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THE story of one of north Clare’s least celebrated superstars will be brought to dramatic life this evening at Glor in Ennis. “Submarine Man” tells the story of Liscannor’s John P Holland, inventor of the submarine and one of Ireland’s most remarkable engineers.

Written by Aidan Harney and di- rected by David Horan, the play tracks Holand’s life from his time as a school teacher in Clare to his in- volvement with the Fenians in New York, and his development of the submarine with the US navy.

“Holland, to me, is as intrepid an explorer as Sir Edmund Hillary on

Mount Everest, Neil Armstrong on the moon or Ernest Shackleton the great Antarctic explorer.

“Towards the end of the 1800s in the United States, in particular, but around the world there was a real race on to see who could conquer the mistress of the deep,” said writer Aidan Harney.

‘His story 1s simply the story of a man who had a dream and pursued it until he achieved it – although it nearly killed him along the way. I decided to write the play to try and make the life and times of this little- known man more accessible to peo- ple and to explore his contribution to Irish history.”

Harney’s early career was as a

journalist and actor, but he is now with Engineers Ireland. This love for engineering, writing and the stage made him the perfect person to bring Holland to the stage.

“It’s really an amazing story and the Fenian connection is incredible. When he arrived in New York in the 1870s, he got involved with Clan na Gael and, particularly, the famous O’Donovan Rossa.

“Rossa was so fascinated by Hol- land’s constant ramblings about the submarine and its potential as a weapon to solve the Irish question that he gave John Breslin, another very famous Fenian, and John De- voy, another huge figure of Irish his- tory, the job of working with Holland

to see if it was possible to build,” LoyeTebaLeCcremawlerIF

‘Fenian backers got nervous when Holland’s early prototype sank to the bottom of the Hudson river and almost killed poor Holland himself. They claimed he had built himself a coffin.

“When Holland spent a huge sum re-surfacing and repairing the sub- marine, the Fenians had a falling out and John Breslin, one night, actually stole the submarine from its moor- ings. Breslin forgot to seal the turret, the Fenian Ram, as it was known, subsequently flooded and sank.”

Submarine Man takes place in Glor this evening, May 6. Tickets are priced €18/€16.

MEZZO-soprano Naomi O’Connell from Ballyvaughan and tenor Dean Power, a native of Clarecastle, will perform at a free lunchtime concert on Friday at European Commission headquarters in Dublin to celebrate Europe Day.

Naomi is completing her final year of a BA in performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, while Dean is in the final year of the Bachelor of Music “Performance Course’ at the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Both Naomi and Dean began their vocal studies with Archie Simpson in Clare and now study in Dublin WA LOM\Z EV aYas BIESONITTEE

Over the last four years, Naomi has won 11 first places in Feis Ceoil and last year won three prizes in the Veronica Dunne international singing competition, including the

Dame Joan Sutherland prize for the most promising young singer as well as overall fourth prize in the com- petition. Next September, she will continue her studies with a Masters Degree at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York.

Dean has also won numerous priz- es at Feis Ceoil and this year was overall winner in the Ballymena Feis as well as coming joint first in the Male Voice Repertoire and Grand Opera competitions. He has travelled widely, singing in the Irish dance show, “Rhthym Of The Dance’ and has sung tenor solo in Handel’s OW SSE

The Dublin concert takes place from | to 2pm on Friday at the EC building in Dawson Street.

MORE than eight in 10 Ennis shop- pers think that the town needs a better selection of stores. And the shops that they most want to see in the Clare capital are the high-street stores which are popping up in other Irish cities and towns.

The majority of those calling for a better shopping selection are the young shoppers of the future, with 96 per cent of those aged 14 to 20 say- ing they believe that Ennis requires a

stronger selection of stores.

The British high-street stores fea- tured largely in the survey, both in a question in which respondents were asked, unprompted, which stores they would like to see in Ennis and in a question involving choice of named NIKO) KeKe

Unprompted, River Island, alwear and Marks and Spencers were the first choices for women in the age brackets 14-30 and 40-50+, respec- AYO WA

Brown Thomas, Next and Deben-

hams were among the stores of choice of women in the 30-40 age group. The stores that men aged 30-50+ most want to see come to Ennis in- clude Marks and Spencers, Argos and Homebase, with TK Maxx being first choice for the 14-20-year-olds and Jack and Jones the store most wanted by 20-30-year-old men. Other stores on the top six wish list for Ennis shoppers are No Name, Woody’s, Debenhams, ‘TopShop, B&Q, JJB Sports, Champion Sports, Footlocker and Superquinn.

