Category: News

KILRUSH Town Council is only two days away from being abolished, but councillors are set to stave off the spectre of closure by backing a proposal in the 2012 Budget to leave rates at 2011 levels for the next 12 months.

The decision is set to be made by councillors at this Tuesday night’s re-convened Budget meeting as part of a compromise between members of the local authority and the executive over key policy issues. The Clare People has learned that councillors will back rates remaining at 2011 levels, but that the prospect of cutting rates for 2013 will be looked into by the town council authorities during the course of the year. And with rates remaining at 2011 levels, the controversial proposal to abolish the arts and community grants schemes looks set to be overturned.

The decision to leave rates untouched comes on the back of an acceptance by councillors that the parking concessions introduced by the town council during the course of 2011 mount to a rates cut in another name.

“The money has to come from somewhere,” one councillor told The Clare People this week. “The parking concessions mean a loss in rev- enue of around € 40,000 a year and actually amount to around a six per cent cut in commercial rates,” the councillor added.

At the Budget meeting on December 15, former mayor Tom Prendeville (FF) proposed that “as a gesture, if we were to reduce our commercial rate by one per cent it would send a message to business people that we are on their side”. This sentiment was shared by Cllr Mairead O’Brien (IND) who said that she would prefer a two per cent rate cut for 2012.

According to Town Clerk John Corry, the two per cent rate cut would result in a rates reduction of just € 2 per week for the vast majority of businesses in Kilrush – 201 of the 241 businesses. For 2011, Kilrush Town Council has recouped 74 per cent of the rates due, with the threat of legal action hanging over those who have failed to pay.

In relation to funding for arts and and community projects, a bombshell was dropped at the Budget meeting when town manager Nora Kaye revealed that “due to the current economic climate, it is not possible to provide support for community and arts projects as has been provided in previous years”.

However, with councillors digging their heels in, the proposal now won’t be brought into effect.

A CHARITY walk organised by members of the Clare Association Dublin has raised € 3,000 for children and adults with physical and sensory disabilities.

A large crowd turned out for the Martin Corry Memorial Walk which took place around Howth Head last October.

A former President of the Clare Association Dublin, Cree native Martin was a keen walker who was actively involved in fundraising for local and national charities. Money raised from this year’s walk will go towards the Clare branch of Enable Ireland.

Gerry O’Reilly, Clare Association PRO, presented the cheque to representatives of Enable Ireland in Dublin last month.

Acknowledging the large turn-out at the Addison Hotel, Gerry paid tribute to those who had helped make the Martin Corry Memorial Walk such a success. He said 2011 had been an excellent year for the Clare Association.

He thanked all those who participated in the charity walk around Howth Head. Gerry said that, despite the poor weather and difficult terrain, the walkers enjoyed the scenic 10k walk. He also paid tribute to sponsors and those who contributed in any way towards the success of the walk. In particular, Gerry thanked Mary Corry, wife of the late Martin Corry, and her family, who joined the crowds on the day. Gerry said that he was particularly pleased that the proceeds from the walk would be going to the Clare branch of Enable Ireland. The charity provides essential support, therapy and services to children and adults with physical and sensory disabilities to enable them to achieve maximum independence, choice and inclusion in their community. Enable Ireland Clare was formed in 1990 as a support group for families and carers of people with physical disabilities. In the following years, Enable Ireland has developed and expanded to include a wide range of services to meet the needs of children and adults with disabilities and their families in Clare. Dorothy Barry from Enable Ireland thanked the Clare Association Dublin for their efforts and, in accepting the cheque from Mary Corry, she outlined the benefits that this contribution would make to those who rely on support and assistance on a daily basis.

AS ONE of the country’s foremost concertina players, music provided Chris Droney with a passport to see the world.

In 1951, the Bellharbour musician visited America for the first time, hopping aboard a plane for the first time from Shannon to Boston.

It was a shocking experience, one that Chris vividly recalled to The Clare People in 2007.

He said, “I remember the first time. It was one of those planes with the propellers and we had to re-fuel in Gander airport in Newfoundland. I mean, the cold in that place was unreal. I’d say it was about 25 degrees below. I’ve never known anything as cold. We had to refuel there and then head of for Boston. The planes would be half-empty.

“It took nine and a half hours to go to America that time. They were all re-fuelling in Gander back then. It was the first time on a plane and I will tell you one thing, it was like being in the World Cup, that’s how nervous I was.”

Music brought Chris Droney to Gander. It brought him most places. He learned the concertina by paying careful attention to his father James and grandfather Michael at the family home in Bellharbour.

Playing music was a social thing. It also provided the opportunity to travel. His teenage years were spent playing in pubs and dance halls and competitions. He was named All-Ireland Senior Concertina Champion on nine occasions. After winning the All-Ireland in 1961, he was invited to play in Boston.

