Category: News

IT’S now cheaper to fly one way from Shannon to Dublin than to make the same journey from Clare by rail.

The new Aer Arann fare of €39.99 one-way comes in cheaper than a one-way rail fare of €41.50 from Ennis.

The weekday flight has been in operation since July 3, departing Dublin at 4pm and Shannon at 5.25pm with a flight time of 50 minutes.

Passengers who want to use the new flight are mostly travelling on the Aer Lingus breakfast flight and using the new route in the evening for their return.

A spokeswoman for Aer Arann said that they were using the service as a barometer of demand and the airline would look at putting on more connections if the demand were there.

“Several years ago, we had three connections a day between Shannon and Dublin, but the expected demand didn’t materialise at that time. We will be monitoring the new service and would consider more flights if the numbers are there.”

The CEO of Ennis Chamber of Commerce, Rita McInerney, said that the service “is to be welcomed and we are lucky that we have the option of both the train and flights.”

She added that what many business people would opt for is to use the flight one way and also buy a return train ticket.

“People have time to use the return ticket again, particularly for travellers who go to Dublin regularly. What would be good would be if there were extra flight connections on either airline between Dublin and Shannon, one early in the day and one late so that people could book their travel with one airline. It would be more efficient and economical. The train is also proving very popular, particularly since there were extra connections put on for Ennis,” said McInerney.

The current return fare on the train is €48.50 for a five-day return.

A spokeswoman for Iarnrod Eireann said that the fare represents good value when compared to flying, both in terms of cost and convenience.

“With the train, you are right into the heart of the city. A flight means passengers travelling first to Shannon and then getting into Dublin from the airport. That can take an hour or more with traffic.”

THE number of US troops going through Shannon Airport since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is set to breach the one million barrier before the end of the year.

Making the prediction, peace activist, Ed Horgan told The Clare People : “I find the whole thing appalling and a gross breach of Irish neutrality. I am equally concerned at the acceptance of this by the Irish people.”

The number of troops going through Shannon since the start of 2002 is almost at 900,000 and figures released by the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) confirm that record number of troops have passed through Shannon in the first six months of this year.

The airport authority confirmed that 209,074 US soldiers used the airport facilities from January to the end of June – a rise of 36 per cent on the corresponding period last year.

The troop traffic is believed to have generated €26 million in revenues for the SAA, delivering over €4.5 million in profits for the authority, in the first six months.

However, the numbers are now set to drop dramatically with the largest carrier, World Airways having pulled out of Shannon on July 1.

A spokeswoman for the SAA said that the carrier accounted for 50 per cent of the US troop passenger traffic going through Shannon.

The relocation of World Airways to Leipzig in Germany is expected to cost the airport authority €4.5 million in profits per annum.

The spokeswoman confirmed that during the month of June, 31,333 troops passed through on 189 flights. This followed 32,000 going through on 195 flights in May and 29,291 troops on 190 flights in April. The figure for the second quarter shows that 92,624 troops passed through Shannon, down on the 116,540 troops that used Shannon in the first three months.

The airline pulled out in 2003 to relocate to Frankfurt before returning to Shannon in 2005. Three other airlines transporting US troops to Iraq continue to use Shannon: North Western Airlines, American Transair and Omni Air International.

MINISTER of State, Tim O’Malley, has called for the Limerick to Galway road to be speeded up and has also backed calls for a direct rail link to the airport as part of plans for the Western Rail Corridor.

Minister O’Malley said that the proposed completion date for the road of 2014 was too far away.

“This project must be brought forward by at least three years and be completed not later than 2011,” the Limerick East TD said.

He added that he was hopeful of getting cooperation from his colleagues in Government in having the plan brought forward.

“The Limerick to Galway motorway should be completed at or around the same time as the motorways linking Dublin to the major cities. I believe this is now achievable. If I can get support from my colleagues in Government for this, then this project could be completed by 2011, up to three years ahead of schedule,” he said.

Pointing to the need for a link from the Western Rail Corridor to the airport, he said that he was “confident there will be positive announcements in this area shortly.”

