Category: News

THERE was a large turnout in St Joseph’s Church in Whitegate on Friday as family and many friends gathered for Mass to remember a local priest and sportsman who died recently.

Canon Jim Mulvihill, a native of Capanthrane, Whitgate, passed away earlier this month aged 90. He is sadly missed by family members in Whitegate and Scariff and fondly remembered by those who shared his huge sporting enthusiasm.

He was the son of the late Johanna and Partick Mulvilhill and was one of five children – Anna, Maggie May, Tommie and Mikey.

He went to school at Lakyle National School and later attended St Flannan’s in Ennis.

Noted for his talent on the hurling field, Canon Mulvihill won several tophies when he played with the Ennis hurling nursery and he was part of the team which won the Canon O’Kennedy Shield against holders, St Finbarr’s of Farranferris. He also played for his native Whitegate.

When he wasn’t on the hurling field, Canon Jim was often to be found induging his other great sporting passion, fishing on Lough Derg.

He studied for the priesthood in St Patrick’s in Carlow and was ordained on June 3, 1945.

He was sent first to serve in the diocese of Tuscan in Arizona and then returned to Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales.

He was incardinated into the archdiocese of Cardiff in 1963 and was appointed as parish priest to Bromyard in Herefordshire in 1967. In 1997 he was appointed parish priest of St Basil and St Gwladys. He retired from that appointment in 2002 but continued to say daily Mass in the parish.

In 2005 he celebrated sixty years in the priesthood.

Canon Mulvihill was in constant contact with his native Clare and regularly welcomed visitors from the county.

He passed away in the care of the sisters and staff of Nazareth House, where he had lived since 2007.

Archbishop Georg Stack of Cardiff was the chief celebrant at Canon Mulvihill’s funeral Mass.

He is survived by his nephews and nieces: the Mulvihills in Whitegate, Marie, Pat, Jim Tom and Den; and im Scariff, the McMahon’s Paddy, Seanie, Noel, Michael and Mary; as well as many friends, both lay and clergy.

APPLICATIONS from people in Clare to have broadband provided under the Rural Broadband Scheme are fewer than from other counties across the country, it has been revealed.

In response to a query from The Clare People , a spokesperson for the Rural Broadband Scheme said that just 32 applications applications from areas in County Clare have been received to date, despite the fact that almost every area in the county is eligible to apply.

Only Ennis and a few other pockets in the county are ruled out of the scheme, but few Banner residents have opted to take advantage of it.

“Applications from Clare are definitely less than the national average but there is still some short time left for people to apply,” the spokesperson said.

Pointing out that access to broadband is vital for rural businesses and increasingly becoming a basic tool in homes and schools, the spokesperson said that it’s important that Clare people, who may qualify, get their applications in before the July 29 deadline.

The Rural Broadband Scheme was established to enable a basic broadband service to be provided to individual rural premises, which are not capable of obtaining a broadband service from existing internet service providers. The Scheme was set up in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture as a measure under the Rural Development Plan using funding from the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development.

This first phase involves inviting and processing applications. In the second phase of the scheme, the department will check with existing internet service providers to see if they are willing to provide a service to the premises concerned. If none of the companies concerned are prepared to offer a service, then the application will progress to the next phase in the scheme in which the department will engage an internet service provider who will offer a basic internet service to applicants. While the department will be paying part of the cost of the infrastructure necessary to provide a service, the applicant will be responsible for paying the costs of the service itself.

It’s expected that the scheme should be completed by the end of 2012 at the latest.

Anyone interested can apply online by visiting the department’s website www.dcenr.ie and following the links for the Rural Broadband Scheme, by downloading an application from the website and sending it in the post or alternatively by calling 01 6782020 or call save the RBS on 1850 678100. The link includes a map of Clare showing the eligible areas.

THE new mayor of Kilrush has called for a new coalition of forces to emerge in the west Clare capital to ensure that the town becomes a growth hub the development in the next decade.

Mayor Ian Lynch made his comments after the annual general meeting of Kilrush Town Council on Monday office after taking the chains of office from fellow Fine Gael councillor, Liam Williams.

“Kilrush has a lot of things going for it,” Mayor Lynch told The Clare People, “but the key for the town going forward is that everyone works together as a unit, so that the town can be created as a destination for living, a destination for commercial and industrial activity and a destination for tourism.”

