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THE Burren and the Cliffs of Moher was yesterday officially recognised as Ireland’s third UNESCO Global Geopark – a move which could have a major positive impact on the ecotourism industry in the county.

The official recognition, which was announced during the tenth European Geoparks Conference in Norway, is the culmination of more than three years of work done by a number of organisations in Clare, spearheaded by the Burren Connect Project.

With a number of tourism providers in the north Clare region now exploring the eco-tourism sector, it is hoped that this designation could increase the numbers visiting the Burren area and the Cliffs.

It was also clarified that the designation will not have any impact on the farming practices currently being employed in the Burren area.

“Global Geopark status does not create a national park or nature park, and does not permit open access to private property or land. It is the role of a Geopark to encourage visitors and communities to experience geology at publicly accessible sites and trails, where maintenance and access can be managed,” said Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF).

“Whilst the award has been granted to the Burren region, the actual components of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark are presently confined to specific public sites of geological and cultural interest, a network of visitor and education centres, the Burren Ecotourism Network businesses, and established walking routes such as the Burren Way and Burren looped walks.”

After the designation of the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher there are currently 78 Geoparks in 26 countries around the world. Part of the focus of Geopark status is a ficus on educating the people of area in some of the more technical aspects of the land that they live in.

“A Global Geopark must support education programmes, such as the geology evening course held in spring of 2010 and 2011 in the Burren Outdoor Education Centre. We look forward to continue to play our part in increasing awareness of the important landscape of the Burren,” said Joanne McInerney, Manager of the Burren Outdoor Education Centre and Chair of the Burren Ecotourism Network.

“The Geopark project is organising a Geo-Explorer Day in collaboration with the Burren Outdoor Education Centre on Saturday October 15. The day’s events will include introductory caving, geo-kayaking, hill-walking and a family beach exploration.”

SOME of the biggest names in Irish and international children’s writing will descend on Clare libraries next month as part of the annual Clare Children’s Book Festival.

A host of activities will take place in Clare County Libraries all around the county with a number of readings by popular children’s authors, illustration and live history workshops and storytelling taking place.

This year’s festival will also see one lucky Clare child see their artwork appear on the cover of one of Ireland’s most popular books for young people. The O’Brien Press Cover Design Competition will see a re-print of Siobhán Parkinson’s classic children’s book Four Kids, Thr ee Ca ts, Two Cows a nd a Witch (Ma ybe) , with a new jacket designed by a budding Clare artist.

As well as seeing their artwork in their local library or bookshop, the lucky winner will also have their entire class invited to a glitzy awards ceremony and will win five sets of all of Siobhán Parkinson’s O’Brien Press titles for their school.

Other highlight of this year’s festival include talks from authors Oisin McGann, Nicola Pierce, Judi Curtin, Bob Burke and Dolores Keaveney, while Bridget Bhreathnach will bring the newly published book Lúlú agus a n Oúiche Ghlór a ch to gaelscoileanna in Ennis, Kilrush and Shannon.

There will also be storytelling sessions from Billy Teare and Kathleen O’Sullivan and poetry will be presented by Tony Maude who will blend together songs, riddles, cats and even some Shakespeare.

Scottish song historian Fred Freeman, who is also a renowned bagpiper, brings his show ‘Burns for Bairns’, which provides an introduction to Scotland’s bard Robert Burns through singing, tapping-out rhythms, listening and questioning.

Michael Moylan’s ‘Irish History Live’ programme will visit Ennis, Tulla, Ennistymon and Miltown Malbay libraries and treat older children to everything from the uniforms worn during the Easter Rising to the weapons which were used during World War II.

There will also be a number of music workshops facilitated by John Lillis, the music project manager at Clare Youth Service, as well as a workshop featuring hiphop and information on DJ culture.

The festival will also include a host of puppet theatre, with worldrenowned puppetry artist Miriam Lambert performing ‘The Gingerbread Man’.

AN INCIDENT in which shots were fired through the front door of a home of a woman and her teenage son in Clarecastle is being investigated by gardaí.

The frightening incident happened at Clarehill at 9.30pm on Thursday when the woman in her 40s and her son were at home.

They heard a bang and were alerted to broken glass on the front door. While no-one was injured in the incident, it has led to concern in the area.

A man was seen leaving the area in a dark coloured car. He is described as being 5’10” in height and had dark hair and wore dark coloured clothes.

No-one has been arrested and gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

“We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and saw a car acting suspiciously to contact us. It is a built-up area. Anyone who would have heard the discharge of a firearm is asked to come forward and assist us in our investigations,” Chief Superintendent John Kerin told The Clare People .

Meanwhile, gardaí are also investigating an incident in which a rock was thrown through a pub window in Clarecastle.

The incident occurred shortly before 11pm last Monday night. Gardaí have carried out house to house enquiries and have inspected CCTV from the locality in an effort to solve the crime.

In Ennis, gardaí are investigating a break-in to a nursing home in Lifford last Monday. Entry was gained via a back window and € 400 cash and medication was stolen in the incident, between 1pm and 8pm.

