Category: News

NEARLY 55 years to the day after Shannon first played host to refugees fleeing from Hungary, the airport was back in the international limelight on Sunday when a group of Libyans arrived for special medical treatment in Ireland.

The 14 casualties from the bitter civil war that finally brought an end to Muammar Gadafi’s regime arrived in the airport to a rousing welcome from over 80 members of the Libyan community in Ireland.

“These men are the freedom fighters who freed our country,” said the director of the Libyan Health Office in Ireland, Dr Amina Gsel, who is a Galway-based consultant.

“They are mostly young professionals, including doctors and engineers, and we are delighted we can do something for them. The Irish Government has been fantastic.

“I consider Libya and Ireland my countries and today is a very important day for Libyans in Ireland and the rest of Libyan society that we are doing this for our freedom fighters,” he added.

The Libyan Health Office in Ireland was set up in recent months to organise treatment and care for people in the wake of the civil war.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS in Clare believe they have discovered Ireland’s earliest surviving example of a timber framed house.

Dendrochronological analysis is expected to conclude that the timber structure at Chapel Lane, Parnell Street, Ennis, dates back to the late 16th century.

Ms Irene Clune’s house, known as McParland’s is long understood to have been the oldest inhabited house in the Clare County capital. The building’s triple diamond stone Jacobean chimney has been an icon of medieval Ennis for centuries.

The house was first inspected in 2008 by Clare County Council’s conservation officer, who recommended that the property undergo structural repair work. Following detailed technical analyses by the National Monuments Service, officials from Ennis Town Council and consulting conservation engineers, it was concluded that the structure was unstable and represented a danger to the general public.

Ennis Town Council, using its statutory powers to deal with dangerous buildings, commenced a € 170,000 project to make the building safe and to protect and restore the historic fabric of the structure. A grant of € 85,000 was procured under the Structures at Risk Scheme from the Department of the Environment towards the restoration project.

During October 2011, the gable and chimney were carefully recorded, taken down and stored. At present the historic gable is being re-built using the original stones bedded in an authentic hydraulic-lime mortar, the floor of the house having been archaeologically excavated prior to this.

In recent weeks, archaeologists have discovered an oak frame structure which they have described as “potentially one of the most exciting urban archaeological discoveries in Ireland in recent years”.

Frank Coyne, Consultant Archaeologist from Aegis Archaeology Ltd. explained that the limited archaeological excavation has revealed a wealth of information.

“The existence of a foundation cut in the interior of the house, indicates an earlier structure on the site, which is also borne out by the presence of large oak beams in the walls of the house. It is hugely significant that these beams are oak, which will enable us to use tree ring dating. If these prove to be of medieval date, which we believe is the case, then this means that this house is the only structure of its type in the country,” explained Mr Coyne.

Mayor of Ennis Councillor Michael Guilfoyle stated, “The works to McParland’s, when completed, will yield invaluable information on the traditional skills and construction techniques of Late Medieval Ennis. This work makes the building safe and protects a major piece of the history and character of Ennis.

Conservation officer Dick Cronin noted that the present discoveries at McParland’s further enhance Ennis’ status as the most intact medieval town in Ireland.

He continued, “Evidence appears to come to light regularly showing that the whole town centre from The Abbey, to the Old Ground, to Lower Parnell Street contains a large amount of Late Medieval masonry, most of which is hidden behind Georgian and Victorian facades.”

TRIBUTES have been paid to the late Stephen Kenny who passed away last week.

Mr Kenny (90), who lived in the Cornmarket area of the town, was from a well-known Ennis family. He worked for CIE for over 40 years. A keen sportsman, Mr Kenny was a member of Ennis Golf Club.

His funeral in Ennis last week heard that Mr Kenny loved his family, sport and local community. He also looked forward to games of cards with his family. Local councillors yesterday paid tribute to Mr Kenny’s life.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) described Mr Kenny as a great native of Ennis. He said to lose people of Mr Kenny’s vintage is “very sad for any town”. Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) also offered his sympathy to the Kenny family.

MANY tributes have been paid to the father of Labour and trade union politics in Clare, Peadar McNamara, who passed away at home in Magowna, Inch, last Wednesday night after a long illness.

These tributes have been led by longtime friend and political ally, Cllr Patricia McCarthy, who described the former chairman of the Clare Council of Trade Unions and Ennis Hospital Development Committee as a man “with a burning passion for the causes he believed in”.

