Category: News

DETAILS of the 2011 Ennis Book Club Festival will be announcned in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis tonight, Tuesday, January 11, at 7.30pm.

The festival will run at venues around Ennis from March 6-11. The programme will include authors’ readings, lectures, music, workshops, exhibitions and more.

Among the contributors to last year’s festival were Lionel Shriver, prolific journalist and Orange Prizewinning author and Joseph O’Connor, journalist, screenwriter and author of ten Irish number one bestsellers

Supported by Clare County Library, the three-day programme of events is expected to attract hundreds of Book Club members and book lovers from all over Europe and North America. The festival programme features author visits, readings, lectures and workshops, exhibitions, walking history tours, musical entertainment and chocolate tasting in various venues around Ennis.

It also includes a ‘Book Club of the Year Award’ and a professional development workshop for library staff.

The winning Book Club (up to a maximum of six people) will receive a prize of free weekend passes to festival events and overnight accommodation at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis.

The inaugural Ennis Book Club Festival was held in 2007. Past participants have included Patrick McCabe, John Boyne, Carlo Gébler, Edna O’Brien, Joanne Harris, Brian Keenan and Roddy Doyle.

Previous festivals have also attracted literary enthusiasts from all over North America and Europe, including members from many of Ireland’s 150 Library Book Clubs and more than 300 Private Book Clubs, thus proving that literature and books are still thriving in Ireland.

WITH just six days until the Fianna Fáil convention, the party which was traditionally considered the political strong hold in Clare is struggling to even find candidates.

Fianna Fáil has been thrown into further turmoil with the retirement of Minister Tony Killeen (FF), leaving sitting TD Timmy Dooley as the only sure candidate prior to the convention.

The number of candidates to be selected on Sunday is also unclear, with no direction as yet from the party’s head office.

Up to last Wednesday the party was scouring west Clare for a third candidate, sure that its two sitting TDs would again contest the General Election.

Now just days before the convention, and it is not only struggling to find the much talked about candidate from the west, but any candidate that will appeal universally to a very disgruntled electorate.

As Minister Killeen stepped down early indications were that the party were Keane to return to the Daly days, with five names to the fore solicitor and Kilkee native Marina Keane, who has repeatedly refused any approach to run; former Clare hurling star and Dublin manager Anthony Daly; Ronan Daly, son of former TD Brendan Daly; Eire Óg football manager and former Lissycasey footballer Martin Daly, and Ennis councillor Pat Daly (FF).

Anthony Daly was quick to rule out a career in politics, preferring to leave his running to Dublin hurling training sessions.

Cllr Pat Daly, who has worked closely with Minister Killeen for more than 18 years, is also thought to be out of the running on medical grounds.

Other possible candidates being suggested since the stepping down of Killeen are three Fianna Fáil members from the north of the county or with strong connections with the area.

Among those suggested is Dr John Hillery, son of the late president Dr Patrick Hillery and former president of the Irish Medical Council.

The Dublin-based medic still retains strong ties with his ancestral home.

Inagh woman Michelle Moroney, who contested the local election for the party in 2009 is seen as another contender, but many favour Spanishpoint school principal Mary Crawford.

The principal at St Joseph’s Secondary School would be strongly supported not only by the Killeen camp, but also the Daly camp if Ronan Daly was not to contest the election.

The north Clare woman would also provide an ideal geographical location for the party if she were to be selected.

In the west of the county Coora- clare county councillor Bill Chambers is also in the running as a candidate, with many hoping CEO of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce Rita McInerney will return to the Fianna Fáil fold to run as a candidate, having ran as an independent candidate in the local elections.

While Minister for Defence Tony Killeen (FF) is confident that with the right candidates selected Fianna Fáil can retain two seats, many within the party are preparing for a difficult and disappointing election.

Sources close to the party say that as of the beginning of this week finding candidates for the convention is proving difficult, without even looking as far ahead as the general election.

HE DIDN’T want to go. He was never as sure of a seat entering an election having seen poll after poll declaring him a shoe in. He was at the peak of his political career and was preparing for the fight.

