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CLARE residents could face an annual charge of up to € 145 to fund the cost of water meters – even though the meters themselves are likely to cost a fraction of that amount.

Clare County Council has been directed to survey all houses in Clare to determine the number of type of water connections that exist in the county.

Councillors at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council raised a number of questions about the roll out of water metering by the newly formed Irish Water – specifically the cost of water meters and the possibility that houses with existing water meter could be forced to pay for these functioning meters to be replaced by Irish Water.

“I think that the public should be informed that there will be an ongoing charge, which could amount to as much as € 145 per annum, for this meter that will cost a couple of euro,” said Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND).

“We may no longer be responsible for water but I think the least that we can do as a local authority is to ask if the department [of the environment] a number of questions- like will there be an allowance, will there be a standard charge for the metres, will there be bulk metering for large apartment complexes – who will have the responsibility for collecting water chages. I think that it is our responsibility to ask these questions of the department – whether we will have a role in this or not.”

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (IND) said that there is a lot of pubic confusion about the roll out of water metering.

“A lot of people had to replace water meters a few years ago during the big freeze – it seems, from looking to this information, that these might have to pay for new meters now,” she said.

“It seems like the more we heard about this, the more confusion that there seems to be. The sooner that the department brings some clarity to this the better. Every answer seems to bring another questions and there is a lot of confusion out there.”

Council spokesperson Carmel Greene commented that the cost of metering was a matter for Irish Water and Clare County Council had no role to play. She also said that, as far as she was aware, functioning meters would not have to be replaced by home owners. Tue11June13

THE cost to the Fire Services of dealing with malicious fires in Ennis soared to € 183,631 over a three year period, new figures show.

There were a total of 147 likely malicious fires in Ennis between 2009 and 2012. The details were revealed at the June meeting of Ennis Town Council.

Councillor Paul O’Shea (Ind) requested that the Council provide data on the number of malicious fires caused in Ennis between 2009-2012 and the cost to the taxpayer of responding to calls from the fire service.

Details are contained in a letter from Chief Fire Officer Adrian Kelly to Town Manager Ger Dollard.

The Fire Services attended 20 malicious fires in 2012; 24 in 2011; a whopping 57 in 2010 and 46 in 2009.

Mr Kelly states that the fire service incident commander will record what his/her opinion is the ‘most likely source of ignition’ at the time of the incident.

He added, “However the investigation into the cause of fires is not a function of the Fire Services; rather it is a matter for An Garda Suíochana.”

Mr Kelly states that the majority of the incidents were either bonfires; vehicle fires; rubbish and unoccupied derelict buildings. The figures do not take into account the outcome of any investigation by An Garda Suíochana.

The cost to the Fire Services of attending malicious fire incidents in Ennis ran to € 21,992.02 in 2012.

Cllr O’Shea described the figures as ‘unacceptable’. He said, “What are we doing as a Council to deter this waste of taxpayers money?”

Town Manager Ger Dollard said these incidents are always a “cause for concern” to the Fire Services. He said the fire services have engaged in a number of awareness campaigns in recent years.

Mr Dollard told the meeting that the gardaí have been involved in investigating a number of these malicious fires.

THREE Shannon dolphins, who captured the publics imagination earlier this year when they took up residence in shallow waters close to Bunratty, were discovered safe and well over the weekend.

The Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation (SDWF) have been attempting to locate the dolphins since they were last sighted in Bunratty in April.

The “Bunratty Three” were spotted by a monitored dolphin tour boat in the deep water of the Shannon Estuary on Friday.

The dolphins were last spotted in Bunratty on April 13 and the SDWF and other dolphin group were keen to confirm that they had managed to reconnect with their main Dolphin population.

“The SDWF carry out annual monitoring of the dolphins from dolphin tour boats operating from Kilrush and Carrigaholt, and during dedicat- ed boat transects,” said a spokesperson from SDWF.

“During the first monitoring trip from Kilrush this week, three dolphins were recorded by the SDWF. Each dolphin in this small, discrete population is important and it is reassuring to know that the ‘Bunratty Three’ are healthy and have rejoined the Shannon population.”

Thousands of people traveled to see the dolphins during their two week long stay in Bunratty earlier this year.

It was originally thought that the dolphins were trapped in the shallow water in Bunratty and were unable to swim underneath a nearby bridge because of the sound of heavy traffic.

