Category: News

A TOTAL of 17 generous people from the Banner county have been honoured for their contribution to saving hundreds of lives.

The 15 Clare men and two women were presented with donor awards from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service on Friday, as each had donated blood more than 50 times.

Donating blood makes it possible for many people to lead normal, healthy lives. Every year, thousands of patients require blood transfusions in hospitals, because they are undergoing surgery, recovering from cancer or have been in a serious accident.

Among the reasons given for these Clare people’s generosity is the benefit a transfusion has been to a family member or a friend.

For many, they were following on a family tradition as their parents were donors. For others, they simply wanted to give something back to the community.

Donors must be over 18 years of age, weigh over seven stone 12 lbs (50kgs) and be fit and healthy.

People are deferred from donating for a short period of time if they are on medication or have a cold. Those who have lived in the UK for more than one year between 1980 and 1996 cannot donate.

VISITORS to the Cliffs of Moher when the new €31.5 million visitor centre becomes operational will pay on average around €7 to access all facilities at the site.

Defending the pricing structure in the first Cliffs of Moher newsletter, the council cite charges for other natural beauty spots, including the Grand Canyon, the Giant’s Causeway and the Great Barrier Reef.

The council is splitting charges to the Cliffs site into two areas: a “facilities” charge levied through parking charges and a separate charge for those who choose to access the interpretative centre.

Already plans by the council to charge coach operators €60 have come under fire. The council is currently in dialogue with the Irish Tour Operators Association (ITOA). Motorists are to be charged €8 to park their cars in the Cliffs’ car-park

Visitors will also be charged an additional €4 to access the visitor centre. Families of six will be charged €11.95 with lower charges than €4 applying for students, children and OAPs.

The council states: “The average cost of the facilities charge will amount to less than €3 per visitor. Some visitors will pay more and some less according to how they choose to travel. . .

“However, when a site attracts close to a million annual visitors, most of whom travel by car or coach, a range of facilities and services need to be provided.

“It is our intention to ensure that people living near the Cliffs of Moher can benefit from the new facilities. We are currently exploring ways to provide special arrangements for locals who use the Cliffs of Moher as an amenity for walking and family outings.

“It is reasonable and fair that the people who avail of these facilities are the ones who contribute towards their cost. . .

“This will serve to provide visitors with what they need to enjoy the site and to ensure that the site itself is protected from the negative effects of mass tourism. . .

“The Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience is a €31.5m not-for-profit investment by Clare County council to positively promote the tourism development of County Clare and to generate a wider benefit for the entire community. It will also help preserve our priceless natural heritage and provide those visitors that choose to visit the Cliffs of Moher with facilities that live up to Nature’s demands.

A YOUNG man who was involved in an altercation on a street in Ennis in the early hours of the morning has been jailed for a fortnight.

David Gormley, of Maiville, Kilrush Road, Ennis, appeared before Ennis District Court on Friday, accused of two offences under the Public Order Act.

Garda Albert Hardiman said the accused was involved in an altercation on Abbey Street, at 1.20am on August 20. He said Gormley had suffered an injury but he would not make a complaint to gardaí in relation to it.

“There was a bottle used. He (the accused) had blood coming from a head wound, but he refused to make a complaint,” said the garda.

Defending solicitor John Casey said his client was pleading guilty and that drink was central to his problems.

“He is blaming nobody. He accepts himself what he has done. He is a young man who badly needs help,” said Mr Casey.

“This is a young man who is going to go one of two ways. It is his choice,” he added. “He obviously has a serious problem with drink. He loses track of everything and remembers little of what happens the following day,” he said.

The court heard the accused was fined €250 for an offence under the Public Order Act in July. Judge Joseph Mangan said, “He got an opportunity. That was his first chance.”

Mr Casey replied, “This is his last chance. I ask you what you can do.”

Judge Mangan imposed a 14-day jail term and fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.

CRUCIAL talks aimed at averting strike action at Shannon Aerospace will take place today.

The development came after the Labour Court clarified a recommendation it made in relation to the dispute last July.

SIPTU and management at the aircraft maintenance company, which employs 800 staff, have agreed to meet today following several rounds of talks last week.

Shannon Aerospace maintains that it requires cost offsets to enable it to pay the last two phases of the national agreement, Sustain-

ing Progress. An independent assessor exam ined these issues and reported last January that “the company is entitled to and needs off-setting costs”.

On July 6 last, the Labour Court recommended that the parties should enter into discussions “and take a balanced approach towards agreeing cost offsetting measures in return for payment of the increases due under Sustaining Progress”. While the company accepted that recommendation, SIPTU rejected it.

On Friday, the Labour Court stated that payments under Sustaining Progress should be disposed of before talks on ways of offsetting cost could take place.

