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CLARE’S four town councils will meet in Ennis on Monday to begin their fight for survival.

With an estimated 16 months left before they are to be dissolved in favour of local municipal councils made up of members of a smaller Clare County Council, some believe the members have left it all a little too late.

The councils have been issued with forms and formats from their governing body, the AMAI, outlining how best to present their individual cases for survival to the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, the minister also responsible for announcing their demise.

Kilrush Town Councillor Paul Moroney (Ind) said he was not expecting a lot from the process, as input from the councillors prior to the announcement was all but ignored by central Government.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) said town councillors had not come out fighting but they had to do something, even now.

“If we adopt the attitude of we can do nothing, then nothing will happen,” she said.

Kilrush Town Council is already researching and compiling a list of all that it has achieved in its 128year history, in its bid to the minister.

“I have trawled through archives both here [Kilrush Town Council] and in Clare County Council and in the Clare Local Studies Centre in Ennis.

“There are some very interesting snippets available from the land league, post famines and the Vandeleurs, right up to the present day,” explained Kilrush Town Clerk, John Corry.

All four councils – that is, Ennis, Kilrush, Shannon and Kilkee – will meet on Monday night, January 21, to further compile a county-wide argument to hang on to its four town councils.

IRISH Rail has been urged to improve accessibility at Ennis Rail Station after claims that passengers are sometimes forced to cross platforms through the doors of two stopped trains.

Irish Rail yesterday denied the claim that was made at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area.

In a motion tabled at the meeting, Councillor Brian Meaney (GP) called on the committee to request Irish Rail provide seating and shelter on the Galway platform at Ennis Station. He said the absence of seating and shelter on the Galway platform is causing difficulty to elderly and disabled passengers. He said the new footbridge is still not accessible to disabled people.

Cllr Meaney added, “It is still quite frustrating to see elderly people moving across the footbridge and having nowhere to sit apart from the plinth of the Old Victorian footbridge.”

He called on the committee to write to Irish Rail to highlight these concerns.

Cllr James Breen (Ind) asked if Irish Rail is in compliance with Irish and European law on disability.

Cllr Breen said that as someone who has to use a crutch, he would have great difficulty catching a train on the Galway platform.

Cllr Meaney told the meeting that he had heard instances where passengers who are unable to use the footbridge are brought through the trains that are stopped side by side on the tracks.

He said in other circumstances, trains are switch tracks in order to collect passengers.

Councillors said this was not a satisfactory situation for passengers. They agreed to write to Irish Rail.

Cllr Meaney added that much of the recent criticism of the number of passengers using the Galway line was “unwarranted”.

Speaking yesterday, a spokesperson for Irish Rail denied that passengers are transferred across platforms through stopped trains.

She said, “We would never have a situation where passengers are brought through from train to train. As far as we are aware that has never happened in Ennis. There are situations where we bring trains into the other platform.”

The spokeswoman acknowledged there are issues around access for disabled people at the station.

THE West Clare town of Kilrush will be central to the national Famine commemoration this year, as it has been selected to host the main event.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan announced yesterday afternoon (Monday) that the maritime town will be the host location for the National Famine Commemoration Day, on a date yet to be announced.

The annual observance in Ireland commemorating the Great Famine has been organised officially by the Government since 2009. The main commemoration event is held in a different place each year, rotating among the four provinces of Ireland.

Events at the main venue usually include lectures, arts events, and visits to places connected to the Famine.

Local events also take place countrywide, while a minute’s silence is encouraged for schools and workplaces.

Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Mairead O’Brien welcomed the news stating, “Kilrush has historically been very closely linked with and was greatly affected by the Great Irish Famine. It is fantastic to see this link being recognised nationally.”

According to John Corry, Kilrush Town Clerk, “It is a huge honour for the town to host this event in the year of the Gathering and I hope that many visitors from near and far will visit our great town during this Commemoration.”

Kilrush is recognised nationally as one of the locations worst affected by starvation, disease and emigration between 1845 and 1852. The famine years brought much hardship to Kilrush. Evictions, fever and chol- era reduced the population of southwest Clare to such an extent that it has never again attained its pre-famine numbers.