A rescue attempt was planned but an expert assessment of the dolphins condition revealed that the animals were in good condition and in no immediate danger.

The dolphins eventually left the shallow estuary but were unaccounted for for the three months leading up to last weeks confirmed sighting.

A COROFIN actress has won a starring role in a new feature film, set to start shooting later this month. Fresh from her success in the All Ireland Drama Awards last month, Maura Clancy, will feature in a big screen adaptation of the 2013 novel ‘A Nightingale Falling’ by Kilnaboy writer and broadcaster, PJ Curtis.

The film explores the difficulty faced by many southern Irish Protestants during the Irish War of Independence. Though a work of fiction, the novel was inspired by a family who lived close to PJ in North Clare.

“The genesis of the story begins here [in Kilnaboy], where there were two Protestant sister who came under some suspicion and even some ostracisation during the Irish War of Independence,” he said.

“It was a very difficult time for the Protestant Irish living in Ireland. They were perceived as being sympathetic, if not in down right in cahoots with the British Army and later the Black and Tans.

“This was the inspiration for my story and the idea grew from there. One of the sisters in the story wakes up one morning and there is a body of an almost dead soldier on her doorstep. They take him indoors and set about doing the best they can for him. As they nurse him back to health they realise that they are in a bit of a dilemma – if they give him back to the army, they know that the IRA will hear about it, but if they give him to the IRA, then the Black and Tans will see to him. So they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.”

The film features and impressive cast including Tara Breathnach, Muireann Bird and Gerard McCarthy and will begin shooting next month in Offaly. Tara is currently starring in The Last Days of Anne Boleyn on BBC2, Muireann Bird has just completed a UK and Irish tour of Brian Friel’s Translations and Gerard McCarthy is currently on our screens in the hugely successful BBC series The Fall.

The film is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

CLARECASTLE based Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI) has been named the overall national winner of the Ulster Bank Achievers Awards’ Social Enterprise category.

Judges described ABI as an organisation that positively impacts the community, generating an outcome with a long-term benefit.

Driven by social innovation and structured as a business model, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland provides community based neuro-rehabilitation services to those who have acquired a brain injury.

ABI Irelands residential assisted living service, and community ABI service, is based in Clarecastle, providing personalised quality rehabilitation and support following a brain injury.

Founded in 2000, in direct response to a personal need for an acquired brain injury service for her brother Peter Bradley, CEO Barbara O’ Connell, her husband Maurice and members of the Bradley family set up Ac- quired Brain Injury Ireland; ensuring people with a brain injury could live a meaningful life at home in their community.

Ms O’Connell who received the award on behalf of the organisation said;

“This award is a huge honour for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland.

“I accepted it humbly as recognition for the inspiring personal achievements of the people who access our services, and also in acknowledgement of the dedication and commitment of all ABI Ireland staff who work continually to advocate on behalf of our service users every day.”

“People with ABI often look normal, but can have hidden problems which mean they cannot resume their previous lives.

“We tailor our services around the individual and their family to support them through the journey of rebuilding a meaningful life for themselves.

“Believing there is a better way, is the passion behind any successful social enterprise.

“At ABI Ireland we have seen the remarkable impact and long term benefits that can be achieved through neuro-rehabilitation; for us that’s our return on investment,” said Ms O’ Connell.

Approximately 13,000 people acquire a head injury in Ireland each year.

The severity of brain damage can vary with the type of brain injury.

With the support of the HSE, ABI Ireland has grown to provide a wide range of supports and services to people with ABI nationwide.

It has 235 staff and over 40 services throughout Ireland.

A MILTOWN Malbay supermarket is to open this week creating up to 90 local jobs. Jones’s SuperValu on the Ennis Road will become one of the biggest employers locally when it opens its doors tomorrow (Wednesday). John and Claire Jones have already employed 50 full time staff to work at the € 4 million supermarket. Plans are also in place to employ a further 20 part time staff at the 10,000 square metre shop in the coming months and 20 more full time staff within the year. Employing staff for the West Clare business was a long process with Mr Jones receiving 500 job applications. Leading the team will be Nathan Mhar (sic) who has seven-year experience working as an assistant manager for other Super Valu, before securing the top job in Miltown Malbay. “We are delighted we have come to this stage,” said Mr Jones who also owns the Centre shop in the town. He told The Clare People that 95 per cent of the staff were local with the remaining staff coming from elsewhere in the county. “Obviously we would like to take on more but for now all of the jobs are full time,” he added. The town’s first ever playground will open adjacent to the supermarket next week, with an Astro turf pitch also part of the project. This community part of the development was built as part of the supermarket with LEADER support funding. “I would like to thank all the local community for their patience in waiting for the shop,” said Mr Jones. “There seems to be a lot of local excitement about the opening and I am sure there will be a spin off benefit for the local community.” Jones’s Centra on Church Street, Miltown Malbay will also remain open.

