Category: Uncategorized

PRIMARY school children from all over north Clare and south Galway are returning to school this month with a new and exciting subject light- ing up the curriculum. Hundreds of children from nine schools through- out the region are getting their teeth into anew course which teaches them all about the landscape, ecology and rich history of the Burren.

The Eco-Beo – My Burren Herit- age education programme, which is being delivered by Burrenbeo, with Support from the Burren Connect Project, will take place between Jan- uary and June of this year.

Specially trained experts will offer children the chance to explore the animals, plants, monuments, land- scape and culture of the Burren in a fun and friendly classroom atmos-

je) aster

The Eco-Beo concept was original- ly developed by Burrenbeo, which rolled out the programme to six Bur- ren schools in 2004.

‘“Burrenbeo has worked for the last five years to support the development of new education models that will help people understand how impor- tant it is to conserve what’s left of Ireland’s special places like the Bur- ren,’ said Ann O’Connor of Burren- beo.

‘“Eco-Beo is a unique course be- cause it immerses children in their local heritage over a period of months, adopts new technologies and top educators to do so.”

Course tutors, including Gordan D’arcy, Zena Hoctor and Brendan Dunford, all of whom are experts in their individual areas, will deliver the modules.

Students will also be taken on Bur- ren field trips, where they will have the opportunity to explore the region first hand and put their new-found knowledge to the test. As well as ex- citing field trips and class lectures, Burrenbeo utilises new technology and interactivity as a basis for effec- tive education.

“We hope to find new ways to roll out virtual classrooms to support learners and encourage users to learn through participation and experi- mentation. In a way it’s like subvert- ing the screen that so dominates chil- dren’s lives today,” continued Ann.

‘We hope that through our work lo- cal children will take ownership of their heritage and reconnect with na- ture and the Burren – a place that has to be Ireland’s most perfect learning STOMANRO ev ee tole

Primary school children from Kin-

vara, Kilnaboy, New Quay, Corofin, Kilfenora, Doorus, Kilshanny, Tub- ber and Boston will all take part in this years programme while Bur- renbeo and the Burren Connect Project are actively seeking funding to extend the course to other Burren schools in 2008 and 2009.

To learn more about this and the other work of Burrenbeo check out Wwww.burrenbeo.com, e-mail info@burrenbeo.com or contact the Burren Connect programme Carol Gleeson at cgleeson@burren.ie or 065 7072296.

THE County Coroner has described as a “great pity” a fishing trip by a eroup of friends that ended with the death of a Polish man.

Isobel O’Dea was speaking at the inquest into the death of Dariucz Dzikowski. Mr Dzikowski died af- ter he was swept from rocks on the coastline at Kilkee on October 28, 2007.

Ms O’Dea said weather conditions on the day were particularly bad. She said, “My recollection of the day is that it was a pretty miserable one. It was a great pity that people went fishing. I would like to pay tribute to the rescue services who went out in those conditions.”

Ms O’Dea returned a verdict of death by drowning as result of fish- ing off the rocks near Kilkee.

In giving her decision, Ms O’Dea

said, “I am aware that there is a lack of witnesses in the court, but I am satisfied there is no foul play.”

No members of Mr Dzikowski’s family or any of the witnesses present at the time of the accident were present in the Coroner’s Court in Ennis last Wednesday.

Ms O’Dea said she was aware there had been difficulty contacting wit- nesses and that the Polish embassy was anxious to get a death certificate. She said she would be writing to the Polish embassy to appraise them of the situation.

Inspector John Galvin read to the court the deposition of the deceased’s brother-in-law, Wojech Wilk. He described how Mr Dzikowski was swept into the sea. “It was a Sunday afternoon and we went fishing down past the Pollock holes in Kilkee. I was with Dariucz and our friends, Jan Krsten and Adam Kurzalkowsk1.

At about 1.30pm, a wave hit Dariucz and brought him into the sea. Adam threw him a lifejacket but we couldn’t see him.”

Tony O’Mahony of the Shannon Helicopter Rescue Service told the court, “We located the body within 10 minutes and we administered CPR immediately.”

Garda John Reidy told the court that at 1.40pm on the day of the in- cident he had received a report that a person had fallen into the sea near Kilkee golf club.

‘I searched the area and could not see anyone or find anyone who could help. I realised that the accident had occurred on the cliffs at the far side. I resumed the search there.”

