Month: October 2008

TWO contentious infrastructural projects for Ennis have been shelved as government funding streams start to dry up.

The proposed redevelopment of the market and the Ennis Library project have both been deferred, according to Ennis Town Council’s report on capital projects.

In the case of the market redevel- opment, the report states that “the ouncil has been advised by the De- partment of the Environment that all local authority loans previously sanctioned but which have not been drawn down, have been withdrawn’’.

The report continues, “The impact of this at local level means that the redevelopment of the market must be

deferred. Local authorities have been advised that loan approval can be ap- plied for in 2009″.

The proposal to build a new two- storey library at the post office field has also hit a roadblock. According to the report, Ennis Town Council has been informed “that all library projects which have not reached ten- der approval stage cannot proceed at this time. A new Capital Funding Programme is being prepared by the Department of the Environment for library projects”.

In the past there has been staunch opposition to the re-development of the Post Office Field, a green-field currently zoned amenity, from local community groups and local coun- I oyace

The report states that a concept

plan has been prepared for the Post Office Field.

The re-development of the market, meanwhile, courted opposition from traders operating in the area.

However there has been some movement on seven capital projects. The report states that the completion of the Ennis inner relief road has been “accorded first priority” and has been forwarded to tender stage.

The development of Tim Smythe Park and Clonroad Park has also proceeded to tender stage. Work in the development of the a youth café in Cloughleigh, an indoor facility at Lees Road and the redevelopment of O’ Connell square, has also pro- eressed, though all three projects are subject to government finance.

Meanwhile, the report states “the

acquisition of additional housing stock in 2009 will depend on avail- ability of additional capital funding from the Department of the Environ- ment in 2009”

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said he was disappointed with the delays and with the loss of funding for the market re-development.

Cllr Joe Reidy (FF) said he too was disappointed with the delays but add- ed that it was good to see progress on other projects.

Cllr Tom Glynn (FF) urged the council to formulate a clear and defi- nite plan for the Post Office Field. Town clerk Eddie Power said the council expected to have funds for Tim Smythe Park and the youth café but that funding for Lees Road is “some way down the line”.

THEY maybe one of Ireland’s big- gest employers, but Intel Ireland isn’t too big for a bit of DIY at one local primary school.

Staff from Intel’s factory in Shan- non dropped by Ennis National School on Thursday to help out with a bit of maintenance work.

The school is undergoing a bit of a make over, and as part of Intel’s serv- ice in the community scheme staff were only too happy to help out.

Staff from the electronics firm and parents rolled up their sleeves and got out their paintbrushes and lad- ders for two days last week. David

Casey, Chairperson of the Board of Management at Ennis National, said the school was delighted to receive the support of Intel.

“They do a lot of community schemes and have put an awful lot back into the community in Ireland. We were delighted when we heard they wanted to come along and help out on the day. We do this sort of thing every year, just painting, a few repairs here and there, cutting the hedges things like that. So we are de- lighted to have them here. It’s great that they would come to the school and work with us on this.”

Intel Ireland has two facilities in Ireland located in Leixlip and Shan-

nee

Intel Shannon with more than 160 employees hosts both the Shannon Development Center and the Shan- non Business Center. The Shannon Development Center is the Euro- pean research and development arm of Intel’s Digital Enterprise Group (DEG). The site hosts a number of divisions focusing on server chipset, security and communication silicon and software design.

The Shannon Business Center pro- vides business, technical and mar- keting support for European custom- ers and field sales. Shannon is the European base for the embedded businesses of DEG and home to the

technical marketing and business de- velopment teams.

According to the IDA, the Intel Ire- land operation employs 5,000 people CUT ererW hYamr- NaC Mm DOOD usLOlN AAD UI MRC) ITcaN Ooo te ing, technical and operational activi- Woe

IMPROVED _ pedestrian _ safety measures need to be carried out as ‘‘a matter of urgency” near the Ennis bus and rail station.

The issued has been raised amid growing concerns from_ residents about the lack of pedestrian cross- ings and footpaths in the area.

