Category: News

A CLARE stonemason has secured a € 223,000 write-down on his € 346,390 family home mortgage as part of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA).

The arrangement was approved by Judge Patrick Meaghan at the Circuit Court in Ennis on Tuesday.

A separate PIA in respect of the man’s wife was also granted by Judge Meaghan

The court heard the man was left with debts of almost € 2.3 million following the collapse of the man’s stone products business which went into liquidation last year.

Judge Meaghan said he recalled the case because the size of the debts involved. He complimented all sides for finalizing the agreement.

He said this represented “quite a feat” given the difficulties surrounding the titles of some of the man’s properties.

Earlier this year the man was granted court protection to allow his Personal Insolvency Practitioner (PIP), Jim Stafford, time to negotiate with secured and unsecured creditors.

Judge Meaghan said all creditors voted 100 percent in favour of the PIA at a creditors’ meeting.

The Judge said that because of the man’s low income he was unable to engage in a multi-year payment plan to his creditors.

Judge Meaghan said the man did not have to sell his home. He explained that KBC Bank have agreed to reduce the mortgage on the family home from € 346,000 to € 123,000 subject to a dividend of € 15,000 being paid to the bank as an unsecured creditor.

There is a reduction in the term of the mortgage of three years and three months.

The man is to pay a revised monthly mortgage payment of € 1,200 on the family home for 10 years and three months up to his 70th birthday.

In order to pay a dividend to his creditors the man is to sell the following assets; a farm and stables totaling 31.86 hectares; a residential buy-to-let property; a residential buy-to-let apartment; a commercial buy-to-let property and several other plots of land.

The man will also make available a lump sum to pay the PIP’s fees.

According to the arrangement no other assets of the debtor will be sold pursuant to the PIA.

Judge Meaghan said, “I am pleased to approve this arrangement.

“It was a particularly difficult case given both the size of the debts and the complexity with regards the security in respect of the assets”.

Judge Meaghan said the debtor’s banks may have legal claims against the debtor’s former solicitor for breaches of undertakings provided to the banks.

He said it is accepted this arrangement does not prejudice these potential proceedings

The unsecured creditors are listed as KBC € 333,683; EBS € 423,428; Ulster Bank € 829,982; Bank of Ireland € 8,926; Bank of Scotland € 85, 536; Emberon Finance Ltd € 29,928; Vanguard Auto Finance € 195,343 and Niamh Perrotta € 75,000.

GARTH BROOKS for Ennis? That just might be a possibility as Clare County Council has been urged to investigate the potential of holding music festivals at the home of Clare GAA, Cusack Park. The Clare GAA owned grounds in the centre of Ennis emerged as one potential venue for large-scale music or community events in a submission on recreations and sports to the Ennis and Environs Development draft local area Plan. Clare County Council is currently drawing up the plan, which will guide the development of Ennis from 2015 to 2021. In his submission, Chair of the Ennis Municipal District Committee (MDC), Johnny Flynn, proposes the “development potential of Cusack Park music festivals” be examined under the plan. The submission states that Cusack Park could be the venue for a revived version of the “Lisdoonvarna Festival” – the iconic music event previously staged in North Clare. The development of ‘Spoiti Ceol’ (music public performance locations) and the drafting of a busking code are also contained in the submission. Cllr Flynn proposes that the Fair Green or Tim Smythe Park, be designated as a public events centre. The submission proposes the development of an international artist workshop at the old Garda barracks buildings and the “development of large arts spaces for Macnas type works over winter preparing for St Patrick’s Day and other parades”. The submission also contains proposed changes and improvements along the River Fergus, Ballyalla Lake and the Lees Road sports and recreation facility. Cllr Flynn has suggested the “creation of recreational boating in Ennis from Post Office field to Knox’s Bridge to maintain minimum boating depth of water during Summer and to deal with flow issues”. For Ballyalla Lake, the submission proposes the designation of a physical connection from Lees Road to Ballyalla; the potential development of a European standard campervan site near Ballyalla Lake; playground and public toilet facilities; the repair of the old Pier and the installation of a zip wire and a general physical activity centre at Ballyalla. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has previously warned that there is limited scope for development at Ballyalla due it’s designation as a wildlife sanctuary, special area of conservation and special protection area. Cllr Flynn suggests that buoys be provided across the middle of the lake to protect the designation of the Western side as an overwintering bird and wildlife sanctuary. He has also proposed the banning of outboard engines other than for approved public safety boats at particular events.

