Category: News

CLARE County Council may be strapped for cash but it recognises there are people much worse off in the country that need “a helping hand”.

As a result it will propose that the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and the Government to set up a voluntary organisation or foundation entitled A Helping Hand, which will do exactly what it says in the title.

The brainchild of West Clare councillor Gabriel Keating (FG), the purpose of the organisation is to provide financial support to the most vulnerable people in society.

It is proposed that the organisation would seek financial aid from the wealthy and better off in Ireland and abroad, and it would also devise other ways and means to meet its targets through sponsored projects or fund raising events.

“As the recession continues all voluntary organisations have seen an increase in the numbers of people seeking help. Voluntary organisations are not immune from the recession and they have witnessed a dip in donations from ordinary individuals and as well as that corpo- rate donations are not as regular as they were during the good times.

“Through our history we have a reputation for helping people all over the world. When other countries suffer disasters such as famine, earthquakes or tsunamis, Irish people continue to respond generously. Here at home, somehow people continue to respond generously to the many deserving causes, promoted by organisations such as West Clare Cancer Support and many others.

“In the early years of our freedom and independence we built new hospitals and institutions to help the sick. These were funded by an Annual Irish Sweepstake Draw that attracted worldwide support,” said the councillor.

“While the Lotto was set up since 1987 to help fund good causes, I believe that it is clear now at this point in our history that a National Voluntary Organisation – made up of people with vision, talent and imagination – is needed to bridge the gap in funding for those who are most in need.”

The Helping Hand Foundation by the Government would target the financially well off for funding.

“I am thinking par ticularly of wealthy Irish people who are now living abroad and who would love to contribute to this countr y but maybe they have never been asked. It would also utilize people who have a proven track record in volunteering and through their work have earned respect from the people such as reti red presidents, bishops and people in public life, entertainment and sport.

“In these very difficult times or recession and hardship we cannot and must not forget the most vulnerable in our society. We must extend a helping hand to those who most need it,” he said.

SHANNON Airport will soon begin a new life as a debt-free, standalone airport, The Clare People can reveal. The Shannon Airport Task Force will present its plan for the future of the airport to Government next month – and that plan will include the removal of € 100 million of historic debt from the books of Shannon Airport.

This development is seen a vital boost to the airport’s prospects of survival and growth when it eventually emerges free of the grip of the Dublin Airport Authority.

County Manager, Tom Coughlan yesterday confirmed the details of a meeting which took place last week between representatives of the council and Rose Hynes of the Shannon Airport Task Force.

The statement outlines a new future for the airport, with plans to grow passenger number to 2.5 million per annum over the next five years. The task force will recommend a new approach which will see a combined focus on passengers and freight services at Shannon.

Speaking last night, Mr Coughlan welcomed the announcement, saying it is what the local authority had been hoping for and was in line with plans set out by the local authority in the Clare County Development Plan.

The news was also welcomed by Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald (Lab).

“This is great news for the airport. This gives Shannon a real fighting chance in the future. If the debt had been maintained at the airport, it would have been difficult to see how they would have managed it, to be honest.

“So this is very good news,” said

THE National Roads Agency (NRA) have been accused of incompetence, in their approach to signage of the M18, by councillors at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council.

In a joint motion put forward by Cllrs Michael Kelly (FF), Bill Slattery (FG) and Joe Arkins (FG), a call was made for Clare County Council to begin to interact vigorously with the roads agency in an attempt to improve mistakes and omission in signage.

A call was made for the review of all signs on the M18, with all areas which were signed on the old N18 to also be included on the motorway. A number of popular tourist attractions are currently not included on the motorway – with Cllr James Breen (Ind), offering to sing Spancil Hill, if it would help the NRA to recognise the famous townland.

“I’m not happy at all with this reply at all. This is typical NRA speak. It is them saying that we don’t have a say down here; they know what is best for us. At the present time, there are areas of high tourism that attract a lot of people to the county, but yet when they come here they can’t find the place because there are no signs,” said Cllr Michael Kelly.

