Category: News

A BID to build the world’s biggest number of sandcastles and enter into the Guinness Book of Records is being made in Oranmore, County Galway next week.

Following the official opening of the Marine Institute’s new headquarters next week by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, a monster “Pirate Party” and Family Fun Day will take place on Sunday June 11 to celebrate World Ocean Day and to uncover some of the treasures from Ireland’s 220 million acres of ocean territory.

The event is part of celebrations right across the globe to highlight awareness of our oceans and, in particular, is twinned with the World Oceans Festival in Tramore, where the Marine Institute is sponsoring a Guinness Book of Records sandcastle-building competition. The Pirate Party casts off at 11.00 am and finishes at 5.00 pm in the new building at Renville, Oranmore. Admission is free.

Instead of a ship, the buccaneers have pirated a 45-meter long marquee that will be crammed with displays and demonstration tanks. Lectures will take place in the main auditorium of the building.

“NOW that the girls are going to be questioned on what they wore, why they were drinking, why they were talking to the man, they are not even going to go to the guards.

“It took two years with me fighting with myself to go to the guards. The only reason I went was because there were other people involved. I couldn’t think of myself, but there are a lot of people that aren’t going to go and I don’t blame them.

“If I had my choice over again, I wouldn’t go through it. I wouldn’t go to court.”

The angry words of a young Clare woman, who had been through the legal system under debate on Friday.

A number of years ago, she reported a family member for sexually abusing her as a child. But, while she does not regret reporting the abuse, she regrets the ordeal of the prosecution.

“I know from experience, you fight so damn hard to get it to the DPP. It took me nine hours sitting in the Garda station to tell my story,” she told The Clare People .

“Nine hours is a hell of a long time to sit there and pour your heart out.

“Then they decided whether to charge him or not, whether it was worth it,” she added, with tears of frustration in her eyes.

“Then you have to go and sit through a court room, where you are humiliated and treated like you are the perpetrator.

“If I murdered somebody, I wouldn’t be treated as badly as I was in court and that is wrong.”

The young woman, now in her twenties, explains how she lives every day with the ordeal of her young life.

“We live with this absolutely everyday of our lives,” she said, referring to all victims of abuse.

“Then you hear people like this, allowing them back out on the street with a pat on the back saying ‘off you go it wasn’t that serious’.

“You fight so hard to put them in prison and they turn around and let them back out. There is no justice in that. “I was told to stop crying in the court, or the case would be thrown out,” she explained.

“I wasn’t wrong to bring him to court, but there are days I still wake up and feel I did the wrong thing because I was treated so badly,” she said.

Following her day in court, she failed to get a conviction.

THE battle-lines have been drawn as a campaign to prevent the erection of an ESB mast gathers momentum.

Residents attempting to prevent the ESB installing a 30 metre high mast at one of its substations at Cahercalla More, are to take their case to the High Court.

The first legal steps have already been taken, with solicitors acting on behalf of residents seeking to appoint a barrister who will apply to the court for a leave of appeal that will kick start the legal battle.

The controversy has rumbled on since An Bord Pleanála overruled the decision of its own inspector, and that of Clare County Council, to grant the ESB permission to erect the 80 foot high telecommunications mast.

The board’s inspector had strongly recommended against the move, saying it would set an unwelcome precedent in the town.

The proposed site sits in the middle of a densely residential area. The Eire Óg GAA grounds and Cahercalla Hospice are also located nearby.

Residents must finance their action from their own pocket, because Ennis Town Council opted not to pursue a judicial review on foot of receiving legal advice. The locals could incur costs in excess of €80,000, but are determined to fight on.

Spokesperson Noel Mulhaire says that residents living in nearby Riverview have given their support to the campaign.

“Our solicitors have been working over the past week and we have started legal proceedings. It will be expensive and we are going to have to pay the costs, but there is no way we can let this thing go ahead. We have got good support from locals living in Riverview and we have to try and continue to raise money.”

Since the decision by Ennis Town Council not to pursue legal proceedings, there has been no contact between locals and the ESB. Mr Mulhaire says confidence is high that the mast can be stopped.

