Month: September 2013

CLARE County Council yesterday decided to transfer almost € 4 million worth of property to a new government agency being set to act like a NAMA for local authorities.

It emerged at yesterday’s North Clare Area Meeting of Clare County Council that the local authority paid in excess of € 3.5 million for two parcels of land in Ennistymon in 2007.

The land, which totalled around 10 acres, was earmarked for the development of social housing, but only of the fraction of the land at Glen North in Ennistymon was ever developed.

The council is due to start repaying the loan used to purchase the land next year and face a bill in excess of € 260,000 for each year between 2014 and and 2034.

Councillors, including Lahinchbased Bill Slattery (FG), raised questions about how the decision was first made to spend the € 3.6 million on the land.

“To be hit with these figures today is something else. We have a 91 per cent take up in property tax in this country, and we are now being asked to pay back this money [€ 260,000 per year],” he said.

“This all happened before I was a member of this council but I am annoyed that this was a reserved function of the council. The councillors should have known that this much money was being spent back in 2007.”

Councillors yesterday agreed that they had no choice but to transfer the land, which is now worth a fraction of its original cost, to the new agency agency.

“We don’t really have an option but to transfer this land. We now need to ensure that the community groups, who all had plans to develop something on the land in 2007, get a chance to fulfill their plans with this new group,” said Cllr Michael Hillery (FF).

“A lot of community groups submitted plans for this land and we need to ensure these proposal are forwarded to the new agency and are given preferential treatment.”

Once the properties are transferred to the new agency, any arm of the Government – including the HSE and the gardaí – can apply to the agency for the use of the land.

Locals have been campaigning for a playground and a home soccer pitch for Sporting Ennistymon for a number of years.

CLARE County Library will be hoisting the flag for children’s books once again this October, offering a month-long festival of authors, illustrators, artists and storytellers designed to spark the imagination of young readers all over the county.

Activities will be running in all libraries, including readings by popular authors, art and craft workshops, space “exploration” and puppet making, giving Clare’s young people countless opportunities to explore a wide array of books.

The festival gets a head start this year with the return to Glór Theatre, Ennis, of one of the world’s best-selling children’s and teenage authors Darren Shan, on September 26. ‘Zom-B’ is his new epic series, launched in September 2012 with a new book publishing every three months. The Ennis Book Shop will join with the library to promote the event selling copies of Darren’s latest book and others in the series on the day.

The second of the library’s book festival events taking place in Glór, this time on October 1, is a storytelling extravaganza by the master of tales, Niall de Burca.

Raised in the West, he emigrated at a young age and lived for many years in New Zealand where he married into a large Maori family. Now living in Dublin, Niall travels worldwide, inspiring people of all ages with his traditional and original tales.

Bestselling author, Michael Smith, whose biography for younger readers, ‘Tom Crean – Iceman’, led to the story being incorporated into the schools’ national curriculum, will be visiting Kilrush and Kilkee Libraries.

Sports Journalist Ger Siggins will introduce young readers to his love of rugby through his book ‘Rugby Spirit’ published last year by O’Brien Press.

Anna Carey is also a journalist who has written for the ‘Irish Times’, ‘Irish Independent’ and many other publications. Her first book, ‘The Real Rebecca’, was published in 2011, and won the Senior Children’s Book prize at the Irish Book Awards. To the delight of many readers, Rebecca returned in the sequel ‘Rebecca’s Rules’ in 2012. ‘Rebecca Rocks’ is book number three in the series.

Full details on www.clarelibrary. ie of all CBF events here in County Clare in October.

A MYSTERIOUS two metre-long, phallic-shaped object has been creating a stir in North Clare since it was discovered imbedded in sand on Lahinch beach on Sunday.

The object, which has already been christened the ‘Lahinch Langer’, appeared on the southern end of the beach and has been baffling locals and tourists alike.

