Month: July 2008

“?M GOING to give politics back to the community”. That’s the vow of the newly-elected mayor of Shannon, Councillor Gerry Flynn (Ind).

Mr Flynn (54) assumed the new role last week, after serving on the town council for the past nine years. He has also been a county councillor for the past four years.

The outspoken councillor said he was thrilled to take up his new role.

“I’m excited. It’s fantastic. I’m very pleased more than anything that I got unanimous backing from my fellow councillors,” he said.

‘“T see the role for me as mayor to facilitate debate. I will try to do my best to be fair and impartial. I am go- ing to meet the community and make myself available to the community in

Shannon,” said Cllr Flynn, who is a full-time public representative.

The Miltown Malbay native moved to Shannon over 30 years ago, hav- ing spent two years in London and a period in Limerick. The lure of a good job and decent home attracted himself and his wife Phil (nee Col- lins, from the Burren) to Shannon and they never left. The couple have two daughters, Irene (26) and Jac- queline (24).

‘Shannon has been good to us. You feel the sense of achievement. Little do you think when you come into a town that you will achieve so much,” said the former Fine Gael councillor.

Issues such as the local airport, the development of the town centre in Shannon, estate management and the provision of services for the elderly will be among his priorities over the

next 12 months, while he will also be preparing to mount his challenge to retain his seat on both the county council and town council.

“If I have my health I am to run again for both. Pll put my best foot forward next year,” he said.

“Tt is an exciting time for the town, with the development of the master plan. However the fact that our air- port is suffering 1s worrying, while funding has dried up for the elderly. We are now refusing housing aid for the elderly. I am big into that. My own mother spent several years in a wheelchair before she died,’ he pointed out.

“We need to tighten up on estate management. Joint policing will be rolled out to all local authorities in Ireland. It will mean local elected representatives will enter into a part-

nership with gardai and we need that,’ he said.

Given the developments relating to Shannon Airport in recent years, Cllr Flynn is acutely aware of the importance of its future, to the local area. He firmly believes that Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports should not have been split up.

“Treland is too small an island to have three airports competing with each other. I think it’s not good news for Shannon (the split). I fear the fu- ture will be privatisation of Shannon Airport and that could spell trouble for all of us,” he said.

THE newly-opened Atlantic Air Ven- ture in Shannon is to run its first ever aviation Summer camps this month. After more than two years of plan- ning, the facility recently opened in Smithstown. It currently houses an aviation education centre and one flight simulator. It 1s poised to ac- quire a second flight simulator later this year, while plans are also on the

cards for the construction of a mu- seum on site.

The initiative is the brainchild of Ballycally resident Eddie Ryan, a former aircraft electronics engineer, who mooted the project several years ago.

Project development director Jane McGill is delighted with its success since its opening and 1s anticipating a bright future ahead for the facility.

She is particularly enthusiastic

about the learning lab, where chil- dren learn all about aeroplanes.

“We are going to expand and will have the second simulator, a Boeing 737, coming from Canada later this year. The museum is on the long fin- ger as we just don’t have the space at the moment,’ she said.

Summer camps have been organ- ised and will get underway next week, running weekly until the end Ola Uercaelie

The camps are open to eight to 12-year-olds from 10am to lpm and those over 12 can enroll for the after- noon sessions, from 2pm to 5pm. The cost is €75 per person for a week.

“The children will be able to use the flight simulators. We will have spe- cialised simulators built for them,” said Ms McGill.

However the facility is not merely confined to children, as it is also open to adults.

VULNERABLE groups in Shannon will be given special attention by the newly-appointed community devel- opment worker in the town.

Regina Steward has just taken up the post at the Shannon Family Re- source Centre.

Looking ahead to her new job, she said she would focus on improving the lives of lone parents and new- comers to the town.

“It is a great opportunity to work with the community in Shannon. It iS a very proactive community,” said the French native, who moved to Ire- land 32 years ago.

“IT see my job as being a catalyst in the community, to bring people

together, to explore what needs are there and consult with the people. We will see what we can do to achieve that,’ she added.

“IT will work with disadvantaged groups. My work is with individuals and groups, more so groups, target groups including lone parents and the new community, to keep it flow- bites

“We will look at what we can do to- gether to improve the well-being and lifestyles of those who feel isolated,” she added.

“We will try to organise activities and also look at the social aspect of it and ask questions like if someone wants to go back to work how can we Support them and help them access courses that can suit their needs?”

she said.

