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A CLARE motorcyclist is threat- ening to take the county council to court over what he describes as “wil- fully dangerous roadworks”.

Mountshannon resident Ciaran Ma- cAodh came close to serious injury at the weekend when his motorbike skidded out of control after he drove across gravel which had been thrown up on the road surface from road- works on the opposite side.

The accident happened at Cloon- tymweenagh on the road between Scariff and Mountshannon.

“I saw the roadwork warning signs and slowed right down but the gravel dressing that the council put on the other side where the works are go- ing on wasn’t rolled into the road. Cars driving over it threw up stones, which went all over the road on the side I was driving. There was noth- ing for the bike to grip on — it was just sliding,” he said.

MacAodh was thrown from his bike and the bike went spiralling away.

He was treated in the accident and emergency department for injuries to his wrist and said that he was still unsure what damage was done to the bike.

“There was a car coming in the other direction and it was just as well that I wasn’t going any faster because

I could have ended up under that car. This happens all the time with road- works. The council never considers what happens to a bike when it hits loose gravel.

“Cars can cope but not bikes. I’m sick of it and I’m going to court this time,’ he added.

A spokesman for Clare County Council’s roadworks section said that surface dressings like this were “always rolled”’.

He added that there was “always signs imposing a temporary speed limit and warning about roadworks. Nowadays, health and safety issues are all important and every precau- tion is taken to warn motorists and prevent accidents”.

A spokesman for the Tulla area of- fice of the local authority confirmed that the work at Cloontymweenagh are part of a major roadworks pro- gramme, which will be ongoing in the favourable weather conditions.

The spokesman said that the council tooks certain measures when putting down the temporary surface.

The procedure was a “normal part of the construction process.

“The stones are there to form a base for the final surface. There’s not much can be done, aS some stones are thrown up by car wheels as the temporary surface is driven on,’ he explained.

CLARE County Council will meet with gardai in the next number of days in a bid to prevent the “very unsafe practice” of coach operators dropping passengers off at the road- side at the Cliffs of Moher visitors’ Cosi

Several coach operators are refus- ing to use the car-park in response to a council parking charge increase from €5 to €60. Instead, they are dropping off and picking up passen- gers at the roadside.

Project Leader Ger Dollard said that

the council is “extremely concerned” at the practice because it puts visitors at risk and causes traffic problems. ‘The traffic implications were also evident, especially on the busy Easter weekend when tailbacks to St Brig- id’s Well were caused by coach op- erators stopping on the road and con- sequently impeding the direct flow of traffic on what is a very heavily trafficked tourist route,’ he added. “Currently between 12 and 30 coaches a day are using the new coach-parking facilities and paying the appropriate facilities charge for the number of passengers onboard

and are very Satisfied with the overall service and facilities on offer.”

In relation to what he called the “small” number of coach operators continuing to drop tourists off at the roadside, Mr Dollard said, ““On some occasions, some of the coach opera- tors continue to drop visitors on the road, even when the facilities charge is paid directly by the visitor group – for example, school groups or as- sociations that have booked directly with the Cliffs of Moher and are pay- ing all charges themselves.”

Director of the centre, Katherine Webster, said that there are “oc-

casional comments on the price of parking but when staff explain that the facilities charge covers the ac- cess to all public facilities on site, as well as a contribution towards visitor management and conservation at the Cliffs of Moher, most visitors con- sider this reasonable.”

She said that Easter weekend was their biggest test to date in terms of managing the number of visitors and all went well.

“Despite record numbers the cen- tre, cliff edge and car park all oper- ated smoothly. Visitors are respond- ing positively to the on-the-ground

staff presence especially the Cliffs of Moher Rangers,” she added.

“The rangers conduct guided tours at off-peak times to encourage visit- ing the cliffs when we are quieter. These are extremely popular espe- cially since the arrival of the puffins on Goat Island on April 1.”

Mr Dollard predicted that the “vast improvement” of facilities would continue to boost visitor numbers, which are up three per cent on last year.

He said it is still “early days” as the peak tourist season would run from May to September.

A GROUP of 16 Australian high school students will say “G’Day”’ to Spanish Point today (Tuesday) at the end of their visit to St Joseph’s Sec- ondary School to celebrate 21 years of the county’s twinning with Clare Valley down under.

School Principal, Mary Crawford said that the 11 day visit was a mas- sive success after seven years of let- ters and emails with Clare Valley High School.

‘The sixteen students and five staff got on wonderfully on their stay in Ireland. The weather was so good and they had a fabulous time meet- ing everyone and travelling around.”

The students stayed with local host families and attended some classes at the school as well as visiting re- gional attractions.

