Category: News

ONE of Clare’s most popular tourist locations is to undergo a major facelift with the news that almost € 190,000 in government funding has been allocated to the Lahinch Promenade. Indeed, there was a second major funding boost for North Clare with the news that a further € 145,000 has been allocated towards the improvement of lighting in Liscannor.

Both allocations, which total € 323,000, were made available under the Department of Agriculture’s Marine Leisure and Marine Tourism Capital Infrastructure Development Programme.

The Lahinch allocation will be used to redevelop access and slipways and the Liscannor end of the promenade while the money earmarked for Liscannor itself will be used to totally replace the surface of the pier and improve public lighting.

“This is a big boost for Lahinch and Liscannor and it will also allow Clare County Council to keep on a number of their part-time workers throughout the winter,” said Senator Martin Conway (FG).

“This will greatly improve the look and the access in both locations and will hopefully encourage more of the tourists travelling to the Cliffs of Moher to stop off. I am asked over and over about the parking charges in Lahinch, and if they are being ringfenced, and maybe there is an issue there, but I am very happy to be able to welcome this funding at least.”

When parking charges were first introduced in Lahinch they were done under the condition that any proceeds from the charges would be reinvested in Lahinch.

This issue has been raised by a number of councillors at recent North Clare area meetings of Clare County Council, with specific attention being paid to the last of public toilet facilities in Lahinch and a the need for upgrade work, including basic security measures, on the Liscannor Road car park.

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.

AN INTERNATIONAL run in memory of two young Clare people has raised € 28,000 for two local charities.

The Hurley-Hoey Memorial Run/ Walk and Jog took place on March 9 this year in Doora-Barefield, while simultaneous events under the Hurley-Hoey banner were held in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Dubai, Capetown, New York, Madrid and Buenos Aires.

The event was organised in memory of Eilish Hurley, who died from cancer aged just 30 years old, and Ger Hoey, who died suddenly while out running aged just 40 years.

The proceeds from the event went to two organisations – St Anne’s School in Ennis, which provides education to pupils who have special educational needs and the Children’s Ark Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.

Each charity received € 14,000 each.

Eilish’s sister Fiona is a nurse on the children’s ward.

“As a children’s nurse working in the Ark, I nominated this unit as I could see first-hand how the money raised could be used to make the lives of parents and children a little easier in particular the parents of children with oncology or life life-limiting conditions who spend prolonged periods in hospital,” said Ms Hurley.

“The event was an enormous success with in excess of 2,000 people registering and taking part,” she added.

“Much of the success of the event was attributed to the excellent organisation and dedication of a committee chaired by Lorcan Hassett. I would like to thank to all those who supported the event and thus contributed to its success.”

CLARE County Council has abandoned a policy which has, in the past, seen one per cent of the money invested on major infrastructure projects being used for public arts works at the locations of the project.

It emerged at yesterday’s September meeting of Clare County Council that the local authority is employing a new strategy, which allows the council to pool the one per cent “arts money” associated with major infrastructure. The money is then used to fund arts projects in the general area of a major infrastructure projects rather than a single visual arts project at the location.

This change of policy came to light following a motion put forward by Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind). While commending the work of county Arts Officer, Siobhan Mulcahy, Cllr Curtin said there was an “omission” concerning the € 17 million sewage schemes for Quilty, Mullagh, Feakle and Scariff.

These schemes, which were completed in 2011, should have resulted in € 170,000 in arts projects.

“There has been an omission in the answer. I am alluding to the schemes completed in 2011 in Quilty, Mullagh, Feakle and Scariff. I am concerned as to what has been done to mark the scheme in the east and west of the county,” he said.

Responding to Cllr Curtin, director of Services Bernadette Kinsella said that “rather than advocate the one percent for arts, it is the council policy to pool the funds for a more strategic use”. She also indicated that “significant” projects would be forwarded in the east and west of the county next year.

It is not clear if this one per cent funding from infrastructure projects will be used to fund projects that, in the past, would have been funded from other sources.

Overall Arts Council finding for Clare has fallen dramatically over the last five years.

LAHINCH will be the hub of the Irish hip-hop world next weekend for a festival that brings the best local and national talent to the Banner County. Senses is a three-day event that runs from September 27 to 29 at venues in the seaside town.

Organisers say the event aims to promote the existing youth culture within Lahinch and examine how interaction with new media and art forms can help promote a modern local arts environment.

Senses kicks off in Flannagan’s Bar on Friday night with a show by Community Scratch collective, Deviant, Mikey Fingerz and Ennis DJ / Producer MyNameIsJohn.

Local MCs Bubba J and God Knows will hold a beatbox showcase at the T-Shirt shop on Saturday, September 28. Some of the county’s brightest young DJs and beatboxers will per- form at the open-air event.

Clare filmmaker and photographer, James Skerritt will curate screenings of short films on Saturday, September 28, at Flannagan’s Bar.

James is a well known as a local surf photographer, having worked on a large number of local film projects and directed 2012’s surf-comedy ‘The Element’.

James will be curating a screening of a number of short surf films from around the country, highlighting the creative talents of young Irish surfers and also the dramatic scenery unique to the coastline around Ireland.

