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WHEN it’s finally revealed, the Government blueprint to secure Shannon Airport’s future won’t be devised with the sectional interests of Clare County Council or Shannon Development in mind – the two bodies that are expected to be given a lead role in the new management structure.

“The plan for the airport is not to please local authorities or government agencies or interest groups of any sort,” warned transport minister, Leo Varadkar when announcing a new timeframe for delivery of a decision on the airport’s future.

“The plan for the airport is to develop it for the region, to arrest the decline in passenger numbers and to bring employment and investment into the region for the benefit of everyone. That’s the plan – it’s not about satisfying interest groups of any sort,” added Minister Varadkar.

The Booz Report, which was published in redacted form in March, put forward five separate options for Shannon, with the most favoured of these being a recommendation that Clare and Limerick county councils, together with Shannon Development be part of a new holding company that would manage the airport.

It was expected that a decision rubber-stamping this recommendation would be delivered by the end of next week, but now this has been deferred to later in the month.

“These things can be quite complicated,” said Minister Varadkar. “It won’t be before Easter but we can bring an outline proposal to government in April and then we can work on business plan in subsequent months.

“The response to the Booz report has been very good. People are being very positive about what can be done and there’s a good understanding that things can’t go on the way they did before.

“The reality is that there are a lot of players in the region. They all need to be included and involved and consulted, but the reality is that very few of them are willing to come on board in terms of capital and finance. That’s understandable because they’re in a difficult financial position too.

“What we’re doing at the moment is the due diligence. Shannon Airport is involved in this; the DAA is involved in this; Shannon Develop- ment is involved in this; four government departments and various government entities as well, so we have to put all sorts of detailed things like loan agreements, debt issues. When the decision is made by the Government on the roadmap, then there will be progess.

“We will spend a few months after that with an interim board and an interim task force perhaps developing the detailed business plan and working out the necessary legislative change that will have to made. I want to be able to do that very quickly,” he added.

MOVE over men of Clare, it’s now the time of Mná an Chláir – all because for the first time in 140 years there are officially more females than males living in the county.

That’s one of the many changes to emerge in the 2011 Census of Population for Clare, details of which were revealed last Thursday by the Central Statistics Office with the publication of the first in a series of official reports on population trends nationally.

The county’s population now stands at 117,196 – the largest it has been since 1901 – with females out numbering males for the first time since 1871, with 58,898 females to 58,298 males in Clare. The number of females in the county grew by 4,098 in the past five years, while male numbers only grew by 2,298 in the same period.

UP TO 100 jobs, including work in construction, are to be created in the West Clare town of Miltown Malbay in the coming weeks.

Within a six-week timeframe, ground will be broken on the Ennis Road to build the € 4 million SuperValu supermarket and community development for the town.

Included in the development will be the town’s first ever playground.

The much-needed community facility will be provided by the new supermarket owners, John and Claire Jones, as well as a commercial astroturf pitch.

In addition to the 50 to 60 permanent jobs created by the supermarket, further construction jobs will also be created in the next few weeks.

The new development will consist of a 10,000 square supermarket, 140-space car park, relief road for the town, a children’s playground and an astro-turf facility with associated dressing rooms and lighting.

The family behind the plans have 175 years of business experience in the West Clare town.

The Joneses, who currently operates a Centra supermarket at Church Street, Miltown Malbay, are the seventh successive generation of the family to operate a business in the town since 1838.

The new SuperValu supermarket is expected to be open by the end of the year.

Yesterday (Monday), SuperValu announced that it would add approximately 400 jobs over the next year nationally, as five new stores are added to its network over the next 12 months.

The stores will be opened as part of a € 20 million investment programme, which includes the refurbishment and revamping of 30 further stores.

“Despite a tough trading environment, 2011 was a good year for SuperValu, with two billion in retail sales and achieving market share of almost 20 per cent. We serve over two million customers per week and we believe it is our value proposition, our Irish sourcing policy and shoppers’ desire to shop locally in order to support their local communities and local jobs that are driving this success,” said Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu.

“SuperValu has 195 stores and is the only retailer with a store in every county. SuperValu remains committed to local employment and sourcing from Irish producers.

