The Clare People Archive

A 19-YEAR-OLD “troubled young man” has been told to pay compensation to the owners of two damaged cars or face jail.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy issued the warning at Ennis District Court on Wednesday at the case of William Casey.

Casey, (19) with an address at O’Briensbridge, pleaded guilty to causing € 700 worth of damage to a car at the Oakwood Arms, Shannon, on May 19, 2011.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing a radio and causing damage to a car at Air Atlanta, Shannon Industrial Estate on June 6, 2011.

Casey also appeared in court charged with committing a series of “drive-offs” at petrol stations in Bunratty and Shannon in March and April last year.

Casey was charged with dishonestly making off without paying for petrol having obtained petrol at Bunratty Station (15/3/11 and 11/4/11) and Topaz Petrol Station, Bothar Mor, Shannon (7/3/11 and 10/4/11).

According to court documents, the total value of the petrol obtained in the four incidents came to € 199. The court heard that Casey had repaid money to both garages in respect of the drive-offs. Solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court that his client is a “troubled young man” who lost both his parents at an early age. He said Casey is now living with two very loyal and loving foster parents. He said his client had committed the offences to earn “kudos” from a group of older, negative influences.

Mr Hassett said the drive-offs had been carried out with no level of sophistication and had been done to impress an older group of people. He told the court that his client is currently taking a number of courses, including stone carving and glass making. He added that Casey had achieved a black belt in Taekwondo and has joined a boxing club in O’Briensbridge. He said his client had started to save money to repay the car owners.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy ordered that Casey pay compensation totaling € 900 arising out of the damage caused to the two cars.

He said, “I’m giving him one month and if he hasn’t paid the full amount, he’s going to prison.”

He remanded Casey on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on March 28 for payment of compensation.

THE priest in one North Clare community last Sunday asked for prayers from the pulpit to protect the local primary school. That is according to Tubber-based county councillor, Michael Kelly (FF), who raised the matter of the threatened closure of a number of rural schools at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council.

While Cllr Kelly declined to identify the school mentioned or the priest who made the appeal, he did confirm that it was a school in the North Clare area.

“I had occasion over the weekend to listen to a parish priest ask the local people of the parish to pray that their school will be left open,” said Cllr Kelly.

“There is no good talking about this years and years down the line when these school are shut and people start coming back to some of these regional areas.”

According to East Clare councillor and school teacher Cathal Crowe (FF), the closure of rural schools will not save any money for the exchequer.

“When a school closes, the school principal of the closed school will continue to be paid a principle’s wage. The same amount of teachers will still have to be employed so the saving will be just be made on the building itself, which will be minimal,” said Cllr Crowe.

“We need our TDs to represent us on this. We don’t need them to be out there putting out soundbites and getting kicked out of the Dáil.”

It was also revealed at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council that at least one West Clare primary school will be remaining open, thanks to the efforts of Rural Resettlement Ireland.

West Clare Councillor Oliver Garry (FG) confirmed that Tullycrine National School has recently gained eight new students from three new families who have moved to the area as a result of the efforts of Rural Resettlement Ireland.

“It is the first thing that people look for when they are moving into an area. If the school is removed, then it is like removing the heart and soul of the community,” said Cllr Garry.

“Thanks to the great work of Jim Connolly and Rural Resettlement Ireland, there has been a major development for Tullycrine National School and three new families coming to the area have secured the future of that school.”

THE Mayor of Clare yesterday hit out at critical comments made by a senior councillor towards the County Manager.

Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) told Cllr James Breen (Ind) that he was “disappointed with your comments on a personal level” after the former Dáil TD had expressed criticism of Tom Coughlan’s work as County Manager.

Mr Coughlan was moved to defend himself against comments made by Cllr Breen at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council.

Mr Coughlan said, “I am doing my job and I am doing it the best I can.”

The comments were sparked by a motion tabled by Cllr Breen seeking a written report from the council containing information on how many contractors were employed by the council in 2011 to do work that was heretofore done by council staff; the entire cost of the contracts; the name, amount and type of works undertaken.

Cllr Breen also asked if this would be a normal feature of council operations in 2012.

Pointing to what he said was a lack of information in the council’s response, Cllr Breen called on the manager to provide a “factual and straight” answer to his queries.

