Category: News

HUNDREDS of jobs could be created in Clare over the next decade as an oil and natural gas rush looks set to take place off the county’s west coast.

Providence Resources was last week granted an exploration license for the large Spanish Point South field by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. This new field amounts to an estimated 1,500 square kilometres off the Clare coast and is more than twice the size of the combined Burren and Spanish Point (north) fields – which Providence are already exploring.

Seismic surveys have confirmed the presence of enough natural gas in the Spanish Point (north) field to meet Irish gas requirement for the next 60 year and should a similar amounts of gas and oil be realised in the Burren and Spanish Point South fields Clare could become Ireland energy capital for the next century.

These explorations could create thousands of jobs in Clare with massive opportunities to supply the fields from Harbour town such as Carrigaholt and Kilrush as well as from the proposed new pier at Doolin.

It could also create massive opportunities along the Shannon Estuary where a deep-water service hub is en- visioned to handle much of the heavy duty transport to and from the fields.

“The Shannon Estuary is one of the few natural resources that we have here in Clare which could really drive economic development and we have to be open to all possibilities as to how that could be developed,” said Clare Senator Martin Conway (FG).

“Anyone who is being shown any interest in developing something along the Shannon Estuary need to be encouraged and indeed the government need to go to these people and find them. These projects are something for a long way down the line and it could take a lot of years for anything to be realised out of them but we have to start somewhere.”

In a similar way to their explorations in the Burren and Spanish Point (north) fields, the new exploration will be a partnership arrangement between Providence and its industry partners Chrysaor and Sosina.

“Providence is delighted to have been awarded such a significant acreage position on the Irish Atlantic Margin as part of the 2011 Round. Our studies completed to date indicate a number of structures with significant potential which will greatly augment our already formidable acreage position offshore Ireland,” said Tony O’Reilly, CEO of Providence last week.

GARDAÍ in Clare are warning that they are cracking down on the circulation of illegal fireworks in the runup to Halloween.

Every year, various quantities of fireworks are seized and while the numbers seized in Clare this year are small, gardaí are warning of the dangers associated with them.

“There have been a couple of seizures. They are dangerous,” said the Clare Garda Division’s Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Joe Downey.

Operation Tombola, which targets the possession, use and sale or supply of illegal fireworks, kicked off last Thursday and will continue until next Tuesday.

As part of the nationwide initiative, gardaí can take measures to prevent the use of illegal fireworks.

“Misuse of fireworks can cause great injury and distress; annoyance to older persons; can cause stress to animals and can damage property by fire,” said Sgt Downey.

It is an offence to possess fireworks with intent to sell or supply to another; to throw an ignited firework at a person or property; to ignite a firework or cause it to be ignited.

On conviction, fines of up to € 2, 500 can be imposed in the district court, and/or six months in jail. Penalties are higher in higher courts.

Sgt Downey said that parents have a role to play to ensure that fireworks do not circulate.

“If you discover that your children have bangers or fireworks, please remove them and hand them into your local Garda station,” he said.

“Know where children are at all times and be even extra vigilant at this time of year. Ensure that your children are aware of the dangers associated with fireworks.

“Stay with your children and escort them on trick or treat visits, parties or events,” he added.

He is also urging parents to ensure that pets are kept indoors on Halloween night, which is next Monday.

Precautions should also be taken when lighting bonfires and people are urged to stay a safe distance from bonfires and fireworks. “Keep dangerous substances such as oil, petrol and diesel away from fires and fireworks,” he said. “Contact the local authority if you see a bonfire being built close to buildings, trees or overhead cables. If you see materials such as pallets or tyres being hoarded in advance, ring your local authority or garda station. Do not facilitate illegal bonfires or firework displays on or near your home or property,” added Sgt Downey.

THE community of Kilmihil is rallying around the family of Declan O’Shea, who is in a serious condition in hospital in Portugal after an accident while on holidays.

The 35-year-old fell from a third storey balcony at an apartment and was taken to hospital in Faro. He was later airlifted to a hospital in Lisbon, where his family has rushed to his bedside. A huge crowd attended Mass for him in Kilmihil at the weekend, which wasofficiated by local parish priest Fr Peter O’Loughlin.

Mr O’Shea, who is married, was understood to be attending a rally with two friends in Portugal when the freak accident occurred, last Friday week.

