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ROBERT Howard phoned a secu- rity firm in a nervous disposition and asked for personal security, claiming that he had been threatened.

The director of an Ennis-based se- curity firm, Kevin Cooper told the court yesterday that Robert phoned him on September 26, 2006, asking for him to provide security for him.

Mr Cooper, who provides security to homes and businesses, said, “He rang me in the evening time, ask- ing me if I could supply him with security, personal security. He said he’d been threatened. I said, ‘Ya.’ He

sounded urgent,” he said.

He said that Mr Howard asked to meet him the following day and they met at the Howards’ family business at Westgate Business Park in Ennis.

“He said, ‘I just want someone to be around me and mind me. Someone made a threat.’ He said that the offic- es had been broken into. He seemed very nervous,’ said Mr Cooper.

However, he said that Mr Howard did not follow up on it. He never con- tacted me again after that,” he said.

The court also heard yesterday from an employee of the Howards, who said that PJ had a temper.

Dan Fitzgerald, who provides gen-

eral maintenance and support to the Howard family business, agreed with counsel for Sharon Collins, Michael Bowman, BL, that PJ had a “bit of a temper’ and was someone you “wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of”.

He also agreed that PJ was a “par- ticular man, with exacting stand- ards” and who took pride in his be- longings.

Mr Bowman put it to him that a cabinet had been damaged at Bal- lybeg House, at a party that Sharon Collins’ two sons Gary and David had hosted in August or September 2006.

Mr Fitzgerald agreed that Sharon was concerned about the damage and had made several attempts to get it repaired, prior to PJ returning home from Spain.

The witness also agreed that PJ still spends much of his time in Spain, while Robert has moved back into the family home, Ballybeg House.

Mr Bowman put it to Mr Fitzgerald that Sharon would say that house was too big and he agreed. “Yes, some- times she would say the house was too big,” he said.

Another witness, Gerard O’Donoghue — a company direc- tor with Ennis-based computer firm

Boots Systems Ltd — told the court that Sharon Collins grasped the workings of computers, but wasn’t competent on the technical side.

He said he went to the Downes and Howard business in Ennis on May 11, 2006, on foot of a request from Sharon Collins. He said that she wanted to be able to view documents pertaining to the business, while she was in Spain.

“T installed ftp (file transfer proto- col) so there would be two identical copies, so she could access it in Spain and Niall and Robert (could access the same information) in the office at the same time,’ he told the court.

WITH a stated aim of ‘Bringing smiles to people’, the Ennis Street Festival gets underway this week- end and organisers plan to vanquish talk of recession, referendums and a downturn in the weather by provid- ing a unique blend of colour, enter- tainment and worldly culture to the town during it’s two day duration.

This is the third year of the festival and with an unprecedented number of artists and acts performing in various locations around the town on Saturday and Sunday, this celebra- tion of art and culture is an unrivaled family occasion in the county and festival director Ana Bella Alvarez is expecting a large crowd to con- gregate in the county’s capital this weekend.

“The people of Clare have really taken to the festival and this year we

are expecting bigger numbers than ever before as we have done a lot of promotional work, we have a big group of volunteers helping out and the majority of the acts are of a very high standard. Mr Toons is a well known international act, the Fantini Brothers who have performed in En- nis before and the Cork Circus is a unique theatrical act. We also have really good flamenco players in the Old Ground Hotel, good music in Brandons and an a really interesting open cabaret competition in the West County Hotel and they all combine to make the Ennis Festival so enter- taining this year.”

The nucleas for the festival emerged four years ago when Alvaraz applied to Clare County Council for planning permission to hold a Samba perform- ance for the anniversary of her dance business. The performance was greeted by unheralded praise and

after being continually asked to de- velop the concept, she drew upon all her experience and artistic contacts to plan the first Ennis Street Festival in 2006 which comprised of a four hour performance involving three acts. From little acorns, mighty oak trees grow and since then, the event has blossumed. Last year, the festival was a day long event and this year, a full two days is dedicated to the per- formers.

“Over the years, through the fes- tival we have learned what people like, need and want in a festival and it is only by this experience that the festival has grown. It has taken time to develop as we tried to get various communities in Ennis and County Clare involved but there are plenty of performers and talent in the county and I think this festival was needed to fuse everything together. A lot of the festivals in Clare are traditional

orientated festivals but we have have tried to bring entertainment to the streets like a carnival atmosphere. We try to develop this concept that Ennis is not only for working or shopping, it is also a place where people can come to the streets with their fami- lies and enjoy the entertainment. The artistic talent in county Clare has to be developed because there are a lot of artists but they needed a platform to display their talents and with this festival, it might take another year or two but hopefully with everybody’s help we can develop something re- ally special.” Rio beware.

