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COCAINE has halved in price in Clare in recent years and has become more readily available, according to gardai.

The revelation comes amid reports that the number of people receiving treatment for drug abuse increased by 33 per cent in the mid-west, be- tween 2001 and 2006.

The report, by the Health Research Board last week, highlighted the worrying trend that the number of people addicted to drugs has risen significantly all over the country, over the five-year period.

Gardai in Clare say this period con-

tributed immensely to the growth in the use of cocaine.

According to sources, at the start the decade, cocaine was available for around €150 per gram, but is now available for just €70 or less.

‘There has been a huge increase in cocaine over that particular period (2001 to 2006),” said a garda source.

“It went from a very low base to a very popular drug in that space of time,” he said.

“At one stage it was an expensive drug and money was scarce. It was perceived as being available to the upper class and then young peo- ple became more affluent,’ said the source.

Gardai also believe that as cocaine has become more readily available, its quality has deteriorated.

They say the demand for the highly addictive drug has increased in Clare over the past few years.

‘The evidence is there is a substan- tial demand for cocaine locally. It is being supplied by the criminal gangs from Limerick. It has become a phe- nomenon throughout the country. So-called decent individuals have displayed extraordinary violence having consumed cocaine,’ added the source.

The Health Research Board report suggested that 18 per cent of people presenting for treatment for problem

drug abuse were under the age of 18. The trend in Clare is in line with Wek

“It seems to take off in their late teens, with youngsters experiment- ing in their mid to late teens. Lack of parental control plays a role,” added the source.

Gardai also say that heroin has steadily spread around the county.

‘There is a core group involved in heroin.

“It has spread throughout the Clare division and has become a serious habit for some, in major centres like Kilrush, Killaloe, Ennis and Shan- non and also even in rural parts of the county,’ added the source.

AFTER a quick turnaround summer soccer is up and running again. The schoolboys/girls leagues kicked off last Wednesday in excitng fashion.

Avenue got a glimpse of how tough it will be to re-capture the under 15 league when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Bridge United.

There was a goals aplenty when En- nis Town took on Newmarket Celtic with the sides playing out a thrilling CEO mele-Nis

The other tie from that evening was a far more comprehinsive af- fair. New kids on the block, Sporting Ennistymon, endured a tough trip to Kilrush where they were beaten 3-0 by a strong Moneypoint side.

Another new side B/C United, made a similarly difficult debut in the under 13 division one when they went down 7-0 to Avenue United. Elsewhere in that division Newmar- ket Celtic served notice of their in- tent with a 2-0 victory over Lifford in McDonagh Park.

The under 12 league kicked off on Saturday with some of the establsi- hed names flexing their muscles.

Avenue United stormed to an 8-0 win away to Corofin Harps and En- nis Town serving up a 5-1 win over Moneypoint.

There was disappointment for Av- enue in the under 14 league however when they lost 3-2 to Newmarket Celtic. Connolly Celtic caused a stir in division two by beating Burren United 5-0. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom for north Clare clubs on SE TMUD KO rR

Sporting Ennistymon showed great character when they edged past K1- lysart Celtic, in an almighty tussle that ended 3-2 in Sporting’s favour.

THE funeral will take place later to- day of author and journalist Nuala O Faolain (68), who died in Blackrock Hospice on Friday after a short battle with cancer.

Ms O Faolain, who lived in Bartra – just outside Lahinch, passed away almost three months to the day since she was first diagnosed with termi- nal cancer at a New York hospital on oe)ale- va arer

Journalist Nell McCafferty, who lived with Ms O Faolain in Bartra for a number of years, said that she was “proud” of her former partner and commended the way that she used her final days.

“I took pleasure and pride that the woman I knew, though she was afraid and very ill, she used what remained of her life with panache, style and exquisite good taste in her travels,’ she said.

“The culture of dying has changed, Nuala has changed that and the cul- ture of loving has changed.”

Instead of using chemotherapy to

extend her life, O Faolain decided to used the time to travel. In the last two months she visited Paris, made a trip to see art works in Madrid and took in the Berlin Opera.

Indeed, on the Sunday before her death, she had returned from her travels to Sicily with her sisters and a number of close friends.

A large crowd is expected to turn out for the funeral mass which will take place at the Church of the Visi- tation in Dublin at noon tomorrow. Removal will take place afterwards to Glasnevin crematorium.

