Category: News

A SECTION of the historic Ennis Friary will not be available for wider public use or community-based events when it re-opens next year, according to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

A roof has been installed over the 18th century church in order to provide protection for the collection of carved features, which survive at Ennis Friary.

The OPW also plans to improve visitor access at the site. A design for the display of the Friary’s carved stone features is also being finalized. The project is expected to cost € 100,000.

In a letter to Ennis Town Council, Marie O’Gallagher, of the OPW’s National Monument’s section, explained that the OPW is implementing “plans for the protection and presentation of the significant collection of medieval carved stone features and in improving visitor access to the site”.

Cllr Johnny Flynn had called on the OPW to open up the Friary for “wider public use, educational, cultural and community purposes within a management plan to increase its relevance to residents and visitors”.

Ms Gallagher said that work on the project, which will include a wire mesh to provide security for the display area and deter birds and wildlife, is due to be complete by the end of 2011.

She added, “However it is not envisaged that this space will be available for wider public use or communitybased events. It is anticipated that the site will re-open to visitors in 2012.”

CLARE’S very own ‘horse whisperer’ will be on hand at the Galway Horse Show at the weekend, aiming to give a little TLC to 1,000 animals.

Gina Syver from Tulla is a qualified equine touch practitioner, having trained in the practice for two years.

And with Saturday being National Equine Awareness Day, Gina will be demonstrating how her technique can help.

“People think that troublesome horses have an innate badness in them but I don’t believe that’s true. In almost 100 per cent of cases, there is pain at to root of a horse giving grief,” Gina told The Clare People .

Equine touch is a discipline which was developed by Scotsman Jock Ruddock, who worked as a professional wrestler.

It started out with he and his fellow wrestlers learning to give each other therapeutic massage while on tour. With his wife, Ivana, he developed and adapted the system to treat horses and the practice is now fully accredited in the UK.

“Equine touch is a gentle hands on soft tissue bodywork technique which encourages tight muscles to relax, stimulates blood circulation, reduces pain and boosts the immune system, helping the whole body to improve its functionality,” said Gina. She has even worked with horses considered to be too dangerous to handle to return them to being gentle animals.

As well as treating injured and traumatized animals, Gina is starting to teach the technique, which takes two years and a series of studies and examines to qualify.

Gina and some of her students will be on hand at the show on Saturday and Sunday.

“To celebrate Equine Awareness Day, we want people to bring their animals to us to work on. There will be other people working at other centres to help us achieve our 1,000 horses target, so come along and let us give a demonstration of the technique.”

Anyone travelling to the show can find Gina at the green Equine Connect lorry near showjumping arenas one and two or call her on 087 9021666.

A JUDGE has warned two teenagers involved in a burglary in Kilrush that they must work with the probation services or face prison sentences.

Judge Carroll Moran was speaking at Ennis Circuit Court on Monday (May 30) at the case of Warren O’Donnell (19), of Moore Street, Kilrush,

Mr O’Donnell is charged with aggravated burglary and assault at Kilrush on November 12 2008.

Another teenager, who was 13 when the incident occurred and cannot be named, is also charged in connection with the burglary.

Assault victim, Domingos Semedo, said in a victim impact statement read in court by a Portuguese interpreter that the incident had changed his life and forced him to give up work for a period of four months.

He stated that he had lost out in just over € 17,000 in wages. This figure was disputed by Pat Whyms, Counsel for O’Donnell.

Mr Whyms questioned how Mr Semedo could have lost out on € 17,000 when he had only moved to Kilrush four days prior to the incident.

Mr Semedo, who was not in court, stated that he went through a “very stressful” period, adding, “I still wake up thinking about the incident…I still have nightmares.”

While thanking the gardaí for their support and assistance, Mr Semedo stated that he was “very disappointed with the criminal justice system in Ireland” as he did not think the “aggressors” would be punished.

“It would help to know that the aggressors got a sentence”, he added.

Mr Whyms said his client had got into “more serious difficulties” since 2008 and was currently serving a prison sentence.

He said probation reports had indicated that his client needed ongoing addiction and psychological counseling.

Judge Carroll Moran said he was “very concerned” about Mr O’Donnell’s subsequent offences.

He adjourned the matter for 12 months.

He added that if there isn’t a “glowing report from the probation services”, the accused faced possible three year jail sentences.

IT’S a long way from Peru to Clare but thankfully not too long for one Shannon worker.

Delia O’Malley, a machine operator with Ei Electronics, received the surprise of a lifetime last week when six members of her family touched down in Shannon after completing the 6,000-mile trip from their native Peru.

The visiting party included Delia’s parents Leonidas Zarate (94) and Dolores Zarate (85), two brothers and two sisters.

The family re-union was complete when another of Delia’s sisters flew in from Barcelona, while two other siblings also live in Ireland.

Mother-of-one Delia, who moved to Shannon 11 years ago, said she got a shock when she heard her parents had come to Ireland.

