Category: News

THREE were lucky escapes for a number of Clare people based in New Zealand following last week’s devastating earthquake which shook the city of Christchurch – killing 145 people.

As hopes fade for the 200 people who are still unaccounted for fol lowing last Tuesday’s 6.3 magnitude earthquake, one north Clare woman is returning to Christchurch after miraculously avoiding being caught up in the devastating natural disaster.

Ennistymon woman Aoife Garrihy is currently living in Christchurch and had a lucky escape when she decided to leave the city and travel to visit a friend in Perth, Australia, hours before the quake hit New Zealand.

Aoife, who is a doctor in Christchurch Hospital, returned home to New Zealand city on Saturday last unsure of whether her belongings survived the earthquake or not. The Clare People spoke to Aoife before she returned to Christchurch who confirmed that she was okay and looking forward to getting back to work in Christchurch.

Christchurch Hospital escaped any serious damage during the earthquake but it has been inundated with a wide variety of serious injuries since the earthquake. The Clare People contacted a number of other Clare expats currently living in New Zealand to confirm that no-one from the county had been injured in the disaster.

The earthquake was felt as far away as Auckland on New Zealand’s north island where David Hanrahan from Lissycasey and Theresa Hassett from Tulla have been living for almost a year.

“We are okay, we are up her in Auckland so we’re away from the earthquake, thank God. It’s crazy down there,” said David.

“A mate of mine from Monaghan was working in a tunnel down in Christchurch, right beside where the quake struck. He had just come out of the tunnel a couple a minutes be- fore the quake hit – he is a lucky man but he is very shook up.”

The earthquake was also felt on Wellington and Lower Hutt on the north island, where Miltown Malbay brothers David and Declan Rynne are based.

“We’re all good here in Wellington,” David told The Clare People .

“We did feel the quake but it was quite minor here compared to Christchurch. They’ve had a pretty bad six months of it down there.”

This is the second earthquake to hit the city of Christchurch in recent months. On September 4 of last year a 7.1 magnitude quake struck outside the city, injuring two people and causing major power outages.

ONE man was taken to hospital for precautionary reasons following the accidental spillage of 250 litres of sulphuric acid at the Organic Lens manufacturing plant in Ennis on Friday.

The incident occurred at 6.30am in the chemical storage area of the plant, which is located in the Gort Road Industrial Estate. The plant, which is owned by Essilor Ireland, manufactures ophthalmic corrective lenses. It has 310 people employed there.

Employees were evacuated from the building, while six units of the fire brigade from Ennis and Shannon attended the scene. 50 of the plant’s night shift workers were in the building when the incident occurred.

It is thought two drums of 98 per cent sulphuric acid fell from a pallet while they were being moved with one of the drums bursting.

No one was injured in the incident though one man was brought to Ennis General Hospital, “just as a precaution” a company spokesperson confirmed yesterday.

Employees returned to work later on Friday while a full clean up of the storage has taken place, the spokesperson said.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health and Safety Authority were informed of the incident. An EPA inspector visited the site and verified that the spill- age was contained.

In a statement, Jim Crampton, General Manager, outlined the details of the spill. “At approximately, 6.30am Organic Lens Manufacturing had an accidental spillage of 250 litres of sulphuric acid in the chemical storage area. As part of our plant emergency procedures, the plant was evacuated and the local fire brigade alerted,” he said.

Mr Crampton also thanked emergency services and employees for their assistance.

He added, “The fire brigade are assisting the company with the clean up procedures. There were no injuries to any of our employees and the plant is returning to full production. All relevant statutory bodies have being notified. We thank the fire brigade staff and our employees for their assistance.”

The incident is the first of its kind to have occurred at the plant, which opened in Ennis in 1991.

Human Resources manager Amy O’Leary explained that a “small” chemical spill had previously taken place but this had been dealt with at the time by fully trained and equipped in house staff. “We’ve never had the fire services out here before,” she added.

Essilor is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of ophthalmic lenses. The company has been in Ireland since 1973 when a glass manufacturing facility was first established in Limerick.

FINE Gael have blown their best ever chance of taking a third seat in Clare by only running three candidates in last week’s election. That is according to a survey of FG county councillors conducted by The Clare People in which 10 of the 12 councillors, including unsuccessful candidate Tony Mulcahy, agreeing that a major tactical mistake had been made.

The vast majority of councillors said that either east Clare’s Joe Cooney or north Clare’s Martin Conway should have been added to the ticket – with some describing the move to run just three candidates as “gutless” and “lacking ambition”.

