Category: News

THE number of instances of ash dieback in Clare has more than doubled over the last six months with Clare trees now the third most infected in Ireland.

According to figures obtained from the Department of Agriculture, a total of seven positive cases of ash dieback, or Chalara fraxinea, have been recorded in Clare so far this year – up from just three cases in May.

There is currently no information available as to the exact nature and location of these outbreaks, which could be isolated trees in hedgerows or large plantations that could involve the culling of dozens or hundreds of trees.

Coincidentally, strong hurling counties have, to date, been hit hardest by ash die back. The last three All Ireland hurling champions – Clare, Kilkenny and Tipperary – have the three highest instances of ash die back in Ireland.

The Department of Agriculture has declined to give exact details of the location of infected trees in Clare and other counties. This follows confusion earlier this year when the department appeared to release contradictory information about the location of infected trees in Clare.

The March of this year, the Department of Agriculture confirmed that there were two infected areas in Clare – one each in Lisdoonvarna and Scariff. However, two months later, the department released updated information which showed that there were then three infected sites in Clare; in Lisdoonvarna, Newmarket on Fergus and Clarecastle. The Clare People contacted the department in May in relation to the status of the Scariff outbreak but did not receive a response. Indeed, no further update on the spread of the disease was released by the department until earlier this month.

In the most recent update, the department has declined to give any information about the location of the infected trees within each county – and they have not given any information about the nature of each outbreak.

This is in contrast to the department’s handling of the situation earlier this year.

“There are now three confirmed findings in County Clare. One is a private forest plantation, one is in a private garden and the other, latest finding, is roadside planting. The private garden tree has been cleared and destroyed and the other two sites are under eradication,” said a department spokesperson in May.

THE owner of a shop in Ennis that was the scene of a bizarre accident last week has said it is a “miracle” no one was killed.

Barry Lynch said Lynch’s Centra was like a “bomb scene” after a van crashed through the front door on Wednesday night.

A number of shoppers were in the store when a white van driven by an elderly man reversed through the main entrance of the busy Gort Road store at around 8.25pm.

It is thought the accident may have occurred due to a clutch fault causing the van to jerk suddenly backwards to the horror of staff and members of the public.

The van had been parked in a space directly opposite the front entrance of the shop. Gardaí, Clare Fire Services and paramedics were on the scene within minutes. Five people were treated for minor injuries at nearby Ennis General Hospital.

The car is being examined by Garda investigators but it is not thought that charges will be brought against the driver.

Shop owner Barry Lynch praised the response of staff and the emergency services to the accident.

“All I can say is that is a miracle that no one was killed. The shop had been very busy but it had quitened down a small bit but there was still around six people at the tills,” he explained.

Mr Lynch continued, “There was a lot of people coming and going and there would have been people, including children, who would have walked directly behind the van before this happened.

“It was like a bomb scene, there was so much glass and shelves everywhere. But credit to the staff. They rolled up their sleeves and got the place cleaned up and we were up and running again by 11.30. But the bottom line is that we’re just so relieved that no one was killed.”

Lynch’s wasn’t the only shop in Ennis unexpectedly damaged by a car on Wednesday night.

Emergency services were also called to the Applegreen Petrol station and shop at Captain Mac’s cross near St Flannan’s College at around 11.30pm after a car smashed into the front window. Gardaí arrested a 37year-old man on suspicion of drink driving. He is due to appear before Ennis District Court on November 27.

A MOTHER has called for security cameras to be installed at Dumcliffe graveyard after the grave of her infant son was interfered with.

Ennis woman Christine Quinn says she was “shocked” to discover damage to corner of the headstone on the grave of her dead son Patrick Quinn.

Baby Patrick was born stillborn. He would have celebrated his third birthday on December 12.

Ms Quinn believes the damage was caused sometime between 7pm on Wednesday, November 13, and 5pm on Thursday, November 14.

However she thinks the grave may have been vandalised over a number of weeks.

“We have these angels which are glued down to the grave and they were getting knocked down. I thought it was the wind but now I’m not so sure,” she said.

“I was devastated when I saw what happened and so was my husband, absolutely devastated. It breaks my heart. Who would do such a thing?”

The mother of three believes there should be greater security around the graveyard.

“I’d like to see CCTV around there. I was onto the council [Clare County Council]. At least whoever does things like that would be caught,” she added.

A Garda spokesman confirmed on Friday that gardaí in Ennis are investigating the complaint and have inspected the grave for damage.

Clare County Council last night said it had received a

a report of vandalism in section D of the graveyard.

The Council said it recently appointed a registrar who is a regular prescence in the graveyard.

It said CCTV is not being considered at this time but that gates are locked to assist in deterrring anti-social behaviour.

“We will continue to monitor any issues with the burial ground” added a spokesman.

MILTOWN Malbay has brought national honours to the county as the West Clare town has the been named one of the principal winners in this year’s IPB Pride of Place Competition in association with Co-operation Ireland.

More than 400 people from all over the island of Ireland travelled to Derry to attend the 11th annual awards ceremony on Saturday.

