The Clare People Archive

A YOUNG man was robbed of €40 while he walked to a local shop in Ennis, a court has heard.

Christy Donovan (21), of Clancy

Park, Ennis, pleaded guilty to rob- bing €40 from an 18-year-old youth, at Dalcassian Park, Ennis, on March 18, 2007.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told Ennis District Court on Friday that

the 18-year-old went to the shop for his mother at 5pm. He had €40 in his hand.

He was just a short distance from his home when the defendant and an- other individual approached him.

“The defendant was all friendly at first asking him how he was,” said the inspector.

He said the victim was asked to hand over the money and got a “dig into the ribs”.

He said the youth was “very shak- en” and had known the defendant all his life.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a four-month jail term and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

A MAJOR jobs announcement for Shannon is expected today (Tuesday) with Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin (right) arriving in town.

The minister is to announce an in- vestment by an international player in the medical device manufacturing arena at 3pm today at the Park Inn Hotel at Shannon Airport.

The jobs announcement is being described as “significant” according to sources close to the free zone but both the department and Shannon Development have remained tight- lipped on details in advance of to- day’s announcement.

The good news on the Shannon jobs front comes at a time when work- ers at two Shannon manufacturing companies have expressed concerns about the future of their jobs.

Staff at Unbrako Europe S.P.S. International Limited voted in fa- vour of industrial action last week. Members of the SIPTU and TWU unions, are angry at what they say is the company’s continued failure to inform them about widely rumoured but unconfirmed moves to sell the company. SPS is a subsidiary of US based Precision Castparts Corp (PCC) which according to sources is involved in negotiations to sell the Shannon operation. The company

produces socket screws and other fasteners for industrial machinery and equipment.

A former PCC subsidiary, Mohawk Europa, also based in Shannon but sold off by PCC some years ago, closed last August with the loss of 90 jobs. Meanwhile, workers at another PCC company in Shannon, Highlife Tools, are also concerned about their future and are monitoring the SPS situation closely.

A SIPTU spokesperson said yester- day, “With all the rumours and sto- ries going around and in the absence of any information from the compa- ny, our members are understandably concerned for the future.”

It’s believed that the €40 million price tag was put on the hotel last week in a deal which sees Brian Brennan of Brennan Hotels become the new owner of the Dublin Hotel.

Brennan Hotels has four properties in Tipperary, Kilkenny, Meath and Wicklow.

The Lynch family bought the land- mark property in 2003 for €11 mil- lion. They went ahead with a mas-

sive redevelopment which saw room numbers almost double to 270, with the addition of a swimming pool and spa facilities. The redevelopment is believed to have cost €30 million.

In a statement, Lynch Hotels said that it will now focus on operating its properties in the west of Ireland. These include the upmarket Breaffy House hotel near Castlebar in Mayo and the West County Hotel in Ennis.

After the deal, Brian Brennan said “our business focus is commercial and leisure and the Green Isle is ide- ally suited to our expanding needs and requirements and is an ideal ac- companiment to our business mod- el.”

AN EAST Clare-based multina- tional firm is to put in place a series of measures to ensure the continued conservation of a local bat commu- nity living near a wind turbine to be erected on its property.

Last year, Clare Coun- ty Council deferred planning approval to Ol- ympus Diagnostica for a wind turbine due in part to the need for a device to keep bats away from the structure.

The company, which is based between O’Callaghan’s Mills and ‘Tulla, lodged the plans for the turbine to source 40 to 50 per cent of its electricity needs from alterna- tive energy.

The turbine will be 200 feet high, which is half the size of the industry norm. As the company will consume all the energy from the wind-turbine, there is no need for a grid connec- tion. The company pointed out that the site for the turbine was not with- in any recognised flight path of the Whooper Swan and the Greenland White Fronted Goose.

As part of the project, Olympus Diagnostica is planning to place an ultrasonic “scarer” that will provide

a signal to all bat species likely to encounter the motors.

A comprehensive bat survey of the area has found a “significant” number of Lesser Horsehoe Bats who use a local stables as a night roost. Accord- ing to the survey, between five and

20 Lesser Horseshoe bats use this roost each night before returning to the main roost.

The company is pro- posing to provide 20 bat boxes to provide roosts away from the Zone of potential im- pact and to use the ul- trasconic “‘scarer”’ on a trial basis. With these elements in place, the wind-turbine should have no impact on the

local bat population.

