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THE fate of Clare’s oldest construction firm, McInerney Holdings, took another twist on Friday when the board of directors of the company that was set up by O’Callaghan’s Mills man Thomas McInerney in 1909 resigned after a proposal to put the troubled house-builder into liquidation was rejected by shareholders.

Last week, McInerney Homes, which represents the Irish divisions of the construction company, was placed in receivership after the Supreme Court rejected an appeal to a previous High Court decision that refused to approve a rescue plan for the firm that had been proposed by the directors.

Had the plan been adopted, US private equity firm Oaktree Capital had pledged to invest € 54m in it and a related firm in order to keep them going.

McInerney’s directors said afterwards they were disappointed at the ruling. They pointed out that it meant that a € 54 million investment – that would have saved 100 jobs and resulted in a € 2 million payment to trade creditors – could not now go ahead.

Rebel shareholder David Nabar- ro, who owns 21.45 per cent of the group, was co-opted on to McInerney’s board after an extraordinary general meeting in Dublin city centre on Thursday.

Mr Nabarro succeeded in rallying enough support among shareholders to defeat the board’s motion to wind down the company through a voluntary liquidation. Of the 50 per cent of shareholders who voted, some 73 per cent rejected the motion.

Addressing the egm, chairman Ned Sullivan said the plc “has run out of cash, has no assets of worth and no bank facilities”. Its main Irish businesses were in receivership, the British businesses had been sold as had its Club business in Spain. Its remaining Spanish businesses had been placed into insolvency procedures, he said.

Mr Sullivan said the directors had exhausted “all possible efforts and options” to rescue the group.

“In this situation, it is not realistic to consider that there is any equity value for the shareholders,” Mr Sullivan said.

The company celebrated its centenary in 2009 and, until the recession took hold, the McInerney Group remained one of Ireland’s leading construction companies.

AN AMERICAN couple whose newborn son passed away at the Cliffs of Moher in 2006 are aiming to raise money for new emergency medical services at one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations.

According to TJ Waters, Chairman of the Ennis Sister Cities Board, the Stokes family are looking at the possibility of providing funds for a form of emergency vehicle to transport injured people from the Cliffs.

Kelly and Delia Garcia-Stokes’ newborn baby, Nicolas, passed away at the Cliffs in July 2006 after Delia went into premature labour.

Delia gave birth in a room at the Cliffs but sadly Nicolas died before the family could reach a hospital.

The Stokes family part funded a first aid facility at the Cliffs known as Nicolas’ Room, named in honour of their son.

In 2009 Councilman Claude Mattox of Phoenix City Council in Arizona, presented a cheque for $25,000 to the then Mayor of Clare, Councillor Tony Mulcahy, as a donation to first aid services and facilities at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience.

Phoenix, which is twinned with Clare’s county town Ennis, is home to the Stokes family. Earlier this year the couple visited the Cliffs to make a donation of $25,000 as part of their ongoing commitment to medical facilities at the centre.

First aid treatment and assistance to over 200 visitors has been provided from “Nicolas’ Room” since the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre opened to the public.

24 staff at the tourist centre have received advanced first aid training and the room is equipped to the level of a cardiac ambulance.

In addition, thousands of visitors have benefited from the wheelchair loan service, which is also operated from the room.

Ennis is twinned with Phoenix and, according to Mr Waters, the funding of new medical services at the Cliffs would be “very worthwhile, particularly at a time when funding is so tight”.

Mr Waters said the family are also keen to initiate an exchange programme between members of the emergency services attached to Clare County Council and their colleagues in Phoenix. He added, “That is something that might help in the future.”

APPROVAL for a proposed upgrade to the Clonroadmore Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is “urgently” needed to cater for future commercial development in Ennis, a senior official with Clare County Council has said.

David Timlin, Director of Environment and Water Services, said last week that cer tain wastewater license conditions issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “cannot be met until the plant upgrade is completed”.

Mr Timlin was speaking in the West County Hotel at An Bord Pleanála’s oral hearing into the Council’s application to upgrade the Clonroadmore WWTP.

