Category: News

CLARE farmers can look forward to another 12 months of decent farming conditions, with the level of growth likely to maintain steady into 2012. That is according to a new study released by Teagasc last week which indicated that the next 12 months will be a period of consolidation for local farmers.

The Teagasc Outlook 2012 Report found that the prospects for Irish agriculture, while still broadly positive, are not as good as they were at the beginning of 2011. The forecast for the sector as a whole remains highly dependent on circumstances in the wider EU and in the developing world.

Higher agricultural commodity prices over the last two years have made most sectors of Irish agriculture more profitable and farmers around the world have responded by increasing production.

However, with the EU likely to enter recession for a period in 2012 and the US economy also struggling, demand for agricultural commodities in advanced economies may weaken in 2012. This is likely to create a situation where most agricultural commodity prices fall slightly in 2012.

According to Teagasc economist Trevor Donnellan, little change is expected in overall production costs for most sub-sectors of agriculture, with lower feed prices being offset by increased fertilizer prices. “Overall, most Irish farmers are likely to experience a decline in profitability in 2012, but the sector will remain in a much better position than it was at the onset of the recession,” he said.

The pig sector, which endured considerable losses in 2011 due to high pig feed prices, is likely to be an exception to the general trend for 2012. Teagasc pigs specialist Michael McKeon said that profitability in the pig sector is set to be restored in 2012 as pig prices rise and the cost of feed decreases.

Despite these warnings, the ICMSA’s newly appointed beef chairman is optimistic about the price of beef in 2012. “The first thing to note is that farmers producing beef have been operating in a loss-making situation for many years and current prices are required to keep the farm business viable,” said Michael Guinan.

“Farmers are now operating in a more positive environment but that progress is coming from a very low base over the last decade and we should also acknowledge that we operate in an increasingly volatile market strongly influenced be outside factors, such as the current economic crisis.”

A SOUTH African man is picked on because of the “colour of his skin” on nights out in Ennis, a court has heard.

Derek Matha (20), with an address at 108 Woodhaven, Kilrush Road, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Matha faced the potential activation of a two-month suspended sentence previously imposed by the Court.

Solicitor Darragh Hassett said his client had never come to the court’s attention as a juvenile.

He told the court that the suspended sentence related to a public order incident that involved a number of people in Ennis.

Mr Hassett explained, “The colour of his skin was called into question. The N-word was used and he reacted badly.”

He said Matha “gets picked on because of the colour of his skin”, adding that drink doesn’t agree with him.

He said Matha is “quite naïve”. He said his client is now off the drink and is living a “hermit life”. Mr Hassett said his client is currently carrying out community service.

He added that Matha is enrolled in the youthreach programe and is currently looking for work.

Mr Hassett asked that the suspended sentence not be enforced.

The court heard that Matha was convicted of assault causing harm at Athlone District Court earlier this month. Mr Hassett said compensation had been paid in the Athlone case.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said that, under the circumstances, he would not invoke the suspended sentence

He fixed bail and remanded the accused to appear at Athlone District Court on January 25.

UP TO 10 new jobs will be created this summer with the reopening of Loop Head Lighthouse.

The project was one of the tourism success stories of Clare last year when a trial opening of the historic lighthouse saw almost 17,000 people visit the landmark during an 11-week period in the summer. It is estimated that that 11-week period was worth € 400,000 to the local economy.

Loop Head Tourism, Clare County Council, Shannon Development and the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) now plan to further develop the West Clare amenity by expanding the facilities at the 19th-century lighthouse.

The groups responsible for the running of the lighthouse project are now seeking suitable consultants to research, design and implement an exhibition and interpretation plan to further expand the tourism offerings there. The request for tender was advertised on the e-tenders website last week.

Councillor Oliver Garry (FG), Chairperson of the West Clare Economic Task Force, said that the trial opening enabled the project partners to gain valuable feedback regarding the operation of the site and the impact on tourism in the area.

“It is anticipated that the content of the exhibition and interpretation plan should draw on the unique tourism resources of the area in order to produce a distinct experience that will enable Loop Head to maintain and grow a competitive advantage in tourism terms. A key objective of the overall project, therefore, is to increase bed nights and visitor spend in the area,” he said.