Miltown Malbay brings Clare its first success in the competition since the Clare Crusaders Children’s Clinic received an award under the Community Health Initiative category in 2011.

The town beat off stiff competition from all over the country to be crowned overall winners of Population Category three. Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns Committee members were presented with a crystal decorative memento and € 1,000.

Pride of Place, which is run by Cooperation Ireland in conjunction with local authorities north and south of the border, was first piloted in the summer of 2003.

The all-island initiative recognises and celebrates the vital contributions that community partnerships make to society, including promoting social cohesion, involvement in planning, the promotion of heritage, and environmental awareness.

Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns Committee spokesperson Sean Lenihan said, “Like many other small towns throughout Clare we have lots of diverse groups, associations and organisations, but what sets us apart is that when required, all sectors of the community work together and act as one. We are very aware that everybody has something to offer and we recognise the skills, inputs and competencies that different people have and utilise them accordingly to ensure that all visitors leave with fond memories and a willingness to return.”

Mayor of Clare Cllr Joe Arkins said Miltown Malbay’s success “is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when people come together for the benefit of their local community.

“This competition focuses on local communities, both north and south of the border, coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their area. I am sure that Clare’s other participants in this year competition, Mountshannon Community Council and An Sean Dún Residents Association in Roslevan will have also enjoyed the opportunity to network, exchange ideas and learn from others.”

Nicola Cullinan, Pride of Place Coordinator, Community and Tourism Directorate with Clare County Council added, “Pride of Place is a great way to acknowledge the hard work and selfless endeavour undertaken by communities from all over the island of Ireland. It is an opportunity to celebrate the vital contribution that community groups make to society and it demonstrates what local groups can achieve. Clare County Council is delighted to have played its part in supporting local partici

A SIXMILEBRIDGE woman who left Ireland for London when she was just 15 has been honoured for her work with vulnerable children’s in London’s East End.

Sister Mary Lawrence received the Irish Youth Foundation’s fourth annual Nessa O’Neill award at the charity’s prestigious Hibernian Hero Award ceremony.

The Clare nun joined the Convent of Mercy in Stepney soon after she arrived in England, and spent her novice days in North London before returning to the East End of the city.

Sister Mary Lawrence, who is now 82-years-old and battling some ill health, told The Clare People that she came from a family of seven. Three of her four sisters also joined convents, one in Texas, and one in Malta and one sister joined the Salesians in Limerick. A fourth sister became a nun and married in London.

Both of her brothers joined An Garda Síochana in Dublin. Her cousins continue to live in Sixmilebridge but her nieces and nephews live in other parts of the country and other countries.

Sister Mary Lawrence has dedicated her life to helping the youth of the London for more than 40 years.

Just over 45 years ago the parish priest of the area came to the convent asking for a club to be formed to help children, many of Irish decent, you were living in difficult circumstances.

The 11-Plus Club was formed and Sister Mary Lawrence was its leader for 41 years.

She eventually changed the name of the club to the St John Bosco Youth Club, named after the saint who dedicated his life to poor children.

The Clare nun has won many awards for her efforts over the years, and her latest accolade comes from a charity, which offers financial assistance to the club, to allow it to continue its vital work.

ENNIS Town Council was last week named Town/Borough Council of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, held in association with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.

In a further coup for Clare local authorities, the Clare County Councilnominated Celebrate Scattery Island festival was named winner of the Community Gathering of the Year award, sponsored by The Gathering Ireland 2013. The event, which took place in July, was shortlisted from hundreds of Gathering initiatives submitted to the awards scheme.

Commenting on Ennis Town Council’s award success, mayor of Ennis Cllr Mary Coote Ryan said, “In the months since the Local Government Bill to abolish all town councils in 2014 was published by the Minister for the Environment, the staff and elected members of Ennis Town Council have continued to work closely to deliver the wide range of important services that have been provided to the people of Ennis since the late 19th century. I am delighted that this work has been given official recognition at the Excellence in Local Government Awards.”

Ennis town manager Ger Dollard, who attended the ceremony in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel, commented, “This award reflects the important role played by the local authority as a service provider. The fact that the Purple Flag and Friar’s Walk Coach Park initiatives were also shortlisted for other category awards underlines the extensive role played by the local authority in the development of the town.”

Ennis Town Council was presented with a specially-commissioned trophy designed by Tipperary Crystal.

Meanwhile there are hopes that Ennis can benefit from its new twinning arrangement with the German city of Langenfeld.

In October, the mayors of Ennis and Langenfeld signed a twinning charter establishing formal links between the two locations.

CLARE County Council said it is working to remove asbestos piping dumped at an unauthorised landfill site by its own contractor.

The dumping at the former reservoi r at Lislanaghan Kilkee has been an ongoing source of concern for local resident and former member of Kil kee Town Council PJ Linnane, who maintains the pipes were broken and fragmented, making them a public health hazard.

A repor t following the inspection of the site by Michael Flynn Planning, Building and Civil Consultations, working for Mr Linnane, said that on inspection of some of the pipes the asbestos appears to be Chysotile, however this is subject to analysis.

