Category: Uncategorized

STRATEGIES for taxi services in Ennis should be designed by Ennis Town Council and not by taxi driv- ers, a meeting has heard.

Councillor Frankie Neylon (Ind) told yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council that the initia- tive for developing new and addition- al taxi ranks had to come from the local authority.

‘I don’t know do we want taxi driv- ers to make decisions on taxi ranks in the town. When we moved the rank we discussed it all extensively with the drivers and traders in Par- nell Street,’ said Cllr Neylon.

He added, “I’d like to see the design

done by the designers and not by the taxi drivers. If it was up to the taxi drivers, they’d probably have a little space set aside for a blanket to lie down on.”

Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine said the council had enjoyed a strong partnership with taxi drivers and their representatives.

Cllr Neylon said that when work in the Parnell Street car park was complete taxi drivers would be “de- lighted”’.

Members were discussing a motion put forward by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) calling for the council to “ur- gently prepare a taxi rank strategy for Ennis”.

In response, Town Clerk Eddie

Power said an assessment on the pro- vision of part-time/night-time ranks in key locations in Ennis was cur- rently being carried out.

He added, “It 1s not intended to reduce the capacity of the taxi rank in Parnell Street car park, nor it is proposed to revise or alter its payout. You will be aware that the designa- tion and provision of the taxi rank in this location was considered to be the optimum location and was subject to two public consultation processes. The process of adopting byelaws to designate the taxi rank involved pub- lic consultation and furthermore the physical works were also subject to public consultation in accordance with Part VIII of the planning and

development regulations.”

Mr Power said, “Consideration of designating additional permanent full-time ranks will take place at a later stage following completion of the assessment.”

Town Manager Tom Coughlan said that it was his understanding that matters related to taxi services had been dealt with at the council’s an- LUE Melb Cohe

POTENTIAL problems facing the Clare workforce are visible in a new Oireachtais Report.

Contained in the Constituency Pro- file of Clare is the fact that in 2006 the share of people in the county employed in manufacturing and con- struction was higher then the nation- al average.

As both industries come under sev- er pressure, these statistics must be ringing alarm bells for local politi- Ee

The Dail Constituency Profiles

compiled by the Oireachtais Library and Research Service using infor- mation gleaned from the 2006 cen- sus, showed that 13.8 per cent of the Clare work force was in manufac- turing, with a further 9.4 per cent in construction and building. Despite securing the ‘Telecom Eireann information age town in 1997, which included a £15 million investment and a promise that virtu- ally every home and business in the county town would receive a person- al computer with e-mail and internet access, County Clare households are less likely to have broadband Internet access than households nationally.

Households in Clare are close to the national average in terms of PC own- ership and access to the Internet.

However, this Internet access 1s much less likely to be via broadband as just 13.4 per cent of households in Clare had broadband Internet access compared with 20 per cent for the

State as a whole in 2006.

People in Clare are more likely to volunteer than individuals national- ly. Clare men in particular are more likely to volunteer to sport organisa- tions.

In Clare 15,590 people aged 15 years and older volunteer for at least

one activity. Nationally 16.4 per cent of people volunteer in some way, but this figure is 18.8 in the Banner county.

The age profile in Clare is more balanced than nationally with the share of O to 19 year olds and 20 to 39 year olds in the population quite

close together in contrast to the na- tional situation.

The profiles in the report, provide an insight into the social, cultural, and economic differences of the country’s 43 electoral constituencies.

By including data on key metrics such as nationality, education, em-

ployment, housing and demographics the profiles offer a detailed picture of the distinct make-up and traits of each constituency.

CLARE County Council has ap- pointed a new senior planner to its planning department. Tuamgraney man, Gordon Daly takes up the posi- tion this week having come from his post as Senior Planner with Offaly County Council. Js Comce)(e!

DUTCH-born artist Trudi Van der Elsen has taken the position of di- rector of the Courthouse Gallery in Ennistymon. Trudi, who is based in Kildysert, took over the reins at the gallery from previous director Maria Kerin late last month.

Having worked extensively across Europe and in Canada, Trudi is hop- ing to bring some of this internation- al experience to bear in Ennistymon.

Since its reopening in 2007, the Courthouse has become a_ focal point for art in north Clare. With a number of resident artists working in the second-floor studio, and a full

programme of artistic events in the gallery, the project has brought a new momentum to the artistic life on the area.

