Month: February 2006

THE long running saga over Cahercon Pier took another twist last night after it emerged that a marine surveyor employed by Clare County Council was denied access to vessels moored at the site.

At Clare County Council’s monthly meeting, members were told that a marine surveyor had been employed by the council to undertake an assessment of the vessels located at Cahercon Pier under the Merchant Shipping Act.

While an initial report was obtained by the council, the report was incomplete as the surveyor was denied access to the vessels. The council have also been unable to determine who owns the vessels and are seeking advice on how to proceed with the matter.

Fine Gael Councillors Oliver Garry and Martin Conway both requested to know what options were available to the council since the decision was taken not to include Cahercon Pier on a list of protected structures. Last month the council went against the advice of the County Manager and voted not to include the pier on a list of protected structures.

An updated structural report on the pier showed that while the pier was in reasonably good structural condition, damage and dilapidation had occurred along the pier walls.

Cllr Garry, who had previously proposed that the pier be listed, stated that he was wasn’t against encouraging employment in the area and urged the council to resolve the issue of access as speedily as possible.

Cllr Conway said that a large number of people in West Clare were disappointed with the outcome of last month’s vote and proposed that a special meeting to discuss the matter be convened in April.

Cllr Madeleine Taylor-Quinn asked the council to find out who the ships were registered under and whether the substances that were carried on board were harmful or not.

OPPOSING factions in a feud, who ended up on charges because they had a set-to on the steps of the courthouse, had a second courthouse showdown while waiting for that case to be heard.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy was told that every time particular members of the McDonogh and Mongan families met, there was trouble.

Bernard McDonogh of Ashline in Ennis, Christopher McDonogh of Davitt Terrace in Ennis, and Edward and Christopher Mongan of Clondalkin in Dublin had previously been convicted of violent disorder. While they were leaving court after that conviction, they started trading insults on the steps of the court, Ennis District Court heard.

That resulted in their appearance in the court on Friday on Public Order charges before Judge Aeneas McCarthy.

But Inspector Michael Gallagher told the judge that after the court rose for lunch, while the two sides waited for their case to be heard, “there was another altercation.”

He said that the on-going tensions were the result of a long-standing feud between the two sides. But apart from their flare ups when the two sides met, the judge was told, they were law-abiding citizens who had never been in trouble with the gardaí.

“After each incident, all four appear genuinely remorseful, but when they confront each other, it is like a red rag to a bull,” Sergeant Alan McLeish said.

Solicitors for both sides said their clients were pleading guilty to the charges and wanted an end to the tensions.

As the Mongans had now moved to Dublin, the opposing factions were less likely to meet. Each of the men is father to five children, the court heard.

The court heard that as a result of the original violent disorder conviction, the parties were due to have three year suspended sentences imposed and these would take effect in July, provided there was no further trouble.

Judge McCarthy said that he took “a serious view of trouble at the courts. People should be able to come to court without getting caught up in feuding gang violence.”

He jailed each of the men for terms of four months and two months on the two public order charges. He set bail at an independent surety of €1,500 and their own bonds of €500 each.

HAVING returned from overseeing the democratic process in one of the most volatile areas on the planet last week, Theresa Kearney was relaxed and looking forward to her next venture abroad as part of the EU Election Observers Mission.

The Crusheen woman, now living in Ennis, is a seasoned election supervisor, having previously overseen elections in Bosnia Herzegovina and the Palestinian presidential elections last year.

With over a decade of experience behind her, the HSE worker spent part of her annual leave last month witnessing one of the most surprising election results in recent times, coming to fruition.

Based in Ramallah, she visited 18 stations across the state on the historic Election Day.

“At most of the polling stations I visited, both the day of the election and the day previous, it was like being at a St Patrick’s Day Parade. I mean, there was a sea of green everywhere and you got the sense that the election was going to go in a particular way. There was certainly evidence of Hamas support in every village that we visited,” she told The Clare People .

But Theresa hadn’t time for considering the outcome. Her 23-hour election workday began at 5am, when she met her driver and interpreter to organise the route they were going to take across a country with no signposts and highways secured only for Israeli travel.

Arriving at the polling stations half an hour before opening, the observer’s mission began.

“We can’t intervene in the process, but report back,” she said.

She observed the count and tidied up before travelling back with the ballot boxes to the intake centre.

Asked if she feared for her life working in such a volatile area she said, “Not really because you have a job to do and you are engrossed in the task at hand.”

Like all volunteers, she took precautions.