Mr Dzikowski was airlifted to En- nis and was pronounced dead at En- nis General Hospital. Inspector John Galvin extended his sympathy to the family and friends of Mr Dzikowsk1.

A GALWAY man has appeared in court, charged with dangerous driv- ing causing the death of Ennis busi- nessman Howard Flannery last year.

Michael Dillon (37) from Puirin, Inverin, County Galway, appeared before Ennis District Court on Fri- day in connection with a road acci- dent at Ballysallagh West, Newmar- ket-on-Fergus, on June 3, 2007.

Mr Flannery (39), of Cahercalla Road, Ennis, died after he was struck by a vehicle while he was cycling along the Newmarket-on-Fergus

bypass near Carrigoran on the after- noon of Sunday, June 3, last year.

Mr Flannery, who was in training for a triathlon due to take place later that month, had been cycling with a companion on the hard shoulder When the collision took place. Mr Flannery died at the scene while his friend escaped injury.

Mr Flannery was well known in business and sporting circles and was a former boxing champion. He had run several marathons and in 2005 established The Clare Crusad- ers charity which has raised over €150,000 for cerebral palsy since its

inception.

In court on Friday, solicitor for the accused Vincent Shields applied for free legal aid for his client. He said Mr Dillon was not working at Kole

Judge Joseph Mangan granted the application approving Mr Shields as solicitor as well as a junior and sen- OMe LUN To) B

Judge Mangan sent the accused forward for trial to the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Court. Mr Dillon was released on his own bail of €2,000.

GORT is slowly but surely working its way to the top of Ireland’s festival calendar, following the announce- ment last week that the Life Festival will return to the town this year.

Taking up residence in Lough Cutra Castle from July 4 to 6, it’s expected to attract thousands of music lovers and revellers to the area.

Over the last two years the Life Fes- tival has built up a loyal and growing following. Organisers have focussed

on quality over quantity, with a very limited number of tickets on sale and a luxurious festival experience guar- anteed.

Marketing itself as an alternative to the major festivals, Life fills its stages with quality electronic and tradition- al acts: everything from European psytrance, reggae and world music to minimal techno, folk and trad.

This year the scope of festivities has expanded even further with more non-musical features, such as artistic and culture events. The line-up for

2008 is as yet unknown but last year’s performers included Phil Hartnoll from Orbital and Ronan O’Snodaigh from Kila. A number of high-profile acts are expected to be announced over the coming months.

Organisers are also offering local acts the chance to gain a place on the bill and are calling on artists, bands, DJs, fire performers, jugglers, stilt walkers, theatre performers and oth- er colourful people to put themselves forward. Application forms will be available from early next month.

A limited amount of discount tick- ets are currently available on the fes- tival website, www.life-festival.com. Early bird revellers can purchase special Trusting Life Tickets from €75 plus booking fees and VAT.

These are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. The remainder of the tickets will be re- leased on a staggered basis through- out spring. Allocations of full three-day tickets will be released on February | (€90), March 1 (€110) and May | (€130).

ese terday, a spokesman from the De- partment of the Environment said that applications for one-off houses would not be affected.

‘The situation will be the same in Clare as it is in south Galway; the presence of Hen Harriers and the position of a site in the Special Area of Conservation will not be a factor

in the granting of planning permis- sion for one-off housing,” said the spokesman.

These commitments leaves too much ‘wiggle room’ for planners, ac- cording to Clare IFA president Sea-

mus Murphy. “There are real fears in the area. Farmers need to be able to build in their own areas. It’s the Irish way of life. Why should we put the welfare of Hen Harriers ahead of the welfare of farm- ers,’ he said. “We would like to remind all farmers that they can still object to this classification until February 8.”

As much as 35 per cent of Ireland’s Hen Harrier population – some 40 pairs of birds – is believed to live in the area between Clare and Galway.

Last year, Minister Gormley des- ignated some 61,000 hectares in the Slieve Aughty Mountains in south Galway and north Clare as a Special Protection Area for the preservation of the rare bird.

The Hen Harrier is facing extinc- tion in Ireland and the UK with only 20 currently in existence in England.

A MAN caught urinating in a door- way in Ennis told gardai his name was ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’ follow- ing his arrest, a court has heard.

