Category: News

THE new € 2 million Killaloe Canal Improvement Works project that was officially opened last week can be the spark for an upsurge in tourist traffic and activity along the Shannon navigation system.

That’s according to the coalition of forces that brought the ambitious project to fruition over the past year – Fáilte Ireland and Waterways Ireland, who spearheaded the key improvement works in Killaloe as part of a Lough Derg initiative also involving Shannon Development as well as Clare and Tipperary county councils.

The project involved the laying of 755 metres of moorings, the underpinning of the old Killaloe canal wall, the installation of the flood control gates and the creation of a looped walk along the shore and canal wall.

“Killaloe is a key destination and gateway in the lakelands and inland waterways area for domestic and internaitonal visitors,” said the Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland.

“The development here in Killaloe is a key part of our strategy in Waterways Ireland and is key in encouraging further economic activity in the town and indeed the wider Lough Derg area,” he added.

“The Killaloe canal signifies Fáilte Ireland’s commitment, as the national tourism development authority, to ensuring that there are plenty of reasons for visitors to come and indeed return to Clare, this year and into the future,” said Fáilte Ireland’s Fiona Monaghan.

“The improvement works undertaken in Killaloe have been extensive and will prove important in increasing visitor numbers to this very scenic area of the mid west,” said the Minister for the Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan in officially opening the new facility.

“This project funding jointly by Fáilte Ireland and Waterways Ireland, will make an excellent facility for walkers, tourists and those who enjoy waterway activities. This development will only add to this region’s reputation as one of Ireland’s most attractive and enjoyable destinations for visitors, from home and abroad,” he added.

The project was underataken as part of the wider development of the inland waterways system from Fermanagh as far as Limerick under the working title of Product Development Studies for the Lakelands and Inlands Waterways area.

The studies chart the future development of tourism and recreation in the inland waterways, with the new Killaloe facility being held up as a prime example of the development of top-class facilities.

THE areas of children’s rights and children’s education will dominate discussion at the 2011 Merriman Summer School, which begins in Lisdoonvarna next week.

Directed this year by Prof Nóirín Hayes of DIT, an expert in early childood education and children’s rights, it will address issues relating to Irish childhood past and present and consider a vision for the future. ‘Changing Irish Childhoods’ is the title and the school will run from August 17-21.

The school will be opened in the Pavillion Theatre, Lisdoonvarna by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD. Speakers and panellists include Fintan O’Toole, Mary O’ Rourke, Joseph Dunne, Maria Corbett, Carl O’Brien, Fergus Ryan, Sheila Greene, Dympna Devine, Brian O’Neill, and Siobhán Parkinson. The closing lecture will be given by the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Michael D Higgins. Topics will range from exploring the boundaries between childhood and adulthood, to children and the new media.

There will be daily lunchtime poetry readings during Cúirt an Mheán Lae, with one of Ireland’s most distinguished poets, Eavan Boland, reading on August 18, followed by readings by Gabriel Rosenstock and Peter Sirr.

Morning seminars in Irish and English delivered by a range of experts will deal with subjects as diverse as Naonrai Gaelacha, assisited immigration to New Zealand for workhouse girls in the 1870s and debutantes in 18th-century Limerick.

A special session on youth mental health and well-being will include a presentation on a collaborative project by artist Seamus McGuinness and psychiatrist Kevin Malone, and a dramatic presentation from Jigsaw, a Youth Mental Health group from Galway.

There will be walking tours of Lisdoonvarna, book launches and, of course, the perennially popular Club Merriman in the evenings.

Full details of the programme, including information on the morning seminars, as well as information on the speakers, registration and accommodation are on www.merriman.ie.

A PACKAGE containing € 207,000 in cash which was detained by Customs at Shannon Airport may be linked to a sweepstakes scam, a court heard yesterday.

The cash was detained in May of last year and Customs officers have since been given time to investigate the circumstances surrounding its discovery, after they made a number of applications before the district court.

The investigation is ongoing on an international scale.

