Category: News

A TOTAL of 491 students from Clare have entered paintings in this year’s 57th Texaco Children’s Art Competition, the winners of which will be revealed next month.

In excess of 30,000 entries were received with students from each of the 32 counties taking part.

Judging of entries is currently taking place and winners will be announced in early-April. This will be followed by the prize-giving ceremony which takes place in May.

Pictured admiring three of the en- tries received from Clare are competition coordinator Annemarie Barnes (left) and competition adjudicator and well-known artist Dr Denise Ferran. Ms Barnes is holding a work entitled ‘In The Wild’ by 15-year-old Ryan Fleming from Ennis, a pupil at St John Bosco, Kildysart. Dr Ferran is holding a work entitled ‘Our Beautiful Coast’ by 16-year-old Michelle Clancy from Kilrush, a pupil at Kilrush Community School and another entitled ‘Beautiful Butterflies’ by 14-year-old Ashling McCann from Cranny, Kilrush, also a pupil at St John Bosco, Kildysart.

THE elected members of Clare County Council yesterday went against the expressed wishes of County Manager, Tom Coughlan, by adopting the new East Clare Local Area Plan including a resolution to zone an area for the possible future development of a marina in Killaloe.

Following more then two hours of heated debate and detailed legal advice, the elected members of the local authority voted by 19 votes to four in favour of passing the revised plan, with four councillors abstaining from the vote.

It now remains to be seen whether the county manager will decided to use his executive function to over rule the decision of the elected members.

“The overriding concern as far as I am concerned in tourism development. The history of this development and this debate is very important. This is like a test case for all of this new regulation which has been passed down to us. These issues are appropriate to everyone – a similar situation could arise down in Loop Head or up in the Burren,” said Cllr Pat Hayes (FF).

“I think that if we can develop a marina in Killaloe then I feel that that is in the overriding public interest of the people of Clare.”

The final decision was arrived at by the elected members following a series of proposals and counter proposals which led to a number of loud shouting matches across council chambers and the meeting being adjourned on two separate occasion.

The first difficulty arose when expressed some concerns about the discussion being conducted in public and asked for a legal opinion on whether some details of the plan should be discussed in camera.

This prompted angry scenes in the council chambers with Shannon cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) eventually proposing and winning a vote to have the matter discussed in from of the media and the assemble public.

However, the meeting descended into chaos when a second proposal, calling for a 10 minute recess to allow for councillors to contemplate the plan was also voted on and passed by the councilors.

The Mayor of Clare, Christy Curtin (IND) ruled that the two motions were not in conflict and councillors could both have a ten minute break to “contemplate” the motion before discussing the motion in council chambers.

This prompted an angry outburst between Cllrs Gerry Flynn and Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) when the Shannon council alluded to the type of discussion which may have taken place during the 10 minute break.

At the request of Mayor Christy Curtin, Cllr Flynn eventually withdrew the remarks.

CONSTRUCTION WORK on the multi-million euro pier in Doolin could get underway before the beginning of the summer following last nights decision by Clare County Council to grant Part Eight planning permission to the controversial development.

Following a protracted planning procedure, councillors at last nights meeting of the local authority voted unanimously to grant planning permission to the long awaited development, despite objections from a number of local and national surf organisers.

More than 30 members of the local Doolin community packed the offices of Clare County Council yesterday to hear the matter being debated. Each of the Doolin locals held up signs which read “Support Doolin Pier” as the planning permission was being discussed.

Speaking after the Part Eight planing permission had been granted, County Engineer Tom Tiernan said that tender process for the development will be started in weeks with the construction work not likely to be finished until 2012.

The original planning permission for the pier came before last Decembers meeting of Clare County Council but a decision on this was deferred by County Manager, Tom Coughlan, to allow for more public consultation to take place.

In total more than 30 individual planning submission were put forward in relation to the project with a number of other submission coming from organisation from all over the country.

Speaking before the planning permission was granted, Ennistymon based councillor Richard Nagle, said that the pier had the potential to generate hundreds of jobs for the people of north Clare.

“I would like to propose that we proceed immediately with this project – it is imperative that we go ahead with this without delay. We have spent months considering this, it has already been delayed.

“There are several interests groups in Doolin pier and all of those interests much be taken into account,” he said.

“We now must take a once in lifetime opportunity to enhance the tourism life of North Clare.

“This has the potential to make Doolin the main departure and arrival point to the Aran Islands and to create a huge amount of jobs in the north Clare area and in the wider community.”

Councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) said that his concerns about the safety of the surf access at the pier and the integrity of local surfing waves had been addressed during the planning process.

