Tag Archives: Ennis

Yesterday.

Shannonwatch released a statement, following the arrest of two US veterans, aged 77 and 82, at Shannon Airport on Sunday.

The two men were charged with causing €2,500 worth of criminal damage to the airport perimeter fence at Shannon Airport and unlawful trespass into a taxi-way at the airport.

Shannonwatch wrote:

“Two US veterans were arrested at Shannon Airport on 17 March for entering the airfield to inspect and investigate an OMNI Air International plane on contract to the U.S. military. The two, Tarak Kauff and Ken Mayers, were refused bail at Ennis District Court today.

The plane, tail number N351AX, arrived at Shannon Airport about 8.30am from Eielson US air force base in Faribanks Alaska, believed to be on its way to the Middle East with up to 300 armed US troops.

At about 10am Mayers, a former Marine Corps Major and Kauff, a former Army paratrooper, both members of US Veterans For Peace, entered the airfield carrying a large banner that said:

U.S. Veterans say

Respect Irish Neutrality

U.S. War Machine out of Shannon Airport

Veterans For Peace

The two walked across the air field with the intent of inspecting the plane for weapons or munitions, but were apprehended by airport security and gardai.

There were detained and interviewed at Shannon Garda station and held overnight for arraignment on charges of trespass and criminal damage.

At Ennis District Court [yesterday] morning Mayers and Kauff were represented by solicitor Darragh Hassett.

The prosecution outlined the charges against them and indicated that they were opposed to bail.

Garda Sergeant Noel Carroll gave evidence of arrest on Taxiway 12 at Shannon airport. He also stated that there was a US military aircraft at the airport, most likely referring to OMNI Air N351AX.

He also confirmed that the defendants were both veterans of the US military.

The prosecutor, Inspector Thomas Kennedy, said there had been substantial damage to the airport perimeter fence.

When the bail issue was being discussed solicitor Hassett initially stated that the defendants were prepared to agree to bail conditions that involved surrendering their passports, and remaining in Ireland for the duration of the legal processes.

This was an unacceptable condition as it would mean that the defendants would have to remain in Ireland at their own expense for up to two years before the trial would occur, and this restriction amounts to punishment without trial.

The defendants then requested an adjournment to discuss matters with their solicitor.

After the court resumed, Hassett emphasised that the defendants needed to return home to the USA and would sign a sworn undertaking to return for trial.

The prosecution opposed this and continued to oppose the granting of any bail.

Judge Maire Keane then ruled that she was denying bail to the accused and remanded them in custody to Limerick Prison, where they are to appear for a further court mention hearing by video from the prison on Wednesday, 20 March.

Further discussions were then held with solicitor Hassett.

He raised the option of appealing the bail refusal to the High Court in Dublin and he was told to lodge such an appeal.

He indicated that it would likely be Thursday, 28 March, before this High Court appeal would be heard.”

Two US Veterans For Peace Refused Bail at Ennis District Court (Shannonwatch)

Two former US servicemen remanded over damage to Shannon Airport fence (Gordon Deegan, The Irish Times)

Previously: Cleared for Takeoff

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Clerk 5Ennis rapper appearing live in Cork

What you may need to know…

01. Hailing from Ennis, Co. Clare is Clerk 5, one of a host of hip-hop people to have emerged from the Clare/Limerick area to form a good part of the basis of the current hip-hop community in Ireland.

02. A quiet man online, he’s last been seen collaborating with Limerick beats don Naive Ted (and his partner Deviant), on E.P. Authority Figures.

03. The E.P. is streaming and available for free download, above, and even comes with the instrumentals if it takes your fancy.

04. On Tuesday week, he’ll be making a live appearance at the Brú Bar with fellow Ted collaborator Spekulativ Fiktion, with Cork cutman JusMe on the decks.

Verdict: Rapid-fire with words, and possessed of an intensity of cadence that adds to the tension in his verbiage.

Clerk5

Rusangano

Rusangano Family – launching album Let the Dead Bury the Dead throughout April

What you may need to know…

1. From an intersection of cultures, to the forefront of Irish hip-hop, Limerick/Zimbabwean outfit Rusangano Family have come into their own since assuming the name for their collaborative efforts in late 2014.

2. In keeping with themes of society, identity, belonging, and the celebration of difference and diversity, the trio specialises in a fusion of hip-hop and electronic sounds/sub-genres.

3. Comprised of DJ mynameisj0hn, and MCs GodKnows and Murli, the project came about from their collaborative work in 2013, which resulted in that year’s EP with producer Graeme S, and their first album (and namesake) Rusangano/Family in May 2014.

4. The resultant critical acclaim for their records and riotous live excursions led to supports for Snoop Dogg, Run the Jewels, Young Fathers and BadBadNotGood, as well as festival appearances all over the country. Most recently, they went Stateside to play this month’s SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.

5. Second LP Let the Dead Bury the Dead releases this month, preceded by single Heathrow (streaming above, featuring Windings/Givemanakick man Steve Ryan on guitar), unveiled late last year.

6. The band explains the long-player’s somewhat cryptic title: “Let the Dead Bury the Dead can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. A phrase that conjures ideas of regret, remorse, hope, change, letting go and the resolve to follow one’s own path. To move forward, we must also leave things behind.”

7. The trio are launching the record with a string of dates around Ireland throughout April. Friday the 8th sees them hit The Kino in Cork with Lakerama in support, while on Saturday the 9th, they head for Dublin’s Sugar Club with support from Ben Bix and Feather. Friday the 22nd, they’ll be at Dolan’s Warehouse in Limerick, before playing DeBarra’s in Clonakilty on Saturday the 23rd.

Verdict: One of the country’s most exciting live acts, and one of our most vital and forward-thinking propositions, full stop. Get involved.

Rusangano Family

railflood

Iarnród Éireann’s Limerick to Ennis line is closed due to flooding for approximately SIX weeks.

A spokesperson writes:

The Limerick/Ennis line has flooded following a significant increase in water levels at Ballycar Lough due to the recent sustained heavy rainfall, and the slow draining nature of the karst landscape in the area. Should the recent rainfall patterns persist, this will extend significantly the duration of the closure of the rail line.  Iarnród Éireann had raised the track level by 60 centimetres at Ballycar in 2003 to mitigate against the effects of flooding. However, the current flood levels are at least 50 centimetres over the rail head and rising.

Flooding: Bus transfers between Limerick and Ennis to continue for weeks (Iarnród Éireann)

Pic: Iarnród Éireann