointed that the rate has gone up because the general feeling within business is that things are broadly improving. I think it reflects the challenges that the retail sections are facing at the moment,” she said.

“This is indicative of the pressure that the retail trade is under. Retail is the sector that will always require premises when new businesses start.”

The Ennis Chamber is keen to forward new approaches to retail, such as the creation of a Business Improvement District, to allow businesses to win back customers from large retail parks and online shopping sites.

“The creation of a Business Improvement District is one of the weapons we can use to tackle vacant units in Ennis and other town centres. These districts strive to reenergise town centres and ensure that there is the right mix of shops and facilities to give customers what they want,” continued Rita.

“There is a real possibility of challenge online shopping by giving people a different sort of shopping experience. Online shopping is clinical, it’s unsocial and people are looking for that social kind of shopping experience.

“It’s about being able to offer people a complete experience. Online shopping serves a purpose, people are social by their nature and a lot of people are looking for an experience when they shop.”

Discussions on the creation of a Business Improvement District in Ennis are ongoing amongst businesses involved in the Ennis Chamber of Commerce.

ENNIS has moved up the litter free league table by 10 places, retaining its “Clean to European Norm” status. The awarding body, Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL), said yesterday that it would prefer to see this town push on to a higher position on the table.

According to the report carried out by An Taisce for IBAL, “the top ranking sites in Ennis were not just clear of litter but well presented and maintained”.

The sites that made the A grade included Clare Leisure World, Garden of Remembrance and Recycle Facility at Ennis Shopping Centre.

St Patrick’s Terrace and the road from the town centre at Carmody Street out to square at Dalcassian Avenue were also given the top grade, as were Dalcassian Avenue and the N68 / N67 Kilrush – Kilkee Approach Road to Ennis.

The An Taisce inspector was less impressed with the Mill Road River Walk giving the area a poor C rating.

“This is an extensive site incorporating the river walk, hurling monument and Ennis Civic Trust Amenity Project at the Weir. It is a lovely environment, which has been poorly treated. The area beside the hurling monument was clean and tidy but across the road at Civic Trust Project garden was a different story – there were heavy levels of a wide variety of litter at the sluice gates. Throughout the rest of the area surveyed cigarette butts were very pronounced along the paving and there were several separate incidents of graffiti, including on one of the statues,” the report said.

Ennis Shopping Centre received a grade B. “This was a freshly presented and generally quite well maintained environment – car park surface / signage / markings were in good order and the interior was spot- less. However, cigarette butts and chewing gum were very prevalent throughout the exterior,” the inspector maintained.

The Clare County Council Recycle Bank at the Leisure Facility also got a B.

“This was a somewhat littered site but certainly much improved on previous IBAL Anti-Litter survey. The area to the base of the bins and surrounding shrubbery harboured a variety of food related litter and bottles tops. Two clothing recycle bins were overflowing. Extensive and colourful signage was very clear about not leaving items if bins were full,” the report said. MAUREENO’GORMAN(née O’ Shaughnessy) , Corbally, Kilkee. Peacefully. Reposing on Wednesday evening, August 20, at Lillis’Funeral Home in Kilkee from 6.30pm, with removal at 8pm to Kilkee Parish Church. RequeimMassonThursdayat 11.30amfollowed by burial in Lisdeen Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

ONE hundred and fifteen jobs at one of Clare’s leading employers are safe – following the buyout of Ennistymon’s Data Display by US firm Daktronics yesterday.

The buyout, which was announced to the US stock market yesterday morning, could see an increase in employment in Ennistymon with an investment promised by the NASDAQ-listed company.

Data Display has been a landmark company since it was founded by local businessman Kevin Neville in 1978. While Mr Neville took a step back from the company in 2007, both Paul and Ann Marie Neville retain a senior management role within the company and are expected to remain in their roles as the company passes to Daktronics.

According to a company spokesperson, careful negotiations have been underway between Daktronics and Data Display for the past 12 months.

“Daktronics have given a firm commitment to the company here and the employees in Ennistymon. They have a long-term view of the facility here and they want to bring investment here for production and engineering,” said Paul Horan of Data Display.

“A growth in employment is certainly possible but I would not want to overstate it at this point. There is talk about the future but everyone is being very careful not to overstate anything. My own personal view is that there is good potential for growth here in the future.”

In a statement to The Clare People yesterday, Daktronics confirmed that they would retain the Data Display workforce.

“We believe Daktronics and Data Display complement each other well. Daktronics is active in the transportation business, mainly in the United States, and we have a global presence with offices and people in many countries, currently focused on sports, third-party advertising and video solutions,” said Daktronics CEO Reece Kurtenbach.

