Month: March 2008

EVENTS to mark the 20th anniver- sary of the twinning of Ennis and Phoenix aim to increase business and educational links between the two areas. In October, business and poltical representatives will travel to Arizona to celebrate the official twinning of the two towns in 1988. The trip is viewed as a way to pro- mote Ennis as an investment and tourist destination and an opportuni- ty to explore opportunities for trade. One avenue the Ennis delegation are keen to explore is the potential establishment of third level outreach facilities in Ennis through linkages with the University of Phoenix. Aedin Moloney of the Ennis Phoe-

nix Board said, “They will be defi- nitely looking at forming some sort of partnership with the University of Phoenix.

‘These trips, whether representa- tives from Phoenix coming here or us going over there, have always been beneficial, from a tourism and a business standpoint.”

Details of the annual student ex- change programme have also been finalised with three of the four stu- dents already selected to travel to Phoenix in July. Since it began, 52 students from the Ennis and Phoenix areas have participated in the pro- eau-eabenlee

Although, it has been running for the past 20 years, it is only in the last couple of years that it has been open

to schools in Ennis, where the teach- ers select the four students to go.

The students spend three weeks in Phoenix, learning about the city and its culture, meeting with city dig- nitaries and observing the political process at work in the city council and at official functions.

The group will also visit one of America’s best-known landmarks, the Grand Canyon, and visit neigh- bouring states such as California.

The Ennis group will be joined by 80 other students from the 40 towns and cities Phoenix is twinned with.

Ms Moloney said that while there hadn’t been widespread awareness, the exchange programme has helped bolster the relationship between the two communities.

“People that would have gone on the student exchange programme 20 years ago have continued to travel back and forth with their families and that has helped continue the links,” she said.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to visit America, especially with the 20th anniversary coming up, but not that many people seem to know about it. This year in Phoenix they are trying to bring over everyone who has taken part in the programme.”

Preceding that, as has been tradi- tion since the programme began, a group of students from Phoenix will first visit Ennis in June. Last April the Deputy City manager of Phoe- nix, Cynthia Seelhammer, made a four-day visit to Clare.

ENNIS’ popular farmer’s market has re-opened, with traders promoting sustainability and green living.

The market has resumed for its fifth year at its usual location in the Upper Market Street car park on Fridays from 8am to 2pm.

This year traders are advocat- ing the benefits of eating fresh, lo- cal produce and minimising one’s carbon footprint by buying locally produced food. According to baker Mary Gray, there are sound environ- mental reasons for supporting farm-

er’s markets.

She explained, “The fresher the food the better it is for us, no artifi- cial preservatives. The less the food travels the less transport is involved and therefore less environmental 1m- pact.

“The money spent goes in to the local economy. And the fewer steps between us and the producer means less chance of dilution of quality.”

The market has been up and run- ning since 2004 and consists of a eroup of dedicated food producers and traders with a wide range of lo- cal, artisan and organic foods includ-

ing meats, cheeses and local honey, to name but a few. Most of the pro- duce is sourced in Clare with some coming from nearby Tipperary.

Mary explained that, apart from the easy access to fresh produce, the interaction between consumer and producer is one of the main reasons why farmer’s markets have grown in popularity

“When I began selling at the En- nis farmer’s market, I was struck by the number of customers of the older generation who brought regularly,’ she said. “Farmer’s markets seemed to have a reputation for being a bit

alternative, so it was interesting to hear why these older customers were so loyal.

‘Two reasons stood out. First, peo- ple who grew up in an era before shopping was dominated by super- markets really enjoy talking to the producers and being able to ask ques- tions about the produce. Secondly and more importantly, people really like to buy food that tastes “like food used to taste’.”

The market begins at 8am, a deci- sion popular with many customers who prefer to do their shopping on their way to work.

PLANS to provide a skateboard park as part of major developments at Shannon Leisure Centre have been put on the back-burner after the centre turned down a grant of €50,000 towards the facility.

The funding was to have been provided out of the Town Council’s Community Development fund and had the full support of town man- ager, Ger Dollard, but controversy arose earlier this month about the allocation of the money.

The council had received two let- ters, from Wolfe Tones Camogie

Club and Newtown FC. In their proposals both clubs said they have spent considerable sums on provid- ing facilities but have a shortfall for finishing their projects.

