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Graves will go on sale for one month only in bid to raise funds for cemetery

THOSE dying for a bargain have the opportunity to avail of a once in as lifetime sale this month, as graves in a West Clare graveyard are part of a once-off sale.

The new extension to Burrane Cemetery can accommodate more than 50 double graves and from now until the end of the month they are available at a knock down price.

The Graveyard Committee hope that the sale of some grave plots in the coming weeks will offset the cost of extending the full to capacity cemetery in Kilimer.

Sean Culligan of the Burrane Graveyard Committee said that while there have been a number of enquires about the purchase of a last resting place in the new graveyard, sales have been slow.

It is hoped that by reducing the cost of the graves for a limited period, people will be encouraged to pur- chase this inevitable commodity in the coming weeks.

A double grave at Burrane Cemetery costs € 550, but a hundred euro reduction will see the cost drop to € 450 for this month.

A single grave at the cemetery overlooking the Shannon Estuary will set the buyer back € 350 but this will drop to € 300 if bought in the next four weeks.

The new graveyard extension will have a modern green field layout, with no kerbs and there will be guidelines when it comes to headstones.

The design of the modern layout shows headstones back to back so that there will be a single path to a row of graves.

“This will help with the maintenance of the graveyard,” explained Mr Culligan.

There are three cemeteries in the parish of Kilimer-Knockerra – Burrane, Knockerra and Molougha, and all three are either full or nearing full capacity.

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Oscar winner joins Lisdoon pub crawl

THE promise of a belated Lisdoonvarna pub crawl is bringing Oscar winning director Cynthia Wade, to North Clare this St Patrick’s Day where she will film one of the most original musical groups ever to form.

Wade, who won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2008 and was nominated for a second Oscar in 2012, is currently producing a documentary on groundbreaking American group, the Hutchins Consort.

The Hutchins Consort is the only group in the world who play violin octets – a collection of eight violintype instruments, which are each of a different size and produce a different sound.

Wade is currently working on a new documentary on the group and its founder, the late Carleen Hutchins who invented the instruments. The family of the band’s leader Joe McNally visited the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna two years ago and that prompted him to bring filming all the way to Ireland.

“When I heard of the group I sent an email to them them over in San Diego, saying that they had got me interested. The man I spoke to was Joe McNally and as luck would have it his whole family had been in the Roadhouse in Lisdoonvarna two years ago and Joe had missed the night,” said Peter Curtin of the Roadside Tavern,

“So when he decided to come over, he said it was make up for the pub crawl that he missed two years before. It’s a very exciting event. Where else in the west of Ireland would you get an Oscar winning director coming to film this incredible group on St Patrick’s Day.”

Footage from the Roadside Tavern will be used as part of Wade’s latest film, ‘Second Fiddle’, which tells the story of Carleen Hutchins. Wade has won festival accolades all over the world including at the Academy Awards, Primetime Emmys, Sundance Film Festival, Palm Springs, Aspen and the Hamptons, as well as film festival awards in Spain, Italy, Argentina and Belgium.

The Hutchins Consort will perform at the Roadside Tavern St Patrick’s Day, Monday March 17, from 2pm.

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Storm repair allocation falls short of damage cost

CLARE County Council has been granted € 16.8 million to repair the damage wrought by this January’s devastating storms – more than € 7 million less than than the € 23.7 million in damage estimated to have taken place in the county.

This tranche of funding represents an allocation for the January storms alone, with the possibility of additional funding being made available to cover the € 13 million worth of damage, which was suffered by the county during the St Brigid’s Day storm in February.

The € 16.8 million is made up of an € 16,205,637 allocation from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government alongside a once-off refund of € 608,878 to cover money already spent by Clare County Council.

The funding has been already earmarked for a programme of repair works to roads, piers and harbours, coastal protection repairs and tourism infrastructure but no decision on how much funding will be allocated to each local area has yet been made.

“Clare County Council is cogently aware of the importance of undertaking repair works to damaged infrastructure and has already invested a considerable amount of its own resources in undertaking interim remedial works to ensure that the impact of the storm damage on local communities has been minimised,” said County Manager Tom Coughlan.

“In light of this extremely positive announcement, the council will now begin a process of engagement with the relevant funding departments and agencies with a view to proceeding with vitally important infrastructure repair works along Clare coastline.

