The Clare People Archive

THE West Clare town of Kilrush will be central to the national Famine commemoration this year, as it has been selected to host the main event.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan announced yesterday afternoon (Monday) that the maritime town will be the host location for the National Famine Commemoration Day, on a date yet to be announced.

The annual observance in Ireland commemorating the Great Famine has been organised officially by the Government since 2009. The main commemoration event is held in a different place each year, rotating among the four provinces of Ireland.

Events at the main venue usually include lectures, arts events, and visits to places connected to the Famine.

Local events also take place countrywide, while a minute’s silence is encouraged for schools and workplaces.

Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Mairead O’Brien welcomed the news stating, “Kilrush has historically been very closely linked with and was greatly affected by the Great Irish Famine. It is fantastic to see this link being recognised nationally.”

According to John Corry, Kilrush Town Clerk, “It is a huge honour for the town to host this event in the year of the Gathering and I hope that many visitors from near and far will visit our great town during this Commemoration.”

Kilrush is recognised nationally as one of the locations worst affected by starvation, disease and emigration between 1845 and 1852. The famine years brought much hardship to Kilrush. Evictions, fever and chol- era reduced the population of southwest Clare to such an extent that it has never again attained its pre-famine numbers.

Famine author and Clare-based Historian Ciarán Ó Murchadha, who supported Kilrush’s bid to host the event, said, “I can state without any fear of contradiction that although all of Clare suffered grievously, no part of the county endured as much as Kilrush town and Kilrush union, and for such a prolonged period. That being the case, I am delighted to learn that Kilrush will host the next National Famine Commemoration event.”

A NEW face is expected in the council chamber in Kilrush next month with the inclusion of a new town councillor. The Kilrush citizen will take the seat, which has remained vacant since the passing of former mayor of the town, Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF).

At last Thursday’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council, Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) said the Fianna Fáil party would begin the selection process shortly and the new member should be in situ for the next meeting of the council.

“Fianna Fáil will liaise with the family at first and then with the town clerk. The new councillor hopes to be in place at the February meeting,” he said.

Cllr O’Gorman died at home on December 14 following an illness. His passing left a vacant seat on the nine-person town council.

It is now the responsibility of the late councillor’s political party – Fi- anna Fáil – to co-opt someone to fill this seat. It is understood that the party will seek nominations for the position shortly, after consultation with the late councillor’s family.

The local Cumann will be tasked with selecting the candidate for the role, and the Cómhairle Dáil and Fianna Fáil will then ratify that choice. A spokesperson for Fianna Fáil in Kilrush said only, “The position will be filled in due course.”

Whoever is seconded to Cllr O’Gorman’s seat will likely serve one of the shortest ever terms on the 128-year-old council, as it is due to be dissolved during the summer of 2014.

Cllr O’Gorman served the council for more than 18 years, and was first elected in 1994. During his career, he served as mayor on two occasions.

Although he had been ill for a few months, his passing was considered sudden locally and was a shock to his loving family, friends, fellow councillors and constituents.

His colleagues described him as a “political colossus”.

CONCERNS have been expressed that any potential sale of semi-state companies could see responsibility for water services in Clare transferred to Shanghai. The comment was made yesterday by Fianna Fáil councillor PJ Kelly at the January meeting of Clare County Council.

Members were discussing a report on the eventual transfer of water services from local authorities to a new body, Irish Water.

Irish Water will be a subsidiary of Bórd Gáis, with reports indicating that the semi-state could be sold off.

Cllr Kelly told the meeting that Chinese investors have been linked with the purchase of Bord Gáis. Cllr Kelly said, “Will Clare water services be run from Shanghai? This is a serious question that needs to be asked.”

County Manager Tom Coughlan said that the government had given a commitment that Irish Water would remain in public ownership.

It is anticipated that Irish Water will take responsibility for all water service by 2017 with billing of customers set to commence in the first quarter on 2014.

Councillors expressed concerns over the transfer of services to Irish Water.

Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) claimed Irish Water will have a “dismal future” and questioned what the effect will be on staff working in the council’s water services division.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) asked if meters installed in new housing estates will be accepted by Irish Water or will new facilities have to be installed.

Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) said it was a “shambles” that no Clare representative is on the steering committee. Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said that an extraction levy should be imposed if Irish Water make a decision to extract water from the River Shannon for use in industries in the the East of the country.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) asked if the council would have to vote on transferring ownership of its water infrastructure to Irish Water.

He said, “It would be a step too far that councillors will give the nod to the transfer of substantial assets.”

Mr Coughlan said he is very aware of the concerns of staff and has met with all workers in the water services division over the past three weeks.

He said staffing would be an issued resolved at a national level between Irish Water and the trade unions.

He said it was his understanding that the council’s water infrastructure would be transferred to Irish Water. He said a vote may not be required if primary legislation is enacted that allows for the automatic transfer of assets.

Mr Coughlan said that while there had been no specific discussions of a mooted Shannon extraction scheme, every issue regarding water management is on the table.

Councillors requested that the Minister for the Environment allow for local representatives to be nominated to the Irish Water steering committee.

A PROPOSAL to provide an annual award for budding scientists and a scholarship for postgraduates was declined at last night’s (Monday) meeting of Clare County Council. Instead it was agreed that the proposal be sent to Clare VEC and the two local universities for their considerations.

The three councillors that suggested the annual award of € 1,000 “to acknowledge creative proposals from Young Scientists” at Secondary School level and a € 3,000 scholarship, for postgraduate research into a previously undeveloped resource “which could lead to substantial employment within the county”, expressed their disappointment with the move.

Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) said it was no “wonder people were despondent with politics” given the answer from the council executive. He added, “We have to show faith and hope in our young people.”

Cllr Tom McNamara (FF) was equally disappointed that the council did not come on board with the idea.

Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG), however, was willing to support Director of Services Ger Dollard’s suggestion that the idea be forwarded to other state bodies due to financial constraints.

Cllr Keating also proposed the issue be included in the 2014 budget.

Mr Dollard told the council members that the BT Young Scientists already played a role in encouraging scientific projects among second level students in the county.

“This offers an opportunity to secondary school students to progress creative ideas within a well established framework and structure,” he said. “It should be pointed out that no provision has been made for such schemes in the budget for 2013. It is suggested that the motion should be referred to the VEC in regard to secondary school involvement and to UL and NUIG with regard to third level input. These bodies have the appropriate expertise to progress any such scheme,” added the council official.

The council body agreed with Mr Dollard’s alternative proposal.

THERE was good news yesterday for residents of one of the areas in Ennis worst hit by floods three years ago.

Ennis Town Council yesterday signed a contract with Ward & Burke Construction Ltd for flood relief works to be carried out in the Watery Road / Elm Park area of the town.

The need for flood alleviation works to be carried out at Watery Road, Elm Park and Oakwood Drive was identified in the Ennis Main Drain- age & Flood Study Preliminary Report. The area experienced serious flooding in November 2009.

Dozens of famillies living in two local authority housing estates in Ennis – Oakwood Drive and Watery Road – were rescued from their homes by members of the army and civil defence when heavy floods struck the area in November 2009.

The € 307,000 (approx) project is being financed primarily by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme, with additional funding coming from Clare Local Authorities. Work on the project is scheduled to commence at the end of January, subject to river levels.

Welcoming the contract signing, the Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine, stated;

“I would like to compliment Clare Local Authorities for their ongoing efforts to improve flood defences throughout Ennis, particularly in those areas that were badly affected by severe flooding in late 2009. I look forward to these works being completed which will be very much welcomed by the residents of Watery Road, Oakwood Drive and Elm Park.”

Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, Ennis Town Council, explained that the contract between the Council and Ward & Burke Construction Ltd involves the construction of 400 metres of new river embankment and a pump station.

“There will be minimal disruption to vehicular traffic during the construction period as the works will be carried out on lands adjacent to the Rover Fergus. It is anticipated that work will commence at the end of this month, subject to river levels,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr O’Dea confirmed that the OPW is expected to announce the awarding of a contract for the River Fergus Lower (Ennis) Drainage Scheme, from Bank Place bridge to Doora bridge, in the coming weeks.

