Latest news with #Kiltegan


Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Championship draws in Wicklow's top three grades produce intriguing pairings
Group-toppers Baltinglass and Kiltegan will face off in the quarter-finals of the Boom and Platform Hire Senior Football Championship.


Irish Times
28-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Eight facial reconstruction surgeries later, my cancer and most of my face were gone. Until the cancer came back
When I was younger, I used to hear the phrase, 'your health is your wealth!' In truth, in my youth I didn't fully appreciate or understand it. But as one enters life's departure lounge, reflection takes its own hold. My first encounter with the word ' cancer ' came in the late 1990s. I had spent two months in the Bon Secours Hospital in Glasnevin when my illness was first discovered. It was a large tumour on my face making its way steadily towards my brain. Eight facial reconstruction surgeries later and it was gone, along with much of my face – only to return again 10 years later. There is something truly terrifying about looking at yourself in a mirror and not recognising who is on the other end, an Elephant Man moment that lingered, with only the passage of time a real healer. There is a deep sense of loss, a finality, yet a sense too of the beginning of something brand new. Having had more than 50 growths removed, part of an illness called Gorlin syndrome, and then to find out you have severe Crohn's disease, certainly has an impact on the mind. READ MORE For me there is almost a beauty in facing these obstacles. Time and time again, I have had to push myself through the pain barrier to realise there is a freedom that awaits on the other side. Before I helped to form the band Stockton's Wing in 1977, it was my intention to join the priesthood. I had applied to enter the seminary in Kiltegan. My mother thought it was not a good idea, so I took her advice. The name Stockton's Wing is something I get asked about a lot. The band had entered a music competition called Céili '78, as part of Limerick Civic Week. It was a Sunday night and we had to decide on a name by first post on Monday. Sitting in Mike and Kieran Hanrahan's house in Ennis, their brother Gerard had just bought Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run album. He was reading the lyrics to the song Backstreets with its line 'Slow dancin' in the dark on the beach at Stockton's Wing, where desperate lovers park to meet the last of the Duke Street Kings.' And that is where we first came across the name Stockton's Wing. It's a little place in New Jersey. There were 35 bands in the traditional music category at Céili '78 and 35 in the rock section. Both events took place simultaneously, ours at the Glentworth Hotel; the rock section at the Savoy Cinema. Stockton's Wing won out among the traddies, while U2 won the rock event. That is about all we ever had in common. But we had our own modicum of success too. We went on to tour the world and share the same stage as Prince, Michael Jackson, Jackson Brown, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli and Sammy Davis jnr in the US. Closer to home, we performed with Planxty, Moving Hearts, De Danann and many more. This was commonplace too with those groups throughout Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. After more than 30 years with the band, I decided to concentrate on my own music, and spent many happy years accompanying singers Seán Keane and Finbar Furey. More recently, I feel very blessed and privileged that my music has been recorded by groups such as Lúnasa, Capercaillie, Four Men and a Dog, Cherish the Ladies, Natalie MacMaster, the Nova Scotia Symphony Orchestra, Mike McGoldrick, the Kilfenora Ceili Band, Noel Hill, Scythian and many, many others besides. From those early days, fast-forward 35 years to when my illness began. As a young man, I felt very connected to Our Lady, both parents having a devotion to Lourdes. So, I sought the intercession of our Blessed Mother. I went to visit a grotto on one of my first days in recovery. Like Henry David Thoreau, I sat and listened to my thoughts and there was a song in them. I sat for what seemed like minutes, but in fact I was there for hours. Overwhelmed with a feeling of joy and elation, I felt the true meaning of my life had yet to reveal itself to me. Within weeks of what for me was a form of spiritual newness, I began writing words and music at a prolific rate. The language was universal and the music was of the heart, almost bypassing the mind. Reach out for the love that surrounds you, see it in yourself, see it in others, be humble, share in it, for love is truly all there is. The results have found their way into a book, featuring these various compositions and musings. Titled Duchas, Dóchas sa Dorchadas. From Heritage, Hope in the Darkness, it will be published later this year. Maurice Lennon won the senior All-Ireland fiddle title in 1977 at the age of 17. Founder member of Stockton's Wing he performed with them worldwide and, in 2023, was awarded the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award for composition. Based between France and Ireland, he tours with his own trio, which includes Ciara Brennan and Chris Dawson


