Month: October 2009

FIVE separate Ennis-based busi- nesses are working together in a new venture aimed at protecting as many as 80 local jobs.

The businesses, FSG – Fire, Stove and Gas, Colleran Fitted Furniture, Stone Ware Tiles, Ennis Carpets and Ryan’s Window Attire, are all based near the Quin Road business park and are all involved in the home fin- ishings industry.

As ameans of countering the effects of the economic slowdown, five local business people – Dermot Whelan (FSG), John Colleran, Simon Whe- lan (Stoneware), Pat McDaid (Ennis Carpets) and Olive Ryan, decided to eroup together to market their serv- ices on a joint basis.

Their aim is to boost local business- es and by doing so they also hope to protect the futures of 80 direct jobs and potentially more in related serv- (eon

“I suppose like many businesses we were feeling the effect of the eco- nomic downturn. I sat down with Si- mon and John Colleran and then we spoke with Olive and Pat to look and see if we could do something togeth- er. We’ve all been in business in En- nis for a long time and we’re trying boost local business and protect jobs. Basically its businesses doing it for themselves and not getting sucked into all the negativity that’s out there,” explained Dermot Whelan.

He continued, “Collectively we

would employ almost 80 people but you would have a good few more when you take into account the fact that huge investment has been put into our showrooms. You have trades people that would be employed in that side of it and other non-direct jobs. You’re looking initially at 80 direct jobs but there are more defi- nitely added on to that”.

Whelan also believes that local businesses play an active role in sup-

porting the local community.

‘“T’ve been in business for 13 years, and I hope to be in it for 13 more. As local enterprises, we would sponsor jerseys, sponsor teams, things like that. We would have ties to the com- munity. Its wider I suppose than the 80 jobs because when you look at it, all our contracts are local. We get our diesel and petrol locally. We buy our vans locally”, said Dermot.

“Its not just about these five busi-

nesses either. We see this hopefully, as rippling out to help maybe 20 other local businesses. Things may be tough but its easier to go around with a smile on your face than being grumpy all the time’, he added.

THE proposed expansion of a west Clare quarry, to include blasting and mobile crushing has met with strong opposition from local people.

N Joseph Daniel and Martin O’Gorman have applied for planning permission to amend a condition 1m- posed on the operation of the quarry at Aylevarroo, Kilrush, which would allow blasting and the use of mobile crushing and screening plant within

the 2.88 hectares of the quarry.

To date three submissions objecting to the proposal have been submitted to Clare County Council, with more expected.

Local resident Gerry Mackle raised concerns about how the proposed development would impact on the health, homes and quality of life of the local people. He said that the pre- vailing southwest wind would carry dust towards the 18 houses to the north east of the quarry.

‘We would not be able to put clothes on the line or open windows.”

Mr Mackle also raised concerns about the impact such work would have on people with bronchial and respiratory conditions.

The quarry is adjacent to many fa- cilities used by the people of Kilrush, including swimmers, walkers, and fishermen, he explained.

“There is no civilised country in the world that would destroy a beauty spot with a quarry,’ said Mr Mackle.

Kilrush town councillor Paul Mo- roney (Ind) said that the quarry has been in use since the 1960s but there was no blasting associated with it. He said he was completely opposed to this proposal.

The greatest concern for the local people is the noise, vibrations and dust associated with blasting, crush- ing and screening on site, explained the Independent councillor.

“It is a beautiful area. Such a pro- posal would take away from the look of the area forever,” he said.

‘My concern is that the quarry 1s right on the side of the road. This is a Sli na Slainte walk, promoted by the council, and people go for a walk here regularly.”

The councillor also raised concerns about the amount of machinery and heavy goods vehicles that would also be accessing the quarry if permis- sion was granted.

He maintains the local infrastruc- ture was not built to support such industrial use, and that all access to the quarry would be through a resi- CCSneE Ue busrb

A previous attempt to secure sim1i- lar planning permission at this site was refused by Clare County Coun- cil and An Bord Pleanala.

A SENIOR Clare county council- lor expressed hope yesterday that a decision by An Bord Pleanala to re- ject an appeal by the National Roads Authority (NRA) concerning a one- off home represents an “outbreak of common sense”.

Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) made his com- ment after the planning board gave the go-ahead for Sean Hill to build a one-off home along the main Ennis to Kilrush route near the village of BSS eos

Cllr Kelly has been a long-time

critic of the NRA opposing one-off housing development on national secondary routes in Clare.

Earlier this year, the council gave Mr Hill approval for the proposal in spite of NRA claims that it was con- trary to national policy.