A MAN who assaulted his ex-wife’s partner has been jailed for six months.

Michael McNamara (52), of Ballycoree, Gort Road, Ennis, assaulted Wayne King, outside the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis, on September 11, 2005.

He was also convicted of a charge of criminal damage, for which he received a 10month jail sentence, suspended on condition that he pay compensation.

Wayne King, of Charleville, Cork, told the court he lives with the accused’s former wife, Susan. He said he and Susan were to meet the accused outside the Auburn Lodge on September 11.

Mr King said Susan got out of his car and the accused sat in beside him.

“He said, “You f***ing c***. I’ll kill you,” and hit me a slap into the face. He continued to strike me on my head. . . I was covered in blood,” said Mr King in court.

He said the accused then got a hurley and struck the front of his car with it, before striking the wing mirror with his fist. The total damage to the car was €1,120. Mr King said he suffered a broken nose in the assault.

The accused’s solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said while her client was pleading guilty to the assault charge, he was denying the criminal damage charge.

“My client will say you hit him into the face. He then snapped and hit you a couple of slaps,” she said. Mr King denied hitting the accused.

Mr McNamara told the court that Mr King was having a good “skit” at him and he then sat into the car beside him.

“He lashed out at me inside the car and I lashed out at him,” said the accused.

“I didn’t touch the car with the hurley. I got the hurley to protect myself,” he added.

Ms Godfrey said her client acted “completely out of character” on the date in question and had been extremely upset at his marriage breakdown.

Judge Joseph Mangan convicted the accused of two charges and jailed him for six months. He fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.

A SUSPECTED CIA jet believed to be involved in the secret rendition of prisoners and which is listed by Statewatch, the organisation which monitors state and civil liberties in the European Union, landed at Shannon Airport on Saturday.

The Boeing 737-33A is listed by Statewatch as part of the CIA fleet, and has been the subject of questions in the British parliament in recent months. The airplane slipped unhindered into Shannon on Saturday and according to local activists, “left an hour earlier without any queries from the local authorities.”

The aircraft, which is also known to have visited Guntanamo, Cuba in the past, had no visible identifying markings apart from a tail number and a coloured stripe. It landed at Shannon on Saturday afternoon at around 1pm and spent a little over an hour on the ground, before departing shortly after 2pm. There was tight security around the plane for the short time it was in Shannon.

The jet, registration number N368CE, is according to official records registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest in Saltlake City and has been sighted in Shannon, Baghdad, Kabul and Frankfurt in recent years.

Anti-war groups believe, however, that this is a cover for what the aircraft is actually used for, the covert transportation of prisoners between Asia and Europe. Official records confirm that the plane commutes regularly between US military bases in Europe and the Middle East.

It is also known that in April 2004, the plane flew from Wilmington in North Carolina to Washington DC and then to Guantanamo in Cuba before returning to Wilmington again via Washington.

The aircraft is also documented on a Luxembourg parliamentary assembly list of 41 “suspect aircraft”. The Luxembourg government has already directed the airport authorities to immediately inform the competent Minister in case a flight plan indicates a planned landing by one of the aircraft mentioned on that list. Unlike Ireland, the authorities in Luxembourg have been instructed to inspect these suspect planes.

Limerick-based peace activist Tim Hourigan said, “This plane is using military bases in Europe and Asia and so it is clear it is being used for military purposes.

“While other countries are banning these suspect planes or at least seeking advance notification of their intention to use certain airports, the Irish Government continues to turn a blind eye and refuses to verify what these planes are being used for and whether they are carrying tortured prisoners through Shannon.”

NEW figures this week reveal that 414 complaints from the public about litter, illegal dumping and unauthorised dumping have been received by Clare County Council. Of these, approximately 65 per cent relate to suspected illegal dumping activities.

The figures have been released as part of an ongoing information campaign by the council to prevent the unauthorised collection and disposal of waste.

