Month: January 2012

THE voluntary spirit is alive and well in Clare as new figures show that more than 239 people registered with the Clare Volunteer Centre (CVC) in 2011.

According to the centre, volunteers worked over 9,342 hours in 2011. Using the average industrial wage, the centre estimates that this work equates to a value of more than € 204,000.

Of the volunteers who signed up in 2011, the most popular areas of interest were health and disability and youth/children. The most popular reasons for wanting to volunteer were free time and a desire to give something back. Sixty per cent of the volunteers who signed up with the volunteer centre last year had never volunteered before. Over 100 organisations are now registered with Clare Volunteer Centre. Last year, 34 new organisations registered with the centre.

Commenting on the success of 2011, Sharon Meaney said, “2011 was the European Year of Volunteering so we were delighted to help 239 Clare residents to start volunteering. It’s remarkable to see that the work of Clare volunteers in 2011 amounted to a value of over € 204,000 but, really, the difference volunteers make to our community is immeasurable.”

She continued, “The Volunteer Discount Card, which was launched in conjunction with the Ennis Chamber, Clare County Council and Clare Lo- cal Development Company to celebrate the European Year of Volunteering, was very well received with over 2,000 cards being distributed county-wide. We were delighted to work with many organisations across the county during 2011, supporting them in developing practices to ensure that volunteers are recognised and valued for their contribution.”

Clare Volunteer Centre is a free service aimed at encouraging more people to become involved in volunteering across the county.

CLARE farmers have been urged to stay vigilant and safe in the weeks ahead as improving weather will bring more dangers on local farms. With animals set to return to the land and farmers anxious to take advantage of any breaks in the weather, the next two months promise to be very busy on the county’s farms.

A farm safety seminar for the Clare area will take place later today, January 17, at the Greenhills Hotel in Limerick and all Clare farmers have been urged to attend.

The meeting, which was organised by IOSH Western District, will begin at 7pm and will address all major farm safety issues.

There was good news for Clare farmers last week as new figures showed that no on-farm deaths had taken place in Clare in 2011.

This is in stark contrast to the previous year, unfortunately, when the Banner County recorded the third highest number of farm fatalities in Ireland.

This positive trend was not recorded all over the county in 2011, as farming was named as the most dangerous profession for the third year in a row.

“Figures show that over half of all workplace fatalities happen in the agriculture sector and the number of deaths have been pretty high the last number of years when compared to other countries,”said Clare TD Joe Carey (FG).

“The main areas of concern are livestock- and tractor- and machinery-related incidents. Many farmers I know are very conscious of the dangers of their work environment, yet we need to change the way we think about safety on Irish farms. I know the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, is working closely with the Health Safety Authority in promoting farm safety initiatives.

“In particular, I want to draw attention to the dedicated farm safety area on the Department of Agriculture’s website home page. It should also be acknowledged that Teagasc has been very active in providing farm safety training to farmers and farm advisers nationwide.

“We need to get the number of deaths and accidents on farms down and it is not acceptable that half of all workplace fatalities should occur on farms. I would encourage all farmers to take the time to visit the Department of Agriculture website.”

The IOSH Western District Farm Safety Seminar is open to all farmers and will take place in the Greenhills Hotel in Limerick this evening, January 17, from 7pm.

CLARE dairy farmers have been told to stay tough with the Co-Op and demand that no cut to the price in milk is made over the next three months.

According to the IFA, the local Co-Ops in Clare have “more than enough money” to hold milk prices at a constant level this spring, despite the weakness which crept into the EU and international dairy markets in recent months.

The organisation’s National Dairy Committee Chairman, Kevin Kiersey, said that Clare farmers should stand together and ensure that prices are maintained in the medium term.

“Increased global milk supplies and the economic downturn have clearly impacted international dairy markets in recent months. However, this is a very expensive time of year for Irish farmers to supply milk, and simply too early in the Irish production season to make definite milk price decisions,” he said.

“Co-ops generally collect relatively little milk this time of year, and will collect even less this year because of superlevy restrictions. Most can afford to hold milk prices over the coming months, because they have improved their margins in 2010 and 2011 at times when strong dairy prices coincided with strong milk supplies.

