Month: July 2009

MEASURES must be taken in an effort to prevent cars from being broken into at Drumcliffe cemetery in Ennis, according to local elected representatives.

The issue was raised by Councillor Mary Coote-Ryan (FG), who said that an elderly woman’s car was bro- ken into while she was visiting the graveyard earlier this month.

“The gate was locked. She had to leave her car outside. When she got out, the window of the car was broken and her handbag was taken.

It’s happening a lot. Could we have cameras there? Could the gates be left open? It’s getting very serious,’ she said.

“This woman was awfully upset. If the gate was open that evening, she could have driven in,’ she said.

Meanwhile, the CCTV pole and camera on Market Street in Ennis will not be relocated. Ennis Super- intendent John Scanlan, in a letter to Ennis Town Council, said the ques- tion of moving the equipment has been carefully considered and it is not feasible to relocate it.

‘An Garda Siochana will examine

the possibility of locating this cam- era on the front of the adjacent pri- vate property and will initially pur- sue this matter with the owner of the said property,” he wrote.

He said he was not in a position to commit to any definite action which could adversely affect the commis- sion of, or the satisfactory operation of the CCTV scheme in the town.

In 2006 Ennis was declared by the Government as one of the I] re- maining locations nationwide which formed part of the Garda CCTV pro- eramme following recommendations from the Garda authorities.

AN estimated 2,000 Clare farmers are facing a bleak financial future following the Department of Agri- culture’s shock closure of the REPS 4 scheme last Thursday.

Some 35,000 Irish farmers will fin- ish their environmental plans over the next three years and will now not be allowed to join the REPS 4 scheme.

The effects of this will be felt by some 2,000 Clare farmers who will also now have to plan with a further reduced Disadvantaged Area Scheme payments from 2010. The IFA called an emergency Executive Council in Portlaoise last Friday to discuss the

situation.

Mr Walshe called on the Minis- ter for Agriculture, Brendan Smith to immediately come forward with a new meaningful scheme for the farmers effected by the latest round of cuts. “The previous budget cuts plus this proposed cut will hit the hard pressed livestock sector espe- cially hard,” he said.

‘Farmers are outraged at these de- cisions at a time when farm incomes are at their lowest level in almost a decade and tens of thousands of farm families are struggling to survive.”

The ICSA Rural Development Chairman, Gabriel Gilmartin has said the news of the closure of REPS 4 is another nail in the coffin of farm-

ers and will cause many to question their future in farming.

“This decision is wholly unaccept- able and is further evidence of a total lack of understanding on the Govern- ment’s part of what measures are in fact needed to encourage economic activity in rural Ireland,” he said.

“Under the new agri environment scheme farmers will have to apply without knowing whether they will be accepted or not and they will have no idea what the rate of payment will be. Modulated money was intended to create additional rural develop- ment funding, not to facilitate the elimination of existing schemes.”

Meanwhile, while announcing the cuts, the Minister for Agriculture

also announced proposals for spend- ing €207 million in EU funding for Irish farmers over the next four years.

These proposals relate to the use of unspent Single Payment Scheme and Modulation funds and the European Economic Recovery Programme from 2010. The minister said that his proposals reflected the outcome of consultations with the various stake- holders over recent months.

In addition to this Minister Smith confirmed details of a new €113 million targeted scheme for on-farm investment to support a number of specific categories of farmers and focused on supporting productive in- vestment.

THE continued closure of the car- park at Quin Abbey is causing an- noyance to locals, who say that the business community in the area is suffering as a result.

The lock remains on the gate of the carpark and residents who live in the village cannot understand why their calls to re-open it have fallen on deaf ears. They are further incensed by

the fact that their calls for signage — outlining opening hours, the abbey’s history and other relevant informa- tion — have not achieved a positive response.

Junior Finance Minister Martin Manseragh visited the abbey in May and locals said they felt that their concerns were listened to on that oc- or ISTO) F

However, Helen Lowe, who is a member of the local development

committee, said there 1s much frus- tration in the village because of the lack of progress. While a caretaker is employed there, opening hours and information are not available for tourists who may wish to visit the ab- erentA

The group is pleased to learn that the Abbey will open during Novem- ber — the month of the Holy Souls – but say more good news should fol- low.

