Category: News

THE 12th annual Éigse Mrs Crotty traditional music festival saw upwards of 10,000 visitors dancing on the streets of Kilrush over the week.

Attendance figures for daily concertina classes were up on previous years, while the ‘ceili in the square’ remained one of the most popular features of this growing arts festival.

Mrs Crotty, a native of Cooraclare, was one of the most respected exponents of the concertina in West Clare. For many years she ran a bar in Kilrush Square – Crotty’s – with her husband Micho. While Micho ran the bar, his wife could be found sitting in a corner, teaching students from far and wide the intricacies of the concertina.

After her death in 1960, several attempts were made to hold a commemorative event to mark her contribution to traditional music, but it wasn’t until 1994 that concrete plans were put in place.

Outlining the importance of the festival, local councillor, Liam O’Looney said that from a business point of view, it’s one of the focal points of the summer season. “It’s an important way for us to attract tourists to town for the weekend. If they come one year, they always seem to return, we get great repeat business and I think that’s a testament to the event.”

In advance of the festival, there was some concern that the staging of the World Fleadh in Ballybunion would adversely affect numbers in Kilrush. Yet the opposite seems to have been the case, with many foreign visitors taking in both events.

“There was some concern that the World Fleadh would have an affect,” said Cllr O’ Looney, “We had 1,500 every day at the sessions in the square alone and we seem to be have had our busiest year. Certainly we have a larger foreign contingent, they may have been disappointed with Ballybunion and decided to head down here for the weekend.”

During the festival, Crotty’s Bar staged a nightly concertina club, where members of the Kilfenora Ceili Band orchestrated proceedings, while the local primary school doubled as a concert hall for the likes of Andy Irvine, Clare native Chris Droney and the Five Counties Ceili Band.

“The festival was spurred on by the local community,” said Crotty’s proprietor, Rebecca Brew, “there was a feeling it was there to be done. The concertina is linked with this area, having arrived here in the middle of the last century on the tall ships, it was a very affordable instrument, only costing a shilling, and women have always been associated with it mainly because of its size. The festival has gone from strength to strength in recent years and we are delighted with the response”.

STAFF at the former De Beers plant in Shannon were today expected to be told that the company plans to shed more than 50 jobs.

Staff were summoned to a meeting planned for 11am this morning for what was expected to be a redundancy announcement.

The company says that the move will secure the future of the plant in Ireland. Nevertheless, the announcement represents a serious blow for employment prospects in the region.

Rumours had been circulating in the factory – now re-branded as Element Six – for some time.

The figures being mentioned were between 50 and 60 jobs, which are expected to be axed from the administrative side of the company.

It is understood that the redundancies will be implemented on a voluntary basis and are being brought in as part of a restructuring of the company.

Union representatives had been briefed in advance of today’s meeting but were remaining tight-lipped on what they had been told last night.

Former De Beers employee, Deputy James Breen said that while he was sorry to hear of the job losses, he was pleased that the future of the company in Shannon was being made secure.

“I am sorry to see a reduction of staff there again. As a former staff member, I am sorry to see the jobs go but seeing that the future of the company is secure is good news and I welcome that the redundancies are voluntary,” the deputy said.

De Beers Industrial Diamond Division established a factory in Shannon in 1963 and became the jewel in the crown of the Shannon Free Zone. In 2002, the company rebranded to become Element Six.

Element Six is now one of the world’s leading suppliers of superabrasives and industrial diamond materials, including both diamond and the complementary superabrasive cubic boron nitride (cBN)

Diamond and cBN products are mainly used in the manufacture of tools for applications including drilling, sawing, cutting, grinding and polishing of different materials such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, natural stone and concrete, wood based materials.

CLARE is one of six constituencies being actively targeted by the Green party in the next General Election.

As it officially unveiled its Clare candidate, Cllr Brian Meaney, the party said it “should take seats in Clare, Wicklow, Galway West, Carlow-Kilkenny, Dublin North-East and Louth”.

This would ensure a doubling of the number of Green TDs already in the Dáil.

