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SEA and coastal conditions are set to return to normal around the county this morning as the last effects of Hurricane Katia are felt along the north and west of the county.

The former hurricane, which was downgraded to a storm before it made landfall in Clare, caused minor damage around the county with a top wind speed of 102 kilometres per hour recorded at Shannon Airport yesterday.

Despite the rough sea, two boat owners risked a swim ashore at Doolin Pier on Sunday when they were unable to dock their boat because of rough sea conditions.

The boat, which carried four passengers, had departed from Doolin to the Aran Island’s earlier that day but was unable to dock safely following the return journey.

Despite the large sea swell two members of the crew jumped overboard and swam ashore to collect their car and boat trailer before driv- ing to calmer water at Ballyvaughan where the boat was able to dock safely.

Meanwhile, opening hours at the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience are expected to return to normal tomorrow after the centre closed two hours early yesterday because of the weather.

The early closure follows a warning by the centre’s management against any visits to the world famous tourist attraction yesterday.

This is not the first time that the centre has been forced to close because of poor weather conditions but it is the first time that a closure has been necessary in the month of September.

“The track of this storm was always predicted to head for the to northern corner of Scotland and the strongest winds of any storm always occur about 100 km from this tip, so we were lucky enough in Clare to miss the very strongest winds from this storm,” said Mark Dunphy of Irish Weather Online.

“The winds will continue to abate but there could be some gusts around the county until Tuesday afternoon. There has been rough seas all around the county but we had not had any reports of coastal flooding yet in Clare, which was a big fear because of the high tide.

“There is another system which is likely to track this way in the days ahead. Maria is a tropical storm at this point and it is likely to track a bit more north than this storm so we should miss the worst of that.”

ENNIS Town Council anticipates that work on a crucial upgrade of the Ennis / Clarecastle sewerage scheme will begin in the first half of 2012 pending approval from An Bord Pleanála.

The Council’s latest quarterly progress report states that the project is likely to cost € 2.8 million.

The report states, “An Bord Pleanála has indicated that they will make their decision by early November. Clare County Council intends to proceed to tender once de- tails of An Bord Pleanála decision is known and this will take a period of three months. Work should start in the second quarter in the second quarter of 2012 and the contract period is for 12 months. A review of the water services investment programme has included the project to the value of € 2.8 million.”

An oral hearing on the environmental impact survey for the upgrade works at the Clondroadmore Treatment Plant was held in Ennis on July 28.

At the hearing, David Timlin, Director of Environment and Water Services at Clare County Council, described the upgrade as urgent, saying it was needed to cater for future commercial development in Ennis.

The proposal forms part of a coherent plan for the provision of upgraded facilities to treat all wastewater arising in the entire Ennis area.

At the time Mr Timlin stated that certain wastewater license conditions issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cannot be met until the plant upgrade is completed.

Recommending that the project get the go-ahead, Andrew Hersey, Executive Planner with Ennis Town Council, said that “Since 2006, planning applications for large residential and commercial schemes have been refused in the basis of inadequate capacity in the public sewer and prematurity pending the provision of sewerage facilities in the town.”

Mr Hersey added that without an upgrade to the wastewater network, “future development in the town will stagnate and the success of the town as a hub town for the mid-west region will ultimately fail”.

TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Ennis’ best-known families who are celebrating 50 years in the bakery business.

Pat and Mary O’Connor opened their first shop in Ennis, in 1961. Today, there are eight O’Connor’s Bakeries, which supply quality breads and confectionary to Ennis, Shan- non, Gort, Galway and Limerick.

At the September meeting of Ennis Town Council, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) proposed that the Council officially congratulate and recognise O’Connors on achieving the milestone. Cllr Brennan said the family had been good employers in Ennis and in other towns and had done an enormous amount of good work without seeking attention or acclaim.

“These people deserve to be recognised,” he added. Seconding the motion, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) described the O’Connor family as “quite hardworking people”.

He said the business employs between 140 and 145 people. Cllr Meaney said the family had implemented a good business model that other businesses should consider following. Councillors also backed pro- posals from the Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) for a Citizen Recognition Awards Scheme.

