The Clare People Archive

BABY book worms were displaying their knowledge of books in Scariff library last week in a hotly contend- ed childrens’ book quiz.

Fourth, fifth and sixth classes from Scariff National School went head to head, answering questions on the whereabouts of Narnia and who lives in Toad Hall.

The event was to mark World Book Week and while most youngsters can answer just about any question relat- ing to computer games these days, the Scariff kids proved they are no

slouches when it comes to reading.

“It was a fun event and the ques- tions related to childrens’ books and movies based on childrens’ books said librarian, Caroline Ahearne.

55 children took part in the quiz and enjoyed other facilities at the li- e-VMCLUDUDOTom As (BMR ISM

The event is just one of the many which have been organised since the new library opened it’s doors in No- vember of last year.

Demand for the library services has been growing at a fantastic rate, particularly among teenagers.

“Our internet use 1s growing all the

time. That is proving very popular among young adults,” said Caroline.

Aside from the obvious borrowing of books, the DVD and CD lending section is also proving very popular, the librarian said.

“Our Wednesday afternoon story- telling sessions are growing all the time. We have more young children at every session,” Caroline added.

The session takes place each Wednesday at 3.30pm and is aimed at three to six year olds.

The new library is housed in the same building as the area council of- fices and has a full, modern range of

facilities and more events being add- ed to the library diary all the time.

“We’re still growing and we’re very pleased with the response we’ve had from our clients. We’re looking at ways to improve the service all the time and we’re happy to hear sugges- tions,” said Caroline.

A BUSINESSMAN in financial cri- sis borrowed money from “criminal elements” and ended up transport- ing more than €3.1 million worth of drugs for the gang – but was caught. Ennis Circuit Court heard yester- day that Thomas Lennon had gone through difficulties in his construc- tion business months before he was caught with the haul, which was one of the biggest seizures ever in Clare. Father-of-five Lennon (36), of Kill- estry, Killaloe, pleaded guilty to pos- session of an assortment of drugs in-

cluding cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis resin, with an aggregate market value of €13,000 or more, at Ross, Killaloe on July 14, 2006.

Lennon was stopped driving a Ford Transit van. The drugs were found in the back of the van contained in a wheelie bin, holdall bag and white Oe

Detective Garda Tom Barber of the Garda National Drugs Unit told the court that the haul included 269 kilos of cannabis resin with a street value of over €1.8 million; 10 k1- los of cocaine, valued at €691,000;: 18 kilos of amphetamine, valued at

€227,000 and 30,000 ecstacy tab- lets, worth €303,000. The accused took responsibility for possession of the drugs but refused to name those involved. Lennon, who had no previ- ous convictions, currently employs 25 people.

His barrister, Michael O’ Higgins, SC, said, “At Christmas 2005, his affairs were in crisis. He was unable to meet his €10,000 wages bill. He had to go outside the banking system to raise funds and got €10,000 from criminal elements,” he said.

He said that Lennon was subse- quently told, ““You owe us money now

and there’s another way by which you can work the money off.

“These are heavy people. When they put you under pressure it is un- pleasant,” he said.

Dt Gda Barber accepted that Len- non’s admissions made the investi- gation easier but said, “there would have been strong evidence anyway.

“Mr Lennon knew the people he was getting involved in. I don’t be- lieve he accrued any profit from this,” said the garda.

Mr O’Higgins said, “While the quantity of the drugs was sky high, there was no question of profit for

avben ee

He said that the court “need not apply” the mandatory minimum sen- tence of 10 years, given the circum- stances in the case.

Judge Carroll Moran said he would not impose sentence until next peeKeyelaee

“This 1s a difficult case. The facts are quite unusual. The offence is ex- tremely serious, as Serious as you can imagine under the Misuse of Drugs Xam

“There have been, on the other hand, extraordinary mitigating cir- cumstances,” he said.

ENNIS is Clare’s first Fair Trade sRedvaen

The county town is leading the way in tackling poverty by supporting the Fairtrade Mark Ireland.

As far back as 1999 Mairead Sheedy, chairperson of the Ennis Fair Trade steering committee, first became involved with Fair Trade produce when her daughter took over Fourth House Fair Trade on Francis Sake e

Since then the Ennis woman has worn down a lot of footwear encour- aging other shops and businesses to

take part in the fair-trade ethos.

It all paid off last October when En- nis was finally named a Fair Trade Oak

The Fair Trade town was launched by Luis Armando Choco a cocoa pro- ducer from Columbia in the Grove in Roslevan.