Famine author and Clare-based Historian Ciarán Ó Murchadha, who supported Kilrush’s bid to host the event, said, “I can state without any fear of contradiction that although all of Clare suffered grievously, no part of the county endured as much as Kilrush town and Kilrush union, and for such a prolonged period. That being the case, I am delighted to learn that Kilrush will host the next National Famine Commemoration event.”

THERE was good news yesterday for residents of one of the areas in Ennis worst hit by floods three years ago.

Ennis Town Council yesterday signed a contract with Ward & Burke Construction Ltd for flood relief works to be carried out in the Watery Road / Elm Park area of the town.

The need for flood alleviation works to be carried out at Watery Road, Elm Park and Oakwood Drive was identified in the Ennis Main Drain- age & Flood Study Preliminary Report. The area experienced serious flooding in November 2009.

Dozens of famillies living in two local authority housing estates in Ennis – Oakwood Drive and Watery Road – were rescued from their homes by members of the army and civil defence when heavy floods struck the area in November 2009.

The € 307,000 (approx) project is being financed primarily by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme, with additional funding coming from Clare Local Authorities. Work on the project is scheduled to commence at the end of January, subject to river levels.

Welcoming the contract signing, the Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine, stated;

“I would like to compliment Clare Local Authorities for their ongoing efforts to improve flood defences throughout Ennis, particularly in those areas that were badly affected by severe flooding in late 2009. I look forward to these works being completed which will be very much welcomed by the residents of Watery Road, Oakwood Drive and Elm Park.”

Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, Ennis Town Council, explained that the contract between the Council and Ward & Burke Construction Ltd involves the construction of 400 metres of new river embankment and a pump station.

“There will be minimal disruption to vehicular traffic during the construction period as the works will be carried out on lands adjacent to the Rover Fergus. It is anticipated that work will commence at the end of this month, subject to river levels,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr O’Dea confirmed that the OPW is expected to announce the awarding of a contract for the River Fergus Lower (Ennis) Drainage Scheme, from Bank Place bridge to Doora bridge, in the coming weeks.

AN Indian engineer who stole a life jacket from an airplane potentially placed a passenger in “great danger”, a court has heard. Rohit Sharma (37), with an address at 7 Oakington Close, Sunbury on Thames, Surrey, England Twi, 65AI, pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday to the theft of a life jacket worth € 50 from an Aer Lingus flight on January 8.

The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case. Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction. The court heard Mr Sharma stayed overnight in the Bunratty Castle Hotel and had been in Clare on a business trip. Inspector Tom Kennedy said that staff at Shannon Airport discovered the life jacket in Mr Sharma’s luggage when he passed through a security screening point as he attempted to board his return flight.

Insp Kennedy said, “This is no ordinary matter. I’ve never come across anything like this.”

He said that Aer Lingus were tak- ing a “very serious view” of the offence. The court heard Mr Sharma is an Indian man who is traveling on a British passport.

Solicitor Catriona Carmody told the court that her client had taken the life jacket in a “moment of madness” as a gift to his eight-year-old daughter who is taking kayak lessons.

Ms Carmody described her client as a good community man who had cooperated 100% with gardaí.

She added, “He would like to apologise unreservedly to the court, the airline and the gardaí.”

Judge Patrick Durcan said the theft of a “very essential piece of safety equipment from an aircraft that is in constant public use” is a “most serious matter.”

Judge Durcan said the accused had shown“total disregard” for other people.

He added, “He, by his criminality, potentially placed someone in great danger.”

He added that a prison sentence was “foremost in his mind.” Judge Durcan adjourned sentencing for a day to Gort District Court. He fined Mr Sharma € 1000.

CLARE County Council has been urged to consider modifying roundabouts in the Barefield area to prevent cars from being deliberately driven through them.

Flowerpots and other items on a roundabout near the M18 motorway were damaged during incidents of vandalism last July, with members of the Barefield Tidy Towns committee blaming the activities of boy racers.

Yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area heard that the deliberate driving of cars through the roundabout is a source of “significant frustration” to the local community.

Councillor Brian Meaney (GP) made the comments as he tabled a motion calling for measures to be “provided for to hinder access onto the roundabouts in Barefield village”.

Cllr Meaney told the meeting that cars are being driven late at night through the roundabout. He said the local community in Barefield had devoted a lot of resources into the upgrade and maintenance of the roundabouts.

Senior executive engineer for the Ennis Electoral Area, Eamon O’Dea, said it was important that all incidents be reported to the Gardaí.

He stated, “The council recognises the excellent work that is being carried out by the Tidy Towns and community groups in Barefield village. It is impracticable and unsafe to put measures in place to hinder access onto the centre of roundabouts, however it is important to report all non emergency intrusions onto the roundabouts and green areas to the gardaí as there are issues regarding pedestrian safety and incorrect use of a motor vehicle.”

Cllr Meaney said that while he would be happy to allow time for the gardaí to deal with the matter, it may be necessary for the council to install some sort of barricade.

A NORTH Clare man has been sentenced to four months in prison for what a Judge described as a “brutal” and unprovoked attack on the streets of Ennis last year.

John Paul Keating (21) with an address at 45 Rooska, Lisdoonvarna, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a man at O’Connell Street, Ennis on April 8, 2012.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate assault at McGann’s Pub, Doolin on January 8, 2012. In relation to the assault on O’Connell Street, the court heard that the injured party was approached by the accused as he returned to his hotel.

The court heard the parties knew each other in a “peripheral way.”

Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr Keating shouted at the injured party, saying “I know you from Ballyvaughan.” He said the accused followed the injured party, pulled him by the shirt and punched him in the face three times.

Medical reports handed into the court showed that the victim suffered significant damage to his mouth.

The court heard that the man had been left with dental bills of almost € 2000.

The man also required stitches to his ear and nose.

Insp Kennedy said Mr Keating has no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had been “terribly drunk” on the night in question and had no memory of what happened. She said Mr Keating had taken steps to deal with his drinking.

She said her client apologises unreservedly. Ms Godfrey urged the court not to impose a custodial sentence.

Judge Patrick Durcan said an innocent man had been the victim of a “brutal attack” and had been “vi- ciously assaulted.”

He said Mr Keating’s behaviour on the night was of a “most appalling nature.”

He said the fact that Mr Keating was “filled with booze” and had no memory of the assault “compounds the incident.”

He said no effort had been made to pay compensation to the injured party. Judge Durcan imposed a fourmonth prison sentence. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Mr Keating also pleaded guilty to head butting a man in McGann’s pub in Doolin on January 8, 2012. The court heard that Mr Keating had assaulted a man after being involved in a heated argument with a woman.

Judge Durcan said it was appalling that a citizen in a public place should be subjected to an unprovoked assault. He fined Mr Keating € 250 and barred him from entering McGann’s pub for 12 months. A BOOK of evidence has been served on a West Clare man charged with an assault in Lahinch 13 months ago. Paul Matthews (21), with an address at Mullagh Road, Miltown Malbay, is charged with assault causing harm at the Claremont Hotel, Main Street, Lahinch on December 12 (2011). The case came before Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Garda Irene O’Flynn gave evidence of having served the book of evidence on the solicitor of the accused. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for Mr Matthews to be returned for trial. Judge Durcan delivered the alibi warning. Mr Matthews was remanded on bail to appear at the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on February 12.

DOUBLE yellow lines outside a Kilrush primary school are one road marking too many for one member of the local council, who has vowed to quit the council in four weeks if they are not removed.

Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) said that he would leave Kilrush Town Council if parts of the line were not removed to allow parents to park when they pick up and drop off their children to St Senan’s Primary School.

He believes that the council executive has crossed a line by not remov- ing the offending lines on the direction of the elected council members last September.

At Thursday’s meeting of the council, Cllr Prendeville asked why the lines had not already been removed.