‘Maria was the first director here and she did a wonderful job of putting together a programme for the current year, so I will start by following up on this programme,” said Trudi.

“We really try to get a lot of differ- ent types of art in the gallery, from installation and performance, to paintings, photography – everything really. We have also had poetry recit- als, small music recitals and events like that in the past.”

Besides the downstairs gallery space, the courthouse will soon open

a new small exhibition space known as The Red Couches Space. This, combined with the resident artists buzzing in the studios, will continue to bring a new energy to the town.

“It makes it very lively. Artists come and go and there is always something happening. It makes the gallery more open and it brings an energy to the town,’ she said.

‘“Brid Harhen will have one of the first exhibitions in the Red Couches Space. We are hoping that it will be a real community space where the Courthouse Studio artists as well as artists from the community can ex- hibit their work and share ideas to- gether.”

Over the next few months, the gal- lery will host exhibitions from Boz Mugabe, opening on February 1]; an exhibition of drawing from the gallery’s own Life Drawing Group, which also opens on February 11; and an exhibition from Brid Harhen which opens on February 14.

To keep in touch with events at the gallery, phone 065 707163, e-mail ennistymoncourthousegallery@gm ail.com or check out the blog at en- nistymoncourthousegallery.blogs- pot.com.

ENNIS 1s one of the branches of First Active set to close, as part of plans to shed 750 jobs nationwide.

Ulster Bank announced last week that First Active – which is its mort- gage arm – will cease to exist. As a result, 50 branches, including Ennis, are to close by the end of the year and the First Active business will absorb into the parent company.

550 of the jobs will go in the Repub- lic, with the remainder to be shed in branches in the north of the country.

Management says it is confident that staff reductions could be achieved through voluntary redundancies.

The mayor of Ennis, Councillor Peter Considine (FF) said last night that while he was concerned at the announcement, overall, Ennis was not as badly hit as other parts of the country, in terms of the downturn.

“It is a concern, but in the times we are living in, it is to be expected,” said Cllr Considine.

“Hopefully those employed will be subsumed into the Ulster Bank mothership,” he said.

However he said that despite the negativity in the economy, there were many positives, one of which was the announcement of 50 jobs in the Shannon Free Zone yesterday.

“When you compare us to other towns and cities in the country, we are fortunate in Ennis.

‘We are not dependent on one mega employer like Ford or Intel or Wa- terford Crystal, in that our hat isn’t thrown into the one basket,’ added Cllr Considine.

“In the overall context, we are not hit as badly as other areas,” he add-

ed.

Opposition politicians have ex- pressed fears that the job losses at Ulster Bank would be followed by hundreds of other job losses, given the fragile state of the economy.

Labour is concerned that there will be further jobs cut in the banking sector.

In the wake of the Ulster Bank an- nouncement, a statement from Bank of Ireland stated, “All our businesses are under review” while Allied Irish Bank said the bank had no plans for any job cuts.

PEOPLE in north Clare are mourn- ing this week following the news that Annette O’Dea, otherwise known as Sr Ann-Marie, has passed away in California.

Sr Ann-Marie, who hails from Ballygannor just outside Kilfenora, celebrated the golden jubilee of her

vocation, along with her twin sis- ter Philomena O’Dea (Sr Celine) in 2005.

Having spent most of the previous 50 years in separate religious institu- tions, the sisters were together when Sr Ann-Marie passed away in San Diego, a number of weeks ago.

The twins were born in Ballygan- nor in 1936 and went to school in Kil-

fenora National School and then at the Mercy Convent in Gort. In 1955, aged just 19, they joined the nuns in Mallow following the sudden death of their mother, Lilly. They left be- hind in Ballygannor their father John and 11 brothers and sisters, including Kitty, who later gained fame with the Kilfenora Ceili Band.

After spending six months in Cork,

the twins were moved to London where they were officially welcomed into the nuns in separate ceremonies. They qualified as nurses and served in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales before Sr Ann-Marie was di- agnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and both sisters were allowed to move to a warmer climate in America.

In all their years as Nazareth House nuns, they have never been based in the same convent and only see each other on holidays.

