Category: News

NEWCO, the working name for the new organisation to manage Shannon Airport and its 2000-acre landbank, will become the engine for growth the mid-west region, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Richard Bruton has declared. In hailing the new departure for Shannon, Minister Bruton said that the “ambitious” plans for the new independent Shannon Airport structure can be delivered upon thanks to the goodwill of the people in the mid-west.

“Keeping the status quo is not an option,” he revealed, “and we have now created a real opportunity for exciting development.

“It is a very good day for the Shannon region. We are creating a new engine for regional development and it is being built from structures that unfortunately for different reasons were running into extreme difficulties,” added Minister Bruton.

The minister paid tribute to Shannon Development’s record over the past 50 years, but revealed that it was time for change because “the funding model that supported them for so many years has been severely damaged by the property crash”.

“We now have to create new structures that will carry on that work (of Shannon Development).

“I believe that we have in the business plan development and the merged entity, NEWCO, the opportunity to start a new chapter in regional development for Shannon.

“By restructuring the enterprise agencies in the Shannon region we can ensure that indigenous and multinational industry already in the region or considering locating there have access to a comprehensive range of supports.

“By merging a strong independent Shannon Airport with the extensive property holdings, experience and expertise of Shannon Development we will create a strong new State company which will work with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland on developing an International Aviation Services Centre in the region.

“The implementation of these decisions represents a new start for enterprise and jobs in the Shannon region,” added Minister Bruton.

Shannon Passenger
Numbers 2007- 2012 2007 3.62m 2008 3.16m 2009 2.79m 2010 1.75m 2011 1.62m 2012 1.5m

CLARE was the toast of the national Tidy Towns movement in the mid west on Thursday night last as the county scooped 17 awards at the regional prize-giving ceremony for 2012 at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis.

Ennis led the way for the county and region by winning the overall award, having already captured the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre at the National Awards ceremony in September. Gold Medal winners in the region were Ennis, Ballynacally and Kilrush.

The winners were presented with their awards by Ms. Jan O’Sullivan T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Leonard Fay, Regional Manager with SuperValu, proud sponsors of the competition. Also joining the Minister on stage was Mr John King, Assistant Chief Executive, Shannon Development.

Speaking at the awards ceremony Minister O’Sullivan said: “I’m delighted to have this opportunity today to acknowledge the efforts of TidyTowns groups across this region, and to pay tribute to the very many enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers who get involved in this competition year on year regardless of the weath- er conditions.

“The unselfish effort and the generosity displayed by these volunteers really does make a difference to our communities. The results of their hard work is evident across the region in towns and villages that are more attractive, better cared for, better places to live and more appealing places to visit.

I would like to pay tribute to all the other TidyTowns groups not here today who are also committed to improving their communities year on year and I’m sure they will be providing tough competition to this year’s winners in the future.

“All of the TidyTowns groups take pride in their communities. I’d like to congratulate Ennis; the overall winner for the Mid West region and the winner of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre Award as well as all of today’s other prize-winners,” she added.

“Tourism is a key economic driver in the Shannon Region economy and it is vitally important that we maximize all our resources to enhance the environment and promote tourism business,” said Shannon Development assistant chief executive John King.

“SuperValu Tidy Towns is a priceless resource, not just for now, but for future generations who want to live, work and spend leisure time in the Shannon Region,” he added.

Clare Winners
National Award IrelandsTidiest Large Urban Centre: Ennis MidWest Region – Overall Winner: Ennis Gold Medals: Ballynacally, Ennis, Kilrush Silver Medals: Mountshannon Bronze Medals: Kilkee,Tuamgraney

County Winners
Winner: Ennis Highly Commended: Ballynacally Commended: Mountshannon Endeavour Award: Connolly

Gum Litter Taskforce
National Award: Ennis Large Urban Centre Award: Ennis Small Town Award: Newmarket-on-Fergus

Tourism Town Awards
Ennis & Ballyvaughan

THE community spirit of the Clare Tidy Towns effort was celebrated on Thursday night by the county’s flagship centre in the national competition over the last number of years.

Ennis was presented with seven different awards on the night, with the chairperson of the Ennis Tidy Towns Committee, Áine Purcell hailing what she called “a back to basics” approach as being the major contributory factor for the county capital’s achievements.

“In Ennis this year what we decided to do was go back to basics,” Ms Purcell revealed when accepting the award for Ennis as Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre. “We led by example. I know Tuamgraney do it, I know Mountshannon do it, I know Kilrush do it – I know all of you do it.

We asked people. People like to be asked. Everyone likes to be part of a community so we asked people.