“It is the last remaining intact, me- dieval village in Clare and the OPW will not put the proper signage at the public access to utilise the abbey to its true potential,’ said Ms Lowe.

“Having a list of opening hours is critical because a lot of tourist buses come to Quin. Also there is confu- sion in the village. People don’t know where the public entrance 1s,” she added.

‘Thousands of euro has been spent on the public entrance and a new bridge has been installed. However the gate remains locked and the car- park is not occupied. It has space for 40 cars and coaches and minibuses,” she said.

The local development committee contacted the OPW and was told that signage would be put in place and ne- gotiations would take place in rela- tion to opening the carpark. However they are not happy with this as they want action immediately.

“We are coming into August, the last remaining month of the tourist season. The businesses are losing money, she added.

“We are not asking the OPW to spend money. This is a carpark that is available. It doesn’t need any at- tention. We need organisation and feedback. It’s frustrating,’ she said.

“We would like the OPW to ad- dress the signage issue first of all,” added Ms Lowe.

Quin anger over Abbey car park

TWO north Clare natives are this week beginning a month-long pro- gramme to teach computer skills to poor children in Africa. Anne Marie Gray from Lisdoonvarna and Mick Quinn from Doolin departed for Dublin last week to give a four week intensive course in Ethiopia.

The pair are part of an 83 strong party of Irish volunteers who will be teaching in seven African countries throughout the month of July. They will be joined on the trip by fel- low Clare native Mary Woods from Newmarket-on-Fergus who is travel-

ling to Tanzania.

The trip is being organised by the Camera Group, which is an Irish charity promoting sustainable devel- opment in Africa. Camera refurbish thousands of old computers each year and ship them for re-use in a number of African countries.

The volunteers, who come from a range of backgrounds, including IT, teachers and students, will be teach- ing basic to advanced computer skills to teachers in schools in Kenya, Ethi- opa, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Le- sotho and Zambia.

“This 1s so important to provide training in computer skills for the

teachers of the schools who have Ca- mara’s refurbished computers,” said Cormac Lynch, CEO of Camara. “Our teachers will spend a month giving courses from basic computer skills to advanced networking. Each computer can be of major benefit to 200 students, but only if there is good transfer of teaching knowledge to the teachers in the first place.” Camara is an Irish-based registered charity, based in the Digital Hub, which equips schools in Africa with refurbished computers, educational software and IT training. Camara recently celebrated sending out its 10,000 computer to a school in Tan-

zania.

Camara takes in computers from businesses that would be sent for recycling otherwise, securely wipes the hard drive and tracks, cleans and upgrades the computers so that they will run an operating system reliably and have a long second lease of life in Africa. Camara’s computers come from large and medium-sized com- panies including PWC, KBC Bank, ESB and the Department of Finance.

For detail about the the project and how to become a volunteers or do- nate unused computers contact con- tact Leonora Lowe on 085 7057764 and leonora@camara.ie.

THE Rachel O’Dwyer Memorial Award keeps not only the memory of the late schoolgirl alive, but also the strong tradition of Irish music among Quilty school children.

This year the award went to sixth class student Eoin Shannahan, a tal- ented accordian player who won the school’s Board of Management mu- sic award two years ago.

The Board of Management Award

coincides with the Rachel O’ Dwyer Award each year, and the winner of both prizes receives a certificate and have their fees paid at the Willie Clancy Summer School.

Fifth class student and accordion player Darragh Moloney won the Board of Management Award this year.

Rachel’s mother Rita sponsors the prize in memory of her daughter.

Rachel, who was a pupil at Quilty National School died from encepha-

litis in November 1999, aged just 10 years old.

While the brave young girl is re- membered often by the school, she is remembered in a special way each year when the most promising music student is chosen.

Quilty National School encourages all of its pupils to learn music and follow in the footsteps of local mu- sical heroes such as Paddy Galvin, John Fennell, Joe Cunneen, Michael Falsey and JP Downes.

