Category: Uncategorized

A WOMAN has recalled heartbreak- ing pain, as she saw her husband’s body being swept out to sea, after he was struck by a wave, while fishing in Doonbeg.

Latvian native Olegs Artemjevs (27) drowned after he fell from a rock, while fishing at the Blue Pool, Doonbeg, on November 5 last year.

He had been fishing with his wife Lubova, when the tragedy occurred.

At Ennis Coroner’s Court last week, Lubova recalled travelling from Athlone to Doonbeg, early that morning.

The couple arrived in the west Clare area at 12 noon. The sea was normal and there was no wind.

“My husband started fishing from the rock,” she said, in her deposition to the Coroner’s Court.

“At about 2pm I was watching my husband and my phone rang. I turned around to get it. It was a call from my husband.

“I turned around to the sea again and I saw my husband being swept out to sea. I shouted for help. Two Polish men came,” recalled Lubova.

“I could see my husband. He was wearing chest waders when he went into the water.

I watched him being swept further and further out.

“We rang 999 and we were put on to Marine Rescue. Marine Rescue got to my husband in about five to 10 minutes,’ she said.

Garda Ken O’Day recalled attend- ing Kilkee Rescue Centre that day. He said Mr Artemjevs had sustained cuts to the nose and bruising to the panel

“When he was fishing, he was struck by a wave and pushed out into the sea,” said the garda.

Pathologist Dr Peter Fawl carried out a post mortem examination on the deceased’s body, on November

He concluded that death was due to asphyxia, secondary to drowning.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said “one can only imagine the trauma” suf- fered by Mr Artemjevs’ wife, seeing him being pulled out to sea.

She suggested that the jury bring in a verdict of accidental death and the jury agreed with this.

“It should be acknowledged the tro- jan work being done by the Rescue Services,’ said the coroner.

“The Marine Rescue Services come out in all sorts of weather and provide a great service, as do the gardai,’ she added.

THE focus of Europe will be on Gort this week as an RTE documentary on the town’s Brazilian population takes centre stage at the Prix Europa, Europe’s foremost media and televi- sion awards ceremony.

The documentary, entitled ‘Lit- tle Brazil, Gort, Ireland’ – one of eight Irish entries to have made the final shortlist – was first screened on October 5, 2006.

The documentary paints a portrait of Brazilian immigrant life in Ire- land in general and has a particular focus on how Gort has coped with

the huge influx of South American workers and their families.

Gort’s Brazilian story started 10 years ago when the town of Villa Fabril, a small rural village in cen- tral Brazil, was devastated by the collapse of their local meat plant, owned by the major international beef company Reibol.

More than 900 men and women were left with no work and the plant’s closure triggered a massive wave of emigration that would in time com- pletely transform everyday life in the market town of Gort.

Within months of the shutdown the company’s Cork-born export man-

ager Jerry O’Callaghan had stepped in and set in train a series of events that would change forever the lives of many of the redundant workers and their families.

At first, just a trickle of young men left from Villa Fabril, but within a year a rapidly growing exodus of Brazilian emigrants was _ heading for Ireland to work not just in meat factories but on farms, building sites, shops, factories and nursing homes.

The documentary, which was pro- duced by Caroline Bleahen and presented by Jim Fahy, tells a some- times heart-warming, at times heart- breaking, story of the first genera-

tion of factory workers who set out to build new lives for themselves in Ireland.

Filmed in Brazil and south Galway, the documentary is both a portrait of Brazilian immigrant life in Ireland today – mirroring many of the past experiences of Irish emigrants to England and the US – and an analysis of how the town has coped with such a huge influx of South American workers and their families.

The documentary will represent Ireland in the Prix Europa Iris cat- egory at the awards, which take place from October 13 to 20 in Berlin and Potsdam in Germany.

A SHORTAGE of staff in the proba- tion and welfare office in Clare has caught the attention of District Court Judge Joseph Mangan.

The judge made reference to the absence of a probation officer for Shannon on a number of occasions at Shannon District Court last Thurs-

CEMA

There has been no probation officer in Shannon for several months, since the officer in charge of that area va- cated his post.

According to the probation and wel- fare service, the post was advertised and an appointment is pending.

Probation reports were required in several cases at last Thursday’s court.

Although no probation officer was in court, reports were present in most of the cases.

During the case of a 19-year-old man who was in court on public order charges, the judge remarked that a probation report would not be available until December.

He adjourned the case, peremptory against the probation service.

In another case, the judge read out a note on an accused’s file, stating that the report was not ready due to staff shortages.

