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Rival cave will bring job losses, claims Ailwee

WHEN Tulla woman Una Fitzger- ald and a group of supporters set out trestle tables and sold fruit and veg in the main street in Tulla three years ago, little did they know that they were paving the way for a de- velopment which could bring visitors from all over east Clare to shop in the village.

Una and her friends set up the stall for one day after she discovered that trading had to take place on at least one day before the ancient market charter for the town expired.

While the proposal to have a coun- try market in Tulla did not necessar- ily need a charter, if a meeting held

in the courthouse last night leads to the setting up of a market, having the charter means that the venture could eventually have an outdoor market going as well.

Local people interested in setting up a farmers market went along to the meeting last night to hear two representatives from Country Mar- kets Ltd outline what needs to be done.

It is hoped that the courthouse will be the venue for a new indoor market which will features stalls selling lo- cal produce and crafts.

Traditionally, local people would use the markets to sell produce such as eggs and vegetables, to bring in a bit of extra cash.

The people behind the new market idea say that there 1s again a big de- mand for the country market, both from shoppers who want to buy lo- cally-produced or organic foods and from people who are growing or pro- ducing foods and crafts.

“This is an idea I have had for a long time,” said Siobhan Mulcahy, who set up last night’s meeting.

“T talked to people about having a market and I got nothing but positive responses.

“There is such a great group of people here in Tulla – they have such energy and it is time to tap into that and get this going.”

One important aspect of the mar- ket would be a coffee shop, Siobhan

feels.

“The country market also has an important social function. While we have lovely restaurants, we don’t have anywhere in Tulla where people can just go to meet friends and have a cup of coffee, so this has an impor- tant social function.”

Already, producers of vegetables, plants, fresh eggs, baked goods, knitwear, artwork and woodcrafts have expressed an interest in taking part.

“And if the country market be- comes established, there’s every possibility in the future that an out- door farmers market might grow up around it so it’s brilliant that they kept the charter.”

FORMER Garda Sergeant Ciaran Sheehan’s solicitor, Michael He- garty, outlined for a public meeting in Scariff the series of events which culminated in his client being dis- missed from the force.

The dismissal followed a complaint made by a local man in September 1995 that Mr Sheehan had allegedly

asked that man to withdraw a state- ment he had made regarding an in- cident in Scariff on St Patrick’s Day in 1995.

This complaint was adjudicated upon by the Garda Complaints Tri- bunal in June 1998 which issued a recommendation to the Garda Com- missioner that Sgt Sheehan should either resign or face dismissal.

Sgt Sheehan did not participlate at

this Tribunal on legal grounds. Fol- lowing an unsuccessful High Court application to review the decision, Sgt Sheehan appealed to the Supreme Court, which in February 2009, dis- missed his appeal.

After the first complaint, the Garda authorities directed Sgt Sheehan not to make any contact with the com- plainant. A second complaint was made by the same person in March

1996 against Sgt Sheehan, following which Sgt Sheehan was immediately suspended.

A 10-day garda enquiry took place at Ennis Garda Station between No- vember 1997 and January 1998 into the second complaint. During this, it was established that the man making the complaint had a criminal record for assault, that he had a grudge against Sgt Sheehan and wanted “to

nail him” and that a senior garda had arranged a job interview for the com- plainant with a security firm shortly after he had made his first complaint against Sgt Sheehan.

Commenting on Mr Sheehan’s cur- rent situation, Mr Hegarty said, “He now has no income and no pension after being the member subject to the longest suspension in the history of the force.”

A YOUNG man yesterday recalled being dragged a mile, while attached to a car, being driven by a man who had almost twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

The horrific evidence emerged in the case of a Kildysart man, who pleaded guilty to charges in connec- tion with a hit-and-run accident in which two pedestrians were struck, in Ennis, on January 13, 2008.

One of the victims was trapped as he was unable to detach himself from the car, as it took off at speed.

Moments earlier, his friend was struck by the same car and flipped up into the air.

Donal Holohan (23), of Aylroe, Kildysart, admitted a charge of dan- gerous driving, thereby causing seri- ous bodily harm to Tommy Walsh.

Holohan, a plumber, also admitted failing to stop at the scene, at Clon- roadbeg, Ennis; driving with excess alcohol in his breath at Friar’s Walk, Ennis and driving dangerously, at Clonroadbeg.

