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KILRUSH is a town that has been unnecessarily hard on itself.

It is a maritime town, with a herit- age that local history groups around the country can only dream about. It has a community spirit that 1s unique for an urban environment and its people have a sense of identity and belonging that is both welcoming TOO Ms Nu0F

Yet for so long the town has had a major concern over how the rest of the county and country perceives it.

It had – like many urban centres – its anti-social and crime problems, orchestrated by a small group that had for a while infected the psyche and self-belief of this charismatic town.

Many community and _ business leaders were critical that the town they loved was given negative public- ity on a daily basis and feared that all the good work was being ignored.

It became critical of the messen- gers, but failed to see the entire mes- SERSZoR

But of late, Kilrush has been win- ning significant battles in its cam- paign to become a centre of business to challenge the county town, while retaining its unique west Clare iden- WIAA

The town council began work on John Paul Estate, long before na- tional Government saw the merits in developing local authority estates

to include community facilities and tackle pockets of urban decay where criminal activities could fester.

The mothers and fathers of John Paul Estate will soon have a place to bring up their children in safety and happiness. These good people have for so long put up with unacceptable elements in their community but the Kilrush spirit has seen them fight to reclaim their homes and a decent quality of life for the next genera-

tion.

At the other end of the town, an- other chapter of the town’s story is unfolding at the Kilrush Creek Ma- unt

While a €50 million development may be delayed or altered because of the recession, there is no doubt that the people of Kilrush are determined to see such a development there some day in the not so distant future.

At the turn of this century when

the economy was just about to grow, Kilrush boasted a marina develop- ment that is impressive even by to- day’s standards, a development the people now plan to build upon.

Just a few hundred yards away, the Merchant Quay Development had brought a new lease of life to the rey aee

National and international retailers are also showing faith in the town with Super Valu, Tesco and now

Aldi jostling for position in the retail market.

Talks are in progress to build a new community building to house the many voluntary and semi-state or- ganisations supporting the town.

Thousands of visitors visit the area every year to see the spectacular Vandeleur Walled Gardens, Scattery Island and the Marina.

The Yacht Club has gone from strength to strength in the town, and now attracts regattas to the west Clare coast. The club has also brought in- ternational acclaim to the town with the successes of “Chieftain” and the “Spirit of Kilrush”’.

Festivals such as Eigse Mrs Crotty have attracted music lovers from all over the world, and as other Irish towns failed to attract civil servants under the Government’s decentrali- sation project, Kilrush secured more than 50 jobs in the new Revenue Of- fices.

A new hotel is badly needed in Kil- rush, but even that is at hand with L and M Keating committing itself to such a project.

From its town council to its cham- ber of commerce; from its volunteer groups to its sporting organisation, there is an openess dealing with dai- ly issues that gets things done.

In an era when political bodies and groups fear speaking their minds, in Kilrush there is an honesty of opin- ion that you may not always agree with but will always respect.

THE department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the search is con- tinuing for a Clare woman who has been missing in Italy for 45 days. 82-year old Mairéad Cleary, a na- tive of Cratloe, went missing on Oc- tober 10 while on a holiday in Italy.

Described by her family as very fit and a regular walker, Mrs Geary was on holiday with her active retirement group in Streasa on Logo Maggiore, close to the Italian Swiss border.

She was last seen when she took a cable-car to the top of Mount Motta- rone, a popular viewing spot. When she got to the top, she set off for a walk on her own and has not been seen since. Her family travelled to Italy to be on hand but returned last week after police and rescue officials advised them to go home as there was little they could do there.

KILRUSH is well known for its mar- itime heritage, traditional music and past association with St Senan and the Vandeleur landlord family.

Less publicised, is Kilrush Wood, located within a few hundred metres of the town centre. The wood, which also has a restored walled garden, is now regarded as one of the flagship tourist venture in Clare.

Woodland and town are linked historically and socially: the name Kilrush is derived from the Irish Cill Rois, meaning church of the wood or wooded peninsula.

The wood has a holy well named after the sixth century monk, St Senan, who founded the nearby mo- nastic settlement in Scattery Island. The influence of the Vandeleurs is still evident in both town and wood. They were largely responsible for the unique design of Kilrush, now listed as a heritage town.

The 175 ha wood formed part of the estate of the Vandeleurs, a Dutch family who established a seat in Kil- rush around 1687. Crofton Vandeleur was responsible for the design of the walled garden, surrounding park- lands and wood up to his death in 1795.

The family had been highly regard- ed up until the mid-nineteenth cen- tury, but their popularity waned due mainly to the harsh treatment meted out to some of their tenants during and after the Great Famine.

The West Clare Railway linked

Kilrush with the national rail net- work in 1892 but by then the rela- tionship between tenant and landlord had deteriorated further, especially when Hector Vandeleur – an absentee landlord – took charge of the estate. When the house – built in 1808 – was destroyed by fire in 1897, it effective- ly marked the beginning of the end of the Vandeleurs as major landlords in the area.

