Galway Advertiser 2006/2006_02_16/GA_1602_E1_026.pdf 

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26 N E W S

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

February 16 2006

Parked car took brunt of Loughrea man's frustration with friends
A Loughrea mechanic vented his frustration and kicked a parked car causing more than 400 of damage following a row with friends outside a night-club in Galway city last year. Martin Lohan, Mount Carmel, Loughrea, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court this week to causing 425 worth of damage to a car parked at Market Street, Galway, in the early hours of February 19 last year. Inspector John Galvin told the court the accused and a group of friends had been arguing outside a night-club and as gardai approached they heard glass breaking. It transpired that Lohan had kicked a parked car while arguing with friends and the cost of repairing it was 425. Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said his client was in a night-club with a friend who got into an argument with another friend and his girlfriend. Everyone was ejected except his client who followed the others outside. As he intervened to stop his friends from fighting his friend's girlfriend turned on him and in sheer frustration he kicked out at a car parked nearby. Mr MacLynn said Lohan had 400 compensation in court which was accepted by Sergeant Willie Byrne on behalf of the car's owner. Inspector Galvin said Lohan had previous convictions for two public order offences. Judge Mary Fahy convicted and fined Lohan 300 for causing the criminal damage.

City in line for a `much reduced' clamping system?
BY KERNAN ANDREWS Galway could be in line for a "very different" and "much reduced" clamping system in the near future but it all depends on an upcoming report to the Galway City Council. In November the Mayor of Galway Cllr Brian Walsh called on councillors to become involved in a working group he set up to look at alternatives to clamping. Among his suggestions were for a clamping service run by the city council and not by a private company and for clamping to only be used in exceptional cases. The Mayor was determined for councillors to have a say in new proposals for dealing with illegal parking, drafted by City Hall officials, and which came before council at a special meeting last week. According to the Mayor he did not want to see the report coming back before councillors and presented to them "as a fait accompli" they were to rubber stamp. "I wanted the report to reflect the views and ideas of the councillors," he said. At the meeting many options were put on the table and proposals presented. The overall view was that clamping itself was not damaging the city's reputation but the way clamping was being operated. The city manager Joe McGrath said he would examine the proposals but they needed to be discussed with staff and the economic and budgetary affects had to be taken into consideration. City Hall officials will come back at the end of this month with a report on the cost and income implications of the changes. The proposals are not being made public until staff have been fully consulted on them but it is understood that should the new proposals be accepted it will result in a much reduced and very different clamping system to the one currently in operation.

Pictured at the National Breast Cancer Research Institute Valentine's Ball in the Radisson Hotel last weekend was Claire Moran. Photo: Martina Regan

Saturday night gala to raise funds for Enable Ireland
BY SINEAD MCGOVERN It is hoped that a gala concert which will be held in the Town Hall Theatre this Saturday, will go some way towards raising some of the 600,000 needed to built a hydrotherapy treatment pool for Enable Ireland. The gala is being organised by More than Friends, a group of friends who have combined their musical abilities to fundraise for Enable Ireland. Under the stewardship of its chairperson, Delia Boyce, the More than Music group has organised this weekend's gala which will feature the direction of Brian and Sean Power, the musical baton of Philip Short, and performances from the Contempo String Quartet, Cois Cladaigh, the Mervue Folk Choir. Male performers will include Frank Naughton, Sean Costello, Dave Langan, Martin Boyce, Kenneth Long, and Kenneth Kennedy, and representing female talent will be Jacqui Kenny, Delia Boyce, Mary Boyce, and Clare Barrett. Young stars from the Encore Youth Theatre, Celine Hession Dancers, and NRG performers will also contribute to the night. Enable Ireland is a local organisation established in 1996, which provides an integrated team assessment and therapy service for children with physical and sensory disabilities in both Galway city and county, as well as support services for their families. The gala concert will be held in the Town Hall Theatre this Saturday night. Tickets are Sisters Mary and Delia Boyce pictured with Galway senior hurler David Tierney at the launch of available now at (091) 567999. 'More Than Music', a gala concert in aid of Enable Ireland Galway, at Moffetts Restaurant NUI, Galway. The show takes place at the Town Hall Theatre this Saturday.

Wine sampling in the Great Southern Hotel
A wine tasting event hosted by Jakob Gerhardt Wines was held in the Great Southern Hotel recently. Based in the German region of Nierstein, Jakob Gerhardt Wines has been producing wines for 257 years. Today it has vineyards in virtually every wine producing country in the world, from China to Chile. All of Jakob Gerhardt's wines are produced using only hand harvested grapes, and with a range of more than 320 wines, as well as brandy, sherry, ports, and liqueurs, they have something to suit all palates.