Category: Uncategorized

A 19 YEAR old Bristol man has been remanded until August after he reap- peared in court on Friday on charges in connection with an assault which left a 20 year old rugby fan from County Clare fighting for his life.

James “Jamie” Egan (19) from Kilmihil is now reported to be in a “stable condition” at Frenchay North Bristol Hospital after being attacked in a pub there on May 23 last.

He had been on the critical list for a number of days before that.

James had been staying in the city and was due to travel to Cardiff to see Munster play in the Heineken Cup Final the following day. However,

the Limerick Institute of Technology engineering student was rushed to hospital with life threatening injuries following an incident in a bar.

Darren O’Neill from Bristol was arrested soon after the attack and was later charged with causing griev- ous bodily harm (GBH).

He first appeared at Bristol Mag- istrates Court on Monday, May 26, where he was remanded to the Bris- tol Crown Court where he appeared on Friday last.

According to a _ spokesperson for Bristol Crown Court, “Darren O’Neill appeared at Bristol Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on May 30. He was remanded to appear at this court on August 29 next.”

Police were called to the scene at the Chicago Rock bar, Bristol Wa- terfront, at around midnight on Fri- day May 23 where they found James Egan seriously injured.

It is understood that Mr Egan had returned to his hotel following an earlier incident, but left the hotel again at around midnight. He was subsequently assaulted by aman ina bar on Bristol’s waterfront.

A short time later in a nearby pub, Darren O’Neill, with an address in Bristol, was arrested and taken into custody.

The injured man’s mother Carmel flew to Bristol from Clare to be at her son’s bedside the morning after the AAA EANOL

GARDAI in Ennistymon were last night trying to identify the body of a man that was recovered from the sea in the north of the county on Bank Holiday Monday.

The man’s body was spotted in the water between Hags Head and the Cliffs of Moher at around 10am.

The man is believed to be in his late 30s but gardai were still unsure of his identity last night.

It is thought, however, that the vic- tim may be from Dublin but gardai could not confirm this at the time of going to press.

An initial search of the area was carried by rangers based at the Cliffs of Moher yesterday morning after a motorcycle was discovered in the car park at the tourist attraction.

It 1s understood that the vehicle was also seen there late on Sunday evening and suspicions were aroused when it was still at the same location

yesterday as staff arrived for work.

Several rangers carried out a search of the area and later saw a body in the water about three kilometres south of the public viewing platform at the cliffs.

The discovery was immediately reported to gardai and the Doolin unit of the Irish Coastguard was also contacted. Coastguard volunteers launched two boats shortly after llam and rushed to the scene where they recovered the man’s body.

Shortly after Ipm, the body was taken from the water and removed to the pier at Doolin where a local doc- tor pronounced the victim dead. His remains were later transported to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where a post-mortem ex- amination is expected to be carried today (Tuesday).

Gardai at Ennistymon say foul play is not suspected. An investigation of the incident will be carried out and a file will be prepared for a coroner’s

inquest which will be held at a later CF Kee

A Garda spokesman said, “The body was recovered around lunch- time and taken to Doolin Pier.

‘‘A post mortem will take place and we will prepare a file for the county coroner who will hold an inquest in due course.

We know that he is in his late 30s and he may be from Dublin. We still have to confirm this,” the spokesman added.

HURLING in_ Inagh-Kilnamona hasn’t had it so good since Kilna- mona were one of the most feared combinations in Clare during the first 25 years of county champion- ship history.

Ironically, the last of their three titles came 100 years ago, so what chance the newest club in Clare, Inagh-Kilnamona, affectionately known as “The Combo’ or ‘Inagh- mona’ marking the centenary by go- TbOTeare DO SLomAUYE AYA

That they are being considered as championship darkhorses is all down to a meeting of hurling minds from both ends of the parish, that saw the Inagh and Kilnamona clubs amal- gamate. It has changed the hurling landscape in the parish — suddenly everything has changed, from a situ- ation where both had problems with playing numbers, “The Combo’ are being talked up as genuine challeng- ace

The only downside, according to selector Noel Hehir, is keeping a lid on expectations, wholly unrealistic expectations he says because of the minefield that is group one. It’s been hard work to douse the fanfare, but Hehir thinks this has been achieved only a few months into their maiden voyage.

