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SCARIFF NEWS
Scariff Minor Club An Explosive Court Case Clare 250 Cooleenbridge Fair G.A.A. I.C.A. In Brief Rugby School Leavers Project The Summer May is the first month of Summer and this year certainly it has lived up to its name. After the rains earlier in the year, the recent fine spells have been welcomed by everyone, not least the farming community who have endured a year of considerable inconvenience to say the least. Let us hope that the rest of Summer will be as good as the start has been. Exams The month ahead will for some young people of Scariff be one of examinations. The Junior and Leaving Certificate exams take place in June. Indeed many third level students are already sitting exams or are even finished. We wish success to all our students. New Pupils It is great to see that the four children from the asylum seeking families are settling in well following their recent enrolment in the National School. We understand that special arrangements involving the employment of a special teacher have been made to help meet their needs Aspects of Scariff In the year of our Lord 1915, Rohan’s public house, the premises in Scariff which we now call O’Beirne’s (Merriman Tavern) came into the possession of Mr. James McKeogh, a successful businessman from Ballina/Killaloe. Mr. Gerry O’Connell, who was later to be immortalised as one of the great folk heroes of Scariff, was at that time Mr. McKeogh’s senior assistant at the Ballina premises. Gerry was promoted to the position of Manager of the new Scariff branch of the company, which now dealt in a wide range of foodstuffs and hardware. He came to live in Scariff on the business premises. Gerry was an immediate success in Scariff and through his immense popularity and good business management, the Scariff branch of McKeogh & Sons became quite a money – spinner. Among his many fine attributes was honesty, and it was this particular trait in his character, which led to a curious and interesting court case. In January 1916 Gerry was approached by a man named Morgan, an engineer and explosives expert, who had lately taken up a position at Whitegate quarry. Morgan wanted to purchase some dynamite and detonators for his employers. Gerry demanded the man’s purchase permit but the document he was handed was only a permit allowing the man to use explosives. This was not good enough and Gerry advised Morgan to apply for a proper purchase permit from the local police. Morgan made his application at Scariff police station on Chapel Lane and the information he gave in relation to the request astounded the local police, who, it appears, were not aware that a room in McKeogh’s shop in the Market Square was used as a storehouse for high explosives. In the ensuing investigation it came to light that McKeogh did not have a Government permit to sell explosive substances. McKeogh was summoned and in March the case against him was heard at Ballina Courthouse. O’Connell, Morgan, Sgt. Carthy, Scariff Barracks and Sgt. Lennon, Killaloe Barracks, gave evidence. O’Connell told the court that he had worked for McKeogh for many years and the man had always, quite openly, sold dynamite, blasting powder and ammunition for shot guns. He was not aware that McKeogh did not hold a trading permit for high explosives. He saw nothing unusual in selling dynamite, blasting powder and detonators from his Scariff premises. He was quite confident that dynamite was safe until it was fitted with a detonator. Yes the dynamite and blasting powder was transported to Scariff in the bread delivery cart, from Ballina. There was quite an amount of quarrying going on in the Scariff district and sales of dynamite were brisk. The storage and sale of the explosives from the Scariff depot saved a long and tedious journey to Ballina for the quarryman. Morgan, in evidence, said he was new to the district, and had gone to Ballina to purchase dynamite and detonators. He has transacted his business there, but he was advised that he could in future purchase the stuff in Scariff. He was not required to produce a purchase permit in Ballina. Sgt. Carthy, Scariff, told of Morgan’s request for a purchase permit. This request was welcomed by the authorities but they were greatly concerned to learn of a storage depot for high explosives in the very centre of the town. It was during their investigation that Mr. McKeogh’s lack of a trading permit for explosive substances came to light. Sgt Lennon, Killaloe, said in evidence that he was aware for a number of years that McKeogh was trading openly in explosives and shotgun ammunition. He knew McKeogh had no permit but he knew the man well and he said his dealings were open and honest. The matter of a trading permit did not become a serious