The NRA appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala, stating that the proposal would endanger public safety and would adversely affect the use and safely of road users.

Yesterday, Cllr Kelly said: “I would hope that this represents a turna- round in An Bord Pleanala policy.

“This is part of the consistent 1n-

conistency in planning issues. Only a few months ago, a house on an ad- jacent site was refused planning per- mission by An Bord Pleanala.”

The board gave the go-ahead for the proposal after its own inspector recommended that planning permis- sion be refused.

In his report, Kenneth Moloney stated that “the development would contravene the objectives of the Sus- tainable Rural Housing guidelines where direct access from future de- velopments should not be permitted to national roads outside of the speed limit zones for towns and villages”.

Mr Moloney stated that the devel- opment would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard.

However, the board over-ruled his report “having regard to the avail- ability of adequate sightlines, the local housing need and the lack of al- ternative access from the applicant’s land onto a public road.

“The proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area, would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and would therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and development of the area,” the ruling concluded.

IT WAS the most precious gift he could ever receive and what made it all the more precious was that it came from a total stranger in their darkest hour.

David O’Donoghue said he would forever be grateful to the family of the kidney donor who gave him back a quality of life he had long forgot- ten.

The Cooraclare man who dreamed of going to the races for the day with- out hurrying home can now see his dreams become reality thanks to the kidney transplant.

For two years and three months he was connected to ‘fluid dialysis’ five times a day, limiting him to his home beside the Danganelly Riding School.

At the beginning of the year, this harrowing regime had been replaced by night dialysis, which he was con- nected to for nine hours every night.

Then one night the call came that was to change his life forever. David recalls, “It was a Friday night about 11.30pm. The mother was at home and I was out at the brother’s house. She rang me to come back home quick; the transplant team in Beau- mont Hospital were looking for me. It was completely unexpected on

the same night. I had four hours to make it to Dublin.” David drove to Dublin himself that

night, with girlfriend Caroline by his side. “I was nervous. I was a long time waiting for this,” he said.

David’s transplant was a success, and every day he is getting stronger. “It is great to be free from dialy-

sis. | can do what I want now when I want and eat what I want. I have 10 times more energy than I had.

“Dialysis keeps you alive but you don’t have any energy. I would sleep a lot and I wouldn’t be able to work for long.”

He is now planning a foreign holi- day free of machines and illness.

The 36-year-old paid tribute to his mother’s support through out the last two and a half years. “It was strenu- ous on her and I couldn’t have done it without her.”

David also thanked Caroline and his brothers and sisters for their sup- port and made special mention of the Limerick Dialysis Unit, especially Freda, Brid, Dr Cronnin and Dr Cas- UA

““T hope the family of the donor know how grateful I am. I was allowed to write them a letter and I hope it was of some help to them. They probably will never realise what a great thing they have done.”

The 2009 IKA Annual Service of Remembrance and ‘Thanksgiving will take place in Corpus Christi Church, Drumcondra, Dublin, on October 10 at lpm.

WHEN it comes to the sweets we stuffed into our mouths and pockets in years gone by, we’re all just big children. And now a Meelick woman has made a business out of giving the big children a sweet shop to play in.

“T set up Irish Candy Buffets in May. I had just finished college and despite a degree in business, a mas- ters in marketing, plus two subse- quent years of postgraduate research, I was finding it very difficult to se- cure any sort of employment, “said company founder, Yvonne Crowe.

“T was also planning my wedding

and was using my free time to re- search ideas in the hope of coming across something special and unique to help make our day memorable. Nothing quite grabbed my eye, but an idea was starting to form in my head. I began to design old-style can- dy carts and enlisted the help of my father and fiancé to bring my designs to life.”

What Irish Candy Buffets supplies are custom-made old-style sweet carts, overflowing with childhood favourites, many of which people haven’t laid eyes on in years. “Sher- bet dips, candy necklaces, chocolate cigarettes, popping candy, black

jacks, whams, refreshers. It’s all here!” said Yvonne.

Irish Candy Buffets also supplies personalised sweetie bags and table poems. “But best of all are the un- limited sweets – thanks to a built-in mini storeroom underneath the cart,” said Yvonne.

So far, the majority of bookings Yvonne has had are for wedding re- ceptions, but she has also catered for an international conference held in Dublin last month.

“I’m hoping to branch out more into the corporate arena, as I believe that the candy carts would be very novel for product launches, conferences or

simply as staff morale boosters. And they’re ideal for any sort of party, such as christenings, communions, 2\1st’s, or retirements.”

