The Clare People Archive

CLARE is the only county in Munster without State-sponsored third level education, but it hasn’t stopped more people than ever before in the county embracing the education system.

That’s just one of the findings to emerge from the latest bulletin report of the 2011 National Census of Population released by the Central Statistics Office in the past week.

According to the figures, there are more students in Clare than there are people out of work in a breakdown of the population of the county that are over 15 years of age.

The huge surge in the numbers of students over the age of 15 in the county is reflected in a figure of 10,044, a figure which represents a 27.3 per cent jump numbering over 2,100 since the 2006 census results.

This means that the jump in student numbers in Clare is now running ahead of the provincial and national average that stands at 14 per cent and 17 per cent respectively.

However, the census returns have revealed that the county is behind the national average when it comes to the biggest tools of modern education – technology.

All because the numbers able to access much-needed information online is lower than in other parts of the country. Three in five Clare homes have access to broadband, and even this represents a four-fold jump from 2006, it’s still five percent below the national average.

The unemployment figures for the county stand at 9,805, which is lower than the national average, while the figure for those who are classified as ‘looking after the home/family’ is 8,476.

The figures for those working in Clare in April 2011 are 45,606, with the numbers of retired people standing at 12, 530.

Of the working population the healthy state of the agriculture industry in Clare is reflected in the fact that there are 7,499 farmer in Clare – a figure which is broken down between 5,064 men and 2,435 women.

A WEST Clare branch of AIB has been targeted and robbed by an armed robber for the second time in 10 months. During the morning of Friday last, a lone gunman entered the bank’s branch on O’Curry Street, Kilkee, and held up staff. The hooded raider went behind the counter and took an undisclosed amount of cash from registers and the general counter area, before escaping towards the beach. No shots were fired during the robbery and no one was hurt in the inci- dent, but the two members of staff and customers were extremely shocked following the terrifying ordeal. Gardaí in Kilrush are investigating the incident and are appealing for the public’s assistance. A spokesperson for the Gardaí said the robbery took place at approximately 10.55am. “He lifted the counter and produced a firearm and, in a threatening manner, demanded money. He then took a sum of money from the tills and counter area. He left on foot down O’Curry Street, down Pantry Lane and on to Strandline and made good his escape,” he said. It is now hoped that someone will be able to come forward with details as to the thief’s mode of transport. “Did anyone notice this man in Kilkee before or after the robbery or what transport he may have used to come and go from Kilkee? Was he on his own or was he accompanied by others?” Gardaí are trying to ascertain. The brazen thief is described as five foot eight inches tall, with a “long, thin-looking face”. He wore a dark jacket and grey hoodie during the robbery. Anyone with information can contact Gardaí in Kilrush on 065 9080550.

THE first round of patients will be moved from Ennis General Hospital to its new on-campus, 50-bed unit from next week.

However, it could be more than two months before the entire unit is up and running.

The HSE had predicted the unit would open before the end of last month, but the timeline was delayed.

“Opening a new unit on a greenfield site is always more straightforward and less complex than on an existing hospital campus. The current work plan envisages transferring patients to the ground floor of the new unit in the week beginning July 9,” said a spokesperson for the HSE.

“Reconfiguration works with regard to the connection between the existing hospital and the new ward block will initially be carried out at first floor level. These are anticipated to commence in late July and take about six weeks to complete,” he said.

Once these works are completed, the transfer of patients to the first floor of the new unit will take place.

Further work is then scheduled to take place between the two buildings at ground floor level.

Equipping and commissioning for the new 50-bed ward block is now reaching its final stages, while unions and management are understood to be in talks about staffing the unit.

The extension will include two new wards with 50 new beds including en-suites, and facilities for CT scanning, operating theatres, endoscope facilities and day surgery.

When all patients are transferred into the unit, it will be the first “Strategy for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland” compliant hospital unit in the country.

Meanwhile, it also emerged in the last week that more than 370 patients are on the hospital’s endoscopy unit waiting list.

