Category: News

THE kindness of a Clare carpenter means that people can now donate to the local hospice during funerals in a discrete and safe way. For the last number of years, the fundraising staff at Cahercalla Hospice were required to make temporary donation boxes when requested by families who wished to seek donations for the hospice in lieu of flowers at funerals. Mary Maloney, Fundraising Manager at Cahercalla, said that the boxes were often hastily put together with a poster attached and taken to funeral homes and churches across the county on request. On a trip to her home county of Galway recently the fundraising manager noticed that the Galway Hospice had professionally made donation boxes for such occasions. Taking her inspiration from Galway, she approached Munster Joinery to see if such boxes could be made for the Clare hospice. Paudie O’Callaghan and his business partner Dave Burke not only made 10 of the wooden boxes but also donated them free of charge. “This was a real act of kindness and charity that was not sought,” said Ms Maloney. She said the boxes have a lock so families can leave them in funeral homes, at home or in churches without any concerns. Padding inside the boxes also means there are no loud noises when coins are added, therefore disturbing the funeral. Ms Maloney said the boxes are available from the fundraising committee at Cahercalla Hospice from anyone who requires them.

A MAJORITY of members of Clare County Council have voted in favour of re-zoning an 80-acre tract of land at Stonehall near Newmarket on Fergus that could facilitate the development of a large-scale renewable energy plant in the area.

A total of 17 councillors voted against an amendment proposed by Fianna Fáil councillor Pat McMahon that called for the E3 enterprise zoning site to be removed from the draft Shannon Town and Environs Development Plan 2014-18. 12 councillors voted for the amendment.

Developers Carbon Sole Group have proposed developing a 70MW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility at Stonehall.

The proposal is strongly opposed by locals in the area who have voiced concerns over the safety and suitability of the proposal.

A large crowd of people living and working in the Stonehall area attended last Wednesday’s council meeting.

In putting forward the amendment, Cllr McMahon said a renewable energy development could be better facilitated in Shannon Industrial Estate.

He said the proposed power plant would be 43 stories high while three to four trucks would carry fuel to the plant every hour. Cllr McMahon said the proposal represents “an attack on the local community”.

He added, “Nobody that I’ve met is against enterprise but it has to be in the right location.”

Senior planner Gordon Daly set out the reasoning behind the proposal to zone Stonehall for renewable energy developments.

He said the area has good infrastructure, is physically suitable and is relatively unpopulated.

He said the Council had placed a strong emphasis on being pro-enterprise. Mr Daly said this approach “would not be worth anything unless you give it effect”.

He added, “We do believe it is more appropriate to zone more enterprise land in Shannon.”

Mr Daly said the area had been targeted specifically for renewable energy development in order to prevent a migration of businesses from the industrial estate.

He said the area could become a cluster for renewable energy industries.

Mr Daly told the meeting that at a time when the farming industry is under pressure, raw materials for renewable energy plants would be sourced locally.

Responding to suggestions that such developments would be better suited to the existing industrial estate, Mr Daly said there isn’t 80 acres of land in the free zone with characteristics similar to the Stonehall site.

Mr Daly said the planning application process would deal with concerns with regard to any future developments at the site.

He said, “Zoning is not a fait accompli for planning permission.”

He added, “We would recommend in the strongest possible terms to retain this zoning…It would be an opportunity missed for this county.”

Fine Gael councillor Sean McLoughlin supported the zoning of lands at Stonehall. He said if industry is not attracted to Shannon, emigration would become an even bigger problem than it already is. “I want jobs for Shannon,” he said.

THE top official with Clare County Council has rejected suggestions that the local authority entered into a “deal” when it met with the backers of proposed power plant in Stonehall 15 months ago.

County manager Tom Coughlan was responding to comments made by Fianna Fáil councillor PJ Kelly at last week’s council meeting.

Cllr Kelly asked if the council had entered into a “quasi contractual arrangement” when it met Carbon Sole Group, the developers behind a proposed Combined Heat and Power facility at Stonehall. “Did we walk into a trap here?” he added.

Mr Coughlan said he totally refuted any suggestion that the council entered into a deal with developers or investors.

He said the council had met with the backers of the Lynx Cargo facility in Shannon and had met other potential investors.

He said the council is always interested in job creation initiatives but added that the local authority “do not compromise on planning”.

He said any meeting with inves- tors or companies is aimed at getting “badly needed jobs” into Clare.

Senior planner Gordon Daly had earlier told the meeting that his first contact with the developer occurred 15 months.

