Month: May 2008

CITIZENS of Kilrush are being asked to put on their working clothes and even bring a date to this year’s annual spring clean of the west Clare capital.

Kilrush Town Council and the Kil- rush Tidy Towns Committee are or- ganising this year’s major clean up for June.

Although April is designated as the National Spring Clean month the two local organisations are proposing to get everyone out on Wednesday, June 11, in order to maximize the impact

on the adjudication results in the National Tidy Town’s Competition as judging is expected to take place between June and July.

This year’s event will also include a clean up of Brew’s Bridge.

“We hope to encourage people from all aspects of the local community to take part and to take pride in their local town and environment.

“T would like to take this opportu- nity to invite you to join with us and participate in this community initia- tive,’ said the town council’s market- ing and development officer Siobhan Cramer mcelko peleselm

The statement was co-signed by secretary of Kilrush Tidy Town’s Sean Moran.

Those willing to lend a hand are asked to assemble in the Market Square at 5pm. Gloves and bags will be supplied.

Kilrush has a long and distin- guished history in the national tidy town’s competition.

The heritage town celebrated its greatest success to date last year when it received a gold medal in Cat- egory D making it the tidiest town with a population of 2,501 to 5,000 people.

Kilrush scored 290 points, an in- crease of eight points on the previous year when it secured silver for the second year in a row.

It received bronze in 2003 and mauler

The Kilrush Tidy Towns Commit- tee and all its supporters will be go- ing for gold again this year and will be trying to even beat last year’s high score.

Next month it will be asking all the local people to do their part by help- ing with the clean up and maintain- ing the standard so the judges see the town at its full potential.

PATRICK Bourke Menswear was taking a trip down memory lane this week as it celebrated 80 years in business in Kilrush.

As proprietor Patrick Bourke dressed the manikins in clothes from the 1940s and 1970s for the celebrations, he with his aunt Mary Keatinge (nee Bourke) recalled the family’s long history of business in the west Clare capital.

Mary, whose parents Patrick and Johanna (nee O’Dea), opened the shop just days after they married in Summer 1928, has clear memories of early days in the clothes shop.

Her father who originally came from Miltown Malbay, added the letter “o” to the family name when the business opened, because there was a public house in the town also called Burke’s and the invoices were constantly getting confused.

“She was the business woman though. She minded the money and paid the bills,’ said Mary Keating of her mother whose family had a pub- lic house in the town.

Mary herself worked in the shop at lunchtime or when she was needed, but avoided the job as much as pos- sible.

She remembers fondly the people from the peninsula – especially those from Carrigaholt.

‘When the country people came in, they would come in from Carriga- holt on the bus at nine in the morning and we would have the cellar door off Francis Street open. They would come in and have the breakfast.”

“They were great customers back there. The day they came to town was as good as Christmas,” she said.

It was Mary’s brother, the late Michael, that took over the business and from him his son Patrick learnt the trade when he joined in the early 1970s.

Michael was assisted in the shop in the early years by his sister Marga- ret, who previously served as a nurse in World War II.

Today Patrick oversees the shop in Kilrush and the two in Ennis.

Looking back through old ledgers and receipts last week, Patrick found an old list of suit prices. It took three

days for a suit to be ordered, made in Dublin and collected in Kilrush in the 1950s.

During the rationing the clothes shop sold women’s items and any- thing else available reflecting the DU Oee MOTO (oto TLE

In later years the only clothes for women in the outfitters were habits to be laid out in.

As Patrick looked at the old price of habits, one of the photos fell from the ledger book. It was of the first of- ficial employee – Jose McGrath who worked with Patrick’s (Jnr) grandfa- ther.

The shop is full of memories and especially this week as manikins are dressed in clothes from every era.

As well as styles changing so too did the materials used to make the clothes and sizes.

Suits from the 1940s and 50s were made with the purchaser who was more concerned about practicality than style in mind.

“The material on this was almost bullet proof and the waist very high. There was no central heating so they had to be practical and clothes had

to keep them warm. The tempera- tures have since got warmer and the clothes lighter,” said Patrick pointing to an old suit.