He is a prominent full-back on the Kilmihil senior football team and won a Senior ‘B’ county championship medal with his club two years ago. He has represented Clare in football at minor and under-21 levels.

He is a son of Oliver and Doris O’Shea, from Lack West, Kilmihil. He has worked as a mechanic in Kilrush, having spent some time living in Australia a number of years ago.

CLARE looks set to have a tangible link to the next president of Ireland as a number of opinion polls place Michael D Higgins and Sean Gallagher in a two horse race for a seven year residency of Áras an Uachtaráin.

The current front runner, Sean Gallagher was officially nominated for president after he was given the backing by Clare County Council in September. More importantly for the Gallagher campaign was the backing of Clare County Council at a council meeting on June 20.

At this meeting, which was also addressed by fellow candidates David Norris and Mary Davis, as well as unsuccessful candidates Pat Jones and Ennis man Dermot Mulqueen, the councillors showed their intention to vote for Gallagher – even though they were not constitutionally allowed to support him at that time.

This proved a major boost for the Gallagher campaign and helped to make him a realistic candidate.

Newmarket native and current second favourite according to the polls, Michael D Higgins, also has impeccable Clare connections having spent much of his youth in the county and attended St Flannan’s Secondary School in Ennis. Higgins lived in Ballycar with his aunt and uncle for years during his youth and worked in Shannon before moving to Galway to attend university.

Should he be elected after Thursday’s poll, Mr Higgins will continue a long tradition of Clare presidents follow Michael Hillary and Eamon deValera who was first elected in Clare East in 1918 before representing the Clare constituency from 1922 until 1959.

Whoever is elected President this week, they will be a card carrying supporter of the Cliffs of Moher after the north Clare tourist centre confirmed that all seven candidates have officially pledged to back the final stages of the Cliffs bid to become one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

“We very much welcome the support of all of the Presidential candidates for the Cliffs of Moher. It is the only Irish entry in this world wide competition and has done tremendously well to make the shortlist from the initial 440 sites that competed,” said the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes (FF).

“We have been mounting a very strong campaign to secure one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature for Ireland and I am delighted that the next President has given full backing to the Cliffs of Moher.”

OVER 600 children had to leave school early on Friday after problems emerged with a “misfiring oil burner” at Ennis National School.

The school was temporarily closed for a period on the day due to concerns over the school’s 38-year-old heating system.

An inspection of air quality carried out on Friday revealed no abnormal levels of dioxins. Parents were informed by text of the issue at around 11am and were asked to collect children.

The school has apologised to parents and pupils for any inconvenience caused.

A statement posted on the school’s website read, “Ennis National School apologises for any inconvenience caused to pupils, parents and staff as a result of the temporary closure of the school today. This action was taken due to concerns about a misfiring oil burner. Checks taken this afternoon by an independent consultant, have verified that the air quality within the school is as normal.”

The statement continued, “Depart- ment of Education and Science officials have confirmed that funding will be provided to replace the oil burner during the mid-term break.”

The school re-opened as normal yesterday. Deputy principal Tom Glynn said electric and gas heaters were being used to provide heat in the building.

He said the school hoped to have a new boiler installed after the upcoming mid term break. He explained that air quality tests had returned a “perfect reading” and that the decision to close the school was taken in the interest of health and safety. “With something like an oil fire burner you can’t take any chances,” he added.

Mr Glynn said the school has car ried out remedial work on the burner, which was installed at the school in 1973.

He said there have been no reports of injury or ill health since Friday. “We’ve had no complaints from anybody,” he added.

The school is due to move from its present location on Kilrush Road to a new site at Ashline.

Mr Glynn said the school’s board of management hope to receive the green light from the Department of Education and Skills in November to begin the tendering process. It is anticipated that work would then begin in February and be completed within 18 months.

In addition to 32 classrooms, the building will include rooms for a reading class, special education teachers and library.

The building will have an energy rating and a level of disability access, which is ahead of current regulations. Facilities for sport will include a full-size sports hall with dressing rooms and a playing pitch.

THIRTY businesses and community groups exhibited at the launch of Clare Supported Employments’ 10year celebrations at the Temple Gate Hotel last Monday.

The event, which was supported by ACIST Skillnet, provided an op portunity for the public to learn more about local community groups and businesses and hear at first hand from employers who have successfully recruited through CSES and candidates/employees who have used the service to secure employment.