“When we joined up first there

were great expectations from sup- porters that it was going to happen overnight for us. That has levelled off a bit now — we know that nothing happens overnight. Good teams that have been winning down the years are not going to disappear because we here,” says Hehir.

“Obviously when two senior clubs join there will be great things ex- pected, but it takes a while. You’re playing against clubs that have a great tradition of hurling — that will count for a good bit as well,” he adds, downplaying his side’s chances.

However, on the evidence of what we’ve seen so far, Inagh-Kilnamona look to be a team going places. They sit proudly on the top of Division 2A of the Clare Cup, with five wins form SID GLO LUISE NTSAe

And, they’ve played themselves into this position without fielding the same team in any two successive out- ings. Hehir isn’t complaining though — indeed, contrary to others he’s revelling in the fact that unavailabil- ity of players due to county or exam commitments had forced innovation and experimentation with team se- lections.

“We have three on the under 21 panel and three on the senior panel, SO we were juggling around with panel all year,’ says Hehir. “It has been brilliant — we’ve had a chance to look at every player in a competi-

tive situation.

“The players with the county, we know what they’re like and what they’re capable of. It’s the fringe players that we’ve had a great chance to have a close look at in the Clare Cup. If a lad puts it in a good effort in training, plays good in the cup, he puts himself up there to be consid- ered for the championship. Before there were players who might know that they would be playing, no matter how they trained or played.

‘“There’s nothing like competition for places to keep things going and keep everyone interested. There are going to be three teams gone out of the A championship early on and if they were in another group some of those teams would have no prob- lem getting through to the knockout stages. It is tough, but we’re not com- Oe-DbeUbencame

Perhaps, most crucially of all, He- hir and his selectors aren’t expect- ing miracles — they look on 2008 as something of an adventure. A learn- ing experience where they have noth- ing to lose, but everything to gain.

“Our target was to do our very best to get out of the group — if we don’t it won’t be for the lack of trying. We’re not taking anything for granted — we’re happy for everyone to give 100 per cent. After that if we’re not one of the top teams out, we’ll no the base we have to start from next year.”

. The advertisment read, “Mandelson’s WTO cuts and the Lisbon Treaty are linked, mes- sage to the Government, use the veto or lose the farmers.”

This is the strongest statement to date on the intentions of the IFA

and should significant progress not be made today the organisation are likely to urge farmers to vote no.

Meanwhile former Fine Gael Taoi- seach John Bruton has urged Clare farmers to vote yes in an open letter to the county’s farmers.

“T’m writing this to The Clare Peo- ple newspaper about Clare agricul- ture and the Lisbon Treaty,” read the atoe

“The EU has been good for Clare agriculture. Before Ireland joined the EU, we depended on the British market. I was Fine Gael spokesman on agriculture at that time and I well remember how prices paid to Irish farmers were artificially depressed

by a cheap food policy and a defi- ciency payments scheme that privi- leged British farmers. The European Union did away with all that.

“Tt introduced a level playing field. It pumped billions into rural Ireland, opened up markets we never had be- fore, and helped us invest heavily in skills training. “Although the two are not connected, some are now trying to persuade farmers to use the Lisbon OB IA Oo. ed coer TID elo AMBNIEKeA snes about a possible deal on agriculture in the WTO. It 1s important to be prudent about this and calculate all the consequences.”

In the letter Mr. Bruton, the EU Ambassador to the United States,

said that Ireland, and its farmers, had many ways of influencing EU trade policy.

“We are strongly represented in the Council of Ministers, through the Eu- ropean Commission, the European Parliament, and through the new role the Dail would gain under the Lisbon Treaty. These are the ways to influ- ence trade policy,” he continued.

