Category: Uncategorized

THE Best for the West series of con- certs returns to Magnetic Music in Doolin this July and August. Now in it’s ninth year, the series has evolved into a central part of the summer mu- sic scene 1n north Clare.

The concerts have been attracting the best of Irish traditional, folk and singer/songwriters to Doolin each Summer since 1999.

The concerts are designed to be family friendly and small children are invited to sit on their parents’ laps for free while older children

(from 10 to 14 years) will be admit- ted half price.

The series will kick off with a bang on Sunday, July 20 as the Long Notes stroll into town. The quartet, which features two all-Ireland champions and two BBC young trad musicians of the year, should provide a treat for locals and tourists alike.

A week later Winifred Horan and Mick McAuley from folk super- group Solas will bring their brand of fiddle, accordion and guitar music to Doolin. On Friday, August | Irish folk band Teada will play followed by a pan Celtic night featuring folk stars

from the Shetland Islands, Scotland and Ireland on Thursday, July 7. This concert will feature Catriona McKay (harp), Chris Stout (fiddle) and Tom- my O’Sullivan (vocals and guitar).

Siobhan O’Brien will provide the entertainment on Sunday, August 10 followed by the Christy McNamara Trio on Saturday August 16. This concert will feature a host of trad1i- tional music from Clare played on the accordion, fiddle and guitar.

The outstanding voice and guitar playing of Sarah McQuaid will take to the stage on Saturday, August 23 while the series will be rounded off

by a performance by Galway fiddle divas the Kane Sisters and guitarist John Blake on August 29.

More information on this year’s programme can be obtained from www.magnetic-music.com by fol- lowing the MUSIC CAFE link.

Each concert starts at 10pm with doors opening at 9.30pm. The Fish- erstreet venue is small so prior book- ing is advisable in order to avoid dis- appointment.

To book ring 065 7074988 or e-mail info@magnetic-music.com.

The Best for the West series is sup- ported by the Irish arts council.

A JURY is expected to decide today if an Ennis woman conspired with a Las Vegas poker dealer to murder her partner and his two sons.

The trial, before Mr Justice Ro- derick Murphy and a jury of eight men and four women at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, will enter its 31st day today.

Over the seven weeks of the trial, 95 witnesses have given evidence, while the legal teams for both the prosecution and defence have made lengthy closing statements.

Mr Justice Roderick Murphy com-

pleted his summary of the evidence yesterday and the jury commenced its deliberations. Having been sent to a hotel for the night at 7pm yesterday, the jury will resume deliberating this morning.

Sharon Collins (45), of Ballybeg House, Kildysart Road, Ennis, and Essam Eid (52), an Egyptian na- tional with an address in Las Vegas, deny conspiring together to murder businessmen PJ, Robert and Niall Howard, between August | and Sep- tember 26, 2006.

Ms Collins also denies soliciting Mr Eid to murder the three men on August 15, 2006.

Mr Eid has also pleaded not guilty to demanding €100,000 from Robert Howard, in exchange for not killing the three men, at Ballaghboy, Doora, Ennis on September 26, 2006.

He has also denied entering Downes and Howard Limited, Unit 7A West- gate Business Park, Kilrush Road, Ennis as a trespasser and stealing a computer, a laptop, computer cables, a digital clock and a poster of old Irish money on September 25, 2006.

He has also pleaded not guilty to handling the stolen items.

A SHANNON based company, Chemifloc Ltd is facing prosecution in the Circuit Court over an incident at its plant in May of last year.

At Ennis District Court last Friday, Judge Joseph Mangan gave the Envi- ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) additional time to serve the book of AAG lo Nee

The firm, based in Smithstown In- dustrial Estate, is charged under Sec- tion 8 of the EPA Act with failing to comply with the conditions of the intergrated pollution control licence

granted to it in Octorber 1996 by causing or permitting emissions to the atmosphere contrary to the provisions of the licence.

The summons states that Section 8 of the EPA Act provides that emis- sions shall not exceed the emission limit value and that there shall not be any other emission to the atmosphere of environmental significance.

Already, jurisdiction has been de- clined in the case in the District Court exposing the company to the risk of much high higher penalties in the Cir- cuit Court if convicted.

The transfer of the case to the Cir-

cuit Court also necessitates the pros- ecution putting in place a book of evidence, which will contain all the statements and exhibits taken by the Keeble (OOF

An Official with the EPA told the court on Friday that in order to put to- gether the book of evidence, it will be necessary to take statements from in- dividuals and gardai who were present at Chemifloc on the date in question.

It is understood that on the date in question a plume of yellow/orange coloured smoke discharged from the licensed air emission point.

The coloured smoke mainly com-

prised nitrous oxides. The incident occurred between 5.30pm and 6.10pm on May 24.

