Category: News

THE MUNSTERGROUP Clare Community Games competed in the Munster Community Games finals in U.L. on Sat last. They participated in Basketball, Camogie, Futsal, Gaelic Football, Hardcourt Tennis, Rugby, Judo, Rounders, Skittles, Soccer & Volleyball. For the outdoor games the conditions were difficult while the weather was dry the playing pitches were extremely wet. All teams put in a great effort. Some of the matches were extremely close.

Clare brought home 1 Individual and 5 team gold. While 4 teamsa brought home silver. The gold medal winners now have the opportunity to represent Clare in the National Finals in Athlone in August.

The Judo, Soccer & Volleyball are on 17th-19th August. Tag Rgby & Rounders are on 24th-26th August. R esult s 1st place Judo – Open Roisín Cahill – Doora/Barefield Rounders Boys U-15 – Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry – Jason Loughnane, Brian O’Sullivan, Charlie Carmody, Cathal Lynch, Jamie Lyons, Ronan Tuohy, Cian McInerney, Gavin Fawl, Eanna Chaplin, Tadhg Donnellan, Shane Flynn, Patrick Mulready Soccer Girls U-15 – Ennis St Johns Niamh O Brien, Aoife Glavin, Laura Brown, Orla Waters, Fridaous Karimu, Aoife Mcnamara, Rebecca Windall, Marese Hayes, Nina Jobonska, Natalia Fankucenska, Katie Kenneally, Sinead Mulcahy, Lauren Keane, Alma Conway, Katie Shannon Tag Rugby U-14 – Quin/Clooney – Kate Taylor, Ellie Rochford, Jennifer O’Neill, Darragh Ryan, David Rochford, Conor O’Brien, Barry Loughnane, Daniel Griffin, Mary Connelly, Eoghan O’Brien, Conor Mahon, Rachel Begg Volleyball Boys – Quin/Clooney – Fergal Coughlan, Connor Mahon, Douglas Reddan, Paul Reynolds, Colm Harrison, Eimhin Dunne, Sean Hehir, Eanna Barry, Brendan Dolan Volleyball Girls – Doora/Barefield – Gabrielade Silvo, Niamh Courtney, Claire Purcell, Sarah Jane O’Connell, Anna Courtney, Ali McCarthy, Mia Norton, Caitriona Ni Riordain, Orla Purcell, Emma Purcell, Enya Feerick 2nd place Basketball mixed U-11 – Quin/ Clooney – Cliodhna Ryan, Kirsty Begg, Alice Larkin, Juliette Cantwell, Sara Hassett, David Barbotin, Adam Deegan, Martin Fiain, Colm Cassidy Futsol Girls U-13 – Miltown Malbay – Aine Keane, Eimear Keane, Aoife Hehir, Grainne Meade, Aisling Clancy, Grainne Lynch,, Aine Talty, Niamh Blake Gaelic Football U-12 Girls – Doora/Barefield – Niamh O’Keeffe,Muireann Collins, Irene Neylon, Aoibhinn O’Loughlin, Trease McAuliffe, Laura McDonnell, Saidbh Kelleher, Aisling, Reidy, Chloe Towey, Amy Lenihan, Anna Lynch, Aisling Hannon, Shauna Murphy, Roisin Dixon, Maebh O’Connor, Gail Norton, Mia Norton, Saoirse O’Donoghue, Sally Brogan, Emily Fanning Hardcourt Tennis U-13 – Ennis St Johns – Shauna Kearney, Edith Kearney, Emilia Kovale, Tomiwa Mattheu, Conall Moore, Emmunale