The areas highlighted are the roundabout at the crossroads of Sta- tion Road, Clonroad and the Quin JWCey:TeMr: Dele ms aome-DUMyc-h yo) ele lexor

Speaking at last Monday’s meeting of Ennis Town council, Councillor Tommy Brennan (Ind) called for pe- destrian crossings to be installed at the roundabout.

He said, “There are an amount of people using the road there, going over to the station and going out the Quin Road. I think that as a matter of urgency, we have to look at provid- ing pedestrian crossing”’.

“It was ok for people to take the lights out from the roundabout but in doing that it seems that we’ve for- gotten that people still need to cross the road there. It’s imperative we put a pedestrian crossing. It wouldn’t make much of a difference with the four roads. There are ways of doing it. One could be put on each of the Key: (eke

Cllr Brennan also commented that serious improvements were needed at the nearby rail bridge.

“If there are two cattle trucks using the road and a woman is pushing a pram, its deadly dangerous. It would be very easy to get pushed up against the wall. There will be someone killed. It’s scandalous”

Town Engineer Tom Tiernan said agreement had been reached with CIE for a walkway to be developed parallel to the main road bridge.

‘We are hoping to have all the work completed there by late spring 2009, in time for the completion of the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor. I agree, it is deadly there’.

The calls were made as Ennis Town Council prepares a report of the draft Ennis Traffic Management Plan 2008.

According to the council, after the report has been considered by mem- bers, the draft plan will then go on public display and a public consul- tation process will be undertaken. Submissions received by the coun- cil will be considered by the elected members. The formal adoption of the plan with or without amendments will take place after consideration of submissions and following consulta- tion with the gardai.

ClUlr Johnny Flynn (FG) said he was very disappointed that ESB work practices had led to a delay in the completion of pedestrian cross- ings at locations in Ennis.

“They are urgently needed,” he Cr AKOR

THE application by Clare GAA to rezone Cusack Park to facilitate a €350 million Town Centre Devel- opment is in the best interests of the economic and social development of Ennis, according to Ennis Chamber.

In supporting the project, Chamber President Niall Garvey said the de- cision is a bold but necessary one if Ennis is to create jobs, enhance the retail on offer and compete success- fully with neighbouring towns.

“It is simply unacceptable that an estimated €58 million is draining out of Ennis every year in out of

town shopping.

“The by-pass is a wonderful piece of infrastructure but it has the capac- ity to take people out of Ennis just as easily as to bring them in. We all welcome the opening of the western rail link next year but we must also realise that right now it may be more beneficial to Galway city retailers,” Mr. Garvey added.

With the draft Ennis and Environs Development Plan set to be consid- ered by members of Ennis Town Council, Mr Garvey said Ennis had reached a stage critical to the future development of the town.

“Ultimately, the decision to adopt

the plan, which will be valid for the next six years, will be made by the elected councilors,” Mr. Garvey said. The chamber believes the arguments for a new town centre development are “compelling”, pointing to in- creased competition from Limerick and Galway.

“The chamber must protect the interests of the existing town centre businesses. In particular we don’t want traders on the O’Connell St/ Market side of town to be disadvan- taged. Any new development on the Cusack Park site cannot function in isolation but must be connected and integrated seamlessly with exist-

ing streets and businesses,’ said Mr Garvey.

The Aisling Chiosoig Partnership who are behind the proposed River- Side Quarter for Cusack Park have said that up to 1,000 jobs will be cre- ated when the project is completed and about 500 jobs in construction.

“A pessimist would agree that even if they only achieved 75% of their employment objective, it would be a major achievement in terms of jobs and revenue generation. Should the IDA or any other agency make this kind of commitment to Ennis, we would be dancing with joy,’ said Mr. Garvey.

THE FIRST ever Clare Enterprise Week which runs until this Tuesday has helped highlight the wide range of supports available to local enter- eho

Speaking at the launch of the week’s activities, Mayor Madeleine Taylor-Quinn expressed hope that the Enterprise Week would become an annual event.