For further information on this year’s festival, visit www.ennisstreet- festival.com

FINAL preparations are being made for this year’s Burren Leadership Fo- rum which takes place at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan this weekend.

This year’s forum is entitled Ena- bling Leadership to Flourish Within Organisations and will feature some of the most distinguished minds in the leadership field including Dr Simon Western, Lynne Sedgemore OBE, John Housego, Zoe van Zwanenberg and Dr Ehat Aram.

“This year we are taking an inno- vative approach to leadership for-

mation, which is a new term in the Whole areas of leadership develop- ment,” said organiser Barry Walsh.

“It’s really about creating a cul- ture in an organisation which allows appropriate leaders to develop for the needs of that organisation. The premise of all of this is that leader ship can be formed. It’s about work- ing with people in their own situa- tions and helping to bring about the qualities that are necessary for that person.

“So it’s not about creating leaders at the front, it’s about having differ- ent types of leaders at all levels of an organisation. If you have a business

or organisation that is formed in this way than you are really going to fir- ing on all cylinders.”

The forum itself focuses on devel- oping leadership in many different types of organisations from private businesses to the voluntary organisa- tions and public services.

“It is focused on organisations as well as businesses. Some of the speakers work in the public sector, especially with the health service in the UK. But we also have a lot of speakers from the private sector, so there 1s a good mix,” continued Bru MA

“This year we will cater for a very

small group of about 50 people. We purposely wanted an intimate group. The forum is very action-orientated and there will be a lot of experiential work done. We are going to operate in small groups with lot of workshops for small numbers and then come to- gether for bigger lectures with the whole group.

‘There are still a few places avail- able so if people do want to get in- volved they should get in contact as soon as possible.”

For more information or to book a place contact the Burren Leadership Forum on 065 7083949 or check out www.burrenleadershipforum.ie

AND so it’s over for another year. You came, you took part and you ate the Mars bars. Some of you raced against each other, some raced against the clock. Novices to the sport ran some, walked some, ran some, walked some, while seasoned walkers cruised around the course.

Whatever way covered the distance, congratulations. Ten kilometres is no easy distance. Hopefully by now, you have stopped walking like John Wayne and you can start to contemplate climb- ing the stairs again.

While you were counting the cost of your efforts around the course, we were counting the money raised for charity. Over 1500 competitors showed up on

Saturday morning and this converts to well over €15,000 raised for charity. A resounding success yet again.

This year our numbers rose again and I would urge all of you who intended taking part but didn’t get around to it, to put it in your diary for next June.

The organising committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who helped out in any way with The Clare 10k.

The list is long and they will be thanked individually at a later date, but for now all that remains is to say thanks for all your help and we hope to see you all again next year.

THE high number of foreign compa- nies visiting the Shannon Free Zone with a view to investing there has failed to prevent a steady decline in jobs over the past four years.

Figures released by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, yesterday show that overall 251 jobs have been lost in the zone.

In 2007, the zone suffered a net loss of 131 jobs. This trend is set to con- tinue this year with yesterday’s con- firmation that Avocent International is to shed 64 jobs.

Last year Shannon Development brought 14 potential investors to visit the free zone. In contrast IDA at- tracted only three.

Shannon Development’s tally is up three from that in 2006. However, it is down on the 22 potential investors that visited the zone in 2005 and the 17 who visited in 2004.

In the years 2003 to 2007, potential investors made some 88 “business itineraries’. In the same period, the number of IDA itineraries in Clare was 16.

The figures show that the worst year for redundancies in the free zone was 2005 when 739 jobs were lost, while 485 jobs were lost last year.

The figures show that 354 jobs were created in the zone last year.

Shannon Development is due to shortly publish its masterplan in re- lation to a revamped Shannon Free Zone. Clir Brian Meaney (GP) said that the agency needed to be creative and innovative.

‘High labour costs are resulting in companies relocating jobs overseas and Shannon Development needs to create the spirit of the 1960s with the establishment of the Free Zone and other innovative ideas.

“The figures also confirm that it would have been the height of folly by the Government to withdraw the responsibility for promoting the free zone from Shannon Development and giving it to the IDA.

“The figures show that the IDA doesn’t have any real interest in pro- moting industry in rural Clare or in Ennis and the number of itineraries brought by Shannon Development to the Free Zone in recent years points up the poor IDA performance in Clare,’ Cllr Meaney concluded.

A recent county by county survey confirmed that Clare came 19th of the 26 counties in IDA jobs created for 2007. The figures supplied by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment show that 22 jobs were created in IDA companies last year.

ST SENAN’S Church in Kilrush will host a spectacular concert involving some of the most famous and revered names in classical music.

Organised by Kilrush’s own world renowned classical singer, Edel O’Brien, the concert will showcase the work of well known mother and daughter duo Geraldine O’Doherty on harp and Moya O’Grady on vio- lin, as well as French violinist Se- bastien Petiet.