Cllr Lynch, who served as Deputy Mayor for the last year, was unanimously elected unto become First Citizen on Kilrush, while independent member, Cllr Mairéad O’Brien was elected Deputy Mayor.

“This council must stand strong and face the people of Kilrush and indeed West Clare that look to us for solutions and inspiration in how we can effect change,” continued Mayor Lynch.

“While there is no doubt that the coming 12 months and possibly coming years will indeed be tough, but I’m a great believer in the reliance of our people to adapt and innovate.

“Kilrush Town Council will have to adapt to a reduced budget in many areas that will affect the services we can offer and how we prioritise the needs of the town. I hope as Mayor in the coming year to encourage and promote practicable and speedy solutions to the everyday concerns of the people of Kilrush.

“Many of theses concerns, such as the condition of our local roads, support for children be it education, after school activities or for those with special needs or indeed the urgent need to address unemployment and our local health care services are in fact the common concerns of all the people of Kilrush and County Clare,” he added.

Cllr Lynch, who was first elected to Kilrush Town Council in 2009, was proposed for the mayor’s position by outgoing mayor, Liam Williams and seconded by former mayor, Marion McMahon-Jones.

AN POST customers are asked to be on their guard against a new scam email, after Clare businesses were targeted.

The mail contains the subject line “RE: Information TV License #12488340238” and claims to come from service@tvlicence.ie. The email offers a refund of € 58.00 on an overpayment for a TV Licence.

Confirming that they have had complaints from “mostly business customers” a spokeswoman for An Post said that anyone getting the mail should delete it and under no circumstances click on the accompanying link.

“Anyone who provided personal information in response to these hoax emails should contact their bank or credit card company immediately,” she added.

John Halloran, from Westbury, who runs his own web-design company was one of the businesses who received the email.

“It was offering me a refund on my TV licence fee and I smelled a rat straight away because my wife is the one who always looks after renewing the TV licence and the mail cam to my business email. But I might have been drawn into it, at least to a certain point otherwise. I can see how people go along with it, thinking that if it comes from An Post, then it must be genuine. In fact I got a call from a customer of mine asking did I think she should reply and I told her no way. That’s why I contacted you, [ The Clare People ] in case anyone else is fooled.”

It’s understood that a number of businesses were targetted.

“An Post TV Licence never send emails which require customers to send personal information via email or pop-up windows. This was not a particularly sophisticated scam but if these people get even a tiny percentage of the people they contact to cooperate, then they have made money and it costs them nothing to email people,” the spokeswoman said.

She added that customer should also be on the alert about mails which inform customers that they have won a prize.

“These mails are just about legal. If you ring the number, you’ll be on hold at a premium rate for 20 or 30 minutes. If you persist and claim the prize, then there will be something like a book or a magazine. But we have to deliver these letters because they are paid for an mailed legally.”

FEARS that a child will be seriously injured or killed in the Cappa Lodge area of Sixmilebridge have been expressed, amid concerns over levels of traffic.

Independent councillor Gerry Flynn called for traffic calming measures to be put in place on the section of road going through Cappa Lodge which serves the Chapel Court development.

He said the section of road goes through a busy residential area and presents traffic hazards for children living in the area.

“It is now a traffic hazard. The issues are too serious,” he said, at a meeting of Shannon area councillors last week.

“I don’t want to be waiting for a child to be badly injured or killed. It’s absolutely disgraceful if we are going to leave this on the long finger. It is urgent,” he said.

In response, he was told that an assessment will be undertaken in line with the council’s traffic calming policy for residential areas, to determine if traffic calming measures are warranted on the road.

In another roads-related motion at the meeting, Cllr Flynn called for a complete overlay of road surface on the road serving Illaunamanagh cemetery.

He said that the current policy of repairing pot holes was not sufficient to deal with the volumes of traffic using the road.

He was told, in a written response, that the access road was not included in the council’s road schedule as a public road. Therefore, improvement works would not be eligible for grant funding from the Department of Transport and would have to be provided for from the council’s own resources. It will be considered for inclusion in the 2012 programme of road works.

“There are a lot of elderly people going in there. A tar and chip overlay, which would not be very costly, could at least be done,” the councillor said.

