Month: April 2008

SHERRY FitzGerald McMahon has a number of excellent commercial properties on its books at present, including a landmark office building at Quin Road Business Park, which would be ideal as corporate head- quarters. With 337.2 sq.m. (3,630 sq.ft.) of floor space, this bright, modern accommodation is fully fit-

ted.

According to Paddy Darmody of Sherry FitzGerald McMahon, * What we have here is a prime location to the front of park with adjoining oc- cupiers including Brian McCarthy Contractors Ltd., Decibel & Univer- sal Business Systems.

The accommodation is laid out over two floors and is fitted to a high standard including air condition-

ing. Accommodation comprises a reception area, six principal offices, a comms room, canteen and WCs” . This premises is close to Ennis town centre and the lease terms are negoti- able.

Across the road in the Clare Marts complex Paddy Darmody has a light industrial warehouse on his books. There’s 230 sq.m. (2,475 sq.ft.) of floor space and a_ secure yard of some 180 sq.m. (1,940 sq.ft.). This unit is suitable for many uses. The lease term is 4 years 9 months and rent is €20,000 per annum (exclu- SAVE

Those seeking a shop unit in Ennis should take a look at the two-storey shop unit at Harvey’s Quay.

Said Darmody, “With its central lo- cation, just 110 yards form O’Connell Square, extensive shop frontage and generous floor space of 2,400 sq. ft., this premises is ideal as a retail out- ae

This property is for sale or let. The asking price is circa €1.1 million or to rent it’s €50,000 per annum.

THE traditional selling period for holiday homes is fast approaching and as yet, agents specialising in this market are unsure whether or not the downturn in the property market will spread its tentacles to the coastal aoe

Aine Hussey of Sherry FitzGerald Hussey Madden, Ennistymon, is relatively upbeat about the prospects

for 2008.

“After a disappointing last quarter in 2007, 2008 kicked off with an un- expected but most welcome strong start, with a high volume of sales for the first quarter of our financial year.

This strong start may have been due to people holding off until the stamp duty issue was resolved in the Budget.

She added, “most of our sales early this year have been to people moving

permanently to the north and west Clare area. From Easter onwards is traditionally the start of the holiday home sales and we have found that the rate of enquiries has increased ten fold since St Patrick’s weekend, particularly for the popular costal villages of Lahinch, Doolin, Liscan- nor and Spanish Point with some strong offers already on the table. “The buyer profile of recent years doesn’t seem to be changing, with

the majority of our enquiries gen- erated by prospective buyers from Limerick, Dublin and the Midlands. However, despite the weakening sterling, we have increased our UK client base both for permanent and holiday homes”.

Holiday home purchasers in 2007 were waiting for adjustments in the markets including stamp duty before moving on second homes, now that the criteria’s have been met we see

strong demand for the 2008 season.

Asked which properties are cur- rently drawing attention, Aine said, “The School Road development of 77 homes continue to sell from plans and as usual there is strong demand for properties with sea views”.

All told, Aine is feeling confident and anticipates that the Clare coastal market will remain resilient in 2008.

“We are looking forward to a busy summer season.’

THE vice-president elect of the Teachers Union of Ireland has hit out at schools that administer what her union has described as “academic hoy-Nus eles (ema

Enniswoman Bernie Ruane said that some schools are refusing to take in students who have special needs, often using a full roll as an excuse.

Every child should have a right to go to their local second level school but the reality is the schools are writ- ing an open administrative policy

but they are not implementing it,” said the St Patrick’s Comprehensive School, Shannon assisting principal.

The teacher with more than 25 years experience attended the TUI national conference as the newly elected vice president who is to take up her new role in July 1.

The active member of the TUI 1s very vocal on numerous issues af- fecting teachers and students not least of all the issue of “academic apartheid”.

At its conference last week TUI delegates said that the Department of

Education and Science continues to facilitate certain schools in operat- ing a system of ‘academic apartheid’ in their admission policies thereby enhancing the privilege of such schools.

According to TUI figures 10 per cent of second level schools do not take any students with special needs.

Certain schools continue to dis- criminate against students with spe- cial educational needs by not allow- ing them the right to be educated with their siblings, friends and neighbours the union of 14,500 members main-

ie baleee

‘The corollary of this is that other schools with open admissions polices continue to act as magnets for pupils with special education needs, despite a chronic lack of resources.

“With much fanfare, the minister signalled her intention to carry out an audit of the number of students with special needs in schools two years ago but this information has yet to be presented despite several requests from TUI,” said the unions Assistant General Secretary John MacGabhann.