TENDERS are being invited for a planned € 4m upgrade of flood defences in Ennis and Clarecastle.

Last March, An Bord Pleanála approved an application from Clare County Council to construct the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme which when completed will deliver flood defences in Clonroadmore, Ballybeg and Clareabbey.

The works include a flood overflow culvert from St Flannan’s Stream to the Clareabbey flood plain, a flood overflow culvert from Ballybeg Stream to the Clareabbey flood plain, and an upgrade of the existing flood defence embankment between the Quin Road and the Clarecastle tidal barrage. The estimated cost of the project is € 4 million.

Details of the project are contained in a notice posted by Clare County Council on the e-tenders public sector procurement site.

The project involves the c construction of 2 No. flood alleviation culverts (1,200mm diameter, 1,120m and 520m in length in congested ur- ban environment), along with service diversions.

The development will see the upgrade of 2.7km of existing flood defence embankment (50,000 – 100,000 cubic meters of imported material) with associated works to back drain, sluice valves and construction of a new pumping station, located in Ennis and Clarecastle.

According to the notice, works will be required within the Lower River Shannon SAC Natura 2000 Site. Following a short-listing process, 5-7 candidates will be invited to tender, provided that there is a sufficient number of suitably qualified applicants. Work on phase two of the Ennis Flood Relief Scheme between Bank Place Bridge and Doora Bridge is ongoing at locations around Ennis. On completion, it is hoped the project will lead to the protection of 849 residential and 425 non-residential properties on completion.

Defences including enhanced river walls, pumping stations and new drainage systems are included in the project, which is aimed at protecting Ennis against a 100-year flood event.

IT MAY have all appeared spontaneously instinctive but arguably Clare’s most complete Munster Final display stemmed from a much more meticulous and regimented foundation.

You see, the finished product was based on a gameplan that was practised to near monotony since the semi-finals over a fortnight previously, and while there was inevitably a degree of ad-libbing from the ‘golden generation’, joint manager Gerry O’Connor was the first to admit that their persistence and homework paid off.

“We spoke at the start of the game about delivering a performance based on our strengths. Our strengths have been focus, running off the shoulder, decision making, all the thing we have been trying to implement in training over the past five years, they all came together tonight in that first half.

“We probably gave the best 30 minute display of hurling that we have ever given as a group, everything went according to the plan.

“The guys in midfield and the half-back line were clinical in their pinpoint accuracy of the deliveries into the full-forward line and by doing that and by being aware that the sweeper was there.

“And I have to say this, that Paul Kinnerk designed all the training sessions based on his reading of the DVD of the Cork v Waterford game and he completely negated the sweeper as a result of the training he did over the past two weeks. I really want to put that on record because you can’t take away from the mathematical ability and genius of the guy to digest and devour the DVD and then come back in and put a series of training sessions in place over a two week period that was completely structured with a view to guys making the right decision when they had the ball which would ultimately negate the sweeper.

“And we felt that if we were patient, disrupted their supply and kept picking off our points, it would drag them into a situation that they would be forced to release the sweeper back up the field. That’s what we were trying to achieve and it worked to a tee.

“Up the other end, our fullback line were really on top, seriously on top. We had spoken about playing from the front, particularly on Cadogan and Spillane and we got our match-ups right. We had a lot of debate and disagreements and we changed our minds several times but that just shows that we have several strong personalities in the management team.

“Our full-back line and defence in general were brilliant, and Jamie Shanahan as well man marking their target from puck-outs Shane O’Keeffe, he was outstanding as well so really the plan went to perfection and it doesn’t often happen like that.”

It couldn’t have worked out any better on Wednesday as Clare thrilled the home support from the outset as they soaked up the gameplan in a mature, commanding display.

“In 2011, Donal, myself, Jimmy and Paul were never as gutted as we were after losing to Galway because we felt that we had the best prepared and most skilful group of minors that ever left the county. But when push

came to shove and when the pres

sure came on from Galway, we

had the skill but we just didn’t

appear to have the resilience

and the leaders throughout the

group.