“We didn’t make any emails, we didn’t make any phone calls, we didn’t write any letters – all 22 of us just went around and asked people. It paid off very well in that there’s a tradition that we’re very proud of, but it paid off more importantly in that it brought everyone together as a community,” he added.

Ennis’ other honours were as in the Gum Litter Taskfore competition, where the town was named both the large urban centre and national winner, the Tourism Town Award, the County Award, as well as a Gold Medal and the Shannon Region award winner.

“One of the highlights for me personally,” continued Ms Purcell, “was after we won the award as Ireland’s largest urban centre, someone said to me in the street ‘didn’t we do well in Dublin’.

“That was powerful because there was a sense of ownership in that because it was the community coming together.

“We are very, very fortunate in Ennis in that we have a very positive and great working relationship with our town council. Any positive relationship that you can foster is brilliant. SuperValu are to complimented for promoting Tidy Towns and promoting bringing communities together,” she added.

GARDAÍ in Ennis have launched an investigation after an attempted arson attack on units in the Beechpark Traveller accommodation site.

Two buildings at the site on the outskirts of Ennis sustained smoke damage when an attempt was made to set them ablaze on Saturday night.

Intruders attempted to set fire to the kitchen of one unit after breaking a window. The rear was forced open in another unit and an attempt was made to set the building alight.

Gardaí in Ennis said yesterday that petrol was discovered near the scene of both attempted fires. No one was injured in the attack.

The family who live at one of the damaged units were away on the night. As of yesterday, no one had been arrested or charged in connection with the attack.

It is the second time in three years that the Beechpark site has sustained damage. Between 2010 and 2011, the Council was forced to spend € 2800 a week on providing security at Beechpark after units there were destroyed by vandalism and arson in April 2010. Last year, a report from Clare County Council on the costs associated with providing traveler accommodation in Clare, stated that Beechpark has been the subject of threats and intimidation since 2010.

COMPANIES are queuing up to do business in the Shannon Free Zone and provide thousands of new jobs – the only thing they’re demanding to turn this commitment into a reality is that Clare’s international airport be freed from the strictures of Dublin Airport Authority control and be given its full independence.

This promise of a jobs bonanza for the region was delivered by Rose Hynes, the chairperson of the Aviation Business Development Task Force that has helped draft a blueprint for the independent Shannon Airport structure over the last four months.

“We have people lined up who are willing to do business with Shannon but they are only willing to do it if the airport and the new entity is created on the basis of separation,” Ms Hynes revealed at Monday’s press conference heralding the timeframe for the airport’s independence.

“People are willing to do business, but not when there’s an air of uncertainty. They want to do business when there’s certainty and separation. We are already talking from a position of strength where we have commitment for a 1000 of those jobs – that’s a position of considerable strength. We are talking a success- ful airport that when combined with the landbank we can actually create and additional 3,500 jobs over five years,” she added.

Ms Hynes, who is tipped to become chairperson of the new Shannon Airport structure, has moved quickly to dispel thoughts the jobs target is overly ambitious, telling The Clare People that the plan represents “the beginning of a new era” for the airport.

“We had intensive discussions and we formed the view that the status quo was not a sustainable option and that a restructured Shannon and Shannon Development can be sustainable and can be successful,” said Ms Hynes. “Shannon cannot just remain where it is at the moment. We have looked at the Shannon situation high up and low down and we are absolutely convinced that we have a plan that’s viable, that’s going to lead to a successful airport.

“We had a philosophy in the task force where basically we decided that we weren’t going to leave behind a set of recommendations that were going to just gather dust somewhere. We decided that if we were going to recommend something we were going to put momentum into it.

“We were going to try and take that as far as we could do. We did that in relation to job numbers; we did that in relation to every other recommendation that we made. It means that when we talk about it, we talk about something we believe,” she added.

Commenting on the cabinet decision, Shannon Airport Director Mary Considine said, “Today is a pivotal step in the process of separation. The focus of staff and management at Shannon Airport has been on ensuring that the airport is financially and operationally ready for separation.

“This entire process is all about securing a sustainable future for all the stakeholders of the Airport and that Shannon Airport delivers on its role as a key economic driver for the West of Ireland,” she added.

A WOMAN has apologised after pleading guilty to a breach of the peace at Ennis Courthouse earlier this year.

Nora Maughan (24), with addresses at 20 Stonecourt, Drumbiggle, Ennis and Brayton Park, Kilcock, Kildare, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the accused was charged following a commotion that developed in the foyer of the courthouse on September 25.

He told the court that gardaí found Ms Maughan with another woman. Insp Kennedy said Ms Maughan was not the only person involved in the incident.