“Irish milk supplies will remain constrained by the prospect of superlevy for the next few months, and with less than usual milk to collect, most co-ops will be able to hold milk prices for the spring, at which point we should have a better feel for the realities of the market.”

Clare’s beef farmers, meanwhile, have been told to remain positive, with prices set to remain consistent or possibly even rise in the months ahead. The ICSA’s Livestock Price Coordinator, John Cleary, said last week that, while prices have not improved following the post-Christ- mas spike, the factory trade has remained solid.“Things are much of a muchness from last week. Prices are high and factories are actively looking for stock to meet their quotas so this all means that farmers are in the driving seat,” he said.

“Farmers, however, should not be simply settling for whatever the factory quotes them for their stock. These places are desperate for stock so those more adept at negotiating can push for higher than the quotes.

“The main piece of advise the ICSA could give to anyone at the minute is not to sell soft. The overall outlook is for a positive eight to nine months for 2012.”

CLARE County Council is owed more than € 10 million in unpaid water charges with schools and State agencies understood to be among the groups who owe money to the local authority.

According to the latest available figures received by The Clare People , just over € 9.8 million was owed to the local authority from its customers across the county. While updated figures for the end of 2011 will not be available until March or April of this year, it is understood that the amount owed to Clare County Council now exceeds € 10 million.

These figures mean that Clare is owed more in water charges than any other county council in the country, with only Dublin and Cork city councils – who are each owed more than € 15 million – owed more.

Both Wexford and Donegal county councils are understood to be owed an amount similar to Clare County Council.

A spokesperson from Clare County Council said that the level of arrears was mainly due to “the transition in billing arrangements on the non-domestic metering project”.

“This was where fixed bills to customers were replaced by the billing of metered usage,” he said.

“We are actively pursuing debtors to agree payment plans to discharge the arrears. Failure to reach agreement on payment will result in legal proceedings or disconnection of service to these customers.”

According to the local authority, a relatively small number of customers, around 10 per cent of the total number of customers, were currently “in difficulty” with their repayments. This represents the majority of the money owed to Clare County Council with the remainder being made off arrears.

Meanwhile, more than 50 jobs are expected to be created locally with the roll-out of domestic water metering in Clare later this year. The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan (FG), confirmed yesterday that the roll-out of domestic water metering will begin in Clare this year.

It is estimated that it will take three years for water meters to be fitted in all homes in the county. While exact details have yet to be announced, it is understood that each household will be given an annual allocation of “free” water and will only pay if they use more than this allocation.

GER Loughnane re-emerged on the national scene last Friday following his recent illness when he strongly criticised some sections of the media for their conduct during his battle with leukaemia over the past few months.

Loughnane’s re-emergence from his self-imposed media blackout was welcomed throughout the county, and indeed the country, as news of his return to health and form spread.

He confirmed in his interview that the worst of his treatment is over and he is close to fighting fit. He also showed he had lost none of his forthrightness by strongly criticising an unnamed RTÉ sports reporter and The Examiner newspaper for their conduct during his treatment.

The Feakle native stated he has been left with “nothing but absolute contempt” for certain journalists after he was requested to do an interview days after he started treatment and it was then reported he had died last July.

Writing in The Star newspaper, Loughnane stated, “The lowest point of all was when the rumours that I was dead went around. That was the hardest thing to deal with,” he said. “I had the first phase of chemotherapy just finished and the first phase is very, very difficult.”

After such an ordeal, he and his wife Mary had to calm his distraught son Conor, who had rung from Aus- tralia upon hearing and reading reports of his father’s death.

“I had to ring Conor to reassure him that everything was fine.”

The Clare legend was also angered by requests for an interview from a reporter that came two days after he started treatment.

“I got a message from an RTÉ reporter looking to do an interview. I didn’t even reply to it.”

The request was re-routed through a friend. “I was on the chemo for three days, he knew I was on chemo but he wanted to do an interview for his own gratification. Worse still then, he wanted to do an interview at the end of the year.

“He sent me a text saying he was thinking of me and praying for me, and was there any chance I’d do an interview. That’s despicable stuff altogether.

“It shows the kind of insincerity that is there with a certain section. When you see it as barefaced as that, you have nothing but absolute contempt for the people who are trying to pull that kind of stunt.”

The principal of St Aidan’s Primary School in Shannon also confirmed in the interview that he will be retiring from that role over the coming months, while it is unclear whether he will be returning to RTÉ as a Sunday Game pundit this summer.