Ms O Faolain is survived by five sisters, one brother, her partner John Low-Beer, and a wide circle of friends.

Born in Dublin in 1942, she was educated at UCD, the University of Hull and Oxford University. She gain ed international notoriety in 1996 with her controversial first memoir Are You Somebody’?

THE owner of land on which 450 trees were uprooted did not realise her responsibility for the trees, a court has been told.

Sarah McInerney (36), of Clohan- more, Cree, appeared before En- nistymon District Court, arising out of an inspection a year-and-half ago.

A forester with the Department of Agriculture and Food, Inspector Kevin Keary told Ennistymon Dis- trict Court that he had inspected a 0.9 hectare site on October 13, 2006.

He said that the site had been plant- ed in 1994 and a significant quantity of trees had been uprooted.

“It was impossible to count them without the aid of a JCB,” he said.

The court was told that an agree- ment was reached that the amount of trees was 450.

Defending solicitor Michael Ryan said his client had gone to her solici- tor when she was purchasing the land and there had been a “miscommuni- cation.”

Mr Kevin Keary accepted that Ms McInerney had no knowledge of any

legal obligations regarding those aKoxe

Mr Ryan said that “a portion of the trees had already been cut down when she purchased.”

He said his client, an Irish-Amert- can, moved to Ireland in 2003 and bought the property the following year.

“She never wanted the trees. She

felt as she wasn’t getting a grant, she had no responsibility for the trees. It wasn’t malicious. It was a genuine mistake,” he said.

He said that the department will be re-issuing a replanting order. His cli- ent would face the expense of this, along with clearing the area.

Judge Joseph Mangan fined her ol Op

THEY say that time waits for no-one. In Lisdoonvarna later this month however, time will gladly take a little rest and wait for a nice bite to eat.

After a gap of three years, the Bur- ren Slow Food Festival returns to north Clare from May 23 to 25. The three day festival will promote all that’s best about local produce and natural ingredients and all that is good about eating.

“Slow Food is all about local pro- duce. It’s about good food and pro- ducing food with heart that’s fresh and sourced locally. It’s about the way the chef puts all his heart into

producing something great for some- one else to eat. It’s about the way we eat it – about making time to sit down around the table and have a meal to- gether,” said festival organiser Bir- gitta Hedin-Curtin.

“Slow food is the total opposite of fast food. It started in Italy in 1986 when the first McDonald’s came into Rome.

“There was a movement to protect the traditional food culture and that has spread all over the world.

“We need to start educating chil- dren about what good food is. To look at what they have in their lunch- box and what they eat when they come home.”

The festival, sponsored by Shannon Development and Flo Gas, will be officially opened in the Lisdoonvar- na Town Hall before an evening of Slow Food will be hosted at local ea- teries including Sheedys, Cullinans, the Roadford House, Ballinalacken Castle and Gregan’s Castle.

Some highlights of Saturday in- clude a cookery demonstration from celebrity chefs Clodagh McKenna and Aidan McGrath of Doonbeg Golf Club, a presentation from John McKenna of the Bridgestone Guide, talks from local producers including Siobhan Garvey from St Tola’s goats cheese and a gala dinner in the new Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre.

On Sunday local guides Shane Connoly and Mary Howard will lead a walk through the Burren. The walk will end up at Gregan’s Castle for a slow food lunch featuring dishes in- cluding local honey.

“It’s going to be very pack week- end,’ continued Birgitta.

“The festival will finish on Sunday night in the town hall with Supper Theatre. It’s a three act play – the au- dience will watch an act, then have some slow food, and then back to the theatre.”

For more details or to book tickets contact the Burren Smoke House at 065 7074432 or check out www. slowfoodireland.ie

last week com- plaining that anti-social behaviour, and joyriding in particular, is forcing the early closure of Dromore Woods and Nature Reserve.

These claims have been refuted by a local NPWS spokeswoman, who did reveal that a number of cars have been broken into at the woods in re- cent times and that it had been used as a “racetrack” for joyriders in the past.

‘There has been some cars broken into out in the park but that is not the

reason that it is being closed at 7pm. The gates are closed at 7pm because they close the gates in Coole Park at 7pm. The decision was made so as to make the two parks uniform,” said Emma Glandville of the NPWS.

