Month: February 2008

THERE was a large attendance of approx 120 people at the emergency public meeting of the Killone Group Water Scheme, held at the Commu- nity Centre, Ballyea.

Waters shortages have affected around 3300 homes, farms and small commercial businesses in recent weeks. Supply from the plant installed last year, at a cost of €900,000, on Killone Lake is not meeting the high demand in the area.

The plant was designed to meet a demand of 180 cubic metres per day. It is estimated current demand for water in the area is 300 cubic metres per day.

Arsing from the meeting, the Kil- lone Group Water scheme are seek- ing a meeting with the officials from EPS, the firm who designed, built and currently operate to station.

The meeting proposed and _ sec- onded local businessman Michael Sheedy to the role of Chairperson and Cllr. Paul Murphy was called upon

to take the minutes. Past and present committees were also thanked for all of their work throughout the years.

The current shortfall in water was then addressed. Murt Reddington outlined how at present only 288 m3 per day was being produced and that there was a need for 360 m3 per day. As a result the problem being posed is how the water is to be shared amongst the community.

Homes in Dara have also been af- fected by the shortages.

Deputies Joe Carey, Tony Killeen,

Pat Breen and Timmy Dooley all ad- dressed the meeting and spoke of the need for all parties involved to pull together and iron out any problems.

Joe Carey TD then proposed that meetings should be sought with of- ficials from the firm EPS who are in charge of the pump station and also with officials of Clare County Coun- cil to try and fast track a solution to this ongoing problem.

A number of volunteers were also appointed to the committee to spread the workload

ENNIS Town Council has been urged to follow the example set by famous chefs like Gordon Ramsay and aim higher.

That was the message from the February meeting of Ennis Town Council where there was support for a motion calling for the Council to seek the ISO 9000/9002 Quality As- surance Award.

Town Clerk Eddie Power explained the Council does not intended to pur- sue the ISO qualification because a rigorous system of measurement, involving 46 separate service indica- tors, 1s already in place.

Supporting the motion Green Par- ty councillor Donal O’Bearra said,

“You don’t see chefs stopping with one Michelin star, they always go for two stars. We should do the same”.

Tabling the motion, Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn said that given the Council’s €12 budget it was important the Council retained the confidence of the public.

He said, “€12 million of public money is being spent this year. The ISO is widely accepted as the highest standard of performance. There have been issues like the crisis with the public water supply that have dam- aged public confidence. The time is now to address that”.

Fianna Fail councillor Tom Glynn agreed it was important public con- fidence was restored. He said, “I would support that motion. Percep-

tion 1s everything”.

Independent councillor Frankie Neylon also backed the motion. He said the Council should not be fear aiming for the highest possible standards.

“If we go for the ISO, then I don’t think we should be afraid of going for it. If we don’t go for it, the ques- tion will be asked, why we didn’t go for it. If its, (the Council), is as good as we Say it is, then we should go for ra

Independent councillor Taiwoo Matthew said it was important for the Council to operate to the best Standards. “We have to set standards, we have to be measured because we are providing a service. If we were in the private sector, we would have to

innovate”.

Mayor Tommy Brennan tabled a counter proposal. He said, “I think before proceeding with this, we get advice on what we would have to do and what are the costs associated with it”.

Fianna Fail councillor Joe Reidy said, “I’d have no problem with the system there at the moment. We need to find out a bit more about the ISO”.

Town Manager Tom Coughlan said the funding and impact on resource allocation would have to be consid- ered. “It would take up more time. I wouldn’t like it to be the case that staff time is being taken up with achieving measurements rather than doing the actual work”.

THE need for a maternity unit and a proper ambulance service for the county came to a head this week When three babies were born in GE TKcmeE-AWE WAS RO)ONMMalom Kcr LUBDRSLO Mpa eTorO ce ical services.

As the HSE prepares to centralise its services to centres of excellence, the mothers of Clare have called for the one service that 1s already cen- tralised to be decentralised back to the county.

Following years of campaigning amid claims that west Clare has been under resourced, political figures and young mothers are now demand- ing an emergency unit in the region.

During the early hours of Monday morning last, first time mother Mary O’Gorman discovered first hand the shortfall in the ambulance services when she went into labour.

An ambulance was called at 3.45am for the terrified Kilrush woman but failed to arrive in time and baby Brooke was born with the assist-

ance of her aunt and grandmother at 4.20am on the family’s couch.

