Category: News

KILKEE Civic Trust are hoping that the season of goodwill ensures a good turnout on Christmas week as they attempt to recover some of the ‘Famine Wall’ lost to the sea more than two decades ago.

More than 20 years ago, during one particularly bad winter storm, handcut stone was moved from the steps on the Strandline Wall. It disappeared under the sand and is believed to have remained there ever since.

Previous attempts failed to uncover the lost stone, but on Thursday, December 28, the local civic trust hopes relatives of those who worked on the historic wall or those who would like to help out on the project will gather at 1pm in an attempt to uncover the past. The group are particularly interested in uncovering one big piece of the wall in the sand under the White Walls at the west end.

Clare County Council has promised the trust that it will replace the stone to its original position should it be found.

The wall was started 160 years ago during the Irish Famine. It employed hundreds of local men, many starving and dying on site. Stone was cut and carried from Walton’s quarry in the West End and painstakingly put in place. The wall is more than a mile in length and has withstood many storms.

It is believed that the seaside town would look very different if the wall had not been built more than a century and a half ago.

The coast road to Gooleen was built at the same time.

It is now hoped that the descendents of those who built the wall will bring a shovel and help resurrect their local history. It is also hoped that the project will highlight the history of the wall and its importance as a physical protection for the town as well as an aesthetically beautiful piece of architecture.

The oral history of the wall is carried in the hearts and minds of many of the Kilkee residents. Coosheen man Michael Geary recalls how the chisel marks on the top stone give an indication as to cut methods used at the time. Holes were chiselled along desired shape of stone and methylated spirits were put in and set alight to crack the stone along the desired line.

Tom Marrinan from Kilkee also recalls how his great-granduncle worked on the wall for a mere penny a day.

CLARE County Council has admitted that the delay in repairing damaged crash barriers on one of the counties busiest dual-carriageways is unacceptable. The Local Authority has blamed the six week delay on heavy workloads.

The council, which is responsible for crash barriers within Clare, says that two to three weeks would be considered an adequate timeframe to repair or replace damaged barriers but at the moment it can take up to twice as long.

Many local authorities across the country are also slow to carry out repairs to damaged barriers despite being provided with funding from the National Roads Authority to do so. Clare County Council says the availability of contractors to carry out the work is the main problem in Clare.

The National Roads Authority has also confirmed that there is a problem in many areas with delays in repairing damaged barriers. Funding is provided to councils for maintenance and operations of roads and this includes repairs to crash barriers.

The money is provided from the NRA’s National Primary Maintenance Budget.

A Road Safety Authority spokesman said that if the barriers are damaged they are no longer capable of doing the job they were intended to do, which is to try and protect motorists and to help prevent cross-over crashes where vehicles end up on the opposite side of the roadway in the path of oncoming traffic.

“Damaged barriers should be repaired as soon as possible because the risk always exists that where a barrier has been compromised, another collision could happen at that location,” the RSA said.

A council spokesperson said they try to repair damaged crash barriers as soon as is practical but it is difficult to source a contractor to repair barriers.

“We have installed 50 kilometres of new crash barrier in the past year and the amount of crash barrier installed nationally is phenomenal, thus putting pressure on the few available contractors.”

At one location near Bunratty, a 50-metre stretch of the three-cable crash barrier was levelled in a recent collision. There are also at least three other locations along the busy roadway where the different types of barrier have been damaged.

The NRA recently confirmed that it has opted for a concrete barrier system, also known as the Jersey Barrier, for the new section of the N18 eastern bypass of Ennis, which will run 14 kilometres from Dromoland to just north of Crusheen. The almost metre-high concrete wall will run the entire length of the Ennis bypass and is thought to be a safer barrier than others already in use in Clare and across the country.

ENTERPRISE, Trade and Employment Minister Michael Martin has strongly hinted that more jobs are on the way for the Shannon Free Zone.

In response to a Dáil question from Green party leader, Trevor Sargent, Minister Martin confirmed that investment proposals on behalf of three new companies seeking to establish operations at the Shannon Free Zone have been considered by Shannon Development.