SMITE Seet I Reeeheeele)temevmm enlists are from the RTE Concert Orchestra. They have produced numerous CDs and many works in their own right.

“We shall be performing a lovely programme of light and popular mu- sic by Mozart, Rossini, Gershwin and several others,” said Edel.

“We have deliberately chosen a programme that will have popular appeal. People will recognise most

of the pieces once they hear them,” she said.

”T am chuffed with the whole thing and very excited about it. I would love all of west Clare to hear them,” she added.

Many of the pieces have been spe- cially arranged for the night to incor- porate the musical instruments and singing.

“We will introduce each piece and explain the context,” said Edel.

The Kilrush woman has_ been working hard to organise this special event for July 26, with all proceeds going towards the church renovation fund.

‘For me the church in Kilrush 1s one of the most handsome and beau- tiful buildings in the country. It has great character and acoustically it is great. It is absolutely worth preserv- ing and promoting and Id like to give something back to Kilrush in my own personal way. Id like to say

thank you,” she said.

Edel believes she will be slightly nervous on the night.

‘The nerves depend on the impor- tance of the occasion and how well prepared you are. I am always more nervous on local occasions,’ she Said.

The talented young woman has been singing for most of her life.

At the age of eight she won her first féis thanks to the dedication of her late teacher Carmel Houlihan.

In her teens she began receiving professional singing lessons and has never looked back.

After school she received her de- gree and masters in music from St Patrick’s College Maynooth.

From there she went to study in London and France.

At the age of nineteen, she won the Margaret Burke-Sheridan Cup at the Dublin Féis Ceoil. In London, she was awarded a scholarship to study

singing at Trinity College of Music where she won a “distinction” in her postgraduate diploma in vocal stud- ies. In addition, she won the vocal faculty award and the college gold medal.

The Kilrush woman’s talent re- ceived world recognition in 2002 when she was invited as one of only seven singers to be part of the young artists programme at the prestigious Centre de Formation Lyrique at the Opera Bastille, Opera National de Paris. While there she won the Prix Lyrique, which is awarded annually to one male and one female singer at the CFL. Edel has much experience in opera, oratorio and recital, having worked around Ireland, Britain and ecbeleen

Tickets for the concert cost €20 and €10 for concessions.

The concert begins at 8pm and tick- ets can be purchased from the parish OS E(CLomeyuRe) OMA elomobrcanlm

AS WE speak, a young Clare tra- ditional musician is mixing it with the very best in the world at the Blas Summer School in Limerick. Six- teen-year-old Ballyvaughan student Caoimhe Greene has spent the last 10 days playing with and learning from some of musical idols.

After spending her transition year work experience at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick Caoimhe was hooked. Finding no scholarships easily available, she set about taking matters into her own hands.

“After the work experience [| start-

ed making up a Blas music biogra- phy and sent it out to a few different places, just to see what would hap- pen. One of the organisations that I sent it to was Clare County Council and they got back to me and said that even though they don’t usually spon- sor scholarships, they would make an exception for me,’ said Caoimhe.

“We have a master-class each morn- ing with one of the lecturers. There are so many brilliant teachers down here. Then we have lectures before a lunchtime concert with some of the teachers. Then there are more classes and lesson in the evening.”

This year’s Blas features some of Ireland’s foremost musician includ-

ing Donal Lunny, Mairtin O’Connor, Steve Cooney, Iarla O Lionaird, Mar- tin Hayes and Dennis Cahill.

“Tt’s really amazing. Take today for example. I just had a two hour one- on-one lesson with Steve Cooney. Something like that is just unbeliev- able. A private lesson with Steve Cooney and he’s off to Glastonbury on Friday. You couldn’t dream it up,” continues Caoimhe.

“T love to get into music as a Ca- reer. If you look at the people who are here then it would have to be your aim to try and emulate what they are doing. I like trad and classical but I’d love to get into some jazzy music and different things like that.”

Some 70 students from all over the world are taking part in this years festival. Besides a large Irish con- tingent, students have travelled from Israel, Columbia, Finland, Russia, France, the UK and America to learn from Ireland’s best.

Caoimhe will continue her mu- sic lessons and concerts at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance until the Blas Summer School come to aclose later this week.

TREATING more people in the community was the aim behind a new concept in health care unveiled by the HSE in Clare on Monday.

The North Clare Primary Care Team will provide GP Practice serv- ices, community nursing, physiother- apy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy services, commu- nity welfare, home help and extend- ed services such as dietetics, dental, podiatry and school health service to approximately 7,000 people.

“One of the major problems in the past with primary care was the frag- mentation of services. Now for the first time a conscious and ongoing ef- fort is being made to deliver primary care to the people of north Clare on a joined up basis,” said the chairman of the team, Dr Fergus Glynn.