The average size of men’s clothes has also changed. According to Patrick when he first started working in 1974 the average size waist in a confirmation suit was 27 inches. To- day the average is 29 to 30 inches.

‘For a man the average size waist in the seventies was 34 inches now it is 36 moving towards 38. The col- lar size in the 1970s was 15.5 inches now it is 16.5 inches,” he said.

The shop in Kilrush now spans three old buildings. The original shop, the old library purchased in the 1960s and a tearoom bought in by Michael Bourke in 1970s.

The business has also expanded into the county town of Ennis.

Today Patrick Bourke still knows his regular customers; a few were even served by his grandfather.

AS MANY as 19 new social and af- fordable houses could be available to Kilrush Town Council if plans for different housing developments in the town go ahead. A total of six

houses have been made available as affordable houses in the west Clare capital during 2007 under part five requirements of planning conditions.

Part five is part of the planning process and is part of the Local Government Planning and Develop-

ment Act 2000. Under this act “no development or any associated works shall take place on foot of this plan- ning permission until an agreement is entered into between the planning authority and the person or persons having sufficient interest in the sub- ject land”.

As many as 445 houses are planned for the town, divided among eight separate developments. A total of 227 of these houses have already got planning permission from the town council with a 218 house develop- ment still awaiting the green light.

“Were these developemnts to pro- ceed, Part five will have to be satis- fied. It is therefore anticipated that further housing units for social and affordable purposes will become available to Kilrush Town Council,’ said town clerk Fiona Mooney.

The town clerk was replying to a question from Kilrush Town Coun- cillor Tom Prendeville (FF) who

asked if the council was satisfying the Affordable Housing Partnership.

“The Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas, Batt O’Keeffe (now Minister for Educa- tion) published a report of a study commissioned by the Affordable Homes Partnership on increasing affordable housing supply. Inherent in the report was the imperative to increase supply, accelerate delivery, improve access and affordability and deliver value for money for any asso- ciated resources required,” said Cllr Prendevile.

“From a Kilrush Town Council per- spective, the recent AHP report al- lows us the opportunity to take stock of out own situation. A public con- sultation process is underway until the closing date of May 31 and will involve getting the views of the so- cial partners, housing practitioners, financial institutions and the wider public,” he said.

A RECENT visit by ten students from St John Bosco Community College in Kildysart to visit their exchange part- ners from the Ferdinand-Von-Miller Realschule in Furstenfeldbruck near Munich in Southern Germany, from April 15 to 22, proved to be an out- SIPAVILONDARSMSLELCLOCoR ISR

The aim of the visit was primarily to improve the linguistic skills of the Irish pupils who have been study-

ing German for two to three years, but also to experience first hand the sights and culture of Bavaria.

The students were accompanied by their German teacher Josephine Ryan and the school principal Mar- ion Coughlan-Flynn.

For seven days the second and third year students lived with their Ger- man exchange families and attended classes at the school in Furstenfeld- bruck. They also took part in a va- riety of activities, which included a

day trip to the spectacular castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof built by King Ludwig II, and a tour of the pretty little village of Oberammer- gau, which has become famous for its passion plays.

The Irish students also found time to explore the city of Munich, re- nowned for its imposing town hall, olympic stadium, markets, festivals and its friendly provincial atmos- phere.

Additionally the famous Kaufinger

Strasse proved to be a popular spot in which to engage 1n some retail thera- py. A further outstanding item on the programme was an official reception in the Landesrat in Furstenbruck held by the mayor and council members in honour of the Irish students.

On returning to school in Kildysart the Irish students had three days to readjust to school life prior to the re- turn visit of the German students to Ireland.