“The NRA has decided that businesses in places like Ruan, Tubber and Kinvara don’t deserve a sign anymore. We need to write back to the NRA and tell then that these places didn’t become obsolete with the creation of the M18.

“You have a body like the NRA come in here and changing the spelling of places like Ballyvaughan, Lahinch and Corofin. They think that they know better. I think they need to come down here and engage with us.”

During the debate, Cllr PJ Kelly accused the NRA of making serious mistaken on the signage on the M18, including signs which indicate that drivers are getting further away from Galway, even as they are driving towards Galway on the M18.

Responding to comments from the councillors, Director of Services Ann Haugh, said she would interact with the NRA more in the future.

“This is a matter for the NRA. There are prescribed rules for signage from the NRA which dictates where tourism signage is placed,” she said.

“I haven’t engaged with the NRA before this motion came forward today, but I will be engaging with them in the future.”

FIGURES from the Department of Justice show that Ennis solicitor Tara Godfrey was the highest earner from criminal legal aid cases in the county for the second year in a row. The Ennis solicitor earned € 144,434 last year with solicitor Darragh Hassett second on € 96,092.

NEIGHBOURS from hell are causing house prices to fall further in some areas of Ennis, a meeting has heard.

The claim was made at the October meeting of Ennis Town Council. Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn told the meeting that estate agents in the town had told him that the behaviour of problem tennants are bringing down the value of property.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said he was aware of one woman who had trouble getting rent from a problem tenant. He said that the man stole heating oil from the tank when he finally left the house.

Councillors were discussing a motion tabled by Cllr Flynn calling for tougher legislation on to deal with anti-social behaviour and “neighbours from hell”. He stated there is a need for “strengthening of bad neighbours and bad tenants sections of private tenancy legislation currently being drafted”.

Cllr Flynn continued, “Anti-social behaviour in estates, whether private of local authority, is destroying peoples lives and needs also to be addressed by a range of effective legislation including terms of access or withdrawal of state benefits, low cost alcohol.”

Cllr Flynn told the meeting that the Private Rental Tenancies Board (PRTB), the body tasked with dealing with disputes between third parties and landlords, “is not effective or user friendly”.

He described the level of anti-social behaviour in some private estates in Ennis as “appalling”. Deputy Mayor of Ennis Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said he would support the motion of the reference to low cost alcohol was removed.

Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) also expressed support for the motion. “It’s a different ball game now,” she said.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said similar motions had been ignored by Clare TDs and Senators in the past. Cllr Neylon said the council is getting the brush off from Ministers. “They’re saying shut yer mouths or ye’ll be done away with.” Cllr Neylon said the Taoiseach should be invited to Ennis to see the problems caused by anti-social behaviour. Th e w in t e r is slo w ly a n n o u n c in g it s e lf, w it h so m e c h illie r d a ys b u t m ild e n o u g h fo r t h is t im e o f ye a r.

A LARGE dog, which savagely attacked a number of other dogs in Shannon last week, was apprehended while playing outside with 12 young children.

The dog, which was a German Shepherd/ Husky cross-breed, went on a bloody rampage last Wednesday, before it was captured by Clare dog warden, Frankie Coote.

According to Frankie, Shannon has become a major blackspot for dangerous dogs and he appealed for pet-owners to take care of their pets properly.

“A lady was walking a small Yorkshire Terrier on a lead. She had just come out of her gate when a German Shepherd/ Husky cross-breed grabbed her dog by the neck and, in one snap, killed it. She was terrorised by the incident, understandably” said Mr Coote.

“I was on my way down to this incident when I received another call from the gardaí to say that another dog had been attacked. I found the dog in a housing estate running around with 12 or 14 very young children.

“I was able to capture the dog and, luckily enough, he had not attacked any young persons at that time. He was desperate to meet any small dogs and he would have killed anyone that he came across.”