“I would have had very serious concerns about the damage that this might have had on the surfing product in the area but I am now satisfied that the consultation and wave monitoring which has been carried out by Clare County Council,” Councillor Flynn said.

A COUPLE from North Clare escaped being sent to prison yesterday after undertaking not to interfere with their neighbour’s use of a right of a way.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Joseph Scales of Calluragh, Ennistymon, made an application to have Patrick J Madigan and his wife, Anne Madigan, committed to prison over the breach of a circuit order in relation to the right of way.

Patrick J Madigan admitted in court that he had breached the order regarding the right of way since it was introduced in July 2010.

Mr Madigan claimed that he had been forced to do so in an effort to protect his home from damage caused by the passing of machinery along the right of way.

Judge Moran was told that the dispute between the neighbours has been before the court “countless occasions” over the past number of years.

Garda Colm Collins told the court that on December 3, 2010, he observed Patrick J Madigan and his son, Joe Madigan, step out in front of Mr Scales’ tractor. Gda Collins said that the Madigans gestured to Mr Scales to stop and to go no further.

Sgt Brian Howard told the court that on November 28, 2010, an allegation was made to him regarding the blocking of the right of way.

Gardaí subsequently retrieved CCTV footage of the incident captured by cameras installed by the Madigan’s.

CCTV footage from November 28, 2010, played in court yesterday showed Joe Madigan exiting a door way and then standing in front of Mr Scales’ tractor.

Further footage then showed Mr Scales and Joe Madigan “tussling” and falling on the ground.

Mr Scales told the court that on November 28, 2010, he had gone to feed a pony and foal when he encountered Joe Madigan.

Patrick J Madigan told the court that he had to “take a stand” against Mr Scales’ machinery travelling along the right of way because he feared further damage being caused to his house.

Judge Moran put it to Mr Madigan that even though the court had ruled that Mr Scales was entitled to bring tractor and other machinery up the right of way, Mr Madigan’s stance now was “don’t mind what the court is saying”. Counsel for Mr Scales, Patrick Whyms, told the court that he was “seeking a committal order for the defendants”.

Judge Moran requested that the Madigan’s to take an unconditional and “solemn understanding” not to block the right of way.

Under oath, both Patrick J Madigan and Anne Madigan agreed not to interfere with Mr Scales’ right of way. Judge Moran gave Mr Whyms liberty to re-enter the motion but adjourned the matter of costs. Judge Moran warned the couple that they would be forced to pay costs as well as face other matters, if they breached the order.

THE second highest number of complaints made to the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga came from Clare, a new report shows.

Of complaints received by Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s office 9.5 per cent came from Clare, compared to 9 per cent in Galway, 6 per cent in Kerry, 4 per cent in Donegal and 3 per cent in Mayo. The highest number of complaints (41 per cent) were made by people in Dublin.

The report looked at the level of service provided through Irish to customers by public service bodies.

The report states that in one instance, “An Coimisinéir Teanga decided, as a result of an investigation, that Iarnród Éireann was in contravention of its statutory duties in relation to certain signage erected in Ennis, County Clare.”

The report explains, “A series of complaints were made to the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga with regard to various Iarnród Éireann signs, alleging that they were not in compliance with the language requirements in signage legislation. The complaints concerned the signage at train stations, in car parks and at a new level crossing on the western route between Galway and Ennis.”

According to the report, “Based on the case put forward by Iarnród Éireann, An Coimisinéir Teanga considered it likely that these problems with the signage had arisen because of changes that had taken place over the years and because of misunderstandings in relation to the legislation.

“Iarnród Éireann indicated in its reply that ‘the signs included in the investigation are in place for many years’ (translation) and ‘generally the signage at level crossings are in English’ (translation). The investigation did not accept that either of these two arguments could be accepted as an excuse for neglecting to make the necessary corrections.

According to Mr Ó Cuireáin, “This investigation could have been avoided completely and the matter could have been dealt with on an informal basis if the public body had put its position in writing at the start.”

Despite the criticism, one Irish language activist in Ennis has welcomed efforts by Iarnród Éireann to make all signs bilingual.

Announcements on trains are now being made in Irish while upgraded signage has been placed at ticket offices, car parks and buses. The man, who did not wish to be named, said, “Another first for the town. The growing presence of Irish at Ennis station will surely contribute to the sustainability of the language through increased visibility and status.”

A NEW discount store in Shannon, which will employ 12 people, is expected to play a pivotal role in increasing business in the town centre by at least 10 per cent. That’s the prediction of the manager of SkyCourt shopping centre Pat Kelly, who said he is optimistic that Buy Lo will attract huge numbers of shoppers to the centre.

