Category: News

ENNIS Town Council has warned that dog owners who do not clean up after their animals who foul in public areas will be fined and prosecuted under the Litter Pollution Act.

Environmental wardens will be renewing efforts to combat dog fouling around the town by actively targeting blackspot areas over the coming weeks, the local authority said.

The public are also being encouraged to report, in confidence, to Ennis Town Council any offences they see being committed.

“Dog fouling is an issue that has been on top of people’s mind as the worst form of litter and has been one of the top issues of complaint from members of the public in recent times,” explained environmental warden Gerry Murphy.

Mr Murphy noted that dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets in public areas but some are ignoring their responsibilities. He added that dog waste is not only a nuisance but can carry diseases which can be harmful to humans.

He continued, “The council is keen to promote the message that allowing your dog to foul in a public area and then not picking it up is simply unacceptable. Failing to clean up after your dog is the same as littering and is an offence under the Litter Pollution Acts. If you do not clean up after your dog you could face an on the spot fine of € 150 or up to a maximum fine of € 3,000 in court for each offence.”

“In January 2012, Ennis Town Council launched Personal Poop Scoop Dispensers which are available free of charge to dog owners from Ennis Town Council offices and the Dog Pound on the Gort Road in Ennis.

“These dispensers, which fit directly on to a dog lead so dog owners will not forget to bring them with them, are being made available so as to help dog owners to meet their civic duty not to cause a mess when exercising their pets,” Mr Murphy concluded.

To report littering contact Ennis Town Council’s Environment Section at 065 6828040. For further information contact www.ennistowncouncil.ie.

BED and breakfasts in Kilrush have a reported a 20 per cent increase in business compared to the May bank holiday last year.

The boost in bed numbers has been attributed to the National Famine Commemoration 2013, with event beginning on Friday night last.

Accommodation providers in West Clare from Lissycasey to the tip of the peninsula are also preparing for an upcoming busy week and weekend, as events building up to the National Famine Commemoration in the area’s biggest town attract new visitors to the west of the county.

The Kilrush marketing and development officer Síobhan Garvey said early estimates suggest that the 10 days of events and Sunday’s ceremony will give the town an economic boost of approximately € 100,000.

The full financial impact will not be known for a few weeks however.

Honorary secretary of Kilrush Chamber of Commerce Mary Rose Counihan added that while it is not known exactly by how much the town’s businesses will benefit, it will provide an economic boost.

She agreed it was likely to be worth over € 100,000.

“It is bringing people to the town who would not usually think of visiting the area,” she said.

“The town is literally buzzing. There are loads of people around that would not normally be around.”

In the past few days lecturers and speakers, along with their family and friends, have been checking into B&Bs and hotels in the area.

History enthusiasts have also been availing of the lectures and events that are being provided free of charge in West Clare, many staying a number of days.

This weekend 46 ambassadors are also due to visit Kilrush as part of the official commemoration ceremony.

It is understood some of these diplomats have already booked into the five star Doonbeg Lodge, with more expected to stay in other hotels in the county. And despite the inclement weather which endured during the opening ceremony in Carrigaholt, enthusiasm for this national event continues as week-long events have been organised by the local council and community.

CLARE farmers will need in excess of 15,000 bales of silage to see themselves through the next two weeks as the fodder crisis reaches breaking point.

More than 1,200 bales which were harvest at Shannon Airport over the weekend have already been distributed – with some farmers who asked for 20 and 30 bales being allocated just three bales each.

The IFA is hopeful to be in a position to harvest a further 600 bales from the airport later this week but this will be a difficult operation, involving grounds close to the main runway at Shannon Airport.

The mortality rate on Clare farms was last week estimated to be between 45 per cent and 60 per cent higher than normal – with a lack of quality feed the main factor. Animals deaths in Clare are understood to have reached several hundred already this year and, while no official figures are yet available, the Dead Animal Collection Service has been forced to curtail its operating hours because of the sheer scale of dead animals on Clare farms.

