Category: News

THEY may have been St Flannan’s College old boys and senior ministers in the Fianna Fáil government, but past-pupil and party fraternity didn’t stop Sylvester Barrett and Michael O’Kennedy from having a stand-off at the cabinet table and a major disagreement on the direction and financial needs of housing policy in 1980.

As Minister for Finance, O’Kennedy had control of the purse strings, but Minister for the Environment Barrett felt his department needed more money to offset what he forecast would be a huge shortage of social housing as the 1980s progressed.

Minister Barrett took his concerns and demands for an extra £30m over his budgetary allocation for social housing to the Department of Finance, warning his ministerial colleague that unless money was forthcoming new house building levels wouldn’t be able to cater for the growing demand.

Minister Barrett pointed out that “demand was so high that new house prices had virtually doubled between 1977 and 1979”, while he also warned of unrest over the housing shortage.

“The number of houses to be completed in 1982 and 1983 will be lower than in any year since 1972,” warned Minister Barrett in making his case for extra funds for the sector. “There will be growing unemployment in the building and associated industries and widespread unrest among persons who have arranged to purchase or improve houses with the aid of grants and with loans under the local authorities house purchase and improvement loan schemes.”

However, the Minister for Finance was unmoved and wasted no time in hammering home the point to his ministerial colleague that “all government departments had been warned that the scope for additional allocations this year was practically nil”.

“Despite this, the policy of the Minister for the Environment appears to be to challenge all of the main budgetary allocations within his de- partment’s ambit,” added Minister O’Kennedy as the stand-off between the two government departments escalated.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Taoiseach was keeping a watching brief on the two rowing departments before delivering another hammer blow to Minister Barrett’s housing policy in response to figures that showed the number of home improvement grants had jumped from 11,000 in 1977 to 30,000 in 1979, while the cost of administering the scheme had risen from £7m to £35m in the same period.

The home improvement grants scheme was abolished on January 21, 1980, with a final cut-off date for grant applications under the scheme being February 1 – ten days that brought the system to its knees as some 45,000 applications flooded in.

SET for further success in 2011 are local food heroes and exporters, The Burren Smokehouse.

The Clare artisan smoking business is about to add top-end British store, Fortnum and Mason to the list of people who will be stocking their products.

Owner, Brigitta Hedin-Curtin is upbeat about the coming year and confident of cracking new markets for her excellent artisan product.

“We’re currently working with Fortnum and Mason to provide them with our products under their brand which is great for us because their brand is in demand in the high-end of the market,” she told The Clare People .

The Smokehouse is also about to launch a new multi-lingual website and will be concentrating on mailorder business in the coming year.

The website gives the company a very lucrative route to market and gives it an added presence on the international food stage.

Brigitta is off to the organic fair in Nuremberg this month and will be showcasing their organic range at this, one of the biggest food gatherings in Europe.

“Organic is a very important market and we are also workng with Bord Bia, who are marketing strongly in the US. We have a small presence in the US but we have some new leads that we are following up on.”

Having just recently got Kosher status, the Smokehouse now plans to exploit this as a major selling point in the US and particularly in the high-end delis and restaurants of New York.

There are leads and possibilities which we are following, including the Arabic market, which is a big market,” said Brigitta.

The Smokehouse, which is based in Lisdoonvarna, opened in 1989 and employs 17 people with a turnover of € 1.3 million.

The artisan smokehouse produces a premium quality, organic product range which are 100 per cent Irish and smoked using a closely guarded recipe

There are more than 50 products now on the market, including Hot Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Honey, Lemon and Dill, Whiskey and Fennel and Lemon and Pepper. The Smokehouse also smokes trout, mackeral and a whole rang fish.

The Smokehouse has won the Good Food Ireland Producer of the Year award in 2009 and Blas na hÉireann Gold Winner in Seafood Products 2009.

TOURISM is a global industry. If the Irish tourism sector is to play its part in the recovery of the Irish economy in 2011, a number of factors beyond the control of Irish business, the Irish public and even Irish politics will have to be counted before the much hoped for return of the international tourist can take place.

Despite the global nature of tourism, there are a number of resolution which, according to Michael Vaughan, head of the Clare branch of the Irish Hotel Federation, could help the local tourism sector in the year to come.