Given a list of named stores and asked which they would most want to see coming to Ennis, women in the 14-20 age group favoured Zara, with Marks and Spencers as their second 1 aToy (exer

Those in the 20-30 age group pre- ferred their first and second choices the other way around.

Females surveyed in the 30-50+ age bracket all gave their first prefer- ences to Marks and Spencers.

Shaws was a popular second choice for women aged 40-50+-.

Between one third and a half of the female respondents were interested in seeing Eason’s open a store here. Up to one third of women, according to age group, would like to see Moth- ercare open its doors in Ennis.

Between 23 and 36 per cent of women across the age groups sur- veyed said they wanted an Evans store in Ennis.

Eason’s was the second choice for males in the 50+ age group, who put Shaws and Mothercare ahead on their wish list.

MULLAGH village received a spring clean last week courtesy of the local girl guides and brownies.

Conscious of the environment they live in, the girls from six and a half years old to 15-years were determined to maintain it, so that any visitors to the west Clare village this summer would see it in its best light.

What began as Mullagh Brownies approximately seven years ago has now become Ibrickane Brownies and Girl Guides as the local group grows in popularity.

While initially the girls came from Mullagh and Quilty, the brownies

attracted other girls from Muiltown Malbay. Older girls also became involved and the girl guides were formed under the watchful eye of Alison Browne and Emma Ironside- Boyde.

There are 32 girls from the Ibrick- ane area involved in the guides with a waiting list forming for more inter- ested young people.

The Brown Owl, Mags Cunning- ham, who took over as leader of the brownies with the help of Marie Sex- ton just two years ago, said that the eroup were considering forming a ladybirds group for four to six and a half year olds.

Ms Cunningham, whose’ two

daughters are involved in the brown- ies and guides, said that the organi- sation help children learn about their environment, responsibility and how to lend a hand at home and in the community.

In February the girls raised €485 for sick children in Our Lady’s Hos- pital for Sick Children in Crumlin, by hosting a pancake night. They were also involved in People in Need and the St Patrick’s Day parade in Miltown Malbay.

‘They learn to respect people, help out at home and get involved in the community,” said Ms Cunningham.

At the enrolment ceremony they promise to keep to the Motto “Our

duty to God and our country”.

Ms Cunningham said that as the brownies and guides were made up of nine different schools, children had the opportunity to make new friends in the locality.

As well as remembering the secret handshake and building up a collec- tion of interest badges, the brownies and guides must also meet for an hour every Monday night.

AS Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, was in Washington last week celebrating the recent progress made in North- ern Ireland, the fruits of the progress were being born out in the farming community with a number of high profile cross-border meetings taking place.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fish- eries and Food, Mary Coughlan, ac- companied by her cabinet colleague Eamon O Cuiv attended the North/ South Ministerial Council Agricul- ture Sectoral meeting held in Fer- managh on Wednesday.

The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by Michelle Gild- ernew, MP, MLA, Minister of Agri- culture and Rural Development and Arlene Foster, MLA, Minister of the

Environment.

The meeting covered a range of 1s- sues including co-operation on ani- mal health, plant health, the Com- mon Agricultural Policy Issues and cross-border rural development.

The council noted progress on the activities in the draft All-Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy including an agreement on a com- mon chapter in the respective epi- Zootic contingency plans for Foot and Mouth Disease with common chapters for Avian Influenza and Bluetongue in the pipeline, on-going development of a report on the po- tential for joint data sharing and con- tinuing examination of the feasibility of a joint approach to the electronic identification of sheep.

The ministers approved further specific measures to progress the all-

island approach relating to Aujesz- ky’s Disease in pigs, and, in conjunc- tion with respective food safety and standard agencies, consideration of the hygiene package with respect to the transmission of food chain infor- mation with animals going to slaugh- ter and of the feasibility and priority of an all island approach relating to Trichinella in pigs.

The council discussed an innova- tive and strategic approach to col- laboration and co-operation on rural development programmes aimed at fostering improved community rela- tions in remote rural areas and com- plementing the economic regenera- tion of disadvantaged cross-border regions.

In relation to the EU Programmes, the ministers noted the development of proposals for a Rural Enabler

Project for submission to the PEACE II] Programme. This project aims to bring together rural people from both traditions and migrants to in- crease understanding and to work to address issues of sectarianism and racism in a rural context. Meanwhile, northern and southern hill farmers meet last week to dis- cuss to discuss a united approach to property rights and protection.

A SOUTH-EAST Clare developer has for the fourth time been refused planning permission for a helicopter pad on his land at Clonlara.

