Category: News

“TINDER BOX” conditions have resulted in more grass and forest fires during the first five months of this year than all of last year.

The Clare fire services were called to as many as 52 grass and forest fires in the months to the end of May, almost twice as many as during the same period in 2005.

Clare’s chief fire officer Adrian Kelly associated the rise in the number of fires with the weather.

The fire chief explained that the long dry spell had been the cause of a lot of the fires.

The lack of greenery also made it difficult to contain fires, he said.

While some of the large fires might have resulted from people leaving smaller fires unattended, a carelessly discarded cigarette butt on dry terrain or broken glass left in the countryside also resulted in blazes breaking out in Clare.

The Clare fire services have been called to 94 fires up to July 21 last.

There were just 49 such fires in all of 2005.

In 2004, there were 90 fires during the 12 months, while there were as many as 164 the previous year.

While Chief Kelly recognised the role the dry weather played in the varying number of fires, he said there were a number of ways people could prevent the fires starting.

“When in the country, people should be aware of their surroundings at all times and consider the habitat at all times,” he said.

He warned visitors to the countryside not to throw cigarette butts, or leave broken glass in fields.

The current weather makes for tinder box conditions, he warned. Burning is prohibited between April 15 and August 31 each year.

Clare County Council’s Fire Authority issues an appeal to landowners every year to contact the fire brigade before carrying out any burning.

Burning should be started early in the day with a fire break of at least 50 feet (16 metres) made at the outside of the area to be burned.

People should check the weather forecast and not burn in exceptionally dry conditions where strengthening or variable winds are likely.

The guidelines state that fire should be burnt against the direction of the wind and that no one should carry out the operation alone.

“Remember that strong fire creates its own wind currents so don’t allow it to burn too fast,” the council warns.

THE WINTER Olympics Torch arrived in Ennis yesterday as part of a new campaign highlighting the Samaritans 24/7 service.

The Ennis branch of the Samaritans was one of twenty branches visited by members from the organisation’s headquarters.

A specially decorated car was dispatched from Dublin early on Monday morning with a team of volunteers who aimed to visit 20 branches from Coleraine to Cork. The team arrived in Ennis early yesterday morning where they were greeted by volunteers and other representatives including the Mayor of Ennis, Joe Reidy (FF).

The Samaritans chose July 24 to officially launch a fund-raising and awareness campaign entitled Open 24:7 . The date has been specifically chosen to remind people that as a registered charity, their branches are open 24 hours a day to offer confidential and emotional support to anyone experiencing emotional distress.

In the Ennis branch alone, there are over 80 volunteers on call seven days a week. The organisation hopes that by highlighting the extent of the service, they will be able to reach out to more people. There are 1,958 volounteers in branches nationwide.

According to a spokesperson for the Samaritans, “There are always volunteers on duty throughout the day and night, ready to support those in need of confidential and nonjudgemental support.”

Mayor of Ennis Joe Reidy (FF) paid tribute to the work being done at the Ennis centre.

“This is a very important awareness campaign that is needed throughout Ireland. Its important that a service such as this is highlighted as much as possible. The volunteers who maintain the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week are doing a fantastic job keeping the service going. They are providing a wonderful service.”

Mr Reidy (FF) said the Samaritans provided an essential service in Clare and across Ireland.

“It is important that the 24/7 service is highlighted as some people in need of help might be afraid to reach out”.

The campaign was launched in Dublin by the recently elected Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Vincent Jackson, who commended the Samaritans on the “wonderful work they do.”

The entourage also carried with them the Winter Olympic torch from the recent Turin Olympics.

A spokesperson added; “In many ways the Samaritans can often seem like a light in the darkness for many who may be sad or worried or despairing because of a time they are going through. That time could happen to anyone at any time and that is why the Samaritans will always be there.”

THE POPULATION of Clare has increased by 7.3 per cent since the last census in 2002.

That’s an overall increase of 7,523 people, according to the preliminary results of the census of population taken last April.

And analysis of the figures paints a picture of the economic fortunes of the Banner from the depression of the 1950’s when people were leaving in droves, to the explosion of people coming in during the Celtic Tiger and post Celtic Tiger years.

