Month: December 2012

A MAN of the people, a legend in his own lifetime, one of the greatest ballad singers Ireland has ever produced, a historian, a storyteller, a farmer and a hurler.

All were used to describe the late Robbie McMahon – the King of Spancil Hill responsible for making the song of the same name famous – who passed away last Thursday after a short illness.

The tributes were led by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann chief, Labhrás Ó Murchú, who gave the graveside oration at his funeral and described McMahon as “a giant of traditional Irish culture, whose legacy will live on for future generations in his songs”.

These words were echoed by his many friends – in his native parish of Clooney, around Clare and beyond as huge numbers attended the removal of his remains on Saturday evening last and his funeral on Sunday afternoon.

“His legacy will be the historical events that he has recorded through his own songs,” says Frank Whelan of the Clare branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, who was one of the driving forces behind the 2010 documentary on McMahon’s life entitled ‘Last Night as I was Dreaming’.

“He was much more than a singer, he was a social historian, because all his songs were stories,” added Mr Whelan. “The one thing about Robbie was that King or pauper – they were all equal,” says Mike Duggan, in whose pub in Spancil Hill that McMahon played host to a monthly singing session that became known throughout Ireland and beyond as ‘ Robbie’s First Fr ida y’. “It was his magnetism, it was his wonderful personality,” continues Duggan. “Thousands of people have come to ‘Robbie’s First Fr ida y’ over the years. No dignitary was too big, no person was too small for Robbie.”

AN Bórd Pleanála has determined that issues raised with it regarding a contentious wall across a contested right of way have been dealt with previously.

James McNulty had asked the planning appeals board if development works (between the period 20042008) from the end of the public road L61041 across Doonbeg Golf Course to the public beach at Doughmore Bay, Carrowmore, Doonbeg, including the closure obstruction of the established public right of way to Doughmore Beach and the movement and alteration to the natural line of the public vehicular right of way at this location was considered development.

In his submission, the Cree man said he requested a declaration on the question from Clare County Council but had received no declaration.

An Bórd Pleanála concluded that the question being asked had already been dealt with and adjudicated on previously. The report said, due to “the evidence of the site inspection by the Board’s Inspector, where no works are apparent, it is considered that the substance of the case have already been determined and any further question has not been clearly articulated to enable the formulation of a determination.

“In deciding not to request further clarity in the matter, the Board considered that the substantive matter regarding previous works have already been dealt with,” it concluded.

A decision was made in May 2010, to a previous submission on the issue by Mr McNulty along with Theresa McNamara of Ballykeelaun House, Parteen. They appealed against a decision by Clare County Council to grant subject to conditions permission to Doonbeg Golf Club Limited for a development comprising retention of a gravel path, a dry stone retaining wall along a section of boundary between the golf course property and a neighbouring property, and the alteration of ground levels over an area of 300 square metres on the golf course to the west of the dry stone retaining wall.

At the time, An Bórd Pleanála upheld the local authority’s decision regarding that gravel path but refused permission for the retention on the contentious “dry stone retaining wall”.

“It is policy of the planning authority, as set out in the West Clare Local Area Plan 2009, to protect public rights-of-way and to keep them free from obstruction. This policy is considered to be reasonable,” the board said in May last year.

FOUR people suspected of involvement in dissident republican activity arrested in Clare on Wednesday were released without charge.

Three men and one woman aged in their late 20s and 40s were arrested as part of a planned Garda search operation.

They are all detained under the pro- visions of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939, at various stations in County Clare.

The search took place in premises in Ennis, Shannon, and East Clare.

It is understood items such as paramilitary style clothing and laptops were also recovered in the searches.

The four were released at various stages on Thursday from Garda Stations in Shannon, Ennis, Killaloe and Ennistymon.

Files are being prepared for the DPP.

THE Chairperson of the Lahinch Community Council has welcomed the closure of Lahinch Garda Station announced last week, saying the station was already “virtually closed”.

Local businessman Donogh O’Loghlin believes that the closure of Lahinch Garda Station will not have an effect on the safety of the local population. Mr O’Loghlin did say that a more flexible approach to Garda rostering in the local area, especially on weekends, could have a positive impact on the situation with anti-social behaviour in Lahinch.

“I am not really concerned by the closure of the station. It is a beautiful building but I think it has been more or less closed for years already,” he said.

“It should have been closed years ago really. The local people here don’t have any idea when there will be a garda present in the station or not, so what is the point of having it there? There are 30 guards stationed just two miles out the road in Ennistymon. That should be enough.”