She has no previous convictions. Defence solicitor William Cahir told the court that his client was extremely anxious to deal with the matter.

He added, “She holds her hands up and admitted it was out of order.” Mr Cahir told the court that Ms Maughan’s involvement in the melee was “not of her character or nature.”

Ms Maughan told the court that she was “very, very sorry for what happened.”

She said she had never been in such a situation before.

Judge Patrick Durcan the public had been discommoded by what had occurred in the courthouse on the day. He added, “This court discharged its functions in discomfort.”

He ordered Ms Maughan to pay € 100 to the court poor box. He also struck out the charges against her.

Judge Durcan said, “Whenever you go to courthouses in the future, behave yourself in the future.”

A 14-YEAR-old boy has appeared in court charged with offences in connection with an alleged violent incident at a primary school in Ennis.

The teenager was before Ennis District Court on Friday. He is charged with violent disorder at the Holy Family Primary School on March 20, 2012.

He is also charged with the production of a machete contrary to the firearms and offensive weapons act on the same date and location.

The court heard that jurisdiction of the case had previously been refused. Inspector Tom Kennedy requested an extension of time for the service of the book of evidence.

The teenager was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on December 19.

A MAN has been ordered to pay compensation after he admitted to jumping on a garda patrol car in Kilrush last month.

David Cuggeran (36), with an address at 6 St Senan’s Terrace, Kilrush, appeared at Kilrush District Court on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at Parknamoney, Ennis Road, Kilrush on October 21.

Superintendent Gerard Wall told the court that Gardai were called to deal with a disturbance near Kilrush golf club on the night in question

The court heard that Mr Cuggeran was an intoxicated state and was asked by gardaí to leave the area.

Supt Wall said the accused then ran in front of a stopped patrol car, jumped on it and cracked the windscreen.

The court heard that Mr Cuggeran also directed bad language at the gardaí. Solicitor Joe Chambers told the court that his client had been at a function with friends.

He said an element of alcohol was involved but Mr Cuggeran was not drunk.

Mr Chambers added, “An incident occurred outside of his making which incensed him greatly.”

He told the court that his client did not say anything abusive to the gardaí and that he respects the force.

“He did a silly thing. He jumped on top of a squad car,” Mr Chambers added. The court heard that € 407 worth of damage was caused to the car. Supt Wall said the garda was grounded for the night because of the cracked windscreen.

He said there had been no garda provocation on the night.

Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the case until December to allow for payment of compensation.

Mr Cuggeran was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Kilrush District Court on December 18.

THERE will be a contest for the top job in Clare GAA, with Noel O’Driscoll (O’Callaghan’s Mills) and Michael McDonagh (St Joseph’s Miltown) going head-to-head for chairman’s position being vacated by Michael O’Neill at the County Convention on December 18.

O’Driscoll has told The Clare People he will be in the race, while it has also been confirmed by sources within St Joseph’s Miltown that McDonagh, who served as chairman from 2003 to 2007, will be allowing his name go forward for the position.

ENNIS’ grid-lock problems at peak periods are set to be alleviated from this Wednesday when the long-awaited inner relief road finally opens up for traffic.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine (FF) will formally declare the road open at a special ceremony at Friar’s Walk Coach Park at 10.30am, bringing to an end a long running saga for the provision of a new road to alleviate traffic problems in the county capital.

The final stage of the project was signalled in July when Ennis Town Council revealed that the final phase of the road was to begin later that month after the local local authority signed a € 360,000 construction contract with Gildoc Limited.

The contract provided for the construction of 180 metres of single carriageway road, footpaths and serv- ices, including new traffic lights at Station Road and Clare Road.

The Ennis Inner Relief Road Section E contract, to be delivered by Ennis-based Liam O’Doherty Building Contractor on behalf of Gildoc Limited, had a completion deadline for late September but was held up until final funding was secured.

At the time, outgoing Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) praised the local authority “for delivering this project which many had feared would not go ahead due to the “current fiscal constraints”.

“However, the necessary funding has been secured to ensure the delivery of what will be a very beneficial infrastructure project for Ennis town centre.

“It will complement similar road projects in recent years, including the section of the Inner Relief Road from Station Road to Francis Street and the Ennis Bypass, in further reducing traffic congestion in the Clare county capital,” he added.

“The new road will link Station Road at Madden’s Furniture to Friar’s Walk, the Causeway, Clare Road at Cathedral Court,” explained Eamon O’Dea, Ennis Town Engineer.

“This section of the Inner Relief Road will improve traffic flow to the town centre for customers and visitors to Ennis, and will reduce traffic congestion in the Station Road and Upper O’Connell Street area of Ennis,” added Cllr Guilfoyle.