“They did a lot of activities. We ran some classes on Irish history and culture. They did t-shirt print- ing and celtic design with our own art students. We held a set dancing

workshop too. Clare County Coun- cil organised a banquet in Bunratty Folk Park and the Ennis Lions’ Club gave them a tour of Ennis. Minister Tony Killeen welcomed them offi- cially. Everyone was very involved,” said Ms Crawford.

St Joseph’s also helped some of the Australian students to trace their Irish roots and one student found Clare relatives back to the early nineteenth century.

The group, which included five high school staff, travelled to Gal-

way, Connemara National Park, Kylemore Abbey, the Burren, Ailwee Caves and the Cliffs of Moher.

Most of the students were aged from 14 to 16 years old and Ms Crawford said that some of St Joseph’s second and third year students hope to visit Clare Valley in the next two years.

“They think it’s great. We hope to send some of our students in the fu- ture if they want to go.

‘The Australians are already plan- ning to come back in two years time,” she added.

RIGHT after the game, they were dancing like they’d just won the lot- tery. Inagh/Kilnamona upset the odds and Paddy McGuane was lost in a sea of celebrations. Just after the cup was lifted, he threw his mind back over a rip-roaring game.

“The goal scored by Brendan Long straight after Newmarket’s goal was vital as we were giving a message that we would not lie down against them. Our defence was tremendous to a man with our fast forwards com- ing into the game in the second half. A huge factor in our win was the training of the two squads together all year displaying the unity between the clubs.”He said the plans on how to tackle the final were made well in advance and the unity in the squad was a Springboard to Sunday’s suc- cess.

“On Wednesday night the two panels were training and Donal Ca- hir and I asked the Kilnamona lads to stay on for a few minutes to dis- cuss the Under 21C final on Friday evening and every Inagh man stayed to listen and offer support. The fact that Fergal Keane congratulated the Inagh mentors Noel Hehir and Tom Hogan after we won the C title on Friday showed the respect that now exists between the two clubs and the fantastic work that is being carried out by all mentors in the two clubs”.

Even though they had their eyes firmly set on capturing the title last week, they were taking it just one game at a time all season. It was an approach that worked.

“We took every game in the two erades as the next game to win. No talk ever took place about winning titles. The smaller clubs have players of the highest standards and when

they can join together, they can dis- play this quality. Just because a club is low on numbers does not mean they do not have players as good as those from the strongly populated clubs.”

He also paid tribute to the team they had just beaten.

‘Newmarket played their part in what I hope and feel was a great game to view and we applaud them for their brilliance as champions over the last three years. We modeled our- selves on their high standards and applied our own requirements to achieve the ultimate success. We still won’t get carried away bit I have to say well done to a fantastic bunch of men from the parish”.

THE lid has been lifted on what should be the private lives of mem- bers of the O’ Dwyer family.

Over four days’ evidence, very per- sonal details of a north Clare fami- ly’s everyday life has been aired.

Each day, Patrick O’Dwyer sat alongside his mother, father and sis- ter. His mother’s support for her son was patently obvious. She regularly patted his knee or held his hand, told the jury there wasn’t “a bad bone in his body”.

This case is unique. The defend- ant, victim and chief mourners are all members of the same family. The pressure on Patrick O’Dwyer’s mother Claire was all too obvious throughout the trial, particularly as the harrowing details of how her youngest daughter met her death were aired publicly in court.

Claire O’Dwyer left the court as State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy gave evidence of Marguerite’s death, last Tuesday morning.

Her husband Paddy sat firmly through the evidence, mainly staring towards the ground, but sometimes looking ahead.

Their daughter Louise (22) sat alongside them throughout the trial. Claire and Paddy’s only liv- ing daughter remained eagle-eyed throughout the trial, but the strain on her face showed as the jury finally brought in its verdict.

The accused man sat hunched for-

ward and staring at the ground for the most part. Throughout the evidence, he remained focused on the floor and rarely raised his head.

He did wipe his eyes with a tissue on a number of occasions, notably when details of his interviews with

gardai were recalled.

He also shed tears when his fa- ther recalled him helping out on the family farm as a child and showed emotion when his mother sat in the witness box and told the jury what a wonderful son he was.

Patrick’s focus on the ground was cast aside during one particular part of the trial. As Mr Justice Paul Car- ney was delivering his charge to the jury, Patrick O’ Dwyer sat up straight and looked up at the judge. He also raised his head and looked at the jury

as it announced its verdict, just min- utes after 8pm last night.

Courtroom Number One was a flurry of activity during the trial. The front of the room was filled with so- licitors and barristers involved in the case. Behind them, several journal- ists noted the facts of the case.