A number of businesses in SkyCourt have closed in recent months including fashion outlet Pink, Roxy Records, Cafe 2000 and Bank of Ireland. Nevertheless Mr Kelly remains optimistic about the future.

“We have 65 units open at the moment. There are 13 or 14 vacant. How many have they vacant in Ennis? 70. In the last two months alone we let a small grocery supermarket, Jen, which does ethnic foods. What I’m finding is that recently we are getting a lot of enquiries about people who are trying to start up businesses,” he said.

“It has been a difficult 12 months. Our footfall figures were only down eight per cent last year, but the spend of the customers wouldn’t be the same,” said Mr Kelly.

“We are weathering the downturn reasonably well and the decision by Buy Lo to locate here gives us great confidence for the remainder of 2011 and beyond,” he said.

Mr Kelly said that the plan to attract anchor tenant Buy Lo – which will open in SkyCourt next week – had been on the cards for the past two years.

“We were working on it for the past two years. We had to go for planning which held it up for a few months and then negotiations and then we had to fit out the store,” said Mr Kelly.

“We’d be hoping with Buy Lo we would get back the figures we had in 2006/2007; that’s about 12 or 13 per cent,” he said.

Buy Lo will occupy 65 per cent of the unit previously held by Tesco. Additional car parking has been created to the back of the premises. The entire unit has been gutted and subdivided. Repairs have been carried out to the roof, while new flooring has been put in place.

“Their [Buy Lo] prices are very reasonable. They are the Irish version of Lidl and Aldi. I’d be very confident that it will bring a lot of people from Ennis and further afield,” said Mr Kelly. “I feel that Buy Lo is going to be a great bonus for us. In the times we are in, it is ideal because it is discount products and that’s what people want,” he said.

OVERCROWDING at the existing pier in Doolin is becoming an increasing safety hazard, both for tourists and water users according to the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard, who use the pier to launch their rescue crafts.

The existing pier is also believed to be too close in the shore-line, meaning that in the case of an emergency a docking boat would not have time to stop before it washes up on the rocks off the pier.

“When the new pier will be built all of the commercial traffic will be able to work off the new pier which will leave the existing pier and slipway for the use of the coastguard and leisure users – so it will take a huge amount of traffic off the existing pier and make things much safer for those using it,” said Mattie Shannon of the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard.

“The coastguard would be very concerned about the amount of traffic that is currently operating off the pier as it now stands – not just for our own sake but also for the safety of the tens of thousands of tourists who will be using the pier during the summer months. It would be much better from a safety position if the new pier was allowed to go ahead.”

According to Niall Hughes of the Doolin Community Harbour Co-op, there is a large market from leisure craft owners, scuba diving and other sea uses to access the pier at Doolin.

“The existing harbour is too shallow and it dries out at low tide and the situation now is that there are so many people coming in and out at high tide that the pier gets overwhelmed.

“The pier is far too small for the needs of the community. It has gotten to the stage now that it is nearly all commercial boats coming in now and there is no room for leisure boats – but there is a big demand for leisure boats,” he said.

“There is a huge demand from scuba clubs, families, people who go fishing – to use the pier from a leisure point of view.

“If we have this deep water pier it means that the commercial boats can have safe access at all stages during the tide and the old pier can be used solely for leisure based activities. This is down to safety, there is just not enough space for everyone who wants to use the pier.”

THE owner of a new erotic sex shop has vowed to defy the “Joe Duffy brigade” when he opens his premises on O’Connell Street on St Patrick’s Day.

Businessman Pat Glynn will officially open the Erotica shop this Thursday and has signed a one year lease on the premises which was occupied by Moran’s until 2006 and most recently by the Two Euro Shop.

Speaking to The Clare People yesterday, Mr Glynn said that his shop was not a brothel and nothing illegal would be allowed to take place on the premises.

“People have questioned my decision to open an adult shop in the current age where internet porn is free and easily accessible, however Ennis has a huge population of people over 35 that have difficulty using the internet and after looking at the success of adult shops in places like Cork and Waterford I decided to take the leap of faith and face the backlash of the Joe Duffy brigade,” he told The Clare People .

“The shop will be selling a range of sex toys, magazines, DVDs, erotic chocolates, lubricants, sex games and other fun items. For the people that think it will promote illegal activities I can assure them that we will not be promoting anything of the sort.

“There is a difference between an adult store and a brothel. Sex is no longer something to be ashamed about and I do feel the minority that do have a problem with it clearly think we’re involved in illegal activities.”

