Category: News

THE centre of Ennis town should be developed as much as possible, in an effort to attract shoppers.

That’s according to the local Chamber of Commerce, in the wake of the County Development Plan’s publication yesterday.

As part of the retail strategy, which is incorporated into the Development Plan, the challenge for Ennis is to improve its retail representation, particularly through the provision of large modern shop units in the town centre, without harming its attractive historic character.

The strategy also states that there is scope for improvement in the range of non-bulky and bulky comparison goods offered in Shannon.

It states that the growth of retail floor space should be encouraged so that the town centre can improve its quality of service in Shannon.

Among the groups to make submissions was Ennis Chamber of Commerce. CEO Rita McInerney said there are several positive parts of the plan.

“The big message is to develop a strategy that keeps a core in the town. We would be in favour of that; developing the core of the town as much as possible. There are a lot of new places opening up and we want to make sure they stay and we have to foster that,” she said.

“The one thing I picked out of it [the plan] is the commitment to develop town centre improvement strategies to make town centres more attractive for shoppers,” said Ms McInerney.

She believes that the content of the plan is achievable, but everyone must work together to ensure it happens.

“It’s implementing the elements of the plan within the timeframe that is important. A lot of work has gone into it. It’s a vision. Now we need to make it a reality. Otherwise we are going to have more businesses closing,” she said.

“It’s a combination of efforts; the local authorities in conjunction with local businesses and ourselves. We all have a job to do. We all need to get on board and work progressively,” she said.

“It is very much a balancing act. We have a unique town centre. You need to provide customer choice and diversity. We are located between two cities that have high street stores. We have to think very carefully about what type of companies we want in terms of retail. Is it viable to compete with those? There is a lot of interest in Ennis from retailers but they find it difficult to get town centre locations of the right size. We need to look at combining units in the town centre whilst keeping the character of the town centre. Everything is achievable,” he said.

“Overall the vision of the plan is very good in terms of retail. We just have to follow through on them,” said Ms McInerney.

THE headquarters of Clare County Council has been put forward as the new home for former President Eamon de Valera’s recently restored 1947 Dodge Plymouth.

The Dodge served as the state car for first, President Sean T Ó Ceallaigh and then de Valera.

The car had been stored at the de Valera Library in Ennis since 1998 until it was damaged by floods in 2009.

It was transported to a workshop in Sixmilebridge where it was fully restored.

The project was overseen by vintage car enthusiast and independent member of Clare County Council, PJ Ryan.

Yesterday, the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind), paid tribute to Cllr Ryan’s work.

He told the adjourned June meeting of Clare County Council that Cllr Ryan had restored the car at a 40th of the normal cost.

He said Cllr Ryan had done the county a “unique honour” by restoring the car, a comment that prompted councillors to deliver a round of applause.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said there had been a number of important vehicles in the ownership of Clare County Council that could benefit from Cllr Ryan’s expertise.

He told the meeting that a 1930s fire tender is located in the Ennis Fire Station. Cllr Meaney asked if Cllr Ryan “could take a look at it”.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) suggested that the car be located in the foyer of Clare County Council or in a proposed new library building.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) objected, saying that the car should remain at its present location in the de Valera Library. He said the Council could not afford to waste resources in finding a new home for a vintage car.

Cllr Meaney said the car could be threatened by floods if it remained at the library. Cllr Curtin said the Council would prepare a report on the cost of re-locating the car.

In a motion submitted to the meeting, Cllr Curtin requested that the “manager inform the Council of the arrangements for the re-location of the Motor Taxation Office and the restored De Valera’s car within Áras Contae an Chláir.”

The meeting heard that the Motor Tax Office will be re-located to the Council’s main offices on New Road within the year.

A DUBLIN man has appeared in court in connection with an alleged burglary that took place in Sixmilebridge last year.

Simon Gentles (26) with a previous address at 23 Casement Grove, Finglas, Dublin, appeared at Ennis Circuit Court on Thursday.

However, the court was told that the accused no longer lives at this address. It is alleged that Mr Gentles committed a burglary at Ardkyle, Sixmilebridge on January 7 (2010). Mr Gentles is also charged with possession of a firearm, to wit a medallist over and under shotgun.

Counsel for Gentles, Michael Collins BL, told the court that his client had been forced to leave his home in Dublin because he had “received a threat on his life.” As a result, Mr Collins explained, his client had since been on the move from “place to place”.

Mr Collins described his client’s ongoing attempts to supply Gardaí with an address as a “work in progress” due to his present situation.

He told the court that Gardaí are satisfied that the threat against Mr Gentles is serious.

Detective Garda, Kevin O’Hagan, told the court that he agreed with Mr Collins’ summation of events. He said the only outstanding matter was for the accused to provide gardaí with an address and for that address to be deemed acceptable by gardaí.

Referring to the accused’s current situation, Judge Donagh McDonagh said: “Not to put too fine a point on it, he’s going into hiding”.

Judge McDonagh added that gardai had advised against Mr Gentles signing on at a local garda station.