A number of complaints relating to the coloured air emission were re- ceived by the licensee and by the EPA on Thursday, May 24.

Arising from the incident, an EPA inspector visited the site and the sur- rounding area on May 25 to assess the situation.

The case was adjourned to Killaloe District Court to allow time be ex- tended for the serving of the book of evidence to October 20.

WE find Lissycasey poised and primed, ready for battle, prepared to defend their title. They’ve heard the word going around the county, that they’ve had a poor league, that they’re going to struggle to keep Jack Daly in the paish.

The former, they know themselves. They don’t need telling on that front. The latter? Well, they’ve plenty to say about that but they’ll keep their powder dry and allow their football do the talking between the white Thee

We find last year’s captain renewed and refreshed on the eve of the cham- pionship. James Kelly says that plen- ty has changed in Lissycasey over the past eight months. A first champion- ship tends to do such things.

There’s more enthusiasm at the club, he says. More motivation among the players, particularly the younger members of the senior panel.

“On top of that,” he adds, “there’s

a great buzz among the underage teams.” You want knock-on effects from a championship win and there they are. Foundations being built for the future, seeds being sown. For a small parish with a growing popu- lation — particularly among young families — the story of 2007 may have great consequences.

But for now, that tale is put to bed. Last year is done with. It’s time for a new page.

‘This year 1s all that matters now,” says Kelly. “Even though the seniors aren’t playing well, the champion- ship is a different story. That’s what it’s all about. We didn’t go well in the league but got to the final of the O’Gorman Cup and didn’t play well in that game either. Right now we’re preparing to get off the ground in the championship.”

From the very start of the year, Kelly felt the opposition treated Lis- sycasey differently. Carrying the tag of champions, teams were more fo- CLUSTor6 Me-Nee- UOT] MNOS OO PMRAOLoATABE-DESCoLO Mm NO COEN

game. It comes with the territory though, it’s the sideshow that win- ning the league and championship brings.

“This year, instead of playing 100%, we’ll have to play 120% be- cause teams will be trying even harder against us this year. Every team will be out to beat us as we’re up there as county champions and it’s something you’d even notice during the league.”

Speaking of which, things have changed slightly since then. James Murrihy came in as trainer at the be- ginning of the season and has since been replaced. Has that had an effect on championship preparation?

“Not really,” says Kelly, “because it’s still basically the same training. James 1s preparing for the Olympics at the moment [he plays for the Irish soccer team] and he couldn’t stay on with us. But from our point of view, it’s still basically the same train- ing and there’s a good atmosphere there.”

Other changes have come about as well. Martin Daly, man of the match in the final last October, has come on board as part of the management and Michael Slowey, an influential addi- tion to the club for last year’s cam- paign, has departed.

Two big names missing from the forwards, but Kelly reckons Lissyca- sey have the talent to push on.

‘“There’s a lot of young lads there this year from 17 and 18 years of age upwards. I’m talking about the likes of Francis Hayes who was coming along last year — he’ll be just one trying to cement a position for them- selves. A lot of the up and coming players are actually forwards. Fair enough, we’re missing the two boys but there’s plenty of competition.

‘In general, there’s good competi- tion for places and that’s positive because it should push fellas on. The young lads coming in will drive on the older lads to try and hold their place and we’ll have to all fight to keep our place on the team. Things seem to be coming together right now so hopefully once the champi- onship comes around, we’ll all be ready for road.

“We’ll be in there with a shout.”

TWENTY-ONE local artists will descend on Ennistymon next week in preparation for the third annual Trading Spaces Exhibition. The ex- hibition takes the innovative step of using spaces in the town’s famed shop fronts as exhibition spaces. This show crosses all genres from photography and sculpture to film projections and performance pieces. “I’m really excited about this year’s show. I think that it will be the best yet in terms of variety and energy,” said co-organiser Rob Henderson. “People are looking at the shop fronts anyway – it’s signposted on the way into Ennistymon and on count- less postcards sent all over the world.

It’s part of Ennistymon. So it makes a perfect place for an exhibition.

“It’s also about our own personal connection to the town. Like for my- self, Pll be using the window in Ha- ran’s pub and I remember spending hour after hour listening to singing in Haran’s pub.”

In this years Trading Spaces artists are being encouraged to tailor their work to be a real part of the shop front it is being housed in.

“When we did it the first year we had such a short amount of time that we didn’t encourage people to do site specific works or installations. But since then we have been looking at creating more site specific works – that works alongside the people in the place to the history of the site,”

said co-organiser Jackie Askew.

“It comes with a brief – you have to work with the shopkeeper and in the space provided so the art really evolves in the space.

“It can be a bit last minute – the artists will have the ideas but you can never be sure what is going to happen until you start actually doing it in the window.