The Grove is the flag ship business in the town for Fair Trade, with Yum having the accolade as the town’s first every fair trade restaurant, ac- cording to Ms Sheedy.

“Tt is important that people can see it is fair trade in businesses in the town,’ said Ms Sheedy.

“There should be no trade but fair

trade,’ she added.

Ms Sheedy’s next ambition is to make the whole of Clare Fair Trade.

Fair Trade aims to tackle poverty by enabling disadvantaged produc- ers from poor countries to receive a better deal.

As part of a Fair Trade Town the town council passed a resolution sup- porting Fairtrade, and an agreement to serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings, in its offices and can- Koto th

The town could only secure the title when a range of Fairtrade is availa- ble in the town’s shops, and served in local cafes/catering outlets. Catering

outlets should serve 100 per cent Fair ‘Trade Mark coffee.

The Fair Trade Mark products must also be used by a flagship business as well as 12 other local businesses and organisations. This should include schools, churches, large offices and local voluntary groups.

A significant number of schools must also become Fairtrade Schools. The Colaiste Mhuire in Ennis is one such school. Girls from the school are planning to visit other schools to inform them of their work to date.

A special fairtrade sale is held in the Friary in Ennis on the second Sunday of every month.

TOWN Engineer Tom Tiernan has admitted he did not honour his com- mitment to residents of Fergus Park affected by a leaking sewage line.

Speaking at Thursday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council Mr Tiernan said the project to repair and upgrade the system had been allowed to “slip through the cracks”.

He stated that the location of a manhole on privately owned prop- erty had imposed extra difficulty on carrying out the work.

Since March 2001, residents in Fer- gus Park have been plagued annually by sewage leaking into gardens in the area.

Independent councillor Frankie Neylon called for assurances to be given to residents that a solution be found and that upgrade work begin as soon as possible.

He said the delay raised questions about the commitment of the council in dealing with such problems.

He said, “Since March 8, 2001, people in Fergus Park have been dealing with a problem. It was rec-

ognised at the time by the town en- gineer and yet nothing has been done with it. I would be asking the town manager to give an assurance to the people of Fergus Park that the work will be done. Sewage has been com- ing up out of people’s gardens for seven years.

“I’m disappointed that assurances given weren’t lived up to. If that’s the way the council operates then we have to take a look at ourselves. If it takes 12 months to do now, then even that would be short enough.”

Town manager Tom Coughlan said

he had not been made aware that he would have to give assurances and that he didn’t know the full facts of the matter.

Mr Tiernan admitted that he hadn’t followed through on assurances giv- en when the problem first surfaced.

He said “I did give a commitment at the time that I would endeavor to find a solution… I did not honour my commitment. The project slipped thorough the cracks. In cases like this we do endeavor to resolve them as speedily as possible, but these things do happen from time to time.”

SCHOOL management at Ennis CBS Bunscoil, say the cost of using the Fairgreen means the school will have to cut back it’s physical activity joyueycau-beavea en

In a letter to Ennis Town Council, school principal Br Liam de Rdiste, Chairperson of the Board of Manage- ment Michael Gallagher and Chair- person of the Parent’s Association Jim McMahon, state that the charge imposed by the council for using the facility, is creating a serious financial burden on the school.

In 2006 the council approved a new rate paying system of €15 for a two hour slot in Tim Smythe Park, for clubs and sporting organisations, de-

spite calls for a special dispensation to be given to the school.

In the letter, school management express their disappointment that the council is continuing to charge for the use of the Fairgreen and has described the €750 bill the school has received for 100 hours usage as mo eles waste le ian

“We believe in the present climate of financial constraints on schools, that our request for special consider- ation (free usage) to continue to offer a comprehensive sports programme was both reasonable and deserving. We are disappointed that Ennis Town Council seemingly felt otherwise.

“We would humbly request that En- nis Town Council would reconsider its decision or at least assist us in

some way to continue our sporting programme, bearing in mind that we are a non-profit making organisation Surviving on the meagre finances re- ceived from the Department of Edu- cation and Science”.

The letter acknowledges the coun- cil’s ongoing efforts to provide sport- ing and recreational facilities in En- ah

“In an age of computer technology itis crucial that the youth of our town have facilities 1n which they can ac- tively participate in sporting and out- door activities. Ennis Town Council has been to the fore in providing these facilities.”

However, management say that un- der the present financial situation, the school will have to review its sports

programme.

“We would, with modesty, say that we have contributed in no small way to the development of this town and beyond. We have been able to do this because we have had the use of the excellent Fairgreen facility to com- pliment our pitch. However, due to your decision, we will now have to review our monetary constraints”.