legal issue until the recent passing in Parliament of the Defence of the Realm Act. He had, since the passing of the Act visited McKeogh and advised him that a permit was now a serious issue. Up to the time of the present court case he had made no effort to apply for such a permit. McKeogh was fined £6 with 10 shillings costs (50np) and the explosive depot in his Scariff premises was shut down. He accepted the court’s ruling on the issue of proper explosives trading Licence but declared his intention to appeal the severity of the fine. He eventually lost this on a technicality. An ironic sequel to this incident, involving the dynamite store in Scariff, lies in the fact that Gerry O’ Connell, a die hard Republican and trusted friend of Eamonn De Valera, shortly after became Intelligence Liaison Officer for the East Clare Branch of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He was often known to smile ruefully over the closing down of his dynamite depot, especially during those lean times the ‘Troubles’ when ammunition was low and hard to come by. Michael O’Gorman (Ref. Clare Champion, March 18, 1916.) E-Mail: michaelogorman@ireland.com
The u14 team had a very enjoyable day out recently when 22 players travelled to Lisdowney in Co. Kilkenny. They played a friendly game of hurling with the local team. Afterwards they were treated to lunch and then made their way back to Thurles to see the Clare and Kilkenny match. The club would like to thank the trainers and parents who travelled and looked after the children so well to make it a very successful day. The Club are holding their Annual Race Night in Rodgers Lounge on Sunday Night the 10th June. This night has been very successful for us in the past and we hope it will continue to be, as it is our main fundraiser for the year. Last year, with some of the proceeds from the race night and help from other sponsors, the Club was able to provide gear bags for the younger players and track suit tops for the older members. I am sure that you will all agree that they look very well decked out in their Club colours. So come on and enjoy a great night at the Races. Horses can be bought from any of the Committee members. Mary Minogue ContentsThe most asked questions of the hundred odd cyclists who participate every year are (a) what is it for? and (b) Do you do it all? In this issue I would like to give you an idea what it’s all about.
Anyone I have talked to who has been on the trip has found it to be a tremendous help in his or her time of suffering. Nobody on the cycle is suggesting miracles and at this point I would like to remember Bridie Bolton, Scariff and Marie Molloy, Bodyke. It was my privilege to get to know these courageous women over the past two years. May they rest in peace. The real plus to an event like this is that the money collected in an area is expected to stay within that area. Only once in eight years did I have nobody to nominate and that place went to another parish in East Clare. Just to give people an idea of the scale of the cycle, and again to stress that all monies are collected in Clare, last year the cycle generated an income of £123,824.49p. People in the area were particularly generous in donating £1,100, not including what was given on the day and anonymously. In recent years the cycle has come to incorporate the building and management of a cancer centre in Clare. This work is ongoing. It is expected that this year Foot and Mouth will have a serious impact on fundraising; i.e. coffee days and card games have been cancelled and other dates are not available. By the time you read this the cycle will be over and I would like to thank everybody for his or her support and sponsorship which can be given any time of the year. Thank you Ger Treacy. New Early School Leavers Project In East Clare Around the country there are many children who for various reasons leave school before they are 15 years old. In East Clare there are increasing numbers of children aged between 12 and 16 years of age who are either not in school or not managing in school. In response to this growing need the Alfa Project has been set up by a group of concerned parents and teachers. Alfa, which stands for Active Learning For Adolescents, will be a full-time education and training course for 13 – 16 year olds, especially devised to interest and motivate them and bring them to post Junior Cert Level. On completion students can choose between Leaving Cert, Leaving Cert Applied, an apprenticeship or other further education or training. The curriculum has a mixture of academic, arts and practical work that meets their developmental level academically, socially and individually. We plan to start this September, initially with a small group of 14-15 year olds, if you would like to know