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IT is not everywhere you see the cream of Irish traditional music walking around in shorts and designer sunglasses. But the spell of fine weather has brought the talented men and women into Miltown Malbay for the Willie Clancy festival, and their white legs out.

During the first few days of the Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, the umbrellas were packed away as visitors, musicians and students enjoyed the festivities, which began on Saturday last.

Dubbed Ireland’s largest traditional music summer school, the festival has commemorated the late piper Willie Clancy, annually since 1973.

During the week, more than 1,000 students from every part of the world attend daily classes taught by experts in Irish music and dance. In addition, a full programme of lectures, recitals, céilithe and exhibitions are run by the summer school.

For many, the event is a family affair with parents dropping their children at the morning workshops before making their way to the set-dancing classes. This year, as with every other, there is something for everyone.

As old friends meet up at the worldrenowned workshops, many look forward to the informal sessions later in the day in the local pubs. For those who prefer a more “select” session, Mullagh and the Crosses of Annagh provided a popular location.

And this year the word among the musicians is that the “Bellbridge Hotel in Spanishpoint is the new Mullagh” – the new place for a “small session”.

“People are even known to travel as far as Quilty for a good session,” one musician told The Clare People .

For the more discerning music lover, there is a recital every evening, with Ireland’s foremost musicians displaying their talents. The many street stalls add to the festival feeling.

The 34th Willie Clancy Summer School is worth millions of euro to the local economy.

Accommodation is booked out up to a year in advance, as people return to the craic and ceol that is the Willie Clancy Festival.

CALLS have been made for management and unions at Aer Lingus to pull out all the stops to prevent next Thursday’s planned industrial action at Shannon Airport.

Fine Gael Councillor, Madeleine Taylor Quinn has warned that the action risks causing travel chaos if it cannot be averted.

Aer Lingus flights arriving or departing from Shannon and Dublin Airports between 9.45 and 11am will be affected on Thursday if staff walk off the job in order to attend a meeting, in protest at unresolved issues over the State airline’s privatisation plans.

Councillor Taylor Quinn says if tourists to this region are caught up in the dispute at Shannon, their visitor experience here will commence badly.

Olivia Mitchell TD, Fine Gael Spokesperson for Transport, also called on Aer Lingus workers to rethink the threatened stoppage.

“Such a protest can only cause huge inconvenience and stress for passengers, further endanger Aer Lingus and make it less attractive for potential investors,” she said.

The deputy added that “the workers are naturally concerned for the future of the airline, but there is an on-going process of negotiation between their unions and the management of the company and this process must continue. Industrial action at the height of the summer sends out the wrong message. It is one of unreliability to its customers and to its future investors”.

SIPTU has planned a compulsory meeting of members on Thursday. This would mean passengers at Shannon and Dublin would not be able to check-in, board flights, or put their luggage on the plane. Significant disruption and delays are expected as a result of the action. One union member predicted that it would “take Aer Lingus most of the day to catch up.”

SIPTU is taking the action in relation to a pay and conditions deal which the company is offering to its 3,800 staff. The deal includes lump sum payments, pay increases, contributions to the pension fund and guarantees about job numbers in return for co-operation with privatisation.

SIPTU national industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny said that Shannon and Dublin “will definitely be involved while there is a possibility that staff in Cork may be involved as well.”

It’s expected that the airline will put in place contingency plans to lessen the effect of the strike but major disruption is expected to ensue.

ALMOST 1,800 new jobs were created by Shannon Development in 2005 and there are now almost 20,000 people employed in Shannon Development assisted companies.

That’s according to figures revealed in the development agency’s annual report, which will be officially published today.

The report shows that sales are up 6.5 per cent and exports up by seven per cent. There was €11 million sunk into regional economic infrastructure, most notably with the opening of the Information Age Park in Ennis last year.

Shannon Development spent more than €1 million on tourism marketing in key markets.

The development agency secured more than €4 million in tourism grant aid for product development in the region, leveraging a total investment of over €12.8 million.

The day visitor attractions and evening entertainment run by Shannon Heritage, the Shannon Development tourism subsidiary, proved as popular as ever last year, with more than 620,000 people attending.

The report promises that the Shannon Free Zone’s “strong pipeline” will deliver “significant jobs” this year.

Employment in Shannon Development-assisted companies in December 2005 in the Shannon Free Zone were down 289. But in the region generally, there was a net gain in jobs, with 339 extra posts after job losses and gains were totted up.