Since May, the website has had more than 8,000 visits and has received a large number of bookings, some as far ahead as the end of 2011.

With a showcase for the Meelick company at the forthcoming Wed- ding and Engagement Fair at the Limerick racecourse, Irish Candy Carts look set for the sweet smell of success. Contact the company at www.irishcandybuffets.com.

STAFF and students, both past and present, gathered in Newmarket-on- Fergus on Sunday to celebrate the SOth anniversary of Scoil Na Maigh- dine Mhuire.

The present school was originally opened on February 28, 1960 by then Minster for Education Dr Patrick Hillery, and by then Bishop of Kil- laloe Most Revd Dr J Rogers.

Records, however, show that pri- mary schools were run in Newmar- ket as early as 1826, while during the 1840s separate schools for boys and girls were also established.

That school, established under the auspices of the National Board, ca- tered for 236 boys and 223 girls and was staffed by just three teachers.

Scoil Na Maighdine Mhuire cur- rently has 182 students, 12 teachers

and five special needs assistants.

The opening of the school in 1960 was an event captured on camera by a local man Timmy O’Connell. The large crowd, including Bishop of Kil- laloe Dr Willie Walsh, that attended Sunday’s event, viewed the recording as part of the celebrations.

“The kids were really enthralled by it. Obviously the school building was different but many aspects of the streetscape were the same,” ex- plained principal Ann McMahon.

Prior to anniversary celebrations, the school wrote to former students and staff members to ask them to submit their favourite memories of their time at Scoil Na Maighdine Mhuire.

“We wrote to many of the people that would have been students in 1960 and they had some striking memories. Many of them talked

about the door separating the boys and the girls school and how you didn’t dare cross that door. In 2001 the school went co-ed and you could say the door was opened and that was a significant development,’ said yauilee

Former staff members also contrib- uted to the process with many high- lighting the school’s success in sport and drama.

“The school was particularly strong on drama. There was a teacher, Ms Dympna Hastings and she wrote all the plays. They had great success with some very accomplished per- formances. They even performed at the Gate Theatre in Dublin, which was an extraordinary achievement for the school,’ added Ann.

Former principal Padraig Crim- mins also submitted a detailed docu- ment outlining the history of the

school and it’s success on the hurling field during the 1980s.

A spirit of innovations still thrives at the school.

“We have interactive white boards in every classroom, a state of the art computer room and we are also a green school,’ explained Ann.

Ann was also quick to credit the role played by staff, parents and the school’s board of management.

She also admitted that Sunday was a very proud day for everyone asso- ciated with the school.

‘Absolutely it was. My mother used to say that too much pride was a sin, but I think she would forgive me it oye aN ice k- hia

he believes that the current system is not working and this has come to light in particular in the face of the economic downturn. He made the comments by way of the Legal Aid Board reporting last week that there was an 18 per cent increase in the number of new ap- plications for legal services last year.

Individuals received legal assistance from the Legal Aid Board in over 21,000 cases during 2008.

While pointing out that solicitors who defend their clients in the crimi- nal courts are doing their job, he said that all too often free legal aid is granted when the circumstances are not adequately examined.

‘There is a considerable difference between civil and criminal free legal aid. There appears to be a more rig- orous means testing for someone ap- plying for free legal aid in civil cases than in criminal cases. I am calling for a complete overhaul of the free legal aid system,’ he said.

“The McCarthy report calls for a

limited means testing and that would save €8.4 million,” he added.

“When you see a gangster being brought away from court in a SUV with blacked out windows, after get- ting free legal aid, that truly sickens law abiding citizens,’ said Deputy Cras

He is suggesting a points system- could be considered. Through this, serial offenders would be dealt with more carefully than those before the court for the first time.

‘People can go in and get free legal aid every time. There is no deterrent to stop committing offences. Histor1- cally the system was brought about to give free legal aid to poor persons.

While it is reasonable to assume someone on social welfare should be entitled to free legal aid, the entire system needs to be overhauled.”

“It just highlights the revolving door syndrome – get free legal aid, go through the system and into pris- on. Suddenly offenders are back on the streets again, with little attempt at rehabilitation. Free legal aid is a component of that,” he said.

“In fairness Judge Mangan (the dis- trict judge in Clare) requests written applications for free legal aid. That is one of the toughest in the country. There should be a uniform system everywhere. The system is abused at the moment,” he said.

THE increased demand on the free legal advice centre in Ennis has re- sulted in its hours of availability be- ing lengthened substantially.