“And that was the challenge

that we laid down to these guys

at the start of the year, ‘we

know for sure that you

are the most skilful bunch of hurlers to ever come out of Clare b u t y o u ’ v e got to b a c k that up w i t h r e a l leade r – ship, real resilience and real mental toughness’.

“And we knew that it was delivered on in the Tipperary so coming into tonight, we knew that if Cork came at us, that our leaders would stand up because they were really, really asked serious questions against Tipperary. I mean it’s all well and good celebrating the win tonight but the real leadership was shown when we went four points down against Tipperary in the semi-final, that’s how you define leadership.

“Donal put a challenge to those guys tonight as well that we need to see all the guys that didn’t make the match day 24 or didn’t come on a substitute tonight to be the leaders now for their clubs overt the next few weeks because we will be there looking at them and expecting them to give a leadership performance of skill and pace.”

In addition, O’Connor refused to entertain the accolades of winning three successive Munster Under 21’s or their five-in-a-row in Munster. The Éire Óg clubman was more concerned with the next generation and utilising the feel-good factor that surrounds Clare hurling at the moment.

“There was a huge crowd there and tonight was all about the kids. We’ve got our core support and we know who they are and it started off here when there was 400 of them there in 2010 and that core support has been building for the past four or five years.

“But ultimately tonight is about club coaches, parents and players taking inspiration from what these guys have done over the past few years because that’s what it’s about. Imagine a guy playing for an Under 12 team in his club, he can aspire to being on the Under 13 development squad in his area and it’s about inspiring those guys.

“These Under 21s are a serious marketing tool now for the rest of the clubs in Clare. Donal [Moloney], myself, Jimmy [Browne] and Paul [Kinnerk] get all the kudos on nights like tonight but Tony Kelly, Colm Galvin and all the squad that turned out to be unbelievable athletes and ambassadors for Clare hurling, somebody in their club or teacher influenced, inspired and coached them to be the players they turned out to be. So that’s all vitally important and if we can help to sell it easier, then we are delighted to do so.

“I would look at us [management] as the marketing department for future players and coaches in Clare. The summer camp numbers have gone off the richter scale in relation to their popularity and that’s what it’s about. It’s important to win but we always focus on the performance, developing the individual and making sure that he fits in to our system.”

And that development is still ongoing as they prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final against Antrim in less than three week’s time.

“We set ourselves very ambitious goals at the start of the year and we are only halfway there now.”

PLANS have announced for a major face-lift of Clare’s largest business and industrial park.

Shannon Development is proposing upgrades to both buildings and public lighting at the Shannon Free Zone – a multi-sectoral business park that is home to over 100 manufacturing and international service companies, employing 6500 people.

The planned series of upgrades include work on Airport House – “a signature building” in the Shannon Free Zone.

Shannon Development is inviting tenders for work on Airport House – a large four-storey multi let office building.

The tender notice states, “The building was originally constructed in the 1960s and is a signature building within Shannon Free Zone and is adjacent to Shannon Airport.

“The Company now wishes to commence major upgrade works to certain elements of the building namely upgrade of the front entrance lobby/ reception area and upgrade to the fit out on the first floor. Works will be completed in Q3 2014”.

Shannon Development is currently in transition to become part of Shannon Group plc – an umbrella group comprising Shannon Airport, Shan- non Development, Shannon Heritage and the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC).

The plans to revamp the Free Zone form part of the Shannon Group’s aim to “to emphasise a more commercially focused property remit” for Shannon Development, which will be renamed Shannon Commercial Enterprises Ltd, trading as Shannon Enterprises.

The company is also inviting tenders for upgrades to the public lighting system in the Shannon Free Zone,

“Shannon Development has decided to commence major upgrade works to the existing public lighting infrastructure for the entire Shannon Free Zone area.

“The initial phase of upgrade works will including new ducting, power distribution and cables, lighting columns and light fittings to replace existing light fittings in Shannon Free Zone West”, the tender notice states.

Shannon Development is also inviting expressions of interest for a “complete overhaul” of the company’s largest building, Block B in the Shannon Free Zone.

The Block B building is located in Shannon Free Zone West and was constructed in the 1960’s and modified/upgraded in the intervening years since then.

The tender notice states, “The building is presently designed as large scale high bay warehousing and distribution.