The overall figures puts the county’s population now at 110,800 compared to 103,277 in 2002.

Men outnumber women, with 56,000 males registered in Clare in comparison with 54,800 women.

The first State run census in 1926 recorded 95,064 people living in the county. The lowest population ever recorded here was in 1966 when there were just 73,597 residents.

There was a natural increase due to births and deaths of 3,504 made up of 1,617 more men and 1,887 women.

The records show that between 2002 and 2006, there were 9.4 people coming into the county for every 1,000 people already here.

The largest influx was between 1996 and 2002, when there were 10.4 extra people arriving in Clare for each thousand living here.

Between 1951 and 1956, 15.9 out of every thousand residents were leaving Clare, probably in search of work elsewhere.

There was a slight recovery between 1971 and 1979 – the years which saw massive investment in Shannon – with 7.3 people coming into the county for every thousand already here.

Clare was again haemorrhaging people from 1986 to 1991 when more than 6 in each thousand residents were getting out.

The recovery which is now seeing migrants returning, economic migrants flooding in and refugees and asylum seekers finding a haven here began with an increase of 2.7 people per thousand between 1991 and 1996.

The population of Ennis grew by 7. 5 per cent in the period, with the town now home to 10,305 people, an increase of 1,404.

The areas of Ennis defined as rural also grew, in this case by 9.4 per cent.

Kilrush town lost 2.6 per cent of its population while Ballyvaughan was up by the same amount.

Corofin’s population is up by 7 per cent, Ennistimon by 3.1 per cent, Killadysert by 7.1 per cent and Kilrush by 3.8 per cent. The Meelick area has gained by 10.8 per cent, Scariff by 2 per cent and Tulla by 14.9 per cent.

HOUSEHOLDERS in Clare are being warned to be aware of the dangers of using home heaters, after an inquest heard that a man died at his Shannon home from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Gary Murphy (45), of 18 Elm House, Drumgeely, died in his sleep at his Shannon apartment in January, after a gas fire was left on.

Ennis Coroner’s Court heard last week that Gary did not turn up for lunch at his parents’ home, on January 31 last.

His parents Joseph and Angela then travelled to his apartment, after 2pm. They noticed the gas fire was on and his son was in bed. “It was as if he was asleep, but I knew he was dead,” said Mr Murphy.

Garda Brian McCarthy said he arrived at the deceased’s home at 3.10pm where he met his parents.

As he entered the apartment, he could get a slight smell of fumes. He said a gas fire was on in the kitchen/ sitting room area of the apartment.

He went into the bedroom where he could see a male, aged approximately 40, in bed.

“It appeared as if the deceased went to bed the night before and did not get up,” said the garda.

Coroner Dr Curran carried out a post-mortem examination on the deceased’s body, at Limerick Regional Hospital, on February 1.

She said a carbon monoxide examination was carried out and showed a saturation of 59 per cent.

“That is a lethal measurement,” said Dr Curran.

She said in her opinion the cause of death was asphyxia, secondary to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said: “I am satisfied there is nothing to indicate any intention by Mr Murphy to take his own life. The most appropriate verdict is an open verdict.”

Clare’s Acting Chief Fire Officer Denis O’Connell said precautions must be taken, in an effort to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

These include placing portable heaters away from furniture and curtains and making sure there is adequate ventilation where heaters are used.

“Never move gas, oil, or electric heaters when in use and have fuelburning household heating equipment, including fireplaces and furnaces, checked every year before the cold weather sets in,” said Mr O’Connell.

“Possible reasons for carbon monoxide poisoning include faulty, or damaged heating appliances, blocked chimneys or flues, poor installation of heating appliances and indoor use of a barbecue grill or outdoor heater,” he said.

FIVE young children were expected to be released from hospital last night after they became ill on a repatriation flight from Lebanon to the US, which had made a technical stop at Shannon in the early hours of yesterday (Monday) morning.

The flight, which had earlier evacuated American-Lebanese families from the growing crisis in the Lebanon, landed at Shannon to refuel before continuing to the States. During that stopover, the crew sought medical attention for several passengers.

