Category: News

AN investigation into illegal dumping on local authority land in Kilrush Town has pointed to a break down in communication within the council.

Rubbish made up of soil, stone and various wastes was discovered by a member of the public on council lands on the Cooraclare Road across from the Teagasc Office at the end of last month.

Kilrush Town Clerk Fiona Mooney said, “The waste material was gathered arising from a community clean up of a back lane. It was separated into the various waste streams and all of it was brought to the licensed waste transfer station at Lisdeen.

“However, as some of the waste was mixed with soil and stone, it could not be accepted into Lisdeen’s compactor unit. Those two trailer roads were then brought back to Council land in Kilrush and inappropriately disposed of, contrary to local authority policy,” Ms Mooney admitted.

The Town Council was alerted to the waste disposal on the Cooraclare Road after receiving a complaint from a member of the public on May 30. The complaint was acknowledged immediately and within a working week, the matter was investigated and the waste had been appropriately disposed.

The waste was removed from the town council lands and disposed of at the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff Beg within a working week of becoming aware of the matter.

Ms Mooney acknowledged that there had been a breakdown in communication on local authority policy. “I acknowledge that the incident should not have happened in the first instance and I have taken steps to ensure it will not happen again. I have now communicated Kilrush Town Council’s policy on waste right through to everyone at all grades and levels”, she stated.

Earlier in the week Clare County Council had issued an appeal to all customers using the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff Beg, Inagh and recycling centres at Ennis, Scariff and Lisdeen to adequately cover trailers and waste. Anyone who failed to do so could face prosecution under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, the statement said.

THE Burren could become a haven for illegal dumping if action is not taken. In the last seven days The Clare People , has been contacted by a number of local residents reporting incidents of illegal dumping around Clare’s most treasured natural resource.

The first incident is reported to have taken place along the shore line close to Fanore. According to one local, who asked not to be identified, it is a problem which is on the increase.

“The beautiful coastline from Ballyreen to Fanore and beyond is a real mess,” according to the local. “It is not just mindless litter louts, but it’s anglers too who are at fault.

“Beer bottles, cans, discarded fishing line and bin liners are all discarded along the shore line.”

A separate illegal dump, which appears to be made up of construction materials, was reported on the wall border of the Burren National Park in Carron.

The Clare People contacted the Environmental Section of Clare County Council in relation to this story, but no response was available at the time of going to press.

COUNCILLOR Joe Reidy is the new Mayor of Ennis, having been elected by a six-two majority at a meeting of Ennis Town Council last night.

His Deputy mayor is Independant councillor, Tommy Brennan.

The Fianna Fáil councillor didn’t have a clear run at the Mayoral position, however, with Councillor Johnny Flynn being nominated for both positions.

Before the election, outgoing Mayor, Frankie Neylon, said that it had been “an honour to serve as Mayor of this town, for me and for my family.”

He listed the events which he had seen come about in his year as mayor, including the opening of Lees Road, the success in the Tidy Towns competition,the progress on the Ennis bypass and the first Clare Mini Marathon last weekend.

Cllr Neylon said he wanted to “thank and compliment the staff for the huge amount of help they have given me.”

After being elected and accepting the chain, the new mayor said he hope “to be as good in this office as those who have gone before me.”

He thanked his supporters and said that as a body, the Ennis councillors “always stick together when it comes to issues that affect this town. The town is the first concern.”

UP to 800 runners, joggers and walkers are expected to take part in the inaugural Clare 10K which gets underway at 11am this Saturday at the Lees Road complex in Ennis.

The event, which marks the first anniversary of The Clare People , has attracted a top line-up of elite athletes who will be joined by family groups, fun runners and fund-raisers availing of the opportunity to help out a range of community and charitable causes.

Those already registered range from eight years old right up to over 70, many raising money for their chosen charity. Also ready to take part are several groups looking forward to run, walk and jog in fancy dress.

Spectators might even recognise several of the participants as not only are some already successful local athletes running, there will also be some well know faces around Clare slipping on their running shoes to join in the fun on the day.

There will be plenty of entertainment for the participants and spectators along the route so everyone is encouraged to take part in the fun.

