Category: News

THE Queen of England, Michael Flatley and Barack Obama can play their part in Clare becoming the first county in Ireland to drag its way out of recession.

That was the message delivered by the Ennis Development Forum this Monday as it kickstarted its campaign for the county’s economic recovery by holding face-to-face talks with Clare’s newly elected TDs.

Retaining existing jobs, moulding Clare as a low-carbon county, revitalising the construction industry and cashing in on the county tourism potential emerged as the key tenets the forum’s policy going forward, with the county’s TDs pledging to play their part in the process.

“This is the start,” Aoife Madden of the Ennis Development Forum told The Clare People. “We believe that Ennis and Clare can come out of recession.

“Businesses can play their part in that, so can politicians and we are determined to make it happen.

“We have to look at a lot of things. There was general recognition of the need to support local businesses in order to support local jobs.

“Minister of State for Small Business John Perry has been briefed on our concerns and we want him down in Ennis for formal discussions on the financial and red-tape challenges being faced by small and medium enterprises.

“It was also recognised that Clare must exploit it’s tourism potential through expanding the demand for what we currently have to offer by fully utilising Shannon Airport as a facility and the development of Ennis as a National Centre of Welcome and the creation of a Triangle of Clare Tours.

“Clare could generate significant marketing spin-off from events like the Lord of the Dance at the Cliffs of Moher, the Royal Visit, the London 2012 Olympics and the visit of President Obama,” added Ms Madden.

Clare’s four TDs, Fine Gael’s Pat Breen and Joe Carey, Labour’s Michael McNamara and Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley have pledged to meeting with business representatives on a quarterly basis to discuss progress on these actions, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday, June 13.

THE erection of a series of new signs with non-colloquial place names has been described “absolute lunacy” by a north Clare county councillor.

According to Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) the new signs use out of date an inaccurate names, which were first used by the British army in Ireland, ahead of the modern names which have been used officially and locally for more than 100 years.

“Are we supposed to go back to the spelling of 2,000 years ago and upset all the people and the tourist community in Ballyvaughan and across north Clare?

“We are really causing difficulty for people here and we need a serious meeting with the NRA to sort this out. This is a serious matter, it’s absolute lunacy,” said Cllr Arkins (FG). Most of this survey work used for these was done by the British Army who had different language from the people who lived in the area that they were working in.

“Just because some British officer put the wrong name in a map 150 years ago it doesn’t mean that we have to go along with this.

“This makes us looks like absolute fools. If you went to Greece in the morning you wouldn’t see something like this, and if you did you’d think that you had arrived in some sort of banana republic.”

According to Cllr Michael Kelly (FF), the new signs will lead to widespread confusion during the summer tourist season.

“We are talking about connecting people to the Burren area so we can’t be going around and confusing people like this,” he said.

“I remember at one time putting in a motion with Clare County Council about Bellharbour and I was told that there was no such place as Bellharbour – it was called something else instead. Can you imagine that?

“The people of north Clare are very upset about this. Once, back in the 1850s, Ballyvaughan was called Ballyvaghan and the people up there can’t understand why this has been thrust upon them now.”

Speaking at yesterday’s North Clare Area Meeting, Director of Services at Clare County Council David Timlin said that local authority will look into the matter.

“Clare County Council and the Post Offices have always used the local spellings and this [the signs] is not something that we have control over,” he said.

“I would suggest that the council would refer this to the ordinance survey organisation and to the NRA.”

WORK on a roof to protect some of Clare’s oldest architectural treasures at the 13th century Ennis Friary is due to be completed by the end of April, according to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The purpose of this € 100,000 project is to provide protection for the collection of carved features which survive at Ennis Friary. The OPW also aims to improve visitor access at the site.

Authorities on medieval sculptures have highlighted the importance of this unique collection, which contain a complete set of panels representing the 12 apostles and stages of the passion of Christ. Also featured is the Ecce Homo, Madonna and Child, John the Baptist, St Francis and assorted carved fragments.

