Month: January 2009

AN BORD Pleanala has cast doubt over plans to provide a crematorium for Shannon by stating that it could be a public health concern and exac- erbate the risk of flooding.

Last year, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael county councillors combined to contravene the South Clare Plan and grant planning permission to the project by 26 votes to 1. The two directors of the company behind the plan are former councillors, Sean Hillery (FF) and Tony McMahon Csi6)}

Independent Shannon-based coun- cillor, Gerry Flynn was the only dis- senting voice in the debate and resi- dents of Gleann an Oir appealed the

decision to An Bord Pleanala on the basis that it would “disturb the natu- ral environment and was not in keep- ing with the character of the area”.

They also claimed that there were no proposals to “deal with or mini- mise the impact of additional traffic in the vicinity of the proposed devel- ey eyeeto nian

Along with the residents appeal- ing the decision, Cllr Flynn also ap- pealed the ruling while Donnacha Minogue from Nenagh and Rod McAuliffe from Clarinbridge, Co Galway also lodged appeals.

Now, in a letter throwing question marks over the project, An Bord Pleanala wrote to the parties con- cerned to state that it is not satisfied that the proposed development might

not be a risk to public health through flooding, or exacerabte the risk of flooding on these lands.

The appeals board raised its con- cerns having regard to the proposed percolation area, the low-lying na- ture of the appeal site and the pattern of drainage in the area as well as its proximity to the Shannon estuary and associated flood embankments.

Responding to the letter, the coun- cil stated it carried out an assessment of the area and found that there was “sufficient land available to accom- modate an adequately sized percola- tion area or polishing filter”.

“The council’s decision in recom- mending a grant of permission was considered to satisfactorily address the shortfalls of the application.”

THE Cliffs of Moher have been picked to represent Ireland in a bid to find the new seven wonders of nature – beating the Burren to the precious nomination.

The north Clare tourist attraction is among the 261 global beauty spots which were chosen following an online public vote run by a private Swiss organisation.

The cliffs will compete for a place in the top seven with well-known at- tractions such as the Grand Canyon, Ayers Rock and the Amazon rain forest.

“It is not surprising given the glo- bal recognition factor of the cliffs. They have been used by other Irish brands for promotion and as an icon- ic view of Ireland,” said a spokesper- son from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience.

The 214-metre-high sea cliffs were the most visited natural attraction in Ireland in 2007 with almost one mil- lion visitors.

The Cliffs of Moher have already passed the first knockout round of competition, surviving when nomi- nated sites were narrowed down from 400 to 261. The Burren, which made it into the last 400, was cut during this process.

Considerable controversy has sur- rounded the voting method as the

organisers allowed entrants to pur- chase additional votes through a text-messaging service.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), which awards World Her- itage status to historical sites world- wide, has reportedly pulled out of supporting the awards because of the controversy.

An Irish advertising campaign to promote voting for the cliffs was be- ing planned following the announce- ment. The list will be narrowed down to 77 by public vote over the next seven months. Votes can be cast at Www.new/wonders.com.

Meanwhile, Clare County Council yesterday backed a proposal to have the Burren included as a World Her- itage Site. Currently, there are only two Irish heritage sites on the pres- tigious Unesco World Heritage List

A report by acting senior planner at Clare County Council, John Bradley, went before the council at yester- days meeting describing the Burren as having the requisite designations and potential to meet the stringent requirements of Unesco World Her- itage status.

Ireland’s current UNISCO sites and Bru na Boinne in Meath and Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast.

THE number of people who died from suicide in Clare last year was almost double the number that died on the county’s roads over the same twelve month period.

Figures supplied by the Clare Coronor’s Office, show that 17 peo- ple died of suspected suicide in 2008 when nine people died in road traffic accidents.

The high number of suicides prompted a call for increased gov- ernment funding and action to ad- dress the problem from consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee.