They toured hard in the 1960s, travelling from America to Canada and back to America, playing to noisy, sold-out venues.

He said, “I was asked to go to play in a concert in Boston in the colonial hall. I’ll never forget it. It was frightening, because I never realised there would be much of a crowd there but there were 2,200 people.

“I had to play for about 20 minutes for two nights, just two nights. The second night there were maybe about a thousand people there. But the amplification they had was perfect. It was no trouble…

“I know there were 23 concerts in America. We started off in Boston; there were two concerts in Boston. Then we went to New York and after that we flew to Canada and we did Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa and then we crossed into Detroit. We went from Detroit to Chicago and from there to Philadelphia. We went all over.”

Despite the rigours associated with transatlantic travel at the time, Chris said he was grateful for everything music afforded him.

He added, “I don’t think I’d be here now if I wasn’t playing music. I’ve been playing all my life, 74 years now. I don’t think there was ever a bad night.”

LISDOONVARNA matchmaker Willie Daly is to re-double his efforts to find a suitable husband for the newly-separated Irish singersongwriter Sinead O’Connor.

Last September, O’Connor engaged the services of Daly and his daughter Claire during a much publicised visit to Lisdoonvarna, but last week announced that she and her husband of just 16 days had separated.

According to Daly, O’Connor’s marriage to drugs counsellor Barry Herridge happened too quickly and, because of that, was destined to fail.

“I think she was in too much of a rush. Sinead’s a wonderful, free spirit and I noticed that about her when she came to Lisdoonvarna earlier in the year,” he said.

“She got a lot of attention and was in huge demand from many of the eligible fellas when she was here, but I think the enthusiasm of one or two of them scared her off. She was maybe more picky than I expected her to be, but I’m still certain that I could find the right man for her.

“My technique is tried and tested and it works. Sinead has a wonderful heart and I’ve no doubt she will soon find the happiness she deserves and a lasting romance,” added Daly.

O’Connor made quite the stir when she arrived at this year’s Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna. She cut her planned three-day visit to the festival short and later admitted that the experience had been too much for her.

Describing the scene that greeted her at Lisdoonvarna, Sinead said that the gathered men were “winking and grinning at each other and hitching up their trousers as if to say: we’re in here, lads”.

Just two months after her visit to Lisdoonvarna, O’Connor tied the knot with Mr Herridge at the famous White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. The marriage lasted just 16 days, with O’Connor admitting that the pair lived together for just seven days.

“From the moment myself and my husband got together not long ago, there was intense pressure placed upon him by certain people in his life, not to be involved with me,” she said. “The marriage was 16 days. We lived together for seven days only. Within three hours of the ceremony being over, the marriage was kiboshed by the behaviour of certain people in my husband’s life.”

Daly is the third generation in his family to take up matchmaking. He claims that his matches yield around 200 weddings each year.

BUSINESS representatives have expressed support for a new model of economic development for Ennis saying it will aid job protection.

Plans for a possible Business Improvement District (BID) were unveiled last week with backers claiming it will protect and create new jobs.

Incoming President of Ennis Chamber Brian O’Neill said, “The Chamber supports moves toward a possible BID initiative as it would be a great opportunity for business owners to improve their business streets/area, which they are most familiar with, in the most efficient manner for their own business, job protection and the district as a whole.”

Rita McInerney, Ennis Chamber CEO stated, “The BID process has worked very well in Dublin and elsewhere as shown just two weeks ago by a 78 per cent vote in favour of renewing the BID that ran for the last three years in Dundalk.”

Aoife Madden, Chairperson of Ennis Development Forum, “Recent experience shows that it is only by employers and employees working together with others such as Ennis Town Council that we can keep Ennis a strong employment centre and to grow jobs. The BID idea may well be the best way to go forward building on recent successful partnerships including the Ennis street radio, free parking initiative during Christmas and the Ennis Share the Feeling Christmas video.”

The concept of BIDs originated in northern America and BIDs have been in existence in the UK since 2003 with an estimated 1,000 BIDs now in the US and over 100 in the UK.

The largest BID in Ireland (and indeed in the whole of Europe), is the Dublin City BID, which has been in operation since March 2008 and has a five-year renewable mandate to develop and promote the economic advancement of Dublin city centre. Half-way through their mandate, the Dublin BID was able to report the following successes in their Annual Report of 2010: (1) A city-wide marketing group that for the first time brings together city stakeholders to establish a common message and approach to the promotion of the city; (2) The process of making the BID cost-neutral for our members by creating a heavily discounted insurance scheme. We intend devel- oping a wider programme of similar offers; (3) Local area action groups which establish members’ needs and expectations on a district by district basis and work to make the shared vision a reality; (4) A strong working relationship with the Gardaí that is helping to create a safer environment for our customers; (5) A prominent presence on the city’s Joint Policing Forum with the Lord Mayor, the Gardaí, Dublin City Council and other business groups to establish a road map for a sustainable and safer city; (6) A dialogue with politicians and city officers to plan for a new and vibrant city.