Since care of the Friary was vested in the Board of Works in the late 19th Century, concern has been expressed about the vulnerability of the collection and numerous interventions were undertaken.

In a statement, the OPW explained that a preliminary conservation report carried out in the 1980s confirmed that significant stone deterioration was taking place due primarily to weathering but also from the negative impact of the early repairs and vandalism.

An OPW spokesperson explained, “The damaged and decayed stonework was analysed by a stone conservation specialist and subsequently removed to a workshop for consolidation and repair. On completion of this work, the collection will be displayed in an appropriate manner on the site. It must be noted that the original setting of the panel figures and other features is uncertain.

She added, “The site of the 18th Century church, which was built within the walls of the medieval nave, was considered to be an appropriate location to provide a sheltered environment for the exhibition of these objects. The design of the modern roof reflects the original profile of the church and the consultant engineer confirms that its lightweight structure will have a minimal impact on the original walls.

Original features, such as windows will not be restored, while a wire mesh will be installed to provide se- curity for the display area and deter birds and wildlife.

Canon Bob Hanna, Rector of St Columba’s Church in Ennis, has welcomed the Friary project, saying he hopes the building can become the “centre of a new tourism hub for the town”.

Canon Hanna is part of a local group seeking to better promote the ecclesiastical treasures of Clare.

He explained, “What myself and a few others are doing is hoping to build on the excellent work done on the Clare Way and Burren Way. We think there is real potential there to make the landscape speak more powerfully than what it’s being allowed to do at the moment.”

THE Clareman caught up in the earthquake and tsunami tragedy in Japan has re-iterated his intention to stay living and working in the country, despite the decision of many other foreign nationals to leave because of nuclear meltdown fears.

Thirty-six-year-old David O’Donoghue from Shannon, who has been in Japan for the past six years was made homeless when a tsunami hit Kamasu City, where he lives and works as a teacher.

“The Irish embassy have been advising practicality in the situation,” O’Donoghue told The Clare People this Monday. “The French jumped the gun in providing two planes last week to get people out, while the international media have been dramatising the situation.

“The situation is that things have become quite upbeat and positive over the pat few days, regarding the reactor situation in Fukushima. There was and remains trepidation and some fear, people are anxious but composed,” he added.

O’Donoghue was teaching when the disaster that destroyed his apartment struck, which rendered him homeless and living with friends until finding alternative accommodation this week.

“I’m back teaching as of last Friday,” he revealed, “but the national school system is off for the time being. We still have no water and won’t have water for three months, that’s the expectation. There’s well water and water supplies have been supplied by the Japanese self-defence forces.

“It has devastated the country in many respects and what the emergency services are doing now is going step by step to repair any damage that there is. Even after only one week the change in my home town is astonishing.

“A lot of the electricity poles and telephone poles that collapsed or were teetering have been put back. They have made huge repairs in one week. There is huge progress being made. Emergency crews have been working non-stop 24 seven,” he added.

A MAN whose jail term for raping his pregnant ex-girlfriend at gunpoint in her County Clare home was described by a court as “unduly lenient” will reappear in court later this week.

Last week, the Court of Criminal Appeal (CCA) ruled that a 10-year jail term – three of which was suspended – handed down to a 45-yearold man last year should be reconsidered.

However, it did not finalise the case and adjourned it to allow for a governor’s report and psychiatric report to be prepared by the man’s legal team. The case will be before the threejudge CCA again on Thursday. The case came before the CCA after the DPP appealed the sentence handed down.

The man, who was living in Clare, was convicted last year of rape, anal rape, false imprisonment, possessing a firearm and threatening to kill the woman on September 9, 2007.

The CCA said last week it found the case to be “most shocking” as it had involved profound violence.

The man was convicted after a 14-day trial at the Central Criminal Court last year.

The trial heard that the man and his ex-girlfriend had broken up on 27 occasions.

