Category: News

THE summer sunshine at the weekend had an impact not just on the count y’s beaches and water ways, but also the local hospit al.

Yesterday mor ni ng (Monday) there were no patients in the newly opened and much publicised Medical Assessment Unit (MAU), and just “a handful of people” awaited t reatment in the Local Injur ies Unit.

Medical st aff put the low attendance down to the fine weather, as t raditionally accident and emergency cent res see a drop in patients during sunnier days.

The MAU i n Ennis was officially up and r unning yesterday and will remain open ever y Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Patients are to be refer red to the unit by thei r GPs if they have symptoms that may requi re hospit al admission such as chest infections and chronic diseases i ncluding asthma and diabetes.

Shannondoc and GPs can also admit medical patients di rectly to t he hospital outside the opening times of the MAU, following discussion wit h the medical and nursing staff.

GPs and hospital st aff wil l have time to familiarise themselves with the new system as patients have yet to come flocking through the door.

The 12-hour local emergency cent re was also replaced at the weekend with a local injuries unit that wi ll cater for minor injuries and illness.

The good weather seemed to have a positive affect on t he well being of t he people of Clare as less t han five people awaited t reatment at the injuries unit at 8am yesterday.

PLANS to rejuvenate Ennis’s historic town centre could be kick-started by the development of a covered market in the Lysaght’s Lane area of the town, according to a new report.

The lane, which leads into the lower market street car park, is identified as the preferred location for a new market in a report by the architectural firm behind Limerick City’s Milk Market Project.

Richard Rice of Healy Partners and Associates made the recommendation in a report commissioned by Ennis Town Council.

Rice was asked to examine the entire Ennis Market area, with particular reference to providing a covered market in the town.

Mr Rice’s preliminary report stated, “We recommend that the Lysaght’s Lane option be considered for development as the location for the Farmers Artisan Market. It is at the retail core of the town; is within a defined urban space that offers very positive development potential; establishes a pedestrian zone at the town centre; offers opportunities to local business to develop their premises towards the new market location.”

The council has given its backing to the project, which it says has the potential to “become the flagship legacy project” for the council’s final year.

On the removal of parking spaces from the Lysaght’s Lane area, the report stated, it “would have the positive effect of removing the need for car access from the roundabout at Market Place and create a pedestrian core in the town centre.

It added, “This would be seen as being a key goal in the creation of a safer market environment when considering the presence of children.”

The council recently held a public workshop with market stakeholders including local businesses, stall holders, Farmers Market cooperative and customers.

Richard Rice made a formal pres- entation for growing the Market from lower market street car park (Lysaght’s Lane), through the Mall to the Market Day sculpture and roundabout. The proposal would include some pedestrian areas for market customers with access to deliveries.

Town clerk Leonard Cleary explained that a proposal was also received for the council to examine opportunities for improved access to the area from adjacent streets.

“This idea sought to concentrate footfall to the benefit of traders in the market and traders on the adjacent streets as well as ease of customer flow. A specific suggestion in relation to access from O’Connell Street was proposed in this regard.”

Mr Cleary added, “It is recommended that the council progress the market report suggestions further through appropriate Part VIII planning and tender procedures. This project has the potential to become the flagship legacy project for the final year of this Ennis Town Council term.”

A FORMER Anglo Irish boss, who is currently being pursued by the bank for a repayment of part of his retirement package, is living in his dream home in Killaoe on the shore of Lough Derg.

John Rowan stepped down as the head of Anglo Irish Bank’s British operations in 2005 after former Anglo colleague David Drumm became chief executive. The 55 year-old and his wife Annette bought the property at Rahena Beg, Killaloe, which included almost 10 acres of land and a two-storey house, in August 2007.

There is no mortgage recorded on the property, according to land registry papers. Mr Rowan ran the bank’s UK operations for almost 18 years, building up the business from scratch from 1988 onwards.

The UK operations represented more than a third of the bank’s profits at the time of his resignation in 2005, a full three years before the bank needed State help and four years before it was nationalsied.