“We need the British people to rediscover the value and confidence to travel to Ireland again because we have lost as much as 25 per cent of that market. As well as lending us their money they could do better still and come over here and spend some of their money with us again. That would be a huge boost to us. Germany and America in 2010 seems to be good prospects – America really seems to be bouncing back and while it’s hard to know for sure there seems to be an increase of as much as 10 per cent on last year so far which is a good sign. Germany also has a renewed buoyancy so if we work to make sure that the product is right and the price is right they we could see a bounce in the German visitors for next year,” said Michael.

“In terms of what the government could do they could always spend more money promoting the country. Every euro that is spent promoting tourism brings € 4 back into the economy which is a good return. I’d like to see a better regime when it comes to local authority charges when it comes to businesses. That is a big ask I know, because local authorities are strapped for cash at the moment.

“I think a good summer weatherwise would be a big boost for the tourist sector. I know that is asking the God above to do us a favour but that would be a real boost for us. A good summer always makes a big impact for us, at least you can guarantee a few good weeks of trade.

“What could happen and what we would very much like to see is that people who have money might come out and spend that money. There are people in the country who have money. We would hope that these people would come out in the national interest and spend a bit of money in whatever way they see fit – whether they would be buying a bowl of soup or sandwiches in a cafe or whatever. There is a lot of money out there but people are thinking that they shouldn’t be spending money because there is a recession. But it’s a strange situation, spending money is exactly what we need them to do.”

As well on a national level and international, there are things within the county of Clare itself which could bring about a boost for the local tourist trade in 2011.

“The town of Ennis is critical to us and we’d like to see a big festival in the town. There has been a lot of talk about getting the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann back to the town but either way we’d like to see more activity. I’d like to see more going on at Glór especially if it could be expanded to let it take conferences.

“That would be a huge boost to the county for us to be able to take conferences of about 500 people in the county. If we could also see the coming together of tourism interests to help each other out,” continued Michael.

“I’d like to see that proposed bridge down in Kilkee being built. Loop Head and west Clare generally is such an undiscovered part of the county and it would be great to have an iconic tourism project located down there. The people who have brought Loop Head to the forefront in recent deserve their just rewards and they deserve to continue on and to see the benefit of their labours in the months and years ahead.”

GARDAÍ are hoping that after eight years, there may still be some information which can help them solve a brutal Clare murder.

Relatives of the late Sean Poland are mourning the eighth anniversary of his death. They are also appealing for anyone with information about the car-dealer’s death to come forward.

Gardaí are hoping that the time of year may jog someone’s memory of the New Year’s Eve eight years ago when Mr Poland was shot at his home.

The 39-year-old was shot dead during an armed raid at his home in Blackwater on New Year’s Eve 2002. Several arrests have been made in connection with his killing but noone has ever been charged. Mr Poland’s partner Joanne Lyons, 42, was tied up by the killers, who arrived at the house just minutes after the couple returned home from a night out. It is thought a deal made by Mr Poland in a city centre pub earlier that night may have been linked to his killing. The gang also escaped with about € 1,000 in cash from Mr Poland’s home. The attack shocked the country and sparked calls for greater control of firearms. It is believed criminals from the city were responsible for the murder and more than 20 people have been arrested to date by gardaí investigating the killing,

In 2004, gardaí in Limerick had arrested nine people in connection with the murder of the 39-year-old man.

The seven men and two women were arrested in early-morning raids across Limerick city. They were questioned and released without charge.

The previous year, two men and a woman were arrested but also released without charge.

Sean’s sister, Marie Horgan says that they are still hoping for a breakthrough in the investigation especially with the establishment of a dedicated cold case unit to look into old crimes.

The family make the appeal on each anniversary and last year, Sean’s brother Ray appealed for anyone with information about the killing to come forward.

“I know for a fact that somebody knows something. I would appeal to them to come forward with that information because we still don’t know who did it or the reasons why,” he said.

“Sean was an innocent man and. He was only 39 years of age and he should still be alive today. Some people deserve it, but he didn’t, and, really, there has been no closure for us,” he added.

Ray said that Poland this time of year was particularly difficult for him and his family.

“It is tough and the pain is still there. A lot of other cases seem to have been solved in the meantime but we haven’t got any answers. There doesn’t seem to have been any movement at all,” he said.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed that the murder investigation remained open, but said there had been no significant developments over the past 12 months.

“If anyone has information they can contact us in confidence,” he said.