“We would hope that further funding allocations will be made but the level of this allocation enables very significant works to be progressed. Due to the extensive disruption to community life along the Clare coastline and in light of the upcoming summer tourist season, the local authority is committed to progressing the planning and delivery of repair works as quickly as possible.”

The combined funding of € 16.8 million is in addition to the € 6 million already allocated by Government for the construction of a new pier at Doolin. This work includes the development of a pier as well as some flood defense works for Doolin.

It is unclear if the original Clare County Council estimated presented for damage at Doolin included a request for flood defenses which were already accounted for in the other € 6 million development.

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Threat of floods remain in coastal areas of the county

A FLOOD warning remains in place along the western and northern coast of the county with high tides expected to threaten beleaguered flood defenses again today.

A number of roads were closed across the area yesterday with Loop Head, Quilty, Lahinch and Liscannor already sustaining damage.

At high tide, 6.30pm last evening (Monday), the people of the Loop Head peninsula were preparing to be isolated from the rest of the county again.

This is now the fourth month the community has to endure tidal and storm damage. Just six hours before, the only remaining road on to the peninsula was reopened as it has been flooded again by high tide earlier that morning.

At 6am the Fodra Road, the only life line for the West Clare communities was closed by the tides. The main road to Kilbaha remains closed as Clare County Council works to repair it, while the road at Ross is closed and no work has begun on it.

Yesterday the people of Rhinevilla and Kilduane were again virtually living on an island as the high tides raised the floods once again.

On a happier note, Yvonne McNamara from Kilbaha, who had feared she would not be able to make it to hospital to have her baby if the tides were in, gave birth to a healthy baby girl and Friday. Mother and daughter were safely home in Kilbaha again before the only access road was closed for a period of six hours.

Meanwhile in Quilty the high tide burst through some of the council work at Cloughnainchy, and water has come in on some of the land again, while other coastal defences held.

Meanwhile, the Lahinch to Liscannor road was closed once again yes terday, while Clare County Council cleared boulders and other debris from the road. The promenade in Lahinch sustained further flooding during the high tide on Monday morning but it is not thought that and further significant structural damage has been done.

“High spring tidal conditions resulted in some flooding at various locations along the Clare coastline overnight and this morning [Monday],” said a council spokesperson.

“This flooding has since receded. The main road at Liscannor was closed for a time this morning to enable council workers to remove rubble from the road.”

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Journal retracts sea lice ‘comment’

THE war of words and scientific data over the proposed construction of Ireland largest fish farm off the Doolin and Fanore coast may just have been won.

The Journal of Fish Diseases, who first questioned the research put forward by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) on the likely effects of sea lice on the local wild salmon as a result of the fish farm, have retracted their complaints.

The Journal of Fish Diseases had described the research, which was carried out for BIM by the Marine Institute in Oranmore, as having ‘fundamental errors’. The article, which was attributed to ‘Krkosek et al’, was the source of much criticism from groups opposed to the farm, including government agency Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).

The twin fish farms, which will located about 10 kilometres off the coasts of Doolin and Fanore, would be the largest facility of its kind ever built in Ireland, if it gets the go ahead. The proposed farm has been met with stiff opposition, not least by groups of fishermen, business people and environmentalists in North Clare, who believe the farms will be a threat to local wild fish stocks and tourism.

“I welcome the apology by the journal for the inadequate editorial procedures followed and the unfairness with which they treated the Marine Institute by not affording us right of reply prior to the publication of Krkosek’s accusation,” said Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute.

“Scientific peer review is all important to the quality, accuracy and integrity of research. However, what people must be made aware of now is that Krkosek et al’s work has now been reclassified by the Journal as a ‘Comment’, which is akin to an opinion piece.

“The journal has also updated its author guidelines to clearly state the level of peer review for the different types of articles.”

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‘I had a bad feeling immediately’

AN open verdict has been returned at the inquest of young Ennis man whose body was discovered following an extensive search in the town last summer.

Seamus Higgins went missing from his foster home in Dun Na hÍnse, Ennis on Saturday, August 10, 2013. He was last seen jumping a wall at the rear of the estate.

His disappearance sparked a major search operation involving family, friends, civil defence, local diving groups and gardaí.