Mr Coughlan said Cllr Breen had requested a great deal of complex information that could not be collected simply by “pressing a button”. He said staff had been removed from “productive” duties to address Cllr Breen’s motion.

Mr Coughlan said that while Cllr Breen is entitled to the information, he had to make the best decision on how to allocate scarce resources.

Mr Coughlan said, “I can’t give it (information) at the moment because I don’t have the staff to deal with Cllr Breen’s enquiries.”

Cllr Breen said he failed to understand how a group of people would be required to collect financial data. “The information should be available to one man at his fingertips,” he said.

Mr Coughlan said 167 people at the council were authorised to deal with contracts and it would be impractical to have one person do the job.

In response to a comment about his work as County Manager, Mr Coughlan said, “I think the way you are treating me at the moment is really unfair.” Cllr Breen said he was entitled to his opinion.

In her reply, Nora Kaye, Acting Director of Service, gave details of surface dressing contracts engaged in by the council’s transportation department.

She explained that in 2011, the council engaged in two separate surface dressing contractors in the Shannon Electoral Area and Killaloe Electoral Area.

Ms Kaye continued, “The total cost of outsourcing this particular body of work was € 78,000 in 2011. In relation to the hiring of contractors for 2012, no decision has yet been taken with regard to same – however, it is likely that due to depleting staff resources, some works will require to be outsourced during 2012.”

Ms Kaye said contractors had been hired to carry out maintenance works in the Environment and Water Services Directorate.

Ms Kaye told the meeting that there was no intention whatsoever to withhold information from elected members.

NONE of Clare’s Government TDs were in attendance last night for an “emergency” meeting of Clare County Council to discuss the proposed transfer of water services from Clare County Council to the new Water Ireland organisation.

Michael McNamara (LAB) and Fine Gael Deputy’s Joe Carey and Pat Breen each sent letters of apology for not attending the meeting. Only Deputy Timmy Dooley (FF) and Senator Martin Conway (FG) attended the meeting, while Senator Tony Mulcahy was en route to the meeting but was forced to turn back because of an urgent family emergency.

The three Government TDs were heavily criticised by some members of Clare County Council, with some members suggesting that the meeting be suspended to accommodate the attendance of the Government TDs.

“This is not good enough. We have an opposition TD and a member of the second house. I commend them for coming today but what are they going to be able to do wfor us? This is a fruitless exercise to continue with this without the Government TDs. I welcome Deputy Dooley and Senator Martin Conway on being here but, in truth, it is not good enough,” said Ennis Green Party Cllr Brian Meaney (GP).

The local authority went ahead with the meeting, despite the absence of the Government TDs but have decided to reconvene a similar meeting before an upcoming council meeting.

Shannon Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) described the move to establish Water Ireland as privitisation by the back door. “This will do nothing to improve the water quality n this county. This is privitisation by any other word and the public will be thrown to the wolves. The best that Clare County Council can hope for out of this is limited agency work and the current staff will be thrown on the scrap heap. I say shame on Fine Gael and Labour,” he said.

Senator Martin Conway (FG) said that it would be “wrong and foolish” to discard the wealth of knowledge that exists within local authorities but Deputy Timmy Dooley (FF) said that the proposal in its current form would cost almost 4,000 jobs.

“I am concerned about the threat to the jobs of thousands of local authority workers. My understanding is that this will affect something like 3,600 workers across the county and, if this project is brought forward using the framework that is currently in place, then these jobs are at risk,” said Deputy Dooley.

THE headquarters of Ennis Town Council has been identified as a possible venue for humanist funeral services.

Green Party councillor Brian Meaney has urged Clare County Council to consider the options available to it in providing a suitable location for a humanist funeral service.

Cllr Meaney tabled a motion on the issue at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council.

In his reply, Ger Dollard, Director of Services, stated, “According to the Humanist Association of Ireland, a non-religious funeral ceremony will generally be held either in a crema torium, the undertakers rooms or at the graveside.”

He continued, “The association has produced an information leaflet which is available on their website www.humanism.ie and also states that there is no reason why such a service could not be held in any other suitable venue. In this regard, the location for the service does not appear to be an issue.”

Cllr Meaney said that while he did not agree with Mr Dollard’s reply, he had not asked for a full and detailed response on the matter.