Mr Gentles supplied a written ad- dress to Detective O’Hagan and Judge McDonagh. Detective O’Hagan said he accepted the address.

Judge McDonagh re-admitted the accused to bail on the condition that he resides at the given address. He also ordered that if Mr Gentles intends to change address, he must inform Detective O’Hagan of the change in address, in writing, prior to moving. The accused is due to appear in court again at a later date.

A WORLD title is to make its way to Sixmilebridge this week, after Tom Cusack secured honours in powerlifting in the US at the weekend.

The 36-year-old, from Ballyliddane, Sixmilebridge, won the title at the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Championships in Chicago, in the 82.5 kilo dead weight lift. He defeated opponents from 14 other countries in winning the title.

Tom secured entry to the finals after he won a European title in Malta last October, having previously won the national title.

Tom, who runs Hillview Nurseries, set up his own gym and trains daily by himself.

His proud mother, Ita, told

THE estimated 2,000 people who took part in the Tour de Burren cycling race over the weekend were able to drink the local tap water when they were finished after a decision by Clare County Council and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to lift a boil notice on the North Clare village. North Clare locals reacted angrily last year when the 2010 Tour de Burren, one of the areas biggest annual tourist events, was marred by an outbreak of pollution in the local water system. A number of boil water notices have been in place in the area over the last 12 months – the latest one lasting from February of this year until just last week. However, after the completion of the Ballyvaughan Water Supply Scheme, which collects the local water system to the Ennistymon water system, the boil water notice was finally lifted. “It is great news to have a new water supply for Ballyvaughan, we are delighted. It was a long trek for the businesses and people up here but now we have a fresh water supply coming from Licheen Lake, thanks to the council and all the work by the engineers. The funding was made available to the scheme and now the businesses have good water – we really welcome this development, it’s great news,” said Patrick O’Donoghue of the Ballyvaughan Community Development Group and the Burren Cycling Club.

“This time last year we had a boil notice and the council supplied us with a tank. This year we have the fresh water supply which is even better.”

The removal of the boil water notice applies to all water consumers on the Ballyvaughan Public Water Supply as well as people on the Muckinish, Gleninagh, Gregans, Knocknagrough and Newtown group water schemes.

In a statement last week, Clare County Council welcomed the completion of the € 5 million scheme.

“Clare County Council continues to work towards provision of sustainable services, which meet the highest standards expected and required by our customers. We are obliged to comply with the Drinking Water Regulations of 2007 as well as the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive,” it said.

“A major element in the Council’s overall water strategy is the Water Conservation Strategy, which sets out the need to conserve water in order to minimise costs of wastage as well as reducing the demand on sources. This strategy is being implemented through the Council’s Water Conservation Programme, which is continuing its work of identifying and rectifying major leakages in the water distribution system. Assistance, as always, in conserving water is greatly appreciated and contributes to a more efficient service to all.”

HE’S the Government’s assistant Chief Whip, thanks to Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s latest round of key appointments to his Fine Gael/Labour coalition, but another honour has come Deputy Joe Carey’s way this week.

All because the assistant chief whip has been voted the sexiest Clare TD in Dáil Éireann, with the Clarecastle deputy topping the poll in the Clare constituency when it comes to sex appeal.

Deputy Carey, who has been a member of Dáil Éireann since 2007, edged out his government party colleagues in the county for the title of Mr Clare Dáil Éireann in an on-line opinion poll that rates the sex appeal of all 166 members of the lower house of the Oireachtas.

The www.sexytd.com rates Deputy Carey, who turns 36 this Saturday, as the 45th sexiest member of Dáil Éireann, a rating that places him ahead of party colleague Pat Breen, who also in the top 50 with a rating of 49.

Hot on Deputy Breen’s heels is Labour’s Michael McNamara – the first time TD, who was in the same St Flannan’s College class as Deputy Carey, coming 52nd in the sexy TD roll of honour, while Fianna Fáil Timmy Dooley, much like that party nationally received a disappointing poll rating, coming at 106 in the online survey.

THREE Clare schools had their ingenuity rewarded when they collected silver awards in a national engineering competition.

Shragh National School, Kilrush, Scoil na Mainistreach in Quin and Parteen National school were given silver cert awards to mark the fact that they made it to the final and were in the top 20 schools in the country in the Engineers Ireland Xperience Engineering Competition 2011. The finals took place on Thursday last in The Helix in Dublin.

Parteen National School were entered in the final with their project entitled ‘Inventions in Sewage – the Toilet’.

Scoil na Mainistreach, reached the final in the junior category for their project entitled ‘Engineering a cleaner world with windmills’.

Shragh NS, in the same category for their project entitled ‘Wind Farms’.

Congratulating the teams, John Power, Director General of Engineers Ireland, said, “The Xperience Engineering project has a long history with schools around Ireland.

“This is the third year of the competition and each year I’m delighted with the level of interest and enthusiasm as well as the high calibre of projects that were entered.”