Proceedings against Mr Rowan, launched by the liquidated successor to Anglo Irish, IBRC, are to resume in the Commercial Court later this month.

IBRC is claiming that the resignation agreement drawn up for Mr Rowan does not comply with the Companies Act because it wasn’t approved by a general meeting of the bank. In an affidavit, Mr Rowan has said he is “horrified” that the bank is now seeking repayment more than seven years after he stepped down from Anglo, pointing out that it was not until late 2011 that IBRC claimed his retirement package was unlawful.

A REPORT on proposed changes to the market area of Ennis has recommended major improvements to access and the appearance of the town’s main market trading area.

A preliminary report by architect Richard Rice says trading activity should be retained in Market Street and Market Place but urges infrastructural improvements to both areas.

The report, commissioned by Ennis Town Council, looked at the entire Ennis Market area with particular reference to the provision of covered markets.

On the future of Market Street and Market Place, the report stated, “These market areas would represent the traditional market traders with larger stalls and farmers selling their vegetables directly to the public. In our consideration of these two locations, we would see market activity being retained at these locations but it would be important to improve the public realm in order to improve the overall visual appearance and function of the market in these areas.”

The report recommends widening public footpaths and reducing road width to make the area safer for pedestrian use.

It also proposes removing the existing market roundabout to “convert the footprint of this area to pedestrian space, incorporating the sculptures into that space”.

The assessment undertaken looked at a variety of locations in Ennis town. These looked at the existing markets locations at Market Place, Market Street, Garraunakilla.

The report also looked at other locations in the town centre including Wood Quay, Parnell Street car-park, Abbey Street car park, spaces adjacent to Temple Gate Hotel and Clare County Museum, Old Barrack Street and Lysaght’s Lane.

However in preliminary assessment, the report concludes that the “market needed to be retained at its historical base Market Place and Market Street with consideration of Garraunakilla (location of existing Farmers Artisan Market) and Lysaght’s Lane (existing surface car park located “behind O’Connell Street / Parnell Street”.

The report considered Garraunakilla to be “challenged as a market location”.

The report states that the footprint for expansion would involve taking in a public roadway; the location is removed from the retail core of the town. “The location is challenged by traffic being immediately adjacent to the market location which would be seen as a concern for parents and their children,” it adds.

The report strongly recommends the northern elevation of Garraunakilla to develop appropriate retail activity. It also recommends the inclusion of a covered area and a kiosk if Garraunakilla is retained as a Farmer’s Market.

A PROUD Cooraclare man has brought the attention of the European media to his home village this week, as more than 40 members of the foreign press visited the area on his invitation.

Professional sean nós dancer, and qualified block layer, Diarmuid Meade is the only brush dancer in the dancing troop Irish Celtic, Spirit of Dance.

The West Clare man has travelled all over France and Germany with the dance group, and the show has gained such popularity on the continent the French Press requested an opportunity to travel to Ireland to witness the Irish dance show in a traditional Irish setting.

The 21-year-old, who has been dancing with Irish Celtic for three years, quickly proposed an alternative to the usually tourist destinations and proposed Tubridy’s pub in Cooraclare.

And so for two nights last week Martin and Ann Tubridy wined and dined the members of the press, while Irish Celtic provided the entertainment supported by local acts and musicians.

Fáile Ireland prepared a full itinerary for the journalists taking them to local tourist attractions by day, in a bid to promote West Clare to French tourists.

Diarmuid joined the French-owned show after he was discovered by its producers on the TG4 show Jig Gigs .

“If I didn’t get it back then I would be in Australia now,” he told The Clare People .

Now he is working with a local builder in between tours with the show. He is currently preparing for a tour of Germany and an 11-week tour in France.

The son of Helen and Michael Meade, he has been dancing for years, providing entertainment at weddings and he was also a member of Hell for Leather with John Fennell’s School of Dance.

The Cooraclare man has not forgotten his roots as he is at pains to point out that he would not be where he is today if it were not for his local dancing teachers and support locally.