“Tt’s important to recognise all the shopkeepers who give up their space for the exhibition – without them it just wouldn’t be possible.”

The artists taking part in this year’s Trading Spaces are; Jackie Askew (Dalys), Marie Connole (Gilnas Optometrist), Maeve Collins (The Square), Mary Fahy (Noinins), Sarah Fuller, Maria Kerin and Vanessa Earl

Maguire (TBC), Tabatha Gravener (The Medical Centre), Rob Hend- erson (Haran’s Pub), Lynne Hoare (TBC), Des McLoughlin (Old Fit- Zpatrick’s), Kevin Mulligan (Cool- eys), Josie O’Connor (Chinese Take Away), Fiona O’Dwyer (TBC), Ash- ley O’Neal (TBC), Judy O’Sullivan (The Courthouse Studios), Mary Queally (TBC), Patsy Ricks (Cool- eys), Fergus Tighe (Eugenes/Cool- eys), Anne Vaughan (TBC) and Vin- cent Wall (TBC).

Trading Spaces will run from July 17 to 31.

THE Government’s commitment to tackling environmental offences such as litter and graffiti was emphasised by Minister of State Tony Killeen following the allocation of €34,000 in grants to Clare County Council for public education and awareness initiatives in relation to both litter and graffiti.

Stating that this represented a 33% increase on last year’s allocation, Minister Killeen said that under the Litter Pollution Acts, local authori- ties have a responsibility to prevent and take remedial action in relation to graffiti.

‘The criteria for selection of suit- able projects under this scheme have

been expanded in 2008 to include anti-graffit1 awareness initiatives, in order to support local authorities in their work in this area.”

“Clare County Council and the town councils in Kilkee, Kilrush, Ennis and Shannon have taken great strides to progressively combat litter pollution, but much still remains to be done. Therefore, I would encour- age Clare Local Authorities and communities across the county to continue to work together to clean up their localities.”

He urged all local authorities to continue to take all practical steps to raise public awareness of the en- vironmental damage caused by lit- ter pollution and educate the public about their responsibilities.

THE Labour Court has ruled that a Shannon-based company unfairly dismissed an employee who brought his wife home after she was dis- missed by the same firm.

The court has recommended that Reagecon Diagnostics Ltd pay the man – who is not named – €5,000 in compensation.

According to the Labour Court, the worker’s wife was dismissed due to complaints being made against her.

The report states: “The worker

claims to have brought his wife home on the day she was dismissed as she was very upset. He claims he was given permission to do so by his su- pervisor on the day.

“It is further contended that when he returned to work, after three days of pre-arranged annual leave, he was dismissed. His position is that man- agement informed him that he had effectively resigned when he left the premises with his wife on the day of her dismissal.”

Last January, the worker referred the issue to the Labour Court and

agreed to be bound by the court’s recommendation. The company de- clined an invitation to attend the Labour Court investigation into the dispute on the basis that there was no dispute and it would not take part in or be bound by the court’s recom- mendation.

At the Labour Court hearing in April, the worker argued he received permission from his supervisor to take his wife home on the day of her dismissal.

The worker was subsequently ab- sent on pre-arranged annual leave

and was summarily dismissed on his return to work.

The report goes on, “Management claimed at the time that the worker had resigned his position on the same day his wife was dismissed. This is not the case.

“The worker attempted to explain the situation to management on his return to work but was given twen- ty minutes to leave the company’s DERN ee

In its recommendation, the Labour Court inspector stated, “The court finds it regrettable that the employer

failed to attend the hearing to inves- tigate the worker’s claim; neither did it furnish a written statement setting out its position.

“On the basis of the oral and writ- ten submission made by Ms Mairead Carey BL on behalf of the worker, the court is satisfied that his employ- ment was terminated in an unfair and inappropriate manner.

“In the circumstances the court recommends that the employer pay the claimant compensation in the amount of €5,000 in full and final settlement of his claim.”

THE number of adults unemployed in Clare has jumped by more than one third in the last year, and by 9.3 per cent in the past month accord- ing to figures released by the Central Statistic Office.

As many as 5,505 people were sign- ing on last month in County Clare, 1,375 people more than during the same month last year.

The number of people on the live register in the Tulla area has in- creased by as much as 52 per cent from June 2007 to last month.

Unemployment in Ennistymon has increased by 40 per cent with 806 people signing on the register.

In the county town of Ennis there are now 32 per cent more people un- employed than this time last year, as 3,293 people are signing on.

In Kilrush the unemployment in- crease is the lowest in the county, but it has still increased by almost 20 per cent.

There are now some 1,067 more men unemployed in the county than i (eyenles tb

Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said this was only the tip of the iceberg with more Clare workers set to join the dole queues over the coming months.