A NORTH Clare man has been sentenced to four months in prison for what a Judge described as a “brutal” and unprovoked attack on the streets of Ennis last year.

John Paul Keating (21) with an address at 45 Rooska, Lisdoonvarna, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a man at O’Connell Street, Ennis on April 8, 2012.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate assault at McGann’s Pub, Doolin on January 8, 2012. In relation to the assault on O’Connell Street, the court heard that the injured party was approached by the accused as he returned to his hotel.

The court heard the parties knew each other in a “peripheral way.”

Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr Keating shouted at the injured party, saying “I know you from Ballyvaughan.” He said the accused followed the injured party, pulled him by the shirt and punched him in the face three times.

Medical reports handed into the court showed that the victim suffered significant damage to his mouth.

The court heard that the man had been left with dental bills of almost € 2000.

The man also required stitches to his ear and nose.

Insp Kennedy said Mr Keating has no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had been “terribly drunk” on the night in question and had no memory of what happened. She said Mr Keating had taken steps to deal with his drinking.

She said her client apologises unreservedly. Ms Godfrey urged the court not to impose a custodial sentence.

Judge Patrick Durcan said an innocent man had been the victim of a “brutal attack” and had been “vi- ciously assaulted.”

He said Mr Keating’s behaviour on the night was of a “most appalling nature.”

He said the fact that Mr Keating was “filled with booze” and had no memory of the assault “compounds the incident.”

He said no effort had been made to pay compensation to the injured party. Judge Durcan imposed a fourmonth prison sentence. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Mr Keating also pleaded guilty to head butting a man in McGann’s pub in Doolin on January 8, 2012. The court heard that Mr Keating had assaulted a man after being involved in a heated argument with a woman.

Judge Durcan said it was appalling that a citizen in a public place should be subjected to an unprovoked assault. He fined Mr Keating € 250 and barred him from entering McGann’s pub for 12 months. A BOOK of evidence has been served on a West Clare man charged with an assault in Lahinch 13 months ago. Paul Matthews (21), with an address at Mullagh Road, Miltown Malbay, is charged with assault causing harm at the Claremont Hotel, Main Street, Lahinch on December 12 (2011). The case came before Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Garda Irene O’Flynn gave evidence of having served the book of evidence on the solicitor of the accused. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for Mr Matthews to be returned for trial. Judge Durcan delivered the alibi warning. Mr Matthews was remanded on bail to appear at the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on February 12.

AN Indian engineer who stole a life jacket from an airplane potentially placed a passenger in “great danger”, a court has heard. Rohit Sharma (37), with an address at 7 Oakington Close, Sunbury on Thames, Surrey, England Twi, 65AI, pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday to the theft of a life jacket worth € 50 from an Aer Lingus flight on January 8.

The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case. Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction. The court heard Mr Sharma stayed overnight in the Bunratty Castle Hotel and had been in Clare on a business trip. Inspector Tom Kennedy said that staff at Shannon Airport discovered the life jacket in Mr Sharma’s luggage when he passed through a security screening point as he attempted to board his return flight.

Insp Kennedy said, “This is no ordinary matter. I’ve never come across anything like this.”

He said that Aer Lingus were tak- ing a “very serious view” of the offence. The court heard Mr Sharma is an Indian man who is traveling on a British passport.

Solicitor Catriona Carmody told the court that her client had taken the life jacket in a “moment of madness” as a gift to his eight-year-old daughter who is taking kayak lessons.

Ms Carmody described her client as a good community man who had cooperated 100% with gardaí.

She added, “He would like to apologise unreservedly to the court, the airline and the gardaí.”

Judge Patrick Durcan said the theft of a “very essential piece of safety equipment from an aircraft that is in constant public use” is a “most serious matter.”

Judge Durcan said the accused had shown“total disregard” for other people.

He added, “He, by his criminality, potentially placed someone in great danger.”