It is feared that the waiting list could put in jeopardy plans to have the mid-west’s only Colorectal Screening Programme unit at the hospital.

It is one of the 15 candidate hospitals earmarked for the project, however it must adhere to reduce waiting times to get the green light.

A COUNCILLOR has said he will not pay any proposed water charges until work is carried out to replace all lead pipes and mains in Ennis.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) told yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council that he will refuse to pay the charge until lead pipes are replaced at Connolly Villas.

Clare County Council is aiming to undertake work to replace lead piping at 82 houses in Ennis comprising 64 at Marian Avenue and 18 at Linnane’s Terrace (Carmody St), and Ahearn’s Terrace (Kilrush Road).

Yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council heard that work is due to commence at Ahearn Terrace in Au- gust and work at Linnane’s Terrace and Marian Avenue will proceed after Ahearn Terrace.

The council is responsible for the part of the service pipe from the point of connection to the main as far as the property boundary; the owner or occupier of the premises is responsible for the part from the property boundary into the premises.

The council has no programme for planned replacement of lead service pipes in Ennis, which it estimates would cost well over € 1 million.

However Cllr Neylon told the meeting that residents of Connolly Villas are disappointed that lead replacement works have not taken place there.

He said, “If someone comes to put a water meter in my house, I will refuse them and the people of Connolly Villas will refuse.

Town Engineer Eamon O’Dea said that as the mains at Connolly Villas is made from cast iron; the area did not qualify for the current works programme. Mr O’Dea suggested that a grant system, similar to that offered for home insulation, be offered to homeowners to replace lead pipes and networks. He said it could be done in conjunction with the planned installation of water meters.

A proposal from Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) and Cllr Neylon, stating that the council request that if and when a water meter programme is being planned that it should include replacement of lead watermains and service pipes in the works, was passed at the meeting.

A PROPOSAL to commemorate Irish men who fought in the Vietnam War has provoked disagreement among members of Ennis Town Council.

Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn has urged the council to consider supporting a proposal that would see a memorial installed to mark the “contribution of soldiers of Irish descent who served in the US armed forces during the Vietnam War”.

Cllr Flynn told yesterday’s meeting that a group of Vietnam veterans, who attend the Ennis Trad Festival every year, are willing to fund the memorial.

He said Ennis could tap into the Vietnam veteran tourist market, which he said numbered 1.9 million people.

The meeting heard that 2, 500 Irish people served with the US armed forces in Vietnam, including two men from Lahinch.

Cllr Flynn said that Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the People’s Army of Vietnam, showed strong interest in the 1916 Easter Rising when he worked as a pastry chef in London.

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) said Viet- nam is a “sensitive issue” and that the war had left a terrible legacy of unexploded ordinance. He told the meeting that he had worked with the United Nations in the country. He said the motion needed more debate and called on the council to write to the American ambassador to urge him to request that America sign up to an anti-landmine treaty. Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said the memorial should include those men, including three from Clare, who died in the Korean War.

Remarking that the issue of Vietnam put the council’s earlier discussion on lead piping “into perspective”, Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said he could not support the motion in its current format. He claimed many atrocities had been committed by soldiers who were given “drugs”.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said any memorial would have to be sensitive to both sides of the war. “It takes two people to fight wars,” he added.

Deputy Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) suggested that the memorial honour Irish men who fought in all wars. Town manager Ger Dollard said any memorial should respect all those who fought in wars.

SECURITY arrangements in place for the recent Clare Connections concert in Ennis appeared “heavy handed”, a meeting has heard.

Despite poor weather, the concert, which featured performances by singer Maura O’Connell and the Kilfenora Ceilí Band, drew a large crowd to the Abbey Street car park.

The free music event was organised as part of Love Live Music – a daylong celebration of all forms of music in Ireland through free live music events in cities, towns and villages all over the country. The success of the event could see Ennis receive financial support for a larger concert next year.

Councillors hailed the success of the concert though some voiced concerns over security arrangements.

Councillor Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said he had met two elderly men who were re-directed to other entrances despite having hand-stamps for the event.

