The Clare People Archive

ENNIS Town Council is to recommend the introduction of a new oneway system to alleviate traffic congestion outside a school in the town.

In January, the council put forward the proposal to solve traffic and “poor parking behaviour at certain times of the day” at CBS Primary School and Rice College.

The council recently introduced railings to prevent motorists parking on footpaths and to provide some protection for young pedestrians outside the schools.

Under proposed amendments to the town’s parking byelaws, the council proposed a new layout for Dr Daly Road between CBS Primary School and St Joseph’s Hospital.

A report on new system is due to be discussed at today’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.

It is understood the council has recommended the introduction of a oneway system running north from New Road to Lifford Road.

It is part of what the council sees as a longer term plan to address traffic issues in the area.

It is understood a number of residents have objected to the proposal.

In a report to the council’s January meeting, Town Clerk Leonard Cleary stated, “this will involve consideration of a one way system of traffic flow along this road and parking at the Fair Green side of the road, rather than outside resident’s gateways/boundary walls.”

He continued, “Local residents on the road would benefit from improved management of parking outside their gateways and receive a resident’s permit, if needed. However, the proposed one way system will require that amendments be made to the traffic management plan.”

Councillor Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) yesterday urged the council to listen to the concerns of residents. “They are the people who will be most affected by it. I think we should be listening to them. I think these issues could be solved by the use of double yellow lines,” he said.

TRIBUTES have been paid to the late Ita O’Shea (nee Ryan) a founder member of the Ennis Musical Society who passed away last week.

Ms O’Shea was born in Queen Street, Clonmel, Tipperary in July 1920. She moved to Clare in 1952 after husband Murt O’Shea, a radio officer, secured work in the county.

The couple married in 1944 and had three children.

A talented musician who played organ and piano, Ms O’Shea was a cofounder of the Ennis Musical Society in 1953. She was heavily involved with the Ennis Friary and Cathedral choirs and was also the organist in the Ennis Cathedral for many years.

In 2000 she was the recipient of the prestigious Benemerenti award in recognition of her decades of service to church and community life in Ennis.

Her husband Murt passed away suddenly in 1989. Ms O’Shea’s sister Maureen lives in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Ms O’Shea was a grandmother to four grandchildren and had one great grandchild.

Ennis Parish administrator, Fr Tom Hogan yesterday described her as a “lovely woman”.

“She was a genuinely lovely woman. She had real gift for communicating with people. She was delighted when she received the award in 2000 and it was thoroughly well merited”.

Ms O’Shea lived at Dún Mhuire, Clon Road Ennis but was a resident for the last three years of her life at Cahercalla Community Hospital.

In a statement, the committee and members of Ennis Musical Society said they were “saddened to learn of the recent passing of their President and long time member, Ita O’Shea”.

They added, “Ita – through her love of all things musical – gave tremendous service to the Society and the wider community in Ennis. She was a role model to all members and was held in fondness by all who now mourn her passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sí.”

CLARE’S 11 bathing areas have got the all clear for the summer season.

This is the first time in a number of years that all of Clare’s bathing areas have got top marks from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to the report on Bathing Water Quality each of the areas were deemed to be compliant with manda- tory water quality levels.

Bathing waters were classified into three categories, namely ‘Good’, ‘Sufficient’ and ‘Poor’. The classification system is based on the levels of E. Coli and intestinal enterococci detected in the bathing water during the 2013 bathing season.

All 11 bathing areas around Clare were adjudged to have ‘Good Water Quality’ having complied with EU Guide and Mandatory levels, includ- ing Ballyalla Lake (Ennis) which was deemed to only have ‘Sufficient Water Quality’ in 2012.

The other bathing water areas are White Strand (Milltown Malbay), Ballycuggeran (Lough Derg), Cappa Pier (Kilrush), Bishopsquarter, White Strand (Doonbeg), Kilkee, Spanish Point, Lahinch, Fanore and Mountshannon (Lough Derg).

According to Paul Moroney Senior Engineer, Clare County Council, “In particular, the Council is pleased that Ballyalla Lake had good results in 2013 and it is working to ensure that improved status is maintained this year and for the future.”

Of the 18 Local Authorities who have designated bathing areas, just six, including Clare, achieved ‘good’ water quality status for all of their identified bathing waters.

Dr Matthew Crowe, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Assessment, said, “Irish bathing waters continue to be among the best in northern Europe. By contrast to the 2012 bathing season, the warm dry conditions last year meant that many waters returned to their normal good quality. Our projections show that almost 90 per cent of Ireland’s designated bathing waters should meet the new ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ water quality standards which will come into force from this year.”

CLARE will need to provide a thousand new homes over the next four years but there will be no need to build any new houses in Killaloe, Kilkee and Kilrush according to a national report issued by the Housing Agency.

