Category: News

THE end of a glorious era in Clare life was signalled yesterday with Anthony Daly’s decision to step down as Clare senior hurling manager after three years in charge.

Daly’s announcement, given to The Clare People , is expected to usher in the final break-up of the team that brought unprecedented success to Clare hurling in the past 12 years.

“My time is up,” Anthony Daly revealed with a heavy heart as he bowed out of the centre stage of inter-county hurling in the aftermath of Clare’s eight-point defeat to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final.

And, he won’t be alone. Daly who captained Clare to All-Ireland victories in ’95 and ’97 will be joined in retirement by his successors as captain, Brian Lohan and Seánie McMahon who almost certainly played their last game for the county.

Tributes have been led this week by County Board Chairman, Michael McDonagh, who has urged Anthony Daly to reconsider his position and commit to another term of office.

“He has been an inspiration, I will be sorry to see him go. Even at this stage I would hope that he would reconsider his decision,” McDonagh told The Clare People .

“I want Anthony Daly to stay for another period – he did a fantastic job with a team that put in a massive effort, while to the players who are going to retire I salute the massive contribution they made to Clare life and urge them not to finally make up their minds for a couple of weeks. ”

AN BORD Pleanála overturned more than a third of one-off housing planning decisions made by Clare County Council last year, a marked increase on the previous year.

In 2004, the planning appeals board was in agreement with the local authority in 79 per cent of its decisions on one-off houses. Last year, however, the two agreed in just 64.44 per cent of cases. According to the council, a number of permissions were overturned on appeal by the National Roads Authority.

The figures, published in the past week by the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, show that 985 individuals applied for planning permission last year. Of those, 422 were decided within eight weeks, while 499 required further information. The average length of time then taken to decide on applications was 75 days.

There was a 28 per cent increase in housing development applications, with 155 in 2005. The local authority attributed the hike to an increase in zoned land around the county under Local Area Plans.

In 2004, there were 585 planning applications, such as extensions, that did not require an environmental impact assessment. A total of 92.8 per cent were granted, although a quarter of the decisions were overturned by An Bord Pleanála.

In 2005, applications not requiring EIAs had increased to 940, 90.85 per cent of which were granted. An Bord Pleanála reversed the decision on 15 per cent of these. Clare County Council investigated 285 planning cases that were subject to complaint, a slight increase on the previous year. Forty-one were dismissed, with 45 resolved through negotiation. As many as 212 warning letters were sent by the council and a further 146 enforcement notices. There were 28 prosecution cases.

In the last 12 months, Clare County Council has received criticism relating to the unavailability of its planners to meet applicants face to face. According to the 2004 figures, applicants had to wait an average of 20 days following a request for a formal pre-planning consultation with a local authority planner.

A note specific to Clare County Council has been recorded in the national report, stating it had “highlighted this area for particular attention in 2005”. In 2005, it had reduced the wait for the meeting to 16 days.

SERIOUS doubt has been cast on the future of plans to upgrade Ennis Hospital after a HSE committee asked for a value-for-money report on the project.

With just over €20 million sanctioned for the project, the costs have now risen to a reported €40 million plus, and the health authorities finance board asked at a meeting last week for the figures to be explained and justified, sources have revealed.

But hospital campaigners say that the underestimate and subsequent report are causing unjustifiable delays, while one senator has raised questions about the viability of the plan.

Senator Timmy Dooley said he has fears that the continuing delaying in proceeding to planning stage with the upgrade are “a smokescreen. I have to ask, is someone within the HSE trying to stymie this development in favour of investment in developing the Regional Hospital in Limerick?”

€20.8 million for the up-grade was sanctioned this year under the Capital Development Works Plan. But now, it is understood, the actual cost of the project stands at a figure closer to €40 million. *1986 – First talks about redevel-

opment of hospital take place.

*2001 – £15 million is pledged for

the redevelopment of the hospital.

Discussions set up to draw up a

hospital development control plan.

*2006 – The Tanaiste and Minis-

ter for Health, Mary Harney, signs

off on the €20 million needed

for the development to proceed to

planning stage.

*June 2006 – Finalised plans were

due to be ready to submit through

the planning process.

