The Clare People Archive

A MAN allegedly sent a series of “nasty and offensive” text messages to a woman in Ennis, including one that stated she “should pick out a headstone” for herself, a court has heard.

Colm Quigley (39), with an address at 1 Steeles Terrace, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

He is charged with persistently making use of a telecom system by a licensed operator for the purposes of causing, annoyance, inconvenience and needless anxiety to another, contrary to the Postal and Telecommunications Act.

Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by schedule. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that it would be alleged that Mr Quigley sent text messages of an offensive and threatening nature to Carmel Corbett.

He explained that Ms Corbett had rented accommodation to Mr Quigley who had now left. Insp Kennedy said there was some dispute as to whether this was amicable or not.

He told the court that the accused sent eight different text messages to Ms Corbett on October 17 (2011). He continued, “They were all quite nasty and offensive.”

Insp Kennedy said five of the eight text messages would be considered to be of an offensive, threatening and abusive nature.

The court heard that one of the text messages read, “You should pick out a headstone” for yourself.

Insp Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the matter.

Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction of the case. Solicitor Daragh Hassett said he would be writing to the State seeking full disclosure.

Judge Durcan remanded the man on continuing bail to appear at Ennis District Court on May 9.

A PUBLIC meeting to outline the potential dangers of hydraulic fracturing or fracking, will take place in Ennis this Sunday, April 15. The meeting will be addressed by NUI, Galway hydro-geologist Tiernan Henry, who will outline the possible dangers to the environment of West Clare should the Clare Basin be opened up to fracking.

Earlier this year, Clare County Council voted unanimously to amend the county development plan to prohibit fracking in the Clare basin. In practice, however, this decision had little beyond a moral boost for the Clare anti-fracking campaign, as any decision on granting a licence for fracking to take place will be taken by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte (LAB).

“Local government just does not have that power. Anyone who becomes informed of the controversial method of fracking knows it would be a criminal undertaking to let it happen in County Clare and the other areas of the West of Ireland where it is being proposed,” said Clare Fracking Concerned spokesperson, Róisín Ní Gháirbhith.

“It is important that people who are genuinely concerned about the threat of fracking attend this event. We need to keep this issue on our local politicians’ agenda and they need to know that we, the people, do not, under any circumstances, want this in our county or, indeed, Ireland.”

The meeting will be followed by a panel discussion which will be chaired by Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent with The Irish Times .

“We have invited representatives from every sector of society, including farmers, politicians, tourism operators, business people, hoteliers, publicans and geologists, as well as Enegi Oil, the company that is interested in fracking in Clare, to take part in a panel discussion,” continued Sinead.

Enegi Oil has a licence for a 500km2 area known as the Clare Basin, which covers a large part of West Clare, as well as parts of Kerry and Limerick. The company has stated, “The Clare Basin area has great potential” and that it is “a new exciting lead”.

Enegi is currently proceeding with phase two of its exploration process, taking more detailed samples of what it describes as “an organically rich source rock that may contain shale gas”. It can then proceed to apply for a drilling licence.

The Clare Fracking Concerned event will take place at Glór in Ennis on Sunday, April 15, at 7pm.

THE mystery of the Arctic Narwhal, who somehow made his way to the coast of County Clare, looks set to remain a mystery after the remains of the stranded mammal were destroyed last week.

A carcass, believed to be that of a Narwhal, was spotted by a member of the public at Clahane near Liscannor on March 25. The Narwhal, which is easily recognisable because of its single, two-metre-long, ivory tusk, is a cold-loving Arctic mammal and rarely ventures further south than sections of Greenland.

Indeed, had the carcass been confirmed as a Narwhal, it would have been the first documented finding of a Narwhal in Ireland.

On hearing of the carcass, the Kilrush-based Irish Whale and Dolphin Group set about confirming the find, but could not locate the animals carcass.

The Narwhal hunt came to an end last Wednesday, when Clare County Council confirmed that they had removed the animal carcass.

