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JUDGES for the Tidy Towns competition were expected in Ennis over the weekend to see if the town has maintained the high standards it set last year.

While no advance warning of the committee’s arrival is given, adjudicators have visited the town on the August Bank Holiday weekend in previous years. Last year Ennis was named the tidiest town in Ireland but competition rules state that Ennis cannot win the overall award again this year. The Ennis Tidy Towns Committee hope though that Ennis can defend its title of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town.

The total points awarded to Ennis has increased every year since 1998. The total then was 240 and last years winning tally was 279 points from a possible 300. In 2001 Ennis was named the tidiest large town and in 2002 it received a gold medal in the European Entente Florale Award.

Chairman of the Ennis Tidy Town’s Committee, Donal Griffin is upbeat about Ennis’ chances in the upcoming competition.

“We have no warning but experience would say that they (judges) would usually visit around the August Bank Holiday weekend. You can’t win the big award two years in a row but we would hope to win again in the large town category. It is probably fair that you can’t because there are around 20 towns that could win it every year”

Mr Griffin who has been Chairman for 12 years, said the committee are pleased with preparations so far and praised the efforts of residents associations and the local business community.

“You see a huge amount of people out and residents associations have been very proactive in looking after their own patch. I was around town last week and there was shopkeepers tending flowers at 8pm so I think people have really taken to the competition. Ennis Town Council of course also play a substantial role and the Friary and the Cathedral have also been very helpful providing information in newsletters”

Since being named Ireland’s tidiest town other accolades have fopllowed. Earlier this year President Mary McAleese visited the town to pay tribute to the massive community effort and unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

“The visit of the President was a major highlight. Ennis has had massive exposure on local, national and international media, its been great from a public relations point of view its been great. People have also embraced environmental issues and have shown real pride in their town”

The final results of the competition will be announced at a ceremony in Dublin castle on September 4.

A SECURITY guard who worked at the Irish Aviation Authority’s Shannon operation settled his claim for unfair dismissal against his former employers, Pegasus Security last week.

Kevin Cusack of Ruan in Ennis took the case to the Employment Appeals Tribunal sitting in ennis last week against the Authority and Pegasus.

But the Tribunal ruled in favour of an application by the Aviation Authority to be stood down from the claim as it found that the security firm was Cusack’s direct employer.

Cusack had also told the Tribunal that his case was one of claiming constructive dismissal but chairman John Fahy, ruled that only an unfair dismissal case could be heard by the Tribunal.

After an adjournment to allow Cusack to consult with an adviser from SIPTU, the former employee told the Tribunal that the matter had been settled and that he wished to withdraw his claim.

Details of the settlement were kept confidential and asked if he was happy with it, Cusack replied that he was satisfied “under the circumstances.”

The Tribunal allowed six weeks for the settlement to be concluded.

KILRUSH is the only area in Clare that had less people signing on last month than in the previous July.

According to the Central Statistics office there were 4,099 people on the live register in Clare this July compared to 3,922 in July 2005. The Mid West recorded an increase of 226 people during the same period.

While the Ennis, Ennistymon and Tulla areas all recorded an increase, the figures released in the last week show the number of people on the live register in the Kilrush area has decreased when seasonally adjusted.

The number in the West Clare area signing on in July this year was 579, 15 people less than July last year.

The number in Ennis had increased from 2,374 to 2,523, Ennistymon from 549 to 571 and Tulla from 405 to 426. There are more men on the live register in the Banner County than women, with 2,138 men signing on and 1,961 women.

Just 711 of all of the Clare people on the live register are under the age of 25.

When seasonally adjusted the numbers on the live register nationally had reduced by 2,400.

Government Chief Whip and Minister of State Tom Kitt said the decrease reflected a strong underlying labour market performance.

“Our unemployment rate of 4.4 per cent remains one of the very lowest in the EU, and the outlook remains favourable,” he said.

The Live Register includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers who are entitled to Unemployment Assistance or Benefit, and is not therefore a measure of unemployment.