more about Alfa or you have a child who might be interested please contact Audrey Flynn 927374 or Caroline Kelly 927168. Contents Rugby – a contact sport As the season closes, we felt it important to write something about the growth in interest in rugby in Scariff. A few parents have expressed concern about potential injuries to their sons and we would like to set their minds at rest, as well as anyone else whose son might be interested in starting. Rugby is a contact sport that has grown enormously in popularity over the last decade. This is due to a number of factors: the creation of a World Cup competition, a European Cup, premiership leagues, the professionalisation of the sport and a growth in sponsorship. It is a very visual, spectator sport. Fast and physical, it is an exciting game in which the rules are being progressively adapted to make it more open and, more importantly, safer. Players are now encouraged from a very early age to wear protective equipment for four main, vulnerable areas:
All players should wear a gum shield – it is common sense. Vests and head gear are also advisable for forwards and backs should wear vests. Scariff RFC has been able to obtain protective equipment at competitive rates and these have been available to all players throughout the season. The rules are now very much in favour of player protection. Players must stay on their feet in loose play. Tacklers must roll away from the tackle immediately afterwards. Front rows must not bind in and down, forcing collapses. These rules are being developed and advanced continuously to make rugby a safer game all round. The biggest challenges facing young players today (and particularly in Scariff!) are their personal fitness and upper body strength, their discipline, their knowledge of the game and its laws and their personal commitment and responsibility. In Scariff, it is very rare to have all first team players at every training session and yet they expect to be selected for every match. A lot of players believe that they already know all the rules and are good enough not to attend training sessions, not to listen to coaches nor to referees. They are unfit. They drink and smoke too much (including the Under-16s and some Under-14s). They eat badly – the wrong foods at the wrong times – and their sleeping patterns are completely wrong. Their muscles are not toned and strengthened and their stamina is appalling. These, then, are the main reasons for injuries and for poor performances on the pitch. In Scariff RFC, the coaching staff does what it can. We produced a 10-page fitness and diet programme for all under-age players at the start of the season. Most of these were found on the floor of the changing room, in bins or on the grounds (so much for the environment). The game is as safe as it can be, within reason. The bulk of responsibility lies with the players and this is a problem of attitude and self-discipline. Next season, we would like to enlist greater support from parents in terms of taking an interest in the sport, the club and the progress, well-being and commitment of their sons. We would be able to offer advice for using the club’s gym equipment to improve upper body strength. We can prepare personal fitness programmes. We can advise on diet and lifestyle. We can provide the rules of the game and the wherewithal to play. What we cannot do by ourselves is convince young players that playing any sport requires a great deal of commitment and hard work. This would have to be a joint effort. We will be there for support and guidance, but more is needed. We hope this information will help. By the same token, we would stress that there was only one serious injury this season when a player broke a bone in his ankle in an awkward tackle during training. Out of 5 different age groups playing, that is a good record. The recent tragedy at a hurling match emphasises the point that some situations are impossible to foresee. Every effort is made by the coaching staff in all sports to make the environment safe for players. We hope that next season will see a change in attitude by young players as regards training and matches. Nick Grisewood Scariff I.C.A. The A.G.M. of the I.C.A. on 9th May was attended by Maureen Murphy C.D.A. Sheila Corbett retired as secretary at this meeting and Mary Crotty is the new secretary. Ann Treacy remains as President and Maura Melody as Treasurer. The next meeting of the I.C.A. will be on the 13th June with a lecture on Reflexology. The June meeting will be the last one until September. Irish Seed Savers OPEN DAYS SAT.JUNE 30TH & SUN. JULY 1st 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Capparoe, Scariff Round trip Bus Service from Market Square to Capparoe running all day. Please leave your car in Scariff.