AN ENVIRONMENTAL Impact Statement (EIS) into the proposed construction of a new pier in Doo- lin has indicated that the pier in its planned location will have little impact on the surfing wave at Crab Island but could have some impact on the lesser used wave at Ballaghaline Point. The EIS, which run to almost 500 pages, was completed by Malachy Walsh and Partners and commissioned by Clare County Council. The statement was required following an objection by a number of lo- cal surfers and the Lahinch-based West Coast Surf Club to the Part 8 planning permission granted to the project by Clare County Council in January of February of last year. According to the report, the development will have some “residual impacts” on tidal currents in the area but the changes that the impact will take place in front of or beside the new pier were “slight”. “The impact of the proposed development on Crab Island waves is not significant on water levels at and below mean high water neap and is only potentially significant at the highest water levels for the longer swell waves,” reads the EIS. “Impacts at waves approaching Ballaghaline Point are greater than at Crab Island but for the majority of wave periods and water levels are either not significant or occupy the borderline between not significant and potentially significant. “Increases in wave heights in the vicinity of the surfer’s access are low for low water levels, and only become potentially significant towards higher tide levels. Impacts on wave driven currents are minor significant.” The EIS in full has now been submitted for the approval of An Bord Pleanála. Submission can still be made to the planning authority in relation to the EIS so a final decision on the future of the development is not expected until later this year. Providing the planning application is approved, construction work on the pier is not likely to begin until early in the new year. Tue17July12

CLARE women are waiting longer than ever before to give birth to their first child with the average age of a first-time mother in the county now almost 31 years old. This means that Clare mothers are amongst the oldest in the country with only Galway and Cork City recording older first time mother.

New figures produced by the Cen- tral Statistic Office show that only 30 teenage births took place in the county last year with more mothers giving birth between the age of 30 and 40 than between 15 and 30.

According to the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, the number of babies born to teenagers has dropped by 44 per cent over the last 10 years. This represents the lowest level of teenage pregnancies since the foundation of the organisation.

“It is welcome that we are seeing a decline in the number of births to teenagers. This year for the first time, we have evidence from a number of sources that indicates why the birth rate for teenagers has declined,” said Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency.

“There have been improvements in sex education, the age of first sex is stable at 17 years of age for men and increased slightly for women to 18 years of age. Ninety per cent of young people are using contracep- tion when they have sex for the first time and 80 per cent of young people use contraception every time they have sex.”

A total of 1,748 children were born to Clare-based parents last year or just under five new babies per day. Of these babies 887 were male with just 861 females babies being born. The birth rate in Clare last year was 14.9, which was well below the Munster average of 15.5 and the national average which was 16.3.

ANGLERS, beach users and ferry operators in the North Clare area are on high alert following satellite imagery which shows a large swell of sea algae approaching the Clare coast. The large bloom contains a phytoplankton known as Karenia which makes the water appear a reddish colour and is harmful to shell fish and bottom feeding fish.

The bloom is harmless to humans but can cause major fish deaths by cutting off sunlight to shellfish and other species which live at the bottom of the water.

The bloom can also disrupt boats and sea anglers by tangling up turbines and fishing lines.

Unlike river or lake algae bloom, which are often the result of man made pollution or run off from farm land, blooms of sea algae are naturally accruing.

However, it is rare that a large bloom like this would come ashore on the Irish west Coast at this time of year.

The presence of this bloom is being blamed on the redirection of the Gulf Stream south of its normal position this year – a change which is also partially to blame of the unseasonable wet and cold summer that we have experienced to date.

The bloom last week forced the closure of two beaches in Donegal and North Clare locals are keeping a keen eye on the sea waters, especially in Galway Bay.

“The bloom is just another element of the unusual summer that we have had this year as a result of the Gulf Stream positioning itself more southerly than we would expect,” said James Linnane of the Lisdoonvarna/ Fanore Sea Angling Club.

“This has resulted in lower sea temperatures but also in increased onshore winds. These wind can create bigger than normal swells so the club has to be very very careful to study the weather before we host a sea angling event this year.”

A NEW information booklet for school leavers was launched yesterday by Clare’s 2011 minor winning captain and Munster minor hurler of the year Tony Kelly

The booklet has been produced by The Citizens Information Service (CIS) in Clare to address what they say is a “serious lack of knowledge amongst school leavers about their rights and responsibilities when they first take up paid employment”.

Paul Woulfe, CIS Manager, explains, “With many young people after leaving school and now entering first time employment it is important they are aware of a wide range of employment and equality legislation that has been enacted to protect them.”

Speaking at the launch, Tony Kelly said, “It is really important that young people have access to information when they need it. This resource pack and booklet is filling a vital role in ensuring that young people are aware of their rights across a variety of topics.”