He said security at times appeared “heavy handed” and that this was an issue that organisers should address for future events.

He said, there had been “fantastic feedback” from people in Ennis to the event.

Town manager Ger Dollard noted that there had been a short lead in time to the event. He said the fact that the event was “heavily policed and well marshalled” should be viewed positively.

He added, “It does give a platform, in terms of The Gathering in 2013, that we have a track record for an event of that kind.”

Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said music lovers would normally pay up to € 200 to see the calibre of line-up on display at the concert. Cllr Howard said the rain failed to dampen the spirits of those who attended on the night. She said that in light of ongoing attempts to stage Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, the concert showed that Ennis has the capacity to hold family friendly mid-week events.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said the even had attracted national attention.

CLARE’S oldest man passed away peacefully in his home at Illawnbawn in Inagh last week at the ripe old age of 104. John Joe Marrinan passed away in the early hours of last Wednesday morning, June 27, and was laid to rest at Moughna Cemetery on Friday afternoon.

John Joe was born on May 24, 1908, and would have witnessed first-hand the Irish Revolutionary War and the Civil War as a child.

He is survived by five daughters and seven grandchildren, as well as a wide circle of friends and relatives. John Joe’s wife, Treasa Marrinan, passed away eight years ago.

While John Joe was a keen fan of music and dance, his favourite pastime was playing cards and, until very recently, he would make his way to Ennistymon for a regular game of 45.

He was also a very religious man and made a pilgrimage to Knock each year, as well as attending Mass locally on a regular basis.

“He was very active until quite recently. He was up and about every single day until a month or two ago. He was a farmer and his home was his castle, and there was always a great welcome for anyone who went to visit him,” said local priest, Canon Richard Tarpey.

“He was a great family man and each of his five daughters were all very good to him in recent years. He was able to to remain in his own home right up to the very end of his life, which was a great thing for him.

“He was also a very religious man and he attended Mass every week. He also visited Knock once a year and had a lot of time for the Rosary.”

John Joe’s death comes just days after the passing of one of Clare’s other most senior citizens, following the death of West Clare man Timmy Ryan (102), last week.

A Kilmihil native, Timmy stayed fit throughout his entire life and could often be seen walking on the roads around his homeplace or working on the bog in Corgrigg.

Timmy was also a life-long Fine Gael supporter and was one of the local people visited by Taoiseach Enda Kenny (FG) earlier this year.

Timmy was a member of the Kilrush Athletic Club who won the All Ireland Cross Country Championship in 1938.

THE teenage community of Clare, as well as their family and friends, are already busy fundraising for the William Winder Rainbow Foundation.

Among the biggest fundraisers will be the ‘Climb 4 William’. On August 5, friends, family and supporters of the charity will climb Croagh Patrick for the charity.

Sponsorship cards are available from caroline@williamwinderrainb owfoundation.ie.

William’s uncles plan to follow in their nephew’s footsteps up Kilimanjaro to also raise funds for the charity.

Following on from William’s love of music, a teenage disco will be held on Wednesday, July 11, in O’Looney’s Surf Bar, Lahinch. Tickets cost € 10 and are available from Green’s Coffee Shop, Lahinch; Tara at Seaworld; and Catriona at the Ennistymon Fruit Stall.

A talent show and disco will also be held in the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon on August 22 for the foundation, while an indoor beach party will be held in Éire Óg’s clubhouse in Ennis in aid of the William Winder Rainbow Foundation and Cahercalla Youth Green Area Development.

The website, which is a one-stop shop for teen support and counselling, is www.williamwinderrainbowfoundation.ie. The site is currently being completed, but people can also log on to the organisation’s Facebook page for more information.

ON FRIDAY night, June 22, DJ Trevor White played a poignant piece of music as part of the end of the Junior Cert exams celebrations in the Queen’s nightclub, Ennis. The techno soundcloud mix was produced by 15year-old William Winder.

“Most of his friends, who were present in the night club, were celebrating the end of their exams,” said William’s mother, Caroline.

