Month: September 2009

AS PHASE two of the Fibre Op- tic Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) for Kilrush is about to be- gin, Cllr Ian Lynch (FG) said the town council must be ready to mar- ket this new facility and get “a head of the game” in attracting new busi- nesses to the town.

It is hoped that the broadband sys- tem will be up and running and ready for marketing by March.

While the completion of phase one has been completed for some time now, progression on phase two had been delayed while awaiting the ap- pointment of an appropriate compa- ny to manage the phase.

The announcement that elnet “Tel- ecommunications Company of the Year 2009” has been appointed by

the Government to manage, main- tain and market Phase 2 of the pro- gramme has been met with a warm welcome from the town councillor.

‘“MAWNSs plays a pivotal role in the delivery of high speed broadband to regions throughout the country at a time when the advancement of a knowledge economy has never been more important,” he said.

Broadband is to data transfer what a motorway is to a road. The fibre optic broadband cable installed in Kilrush will provide the means to move information and other data in big volumes and at high speeds to re- cipients around Ireland and all over the world.

“The ready availability of broad- band services, to enable ‘always on’ high-speed connections with high capacity, 1s very important for both

business and domestic customers,’ said Cllr Lynch.

“Tt is towns with reliable, fast con- nectivity to the outside world that will lead the way in attracting in- ward investment and creating more jobs in the future. These broadband fibre rings about to be provided pave the way for such connectivity,’ he added.

“Having $made — considerable progress with the installation of fibre networks, Kilrush must now push on to avoid playing ‘catch-up’ continu- ously with other towns in the tele- communications area.’

“The proactive response towards the MANs by Kilrush Town Council is an extremely positive step in en- suring Kilrush can be marketed as a commercial town and to potentially attract new business to the town,

making the town more attractive to, not only businesses within the IT sector but also manufacturing, health care and education.

‘Because of the Kilrush Metropoli- tan Area Networks (MANs) Kilrush is now well placed to meet the tel- ecommunications needs of bigger businesses and institutions, and 1s better able to compete on an equal footing with other locations in the country to attract new businesses to the town and indeed county,’ said Cllr Lynch.

The Fine Gael councillor is encour- aging Kilrush Town Council to coin- cide a marketing campaign strategy in conjunction with the planned elnet marketing campaign to ensure maxi- mum publicity and promotion to encourage possible future business investment in the west Clare town.

WITH threats of “you will never get your hands on the cup’, talks of changing handicaps and discus- sions of one team’s inability to play in windy conditions, the “Friendship Cup” tournament began with good humour on Wednesday last.

The friendly jibes were given and taken well as a group of west Clare golfers took on the Americans in the first of the friendly competitions to be held in the county.

The brainchild of one of the found- ers of the Ibrickane Golf Society, which was formed in 2007, the com- petition forges links with a New York golf society – Cuchulainn Golf

Society.

Last year the team of golfers took their good humour banter to North Carolina for the inaugural competi- ntOyee

This year the American team, made up mostly of Irish Americans, are experiencing west Clare hospitality and for the first time ever all of the members played Clare courses.

Incoming captain of the Ibrickane Golf Society, and the captain of the Clare team, Evan Talty from Quilty explained that the competition and the arrival of the ten members of the New York team has captured the im- agination of the locality.

“It has got a lot of local publicity. A lot of people are asking about it and

showing an interest,’ he said.

Current captain of the society and founding member of the group Eoghan O’Loughlin paid tribute to the local businesses who also got be- hind the event and saw its potential.

‘Next year we will have up to 15 or 16 going with us, there is such an in- terest in it now. It will probably reach a team of 20 coming back and over alternative years,’ he said.

Paddy Cartel, Treasurer of the Cu- culainn Society added, “We are life long friends through this.”

Cavan-born Paul Donoghue paid tribute to the hospitality the group has received since arriving in west Clare. “The Bellbridge has been very good to us,” he added.

Sean Clarke was equally posi- tive about his visit to west Clare. He maintained that the group even brought the fine weather. “From the time we lived here we remembered that there was always good weather in September when we had to go back to school, that is why we picked September to come.’ Usually the Americans play golf from the begin- ning of April to the end of October.

The Ibrickane Golf Society is al- ready planning the return trip state- side next year to defend the cup.