Anyone with information about the murder pf Mr Poland can contact Henry Street Garda Station at 061 212400 or the Garda confidential line at 1800 666111.

MORE THAN most, north Clare filmmaker Alan Cooke has spent a lot of time pondering what needs to be done to secure Ireland’s future in 2011.

The Emmy award-winning filmmaker has spent much of the last two years researching the post-Celtic Tiger fate of his country and asking both what went wrong and what needs to be done to put things right for the future.

For Alan this is not a question of banks and budgets, but more a question of rediscovering out spirit and identity.

“In these times, we question the fabric of what we are. We wonder if there is a future in our country. We look at forces bigger than us trying to rip away the fabric of our values and decency. But I resolve as I hope others will that this decade we will find our way back to something ancient and old,” says Alan.

“I hope we will find that our communities turn to each other and grow stronger. I wish in 2011 that we realise there is something that they can never take from us. Our spirit is ancient. We are of royal blood from Celtic kings. We are not fools or filled with shame.

“I hope we can create a resolution that we can fight to bring Ireland to what it can be. We can resolve in 2011 that we can shed all of the hurt from the last decade, we can rise above the corruption and scandal in the Church, the government and the banks.

“I am going to go out and make a film about this country – to capture its beauty, its majesty, its power and the strength of our people. In 2011 I hope we can show the world how we are loved in our culture and our words and art.

“It is my job in this decade as it is the job of other Irish artists that we must lead and shine a light that the whole planet will turn to see. When I travel this land I see the incredible joy in people in the original nature. I see their dancing. I see their music and their words and stories.

“In my epic new film I hope to create something that represents the best in all of us. I resolve this and make a solemn oath that what is good in us will rise. All of the hurt of the last few years will be wiped away forever. Bless us all in 2011 and for the future we can take to be ours and make this country great again.”

To learn more about Alan’s new film or to make a donation to help fund the production visit www.thespiritofirelandfilm.com.

RESIDENTS of one Ennis housing estate affected by water shortages are already planning ahead for next year’s big freeze.

Homes in Woodhaven on the Kilrush Road have experienced supply shortages over the past fortnight. The local resident’s association is proposing to develop rain-harvesting systems to ensure homes have an alternative water supply.

“Some of the houses have had frozen stop-cocks and there’s also been problems with pressure. One house might not have water but the house next door would. We might look at rain harvesting; encouraging people to collect rainwater off chutes. Its just an idea at this stage,” explained a spokesperson.

Homes in Tulla and parts of Feakle were also trying to manage without water during the big thaw. Water tankers and a standpipe had to be brought in to help keep businesses going and households supplied with water for essentials.

“It’s been very difficult for people,” said local councillor, Pat Hayes (FF). He continued, “There are probably a lot more people in this part of Clare without water than we realise because a lot of homes would be on wells or private supplies and the council doesn’t have anything to do with that so we wouldn’t know.”

“We can’t put all the blame on the council. It’s an act of God and they have done their level best to deal with it,” said Ennis area councillor, James Breen (Ind).

Clare County Council has again urged homeowners and business to conserve water in the coming days.

A spokesperson said, “The council appreciates the patience of the public in dealing with these shut offs. Without the shut-offs supplies would be even more depleted.

“Consumers can expect a delay in resumption of supply after water is restored at the time indicated while the mains are recharging for several hours. Furthermore, consumers on the periphery of schemes or on high ground can expect even greater delays in restoration of normal supply and pressure”.

CLARE County Council estimates that up to 400 homes still have no water or have an intermittent supply as work to repair leaks continues today around the county.

A council spokesperson confirmed on Monday that in the initial period that followed the rise in weather temperatures around 2,000 of the 30,000 homes that receive water from Clare County Council experienced supply problems.

Restrictions on supply are expected to be in place for another three days at least.

“I’d be concerned that parts of the county are suffering more than most . Obviously there must be a lack of infrastructure and that must be examined”, said Mayor of Clare, Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind).

Supply was cut off last night (Monday) from Aughanteeroe on the Gort Road to Barefield in an attempt to boost supply in Crusheen, where members of Clare Civil defence tankered thousand of litres of water to 100 homes on Sunday.

Myles Carey, of Clare County Council’s water services section explained: “The idea there is that, if we can restrict supply on that stretch of pipeline, the idea is to push water out to Crusheen. Crusheen has been one of the kind of blackspots in all of this and has ended up without water for a long time.”