AN ENNIS business consortium has bought the whole Island of Ireland – and they paid just €20 million for it.

And in this Ireland, you can take a water taxi to Thailand for lunch, do dinner in New York and still be back in Eireann before pub closing time.

The Ireland in question is a man-made island off the coast of Dubai, measuring five acres and is part of a project called The World in which countries are represented by smaller islands shaped like the originals.

Ray Norton, MD of Larionova has teamed up for the investment with his brother-in-law, Andrew Brett and property developer, Noel Conlon, both from Ennis as well as John O’Dolan from Galway.

“We will try to build a vision of Ireland on the land – that is the Ireland of 2007 – and we are currently developing plans for what we hope will be landmark buildings that will truly represent our country,” Norton said.

There are plans for 170 apartments and some villas with their own marinas, with prices on the properties ranging from €400,000 to €1.9 million.

The development will be worth €125 million in all and Norton is hoping that it will attract some Irish investors, although the local market in Dubai is the most likely one.

Larionova is also the exclusive Irish agent for Dubai Sports City, a 2 billion development that will include four sports stadia, a golf course, commercial district and office blocks.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant O2 has refused a request by Clare County Council to reduce the height of a 50-foot proposed mast at Lisheen, Ballynacally.

Earlier this year, the council put the plan on hold, stating that the proposed mast was visually obtrusive and asking O2 to reduce its height. In response, O2 claims that 15 metres is the lowest possible structure that will provide the required coverage.

The company states, “If we were to (reduce the height), coverage would be blocked by the hill to the east of the site and render that sector useless”.

The company was also asked by the council to investigate the option of colocating a mast. O2 responded, “There are no structures in the area upon which to co-locate”, but added that co-locating a mast would have been its first and preferred option.

The plan has encountered stiff opposition locally. In all, 57 objectors, led by the Lisheen Mast Action Group, have lodged objections. The objection lodged by the Action Group, and signed by over 120 people, expressed health fears over the mast.

A decision is due on the application later this month.

Meanwhile, residents in the Moveen area of west Clare have made a last ditch attempt to prevent eircom from retaining a phone mast that residents believe is illegal.

Last month, Clare County Council granted planning permission to eircom to retain the structure at Moveen Hill, Kilkee. A five year planning permission was previously granted to eircom and this permission expired in May 2004.

The proposed structure encountered stiff local opposition. In an objection lodged by the Moveen East Protest Group, its chairman, Shay Hynes stated: “The existing mast doesn’t have planning permission and should have been removed since May 2004. This is an illegal structure.

“Eircom Ltd has blatantly ignored the requirements of the original planning permission, has changed the use of the mast without permission, increased RF radiation emissions to unknown levels and ignored the enforcement order issued by the council.”

However, eircom warned that the removal of the mast would leave the area without eircom or Vodafone coverage for a substantial period of time.

Now, the Moveen Mast Protest Group has appealed the council’s decision to An Bord Pleanala. In a brief two-page appeal, Mr Hynes states that eircom has materially changed the development from that originally permitted. “This makes the mast a prominent feature in the skyline all around Kilkee,” he states.

A decision is due on the appeal later this year.

A MIDWEST businessman has called for regulations which would level the playing field when it comes to waste collections in different counties. Mr Binman boss, Martin Sheehan Snr, told The Clare People that he collects waste in seven different areas and has to deal with different rules in each of them.

He was responding to an announcement from Environment Minister, Dick Roche, of Government approval to initiate a public consultation on regulation of the waste management sector.

“In recent years we have put in place a robust system of environmental regulation to ensure that the waste management sector can operate in a sustainable manner. The time has now come to examine whether there is a need for a better system of socio-economic regulation to complement this,” the Minister said.

But Sheehan, head of one of the biggest waste collection businesses in the MidWest, with collection services in Clare, Kerry, South Tipperary, Limerick county and city, Waterford and Kilkenny, said the Minister should standardise the regulations in every county.

