Month: August 2007

A WEST Clare housewife will join a group of local tradesmen in a bid to construct numerous houses in one Neto) e

Mary Morgan is one of a group of six travelling from the west Clare pe- ninsula as part of the Niall Mellon Township Trust.

This year 1,300 people, the largest number ever, are making the trip to South Africa for the cause.

Of the record number of people, six will be travelling from the west Clare peninsula, four of which are

from the small west Clare village of Carrigaholt.

Kevin Shalloo from Kilkee, Joe Hasset from Cross, and Pa Mahoney, Denis McMahon, Richard Lynch and Mary Morgan all from Carrigaholt are making up the west Clare contin- gency travelling in November.

While she may be one of only 130 women taking part in the work, the Carrigaholt mother of three is no stranger to such projects.

Following the 2005 tsunami Mary headed off to the disaster zone to help out there.

Initially her offer of practical help

was refused, as she was not a trades- person, so she went alone and quickly got involved in building two houses.

This time around she will be in- volved in a weeklong project in Free- dom Town – a shantytown 20 min- utes from Capetown.

“I prefer to be involved and be hands-on,’ she said.

While the project will finish in one week, Mary intends to stay in the country for a month and continue to work there.

“T can’t wait,” she said.

The group has to raise €5,000 each – a huge challenge for such a small

area, but the fundraising is going well according to those involved.

Quizzes, auctions, hay barn nights and raffles all helped to raise funds.

Just last week they received the support of the Munster Rugby stars When they attended a fundraising barbecue in Carrigaholt and provid- ed signed jerseys and balls for raf- fling and auction.

On Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1 the group will have a bag packing session in Supervalu in OTF

All of the money must be collected within the month.

THERE will be disruption to traffic flows around Ennis this month with the closure of one of the main ap- proach roads to the town.

A section of the Tulla Road (R352) at Corrovorrin Bridge will be closed for a period of eight days from Au- gust 20 to 27 to facilitate the renewal of major foul sewer infrastructure. Pedestrian and cycle access will be maintained at all times during the closure.

Upgrade work at the site has been delayed since April when the road was originally scheduled to close.

There have been long running prob- lems at the sewage station near the bridge that have caused difficulties to homes in the area.

Ennis Town Council earlier this year highlighted over-use as one of the main cause of problems at the SEIN

Diversionary routes for traffic us- ing the road will be in place for the

duration of the closure.

Traffic travelling to Ennis, west of the Corrovorrin Railway Bridge from Tulla and east Clare, on the R352 is advised to turn right approximately eight kilometres east of Ennis, at Feenagh Cross (500 metres south- east of Clooney Church) onto the L- 4074. ‘Travel north on the L4074 via Kearney’s Cross (known locally as Harrison’s Cross) and onto the N18 PAM Grabeel 08

At the junction of the L4074 and the N18 in Crusheen village, turn left and travel via the N18 southwards towards Barefield and Ennis. At the oynabaaleseCeresseCosmeval elo NORoM ey IpON KO) ce pass take the exit for Barefield and Ennis and follow directional signage to Ennis and onwards.

Local traffic from Ballymacahill and Roslevan north of the R352 at Roslevan is advised to travel via the L4608/L4102 to its junction with the L4100 where traffic should turn onto the L4100 and travel to the junction of the L4100 with the R458 (origi-

nally the N18) at a point one kilome- tre south of Barefield and follow the R458 (originally the N18) to Ennis and onwards.

Heavy Goods Vehicle Traffic (i.e. vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes laden weight) travelling to Ennis, west of the Corrovorrin Railway Bridge,

from Tulla and east Clare, on the R352 traffic is advised to divert e1- ther north or south, on to the R462 at its junction with the R352 approxi- mately 16 kilometres east of Ennis and one kilometre south of Tulla.

THE number of people that drowned in Clare has doubled in the last two years.

Figures released by the Irish Wa- ter Safety have shown a decrease in the number of drownings nationally, when last year is compared to figures for 2004.

The 2006 national figure was also the lowest since 1965. The number of drownings in Clare increased, how- ever, by more than 100 per cent when 2006 is compared to 2004.

In 2004, three people in Clare lost their lives by drowning, compared to seven in 2006. The three deaths from

2004 have been recorded as suicide.

It is not yet known how the 2006 number breaks down, but PRO for the Kilkee Sea and Rescue Service, Manuel diLuici, points to an increase in fishing tragedies off the west Clare coast as adding to the water fatalities in the county.

The Kilkee man worries that the number will continue to increase, if warnings relating to the dangers of coastal fishing are not heeded.

‘People have to be very wary of the sea because it is very unpredictable,” |stemncy-B(e

“It is best not to fish at heavy sea and only when the tide is going out and in locations that are safe.”