Further back, in the public gallery, several gardai involved in the case sat close to family relatives and friends of the O’Dwyers, while a number of onlookers wandered in and out of the courtroom, intrigued by the harrow- ing details of a family tragedy.

Sitting to the right of the courtroom Sat six men and six women, whose job was crucial — it was the jury’s re- sponsibility to decide the outcome.

The trial judge pointed out that the jury was a bit older than the average LUMA CBE: CeB RBIS lonKM(OKmOleNot in age to the accused’s parents than to the accused man.

“You are a little bit older than the average jury … more common sense and more experience to draw on,’ was the opening remark made by the trial judge in his charge to the jury.

Ultimately, the jury used this com- mon sense and experience to find Patrick O’Dwyer not guilty of the murder of his sister, but guilty of manslaughter by reason of dimin- ished responsibility.

THE West Clare Kidney Support Group is hoping to improve on the €33,000 it raised last year with its eighth annual fundraising walk in Kilrush on May 6.

All of this year’s proceeds will go to the Dialysis Unit in the Mid West- ern Regional Hospital.

Committee member and transplant patient, Fran Carmody, said that his own experiences and the death of his

brother in law from renal failure in- spired the fundraiser.

“Myself, Tom Prendeville and my niece, Michelle Gallery, had the idea and it was only going to be a one off at first. We have since done the walk every year for the Irish Kidney As- sociation and this time we decided to donate the money to the regional hospital. They are working really hard. Four out of seven days a week, the unit is running 24 hours a day. This is our way of giving something

back.”

Mr Carmody said that he has “nev- er looked back” since his kidney transplant in 1998 but that dialysis was still a daily struggle for many people.

He added that local support has been excellent.

“Local people help out with water stations on the day and we always get a great turnout. Everyone seems to know someone affected by it and people are always willing to help.”

The walk, which attracted 500 walkers last year, has gone from strength to strength since its first out- ing raised £3,500 (punts).

This year’s walk will start at 3pm from the square in Kilrush and will go as far as Cooraclare where there will be music and refreshments.

For sponsorship cards you can con- tact Michelle on 085 1617617 or Fran on 086 8638847 but anyone can turn up on the day to walk and make a donation.

IT WAS a big strike for the small man. Inagh and Kilnamona joined forces once more on Sunday and took the catapult to Newmarket-on- Fergus.

David and Goliath stuff. Hard work and belief won through in the end and when the game was done with, the amalgamation had their first ever Under-21 A title.

Newmarket were striving to be- come only the second club ever to secure four titles on the trot — Feakle

did it back in the *80s — but in the end their firepower ran out.

The second half of this game had everything. The champions surging ahead, the underdogs fighting back. Another surge by Newmarket before Inagh/Kilnamona finally got their teeth around the game and rattled off six points in the last ten minutes. Newmarket had only a point to show for the closing stages of the final, before Bernard Gaffney whipped in a bullet from 21-yards. It was saved by Inagh/Kilnamona captain Patrick Kelly in the goal, but David Barrett

flicked the return into the net.

It was a one point game and injury time had just begun. In truth, Inagh/ Kilnamona never looked like leaving it behind them once they flourished in the final quarter but it was breath- less stuff all around.

As a crowd was gathering on the field to see Kelly collect the trophy, County Board chairman Michael McDonagh gushed, “this must be the best game of hurling we’ve seen all season.”

He was right. Out on the field, with the crowd spilling all around him,

Paddy McGuane — who had a major hand in Kilnamona winning the C ti- tle earlier in the weekend — said the day should be seen as a shot in the arm for the smaller clubs of Clare.

“They [smaller clubs] have play- ers of the highest standard and when they can join together, they can put in displays of this quality. Just because a club is low on numbers doesn’t mean they don’t have players as good as those from the strongly populated clubs.”

It should point the way forward for the senior championship to come.

Nothing was taken for granted by the amalgamation as they marched through the season. Step by step until the annexed the big gun on Sunday.

Crusheen were the other big win- ners of the weekend. After a strong start, Broadford died away in the Under 21B final and Crusheen took it easily in the end.

MEDICAL experts who assessed Patrick O’Dwyer in the months following the killing of his sister, reached conflicting conclusions.

The Director of the Central Men- tal Hospital, Dr Harry Kennedy — a forensic psychiatrist — who gave evi- dence on behalf of the prosecution, said the accused did not suffer from a mental disorder at the time of the killing.

In contrast, three medical experts, tendered by the defence, concluded

that he did suffer from a mental dis- order at the time.

Dr Joan Moroney, a _ consultant neurologist, said Patrick reported a history of blackouts, some of which were related to alcohol consumption.

