The Clare People Archive

LOCALS in the Ballycar area of Newmarket on Fergus say insuffi- cient attention is being paid to their flooding plight.

The closure of a water-logged road left householders without access to their homes for several weeks. Some had to park their cars in a neighbour’s yard and trek across fields and other properties to get home.

The locals say that despite this most of the publicity has been on the clo- sure because of flooding of the Ennis to Limerick railway line at Ballycar. The line has been closed since early February.

At least three houses were inacces- sible for almost a month. This raised the question of how emergency serv- ices would get access to the homes in the event of a fire or a sudden illness. Several other houses and properties were also affected.

One local man said, “It hasn’t hap- pened to us before but who’s to say it won’t happen again. The road was flooded in three separate places and it suddenly dawned on us that if something serious happened, it would have proven difficult for the emergency services to get here.

“There is all this talk about the rail- way line being flooded but there is no talk about the residents of Ballycar

who have been affected. The OPW is now getting involved to see what can be done with the railway line. That’s fine. It’s easy raise the line what is going to be with the road,” another local said.

Traffic, including school buses, have had to take a detour around the Ballycar area as a result of the flood- ing while several other vehicles have had to be towed from the flood wa- oe

‘No one has said anything about the local residents in Ballycar, some of whom were cut off for weeks be- cause of the flooding,” according to local councillor, Sonny Scanlan GReoF

“I was a councillor for the area between 1985 and 1999 and we had this problem back then. At the time, it was agreed that the problem areas would be drained and even the local farmers stepped up and offered to buy the pipes that would have been needed but unfortunately it came to a full stop,” the Quin-based council- eyumcr BCE

“The problem is the water drains off into an underground river but it is draining too slowly. This is going to continue to happen until something is done about it. It is an appalling situ- ation that local residents can’t get up and down their own road and have to park a distances from their homes.”

THE Irish Farmers Association are gearing up for a major fight in the coming days on the issue of the World Trade Organisation. That was the message that came from an emer- gency meeting of the IFA Executive Council in Portlaoise on Thursday night.

The meeting was called in response to what the IFA called “the immedi- ate threat that the EU Trade Com- missioner, Peter Mandelson, would sell out Irish agriculture and particu- larly the beef and livestock sector”.

Michael Treacy from IFA’s Brus- sels office attended the meeting and update the Council on Mandelson’s latest maneuverings.

“The details were discussed and the prospects of the halving of beef prices to 60p/Ib, 1f Mandelson is not stopped, was top of the agenda,” said IFA President, Padraig Walshe.

The hit on Ireland would be at least €2 billion n per year with the loss of our suckler cow herd and thousands of jobs in the meat industry and on the supply side.

“On lamb under the Mandelson’s proposal, sheep farmers face a mas- sive increase in imports with Aus- tralia adding thousands of tones to even greater New Zealand volumes.

“The main dairy products – butter, skimmed milk powder and cheddar cheese – face tariff cuts of up to 70 per cent which would undermine the EU market and damage Irish milk

prices.

“It would be unrealistic to expect the farming community and rural people to vote for the Lisbon Treaty while Mandelson is planning the de- struction of the Irish and European family farm structure.”

An indication of the seriousness of the situation is that the IFA President has also invited County Vice Chair- man and Secretaries to the meeting, who together with County Chair- men will form action teams for each county.

Speaking ahead of the meeting Clare IFA President, Michael Lynch, said that the local beef industry now hangs in the balance.

“The WTO could have serious con- sequences for Irish agriculture,” he

PHO

“The last round of the WTO result- ed in the termination of the Irish sug- arbeet industry. It is the intentions of EU trade negotiator Peter Mandleson to offer tariff cuts to encourage cheap food to Europe from South America and other sub-standard countries in lieu off commercial banking and other commodity industries.

‘European agriculture is being sac- rificed at the negotiation table in Ge- neva, stated the County Chairman.”

THE importance of continued re- search and innovation in the food industry was highlighted last week with the announcement of a major new postgraduate programme in- volving two of Ireland’s foremost universities and Teagasc.

The Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, last week launched the new initiative in postgraduate educa- tion in the agri-food sector. The Food Graduate Development Programme, has been allocated funding of €1.1 million for a five-year period by the Department of Agriculture under the Food Institutional Research Measure Coa OR

Pioneered jointly by Teagasc, Uni-

versity College, Dublin (UCD) and University College, Cork (UCC), the Food Graduate Development Pro- gramme will provide skills training to postgraduate students and research staff in Universities and Research institutions in Ireland engaged in FIRM food research projects.

The project is being co-ordinated by Professor Michael Gibney, Pro- fessor of Food and Health at UCD and the Director of Training is Dr Alan Kelly, Dean of Graduate Stud- ies at UCC.