In another break-in in Ennis, a house in Cahercalla was targeted during the day last Tuesday. Entry was gained after a back window was left open. The burglary is understood to have occurred between 11am and 2pm.

Rooms in the house were searched, but nothing was taken.

Anyone with information on any of these crimes is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.

BAD weather scuppered a Kilmaley man’s attempt to become the first person to complete a 10k swim underwater at the weekend.

Christy Healy had been due to set of from Doolin pier on Saturday morning in an effort to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. However stormy weather conditions forced Christy to call off the swim. He now intends to take on the challenge on October 2.

“We had to cancel it. We met Thursday and we waited again until Friday but the weather was a disaster,” explained Christy yesterday.

He added, “We’re planning to re-organise it for October 2, weather permitting.”

Having undergone a punishing training regime, Christy is now preparing to get back to work to make sure he is in top physical condition.

“Normally you’d train right up until the week before and then you’d stop so it’s not ideal,” Christy said.

Diving instructor Christy is taking on the challenge to raise money for the Share A Dream foundation. He was inspired to do after his family was affected by cancer.

In March 2010 Christy and wife Trish’s son Stephen, then aged 17, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – a cancer of the lymphoid tissue, which includes the lymph nodes, spleen and other organs of the immune system. Christy explained that this news delivered a severe blow to the family and led to a stressful period of uncertainty and concern. Thankfully, after six months of chemotherapy and a kidney opera

tion, Stephen has

been given the all

clear. An experienced

diver, Christy as

sists Clare Civil

Defence as a

search diver as

well as owning and

managing Atlantic

Diving School in

Ennis. In order to

achieve his world

record attempt Christy must remain underwater for the entire swim from Doolin to Crab Island. An open circuit system must also be operated. This means that the air used from the tanks when exhaled will be released into the ocean as opposed to being re-circulated. Christy will carry a 12-litre tank of air on his chest. Each tank will last for 60 minutes or 1.8km approx and will then need to be changed, whilst remaining underwater each time it empties.

SIXMILEBRIDGE has won its way to the final of a TG4’s G-Day Competition to see what town in Ireland is most willing to embrace the Irish language. The group from the village are now within touching distance of the € 40,000 final prize after the completion of last week’s task saw them reach the final three in the competition.

The TG4 cameras were in Sixmilebridge on Friday as the local group pitted their wits against Cong from Mayo to see who could make the best Irish language website.

“We were given an envelope at 10am on Friday morning and that contained a task which had to be completed before 7pm that evening – all using Irish. We had to get a website together in a day, all through the Irish language,” said Brendan Walsh from the Sixmilebridge group.

“We were successful in the task against Cong – I think we were successful because we focused on the village and the spirit of the village. We had blogs and links to local organisation and I think that it was that community focus that won it for us.”

On September 28, the Sixmilebridge Group will take on the two remaining villages in the competition’s semi-final, with the last two groups standing to go head to head in October.

“We haven’t a clue what we are going to be asked to do. We are always given a task to do and after the task someone has to speak on behalf of the group. Anne Marie Holland had to go to Dublin to speak for us on Sunday – she was grilled on the boardroom about what we did and why we did it. She was grilled but she did a great job.”

The series will be screen on TG4 in January. The Sixmilebridge committee are spokesperson Anne Marie Holland, Brendan Walsh, Seamus Walsh, PJ Fitzpatrick and Sean Ward.

“Ón uair a chuir an baile seo isteach ar an gComórtas G atá á eagrú ag TG4, tá an-dul chun chinn déanta ag an gcoiste chun labhairt na Gaeilge a spreagadh i measc an phobail. Ar dtús, bhí seasca pharóiste sa chomórtas ach de hAoine seo chaite ní raibh ach sé chinn fágtha. Ansin tugadh tasc don choiste suíomh-idirlín a chruthú as Gaeilge. Más maith leat an toradh a f heiceáil, níl le déanamh agat ach cliceáil ar sixmilebridgelegaeilge.com. Ar aon nós bhí na moltóirí thar a bheith sásta agus anois táimid sa leath-chraobh.

“Tá an choiste an-bhuíoch do chuile grupa a chabhraigh linn go dtí seo agus beidh an tacaíocht iontach céanna ag teastáil ar an 28ú lá de Meán Fhomhair sa leath chraobh. Bígí linn,” arsa PJ Fitzpatrick.

THE Fleadh may not be coming to Clare but that hasn’t stopped Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann from pressing ahead with plans for a major new performance venue in Tulla.

The group are seeking planning permission to develop a 260-seater performance / multifunctional space at the former Sisters of Mercy Primary School within the curtilage of Tulla Convent, a protected structure.

Comhaltas is seeking permission for the demolition of the existing cloakroom block, cookery room and garden shelter to the rear of the school building.