He said the council regularly met with people on enterprise related matters and are “very clear on why we meet them”.

He said the council “had nothing to hide” and that he was “entirely comfortable” with his role in the meeting.

Mr Daly was responding to questions from Cllr PJ Ryan who also asked if the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) had made contact with the council over the rezoning of land at Stonehall proposal.

Mr Daly said the DAA had made a submission welcoming the proposal.

“Ye’d be disappointed if we did not have a good relationship with bodies in Shannon,” he added.

Director of Service Ger Dollard said there are no development proposals for Stonehall before the council.

However he said that it is important that the council show it is “serious about enterprise and renewable energy”.

THE mother of a Clare toddler who had feared that her daughter would die in her arms following a brutal dog attack, was last night relieved that her three-year-old was sitting up and entertaining nursing staff.

Little Abbey O’Donoghue from Ballynacally received 60 stitches to her head, arms and under her ear after the canine attacked her at a family birthday party on Saturday afternoon.

Her worried father Cathal said it was a sight he will never forget and will haunt him and his family for years to come.

Cathal and his wife Caroline, along with their children Jonathan (6), Kelsey (5), Abbey (3), Jake (2) and baby Ruby, aged five months, had visited his sister’s home that day to give his niece a card for her 21st birthday.

The children had decided to go outside to the garage with their cousin to get some crisps, but as little Abbey was leaving the house, the family Siberian husky ‘Red’ unexpectedly pounced on her.

“She was just outside the door and we heard the screaming of her cousin.

“Abbey was also screaming and telling the dog to stop biting her. My brother-in-law ran out past me and jumped on the dog.

THE Clare TD who admitted his party had its eye off the ball when it came to the first Lisbon Treaty will be hoping that his team is playing as one in the run up to the Fiscal Stability Treaty referendum as he receives the captain’s arm band.

Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley has been appointed Director of Elections for the May 31 referendum by party leader Deputy Michéal Martin.

The Clare TD will now be hoping that his home constituency will fol- low in the tradition of previous European referenda and return a yes vote.

The Banner county had the largest acceptance on the western seaboard of the second Lisbon Referendum with 72.3 per cent vote in favour of the referendum.

It was also one of the few counties to support the first Lisbon referendum.

Deputy Dooley admitted at the time that the FF focus wasn’t total: “There was a lot going on within the Fianna Fáil organisation on the occasion (of Lisbon 1.)”

This time around, the Fianna Fáil party leader has entrusted the Clare TD with a strong yes campaign for the Fiscal Stability Treaty.

“Timmy, as a member of the SubCommittee on the Stability Treaty, has been making a constructive and positive contribution to the debate so far and I have no doubt he will continue to add to the standard of the debate in the weeks ahead,” said Mr Martin.

The newly appointed Director of Elections has been critical of the current Fine Gael-Labour Government’s approach to the referendum.

He said, “The debate in the Dáil and public comments by ministers show that the government is presenting the Treaty as part of its economic recovery plans.

‘This is a foolish approach almost designed to turn away people who support the Treaty but do not endorse the government’s strategies.

“Allied to the fact that the Government has abandoned past practice of active coordination with other proEU parties and a picture is developing of a government more committed to getting a political boost than maximising the chances of a large yes vote,” said Deputy Dooley.

A LARGE number of North Clare community groups and tourism providers will travel to Limerick this week to show off everything that the Burren has to offer. ‘A Burren Evening’, which is organised by the BurrenBeo Trust, will take place at the Hunt Museum in Limerick this Thursday.

This is the second time that local groups in North Clare have taken it upon themselves to travel to another location and show off exactly what the Burren has to offer.

Last year, a large group from North Clare travelled to Dublin to market the Burren directly to the people of the capital.

The theme of this week’s event is ‘Landscape, Memory and Friendship’ and it aims to be a celebration of life in the Burren as well as the work of the BurrenBeo Trust and other organisations.

Some of the organisations taking part in ‘A Burren Evening’ include St Tola’s Cheese from Inagh, the Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna and the Aillwee Caves in Ballyvaughan.

BurrenBeo Trust is Ireland’s only landscape charity and is dedicated to ensuring that the unique yet fragile Burren landscape is sustained for future generations to enjoy. The Limerick event will also include the launch of the fourth edition of the annual flagship magazine, ‘Burren Insight’, as well as a new set of Burren field guides.

“The Burren has long been admired its rare habitats, geology, archaeology, rich culture and traditions. Burrenbeo Trust is actively engaging with the local community and other stakeholders in managing this unique landscape,” said Brigid Barry of the BurrenBeo Trust.

