Category: News

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.

THE family of an Ennis woman who died in hospital two-and-a-half years ago has taken legal action against the HSE.

Mother-of-thirteen Tina Sherlock (39) from Childers Road, Cloughleigh, Ennis, died at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick on December 11, 2008, due to multiple organ failure, secondary to sepsis.

An inquest into her death last week returned a verdict of medical misadventure.

Ms Sherlock’s family contend that her condition was never properly diagnosed and have begun High Court proceedings, which will take place next month.

A solicitor for the Sherlock family said, “She had presented to the health services in excess of a dozen times, including five in-patient stays between June and December 2008 complaining of abdominal pain. As a consequence of complications, she miscarried in July 2008, developed post operative complications following subsequent surgery in November and December 2008 and died of multi organ failure secondary to sepsis on 11th December 2008.”

A spokesperson for the Sherlock family told The Clare People , “Martina’s heartbroken family are relieved that the inquest is now concluded. It is the family’s wish that no-one again should have to suffer what Martina went through and that no other family should have to endure the agony of losing a loved one in such circumstances.”

AMID fears that a radical overhaul of local representation to include the abolition of town councils and drastically reduced numbers of county councillors, Clare’s first citizen has leapt to the defence of local government in the county.

Speaking to The Clare People this week, Mayor of Clare, Christy Curtin has said the key to the survival of local government in the county lies in the development of closer links with the community.

“Going forward, in this time of scarce resources, local government must change,” said Cllr Curtin. “It must bond with the community more, become closer with the local community. That’s the way forward. I always believed in the concept of local government and I believed in the representation of people at that level.” He made his comments ahead of this Friday’s ceremony to mark Clare’s distinguished history in local and national politics. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore unveil a roll of honour in Áras an Chláir to those who have represented the county in the Dáil and Seanad as well all those elected to Clare County Council since the first post-independence election in 1925.

“There was a need to mark these people – those public representatives who have worked for the people, particularly those since the foundation of the state,” said Mayor Curtin.

“They were the first crop of politicians in a free Ireland and it was right to mark their contribution. As Mayor of Clare I felt I had to do that. This was one of the projects I set out for myself.

“For posterity it was only right that we put a record of service in county Clare. Putting it in Aras an Chlair, the premier civic building in the county. There has been some legendary characters to represent the people of Clare. They all had their own style, their own character and all made their own contribution in their own way. They had the supreme mandate from the people, that’s the vote,” added Mayor Curtin.

FINE GAEL’S Bill Slattery and Seán McLoughlin were co-opted to Clare County Council, at its monthly meeting yesterday.

Last Monday, the co-option of both men was postponed for a week as the council meeting was adjourned due to a number of bereavements.

Both men were welcomed to the council yesterday, where they were wished well in their new positions. The seats were vacated after their party colleagues, Tony Mulcahy (Shannon Electoral Area) and Martin Conway (North Clare Electoral Area) were appointed to the Seanad.

Cllr Slattery, whose grandfather served as a TD, said he was nervous on the special occasion.

“I will liaise with Martin Conway and my fellow members to ensure I work to the best of my ability,” he told the meeting.

He recalled his younger days in school when his then teacher, the current mayor Christy Curtin (Independent), dissected a rabbit in class. “I hope now that you don’t allow me to be dissected here,” he quipped.

Councillor John Crowe (FG) pro- posed Seán McLoughlin, who has been a Shannon town councillor since 2004. He paid tribute to his work over the years, particularly in 2007 when he served as mayor of the town at a time there was public outcry when Aer Lingus pulled the Heathrow slots from Shannon Airport. His party colleague Sonny Scanlon said that Cllr McLoughlin was joining “a very pragmatic and collaborative team” in the Shannon Electoral Area, where Cllrs Patricia McCarthy, Pat McMahon, John Crowe, Gerry Flynn and PJ Ryan were working very well. Cllr McLoughlin said he intended to work with councillors in the Shannon Electoral Area over the coming years and said he will focus on Shannon Airport during this time on the council. “Shannon Airport is still suffering. That’s something I’m going to be fighting for,” he said. Several councillors warmly welcomed the newcomers to the chamber. Fianna Fáil councillor Richard Nagle said that Mr Slattery has been a “tremendous community activist and has made a huge contribution to the life of North Clare”.

