Category: News

DRAMA groups from all over Ireland will descend on Clare this weekend for the annual One Act Drama Festival, organised by the Doonbeg Drama Group.

Groups from Galway, Cork, Limerick and Dublin as well as a large chuck of local talent will descend on west Clare for the event which, it is hoped, will provide a timely boost for the local tourism trade.

This year’s festival will include a wide range of shows to suit everyone’s tastes with a large number comedy and farce as well as a number of more serious productions.

The local challenge will be led off by on Saturday night by the Kilkeebased Amphitheatre Theatre Company with their production of ‘Two for a Girl’ written by Mary Kelly and Noni Stapleton.

Cratloe’s Castlewood Players, will perform one of several George Bernard Shaw productions at this year’s festival when their version of ‘The Shewing Up of Blanco Posnet’ takes to the stage on Monday, November 21. The festival will be finished off by the Corofin Drama Society’s production of ‘What’s for Pudding’ by David Tristram.

The Doonbeg One Act Drama Fes- tival, in its current format, has been taking place since 1989 and occurs in November each year. It has established itself as a very popular festival with groups and audiences alike and is looked forward to as a welcome relief from the long winter nights. Almost 200 different productions have been presented to date.

Nine different plays will be shown over three nights in both open and confined sections during this year’s festival. The winners of each festival will qualify for the All-Ireland One Act Finals which take place in at Glór in Ennis this year.

This year’s Doonbeg Festival will see a number of new innovations including a cheese and wine reception which will be served between the first and the second plays, while tea, coffee and biscuits will be served between the second and third plays each evening. The festival has also introduced candle-lit tables and cabaret style seating, which the organisers hope will bring a unique atmosphere to the festival.

The festival will take place on November 19, 20 and 21 and price for admittance each night is € 10 for adults and € 5 for children. Doors open each night at 8pm with curtain up at 8.30pm. For more information visit www.doonbeginfo.com.

THE former GAA grounds at Roslevan has emerged as a possible new home for Ennis Educate Together National School

The 5.25 acre site on the outskirts of Ennis will be among the sites recommended to the Department of Education and Skills as a new location for the school.

The land on the outskirts of Ennis will be included in a “portfolio of sites” currently being prepared by the school’s Board of Management.

The development comes after the Department stated that a new 16classroom unit should be provided for the school.

In a statement yesterday, Principal Sean Ó Confhaola explained, “The Department of Education and Skills has informed Ennis Educate Together NS that a 16-classroom unit should be provided for the school.” He added, “It is projected that this accommodation begins to be required by September 2012. The department is currently looking for a suitable site for Ennis Educate Together NS.”

The school is currently located on the Gort Road and caters for almost 200 children. Mr Ó Conf haola told The Clare People that the Gort Road and Roslevan “would be the most preferred areas for a new school”.

Among the other potential areas currently being examined by the school is the former GAMA site on the Tulla Road.

Our Lady’s hospital, which was mentioned as a possible site in a recent report by Ennis Town Council, has also been touted. “We have looked at Our Lady’s that’s a possibility too”, said Mr Ó Conf haola.

He said the communication from the department is a boost to the school’s long-term search for a new permanent home. “It wasn’t completely out of the blue. The slight difficulty was always getting a suitable site.”

Interest in the former home of St Joseph’s Doora Barefield has been high in recent months. A number of local sports clubs have been credited with an interest in the grounds. Last month town manager Ger Dollard said that while Ennis Town Council had given detailed consideration to purchasing the grounds, a bid had not been lodged and that the local authority was no longer interested in the site.

THE spirit of community is the key to Ireland’s future, the country’s new First Citizen told the nation as he reached out to every nook and cranny of the county during his inaugural address as the ninth President of Ireland.

Higgins, who was brought up in the small community of Ballycar in Newmarket-on-Fergus, pledged to be a president of the people, saying that communities around the country would be embraced by his presidency and Áras an Uachtaráin.

“I will champion creative communities who are bringing about positive change at local level by giving recognition to their achievements on the national stage,” President Higgins said.

“I believe that when we encourage the seedbed of creativity in our communities and ensure that each child and adult has the opportunity for creative expression, we also lay the groundwork for sustainable employment in creative industries and enrich our social, cultural and economic development.

“In promoting inclusion and creativity, I will be inviting all citizens, of all ages, to make their own imaginative and practical contribution to the shaping of our shared future.

“Active citizenship requires the will and the opportunity to participate at every level and in every way – to be the arrow; not the target,” he added.

Expanding on this theme on inclusiveness, President Higgins said during his seven-year term he will cast the presidential net far and wide by holding a number seminars with people from a variety of backgrounds and experience.