According to a report prepared by Town Clerk Eddie Power the objective of the scheme is to recognize local people/organizations who have made a significant contribution to community life in Ennis or by their actions raised the profile and image of Ennis.

Nominations will be sought from the public in five categories: (a) sport/recreation (b) community/volountary (c) business/professional (d) youth (e) arts and culture.

Councillors decided against selecting an overall winner. An adjudication panel comprised of councilors will decide who will be honoured in each category. The awards will be presented at a civic event.

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 tender process of the € 12.8 million second phase of the Ennis flood relief scheme is at an advanced stage, a meeting has heard.

Under the scheme, flood defences will be improved along the river Fergus from Bank Place to Doora Bridge. Measures introduced in phase one of the scheme ensured large parts of the Ennis town centre were spared from flooding in November 2009.

According to the latest quarterly progress report on Ennis Town Council projects, “the Office of Public Works (OPW) are awaiting pre-contract documentation from the preferred bidder and the OPW will be in a position to proceed with the award of the contract once this is received”.

The report by Town Engineer Eamon O’Dea also provides details on a number of other flood relief scheme currently underway in Ennis. It states that work will start on the Lough Girroga Scheme (Gort Road Industrial Estate) in September and should be finished by early December.

The report continues, “The part 8 planning procedure for the Fioruisce works started on August 26 and will be on display until October 7 with submissions by October 21. The part 8 planning procedure will be before the Council for their consideration in November. The tender process will follow.”

The report states that site investigation is underway at the Watery Road / Elm Park scheme. It adds, “It is expected that the tender process will be completed b the end of November 2011. The commencement date of works will depend on river levels. The Council has a temporary pumping system for the storm drain in place at Watery Road to cater for high river levels until permanent works are in place. The Council monitors the Fergus and Claureen river levels.”

According to the report, detailed design is nearing completion on the St Flannan’s / Tobertascáin – Ballybeg lake flood relief works. Site investigation is currently underway.

Speaking yesterday at a meeting of councillors in the Ennis Electoral Area, Senior Engineer Tom Tiernan said every area hit by flooding in Ennis in 2009 is covered under the current flood relief programme of works. He said the tender process of phase two of the Ennis flood relief scheme was at an advanced stage. Mr Tiernan said a wide range of works are currently underway to ensure Ennis withstands the effects of any future flooding. “An awful lot is happening. It many not be visible but the work is going on. An awful lot is happening,” he added.

IT LOOKS like Dev’s car is not on the move, at least not to Clare County Council’s headquarters.

The car, which was restored by Sixmilebridge businessman and councillor PJ Ryan and which weighs two tonnes, has been located in a garage at the back of the De Valera library in Ennis for a number of years.

Earlier this year, Independent Councillor Christy Curtin tabled a motion calling for the car to be relocated to the foyer of the county council’s building, Áras Contae an Chláir, where it would be prominently displayed.

However, in a letter presented at the monthly meeting of the county council yesterday, it was stated that the proposal was considered. However a number of issues arose.

According to Senior Executive Officer in Corporate Services, Michael McNamara, a number of issues required further detailed examination. These include the weight of the car and the structural capacity of the council’s foyer area to bear the load, along with possible damage to the limestone paviours in the foyer in getting the car into its location.

Councillors heard that underfloor heating distribution pipes are laid in the atrium floor slab and moving a car of his size would have a huge impact on this. Also, moving the car into the building would require one of the entrance doors to be disman- tled and re-assembled, at a significant cost.

“Since the car was restored earlier this year, there has been much interest in the car and several requests have been received for the ‘loan’ of the car for specific functions and events. These requests have not been accommodated,” wrote Mr McNamara.

County Manager Tom Coughlan told the meeting, “We looked at every possibility of trying to do it but unfortunately we can’t do it at this point in time.”

Cllr PJ Ryan (Independent) said, “I’m a bit disappointed that we can’t find a home for this particular piece of iconic history.”

“It has to stay where it is for the time being. The only thing I’m concerned about is if we get inclement weather and the River Fergus flows over, the building is going to get flooded again,” he added.

Fianna Fáil Councillor PJ Kelly said he was “very, very disappointed with the response” from the executive.

