Month: July 2007

A LARGE group of residents of the Cluain Airne estate have expressed their concerns about a proposal for a new affordable housing development of 60 homes on their doorstep.

Residents are particularly worried about access, parking and the possi- bility of anti-social behaviour among other issues, according to the secre- tary of a committee set up in opposi- tion to the plans.

Nicole Murphy said that existing problems with access and parking in the area would get worse if the devel-

opment went ahead.

“As it 1s, 1f there 1s a match on at the local pitch, the traffic is so bad at the entrance that you often have to reverse around the corner, which is already dangerous.

“The parking situation is crazy too because many houses have more than one car. Some people are parking on the grass areas and this development could mean 120 more cars,” said Ms Murphy.

She said other potential issues of concern include flooding, sewer- age, privacy, the requirement for a percentage of the development to

be council houses and concerns that property values will drop for all of these reasons.

“We all appreciate that people need housing but a lot of the long standing residents will face serious upheav- al. From the plans, it looks like the communal green area will be taken away and yet, all the new houses will have gardens and drives. They want to put a playground and a leisure centre right outside our front doors. How late these will be open? Who will maintain and patrol them and where will these extra people park?” she asked.

Ms Murphy said that out of the 178 houses in the existing development, around 140 residents signed a peti- tion opposing the development, 30 had not yet answered and only an estimated eight so far are happy with the plan.

“We feel that there is probably at least 100 acres elsewhere in the town so why can’t these houses be built on that land?” she said.

She urged all Cluain Airne resi- dents to attend a public meeting on Monday, July 9, at 8pm in the Oak- wood Arms to discuss the develop- ment and possible concerns.

A MAN died on Sunday after he was washed into the sea while fishing at a notoriously dangerous location near Doonbeg where as many as I1 lives have been lost in the past.

The Moldovan national had trav- elled from Limerick along with three friends to go fishing at the Blue Pool between Kilkee and Doonbeg. It 1s thought that he was washed from the rocks by a rogue wave. His body was recovered at around 3pm by mem-

bers of the Kilkee Rescue Unit.

Gardai have confirmed that they are treating the incident as an accident.

The alarm was raised after two of the four men had returned to Lim- erick. They are understood to have gone to Henry Street Garda station to report the incident prompting a search and rescue operation. Gardai say, however, that they do not believe that there is anything sinister in this and said the men returned to Kilkee Fiore

A Garda spokesman confirmed,

“We are treating this incident as a tragic accident. We have spoken to several eyewitnesses who were at the scene as well as the victim’s friends.”

When the alarm was originally raised at 12.45pm an exact location was not known So rescue crews could only stand by waiting for further in- formation. Shortly before 3pm, Kil- kee Marine Rescue Unit was scram- bled to the Blue Pool just south of Doonbeg where they quickly located the body of a man.

The body was later taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where a post mortem ex- amination was carried out yesterday (Monday).

Water Safety Development Of- ficer for Clare County Council, Liam Griffin, has again warned about the dangers of the Blue Pool.

“This 1s a very dangerous location and has been for many years. Several lives have been lost at the Blue Pool in the past. We have erected signs at the location and have repeatedly

advised people to avoid the area be- cause of the dangers there.”

Last November, a 27 year-old man died in front of his wife and child When he was swept into the sea while fishing at the same location. The Latvian man had been living in Athlone and had travelled to the Blue Pool with his wife and eight year-old son when he was washed into the sea before their eyes. Last week, a Hungarian student died tragically af- ter falling from the Cliffs of Moher while taking photographs.

SOMETHING truly remarkable took place in Tubber National School this year. In the seven months be- tween September of 2006 and May of 2007, 17 children from the north Clare school read an amazing 2086 books, or one book for each child every two days.

This sudden addiction to the writ- ten word came through the schools participation in the ‘Transatlantic Reading Challenge. The reading challenge was set up between some 20 school in Clare and a number of school in Canada to encourage stu- dents to read more books.

“Each child was given a reading log at the beginning of the year and this log was used to record each book they read. In total the children of the school read 2086 books. There was 17 pupils involved so that means that in the seven month period from Sep- tember to the end of May, on average 111 books were read per child in the school,’ said a spokesperson from the school.

“We actively encouraged reading this year, we ran a number of ini- tiatives in the school such as paired reading, we got involved in the MS Readathon and we set up a Reading Buddies scheme. It became part of the curriculum but we also encour-

aged them to read from outside of it”

The Reading Buddies Scheme sees children paired off, with each child helping to support his or her partner in their own reading.

