Month: June 2011

CLARE County Council last night decided not to vote on a motion to back Séan Gallagher’s bid to contest the forthcoming Presidential race – on the grounds that legal advice need sought before any vote could take place. This comes after five independent candidates addressed the elected members of the Council last night – each seeking the local authority’s nomination to contest the election.

Following a heated discussion, coun- cillors voted by 15 votes to 14 to seek legal clarification on the issue before making a decision. The motion was put forward by Cllr Michael Begley (Ind) – and after the meeting was adjourned Mr Gallagher commented to the Killaloe councillor that he could see “democracy was alive and well in County Clare”.

Earlier, Senator David Norris (Ind) had defended himself against criticism from Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) that he was anti-Shannon Airport because of his stance against the use of the airport for special rendition flights.

Special Olympics chief Mary Davis told councillors that her connection with Clare was through holidaying in Kilkee and playing golf. She paid tribute to the work done by the Brothers of Charity in Clare and lauded the outreach programme.

She said she was aware of the issues facing young people in Ireland, adding, “As a county yourselves, you have experienced a tragic share of emigration, unemployment and sui- cide. The position [of President] has an enormous role to play in addressing these difficulties.”

Former Dragons’ Den judge Seán Gallagher said that he came from “simple beginnings”. He said he is not aiming to contest the presidency out of a personal ambition; rather as a result of what he has experienced through his work with the unemployed and those with disabilities. “It’s not about Seán Gallagher,” he added.

Dermot Mulqueen from Ennis, who also intends to run for the Áras, said he believes that a central capital of Ireland should be built. “Ireland is sinking eastwards. It drains resources, population, eastwards,” he said. “We should take over the Corrib Gasfield and have a State-owned gasfield like Norway and set up an international press agency like France.”

The other individual to address the meeting was Dr Pat Jones, a doctor of plant physiology from Carlow. He explained that his connections with Clare were through being a student of Maureen de Valera at UCG.

COILLTE and smaller forestry contractors may be forced to pay for damage done to roads as a result of transporting trees in rural parts of the county.

An estimated 200,000 tonnes of timber was transported on the county’s roads last year, with this figure expected to treble in the coming years. According to councillors at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council, roads in rural areas of North and East Clare have been destroyed in recent years as a result of the transportation of large amounts of timber. The Clare People understands that Clare County Council has entered into negotiations with Coillte with a view to working on some sort of road management plan for the forestry companies and a means of gaining reparations should damage be done.

“They are removing timber out to roads and these roads are not able to take the weight of the timber being removed. I think that Coillte need to provide us with a five-year plan where trees have to be felled or thinned out. They should at the very least supply a list of what roads they intend to use and these plan should need to be ap- proved by the county engineer,” said Cllr Michael Hillery (FF).

“This problem is going to get worse as time goes on. I know that right now roads are being damaged all over the county and I think it will take a lot of money to put these roads back to a level that will be acceptable to the local people.”

At present just over 13 per cent of the area of the county is covered in forestry with half of this being managed by Coillte. Commenting on the matter, Cllr Michael Beagley (FG), said that the current situation was ‘hell on earth’ for local residents.

“The level of support that Coillte give is often tempered because they have the excuse that other forestation in taking place along those roads,” he said.

“Quite a lot of private operators are growing trees in Clare and we should not give them [Coillte] an excuse to pay less than they should, but at the same time they shouldn’t have to pay everything if other private operators are in place. This is hell on earth to the local residents and the council needs to put something in place to deal with this problem, in a comprehensive way.”

According to the Council, negotiations are currently ongoing between Clare County Council and Coillte.

“We have found that in recent times there has been better engagement between ourselves and Coillte. In recent times Coillte have allocated some money to roads in the county,” said a council spokesperson.

“It may not be possible to have a one size fits all approach [for Coillte and the private operators]. We are at the early days of trying to formalise something and it makes sense to talk to the largest operator and I think that under these circumstances it would be easier for other operators to come on board once we have this formalised.”

ENNIS Town Council is to contact businesses in the town to request the removal of temporary signs from roads and footpaths.

Town clerk Eddie Power told the June meeting of Ennis Town Council that the number of temporary advertising signs has “increased significantly throughout the town”.