His body was discovered five days later by search divers in the Claureen River. At Clare Coroner’s Court yes- terday, Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy stated the post mortem report concluded that the cause of death was asphyxia secondary to drowning.

Foster brother Jordan Whelan was one of the last people to see Seamus alive. He described Seamus as an artist and someone who loved to fix things with his hands.

Victor Moloney, a member of Clare Marine Search and Rescue, told the inquest he found Seamus’ body submerged in nine feet of water in a river at the rear of an astro-turf pitch in Cloughleigh.

In her deposition to the inquest, foster mother Tina Whelan said Seamus had returned to Ennis for a holiday. He was living with his father Danny in Southampton.

The inquest heard Seamus had been diagnosed with a stress disorder, psychosis and depression and had previously attempted suicide.

“In my opinion Seamus’ mental health was deteriorating”, she added.

Ms Whelan said that on the morning he went missing, Seamus was in good form, having spent time with his brothers and best friend Thomas Molloy.

“He was very much loved and is missed very much by everybody” Ms Whelan told the inquest.

Blood and urine analysis revealed trace or very small levels of alcohol and anti-depressant drugs, the inquest heard. County Cororner Isobel O’Dea said the appropriate verdict was an open verdict.

Ms O’Dea explained no note had been left by the deceased.

“No absolute intention has been displayed to me that he intended to take his life”, she added.

Ms O’Dea extended her sympathies to Seamus’ family and friends.

Insp John O’Sullivan extended his sympathies on behalf of the gardaí.

The deceased’s father Danny Higgins said his son, a former student, had every intention of returning to Southampton.

“I had a bad feeling immediately,” said Mr Higgins of the moment he received a call from Tina Whelan to say Seamus was missing.

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Calls to protect the future of post offices

THERE was a 31 per cent decline in the number of post offices operating in Clare in the last seven years, a meeting has heard.

A total 17 offices closed between 2006 and 2013 bringing the number of offices in Clare down from 54 to 37. According to the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU), closures took place in Liscannor, Kilnamona, Kilmaley, Crusheen, Bodyke, Dunsallagh, Kilmurry, Ennis, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Spanish Point, Maurice Mills, Mountshannon, Bellharbour, Ballynacally, Ruan, Connolly, Tubber and Flagmount.

The figures were revealed at a public meeting in the West County Hotel, Ennis on Thursday night.

The meeting was organised by the IPU who are urging Clare TDs to vote in favour of a bill aimed at protecting the future of the post office network in Ireland.

Clare residents in favour of the motion are expected to travel to Dublin on Wednesday to express their support. The motion calls on the Government to produce a comprehensive plan setting out measures to deliver on their commitment to sustain the network as contained in the Programme for Government.

Speaking at the meeting, Clare Postmaster Tom O’Callaghan said, “The Post Office network is under serious threat. The network as we know it will be wiped out unless we get Government action now.

“While An Post has retained the Social Welfare payments contract for a possible six-year term, this is only a temporary respite. We need a plan to ensure that Post Offices play a central role in the delivery of wel- fare payments and other Government services and we need that plan now.”

Mr O’Callaghan, a native of Kildysart added, “The Post Office network will be decimated if the income from the welfare payments contract is lost.”

There were a number of speakers on the night including West Clare councillor Pat Keane.

Cllr Keane (FF), whose wife runs a post office in Kilkee, urged An Post to show the same faith in rural Ireland as American businessman Donald Trump has.

“There is a post office in Doonbeg that they are fighting hard to retain. It’s ironic that an American is after spending € 15 million for an infrastructure in Doonbeg. That’s the kind of confidence he has in places like Doonbeg. Yet An Post hasn’t the confidence to keep post offices open,” he said in reference to Donald Trump’s recent purchase of Doonbeg golf club.

President of the IPU, Ciaran McEntee told the meeting that a list of TDs names who vote against the IPU motion in the Dáíl on Wednesday, will be put on the wall of every post office in the country.

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No ‘blank cheque’ for storm damage repair in Clare

CLARE will not be given a “blank cheque” by the Government to complete repairs following unprecedented storm damage in the west and north of the county in recent months.

The is according to Tánaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who was in Ennistymon for the opening of the annual Clare Tourism Conference on Friday.