To mark the week of celebrations, the Clare Adult Guidance Service, Jobs Club and Patrick Mercie, Business Coach, held a series of workshops on career coaching, interview preparation, manual handling and training and education opportunities for adults. In addition, the service held open information sessions across the county. On Wednesday, CSES raised € 1,105 for Clare Crusaders at a fun table quiz at the Temple Gate Hotel.

CSES has built a strong reputation with Clare employers over the last decade. Team Leader Alice O’Carroll explained, “We have placed 26 people in employment in 2011 to the end of September. This is two more than the same time in 2010.”

Despite the current climate, placements have remained consistent since 2009. The service placed 34 people in 2009, plus an extra 19 people in short-term self-employment; 33 people were placed in 2010; and CSES expect to meet or exceed this figure in 2011.

Eilish Hatchett, with her husband Andrew, is currently setting up her business, The Pastry People, with the help of Clare Supported Employment Service.

In 2000, Eilish was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. A qualified chef, Eilish was 27 years old and had only just come back from Australia with Andrew. “I never thought I’d be diagnosed with MS, yet I wouldn’t be here today trying to start a new business if every moment before hadn’t happened exactly as it did,” says Eilish.

For further information on Clare Supported Employment Service, call 065 6844007 or email info@claresu pportedemployment.ie

AN INAGH woman is on the countdown to a marathon challenge she is undertaking next week.

Laura Gunter will represent Clare in the Dublin City Marathon next Monday.

Laura, who is a clerical officer in the Chief Superintendent’s office at Ennis Garda Station, was chosen from 16 Clare contenders to take part in the event. The competition was run by Spar and Laura was chosen as Clare’s Spartan.

Among the criteria for those interested in getting involved was that participants hadn’t run before. Laura fitted the criteria and took on the challenge with great enthusiasm. One Startan was chosen from every county in Ireland.

“The competition was advertised in June. They were looking for people who hadn’t run before. I was interviewed. They picked one from each county. This will be a first marathon for everyone,” said Laura.

A 16-week training plan was put in place by Karl Henry from RTÉ’s Operation Transformation and Laura followed this every step of the way. She has trained four times a week and has combined short runs with longer sessions, the longest of which was 20 miles.

She is tapering down this week in the run-up to the big event and is looking forward to taking part in the marathon next week.

“A lot of the others are injured. Thankfully I’m not,” she said.

Laura did most of the training by herself, but received good guidance from her family. Her father and brother have run marathons in the past and offered great inspiration.

She has developed a love of running and intends to keep it up. “I love it. I will sign up for smaller runs. I can’t wait for the run now. It’s like waiting for Christmas. All of my family and friends will be on different parts of the route,” she said.

The competition between the 26 Spartans will be decided through voting. Laura is looking for votes, on www.spar.ie. Votes should be cast by tonight (Tuesday).

CLARE’S fastest growing primary school is still awaiting permanent accreditation from the Department of Education, despite being in operation for the last six years.

The Mol an Óige school in Ennistymon will become Ireland’s second Department of Educationrecognised Steiner school if it is granted permanent official recognition later this year.

The school has been operation with year-to-year accreditation for the last three years, which has hampered its efforts to make plans for the future, including for the purchase of a permanent school building.

INTO national president, Noreen Flynn, paid a visit to the school last week to show her support and to officially launch the new school website.

“We have recognition on a provisional basis which is extended year by year. We have had inspectors in from the department and a report has been done up and we are now coming to the end of the recognition process with the Department,” said principal Una Ní Gháirbhith.

“We are very hopeful that permanent recognition would be awarded at some stage this year. The big difference that that would make to us is that we could start looking at having our own school building because, at present, we are at a rented site in rented prefabs. The permanent building is the final piece in the jigsaw.”

Having formed with just 11 pupils in 2005, Mol an Óige now boasts 120 pupils with five classroom teachers and six auxiliary staff members.

“There have been a lot of cutbacks in education in recent times and we did take the opportunity to discuss with Noreen how cutbacks are affecting the school, and the future cutbacks which may be coming down the line,” continued Una.

“These cutback are really going to make a difference to schools all over the country. The problem is that more and more children are coming into the primary school system and, instead of increasing the number of teachers, they are looking at upping the pupil/teacher even more and cutting back in other areas.