She said, “This is the first time they have travelled here together. My mother was here two years ago but my father has never been over here. He was born in 1917. When I was told they were coming, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I didn’t know they were coming.”

The visit to Ireland is Leonidas’ first trip abroad since attending the World Cup in 1986.

Delia added, “It’s amazing they came. My Dad is 94 my mother is 85. We have a family of 12 and all the kids are still alive.”

The family, who originally hail from Cajamarca in northern Peru near the Andes Mountains, have enjoyed their trip to Ireland. She said, “They love it except there are no mountains. Everything is green and so flat. They think it’s a park.”

CLARE will represent Ireland in the hugely prestigious Tall Ships race later this month, with the county flying the Irish flag internationally thanks to Celtic Mist, the yacht formerly belonging to Taoiseach Charles Haughey that’s now the property of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) that’s headquartered in Kilrush.

IWDG co-ordinator Dr Simon Berrow has revealed that the 17-metre steel-hulled yacht has been given a new home at Kilrush Creek Marina in a berth that has been sponsored by Shannon Development.

In April, the IWDG was offered the yacht as a gift from the Haughey fam- ily to support its work on the study and conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoise in Irish waters.

“It was a very generous offer from the Haughey family, but the IWDG had to explore the condition and feasibility of running such a large vessel,” said Dr Berrow. “We commissioned a number of independent surveys and have thoroughly inspected the yacht and are happy it is in good sea-worthy condition and has been well maintained. We have estimated maintenance and other costs and prepared a business plan. The Celtic Mist is a resource for all those interested in promoting marine research and conservation in Ireland,” he added.

“Celtic Mist is a very suitable ves- sel for the IWDG. It will provide an opportunity to increase the skills of the members so that they can become more effective in their work, be it at an amateur or professional level,” said IWDG director Fiacc Ó Brolacháin. “I am happy that the boat is to be put to good use on a project that was close to my father’s heart,” said Conor Haughey ahead of Celtic Mist’s arrival in Kilrush, the town Charles Haughey was made a freeman of in 1985.

Before coming to Kilrush, the yacht will take part in the Tall Ships Race in Waterford on June 30. After being berthed in Shannon Developmentowned Creek Marina it will be refitted with extra berths and equipped with IWDG research equipment.

RURAL communities in West Clare are being urged to get involved in their local community alert schemes, which were relaunched yesterday.

Several schemes have been up and running for some time and were reignited at a function at Kilrush Garda Station last night.

Schemes have been in existence in several West Clare areas including Labasheeda, Ballynacally, Kildysart, Cranny, Coolmeen, Kilmihil, Knockerra, Cooraclare, Doonbeg, Carrigaholt and Kilkee and a new scheme has been set up in Killimer.

A chairperson and secretary is elected in each scheme and they liaise with local gardaí. District meetings, involving all of the schemes, take place a few times a year, at which any issues in the various areas can be raised.

Garda Eoin Daly, who is responsible for the schemes in the Kilrush Garda District, is encouraging new people to get involved.

“We are continuing with existing schemes and setting up more schemes in villages.

“We want new members. People in the various parishes run them themselves,” he said.

Gardaí liaise with the representatives of the groups and offer advice on such issues as intruder alarms, smoke alarms and general security advice.

They also urge members of the community to contact garda stations with any issues or concerns that they may have.

“Neighbourhood Watch schemes have been ongoing in Kilrush for the past few years. Community Alerts are more for the rural areas,” said Gda Daly.

“People can talk to their representatives and bring an issue to them and this can be passed on to their local gardaí.

“We urge people to be vigilant, for instance documenting registrations of strange vehicles. We stress the importance of making note of anything suspicious and ring us,” added Gda Daly.

Gardaí are keen that similar schemes are set up in every parish and village and anyone interested in getting involved should contact their local garda or Kilrush Garda Station on 065 9051017.

A FORMER teacher in Scariff Community College who passed away last year after a long illness has been honoured in the east Clare school by the creation of a garden in her memory.

Andrea McMahon was a value member of staff at the community college for 30 years, teaching Irish, French and Religious at the school from the time she joined the teaching staff in 1980.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan performed the special blessing and dedication ceremony, while students marked the occasion by publishing a two-page remembrance of Ms McMahon in their annual magazine, Anoir

“I always found her very inspiring as a teacher. As a student I felt that I could talk to Ms McMahon about any problem I might have had. I found her to be a sympathetic person” said Edel Broderick.

Retired principal John S. Kelly contributes a special reflection to the magazine and concludes,

“Isn’t it sad that it is so often in the parting that we finally recognise uniqueness,” said retired principal John S Kelly. “I feel that Andrea, who is surely listening to us now, might be inclined to say, ‘Now continue the good work which you are doing in facilitating the education of our young people in East Clare.

“Continue to work as a close-knit community of teachers, students and parents, always treating each other with dignity and fellowship.’ In that way, perhaps, we best respect and honour her memory.”