The heavy object, which was discovered lodged in heavy sand, not too far from the 12th tee at Lahinch Gold Club, appeared to be covered with a mixture of shells and tentacles prompting speculation that it may be a previously unclassified species of sea animals.

The object was yesterday examined by Dr Eamon Doyle of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, who determined that the object is in fact a collection of thousand a crustaceans known as Goose Barnacles.

Goose Barnacles are unlike other crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters. Instead of crawling along the sea bed, they attach themselves to floating materials and filter food from the water.

“It is difficult to tell what they are attached to because there are so many of them. Normally you might see them attached to a log or even a floating piece of plastic, but I have never seen them in these numbers before,” he said.

“They need moving water to wash through so they can feed, so they don’t move around like other crustaceans. They are relatively common but this is the first time that I have seen them in these number.”

A large number of the Goose Barnacles were still alive yesterday but unless the colony is returned to the sea soon they will all die.

“There was a lot of people stopping to look at them. Up until I arrived yesterday, I don’t think anyone really knew what it was. They there was a lot of people interested and taking photographs but I don’t think they realised that they were Goose Barnacles,” continued Dr Doyle.

“They are still alive at the moment but they won’t last for long if they are not re-floated. The way that the log is buried in the band it is hard to see how they would be released, even in high tide. It is hard to know how long the would last.”

POSITIVE Ageing Week will be celebrated with a wide number of events around Clare from September 27 to October 5.

This is the 11th year Age Action has marked UN International Day of Older Persons, which takes place on October 1.

Clare County Library has compiled a programme of events to celebrate this very worthwhile week. In association with Bluebird Care, there will be a Positive Ageing Photo Exhibition on display in the De Valera Public Library, Ennis, from Monday, September 30, to Friday, October 11. The exhibition showcases older people getting out and enjoying life. Some are still working, while others are continuing to enjoy hobbies and some are captured passing on their skills to another generation. The exhibition has been displayed in art galleries, libraries, nursing homes, schools, town halls and businesses. It is made up of 28 images with 28 separate descriptions. It can be viewed during normal library opening hours so don’t miss your chance to see these inspiring photos.

To coincide with the exhibition’s residency in the library Bluebird Care will also present a ‘Safe at Home’ security seminar there on Tuesday, October 8, at 6pm. This seminar is one in a nationwide series of security seminars that Bluebird Care has organised in response to a growing fear among older people about security at home. It will be attended by local Community Policing members of An Garda Síochána, security consultants and community representatives. This is a free event and everyone is welcome.

Senior citizens will have an opportunity to get in touch with their artistic side at an art workshop entitled.

During Positive Ageing Week, and throughout the month of October, Clare County Library will take a small section of the Local Studies Library on tour when library staff will visit nursing homes and day centres throughout the county. A selection of ‘Clare Champion’ newspapers from times past will be transported, along with photographs and books, so that extracts can be read and discussed, evoking memories of times past. The newspapers are part of a complete set of ‘Clare Champions’ dating back to 1903 which are housed at the Local Studies Centre on Harmony Row, Ennis. They are available to the pub- lic for reference use.

Remember too that senior citizens can avail of free library membership in all of Clare County Library’s branches. For more information on these events and much more visit Clare County Library’s website at www. clarelibrary.ie or telephone 065 6821616.

SATURDAY night fever is gripping the county as once again we travel in our thousands to back the Banner.

Up to 40,000 Clare supporters are expected in Croke Park for the 5pm throw-in and despite the relatively awkward scheduling of the replay, this has not affected the quest for tickets. Croke Park’s decision to reduce ticket prices for the replay has also added to the demand.

The team to play Cork in Saturday evening’s eagerly anticipated AllIreland hurling final replay will be named after training on Wednesday night and there are no late injury worries reported in the squad.

Due to the fact that there is no minor game preceding Saturday night’s game the GAA are urging support- ers to get into the ground in plenty of time for the 5pm start.