He encouraged young people to make sure they are informed whether its leaving home for the first time as a third-level student and renting accommodation or pursuing another option such as the world of work.

Mr Woulfe says, “We also receive a significant number of calls from people who have no idea as to how their tax or PRSI contributions will be calculated or even as to whether or not their employer will be making these contributions on their behalf.”

“You should receive a pay slip with your wages/salary, which indicates tax, PRSI and union dues deducted from your wages.

“At the end of the tax year you should receive a Form P60 which indicates how much you earned, how much tax you paid, how much PRSI and the number and class of PRSI contributions. This is an important document, which you should keep and will be required by the tax office when you go to claim tax back.” Copies of the booklet are available from your local Citizens Information Centre,” he added.

A NEW website has been launched to help promote the folklore and oral history of County Clare, with the story tellers taking centre stage.

The site, www.clarememories.ie, is a result of the work of Cuimhneamh an Chláir, the Clare Oral History and Folklore Group, who have been documenting the memories of Clare’s oldest citizens for the last two years.

The voluntary group have already amassed considerable collection of material amounting to more than 330 interviews with people aged between 65 and 106.

The website, which was supported by the Clare Local Development Company, provides information on Cuimhneamh an Chláir’s collection programme as well as their outreach and education initiatives. Viewers can also play samples of the groups recordings as well as learn about aspects of Clare’s folklore, like old Irish words used by older people in Clare as well as Biddy Early, Bríd Uí Choisteala and other folklore figures in the county. An interactive map shows an example of where the group have conducted interviews across Clare and a sample of the summaries conducted for each interview can be read. Of the 300 plus people interviewed by Cuimhneamh an Chláir, more than 40 have passed away, including ten people who were over one hundred years old when they were interviewed.

According to Frances Madigan of the Cuimhneamh an Chláir Executive Committee, the group aims to continue with its intensive collection programme in the coming years andwill also maintain their ambition of taking the material back out the public at every opportunity.

“It’s vital that we make the material as available as we can to the people of Clare in the short term through our listening room concept, ‘Come here till I tell ya’ and through radio programmes as well as public workshops. However in the long term, we aim to make all the material available to the people of Clare and are working towards that on a continuous basis. Features will be added to the website over the coming months based on collected material all across County Clare, exploring themes such as farming in the old days, electrification, beliefs, and calendar customs.”

Former Mayor of Clare and founding member of the group Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said, “Just three years ago, Cuimhneamh an Chláir was an idea. Now we have built one of the largest and most successful folklore collection groups in the country.”

LAST Wednesday’s temporary loss of water supply to parts of Ennis and its surrounds was a result of a burst mains on a main trunk supply from the Drumcliff reservoir.

Clare County Council identified the problem quickly and worked through Wednesday night to ensure supply was fully restored within 24 hours.

During the disruption Ennis General Hospital was without water for a short time but fire services using water tankers ensured that hospital supplies of water were unaffected by the loss of supply.

According to Senior Engineer with Clare County Council Sean Ward, the discovered leak was a serious one.

“On Wednesday morning we observed high flows through our district meter on Sandfield Road, indicating that there was a major leak or burst in that district.

“We shut the district off at 10am, located the burst and started to repair it,” he told The Clare People , adding that very quickly people were in contact with the council to report water issues.

“CCC staff immediately started inspecting the network to locate any other bursts that might account for this loss of pressure.

“With the assistance of the operating contractor’s staff at Drumcliffe water treatment plant, a major leak was found on one of the two trunk supply mains from Drumcliffe reservoir to the town,” Sean said.

To protect the town’s main water supply, the council took the decision to temporarily cut off the main supply route in question.

The burst section of main was exposed by 6pm and repaired by 9.30pm. Ennis area staff then worked during the night and again early the following morning to ensure that supply was getting back to all areas. Mr Ward praised the co-operation of local landowner Pat Tierney, who facilitated the early repair work.

“Clare County Council would like to record its appreciation to Pat Tierney, the owner of the land on which the trunk main burst occurred, for readily facilitating entry to his land to allow the big main to be repaired this greatly assisted the speed of our response,” he added.

CLARE has officially suffered its wettest June since 1947, with farmers across the county facing major bills this winter as grass growth and fodder harvesting are both well behind normal.