‘In the summer we close the gates at 7pm and in the winter we close them at 5pm. That’s the way it’s al- ways been.

“There are two people who’s job it is to take down those barriers and it would not be fair on them to have them going out later in the evening.

“There was a problem with joyrid- ing in the past but we put ramps in and that put paid to that. We have had young people going in and using it as a racetrack.”

Ms Glandville also confirmed that decisions on the opening hours of Dromore Park was not taken locally.

However, a national spokesman for

the NPWS declined to comment on the matter and also refused to con- firm that the NPWS had any role to play regarding the administration of Dromore Woods.

This is not the first time that the issue of antisocial behaviour have emerged in relation to Dromore Woods.

The matter was previously raised in a Dail debate by current Minister for State at the Department of Agricul- ture, Trevor Sargent (GP).

Responding to these allegations, the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, former Clare TD Sile de Valera, confirmed that the woods had suffered “continuous and unac- ceptable incidences of vandalism’.

She also confirmed that, at that time, the woods stayed open until 9.30pm in the summer and 7.30pm in the winter.

WITH the exception of one council- lor, there was overwhelming support for the scheme among Shannon town councillors last week.

Although most councillors said they were concerned that it may lead to horses racing along the road, the reaction to the project was mainly positive.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy said, however, that she had concerns and asked what other parts of the county were considered for such a scheme.

“T outlined previously I had seri- ous reservations about it. Since I have seen the location of the site, my concerns have grown. I do think that given the location of the land, there has got to be a public consultation so that the people of the town can have an impact,” she said.

Stressing that she was not “anti- Traveller’, she said, “It’s not a case of being anti the projects, but it’s a case of location, location.”

“T’m not afraid of public consulta- tion. What if other Travellers say they haven’t been consulted and they talk

about horses. We have had horses on the Ballymurtagh site. Last week I Saw five or six. The new road is ideal for sulky racing,’ she said.

“This will be one issue I will not stand by majority decision. There has to be public consultation,” she insisted.

“This is something that is going to impact on people’s lives here in Shannon. My concern and my real fear 1s location, location.

“Tm sure the council’s land bank extends further than Shannon,’ she added. She said that the problems

with the Tralee project “do not relate to inter-family rivals. The problems relate to control.”

The mayor of Shannon, Councillor Sean McLoughlin said he was “very worried about” sulky racing.

Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn, who is on the advisory com- mittee for this initiative, said he was fully supporting the project, but add- ed, “there has to be strict conditions attached to it.”

Labour Councillor Greg Duff said he would be afraid if there was con- sultation that people may not “ap-

preciate and understand the Travel- lers’ perspective on the needs to have Wenn

He said however he would have to ask how many horses were going to be put into the field.

Fianna Fail’s Geraldine Lambert acknowledged that Travellers have had a long tradition with horses.

“Id prefer to see them on designated land rather than on the halting site,” she said. She said that Councillor McCarthy “has a point, perhaps not public consultation, but public docu- mentation.”

A FATHER had to be removed from a courtroom as he repeatedly inter- rupted, after his teenage son and daughter were remanded in custody for breaching their curfews.

The two are charged with an of- fence under the Public Order Act, arising out of an incident in Shannon on March 13.

When they appeared in court in April, both were granted bail, in- cluding that they abide by a curfew, of 8pm to 8am.

However, Shannon District Court heard last week that the duo were seen out in public in the Drumgeely area of the town at 11.30pm on April 26. The boy told the court he was “very sorry” for breaching his bail conditions and said it would not hap-

OLoemr Reee BONE

However, Inspector Michael Gal- lagher asked him where he was when gardai called to him at 10pm on May 5. He said he was walking his dog.

His sister also apologised for breaching her curfew on April 26. She was also asked where she was when gardai called at 10pm on May 5 and said she was at a friend’s house, watching a DVD. Inspector Gallagh-

er said he was seeking to have the two remanded in custody for a week.

Defending solicitor Caitriona Car- mody said both of her clients would undertake to abide by stricter re- gimes. “Perhaps you can remand them overnight. It will teach them a lesson,” she said.

However, Judge Joseph Mangan agreed to Inspector Gallagher’s re- quest and remanded the boy to St

Patrick’s Institution and the girl to Oberstown.