A fresh application was made before Ennis District Court yesterday, where Customs sought an additional three months to investigate the case.

Patricia Smullen, an officer with the Revenue Commissioners, told the court that cash – which was in seven currencies – was seized on May 17, 2010.

“I have reasonable grounds to suspect the cash is criminally linked,” she told the court.

The court was told that the company which it is alleged owns the money claimed it was involved in mail marketing.

However Ms Smullen said this has not been supported.

She said it is believed the money may be linked to a “sweepstakes scam.”

She said that some of the written information obtained as part of the case – which was in Japanese – referred to winnings, when translated to English.

Ms Smullen said it was a “very complex case” and the investigation is ongoing in a number of jurisdictions.

Solicitor Caitriona Carmody told the court that she had previously represented a company in relation to this case, but she did not have any instructions for yesterday’s application by Customs.

Judge John O’Neill said he noted the evidence from Ms Smullen and granted the application “on the basis of the reasons outlined”; that it is a “complex” and “ongoing” matter. The extension was granted until November.

The court heard previously that Customs has sought details of the ownership, source and intended use of the cash and further time was required for this to be investigated. Enquiries have taken place in the UK, Australia and a number of other jurisdictions.

The package was detained by Customs officers, after an individual arrived in to the airport from The Netherlands on a private aircraft.

THE fact that two priests are being ordained in the Diocese of Killaloe within weeks of each other is a sign of hope and encouragement.

That’s according to Diocesan communications officer Fr Brendan Quinlivan, who said the ordinations of Fr Ger Fitzgerald and Ger Jones create much positivity.

Fr Fitzgerald, from Castleconnell in Limerick, has taken up a post in Ennis, having recently been ordained, while Ger Jones from O’Briensbridge will be ordained on Sunday, August 21. He will be based in Nenagh.

“It is a cause of huge joy to us in the Diocese to welcome two new priests. It’s a wonderful sign of hope. It gives us great encouragement in our Ministry that young men are willing to take on that challenge,” said Fr Quinlivan.

“The priesthood is a wonderful, fulfilling life. It is filled with more joy than sorrow. It is a source of joy and true happiness and fulfillment,” he said.

He believes that despite the negativity surrounding the Church, overall there is a positive attitude towards priests.

“A lot of what has been spoken about in the public domain in relation to priesthood has been largely negative. Yet we are all deeply enriched by it. The vast majority of our people are still phenomenally positive towards our clergy,” he added.

“We are no longer perceived as being on a pedestal; rather we are seen as we walk alongside people. We don’t stand ahead or behind them,” said Fr Quinlivan.

“In recent times the number of young men considering and actually pursuing a vocation to the priesthood has declined.

“This year is very special for us (with two ordinations). We currently only have one student studying for the priesthood in the Diocese,” he said.

He said that the trend of clusters of parishes – whereby parishes are grouped together – which have been established in recent years is poised to continue. This is necessary due to a shortage of priests.

“One of the things that we would always do at an ordinary ceremony is we welcome a new brother into the priesthood. It’s like becoming part of a close family. We work closely together.

“Clusters are important in that this is the way we are meant to administer to others, to work together, to bring about change,” said Fr Quinlivan.

A NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS car enthusiast who has had two major organ transplants is revving up to raise money for the Irish Heart Foundation.

Brendan McCarthy underwent a heart and lung transplant in 2000. Five years later, he returned to hospital for another lung transplant. Brendan was forced to undergo the double transplant after being born with a congenital heart condition.

Now Brendan and fellow Newmarket man James Shanagher are aiming to raise money for the Irish Heart Foundation by setting off on a sponsored ‘Wheels of the West’ drive around parts of North Clare and South Galway.

However, to take part in the event, drivers’ cars must fall into a specific category. Brendan explains, “It’s been done with the VAG club – Volkswagen and Audi club – so anybody can take part as long as they own a Volkswagen or an Audi.”

After receiving the support of the IHF, Brendan was keen to support the work of the foundation.

