Author: admin

THE Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Michael Starrett, has called for the immediate introduction of a management plan for the Burren.

Mr Starrett was reacting to a report outlining the damage being done both to the ecosystem and archaeol- ogy of the Burren as a result of the marked increase in scrub encroach- ment in the area over the last number of decades.

“IT am calling for the urgent intro- duction of a national landscape man- agement plan for places like the Bur- ren, The Tara Skryne Valley and the Cooley Peninsula,’ said Mr Starrett.

“Urgent action needs to be taken to manage these changes as they have an incremental effect which is dev- astating to the delicate landscape and ecosystems of the Burren.”

According to the report hazel and blackthorn scrub encroachment in the Burren is increasing at an esti- mated annual rate of 4.4 per cent. The report also found that scrub was found to be damaging sites at a structural and sub-surface level and putting historically and environmen- UIA ARo PRSTLO ROMS Ihr: B LSS

The study called for a proper land- scape-level management plan for the archaeology of the Burren to be put in place and a full archaeologi-

cal survey of the Burren to be con- ducted at an estimated cost of €1.25 million.

At present the BurrenLIFE organi- sation is undertaking the largest ever clearance of scrub ever undertaken in the Burren.

Meanwhile, the Burren Trust has called for a more strategic approach to the management of the Burren to be taken.

The organisation has this week is- sued a call for submissions on the merits of a more integrated, long term, strategic approach to the man- agement of the Burren.

The conservationist organisation is calling on locals to review a docu- ment entitled

RELIEF is in sight for residents of Aughanteeroe after Ennis Town Council approved a flood protection scheme for the area.

Residents living in the area had cam- paigned for a barrier to be installed at the rear of the estate. This followed concerns over the ease of access to a section of the river Fergus.

The new measures were unani- mously approved by members at last night’s monthly meeting of the coun- cil. They include the construction of an embankment or reinforced con- crete wall to facilitate flood defence requirements along the boundary of the Aughanteeroe housing scheme

along the River Fergus. The 450-me- tre structure will include the provision of a new railing along the top of the proposed embankment.

The report prepared by Barry and Partners indicates that the project is necessary to protect the housing es- tate and environs from the estimated design flood.

The council received one submis- sion from Mr John O’Connor who proposed that the “western end of the new barrier should be a reinforced concrete wall topped with a steel fence similar to that used in other parts, thereby preventing children from ac- cessing the river’. He also queried whether the “contractor engaged to cut grass be reluctant to bring equip-

ment on the embankment”.

In response, the council stated that “the two points made are reasonable and, pending approval of the scheme, the two points will be raised with the consultants who are dealing with the detailed design of the scheme with a view to dealing with them as effec- tively as possible”’.

Town Engineer ‘Tom Tiernan told members that the project would go to tender as soon as possible.

He said, “We will monitor from time to time, even though it is not in the public charge. We will keep an eye on it.”

Councillor Frankie Neylon (ind) praised the positive response of the council to the matter.

yester- day that the statement put forward by east Clare organisation Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) was both “inaccurate and misrepresents Coillte’s position’. “The reality is that Coillte are cur- rently conducting a comprehensive

and detailed review of the sustaina- bility of its forestry activities on sen- sitive western peatlands in a project called the Western Peatland Project,” he said.

“The results from this review clearly show that the vast majority of coniferous plantations owned and managed by Coillte along the west coast of Ireland are in fact commer- cially, socially and environmentally sustainable.”

“These plantations will continue to provide much needed sources of income and work to local rural com- munities now and in the future.

“The review also indicates that a significant area of coniferous planta- tions along the west coast of Ireland are on sensitive western peatlands and may be more suited to alterna- tive management practices which do not involve commercial timber pro- duction.

“Research in this area is ongoing and definitive decisions regarding Coullte policy will only be made in the light of increased scientific knowledge and in consultation and agreement with the Forest Service, other relevant statutory bodies and stakeholders.”

FINE Gael leader, Enda Kenny, told his party delegates that the Fianna Fail/PD coalition is a Gov- ernment of waiting. Waiting for hospital beds, waiting for care for people with disability, waiting for justice for victims of crime.

