The Clare People Archive

AMATEUR dramatics are alive and well in Clare, as groups from the county won out at the prestigious West Clare Drama Festival.

The Doonbeg Drama Group won the confined section on their home turf, while Corofin Dramatic Society was equally successful in the hotly contested open section.

As well as winning the overall confined section of the festival, Doonbeg also won three subcategories for its performance of Conor McPherson’s play ‘The Weir’.

Mark May won the best actor accolade for his performance as Jack, while his co-star Ken Blowers was announced as Best Supporting Actor when adjudicator Myles Purcell made his decision known.

The play’s producer Mary J Egan was also honoured on the night.

The Amphitheatre Company from Kilkee also did well at the Doonbeg festival.

The group came third in the confined section for its production ‘Agnes of God’.

Kilkee’s Emer Gleeson also won the best category award for her portrayal of Agnes in the play.

Schull Drama Group came second with its production ‘The Birthday Party’ and the group’s Joan Giller won Best Actress for her role as Meg.

As well as winning the open section for ‘The Subject was Roses’, Corofin Dramatic Society also secured the Best Producer award, when John Clancy was declared the Overall Winner.

The group’s Maura Clancy was also named Best Actress for her role as Nettie Cleary, with James Raleigh declared Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Timmy Cleary.

Last year’s All Ireland winners Kilmeen Drama Group came second in the open section for its production of ‘The Weir’.

While Nenagh Players came third in the category with their play ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’, it also succeeded in winning the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress awards.

Kevin Walshe won Best Actor for his Dr Jekyll while talented young actress Jenny Bracken won Best Supporting Actress for Elizabeth Jelkes.

The adjudicator Mr Purcell also awarded Doonbeg for producing the most entertaining play; Helen Aherne from Brideview Drama Group for the best comedy moment; and named Bridget Keaveney from Garrymore Drama Group as the most promising actor. Best Set went to Nenagh Players, as did Best Lighting Effect.

AN EMERGING writer from Shannon was the toast of the Clare diaspora in New York and the families of victims of 9/11 after her play ‘Liberty’s Ladder’ hit the Broadway stage as part of the St Patrick’s festival weekend.

Kelly O’Keeffe and the cast of ‘Liberty’s Ladder’, which includes John Higgins, a brother of the President of Ireland, were honoured at a number of functions after the play was performed in the Stage Left Studio off Broadway and Rory Dolan’s in Yonkers.

The play, which commemorates 9/11 and Ireland’s links with America, was written by 31-year old O’Keeffe 10 years after her own brush with 9/11 – she was on her way for breakfast in the Windows of the World restaurant at the World Trade Centre when the first plane hit plane hit.

“It was a very special moment for the cast as they met family members directly impacted by 9/11 and the loss of so many people,” Kelly told The Clare People . “They were really moved by the play and thanked me and the cast for the moving tribute. Teresa Mullan, the mother of Michael Mullan, presented a memorial patch to us as a token of her appreciation.

“Rosaleen Tallon, sister of Sean Tallon, a firefighter lost in 9/11, invited us for dinner in Yonkers and we used Sean’s Ladder 10 firefighter helmet for the performances in New York. There were people in the audience who had been in America 55 years; others, like Denis Meehan, had travelled 150 miles from upstate New York.

“New York Irish DJ Tony Fallon, members of Clare County Council and the Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes, who have supported the project from the start, paid tribute to all involved and made a moving tribute to family members of those lost in 9/11,” she added.

A LOCAL history group is seeking to kick-start a movement to preserve the memory of some of Ennis’ bestknown people and places.

Members of the Clare Roots Society are appealing for people to share their memories of growing up in Ennis.

Speaking last Thursday at the launch of a new book on the history of Steele’s Terrace, Larry Brennan said the main purpose of the appeal is to try and collect more stories and personal accounts to aid the publication of further books about the history of Ennis.

He told a large crowd in the Old Ground Hotel that, with the exception of some authors such as Sean Spellissy, Ennis has been “badly served” with regards to local history books.

He said, “The purpose is to try and start a movement to get people to put down in writing the history of their areas and more importantly the people of their area.”

During a brief presentation on the history of Ennis, Mr Brennan encouraged people from parts of the town to come forward with their stories. He said the Turnpike is one such area that would be well served by a written history.

He told those in attendance at the launch of

MORE than 4,500 family carers from Clare are “under siege”, according to an advocacy group that is urging them to stand up and be counted.

The county’s dedicated family carers provide more than 99,000 hours of care every week, saving the local social economy more than € 67 million every year, yet this year they faced cuts to their social welfare support.

The Carers Association claim that these carers are under siege as the Government reviews policies, including the Domiciliary Care Allowance.

The Government is currently reviving the National Carers Strategy, put on hold due to budgetary constraints in 2009.

As a result the Carers Association is urging carers across Clare to attend its upcoming ‘Listening to Carers’ forum and have their say.

