Category: News

CLARE Vocational Education Committee (VEC) has confirmed appointments to positions at Scariff Community College.

In a statement, a VEC spokesperson confirmed that Angela McNamara would replace the retiring Sean Daly as principal of Scariff Community College. Ms McNamara is currently deputy principal of Ennis Community College.

Brian Crossan, who is currently director of East Clare Adult and Community Education Centre, Scariff, will take up the role of deputy principal at Scariff Community College. He replaces retiring deputy principal John O’Donovan. Mr Crossan is a former director of St. Joseph’s Training Centre, Ennis.

The issue of teacher retirements was raised at the January meeting of Clare VEC. The meeting heard that the number of retirements, including principals and their deputies, is “up a little bit on average”.

Under the Croke Park agreement, teachers who retire before the end of February will have their pensions and lump sums calculated on ‘pre-cut’ salary, the salary they were earning before the pay cut imposed in January 2010.

Clare VEC is waiting to see how many teachers take up the option in order to assess the impact on Clare schools.

Last month, in response to concern over teaching retirements, CEO George O’Callaghan said that teachers could be hired in a temporary capacity to take classes until the end of term.

Mr O’Callaghan said the VEC does not expect to encounter any problems in filling posts. He said the VEC would examine the situation more closely in February.

Concern was also expressed over the impact of cuts to career guidance services announced in last November’s Budget.

Mr O’Callaghan told last week’s meeting that meetings are due to take place with principals in the coming weeks to ascertain the impact of the cuts. He said these discussions would guide the VEC’s response to the situation.

Meanwhile, three delegates will represent County Clare Vocational Education Committee at the annual Eigse Colm Cille Winter School Conference on Magee Campus in Derry.

Responding to an organisers’ invitation, the committee unanimously chose the chairman, Cllr Tommy Brennan; Bernard Hanrahan and Cllr Gabriel Keating.

The conference, on February 24 to 26, is a literary weekend of events celebrating the Irish language in the North-West.

DRIVERS and pedestrians in Ennis have been urged to be vigilant after two accidents on the Clare Road in just over a week.

A fourth-year student from St Flannan’s College escaped serious injury when he was struck by a car on a stretch of road between Captain Mac’s Cross and the Turnpike.

The incident occurred at lunchtime last Thursday. The student received medical treatment.

Deputy Principal John Minogue explained that the student was brought to hospital but that the school had not received a report of any serious injury.

Another teenager was injured 10 days ago by a car exiting the carpark of the West County Hotel. An ambulance was called to the scene.

The incidents have led to calls for greater vigilance and awareness on routes around Ennis.

Road Safety Officer with Clare County Council, Barry Keating, said yesterday that there is an onus on both drivers and pedestrians to be aware of the dangers, particularly at busy periods of the day.

“In general, we would ask people to be extra vigilant and to pay extra attention, particularly around schools. There are a lot of people exiting schools at lunchtime and we would ask drivers to be cognizant of this.”

He added, “This applies to pedestrians too but in general we would always say to drivers to be extra vigilant when they are driving past schools, especially at lunchtime. when you have a large number of people looking to cross the road.”

Concern was also expressed yesterday over bus- and car-parking on roads near St Flannan’s College.

Senior Executive Engineer, Eamon O’Dea said yesterday that he is aware that some cars are parking on the slip road that leads from the roundabout at Lynch’s joinery to Flannan’s, a situation he described as “disgraceful”.

Cllr Brennan said that buses parked at Flannan’s school are “blocking up the road” in the morning and afternoon.

He said measures were needed to improve safety at the location.

Cllr Brennan said that electronic speed repeater signs, similar to those in place on the Tulla Road, should be placed on the road between the Éire Óg GAA grounds and St Flannan’s.

THE long-awaited development of a new junction at Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon could be jeopardy following the shock announcement by Clare County Council yesterday that they will have to fund an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before any work can take place.

This means that any progress at the site will be delayed by at least 12 months and € 100,000 will have to be found to finance the EIS. It is unclear where the € 100,000 will come from as Clare County Council do not have the money and the National Roads Authority (NRA) generally do not fund a project until after it has passed through the planning stage.