Only one councillor agreed that the three candidate strategy was the right one with one other declining to comment.

“The Fine Gael strategy of leaving north and west Clare with no candidate for the first time in history was a big mistake. This was one of the reasons why Dr Hillery (FF), James Breen (Ind) and Michael McNamara (Lab), who got a lot of votes in the area, did so well,” said Cllr Martin Conway – who yesterday announced his intention to run for the Seanad.

“Fine Gael at national strategy were made aware of this situation but the chose not to listen to the grass roots. They were well briefed by the organisation here in Clare.

Cllr Tony Mulcahy, who won 7,438 votes in Friday’s election, also said that strategy was a mistake saying that there was “definitely a case for saying that we could have ran another candidate – either Joe or Martin”.

There was also a feeling amongst the Fine Gael councillors that a third seat would have guaranteed a Clare seat at the cabinet table.

East Clare councillors Pat Burke said that “the morning that Tony Killeen retired I feel that Martin Conway should have been added to the ticket in north Clare” while Clarecastle’s Paul Murphy said that “a third candidate in north Clare it would have given us a serious shot at at taking that third seat”.

NEXT WEEK Clare will more than likely have three Government TDs as Fine Gael and Labour enter coalition talks, and the longest serving of those TDs believes the county should also have a ministry.

Speaking after he topped the poll in the General Election to be the first TD returned for the Banner Fine Gael’s Pat Breen said he believed that the county should at the very least get a junior ministry.

“We have returned three Government TDs here tonight and three Government TDs can make a difference. I would hope also that the Taoiseach would take the opportunity to give one of us in Government a ministry,” he said referring to himself, party colleague Joe Carey and Labour’s Michael McNamara.

“It would make a great difference to the county if we had a junior minister or a minister in the county it- self, and after returning three Government TDs I think Clare at least deserves that.”

The Ballynacally man was coy and evasive however when asked if that TD should be the longest serving in the county. “That would be up to the Taoiseach himself,” he said.

In the neighbouring constituency of Limerick city, where more than 4,000 Clare citizens vote, the constituents are also expecting a “full car” in the form of a senior ministry.

For the first time ever the party’s Finance spokesperson and former party leader Michael Noonan topped the poll in the constituency with more than 30 per cent of the vote.

The 67-year-old is now favourite to take the key position of Minister for Finance, even in the likelihood of the Fine Gael Labour coalition.

The constituency’s proximity to Clare makes it very unlikely that the TDs from the Banner County will also get a seat on the Government front bench.

Most political commentators say the most Clare can hope for now is a junior ministry. The last Fine Gael TD from Clare to hold such a position was Donal Carey, father of Fine Gael’s second TD in Clare Joe Carey. He was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht by then Taoiseach John Bruton in January 1995.

CLARE County Council insists that it has done ‘quite well’ in securing flood funding from the Office of Public Works since the flood disaster in November of 2009 – despite Clare receiving approval for fewer projects than other affected counties.

The local authority confirmed to The Clare People that they are awaiting decisions on “seven or eight” projects which they have submitted to the OPW for funding.

Since November of 2009 the local authority has received € 300,000 in OPW funding for the Gort Road Flood Relief Scheme; € 135,000 for schemes in the Watery Road, Elm Park and Fior Uisce areas of Ennis; and € 160,000 for a number of small flood relief schemes in the north Clare area.

This compares to an allocation to Cork County Council of € 1,805,000; Galway County Council of € 1,695,000 and Kildare County Council of € 1,466,000 in funding since the November 2009 flooding, although Clare County did receive in the region of € 9m to complete flood relief scheme in the Ennis Town Centre just before November 2009.

Clare County Council last week circulated details of progress made in securing flood funding from the OPW following a question raised at last month’s meeting of Clare County Council.

In addition to these schemes, Clare County Council is waiting for “confirmation of continuation of funding” for a flood relief scheme in the St Flannan’s/Ballybeg Area while flood defences have been improved in the Shannon area.

“Clare County Council has reviewed and will continue to review its inventory of flood defence infrastructure and equipment and is continuing to develop and improve its response strategies in the face of prospective major flood events as resources permit,” said Senior Engineer, Tom Tiernan.

“Records were retained in relation to all of the locations where flooding became a problem and these records have been/will be of benefit in the design of flood relief schemes and in informing the Councils Emergency Response Strategy as required in future.”

The council also pointed out that first phase of the Ennis Town Centre Flood Relief Scheme had just been substantially completed before November of 2009 at a cost of € 9,000,000.