“Such illegal activity is inexcusable considering there are four recycling centres, including two transfer stations, 54 recycling bring banks and a central waste management facility located in Clare. It is time to stamp out this crime and raise awareness of the importance of our countryside,” said Sean Ward, Acting Director of Service, Environment Directorate.

The litter laws have increased the council’s powers to combat the problem.

Anyone involved in such activity does not necessarily have to be caught in the act in order to face prosecution. Also, if your waste is collected by an illegal collector and illegally dumped, both you and the illegal collector could face prosecution under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, Waste Management Act 19962000 and Protection of the Environment Act 2003, to a maximum of €130,000.

In addition, leaving or throwing litter in a public place can be subject to an on-the-spot fine of €125, or a maximum fine of €3,000 if you are convicted of a litter offence in the District Court. Clare local authorities issued 205 fines in the first half of 2006 alone.

One of the greatest problems still facing the local authority, according to Mr Ward, is the repeated use of various sites for illegal dumping.

It is suspected that several small Limerick-based operators collect waste from estates in Limerick at cut-price rates, and dispose of it illegally in parts of southeast Clare.

“Numerous locations throughout Clare have become prone to such violations and communities must be vigilant when litter offences present. Once located, the site is investigated and where possible, action taken . . .

Roadside checkpoints are also being held in cooperation with Garda, throughout the county, on a regular basis to try and prevent this form of illegal waste collection,” Mr Ward concluded.

KILFENORA artist and lecturer at the Burren College of Art, Tom Molloy, has been shortlisted for the first-ever Irish-American Arts Awards, which will be presented in New York later this month.

The awards, which were launched by the former US Ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith, in January, are the brainchild of a group of expats currently living in America who are hoping to promote the positive impact that Irish people have had in America in recent times.

Mr Molloy is the Head of Painting at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan and has been teaching at the school for the last 10 years.

“We are delighted for Tom. He is one of the most important artists practicing in Ireland today,” said Professor Timothy Emlyn Jones, Dean of the Burren College.

“He is an artist of considerable standing and I’m not surprised that he was shortlisted. I just hope that he wins it.”

Tom is currently represented by the Rubicon Gallery in Dublin and has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally. Though he shies away from the spotlight, his work can be found in the collections of the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Arts Council of Ireland.

“He doesn’t seek attention but he gets it because of the quality of his work,” continued Professor Jones. “It is important that everyone who teaches at the college is a practicing artist with a good reputation. Tom is wellknown in America but he is also very well thought of all across Europe.”

Born in Waterford, Molloy graduated with a BA and a Masters in Fine Art from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin in 1992. He has presented a number of finely conceived and discrete projects at the Rubicon Gallery since 1995 and has exhibited selectively in public spaces in Ireland.

The others to be nominated in the over-35s category are Meg Cranston from Los Angeles, Maud Cotter from Cork, Maureen Gallace from New York and Mary Kelly from Dublin.

FIANNA Fáil has finally shown its full hand for next year’s general election with the announcement last night that west Clare politician Senator Brendan Daly is to run again.

More than three months after the party convention, Fianna Fáil Headquarters issued a statement saying “the National Constituencies Committee cleared the way for his candidacy after closely consulting the local party organisation.”

The former minister said the move followed the passage of unanimous resolutions by Clare Comhairle Dáil Cheantar and Kilrush Comhairle Cheantair.

“The assurances I have received on a number of important issues for the county and the commitment of leadership to expedite the development of the county hospital in particular, has given me confidence to contest the election and I am confident of being elected and bringing these issues to fruition,” he told The Clare People .

With more than 30 years experience, Senator Daly will be 66-yearsold when he contests the election.

“While there may be comment on my long service as a public representative, it is important to point out that it has given me comprehensive detailed knowledge and experience of parliamentary business and many personal connections in Government departments and in local and Dublin administration . . .

“We must have a strong Fianna Fáil team in Clare to help secure the 24-hour accident and emergency services in Ennis General Hospital, progress sewerage schemes in the county and protect workers’ jobs in Shannon Airport.”