Cllr Meaney told the meeting that the provision of humanist funeral services will become more frequent as the so-called “more liberal generation” grow older.

“There will be an increased demand for this type of service,” he added.

Cllr Meaney said he had discussed the matter with another fellow member of Ennis Town Council. He said the council’s headquarters at Waterpark House in Drumbiggle could be a suitable site for humanist services. He said the proposal would first require the approval of the Ennis town manager, Ger Dollard.

GREATER efforts must be made to promote Clare to the “untapped market” of US military personnel passing through Shannon Airport.

That’s according to Newmarket on Fergus councillor Pat McMahon who said yesterday that it is “economically criminal” that no dedicated marketing strategy is in place to promote tourist attractions to the thousands of American soldiers that use the airport.

In a motion at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr McMahon (FF) called for Shannon Airport to work more closely with tourism providers to market the banner county to US military personnel.

In his reply, Director of Services Ger Dollard said the Clare Tourism Forum had previously identified the opportunity to market Clare.

He explained, “Some elements have already been identified and these include an agreement for playing Clare ‘Live the Life’ DVD in four key locations around Shannon Airport: public restaurant (1), British Airways Lounge (1) and baggage reclaim area (2).

Mr Dollard stated that the forum is currently updating signage and bill – boards that promote Clare in the airport. He added, “Proposals are being discussed to include brochures and brochure stands in the departures area of the airport that will be filled with information / brochures on County Clare. This would be targeted primarily at military personnel.”

Mr Dollard continued, “It is recognised that a marketing opportunity does exist in terms of time period during which military personnel are located in the departures area. The Clare Tourism Forum will continue to work with Shannon Airport to promote the county in the best manner possible to this target group.”

He said that the council is also working with Shannon Development in relation to the Tourism Information Office, which has been relocated at the airport.

Mr Dollard told yesterday’s council meeting that a lot more could be done to market the Clare in the airport.

Commenting on plans to distribute the Clare Live the Life promotional DVD in the airport, Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) suggested that it be presented in a postcard to military personnel.

He said this would boost the “in timate circulation” of the DVD in homes around America. “We would be hitting a market that we are not hitting,” he added.

ENNIS Chamber and Ennis Development Forum are to host a meeting for businesses and interested parties regarding the proposed Clare Road Development on Monday, February 27, from 6.15pm to 7.15pm in the Old Ground Hotel, O’Connell Street, Ennis. The proposed development for a 70,000ft shopping unit, which was refused planning by Ennis Town Council in January, is being appealed by the developers to An Bord Pleanala.

Organisers say that the purpose of the meeting on Monday evening is to inform the business community and others of the appeal process to An Bord Pleanála which has a closing date of Friday, March 2, for acceptance of submissions. All businesses are encouraged to attend.

Ennis Town Council refused planning permission to Michael Lynch Ltd for the five-hectare development at Clare Road, Tobertascáin.

Michael Lynch Ltd had sought permission for the (1) Demolition of all structures on site including five residential units, office block and all ancillary buildings; (2) Provision of a public plaza fronting on to the Limerick Road including both soft and hard landscaping; (3) A retail development including a food store incorporating customer restaurant and cafe, off licence sales area, dot com area and storage service area; (4) Separate ancillary two-storey retail and office block, a standalone two-storey office block, 610 parking spaces, provision for cycle parking, trolley bays and vehicular access to and from the Tobarteascain Road.

The developers had said the project would create 300 jobs in construction and between 180 and 200 permanent jobs.

However objectors, including town centre businesses, argued that the de- velopment would have a “significantly detrimental effect on town centre retail” and lead to a “decreased viability of the town centre”.

In its decision, the council deemed that the proposal is premature pending the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant at Clareabbey and pending the implementation of the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme.

The council also cited changes in the Planning and Development Act 2010.

THE population of Clare is predicted to swell to almost 150,000 people over the next ten years, with numbers set to continue growing despite the current economic crisis and reports of mass emigration from rural area.

According to the preliminary results of the 2011 census, the population of the county actually grew by 5.3 per cent since the recession began. Population numbers grew from 110,950 in 2006, just before the start of the recession, to 116,885 last year.

According to a new research docu- ment released by the Mid West Regional Authority in Ennistymon last Friday, the population in Clare is projected to reach 131,321 by 2016 and 141,600 by 2022.