These seminars, he said, will “reflect and explore themes important to our shared life yet separate and wider than legislative demand, themes such as the restoration of trust in our institutions, the ethical connection between our economy and society, the future of a Europe built on peace, social solidarity and sustainability.

“The first of these seminars will focus on being young in Ireland. It will address issues of participation, education, employment, emigration and mental health. I hope also that the seminars during the next seven years might encompass consideration of global issues, stressing the importance of the ethical connection between politics, economy, development and society.

”We Irish are a creative, resourceful, talented and warm people, with a firm sense of common decency and justice. Let us address the next seven years with hope and courage as we work together to build the future for our country -an Ireland we all feel part of, an Ireland we all feel proud of,” he added.

FIVE former Clare members of the Oireachtas are receiving pension payments totaling nearly € 400,000, it has been revealed in the past week.

It has emerged that former Minister for the Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Síle de Valera, who served as a TD in Clare for 20 years from 1987 to 2007 is the top pensions earner in the county.

The figures, contained in a reply from the Minister for Public Expenditure to a parliamentary question submitted by Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams, show that Ms de Valera is one of 30 former members of the Oireachtas to earn over € 100,000.

The former Fianna Fáil deputy earns € 103,647.51 a year, while her party colleague, Brendan Daly earns € 95,515.43. Mr Daly served as a member of the Oireachtas from 1973 until 2007. In that time he held down four Cabinet posts – in the Fisheries and Forestry, Marine, Defence and Social Welfare.

The pension figure for Tony Killeen who served as a TD from 1992 until 2011 was not contained the figures released to Deputy Adams, but earlier this year it was revealed that the former Minister for Defence’s pension entitlements were € 68,984.

Former Fine Gael deputy Donal Carey has a pension of € 66,022.87, the figures reveal while former Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, Tras Honan earns € 50,750.25.

THE ARTS community in County Clare has welcomed the inauguration of one of their own as Uachtarán na hÉireann and hopes are high that President Michael D Higgins can do his bit to help boost the arts at all levels in Clare.

Along with his distinguished career in politics, President Higgins has published three collections of poetry as well as contributing to a number of political and philosophical journals. President Higgins was also one of the main driving forces behind the establishment of TG4 which has played a significant role in the development of a sustainable art community in the west of Ireland.

Ennistymon filmmaker, Ken O’Sullivan, believes that the election of Michael D is a very positive move for arts in Clare. Ken, who’s surfing film “Seafever” became one of the underground hits of 2007, has just finished a six part nature series, Farraigí na hÉireann, on TG4.

“Michael D being elected as president is one of the best bits of news to happen in Ireland for some time. You could even hear it in his inauguration speech how dearly he loves and supports the artist community in Ireland,” said Ken.

“When I made the surfing film people I showed it to always said, “I can’t believe that is in Ireland”, when I made the underwater documentary people said, “I can’t believe that is in Ireland” – we live in such a beautiful country and I think that Michael D Higgins realises that.

“Ever from a business point of view – the important of the arts in Ireland cannot be underestimated. I remember around the time of the big meeting about the future of Ireland which too place at Farmleigh House – someone suggested that we could save money by getting rid of the Irish Film Board. But Dermot Desmond got up and said that when they go to China looking for investment – they only thing that they know about Ireland in Riverdance. So it is very important.”

These sentiments were echoed by the new director at Glór, Gemma Carcaterra, who believes that having a President who knows Clare and knows Glór will be an inspiration to the Clare artistic community.

“We are all absolutely delighted that he is the new President. The fact that he is so enthusiastic about the arts and is an artist himself is a great benefit for all of us – not to mention that fact that he lived in Clare and knows Glór,” she said.

“I think that this has the potential to inspire everyone who is involved in the arts in the county.”

APPROVAL for a major new water services project will lead to a near doubling of capacity at an Ennis wastewater treatment plant.

Clare County Council received permission for the € 2.8 million upgrade of the Clonroadmore wasterwater treatment plant from An Bord Pleanála last week.

The development will see the upgrading of the existing wastewater treatment plant from a design capacity of 17, 000 population, equivalent to a design capacity of 30,150 (pe). The proposed works includes (a) an increased storm water storage capacity, (b) the provision of a new clarifier, (c) the provision of a picket fence thickener (PFT) for sludge treatment and (d) the provision of a ter tiary treatment system.

In granting permission for the project, An Bord Pleanála imposed a number of conditions.

The inspector’s repor t states that odour and noise levels emanating from the plant shall not exceed certain marks in order to “protect the amenities of properties in the vicinity of the site”.

The report states that site clearance of hedgerows and trees shall only take place between the months of August and April, “to prevent disturbance to nesting birds and to mitigate habitat reduction in the in- terest of nature conservation”.