THE new REPS4 deal announced last week by the Minister for Agri- culture and Food, Mary Coughlan, has been described as “unaccept- able” by the IFA.

The organisations Rural Develop- ment Chairman Tom Turley attacked the decision, claiming that the move away from the early payments sys- tem, which he claimed has been a key feature of farmers joining the REPS scheme for the past 14 years, will impact negatively on uptake in the years ahead.

“It is now clear that the targets set out for the REPS scheme in the Part- nership negotiations will not now be

met. Farmers will be very reluctant to change from REPS 3 to REPS 4 until their five year contract period has been completed because by do- ing so they will be moving into a very different payment regime,” he PALO

“The REPS scheme has proven of enormous benefit to the rural envi- ronment since it was first introduced in 1994. Up to 60,000 farmers were in the scheme when REPS 3 closed for applications at the end of 2006.

“The scheme has shown itself to be one of the flagship agri-environ- mental schemes in the European Union delivering huge benefits to the countryside. Farmers who have been out of the REPS scheme for the

past 18 months and who now wish to join REPS 4 will have been without payment for two years following the Minister’s announcement.

“The objective for the scheme of having 70,000 farmers participating by the end of 2013 has been seri- ously jeopardized by the outcome of the discussions between Minister Coughlan and the European Com- mission.”

Earlier last week, the Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, an- nounced a change in European Com- mission rules which would allow more than 3,000 REPS farmers to join REPS 4 when their existing con- tracts come to an end this year.

“The concession on REPS 4 is

a very significant one. As things stood, the new Commission Regula- tions governing REPS 4 would have meant that most farmers with REPS contracts ending in 2008 would have had to wait until 2009 to join REPS 4 and would not have got any pay- ment until early autumn of next year. However, we have secured a special transitional arrangement for 2008 so that these farmers will be in a posi- tion to start their REPS 4 contracts and get payment later this year,’ she said.

The special transitional provisions are the outcome of intensive discus- sions on the interpretation of the Reg- ulation between Department officials and their counterparts in the Com-

MARY Coughlan has missed a golden opportunity to restructure the milk sector and make it more attrac- tive for young farmers. That is the opinion of Macra President, Cather- ine Buckley, who last week hit out at the Minister for her “disappointing” performance on the milk quota re- eul(qnunwperce

Last Wednesday, Coughlan an- nounced the allocation of the two per cent increase in milk quota.

“It was a lost opportunity by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisher- ies and Food to bring about real re- structuring to the industry,” said Ms

BLU alos

“We are constantly reminded of the poor age structure of the dairy in- dustry by all involved, yet when the Minster is given a golden opportuni- ty to readdress the issue and target a portion of the quota increase to new entrants, she chooses to instead allo- cate quota through a mechanism that favours larger and more established OJ ROLeLU once

Macra na Feirme had called for the targeting of a portion of the two per cent increase in national milk quota to young farmers who want to enter CREDO mys ercemOLULMAYelOm-DuoMebNBuS LOR VaUbOT-ce ble to do so by traditional routes such as inheritance or partnership.

“The real benefit of quota increases to the industry would have been re- alised if this approach was taken,” continued Buckley.

“Larger and long established pro- ducers are the real winners, while new entrants are ruled out from what has become a closed industry unless you have deep pockets to purchase | UCele: Kom) tIKcsmmlelomnnleleinm iam

Speaking at the opening of the new Emmental Cheese facility at Tip- perary Co-op last week, Munister Coughlan defended her position.

The Minister said that she had con- sidered a number of allocation op- tions that had been suggested to her by various organisations.

However, she was satisfied that allocating two per cent additional quota to every active producer active today, April 1, 2008 was the fairest and most equitable manner of al- location in that it rewarded farmers proportionately for the efforts they had made individually to building up their farm enterprises.

“In making this decision I am con- scious of the fact that further quota increases will be agreed in future years as the EU moves in the direc- tion of quota abolition in 2015. I will publish a notice giving effect to this decision shortly. The additional quo- ta will be available to producers with effect from April 1,” she said.

WEST Clare’s newest football club has been hailed a success with more than 200 members signed up since its inauguration less than five weeks ago.

The Kilrush Ladies Football Club has a total of 182 players ranging in ages from four to 40, making it one of the fastest growing clubs in the eee as

The founders of the club attribute the overwhelming success to local support and a strong local base.

At the launch of the club just over a month ago more than 300 people turned out to support the venture.

Guests of honour on the night were

the 1970s ladies who played for the town in the Cailin Ban competition.