Aidan O’Connell (24) of Consid- ine Road, Cloughleigh, Ennis was arrested at 12.l5am on January 23 last, after a Garda patrol observed him urinating in a doorway in Ennis town centre.

Garda Ian Kenefick told Ennis Dis- trict Court that the accused was very intoxicated and had to be assisted by gardai. He was taken to Ennis Garda Station where he was asked for his name. Garda Kenefick said after the

third time of asking, the accused re- plied, “Baa Baa Black Sheep”.

Gardai later established the man’s identity after finding a credit union card in his pocket.

Mr O’Connell is charged with be- ing intoxicated in public and with failing or refusing to give his name and address when asked.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had no memory of the incident and wanted to apologise to gardai. Ms Godfrey said her client was “a young man who has lost his way and was in a “rut.”

Judge Joseph Mangan adjourned the matter, for preparation of a pro- bation report.

SUSI SeRCibeCoKone chm PIMs INN Oats people of rural Clare are viewed by outsiders forms the subject of a new installation which opened last week at the X-PO project in Kilnaboy.

Mr and Mrs Krab’s Utopia is a vid- eo-based installation by east Clare artist Amanda Dunsmore, which ex- plores the opinions of a Dutch cou- ple who have made rural Clare their home.

The installation came about as part of Clare County Council’s Ground Up Project, in which Dunsmore con- ducted a series of interviews with people who have moved into the ru-

ral areas of the county.

“Mr and Mrs Krab were perfect for this project, they are such open and endearing people. They have led an interesting life themselves before they got to Clare and they are very straight with their opinions, but also quite humorous,” said Amanda.

“They had had a very tough time working in Holland. Mr Krab had been suffering from depression. But they came on holiday to Clare and suddenly the depression lifted. After that holiday it became their dream to come and live in Ireland.

“They also have a unique view of how rural Ireland has changed over the last number of years: from the

amount of time that people have to the changes that have come around with drugs in rural Ireland.”

Mr and Mrs Krab’s Utopia is the latest exhibition to take up residency as part of the X-PO Project in the old Kilnaboy post office. The project, which is the brainchild of local artist Deirdre O’Mahony, is attempting to reactivate and record the community interaction that once formed around local post offices.

“It is always interesting to get an outsiders perspective of ourselves,” continued Amanda. “As part of this installation I recreated the post of- fice counter from three of the origi- nal drawers.

“The video piece is being shown on a very small monitor in the top drawer. All the technology is hidden, so when you walk in you hear the sound and you have to go over to the counter, open the drawer and watch the video.”

Meanwhile, Local Ground, an exhi- bition by Deirdre O’Mahony, is cur- rently running in the Siamsa Tire in Kerry. In this exhibition O’ Mahony examines the reality of rural life in the light of social and ecological changes in the west of Ireland.

X-PO is open from 2-5pm daily and is funded by the Arts Council, an Chomhairle Ealaionn and Super- Valu.

A MAN who stole from a house in SIT VeTLOMPOMWZO OOM ome Bao lesetcm ert been jailed for six months.

Greg Tuite (31), of Herbert Grove, Castletroy View, Limerick, pleaded guilty to stealing a PlayStation, five PlayStation games, six DVDs, a mo- bile phone and €100 cash from a

house at Cronan Lawn, Shannon, on October 14, 2005.

Detective Garda Andrew Hayes told Shannon District Court that the owner of the house where Tuite was renting complained to gardai that Some items had been stolen from the house.

Dt Gda Hayes said as part of the investigation, he viewed CCTV foot-

age from a computer game shop in | Bibeeterale) Gy sen emcieledi ioe ma slom-lere nies selling the PlayStation and two mem- ory cards to another man.

He said the value of the items stolen amounted to €816 and €400 of this was recovered.

Defending solicitor Caitriona Car- mody said her client had been under serious financial pressure and needed

TCO) eLeAs

Judge Joseph Mangan asked was there compensation in court and was told there wasn’t.

The judge refused an application for free legal aid, after he heard Tuite had recently taken up employment.

He imposed a six-month jail term and fixed a bond – including Tuite’s own surety of €5,000; €2,500 of

which was to be lodged – in the event of an appeal.

However, the solicitor said her cli- ent had no savings and was not go- ing to be able to come up with the money.

Judge Mangan replied that the case had been before the court since April 2007. “My order stands,” said the judge.

