Category: News

MORE than € 140,000 could shortly be released to community groups in Inagh and Kilnamona by Clare County Council, once a number of projects have been evaluated by a panel that is expected to announce their decision following a meeting on March 8th.

The money is part of a community fund which was set up to compensate local organisations for the construction of the local authority’s Central Waste Management Facility in Ballyduff beg in 2002.

According to an agreement, a small percentage of the profit made by Clare County Council on every tonne of waste taken in at Ballyduffbeg would be allocated to local “environmental” projects.

Between 2004 and 2006, a total of € 267,000 was allocated to local community groups under the scheme. At present, the local community is due to receive more than € 140,000 for waste disposed of in Ballyduff beg during 2007 and 2008. In addition, while the amount of landfill waste going to the Central Waste Management Facility has decreased in recent years, it is estimated that the community fund can expect as much as € 100,000 for waste disposed of in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

“My information is that this money has not been paid out since 2007 and I can’t understand why this should be the case,” said Cllr James Breen (IND), who campaigned against the siting of the Central Waste Management Facility in Ballyduff beg.

Clare County Council invited applications for funding in late 2009 for sustainable community based environmental initiatives or projects in the parishes of Inagh, Kilnamona and Cloonanaha under the Central Waste Management Facility Community Fund. The total funding available is € 140,775. A number of applications were received and are presently under adjudication by an independent Evaluation Panel. The Evaluation Panel is made up of six members in- cluding the Chairperson, three representatives from the local community, a representative from the community sector, a representative from the educational sector and a representative from Clare County Council.

No timescale has yet put in place for payments from 2009, 2010 and 2011.

“A number of meetings have taken place and when a recommendation is received from the evaluation panel, it will be placed before the members of Clare County Council for consideration. The next meeting of the evaluation panel is scheduled for March 8,” said Betty Devanny of Environment and Water Services with Clare County Council.

A DISTRICT court judge has noted the potential risk to consumers posed by buying goods over the internet.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said consumers “had to be very careful these days”, particularly when making purchases online.

Judge McCarthy was speaking last week as he ordered that a stolen van purchased for close to € 10,000 in good faith by a Newmarket-on-Fergus man be returned to an English-based insurance company.

Judge McCarthy granted a request for a four-week stay to be placed on the order, pending a possible appeal.

At Ennis District Court last Wednesday, Gary Howard, of Drumline Newmarket-on-Fergus, applied to have a 2006 sprinter Mercedes Van, seized by the Gardaí last February, returned to him.

During the case, it was accepted by gardaí and Judge McCarthy that Mr Howard was the bona fide purchaser of the van and had bought the vehicle in good faith, not knowing it was stolen.

Mr Howard, who runs a Shannonbased haulier business, told the court that he bought the van in Tuam, County Galway, in January 2010, after seeing an ad in Done Deal.

Mr Howard told the court that he paid € 7,250 for the van and spent a further € 2,500 on repairs. He ex plained that he obtained a loan from the credit union to fund the purchase.

“I thought I was getting a good deal but I knew I had to put a bit of work into it,” he added.

He said an online check of the van’s history had not shown it was stolen. His solicitor, Daragh Hassett, told the court that his client had also asked the gardaí to check the history of the van. Mr Hassett said, “He rang his local gardaí and the got the two thumbs up. There’s no more this man could have done.”

The court was told that the van had been stolen in the United Kingdom, falsely registered in the Republic of Ireland and subsequently identified as part of Operation Swallow – an investigation involving the gardaí, Police Services of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Scottish and English Police.

Detective Garda David Magee of the Stolen Car Unit told the court that gardaí had issued a warning for falsely registered vehicles. Insp Tom Kennedy said that while Mr Howard was the “bona fide owner” of the van, this was a case of “buyer beware”.

Solicitor John Casey, representing NFU Mutual Insurance, said the company had paid out a £10,000 claim on the van, making them the beneficial owner. Mr Casey added, “They never relinquished ownership, even though it was in the possession of other people.”