All 43 pupils learn a musical in- strument during music classes in the school, and it is through music their late colleague and fellow pupil is teyatelennere

MICHELLE Bradley is putting art and soul into a new venture for Kil- Tatts ep

The qualified psychotherapist has opened a space “Art & Soul’ in Place de Plouzane to encourage people to become involved in art therapy.

In her final year in her Masters in Art Therapy at the Crawford College in Cork, the Dublin-native has plans to introduce as many people as pos- sible to the process, and encourage other qualified practitioners to bring the therapy to smaller towns and vil- lages around west Clare and beyond.

For now however, Ms Bradley, who moved to west Clare 11 years ago, is keen that as many people as possible experience art therapy, which she de- scribes as “a healing tool’.

Michelle, herself discovered the therapy when she did a work shop a number of years ago. With an interest in art and as a qualified psychothera- pist, she decided to study the therapy and joined the MA course.

She did her first college placement with the Kilrush Youth Centre where she saw the benefits of the therapy first hand.

“It is instantaneous. If I was doing talk therapy with you it could take me a long time to get to that point, because you are all the time going to talk about what you think the issue might be, or what you think I might want to hear.

“With the art it 1s direct. I don’t interpret your artwork; you do that

yourself, because everyone has their own symbols. It is for you to interpret it, we can talk about it, and we can do a one-on-one and talk about it. Or you don’t have to talk about it. You are getting it out,’ she explained.

“It is like the most intelligent part is going to lead the way. It is a very gentle process.”

The process can be used with any age group from toddlers to the eld- erly, and people with all abilities in- cluding anyone with a mental, physi-

cal or educational disability.

Everyone is invited to take part in the creative process to work through issues, merely find out more about themselves.

If it all feels a bit too much the Slate, or in this case the white board, can be wiped clean and you can start eNeee HOE

Parent and children, teenagers and adults all use the space. Michelle also works with groups, and one on oiler

The charge for the therapy is €10, and Michelle is already working to- wards getting sponsorship to retain that reduced rate next year.

She argues that therapy such as this is beneficial to the community and should be available to all. Therefore she is hoping to gain sponsorship or a grant to help keep is accessible to “Ne

THE nineteenth annual South East Clare show is all set to go again in Bridgetown and preparations are now almost complete for what prom- ises to be a great family day out on July 26.

The first show was in 1990 and the event has only missed one year and that was because of foot and mouth.

At the launch of this year’s show on Friday, the main sponsor, Tom Marsh of Marsh quarries in Broadford was on hand to do the official duty.

“Now highly regarded among the show fraternity, the South East Clare show has a place in the top ten shows in the country,’ said Show Secretary, Pat Duggan.

Catriona Bourke of Yarfield in Clonlara is in charge of the 22 classes in the horse show, including five All Ireland qualifiers and the Limerick Lady Champion 200 qualifier. There will be three driving classes under the supervision of Pat Hayes.

Helen O’Neill will be looking af- ter the working hunter/performance working hunter/show hunter ponies, show riding and side saddle classes, as well as the local pony and lead rein classes.

There are 24 classes in all and this section has attracted huge interest every year.

Show jumping is in the capable hands of Davnet Kiernan O’Brien and there are big entries also expect- ed in this section, which has sixteen ES

Conor Hayes is in charge of the cat- tle section, which has 27 classes.

The dog show portfolio will be looked after by Jim Lonergan and this year there are 13 qualifiers, in- cluding the Gain Dog Food All Ire- land Championship qualifier.

At the launch on Friday was one of the beautifully preserved vintage cars, which will form a new section in the show this year, looked after by enthusiast, Joe English.

Secretary of the ladies section, Bernie English is looking after the home baking section of the show as well as flower section, while Mary Speight will deal with the horticul- tural section.

There is plenty of fun for the youngsters as well, with dodgems

and swings, as well as nine classes including Little Miss, Bonny Baby and children’s fancy dress.

Of course, the judges will be watch- ing out for the best dressed lady.

When show-goers get worn out from the various classes and need refreshment, there are full catering facilities on site.

“The show committee is most ap- preciative of the land owners, the Moynihan and Keenahan families. Without their help it just couldn’t go

on. The committee would also like to thank our sponsors and particular- ly the main sponsor, Tom Marsh, for all they have done,” said Pat.

