Category: News

STUDENTS from Ennis Educate Together National School enjoyed a day to remember as they shared in the celebration of Michael D Higgins’ inauguration as the ninth President of Ireland.

Ten students from fifth and sixth class were accompanied on their trip to Dublin Castle by two teachers and a parent.

After receiving a Garda escort through the streets of Dublin, the group from Ennis Educate Together watched the inauguration ceremony unfold before meeting with the Clare reared President when he came outside to welcome guests afterwards.

“We were really honoured and privileged to attend”, said Principal Sean Ó Conf haola yesterday.

Mr Ó Conf haola said the students, who represented Ireland, Czech Republic, Morocco and the traveling community, were excited to meet Ireland’s first citizen,

He added, “They were all really excited to meet him. It was as good as meeting Justin Bieber.”

The school’s presence at one of the country’s most prestigious public occasions was sparked by an invitation from Ennis Educate Together to Mr Higgins for the former Galway TD to attend the school’s annual graduation ceremony in June.

In a letter to the school, Mr Higgins explained that he could not attend but praised the work of students and teachers.

“My wife Sabina and I have it as one of our warmest members that individually and together we served on the board of Galway School project, one of Educate Together’s first schools in Ireland. Educate Together will be a great patron in education, celebrating as it does the great values of diversity solidarity, inclusion and participation. Creativity is at the heart of everything Educate Together do. Sí an cruthhaíocht bun-cloch fealsúnachta Educate Together”.

CANDIDATES from Clare who contested the General Election last February spent over € 100,000 in their efforts to get elected to the 31st Dáil Éireann, figures secured by The Clare People this week have revealed.

Details of all the expenditure made by candidates in the Clare constituency are contained in the ‘Candidates Election Expenses Statements’ that have been released by the Standards in Public Office Commission.

These figures reveal that € 113,892.11 was spent by Clare election candidates – this total is drawn from the returns made to the Standards in Public Office Commission by 15 of the 16 election candidates who contest the Februay 25 poll, the largest number ever to contest a Dáil election in the county.

Six candidates spent over € 10,000 on their campaigns, while two of the candidates, independents Sarah Ferrigan and Anne Cronin who contested the election on a ‘Balance the Ballot’ manifesto spent nothing on their respective campaigns. A limit of € 37,650 is put on spending per candidate in a four-seater constituency.

The biggest election spender was Fianna Fáil candidate, Dr John Hillery, who was attempting to win a Dáil seat that his father, the late former President of Ireland, Dr Paddy Hillery held for 22 years from 1951 to 1973.

Dr Hillery, who was drafted onto the Fianna Fáil election team in place of the retiring Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen, spent € 16,673.16 during his unsuccessful campaign for a Dáil seat, while his party colleague and Deputy Timmy Dooley, who retained his seat only spent € 9,574.35 in his campaign. The highest expense incurred by Dr Hillery during the campaign was for € 4,840.

Fine Gael were the biggest election spenders in Clare – between them the three candidates, Deputies Pat Breen and Joe Carey, as well as Senator Tony Mulcahy spent nearly € 40,000 during the campaign.

Deputy Carey, who was the third candidate elected was the biggest spender with a total of € 14,535, followed closely by poll topper Deputy Breen who spent € 14,252. Meanwhile, Tony Mulcahy, who was added to the Fine Gael ticket by party headquarters spent € 10,661 on his unsuccessful bid, before embarking on another campaign immediately afterwards when he won election to Seanad Éireann.

Labour’s Michael McNamara, who was the third canidate elected was the fourth highest election spender with a figure of € 14,248.42, while the highest spender from the independent benches was James Breen who incurred € 11,686.99 in election expenses in his bid to win back the Dáil seat he held from 2002 to 2007.

Independent candidate Patrick Brassil was one of 23 candidates around the country referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for failing to furnish expenses statements to the Standards in Public Office Commission.

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.

AN ENNIS man has finally got some relief from back pain, after suffering for more than 40 years. Businessman Andy Moloney attended an introductory course in the Alexander Technique in Clare in September and it has changed his life.

Richard Brennan, who presented the session in September, will return to Clare later this month, in response to huge demand.

Andy has benefitted immensely from this, having tried several other methods to recover from back pain which first came about when he was a teenager.