Clare Marts Ltd yesterday took delivery of its first shipment of hay from Kent in the UK. The Department of Agriculture has not, however, extended its Transport Subsidy to the mart – which means that the cost of transporting the feed will have to be borne by the mart and by Clare farmers.

The Department of Agriculture is also understood to be examining the possibility for shipping in boatloads of fodder from the UK directly into Foynes and Galway – which could mean a cheaper and quicker of fodder to Clare farmers.

“The bales from Shannon are brilliant, but they are just the tip of the iceberg really. I though on Friday morning that we might have been able to wrap some of it and use it next week maybe, but the demand was so great that it was all gone straight away. It was hard to cope with the calls afterward. I took in excess of 100 calls from Clare farmers on Saturday,” said Clare IFA chairman, Andrew Dundas.

“This might keep people going for a day or two. Farmers are under severe pressure at the moment. Cash is a huge issue out there and people have already ran up a massive bill. And we have a way to go in this yet. The rate of animals deaths in Clare has increased dramatically. It has already ran into the hundreds of animal, without a doubt. It is a very large amount.” Ennistymon farmer Pat O’Donoghue praised the work of the IFA in securing the Shannon Airport cutting – two years before it was due to be cut. “There was a lot of negotiations but this is great,” said Mr O’Donoghue.

FIFTY-FIVE years after its first transatlantic flight from Shannon, Aer Lingus is on the cusp of resuming a year-round transatlantic operation from Clare’s international airport.

Aer Lingus sources have confirmed that the restoration of the permanent 12-month a year service from Shannon to both New York and Boston could be facilitated by the use of smaller, more fuel efficient aircraft on the transatlantic fleet from next winter.

The move comes just under three years after the national airline announced its first suspension of services to Boston and New York from Shannon – the first 11-week break from taking place from January to March 2011, which was repeated in both 2012 and 2013.

The decision to suspend services to Boston and New York during the off-peak winter months was made on the back of heavy losses on the two routes stretching back over 15 years.

“Both these routes have incurred significant losses during the winter months in 14 of the past 15 years. Since 1995, Aer Lingus has lost a total of € 163m on its transatlantic flights from Shannon during the winter months, with an average operating loss per winter season of almost € 11m,” said Aer Lingus chief executive Christoph Mueller.

“In addition, the airline has sustained declining load factors on these routes for a number of years. Aer Lingus is committed to the Shannon market as an important part of our network. However, in order to maintain the viability of our Shannon transatlantic operations throughout the remainder the year, the three-month suspension of these routes when seasonal demand is at its lowest is crucial,” he added.

However, three years on it’s hoped that the year-round service will be resumed through the use of the smaller and more viable Boeing 757 aircraft on the route.

Aer Lingus has completed a deal to lease three Boeing 757 jets to operate North Atlantic services starting in early 2014. It’s understood the aircraft will be leased from Dublin based air contractors.

CLARE County Council has one of the best employee attendance rates in the country, surpassed just marginally by Wicklow when it comes to certified leave and Cavan for uncertified leave.

The percentage of working days lost through uncertified sickness and absenteeism at Clare County Council is at a mere .35 per cent, while certified days lost through certified sickness and absenteeism is at 3.65 per cent.

Eddie Power from the local authorities Human Resource Department believes a newly implemented Attendance Management Policy is playing a significant role in maintaining high attendance levels among the 800 staff members.

“It manages the best possible way the attendance at work, and addresses any major underlining issue staff may have,” he said.

“If there is a pattern of absenteeism we have a policy of sitting down with the person,” he added.

The HR officer said that staff support is in place in the form of a “staff welfare officer” who speaks with people in confidence to discuss any issues they may be having.

Professional counsellors from outside the local authority service are also employed if required by staff members. This service is strictly confidential, he said.

In cases where people may be absent for just one day due to illness, they are also required to sit down with their line manager for a “brief chat”.

“I think the figures here are fairly representative and show a good performance,” said Mr Power.

“We do our best to manage it and give support where need and when required.”

The current Attendance Management Policy was introduced to Clare County Council in 2011.

AFTER months of delegations meeting with ministers, political lobbying and strategic plans drawn up, the Loophead Peninsula was part of the new tourism imitative, the Wild Atlantic way, announced this week.