Judge McCarthy said evidence had been given that the van was stolen by a professional criminal gang and exported to Ireland. He added, “I have no doubt that Mr Howard is the bona fide purchaser who bought in good faith.”

He said the insurance company had paid out a claim. Ordering that the van be returned to FNU Mutual, Judge McCarthy said, “I have great sympathy with Mr Howard.”

A PHOTOGRAPH that captures one of the most dramatic moments in Clare’s political history has been discovered in a Dublin attic. It shows Eamon de Valera addressing a huge rally at O’Connell Square in Ennis in 1923, shortly before shots were fired at the future President of Ireland.

De Valera survived the attempt on his life and was rushed from the podium. Ms Barrett, the woman with the coat, pictured to De Valera’s right, took the bullets meant for him. She survived and married in the town.

The photograph was part of a case of material taken by the Duffy family when they left Ennis in the late 1950s. Rónán Ó Dubhthaigh discovered the case at Christmas when he went to Dublin to visit his mother. The photograph subsequently found its way back to Ennis, where it was identified by local historian Pat Brennan. Pat and members of the Steele’s Terrace Centenary Committee, including Simon O’Donnell (Chairman) and Anthony Lynch (Secretary) had issued an appeal for photographs for a new publication on one of Ennis’ oldest residential areas. The fruits of their labour Steele’s Ter ra ce: More Tha n A Centur y of Histor y, Pictures a nd Memor ies will be launched in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, on March 15 at 8pm. The new De Valera photograph is not included in the collection but many more memorable images are. Simon O’Donnell explained that work began on the project last August. He said there had been a great response to the committee’s appeal, with responses coming from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. Simon also thanked the work of committee members and local researchers. He said, “Pat Brennan did a lot of the groundwork. Without him, it wouldn’t have have happened. The Clare Roots Society were a great help in getting the names of the original tenants.” The terrace is named after ‘Honest’ Tom Steele, a Protestant landowner who became a prominent member of the Catholic Association and a close friend and supporter of Daniel O’Connell. Rónán Ó Dubhthaigh would like if any readers would contact him if they have any information on the Duffy family who lived at No. 9, Steele’s Terrace. He can be contacted at anfhiontarlannteo@gma

ONE OF west Clare’s most scenic walks has been targeted for industrial fly-tippers, with a large amount of industrial waste being dumped at the “back strand” of Seafield in Quilty last week. The rubbish was found by local photographer and nature lover, Ann O’Connell, who discovered the rubbish while out walking last Wednesday. The waste included a number of light fittings and long-life bulbs. Also included in the waste was the remains of at least one computer and a metre stick. Because of the nature of the rubbish Ann believes that it may have been dumped by someone in the construction industry to avoid from paying recycling or landfill costs for the waste. “I came across the waste last Wednesday while I was out walking and taking photographs. I know that it is a recent dump because I walked the same route four days previous to that and it wasn’t there,” said Ann. “There was a load of spotlights and low energy bulbs dumped aswell-as what looked like a computer and some other industrial waste. We don’t know who dumped it, but maybe it was a builder or contractor who didn’t want to pay to dispose of the waste properly. “It is a very scenic scenic area. I do walking there a lot and there are great views of the ocean and out towards Mutton Island and the Cliffs of Moher. This isn’t the first time that dumping like this has taken place in the area – not at all. It is a rocky enough place where it is dumped so I would imagine that the person who dumped this would have to be a local. “If children were to wander onto this rubbish it is the sort of stuff that could be very dangerous to them. They could injure themselves or get cut quite easily. There is also a very large ‘no dumping’ sign in the area so there is no excuse for whomever did this. It is just irresponsible.”

THERE is good news on the horizon for one Clare company as – after making himself Ireland’s foremost hurley maker – O’Callaghan’s Mills businessman John Torpey is about to take on the production of renewable fuels.

Torpey Hurleys have almost doubled the workforce at its Sixmilebridge factory over the last two years and now employs seven full-time people and a number of part-time workers.

