Month: February 2008

THE driving force behind the Ennis Tidy Towns committee, Donal Grif- fin, has resigned after 13 years as Chairman.

Mr Griffin announced his decision at the AGM of the Ennis Tidy Towns Committee on Thursday night.

He said he was very proud of the progress made by Ennis in the annual Tidy Towns competition. The princi- pal highlight of his time, Mr Griffin stated was Ennis being named Ire- land’s tidiest town in 2005.

He also highlighted the challenges faced by a growing town like Ennis in trying to maintain the high stand- ards achieved so far.

Last year Ennis was again success-

ful in the Tidy Towns competition (1) Gold Medal status (2) County Award (3) Category G & H Building a Bilingual Society Award and (4) Notice Nature Biodiversity Award.

In his address Mr Griffin said En- nis’ had achieved global recogni- tion for its achievements in the Tidy Towns.

He said, “Our success has been recognised locally, regionally and nationally and internationally. We peaked in 2005 winning Ireland’s Ti- diest Town. In 2006 we won Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre. As a town with over 25,000 population we are unique in these achievements. Winning a Silver Award in 1997 in the Entente Florale and Gold in 2002 put us on the map internationally. We

also entered and won Pride of Place Award in 2003 which is an All-Ire- land competition”

Mr Griffin said partnership be- tween Ennis Town Council, Shannon Development, Clare County Council and FAS along with the important role played by resident’s associations and schools, was at the heart of En- nis’s success.

He said, “I would like to thank all the schools both primary and sec- ondary for their involvement and for their interest in the environment. In particular for inviting us to give a presentation on the Importance of Caring for our Environment”

“I congratulate Scoil Chriost Ri on being awarded two Green Flags one for waste recycling and one for ener-

gy conservation and Ennis National for achieving a green flag for waste recycling last year. Ennis CBS is, I believe, is in the process of applying for a waste recycling green flag this year’.

Mr Griffin said many challenges lay ahead for Ennis.

He said, “In trying to maintain the high standard achieved to date, En- nis 1s facing many new challenges in 2008 such as a rapidly increasing population, the planned drainage of the Fergus, the completion of the inner relief roads, the upgrading of Market Street and the laneways, etc. It is vital that we hold on to our Gold Medal Status which we have for the last seven years and that we continue to develop”’.

IN SEEKING to distinguish the En- nis Book Club Festival, organizers have introduced some novel events to this year’s programme.

Standing out among the numer- ous readings, workshops and writer interviews are less obvious features of a literary festival, like Chocalate tasting, cookery glasses and speed dating.

Anyone looking to indulge a sweet tooth can head along to Chocalat on Barrack Street for any of the number of chocolate tasting sessions taking place there over the weekend.

The event itself ties in with the ap- pearance of Joanna Harris, author of the mega selling Chocalat, long side Irish writer Roddy Doyle at glor on

Sunday night.

TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin will offer his tips on the best books for gardening earlier that day in glor while tv chef Neven Maguire will give a cookery demonstration, also on Sunday.

The festival will open on Friday night with a speed dating style net- working session for book club mem- leTouce

But the main attractions for the festival, which runs from February 29 to March 2, are the writers them- oa Aone

From the Godfather of Irish crime fiction Ken Bruen, to the acclaimed American poet Richard Tillinghast, the festival has again succeeded in drawing a diverse range of writers.

Galway writer Bruen will read from

his work in the Old Ground Hotel on Sunday night. His novel *Priest’ – the fifth in the mesmerizing Jack Talyor series – was recently shortlisted in America alongside books by Michael Chabon and John Banville, for the prestigious Edgar Award.

The three-day festival will also feature Roddy Doyle, a Dublin dramatist, screenwriter and Booker Prize winning author of “The Com- mitments’, “The Snapper’ and “The Van’; British author Joanne Harris, who wrote the best seller ‘Chocolat’; Hugo Hamilton, winner of the Roon- ey Prize for Irish Literature; Morgan Llywelyn, an esteemed author of his- torical fantasy, fiction and non-fic- tion books; Dermot Bolger, the au- thor of eight novels and winner of the Samuel Beckett Award; and Nuala O

Faolain, Irish Times columnist and author of ‘Are You Somebody?’; Ne- ven Maguire, an award winning ce- lebrity chef; and Lorna Landvik, au- thor of the best selling novels ‘Patty Jane’s House of Curl’ and ‘The Tall Pine Polka’.