Speaking earlier this year, Kevin Thompstone, Chief Executive Shannon Development, said that the “key priority for Shannon Development in 2006 will be delivering on the new mandate given to the company by Government.

“Our strategy will be to maximise the regional economic development potential of the Shannon Region, and thereby contribute to the development of the emerging Atlantic economic counterpole to the east coast.”

Mr Thompstone said that achieving balanced regional development was “both a national goal and a regional imperative, and Shannon Development will continue to press for the speedy implementation of National Spatial Strategy and Transport 21 proposals for this region and for the wider Atlantic Corridor”.

The key targets outlined for the rest of this year for the development company include continuing to “develop a strong focus of vibrant economic development in the Shannon Region, as part of a wider economic counterpole to the east coast, to realise the potential of the less developed areas of the Shannon Region, to ensure that the more developed areas of the Shannon Region reach their full development potential and to help stimulate market demand for Shannon International Airport.”

FINE GAEL Clare TD Pat Breen has called for the Government to publish passenger lists for all “suspect” US flights passing through Irish airports, including Shannon.

The deputy, who in the past has said he is prepared to take the word of the US government and believes that Shannon Airport is not being used for flights of extraordinary rendition, said this week that European states had to be prepared to ask questions.

“No state should be allowed to hide behind complacency when it comes to upholding human rights,” he said.

Deputy Breen made the suggestion while addressing the Council of Europe in response to the report by Swiss Senator Dick Marty. The highly critical report accused the Irish Government of “negligent collusion” for allowing Shannon Airport to be used as a stopover point for CIA flights after alleged rendition operations, when the planes no longer had detainees on board. Deputy Breen said he and the European People’s Party group welcomed the report into the operation of rendition flights in European territories.

“Senator Marty’s report contended that 14 European states colluded with the CIA in different degrees and that there was evidence that secret prisons were operated in Poland and Romania. He deserves our full support after completing what was a difficult exercise over seven months. It is perhaps true to say that his life has become more difficult since then.”

Deputy Breen said that while Senator Marty’s conclusions might make for unpleasant reading, it was important for member states to face up to the accusations in a rational manner and re-affirm their commitment to the Convention on Human Rights.

“This report will inevitably have long-term repercussions, but we must ensure that they lay the foundations for a new beginning for Europe and the US, and that the fight against global terrorism remains a just one.

“In the interim, the Government should set about publishing the passenger lists of all suspected flights,” Deputy Breen concluded.

Following the debate, a resolution was passed by the Council of Europe endorsing the conclusions of the inquiry.

PLANS by one of Ireland’s best-known writers, Fintan O’Toole, to more than quadruple the size of his second home near the north Clare village of Ballyvaughan, have been described by An Taisce as “criminal”.

An Taisce has lambasted the plans by the Dubliner stating, “We have been requested by the locals to object to the design of the development, which they nd is not in keeping with the landscape and could be likened to an infection on the west coast road and is unacceptable and criminal.”

The Clare Association of An Taisce states that it is objecting to the proposal “as the design and size is not in keeping with the landscape. It lies along a protected coastline within the Burren Complex and along a scenic route and would be visually obtrusive and the density is not in keeping with the original dwelling, nor is its design”.

The O’Tooles purchased the modest two bedroom home overlooking Galway Bay in 2002 and the author does much of his writing there.

The broadcaster and columnist is seeking to increase the oor area from 39 sq metres to 180 sq metres with a split level extension that includes a living room, kitchen and additional bedroom. The plan also includes a rst oor study and a at roof that would include a planted wild Irish ower garden surrounded by wood decking.

The opposition from An Taisce to the proposed development is ironic as Mr O’Toole has supported An Taisce in the past against attacks from politicians.

Mr O’Toole yesterday expressed regret over the language used by An Taisce in its objection.

“I don’t see how the rational discussion of the place of contemporary architecture in sensitive landscapes is furthered by labelling people who try to put forward responsible plans as part of an open and democratic planning process as criminals . . . For more than 20 years now, we’ve spent a great deal of time in Ballyvaughan and hope to live there eventually. The house is not intended primarily as a holiday home, but as a place to write – most of my last book, White Savage, was written there.

Clare County Council has stated that it has a number of concerns over the proposed development. A decision on the application is expected later in the year.

TWENTY-ONE individuals in Clare made payments to the Revenue Commissioners during the first three months of this year. This included two significant payments by business people.

