Month: November 2007

THE first new families are expected in Miltown Malbay in the New Year as they begin a new life in Ireland’s first e-town.

The pilot project overseen by Shan- non Development will give a “turn key” working and living space for families and single people wishing to avoid the rat race and set up busi- ness in the west Clare town.

The 12-unit e-town is expected to attract micro business to the area and cluster them so that they in turn could grow from each other and pro- vide further employment.

So far more than half of the units are “committed” or provisionally

booked by interested people.

The houses are expected to be com- pleted next month and ready for oc- cupation early in 2008.

The population of the town of Mil- town Malbay is about 1,000 people with another 3,000 in the area.

In partnership with the local au- thorities, local communities and the Ibrickane network Shannon Devel- Opment is pioneering this new rural town renewal initiative, a €4 million investment by the development com- er aN VA

Among the many attractions likely to entice people to the west Clare town and its e-town are the nine pri- mary schools and secondary school in the area.

It also has a vibrant community, surfing, golf, drama, Irish music classes, créche facilities, 15 bars, and a dozen restaurants within a couple of miles, and the sea.

It is just 30 minutes from Ennis and less than an hour from Shannon In- Kou IteLelOit-) aU bu ole am

The primary aim of the pioneering approach of the e-town is to enable people to achieve a life/work balance in tailor-made accommodation, cre- ate clusters of businesses and bring new economic activity back into lo- cal communities.

Miltown Malbay has a hard work- ing community and a history of in- dustry, which made it attractable for this project.

The success of the project is now pointing the way to other towns around the country.

Shannon Development, last week lodged a planning application for full planning permission for the de- velopment of eight live/work houses on a 1.3 acre site on the Ferry Road in Tarbert, County Kerry.

The application for planning per- mission, which if successful, will allow construction work on the €2m project to commence early next year.

In addition to the Miltown Malbay and ‘Tarbert e-towns, Shannon De- velopment is working on rolling the e-towns concept out in other rural lo- cation around the Shannon region.

THEY take their football seriously in Cooraclare so when the GAA club paid tribute to its honorary life presi- dents last week the chosen 12 were indeed honoured.

The highly acclaimed football club presented the dozen hard working members with a commemorative medal and certificate as they were ratified as honorary presidents of the local club.

A total of 10 men were bestowed this honour by the men’s club, three posthumously.

Family members represented the late Mitchell Lillis, Donal Kelly and Michael Garry.

Jimmy Chambers who now resides in the USA is known through out

the Big Apple as a refuge for Irish emigrants, a GAA enthusiast and a man who has lived in New York for SO years but who’s heart is firmly in west Clare.

Jimmy was first named as honorary president a number of years ago as was Marty Queally.

Marty not only won a champion- ship medal but has an unusual record as he played in a total of three coun- ties – Clare Dublin and Kildare.

He was also part of the Clare Mi- nor Football panel that played in the 1953 All Ireland. The club paid trib- ute to both men on the night.

Five new honorary presidents were also named and all ten were present- ed their prizes by Cooraclare’s most knowledgeable man when it comes to GAA – Padraig MacMathuna,

Oifigeach Gaelige CLG An Clar.

The captain of the 1956 champion- ship winning team Tommy Healy was one of the new five, as was team- mate Jimmy Corry. Both men also played for the county.

Tadhg Murphy was at the helm of Clare GAA for a decade as he held the position of chairman of the county board from 1981 to 1990. As a leading player he won three cham- pionships with the team.

Tireless club worker Michael John Kelly was also honoured.

In describing Michael John, Padraig said “when a job has to be done and a volunteer 1s looked for, Michael John in always first on the scene”.

The most senior member of the ex- clusive honorary presidents club is 89-year-old Tommy Breen. His suc-

cessful playing career saw him win his first medal in 1937, followed by a minor team medal in 1938, an in- termediate medal in 1941 and 1943 and a senior championship medal in 1944 and 1945.

‘He was a very versatile player. He played in practically every line on the team,” said Padraig.

The very successful women’s club was also part of the celebrations as it paid tribute to its two honorary ORSON ASE

Peggy Kelly and Na Synan were presented with their medals by the Aleem see Meee m OCA oo MBN EE Doel Sit-benlelouy

THE MOUNTSHANNON commu- nity website came into the 21st cen- tury with a blast on Thursday when Deputy Timmy Dooley logged on and launched the revamped site.

Local FAS worker, Dave Mooney, took on the redesign as part of his community employment scheme and has spent several months putting to- gether pages for local sporting, vol- untary and community organisations as well as archiving the Mountshan- non Newsletter on the site.