A number of the passengers were treated at the airport by doctors and ambulance crews and 11 people were taken by ambulances to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for further treatment. Five young children were detained for observation overnight.

A spokesman for the Health Service Executive confirmed that the five had been treated in the Sunshine Ward, the paediatric unit at the Limerick hospital. Other passengers on the flight were also examined by medics at the airport. They were accommodated in local hotels overnight. Their plane remained on the ground in Shannon last night for a second night as engineers carried out repairs to an engine.

CALLS have gone out to stem the population drain from the west of Clare, as census figures show numbers dropping.

Senator Brendan Daly (FF) said that preliminary figures just released from the census taken last April confirm “a trend which we have been aware of for some time. That is the increase in the population of centres such as Ennis and the decrease in the West of Clare.”

The senator said that definitive ac tion is needed if these areas are not to lose people, resources and prosperity.

Kilrush lost 2.6 per cent of its population – 69 people – since the last census was taken in 2002.

But Senator Daly said that he was hoping to see the arrival of 70 civil servants from Revenue Cmmissioners, as part of Government decentralisation in the next few weeks.

“There is an onus on the authorities – especially the government – to deal with the situation”’ the senator said.

He added that it was with this in mind, he campaigned for the decentralisation boost for Kilrush.

“As well as attracting industry, the government needs to train those coming out of agricultural backgrounds in skilled jobs, such as fitting and pipe welding. There are hundreds of opportunities in those areas and I have asked FÁS to examine the prospect of skilling young people in positions we currently have to get non-nationals to fill.”

While inward migration forms a large portion of the 7.3 per cent overall increase in population in the county, Orla Ní Eilí of the Irish Refugee Council said that asylum seekers formed just a small portion of that.

“It is my belief that the majority of migrants are from the accession states and returning Irish with foreign spouses and families”, she said. “One of the aspects of needing workers is that migrants come with their families to live in Ireland, but asylum seekers are not affecting the figures greatly.”

Fine Gael Deputy, Pat Breen described the decrease in the population of some rural towns as “a worrying trend. The Government should put an emphasis on industry and help small companies to keep industry in rural areas.”

AS MANY as 180 people throughout Clare have been forced to move out of their homes because of fire safety issues in apartments.

Since February of this year, 66 apartments in the county have been vacated by their residents due to various fire safety issues identified as a result of inspections undertaken by the Clare Fire Services.

A serious outbreak of fire highlighted safety issues in one block of apartments that remains unoccupied, while other issues came to light as a result of individual complaints.

Acting Chief Fire Officer Denis O’Connell warned that a fire in an apartment at ground level could have serious implications for residents living higher in the building.

“It is important that escape routes are kept clear and that all persons are alerted to a fire situation as soon as possible,” he said.

“The owners of apartments have a responsibility to provide a safe premises that is well managed,” he added.

The Clare Fire Services have encountered a number of breaches of the fire safety requirements during the last few months.

Among the main breaches were regular doors on flats rather than the specified self-closing fire doors.

Main stairways were not protected, as they were not well-constructed and clear of obstructions, or storage.

Apartment buildings should be provided with a well-maintained automatic fire detection and alarm system, according to the fire service, which claims that this regulation is also ignored from time to time.

All electronic fixtures and fittings within the building should be wellmaintained, including the emergency lighting system, and all safety systems and escape routes should be well maintained and records should be kept of all fire safety management on the premises, according to Mr O’Connell.

The acting fire chief also reminded appartment owners that breaches of Fire Safety on premises could lead to a prosecution under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003.

THE shortage of banking services in one of Clare’s most popular tourist towns is encouraging visitors to do business elsewhere in the region.

Clare County Councillor Richard Nagle (FF) has expressed his concern at the lack of an ATM service in the northwest town of Lisdoonvarna.

The town, famed for its matchmaking festival every September, has no public ATM service where visitors or locals can access cash.

Instead they must travel eight miles to the nearest bank link in Ennistymon.

Cllr Nagle told The Clare People that the absence of a bank link is a major disadvantage to Lisdoonvarna.

“I have had representations on a number of occasions from local people. They want a Banklink service,” he said.

“This is something we need to actively pursue,” he added.