SUN AeerhRodouoNecemlUh IBDN in St John Bosco Community Col- lege and thus were able to engage in an interesting discussion with their Irish counterparts on the merits and disadvantages of both educational systems. The Irish students found the early starting time of school in Germany, 7.50am, difficult to adjust to during their visit to Realschule. However, the Germans advocated in- troducing lpm as a finishing time for school in Kildysart in line with the GCC eeer ema AKoeee

During their visit, the Germans were introduced to the tourist sights of County Clare and enjoyed trips to the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre, the Ailwee Caves and engaged in a surfing lesson at Lahinch. A day trip to Bunratty Castle and Folkpark, as well as subsequent shopping sprees in Ennis, Kilrush and Limerick also proved popular. A farewell party, at- tended by the host families, was held in the school in Kildysart to mark the end of a successful exchange ven- ture, which both schools hope will go from strength to strength and will become an annual event in the school calendar.

CLARE is playing host to two of six centres countrywide which have organised events for Biodiversity Mi (ered @

Seedsavers are hosting a Biodiver- sity open day which is being held in Scariff on Sunday, May 25.

Entry is free and there will be a full range of activities on the day, includ- ing demonstrations on blacksmithing and coppicing as well as activities for children and an organic café, where visitors can sample delicious organic food and wine and live music.

For those interested in seeing the results of Seedsavers’ years of graft- ing and gathering native and rare species, there will be guided walks in the orchard and garden.

There will be a display of rare sheep and poultry breeds and talks on a wide range of biodiversity-re- lated subjects.

There are free shuttle buses to the gardens all day as parking is very limited.

The Centre for Environmental Training and Living (CELT) are or- ganising free nature walks on May 20 and 22.

Evening walks are with Andrew St Ledger of CELT and Woodland League, a trained wood carver and Heritage Council ‘Heritage-in-

Schools’ teacher.

On Tuesday, May 20, participants should meet at 6.45pm at Tuam- graney Heritage Centre. The walk is in Raheen Ancient Oak Wood and

includes Brian Boru Oak said to be 1,000 years old.

On Thursday, participants should meet at 6.45pm, at the shop in Flag- mount, and the walk is in Cahermur-

phy Oak Wood Nature Reserve. ‘Notice Nature’ is the theme of this year’s Biodiversity Week and public and school events are being organ- ised at centres around the country.

CLARE County Council has refused planning permission for the coun- ty’s largest ever residential housing scheme although they approve of the plan in principle.

In March, Ennis-based construction firm, Crystal Partners lodged plans for a €200 million development that would ultimately deliver 700 new homes in the Gaurus area on the eastern outskirts of Ennis. The 471 residential units in the first phase of the development would have almost doubled the current population of the Doora parish to almost 3,000.

The council concluded that while it approved of housing development on the 71 acre site, such a move was pre- mature pending the construction of a new €75 million sewage treatment plan at Clareabbey.

The council does not expect the Clareabbey plant to come on stream for another four years and permission was also refused because of deficien- cies in the public water supply.

The Gaurus plan faced initial op- position from local residents and planning was refused on a number of other grounds apart from the lack of sewage and water supplies.

The council ruled that the mix of

apartment units in large blocks would be inconsistent with the existing char- acter and pattern of development in the area. The planners were also con- cerned about possible negative effects on the existing ecology, habitat value and hydrogeology of the site.

The council also stated that the pro- posed works to Gaurus Bridge, in- cluding the removal of both parapet stone walls and the building of foot- path and cycle paths on each side, would have a direct negative impact on the integrity and amenity of this structure and would be contrary to the Ennis and Environs Plan.

The council also ruled that the pro-

posal would present a serious traffic hazard.

The first phase of the Gaurus Village plan was valued at €125 million by the developers with the overall value of €200 million put on the plan.

Along with the 471 residential units, the planning application also provided for a creche, neighbour- hood centre with shopping facilities and 14 residential serviced sites.

The masterplan also provides for a 16-teacher school and an associated OeNenrteasatellen

CLARE County Council and Ennis Town Council have called a halt to the further expansion of Ennis be- cause the town’s public infrastruc- ture has reached breaking point.

Over the past week, the two local authorities have refused planning permission to three big residential developments valued at a total of €200 million.

As a result, the council will miss out on millions of euro in develop- ment contributions that would have been earmarked for essential capital

HOUSER PMU LCLAUD Ess

In one case, Clare County Coun- cil refused planning permission to Crystal Partners for 471 homes at Gaurus, while Ennis Town Council refused planning for 226 homes at Knockaderry, Tulla Road, and plan- ning for 97 homes on the Galway Road was refused to Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd.