PLANS to cut teaching supports to children with special needs have been criticised by parents in Clare.

The Department of Education and Science announced last week that supports to children would be cut by 10 per cent next year.

Schools and parents groups are seeking clarification from the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, on what the impact of the planned cuts will be.

According to Bunratty mother Emer Sherry, parents are “extremely stressed” about the proposed cuts.

Ms Sherry, whose 10-year-old son Jack has cerebral palsy, said, “It appears that children in Clare may be affected by the proposed plan if the withheld 10 per cent of the allocation is needed for unforeseen applications.

“My question to the minister is: can you guarantee that my child, and all other primary and secondary school children with special needs and disabilities in Clare, will have their full complement of resource hours from September on? Resource hours are not inefficiencies that need to be cut; they are essential to ensure full inclusion and access to education for all our children.”

Ms Sherry, who is the Clare representative for the Special Needs Parents Association and the chairperson of Connect Abilities, a parent support group in Southeast Clare, said that the cutbacks “do not make sense”.

“He (Jack) needs five resource hours a week. These cutbacks do not make sense, especially when you think that there are all these inefficiencies in the public service that could be dealt with.”

She added, “It is extremely stressful. It’s going to be the end of September before we know what is going to happen.”

Schools have already submitted applications for next term’s teaching supports. The principal of one of Clare’s largest primary schools said that the implications of the cuts are still being assessed by schools.

Ray McInerney of Ennis National School, added, “One thing is for certain, the people who have the greatest need are going to be hit the hardest.”

John Burns, principal of Barefield national school said the impact of the cutbacks is not yet known.

He added, “Any cutbacks in special needs supports is detrimental. We are still assessing the impact as it relates to Barefield.”

GARDAÍ have warned boat owners to be vigilant after the Killaloe Coast Guard Unit was called out on a major search on foot of an empty boat being spotted adrift on the lake.

The search was stood down after it was established that the boat was one of two which had been reported stolen.

The Coast Guard was tasked on Saturday by Valentia MRSC when a fisherman reported a fishing boat adrift on the lower lake below Killaloe.

There was no-one on board the boat when it was spotted.

The fisherman had seen a person on the same boat an hour and a half beforehand and, as the boat keys and life jacket were still on board, a major search of the area was conducted by the Killaloe Coast Guard Rib “DALTON”, Rescue 115, the Irish Coast Guard Helicopter from Shannon and a land search team from Killaloe Coast Guard.

On investigation, it was discovered that two boats from the local area had been stolen during the previous night and that the boat found adrift was one of these. After 45 minutes, the search was stood down as nothing was found.

Gardaí have advised boat owners to check their vessels and to take precautions to ensure that thieves can’t take boats which are moored on the lake.

The warning comes after a number of thefts of boat engines from vessels in Killaloe. The outboard engines are valuable and are being resold.

Gardai are asking anyone in the boating community who is offered an engine under suspicious circumstances to contact them.

THE Burren is set to become the holiday destination of choice for thousands of Leaving Cert geography students following a new initiative to promote the world-class geology of the North Clare National Heritage Site.

The Burren has already been designated as a special area of study on the Leaving Cert curriculum with dozens of secondary schools already using local businesses such as the Burren Outdoor Activity Centre as part of their study.

It is hoped that a number of new publications on the geology of the Burren, which were launched last week by Clare County Council through the Burren Connect Project, will help drastically increase the numbers coming to the Burren as geological tourists.

“The Burren is one of the main case-study areas on the Leaving Cert geography course and the idea of this is to encourage that and also to encourage more school to visit the Burren as part of their study and to generate a bit of business locally. Quite a number of schools from all over the west already come to the Burren for this and the hope is that we can improve what they get out of the experience and increase the number who visit,” said Ronan Hennessy, geologist with the Burren Connect project.

“We paid a lot of visits to schools which we were putting this together – to test out what the interest was and to see what people knew in the school – and that influenced us greatly in putting together the different publications.”

The booklet will be circulated to school and tourist outlets in the Burren area and will be available for free to everyone on the internet. Geological tourism has been on the increase in the Burren in recent times and is currently seen as a vital part of the area’s new eotourism product.

“This is about raising the profile of the local geology with the businesses who are directly involved with it people like The Cliffs of Moher, the Burren Centre, The Burren Outdoor Education Centre, BurrenBeo, The National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Clare Farm Tourism Co-Op. They were our closest partners on this but the idea is to promote this among all the businesses in the Burren so it becomes a bigger and bigger part of the overall tourism product in Clare,” continued Ronan.

“The hope is to continue to bring businesses together so that when a tourist does come with questions the local people have the knowledge to help them find out the answer. It’s about bringing all the businesses together and having everyone singing off the same hymn sheet,” added Ronan.

These publication have been brought about by the GeoNeed Project, which is an joint Irish, Finish and Icelandic initiative coordinated in Ireland by the Burren Connect Project. For more information or to download a copy of all the publications, visit www.geoneed.org.