FOR saffron and blue supporters it was a venture into the unknown — a first All-Ireland Under 21 final for them as well as for Clare as a hurl- ing county.

And, as with all dawns there was excitement — it was new and some- thing different and that’s why Clare Supporters out-numbered their Kil- kenny counterparts by two or three to one.

It was 1995 and ’97 all over again — and like those years Clare support- ers expected.

“We’re definitely going to do it,” said Michael Brennan from Killaloe beforehand.

‘“We’re not up here just to make up the numbers and become anoth- er mouse killed by the Cats. These players have bottle and that’s what will win them their medals. Kilken- ny won’t know what has hit them.”

James Murphy from Ennis was more cautious, but still confident. “It’s going to be a tough one. There is no denying that. There are two great teams fighting for this honour and I can’t see more than a couple of scores separating them at the end. It might even be a draw. Clare by one or two I’d say!”

Murphy nailed it and seconds after the final whistle, he and thousands of others were storming the field. “Amazing, absolutely unreal,’ ex- claimed Barry Corbett from Cloon- OMe “It was a brilliant performance from all of them but especially Tuo- hy and the full-back line. Conlon up front as well. The serious discipline the whole team showed entitled us to this win,’ he added.

He echoed the thoughts of all eve- ryone in saffron and blue, as the Clare Shout, for so long silent ech- oed around Croke Park for the first time in a dozen years.

“The Cats couldn’t stop Clare making history. Great win,” roared Stephen McNamara from Kilmaley, before more Clare Shouts again ech- oed around him.

And, like 95 there was talk of Bid- dy Early too — the curse that’s been a crutch to bear in recent years was banished once more.

And, in its place was a bright new era with a nod to the past achieve- ments of Clare teams made by Inagh farmer Tom Mackey when he pro- claimed loudly to everyone around him that “there’ll be no goats milked for the week”.

AN INFORMATIVE gathering at Shannon library for voluntary and statutory service providers in the south Clare area is to take place on Thursday, October 1, at 10.30am.

This is a joint initiative between Shannon Public Library and Clare Adult Basic Education Service.

The information morning presents

a rare opportunity for the voluntary and statutory service providers of south Clare to meet, become ac- quainted, learn and become updated about each other’s services and work. Several groups work for the benefit of the community in this area and it is important that the good work they do is known to residents in those parts of the county.

The event will be facilitated by

librarian Carmel Daly, along with Maire Dempsey, of the adult learn- ing centre in Shannon.

This will be the seventh annual in- formation morning of its kind.

“It has proved valuable to all the service providers who attended in the past, whether from education, health social, financial or other departments or interests,’ said Ms Daly.

Afterwards, participants are more

easily able to contact fellow opera- tors in the area and better serve their community as a whole.

If your voluntary or statutory or- ganisation is interested, or if you wish to make a recommendation, or seek further information, please contact Maire Dempsey at the Shan- non Adult Learning Centre on 061 364595, or Carmel Daly in Shannon library on 061 364266.

A CLUB that reaches out and lends a hand to newcomers arriving in Shannon has just regrouped for its third year in existence.

New research shows that there are almost 1,500 people who are not from Ireland living in Shannon town alone, with others living in the sur- rounding area.

With the non-native population erowing steadily in recent times, Le Chéile international club in Shannon was set up two years ago. Its aim is to cater for the needs of the foreign population living in the town.

There have been many changes since its inception. While some new people have come to the town from a

range of countries worldwide, many others have left Shannon and trav- elled home.

Co-ordinator of Le Chéile, Trish Fallon-Barry has put a lot into the organisation and is keen to ensure that integration plays an important role. “We are just trying to grow the club and reach more people. There are plenty more people we can reach. I feel having Le Chéile in the town just shows there is a welcome,’ she said.

She said that a meeting between Garda representatives and people from several countries, held last week, was very positive and gardai are keen to help those not familiar with issues in the town as much as they can.

“Some communities may be cau- tious of somebody in the uniform. They (gardai) want to show they are here to help. Community policing is a great idea,” she said.

The meeting followed a meeting between community gardai in Shan- non and Le Chéile in recent weeks.

“It is good to network. On one hand we are celebrating people’s ethnic origins and the other is in- tegration. It is two sides to a coin really. Integration is much better than assimilation. It is important to celebrate a person’s ethnicity. We all have things to learn from each other,’ said Ms Fallon-Barry.

