Month: September 2007

A DELEGATION from the French seaside village of Arzon will be in Lahinch this weekend to help locals in the naming of a brand new street.

Years of development have seen the once small village of Lahinch grow into a bustling tourist town. In the process however, a number of areas have been left without a recognised name or title, as new houses and es- tates have created whole new streets and urban areas.

Earlier this year the Lahinch Com- munity Council, in partnership with Clare County Council, launch a pro-

gramme to give the poor postman a dig-out, and put some order an the Lahinch street names.

They began an extensive consulta- tion process where local were invited to suggest possible names for the unnamed streets. The first results of this will bear fruit on Sunday when a recently developed street, running parallel to main street, will be re- named Rue d’Arzon.

Lahinch has been twinned with Ar- zon for a number of decades and del- egations from both towns meet and hold regular exchanges.

‘There is a group coming over from Arzon who will be staying in Lahi-

nch for two or three days over the weekend. The big thing is happening on Sunday, we will be naming that street. We have all the signs ready for it So we are all ready to go,” said Gerry Hartigan of the Lahinch Com- munity Council.

“Besides the naming of the street there will also be an exchange of an Irish style post box for a French style post-box. That night then we will have an official twinning dinner in the Liscannor Hotel and we will be bringing them around to see some of the great attractions the the area has to offer.

“We will bring them into the Court-

house Exhibition in Ennistymon, up to Lisdoonvarna, they might want to go up to the Burren or up to the Cliffs of Moher. where ever they want to 20.” Besides putting names on previ- ously untitled areas, the council also hopes to sort out a number of con- fusing situations, such as two estates who both have the same name in the AUF TS

THE streets of Ennistymon will be crammed with music lovers of all ages this weekend as the first ever Ennistymon Music Festival takes place.

The festival, which will this year take the place of the Ennistymon Family Festival, offers a massive line-up of free music to suit every- one’s taste.

“Years ago in Ennistymon, in the ‘60s and °/70s, the family festival was an annual event. In recent times, myself and Willie Daly, along with a few others, decided to reform it,” said Co-organiser, Marian Cliff.

“We have organised the family fes- tival for the last two years and it has gone very well. For a number of rea- sons it didn’t happen this year, but we

didn’t want to let a year go by with- out something happening so we have organised the first ever Ennistymon Music Festival.

The central focus for the weekend will be a gig-rig set up in the towns square. Bands, trad musicians and singers of all descriptions will take to the stage there on Thursday and Friday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday.

“We had a lot of young band play- ing last year, which was great – we had a lot of rock and reggae. But we wanted to have some more trad and folk this year. We have an all around programme with something for eve- ryone,” continued Marian.

“We are trying to complement all the music. If there is a rock band on the stage at a certain time, we will have a trad or a folk band in the pubs,

especially Daly’s, Cooley’s, Cull- inan’s and Marinan’s, at the same time. So there is something to suit everyone.”

Besides being a treat for music lov- ers, the festival will also provide a timely boost for the local economy.

“It’s a really good weekend for the town as well. It brings that extra bit of life around the place and is a ben- efit for the tourism related business- es, especially so late in the tourism season,’ said Co-organiser, Kevin AZT dbree-h ee

Aside from the music, organisers are trying to organise a number of events to keep the younger people NL KosM RN DELeLem

“We will also have an indoor soc- cer tournament as part of the festi- val, organised by Carrie Fleming. She started it as an outdoor event,

but she has turned it into an indoor five-a side competition which will be a welcome pat of the festival,’ con- tinued Marian.

“We are working on a tight budg- et. The more money we can raise through sponsorship, the more dif- ferent events that we will be able to put on. We have been is contact with clowns and people who run pup- pet shows, so hopefully we will be able to have some of these on for the kids.”

For more information on all aspects of the festival, contact Marian Cliff on 086 8782617.

WHEN four plucky cyclists said “the sky’s the limit” as they volunteered to be part of a 300k cycle for the East Clare Chernobyl cause, they really meant it.

In order to get to Belarus, brothers Eoghan, Feilim and Micheal Begley and pal Pat Gannon have to raise €2,600 each.

As a first step to doing that, the fearless foursome lined up for a par- achute jump which gave their funds a jump-start.

“It was an amazing experience,”

said Eoghan, who made a €1,200 dent in the amount he needed to raise.

The four made the jump with Sky- dive Ireland earlier this summer and they are now preparing for the off on the cycle from Minsk to Malech.

The route which up to 50 cyclists will take is more than 300k and the money raised will go towards build- ing projects at two schools in An- topol and Gantsvichy.