The festival concludes on Sunday, September 29, with a special trad special by the people behind hit Limerick club night, ‘A Love Supreme’. The event takes place at the Nineteenth from 3pm to 8pm.

The Love Supreme team will be inviting renowned Clare flautist Conor Crimmins, along with a host of other local talent, to join them on the day for a very special trad performance. Also spinning on the day is one of Ireland’s finest producers and DJs, T-Woc from Dublin’s Alphabet Set collective.

Senses Festival Lahinch is supported by the Clare Arts Office, The Claremont, Flanagans Bar, The Nineteenth, Danny Macs, The Celtic T-shirt Shop. For further information log onto sensesfestivallahinch.wordpress.com and check out the Facebook page.

FUNDING cutbacks has forced Clare Youth Services to close two popular youth cafés in Ennis, it has emerged.

The cafés, which are located in Ennis town centre, were both drug and alcohol free areas. One of the buildings has closed completely, while the youth services have been forced to reduce the opening hours of another facility for young people.

Speaking at a meeting to discuss issues around alcohol misuse, Clare Youth Services CEO, Margaret Slattery said the Government must invest more money in preventative services.

She said the service had suffered a 40 per cent cut in funding over the past three years, a situation that forced the closure of alcohol-free facilities for young people in Ennis.

Ms Slattery said three groups have approached the service appealing for the cafés to be re-opened.

“It would cost around € 14,000 to re-open the cafés but we just don’t have the resources,” explained Ms Slattery.

Retired consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee told the meeting there is a chronic lack of treatment programmes for young people in Ireland with alcohol and substance misuse problems.

He said, “We have all these young people on Saturday night and Sunday morning having all these problems but where do you go for your detox.

Dr Bhamjee continued, “How do you get detox? The GPs will put you on a detox programme but that’s only for certain selected people. The psychiatry hospitals don’t do it anymore. The Department of Health has no policy on treatment programmes. The mental health commission doesn’t see alcohol and drug abuse as their responsibility. So who is responsible to help these people? I know we have Bushypark and other places but first you have to detox the person and there is nowhere to go.”

Former Labour party councillor and now Independent councillor Paul O’Shea described as a “dis- grace” the lack of treatment centres for young people in Ireland.

Cllr O’Shea said the situation with alcohol abuse has grown so bad in Ireland that the HSE should consider using separate Accident and Emergency units for people presenting with drink related problems.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) called for the off-trade sale of alcohol to be priced out of the market. He said pubs, restaurants and other businesses are being forced to deal with the effects of high volumes of alcohol consumed before 10pm.

THERE will be no big screen put up for public viewing of the All-Ireland hurling final replay on September 28.

A crowd of between 1, 500 and 3,000 people watched the drawn match between Clare and Cork on September 8 on a big screen in the Abbey Street car park.

The screen was erected at a cost of € 8,000 to Ennis Town Council.

However in a statement last week, town manager Gerard Dollard the timing of the replay for an evening throw-in on a Saturday evening presented “a different set of circumstances”.

He explained, “The logistics associated with the replay are significantly more complex than a Sunday afternoon showing. The revised ticket prices for the replay at Croke Park should make it more accessible to families with the reduced price for all tickets, including juvenile tickets at € 10. The cost and weather factors must also be taken into consideration. The council was delighted to stage such a family-friendly occasion last Sunday but due to cost, logistical and weather factors does not plan to repeat a similar open-air event for the senior replay.”

Local community activist Dermot Hayes is calling on the council to re-consider the decision. He said, “The big screen does not have to be in Abby Street car park. It could easily be in the Fair Green and remain erected until the home coming on Sunday. Our elected councilors should support the citizen, hurlers and fans.

We have seen many dark days in Clare in the last few years. The hurlers of both under 21 and senior have brought us great joy and excitement. It unites us as citizens of county and it brought so many families and friends together. A gathering in Ennis would bring to life a real passion that could be captured on film and used world wide in promotion.

The council has confirmed that a joint homecoming for the Clare senior squad and the All-Ireland winning under 21 panel will take place at Tim Smythe Park (Fair Green) on Sunday, September 29.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of one of Clare’s biggest GAA clubs has written to the President of the GAA requesting that a portion of the gate receipts from the replayed All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final between Cork and Clare on September 28 be allocated towards the respective county holiday funds. Pat Daly, who is Chairman of Éire Óg GAA Club, Inis, and is a former Mayor of Clare, said the players had trained nine months of the year to provide the people of Ireland with one of the most memorable sporting displays ever seen at Croke Park and should be rewarded for their efforts.

The sitting member of Clare County Council has suggested that funds of € 200,000 and € 100,000 respectively be provided to the All Ireland Hurling Championship winning and losing sides.

A NORTH Clare councillor has challenged Clare County Council to release all cor respondence with has taken place between the local authority and the National Roads Authority (NRA) in relation to Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon.

Lahinch councillor Bill Slatter y (FG) yesterday submitted a motion concerning the procedure used for de-listing buildings in Clare. Councillors are prohibited from submit- ting motion on local issues, but Cllr Slattery used his motion on de-listing to bring up the controversial buildings at Blake’s Corner – which are both listed structures.