He says, “I like driving and I thought this would be a good way to raise money for the Irish Heart foundation… Every year the Irish Heart Foundation helps fund research to help prevent disability and death from heart disease and strokes. This is the reason behind starting the wheels of the west charity drive.”

The drive will set off from Glór car park in Ennis on August 20 at 11am. Brendan says, “We will then continue on to Lahinch followed by the Cliffs of Moher, Liscannor and Ballyvaughan, finishing back in Ennis. On each stop, we will be fundraising on the streets wearing branded t-shirts and using brand buckets all with the logo of the Irish Heart Foundation. The foundation has agreed to send all this equipment to us and has said they are 100 per cent behind the drive.”

Brendan aims to raise € 10,000 and hopes to attract the support of Clare businesses to help him achieve his target.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Brendan on 087 3885116 or Jamie on 087 7871870 or email wheelsofthewest@gmail.com.

SOME of the Banner county’s finest baking proved tempting enough for one of the biggest names in Hollywood to make a brief stopover in Ballyvaughan last month.

Acclaimed director Steven Spielberg returned to the north Clare village three weeks ago for a bite to eat at the Ballyvaughan Tea Rooms.

The American’s private jet made a stopover in Shannon Airport while en route to the royal wedding of Prince Albert of Monaco. And the chance to taste another slice of homemade baked mixed berry cheesecake was enough to persuade the Oscar-winning filmmaker to spend three hours in Ballyvaughan.

“When he came in, he said ‘I’m back for the cheesecake’. It was a bit surreal,” said Alan Clarke, who, along with Jane O’Donoghue, runs the Ballyvaughan Tea Rooms.

The 64-year-old sat with a group of 10 friends and family members at the back of the premises.

Alan said, “That was the only thing he wanted, a bit of privacy. He’s a very, very nice man, down to earth and his wife is a lovely woman as well. No airs and graces. They just wanted to be treated like normal people.”

Spielberg previously visited Ballyvaughan in 2009 and is known to be a big admirer of the Burren region.

Alan said, “It was a bit surreal to meet him once. You wouldn’t expect him to come back again. You see this guy sitting at the Oscars, one of the most high-profile directors in the world and you never expect him to be sitting down in front of you on a Saturday afternoon. It was unexpected and pleasant.”

He continued, “The last time he came, he loved the cheesecake. He loves the Burren and he loves coming to Ballyvaughan. He’s very open and vocal about it.”

After finishing his meal, Spielberg posed for photos with Alan, Jane and staff. He clearly enjoyed his latest sample of Clare’s hospitality, telling Alan and Jane, “I’ll be back again.”

The Ballyvaughan Tea Rooms were opened by the O’Donoghue family in 1981.

A HORSE was injured when she fell on a cattle grid near Tulla after the lock and chain were cut from the gate of a field over the weekend.

The incident, which is the subject of a garda investigation, occurred between teatime on Friday and 4am on Saturday at Craggo, Tulla.

After the lock and chain were cut from the gate, the horses left the field and one horse, which is in foal, sustained an injury.

Gardaí in Tulla are keen for anyone with information on this incident to contact them.

Meanwhile, gardaí in Kilrush are investigating the theft of 50 used batteries from a garage yard at High Street in the town in the early hours of Thursday morning.

THEY have been part and parcel of big sporting occasions in Clare for 75 years but are the Tulla Pipe Band about to make their mark on the world stage?

Though yet to be confirmed, it is thought that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) are keen to have the legendary band perform at Ireland’s crucial European Championship qualifier against Slovakia in Dublin on September 2.

Having been a fixture at county finals and other major cultural and sporting events including Munster Club and Railway Cup finals, the mooted performance would bring the talents of the men and women of the Tulla Pipe Band to a global audience.

Ireland need to beat Slovakia to cement their place at the top of Group B and further enhance their chances of qualifying for next year’s tournament in Poland and the Ukraine.

Should the band line out in front of Giovanni Trappattoni and Co. at the Aviva stadium; it would surely rank as one of the biggest moments in the 75-year history of the famous pipe band.

