Andrew Hamilton

A Lisdoonvarna man, who spent more than three years in a Japanese prisoner of war (POW) camp during World War II before escaping to become one of Britain’s foremost surgeons, has died at the age of 92.
Born in the townland of Knockaunvickteera, just beside the Spa Wells, in May of 1917, Maurice Kinmonth was one of more than 10,000 Irish-born soldiers who fought under the flags of different allied nations during the war.
According to census information from the time, Maurice was one of four children born to local Lisdoonvarna GP, George Kinmonth.
The family later moved to London, where Maurice qualified in medicine in 1941 and immediately joined the  RAF as a medical officer in the rank of flight lieutenant.
First stationed in Singapore, he went with the withdrawing allied troops first to Sumatra and then on to Java. Within days of beginning work in Java, however, the island was taken by the Japanese and he was captured.
Before the invasion, Kinmonth was given the option of evacuating the island but chose to stay with his patients. He was put to work by the Japanese in their POW hospital at Tjimahi, where he caught dysentery on two occasions before his release.
“I think the most memorable case  I had to look after was a young Welsh chap called Billy Griffiths, who had both hands blown off and was blinded,” he said, before his death.
“The Japanese had threatened to bayonet him in his hospital bed, and relented only when the famous Australian surgeon Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop interposed his body between the soldiers and their intended victim.
“They walked round each bed and bowed to each wounded soldier – they thought they were absolute heroes. But we, the uninjured doctors and POWs, were absolute dross. Prisoners of war were all considered cowards.
“We had very few drugs. We got one lot that came through, but they pinched most of that.”
Kinmonth returned to London after the war and married Stella Phillipps in 1947. The couple had two sons and two daughters together.
Between 1952 and 1976, Kinmonth was the only plastic surgeon to practice in Leicester, Nottingham and Lincoln areas.
He was elected president of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand in 1976 and the president of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons in 1981. The burns unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary is also named after him.

Gordon Deegan

THE collapse in the construction industry has claimed its second high-profile Clare building firm with Keco Construction Ltd going into receivership.
At the height of the building boom, the Ennis-based firm employed 75 people but with the collapse in housing demand, this had dwindled to five in recent months.
The company was established by Clare men Michael Cotter and Eugene Keane in 1998 and their decision to go into receivership follows the liquidation of Cronan Nagle Construction in late 2008.
In a statement to The Clare People confirming the appointment of a receiver, Keco Construction stated, “Every possible avenue has been explored by us and every effort made to avoid this day and we deeply regret any losses that may be incurred by our creditors, sub-contractors and employees.
“The collapse of the housing market, the general decline in the construction industry and the failure of some of our major debtors to meet their commitments, means that we can no longer trade.
“We were fortunate to work with a dynamic and skillful team who took pride in the Keco brand. Despite the fact that some of these workers and sub-contractors may suffer financial loss, we are very grateful for the support and goodwill of so many of our former associates.
“It is unclear at this time what the immediate future may hold for the company but our hope is that the varied and creative skills of the former Keco team will play an important role in the regeneration of the construction industry locally and beyond in due course.”
In recent days, receiver Tom Doheny of Deloitte has written to creditors informing them that the company has gone into receivership. It is understood that the company’s assets and liabilities are still being compiled by the receiver.
The firm’s most recent returns to the Companies Office relate to the end of March 2007 when a pre-tax profit of €535,093 was reported with accumulated profits of €1.8 million,
However, the company had €11.2 million in bank loans from Allied Irish Bank, Anglo Irish Bank and Ulster Bank.
A group of creditors held a meeting in Ennis in December on how to retrieve monies owed to them. However, the banks are expected to be listed as preferential creditors in monies owed.
In recent sittings of Ennis Civil Court, a number of companies from outside Clare made applications to secure monies owed to them by Keco Construction.

