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A WOMAN has won her battle to transform a 19th-century school building into a holiday home.

The former primary school is lo- cated at Ballyfaudeen, Liscannor, in a remote, sparsely populated rural area. Nora French lodged plans to convert it last year.

The school dates from 1882 and has not operated for around 10 years.

However, Clare County Council turned down the proposal over site

drainage issues. Ms French appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

The board inspector who investi- gated the case agreed with the coun- cil, stating that the proposal would be prejudicial to public health. The inspector was not satisfied that the site could be drained satisfactorily by means of a new Envirocare unit with peat-based system and outfall to an existing trickling filter on site.

However, the board over-ruled its own inspector to give Ms French the go-ahead.

It stated that having regard to the long established use of the existing building on the site as a school, the proposed development would not be prejudicial to public health and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable de- velopment of the area.

The appeal lodged on Ms French’s behalf stated that the building had become derelict since its abandon- ment.

“Taking account of the prominent location of the building, and its his-

tory, it is appropriate to preserve and protect the local community spirit as many of the school attendees con- tinue to live in the area.

“Appropriate and imaginative re-use will provide for the general enhancement of the area. The ‘do- nothing’ scenario for a building in this location does nothing more than present a ‘no-confidence’ vote in the multiplicity of projects, which are undertaken countrywide to provide remediation for sites with similar drainage issues.

“On a broader note, the develop- ment is located in an area in which the houses to serve the increasing tourist market are not being permit- ted, and are only infrequently com- ing available on the local market.

“At the outset, it 1s important to make the distinction between a pro- posal for development on a green- field site and a proposal for rede- velopment of a building, which is constructed, has been used and is part and parcel of the local commu- ia Ae

AHEAD of the Clare Community Forum information night at the Tem- ple Gate Hotel on this Tuesday night, Fine Gael election candidate Cllr Joe Carey (FG) has called for strategic and comprehensive community sup- ports to bolster a vision of a stronger mid-west region.

Without strong and vibrant commu- nity infrastructure, the region will be ill-equipped to meet the challenges ahead, Cllr Carey said.

The construction of the Ennis by- pass and the resurgence of adjacent communities, such as _ Crusheen, Clarecastle, _Newmarket-on-Fergus

and Barefield means that proper facilities need to be put in place in these areas as a matter of urgency.

‘There are many areas where we need to be doing more in terms of playground facilities, activities for teenagers, recreational facilities, and generally implementing a vision for post by-pass Ennis. Currently this is not being done in any coherent or constructive manner’, said Cllr Carey.

The lack of adequate playground facilities continues to be a major is- sue for many communities, he said.

“I know for instance that residents in Quin are having to take on the 1s- sue themselves to try and get play-

ground facilities built in their vil- lage. And they are not the only ones. When funding has been earmarked for these initiatives, it 1s inconceiva- ble to think that people have to lobby to get basic facilities for their local area. It’s just not on”.

“IT am proposing that Fine Gael in government will appoint a Cabinet Minister for regional planning and development with sole responsibility for delivering a policy based on the principles of proper planned regional development”, he concluded.

MINISTER of State at the Depart- ment of Enterprise, Trade and Em- ployment Tony Killeen has published a second progress report on National Workplace Strategy. According to the minister, “The report highlights significant new initiatives to support workplace change and innovation in the public and private sectors.”

The report outlines key develop- ments in implementing the Strategy’s recommendations since the group last reported. The High Level Group, which is chaired by Minister Killeen, involves key Government depart- ments and agencies working together with the social partners to support workplace change and innovation in

the public and private sectors.

“IT am happy to be able to report that, building on the endorsement of the work of the group in the Frame- work Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016, we have seen sig- nificant progress and the launch of important new initiatives across the five strategic priority areas of the Na- tional Workplace Strategy,’ Minister GTN ore yaork

The minister welcomed the fact that the National Workplace Strategy has reached an important juncture, Where the messages and objectives agreed and adopted at a national level by Government and the Social Partners are now to be targeted at workplace level to employees, trade unions and managers across the pub-

lic and private sectors.

“The new Workplace Innovation Fund will play an important role in supporting this process,’ the Minis- MEST BLOE

“The real success of the National Workplace Strategy will be meas- ured in terms of how it succeeds in influencing meaningful change at the level of the workplace.