“If you are not local, seek local advice when fishing,” he advised. ‘People on boats should have proper equipment and boats that are seawor- eae

Accidental drownings were at an all-time high last year, when com- pared to the previous three years, reaching 53 cases.

Suicidal drowning nationally had decreased significantly during the same period, from 90 in 2003 to 63 last year. AS many as 15 drownings last year were “undetermined”.

So far this year, there have been 19 confirmed drownings, not including the loss of life this weekend.

Launching the Irish Water Safety

Report last week, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Tony Killeen urged the public to ex- ercise extreme caution as they take to the country’s waterways.

‘“W hile the 2006 figure was the low- est since 1965, it is still unacceptably high. Many of these tragedies are a result of complacency, ignorance of the dangers and a lack of training or AO) seLeyeerclelOveme)mr-NUMNNelacoMeency-b(O MH Ele Clare minister.

‘Education has a key role of play and I commend the volunteers who teach the public water safety skills which should ultimately save many lives,” he said.

THE body of a male, believed to be the 19-year-old Dublin youth miss- ing since early yesterday morning at Lahinch, was recovered last night at the seaside resort.

Shortly after 7pm last night, dur- ing the course of an extensive shore- line search, local volunteers discov- ered the body in a rocky area at the southern end of Lahinch beach in close proximity to where the man is believed to have entered the water yesterday. Gardai were waiting last night to formally identify the man.

According to a Garda spokesman, the 19-year-old from Clontarf went for a swim at low tide at around 4.10

yesterday morning after a night out in Lahinch.

The spokesman said that the youth entered the water with two friends, but he failed to come out of the wa- ter. Sea conditions at the time were calm, with one to two foot waves in the bay.

The youth was staying with friends in Lahinch for the bank holiday weekend and the alarm was raised when he didn’t return, sparking the rescue effort involving the Shannon- based Coastguard helicopter and the Doolin and Kilkee coastguard units.

Early yesterday morning, the youth’s friends watched on from the promenade in Lahinch as two boats were launched to comb Lahinch bay

for the youth’s body, while members of the Doolin coastguard and local lifeguards conducted a_ shoreline search. The Garda spokesman said that the youth’s parents travelled down from Dublin to Lahinch to be NiO BLomNTOLs) Loe

At low-tide yesterday evening, the comprehensive’ shoreline search was launched, involving the youth’s friends, members of the coastguard units and local volunteers.

Earlier, Mattie Shannon of the Doolin Coastguard said, “I would be fairly confident that we will locate the body as the bay is an enclosed area. I would also like to thank eve- ryone involved in the search.”

Mr Shannon said that the brown

colour of the water, brought about by the Inagh river flowing into the sea, was hampering the recovery effort.

Also involved in the search were members of Lahinch Search and Res- cue team, the Civil Defence in Ennis, the Red Cross and local people.

Local member of Clare County Council, Martin Conway said, “It is a tragedy for the young man and his family.”

Yesterday’s drowning is the third to occur on Clare’s coastline this sum- nao

Aneast Clare man drowned at Span- ish Point in June, while a Moldovan man drowned at the notorious Blue Pool between Kilkee and Doonbeg on July 1.

A WELL-KNOWN Clare business- man faces the prospect of having to demolish a helipad he built without planning permission near the seaside resort of Lahinch.

This follows An Bord Pleanala re- fusing planning permission for Mr Seamus Lynch to retain the helipad after it concluded that helicopters us- ing the helipad could give rise to col- lisions with protected birds.

In it’s decision, the board stated that proposed retention of a helipad on the site would give rise to undue conflict and collision risk for protected spe- cies, would impact upon the ecologi- cal importance of the River Inagh and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The board also ruled that the re- tention of the development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard due to the nature of the development and the resultant disturbance to drivers by reason of helicopter take-offs and landings at this location.

Mr Lynch’s holiday home is located across the road from the helipad and, earlier this year, the council refused planning permission to Mr Lynch af- ter opposition was voiced against the retention application by adjoining landowner and local businessman, Eamon Slattery.

Mr Lynch lodged the planning ap- plication last year after receiving a warning letter from the council al- leging that the helipad is an unau- thorised development.

The Department of the Environ- ment pointed out that the Inagh es- tuary and tidal section of the river

are feeding grounds for hundreds of wintering birds.

In its submission to the appeals board, An Taisce stated that inad- equate justification to retain the fa- cility has been presented due to the level of helicopter activity and direct habitats loss, the helipad will ad- versely affect the ecological integrity of the site and the many rare species for which it is designated and thus its retention should not be permitted.

