The Clare People Archive

MEELICK GAA club is celebrating having acquired the first defibrillator for their grounds and for the village itself.

Thanks to the very generous spon- sorship of ex-player and successful business man Joe McNamara, Meel- ick GAA Club have acquired a de- fibrillator and are in the process of arranging training for it.

Treasurer Seamus Speight said he would like to “thank Joe for his very generous sponsorship that enables the club to provide a very important service to the community. We also

have plans to increase the number of both defibrillators and qualified peo- ple to use it in the near future.”

Club PRO, Cathal Sherlock, said that getting the potentially life-sav- ing device is part of the club’s on- going effort to have state-of-the-art health and safety procedures.

“We already have a number of peo- ple trained in first aid and this is an extension of that,’ said Cathal.

“We’re delighted that we have this facility for the community now and we will be continuing our fundrais- ing to get a second one. The current defibrillator will probably be kept at the club as that is a fairly central

point for the whole community,” said OFTHE

Meanwhile, the club is opening a challenge to have members and sup- porters design the new club crest.

“This competition is open to all but we would especially like to see entries from families. The design 1s completely up to those entering, the committee will make the final deci- sion,’ Cathal said.

The prize is a E100 one4all voucher. Many of the entries will be displayed on the new website Meelick.Clare. GAA.ie. Entries need to be submit- ted before Good Friday, March 21.

Entries can be handed in to teach-

ers in Meelick National School or any club officer. They can also be e-mailed to MeelickPhysicalTherapy @gmail.com. Alternatively, you can post your design to Cathal Sherlock, Knockalisheen, Meelick. Club offic- ers include Padraic O’Brien, Seamus Speight, Mike Mulvihill, Ray Ryan and Cathal Sherlock.

The club would also like to thank the following sponsors for their gen- erosity throughout the year. Squire Maguires, Mojo’s, Pat Russell, Brendan Healy, Gerry Markham, Frank Quinn, Bobby O’Connell, Ca- thal Sherlock and Dermot Fahy in Guinness.

A NEW pilot scheme to bring people to east Clare on holidays where they can learn traditional skills and crafts is being launched this summer.

The Centre for Environmental Liv- ing and Training, CELT are now ex- panding their operations to include new initiatives.

CELT are now offering eco-holi- days where visitors can learn a tra- ditional skill for three days, enjoy a guided woodland walk, or take a day off, then learn a second skill for two more days, creating a package week’s holiday.

Skills included are of the kind that CELT usually offer in one of their

bigger camps, such as blacksmith- ing, weaving, basket-making, chair- making or other crafts.

“We have put together packages that will suit all budgets, whether people want to do bed and breakfast, camp, self-cater or stay in a hostel,” said CELT administrator, Sarah Thomson.

The organisation is also booking beds in B&B’s locally which use eco-friendly practices, such as com- posting recycling or eco-friendly cleaning products.

“We’ve brought a lot of visitors into the area with our weekends in the woods but this is a different pack- age, which will give people a chance to come for just a few days and pick

and choose the courses they want,’ Ce RCOMmO YD eT Oe

The visitors will be encouraged to visit local pub traditional music ses- sions, sports events, fairs and other activities.

The eco-holidays are being adver- tised both at home and abroad and a representative of CELT is travelling to Poland this week to promote the package.

There is also an option for visitors to simply book one of the skills train- ing courses and sort out the rest of the holiday for themselves, for which CELT will provide suggestions and recommendations.

“We will be starting the first of the holidays in May and we already have

bookings for June, so we are hoping this will take off. At the moment, we’re still tweaking the details and making a list of accommodation op- tions which use eco-friendly prac- tices. We’ve had a lot of interest and co-operation and once the eco-holi- days are up and running for a while, we will have a better idea of which courses and packages are most popu- lar,’ said Sarah.

For further information on the CELT eco-holiday package contact Sarah or Bob on 061 640765 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursday between 10am and 3pm. You can also email enquiries to info@celtnet. org or visit the website on www.celt- net.org.

RELIEF is in sight for long-suffer- ing residents of St Louis Villas in Killaloe after a local councillor was promised that works will be done to alleviate flooding in the area.

Cllr Tony O’Brien asked the en- gineering section of Clare County Council what could be done as the area has been badly flooded on a number of occasion in recent times.

“I asked that they explore getting funding for the project under the housing regeneration programme. People have put up with a lot in those houses because of flooding and it has to be sorted,’ the councillor said.

Senior Executive Engineer, Sean

Lenihan told the councillor that works will be done to stop the flood- waters rising in the villas.

He told Cllr O’Brien that funding would be found and the works com- pleted. The councillor was also given good news on a number of other mat- ters he raised in relation to the lake- side town.