Not only were the ladies attributed the honour of being life-long honor- ary members of the club; they also joined the younger members in the St Patrick’s Day parade.

The young members of the club even won a prize on the day.

Those involved in the club said that the huge support they are receiving locally points to the need for such a club for so long.

Although in its infancy the club hosted this year’s under-12 West Clare Football Blitz, which included well-established teams such as Co- oraclare, Doonbeg, Western Gaels and Kilmihil.

The junior team has already played two games, with the under 16s also having fielded a team.

The club can now boast two nurs- ery groups, with under six and under eight age groups.

These young players learn basic skills of football and simple drills.

There is also an under 10 founda- tion group, and under 11 develop- mental group.

The Kilrush club enters competi- tions for the under 12, under 14 and under 16 age groups as well as for its junior team.

Plans are in place to have a minor ore ROOMoAoIMUCUE NTA

On the night of the launch the Munster Ladies Football chairman

Michael Ryan was very impressed with the enthusiasm for the game among the Kilrush ladies.

He told those gathered that girls who met involved in the game avoid potential trouble down the road. He encouraged the parents present to support the club for this very reason.

The community are also showing its support for the girls as sponsor- ship for all jerseys has already been found.

The recent church gate collection was also well supported, as was the Holy Thursday night quiz.

The next fundraiser for Kilrush’s newest teams will be a bag pack in Super Valu Kilrush on April 4 and a

KILRUSH town councillor Collie Sweeney (Ind) believes it is time for owners of derelict buildings in the west Clare capital to clean up their ATOR

Cllr Sweeney told the March meet- ing of the council that the time is right to get owners to clean up these derelict houses or the council will use its power under the Derelict Sites aoe

When the town council adopted the Kilrush Town Development Plan it was agreed that derelict sites would be receiving special attention during

the lifetime of the plan.

Cllr Sweeney said that he noticed that the Tidy Town’s report for Kil- rush also pointed to the negative im- pact of the derelict sites.

“This is a warning call only to owners of derelict sites to do some- thing about them. This council has been ignoring this issue for far too long,” he said.

Senior Staff Officer with Kilrush Town Council, Siobhan O’Keeffe confirmed that there are now five sites on the Kilrush Town Council Derelict Sites Register.

Under of the Derelict Sites Act 1990, each local authority is obliged

to maintain a Derelict Sites Register.

In November 2005, Kilrush Town Council submitted a nomination form to the Department of the En- vironment, Heritage and _ Local Government for the entire Kilrush Town Council boundary area to be prescribed as an Urban Area by the Minister under section 21 of the Der- elict Sites Acct.

In November 2007, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government confirmed this nomination.

The nomination of an Urban Area means that Kilrush Town Council can now charge or levy a derelict

sites levy on the owner or occupier of any of the derelict sites entered on the Derelict Sites Register where the market value has been determined.

“It 1s now proposed to prioritise the five entries on the Derelict Sites Register, proceed to determine the market value of each site and impose a derelict sites levies on the owner or occupier to take any other action as possible under the relevant sections of the Derelict Sites Act.

“Over the next three months a com- plete audit of sites in the town will also be carried out and sites will be added or removed from the register as appropriate,’ Ms O’ Keeffe said.

WEST Clare will have its own Las Vegas on the plains of Moyasta this April – for one night only.

Poker enthusiasts from around the county and country are expected to descend on the small west Clare vil- lage for its first ever-major Charity Poker Classic.

While poker classics may have been held in Clancy’s Bar before, they have never reached the scale of the one organised for April 11 in aid of the Cahercalla Hospice Fund.

Depending on the success of this inaugural classic, organisers hope to

make this an annual event and mark it as one of the biggest fundraisers from the area for the popular char- ity. The official opening of the €2.7 million extended Hospice Unit in the Garden Wing at Cahercalla Commu- nity Hospital and Hospice took place last month and the ongoing fundrais- ing events are necessary to keep the unit functioning to its full capacity The multi-million euro extension 1s providing a state of the art hospice unit with 10 private rooms, social space looking out on gardens, a fam- ily room providing overnight accom- modation and a kitchen serving the

hospice facility.

Employing a staff of 120, to under- pin the expanded free hospice care and make up the shortfall in running a non-profit community operation, fund raising requirements will now rise to € 500,000 per year.

Ten further beds are being pro- vided for the nursing home and the seven beds, which previously served as hospice, now become step-down hospice beds.

Since coming into community ownership in 1995 the hospice has provided for more than 1,000 termi- nally ill patients.

The Charity Poker Classic in Mo-

yasta will take place at Clancy’s Bar Moyasta on Friday, April 11, from 8pm sharp.