This forum, being held as part of a number of events around the country, will give family carers the opportunity to tell The Carers Association what they would like included in the National Carers Strategy as well as inform Government policy.

“Given the current crisis faced by family carers in relation to cuts on Domiciliary Care payments, it is now more important than ever that their voices are heard. We are urging carers across Clare to come to our forum and have their say to inform Governmental Policy and the National Carers Strategy” said Catherine Cox, Communications Manager of The Carers Association.

The Carers Association’s ‘Listening to Carers’ forum for carers from Limerick, Clare and Tipperary will be held in Limerick’s South Court Hotel on Monday, March 26 from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm. This will include a presentation from The Carers Association and workshops to get the views of family carers.

“There are an estimated 161,000 family carers in Ireland, providing over three million hours of care per week and saving the state almost four billion euro every year. The Carers Association works towards recognition, empowerment and a better quality of life for Ireland’s family carers,” said Ms Cox.

THE community of Lissycasey is holding a series of fundraisers to support a young local family faced with tragedy.

Louise Earle from Abhain Sleibh, Lissycasey, was left to raise four children under the age of seven following the tragic death of her husband Kevin.

The young mother is also battling breast cancer and dealing with the fall-out of the treatment, as she cares for her little children Caitlin, Thomas, Jack and George.

The local community is now rallying around to help the family as they face a very difficult time.

A committee representing the various community organisations in the Lissycasey parish has been set up to give some financial assistance to the family to help them through the dif- ficult coming months.

The fundraising will begin with a door-to-door envelope collection during the week for anyone who wishes to contribute.

“We understand that the recession has affected everybody but we know from experience that people’s hearts are in the right place and this recent tragedy has certainly touched the hearts of all,” said Linda Eustace, a member of the committee.

“All contributions, however small, would be gratefully accepted,” she added.

Members of the committee began calling to homes in Lissycasey last evening (Monday) and will return by the end of the week to collect the envelopes. The committee will also be organising more fundraisers in the coming weeks.

For more information, contact local county councillor PJ Kelly or Linda Eustace.

CLARE’S new District Court Judge has led the tributes to his former student, Eugene O’Kelly.

Mr O’Kelly, a West Clare solicitor, was last week appointed as a District Court Judge by the Government.

It is expected that Mr O’Kelly will serve in Limerick.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, as news broke of Mr O’Kelly’s appointment, Judge Patrick Durcan paid tribute to his former student.

Judge Durcan, who was a lecturer of Mr O’Kelly at University College Galway, said he had been delighted to learn of the appointment.

Judge Durcan said Mr O’Kelly had been a “brilliant student”. He added that the bench will be “enlivened and enriched by someone of his capacity”. He said the fact that Mr O’Kelly was being assigned to Limerick illustrated the high degree of faith and trust that exists in him.

Mr O’Kelly thanked Judge Durcan for his words. He said he was “honoured and delighted” by the appointment. Speaking at the Ennis office of his law practice on Thursday, Mr O’Kelly said he was “stunned” when he received a phonecall from the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, informing him of his appointment.

He added, “It’s a great honour for me, my family, Kilrush and West Clare.”

The Kilrush native qualified from University College Galway in 1981. He joined the legal practice of Aylmer O’Doherty and worked with him until his retirement in 1990.

After practicing on his own, he took on a partner, Patrick Moylan, five years ago. O’Kelly Moylan Solicitors now has offices in Kilrush and Ennis.

Mr O’Kelly said, “I would not have accepted the post if I thought my clients were going to suffer. I have every confidence that I am leaving the practice in very good hands under the direction of Patrick Moylan.”

Mr O’Kelly has worked on many high-profile cases. He represented Ennis woman Sharon Collins in the ‘hitman for hire’ case. He said, “I will forever be associated with the high-profile cases but the smaller cases will always be as important.”

The 58-year-old lives near Kilkee with his wife Felicity. He is the father of two children. His son Eoghan works with a legal firm in New York, while daughter Aoiffe is an architect in Sydney.

Mr O’Kelly, who has previously spoken out against the closure of rural courthouses, is also a passionate landscape photographer.

He is looking forward to the next stage of his legal career. “I am apprehensive but not nervous knowing that there is an enormous responsibility to the court and the office of the court.”

AN unemployed stonemason was in a “very bad place” and in debt when he was found by gardaí in possession of cannabis, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Eddie Leahy (34), with address at 58 Ardnaculla, Ennistymon, was ordered to engage with the probation and welfare services.

The court heard that the father of four had already pleaded guilty to charges of having cannabis for the purposes of sale or supply.

Garda Stephen Hession of Ennis Garda Station told the court that gardaí stopped a car driven by Leahy at Cloongowna, Kilnamona on De- cember 10 (2010).

He said cannabis was discovered in the car.

The court heard that Leahy was interviewed at Ennis Garda Station.

Garda Hession said that a search of 58 Ardnaculla, Ennistymon, carried out on the same day, uncovered three small bags of cannabis and weighing scales.