“The field guides have been developed as part of Burrenbeo’s ‘learning landscape’ initiative, which is just one of a number of exciting programmes that Burrenbeo Trust are currently concentrating on.

“The Burren is the perfect outdoor classroom for young and old and the Trust’s Ecobeo programme has already seen over 700 children take part in their experiential learning courses.

“As well as facilitating children in becoming Burren experts, the Trust is also the main providers of information to local and visiting communities through a range of cutting edge media and more traditional walks and talks,” she said.

A NEW strategy aimed at guiding the way for future retail development in Ennis will be launched in the town tonight. The retail commitment document has been drawn up by members of Ennis Development Forum.

Rita McInerney of Ennis Chamber of Commerce explained, “It’s a vision document for the town. It follows on from the support we got for our submission on the proposed development on the Limerick Road. The Ennis Development Forum wanted to take a more positive approach. It’s giving businesses something to commit to for the future of retail in the town. It’s still in its early stages.”

Details of the retail document will be outlined at an event for local businesses in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis tonight.

‘Boosting the bottom line for retailers’ will focus on the retail industry. The event is organised by Ennis Chamber of Commerce.

The meeting will also discuss a recent survey carried out by Retail Excellence Ireland to determine the impact the Tesco Extra opening of twelve months ago had on the viability and vitality of Naas town centre.

A total of 81 retailers were surveyed and asked key questions on whether any decline could be attributed to the opening of the new out-of-town Tesco Extra.

The results indicated that 94 per cent of the surveyed businesses experienced decrease in their turnover with nearly half of those decreasing in business by more than 15 per cent. All of the respondents indicated that up to a third of the decline was directly caused by the opening of the new Tesco Extra.

At least 56 retail jobs have been lost among the 81 stores surveyed since the opening of the new development – that is 70 per cent of the town centre stores suffered job losses.

Ennis Chamber, Ennis Development Forum and the Ennis Street Associations recently made submissions to the An Bord Pleananla appeal by developers for a comparable size 70,000 square foot Tesco on the outskirts of Ennis.

Patrick (Paddy) McNAMARA
of Clonkett, Cranny. Peacefully at home. Funeral mass at St Mary’s Church, Cranny onTuesday at 11 o’clock. Burial afterwards in Kildysart Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Patrick, (Paddy) O’RIORDAN
of 7 Cullina, Ballina. Peacefully at Limerick Regional Hospital. Funeral mass onTuesday at Our Lady and St Lua’s Church, Ballina at 11.30am. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Johanna GARVEY, nee Kearse
of 5A Cooper’s Place, Ennis (formerly of Cahermurphy, Kilmihil). Funeral mass onTuesday at 11 o’clock with burial afterwards in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Colm CASEY
of Beachpark, Ennis. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Gerard CORBETT
of Ardnacrusha, late of Mulgrave Street. RequiemMass onTuesday at 11amat Truagh Church, with cremation afterwards in Newlands Cross Crematorium. May he rest in peace.

Mairead O’DONNELL, (née Molony)
of Bridge Street, Scariff. In her 93rd year. Laid to rest in the newcemetery, Moynoe. May she rest in peace.

James SHANNON
of Killenagh Ennistymon. Laid to rest in Killenagh cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Kieran BARRY
of Ennis Road,Tulla. Laid to rest inTulla.

Peter FINNEGAN
27 St Senan’s Road, Ennis, Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Ann FOGARTY, (née Hayes)
of Carrowcraheen,Tubber. Late of Newmarket on Fergus and Quin. Laid to rest in Blakemount Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Mortimer (Murt) GUTHRIE
of Loughville, Lahinch Road, Ennis. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Seamus BOLAND
of Killaloe, Clare. Formerly of Kilbane, Broadford. Suddenly. Laid to rest in Reilig Lua, Killaloe. May he rest in peace.

Patrick McNAMARA
of Ardane, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge. Laid to rest in Kilmurry Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Nora (Norrie) POWER
of 3 Considine’sTerrace, Ennis. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Josie McGRATH, (née Ryan)
of Derry, Barefield, Ennis, formerly of Glenbane, Lattin,Tipperary. In her 90th year. Laid to rest in Lattin,Tipperary. May she rest in peace.

Francie MORGAN
of Bannagher, Dysart, Maurices Mills. Laid to rest in Dysart Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

THE tricolour flew at half-mast at the offices of Clare County Council yesterday as tributes were paid to former councillor Sean Hillery who passed away last month. Sean, who was originally from Miltown Malbay, played a significant role in the development of Shannon in recent decades and was remembered fondly by councillors from every corner of the house.