The company began producing briquettes from the ash left over from making the hurleys last year and they are currently seeking funding under the LEADER Programme to roll out this product on a large scale.

“I have been able to take on a few people in the last few weeks and that brings it up to seven full-time employees and a few part-time. I’d say we now make between 60,000 and 70,000 hurleys a year now so there is a big demand for it right now.

“It’s about giving the customer what he wants. My father gave me a saying one time – he said ‘make quality and you’ll never be out of the job’. So that is what I have done. You will only sell a poor-quality product once and that is a fact,” said John.

“I have started into briquette-making using the waste from the hurleys. The briquettes are now selling in a number of shops in Ennis and they are selling well.

“These briquettes are made from material that would otherwise be going to a landfill. I have been in contact with LEADER and I am hoping that they can help me expand the Belvoir Briquette product.

“The lads are making hurleys flat out at the moment and, because of the mild spring, there probably won’t be as large a demand for the briquettes as there might be in other years. The briquettes will be great for the business.

“I have an ongoing supply of waste from the hurleys that is the raw material for the briquettes. At the moment, I have an acre of ground taken up with these pieces of ash because I have no place to put them. So the briquettes will be great for the business and great for the environment locally if I can expand this.”

John was brought to the attention of the world last week when he supplied hurleys and a lesson in the game to the Chinese president elect, Xi Jinping, on his official state visit to Ireland.

FOUR men have appeared in court arising out of an alleged public order disturbance in Ennis last week.

John Doherty (46), Jimmy Doherty (38) and Michael McDonagh (21) and Bernie McDonagh (44), all with addresses on the Kilrush Road, Ennis, were each granted bail subject to conditions at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

The charges relate to an alleged incident on the Kilrush Road, Ennis on February 21 (2012)

Bernie McDonagh (44), with an address at 1 Ashline Kilrush Road, is charged with engaging in threatening, insulting or abusive behaviour with the intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Bail was approved subject to McDonagh not having any contact with John or Jimmy Doherty.

Mr Hassett said that the McDon- aghs and the Dohertys lived in the same estate. He said his client understood that he was not to have any direct contact with the Dohertys.

Jimmy Doherty (38), with an address at 8 Maiville, Kilrush Road, Ennis, is charged with engaging in threatening, insulting or abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Doherty was ordered not to have any contact with Bernie or Michael McDonagh.

Michael McDonagh (21), with an address at 1 Ashline, Kilrush Road, Ennis, is charged with threatening, insulting or abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and failing to comply with the directions of a garda.

Insp Kennedy said McDonagh was not to have any contact with John or Jimmy Doherty.

John Doherty, with an address at 4 Ashline, Kilrush Road, Ennis was charged with failing to comply with a direction of a garda. Insp Kennedy said the gardaí would consent to bail if Doherty did not have any contact with Bernie or Michael McDonagh.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy granted the State liberty to re-enter in each of the four cases should there be a breach of the bail conditions.

Each of the men was remanded on bail to appear in Ennis District Court on March 21.

ON MONDAY, February 27, three members from the Gardaí visited Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon.

Rosaleen O’Connor, Deirdre Scanlon and Noreen King, accompanied by Barry Keating, Road Safety Officer for Clare County Council, were at the school to give all to transitionyear students on the dangers of road accidents.

Their talk included a PowerPoint presentation featuring graphic images and video clips of accidents in Ireland. The students were informed about the main factors that cause accidents – speed, alcohol and fatigue.

“The PowerPoint presentation made us more aware and cautious about road safety as it proved to us that accidents can happen very easily and anyone can be involved. The images showed us the reality of not wearing seatbelts and how much damage can be done if we’re going over the speed limit,” said the students. “It also made us think about the decisions we should make and how careful we should be on the road.”

A schools competition is being organised to raise road safety awareness, whereby students suggest methods of raising awareness. The winning idea will be promoted nationwide.