According to Deputy Gilmore, the Government will respond to Clare County Council’s € 36 million storm damage bill soon but he would not give any details as to how much money would be allocated to the Banner County and where that money would come from.

“The recent extreme storms have taken a heavy toll on the infrastructure of key tourism destinations in this county.

“The picture of those enormous waves crashing over Lahinch has become in many ways a defining image of recent weather events,” he said.

“This Government has responded to the severe weather damage, making € 70 million available for a programme of repair and remediation works in the areas affected.

“This is in addition to the € 25 million announced for the Department of Social Protection’s Humanitarian Assistance Schemes.

“We are currently awaiting an assessment from Local Authorities of what is required to deal with damage from the latest storms to hit these shores.

“As well as dealing with the consequences of the recent weather, the OPW are looking at what is required for the future in the way of additional coastal defences – flood protection works and a national flood warning system.

“They will be reporting back to Government on this.

“Of course, the resilience that you have all shown in withstanding such extremity is a national trait that has been critical to our survival in general, especially in the face of the economic crisis of the past few years,” he added.

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Publicans peed off by toilet users

PUBLICANS in Ennistymon may soon be shutting their toilet doors to non-paying members of the public as frustration over the last of public toilets in the town reaches break point.

Clare County Council say that although it recognises the need for public toilets in the town – which caters for hundreds of thousands of tourists over the summer season – it does not currently have finances available to provide them.

While local publicans say they will continue to provide services for the public for the time being, many premises face significant water and electricity charges, all of which are being added to by tourists using their facilities.

“My toilets are at the back of the bar and I have people, young and old, coming through the bar every day to use them. It is unfair, and more then that it’s not good for the town. It is not encouraging anyone to stop and spend money in Ennistymon,” said Linda Youdell of Daly’s Bar.

“I have water charges here that are phenomenal. It costs money, I have to pay my council rates and other expenses. Here we are in 2014 and we cant even offer a basic facility to tourists.”

According to Joan Tierney of Cooley’s House in Ennistymon, some members of the public are rude to staff when they use their toilets for free. “I think that it is a absolute disgrace. In the summer time especially we get people walking in off the street every day. It doesn’t look good for the town,” she said.

“Water chargers are high and while I would never want to refuse someone access to the toilet, some people act as if it is their right [to use the toilet]. I know it sounds petty but people flush the toilet, the use the soap and the hand drier and it all costs money.”

The matter was raised at this months North Clare Area meeting of Clare County Council by local Cllr Bill Slattery (FG).

“The publicans are getting fed up of people coming into their premises and using it as a toilet. The cost of water is going up and it can be expensive in 10 or 20 people come in off the bus, use the facilities and then leave without paying for anything,” he said.

Public toilets were closed in Ennistymon more than 10 years ago because they were not wheelchair friendly. Local publicans approached Clare County Council in the past, offering to provide toilet facilities to the public in return for a contribution to running costs.

This proposal was turned down by the local authority.

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Fish farm decision delayed until August

NO DECISION on the construction of a new multi-million fish farm off the Clare coast will be made until August of this year at the earliest.

Speaking in the Dáil last week, the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney (FG), said that a final decision on granting a fish farm license is six months away and could even be delayed further because of the large number of submission made my members of the public in relation to the farm.

The proposed twin fish farm, which are proposed for adjacent sites eight kilometres off the Fanore and Doolin coasts, have already created a large amount of controversy with local anglers, fishermen and environmentalist coming out against the proposal.

According to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Government agency who have applied for the license, the fish farms could create hundreds of jobs in the North Clare economy.

The other state fisheries agency, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have come out against the proposed fish farm, saying it will damage local sea fisheries. There has been an ongoing war of words between the two organisation since the farms were first proposed in October of 2012, with each side providing contrary scientific studies on the potential effects of the farms, and the impact on sea lice numbers in wild salmon in particular.

Calls have been made in recent weeks for Minister Coveney to step back from the license decision, with many anti-fish farm campaigners ac- cusing him of being biased in favour of the development.

“There is always a strict separation between my Ministerial role as decision maker in respect of aquaculture licence applications and my Ministerial duty to promote the sustainable development of the industry. This separation of duties is strictly observed,” he said in the Dáil last week.

“The fullest consideration is being given to all submissions received as part of the statutory and public consultation stages of the process.”