As well as being a resource for lo-

cals, the site will now let prospective visitors to Clare see what amenities and activities are on offer in the east Clare and Lough Derg region as well as giving listings of accommodation, restaurants and services so they can EDOM seem Baty Im

“We wanted to have more active and archive sections and to give lo- cal clubs and associations their own space. There are 14 local organisa- tions who all have their own pages now, with profiles and room for notices and reports and we have a section for history, archaeology and folklore which we hope to keep up-

dating,” said Dave.

The new website has a section for East Clare Tourism and Heritage with a special guide to Lough Derg, the islands and Holy Island.

It’s even hoped that a business will come forward to sponsor a live web- cam link, allowing a camera to be placed in their premises so that peo- ple can log on and see what’s hap- pening in the village from anywhere in the world.

Tom Allen of Derg E-Solutions is the original creator of the site and is continuing as sponsor while Dave is currently webmaster.

The launch took place in the Mountshannon Hotel and a network was extended to the bar, where locals chatted on laptops.

The new site can be accessed by logging on to Mountshannon.com Registration is free and moderated.

A business, which began with a kindly Mountshannon woman cook- ing up nourishing stews for weary travellers, is to feature in Georgina Campell’s Jameson Guide next year. The little house which has now be- come the Cupan Café restaurant was once the sitting room of a Mrs Flan- nery, who provided simple meals for travellers at a time when there was nothing else available in the area.

She was even know to extend her hospitality to giving them a bed for the night if they were stuck.

Dagmar Hilty took over the premis- es in 199] after ten years of running

the hotel in Mountshannon and start- ed by serving teas and coffees, but quickly discovered there was a de- mand for more substantial meals.

As she was bringing up two small children at the time, Dagmar found the premises ideal. “It had a very big sitting room, which I turned into a café and we lived in the rest of the house. It meant I could work from home.”

After the second year, she extend- ed, putting in a new fitted kitchen and equipment to offer full lunches and dinners.

“Till 1996, I cooked myself. After 1997 I employed, every season, a chef either from Switzerland or Aus-

tria,” said Dagmar.

By 2002, An Cupan Café was mak- ing it’s mark, having become a mem- ber of Bord Bia, and featured in the Georgina Campell’s Jameson Guide.

After four years of leasing the res- taurant – during which period, An Cupan added a listing in the Bridge- stone Guide to it’s accolades – Dag- mar is back in the kitchen.

In February of this year, she re- opened, with top Bavarian Chef, Thomas Turk, at the pass. Thomas has worked in Mitchelin starred res- taurants for the last five years. “The market has changed in the last four years and customers appreciate high quality food, want to know where it

comes from, and love to taste the dif- Ko None

After dropping the lunch menu, now the team “concentrate on high quality food, with a Mediterranean touch, using fresh organic herbs only, and sourcing the products locally and whenever possible organic.”

Now Dagmar has been told that the quality of her food has put her in line for the Georgina Cambell Guide next year and she is eagerly awaiting confirmation of the listing. She cur- rently employs two people full time. SW ile ucie-lene-UlM ARG UeURo Ub MOeioem OK a brief respite before opening with a spectacular Christmas menu, which will be served from December 1.

AS OF yesterday, council officials and elected representatives in east Clare have a new home to go to. Staff began the move yesterday from the courthouse to the new coun- cil offices at Mountshannon Road. The Tulla Courthouse, which was home to the council in recent years, is now being leased to the local com- munity development group which will be using the building for various

community activities. The Court will also continue to sit in the court- house.

The new offices in Scariff will also be home to a branch library, and will offer a range of services for the public including payment of house rents, loans, rates, water rates and planning contributions, receipting and processing of all road opening licence applications and distribution of information, application forms and contact details relating to all

Clare County Council services.

The public will also be able to view documents such as County Develop- ment Plans, area plans, register of electors and there will be a planning clinic at which the Local Area Plan- ner will attend on the morning of the fourth Tuesday of each month for pre-planning consultations.

Motor tax online service will be available in the very near future and elected representatives will hold their meetings in the new offices.

“These range of facilities should be a great asset to the people of the east Clare area in availing of services lo- cally,” said Area Officer, Michael McNamara.

The new branch library will be Open as and from the November 12 and will have increased opening hours.

The official opening will take place on Monday, November 19 next and will be performed by the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia McCarthy.

MAKE the new Northern Distribu- tor Road big enough to solve grid- lock in east Clare – that was the message to the Clare and Limerick County Council’s from an elected representative for the area. Councillor Cathal Crowe said that he wants the two local authorities to give “strong consideration” to the width of carriageway for the proposed Northern Distributor Road. In June of this year the elected members of Clare County Council gave the green light to Limerick County Council to proceed to the planning stages for a section of the Northern Distributor Road from Coonagh roundabout to

Knocklisheen, Meelick.