“Feedback was received through comments made directly to the guides, through ‘mystery shopper’ visits to the lighthouse and through surveys of local tourism businesses. The majority of tourism businesses in the area reported a positive impact on their season. It is estimated that the opening of the lighthouse was worth approximately € 400,000 to the local economy during the trial period,” he added.

Ruairi Deane, Tourism Product Development Executive with Shannon Development added, “We believe the new exhibition will further enhance the tourism product offering at Loop Head Lighthouse and will continue to draw additional visitors to this spectacular area of West Clare.

“The 2011 trial opening scheme exceeded expectations and complemented a range of initiatives that we have undertaken during the past year in West Clare, including the new loop walks in Lissycasey and Kilkee,” added Mr Deane.

Loop Head Lighthouse, located at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary, is steeped in history and rich in maritime heritage with its origins dating back to the 1670s.

In January 1991, the lighthouse was converted to automatic operation, and today is in the care of an attendant and is also monitored by the CIL.

CLARE farmers could find farming “unworkable” if some of the suggested new CAP reforms are pushed through in their current form. That was the opinion of the ICSA president Gabriel Gilmartin, who warned EU Agriculture Commissioner, Dacian Ciolos, that his proposed reforms of the Common Agriculture Policy were too “revolutionary” and far too disruptive to Irish farming.

Ciolos was in Dublin last week for a number of meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney (FG) and representatives of the Irish farming organisations.

“While there may be a welcome for a greener, more equitable CAP in theory, ICSA is concerned that, in practice, the Commissioner’s reforms are too revolutionary and will simply be unworkable in Ireland,” he said.

“The moving to a flat rate payment and the introduction of a greening top-up has the potential to severely stunt the growth of successful and productive farms in the country.

“We cannot have a fair reform that imposes severe cuts on family-sized farms. Due to spiralling input costs, the average farmer is now more reliant than ever on their single farm payment (SFP) from the EU.

“Strong factory prices are being counteracted by the rising costs of fuel and other operational costs, therefore excessive cuts in the SFP has the potential to drive farm families out of agriculture.”

Speaking after the visit, Minister Coveney said that he impressed upon the Commissioner the key CAP reform priorities for Ireland.

“The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will set the policy framework for Irish and EU agriculture, so it is important that we get it right. I have told Commissioner Ciolos today that the first priority from an Irish perspective is to secure the maximum possible funding from the EU budget negotiations in order to provide for a strong and well-resourced CAP,” he said.

“The second priority is to ensure that Ireland’s funding for both direct payments and rural development is maintained at current levels. In addition, we must provide the maximum possible flexibility for Member States to implement the payment models and transitional arrangements that best suit their farming conditions.”

The minister emphasised the commitment of both Ireland and the Commission to sustainable intensification of production, responsible environmental stewardship and the maintenance of a vibrant rural economy.

CLARE County Council is finally set to deliver its verdict this week on whether a move to provide top-class sports amenities for the East Clare catchment of Killaloe and Ballina has the backing of the planning authority.

The Ballina/Killaloe Sports and Development Facilities Development Company is behind plans to develop two new full-size playing pitches, an all-weather pitch, flood-lit training areas, walking and cycling trails, changing and carparking facilities at a site in Moys, Killaloe.

The planning application for the development was lodged on June 15 last.

An original deadline of November 9 last year was set for a final decision date on the proposal.

However, the decision was delayed on foot of a request from the planning authority for further information, which was duly submitted by the applicants on December 22 last.

The Ballina/Killaloe Sports and Development Facilities Development Company plan represents the second major sports-related activity earmarked for Killaloe in the past year.

In May, conditional planning permission was granted for an ambitious club/community project being promoted by Smith O’Briens at its base on Shantraud.

That development includes a new clubhouse, changing rooms, a sports hall, meeting rooms, a hurling wall, an astro-turf pitch and a spectator stand.

A second application was submitted by the club for the development at Shauntraud on December 23 last, with a decision date from the council set for February 25 next.

The Smith O’Briens club initiative is set to be funded by members of the local community themselves.

This will operate through an investors’ draw, whereby one thousand people will pay € 4 a week into the development kitty – a contribution that works out at € 17.33 a month and € 208 over the year.