The bat survey found that the area around the turbine site was “the only location where no bat activity was recorded”.

The turbine is facing opposition from a local family. In their objec- tion, Mr and Mrs JP Murphy and family state that the proposal is “in- considerate to the local landscape and setting of Rosslara Lake and its woodland surroundings.”

learned yesterday that Mr Daffy’s generosity helped prevent two of Clare’s most illustrious soccer clubs from going out of business.

“But for Gerry, both Lifford and Avenue would have found it very hard to keep going. We had nowhere else to go and without him helping us out with a venue we probably would have hit the wall. Lifford owes him a big debth of gratitude,” said John O’ Neill of Lifford FC.

At his funeral on Sunday a horse- back guard of honour was formed by the Turkey Trotters, the Clare Hounds and fellow volunteers from

Hope Project. The last post on bugle was sounded by James Carmody.

A churchgate collection which Gerry had arranged before his death went ahead on Sunday and raised more than €4,000.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Clonlara

native William Quane was one of four people killed in a road traffic ac- cident on the N7 between Borris-in- Ossory and Roscrea. Mr Quane was on his way to the Ireland-Italy rugby match when the accident took place. His friend Séan O’ Donoghue from

Limerick was also killed in the ac- cident as was Polish man David Dziemianowicz and Italian woman Marika Rossi.

POSITIONING himself on the half- way line on the stand side of Mac- Donagh Park, Donal Madden was the picture of frustration on Sunday. His arm in a sling hidden beneath his Clonlara tracksuit after breaking a finger in a challenge game against LIT the week before, it was obvious from his movements that he was hit- ting every ball internally but knew he could not effect the game whatsoev- er. He beckoned encouragement and advise but as the game slipped away from Clonlara’s grasp, the tracksuit top came off as he ran up and down the line in the hope of motivating the players. In the end, the expected comeback never came and _ after- wards outside the dressing rooms, he conveyed his frustration and disap- pointment of the day’s events as he analysed the game.

“They probably got the goal that we needed. Darach (Honan) reck- ons the ball wasn’t wide but I felt it was wide being honest about it. They got the goal, we didn’t and that’s the difference between winning and los- ing. Personally I am just absolutely eutted. To be standing there on the sideline and to have absolutely no influence, it’s very, very hard and it’s probably one of the hardest days I have ever had in sport. It’s been a tough week and things had been go- ing well for us and I was hurling rea- sonably well but the whole thing just

blew up. It’s a pity because they are a great bunch of young fellas but the be all and end all is about the senior hurling next year. We lost today but I would like to wish Tommy Larkins the best of luck and probably the bet- ter team won being honest.”

Madden had further reason to be disappointed in not playing any part on Sunday. Along with missing his new club’s most historic day, the former Tulla player also has an un- tenable link with the Galway side as his father Paddy would have played for Tommy Larkins but he was still disapponted for the Clonlara play- ers and mentors who had put a lot of work into their successful year.

“There is a very narrow line be- tween winning and losing, it’s a game of inches. They got the break today. I’ve seen Tommy Larkins hurling about three times all year and they only played to about 70% of what they are capable of and hope- fully they will do themselves justice in Croke Park. Even chatting to Cyril Farrell there, they weren’t happy with their performance, we are not happy with ours but we can have no regrets because lads gave it their best. There are a great group of players and men- tors in Clonlara and hopefully this won’t be the end of this team.

“The lads are absolutely gutted and it’s not everyday that you get the chance to go on and represent your county and an opportunity to play in Croke Park. I’m fierce disappointed

for Niall Hogan and Jim Gully and these guys. We have trained for 150 times this year and Niall Hogan prob- ably did everyone of them himself. I’m just fierce gutted for that guy, he is a great guy.”

Croke park would certainly have been a fitting finale to a superb year for Clonlara but although Madden has famously played there before in the All-Ireland minor final of 1997, he is sure that the young stars of Clonlara will get their chance to play at GAA headquarters in the future.