The number of road deaths last year was a drop of three on the previous year and Dr Bhamjee said that the same level of government awareness and action needs to be taken in rela- tion to suicide prevention as to road rN AYs

“The drop in the number of road deaths both in Clare and nationally shows what can be done when re- sources are dedicated to the issue. The same needs to happen in relation to suicide.”

The numbers taking their own lives in Clare remained unchanged from 2007 levels with twelve men and five women suspected of taking their own

lives in Clare last year.

Seven people under the age of 30 are suspected of taking their own lives, made up of three teenagers and four people in their twenties.

Four people in their 30s are sus- pected suicide victims while the highest proportion of people taking their own lives were in their 40s with Six cases in this age group.

The number of people who took their lives at the Cliffs of Moher last year were four, including one Czech national who travelled from his Irish home in Westmeath.

Eight of the suspected suicides oc- curred between June to the end of

August.

Commenting on the figures, Dr Bhamjee said more needs to be done to tackle the problem and for earlier inteventon. “There remains a high incidence of alcohol in the system of people who do commit suicide. There needs to be more awareness,” he said.

The former Clare TD said he 1s aware of at least three to four people that have been referred to the psychi- atric service after they were spotted by rangers at the Cliffs of Moher.

“The rangers have done a great job and there should be funding for more’, he added.

LOCAL councillors and Clare’s Dail representatives are to meet to high- light the growing pressures on the school system in Ennis.

Members called for private discus- sions with TDs from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael at last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.

The main topic of discussion 1s likely to be the delays in approving new buildings for the town’s primary schools.

Feasibility studies for Ennis Na- tional School, Ennis CBS and Scoil Chriost Ri, Cloughleigh, were first carried out by the Department of Education in 1999.

Despite these studies all recom- mending extensive building accom- modation works, none have been or Neuere melvle

The Diocese of Killaloe at Ashline, Ennis, has provided a site for Ennis National School but the project has yet to receive the go-ahead from the Department of Education.

Staff and parents at Ennis Educate Together have also lobbied inten- sively for a permanent home for the school’s 165 students.

The school is currently located on the Gort Road. Children attend class- es in prefabricated classrooms.

“The conditions that students have to work under, in this day and age, are unacceptable, even in a time of recession,’ said Mayor of Ennis Pe- ter Considine.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said there was a need for four new school buildings in Ennis.

“It seems that in Ennis we are for- ever on the long finger. I wouldn’t like to see a political football made

out if this (meeting). We should all sit down together”, added Mr. Bren- ee

ClUlr Tom Glynn (FF), a teacher at Ennis National, warned cutbacks an- nounced in last October’s budget will seriously affect staffing levels.

“Schools will loose teachers. All schools in Ennis will be affected equally. The issue of new buildings has been going on for a long time now. There are too many pre-fabs in Ennis. With everything happening to the hospital and Shannon airport, the West is being let down’, he said.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said there were currently 71 prefabs being used as classrooms in Ennis, a situation he described as “appalling”.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said that despite the efforts of staff and par- ents, “There doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel for En-

nis National”.

He added that new buildings were also needed for Ennis CBS. “We’ve been on the back foot for too long” said Cllr Neylon.

Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) said the cutbacks would impact on all lev- els of education.

“It’s a disgrace to see al those pre- fabs in our schools. I think too that we’re inclined to forget about sec- ondary schools but they are in trou- ble also”.

Cllr Considine (FF) urged that the meeting with the TD’s be held in pri- vate. He said the possibility existed that if the meeting was open to the public, “it would evolve into a gov- CHeabeeteyslmoy-bsleupencam ser: 1Ke) sla

“We want them (TDs) to be unified in purpose and to approach this situ- ation collectively rather than politi- cally”, added Clir Considine.

FIANNA Fail has confirmed the names of the five candidates it will field in Ennis for the forthcoming lo- cal elections.

The party has selected two candi- dates to contest the Ennis West elec- toral area. Three Fianna Fail candi- dates will battle for seats in Ennis Bete

Current Mayor of Ennis Peter Con- Ssidine and newcomer Garret Greene are the party’s candidates in Ennis west.

