Month: April 2008

FACTORY workers are being asked to play a role in ensuring Shannon is kept clean and neat this summer.

In advance of the tidy towns com- mittee’s Annual General Meeting tonight (Tuesday), the chairperson has appealed for more people to get involved in the group.

A core group of five people run the committee and chairperson Tess Bar- ry is hopeful that this can increase.

‘There are a lot of projects on hand this year. We are hoping to encour-

age more people to get involved,” said Ms Barry.

Ms Barry, who was one of the founders of the tidy towns committee in 1973, said that parts of the town have been plagued by litter over the years but things have improved in re- Ton Bb Nel eAy

“The litter issue has improved im- mensely, but we still have blackspots and we are going to address those,” she said.

“Litter has been our big problem. We are very grateful to the council for the work it is doing in improving

the footpaths. The last phase of the street signs will soon be put in place and we are very happy with that,” she said.

She also paid tribute to the town’s residents groups, who play a vital role in ensuring the town is looking good.

“We would never manage without the residents associations. We are also grateful to the offer made to us by McDonald’s to help in the clean- ups this year, having helped out last year,’ she said.

The local youth clubs — the Chris-

tian leadership movement and the Shannon Youth Office — and the stu- dents of St Patrick’s Comprehensive School have also pledged to help out with the clean-ups this year.

“We are hoping that a few of the industrialists will come on board and lend a hand with a few projects,” added Ms Barry.

The AGM will take place in the Alley Diner at the Shannon Knights Inn at 7.30pm tonight. For informa- tion phone Ms Barry on 061 362241 or the PRO Olive Bowen on O61 See

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised questions over the water supply systems servic- ing almost half of Clare.

The agency, in a report, has placed nine schemes serving in excess of 50,000 people on a remedial list.

The EPA found in the Ennis public water supply levels of Trihalometh- anes (THM) above the current stand- ard as set down in the drinking water regulations. The Ennis public water supply provides water to 23,000 peo- eter

A number of scientific studies have linked high concentrations of THM to increased risk of cancer. It is a by-product of treating the water with chlorine.

“It is worrying and if there is a case study on how not to put in place a water supply system, the Ennis pub- lic water system 1s it,” said Cllr Brian Meaney (GP).

The EPA expressed similar con- cerns in relation to the Ennistymon water supply scheme that supplies water to 8,220 people.

In relation to the Shannon-Sixmile- bridge scheme, which supplies water

to 16,000 people, the EPA states the supply may not be able to meet forth- coming THM standards.

The EPA found that the Turlough public water scheme, serving 500 people, “failed to meet e.coli stand- ards as reported in drinking water regulations and needs investigation and improvement if necessary to en- sure that the root problems have been rectified”.

The report also found excessive lev- els of aluminum in the treated water supply in Miltown Malbay which supplies 1,443 people.

In relation to schemes at Bally-

vaughan (1,000) and Broadford (350), the EPA states that the Health Serv- ice Executive (HSE) have identified supplies where further investigation or improvement maybe required.

“Of greater concern was the rela- tively low level of compliance with the trihalomethanes standard (88 per cent compliance).

“Four public water supplies (En- nistymon, Ennis, West Clare New and West Clare Old) reported con- centrations of trihalomethanes that were unacceptably high.

“While the latter two were unchar- acteristic (subsequent monitoring

has indicated low levels of THMs) the latter two are in need of urgent corrective action particularly as the standard for trihalomethanes is tight- ening in 2008.”

The report states: “Clare County Council carried out analysis on 529 check and 54 audit samples during 2006.

“No monitoring was carried out in one public group water scheme.”

The EPA report stated: “The overall rate of compliance in County Clare, 98.2 per cent, was above the national average in 2006 and improved com- pared from 97.7 per cent in 2005.

A ROMANTIC evening of candle- light, poetry and music on the shores of Lough Derg will raise cash for a life-saving cause.

A collaboration between the RNLI lifeboat service and the Killaloe- based Writer’s Hedge School has re- sulted in a poets and pipers evening on May Day.

Famed Scottish poet, Kenneth Steven will be the star reader at the event.

Kenneth is coming to Killaloe at

the invitation of best-selling author in residence, David Rice who runs the Killaloe Writers Hedge School along with poet and writer, Kathleen Thorne.

Providing the music for the evening will be talented piper, Brian Mooney and friends and between 8pm and 10pm, the lights will be lowered, the music mellow and the poetry mov- ing.

All the profits will be going to sup- port the voluntary RNLI service for Lough Derg and the Shannon.

The lifeboat was in Killaloe at the

weekend for the official launch of the poets and pipers night.

Every week, the lifeboat service saves twelve lives when people get into deadly danger on the inland and coastal waters of Ireland.

