Category: News

THE NEWLY formed Burren Ecotourism Network (BEN) hosted its first conservation event in north Clare over the weekend when a number of local volunteers completed a beach clean-up at Ballyryan, on the coast road between Doolin and Fanore.

The Burren region became Ireland’s second official ecotourism destination earlier this year when it was granted official accreditation last month. This is the first major event undertaken by the group since it received official ecodestination status and hopes are high locally that the new development could mean an increase in the number of ecotourist attracted to visit Clare.

More than 40 geologists from Leeds University volunteered to join the weekend’s clean-up and future conservation events will involve local schools as well as members of the wider community.

With their help, more than a quarter of a tonne of rubbish was collected from the beach and taken for disposal to the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff beg.

“It was great to be involved in preserving the Burren Landscape,” said Dr Jeff Peakell from Leeds University.

“We have been coming to the area for 20 years and witness the increased volumes of tourists and inevitable impacts on the landscape. We ourselves have a ‘leave no trace’ policy and are happy to be part of this new exciting initiative by the Burren Ecotourism Network.”

The Burren Ecotourism Network is made up of a large group of local businesses and other organisations, each of which have an interest in protecting the Burren and creating a sustainable future for people and businesses of north Clare.

Local members who also took part in the clean-up included representatives from the Burren Painting Centre, the Boghill Centre, Kilfenora Hostel, Heart of Burren Walks, Burren Outdoor Education Centre, Burren Fine Wine & Food, Burren Coaches and the Cliffs of Moher.

THE new Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan (FG), is to be tackled my members of Clare County Council on the issue of extending the Limerick boundary into Clare when he visits Clare in the coming days.

This follows recent activity on the part of Limerick County Council who it is feared are attempting to reignite the boundary debate. It had appeared that the question of the Clare/ Limerick border had been shelved after both Fine Gael and Labour gave commitments not to change the counties dividing line in the run up to this year’s General Election.

However, following recent contact between Minister Hogan and the new Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Maria Byrne (FG), it is feared that the possibility of a boundary debate may be put back on the table.

The debate centres around more than 5,000 Clare people who live on the border with Limerick City and County. Under the Brosnan report, commissioned last year, it was recommended that a new super local authority be created by combining Limerick City and County Councils as well as a section of South East Clare.

In a motion put forward by Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council calls were made for Clare to stand up for themselves in relation to the boundary issue.

“Every time there is a new mayor down in Limerick something seems to happen and this comes up again,” he said. “We thought this was all dead and buried but it doesn’t seem to be the case. We need to stand up for ourselves on this issue.”

The motion was support by Shannon Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) who said that Clare County Council needed to be “watchful and vigilant” of the threat posed by Limerick. She also called for an urgent meeting to be arranged between Clare County Council and Minister Hogan.

Speaking on the motion Cllr James Breen (Ind) said that all Labour and Fine Gael councillors should threaten to resign their seats or resign from their parties if the boundary issue is put back on the table.

A 39-YEAR-OLD Ballyvaughan man charged with the murder of Deirdre McCarthy apologised for what had happened when charged and cautioned by gardaí.

Colm Deely, with an address on School Road in Ballyvaughan, was remanded in custody to appear before Ennistymon District Court, sitting in Kilrush, by Judge Joseph Mangan, tomorrow morning, April 13.

Detective Thomas Molloy of Ennistymon Garda Station said the defendant replied, “I’m very sorry for what happened” when he was charged.

The father of two, who wore a navy jumper, navy slacks and a white shirt, sat silently with his eyes lowered during the brief hearing.

An application for legal aid was made by solicitor Gearoid Geraghty on behalf of Mr Deely. He said the defendant was a married man with two young children and was on a part-time FÁS course three days a week.

A number of members of Deirdre McCarthy’s family, as well as relatives of the defendant, sat on either side of the courtroom during the hearing.

The body of Deirdre McCarthy was found at Fanore beach on the morning of March 31, three days after she was reported missing from her home. She was last seen alive on March 27 around 11.30pm, when she returned home after a night socialising with friends in Ballyvaughan.