She said that improving literacy would be one focus and she planned to start computer classes at the re- source centre.

Ms Steward will slot in alongside the co-ordinator of the centre, Marie Rowland, who took up her post ear- lier this year.

Ms Rowland’s main aims are the promotion of equality and inclusion and she is keen to see the develop- ment of relationships with the local community.

“T will work alongside Marie and identify how we can design courses. We will work with people all the time,” said Ms Steward.

Her plans will be geared towards integration and she is firmly focused

on ensuring everybody’s needs are addressed, where possible.

“We don’t want to segregate peo- ple. If a lone parent comes to us and says she wants to do a course, we Say, ‘Why not’. We have to go along with ideas. We are flexible,” she pointed out.

Ms Steward is encouraging the people of Shannon to get in touch with her at the family resource cen- tre, phone 061 707600.

“We are open to ideas, if anyone wants to discuss anything with us,’ she said.

FORMER fire fighters, current fire fighters and their families gathered with the local community in Killaloe on Friday for the official opening of the new improved fire station.

“It is important that our fire-fight- ers have the best facilities,’ said Minister for the Environment and Local Government John Gormley as he opened the fire station with outgo- ing mayor of Clare Cllr Patricia Mc- Carthy (ind).

“It is of paramount importance that modern up to date facilities be pro- vided for the fire fighters who give so generously of their time to serve and protect the local community,” said

the minister.

He thanked the crew for their dedi- cation, and Cllr McCarthy paid trib- ute to their families who worry about their loved ones while they put their lives at risk for others.

Minister Gormley told those gath- ered for the opening ceremony that he was no stranger to Killaloe as he spent time there as a child on his family’s boat.

He congratulated the county coun- cil on developing a fire station wor- thy of the area.

“This modern facility will provide the necessary additional operational and training administration facilities required by modern dedicated fire Services,” he said.

The existing station was built back in the late 1960s and according to the council’s records it cost £11,308.

Apart from maintenance there had been very litthe work carried out in the station until now.

The new facilities were provided for at a cost of €597,000 for the ex- tension and upgrading of Killaloe Fire Station.

The upgraded facilities include reconfiguring the appliance bay to include a 4WD vehicle, new drying room facilities, watchroom, lecture room, male and female facilities, breathing apparatus maintenance room, resurfacing of the drill yard, security fencing, boundary wall, au- tomatic gate and general refurbish-

ment and decorating works.

“The Killaloe station has seen its work load increase over the years to a point where it now deals with an average of 93 call outs per annum.

“This fire station will continue the tradition of providing a first class service to the town and the hinter- land with skilled fire service per- sonnel who are able to respond to a variety of instances from domestic fires and bog fires to road traffic ac- cidents,” said the minister.

The Killaloe fire officers and ten retained crew provide cover for 170 square kilometres in east Clare and north Tipperary and a dedicated service to approximately 8,000 peo- ple.

MINISTER for the Environemnt and Local Government John Gorm- ley (GP) has admitted that the new electoral boundaries in the county have put his own Green Party county councillor at a disadvantage. Speaking in Clare during the week the minister said, “I know on the

ground here in Clare my own coun- cillor Brian Meaney feels that his area has been cut in half. That is putting him at a disadvantage.

“Nevertheless I do know he is up to the challenge and he is recognised for his hard work on the ground, and I am sure that will be taken into ac- count by the voters when they come to vote in June,” he said.

The Green Party minister was re- acting to criticism of the new elec- toral boundaries proposed by the boundary commission.

The new boundaries have been crit- icised for their urban bias.

In Clare the division of the county town into Ennis East and Ennis West has been described as “ridiculous” by councillors.

The new division runs up O’Connell Street and many other major streets.

The minister said, however, that he would not interfere in the drawing of the boundary lines.

“This is an independent commis- sion and you just have to go back to the boundary redrawing for the general election where there was dis- appointment in some quarters,” he said.

“These are difficult for the politi- cians to deal with and I am sure the people in the area find it an incon- venience, but they have arrived at their conclusion independently, I am the minister, but I cannot interfere in those decisions nor would it be prop- er to do so,” he added.

“You tend to get mixed feedback generally even in my own party there are some councillors that are quiet glum and feel they have been disad- vantaged through the redrawing of boundaries and others have got an extra seat.

“It 1s very much a mixed bag,” he SrnGe

He said that the terms of reference for drawing up the boundaries did not change much from the last time they were drawn.