But medical advice and “appraisals” of his health meant Minister for Defence Tony Killeen was forced to bow out of contesting the General Election on Wednesday last.

The Corofin man does not hide his disappointment at having to retire from politics, and said the decision was so sudden and so against what he wanted to do in his heart that he has no plans for after the votes are counted.

“It is a question that has completely stumped me. I had a lot of work done and a huge election team lined up,” he told The Clare People .

He will not be returning to teaching, having retired from the profession, and will spend some time rest- ing before he makes up his mind.

Having battled with cancer for the last number of years, Minister Killeen’s decision was made he said on health grounds.

“The medical stuff was not encouraging and family were adamant when they told me to cop on,” he said.

Prior to Christmas he had begun work on the election determined to be a candidate but having agreed that an election would be difficult given his health, he said he feared that if he stayed in the race he would have to pull out at the last minute and scupper a new candidate.

Despite being disappointed that he is now out of one the most hotly contested general elections in Clare in years, he has promised to immerse himself in campaigning for other Fianna Fáil candidates.

And despite all the national opinion polls, the out-going Minister for Defence is confident that Fianna Fáil in Clare can still win two seats in the Banner County, against most odds.

A 10-MONTH baby boy living in Shannon is recovering in hospital, having sustained serious injuries including a burn mark, two broken arms, a broken leg and multiple bruising.

The baby was taken to hospital a week ago and the circumstances surrounding the injuries is the subject of a major garda investigation.

The extent of the injuries sustained by the baby were revealed during a weekend court sitting, where a man was charged with assaulting the boy’s mother.

While nobody has been charged with assaulting the baby, the matter is being investigated by gardaí and the HSE.

Larry Connors (18), with an address at Town Court, Shannon, is facing three charges of assaulting his 18-year-old partner in Shannon on various dates in December. Two of the incidents are alleged to have happened at Tullyvarraga, Shannon; one on December 31 and the other between December 1 and 31.

The other incident is alleged to have taken place at the library in Tullyvarraga, Shannon, on December 2 last.

He was brought before a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday, where bail was granted despite garda objections on the grounds that the alleged victim would be “terrorised” by the accused.

Garda David Laing told the court that Mr Connors was arrested in Shannon last Thursday evening. In reply to charge, he said: “I didn’t do it.”

Defence solicitor Caitriona Carmody was granted free legal aid for her client, who is unemployed.

She also applied for bail, pending the hearing of the matter.

However, Inspector Tom Kennedy said gardaí were opposing this for two reasons.

KILKEE woman Marina Keane has ruled herself out of the race for the Dáil, but hasn’t ruled out running in the future.

The 30-year-old solicitor is heavily involved in the Fianna Fáil party in Clare and was approached by party officials to run in the forthcoming election.

While she did consider contesting the election – in the aftermath of sitting TD Tony Killeen announcing his retirement from politics last week – she decided over the weekend that she would not run.

“I’ve ruled myself out. I’ve made the decision not to go. I did give it serious consideration after Tony Killeen stepped down. I did come under pressure last week and was asked to stand. There is an appetite there for a candidate from west Clare and I think people did want a west Clare name on the ticket, but you have to take personal circumstances and work circumstances into account,” she told The Clare People .

She has chosen to concentrate primarily on her career as a solicitor, in the short-term at least. She currently works as a solicitor with Michael Houlihan’s office in Ennis, having graduated from Blackhall Place four years ago.

“I’m still young enough and I am fairly early starting out in my legal career and I want to progress that. I also want to work on reform within the party. I’d like to work with the party on a national level. There has obviously been some damage done to the party over the past couple of years. We need to work on communications in the party,” she said.

Marina grew up in a Fianna Fáil house in Kilkee. Her father Pat has been a county councillor since 1991 and is a former mayor of Clare. She has been a key member of his election campaign team for several years. It’s not the first time that Marina’s name has been linked to the political stage. Her name was mentioned as a possible candidate in the 2007 General Election, but she similarly took the decision at that time not to stand.