Speaking at Thursday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. Mayor Tommy Brennan said that the flat rate system had been introduced in the interests of fairness and all users.

He said “It was a small bit of money and we agreed on it at the time. If it is free for the CBS then it has to be free for every other school, and sports club in Ennis”

WOLFE ‘Tones is the only camogie club in the country to have its own pitch, an achievement the entire club is intensely proud of.

A major project got underway eight years ago, when the shell of a dress- ing room was built. Over the years, major groundwork has been carried out, the dressing rooms have been completed and showers installed.

The final stages are now in full swing and the pitch will be playable

for the first time this year.

In the long-term, plans are afoot for the pitch to be the home of camogie in the county, with county champion- ship finals and interprovincial games to be played there.

The club has 150 juvenile members and 30 senior players on its books and the officers are indebted to the people of Shannon who helped out with the whole project.

To-date €250,000 has been paid and the final parts of the project are on the horizon. These include the pro-

vision of car parking, ballstops, nets and goalposts, all which will come at a cost of more than €50,000.

While money has been granted through the County Camogie Board, Shannon Development and National Lottery funding, the club 1s now call- ing on Shannon Town Council to in- ject capital into the scheme.

Club secretary Carmel Butler said €34,000 is being sought from Shan- non ‘Town Council.

“The official opening will be in August, but in order to achieve this

goal, we need to secure funding for off the road parking, the access road into the pitch and car parking around the dressing rooms,’ said Ms Butler.

“We cannot open the development as the access road is prone to flood- ing in its current condition,” she added.

The club has enjoyed no shortage of success on the field of play over the years – not least at Feile and senior league levels – but need the support of the people of the town to ensure this continues.

A DECISION by the Shannon town manager to recommend funding for a skateboard area in the town has prompted two sports groups to also make submissions.

Ger Dollard told town councillors at a meeting in February that he would recommend the provision of €50,000 towards the project, which will open near the leisure centre.

Over the past few years, money has been set aside for community ini- tiatives. €100,000 had accumulated and he said he would be suggesting that €50,000 of this be considered for the leisure centre.

The Wolfe Tones camogie club and Newtown FC both made submissions for funding, in letters to the town clerk ‘Tomas MacCormaic.

In its letter, Wolfe Tones said it

was applying for €34,000 from the €100,000 fund, towards the develop- ment of a new car park and associ- ated civil works.

In his letter, Brendan Wall of New- town FC applied for €12,000.

“Our facilities in Ballycasey have been vastly underfunded by any grant schemes and despite having spent over €400,000, only approxi- mately €50,000 has been grant aid- ed,” he said.

“The facility currently caters for all age groups from seven years of age to 18 and also facilitates two men’s teams and a women’s team. We cur- rently field seven teams in the under- age bracket for an eight-month play- ing season,” said Mr Wall.

Councillor Gerry Flynn (Ind) pro- posed that a special meeting take place, to decide how the letters should be dealt with.

Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) said it was important to give both applications “courtesy and deal with them prop- erly”.

Labour councillor Tony McMahon said some mechanism should be put in place, to decide how the money was going to be distributed.

Councillor Geraldine Lambert (FF) said the development fund was established several years ago.

“Vd support having a meeting to decide on the terms of reference,” she said. Cllr Sean Hillery (FF) agreed with this.

Mr Dollard said the community fund was set up initially with the aim of contributing to projects for the community.

He said that money was put aside every year and every five years, the town council could contribute to projects.

“Td still fully stand behind that (€50,000 for the skateboard area). A lot has been made from the fact the money is going for the centre. It’s not funding towards the development of the leisure centre. It’s towards a skate park,” he said.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said the leisure centre “has no intention of getting involved in any contro- versy. We put a request in for money. The town council has agreed. The leisure centre is concerned about the amount of damage and ill feeling. The leisure centre is quite content to withdraw the application and let the town council provide a skateboard park.”

A suggestion by Councillor Geral- dine Lambert, that the applications be deferred until a private meeting of councillors at a later stage, was or eu loee

THUGGERY, allied to intimidation, is preventing people going out walk- ing in Shannon at night-time, it has eLoeMO EBEDAee

The suggestions came during a de- bate last week among Shannon town councillors on anti-social behaviour.

A number of the local elected representatives expressed concerns about anti-social behaviour, with one councillor, Sean Hillery, stating that he no longer walks at night, given the intimidation around the town.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy (In- dependent) asked for an update on the implementation of the by-laws on

drinking in public places.

