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IT HAS been claimed this week that a “masterplan” hatched between Comhaltas Ceoltóirí activists and political heavyweights in Northern Ireland has come between Ennis and playing host to its first Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 35 years.

This conspiracy theory that scuppered the county town’s chances of being named host town for the 2012 spectacular, thereby denying the Clare economy a financial windfall of up to € 30m and long term tourism platform that such an event would create for the county.

In May, The Clare People exclusively revealed that behind the scenes preparatory work was taking place to bring the traditional music festival to Northern Ireland for the first time in its history in 2013.

At the time sources within Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí Éireann said a move to mount a campaign to bring the Fleadh to Derry in 2013 when it will be UK City of Culture could represent a nail in the coffin of Ennis’ 2012 bid.

“If it goes to Derry, the chances of it comes to Clare in 2012 will recede,” one Comhaltas insider revealed.

“This is because the usual thing is for a town to get the Fleadh two years in a row, but giving it to Derry will strengthen Cavan’s bid to be given the Fleadh for a third year in 2012 before they would then hand over to Derry the following year,” he added.

This concern was added to during this year’s Fleadh in Cavan when Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who is a native of Derry, threw their political weight behind any application to bring the festival there. Now, those worst fears, first exposed by The Clare People , have come home to roost with Cavan becoming the host town for the third successive year and Derry now widely expected to formally launch its Fleadh bid early next year. “Once Derry was mentioned, Ennis was in trouble,” local traditional music activist Joe Arkins said this week. “If Derry wasn’t in the background it should have been a straight shoot out between Sligo and Ennis to host to 2012 Fleadh, but now if Derry gets it in 2013, it could be 2014 before Ennis has a chance of hosting the Fleadh.” However, the chairman of the Fleadh Cheoil Working Group, Micheál Ó Riabhaigh, has rejected the notion that the spectre of the 2013 Derry bid has come between Ennis and hosting the festival. “I still believe that Derry is pure speculation,” he said. “There is a very definite process in Comhaltas for the allocation of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. It’s a process where towns have to apply for it and make their submissions and presentations and then it goes to a vote. “If the Ard Comhairle receive an application, process it and believe that Derry is the place for Fleadh Cheoil 2013, that’s where it will go, but it will be on the basis of a democratic vote by all the members of the Ard Comhairle,” he added.

THE statesmanship shown by Clare president Dr Paddy Hillery in times of crisis has been held up by Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell as the template for his style of presidency should he succeed in becoming the ninth incumbant in Áras an Uachtaráin.

Speaking to The Clare People on Thursday during his first visit to the county since being selected to contest the November 27 presidential election poll, Mr Mitchell hailed Dr Hillery political courage during his 14-year stint in office from 1976 to 1990.

Dr Hillery took office following the constitutional crisis sparked by his the decision by his predecessor Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh to refer the Emergency Powers Act to the Supreme Court, which prompted the Fine Gael Minister for Defence Paddy Donegan to label him “a thundering disgrace”.

President Ó Dálaigh resigned in the fall-out from these remarks, and now 35 years later Mr Mitchell, who is bidding to become the first ever Fine Gael president, used his visit to Clare to highlight the crucial role the Spanish Point man played in restoring the honour of the presidency in the wake of the crisis that rocked the office.

“I’m not just saying this because I’m in Clare,” Mr Mitchell said during his visit to Ennis, Kilrush and Shannon.

“I’ve said this a lot of times. Dr Hillery restored the presidency after the resignation of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh.

“And when his own party came looking for him (in January 1982) not to grant a dissolution of the Dáil to the government of the day, he had the experience and the integrity to stand up to that pressure.

“The president is an important person in terms of the independence of the office. The president is like the sentry in the box. Those are the qualities I will bring to the office. I am an independent soul. I made it very clear that I want the support of more than Fine Gael – I need that. I want to reach out to all of the community not just Fine Gael. I need to do that,” he added.