However, for those who are taking part, there are plenty of prizes. Almost €5,000 will be divided among the top finishers and there will also be spot prizes donated by several local businesses.

And the good news is that it’s not too late to join in as registration will be permitted on the day.

The €10 registration fee will be divided between Clare Haven, Cahercalla Community Hospice, and the Clare branch of the Samaritans.

CLARE County Council has refused plans for a heritage park in Doolin that would celebrate Clare’s mythical legends.

Last January, Joe and Mairead Dalton lodged plans for a visitor centre at Carnaun, Doolin, seeking to transform seven acres of land into a park.

The Daltons anticipated that, by the third year of operation, 32,000 tourists would visit their planned attraction each year.

However, An Taisce lodged a strong objection, stating that, “There is a general principle felt by locals that invasive tourist attractions should not be encouraged in the Burren and we are in the process of having the whole region upgraded into a development-free zone”.

In refusing planning permission, the council stated that the proposed development for a visitor centre detached from the settlement of Cooygulla/Doolin and which did not provide for ancillary accommodation and recreational facilities would be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.

The council ruled that the proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard because capacity of roads was inadequate to cater for increased traffic movements which would be generated.

The council also ruled that the proposals would be prejudicial to public health due to concerns that the site could not be able to adequately treat and dispose of effluent.

In their submission, the Daltons claim that their park integrates conceptually and physically with the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, linking with the extraordinary amount of ancient monuments in the area.

They also claim that there is no similar attraction in north Clare, or even Ireland.

They state that the heritage park add another dimension to north Clare tourism.

In their planning application, the Daltons state that visitors would follow an outdoor trail along which would be depicted stories from three prehistoric cycles of legends, including the Tuatha de Danaan, Cúchulainn and the Fianna, as well as information about the historical background of the legends and ancient texts that record them.

Advocating the plan, the Daltons state that the atmosphere of ancient wilderness and forest is impossible to achieve near a town.

The Daltons now have one month in which to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.

CLARE County Council has again asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider two warning notices issued over the council’s management of the Inagh landfill facility.

The environmental agency issued a one-line response to the council’s previous five-page-long request to have the notices withdrawn.

Now, in response to the EPA’s letter, the council has written that, as licensee of the facility, it “requests that the Inspectorate of the Agency reconsider the details of the correspondence, dated April 12 and its subsequent reply”.

In March, the Agency served the fifteenth non-compliance notice on the council over the management of the €8 million landfill.

The notice centred on the council allegedly felling trees during the nesting season and on continuing odour problems caused by the landfill.

However, in a lengthy and strongly-worded response, the council formally requested that the agency withdraw the two non-compliance notices, claiming that it had acted outside its powers.

The council stated that “the agency would appear to have arbitrarily issued a non-compliance in relation to tree-felling which it can be argued is outside the scope of the licence as the issue of tree-felling is defined and protected within other statute.

“In the council’s view, the agency has in effect acted ultra vires in the issue of non-compliance notice as the basis for its issue is held by other authorities.”

The council pointed out that the Forestry Service and the National Parks and Wildlife Service had both categorically indicated that they had no reservation in relation to tree-felling on this site.

However, in spite of the lengthy arguments put forward by the council, the EPA, after a five-week interlude, issued the one-line reply that “notwithstanding the information submitted by the council, the agency considers that the Non-Compliances should remain”.

In its latest response, the council writes that “as licensee (it) outlined a number of matters in support of the case for the withdrawal of the notification of non-compliances.

“We respectfully request that the rationale forming the basis of the position of the Inspectorate is outlined. A detailed response to all other issues raised would also be appreciated”.

JUST 10 babies were born in the county last year, according to official figures.

Instead, the majority of Clare babies were born in Galway and Limerick maternity hospitals, as the Banner County has no maternity hospital of its own.

According to CSO vital statistics, first-time mums in Clare are a year older than the national average.

The figures revealed this week showed that the average age of women from Clare giving birth was 29.3 years old, compared to the national average of 28.6 years.

