Month: November 2013

REGULAR mass will be celebrated outside of the main chapel in Crusheen for the first time ever this morning as a new trial scheme to save money and protect elderly mass goes from the cold begins.

Today’s early morning mass, No vember 19, will be celebrated in a small meeting room at the back of the church building and not in the main chapel.

Parish priest Father Ger Nash con- firmed yesterday that weekday masses will be moved out of the main chapel for the next few months in an effort to save money on heating. All weekend masses will continue to take place on the main chapel, as will the Friday morning service which is attended by local school children.

The new system will be operated on a trail basis until March or April of 2014, and could become an annual move for the parish if mass goers are in favour. According to Fr Nash, the cost of heating the main chapel for mass is putting a significant strain on the parish coffers.

“At the moment we get between a dozen or two dozen people attending mass during the week so we decided, for economic reasons, to move these masses to a cozy meeting room to wards the back of the church,” he said. “It can take around two hours of heat before the main chapel is warmed up, but this room is nice and cozy in about 15 minutes. We are starting this on a trial basis for Tuesday and Thursday masses and we will see how it goes from there. We have never tried anything like this before.

“The majority of people attending these masses are elderly so the cold is a worry. With the price of oil at the moment this could make a difference. Even just for two days [each week] the cost savings by the end of the year could be substantial.”

According to the latest accounts published by the Diocese of Killaloe, the diocese recorded a surplus of more than € 200,000 in 2011. The diocese also reported cash reserves of € 813,778 and “investments” in excess of € 2 million.

AN ENNIS woman admits she still fears for her family’s safety following the super typhoon that has devastated her native Philippines.

The family of café worker Vicky Garcia escaped harm when Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines on November 4.

Vicky says her village of Camburnan Tapaz, near the city of Roxas, was spared the effects of flooding but suffered destruction from the 300km an hour winds.

The village is home to 600 people and most of the buildings have been completely flattened. Four of Vicky’s sisters still live in the Philippines.

“They are all okay. No one died or was injured but they are very lucky. I was talking to them this morning and they still have no electricity and it is very hard to get food. You have to travel almost three hours to the nearest city for food,” explains Vicky,

Authorities estimate more than 3,900 people were killed when Typhoon Haiyan, one of the largest ever recorded made landfall in the central Philippines and the sea surged ashore.

Officials have estimated that up to 10,000 people have died in Tacloban city. More than nine million people have been affected with many struggling to survive without access to food, shelter and clean drinking water.

Vicky says, “We are lucky where we live, it is on higher ground, so we didn’t get the flooding. In our village nobody died but in the next village there were some people who died. We were just lucky. All of the buildings have been damaged. My school was destroyed. Two of my sister’s houses were damaged.”

Vicky lives in Ennis and has worked at the Snack Shack café in the town centre since moving to Ireland in 2004. One of her sisters lives in Ennis, two sisters live in Shannon and another lives in Cork.

Vicky has been in constant contact with her family and friends by phone and social media.

Amid fears that further storms could cause further destruction, Vicky says she is concerned about her family’s safety.

“There might be more storms. It is bad over there and we are still very worried for them,” she added.

A food drive for victims of the storm is underway in Shannon. People in and around the town are being asked to leave non-perisahable food and non-prescription medication to the collection point at the Skycourt Shopping Centre.

ARE the services for people affected by domestic abuse in County Clare serving people’s need or are there gaps in the system. That is the question being put to those that know best, the people that have used the services.

The HSE has said this week that domestic abuse and sexual violence is an alarming problem in our country. As a result the Speak Up Café initiative has been organised to involve individuals who have been affected by domestic abuse and/or sexual violence to come and tell organisations how services can be improved.

The Speak Up Café event in Clare will take place in the Temple Gate Hotel, 11am to 2pm, and is part of a wide range of initiatives undertaken by the Mid West Regional Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women and local agencies during the 16 Days of Action Campaign.

The 16 Days of Action Campaign is an international campaign to raise awareness of the reality of domestic abuse and violence and to push for positive change to increase women’s safety.

The café is open to individuals who have experienced domestic abuse and/or sexual violence either currently or in the past. It is open to family members and close friends who may be living with or supporting survivors. It is also aimed at those who may not have accessed a service but could have potentially benefited from doing so.

“The Speak Up Café model is built on the assumption that people already have within them the wisdom and expertise to advise organisations as to what’s important when dealing with a crisis or on-going problems related to domestic abuse and /or sexual violence. The organisers believe that by listening to what the public and service users say is essential if organisations wish to improve services. The changes will make services more relevant, of a higher quality and which staff are proud to provide,” a spokesperson said.

Anyone who would like to voice their opinion at any of these events in the mid west region, just drop in to the café and meet informally with a representative of an organisation and chat with others with similar experiences. Those that cannot attend on the day, can also phone in with comments on the free phone number 1800 311 511 or complete the on-line survey. For further details see www. midwestvaw.ie.

THERE was a double boost for Shannon Airport yesterday with the news that traffic volume continued to grow in the Clare airport in October and the announcement by Aer Lingus of a number of new routes for 2014.