The board’s inspector in the case stated that the proposed development would be contrary to the proper plan- ning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to zoning of the site, its proximity to the Europe- an Designation of the River Inagh as a candidate Special Area of Conser- vation and proposed Natural Herit- age Area and its location on a scenic route within county Clare.

In the appeal lodged, consultants for Mr Lynch pointed out that the helipad has been in existence for six years and is only used at weekends during summer months. He claims it has not attracted any objection from neighbouring residents located across the road to the north and does not impact on their amenity or deval- ue their property in the vicinity.

Mr Lynch stated that he intends to plant hedgerows along the boundary of the site in order to mitigate against disturbance and it does not signifi- cantly impact on a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The appeal states, “The helipad has been in existence for six years and was constructed without the knowl- edge that planning was required. It is important to note that the helipad as operated for the past six years with- out any objection.”

VETERAN Fianna Fail councillor, Peter Considine, is set for a windfall after lodging plans to construct four homes on his landholding outside Ennis. Ennis’s current deputy mayor, Cllr Considine is seeking outline planning permission to construct four homes at Drumadreheid, Ennis.

Cllr Considine purchased 25 acres of land at Drumadrehid in 1993 and lives at the address.

He is fortunate that the lands are not subject to strict council plan- ning rules that apply to lands in the Open countryside on the outskirts of Clare’s main population centres.

This follows Cllr Considine’s col- leagues in the county council desig- nating the Drumadrehid area a ‘de- velopment cluster’ in the 2003 West Eaves t-te

There are a series of clusters across the county that allow lands, in spite of being located in the open country-

side, be zoned for housing develop- ment. Clusters are usually designated when there are already a number of homes built in the area.

Ironically, because of the council’s tough planning rules in allowing one- off homes in the countryside, Cllr Considine can expect a premium if he decides to sell the sites, if and when planning permission is secured.

An Taisce has made a submission on the plan and has recommended that one of the homes be moved else-

where as there is a ringfort adjacent to site four.

The Department of the Environ- ment has also made a submission on the plan and has recommended that an archaeological impact assessment should be prepared to assess the po- tential impact, if any, on archaeolog!- cal remains in the area where devel- Opment is proposed to take place.

The department has made the rec- ommendation as the development site is within the zone of archaeologi-

cal potential established around the recorded monument, which is subject to statutory protection in the record of monuments and places.

The submission stated, “It should be borne in mind that, if significant archaeological remains are found or there is a significant negative impact, refusal might be recommended and/ or further preservation in situ or by record may be required.”

A decision is due on the application later this year.

THE company constructing the En- nis bypass has been accused of a breach of contract arising from the numbers of badgers and otters killed by motorists since the opening of the road last December.

A letter released through the Free- dom of Information Act, shows that Bryan Hamilton of Jacobs, on be- half of Clare County Council, told GAMA on March 27, “We are ex- tremely disappointed to read in a report that badgers and otters have been killed in different areas on the new N18 Ennis bypass.

“We are particularly disappointed that the mammal fence that you un- dertook to erect in advance of the road opening is not complete. We consider that the lack of the suitable mammal fence…is contributing sig- nificantly to the deaths of these ani- mals on the road.

“This failure on your part to con- struct the works in accordance with your design is not only a breach of your requirement to protect wild animals…but it may also constitute a road safety hazard.”

He continued, “Given that you have failed to implement the very meas- ures you designed to reduce the im- pact of the road on these mammals

..we Shall withhold payment for these sections of the works until they are completed with the contract.”

Mr Hamilton’s letter arose from a report carried out by environmen- tal consultant Howard Williams of Inis Environmental in March 2007 who said that “badger mortalities have been recorded along the newly opened bypass in the recent past. This could be directly attributable to underpasses being unfinished…”

In the report carried out on behalf of GAMA, Mr Williams added, “It is the intention of the contractor to complete the remaining works…by the end of April 2007.

“Some mortalities have been re- corded prior to completion of the ot- ter ledges so it will be important now to monitor each culvert on a monthly basis to assess the usage by otters and that there is no otters using other areas to get onto the bypass.”

The issues have been addressed and the project manager on the by- pass, John Cunningham, has told the Department of the Enviroment that, in relation to the next section of the road, the N85, “it is GAMA’s full in- tention to have all wildlife crossings on Phase 2 of the N85 structurally complete and fully operational be- fore this section of the road opens to the public”’.

A BATTLE by Carrigoran Nurs- ing Home and local residents in the Newmarket-on-Fergus area to pre- vent a 100ft-high mast from going ahead is to continue.

This follows *3’ appealing Clare County Council’s decision to refuse planning to the third-generation mo- bile phone company for the mast at Carrigoran.