THE backers of a new private mem- bers club for Ennis with a 24 hour chauffeur and concierge service say it will be “ultra exclusive” with a heavily vetted membership.

Earlier this year, Ennis-based build- er Jack McCarthy lodged plans with Ennis Town Council for a change of use at the former Central Buildings in Ennis Abbey Street car-park to a private members club. The newly renovated “Library” pub shares the location.

Last month, the council put the Mc- Carthy plan for the third floor of the

building on hold demanding addi- tional details on the plan.

Now, further information lodged with the plan architect Michael Leahy, on behalf of Mr McCarthy, has said that it is his client’s intention “to re-create a country club tranquil- lity within the confines of an urban SelB DOTS

Mr Leahy denied that alcohol would be sold at the venue:

“My client aims to promote an al- ternative to the perilous drinking ‘culture’. In-house pursuits are geared away from alcoholic consumption.”

He also denied that the club would be rented for parties stating, instead,

Wer-LmmUOCoMYoJOIRUD Rom S00 MOlommar-DIMEUOLB ele exclusive members only club with heavily vetted membership”.

He added that his client aimed to provide a private environment for the purpose of business and social net- Le) ee bee

“Tt will provide as a business out- post for the corporate traveller while providing an unthreatening environ- ment in which to socialise.

“The club will facilitate 24 hour teleconferencing, wi-fi and clerical Services; a 24 chauffeur and con- clerge service; chess backgammon and games area; humidor; heated smoking.”

Mr Leahy said that the proposal would be “a very select club which will not give rise to any noise or nui- Crh eeme

He said that the external appearance of the building would not change and therefore there would be no adverse effects to the area which is of special architectural and historical interest.

Mr McCarthy is part of McCarthy Brothers, which has built hundreds of houses in Clare in recent years. A private members club already exists in a building opposite Ennis Com- munity College.

A decision is due on the application JET mssbimeeleniaee

A MEETING to set up a Community Alert scheme in Tulla last week was “very well supported” according to local organisers.

The gathering was attended by a wide representation of local or- ganisations, who heard Garda Liam O’Grady explain the relevance of the Community Alert scheme and how it operates.

“There was good interest and a lot of local organisations were repre- sented on the night,” said Rose de

Courcy, one of the organisers of the night.

One of the main objectives of Com- munity Alert, Garda O’Grady ex- plained, is to be aware of the needs of and to protect older members of the community, particularly those living alone or living in isolated areas.

The garda explained about the grants which are available to buy socially monitored alarms and pen- CR THA

“Tt’s planned to set up a committee with at least one person from each area in the parish,’ said Rose.

The aim is to be aware of all of the older people living in the greater Tul- la area and to ensure that they take full advantage of the security meas- ures available to them.

“The garda said we should be par- ticularly concerned about elderly people living in more rural areas and to ensure that they have contact with the community. We would hope that the scheme would encourage people to drop in on elderly neighbours, to make sure they are ok and that they would have regular contact. We would also be helping with apply-

ing for grants for socially monitored alarms,’ said Rose.

Representatives of the GAA, the soccer club, the community council and various residents associations attended the meeting and a further meeting is now planned, to put in place a committee and to learn more about the scheme and how it can ben- efit communities.

“We’ll be organising another meet- ing in about a month and that will be attended by the gardai and a repre- sentative of Muintir na Tire,” said Rose.

AN EXHIBITION and celebration of the work done by the many part-time students at the County Clare VEC Adult Education Centre in Scariff was mounted last week. Students who had got to grips with various craft and art forms over the last year showed what they could do.

The work by almost 40 students ranged over a wide spectrum of dis- ciplines including ceramics, textiles, stained glass and woodwork.

The opening of the exhibition was followed by a presentation of certifi- cates. The adult learners gained their skills in courses provided by the Clare Adult Basic Education Serv-

ices (CABES) as well as the Back To Education Initiative (BTEI).

Other courses offered during the year included information technol- ogy, driver theory and child care.

Mike Ryan, Back To Education Co- ordinator, said the courses were be- coming increasingly popular, and not just with early school leavers looking for a second chance at qualifications.

‘Our courses are geared to cater for people who have not got their leaving cert, but there’s a wide range which attracts people who may already have that qualification,” he said.

Adult learners are attracted to the flexibility of the courses and the fact that they are part time but lead to a 1Kereoeg OD icere OL UE-NUNSCOrIB (OIE

This year, ten people will qualify in childcare with a FETAC qualifica- tion, eight will have computer literacy qualifications, 12 will be recognised as qualified woodworkers, nine will have a stained glass qualification and eight will graduate in textiles.