We also have a native grain project at our site in Raheen, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. There is an OPEN DAY there on Friday 3rd August 2-5 p.m. Go and see up to 45 varieties of native wheat, rye and barley that had disappeared from Ireland until we got tiny amounts of seed from gene banks world wide 4 years ago. There will be craft workshops, speakers, storyteller, guided tours and top quality food at the Capparoe open day. Come along and see the work we do – tell us what you know about the crops grown in this area in the past and about the old agricultural methods – we’re praying for good weather and looking forward to seeing you. ISSA Cooleenbridge School – Public Auction
Cooleenbridge School – on the Raheen Road, Tuamgraney are holding a Public Auction on Sat. 2nd June. Outside lots are invited and can be delivered to the school on Friday 1st June between 3.30pm and 8.30pm. The school will keep 15% of the selling price – to help raise vital funds. Viewing will begin at 12.00 noon on the 2nd and bidding will commence at 1.00pm. Hope to see you there.
SCREAM Stop child labour! "I am addressing my warm thanks, first and foremost to you, the transition year students of Scariff Community College who enthusiastically accepted the role and responsibility as agents of social mobilization in the global campaign to raise awareness and understanding on child labour... ‘SCREAM - Stop child labour’ has untiring wings to fly." This was the message of the Director General of the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) to the students of Scariff Community College who presented their own special play on child labour in the Mountshannon Community Hall on 18 and 19 May. The performance on 19 May was for an audience of key representatives from local, national and international communities, including Sile de Valera, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & Islands and Maria Gabriella Lay and Geir Myrstad of the Geneva-based ILO. The evening was a showcase for a three-month project conducted with the transition year students. The objective was to show senior decision-makers from various communities what young people can do given the right support, education and commitment. The model created is one which can be replicated in any school across the country, particularly transition year and leaving certificate applied courses. For the ILO representatives, the evening was the successful conclusion to a unique project to develop a series of education modules designed to actively involve young people in the global campaign to eliminate child labour and to raise awareness of the issue among all members of the community. The modules also equip young people with the tools they need to express their emotions about such issues and to develop practical initiatives to deal with them. It was a wonderful occasion for all concerned and involved. It has helped all of us to understand what young people are truly capable of given our support and investment in them and their education. Through the generosity of those who watched the Celebrity Football Match on 17 May and the audiences at the two performances of SCREAM, the students were able to collect over £600 for their special fund for the rehabilitation of child labourers in Nepal. Many thanks to all those who contributed to such a worthy cause. The students and the project management team would also like to use this opportunity to express their sincere thanks to all those who gave so generously of either their time or their services or products during the project, the awareness-raising week and the theatre performances, particularly: P.J. Mason, Geraldine Condren and all the staff of the Scariff Community College Johnny O’Brien and the school choir Mountshannon Community Council, in particular Pat Donnellan, Kevin Chesser and Tom McNamara John S. Kelly, Ger Madden and Michael O’Gorman for sharing their expertise on East Clare history Jim Collins and the Mountshannon National School Martin Scanlan and the Scariff National School Maureen Devanney, Scariff Library The Munster Branch of the IRFU, in particular Ian Sherwin, Development Officer Mountshannon Celtic F.C. and Liam Waterstone for the loan of the football pitch Ger Loughnane and all the celebrities and players involved in the soccer match Padraig Giblin, Sportsworld Netting Ltd, Scariff for putting up the banner Ger Hogan Computer Supplies, Scariff for the loan of a computer and setting up a web site in the hotel Con McGuiness, Blacksmith, Feakle for forging the jailers’ keys Carmel Wall, Scariff Civic Amenity Centre Ennis Information Age Town for the loan of the screen and data projector Copystop Shop, Ennis for sponsoring the T-shirts for the football match Kleiser Pianos, Limerick Gerry Quinn, freelance journalist, for his excellent commentary during the celebrity match Father Pat Sexton, Scariff Parish Priest Peter Brown whose many talents include making masks Pat Bolton for delivering the stones Mountshannon and Scariff Garda Stations Many other people offered support and assistance in different ways throughout the project and we owe them all a debt of thanks. Underpinning this project is the critical importance of community activities and education. We were able to achieve what we set out to do because of the strength of the involvement of Scariff, Mountshannon and local communities. Our next step will be to write up this model and disseminate it throughout Clare and eventually Ireland. Nick Grisewood Summer Fair Sat. 16th June 12.a.m. – 4p.m.