A GRANT of € 500,000 has been allocated by the Department of Transport to Clare County Council for the new bridge in Killaloe that will cross the Shannon linking Clare with Tipperary.

The grant has been given by Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar, to the council to enable the Shannon Crossing Project be brought through An Bord Pleanála,

Last August, Minister Varadkar, approved the publication of the Statutory Orders by Clare County Council for the construction of the Killaloe bypass and the Shannon Bridge crossing.

This paved the way for Clare County Council to seek approval from An Bórd Pleanála for the Environmental Impact Statement and the associated compulsory purchase order, which could see this scheme being approved and the land being purchased over the next two years.

The long-awaited project will cost an estimated € 40.6m. Public representatives in both Clare and North Tipperary regard this announcement as a major boost for tourism/employment.

The total length of the new Shannon crossing is 890 metres and entails the construction of a roadway with two roundabout junctions and one T-junction.

The span across the river will be 170 metres. This roadway has been designed for a basic six-metre wide carriageway, with the width increased where necessary to accommodate turning movements.

Provision has also been made for a two-metre wide cycle track on both sides of the road, over its full length.

Three junctions are proposed along the route with a roundabout at each end and a T-junction on the Killaloe side.

The deck of the new bridge will consist of four interior spans and two end spans.

“The quicker the new bridge is built and the roads are improved the better,” said Senator Tony Mulcahy (FG) in welcoming the grant allocation.

“The Killaloe – Ballina area is a big tourist draw and a new bridge will help bring more visitors into the whole Lough Derg catchment area. In this climate of austerity it has to be welcomed that important capital programmes are getting the resources to proceed,” he added.

This project has been broken down into three packages. The Killaloe bypass € 11.93m, the bridge itself at € 12m and works to the R494 at € 16.6m.

CLARE County Library have launched a new competition to highlight the crucial role played by family carers.

Following the success of last year’s poetry competition as part of a partnership involving Caring for Carers, Clare County Library and the Ennis Book Club Festival, a new nationwide poetry competition for 2012 has recently been launched.

The theme of this year’s competition is ‘Springtime’, which organisers hope will inspire the many family carers around the country to put pen to paper. Poems should be no longer than three verses and entries should be submitted by Friday, February 17, to Brigid Barron, Caring for Carers Ireland, National Office, 2 Carmody Street Business Park, Ennis. Email bbarron@caringforcarers.org.

The winner will receive a weekend stay for two in an Ennis Hotel during this year’s Ennis Book Club Festival, which takes place from March 2 to 4, with a weekend pass to all of the festival events. Four runners-up will receive two tickets to the Joseph Woods and Paula Meehan poetry event as well as two tickets to the Maureen Gaffney reading. Both of these events will take place at the Ennis Book Club Festival on Saturday, March 3. Further details on the festival are at www.ennisbookclubfestival.com.

Speaking at the launch, Helen Walsh, County Librarian, said “The library is delighted to be involved in this poetry competition. I see it as a very worthwhile community project. Caring for Carers carry out invaluable work throughout the country and the library has a particular interest in socially inclusive events such as this.”

According to Brigid Barron, Research and Program Manager with Caring for Carers Ireland, recognising the role of family carers in the home is crucial. She said, “This form of care is the foundation of formal health and social care systems. Family carers are a distinct group who provide care and also, very importantly, require care themselves. We hope they will get involved in this poetry competition and we greatly look forward to receiving their entries.”

THE links between the first President of the United States and an historic North Clare home will be explored in a new programme to be aired this week.

Located in New Quay, Mount Vernon has battled the elements of the Atlantic Ocean since 1788. It was built by Colonel Persse, a friend of the first president of the United States, George Washington. Persse’s grand-nephew, Ireland’s greatest art collector, Hugh Lane, bought the house in 1880. When the Lusitania was torpedoed and sank in 1915, Lane was on board and sank with the ship and his latest collection of Monet, Ruben and Rembrandt paintings. The house was passed onto Lane’s aunt, Lady Augusta Gregory, one of the most pivotal figures in the Irish cultural renaissance. The history of Mount Vernon will be the subject of Cé a Chóna igh I mo Thea chsa , a new show by TG4 which will be aired on Thursday, January 19 at 10pm.