*July 2006 – The HSE go into dis-

“This is bureaucracy gone mad. Someone within the bowels of the HSE has managed to complicate a plan which should be very straightforward,” said Senator Dooley.

A spokesman for the Ennis Hospital Development Committee said that the further delay “just isn’t good enough. It’s nearly six years since €20 million was committed for this plan. With inflation running as it is and changes to the original plan, anyone who thought it was going to come in at the same price now is living on a different planet.”

The spokesman warned that people in Clare “will not tolerate this. This is going to cost votes and all the candidates will have to make a firm commitment to the provision of a first-class hospital service at Ennis.”

But Deputy Tony Kileen said that he is “confident the costings will stand up to scrutiny.” He added that he doesn’t believe the need for extra funding will delay anything. “Very little of the money will actually need to be paid this year or even next year,” Deputy Kileen said. But he added that he would be “happier if reliable information were more readily available from the HSE.”

There was no comment available from the HSE. cussions on the increased costings

of the project.

*August 2006 – The HSE finance

controllers seeks a value-for-mon-

ey audit of the new costings. *September – The plan gets ap-

proval.

*Late 06/early07 – Contractors

come on-site

*Late 08/early 09 – Final fit-out is

completed.

A MAN accused of robbing a shop in Ennis has been refused bail, after gardaí expressed concerns that he may not appear to stand trial.

Peter Flynn, of 4 Tower View, Battery Heights, Athlone, is accused of robbing €500 in cash and cigarettes valued at €100, at Hynes’ shop on the Gort Road in Ennis, on September 29 last year.

He is also charged with stealing a car, at Garrymore, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, County Galway, on the same date.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Ennis District Court yesterday (Monday) that the Book of Evidence had been served and the accused was to be returned for trial to Ennis Circuit Court in October.

He said he was objecting to bail, as the accused failed to appear in court on a previous occasion.

“There is a risk he may not answer the charge,” said the inspector.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had been receiving treatment in Athlone.

“In the absence of any evidence of threatening witnesses, there is a minimum risk of flight. My client lives in Battery Heights, Athlone,” said Ms Godfrey.

However, Inspector Kennedy said the accused “failed to honour commitments that he would present himself, prior to coming here on July 28 last.”

Ms Godfrey said, “It is a long time between now and October. He is innocent until proven guilty.”

Judge Leo Malone said he was refusing bail. “On the basis of the submissions by the inspector, there is a likelihood he might not turn up for trial,” he said and remanded the accused in custody.

Another man, Brendan Quinn (27), of Cracepark Site, Longford, charged in connection with the same incident, was also returned for trial to Ennis Circuit Court in October. The court heard the DPP consented to a return for trial, for both accused.

TWO Ennis businesses have failed in a bid to expand operations, as a result of planning decisions by Ennis Town Council and An Bord Pleanala.

Plans by Liam Cleary to redevelop his existing car sales site on the Kilrush Rd have been shot down by Ennis Town Council, while plans by Pat and Catherine Fitzpatrick to demolish their existing shop on the Tulla Rd and construct a new unit has been refused by An Bord Pleanala.

Mr Cleary sought to construct an underground car park, 13 retail units at ground floor level, 12 apartments and a cafe at first floor level, 12 apartments and a commercial unit at second floor level, and two penthouses at roof level.

However, the council ruled that the proposed development “would set an undesirable precedent for development within proposal sites.

“The proposal to locate residential accommodation over existing workshops would constitute haphazard development by virtue of noise and nuisance, would be injurious to the residential amenity of both existing houses and the proposed units, and taken in conjunction with the remainder of the proposed development would result in over-development of the site.

“By reason of its height, block form and layout, the absence of adequate private open space or public open space to serve the apartment units, it would seriously injure the amenity of existing and proposed residences.”

In response, Mr Cleary has appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala, claiming that “our proposals would enhance this site which is underdeveloped and in such close proximity to Ennis Town Centre. Occupants of this development could walk in five minutes to the town centre without having to drive and to clog up the existing town”.

The council refused planning permission for the Fitzpatrick development, prompting the applicants to appeal to An Bord Pleanala. The Inspector had ruled in favour of the development, but the appeals board disregarded that recommendation and refused permission on two grounds.