Polish-native Anna Kulikowska moved to Shannon five years ago and has joined Le Chéile. She very

much believes in the need for such a group, which reaches out to every nationality. “It is very positive. It is important to have meetings. I think it is good we spoke to the gardai. It presents them as human beings,” she SE AOe

Dipali Singpurwala, a native of In- dia, also lives in Shannon. Through her work as a yoga instructor, she meets many people every week and believes that a strong sense of com- munity is important. “Community effort 1s very important, as some people may have nothing to do and may not have a focus,” she said.

Le Chéile meets at the Respond Building, Rineanna View, Shannon, on the first Tuesday evening of the month.

THERE was further bad news for Shannon Airport this week with revelations that the airport services provider, Servisair, 1s looking to put staff on short time.

Servisair workers received a letter from the company’s human resources manager in Ireland to say that hours were being reduced “in order to re- main competitive and viable in an ever-challenging environment”’.

Full-time staff are being reduced to a three-day week, while part-time staff will go on a 20-hour week.

Servisair could not be reached for comment on the matter, but a SIPTU representative confirmed that “cer- tain proposals” are being made by management which the union and esexO MELB D OTSA

Servisair staff look after most of the baggage handling operations at Shannon Airport but a spokeswoman for the airport authority said that the

matter is not affecting any operations at the airport.

Meanwhile, the Aer Lingus deci- sion not to use the US Customs Pre- Clearance Facility at Shannon until 2010 for operation reasons has again attracted criticism.

Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has said that management at Aer Lingus “have questions to answer”.

He said: “It beggars belief that any company operating at a loss in the current climate would not avail of

opportunities to increase revenue and add value to its business. I cannot un- derstand the Aer Lingus decision to snub the US Pre Clearance Facility at Shannon, particularly when other major airlines have jumped at the chance to use the service.”

His party colleague Pat Breen has blasted Aer Lingus for having al- legedly sacked staff over the phone, with a text followed by a phone call and called on the company to im- mediately review its communication

procedures.

The airline sent text messages to telling around 60 staff that a sig- nificant jobs announcement was due, before informing them by telephone that their positions were being termi- nated.

A spokeswoman for the airline said the situation has been taken out of context.

She said the contracts do not affect any Shannon staff and applied only to Dublin and Cork crews.

Gormley being led into water fight

MORE than three hundred people took part in a street protest in En- nis in opposition to a proposal by An Bord Snip Nua to end the Rural Transport Programme.

Members and supporters of Clare Accessible Transport (CAT), who were participating in a nation-wide day of action against the proposal, claim that any funding cuts would have a detrimental impact on rural communities throughout Clare.

Addressing a crowd in Ennis town centre on Friday, Mayor of Clare, Councillor Tony Mulcahy under- lined the valuable contribution made by CAT to communities across the County.

He said: “The McCarthy report advocates the total abolition of the rural transport programme. This rec- ommendation has been made with- out due consideration being given to the considerable effect that such a cut would have on the lives of many thousands of people. CAT has a net- work of routes that facilitate people in remote areas who wish to avail of local services.

These communities will be denied access to such vital services if CAT is denied funding.”

Mayor Mulcahy noted that helping disabled persons and the elderly re- tain their independence was only one aspect of rural transport.

“It is very much a part of the fab- ric of the community, enabling com- munity groups, after school projects,

family resource centres, and the Health Service Executive to provide access to their programmes. I would appeal to Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon O Cuiv to carefully consider this fact before making any decision regard- ing the Rural Transport Programme,’ he concluded.

The Feakle-based CAT service makes 3,000 passenger trips a month all across Clare, employs 21 people and now caters for a broader range of

people than ever.

30 per cent of our passengers are under 25 years of age and we cater for tourists as well,’ a spokeswoman for the service said.

“We get emails from Japan and Italy, lots of places, booking trips. We want to support tourism through sustainable transport.”

On the road for seven years, CAT provides flexible transport for any- one who wishes to join. The service is free to travel pass holders and is

reduced for under 16s.

For many living in isolated parts of the county with no car, the service is their only way of getting to and from doctors appointments, doing their shopping, attending to business and having some social contact in their day.

Objections to Shannon mast

Shannon drugs unit looks to nip problem in the bud