Category: News

LIVES could be lost on Lahinch beach as a result of new parking bylaws which will force all the town’s surf school to trade in one area of the promenade. That is the opinion of surf school operator Ben Bennett, who believes that the schools provide the first line of defense for people who get into difficulty while in the water at Lahinch.

Mr Bennett, who operates Ben’s Surf Clinic in Lahinch, was responding to the introduction of the new bylaws which he says will not fix any of the difficulties experienced by beach users at Lahinch.

The bylaws force the surf school to operate and to enter the beach at the northern end of the Lahinch Promenade. They were put in place after a number of complaints were made by members of the public about overcrowding at the beach.

“There seems to be a confusion between surfers and surf schools,” said Ben.

“None of the surf schools allow the surfers into the swimming zone but it is the inexperienced surfers that do drift in there. The surf schools are getting blamed for what the surfers are doing.

“Surfing is keeping Lahinch alive all winter long. It is not just a summer thing – the car park will be filled with surfers in the middle of the winter and all of them will be paying parking fees to Clare County Council – we are getting a really bad rap here.”

According to Ben, the surf school also provide a year round safety net for people using the beach at Lahinch.

“I personally rescue about seven to eight people a year at Lahinch because I am on the beach all the time. I would imagine that every other surf instructor would do something similar,” continued Ben.

“The council are putting us at the furthest point possible from the beach. We can’t see the beach. I am located at the first ramp down and from there I can see the beach and advise the people who are there about the tides and the currents.

“There will definitely be more accidents and more incidents due to the fact that surf schools are being placed at the back of the prom. I think the safety issues are very serious and I believe that some day, someone is going to be stretchered off very badly injured just as a result of moving the surf schools back. Someone is unfortunately going to drown.”

FIANNA Fáil Director of Elections took the treaty campaign to his home county this week supported by party leader Michéal Martin.

Deputy Timmy Dooley walked the street of Ennis on one of the sunniest days of the year campaigning for a yes vote at Thursday’s Stability Referendum.

Deputy Martin was still confident that the treaty would be passed as he met the public.

“People are very concerned at the moment about the future of the country about their own futures as families, individuals, mothers are very concerned about prospects for their children, so they are looking at everything through that prism. Many people’s lives have been changed as a result of this recession which is the worst since the 20s,” he said.

“Up to last week or so there were more definite yeses than nos because people see it as a step that is safer than no, because they are not sure where no leads you to, and because of the crisis there is a fear about go ing down that road.

“On balance they feel that yes is a better than option than no,” he told The Clare People .

Asked if the shadow of Éamonn Ó Cuiv still hung over the party’s campaign he said, “I think Éamonn’s position is well known it has been well articulated on a number of occasions and I suppose that brought a degree of authenticity to the debate.”

He was also in the unusual position of campaigning with the Government as an opposition party leader.

“I think people do appreciate the fact that as an opposition party we are not playing games with the treaty. We are not trying to undermine the Government through the treaty. We have taken up the fact that we are taking an honest broker approach on the issue,” he said.

“I suppose there is less pressure in some respects in the terms of the nature of the campaign. What we have found is that there has been plenty of engagement.”

Through that engagement on the streets of Ennis he said, “The big lie from the beginning of the campaign has been labelling this treaty as the austerity treaty because the actual reality is that the rules contained in the treaty are there anyway under the stability and growth pact and the regulations the Government agreed to last year.

“Our reasoning is that actually if you vote for the treaty then you are giving yourself as a country a better chance to access money at a cheaper rate over the year.

If you vote no you could end up with more cut faster because you are not sure where you are going to get your money from and at what cost,” he said.

WITH just two years until the local elections, Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin believes his party in still strong in Clare.

Traditionally a Fianna Fáil stronghold the party’s vote in Clare fell by 32 per cent during the last local election in 2009, while it was reduced to just one Dáil seat after the General Election in 2011.

As Fianna Fáil had no candidate in the Presidential election last November, the leader of the party made his first canvass of Clare on Friday last as he campaigned for a yes vote in the Stability Treaty.