“It is a major inconvenience and disadvantage for locals and tourists. People travel out of the area to get money and then spend it elsewhere.”

The north Clare county councillor worries that the lack of the essential service will linger on people’s mind.

“If people have a negative experience that is what they tend to remember,” he said.

As well as the thousands of people who flood into the town every September in search of Mister or Miss Right, hundreds more arrive in the town every week during the summer months to enjoy their holidays.

Local representatives and business people in the town fear that the lack of banking services may dissuade them from a return visit.

AS CLARE’S hurlers shook up Croke Park, they were shaking things up in Clarecastle as well.

The 10th annual Céilí at the Crossroads festival wound down over the weekend as big crowds descended on the village for a feast of music and dance. The highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly Sunday’s showpiece event, the Céili at the Crossroads. Revellers assembled at Kerins Cross for the event, which ran late into the night. Music was supplied by the Four Courts band on a day devoted to set dancing.

Now in its tenth year, the five-day festival of music, song and dance has grown steadily in popularity, becoming one of the most important fixtures in Clare’s traditional music calendar. Visitors from around the county and further afield flocked to Clarecastle for the event.

Set dancing, of course, occupied the main focus of the event but singing and music proved popular mainstays of the week-long celebration of Irish culture. Learning forms a key component of the event and a workshop in set dancing, under the guidance of Michael Mahony, kicked off proceedings last Wednesday in the Abbey Hall.

Thursday night was regarded as one of the festival highlights. The music was in full swing at the John Joe Casey traditional music tribute night in Navan’s public house. This event commemorated the life and times of the late John Joe Casey. Mr Casey was a highly regarded fiddle-player and composer who composed wellknown reels such as ‘The Tiermaclane Fancy’. A native of Island McGrath in Clarecastle, John Joe passed away five years ago in 2001, aged 90.

While past masters were remembered, a new generation were being encouraged at the Junior Traditional Music Workshops that brought Clarecastle School to life throughout the festival. The hugely popular Singers Club, held in Power’s Pub, kicked the weekend off in style, with singers from across Munster performing. After a day of more set dancing, Saturday night concluded with the Céilí Mór and the Donie Neylon Céilí band in the Abbey Hall.

The driving forces behind the festival for the past 10 years have been former Chairman Haulie Kelleher and current Chairman Eugene Brennan. Both, again, were heavily involved in this year’s Céilí at the Crossroads.

RESIDENTS in the New Quay area are once again bidding to block plans for a sailing school and accommodation on the shores of Galway Bay.

Redbank Leisture Ltd., have applied to develop the school after Clare County Council refused on three occasions to grant it permission to build a visitor centre with multi-learning facilities and accommodation for 14 bedrooms.

Now, in their latest effort to utilize the land, the Galway-based company has lodged plans for a sailing school and eight-two bedroom units at Cartron, New Quay.

However, more than a dozen local residents, led by John Mulcahy have lodged an objection against the proposal.

“This is a very unsafe location for a sailing school in view of the speed/ force of inflow/outflow of water between Aughinish inlet and Galway bay,” they state in their application.

“The speed of flow has been measured up to four knots and with winds against the tide, this bay becomes very choppy and could be quite dangerous for young people learning to sail. The development does not take account of the ecological disruption and damage which will, potentially, be caused by excavations necessary for this project, especially, the concrete boat slip and channel to this slipway.

“We query the need for all the housing outlined on the foreshore for a sailing school. The site is located in an area of visually vulnerable landscape and all the proposed new building would interfere with views from the coast road to the sea.

“The proposed sewage facilities for up to 50 people represents an unacceptable environmental and health threat to the current pristine environment of the estuary and to the economically important shellfish sector.

“We consider the ‘proposed sailing centre’ is essentially a housing development with a potential sailing centre attached – the Service Block if desired can easily be converted to other purposes.

In a separate submission, An Taisce state: “This application is in an area, which is unique, and highly vulnerable, therefore we feel that an Environmental Impact Assessment is required especially as there is already another tourist project, which has been approved on this coastline, and the affect of both should be considered under the Strategic Environmental Directive scheme to which Ireland has signed.”

A decision is due on the application next month.