Sixmilebridge-based councillor PJ Ryan (Independent) asked for an update on “the junction in Sixmilebridge, especially in the Clonlara direction. People don’t seem to be stopping there”.

“Local people are afraid there will be a fatality there sooner or later if there isn’t an improvement. Definitely something has to be done,” he added.

VINCENT Coleman of Fine Gael has been co-opted to Shannon Town Council, replacing Tony Mulcahy, whose election as a Senator created the vacancy.

At a meeting of the town council last week, Clrr Seán McLoughlin (FG) proposed that the 33-year-old be co-opted to the council. This was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Mary Brennan. Shannon Town Clerk Liam O’Connor told the meeting that the Fine Gael party has nominated Mr Coleman, who works with Servisair in Shannon. The town’s newest council lor was welcomed by all colleagues on the nine-member council.

Cllr McLoughlin said to Mr Coleman, “You have knocked on the doors in Shannon. You have stuffed envelopes. You are well used to the politics of politics as such.”

Cllr Patricia McCarthy said to Mr Coleman, “I’m sure that you will do the job and represent the people of Shannon exceptionally well. It is a great honour to represent the people of Shannon.”

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) said it was a very proud moment for the Coleman family and for Vincent’s parents who were in the public gallery for the memorable occasion. “It’s a shame the public gallery isn’t a bit bigger. I’d like to see a couple of hundred people here to see what happens,” he said.

Mr Coleman has been the branch chairman for Fine Gael in Shannon for the past year.

FINE Gael town councillor Mary Brennan has been elected Mayor of Shannon. The election came about after the sitting mayor, Councillor Tony Mulcahy, was elected to the Seanad.

Cllr Brennan – who was first elected to the council two years ago – was elected mayor after she was proposed by Independent councillor Patricia McCarthy and seconded by Fine Gael councillor Seán McLoughlin, at a meeting of Shannon Town Council last Tuesday.

She will hold the position for just a fortnight as a new mayor is to be elected on June 28. However, Ms Brennan is widely expected to hold onto the post for the next 12 months.

In accepting the chain of office, Cllr Brennan described it as a “unique honour”.

She took the opportunity to pay tribute to the town’s retired town clerk Tomás MacCormaic, who passed away a fortnight ago. She said that a golf classic organised as a fundraiser for the senior citizens club in the town should be in memory of Tomás, who had a great love of golf. The golf classic will take place at Shannon Golf Club on June 27. “It would be a nice honour if we made it in memory of him,” she said.

Independent councillor Gerry Flynn wished Ms Brennan well as mayor, while Labour councillor Greg Duff said he hoped that all councillors would work in “partnership”.

Cllr Seán McLoughlin (FG) said that Ms Brennan was an excellent deputy mayor when he was mayor last year and wished her well in her new role.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) congratulated Cllr Brennan and said, “Hopefully you will stay longer than two weeks. I’m satisfied you will be an extremely impartial chairperson.”

Cllr Brennan was the chairperson of the MPC on Tourism for the past two years and has been succeeded in this role by Sinn Féin councillor Cathy McCafferty.

THE Ennis Youth and Community Resource Building in Cloughleigh, Ennis, was officially opened on Friday by Frances Fitzgerald, TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and Councillor Tommy Brennan, Mayor of Ennis.

The Junction, which was constructed on land owned by Ennis Town Council, features a youth café/drop in centre and will be used as a base from which youth services and programmes to targeted groups will be delivered.

The project costs amounted to € 645,000, of which € 357,000 was allocated to the Council under the Social and Community Facilities Capital Scheme 2006. The balance of the capital expenditure was provided from the Council’s own resources. The Council was the contracting authority for the construction of the building and has leased the completed building to Clare Youth Service.

Mayor of Ennis Cllr Tommy Brennan described the new youth and community facility as a major addition to the town’s community and recreational infrastructure.

He added: “The Council has worked closely with the Clare Youth Service to bring this project to fruition. A range of youth programmes will be delivered from this building and in addition the facilities here will also be available to the wider community.”

“I would like to compliment and congratulate the contractor Liam O’Doherty of Gildoc Ltd and the design team, which was led by Richard Rice of Healy and Partners, on completion of an attractive, modern energy efficient building.

Michael Byrne, Chairperson of Clare Youth Service, commented: “This new initiative will see the development of youth-led community facilities for the benefit of all. It will bring all sections together building the relationships which are the foundation of strong communities.”