“I have known Peadar McNamara for a long number of years and he was a man who was very committed to whatever cause he was involved in,” said the former Mayor of Clare.

“He was a noted historian that will stand to the benefit of the county in the records that he has left behind. He was one of the most unselfish people in the giving of his time and his energy to whatever purpose people asked of him.

“He wasn’t just involved in any cause – he was involved in a cause if he believed in it. Once he believed in a cause it became a passion with him. As a man who was involved with Labour politics for a long number of years, he was delighted with Michael McNamara’s election to the Dáil this year, but he was really thrilled with Michael D Higgins’ elevation to the presidency. They would have soldiered together for a long number of years. His connections go back with Michael D go back a long long way,” Cllr McCarthy added.

At the monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council, Cllr Mary Howard described Mr McNamara as “a great friend of Ennis and great campaigner for hospital,” while Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said “Peadar was an inspirational figure and he wasn’t afraid to get stuck in and tackle social injustice.” Labour party TD Michael McNamara also hailed Mr McNamara’s contribution to his General Election campaign. “He encouraged me to run and I greatly appreciated his guidance during the campaign,” revealed Deputy McNamara. “The grace with which he faced his final illness was inspiring. The huge cross section of society – which included artists, clerics from both the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland communities, trade unionists and singers – who were present at his tribute evening at Cois na hAbhna a few weeks ago will never forget it. “He was a man with a broad range of interests, including music, painting and history. An unapologetic man of the left, he brought passion and commitment to his community and political activism, as we know from his staunch defence of Ennis hospital. He could also throw his considerable energies into disparate projects which included seeking recognition for long forgotten soldiers in World War I and the history of the McNamara clan,” added Deputy McNamara. Indeed, in the weeks prior to his death, an exhibition honoured Clare people who died in World War I was staged at Clare Museum. The exhibition was based on information compiled by local historian Peadar McNamara in 1988 from The Cla re Jour na l , The Cla re Cha mpion , The Sa turda y Recor d and personal communications. It opened on Remembrance Day, November 11 and closed on November 30, the day Mr McNamara died.

THE death of a 14-month-old baby boy in a car seat in Spanish Point last year was due to sudden unexpected death in infancy, an inquest has heard.

Clare County Coroner Isobel O’Dea said she was satisfied that Nathan Ryan died from natural causes.

Hyperthermia was cited as a risk or contributory factor to the infant’s death at the inquest at Clare Coroner’s Court in Ennis last week.

Nathan had been on holidays with his foster parents Liam and Fiona Doheny at Spanish Point caravan park on July 29 (2010). He had been in the full time care of the couple from Toureen, Ballysimon, Limerick since January 2010.

Miltown Malbay based GP, Dr Billy O’Connell told the inquest that he had been requested to go to Spanish Point to attend to a child that was unable to breath.

The child was then brought to a medical centre on the Spanish Point where adrenaline was administered and de-fibrillation was attempted. Paramedics also attended the centre and Dr O’Connell stated that Nathan was pronounced dead at 16.50pm.

Fiona Doheny told the inquest that she was a Montessori teacher and a foster parent with the Health Services Executive. She said that on July 29, Nathan ate breakfast. She explained that she put him into a car seat in the family car at 1pm. She said she was going to bring Nathan for a drive, as he had been unsettled.

She said Nathan fell asleep as she sat “about 10 feet” away from the car. Ms Doheny said she left a car door open and checked on Nathan “about three times”. She said that when she checked on him again at 4pm, “he wasn’t right”. “I called Liam twice and screamed,” she added. Ms Doheny said they called the emergency services and Martin Downes, a family friend living nearby and first aider for 25 years.

Liam Doheny stated that he got a pint of cold water and tried to pat Nathan down. He said Dr O’Connell and Mr Downes arrived quickly to the scene.

“Martin Downes was a great help and everyone that helped us on the day was brilliant,” he said.

Ms Doheny’s mother, Maureen Burke, described Nathan as a “delicate child”. She said he cried a lot but not because he was not cared for. She said her daughter kept going over to the car to check on Nathan.

“It wasn’t out of neglect. Nathan was well taken care of by my daughter Fiona,” she stated.

State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy concluded that a young child had been found dead in the back of a car on a warm day.

She told the inquest that Nathan appeared to be well cared for and there was no evidence of any specific disease or trauma.

She said Gardaí had carried out experiments in an attempt to re-create conditions in the car on the day in question. She said the temperature in the car would have risen but not to lethal levels. Dr Cassidy said Nathan had not been exposed to lethal temperatures.