The Clare councillor is not perturbed by suggestions that rural counties such as Clare are often put off by perceived Green Party policy.

“I know that there is a lot of negative campaigning going on in relation to me and the Green Party here in Clare, but I ask people to treat with suspicion the whispers of those who view me as a threat,” he said.

The outspoken councillor said farm incomes had fallen and Clare farmers had to work longer and harder for less.

“Farmers are fearful that the Greens are anti farming, well I want to make it very clear that I and the Greens see the production of food as far more than the hobby activity the other parties have relegated it to.”

Chairman of the Green Party in Clare, Gerry Murtagh, said the Green candidate was the popular choice among the membership in Clare.

“His record of political activity to date is exemplary and while his comments may raise eyebrows at times, his motivation to seek further involvement in public life is beyond reproach. The people of Clare need more than a populist representative, who you can drink pints with and is good at going to funerals.

“Our representatives need the ability to engage with the legislative process and plan for the future of the constituency and the country. We believe that Cllr Meaney has those abilities.”

This will be Cllr Meaney’s third general election.

THE HEALTH Board in Clare investigated 448 reported cases of child abuse in 2004 and in 33 of those cases, experts could not say whether the abuse had taken place.

The latest available figures show that the then Mid Western Health Board were called in to examine 448 reports that children living in their area were being abused.

The board investigated a little over a quarter of those cases in 2004 and by the end of the year, 307 investigations were still on-going.

In 98 cases, the abuse was confirmed and in ten cases, investigators were able to say that no abuse had occurred.

Thirty three of the reported cases were described as “inconclusive”.

The figures for this area were not as high as those in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, where 1,301 cases were reported, or the Midlands Heath Authority, which probed 1,564 reports.

But they were higher than North Eastern Health Board figures, which showed 353 cases reported and the North Western Health Board, which looked into 301 cases.

The number of cases still under investigation at the end of the year here was relatively high, with the board still investigating almost three-quarters of all cases reported to them.

This was in comparison with the neighbouring Southern Health Board, which completed nine-tenths of the investigations before them.

Nationally, less than half of all the 6,188 cases reported were concluded in that year, with wide variations in the number of cases tackled in the various regions and in the number of cases in which a conclusion could be drawn.

Barnardos’ director of child advocacy, Norah Gibbons, said the varied status of cases in each of the HSE regions supported the organisation’s belief that children did not get equal treatment.

“We have been concerned about inconsistencies in the system for a long time.

“It is hardly surprising that things are not being dealt with, given the inconsistencies that are there, especially in staffing and how different people deal with cases,” she said.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children chief, Paul Gilligan said that “because of the high numbers of abuse cases being reported in the media, many people mistakenly think that the majority of those who have been abused do report it.

“But this is not the case,” he said.

CLARE farmers John and Martina Keating scored a magnificent double at last week’s Tullamore Show when their animals won both the prestigious Supreme Champion Saler Cow and the best Irish Bred Saler Champion Heifer of the show.

The Keating’s winning cow, Riquita, saw off stiff competition from 25 animals, each of which qualified from regional competitions and were of the highest of quality. Riquita has a long history with the show having claimed second place in last year’s event and third the year before.

“I am absolutely delighted with the win,” said Mr Keating, from Kilnaboy. “The Salers are new breeds for Clare and have just been starting to make an impact over the last ten years or so.

“A lot of Charlet and Belgian Blue breeders are using them because of their calfing ability. They are ideally suited for wintering in the Burren.”

The Keatings hail from Ballymackeogh Lodge in Kilnaboy, and have a long association with breeding quality animals.

“There is an awful lot of hard work involved in producing a champion animal,” continued Mr Keating. “We have worked very hard for this over the last 8 years because the quality is awful good.”

Aside from Riquita’s success, her daughter Elzy was also a big winner in Tullamore taking home the first ever award for Irish Bred Saler Champion Heifer.

“To win Tullamore is the ultimate – it’s the highest level you can reach with an animal in Ireland,” said David Clarke of the Tullamore.