Both asked the Town Council to contribute to their funds. But fund- ing in the Community Develop- ment pot is built up over a number of years and is limited, meaning the Council can only contribute to one major project every five years or so.

Speaking at the March meeting of Shannon Town Council, in her capacity as an elected representa- tive and a member of the board of directors of the Leisure Centre, Cllr

Patricia McCarthy said the solution was for the centre not to avail of the funding.

“At the risk of being accused of having a vested interest in all of this, I want to say that Shannon Le1- sure Centre have no intention of get- ting embroiled in any controversy, ’ she said.

“It was not their desire to seek to gain any preferential treatment. The Town Council was aware that the Leisure Centre were doing a major project. We (the centre) were asked to consider a skateboard park, we considered it. It’s adding a mini- mum of€56,000 on to the bill we

already have.

“We put a request in for money to the town council to support this. The town council agreed. But the board is now seriously concerned about the amount of damage that’s being generated and the amount of ill feeling that’s being generated against the Leisure Centre.

“The simple solution is that the Leisure Centre are quite happy to withdraw their letter and are quite happy to reject the offer of €50,000 and to let the town council provide the skateboard park themselves if they so wish and that will solve it,” she concluded.

AFTER 40 years and the odd meet- ing with a US president, Newmarket- on-Fergus man Joe McCormack has retired from Aer Lingus.

In a long career with the national carrier, Joe observed the many A aT betexeh Met IM ST MVom Cot OE-Com aCe Lingus, from the boom times of the nineties to the ending of the Shan- non-Heathrow link.

Joe left Aer Lingus around the same time as his friends and col- leagues Tony Lillis, Flann Fahy and Michael Culligan, and says he’ll miss the place.

“It’s a bit strange alright, particu- larly in the mornings,” he says.

“I would have been used to get- ting up early for the morning shift. But you have to move on, and any- way sure I’ll find plenty to keep me LeU A

Joe started and ended his career with Aer Lingus working in the load- ing section of Shannon Airport. He left the job as a supervisor, though with dwindling staff numbers, Shan- non has become a different place.

There was a time, Joe remembers, when the airport was busy, bustling re tleren

He explains: “For a while there, in

the nineties when you might have 150 people working during the day, you start at 6am and not finish till 12 that night. There might be 12 or 14 teams working in loading. It was very busy.

“You would be handling up to 50 flights, when it got really busy. The night shift was hectic. We worked very hard, but it’s definitely a lot qui- eter now.”

Its no surprise that along the way Joe met one or two famous faces on their way through travel.

“You got to meet a lot of different people. I remember meeting Telly Savallas and Bill Clinton. Bill Clin-

ton came over and talked with a few of us and shook our hands. I remem- ber Abba coming too, they came over to us. But the thing was, you wouldn’t go over to someone unless they came over to you.”

Joe may have retired but the Mc- Cormack family tradition continues at Aer Lingus. Joe’s daughter Emma works in the personnel section of Aer Lingus in Shannon and has been with the company for nine years.

HORSE lovers from all over the county will descend on Quin later this month in an effort to raise mon- ey for the local national school.

The Clare Hunt Association has organised a special four hour cross- country charity ride which will take place this Sunday in the town.

“We will kick off with a jumping competition in Malachy Hassett’s field at 12pm. Following that we will have our charity cross country event, starting at lpm,” said Paul O’Neill, Head of the Clare Hunt Association.

“We have tried to make it accessi- ble for different levels of riders so we

have two routes. One route takes the riders through the fields, cross coun- try and over jumps.

“But if riders don’t feel comfort- able going cross country we have a second route along the road.

“Both routes begin and end in Malachy’s farm and should take between three and three and a half hours to complete.

“If people are interested in taking part they should come along on the day or get in contact with the hunt. We have sponsorships cards avail- able at the moment which can be col- lected easily by contacting myself or other members of the hunt.

“People don’t have to fill out the

sponsorship cards but we would ex- pect that everyone who wants to take part in the hunt would contribute €50 in some way towards the char- ra A

The Clare Hunt has raised money for a number of good causes over the years.

“We have done a bit of fundrais- ing in the past. Last year we raised money for the Sr Ethel Normoyle Project with an event is Lissycasey and we have organised a number of other events for worthy charities oversees,’ continued Paul.

“This year though we though it might be a good idea to focus on a good cause closer to home. We have

a number of hunts each year and we need to cross the land of a lot of farmers for that to happen.

