The Clare People Archive

A PRIVATE operator has lodged plans for park and ride facilities in Doolin and Liscannor to serve the €31.5 million visitor centre at the Cliffs of Moher.

A similar proposal for Liscannor by the Mermaid Partnership was withdrawn after locals railed against the accompanying retail element.

Now Atlantis Development has lodged plans for a park and ride at Doolin and Liscannor.

The company is seeking to put in place 385 parking spaces along with spaces for 10 buses in Liscannor. In Doolin, the company plans to put in place 120 parking spaces along with spaces for three shuttle buses.

The planning documents lodged with the council list John Declan Flanagan as a director of Atlantis Development.

Mr Flanagan also spearheaded the ill-fated Mermaid Partnership bid.

Cllr Martin Conway (FG), of north Clare, welcomed Atlantis Develop- ment’s move.

“IT would welcome park and ride as a standalone development in order to deal with the traffic congestion that is evident around the cliffs.

‘The charge that is imposed by the developers may prove cost effective for the consumers as it costs €8 at

the cliffs at the moment.

‘Any competition is healthy and the park and ride could result in a spin- off for the local communities, where people may stay overnight in Liscan- nor and Doolin rather than using the cliffs as a stopping off point between Kerry and Galway.”

Cllr Conway said that he very much welcomed the applications, as long as they were not conditional on them being accompanied by shops.

Last month, the Mermaid Partner- ship withdrew €15 million plans 24 hours prior to an anticipated deci- sion.

Applications are usually withdrawn at the last minute in this way when developers are told informally that the application looks set to be re- GU oLem

The proposal was facing wide- spread opposition in Liscannor, which suffered a population loss in the most recent Census.

The developers had also made ef- forts to allay the concerns of locals by reducing the size of the plan.

Last year, the Mermaid Partner- ship lodged a proposal for the park and ride facility that also included a major retail component with a total of 6,322 sq metres.

The applicants scaled back the re- tail component by almost two-thirds but continued to face opposition.

aETSMR OU Tes Ona neren A price check carried out by north Clare county councillor, Martin Con- way (FG), revealed that a single one- way ticket from Maynooth to Dublin costs just €3, compared to a fare of €8.60 from Ennis to Limerick. This is despite both journeys covering roughly the same distance and run- ning high levels of occupancy. In addition to this, a day return ticket from Maynooth to Dublin

coast €5.40 compared to €15.70 for the same type of ticket on the Ennis to Limerick line.

“This is a clear example of double standards for people living in Clare and is not encouraging people to take the environmental option. If it was a private company operating the rail service, it would be a different story but this service is funded by all the tax-payers in the country, not just the people in Dublin,” said Cllr Soe

“What we have here is a situation where the taxpayer in the east of the country 1s effectively getting a dis- count compared to the taxpayer in Clare. This is a public State-spon-

sored body. There should be no argu- ment about this. It’s a criminal situ- ation, totally unbelievable when you consider the amount of people who use this service.”

Responding to the survey, business development manager with larnrod Eireann in Limerick, Jim Gallivan, claimed that rates on the Ennis-Lim- erick line compared favourable to bus charges on the route.

“We feel that this survey is not comparing like with like. They are different categories of stations. The Maynooth to Dublin service is an in- ter-urban service while the Ennis to Limerick service 1s an inter-city serv- ice,’ he said. “The rates we have on

the Ennis to Limerick service com- pare well to the bus service between Ennis and Limerick and the route has proved very popular to date.”

Cllr Conway has called for a pay- per-kilometre system to be intro- duced. ““Irain fares throughout the country should be charged on a per- kilometre basis, not discriminating against people in different parts on the country,’ he said yesterday.

“If we are talking about real equity in this situation, this is the only way that we can continue. I am now call- ing on Minister Tony Kileen and his colleague Timmy Dooley to raise this matter with Noel Dempsey as a matter of urgency.”

WATER levels covering the flooded Ennis to Limerick rail line rose this weekend, despite almost two weeks without rain.

It now looks like the estimated 600 Clare commuters who use the serv- ice each day will face a further two

weeks’ wait before normal service will be restored.

Commuters have been forced to use bus transfers for more than a week, following severe flooding of sections of the track as a result of heavy rain earlier this month.

Some of the flooding is more than 17 inches in depth with little or no

drop reported to date.

“We are still monitoring the situ- ation closely and it appears that the flooding is starting to level out at least. We recorded a quarter-inch rise in water levels on the track over the weekend,” said business develop- ment manager with larnrod Eireann in Limerick, Jim Gallivan.

