Lisdoonvarna Matchmaker Willie Daly could be facing an unusual challenge in September.
A Kerry bachelor farmer, convicted of driving with excess alcohol, will not be put off the road until he has an opportunity to “find a nice woman” at the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, who could drive him around.
John O’Shea, aged 60, of Derrinadin, Mastergeeha, had previously pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Tarmons, Waterville, on July 25, 2014.
Mr O’Shea’s solicitor John O’Dwyer, son of the famous Mick O’Dwyer, reminded the court in Cahersiveen that “football had been his downfall on the day.”
On the date of the offence, he had gone to Waterville for animal feed for his cows and ended up talking about Kerry’s performance in the Munster Final, forgetting to eat and drinking too much, hitting the ditch on the way home in what was a single vehicle accident.
The blood-alcohol reading was 198mg so the offence carried a three-year penalty, the court was told .
Mr O’Dwyer said his client, who lived in an isolated valley around six to seven miles from Waterville, would be at a severe disadvantage if put off the road immediately. He was single and had never married.
“Are you going to stay single or are will you to take the plunge?”, Judge James O’Connor asked Mr O’Shea.
Without transport his client would be at a great disadvantage in that area, Mr O’Dwyer remarked.
“You’d never know now with Star Wars!” Judge O’Connor suggested in reference to the increased visitor numbers to south Kerry after the filming on Skellig Michael.
“He’s living alone,” the solicitor continued “and his relatives are residing in Cork”.
Judge O’Connor asked whether he had “ good neighbours “and Mr O’ Shea said they were “alright” . and when asked how many cows he had Mr O’Shea said he had “13 or 14 .”
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.