“Each year we have four hunts in and around the Quin area so we felt that this would be the ideal way of paying back that good will.

‘The school have recently put up a state of the art sports facility and we hope that this money help the school out a little with the expense of that.

“But hunts take place all over the county so if someone has a good cause locally, we would interested in looking at that possibly next year or the year after.”

For more information contact Paul O’ Neill on 6825740 or 087-9176243.

MARATHON man Pat O’ Keeffe is taking on the ultra challenge in run- ning on April 6, and his efforts are all in aid of a children’s charity.

The Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry na- tive, who now lives with his young family in Quin, will undertake Ire- land’s only on-road ultra marathon in Connemara for the first time ever.

Initially the army man took part in the mini marathon, later progress- ing to the full marathon.

Despite a back injury before Christmas Pat is now planning on the longest race in the country: the 39.3-mile ultra marathon through the hills of Connemara.

His efforts will all be in aid of the Ronald McDonald House.

The father of two became involved in fundraising for the charity when a colleague’s child had to avail of its Services.

The Irish Ronald McDonald House is 15,000 square feet stand- alone building on the grounds of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Chil- dren, Crumlin.

The house gives a home from home to the families of children who have to stay in the national children’s hospital.

It caters for families, who has to travel a journey of two hours or more to Crumlin Children’s Hospi- tal, and whose child who is hospi- talised or undergoing treatment as an outpatient for five days or more.

The House has 16 en-suite family bedrooms. There are three kitchens and a large dining area.

Pat hopes to support the house with his fundraising effort.

A keen runner since before he

joined the army, this April will be the ultimate challenge in road rac- ing for the athlete.

In order to raise funds for this good cause Pat will be outside Pa- per chase in Dunnes Stores, Ennis next Saturday collecting donations.

He also has numerous sponsorship cards in local businesses.

The kind army man said while he has no fundraising target in mind, he hopes to raise as much as pos- sible for the children’s charity.

The 2007 Connemara Internation- al Marathon has already attracted a sell-out of 3,600 entries with repre- sentation from 30 countries.

PLANS to demolish one of Clare’s best known hotels to make way for a mixed residential and commercial development is facing widespread opposition in Liscannot.

Earlier this year, Derek, Alan and Petra Logue lodged plans to demol- ish the Liscannor Bay Hotel and, in its place, construct 41 residential units and 444 sq m of retail space.

The Logue are planning to con- Struct six three-bedroom homes, 20 two-bedroom homes, 14 three-bed- room homes and one two-bedroom duplex unit. The Logues are also planning 1,477 sq metres of base- ment parking.

The Liscannor Bay Hotel is located on an elevated site with panoramic views of Lahinch bay and lies adja- cent to Liscannor harbour.

However, the application has prompted a large number of objec- tors to raise their concerns with Clare County Council over the plan.

In one objection on behalf of a number of residents, they claim that the development would have an ad- verse visual impact on the village and its character and would not be appropriate to its setting.

The objection continues that the

development would unbalance the village due to its size and proposed usage and would, therefore, have a detrimental impact on the settlement. They also claim that the development does not comply with the local area plan and that it 1s premature pending the upgrade in sewerage services in the village.

The objectors also claim that there is no need at present for the scale of commercial activity proposed by the harbour; the development is not a tourism development product and will not add to community life in the village in any comprehensive way.

A separate objection points out that Liscannor has been waiting over a decade for improved waste-water infrastructure. The objection states, “No development of this scale should take place until a new, local authority managed facility is in place.”

The objection adds, “It must be re- membered that without the residents and community spirit of Liscannor, it would not be as attractive a place to come on holidays. This very re- source 1S being degraded with the steady dilution of the village char- acter by excessive and inappropriate developments.”

A decision is due on the application next month.

CLARE County Council is now demanding that developers provide social housing within new housing developments in a new departure in jee) BCAA

Up until now, the local authority has been entering deals where developers would provide a financial contribution to the council to meet their require- ments through Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

The contentious “Part V’ provision requires developers to make a contri-

bution to 20 per cent of the site value of the development in order to pro- vide social and affordable housing.

The council’s draft Housing Strat- egy 2007-11 revealed that the council did not provide a single social house through the Government’s conten- tious Part V legislation during the lifetime of its first Housing Strategy introduced four years ago.

The draft — which includes a review of the performance of the existing strategy — shows that the council pro- vided 74 affordable homes through the Part V arrangement.

