Category: News

EVERY day Tony must park his car in his neighbours drive and jump over the sand bags to enter his own home.

The pensioner, who does not wish for his full name to be used, fears that if he lifts the sand bags his house will once again be invaded by water from the Atlantic.

Like his neighbours the Clancys and the Cusacks, Tony’s home is not on the sea front, but across the road from those homes that look on to the sea.

On June 7, he was not therefore expecting the storm to bring the high waves crashing through his neighbours’ homes, across the street and into his house and garage.

Thousands of euros of damage was done to the home he shares with his wife, as washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other household electrical goods fell victim to the water.

Two foot of seawater surrounded his home on that fateful morning, a sight he had not ever expected to see.

In the chaos that ensued as emergency services and local authority workers tried to assist, it became clear no one had expected the amount of water that invaded the homes.

“I had difficulty getting sand bags. In the end I had to fill my own using the coal bags we had,” he said.

COMMUNITY activists in Doonbeg have warned that the village and surrounding lands all the way to Cooraclare will be under water if a membrane of land holding back the sea breaks.

The land barrier at Doonbeg Bay was compromised in recent storms that did more than € 800,000 worth of damage to infrastructure of the area.

Tommy Commerford and Tommy Tubridy, both local publicans and local community activists, have now warned that if repair damage and reinforcement work is not carried out soon, the damage to the area will be more severe if there is more bad weather.

“Unless a reinforcement barrier put in there, if the sea breaks it, and it is breaking here already, you are going to have the whole area flooded right down,” said Mr Commerford pointing to land at the edge of the bay just metres from the village on the Dun- more Road.

During the storm on January 7, the land was flooded up to 150 metres from the village, reaching the 50 kilometres per hour sign at the bridge.

“The whole area down to Cooraclare will flood because it is a pure low land caucuses, shragh, land. It is a pure bog land if the membrane goes. “The membrane is only about five metres in parts of it and if it breaks it will sweep the bridge away going down and it will sweep into Shragh and down into the townlands of Cooraclare,” warned Mr Commerford. He said the county council must now look at how best to protect the land bank, as when it is compromised the financial cost and the cost to people’s lives will be significantly more. “Definitely the council need to reassess that whole area. It is a dangerous position,” he said. Two houses along the road were flooded during the storm, but reinforcement works carried out further up the bay saved more homes. The men point to armour rock just metres away that saved their homes and land, previously put under water. “That is what they wanted to do at Doonbeg Golf Course. If that was done at Doonbeg Golf Course there would have been no damage done there,” said Mr Tubridy. There are also concerns for an area across the bay at Rhynnagonnaught. The road leading to the houses in the area was compromised in the storm, and if it is not underpinned it will be completely washed away in the next storm, marooning the residents on an island similar to what happened at Kilcredaun on the Loop Head peninsula.

Clare County Council has requested € 547,500 from central government for the work.

Whitestrand and Doonmore, also experienced € 237,500 worth of damage.

Not only was the sea wall compromised, but holes were also blown open on walls across the road from the sea wall so fierce were the waves and the wind.

Local farmers and neighbours began removing stones from the road at Whitestrand last Wednesday.

As much as 6 to 7 metres of farm land and fencing was also washed into the sea as a result of the storm.

This area will also need to be reinforced with rock armour of galleons the men maintain.

LIVING in a house overlooking Farhiy Bay in Baltard, Doonbeg is a blessing most of the year, but the storm and high tides at the beginning of the New Year made it a precarious place to call home.

Gearoid Greene along with his wife and five children were shocked as the spray from the storm and high tide of January 7 beat off the back of the house.

What made it all the more surprising was the fact that the house was far above sea level, looking down on the sea from a great height.

Shortly after 8am as the storm took hold the family were in fear of severe damage to their home and even considered moving while the storm abated.

The winds and strength of the sea blew in the stones from the periphery wall into the garden, leaving the back of the home, which faces on to the sea, exposed.

Wiring securing electric poles were also up rooted, in damage never witnessed in the area before.

As well as dealing with the clean- up of the storm and the rebuilding of the secure wall, this farming family must also contend with reseeding land covered by seawater, when and if it eventually dries, in time for this year’s harvest.