Over the next four years it is projected that the Ennis area will need 534 new houses, Shannon 290, Sixmilebridge 139, Newmarket 55 and Ardnacrusha 44. The number for the other specified towns in the report, Killaloe, Kilrush and Kilkee is zero.

The report was commissioned nationally to assess future housing needs based on population and economic assumptions, with natural growth and migration also factored into the findings.

The Government advisory body on housing is predicting a rise in population in the Ennis area of 4 per cent over the next four years, (rising from 25,326 to 26,360). The report anticipates that the populations of Kilrush and Kilkee will fall slightly by around 1 per cent while Killaloe will actually record a very slight population increase of less than 1 per cent.

Sixmilebridge is expected to record the highest population growth over the coming years – by 2018 the Housing Agency estimates the town will have grown its population by 12 per cent to 2,866.

Shannon is also another town expected to expand considerably over the next few years, the population once again expected to top 10,000. It is currently 9,673. The news that Clare will need over a thousand new houses to be built over the coming four years suggests that the economic recovery is finally underway in the county. Nationally the pick up is centred on the east coast, with the counties of Longford and Leitrim returning a zero number for their entire housing requirements.

URBAN SUPPLEMENTS POPULATION IN

2011 CENSUS PROJECTED POPULATION 2018 MINIMUM HOUSING REQUIREMENT 2014-2018 ARDNACRUSHA (CASTLEBANK) 1,414 1,504 44 ENNIS TOWN AND ENVIRONS 25,360 26,326 534 KILKEE TOWN AND ENVIRONS 1,139 1,101 0 KILLALOE 1,292 1,367 0 KILRUSH AND ITS ENVIRONS 2,695 2,604 0 NEWMARKET ON FERGUS 1,773 1,849 55 SHANNON LEGAL TOWN 9,673 10,071 290 SIXMILEBRIDGE 2,507 2,866 139

CLARE is bracing itself for a marathon count following the local election on May 23, as the largest number of candidates in the country have reg- istered to contest the Ennis electoral area, with 27 people putting their names forward to contest eight seats. A total of 69 candidates declared as the deadline for local election nominations closed. Independent candidates are in the majority in Clare with a total of 19 non-party candidates registered. Fianna Fáil is running the largest number of party political candidates with 18, while Fine Gael will run 16. The Labour Party has nominated five candidates, Sinn Fein just three and new party Fís Nua is to run four candidates. The Anti Austerity Alliance will run two candidates in Shannon. The count will once again take place in Treacy’s West County Hotel.

EIGHT people have appeared in court charged in connection with an unofficial night-time car event in North Clare last month.

The event took place March 7 and March 8 in locations around North Clare.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, seven young males – including one juvenile – and one female appeared on various charges.

Wayne Danaher (19), with an address at Snipe Lodge, Knockagulla, Lisdoonvarna, is charged with participating in the organisation of an unlawful event, which involved a threat to the public peace, safety and good order through the use of high powered vehicles in a public place.

Mr Danaher is also charged with willfully preventing or interrupting the passage of persons or vehicles at Lislorkin North, Liscannor, near the Cliffs of Moher on March 7 and at Doonyvarden, Ballyvaughan, on March 8. Mr Danaher is also charged with having in his possession a false driver’s licence and false ID.

Two others are also charged in connection with organising the event through the use of high-powered vehicles – Declan Sweeney (20) with an address at Doonagore, Doolin, and Jennifer Cannavan (20) with an address at Derrymore, Lahinch. Both are also charged with wilfully preventing or interrupting the passage of persons or vehicles at Doonyvar- den, Ballyvaughan, on March 8.

Shaun Larkin (27) with an address at Inis Carraig, Ennis, faces two separate charges of dangerous driving at Corkscrewhill, Doonyvarden, Ballyvaughan, after 1am on March 8.

Sean Keane (19) with an address Ballyhannon, Quin, is charged with dangerous driving on March 8 at Corkscrewhill, Doonyvarden.

Rory Downes (21) with an address at Clonakilla, Kilmilhil, faces three separate charges of dangerous driving from March 8 at Toomullin, Doolin, Roadford, Doolin, and Gortaclob, Doolin.

Gabriel Week, with an address at Bealcragga, Connolly, is charged with dangerous driving at Corkscrewhill, Doonyvarden, on March 8.

A 17-year-old boy is charged with dangerous driving at Lislorkin North, Liscannor, near the Cliffs of Moher on March 7 and dangerous driving at Doonyvarden, Ballyvaughan, on March 8.

Judge Early remanded the Leaving Cert student on bail to re-appear before court on July 25 on account that he will be sitting his Leaving Cert in June.

In respect of the other seven accused, Judge Early remanded all seven on bail to re-appear before court on June 11 next to hear how all four intend to plead to the various charges.

Judge Early also directed that where the State has video evidence of the alleged offences to make it available to the defence solicitors.

A SPECIALISED drug and alcohol initiative aimed at helping those addicted to drugs and alcohol in the West Clare area is to be officially launched next month.

