Category: News

THE first step towards what could the formation of the first ever Women’s Shed initiative in Ireland will be taken in Ennis on Thursday.

A meeting will take place at the offices of Clare Women’s Network at the Clonroad business park on February 13, 12 noon.

The proposal to develop a Women’s Shed in Ennis was put forward by local women Paula McNamara and Mary Howard.

It is similar to the Men’s Shed initiative – an international movement that provides opportunities for male volunteers to participate in voluntary community projects e.g planting housing estate green areas with native trees, shrubs and flowers. The ethos of the Men’s Shed is that men talk better shoulder-to-shoulder rather than face-to-face, this activity has many benefits – companionship, nonalcohol social outlet, mental health benefits, and skill development and enhancement.

The Ennis Men’s Shed is based at Centrepoint, Orchard Lane, Ennis. Paula McNamara says the success of the Men’s Shed was the inspiration for the Women’s Shed.

She explained, “We would be swapping skills teaching each other woodwork, crafts, computer, but mainly it’s an excuse to get out of the house, meet other women, and make friends. In this day and age it’s very easy to feel isolated when you become a mum, finish school, if you’re out of work, if your friends have emigrated or if you’ve retired it’s very easy to feel cut off, so the hope is that women of all ages all backgrounds would come together and work projects to help the community and hopefully have fun and make friend in the process”.

She added, “The women’s shed would be using the same facilities as the Ennis Men’s Shed at different days and times. The aim is to promote social interaction and aim to increase the quality of life and help out in the community. Our first meeting is next week and we should be ready to launch the Women’s Shed mid-March and we will be one of the world’s first Women’s Sheds running alongside a men’s shed. The women’s shed would be run on the same principles as the Men’s Sheds as non-profit organisations, to advise and improve the overall well being of all women”.

It is thought this would be the first Women’s Shed in Ireland. Mary Howard, a Fine Gael member of Ennis Town Council, said, “I am delighted to be asked to come on board as an advocate and facilitator with both the Ennis Men’s Shed and the upcoming Ennis Women’s Shed Project. There is a huge need for both of these facilities. The men who have set up the Ennis Men’s Shed are absolute gentlemen who have the most infectious enthusiasm and the biggest hearts. I am thrilled to be on board.”

“WILL the Euro survive?” was one of numerous conferences, foreign trips and “fact finding missions” attended by members of Ennis Town Council during 2013 that cost the tax payer a total of € 18,000 last year.

As many as six councillors – two thirds of the council – went to Langfeld in Germany as part of a town twinning investigation trip in May at a cost of more than € 5,000 to the council coffers.

Three councillors returned in October for the twinning ceremony Mayor Cllr Mary Coote-Ryan (FG), Cllr Mary Howard (FG) and Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) at a further cost of € 2,275.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) returned to the German town alone in September as part of a sporting and culture trip. The “sporting councillor” also attended the FAI Stakeholders Conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

The three-day “Will the Euro survive?” conference in Letterkenny, County Donegal, was attended by town mayor Coote-Ryan at a total cost of € 727.58.

In the course of the year the councillor, who was mayor from July to December attended three conferences, two trips to Langfeld in Germany – one as part of a twinning investigation trip and one for a ceremony, and fact-finding trips to markets in County Limerick, Dublin and Mayo.

Three other councillors – Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind), Cllr Guilfoyle (Ind) and Cllr Peter Considine (FF) – also went on the market fact finding mission.

Among the other foreign trips was the six-day St Patrick’s Day trip to New York, undertaken by Cllr Brian Meaney (FF) at a cost of € 2,242.38 and a trip to Charleston by the then mayor Cllr Considine for the dedication of an Irish memorial. This cost € 1,830. Cllr Considine also attended three other conferences around Ireland during the year.

A MAN who was part of a gang who terrorised an elderly man during a burglary at his home in West Clare has avoided a driving ban.

Noel Garry (20), with a former address at Tullycrine, Kilrush appeared at Ennis District Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to four road traffic offences.

He admitted having on insurance, no NCT cert and no driver’s license when he was stopped by Garda Eoin O’Donoghue at the Tulla Road, Ennis on September 3, 2013.

Asked by Judge Patrick Durcan if there was anything unusual about the offence, Garda O’Donoghue said there wasn’t.

Mr Garry has one previous conviction under the road traffic act.

Defence solicitor Fiona Hehir said her client bought the car because he lived in a rural area at the time.

She told the court Mr Garry had just purchased the vehicle when he was stopped by the guards.

She said Mr Garry, who suffered from ADHD, fully cooperated with gardaí.

She urged the court not to disqualify her client from holding a driver’s license. She said Mr Garry was a young man who had never had the opportunity to drive.

Judge Durcan fined Mr Garry € 250 for having no driver’s license; € 100 for having not NCT and € 250 for having no insurance.