“This year, Shannon Development hosted 11 first time itineraries to the Shannon Free Zone on behalf of companies. 20 new enquiries have been handled by Shannon Development in the course of the year to date and these are at various stages of progression,” Mr Martin said.

“Shannon Development is confident that it will continue to secure significant new foreign direct investment projects for the Shannon Free Zone in the future.

Earlier this year, two sizable company expansions, Halifax Ireland and Sykes International, and one sizable new operation, Digital River Ireland, were announced for the Shannon Free Zone, amounting to a total job creation potential of 635 jobs over the next five years.”

The IDA has statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to the Mid-West, except for the Shannon Free Zone and Minister Martin revealed that in 2006, the IDA hosted five site visits in Clare.

“IDA Ireland advise me that the Mid-West has excellent prospects in terms of attracting additional foreign direct investment in 2007 and beyond. In particular, IDA Ireland believe there is very significant scope for the region to grow as a centre of excellence in research and development activity.

Clare Green party election candidate, Cllr Brian Meaney said that the news that more jobs are on the way for Shannon was very positive and highlighted the folly of the Government considering to transfer the promotion of the Free Zone to the IDA.

“The statistics show that Shannon Development has been very pro-active in attracting foreign direct investment into the Free Zone. This is contrasted with the IDA which has managed only five site visits to Clare this year.

“This is a matter of concern with it becoming more and more difficult to attract foreign investment into Ennis’s Information Age Park and other peripheral areas of Clare.”

A DISTRICT court decision to cut back opening hours at a Lahinch nightclub has been upheld in the Circuit Court.

Last month, Judge Joseph Mangan granted an exemption at The Coast nightclub, until 1.30am, in the District Court. This is 30 minutes earlier than the normal exemption.

He made the ruling, after dealing with several Lahinch public order cases, in court. On that occasion, he said, “If a marked improvement is apparent some time in the future, the court may consider extending them to 2am. If there is no marked improvement, the court may consider cutting them back further.”

This decision was appealed to the Circuit Court last week by The Coast and Judge Carroll Moran upheld the decision made almost three weeks earlier.

While a spokesperson for The Coast was unavailable for comment when contacted by The Clare People yesterday, garda sources said they were happy with the court ruling. They are hopeful that this will help in the fight against crime in Lahinch, on weekend nights. Serious public order issues have been a concern to locals over the past few years.

Chairman of Lahinch Community Council, Donogh O’Loghlin – who opposed the appeal by The Coast in court – said he was pleased that the decision was upheld.

“I am delighted. It is not going to solve anything, but at least it puts the ball back in their – nightclub and publicans – court, to do something about it. Some publicans make more money out of the discos as young people are in the pubs before the discos open,” he said. “It won’t solve the public order issue but it should help it a little bit,” he said.

Mr O’Loghlin has urged nightclub proprietors and publicans to meet up, to discuss the public order issue in Lahinch.

He said the Community Council is also pledging to lobby politicians, in an effort to prevent capacity numbers at nightclubs being increased – capacity increased substantially last year, much to the concern of locals.

Mr O’Loghlin said there are insufficient gardaí available to patrol the streets of Lahinch and numbers allowed in nightclubs should not be allowed to increase.

“There are four gardaí to deal with 1,000 kids on the street. You can do nothing. There is a health and safety issue outside the discos as much as inside,” he said.

THE acquittal of farmer Pádraig Nally, who had been accused of killing of ‘Frog’ Ward, is not a licence to kill a person who comes to your door, according to an Ennis solicitor.

Solicitor Helen Rackard, of Michael Houlihan solicitors in Ennis, said the circumstances of each case regarding self-defence are unique and each jury differs.

Nally was found not guilty last week by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of killing traveller ‘Frog’ Ward at his Mayo farm, over two years ago.

The verdict came after over 15 hours deliberations. Nally had admitted shooting ‘Frog’ Ward and hitting him up to 20 times with a stick, but said he acted out of fear.

Ms Rackard said another jury could have reached a different decision.

“I am not sure things have changed that much because of one case, particularly when it is a jury decision. Each case’s circumstances are peculiar to that case. It could be a completely different outcome on another week,” she said.