“There were more than 50,000 people in Tullamore for the one day show so if you do well there you know you are good.

“The animal was second last year and fourth the year before, so it shows you that a lot of work has gone into it over the years.”

The Tullamore Show is Ireland’s foremost agricultural event and the supreme champion from each category qualifies for a Pan European Show.

“You don’t go to Tullamore unless you are the very best – it really sorts the men from the boys,” continued Mr Clarke.

“It is the highest prize that you can get in Ireland so it a great honour. She is number one in Ireland and her daughter is the number one heifer.”

THE Western Yacht Club in Kilrush was in the limelight again this weekend as the Kingspan-Chieftain cruised to victory in the Round Britain and Ireland Race.

Gerard O’Rourke’s Cookson 50 was the third boat to cross the winning line behind two professional crews. But, when handicaps and penalties were applied the Kilrush based crew were clear winners.

The Limerick owner-skipper, who has a summer home in Kilkee, is now recognised as a classic offshore racing campaigner, as he has guided the boat to victory in seven prestigious races this year.

Starting in January, Chieftain was the class winner in Hobart before going on to win at Cowes-L’Harve and Cowes-Malham. The boat then brought even more glory to Kilrush when it won the English National before going on to win the super zero class in the Round Ireland Race.

The 1,780 miles of ocean that makes up the Round Britain and Ireland Race was the 12-man crews’ biggest win to date. Made up of seven Irish men, two Australians, one English member, one New Zealander and a Dutchman; the crew is almost completely amateur.

Mr O’Rourke told The Clare People that the boat was now the leading contender in the competition for best boat in the UK following its year of successes.

He said that the successes would not have been possible without the sponsor boat and acknowledged that the boat’s successes ensured all sponsors received value for money.

Fellow club mate and skipper of the Spirit of Kilrush, Thomas Whelan, described the win as “a brilliant boost for the club”.

The Western Yacht Club, of which Mr O’Rourke has been a member for more than 10 years, received its name from the former Royal Western YC in Kilrush.

CLARE County Council continues to have concerns over the scale of the planned €70 million retirement village at Carnelly House and has requested the developers to scale back its plans.

Last December, €70 million plans were announced by the Dublin-based Master Group to transform the 18th century house near Clarecastle into a retirement village.

The project involves the constriction of 120 homes of various sizes, 35 apartments and a 64-bed retirement home in a scheme that will accommodate 300 residents.

Already, the promoters of Ireland’s rst full-scale retirement village have conrmed that they are to spend €120,000 on ensuring the welfare of 30 tiny bats on the site in a bid to meet the conservation requirements at the site, which is regarded as a nationally important maternity roost for the rare and protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat.

But the council says that it continues to have some concerns in relation to a number of issues.

These include waste water treatment, the scale of the proposal on Carnelly House, the provision of a potable water supply, the loss of mature trees and habitat and details pertaining to restoration of the historic structures.

In relation to its concerns over the scale of the development, the council stated that it is considered that the proposal for 152 residential units is excessive and would greatly impact on the rural parkland setting of Carnelly House and its associated outbuildings, thereby contravening the policy of the Ennis and Environs Plan 2003.

The council has also asked the developers to submit revised plans as the scheme referred to is a retirement village and the build elements don’t reect the typography of Irish village structure.

CLARE’S junior Minister Tony Killeen has described the cost benefit analysis of the development of Ennis Hospital as an “obstacle to be crossed.”

The HSE called for the analysis when it emerged that the first phase of the project would now cost in excess of €30 million.

This week Clare’s Minister for State said that should the obstacle be overcome, “it indicates that the future of the hospital is acknowledged by the HSE”.

He has rejected any conspiracy theories that the HSE are planning to “scupper” the project.

Minister Killeen was also adamant that the first phase of the project should not be scaled back so that it would cost less than the €20 million allocated.

Originally, phase one of the project was much smaller but other necessary improvements were added.

“The additional items are welcome and were very hard fought for and I am completely against going back,” said Minister Killeen.

“I am confident that it will get through this examination but I am concerned as to how long it will take,” he added.

