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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.

A SCHEME where Travellers will be allocated space to keep their horses in Shannon, is one of the first of its kind in Ireland.

Although the final details have yet to be ironed out, it is likely that the plan will get the go-ahead during the summer.

The initiative is part of the pro- gramme ‘Strategy for the co-ordina- tion of public services to the Traveller community in Clare 2005 – 2008.’

Shannon area members of Clare County Council previously agreed in

principal that the issue be progressed and the matter was up for discussion at a meeting of the town council last week.

Co-ordinator of the Traveller strat- egy in Clare, Etain McCooey said much work has been done between various agencies, to ensure this project is a resounding success.

“We want a sustainable agreement that will take into account concerns of councillors and others in the area,” she said.

While other similar projects are up and running in Tralee and Limerick, this project differs in that the land

being provided in Shannon is located some distance from the homes of the Travellers.

The 18-and-a-quarter acre site in question is located in the townland of Tullyvarraga, while the settled Travellers, the McDonaghs, live two POD CoM MWe NAB EO MD BEDONBOOLUME-hSd 0p

The Tralee site houses several Trav- eller families, while the only family living in Ballymurtagh is the Mc- Donaghs.

Ms McCooey explained that this scheme is about more than just land for animals.

“The Travellers will work with

Clare Animal Welfare. It is broader than providing land. They really want it to work and are willing to pay market value for the land,” she said.

Michael Flanagan, who has worked as a development worker with Trav- ellers in Ballymurtagh, stressed that “the day of having the horses on the side of the road is over. We are trying to create a win-win situation.”

He said that the Travellers were willing to pay market value for the land, “the same as anybody else.”

“It’s about integration. We want to get an integrated society and an inte- grated community,’ said Mr Flana-

eee

Referring to queries from council- lors, he said, “It is an unreasonable condition to say there can’t be sulky racing. We can’t legislate for what can happen.”

Shannon town manager Ger Dollard said he would suggest that the man- agement committee would “go away and come up with terms and cond1- tions and try it for a trial period.” He also suggested that the manage- ment committee be asked to manage the public information aspect of the project, both prior to its implementa- tion and during its existence.

TWO Ennis newsagents were fined by a judge for serving cigarettes to an underage boy.

Patrick Meehan of Meehan’s shop and Gerard Connellan of The Abbey Newsagency – both in Abbey Street – were prosecuted in separate cases by the Health Service Authority af- ter they each sold a pack of twenty Benson and Hedges to a fifteen-year

old boy.

The Ennis District court heard that the boy – the son of a HSE inspec- tor – was sent into both shops to buy the cigarettes on October 26, 2007 as part of a HSE compliance check.

Judge Joseph Mangan heard evi- dence from a HSE inspector that she stood to one side in both shops and witnessed the boy being served with- out being asked for any proof of age.

Both newsagents admitted the of-

fences. Defence solicitor for Patrick Meehan said in his client’s defence that at the time, the shop was packed with school children and he was alone, trying to serve while keeping an eye on what was going on in the ENO ee

Stephen Nicholas for Meehan said the boy who was sent to buy the ciga- rettes could easily have been older.

‘The boy who came to the counter and asked for cigarettes 1s two inches

P-NOCCoMmO SEDO MOON ae BCosb1m

“He looked old enough. My client made a judgement call that he was old enough. He refuses at least ten people a week because they are too young in his shop.”

Judge Mangan fined Meehan €100 but refused to award the costs of the HSE prosecution against him.

Defence for Gerard Connellan told the court that he was away from the premises for a very short period and

it was a young assistant who served the under-age boy with cigarettes.

“Despite the fact that he clearly instructs his staff about this, and al- though he works long hours, he hap- pened to be away at the bank at the time.

“The assistant ended her employ- ment with him immediately”.

Judge Mangan also fined Connellan €100 and did not award costs against him.

ENNIS Comhairle Ceantair Fianna Fail has called for a speedy resolu- tion to the ongoing doubt over the proposed upgrading of facilities at Ennis General Hospital.

Chairman Tom Malone informed a meeting on Thursday night last, that officers of the comhairle ceantair had made contact with Fianna Fail leadership urging them to approve the €39 million package designated for Ennis General Hospital in the

HSE Capital Programme 2006-2011. Similar representations to party leadership have been made on behalf of Ennis No 1 Cumann, Fianna Fail, by its secretary, Garrett Greene.