Last year’s cycle bought a new mini-bus and car for the orphanage and also went to buy new kitchen equipment and provide ventilation.

This year’s cycle aims to replace roofing which is in a very bad state of repair.

Previous year’s cycles built new toilets and provided showers for the bedroom blocks.

The funds raised have also gone to providing modern laundry facilities in Malech Sanatorium, where chil- dren whose immune systems have been damaged by radiation go for naerelbeetoelm

And with the money they were able to plant an orchard so that the sanato- rium can earn an income from press- ing apples and selling juice as well as

a fruit garden, which is a great boost to the nutrition of the sick children.

In Gantsvichy, previous cycles have provided money for kitchen equip- ment and refurbishment of the can- oer

The cycle committee has commit- ted to finishing the projects chosen in Antopol from funds raised this year and extra money raised will be used to further projects in Gantsvi- chy and other institutions.

IT will be a dog’s life in Cratloe next weekend when canines of every shape, size and breed will be strut- UDOT CM NOU MnIALO OE

The Cratloe Dog Show is the one where there’s a fun prize for every- thing from the waggiest tail to the wackiest owner – and it’s all good fun in a good cause.

The day out will help raise cash to furnish and decorate the new GAA hall, which is proving a real success in the green stakes, being the first in Clare to use solar panels to heat water.

“We haven’t had to turn on the

back-up water heating system since the start of the season and there have been a good number of teams using the new facility,’ said Show Chair- man, John Ryan

The GAA club was the first in the county to install the eco-friendly panels and the first in the country to take advantage of the situation when Government grants were extended beyond domestic use to community buildings. The panels supply lots of hot water even on overcast days as they also work with daylight.

“We have had cause to be glad of it. The cost of heating water in a club like ours is a big consideration. This will certainly save us money in the

long run,’ said John.

But there is still work to be done on the interior of the building and the dog show will help with the funding.

There will be 20 classes in the show including wacky competitions for the lookalike dogs and owners, best bis- cuit catcher and best fancy dress.

The show is being held under the auspices of the Munster Dog Training and Behaviour School, with sponsor- ship from Paws n’ Claws, Franco Pet Care, Precious Pets, Ennis Pet Cen- tre and Cecil Street Pet Shop. And there will be plenty of other fun and games on the day, with bouncy cas- tles, pony rides, face painting, golf- putting, the long puck, a bar-b-que,

bookstall and much more.

The clubhouse was built to com- memorate local lad, Michael Mur- phy (19) who died suddenly while playing for the club in April 2001.

On the day, another local young man who died suddenly the day be- fore the first dog show will be com- memorated. There will be a special award for the best overall dog, the Robert Manning Memorial Trophy.

Sixteen-year old Robert died on the eve of the first show and had been preparing to show his dog.

“We wanted to do something to commemorate him as well and so we named this award for him,’ one of the organisers said.

THE RESULTS of this year’s Tidy Towns competition have spurred groups in villages and towns around east Clare to even greater efforts in the coming 12 months to make an impression on the judges.

Mountshannon received a com- mendation, having been awarded 279 points, while Tuamgraney was awarded 259 points.

Feakle collected 233 points and neighbouring Scariff was awarded 230.

The scenic lakeside town of Kil- laloe garnered 230 points and Tulla collected 218. Broadford brought home some 208 points from the competition.

Jane Murray, who was involved in putting forward the Mounshannon entry said residents of the village “are delighted. It was very good con-

sidering we didn’t actually have a tidy towns committee this year”’.

Jane said there are a number of projects which a new committee could take on. “We hope to form a new committee in the coming weeks and get as many people as possible involved, even if they can only spare a little time. It’s our village and we want to make the most of it.”

In Tulla, Tidy Towns committee member, Una Fitzgerald said locals

were also pleased with an improved mark on last year’s score.

Throughout the year, people have been involved in general tidyup schemes in Tulla and Una hopes that will continue and expand in the coming year. “There’s a lot done and more to do. We’ll be building on that score for next year and we’d hope that people will get involved. It’s a community effort and we want peo- ple to come on board.”

THERE’S plenty to shout about at this year’s Clare Shout Festival and not just the competition for the best aS) ee) t ae

There’s a packed festival pro- sramme on offer this year, with events including traditional music and singing, a spectacular fireworks display, photo competition, puppet show, hurling, tag rugby, writers’ workshop, set dancing, clay pigeon shoot, road bowling, sailing regatta on Cullaun Lake, a vintage display, fairy tales from well-known seanchai Eddie Lenihan, the country market, a model aircraft display, an art exhi- bition, a children’s treasure hunt, the family fun day, a parade led by the

Tulla Pipers’ Band and much more.