Mr Glynn did admit that the location on O’Connell street “may be controversial” but said that the shop will be strictly over 18’s and efforts will be made to tone down the shop during daylight hours.

“We will do our best to keep the shop out of the public eye until after 8pm – we will have the blinds pulled and the pink neon light switched off until this time,” he said.

The head of the O’Connell’s Street Traders Association, Gearoid Mannion, has welcomed the new business, saying as long as nothing illegal is taking place, most local traders would welcome the adult shop.

“They will be paying rates the same as all the rest of us so, once it’s all legal, why should anyone have a problem with it. It’s up to the public now to vote with their feet after that and decide if it is going to be success,” he said.

HUNDREDS of new construction jobs will be created in Clare in the coming week if a number of ambitious new projects are cleared to proceed.

The construction sector in the county is on the verge of a mini-revival with a sharp increase in the number of commercial and residential developments seeking planning permission with Clare County Council.

Over the next three weeks planners at the local authority will decide whether to grant permission for the construction of four major commercial developments and three residential developments in Clare – amounting to almost 250 residential units.

According to estimates from the CSO and the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), more then 4,000 construction jobs have been lost in Clare since 2007.

The CIF yesterday urged Clare County Council to look positively on a number of “very viable” commercial projects in the county.

“There seems to be a number of very viable schemes going before Clare County Council at the moment and we would urge them to look favourable in them,” said Clare CIF spokesperson, Conor O’Connell.

“Despite this we need to see the quick roll out of a number of public schemes such as the Ennis Waste Water Scheme, which would be a help in itself but would also prompt related development in the area.”

A decision will be made this Thursday on the construction of a new supermarket and office development in Miltown Malbay. The proposal, which is being put forward by Michael Gleeson and Jim Shannon, will contain a 4,153 square metre supermarket, a warehouse, three office units and an underground parking facility.

A decision is also due on the construction of a Wellness Centre including 15 tourist accommodation units in Ruan, a medical centre and community pharmacy in Roslevan and a new thrift shop and offices by Clare Care in Killaloe.

On the residential side of the market Jim Woods Building Contractor is awaiting permission to construct 16 houses in Kilkishen, while Allied Irish Bank have applied for the construction of two new houses and the retention of planning for 25 more at Arda na Deirge in Killaloe. A decision is due from Clare County Council on March 31 whether to grant Drumquin Construction Ltd an extension on permission to develop 190 houses at Knockanean in Roslevan.

Meanwhile, a major step towards the construction of a large retail centre by Michael Lynch Ltd on the Tobarteascain Road in Ennis could be made next week. A decision on road and pedestrian access to the development in due next Monday.

RECOGNISE, Respond, Refer. That was the message delivered to employers who have been urged to be proactive in dealing with domestic abuse issues in Clare.

The manager of Clare Haven which provides support for female victims of domestic abuse and their families – Denise Dunne told a conference last week that employers should ask the question: “Are things okay at home?” Speaking at the launch of the employer’s guidelines on domestic abuse in Limerick, Ms Dunne said it can be very difficult for a woman to disclose abuse.

“Employees may not disclose what they are experiencing at once and should be made aware that the manager is available to talk at any time in the future,” said Ms Dunne.

The guidelines were launched amid demand for support provided by Clare Haven rising significantly.

Last year, more than 300 people were housed at a refuge for victims of domestic abuse in Clare, while hundreds of distressed victims of abuse sought help. Requests for support among those suffering domestic abuse increased across the county, particularly in Shannon, where additional support has been provided, in response to demand.

Gerry Harahill, Collector General, who launched the brochure, welcomed the brief reference guide as a support to all employers including small employers and those with human resource managers and line managers. Mr Harahill told the conference that attitudes in society have to change. He suggested that eve- ryone could do something towards opening up the topic by taking away copies of the guidelines and passing them out in their place of work.

“It is often the person who goes to coffee with the woman who finds out first,” he said.

Kieran McSweeney, President of Limerick Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the need for such guidelines from an employer’s point of view. In an increasingly competitive economy and tight labour market, every cost needs to be identified. It was emphasised that the effects of domestic abuse on employees may not only have a significant financial impact on the employer, but may also result in high absenteeism and impact directly on work performance.

Mr McSweeney reminded the audience that research shows that one in five women experience domestic abuse. “This is huge,” he said, adding that the issue is very much a hidden and silent force in Irish society.

Copies of the Employer’s Guidelines on Domestic Abuse are available from Clare Haven Services in Ennis, telephone 065 6822435.