“This is a very minor change and indications are that the amount of flooding is starting to level off. The water at the moment is 17 inches above the track level and we will have to wait for that to subside before service can be restored.

“The next few days should tell a lot. We have had two weeks of fairly good weather but the major rivers are still very full with water around the oe) Aaa

Meanwhile,

MINISTER of State Tony Killeen has given fresh hope to the possibil- ity of a train station being provided at Crusheen along the route of the Western Rail Corridor.

Stating that the development “should not be discounted”, the Clare TD said Iarnrodd Eireann had not ruled out the proposal and “would consider any evidence to suggest that such a development would be war- ranted”.

In a letter to Minister Killeen, Iarn- rod Eireann chief executive Dick Fearn said that the reopening of the Crusheen station was not included in the reopening of the Ennis to Athen- ry line because of the very limited

development forecast for Crusheen in Clare County Council’s North Clare Local Area Plan 2005.”

Minister Killeen said he reminded the CEO that detailed additional in- formation has been collated by the local community, with assistance from Clare County Council, regard- ing the potential future use of the proposed rail stop. This information along with undertakings relating to the provision of adequate car parking CUTE U em OEIC BROMINE cot have been submitted to Iarnrdéd Eire- EMOvOe

“In light of this new information, I have requested the company to re- view the potential for the establish- ment of a rail stop at Crusheen”, he SrALGe

The minister said he had also re- ceived confirmation from larnrod Eireann that it would be keen to work with developers who would fund a Station scheme, as is the case at a number of locations elsewhere on the national rail network. ;

“Recent reports that Iarnrod Eire- ann has categorically ruled out the future opening of arail stop at Crush- een could not have been further from the truth.

“The company has expressed its willingness to consider any evidence supporting the establishment of a rail stop at Crusheen, as part of sched- uled passenger services between En- OVA BaLG aN H Slo) OD ae

He added that there remained a strong case for the provision of a rail

stop in Crusheen.

‘Two stops are being provided for between Gort and Athenry and none on the very long stretch of railway between Ennis to Gort.

‘“Crusheen is an ideal location for people coming from Ruan, Corofin, Tubber, Boston and elsewhere in North Clare as well as Tulla and oth- er areas of East Clare’, Mr Killeen concluded.

Track renewal works on the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor project started late last year and are expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete.

Once completed, an expected seven trains per day will travel from Ennis to Athenry with stops at Gort, Ardra- han and Craughwell.

THE IFA have called for an emer- gency of the joint Oireachtas Ag- riculture Committee to take place immediately to help resolve the REPS payment problems which has gripped farmers around the country in recent days.

Newly appointed Clare IFA Presi- dent, Michael Lynch, was in Dublin this week lobbying the four Clare T’D’s on the subject.

“Well the Clare TD’s were sympa- thetic but we are really depending on the Minister and whither she can have an influence in changing things in Brussels. The problem is in Brus-

sels,” he said.

“They have taking a different in- terpretation of how these REPS are to be distributed and for us that is amounting to breaching a contract in relation to REPS 2 and 3. The great majority of REPS farmers in Clare will be effected by this sooner or Fitoe

“We were up in Dublin this week lobbying the Government, the TD’s and the Senators. We were trying too getting across the real problems that these late payments are causing for farmers and try and get Minister Coughlan to rectify the situation.

“This will have a big impact in Clare. More than 2,500 Clare farm-

ers are involved in REPS and the in- come that comes into Clare because of this is in the region of €17 mil- lion. That is a substantial part of the overall income of Clare farmers. An- ything that interferes with payment is going to have a big impact on the farmers themselves and the business they are going.”

Meanwhile, Clare man and ICSA General Secretary, Eddie Punch was part of a delegation from the farm- ing who met with Minister Coughlan and discussed the REPS situation last week.

ICSA president Malcolm Thomp- son, Gabriel Gilmartin, rural de- velopment chairman and Ivor Kil-

patrick, deputy rural development chairman also attended the meeting.

According to ICSA report the or- ganisation impressed upon the de- partment officials the urgency of the situation, which could potentially adversely affect 55,000 farmers at a time when beef, sheep and suck- ler farmers are struggling to break VCE

The ICSA also threatened to raise the matter with EU agriculture com- missioner Mariann Fischer Boel and said that said that disillusioned farm- ers would be hard—pressed to vote yes for EU treaty reform when they feel that the EU clearly treats them with contempt.

AFTER four years at the helm of Clare’s largest farming organisation Seamus Murphy last week complet- ed his term of office as President of the IFA in Clare.

The IFA’s National President, Pa- draig Walshe, made the journey to Ennis earlier this month to witness the last Clare IFA AGM hosted by Mr Murphy.

