The Clare People Archive

THE race is on to claim a place in Ire- land’s first ever official holy well tour which will be headed up by broad- caster, Donncha O’Dulaing. Clare people are being asked to nominate

their local well to become part of the tour which is raising money for third world charity Bothar.

“T am delighted to be able to lend my support doing what I love best, meeting people, discovering Ireland and all it has to offer. Almost every

part of Ireland has at least one holy well and the well’s water is believed by many to have healing properties,” said O’Dulaing.

“There are over 3000 wells in Ire- land, more than in any other country in the world , so I am encouraging

people to rediscover them and focus on making history present by raising funds for Bothar.”

O’Dulaing will be travelling all over Ireland on a holy well trail and member of the public are invited to get in touch with him by e-mailing failte @rte.ie.

Holy wells exist in most counties of Ireland.

While many of the old wells have fallen into disrepair, interest in the history and heritage associated with these ancient sites has been revived and there are many people now ac- tively attempting to restore them.

All funds raised will go directly to Bothar projects in the develop- ing world. Bothar give people the eift of a-food-and-income producing animal, together with the training & veterinary back-up necessary to look AVACoOMmAOt-Lmr-bOpbeet-0

Each family that receives an ani- mal must promise to ‘pass-on’ the gift of livestock by donating the first female offspring born to their animal to another needy family that 1s also involved in the Bothar programme.

Through this ‘pass-on’ tradition, the gift multiplies and has the power to help an entire community over many years.

Produce from the animals in the form of milk and honey, cheese and eggs can provide a family with a vi- tally important daily source of nu- trition. Any surplus produce can be sold to earn a little money for other foodstuffs, clothing, medicine and necessities.

The greatest dream of most devel- oping world families is to send their children to school to get an education and get a chance to break out of the cycle of poverty – a living gift from Bothar gives each family an oppor- tunity to do just that.

For further information on the holy well trail tune into Donncha’s ‘Fail- te’ Programme on Saturday evening at 10.0.5pm on RTE Radio 1.

FARMERS’ markets all over Clare could soon become subject to new protocols and “a quality assurance scheme to ensure that food and crafts are genuinely produced locally” ac- cording to the Minister for Commu- nity, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Deputy Eamon O Cuiv made the statement at the opening address of the All-Ireland Farmers’ Markets Seco eom srw ate Onom ERIM (oc).e He added that it is important to continue to identify barriers and address issues facing the industry, while complimenting its role in

healthy living.

“In Ireland, agriculture was tradi- tionally a mainstay of the rural econ- omy and food production was at its core,” he said.

“The professional pessimists see only doom and gloom in the fact that farming and rural economies have changed, but I know that we in this room recognise the new opportuni- ties to do things differently with the same quality materials.”

Cuiv complimented the high stand- ards of the farmers’ markets nation- BLO (on

“All of these food products are cre- ated with taste and craft, to provide

a memorable Irish experience. Con- Sumers enjoy the feel-good factor of buying direct from the producers at the market and they return again and again to continue experiencing the super quality and often-cheaper prices of the produce on offer.”

One issue raised at the conference by celebrity chef Darina Allen was the huge success of markets run by local committees in spite of in- consistent treatment of them by au- thorities. For example, signage for a market in Carrick-on-Shannon was funded while in Ennis, organisers were fined for putting up signs.

Suggestions included making ad-

ministration changes to the Casual Traders’ Act while new Minister for Food, Trevor Sargent, vowed to re- move obstacles to the markets.

Ms Allen also said that markets needed a controller and a code of practice so producers are central and food is not brought in from distant areas or sold on under false pretens- oe

According to An Bord Bia, there are five farmers’ markets in Clare at Ennis, Ballyvaughan, Killaloe, Kilrush and Shannon. Minister O SLUT AAT U(CREdarcLemmabbeTeUbeTcam Ke) mm icbu neous markets is available under the CLAR programme in his department.

A KILRUSH man who was found by a judge to have told lies during his trial has been handed a suspended jail term after paying compensation and apologising.

Martin Walsh (49) of Island View, Kilrush, had denied causing almost €4,000 damage to two cars at 22 O’Gorman Street, Kilrush on No- vember 28 2005.

However, he was found guilty by a jury at Ennis Circuit Court last Friday week. The trial judge, Judge Sean O Donnabhain, said the ac- cused had “fabricated a tissue of lies” and he remanded him in custody for a week.

When he reappeared in court last week Walsh apologised for telling Wty

Judge O Donnabhain pointed out, “An offence of criminal damage of

this type wouldn’t merit a custodial sentence. Compensation would be number one to consider, with maybe some sort of binding to the peace or a suspended sentence.”