“You don’t assume that because you are wearing an EU badge that are going to be safe,” she said.

Ms Kearney was recruited through the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The department then recommended her to the EU, for a the final decision.

Her previous experience working with Concern for two years made Ms Kearney an ideal candidate.

Theresa had to be evacuated ten days after travelling in Somalia in the mid 1990s. She survived that trauma, and was brought to Uganda to continue her aid work there.

THE development of new facilities at Dublin and Cork Airports will pose a significant threat to business at Shannon in the coming years as competition for airline services into Ireland intensifies, the Chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority has warned.

Pat Shanahan was speaking following the Authority’s monthly board meeting on Friday, when he also said, “Costs per passenger at Shannon, are significantly higher than at Dublin and Cork airports. It is vital that our cost base is at least equal to our peer airports so that Shannon can attract the business that its tourism and catchment area can generate.”

While welcoming record-breaking passenger numbers of 3.3 million and improved profit levels in 2005, Mr Shanahan further cautioned that, “The outlook for the airport remains uncertain until its underlying financial difficulties are addressed.

“The turnaround in the airport’s finances in 2005 can be attributed to the increased activity by Ryanair since establishing Shannon as a base, and also to the high levels of military traffic operating through Shannon, which is unpredictable and, from past experience, unlikely to continue at current levels.”

Following the best year ever for transatlantic traffic at Shannon, in terms of passenger numbers, “Open Skies” will be introduced in April 2008, with transitional arrangements commencing as early as November this year. According to Mr Shanahan, “During this transitional period, Shannon will be working hard to grow its transatlantic passengers.”

Speaking about controversial plans by the SAA to divest itself of its catering operation Mr Shanahan said, “Shannon is the only major airport in Europe to operate its own catering company. The airport no longer has the critical mass or buying power to compete successfully in this market.”

Commenting on the Programme for Commercial Viability being proposed by Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Mr. Shanahan said, “DAA is willing to provide financial support to Shannon to implement its restructuring programme.

“I wish to emphasise that there is a limited window of opportunity in which to make these changes,” he said.

SIPTU officials at Shannon are to meet with the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen later today to discuss the future of the 60 workers at the Great Southern Hotel in Shannon.

Concerns have also been expressed about the “far reaching consequences” for workers whose jobs depend on work generated from the group.

The Shannon hotel has links with the Shannon College of Hotel Management.

Following news last week that the Great Southern Hotel Group was to be sold off by the Dublin Airport Authority as a going concern, workers in Shannon have asked for assurances that their jobs are safe.

SIPTU officials met with the workers yesterday evening (Monday) prior to the meeting in Dublin today.

A spokesperson for SIPTU Shannon told The Clare People that the union was still not certain that chain of hotels would be sold.

The Government has yet to approve the decision to sell the Great Southern Hotel’s assets.

The SIPTU official expressed disappointment with the Minister for Tourism and Sport, John O’Donoghue, who had previously indicated he wanted to see the hotels remain within the state sector.

Although the minister did not say he changed his mind, last week, he did state the proposed sale was inevitable.

In a statement released during the week, the Dublin Airport Authority confirmed its decision to employ an adviser to assist with the disposal of its hotels, which employs more than 800 people throughout the country.

The Great Southern Hotel group has one of the largest wage bills in the hotel industry, with payroll costs accounting for 46 per cent of the hotels’ turnover.

That is 12 per cent higher than most hotels in the country.

The hotels have been valued in excess of €100 million, and are expected to reach far in excess of this, despite recording losses of €6 million.

One of those mooted as a possible buyer of the chain is Lisdoonvarna native, Bernard McNamara.

According to reports at the weekend, the former Fianna Fáil councillor is understood to be in talks with another businessman about taking over the nine hotels in the group, including Shannon.

McNamara now owns the fourthlargest building construction firm in the country and is a part owner of Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel. He is estimated to be worth €50 million and now lives on the exclusive Ailesbury Road in Dublin.

CONCERN was growing yesterday that the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) might have to carry a sizeable proportion of the cost of its estimated €70 million debt, in order for the Authority to gain control of the airport’s finances.

Two years ago when the Government formally announced the establishment of the Shannon Airport Authority and a break-up of Aer Rianta, the then Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan announced that Shannon would be debt-free in the new set-up.

But, in response to a Dáil question from Pat Breen TD (FG) as to whether he would be honoring the commitment of his predecessor, Seamus Brennan on the debt issue, Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, would not give any guarantees.