Prize money is €/7,000 pro rata with a 70 per cent payout guaranteed on the night. Tickets are €100 each and the competition is limited to 100 players. There are no buy backs. There will also be spot prizes and a raffle on the night and food will also be served. Michael Talty will be the master of ceremonies.

Further information on the poker classic 1s available from Michael Garrihy, proprietor of Clancy’s Bar at 087 9978769 or M Haugh 065 90 Pee

THE 16th Annual Frank Gallery Basketball Tournament was played in Ennistymon over the Easter week- end and produced some top class entertainment and plenty of excite- ment, with no match won by more than three points the tournament.

The event is held annually in memory of the late Frank Gallery, a leading member of the Claremont Admirals National league club on the 1980s.

Since the 50th anniversary of the club in 2005, the format has been teams representing past and present club members bringing together

a mix of veteran male and female players as well as the up and coming younger players.

The teams are called after loca- tions in the town and Lahinch where the game was played and survived from 1955 onwards. This year com- petition was contested by the Sluagh Hall Suns, the Market House Mob, the Scout Hall Skins and the Town Hall Terriers.

The opening game set the tone with Vinnie Leigh’s Sluagh Hall Suns edging out Tony Gallery’s Market House Mob 31-29. Next up were the Scout Hall Skins captained by Mark Wankel who faced off against Travis McDonough’s Town Hall Terriers.

The Terriers looked to be comfort- able with as much as an eight point lead mid-way through the third quar- ter. However, a series of turnovers opened the door for the Skins with Stephen Leigh and Mark Wankel combined for nine points to push the Terriers all the way. The Terriers eventually made the final with a tight two point win.

The third place game provided a spirited showing for both teams with the Mob looked favourites until vintage performances from Stephen Leigh and captain Mark Wankel gave the Skins a two point victory.

The final produced another heart stopper with the defending champi-

ons the Sluagh Hall Suns challenged by the Town Hall Terriers. Despite a spirited fight by the defending cham- pions, it was to be the Terriers day and they won out 30-27 victors in the Nee

Presentations were made at the Tournament Buffet in the Falls Ho- tel. The Winner of the Most Valuable Player Award was Stephen Leigh, a veteran of the 1982 Claremont Ad- mirals team. This award was spon- sored for the original Tournament by Frank Gallery’s colleagues at Mon- eypoint ESB Station The Frank Gal- lery Cup was presented by Tony Gal- lery to Travis McDonough the Town Hall Terriers captain.

NORTH Clare is the only place in the world to see a production of Me and My Girl this year. The Arthur Rose musical, which was revisited and updated by Stephen Fry in the SQs, 18S the choice for the 35th annual musical of the Ennistymon Choral NYere ei As

Plans are already well advanced for an American company to bring the show to London’s West End next year, so this Ennistymon Society 1s the only other group who will be eranted the rights to the romantic comedy until the end of 2009 at the earliest.

The story is about a cheeky Cock-

ney lad in the 1930s who discovers that he has inherited a fortune. But will he abandon his Cockney love Sally for the more glamorous Lady Jacqueline Carstone?

“It’s a romantic love story and a comedy. It’s similar in a lot of ways to Pygmalion or My Fair Lady. It’s a love story but with a twist. In a lot of musicals it’s a love at first sight situation, but in this story it builds throughout. It’s a question of will he or won’t he 1n the end,’ said Maureen King Browne of the Ennistymon Choral Society.

“It’s a very funny show and the cast are having such a ball while they are going it. The music is great and there are some very good songs in it.

The real show stopping songs will be well know to most people like the Lambert Walk and Leaning on a Lamppost.”

This years musical is directed by Peter Kennedy and produced by Mary Madigan. Some of the main performers include Michael Mc- Cormack, Meave Curry, Mary Kelly, Caroline Kennedy, Sinead Black- well, Mark Mulqueen, John Morgon, Jimmy Considine, Ailish Lawlor, Jerry Wheeler, Caroline Kinch.

“We will have almost 50 people on stage at one time or another through the production and more than 25 helping out behind the scenes. So yes, it’s a major operation,” contin- ued Maureen.

‘We have been working hard at this since October and everyone involved has really given it there all. We have students taking part from the CBS and Scoil Mhuire in Ennistymon and Mary Immaculate in Ennistymon.

“We have people involved from as far north as Ballyvaughan and as far west as Miltown. Everyone is always welcome.”

Me and My Girl takes place in Slu- agh Hall in Lahinch each evening from April 3 to April 6. To book contact 7071828. Tickets are €15 and €10 concession.