The repor t continues, “Any gaps in hedges or removal or loss of trees or hedges shall be replanted during the next planting season following construction. The site shall be landscaped in accordance with a comprehensive scheme of landscaping”… “All planting shall be adequately protected from damage until established. Any plants which die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased, within a period of five years from the completion of the development shall be replaced within the next planting season with others of similar size and species.”

The council must also consult with Iarnród Éireann “prior to commencement of the works on site in relation to health and safety measures to ensure that any risks can be appropriately managed”.

The report adds, “Site development and building works shall be car ried out only between 0700 hours and 1900 hours, Monday to Friday inclusive and between 0700 hours and 1400 hours on Saturdays. No works shall take place outside these hours or on Sundays or bank or public holidays.

The Clonroadmore plant forms part of an overall plan for the provision of upgraded facilities to treat all wastewater arising in the entire Ennis area.

MICHAEL D Higgins has never been afraid to mince his words – never afraid to go against the establishment grain. Way back when and on his first day as President of Ireland.

Way back then he was in the frontline of 500 protesters who marched to the gates of Shannon Airport in 1984 in opposition to US president, Ronald Reagan’s state visit to Ireland.

Higgins, then a member of Seanad Éireann, mounted a spirited attack on what he termed “the mound of lies” which constituted the foreign policy of the Reagan administration, and applauded when fellow socialist, Jim Kemmy called for “a minute’s silence for all those who had suffered as a result of Reagan’s foreign policy” and that “Americans came here treating Ireland as though it was some sort of puppet State, a banana republic”.

Nearly 20 years later Higgins was one of eight Dáil deputies who marched on Shannon again – again rounding on American foreign policy as he used the politics of protest to get his point across.

“We have to support each other in making sure that the clear public opinion which is against war is heard by those who are staying silent,” he said when voicing his opposition to the war in Iraq, “their silence being complicit not only being the breaking of their own laws, but breaking the Irish constitution. Isn’t it extraor- dinary that they haven’t the courage to say what it is that Bertie Ahern agreed when he met George Bush,” he added.

So it was that Clare’s third president after Eamon de Valera and Dr Paddy Hillery used the occasion of his inaugural address to turn his voice of protest at the Ireland of recent years – the Celtic Tiger years that sparked economic meltdown, as he vowed to make his term of office a “presidency of transformation”.

“In more recent years, we saw the rise of a different kind of individualism – closer to an egotism based on purely matexrial considerations – that tended to value the worth of a person in terms of the accumulation of wealth rather then their fundamental dignity,” he said.

“That was our loss, the source in part, of our present difficulties. Now it is time to turn to an older wisdom that, while respecting material comfort and security as a basic right of all, also recognises that many of the most valuable things in life cannot be measured.

“During my campaign for the Presidency, I encountered that pain particularly among the most vulnerable of our people. However, I also recognise the will of all of our people to move beyond anger, frustration or cynicism and to draw on our shared strengths. To close the chapter on that which has failed, that which was not the best version of ourselves as a people, and open a new chapter based on a different version of our Irishness – will require a transition in our political thinking, in our view of the public world, in our institutions, and, most difficult of all, in our consciousness.

“In making that transformation, it is necessary to move past the assumptions which have failed us and to work together for such a different set of values as will enable us to build a sustainable social economy and a society which is profoundly ethical and inclusive. A society and a state which will restore trust and confidence at home and act as a worthy symbol of Irishness abroad, inviting relationships of respect and co-operation across the world,” he added.

AN BORD Pleanála has given the green light for a € 2.8 million upgrade of the main Ennis wastewater treatment plant, a project viewed as critical in allowing the town to cater for future commercial developments.

Last week, the board granted planning permission for the upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Clonroadmore, Ennis.

This scheme was the subject of a Strategic Infrastructure Development application to An Bord Pleanála and included an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

A full oral hearing also took place in July of this year. The conditions of the planning permission are under examination by Clare County Council at present and it is expected that construction will commence in early 2012.

The decision was welcomed by Mayor of Clare Cllr Pat Hayes. He said, “I welcome this announcement from An Bord Pleanála which is great news for the town of Ennis and will facilitate the continued growth and development of Ennis and environs. It will provide essential infrastructure for Ennis, a designated hub town under the National Spatial Strategy and will improve the quality of the environment for our citizens.”

The scheme is funded under the Water Services Investment Programme (WSIP) 2010 – 2012 by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and Clare County Council.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle also welcomed this positive development for Ennis and stated, “This upgrade to the main wastewater treatment plant at Clonroadmore, Ennis, is much needed infrastructure for Ennis allowing further essential developments to take place and provide a better environmental quality for the people of Ennis.”