“It is an initiative that is used in a lot of schools to promote literacy and to help reluctant readers to read in a comfortable and encouraging envi- ronment. It gives them a support net- work, they can both get together and help one another with any difficult words and with the filling out the log,” continued the spokesperson.

“They were devouring books, I just couldn’t get over it. It really started to gain momentum as it went on. The

children have got a real respect for books and it is a life-long still for them. It’s the road to knowledge but it’s also a road to a more fulfilling and happy life.”

Amazingly for such a small school, Tubber came second of the 20 Clare schools in the competition. To mark their achievement, Chairman of Clare County Council’s Community and Cultural SPC, Councillor Pat Hayes, present a plaque to Lisa Mc- Mahon of Tubber National School last week.

AFTER a long winter break, big time music is returning to Doolin this summer with the relaunch of the Best for the West series of concerts at Magnetic Music.

This years series of 12 events will see some of the country’s most pro- lific musicians and singers descend- ing on the village between now and the beginning of September.

The series opens on Thursday, July 19, with a concert from new folk wizards Beoga. The five-piece tradi- tional band from Antrim was drawn together after jamming in a fero- cious music session at the All-Ire- land Fleadh in August 2002. Their

unique sound features the twin du- eling accordions of Sean Og Graham and Damien McKee, along with four times All-Ireland bodhran champion Eamon Murray and pianist Liam Bradley.

Over the last couple of years Beoga have followed a busy European tour schedule, which included headlining various prestigious festivals includ- ing performances on the Guinness Irish Christmas tour of Austria, the German Irish Folk Festival tour along with Solas and Kevin Burke and the Irish Unplugged Tour of Holland, with the Fureys and Davey Arthur.

The group have just released their second eagerly awaited album Mis-

chief which contains more of their self-composed material, played in their own highly individualistic style.

Following Beoga, Emer Mayock, Donal Siggins and Robert Harris of Afro Celt Sound System fame will bring their eclectic mix of traditional and self penned tunes accompanied by guitar and bodhran to Magnetic Music on Sunday, July 22. Six days later, fiddle and concertina virtuo- So of Riverdance fame, Niamh Ni Charra and Mike Galvin will be live on stage before the free Irish Music Table Quiz on July 29.

Indeed their will be a series of free Irish Music Table Quiz’s through- out the summer with extra events on

August 5 and 12. On August 3, Pad- raic O’Reilly and the Corofin String Quartet will take to the stage with legendary Cork singer songwriter John Spillane performing on the fol- lowing night.

Other concerts include MacDara and Friends on August 10, Niamh Parsons and Graham Dunne on Au- gust 25, Patricia Daly and the Span- ish-Lady Ensemble on August 31 and the Outside Track on August 8.

Doors for all concerts at 9.30pm, families are welcome with small children sitting on the lap free and children from 10 to 14 years half je ulGen

For more information call 7074988 or check out magnetic-music.com.

OUTGOING mayor Councillor Stephen O’Gorman was full of praise for his native town as he wore the chain of office for the last time.

“I could speak all night about how Kilrush is progressing at a very fast rate,’ he said pointing to the many achievements of the town over the past 12 months.

During his reign as mayor, the John Paul Estate resident also faced down anti-social behaviour in his area and suffered the consequences.

In his parting speech he thanked the people of Kilrush “who stood by me in tough times and especially the residents of John Paul Estate’.

It was at the end of his term in of- fice that the Fianna Fail town coun- cillor saw the beginning of the pilot scheme for the regeneration project at John Paul Estate – a project close to his heart.

This was just one of the many things he highlighted as the chang- ing face of Kilrush.

The outgoing mayor pointed to the decentralisation of the Revenue

offices to the west Clare capital ex- pected in a few weeks as just one of the positive changes ahead.

He also spoke of the employment brought to the town by the planned Tesco centre, the Place de Plouzane shopping centre, the development at Glynn’s Mills on Hector Street, and the €40 million investment at the marina.

He welcomed broadband to Kil- rush, the construction work at Quay’s Mills and the opening of the Com- haltas building. He praised the work of the Tidy Towns for securing the

silver medal last year and hoped for news of gold this year.

He told the Annual General Meet- ing of the town council that among his greatest memories from his sec- ond year, aS mayor was the two visits by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to the town and the civic reception for the crew of “the Spirit of Kilrush”.

‘To be born and reared in Kilrush and become mayor of your own town is a great honour,’ he told council- Kovacs

“Working together is the key to the future.”

that the former Church of Ireland building will eventually be promoted as one of the area’s many tourist attractions.