She was told that four people were summoned to-date for breaches of the by-law – three in 2006 and one last year.

“We are all aware about the amount of drinking done in open areas. It is visibly on the increase. Now, more than ever, these by-laws should be called into force,’ said Cllr McCa- ua OWs

“Gardai should use their powers. Certainly the evidence is there to show the by-laws are not used,” she AYO Ce(eren

Councillor Gerry Flynn (Independ- ent) said there were problems in the town and while some of it was due to

alcohol, a lot of it was as a result of “thuggish behaviour”.

“There is something happening in Shannon at the moment and it isn’t good. We need to arrest it, pardon the pun, before it goes any further,” lntemcy-B(e

Fianna Fail councillor Sean Hillery said he no longer walks at night, be- cause he is aware of the “intimidat- ing attitude of some groups”.

“There is a lack of respect for the law. I’ve given up walking at night and I loved walking. You hear so much of this. It’s the attitudes of these groups to the law,” the council- lor said.

Councillor Tony McMahon agreed

that “people are afraid to go walk- rhea

“In a town like Shannon, we shouldn’t have this attitude prevail- ing. If we are going to have thuggery to the extent that we cannot go out of our homes at night, we have reached a very Serious state,” he said.

The mayor of Shannon, councillor Sean McLoughlin (Fine Gael) said, “There is anti-social behaviour all over town. We need to work with the gardai.”

He called for a meeting between councillors and senior gardai in the town, to discuss anti-social behav- iour issues and other such matters in SJervepeceyee

TWO thousand householders in the Quin and Ennis area will be target- ed, in a fundraising campaign for the primary school in Quin.

A major initiative, aimed at raising more than €200,000 for the Quin school field, 1s well underway.

The Scoil na Mainistreach school development committee has pur- chased a field, at a cost of £100,000. It will cost another €100,000 to de- velop the pitch and the local commu- nity is being asked to help out with the funds.

€140,000 has been collected for the development projects to-date and hopes are high that the remainder will be gathered.

One of the biggest fundraisers, ‘Who wants to be a thousandaire’ was launched at the Monks Well last Thursday night. The event will take place at The Clare Inn on April 18.

The organising committee is seek- ing businesses and professionals in- terested in advertising on the night of the big event. A booklet is currently being designed and will be distribut- ed to more than 2,000 homes in the Quin and Ennis area.

The committee, under the chair- manship of Conor O’Neill, is hoping that the package will encourage many businesses to sponsor the event.

This is a particularly busy time for management, staff and students at the school.

In the past few weeks, a delegation

from the Board of Management held a meeting in Tullamore with officials from the Department of Education, to discuss the current status of the extension to the school.

As a result of this meeting, a long- awaited technical visit has been promised and this will take place within the next few weeks.

While much work is taking place outside of the school walls, the class- rooms have also been buzzing with activity.

Most classes have been taking part in the Wow reading challenge, over the past four months. As part of the challenge, pupils are encouraged to read as many books as possible. The students of Scoil na Mainistreach have read no less than 4,082 books

over the past four months. The read- ing will continue for another month, until the challenge comes to an end.

Meanwhile, the first two interac- tive boards have been installed in the junior and fifth/sixth classrooms.

OW atom olor: due hw-Ducne (osha sloremKOnoeler-nelee teaching and learning in the school. The boards were funded by the par- ents association, much to the delight of parents and pupils alike.

FUNDRAISING targets at Caher- calla Community Hospital are set to rise to €500,000 per year.

Speaking at the opening of the new €2.7 million extension at Cahercalla on Friday, fundraising co-ordina- tor Mary Moloney said a decision had been made to increase the target from €300,000 to €500,000.

She said, “All in all, we estimate that there are about 1,000 people giving time and effort in voluntary Support to the cause and its funding. With hospice care expanded to 10 beds, each of which costs €75,000 in overheads, the fundraising target has now increased from €300,000 to half a million euro per year.

“This presents us with an immense challenge and we are now, more than

ever, dependent on our volunteers, supporters and fundraisers to rise to this enormous task with us.”

Ms Moloney also revealed some of the unusual approaches to giving she has encountered in her seven years as fundraising co-ordinator for the Cahercalla hospice initiative. Caher- calla and a children’s hospital both benefitted substantially when a cou- ple decided to mark the occasion by donating their wedding gifts to the two good causes of their choice.

She said, “People are also making happy occasions a time for giving and thinking of those whose lives have been plunged into sadness.”

The mainstay support for Cahercal- la Hospice is the weekly draw which has been running for seven years and is supported by over 1,400 people every week.