The victim described the night as “mentally torturous” and said she had been made to believe her death and the death of her unborn baby were imminent. The trial judge, Mr Justice Paul Carney said, “It was serious criminality involving a lifethreatening siege which was diffused only by the extraordinary skilled and sensitive approach by the gardaí.” He described the incident as being at the upper end of criminality, involving a dangerous hostage siege.

A CIRCUIT COURT judge has decided not to re-activate a suspended sentence in the case of an Ennis man accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Thomas Molloy (20), with an address at 12 Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, appeared before Ennis Circuit Court yesterday in relation to a section 99 application for an order revoking an order suspending a sentence of imprisonment.

The application arose out of a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol. A Garda told the court that Mr Molloy was twice over the legal limit when he was caught in Dublin.

The court was told that Mr Molloy appeared before Dublin Metropolitan District Court under the Road Traffic Act in relation to the incident.

The court was told that on June 8, 2009, that Mr Molloy, and three other people, pleaded guilty to affray. He received a three year suspended sentence at the time.

Counsel for Mr Molloy said his cli- ent had pleaded guilty to the charge and had co-operated perfectly with Gardaí. Referring to the charge of affray, Counsel for Molloy said he had pleaded guilty to the charge and paid compensation of € 2,000.

He added that a “considerable period” of time had elapsed between the charge of affray and the charge or driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Judge Carroll Moran said that there was no other aggravating factor other than Mr Molloy being over the limit.

He said that driving while the twice the legal limit was a serious matter it did not require the reactivation of a suspended sentence. Judge Moran referred the matter back to the Dublin District Court.

A CLARE practical joker, who posed as a businessman in an effort to convince the public that his friend was about to open a sex shop in Ennis, says he will attempt an even bigger hoax later this year, if he can come up with a suitable idea.

N i n e t e e n – y e a r old Ballyea student Michael Gavin created a fake email address, business phone number and online persona for his friend in an effort to convince the public that this friend was about to open a sex shop on O’Connell Street in Ennis.

The Clareman, who is an Economics and Finance student at the University of Limerick, posted a notice on the Clare section of boards.ie, claiming that the sex shop was to open in Ennis on St Patrick’s Day.

When contacted by journalists, Mr Gavin pretended to be a businessman and claimed to be about to open the sex shop despite the objections of the “Joe Duffy brigade”.

Speaking to The Clare People yesterday Mr Gavin said that the sex shop hoax was not even the biggest practical jokes he had pulled off recently.

“I wouldn’t say that this is my biggest hoax ever but it’s definitely up there in my top 10. I’m not planning anything specifically in the future but if I get a good enough idea I wouldn’t

rule it out in future,”

he said. “I have played

pranks like this in

the past but if I was

to talk about them

in the newspaper I

would probably get

myself into a bit off

trouble,” he added. According to Mr

Gavin, he was a

quiet and shy stu

dent and only began to plan practical jokes and seek public attention in recent years.

“In school I wasn’t a big joker, I was always very focussed on my studies and had too much respect for the teachers and the other student’s to disrupt their work,” he said.

“To be honest I haven’t a clue where I got my idea from. I knew if I put something controversial but believable [up on boards.ie] there would have been a good chance that a journalist would be looking around and find it.”

A TOTAL of 491 students from Clare have entered paintings in this year’s 57th Texaco Children’s Art Competition, the winners of which will be revealed next month.

In excess of 30,000 entries were received with students from each of the 32 counties taking part.

Judging of entries is currently taking place and winners will be announced in early-April. This will be followed by the prize-giving ceremony which takes place in May.

Pictured admiring three of the en- tries received from Clare are competition coordinator Annemarie Barnes (left) and competition adjudicator and well-known artist Dr Denise Ferran. Ms Barnes is holding a work entitled ‘In The Wild’ by 15-year-old Ryan Fleming from Ennis, a pupil at St John Bosco, Kildysart. Dr Ferran is holding a work entitled ‘Our Beautiful Coast’ by 16-year-old Michelle Clancy from Kilrush, a pupil at Kilrush Community School and another entitled ‘Beautiful Butterflies’ by 14-year-old Ashling McCann from Cranny, Kilrush, also a pupil at St John Bosco, Kildysart.