Clare County Council rejected the latest application from Peter Stritch with an internal council memo stat- ing that legal action over unauthor- ised helicopter activity at the site was ongoing. Mr Stritch had previously been refused planning permission

for a helipad on two occasions while he was also refused permission to construct a hangar for a helicopter.

In response to the latest applica- tion, the council concluded that the helipad would seriously injure the amenities and depreciate the value of adjacent residential properties and be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.

The council refused planning per- mission after objections were lodged by a number of local residents.

In his objection, David Beckett stated that the grounds on which the previous applications were refused were still valid and unchanged and the fact that the location of the site on the farm was moved made no dif- eon Gen

“His appeal to An Bord Pleanala was refused and it is possible that this application is being used as a re- placement for the rejected helicopter landing area.

“My family and I were greatly dis-

turbed by the noise. Helicopters are very noisy and the beat of the ro- tor blades is particularly irritating. Even an approaching helicopter can be heard when it is only a dot in the sky. The applicant will argue that the landing site is well away from hous- es, but this ignores the fact that when the helicopter is flying overhead, it 1s less than 100 metres away and can be heard throughout the house.”

Mr Beckett said there were im- portant safety concerns to consider,

including the fact that the proposed site was next to a gallop which was used daily and there was a high risk of an equestrian accident.

‘According to a UK accident data- base, 57 helicopters have crashed so far this year. On March 20, a heli- copter crashed in Meath, while in July 2007, a helicopter crashed near Ballynacally. We live in a quiet, rural and increasingly residential area and it is not suitable for aircraft activity,” Mr Beckett concluded.

THEFT of property is particularly prevalent in the Clare Garda Divi- sion and often goes undetected, a court heard last week.

The revelation came in the case of two men who admitted stealing €7,000 worth of wire cable from En- nis Electrical, Quin Road, Ennis, on May 9, last year.

Martin Mongan (21), of Balach Boy Halting Site, Quin Road, Ennis, and Bernard Mongan (20), of Considine Road, Cloughleigh, admitted the of- Kieren

Inspector Michael Gallagher told

Ennis District Court that the two ac- cused and another man made away with the wire cable.

He said that Martin Mongan was driving the truck. As they were leav- ing the premises they were stopped by an employee at around 2pm.

“The two defendants admitted full responsibility. They exonerated a third person who was with them,” he said. The property was recovered.

Inspector Gallagher said, “This is a very serious crime, very prevalent in this division. It often goes unde- tected.”

Solicitor Daragh Hassett, for Ber- nard Mongan, said, “My client

thought the wire was surplus to the requirements of the shop owner. I have no doubt the guards don’t be- lieve that.”

Solicitor Tara Godfrey (below), who represented Martin Mongan, said, “It was not the crime of the cen- tury. It was in the middle of the day. My client was looking for scrap cop- per. We don’t want to make a huge is- sue out of this but my client did get a belt in the face. He got some element of punishment there and then.”

The court was told that Martin Mongan has several previous convic- tions.

Judge Tim Lucey said, “The two

cases are very similar, but in the case of Bernard Mongan, he doesn’t have the previous convictions Martin Mongan has.”

Referring to Martin Mongan, he said, ““What he has done was deliber- ate, conscious. He knows you can’t take things without permission. He chanced it. He was caught. The prop- erty was recovered but it won’t stop him getting a jail sentence.”

He handed Bernard Mongan a three month detention sentence and suspended it for a year. He sentenced Martin Mongan to three months in jail and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

QUILTY man Dominic Egan is making the headlines this week as he leads an exhibition of the country’s J er0) bys AYAeL tb u-1 Ce) umm DOMmr: RB e-hY od ODD OTS. exhibition celebrating childhood in Ireland over the 20th century.

As curator of Cavan County Muse- um in Ballyjamesduff, Dominic was the first curator in the country to host the innovative exhibition, expected in Clare in the coming months.

While the exhibition may be enti- tled ‘Seen But Not Heard (Feictear Ach Ni Cloistear) – A Century Of Childhood In Ireland’, the west Clare native was the face of the nationwide exhibition over the weekend.

Born to the late Paddy Egan and Margaret (née Boyle) in Dromore in the parish of Kilmurry Ibrickane, Dominic went to Quilty National

School.

From there he attended the CBS in Ennistymon where he completed his Leaving Certificate in 1968.

After his Leaving Cert he planned to do Gaelic studies in UCD, but the death of his father when he was just 10 years old meant that there were other pressures on the family and a third level education at this time was not to be.

The summer after his Leaving Cert, once the minor football season was finished, he packed his bags and went to England to find work.