However, in a new initiative to meet its social housing targets, the council has requested the developers of a 64- unit housing development in Liscan- nor to deliver proposals to provide social and affordable housing.

In its request for further infor- mation, the council tells the Lios Ceannuir Partnership, “The council require both social and affordable housing at a breakdown of 25 per cent social and 75 per cent affordable at this location with units required measuring 1100 sq ft. You are there- fore required to submit proposals to

comply with these requirements.”

This will mean a small number of houses of the development will be social and affordable.

The proposal is already facing op- position from a large number of resi- dents in Liscannor and, in its request for further information, the council states that it has a number of con- cerns in relation to the development.

These include inadequate capacity of the Liscannor wastewater treat- ment system; the design and layout of the scheme; the visual impact as viewed from the road; the location

of a distribution road; and the lack of footpaths to the village.

The council has told the developers, “While it is noted that permission has been permitted for wastewater treatment works, it is as yet not built or operational. The council therefore is not in a position to grant the pro- posed development until such a time as these wastewater treatment works being put in place and made opera- tional.”

The application will become ‘live’ again once the information has been lodged with the council.

through

the Freedom of Information Act. The material revealed that a senior department official described as “off

the wall” a demand by the Mid West Regional Authority for a fund of €44 million to prepare the region for the ending of the stop-over.

The documentation also revealed that a €20 million tourism market- ing fund over five years was deleted from the published Economic and Tourism Plan for Shannon, despite appearing in two earlier drafts.

“We are seeking a response from the minister as to why this commit- ment was deleted. We need clarifica- tion on the issue,’ said Mr Vaughan.

“IT am very fearful that the depart- ment will renege on their commit- ment to provide the funding and it will be a similar situation to what you

had in the early 1990s where money was allocating to the Shannon Air- port Marketing Committee, but there was no follow up funding.”

A separate internal memo pointed out that the regional authority de- mand for €44 million “was always totally unrealistic and has done much to undermine the credibility of its broader case.

“If there are real marketing needs, there are likely to be far more mod- est.”

Mr Vaughan said, “I’m shocked by the attitude of the officials and it just shows their lack of understand- ing of the needs of the region. What has been uncovered shows that there

is almost a conspiracy against the re- gion.

“It must be remembered that the €44 million was a spend over a five- year period. The statements made by department officials just raise fur- ther suspicions that the dead hand of Government is conspiring against us down here in the mid-west.

‘“W hat has been revealed comes as a devastating blow and shows just how unenlightened the department is.”

The regional authority has also written to Minister Brennan seek- ing clarification about the economic plan. However, this was on foot of the minister addressing a recent re- gional authority meeting.

THE number of house starts in Clare to date this year is down 80 per cent on the corresponding period last year.

Providing further evidence of the decline in the local construction in- dustry, Homebond confirmed that the number of house starts registered in Clare for the month of January was only four. Representing 75 per cent of the market, Homebond confirmed that the figure for January of last year NF ISO

The number of new house starts in February did pick up and 17 start-ups

were recorded. However, the total for the first two months of this year was a meagre 21, compared to 98 for last year – a drop of 80 per cent.

Separate statistics provided by Clare County Council highlight a more long-term decline in housing construction.

In response to a motion tabled by Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) for the council’s March meeting, the coun- cil’s director for planning, Berna- dette Kinsella, said that the number of applications for one-off homes in Clare had almost halved in the past four years.

Ms Kinsella revealed that 1,584

applications were lodged for one- off homes in 2004 but last year the number dropped to 844.

In 2006, some 828 applications were lodged and 960 in 2005. The number of applications for this year is on a par with last year. It stands at 139 for the first two months.

Separate figures supplied by the Department of the Environment for the first two months of this year show that there has been a 30 per cent drop in house completions compared to the first two months of last year.

The figures show that for the first two months of this year, 252 houses were completed in Clare, with 100

completed in January and 152 com- pleted in February.

This compares to 359 homes com- pleted for the first two months of last year, with 122 homes completed in January and 237 homes in February, giving a total of 359.

In total last year, according to Homebound, there were 784 houses starts in Clare, a drop of 37.5 per cent on the 1,258 house starts in Clare in 2006.

Nationally, there were 75,000 hous- es built last year. Ennis auctioneer Philip O’Reilly said recently that he believed that this would drop to 40,000 this year.