This article is from page 2 of the 2007-11-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
A MAJOR hurdle has been over- come in the campaign to construct a day care centre for cancer patients with Clare County Council granting planning permission for a cancer day care centre in Ruan.
The planning authority granted permission for the Clare 250 Can- cer Centre after finding that its plans were in accordance with the proper planning and development of the area at Moymore, Ruan.
Already, fifty acres of forestry have been purchased from Coillte, the na- tional forestry agency, and develop-
ments have been of a piecemeal va- riety since.
More recently, the entrance and a one mile road, meandering through Ballygriffey Wood, to the site ear- marked for The Clare 250 Cancer Centre, was developed.
An army of volunteers, many of whom have supported the project from its embryonic stages, turned up to fell trees, clear the pathway and develop the access road that winds its way through the densely wooded area.
The notion of the Clare 250 Cancer Centre originated with John Dunne and each May, scores of cyclists
embark on a 250 mile cycle around Clare in order to raise funds for the venture.
Initially, the funds were used ex- clusively to finance the annual trip of Clare cancer sufferers to Lourdes.
Mr Dunne declined to comment yesterday on the Council’s decision. However, speaking on the project previously, Mr Dunne said, “With the help of the people of Clare, we’ll build it as we go along and at the rate finances permit. Nothing will be put in place or built until such time as it can be paid for. There will be no such thing as running up a debt.”
He vowed, “I’m totally commit-
ted to this project. I’m in it for the long haul for whatever length of time it takes. John Dunne is not going Eh al
The Clare 250 Cycle first started in 1979 when 18 cyclists pushed off from outside the then Ennis Voca- tional School.
Last night, councillor for the area, Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) said that he is “absolutely delighted” with the deci- sion.
“It 1s great to have it here in our area and great credit must go to John Dunne and all the other people in- volved for bringing the project to this stage,’ he said.