The Kilkishen will be alive with music and fun for the second An- nual Clare Shout which runs from this Friday, September 21 to Sunday, September 23 next.

The official opening will be per- formed Deputy Timmy Dooley, east Clare’s first elected TD for 25 years, following a cheese and wine recep- tion in the local GAA hall.

The opening lecture – also on Fri- day night – will be delivered by local teacher, historian and former Clare hurling star Sean Hehir, on the proud and ancient history of Kilkishen.

The highlight of the weekend will be the Clare Shout competition to be held on the main street on Saturday night, at 8.45pm. The event is ex-

pected to attract up to 50 competi- tors in full voice, against whom last year’s champ, Stephen Hickey will oLoMeCoNCoNLOUDOTCMONMBIALe

The history of the Clare Shout is shrouded in mystery but is believed to date back to pre-Celtic times in Ireland. Older people in parts of Clare recall watching people of an even older generation facing the set- ting sun on fine autumn evenings while giving vent to a double-echo shout. This has led to the theory that the Clare Shout may have been a form of autumnal worship in pagan Wb selene

“The shout is unique to Clare. It was arallying cry that echoed around Clontarf when Brian Boru led the clans of Dal gCais into battle against

the Danes on Good Friday 1014,” a spokesman for the festival commit- tee said. “It was also raised as a war cry by the men of Clare’s Dragoons at Fontenoy and on other European bat- tle fields in later centuries, it greeted the great liberator Daniel O’Connell when the people of Clare elected him as the first Catholic member of the British House of Commons and it was a particular favourite of the late President and Taoiseach Eamonn de Valera, TD,’ for Clare for over 40 years, who was fascinated by its unique double echo.

A SOCIAL housing project in Clare- castle – Cluain Ard – has been short- listed for a national design award.

“This scheme is one of three Local Authority schemes selected to go for- ward to the final and is an example of excellent design standards, including safety, security and comfort for its’ 46 residents,” said housing officer, Nora Kaye.

She explained, “Clare County Council is delighted that the Clare- castle scheme has been named as a finalist in this year’s ‘Irish Council For Social Housing Design Competi- tion’. Being shortlisted by the ICSH is a tribute to the impressive scheme designed by Hassett Leyden Archi-

tects and constructed by KC Devel- opment.”

According to local councillor Ber- nard Hanrahan, “This is a very pres- tigious award and is befitting to the excellent standard of housing deliv- ered here.”

The awards ceremony takes place ENroommdevcwertenioey

Cluain Ard is Clare County Coun- cil’s latest social housing develop- ment and is the council’s first venture in the purchase of turnkey housing units. The 22 units in the scheme were designed in 2005, in consulta- tion with Clare County Council to what the council describes as “a high standard of design, usability and comfort to its recently appointed ten- ZNO

A council spokeswoman said that the “setting of the scheme, in a quiet but very central area in Clarecastle balances the need for peace and tran- quillity as well as the need for easy access to services including retail, community, religious, employment, transport and recreation.”

As well as housing, the scheme has a day care centre, creche, community hall, school, church, shops, medical facilities, recreational facilities 1n- cluding a hand ball alley and a foot- ball pitch, bus stop and post office are all within walking distance of the estate.

The homes boast usability for all and cater for single parents, families, people with special needs, travellers and elderly. Eleven of the homes are

on the ground floor, making all living spaces and bedrooms totally accessi- ble to those with mobility problems,

Each home has a private, walled back garden, accessible from a patio door in the living area. The upstairs dwellings also have a walled back garden, accessible through a gate at the side.

Each home has a master bedroom with en-suite facilities, which could also convert into a family room, given it’s generous size of 16.5m sq, excluding the en-suite.

“The highest standards have been used in installing heat/smoke de- tectors, safety locks on doors and windows and non-slip surfaces on the kitchen area,’ the spokeswoman added.

CAR Free Day in Ennis is being marked by an unusual cycle event organised with the support of En- nis Town Council and Clare County Council.

Owners of bicycles of all shapes and sizes are invited to participate in a fun ReCycle Your Bike event around Ennis on Saturday, Septem- ber 22.