“This is becoming farcical. Parents are being forced to park illegally. If it is not carried out, I will resign from the council in the next four weeks,” said the father of the council.

“It is making a farce of what is happening in this town council.

“Is there another school in Ireland where there are double-yellow lines for 300 yards either side of the school?” he asked.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) said there was no need for an emergency roads and traffic meeting on the lines as suggested by the town clerk, as the issue had already been decided.

“We have already agreed that there is a strip on either side of the pedestrian crossing where the double yellow lines can be removed,” she said.

Cllr Liam O’Looney (FF) added that legally under the Road Act the council could remove some of the yellow line.

“There should be minimum room for three spaces above and two spac- es below,” he said.

“My recollection of it was that the town engineer would go back and look at it,” Town Clerk John Corry told the councillors.

The councillors, however, expect the lines to be removed by the February meeting or they will be down their longest servicing member.

In the meantime, Cllr Prendeville has called for an amnesty for people parking on the double yellow lines outside the school.

“If anyone has a parking issue on that part of the road, they should be written off because a member of this council did not carry our instructions,” he said.

THE ambitious plans to develop a new cultural centre in Kilkishen have received the ringing endorsement of government this week, following confirmation that the project is to be grant aided to the tune of nearly € 400,000.

On Monday, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, gave the green light for the Clare Local Development Company to approve funding of € 386,193 to Kilkishen Development Limited for the new centre.

The money for the new community and cultural centre, that will be located in the old Protestant Church in Kilkishen, has been allocated under the conservation and heritage stand of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

The proposed works are estimated to cost in the region of € 550,000 and, under the plans set out by the development association, are envisaged to take up to three years to complete fully.

The church was acquired by the Kilkisken Development Association in 2011 when after many years they were given the green light by Clare County Council to develop it as a cultural centre for the parish.

The church was built in 1811 and held services right up until 1964, but lay idle for 47 years before development association’s dream of transforming the building into a place of pilgrimage for the arts in East Clare started taking shape with the launch of the Kilkishen Church Restoration Project.

“The new development will provide a supervised social and advice centre for all the community, especially young people and the aged,” a spokesperson for the Kilkishen Development Association, that is chaired by Mike Hogan, revealed.

“The building will act as an information centre with an interactive visual display providing information on the local area including amenities and local history.

“Local heritage artifacts will be on display. It will be a starting point for walking trails and loop walks,” the spokesperson added.

The development, which is set to be completed in 2014, will comprise two different elements – the conservation and restoration of the existing church building and the construction of a new extension.

PARENTS in Shannon are invited to have their say on which of four patron bodies they would like to see running primary schools in their area.

The bodies, which have indicated they would like to become patrons of any divested schools in Shannon, include the County Clare VEC, An Foras Patrúnachta, Educate Together and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Parents of children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas across Ireland are being asked by the Minister for Education and Skills what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools.

As part of this, parents in Shannon are being asked for their views.

The survey went live yesterday (Monday) on the Department of Education website and is an expansion of pilot surveys on primary school patronage which were conducted late last year in five towns.

The aim of the survey is to establish the level of demand from parents for diversity of school patronage in each of the towns. The current patrons of schools in Shannon are the Catholic Bishop of Killaloe and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert.

If parents indicate they would like a wider choice of patron, then the Department of Education and Skills (DES) will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies.

“This is an historic opportunity for parents in Shannon to have a real say in the type of school they wish to send their children to, be it denominational, multi-denominational, allIrish or other,” said Minister Ruairí Quinn.

“In Shannon, there is little prospect of any new schools opening as the population remains stable and there is enough capacity within existing schools. However, if parents demonstrate through this survey that they want a greater choice of primary school, then we will work with existing patrons to transfer patronage to ensure they can send their children to a school which best reflects their own ethos and beliefs.”

The survey can be accessed online via www.education.ie and parents or guardians of primary school going children and 0 to 5 year olds in the 38 towns and suburbs (list below) are also being urged to fill it in before February 8. They will need to have their PPS number in order to complete the survey – for verification purposes. Paper-based versions of the survey are also available.