“The probation report is not avail- able due to staffing difficulties in the probation service,” he read out.

In a third case, in which a 20-year- old man was before the court on pub- lic order charges, the judge indicated

he would remand him on continuing bail for a probation report to be car- ried out.

However, when he learned that there was no probation officer in court he imposed a detention sen- tence, suspended.

In another case, he referred to the State not provifing “a proper proba- tion service in Shannon”.

TWO Clare men are to brave the rugged terrain and sweltering heat of Cuba to take part in a gruelling six- day fundraising cycle in aid of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

John Stack from Lisdoonvarna and Ennistymon man Matthew Grilf- fin will arrive in the country on November 6 to take part in the mam- moth challenge.

“I do a lot of charity stuff. I heard about this about three months ago, looked it up and it seemed like a good thing to do.

“IT have done fundraising work for cancer and the Irish Heart Founda-

tion but I haven’t done anything for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind,” said Mr Stack.

“We are going to Cuba on the November 6 and will be cycling for six full days out there. Matthew is going out as well but there will a group from all over the country.

“I do a lot of cycling myself but it’s mostly all charity stuff. In the past I have taken part in the Clare 250, the Wicklow 200, Inishowen Peninsula Cycle, Tour of Lough Corrib, the Tour of the Burren and the Ring of Kerry, so I am well used to the challenge.”

Last summer John was part of a eroup of cyclists from north Clare

who took on the most famous climb of them all, the Alpe d’Huez.

“It really was very challenging, the temperatures were totally unreal. When we started in the morning it was 29 degrees and before we be- gan to climb Alpe d’Huez it was 36 Olfeaneteny

“It was very hot but there was three massive climbs to tackle as well. It is the exact same stage that the rid- ers on the Tour de France did a week later,’ Mr Stack added.

“We are hoping to get a bit of a different type of challenge out in Cuba. That is one of the reasons for going, to get the change of scenery and to see what the terrain is like out

there as well.” Following the success of a charity poker challenge in Lynch’s Hotel last Saturday, John has organised another fundraising event for Doolin later this month.

“We have organised a 45-card drive game in McDermotts in Doolin for October 24. That’s starting at nine and people are welcome to come along to that,” he said.

“Otherwise, if people want to donate money to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, they can contact me directly on my mobile number, 086 2552709, or they can post anything to John Stack, Lisdoonvarna. Any donations made would be very wel- come indeed.”

can reveal as part of a Spe- cial Investigation into gay issues in the county.

According to the first nationwide survey ever conducted into gay men in Ireland, as many as 3,000 Clare men have left the county and settled in bigger centres of population.

Clare men numbered less than half a percent (0.467) of the total respond-

ents to the online survey while, according to the most recent census fig- ures, Clare people make up almost three percent (2.75) of the total popu- FE TaTone

Responses to the sur- vey, Which was conducted by Sigma Research and part funded by the English Department of Health and Welsh Assembly, were drawn from the users of a number of Irish gay NOLO Moy. QTV OCsre DUNN MA ULol ONS [Kote

These figures suggest that more

than 50 per cent of GE ccecm on OOO ack: tomethy population may have left the county. “Many gay people have moved away from Clare – to Dublin, Cork and Galway – so that they can live more openly some- where else. This leaves the remain- ing gay population in Clare largely invisible,” said Franciscan Brother Cathal, who runs the GIFT support group for gay men in women in En- he

Reports of homophobic violence have also become more common in the county.

‘The violence that is in this town is unbelievable, the violence that is in Ennis and in County Clare. Physical violence towards gay people, I have experienced it. My partner, who I have been in a committed relation- ship with for 10 years, he has expert- enced it. He was nearly killed in this town,’ said Alan*, a gay man, born in west Clare who now lives in En- ahs

THE Keep Clare Clean Environ- mental Project is currently being run by Golden Vale Clare Commu- nity Games in association with Clare County Council and Shannon Devel- opment. The purpose of the competi- tion this year is to create awareness about the impor- tance of keeping our community clean and _ free from all types of Tit me CC OE hae) entries will take place later in No- vember. At present, 97 schools in vari- ous communities throughout Clare are registered for the Green Schools programme. 42 of these schools hav- ing been awarded the __— prestigious PaO N MEIER a lee mee number of schools involved since the start of the programme 10 years ago. Joan Tarmey, Environmental Awareness Officer commented, “I am delighted that Clare Community Games is SO proactive in encourag- ing good citizenship to bring about a cleaner and greener County Clare. “It 1s wonderful to see the young people making their parents and

community more aware of environ- mental issues. This bodes well for Wee RUIRUT Koa

Pat Daly added, “Shannon Develop- ment is very pleased to be associated with such a worthwhile project and we wish all the participants the very best of luck in the competition.”