Officials from Clare County Council told representatives from the board in July that the upgrade was urgently needed in Ennis.

David Timlin, Director of Environment and Water Services, told the hearing that; “The capacity of the main Clondroadmore WWTP urgently needs to be upgraded to provide for the current and predicted growth in domestic population and in the commercial and industrial sectors.”

He said the upgrade was also needed in order to ensure that the council complies with certain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wastewater licenses.

Since 2006 planning applications for large residential and commercial schemes in Ennis have been refused in the basis of inadequate capacity in the public sewer.

THE SHANNONWATCH organisation has welcomed the inauguration of Michael D Higgins as the ninth president of Ireland – and has already dubbed him “Ireland first anti-war President”.

President Higgins has been a longstanding campaigner for human rights and has written extensively on many global conflicts includ ing Nicaragua, Chile, Cambodia, El Salvador, Iraq and Somalia. He has spoken at a number of anti-war rallies at Shannon Airport and was particularly critical of the foreign policy employed the US under President Ronald Regan (Rep).

He remained opposed to the use of Shannon Airport as part of the socalled War on Terror and at a peace rally in March of 2008 said that Ireland was “complicit in war and torture” because of the use of US military use of Shannon Airport and Irish airspace.

Speaking after his inauguration last week a spokesperson from the Shannonwatch organisation said that the election of an anti-war president will further the cause of peace and will bring a renewed focus on the importance of Irish neutrality.

“These are issues that he has passionately defended throughout his political career and it is hoped and expected that he will continue to do so as president,” said a spokesman.

“Michael D Higgins has consistently opposed the use of Shannon, a civilian airport, for the invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. He was critical of the apparent Irish collusion with the US government in relation to suspected rendition flights through Shannon and in 2010 he called on the government to withdraw the Irish military personnel serving in Afghanistan.

“However there are still up to 600 armed US troops a day passing through Shannon Airport, and there is no oversight or inspection of planes suspected of carrying illegally kidnapped prisoners, CIA assassination crews or dangerous munitions.

“This is despite the fact that the current programme for government, which Michael D Higgins’ Labour Party signed up to, says they will enforce the prohibition on the use of Irish airspace, airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with the dictates of international law.

“It is hoped that as Head of State Michael D Higgins will continue to articulate his lifelong anti-war message. While the Irish president does not have a direct executive or policy role in Irish affairs, he nonetheless represents the people when undertaking official engagements at home and abroad.”

CLARE’S four members of Dáil Éireann have been accused of selling their county up the River Shannon by not standing up for the northern back of the estuary as it fights to win recognition in a new masterplan being developed by the Foynes Port Company.

Stinging criticism was delivered at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of Kilrush Town Council, with former town mayor Cllr Tom Prendeville blasting the TDs’ performance in relation to the formation of a masterplan that will govern development on the estuary for the next 30 years.

“I’m not being fatalistic and I’m not being nihilistic, but with what’s going on, I wouldn’t hold out any hopes for our situation on the northern bank of the estuary. The northern bank of the estuary has been virtually airbrushed out of contention by powerful political and economic influences on the southern bank of the estuary,” said Cllr Prendeville.

“That’s a pity because it means our TDs lack political muscle and we lack moral fibre. We need to stand up, bang tables and make sure people hear our voices, but that isn’t being done at Dáil level. They have let us down. The time is to shout is now,” he added.

Cllr Prendeville’s broadside comes in the wake of a public meeting that was hosted by the Foynes Port Authority in Kilrush Town Hall on November 2, a meeting which he said proved that “the masterplan to 2041 appears to be about Limerick Docks and the port of Foynes only.

“There was no mention of the deep water at Moneypoint jetty or the harbours at Cappa, Clarecastle, Cahercon or the oil terminal at Shannon. Yet Clare boasts 60 per cent of the estuarial coastline and Moneypoint can handle cargoes of 250,000 dwt.

“Where are our Dáil representatives while this charade of public consultation is going on and Clare interests are once again being sold up the river? Where points the strong influential hand of Shannon Development in all of this,” continued Cllr Prendeville, as he called on Kilrush Town Council and Kilrush area councillors on Clare County Council to make a joint submission to the Foynes Port Company for inclusion in the new blueprint for the estuary.

“The glimmer of hope that I have is that Minister Leo Varadkar spoke about setting up a committee to review the use of Moneypoint port and changing the ownership from the ESB so it could be used for importing and exporting out of it,” said Mayor of Kilrush Cllr Ian Lynch.

“It’s fresh in his mind, so now is the time to do something about it and maximise it. The land is there to develop industry but the Foynes Authority is a stumbling block,” he added.