“Chysotile is a white fibrous mineral, a variety of serpentine was an important source of commercial asbestos. Some pipes are in poor condition that have broken and flaked. Chysotile asbestos has also been a significant contributor to asbestosrelated illness,” the report said.

Clare County Council said it does not believe the pipes were broken and cr ushed but are taking the issue very seriously.

Senior engineer Sean Ward said an environmental consultant is being employed by the council to over see the removal and proper disposal of any of the remains of the waste asbestos-cement (AC) water mains, tipped there in June.

Soil samples will also be taken at the site and in neighbouring fields and tested for asbestos. Should there be any traces of asbestos fibres in the soil, Clare County Council will then take the appropriate action, the engineer said.

He added that the AC piping had been stockpiled at the nearby disused water treatment plant and was brought along with soil and stones to the lakeside site.

“This was brought to the attention of this office by Mr Linnane,” he said.

“Many of these pipes were removed from the lakeside site shor tly after being brought there and transferred to the council’s depot in Kilrush, but some AC pipes and debris were left buried under the surface of the lakeside site.

“It is acknowledged that the pipes should not have been brought from the treatment plant site to the lakeside and all pipes and debris will have to be removed from both sites whether on or under the surface,” he added.

“The council has been, and will continue to be, in contact with Mr Linnane to keep him informed of what is being proposed and done,” he said.

THE Environmental Agency (EPA), Clare County Council, and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are to meet later today (Tuesday) to discuss the issue of a noxious smell in Shannon.

Residents say that the smell appears to be abating slightly, but understand that it is the type of smell you get use to and therefore is still an issue.

The underlying cause of the odour is also worrying concerned locals.

The foul fetor has been investigated by the (EPA) and the environmental watchdog has advised that investigations to date indicate that the source of the odour appears to be the sewer network in Shannon.

The EPA and Clare County Council, with the assistance of the HSE, have also put in place an action programme for further monitoring and investigation.

Continuing investigative efforts are being focused on the sewer collection network including all discharges to the network.

The government bodies continue to monitor the smell as well as any unusual patterns of illness in the local population.

Air quality monitored by the EPA in the Shannon area between March 2012 and June 2013 showed pollutant levels were found to be below EU limit values.

CHARITIES and businesses in Ennis are set to benefit from a novel initiative aimed at encouraging people to shop local this Christmas.

The Charity Voucher Booklet is the brainchild of Ennis-based osteopath David Ghilardi.

The booklet features offers from almost 70 Ennis-based businesses and will be on sale in six charity outlets in the town: Clarecare, Caring for Carers (Carmody Street), Cahercalla Community Hospital, The Disabled People of Clare (Clon Road business park), Paw Pourri (Market) and the Irish Cancer Society (Woodquay, Ennis).

Half of the proceeds from the sale of the € 30 booklet will go towards the charities and organisations.

The vounchers can then be used at any of the local businesses that have offers in the booklet. David hopes the scheme can benefit both charities and businesses.

He explains, “I started working on this in July. I went around to the shops one by one. I might have missed a few charities but hopefully, if it goes well this year, we can extend it out next year. A lot of charities would already have campaigns and other projects specifically for Christmas.

“I think all the charities represented do fabulous work and I am proud to be working with them. There are 68 shops in the booklet, with over 100 vouchers. I would hope it would encourage people to shop in the town and spent money locally this Christmas. Businesses give something to help charities and the charities sell the booklets to support the shops. It’s a circle,” David adds.

The booklets are on sale in the six charities from November 12 to December 31. The vouchers can be used up until October 31, 2014.

David said the idea for supporting local good causes was sparked by the upcoming 10th anniversary of the opening of his osteopath clinic.

“I’ve been in Ennis for 10 years and I thought this might be a way of giving something back. The town has been very good to me and my family”, explains David who is originally from France.

The former Avenue United soccer player is hoping the booklet will bring a boost to charities and businesses this year.

EIGHT new Clare companies were set up in just five days last week, pushing the number of start-up companies to the highest since the recession.

Company start-ups for the first 10 months of 2013 nationally were also at the highest seen since 2007 with an average of 1,302 companies being incorporated monthly.

According to solocheck.ie, eight new companies registered in Clare between November 4 and November 8. On November 8, Auris Management Limited was set up in Ennis.

The previous day, November 7, Sorafunding Limited was formed in Shannon, as was Tailor-Made Wine Walks Limited in Ennis. On November 6, Lyonford Limited was set up in Ennis and on November 5 Advance Baggage Limited was registered. Abbeyview Farm Limited was set up in the county on November 4, along with Fermata A Richiesta Limited and Pcl Aviation Services Limited.

In total 13,023 Irish companies were formed between January and October of 2013. This is over 11 per cent up on the same period last year, and every month of 2013 has seen an increase in company start-ups compared to the corresponding month in 2012.

There were almost 2,800 companies trading as normal in agriculture sector at the start of the year, this figure has increased by approximately 15 per cent to just under 3,200.

The IT sector is up 14 per cent while the health and social services, education, motor and social and personal services industries have all seen growth of over 10 per cent this year.