Figures published last week show that, between them, two Clare people paid in excess of €700,000, while several minor payments were also handed over.

Nationally, 150 payments were made on the list of settlements, which totalled more than €55,000,000.

The two Clare names on the list of settlements are Desmond Haugh, a company director, of Clonmoney, Hurler’s Cross, Newmarket-on-Fergus (€392,250 for under-declaration of income tax, VAT and Capital Gains Tax) and Eileen Healy, of Maryville, Scariff, who paid €313,173, for under-declaration of income tax on rental income.

Fines were imposed on three Clare individuals in respect of misuse of marked mineral oil.

Denis Gould, of Cree, Kilrush, a bookmaker, was fined €3,000, while John Scanlon, of Breaghva, Kilkee, a fisherman and builder, was fined €950, as was Gregory Earls, a digger driver, of Cappa Lodge, Sixmilebridge.

Patrick O’Connor, of Clonnadrum, Mullagh, a commercial operator, was fined €2,850 for sale and delivery or use of laundered oil.

Michael Cahir, of Liscannor Service Station, was fined €1,300 for failure to hold a current mineral oil licence.

One Clare individual, Matthew Griffin, of Bridge House, Ennistymon, was fined €750 in respect of alcohol smuggling.

O’Halloran’s Ltd, of Church Road, Tulla, filling station operators, were fined €632.50, for failure to hold a current liquor licence.

Auctioneer John Vaughan, of Parliament Street, Ennistymon, was fined €200 for failure to hold a current auctioneers and house agents licence.

Eleven businesses in Clare were fined for failing to lodge income tax returns between January 1 and March 31.

They were Patrick Daly Junior, Ballymalone, Ballina, Killaloe, a farmer (€5,700); John O’Reilly, Marina Village, Ballina, a publican and sign erector (€3,800); Gordan Hogan, Erinaghbeg, Fountain, Ennis, a farm buildings constructor (€1,900); Dermot Ryan, Kilbane, Broadford, a plant hire operator (€1,425); Gerard Kilkenny, Ballyhurley, Ogonnelloe, Tuamgraney, a disco operator (€1,425); Michael Moloney, Ballagh East, Ennistymon, a farmer and plumber (€1,425); Marian Jones, Moore Street, Kilrush, a fashion draper (€1,425); Michael Jones, Moore Street, Kilrush, a building contractor (€950); Alan Tubridy, Winter Haven, Mullagh, a shopkeeper (€475); Kevin Sexton, Craggaknock, Mullagh, a farmer (€475); John Breslin, Willow Park, Ennis, a joke shop proprietor (€475).

A COURT has heard that a west Clare rural community has been left in shock after it emerged that a highly respected man had indecently assaulted a young girl over 30 years ago.

Stephen Hennessy (69), of Shanganagh, Kilkee, admitted indecently assaulting his victim on a number of occasions, between 1968 and 1972. At the time, he was in his 30s and she was aged between 11 and 14.

One of the incidents took place in a parked car and another while he was driving a car.

Garda Marie O’Neill told Ennis Circuit Court that, on one occasion, while the accused was driving, he let his victim change gears and touched her between the legs.

“He was abusing her but, the other side of it, he bought her gifts – sweets, chocolate and a watch,” said Garda O’Neill.

She said the victim, who did not wish to give evidence in court, was devastated by the accused’s actions.

Hennessy, who is not married, has no previous convictions. The court was told he wrote a letter to his victim, apologising for what he did. In that letter, he stated that he would “regret it all his life.”

Judge Carroll Moran asked why there was a delay in the case being brought to court. He was told the injured party made a statement in 2003.

A neighbour of the accused told the court the matter “has come as a shock to the community as he was well respected.”

He described Hennessy as “a very good neighbour,” who was deeply involved in the GAA.

“He was a man I looked up to . . . I still respect him as a man who would never tell a lie,” said the neighbour, who has worked alongside the accused in the RDF.

The accused’s barrister said his client pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and said he had €20,000 compensation in court. However, Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan, said the victim was not interested in compensation. The court was told the victim has initiated High Court personal injury proceedings.

Judge Moran said the accused “committed a pretty heinous offence against a very young girl, albeit a long time ago.”

He asked were any other complaints made about the accused and Garda O’Neill said she was not aware of any.

“I am told the injured party doesn’t want compensation. I don’t know how wise that is,” said the judge.