“Because it looks such a fantastic building and due to its association SLAC MM A SCoM A BOLO CoLUDMmBECDOODURVam- DELO MMU STe associated history it will probably become a tourist attraction. We hope to do something about the history

and put it in the building so visitors can see it when they walk around. The tea rooms are there for people to relax afterwards,’ he said.

The outside of the building has retained its authentic look while an estimated €1 million has brought it back to its former glory.

A stage has also been built, with a seating capacity of 130.

The building had been unoccupied for decades and gone into ruin, be- fore a Kilrush Development group – KCDL took it over from the Church of Ireland.

The group had visions for a com- munity but ran out of money after the roof and stonework was completed.

The group approached Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, and with the

blessing of the Church of Ireland the promoter of Irish music and dance took it over and developed it as one of its teach cheoil.

There were just fragments of the original three stained glass windows in place one year ago, but they have now been restored to their original glory with one having pride of place okoaVb NCO M Wa Cow SLAC: IXen

Mr Whelan described the acoustics of the building as “spot on”.

“It is ideal for concerts and seisiun. Musicians will love to use it,’ he Sr HLG

Teach Cheoil Chill Rois will serve as an outreach centre from Cois na hAbhna, the Comhaltas Regional Resource Centre in Ennis.

Classes will begin there in Septem-

ber with “Seisiun” tomorrow evening (Wednesday).

“The primary focus of the teach cheoil will be to promote Comhaltas and related activities. We also hope to encourage the communities to use the facility and resources,’ said Mr We ated een ee

Comhaltas plans to have the build- ing open for inquiries on a daily ba- sis, and eventually have daily activi- ties at the centre.

The grounds of the teach cheoil have been separated from the grave- yard by a railing and a separate en- trance put in place.

TWELVE members of the Clare branch of the Irish Red Cross are making final preparations ahead of their participation in the biggest first aid event to be held anywhere in the world this year.

Members have been put on high alert ahead of the FACE Internation- al First Aid Competition, which will take place in Ireland for the very first time at the University of Limerick this Saturday, July 7.

More than one thousand people from 26 countries right across Eu- rope will travel to Ireland for the competition. As hosts, the Irish Red Cross members are prevented from taking part in the competition itself, but will have the greater task of man- aging the safety of the competitors as they take on the designed scenarios.

The competitors will face more than a dozen specially constructed disaster scenarios which will each use the latest of special effects tech- nology to make the situation as real- istic as possible.

According to John Costin of the Clare Red Cross, the members will never have faced a more demand- ing event in their time with the Red

Siveie

“IT got involved in the Irish Red Cross because after I joined FAS as an instructor, I was on the Limerick Road a lot and that Limerick Road was next only to the Belfast Road for accidents and I found I was coming across a lot of accident but I could do nothing,” he said.

“It’s a big challenge to us in the Irish Red Cross to organise this event because we are just volunteers organ- ising the event in our spare time and keeping all our other local services going as well,” he continued.

“But most importantly it’s a great chance for our young members and for young people who want to know more about the Red Cross to get involved because it’s going to be a huge event, as big as the Special Ol- ympics.”’

John joined the Red Cross in 1980 and has used his skills in a number of voluntary organisations over the dec- ades including the Civil Defense. On Saturday he will take charge of the of the count centre where the scores of all the competitors will be tallied.

Admission for the public is free and their will be a regular free shut- tle buses from Limerick City Centre to UL all day.

LOCALS in south-east Clare have voiced their opposition against re- newed plans by a local businessman to construct a helipad on a farm near Clonlara.

Last year, residents secured vic- tory in their opposition against well- known local businessman, Peter Stritch to construct a helicopter land- ing pad at Clonlara.

In a submission lodged with the council, Mr Stritch’s consultants state that “the landing pad will be solely for the landing of a “Bell 206 Jetanger’ helicopter which is the property of Alpine helicopters, one of Mr Stritch’s businesses.

“The landing area will not be used commercially and will solely be for Mr Stritch and his family business and leisure trips and can be regarded as associated or ancillary use of the house to the north of the application.

“The noise is comparable to that generated by heavy machinery and farm vehicles…

“As the nearest dwelling is 240 me- tres from the proposed landing area, the noise levels would be significant- ly less. The noise levels during the periods when helicopter activities take place on site will increase above the EPA daytime noise control level.

However, the activities shall be in-

termittent in nature, with a take-off and landing time of 10 minutes at the site and we would not deem the noise to be a nuisance.

However, local resident, Dr David Beckett stated, “I must object to this development on the grounds of noise, disturbance, smell, safety issues and loss of amenity.

‘Peter Stritch has been operating a commercial helicopter company un- der the name of Alpine helicopters from this farm, without permission, for over three years.