Her disappearance prompted one of the largest searches undertaken in North Clare in recent time. Family and friends joined with members of the gardaí and the Doolin and Killaloe Units of the Irish Coastguard to begin a painstaking three-day search for missing woman.

CLARE County Council has said it is constantly monitoring the situation regarding outstanding rent payments.

It follows concerns raised at yesterday’s monthly council meeting over the level of rent arrears in local authority housing.

Commenting on the council’s annual report for 2010, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said he was concerned that “certain sections” of local authority tenants are not paying rent.

He told the meeting that from his own analysis, the council was in arrears of around € 1.2 million.

He said this was not down to the performance of the council but rather to, “certain sections of society that just don’t want to pay”. He added that rent arrears are having an impact on the council’s cash flow and ability to provide services.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) said there was a problem for the council when tenants start accruing debts that run into thousands of euros. He urged the council to take a more pro-active approach and to start meeting with tenants as soon as arrears start to become an issue.

“Once its gone over the edge to € 4,000 or € 5,000, the horse has bolted,” he added.

Bernadette Kinsella of the council’s housing section said that the council has a policy of meeting and, if needs be, re-adjusting rent agreements with tenants if payment problems arise. Ms Kinsella agreed that the council needed to move as quickly as possible to communicate with local authority housing tenants that are finding it difficult to pay rent.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the issue of homeowners seeking to have unfinished housing estates taken over by the council was a growing one in Clare.

Figures released in September 2010 showed that Ennis Town Council had taken over the running of two housing estates, while a further nine had applied to be taken in charge by the council. Cllr Flynn estimated that development bonds for estates in Ennis alone totalled around € 5 million. “This is an area of huge concern for many people,” he explained.

FRESH from becoming the biggest party in Clare General Election politics for the first time in the party’s near 80-year history in the county, Fine Gael are on the cusp of more electoral success in the coming week.

That’s the battlecry from the local organisation this week as Fine Gael’s 24-strong team of county and town councillors prepare to cast their votes in the Seanad Éireann election this coming Monday.

“We have two TDs and we have three candidates in the Seanad elections and can win three seats to give five Oireachtas members for the party in Clare,” Cllr Joe Arkins, the leader of Fine Gael group of councillors for the elections to the Upper House of the Oireachtas.

“That’s what we’re aiming for,” added Cllr Arkins, “and it’s a realistic goal because Fine Gael have enough votes around the country to get 23 or 24 Seanad seats. Having five Fine Gael Oireachtas members in Clare would be unprecedented.”

Councillor Martin Conway flies the Clare flag in the Administrative Panel, in which there are seven seats up for grabs. Cllr John Crowe contests the Industrial and Commercial Panel, in which there are 11 seats, while Cllr Tony Mulcahy is in the running for the Labour Panel that also has 11seats.

“Cllr Conway’s panel is a difficult one,” admitted Cllr Arkins, “because there are only seven seats, but there are still three Fine Gael seats to be won.

Clare Fine Gael has never had more than two members of Seanad Éireann at the same time. The last time they had two members was between 1993 and 1997 with Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, who was elected on the Labour Pane,l and Michael Howard, who was returned on the Industrial and Commericial Panel for the sixth successive Seanad election.

ILLEGAL parking on cycleways is forcing cyclists onto the carriageway and blocking visibility at junctions.

That’s according to Shannon Town Council, in response to concerns over public parking and traffic congestion in the vicinity of Bothar Linn in Shannon.

At a meeting of Shannon Town Council last week, Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn asked for the issue to be debated.

In a written response from senior executive engineer Eugene O’Shea, it was stated, “Traffic congestion in this area is not an issue. However, illegal parking of vehicles on cycleways is forcing cyclists onto the carriageway and blocking visibility at junctions.

“Much of this illegal parking oc- curs during school drop-off and pickup as well as patrons of the leisure centre puling up on the cycleway.