The defendants’ father then entered the courtroom, asking, “Can I say something?” Judge Mangan warned him he would be removed if he con- tinued to interrupt the court.

Moments later the man was taken from the court by gardai, amid pro- tests of “All I want to do is talk to my daughter.”

STAFF and students at St Clare’s School are counting on your vote in the AIB Better Ireland awards.

The school was shortlisted for the annual awards ceremony, which takes place in June.

The school is one of three groups from Ennis nominated. The Ennis branch of AIB Ireland will award €10,000 to the local project that tops the poll in a public text vote over a four-week period from May 6 to June oF

The local community can simply text ENNIS followed by C to 53099 to vote.

The award is part of AIB’s Better Ireland Programme which supports children with physical, sensory and

intellectual disabilities and also chil- dren affected by drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness or a lack of ac- cess to mainstream education due to poverty.

St Clare’s appearance on the short- list reflects the enormous contribu- tion the school has made to the com- munity in Ennis since it first opened its doors in 1967.

The school has operated from its present site on the Gort Road since 1986. Work on an extension to the original premises was completed in 2005.

St Clare’s caters for children with all disabilities, physical, sensory and intellectual.

There are currently 57 children en- rolled in the school supported by a highly dedicated staff. Last year was

one of the most significant in the his- tory of St Clare’s with the opening, by Dr Willie Walsh of a sensory gar- Clo

The garden is specially designed OMS AoMOOVECCUKcIIMMEDI COE IDONLOyI Kore mE:eeronts around the garden and allow them to discover something new at every nubaee

Children in electric wheelchairs are free to roam and to enjoy the beauty of the garden. The design is such that certain areas are specially planted to appeal to the sense of sound, while other areas appeal to the sense of touch.

If St Clare’s are successful in the awards then a large slice of the prize will be spent on adding to the sen- sory garden.

Deputy principal Clare McInerney

hesitates to say that work on the gar- den has been completed. Such has been the positive impact on school life; everyone at St Clare’s views the sensory garden as on ongoing project.

Clare said, “We are always looking to add to the garden because it’s been hugely positive for the students. A lot of our students spend a long time on the bus travelling to and from the school, so it’s good to have a place for activity”.

Students from St Clare’s have also participated in events for the Special Olympics.

A group representing St Clare’s also successfully took part at artistic and rhythmic gymnastic competi- tions which took place in Limerick and Cork.

A KIN VARA teenager has been cho- sen from more than 39 million peo- ple to travel the world at the expense of social networking website Bebo.

Roxanne MHughes-Monteiro was last week picked as one of six young people, plucked from every corner of the globe, who will take part in a 6 month long Big Brother style online competition.

The Gap Year will follow the six Bebo travellers on a globe-trotting journey that will be documented on the site through video diaries, blogs and photos.

“We are trying to get Bebo users to engage with us. When we’re in cer- tain areas we’re hoping people will recommend places to go and things

to do,” said Roxanne.

Roxanne, who has just turned 19, qualified for the competition by tak- ing part in an interactive audition process which involved the creation of a video postcard about her dream gap year.

Hughes-Monteiro is the only Irish participant in the series and she will be joined by Canadian Andre Tar- diff, New Zealander Lewis Whaitir1, American Cara Cioni, Dave Brett from the UK and Amy O’Connor from Australia.

The series is being produced by Endemol, the company responsible for reality shows such as Big Brother and Fear Factor. The Gap Year group begins its journey on May 21 at a lo- cation yet to be announced.

“The Gap Year is the first truly interactive reality series, giving Be- boers a unqiue layer of interactivity — the chance to literally steer the fate of the contestants’ global journeys,” said Bebo president Joanna Shields.

“International events on the travel agenda include Rio Carnival in Bra- zil, the Chinese New Year in China and the Full Moon Party in Thai- land,”

‘Each contestant will face an array of challenges, watched by Bebo us- ers who will also be able to commu- nicate with them and vote in weekly polls which will directly influence how the journeys unravel.”

Roxanne was already on a year out between school and college as she was Saving up to study in New York. Bebo users will keep up with Rox- anne and the rest of the globetrotters by tuning into the series online www. bebo.com/thegapyear

Roxanne’s own page is available on www.bebo.com/RoxanneHugheslIre- land.