But on his first public appearance at the Ard Fheis in Citywest at the weekend, it was Enda who kept the faithful waiting.

To a tremendous build-up from the podium and a standing ovation from the delegates, the doors of the conference chamber were thrown wide open for Enda to make a grand

entrance. And there he was, gone!

The only form which filled the doorway was that of a startled hotel waiter, who was all but blinded by press photographers’ flash bulbs as they tried to capture what should have been a dramatic moment.

The leader had missed his cue to bound purposefully through the door. Eh…..opps!

To ripples of embarrassed laugh- ter, the doors were closed again and the paparazzi re-focused. It was to be another three minutes before the Fine Gael boss actu- ally arrived to deliver his opening speech on how, in Government, he would put an end to waiting.

CLARE’S four Fine Gael general election candidates are confident that between them they can bring home two seats for their party.

At the weekend’s Ard Fheis, Councillor Joe Carey raised the is- sue of Open Skies when he spoke on a motion on regional develop- eetoolm

He told a packed room that the present Government were using a “scattergun” approach to regional development.

“Did anyone ask Dell or any of the multinationals in the west whether they will stay in Ireland when Shannon no longer has year round daily flights to the US after Open Skies? This Government is giving no supports to Shannon,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cllr Pat Breen says that his party’s emphasis on health and law and order issues at the con- ference comes from the feedback from the electorate.

“Just look at Ennis General Hos- pital. We still don’t know whether were going to have a 24-hour A&E department. We’re told plan- ning permission has been lodged, but it’s obvious nothing is going to be done before the election.”

The Clare councillor added that he is “looking forward to the elec-

tion campaign” and said he is con- fident of Fine Gael taking two seats in Clare.

Cllr Tony Mulcahy said that he believes Fine Gael are now ready to provide “credible opposition” to the Fianna Fail/PD coalition.

Cllr Mulcahy also believes that Shannon is among the important issues in Clare and wants to see Shannon supported into a position where it can break away debt free.

“Once there is an agreement in place with the unions what is vital in securing European business is an early morning and late evening connection with Dublin. We need same day accessibility. I don’t see why Shannon could not avail of a re- gional grant for that route under the Public Service Orders funding.”

Madeleine Taylor Quinn said it was “a most energetic, enthusiastic and positive Ard Fheis”.

She added that Enda Kenny gave “a commitment by Fine Gael to bring our public services up to the standard of the economy, its lays out exactly what the people of Ire- land can expect from a Fine Gael Government”.

The Fine Gael leader believes it is time to end the era of broken prom- ises, and for politicians to step up to the line and take responsibility for their actions in Government.”

CLARE’S Green Party election can- didate Brian Meaney has slammed Fianna Fail this week claiming the ruling party is dipping into green policy in a bid to secure easy votes ahead of the upcoming election.

He branded what he termed Fianna Fail’s “new found interest in envi- ronmental issues” as a “cynical at- tempt to court the electorate at the A CoAYoraln el ele) en uae

Councillor Meaney then reiterated his party’s stance at national level saying, “Fianna Fail can try to steal our clothes, but they’ll never fit”, and pointed out that exactly a year ago Taoiseach Bertie Ahern addressed the Dail and said, “I am not respon- sible for the state of the planet”.

“It’ll take more than Dick Roche offering to change the light bulbs to convert Fianna Fail to the green agenda. Members of Fianna Fail must realise that their Party requires

root and branch reform 1f it 1s to seri- ously address environmental issues. For ten years they have ignored the need for change, and now with ten weeks to an election, Bertie Ahern is attempting to hoodwink the elec- Keyes Koni

He highlighted a number of local issues that he says show the current Government have not got green pol- icy at heart.

“Under Fianna Fail’s watch the En- nis CIE freight yard was allowed to

close and this further clogs up our roads. Not only that, Ennis Town Council is still pumping raw sew- erage into the Fergus which is no longer considered worth fishing in by serious anglers. The water in En- nis is unreliable and we have regular boil notices. There is not a metre of cycle path in Ennis and we’re the tenth largest town in Ireland. How can the two Finna Fail TD’s in Clare allow this to happen?”