“The aim of my Department, in funding the Programme, is to ad- dress the needs of the food industry by ensuring that postgraduate stu- dents and research staff engaged in food research projects gain an un-

derstanding of industry expectations and skills required for duties requir- ing rapid decisions on problem solv- ing in an industrial environment,’ said Minister Coughlan at last weeks launch.

This will complement the research skills acquired in the course of their research projects.”

Speaking after the launch, Profes- sor Mike Gibney, Professor of Food and Health at UCD, said that the overall objective of the Programme is to improve skills training through the creation of a modularised series of graduate training programmes.

Programme modules will have a strong emphasis on the skills re- quired of leaders in the agri-food sector, food industry and other re-

search institutions nationally and internationally.

Dr Alan Kelly, Dean of Gradu- ate Studies at UCC and Director of Training of the Programme, high- lighted the changing national context of postgraduate education and con- tinuing professional development, Where inter-institutional collabora- tion delivering high-level transfer- able skills allowing graduates to make the maximum impact in their careers in the knowledge economy. He described the Food programme as a pioneering model for how such programmes may develop in the fu- ne Ken

For more information on the Food Graduate Development Programme, check out www.foodpostgrad.1ie.

derelindslomea eel oy

which is as yet in its infancy will look

into tourism in the area and identify

any actions that may improve the in- CliamtA

The task force will also be charged

with progressing an economic devel- opment strategy for the region.

Covering a geographical area from Kildysart to Loop Head and north as far as Miltown Malbay Cllr Cham- bers said the main function of the task force will be to encourage in- dustry into west Clare.

He said it is vital that the Clare side of the Shannon estuary is developed and maintained and that the pier off Moneypoint is currently working at 25 per cent capacity.

“Kilkee to Loop Head is the finest scenery in Europe and that is not ex- aggerating. There is great potential,” he said.

“The long-term objective is to get people to settle in west Clare.”

The idea of a new task force was first mooted at a Kilrush Town Coun- cil meeting.

Town councillor Liam O’Looney (FF) said that the previous proved successful and folded only after it reached the three goals set for it

The first goal was to encourage broadband into the west Clare capi- tal, which was achieved.

Decentralisation was the second goal with came to fruition last year when the Revenue offices moved into Cappa.

The third goal set for the town was to source a much-needed hotel. Since then sites for a hotel have been iden- tified and interest shown by some ey ba Olen

“The task force should be es- tablished to organise sustainable

jobs for the area,” said Councillor O’Looney.

The West Clare Economic Task Force is made up of the seven Kil- rush area county councillors, the mayor of Kilrush, mayor of Kilkee, Kilrush and Kilkee Chambers of Commerce, Leader, FAS, Eiri Corca Baiscinn, Shannon Development, the County Enterprise Board, the VEC and the ESB.

THE physical and logistical chal- lenges that faced Kilrush Town Council when it embarked on the pi- lot phase of the reyuvenation of John Paul Estate paled into insignificance this week when local families got their first view of the newly reno- vated houses.

One who was on the coal face of the development from the start was the town clerk, Fiona Mooney.

“It was a case of how would we overcome the design mistakes that were there from the start,’ she said.

The first challenge facing the coun- cil was to remove the notorious back lanes to the houses.

Ms Mooney said that while some residents were initially concerned about how they would access the back of their houses, it soon became apparent that the security and privacy their removal would achieve would far outweigh the other difficulties.

The other major physical changes were the derelict spaces that had been left and the block of houses that had been built in what could easily have been an open public area.

She also paid tribute to the build-

ers, Martin Fitzgibbon Builders.

“This long term regeneration project is about more than the indi- vidual houses, it is about people tak- ing pride in their area and standing up for the positives in the commu- nity,’ said Ms Mooney.

She said that the houses in the pilot part of this project now have secure back gardens and boundaries.

There were more than physical boundaries to overcome for the town clerk and the council staff.

“We had to relocate households while the work was carried out.

‘We met with nothing but positivity

from people,’ said the town clerk.

“It was a leap of faith for people and we were So impressed with the leap of faith they took,” she said.

“We hope it has paid off for them.”

The pilot phase of the John Paul Estate Remedial Works Scheme cov- ered almost one quarter of the entire estate and now the council are hop- ing to get the support of central Gov- ernment so they can finish the estate as soon as possible.

The show house at Willow Green will be open for viewings until March 14, Monday-Saturday (1lam to lpm) and Sunday 9 (2pm to 4pm).

A SMALL island off Kilrush 1s making international headlines as wealthy men and women show an interest in buying their very own is- land.

Hog Island has been on the market for a number of months and accord- ing to the sole agent acting for its American owner there has been a lot of local, national and international interest.