Seamus has served as Clare IFA President since 2004 and has more than 30 years of voluntary service to the IFA and Macra under his belt.

Having presided over some one the most interesting and challeng- ing times in recent farming history, Seamus will now take up the role

of Clare IFA vice president along- side newly elected president Michael Lynch.

“Seamus has been an excellent chairman over his four year term. He has led the executive very effectively and very efficiently,’ said new Clare IFA President, Michael Lynch.

“He was involved in numerous campaigns to further the interests of Clare farmers, whither that was in dealing with officials locally or at the various protests and demonstra- tion that we had around the country.

“He was especially involved in tackling problems that we would have had in relation to the pricing of cattle and sheep and occasionally problems with some of the dairy co-

a P)

op’s.

Mr Lynch is no stranger in the IFA at local and national level has held many important roles in the past including Animal Health and Farm Business Representative for Clare and Vice Chairman of National Livestock Committee.

“Over the next few years I would think that to maintain a sufficient price for farm produce would be one of the main challenged over the next few years. To make sure that farm- ers can get a margin over costs,’ he Sr HLG

‘TL also want to look at our increased dependence in recent times on the Single Farm Payment, Forestry Pay- ments, Area Aid Payments and the REPS Payments.

“There are serious problems with

the REPS at the moment. One of the biggest challenges will come in a few years time when the Single Farm Payment comes up for a serious re- view which could have a huge effect on farmers in Clare.

“We urgently need price increases at a level that will not only cover our costs but give us a margin to reinvest as well. That is the only way that farming can have a sustainable fu- ture. We cannot be so dependent on these payments.”

CLARE County Council has been accused of acting outside its powers in its bid to end the construction of holiday homes in Kilkee.

Last month, the council refused an application by building firm, Keel- erove Construction Ltd to allow a portion of the homes as holiday homes. The council concluded that up to a thousand holiday homes in Kilkee should be used for permanent occupancy.

The developers have now appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanala.

In their appeal, Keelgrove state that Zoning provisions in the west Clare

local area plan do not restrict the oc- cupancy of houses on the site nor is it stated in any section of the plan that a restrictive occupancy condition will be attached to residential devel- opments in Kilkee.

They claim that the council’s posi- tion is unreasonable and unenforce- able as the houses will be sold to in- dividual third parties over which the developer will have no control.

Keelgrove maintain that the coun- cil decision is unreasonable “as the developer cannot be held responsible for the future actions of potential house purchaser, who may or may not use the dwelling as their princi- ple private residence.

“The condition is not enforceable as there is no way of regulating or ensuring that potential purchasers use such dwellings as permanent residences in the future.

“It is unreasonable to restrict the future occupancy of all 64 residen- tial units to permanent homes when population projections in the plan detailed that there will only be a re- quirement for 62 new units in Kilkee over the period.

“If the council applies the restric- tion to all future housing in the town, then the plan is failing to provide for a key sector of the housing and tour- ism market and this could adversely impact on the economy of the town.

“In the interest of fairness and equality, that should such a condition be considered necessary and funda- mental to the overall grant of per- mission, then only a percentage of the residential units within the devel- opment granted should be restricted to permanent occupancy.

“For example, a requirement to provide 20 per cent of the overall site for permanent occupation would ne- cessitate that 12 houses are restricted to such use. Such a condition if prop- erly defined and qualified would be considered reasonable,” the develop- ers conclude.

A decision is expected on the ap- peal later this year.

THERE was good news for west Clare at the weekend when grant ap- proval was confirmed for a major up- grade of the local road infrastructure and and extensive redevelopment of Doonbeg Harbour.

In addition to the €16 million al- located to Clare Council Council for the maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads, a fur- ther €1.5 million was approved for Specific improvement work on the Miltown Malbay/Gort and Miltown Malbay/Ennis roads.

€200,000 was approved for spe- cific improvements to the Kilmihil/

Cree road and safety work on the road at Paradise, Kildysart qualified for a grant of €30,000.

A special block grant of €204,000 was allocated to Kilrush Town Council with €127,000 of this being being targeted for footpath and car- riageway repairs.

€44,000 was allocated for the pro- vision, repair and replacement of footpaths in the Kikee Town Council area. This will cover the cost of work on the footpaths at Dunlicky Road (€7,200); Circular Road (€8,480); Marian Estate (€4,800); Carri- gaholt Road (€8,160); O’Connell Street (€9,600) and O’Curry Street (5,760).

Minister of State Tony Killeen ex- pressed optimism that any planning issues relating to the commence- ment of works on the Doonbeg Har- bour Development would soon be resolved. He was commenting after the Government allocated €525,000 to Clare County Council to under- take extensive improvement works at Doonmore, Doonbeg.