“I don’t think it is a licence to shoot anybody that comes to your door. You will still be facing charges. The standard is still reasonable force,” said Ms Rackard.

“Self-defence and using reasonable force are commensurate with the amount of force used against you. It has always been ‘’using reasonable force’ proportionately. This is why this case is so controversial. There is some uncertainty now. It is another area where the government is going to have to legislate on. I would be reluctant to say this case has changed things dramatically,” she said.

IRISH SOLDIERS putting their lives on the line to keep peace in Liberia won’t be getting any Christmas presents – because the army have no plan to fly even the smallest gifts in.

And the personnel from the Western Brigade – which includes Clare – have also had their rations cut in time for Christmas, courtesy of a new UN regulation.

A concerned father, whose soldier son is serving in-country, contacted The Clare People after learning that the presents which he and other family members sent on will gather dust in the army store until the tour of duty ends.

“At least last year we were able to send some small items in padded envelopes. This year we can’t even do that. The most we can send is a letter. That’s just miserable for people who are away from home.”

The dad – who asked not to be named to protect the soldier’s identity – said that he is “very disappointed. They are a long way from home, in a stressful situation and some small token for Christmas means a lot. As far as I can see, the army is on a money-saving exercise. Even if they only organised a onceoff delivery for Christmas and kept the no parcels or padded envelopes for the rest of the year, it would be something.”

In a seperate move, the UN has ordered that soldiers rations be cut back from 6,500 calories per day to 4,500 calories.

“I got an email from Liberia and they didn’t even have any butter for their toast. That’s pretty basic,” the army dad said.

An army spokesman said that the force do not deliver Christmas gifts, parcels or padded envelopes to troops in Liberia at any time of year “because there is no civilian postal system in Liberia. We employ a courier company to bring letters out but we do not deliver parcels”.

The spokesman added that parcels can be delivered to soldiers on duty in the Lebanon because there is a civilian system in place.

He added that the calorie-control cuts are coming directly from the UN but Irish army chiefs are satisfied that they are “more than sufficient” for the soldiers needs.

The spokesman said that he is in regular touch with the logistics officer, the officer in charge of importing all of the troops supplies in Liberia.

“The food isn’t like home, granted but he said there have been no complaints.”

THE developer of a €50 million retail park on the outskirts of Clarecastle has warned that the retention of one-third of the site to protect a fen area would make the entire project unviable.

Earlier this year, Galway developer Stephen Harris unveiled a €50 million masterplan for a series of developments on a 48-acre site purchased last year from Clarecastle man JJ McCabe for over €18 million.

The plans lodged with Clare County Council by Mr Harris include a retail warehouse park, motor sales village, Travelodge hotel, drive-thru restaurants, storage and distribution at Skehanagh, Clarecastle.

Planning permission is only being sought for the retail park at this time in the south-east quadrant of the site.

However, council planners have expressed serious reservations over the retail impact of the development, its effect on traffic flows and the flooding regimes of the area.

In response, Mr Harris’s consultants stated that the revised proposal had not been arrived at lightly.

Turnover for the development will be €33 million in 2010, the year the project is expected to commence.

“It is clearly evident that the estimated increase in population within the catchment area is capable of supporting the proposed development,” the consultants state.

On the issue of protecting fen in the area, the consultants state, “If an area of fen was to be retained, the exclusion zone that would be required around the fen would be significantly larger than the area of fen itself.

“The retention of a significantly larger proportion of the site – potentially one third – in its strategic location would render the overall masterplan and potentially the development of the entire site unviable.”

Doubt also surrounds the translocation of protected species from the Ennis by-pass to the subject lands.

The consultants state, “The previous owner of the site was not informed of any proposed translocation. The current owner, who purchased the site in 2005, was not informed during the sale of the site and permission was not sought subsequently.”

A decision is expected on the application next year.

DEPOPULATION and isolation in rural parts of Ireland are the main causes of people living in fear, according to Rural Resettlement Ireland.

Spokesman Jim Connolly said concern of attack is prevalent in parts of west Clare, where there are long stretches of unoccupied land.