“Block B is the largest Company owned building in the SFZ (both in terms of floor plate and internal height) with over 100,000 sq ft of floor area. In 2012 part of the building (44,755 sq ft) was refurbished and leased.

“The remainder of the building (56,300 sq ft) also requires refurbishment and it is proposed to undertake this refurbishment work in 2014 with a view to leasing the building on a phased basis.

“Block B Unit 2 has a covered floor area of 56,300 sq ft, is currently unoccupied and now requires a complete upgrade to return the building to good lettable condition.

“The roof covering of the entire 100,000 sq ft Block B building is at the end of its serviceable life and needs to be recovered. Internally, the fabric of the building needs a complete overhaul while elements of the external of the building also need to be upgraded”.

Construction of the Shannon Free Zone commenced in 1959. It currently encompasses 600 acres of land and four million square foot of buildings adjacent to Shannon International Airport.

BOTH the Department of the Arts and the Office of Public Works are passing the buck when it comes to claiming responsibility and authority over any potential purchase of the childhood home of Edna O’Brien for the State.

The plan for State to purchase Drewsboro House in Tuamgraney was launched last month by Labour TD, Michael McNamara, after the property together with nine acres was withdrawn from auction when failing to realise a bid in excess of € 200,000.

The Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht has said that Minister Heather Humphries or her department has the remit to purchase the property and has deferred the matter to the Office of Public Works.

However, OPW says its a matter for the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, as it hold the purse strings for any potential purchase.

“Since 2011 I have been trying to find ways in which Drewsboro House might be purchased and conserved,” revealed Deputy Michael McNamara when calling on Minister Heather Humphries’ department to buy the property.

“There is now an opportunity for the State to acquire the house for a sum that represents good value for the State and turned into a writers’ retreat and museum, with the Kate O’Brien House in Limerick and the Heinrick Boll Cottage on Achill Island serving as examples of what might be achieved.

“Any community proposal for the future of Drewsboro House could only succeed with the support and blessing of Edna O’Brien.

“I have spoken to her on the future of the house some time ago and I believe that it is her dearest wish to have the house acquired and restored for a suitable purpose,” he added.

In 2007, a plaque extolling Edna O’Brien was unveiled near the entrance to Drewsboro, forty five years after copies of her second novel The Lonely Girl were ceremonially burnt in the church grounds of O’Brien’s home village of Tuamgraney.

The Clare author, famous for her Country Girls trilogy has sold millions of books throughout the world, a number of which have been made into movies.

Edna O’Brien was born in Tuamgraney on December 15th, 1930.

A DOG was reunited safe and well with his owners after surviving a 300 metre fall from cliffs in Kilkee on Sunday.

The family pet whose name is Vimes fell after losing it’s footing at Lookout Point near Dunlicky, Kilkee. The alarm was raised at around 3.30pm when a member of the public rang the emergency services to report that a dog over the edge at Look Out Point.

It is thought the small terrier slipped of the cliff edge after getting away from his owners.

The dog fell 90 metres and collided with part of the cliff face on the way down. He was spotted in the water below by a member of the public.

The Irish Coast Guard marine rescue sub centre at Valentia Island in Co Kerry was alerted an in turn requested the Kilkee unit of the service to mobilise. Rescuers quickly arrived at the scene and devised a plan for bringing Vimes safely back to dry land. But when the rescue boat went back out to the water, they found that the dog had already made his way to shore.

Vimes was then reunited with his grateful owners, who are believed to be from Limerick. A Coast Guard spokesman said that Vimes miraculously avoided injury despite enduring such a dangerous fall. “He was fine. He’s a tough dog,” explained the spokesman. Vimes himself later tweeted his thanks to the rescue services.

IN a week that saw the Kilkee unit of the Irish Coast Guard called out an unprecedented 11 times, water safety officials in Clare are urging swimmers to think safe when they visit the water.

With temperatures set to soar over the next seven days and beyond, large crowds are expected to descend on the Clare coastline.

Meterological sources are predicting temperatures as high as 24c by early next week.

Last summer saw four fatalities from drowning in Clare waters, three of which occurred within a month of each other and coincided with a steep rise in temperatures.

This summer lifeguards are continuing to deal with incidents on a daily basis.