She became a member of Ógra Fianna Fáil in Clare at the age of 19 and is currently a Kilrush Comhairle Ceantair representative to the Comhairle Dáil Ceantair.

She is highly regarded in Fianna Fáil circles in Clare and recently worked on the party’s county strategy, aimed at bringing about reform. She has also worked on various subcommittees in the county.

“That’s something I would like to continue to work on in the future; reform in the party,” she said.

“I would never rule anything out. However, my priorities are now on progressing my legal career and working in the Comhairle Ceantair,” she said.

“I’d never say never. It is something that might arise in the future. You can only assess things as they arise,” she said.

PLANS to introduce new charges at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park are an attempt to “stop a couple of cute hoors” from not paying for the use of facilities there, a meeting has heard.

The comments were made last week by councillor Brian Meaney (Green) as Ennis Town Council heard calls for and against the introduction of charges for use of the Lees Road cross-country track.

Draft byelaws containing the new charges have gone out for public consultation, as confusion exists over what area of the 29-acre woodland site the charges relate to.

While the cross-country track follows a path through the woods, Town Clerk Eddie Power explained that the track also encompasses a “green landscaped area” at the rear of astro turf pitch and synthetic running track.

Speaking at the January meeting of Ennis Town Council, Mr Power said that some clubs and individuals are using the lighted area to train but were not paying for it.

Clubs and individuals are currently charged for the use of the synthetic running track, playing pitches and astro turf facilities but not for the cross-country track. Mr Power said new charges are being considered in the interests of fairness and consistency.

“Organisations are using that area because it is free, deliberately. Clearly that’s unfair,” he said.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said that given the availability of shower and dressing room facilities, the proposed € 2 charge for individuals is “not a whole lot to pay”. He added, “I may not be too popular asking people to pay € 2 for a facility we’ve never had before.”

Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said he supported no change in current system of charges but later added that he had “serious concerns” if lighting at Lees Road was facilitating night-time access to the cross-country track.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) proposed that the council consider introducing a new method of payment for use of facilities at Lees Road. He said there had to be a “charge of some description” for the cross-country track.

Cllr Meaney asked if the track in its current form could accurately be described as a cross-country running track.

“Until we correct the design deficiencies, I don’t think we could charge for it. Unless people wanted to give a voluntary charge,” he said. Cllr Meaney said the charges were an attempt by the council to stop “a couple of cute hoors” from not paying. He added, “We have to find a different way of dealing with it.”

AN INCIDENT in which a quilt was set on fire while a woman was lying on it was described yesterday by a judge as “unique”.

Judge Carroll Moran made the comment after hearing that were it not for gardaí who fought smoke and fumes, two people would have been killed in an apartment fire in Ennis. The woman lying on the quilt when it was set alight suffered what was described in court as “horrific” injuries.

Michael Keane (44), of Cappamore, Barefield, admitted setting alight a quilt, which created substantial risk of death or serious harm, at Childers Road, Ennis, on July 2, 2008. He also admitted causing harm to Josephine Moloney and pleaded guilty to arson, on the same date.

Sergeant Mark Murphy told Ennis Circuit Court that gardaí received a call indicating that people were trapped in a house fire. On arrival gardaí heard a male voice calling.

“Visibility was nil. Garda Derek Williams couldn’t see. He was using touch. Because of the smoke and heat, his only sense was touch. He went in at least three times. He had to come out to catch his breath,” said Sgt Murphy.

He said that the accused was living in the apartment and Ms Moloney was co-habiting with him. Both had been drinking and an argument took place in relation to a missing mobile phone.

He said that Ms Moloney lay on a quilt on the floor in the bedroom and the accused threatened to set fire to it, if he wasn’t given the phone. He then set fire to a thread of two inches on the corner of the quilt with a cigarette lighter.

“He stamped out the flame. He said he thought it was quenched. He then went in to the bathroom and read The Irish Times for 10 to 15 minutes,” said Sgt Murphy.

When he came out of the bathroom, Keane smelt smoke and saw that the living room was full of smoke. He called Ms Moloney and tried to get water from the bathroom to quench the fire, said Sgt Murphy, but “he didn’t make the bathroom. We assume he fell unconscious at that time”.