“With over 82,000 expected in Croke Park patrons should try and get there early because if the vast majority of spectators arrive just before the game, it is inevitable that processing that many people through the turnstiles in an orderly fashion could take time,” a spokesperson told The Clare People . Westmeath referee James McGrath will be the man in the middle for Saturday’s replay.

News of his appointment was greeted with a comment from Cork County Board Chairman Bob Ryan which stated that Cork would not have an issue with McGrath, despite his sending off of Cork star Patrick Horgan in the Munster final back in July, a red card that was later rescinded.

A HIGH tech badger-baiting operation has been uncovered in East Clare with people using underground tracking devices to locate and kill families of badgers.

A small black terrier dog, equipped with the powerful mobile transmitter, was discovered in the O’Briensbridge area of the county yesterday. According to Clare County Council’s ISPCA dog warden, Frankie Coote, the dog was being used to ferret out the badgers and lead groups of “hunters” to their sets.

It is understood that this sort of equipment would be used by serial badger baiters who would travel the countryside searching for badger sets to attack. The baiters could be invited by a farmer on the land, but, according to Mr Coote, they often enter property uninvited in order to kill badgers for the illegal blood-sport.

“I have the dog and the collar with the tracking device and this dog was clearly used for digging out badgers. This is a very high tech device – they track the dogs movements underground and then they go in and kill the older badgers and the younger defenseless badgers in the set,” said Mr Coote. “We can tell that the dog has been used for this a lot. She is blind in one eye and has several old wounds and more recent wounds. This is an underground blood sport in the same way that dog fighting is underground.

“It is a problem. We believe that there are four or five underground groups that participate in this in Clare. Sometimes they would be invited in by farmers to remove the badgers, because the farmers are worried that they [the badgers] might be carrying TB, but in some cases they go in without the knowledge of the farmers.

“These people are just doing this because they get a kick out of killing the badgers. The are the same people might set two dogs to fight each other and bet on which dog would win the fight.

“This is cruelty for the badgers and the dog. This dog is destroyed from the fighting. She has a lovely temperament but she has been trained to be involved in this awful thing.”

Badgers are naturally docile creature but when cornered they can turn into dangerous fighting animals. Badger baiting has been illegal in Ireland for decades but the NPWS has secured ten convictions for the illegal persecution of badgers since 1993.

ENNIS Town Council says it will continue to liaise with management at Ennis National School after concerns arose last week over traffic flow in the area. The opening of the new building at Ashline has resulted in increased traffic flows in mornings and afternoons. One woman who contacted The Clare People said the traffic build up is a particular problem on the Kilrush Road side of the roundabout at Ashline. She said, “Unfortunately I start work at 8.45am and seem to hit the traffic of the school run along with people commuting to work. It adds extra to my journey, which I already travel from West Clare and I’m sure a lot of other people are affected too. There was a three-car pile up there this morning and I can’t imagine what it will be like when the weather gets wet and hopefully not the previous bad winters of ice/ frost as it will cause havoc.” In a statement, the council says it held a number of meetings with school management in advance of the new school year, and are satisfied that the “preparatory work on such a major project was of considerable assistance in ensuring a relatively smooth transition to the Kilrush Road site”. A spokesman added, “This was a major undertaking and through the co-operation and support of all relevant parties has worked well. It is clear that a school of this scale will have an effect on traffic flows particularly at the start and end of the school day.” The council has deployed two school wardens at the crossing point at O’Sullivan & Hansbury location. The council has also cleared the laneway at Ashline to facilitate good pedestrian access to the new school. Cycle lanes are in place on part of the route. The council is also working with the Green Schools officer to progress other initiatives.” The council says engagement with the school will continue.