“In 2011, the total purchases of Irish goods and services made by SuperValu was worth over € 1.5 billion to the Irish economy, serving to both create and protect almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sector,” he said.

A YOUNG driver who admitted speeding in the Gallows Hill area of Ennis last summer has been ordered to pay money to the disabled driver’s association.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Daniel Nesbitt (19) with an address at 15 Old Military Barracks, Kilrush Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a vehicle without due care or attention.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that a resident in the Gallows Hill area of Ennis observed Nesbitt driving in the area on August 15, 2011.

Insp Kennedy said a complaint was made regarding speeding, breaking and handbrake turns. He said the accused was subsequently interviewed and admitted his wrongdoing to Gardaí.

The court heard that Nesbitt has no previous convictions.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey described her client as someone who is easily impressed by people performing stunts in cars.

She said Nesbitt had been advised that he could lose his license as a result.

Ms Godfrey said her client is a “high-spirited car enthusiasts who didn’t realise the full implications of his actions”.

Judge Patrick Durcan described Nesbitt as being “all gearbox and no brain box”.

“He needs to wake up quickly,” he added.

Judge Durcan ordered Nesbitt to pay € 350 to the disabled driver’s association by May 2.

He added, “He better wake up quickly. This kind of carry on will not be tolerated.”

THE committee responsible for Traveller accommodation is to recommend that Clare County Council not build any more Traveller accommodation units in the county.

The Chairman of the Council’s Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (TAAC) confirmed yesterday that the recommendation would go before next month’s meeting of the local authority.

Green Party councillor Brian Meaney told a meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area that the TAAC has proposed not to go ahead with the recommendations contained in the Traveller Accom- modation Plan.

Cllr James Breen (Ind) said the Council should not provide any more Traveller accommodation until all existing units are in use.

Responding to questions, Cllr Meaney said there are ongoing efforts to ensure “mandated attendance” by Travellers at meetings of the TAAC. The recommendation follows a report released last October that showed that the council spent € 20 million on Traveller accommodation over the past 10 years. The council has invested in 10 group housing schemes and one temporary site in the county that were put in place over three Traveller accommodation programmes since 2000.

The report showed that the council incurred high security costs on the Beechpark group scheme in Ennis, which was the subject of criminal damage and remains the subject of threat and intimidation since 2010.

The report states that a total of five units of accommodation had been destroyed by arson attack in the previous 22 months (Beechpark, Ashline, Ballymaley).

In a motion at yesterday’s meeting, Cllr Meaney called for members of the Traveller community living on an illegal encampment in Barefield to allow and elderly ill member of their community to take up housing allocated to her. The Barefield encampment is currently the subject of legal proceedings by Clare County Council.

THE widespread targeting of oil for the purposes of theft has been described by a judge as “despicable” and “appalling”.

Judge Patrick Durcan was speaking at Ennis District Court last Wednesday at the case of a Limerick man.

Thomas Kiely (18), with an address at Barnakyle, Patrickswell, Limerick, pleaded guilty to being in possession of a fuel-siphoning pump in Sixmilebridge last year.

The court heard that Kiely and another man were found in possession of a pump, a funnel and four, fivegallon plastic drums that could be used in the cause of or in connection with a theft. Inspector Tom Kennedy said a car was stopped at in the Cappa Lodge area of Sixmilebridge on December 15, 2011. He said the siphon pump was found concealed under the bonnet of the car.

Insp Kennedy explained that Kiely was subsequently arrested and admitted to Gardaí that he was in the process of surveying areas where he might find diesel to siphon.

The court heard that Kiely has no previous convictions.

Solicitor Michael O’Donnell said his client came from a good family and is currently working. Mr O’Donnell said his client had been placed under curfew by his father. “He accepts he was wrong”, he added.

Judge Patrick Durcan noted that the targeting of oil tanks had become “all too common”. He described it as the “most appalling, most mean, despicable type of offence.”

Judge Durcan said the message must go out “loud and clear that you cannot go around with a siphon concealed in the bonnet of a car”.

Judge Durcan added, “He has brought shame on his family for generations to come”.

Noting the accused’s previous good record and his appearance in court, Judge Durcan ordered that Kiely carry out 150 hours of community service in lieu of three months in prison.