“In the current economic climate, it is important to promote the advice and support available to assist in set- ting up and developing a business, e1- ther new or established. Every effort must be made to promote entrepre- neurship and protect the future com- petitiveness of the local economy”, she said.

“Clare Enterprise Week has been developed as a mechanism to pro- mote entrepreneurship as an oppor- tunity to all sectors, levels and people in Clare — from schoolchildren to the

retired with a desire to do more; to showcase the supports available; to get entrepreneurs to speak honestly and openly about their experiences; to inspire and encourage potential entrepreneurs and to encourage in-

vestment in the county”.

The majority of the sessions fea- tured during the week included case studies and inputs from people in business.

The event featured training and in- formation sessions as well as work- shops on innovation and leadership, creative industries, internet market- ing, planning and environmental matters. There were also sessions on energy management, opportunities for women, HR and Employment Law, succession planning, technol- ogy transfer and schools’ enterprise programmes.

Participating bodies included the Community and Enterprise Direc- torate of Clare County Council, the County Development Board, En- terprise Ireland, Shannon Develop- ment, the County Enterprise Board, local chambers, Clare VEC as well as the enterprise support agencies.

CLARE people have donated more than 10,000 tree saplings to Africa as part of the joint Bothar, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Give the Gift of Trees initiative which was launched in October 2007 and culminates this month.

Bothar, the Irish charity that spe- cialises in livestock-based develop- ment programmes, and Kellogg’s Corn Flakes are celebrating the most successful Give a Gift of Trees Cam-

paign which has demonstrated an in- crease in donations of almost 300%. Overall, Ireland sent more than half a million trees to Africa. Clare’s portion of the total tree donations ex- ceeds its portion of the Irish popula- tion, confirming the tremendous gen- erosity of the people of the county. The Give the Gift of Trees Cam- paign will help develop sustainable farming practices in disadvantaged communities in Tanzania, Malawi, Rwanda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso & Uganda. In these countries,

Bothar trains farmers how to pursue good environmental practices to en- sure that tree saplings improve the ecological balance by controlling erosion and maintaining soil fertil- ity. Irish families were encouraged to help African families by collect- ing special tokens from boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and sending them to Kellogg’s along with a €5 donation. All of the money contrib- uted went directly to Bothar and for every 10 donations Kellogg’s funded an additional ten trees.

KILFENORA native, Lisa Connole, will shortly depart to Florida on a 6-month internship programme as part of the FAS Science Challenge Internship programme.

During this internship, Lisa will have the opportunity to research a project on the “Control of Plant produced VOCs in Low Mass Plant Chambers” at Dynamac Corporation at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The FAS Science Challenge In- ternship Programme provides for unique research opportunities for 42 graduates, postgraduates and ap- prentices in the areas of applied sci- ence and engineering. The initiative serves to enhance the skill sets of these individuals, strengthen link-

ages with world ranking institutions, broaden the research base in Ireland and nurture the future generation of leaders in industry.

SOLAN Gitar Tam seleas EcLbbelel OMAN Comme vba! FAS Science Challenge Internship programme, Rody Molloy, FAS Director General referred to such investments as vital to ensure that Ireland’s workforce is equipped to capitalise on labour market oppor- UDO B Cece

He said, “This initiative is instru- mental in anticipating labour market needs so that employers in the fields of science, engineering and technol- ogy are assured of engaging with a qualified workforce, trained to world class standards, with the added bo- nus of international experience.”

TOM Hogan Motors are delighted to announce they will be hosting a Munster Rugby Player evening in their Showrooms on Monday, Octo- ber 20, at Tom Hogan Motors in En- nis and Tuesday, October 21, in Tom Hogan Motors in Shannon.

Don’t miss your opportunity to meet some senior Munster Rugby Players, get autographs and have your picture taken with the Heineken Cup.

Munster Player Evening commenc-

es on both evenings at 5pm sharp until 7pm. Clare FM will be on-site with their outside broadcaster and there lots of Munster giveaway items up for grabs with the free raffle.