During his visit he said, “I am under no illusion as to where people are. People are very, very upset with the turn of events.”

“I don’t expect transformation in attitude overnight so what we have to do as a party is renew and regain trust for people by honest politics, by changing the way we behave and the way we act as politicians. That is a big challenge for us and that is what we have to do. And actions speak louder than words and in many ways our stance on the treaty reflects that.

“Over time we will regain trust but also we want to bring new people into the party and younger people into the party in addition to what we have already. And what I have detected around the country is that people are offering themselves. We are witnessing people who are coming forward who want to stand and who want to contest the local election. That is encouraging and that is very reassuring and we need more women and we need more younger people and that is the key.”

“We have already appointed area representatives in areas we don’t have councillors and these people are already beavering away meeting with local organisations and community groups and working on the ground,” he said.

A SLOVAKIAN mother of two described in court as a “menace to the town” has received a two month prison sentence after being convicted of possessing stolen property in Ennis.

Eva Makulova (31), with an address at 3 Hazelwood, Clon Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and one charge of possessing stolen property at locations in Ennis over a 16-day period earlier this year.

Details of the charges against Ms Makulova were heard at Ennis District Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that Ms Makulova stole € 108 worth of children’s clothes from Dunnes Stores on Feb- ruary 17; perfume worth € 52 from Boots Chemist, on February 24 and perfume worth € 56 from Boots Chemist on February 25.

Ms Makulova, who has no previous convictions, also pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property valued at 412 euros at Lower Market Street, Ennis on March 3, knowing the property was stolen or being reckless as to whether it was stolen.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the perfume found in the accused’s possession had been taken from Rochford’s Pharmacy, Ennis on February 29. The items were recovered and are re-saleable, he said.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said Ms Makulova had stolen from Dunnes because she did not have money to buy clothes for her children. She said the clothes were recovered.

Ms Godfrey said her client, who is unemployed, had not been in receipt of social welfare at the time and had struggled to provide for her children. Ms Godfrey said the offences had occurred at a time when Ms Makulova’s husband was in prison.

She said her client had been compelled to steal out of a “victorian necessity” arising from “these hard times we live in.”

Insp Kennedy said he rejected Ms Godfrey’s depiction of Ms Makulova’s personal circumstances.

He said he disagreed that she was in “dire needs” and that no evidence of the unavailability of social welfare had been brought to court.

He said Ms Makulova had stolen “high value” goods.

He added, “I’m saying Ms Makulova is a thief and menace to this town.” Judge Patrick Durcan said he had to balance these “serious offences of a larcenous nature” with Ms Makulova’s guilty plea, good record and personal circumstances.

He applied the probation act in respect of the theft from Dunnes Store. Judge Durcan imposed separate fines of € 100 and € 200 in respect of the thefts from Boots. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal in both fines.

A two-month prison sentence was imposed for possessing of stolen property. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

programme.

Since the allegation the person who made the claim in the programme has not contacted any authorities nor the school in question, despite various attempts in South Africa to ask him to substantiate the allegation.

Indeed in the immediate aftermath of the allegation the Dillon family were pleased to note that a number of his former pupils made themselves avialable to refute any alleged stain on Brother Dillon’s character.

The family of the now deceased Clare Christian brother along with members of the clergy have maintained that as the documentary was discredited it must be investigated in its entirety, including the allegations against Brother Dillon.

At an Oireachtas Joint Committee meeting on Communications last week, Labour Deputy Michael McNamara told RTÉ Chairman Tom Savage and Director General Noel Curran that the whole programme appears to have been flawed.

He said that the investigation into the Fr Reynolds segment occurred because a defamation case had been successfully taken but the dead cannot bring defamation cases.

It is understood however that RTÉ has already conducted its own internal inquire into this element of the documentary.

“The programme has been utterly thrashed, the programme team has been pretty thrashed, rightly or wrongly, maybe they are carrying the can for others, maybe not,” said Deputy McNamara.