He said that while the Green Party

welcomes a move towards green policy at all levels, he feels recent declarations by Fianna Fail are merely symptoms of “chameleon- like behaviour rather than conver- sion to the cause. In the space of a year we have watched Bertie Ahern mutate from republican to social- ist, and now he’s going through his environmental phase. One can only be deeply cynical about his attempt to wrap the green flag around his

oy aaa

TWO Fianna Fail councillors are keeping their fingers crossed that a little-known oil company may strike it lucky in remote Siberia. According to Clare County Coun- cil’s Ethics Registrar, Cllr PJ Kelly and Cllr Michael Kelly both have shares in PetroNeft Resources plc. The registrar shows that Cllr Kelly purchased 8,/50 shares, at 32 cents a share, last October, following a con- versation with his Tubber colleague. The registrar doesn’t say how many shares Cllr Michael Kelly has in Pet- ronNeft, but it does state that Cllr

Kelly also has shares in Providence Resources, the Gresham Hotel, Bal- timore Technologies and a pharma- ceutical company called Alltralel. Cllr Michael Kelly was unavailable for comment yesterday. However, Cllr PJ Kelly said that buying the shares was like betting on a horse. “After a chat with Michael, I said that I would take a chance. For the amount of shares I bought, I won’t be getting rich from it,” he said. According to the chairman’s report from the most recent accounts of Pet- roNeft, Mr G. David GaMer said, “It is 18 months since the concept of Pet- roNeft Resources plc was developed

and started to become a reality. Now the company is fully structured and funded, has a clearly defined path to production from the two proven oil fields and has an exploration sched- ule to expand the reserve base.”

The chairman’s statement said that the company was to set out a fast- track to purchase a licence for “one of the best packages of known oil fields and prospects to became avail- able in the West Siberian Oil and Gas Basin in a long time”.

The licenced area is extensive at 4,991 square kms, setting up the potential for a ‘core area’, with long- term production and an extensive ex-

ploration base for future discoveries.

The statement went on, “The first year of the company’s existence has been an exciting time. The next 12 months promises to be equally excit- ing. “By July of 2007, it is hoped that the company will be able to take the decision to begin field and infrastruc- ture development, leading to produc- tion in 2008.”

The only other councillors to have shares in companies are Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG), who has shares in Ballycasey Dev Ltd and Cllr Oliver Garry (FG), who has shares in Ab- bey Contractors Ltd.

THE skeletal remains of what ap- pears to be at least six individuals, possibly dating back to pre-Christian times, have been discovered during the archaeological monitoring of 1m- provements to a local water network outside Newmarket-on Fergus.

The remains and up to four further possible burials have also been de- tected during monitoring of ground works for a water reservoir at Barn- hill. Clare County Council has sus- pended work on the affected part of the site subject to the issuing of an excavation licence later this week.

An initial assessment of the area

has been undertaken by osteologist Camilla Lofqvist who concluded that the remains appeared to represent at least six articulated skeletons, with another four possible burials.

According to Eoghan Kieran of the Moore Archaeological Group, ani- mal bone was also detected in con- nection to the burials but no datable finds were recovered. Some of the burials were laying in an East-West direction, which may indicate Chris- tian burial. However, burials in all different directions were represented on the site, possibly indicating a pre- Christian date.

The archaeological landscape around Barnhill wood and New-

market-on-Fergus exhibits several features from the Bronze Age, Ear- ly Christian period and onwards. There are several Fulachta Fiadh, ringforts and Anglo-Norman castles in the vicinity, as well as the largest known hillfort in Ireland, Mooghaun hillfort. This trivillate fort is located in the grounds of Dromoland Castle and is dated to 1260-930BC.

The site, which covers an area of ap- proximately 20×30 metres, had been cordoned off pending completion of the archaeological excavation and to prevent additional disturbances.