Garda Dermot Siggins told En- nis Circuit Court that Sean Cud- dihy, Tommy Walsh and two of their friends were walking along Clon- roadbeg at 3.10am.

They were en route to Tesco, in pursuit of cigarettes, when the first incident occurred.

This involved Mr Cuddihy, who

was struck by the defendant’s Nissan Almera, before being flipped into the Za

Mr Walsh and another man pursued the Almera and tried to prevent it from leaving the scene. Gda Siggins said that Mr Walsh stood in front of the car and put his hand on the bon- aoe

However, the vehicle took off at speed and Mr Walsh’s leg became entangled with the car. His chest got caught under the right wheel and he was unable to release himself from the car.

As the car took off at speed, he was dragged along and was trapped un- der it. The car travelled a distance of 1.7 kilometres before he became

detached.

Mr Cuddihy told gardai all he could remember was waking up in hospi- tal, while Mr Walsh said he and his friends were practising marching up the road – as some of them are mem- bers of the defence forces – and he could see Mr Cuddihy being struck by a car.

“He was flipped into the air and landed on his head,” he recalled.

He said he himself was caught under the vehicle and could not get EEN

He said the car kept moving and failed to stop. He remembered wak- ing up on a roadway but had no idea where he was.

Mr Walsh (21) suffered multiple in-

juries – including injuries to his chest, abdomen, shoulder, elbow, groin and a severe injury to his left hand – and underwent surgery on a number of occasions.

He is still undergoing medical at- tention and requires further surgery. Medics say he may never fully re- cover from his hand injury.

Taking the witness stand, he told the court he has lost more than a year in the army and has missed out on duties on overseas missions.

He said he returned to work a month ago and must undergo tests to ascertain if he is capable of rejoining the army.

AUDITIONS for a talent competi- tion that has proved a major hit in west Clare will take place later this month.

The inaugural ‘West Clare’s Got Talent’ was hugely popular last year — so much so that the organisers were keen to follow on with a second con- test this year.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) 1s the beneficiary of the event, which 1s Open to young people aged between 10 and 18 years.

Last year’s winner, 12-year-old Lisa Falsey from Cooraclare, has since built on her success. She won the accolade due to her musical and singing talents and has won several rounds of the national Scor talent

competition over the past year. Lisa, a daughter of Joe and Maura Falsey, has also won awards in piano, over the years.

The chief organiser of the compe- tition Teresa Carrig was delighted with the success of the first year of the competition. She said that en- trants can do “anything they want to do, as long as they entertain us for two or three minutes”’.

Thirty-four youngsters entered the competition last year and 20 were shortlisted for the final.

“Last year there was music, dance, poetry, hip-hop, Irish dancing and aerobics. Lisa had a confidence in herself and she had a great ability to perform.

“Tt was very broad last year and we would hope to have it as broad again this year,” she said.

€2,000 was raised through the event last year and hopes are high that this will be surpassed this year.

‘Helping children is the theme of it. There is a great buzz about it, this year more so than last year,’ said Ms Creare

She is encouraging young people across west Clare to take part. The auditions will take place at the com- munity centre in Kilrush on April 29, between 3pm and 5pm. The final will take place in Kilrush Commu- nity School on May 16, starting at 7pm.

Lisa’s mother Maura Falsey was delighted with the success in last year’s contest.

“It was great. She has a lovely little voice. For a 12-year-old, a lot of peo- ple would say she has a very mature voice. She loves music and is an all-

rounder,” she said.

Lisa —a sixth class student in Kilm- ihil national school — played the keyboard and sang the song Whitney Houston made famous, ‘One Mo- ment in Time’ in last year’s final.

There will be plenty of excitement on the evening of the final as Bert and Victor — who starred in

that an extra ward had to be opened at the weekend to cater for the extra patients now descending on the Mid Western Regional Hospital Bits An increase of patients attending

the Dooradoyle Hospital’s A&E, even during the 12 hours Ennis A&E is open, have also been reported.

This number has increased sig- nificantly since the publication of the HIQA report last week, which deemed some services at the Ennis Hospital “unsafe”.