A joint plan between Clare County Council and the NRA to develop the junction has been stalled for a number of years because no funding is available to complete an Envi ronmental Impact Statement (EIS) – even though the local authority has already invested a sizable about of money to purchase the buildings.

Councillor Slattery was ruled as being out-of-order when he raised the issue of Blake’s Corner but argued that he only raised it because the council has not responded to requests for information made at the Ennistymon area meetings, where local issues can be raised.

“This is no longer a North Clare issue, it is a Clare issue, it is a national issue. Why did the council, for some reason, spent the money [on buying the buildings at Blake’s Corner] without having them checked out and having them de- listed? ” he asked.

“We have brought this up for the past two years at the local area meeting and we are getting no responses from the council and no response from the NRA. We want to know what is going on with this development.”

Cllr Slattery was suppor ted by fellow North Clare councillor Michael Kelly (FF).

“The difficulty is huge. We are putting huge investment into tourism and this is being stifled. This is going on for more than 20 year, it has been discussed and analysed out of existance,” he said.

County Engineer Tom Tiernan said he would provide Cllr Slattery with the information he asked for if it was in his possession and of it was appropriate to do so.

“At the end of the day the primary interest is to resolve the traffic problem at that junction. We are doing everything we can to move this forward. The next step is to forward a planning application to an mBord Pleanála and get an EIS completed,” he said.

LOCK UP your houses and have a neighbour keep an eye on your property when going to the All-Ireland hurling final replay is the message from gardaí and community alert groups alike as criminals target an empty county on September 28th.

Following a spate of burglaries and attempted break-ins all over Clare on September 8th, the date of a drawn final, Banner supporters are being warned in advance to secure their property before heading to Croke Park.

A number of premises, including one closed public house, was targeted while the Banner took on Cork in Croke Park nine days ago.

Recent incidents have shown that criminals are now taking note of local events as well as hurling matches to strike at houses and premises.

As a result communities in parts of Clare are being forced to arrange for neighbours to police their property when they attend weddings and funerals – as organised groups of burglars have started targeting major community events.

According to the Spancilhill/Clooney Community Alert Group, members are working around the clock trying to keep their area safe.

The group have recently agreed a partnership with Barefield Community Alert in an effort to pool resources and help maintain cover.

“There is no doubt in my mind that these criminals are targeting specific events in specific areas. Weddings, funerals, big matches – anything that they can find out about in the paper,” said Joe Corbett of the Spancilhill/Clooney Community Alert Group.

“When my mother died last year I had to arrange for two people to look after the property while the funeral was on. People are living in fear. It used to be the case that you could lock the door behind you and be confident that your property would be safe, but that is not the case anymore. A number of places were targetted during the the All-Ireland final, which is a really horrible thing for people to come home to.”

His comments come as gardaí investigate a spate of burglaries across Clare.

In the seven days between September 6 and 15, gardaí recorded multiple burglaries in areas such as Mullagh, Crusheen, Corofin, Kilmaley, Ennis and Killaloe.

Tinerana House, the 19th century mansion believed to be owned by Euromillions winner Dolores McNamara, was among the properties hit by criminals while all taps, light fittings and a copper cylinder were stolen from one Killaloe property.

Crime Prevention Officer, Sgt Joe Downey, is encouraging people attending major events to leave someone behind to look after property.

He added, “If that isn’t possible then hopefully they would have alarms or some form of electronic surveillance at the house.”

EVERY house in Ennis will be contacted by the Ennis Evangelical Church over the next week as they attempt to revive religious faith in the county town and bring Clare people back to God.

More than 10,000 postcard style messages will be delivered in Ennis in the coming days inviting people to re-engage with God. The postcards, which have been dubbed the “Ask Campaign”, invite Ennis people to devise one question which they would like God to answer.

The Ennis Evangelical Church are hoping to collect the questions and answer as many of them as they can – using the bible to gain the answers. A spokesperson from the church told The Clare People yesterday that the campaign has not been organised to convert people to the evangelical church – but was instead organised to encourage people to speak to God.

“The aim is to deliver the message to every single residential property in Ennis. Our aim is to try and let people know that they can have a relationship with God,” said Philip Pain of the Ennis Evangelical Church.

“We are relational beings and we were made that way. He wants us to have a relationship with him so I think it is quite reasonable for us to ask him questions. I think he wants us to come to him with our hopes and concerns.

“We would also like to understand the concerns of the people here in Ennis, where our church is based. It is all very well being spiritual but it has to be real as well. We want to understand the issues that are on people’s hearts.”

The church has already received a number of responses from people and will soon begin to answer these questions through their website. The Ennis Evangelical Church stressed they did not instigate the “Ask Campaign” as a means of recruiting people into their church.

“We really don’t care where people go to church and do their worship. The important thing is that they get to know the living God and are saved for eternal life. Whether they choose to come to church with us on a Sunday morning or attend one of our bible studies classes is not the issue, the issue is that souls are saved for the lord and his glory,” continued Mr Pain.