“Why not have an independent inquiry even outside the remit of the BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland)?

“Why not bring in Anna Carragher or somebody else of that stature to carry out an investigation into the allegations made against somebody who is dead?” he asked.

Deputy McNamara said he hoped that RTÉ would reflect on the situation over the next few days.

“The whole programme is now tainted and natural justice requires that the allegations against the late Brother Dillon be investigated by an independent competent authority. Brother Dillon’s family are entitled to this,” he added.

The issue is expected to come before the Oireachtais committee again today (Tuesday).

THE work of a recently established community development group in Clarecastle came in for praise at a recent meeting in Ennis.

At last week’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis East Electoral Area, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) urged the council to work with the group on projects that would help enhance the village. Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, stated that the council has already met with representatives of the group and has been directly liaising with members on individual issues.

He continued, “The council very much welcomes the proactive, positive approach taken by the community in undertaking such a visioning exercise and is very complimentary of the energy and passion that has been displayed to work in partnership with local authority is effecting further improvements in the Clarecastle area.”

He added, “The council will continue the engagement on the basis of the relationships already established with a view to positively progressing the many initiatives that have been brought forward for consideration by the group.”

Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) praised the work of the group. Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said it was important that the positive work of the group continue in Clarecastle.

Town manager Ger Dollard said the work of the group represented a “great example” of community led development. He said there appeared to be a great energy, passion and commitment around projects in Clarecastle at the moment.

He added, “It has been a joy to work with them and we will continue to do what we can in terms of the resources. That is something that the group are conscious off.”

In May 2011 a public meeting was held which identified positives and negatives about Clarecastle and produced ideas for developing the village and its environs. The then Acting Development Group made a recommendation in September 2011 that a Selection Committee would nominate a new Development Committee. An interim Board of Directors of the new Development Company was nominated and met for the first time in October 2011. The new company will aim to access government grants and funding streams. The company will also seek to develop crucial links with stakeholders and key influencers as well as urging feedback from members of the local community.

SINN Féin leader, Gerry Adams, has left the door open for a number of former party members in Clare to return to fold, but has closed the door on expelled members such as Shannon Cllr Cathy McCafferty (Ind), saying she was expelled for a “good reason”. The Louth TD, who was in Ennis last week to campaign for a ‘No’ vote in the upcoming European Fiscal Treaty, refused to give a reason why the Shannon councillor was expelled from the Sinn Féin party earlier this year.

“After the last election we initiated a review right across the island of Ireland, looking at where we need to shape our organisation – looking at where we were strong and how we could change things where we were weak. We did this in Clare and some local people objected to what was brought forward,” said Deputy Adams.

“It was all done democratically. Some people left and some people were dismissed. We are in a new era. We have a sizable vote in the county, I think that is seen in European elections, it is seen when Martin McGuinness stands, but we have no local representative and we have to crack that. It isn’t a matter of cracking that for a ego trip, it is a matter of correcting things so we can start to serve people in a matter that we think is best for the people of this county.

“I am very hopeful and very confident that the changes that we have made [in Clare], which have been done in consultation with local people, will lead to greater traction to the party in Clare.

“All parties have their democratic process and their disciplinary process. The fact is that a small number of people who were expelled, were expelled for a good reason. We don’t want to end up being complicated for all or any of that. It has happened, people part company in every organisation and every political party. It is done, it’s dusted, it is regrettable, but sin é, that’s it, we move on.

“Those who have not been expelled, there is a process for anyone who wants to come back into the party. There is a process in place for those people. That is a decision for them, it isn’t a decision for us. We can’t altogether blind ourselves to the fact that part of the lack of the development of the party [in Clare] is the refusal of some to go with the way that the party is building itself across the island. If it works in County Antrim, if it work in Kerry and in Donegal, it can also work in Clare. But it needs a full hearted involvement by the local members. A political party, at least one like the one we want to build, can only be built from the bottom up.”

A SCHEME that has been credited with helping to reduce speed on roads around Ennis should be extended to other parts of the town.