A council spokesperson also confirmed that the tender process pertaining to the second phase of the Ennis Town Centre Scheme is substantially completed and the project is scheduled to get under way in the near future.

CLARE parents of all babies, from birth to 12 months, are being advised this week to give infants a daily vitamin D supplement to protect their growing bones.

This advice from the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Department of Health and Children is for both breastfed and formula fed children and should be given 5 micrograms of Vitamin D daily.

The health organisations have said that Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is essential for healthy bones, but is present in very few foods.

Ireland’s northerly latitude and lack of winter sunlight means that Irish people can no longer make enough vitamin D in this way, according to the groups, so they are advising that it is added to infants food intake instead.

Severe and prolonged vitamin D deficiency can cause softening of the bones or bone deformities, known as rickets in children or osteomalacia in adults.

Less severe vitamin D deficiency also affects bone health, may increase the risk of osteoporosis, and some studies have also linked it to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

“Babies need a daily supplement of vitamin D because their delicate skin cannot be safely exposed to the sun, and because their feeds or diet alone do not provide enough of this important vitamin to ensure healthy bone growth,” a HSE spokesperson said.

Rickets in children was known as a problem in Ireland up to the mid20th century, but due to better nutrition in our population over recent decades, it was thought to have been eradicated.

However, a number of cases of rickets have been seen in the country in recent years.

According to Dr Mary Flynn, Chief Specialist in Public Health Nutrition, FSAI, “the cases of rickets that we have seen are likely to be the tip of the iceberg, and indicate that there is a wider, undetected level of vitamin D deficiency in our population. There is growing evidence that this can increase the risk of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or diabetes.”

BRIAN Meaney is in line to become the next leader of the Green Party, following the party’s disastrous result in last week’s General Election.

The Clare county councillor, who was an unsuccessful candidate in Friday’s election, says that while he has no desire to be party leader it was the “likely outcome” following the collapse of the party.

Cllr Meaney was speaking after being eliminated following the seventh county of last week’s General Election.

“I am delighted to be a town councillor, I’m delighted to be a county councillor the only thing that I don’t want to be is the next leader of the Green Party – which a lot of people [in the Green Party] are saying is the likely outcome,” he said.

“There is going to be significant restructuring of the Greens. We need to rebuild the party right across the country but the future can only be brighter when you are down at the bottom.”

Cllr Meaney says that the Green Party has to regroup, both in Clare and nationally.

“The Greens have not gone away. This has not been a good day for the Greens but we need to dust ourselves off and start again,” he said.

“The Greens in Clare will have to regroup, as we will nationally. There are significant questions that we have to answer on an organisational level that we will have to address if we are to rebuild.

“I knew we were facing a significant challenge to hold onto any seat nationally. I knew I faced a difficult challenge locally here in Clare – the wind was blowing against the party and I don’t make populist decisions. Maybe there is an amount of political naivety there but that is how I do my business,” he said.

“I’m happy that I ran. I’m happy that I faced the people after being part of a very unpopular party in government who had to take some very difficult but necessary decisions.

“I have to make one thing clear, and that is the depth of sincerity that I have for the people who did vote for me and the people who gave me second and third preference, and the people who came out and canvassed with me. It was not an easy thing to do under the current circumstances.”

THOUSANDS of jobs could be created in the renewable energy sector in Clare over the next decade following the news that a number of private and public sector companies are preparing to invest more than € 2 billion in different projects in the county.

According to Pat Stephens of the Limerick Clare Energy Agency, a number of multinational utility companies are currently seeking to invest in excess of € 2 billion in a series of wind, wave, tidal and biomass projects in Clare.

This investment could see Clare transformed into one of the leading areas for renewable energy, not just in Ireland but in the world.

This news comes after the launch of a new Integrated Strategy on Energy and Climate Change by the Clare County Development Board (CDB) last week.

“Clare has world class renewable energy resources in the areas of wind, wave, tidal, and biomass energy. These resources will be harnessed to create clean energy and great wealth for the county and the country,” said Mr Stephens, who is also the chairman of the steering committee that delivered the new integrated strategy.

“The strategy will focus on ensuring that Clare maximises the benefits from the development of its natural renewable energy resources, and the establishment of a Low Carbon County.”

While no specific targets for local job creation were outlined in the strategy, it is believed that an investment in the region of € 2 billion could lead to hundreds or perhaps thousands of high skilled jobs being created in the county.

“This comes at a time when the country is searching for solutions to many social and economic issues. Ireland’s economy is suffering badly in the global recession and County Clare has been affected,” said Cllr Joe Arkins (FG), chairperson of the County Clare Development Board.