The Lough Derg boat, which is sta- tioned at Dromineer, has a voluntary crew of 20 and provides 24-7 cover for the lake and that portion of the river.

“They come out in every weather and have saved countless lives and helped people in great distress. It’s an important service and is volun-

tary with people giving their time and skills to rescue victims in trou- ble on the water,” a spokesman for the service said.

Tickets for the lovely evening are €20 a head and can be had from N1- amh McCutcheon on 087 6592955 or Eleanor Hooker, 067 24186.

i eFeTMncva CoN Oaks another cause to be happy. “I’ve been told I’m accepted at NCAD in Dublin, providing I get my Leaving

Cert,’ the sixth year student said.

No stranger to success in the com- petition, Lucy has won three special merit awards in recent years.

“T couldn’t believe it – I thought it was a joke,’ Lucy said of her reac- tion to the win. She is delighted to have been accepted for the Dublin college, but is keeping her options open. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet’, said the girl who has been painting since she was a child. Nor did she lick her talent off the stones. Lucy’s mother, and sister both paint while her aunt is an artist and her erand-uncle a sculptor.

A second Clare student, Edel Mulqueen, aged 18, from Kilrush Community School also won a spe-

cial merit award in the competition.

Praising Lucy as “a well deserved winner’, the chairman of the judging panel, Professor Declan McGonagle said that she had produced an intense portrait painting in which every inch of the surface is active and alive with brushmarks and paint.

This is the second successive year in which the top prize has been won by a Clare student. Last year, the overall winner was Cillian Boyd, a student at Gaelcholaiste An Chlair, Ennis. This year, a total of 754 stu- dents from County Clare entered the competition, a 21 per cent increase on the 2007 figure.

Announcing the awards at a recep- tion held in the Dublin City Gallery,

The Hugh Lane, Enda Riney, Coun- try Chairman of Chevron (Ireland) Limited described Lucy as an ex- tremely talented young artist whose work has featured prominently in previous competitions.

In 2004, 2005 and 2006, she won a Special Merit Award for her entries. ‘Her achievement in winning the top prize this year has helped maintain the very high standard set by Clare students in the competition,” Mr Riney said.

THE third annual 10km walk in aid of suicide awareness takes place in Ennis on April 22.

This year’s event is being organised to raise money for the Ennis based support group, Living Links.

A poker night, also in aid of Living Links, takes place in Ennis on Friday April 18.

Ennis student Sasha O’Brien is the woman behind the event. Along with her uncles, Keith Molloy and Gerry O’Brien, Sasha has championed the cause of suicide awareness, in a bid to encourage greater debate and highlight the impact of suicide on

bereaved families.

Sasha explained the campaign has received great support. “It has been brilliant since we started it. I’ve got great help from my uncles. We just wanted to get people talking about it. We had an event there recently, and I must have had about 20 people com- ing up to me, who had been affected by suicide, and they were really de- lighted with what we are doing.

Sasha’s efforts were recognised last year when she was among 20 Irish students to be nominated for a Pra- merica Spirit of Community Award.

The Pramerica Spirit of Commu- nity Awards programme recognises and rewards post-primary/second-

level students for volunteer work car- ried out in their communities.

For the past six years the Living Links organisation has offered a suicide outreach support service to families and individuals in Clare who have been bereaved by suicide. SU ilcceTKcMC ISRO NON MNCOOUMBRUDUKanRe-BDO Tere! volunteers staffing the service in Ee

Clare Living Links operates under the auspices of the Health Service Executive and all volunteers are ful- ly trained.

In addition to healing programmes volunteers respond to approaches made by a bereaved family or in- dividual and can arrange to meet

them inside or outside their homes or wherever the bereaved person feels most comfortable. All meetings are conducted with complete confiden- SEUOIAYs

The 10km walk will take in a route around Ennis. Last year’s 10km walk raised over €24,000 for the Samarti- tans.

For further information on Living Links contact the support co-ordina- tor between 5pm to 7pm Monday- Friday at 086 0565373.

€83,000 will be spent by Ennis Town Council to slow down speed- ing drivers in Ennis.

That is the amount allocated to traffic calming works in Ennis under the council’s Draft Programme for Special Roadworks 2008.

In addition to outstanding works for 2007, the locations targeted in the programme are Hermitage, Shalee Drive, John Paul Avenue, Gordon Drive, Turnpike Road, Drehid- nagower, laneway beside St Josephs, Collins Park, Summerhill, Connolly Villas and Bridge Court.

However, despite concerns from local residents, traffic calming meas-

ures will not be installed in Ivy Road. A speed survey conducted by Ennis Town Council found speed limits in the area were not high enough to warrant the introduction of traffic management controls. Inbound, the total number of vehicles surveyed was 442.