The competition will be run with

three categories – poster, poem, slogan.

Each category will be run at under six, under eight, under 10, under 12 and under 14 age groups, with a special category for children with Special Needs. Siva lebKoismpeeleniam eye under group age on July 31, 2008. One competitor in each age group in each category from your area will go forward to the county compe-

tition.

All entries for the competition should be returned to Mrs May Phe- lan, Shannon Road, Sixmilebridge.

The closing date for the competi- tion is Friday, November 16.

Further details can be obtained from Mary Phelan at 061 369628 or your local Community Games Com- POD LA Rorer

CLARE matchmaker Willie Daly and Matchmaking Festival organ- iser Marcus White are to travel to south-east Asia to share their match- making expertise with the people of Singapore.

The pair have been invited to address a conference next month organised by that country’s ministry of community development, youth and sports on November 2 and 3.

The Matchmakers’ Trade Seminar, which is the first meeting of its kind ever organised, will feature keynote speakers from Japan, Korea and Chi- na as well as the Lisdoonvarna pair.

“The Singapore chamber of com- merce is paying for them to come out and speak. They have witnessed the success of the festival here and have seen how it brings in €3.6 mil- hon for Lisdoonvarna,” said festival organiser Mark Flanaghan.

“It’s a double-edged sword really. They have invited us over because they want to start their own festivals in Asia.

“At the same time, we want to forge connections in that region so we can increase the number of people visit- ing Lisdoonvarna. We want them to bring a plane-load of people here for next year’s festival.”

Thousands of people _ visited

Lisdoonvarna over the past six weeks in one of the best-attended festivals in years. “This year was different from the last few years. We started to get a more middle-aged crowd back, people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. I think that the television advertis- ing had a lot to do with that,” added Flanaghan.

“We have six weeks of a festival here, with dancing going from first thing in the morning to the last thing at night. There is no place in the world with that going on.

“The daytime dancing was really great this year. It’s not Lisdoonvarna, it’s the whole catchment area. People take trips to Fanore, out to Doolin,

all around the place. We get all kinds of people.

“We get people who would just come for the dancing and would have no interest in the matchmaking and we would get other people who would not have a dance through the whole festival.

“It is a great benefit for the area – there is really nothing like it.”

This year’s festival ended last weekend with the Mr Lisdoonvarna and the Queen of the Burren com- petitions. The coveted Queen of the Burren title was won by local woman Roisin Crowe, while Michael Hugh- es from Limerick city won the Mr Lisdoonvarna contest.

THE threatened stoppage which would have grounded all Aer Lingus flights from today has been averted after marathon talks in the Labour Relations Commission.

The pilots had threatened to down tools in a row over pay and condi- tions for staff at the airline’s new bases in Belfast.

The agreement, reached early yes- terday, still has to be voted on but union bosses have said they will be recommending the deal.

The package also provides a frame- work for the opening of future bases on local terms and conditions, ac- cording to Aer Lingus.

The deal was reached after more than 20 hours of continuous negotia- tions at the LRC.

The two sides have reached an agreement on pension conditions and promotions based on seniority for pi- lots at the Belfast hub.

Had the 48 hour action gone ahead, passengers bound for and return- ing from to New York and Chicago would have been stranded.

As he left the talks, Labour Rela- tions Commission Chairman Kieran Mulvey said it was up to both sides to consider the proposals.

Aer Lingus Chief Executive Der- mot Mannion said he was delighted with the outcome of the talks, par-

ticularly for passengers.

Michael Landers, Assistant Gen- eral Secretary of IMPACT, said on balance it was a deal which could be recommended to its members.

Meanwhile, Ryanair has comment- ed on the European Commission’s confirmation that it has properly re- jected Aer Lingus’ request to force Ryanair to sell its stake in Aer Lin- gus on the basis that Ryanair has no influence or control in Aer Lingus.

“Given that Aer Lingus has twice rejected Ryanair’s request for an EGM, it is impossible for Aer Lingus to claim that Ryanair have any influ- ence or control over them. We pre- sume this initiative was designed to cover Aer Lingus’ embarrassment at a current share price of €2.35, which is 20 per cent less than Ryanair’s of- fer of €2.80 almost one year ago” the airline said in a statement.