“If you look at the permits we have, there are lots of differences from one county to the next. For instance, in some places you can collect dry recycleables in bags, in others they have to be in a bin and in another, there has to be a third bin. There’s no standard operating procedure which makes it very difficult. If the minister plans to regulate the waste collectors, he should also regulate the way local authorities draw up their rules,” he said.

Sheehan also claimed that the situation makes it very difficult for companies like his to expand and do business in neighbouring counties. “I need a permit to go into each county and I have no problem with that but they should be standard permits. There should be one waste strategy across the board,” said Sheehan.

Announcing that he was starting the consultation process, the Minister said: “We now have a waste management marketplace which, unlike other similar sectors, has not got an independent regulator. It is timely to consider if such independent regulation is now warranted and, if so, the form it should take.”

Minister Roche added that he is keeping an open mind on the matter and wants to hear the concerns of the various people involved, “most particularly the public”.

A KILRUSH man accused of seriously assaulting a 60-year-old has been refused bail, after a judge ruled that intimidation of a ‘serious, sinister and massive’ nature had taken place.

Judge Joseph Mangan told Ennis District Court yesterday that he was left “without a scintilla of a doubt” that various witnesses have been subjected to intimidation.

He made the ruling after gardaí said they would not tolerate rule by one particular family in Kilrush.

He was speaking during the case of Martin O’Brien (25), of St Senan’s Terrace, Kilrush, who was making his third court appearance, in connection with an alleged assault on Paddy Kelleher, causing him harm, at Crawford Street, Kilrush, in the early hours of July 18.

The accused was charged last Wednesday and was granted bail at Kilrush District Court, subject to conditions, including that he have no contact with the alleged injured party.

The State re-entered the case at Ennis Court on Friday, after two rocks were thrown at Mr Kelleher’s home, one of which smashed through a window, at 1.10am on Thursday morning.

Inspector Tom Kennedy applied to revoke the accused’s bail, “on the basis that Martin O’Brien is directing or controlling the incident (the throwing of the rocks), with the intention of intimidating Mr Kelleher to withdraw his statement.

“What is going on here is sinister and is perverting the course of justice,” he said, adding that Mr Kelleher was being “bullied” into pulling out of the case.

“Mr O’Brien and his family will not have an O’Brien rule in Kilrush and prevent the State from processing cases against them,” said the inspector.

Mr Kelleher, of Crawford Street, Kilrush, told the court, “I think the wrong man is in court. . .He is a way heavier bloke, the bloke that slashed me. I want the case dropped. I am just nervous about it. That’s it. I don’t want no hassle.”

PLANS are to be lodged with Clare County Council for a “world class” €20 million greyhound stadium in south-east Clare, it emerged yesterday.

Bord na gCon has lodged plans with the council for the 3,000 capacity stadium in close proximity to the Two Mile Inn Hotel, on the fringes of Limerick city.

The plan is to construct the five storey stadium and a three storey office building at Meelick, which will employ 100 people.

The plan is to also include betting facilities, two restaurants and four bars with a dance floor and function areas.

The Irish Greyhound Board has lodged an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the application.

According to PR and Marketing Executive with the Irish Greyhound Board, Patricia O’Grady, the project is to be funded through the sale of existing assets, tote profit and a government grant.

Ms O’Grady said that the breakdown of the numbers employed would be 30 per cent full-time and 70 per cent part-time.

“We expect the stadium to be operational by 2008. The anticipated annual turnover in relation to the development is €8 million to €10 million.”

Ms O’Grady said that the Meelick site was chosen for a number of reasons, including excellent road access from all areas, proximity to an urban centre, good profile, high visibility and competitive pricing.

The stadium has been desgned by Hamilton Architects and Ms O’Grady said: “we would like to thanks all the owners, breeders, trainers and general public in Limerick and Clare for their patience on this matter and we look forward to providing the people of the Mid West with a world class greyhound stadium.”

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) said: “I’m fully in support of the application. It is a great boost in terms of employment. I am assured by Bord na gCon that there will be a very positive spin-off for the local community.