The cost of the bad weather continues to be counted.

FARMERS with land around Farihy Bay in Doonbeg are facing the possibility of a serious fodder shortage next winter as hundreds of acres of farmland remain water logged as a result of damage to a nearby sluice.

The sluice was installed by the Land Commission to channel water from the land when it would inevitable flood during extensive rainfall.

Heavy rainfall, coupled with storms and high tides resulted in land covered in salty water in the last fortnight.

A blockage coming from the back of the sluice means that water cannot flow freely and drain the land, leaving up to an estimated 300 acres of prime farm land flooded with sea water.

Thomás Flanagan and Gearoid Greene are just two of more than a half a dozen farmers affected by the break down in the infrastructure.

The farmers had employed a digger to clear the sluice of rocks lodge in the large concrete pipe, but to little or no avail as waves continue to carry debris over the sluice, which then lodges at the back of the sluice and eventually gets stuck in the stones of the main flow pipe blocking the water again.

Even high land that is not susceptible to flooding is not accessible to the farmers. Mr Flanagan explained that he cannot access prime grazing land which lies high above sea level as the access road has been washed away in the storm and the surrounding land remain water logged. At least 70 acres of Mr Greene’s land, which he would have used for silage in the spring, remains under seawater, the salt content of which continues to burn the land. He said he was very concerned about how he will access fodder for his cows next year.

“There will be houses in danger if this water rises again and the sluice is not sorted,” said Mr Flanagan.

“You don’t mind if you get have rain for a day or two and the water builds up once or twice a year; it will go eventually, but the problem we have here is the bits of rubbish get stuck between the stones and it blocks the stones. It will slow down the flow every time,” he said.

“About 80 per cent of the water went down when we cleared the sluice, but it is filling again. And if we get heavy rain it will be as bad again,” said Mr Flanagan.

In the 1990s their fathers paid to have the sluice repaired, but the cost of repairing the public infrastructure this time will cost significantly more, the farmers have warned.

The farmers fear that the repair of the sluice will fall between Clare County Council and the OPW and are anxious that one of the bodies take responsibility and rectify the problem immediately.

These full time dairy farmers rely on the income from their farms to support their young families, and while the sluice remains damaged their livelihood remains under threat, they explained.

A WEST Clare man who claims he walked 17 miles between Ennis and Kilrush while in a “drug haze” after he was arrested for breaking into a car has been ordered to comply with the Probation Services.

Sam Johnson (19) was arrested by gardaí after breaking into a car at Considine’s Terrace, Ennis on October 12, 2013.

Mr Johnson appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to two charges of illegally interfering with mechanically propelled vehicles.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court a resident of Considine’s Terrace contacted gardaí after she discovered her car had been moved from its original position to the middle of the car park.

Mr Johnson, with an address at New House, Cooraclare, was arrested after gardaí discovered his phone and a specimen of blood in the car. He was later released.

Insp Kennedy said gardaí received another report later that morning of a car being broken into at the Cross Roads Pub, Knockalough, Kilrush Road.

The court heard the owner had parked his vehicle at the pub before getting a lift to work in Meelick.

Insp Kennedy said Mr Johnson was seen in the car and arrested soon after.

Insp Kennedy said the accused was disorientated and intoxicated and was unable to give an explanation for his behaviour.

The court heard Mr Johnson has paid compensation of € 200 for the damage done to the car at Knockalough.

Mr Johnson has no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Fiona Hehir said her client was still high on drugs and had no phone when he was released.

She said Mr Johnson walked from Ennis to the Cross Roads Pub.

“He was in a drug haze. There is no other way to explain it”, she added.

Ms Hehir said her client has not taken any drugs since the incident and is meeting with a drugs counselor.

The court heard that when asked by gardaí why he had broken into the car at Knockalough, the accused, said, “I wanted to buy the car.”

Insp Kennedy said the distance from Ennis to Knockalough was around 17 miles.

Asked by Judge Durcan if he accepted Mr Johnson’s version of events on the night, Insp Kennedy said, “No.”

“I don’t know how he got to Knockalough but I can assure you he did not walk it”, he added.