The owner of the dog has been located and the owner has given permission for the dog to be put down.

“This a big issue with large dogs in Clare. If a small pet dog goes a bit wild, it can be controlled, but these [big] dogs could do serious damage. That dog in Shannon could kill another dog with one bite – that could just as easily have been a child,” continued Mr Coote.

“Shannon has become the blackspot in Clare when it comes to dangerous dogs. It really has. I’ve had major problems in other areas in the past – in Ennis and Kilrush and other areas – but Shannon really is a big problem and it is showing no sign of getting better just yet.

“People need to realise just what their dogs are capable of doing.”

A PROPOSAL to introduce X-Factor style auditions for buskers in Ennis has been rejected by members of Ennis Town Council.

Fine Gael’s Mary Coote Ryan was among four councillors who voted against the motion put forward by her party colleague Johnny Flynn at the council’s October meeting.

In a notice of motion, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) called on “Ennis Town Council draw up street entertainment byelaws to deal with busking and the provision of small street public performance spaces (spotaí ceol) to enable performers book at targeted time”.

Cllr Flynn told the meeting that similar byelaws had been introduced in Dublin while other areas such as Galway, Killarney and Westport auditioned buskers. He said he had brought forward the motion to ensure there is a high standard of singers and musicians performing on the streets of Ennis. He said his proposal would give opportunities for young musicians to perform. Supporting the motion, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said the quality of some of the buskers in Ennis could be questioned.

She said the proposal could pave the way for a busking festival to bring the best performers from Ireland and around Europe to Ennis.

However the Deputy Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind), told the meeting that he strongly opposed the motion, saying, “we are tying ourselves in knots with byelaws”.

He said there are only four or five buskers regularly performing in Ennis every week.

Cllr Brennan added, “I’ve never seen an influx of buskers into Ennis, not even for the Fleadh Nua. There is no music on the streets of Ennis.”

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said there is a need to allocate specific areas for busking. However, he said the introduction of byelaws could cause problems for the council and performers.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said Ennis “cannot compete” with towns like Westport because they have more hotels. He said the town should be looking to capitalize on the opportunities created by new coach parking facilities.

Town Manager Gerard Dollard said that while he agreed with the sentiment of the motion, the drafting of new byelaws would require the allocation of significant resources, which the council cannot spare. Mr Dollard said there is also a view that byelaws would take from the spontaneity of street busking.

He added, “I don’t think there is a significant issue with busking on the streets of Ennis.” The motion was put to a vote. Councillors Tommy Brennan, Mary Coote Ryan, Frankie Neylon and Michael Guilfoyle voted against. Councillors Johnny Flynn and Mary Howard voted for. Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) was not present at the meeting due to another commitment. Cllrs Peter Considine (FF) and Brian Meaney (GP) had left the meeting prior to the vote being taken.

THE Socialist Workers Party (SWP) are planning a major protest in the Clare area to oppose the septic tank registration charge.

Latest figures have confirmed that more than 8,000 people in Clare have registered their septic tanks with the Local Government Management Agency – less than 50 per cent of the total estimated number of septic tanks in the county.

Ennistymon representative for the Socialist Workers Party, Keith Cargill, says people believe that the charge is unfair on rural dwellers.

“There is no sense of fairness in this. People in Clare have already paid for these septic tanks so this is a double payment for something that people in urban areas get for free,” said Mr Cargill.

“We have a strong SWP presence in parts of Clare and plans are already in motion for a major protest to take place in the next few weeks. I’m not sure at this stage how it might work out, we may organise a combined protect with the SWP in Limerick but people are not happy with this and they do want something to be done.

“I think most people appreciate that the Social Workers Party is a very small organisation nationally, but we are growing. We have some members in Clare and the membership is growing all the time. It is growing slowly but it is growing.

“I think that we are the only party out there who are putting forward a counter-economic argument than everybody else. I think a lot of people are very bitter with the politics at the moment.