The Heineken Cup will be on display in the Tom Hogan Motors Showroom from noon on each day and everyone is welcome to come eM Ceyatee

You can contact [om Hogan Motors, Gort Road, Ennis, on 065 6821704 or Tom Hogan Motors, Smithstown, Shannon on 061 477600.

DESPITE the recession putting chains on womens’ purses, one en- terprising Shannon businesswoman has come up with a bright idea to help keep her business in the pink.

Despite having no previous exper1- ence of running a business, Siobhan Hayes has been learning to adapt and change her fashion shop, Pink to do the necessary at the SkyCourt Shop- ping Centre in Shannon.

Hayes’ latest idea, launched just two weeks ago, allows women from the neighbouring industrial estate to buy frocks, fashions and accessories without even leaving their desk.

Pink’s online shopping site 1s prov- ing hugely popular with women shoppers who are long on style but SJaleya me) e manatee

“I often thought about how we could make it more convenient for women working in the industrial es- tate to shop. They are working very close to the town centre, but a lot of them only get half an hour for lunch. That’s just not enough time to come over, browse the rails, pick some- thing and get back to work. Then I was talking to a computer genius friend of my mine and we came up with the idea of the website.”

There are now 30 or more items

from the shop’s stock available on the site, www.prettynpink.1e.

“We can even deliver the purchases to the buyer or they can pick it up at the shop,” said Hayes.

The native of Shannon started the 1,100 sq ft unit when the new Sky- Court opened in 2004. Before that, the only self-employed experience Hayes had was in selling gel nails.

Since opening the shop, she has taken courses with the Enterprise Board in Marketing and Women in Business.

“lve always been interested in fashion and I felt there was a mar- ket for an affordable fashion shop in NJa-NeVelOVeMMcCe)eeloLMODDOTcMmMer-lmUvOlelleMOeKos women fashion at good prices. A lot of women will wear an item six or seven times and they get tired of it so they don’t want to feel they have paid is Levant be oae

She also aims to give choice for women aged from their early 20s well into their 50s.

Hayes has grown the business to employ four people.

“It hasn’t all been a walk in the park, but it’s very enjoyable,’ she told

THE RECESSION is having little impact on the success of start-up business. Winning sales is the key to Start-up success – that was some of the key information from an expert line up of speakers presenting on winning sales techniques to an audi- ence of 200 entrepreneurs, sales pro- fessionals and investors at the second Mid-West Entrepreneur Showcase.

Launching the showcase, Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland said, “While the only constant in today’s business environment is change, Irish small and medium sized companies have shown them- selves to be remarkably adaptable in managing change.

“This flexibility and adeptness has been a crucial factor in the outstand- ing success of Irish enterprises. We have witnessed the emergence of Irish companies competing in global markets and forging ahead as market leaders and innovators in their sec- tors,” he said.

Ryan said that entrepreneurs are “making real and valuable contribu- tions in every part of every county throughout the country – in terms of employment and innovative capac- ity, and through anchoring the social

fabric of their respective localities.” Frank Hannigan, CEO of Yougetit-

back.com, told those attending that

he believes that companies who

think globally are better positioned

He also believes that recessions

to survive than companies who think have little impact on the success rate

locally in terms of winning sales and developing products.

for start-ups. “Inputs cost less and there 1s still

demand for good services and prod- ucts. In spite of all the bad news around a global recession and avail- ability of funds, we should not lose heart. There are billions of dollars in Venture funds. They only make a profit if they can spend that money investing in smart start ups. If the ideas are good enough institutional investors still have to invest,’ he Se HLGE

The Seminar and Showcase event was organised by the Enterprise Ac- celeration Centre (EAC) at Limerick Institute of Technology as part of Limerick City Business Week and consists of a half day Seminar and Showcase featuring clients of the EAC and the Limerick Enterprise Acceleration Platform (LEAP) par- aes Oye D OL Ace

The objective of this year’s Mid- West Entrepreneur Showcase event was to present business people with key techniques, tools and real life experiences on how to win sales in order to drive the development of early stage businesses from start-up to international business success.