The multi-agency support service for people affected by substance misuse and their families was set up six months ago as a “trial”.

Since then it has helped 22 people, and the five agencies involved in the programme now plan to extend its reach.

Margaret Nash from Bushy Park, one of the organisations involved in the programme, said the majority of the people seeking help are dealing with polydrug use – an addiction to both drugs and alcohol.

As many families in West Clare are reaching out to the service as individuals with addictions, she explained, adding that the service is open to helping not just addicts but their loved ones.

Ms Nash who has years of experience working with people with addictions said it is impossible to say what it the most prevalent drug in the area.

“To say ‘drug of choice’ is very simplistic. They may have a favourite drug, but any drug will do,” she said.

The new service is a drop-in service at the Clarecare Offices, Toler Street, Kilrush, and is free of charge.

“It is a safe and confidential area in Kilrush to find help,” said Ms Nash.

She added that isolated areas of the West Clare needed this service to be brought closer.

“It is to cover the whole of the south west area.”

The drop-in service is free of charge and is open every Thursday from 12.30pm to 2pm.

As well as Bushy Park, the service is also supported by the Mid West Regional Drugs and Alcohol Task Force, the Community Substance Misuse Team, HSE and Anna Liffey Drug Project.

VISITORS to a Kilrush graveyard have blatantly ignored no dumping signs.

The Mayor of Kilrush has appealed to people to take away their own litter and rubbish from the parish graveyard, as it is not only an eyesore but also a huge cost to the graveyard committee.

People have ironically started to dump old wreaths, flowers and candle holders inside the gate of All Saints Graveyard, directly in a front of a sign that asks people not to dump in the graveyard.

Black bags containing visitors’ rubbish are piled high in front of a sign that says, “Thank you for bringing home discarded wreaths and flowers.”

The mayor, Cllr Paul Moroney (Ind), said the sight is very disturbing to mourners who visit the graves and take such good care of their own family plot.

“Most of the things piled up there are things that can be put in a compost heap. If people brought them home hey may be able to do some good with them,” he said.

“I would appeal to people to take these things home and put them in their own bins. It is quite upsetting for other people visiting family graves,” he added.

The mayor, whose parents were laid to rest in the cemetery in the last six months, said however that the majority of people respect the grounds and do not dump their rubbish inside its gates.

Chairman of the local cemetery committee that cares for the up keep of the town’s third graveyard Tom Prendeville said clearing the rubbish puts added pressure on the committees finances. It costs € 1,500 every year to remove the waste accumulated in the graveyard. This money must come from church gate collections and other fundraisers.

A POLISH man charged following the alleged discovery of cannabis at Spancill Hill earlier this year has been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court.

The charges relate to alleged offences at Kilvoydan, Spancill Hill, on January 21, 2014.

Krzyztof Sobolewski, with a former address at The Island, Kilvoydan Spancill Hill, is charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or sup- ply.

It is alleged the accused had cannabis for sale or supply at a time when the market value of the controlled drugs amounted to € 13,000 or more.

Mr Sobolewski (37) is also charged with unlicensed cultivation of cannabis.

The book of evidence was served on the accused at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Pubic Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to the accused being returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on April 29.

Defence solicitor John Casey told the court a Polish translator would be required in the Circuit Court. Mr Casey also applied for the book of evidence to be translated into Polish.

His application was granted by Judge William Early.

Judge Early also approved a legal aid application going forward for Mr Casey, junior counsel and senior counsel, in view of the seriousness of the charge. Judge Early delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial.

THREE teenagers charged in connection with the robbery of money from two men in the grounds of a school in Ennis last year are due to appear before the Circuit Criminal Court today.

Evan Toomey (18), with an address at Oak Park, Ennis; Shane McCarthy (18), with and address at Shalee Drive, Ennis; and Jordan Whelan (18), with an address at Dun na hInse, Ennis, are charged with robbery at the Colaiste Muire school at Harmony, Ennis on December 21, 2013. The charges relate to the robbery of money from two men.

Mr McCarthy and Mr Whelan are charged with the robbery of money from Alan Markham – a member of Clare’s All-Ireland winning hurling panel in 1997. Mr Whelan is further charged with assault causing harm to a man at Abbey Street.

Mr Toomey is charged with the robbery of € 100 from another man, Sean Hogan.

Books of evidence were served on all three accused at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the Director of Public Prosecu- tions (DPP) had consented to the accused being sent forward for trial to the next sittings of the Circuit Criminal Court in Ennis on April 29. Mr McCarthy was sent forward on bail subject to conditions.

Defence solicitor for Mr Toomey, John Casey, told Judge Early he was reserving his position in relation to bail for the time being.

Mr Whelan was remanded on bail as set. Judge William Early approved legal aid for the men’s solicitors and a junior counsel in respect of each accused. He delivered the alibi warning and made orders returning all three men for trial.