The decision to voluntarily complete an EIS was made, according to senior council engineer Tom Tiernan, because the local authority felt certain that groups opposed to the destruction of the listed building at Blake’s Corner would object to An Bord Pleanála should Clare County Council grant Part 8 planning permission for the site without a complete EIS.

A similar objection was used by a number of surfing organisation to delay the construction of a new pier at Doolin last year.

“There is no point in us doing this and then being told down the line that we need to go for EIS. This is terribly disappointing but I think that in the long run this will be the shortest route,” said Mr Tiernan

“The NRA have stated very clearly to me that they are committed to this project. But their commitment does not translate into money in any way until a time that you have all the approvals that are required.

“I would sincerely hope that they can allocate money [for the EIS], they are aware that this is a very important and controversial project and something that needs to be pushed forward as soon as possible.”

According to one local councillor, more than 100 local jobs could be lost if the scheme at the junction is not sorted out soon.

“I am stunned that this has happened. Common sense has gone out the window,” said Cllr Bill Slattery (FG).

“We have a factory in Deerpark which employs 100 people. If this isn’t fixed, I know from speaking to the owner of this factory, they will be forced to pull out of Ennistymon.”

Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) said that he was “absolutely stunned” by yesterday’s development and said that it was the latest is a list of delays for the project.

CANNABIS herb valued at € 2,700 was discovered during a Garda search of woods near Newmarketon-Fergus, a court has heard.

The detail emerged at Ennis District Court last week where a 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to having cannabis for sale or supply.

Shane Purtell, with an address at 18 Marian Avenue, Ennis, was arrested by Gardaí after an intelligence-led search at Mooghaun, Newmarketon-Fergus on October 9 (2010). The court heard that the accused had weighing scales and moneybags in his possession.

Insp Dermot O’Connor told the court that the accused was brought to Ennis Garda Station and, during his detention there, he admitted that the cannabis found in the woods was his. Insp O’Connor said the cannabis was valued at € 2,700.

Solicitor Stephen Nicholas said his client had co-operated fully with Gardaí and made a full admission.

He said his client came from a wellknown family in Ennis and never had any involvement in drugs.

Mr Nicholas added, “He fell into drugs due to unemployment. This was his first attempt to go into dealing.” He explained that the incident had served as a wake-up call to his client. He said Purtell had been accepted on a pre-treatment programme Bushypark but had declined the place as he had secured employment through FAS.

He said his client urine analysis would show that his client is drugand alcohol-free. “He was a man of excellent prospects until he got sucked into this spiral,” he added.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy adjourned the matter until March 14 for the preparation of a report by the probation and welfare service.

THE process of drafting a new plan that will chart the development of Kilrush for much of the next decade is to begin by this March at the latest.

The importance of the plan to the future of the West Clare capital was emphasized by Town Manager Nora Kaye, who urged that all interest groups in the town take part in the process that is set to be kickstarted at a meeting of the Kilrush Town Council.

“I would hope that the senior planner for West Clare would address Kilrush Town Council at the February or the March meeting to start this process,” revealed Ms Kaye.

“It is very useful that the new town development plan for Kilrush is starting this year. In view of discussions that we’ve had about revitalizing the town centre of Kilrush and promoting Kilrush as a place to invest and a place to do business, I think it’s very timely that the new town plan and the preparations for it will be commenc- ing early in 2012,” added Ms Kaye.

The Town Manager revealed the new Kilrush Town Council planner Emma Pillion will be involved in the process of drafting the new town plan, but she emphasized that the completed blueprint will be about “refusing or granting planning permissions”.

“It is an opportunity,” said Ms Kaye. “It is not just a plan by which we refuse or grant planning permissions, it is really an investment strategy for the town of Kilrush going forward.

“I think that having a Kilrush Town Development Plan is very positive and hopefully it will serve us well in attracting new businesses to the town,” she added.

Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) told the meeting that developing a new marketing for Kilrush should be a key part of the plan.

“I notice in Drogheda that’s now being sold as Drogheda on the Boyne. It’s a new brand. Why not Kilrush on the Shannon, why not build on the maritime theme. I think that is the way to go.”

THE links between the first President of the United States and an historic North Clare home will be explored in a new programme to be aired this week.