THREE Clare Garda stations could be going under the hammer, although the Office of Public Works would not confirm for certain last evening that all stations closed in the Clare district in the last two years would be put up for sale.

It is understood however that the recently renovated former Garda station in Broadford, the station in Carrigaholt and the one in Labasheeda are being put on the market.

The OPW said it would confirm later exactly which of the Clare properties would be for sale. It is currently trying to appoint estate agents to sell the former Garda stations.

“For disposal purposes the properties are divided into Lots. Interested agents may put forward proposals for any or all of the Lots which will be disposed of on a sole agency basis,” a spokesperson said.

Final date for receipt of applica- tions is by close of business on Friday, July 19.

“Agents will be expected to advise on the market value of the properties, arrange and fund the production of BER certificates. It is envisaged that unsold properties will be withdrawn from agents after six months,” according to the OPW.

Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes said his department has identified no alternative State use for the properties that are to go on the market, though he added he’s received requests from various community groups expressing an interest in some of the former stations.

TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Clare’s most experienced and high profile detectives who passed away suddenly on Wednesday while out jogging.

Detective Sergeant Michael Moloney (51), who was better known to many as Mick, had been out jogging in Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park when he was found in a collapsed state by a passer-by.

The emergency services were called but Det Sgt Moloney was pronounced dead at the scene.

The married father of three was central to a number of high profile cases in Clare in the last number of years, and was the lead detective in the infamous “Lying Eyes” case which resulted in the jailing of Ennis woman Sharon Collins for conspiring to murder her partner PJ Howard and his two sons in 2008.

Sgt Moloney was also one of the lead investigators in two separate murders, which concluded just two weeks ago, with the conviction of Joe Heffernan and Colm Deeley.

Mayor of Clare Joe Arkins (FG), who is also Chair of the Joint Policing Committee, described the late Garda as an “exceptional officer who served the force and his community with distinction”.

A Galway native Det Sgt Moloney served as a member of an Garda Síochana for more than 30 years, firstly in Dublin and later as a sergeant in Kilrush and Ennis.

He is survived by his wife Sadie, daughters Dáire and Orla, son Kevin, sister Mary, brothers Jerry and Diarmuid, mother-In-Law Teresa, extended family and friends.

Tributes were also paid at Ennis District Court on Friday. Ennis Courthouse manager Josephine Tone described Det Sgt Moloney as a “devoted father” and “devoted husband” to wife Sadie who attends court frequently in her work with the Probation Services.

Speaking on behalf of the Clare Law Association, Solicitor John Casey said Det Sgt Moloney was a “gentleman from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, both professionally and personally.” “He will be terribly and sadly missed,” added Mr Casey.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said there had been a “huge sense of shock and sadness at the Garda station” since Wednesday. He said Det Sgt Moloney was a “very accomplished investigator” and that Gardaí very grateful for the messages of support they had received from the local community.

Judge Patrick Durcan said a sudden death is a terrible thing that strikes people in a particular way.

He said it was obvious that Det Sgt Moloney was “intensely driven and intensely professional”. He said the entire community should be grateful for the dedication of gardaí like Det Sgt Moloney.

Following a large funeral in Ennis, Det Sgt Moloney was laid to rest in Templemaley Cemetery Barefield on Saturday afternoon.

THE sunshine has seen a major boost to retail operations all along the west coast of Clare in the last few days with all stores reporting a welcome surge in business.

Last weekend saw roads to and from a host of Clare beaches thronged and with forecasts suggesting at least ten more days of warm and sunny con- ditions, the mini-boom looks set to continue.

John McCarthy from the Lahinch Surf School is delighted with the upswing he has seen in the last two weeks.

“These weeks are usually our quitest weeks of the summer, but this year we have had a great turnout at our surf school. It’s geat to see all the local businesses doing so well, the waves are great out here, it’s been like California,” he told The Clare People .

Accommodation has been at a premium in West Clare and the famed Willie Clancy Week will also boost local trade and employment.