‘“W hile this is no easy task, we have every reason to be optimistic. We know from our long experience with social partnership that our capacity to solve problems is best served by working together. The strategy gives us a unique opportunity to turn our creative problem-solving instincts into a source of sustained competi- tive advantage.”

IT’S cup final time in Clare with the County Grounds playing host to five deciders next weekend.

On Saturday the under 15 and un- der 13 finals take centre stage. Sun- day sees the under 12 final down for decision along with the under 14 and under 16 finals.

The under 11 cup final will take place on Thursday May 17. In the under 15 decider, Lifford take on Av- enue in a repeat of the league play- off final.

Avenue won that game 3-0 but the league was subsequently awarded to

Lifford when it emerged that Avenue fielded a suspended player, David Smith in a previous fixture. Avenue appealed the decision to the School- boys Football Association of Ireland (SFAI) who upheld the Clare league’s decision.

Avenue will be out to ensure their season doesn’t end pointless while Lifford will have double dreams on their mind.

Next up at 2pm on Saturday is the meeting of Newmarket Celtic and Avenue United in the under 13 final.

Newmarket edged out Fern Celtic in the semi final and a cup final success would be the perfect end to a season

that saw the club re-open their spir- itual home at McDonagh Park.

However they face an uphill task against the recently crowned league champions Avenue who will start as favourites.

The under 12 decider on Sunday is an all Ennis affair between Ennis town and Avenue United. Avenue pipped Ennis to the league title but Town will hope to summon the spirit that saw them overturn a 2-0 deficit against Moneypoint in a thrilling quarterfinal.

Then under 14 final looks an in- triguing prospect with division two champions Fern Celtic looking to

complete the double when they take on Avenue United.

By the time Moher take to the field for the under 16 final decider against Newtown, the pair will know if they are to meet in a league play off de- cider. Moher require victory against Avenue this week in order to force a play-off. Newtown will be out to erase memories of a 4-0 hammering dished out by Moher over the week- aXe

Lifford A and Avenue United A will contest the Under 11 final. Av- enue have already won the division one title but Lifford will present for- midable opposition.

IT MIGHT not mean bankruptcy just yet, but Clare is on the verge of los- ing out on a place on the latest ver- sion of Monopoly, currently under development by Hasbro Games.

Using an on-line vote, the public has been asked to decide which 22 counties will feature in the All-Ire- land version of the game due to be launched later this year.

After a solid start, the Banner county has plummeted a full 12 plac- es in the last seven days and now sits in 29th place with just 1844 votes. The crash from the comfortable 17th position has put Clare in a situation where it is fighting for its Monopoly life and one of the coveted county Soy 1eone

“It would be really great for the county to be included,’ said Rita McInerney, CEO of Ennis Chamber of Commerce.

“We have two of the top three tour- ist locations in the country if you consider the Cliffs of Moher/the Burren and Bunratty. It is impor- tant for the continued promotion of prestige developments like Doonbeg Golf Course and also in relation to property prices.”

The counties are rated depending on the amount of votes they receive with the best supported counties be- ing given the more expensive proper- Won

Currently Roscommon and Tipper- ary are in pole position to claim the purple properties, formerly Dublin’s Shrewsbury and Ailesbury Roads, with 7442 and 7370 votes respec- tively.

“It will be very interesting to see which counties get which prop- erty value. Clare is often forgotten between Kerry and Galway. With Shannon International Airport, Clare should be leading the way for coun- ties in the mid-west. I will certainly be voting for Clare this week and I would encourage everyone else to do So as well,” she added.

Clare is currently ahead of Antrim, Louth and West Meath.

Despite this position, Clare is only 700 votes behind Kildare, which cur- rently occupies the final place on the board with 2580 votes.

To put Clare on the monopoly map, simply log on to Www.monopoly.ie/ vote.aspx and cast your vote.

Each person can vote once per day and the closing date for votes is May 25.

DESPITE a request for focus on playing matters, off the field contro- versies surrounding Clare hurling are to be the subject of further ex- amination.