Due to ‘Foot and Mouth’ the Easter Fair was cancelled and now we hold a Summer Fair instead. There will be lots of fun-filled activities, beautiful crafts on sale and delicious sweet and savour food available all day in the café – a great day for all the family. Don’t miss it! Scariff G.A.A. With the month of May now well in play activity has stepped up on both the club and inter county scene. The local action has seen a mixed bag of results with pride of place going to the Junior A squad under the guidance of Mark McKenna, John Walsh and Mike McNamara (Moynoe). They have recorded two more wins recently against Eire Og and Parteen. In the Eire Og game Scariff always looked to have enough but the concession of three extremely soft goals meant that they had really to work right up to the end. Again this team had a great mix of youth and experience. The team lined out as follows; M.Long, D. Waterstone, C.Kavanagh, D.Madden, D.Jones, P McMahon, P.Collins, B. McNamara, K. Mason, M.Rodgers, D. Treacy, A. McNamara, M. Madden, T.Crotty, and R. Madden. Last weekend Scariff overcame Parteen in a tough game on a score line of 2-6 to 1-5. Scariff seem to be on course for a spot in the playoffs and were they to overcome Meelick who are also well placed then the team could be in for a long season. The senior team is however struggling at present. Having recorded two wins over Broadford and Cratloe they have recently gone down to defeats to Eire Og and O’Callaghan’s Mills. Despite missing several regulars Scariff put in a reasonable performance against the townies. However Eire Og was always in control and led by 0-9 to 0-4 at half-time. When Mark McKenna scored a second half penalty to reduce the deficit to two points it looked as if the game would go down to the wire. However Eire Og steeped up a gear to win by 0-17 to 1-7. The team lined out as follows – M.Long, D.Jones, D.Moloney, D.Waterstone, M.Rodgers, K.MCNamara, G.Crotty, E.Murphy, T.Brady, G.Rodgers, D.Treacy, P. Moroney, D.Murphy, M.McKenna and B. McNamara. Last weekend a stronger Scariff again went down to O’Callaghan’s Mills team on a score of 3-5 to 0-12. When Scariff led by 0-5 to 0-3 at half time it looked likely that they were going to take the points. However the concession of three soft goals meant another defeat for the team. There were better performances however from a number of players and more determination from the team alone. The team lined out as follows; G.Rodgers, D.Waterstone, D.Moloney, P.Collins, P. Moroney, E. Murphy, P.McNamara, M.McKenna, D.Kelly, T.Brady, D.Treacy, A. Rodgers, D.Murphy, P. Minogue and J. Colleran. The club is holding it’s annual Golf Classic on June bank holiday weekend and the club are hoping it will be the start of a long and successful weekend. We would like to take this opportunity to wish Barry Murphy and John Minogue well in their pursuit of Munster Championship glory.
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Each year the cycle sends handicapped children, cancer patients and others
with serious mental conditions to Lourdes for a week. All patients are accompanied by
their parents or partners, which is important, as it is not only the sick but also those
close to them who suffer during illness. Flights, food and board are all paid for by the
cycle and the group is accompanied by a full medical team and helpers.
IRISH
SEED SAVERS ASSOCIATION (ISSA) is committed to preserving the old food crops that were
grown and bred by past generations of Irish farmers and gardeners. We have a 9 acre site
at Capparoe that is home to over 140 varieties of native apple trees and we have over 400
varieties of vegetable seed in our seed bank which are grown out over successive years.
This year we have 43 different types of potato planted and a number of varieties of beans,
tomatoes, lettuce, aubergines, peppers and melons which are not available anywhere else in
Ireland. We have devoted a lot of space to a native winter cauliflower which we believe to
be the last of it’s type – we’ve pulled it back from the verge of
extinction!
Cooleenbridge School, Raheen Rd. Tuamgraney