“T’ve also been given assurances that work will be carried out on re- surfacing the road between the GAA field and Ballheigue Bridge. It has been completely worn away and it’s in a terrible state.”

There was also good news for east Clare councillor Pascal Fitzgerald who had asked that additional light- ing be put in place at the top of Par-

teen village “as this is a health and safety hazard at night”.

Mr Lenihan said that “following an inspection, I am satisfied that the necessary lighting infrastructure is in place in the area referred to. I will however, follow up to ensure that all lamps are working and if higher wattage bulbs are required to 1m- prove the situation there.”

Cllr Fitzgerald also called on the director of services to ensure that new road markings be put in place at Griffins Cross and Larkins Cross, Parteen as soon as possible.

The senior executive engineer said that “the members will be aware that our application for funding under the Low Cost Safety Scheme for 2008

for the much needed improvement works at Griffins Cross was success- ful. These works will be carried out in the coming months.”

He added that regarding Larkins Cross, “it 1S accepted that works are required here due primarily to the large volumes of traffic and re- cent infrastructure carried out in the area. It would not make any sense to upgrade the road surface and then shortly after come back and dig it up to lay water and sewer services. Having said that, I do accept that the works can’t be put off for much long- er. We will be reviewing the situation there shortly and in the meantime, maintenance works will be carried out.”

BABY book worms were displaying their knowledge of books in Scariff library last week in a hotly contend- ed childrens’ book quiz.

Fourth, fifth and sixth classes from Scariff National School went head to head, answering questions on the whereabouts of Narnia and who lives in Toad Hall.

The event was to mark World Book Week and while most youngsters can answer just about any question relat- ing to computer games these days, the Scariff kids proved they are no

slouches when it comes to reading.

“It was a fun event and the ques- tions related to childrens’ books and movies based on childrens’ books said librarian, Caroline Ahearne.

55 children took part in the quiz and enjoyed other facilities at the li- e-VMCLUDUDOTom As (BMR ISM

The event is just one of the many which have been organised since the new library opened it’s doors in No- vember of last year.

Demand for the library services has been growing at a fantastic rate, particularly among teenagers.

“Our internet use 1s growing all the

time. That is proving very popular among young adults,” said Caroline.

Aside from the obvious borrowing of books, the DVD and CD lending section is also proving very popular, the librarian said.

“Our Wednesday afternoon story- telling sessions are growing all the time. We have more young children at every session,” Caroline added.

The session takes place each Wednesday at 3.30pm and is aimed at three to six year olds.

The new library is housed in the same building as the area council of- fices and has a full, modern range of

facilities and more events being add- ed to the library diary all the time.

“We’re still growing and we’re very pleased with the response we’ve had from our clients. We’re looking at ways to improve the service all the time and we’re happy to hear sugges- tions,” said Caroline.

A BUSINESSMAN in financial cri- sis borrowed money from “criminal elements” and ended up transport- ing more than €3.1 million worth of drugs for the gang – but was caught. Ennis Circuit Court heard yester- day that Thomas Lennon had gone through difficulties in his construc- tion business months before he was caught with the haul, which was one of the biggest seizures ever in Clare. Father-of-five Lennon (36), of Kill- estry, Killaloe, pleaded guilty to pos- session of an assortment of drugs in-

cluding cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis resin, with an aggregate market value of €13,000 or more, at Ross, Killaloe on July 14, 2006.

Lennon was stopped driving a Ford Transit van. The drugs were found in the back of the van contained in a wheelie bin, holdall bag and white Oe

Detective Garda Tom Barber of the Garda National Drugs Unit told the court that the haul included 269 kilos of cannabis resin with a street value of over €1.8 million; 10 k1- los of cocaine, valued at €691,000;: 18 kilos of amphetamine, valued at

€227,000 and 30,000 ecstacy tab- lets, worth €303,000. The accused took responsibility for possession of the drugs but refused to name those involved. Lennon, who had no previ- ous convictions, currently employs 25 people.

His barrister, Michael O’ Higgins, SC, said, “At Christmas 2005, his affairs were in crisis. He was unable to meet his €10,000 wages bill. He had to go outside the banking system to raise funds and got €10,000 from criminal elements,” he said.

He said that Lennon was subse- quently told, ““You owe us money now

and there’s another way by which you can work the money off.

“These are heavy people. When they put you under pressure it is un- pleasant,” he said.

Dt Gda Barber accepted that Len- non’s admissions made the investi- gation easier but said, “there would have been strong evidence anyway.

“Mr Lennon knew the people he was getting involved in. I don’t be- lieve he accrued any profit from this,” said the garda.

Mr O’Higgins said, “While the quantity of the drugs was sky high, there was no question of profit for

avben ee

He said that the court “need not apply” the mandatory minimum sen- tence of 10 years, given the circum- stances in the case.

