The Clare People Archive

THE Health Service Executive’s fail- ure to replace retired surgeons at En- nis General Hospital has raised fresh concerns over the downgrading of the hospital. ;

Mr Gerry Byrnes and Mr Denis O Ceallaigh, two of the longest serving consultants at the hospital, recently retired from their senior positions at

the Ennis Hospital.

Asked if the HSE plan to replace them with two full-time surgeons or with locum surgeons who will be shared with other hospitals, a spokes- woman said they had been replaced by locum consultants who “work ex- clusively at Ennis General”.

One of the locums is understood to be on a long-term contract and Green Party county councillor Brian

Meaney has expressed unease with the situation given that the HSE has initiated a review of surgical serv- ices.

“It seems we won’t just be battling for A and E but also for surgery. If the hospital cannot retain surgery, it will effectively kill off the A and E, because you won’t have access to all acute facilities,’ he said

Ennis Hospital Development

Committee chairman Ciaran O’Dea said the refusal of the HSE to replace retiring consultants with permanent appointments was further evidence, if any was needed, that the HSE will continue to undermine the future op- erational feasibility of Ennis Hospi- ee

‘Mary Harney’s stated strategy for the hospital is to remove 24-hour A and E status. One would have to wonder if there is a level of suffering or “acceptable losses” which the HSE will tolerate in the apparent drive to reduce services in Ennis to minor in- jury and day care treatment.

“The continuing delays in upgrad- ing the hospital, the recent “Ennis bypass” ambulance protocol, staffing embargos and the failure to replace consultants or provide staff for a CT scanner are all issues that lead one to wonder how many more will suf- fer before the HSE decide that Clare people deserve a properly resourced hospital and health service.

“It is increasingly obvious that a new approach is needed to combat the pressures to centralise services and population.

“It 1s unacceptable to the people of this county that our lives and the lives of our loved ones will be sac- rificed for an ineffective, inefficient unaccountable national body and political system, which seems to dis- regard councillors and TDs alike, as has happened with other issues such as Shannon Airport,’ Mr O’Dea con- cluded.

DESPITE the rain, hail and winds they danced, played and sang in Kil- rush at the weekend as visitors and locals made the most of the Eigse Mrs Crotty.

The public houses and workshops were a place of refuge and entertain- ment, as the crowds forgot one of the wettest Augusts on record with the help of an accordion, tin whistle or bodhran.

The Eigse Mrs Crotty Festival is in its 13th year and the traditional mu- sic festival has grown to incorporate music, singing and dancing work- shops, a Mrs Crotty memorial con- cert, singing sessions, recitals and a vibrant session trail.

The five-day festival would not be possible without the hard work of the local committee and the influence of the talented Mrs Crotty.

Born Elizabeth Markham in 1885 near Cooraclare, Mrs Crotty, was the youngest of the large Markham fam- ily. By the time of her death in 1960

she had become recognised as one of Ireland’s foremost exponents of the concertina

She married Miko Crotty and to- gether they established Crotty’s Pub- lic House in the Square, Kilrush. It was from this House of Music that Elizabeth Crotty’s reputation qul- etly grew. Ciaran MacMathuna’s first excursion to rural Ireland in the 1950’s with RTE’s mobile unit was to record the talented woman for the nb usa bE Toe

Mrs Crotty was described as a gentle and unassuming woman and a natural musician who enjoyed a unique mastery of the concertina.

It was said that people would seek out her company and sit quietly cap- tivated as she played. According to the official website “what she loved most of all was teaching and encour- aging young musicians”.

The spirit of this inspiring woman was well and truly in Kilrush this weekend as young people learnt from talented musicians and singers as part of the many workshops.

THE accumulated losses of Lahi- nch Seaworld have now passed the €500,000 mark after the company’s latest returns show the centre sus- tained a small loss in 2007.

According to the company’s |at- est returns to the Companies Office, Lahinch Seaworld sustained a loss of €10,900 in 2007, a drop on the €16,400 suffered in 2008.