He added that a prison sentence was “foremost in his mind.” Judge Durcan adjourned sentencing for a day to Gort District Court. He fined Mr Sharma € 1000.

TWO men have pleaded guilty to the possession of weapons during a morning dispute at a post office in Ennis earlier this year.

Details of the incident, which occurred at Bank Place, Ennis on June 6, 2012, were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Michael Carr (22), with an address at Rose Cottage, Clarecastle and Martin Faulkner (23), with an address at Rose Cottage, Clarecastle were both charged with offences under the firearms and offensive weapons act.

Mr Carr pleaded guilty to the possession of a golf club intended by him unlawfully to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate a person.. Mr Faulkner pleaded guilty to possession of a timber bat intended by him unlawfully to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate a person.

A third man – Michael Mongans (23), with an address at Clarehill, Clarecastle, also appeared in court in connection with the incident at Bank Place. He is charged with possession of a machete.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the cases.

He explained that the State would allege that all three accused were involved on two sides of a dispute that started after a man went to the post office to pick up a social welfare payment.

The court heard that an assault did not take place at the time. Insp Kennedy said that charges had been brought because it was alleged that Mr Carr and Mr Faulkner had brought the weapons to get involved in the dispute.

Solicitor for Mr Carr and Mr Faulkner, Daragh Hassett, said his clients were pleading guilty to the charges.

All three men were remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 13.

THE community must show that it abhors recent aggravated robberies on the elderly in West Clare by standing up to these thugs and giving the gardaí every assistance.

That is the message from the gardaí in Kilrush, who are appealing again for information from anyone who may have seen something suspicious before, after or during these callous robberies.

The crimes against some of the most vulnerable people in society included an attack on the home of two elderly brothers in Lack West Kilmihil between 2am and 3.25am on Saturday, December 22.

At least two intruders, yielding iron bars, terrorised the elderly occupants and forced them to hand over what is considered to be a sizeable amount of money. The thugs then fled in a car.

On December 8 between 10.30pm and 11.30pm, three individuals broke into the farmhouse of two sisters in their 80s at Bansha, Moyasta and demanded money.

The culprits had their faces covered during the robbery.

Again on December 6, in Boo

lyneaska Kilmaley, an

older person was the

victim of an aggravat

ed robbery in their own

home.

Gardaí continue to

seek assistance in

bringing these culprits

to justice.

“This is a community

issue,” said Superin

tendent Gerry Wall.

“We are looking for

people to come for

ward and show these people the community deplores these attacks on the elderly. Older people are a very important part of our society,” he added. “We are anxious for any information.”

THE ambitious plans to develop a new cultural centre in Kilkishen have received the ringing endorsement of government this week, following confirmation that the project is to be grant aided to the tune of nearly € 400,000.

On Monday, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, gave the green light for the Clare Local Development Company to approve funding of € 386,193 to Kilkishen Development Limited for the new centre.

The money for the new community and cultural centre, that will be located in the old Protestant Church in Kilkishen, has been allocated under the conservation and heritage stand of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

The proposed works are estimated to cost in the region of € 550,000 and, under the plans set out by the development association, are envisaged to take up to three years to complete fully.

The church was acquired by the Kilkisken Development Association in 2011 when after many years they were given the green light by Clare County Council to develop it as a cultural centre for the parish.

The church was built in 1811 and held services right up until 1964, but lay idle for 47 years before development association’s dream of transforming the building into a place of pilgrimage for the arts in East Clare started taking shape with the launch of the Kilkishen Church Restoration Project.

“The new development will provide a supervised social and advice centre for all the community, especially young people and the aged,” a spokesperson for the Kilkishen Development Association, that is chaired by Mike Hogan, revealed.

“The building will act as an information centre with an interactive visual display providing information on the local area including amenities and local history.

“Local heritage artifacts will be on display. It will be a starting point for walking trails and loop walks,” the spokesperson added.

The development, which is set to be completed in 2014, will comprise two different elements – the conservation and restoration of the existing church building and the construction of a new extension.