While in England his uncle in Aus- tralia suggested that the 20 year old try his luck in Van Diemen’s Land. There he worked in the mines as a driller saving enough money to go to university.

While in Australia he met his West- meath born wife. It was while she

was in Ireland nursing her ill father that the opportunity for work in his native land came about.

His wife saw the curator’s job ad- vertised in the local paper and faxed it to her husband thousands of miles AEN

The rest is history, as armed with his new qualifications he returned to Ireland and got the job. He was in- strumental in setting up the Cavan museum in 1994, The Clare man took a break from Cavan for a year to work in the Clare Museum, but as his two sons had settled in schools in Cavan a permanent move was not possible for the family.

“What I miss most about Clare is the sea, I was brought up only two miles from the sea,” said the talka- tive Quilty man.

He plans to visit the Clare County Museum when the exhibition makes

it to the Banner County.

The exhibition celebrates some of the many lifestyle changes as expe- rienced by successive generations of children growing up in Ireland. Themes covered include education, health, work, play and memories.

Dominic explained that the exhibi- tion was certain to recall a moment in everyone’s childhood.

“Anyone who attends the exhibi- tion is likely to be reminded of their own childhoods, whether it be that fleeting memory of a school day long forgotten, playing games on newly mown grass or the reverential hush of a Sunday Mass. The vivid thoughts and memories that are evoked through this truly interactive exhibi- tion will also enable people from out- side Ireland to learn about the many varied aspects of growing up on this island over the last century.”

A NEW plans for the development of organic farming in Ireland was last week given a cautious welcome by the farming organisations. Speaking at the launch, the ICSA’s Rural De- velopment Chairman, Gabriel Gil- martin, welcomed the plan as a step in the right direction.

‘This is a positive step as it widens the choice of production possibilities for farmers and clearly shows that the Government is committed to de- veloping the sector,” he said.

“ICSA feels that, in the rapidly changing dynamics of food mar- kets and food production, providing farmers with another option is a posi-

tive step.

“However, it is all about the bottom line, and if the Department of Agri- culture is serious about achieving the five per cent target for organic pro- duction in Ireland, then the resources and commitment must be available in realistic terms.”

Farmers will not undertake the ex- pense and labour-intensive conver- sion process without solid, long term backing from the authorities.”

Speaking at the launch of the Organ- ic Farming Action Plan 2008-2012, Minister for Food and Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Fish- eries and Food, Trevor Sargent, said that he was committed to achieving the very necessary development of

the organic sector in Ireland.

‘The action plan was an important development in working towards achievement of the Government’s target’, and he thanked the members of the National Steering Group for their input into the document,” he SrHKGe

“The National Steering Group will have a crucial role in guiding and overseeing progress on the action plan. I intend to bring together key industry leaders, opinion makers, agricultural academics with some of Ireland’s top organic farmers and erowers to better appreciate what organic farming is and to dispel any misconceptions that may exist.

“The programme for Government

five per cent target is indeed chal- lenging. I am confident that, with the full support of all stakeholders, implementation of the actions out- lined in the plan will greatly assist in achieving the target.”

The action plan has four main ob- jectives; increase production in line with market trends, increase the knowledge base, develop the organic market at home and abroad, and en- courage the development of public procurement opportunities for or- ganic products. There are over 60 actions identified in the plan.

Since 2005 there has been an in- crease of more than 17 per cent in the area under organic production in Ireland.

I CAN’T speak for you, but for me the last 12 months have passed in a blur. It doesn’t seem like a year since we began to wind up for The Clare 10k 2007, but there you go.

Taking place on June 28, 2008, The Clare 10k is ready for it’s third out- ing. Last year the race attracted over 1200 participants. This year we are

hoping for more.

There are some changes to The Clare 10k this year, the main one be- ing the starting time. For the last two years the gun has gone off at llam, this year the time has been moved forward to 10am.

There are also some new faces on board. Mr Binman have taken on part sponsorship of The Clare 10k and our second nominated charity

will be the Building for Hope – Sr Ethel Normoyle – Project.

Still involved are The Clare People, O’Brien’s sandwich bar and Clare Haven Services and Run Republic.

This we, while we are hoping that more people will take part, we are also hoping that more people will decide to get involved for a worthy oN on

Again, your entry fee will be split

between Clare Haven Services and the Building for Hope Project, but outside of this you can choose the charity you want to raise funds for.

So, dust off your training gear, make the most of the long (hopefully sunny) evenings, and get prepared for The Clare 10k 2008.

Clare’s largest mass participation event. For more details visit www. clarelOk.com.