Mary’s father, local town council- lor Stephen O’Gorman (FF) said that the ambulance eventually arrived at 5.05 am. Shannondoc, the out-of- hours GP service, was contacted by the family at 3.45am but arrived just minutes before the ambulance.

Cllr O’Gorman believes that the ambulance that arrived to bring his daughter and granddaughter to hos- pital would have been even later if another young woman from the area

who was also in labour had not can- celled it and risked the long journey to hospital by car.

That new mum – Anna Jenkins – was just a short while in hospital when her baby was born.

“There was no ambulance coverage in west Clare from Saturday night to Tuesday. That 1s a disgrace,” said Cllr O’Gorman.

“We need a mid-wife service in Kilrush and a unit that people can avail of in emergencies and a proper ambulance service. The coverage 1n

west Clare is not good enough. We are looking at fatalities in the fu- ture,” he said.

Fine Gael Deputy Joe Carey, said that the nearest ambulance available for the O’Gorman baby had to come from Limerick.

“It’s just not possible for it to be able to respond to emergencies hav- ing to cover that distance. A 24-hour fully equipped fully staffed A&E is essential for Clare people. We also need 24 hour ambulance cover to support this service,’ he said.

THE first sod on a multi-million euro community project in Sixmilebridge will be turned within weeks.

The development of a playground will be the first part of an overall plan which will include a creche, daycare centre and a community hall.

The initiative, located on the Shan- non Road in Sixmilebridge, is organ- ised under the auspices of The Bridge Complex in Sixmilebridge.

Local funding, allied to financial

assistance from Clare County Coun- cil and Government funds, helped cover the costs of the initiative, which has been on the cards for a number of years.

While the playground will be con- structed within months, it will take some years before the final prong of this project is completed.

The Bridge Complex is currently based at the old courthouse building, but will move to the community hall, when it is completed.

PRO of the Bridge Complex Mare-

len Cadogan said while the wheel was 1n motion for some time, the ac- tual building work is poised to get underway within weeks.

‘People will actually be able to see the digger on the site, which is the start of the next phase,’ said Ms Ca- dogan.

€10,000 of the funds for the play- ground was raised in the local area, while the remainder was granted in funding. It will feature state-of-the art equipment and will be located on a secure Site.

When completed, the facility will be run by the local community and will be a huge asset for the people of Sixmilebridge, where the population has grown substantially.

The official website of the Bridge Complex, www.bridgecomplex.ie, will be launched by Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley, on Friday evening, in the old courthouse building, at oy oeee

“It will give people the chance to come and ask questions,’ said Ms Cadogan.

THE people of Shannon are unclear about what services are available to them at the local health clinic.

That was the message delivered at a meeting between town councillors and two Health Service Executive Chie lecim ase

HSE General Manager in Primary, Community and Continuing Care, Chris Monaghan and Senior Execu- tive Officer in Community Services, Esther Conlon, attended a meeting of Shannon Town Council last Tues- day.

Independent councillor Gerry Flynn asked about the frequency or availability of a range of services,

including a family planning clinic, blood testing facilities for the elder- ly, dental, speech therapy and physi- otherapy services.

Cllr Flynn said, “Your PR is a dis- aster. There is no link for me. What I want is somebody at the end of the phone to say there is a problem there. The connection 1s gone.”

He said if the current trend contin- ues, he would be calling for the abo- lition of the HSE and “go back to the way things were”.

Cllr Sean Hillery (FF) said he regularly hears concerns relating to home help for older people.

‘The work is there. The people are in need. Ye must not have enough people to help,” he said.

Mr Monaghan said he agreed, add- ing, “We don’t have any additional re- sources to put in. There are restraints on what we can actually deliver.”

“We simply do not have enough resources to deliver home help pack- ages to everybody who needs them.

“We are developing primary care teams to provide additional services within a local community setting,” said Mr Monaghan.

In December, in response to que- ries from councillors, the Health Service Executive sent a letter to the town council, outlining the range of services on offer at Shannon.

Fianna Fail councillor Geraldine Lambert said she was surprised at how comprehensive the list was.

“If there is a perception out there that services aren’t being provided, that needs to be addressed,’ she CrHOR

However Mr Monaghan said that while he would take on board the queries, he couldn’t comment on 1n- dividual aspects.

“If there are issues or queries, write to us. If we are in a position to an- Swer, we will,” he said.

He said that HSE staff meet Oire- achtas members on a quarterly basis and issues could be raised at those meetings.

Ms Conlon told councillors that ophthalmic, physiotherapy and den- tal services are all carried out at the clinic.