ENNIS Town Council will mark the second anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s visit to Ennis with an event to encourage young people in Ennis to be ‘The Best You Can Be’.

The event, which is due to take place in October, will promote excellence in different areas of life including sport and academic studies.

Ali, a former world-boxing champion, drew crowds of thousands when he visited Ennis in September 2009.

Details of plans to mark the occasion were revealed at the September meeting of Ennis Town Council.

Town Clerk Eddie Power explained. “To mark the second anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s visit it is intended to host an event in Glór. The theme for the event will be ‘The Best You Can Be’ and will be aimed at second level students. It is planned to have notable speakers who can relate their own stories and achievements to the attending stu- dents. The objective of the speakers will be to motivate and encourage the students to aim for excellence in whatever they do and to capitalise on their natural skills and abilities.”

Mr Power continued, “Preparatory discussions have taken place with the Clare Youth Service and contact has been made with secondary school principals in Ennis. The idea has been warmly welcomed and it is anticipated that it will attract high numbers of students.”

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said more should be done to promote Ennis’ links with Ali.

“Our slice of the cake is getting very small and this town has to be promoted like it never has been before,” he added.

Welcoming the initiative, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the event would encourage young people in Ennis to achieve excellence. He said that any project that gives hope to young people should be welcomed.

Questioning if the Council could use Muhammad Ali’s name in promoting the event, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said, “We’re celebrating something that we can’t explicitly mention.”

Town Manager Ger Dollard said the Ali name will not be used by the Council to mark the second anniversary of the sporting legend’s visit to Ennis.

Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said ‘The Best You Can Be’ event could be developed along the lines of the Young Scientist competition.

A PROGRAMME of servicing and replacing storm water infrastructure in Shannon should be put in place.

That’s according to Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn, who raised the issue at a meeting of the local town council last week.

Cllr Flynn said that work is “crucial” for the upcoming winter season.

In response to Cllr Flynn’s motion, a written response from the council stated that poor ground conditions in the town has led to settlement of some roads and adjoining slit channels.

“Subject to available resources, remedial works is undertaken in conjunction with road resurfacing under the multi-annual road works programme,” stated the reply.

“Given the extent of the works required, however, the costs are likely to be significant and will take some years to complete unless specific funding, separate from that provided in the Road Works Programme, is made available,” it added.

According to the council, drains that are subject to flooding will be inspected in the interim and within budgetary constraints, an arrangement will be made for necessary remedial works to be undertaken.

In reference to the council’s response, Cllr Flynn said it was “like Noah saying we’ll trying to repair the ark when it’s sinking”.

Sinn Féin Councillor Cathy McCafferty said that areas which are likely to flood easily should be prioritised when drains are being cleared. “In this day and age, it’s totally not acceptable,” she said.

THERE have been calls for the bandstand at the Town Park in Shannon to be removed, after bricks were taken out of the centre piece.

Local town councillor Mike Fleming raised the issue at a meeting of the town council last week.

A motion was tabled by the Fine Gael councillor, who said that several bricks have been taken out of the bandstand. “They are piled up around it. I can’t see the guards having the time or wasting their time going up there,” he said.

He said that the centre piece is becoming a serious problem due to this and said that the bricks are being used to break windows of apartments and cars at Brú na Sionna.

Labour Councillor Tony McMahon supported the calls, saying, “It’s unsightly and dangerous. Either the bricks need to be put in place in such a way they can’t be easily removed or the whole thing needs to be changed to something else or moved altogeth- er out of it.”

“I don’t think anybody went in there with a pick axe. Probably a few loose bricks made way to others,” he said.

His party colleague, Cllr Greg Duff said, “The Town Park should be there for the use of the community. If the vandalism is ongoing, the guards are right beside it. Perhaps they should look at patrols.”

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said, “It’s a bad design. It’s a disgrace. It can’t be left in that condition. Damage will be caused. It’s getting un- sightly. It’s dreadful.”