He said the estimated total value of the drugs found in both searches was € 2702.

He said Leahy had been “extremely co-operative and at no point did he hinder the investigation”.

Solicitor John Casey said his client; previously “a heavy cannabis user” had worked as stonemason but had been forced to stop because of an accident. He said he had personal debts of around € 50,000 at the time he was stopped by gardaí.

Asked by Mr Casey about his client’s circumstances at the time, Garda Hession said, “He was in a very bad place….You could tell he was a man in a vulnerable position”.

Garda Hession added, “I can say that he broke away from the scene he was in and is not smoking cannabis anymore”.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy ordered the preparation of a report by the probation and welfare services. He remanded the accused on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court in May.

A POPULAR car mechanic, who lost his life in a work place accident, was laid to rest on Friday, after one of the largest funerals Sixmilebridge has ever seen. Jim Millane from Corlea, Sixmilebridge, died from severe injuries he received while he was working on a car at his garage near his home on Tuesday morning last. It is understood that the father of four was working under a car when the vehicle collapsed, trapping him underneath.

His wife Jacqueline called emergency services, but the father of four was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was removed to the MidWestern Regional Hospital Limerick for a post-mortem.

While the 54-year-old was originally from Sixmilebridge, he had lived in the Doora area of Ennis until five years ago. A keen motorcycle and rally enthusiast, he was described locally as a “decent and kind man”.

Hundreds of moaners turned out for his funeral service at St Finnachta’s Church, Sixmilebridge, and up to 50 members of the Banner and West Coast Motorcycle Clubs provided an escort for the funeral cortège.

He was laid to rest in Lemanagh Cemetry, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Mr Millane is survived by his wife Jacqueline, his daughters Dawn, Laura, Caitriona and Joanna and his mother Jo.

NO PAIN. No gain. That was certainly the case for one Ennis schoolboy who was the centre of attention yesterday as he proudly showed off a rugby ball signed by Irish international Ronan O’Gara. The ball was an unexpected souvenir from eight-yearold Oliver Cassidy’s first visit to an Ireland rugby match.

The Clarecastle National School student was with his father David, cousin Damien Reidy and uncle Peter Reidy for Ireland’s victory over Scotland in the Six Nations Championship in Dublin on Saturday.

The group were sitting behind the goals at the Aviva Stadium watching the teams go through their pre-match warm-up when Oliver was struck in the nose by a ball kicked by Irish flyhalf O’Gara. Oliver was brought across the pitch to the medical centre for treatment. His nose was bloodied but not broken.

Afterwards, as Oliver and his family celebrated Ireland’s 18-point victory, they were informed by a match stew ard that Oliver would be receiving the match ball signed by Munster legend O’Gara.

Oliver was presented with the ball after the game. It was signed ‘To Ollie, Best Wishes, Ronan O’Gara’. Dad David said Oliver, who plays for Ennis Rugby Club’s under-9s team, was over the moon with the gift.

“He brought it up to rugby training and soccer training. He brought it into school today to show it off. It was his first International game. He’s been to a few Munster games.”

Oliver’s brush with kicking king O’Gara was even recognised by the visiting Scottish fans as he walked to the medical centre at the Aviva Stadium. Mum Edel explained, “He was walking across the pitch after he was hit and one of the Scottish fans spotted him with the blood on his face. He said to him, ‘Here’s a fiver for being so brave’.”

A sports enthusiast, Oliver plays for Ennis Rugby Club and Ennis Town Soccer Club.

A GERMAN woman who developed a heroin addiction after moving to Ireland has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for drugs offences.

Imposing the sentence at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Aeneas McCarthy described Annette Hausmann (34) as a “dealer in heroin”.

Hausmann, with an address at Clare Villas, Clare Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to having heroin for sale or supply in Ennis on August 12 (2011) and possession of heroin on November 4 (2011).

Insp John Galvin said gardaí carried out a search of the accused’s apartment under warrant last August. He explained that they discovered 36 deals of heroin with an estimated value of € 1,128. He said the accused was also found in possession of heroin during a Garda search of her home in November. Insp Galvin said Hausmann had previous convictions for drugs offences.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said that it appeared that Hausmann had been sharing heroin with serious heroin addicts. She said that on none of the occasions had her client been found with a weighing scales or a tick list.

She added, “My client did not appear to be enriching herself at all from the sale of heroin”.

The court heard that Hausmann had moved to Ennis with a good work ethic and clean of drugs. Ms Godfrey explained that her client appeared to have “acquired a very serious habit in Ireland”. She said Hausmann had made every effort “to rid herself of this pernicious addiction”.

She added, “Her family have become exhausted by her addiction and appear to have distanced themselves from her”.

Ms Godfrey said that in attempting to distance herself from other heroin users, Hausmann had seen her property damaged and suffered offensive graffiti near her home. Judge McCarthy said, “This is a serious matter. This lady is dealing in heroin”.

He imposed two sentences of seven months to be served consecutively. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.