The ten people doing a ceramics course will also gain their qualifica- tions.

“People of all ages have taken ad- vantage of these courses, from peo- ple in their 20s to their 80s this year,” said Mike.

The courses are free to anyone who hasn’t done their leaving cert or to anyone on a social welfare payment, in possession of a medical card or dependants of people in receipt of

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A wide range of courses are also covered in the two main adult edu- cation centres in Killaloe, the Molua Centre and St Anne’s Community College.

Details of the courses are avail- able from the adult education centre in Scariff, from the family resource centre or the Molua Centre in Kil- laloe.

AN ACTION packed Féile Brian Bort: will be spicing up summer in the lakeside town all this week.

Now in its fifteenth year, the fes- tival celebrating Killaloe as former seat of the high king and the capital of the country will bring more than 2,000 visitors into the town.

“We’re focusing more this year on the community aspects and we have a great range of activities and enter- tainments planned,’ said féile secre- Va aaU 8 (Nom AOU Ikon

Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include the children’s parade. This year the theme for youngsters is the four elements.

All children are invited to come

along and join in. Costume mak- ing workshops will be going on all ste @

The parade itself will leave Ballina at 4pm on Saturday and cross the bridge into Killaloe. There will be a massive fireworks display on Satur- day night.

The fabulous Fanzini Brothers will be doing their crazy stuff over the weekend and on Friday, the Every Moment Counts youth club are or- ganising a youth music and arts festi- val between 2pm and 8pm.

A new event, along with the popu- lar dragon boat racing, will be pow- er-boat racing on the river and the Celt village will be in place with tra- ditional crafts.

On Friday evening, local producers,

the farmers’ market and restaura- teurs will be combining their talents on the green for a food fair from 6pm to 9pm. Families are invited to put away the pots and pans and sample local delights.

Daily events include the art trail and guided tours of the cathedral. Until Thursday there will be chil- dren’s costume, prop and instrument making workshops, which are all free, but parents are asked to bring along some materials.

All through the week, there are workshops including an adult learn- ers summer camp and _ traditional music workshops for all ages and levels of ability.

There are pub quizzes, pub mu- sic trails, drumming workshops for

teenagers, canoe polo, the clash of the ash, traditional Irish dancing, the féile feis and much more.

“We really want to thank all of the local pubs, businesses and organisa- tions who sponsored us and gave us support in organising the festival. We got an absolutely fabulous response from them. They have been so gen- erous and we couldn’t have had any- thing like the festival we have with- out their support,’ said Arlene.

For full details of the fun-packed festival events log on to feilebri- anboru.killaloe.ie or discoverkil- laloe.com. You can also email brianboru@killaloe.ie or call O61 374647. Information points are at the Killaloe/Ballina Family Resource Centre and Killaloe Tourist Office.

IT’S never too early to start taking exercise – that was proved this morn- TPOTSMMYS [HOUMA OCommO LO Ro1Ke0 cD O(OM Gone) Maoh sions being held at the Molua Centre pre-school summer camp.

But the lively youngsters needed little encouragement to stretch, tum- ble and leap about and were only too happy to go along with the class be- ing held by the Barnardos instructor.

The camp is a community initiative

under the auspices of Clarecare and one of the first in a series which will see organised fun for youngsters set free for the summer holidays.

Next week it’s the turn of the junior campers who will have two camps, one from July 7 to July 11 and the other from July 21 to 25.

Included in their fun-filled weeks are trips to Buttercup Pet Farm, bowI- ing, a puppet show, a fancy dress par- ty, arts, crafts, fun and games as well as sports and some more “Stretch

and Grow” sessions.

The seniors’ camp for older chil- dren is being held between July 14 and 18 and their outbound adventure trips will include laser quest and bowling in Galway and a trip to the Aquadome in Tralee.

Also on their agenda are sports, fun and games, arts, crafts and drama.

The summer camps are a commu- nity initiative and, as such, cost a lot less than their commercial alterna- tives but don’t lose out on the fun

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At costs of between €30 and €40, with reductions for second children in the same family, the camps are great value considering the cost of transporting the youngsters by bus alone.

‘The camps were in great demand this year. We have thirty children each week and all the places are fully booked, with a waiting list,” a spokeswoman for the Molua Centre ene e