Keane and Ms Moloney were both rescued from the house and were tak- en to hospital with serious injuries.

Ms Moloney (41) sustained serious injuries. She suffered second degree burns to several parts of her body, including to her face, ear, neck, chest, arm, hand, abdomen and thigh.

Judge Moran said: “I have been sitting as a judge for over 13 years and have been doing crime (cases) for most of that time. I really haven’t come across a case like this before. It’s quite unique. I really don’t know how to approach this. I’ll sleep on it.”

He adjourned sentencing until March.

AN inability to effectively collect payment and perceived unfairness were the main arguments against increased charges at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Ground, put forward at a meeting in Ennis last week.

Speaking at the January meeting of Ennis Town Council, Councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) described the facilities available at Lees Road as “first rate”.

However, he added that it would be unfair to introduce charges for the cross-country track at a time when many people are experiencing financial difficulties.

Cllr Flynn said he opposed the charges as the area to which they would apply was not fenced off. He claimed this would make it “virtually impossible to police”.

He said the fact that the charge doesn’t grant an individual or team “exclusive” use of the track was another reason for leaving the current system unchanged.

He said, “The cross country track has generally been available and has been free.”

Cllr Flynn, who submitted a motion calling on the council not to introduce new charges, said it was important the council do nothing to discourage people from taking up walking or running.

Outlining her opposition to the proposed charges, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) questioned how the area would be policed and how the charge would be implemented on a fair basis to all.

Clr Howard also expressed concern over how the council would distinguish between clubs and individuals when charging for the use of facilities.

She said she had discussed the proposal with Clare Sports Partnership and Marian Athletic Club and other users of Lees Road.

In a statement yesterday, John Sweeney, co-ordinator with Clare Sports Partnership, said he had “no comment to make regarding Lees Road at this point”.

Responding to comments from Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) that charges should exist given the availability of dressing rooms and showers, Cllr Howard said that most walkers and runners using the cross country running track go straight home afterwards anyway and “don’t use the showers”.

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) told the meeting that he was also opposed to the charges.

A CLARECASTLE man who scored a multi-million euro windfall during the property boom has said he will run as a candidate in the forthcoming General Election.

73-year-old JJ McCabe told

RESIDENTS have echoed calls made by the mayor of Ennis for certain details of a lease agreement between Ennis Town Council and Clare Youth Service over a new youth and community building to be made public.

The centre, which is under construction at Cloughleigh Road, has been the subject of two public protests, while last year almost 90 people attended an unscheduled meeting at the Council Chamber in Waterpark House, presided over by then mayor of Ennis, Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind).

Residents in the Cloughleigh area are opposed to the location of the building and were also disappointed by the council’s approach to the consultation process that led to the site being chosen.

While Ennis Town Council is the contracting authority for the € 531,581.70 construction project, it is intended to lease the building to the Clare Youth Service who will deliver a range of programmes to teenagers and young adults ranging from 13 to 21 years.

The lease agreement was raised at last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. According to the residents’ spokesperson, Geraldine Dinan, many people living in the area were surprised to learn the matter had come back before the council.

She said residents had met with the council on three occasions between September and December 2010, to discuss concerns over the “general running” of the building.

“We were surprised that it came up at the meeting. We would’ve hoped that we might’ve been informed about the lease,” she said.

Ms Dinan explained that residents did not have an issue with the length of the 10-year lease but added that many elderly residents are worried about the proposed opening hours of the building.

She said, “Most buildings like this are in the middle of a town or in the middle of the community, but this one is different. The concerns are not unreasonable. We would hope that they would be taken into account.”

Speaking at the January meeting of Ennis Town Council, mayor of Ennis Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) repeated his call for details of the building’s opening hours to be brought before the council before the lease is signed.

“We gave a commitment to residents in opening hours,” he said.

Cllr Brennan added, “I would insist that we see the lease. I was the one who insisted that the terms on conditions be brought before the council…We gave a commitment to people about the conditions and they are the people who elected us.”