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring (FG) unveiled the final route for the new touring route running from Donegal to Cork, which includes the picturesque and rugged coastline of Clare.

The 2,500km final route was unveiled following a comprehensive public consultation process and includes 156 strategically placed discovery points for tourists along the way. While the route comprises the main spine of the Wild Atlantic Way, a series of looped itineraries off the spine are also planned to further develop the experience for visitors.

This includes a detour to Clare sights such as the Loophead Light- house and the Bridges of Ross.

While new clearer signage is to be erected to accommodate busloads of tourists embarking on the longest coastline drive for tourists in Europe, there are no immediate plans to upgrade the road infrastructure along the Clare part of the route.

The majority of the Clare part of the tour is along the N67, a national primary road, but the route also diversifies on to secondary routes particularly around Fanore.

Senior engineer with Clare County Council Tom Tiernan said that while realignment along the route is desirable, it is not on likely in the near future.

“Significant allocations of the route need significant improvement, but that is not part of any immediate plans,” he said.

He explained the buses and coaches are already using this route, and that the condition of the roads is similar to a lot of other counties along the scenic route.

THE Mol an Óige National School in Ennistymon is hoping to top the charts this summer with the release of a new single and music video aimed at making money to construct a school building.

Parents at the school have set themselves the ambitious challenge of raising the € 2 million needed to construct a new school in Ennistymon. The project has been given the green light by planners at the Department of Education but it could be years or even decades before official funding for the school is forthcoming.

Last month the school’s Parents Association decided to take on the ambitions challenge of raising the € 2 million themselves and have already raised € 4,000. They are hopeful that the song ‘Sroohil’, which was written and recorded by parent Fran Fray and a number of others, will help them in this effort.

The song is available for download on iTunes and Google Play and noted Ennistymon film and documentary maker Fergus Tighe, has also make a music video to go along with it.

“One of the parents, who is a song- writer, came up with an idea for a song. She came down to my house and sang it and then they recorded it at the Courthouse Gallery,” said Stuart Woolley of Mol An Óige.

“The song is totally about the school and the campaign. It is all about asking people to help and all about building the school. The school already has an anthem before it is built. We are hopeful that people will hear the song and think about the cause and building the new school.”

Anyone who wishes to purchase the single can locate it on iTunes or Google Play at a cost of € 2. A small number of physical copies are also being pressed. The campaign is the first time in Ireland that the construction of a large project such as a school has been attempted using online crowd-funding.

“The campaign is going along nicely so far. We got a few large donations in the early days but new seem to get a number of smaller donations every day – which is nice. The campaign has gone international to a certain extent, we have been getting a lot of people getting involved in France, Germany and Australia, as well as in America. Which is great,” continued Stuart.

KILKEE is badly in need of a radical overhaul if it hopes to face up to the demands of being a 21st century town, a new blueprint being put in place for the next five years has warned.

‘Towards a Better Kilkee – Kilkee Town Improvement and Economic Development Strategy 2013-2020’ that has been put in place by Clare County Council and Kilkee Town Council has highlighted a huge number of infrastructral deficiencies that have contributed to the town’s decline.

These include the quality of tourism provision and the lack of an industrial base on the back of decline in tourism related business and an acceptance of the fact that the town’s only industrial units have reached the end of their lifespan.

“While there is great loyalty and affection for Kilkee among regular visitors, the economic benefit to the town from tourism is declining,” warns the draft report that has been circulated to members of both Kilkee Town Council and Kilrush area county councillors.

“In order to reverse this trend, the reasons for decline need to be addressed. A telling number of rented houses reported unacceptable standards of cleanliness on arrival. The absence of a comprehensive online database of available accommodation for Kilkee also presents difficulty for those wishing to book accommodation.

“The restaurants were praised by many but an equal number found fault with the service. In order for the town to benefit from what are essentially free amenities like the beach and cliff walks, significant improvements need to occur to services available to people who come, or who may be encouraged, to visit Kilkee in order to generate economic return from the town.