“We have received good support from councillors, TDs and members of the Oireachtas. We have received strong legal opinion that it couldn’t go ahead and that An Bord Pleannala’s decision to overturn the inspector was outside their jurisdiction. By going down the judicial process, we hope that it can be stopped”

The campaign has also received support from the Rossport Five. Mr Mulhaire said that plans for a protest march were being discussed.

CIE TOURS is the latest company reputed to be showing an interest in buying the Shannon Great Southern Hotel, as part of the Great Southern group package.

The transport company originally sold the hotels to Aer Rianta and business sources have revealed they are now interested in buying them back, as a strategic addition to their steadily growing tour business.

If they make their interest public, CIE will be in the running, along with multimillionaire builder, Bernard McNamara and Choice Hotels, who form one of the groups interested in making a bid.

The group was officially put up for sale last week, but it is understood that the sale could be delayed until July 7, two weeks later than the original deadline.

It is expected that the sale will raise €200 million for the Dublin Airport Authority, which inherited the business on the break-up of Aer Lingus.

The Shannon Great Southern, along with the hotels at Dublin and Cork Airports, are the three hotels in the group to break even.

Galway, Killarney and the luxurious Parknasilla in Kerry – the Taoiseach’s favourite holiday spot – all need major investment and have accumulated losses of €40 million.

The Galway hotel has as many staff as it has bedrooms, while the Corrib is one of the worst performers in the group.

The eight hotels are being offered for sale on an individual basis, or as a portfolio. It is understood there have been more than 100 enquiries received by the advisers.

Shannon independent councillor, Patricia McCarthy, said that given the fact that Shannon was one of the hotels not making losses, it would make sense for the Shannon Airport Authority to have it in their ownership.

“It is catering for a niche market and doing well. It has a strategically very important position being next to Shannon Airport,” said Cllr McCarthy.

She added that the future of the 50 staff was a high priority.

“There is a very high quality and level of service and that should be maintained. I would not like to see any erosion of wages or skills. A minimum wage job just would not be good enough.”

The three-star hotel has a brisk business as the airport “is busy night and day now. There are flights coming in at every hour,” said Cllr McCarthy.

There are 400 permanent workers in the group and part-time employees make up the equivalent of another 300 full-time jobs.

CLARE County Council’s summertime ban on dogs at beaches was being openly flouted within one hour of coming into force at the county’s most popular beach last Thursday.

Dog-owners face fines of up to €1,270 if found on the beach with their dog between 11am and 6pm each day as part of the beach bye-laws introduced across Clare’s beaches on June 1. The ban extends to dogs kept on the leash.

However, at sun-drenched Lahinch last Thursday, the council had yet to erect any signs informing people of the new bye-laws. There were no officials patrolling the beach in the early afternoon to catch anyone in breach of them.

Dog-owner Michael O’Halloran travelled from Clooney in east Clare on Thursday to bring his two labradors for a walk on the beach.

“I have bought two new leads for my two dogs today and I have been told that I can’t walk them on the beach.

“I think it is ridiculous. It doesn’t make any sense. I intend to bring them on the beach. It is a crazy law,” he said.

Carlow woman Evelyn Carroll was on Lahinch prom with her cocker spaniel, Wally.

“A total ban on dogs? What is the world coming to? Ah my God. A curfew? It’s lucky they don’t smoke. What next?” she asked.

Ms Carroll vowed that she would break the new bye-laws.

“It is a beautiful day. I’ll definitely be walking Wally on the beach. I love breaking rules, living on the edge.”

Unaccompanied dogs were also seen on Lahinch beach in the first hours of the ban.

However, the new council ban won the support of mothers of young children at Lahinch.

“I would be very much in favour. My two youngest are scared of dogs and it upsets them to see dogs bounding about.

“My children were building a sandcastle yesterday and a dog fouled nearby with the owner carrying on and he had to be asked to clean it up,” said mother-of-three Sophie Coughlan, on holidays from the UK.

“In the UK, people are very good about scooping, but dogs wouldn’t be banned on the beach.”

“I would be in favour of the new law because I would be very anxious when stray dogs come close to my children. It is not safe,” said mother Jane O’ Shea.

Opposed to the outright ban, Cllr Joe Carey (FG) said if Clare County Council enforced existing laws, there would be no need to introduce the dogs ban.

Cllr Carey said that it was open to the council to enforce the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and 1992 and the Litter Pollution Act 1997.