Irish Times
28-06-2025
- Irish Times
Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald had other weapons, Garda investigation found
Evan Fitzgerald , the gunman who fired shots into the air in a Carlow shopping centre before taking his own life, had possession of more weapons than previously reported, it has emerged. On June 1st, Mr Fitzgerald (22) entered the busy Fairgreen Shopping Centre and using a pump action shotgun, stolen in a burglary from a neighbour, began firing shots in the air before turning the gun on himself. At the time, the former steelyard worker from Portrushen, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, was facing charges for possession of a military grade assault rifle, a handgun and ammunition which he had allegedly attempted to buy on the dark web. Undercover gardaí sold him the guns, which they had decommissioned, after being tipped off that Mr Fitzgerald was attempting to source weapons on the internet. READ MORE Armed officers then forcibly stopped his car and arrested him a short time later. It has now emerged that following the shooting incident in Fairgreen Shopping Centre, gardaí located further weapons, which have been conclusively linked to Mr Fitzgerald. Gardaí carried out several searches following the incident to determine Mr Fitzgerald's motive that day. During these searches they found another shotgun and a replica firearm. A big concern for investigators is that they have been unable to determine the source of these items. They may have been taken in a burglary or sourced online, sources say. The Garda has faced significant criticism is recent weeks for its handling of the Fitzgerald case. Senator and former minister for justice Michael McDowell described the Garda operation to sell him the guns as 'entrapment' and claimed misleading evidence had been provided to the District Court judge in Mr Fitzgerald's case. Mr McDowell had raised court reports that suggested gardaí had told the judge they were 'investigating' how Mr Fitzgerald acquired the guns. The Garda has referred these comments to Fiosrú , the Garda Ombudsman. Labour TD Alan Kelly questioned the need for gardaí to deliver the weapons to Mr Fitzgerald, describing him as a 'poor, tragic, vulnerable individual'. Gardaí have defended their handling of the case and said they used internationally accepted tactics in the interests of public safety. Senior sources said they accepted Mr Fitzgerald was a vulnerable person with mental issues and that he did not have links to terrorism or organised crime. However, they could not rule out that he was planning a mass shooting of the type seen in the United States and other countries in recent years. They said investigations show the young man shared some characteristics of mass shooters, including a fascination with firearms and feelings of deep isolation. As part of the investigation, they have been examining Mr Fitzgerald's internet use to determine if he may have been under the influence of violent online figures. Investigators pointed to the fact that searches of Mr Fitzgerald's home led to the discovery of ammunition and material which could be used to make explosives. On Thursday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and his deputy Justin Kelly defended their handling of the case, with the commissioner raising the recent school shooting 'by a lone gunman' in Austria which left 11 people dead. 'This is sadly a more frequent occurrence,' Mr Harris told a meeting of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee. 'There is very insidious material on the internet which seeks to radicalise young people. We have to look at the individual and the threat to the general public and deal with that appropriately. 'I have to say, this was a very successful operation in that we made sure a threat to the public did not arise from the circumstances we were dealing with.' There was 'no other way of doing it', Mr Harris said. The suicide of Mr Fitzgerald was 'obviously very tragic' but did not arise from the Garda operation, he added. Since his death, the firearms case against Mr Fitzgerald has been withdrawn. Two other young men who were allegedly in the car when gardaí stopped Mr Fitzgerald with the firearms remain before the court. Daniel Quinn Burke, of Allendale Lawns, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow has entered a guilty plea to the charges while his co-accused Shane Kinsella, of Tynock, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow has yet to enter a plea.


Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Irish Times
Gardaí accused in Seanad of ‘concealing facts' from judge in Evan Fitzgerald case
Gardaí involved in the case of Evan Fitzgerald , who took his own life in a Carlow shopping centre, were accused of 'concealing' the 'true facts' from a judge when he was deciding whether to grant bail. Undercover gardaí supplied guns and ammunition to Mr Fitzgerald – who was then charged with possession of the firearms. While awaiting trial on the firearms charges, Mr Fitzgerald (22), from Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, stole another weapon from a neighbour and fired shots in the shopping centre before turning that gun on himself . Using Seanad privilege, Independent Senator Michael McDowell outlined details of Mr Fitzgerald's case as he accused undercover gardaí, who supplied the 22-year-old with seized weapons, of 'entrapment'. READ MORE Raising the issue for the second time in the Seanad he demanded 'an immediate investigation and full accountability from the Commissioner down' over how sworn evidence could be given to a District Court judge 'which was misleading and left him in the dark'. He said Mr Fitzgerald sought firearms on 'the proton email aspect of the dark web. Apparently Interpol or some other international agency alerted the Garda to this inquiry'. Gardaí did a deal with him 'in which they persuaded him to take an automatic rifle and a semi-automatic pistol for a price of €2,700″. When they arranged a meeting 'Mr Fitzgerald came with two childhood friends, and they took delivery of the firearms in one of his friend's cars. 'The car proceeded some distance away to another place, where it was intercepted by members of An Garda Síochána, who smashed the windows, dragged out the occupants and made an arrest.' The weapons they bought 'had been disabled, were not capable of discharge and were taken from the Garda's own reservoir of seized firearms'. He said gardaí initially opposed bail when the matter came before the District Court. 'When bail on certain conditions was eventually granted, Judge Desmond Zaidan, who said the three men 'appeared to him to be young and naive', asked: 'When you say the dark web, do you have any idea who was selling them on the dark web?' 'A garda told him in sworn evidence: 'that is an ongoing investigation. At this stage I wouldn't want to ...', and the judge said: 'compromise the trial', and the garda said: 'That is an ongoing investigation on the dark web.'' Mr McDowell said gardaí had informed the court the three wanted the weapons to shoot them in the woods but 'gardaí wanted to deprive them of bail, which meant being imprisoned pending trial'. Calling for an immediate investigation and 'full accountability', Mr McDowell said the judge was left in the dark as were the three accused who were prohibited from communicating with each other for a whole year. 'In that dark despairing year, Evan Fitzgerald decided to take his own life by shooting himself with a neighbour's shotgun. That is what happened, and I am demanding that there is accountability.' The former attorney general and minister for justice said 'we cannot tolerate untruths being told to an Irish District Court judge and we certainly cannot allow a situation where the judicial process is deployed on a false basis to deprive people of their liberty and to conceal from members of the judiciary the true facts when they are determining whether someone should be granted bail.' He said 'we should be very conscious in this House of the nature of the powers we are conferring on An Garda Síochána and the seriousness of any abuse of those powers'. Mr McDowell was speaking during a debate on the extension of counter-terrorism and anti-crime gang emergency powers under the Offences Against the State Act and the Criminal Justice Act.


Irish Times
21-06-2025
- Irish Times
Carlow shooting witness says she saw gunman with another male
Evan Fitzgerald , the gunman who fired shots into the air in a Carlow shopping centre before taking his own life, interacted with another young man before opening fire, according to a witness statement taken by gardaí . The witness also described how, before the shooting, she pleaded with Mr Fitzgerald not to do anything after he told her 'this is going to be really loud'. Mr Fitzgerald (22), a steelyard worker from Portrushen, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, fired a number of shots into the air in the busy Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow Town at about 6.15pm on Sunday, June 1st, before taking his own life. At the time he was facing charges relating to the possession of a military rifle and handgun which he had allegedly attempted to buy on the dark web. READ MORE It has since emerged undercover gardaí sold him the guns, which they had decommissioned, after being tipped off that Mr Fitzgerald was attempting to source weapons on the internet. The exact reason behind Mr Fitzgerald's decision to open fire in the shopping centre remains unclear. All the shots were fired into the air and gardaí have said they do not believe he intended to harm anyone. Garda sources say CCTV shows Mr Fitzgerald entering the shopping centre alone and that there is nothing to indicate he was acting with others. One woman, who asked not to be identified due to security concerns, said she was upstairs in the shopping centre nursing her newborn baby when she spotted Mr Fitzgerald and another young man. She said the pair were standing near some amusement machines and that one of the men was going through a bag. 'They were smiling at each other, and he was showing something to the other guy. The other guy had his phone out and holding it in a way that kind of looked like he was filming,' the woman told The Irish Times. 'They were definitely together. There was no doubt about that.' She said the 'taller, thinner' young man then departed the scene, leaving Mr Fitzgerald behind. The woman, who worked as a teacher, said she suspected Mr Fitzgerald was 'getting up to mischief'. Mr Fitzgerald then passed the woman as she was holding her newborn. 'He looked at me and said, 'just so you know, this is going to be really loud',' she said. The woman said she responded 'how about don't, then'. She repeated this a number of times but the man ignored her. She said he had an object in his hand which she thought may have been a paintball gun. Mr Fitzgerald did not seem agitated and upset at this point, she said. Mr Fitzgerald then left the area and went down the stairs. He passed the woman's partner who was coming up to join her. The man had noticed that Mr Fitzgerald was holding a shotgun and told his partner they needed to hide. The couple and their baby hid in a conference room where they heard six or seven shots. Both were left badly shaken by the incident. Gardaí later took statements from both witnesses. The woman, whose mother was downstairs by the Tesco store, said she thought people in the shopping centre were being shot. It took a long time for her to verify her mother was safe, she said. The woman's mother said she took cover behind some trolleys while the shots went off. 'I was laying there on my belly, hoping he wouldn't notice me,' she said. 'I laid there for the longest time, until I started hearing the gates of the Tesco coming down. 'So I stood up, and then a lovely police officer came over, and he just ushered me out the door and said go home. 'I had no idea where my family were. The first shot, for all I knew, killed my grandson.'