Addressing senior inspector Mary Kennelly and board representative David Kelly, Mr Timlin said, “The capacity of the main Clondroadmore Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) urgently needs to be upgraded to provide for the current and predicted growth in domestic population and in the commercial and industrial sectors. As a water services authority, Clare County Council is acutely conscious of the need to urgently address the present sewerage deficiencies in Ennis.”

He continued, “The existing plant at Clondroadmore is already considerably overloaded. This proposal for the upgrade of the Clondroadmore WWTP will provide for the treatment of the wastewater loading arising in its catchments for the short term to medium term, in a sustainable and economic manner.”

Mr Timlin explained that the proposal forms par t of a “coherent plan for the provision of upgraded facilities to treat all wastewater arising in the entire Ennis agglomeration”.

Mr Timlin said the overall plan is contained in the preliminary report addendum for the Ennis Clarecastle Main Drainage, which was submitted to the Depar tment of Environment, Heritage and Local Government on July 7 last.

He said that a previous 2002 study had recommended the provision of a completely new single treatment plant to serve Ennis and its environs on the site of the Clareabbey wastewater treatment works, to replace both existing WWTPs and main pumping stations. An Bord Pleanála granted planning in 2003 and there followed, Mr Tim- lin explained, a period of detailed planning “including cost benefit analysis, public private par tnership assessment and national development finance agency approvals”.

He added, “However by March 2009 the enti re approach to the scheme had to be reviewed. The high front loaded capital costs associated with a vi rtually entirely new system could not be justified as against maximising the inherent value of the existing infrastructure, mainly dating from the 1970s and 1980s.

Mr Timlin explained that the proposed upgrade would enable the Clonroadmore plant to cater for a population equivalent of 30,150.

He added, “There will only be a small increase to the existing footprint of the facility, without extend- ing the boundary of the facility.”

Mr Timlin also stated that the upgrade is requi red “immediately, due to overloading and non-compliance with the waste water treatment discharge authorisation license and the water framework di rective requi rements as set out in the Shannon River Basin Management Plan 2010.”

He continued, “In summar y, Clare County Council as water services authority is conscious of the duty to meet all legislative requirements … Compliance with this requirement urgently requi res the proposed improvement works at the treatment facility. Indeed certain licence conditions which required compliance by December 31 (2010) cannot be met until the plant upgrade is completed.”

SINCE 2006, planning applications for large residential and commercial schemes in Ennis have been refused because of inadequate capacity in the public sewer, a meeting has heard.

The comment was made by Andrew Hersey, Executive Planner with Ennis Town Council, at an An Bord Pleanála oral hearing in Ennis on Thursday.

The hearing was held to examine information submitted to the Board by Clare County Council in relation to a proposed upgrade of the Clondroadmore Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Ennis.

In his submission as a representative of the planning authority, Mr Hersey recommended to the board that permission be granted to the proposed development.

He explains that the plant, which has been in operation since the 1970s, has a design capacity for a population equivalent (PE) of 17, 000 and its cur rent loading is circa 26, 000 (PE).

He added, “There is therefore a shor tfall of treatment capacity. I note that in order to comply with conditions for a discharge authorisation license as issued by the EPA, it is necessary that the capacity be increased.”

Mr Hersey states that Ennis is designated as a hub town in the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020.

He states that the strategy identifies three levels of capital invest ment in hub towns, “the highest priority being investment in water, wastewater and road infrastructure”.

Mr Hersey explains that while public water has been upgraded through the opening of the Dr umcliff water treatment facility and the road infrastructure has been upgraded with the Ennis bypass, “There has been no investment in wastewater infrastructure to date.”

Mr Hersey states that the population of Ennis is expected to grow to approximately 33, 000 by 2022, an increase on the cur rent population of 8,747 persons.

He adds, “At present there is not the capacity on the sewerage system of the town to facilitate the delivery of growth.”

The submission continues, “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 facili ties in the town.

“This cannot be the case into the future as the town cannot grow and reach its target population projections as planned until this wastewater treatment plant is upgraded.”