In a written response to the meeting, it was stated that Clare County Council is in the process of taking the Town Park in charge.

“The provision of a bandstand for the park was a condition of planning associated with the Brú na Sionna development and therefore any changes to it will have to be consented to by the planing authority. Any vandalism and anti-social activity occurring in the Town Park should be reported to the gardaí,” stated the response.

CLARE COUNTY Council is not in favour of installing litter bins in residential estates in Shannon, a meeting was told last week.

In a written response to a motion put forward by Shannon Town Councillor Vincent Coleman (Fine Gael), the council stated that litter bins are regularly used as bins for household waste.

Cllr Coleman called for the bins to be put in place in the Cúl na Gréine estate.

However, according to the council, the bins were previously vandalised in this estate. The council also stated that it does not have the resources to collect waste from bins within residential estates. The response also stated, “If they are not emptied on a regular basis they attract rodents and wasps.”

However Cllr Coleman – whose query on this issue was his first motion since he was co-opted to the council in June – said he was not happy with the council’s response. “In other estates they have bins and they are being collected. . . What is the problem?” he asked.

Independent Councillor Patricia McCarthy said that residents in that estate are doing excellent work, having recently reformed a residents’ association. “It should be possible to incorporate at least two collection points,” she said.

Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn said, “This is a totally negative response and offers no words of encouragement for people living down there.”

Labour Councillor Greg Duff said that residents’ associations should have the support of the town council. “We have to put our resources behind the residents’ associations,” he said.

Fine Gael Councillor Seán McLoughlin agreed, saying, “These people have done fantastic work. They have cleaned it from top to bottom. The least the council should do is put in a few bins.”

A LONG awaited section of the Ennis inner relief road is due to go to tender before the end of the month, according to Ennis Town Council.

The road, which will link Clare Road and Station Road, is being constructed to ease traffic flows in the town centre.

To facilitate the project, a significant redevelopment of one of Ennis’ best known buildings, Madden Furniture, has been underway for the past 12 months.

According to owner Michelle Madden, work on the building, which was formerly Paddy Con’s Hall, is nearing completion.

“Our building is practically finished. We should be open in a few weeks. We will be opening our showrooms in a few weeks and we welcome the road and we think its going to be good for Ennis and the town and traffic in the area,” she said.

Ms Madden added, “We had to demolish one end of it and build back up the side. Last September we started demolition. We’re very much looking forward to having it open and getting back to some sort of normality. We feel it’s going to be good for Ennis in general.”

According to the latest quarterly progress report on Council projects, section E of the inner relief road should be in place in 2012.

The report states, “The Council is proceeding to tender the works on E-tenders in early September. Temporary work will be in place at side of Madden’s furniture during the tender process until the contractor takes possession of the site. It is anticipated that the inner relief road works will take six months from the date of commencement”.

Speaking at the September meeting of Ennis Town Council, Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said residents in Ardlea Road and Clare Road had concerns over the potential impact of the road on their property. He urged the Council to engage in a public consultation process with residents in the area.

SINEAD O’Connor left Lisdoonvarna this weekend without finding love, but matchmaker Willie Daly is determined to find the lovelorn singer a man.

Sinead was introduced to a single farmer by Willie and his daughter Claire last Friday but the amount of interest in getting a glimpse of Sinead prevented the couple from really getting to know each other.

But Willie will keep her information on file and hopes to find her another match once the media glare has passed.

“Sinead came in and talked to me for more than half an hour and told me what she was looking for. One of the main things that she was after was a farmer – that is something that would appeal to someone living life in the fast lane. She didn’t say anything to me about the appearance of the man but she said that she wanted to meet a kind person, maybe someone of 40 years or older. She did say that she was looking for someone with stubble and there were plenty of men with beards around the town over the weekend,” said Willie.

“We introduced her to a very nice person. He was a big fan of hers and was very smart looking – he had a farm and a business. They talked for a while in our office and while that was going on a lot of people came in to get photos with her. She was nice about it but after a while she said she was leaving. So maybe Sinead might get back to her match once people are not around.