Author and former hostage Brian Keenan will also speak at the festi- val. The Belfast native who was held hostage by Islamic Jihad in Lebanon for four and a half years will par- ticipate in the Sunday Symposium to talk about memotr.

Keenan is the author of four books including ‘An Evil Cradling’, the 1991 winner of the Irish Times Lit- erature Prize for Non-fiction.

A full programme of events is available from www.ennisbook- clubfestival.com

MALIGNANT cancers remain by far the most common cause of specified illness and death claims in Clare, ac- cording to the latest analysis of pay- ments made to customers of the Irish Life insurance company last year.

The analysis found that malignant forms of cancer accounted for 48 per cent of Clare death claims while heart-related illness accounted for 21 per cent of death claims in the coun- ty. This was roughly in line with the national rates of 47 per cent and 22 per cent respectively.

Accidental death accounted for 17 per cent of Clare death claims which was over twice the national rate of 8 per cent.

The average age for death claims in Clare was 59 while the average age for specified illness claims was 53 compared with the national averages of 58 and 47.

The average age for death claims in Clare males was 61 while the average for females was 56. The average age for specified illness claims in Clare males was 52 while the average age for female claims was 55.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Martin Duffy, Head of Un- derwriting at Irish Life, said that the company paid out more than €78 million in death and specified illness

claims last year.

“Cancer still remains the greatest single killer in Clare and unfortu- nately the number of cancer-related specified illness claims continues to rise nationally,” he said.

Mr Duffy added that the fact that 16 per cent of accident-related death claims were related to alcohol “re- flects a worrying trend” if this were to continue.

2006 was the first year when malig- nant cancers exceeded heart-related specified illness claims and this pat- tern was maintained in 2007.

The national survey of 392 speci- fied illness claims shows that Irish Life paid out a total of €24.7 million in 2007 — or an average of more than €63,000 per claim

The company paid €54 million in respect of 1,055 death claims nation- ally last year — or an average of just over €51,000 per claim.

The largest single death payment was just over €1 million in respect of a 50-year-old male professional who died of pancreatic cancer while the largest single payment in respect of a female was for €467,000 in respect of a professional who died of breast cancer.

An analysis of National 2007 Death Claims also revealed that alcohol was a contributory factor in 16 per cent of all accident claims.

A PRIVATE company has secured a licence from the Department of Transport to provide a town-wide bus service in Ennis for the first time.

The unidentified company secured the service even though Bus Eireann submitted a proposal to the depart- ment to operate a Service.

In response to a Dail question from Timmy Dooley, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, said, “I can confirm that my department re- ceived a proposal from Bus Eireann to provide bus passenger services in /Syeebacy

“On 20 November, 2007, the pro- posal was noted by my department and the company was advised ac- cordingly.

“The introduction of this new serv- ice 18 an operational matter for Bus Eireann.

“On 29 January, 2008, in accord- ance with the Road Traffic Act 1932, my department issued a licence to a private operator for an Ennis town Sos ata Gon

“All licences issued have standard conditions associated with them and compliance with those conditions 1s the responsibility of the service op- erator in each instance.

‘A condition of all licences includes the requirement whereby the service must be in operation in its entirety within four months from the date of

issue of the licence.” Deputy Dooley told

HUNDREDS of Doolin locals and music lovers turned out on Sunday to celebrate the lives of a group of remarkable local men. Almost a year to the day since his passing, family and friends of Jack Garrihy turned out to lay a wreath on his grave and pay their final respects.

Jack’s grandson, Jack Garrihy Jnr, placed a wreath on the grave while son Eugene read a poem from the mortuary card and Michael O’Connell sang a song over the grave.

Earlier on Sunday, Pat Sweeney had laid the commemorative wreath on the Russell family grave, taking over from the duties done up until now by Jack Garrihy.

