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PREPARATIONS are already well underway for one of Ennis’ most popular pantomime shows.

The members of the all singing all dancing Pantaloons are in rehearsal for their latest show Cinderella, which arrives in Glor in December.

Cinderella adheres to many of the elements that have made Pantaloon productions so popular with audi- ences down the years, namely great dance routines, big, loud songs, and, of course, audience interaction.

Getting the audience to take an ac- tive role has been a staple ingredients of the Pantaloons experience and the

group hope that with Cinderella, the crowds will again be singing, danc- ing and shouting in the aisles.

The production, written by John Morley and directed by Leonard Anderson is full of lively characters including the mischievous Dandin1, family favourite Cinderella, But- tons, The Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming, The Baron and Baroness and not forgetting the ugly sisters.

According to producer and per- former, Maeve Fox, the Pantaloons will inject their own brand of mis- chief and fun into the show.

‘“Pantaloons present the familiar story of Cinderella as a traditional pantomime designed with quirks

and twists to delight the modern-day audience. The whole ensemble is looking forward to singing, dancing and being dramatic all the way to a happy ending.”

This year’s cast includes old favour- ites Ken O’Shaughnessy, Paul Cur- ley, Paul Cusack, Maeve Fox, Tina O’Neill and Geraldine Saunders.

They are joined this year by new- comers Aidan O’Gara, Andrew Kil- leen and Siomha Brock who will pay Cinderella.

There is also an expanded cast of extras and of course the Pantaloons resident musician, Gerry Mc Laugh- thee

Pantaloons pantomimes are a firm

favourite in the town’s calendar and Maeve invites everyone to come along on another fun filled festive journey.

Panto tickets are also available as Christmas gifts. Tickets on sale at Glor box office 065 6843103. Family tickets for two adults and two chil- dren cost €50. Single tickets cost €15.

CLARE county councillor Oliver Garry (FG) said a higher Garda vis- ibility in Kildysart is giving an ele- ment of confidence and security back to the local people.

In the last number of weeks a patrol car has been visible in an area that has been victim to daylight burgla- ries and boat engine thefts.

The Kildysart councillor said that the visibility of the gardai and the formation of the local community alert under the chairmanship of local

businessman Michael Michaels are adding to community confidence.

A spate of burglaries within a ten- mile radius of the village had been a cause of concern for the quiet west Clare area.

Homes in rural areas around Bal- lynacally and Cranny had witnessed a series of day light burglaries

The thieves targeted the unoccupied homes during the day and among the items stolen include jewellery, cash and computer games.

Five boat engines, valued at up to €6,000 each, had also been stolen

from Crovraghan Quay, Kildysart on two separate occasions.

These boats were used by local farmers to access the island.

“The reports I had been getting back from people was the lack of Garda presence and the Garda vis- ibility has given the people more as- surance that there is a watchful eye on the area,” he said.

“*T felt concerned for the people who lived on the island, and have now moved to the mainland, that they felt their boats and engines were not safe on the quay side. People go to the 1s-

land on a daily basis to work on their farms. It is all very upsetting.

“The community is now more to- gether on this. They are reporting strangers in the area and are more alert to different people. People are also keeping an eye on elderly people living alone through the community alert,” he said.

Gardai are covering areas such as Ballynacally, Ballycorrick, Cranny, Coolmean and Kilmurry McMahon in the patrol car and giving support to Labasheeda, according to Cllr Garry.

AN UNPROVOKED attack which the left the victim with a scar re- sulted in a criminal conviction for a Shannon man.

The Circuit Court heard that Chris- topher McGorrian (18) Rossbarack- en, Shannon struck Martin O’Leary in the face on April 21 2007, splitting his lip before running off laughing.

O’Leary told Stephan Coughlan BL for the prosecution that he he was standing talking to friends at Cronin Lawn on the night.

McGorrian came out of a house across the road and was “walking in circles. He was very agitated.”, O’Leary said.7

McGorrian walked over to O’ Leary and struck him in the face.

“The cut went right through to the inside of my lip and I had to have seven stitches to the outside and sev- en to the inside’, he told Judge Ger- ard Griffin in evidence.