“In contrast, voting ‘No’ in a refer- endum could be a very blunt instru- ment. Many Clare farm families get incomes from jobs outside agricul- ture, often in businesses that came to Ireland because the country is at the heart of EU policy-making and has access to the EU market.”

THE Department of Agriculture said yesterday that the act of handling stolen cattle was “reprehensible” and the sentence imposed on a Clare farmer last week was “significant” and would act as a deterrent.

At Ennis Circuit Court last week, Gerard O’Doherty of Moymore, La- hinch pleaded guilty to the handling of three stolen cattle in 2003/04.

In response yesterday, a spokesman for the department said, “Clearly the offence of handling stolen cattle is reprehensible and the department does everything in its power to pre- vent it or as in this case assist the gardai in investigating it.”

“The department does from time to time receive reports of stolen ani- mals. However, this is not that com- mon. These cases are difficult to in- vestigate. However, in this case the farmers could identify their animals and the animals had been correctly and accurately registered on the de- partment’s database. This made it possible for the investigating offic- ers to establish the proper identity of the animals and return them to their rightful owners.”

In response to Mr O’Doherty’s plea of guilt, a spokesman said, “The de- partment is pleased with the outcome of the investigation and acknowledge the co-operation between the gardai

and the department in bringing this complex investigation to a successful prosecution.

“The department is satisfied that the sentence imposed is significant and would act as a deterrent,’ he added.

“The department is well aware that the vast majority of farmers com- ply with the department’s rules and regulations and the department takes a proactive approach in dealing with those who do not. The department will invest whatever resources are necessary to carry out investigations and the local District Vetinerary Of- ficer did invest significant staff re- sources in terms of staff time spent on this particular investigation.

“The department takes a proactive approach in ensuring that farmers comply with the law. The department views any breaches of the legislation as serious particularly in the area of illegal movement/identification and disease control of livestock,” he added.

“The department hopes that suc- cessful prosecutions would deter the minority of non-compliant farm- ers from perpetrating any further breaches of the legislation.

“The correct tagging and registra- tion of animals does act as a barrier and does, as in this case, assist in investigating when breaches are sus- pected,” he said.

THE first prong of a major devel- opment of the community centre in Quin is to be officially opened on Sunday week.

The centre is undergoing major re- furbishments and the first part has just been completed. To coincide with its completion a family fun day will take place on Sunday, June 15.

This is the first phase of a two- pronged project and includes a major development of the front part of the building – the kitchen, storage room and snooker room have been totally revamped. The most impressive part of this plan has been the conversion of the snooker room to a multi-pur-

pose state-of-the art meeting room. This incorporates a dance studio, where local resident Laura-Jane Al- lis will teach dancing to youngsters.

The second phase of the plan will follow the completion of the first prong. This will include the crea- tion of a large activity room, storage areas, toilets, dressing rooms and showers, a dedicated snooker room, an IT/office area, while the possibil- ity of building a gym has also been mooted. Twenty-five additional car parking spaces will also be provid- ed.

Chairman of the community centre committee Ger Buggy said that the entire building would be “totally un- recognisable’ when the plan is com-

taKaee

“The bigger picture is our phase two plan. We have submitted plan- ning permission to totally revamp the hall. It was built in the 1940s. There were a few add-ons in the 1980s, but little change otherwise,’ he said.

‘There has been a huge increase in activity in the hall and we need more space.

“Our policy is to facilitate potential users in any way we can. We wel- come both large and small groups either on a regular or once-off basis and look forward to welcoming new users in the coming year,’ he added.

The work is being funded through government grants, allied to local fundraising and private donations.

an LeCO)tL sD AYAmn Oe) Col MERC DE Nimmo) Nore: I Kore! more than €60,000 income, while €41,000 was contributed through grants.

An application for €350,000 in National Lottery funding is pending and the outcome of this is expected within weeks.

‘A lot of work has gone in on this over the past 12 to 14 months. It is a two-year project,’ said Mr Buggy, who is optimistic that the entire project will be fully finished within ANOLO)N NMA ore

“We are far from the finished prod- uct but are doing our best. I would ask the community to stick with us in our vision for the future,” Mr Buggy added.