Water safety officials are urging visitors to the county’s 12 lifeguarded beaches and lakes to only swim in designated areas.

“I keep saying it all the time, swim within the lifeguarded areas.

“Swim within the zones that the lifeguards set out and obey their directions,” urged head of Clare Water Safety, Clare McGrath.

“Don’t swim in unknown spaces. We don’t want people going to water holes and quarries. I would say swim in the lifeguarded areas.”

Ms McGrath believes however that swimmers are now beginning to heed warnings on water safety.

“I think they are, I think people are beginning to notice.

“But all the time, they need to watch the flags and watch the notices that the lifeguards put out.”

Ms McGrath’s warning came just hours after the Irish Coast Guard, Kilkee unit responded to its 11th callout in eight days on Sunday night.

The Kilkee unit was among the busiest in Ireland last week, responding to three calls before 12 noon on Tuesday alone.

CALLS for the people of Clare to boycott Israeli products were made at a protest rally, which took place in Ennis on Saturday afternoon last.

Those attending the Ennis Vigil for Gaza in O’Connell Square, which was organized by the Clare branch of the http://www.ipsc.ie/ Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign heard calls the boycott of Israeli goods that was kickstarted in Kinvara to be rolled out around County Clare.

Last week retailers, cafés, restaurants and a pharmacy in Kinvara agreed to operate a boycott of Israeli goods in protest against the “ongoing bombardment” of Gaza.

According to the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), Kinvara is the first and only town in Ireland, to take this collective action in protest at Israeli action in Gaza.

Saturday’s Ennis rally was attended by about 50 people, with the lead address given by the chairman of the Clare branch of the http://www.ipsc. ie/ Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Tomás Mac Conamara,

“The numbers that are here today are testimony to the people of county Clare against injustice,” he said. “It is very important for us to remind ourselves that as we gather here today in Ennis, as people gather in Limerick and gather in Dublin and around the world in solidarity with Palestine, that the people in Gaza are being bombed as we speak.

“Children are being murdered as we speak. This did not start three weeks ago. This started with the occupation of Palestine and it will only end when the occupation of Palestine is lifted. It will end when the siege of Gaza is ended. If Israel wants safety for its citizens and if Benjamin Netanyahu wants safety for his citizens, get out of Palestine. It is not your country,” he added.

According to Kevin Squires, co-ordinator of the IPSC, the boycotting Israeli products is “an effective and peaceful way to bring pressure to bear on the Israeli state to end its occupation of Palestine, and persistent violations of International law”.

A LOCAL entrepreneur is attempting to capitalise on the popularity of craft beer after plans were lodged for Kilmaley’s first microbrewery.

Planning permission is being sought to change the use of existing sheds from agricultural to microbrewery at Kilclogher, Kilmaley.

Michael Eustace from the Lahinch Road in Ennis is the man behind the mico-brewery proposal.

In his application to the council, Mr Eustace states that the proposed brewery would be a “quite small” operation initially.

However, he states that if the business were to become a success, he would hope to expand the brewery’s product range.

“It is our intention to operate the micro-brewery in a manner which would have as little negative effect on our local environment as possible,” Mr Eustace states.

“All of our spent grains will be used to feed cattle which are farmed on the family farm.

“All water used for cleaning will be collected in our proposed holding tank and transferred to the slatted house where it will be mixed with animal waste to be used as fertiliser for the farm land.”

Mr Eustace states that the use of an “independent locally sourced supply of water for the microbrewery” would be a “unique aspect of this proposed brewery”.

He continues, “The increase in traffic to and from the area as a result of the micro brewery will also be negligible as outlined in the planning application. By their very nature, microbreweries are not designed or capable of producing beer on a large enough scale to cause severe disruption or congestion within the local area. There is already a large concrete paved yard in front of the existing shed, which will be more than sufficient to cater for all traffic coming to the microbrewery.

Mr Eustace states that the number of people working in the proposed microbrewery will be quite small, “1-2 for the foreseeable future”.

He adds, “If the brewery were to be quite successful we would hope to renovate the old dwelling house to enable us to expand our product range.

“We are aware that this would be subject to a new planning application”.

Ireland has experienced a craft beer boom in recent years with dozens of micro-breweries currently in operation throughout the country.