He said he was not disqualifying the accused from driving for work related reasons.

Mr Garry is currently in custody awaiting sentence for his role in a robbery at the home of a 68 year-old man in Cree on February 25, 2012.

He was one of four people who stole € 3000 from Michael McMahon whose home was targeted in a similar robbery just four days previ- ously.

Mr Garry pleaded guilty to robbery and evidence in the case was heard at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court in January.

The court heard that after the second robbery on February 25, a terrified Mr McMahon gathered his belongings and cycled 30 miles from his home to St Joseph’s nursing home in Ennis.

He had been threatened that his house would be burned down if he contacted gardaí, the court heard.

Mr Garry was one of three men who pleaded guilty. They are due to be sentenced on March 3.

KILKEE Town Council proved to be the most frugal and least expensive in the county in 2013, with its councillors claiming just under € 32,000 in salaries and expenses.

The total bill came in at 31,971.21, € 19,342 shy of Shannon.

It was also over € 40,000 less than Kilrush, which unlike Kilkee is a planning authority, and cost over € 59,000 less than Ennis.

As with all the other local authori- ties, the top earner was the mayor, with Cllr Paddy Collins (FG) who took the chair in June claiming € 4,840.19. Unlike other council’s the mayor in Kilkee does not get a second allowance.

All Kilkee town councillors are entitled to and claimed a taxable salary of € 2,266.88, with an annual allowance of € 1,018 for attending statutory meetings.

As many as five members of Kilkee Town Council did not claim travel expenses for conferences or seminars or any allowance for their mobile phone bills. They received the minimum € 3,284.88 salary and meeting allowance.

Three other councillors claimed mobile phone bill allowance, but did not attend conferences.

The current mayor, Cllr Collins, instead represented the council outside of the town in 2013.

Cllr Collins attended six separate meetings in conference at a total cost of € 1,255.31.

Kilkee Town Council, like Ennis, Kilrush and Shannon is to be abolished this year.

TWO men charged in connection with the alleged theft of items from a historic lakeside mansion in Killaloe are to be sent forward for trial, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Inspector Tom Kennedy said he expects the books of evidence to be ready for service on Jeffrey Lee (41) and Declan Browne (25) by the end of the month.

Mr Lee, with an address at Cosgrave Park, Moyross, Limerick, is charged with entering Tinarana House as a trespasser on dates between August 17 and September 24, 2013 and committing theft therein.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court the 42-day time period in which the State is required to serve the book of evidence had elapsed.

She said the State were now on day 50. Insp Kennedy the book of evidence was not yet ready.

He told the court Mr Lee’s case is linked to that of Declan Browne. He said Mr Browne had not been charged at the same time as Mr Lee.

He said the State solicitor is currently finalizing the books of evidence in respect of both accused.

He sought a further adjournment. Ms Godfrey said she would consent to the case being adjourned to February 26.

Insp Kennedy told Judge William Early he was confident the books would be ready by the end of the month.

Judge Early refused a defence application to mark the case peremptory against the State – meaning the matter could be struck out if the book of evidence is not ready by February 26.

However Judge Early told the legal teams he had marked “time running” on the file.

Declan Browne, (25), with an address at Cnoc an Cluain, Ballina, Tipperary, also appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Browne is charged with handling stolen property – antique chandeliers, candelabra, light fittings, antique bathroom fittings, copper piping and cylinder – at Clear Circle Metals, Ballysimon Road, Limerick on September 13, 2013.

Insp Kennedy said the case would be proceeding to trial on indictment.

Ms Godfrey said Mr Browne appears to be a co-accused of Mr Lee. Mr Browne’s case was also adjourned to February 26.

Both accused were remanded on continuing bail.

MEMBERS of Kilrush Town Council accumulated salaries and expenses to the total of € 72,114.97 last year.

The biggest earner was Cllr Mairead O’Brien (Ind), who was mayor for the first six months of the year and claimed € 11,046.55. As well as her councillor’s salary Cllr O’Brien was also entitled to a mayoral allowance of € 1,487.50 for the period.

Also influencing her council expenses last year was the St Patrick’s Day trip to New York, which cost the council € 2,045.88 and costs associated with the Kilrush Famine Commemoration which she worked on as mayor.

Cllr O’Brien also attends meetings of the Clare Local Development Company on behalf of the council ,which also added to her expenses list.

Current Mayor Cllr Paul Moroney (Ind) also received a mayoral allowance for the last six months of 2013 bringing his expenses to € 9,369.43.

All nine councillors received a basic taxable salary of € 4,160.94 as well as a tax free allowance for attending meetings of € 2,036.

Cllr Christy O’Malley (FF) who was seconded to the town council following the death of Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF) in February received a salary and an allowance for just 11 months.

Councillors were also entitled to receive a mobile phone allowance up to the value of € 400.