“When this road sees the lights of day it is vital that it tackles traffic congestion in south east Clare and suburban Limerick in a meaningful way, the councillor said.

“A lot of forward thinking is re- quired if this road 1s to be effective.”

The councillor pointed to the road system built 15 years comprising of the Clonmacken Ring Road and Condell Road on the north side of Limerick City.

“These roads were built with the aim to alleviate traffic congestion in the city hinterland. The present re- ality is that this road system is one of the most congested routes in the mid-west and in order to escape the

city and suburban traffic, motor- ists are forced to take a detour on the south east Clare ‘rat-run’ from O’Briensbridge to Meelick. I feel that a wide carraigeway, or better still, a carraigway routed several miles north of suburban Limerick would best deal with the current traf- fic problems.”

John Fitzgerald has been appointed by the Government to head a task- force to deal with matters of social exclusion in the Moyross area. His report included a proposal to have a road running north of Moyross from Coonagh roundabout to the Knock- lisheen Road in Meelick.

Whilst the entire Northern Dis- tributor Road will take a number of

years to come to fruition, the section from Knocklisheen to Coonagh will be fast-tracked.

“IT hope that ultimately this road will do a lot to alleviate the daily congestion on roads in the south east Clare area. The road system from Clonlara, through Parteen and Ar- dnacrusha and on into Meelick has become a rat-run for commuters,” SO voy (our bee

He added that it is “important that all efforts are now made to build on the positive momentum around John Fitzgerald’s report. I hope that both local authorities, in conjunction with central Government, will now try to advance the entire Northern Distrib- utor Road project”.

COUNTY Councillors from the Kil- rush area are to discuss again the proposed extinguishment of a right of way through Doonbeg Golf Club at Caherfeenick Cree, amid claims that the elected representatives have reneged on a previous agreement to postpone any decision until after an upcoming high court judicial review.

In a heated meeting last evening, the members were told by Clare County Council’s_ solicitor, John Shaw, that any decision they made on the proposal to hand over a right of way to Doonbeg Golf Club Limited in exchange to alternative access to the beach would have “no effect” on the judicial review.

The judicial review taken by the golf club against An Bord Pleanala relates to claims by the golf club that

the planning appeals board acted outside its jurisdiction.

During last evening’s meeting, while councillors often resorted to raised voices and accused each oth- er of making personal attacks, the county solicitor also advised that, if

the high court upholds the decision of An Bord Pleanala, he has been in- structed to prosecute.

In February of this year, the Kil- rush councillors agreed to postpone any decision on the right of way until after the review.

Cllr Tom Prenderville (FF) pro- posed that this agreement signed by the councillors would stand until Doonbeg Golf Club is “compliant with all planning conditions” relat- ing to developments at the club, has “removed and dismantled all unau- thorised developments” and all par- ties involved are consulted.

Cllr Pat Keane (FF) offered an amendment to the motion that dis- cussions on the right of way be de- ferred until the December meeting of the councillors.

Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn asked what would happen at the December discussion and did he expect a deci- sion to be made.

Three councillors – Christy Curtin (Ind), Oliver Garry (FG) and chair- man Bill Chambers (FF) – supported Cllr Keane’s amendment.

Cllr Taylor Quinn (FG) did not vote,

explaining to her colleagues that she understood the meeting was called so that they could get legal advice and no decision was to be made.

Cllr Prenderville and Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) voted against the amendment and asked councillors Keane and Curtin if they were “wriggling out” of the February agreement.

Cllr Keane argued that the council had a right to discuss the matter.

“What is the status of that docu- ment then?” asked Cllr Prenderville.

“Your signature 1s worth nothing so,” Clir Kelly told councillors Keane and Curtin across the table.

“We have done nothing to enhance public confidence here today. We have wriggled like worms out of an agreement,” said Cllr Prenderville.

IT TOOK Anthony Kelly just a “couple of minutes” to show James Martin Cahill how to use a gun at his Kilrush home, Cahill claimed in the Central Criminal Court in Cloverhill on Monday.

However, Mr Kelly’s _ barrister, Michael O’Higgins S.C., pointed out that this was not what Cahill had told

eer

“In your first account, you said it could have been up to an hour. In your second account, you said at least half an hour,” said Mr O’Higgins. Cahill replied, “It was only a couple of minutes. He showed me how to use the gun.”

Counsel asked him why did he give a different account to gardai. Cahill replied, “I wasn’t sure at the time. It

only took a couple of minutes.”