He said, “This community work should be served in the rural community that he attempted the defraud.”

Judge Durcan added, “It’s a despicable offence and one that has become much too prevalent”. He adjourned the matter until April 25 for the preparation of a report by the Probation and Welfare Services.

PLANS are in place to extend one of West Clare’s tourist and family attractions. Clare County Council is considering ambitious plans to add a museum and craft units to the Vandeleur Walled Gardens.

Under the blueprint for the future of the historical garden, the old stable block on-site is to be re-developed along with a maritime-themed museum and a small number of craft units. It is also proposed to enhance the entrance to the garden and provide an entrance from the main top car park.

All of these ambitious plans will be carried out subject to funding.

“It is expected that these works, if approved, will begin towards the end of the year,” said marketing manager for Kilrush, Siobhan Garvey.

Meanwhile, the Board of Kilrush Amenity Trust Ltd this week made the decision to extend the offer of free entry to the Vandeleur Walled Gardens for the remainder of 2012. Following the success of the free entry trial in August 2011, it was decided to offer free entry again from October 11 to April 12. However, the Board has now agreed to extend this offer further to include all of 2012.

As it is, the Vandeleur Centre complex currently includes a coffee shop selling home-baked treats, breakfast and lunch from 10am to 5pm daily.

The Vandeleur Walled Garden offers a complete range of plants for sale and advice is available at all times from the head gardener and his staff.

Children can follow the ‘butterfly trail’ and play within the live willow structure and garden maze and, for bigger children, there is a life-size chess game on the lawn.

If the plans to extend the facility go ahead, there will be even more to attract families to the tranquil gardens on the outskirts of Kilrush town.

The garden will host an open day on Sunday, April 22 from 1pm to 5pm. This will include a local craft fair, and the head gardener will be on hand to give advice on planting, with special offers on plants sold on the day.

Nora LEAHY
of Rathflynn, Maurice’s Mills. Funeral mass onTuesday at 11 o’clock at Inagh Church with burial after in adjoining cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Kevin O’NEILL
of Ballanacragga, Newmarket-on-Fergus. Late of Carolville, SteelesTerrace, Ennis. Funeral Mass today,Tuesday, at 12 noon in Milford. Burial afterwards in Lemenagh Cemetery, Newmarket-OnFergus. No flowers please. Donations, if desired, to Milford Hospice, Limerick. May he rest in peace.

Ellen MORRISSEY (née Walsh)
of St. Patrick’sTerrace, Kilrush. Formerly of Ballynakea, Quilty,. Laid to rest in Mullagh. Donations, if desired, to Regina House, Kilrush. May she rest in peace.

Patrick (Paddy) CULLIGAN
of Lissycasey. Formerly of Ballycorane, Knock and Brooklyn, NewYork. Laid to rest in Burrane Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

William (Willie) MacNAMARA
of Inagh, Ennis. Laid to rest in Inagh. May he rest in peace.

ONGOING delays to the completion of a € 100,000 conservation job at the 13th century Ennis Franciscan Abbey have been branded a “disgrace”.

The Abbey has been closed to the public for three years to facilitate works carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

According to the OPW, the Abbey is expected to open in a limited way to the public in June.

A roof has been installed over the 18th century church in order to provide protection for the collection of carved features, which survive at Ennis Friary. The OPW also plans to improve visitor access at the site.

Authorities on medieval sculpture have highlighted the importance of the Friary’s unique collection, which contain a complete set of panels representing the 12 apostles and stages of the passion of Christ.

Since care of the Friary was vested in the Board of Works in the late 19th century, concern has been expressed about the vulnerability of the collection. However the duration of the works came in for strong criticism at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area.

Fine Gael councillor Tony Mulqueen said the closure of the Abbey is hurting tourism in Ennis. He said, “The amount of tourists standing up outside is amazing and they can’t even take a photo. It’s a disgrace.”

He added, “The Franciscans seem to have built the Abbey faster than the OPW can put up a few slates.”

Cllr Mulqueen, whose father kept the keys to the Abbey at his nearby business during the 1960s for use by visitors, requested an update on the works at yesterday’s meeting.