That’s according to Councillor Tony Mulqueen (FG) who says solar powered signs are already have a positive impact on driver behaviour.

In a motion submitted to a meeting of councillors in the Ennis East Electoral Area, Cllr Mulqueen stated, “I call on the area engineer to put in place more of those new solar powered electronic signs in the Ennis west area as they are proving very helpful to road users and making them aware of speed zones.”

In his response, Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, stated, “Ennis Town Council provided four digital speed signs on the Tulla Road as part of their 2011 roadworks programme.

“Provision has been made in the Ennis Town Council Roadworks programme for the provision of two further digital speed signs on Cusack Road.”

Electronic displays that show the speed of passing cars have already been installed on the Tulla Road by Ennis Town Council for road design purposes and the recording of traffic flow data.

The council is providing four 50/ kph activated electronic speed display signs on the Tulla Road at locations outbound after Tulla Road and Railway Bridge and Roslevan roundabout and inbound near Hill- crest and Cappahard Lane as a pilot scheme.

Through the scheme, the council will be able to download traffic flow data from the signs and this information can be used for road design purposes and data will be forwarded to the Garda traffic corps.

It is not the first time solar power has been put forward to help road safety on roads in Clare.

Last year independent councillor James Breen made the request for a public solar powered streetlight at Kilnamona Cross.

Cllr Breen said at the time that solar street lighting could be piloted in Kilnamona and, if successful, introduced around Clare.

He said the local community would be willing to cover 50 per cent of the cost of the project.

THE Sinn Féin drive to energize the party in rural counties came to Clare last week as party leader Gerry Adams visited Ennis.

The party leader visited a number of locations in the county town last Thursday as part of the party’s rural Ireland consultation process.

“The first phase is to listen, and we will be doing that all over the summer. We believe that rural Ireland in particular has been devastated in recent years – by unemployment, by emigration,” said Deputy Adams.

“A lot of these charges, like the septic tank charge, are a full frontal attack on rural dwellers. If you live in the city, if you are part of a system you are okay, but if you live in a rural area you are not.

“But we thought that the first phase of this should be a listening phase. Whether it is small school, people who have had a Garda station closed down or people who have seen the cost of public transport go up. But particularly people who have the imagination to create jobs – they should be supported.

“An example of this is two brothers who we met just now over at Ennis Mart, who could not get the money they needed to start their business and employ people.”

Sinn Féin will continue its rural Ireland consultation process until the end of the summer and they will produce a document on their finding later this year.

MORE than 70 soccer players and officials from Newry and Mourne will travel to Ennis this weekend to participate in a series of matches being held as part of County Clare’s district’s twinning arrangement with the Northern Ireland district.

Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes will welcome the travelling party at a function in the Clare Inn Hotel on Friday evening ahead of a number of soccer games in Ennis at the weekend. The initiative is being held under the auspices of the Clare County Council Sports Exchange Programme.

Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park will be the venue for U11 and U12 nine-a-side round robin tournaments on Saturday from 10am to 12:30pm. Children from the Clare Schoolboys/girls Soccer League Emerging Talent Programme will take on children from the equivalent player development programme in Newry and Mourne.

Another tournament will take place at the astroturf facility in Lees Road on Sunday from 10 to 11.20am when teams will comprise of a combination of players from Newry and Mourne and Clare.

Lees Road also will host a senior challenge match between Clare Premier Division side Hermitage FC and Bessbrook United FC from the Carnbane (Newry and Mourne) Football League on Saturday at 10.30am, while a Special Olympics five-a-side tournament will be held from 10 to 11.30am.

According to Denis Hynes, FAI Development Officer in County Clare, “We very much welcome this opportunity to meet up with players and officials from Newry and Mourne and indeed, the Irish Football Association (IFA). This weekend’s games not only celebrate the long standing relationship between Newry and Mourne and Clare but also represent a good opportunity to compare the standard of our underage players with that of their Northern Ireland opponents.”

The FAI’s Emerging Talent Programme was launched in November 2006 and on a phased basis since that time has now developed into a national programme.