“Adding the strengths of Data Display will allow our combined organisations to better serve transportation customers worldwide and broaden our leadership position on a global scale. Daktronics looks forward to further expanding its customer and market focus in Europe and surrounding areas.”

THE body of a woman who died after she tripped and fell under a train in Dublin was returned home to Kilrush for burial.

Patricia Brennan was killed in the tragic accident on Thursday afternoon.

The Cappagh native who had been living in Dublin was blind. She was waiting on the platform at Raheny DART station just before 2pm when she tripped and fell onto the track as a fast-moving train was approaching.

Irish Rail said the driver put on the emergency brake but could not stop the train before it hit the woman.

She was hit by a train travelling from the city’s Pearse Street station to Drogheda, which was not scheduled to stop in Raheny station.

The 57 year-old was rushed to Beaumont Hospital, but later died.

It is understood a group of Spanish students were on the southbound platform at the time of the incident and witnessed the fall.

One of them broke away along the platform and tried to alert the driver of the oncoming train.

Ms Brennan’s family came originally from Scattery Island but have lived on the main land in Cappagh for more than 50 years.

Local man Sean Dunleavy, who went to school with the late Ms Brennan said she was a lovely woman who returned regularly to the town to visit her mother.

She is survived by her mother Bridget, sister Maria, brother-inlaw Jim, aunts, uncles, relatives and friends and was predeceased by her father and her brother.

Irish Rail offered its sympathies to the Brennan family and Ms Brennan’s friends for their tragic loss.

“Despite the efforts of the driver who applied the emergency brake and a young woman on the southbound platform who also alerted the driver to the incident, it was not possible to stop the train before it struck the woman,” a spokesman said.

Irish Rail said the driver of the train would receive counselling and support following the incident.

“Customers on board the train remained on board throughout, but were moved to the rear of the train away from where the emergency services were assisting the woman,” the spokesman added.

Patricia was laid to rest in New Shanakyle Cemetery Kilrush yesterday (Monday), following 10am Mass in St Senan’s Church.

INTELLIGENCE, hard work and the Young Scientist Competition are being credited for the success of Lisdoonvarna student, Keelan McMahon, who discovered last Wednesday that he’d earned the maximum 625 points in the Leaving Cert.

Keelan, who is a student at Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, is a veteran of many Young Scientist Competitions which clearly paid off for him as he sat a total of five maths and science based subjects for his exams.

The Lisdoonvarna student, who works at the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience, also received his first choice course of Mathematical Sciences in University College Cork when the first round of college offers were made yesterday morning.

“I think the Young Scientist really helped, it definitely influenced me a lot. Before I went up to the Young Scientists I had very little interest in science. But going up there and getting the feel for different sciences when they are done properly got me interested. The Young Scientist definitely did play a big part of it,” he said.

“I’m really happy and a little shocked as well. It’s great to have it all over with to be honest. There was a lot of stress waiting for the results. I couldn’t sleep the night before, so I got up at 9am and went straight in to get them from the school.

“I got six A1s and when you include the extra 25 points for honours math that makes 625. I got the six A1s in math, applied math, physics, chemistry, biology and in German.

“I got an offer for Mathematical Sciences in UCC which was my first choice. I’m starting college there on September 8, which is three weeks away, and I’m looking forward to it. I picket that course because it was so broad and you can go into so many careers after it. But at the moment I’m looking at actuary.”

PICKPOCKETS are targetting Ennis with up to three separate incidents reported to Ennis gardaí on Wednesday last alone.

On each occasion wallets were stolen from unsuspecting tourists, all from back pocket locations.

Gardaí are warning members of the public to be on the lookout for suspicious behaviour and to keep valuables in front pockets for safety.

The latest warning comes almost three weeks after a public announcement was issued to supporters at the Clare – Cork Munster U-21 hurling final in Cusack Park, alerting the large attendance to reports of pickpockets among the crowd. This was an unprecedented public announcement at a Clare GAA match.

It is suspected that a gang with pickpocket expertise are ‘dropping in and out of Ennis’, identifying targets and then leaving the town quickly.

Gardaí are understood to be examining street CCTV pictures from a number of locations throughout Ennis in a bid to identify the thieves.

However an American tourist who had his wallet stolen in Ennis last week has said the experience did not ruin his visit to the town.

Timothy Sweeney from Washington told The Clare People last week how his wallet was taken from a rear pants pocket near Parnell Street on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Sweeney explained that he turned and bumped into a young man.

He said it was only after the encounter that he noticed his wallet was missing. Mr Sweeney said the wallet contained € 110 and $200 and a number of credit cards.

“I was walking around with my camera out. It was obvious I was a tourist. I guess they thought I was an easy mark. It’s a lesson learned”, Mr Sweeney told The Clare People .