Category: News

HOPES are high that North Clare could see an increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the years ahead following an historic visit by the Chinese Ambassador to the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher over the weekend. The ambassador, his Excellency Mr Luo Liang, visited a number of North Clare locations on Saturday as part of his first ever visit to the county. The Cliffs of Moher was the first stop and here Ambassador Luo was welcomed by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes (FF), before he enjoyed a guided tour of the cliffs and O’Brien’s Tower given by the Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experi- ence, Katherine Webster. “The number of Chinese visitors to the Cliffs of Moher has been increasing in the last few years and 2011 saw a number of Chinese specialist tour groups making regular visits,” said the Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes. “We want to encourage our Chinese friends to spend more time in County Clare that has so much to offer them. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to welcome Ambassador Luo here so early this year and we in the county look forward to doing likewise for many of his compatriots in the year ahead.” After the Cliffs of Moher the ambassador then moved on to Lisdoonvarna where he sampled the fare at the Burren Smokehouse. He was also given a tour of the smoking factory by Birgitta and Peter Curtin. The Ambassador and his party continued on to lunch at Burren Fine Wine and Food near Ballyvaughan and rounded off their tour with a visit to Poulnabrone Portal Tomb in the heart of the Burren. This was Ambassador Luo’s first visit to County Clare and he expressed his conviction that Chinese visitors would appreciate the stunning vistas of the Cliffs of Moher and the spectacular landscape of the Burren. He also highlighted the warm welcome he had received in County Clare and the remarkable cultural heritage of the county. Following a plan to streamline the visa applications process for Chinese people visiting Ireland, it is hoped that a large number of visitors will come to Ireland in 2012, with many expected to include Ireland as part of their trip to London 2012.

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.

LANDLORDS in Kilrush have been challenged to breathe new economic life back into Kilrush by slashing their rents for business operators.

The call was sounded out by members of Kilrush Town Council at its first statutory meeting of the year as it formally backed a new campaign to secure urban renewal status for the town.

This twin-track approach to revitalize the West Clare capital’s town centre has emerged as part of the local authority’s plans to kick-start the second phase of the Moore Street Regeneration Project that will be expanded to include other business streets in the town.

Town Clerk John Corry has written to the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, seeking urban renewal status for the Moore Street area – a move that came on the back of a proposal to the December meeting of the council by Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) and tabled formally as a motion before last Thursday’s meeting.

“It is in this council’s interest to encourage and facilitate a socially, economically and commercially regenerated Moore Street,” he said. “A Small Towns’ Urban Renewal Scheme would be welcomed by the construction industry and kickstart economic activity in areas far too long blighted by dilapidated vacant premises,” he added.

“There is no point in Kilrush Town Council and the NRA doing such a good job on Moore Street if the people with business premises don’t come on board,” said Cllr Paul Moroney (Ind).

“If they have unrealistic rents along with what we’re trying to do now with a reduced rates scheme, it won’t work. We need to work together. It’s out of our hands, but we need to get the word out there that if business can be done on Moore Street that we’re right behind it, but realistic rents need to be part of the equation,” he added.

“They will give reduced rents. They will be amenable to helping new businesses come in. A number have stated that they will be doing that. They are going to work with us,” said Marion McMahon-Jones (FG).

“There is an accountant who is prepared to give six months free accounting of the advice that businesses need, something that would be invaluable for businesses setting up,” she added.

GER Loughnane re-emerged on the national scene last Friday following his recent illness when he strongly criticised some sections of the media for their conduct during his battle with leukaemia over the past few months.

Loughnane’s re-emergence from his self-imposed media blackout was welcomed throughout the county, and indeed the country, as news of his return to health and form spread.

He confirmed in his interview that the worst of his treatment is over and he is close to fighting fit. He also showed he had lost none of his forthrightness by strongly criticising an unnamed RTÉ sports reporter and The Examiner newspaper for their conduct during his treatment.

The Feakle native stated he has been left with “nothing but absolute contempt” for certain journalists after he was requested to do an interview days after he started treatment and it was then reported he had died last July.

Writing in The Star newspaper, Loughnane stated, “The lowest point of all was when the rumours that I was dead went around. That was the hardest thing to deal with,” he said. “I had the first phase of chemotherapy just finished and the first phase is very, very difficult.”

After such an ordeal, he and his wife Mary had to calm his distraught son Conor, who had rung from Aus- tralia upon hearing and reading reports of his father’s death.

“I had to ring Conor to reassure him that everything was fine.”

The Clare legend was also angered by requests for an interview from a reporter that came two days after he started treatment.

“I got a message from an RTÉ reporter looking to do an interview. I didn’t even reply to it.”

The request was re-routed through a friend. “I was on the chemo for three days, he knew I was on chemo but he wanted to do an interview for his own gratification. Worse still then, he wanted to do an interview at the end of the year.

“He sent me a text saying he was thinking of me and praying for me, and was there any chance I’d do an interview. That’s despicable stuff altogether.

“It shows the kind of insincerity that is there with a certain section. When you see it as barefaced as that, you have nothing but absolute contempt for the people who are trying to pull that kind of stunt.”

The principal of St Aidan’s Primary School in Shannon also confirmed in the interview that he will be retiring from that role over the coming months, while it is unclear whether he will be returning to RTÉ as a Sunday Game pundit this summer.

KILRUSH Town Council has the ability to lead the way for local authorities around the country in their efforts to extricate themselves from contracts with private companies that have been described as “crazy” by former mayor Cllr Liam O’Looney (FF).

Cllr O’Looney, who spearheaded the local authority’s move to extri- cate itself from the provisions of a 20-year agreement with a private company for the public toilet on Martyr’s Square in the town, has said that a coalition of forces among local authorities should be established.

“The Municipal Authorities Association of Ireland has a role to play in this,” said Cllr O’Looney, “because since this council made the decision to give a 12-month notice about the public toilet in Kilrush, a number of councillors from other local authori- ties have been on to me. They want to do the same.

“Kilrush Town Council has shown the way and now through coordinating things at Municipal Authorities Association of Ireland level, if other councils did the same, these company who charged outlandish prices for the provision of services will have to deal with the council,” he added.

Earlier this month, Kilrush Town Council issued formal notice that it is to extricate itself from a 20-year agreement for the public toilet that was put in place in the town centre, by terminating the contract for the facility with JCDecaux Street Furniture Limited.

The public toilet will still be in operation in 2012 at a rental cost of € 35,910, but to terminate the contract later in the year the local authority must pay € 60,382 to Street Furniture Limited.

At the September meeting of Kilrush Town Council it was revealed that the town authorities were tied to a 20-year contract for provision of the toilet that was signed in 1999 and doesn’t run out until 2019.

“I must commend the management on what they’ve done,” Cllr Paul Moroney (Ind) told last Thursday’s Kilrush Town Council meeting. “Other councils were told in no uncertain terms that there was no opt out clause, but that’s not the case. This council has shown that it can be done,” he added.