“We are looking forward to next year and maybe I am pushing on or whatever and | may never again get a chance to play in Croke Park but I have no doubt that Domhnall O’Donovan, John Conlon, Darach Honan and Nicholas O’Connell will get to play in Croke Park and hopefully wearing a Clare jersey or maybe even a Clonlara jersey. I can’t see why they won’t go on to play in Croke Park.”

SW ilomCCeea Vo ncy-le Ceo MOO OOM AUD UNTocO Mme this year’s senior championship and the Clonlara’s prospects for the year ahead to which he quipped.

“Looking forward to it. Hopefully we ll get Tulla in the first round.”

CLARE County Council has reject- ed plans for a €10 million windfarm between the east Clare villages of Tulla and Feakle, close to the setting for one of the most celebrated poems in Irish literature.

The proposal by Ventus Energy sought to develop eight turbines in the vicinity of Lough Graney to sup- ply electricity to 22,000 homes.

The lake was the literary backdrop for Brian Merriman’s epic poem, ‘The Midnight Court’, which was written in 1780.

As part of the plan, the developers sought to remove 425 acres of forest ele lelOee

However, the plan encountered widespread opposition across the east Clare area and the Department of the Environment also expressed concern.

Ironically, it is the designation of a large tract of land on Slieve Aughty as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds — being opposed by local farmers and landowners — which in part led to the council refusing plan- ning permission for the proposal.

The council refused planning per- mission as it had concerns over the impact the development would have on the hen harrier, particularly in light of the designation of the area as an SPA.

The Clare County Development Plan goes against granting planning permission in areas that are likely to have significant adverse ecological impacts.

The council also stated that the pro- posed development had the potential to have a serious ecological impact on the SPA by virtue of the proposed removal of an extensive expanse of trees and the disturbance and loss to natural habitats.

In one objection, the Centre for Environmental Living and Train- ing (CELT) claimed that houses and farm prices in the vicinity of the wind farm would drop by 20 per cent.

The plan was also opposed by a eroup of east Clare-based artists, including Aosdana member, Joe Comerford who pointed out that the county planners had worked for many years to protect the landscape heritage of east Clare with good rea- son. The group sais they hoped this precious resource would not be dis- carded so easily.

In a separate objection, Mairin Kel- ly pointed out that “the cumulative effect of the turbines in combination with the existing communications mast on Maghera would be to alter the landscape character from remote upland to semi-industrial”.

The developers now have the op- tion of appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

AN TAISCE came under fire yes- terday after it appealed to An Bord Pleanala a ruling by Clare County Council to give the go-ahead for a home beside the Western Rail Cor- ridor.

The national trust has lodged the appeal — the only instance it has ap- pealed a decision relating to a one- off home in Clare in the past year —in spite of Iarnrod Eireann having no objection against the proposal.

Last month, Clare County Council eranted outline planning permission to Monica McMahon to construct one home at Bearnafunshin, Barefield. _In the planning process, larnrod Eireann initially had reservations due to the proximity of the home to the Ennis-Galway rail-line which is oLeSUITSMGUDUReIILOMAmUNOscau-lelsrem

Green Party councillor, Brian Meaney said, “I believe that the functions that An Taisce carry out are necessary, but intervening in a case like this — when the compe- tent authority, Iarnrod Eireann sees

no problem — damages An Taisce’s crest ae

“Iarnrod Eireann adopts a very hard line when developments en- croach very close to the rail line and you would think if Iarnré6d Eireann didn’t have a problem, An Taisce shouldn’t.

“IT would have to question if this is a good use of An Taisce’s resources and time and there are other develop- ments that it could be concentrating

on.”

In its appeal, an Taisce state, “It is submitted that notwithstanding the alleviation of the concerns by Jarnrod Eireann on the impact of the proposal of the operation of the upgraded railway crossing, the pro- posal because of its location, would be of poor residential amenity qual- ity because of its proximity to the level crossing.

“While historically, all across the country, there are railway crossing keepers’ houses and houses already existing in proximity to railway cross- ings, outside of urban areas, the gen- eral principle should be maintained of restricting development in proximity to railways crossings for reasons for residential amenity, particularly in this case, since no site specific need has been advanced for development of this kind, and there are alternative development locations.”