Describing the proposed upgrade as an “essential component of this town’s infrastructure”, Mr Hersey states, “Without it, 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.”

SECTIONS of the Ennis and Clarecastle sewer network will be upgraded and extended in parallel with a proposed development at the Clondroadmore Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), a meeting has heard.

David Timlin, Director of Environment and Water Services with Clare County Council, told an oral hearing in Ennis that money is available for the works.

It follows concerns raised at the hearing by Senior Inspector with An Bord Pleanála, Mary Kennelly and Board representative, David Kelly.

The board had sought clarification from the Council regarding the intended upgrading works for the wastewater collection system in Ennis.

In his response read out at the hearing, Thomas McKeown, associate partner with JB Barry and Partner’s Consultant Engineers, said reports in 2002 and 2011 had “identified the requirement for sewer structural rehabilitation and for upgrading and extension of the wastewater collection system in Ennis and Clarecastle”.

The Ennis Clarecastle Main Drainage Preliminary Report Addendum (July 2011) states, “It is recommended that sewer rehabilitation and sur- face water separate works be carried out in order to maximise the capacity and extend the design life of existing and upgraded wastewater treatment infrastructure, to reduce the energy costs associated with pump station operation and to provide adequate infrastructure for future development”.

Mr McKeown explained that work carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the River Fergus certified drainage scheme (phases one and two) will “assist towards the objective of reducing the surface water component in the combined sewer network and reducing the hydraulic load to the waste water treat- ment facilities for the town”.

He continued, “This will also reduce the constituent volume of storm water entering the Clonroadmore treatment plant and will reduce periods of overflow.”

Mr McKeown explained that the “preliminary report addendum 2011 includes a recommendation for foul and surface water sewer rehabilitation in Ennis at an estimated cost of € 1.89 million excluding VAT.”

Both Ms Kennelly and Mr Kelly expressed concern over the implications of funding not being available for the sewer network upgrade.

Mr Kelly said the board had to establish if the Council could meet water surface regulations in the absence of funding for the wastewater collection system in Ennis and Clarecastle.

Mr Timlin told the hearing that the funding is in place and that the Council had already identified the “highest priority” sewer network areas in Ennis.

Responding to a question from Ms Kelly, Mr Timlin said, “Clare County Council will fund this work if necessary. It will be done in parallel with the Clonroadmore upgrade.”

Ms Kelly told the hearing that completion of the sewer upgrade works could be attached as planning condition to the Clonroadmore project.

TOURISM concerns in Clare say there is some cause for optomism despite a season which has been a “very mixed bag” so far.

One of the definite success stories this summer has been the opening of the Loop Head Lighthouse attraction, which is already proving to be very popular with tourists, early figures showing that 700 visitors make their way to the iconic structure.

Sources in the Clare Tourism Forum also say there has been an upside to this season.

“The opening of new attractions plays an important role. The Loophead Lighthouse opening has had a tangible effect. There are 700 people a day visiting the lighthouse and that’s growing. You’re talking about a lot of people coming into an area and they don’t just visit the lighthouse and leave. They have coffee or lunch and they spend in other ways. Talking to people on the ground, it’s been a good July and the season is holding its own.”

And there is a renewed interest among anglers and country sports enthusiasts in coming to Clare, according to Teresa Browne of East Clare Tourism. Teresa has just returned from four days manning a stand on behalf of the tourism organisation at the County Livinging Association’s annual show, the biggest of its kind in the UK.

“The angling tourism business is really down in recent years but that said, there was a lot of genuine interest and enquiries at the CLA show.

“There was also a lot of genuine sympathy for the trouble we have been going through with the economy. I would hope that the feedback at the East Clare Tourism stand will translate into tourists coming here.”

“Anyone who is involved in the North American business is doing well but the Irish don’t seem to be coming out to play,” said Mid-West Hotel Federation chairman, Michael Vaughan. The Lahinch hotelier said that a new dynamic in the industry is seeing larger towns and cities getting the tourists at the expense of smaller places like Kilkee and Kilrush.