THE elected members of Clare County Council yesterday went against the expressed wishes of County Manager, Tom Coughlan, by adopting the new East Clare Local Area Plan including a resolution to zone an area for the possible future development of a marina in Killaloe.

Following more then two hours of heated debate and detailed legal advice, the elected members of the local authority voted by 19 votes to four in favour of passing the revised plan, with four councillors abstaining from the vote.

It now remains to be seen whether the county manager will decided to use his executive function to over rule the decision of the elected members.

“The overriding concern as far as I am concerned in tourism development. The history of this development and this debate is very important. This is like a test case for all of this new regulation which has been passed down to us. These issues are appropriate to everyone – a similar situation could arise down in Loop Head or up in the Burren,” said Cllr Pat Hayes (FF).

“I think that if we can develop a marina in Killaloe then I feel that that is in the overriding public interest of the people of Clare.”

The final decision was arrived at by the elected members following a series of proposals and counter proposals which led to a number of loud shouting matches across council chambers and the meeting being adjourned on two separate occasion.

The first difficulty arose when expressed some concerns about the discussion being conducted in public and asked for a legal opinion on whether some details of the plan should be discussed in camera.

This prompted angry scenes in the council chambers with Shannon cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) eventually proposing and winning a vote to have the matter discussed in from of the media and the assemble public.

However, the meeting descended into chaos when a second proposal, calling for a 10 minute recess to allow for councillors to contemplate the plan was also voted on and passed by the councilors.

The Mayor of Clare, Christy Curtin (IND) ruled that the two motions were not in conflict and councillors could both have a ten minute break to “contemplate” the motion before discussing the motion in council chambers.

This prompted an angry outburst between Cllrs Gerry Flynn and Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) when the Shannon council alluded to the type of discussion which may have taken place during the 10 minute break.

At the request of Mayor Christy Curtin, Cllr Flynn eventually withdrew the remarks.

CONSTRUCTION WORK on the multi-million euro pier in Doolin could get underway before the beginning of the summer following last nights decision by Clare County Council to grant Part Eight planning permission to the controversial development.

Following a protracted planning procedure, councillors at last nights meeting of the local authority voted unanimously to grant planning permission to the long awaited development, despite objections from a number of local and national surf organisers.

More than 30 members of the local Doolin community packed the offices of Clare County Council yesterday to hear the matter being debated. Each of the Doolin locals held up signs which read “Support Doolin Pier” as the planning permission was being discussed.

Speaking after the Part Eight planing permission had been granted, County Engineer Tom Tiernan said that tender process for the development will be started in weeks with the construction work not likely to be finished until 2012.

The original planning permission for the pier came before last Decembers meeting of Clare County Council but a decision on this was deferred by County Manager, Tom Coughlan, to allow for more public consultation to take place.

In total more than 30 individual planning submission were put forward in relation to the project with a number of other submission coming from organisation from all over the country.

Speaking before the planning permission was granted, Ennistymon based councillor Richard Nagle, said that the pier had the potential to generate hundreds of jobs for the people of north Clare.

“I would like to propose that we proceed immediately with this project – it is imperative that we go ahead with this without delay. We have spent months considering this, it has already been delayed.

“There are several interests groups in Doolin pier and all of those interests much be taken into account,” he said.

“We now must take a once in lifetime opportunity to enhance the tourism life of North Clare.

“This has the potential to make Doolin the main departure and arrival point to the Aran Islands and to create a huge amount of jobs in the north Clare area and in the wider community.”

Councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) said that his concerns about the safety of the surf access at the pier and the integrity of local surfing waves had been addressed during the planning process.

“I would have had very serious concerns about the damage that this might have had on the surfing product in the area but I am now satisfied that the consultation and wave monitoring which has been carried out by Clare County Council,” Councillor Flynn said.