Judge Carroll Moran said he would not impose sentence until next peeKeyelaee

“This 1s a difficult case. The facts are quite unusual. The offence is ex- tremely serious, as Serious as you can imagine under the Misuse of Drugs Xam

“There have been, on the other hand, extraordinary mitigating cir- cumstances,” he said.

ENNIS is Clare’s first Fair Trade sRedvaen

The county town is leading the way in tackling poverty by supporting the Fairtrade Mark Ireland.

As far back as 1999 Mairead Sheedy, chairperson of the Ennis Fair Trade steering committee, first became involved with Fair Trade produce when her daughter took over Fourth House Fair Trade on Francis Sake e

Since then the Ennis woman has worn down a lot of footwear encour- aging other shops and businesses to

take part in the fair-trade ethos.

It all paid off last October when En- nis was finally named a Fair Trade Oak

The Fair Trade town was launched by Luis Armando Choco a cocoa pro- ducer from Columbia in the Grove in Roslevan.

The Grove is the flag ship business in the town for Fair Trade, with Yum having the accolade as the town’s first every fair trade restaurant, ac- cording to Ms Sheedy.

“Tt is important that people can see it is fair trade in businesses in the town,’ said Ms Sheedy.

“There should be no trade but fair

trade,’ she added.

Ms Sheedy’s next ambition is to make the whole of Clare Fair Trade.

Fair Trade aims to tackle poverty by enabling disadvantaged produc- ers from poor countries to receive a better deal.

As part of a Fair Trade Town the town council passed a resolution sup- porting Fairtrade, and an agreement to serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings, in its offices and can- Koto th

The town could only secure the title when a range of Fairtrade is availa- ble in the town’s shops, and served in local cafes/catering outlets. Catering

outlets should serve 100 per cent Fair ‘Trade Mark coffee.

The Fair Trade Mark products must also be used by a flagship business as well as 12 other local businesses and organisations. This should include schools, churches, large offices and local voluntary groups.

A significant number of schools must also become Fairtrade Schools. The Colaiste Mhuire in Ennis is one such school. Girls from the school are planning to visit other schools to inform them of their work to date.

A special fairtrade sale is held in the Friary in Ennis on the second Sunday of every month.

TOWN Engineer Tom Tiernan has admitted he did not honour his com- mitment to residents of Fergus Park affected by a leaking sewage line.

Speaking at Thursday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council Mr Tiernan said the project to repair and upgrade the system had been allowed to “slip through the cracks”.

He stated that the location of a manhole on privately owned prop- erty had imposed extra difficulty on carrying out the work.

Since March 2001, residents in Fer- gus Park have been plagued annually by sewage leaking into gardens in the area.

Independent councillor Frankie Neylon called for assurances to be given to residents that a solution be found and that upgrade work begin as soon as possible.

He said the delay raised questions about the commitment of the council in dealing with such problems.

He said, “Since March 8, 2001, people in Fergus Park have been dealing with a problem. It was rec-

ognised at the time by the town en- gineer and yet nothing has been done with it. I would be asking the town manager to give an assurance to the people of Fergus Park that the work will be done. Sewage has been com- ing up out of people’s gardens for seven years.

“I’m disappointed that assurances given weren’t lived up to. If that’s the way the council operates then we have to take a look at ourselves. If it takes 12 months to do now, then even that would be short enough.”

Town manager Tom Coughlan said

he had not been made aware that he would have to give assurances and that he didn’t know the full facts of the matter.

Mr Tiernan admitted that he hadn’t followed through on assurances giv- en when the problem first surfaced.

He said “I did give a commitment at the time that I would endeavor to find a solution… I did not honour my commitment. The project slipped thorough the cracks. In cases like this we do endeavor to resolve them as speedily as possible, but these things do happen from time to time.”

SCHOOL management at Ennis CBS Bunscoil, say the cost of using the Fairgreen means the school will have to cut back it’s physical activity joyueycau-beavea en

In a letter to Ennis Town Council, school principal Br Liam de Rdiste, Chairperson of the Board of Manage- ment Michael Gallagher and Chair- person of the Parent’s Association Jim McMahon, state that the charge imposed by the council for using the facility, is creating a serious financial burden on the school.

In 2006 the council approved a new rate paying system of €15 for a two hour slot in Tim Smythe Park, for clubs and sporting organisations, de-

spite calls for a special dispensation to be given to the school.

In the letter, school management express their disappointment that the council is continuing to charge for the use of the Fairgreen and has described the €750 bill the school has received for 100 hours usage as mo eles waste le ian

“We believe in the present climate of financial constraints on schools, that our request for special consider- ation (free usage) to continue to offer a comprehensive sports programme was both reasonable and deserving. We are disappointed that Ennis Town Council seemingly felt otherwise.