He adjourned sentencing until October.

THE promoters of Ireland’s first full-scale retirement village are to spend €120,000 on ensuring the welfare of 30 tiny bats on the site, it emerged yesterday. This represents a spend of, on average, €4,000 on each bat.

Last December, €70 million plans were announced by the Dublinbased Master Group to transform the 18 century Carnelly House near Clarecastle into a retirement village. The project involves the construction of 120 homes of various sizes, 35 apartments and a 64bed retirement home and will accommodate 300 residents.

However, the developers discovered during an investigation of the site that it was a nationally important maternity roost for the rare and protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat.

As a result, Clare County Council asked the developers to put in place mitigation measures to protect the bats.

Managing Director of Master Group, Ray Kelliher confirmed to The Clare People that €120,000 would be spent on protecting the bats on site.

Elsewhere, GAMA Construction has spent in excess of €100,000 on a bat-house along the route of the Ennis bypass. Businessman Austin Delaney secured planning permission for a bat-house in conjunction with plans to redevelop Ballykilty Manor as a hotel.

The Lesser Horseshoe Bat can be found across northern Europe and Africa and is listed as a vulnerable species as they have become extinct in much of their former range.

“A lot of time has been spent on how we will address the bats issue and the care taken reflects the attention to detail in the overall project which I believe is unequalled inIreland and the UK,” said Mr Kelliher

He said that a storyboard would be put in place for residents and visitors to explain the background to bats at the site.

The spend on the bats will include the refurbishment of the coachhouse at Carnelly and the putting in place of a ‘fly-over’.

The fly-over – which may consist of netting – will be constructed to ensure that the bats can commute up and over the new road without danger of collision with traffic. Lighting and temporary netting is to be also put in place to guide them along the commuting route. It is proposed to dedicate the coachhouse entirely as a maternity roost for the bats, creating a new dormer style home.

CLARE Gardaí are encouraging informers to spill the beans on drug dealers operating in Clare, amid a dramatic increase in the amount of drugs being seized.

Thirty nine drug seizures were made in the Clare Garda Division over the past two-and-ahalf weeks, and 45 people were arrested.

In one of the hauls, two men – aged 32 and 27 – were arrested after cannabis resin with a street value of €3,000 was found after their car was stopped and searched on the Limerick road in Ennis, shortly after 8pm on Saturday.

In another incident, a 16-year-old boy was found in possession of cannabis resin, valued at €1,500 and 20g of speed, on Abbey Street, Ennis, in the early hours of Saturday morning. A subsequent search of a house recovered more speed and cannabis resin, which gardaí say was intended for sale.

Last Tuesday night, a man in his 40s was arrested after up to 60 cannabis plants were found at the rear of a house near Crusheen.

Gardaí say the vast majority of drugs being supplied in Clare come from Limerick.

Superintendent John Kerin said an assortment of drugs has been seized. “We are talking about every kind of drug – ecstacy, cannabis resin, heroin and cocaine. The number of seizures is extraordinarily high. We are putting a lot of resources into this. We are asking people who know who is providing these drugs to come forward,” he said.

CLARE County Council yesterday said it had no record of a report from the Ombudsman outlining its handling of the administration of named planning applications in 2002.

According to the summary of a response to a complaint brought by David McNamara to the Ombudsman and seen by The Clare People there were a number of errors on the part of the council in its handling of the administration of two specific planning applications.

In the document the Ombudsman said her examination showed there were a number of errors on the part of the council in its handling of the planning applications P02/590 and P02/591 “including the date stamping documents, the handling of the fees in relation to the applications and in particular the information provided to you on April 9 2002 and April 12 2002.’

“The errors which occurred contributed to your sense of grievance and unfair treatment and to your submission being late,” she told Mr McNamara.

“Your late submission was refused by the council and this refusal resulted in your ineligibility to appeal the council’s decision to An Bord Pleanála.

“In light of this, my office asked the council to review its handling of the matter and to advise my office of the steps it has taken to ensure that the errors which occurred in this case do not re-occur and to state the redress it would propose to offer to you,” the document continued.

The Ombudsman also told the Parteen man that, “The council has outlined its current practices regarding the receipting, stamping and validation of applications and the handling of fees for invalid applications. These have been referred to in some detail above. The systemic issues arising in your complaint have been addressed by the council and it is hoped that the event which occurred in you case will not reoccur.”