The judge said to defence barrister Lorcan Connolly: “You are entitled to fight the case. Your man went two steps further. He lied about his whereabouts that night and made up lies about the injured parties.

‘For those two aggravating factors,

I have remanded him in custody for the week,’ added the judge.

Mr Connolly said that his client had paid almost €4,000 compensa- tion to gardai.

‘He did not enjoy the week in pris- on. He now realises he was responsi- ble for the damage and his behaviour was unacceptable and he wishes to proffer his apology to the two wom- en,” said Mr Connolly.

The judge replied, “He didn’t spare

them when he was in the witness box.”

Martin Walsh subsequently ad- dressed the court and apologised for CURD OreMpOONRIOMbUROtcE

“I’m very sorry for misleading the court, telling lies,” he said.

The judge imposed an 18-month jail term, and suspended the balance of the sentence, on condition that he keep the peace for that length of anealee

THE importance of keeping water- ways clear was stressed by a judge when he fined a publican who plead- ed guilty to discharging effluent into waters.

The proprietor of O’Connor’s pub in Doolin, Patrick Sexton, pleaded guilty to one charge arising out of an inspection by Clare County Council on August 11, 2005.

Karen Hayes, from Clare County Council’s Environmental Depart- ment, said she visited O’Connor’s pub as part of routine monitoring.

She told Ennis Circuit Court that she took an effluent sample and analysed it. The results showed that BOD, a measure of the oxygen used by microorganisms to decompose, was six times over the licensed limit, while the level of suspended sol- ids exceeded the legal limit by four

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Counsel for the accused said there was no “deliberate breach on my cli- ent’s behalf.”

Ms Hayes accepted this, saying, ‘He didn’t physically put the effluent in there.”

The court was told that the accused had three previous convictions un- der the same legislation, in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

Ms Hayes said that the prosecution

was mounted in the District Court, where jurisdiction had been declined and costs amounting to more than €2,500 had arisen.

“It is my opinion it could have been dealt with in the District Court,’ said Ms Hayes.

She said that since the proceedings were initiated, Mr Sexton had put in a lot of work to rectify the situation and was now meeting the require- ments.

His counsel said, “Since the date of this offence there have been no fur- ther difficulties.”

Judge Sean O Donnabhain pointed out that this was a fourth conviction.

‘Publicans are like everybody else. Reality sometimes only dawns when it gets caustic. We are all increasing- ly conscious of how important it is to keep waterways clear,” he said while imposing a fine of €2,500. He also ordered that accused pay costs.

A 61-YEAR-OLD man has admitted producing a hatchet in the course of a row in which his son was involved.

James Keane, a father-of-six, of Hermitage, Ennis pleaded guilty to the charge, arising out of an incident at Woodquay, Parnell Street, Ennis, on July 11, 2005.

Keane had denied assaulting David Halligan, causing him harm, on the same night.

He was found not guilty by a jury on that charge at the end of a day-

long trial last Wednesday.

Garda Eric Stafford told Ennis Cir- cuit Court that Keane was standing near the River Walk in Ennis with a hatchet while his son and another man were fighting.

He said that Keane was carrying a handbag which contained a vice grips.

Defence Counsel Lorcan Connolly said his client maintained graves in Ennis, “off his own bat”’.

“Td ask you to consider community service,’ said Mr Connolly.

Judge Sean O Donnabhain said he

accepted the accused had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty.

‘“That’s impressive. He is not likely to re-offend. In the circumstances, he got carried away,” said the judge.

“It’s a one-off, but he did have and hold a hatchet,’ he added and im- posed a fine of €500.

During the trial into the alleged assault, the court was told that Mr Halligan (25) and his girlfriend had stopped to have a cigarette, on their way home from town.

They were approached and Mr Hal- ligan was assaulted. It was alleged by

the State that Mr Halligan was hit on the nose with an implement, which was being carried by the accused.

Mr Halligan told the trial that he “sot a belt of something. I didn’t know what it was at the time”’.

Mr Connolly said his client admit- ted he was present and admitted he SPT Or Dw MAD Otcar- bomb este) (se slo tlm

‘At no stage did he assault you. Any of the blows you got were from An- thony or James Keane Junior,’ said Mr Connolly.

Garda Albert Hardiman said he observed Anthony Keane taking an

implement from his father, the ac- cused, and threw it over his shoulder into the river.

The accused told the trial if he hit a person in the face with a hatchet, “his face wouldn’t be there no more”.

Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan put it to the accused that Mr Halligan was quite sure he was struck by a hatchet. The accused replied, “Not by me. . . I didn’t get involved.”

After deliberating for a short peri- od, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the assault charge.

THE allocation of almost €2 mil- lion for a voluntary housing project in Shannon should further reduce housing waiting lists in the town, according to the mayor.

Last week, funding of €1.85 mil- lion was allocated by the Govern- ment for a ten-unit voluntary hous- ing project at Tullyvarraga Hill.

It comes in the wake of Clare County Council announcing details of a new 60-house development at Cluain Airne last month.

That project will consist of 45 three-bed houses and 15 two-bed dwellings. This project is subject to local approval.

With 165 people waiting for social

housing in Shannon, the council be- lieves the project is critically impor- tant. However, local residents have reservations that the number of 60 is too high, in the area.

The Tullyvarraga scheme is under the auspices of Respond, an organi- sation which rents out the accom- modation to those who are waiting to buy houses.

The project is geared towards those who are attempting to purchase pri- vate houses or who have a desire to buy under the affordable scheme.

The mayor of Shannon, Council- lor Sean McLoughlin (FG) believes there is a need to address the hous- ing waiting lists in Shannon. How- ever he stressed the importance of ensuring green areas are maintained

throughout the town.

‘There is a huge need for housing in Shannon. The existing Respond scheme, at Rineanna View, has been a huge success and there are good community facilities there too. The people there are very happy,” said Cllr McLoughlin.

‘“Hopetully the development at Tul- lyvarraga will start shortly and fin- ished within 12 months,” he added.

Along with these projects, a six- unit scheme, for the aged and elderly, is to come on stream in Ballycasey, while a major private housing devel- opment in the Cronan area – of more than 500 units – will also address the need of potential house buyers.

The mayor believes every effort must be made to tackle the waiting

lists.

“It will just take some time. If the development in Cluain Airne goes ahead, it will take people off the list, within the next year or two,” he Sr HTOR

‘There is a huge amount of people who couldn’t get a house in Shannon, because there were none available. They will be able to move back into the town now, with the new develop- ments coming on street,” he said.

‘There is still a need to keep green space in Shannon. We don’t want overcrowding and we should try to balance everything. I would also like to see amenities going into these developments as well,’ added the mayor.

HUNDREDS of people are expected to converge on Sixmilebridge this weekend for the fifth annual Sum- mer Festival.

Among the highlights of this year’s festival will be performances by Prison Love and Robert Mizzell, who will play on Friday and Satur- day nights respectively.

The activity will kick-off with a balloon race on Friday night. Five hundred balloons will be let go, from near the marquee, which will be erected on the old soccer pitch on

the Shannon Road.

The balloons will travel for miles and some may even fly overseas. Name tags will be attached to each balloon and the owner of the balloon that travels the furthest will get a prize of a Smyth’s toy voucher. Last year, the furthest balloon travelled to Scotland.

Organiser Vicky Ward said the fes- tival will present a variety of events for everybody.

“Sunday will be the family day, with bouncy castles, magicians and face painting, while Saturday will be a mixed bag, with go-kart racing

– with home-made go-karts – and a car boot sale,’ she said.

The go-karts participating in the race must be home-made and will feature a variety of components, in- cluding old wheels, pellets and old pram parts, all in the name of fun!

“It will be fun, seeing 50 children between the ages of eight and 16 fly- ing down the road in carts,” said Ms Ward.

Saturday night’s events will also in- clude a barbecue, while another bar- becue will take place on Sunday.

The Kilfenora Ceili Band will bring the festival to a close, with a

performance at the marquee on Sun- day night.

“Everybody is talking about the festival. We have been going door to door selling the balloons and have got great feedback,” added Ms Ward.

“People will travel here from all over the country,” she said.

The organising committee is in- debted to the local business commu- nity, which will help to finance the event again this year.

Tickets for the concerts are avail- able in advance from The Bridge Complex, phone 061-713666.

THE village of Sixmilebridge liter- ally bent over backwards last week in welcoming a team of Danish gym- nasts for the Irish leg of the recipro- cal exchange with the local commu- nity.

The team, which specialises in rhythmic gymnastics, put on several acrobatic displays and a workshop as well as visiting many of Clare’s most famous attractions.

Joergen Madsen, one of the team leaders with the party of 60 from Haderslav, said that the trip was “a great experience and fun” as always.

“Our group wanted to make spe-

cial contact with another group and Kevin and Dolores O’Loughlin re- sponded over 20 years ago. People have been coming from Denmark since then and we have seen a lot of Ireland. Our two countries like sing- ing and music and performance and everyone loves the visits.”