Mr O’Loghlin did say that anti-social behaviour was a major problem in Lahinch, especially during the summer months, but also said that this could be better tackled by a reorganisation of Garda man-hours, rather than having a station in Lahinch.

“We have guards walking the streets in Lahinch on a Monday or a Tuesday, but we don’t see them when we need them at the weekends. It’s about having the right garda resources here at the right time,” he said.

“Being a guard in this part of Clare is like being at a holiday camp. I don’t know why there is not more manpower being used at the weekends, when all the problems with anti-social behaviour are taking place.”

A NEW era in policing County Clare, which includes the closure of eight Garda Stations and the downgrading of two Garda Divisions, has caused concerns for many communities across the county.

Those representing the elderly said those living alone in rural Ireland are particularly concerned at the loss of the “local garda”.

Last night, police chiefs were meeting with people in Inagh to allay fears and explain how the new system would work. Former Superintendent Frank Guthrie, who is now involved with the Inagh Housing Association said, “A lot of people, especially older people, favour the old-style policing and confiding in their local garda. They felt safe. The meeting is really to see how this will be dealt with,” he said of the “new concept in policing”.

The majority of the Clare stations to close are along the west coast and in rural East Clare, including Quin, Inagh, Lahinch, Broadford, Mountshannon, Doonbeg, Kilmihil and Labasheeda. Ennistymon and Killaloe District Garda Headquarters will be downgraded, and the administrative responsibility will come under the Ennis and Kilrush District Headquarters.

None of the stations to close were open 24 hours a day but six of the sta- tions had their own gardaí stationed there.

With the closure of the stations, the garda serving in Quin will now be reassigned to Ennis, the gardaí in Inagh and Lahinch will be stationed in Ennistymon, the Broadford garda will now be based in Ardnacrusha, Mountshannon in Killaloe and the Doonbeg garda will be working out of Kilrush Garda Station.

Labasheeda and Doonbeg stations were provided with a garda from Kilrush every weekday from 10am to 1pm and at the weekend from noon until 2pm. These stations will also close.

Many of the stations to close in Clare have served their communities since before the state was formed, with many RIC barracks in a previous life. Broadford was one such barracks and, up until 1993, the station had a sergeant and guard. In 1993, a staffing reduction removed the sergeant from the station

Local councillor Cathal Crowe (FF) described the closure of the station as “an attack on rural Ireland”.

“Broadford Garda Station serves a large area of East Clare and includes the communities of Kilmore, Truagh, Oatfield, Ballyquin, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Kilbane and, or course, Broadford village. The station currently operates on a part-time basis and roundthe-clock coverage for this area is given by gardaí stationed in Killaloe. The presence of Broadford Garda Station gives the people of East Clare a great sense of security. Elderly people in the locality have been very vocal in voicing their concerns for what the closure of the station could bring.”

Those supporting the Government have also raised concerns about the closure of the eight Clare Garda Stations.

Clare Labour Party National Executive Member Seamus Ryan called on the Government to rethink the course of action. “While the Commissioner is operating under the same financial constraints as so many people and the Government, it is short-sighted on the part of the force to abandon these facilities in favour of patrols and cover from other stations, some of which are up to 20km away and are themselves part-time and up to 25km to a 24-hour station for communities like Mountshannon.

TD Timmy Dooley (FF) described it as an “appalling attack” on communities across the county. “Clare has fared one of the worst in Minister Shatter’s hitlist. Within the next six months, Clare will have eight less garda stations and many of our communities will have lost their local station.”

THE potential for Shannon to develop into a new international gateway and once again become the main driver of the economy in the mid-west region has been highlighted in the new blueprint for the development of the airport town and its hinterland for much of the next decade.

Shannon Town & Environs Local Area Plan contains a new roadmap for Shannon’s development up to 2018, by charting out the attainable goals as Clare’s international airport gains independence from the Dublin Airport Authority and the part that Clare County Council will have to play in kick-starting new developments.

The local plan has pledged “to facil- itate the development and expansion of Shannon” over the next number of years. “The Council are fully supportive of the continued need for Shannon Airport to maximise its strategic location in the region. The designation of a Strategic Development Area encompassing the Airport lands reinforces this commitmen,” the plan states.

And part of these expansion plans for the airport envisaged in the council blueprint include the development of “an international air freight cargo hub” and “the development of innovative initiatives that harness the potential of the airport including a residential flight school, global logistics centre for humanitarian aid, unmanned aerospace systems and a centre for space collaboration”.