BUSINESS groups in Ennis say an intensive ‘Shop Local’ campaign helped boost trade in the town during December.

Representatives of Ennis Chamber and Ennis Development Forum say local businesses reported an increase in takings last month compared to Christmas 2010.

The introduction of free morning parking has also been cited as one of the main reasons for bringing more shoppers to Ennis.

“It was way up on the last two years. There was definitely more people in the town and most people said their tills were way up”, said Aoife Madden of Ennis Development Forum.

Free parking was one of a number of initiatives rolled out by Ennis Town Council in conjunction with local businesses for Christmas.

“The free parking definitely brought more people in, In the last two years, people, with the free parking in Limerick, were thinking why would I bother coming into Ennis. They did not come in”.

Ms Madden said Ennis Street Radio, which played music in the town centre, allied to the unseasonably mild weather, helped create a more festive atmosphere.

“Takings were up and the atmosphere was way better than last year”, she added.

The ‘Shop Local’ campaign was launched in earnest at the start of December with the release of a festive Internet video.

Ennis Town – Share the Feeling sees Santa Claus turn to Ennis ‘The friendliest town in Ireland’ to help him after all of his elves fall sick on Christmas Eve.

Directed by local man Gavin Gallagher, the 2min 54sec video was shot in locations around the town and features a number of well-known politicians and businesspeople.

The video has so far attracted just 23,500 views on websites You Tube and Vimeo. It has been distributed to hundreds more people around the world through social networking sites.

Incoming President of Ennis Chamber said shoppers were more mindful of the benefits of supporting local businesses.

He said, “The Shop Local campaign made a big difference. People did make that extra effort to shop locally and that was appreciated.

“Also businesses seemed to be supporting other businesses, which is what its all about.

“With the parking too, people were staying in town that little bit longer in the morning”.

Mayor of Ennis, councillor Michael Guilfoyle said the Council would support future free parking initiatives if the circumstances “warranted it”.

Cllr Guilfoyle said cooperation between Ennis Town Council and local businesses had helped boost trade in the town during Christmas.

He added, “The businesses definitely made an effort and the free parking seems to have had an effect especially in the morning”.

CLARE would have played a frontline role in Ireland’s reaction to a German victory in World War II, newly released papers relating to the operation of Met Éireann services have revealed. And the Met Éireann secret files have also revealed that Shannon Airport had been identified as having a key role to play in helping Ireland react quickly in the event of a nuclear war breaking out.

The Met Éireann papers which have been released in tandem with the latest publication of State papers reveal the extent of Clare’s role in dealing with the twin threats of a Nazi war victory and nuclear war.

The papers reveal efforts to protect weather reports from the Nazis, naturalise staff members who could face prosecution had the Germans won the Second World War and to ensure the protection of weather stations against nuclear fallout.

Released by the National Archives, the files outline a meeting of the inter departmental committee on emergency preparations for the delivery and maintenance of essential supplies in the event of a conflict. This included how goods would be bought from Britain and elsewhere and stored at Shannon Airport and Urlanmore in Newmarket-on-Fergus.

And, the spectre of nuclear war meant practical scenarios for the transport of vital supplies needed to be mapped out, with Shannon Airport crucial to this policy.

An air link to Canada and America was singled out as being vital to Ireland’s response to a nuclear situation, with one file stating Shannon would need to be operational for “essential cargo purposes only”, with no passengers likely to be flying.

A € 2 MILLION boost for North Clare is on the horizon with the news that funding for the long-awaited search and rescue centre for the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard is likely to be made available in 2014.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar (FG), yesterday confirmed that funding for the centre would not be made available in 2012 but did confirm that the project would be given Government funding during the life of the current Capital Expenditure Programme. The Clare People has learned that 2014 has now been pencilled in as the start date for the project and, barring a major U-turn in Government policy, a funding confirmation for Doolin should be made next year.

This news was welcomed by Mattie Shannon of the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard, who said that the group was happy with the commitment that the rescue station would be delivered during the lifetime of the current Government.

“It is positive news in that it confirms that it is coming down the line. That is the important thing. We had expected that the funding would not be forthcoming for 2012 so that was not a great surprise to us,” said Mattie.