“There are old signs at Lahinch warning people that they face fines of up to €1,270 if they don’t have their dog on a lead on a beach.

“As far as I’m aware, no-one has ever been fined for having their dog off the lead in Lahinch.

“It is the responsible dog owner that is losing out.

“No-one wants to see any dog fouling or running loose and if the existing laws were enforced, there wouldn’t be the need for this new law which has the potential to damage Clare’s tourism industry if not handled properly.”

However, chair of the Council’s Environment Committee, Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind), said that those people flouting the law were doing all dog owners a dis-service.

“The council is introducing a softly-softly approach at the moment by making people aware of the new laws, but those that flout the laws will be fined.

“There is a silent majority in favour of the new dogs ban and they are hoping that it will be a success,” she said.

Cllr McCarthy said that signage relating to the new laws would be erected on Clare’s beaches at the weekend and that gardaí could now also be called if dog-owners persisted in taking their dogs onto the beach during the prohibited times.

A DRUGS charge against an Ennis man has been dismissed in the District Court.

Brian Greene (30), of Cornmarket Apartments, Mill Road, Ennis, was charged with possession of heroin on July 15 last year.

Sergeant John Brennan told Ennis Court that he obtained a warrant to search the home of the accused. He said that he knocked on the door and got no reply.

“I was aware the tenant was in the apartment. My colleague used a sledge hammer to open the door. The door was locked and there was a chain on the door,” said Sgt Brennan.

A second door, inside the exterior door, was also locked and that was also struck with a sledge hammer.

He said he could see two people sitting in the living quarters of the apartment and his colleague found a syringe and “a very small amount of brownish powder” in the sink.

The tap was running and the accused denied flushing anything down the sink and said he did not see anyone flushing anything down.

He asked the accused why the front door was locked, and was told, “There are people after me . . for security.” He told gardaí the items in the sink were not his.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said there was a party in the apartment the previous night and music was blaring when the gardai called. Sgt Brennan said he had no recollection of loud music.

His colleague, Det Garda Seamus McMahon said he found syringes “lying virtually everywhere in the apartment.”

He recovered a corner of a white plastic bag, containing brown powder, in the kitchen.

Ms Godfrey applied for direction, on a number of grounds. She said that possession was not proved against her client.

Judge Joseph Mangan granted her application and dismissed the case.

AN OFFICIAL report which gives bathing waters in Clare the thumbs up has been welcomed by the county’s mayor.

The EPA’s Bathing Water Quality in Ireland Report 2005 has found Irish bathing water quality to be among the highest in Europe with 96 per cent of bathing areas assessed in full compliance with European Standards.

In Clare, 100 per cent of bathing waters assessed complied with EU minimum standards including all the top summer holiday spots such as: Ballyallia Lake at Ennis, Ballycuggeran, Bishopsquarter, Cappagh Pier at Kilrush, Fanore, Kilkee, Lahinch, Mountshannon at Lough Derg, Spanish Point, White Strand at Doonbeg and White Strand at Miltown Malbay.

Despite meeting these EU standards, a slight reduction in bathing water quality was registered at Ballyallia Lake at Ennis.

The news was welcomed yesterday by the Mayor of Clare, Pat Keane (FF).

“We are delighted to hear this news. It is an indication of how hard the county council has worked for many years to get this result. Now the hard work has paid off – we have the bathing water up to the required standard and we want to keep it there,” the mayor said.

Nationally, a total of 131 designated bathing areas, both seawater and freshwater, were monitored by local authorities throughout the 2005 bathing season.

Commenting on this year’s bathing quality results, Gerard O’Leary, Programme Manager, EPA said: “The EPA are pleased to report that Irish bathing waters remain at a good standard not least in Clare where all but one bathing area assessed complied with both EU minimum mandatory standards and stricter guide values”.

“However, nationally there is a mixed picture with improvements in some areas and deterioration in others. A notable finding in the report highlights the positive effect of wastewater treatment facilities on bathing water quality reflecting the need to invest in treatment facilities in areas of deterioration.”

A total of 131 beaches around Ireland were assessed for compliance with two sets of EU standards: minimum quality standards and more stringent EU Guide Values. The key findings are that: • 126 of the 131 bathing areas (98 per cent) complied with mandatory EU standards. 128 bathing areas complied in 2004. • 191 of the 131 (91 per cent) bathing areas complied with the much stricter EU guidelines standards. 115 bathing areas complied in 2004. • Five bathing areas out of the 131 failed to comply with mandatory EU standards.