The facility had been in operation two hours a week, but the increase in queries from members of the public has prompted it to be made available six hours a week. The increase is be- ing attributed, in part, to the increase in numbers of people who are find- ing themselves unemployed in recent peeve detse

The free legal advice clinic (FLAC) is co-ordinated by the Citizens’ In- formation Centre in Clare. A team of qualified solicitors provides advice and information to members of the public, who are unsure what their op- tions are.

Paul Woulfe, of the Citizens’ In- formation Centre, said an average of between 15 and 20 appointments are being made with the service on a weekly basis.

‘There has been a huge increase in queries. A lot of it is related to the economic downturn,” he said.

‘The increase is in response to demand. We used to just run on Thursday evenings, but now we hold clinics on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons also,” he said.

Through the clinics, members of the public receive information on le- gal issues, including family law, em- ployment law and consumer law.

‘More and more, people are be- coming unemployed and they are looking for advice and support,” said Mr Woulfe.

As many cases related to the work- place go before the Employment Ap-

peals Tribunal (EAT), the citizens information service is playing a role. “We do a lot of advocacy work in the EAT,’ said Mr Woulfe.

‘The economic recession 1s putting tensions on families. Supports need to be put in place for people who are unemployed for the first time. People don’t have the extra income that they had before,” he said.

“In relation to employment law, we are getting queries about lay-offs and short-term work. People are trying to get redundancies out of employers,” he said.

A CREDIT card that doesn’t allow you to spend beyond your means has just arrived on the scene in Clare.

Pay as you go credit cards are now available to buy in Clare, hav- ing been launched by the company Smart Transfer in April. Comparable to a mobile phone top-up, these cards are operable only when you have suf- ficient funds to spend.

The card allows the user all the ad- vantages of a normal credit card, but without the hassle of bills, interest or credit checks.

How it operates is that you lodge money in your account prior to using it and you cannot use more than you have available.

The card is now available to pur- chase in 18 stores in Clare. These are mainly convenience stores and supermarkets.

According to the operations man- ager of Smart Transfer, Sean Phe- lan, the timing for the launch of this scheme in Clare is appropriate, given iW ALomeL Nw Kes tI merece) sLO ON NCOMe DUDOT-IKoR

‘You cannot spend what you do not have with the pay as you go Master- card. The idea is that rather than get- ting an indeterminate bill in the post at the end of the month you can load up in advance in outlets and spend what’s on the card,” said Mr Phelan, whose company is based in Naas.

“With the economic situation, a lot of people are using it as a way of controlling standard credit card debt,” he added.

“You can literally walk into a shop and walk out with a credit card, ready to use. As long as you have loaded the card with credit, the pay as you go credit card can be used as many times as you like, to make purchases or withdraw cash from ATMs,” he added. Outlets across Clare are tak- ing part in this initiative, including Shannon, Scariff, Lahinch, Kilrush, Killaloe and Clarecastle.

“We have spent the past few months rolling it out. We launched it initially in the UK almost two years ago,” he said.

Full details on the availability of the card in Clare can be obtained by logging on to wWww.payzonemoney. io

WHILE the eyes of Europe may have been on Dublin Castle and the Lisbon count this weekend, the out- come failed to excite even the small- est number of people in the Banner Sree

Just four months but thousands of onlookers away from the local and European elections, the Lisbon Count – mark two – was even more of a damp squib than Lisbon mark one.

Even the local politicians, who had such a vested interest in the ballot boxes last June, failed to even raise a

passing interest on Saturday last.

A handful of county councillors and approximately two town coun- cillors arrived early in the morning, but left early with the no campaign- ers once the outcome was obvious.

Just one county councillor saw the result out to the bitter end with Clare’s TDs, who all showed up for the occasion.

From the time the boxes were opened, it was clear that the referen- dum would be carried in Clare with a three-to-one ratio in favour of the treaty in rural areas, and a 60:40 split in favour in urban areas.

By lunchtime, all the votes had been counted, with just a dozen peo- ple left in the centre with the media and those counting.

While all waited for Returning Of- ficer Patrick Wallace to get the green light from Dublin to announce the result, the speculation on the margin of success for the Yes side began.

Deputy Carey had left proceedings to attend his daughter’s christening, but the remaining three TDs were happy to guess the outcome.

Junior Minister Tony Killeen (FF) thought that the treaty would be ac- cepted in Clare by 69 per cent of the

voters, Deputy Pat Breen (FG) went with 70 per cent, while Deputy Tim- my Dooley (FF) finally settled for 72 per cent, having wavered between it and 71 per cent.

Shortly after 2pm, Mr Wallace an- nounced the verdict from the Clare voters. It was carried 72.3 per cent to 27.7.