“The solution to this problem is for motorists to utilise the drop-off area at the school, the parking facilities provided at the leisure centre or those beside the Gaelscoil as appropriate,” added the council’s statement.

In response, Cllr Flynn said, “I would have to agree with the response from the senior executive en- gineer. For people to park on a cycle lane, we have already established that is illegal.

“This is an overall problem. It is about solutions,” he said.

“There is a potential danger for health and safety,” he said.

Fine Gael Councillor Seán McLoughlin said, “I’d like to see some kind of a plan brought forward.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Cathy Mc- Cafferty said, “Public safety is paramount. This is one of the busiest roads in the town.”

Labour Councillor Greg Duff said that the best should be achieved from cycle lanes in the town, given that efforts were made to obtain them in the first place.

“Cycle lanes . . . We campaigned for them, we got them, we should monitor them in some way that people get the best out of them,” he said.

A NORTH Clare group claims that it will be prevented from celebrating Easter Sunday Dawn Mass at the Killenagh Graveyard this year because of opposition from within the local parish organisation.

Dawn Mass has been celebrated at the graveyard for the past three Easter Sundays, with more than 200 local people turning out for the celebration last year.

In previous years, the Mass has been presided over by a locally born priest, who is currently stationed outside the Diocese of Galway and Kilfenora.

However, according to the Killenagh Graveyard Committee, they are being prevented from celebrat- ing the Mass this Easter, even if they find a willing priest from outside the diocese.

“The group came together to try and fix up the cemetery and, thanks to voluntary labour and a number of FÁS Schemes, we were able to do that.

“We started these Masses as a way of celebrating the work that was done and they have been very successful community events,” said Robert Bennett of the Killenagh Graveyard Committee.

“A priest from outside the diocese has hosted the Mass for the past three years but this year, out of courtesy, we decided to contact the local parish. They said that they would not be in a position to celebrate the Mass and they would not be allowing the Mass to take place at all.” The Clare People attempted to contact local priest Fr Derek Feeney in relation to this but were unable to reach him at the time of going to press.

According to former Ennistymon priest and current PRO for the Diocese of Galway and Killaloe, Fr Sean McHugh, however, there are currently not enough priests to cover existing Masses in the area.

“I remember when I was serving in Ennistymon four years ago, I was asked about a cemetery Mass early on Easter Sunday. I disagreed on the grounds that we, the priests, were very stretched on Easter Sunday.

“Additionally, another Mass would take the congregation away from the later main Easter Sunday celebration in the nearby church,” he said.

“There are a number of other cemeteries in that area that could not all be supplied with Dawn Mass on Easter Sunday if it was requested.

“I wasn’t in favour of a priest from outside the parish coming in to cel ebrate the Mass because, with the shortage of priests, the direction being taken [by the Church] is to rationalise Masses and not to timetable extra Masses.

“In general, parish priests would prefer to celebrate cemetery Masses themselves with their own congregations whom they serve with week in and week out.

“For this reason, it was usual to celebrate mid-week Mass in each of these cemeteries in each of these parishes mid-week during the summer.”

THE move by ESB International to explore the possibility of developing wave energy sites off the west coast of Clare is further evidence of the county’s key and historic role in harnessing electricity for the nation.

That’s message sounded out by Clare’s first citizen, Mayor Christy Curtin, this week in welcoming the decision of ESB International to conduct marine surveys off the coast of Doonbeg at Killard Point.

The project, if developed from the feasibility to construction phase, could pave the way for wave energy technology to power up to 2,500 homes in Clare every year.

“This is a new dimension to energy generation,” said Mayor Curtin, “and it’s a vast resource that we have on our doorstep here in Clare. If this resource can be harnessed for the people of Clare, it would show that the county can lead the way like it did with Patrick McGilligan’s Shannon Scheme in 1929 and the development of Moneypoint Power Station in 1986.