“For the past twelve months jobs have been haemorrhaging from County Clare however in spite of nu- merous warnings this Government have sat idly by while the crisis de-

veloped,” he said.

“Unemployment in Clare has grown by 33.3 per cent in the year from June 2007 to June 2008 and especially worrying is the fact that the number of those unemployed under 25 has increased by 46.6 per cent from 759 in June 2007 to 1,113 in June 2008,” the TD added.

“The truth is that ordinary workers are bearing the brunt of this Govern- ments economic ineptitude and this is especially true here in County Clare. We are also now witnessing how the lack of connectivity from Shannon to

London Heathrow is adding substan- tial costs to local businesses as a re- sult of the Government’s failure to act to secure the service,” he said.

“My call for a regional strategy to address this crisis has fallen on deaf ears. In fact this Government has sleepwalked it’s way through much of this crisis. Next week following months of not recognising that there is a crisis, the Government will out- line to the Dail how they intend to deal with the current crisis.”

AN EIGHT year old boy had a mi- raculous escape in Kilkee yesterday after his head was wedged between the road and the tyre of a moving vehicle as he tried to retrieve a ball from beneath it.

The accident happened shortly be- fore 4 o’clock yesterday at Geraldine Place in Kilkee when the boy was playing near the four wheel drive sport utility vehicle (SUV). The child had attempted to retrieve a ball from under the vehicle when it began

to move forward, pinning him un- derneath.

The boy screamed in agony alerting the driver who stopped immediately.

The owner jumped from the vehi- cle to find the young child wedged between the wheel and the ground. An ambulance and local doctor were summoned to the scene but the local ambulance in Kilrush was respond- ing to a medical emergency also near Kilkee so an ambulance had to be despatched from Ennis.

As the ambulance would have tak- en more than half an hour to get from

Ennis to the scene, the child’s parents carefully placed him in the vehicle and drove towards Ennis to meet the ambulance. A local doctor was also sent to the scene but the child was on the way to Ennis before he arrived.

The vehicle pulled in just outside Kilrush where they waited for the ambulance crew who by now were only seconds away. He was assessed by medics before being rushed to Ennis General Hospital for treat- ment. The child arrived at the hospi- tal shortly after 5pm.

It is understood that the youngster

sustained “road rash” injuries and scrapes to his head and face but re- mained conscious throughout the incident and during the journey to hospital.

He was treated at Ennis Gen- eral Hospital and it was hoped that he would be released last night or early this morning after treatment. He received stitches to a number of wounds.

The child’s parents, who followed the ambulance to the hospital, are said to be very upset by the acci- elem

“TM NOT LYING EYES.” That was the message delivered to the jury by Sharon Collins, who told the trial that her life had been stolen.

Una Ni Raifeartaigh, BL, for the prosecution, put it to her in cross-ex- amination, “You are lying eyes.”

Ms Collins replied, “I’m not. I sup- pose you can say that. It’s your job to bring in a guilty verdict. I’m not lying eyes. I didn’t go into lyingeyes. I didn’t know anything about lyin-

geyes until the guards told me. I cer- tainly wasn’t accessing a hitman.”

“IT wrote to the DPP and asked for somebody to investigate the theft of my life, but they chose not to do that,’ she said.

“I think the position I find myself in 1s ludicrous. I don’t believe for a moment that anyone ever intended to kill three people. I think if some- body would set out to do something like that, they would try to cover their tracks,” she added.

Counsel said the discovery of the

poison ricin would suggest that, to which the defendant replied, “I don’t know anything about that, but I can certainly say I didn’t intend to have three people killed.”

She rejected suggestions by Ms Ni Raifeartaigh that “it’s fabrication from start to finish. It’s not a story,” said Ms Collins.

She said that she sent €15,000 re- lating to a blackmail “to an address I was given. I didn’t know anything about Essam Eid. I think if I was paying somebody to kill, it would

be very obvious to me that it would be traceable,’ she said. Asked about calls between her phone and Essam Eid’s number, she said that a man was blackmailing her.

“T think at the time, I couldn’t be sure if if was One man or two men. I don’t know who was ringing me. It was very hard to know where the calls were coming from,” she said.

Ms Ni Raifeartaigh put it to her that some of the language used in the emails was similar to Ms Collins’ language.

The defendant said she accepted that, “but I don’t know what was go- ing on, but some of it was definitely not my language.”

When one of the emails sent by lyingeyes was read out to her in court, she said, “It’s dreadful, but certainly not written by me.”

She said she would never get over the shock of the emails. Earlier, asked by her own Senior Counsel Paul O’Higgins did she solicit or conspire with anyone, she said, “Ab- solutely not” and shook her head.