Senator Daly was critical of independent and Green Party candidates.

“At the last election, voters were misled into thinking that voting for an independent candidate would help meet challenges such as Ennis General Hospital and the Ennis by-pass. I believe people in Clare have now recognised the futility of electing an independent candidate who has achieved little for the county and has nothing to offer at this stage.

“There are many changes taking place in agriculture. Fianna Fáil has always made the interests of the farming community a hot priority.

“A change of government, which might be dictated to by a few green TDs, would spell disaster for Irish agriculture,” he added.

He will join Senator Timmy Dooley and Junior Minister, Tony Killeen.

A STUDY into the mental health services in the county has highlighted a number of shortcomings, most notably the need to get patients and clients more involved in their own care plan.

The annual report by the Mental Health Commission also pointed to some improvements in the service, while highlighting previous recommendations that remain unchanged.

Across all the services in the Clare area the commission has recommended that each patient have an individualised care plan that contains a social, psychological, occupational, nursing and medical needs assessment, including a risk assessment, and a documented set of goals collaboratively developed by the patient and the multidisciplinary team. It also recommended reviews of the care plan.

“There must be documented evidence that the patient has been involved in developing his or her care plan, and the patient must have a copy of the care plan. The care plan must be co-ordinated by the patient’s key worker.”

Referring to the acute psychiatric unit in Ennis, it criticised the practice of patients sleeping in other facilities due to bed shortages in the service.

“When bed occupancy is high, some patients area transferred to other units, through new arrangements has just been implemented to cease this practice.”

There is no multidisciplinary care plans in place in the 40-bed unit it emerged. The report recommends that the unit be self staffed to ensure continuity of care, that patients should have access to make drinks an snacks and the bed capacity in the high observation area be reduced.

“Alterations should be made to the seclusion room to ensure adequate ventilation, communication and sanitation,” said the report.

The high observation area currently has no toilet and no communication facility. A shortage of staff was highlighted at Unit Five in St Joseph’s Hospital, which meant some patients cannot be accompanied into town.

“Five of the patients leave the unit unaccompanied to attend church or go to the shop.”

In both Units Five and Six, a shortage of space was recorded.

There is also “no access to a garden for people who spend so much time indoors.”

The HSE has this week blamed the delay in progressing the development of Ennis General Hospital on planning stages to do with “additional costings which had to be done”.

A spokesperson for the HSE told The Clare People that the costings had been completed and would be brought before the National Hospitals Office Capital Steering group on July 20.

Sources suggested this week that the hospital design had been with the financial director of the HSE in Naas for an estimated six weeks.

Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) described the delay in advancing the €20 million redevelopment of the hospital as “unacceptable” and a “disgrace”.

The HSE rather than the Government was the target of the most strident comments made to date by Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) on the Ennis hospital issue.

“We are trying to move ahead with this project and, unfortunately, somebody somewhere in the bowels of the Health Service Executive is not proceeding with or delivering on this project in line with best practice. Such a state of affairs is unacceptable.

“I understand there is a phase two report, which the HSE indicated to Senator Daly and me last week would be signed without delay, but up until yesterday no signature was appended to that document and that has slowed down progress on the project,” he said.

But, Cllr Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) was critical of the senator’s outburst saying that it was time for him to stop trying to mislead the people of Clare, on the Government’s handling of the redevelopment of Ennis General Hospital.

“For the past number of days, Senator Dooley has been tripping over himself, running from newspaper to radio station, in an attempt to spin out a yarn that the delayed start of the hospital’s redevelopment has nothing to do with his hapless Government.

“The bottom line is that the long overdue upgrade of our hospital was put on the long finger some months ago, with the inexplicable and irresponsible decision, by Senator Dooley’s Government, to order a review of all general hospitals, including Ennis.”

A Fianna Fáil councillor and Clare representative on the HSE Forum West, Pat Daly, said he was disappointed that the design had not yet been signed off.

“It is important that the design is moved to the planning stage as soon as possible and not stuck above in a HSE office in Naas.”