However local councillors have warned against a policy of “absolute regulation”, saying it could harm businesses and create tensions.

Acknowledging that businesses are operating in a difficult economic climate, Mr Power stated, “These signs may cause obstruction to users of the public footpath and they may pose a risk to the personal safety of road users. Furthermore, the town of Ennis has an established record of high achievement in the Tidy Towns com- petition. The number of temporary advertising signs currently visible on the footpaths around the town detract from the image of the town and may have a negative impact on the marks awarded by the tidy towns adjudicators in this national competition.”

He added, “It is intended to contact the relevant businesses responsible for such temporary advertising signage requesting removal of same. It should be noted that the Council has the legal authority to remove such signage if the request is not complied with.” However councillors were skeptical about the policy.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said he had not received any complaints about signs. He added, “Do we want to cripple the town altogether.”

Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said, “Businesses find it difficult enough. Where does it end? Does it mean that Jimmy Brohan [local businessman] can’t put goods outside his shop.”

Cllr Peter Considine (FF) urged the Council to pursue a “softly, softly approach”, adding that he was “very nervous of absolute regulation”.

Cllr Considine said that by forcibly removing signs, the Council risked creating unnecessary tensions with the business community. He added, “I would be inclined to let the hare sit.”

FINE GAEL’S Bill Slattery and Seán McLoughlin were co-opted to Clare County Council, at its monthly meeting yesterday.

Last Monday, the co-option of both men was postponed for a week as the council meeting was adjourned due to a number of bereavements.

Both men were welcomed to the council yesterday, where they were wished well in their new positions. The seats were vacated after their party colleagues, Tony Mulcahy (Shannon Electoral Area) and Martin Conway (North Clare Electoral Area) were appointed to the Seanad.

Cllr Slattery, whose grandfather served as a TD, said he was nervous on the special occasion.

“I will liaise with Martin Conway and my fellow members to ensure I work to the best of my ability,” he told the meeting.

He recalled his younger days in school when his then teacher, the current mayor Christy Curtin (Independent), dissected a rabbit in class. “I hope now that you don’t allow me to be dissected here,” he quipped.

Councillor John Crowe (FG) pro- posed Seán McLoughlin, who has been a Shannon town councillor since 2004. He paid tribute to his work over the years, particularly in 2007 when he served as mayor of the town at a time there was public outcry when Aer Lingus pulled the Heathrow slots from Shannon Airport. His party colleague Sonny Scanlon said that Cllr McLoughlin was joining “a very pragmatic and collaborative team” in the Shannon Electoral Area, where Cllrs Patricia McCarthy, Pat McMahon, John Crowe, Gerry Flynn and PJ Ryan were working very well. Cllr McLoughlin said he intended to work with councillors in the Shannon Electoral Area over the coming years and said he will focus on Shannon Airport during this time on the council. “Shannon Airport is still suffering. That’s something I’m going to be fighting for,” he said. Several councillors warmly welcomed the newcomers to the chamber. Fianna Fáil councillor Richard Nagle said that Mr Slattery has been a “tremendous community activist and has made a huge contribution to the life of North Clare”.

Independent councillor Patricia McCarthy congratulated her neighour in Shannon, Cllr McLoughlin. She said he worked well with her during the Aer Lingus Heathrow issue in 2007 when she was mayor of the county and he was mayor of Shannon town.

Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) said the two new councillors had “a very hard act to follow” and said the two newlyelected Senators were “great team players”.

Tributes were also paid yesterday to Fine Gael TDs Pat Breen, who has been appointed the Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Trade and Foreign Affairs and Joe Carey, who has been appointed the assistant government chief whip.

THE family of an Ennis woman who died in hospital two-and-a-half years ago has taken legal action against the HSE.

Mother-of-thirteen Tina Sherlock (39) from Childers Road, Cloughleigh, Ennis, died at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick on December 11, 2008, due to multiple organ failure, secondary to sepsis.

An inquest into her death last week returned a verdict of medical misadventure.

Ms Sherlock’s family contend that her condition was never properly diagnosed and have begun High Court proceedings, which will take place next month.