The council turned down the con- tentious plan after it concluded that all options for the co-location of the mast have not been maximised in re- spect of the proposed development.

Residents will be concerned that the reason put forward by the coun- cil is not a strong one and they are expected to make submissions to An Bord Pleanala to counter the argu- ments made by °3’.

In their initial objection, Sr Chris- tina Murphy of Carrigoran Nursing Home said, “Our nursing home is within 200 metres of the proposed mast. The nursing home has 152 beds and a staff in excess of 70 people.

“Our mother house in the US is extremely concerned, particularly because of the health hazard created by the development and of the high level of energies emitting from the development.”

However, in its appeal, °3’ stated,

‘In assessing this appeal, it is 1m- portant to consider that *3’ 1s under a Government obligation to provide 3G broadband coverage to this area of Newmarket.

“The evidence provided…demon- strates the technical need for a 3G base station at the Urlan farm and highlights the lack of suitable alter- native sites in this search area that provide both a technically viable and feasible acquirable solution.

‘The Urlan farm site has been de- signed to have as low a visual impact as possible using a slimline mo- nopole construction with expansion for additional operators in the future and without compromising the qual- ity of signal to the objective in the surrounding area.

“The reason for refusal implies that we had the option to co-locate on the Meteor monopole 1.5km away but that we did not do so, which 1s fundamentally wrong of the council to imply. We sought permission from the landowner to swap out the exist- ing structure for a larger one but this was refused.

“We would contend that we have exhausted the possibility of co-locat- ing on an existing structure in the area…and that we are in full compli- ance with the local area plan.”

A decision is due on the application later this year.

IT TOOK six gardai to overpower an angry prisoner after he was arrested and brought to Killaloe Garda Station, it was claimed yesterday. It’s alleged that a large number of the officers involved in trying to restrain Declan Browne, of 19 Cecil Street in Limer- ick, were injured in the struggle.

Browne appeared yesterday before Ennis District Court where Judge Leo Malone was told he had breached a condition of his bail by getting in contact with the Cahill family in Mill- stream in Killaloe.

The court heard that the accused had previously had a relationship with a daughter of the Cahill family.

He allegedly caused €600 worth of damage to the Cahill family home and the mother, Mary Cahill, was in court

to give evidence that he further threat- ened her.

‘He rang me to say that he was com- ing back with a couple of people to finish the job he started two weeks ago,’ she said.

Browne’s solicitor, Tara Godfrey, asked garda witnesses if they were aware that his former girlfriend, Ms Cahill, had come to his apartment in Limerick of her own accord.

“He will say that they were trying to patch things up and that he called to the Cahill home because he was locked out of his Limerick apartment and didn’t have his keys,” she said.

But having heard allegations that Browne, who suffers from attention deficit disorder, was extremely vio- lent towards gardai, Judge Malone re- manded him in custody to appear be- fore the court again next Monday.

A PLANNING dispute between two rival taxi firms has resulted in Ennis Town Council refusing planning per- mission to Ennis Cabs to retain a cab office in Market Street, after AAA Cabs objected to the proposal.

As far back as 2000, a planning application was lodged to retain the use of the premises at the corner of Barrack Street and the market from retail to a cab office. However, the application was refused and An Bord Pleanala upheld the decision result- ing in the council serving a warning RK meme semen silo

A subsequent application was lodged in 2001 to change the use from retail outlet to taxi control station and this was again refused in April 2001. In 2002, the council eranted 12-month planning permis- sion to retain the use of the cab of- fice as a taxi dispatch office. In 2003, the taxi office managed to remain operational after securing a further two-year temporary planning per- mission. Last year, two separate ap- plications for retention were refused to continue to retain the office as a taxi office.

On behalf of the current applicant, Frank Gleichman, consultants, P Coleman & Associates pointed out

“that between the hours of 9am and 6pm, the office will be closed to the general public. There will be no ac- cess to the premises except for a sin- gle member of staff who will operate a telephone-radio dispatch office”.

However, Martin White, John Longe and Tony Woods from rival firm, AAA Taxis called on the coun- cil to shut down the operation at its current location.

In the objection, they stated, “When the taxi rank was moved to Parnell Street car park, all taxi oper- ators were to operate from that rank. We object to Ennis Cabs being given preferential treatment and strongly contend that the firm must use the aforementioned rank like other taxi operators do.

“We request that you give favour- able consideration to this objection.”

In its decision, the council stated that the proposed retention of the dispatch office by virtue of associ- ated haphazard parking and traffic movements would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard and obstruct road users at a busy junction of the market with Barrack St and would not be in the interest of proper planning and orderly development.

Mr Gleichman now has the option of appealing the council’s decision to An Bord Pleanala.