In a letter to the Minister for State from the Office of the Financial Director of the health service said it was anxious to facilitate the refurbishment and infrastructural improvement of Ennis General Hospital. The letter also pointed out that the project must be considered in line with the Department of Finance Guidelines/HSE capital projects approval process.

“Each individual project within the capital programme must be separately approved following analysis by the HSE Capital Planning Group in line with relevant guidelines. In this regard, there are a number of issues concerning the Ennis Phase 1A Project that need to be addressed before the Planning Group could recommend that a project approval letter issue.”

ONE of Shannon’s longest operating companies and biggest employers, Molex Ireland Ltd sustained a loss of €3.3 million last year, according to the most recent accounts to the Companies Ofce.

The loss is partly attributable to restructuring costs of €1 million.

During 2005, the numbers involved in production at Molex dropped from 497 to 433 at the end of June last year.

In all, there are 536 people employed at the plant making it one of the biggest employers in Clare. In 2005, the company spent €25.5 million on staff costs.

The accounts show that the USowned company enjoyed a turnover of €119 million in 2005, down €2 million from 2004.

The company’s gross prot increased from €12.4 million in 2004 to €13.6 million last year.

However, the company’s administration costs – which includes the restructuring charge – jumped from €11 million in 2004 to €16 million last year.

As a result, the company’s prot of €982,000 in 2004 turned into a loss of €3.37 million last year.

The director’s report accompanying the company accounts, states: “The directors are pleased with the performance of the company during the year and expect protability to be maintained in the future.”

The directors did not propose a dividend during 2005.

However, the accounts show that the company has considerable accumulated prots of €49 million.

The numbers employed in sales and marketing continues to rise with 21 employed in the sector in 2005 compared to the 2003 gure of six.

The numbers employed in administration remains at 81.

The accounts also show that there is a net decit in the company’s pension scheme of €4.5 million.

Molex Ireland Ltd. was established in 1971 at Shannon as the company’s rst European facility.

In 1982, a 50 per cent share was taken in Smithstown Light Engineering, also at Shannon, which is engaged in the design and manufacture of precision tooling, including moulds and dies.

The present Shannon facility was acquired in 1985, and was extended to its current 20,000 m2 area in 1997, following a IR£20 million investment programme.

NORTH Clare has received a major employment boost with the news that more than 60 jobs are to be created at Hotel Doolin aver the next 12 months. The new €5.5 million hotel, which was officially opened yesterday, is the brainchild of John Burke, Managing Director of the Armada Hotel and Lisdoonvarna developer Paddy Burke.

Some 35 people will be employed between the hotel and the bar, Fitzpatrick’s, over the next few weeks with that number expected to swell to 50 next summer. The complex also contains five retail units which will employ up to 10 people when they are up and running.

“At the moment we are employing 25 people, but when it is fully opened in the next few weeks that will probably go up to about 35 people. We will be keeping on about that number of people for the winter and will be employing about 50 people in the hotel next summer,” said Mr Burke.

This is the second hotel to open in Doolin in the last few weeks following the opening of Tír Gan Éan in the village last month.

“We feel that Doolin is well serviced by high quality accommodation as it is but what these two new hotels are doing is bringing in something that bit different to the centre of Doolin,” continued Mr Burke.

The building was designed by Liscannor architect Alex Russell who attempted to blend the local scenery with a modern design.

“Alex has paid particular attention to the region and location that we have and created a street style building with various different levels and using a lot of local materials and local stone and tradition style street lighting,” said Mr Burke.

“With Fitzpatrick’s Bar anchoring it on one side and Hotel Doolin on the other side we are offering two different styles – with a traditional bar focusing on the local people on one side and the hotel on the other which will be really contemporary and modern focusing on bringing in tourists.”

The 17 bedroom hotel is expected to draw much of it’s customers from the Irish market and will be aiming at a four star standard.

“With the way the business is going there has been a lot of speculation over the last few weeks, about tourist figures and a lot of talk that they are going up and down, but I feel that Doolin should remain strong,” continued Mr Burke.