Peter Considine has served on Clare County Council for 35 years, having taken over the seat of his late father. A full time public representative since 1997 he previously ran a local

pub and restaurant. Cllr Considine was the first Chairman of the South- ern and Mid West Regional Assem- bly, and continues to be a member. He is also a member of the Mid West Regional Authority, Clare VEC, the Mid West Regional Tourism Board and the Shannon Marketing Consult- ative Committee Board. He 1s the current serving Mayor of Ennis

Garrett Greene, 34, is a first time candidate. He works as a healthcare recruiter and studied politics and public administration in the Univer- sity of Limerick. Garrett is the son of former Mayor of Ennis, Raymond Greene, who was also a former Clare County Councillor and Ennis Town Councillor.

In Ennis East, Fianna Fail has se-

lected Pat Daly, Bernard Hanrahan and Tom Malone.

Cllr. Pat Daly has been a member of Clare County Council since he was elected in 1999. He currently works as personal assistant to Minister for State Tony Killeen and is based in Ennis. Cllr. Daly is involved in a variety of different organisations in- cluding serving as a member of the HSE West Forum. He is also a mem- ber of local GAA club Eire Og and the Ennis Golf Club. Cllr. Daly is a nephew of the late Clare County and Munster hurler Haulie Daly who was also a former Clare County Council- roe

Cllr. Bernard Hanrahan has been a member of Clare County Council since 1995. A full time public rep-

resentative throughout that time, he previously worked as a transport manager and truck driver. Based in Clarecastle, Cllr. Hanrahan is Chairman of the Mid West Regional Authority, Chairman of Ennis West Partners and a member of Clare VEC as well as the Clare Local De- velopment Committee. He 1s also involved with Clarecastle GAA and the Clarecastle Sports Complex.

Mr. Tom Malone, 30, lives in Drim, Quin, situated between the parishes of Doora and Quin. Tom has run a mobile phone store in Ennis for the last five years. He 1s actively involved with Doora Barefield GAA Club and is also involved in numerous com- munity organisations throughout the locality.

ATHLETES, sports people and coaches will flock to the Michael Cu- sack’s Centre in Carron next month for a new sports workshops run by Coaching Ireland.

The workshops, which will take place on February 5, 12 and 19 are sponsored by Lucozade Sport

The programme offers sports play- ers, clubs, schools, colleges and regional squads an opportunity to access education for their athletes, players and coaches in the area of sports science.

The workshops will include five modules including fluid for sport, fuel for sport, the female athlete, get

fit for sport and planning for success. The content of these workshops in- cludes issues such as hydration and nutritional requirements for sports, the importance of hydration and the role of food in optimising perform- ance and training.

“IT am delighted that the Cusack Centre has developed a partnership with Coaching Ireland to deliver these very valuable workshops,” said Martin O’Loghlen, Chairman of the Michael Cusack Centre.

“Coaching Ireland have an excel- lent track record in the delivery of Le LbTerTHCOyem ouesea es ReODO NCS MNIE CNM RM Ns lontoe We look forward to developing this relationship over the next few years.

‘The Cusack Academy has been set

up as a continuation of Cusack’s vi- sion and achievements. Cusack was a renowned academic and top class athlete. His journey through life saw him founding one of Ireland’s top class educational academies and the world’s largest amateur sporting or- ganisation, the GAA.

“The Cusack Academy is delighted to continue his legacy by offering a facility whereby coaches, athletes, and people with a sporting interest can further educate themselves to become excellent ambassadors in their field.”

Other topics covered in the work- shops include periodisation of train- ing, monitoring and evaluation of training plans and training responses,

and issues relating to the influence of hormones, eating disorders, weight training and the role of exercise in the prevention of osteoporosis.

The objective of this programme is to disseminate relevant, up-to- date Sports Science information to athletes, coaches, teachers, parents whose children have an interest in sports and those with a keen interest in furthering their knowledge so to promote and educate good coaching practices and standards.