The injured man was referred to a

plastic surgeon in Cork University Hospital and the surgeons report was read into the court record. It said that O’Leary would be left with a 2cm permanent scar which would be vis- ible at conversational distance.

McGorrian had pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing serious harm and disfigurement but guilty to a lesser charge of causing harm.

Summing up for the jury, Mr Coughlan said the fact was that the scar is permanent and this constitut- ed disfigurement.

Mr Mark Nicholas for the defence told the jury it was “nonsense” to de- fine “a scar which I couldn’t see and you couldn’t see as serious disfigure- ment. My client’s behaviour was dis- graceful and he has apologised to Mr O’Leary. It’s a bad injury but it’s not serious disfigurement.”

The jury returned a verdict of non guilty on the more serious charge and guilty on the lesser charge.

The Judge adjourned sentencing until Wednesday October 29.

CONOR Earley has been appointed to the position of Branch Develop- ment Manager of the First Active Ennis Branch.

A native of Tubber, Conor joins First Active having spent five years as a Portfolio Insurance and Invest- ment manager with Bank of Ireland in Shannon and Limerick before

joining First Active last July. Commenting on his new position, Conor said he was delighted to be joming the First Active team. “First Active has been at the forefront in de- livering real competition in the mar- ket for some time now by offering innovative products across all areas from mortgages to current accounts. Myself and my team are looking forward to bringing the benefits of

these products such as our esavings Plus Account* to our customers in Ennis”, he added.

Conor is a keen sportsman having played hurling at all levels with Clare and University of Limerick. He cur- rently plays for the Tubber club.

MEMBERS of the Traveller com- munity voiced their opinions on the issue of accommodation at a meeting with local politicians last week.

The meeting, facilitated by the Ennis Community Development Project, involved discussions be- tween members of the Accommoda- tion Implementation Group (AIG), the Mayor of Ennis Cllr Peter Con- sidine (FF) and Fine Gael TD, Joe OFA

The group was represented by Anne Marie Mongans, Kathleen Mc- Donagh, John McDonagh and Frank McDonagh. The primary focus of the discussion centered on issues re- lating to Travellers accommodation btm Oot: buse

Other topics raised included the

Shannon Horse Project, the closure of the Quin Road halting site and Clare County Council’s Traveller Accommodation Plan 2009-2013.

The aim of the meeting was to create a forum that would allow for wider discussion between Travellers and policy makers.

It is also the first in a planned se- ries of steps aimed at providing a structured format for Travellers rep- resentatives to raise issues and in- terface with the local authority and other agencies.

Adrian Healy, Development worker with Ennis CDP said there had been a lot of positive outcomes from the meeting, which took place in the of- fices of the Ennis CDP last Monday. He also thanked Cllr Considine and Deputy Carey for their involvement.

“The meeting was great. It was

very positive. It was great that Joe and Peter were able to come. They listened and gave advice. There was a very positive exchange of views and that was very helpful.”

Adrian added, “The whole point was to provide an opportunity for the group to be heard and for their voices to be listened to. Their voices were heard. Its not often that you get an opportunity as a group to sit down members of the council and the Dail, so in that sense, it was very beneficial to both sides. The lads got the chance to voice their opinions and they were considered and there was a good bit of consultation between both parties. Again, it was great to have Joe and Peter’s input at the meeting. They were there in a listening capacity but they also were also very helpful giv- ing advice.”

The Accommodation Implemen- tation Group was formed under the umbrella of the Traveller Strategy. The strategy, with input from Clare County Council and the Ennis CDP, is aimed at co-ordinating public services for Travellers. The group represents Travellers mainly on ac- commodation, but also advocates on other issues.

“What we are trying to do is to en- hance relations on the ground and develop communications. We want to strengthen links between commu- nities. That’s the big picture,” added Adrian.

OPPONENTS of plans to construct a €10 million explosives plant on the Shannon Estuary have served papers seeking a High Court injunction pre- venting An Bord Pleanala from tak- ing any further steps in determining the appeal on the plan.

Last Thursday in Ennis, the appeals board three-day oral hearing into the proposal concluded with counsel for Shannon Explosives Ltd, Esmonde

Keane SC stating that the board’s reason for refusing planning permis- sion to a previous plan by the com- pany has been fully dealt with in the new proposal.