Not all councillors claimed expenses beyond their salary and meeting allowance however.

Cllr Tom Clyne (Ind) did not claim any conference or mobile phone expenses, while Cllr Moroney and Cllr O’Malley did not claim phone expenses. Cllr Ian Lynch (FG), like Cllr Clyne, did not have any travel expenses to conferences or seminars. The remaining seven councillors spent € 12,125 attending meetings, seminars and conferences outside of Kilrush.

Cllr Liam William (FG) was the least travelled of the seven however, claiming just € 74.44 for a trip to the Inn at Dromoland for the launch of the Integrated Plan for the Shannon Estuary.

With the exception of the AMAI conferences (a body which represents the interests of municipal bodies in Ireland) there were just five conferences that attracted more than one councillor.

Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) and Cllr Liam O’Looney (FF) both attended the conference of Reconstructing the European Economy; Debt Relief in Ireland and a conference on Facing the fear of Alcohol and Mental Health in Ireland.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) and Cllr O’Brien also attended the Tourism Annual Conference in Ennistymon on separate days, while Cllr O’Malley and Cllr Williams made their way to Dromoland for the launch of the Integrated Plan for the Shannon Estuary.

A MAN has appeared in court charged with smashing a family car with a golf club during a serious incident in Kilrush last month.

Robbie Walsh (18) is facing four charges arising out of the alleged incident at Island View, Kilrush on January 7.

Mr Walsh, with an address at Island View, Kilrush, is charged with criminal damage of a car, engaging in behaviour to provoke a breach of the peace and the unlawful produc- tion of a golf club.

He is further charged with having under his control a golf club, intended to damage property – a car window – in a way that was likely to endanger the lives of a couple and their children.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said directions are still awaited from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He applied to have Mr Walsh remanded in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 26. Bail was previously refused in the case, the court heard. Judge Wil- liam Early requested a summary of the alleged facts to allow him consider the issue of jurisdiction.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the accused met his uncle in the Island View estate in Kilrush on the day in question.

He said the man and his wife were going collect their children from school. Insp Kennedy said it is alleged Robbie Walsh ran at their car with a golf club and smashed a number of windows.

He said it is alleged that even after the head of the club broke off, the ac- cused continued to strike the car with the shaft. Insp Kennedy said the children were not in the car at the time. He said it was his understanding this was “quite a serious incident”.

Judge Early said he was happy he had heard a summary of the alleged facts. He said he was satisfied this was not an alleged minor offence.

“I therefore refuse jurisdiction”, he said. The case will now proceed to the Circuit Court. Mr Walsh was remanded in custody to appear again in court on February 26 for DPP’s directions. T H E CA S E of a Polish man charged in connection with the alleged discovery of cannabis in Spancill Hill has been adjourned to the end of the month. Krystof Sobolewski (37) is charged with an offence arising fromthe alleged discovery of cannabis at The Island, Kilvoydan, Spancill Hill on January 21. It is alleged Mr Sobolewski was in possession of cannabis for purposes of selling it or otherwise supplying it. Mr Sobolewski, with an address at The Island, Kilvoydan, Spancill Hill, first appeared in court earlier this month where he was remanded in custody. OnWednesday, Inspector TomKennedy said the DPP had not issued directions in the case. He said this was a “relatively newmatter” and that the State required a further two weeks. However he told Judge Early that he was unsure whether the DDP’s views would be known by February 19. He said the case is being expedited. Defence solicitor John Casey said his client has spent the past two weeks in Limerick prison. JudgeWilliamEarly remanded the accused in custody to appear again in court on February 26. T W O POLIS H men facing charges arising fromthe discovery of an alleged cannabis growhouse inTulla are to learn howtheir cases will proceed later this month. Rafal Ucinek (25) and Emil Sumczynski (23), both with addresses at Miltown,Tulla, appeared before Ennis District Court onWednesday. They are charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Miltown,Tulla on January 13. It is alleged gardaí seized 124 cannabis plants with an estimated value of €99,200. Inspector TomKennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had not issued directions in the case. He made an application to have both men remanded in custody for a further two weeks. Defence solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick consented to the State’s application. Judge Early remanded Mr Ucinek and Mr Sumczynski in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 19. THE BOOK of evidence has been served on a Shannon man accused of assaulting a player during a football match last year. Eamon Leahy (51) is charged with assault causing harm to Richard Carmody (29) during a football match at Wolfe Tones camogie grounds on May 12. The alleged assault is alleged to have occurred during a Division 6 Junior B football match between Wolfe Tones and Killimer. Jurisdiction of the case was refused in the District Court after Judge Patrick Durcan heard an outline of the alleged facts. Mr Leahy, with an address at Cronan Park, Shannon, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station told the court she served a copy of the book of evidence on solicitor Daragh Hassett for his client Mr Leahy. Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to the accused being returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on February 18. He said there are no objections to bail and no conditions were being sought. Judge William Early delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial on bail. Legal aid was approved for solicitor Daragh Hassett and one junior counsel.