“The cooperative approach adopt- ed by the local community, Clare County Council and the various State Agencies in securing the nec- essary funding to upgrade Doonbeg Harbour is a perfect example of how essential rural projects can be pro- eressed for the benefit of all,” he

Sr HKOe

“There is a varied and extensive programme of works earmarked for this development including the dredging of the inner harbour and channel, construction of protection breakwater and walkway at crest level, and the demolition of the ex- isting slipway and construction of a replacement slipway. Clare County Council also intends reclaiming, regrading and resurfacing on-shore So}:

He added that the maintenance and development of piers and harbours was essential for the sustainable de- velopment and regeneration of coast- al communities throughout Clare.

A MULTICOLOURED troupe of angels are once again coming to the aid of the Doolin Search and Rescue Service. The Burren Stained Glass Shop, which is located on Fishers Street in Doolin, has launched their latest incarnation of the Doolin An- oe

More than 100 hand made stained glass angels are currently on sale in the shop with all money raised from the limited edition products going straight to the Doolin Search and Rescue Service Coast.

The shop, which is owned and run by American couple John and Karen Battersby, has been in operation in Doolin for almost four years. The Battersby’s came up with the idea of the angels as a way of giving some- thing back to the local community.

They have hand made all 100 an- gels in their shop in Doolin and will donated every cent of the €10 raised from each sale.

“We decided to do this as our way to contribute something to Doolin and to the search and rescue around here,’ said John.

“This is our third year doing it now. We are going to make 100 stained glass angels and sell them at €10 an angel. That will make €1,000 that we can donate to the Doolin Search and Rescue and they can use that for equipment or training or whatever

W aTeaVan’e- 0 Li

The shop is open all year round and make a variety of stained glass ornaments as well as_ stained glass windows.

“People really do like angels. We make a lot of different designs here but angels are always one of the most popular. A lot of people even collect the angels,’ continued Tom.

“It’s also a nice thing to associate with the search and rescue. We call

them the Doolin Angels in honour of the coast guards. Everything is hand made and there 1s a lot of labour in it. Each piece gets cut out and ground by hand, you put copper foil on each piece, varnish it and assembly it. It’s pretty labour intensive.

“We have been in Doolin for about four years now. We are from Ameri- ca originally, from Philadelphia. We moved over here because we loved the Doolin area and the people here.

They have been really nice to us here. So it’s good to do thinks like this and get involved in the community.”

The angels are currently on sale in the Doolin Stained Glass Shop but are strictly limited to 100 pieces.

THE countdown is on for this year seventh annual Corofin ‘Tradition Festival which open Sunday, Febru- eae

This years festival is crammed which top class performers and in- clude headline concerts featuring Sean Keane from the Chieftains, Liam O’ Flynn, Don Stiffe, John Wyn- ne, John and Jacinta McEvoy, Tim Collins, Brian McNamara, Michael Rooney, Kieran Hanrahan, Fiachna O’Mongain, Liam O’Connor, John Blake and At the Racket.

Overall last year festival worked re- ally well so we decided to leave well

enough alone, so it’s quite a similar style to last year’s festival. We have a lecture and we have the family concerts back again,’ said festival organiser, Padraic O’Reilly.

“The only new thing is the look back on the previous festivals which takes place on the night. We will have slides and a bit of an audio visual show from the six years of the festival. This is the seventh year of the festival so we have called this the seven year itch.

“On Saturday afternoon we have a tribute to Mick O’Connor. Mick’s a Dub but his wife was from Ennisty- mon and he would spent a lot of time in Clare over the years. He played in

the Castle Ceili Band in Dublin and about half of that band are migrated Clare people so he has very strong Oem aloe

This years festival will also include a number of free events aimed at Teepe lone

“On the weekends it’s just not fea- sible to make the events free because of the quality of acts that we are get- abereas ne

“But for the family recitals we are able to get top class musicians at a very reasonable rate because of the novelty for them to play together as a family,’ continued Padriag.

“A lot of them wouldn’t have played together for year. Because of this we

are able to get in an event sponsor and run the event for free.”

It’s to make it accessible for the locals on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays night before the real die hard music lovers come in at the weekends.”

The festival opens on Sunday, with a CD launch by Joe Kierse at Jimmy Daftfy’s Bar.

Other highlights of the week in- clude a lecture by Tim Collins enti- tled Where the piper Croghan used to Dwell, recitals from the McNamara and Costello families, the McCarthy family from London, the Cotter and Boyd families from Ennis as well as workshops and masterclasses.