Mr O’Higgins said Cahill alleged that when he went to Anthony Kelly’s house, the latter phoned Joseph Kel- ly, who arrived five minutes later.

“He told the gardai that Joseph Kel- ly went off to retrieve the weapon. That took about 25 minutes.

‘That puts you in Anthony Kel- ly’s house half an hour,’ said Mr O’ Higgins. Cahill replied, “It wasn’t

derclan le) sree

He said Anthony Kelly showed him how to use the gun inside the house. There were some discussions outside the house but he was not really sure what about. Cahill said he was “cer- tain” he was in Kilrush with another man in a car that day.

“It could be on the camera going into Kilrush by the Garda station,’ he told the court.

Counsel said, “why do I get a ter- rible sinking feeling everything is going to be all vague now with times and places?”’

Cahill replied, “I’m not sure about times”. Cahill rejected a claim by counsel that he was “obsessed” with euns. Mr O’Higgins said changes in Cahill’s evidence came out “in a hap- hazard manner”.

The trial continues today.

THE 14th annual Ennis Trad Festival kicks off this week and organisers are hoping that a bumper programme will attract big crowds.

This year’s event takes place from November 8 to 12 across numerous venues. An intensive programme features free day and night sessions with afternoon, evening and night concerts, recitals, singing, work- shops, presentations, CD launches and the ever-popular Trad Disco.

The legendary accordion player and composer Finbar Dwyer will Open the concert programme on Thursday, November 8. Finbar, who recently returned to public perform- ance after a break of 17 years, will

be accompanied by Brian McGrath. On Friday night Four Men and a Dog will unleash their highly energetic repertoire on the festival.

The band comprises Cathal Hayden (fiddle), Donal Murphy (accordion), Gino Lupari (bodhran, vocals), Ger- ry O’Connor (banjo) and Kevin Do- herty (guitar, vocals).

Workshops dominate Saturday’s events with classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced level given by the some well-known names ThA Mpa el Utss Come: baXe MOE-bO(Gos

A new addition to last year’s festi- val was the Trad-themed table quiz, which will test knowledge of trad musicians, records, CDs and trad triviality.

This year will see the presentation

of the Ennis Trad Festival Gradam Ceol to concertina player Sonny Murray. Sonny, from Knockalough, Kilmihil, is one of the many fine con- certina players from the area such as Solus Lillis, Bernard Sullivan, Tom McCarthy and 2005 Gradam recipi- ent Tom Carey.

Sonny lives in Ennis and has had a major influence on the Ennis music scene. This presentation is a fitting compliment to a man regarded as a master of the concertina.

A new feature of this year’s festival is the Ard Gasce na mBuinte Senior Ceili Band competition, which will be adjudicated by a panel of four adjudicators and an audience. Some of the best bands in Ireland and abroad such as The Thatch, Tribes

and Ceolteor1 na Mainstreach will compete. There will be many CDs launched this year including artists such as Kane O’Rourke and Geral- dine Bradley.

The guiding ethos for organisers since the festival’s inception has been to bring musicians of all generations and styles to Ennis to share their tunes, songs and steps in a relaxed session environment.

The festival committee has pur- posefully organised the sessions to allow opportunities for artists to per- form with others that they wouldn’t normally get to meet. Accordingly, a great social dimension is always present at this festival.

AFTER an absence of 10 years, the youth club in Quin is set to re-open. Locals feel that there 1s not enough for youths in the area to do and have decided to restart the club, for 12 to 17 year olds. The group will meet at Quin community centre every Sun- day evening, between 7pm and 9pm, where up to 50 youngsters from Quin, Clooney and Maghera will gather.

Among the activities on offer at the club will be indoor soccer, bad- minton, table tennis, pool, music and oXey-Vne mee N eA Tee

The chairperson of the local com- munity centre committee Sarah Len- non is spearheading the youth club drive. Committee member Ann Ty- nan explained the idea behind it.

“There was a club previously, but that finished up and there has been none since,” she said.

“There is not a lot to do for that age groups. They are relying on the GAA and horseriding a lot. There is no night-time activity. It will be tai- lored to meet the needs of those at- tending,’ said Ms Tynan.

The organisers of the club in Quin attended training sessions with Clare Youth Service, and have received guidance on setting up and running the initiative. The club will be run under the auspices of Clare Youth

Services. Supervisors will be on hand at the community centre every Sunday night, while the young peo- ple themselves will be encouraged to help out running the club.

“Clare Youth Service has been proactive in providing training and guidance for running it,’ said Ms Shiaetcvee

Local funds have been instrumen- tal in purchasing equipment for the Nab Ker