A solicitor for the Sherlock family said, “She had presented to the health services in excess of a dozen times, including five in-patient stays between June and December 2008 complaining of abdominal pain. As a consequence of complications, she miscarried in July 2008, developed post operative complications following subsequent surgery in November and December 2008 and died of multi organ failure secondary to sepsis on 11th December 2008.”

A spokesperson for the Sherlock family told The Clare People , “Martina’s heartbroken family are relieved that the inquest is now concluded. It is the family’s wish that no-one again should have to suffer what Martina went through and that no other family should have to endure the agony of losing a loved one in such circumstances.”

THE process of t ur ning the Vandeleur Walled Garden into a haven for Clare craftworkers has moved closer this week following t he news that funding may be available for creating an enter prise centre on the old landlord estate adjacent to Kil r ush.

To mark the Year of the Craft 2011, Kil r ush Town Council has backed a proposal by t he for mer town mayor, Cll r Tom Prendeville (FF), to play host to a craftworkers’ exhibition at t he conference cent re in the walled garden and to follow this up by seeking expressions of interest for the est ablishment of permanent on site craft units.

“This council, in association wit h the West Clare Task Force, has identified job creation opport unities in the area. The creation of a craft /micro-enter prise village within the garden has employment potential,” said Cll r Prendeville in launching his blueprint for new employment.

“Similar enter prises in Spiddal and Kil kenny have been an outstanding success. Stagi ng an exhibition of the best craft products i n Clare would be a first step in realizi ng t hat potential,” he added.

“Ar rangements are al ready being made to host a craft display in the Vandeleur Walled Garden during the summer,” responded town clerk John Cor r y.

“It is hoped at this display to gauge possible i nterest from members of the Clare Craftworkers Association to working from small craft units at the walled garden facilit y.

“Investigations are presently t aking place to deter mine the feasibility and cost of providing such units. We have also approached the CLDC re possible funding for such a proposal and t hey have indicated t hat they may look favourably on an application for funding for such a development,” he added.

“Maybe this craft exhibition could be held during the summer or maybe late aut umn,” said Cll r Prendevil le. “We should contact the Clare Craftworkers Assocation for thei r views on the matter,” he added.

THREE Clare schools had their ingenuity rewarded when they collected silver awards in a national engineering competition.

Shragh National School, Kilrush, Scoil na Mainistreach in Quin and Parteen National school were given silver cert awards to mark the fact that they made it to the final and were in the top 20 schools in the country in the Engineers Ireland Xperience Engineering Competition 2011. The finals took place on Thursday last in The Helix in Dublin.

Parteen National School were entered in the final with their project entitled ‘Inventions in Sewage – the Toilet’.

Scoil na Mainistreach, reached the final in the junior category for their project entitled ‘Engineering a cleaner world with windmills’.

Shragh NS, in the same category for their project entitled ‘Wind Farms’.

Congratulating the teams, John Power, Director General of Engineers Ireland, said, “The Xperience Engineering project has a long history with schools around Ireland.

“This is the third year of the competition and each year I’m delighted with the level of interest and enthusiasm as well as the high calibre of projects that were entered.”

Last December all registered primary schools were sent out a pack from Engineers Ireland highlighting the theme for this year’s competition which was ‘Engineering a Cleaner World’. Over a four month period participants worked on their projects.

The competition is divided into two categories, the first targeting third/ fourth class and the second focusing on fifth/sixth class.

“As Ireland moves out of recession and progresses as a nation in areas including engineering, science and technology it’s important that we continue to nurture our students and provide them with the right environment to develop their talents.

“With this in mind I’d like to thank all the teachers who helped their students to develop their ideas to enter the competition.”

THE estimated 2,000 people who took part in the Tour de Burren cycling race over the weekend were able to drink the local tap water when they were finished after a decision by Clare County Council and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to lift a boil notice on the North Clare village. North Clare locals reacted angrily last year when the 2010 Tour de Burren, one of the areas biggest annual tourist events, was marred by an outbreak of pollution in the local water system. A number of boil water notices have been in place in the area over the last 12 months – the latest one lasting from February of this year until just last week. However, after the completion of the Ballyvaughan Water Supply Scheme, which collects the local water system to the Ennistymon water system, the boil water notice was finally lifted. “It is great news to have a new water supply for Ballyvaughan, we are delighted. It was a long trek for the businesses and people up here but now we have a fresh water supply coming from Licheen Lake, thanks to the council and all the work by the engineers. The funding was made available to the scheme and now the businesses have good water – we really welcome this development, it’s great news,” said Patrick O’Donoghue of the Ballyvaughan Community Development Group and the Burren Cycling Club.