The centre’s accumulated losses now stand at €507,000, however, centre director, Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) remained bullish yesterday over the financial state of the centre and its future prospects with the open- ing of a new gym that is expected to boost revenues.

The accounts also show that there has been a significant upturn in its cash-flow activities, increasing to 99,000 last year from ©22,000 the

previous year.

Cllr Nagle said yesterday, “The centre is doing very well and is being run very efficiently and costs are be- ing constantly monitored.

“There has been a very positive re- sponse to the gym and the new facili- ties will benefit tourists and locals alike.”

As a member of the board who doesn’t receive any fees for their involvement in the centre, Cllr Na-

gle said, “This summer’s miserable weather has shown just how impor- tant Lahinch Seaworld is for Lahinch where families can go and enjoy the facilities available.”

“By remaining open all year round, Lahinch Seaworld is a tremendous asset for the community. For exam- ple, 36 schools use the centre for swimming lessons.”

According to a statement accom- panying the accounts, the strategy of

the company is to actively promote its services and to be competitive.

The accounts show that an increase in turnover to €805,000 compared to €779,000 in 2006.

The accounts also show that the centre has 34 people employed with staff costs last year totalling €415,000 and has a bank loan, which is guaranteed by Clare County Coun- cil. The council this year contributed €60,000 to the centre.

THE rate of suicide in Clare is 12 and a half per cent higher than the national average.

A report by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland found that 13.906 people per 100,000 in the Banner county die by suicide.

The average rate of suicide in the Republic of Ireland is 12.358 accord- ing to the findings.

The all-island report also found that the rate of suicide in the Repub- lic is almost 50 per cent higher than bOmeeom Ceaser

Ireland has also the fifth highest rate of suicide in Europe.

As Clare has the ninth highest sui- cide rate in the Republic, Clare TD Joe Carey (FG) has called for appro- priate levels of funding to be made available to address suicide levels in the county.

“While suicide claims more vic- tims than road deaths each year, the Government provides ten times more funding for road awareness cam- paigns than suicide. The budget al- located is a meagre €3.05m, which is totally inadequate, whereas €40 million is spent annually on road

awareness. The Irish Association of Suicidology believe this figure needs to be increased immediately to €10m. I strongly agree with that assertion,’ he said.

“When we look at the figures, the total number of people who died by suicide in 2006 was 409 – the most recent annual figure – whereas 336 people died on the country’s roads last year. Ireland now has the fifth highest rate of youth suicide in Eu- rope.

“We need to listen to our communi- ty leaders in County Clare, and those at the coal face with voluntary and professional social bodies. We also need to make the finances available in order to develop the work being done on the ground by these people already. Suicide affects every de- mographic type in society, and it is crucial that the reasons why this 1s happening are identified and under- stood, so that society may respond appropriately.

“Undoubtedly, the pressures on young people in Ireland of the 21st century need to be identified and tackled. We can and must do more to ensure the figures released this week do not continue to rise.”

JUST over a year after he parted ways with Clare, Paidi O Sé has emerged as a potential candidate for the Dub- lin management position.

Following Tyrone’s easy defeat of Dublin on Saturday, the management position was vacated by Paul Caffrey and speaking on Monday afternoon, O Sé said he would give the job seri- ous consideration.

“Any player who went back to man- agement, or managed his county team, of course he would give the Dublin job very serious considera- tion, it’s a very attractive job,” he Sr NCGe

“Of course, all managers would look at that and would take it into account. Of course they would. | wouldn’t be on my own in saying that, there are plenty of other people who would as well. Winning an All Ireland seems to be the question eve- rybody’s asking. Whoever the man- ager 1s, you don’t get a quick fix.”

Any potential move to the Dublin position would represent a giant leap from his position in Clare, but O Sé said that a long-term view had to be considered.

“Any manager going into the Dub- lin job would be looking at a mini- mum of two years and a maximum of three years.”

ONCE more, the focus of the county and country’s handballers is firmly set on this year’s big alley competi- tions. As it stands, the 2008 Munster 60×30 Championships have already kicked off and Clare are vying for honours in a number of grades.

