Category: News

AMERICAN billionaire Donald Trump will arrive in Clare on Monday for a whistle stop tour of Doonbeg Trump International Golf Links.

The real estate tycoon purchased the Greg Norman designed golf links and five star hotel last February for an undisclosed sum.

While his sons and vice presidents of Trump International Donald Jnr and Eric Trump visited the west Clare resort to sign the purchase contracts, this will be Mr Trumps first visit to the course since he reportedly paid € 15 million for the 18-hole golf links, hotel and spa.

He is expected to arrive into Shannon Airport early on Monday morning and travel to Doonbeg where he will meet staff and examine the grounds.

He is then scheduled to leave Doonbeg on Tuesday, and travel on to visit his latest acquisition – Turnberry Re sort in Scotland.

Mr Trump is quoted as saying he has plans to develop the West Clare golf course to make it one of the best in the world.

“I have a lot of time and I have a lot of money and the best thing for Ireland is that you allow that great site to have one of the great courses of the world.

“And I have hired for that purpose, Martin Hawtree, to study it,” he said.

“Depending on the study, we may leave it and enhance it or go for an entirely new course.”

However a complete rebuild of the links course at Doonbeg could bring him into conflict with environmentalists over protected dunes and the microscopic snail- Vertigo angustior – that limited the original Greg Norman project. While an exact itinerary of Donald Trump’s visit to the Doonbeg Resort that now bears his name has not been revealed, it is thought he will walk most of the course during his brief time at the venue. It is not clear whether Mr Trump, a reputed scratch golfer, will play any of his Doonbeg course. Tue06May14

CLARE is bracing itself for a marathon count following the local election on May 23, as the largest number of candidates in the country have reg- istered to contest the Ennis electoral area, with 27 people putting their names forward to contest eight seats. A total of 69 candidates declared as the deadline for local election nominations closed. Independent candidates are in the majority in Clare with a total of 19 non-party candidates registered. Fianna Fáil is running the largest number of party political candidates with 18, while Fine Gael will run 16. The Labour Party has nominated five candidates, Sinn Fein just three and new party Fís Nua is to run four candidates. The Anti Austerity Alliance will run two candidates in Shannon. The count will once again take place in Treacy’s West County Hotel.

KILLALOE is the only local election constituency in the Republic of Ireland without a Sinn Fein candidate. The Sinn Fein party in Clare confirmed on Wednesday afternoon there would be no party nominee for the new electoral area of Killaloe, despite rumblings from head office that a name would be added.

At the close of nominations at noon on Saturday, there was no Sinn Fein candidate registered in this electoral area, the only one south of the border without a candidate from the party.

Mike McKee will contest the election in the Shannon area, Noeleen Moran in the West Clare area and Cathal O’Reilly in the Ennis area in Clare.

And while Sinn Fein has a constituency without a candidate, the new party Fís Nua is doubling up on constituencies by running one Clare man in two elections.

Former chairperson of the Green Party in Clare Damon Matthew Wise is to contest the Clare local election in Ennis for Fís Nua while also nominated to run as a European Election candidate for the party in the Dublin Area.

Asked about his decision to contest two elections so geographically apart he said he was running in Ennis to support his party colleague Vera Moloney.

“As you know I am a disability advocate and campaigner across the island of Ireland, and indeed had five different nominations [originally],” he said.

Fís Nua will now contest four seats in the Clare local elections – two in Ennis Mr Wise and Ms Moloney, one in Shannon – Karen Christine Wise and one in Killaloe – Niamh O’Brien.

“Fís Nua had five voting members in East Clare (Killaloe area) in November 2013, and has been joined by four members in Shannon, with a further 16 members having joined or moved from GPI/CG in East Clare (Killaloe), Shannon and Ennis – giving enough members for functioning local area groups for each,” said Mr Wise.

CLARE will need to provide a thousand new homes over the next four years but there will be no need to build any new houses in Killaloe, Kilkee and Kilrush according to a national report issued by the Housing Agency.

Over the next four years it is projected that the Ennis area will need 534 new houses, Shannon 290, Sixmilebridge 139, Newmarket 55 and Ardnacrusha 44. The number for the other specified towns in the report, Killaloe, Kilrush and Kilkee is zero.

The report was commissioned nationally to assess future housing needs based on population and economic assumptions, with natural growth and migration also factored into the findings.

The Government advisory body on housing is predicting a rise in population in the Ennis area of 4 per cent over the next four years, (rising from 25,326 to 26,360). The report anticipates that the populations of Kilrush and Kilkee will fall slightly by around 1 per cent while Killaloe will actually record a very slight population increase of less than 1 per cent.

Sixmilebridge is expected to record the highest population growth over the coming years – by 2018 the Housing Agency estimates the town will have grown its population by 12 per cent to 2,866.

Shannon is also another town expected to expand considerably over the next few years, the population once again expected to top 10,000. It is currently 9,673. The news that Clare will need over a thousand new houses to be built over the coming four years suggests that the economic recovery is finally underway in the county. Nationally the pick up is centred on the east coast, with the counties of Longford and Leitrim returning a zero number for their entire housing requirements.