“This time last year we had a boil notice and the council supplied us with a tank. This year we have the fresh water supply which is even better.”

The removal of the boil water notice applies to all water consumers on the Ballyvaughan Public Water Supply as well as people on the Muckinish, Gleninagh, Gregans, Knocknagrough and Newtown group water schemes.

In a statement last week, Clare County Council welcomed the completion of the € 5 million scheme.

“Clare County Council continues to work towards provision of sustainable services, which meet the highest standards expected and required by our customers. We are obliged to comply with the Drinking Water Regulations of 2007 as well as the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive,” it said.

“A major element in the Council’s overall water strategy is the Water Conservation Strategy, which sets out the need to conserve water in order to minimise costs of wastage as well as reducing the demand on sources. This strategy is being implemented through the Council’s Water Conservation Programme, which is continuing its work of identifying and rectifying major leakages in the water distribution system. Assistance, as always, in conserving water is greatly appreciated and contributes to a more efficient service to all.”

SHANNON town has been compared to a “mini Ballymun” and has become “ghettoized”, due to the development of multiple apartments.

Independent councillor Gerry Flynn made the comment during a debate on a motion in which he called for Rineanna Park in Shannon to be rededicated as a public park for the people of Shannon and surrounding area. He suggested that a rededication ceremony be arranged and that the former Minister for State Donal Carey be invited, as he was the Minister that officially opened Rineanna Park in September 1996.

In a written response to the motion, senior executive engineer Eugene O’Shea stated, “This proposal is premature as the council is currently clarifying issues that need to be finalised prior to take-over, including access from Bóthar na Rinne to the park and title of the park itself. Once these issues are resolved then a recommendation can be made for the park to be formally taken in charge by the council.”

Cllr Flynn told a meeting of Shannon area councillors, “I don’t think Shannon was ready for a mini Ballymun which is what it is. It has become ghettoized.”

He said that the development of apartments led to the town park being lost, which, he said was “an insult to the people of Shannon”.

Cllr Flynn told The Clare People , “Shannon was not ready for the amount of apartments we got in the development plan for the town centre.”

He said that several apartments in the town are vacant. “They [planners] got it wrong. The development we wanted wasn’t blocks of apartments half empty. It is turning into not a very nice place,” he said.

CLARE has missed out on a multimillion euro tourism boost with the news that the Cois Fharraige music festival will not be returning to Kilkee this year.

The festival, which was hosted by the West Clare village in 2008 and 2009, will take place at another Irish location this September, with promoters MCD believed to be looking at venues in both Wexford and Kerry. The Clare People has learned that MCD held talks with members of the Kilkee business community in January of this year. The promotions company requested that local businesses shoulder some of the cost associated with the festival’s operations but, when the Kilkee group were unable to raise the required money, all talks were shelved. The Clare People contacted MCD in relation to this story but received no reply at the time of going to press. At statement on the MCD website however confirmed that Cois Fharraige would be taking place on September 9, 10 and 11 of this year but gave no indication as to where the festival would take place.

The president of the Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, John Redmond, told The Clare People that losing the festival was a blow to the village and that Kilkee would welcome Cois Fharraige back in the future.

“Cois Fharraige was made for Kilkee; the festival always worked very very well here,” he said.

“We held meeting with MCD back in January and they were looking for the town to contribute an amount of money towards the festival. Times are difficult at the moment and the businesses in the town just didn’t have the money to invest this year. We haven’t heard from MCD since. We don’t know where the festival is taking place this year but we know that it won’t be taking place in Kilkee.

“Cois Fharraige has been such a huge benefit to the town over the years – especially in 2009. We had a particularly bad year that year and the festival was a great boost to the local tourism businesses at the end of the season.

“We would definitely welcome back Cois Fharraige in the future the festival was made for Kilkee.”

Major international acts such as Supergrass, Travis and the Coronas came to Kilkee for the 2008 and 2009 festivals, which generated an estimated € 12 million for the town over the two years.