The board ruled that it would constitute over-development of the site and seriously injure the amenities of the area. The Board also ruled that a shortfall in parking provision would result in overspill roadside parking which would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard.

FEARS were expressed yesterday for the long-term future of the core of Ennis, after census figures show that the town’s urban population has dropped by nearly 20 per cent in the past 10 years.

According to the most recent figures, the town’s core urban population now stands at 5,917, compared to 7,163 a decade ago. And in the past four years, the town’s urban population has declined by six per cent.

The drop in core population has coincided with a drift to the fringes, resulting in the town’s overall population increasing from 18,830 to 20,234 – an increase of 7.5 per cent.

The publication of the census coincides with business interests lodging plans for retail parks on the periphery of Ennis, where the anticipated turnover is put at €54 million. In response to the figures, Green Party councillor Brian Meaney yesterday warned of the ‘doughnut effect’ taking hold in Ennis.

“This is a phenomenon commonly seen in the US and the UK where town centres have died as a result of concentrating on the periphery, where the car is king. This is already happening in Ennis,” he said.

“These figures are in part due to families getting older and the children building on the outskirts of Ennis, but it also raises a fundamental point about the development of our town. I would be concerned as well from an economic point of view that the various retail parks would have an adverse impact on Ennis town centre.”

Cllr Meaney said the figures emphasise the need to retain and expand core services within the town, rather than on the outskirts.

According to Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind), these figures reinforce the argument for an extension to the current Ennis Town Council boundary. The last extension was made more than 20 years ago.

Cllr Brennan said, “There is very little land left in which to build within the town boundary and people looking to build outside are being refused due to the ‘non-local rule’.”

Chief executive of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce, Rita McInerney, said that the population figures in relation to Ennis town centre can be seen as a positive as more space is being given to commercial development in favour of residential development.

She said, “It is important that a balance is struck. Ennis is thriving, but it is also at a crossroads in terms of the level of development and where it will be allowed.”

LAUGH-a-minute comic, Peter Kay has splashed out on a retreat in the lakeside village of Killaloe.

The British comedian is reputed to have paid €1 million for the mansion on the shores of Lough Derg, and he will have some famous neighbours in his new home.

One of the most recent new residents in the area was Euro-millions winner, Dolores McNamara.

Gay Byrne’s daughter, Crona, also lives in the area and she was in the news recently when her home was broken into by a gang who made off with jewels, including a ring which was a gift from the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.

Kay is entertaining at the Trinity Room’s third birthday bash. VIP guests at the knees up include Munster men, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell as well as comedian Pat Shortt and Miss Ireland, Sarah Morrissey.

The 33-year-old Bolton-born Kay appeared on stage with Billy Joel at his gig in Croke Park last weekend.

AFTER only a year in existence, The Clare People newspaper is about to significantly increase its operation with the launch of a second title which will commence publication in September.

The Clare People Weekender , will be published every Friday and distributed free, door-to-door, to more than 25,000 homes throughout county Clare.

The Weekender will concentrate on the social and entertainment scene which will allow it to complement the breaking news and sports content of the paid-for Tuesday publication.

Commenting on the decision to launch the new publication, company chairman Dómhnal Slattery said that it would considerably expand the media space in Clare where the recent census showed a population growth to 110,800.

“With current ABC figures of more than 10,000 for The Clare People each Tuesday, combined with a freesheet circulation of 25,000 on Friday, we will have the potential to deliver almost 100,000 readers to our rapidly expanding advertising base,” he said.

“The feedback from readers and advertisers alike indicate that this is a compelling combination.”

According to managing editor, Gerry Collison, The Clare People Weekender is a logical extension of that strategy and should add significant value to The Clare People brand.

The newspaper has assembled a team of top-rank journalists which will be further strengthened over the coming weeks by the recruitment of PPAI and McNamee award-winning photographer, Eamon Ward.

The Clare People is Ireland’s fastest growing regional newspaper.

Its first anniversary edition on June 27 sold more than 15,000 copies, demonstrating the strength of its growing franchise in the Clare media market.