According to figures from Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), the numbers of commercial planes using Shannon Airport in October was 1, 582 – or 51 per day. This represents a 1.5 per cent increase on the same period in 2012 and draws Shannon Airport closer to passing out Cork Airport and reclaiming its position of Ireland’s second most used airport.

There was a further boost for Shannon yesterday as Aer Lingus announcing a new service between Shannon Airport and Malaga in 2014 and an increase infrequency on a number of other routes. A twiceweekly service between Shannon and Malaga will begin from March 30, at a cost of € 66.99.

Aer Lingus will increase frequencies on transatlantic routes from Shannon to New York and Boston, almost doubling its schedule between the two US hubs and upgrading the flights to a year-round service.

Flights between Shannon and New York will be increased three to six return flights per week while flights to Boston will be increase from three flight per week to a daily service.

Meanwhile, there was more good news for Shannon Airport chairperson and North Clare businesswoman, Rose Hynes, who won the President’s Award at the annual Limerick Chamber of Commerce Regional Business Awards held last Friday.

“We are making lots of progress. But we must do an awful lot more, and we will.

“People have to use Shannon, and to see Shannon as their airport. This is my message – the one way to get more flights and more routes, is to fill the ones we have,” she said while accepting the award.

THE Environmental Agency (EPA), Clare County Council, and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are to meet later today (Tuesday) to discuss the issue of a noxious smell in Shannon.

Residents say that the smell appears to be abating slightly, but understand that it is the type of smell you get use to and therefore is still an issue.

The underlying cause of the odour is also worrying concerned locals.

The foul fetor has been investigated by the (EPA) and the environmental watchdog has advised that investigations to date indicate that the source of the odour appears to be the sewer network in Shannon.

The EPA and Clare County Council, with the assistance of the HSE, have also put in place an action programme for further monitoring and investigation.

Continuing investigative efforts are being focused on the sewer collection network including all discharges to the network.

The government bodies continue to monitor the smell as well as any unusual patterns of illness in the local population.

Air quality monitored by the EPA in the Shannon area between March 2012 and June 2013 showed pollutant levels were found to be below EU limit values.

CLARE County Council said it is working to remove asbestos piping dumped at an unauthorised landfill site by its own contractor.

The dumping at the former reservoi r at Lislanaghan Kilkee has been an ongoing source of concern for local resident and former member of Kil kee Town Council PJ Linnane, who maintains the pipes were broken and fragmented, making them a public health hazard.

A repor t following the inspection of the site by Michael Flynn Planning, Building and Civil Consultations, working for Mr Linnane, said that on inspection of some of the pipes the asbestos appears to be Chysotile, however this is subject to analysis.

“Chysotile is a white fibrous mineral, a variety of serpentine was an important source of commercial asbestos. Some pipes are in poor condition that have broken and flaked. Chysotile asbestos has also been a significant contributor to asbestosrelated illness,” the report said.

Clare County Council said it does not believe the pipes were broken and cr ushed but are taking the issue very seriously.

Senior engineer Sean Ward said an environmental consultant is being employed by the council to over see the removal and proper disposal of any of the remains of the waste asbestos-cement (AC) water mains, tipped there in June.

Soil samples will also be taken at the site and in neighbouring fields and tested for asbestos. Should there be any traces of asbestos fibres in the soil, Clare County Council will then take the appropriate action, the engineer said.

He added that the AC piping had been stockpiled at the nearby disused water treatment plant and was brought along with soil and stones to the lakeside site.

“This was brought to the attention of this office by Mr Linnane,” he said.

“Many of these pipes were removed from the lakeside site shor tly after being brought there and transferred to the council’s depot in Kilrush, but some AC pipes and debris were left buried under the surface of the lakeside site.

“It is acknowledged that the pipes should not have been brought from the treatment plant site to the lakeside and all pipes and debris will have to be removed from both sites whether on or under the surface,” he added.

“The council has been, and will continue to be, in contact with Mr Linnane to keep him informed of what is being proposed and done,” he said.

ENNIS Town Council was last week named Town/Borough Council of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, held in association with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.

In a further coup for Clare local authorities, the Clare County Councilnominated Celebrate Scattery Island festival was named winner of the Community Gathering of the Year award, sponsored by The Gathering Ireland 2013. The event, which took place in July, was shortlisted from hundreds of Gathering initiatives submitted to the awards scheme.

Commenting on Ennis Town Council’s award success, mayor of Ennis Cllr Mary Coote Ryan said, “In the months since the Local Government Bill to abolish all town councils in 2014 was published by the Minister for the Environment, the staff and elected members of Ennis Town Council have continued to work closely to deliver the wide range of important services that have been provided to the people of Ennis since the late 19th century. I am delighted that this work has been given official recognition at the Excellence in Local Government Awards.”

Ennis town manager Ger Dollard, who attended the ceremony in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel, commented, “This award reflects the important role played by the local authority as a service provider. The fact that the Purple Flag and Friar’s Walk Coach Park initiatives were also shortlisted for other category awards underlines the extensive role played by the local authority in the development of the town.”