More than 1,600 Clare women gave birth, the majority of whom were between the ages of 30 and 34 years.

Less than 60 women were under the age of 20, while 91 were over 40 years old.

More than a quarter of all babies born to Clare mothers last year were born outside marriage, with 430 births in the county to unmarried mothers.

The majority of births registered in this category were to women under 25. There were 170 mothers in this category.

There were more boys born in the county than girls, with 851 males registered and 802 females.

The CSO’s vital statistics also reveal that the number of births in Clare last year doubled the number of deaths.

There were 1,653 births, while there were 813 deaths.

Of the recorded deaths in the county, 620 people were over the age of 65, and more males than females passed away. A total of 132 people died in the last quarter of the month.

PLANS to erect a statue to celebrate the late Hollywood actor, Richard Harris in Kilkee are facing opposition from residents in the west Clare resort.

Earlier this year, the Richard Harris Memorial Committee lodged plans with Clare County Council to erect a statue to celebrate Harris in the Wellington Square area of Kilkee.

The statue is to depict Harris playing racquet ball, in memory of the Limerick man winning a racquet ball competition four years in a row, in Kilkee, where he used spend much of his summer holidays.

The twice-Oscar nominated actor and star of Gladiator and The Field had strong associations with Kilkee. The cost of the project to commemorate him is €40,000.

Project director for the plan, Manuel di Lucia confirmed to The Clare People yesterday that Richard Harris’s three sons had confirmed that they would contribute €21,000 to the project.

Mr di Lucia said that fundraising would raise the remaining €19,000 and that the committee was planning to officially unveil the statue at a major ceremony on September 30.

Mr di Lucia said that proposals to invite Hollywood star, Russell Crowe, were being advanced for the unveiling of the statue by local sculptor, Seamus Connolly.

However, Mr di Lucia yesterday AS the CAO change-of-mind date of July 1 approaches, the IT Tralee have announced the introduction of two new degree programmes commencing this September.

The first of these programmes is a Bachelor of Business (Honours) four-year degree, which has been designed to give students a clearly structured business education that provides a solid foundation for a successful business career.

In years three and four, students can specialise in accounting, marketing or management. This structure allows students to choose specialist disciplines in which they have demonstrated strength in years one and slammed the objectors, claiming that almost all were full-time residents of Limerick city. Four of the five objectors supply Kilkee addresses attached to their objections.

“I can’t understand how these Limerick people could be objecting to a statue to one of their own. It doesn’t make sense. Most of these objectors own holiday homes here and the claims in the objections are ridicutwo of their studies.

As well as offering a wide range of subjects from IT to Interpersonal Communications to Law and European Studies, the course offers students a variety of continuous assessments, with an excellent mix of theory and practical work throughout the programme.

The employment opportunities for graduates vary from career options in accounting/finance, financial services, marketing, business information systems, retail, HR and general management fields.

The second new ITT course is a three-year Bachelor of Arts (Ordinary) in Information Systems Manlous,” said Mr di Lucia – who used to accompany Mr Harris on his trips around Kilkee. Mr di Lucia also stated that it is clear that the ownership of the site in question was with Clare County Council.

In his objection, Kieran Walsh of Bella Vista, West End, Kilkee said: “This statue, while well meaning, will become a focal point for people diverging to three or four different agement. Many Government reports have identified skills shortages and significant employment opportunities in the ICT (Information Communications Technology) sector.

Graduates of this programme can expect to demonstrate a range of technical, business and creative skills and find employment in the areas of administration and business, multi-media and education and MIS and web development. Those who successfully complete the three-year programme are eligible to progress to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Information Systems Management.

Graduates from both the Bachelor of Business (Honours) and the Bachresidential areas at night and unruly behaviour is likely to cause severe inconvenience to the local residents.

Arising from the objections, Clare County Council has put on hold plans for the statue. The council has now asked the committee to provide a letter of consent from the owners of the site to lodge the application and also provide details of the height and dimensions of the statue. elor of Arts (Honours) programmes wishing to pursue further studies can then proceed to postgraduate studies at the Institute.