If these projections prove to be true the population of Clare will grow to its highest level since before the Famine over the next 10 years.

The Mid West Regional Authority Factfile, which was released at the organisation annual meeting at the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon on Friday, also set out a number of short term regional predictions with North Clare predicted to be a major growth area over the next five years.

According to the report the population of the North Clare area is set to grow by an impressive 14.36 per cent over the next five years with the local population reaching 15,675 by 2016.

West Clare has also been earmarked for major growth with the local population set to expand from 16,736 to 18,836 in 2016 – a growth of more than 12 per cent.

While the number of new people coming to live in Clare continues to more than those leaving the county, the rate of migration has slowed over the last ten years.

Between 2002 and 2006, 4,169 more people came to live in Clare than left the county to live elsewhere. However, according to preliminary figures from the 2011 census, the number of people coming to live in the county was only 986 people more than the number who left the county to live elsewhere in the five years between 2006 and 2011. Despite the overall growth gain in population numbers some part of the county have experienced a dramatic drop in numbers in recent years. In West Clare, the Loop Head Peninsula and the area around Doonbeg suffered a decrease in population as did the a large section of North Clare between Liscannor and Fanore.

MAYOR of Clare Pat Hayes and TV presenter Bláthnaid O’Donoghue have been enrolled as the first Patron and Friend of Clare Youth Service in a new sponsorship scheme that gives parents, young people and businesses an opportunity to support youth services in the county.

Clare Youth Service currently operates 68 projects in 25 locations throughout the county. These include music projects, youth clubs, certified training, information points, youth cafés, justice work and education programmes. Some of this work is under threat in the current economic climate. The organisation has restructured internally in order to address cutbacks and is now asking the wider community to help maintain its core frontline services.

Individuals and companies can become a Patron for a donation of € 50 or become a Friend for € 20. Friends will receive a car sticker whilst Patrons will receive a certificate for their business premises or home in addition to the car sticker.

CYS chairperson Michael Byrne explained, “There have obviously been serious cutbacks in recent years but we are grateful for the continued support from taxpayer sources. We took an early lead in working with staff to cut hours and rationalise structures where possible. This has led to significant savings but we are at the point whereby frontline services will suffer if income is not increased.”

He continued, “Clare Youth Service has been operating for 43 years. As well as the tens of thousands of young people that have been involved, there have been 2,000 volunteers since 1969. 1,200 young students have received an academic qualification leading to jobs or further training since 1982. In 1986, the Youth Information Service started and has since answered 250,000 queries for young people on important topics. Today, there are 68 youth clubs and projects in the county.”

Mayor of Clare Pat Hayes said, “In these times, we need to back our youth as much as possible and especially to support those with a proven track record in working with them. I am proud to back this venture and would encourage as many Clare people and businesses to become a Friend or Patron of the Clare Youth Service.”

TV presenter Bláthnaid O’Donoghue took part in CYS summer camps before making her way in the world of TV and fashion. She has enrolled as a Friend and is enthusiastic in her backing for the venture,

“Clare Youth Service was a part of my formation that I look back on with great fondness. There was fun, leadership opportunities and a safe place for growth and self-expression.”

To enrol as a Friend or Patron of Clare Youth Service, contact 065 6845350 or enrol online at www. clareyouthservice.org

A FATHER of eight stole a spare wheel after taking a car on a test drive in an incident that “made no sense”, a court has heard.

The incident occurred after the man test-drove a Volkswagen Passat from a garage in Ennis last month. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, James Sherlock (43), with an address at 16 Childers Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to stealing a Monte Carlo alloy wheel with a total value of € 420.

Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that Sherlock took a Volkswagen Passat for a test drive from Western Garages, Quin Road, Ennis on Janu- ary 18. The court heard that the accused already owned the same type of car. Insp Kennedy explained that he took the spare wheel from the garage car and replaced it with his own. Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had cooperated with Gardai who found the wheel in the front porch of the house. “He cannot explain why he took it” she added.

Ms Godfrey said her client’s wife died in December 2008 leaving him as the sole carer of eight young children. Ms Godfrey told the court that the theft of the wheel was hard to explain given her client already owned a Passat and the family “weren’t short of a bob”. Judge Aeneas McCarthy fined the accused € 400.