HARD to believe that it’s five years since Ballyea made the headlines as the story of the hurling year.

They became the first Senior B side to reach the county, while the added dimension to the story was they were one part of the first all-parish county final since Kilmurry Ibrickane and Quilty clashed in the 1935 football decider.

The laurels went to their big broth- ers Clarecastle, but it didn’t take from Ballyea’s achievement. They had struck a major blow for the un- derdog, completing a remarkable journey from junior A hurling to sen- ior decider in just over a decade.

Ever since the challenge has been to try and raise the bar as high again. It hasn’t happened, or looking like happening, so much so that Ballyea are looked on as the weakest link in eroup | — whipping boys even.

Thing is, they see things a lot dif- ferently and those around the club are looking forward to this champ1- onship campaign more eagerly than any over the past few years.

There a few reasons for this gen- eral mood of optimism, chief among them being Tony Griffin’s availabil-

ity. This year, the 2006 All Star is back for the entire season, having had his participation truncated in re- cent seasons due to study and charity work commitments.

“It’s great to be back,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to the season ahead.We have a young team, it will be tough, but we’re determined not just to make up the numbers.”

‘“He’s our key man,” says manager Michael O’Neill, “and he brings an awful lot to the team, but at the end of the day he’s one man who would say that it’s all about the lads around him”’.

And, O’Neill believes that this year those other players are better placed for the rigours of senior champion- ship hurling.

“T know we largely have the same group of players, but last year some of them were just out of minor. Play- ing senior was an education for them and they’ll be much better for it this year.

“In the Clare Cup we haven’t been trounced in any game, which hap- pened a couple of times last year, so that’s encouraging. We haven’t buckled in any game and have fought every game out to the end and are not far away from where we want to be.”

This positive outlook can be attrib- uted to the response O’Neill and his fellow selectors have got from the WEN (ouce

“Last year we were very disap- pointed,” he admits, “but this year we can’t question their effort. We got down to basics again and did a gym jeyueycawebaaneatee

“It’s been hard for some lads over the past five or six weeks with ex- ams, but generally since January the lads have given us what they can and we can’t ask for more. All we can do now is hope that they give a good ac- count of themselves when it comes to Weomerutealeey

“Without doubt it’s the toughest group of the lot and our record last year would put us as the weakest team. But this year we beat Tulla when we were missing a few and could have taken Inagh-Kilnamona.

“We believe that on any given day, if we get our act together we’re capa- ble of challenging any team. We have to be on top of our game to challenge the bigger teams — that’s the same with all small clubs, but we like a challenge and we’re up for it. We’re not afraid of any team. Some say we punching above our weight, but we’ll have a go at every team.”

CLARE farmers and ICSA general secretary Eddie Punch last week met with the new Minister for Ag- riculture, Brendan Smith, to put fur- ther pressure on the government to come out with a stronger and more unequivocal line on WTO.

“We are not interested in any more rubbish about a balanced deal, nor are we falling for the line that it’s too early to talk about a veto,” he said af- ter the meeting.

“The basics of the WTO deal on im- port tariffs have remained the same, the only change being a worsening of the tariff cut from 60 per cent to a

possible 73 per cent.”

“Against that backdrop, we cannot understand how the government con- tinues to fudge around the issue of the veto. While the approach seems to be to building alliances, there is a big risk that other member states will back down if Mandelson brings back a done deal.”

‘As long as Ireland refuses to even contemplate the veto, the commis- sion will try to divide and conquer member states. Meanwhile, farmers are more and more worried that a WTO sell-out is around the corner.”

On the CAP health check, the Crat- eee Lom astlere

“EU proposals for modulation,

involving cuts of 8 per cent to the Single Farm Payment, in order to re- direct some €2 billion to rural devel- Opment measures, are completely in- appropriate in the context of a global food security crisis.”

ICSA is concerned about imple- mentation of both the Malone and Aylward reports.