The average speed recorded for vehicles travelling into Ivy Hill was found to be 36km/hour and the 85th percentile speed was recorded at 46.02km/hour. Outbound, the total number of vehicles surveyed was Tyee

The average speed recorded was 39km/hour and the 85th percentile speed was 49.55km/h.

The 85th percentile mark is the

speed below which 85 per cent of the vehicles were travelling and is a method used in determining the need for traffic controls.

The survey was carried out over a 24-hour period between 4pm on Jan- uary 10 and 4pm on January 11

In his report Town Engineer Tom Tiernan stated that as the 85th per- centile didn’t exceed 50km/h, in e1- ther inbound or outbound situations, traffic calming measures wasn’t jus- abELsee

In total, €720,500 is available to the council to implement the road- works programme.

It is proposed to spend €150,000 on road surfacing works at 10 locations around Ennis at Corrovorrin Grove;

Cappalawn, Roslevan, Laneway at Dalcassian Park; Avondale, Kilrush Road; Castlewood Park; College Green (A); College Green (B); Clau- reen Drive; Road by Golf Club; Lane at rear of Lifford Road.

A total of €145,000 has been allo- cated for footpath upgrading works while a total of €150,000 has been set aside to cover loan charges and CCAS hea eec Dele mr: Delea OED mYmere Nims Colm Nelom ENT.) stage of the Ennis inner relief road.

Ennis’ laneways will also get a makeover with the upgrade of Chap- el Lane and Cookes Lane. The next phase of the scheme involves the laneways linking the pedestrian sec- tion of Parnell Street with the Parnell street car park.

NEW Ennis Chamber President Niall Garvey has identified Cusack Park, Shannon Airport and pedestrianisa- tion as the key issues impacting on businesses in Ennis.

Mr Garvey, of accountancy firm Niall C Garvey Accountants and Co, was speaking after he was elected president at the recent Annual Gen- eral Meeting of Ennis Chamber, held at the Old Ground Hotel.

The meeting consisted of a review of the activities of Ennis Chamber during the past year by Outgoing- President Michael Evans and CEO Rita McInerney.

Michael Evans outlined the coor- dinated approach undertaken by the

Regional Chambers of Limerick, Shannon, Ennis and Galway in the wake of the announcement on Shan- non – Heathrow Services in August 2007.

He said he believes that this coop- eration 1S necessary in order to de- velop an economic counter pole to Dublin.

Mr. Evans went on to say that he had liaised with the Local Authori- ties over the past year and stressed the importance of the rapid comple- tion of the permanent Water Treat- ment System in order to ensure a reliability of the source.

The outgoing president also called for the fast-tracking of improved in- frastructure for the town including the road network and parking par-

ticularly in light of discussion around the pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street and Abbey Street.

The meeting then proceeded to elect the new officers and executive of the board with the following re- sults: President: Niall Garvey, Niall C. Garvey Chartered Accountants; Vice-President: Guy Flouch, New Idiom; Treasurer: Tony Barrett, AIB; Secretary: Margaret Neylon.

In his acceptance speech, incom- ing – president Niall Garvey said he looked forward to continuing the work of his predecessors in leading the chamber for the forthcoming year.

In particular, he would continue to co-operate with other bodies to pro- mote the greater good of Ennis, par-

ticularly as a place to do business.

He said the chamber must remain positive in promoting Ennis in an in- creasingly negative business climate, and he looked forward to dealing proactively with the known forth- coming issues, including the pro- posed development of Cusack Park, proposed pedestrianisation, and con- nectivity for Shannon Airport mov- ing to the future.

The additional members of the Ennis Chamber Executive for 2007 – 2008 are Michael Byrne, Wil- liam Cahir, Dervilla Evans, Mary Jo Duffy, Gerry Flynn, Paul Flynn, John Galvin, Grainne Hassett, Roger Leyden, John Madden, Diarmuid Mc Mahon, Oliver Moylan, Paul Mul- lane and Con O’Callaghan.

FOR the first time in the event’s his- tory, this year’s Fleadh Nua will fea- ture performances from an Ulster/ Scots Pipe band.

A pipe and flute band in the Ulster Scots tradition, the Hounds of Ulster are one of the provinces most high profile marching bands.

Announcing details of the festival programme at last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, Rory Casey, of the Fleadh Nua committee, explained the festival is opening up to embrace the new cultural landscape.

He said, “We have to be careful

to address other cultures. There is a whole different cultural landscape out there than there was in Ennis in 1973. We talk a lot about the eco- nomic benefits of the Good Friday agreement but perhaps its time to reap the cultural benefits. If we are serious about living on this island to- gether, we have to develop relation- ships like this”.

The Hounds of Ulster, Mr Casey said, would not be marching in the annual Fleadh Nua parade.

The nine-day festival takes place in venues throughout Ennis from May 18-26.

Other highlights include a tribute

to acclaimed musician and teacher Frank Custy, a series of concerts in glor and a wide and varied pro- gramme of street performances and music workshops.