A 2003 report commissioned by the Heritage Council reporteded that some 15-20,000 individuals were ex-

cavated from archaeological sites in Ireland from 1989 to 1998. The New- market-on-Fergus find is somewhat different, however, as the burial site was not marked.

To archaeological specialists, all such skeletal discoveries constitute a valuable historical and scientific resource, inscribed with evidence of the working life, living conditions, diet, traumas and diseases of past generations.

TRAVELLER culture occupies pride of place locally and nationally this week thanks to projects undertaken at the St Joseph’s training centre.

The coppercraft group at the cen- tre have completed work on a copper vessel that will be used to hold the Easter vigil fire in the Ennis cathe- dral.

The three foot high vessel was a collaborative effort between men working at the centre and the Ennis diocese.

Fr Damian Nolan approached the centre six months ago with the idea of making a copper structure that could be utilised during the Easter oo KerselO eBoy

At first a competition was held to determine which group would take

the lead role on the project, though input was ongoing from all men tak- ing the coppercraft course at the cen- inden

The group’s foremost concern was to ensure the vessel was practical and safe. When those requirements were met, the group, aided by metalcraft instructor and teacher Brian Crossen, introduced a stylistic element to the process. The group also consulted with Fr Nolan throughout the proc- ess.

Mr Crossen explained, “Fr Dam- ian had approached us about making something for Easter. We wanted to make sure it did exactly what it was supposed to do, that it was safe and also that it looked good. There were about three or four different stages from design right through to com- pletion. Fr Damian has always been

very supportive of the centre and the lads really enjoyed making it”.

The centre also earned recogni- tion on a national stage when a three man group from the centre travelled to Cork last Thursday to take part in the 4th annual Cork lifelong learning festival.

Martin Maughan, Thomas Keenan and Peter Keenan gave a live dem- onstration of traditional copper craft at the Cork public museum as part of the week long festival.

Last year the centre donated seven copper items including buckets, pots and scuttles to the museum for a per- manent display.

It is the first time a permanent ex- hibition of Traveller culture has gone on display in a national museum. The Cork Traveller Women’s Network and the Cork public museum invited

the copper craft group to take part in the festival.

“It kind of grew legs after we do- nated the copper projects to the mu- seum. It was a pretty big event, there was a lot of craftsmen there. We set up in a gazebo and it worked out re- ally well. It was a great day. They were very impressed. They invited us back for next year, so we’ll see how ereLme x Olona

CLAIRE Neylon has secured her first major corporate design contract and she has yet to graduate from col- lege.

The Kilkee student won the con- tract to provide a piece of sculpture as part of the refurbishment of the mobile phone company O2’s head- quarters in Plassey, Limerick.

During May last year, the 22-

year-old, with fellow students from second, third and fourth year at the School of Art and Design in Limer- ick (affiliated to Limerick IT), were invited to submit a proposal for a piece of art that would best represent

the company.

This piece could be in sculpture or media form such as video or photog- eel eN VA

With a keen eye and a creative im- agination, Claire studied the O2 logo where the idea for her winning piece came from.

The student, now in her fourth and final year, was inspired by the O2 bubbles, which she proposed to display in the front window of the eluunKenbaren

She commissioned a glass blower in Northern Ireland to make 60 glass “bubbles” ranging in diameter from 80 inches to two inches.

On Saturday, the young woman, with the assistance of the college’s sculpture technician Pat Biesty, in- stalled the glass pieces.

Each glass bubble was hung at dif- ferent lengths on 10 steel cables to represent floating bubbles.

Claire was responsible for the en- tire project, and had to organise eve- rything from the professional glass blower to the installation.

She then had to submit the budget to O2 for the cost of the piece and the customary 20 per cent for the artist onto be

“This is a great opportunity for me as a Student to have work in the public domain before I have even left college,’ she said.

The piece of sculpture is now on display for all potential employers or commissioners of art to see, as well as being a welcome addition to her CV.

The Kilkee woman is planning to eraduate from her course in Sculp- ture and Combined Media in a few weeks time. She then hopes to work through art in the community.

Claire is a past pupil of Kilrush Community College.