The primary reason for the refus- als was the inadequacy of the town’s sewage treatment works to accom- modate the developments with a new plant not expected to become operational for another four years.

The planner’s report into the Crys- tal Partners’ application stated that “substantial capital investment is required to upgrade the Clonroad- more treatment plant to facilitate any large-scale residential develop- ments progressing in the catchment. Without these works being finalised, constructed and commissioned, all new large-scale development in the catchment would be premature”’.

In a separate report, Ennis Town Engineer, Tom Tiernan pointed out that “it would be inappropriate to approve any further significant de- velopments which would be depend-

ent on the Clonroadmore plant”.

The first signs of a halt to develop- ment in Ennis came last year when the council only granted permission for a portion of the homes planned by Stephen Finn Properties on the SLUUIE WW Cor-rer

In the medium term, the ban on large-scale developments in Ennis will have an impact on the supply of |nCeyesterme-UeCeMeceleDCCMBKcneDLMBNOME-MNSICOOU0UE cant increase in house prices.

However, the development of homes in the environs of Clarecas- tle are expected to continue as Crys- tal Partners are to provide a sewage

treatment plant that will serve the first stage of a 500 house develop- ment in the area.

The development ban in the En- nis area follows the Health Service Executive calling on the council to give more scrutiny to planning ap- plications because of inadequacy of the Clonroadmore treatment plant.

The Health Service Executive made the call after raw sewage was pumped into the River Fergus from the treatment plant, on the grounds that it “represents a serious public risk and should be treated with the greatest urgency’.

RESIDENTS of an upmarket estate on the outskirts of Ennis have succeeded in blocking plans for a €25 million housing development in the area. Ear- lier this year, Galway-based company Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd lodged plans for a 97-unit residential estate at Ballycorey on the Galway Road oppo- site the Auburn Lodge hotel. However, a submission lodged by Hassett Leyden & Associates on be- half of a number of residents in the

nearby Parnell Grove estate com- plained that they would be looking at ‘something akin to a prison wall” if the development proceeded.

Ennis Town Council rejected the proposal due to lack of sewage treat- ment capacity.

Ruling that the plan would be “pre- mature due to the existing deficiency in the provision of sewage treatment facilities’, the council concluded that the proposal was “not in the interest of public health, proper planning or sustainable development”’.

The planner dealing with the appli- cation stated that it would be “appro- priate in principle” for the council to consider medium to high density development on the site if service in- frastructure was in order and did not have adverse impact on neighbouring property.

The council also refused plan- ning over concerns that the proposal would have a negative effect on natu- ral habitat types or species in Annex II of the Habitats Directive.

It was also pointed out that site con-

tains part of a recorded monument and the council was concerned that the development would have a sig- nificant negative effect on it and its associated deposits and features.

Permission was also refused because of the difficult site configuration, to- pography and resulted convoluted road layout, lack of adequately-sized public open spaces, separation of the Open space from the houses by the distributor road and the lack of pedes- trian and cyclist facilities.

Taking on board the concerns of the

Parnell Grove residents, the council refused planning permission on the basis that the finished floor levels of the homes would result in significant overlooking into the rear gardens of nearby homes and would require them to have excessively high retain- ing boundaries.

As a result, the council ruled that the proposal would materially con- travene the Ennis Development Plan which requires that residential de- velopments maintain the amenity of neighbouring properties.

2.7 million refurbish- ment with the splendid Great Hall reopening for a glamorous summer ere CO ENTS

“This has been an extraordinary day and a wonderful way to celebrate the new-look Temple Gate,” said Paul Madden. “For several months, we have watched the builders and deco- rators transform and enlarge not only The Great Hall but also create new reception and public areas. We have also redesigned and enlarged our res- taurant which we are confident will be at the forefront of dining venues in Clare. Weddings, conferences and other events will only come to Ennis if we provide facilities and service to a high standard,” he said.