Deputy Breen told The Clare People that the issue required further clarity.

Further doubt was cast in the Seanad when Clare Junior Minister, Tony Killeen spoke on the matter.

“At an early stage in the airport restructuring process, it was indicated that the intention was that both the independent Cork and Shannon airports would commence on a debt-free basis.

“However, that was always going to be subject to determining the optimum mechanisms for allocating airport assets among the three airports in compliance with the capital maintenance rules and other provisions of the Companies Acts.

“There are technical company law and accounting requirements that would need to be satisfied in any transfer of assets from the Dublin Airport Authority to the Shannon Airport Authority and the Cork Airport Authority.

“For company law and accounting purposes, such transfers of assets would be regarded as distributions made by the Dublin Airport Authority to its shareholder, the Minister for Finance.

“Consequently, the Dublin Airport Authority will be able to make the transfers only when it has available sufficient distributable reserves to match the value of the assets being transferred.

“The level of debt associated with the assets of Shannon and Cork airports and the level of distributable reserves required to transfer those assets to the two authorities will emerge from the work currently under way on the development of business plans by the three airport authorities.

“These data will feed into the decision on determining the optimum mechanisms for allocating airport assets among the three airports.

MORE than one person per day in Clare is being told that they have cancer, according to new statistics.

An average of 422 people from the county are being diagnosed with the disease, per year.

According to figures given at the launch of Daffodil Day in the West County Hotel last night, 27 families in the county will avail of the Irish Cancer Society’s night nurse service.

Last year, €1.5 million of the €2.9 million raised during Daffodil Day went towards the service, which allows patients remain at home with the support of a night nurse when they are at an advanced phase of their illness.

A total of €850,000 of the money raised in 2005 will fund the employment of 23 hospital-based cancer liaison nurses, to work in major cancer treatment hospitals across the country. Two of these nurses are employed in the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick.

Some €1 million will be allocated this year to cancer homecare teams, who work in the community to provide specialist palliative care nursing. Out of this fund, €54,825 will be allocated to homecare teams operating in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary.

Daffodil Day monies will also fund the National Cancer Helpline (Freefone 1800 200 700), which is staffed by nurses trained in cancer care. Last year the Helpline received approximately 7,000 calls, 85 from callers in County Clare.

A total of €93,000 will be allocated for bursaries, which will be granted to approximately 91 nurses, undertaking the higher diploma in oncology nursing.

Daffodil Day monies will also be allocated to the Irish Cancer Society’s education programme for hospital and community nurses. A sum of €40,000 will be allocated to fund a play specialist for the children’s cancer unit in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.

This year’s Daffodil Day will take place on Friday, March 24. The society is calling on the public to support the day so that it can continue to grow its free patient care and specialist nursing services, by reaching its €3 million target.

The Irish Cancer Society is calling on the Irish public to support Daffodil Day, by “buying a daff”, by donating daffodils, holding a daffodil coffee morning or acting as a volunteer selling daffodils in the community or workplace. For further information please call the Daffodil Day office on CallSave 1850 60 60 60.

THE home of Clare’s only All-Irelandwinning racing pigeon is the source of a bitter neighbours’ dispute.

In a hard-hitting objection against a proposed pigeon loft, Ennis Town Council has been told that neighbours, John and Mary Flynn now regard themselves as “being prisoners in their own home”, due to the pigeons already housed at 24 Marian Avenue, Ennis.

Solicitors have become embroiled in the dispute, which threatens plans by Ennis-man George Guilfoyle to continue housing 30 racing pigeons from a loft at No 24.

The Flynns live next door, at 26 Marian Avenue, and in their objection state that Mr Guilfoyle’s pigeon fancying, “creates a very difficult situation in which they cannot enjoy the reasonable amenity of their own dwelling house”.

In a letter to the Town Council, Mr Guilfoyle states that pigeons have been kept at 24 Marian Avenue since 1974.

“Practically, all spare time is used to tend the birds, that require constant attention. I feel that my birds hold no threat as regards a health hazard.”

Fifty residents of Marian Avenue have signed a petition “to continue keep racing pigeons at the loft”, while an accompanying letter from the Marian Avenue Residents Association states that “local support for Mr Guilfoyle is high”.

Last year, the Flynns employed solicitor Billy Loughnane to fight their case, resulting in an Enforcement Notice being served on May Guilfolye, the owner of 24 Marian Avenue. The Town Council also employed its own legal firm to correspond with the Flynns’ solicitors.