Since Thursday April 9, the day the

report was published the HSE report- ed an increase in the number of self referred “walk ins” to the emergency department in Limerick from the Clare area during the day between 8am and 8pm.

“It is important to emphasise that the local emergency centre in Ennis is Open seven days per week between

8am and 8pm and will deal with all minor injuries and acute emergen- cies. All trauma, paediatric and ob- stetric emergencies will go directly to the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick including the Regional Ma- ternity Unit,’ a spokesperson said. For the first seven days after Ennis A&E was reduced to 12-hours a day

five patients were admitted directly to Ennis General by their GPs and between two and six patients per night (total 27) were brought to the emergency department in the Mid- Western Regional Hospital Limerick by ambulance from the Clare area while the service was closed in En- Wah

AN extra councillor, extra area to canvass and extra people to vote.

The county councillors in Shannon must be inwardly smiling, but out- wardly they are panicking.

The very last thing any elected politician wants to hear about them- selves is that their seat is safe.

A scandal they can survive; a faux pas in the council chamber, no prob- lem; even taking the “wrong” side in a controversial local issue can be overcome — but for some journalist, political pundit or barman to say that they are a sure thing come June 5, that is the kiss of death.

So even though there are five sitting Shannon electoral area councillors hoping to be returned to a new six- seater area, they are taking nothing for granted.

All five — John Crowe (FG), Tony Mulcahy (FG), Gerry Flynn (Ind), Patricia McCarthy (Ind) and Pat McMahon (FF) — are putting their names on the ballot paper again, but this time around there are a few new strong contenders.

Already five new possibilities have declared as candidates, and at the time of going to press, there was one more Fianna Fail possibility from the Shannon town area waiting in the wings awaiting head office approval.

Fianna Fail in the area has always maintained that a strong Shannon town candidate was required, and this likely contender has the name and family history to his benefit.

His nomination will all depend on the powers that be in Dublin, some- thing that does not sit well with the grass roots level in light of the selec- tion process in the Shannon electoral area So far.

Many believe that former Fianna Fail stalwart PJ Ryan should have been put on the ticket ahead of new- comer Eamon Fennessy. While Mr Fennessy will have a strong GAA backing, it was felt Mr Ryan had a higher profile on the ground and was geographically better placed.

Head office disagreed, however, and Fianna Fail on the ground, who

are determined to secure that new seat, feel hard done by.

Mr Ryan was just ousted last time by newcomer Gerry Flynn (Ind), who was elected without making the quota. They fear the Ryan factor in Fianna Fail — and are determined that by letting this fear be known, he too may receive that kiss of death, the safe seat curse.

Even with the securing of a much needed town candidate in this elec- tion, the ‘Soldiers of Destiny’ will struggle to double their seats from one to two.

The big hope for the party is Patrick

O’Gorman, who was close to being elected to the council four years ago when he lost his seat, but who is in a new electoral area this time around.

With the transfer of Cratloe and Killeely into the Shannon area, the former councillor will be hoping to secure the majority of that vote to see him back in Clare County Council’s chamber.

Fine Gael is running three candi- dates, well aware that the extra seat is there for the taking.

Having nominated sitting council- lors Tony Mulcahy and John Crowe from the start, it later added Marcella

Rafftery Frost to the ticket.

A smart move — the party picked from a strong Fine Gael pedigree. Ms Rafftery Frost is the niece of former MEP Tom Rafftery, and is living in Bunratty.

A strong Independent and Labour support base has always been part of Shannon.

Cllrs McCarthy and Flynn have proved high-profile and _ popular campaigners in the last five years, and both were mayors of Shannon Town, with Cllr McCarthy the first woman to be selected as mayor of Orie

Another woman contesting the Shannon area is Cathy McCafferty from Sinn Fein. While there are high hopes for the Shannon woman in the town council election, her first out- ing in a county council election four years ago had her eliminated in the third count.

With a new seat for the taking in the Shannon area, however, the final shake down is anyone’s guess.

JOHN McIntyre has been known for his straight talking — whether as an analyst looking in or a manager on the sideline he calls it as it is.

Cue his remarks after the Dub- lin game when his side were on the wrong end of a comprehensive beat- ing.

Same when he was a staunch admir- er of Clare in different times — those days when they won Munster and All-Ireland titles and even in recent years when they put it up to Cork and Kilkenny in Croke Park.