An Taisce conceded that the rail company no longer objected to the eben

MAJOR improvements are needed to the diets of young people in Ire- land according to an extensive scien- tific study on teens’ diet, which was presented at a RELAY-organised conference in Dublin last week.

The study, which benchmarks di- etary intakes of a nationally repre- sentative sample of Irish teenagers, was carried out by the Irish Univer- sities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA) at UCD and UCC and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisher- ies and Food under the Food Insti- tutional Research Measure (FIRM), and co-funded by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The study is described as a valuable

tool for allowing farmers and food producers to tailor product develop- ment based on more healthy lines.

“This is the first comprehensive scientific evaluation of dietary intake in teenagers in Ireland and provides direction for the dietary strategies that need to be established to prevent obesity in Irish teenagers,” said Min- ister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan.

“Funding had been awarded under FIRM for a group of third level re- search projects on developing breads and ready meals with a reduced salt content, and I welcome industry co- operation with this work.”

Stressing the contribution of well focused research to policy making, the Minister said that the earlier Sci-

entific study on children’s diet had provided an evidence base to support the decision to launch the National ‘Food Dude’ programme to encour- age increased consumption of fruit and vegetables by primary school- children, which was run in over 300 primary schools in 2006, and the review and re-launch of the school milk scheme to include a wider range of dairy products.

The study on teens’ diet surveyed 450 teenagers aged 13-17 from sec- ondary schools throughout Ireland during 2005 and 2006, and was car- ried out by researchers in UCD and UCC.

In addition to diet, the study in- cludes direct body measurements on each teenager and provides accurate

data on the extent to which the obes- ity crisis is affecting Irish teenagers. It also included essential information on lifestyle, including physical activ- ity, for both the teenagers and their parents.

“We need clear guidelines for healthy eating for teens – guidelines that focus on appropriate portion siz- es, lower consumption of fat, salt and sugared drinks, and higher intake of vegetables and fruit, fibre, vitamins and minerals,” said Professor Albert Flynn, Department of Food & Nutri- tional Science, UCC.

“The pyramid model used in Ire- land to guide healthy eating, has been completely revised in the US to tackle obesity, and similar revisions need to take place here.”

THE HSE has come under attack for its handling of the money secured from the sale of Our Lady’s Hospi- tal, as the mental health service in the county continues to be under- funded.

The Irish Psychiatric Associa- tion this week criticized the way the health authorities disposed of property assets associated with Irish mental hospitals.

The Clare Mental Health Services was one of the authorities stripped

of their assets according to the IPA, when 40 acres of Our Lady’s Hos- pital site was sold to Clare County Council and Shannon Development Authority for €2.6 million.

A report from the association points to widespread ‘asset-stripping’ of buildings and land. It stated lands linked to psychiatric facilities were sold or given away at significant un- der-valuations and any financial real- isation was not paid into the mental health service.

The IPA made the accusations on the second anniversary of the pub-

lication of the Government’s mental health policy, ‘A Vision for Change’. The policy committed the Govern- ment to spending €25 million extra a year on mental health services. The Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) said almost half the budget allocated to the HSE in 2006 and 2007 to implement this policy had been spent on deficits in other areas. According to information received by the IMSC under FOI, just over half (57 per cent) of the 2006 funding of the mental health plan was spent, with only 40 per cent of the budget

spent in 2007.

The HSE said the balance of the funding from these years was time- delayed to address core deficits in existing mental health services.

In a statement, the HSE said it ac- cepted all the recommendations of ‘A Vision for Change’ and is work- ing to ensure that everybody has easy access to high quality mental health care and services.

“Such fundamental changes will inevitably take time to implement, but to date steady progress has been made,’ the spokesperson said.

Priorities outlined for 2008 and 2009 included the provision of eight additional consultant child psychia- try teams, together with an increase in the inpatient bed capacity from 12 to 30 by the end of 2008.

“The Waiting List report on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services completed in 2007 will be utilised to develop a number of in- centives to address waiting lists,” it Cr HOR

Clare and the mid-west region cur- rently have no adolescent psychia- eho