The development would involved the refurbishment of the building and construction of a two-storey extension of 599sqm to the rear and sides of the existing two-storey building to include a performance/multifunctional space with seating for 260 people, associated toilets, changing rooms, stores, bar, kitchen and reception, a foyer, 2 no. multipurpose rooms and basement plant room.

Comhlatas are seeking a change of use at the building at Chapel Street from educational to performance and community.

The proposed development would also include the provision of a new vehicular and pedestrian entrance from main street, associated signage, provision of 8 no. car parking spaces and 9 no. bicycle spaces, associated landscaping and site boundary treatment.

According to documents lodged with Clare County Council, “The convent, which is no longer in use, was donated to Comhaltas by the Sisters of Mercy.”

The application states, “Tulla Comhaltas branch was founded in 1957 to facilitate the extraordinary amount of music, song and dancing which was taking place. It then hosted the 1958 Co. Fleadh Cheoil.”

In the application Comhaltas highlight a ‘lack of facilities’ as one of the reasons for developing the new venue.

The application states, “For an organisation which celebrated our 50th anniversary four years ago. It is long overdue a home for Tulla Comhaltas. Currently they rent accommodation in St Joseph’s Secondary School, St Moculla’s National School, Tulla courthouse and the backroom of Minogue’s bar.” It continues, “The need a proper forum for teaching and practice and for high quality tourist presentations. They have a huge archival material, recordings, and photographs etc, which are currently stored in boxes in committee mem- ber’s homes. These need to be conserved and made accessible to all.”

The document states, “It is also envisaged that this will be a major tourist facility and an important resource for teaching and researching the distinctive East Clare style as exemplified by performers such as Martin Hayes and Mary McNamara.”

Comhaltas state that by re-developing the building, they hope to “bring life and music and activity back to the now abandoned school building, which educates, entertains and enlightens as it did in the past”.

KILRUSH Town Council has warned that “difficult decisions” will have to be made if the local authority is to ensure that it plays its part in the timetable laid down by the IMF for Ireland’s National Recovery Plan.

This warning has been sounded out by Kilrush Town Clerk John Corry in a comprehensive financial report for the year up to June 30, with some ratepapers described in the west Clare capital described as “very problematic”.

And, by way of confronting the problem of unpaid rates that are now running at an unprecedent level of 69 per cent, the council has warned that it may be forced to pursue people through the courts.

“The report highlights issues of concern in relation to the overall funding of Kilrush Town Council,” said Mr Corry is introducing his report. “Payments by customers continues to be very problematic. Rates collection at 30th June, 2011 stood at 31% in comparison to 39% at 30th June, 2010.

“Kilrush Town Council is dependent on rates income to maintain its operations as it represents 38.4% of Annual Income. The slowing payment pattern highlighted above has resulted in a considerable negative impact on cash flow.

“Kilrush Town Council is acutely aware of the commercial difficulties which rate payers are experiencing, and has adopted a practical approach in terms of payment plans to facilitate rate payers. However, where customers fail to engage to deal with amounts outstanding, recovery of the debt by legal means becomes necessary,” said Mr Corry.

The Town Council’s financial situation, brought on by unpaid rates has been exacerbated by a sharp rise in the arrears in housing rents in the first six months of the year as compared with the corresponding period last year.

“Arrears in housing rents have increased significantly since the beginning of the year,” reported Mr Corry, added that “rent collection at June 30 was 80 per cent in comparison to 87 per cent at the end of June, 2010. This increases reflects the current economic climate, but also impacts on cash flow to Kilrush Town Council”.

And, it’s the council’s warning that the Government “circular 3/2009 requires every local authority to ensure that its revenue account remains in balance for 2011 and consequently total expenditure must equal total income” that has opened up the live possibility of legal action being taken to ensure the books are balanced.

“This report highlights the difficulties that are facing Kilrush Town Council as we embark on the 2012 budget preparation process,” said Mr Corry. “Performance against budget is constantly monitored and managed. Difficult decisions have to be made to ensure that our current deficit can be eliminated,” he added.

NEW parking regulations have come into effect in Kilrush, following the adoption of the street pay and display parking by-laws for 2011 after the statutory public consultation period entered into by the Town Council.

These new guidelines are that people coming into Kilrush will be allowed a 30-minute period of grace before they have to put a ticket on display – this measure a 15-minute increase for motorists.

However, as part of some wideranging changes to the prices structure for parking, councillors have backed plans to increase residence and business car permits by 300 per cent from € 10 to € 30 per annum, while prices for seven-day and threeday tickets have been fixed at € 20 and € 10 respectively.

This new set of prices came after a lengthy debate at the June monthly meeting of Kilrush Town Council, during which it emerged that the council suffered a € 9,723 loss for its 2010 traffic management plan.

The draft by-laws went on public display for a period of one month from June 24, 2011, to July 25, 2011. A further period of two weeks was allowed for the public to make submissions and this period expired on August 9, 2011. No submission was received during this time.

Agreement for a new pricing structure came after a number of different proposals were put to the meeting by the then Mayor of Kilrush, Liam Williams (FG).