The hotel is holding a Wedding In- formation Day on Sunday, May 25, from 2pm to 7pm. The main purpose is to showcase The Great Hall as a wedding venue. Among the wedding specialists attending are Scarlett Bridal, Patrick Bourke’s Menswear, The Flower Den, Studio 22, Cakes by Desire and C&M Limousines. Wine

and canapés will be served through- out the evening.

Mr Madden said that with a capac- ity of 220, The Great Hall is one of the most unique wedding venues in the region. With strong colours, the new vibrant design enhances the hall’s Gothic features. The new Great Hall foyer with private bar is ideal for standalone receptions as well as pre-function drinks.

With increased capacity, The Great Hall offers an excellent corporate setting for conferences, product launches and exhibitions. The ex- isting conference rooms, known as Plazas 1 and 2, can also be used as a breakout area for the Great Hall. A unique facility offered to business and meeting groups are two new ex- ecutive boardrooms fitted with the sophisticated equipment which are regarded as a prerequisite for most meetings in today’s world.

“The first big change that people will notice when they walk into The Temple Gate is the new reception area and lobby,” said Paul Madden. “We tried to create a new sense of space and brightness. Brave choices were made in combining the Gothic arch and the Classical column, but I believe they work. People assure me that it has the wow factor,” he added. He also said that the hotel has lis- tened carefully to the comments and opinions of customers and he is very

hopeful that people will be pleased with the result.

Paddy Burke Builder Ltd, of Lis- doonvarna, carried out the refurbish- ment of The Temple Gate between January and April of this year. The architects were Frank Ennis and Associates of Dublin. The newly appointed management team at the hotel includes a sales and marketing manager, conference and events co- ordinator and a dedicated wedding co-ordinator.

Formerly part of Ennis Convent of Mercy, The Temple Gate was opened as a hotel in 1996 by John and Vera Madden. With over 30 years’ experi- ence in the hotel business, John Mad- den had a vision to develop this his- toric site as a high-quality hotel.

“I believe we have succeeded. In Dublin, they used to say, I’Il meet you under Cleary’s Clock. In Ennis, The Temple Gate is the meeting point. In a short space of time, the hotel has achieved iconic status as a point of convergence in the heart of Ennis. We are very proud of that. However, we have to reinvent ourselves for new times. This latest investment is our contribution to the development of the hotel in the first decade of the 21st century,” he said.

GORT’S samba revolution could soon be coming to end according to a new survey being completed at NUI, CFE Ls

According to preliminary results of the research, which is being car- ried out by Brian McGrath of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at the University, the Bra- Zilian community 1s coming under increasing pressure as a result of the downturn in the economy and the construction industry in particular.

Speaking at the 35th Annual Con- ference of the Sociological Associa- tion of Ireland, which took place in Galway last week, Mr McGrath ex- pressed his fear that many of Gort’s Brazilian inhabitants may be forced to leave the village.

The survey, which was undertaken directly with the Brazilian commu- nity, revealed that a large amount of the local Brazilian community were working without documentation in a labour black market. Much of this work was undertaken in the local construction industry.

The survey also revealed that this informal employment agreement be-

tween employers and the Brazilians has, in the past, lead to exploitation. According to the research many Bra- Zilians work in an ‘informal econo- my’ on the basis of trust.

A number of Brazilians _inter- viewed said that while family net- works make it easier to settle in the town, although a dominant majority from Goias in south Brazil ‘closed’ the area to other people.

It says that the Brazilian commu- nity fear for their long terms employ- ment prospects in the town and that they may be forced to move on if the situation worsens.

The full results of Mr McGrath’s research, which is being supported by the Child and Family Research Centre in NUI, Galway, should be released by the end of this year.

More than 40 per cent of the resi- dents of Gort are now believed to be non-Irish, with an estimated 83 per cent of these hailing from Brazilian.

The Brazilians originally came to work in the meat processing plants in Covey soKom selon ey NMKeUo Nevin mesleon| higher than in similar plants in Bra- Zil. Fears have been growing for the local Brazilian since the announced closure of the factory.