The plan goes on to say, “Appro- priate potential uses for the Airport Zoned Lands include airport operational activities and uses complimentary to the operation of the airport, aircraft maintenance/cargo handling facilities, business park use, primarily related to airport servicing, management and maintenance activities, long-term aircraft maintenance, airfreight cargo handling facilities and other innovative initiatives’.

As part of paving the way for these ambitious plans for the airport, what has been termed a “core strategy” of the local area plan is to “ensure that sufficient lands are zoned at appropriate locations to meet all envisaged land use requirements of the area over the lifetime of the local area plan”.

The local area plan has also pledged “in collaboration with other agen- cies, to prepare a high level Strategic Plan, to identify key priority projects and developments capable of being accommodated at the Shannon Airport lands, Shannon Free Zone and Westpark”.

The draft goes on to highlight Shannon as “a key hub” both for national and international air travel, “a gateway to Ireland’s primary tourist locations” and “a driver” for county and region’s economic development.

“In this regard the plan will seek to ensure the growth and development of Shannon Airport and to harness its full potential, in line with national, regional and county development policy. The designation of a Strategic Development Area encompassing the airport lands reinforces this commitment,” it says.

‘Strategic Development Areas’ are areas identified within the plan area where specific planning and development objectives, land use policies and or master development plans have been identified for the future development of such designated area.

Commenting on the zoning of a 2,000-acre landbank adjacent to the airport for aviation sector use, Clare County Council Senior Planner, Gordon Daly said, “This new Plan further underlines the Council’s longstanding vision for the development and expansion of Shannon Airport.

“The Council is exercising leadership to achieve this vision through the zoning of lands which is a key requirement for the future expansion of services at the airport. In doing so, we have worked very closely with the airport authority and other agencies”.

THE implementation of the new Shannon Town & Environs Local Area Plan is the key to ensuring that the county’s second largest town can be allowed to develop properly over the next six years.

The new blueprint, which was unveiled officially on Monday after a consultation process with members of the public over the past 12 months, has identified a number of reasons why the Shannon area needed what is the first local plan for its development in its 50-year history.

Within the document, Clare County Council officials have pointed out that failure to implement the recommendation of putting the plan in place would have serious consequences for the Shannon Airport catchment area.

“There would not be a localised framework within which to regulate, aid and control development whether economic, social or environmental,” the draft plan claims.

“A lack of controlled development could lead to pressure on adequate service provisions and infrastructural facilities, thus affecting the natural environment in which the population lives leading to human health and quality of life issues.

“In the absence of the plan, the process for assessing the issues which affect all of the inhabitants within the plan area will go unchecked, resulting in deterioration in the environment and lack of critical capital expenditure in terms of targeted infrastructural development and employment opportunities. The predicted population increase will not be provided for by an adequate level of service provisions and the environmental consequences would be undesirable,” it adds.

The 2011 census returns showed that Shannon is the second largest town in Clare with a population of 9,673, but according to the draft plan for the town’s development a target population of nearly 12,000 has been set for the next census in 2017.

“The assigned target population must be taken into account when formulating objectives and policies,” the local area plan says.

“In the absence of the plan, core strategy and population targets; in frastructure, including services and housing provision would not be catered for accurately.

“Issues affecting the current population in addition to the population increase may not be realised and could result in deterioration of the environment and mismanaged resources,” the plan adds.

THE first standalone plan for Shannon that will be the new blueprint for the growth and development of Clare’s second largest town over the next six years was officially launched at a ceremony in Shannon Airport on Monday.

The Shannon Town & Environs Local Area Plan has been produced by Clare County Council and contains objectives to establish a strong and vibrant town centre, maximise the potential from Shannon’s location on the Estuary, increase the town’s tourism potential and establish Shannon as a low carbon town.

It also provides sufficient zoned land to cater for an increase in the current population of 9,673 to a target population of 11,972 by 2017.

Meanwhile, the plan has anticipated proposals for the development of an aviation services hub at Shannon airport by zoning a 2000-acre landbank around the airport.

The area covered by the plan includes the town of Shannon, Shannon International Airport, Shannon Free zone, Smithstown, Westpark and some adjoining hinterland, including Hurlers Cross.

The launch of the plan, which was an objective of the existing Clare County Development Plan, has been welcomed by the Mayors of Shannon and Clare.

Town Mayor Michael Fleming described the plan as a “unique blueprint” for the future economic and social development of the town and surrounding community, while Senior Planner at Clare County Council, Gordon Daly said “implementing this plan by working with all those who have an interest in Shannon is now the priority for the council”.