In a statement the local authority confirmed that the partial remains of the decomposing mammal were discovered by a member of the pub- lic on a beach near Liscannor and reported to the Ennistymon Area Office on March 27.

“An investigation was immediately carried out by council officials who determined that the mammal had been in situ for at least several weeks. The mammal was found to be in an advanced state of decomposition and, as a result, the identity of the species could not be determined,” said the statement.

“Due to the serious public health concerns surrounding the presence of a rotting carcass in a public amenity area, Clare County Council engaged the services of an animal disposal contractor, licensed by the Department of Agriculture under EU legislation, to remove the carcass.

“The contractor took the decision to immediately render the carcass, due to its advanced decomposed state.”

The Environment section of Clare County Council also noted that they had not been contacted by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group regarding the matter.

The waters on the Irish Atlantic coast have seen some unusual activity in recent months with a large increase in unexplained whale beachings and the unexplained deaths of a numbers of dolphins.

CLARE’S connection to one of the most well-known English-language poets of the modern era will be celebrated in a new literary weekend which will take place in Ennistymon next month.

The Dylan Thomas Literary Weekend will mark the Welsh poet’s connection to the Falls Hotel, where his wife Caitlin MacNamara was born and raised. Caitlin was the youngest daughter of Francis MacNamara, who transformed Ennistymon House into the Falls Hotel.

The keynote lecture for the threeday festival will be delivered by Dylan Thomas’ biographer and journalist Andrew Lycett, who will join a host of national and international writers and poets at the festival.

Other contributors include John F. Dean, the founder of Poetry Ireland; the co-founder of the Irish Writers Co-operative Fred Johnson; award- winning Welsh essayist and poet Robert Minhinnick; freelance writer and editor Diarmuid Johnson; poet and painter Jo Slade; fiction writer Claire O’Connor; Crusheen-based folklorist and author Eddie Lenihan; and poet Paul O’Mahony.

The festival, which will run from Friday, May 18, to Sunday, May 20, will feature lectures, poetry recitals, a documentary screening and a history tour outlining Ennistymon’s connections to the Welsh literary legend and other poets, including Brian Merriman.

“This literary weekend focuses not only on Dylan Thomas’ inspiring work, but that of his contemporaries and those who continue to be inspired by him. The festival will enable fans of Dylan Thomas to celebrate his connections with Ennistymon, and to learn more about the man who is known the world over for the passion and love of life he infused in his poetry and prose,” said organiser Joanne Clancy of the Falls Hotel and Spa.

“The Dylan Thomas link with the hotel is that the original Ennistymon House was owned by the MacNamara family. Thomas himself did not live in Ennistymon at any stage but his wife Caitlin did. Her father Francis was the person responsible for transforming the manor house into a commercial property, what we know today as the Falls Hotel and Spa.”

Acclaimed as one of the bestknown and important poets of the twentieth century, Thomas’ most popular works include his play for voices ‘Under Milk Wood’ and his poems ‘And Death Shall Have No Dominion’ and ‘Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night’. He died at the age of just 39 in 1953 but his wife Caitlin survived until 1994.

For more information, visit www. fallshotel.ie.

CLARE’S reputation for producing talented young musicians has been further enhanced after two local primary schools were selected for the final of the € 10,000 Walton’s Music in Schools Competition. Both Knockanean National School and Holy Family Senior Primary School in Ennis have been shortlisted alongside four other schools from around Ireland.

Students from both schools will perform at the competition’s final in the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Monday, April 16. The annual Waltons Music for Schools Competition is a national event and a celebration of music in Irish schools. The competition awards a total of € 10,000 worth of vouchers for musical instruments, accessories or technology from Waltons Music, to be divided among six winning primary and post-primary schools, including two first prizes of € 3,000 vouchers.

Both Holy Family and Knockanean had to submit a recording of a piece of music based around the theme of ‘Why Music?’ They will face competition from schools from Tipperary and Cork in the competition final.