While the wreath was being laid, Gussie McMahon sang a song written about the Rus- sell brothers and local musicians played at the fea ee Mery (OL

The ceremony was the culmination of the Russell Traditional Music festival which was this year dedicated to the memory of Jack Gar- UU Ons

A NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS couple has claimed that if planning permission is granted for a grey- hound-training operation near the village, it will expose agricultural animals to a serious risk of death by marauding packs of greyhounds. Last year, Clare County Council eranted planning permission to Leo McNulty to retain seven greyhound kennels, a training track, 11 enclosed eCoyea meu etomreDeLGmr- Mees noaYd eLO)UN NCO Mus) OF:1 O00 R-e

tion unit incorporating 20 kennels.

However, the plan encountered stiff local opposition. A number of ap- peals have now been lodged with An Bord Pleanala.

In an appeal to An Bord Pleanala, consultant for Gerard and Joan Mc- Mahon, John Garrett stated, “It is our very firm belief that this devel- opment is not in keeping with the ex- isting rural character of this area, has and will affect neighbours’ ability to enjoy the residential amenity of their existing properties, exposes agricul-

tural animals to serious risk of death by marauding packs of greyhounds should an escape occur and limits the future development potential of sig- nificant areas of surrounding areas.”

Mr Garrett states, “The council, subsequent to the granting of per- mission, is seeking a management system and noise survey. Having re- gard to the community’s experience to date, it is our respectful submis- sion that this approach endangers the rural community contrary to the common good.”

As part of the decision to grant planning, the council required Mr McNulty to carry out a comprehen- sive noise survey of the dogs on site.

However, Mr Garnett said, “It is our submission that the condition is aspirational in nature and provide no specific measurable, achievable or realistic proposals that will serve to protect the community at large where there is already unease regarding this development as a result of noise from the development in so far as it has been constructed to date.

Mr Garnett continued, “The add1i- tional 20 kennels represent a further development with the potential to ex- acerbate an already serious problem for the community.

“It is our respectful submission that the adverse experience of several neighbours should take precedence over the specialist noise surveys which formed part of the planning application.

“The application has attracted a number of negative submissions which we believe all have merit.”

AN BORD Pleanala has given Par- teen GAA club permission to extend its club facilities, despite concerns of a board inspector that the develop- ment could prove dangerous for local children.

Clare County Council approved the club’s plan last year. Subsequently, the inspector advised that the de- velopment would generate extra car traffic which would pose a risk to lo- cal children.

The inspector’s advice came after residents from Westbury appealed Clare County Council’s ruling.

Video evidence of congestion near the site, which residents submitted with their objection, contributed to the inspector’s decision.

“The local residents are obviously concerned with the impact of this

extra car traffic on their amenity and own freedom of movement,” the in- spector stated.

“It is evident that road safety and especially the safety of children is uppermost in their minds. It 1s not so much the objective degree of danger to children that is at issue here.

“Even the reasonable apprehen- sion of danger and the consequential degree to which children’s freedom to play unsupervised out of doors is constrained is a material consid- eration and one which must be taken into account in any proper planning assessment of the merits of the devel- opment.

“T conclude on the second main is- sue that the proposed development would create a degree of danger and disturbance, as perceived by local residents.”

However, the board over-ruled the

inspection stating that the proposal would not seriously injure the ameni- ties of the area or of property in the vicinity.

The board stated, “In deciding not to accept the inspector’s recom- mendation to refuse permission, the board concurred with the planning authority’s conclusion that the pro- posed facilities are complementary to the existing established use of the site as a Sports/recreation facility and would contribute to its continuing development and beneficial value to HeComyraCOCormmeevec vee LeUID IR VAM

Furthermore, having particular re- gard to the nature and scale of the additional facilities proposed, the board considered that the vehicular traffic movements likely to be gener- ated would not significantly alter the existing intensity of usage of roads in the vicinity.

can confirm that Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club, which occupies a prestigious and valuable site overlooking the River Fergus, has been approached by a developer, with a view to buy.

Niall Kelly, Chairman of Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club, which is located off the Mill Road, Stressed, ““We don’t have a ‘for sale’ sign on our club, but we are open to approaches and will listen.”

However, while confirming the ap- proach and subsequent meetings with an unnamed developer he added, ‘No decision has been made. We had a conversation and we listened and reported back to the club’s manage- ment and trustees.”

At the club’s 2007 AGM, a decision was taken to establish a development sub-committee.

According to Niall Kelly, “We see ourselves as wanting to provide qual- ity facilities for our members and as such we have developed a programme of phased improvements.”