Judge Patrick Durcan said these were very serious offences. However he said Mr Johnson was in full time education and is taking steps to deal with substance abuse issues. Adjourning the case to April 2, Judge Durcan ordered a pre-sentence report from the Probation Services.

A DUBLIN man who allegedly struck another person with a glass on the night Clare welcomed home the county’s All-Ireland champion hurlers will have his case heard in the Circuit Court.

Judge Patrick Durcan refused jurisdiction of the case after hearing details of the alleged assault at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Darren Brady (39), with an address at Abbeyville Green, Swords Manor, Swords, Dublin, is charged with as- sault causing harm to a man at Dan O’Connell’s Bar, Ennis on September 29, 2013.

Garda Cormac Kelly of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

He said Mr Brady made no reply to charge after caution.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of case.

Garda Kelly outlined a summary of the alleged facts to allow Judge Patrick Durcan consider jurisdiction.

A medical report outlining the alleged injuries suffered by the man was given to Judge Durcan.

Garda Kelly told the court the alleged injured party was in the bar with his girlfriend.

He said it would be alleged Mr Brady started to behave inappropriately towards the woman.

Garda Kelly said, “He (alleged victim) asked him (Mr Brady) to leave her alone at which point he head butted the alleged injured party and struck him in the head with either a glass or a pint bottle”.

Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction. He said he was doing so based on the alleged evidence and the injuries allegedly suffered by the alleged victim.

Insp Kennedy said the case would now be referred back to the DPP. He told the court that a book of evidence would also be prepared.

Mr Brady is also charged with two public order offences arising out of the alleged incident at the pub.

He was remanded on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on March 12.

NORTH Clare is in danger of becoming an unemployment blackspot if action is not taken to reverse worrying jobs trends in the region.

Almost 74 per cent of all new people signing on the live register in the last quarter of 2013 signed on in the Ennistymon office.

Fears have also been expressed locally about the growth in the number of long-term unemployed in the area, with the overall number of people signing on in North Clare growing by almost 300 per cent over the last eight years.

These figures do not take into account the number of people emigrating from the North Clare area, meaning the over number of actual jobs lost in the area could be far greater than the official figures suggest.

The overall number of people signing on in Clare rose by 302 people between September and December of last year. Over the same time period, the number of people in the Ennistymon area office grew by 223 people, meaning that 73.84 per cent of all live register increases in the county came in the Ennistymon area.

While much of this can be explained as a result of seasonal factors, with a number of large tourism sector em- ployers located in North Clare, the continued stagnation of the county’s building industry is also a major problem in the North Clare area.

“The Government needs to be cognizant of the fact that it needs to create job, not just on the city areas but in the regions as well. Opportunities are going to have to be developed for smaller, local employers who can offer four or five sustainable jobs. There is no point getting a factory into Ennistymon, Miltown Malbay or Lisdoonvarna that could be gone in five years,” said Ennistymon businessman and Senator, Martin Conway (FG).

“The recession has hit hard in North Clare. A lot of the people who are long-term unemployed in North Clare are that because of the collapse in the construction industry. It is really difficult to get employment in the area at the moment – particularly for young men.”

The number of people singing on the live register in North Clare doubled between 2005 [637] and 2008 and 1,214. The numbers signing on have fluctuated seasonally between 1,500 and 1,700 over the last fours years. It has been suggested that the repair work in North Clare following the storm might help a number of the long-term unemployed in Clare back into employment.

THE proposal to build an interactive tradition music visitors centre in Doolin received a setback this week as an Bord Pleanála overturned the recommendations of its own planning inspector, in forcing the developers to pay for the development of pedestrian access from the proposed centre to Doolin village.

Plans to construct an interactive visitor centre including retail space, service building, as well as car and coach parking were approved by Clare County Council in August of last year. A condition on the planning was to compel the developers, Tradtime Limited, to give a special contribution of € 30,000 to Clare County Council to develop pedestrian access to the site.

In her assessment of the appeal, an Bord Pleanála own inspector, Louise Kiernan, recommended that the condition for the special contribution be lifted, describing it as “unwar- ranted”.

“The planning authority are looking for too much,” she said in her report.