He said if the weight of the car would challenge the capacity of the council’s headquarters, “if that’s the situation we had better get out of an unsafe building”.

Mr Coughlan said he wished to refute any suggestions that the building was not safe.

ENNIS will play host to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann at some time in the future, as befitting its status and reputation as being one of the primary homes and melting pots for traditional music in Ireland.

That’s the defiant message being aired this week by members of the broadband coalition of forces that came together to spearhead the county capital’s bid to play host to the 2012 staging of the event.

“It’s a big blow,” the chairman of the Fleadh Cheoil Working Group, Micheál Ó Riabhaigh, admitted this week, but he added defiantly “I would certainly believe that we will come back again.

“We have an excellent location for it. We have done an awful lot of the work. We have proven that we are regarded very highly in terms of a location, so I think it’s inevitable that Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will come to Ennis,” he added.

“Ennis has a well deserved national and international reputation as a centre in which to enjoy superb tradition Irish music and we still believe it is a perfect fit for this wonderful event. This is not the end of our efforts to secure this prestigious event for Ennis, we will try again,” the Shannon Development chairman, Dr Vincent Cunnane told The Clare People .

The Ennis bid was officially launched last April, after the initial moves to bring the Fleadh back to Clare for the first time since 1977 were first proposed by the Abbey branch of Comhaltas Cheoltóirí Éireann in August of 2011.

The ambitious plans were subsequently backed by Clare Comhaltas, while Shannon Development, Clare County Council, Ennis Town Coun- cil and Clare GAA also rowed in with support.

“Meetings will be held fairly shortly to see where we go from here,” revealed Mr Ó Riabhaigh. “Our working group will meet later this week and we will do a review of the whole thing. The Abbey branch of Comhaltas that put in the initial bid will meet and there will be a meeting of the county board as well.

“I think people will give due consideration to the whole issue and to where we go forward from here. While we have been bitterly disappointed, the amount of work that we have done has been enormous and it has been a huge insight into the whole thing for us. We learned a great deal.

“It was mentioned by Labhrás Ó Murchú at the meeting that both Sligo and Ennis would have been two fantastic venues to stage Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and while they couldn’t give a commitment that they could allocate it to either town, immediately or in the near future, they felt very much that any one of the two towns would have been deserving winners,” added Mr Ó Riabhaigh.

COMPLAINTS of unsavoury odours in the Smithstown and Ballycasey areas of Shannon are being investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Clare County Council. The Clare People can reveal that an investigation has been launched, which involves EPA inspectors carrying out odour checks in the vicinity, in an attempt to isolate a potential source for the smell which has been circulating in recent weeks.

“So far, no particular source has been identified but work continues,” a spokesperson for the EPA told The Clare People .

This has come about amid several complaints about odours in areas including Smithstown, Ballycasey and Tullyvarraga, in recent weeks.

According to some reports, the smell is an unsavoury pungent odour, while other people are complaining of a sewage smell.

Last week, Independent Councillor Patricia McCarthy called for Shannon Town Council to write to the EPA to investigate the issue. She said that it should be addressed as a matter of urgency, after a previous odour was in circulation for two years.

“My concern is the length of time it is going to take to sort out this issue. We have been here before, albeit not the same area. A number of complaints have been lodged.

“They need to sort it out and let the people know what is the cause of it. We need openness and transparency and we need to know when they carry out their checks,” she told The Clare People.

“They need to act straightaway,” said Cllr McCarthy.

Meanwhile, the town’s grading in terms of EPA monitoring has dipped in recent days. Last week, the air quality was deemed ‘very good’, by the EPA, but has now changed to ‘good’. According to the EPA, this arose out of monitoring on August 31.

In March of this year, the EPA put monitoring measures in place and recorded a result of ‘good’ at the time.

The EPA’s mobile laboratory which is located in the town actively analyses the quality of air in the town and surrounding areas. When the EPA announced the measure in March, it indicated that the initiative would continue for up to a year.

The assessment is done via a trailer which is located at the rear of the civic offices in Shannon. Analysers are contained in the trailer and these are read on a regular basis.

There is also a fixed network whereby a number of sites around the county are monitored on a continuous basis.