Last December all registered primary schools were sent out a pack from Engineers Ireland highlighting the theme for this year’s competition which was ‘Engineering a Cleaner World’. Over a four month period participants worked on their projects.

The competition is divided into two categories, the first targeting third/ fourth class and the second focusing on fifth/sixth class.

“As Ireland moves out of recession and progresses as a nation in areas including engineering, science and technology it’s important that we continue to nurture our students and provide them with the right environment to develop their talents.

“With this in mind I’d like to thank all the teachers who helped their students to develop their ideas to enter the competition.”

THE phrase ‘give us this day our daily bread’ will have particular significance at one mass service in Ennis over the coming months.

Renovations to Fahy Hall in Roslevan means that from June 25 onwards, Saturday mass will be held at O’Connors Bakery on the Tulla Road, Ennis.

A note in the Doora Barefield parish newsletter explained that final mass took place in Fahy Hall on Saturday, June 18.

It added, “Fahy Hall will then close until further notice to facilitate major development. From Saturday, June 25, onwards. Mass will take place each Saturday at 6pm at O’Connors Bakery, Tulla Road, Ennis. Ample parking available.”

Speaking yesterday, parish priest Fr Jerry Carey confirmed that Saturday mass would now be said on the grounds of O’Connors.

He explained, “O’Connor’s are facilitating us by welcoming us into a building attached to the main bakery to facilitate 6pm mass on Saturday.”

Work on Fahy Hall is expected to be completed by December. The project will see the complete re-development of Fahy Hall, including the addition of a kitchen, meeting rooms and toilets. Fr Carey explained that a new oratory would essentially provide a “24/7 church” for the local community.

The oratory, which will accommodate 95 people, will be linked with the community hall to facilitate larger crowds for Saturday mass and other, larger church services.

Fr Carey added, “The community centre will then be retained, almost as a separate part of the building, for the rest of the week.”

The project involves renovating and extending the existing community hall for community and ecclesiastical use, constructing a new site entrance, access road and carparking together with all associated site development works and services.

THE process of t ur ning the Vandeleur Walled Garden into a haven for Clare craftworkers has moved closer this week following t he news that funding may be available for creating an enter prise centre on the old landlord estate adjacent to Kil r ush.

To mark the Year of the Craft 2011, Kil r ush Town Council has backed a proposal by t he for mer town mayor, Cll r Tom Prendeville (FF), to play host to a craftworkers’ exhibition at t he conference cent re in the walled garden and to follow this up by seeking expressions of interest for the est ablishment of permanent on site craft units.

“This council, in association wit h the West Clare Task Force, has identified job creation opport unities in the area. The creation of a craft /micro-enter prise village within the garden has employment potential,” said Cll r Prendeville in launching his blueprint for new employment.

“Similar enter prises in Spiddal and Kil kenny have been an outstanding success. Stagi ng an exhibition of the best craft products i n Clare would be a first step in realizi ng t hat potential,” he added.

“Ar rangements are al ready being made to host a craft display in the Vandeleur Walled Garden during the summer,” responded town clerk John Cor r y.

“It is hoped at this display to gauge possible i nterest from members of the Clare Craftworkers Association to working from small craft units at the walled garden facilit y.

“Investigations are presently t aking place to deter mine the feasibility and cost of providing such units. We have also approached the CLDC re possible funding for such a proposal and t hey have indicated t hat they may look favourably on an application for funding for such a development,” he added.

“Maybe this craft exhibition could be held during the summer or maybe late aut umn,” said Cll r Prendevil le. “We should contact the Clare Craftworkers Assocation for thei r views on the matter,” he added.

THE race to succeeed Mary McAleese in Áras an Uachtaráin is getting congested, but when it comes down to the home straight it could be between two contenders from Clare, and even more parochially than that, candidates from the same parish.

They are Labour’s Michael D Higgins, who secured his party’s nomination to contest the election on Sunday and Pat Cox, who launched his campaign for Fine Gael nomination on Friday.

Higgins originally hails from Newmarket-on-Fergus, while Cox played his Clare card at the launch of his bid for the Park when talking about the years he spent living in Shannon when his family moved there in the 1960s.

Back then the emerging Shannon town was in the parish of Newmarket-on-Fergus, hence the real pros- pect of the contest of the presidential office turning into a very local affair if Cox manages to secure the Fine Gael nomination ahead of Máiréad McGuinness, Gay Mitchell and possibly Avril Doyle.

Already this week, Clare Fine Gael senator, Tony Mulcahy, who is Shannon’s first ever Oireachtas member told The Clare People he won’t be backing Pat Cox. “I will be either going for McGuinness or Mitchell,” he said.

However, Cllr Joe Arkins has said “for me Pat Cox is the candidate who has the knowledge, the experience and the judgement to be a candidate for the presidency. Cox is only electable Fine Gael candidate. He is the most able candidate presenting to Fine Gael”.

Councillors, parliamentary party members and members of the national executive will have a vote in deciding the Fine Gael candidate.