“While Shannon’s importance as an aviation hub and as a significant employment centre is recognised in its designation as one of nine Gateways along with Limerick in the National Spatial Strategy, the council is keen to stress that the plan is also one for the town itself and the people who live there. The council is particularly pleased that the final plan is the result of the high level of engagement received from the people of Shannon during the plan making process.”

“For the first time since the town was established during the 1960s, clear objectives to establish Shannon as a tourism destination in its own right have been set out,” he stated.

“Amongst the objectives is the development of an aviation museum at Shannon Airport, as well as improved aircraft viewing point. The aim is to build on existing facilities such as Atlantic Air Venture and Ballycasey Craft and Design Centre.

“The plan also identifies a site at Illaunagowan point on the Shannon estuary close to the centre of the town for a potential tourist/interpretative development associated with the Shannon Estuary,” he added.

ENNIS and Ballyvaughan flew the flag for Clare at the inaugural ‘Tourism Town Awards’ initiative that were promoted by Bord Fáilte, but had to be content with the minor placings as the overall award went to Portmagee in South Kerry.

The awards, which were organised as an added competition to the National Tidy Towns Awards, saw both Ennis and Ballyvaughan nominated as being among the 10 finalists shortlisted for the overal prize out of 100 entries around the country.

Clare and Kerry were the only counties with two centres seleted to be among the 10 finalists, with the other finalists being Portmagee and Killarney (Kerry), Clonakilty, Dundalk, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Trim and Westport.

“The towns were nominated for a number of reasons,” a Fáilte Ireland spokesperson revealed. “It was because of their sense of place, how they tell their unique story to visitors, the tourism products available in the towns or villages, the local involvement and the development, promotion and marketing of tourism towns,” the spokesperson added.

As the overall winner, Portmagee received a certificate and a € 10,000 grant toward developing itself as a tourism destination, while the Tidy Towns committees in Ennis and Bal- lyvaughan received € 1,000 grants to accompany their certificates of merit.

Ennis’ nomination for the award completed a memorable year for the county capital in Tidy Towns competition. In 2012, Ennis was named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre, won the national Gum Litter Taskforce award, was the regional and county winner of Tidy Towns and was one of three Clare centres to pick up gold medals in the overall competition.

FINAL confirmation on whether commercial drilling will take place off the Clare coast in 2013 is expected before Christmas.

Chrysaor E&P Ireland Ltd, who now own the majority stake in both the Spanish Point and Burren gas and oil fields within the Porcupine Basin, undertook a vessel-based geotechnical and environmental survey of the Spanish Point Field in September.

While initial results for this resource have been described by the company as very positive, an official announcement on the survey, and the prospects of commercial drilling taking place next year, is expected to be made in the coming weeks.

According to Chrysaor, planning is already well underway for a programme of drilling off Spanish Point over the next two years.

“In 2013, subject to normal governmental consents and rig availability, the group intends to drill a Spanish Point appraisal well to confirm volumetrics and reservoir properties,” said a company statement.

“If that well is successful, the group will return in 2014 to drill a second Spanish Point appraisal well, frac-test the original Spanish Point appraisal well and drill the first ranked exploration prospect.”

The cost of drilling two explorations wells on the Spanish Point field is likely to run to between € 80 million and € 100 million.

Chrysaor now own a 62 per cent share of the exploration licence for both the Spanish Point and Burren fields. Irish company Providence Resources’ share of the license has been diluted to 32 per cent while Sosina Exploration also owns an 8 per cent stake.

Providence, who held a majority share of the licence when interest in the “Clare” fields was reignited in 2007, told The Clare People at the time that they would not be bringing any gas on shore in Clare.

Chrysaor have not indicated how they intend to bring the gas and oil ashore.

Latest estimates indicate that Spanish Point contains about 200 million barrels of oil equivalent, with peak production estimated to be 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

This is estimated to be enough gas to fill Ireland’s entire domestic gas need for the next 50 years.

Gas and a small amount of oil was discovered in the field in 1981 but was deemed to be too difficult to recover at the time.

However, with increases in gas prices and improvements in exploration techniques, the prospect is now thought to be profitable. A c o n sist e n t we e k o f sin g le – fig u re t e m p e ra t u re s b u t n o re a l fre e ze . Ne xt we e k lo o ks sim ila r. No Wh it e Ch rist m a s o n t h e c a rd s t h is ye a r 🙁