Event spokesperson Susan Griffin says the emphasis for this cycling

event is on getting the unused bi- cycles that lie in most sheds dusted off and used. There will be a special emphasis on the old black bikes or “High Nelly’ that were once seen as part and parcel of Irish life. According to Susan Griffin, “Bikes are hugely undervalued nowadays. They can be an extremely practical and enjoyable means of transport. There is no need for the latest model either. Bikes that are only a few years old are often discarded, perfectly good ones are thrown out

and are lying unused in sheds. As long as the bike is in a safe condi- tion with decent brakes and tyres you are doing yourself and the environ- ment a favour. Ennis is an ideal cy- cling town and on European Car-free Day we hope to encourage the people of Clare to rediscover the joy of the humble bicycle.”

Cycling enthusiast and local Green party councillor Brian Meaney is Supporting the Fun Cycle and is looking forward to taking part.

“T have four bikes myself, two of

which are old High Nellys. One is a touring type complete with full chain guards and dynamo. The other one has been stripped down for speed. Both of these bicycles have the trade mark triple sprung leather Brooks saddle, which is what defined a High Nelly. They were built for comfort, not speed, in an Ireland that depend- ed on the bicycle as a valued mode of transport. It’ll be good to polish up the saddle to cycle around Ennis on Car Free Day,’ Councillor Meaney said.

A RESIDENTS group in Shannon is suggesting that social houses be built close to the Wolfe Tones GAA Kane

The Concerned Residents of Cluain Airne group 1s objecting to the pro- posed construction of 60 houses in their housing estate.

Clare County Council says as many as 60 houses are necessary, in order for the development to be economi- cally viable.

However, locals do not want the houses built and they aired their con- cerns at a meeting on the issue last week. They are undertaking to con- tinue to oppose the development.

They believe that there is inad- equate infrastructure in the area, to cope with new homes in the area, where 178 houses currently exist.

The group says the development of additional homes will result in the ereen area being taken away from Weloue0e

Secretary of the group, Nicole Murphy says there is up to 100 acres available near the GAA club and this should be used to build houses.

“Some of this site 1s serviced. There is no reason why they would not move the development there,’ said Ms Murphy.

She was impressed by the turnout of up to 70 at the meeting and said that many concerns were outlined.

The residents group has now learned the houses will be built on a phased basis and this is causing eae Nom ee) CUTE

“This means that the Cluain Airne estate will be messed up for longer. That could be up to three or four years.

“The main concern is the road. SU sr Taa.(o)bi (eM elem MNT HAO ouI RR) ce are hoping they will review it again,” SI STomy-H (OR

Clare County Council has proposed using the road from the roundabout at the comprehensive school.

However, local residents are sug- gesting that the road by the back of Inis Sioda would be the preferred option for local traffic.

“We were initially told the road would cost €1.25 million, and now they say it will cost €600,000. We are asking them 1s that the price of a life of a child,” she said.

She is hopeful that local elected representatives will take the con- cerns into consideration when they meet next month.

“We are meeting councillors who will be voting on it and we will put our case to them. We will encourage them to vote against it and move the plans down to the 95 acres of land the council has,” added Ms Murphy.

A petition, containing the signa- tures of several house owners in the area, has been put together, as locals pledge to continue to fight the plans.

THE Tidy Towns committee in Shannon is happy with its showing in the national Tidy Towns compe- tition, the results of which were an- nounced last week.

Shannon increased by just two points but the committee was happy with the improvement, on the back of last year’s phenomenal increase of 19 points.

Spokeswoman for the Tidy Towns committee, Tess Barry said this year’s total of 254 points pleased everybody.

Although she is concerned about the state of the roundabout at the town centre and the condition of erass around the town, she is overall optimistic that Shannon will contin- ue to improve its points in the com- Oe B BLO) NE

The categories in the competition are based on population size and Shannon was placed in the same cat- egory as Killarney, in the 10,000 to 15,000 population section. Killarney won that category, with 298 points.

“We are not disappointed. We are very happy we didn’t go down in marks. The grasscutting and spray-

ing were haphazard. One example is Corrib Drive, where you can hardly see the kerbing as the grass and weeds are so bad. That’s only one example,’ said Ms Barry.

“Gaining 19 marks last year was a big improvement. I had a fear we would lose some of those. I was very happy we retained the marks,” she Sr ALG

She said people on the committee are disappointed that a feature has not been put in place at the town centre roundabout, despite promises from Clare County Council over a year ago.

Overall, a lot of work needs to be done on the roundabouts.

“Our roundabouts are very bad. The weeds and grass are coming up through the trees. Something has to be done,” she said.

She is looking forward to the future and further success for Shannon in this competition.

‘We need more help. While we are very grateful to the residents who keep their areas beautiful, there is a small core group doing the work. We have entered Clare in Bloom and we are hoping to do well in that,” she Sr HOR