“He use to love going to the Queen’s disco and he had some friends there so it was lovely to see that it is not just our little community that has been affected. It has gone as far as Ennis and beyond.”

And those friends knew that their late fellow student loved music. They also knew him as a good friend, as Facebook pages testify to a young sensitive man, who was ever the counsellor and listener to their teen- age woes. William Winder was a good friend, who didn’t discriminate between genders or age when he offered help and assistance.

“That was a very special trait he had. William could get down and play with the kids. He was the first grandkid. All the kids just loved him. He was also one of us, the adults. We always counted him as one of us and the kids as the kids,” said his proud uncle, Lee Brennan.

“Even on his Facebook page, he was so proud of his little brother Jacob. A lot of 15-year-olds would be embarrassed by their little brother but, no, he loved it,” added Caroline.

A student at Ennistymon Vocational School, William had a lot of interests. He loved soccer, GAA and badminton, according to his parents.

“Unfortunately, with the Junior Cert, he had to cut back a bit. He loved music and DJ mixing. He loved dancing and golf. Golf was probably his biggest passion next to football and his music,” said his Mum.

A Liverpool fan all his young life, he was also a keen public speaker and was proud of his win in the Lahinch Golf Classic with his friends.

His biggest achievement was, however, no small feat, as he took on and climbed Kilimanjaro in aid of Ennis Voices for Autism. He had planned to climb the mountain again.

“He was always up for helping others – always,” said his proud father, Mark.

CAROLNE and Mark Winder are living every parent’s worst nightmare. On June 3, shortly before midnight, their caring and charismatic 15-year-old son William died.

“He took his own life,” explained his heartbroken mother. “It was a moment of madness, that is what they say to us, but that doesn’t give us any answers,” added Dad Mark.

Now his brave parents, despite their harrowing grief, are fighting hard to prevent another family suffering the unbearable heartache and loss they face every day.

The Miltown Malbay couple, supported by their family and William’s many friends, are setting up the William Winder Rainbow Foundation, which will be a one-stop shop for teens in crisis and young people with any worries.

The foundation will provide a safe and confidential counselling service to teenagers, and provide support to families. Through the foundation, Caroline, along with her brother, Lee Brennan, will visit schools and explain to teenagers the impact William’s untimely death had on their lives. A trained counsellor will accompany the family to the schools to provide professional advice to teen- agers and answer any questions.

A wallet card with the details of all the support groups out there, including the William Winder Rainbow Foundation, will also be provided to students.

The foundation will make available a counsellor to any teenager who wants one, and can be arranged in confidence through the website or by calling the foundation.

“We want to make available a counsellor if a child needs one outside of the school environment so there is no one going, ‘Oh look, there’s Mary Jane going in for counselling, what can we tease her about’,” said Ms Winder.

“The counsellor is to be provided to the family also, if needed, to help bridge the gap between the adult population and the teenager,” explained Mr Brennan.

A blog and discussion forum overseen by a trained counsellor is also to be set up.

“William obviously didn’t know there was help out there. I want every other kid to know that, yes, there is help out there,” said Ms Winder.

“It can no longer be a taboo subject. There are kids out there hurting. The thought that William was going through whatever pain he was going through is heartbreaking. No parent should have to go through it. No child should have to go through what they are going through.”

“Me and Mark would be the first to say to parents: You say you know your child, we knew our child insideout. He just had that worry. The only worry we knew of was the exams and we truly believe that, three days before he had to sit his exams, it got too much,” added William’s courageous mother.

“We know children have been taking their lives for quite a while and we hear a lot about road deaths but no one talks about this. This is part of our society. If young people feel they no longer want to be part of our society, what is wrong? This is not just affecting the kids and their families, it is spreading out to the community and society,” added William’s uncle, Lee.

To help the community and teenagers who may need some support, the grieving family are putting the final touches to the William Winder Rainbow Foundation.

“We know our lad and the idea of the Rainbow Foundation…well, William would be in the thick of this,” said his father, Mark. “This is a starting point for something unique, but it is needed.”