Mr Carey said work will continue in Ennis until all visible leaks that resulted from recent cold weather con- ditions are located and repaired.

“The biggest leaks, the biggest water losses, our lads are going to those first.”

Over 35 per cent of the 16,000 cubic metres of water being produced at the Ennis water treatment plant is currently being lost due to leaks.

Mr Carey said that the “exceptional losses” sustained in Ennis are due to the old and fractured network of pipes in the town. He said a € 6.2 million pipe rehabilitation programme will commence in Ennis later this year.

EARLIER this year a group of north Clare people made the trip to the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan with one objective in mind – to come up with a range of ideas which would allow the people of the Burren to take control of their own destiny.

Central to this grassroots movement was Mary Hawkes-Greene, co-founder of the Burren College of Art and a person who is deeply committed to the future of her adopted home.

For Mary, along with all the difficulties that the current financial climate presents, it also created an opportunity for great change and for the people of Clare to take control of their own destinies.

“I believe that as a nation we have all got what we deserve. Our political system has been based on parishpump politics which requires leaders to do special favours for people which leads to corruption on a larger scale. We need people to be more honest and for our political system to be completely overhauled so we can get rid of the culture of everybody scratching everyone else’s back,” said Mary.

“For Clare and for local communities in Clare I think that now is a great opportunity for natural leaders to emerge within communities. For a long time we have relied on huge grants to be handed out to people from the EU and people haven’t had to be creative. One of the most successful things in my community, in Ballyvaughan, last year was getting people together and looking at taking control of our own destiny and deciding for ourselves how we wanted our own community to be.

“It’s not about looking for the next grant or the next EU directive, it’s about getting together and deciding what are our values as a community and what do we stand for. These things are not all economic and are not all financially driven. We found that one important thing for us, for example, was a community which had room for both old people and young people to come together and be involved in each other lives. That is something which has nothing to do with money or the economy but could have a great impact in the quality of life that everyone in the community has.”

While reorganising the political and economic society which we all live in is an important step in 2011, according to Mary, it is not nearly as important as looking at the types of lives we all lead in our community.

“I think we need to look at everything that is valuable. It’s not just money, living in a beautiful place and what that does to a person’s health and well being is a valuable thing. People need to put some value on things which are not economic, things which make us happy which have nothing to do with money. There is a great opportunity for communities to look at their core being and discover what really is important to them. From there maybe people can figure what economic steps need to be taken to allow them to live the life that they want to do. I think it is time for a radical reforms and a radical and for people to take control of their own destinies.”

As the co-founder of one of the biggest innovations on the Clare arts scene in recent decades, Mary also sees the importance of art in the development of Clare and Ireland in 2011. “The importance of the arts cannot be overstated. The arts should be seen as essential and as crucial to our well-being as fresh air or health care. The arts are essential to our development,” continues Mary.

“They give us another dimension of life which is beyond economics and what we need. What we need is more music in schools and in the community. People can be transformed and lifted to a different place by the arts – it uplifts spirits and shows people what they can achieve what some people might think of as being unachievable. That is something that can transfer to every area of people’s lives.”

“PATRIOTISM used to mean going out and being shot – now it means creating jobs.” That’s the view of the new president of the Chamber of Commerce who is calling for the setting up of an employment generating alliance for the county.

John Dillane told The Clare People that he wants “people who are will- ing to put their money where their mouths are,” to contact him through the chamber to get the group up and running.

“We want all the stakeholders involved, The businesses, the county council – everyone. We need to get off our backsides and do something if this county is to pull out of the recession.”

The shoot-from-the-hip new presi- dent said that he believes that the new patriotism is job creation.

“In 1916 when the country was in trouble, people demonstrated patriotism by going out and getting shot. Now they can do it by going out and creating jobs.”

He is calling for a special meeting to set up the group which will have job creation as its focus.

“We need to get this county back on its feet. There’s no reason we can’t start a movement to do that, but we need to do it for ourselves and every single person in the county needs to get involved in that.”

“I’m calling on any companies that have some money in their pockets to come together and be part of this organisation for Clare. We can make a difference, we can employ more people.”

Mr Dillane, who is proprietor of Banner Motors, says that in the coming year the “red carpet should be rolled out for anyone who is employing people.”

In his role as president of the Chamber, Dillane says he hopes to motivate people in the county to get more people back in the workforce and to persuade consumers to support their own and spend in the Banner.