NORTH Clare is reeling this morn- ing following a series of unrelated accidents which claimed the lives of two men in the space of just three hours on Sunday evening.

An 81-year-old man, named locally as Mickey Conroy, died on his farm in Tubber on Sunday evening when his tractor jolted forward unexpect- edly, fatally injuring him.

According to locals Mr Conroy was an expert mechanic and a lover of all

things mechanical and was showing his tractor to a farm visitor when the accident took place.

Gardai are investigating the incident and a seprate inquiry is expected to be launched by the Health and Safety Authority in the coming days.

Mr Conroy is survived by his wife and four daughters who all live in the area.

Just three hours earlier a French national lost his life in nearby Bal- lyreen in Doolin when he lost his footing and fell into the ocean.

The man was fishing off the rocks in Ballyreen at the time. The alarm was raised by his family shortly after Spm and the Doolin Coastguard and the Shannon-based Coastguard Heli- copter were on the scene in minutes. He was taken from the water by the Irish Coastguard helicopter and air- lifted to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where he died a short time later.

The man is a French national but has been living in Birr in County Of- faly for a number of years. Gardai are

delaying naming the man until his family in France can be contacted.

Eight members of the Doolin Coastguard were preparing to be transported by the Coastguard Hell1- copter to help search for a 4/-year- old man on Inis Oirr when the alarm was raised in Ballyreen.

The man, from Derry, was on a family holiday and was last seen around 10pm on Saturday evening. Members of the Doolin Coastguard were on Inis Oirr yesterday to assist with the ongoing search effort.

Meanwhile, another man died on board a transatlantic jet which was forced to divert and land at Shannon Airport on Friday morning.

Silom Coase N (ctl a WN Usb Ne aUPUOLEIAY SKS travelling from London to Atlanta, Georgia when the crew contacted air traffic controllers at Shannon re- questing permission to land there.

A passenger who suffered a sus- pected heart attack was pronounced dead at the airport before his body was removed to the Mid Western Re- gional Hospital in Limerick.

MEASURES to curb anti-social be- haviour in the vicinity of St Aidan’s primary school in Shannon have been suggested by gardai. Crime Preven- tion Officer in the Clare Garda Di- vision, Sergeant Joe Downey visited the area recently, in the wake of con- cern being expressed about young people converging on the area and drinking alcohol.

Sgt Downey, in a letter to the mayor of Shannon, Cllr Sean McLoughlin and the principal of St Aidan’s, Ger Loughnane, made a number of rec- ommendations on assisting in curb- ing anti-social behaviour.

“The area is surrounded by ma- ture trees, which are of such height and width that they are obstructing good natural surveillance on the area and are providing cover for people engaged in criminal behaviour,” he wrote.

He suggested that all trees sur- rounding school property should be pruned upwards to a minimum of two metres, to assist natural surveil- lance from pedestrians, nearby hous- es and passing motorists. He said that a number of trees at the eastern edge of the school, back to where the first public light is situated, should be removed to allow for a clear line of sight through the right of way.

Public lighting in the area should be

upgraded, to high pressure sodium lighting. “This will add vitality to the area, enhancing its attractiveness and reassure and reduce the feeling of vulnerability to those using the place for recreational purposes,” he said.

He recommended that all local au- thority property should be subjected to good housekeeping and all bushes should be pruned to allow for good natural surveillance, while gaps should be closed off.

‘The pedestrian routes should have a good open aspect, be well lit and give a good level of surveillance. The pedestrian should be able to view the full length of the path on entry, rather than negotiate blind corners or recesses,’ added Sgt Downey.

Some of the boundary fences should be repaired and the top railing should be constructed of such material and design that it would discourage peo- ple from sitting on them.

He also said that barriers should be put in place to prevent children from exiting alone and in an unsafe man- ner, given that the school borders public roads. He said that regular pa- trolling from gardai by car, bicycle and on foot is important as it would ensure a high visibility presence in the area, and prompt attention to re- quests for Garda assistance by mem- bers on duty is also essential.