“We have heard that 2014 is now the likely date and, once we have the commitment that it is coming, we are happy with that. We have waited so long, this commitment is almost as good as saying that it is coming next year. So this is very positive news.”

The Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard is one of the busiest coast guards in Ireland and has been operating in sub-standard conditions for a number of years. The current centre is too small to house all of the unit’s equipment and boats which means that a rescue could sometimes be delayed if a rescue craft needs to be transported to the centre.

SHANNON had its moment in the international limelight on January 25, 1981, when 52 American hostages, freed after 444 days in captivity in Iran, were given a rousing welcome as they stopped at the airport.

Taoiseach Charles Haughey led the Irish celebrations, boarding the US Air Force Jet, dubbed Freedom One, with US ambassador, William Shannon, and invited the freed hostages down to the airport’s VIP lounge for traditional Irish refreshments of Irish coffee and Guinness.

The official welcoming party included Clare’s Minister for Defence, Sylvester Barrett; Clare County Council chairman, Tadhg Mac Conamara; local Fianna Fáil senator, Tras Honan; Aer Rianta chief, Liam Skelly and chief superintendent of the Clare Division, Michael Griffin.

As the former hostages left Shannon, the final word was left to Taoiseach Charles Haughey. “As you journey gladly homeward, your stay on Irish soil must be brief but it gives me an opportunity to tell you of the joy we all feel in this country that you are all safe, well and free,” said Mr Haughey.

“It is our sincere and fervent wish that when you are restored to your families and friends, the cruel memory of your long days in captivity will soon fade away until they are finally forgotten,” he added.

TWO former Eire Óg players are helping spread the football gospel on the island of Taiwan. Cousins Ross Conlon and Brian Fitzpatrick, who are originally from the Tulla Road in Ennis, were both members of the Plate winning Taiwan Celts team at the 2011 Asian Gaelic Games.

Dozens of teams drawn from Irish expat communities across Asia gathered in South Korean for the event. And among them were Brian and Ross, who helped their team secure success in the competition’s second tier event.

Brian, who moved to the Taiwanese capital Taipei six months ago, recalls, “There’s only about 200 Irish people here. We’ve been training with them. They’ve been really helpful. We played in the Asian Games. The standard was really good. We played fairly well in Korea. We won the plate, which would’ve been the second competition. The top division was really good. Hong Kong and Singapore were in the final, Damian Barry (Ennis) was playing.”

A former student of Ennis CBS, St Flannan’s College and Limerick Institute of Technology, Brian moved to the Far East earlier this year in search of work. Having previously worked for Munstergroup Property and started a car auction business, Brian embarked on a new career in Taiwan, teaching English to local students.

He explains, “It would be an after school for Taiwanese kids. They go to Chinese school first and then us afterwards. It’s a long day. They are basically in school for about 12 hours everyday.”

Brian admits that making the move from Ireland to Taiwan was a little bit daunting. But the shock of adapting to a completely new country and culture was softened somewhat by the fact that Ross had swapped Ennis for Taipei, six years ago.

A fellow graduate of LIT and University of Limerick and former Éire Óg teammate, Ross currently works as a business development manager for electronics giant, Siemens.

Having secured a teaching post three months after arriving in Taiwan, Brian says he is glad to have made the move.

He says, “Taiwan is a great place to come to teach for a year. There are lots of teaching jobs for anyone with a Bachelor’s degree. It’s a really nice island with lots of lovely coastline for surfing and scenery and things like that. Taipei is a great city full of great nightlife and the locals are very friendly. The food is good and it’s pretty cheap. In terms of the economy, the country is flying too. A lot of the big companies here totally changed from manufacturing goods to information technology over last 10 or so years.”

While Taiwan’s economy is firing on all cylinders, in stark contrast to our own, the winter weather at least provides a reminder of home, particularly at Christmas.

Brian explains, “It’s cold, it’s mad cold over here at the moment. A bit like home. It’s really humid in the summer and it’s very hard to breathe but in winter the air would really cut through you. It’s really damp.”

He continues, “We had Christmas dinner with friends of ours, Taiwan ese people and expats. We spent it at a few different apartments in Taipei city. It was a bit unusual, being my first Christmas away but we made the most of it but you would miss family and friends alright.”

For Irish people far from home sports plays an important role in meeting people and making connections. It’s no different in Taipei. Apart from their involvement with the local GAA team, both men play soccer with Taipei City, a multinational side comprising Irish, South Americans a few English and a handful of locals.

After their success in the Asian games, the Celts are on the look out for new recruits.

Brian says, “If anyone is thinking of teaching abroad for a year and would consider moving here. We’ve lost a few of last year’s team so were recruiting for next season.”

For further information on the Taiwan Celts email mr.bfitz@gmail. com.