“They are getting lands for free as well as provision of a footpath and lighting across the site frontage and they are still looking for a large contribution towards a footpath link.”

In a rare move, the bord of an Bord Pleanála, decided to overturn the decision of its own inspector.

“Having regard to the nature of the proposed development, the likely lev- el of usage and associated volumes of pedestrian movement associated with the proposed development it is considered that in the absence of the provision of a suitable and safe pedestrian linkage between the site and the central area of Doolin the proposed development should not proceed,” they said.

“Accordingly, it is considered that the imposition of a financial levy as a special financial contribution towards the funding of such pedestrian linkage and footpath is appropriate.”

NEW jobs and the first countywide music education programme are on the way after Clare secured over € 400,000 from a funding project supported by rock legends U2.

The successful Clare bid will see music teachers employed to work in school and out of school settings, teaching music to children and young adults around the county.

The overall aim is to provide the first countywide music education service in Clare.

‘Music Generation, the U2 and Ireland Funds’ supported National Music Education Programme initi- ated by Music Network, announced earlier this month that South Dublin and Clare had been selected for participation in the fourth and final round of the programme.

Clare Music Education Partnership will receive close to € 435,000 in seed funding which will enable high quality, accessible music education programmes to be provided for children and young people in their local communities. Clare / Limerick Education and Training Board (formerly Clare VEC) is the lead statutory agency for the programme.

Meetings have already taken place between representatives of Clare Limerick ETB, CMEP and Music Generation.

It is expected that the programme will start to roll out towards the latter half of 2014. Clare’s bid for Music Generation funding attracted support from a number of local agencies including Clare County Council, LEADER, Family Resource Centres, Clare Youth Services and Maoin Cheoil an Chláir.

Acclaimed musician and scholar Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin also lent his high profile support to the bid along with University of Limerick’s World Academy of Music.

It is thought that the Clare will collaborate with local private music providers and the successful Limerick City Music Generation Project.

Among the aims for the programme are the establishment of a Clare County Orchestra and Clare Children’s Choir. It is hoped the funding will create employment opportunities for Clare singers and musicians.

For further information log onto the Clare Music Education Partnership Facebook page.

In July 2009 U2 and The Ireland Funds announced a € 7 million donation to support the cause when national funding to roll out successful pilot schemes was impacted due to the current economic climate.

Music Generation will provide three-year seed funding to establish local services, which will be sustained by Music Education Partnerships on a long-term basis.

SHANNON looks set to once to be a strong player in the world aircraft leasing industry following news of a multi-billion-euro takeover by Irish company AerCap.

It has emerged that Shannon based company AerCap have just agree a € 4.3 billion deal which will see it buy out American giant International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

The takeover, which is likely to be finalised between April and May of this year, will dramatically swell the number aircraft on the books of AerCap from its current number, understood to be in the region of 380, to a massive 1,300. This would make it one of the biggest aircraft leasing companies in the world.

Although the corporate headquarters of AerCap are currently in the Netherlands, it is understood that the impact of the merger will be heavily felt in Shannon. The company formed following the collapse of Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) and its global business is headed by Aengus Kelly, who previously worked at GPA in Shannon.

Meanwhile, Shannon Airport recorded an increase in passenger numbers for the first time in five years in 2013, the first year since it came under local control.

A total of 1,400,032 passengers flew through the Clare airport last year, an increase of just over 5,000 on the 1,394,781 who used the facility in 2012.

The increase was achieved despite a difficult start to 2013 as month-overmonth passenger numbers continued to decrease in the immediate wake of the airports de-coupling from the Dublin Airport Authority.

However, strong growth from June onwards saw the airport halt the fiveyear slide in passenger numbers.

“Last year was always going to be challenging, not least at the beginning of the year as we emerged from the State airports group,” said Shannon CEO Neil Pakey.

“After a slow start in terms of passenger numbers over the first five months, trends improved considerably as the year drew on and the second half of the year was very positive.

“We are very confident that we will now achieve real growth as we move into 2014 and beyond.”

The increase in the latter half of the year was more pronounced on transatlantic routes where 22 per cent growth was achieved, thanks to new services to Chicago and Philadelphia.