He said the youth service was aware of the “myriad” of social problems affecting young people such as addiction, unemployment and youth emigration.

Mr Byrne added that communities around Ennis had recently been marred by “violent death and suicide”. He said, “There are still enormous needs as a community we need to respond to.”

Speaking at the official opening Ger Dollard, Ennis Town Manager, stated that extensive negotiations had taken place since the project was first mooted almost 10 years ago. He highlighted the roles played by Youth Service CEO, Margaret Slattery, and local young people in the development of the centre.

He added, “We have established an advisory board comprising of representatives of the Youth Service, local community, Town Council and Gardaí to oversee the development of the facility. Ennis Town Council looks forward to continuing to play its role in what we expect will be a very successful community facility.”

Clare Youth Service has been at the forefront of the development of many initiatives in its 42 years of working with young people and their communities throughout the county. Set up in 1969, Clare Youth Service today provides direct services to over 3,000 young people aged 12 to 25 years around the county.

CLARE has missed out on a multimillion euro tourism boost with the news that the Cois Fharraige music festival will not be returning to Kilkee this year.

The festival, which was hosted by the West Clare village in 2008 and 2009, will take place at another Irish location this September, with promoters MCD believed to be looking at venues in both Wexford and Kerry. The Clare People has learned that MCD held talks with members of the Kilkee business community in January of this year. The promotions company requested that local businesses shoulder some of the cost associated with the festival’s operations but, when the Kilkee group were unable to raise the required money, all talks were shelved. The Clare People contacted MCD in relation to this story but received no reply at the time of going to press. At statement on the MCD website however confirmed that Cois Fharraige would be taking place on September 9, 10 and 11 of this year but gave no indication as to where the festival would take place.

The president of the Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, John Redmond, told The Clare People that losing the festival was a blow to the village and that Kilkee would welcome Cois Fharraige back in the future.

“Cois Fharraige was made for Kilkee; the festival always worked very very well here,” he said.

“We held meeting with MCD back in January and they were looking for the town to contribute an amount of money towards the festival. Times are difficult at the moment and the businesses in the town just didn’t have the money to invest this year. We haven’t heard from MCD since. We don’t know where the festival is taking place this year but we know that it won’t be taking place in Kilkee.

“Cois Fharraige has been such a huge benefit to the town over the years – especially in 2009. We had a particularly bad year that year and the festival was a great boost to the local tourism businesses at the end of the season.

“We would definitely welcome back Cois Fharraige in the future the festival was made for Kilkee.”

Major international acts such as Supergrass, Travis and the Coronas came to Kilkee for the 2008 and 2009 festivals, which generated an estimated € 12 million for the town over the two years.

THE contribution of young people in Cloughleigh to the development of a new youth and community facility was hailed at the official opening of The Junction on Saturday.

A team of volounteers, comprised mainly of young people from the area, played an important role in determining the need for such a facility when it was first proposed in 2006.

Among those present at Saturday’s opening were Clare Youth Service volounteers Victoria Hart, Aishagh Faithfull and Barry McDonagh.

Work on the project started in 2006 with the group conducting surveys and gathering the views of teenagers in Cloughleigh.

Aishagh (21) explained, “We’ve been involved since the start in planning the building and deciding where it was going to be and what is was going to be for. We were trying to get the young people on board to help us out. We knew from the start that there was a need for it.”

According to Barry (22), there was a clear need for more youth and community facilities in the Cloughleigh area. He said, “We knew ourselves because there wasn’t really anything around for us. I’m delighted with the way it turned out. I think it looks lovely. We can’t wait to get everything going; all the programmes up and running. It’s for the whole town and county not just the area around here.” Youth worker Tommy O’Hara has worked with the project’s core group of volounteers, helping them to get young people from the area and around Ennis to participate in programmes run at The Junction. He said, “The next step really is to try and get young people into the building and develop the café. My own specific job is to develop smaller project groups within the actual centre, to go out and physically recruit them [young people] and bring them up through in much the same way as the core groups came up through the youth service. That’s what we always aim and strive for, to bring young people to that level.” Tommy, who is also from the Cloughleigh area, said the building will serve a wider community purpose. He explained, “We definitely are looking at an inter-generational programme as well that would incorporate older people and young people together, such as gardening, computers or whatever that might be.”