A CROWDED field is developing within Fianna Fáil as competition between would be candidates intensifies ahead of next year’s local elections in the Ennis electoral area. The Cla re People has learned that as many as 11 people are keen to put their name forward for the candidate selection process at the party’s convention later this year.

Three current Fianna Fáíl councillors – Mayor of Clare Pat Daly, Tom McNamara and the former Green Party councillor Brian Meaney – are expected to seek the party nomination.

It is not known yet whether or not current Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine (FF) will seek to stand for election in 2014.

Thereafter a number of other potential candidates with strong Fianna Fáil connections are also understood to be keen on having their name on the ballot paper next year.

Former Mayor of Ennis and member of Ennis Town Council, Joe Reidy, former member of Clare County Council, Bernard Hanrahan and Garrett Greene, a former local election candidate are among the established Fianna Fáíl names seeking the backing of party at the convention.

Eoin Neylon, a member of the Fianna Fáil national executive and former garda seargent and All-Ireland winning Clare Intermediate hurling manager Kevin Kennedy are also strongly rumoured to be interested in putting themselves forward for the party selection process.

A senior party source says Fianna Fáíl is actively headhunting a high profile female candidate ahead of the introduction of a quota system in the next general election.

Fianna Fáíl has not yet decided whether to field four or five candidates in Ennis.

The party is considering the implications of the revised local election boundaries which were published earlier this month and a decision on the number of candidates is not expected to be taken until the party convention which is expected to take place later this summer.

The source said that competition within the party is expected to be fierce. He explained, “Its crazy at the moment. There are a lot of names out there.

“There are only going to four or five positions available so it’s going to be a right bottleneck with so many outgoing councillors as well. There seems to be the most competition for places in Ennis”.

The eventual candidates will battle for eight seats in the Ennis area.

MANY of the Clare Diaspora in New York are due to visit the county during the end of August to celebrate one of the biggest Gatherings in the Banner County.

Leading the celebration on Clare soil will be the County Clare Patriotic, Benevolent and Social Association of New York, formerly the County Claremen’s Association, who are celebrating their 125th anniversary.

A programme of events has been created including a civic reception, anniversary banquet, commemorative mass, golf days in both Doonbeg and Ennis, a tour of county including attractions such as The Cliffs of Moher and Loop Head.

There will an exhibition in the library and heritage and genealogy talk from Clare Roots Society.

President of the Association in New York, Cathy Hogan whose father hails from Kilkee, said, “You do not need to be a member of the Association to join us – all you need is the desire to return to the land of your birth or the land of your ancestors.”

Welcoming the “Home to Clare” initiative Mayor of Clare Cllr Pat Daly said; “This gives the people of Clare an opportunity to salute the New York Association for their sensitive care of generations of Clare emigrants and their contribution to the wider Clare community there down through the years.”

Mary Gleeson, General Manager of the Old Ground Hotel who has been co-ordinating information for the homecoming website on behalf of Promote Ennis said she had been fascinated to read some of the adventures and achievements of Clare peo- ple who left Ireland.

“Pat McDonnell of Doonbeg was an Olympic Champion and policeman on Times Square, Mike McTigue from Kilnamona was a world champion boxer and not too many people can claim to have a Gaelic Football field called after him this honour was bestowed on Ballyea man, Woodlawn resident Paddy Markham.

“It must have been a source of great pride for him that “Paddy’s Field” – the only athletic field on New York City parkland built for Gaelic Football was developed by the club founded by Paddy and other volunteers from the Woodlawn community. Other notable stories recall the genius of John Philip Holland – a pioneer in submarine development and Daniel O’Day from Kildysart who ensured the first pipe to bring oil to New York was laid,” she said.

Ms Gleeson also referenced the Clare connection to the most famous Irish political family -The Kennedys whose great great grandparents came from Newmarket.