According to the Labour Court, “The company has indicated it has other issues which need to be addressed in terms of its cost structure and its viability going forward. The Labour Court is of the view that once payment of the Sustaining Progress has been disposed of and agreed, these issues should be addressed as part of Labour Relations Commission facilitated talks. The court continues to be available to the parties in these circumstances.”

SIPTU has welcomed the clarification stating that it would be “happy to enter talks with the company on the basis of the Labour Court clarification.”

A fortnight ago, the almost 800 workers at the aircraft maintenance company were placed on protective notice. Strike notice issued to the company remains in place.

Shannon councillor, Geraldine Lambert (FF) said she was pleased that both sides were engaging in talks.

“As far as I’m aware there is goodwill on the part of the workers I have spoken to and a willingness to look at a possible solution so I would hope that management would reciprocate.”

PLANS by Swiss-owned multi-national, Roche Ireland, to demolish a derelict house at the site of its Clarecastle plant, have run into trouble.

Clare County Council has refused the company permission to demolish the house, on the basis of tough Government rules in relation to the protected of certain structures.

Earlier this year, Roche Ireland lodged plans to demolish the uninhabited home at the corner of Clarehill and Patrick Street and to replace it with a stone dwarf wall and a galvanised and painted steel fence.

However, in a report to the council’s planning department, Conservation Officer, Risteard Ua Cronín, pointed out that the building was an 18th-century or early-19th century five-bay single-storey gabled dwelling with an iron roof.

Mr Ua Cronín said, “the cottage appears to be of high architectural and heritage interest”, and claimed that the proposed development didn’t comply with the policy relating to demolitions in Architectural Conservation Area (ACA)”.

Mr Ua Cronin said, “The house, uninhabited for some time, is not beyond repair or re-use and by its traditional design and materials makes a significant contribution to the streetscape and the ACA”.

The planner’s report states, “I consider that the form of the existing cottage, together with its location, makes a positive contribution to the ACA, notwithstanding that it is unoccupied and has no windows.

“I do not consider that the existing structure is beyond repair or re-use and in relation to the reasonable infrastructural condition and architectural merit of the existing dwelling and its contribution to the ACA of Clarecastle, the proposed demolition would be unwarranted.”

The planner also stated that the proposed demolition “would seriously injure the amenities of the area and be contrary to the proper planning and development of the policy of the Ennis and Environs Development Plan, which seeks to protect structures that contribute positively to the character or appearance of an ACA and not one beyond repair or reuse”.

Roche Ireland has the option of appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanála.

Roche has invested almost €200 million at its Clarecastle plant in the past 12 years. The company has been successful in securing planning permission for a series of developments at the 80-acre site, where 240 people are employed.

THE number of people arrested on suspicion of drink driving is threatening to spiral out of control – there has been a 70 per cent increase so far this year, when compared with last year.

A massive 333 people have been arrested for the alleged offence, up to yesterday (Monday) which compares with 196 during the same period last year.

Fourteen drivers were arrested over the weekend – eight in the Ennis/Shannon area, four in north Clare and one each in east Clare and west Clare.

The head of the Clare Garda Division Traffic Corps, Inspector Kevin Moynihan says despite repeated warnings, the message is not being taken on board.

“Quite a few people are being breath tested at mandatory checkpoints, but people are still trying it. They can be stopped anywhere at any checkpoint and we are warning people they are likely to be caught,” he said.

He is warning people travelling to work after drinking the night before to bear in mind mandatory checkpoints can be set up anywhere.

He said the crackdown on drink drivers will continue throughout the winter months and those caught will be prosecuted. He is urging people to obey the rules of the road.

“With the long winter nights coming in, people should take care on the roads,” added Inspector Moynihan.

CLARE County Council has been asked to commit in the Development Plan to encouraging more businesses and households to use green energy.

Councillor Brian Meaney (GP) said in a motion before last night’s meeting that the local authority should plan for an “uncertain energy future” through measures including encouraging responsible environmental management in building and ensuring high standards of energy efficacy in building developments.

The councillor said that with the cost of home heating increasing considerably, “we have to make serious provision. What I am proposing is something which has been successful in other area plans.”

The was supported by a number of councillors, including Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind) who said that he could see “nothing wrong with putting an encouragement into the plan so long as it is not mandatory and it is commendable that we should commit to support more sustainable construction methods.”

But councillor PJ Kelly (FF) said that if the measures suggested by the Green Party councillor were implemented “people won’t be building because they would never be able to afford the mortgages.”

SEVERAL terrified children were forced to flee indoors over the weekend as fireworks and bangers exploded in housing estates in Ennis.

Although Halloween is over a month away, gardaí in Ennis received several complaints about bangers on Saturday and Sunday.