URBAN SUPPLEMENTS POPULATION IN

2011 CENSUS PROJECTED POPULATION 2018 MINIMUM HOUSING REQUIREMENT 2014-2018 ARDNACRUSHA (CASTLEBANK) 1,414 1,504 44 ENNIS TOWN AND ENVIRONS 25,360 26,326 534 KILKEE TOWN AND ENVIRONS 1,139 1,101 0 KILLALOE 1,292 1,367 0 KILRUSH AND ITS ENVIRONS 2,695 2,604 0 NEWMARKET ON FERGUS 1,773 1,849 55 SHANNON LEGAL TOWN 9,673 10,071 290 SIXMILEBRIDGE 2,507 2,866 139

ALCOHOL was a contributory factor in the death of a Polish man run over by a car in Ennis last year, an inquest has heard.

The body of 38-year-old Thomas Nowakowski, was found near a speed bump in Tobertascáin on May 15, 2013. The fast food worker had lived in Ireland with his wife for six years.

The inquest, before a jury, into his death was opened at Clare County Coroner’s Court in Ennis on Tuesday.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the inquest would hear from State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy and would be adjourned to May 8 to hear from the remaining witnesses.

Ms O’Dea said the deceased’s family were happy for the inquest to proceed in this manner.

Prof Cassidy said she was requested to attend the scene of the incident on May 16, 2013.

She said she found Mr Nowakowski’s body lying across the road; face up with his head facing towards the centre of the road.

Prof Cassisdy said there was a large pool of blood around the decease’s head. His runners were on the road, the inquest heard.

Mr Nowakowski suffered severe injuries to his trunk, fractures to his pelvis, thighbone, ribs and collarbone. Prof Cassidy said there was also extensive damage to the skull. The most significant trauma occurred internally, she said.

Blood and urine analysis showed a considerably high level of alcohol was present in the deceased’s system.

Prof Cassidy said that Mr Nowakowski’s alcohol levels were 375mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Prof Cassidy said the pattern of injuries were wholly consistent with crush trauma.

She said there was as strong smell of alcohol from the deceased. She said he was considerably intoxicated and “likely to be unsteady on his feet”.

She said she was also satisfied Mr Nowakowski suffered no injuries to suggest he was upright at the time of impact

She said the cause of death was crush injuries to chest and pelvis consistent with a crush under the weight of a car.

Acute alcohol intoxication was given as a contributory factor.

CLARE’S 11 bathing areas have got the all clear for the summer season.

This is the first time in a number of years that all of Clare’s bathing areas have got top marks from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to the report on Bathing Water Quality each of the areas were deemed to be compliant with manda- tory water quality levels.

Bathing waters were classified into three categories, namely ‘Good’, ‘Sufficient’ and ‘Poor’. The classification system is based on the levels of E. Coli and intestinal enterococci detected in the bathing water during the 2013 bathing season.

All 11 bathing areas around Clare were adjudged to have ‘Good Water Quality’ having complied with EU Guide and Mandatory levels, includ- ing Ballyalla Lake (Ennis) which was deemed to only have ‘Sufficient Water Quality’ in 2012.

The other bathing water areas are White Strand (Milltown Malbay), Ballycuggeran (Lough Derg), Cappa Pier (Kilrush), Bishopsquarter, White Strand (Doonbeg), Kilkee, Spanish Point, Lahinch, Fanore and Mountshannon (Lough Derg).

According to Paul Moroney Senior Engineer, Clare County Council, “In particular, the Council is pleased that Ballyalla Lake had good results in 2013 and it is working to ensure that improved status is maintained this year and for the future.”

Of the 18 Local Authorities who have designated bathing areas, just six, including Clare, achieved ‘good’ water quality status for all of their identified bathing waters.

Dr Matthew Crowe, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Assessment, said, “Irish bathing waters continue to be among the best in northern Europe. By contrast to the 2012 bathing season, the warm dry conditions last year meant that many waters returned to their normal good quality. Our projections show that almost 90 per cent of Ireland’s designated bathing waters should meet the new ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ water quality standards which will come into force from this year.”

A WELL-KNOWN Ennis family business is the latest to fall victim to the recession, with Guerins Foodstore and Newsagent on the corner of Cornmarket Street closing its doors for the final time on Saturday last.

The constant grocer to the people of the area for more than 60 years, and the supplier of the breakfast roll, scone, sandwich and coffee to workers in recent years, this small corner shop was also a centre of news and chat.

The shop building also occupies a special place in the musical history of the town, as it provided the inspiration for ‘The Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door’ – a well-known Clare song written by Feakle man Johnny Paterson.

Owned by Clodagh and John Guerin, Guerin’s was the subject of a spate of break-ins in the last three months.

“This has a huge impact on the business too,” said Ms Guerin, adding that robberies during an already difficult time can be the final nail in the coffin for any business.

She said that they were sad to close the shop, but were left with no other option.

In the last number of years a number of businesses closed or “down sized” in the area, which had a huge impact on trade.

“Eircom is gone, the school has moved out and most of the [town] council staff are gone.