Not as well known as its close neighbour Scattery Island, Hog Is- land lies on the Shannon Estuary just a half mile from Cappa Pier.

Islands along the west coast don’t come cheap however. Also known as Inis Beg, it has an asking price in ex- cess of half a million euro.

The 53-acre – at high tide – island was believed to have been inhabited by a family before the famine in 1837, but its only occupants now are a herd of wild goats.

An American family purchased the Island in 1972 from Major Wilson who also owned Scattery Island and Castletown in County Kildare.

“We are informed that Hog Island, unlike its neighbour, Scattery Island, has no environmental or _ histori- cal attributes of note, and therefore

should not have the same restrictions as to development,” said auctioneer Helen Cassidy.

While it is not clear if the island is covered by specific development re- Strictions it is part of the River Shan- non and River Fergus Estuary, which is a Special Protected Area.

Local County Councillor Tom Prenderville (FF) would be keen to see the island maintained as a herit- age site without any development.

“IT would not be very enthusiastic about a dwelling going up there. We need to preserve those areas,’ he Sr ALG

What any prospective buyer would

be sure of is that the island is locat- ed in an area of outstanding scenic beauty, close to amenities and is a private area of unspoilt tranquillity.

The highest peak is 14 metres, from which the rest of the low-lying island is visible. The northern and eastern shores of the island are largely com- posed of storm beach where there 1s evidence of winged plover, and low earth cliffs are evident in the western and southern coastline.

At the north of the island spits have formed and a well-developed salt marsh is found, providing food for swallows. There are no trees on the TSIEN eXeb

FINAL parades are being made across the Burren region for St Pad- dy’s Day with a number of quality parades in store for locals. Both Gort and Fanore are getting in early by hosting their parades before the big day itself.

Recognised as one of the smallest but best parades in the county, the Fanore Parade will take place on Saturday, March 15, from 12.30pm. The parade will assembly in the car park of Fanore Beach before making it’s way through the village.

Anyone interested in taking part should contact Kevin McCormack or

Anne Pilkington locally.

Parade fever hits Gort on Sunday loth March and the parade organi- sational committee are appealing for helpers to act as stewards for the day. The parade has grown in recent years and more help is now needed to make sure that everything goes off smoothly.

It has also been announced that Gort native and Galway hurling leg- end, Sylvie Linnane, will act as mar- shall for this years event.

The Band of the 4th Western Bri- gade have also been confirmed for the parade as has St Patrick’s Pipe Band from Tulla under conductor Sean Leamy.

The parade will start with the blessing of the shamrock outside the church immediately after 12.15pm mass before the shamrock is distrib- uted to members of the Gort Reserve Defence Force.

The parade will proceed through the Square and after going through Bridge Street, children’s groups will turn right at Supermac’s Corner and return via Church Walk.

The theme of this years parade is myth and legend, and a number ind1- vidual and street theatre entries have already been entered with the chil- dren’s art workshops re-enacting the Little Folk and the Children of Lir.

Entries can either be on foot or on

floats. However entrants are asked not to use long or wide vehicles or throw items from them for reasons of safety. Vintage cars, tractors and a threshing exhibition by Francis Lin- nane will also take place.

After the parade Gort Fire and Res- cue Service under John Lally, Station Officer, will simulate a motor acci- dent rescue scene.

On Saturday, Sean-Nos_ Danc- ing workshops will take place from 10.30am to 4.30pm in the Lady Gre- gory Hotel.

There will also give an exhibition of dancing at a Ceili with music pro- vided by Donie Nolan and Taylor’s Sivese

THE people of north Clare are being offered the chance to take advantage of the newly refurbished community space in Kilfenora.

The newly upgraded Kilfenora Community Centre will be formally re-opened this Friday evening and the centres committee is inviting lo- cal people along to see what the cen- tre has to offer.

“We already have badminton, set dancing, youth club, music, trad for teens, step dancing and we have the fitness club. There is lots on already but if anyone out there is interested in any other activities the should get in contact with myself or any mem- ber of the committee and we’d love

to help out,’ said chairperson, Pat aerator

“We also have a long tradition of boxing here in the hall. It’s been going here for years and they have achieved a lot of success over that apes lone

The hall committee has secured a number of grants for the hall, most notably a €30,000 grant from Clare County Council through the Com- munity Capital Scheme and has un- dergone fundraising activities.

The hope now is that the venue can become self financing before the end of the year.

‘We have done well with the grants and got some help from the local businesses. Our main fundraiser for the hall is our bring-and-buy sale

which takes place at Christmas. We use that to finance insurance, light and heat costs,” continued Pat.