The statement continued “sadly, Aer Lingus passengers continue to suffer higher fares and increased fuel surcharges as a result of the EU Commission’s prohibition of Rya- nair’s offer for Aer Lingus, which guaranteed to deliver those passen- gers lower fares and to remove fuel surcharges.”

THE percentage of people speaking Irish in Shannon has dropped, ac- cording to Census figures.

Figures revealed during the Census of Population, which was undertaken last year, reveal that 41.8 per cent of people in Shannon can speak Irish.

This compares with 44.5 per cent, When the previous Census figures which were compiled in 2002. Na- tionally, 41.9 per cent of people can speak Irish.

The figure in Shannon is lower than that in Ennis (47.5 per cent) and Kil- rush (42.9 per cent). Overall, 48.8 per cent of the population of Clare can speak Irish.

The figures show that 3,580 people

in Shannon, over the age of three, have some knowledge of Irish, 1,684 of them were male, with the remain- ing 1,896 female.

There were 4,991 non-Irish speak- ers in Shannon, while 228 did not state if they spoke Irish.

Four years earlier, 3,539 people spoke Irish, while 4,418 declared them as non-Irish speakers.

Residents filling out Census forms were also asked to state whether they were frequent Irish speakers. 1,033 people said they spoke Irish daily, within the education system, while 47 said they also spoke it outside the education system. For those who were not in the education system, 65 said they spoke our native tongue Neto) AYA

182 said they spoke it weekly, while 1,242 said they spoke Irish less often than weekly.

One national statistic was also re- flected in Shannon, in that more fe- males than males used Irish. 44 per cent of females in Shannon spoke Irish, while 38.9 per cent of males were able to speak cupla focal.

In 2002, 47.3 per cent of females and 41.8 per cent of males, had the ability to speak Irish.

Overall, 1.6 million people in Ire- land said they could speak Irish, in mau eToys

The chairman of Club na Sionna, Sean O Nuanain said he was happy to hear that so many people can speak Irish.

“I would be delighted to hear that

SO many people can speak Irish. The figures are encouraging,’ he said.

He said the Irish is widely used among a number of groups in Shan- non, particularly Duchas na Sionna and its sub-groups, whose work is bilingual.

These include Conradh na Gaeilge, Glor na Gael, Shannon Wetlands Group and wildlife and historical groups.

“We work together in Duchas na Sionna to further the aims of the dif- ferent groupings,” he said.

One seanfhocal to be remembered in the use of Irish, he said, is “Fao1 Scath a Cheile a Mhaireann na Dao- ine (We live in the shadow of each Other/We get strength from each 0) ds 0

is the title of the DVD which features a magical night of mu- sic by Mickaleen Conlon and friends, which was recorded in Greene’s pub, Ballyvaughan, on August 17, 1994.

The 13-year gap between that famous session and the release of the recording will be bridged on Octo- ber 26 when The Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna hosts the launch of the

DVD, which also features some of the great names of traditional music.

Mickaleen Conlon was born in Poulnagun , three miles outside Lis- doonvarna, and lived all his life in an area that had a rich tradition of mu- sic, particularly “box’ music.

He learned the concertina from his father at a young age and was to car- ry his distinctive ‘hob’ style of play- ing with him all though his life. He later learned to play the accordion, at which he became equally adept.

The country house dances provided the setting for Mickaleen’s music in his youth and, in later years, he played in the pubs of north Clare,

especially the Roadside ‘Tavern, Where he enjoyed music for more than 50 years.

Apart from the rich musical tradi- tion which he represented, Micka- leen was also a great storyteller and humourist who is fondly remembered as a gentle and colourful character.

Indeed, one of the musicians who featured in that memorable session in August 1994, Sean Tyrrell, recalls Mickaleen’s legacy in the sleeve notes to the DVD in which he credits the Poulnagun maestro with teaching him the “art of magic in music”.

“T owe him a huge debt of gratitude for all the wondrous nights of music

we played together and shared with another musician, Shane Holden, who, like Mickaleen, is no longer with us. Shane helped me forge the style I have in song. No matter what rhythmic ramble I took, he was always there beside me, right on the beat. They were both masters of the rhythm, the bedrock of music’, ‘Tyr- rell said.

The DVD, which was produced by Dark Horse Films, also features the music of Vincent Browne (gul- tar), Gabriel Casey (whistle), Shane Holden (guitar), Liam Lewis (fiddle) as well as Tyrrell on vocals, mando- cello and banjo.