Despite Sinead’s failure to land a man in Lisdoonvarna, two of her male minders did find some companionship thanks to Willie.

“She had two young lads with her and I introduced them to some girls – I met them late on Sunday night and they said that they had enjoyed themselves anyway. I know that they did get some companionship while they were there.”

Sinead’s visit to Lisdoonvarna also had a benefit for tourism providers in the locality with the biggest crowd for the second weekend of the festival in years.

“Sinead O’Connor’s involvement certainly did help the local tourist trade. The local hotels were never as busy with a lot of people coming to meet Sinead and that was a boost locally,” said Marcus White from the Matchmaking Festival.

“But the festival has also helped people. The dancing is a great boost for a lot of people and a lot of the older people were especially happy in Lisdoonvarna. In the past people were a bit shy about coming to Lisdoonvarna, because they though you had to be single to come here, but these days about half of the people come to Lisdoonvarna to dance.”

OPINION is divided on how Dr Brendan O’Regan should be honoured in Shannon.

While members of the local town council agree that he should be remembered in a notable way, the exact project to be chosen was the subject of debate at a meeting last week.

The motion was proposed by the town’s mayor, Councillor Mary Brennan, who said that Dr O’Regan’s achievements should be remem- bered.

His immense contribution to the airport and Shannon Development was recalled, with councillors expressing the view that this should be linked to the project.

“One way we could honour him would be to have a viable airport. He would be very sad to see what we have today,” said Fine Gael Councillor Seán McLoughlin.

Independent Councillor Patricia McCarthy said she was opposed to naming streets and buildings after people.

“He was associated with Shannon Development and associated with the airport and the industrial estates. It’s a pity Shannon Development when they were naming their building that they didn’t name it O’Regan House,” she said.

Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn said he was in agreement with Cllr McCarthy. “I don’t agree with buildings and roads being named after people,” he said.

“He was a man of vision. He was a pioneer of his time,” he said.

Fine Gael Councillor Mike Fleming made a suggestion that a bus shelter be named after Dr O’Regan.

“I wouldn’t be in favour of any road or sign but there’s a new bus shelter going into Cronan. It could be the O’Regan bus shelter,” he said.

Fine Gael Councillor Vincent Coleman suggested a connection to the Lynxs Cargo facility. “If it gets off the ground, it will bring development opportunities to the airport,” he said.

CLARE County Council faces a bill of up to € 1.5 million to fix a large number of metered stop valves which were installed incorrectly by developers during the property boom.

Between 1,500 and 2,000 homes in the county are believed to still have the defective valves – which were intended for use in warmer climates and are prone to break during cold spells, such as those witnessed over the past two winters.

Clare County Council has repaired a number of these valves for free over the past two years as many of the developers who installed the valves were either non-contactable or out of business.

It was revealed at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council that the local authority had no funds available to it to provide repairs of this kind in the future.

It was also revealed that the cost of repairs for the existing stock of defective valves could come to between € 1.1 million and € 1.5 million.

“I know that the council have had to do a lot retrofit work for people in these houses because of the hardship that we have seen over the last couple of winters and that a lot of work has not been done to proper specifications,” said Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind).

“Let’s hope that this winter will not be as bad as previous winters, but if it is then we are going to get a large number of people who will have difficulty with this. The problem is that the specifications were not followed.

“The quality of the metres was not the issue but the type of the valves were made for a warmer climate and they won’t stand up to the lower temperatures. There is no funding to fix this problem so the people who are losing out are the people who bought properties in good faith and will have to go without water.”

According to a council spokesperson the defective valves have been installed on houses all over the county and are not confined to any particular type of house or contractor.

“It is awful to see water flowing down footpaths and roads, especially when there is no clean water in the houses beside them. The general public should not have to suffer because of the bad work done by certain contractors,” said Joe Cooney (FG).