According to managing director of the Armada, John Burke, their combined hotels now employ around 225 people, which up up 35 from last year.

Speaking about their boost in business, John said, “It’s a combination of a number of factors, but the weather is certainly supporting it. We are working hard to maxamise opportunities, with additional seating outside, barbecues, a local activity club, strawberry and ice cream stands, and cold plates; customers are reacting well to these so far,” he said.

The weather has been a great boost for local companies specialising in water sports such as surfing, kayaking, cliffs cruises and stand up paddling, while bicycle hire has also seen a huge increase in demand.

Forecasters are predicting the good weather for at least ten days, with temperatures in Clare expected to hit the 28c mark mid-week.

CLARE County Council has commenced a countywide survey of an estimated 31,000 domestic water connections in the county ahead of the Government’s introduction of water charges.

However a council official said the local authority staff would not require access to private property while conducting their assessment of water connections.

Carmel Greene, Water Services Department with Clare County Council, said, “The survey duration will be very short in most cases, and so the surveyor will not usually be outside a property for more than five minutes. If any person tries to gain access to a property or home claiming to be part of the water survey team, access should not be given and the gardaí should be contacted immediately.

“Surveyors will carry official County Council photo identification and will be able to present a supervisor’s telephone number for verification.”

The survey work is being carried out on behalf of Irish Water, which is set to take over responsibility for the delivery of water services from local authorities at the beginning of next year.

As part of this work, Clare County Council will be carrying out a visual examination of the connection between the public water mains and householder’s water system.

The council advised there would be no interruption to the water supply and no digging or excavation will be carried out. It also confirmed that homes that are connected to a private water supply or Group Water Supply schemes would not be surveyed.

“As a result of the decision by government to commence a project of meter installation in domestic premises, Clare County Council is carrying out a survey of domestic water connections, in order to gather information to support the installation of water meters for domestic consumers,” explained Ms Greene.

“The survey involves an employee of Clare County Council carrying out a visual examination of the service connection or stop-cock at each property on the public water network. This will determine, in advance, if your home is likely to be suitable for a meter to be installed and, if so, the degree of work required during the installation of the meter.

“The stopcocks are generally located under the footpath at the entrance to the driveway or gate of each home. Householders will be notified in advance by Irish Water of the installation of meters, which is estimated to commence in the coming months.”

ENNIS Town Manager Ger Dollard has said he would be “concerned” if people with disabilities are having trouble accessing public toilets in the town.

It follows comments made by councillor Paul O’Shea (Ind), who called on the council to make access keys for the town’s two superloos available to people with disabilities.

At yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, Cllr O’Shea called for a radical overhaul of toilet facilities in Ennis. It costs the council almost € 67,000 per year to operate the automated public conveniences, known as superloos.

Cllr O’Shea described the cost as “extortionate” and called for an independent economic feasibility study on the cost of providing public toilets.

He said the council should provide different facilities that include baby changing facilities and facilities for members of the community with higher specific support needs.

“Public toilets have come on leaps and bounds since 1997,” he added.

Mr Dollard defended the council’s provision of public toilets in Ennis.

He stated, “The executive has previously done an assessment on traditional provision i.e. toilet block with the employment of toilet attendants against the more modern approach of superloos. The executive is in no doubt that when account is taken of the capital cost of provision, costs of operation and maintenance, payroll costs and other overhead and incidental cost that the automated public convenience model offers a cost effective solution and most importantly a standard of toilet facilities that is expected and required in modern cities and towns.”

He added, “The facilities currently in place by Ennis Town Council are modern fully accessible public toilet facilities. The council is not aware of issues regarding accessibility but is happy to examine any such issues in conjunction with the providers and operators of the automated public convenience.”

Mr Dollard said he would be “concerned” if members of the public with disabilities have trouble accessing toilets.

Fine Gael councillors Johnny Flynn and Mary Howard said the council should look at providing a third public toilet at the Parnell Street taxi rank.