Mr Casey said the Fleadh Nua had survived because of the close links formed between the organising com- mittee, Ennis Town Council, local arts and cultural groups, Shannon Development and venues like the County Museum, Cois na hAbhna and Glor.

However, Mr Casey said he was disappointed with the response of the business community to last year’s BATE

“We have a close relationship with Ennis Chamber. But it was very dis- appointing, we sent out 300 letters and we only got one response. It is an Ennis festival and we do bring ben- efit to the town”.

Mr Casey explained that with 57 festivals taking place in Clare this year, the Fleadh Nua faced a chal- lenging, competitive market place.

Independent councillor Frankie Neylon said the festival should adopt a country each year to maximise the benefits of tourism.

Fine Gael councilor Johnny Flynn urged the committee to embrace new concepts like pod casting.

OVER 200 people have already signed up for the Ennis Tag Rugby League.

The sport has developed into a fix- ture on the summer sports calendar. This year 23,000 people have signed up to play, making it Ireland’s most popular tag league.

Tasked with over seeing the growth of the sport and maintaining its pro- file is Ennis man Brian Nevin.

Earlier this year, Nevin was ap- pointed Commercial Manager of the Irish Tag Rugby Association CUR eA

Two years ago he was part of the first team from Ennis to compete in the All-Ireland tag rugby champion- ship in Limerick.

In 2007 he was involved in estab- lishing the first tag rugby league in

Sab eb Ese

He explained, “We had been talk- ing about getting a league going in Ennis. | was always onto the asso- ciation about doing it, so eventually they challenged me to start a league in Ennis. We held coaching clinics in April in the rugby club. We though wed get about 10 people, but 105 turned up the first night. We ended up with 16 teams. It just grew legs and kept developing”. The teams that competed in the nine-week league were drawn mainly from local busi- nesses and clubs.

Brian said, “It was great to see players developing from the coach- ing clinics in April to competing in the league. If you do play rugby it is a great way to develop skills and, equally, if you’re not, its good fun to oe Nae

Nevin took up the role with the

ITRA after working for four years as Brand Manager for Erdinger Beer in the west of Ireland.

The idea of tag rugby is that it pro- vides an enjoyable way of keeping fit. There is also a huge social element to tag rugby with matches usually end- ing with a barbecue or a trip to the pub.

“The social aspect is one of the main reasons why the summer leagues have gone so well. On week three we have a salsa night where people can learn salsa dancing. On week seven of the league we’re hop- ing to organise Ireland’s largest table quiz. In week seven there will be a charity event in conjunction with World Vision, where, for every litre of water sold, Volvic will donate 10 liters to Africa”.

Perhaps the most eye-catching of the planned events is the beach tag

rugby tournament in Lahinch on June 21.

“We’ve got great support from the GAA clubs in Lahinch and Ennisty- mon and local businesses and the Gardai. There has been interest from teams around Ireland. Its definitely an event we would hope to grow over the next few years”’.

Registration is live now on www. volvictag.ie for Ennis RFC summer leagues. For more information call CAO U Lee

COLAISTE MHUIRE, Ennis, has been short-listed for the ECO- UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) 2008.

Competition judges visited the school yesterday (Monday) for the final judging process. The school has been short-listed for the national awards scheme in the Senior Eco- Consumerism category, for project “Tree Wise and Waist Knot’.

Students decided to work on con- sumerism through two different projects in order to make people aware of their role in reducing global

waste in the production of consumer goods.

To carry out the “Tree-Wise’ project the group decided to pot holly plants and Christmas trees.

The trees were sold in the Ennis Market to encourage people to grow their own Christmas tree instead of buying a new one each year.

The group invested the profits in environmental initiatives in_ their school such as a new composter called the ‘Big Pig’.

For the second project, ‘Waist- Knot’, the group organised a fashion show with second-hand clothes to encourage both students and parents

to be consumer-aware and to pass on second-hand clothes to others who would benefit.

After the event, the students decid- ed to sell the clothes from the fash- ion show and once again the results exceeded their expectations, with the profits donated to the “The Butterfly Challenge’ organisation.

Students from Colaiste Mhuire along with other participating school will take part in the YEA Showcase and Ceremony on May 13, in the Round Room of the Mansion House, in Dublin.

“We are delighted to see such a ereat variety of local environmental

action projects being carried out by young people all over Ireland. The quality of their projects is making the judging process more challeng- ing each year,” said Elaine Nevin, Director of ECO-UNESCO.

Each year ECO-UNESCO, Irelands environmental education and youth organisation, awards and celebrates young people who take part in en- vironmental projects, which protect their local environment.

Since the creation of the Young En- vironmentalist Awards over 10,000 young people have taken part with awareness campaigns taking place in over 750 schools and communities.