“Those companies that are left have less staff and it all has an impact,” added Ms Guerin, a familiar face behind the counter.

“People also don’t have the money any more. They are bringing their lunch to work, and who can blame them. I really noticed it in the last 18 months, and definitely since September. The property tax has had an awful impact too. People just don’t have money,” she said.

While there was no alternative but to close the doors, Ms Guerin admitted some tears were shed.

“I will miss the craic we had here with the customers, but at the end of the day you have to be realistic about things, when it is not paying you have to go. But I will miss it.”

Guerin’s other store in Ennis is to remain open.

TRIBUTES have been paid to the late Ita O’Shea (nee Ryan) a founder member of the Ennis Musical Society who passed away last week.

Ms O’Shea was born in Queen Street, Clonmel, Tipperary in July 1920. She moved to Clare in 1952 after husband Murt O’Shea, a radio officer, secured work in the county.

The couple married in 1944 and had three children.

A talented musician who played organ and piano, Ms O’Shea was a cofounder of the Ennis Musical Society in 1953. She was heavily involved with the Ennis Friary and Cathedral choirs and was also the organist in the Ennis Cathedral for many years.

In 2000 she was the recipient of the prestigious Benemerenti award in recognition of her decades of service to church and community life in Ennis.

Her husband Murt passed away suddenly in 1989. Ms O’Shea’s sister Maureen lives in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Ms O’Shea was a grandmother to four grandchildren and had one great grandchild.

Ennis Parish administrator, Fr Tom Hogan yesterday described her as a “lovely woman”.

“She was a genuinely lovely woman. She had real gift for communicating with people. She was delighted when she received the award in 2000 and it was thoroughly well merited”.

Ms O’Shea lived at Dún Mhuire, Clon Road Ennis but was a resident for the last three years of her life at Cahercalla Community Hospital.

In a statement, the committee and members of Ennis Musical Society said they were “saddened to learn of the recent passing of their President and long time member, Ita O’Shea”.

They added, “Ita – through her love of all things musical – gave tremendous service to the Society and the wider community in Ennis. She was a role model to all members and was held in fondness by all who now mourn her passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sí.”

THREE of the county’s four town councils will hold their last ever monthly meeting today (Tuesday), with Kilrush bringing down the curtain on this soon to be extinct form of Government on Thursday.

The first authority to call time on its existence will be Ennis Town Council with its afternoon meeting today. Over 172 years of local government history will come to an end when the nine members of the council meet for the final time to discuss town business.

A number of items are up for discussion on the agenda including a planning report on a long awaited roundabout on the Tulla Road neat the Oakeligh Wood housing estate.

Councillors will discuss a right of way issue at the St Michael’s estate. Debate will also focus on a proposed one-way system in the Lifford Road area of town. A report on commercial rates is also due to be presented to councillors. Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) will preside over the meeting. Later that evening both Shannon and Kilkee Town Council will also meet for the last time.

In Shannon the nine councillors will meet for the last time in the authorities 32-year history at 6.30pm.

While it is business as usual with the agenda, the councillors will also move to ensure the € 111,000 in the council budget is ringfensed for local projects. In Kilkee from 7pm the councillors will meet to hear an address from the mayor Paddy Collins and to view one last time on the finances of the council.

Meanwhile the last ever-monthly town council meeting in the county will be held in Kilrush on Thursday evening in the courthouse.

The nine councillors will show an element of defiance when they table just one joint motion calling “on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to establish a commission to bring forward recommendations on meaningful reform of local government at town council level that will eventually lead to the restoration of democratic structures at town council level in the near future.

The councillors previously voted to move the historic meeting from the Town Hall as the first ever Kilrush Town Council meeting was held in the courthouse.

For more than 170 years town councils have worked as the local authority of their town, but as of June 1 that responsibility will fall to Clare County Council and its 28 new councillors.

ENNIS Town Council is to recommend the introduction of a new oneway system to alleviate traffic congestion outside a school in the town.

In January, the council put forward the proposal to solve traffic and “poor parking behaviour at certain times of the day” at CBS Primary School and Rice College.

The council recently introduced railings to prevent motorists parking on footpaths and to provide some protection for young pedestrians outside the schools.

Under proposed amendments to the town’s parking byelaws, the council proposed a new layout for Dr Daly Road between CBS Primary School and St Joseph’s Hospital.

A report on new system is due to be discussed at today’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.

It is understood the council has recommended the introduction of a oneway system running north from New Road to Lifford Road.

It is part of what the council sees as a longer term plan to address traffic issues in the area.

It is understood a number of residents have objected to the proposal.

In a report to the council’s January meeting, Town Clerk Leonard Cleary stated, “this will involve consideration of a one way system of traffic flow along this road and parking at the Fair Green side of the road, rather than outside resident’s gateways/boundary walls.”

He continued, “Local residents on the road would benefit from improved management of parking outside their gateways and receive a resident’s permit, if needed. However, the proposed one way system will require that amendments be made to the traffic management plan.”

Councillor Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) yesterday urged the council to listen to the concerns of residents. “They are the people who will be most affected by it. I think we should be listening to them. I think these issues could be solved by the use of double yellow lines,” he said.