Month: September 2009

SHERRY Fitzgerald McMahon has a stunning Georgian two-storey house, centrally located in Kilkee’s West End, on its books at a reduced ask- ing price of €575,000. This property, called Bayview House, originally went on the market priced at over €800,000, so the reduction is very significant.

The five-bedroom property offers 246 sq metres (2,652 sq. feet) of ac- commodation including five bed- rooms. It has some very elegant pe- riod features including a fn light over the solid main entrance door, and in-

side there are lofty high ceilings.

On the ground floor is the main liv- ing room, which has a feature fire- place and a bright sunroom to the side. The spacious kitchen is well fitted and off this room is the dining room. There’s a further family room PLM N Oval od e

The high sash windows ensure that lots of natural sunlight filters through the house, making it very bright.

The selling agent said that the prop- erty “could do with some modernisa- tion, but 1s a most attractive house, very well priced, not to be missed”.

COSTELLOE Estate Agents has an attractive family home on its books, located at Abbeyville off the Limer- ick Road (opposite the West County Hotel), which has just been further reduced in price to €215,000.

No. 50 Abbeyville is a four bedroom semi-detached property offering 1,292 sq. ft. of internal accommoda- tion. This appealing house comprises an entrance hall, living room, kitch- en/dining room, utility and en suite bedroom all on the ground floor. Up-

Stairs, there are three bedrooms, in- cluding the en-suite master bedroom, together with the family bathroom.

Finishes include a mix of timber, tiled and carpeted floors, a qual- ity fitted kitchen with integrated electrics, fitted wardrobes in the bedrooms, quality tiling in the bath- rooms, painted doors, skirting and architraves and quality coving in the reception and living rooms.

Externally the property features a walled lawn and parking area to the front, with an enclosed south facing rear garden with garden shed.

The house was recently redecorat- ed and is on the market in ‘walk-in’ condition. It will appeal to a family as it offers plenty of space and is very close to all key amenities, including schools, in Ennis town centre. It is also just a few hundred metres from the by-pass interchange on the Lim- erick Road.

For full details, contact Costelloe Estate Agents on 065 6821299.

Doolin ferries row puts the wind up council

RTE Maghera mast bogged down in planning

Dynamic solutions topping the bill

A NEW medical device developed under an InterlradeIreland business network will help sufferers of some of Ireland’s most prevalent chronic lung ailments.

The Vitalograph COPD-6 is a small, affordable and easy-to-use device, which will not only make life easier for sufferers of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but save time and resources at hospitals PNNeme pte Nee

The device, which was developed under InterlradeIreland’s REMINAC project, allows sufferers to monitor their condition remotely, rather than having to travel to their GP surgery or hospital.

The developers, a tripartite collabo- rative network of companies in Lim- erick, Ennis and Lisburn, County Antrim, are already adapting the de- vice so it can also be used to monitor other ailments like asthma and cystic fibrosis.

Outsource R&D company, Martu- rion Ltd of Lisburn, was responsible for the design of the device, includ- ing the electronics and embedded software. Marturion partnered with Limerick company Eirwave, who designed the Bluetooth technology which enables the device to transmit data remotely to a monitoring centre, and Ennis-based Vitalograph, who developed the software to receive and monitor that data.

General Manager of Vitalograph Ireland, Frank Keane said: “COPD, Asthma and cystic fibrosis are amongst the most common life- threatening lung conditions here in Ireland but can be more effectively treated if monitored regularly so we saw the need for a device which could provide simple and effective pre-spirometry remote screening to those at risk of these diseases.”

Dr John Nelson, managing direc- tor of Eirwave, said that there were numerous benefits of working as

part of a tripartite network: “The REMINAC network brought us the advantage of being able to utilise the complimentary skills and expertise of the three companies to develop leading edge solutions in wireless connectivity for medical devices,’ he explained, “and this would not have been possible without InterIra- delIreland. Its involvement was key to initiate, develop and strengthen the cross-border link between the three companies.

‘An essential aspect of doing busi- ness on a cross-border basis is to have the necessary market awareness and confidence in suppliers and partners. InterTradeIreland were superb in ad- dressing both.”

Dr Andy Barr, managing direc- tor of Marturion commented: “The economic benefits of this device for the health service, in particular, are numerous. Sufferers of lung diseases are among those patients who have the lengthiest stays in hospital and this device could cut down their time in hospital, saving money as well as greatly reducing the risk of cross in- fection by sitting in GP clinics and hospital waiting rooms.”