The big alley game is the original, traditional form of handball in which Clare tasted so much success down through the years and the recent past has seen a resurgence in big-alley in- terest and playing numbers.

Clare has always had a great tradi- tion in big alley handball, particular- ly the Tuamgraney club, which has produced many All-Ireland winners in the past. Incidentally, Tuamgraney is the only 60×30 alley currently in use in Clare and so is the main cen- tre of handball action for the whole county.

At adult level this year, Clare will be represented at Minor Singles and Doubles (Niall Malone, Diarmaid Nash), Under 21 Singles and Doubles (Cathal Hannon, Shane Hayes), Jun- ior B Singles (Fergal Coughlan) and

Doubles (Fergal Coughlan, Shane Walsh), Junior A Singles (Declan Frawley and Seamus Lawlor) and Doubles (Darragh Kirby/Seamus Lawlor and Declan Frawley/Liam

Frawley), Silver Masters ‘A’ Singles (John Cawley) and Doubles (Mike Kelly, ‘Charlie’ Coughlan) and Dia- mond Masters ‘A’ Doubles (Jimmy Walsh, PJ Counihan). Diarmaid Nash

and Niall Malone kicked off Clare’s 2008 interest with their Minor Sin- gles first round games against Lim- erick opposition but unfortunately were defeated by Seamus O’Carroll

and CJ Fatzpatrick respectively.

The Tuamgraney pair joined forces and faced the same opposition in the Minor Doubles, where the Limerick duo again had the upper hand.

Clare’s next fixtures see Newmar- ket’s Seamus Lawlor (Junior Singles) in action tonight (Tuesday) in Cashel at 8pm against Tipperary opposition while this Thursday, both Cathal Hannon and Shane Hayes travel to Ballyporeen for their respective U- 21 Singles Ist round games against Waterford opposition at 8pm.

Clare will also be well represented this year at adult Ladies level and in the different underage grades (Boys & Girls) and hopes are high that Munster and All-Ireland titles can be won in Saffron and Blue in *O08.

Trials were held in Tuamgraney last week to select juvenile county play- ers at all ages from under 12 to under 17 and Clare’s first games will be at Munster semi-final stage on Septem- ber 5 at a Limerick venue.

will be released on the label this week, but the label has already has a measure of suc- oe It released an EP for Lanzarote based ska band Seven Stars Riot Squad (SSRS) earlier this year which broke into the official Canary Island record charts top 10. Indeed the label was created on the

Spanish island where Meteor Prize winning Gallagher had been play- ing since the break-up of the Revs.

Mr Logue was unavailable for comment yesterday but Gallagher said he was looking forward to the album release.

“T was playing a few gigs in pubs out there when I met Alan. He came up to me after a gig and asked about the original songs. We ended up chatting for ages about it and he said he’d like to get involved in some way, said Gallagher.

“It was as simple as that really. I found myself there six months later as the co-owner of a small indie record label about to release my own album.

“T think it’s very much a team project. I obviously value Alan’s Opinion – he was the one who gave me that lift in confidence after the

Revs by saying that he wanted to get involved in my music, which nobody had said to me in awhile.”

The former Revs front man plays the Burren College of Art in Bal- lyvaughan this Thursday as part of the album launch tour. Despite it be- ing early days for the label there has already been discussion of releasing old atosmr-lolebeehe

“I respect him a lot. He told me that he didn’t know anything about chords but he really liked the songs. So it was great to get that kind of perspective from him. The great thing is that he knows that if the musicians are happy creatively then everything ticks away nicely,” con- tinued Rory.

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CLARE County Council is set to refuse planning permission for a €50 million retail park adjacent to the Ennis by-pass.

With a formal decision due later today, a council source has indicated that the application by Galway devel- oper, Stephen Harris for a retail park at Skehanagh, Clarecastle is about to be turned down.

Mr Harris has encountered major hurdles in the planning process over the past two years after €18 million was paid to Clarecastle man, JJ Mc- Cabe for the 48 acre commercially zoned site.