Independent councillor Patricia McCarthy congratulated her neighour in Shannon, Cllr McLoughlin. She said he worked well with her during the Aer Lingus Heathrow issue in 2007 when she was mayor of the county and he was mayor of Shannon town.

Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) said the two new councillors had “a very hard act to follow” and said the two newlyelected Senators were “great team players”.

Tributes were also paid yesterday to Fine Gael TDs Pat Breen, who has been appointed the Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Trade and Foreign Affairs and Joe Carey, who has been appointed the assistant government chief whip.

AFTER 34 years in existence, the Ennis Evangelical Church has found a permanent home of worship.

The official opening of the new church will take place this Saturday (June 25) at unit six, block E of the Quin road business park, at 3pm.

Church member Margaret Angland explained that the church was founded in Ennis in 1997 by a small group of people who met regularly for prayer and bible study. Over the past 34 years the Ennis Evangelical Church has rented various premises to meet, worship, pray and study. Now the church has managed to purchase and renovate its own premises.

“Ennis Evangelical Church is made up of all ages, races and backgrounds. As a church we reach out to the community with the good news of the gospel of hope,” said Margaret.

The church holds a club for children in Cloughleigh Community Centre on a Friday. There is also a youth club run in the church where teens meet and learn about the Bible. The church holds weekly Bible studies on a Tuesday at 8pm, which is open to anyone who wishes to come along. Sunday morning service starts at 10.30am.

ENNIS Town Council is to contact businesses in the town to request the removal of temporary signs from roads and footpaths.

Town clerk Eddie Power told the June meeting of Ennis Town Council that the number of temporary advertising signs has “increased significantly throughout the town”.

However local councillors have warned against a policy of “absolute regulation”, saying it could harm businesses and create tensions.

Acknowledging that businesses are operating in a difficult economic climate, Mr Power stated, “These signs may cause obstruction to users of the public footpath and they may pose a risk to the personal safety of road users. Furthermore, the town of Ennis has an established record of high achievement in the Tidy Towns com- petition. The number of temporary advertising signs currently visible on the footpaths around the town detract from the image of the town and may have a negative impact on the marks awarded by the tidy towns adjudicators in this national competition.”

He added, “It is intended to contact the relevant businesses responsible for such temporary advertising signage requesting removal of same. It should be noted that the Council has the legal authority to remove such signage if the request is not complied with.” However councillors were skeptical about the policy.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said he had not received any complaints about signs. He added, “Do we want to cripple the town altogether.”

Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said, “Businesses find it difficult enough. Where does it end? Does it mean that Jimmy Brohan [local businessman] can’t put goods outside his shop.”

Cllr Peter Considine (FF) urged the Council to pursue a “softly, softly approach”, adding that he was “very nervous of absolute regulation”.

Cllr Considine said that by forcibly removing signs, the Council risked creating unnecessary tensions with the business community. He added, “I would be inclined to let the hare sit.”

PART of Clare is going to be taken into Limerick when a decision is made in cabinet today on the Limerick boundary extension.

In a leak from a reliable source in advance of today’s decision, The Clare People has learned that land in Clare which has been, or is earmarked for, development by the University of Limerick is to come under Limerick’s control.

But fears that parts of Westbury, Shannon Banks and even Meelick and Parteen might be taken by Lim- erick in a boundary extension can be laid to rest.

It has also been leaked that no residential land in the Banner will be taken into the new super authority which will result from the amalgamation of the city and county councils in Limerick.

While anti-boundary extension activists in Clare have welcomed the fact that residential areas will be left alone, many are less than happy that the UL land is going into Limerick City.

“While the fact that no residential areas are to go into Limerick is to be welcomed, people are concerned that if one extension (of the Limerick boundary) is allowed in the campus area this will pave the way for future extensions,” said local councillor Cathal Crowe (FF).

“Clare has always facilitated UL in extending the university campus and that collaborative arrangement has worked very well. There is no need for the boundary to be changed. People will not be happy about this or the implications for the future and it will be opposed,” he said.

Jim Gullt, Chairman of the AntiBoundary Extension Committee, said that they will wait to read the Minister’s speech and see the official announcement before reacting.

In relation to the leak which points to Clare land in UL becoming part of Limerick, he said: “Our position is still the same. There is to be no cherry picking with this. It’s not the case that we’ll say ‘Okay, you left Westbury alone so we’ll concede UL’ – we are 100 per cent that no part of Limerick is to come into Clare.”

A spokeswoman for UL said they would make no comment until after the official announcement is made today.