Bernie English

CLARE stands to make huge gains from the opening up of the airport’s US pre-clearance facility in terms of attracting foreign businesses to set up in Ireland and provide jobs.
Speaking to The Clare People at the launch of the private jet phase of the project yesterday, Shannon Development CEO, Vincent Cunnane said, “Every sector is going to benefit from this - this is not just about the number of planes coming in, it’s also about the influential people who are on those planes. We will be making sure that they are well aware of what the region has to offer from a tourism point of view and a services point of view.’
He described the opportunity afforded with this facility as “immense” and continued, “It’s up to us as a region to ensure that we have the right response to that. It’s a marketeer’s dream to have the sort of A-list clients that we will have passing through the airport. The operators tell us that the market here is growing and we’re going to be right at the centre of that. The market value is worth billions and all we need is a very small percentage of that market to make a very significant impact on this region.”
He said Shannon Development and the airport are “working closely together, we will market this together and there will be no ambiguity about that message.”
Mark Nolan, managing director of Dromoland Castle hotel, said that the facility has enormous potential for tourism in the region if it is marketed correctly.
“The opportunity here is to put a compelling argument for people coming in to Europe to ensure that they come into Shannon and spend one or two extra nights here.”
The predictions were echoed by Universal Aviation, the handlers who will be bringing private jet business through the airport.
Brendan O’Grady, Managing Director of Universal Aviation Ireland, said with “many of these planes carry CEOs of companies on board, it is an opportunity to promote the region for business opportunities. This region has a fantastic corporation tax - 12.5 per cent as opposed to 34 per cent in the States. If you want a European base, then Shannon is ideal.”
Jonathon Howells, Regional Director of Universal, said that the has “just started a new European fuel entity based in Shannon. That opens in the next 30 days. At the moment, we are starting small and there will be four new jobs but it could grow.”

Claire Gallagher

A KILRUSH man, who is limited in his movements not by his wheelchair but by an insufficient bus service, said he is being deprived of his rights.
Shane King, who has been a wheelchair user since childhood meningitis left him a quadriplegic, has received a free bus pass for a service he cannot use.
The 30-year-old cannot leave the town of Kilrush on the public Bus Éireann service, as it cannot facilitate wheelchairs.
“We are in the year 2010 and I thought all busses had to be wheelchair accessible. If I want to go to a concert in Dublin, I can't because I can't get a bus there,” he told The Clare People.
The lack of a wheelchair-accessible public bus has also put added pressure on his mother, Mary. Ms King said she had to buy an expensive specialist van so that she could ensure Shane got to his course in Limerick every week.
“Shane couldn't do his course unless I got the transport. This is a national disgrace,” she said.
Ms King said there is a local transport service that is wheelchair accessible but it does not go to Ennis. While a Bus Éireann bus leaves Kilrush that would facilitate Shane's travel to college, it is not accessible to him or any other wheelchair users.
“No one in a wheelchair can leave Kilrush. They are bound to stay here,” said Ms King. “This is not a privilege Shane is looking for, it is a right.”
Local Town Councillor Ian Lynch (FG) wrote to the Minister for Transport on behalf of Mr King and other wheelchair users in the town.
A letter from the minister's office redirected him to Bus Éireann. A letter from Bus Éireann merely re-emphasised the fact that people in wheelchairs cannot use the service from Kilrush.
The letter said that the company is planning to roll out a coach service with a wheelchair lift but this would be on a route-by-route basis.
It says it also has a reservation system, where wheelchair users can book a place 24 hours in advance and a seat is taken out of the bus to accommodate them. Just one wheelchair user at a time can use this service, however, and it is not available at all in Kilrush. “We do not have any booking system or accessible bus stop infrastructure to bring wheelchair passengers from Kilrush at present,” the letter said.
 “If the issue was addressed, that is if a wheelchair accessible bus was to operate from Kilrush to Ennis, persons with disabilities could then take the train to further destinations,” said Cllr Lynch.
 