She said death was due to sudden unexpected death in infancy with hyperthermia a contributory or risk factor.

Offering her sympathy to the Nathan’s family, Ms O’Dea said it “is a very sad situation when a young child passes away”. She said “great efforts had been made to revive Nathan”.

GARDAÍ in Clare are advising road users to take care on the roads amid dangerous driving conditions over the weekend.

A drop in temperatures led to a number of accidents late on Sunday night and early yesterday, Monday.

The Galway-bound carriageway of the motorway near Crusheen was closed for a number of hours after a number of cars were involved in an accident at around 7 o’clock yesterday morning. No-one was seriously injured in the accident.

In another accident on Thursday, a car collided with a concrete fence on the main Ennis/Corofin Road, after it skidded. The driver did not sustain serious injuries in the accident.

“People need to be more aware. Road conditions have deteriorated. They need to be more careful on the road and leave more space between the car in front in case they have to brake suddenly. Drive at a speed that is appropriate to the road conditions prevailing and allow extra time to reach destinations and make sure vehicles are roadworthy,” advised Sgt Joe Downey.

Pedestrians are being urged to wear high visibility clothing when out walking to ensure they are easily seen, while cyclists are advised to ensure bicycles are in good working order and they should wear appropriate safety gear at all times.

A 94-YEAR-OLD woman who lived to be a “great age” died as a result of natural causes, an inquest into her death has found.

Margaret O’Gorman, a retired hotel worker from Newport, Co Tipperary, had been a resident of the Lakes Nursing Home when fire broke out there on August 20 (2010).

County Coroner Isobel O’Dea found that Ms O’Gorman died from natural causes. She said there was nothing to indicate that she had died from smoke inhalation or anything to do with the fire.

Clare Coroners Court heard last week that Ms O’Gorman had been unwell for some time. She received medical attention onsite. The inquest heard that Ms O’Gorman’s niece, Peggy Ryan, later identified the body of her aunt to Gardaí.

Garda Trevor Shannon said that Ms O’Gorman had resided in room 40 which was opposite from room 50 where the fire had inflamed.

Dr Michael Curtis carried out the post mortem. His report was read out in court by State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy.

She said there had been no significant injuries and that Ms O’Gorman was well cared for. Dr Cassidy’s report stated that there was “no evidence that she died from fire”. The report stated that Ms O’Gorman’s death was a “natural death”. He found that death was due to a heart attack.

Ms O’Dea extended her sympathy to Ms O’Gorman’s family. “I hope it is some comfort to you that she died from natural causes.” Ms Ryan said her aunt had lived to a “great age”.

A STAND-OFF between Cahercalla Community Hospital in Ennis and the promoters of a Diocese of Killaloe-backed project has already cost € 2.1m and this figure that could rise as high as € 3.6m or scupper the development of elderly care services on the hospital grounds altogether.

These fears has been sounded out by the Cuan An Chláir group that has been accused of embarking an ambitious € 3.5m project to develop a daycare centre and sheltered housing for the elderly “without consultation with Cahercalla Hospital despite its very execution being dependent on our support”.

The board of Cahercalla Hospital has refused to sanction the use of the access road to its facilities as the entry point to the new development, a row that has already seen the project promoters lose out on a € 2.1m grant from the Department of the Environment.

And in counting the cost of this lost government aid, Cuan An Chláir have claimed that it could cost up to € 1.5m to build an alternative access point to their development.

In 2008, the then Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, donated 15.5 acres of land – then valued at € 10m – adjacent to Cahercalla Community Hospital to the Cuan an Chláir Committee for free.

Up until September of this year € 392,874 had bee raised for the € 3.5m project that’s set to be built in two phases. The first phase involving the development of a daycare centre to cater for 65 people daily and the construction of 12 individual houses the will cost € 2m, while the second phase will see the conversion of the old farm yard buildings, adjacent to Cahercalla Hospital to provide a café, meeting rooms, a garden and other appropriate facilities has been costed at € 1.5m.

However, the whole project is now hanging in the balance over a row on access to the site, with Cuan An Chláir spokesperson Pauline McNamara saying that “a tremendous asset will be lost to Ennis” if the project can’t proceed.

The stand-off between the two groups has gathered momentum following the release of a statement by the Cahercalla Hospital, which has accused Cuan An Chláir promoters of failing to address a number of key concerns relating to the project.

