South Galway

THE Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society will reopen the doors to one of south Galway’s premier attractions, after a two-year closure, on Easter Saturday, April 16. Plenty of work has been going on behind the scenes at Thoor Ballylee during these challenging two years – on the thatch, the mill, and most recently, on the Tower during the spring clean-up. “We wish to thank our many helpers, contractors, and volunteers who are primed and ready, and excited to welcome you back,” said a spokesperson for the society. In the run up to the spring reopening, the Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society is premiering a series of short new films about WB Yeats and Galway. These short films highlight places in County Galway that were important to Yeats and that feature in some of his finest poems, from ‘The Tower’ to ‘Coole and Ballylee 1931’. “Working with the Spot-lit programme for literary tourism, the society has been grateful to benefit from their expertise, …

A UNION has warned that further industrial action may be initiated this Thursday, April 14 following a recent one-day work stoppage, if a company doesn’t implement a Labour Court recommendation. SIPTU members employed in LISK Ireland Ltd commenced a campaign of industrial action at its manufacturing plant in Gort on Monday, April 4, with a work stoppage that began at 8am and concluded at 12 midnight. LISK Ireland’s 150,000 square foot facility is home to both manufacturing and sales of control devices, solenoids and solenoids valves since 1979. SIPTU organiser Stephen Lavelle said members placed pickets at the entrance to the plant on Monday morning. “Our members were left with no option but to begin industrial action due to a management refusal to respect a Labour Court recommendation that the company engage in negotiations with their union. “Management has ignored several invitations from SIPTU representatives to discuss and resolve concerns its members have expressed in relation to their terms and …

The Parents Council in Seamount College, Kinvara hosted a special meeting recently to highlight the urgent need for a Sports Hall in the school. The meeting was held online and in person with over 300 people registered. The Parents Council said the Department of Education has repeatedly refused to fund an investment in a PE Hall, at this time, while the parents and board of management have invested over €200,000 in PE facilities in the school in recent years. Sara-Jane Moore, chairperson of the Parents Council, chaired the meeting with contributions from Minister Anne Rabbitte, Deputy Ciaran Cannon, Councillor Joe Byrne and Councillor Geraldine Donohue. Chris Dalton of the Parents Council provided strong rationale for the urgent need of a Sports Hall. The requirement was outlined by Mr Dalton under a number of themes: health and safety; equality for all; current inadequate facilities; economic benefit and wellbeing. In terms of health and safety, it was pointed out that students are …

Gort Community School held its deferred 25 years of GAA celebration event recently. Ivan Smyth spoke to Clare senior hurler Patrick O’Connor about his fond memories in the school and his hopes for the county side. GORT Community School recently celebrated the many excellent hurlers and camogie players that have come through the doors of the school, since it opened on September 4, 1995, the day after Clare beat Offaly to be crowned All Ireland champions. The Transition Year students hosted the event with numerous awards handed out. Also on the night the 25th Anniversary All-Star Hurling and Camogie Teams compromising of past students from the school was announced. The hurling team saw two Clare men make the cut. Tubber’s Ronan Taaffe was named in goal while Patrick O’Connor was selected at wing back. Aidan Harte, who was part of the St. Joseph’s Tulla management team, was also named on the team. Other notable names included Galway hurlers Shane Cooney, …

THE early decommissioning of an ESB wind farm in South Galway could result in an overall taxpayer bill of up to €70 million, a local lobby group has claimed. Following a lump sum fine of €5 million and a daily fine of €15,000 plus legal costs imposed by the European Court of Justice ruling in November 2019, the Derrybrien Wind Farm has now incurred a bill of €17,845,7779 for the state. The penalties were levied after it found Ireland had failed to comply with a previous court ruling in relation to the wind farm where a landslide occurred during construction in 2003. David Murray from the South Galway Flood Relief Committee estimates when fines, early decommissioning accounting for a €10 million loss annually over the life time of the wind farm, consultants fees and resolution of turbary right are factored in, the final bill and loss of earnings could be in the region of €70 million. The ESB, through its …

SPRING is here, restrictions are lifted and music performers everywhere are ready and excited to rise and shine. The annual Carpe Diem (Rise and Shine) concert makes a welcome return after its Covid-induced hiatus. The brainchild of Coole Music School’s director, Katharina Baker, Carpe Diem is the theme for a series of commemorative fundraising concerts in memory of Eimear Noonan, and Eli Murray, two avid young musicians, who died tragically in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The 2021 concert, postponed due to ongoing pandemic concerns, will now be staged in Gort on Saturday, April 2, in Sullivan’s Hotel, at 7.30pm. This uplifting concert entitled Carpe Diem, Rise and Shine, celebrates a return to performing live music by young people and spans many genres. Seasoned performers of traditional and contemporary music, joining the young people, will enhance the proceedings. Irish conductor Sinead Hayes is usually found working with choir, orchestra and operas but on April 2 she will be present as master …

A FIRST year student of Gort Community School has released his debut novel, which was written when he was just 11. Now 13, Joe Fahy from Derrywee West, Derrybrien, has launched a futuristic tale, entitled Glitched, detailing a battle for control of the world. Joe has also been enjoying the media attention surrounding the book. He made an appearance on Today FM’s Dermot and Dave in recent days, along with proud dad, Jimmy.  “[Glitched] is about a 12-year-old boy called Billy who was injected by these nanobots and he meets with some teenagers and he tries to stop a company called AEN from taking over the world,” Joe explained. “All the school kids in Ireland were injected one day by the company. It’s passed off as a vaccine. The chairperson comes into school to see if all the nanobots are working. Billy’s isn’t. It’s glitched.” Joe, also known as JE, told the Today FM duo that he wrote the book …

A RACEHORSE trainer who was last year banned from the sport for animal welfare abuses has avoided jail following conviction over his dogs killing a neighbour’s sheep. Stephen Mahon, 53, was spared a prison sentence after paying out €6,500 compensation to a 67-year-old farmer left ‘brokenhearted’ by sheep kills over the years. At Gort District Court, Judge Mary Larkin made the judgement after the compensation payout to John Moran who has been farming for 52 years. Judge Larkin said: “If Mr Mahon hadn’t paid the compensation, he would definitely be going to jail.” Judge Larkin made her comment after imposing cumulative fines of €1,350 on Mr Mahon of The Ranch, Kilcolgan, concerning a sheep kill on June 3 2018 at Caherpeak, Kilcolgan, involving two dogs, a Rottweiler and a Terrier belonging to him. Judge Larkin imposed six separate fines concerning six separate offences concerning the two dogs. The largest fine of €500 concerned Mr Mahon being an owner of a …