“We would humbly request that En- nis Town Council would reconsider its decision or at least assist us in

some way to continue our sporting programme, bearing in mind that we are a non-profit making organisation Surviving on the meagre finances re- ceived from the Department of Edu- cation and Science”.

The letter acknowledges the coun- cil’s ongoing efforts to provide sport- ing and recreational facilities in En- ah

“In an age of computer technology itis crucial that the youth of our town have facilities 1n which they can ac- tively participate in sporting and out- door activities. Ennis Town Council has been to the fore in providing these facilities.”

However, management say that un- der the present financial situation, the school will have to review its sports

programme.

“We would, with modesty, say that we have contributed in no small way to the development of this town and beyond. We have been able to do this because we have had the use of the excellent Fairgreen facility to com- pliment our pitch. However, due to your decision, we will now have to review our monetary constraints”.

Speaking at Thursday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. Mayor Tommy Brennan said that the flat rate system had been introduced in the interests of fairness and all users.

He said “It was a small bit of money and we agreed on it at the time. If it is free for the CBS then it has to be free for every other school, and sports club in Ennis”

WOLFE ‘Tones is the only camogie club in the country to have its own pitch, an achievement the entire club is intensely proud of.

A major project got underway eight years ago, when the shell of a dress- ing room was built. Over the years, major groundwork has been carried out, the dressing rooms have been completed and showers installed.

The final stages are now in full swing and the pitch will be playable

for the first time this year.

In the long-term, plans are afoot for the pitch to be the home of camogie in the county, with county champion- ship finals and interprovincial games to be played there.

The club has 150 juvenile members and 30 senior players on its books and the officers are indebted to the people of Shannon who helped out with the whole project.

To-date €250,000 has been paid and the final parts of the project are on the horizon. These include the pro-

vision of car parking, ballstops, nets and goalposts, all which will come at a cost of more than €50,000.

While money has been granted through the County Camogie Board, Shannon Development and National Lottery funding, the club 1s now call- ing on Shannon Town Council to in- ject capital into the scheme.

Club secretary Carmel Butler said €34,000 is being sought from Shan- non ‘Town Council.

“The official opening will be in August, but in order to achieve this

goal, we need to secure funding for off the road parking, the access road into the pitch and car parking around the dressing rooms,’ said Ms Butler.

“We cannot open the development as the access road is prone to flood- ing in its current condition,” she added.

The club has enjoyed no shortage of success on the field of play over the years – not least at Feile and senior league levels – but need the support of the people of the town to ensure this continues.

A DECISION by the Shannon town manager to recommend funding for a skateboard area in the town has prompted two sports groups to also make submissions.

Ger Dollard told town councillors at a meeting in February that he would recommend the provision of €50,000 towards the project, which will open near the leisure centre.

Over the past few years, money has been set aside for community ini- tiatives. €100,000 had accumulated and he said he would be suggesting that €50,000 of this be considered for the leisure centre.

The Wolfe Tones camogie club and Newtown FC both made submissions for funding, in letters to the town clerk ‘Tomas MacCormaic.

In its letter, Wolfe Tones said it

was applying for €34,000 from the €100,000 fund, towards the develop- ment of a new car park and associ- ated civil works.

In his letter, Brendan Wall of New- town FC applied for €12,000.

“Our facilities in Ballycasey have been vastly underfunded by any grant schemes and despite having spent over €400,000, only approxi- mately €50,000 has been grant aid- ed,” he said.

“The facility currently caters for all age groups from seven years of age to 18 and also facilitates two men’s teams and a women’s team. We cur- rently field seven teams in the under- age bracket for an eight-month play- ing season,” said Mr Wall.

Councillor Gerry Flynn (Ind) pro- posed that a special meeting take place, to decide how the letters should be dealt with.

Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) said it was important to give both applications “courtesy and deal with them prop- erly”.

Labour councillor Tony McMahon said some mechanism should be put in place, to decide how the money was going to be distributed.

Councillor Geraldine Lambert (FF) said the development fund was established several years ago.

“Vd support having a meeting to decide on the terms of reference,” she said. Cllr Sean Hillery (FF) agreed with this.

Mr Dollard said the community fund was set up initially with the aim of contributing to projects for the community.

He said that money was put aside every year and every five years, the town council could contribute to projects.

“Td still fully stand behind that (€50,000 for the skateboard area). A lot has been made from the fact the money is going for the centre. It’s not funding towards the development of the leisure centre. It’s towards a skate park,” he said.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said the leisure centre “has no intention of getting involved in any contro- versy. We put a request in for money. The town council has agreed. The leisure centre is concerned about the amount of damage and ill feeling. The leisure centre is quite content to withdraw the application and let the town council provide a skateboard park.”

A suggestion by Councillor Geral- dine Lambert, that the applications be deferred until a private meeting of councillors at a later stage, was or eu loee