Bernie English

Bishop tells Pontiff of determination to deal with clerical sex scandal 

BISHOP Willie Walsh had a personal meeting with the Pope last week to tell the Pontiff of his  determination that the diocese will never again suffer the scourge of child sex ause.
And he said that Pope Benedict and senior officials of the Vatican “accept that the issue has been handled very badly by us bishops.”
At then end of the talks in Rome, Bishop Wilie and the other Irish bishops discussed a letter that Pope Benedict plans to send to all Irish Catholics through their parishes in the next couple of weeks.
The bishop had to delay his plans to travel to Mombasa in Kenya last week when he got the call to Rome.
Bishop Walsh – who was summonsed along with the other Irish bishops - told the Pope what is being done in the diocese to “ensure as far as is humanly possible” that the “terrible crime” of clerical sex abuse will be wiped out.
Arriving direct from Rome to Mombasa to join 200 volunteers on the Clare-based Building of Hope Project, he agreed to speak on the Rome visit in an exclusive interview with The Clare People.
Bishop Walsh said that the Pontiff was deeply concerned about the issues and particularly what was being done to ensure there will be no more victims of the abuse. Each bishop had a chance to directly address the Pontiff on any aspect  of the issues and Bishop Walsh spoke to him about the measures taken in his diocese to prevent any reoccurance. He said their was a lot of emphasis during his meeting with the Pope on “ensuring that we had structures in place, in co-operation with the authorities, and to ensure those structures are working  properly”.
Having been granted a seven-minute audience with Pope Benedict and the vatican’s most senior  officials, the Bishop said it was “an opportunity to acknowledge the enormous sufering of victims”.
“They accept that the issue had been very badly handled by us as bishops and it was also a chance to point out what had been done over the past fifteen years.”
The Pope wanted to learn more fully about the Murphy Report and particulalry the Ryan  Report to “see how we would explain how this happened and an indication of the importance of it was that he spent the full time on Monday with us on it. We met from 9.30am until 1pm and from 4pm to 7pm with the Pope present as well as a number of senior officials from the Vatican.”
The bishop stressed that the  “important people in all this are the survivors of the abuse. We have a great deal done in the last 15 years [in Killaloe] putting structures in place that such abuse, as far as humanely possible, will never happen again and we were able to point that out to the Holy Father.”
Bishop Walsh said that there is the impression that since these revelations began that nothing has been done. “A great deal has been done to try to ensure that it will not happen again,” he said.
“The Killaloe diocese has three committees comprising professional people. One sets out the child protection policy of the diocese and this meets once a month. It’s made up of a parent, a  psychotherapist, a social worker and people skilled in counselling.
“Another committee deals with individual complaints and they meet if a complaint is made. I have to  make the ultimate decision but their advice would always weigh very heavily with me.
“A third committee deals with the healing process.”
He added that all of the complaints relating to the Killaloe diocese are “historical complaints”.
“None of  them are any more recent than fifteen years ago. That doesn’t lessen the gravity of that complaint but I think it does say that we have done something serious to root out this awful crime.”
Bishop Willie admited it has been “enormously stressful for the last six months – we’ve had the Ryan Report and the Dublin report, now we’re awaiting the Cloyne Report – but not for a moment would I would want to put any importance on that stress. The people who have had stress in this are the people  who have been abused – they have suffered enormously.
“There’s a whole atmosphere that by saying something that you might cause further suffering to those who have been abused and that’s the very last thing I would want,” he said.
Meanwhile, a parent-led campaign has got under way to prevent the Bishop of Galway, Martin Drennan, from taking over as patron of Seamount College in Kinvara.
At least four local parents have written to the One in Four organisation outlining their opposition to the embattled bishop being installed as patron to the all girls school.
The Department of Education is in discussions with the Sisters of Mercy to decide who will take over from the order as patron. Head of One in Four, Maeve Lewis, said that Bishop Drennan is not a suitable candidate to “protect the children” in the school.
 

Claire Gallagher

HE IS the bookie’s favourite but last night Minister for State, Tony Killeen (FF) still had no communication with the Taoiseach Brian Cowen about a possible promotion to the cabinet.
The Clare TD was quickly named as a possible successor to former Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea (FF) who resigned his post on Thursday night last.
While many speculate that the Taoiseach may postpone announcing the Limerick man’s replacement until a reshuffle in Easter, others expect the new minister will be named as early as this week.
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is now regarded the most senior politician in the mid-west and Paddy Power has installed him as its 2/1 favourite to be appointed to the newly vacated job. The 57-year-old former teacher and Clare County Councillor has held his current portfolio since 2008. Limerick East TD Peter Power (FF) is the 5/2 second favourite, followed by Government Chief Whip Pat Carey at 4/1.
Speaking to The Clare People last night (Monday), Minister Killeen said he has had no contact from his party leader and all he is hearing is speculation in the media.
Asked if he wants the job he said, “Everyone that is a politician is interested in being promoted to minister of state and to minister.” He added, “Of course, in terms of political influence it is the place to be.”
The Clare TD, who has recently battled cancer and highlighted the need for people to remain vigilant when it comes to their health, said he finished his chemotherapy nine months ago and had “received a number of clear tests since”.
Speaking about the loss of Deputy O’Dea to the cabinet, Minister Killeen said, “A senior ministry is always a loss to the mid-west or any region. Willie is probably a particular loss because he is a qualified barrister and accountant.”
Minister Killeen was not the only Fianna Fáil politician in Clare to speak of the Limerick man’s demise. Cllr Cathal Crowe is a friend and supporter of Deputy O’Dea for the last 11 years.
“Willie’s work rate on the ground is phenomenal. Even at 9pm last Thursday night, when news of his resignation was being broadcast on the airwaves, one of his clinics in Limerick City was taking place,” he said. “I am gutted that Willie has had to resign from the cabinet. Whilst he has made a very big mistake, I believe he has paid too heavy a price for his wrong-doing. As An Taoiseach now searches for a new minister to join his cabinet, I would like to pledge my full support to Tony Killeen TD,” said Cllr Crowe.