SHANNON Town Council member, Cllr Cathy McCafferty, has broken her silence outside the confines of the local authority chamber on her resignation from Sinn Féin that has left the party without any representation in Clare local government.

However, in issuing a statement about the controversy that has racked Sinn Féin since late 2011 after Cllr McCafferty was initially suspended and her husband Eugene McCafferty expelled from the party, she has declined to say whether she took her former party’s pledge before the 2009 local elections.

Sinn Féin authorities are adamant that Cllr McCafferty signed a pledge that she would vacate her seat on Shannon Town Council in the event of a parting of the ways between herself and the party.

“I think that it is common knowledge by now that I recently declared myself a non-party, independent Town Councillor,” said Cllr McCafferty in broaching the subject of her controversial exit from Sinn Féin party politics in a newspaper column in The Clare Courier .

“I have parted ways with Sinn Féin after a long number of years. It is not my intention to enter into a slagging match about this as I still have many friends in the party.

“For me, however, it was time to move on and I am very happy to continue to represent the people of Shannon who gave me a mandate in 2009.

“I would like to acknowledge the great support I have received from local people over the last number of weeks. This has been both humbling and very encouraging. Many have called me on the phone or texted me, but I been especially heartened by all of those people who have stopped me when out shopping or socialising to offer their encouragement and kind words of support.

“Contrary to the impression that might have been given otherwise, my situation is not unique; many others have parted ways with political parties in the past and many more will do so in the future.

“For me, I intend to honour the commitment I made when I was elected by continuing to work for a better Shannon and a fairer society,” added Cllr McCafferty.

“She hasn’t honoured a commitment she made before standing for election,” a local spokesperson for Sinn Féin has told The Clare People this week.

“That was in the party pledge she signed. It’s as simple as that,” the spokesperson added.

A CHARITY cycle to raise money to fund a live-saving operation for a Kerry footballing great will pass through Clare this weekend. From Friday, March 2, to Sunday, March 4, Noel Curran will cycle through every county in Munster to help raise money for the Paul Curran Trust.

The cycle will take him from Kerry, across the ferry into West Clare and then onto Ennis, Newmarket-onFergus and Hurlers Cross before he makes his way into Limerick City.

Paul Curran has represented Kerry at Minor, Under 21, Junior and Senior levels. He was diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer in 2010. He underwent surgery in March 2010 but he needs further life-saving surgery as soon as possible. He can only get this specific surgery in the Royal Marsden Hospital, London. It is currently scheduled for April 2012 but the cost of the surgery and associated costs may be as high as € 80,000.

The Paul Curran Trust Fund committee have set up various fundraising events around Kerry in the coming months. Anyone who is in the area of the cycle over the weekend is asked to cheer Noel on and give what support they can.

KILLALOE has received a huge boost in the past week with news that Clare County Council has given the green light for the development of a major sports facilities project for the East Clare town.

Conditional planning permission has been granted to the Ballina/Killaloe Sports and Community Facilities Development Company for a major development that is set to begin later this year, provided there are no hold ups due to any appeal at An Bord Pleanala level.

The alliance between communities in Clare and Tipperary is behind the development of two new full-size playing pitches, an all-weather pitch, floodlit training areas, walking and cycling trails, changing and carparking facilities at a site in Moys, Killaloe.

The planning application for the development was lodged on June 15 last and an original deadline of November 9 last year was set for a final decision date on the proposal.

However, the decision was delayed on foot of a request from the planning authority for further information, which was duly submitted by the applicants on December 22 last.

Planning permission was granted last week, with the final judgment saying that “having regard to the nature and scale of the proposed development, the existing use of the lands that the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity” and would “accord with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

Commenting on the planning decision, a spokesperson for the Ballina/ Killaloe Sports and Community Facilities Development Company told The Clare People the positive planning decision “is great news for sport and leisure facilities in Killaloe”.

“This is a major development for the Killaloe and Ballina areas and we are looking forward to progressing the project in the next couple of months,” the spokesperson added.