Mr Punch also highlighted issues regarding sheep fencing grants alon- side raising the inceasingly impor- tant issue of the 30-month rule situa- tion for BSE testing.

“Time is of the essence here as sheep numbers across Europe con- tinue to decline,” he continued.

‘This has gone beyond a joke at this

stage. Europe is dragging its heels here, and it is costing Irish farmers millions. ICSA emphasised to Min- ister Smith the need for the EU to move swiftly on this issue.”

ICSA maintains that the recent debacle around the REPS deadline, which has been missed by up to 10,000 farmers through no fault of their own, will cause more unneces- sary stress and hardship.

It was put to the minister that con- cessions must be made to accommo- date these farmers.

General Secretary, Mr Punch also outlined difficulties with the disad- vantaged area payments, which need upward revision.

THE Industrial Development Au- thority organised only three visits to Clare last year for investors seeking to establish new businesses. According to figures provided by Tanaiste Mary Coughlan, the number of IDA visits is the same as 2006 and compares unfavourably to the number of itineraries in Limerick where 35 visits were organised and Galway which hosted 15 IDA visits. The complete picture in relation to Clare is not available as Shannon De- velopment — which is responsible for promoting the Shannon Free Zone

— 1s refusing to release the number of visits to the Free Zone last year.

A spokesman said, “We don’t nor- mally give that type of information out.”

The low number of IDA visits to En- nis is no surprise as Clare came near the bottom of the ladder in a survey of the number of IDA jobs created last year. The survey confirmed that Clare came 19th of the 26 counties in IDA jobs created last year. The figures show that only 22 jobs were created in Clare by IDA-supported companies last year although more IDA jobs were created in Clare than Carlow, Laois, Longford, Monaghan,

Roscommon and north Tipperary.

Only nine IDA jobs were created in north Tippeary. However, Clare lags behind its other two neighbours, Limerick and Galway.

The figures show that 264 IDA jobs were created in Limerick and 383 IDA jobs were generated in Galway.

Clare Fine Gael Deputy Joe Carey said that based on current statistics, the IDA had a conversion rate of about one in four companies that visit and then subsequently set up operation somewhere in Ireland.

“If the reports are correct that only three visits to the region took place, then it would seem highly unlikely to

have a positive yield for us. As with anything, attracting inward invest- ment is a numbers game, and the more people we can get to come here and view what we have to offer, the better chance we have of securing actual commitments.

‘We need to ensure that there is ab- solute clarity between Shannon De- velopment and the IDA as to who is promoting industry locally and how they are both to operate.

“We need the minister to give clear direction in this regard and to ensure that responsibility for industrial pro- motion is clearly defined in this re- gion.”

A RESIDENTS association in Shan- non is calling for the site of a local hall to be cleared up, over a year and a half after it was gutted by fire.

The Drumgeely hall, which was a privately-owned derelict building, was destroyed by a fire in October 2006.

The Drumgeely Residents Associa- tion are concerned that the site has been in a poor state since the fire

broke out.

They are particularly concerned that some of the wire netting is bro- ken and hanging loose, while the site is littered with rubbish.

“It is in a dangerous condition and it 1S past time something is done about it. We just want it made safe and tidy,’ said chairperson of the residents group Beatrice Keville.

She says that while the site is pri- vately owned the local town council should play a role in ensuring it is

safe.

The residents association wrote to Shannon Town Council last week, expressing their concerns.

The letter stated, “Drumgeely Hill is home to long-time residents of Shannon. Matters totally outside their control have changed the char- acter of their neighbourhood from the scenic one they chose to live in to what is (now). We look to our local representatives to protect our inter- ests.”

This is not the first time they have brought the matter to the attention of the council. Asked do the locals an- ticipate that the site will be cleared, she said, “We live in hope.”

“The basic thing is that it’s tidied up and made safe and that is the min- imum that the residents are looking for,’ said Ms Keville.

Previously, local residents called for the site to be converted into a tennis court, as it had used for this purpose several years ago.