Asked if those improvements could

involve the sale of the club in favour of a green field site elsewhere in town, plus a cash deal, much like that struck by the GAA with Cusack Park, Niall said, “We haven’t ruled any- thing out, or anything in, at present. We are happy where we are. We have a very contented membership and a great level of volunteerism.

“Our main objective is to ensure an environment that is as comfort- able as possible for our membership. We have given ourselves a year to progress the options that are there, and we intend to explore all op- aloe

He re-iterated, ““We are not closed to listening to people, we are open to suggestions, but as said we don’t have a ‘for sale’ sign on our club.”

Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club currently has over 400 mem- bers and facilities include five state- of-the-art, all-weather, floodlit tennis courts with full-length international size run-back, plus two sprung cham- pionship badminton courts, a bar and lounge area, ladies and gents chang- ing rooms with full shower facilities and ample car parking spaces.

The club, which sits on a scenic riv- erside site, was established in 1893.

AIR passengers at Shannon Airport breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as they dodged industrial action on two fronts.

As late as Sunday evening passen- gers faced disruption involving both Aer Lingus and air traffic control- Suse

Just yesterday air traffic controllers called off a planned 24-hour strike for Thursday.

The strike would have affected flights into and out of all Irish air- ports including Shannon, and all flights through Irish air space.

The dispute erupted over claims by

air traffic controllers that they were short staffed.

Their employers – the Irish Aviation Authority – maintained, however, that the industrial action related to claims for an increase in payment for overtime.

The air traffic controllers called off the industrial action yesterday (Mon- day) following talks at the Labour Coliian

The workers have also suspended their official overtime ban that was due to take effect from tomorrow.

Meanwhile threats of industrial ac- tion at Aer Lingus yesterday (Mon- day) was averted at the eleventh hour as management and the union SIPTU

reached agreement on a package of cost cutting reforms and work prac- tices. Following almost 34 hours of continuous talks Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion said, “We have agreement on the imple- mentation of productivity and cost cutting measures with SIPTU and we await the outcome of their inter- nal ballot process. Nothing will be implemented until the ballot 1s com- pleted.”

SIPTU National Industrial Secre- tary Gerry McCormack said agree- ment had been reached subject to a ballot of members.

“We accept there has been genuine commitment by both sides to reach

an agreement and the process has protected SIPTU members’ interests and also prevented disruption to Aer Lingus passengers,” he said.

Aer Lingus had threatened to sus- pend staff if they failed to cooperate with new work practices it planned to introduce yesterday morning without union agreement.

SIPTU will spend the next week consulting with members to explain the deal to them. It 1s expected the consultation process and the ballot will take two weeks. It 1s believed that €7.5million of the cost saving package will be generated in Dub- lin, with around €2.5 million being saved on the Shannon operation.

THE proposed master plan for Shan- non lacks coherence, is flawed and does not cater for the completion of the town’s shopping mall at Sky- Sous

That’s according to management at SkyCourt, which has made a submis- sion on the proposed development to Clare County Council.

SkyCourt says that if the master plan is not amended, it could become redundant as a planning tool to guide developers, local authorities and the public.

The submission suggests that an integrated approach has not been taken in the preparation of the plan. It says that the master plan needs to acknowledge that SkyCourt repre- sents the existing core retail area of S)ervepeKeyee

The plan mainly focuses on lands which are located across the road from the town centre. SkyCourt says that these lands cannot be developed in isolation from the existing core of Shannon town.

SkyCourt says that there is still available land within the SkyCourt zone to accommodate further retail

floorspace. It argues that these lands should be prioritised for convenience and comparison shopping until they are exhausted, in order to consolidate development adjacent to the existing retail core area of Shannon Town – qi Golan

“SkyCourt is a phased redevelop- ment and it is not yet a completed project. The submission is concerned that the focus on completion of that sector should not be lost in the prep- aration of the master plan,” said a statement issued by SkyCourt man- agement.

SkyCourt’s submission also rejects the master plan proposal for a large retail anchor unit on the site across the road.

‘In the short to medium term this store can be accommodated within the existing SkyCourt area. The submission argues that this store is not required in the proposed loca- tion and should therefore be deleted from the framework plan,” added the Statement.

SkyCourt says it is pressing ahead with plans. Planning applications will be lodged within the next week for a larger Dunnes Stores and a Tes- co anchor store.