A DISTRICT Court judge has warned he will stop granting legal aid if accused persons continue to fail to attend court. Judge Patrick Durcan said courts in Clare are “unduly lenient” when it comes to granting legal aid to so- licitors. However he said this practice would come to an end if the high rate of client “no-shows” continues. He made his comments at Ennis District Court on Wednesday after issuing a high number of bench warrants for accused people who failed to turn up for scheduled court appearances. He described the number of people who failed to attend court as “appalling”. “There is going to have to be some sort of crackdown,” added Judge Durcan. After being told that one man was unable to attend court because he had to attend hospital because of gland problems, Judge Durcan said he would consider withholding legal aid unless people turned up in court. “There is no medical certificate for this man,” he added. Describing the day as an “eyeopener”, Judge Durcan added, “It is up to practitioners to inculcate their clients to be here.” Judge Durcan has previously been critical of the time keeping of people brought before courts in Clare. In July he said, “I am reaching the conclusion that timekeeping in this county is the worst in the country.” He was speaking after a woman was not present when her case was called at Ennis District Courthouse. Judge Durcan said he finds it “enraging” when defendants do not show up on time. He said he had been dealing with matters in chambers since 10pm but defendants could not be on time for court, which usually starts at 10.30am.

CULTURE NIGHT at The 5 Star is an exhibition featuring an array of lens-based media that includes installation, sound, video, photography and painting.

Ennis artist Shelagh Honan curates the exhibition which is the third from the series ‘Call It What You Will’, which began in the small village of Ballyferriter outside Dingle in a house called Tig An Tobar in 2012.

“It attracted much curiosity from the local villagers who had not previously witnessed a Camera Obscura installation” reveals Honan.

“Fiona O’Dwyer’s installation turned the streetscape outside the house upside down and projected the image on to the walls of the living room.

“While this is an analoguue technique that was used by renaissance artists it is still as exciting to witness in todays digital age where technical virtuosity is now common place,” she adds.

The exhibition was further developed and become part of the Photography Ireland Exhibition in Faber Studios in Limerick this summer.

“Here Maria Finucane’s video piece ‘Blow’ featured the artist blowing dust against the dark night sky these images were then projected against an old whining machine,” says Honan.

“The final piece is housed in a small glass box, where the captured performance of Blow loops endlessly to the whirring sound of the old machine being cranked up.”

For her own installation that’s entitled ‘Below The Surface’, Ms Honan features a male figure fully clothed plunging and drifting in to the depths of the Atlantic ocean.

“The final piece is then projected on to the surface of a disheveled bed,” she reveals. “I filmed the piece on the pier in Doolin with underwater diving instructor Christy Healy and his son Stephen,” she adds.

The exhibition will also feature painting from John Hanrahan and a video piece entitled ‘SongLines’ based on the Shannon estuary from Dutch artist Trudi van der Elsen that deals with imemory of neglected aspects of the land and reflects the loss of emotional engagement with our surroundings and ancient symbols.

EXPLORING sacred places around her native Ennis provided the inspiration for Caitriona Sheedy’s contribution to Culture Night.

“The process begins with a silent walk, while observing any sensations, thoughts, feelings and then drawing a map of first impression,” she reveals.

“Then an area that you feel drawn to is chosen as the place that you carry out the next stages for the rest of the process,” she adds.

The Old Mill in Ennis became the focal point of Ms Sheedy’s study and for his exhibition she has created a wheel. “The overall feeling at the summing up was one of ‘hopelessness – afraid to die, afraid to live’,” she says.

“The wheel sits idol and I learned as a result of the project that there has been efforts by two different parties to get this place in motion again.”

The first stage of this project was undertaken by way of exploring the energy of place.

Ms Sheedy’s work already explored energy and she had decided to deepen this work by learning more about what it is her work communicates and how the energy of a particular subject could be channeled.

“Drawn to explore the energy of sacred sites, I was delighted to take part in a Goethean study of place which gave her the steps she felt would be hugely beneficial to her own work.

“On the walks in the first stage I knew that it was a huge space to take on and thought to repeat the process on my own again in different areas.

“However it seemed much more logical to invite other artists to get involved and so a call for artists was sent out and part two of the project began in May,” she adds.