However, Mr Keane’s closing state- ment took place in the absence of Opponents to the plan, An Taisce, Cairde Chill an Disirt Teo (CCDT) and three individual appellants who all withdrew from the hearing on Tuesday after the board refused to state as to whether the hearing was

being held under Irish law or a re- view under an EU Directive.

Acting solicitor for CCDT, Michael Nolan confirmed that the High Court case being brought by his clients has been adjourned from last Friday, Oc- tober 24 to November 21 to allow the other sides lodge responding affida- Wali

Mr Nolan said that An Bord Pleana- la gave an undertaking in court that if they were to make a decision on the appeal, they would give CCDT

notice if they wished to seek a court order preventing the board from de- termining the appeal.

Mr Nolan confirmed that CCDT are seeking an injunction preventing An Bord Pleanala from taking any steps in determining the appeal and an order requiring the reconvening of the oral hearing.

The application for judicial review is also demanding that the appeals board determine whether the appeal before is a review under EU legisla-

tion or an appeal under Irish law. Terance Corry of CDDT told

TWO homeless men who sought Shelter broke into a house in Ennis, drank a bottle of gin and then went to sleep in two of the bedrooms – in the mistaken belief that the house was vacant!

Both non-nationals Josef Pavelka (47), Lakeville, Gort Road, Ennis, and Aruydos Voronius (40), Riverd- ale, Tulla Road, Ennis, admitted en- tering a home in Highfield Park, En- nis, as a trespasser and committing theft, last Wednesday, October 22.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Ennis District Court that a man returned to his home at 9pm and discovered an empty bottle of gin on the table.

“It had been taken and consumed in the house. The accused men were asleep in bedrooms,” he said.

Gardai were called to the house and the two men were awakened from their sleep and arrested.

Defending solicitor Daragh Has- sett said the case gave a “whole new meaning to falling asleep on the

job.”

He said both of his clients were

homeless and took refuge in the house.

Pavelka, a native of the Czech Re- public, had worked in construction, but lost his job and has been living rough. His co-accused, a native of Lithuania, has also lost his job.

Mr Hassett said it was a bad night and the accused thought the house was vacant.

“[‘m not trying to minimise it but on the level of breaking and entry, it’s on the lower scale. They did not ransack the house,” he said.

He said the two had been living

with other homeless people from Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. ““Both men are homeless, without benefits, living from hand to mouth at the moment,’ he added.

Judge Joseph Mangan, asked, “They sought shelter?”

The solicitor said this was the case. The judge continued, “On a wet night? They didn’t do much to make Le ata

“Tf it was November, I’d be refer- ring to the Star of Bethlehem,” re- plied the solicitor. The judge add- ed, “If there was a third one in the

company, you might be referring to something else.”

He asked did the men have the money for the gin in court and was told they did not.

Both were remanded on continuing bail to re-appear in court next month and the judge said they must pay €15 compensation each.

“We won’t ask them to make the beds. If that is done (compensation paid) on that date, I’ll take a certain view in the matter. If it’s not, I’ll take quite a different view,’ said the judge.

THE inquest into the death of a man who was shot seven times in Ard- nacrusha has been adjourned, as the Garda investigation into the death is ongoing.

The inquest into the death of Aidan Kelly (21), College Avenue, Moy- ross, Limerick, opened at the Ennis Coroner’s Court last Wednesday.

The body of the young mechanic

was discovered at Blackwater, Ard- nacrusha on May 10, 2006. State Pa- thologist, Dr Marie Cassidy said the cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head, with gunshot wounds to the trunk a contributory factor.

County Coroner Isobel O’Dea ad- journed the inquest for a year and said she was conscious that a Garda investigation into the death was on- going.

She said that evidence given at the

inquest confirmed that Mr Kelly died at Blackwater, Ardnacrusha. Garda Bernard Casey said he had been called to a shooting incident at Blackwater. At the scene, Garda Ca- sey observed medics attempting to resuscitate a young male.

“I could see it was Aidan Kelly, who was known to me,” he said.