“I am absolutely thrilled. It allows Meelick to progress forward, while allowing the village to retain its rural character.

“It will provide employment for the area as well.”

“There are several dog breeders in Meelick area who are thrilled at the prospect of the stadium. Clare has a strong tradition with dog breeding and dog-racing and I know from speaking with Limerick dog breeders that they are also looking forward to racing their dogs in Clare.”

A decision is due on the application later this year.

TWO of the county’s tourist hotspots are to get extra Garda resources, amid concerns regarding public order issues.

The Clare People has learned that an extra garda is to be allocated to Lahinch and another to Miltown Malbay on a full-time basis from within weeks.

This follows local anger and claims that insufficient Garda resources have been made available to the areas, where populations increase dramatically during the summer months.

Householders in Lahinch were terrified after what they described as a “near-riot” broke out in the early hours of the morning a month ago.

Rocks were thrown through windows, bottles were smashed on the streets and several rows took place on the town’s Main Street, as revellers spilled out of the discos.

Locals in Miltown Malbay signed a petition earlier this year calling on Justice Minister Michael McDowell to allocate extra gardaí to their town.

The recently reformed Active Retired Association (ARA) pointed out that that the number of gardaí in Miltown Malbay was less than half the figure stationed there 20 years ago.

One garda retired three years ago and had not been replaced, they said.

Gardaí in the Clare Division have been invited to apply for the new posts, before the closing date of August 10, and the appointments will be made within days of this date.

Clare Chief Superintendent Liam Quinn confirmed that the gardaí being deployed to those areas will be taken from existing resources in the division.

“We are monitoring the public order situation on an ongoing basis.

“It is always a concern to us. We are responding to the need,” he said.

Residents in both areas have called for at least two extra gardaí, to which Chief Supt Quinn said, “in relation to peak times, extra gardaí are drafted in.

“It is not a case of one extra garda.”

Lahinch Community Council chairman Donogh O’Loghlin welcomed the announcement, but said, “we need more than an extra garda.”

He is calling on gardaí and fire officers to liaise when taking into account the amount of people permitted on licensed premises, given that the main problems emerge at closing time.

“It should be part of planning that fire officers should consult with gardaí, if they can increase numbers, taking into account the numbers that can be policed on the streets.

“Unfortunately somebody is going to be killed,” said Mr O’Loghlin.

MANY CLARE households are getting twice the national average dose of radiation, a survey on the presence of Radon gas in homes has revealed.

The cancer-causing gas was found to be above the safe level in 15 per cent of homes surveyed in Clare in comparison to a national average of 7 per cent of homes.

But, the level found in the Banner county was nowhere near the highest level, which was found in a home in county Kerry, where occupants were being exposed to forty times the safe level of the gas.

The National Survey of Radon in Irish Dwellings was conducted between 1992 and 1999 by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).

Radon was measured, over a 12month period, in a random selection of houses in each 10 x 10 km National Grid square throughout the country. The results were used to predict the percentage of houses in each grid square in which the radon concentration was in excess of 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3), the National Reference Level.

Six of the 1,710 homes surveyed in Clare were found to have more than ten times the safe level of the gas. A total of 1,446 were under the level considered to be safe. 238 homes had levels of between 200 and 999 becquerels and 20 had levels of between 1,000 and 1999

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which originates from the decay of uranium in rocks and soils. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless and can only be measured using special equipment. When radon surfaces in the open air, it is quickly diluted to harmless concentrations, but when it enters an enclosed space, such as a house or other building, it can cause health problems.

Since July 1998, every new house is required to incorporate some degree of radon preventive measures at the time of construction.

The institute provides a radon measurement service to householders at a price of €50. A radon measurement is usually carried out by placing two small testing devices in the house for a period of three months. The detectors are then returned to the testing laboratory for processing. The procedure is carried out entirely by post. The RPII has produced a set of maps, available on its website, www.rpii.ie, showing high radon areas where more than ten per cent of the houses have levels of the gas above the norm.