It’s why MclIntyre’s verdict on Clare was important to hear in the after- math of Galway’s second half demo- lition job on Sunday. There was al- ways the chance that McIntyre might offer some crumb of comfort for the championship summer ahead.

He did.

“Clare will just write off the league,” he said. ““The one county that seem to be able to put a bad league cam- paign behind them and get ready for the championship is Clare. Clare are always dangerous against that back- ground, but have a lot of work to do, like Galway,” he added.

What he didn’t say is that Galway look to have more to work with. And, it’s work that made this victory important — that’s the gospel from McIntyre at any rate as he reflected on his side’s nine-point win.

“It doesn’t change anything in terms of our league position or in terms of trying to qualify for a league final, but anytime you win is a good day. We came up here today hoping to win and drove the message home to players that there’s nothing better for confidence than winning.

“You can train like dogs for ten weeks in a row and go home with a

spring in your step after every train- ing session and talk about unity and passion and pride and all that, but one win is nearly worth all that,’ he revealed.

“The bottom line is that we’re af- ter winning three out of our last four league games — lost a game against Tipperary that we maybe could have won, so it does give us a little bit of momentum going into the champion- ship, but that will be at a different level altogether and we have a lot of work to do.

“It’s going to an historic occasion for Galway going into Leinster — I would be hoping that the lads would be inspired by the sense of history. Hopefully it will help reinvogorate hurling as well. Not everyone in Gal- way is happy about participating in Leinster but we’ll get on with it — the players are looking forward to it,” he added.

THE Mayor of Clare has said it is imperative that the Criminal Justice Surveillance Bill be quickly imple- mented in an effort to bring crimi- nals to justice.

Councillor Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) was speaking as she launched the International Police Association (IPA) annual conference in Ennisty- mon at the weekend, which was at- tended by the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.

Police from Luxembourg, Poland, USA and the UK attended the two- day conference, which is one of the major events of the IPA (Irish sec- tion).

She spoke of the importance of the police force in the community and said the new bill — the details of which were announced by the Gov- ernment last week — would provide much assistance to gardai.

She said that the community has a crucial role to play in the detection and prevention of crime.

‘The co-operation of the public re- lating to crime is essential for crime detection and prevention. We cannot afford to remove ourselves when we have knowledge or sightings of acts or behaviour that could be helpful to police investigations.

“Democracy is based on_ the strength of the security of our citi- zens. The public and gardai are in- terdependent. We are secure because of their presence and they can only

be as effective as the public enable them to be,” she said.

She said the IPA should be com- mended for the work it carries out at local, national and international levels.

“The building of transnational rela- tionships between current and retired members of police forces across the world greatly assists and enhances the work of Interpol and other inter- national police organisations. It also serves to assist the members’ under- standing of other cultures, traditions

and police practices in the many na- tions represented,’ she said.

Retired Garda Sergeant and presi- dent of the IPA (Irish section), Billy Saunderson said the conference pre- sented members with the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual personal and professional concern.

Mr Saunderson, who was based in Ennistymon for a number of years, said members of the IPA have the op- portunity to avail of support during difficult times.

‘There are many benefits for retired

and serving members of An Garda Siochana in joining the organisation. Members are provided with immedi- ate support at times of crisis while at home or abroad. The children of members engage in international cultural gatherings and exchanges, and members engage in fundraising for local and community causes,” he said.

CLARE hurlers will be a very differ- ent proposition when they play either Cork or Tipperary in the Munster Semi-Final on June 21st.

This verdict was delivered by man- ager Mike McNamara and his Gal- way counterpart John McIntyre after Clare’s depressing National League campaign ended with a 4-16 to 0-19 defeat to the Tribesmen in Cusack Park.

‘There is a passion about hurling in Clare and it’s up to the players that are there to lift it and ignite it and to come out with all guns blazing in June,” said McNamara.

“I don’t think it will be hard to rise a Clare team for championship. When we do well in the league, we don’t do well in championship and vice versa. If that trend continues we ll be smiling,” he added.

‘The one county that seem to be able to put a bad league campaign behind them and get ready for the championship are Clare,” said McIn- tyre. “Clare are always dangerous against that background,” he added.