Music is alive and well in both schools. In addition to a 120-strong choir and an 80-strong chamber choir, tuition in several instruments and a newly introduced violin-teaching programme, Holy Family Senior Primary School has taken a highly creative approach to developing music in the school. These include a daily listening programme in which children speak through their PA system and announce a featured ‘composer of the week’ and a ‘mobile singing squad’ of children who visit each class to help teach new songs. The school would use the prize to get a range of instruments and replace their keyboard. Their entry is ‘One Small Voice’ from Sesame Street, performed by the 80strong Holy Family Chamber Choir.

Knockanean National School has a vibrant 85-member ‘Music Club’ that takes place once a week. Students participate in the Music Club at no cost, and the only requirement is full attendance of all sessions. Knockanean NS would use the prize to get a digital piano as well as other instruments. Their entry is ‘Unfinished Seasons’, performed by Cnoc An Éin, a 56-strong group of instrumentalists and singers.

To watch videos of both school’s entries log onto www.newschool.ie and follow the links.

A MAN has appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged burglary at a pub in Kilmaley earlier this year.

Jamie Brohan (29), with an address at 142 Hermitage, Ennis, is charged with entering the Kilmaley Inn as a trespasser and committing an arrestable offence, to wit, theft of a Samsung cash register valued at € 1, 200.

Inspector Tom Kennedy outlined details of the alleged offence at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

He told the court that it would be alleged that Mr Brohan committed a burglary at the Kilmaley Inn on Februray 13, taking a cash register that contained € 15.

Insp Kennedy said that it would be further alleged that the accused was then found in possession of the cash register in the Hermitage area of Ennis on February 16.

He said Mr Brohan was subsequently arrested and charged.

He told the court that the cash register was valued at € 1,200. He said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case.

Judge Patrick Durcan said that he was “reluctantly” accepting jurisdiction, noting that “burglary matters are very serious matters.”

Mr Brohan elected to have the case dealt with in the district court. His solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court that he would be writing to the State seeking disclosure. Judge Durcan remanded the accused to appear again at Ennis District Court on April 25.

DETAILS of two new teaching and coordinator appointments in Ennis and Scariff have been announced by Clare Vocational Education Committee (VEC).

John Cooke has been appointed Principal of Ennis Community College.

John is a native of Thurles and a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and is currently Principal of Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara in the Galway Gaelteacht.

John replaces outgoing principal, Matt Power. A spokesperson for Clare VEC thanked Mr Power for his decades of service to education in Clare. “We thank Matt most sincerely for the energy, enthusiasm, commitment and long and dedicated service, not only to Ennis Community College but also as a Senior Manager with County Clare VEC. We wish Matt every contentment and happiness in his retirement.”

Vivienne Hogan has been appointed Deputy Principal Ennis Community College.

Vivienne is a graduate of University of Limerick, currently teaches in Ennis Community College and has acted on two occasions as Duty Principal.

Vivienne replaces outgoing Deputy Principal Angela Mc Namara, who has been appointed Principal in Scariff Community College.

Ms McNamara is replacing Sean Daly as principal of Scariff Community College

Meanwhile, Triona Lynch has been appointed coordinator of the Scariff VTOS Programme and will take up this new role effective from September l, 2012.

Originally from Corrovorrin, Ennis, Ms Lynch now lives in Maurice’s Mills with her husband and family.

A spokesperson explained that the appointment is in line with an agreement with the Department of Education and Skills and Unions in relation to the redeployment of Directors of Traveller Training Centres

Triona replaces the outgoing coordinator, Brian Crossan, who has been appointed Deputy Principal in Scariff Community College.

Mr Crossan replaces retiring deputy principal John O’Donovan. Mr Crossan is a former director of St. Joseph’s Training Centre, Ennis.

A spokesperson for Clare VEC wished both Triona and Brian every success in their new roles.

CONMEN impersonating members of the Gardaí have stolen hundreds of euro from vulnerable pensioners in North Clare after a spate of door-todoor scams over the past two weeks.