“There was a hope for change but that has proved to be more of the same. It now seems like there really is nothing between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael except what happened in the Civil War.

“Services are being cut, not just in rural areas but in urban areas as well, and people are not happy with it. There is a lot of disgruntlement out there and people are starting to voice there annoyance at what is going on.”

THE festive season could come to the streets of Ennis earlier than usual following a proposal to switch on the town’s Christmas lights in November.

Ennis Town Council is proposing to pedestrianise Abbey Street and O’Connell Street on December 15, 22, 23 and 24.

According to the council, the imminent opening of the Inner Relief Road would facilitate improved traffic flow during the period.

The council is now inviting submissions from members of the public. The matter came before last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. Town clerk Leonard Cleary stated that a previous attempt to pedeistrianise Ennis’s man streets was abandoned after traders blamed the policy for a fall in business.

Mr Cleary said the proposal had been brought forward to October to allow “adequate time to progress consultation/procedures following the December meeting”.

He continued, “The implementation of pedestrianisation in Ennis remains an objective of the council as stated in the Ennis and Environs Development Plan. The purpose of the pedestrianisation of these streets on the dates specified is to facilitate shoppers and the general public in terms of ease of movements on days that traditionally would be busy in the town.”

Consultation will now take place with the Gardaí in relation to traffic management. Mr Cleary said discussions have yet to take place with the business community.

Last December parking was applicable to the town’s 759 off-street and 783 on-street public car parking spaces up to 12pm daily on Saturdays during the festive period.

Ennis Chamber of Commerce has called for the council to repeat its 2011 policy. According to Mr Cleary, a proposed Christmas parking incentive will be discussed at the council’s November meeting.

Town manager Gerard Dollard appealed for businesses and members of the public to engage in the consultation process. Mr Dollard said the council is aware of the view that O’Connell Street should be pedestrianised only.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) welcomed the proposal, saying that the council should consider switching on the town’s Christmas lights in mid-November to capitalise on and boost festive shopping.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said the street radio initiative introduced in 2011 should be repeated this year.

Looking ahead to next year, Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) urged the council to hold the 2013 St Patrick’s Day parade on a Sunday.

The comment prompted Mr Dollard to jokingly remark, “Let’s get over Christmas first!”

AN Ennis man has been sentenced to five months in prison for what a judge described as an “absolutely reprehensible and appalling” assault in a bookmakers earlier this year.

A 59 year old man was spat at and kicked in an Ennis bookmakers on March 5 (2012).

Sean Moroney (41), with an address at 31 Dalcassian Park had pleaded guilty to assault, intoxication and provoking a breach of the peace.

The matter came before Ennis District Court on Wedneday for sentence.

Inspector John Galvin told the court that Mr Moroney entered the premises at 2.45pm on the day in question. The court heard that he spat at a customer and attempted to kick him.

Gardai escorted Mr Moroney from the premises. Insp Galvin said the accused was in a highly intoxicated state. The court heard that Mr Mo- roney has a number of previous convictions for public order offences and assault.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client, a father of one, has had significant difficulties with alcohol.

She said the victim in the case had made a remark about her client’s father on the day in question.

Ms Godfrey said, “He apologises to the injured party but he said something that was quite cruel.

She urged the court to consider or- dering Mr Moroney to engage with the Probation services.

Judge Patrick Durcan said the accused had a record that was “unsavory in the extreme”.

He said he “absolutely abhors” assaults that involve spitting, saying there is an added element of insult in that type of assault.

Judge Durcan added, “They are not manly assaults. They are cowardly assaults.”

He described the incident in the bookmakers as “absolutely reprehensible and appalling.” He said he had to balance the accused’s guilty plea, his “battle with the demon drink” against the nature of the assault.

Judge Durcan sentenced Mr Moroney to four months in prison for the assault.

He imposed another month for provoking a breach of the peace. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal. Judge Durcan said it was time for Mr Moroney to “wake up.”