THE decision to give the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) permission for a new runway at Dublin Airport has been criticised in a submission by a member of Clare County Council to An Bord Pleanála.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said the decision by Fingal County Council directly contradicted stated Government policy.

“We are approaching a first-quarter review of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) that will show that there has been no delivery of the objectives requiring balanced regional development,” he said, in his submission.

“Currently, the Greater Dublin Area accounts for 48 per cent of national gross value added and more than 40 per cent of national employment. Shannon Airport could comfortably handle more than three times its current throughput.

“An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to Government policy and must rule that capacity in Shannon be utilised to arrest the growing economic imbalance between the Dublin/Belfast region and the rest of the country.”

Cllr Meaney said that the biggest problem facing the development of population outside Dublin was transport infrastructure and the insufficient rollout of broadband.

“The correct approach would be to develop a high-speed rail rib from the east to Shannon Airport. This high-speed rail link would be an integral part of the Shannon Airport facility, with baggage check-in and other pre-flight requirements undertaken en route.

“I am aware that this is already being done in Germany with great success and there is no reason why this innovative concept cannot be applied here.

“The development of Shannon was built around new and innovative ideas with commitment at a political level.”

On the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) lodged with the scheme, Cllr Meaney criticised the lack of alternatives put forward by the DAA.

“Most significant is the argument used that expansion of Shannon ‘would require significant surface area access to infrastructure projects to be implemented (road/rail), in order to allow those who wish to travel to the Greater Dublin Area to reach their destinations’.

“This does not address the fact that Dublin Airport is currently deficient with regard to rail access to those travelling to the Greater Dublin Area,” he said.

A FAR CRY from last year’s downpour where the crowds ran to the pubs to avoid the rain, this year visitors to the Doonbeg Jazz Festival had to be enticed inside from the beaming sunshine by the banjo, trombone and trumpet.

Thousands of people descended on the long village at the weekend to enjoy the festival which is now in its seventh year.

Launched by the Deputy Polish Ambassador, Dr. Jacek Rosa, on Friday evening, jazz music accompanied the sunshine and the crowd throughout the weekend.

THE seaside village of Liscannor has honoured a local man and maritime legend.

The 125th anniversary of the invention of the world’s first working submarine by the Clare-born John Philip Holland was marked at a ceremony yesterday. Junior Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister, Tony Killeen, unveiled a bronze sculpture at the site of a new hotel in Holland’s home village of Liscannor. The sculpture is the creation of Clare artist, Shane Gilmore.

The €3.5 million Cliffs of Moher Hotel is located just miles from the world-famous tourist attraction and will lead to the creation of 40 new jobs. The facility features 23 bedrooms, a public bar, 70-seater restaurant and the bronze sculpture commemorating Holland.

It is the second hotel in as many weeks to be opened by The Atlantis Holiday Group. Two weeks ago, the Clare-based tourism body opened the €8 million Tír Gan Éan House Hotel and Holiday Complex in Doolin, leading to the creation of thirty new jobs.

John Philip Holland was born in Liscannor in 1841. His father, John Holland Senior patrolled the headlands of County Clare as a rider with the British Coastguard Service. The young Holland was a teacher in Ireland until 1872, when he emigrated to the USA, where he taught in Paterson, New Jersey, until 1879. He drew up plans of submarines and in 1881, with funds from Irish associates, launched a small submarine called the Fenian Ram. He was later awarded a contract to build a submarine for the US Navy.

In 1900, the Navy bought the Holland VI for $150,000, about half of its design cost, and later renamed it the USS Holland. The vessel could travel 800km on the surface of the sea and 40km submerged. One US newspaper described it as “Uncle Sam’s Devil of the Deep”. Other countries, including Great Britain, Japan and the Netherlands, purchased Holland’s submarine designs. He died in August 1914, just months before a German submarine sank a British vessel at the start of the First World War.

“John P Holland is a figure of pride for many people in County Clare and unveiling a commemoration to this historic figure is our way of ensuring that his contribution to Liscannor and the wider world does not go unrecognised,” said Paddy Maher, of Atlantis Holiday Group.