Both courses will be delivered at the IT Tralee North Campus where over €50 million has been invested in state-of-the-art teaching facilities. In addition to academic support services, IT Tralee offers a wide range of additional learner supports including counselling, health, disability support, sport and recreation, chaplaincy, and careers services.

Further details on these course are available at www.ittralee.ie or by contacting the Admissions Office at 066 71 45638.

THE spiteful vandal that put the vehicles available to an emergency medical service out of action knew what they were doing, it was revealed this week.

But it is not clear whether the person, or persons, who slashed all the tyres on the Shannon Doc vehicle parked outside the hospital in Ennis, were acting out of a personal vendetta or just wanton vandalism.

The ruthless slasher cut all the wheels of the Shannon Doc vehicle parked on the grounds on the Mid Western Regional Hospital Ennis, during the last bank holiday weekend, before attacking the on-call doctor’s car.

Not content with putting both cars beyond use, the vandal then slashed the tyres on the private car of Shannon Doc’s designated driver.

During the mindless rampage, single tyres on other cars parked close to the Shannon Doc vehicles were also cut.

Shannon Doc Supervisor for the Clare area, Sean Lyons, said he was not willing to speculate if it was wanton vandalism or a personnel vendetta, but said the incident put lives at risk

“They could even have put one of their own families lives at risk had they needed the emergency service,” he pointed out.

The car was equipped with emergency equipment, including a defibrillator and oxygen.

The staff had to transfer all of the equipment into a taxi when an emergency call came in shortly after the attack, losing vital minutes.

“It was almost like interfering with an ambulance,” said Mr Lyons.

Despite being one of its busiest times, an Ennis taxi service gave priority to Shannon Doc, according to the service’s spokesperson.

“We are very grateful to all the people involved who assisted on the night,” said the Shannon Doc manager based in Limerick, Larry Maher, paying tribute to the taxi firm, the Shannon Doc staff and supervisor.

The doctors beginning the morning shift used their own cars until the emergency vehicle was repaired, ensuring that all calls could be responded to.

Gardaí in Ennis say they are investigating the incident. Shannon Doc have two other units in Clare.

CLARE County Council is once again preparing to take legal action to stop quarrying at a facility located in Ruan. The quarry, at Moymore in Ruan, was the subject of an unsuccessful legal attempt by the local authority to halt quarrying in 2004.

A number of local residents received letters from the council last week asking them to complete sworn affidavits ahead of the instigation of High Court proceedings. According to the letter sent to eight Ruan locals, the council is to seek an injunction on the grounds of alleged “continued development in breach of planning permission”.

The quarry is currently listed in the name of Harry Tobin Sand and Gravel Ltd., with an address at Gardenhill, Castleconnell, in County Limerick. The council’s previous action to stop quarrying at the site was taken against Ennis Quarries Ltd, which listed John and Joseph Tobin as its directors.

The case was refused jurisdiction in the District Court by Judge Joseph Mangan in March of 2004. It then became the responsibility of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to pursue the matter in the Circuit Court.

This case ended in a ‘nolle prosequi’ with no prosecution being brought against the defendants.

Ruan man, Gerry O’Connor, whose land borders the quarry, is supporting the council in their action.

“Now that the blasting has stopped, the main concerns felt by locals are noise, dust and the heavy vehicles, which are operating on narrow roads and are very dangerous,” said Mr O’Connor.

“There is a real fear that the blasting will start again. When the blasting was going on, boulders used to be blown into neighbouring fields all around the quarry.

“When the DPP took over the case, we decided to sit back and let them deal with it,” continued Mr O’Connor. “The DPP made no contact with any of the local residents and then we heard that the case had collapsed. We were never told why this happened and there are a lot of locals who are very upset about it.”

Planning permission was granted to operate a quarry for reclamation purposes at the Moymore site in 2000.

This entitled the operators to quarry to a depth of 18 feet. However, it is alleged that the quarry is being operated in breach of the conditions of this planning permission.

The Clare People contacted Joseph Tobin of Harry Tobin

Sand and Gravel Ltd., who de clined to make a comment. The Planning Section of Clare County Council also declined to make any statement on the matter.