THE Shannon town manager is to recommend the provision of €50,000 in funding towards a major develop- ment of the town’s leisure centre, which will include the creation of a skateboard area and floodlit tennis court.

Ger Dollard said he would be sug- gesting this figure, after management at Shannon Swimming and Leisure Centre wrote to the local authority, seeking funding for a major renova- tion of the town’s leisure centre.

In the letter, Chairperson of the

centre, Martina Kennedy-Clancy pointed out that when completed, the outdoor facility will include a flood- lit fenced outdoor tennis court.

She said that the possibility of a skateboard area was also being actively considered. “The approxi- mate cost of this particular part of the project 1s €75,000,” stated Ms Kennedy-Clancy.

She pointed out that 15 people are permanently employed at the centre and every effort would be made to ensure it remains open during the renovation period.

“This approach would involve the

centre in additional financial ex- penditure and we are currently ex- amining how best to meet the addi- tional cost, which will be in excess of €250,000,” she added.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy (In- dependent) said that more than €1 million has been raised, for the ma- jor development.

Cllr Gerry Flynn said it would only be “right and proper” that the town council would financially support the renovations.

Councillors, in general, supported the calls for the financial support and said they would like to see copies of

the plans for the development.

Cllr Sean Hillery (FF) said, “The council should come up trumps. This is a Service for the community, being provided by a private company.”

Mr Dollard pointed out that over the past few years, money had been set aside for community initiatives. €100,000 had accumulated and he said he would be suggesting that €50,000 of this be considered for the leisure centre.

‘The idea of a skatepark is an ex- cellent idea. If we can get a skatepark out of this, I think it would be hugely successful,’ said Mr Dollard.

THE promotion of equality and in- clusion are among the key priori- ties identified by the new head of the Shannon Family Resource Centre.

Marie Rowland, who has recently taken up the post as co-ordinator of the centre, has pointed to a few ar- eas of significance for the people of Ser veneceyee

Chief among these will be her aim of ensuring the people of the town are welcomed at the centre at all mn eeleky

“There are a few key areas, includ- ing the development of relationships with the local community and the provision of appropriate support needs,” she said.

“The aim is also to highlight in-

equality and social exclusion,’ add- ed Ms Rowland, who is a native of Cork.

She is also keen to play a role in the provision of training in childcare and education and to network with vari- ous organisations in Shannon.

‘Networking is all about going out and meeting the people in the com- munity and making the service more user friendly,” she said.

The Family Resource Centre is situated in the Respond Centre at Ri- neanna View.

The centre offers a wide range of support for families and runs vari- ous initiatives including a parent- and-toddler group, Traveller health initiative, personal development programmes and out-of-school pilot development schemes.

Its out-of-schools programme takes place two afternoons a week and a parent-and-toddler group meets two mornings a week.

Ms Rowland is also involved with the town’s multicultural group ‘Le Chéile na Sionna’ which was set up last year.

The group consists of members from several countries. Ms Rowland is hoping to play a role in ensur- ing the group expands and receives funding.

She also has many other ambitious plans for the resource centre.

“Iam hoping to have a drop-in computer facility and will start a painting group, homework club and a sports club for young people with disabilities,” she said.

The appointment of Ms Rowland

will be followed shortly by the re- cruitment of a community develop- ment worker.

Currently Ms Rowland works alongside an administrator and a part-time co-ordinator for out-of- schools projects.

Having previously worked with Shannon Youth Service and with the Southill Community Training Centre in Limerick, Ms Rowland is anticipating the challenges which lie ahead in her new post. She believes she has one vital asset, initially – her office.

“We have a great resource here, in the building,” she said.

KILKEE woman Fionnuala Whelan is preparing for the challenge of a lifetime in Cuba.

In March, the Rathfarnham based garda will cycle 335 kilometres over five days in the Caribbean island with the group expected to cycle 67 kilometres per day. Fionnuala is undertaking the challenge to raise money for the Dublin based ARC Cancer Support Centre.

The first of its kind, the aim of ARC House is to provide a professional support service to adults affected by all types of cancer, no matter where

they are being treated in Ireland.

An holistic approach to support 1s used as a complementary adjunct to primary medical treatment.

Fionnuala explained the work done by ARC. “ARC Cancer Support Cen- tre charity is a very worthy cause and we would very much appreciate your support in helping us to raise funds for this charity.

It offers a variety of courses and programmes such as stress man- agement, learning to live with can- cer, stress management for carers, a drop-in centre and Ta’i Chi classes to name but a few.”