In his response, senior executive engineer Eamon O’Dea, stated, “The project is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. We understand from contact with the OPW that there have been some delays in relation to the project at Ennis Friary. The discovery of a large number of burials where the floating foundations for glazing panels in the transcept were to be placed has resulted in a short delay.”

Mr O’Dea continued, “The intention is to open to the public in late June but in a limited way. The advantage is that the visitors will get to see the masons working and will see progress being made. The OPW is also looking at an extension to the season and some flexibility on charges.”

CLARE patients are now waiting up to three years for life saving organ transplants.

The Irish Kidney Association (IKA) are hopeful however that this timeline will shorten as the number of people carrying organ donor cards has started to increase.

Peggy Eustace, treasure of the Clare branch of the Irish Kidney Association said, “We had a big increase in the numbers of people opting to carry the organ donor card following last year’s campaign. There was also an increase in the numbers of transplants carried out in 2011.”

This year the IKA’s Donor Awareness Week will take place from March 31 to April 7.

“This annual life saving awareness campaign highlights to the general public the plight of people with organ failure and the on going need for organ donation,” she said.

As many as 35 patients from Clare are receiving dialysis treatment at two dialysis facilities in Limerick the Mid Western Regional hospital dialysis unit and Riverside Park on the Dock Road, while some others attend unit 7-dialysis unit in Merlin Park Galway.

A number of Clare patients are also on the home dialysis programme.

“There are almost 600 patients on the transplant pool at present some of which are from Clare. The waiting time for a kidney transplant for some is now up to three years,” said Ms Eustace.

“We are forever grateful to the donor families who, at a very difficult time for themselves, thought of those who were ill. In donating there loved ones organs they have given the gift of new life to so many.”

The Clare IKA branch members and volunteers will be promoting the donor card and fundraising for the Irish Kidney Association on Saturday, March 3, in Ennis, Kilrush and Tulla.

They will be in Shannon and Ennis again on April 7.

This year’s Clare donor week will be launched in the West County Ho- tel on March 27. Guest speakers on the night will include Dr Ahda Ali, Renal Registrar; Dialysis Nurse, Helen Kennedy and pharmacist Paul Lohan and Mike Kelly co-ordinator of counselling services at Donor House will also be in attendance.

Those wishing to help with the campaign are asked to call 087 9849004. The organ Donor Card can be obtained by free text the word DONOR to 50050, at pharmacies or doctor’s surgery.

Free Organ Donor e-cards are also available for smart phone.

THERE is a lively readership in West Clare. That is how one county councillor put it when he learnt that the number of people using their local library service has increased.

The membership of the five branches serving west and mid Clare increased by 125 in 2011, but the number needing the internet service at the local library has decreased.

County librarian Helen Walsh said this may be due to more home usage as lines become faster and less costly.

There was a drop of 346 members of the Kilkee library in 2011 however, with the number of books issued dropping by 6,210. There is an explanation for the drop however from the county library offices.

“During this time Kilkee library dropped membership, issues and internet usage due to the building works associate with the new Cultúrlann Sweeney,” said Ms Walsh.

The largest number of new readers was recorded in the Kilrush library, with an increase of 74.

Miltown Malbay increased its membership by 47 in 2011 while Kildysart went from 311 members in 2010 to 315 members in 2011.

Kilmihil showed a decrease in its membership of 78.

The five libraries continue to provide services despite cuts to their budgets and staffing levels within Clare County Council.

Ms Walsh explained that all development at the libraries is on a phased basis over a five-year period and according to the priorities and objectives laid out in the Library Development Plan 2010 to 2014.

“All objectives are budget and staff dependent and there is a real challenge in maintaining present stand- ards whilst striving to improve services in the present climate. The book fund has decreased from € 279,600 in 2009 to € 257,160 in 2010 to € 217,160 in 2011 at a time when the county population is increasing,” she said.

“Demand for other formats of book provision, downloadable and foreign language, also results in a further stretch on an ever decreasing book budget. The non-replacement of staff retiring or availing of various kinds of leave entitlement puts further stresses on the services regarding maintaining opening hours. An audit of opening hours in all branches will be undertaken this year,” said the county librarian.

“It is imperative that we keep these services. What is good we hold,” said Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind).

“The statistics are telling us of a very lively readership in Clare, “ he said.