“Li ke ever yone else in the countr y, we are just waiting to see how these new cuts will affect t he school. Increasing the st udent /teacher ratio by one st udent doesn’t seem li ke a lot but, when you consider the par ttime teachers and resource teachers who are also counted, it can quickly have a ver y big impact on schools.”

To view the new Mol an Óige website, visit www.steinermolanoigens. org.

AN APPEAL in relation to the sentences handed down to two Ennis men for the manslaughter of schoolteacher Brian Casey almost two years ago will take place in December.

Last year, Harry Dinan and his nephew Kevin Dinan were jailed for five and four years respectively for the manslaughter of Brian Casey (26), who was set upon and attacked on a street in Ennis on St Stephen’s night in 2009.

After the sentences were handed down at Ennis Circuit Court in November 2010, the DPP lodged an appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal on the grounds of “undue leniency”.

The appeal will be heard on December 5, at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Dublin.

In the aftermath of the sentences being handed down, The Clare People revealed that an appeal was being recommended, on the grounds that the sentences were too lenient.

“A case report is being referred to the DPP to consider the leniency of the sentence. There will be a recommendation that the leniency be looked at,” a well-placed source close to the prosecution told The Clare People at the time.

Judge Carroll Moran handed down the sentences at Ennis Circuit Court, after hearing that both Harry Dinan, of Waterpark Heights, Ennis, and Kevin Dinan, of Clarehill, Clarecastle, had several previous convictions.

Harry Dinan – who had 64 previous convictions – was on temporary release at the time of the attack, having received a four-month sentence in October 2009 for motoring offences.

Kevin Dinan – who had 17 previous convictions – was on bail at the time of the attack on Mr Casey, having pleaded guilty to burglary and handling stolen property, in the Circuit Court, five months earlier.

The sentencing hearing was told that Mr Casey, from Lissycasey, was entirely blameless and had “no hand, act or part” in a row that broke out between two groups at O’Connell Square, Ennis, on St Stephen’s night in 2009. His only role, the court was told, was to pick up a friend who had been knocked to the ground in a melee.

As he stood outside Carraig Donn department store with his hands in his pockets shortly before midnight, Mr Casey was struck in the face by Harry Dinan. He fell backwards onto the street. He was then punched repeatedly by Kevin Dinan.

Mr Casey was unconscious. He never regained consciousness and died in hospital two days later.

The row had broken out between two groups and was brought under control by bouncers who were working nearby. The attacks on Mr Casey were described by the prosecution as “unprovoked and cowardly”.

Judge Carroll Moran described Mr Casey’s death as “completely unnecessary” and said that while the two defendants hadn’t intended to kill him, they had intended to harm him.

He said Mr Casey had been unable to defend himself.

He jailed Harry Dinan for five years and imposed a four-year sentence on Kevin Dinan.

“I can’t pass a sentence and throw away the key, so to speak. I’m conscious of that,” he said.

THE newly appointed director of Glór has said that Irish music will still play a key part in the future of the venue. Gemma Carcaterra was last week appointed as the new director of the centre, succeeding Katie Verling who has been suffering from ill health. Gemma, who was born in the UK but now lives in Clare, also hopes to have a large focus on local groups getting involved in hosting events in Glór.

“We have a great team here in Glór, with lots of strengths and lots of experience. The building here is amazing and is a unique selling point for Glór but there is also such a wealth of local groups and organisations that we can work with. We are looking to promote Glór as a venue for the county as well as locally here in Ennis,” said Gemma.

“Glór was built for the traditional arts and traditional music and that will be taken into account but it will be right across the board from music to theatre, children’s events, community arts and film. Glór has a great foundation. These are difficult times in the arts and everyone needs to look at streamlining but Glór is in a very good place to come through this recession in a strong position and grow after that. I have big shoes to fill and I will do my best to continue on the good work already done by Katie and Patricia.”

Later this year, Glór will celebrate its tenth birthday and a number of events are being planned to mark the occasion.

“We do turn 10 this November which shows longevity of the organisation. We will be celebrating the birthday throughout the month through a number of events and the programme that we have already planned,” continued Gemma. “I’m really looking forward to meeting all the local artists, musicians and organisations.”

A trained artist and designer, Gemma has worked with a wide variety of organisations including museums, galleries and design companies over the last 15 years. One of the highlights of her career to date was being part of the team who designed and delivered a number of exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich in London. She has been living in Clare since 2007 and worked with Daghdha Dance Company until earlier this year.