“We hope that the hall can become self financing by the end of this year. We are looking at introducing a nom- inal fee, maybe a euro per head per hour, which would cover the basics of heat and light. Hopefully, if we get enough people involved we wont need to go fundraising anymore, it will be able to fund itself.”

Local councillor, Joe Arkins (FG) said the council funding was partly as a result of an increase in social hous- ing in the area over recent years.

“The hall at Kilfenora was badly in need of upgrading and is used by many orginisations in the commu- nity. The north Clare area committee

considered a number of worthwhile proposals. The members agreed on the Kilfenora proposal because it clearly met the criteria of the Social and Community Capital Scheme,” he said

The hall will be officially reopened this Friday, March 14, at 7pm. Any- one interested in organising or taking part in activities in the hall should contact Pat Keane on 086 8127903.

THE Ennistymon Community Cen- tre will be the venue on Easter Sun- day for a musical extravaganza fea- turing an 80 piece big band from America.

The Burnsville High School Big Band will take to the community centre stage for one evening only with all proceeds going towards the town’s Mol An Ojige Steiner school.

The event is being organised by the Mol An Oige parents committee and Hibernia Music, an organisa- tion which helps orchestras and large school bands from abroad find ven- ues to play in Ireland.

“I organise concerts with incom-

ing choirs, youth orchestras and high school bands who come to Ireland through a tour operator,’ said Ann Farrelly of Hibernia Music whose grandchildren attend Mol An Oige.

‘The concerts take place north and south of the order and are all for tbe laYs

“None of the groups charge for their performance, so all the money can go towards the charity, which is perfect.

“We tailor the concert venues to suit where the group themselves want to play, so if they want to see Clare, I try to organise a charity concert for eles nm bOm Oi E-BRon

‘This group is an 80 piece big band from Burnsville Highschool in Min-

nesota.”

After they plan in Ennistymon they will travel to Kerry and play another charity concert down there before going home.”

SW cViMe ream some ODe MED OOCoMBDIEBRceronle years that a top quality large Ameri- can band has visited Ennistymon.

“We had a 50 piece orchestra here in Ennistymon last year and that was great. So we are all hoping that this will be even better,” said local organ- iser Roisin Garvey.

‘Tickets are available from Custys in Ennis, from Unglerts in Ennisty- mon or by ringing Susanne on 086 6044113.” ;

Last month, the Mol an Oige Stein- er School in Ennistymon and the

Raheen Wood Steiner School in east Clare became the first two Steiner School’s in the country to be granted official recognition by the Depart- ment of Education.

This follows a long struggle for the recognition which means that the schools can obtain grants and teach- ers’ salaries from this September.

Up until this point the Ennistymon school had to raise all the capital needed to operate the school from fundraising exercises, parent dona- tion and the support of local busi- nesses.

The concert takes place on Easter Sunday, March 23, in the Ennisty- mon Community Centre at 8.30pm – tickets cost €10.

AFTER more than five years of an absence, homeopathy is returning to Ennistymon with the opening of the Ennistymon Homeopathy Clinic.

The new clinic located on Ennisty- mon’s Main Street is operated by Clare natives Diane Stapleton and OE tee

‘There is going to be two of us here, and hopefully a full time acupunc- turist, so it will be a full-on five day a week service,’ said Clare Sheehan.

“It is the case now where homeopa- thy can be the primary care for peo- ple. I have a family in Galway, for ex- ample, who come to me as their first point of call for all illnesses.

‘There was one time when one of the children was not responding to treatment and had to go for a course of antibiotics, but other than that the family has been antibiotic free for 12 Were ace

“So it’s not a case of one or the other. Homeopathy can work well alongside any other medicine. Peo- ple don’t have to come off any other medicine to use it and it’s a very safe and effective way to treat children and adults.”

Clare and Diane hosted an open public talk in Ennistymon library last night. They plan to continue with a series of talks in the library where they will examine all areas of homeopathy, including homeopathy

for men, for children and for vacci- nations.

‘As well as this we are also look- ing at having a regular open-morning here in the clinic where people can find out some information and get a feel for homeopathy,’ continued Ore

“We also want to look at organising mini courses for people. The idea be- hind this is that people, and parents in particular, can understand what they or their child is taking and why they are taking it.

“The parents can then take back control and the responsibility for the healing of their family. So it’s not something outside of them that they have to rely on.

“It’s so much cheaper as well. A lot of the health insurers will now cover a certain amount of the cost of ho- meopathy.”

Clare graduated from the Burren School of Homeopathy in 1995. She operated a practice in Galway City for seven years before moving to Kil- colgan and then on to Ennistymon.

Clare is also the founder and di- rector of the Galway College of ho- meopathy. More information can be found on www.galwayhomeopathy. com