Only last week, it emerged that the Department of the Environment made a late intervention to reject the plan because of nature conservation concerns. This related to the fate of the protected butterfly, the Marsh Fritillary which has disappeared from the site due to grazing and

flooding.

The expected refusal will come as a surprise as an independent report commissioned by the council con- cluded that the Harris site at Ske- hanagh, Clarecastle was better po- sitioned to secure planning ahead of a proposal by Ennis developers Sean Dy piler Wem Com Oeiioeevie

However, the local planning land- scape deteriorated in the meantime with a subsequent council report de- claring portion of the Harris site as being at risk to flooding.

It is not known how this has fac- tored into the final decision, but it seems certain to have featured in the planners deliberations as the Depart- ment of the Environment also flagged it as an issue.

The local authorities in the Ennis area have also rejected any future residential or commercial develop- ment pending the commissioning of anew €75 million sewage treatment plant which is not expected to be in

place until 2012.

Ennis Town Council has recently refused developments as small as 26 units and a €50 million retail park 1s expected to be a much bigger burden on the local infrastructure.

Plans for the 48 acre site included a retail warehouse park, motor sales village, Travelodge hotel, drive-thru restaurants, storage and distribution, and a petrol station. The develop- ment was to provide over 30,000 m2 commercial floorspace

Planning was only being sought for the retail park in the south-east quad- rant of the site but the council had already expressed serious concerns over the proposal.

EXPERIENCE and sheer determi- nation won out in the final of the Eu- ropean Seniors’ Team Championship at Shannon Golf Club on Saturday as Ireland won back to back titles against a Scotland team that were simply overwhelmed by the strength of their Irish counterparts by 4 1/2 matches to a 1/2.

It was Portmarnock’s Adrian Mor- row (pictured right), the current Irish and European Seniors Champion that shot out of the blocks first and by the turn had a three hole advantage over Scotland’s Derek Murphy. The

match ended on the 16th with a win for the towering Dubliner, 3 and 2.

Former Walker Cup player Arthur Pierse made short work of John Fraser. The Tipperary man was four holes to the good after nine and closed out the rather one sided match on the 16th, also by a 3 and 2 mar- gin. There were wins too for Liam MacNamara from Woodbrook who saw off Robert Stewart convincingly while John Carroll and Hugh Smyth enjoyed a comfortable win against Gordon MacDonald and Alexander wabuter

Killeen’s Maurice Kelly was in to- tal control of his match against the

four time Walker Cup star, and Cap- tain of the Scottish side, Ian Hutch- eon but was called in off the course to halve the match.

Team captain, Tommie Basquille was thrilled with the win and paid tribute to his team during his victory speech. “The lads were brilliant all week, and while we suffered a scare in the semis against the Germans, the team really concentrated and played superb golf in winning the title again. J am immensely proud of them for all their hard work and commitment.”

Ireland will go in search of three in a row next year at Ascona in Swit- zerland.

A GREAT Gael passed to his eternal reward in Ennis over the weekend. His name was Paddy O’Hara, whose remains were removed from St Joseph’s Church in Ennis for burial in Belfast. O’Hara played both hurl- ing and football for Antrim in the 1940s and ‘50s, while he moved to live in Ennis a number of years ago.

Among those who attended the removal of his remains were Down football legend Sean O’ Neill and Jim Corr, the former Antrim goalkeeper. O’Hara was a member of the An- trim team that won the 1946 Ulster Football championship, while off the field he gave distinguished service across the province, managing Six of the nine Ulster counties, as well as steering Queen’s University to

their first ever Sigerson Cup success in 1958. He was still team trainer- manager when Queen’s regained the Cup in 1964. He withdrew from his post with Queen’s in 1970 because of business commitments and became well known as a commentator on Gaelic Games on both the BBC and RTE.

O’Hara also won a GAA McNamee Hall of Fame Award in 1990 and was a member of the GAA AII Stars se- lector panel for a number of years. A minute’s silence was observed for O’Hara before Saturday’s All-Ire- land football quarter-final between Tyrone and Dublin in Croke Park.