That was the contradictory view expressed by the Clare County Board in a statement released late on Thurs- CP hasan rcanle

The statement pertained to matters discussed at a behind closed doors meeting of the County Board where a proposed vote of no confidence in manager Tony Considine was dis- cussed at length, but later withdrawn with no vote taken.

Beforehand County PRO Des Crowe informed assembled local and national media that they would not be allowed to report on the meeting.

SU slepaslereb MVE KE Ones NO eBE ROK! at the request of the board, he said. This decision, according to Crowe,

was based on sensitive legal issues that arose out of an investigation car- ried out by Chairman Michael Mc- Donagh and School’s Liaison officer John Fawl into the events which led to the departure of players including Davy Fitzgerald and coaching staff from the county set up.

“Trust us” urged Crowe, who said that a full statement on the meet- ing would be provided in I5 to 20 minutes. Any documents discussed would also be furnished, he stated.

The meeting started at 8.55pm but there was no word after 20 minutes. There was still no official word after an hour. 11.02pm and finally, white smoke.

Crowe rushed down stairs to the assembled media and flung open the doors leading to the almost empty bar.

The statement, written on A4 pa- per, contained one clear message — the focus is now totally on the May

27 clash with Cork in the quarter-fi- nal of the Munster Hurling Champi- onship. But then Crowe read, “After a full and frank discussion it was agreed that the matters would be rested at this time”.

In other words, the book was closed – but only temporarily. Crowe also confirmed that a motion of no con- fidence in manager Tony Considine had been tabled.

The motion was seconded, but after further debate was withdrawn. Smith O’Briens delegate Tony O’Brien put forward the motion and according to Crowe the seconder did not want their identity made public.

Crowe said, “There was a seconder for it. It was genuine, it came from genuine people. After the thing was discussed, the delegates spoke with the total focus to be on May 27. There was no problem for the proposer and seconder withdrawing the motion. I’ve been told not to [give name of

seconder]. It would be fair to say that the team manager was hardly men- tioned. It would also be right to tell you that in view of the fact that the Chairman and John Fawl had been investigating matters and talking to people, they spoke with all involved in what has been known to every- body in the media over the last three or four months in Clare GAA. There was a call from members of the team including the captain that there is full confidence in the training and the management and all they wanted to do tonigh wast put this thing to bed, forget about it and go forward and focus on the Clare/Cork game on May 27”.

However, when pressed further, Crowe confirmed the matter would be re-visited.

“This is the end of it as far as the County Board is concerned, as far we re all concerned. After the motion was withdrawn it was unanimous that

the focus is on Cork on May 27, but as we said in our official statement, the matter will be revisited further down the road”

He added, “Obviously it’s not going to happen between games. That’s a problem that people pointed out to- night, but at the end of the day the problem at the moment is we’re three weeks away from a Munster Cham- pionship game. But I won’t deny the fact that there were very strong feel- ings in the room. There were hurtful views. But at the end of the day eve- rybody is unanimous that the focus must be on Cork for the 27 and after that, who knows’.

Who knows indeed? This one could run and run.

JOHN Vaughan Auctioneers, En- nistymon, have a lovely three bed- room bungalow on their books, guiding at €385,000. The house is set in a mature, spacious site off the Ennistymon/Lahinch Road, within

a mile of Lahinch beach, golf links and all other amenities in the resort, while also being close to the vibrant town of Ennistymon.

This house has large sash windows and is a bright house with beautiful timber floors in each of the three bedrooms and in the sitting room.

The accommodation comprises a kitchen, dining room with an open fire, sitting room with open fire, three bedrooms, and a family bathroom. The attic is floored and can be ac- cessed via a Stira stairs. The attic of- fers good conversion potential. For full details contact 065 7071477.

ERA Leyden Auctioneers, Lahinch, has just taken on a four bedroom de- tached bungalow with sunroom and attached garage, at Poulawillin, Mil- town Malbay, with an asking price of €317,500.

This property occupies a half acre site and is situated on the Mullagh Road, only l1km from the centre of Miltown Malbay and all of its ameni- ties. The house enjoys sea views and is less than two miles from Spanish Point Beach.

The bungalow extends to 1,570 sq ft of floor space, plus the attached

garage offers scope for conversion to additional living space, if required.