Gardaí in Ennistymon have issued a warning to local people after a number of elderly Ennistymon residents, all of whom were living on their own, were taken in by confidence tricksters.

One of the victims, well known 90year-old local publican Nan Aherne, lost € 350 in the scam – € 300 of which she had with her at the time to pay for her home help service.

In a separate incident, a woman in her 80s living on the Ennis Road in Ennistymon, lost € 1,000 to the criminals. Gardaí in Ennistymon are investigating both incidents but would not say as yet whether they believed the two incidents to be connected.

In both cases a man came to the house and claimed to be a plaincloths member of the Gardaí conducting routine house calls.

The man, who showed a form of ID, was invited onto the premises and discussed a number of security issues with the women.

In both cases, the women handed over a sum of money to the conman – who claimed he would take it back to the Ennistymon Garda Station to determine if the money was counterfeit. The money was not returned.

Gardaí in Ennistymon confirmed yesterday that they are not currently carrying out any door-to-door callouts in the Ennistymon area. According to one local resident, the con man who had visited Nan Aherne was very convincing.

CLEARING Shannon’s debt, severing the airport’s links with the Dublin Airport Authority and giving the airport a lead role in the implementation of the Government’s regional development policy hold the key to ensuring a brighter future in the mid west. That’s the Shannon Chamber of Commerce view that was articulated to the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar in Shannon on Friday ahead of a definitive decision on the airport’s future.

Chamber president, Damian Gleeson, in quoting traffic figures that show traffic has dropped 42 per cent form 2008 levels and that there are only an average of 42 commercial daily movements said “we need to see change at Shannon”.

“We need a busy airport capable of generating economic activity in the greater Shannon area and driving outwards to the island as a whole.

“Shannon Airport should be driven by a commercially aware autonomous Board, with international, national, and regional aviation expertise, reporting directly to the Minister for Transport,” he added.

Continuing, Mr Gleeson said it was crucial that the “ proposed autono mous structure comes without debt”, with a clean slate financially paving the way for “harnessing the support of all stakeholders in the Mid-West which would lead to energised thinking and a new impetus for taking the airport in a new direction.

“Balanced regional development is a key part of Government policy. Shannon Airport is a key economic driver for the Mid-West region and should therefore directly fit in with Government policy. With a commercially driven ethos in conjunction with no debt, adequate working capital and an improvement of its cost structure, the airport would eventually become selfsustaining,” Mr Gleeson added.

TRAFFIC at Shannon Airport is now at a 15-year low with figures for 2012 so far showing an alarming loss of 20 per cent for the same period in 2011 – a hemmorhage of that if it continues will see passenger numbers decline to under 1.3m by year’s end.

This alarming decline of passenger traffic at Clare’s international airport was hammered home by Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar on Friday as he warned once more that Shannon is on its way to being overtaken by Knock Airport and relegated to the fourth biggest airport in Ireland.

“The trend at the moment isn’t good,” said Minister Varadkar. “Shannon has less passengers now that it had back in 1997, where in that same period Knock has increased its passengers by 350 per cent. Even though both airports operate in the same country and the same economy, the trend in Shannnon is down while it’s up in Knock.

“Numbers are already down 20 in Shannon on what they were this time last year and Knock is still growing and it is only a matter of time,” Minister Varadkar warned. “The trend in Knock is upwards, so if one trend is upwards and another is downwards, sooner or later they’ll cross. It will happen sooner or later, but that’s not what I want to happen,” he added.

Minister Varadkar rejected the notion that state aid for Knock amounts to positive descrimation for the Mayo airport at Shannon’s expense, pointing to the hefty subvention for Shannon through the DAA.

“Knock does receive exchequer support and Shannon doesn’t,” Minister Varadkar admitted, “but Shannon directly receives support for the DAA group and the financial transfers from the DAA group to Shannon are nearly three times the exchequer’s contribution to Knock,” he added.

“It’s state-owned and Shannon is a huge asset and it’s very important for the region and our objective is to arrest that decline and Shannon a growth for investment and employment again.”