These people will also be celebrated at the Gathering celebrations will take place from August 26 to 28.

SUPPORTERS of a proposal to scrap parking charges in Ennis on Saturdays have been challenged to identify the € 90,000 cuts in local authority spending required to implement the policy.

Ennis Town Council says free parking would have to be accompa nied by a major reduction in services like street cleaning and recreational facilities to make up for the shortfall in income.

The Council estimates that it would lose € 90,000 in six months under the proposal tabled by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) at it’s June meeting.

Town Manager Ger Dollard described as “irresponsible” any income-reducing proposal brought before the Council that doesn’t include a corresponding cut to spending.

Cllr Flynn proposed that Ennis Town Council follow the example of Nenagh “in it’s initiative to stimulate the local economy by allowing free car-parking for customers/visitors in public car parks on Saturdays for a trial six month period under the current byelaws as special occasions/ events.”

Cllr Flynn told the meeting that he did not think the cut would have a significant impact on the Council’s finances.

Cllr Mary Howard seconded the motion, saying that free parking could first be done on a trial basis.

“The town has gone quiet,” she added. Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) said it was time the Council tried something new in relation to parking in Ennis. In response, Town Clerk Leonard Cleary said the Council had piloted a number of parking initiatives in Ennis.

He told the meeting that the Council had undertaken a “detailed examination of income from car-parking.”

He continued, “In 2012 parking income was € 1,088,475.

The proposal in the notice of motion for free parking on Saturdays for six months could result in losses of € 90,000 approx. based on 2012.

“As the Budget for 2013 is now adopted, it is open to elected members to make submissions for expenditure reductions or income generation measures that can bridge the shortfall of € 90,000 approximately that would arise from the proposal in a 2014 budget context.”

He added that “essentially, elected members need to decide what services would not be delivered by the Council.”

Mr Cleary warned that “very hard choices” would have to be made on street cleaning, public lights, estate management and recreational facilities, if the policy is introduced.

Cllr Meaney said Nenagh’s problems stemmed from a decision to develop an out of town retail centre. Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said the management of car-parks is crucial to the town.

He added, “Its not the car-parking that’s the problem. It’s what is in the town.”

Town Manager Ger Dollard said that if the motion passed, the Council executive would not implement it until the services to be cut were identified.

Deputy Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) described the motion as a “pointless exercise”, pending the outcome Council’s budget estimates meeting.

Cllr Flynn said he disagreed with Cllr Brennan’s assessment, saying the matter could be addressed before then.

Councillors voted unanimously to consider Cllr Flynn’s motion at their Budget 2014 meeting.

A MOTHER of two passed heroin to her partner in Killaloe Courthouse in an “act of desperation”, a court has heard.

Eileen Fitzgerald (29) was observed passing a gramme of heroin and cannabis valued at € 167 to her partner who was in custody at Killaloe District Court on May 1 (2012).

Details of the offence were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Ms Fitzgerald, with an address at Williamstown Lodge, Fedamore, Limerick, pleaded to guilty to drug possession.

Garda John Jenks of Killaloe Garda Station told the court that Ms Fitzgerald said she had been “under pressure” to pass the drugs.

He said Ms Fitzgerald’s partner told gadaí that he asked her to bring the drugs to court.

Ms Fitzgerald also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of heroin at Cnoc Cluain, Ballina on June 23 (2012).

The court heard that gardaí found four wraps of heroin valued at € 220 in the house.

Garda Jenks told the court that Ms Fitzgerald would give the drugs to people who called to the house. She has 17 previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Jenny Fitzgibbon told the court that her client’s heroin addiction increased after her partner went into custody last year. She said Ms Fitzgerald is taking methadone and is on a waiting list for a detox programme.

Ms Fitzgibbon said passing the drugs was an “act of desperation” on her client’s behalf.

She said Ms Fitzgerald was “foolish and disrespectful” to commit such an offence in court.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said it was “debatable” whether or not prison would be the best environment for the accused.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he must balance between helping people and ensuring the system of law and order is maintained and protected. He adjourned sentencing for a brief period.

When the case resumed, Judge Durcan said he had considered imposing a lengthy sentence. He said he was concerned that Ms Fitzgerald is a young mother who had a serious drug addiction. He adjourned the case to September 4 for a pre-sentence report from the probation services. Judge Durcan granted liberty to the State to re-enter the case.