“One particular issue for us in this part of north Clare is the high number

of elderly people, particularly those Uhvaustear-Dleyatee

“One of the principle aims is to support older people in health and ill health to live fulfilled lives within their community,’ he said.

According to the HSE, the focus of the health service and its develop- ments has traditionally been around the hospital system. But now there is recognition that primary care serv- ices can meet 90 to 95 per cent of all health and personal social service needs and lead to better outcomes, better health status and better cost- CIBC AL od Nhe

The service will be spread over a geographical area of 550 square kilometres in north Clare to include Corofin, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora and Ballyvaughan, Kilnaboy, Car- ron, Boston and Doolin.

The primary care team will provide a strengthened primary care system in the north Clare area, which will

play a more central role as the first and ongoing point of contact for cli- ents within the health-care system.

It will aim to provide an integrat- ed, inter-disciplinary, high-qual- ity, team-based and _ user-friendly set of services for the client and an enhanced capacity for primary care in the areas of disease prevention, rehabilitation and personal social services to complement the existing diagnosis and treatment focus.

The members of the North Clare Primary Care team are based in a number of locations at present, the new Ballyvaughan Primary Care Centre, Lisdoonvarna Health Centre and Corofin Medical Centre. Addi- tional staff have been appointed to support the team including a physio- therapist, a registered nurse, a speech and language therapist, an occupa- tional therapist and other staff, in- cluding a dietician, to support more than one team.

TWO national school pupils from Querrin National School have brought national success to west Ort

Young engineering boffins Michael Duffy and Ronan Allen from the national school near Kilkee, were crowned winners of the Engineers Ireland STEPS to Engineering K’NEX Challenge on Thursday.

The final took place in the Helix in Dublin City University.

Michael and Ronan competed with primary school children from across

Ireland for the prestigious title of Junior Engineer of Ireland 2008.

They won the competition with their creation of a marine turbine through the use of the construction toy K’NEX.

John Power, chartered engineer and Director General of Engineers Ireland, congratulated Michael and Ronan on winning this year’s com- exe elOee

“They should be very proud. By winning today they have effectively surpassed 22,000 other primary school students from across the country who entered the competition

originally,” he said.

‘At Engineers Ireland we want to demonstrate to students and their parents that engineering is a career option that encourages inventive- ness. The K’NEX Challenge gives the children a taste of the creative thinking and problem solving that is required day to day by engineers.”

This year’s K’NEX Challenge took place in 750 primary schools and in- volved 22,000 primary school pupils from across the country.

Each team of two children com- peted against the clock using their imagination, creativity and skill to

plan, design and construct an engi- neering model.

The pupils worked under the theme, “celebrating the past, creating the fu- ture’, with the educational construc- tion toy, K’NEX.

The All-Ireland final was officiated by judges from NUI Galway, Water- ford I’T and ESBI.

DETAILS for this year’s Gort Show were Officially announced last week with organisers predicting that this year’s event would be the largest and most popular to date.

The show, which takes place on Au- gust 10, will this year boast one of the largest children’s sections in the country with more than 30 classes on display. Along with the increas- ing number of categories, the prize- money for the winner is also on the Tb NOusreRos

“We are delighted this year to be able to increase the prize money in

every category. We are now able to offer over €10,000 in prize money, including over €2,000 in special prizes,’ said show chairman lan N)Koy ales

‘Due to the high interest in the pho- tographic section at the Gort Show over the last few years we are pleased to introduce the Minihane’s Super- Valu photographic competition.

‘This 1s a competition that is open not only amateurs but also semi-pro- fessional and professional photogra- phers, and has a prize fund of €100 per class.”

The number of categories in the outdoor event is also on the increase

with perennial favourites like the dog show and poultry section being joined by a host of new events. This year’s flower show will be housed in it’s own marquee while the horse, pony and donkey sections will be held in the grounds of the Gort Com- munity School.

Organisers this year have put a spe- cial emphasis on creating a family friendly day out with bouncy castles, face painting, games, prizes, a pup- pet show, candy floss and ice-cream.

There will be a vintage car and mo- torbike rally, an old farm machinery and tractor show, a sale of local arts and crafts and a rescue display by the

local fire brigade.

The full schedule of events will be available from the entry office at the Gort Family Resource Centre from ordered ©

Schedules will also be available from Minihane’s SuperValu and other retail outlets in Gort. Entries will be accepted from Monday, July 7, until Friday, August 1. Opening times for entries will be from 9.30am to lpm and from 2pm to 4pm.

For more information on the show check out www.gortshow.com, e- mail secretary@gortshow.com or phone show secretary Fidelma Lar- kin at 087 6506683.