Located in New Quay, Mount Vernon has battled the elements of the Atlantic Ocean since 1788. It was built by Colonel Persse, a friend of the first president of the United States, George Washington. Persse’s grand-nephew, Ireland’s greatest art collector, Hugh Lane, bought the house in 1880. When the Lusitania was torpedoed and sank in 1915, Lane was on board and sank with the ship and his latest collection of Monet, Ruben and Rembrandt paintings. The house was passed onto Lane’s aunt, Lady Augusta Gregory, one of the most pivotal figures in the Irish cultural renaissance. The history of Mount Vernon will be the subject of Cé a Chóna igh I mo Thea chsa , a new show by TG4 which will be aired on Thursday, January 19 at 10pm.

The 12-part series looks at the hidden histories of some of Ireland’s best-known homes. The show is presented by veteran traveller and broadcaster Manchán Magan.

Manchán will look at some of Mount Vernon’s most famous guests – WB Yeats, George Russell, Sean O’Casey, JM Synge and George Bernard Shaw – and he’ll find out why Yeats dedicated his famous poem to Lady Gregory’s nephew.

According to Manchán, “Every old house wants to tell its story, but it just doesn’t have the words. You need to help it speak. It wants you to, and if you take on the challenge, you feel as though it’s following you every step of the way, helping you at times, directing you towards sources of information that you never would have guessed; but hindering you at times too. Houses have their secrets, and the thrill is getting beyond these to uncover a new perspective on an old world.”

KILRUSH Town Council are set to press ahead with developing the € 1.3m sports facility earmarked for the Cooraclare Road in the West Clare capital – whether they get government funding for the ambitious project or not.

That was the message delivered at the January meeting of the local authority in Kilrush Town Hall on Thursday night last as councillors gave their unanimous approval for a proposal to press ahead with the project regardless of whether the 90 per cent funding they missed out on in 2011 is forthcoming this year.

“If we don’t get the government funding, we should have an alternative plan that will kick in straight away,” said Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Ian Lynch (FG) in kickstarting a move for work on the project to begin in 2011.

“The ten per cent that Clare County Council and Kilrush Town Council have to invest between them, we can match that with Leader funding to provided some of the facilities, not all of them, but some of them. That’s what we should do. If we don’t get the 90 per cent, we should go with the ten per cent and then get as much as we can from Leader,” Mayor Lynch added.

Last October the council made an application for funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for the first phase of the integrated sports facility on lands owned by the ESB and Department of Education.

The first phase of the development will include an artificial surface facility, a full-size playing pitch and two full-size training pitches, fencing, lighting and associated works at the cost of € 500,000. The second phase of the project will include the development of dressing rooms, car parking, footpaths and associated works.

“The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has advised that it hopes to announce a Sports Capital Programme in the first quarter of 2012,” revealed town clerk John Corry.

“In anticipation of the announcement of a grant scheme in 2012, Kilrush Town Council together with Clare County Council will be in a position to make an early application for grant assistance and if approved, would be hopeful of receiving grant approval of 90 per cent of the cost of the scheme,” he added.

The matter was raised before the council by Cllr Liam Williams (FG), who called on the council to “prioritise the sports complex and make sure that funding is accessed for it”.

“It is a community effort,” responded town manager Nora Kaye. “It is a community project and if Kilrush Town Council is the vehicle through which we can make it happen, we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet and we will work hard to bring it about,” she added.

CLARE County Library have launched a new competition to highlight the crucial role played by family carers.

Following the success of last year’s poetry competition as part of a partnership involving Caring for Carers, Clare County Library and the Ennis Book Club Festival, a new nationwide poetry competition for 2012 has recently been launched.

The theme of this year’s competition is ‘Springtime’, which organisers hope will inspire the many family carers around the country to put pen to paper. Poems should be no longer than three verses and entries should be submitted by Friday, February 17, to Brigid Barron, Caring for Carers Ireland, National Office, 2 Carmody Street Business Park, Ennis. Email bbarron@caringforcarers.org.

The winner will receive a weekend stay for two in an Ennis Hotel during this year’s Ennis Book Club Festival, which takes place from March 2 to 4, with a weekend pass to all of the festival events. Four runners-up will receive two tickets to the Joseph Woods and Paula Meehan poetry event as well as two tickets to the Maureen Gaffney reading. Both of these events will take place at the Ennis Book Club Festival on Saturday, March 3. Further details on the festival are at www.ennisbookclubfestival.com.