Chief Executive of Interlradelre- land Liam Nellis said: “InterTra- deIreland brings together networks of companies to help them to become more profitable and competitive through joint marketing, skill-shar- ing, product or process development,

meeting supply needs or co-produc- tion opportunities.

“The REMINAC network is an ex- cellent example of the real practical and mutual benefits of cross-border co-operation. Sharing knowledge generates innovation which is key to success in business particularly in the current economic climate and has helped to accelerate the development of a new product which will make a difference to thousands of people all over the world.”

THE decision, by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to close the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food office in Ennis has been met with strong opposition.

According to the Chairperson of Clare ICMSA and Chairman of that organisation’s National Beef & Cat- tle Committee, Martin McMahon, a valuable resource and service for Clare farmers has been lost and measures must be taken immediate- ly to minimise the impact on Clare JET U NN ae

“As things stand, the reality is that

most Clare farmers who need to visit the local department office will now have to travel a much longer distance to the far side of Limerick city and deal with the time and traffic prob- lems that involves. The local Clare office provided many vital services to farmers and it is imperative that reasonable alternative arrangements are put in place so that Clare farmers can still access department services in their own county and at a con- venient location,’ stated the Clare ICMSA Chairman and well known O’Callaghan’s Mills farmer.

“In this regard, we believe that the department should make _ person-

nel available at various locations throughout the county on specific days so that farmers can have their issues dealt with locally rather than travelling to Limerick city.

“This service could be made avail- able at the local social welfare of- fices. There are five social welfare offices servicing County Clare, namely Ennis, Ennistymon, Kilrush, Tulla and Gort, and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food per- sonnel located in these offices would be in a position to provide a service that would be convenient to all Clare farmers,’ he said.

Clare ICMSA have met both Minis-

ter of State Tony Killeen and Deputy Timmy Dooley and briefed them on this solution to what Mr McMahon says is fast becoming a source of much anger amongst the local farm- ing population.

“We have suggested a means where- by local farmers can access services at locations throughout Clare in a manner that facilitates everyone in- volved. The alternative is people hav- ing to take half a day, or indeed a full day off, to head off to the far side of Limerick to access the same services that could be provided in Clare at no extra cost. We want a bit of imagina- tion to be used here,’ he said.

KPa e moe ere I BKor aay

FRIENDSHIP and Community — that is the theme for Clare Men- tal Health Week, which runs from October 5 to 10. The event aims to raise awareness of issues which af- fect mental health and to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in the community.

This year the focus is on connect- ing communities during these diffi- cult times of financial crises. Forums will be held throughout the county to encourage communities and groups to come together to show solidarity and support to each other in times of unemployment and recession.

All events are free to the public and there are many well known fig- ures taking part.

On Monday, October 5, Mary Flan- agan and Anne Buckley have advice for parents on Relaxation Skill and Stress Reduction in the Clare VEC Community Education Centre. On Monday evening, West Clare Mental Health Association will explore ‘En- hancing Community Co-operation in West Clare’ in the Kilrush Family Resource Centre.

Men Count Too is the theme of a men’s forum which will take place

in the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis on Tuesday, October 6 at 7.30pm.

“IT IS a road accident waiting to happen.” That was the warning of Kilrush Town Councillor, Paul Mo- roney (Ind) who also works for the fire brigade, one of the services that attend road traffic accidents on a Korea UN Vn Oyen Ae

The councillor was referring to the junction of Griffin Road and the En- nis Road, and questioned its legality.

He told this month’s meeting of the council that drivers had to go over the broken line to see if there was any traffic “coming in the Ennis Road”.

“IT am harping on about what has been said before. I am bringing it up again because it is not good enough,’ he said.

Cllr Moroney described the junc- tion as a nightmare.

Executive Engineer, Derek Troy told the meeting that the sightlines and the sight distance at this junction are very restricted due to the location of a shed/garage that adjoins the last property on Griffin Road, as you exit on to the N68 Ennis Road.

‘The exact ownership of this prop- erty is currently unknown,’ he said, pointing out that the shed was not Korea Ko Klee

“Road users must act in an appro-

priately safe manner when using the junction, as is the case at all public road junctions,” he added.

“Realignment works to improve the sightlines are ongoing at this junction.”

The works proposed consist of widening the footpaths at both sides, re-marking and re-aligning the road carriageways on the N67, and re-lo- cating the stop line.

‘Further investigation into the own-

ership of the property in question is on-going,’ said Mr Troy.

Father of the council, Tom Prendev- ille (FF) told the meeting that the owner of the shed was known to him, as the site received planning permission from the council in the last number of years.