“For that, we will have a draw every month giving away € 3,700 in cash prizes,” revelaed Tony O’Brien of Smith O’Briens club.

“There will be 20 prizes, ranging from the top prize of € 1,000 to two € 500 prizes, two € 250 prizes, and all the way down to eight € 50 prizes.

“The plan is to develop under the umbrella of the GAA, but it will be a community facility that will be open for everyone,” he added when the club launched its novel fundraising scheme to pay for the development.

THE success story of the pioneering Seol Sionna project in West Clare has been recognized nationally as the traditional boat building initiative has been short-listed for a major community award.

The Department of Education sponsored Star Awards that celebrate adult learning initiatives throughout the country have singled out Seol Sionna as one of the key community driven projects that has taken place over the past year.

Seol Sionna is a community based boat building project in Querrin which over the last 18 months has drawn thousands of people to the Shannon estuary to witness the building of a traditional boat which has a long history of carrying turf and goods on the Shannon Estuary.

While trainees have been learning to build a traditional wooden boat under the expertise of local shipwright Stephen Morris, others have taken up film making, history research and recording with the help of the West Clare Learning Network.

The local primary school in Querrin have been constant visitors to the shed and are now presenting to other schools on the peninsula who are visiting Querrin before its launch on May 19th.

“This is a project which has cap- tured the imagination and filled the communities in West Clare with great pride,” says Seol Sionna PRO Trea Heapes. “Not only does it recognise the skills and contributions of people who have gone before us but it has a contemporary benefit in that it now gives a whole new generation the opportunity of getting out sailing on the Shannon Estuary; one of the great wild places to be explored and appreciated.

“Many potential sailors have completed navigation and sailing courses with the intention of skippering the newly named Sally O’ Keefe. A new Seol Sionna Club has been set up to make the boat available to club members,” she adds.

“While the opportunity to learn how to build a trad boat will finish with it’s launch, a new rainbow of learning opportunites will make themselves available to those who are interested in taking up new challanges of sailing, navigation, exploring, fishing, exploration, nature watching and working with others to realise the rich potential of living along the Shannon Estuary,” she adds.

The Maintenance Project operated by Newmarket-on-Fergus community organization, Obair, was the Munster winner of the Star Awards in 2011. The awards, which are part of the Adult Learners’ Festival, will take place from February 20-24.

AN Ennis man with a “serious drink problem” stole two mobile phones from the solicitor’s bar-room in Ennis Courthouse, a court has heard.

Jamie Clune (34), with an address at 4 Bridge View, Roslevan, Ennis, pleaded guilty to theft and public order offences at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

The court heard that the accused took two phones from the courthouse bar-room on April 5 (2011).

Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that Clune was later questioned and admitted his involvement in the theft.

Insp Kennedy said the phones were sold to an unknown person and had not been recovered.

Court documents showed that the phone belonged to barristers Stephen Coughlan BL and Patrick Marrinan.

In relation to the public order charge, Insp Kennedy said Gardai were forced to arrest Clune after he behaved aggressively in the Market area of Ennis on November 5 (2011).

He said the accused had 99 previous convictions, mainly for public order and intoxication offences.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that her client had behaved in a drunk and disorderly fashion last November, following a row with his sister.

She said Clune has a “serious drink problem”.

She added, “He’s quite an intelligent man who has had a sad upbringing and has used alcohol to cloud the memory”.

Ms Godfrey said her client is now clean and sober.

The court heard that the accused is currently serving a sentence.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy convicted Clune and sentenced him to six months in prison.

Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

ONE of Clare’s smallest primary schools was in the spotlight this week as the Department of Education published its Whole School Evaluation Report. As one of the many small rural schools nationally under threat of closure, the department recommended that the board of management of Bal tard National School should consult with key stakeholders regarding the future viability of the 100-year-old school.

Situated close to the village of Doonbeg, the school enrolment on the day of inspection last March was just seven. The report questionned what it described as the “erratic enrolment at the school.” “Due to the low and fluctuating enrolment trends, the school’s viability is in question,” it said. “The board reports that children from the local, indigenous population attend other nearby primary schools by choice. The school rolls indicate that many pupils enrol for short periods in the school. A very small number of pupils have attended Baltard National School for the period of their full primary education during the last 10year period. In light of these facts, it is recommended that the board commence a process of consultation with key stakeholders regarding the future viability of the school.”