THE number of people signing on the live register in Clare has increased for the third straight month – with North Clare continuing to return worrying statistics.

While a slight increase in the live register is normally seen in January, with temporary Christmas workers returning to the list – the concentration of continued poor live registers results from the Ennistymon area office have been seen by many as a cause for concern.

Indeed, nearly half of the entire increase reported in Clare last year was recorded in North Clare. The number of people signing on at the Ennistymon Social Welfare office increase from 1, 541 to 1,605 – a month on month increase of more than 4 per cent or 64 people.

The number of people signing on in the county as a whole increase by 133, amounting to a county wide average increase of just 1.4 per cent. This increase was largely driven by the number from Ennistymon.

The Ennis figures showed a increase of just 1.09 per cent with the number of people signing on increasing by 56, from 5,111 to 5,167 people.

The increase was even less in Tulla and Kilrush which recorded increases of just 0.5 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively. The live register figures from Ennistymon have been increasing quicker than anywhere else in the county in recent months.

It had been thought that this increase was due to the areas dependence on the tourism sector. However, the continuation of the trend long past the end of the tourist season has caused some in the region to worry about long term difficulty.

Despite this results from Ennistymon, the overall outlook remains positive with last month recording the lowest number of people on the live register in January since 2009.

THE Mayor of Clare has challenged young people in Ennis to have the “courage” to say no to drugs

Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) was speaking to a group of teenagers at the launch of a Drugs Awareness Art Project in the headquarters of Clare County Council earlier this month.

Students attending the Ennis Community Development Project Traveller Education Peer Support Project designed a calendar aimed at highlighting greater awareness of the dangers of drug abuse.

Praising the effort and dedication of the students who all come from a Traveller background in Ennis, Cllr Arkins said it was important they now stand by the work they have done over the past 12 months.

He explained, “People take drugs because they believe they will change their lives. They can be certain about that, it will change their lives but it will change it for the worse. People take drugs because they think it’s going to solve a problem. It doesn’t solve a problem. It creates a problem.

“I salute the wonderful work you have done. But it is important you have the courage to stand by the work you have done and to be peers amongst your own. So when some youngster in school tell you he can get a bit of weed, or he can get this that or the other drug and it will do you no harm…you have to have the courage to stand up and you have to have the courage to say not it isn’t, no it doesn’t, no it won’t.”

Cllr Arkins also praised the work of Ennis CDP and the Mid Western Regional Drugs Taskforce who supported the campaign.

He added, “The most important thing I’ll tell ye lads is have the courage to stand by the work ye have done here. Ye have done absolutely wonderful work but have the courage to bring it forward for the year into the rest of yer lives and into the lives of the people ye come across. Have the courage to stand up and say anyone who takes drugs is a fool.”

A GROUP of traveler students from Ennis can become “role models” for their community and help break down barriers to education.

That’s according to one Ennis man who plays a key role in helping young people from Traveller backgrounds achieve success through education.

Peer support worker David McCarthy worked alongside the group who recently devised a Drugs Awareness Art Project, a campaign supporter by Ennis CDP, the Mid Western Regional Drugs Taskforce, Clare County Council, St Vincent de Paul and the Courts Services.

Mr McCarthy, who works on a weekly basis with 12 secondary school students in Ennis, says an absence of role models is one of the main factors why many young people from a Traveller background fail to complete education.

“Role models is a big one and a lot of them feel that it doesn’t matter if they stay on in school, they won’t get jobs. That’s what we’re trying to challenge. That’s our big challenge at the moment,” he explained.

However he believes certain preconceptions about Travellers are being challenged

He explained, “There still is a taboo around Travellers getting married young and having families and settling down (and not continuing in education). That’s been challenged in Clare over the past few years. In the past five years, we’ve had Paddy McDonagh who has finished his degree course and is teaching in Scariff at the moment. We have a Pa Sherlock who did a Sports and Recreation course in the University of Limerick. Lee Sherlock is studying in UL as well. I’m in college doing youth and community work.”

He continued, “Traveller students are still not finishing school in any way close to their settled peers but we’ve seen an increase in school retention to at least the Junior Cert year. Currently in our group, we have four lads going into fourth year. You can never tell if they are going to stick with it but I believe the lads will push through.”

15-year-old Brian McDonagh is a student at St Flannan’s College in Ennis. He is also a member of the peer support group that devised the drugs awareness campaign.

He said, “It was very enjoyable. Doing this project, it makes more kids aware of what drugs can do to you. This group gives kids a positive message rather than a negative message in life, to go down the right path and not do drugs. It’s really good.”

Brian, a member of Ennis Boxing Club, says he hopes to study sport at third level.