This property has the added benefit of a recent extension to the rear to include a bright, spacious sun room and kitchen cum dining room over- looking the rolling countryside and the coastline.

Other features include a second reception room, double glazed win- dows, oil fired central heating, stone feature facade to the front of the property and tarmacadam driveway. And the grounds have been neatly maintained

For full details contact 065 7081088.

CLARE fire services have advised people carrying out controlled burn- ing to always notify the service.

This follows a spate of gorse fires in the county, including ones which occurred in the Connolly-Lissycasey area.

Fire services were called out to at- tend two gorse fires in the area on April 19. Five units of the Fire Bri- gade — two from Ennis, two from Ennistymon and one from Kilrush — were called to the scene.

A large area of open ground was on fire but was brought under control by the fire brigade, who were assisted by members of Coullte along with a number of local volunteers. The long spell of dry weather meant the fire spread quickly and this, combined with changing wind directions, made working conditions extremely dif- ficult.

“If people are carrying out con- trolled burning, then it should be in a controlled manner and the Fire Control Centre (999/112) should be notified with the details,” said Tom Burke, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer, adding that just a few items could be burnt.

“While Coillte personnel and our- selves generally work in groups, both to be more effective and also for safety, especially during dusk hours,

members of the public that assist may yao lms KO) UCOdWAB OBESE

“If members of the public and land- owners are assisting Coillte and the fire service, they should be accom- panying these personnel at all times to ensure proper co-ordination of re- sources to deal with these incidents,” he said.

Meanwhile, environmentalists are counting the costs of more than 20 bog fires that broke out in Gort and Surrounding areas last week. The fires, which fire services described as the most serious in memory, are be- lieved to have been started by land- owners burning gorse on their land.

The worst of the fires took place in Peterswell, between Gort and Loughrea, with every available unit from Gort, Loughrea, Portumna, Athenry and Tuam called in to battle the blaze.

Ecologists are this week begin- ning to assess the level of damage sustained by the bogland areas as a result of the fire. Depending on the severity of the blaze, fire can have a mixed effect on a bogland habitat.

A sustained heavy blaze can cause irreversible damage to the living peat layer of a bog, essentially destroying the entire bog ecosystem.

However, a less serious fire can ac- tually promote new growth on bog land and prevent trees from encroach- ing and taking over bog areas.

A CLARE motorcyclist is threat- ening to take the county council to court over what he describes as “wil- fully dangerous roadworks”.

Mountshannon resident Ciaran Ma- cAodh came close to serious injury at the weekend when his motorbike skidded out of control after he drove across gravel which had been thrown up on the road surface from road- works on the opposite side.

The accident happened at Cloon- tymweenagh on the road between Scariff and Mountshannon.

“I saw the roadwork warning signs and slowed right down but the gravel dressing that the council put on the other side where the works are go- ing on wasn’t rolled into the road. Cars driving over it threw up stones, which went all over the road on the side I was driving. There was noth- ing for the bike to grip on — it was just sliding,” he said.

MacAodh was thrown from his bike and the bike went spiralling away.

He was treated in the accident and emergency department for injuries to his wrist and said that he was still unsure what damage was done to the bike.

“There was a car coming in the other direction and it was just as well that I wasn’t going any faster because

I could have ended up under that car. This happens all the time with road- works. The council never considers what happens to a bike when it hits loose gravel.

“Cars can cope but not bikes. I’m sick of it and I’m going to court this time,’ he added.

A spokesman for Clare County Council’s roadworks section said that surface dressings like this were “always rolled”’.

He added that there was “always signs imposing a temporary speed limit and warning about roadworks. Nowadays, health and safety issues are all important and every precau- tion is taken to warn motorists and prevent accidents”.

A spokesman for the Tulla area of- fice of the local authority confirmed that the work at Cloontymweenagh are part of a major roadworks pro- gramme, which will be ongoing in the favourable weather conditions.

The spokesman said that the council tooks certain measures when putting down the temporary surface.

The procedure was a “normal part of the construction process.

“The stones are there to form a base for the final surface. There’s not much can be done, aS some stones are thrown up by car wheels as the temporary surface is driven on,’ he explained.