The meeting heard that Clare Fi- anna Fail TDs past and present had lobbied for the proposed hospital funding to receive the greenlight. Delegates welcomed the work of elected representatives in this regard. As a member of the HSE West Fo- rum, Cllr Pat Daly declared himself ‘hopeful’ that tenders to carry out the

upgrade would be invited very soon.

Deputy Timmy Dooley also con- veyed his support for Ennis Com- hairle Ceantair’s efforts.

Minister Tony Killeen who at- tended the meeting applauded the delegates and all party members for their hard work on behalf of the party and thanked them for their ongoing support in relation to Ennis General Hospital and other issues.

Minister Killeen assured the meet- ing that every effort was being made to ensure that the Ennis General

Hospital project proceeds to tender at the earliest possible date.

Delegates pledged to campaign strongly for a “Yes” vote in the up- coming Lisbon Treaty Referendum and welcomed a recent public in- formation evening held in Ennis and addressed by Minister Willie O’Dea, Minister Tony Killeen, Deputy Doo- ley, former deputy Brendan Daly and local MEP Sean O’Neachtain.

A minute’s silence was observed at the meeting in memory of late Presi- dent Dr Patrick Hillery.

AN independent advocacy service for people with intellectual disabili- ties has been launched in Clare.

The Citizens Information Centre in Clare has appointed Greg Duff to the post, which is geared towards reach- ing out to those with intellectual dis- ALOU LW Coe

Mr Duff previously held the post as advocacy resource officer with the Citizens Information Service in Limerick and Tipperary and will slot into this new post.

“This post is geared towards peo- ple with intellectual disabilities who have issues. Like every person in society, they should be allowed to ac hieve their full potential. People want independent living,” he said.

“Previously I was building the ca- pacity of advocacy into companies by supporting the staff and volun- teers. Now I will be doing the advo-

cacy myself,” he added.

In his new post, Mr Duff – who lives in Shannon and is a member of the local town council – will be working one-on-one with those with intellectual disabilities.

“People with intellectual disabili- ties just want the same opportunities as everybody else,’ he added.

“We need to identify if there are gaps where we can compliment what is there,’ said Mr Duff.

He will be based in Ennis, but will build up contacts throughout the county.

The Manger of the Citizens Infor- mation Centre in the county, Paul Woulfe said the new post will ensure everybody has a voice.

“This is a specialist service, mak- ing sure their interests are put first and foremost,’ said Mr Woulfe.

“Initially he will work with clients from the Brothers of Charity,’ added Mr Woulfe.

ROAD WORKERS with Clare Coun- ty Council and other local authorities are entitled to our respect but instead _Nuom EDU amcecD eet oms Koyus w len (C00 (on

That’s the view of Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) who expressed disappointment that the Advertising Standards Au- thority reyected a complaint by Clare County Council over an Irish Pride TV advertisement depicting a lazy road worker.

The council lodged its complaint on foot of a motion tabled by Cllr Ar- kins on the basis that it “stereotyped and derided a council worker”.

Reacting to the ASA decision, Cllr Arkins said that if the ad featured a coloured person, a non-national or it was directed at women, he was sure the complaint would have been up- held.

He said the advert shows a man fill- ing a hole in the road and it was quite obvious that the person could only be a council worker as no one else does that kind of work.

“It 1s quite pointed. It is a very dangerous occupation being a road worker with cars going past you at 60mph.

“Tt is a difficult job and if there is flooding or any other emergency, it is

the council worker who gets out of his bed at 2am or 3am in the morning to deal with it.

“Tt is obvious that the council work- ers don’t have the respect of the Ad- vertising Standards Authority and I’m disappointed that the complaint didn’t end up with a rap on the knuck- les for Irish Pride.”

He said he was glad the matter was investigated by the ASA and that it did not appear to be running any- more.

In the ASA case report, the adver- tiser responds by stating that they wanted to illustrate the concept of Irish Pride in a humorous and light

hearted way and took individuals from all walks of life, at work or at home and showed what happened when people did not take pride in something they have done.

They said that it was never their intention to make any social or po- litical comment and that the adver- tisement was a light hearted way to dramatise individual demonstrations of lack of pride.

The Complaints Committee did not uphold the complaint, noting that the advert specifically referred to a guy and not to a local authority worker.

The ASA report concluded: “No further action required”.