Claire Gallagher

IT IS unlikely that Shannon Airport will be the site of a Ryanair aircraft maintenance base, controversially proposed by Michael O’Leary for Hangar six in Dublin.
Last week the Government proposed to Ryanair that it could establish the new aircraft maintenance base at Shannon Airport after it said there was no legal mechanism by which the Government or the Dublin Aviation Authority could secure the Hangar 6 facility from Aer Lingus for Ryanair.
Shannon Development offered to accommodate the no frills airline in an existing or new hangar.
In correspondence with Ryanair the state company said it could offer the airline “grant support packages” and had a number of substantial greenfield landbanks with airside access available, if it would consider basing its maintenance facility at Shannon Airport.
However, Ryanair rejected this proposal out of hand.
It said its one condition to create the 300 jobs through a maintenance base had just one condition - that it could secure Hangar six at Dublin Airport.
“Hangar 6 fits Ryanair’s requirements, is not currently being utilised for the purpose for which it was built, and is in close proximity to a pool of highly skilled aviation engineers who formally worked for SRT. Ryanair will not be considering any other proposals,” Ryanair said.
Last night (Monday) a spokesperson for Shannon Development said it had no formal refusal yet from Mr O’Leary or Ryanair.
Meanwhile Clare TD Joe Carey (FG) is looking to other possible services at the airport for job creation.
The Fine Gael TD questioned the Government on the issues that were holding up the development of a Lynx Cargo facility at Shannon Airport.
Deputy Carey said he believed this facility could have enormous added benefit to the mid-west region and help create and sustain jobs.
 “The Lynx Cargo Facility has been several years in the pipeline. I came across a press release recently from Shannon Development in 2004 highlighting the advantages of such a facility for Shannon and the mid-west. So for Government to now suddenly realise that EU competition or other such issues need to be addressed it a bit rich.
“It goes back to a question of political will. We know that the cargo facility could have enormous benefit for the region. The Mid West Taskforce chairman has identified it as a key for the area.
He said the Taoiseach said in reply to his Dáil question that the Government would assess how the current pre-clearance facilities operate and then decide.

Andrew Hamilton

Artistic funding in Clare has been dramatically cut over the last three years, with figures just released by the Arts Council indicating a 15 per cent drop in funding for major projects in just two years.
The largest single drop was in the funding that the Arts Council gave to Clare County Council for the support of local artists which fell from €115,000 in 2008 to just €87,000 this year.
The four main Clare organisations funded by the Arts Council - Clare County Council, Glór, the Willie Clancy Summer School, and Salmon Poetry - saw a combined funding of €352,000 in 2008 drop to €332,000 in 2009 and €302,000 for this year.
Despite these drops, worse news is likely to come when the funding for smaller individual organisations or projects is confirmed later in the year.
In 2008, Arts Council funding for Clare projects through the Bursary Awards, Commissions and the Deis Award Scheme totalled more than €150,000. Funding under the same three schemes for 2009 totalled just €25,500 for Clare groups last year, with a further cut likely to be enforced this year.
Despite these cuts, the chairman of the Arts Council, Pat Moylan, was largely upbeat about the prospects of Clare artists in the year ahead.
“The council sought to ensure that organisations continue to bring the best of the arts to audiences across Ireland,” he said.
“The council prioritised regional balance, where key venues and festivals have been supported to produce the best of the arts for people right across the country. In addition, the Arts Council has established a new fund for touring; this will extend the life of productions, exhibitions and performances, and ensure more people experience the arts in 2010.”
A total of €307,000 in funding for Clare projects was announced by the Arts Council last week.
This funding was awarded to Glór (€90,000), Clare County Council (€87,000), the Willie Clancy Summer School (€85,000), Salmon Poetry (€40,000) and the Irish Pipe Band Association (€5,000).
Besides cuts to its Arts Council funding, Glór has also seen a sizable cut in the amount of money being given to the centre by Clare and Ennis County Councils. The venue will receive €47,000 less in funding from the local authorities in 2010 than it did in 2009.