Dr Moroney, who gave evidence on behalf of the defence last Tuesday, said the accused would experience “spinning in his head and everything would go dark. He also reported staring episodes when he wouldn’t be fully aware of his surroundings, which would last 30 to 40 seconds.”

She said that for two days after the

party at his parents’ home, he felt depressed and began to think of su1- cide. “If there was a rope in the ga- rage he would have hanged himself. He wanted to go and bash his brains out. He thought his sister was going to stop him. He wanted to stop her before she stopped him.”

“The overall consensus would be that Patrick probably did have an epilepsy syndrome, emanating from the left hand side of his brain,’ she concluded.

She said he would be “less likely to have a fit during alcohol consump-

tion, but more likely to have a seizure in the 24 to 48 hours after.” Consultant psychiatrist Dr Cleo Van Velsen told the trial she concluded that the accused suffered from “de- personalisation disorder.” She said this disorder could be linked to his premature birth. She expressed the view that if Patrick had been on his own on the night of the killing, he “might have killed himself.” Another consultant psychiatrist, Dr Paul O’Connell agreed with Dr Van Velsen’s conclusions. “I think that depersonalisation disorder nearly

entirely captures the symptoms,” he SrHLOe

However, Dr Harry Kennedy told the trial he believed the accused suf- fered from a “severe alcohol prob- lem.” He said that on the day of the killing, he was overcome with “pro- found feelings of shame and embar- rassment” as a result of a drunken episode the previous Saturday night.

Dr Kennedy said he did not find any evidence of a “depersonalisation disorder” or epilepsy, as had been described by the other medical ex- ea Re

A QUARTER of a century is a long time to spend in any job but, for Some, it can be more of a vocation than an occupation.

The service of north Clare bus driver PJ Vaughan was celebrated in the Pery Hotel in Limerick last week as he was presented with a special award to mark his dedication over the last 25 years at the Clare, Tipper- ary and Limerick Part-Time School Bus Drivers Awards.

PJ was presented with a watch for his long-time service award by Des

Tallon, manager of human resources at Broadstone, along with Miriam Flynn, regional manager and Rory Moylan, chief clerk of the School Transport Office in Limerick.

A special award in recognition of his service was given to PJ, who had completed 25 years’ service as a Clea oe

PJ was first appointed as school bus driver in 1981.

He began by covering the Lisdoon- varna Post Primary Centre until, in 2001, the Ballyvaughan National school was also included on his route.

Nearly 50 students travel with PJ each day, 28 post-primary pupils on the secondary route and 14 pupils on the primary route.

Meanwhile, a number of school bus drivers from Clare were also award- ed safety certificates for their driving records at the ceremony.

In total, 16 of the 23 part-time

school bus drivers in Clare qualified with an excellent safety record. The main objective of the Bus Fireann Safe Driving Awards 1s to highlight and recognise Bus Eireann drivers who have achieved an excel- lent safety record.

Safety and reliability are key issues in delivering a good public transport service and Bus Eireann invests sig- nificantly in the area of driver train- ing, both for regular drivers and school bus drivers.

Safe Driving Awards are presented on an annual basis to drivers who have been accident-free for that par- ticular year.

Each successful driver receives a certificate and an award of €100, in recognition of their safety record.

In addition, drivers who achieve a five-year accident-free record also receive a special badge of honour.

CLARE legend Seamus Clancy has claimed that the county’s football- ers aren’t making the most out of the Paidi O Sé factor and he believes the former Kerry manager took the job TNO Od E:Duomr:| mBeCoMAYanO)a tom ADS ELoe

Speaking to a Sunday newspaper over the weekend, Clare’s only foot-

ball All Star also said a number of Clare footballers are still not pulling their weight.

“It comes down to the players. Some of them are just happy to get on the team. There’s a serious lack of collective will to succeed in Clare. There are a number of lads who are great and busting a gut for the cause but they’re in the minority.”

He said when he heard O Sé was taking over, he thought the county’s footballers would be “knocking on his door to get into his squad. But that didn’t happen. If I was 25 I’d be bursting my arse to impress Paidi be- cause he’d bring out the best in me and the team. He’s proven that.”

Clancy’s comments come after Clare failed to secure Division 3

football next year by finishing in the bottom half of their league group. Now, Clancy believes that Clare struck for a big-name manager a number of years too early. “Bringing in a man at the top wasn’t the right thing to do. Paidi should have been brought into Clare in five years time when there has been a good develop- ment structure firmly in place. When

you have that and a good team com- ing together the time would have been right for someone like Paidi to get the very best out of them.

‘When I was with Clare I was lucky because there were 25 lads who were willing to do everything for the team. When we went out on the field, we went out together. But you can’t say that about Clare now.”