The route is classified, as moder-

ate to challenging and the terrain is quite steep in parts. Expected tem- peratures are around 28 degrees for the month of March, all of which make the cycle more demanding physically. There will be thirty cy- clists in total from various parts of the country.

Fionnuala hopes to raise €10,000 with all proceeds going to directly to ARC.

To do this she is organising a number of events with the first, a quiz, planned for the Strand Bar, OT rer

Fionnuala said she is looking for- ward to the challenge. “There are 30

of us going so it should be an amaz- ing experience. Cuba is meant to be a very beautiful country. I really wanted to highlight the work done by ARC. Hopefully we will get good support.”

She added, “You can donate by log- ging on to Www.mycharity.ie/event/ cubancyclefidanni/. We are current- ly organising a variety of events in Dublin and also hope to hold a fund- raising night in The Strand in Kilkee and possibly a table quiz.”

Further details on ARC Cancer Support Centre can be obtained from their website www.arccancer- support.ie.

COSMETIC companies from. all over the world would pay millions to discover the secret of clear skin and a healthy glow in more mature people, so that they could bottle the secret of Keer mAelelsee

However those from the Miltown Malbay area, now in their tenth dec- ade know that such a secret cannot

be found in any magic bottle or jar of over priced potions and lotions.

For Mary Murrihy, Mary Hurley and Bridie Carey the look of natural beautiful skin well into your 90s is easy – in fact it is nothing at all.

Mrs Murrihy laughed at the thought of putting creams and lotions on her face and skin. “I never put anything on it,’ she explained.

The secret of long life is also

agreed on among the majority of the nonagenarians.

“Hard work when I was young made me hardy,’ said Mrs Murrihy.

When asked the secret to long healthy live Mrs Hurley wasn’t as sure as others.

“T don’t know in the name of God, living day to day and working hard I suppose. ”

“We had a great time when we

were young, not like now,” said PJ Downes sympathising with the youth of today.

“Live long and eat enough,” is the secret according to Francie Con- ites Ae

While all of those present looked little over 60 years old Jim Joe Grif- fin maintains that the only way to tell a persons age is by the way they WENN e

MILTOWN MALBAY is the Tir na nOg of Clare, and if you have any doubt you just have to count the number of nonagenarians in the lo- cality.

Last week seven of the 90 plus year olds gathered at the Seanoiri Laich- tin Naofa in the West Clare Family Recourse Centre.

After dinner and a few dances the 90-year-olds gathered around the ta- ble, some meeting for the first time – as they attend the day centre on different days, others were meeting again after 70 years.

The most senior of the group was Jim Joe Griffin from Coore who will be 94-years young on April 4.

As sacristan of the local Church for

38 years Jim Joe is a mine of infor- mation about all of the people of the area and all the major events in their Tere

‘ T was 72-years in the one profes- sion,’ said the retired farmer who proved quite popular among the women in the day care centre.

Laughter definitely is the medicine for longevity if the table of seven people with an age total of 639 years was anything to go by.

Among the jokers, was Martin Walsh from Creevagh, who played his cards very close to his chest.

The youthful Mr Walsh, 90 in Sep- tember, entertains his friends with an entertaining song.

Not to be out done 90-year-old sea- nachi Francie Connelly told one of his many yarns.

The man from Leeds, Miltown Malbay, is still farming and looked as fresh as a man in his early 60s.

He thought nothing of cutting turf with the slean last year, and one would be incorrect to think that age stopped him this year. No he simply ran out of bog.

“Td still sow a bit of tillage,” he Sr HLG

Francie points across that table to Bridie Carey from Creggane, Quilty, “sure that woman there use to have a turkey and chicken hatchery.”

Bridie who will be 92 years old in May and is originally from Killmur- ry Ibrickane remembered it well.

It was hard work raising the birds, before she sent them off to be killed.

PJ “The Doctor” Downes is look- ing forward to his 93rd birthday on

St Patrick’s Day.

The Kildimo man who inherited his nickname from his father – an expert in looking after calving cows, enjoys a laugh and some fun.

Some might even consider that PJ’s longevity comes from the water, be- cause living across the road from him and sitting across the table was Mary Hurley – 90 in April.

Mary Murrihy from Knockbrack was 90 last month. Mary lives at one of the area’s two milestones – that is two Irish miles she explained with a laugh.

The seven are just some of the peo- ple from the area that enjoy meeting in the resource centre to have lunch, chat, and be entertained by Joe Ryan on the keyboard and local popular musician Michael Mahoney.