The 12-part series looks at the hidden histories of some of Ireland’s best-known homes. The show is presented by veteran traveller and broadcaster Manchán Magan.

Manchán will look at some of Mount Vernon’s most famous guests – WB Yeats, George Russell, Sean O’Casey, JM Synge and George Bernard Shaw – and he’ll find out why Yeats dedicated his famous poem to Lady Gregory’s nephew.

According to Manchán, “Every old house wants to tell its story, but it just doesn’t have the words. You need to help it speak. It wants you to, and if you take on the challenge, you feel as though it’s following you every step of the way, helping you at times, directing you towards sources of information that you never would have guessed; but hindering you at times too. Houses have their secrets, and the thrill is getting beyond these to uncover a new perspective on an old world.”

HOPES are high that North Clare could see an increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the years ahead following an historic visit by the Chinese Ambassador to the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher over the weekend. The ambassador, his Excellency Mr Luo Liang, visited a number of North Clare locations on Saturday as part of his first ever visit to the county. The Cliffs of Moher was the first stop and here Ambassador Luo was welcomed by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes (FF), before he enjoyed a guided tour of the cliffs and O’Brien’s Tower given by the Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experi- ence, Katherine Webster. “The number of Chinese visitors to the Cliffs of Moher has been increasing in the last few years and 2011 saw a number of Chinese specialist tour groups making regular visits,” said the Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes. “We want to encourage our Chinese friends to spend more time in County Clare that has so much to offer them. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to welcome Ambassador Luo here so early this year and we in the county look forward to doing likewise for many of his compatriots in the year ahead.” After the Cliffs of Moher the ambassador then moved on to Lisdoonvarna where he sampled the fare at the Burren Smokehouse. He was also given a tour of the smoking factory by Birgitta and Peter Curtin. The Ambassador and his party continued on to lunch at Burren Fine Wine and Food near Ballyvaughan and rounded off their tour with a visit to Poulnabrone Portal Tomb in the heart of the Burren. This was Ambassador Luo’s first visit to County Clare and he expressed his conviction that Chinese visitors would appreciate the stunning vistas of the Cliffs of Moher and the spectacular landscape of the Burren. He also highlighted the warm welcome he had received in County Clare and the remarkable cultural heritage of the county. Following a plan to streamline the visa applications process for Chinese people visiting Ireland, it is hoped that a large number of visitors will come to Ireland in 2012, with many expected to include Ireland as part of their trip to London 2012.

SOIL quality in parts of Clare could be a “significant issue” under new legislation proposed for septic tanks.

Under proposed new legislation, householders with septic tanks and other on-site systems will be required to register the details of their system with the relevant local authority. A national register will also be compiled and held by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Homeowners will be required to pay a registration fee of € 50. Fianna Fáil estimates that the cost of upgrade works to be between € 7,000 and € 17,000. The party says this figure is based on inspection failure rates in Cavan where 25 per cent of septic tanks needed upgrading.

Concern has previously been expressed that homes in the west of Ireland will fall foul of the new regulations due to poor soil quality in the region. The matter was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council’s Environmental Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).

Senior engineer Paul Moroney told the meeting that clay soil is a significant issue in parts of East and West Clare. Mr Moroney said issues may also arise regarding karts limestone in mid-Clare.

Asked about the standards by which septic tanks would be measured, Mr Moroney said the regulations would aim to abolish the risk to human life.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said this “risk-based inspection process” should take into account occupancy rates in rural homes.

Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) asked what the impact would be on houses built on small sites. He said some homes might have to be demolished to facilitate upgrade works to septic tanks in breach of new regulations. Cllr Kelly also proposed that a grant be made available to houses that require upgrades. Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald (Lab) said greater clarification was required regarding the cost of upgrades.

Mr Moroney told the meeting that the legislation regarding septic tanks had yet to be enacted.

An estimated 300 people attended a public meeting in Ennis last November.

Organised by Fianna Fáíl TD Timmy Dooley, the meeting was held to highlight growing concern among rural communities over the potential impact of new septic tank legislation.

Campaigners and farmer’s representatives have claimed that plans for new monitoring and inspection of septic tanks represent “an attack on rural Ireland”.

The new legislation could affect thousands of Clare homes.