Speaking at the launch, Helen Walsh, County Librarian, said “The library is delighted to be involved in this poetry competition. I see it as a very worthwhile community project. Caring for Carers carry out invaluable work throughout the country and the library has a particular interest in socially inclusive events such as this.”

According to Brigid Barron, Research and Program Manager with Caring for Carers Ireland, recognising the role of family carers in the home is crucial. She said, “This form of care is the foundation of formal health and social care systems. Family carers are a distinct group who provide care and also, very importantly, require care themselves. We hope they will get involved in this poetry competition and we greatly look forward to receiving their entries.”

THE success of the Moore Street regeneration project that was marked by a street party in December has spawned a new ‘Family Gathering’ festival that will take place in Kilrush next summer.

Details of staging a Moore Street Reunion in August, which could become an annual event were unveiled by Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF), who himself is a native of the what was once the main shopping street in the West Clare capital.

The idea emerged following the outstanding success of the Moore Street celebrations that took place on December 17 last in the wake of the upgrading work carried by the National Roads Authority (NRA).

“We came up with the idea of having a Moore Street Reunion of all the old families in August during the Inis Cathaigh music festival,” revealed Cllr Prendeville.

“We were talking about have a fes- tival, with an arts and culture element to it, with exhibitions and events and it and for this to particularly make use the Vandeleur Walled Garden. We’d have lectures there and it would be all about bringing more life back into Kilrush,” he added.

The upgrading works that were carried out by the NRA at the cost of € 150,000 came after a long-running campaign that was waged by both councillors and members of the council executive over a number of years.

“The efforts made by the people of Moore Street was incredible,” said Cllr Liam Williams (FG).

“Anybody that came home to Kilrush for Christmas, it was the chat. It’s something that can be built on,” he added.

“I must admit that the spirit was unreal on Moore Street,” said Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Ian Lynch (FG). “It was unbelievable. The photographs that were in the exhibitions have been put on a CD and they are sending them to America and all over the place.

“Now the windows of premises that aren’t being used, they are going to keep the exhibition going and change around some of the photographs. It’s absolutely amazing and maybe it’s something that we should do each year and pick a street in the town,” he added.

“Maria Hartmann had a spectacular performance with the organization of the whole event. She is very much in favour of the reunion, so it’s onwards and upwards,” added Cllr Prendeville.

A GRANT of € 500,000 has been allocated by the Department of Transport to Clare County Council for the new bridge in Killaloe that will cross the Shannon linking Clare with Tipperary.

The grant has been given by Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar, to the council to enable the Shannon Crossing Project be brought through An Bord Pleanála,

Last August, Minister Varadkar, approved the publication of the Statutory Orders by Clare County Council for the construction of the Killaloe bypass and the Shannon Bridge crossing.

This paved the way for Clare County Council to seek approval from An Bórd Pleanála for the Environmental Impact Statement and the associated compulsory purchase order, which could see this scheme being approved and the land being purchased over the next two years.

The long-awaited project will cost an estimated € 40.6m. Public representatives in both Clare and North Tipperary regard this announcement as a major boost for tourism/employment.

The total length of the new Shannon crossing is 890 metres and entails the construction of a roadway with two roundabout junctions and one T-junction.

The span across the river will be 170 metres. This roadway has been designed for a basic six-metre wide carriageway, with the width increased where necessary to accommodate turning movements.

Provision has also been made for a two-metre wide cycle track on both sides of the road, over its full length.

Three junctions are proposed along the route with a roundabout at each end and a T-junction on the Killaloe side.

The deck of the new bridge will consist of four interior spans and two end spans.

“The quicker the new bridge is built and the roads are improved the better,” said Senator Tony Mulcahy (FG) in welcoming the grant allocation.

“The Killaloe – Ballina area is a big tourist draw and a new bridge will help bring more visitors into the whole Lough Derg catchment area. In this climate of austerity it has to be welcomed that important capital programmes are getting the resources to proceed,” he added.

This project has been broken down into three packages. The Killaloe bypass € 11.93m, the bridge itself at € 12m and works to the R494 at € 16.6m.