According to new figures produced by Met Éireann, June 7 was the wettest June day recorded at Shannon Airport in 65 years.

These record rainfalls have been compounded by unusually low levels of sunshine in the county – which have been disturbing beach users and holiday makers, as well as the county’s farmers.

Indeed, according to the the Irish Meteorological Service, Shannon Airport recorded its dullest June since 1993, 19 years ago, with average temperature for the month also below normal. This is despite the average temperature for the month being higher in Clare, at 13.6 degrees, than anywhere else in the county.

This unseasonably wet June has created a situation where many Clare farmers have yet to harvest their first cut of silage. A number of dairy farmers in the county have been forced to return cattle to shed at night and supplement their feed in order to keep milk supply up.

“This is adding serious cost to Clare farmers. They are keeping them inside and there is a big extra cost on meal in order to keep cows milking. If you let cows back this time of the year it is impossible to get them back again,” said Martin McMahon, Clare President of the ICMSA.

“This is a disaster for farmers. The ground conditions are unbelievable we never saw land as wet before as we are seeing it now. The big problem is coming down the line. A lot of farmers need two week of good fine weather before some farmers in the county will be able to cut anything.

“They are in trouble now but that is going to put them in serious trouble this winter when they don’t have the feed to feed their cattle. There are some farmers who would normally do two cuts of silage and they haven’t even got their first cut in yet.

“Farmers don’t know whether to chance cutting the land or not. Farmers are getting desperate and taking chances and they are needing up with fodder down for maybe a week or more and that means that the quality in the fodder will not be there.

“There is going to be a big scarcity of fodder over the winter – and the quality is going to be very poor,” he said.

THE team behind the Ballyvaughan Bay Hop have vowed to restart the commuter ferry service as soon as possible, despite the cancellation of the last three days of sailing during its week-long trial.

The service was halted on the morning of Thursday, June 31, with “unforeseen circumstances” on behalf of the chartered boat operator cited as the reason.

All sailings for Friday and Satur- day, July 1 and 2, were completely booked out, with more than 70 per cent of seats on the June 31 sailing also booked.

According to Gwen Ryan of Ballyvaughan Bay Hop, everyone who booked tickets for these days will receive a full refund.

“It was very disappointing that the service was cancelled but, on the up side, the few days we did run the service have indicated a huge demand and interest in this transport option,” said Gwen.

“It has also demonstrated for a lot of people, just how central the harbour is in Galway City. And we have learnt a valuable lesson from the unexpected aborting of the service. The project group will be meeting soon to reflect on the results of the trial service and to plan the next stage in the project.

“I can’t shed any light on what these next steps might be until we have met and decided them but we will certainly have to look at the funding options available to source a cabined passenger rib and we will have to engage Clare County Coun- cil on the possibility of getting a floating pontoon for passengers so that they can disembark comfortably.

“We have a lot of work to do yet before the service is up and running on a permanent basis but our efforts to date have been buoyed by the fantastic reaction and support the trial service received.”

The fastest crossing time recorded during the trial was 27 minutes more than an hour quicker than the average commute time by car of the same journey.

THE inclement weather put a dampener on the fun in Kilrush at the weekend as almost all of the Féile Sona festival had to be postponed.

Organisers decided on Thursday night to call off all the outdoor family events as the weather forecast pointed to a complete wash out.

The brainchild of Cllr Ian Lynch (FG) and Christine Murphy, the successful family fun weekend was in its third year.

“We hope to run the Saturday and Sunday events again later in the summer when the weather improves,” said Cllr Lynch.

Describing the weather so far this summer as a disaster, he said a heavy rainfall would make family entertainment such as the bouncy castle very dangerous.

As well as a health and safety risk, running the event under such circumstances was causing a headache for the event’s insurers.

It was therefore decided on Thursday evening to call off most of the events.

Cllr Lynch said it was very disappointing to have to make the decision especially as the weekend had grown so much in the last year with the FAI coming on board this year.

Not all was lost however as two of the indoor evening events went ahead.

The seven-aside soccer competition took place as did the singing pubs competition.

The competition involved all of the local pubs putting on a 30-minute act, with four pubs taking part in the final on Sunday night.