“Huge tracts of land in west Clare, like Mayo, have populations where people have no neighbours,” said the Kilbaha resident.

“That is not the fault of the planners per se, but they are preventing the rebuilding of these places. There are huge tracts of Clare, where there are less than 25 people living per square kilometre. There are no neighbours, people are living in fear of intruders and there is loneliness,” he added.

“People are living in fear of intruders, particularly in west Clare,” said Mr Connolly.

Pádraig Nally told his trial he was living in fear of being robbed and he panicked when traveller ‘Frog’ Ward appeared at his farm.

In the wake of the debate regarding travellers trespassing on farmers’ lands, Mr Connolly said those living alone in rural parts of the country fear “particular groups, i.e travellers.”

“50 or 60 years ago, the local travellers were welcomed into the community. It was a completely different relationship. Life has changed it,” he said.

Mr Connolly believes that some steps should be taken, in an effort to make rural parts of Clare and throughout the country, safer for those living alone.

“I do believe things can be done, like having a patrol car driving around the countryside at night, with the blue light flashing. There is no garda presence… However none of these will provide neighbours,” he said.

CHRISTMAS may not be until next week but Santa came early to Ennis Your A Star contestant, Susan O’Neill.

Singer Susan romped through to the final of the competition when she scooped 27 per cent of the vote on Sunday night.

“I was just shocked – I couldn’t believe it,” a delighted Susan told The Clare People .

Susan’s qualification for the final in the Helix in Dublin on January 14 is a step closer to her dream of winning the coveted recording contract which could launch her on a career in music.

She is one of just two female contestants to qualify and both of them are from Clare. Ardnacusha’s Maeve O’Donovan – daughter of Irish rugby team coach, Niall O’Donovan – has also qualified for the final 12.

Rice College student Susan said that she was “completely shocked when I realised I was going through. The standard was so high”.

She added that the support of family, neighbours, friends and Clare people generally was very much appreciated.

“From the moment I came off stage, my phone was ringing the whole time. I really want to thank all the people who voted for me and I’m hoping they’ll do it again”.

But after the euphoria of going through on Sunday, Susan had to get down to brass tacks again and record a selection of songs which she must whittle down to one for the final of the competition.

“I’ll be working on the songs. I have to really perfect them,” said Susan, who admits that with all the excitement of the competition she had almost forgotten about Christmas.

“I haven’t even done any shopping yet,” he said.

Susan will be one of 12 finalists who will compete in the Helix for the dream contract to record with Thomas Black. The final will be televised live from the Helix on the night, after the remaining contestants have been chosen in the heats. “I hope all the people who supported me will doit again on the night. It is such and important chance’’ said Susan.

WHEN Elsevier Ireland was founded in Shannon in 1976, there were just two workers employed in the provision of subscription services from its tiny base on the Shannon Industrial Estate.

Thirty years later, there are 135 staff involved in the publication and support of medical, technical and scientific journals.

The Shannon plant is the second largest production unit in the Elsevier Group, producing 423 journals, generating 643,000 pages and operating a customer support department answering 4,000 queries a week.

The 30th anniversary of the company’s Shannon operation was marked at a function hosted by Shannon Development and attended by Minister for Labour Affairs, Tony Killeen and senior representatives from Elsevier Ireland.

Minister Killeen said Elsevier’s track record showed that companies can be globally competitive in a regional location such as the Shannon Free Zone.

Shannon Development chief executive Kevin Thompstone said the company’s growth mirrored the continuous reinvention which Shannon Development has had to undertake to maintain the Free Zone’s position as one of the leading business parks in Ireland.

Elsevier Ireland managing director Brendan Curtin said the Shannon operation has developed a very good reputation for innovation, contributing many ideas which were implemented globally.

While Elsevier has adopted the outsourcing model, the overall number of staff in Shannon continued to increase.

Elsevier Ireland Ltd is part of the Elsevier Group, a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services.

Working in partnership with the global science and health communities, Elsevier’s 7,000 employees in 71 offices worldwide publish more than 2,000 journals and 2,200 new books per year.