Ennis Town Council was presented with a specially-commissioned trophy designed by Tipperary Crystal.

Meanwhile there are hopes that Ennis can benefit from its new twinning arrangement with the German city of Langenfeld.

In October, the mayors of Ennis and Langenfeld signed a twinning charter establishing formal links between the two locations.

A SIXMILEBRIDGE woman who left Ireland for London when she was just 15 has been honoured for her work with vulnerable children’s in London’s East End.

Sister Mary Lawrence received the Irish Youth Foundation’s fourth annual Nessa O’Neill award at the charity’s prestigious Hibernian Hero Award ceremony.

The Clare nun joined the Convent of Mercy in Stepney soon after she arrived in England, and spent her novice days in North London before returning to the East End of the city.

Sister Mary Lawrence, who is now 82-years-old and battling some ill health, told The Clare People that she came from a family of seven. Three of her four sisters also joined convents, one in Texas, and one in Malta and one sister joined the Salesians in Limerick. A fourth sister became a nun and married in London.

Both of her brothers joined An Garda Síochana in Dublin. Her cousins continue to live in Sixmilebridge but her nieces and nephews live in other parts of the country and other countries.

Sister Mary Lawrence has dedicated her life to helping the youth of the London for more than 40 years.

Just over 45 years ago the parish priest of the area came to the convent asking for a club to be formed to help children, many of Irish decent, you were living in difficult circumstances.

The 11-Plus Club was formed and Sister Mary Lawrence was its leader for 41 years.

She eventually changed the name of the club to the St John Bosco Youth Club, named after the saint who dedicated his life to poor children.

The Clare nun has won many awards for her efforts over the years, and her latest accolade comes from a charity, which offers financial assistance to the club, to allow it to continue its vital work.

MILTOWN Malbay has brought national honours to the county as the West Clare town has the been named one of the principal winners in this year’s IPB Pride of Place Competition in association with Co-operation Ireland.

More than 400 people from all over the island of Ireland travelled to Derry to attend the 11th annual awards ceremony on Saturday.

Miltown Malbay brings Clare its first success in the competition since the Clare Crusaders Children’s Clinic received an award under the Community Health Initiative category in 2011.

The town beat off stiff competition from all over the country to be crowned overall winners of Population Category three. Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns Committee members were presented with a crystal decorative memento and € 1,000.

Pride of Place, which is run by Cooperation Ireland in conjunction with local authorities north and south of the border, was first piloted in the summer of 2003.

The all-island initiative recognises and celebrates the vital contributions that community partnerships make to society, including promoting social cohesion, involvement in planning, the promotion of heritage, and environmental awareness.

Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns Committee spokesperson Sean Lenihan said, “Like many other small towns throughout Clare we have lots of diverse groups, associations and organisations, but what sets us apart is that when required, all sectors of the community work together and act as one. We are very aware that everybody has something to offer and we recognise the skills, inputs and competencies that different people have and utilise them accordingly to ensure that all visitors leave with fond memories and a willingness to return.”

Mayor of Clare Cllr Joe Arkins said Miltown Malbay’s success “is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when people come together for the benefit of their local community.

“This competition focuses on local communities, both north and south of the border, coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their area. I am sure that Clare’s other participants in this year competition, Mountshannon Community Council and An Sean Dún Residents Association in Roslevan will have also enjoyed the opportunity to network, exchange ideas and learn from others.”

Nicola Cullinan, Pride of Place Coordinator, Community and Tourism Directorate with Clare County Council added, “Pride of Place is a great way to acknowledge the hard work and selfless endeavour undertaken by communities from all over the island of Ireland. It is an opportunity to celebrate the vital contribution that community groups make to society and it demonstrates what local groups can achieve. Clare County Council is delighted to have played its part in supporting local partici

A MOTHER has called for security cameras to be installed at Dumcliffe graveyard after the grave of her infant son was interfered with.

Ennis woman Christine Quinn says she was “shocked” to discover damage to corner of the headstone on the grave of her dead son Patrick Quinn.

Baby Patrick was born stillborn. He would have celebrated his third birthday on December 12.

Ms Quinn believes the damage was caused sometime between 7pm on Wednesday, November 13, and 5pm on Thursday, November 14.

However she thinks the grave may have been vandalised over a number of weeks.

“We have these angels which are glued down to the grave and they were getting knocked down. I thought it was the wind but now I’m not so sure,” she said.

“I was devastated when I saw what happened and so was my husband, absolutely devastated. It breaks my heart. Who would do such a thing?”

The mother of three believes there should be greater security around the graveyard.

“I’d like to see CCTV around there. I was onto the council [Clare County Council]. At least whoever does things like that would be caught,” she added.

A Garda spokesman confirmed on Friday that gardaí in Ennis are investigating the complaint and have inspected the grave for damage.

Clare County Council last night said it had received a

a report of vandalism in section D of the graveyard.

The Council said it recently appointed a registrar who is a regular prescence in the graveyard.

It said CCTV is not being considered at this time but that gates are locked to assist in deterrring anti-social behaviour.

“We will continue to monitor any issues with the burial ground” added a spokesman.