Gardaí are warning people who distribute or explode fireworks that they will face prosecution. They are urging parents to take action, in an effort to prevent injury.

Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Joe Downey said, “We are warning people that explosives are illegal. You should never throw them at anybody, through doors or at animals. They drive dogs crazy. We are reminding those who are found with fireworks they will be confiscated and people will face prosecution.

“There seems to be a significant amount of them around. People who sell them are driven by greed to make handy money. They are easily got in the North and sold down here,” he said.

He is urging people who become aware of the availability of fireworks or bangers to contact their local Garda station.

Last October, a young girl was taken to hospital with severe burns to her face, after she was hit by a lighted firework, outside St Flannan’s College. The incident occurred when groups of students were waiting to be collected after school. The firework hit the girl on her jacket collar and her face was burnt as a result.

While gardaí said it was not believed to be malicious, it typified the dangers of fireworks and the damage they could potentially cause.

CLARE businesses are set to reap a massive financial reward during this weeks Ryder Cup as a nationwide survey has positioned the county as the fifth most desirable location for foreign visitors to Ireland this year.

Clare has received six per cent of the total nominations to date for the 2006 Fáilte Ireland Irish Welcome Awards. This competition is voted on by foreign tourists who are asked to select which county best exemplifies the traditional Irish welcome.

Nominations have been received by tourists from 48 countries to date with majority of nominations coming from Ireland’s biggest tourist markets including including the USA, Britain, Germany, Australia and France.

The competition particularly targets guesthouse and bed and breakfast operators as the main point of one-to-one contact between tourists and the Irish public.

“So far, there is a tremendous number of nominations in and with over one month to go before the closing date for entries, so there is still time to tell us about that exceptional holiday experience,” said Shaun Quinn, Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland.

“The Irish welcome is one of Ireland’s most unique characteristics and with 86 per cent of visitors saying the reason they come to Ireland is because of the friendly people, its importance cannot be stressed enough.”

On the ground, reports from around the county show an upturn in tourists visiting Clare over the last ten days. It is believed that this upturn will continue over the next two weeks if not farther.

“It has already had a massive impact on tourism in Clare,” said Paddy Maher of the Atlantis Holiday Group. “Hotels and guesthouses have been well booked with foreign golfers coming to play Lahinch and Doonbeg.

“We noticed the upturn from last weekend and I think that it will last at least until the end of next week. The real benefit will be felt next year, Ireland Inc is being giving the chance to show itself off and we have already taken a number of bookings for next year.”

Meanwhile, the Green Isle Hotel owned by Clare hoteliers the Lynch Family has been selected as the base for International press covering the Ryder Cup.

TWO rare historical maps of County Clare dating from the 17th and 18th centuries have been digitised for the first time and made available online. The Grand Jury and Petty’s Down Survey Maps, which precede the first Ordinance Survey Maps of 1842, have provided historians with some of the lost information from the destroyed parish and barony maps. Clare County Library has described the maps as ‘unique’ and said that the advent of digital mapping has helped to preserve and create a newfound interest in local history.

Commissioned by the Grand Jury of County Clare in 1779 and completed by Henry Pelham in 1787, the Grand Jury Maps feature roads, rivers, townlands lakes and large houses on a scale of 1.5 inches to the mile. The Grand Jury was the most important local body in rural Ireland during the late 18th Century and early 19th Century and was empowered to raise money by means of county rates. Its responsibilities included the construction and repair of roads and bridges and the upkeep of local institutions.

The Petty’s Down Survey Maps of County Clare (1658-59), meanwhile, provide unique information on the baronies of Corcomroe, Moyarta and Bunratty and is widely regarded as a precursor to the first printed atlas of Ireland (c1685). The map, now freely available on www.clarelibrary.ie, preserves some of the lost information from the destroyed parish and barony maps. “These new additions now join the 1842 (6 inch) Ordnance Survey Maps, giving users of the site a unique key to the county,” said Noel Crowley, County Librarian.

“The aim of this extensive online collection of maps is to support personal and academic users in their learning, teaching and research of historical issues relating to Clare. With so much material now being published on the internet in either un-reviewed form or on a pay-per-view basis, Clare County Library has opted to promote the study of local history by publishing these priceless resources for their historical value in one place and free of charge. The digitising of these rare maps also reduces the threat of them being damaged in the future”, Mr Crowley added.

Clare County Library’s website has recorded over two million hits since it first went live in 1998. Recent additions include Churches with Round Towers in Northern Clare by T.J. Westrop; New Literature of County Clare; Standing Stones; Ecclesiastical Remains; Windmills & Tumuli – Clare monuments; and Census Search Forms 1841 and 1851.