“The Shannon Scheme and Moneypoint were major infrastructural projects that brought jobs to Clare. Wave energy has the potential to bring more jobs to the county if this project can be brought to fruition.”

ESB International (ESBI) has applied to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government for foreshore licences for both Killard Point and Achill, with the findings from the feasibility study determining which is the best location for the WestWave project.

The application is seen as the first step towards developing a five megawatt wave energy project.

The foreshore licences will allow ESBI to deploy wave measurement buoys for a minimum period of one year to assess the wave climate at each site. The company will also undertake hydrographic surveys at each site to assess the sea-bed conditions. The proposed works will provide baseline data on wave and current resources at each site, as well as determining design and installation methodologies and informing route selection for cables associated with a wave energy project. The survey work will also provide information for environmental studies of the area. These activities will take place over a one to two-year period following receipt of the licences.

The project is in line with ESB’s strategy to develop 150MW of electricity from ocean energy by 2020 and the Government’s strategy to generate 500MW from ocean energy.

SHANNON wants to welcome President Barack Obama to the airport town, like it did Presidents Kennedy, Clinton and others in times past, but it could yet have its own president to come as one of its own.

That’s because longtime honorary ‘Shannon man’ Pat Cox has revealed that he is now prepared to give “serious consideration” to contesting the race to succeed President Mary McAleese in Áras an Uachtarán.

The former Progressive Democrats and independent politician has been out of elected politics since retiring from the European Parliament in 2004, but is now on the cusp on announcing a dramatic return to the hustings.

“I have been surprised and shocked by the huge volume of calls I’ve got on standing,” Mr Cox said on Saturday in giving the clearest indication yet that he could be contender in the autumn election.

Cox was a Progressive Democrats TD and MEP from 1989 to 1994, before he controversially moved to the independent benches ahead of the 1994 European elections when he beat his former Progressive Democrats party leader for a seat in European Parliament.

The 59-year-old was born in Dublin, but raised in Shannon where his family settled and lived for a number of years. “I have great affinity for Shannon,” he said in 1989 after the

people of Clare helped

elected him to the Eu

ropean Parliament.

Now, Cox, who built

up a formidable repu

tation in a 15-year

stint in Europe that

culminated in a two

year term as President

of the European Par

liament from 2002 to

2004, is paving the

way for a possible re

turn to national politics by mounting a presidential bid.

“It wasn’t on my radar screen at all,” said Mr Cox, “but I’ve had so many mails and calls and so on, I certainly would take some time to consider it. It is a very big issue to do with life, family, duty and responsibility, but I’m prepared to ask myself the question this week that wasn’t even on my mind a week ago.”

WHEN food science graduate Deirdre Collins was taking home a day’s pay of just € 40 from her stall at the farmers market, the day when she would launch her healthy burgers on the UK market and employ five people seemed a long way off.

But from that humble beginning in 2009, the enterprising Clare woman has stormed ahead and last weekend she was in London at one of the UK’s most prestigious fairs to showcase her products.

“I graduated in food science so I know a bit about what goes into food and, more importantly, what I don’t want to go into my food. I started really reading labels and you wouldn’t believe all the things that are added to foods which are supposedly healthy. So I decided to start making my own,” she told The Clare People .

From selling the product at markets and often taking home little or no money for a lot of work, Deirdre decided to take the idea up a notch. “We moved on to cooking them at agricultural shows as a healthy alternative to fast food and one that coeliacs and vegetarians can eat.”

Now with her own company, Dee’s Wholefood Burgers have launched in the UK after a lucrative distribution deal was agreed with Marigold Health Foods. The official UK launch of the brand took place in London’s Olympia in April, when food buyers from across Europe descend on the Natural and Organic Products trade fair – one of the health food indus- try’s key annual events.

Widely recognised as being one of the most successful business ideas showcased on the 2009 season of Dragons’ Den, Dee’s Eat Well, Be Happy range has been steadily growing in popularity among a diverse customer base of vegetarians, vegans, coeliacs and anyone keen to follow a healthy balanced diet.