“At no point during the many discussions were any of the concerns we raised about the management of the project, including links with Cahercalla, addressed,” the strongly worded statement says.

“Having explored every possible option and following discussions which have been ongoing for over three years, the Board of Cahercalla Community Hospital & Hospice regret that they have, to date, been unable to reach an agreement with Cuan an Chláir with regard to granting permanent access to the site adjacent to the hospital and hospice.

“The project we tried to facilitate was presented to us as a development of housing for active retired elderly. However, as soon as detailed discussions began we discovered that the project was significantly different from what was originally outlined to us. In particular the development now included a daycare centre and permanent access was being sought, both of which would significantly increase the amount of traffic on our driveway impacting on the safety of our residents.

“Despite making every effort through our discussions and allocating a large amount of executive time to considering the proposal we have, to date, been unable to gain sufficient assurances that the project would not negatively impact on Cahercalla’s residents and staff.”

“There is no way that we can afford an alternative access,” says Cuan An Chláir spokesperson Pauline McNamara.

THE possibility of Fracking taking place in west Clare has moved one step closer as the Enegi-oil company, who were granted the license to explore the feasibility of the project, published positive reports from their first round of tests.

The UK-based company confirmed last Thursday that it now plans to undertake a second round of tests in the Clare Basin – an area of lands which covers thousands of acres between Quilty, Kilbaha and Labasheeda.

Fracking is a very controvertial means of extracting natural gas from onshore sources. The process know as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves creating large cracks in the bedrock at the drill sites by pumping large amounts of highly pressurised fluids underground.

A number of information meetings on the subject have already taken place locally and the No Fracking Clare group claim that tremors created as a result of fracking could cause major structural damage so some of Clare’s key tourist attractions – including the Cliffs of Moher and the Doolin Cave.

“A preliminary field trip was undertaken, during which outcrops of interest for further study were identified and initial investigations into the overburden and burial history through geological time were un- dertaken,” said a spokesperson from Enegi-oil.

“Results and observations from that exercise have been analysed and used as a basis for the development of a more detailed prospecting programme for the region. The company has also been in discussions with, and is close to reaching agreements with, various qualified contractors who will undertake the detailed programme of laboratory studies and analysis of the samples that will be required.”

Enegi-oil also confirmed that it is now in a position to move forward with Phase 2 of the project which it hopes to complete before the end of this month. Phase 2 will involved “detailed sampling and stratigraphic logging of outcrops of interest” in the northern part of the Clare Basin while a similar study of the southern part is expected to take place in the early months of 2012.

Earlier this year the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources awarded a license option to UK-based company to search for shale gas deposits in a large section of west Clare.

Much of the research to date has centred around a well drilled in Doonbeg in 1962. An initial analysis of this well identified the presents of a large deposit of shale gas between 800 and 1,100 metres underneath the ground.

A YOUNG Kinvara garda, who risked her life to save a man who was drowning in a canal, was recognised for her bravery in a special ceremony help last week.

Garda Eileen Murphy last week received a Certificate of Bravery for rescuing a man from the canal in Mullingar in April of 2010.

Garda Murphy was called to the Dublin Bridge in Mullingar on the evening April 2, 2010, where a man was reportedly in a distressed state. When she arrived she could not locate the man on the bridge but soon located him on the canal itself.

As her accompanying officer, Garda Kevin Mooney, could not swim, Eileen risked her own life to enter the water and save the man.

“I remember we were on night duty at the time and I got a call at around 1am in the morning to say that a gentleman was quite distressed around the canal. We could not locate him for a while but we could hear him – it was very dark,” she said.

“We located him after a few minutes and at that point he was starting to go under the water. I knew Garda Mooney was not a confident swimmer so my first reaction was to go in and try to get him. I didn’t really think about it. We tried to talk to him at the beginning but he really wasn’t being very co-operative.

“So my initial reaction, once I saw him going under the water, was to just go for it – I didn’t think about it to be honest. I had to go underneath the water to bring him up and when I did get him to the surface he started to struggle. He panicked and tried to push me down under to save himself. The other garda was able to come into the water and bring us both out.

“I never thought I would be put in a situation like this. Thankfully things worked out well in the end. I know it could have been a very different story, I know that now, so I am just thankful that things worked out okay for me.”

One of Eileen sisters, Garda Sarah Murphy, is currently stationed in Ennis while her sister Aideen, runs a pre-school in Corofin.