“The current lack of provision of adequate convenience shopping floorspace and the absence of petrol supply also impacts on the town’s profile. The town also lacks provision for touring tourists caravans and campers,” the report adds.

In relation to the signature landmark of the Marine Parade Bandstand (below), the draft report warns that its condition “has deteriorated and renewal of many elements is now urgent”. There are now 32 vacant building in the town, among them the industrial units on the Carrigaholt Road that are now deemed to be an eyesore.

“Kilkee has many vacant buildings, residential and commercial,” the report warns. “Buildings or sites in a town which are vacant, under untilised or derelict take from the attractiveness and undermine economic confidence. Vacant premises generally reflect weak economic activity and poor demand for space, unless dealt with they can facilitate further decay in adjacent areas.

The enterprise units have been vacant for many year. The condition of the building fabric and services need to be realistically assessed. A feasibility study of options for viable new used needs to be undertaken as a matter of urgency.

“In the interim the site needs a thorough overhaul as in the current condition it conveys a negative image of Kilkee. The buildings are an important asset, notwithstanding that they are rundown and appear to have reached the end of their lifespan without substantial development,” it adds.

DUBLIN based company di rectors have purchased the landmark Bunratty public house and restaurant Dur ty Nelly’s for an estimated one thi rd of its premium 2008 value.

It has not been revealed how much new owners Martin Scully (50) of Merrion Row, Dublin, and his busi- ness associate Mary McCoy (43) of Dundrum paid for the business, but local property experts put it at between € 4 million and € 5 million.

Dur ty Nelly’s was previously purchased in 2008 by Ennis-based consortium Crystal Par tners, which was owned by businessmen Seanie Lyne and Noel Connellan.

It is believed that this consor tium paid more than € 12 million for the distinctive yellow building visible from the N18 dual carriageway.

Business par tners Mr Scully and Ms McCoy purchased the property last week from Bank of Scotland.

Reassurances have already been given that the 40 plus staff will be retained and it will be business as usual for the foreseeable future.

Minor changes to the interior work have been planned however.

Mr Scully, a director of 12 companies, said he and Ms McCoy were the “highest bidder” for the property, but its price remains “confidential”.

He confirmed however that they did not pay “anything near that” paid in 2008.

In the early 1980s previous owner Humphrey O’Connor bought the pub from Roger Por rit for £1 mil- lion.

The public house that dates back to a shebeen from 1620 is one of the most recognised in the country.

Although li ke most public houses business has suffered in the last number of years, it continues to attract tourists visiting the many attractions in Bunratty and the brand name Durty Nellies also car ries immense brand value.

ALMOST five percent of the priests currently service in the Diocese of Galway and Kilfenora have had official abuse claims levelled against them. The diocese, which includes the Clare parishes of Ballyvaughan, Carron, New Quay, Ennistymon, Kilfenora, Liscannor, Moymore, Lisdoonvarna and Kilshanny, has recorded of a total of 38 allegations made against 14 priests or members of religious orders since 1975.

According to the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, the Church’s own internal watch-dog body, 27 of these allegations were reported to the gardaí.

The report indicated that three of the 63 priests currently serving in the diocese have had claims made against them. No individual priests were named in the report nor was any indication given as to what part of the diocese the priests are currently serving.

Speaking after the publication of the report, Bishop Martin Drennan said that the concerns expressed were “not of a sufficient nature” to warrant their removal from active ministry.

The report also recommends that a review of any cases of allegation which were made against living priests who are no longer in active service or are on administrative leave should be carried out.

Minister Drennan said that the results of the review were good news for the diocese.

“Last week’s report shows that we have at last turned the corner. It offers encouragement in many forms, safeguarding practice is reported as good in the diocese, complaints are dealt with promptly,” said Bishop Drennan.

“There is ongoing help available for victims of abuse. Counselling is offered to complainants and their families.

“The diocese works closely with the HSE and with the Garda Siochana in an effort to make sure that children participating in Church-related activities are safe. To date three hundred and fifty five people have been given training so that their work as safeguarding representatives may be as effective as possible.”