For more information on _ these workshops or to book your place in this programme contact Liz Flynn on 065 7089944 or email info@michaelcusack.ie. Places are limited.

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CLARE County Manager Alec Fleming is set to retire from his post in April and spark a race amongst senior council executives to succeed him.

The 54-year old Nenagh man’s seven year contract expires in April and it is expected that he will not be seeking an extension and retire from his €151,000 post.

Mr Fleming refused to be drawn on his future when asked, stating that he will be briefing the council before making any public statements.

However, accoding to two separate council sources, it is understood that Mr Fleming will be stepping down later this year. His decision will have senior council executives jockeying for position to take over the top job. However when he was appointed in 2002, the Local Appointments Com- mission opted for an external can- didate over the claims of the local senior staff.

The lead runners in Clare for his post are expected to be the Council’s Director for the Environment, Ger Dollard and Director for Community and Enterprise, Tom Coughlan.

Both are long serving officials with the Council with Mr Dollard serv- ing across a variety of sectors and is credited with delivering the €32 million Cliffs of Moher visitor cen- tre against the odds. He has served

as Director of Finance and has also served as Director of Planning for a number of years before taking over the Council’s Environment directo- eel en

Mr Dollard also serves as Shannon Town Manager and led the Council’s response to the ending of the Shan- non Heathrow route in 2007.

Mr Coughlan serves as Manager of Ennis Town Council and presid- ed over the council success in the Tidy Towns Competition in recent years. He has also served as Direc- tor for Housing overseeing advances in the Traveller Accommodation Programme and more recently, has

worked in the more low-profile Com- munity and Enterprise Directorate.

Director of Finance, Noeleen Fit- zgerald impressed in the council’s recent budgetary process, but her relative lack of experience may count against her if she chooses to throw her hat into the ring.

Mr Fleming was an unknown in Clare when he was appointed in 2002 and it may transpire that an official not known outside local government circles will get the plum job when the appointment is made later this year.

TEMPERATURES recorded at the weather station in Shannon last week may well make their way into the record books.

Ground temperatures plummeted to minus 9.2 degrees in Shannon last Wednesday morning, with analysts suggesting this may yet be the cold- est temperature of 2009.

The weather station recorded the cold temperature during what was one of the coldest days in a long time. The air temperature was minus 3.7 eaten Keron Maomcy DOO ComeslOUONDETSE

As _arctic-like weather swept through the country, cold tempera- tures were recorded at Shannon throughout the week. Monday’s air temperature was minus 0.2 degrees; it was minus 2.4 on Tuesday and mi- nus 1.1 on Thursday morning.

A spokesman for Met Eireann said Wednesday’s temperatures may yet be the coldest of the entire year. “It could easily be the lowest ground temperature of the year. While tem- peratures were well below normal, however, it is not unusual to get m1- nus nine or minus 10 in the winter. It is not record breaking,’ said the spokesman.

Shannon’s weather station created

many records throughout 2008, with certain dates and months entering the history books.

August was the wettest on record at the airport, when a total of 1,270mm of rain fell. This was the highest at the station since it opened in 1945.

Its highest ever hourly fall of rain was on August 6, when 38.4mm was recorded during a thunderstorm.

The highest temperature of the year was on July 24 (25.2 degrees Cel- sius).

It was the sunniest October since records began was recorded at Shan- non, where the highest daily sunshine was recorded between October | and 8 and on the 21 and 31.

January, too, saw a record being broken, when the amount of rainfall (221mm) was the highest ever at the station.

The atmospheric pressure in Shan- non in March was the lowest ever re- corded in Ireland.

The weather was excellent in May, where the warmest May was record- ed since records began at Shannon. The average temperature at the sta- tion for the month was 14 degrees.

The temperature remained at this level, reaching an average of 14.2 degrees, in June, but this was the coolest June since 2002.