The Enforcement Notice requires Mrs Guilfoyle to cease the keeping of pigeons in the newly constructed shed and threatens legal action if the situation continues.

In response, Mrs Guilfolye lodged a planning application last month. In an accompanying letter, she states: “For over 30 years, the Guilfoyle family have taken an avid interest in pigeon fancying.”

She said that her son, George’s National Title win, “was a source of great joy, not only for my son in particular, but also for myself and I would like to think that the town of Ennis and Clare”.

The objection states that, “the Flynn’s children are afraid of the swirling of the birds and the noise and nuisance created by them.

“They are unable to use their back garden premises during the Summer months and now regard themselves as being prisoners in their own home.”

A decision is due on the application later this month.

PLANS to transform Ennis’s skyline with a €20 million apartment block overlooking the River Fergus are facing fresh opposition.

Ennis-based firm, Paddy Coleman & Associates, has expressed concern over the proposal by Galway company, Briarlane Development Ltd.

The plan provides for a new pedestrian bridge across the River Fergus to the Abbey Street car-park in Ennis, adding to the four vehicular bridges already in use in and around the town centre.

The new proposal – in common with the application turned down by An Bord Pleanala last July – seeks to transform the Ennis skyline with a six-storey apartment block.

The six-storey building will be arranged around a central podium, while the development also includes a plan to develop a 30-bedroom hotel and 58 apartments.

The plan also includes eight commercial units and 238 car-parking spaces along with one three-storey and one two-storey block.

In their submission however, Coleman & Associates argue that the proposed development does not respect the scale, proportions, designs and architecture of existing neighbouring structures at Bank Place, Bindon Street, or Harmony Row.

It goes on: “Furthermore, the massing of the proposed development would detract from the existing Bank of Ireland building which is a protected structure. New buildings proposed for Architectural Conservation Areas should reflect the scale, proportions, design and materials of the existing structures.

“Clearly, the applicant has made no attempt to comply with a policy of the Ennis and Environs Plan in relation to conservation, as the proposed development does not conserve and enhance the character and appearance of the ACA. It is imperative that new buildings to be constructed within an ACA be faithful to the scale, character and detailing of the existing development.”

In relation to the Bank of Ireland building, Coleman & Associates state: “The proposal would be unsympathetic with and detrimental to the character, appearance and integrity of the Bank Building resulting in an incongruous and visually obtrusive addition to the conservation area of which it would form a part.

“The town does not have many buildings as fine as this bank building. The council must ensure that all of the features and views of this building are protected and that any development of the site that is granted permission is complementary or subservient to it from the point of view of visual impact.”

The submission by Coleman & Associates follows concerns expressed over the plan by Cllr Donal O’Bearra. A decision is due on the application later this month.

A DOCUMENTARY shot secretly on a tour bus in the Burren last Summer, received its world premier at the Burren Spring Conference in the Ballyvaughan School of Art over the weekend.

The documentary, entitled

, was shot by the Director of the NUI, Galway Huston School of Film, Rod Stoneman. It takes an undercover look at the Burren as seen through the eyes of the package tourist.

It raised a number of questions about the quality of products on offer in the Burren, the nature of mass tourism itself and the effects that this form of tourism had on an area like the Burren.

“The first thing that struck me was that the tour guides had a more substantive and well formed knowledge than I had expected,” said Mr Stoneman. “I had thought that there would be far more anecdotal but they did have some good clear information.”

The documentary follows a tour bus through Kinvara, Ballyvaughan, Fanore and Doolin before making its first stop at the Cliffs of Moher. The tour then takes the tourists to the Poulnabrone Dolmen before finishing up at the Ailwee Caves.

“I was really surprised that the tourists arrive here with very little knowledge of the area and without any real sense of where they are,” continued Mr Stoneman. “Despite the speed of their tour, they do seem to get a feel of the area.”

The documentary prompted lively debate at the Burren College when it was shown on Saturday afternoon. A large crowd, including three local tour guides, discussed the impact that large-scale tourism had on the area and whether the industry should be subject to greater regulation.

One of the documentary’s comments came from an Australian tourist at the Cliffs of Moher. When asked about the effects of visitors, she replied, “just look at what is going on out there”, referring to the massive construction work involved in the Cliffs of Moher Interpretative Centre.

There are no plans currently in place to bring the documentary to a wider audience. Stoneman has had success in the past as executive producer of the multi award winning documentary, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” as well as numerous feature film and shorts.