The Board of Management responded to the comments, stating it was in consultation with the key stakeholders regarding the future viability of the school and is in the process of making a submission to the Department of Education and Skills.

“In the past number of years, the Board of Management have been aware of the challenges faced by the school regarding enrolments. They have liaised with Rural Resettlement Ireland and still continue to do so.

“Rural Resettlement Ireland have been supportive over the years and continue to be. On a positive note, housing is readily available and we hope to promote this via a website which the BOM are currently considering developing in order to further promote the school,” it said.

The report was positive about the day-to-day running of the school, however. It stated that the building and grounds were very well maintained. It also praised the recently appointed school principal who it said is “strongly committed to the development of the school.”

DOOLIN residents and members of the local surfing community will come face-to-face this Wednesday following the decision by Clare County Council to host a public consultation event as part of the new planning process for the controversial development of the Doolin Pier.

There has been some animosity between the two groups since the surfers succeeded in delaying the construction of the pier last year by appealing to An Bord Pleanála to force Clare County Council to produce a complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

With scores of local surfers lodging objections to the planning process for the pier and more than 60 Doolin residents attending at Clare County Council when the Part 8 planning permission was decided, this Wednesday’s meeting is likely to be well attended on both sides.

The Lahinch-based West Coast Surf Club say that the design for pier will impact on the famous wave at Crab Island, just off Doolin, while the local community in Doolin say the pier could open Doolin up as a major gateway to the Aran Island and create hundreds of jobs locally.

Clare County Council is currently mid-way through preparing an EIS in relation to the pier and will have to submit this statement to an Bord Pleanála for approval before any work can begin on the € 5 million project. Clare County Council’s senior engineer Tom Tiernan said that alternative options for the pier are being considered.

“The council recognises the importance of facilitating public consultation and considering fully the views of the various stakeholders,” he said.

“The Doolin Pier Project is a critically important piece of infrastructural development for the North Clare area and will serve to significantly enhance the tourism industry in both North Clare and the Aran Islands in future years.

“All submissions will be considered in detail along with all of the other pertinent detail collated by the council’s consultants. This will ultimately lead to the selection of one option, which in turn will become the proposal to which the Environmental Impact Assessment refers. Once the pier option to be proposed in association with the Environmental Impact Assessment is confirmed, the overall proposal will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála for determination.”

The public consultation event will take place at Hotel Doolin, this Wednesday, January 25, from 3pm to 8pm.

JOB creation will not happen overnight and it will be painful.

That was the message from Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton (FG) when he addressed Shannon Chamber last week.

“If we are to create the jobs and growth we so badly need, we are going to have to undertake radical reform across the entire economy to make it easier for businesses to create employment. This means above all reducing costs, improving access to finance, providing better and more supports to job-creating businesses, and putting innovation at the centre of everything we do.

“This will not happen overnight. We will have to grind out the reforms one by one if we are going to achieve the Government’s ambition of making Ireland the best small country in which to do business,” he said.

They will be painful for some peo ple, particularly in sheltered parts of the public and private sector, and we will need support if we are to drive them through. However, if we are to build a strong economy with solid foundations this is where the hard work must start.

“In next month’s Action Plan for Jobs, we will begin a rigorous, monitored process of driving changes across government and the economy to improve the business environment and enable the creation of the jobs we need,” he added.

One company present who was not waiting for a Government-led job’s initiative was the Shannon-based CREGG Group.

Through lateral thinking, it enhanced its existing operations and brought a major international brand to Shannon – ZAGG International.

President of the Shannon Chamber Damien Gleeson said, potentially 130 extra jobs are being created by CREGG at Shannon, as a result of the company’s initiative to identify a company in the US with a similar process to itself and a desire to cite an operation within Europe.

“This has had a positive outcome for Shannon/Ireland – 70 of the jobs have been filled in the past nine months. It has sustained the company’s existing base at Shannon and brought in new skills and new products,” he said.