The logistics of transporting all 20 band members and their equipment to Dublin would be a challenge but you wouldn’t bet against them rising to the occasion and inspiring the boys in green to a famous victory.

Plans for the band to perform at the game are said to be “99% in place”.

The band left an indelible impression on FAI boss John Delaney and former internationals Ray Houghton and John Aldridge when they performed at the opening of Tulla United’s new € 200,000 community astro turf pitch last month. During the FAI’s weeklong festival of football in Clare, Delaney also revealed that the delegation were “marched” out of a pub in Tulla at 2.30am by the Tulla Pipe Band following a late night in the east Clare village.

The proposed performance would further enhance Tulla’s growing reputation as one of Munster’s football capitals. Tulla United’s Cragg field has already been earmarked by the FAI as a potential venue for an Irish underage international fixture.

Clare will be represented at tomor- row’s international friendly between Ireland and Croatia when Kilrush brothers Kyle and Evan Carmody will serve as flag bearers at the Aviva stadium.

GARDAÍ are preparing a file for the DPP in connection with an accident in which a young Clarecastle man suffered serious injuries.

19-year-old Aaron Considine sustained multiple injuries in an incident at College View on the Clonroadmore in Ennis in the early hours of last Monday, after he was involved in an accident while out walking.

Aaron, who has played minor hurling and intermediate football for Clare – along with representing his club Clarecastle at senior hurling level in recent years – has undergone surgery since the accident and is currently in Tallaght Hospital.

The community of Clarecastle has rallied behind his family during the past week. Large crowds attended a special Mass at St Peter and Paul’s Church, Clarecastle, last Friday morning, where prayers were said wishing him well in his recovery.

As part of the investigation, gardaí have spoken to a number of witnesses who were in the vicinity of the accident, while forensic examinations have been carried out. A 19-year-old man has been questioned in relation to the incident, while a car has been taken for examination.

A file is being prepared for the DPP and this will be submitted within weeks by investigators.

A NEW two-day Ennis market has been forced to limit trading to Saturdays only after falling foul of planning regulations.

The Market bazaar was started by former general election candidate Ann Cronin in May. The bazaar has been open on Fridays and Saturdays at Cronin’s Yard on Market street.

However the decision to limit trading days at the bazaar comes after Ennis Town Council wrote to Ms Cronin stating that she did not have planning permission to operate a market in the area.

Under planning laws, Ms Cronin faced a possible maximum fine of € 12.5 million euros or a prison sentence.

The Ennis woman had availed of a loophole that allows markets or fairs to operate for a period of 30 days without planning permission.

The market has now been in operation for 22 days so Ms Cronin has decided to halve trading to extend the lifespan of the bazaar.

She explained “It will stretch it out a bit into September. There are a couple of traders relying on it for their week’s income so that’s why we want to try and stretch it out for as long as possible”.

She said she had hoped to fight the planning laws and claimed she was willing to go to prison. However, Ms Cronin said she is planning to emi- grate and fears a criminal conviction could prevent her from entering some countries.

She added, “I can’t beat the system…. Hopefully it will continue on into something more permanent. I think we did something good. I will definitely do it (the bazaar) again next summer if I’m still around”.

The bazaar was founded as a means of supporting small enterprises. 60% of the goods sold at the bazaar had to be made by Clare based businesses.

Ms Cronin estimates that as many as 500 different traders have taken up stalls at the bazaar since it opened three months ago.

She said, “These are people who are coming into town, spending money on parking, buying cups of coffee. They are not spending massive money but they are contributing to the local economy”.

In her blog (ennisbazaar.wordpress. com), Ms Cronin writes “I set the Market Bazaar up in response to the protracted death knell of Ennis as I knew it. My father is a signwriter, we grew up in the middle of the Market and watched it change from a vibrant buzzing centre of commerce and social support to a giant car park with fewer and fewer shops, replaced by the betting shops and empty lots which pepper our towns and villages”