Sr Celine first returned to Ireland in the 1960s and gained national prominence when a story of the kindness she showed towards teen- age mother Wanda Machnicha and her son made front page news in

PATIENCE was the key for Newmar- ket Celtic on Sunday as they eventu- ally overcame the stubborn challenge of Division | side Kilrush Rangers to secure a place in the second round.

As with any cup tie against lower league opposition, the key to success for Newmarket was staying loyal to their game plan wear down the op- position and that perseverance even- tually paid dividends as the reigning Premier champions took charge of the second period and hit two goals to prevail.

It was all so different in the first half however. As expected, the home side had the lions share of posses- sion but were repeatedly frustrated

in the last third and instead it was the plucky west Clare side who enjoyed success on the break, taking the lead as early as the 22nd minute and re- ally should have added two more be- fore the interval.

Newmarket, for all their build up play, couldn’t break down a miserly Kilrush defence anchored suberbly by goalkeeper Tony Burke and cen- tre-half Barry Copley. Burke wasn’t overly burdened with shots but his assured aerial handling provided a secure base for Kilrush.

In fact, while Newmarket had plenty of chances, their only shot on target in that opening half came as early as the 4th minute when a brief defensive lapse allowed Eoin Hayes to bear down on goal but his effort

was excellently smothered by Burke.

In contrast, Kilrush, who only lived on scraps, were the more threatening side of the half and had three golden Opportunities to give themselves a significant half-time advantage.

Crucially though, they only took one but what a solo goal it was as winger Sean Downes easily jinked through the Newmarket defence to rifle to the net. That goal sandwiched two glorious chances for striker John Carmody who first failed to connect properly in front of an open goal after a teasing cross from Paddy Clancy in the 11th minute and the second came on the half hour when he rounded goalkeeper Trevor O’Donnell but screwed his left foot shot wide.

The home side sneer v Obs

clicked into gear though and bat- tling an icy breeze that cut through McDonough Park, they began the second half with renewed determi- nation. Unconsciously, despite being aided by the wind, Kilrush sat deep and drew Newmarket upon them. In the 47th minute, Jimmy Houli- han stroked a good chance just left of the post but it was only a warning of what was to come and in the 57th minute, it was the elusive Eoin Hayes who toe-poked home the equaliser after being put through by Mike O’ Malley.

Kilrush were now totally in defence mode, only posing a threat with Tony Burke’s booming clearances to his strike pairing. Instead, Newmarket continued to lay siege and as the shots tally built up, a goal for the home side appeared all too inevitable.

They did leave it late though. Just as supporters were bracing them- selves for another twenty minutes of frostbite, Eoin Hayes again popped up to knock a ball over the top for Jimmy Houlihan, who finished to the net amid appeals from Kilrush for offside.

In typically spirited fashion, Kil- rush did have one last sting in the tail when Trevor Clancy went through one-on-one with O’Donnell but the keeper was equal to it and Newmar- ket held out for a plum all-Premier second round tie with Bridge Celtic.

FIVE Clare villages are celebrat- ing the commencement of work on a wastewater treatment project that has been in the pipeline for more than 40 years.

Clare County Council has signed a €4.3 million contract with Treat- ment System Services Ltd (TSSL) to construct treatment facilities for the villages of Scariff, Tuamgraney and Feakle in east Clare, as well as Quilty and Mullagh in the west of the county.

The contract complements the ex- isting €7 million network contract, which is now nearing completion. Under the contract TSSL will design and build three new treatment, trans- fer and outfall facilities, including a sea outfall at Quilty, on the west coast of Clare. The contractor will then enter a 20-year operation and maintenance period bringing the ultimate value of the contract to €9 million. The scheme will be opera- tional by the end of 2009, and fully commissioned in early 2010. Welcoming the contract signing at Aras Contae An Chlair, Mayor of Clare Cllr Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) expressed her delight that a project that had been on the politi- cal agenda of Clare County Council for over 40 years had finally been brought to fruition.

“I would like to pay tribute to the many current, former and deceased county councillors who have worked

tirelessly to ensure that the depart- ment would sanction this long over- due project.

“IT also wish to compliment the engineering staff of Clare County Council who have always done their utmost to advance the project despite repeated alterations by the Department to the criteria for such schemes,” added the Mayor.

Councillor Taylor Quinn noted that for many years the lack of adequate infrastructure had led to pressure being placed on the rural areas con- cerned in relation to development.