Councillors voted unanimously to adjourn yesterday’s proceedings, with the April monthly meeting of Clare County Council now set to take place later today, April 16.

Sean Hillery was a man of many firsts. He was the first man to establish a pharmacy in Shannon, the first head of the County Development Board in Clare and the first Clare president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. Hillery’s Pharmacy in Shannon has been a family business for many years, first through Sean and his late wife Paula, and in recent times through their sons Seadn and Feidhlim.

Sean was the first cousin of the late President Patrick Hillery, and also a relation of current Clare County Councillor, Michael Hillery (FF).

Speaking at yesterday’s adjourned meeting, Clare County Manager, Tom Coughlan, described Mr Hillery as a leader and “a gentlemen in every sense of the word”.

“The respect that he commanded was very clear, especially when the County Development Board was being established. As the first chair of the County Development Board, he was able to command that respect and leadership that showed he was a leader,” he said.

Sean is remembered by his sons Barry, Seadn and Feidhlim, his daughter Majella and his family and many friends.

THE 500 year-old body of a Clare teenager is helping to paint a clear picture of what life was like for the people of Ireland during one of the most violent periods in Irish history.

Carbon dating of human remains, discovered in a cave on Moneen Mountain, just outside Ballyvaughan, has revealed that the dead person was between 14 and 16 years of age, and was severally malnutritioned.

According to Dr Marion Dowd of IT Sligo, the evidence suggests that the youth crawled into the cave and died, rather than being placed in the cave after death. This suggests that Moneen Mountain was being used as a refuge or meeting place for poor Clare people at this time.

This period, around the time of the Tudor conquest of Ireland, was one of the bloodiest times in Irish history.

“At this time in Ireland, there was religious persecution, a lot of warfare, Gaelic people are being dispossessed of their land and there are lots of famines.

“But to find the remains of one of these individuals and to see, first hand, the evidence of what was going on is very interesting,” said Dr Dowd.

“Another mystery is why the re- mains were in the cave and not in a burial ground – because there were a number of official burial grounds quite close to the cave. It seems that this young person went into the cave, crawled into a small recess in the cave wall and died there.

“This person may have been completely on his own and died in the cave or there may have been a few people hiding out there.”

The excavation also revealed evidence which suggests that Moneen Mountain may have been a significant place for Bronze Age people.

“The other material dates back to 1,000 BC. We discovered a large quantity of broken-up pots and a deer antler. There is something quite unusual about this also, it does not look like a refuge, there was no-one living inside the cave at the time, and we know that the pots were weathered outside,” continued Marion.

“It is possible that these were some kind of special offerings that were placed inside the cave. The material was brought into the cave and deposited very carefully on top of a large rock.

“Broken artifacts can have a symbolic value in prehistoric communities and pieces of pottery can be placed in ritual context.”

Research into the excavation, which was funded by the National Monuments Service, is still being evaluated. Ove ra ll a ve ry we t st a rt t o t h e we e k b u t t h e ra in b e c o m in g m o re sp o ra d ic a ft e r t h a t . Ne xt we e k lo o ks so m e t h in g sim ila r.

INCREASED links between Clare and its Australian twin, the Clare Valley, is helping to give Clare people who have been forced to emigrate ‘down under’ a little taste of home. That is according to Councillor Sue Wurst, of the Clare and Gilbert Valley’s Council, who visited Ennis last week.

According to Cllr Wurst, the connection has also led to a boosting of the local tourism trade in both Clares, with tourists travelling back and forth between the two areas.

“We are out of the way of the major cities so we haven’t seen a lot of people from Clare coming to live and work with us, but we have seen a lot of Clare people coming to Adelaide, and making their way up to us.

“It would be hard to put a figure on how many people from Clare have come to us but we know it happens,” said Cllr Wurst.

“I know that a sizable number of people from the Clare Valley visit County Clare and I know that the reason that they do visit is because of the twinning link. We read the Clare papers and we know that Shannon has been going through difficult times so we made sure to use Shannon Airport and support that.

“While we are here, we like to buy as much stuff and we can eat and drink as much as we can. We want to contribute to the local economy. I know that when the Mayor of the Clare and Gilbert Valleys was here last week that he spent € 400 on clothes in one shop.

“The Australian dollar is quite high at the moment so we are very happy to come over here and to visit a place that is very much close to our heart.”