He added that the young people got the genuine Irish experience staying with host families in Sixmilebri- dge and Kilmurry and had enjoyed events such as a special camogie match, social evenings and tours of the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty and Ailwee Caves.

Even the cold and showery condi- tions had not put a dampener on the

nat oy

‘The weather has not been the best but we had some very good days. They still liked it very much and we will look forward to the Irish visit next year or the year after. We have a big festival every four years and our Irish visitors like this very much,” he Sr nLG

Over 45 members of the Sixmileb- ridge variety group spent nine days in Denmark last year.

The exchange has been going on since 1988 and according to Mr O’Loughlin, a formal twinning ar- rangement could be on the cards for the 21st anniversary next year.

‘Hundreds from the village have

participated over the years and they all learned about new customs and had the challenge of adapting. Peo- ple from the first visit are still friends today. It’s a big voluntary effort lo- cally and Dolores and the committee do a lot of work to organise it.”

He paid tribute to all involved and thanked everyone for helping with the huge fundraising effort to cover 40. ene

FROM humble beginnings in 1951 in Killaloe, the South East Clare Show has grown to be 1n the elite company of the top ten shows in the country.

And while the show didn’t go ahead in Killaloe after 1957, it has run for 17 years now at it’s revival location in Bridgetown.

Details of this year’s show, which will be held on July 22, were re- vealed at the launch last Friday night and it promises to be a great family and community day out.

There will be 24 classes in the horse show event, which is being or- ganised by Caitriona Bourke. This includes five all Ireland qualifiers and the Limerick lady champion 2007 qualifier.

The 27 classes in the cattle sec- tion are in the hands of Conor Hayes while Michael Hayes is looking af- ter the very popular dog show event. This will have 13 classes including the Gain dog food all Ireland cham- pionship qualifier.

A new addition to this year’s show will be the vintage classic cars, ably

steered by Joe English. Mary Spei- ght, Bernie English and Kate McAu- ley are looking after the home indus- tries section.

There will be nine classes for youngsters as well as lots of fun at the Little Miss and Bonny Baby com- petitions as well as a fancy dress.

And there will be music and carni- val fun for everyone to enjoy on the CEMA

And if any excuse was needed to put on the good frock for the day, there will be a prize for the best dressed lady.

Launching the show, chairman Pat Hayes said that the committee “would like to thank the landowners. Without their help, the show couldn’t go on. We would also like to thank all our sponsors, particularly our main sponsor, Tom Marsh.”

THE Tuamgraney Development As- sociation has condemned the lack of progress by Clare County Council in addressing serious problems with water, pathways, road surfaces and safety in the town.

Association PRO, Margaret O’Meara, said that although resi- dents have raised over €91,000 to- wards local improvements the au- thorities have not been as generous in addressing long-term issues.

Council representatives were invit- ed to a public meeting last Tuesday but were unable to attend. Instead, Senior Executive Engineer Sean Lenihan, outlined upcoming work in

“NO molset-n ee

The email advised that a collapsed pipe causing “flooding opposite Has- setts” had been indentified for repair, further footpath repairs are depend- ent on funding and resurfacing and signage improvement will soon SEC a

It added that tenders for a water/ sewerage scheme will be decided later this summer but as it will cover several areas it 1s up to contractors where and when it will start.

He offered to arrange a meeting ata later date and Ms O’Meara acknowIl- edged this but added that phrases such as “in the coming weeks” were too vague.

“The road surface is appalling and

at the meeting we had a slideshow of 64 photographs showing potholes and dangerous footpaths. There is inadequate signage for our one-way system among other things. An au- dit by the national school showed that over 100 heavy goods vehicles pass by it a day and there is no pe- destrian crossing and no proper sig- nage. We’re afraid some child will be killed.”

Businesses have also complained about water pressure, sewerage and minor issues like the irregularity of road sweeping.

She added that there have been “mixed messages” about work and problems have arisen such as a traf- fic island having to be continually

moved- issues that could be avoided if plans were made “in consultation, not in isolation”.

TDA Chairman, Damien Heaney and other voluntary groups are call- ing for less “reassurance” and more action.

“The council have said that coun- cillors will collaborate with us and they are. Some work has also been done but there 1s still no proper time- frame or budget. We feel that there should be a concrete plan. It’s very frustrating because we have devel- oped the memorial park, done land- scaping and put up fences and signs. Everyone is trying to do the best for the village that they love,’ said Ms O’Meara.