The Mayor explained, “Due to the lack of such vital infrastructure in- creasing numbers of people have ap- plied to the county council for per- mission to build and to provide their own septic tank and water supply. I believe that the completion of work on the schemes will relieve much of this pressure and provide for the

rural regeneration and sustained eco- nomic development of the respective regions.”

Clare County Council has a sig- nificant water services programme underway at present. Water Supply Schemes are nearing completion in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Kilkee, En- nis, and Ballyvaughan. In addition sewerage schemes are underway or nearing completion in Tulla, New- market-on-Fergus and Corofin, with further improvement schemes to start in Quin and Killimer this year.

IT IS only a matter of time before someone is killed at Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon, which was described yesterday as “the most dangerous junction in Clare” by a local coun- cillor.

At yesterday’s local area meet- ing of Clare Council Council it was confirmed that the local authority had purchased the Blake property at the notorious junction and are in the process of purchasing the Linnane property.

Both properties, which are listed buildings, will be knocked and built a distance away from the current

junction, allowing the road to be widened in the area.

“T propose that we contact the NRA as a matter of urgency to in- sure that when the second property become savailable that we have the neccessary funding to be ready to go as soon as possible,” said Cllr Rich- ~Nue NE: Ted oe

It was proposed last year that the listed buildings be painted with bright yellow luminous stripes to prevent road accidents taking place at the site.

“We are only counting down the weeks until someone is killed at the place,’ said Cllr Martin Conway Cs6))

“It is probably the most dangerous junction in County Clare at the mo- ment. Old people are terrified when they are going to mass and I would urge urgency when dealing with Webel

Meanwhile, councillors have called for a clarification of the different heritage projects currently proposed in the Burren. At the moment the Burren is being put forward as a World Heritage Site while there is also a campaign underway to gain Geopark status for the area.

“There is a multiplicity of bodies in the Burren, people are wondering what is going on and will the Bur- ren be sterilised? I’d like to be able

to say to the people that their money is being well spent and will bring in more than is being spent on it,” said Cllr Michael Kelly (FF).

“I am happy that these projects are going ahead but I believe that it is my duty to keep my constituents informed of the cost of these public services. But the costing is not there. This year has seen severe pressures on our budget so we will have to take a good look at what can and cannot be done.

‘IT am in favour of projects like this and see the benefits of tourism but I need to be able to update the people of north Clare as to where their mon- ey 1S going.”

SHANNON-BASED Mentor Graph- ics (Ireland) Ltd reported a sharp in- crease in operating profits last year to €3.4 million.

Accounts lodged with the compa- nies office, show that the company increased operating profits from €33,000 in 2007 to €3.4 million.

The software manufacturer that deals in electronic design automa- tion (EDA) for electrical engineering and electronics had a 2% increase in turnover from €381 million in 2007 to €390 million in 2008.

The company and its subsidiaries based in Poland, Hungary, the Unit- ed Kingdom, Sweden and Pakistan are engaged in the research, develop- ment and manufacture of software and the distribution of its software in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific area.

The company is headquartered in Oregon in the US and employs 4,000 worldwide. Mentor Graphic’s Shan- non site is the International Services and Distribution centre for Informa- tion Technology, order fulfillment, finance, purchasing, facilities, con- sulting, customer support, legal and human resources for the European, Middle Eastern and Asian business.

The company enjoyed a 32% in- crease in gross profit, increasing from €67 million to €89 million.

A directors’ report attached to the accounts, state that it is their inten- tion to continue to develop the cur- rent activities of the company.

However, the 2008 figures show a pre-tax loss of €4 million after an exceptional item costed at €13 mil- lion were charged to the accounts.

A note attached to the accounts in- dicates that the €13 million impair- ment charge arose on the permanent diminuation in the value of part of the company’s investment in a sub- sidiary undertaking, Volcano Com- munications Technology AB.

At the end of January 2008, the company employed 352 people with 193 engaged in R&D, 77 in Admin- istration, Sales and Marketing in 55 and 27 in Management.

Staff costs increased in 2008 from €32.7 million to €35.9 million while the company had shareholder funds of €9.3 million at the end of Janu- ary 2008.

Directors’ salaries were €329,000; pension contributions of €80,000 and other emoluments of €33,000.