“In those places, business has been fairly flat and I’ve been speaking to a lot of B & B owners this week. They are really struggling. But that said, the US group market is doing well and September bookings are looking good. The extra flights with Delta and Continental have brought people in as well. Overall, I would say there has been a small lift and there is cause for optimism for next year.” he told The Clare People .

THE MUSIC at the Feakle trad festival will be silenced for a time this week, as a mark of respect for a visiting group from Olso who put aside the trauma of mass murder to come and play in Clare.

An organised silence is planned during the festival and Clare County Council will open its offices on Saturday to allow the visiting musicians to see the book of condolences.

And it has emerged that a group of young East Clare musicians narrowly avoided beiung at the heart of the dreadful massacre.

The East Clare youth traditional music group and their leaders and helpers were just back from an exchange visit to Oslo when Anders Behring Breivik went on his killing rampage.

Speaking from Oslo as the group of young people prepared for their trip to Ireland last night, leader, Thor Hauknes, said that they have been deeply shocked and traumatised by the events, but were dertermined to come to Clare nonetheless.

“It is terrible and everyone is very shocked. Thankfully, none of the group were directly involved but one of them works very close to the building that was bombed but she was not there at the time. My daughter, Solveig, her friend was killed. She was a fiddle player and they had played fiddle since she was nine years old.”

Thor said that the long-planned trip to Clare will be part of the healing process for the youngsters.

“This youth exchange, getting to know other young people in Europe and learning about the music of Clare, that is so important. That is what it is about,” he told The Clare People.

The exchange between the young people from Norway and the music students from Clare is funded by the Leargas Youth In Action prgramme. 28 Clare youngsters and twenty leaders and helpers had just returned from a trip to Oslo when atrocity struck.

Music Teacher, Mary McNamara, said that everyone involved “was so shocked when we heard about it. (the murders). I can’t tell how wonderful the people in Oslo were to us and what a fantastic trip it was. It’s chilling to think of what happened and to think that but for the timing, our students could have been there.”

A period of silence is planned during the festival as a mark of respect and Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes has organised to be at thecouncil offices to welcome the Oslo musicians and show them the book.

The young musicians, who are aged between 15 and 21, will learn about the East Clare style at classes during the week and will take part in a joint youth concert with Clare musicians on Thursday night.

“They will stay with the Clare musicians in a group as we did in Oslo. That’s the point of the exchange. As well as learning music, they live together, eat together and get to know each other,” Mary explained.

MOVES are being made to have a tangible tribute to mark the contribution made by the late Dr Brendan O’Regan to the aiport and the Shannon region.

Speaking about the year in which Shannon College of Hotel Management is celebrating its 60th birthday, the director, Philip J Smyth, said that it is fitting that some tribute be put in place for the man creditied with the creation of the free zone and duty free.

Now the Mayor of Shannon, Mary Brennan, intends to bring a proposal to the town council to have some landmark which will bear Dr O’Regan’s name.

The Shannon College was founded by Dr O’Regan in 1951. Mr Smyth said that in facing current financial challenges, Dr O’Regan’s vision is an inspiration which can be brought to bear.

“His entrepreneur’s spirit is exactly what is needed now. He had incredible dynamic and vision. He gave the world duty free shops, the Shannon free zone and developed the airport and then there’s our own jewel in the crown in terms of educating the hoteliers of tomorrow. It is fitting that some tribute be paid now, whether it be a statue or a road named after him or whatever,” the director said.

When contacted by The Clare People , Mayor Brennan said she would “certainly support such a suggestion. Dr O’Regan brought so much to the Shannon region. He had such foresight and brought industry and jobs here. That kind of commitment cannot be ignored.”

Mayor Brennan said that she feels that erecting a plaque or naming a road after Dr O’Regan would “be a more practical proposal than erecting a statue, given current finances. But I will be bringing a motion to the September meeting of the Shannon Town Council to that effect and I’ll speak to other members in the meantime. I’m sure my fellow councillors will support it. We owe a great deal to Dr O’Regan and the tremendous things he did here.”

Once passed by Shannon Town Council, the plan will have to go before a full meeting of Clare County Council for approval and help with funding.