Key demographics for Clare indicate that it is one of the fastest growing and most affluent markets in the country and The Clare People ’s commercial priority was to provide the most cost-effective advertising vehicle for businesses to reach that lucrative market.

FORMER Russian President Boris Yeltsin returned to Moscow on Sunday following a three-day private visit to Clare, part of which he spent shark-fishing off the west coast.

Mr Yeltsin’s last visit to Clare made international headlines when an Taoiseach, two ministers, a guard of honour and an army band were left standing on the tarmac at Shannon Airport. Yeltsin had agreed to make a stopover on his way back to Moscow from the US, but it was more like a sleepover as the Russian leader failed to appear from his aircraft, sparking a minor diplomatic incident.

On September 30, 1994, Albert Reynolds and the Irish and Russian greeting parties were left standing for over an hour as Mr Yeltsin’s plane inexplicably circled Shannon Airport. They then waited for a further 15 minutes after it landed, before they were told the president was too tired, and then too ill, to see them. It was rumoured that the vodka-loving leader had enjoyed his favourite tipple on the journey from Washington. He finally appeared in Moscow to set the record straight, saying, “I just overslept. The security services did not let in the people who were due to wake me”.

Mr Reynolds denied at the time he had been snubbed saying, “I completely understand. Mr Yeltsin was acting on the orders of doctors who said it would be better for him not to get off the plane. He suffers from bad blood pressure. When a man is ill, a man is ill”.

Mr Yeltsin arrived in Shannon on Thursday, almost 12 years after that diplomatic gaffe. On this occasion, there there were no dignitaries to meet him.

The former President was whisked off amid tight security to the fivestar Dromoland Castle where he stayed for three nights. Mr Yeltsin travelled to the Cliffs of Moher on Thursday and enjoyed a day’s sharkfishing on Friday off the Clare coast, breaking for lunch on Inis Oír. His boat, skippered by local man Willie O’Callaghan, returned to Liscannor shortly after 6pm.

Three officials from the Russian Embassy were on hand to meet Mr Yeltsin, who smiled and waved to a dozen or so onlookers. Although frail and requiring assistance alighting from the boat, Mr Yeltsin was in good spirits, sitting at the front of the private coach which awaited him and waving for photographers as he was driven away.

A WEEK after one Clare hotelier claimed that the tourism industry in the county needs to “fight back”, a second local hotel empire has noted the lack of an increase in tourist numbers during the past two months.

Last week the Central Statistics Office released figures that showed domestic holidaymakers were opting for Dublin at the expense of Clare and other west of Ireland counties.

This week the CSO said the number of foreign visitors to Ireland increased by 14 per cent during the first five

months of this year, compared to the same period last year. However, Paddy Maher, development and marketing manager with the Atlantis Holiday Group, said this increase did not continue into the summer months.

“The good start to the year has not been sustained through the summer months,” he said. “While there was a surge in business over the June Bank Holiday, I do not regard this year’s tourism numbers to be any improvement on previous years.

“The overall increase in overseas visitors has been no real benefit to regional tourism, where visitor numbers have remained static at best.”

According to the CSO, trips from Britain were up almost 13 per cent, mainland Europe 23 per cent and North America 3.7 per cent.

“I welcome this increase in total visitor numbers. However, it must be noted that visitors are increasingly staying for shorter periods of time. These shorter breaks and the concentration of numbers along the eastern seaboard is having knock-on effects for total revenue,” Mr Maher said.

Meanwhile, the Clare Tourism Forum has received an upsurge in enquiries relating to the county, arising out of a promotional campaign it launched a few weeks ago. The national campaign is a collaborative approach to attracting greater visitor numbers to Clare.

From July 1 to 18, enquiries to the Ennis Tourist Office were up 133 per cent on the entire month of June. And public reaction to the promotional campaign has been described as “very encouraging” by David Collins, Clare Tourism Forum member and Group Marketing Director with Lynch Hotels. Other local tourism interests are planning to promote the county at the 20th annual US Milwaukee Irish Fest, which attracts more than 130,000 people.

Shannon Development, Clare County Council, Kilrush Town Council, the Mayor of Clare, and representatives from the County Clare tourism industry, are gearing up to promote Clare as a tourist destination from August 17 to 20 in the US town.