“I have had back trouble for over 40 years, on and off. When I was 15, we had a small farm at home in Clarecastle. I used to do a lot of physical work. I was lifting a barrow of stones. That was my first injury and it has affected my lower back ever since. It can hit out of the blue, like if you lift something wrong. The pain is absolutely excruciating,” said Andy.

Andy underwent surgery several years ago and was told “if I had it a second time, I could end up in a wheelchair”.

“I have been through everything, medically and alternative medicine; osteopaths, physios, chiropractors, acupuncturists, bonesetters, reflexology and quacks. I have tried everything. I was told if I got another serious attack I would have to have surgery regardless,” he said. “The pain is sudden, it is akin to a heart attack. At one stage, about two years ago, I couldn’t get up off the sitting room floor for three days,” he said.

Having read about the Alexander Technique workshop taking place in Clare, Andy decided to attend, in the hope it would help him. He took on board the instructions provided and his back pain has almost cleared. While it has not fully gone away, he no longer has to take painkillers as the pain is no longer acute.

“He (Richard) gave some very simple demonstrations. I could see straight away that he was right. We sit wrong, we stand wrong, we don’t bend properly,” he said.

Andy practices the Alexander Technique for 20 minutes every day and has seen the benefits from it. “I lie on the floor with books under my head. I put my knees up and my hands in a straight position. I can feel the ten- sion leaving my muscles. I get a fabulous night’s sleep, which I never did” he said. “I wouldn’t say it is a miracle cure. It’s not gone completely; it is mending,” he added.

A similar Alexander Technique event will take place later this month, at the Kilmaley Day Care Centre on November 19 and 20. Andrea Martin, who is organising the event, said the response from the first one was “overwhelming”.

“We had to turn people away. We had applicants from teenagers with sports injuries to elderly people with mobility problems,” she said. “Everybody who attended came away feeling they had got great benefit from the course.”

“In order to meet the demand, we couldn’t meet the last time Richard offered to come to County Clare again,” said Andrea.

Anyone interesting in attending the course, which costs € 95, should phone Andrea on 087 2233835 or email andrea_martin@ireland.com.

A 22-UNIT affordable housing development in Shannon has encountered “slippage” in terms of its completion, a meeting heard last week.

The scheme development at Cluain Airne got underway in June 2009 and it was initially envisaged that it would be completed within a year. However, the Glaise na Rinne scheme – which consists of 16 affordable and six step-down units – was subsequently halted and the initial contractor’s contract was terminated.

The scheme got underway despite concerns from local residents, who objected to the project. They stated that they did not want the houses built in the area and argued that there was inadequate infrastructure to cope with the new houses.

A new contractor was appointed in July of this year and the council expressed hope at the time that the project would be completed within 16 weeks of its restart.

At a meeting of Shannon Town Council last week, the issue was raised by Sinn Féin Councillor Cathy McCafferty.

In a written response from the council, it was stated that Atlantic Developments took possession of the development on July 18 under contract which provides for completion on December 9. Expenditure to date on the contract is € 2,830,967, excluding design team fees and legal and supervision costs.

“The selling price for the affordable houses will reflect local market values and the standard of the houses,” stated the reply, which added that the houses are to be advertised over the coming weeks. “The contractors are progressing the works satisfactorily on site. There has been some slip- page in the contract completion date resulting from some unforeseen issues on site coupled with a sustained period of wet weather,” stated the response, which added that the delay should be “a matter of weeks”.

Councillors were told that kitchens have been installed in 30 percent of the houses, with half of the tiling complete. Landscaping has been ongoing, while interface works are “now practically complete”.

Cllr McCafferty told the meeting that she was “shocked” to hear recently that more than 10 percent of the population of Shannon is in need of social housing.

“The council does not appear to know what the eventual asking prices of these houses are going to be,” she said.

Councillor Gerry Flynn (Independent) expressed hope that the scheme is “finished, done and dusted, by De- cember 9”.

Independent Councillor Patricia McCarthy asked would the “slippage” amount to a delay of two or three weeks or would it stretch into the New Year.

In response to the councillors’ queries, the town manager Bernadette Kinsella said, “I think there has been a reasonable level of progress since the last meeting.”

“The team is satisfied that works are being completed on the site. . . Obviously we are not going to take possession in Christmas week so we are probably talking about January,” she said.

Ms Kinsella said that councillors would be informed of the overall cost of the project “in due course”.

She said there are 156 people on the list for affordable houses, adding, “Until we go back with prices, we don’t know how many will hold.”