“Many different helicopters have used the site and I understand that it has served as a helicopter stop-over. They fly in all directions, all year round and seven days a week.

“A large concrete base already exists nearby on which I have seen three helicopters at any one time and beside it is a large shed, which has been used to store the helicopters.

“The request for a new helicopter would suggest an increase in heli- copter business activity.

‘There is a nearby airfield at Coon- agh and beyond that at Shannon air- port. the location of a helipad on a farm with houses nearby does not seem logical. it is alongside a gallop for horses so the safety of horses and of riders is at stake.

A decision is due on the application later this year.

DEMONSTRATING that no matter is too small to be subject of a Dail question, Fine Gael’s Pat Breen has sought parliamentary time to ask the Minister for Health about a hearing ZNlen

In one of a number of Dail questions tabled since the return of the new Dail, Deputy Breen asked the Min- ister for Health and Children when an unnamed Clare person would be facilitated with a hearing aid and if she would make a statement on the matter.

However, in response, Munister Harney said that “the deputy’s ques-

tion relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive un- der the Health Act 2004”.

She added, “Accordingly, my de- partment has requested the Parlia- mentary Affairs Division of the ex- ecutive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply 1s- sued directly to the deputy.”

Other subjects that have been the focus of Deputy Breen’s represen- tations in the past week include the reason an appointment for surgery for a Clare person was cancelled; when a person would be facilitated with toilet facilities and when a per-

son would be facilitated with an ap- pointment for cataract surgery. Earlier this year Deputy Breen was the subject of controversy when he ta- bled a Dail question in relation to the early release of the convicted child rapist, Joe Nugent, while he also ta- bled a parliamentary question on the release of murderer, Chris Cooney. In response to Deputy Breen ta- bling the question on the hearing aid, outgoing deputy mayor of Clare, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) stated, “It costs the taxpayer €250 for PQs to be an- swered and when you consider that you can buy a hearing aid for €25, this appears not be the most efficient use of the privilege that goes with

Dail membership.

“There may be an element of lazy representation to this type of ques- tion that is unsatisfactory, but per- haps Deputy Breen had no choice to bring this matter to the attention of the Dail as efforts to have this ad- dressed through the parliamentary affairs section of the Health Service Executive (HSE) may have been un- successful.”

Deputy Breen failed to respond to questions emailed to him yesterday.

Last year it emerged that Deputy Breen had asked the most parlia- mentary questions of the four Clare TDs in the 29th Dail. He asked 1,989

mOks

A 23-Y EAR old Clarecastle man has been charged in connection with an alleged knife attack on a man in En- nis last week.

It is alleged that the accused, Alan Kerins, burgled a mobile phone shop and acquired a knife there. Accord- ing to the State, he then robbed a man at knifepoint, at Ardlea, on the Lim- erick Road, shortly after midnight.

Kerins, of Church Drive, Clarecas- tle, is accused of assaulting James Fenton causing him harm, at Limer- ick Road, Ennis, in the early hours of last Wednesday, June 27.

He also faces a charge of entering

RD Mobile Phones on O’Connell Street, Ennis, as a trespasser.

He is accused of handling a stolen wallet containing €90 cash and bank cards, handling four stolen mobile phones, a bluetooth headset and a display phone also on the same date.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told En- nis District Court on Thursday that it would be alleged the accused broke into the phone shop and took a number of phones and a Stanley any 8 Ker

“Then, just off the Limerick Road, Mr Fenton was walking on Ardlea Road when he was suddenly ac- costed from behind by Mr Kerins. Mr Kerins pulled a Stanley knife and

demanded that he produce his wal- let. In the course of the struggle, Mr Fenton was knocked to the ground. He had no choice but to hand over the wallet, which contained €90,” | stemncreB(em

The injured man sustained a knife injury to the abdomen which wasn’t “very serious.” He also received inju- ries to the back of the head and arm.

“The State will be seeking a remand in custody because of the seriousness of the charges and the weight of ev1- dence the State will be advancing in relation to proving those charges,” he SrHIGE

‘There is concern 1n relation to his (Kerins’s) behaviour,’ he added.

He said that Kerins had previously failed to answer bail on several oc- casions.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey ap- plied for bail, “on very stringent con- ditions.”

She said her client would be taking ‘‘a certain course” in relation to some OME AA oMO ERE MoKe

Judge Joseph Mangan said he was declining jurisdiction on all four charges and ordered that a book of evidence be prepared for the Circuit Colitan

He adjourned the case until later this week and ordered the State to in- form the court on the adjourned date when the book will be ready.