ONGOING traffic congestion in Sixmilebridge is of a huge concern to locals, who fear that a major ac- cident will happen, unless the issue

is addressed.

That was the message delivered during a debate on a proposal to widen a bridge in the village, at a meeting of Shannon area councillors last week.

Clare County Council Senior Ex- ecutive Engineer Donal Hogan said he has asked the roads section to look at the possibility of widening the bridge.

He said there have been several new residential estates completed in

the area, while a major new commer- cial development is also mooted.

“The width of the bridge would be a major factor in the satisfactory operation of the bridge,’ said Mr Hogan.

“It is a protected structure. That is one of the issues,” he added.

Independent councillor Patricia McCarthy said that traffic conges- tion in Sixmilebridge “is actually dangerous. It is very hard to solve the problem. Maybe we should go for a ring road.”

CUlr Gerry Flynn (Independent) said the council has recognised that a problem exists.

“It would make a lot more sense if money was spent on the southern

Ring Road. I wouldn’t support what you are proposing. I think that’s wrong and would be a stop gap,’ said Cir Flynn.

Cllr John Crowe (FG), who lives in the area, said he had proposed the footbridge but “I don’t mind that be- ing put on hold.”

“I feel there should be an overall job done on it. A few years ago New- market was choked. That’s gone now to Sixmilebridge,” he said.

“If road design are coming in and doing an overall job and if it’s going to take that bit extra time to do it, at least do something that is going to be there for generations to come,” said Saver

Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said the

problem exists and “will not go away. It will get worse. There could be a major accident”.

Shannon Town Manager Ger Dol- lard said there are issues in Sixmi- lebridge.

“The area engineer iS saying as Sixmilebridge develops, strategic decisions will be taken. There are is- sues which need indepth discussion,” he said.

Referring to suggestions regarding a relief road, he said, “It was devel- oper-led. I don’t think the council has acquired any lands in relation to that road. It is an issue that needs to be addressed. As Sixmilebridge de- velops further, the problem is going to get worse.”

SIMON MORONEY’S demand for the Munster Council to extend it’s full-time administrative capacity came to light in March 2007 in his third annual report to the provincial ruling body.

In presenting his report to delegates at the Munster Convention in Ballyr- after House in Lismore, Moroney outlined his vision for the fture that included the employment of a full- time assistant secretary.

In appealing for backing for this proposal, the Inagh man pointed to the increased pressures placed on him as secretary, which made it nec- essary for the council to come into line with both Leinster and Ulster that had put assistant secretaries in jo tleen

“The biggest single change which occurred in 2006, is the automatic presence of the provincial secretar- ies on the membership of a number of busy national committees — e.g the Competition Control Committee and National Infrastructure and Safety Committee,” he told convention.

“This is a most welcome develop- ment insofar as it enusres that the

provinces are immediately up to date on national issues and party to key decisions which can affect their own provincial activities.

“It allows for harmonisation of fixtures and uniformity in practices across provinces. However, this de- velopment does mean _ necessary absence by the provincial secretary from base for several days every year. There needs to be continuity at base and this challenge must be ad- Ore ethereb

“The staffing level in Munster, sim- ilar to Connacht is considierably less than in both Ulster and Leinster. Too much time as provincial secretary is spent on routine administrative mat- ters.

“The Council as an organisation must develop an inbuilt capacity to deal with changes — e.g. key staff changes over time, with serious disruption. In order to develop this capacity a Deputy Secretary is re- quired.

‘This person will have responsibil- ity for duties assigned to them from time to time — e.g. match arrange- ments, accounts etc., together with the management of affairs of the Council while the secretary is away

in Croke Park or on leave.

“A Deputy Secretary will also pro- vide continuity and perhaps a poten- tial successor when the erm of the secretary ends. It is prudent to plan ahead. I therefore make a specific recommendation, and seek the ap- proval from Convention to proceed immediately with its implementation on the adoption of the report, that the secretary proceed to manage the recruitment and appointment of the deputy secretary at a level consistent with similar posts in both Ulster and Leinster.

“The costs associated with the improvement will be borne by the Council and should not be out of line with that obtaining in the other councils,’ he concluded in his direct appeal to delegates.

However, delegates didn’t back his the secretary’s proposal — a move that set in motion a chain of events that have led to his resignation.