A full-length rifle and Mr Kelly’s car, a Silver Astra, were also noted at the scene by the garda.

The deceased’s father, Liam Kelly Snr identified the body of his son at the scene.

Dr Cassidy said a post mortem had revealed seven gunshot wounds to the head and body of Mr Kelly.

Ms O’Dea extended her sympa- thy to the family and friends of Mr Kah

‘“T hope that in the fullness of time, the gardai will be able to complete their investigation,” she said.

CUSACK Park will remain the headquarters of Clare GAA for the forseeable future after a proposal to rezone land there was blocked by Ennis Town Council.

Meeting last Wednesday to discuss the draft Ennis and Environs De- velopment Plan, councillors voted unanimously against rezoning the town centre site for commercial pur- OO sene

The Aisling Chiosoig Partnership had sought to purchase the ground from the Clare County Board and re- develop it as a commercial centre in return for the construction of a new stadium and adjoining facilities.

The way was left open, however, for future rezoning on the condition that an alternative site be found for

the proposed stadium.

An original site identified on the Quin Road was not considered vi- able because the land hes on a flood enue

The decision came after two days of lengthy discussions between coun- cillors and planners.

Councillors met first on Tuesday evening at a private workshop session to wade through the 124 submissions received on the draft version of the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

The most high profile of which concerned the proposal to rezone Cusack Park.

Later on Tuesday night, at a special meeting of Ennis Town Council or- ganised to formally pass the Draft Plan, Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said, that, following a vote taken at

the workshop, the decision had been taken not to rezone Cusack Park.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Consi- dine (FF), proposed adjourning the meeting, until Wednesday, so equal consideration could be given to other submissions contained in the manag- er’s report.

Councillors were warned _ that agreement on the plan had to be reached before Thursday so notices could appear in local media the fol- lowing week. Cllr Neylon, supported by Cllr Donal O’Bearra (GP) op- posed the adjournment. Cllr Neylon said the process was being rushed because the original timetable had not been adhered to.

A vote of 3-2 prevailed in favour of adjourning the meeting until Wednesday night.

The next night, Wednesday and

following another private workshop, Cllr Neylon proposed that Cusack Park’s status “remain as 1s” until de- velopers identified a suitable site for a new stadium.

Cllr Considine put forward the pro- posal that the draft plan be accepted by the council. It was passed on a unanimous vote.

The decision to halt the process will be seen as a blow by members of the local business community. Ennis Chamber of Commerce had supported the proposal, saying that the development would have signifi- cantly increased commercial activity in Ennis.

According to the Aisling Chiosdig partnership, 1,000 new jobs would have been created on completion of the project and another 500 in con- struction.

PRIMARY schools in Ennis will lose 12 teachers if proposed Budget cuts go ahead as planned, according to provisional figures from Ennis Education Forum.

The forum, which represents pri- mary schools in the Ennis parish, met last week to discuss the cutbacks in education announced in the Budg- A

The most controversial proposal put forward by the Department of Education involves increasing class sizes from 27 pupils per class to 28 pupils per class.

Initial figures from the Education Forum say as many 12 teaching posts could be at risk, if the proposals are enforced.

Margaret Cooney, Principal of the Holy Family Senior School and Forum member, said the cutbacks would have very serious implications for schools.

“It is very serious, because I think maybe people don’t generally under- stand how much of an impact this is going to have. If you’re short a

teacher, then it’s going to be a case of having to divide three classes into two and it’s the children will suffer as a result.”

Ms Cooney said other issues such as the loss of substitution cover would have major knock on effects.

“If you don’t have a situation where substitute teachers are available to provide cover, what you’re going to find is that classes are being broken up and children are sent in groups of four or five to other classrooms. It’s a very, very Serious situation.”

She added, “I think this figure of 200 teaching posts being lost that the department has provided is a very conservative figure. It’s likely to be much higher. I was totally gob- smacked when I heard that they were going to introduce these cutbacks.”

“There is no evidence to suggest that they will go back on them but I hope that sanity will prevail.

“We had the second highest teach- ers pupil ratio in Europe and now we re on our way to having the high- est. That’s extremely serious and shoud be of great concern,” said Ms Cooney.