“The county has also felt the finan- cial effects of climate change during severe flooding and freezing weather last winter. Despite having abundant renewable energy resources the county and country are also heavily dependent upon imported fossil fuels to support our society and economy.”

According to the director of the Clare County Development Board, Ger Dollard, developing a low carbon economy is a central policy issue for all developed countries.

“The Low Carbon Society and Economy is defined by its use of local renewable energy resources. As such the economic activity is underpinned by secure clean energy,” said Mr Dollard.

THE Burren will be officially named as Ireland’s second ever ecotourism destination at a ceremony in Ballyvaughan next month.

This designation is the culmination of more then two years of work by the Burren Ecotourism Network – a host of local businesses and organisations in the area.

Ecotourism involved a move away from traditional mass-tourism and towards providing visitors with a more individual, more person tourist experience in Clare.

The classification of the Burren as an official ecotourism destination could become a major long-term driver for the local tourism industry. It is predicted that the ecotourism movement will become one of the primary drivers if tourism in Ireland in the coming years.

The Burren Ecotourism Network hope that this brand of tourism will encourage visitors to stay for longer in the county, spend more money in the area and cause less impact on the environmental and social make-up of the Burren.

Co-ordinated by the Burren Connect Project in Ennistymon, the network has seen a wide variety of north Clarebased businesses coming together for a series of mentoring days, local cleanups and education events designed to improve the tourism product offered in the Burren region. The group has been working to gain accreditation from Ecotourism Ireland and in piloting Ireland’s first ecotourism certification programme. A number of local businesses are due to receive their own individual accreditation from Ecotourism Ireland this month.

“The network is offering visitors opportunities to engage with the protected landscape of the Burren in a manner which is sustainable both in terms of the environment as well as the community,” said Edel Hayes of the Burren Connect Project.

“Accommodation, food, farming, outdoor activities, culture and heritage are all part of the network, which has woven together all the elements that make the area attractive to visitors looking for authentic tourism experiences. Tourism businesses involved in the network are committed to local produce, conservation and the community, as well as to continuing high standards in sustainability.”

The Burren Ecotourism Network elected its first committee last year with Joanna McInerney of the Burren Outdoor Education Centre elected as chairperson; Marie Neylon of Corofin Camping and Hostel elected as secretary and Orla Vaughan of Kilfenora Hostel and Chris O’Neill of Burren Painting Centre elected as joint treasurers. The network will be officially launched at Gregans Castle Hotel in Ballyvaughan on March 3.

A SIX-MONTH suspension of commercial rates in Ennis and greater independence for Shannon Airport were among the main commitments sought by businesses from Clare’s General Election candidates, at a public meeting last week.

Michelle Madden, of Madden’s Furniture told the meeting in Ennis last week that her family had been in business for 99 years in Ennis.

She said Madden’s, which employs five people, pays € 16,500 in commercial rates to Ennis Town Council every year. “High rates are rates are closing businesses,” she claimed.

Ms Madden added that rates should be determined on profit and not the size of a business. She called on the council to suspend rates for six months.

Local publican and representative of the Vintner’s Federation of Ireland (VFI) Gerry Collins, said that instead of having 20 shop units closed in Ennis, it would be better if the council lowered rates “and kept half of them open”.

Gerry Barry of Clare Trade Supplies said that businesses were finding it very hard to pay rates. He said businesses had to cut costs to survive and the council must do likewise.

CEO of Ennis chamber Rita McInerney told the meeting that businesses in Ennis paid € 5.5 million in rates to Ennis Town Council last year. She described the business community as a “significant stakeholder” that should have a greater voice at local government level.

However, Green Party candidate and Ennis councillor Brian Meaney said that without commercial rates, the council would not be able to provide essential services to the public.

He said there had been no increase in rates in Ennis for the past three years and any suspension would represent a “serious deficit in income” for the council.

He said water charges and domestic rates were needed to fund local government.

“Which library are we going to close? How are we going to salt roads?” asked Cllr Meaney.

He added, “These are very real services that have to be paid for.”

The meeting also heard pleas for greater promotion of Shannon Airport.

Pat McCarthy of Pat McCarthy Shoes described Shannon as the “nucleus” of the economy in the midwest.

Addressing the candidates, Mr McCarthy said, “Please, please, please go to the Shannon Airport Authority and get Shannon moving the way it was when I came to Clare.”

Brian O’Neill, Managing Director of the Rowan Tree Hostel and Restaurant, called for a dedicated marketing strategy for Shannon and for the “ridiculous” travel tax to be abolished.