The Land Commission took pos- session of the estate in the 1920s and the woodland was taken over by the then Forestry Division and today is managed by Coillte.

The garden itself has been sensi- tively restored and redesigned. It has a variety of plants, trees and shrubs while the centre has a coffee and craft shop and hosts a permanent ex- hibition ‘Kilrush in Landlord Times’, a reminder of both sides of landlord-

ism. Despite the darker side of the Vandeleurs, the people of Kilrush have resisted the temptation to air- brush the name from their history.

Instead they have named the re- stored walled garden after the family and have retained the name in one of the town’s streets.

Like the planting and care of the woodland, it is a confident gesture that looks to the future while ac- knowledging the past without being consumed by it.

It is a gesture that is in tune with the words of T.S. Eliot: “Time present and time past /Are both perhaps present in time future, /And time fu- ture contained in time past.”

AN ADDITIONAL charge has been brought in the case of a man charged in connection with an alleged serious attack at a hair salon in Ennis.

Anthony McDonagh (22), of Wa- terpark View, Ennis, was charged last Friday with producing an axe in the course of a dispute, at Brownie’s hair salon in The Market area of En- nis on September 18 last.

Previously, he was charged with assault causing harm to his second cousin David McDonagh (24), on the same date.

Detective Sergeant Michael Molo- ney told Ennis District Court that he charged the accused last Friday morning and in reply, he said, “I re- quire my solicitor.”

He told the court that the charge sheet was contained in the Book of Evidence that was served on the ac- cused that morning.

The accused’s solicitor asked that the case be adjourned for a fortnight and there was no objection from the SEI

Mr McDonagh was remanded in custody to appear again in court next month.

Wheelchair group launches calendar

A MAN’S eye socket was cracked and put out of place during an early morning altercation in Meelick, it has been claimed in court.

Arising out of the alleged incident, David (23) and Gary (22) Moloney, of Elton Court, Meelick, are accused of assaulting Mark Walsh, causing him harm, at Killavoher, Meelick, on June 28 last.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Shan- non District Court that Mr Walsh

received serious injuries to his face during a row at 3am.

“From a medical report his eye socket was cracked and put out of place,” he said. He said Mr Walsh’s face was swollen as a result of the incident.

He said he was punched into the face and kicked to the body, whilst on the ground.

Judge Joseph Mangan declined jurisdiction and adjourned the case for preparation of the Book of Evi- dence.

Ballyea GAA in good heart

A FORMER heroin addict has been warned she will face a stint in jail if she fails to co-operate with the Pro- bation services.

Carmel Duggan (23), of St Munch- in’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick

was one of two people who admit- ted entering homes in Meelick and Cratloe as trespassers, with intent to commit theft, in April 2007.

At Ennis Circuit Court last year, Duggan was handed a suspended jail term. Part of the conditions of the suspension was that she be un-

der the supervision of the Probation os ais one

However, the matter was re-entered by the Probation services last week. The court was told that she had failed to attend meetings with the Proba- tion services on two dates in Febru- ary and did not contact the office to

explain her absence.

Defence barrister Lorcan Connolly told the court his client was “gravely addicted to heroin” at the time of the offences, but has been drug-free for the past 17 months.

However, he said her house in Lim- erick has come under attack and she

was “hounded” out of it. “She was living in fear. She wishes to be given a second chance,” he said.

Judge Carroll Moran adjourned the case until January and said he would activate the sentence on that occa- sion if she fails to co-operate with the Probation services.

CLARE Fine Gael TD Joe Carey is one of a number of political fig- ures that has asked the minister for health to reverse her decision not to proceed with the vaccination programme against HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), a sexually trans- mitted infection that can lead to cervical cancer in some women. Deputy Carey said the abandon- ment of the programme proved that

“the minister for health is not pre- pared to address the fundamental issue of a real and genuine public sector reform’.

Speaking in the Dail on the HPV debate Deputy Carey explained how cervical cancer had ruined the life of one of his neighbours.

“She was diagnosed two years ago with cervical cancer. Her life was turned upside down; in her words, her life has been “wrecked” by the scourge of cancer. Her family life

has been ruined. She cannot under- stand what the minister is trying to do to the Irish people,” he said.

Cervical cancer is the eighth most common cancer in Ireland, with 240 new cases diagnosed every year and some 100 deaths.

“The minister gave an assurance to the public three months ago that this vaccine would be provided to all 12 year old girls. Three months later, however, this lifeline has been taken away for no apparent

reason other than to save a few euro. It is absolutely outrageous,” he said.

Clinical trials have shown that HPV vaccination prevents ad- vanced forms of non-invasive cer- vical cancer.

Although there are in excess of 200 HPV strains, just a small number are associated with the de- velopment of cancer of the cervix.

HPV types 16 and 18 are found in almost 70 per cent of cervical can-

cers, while another five sub-types are responsible for a further 20 per cent of cases.

However, the published data on the vaccine does not yet extend be- yond a six and a half follow-up pe- riod. There is currently a nine year study been under taken.

It has therefore yet to be scien- tifically proven that HPV vaccine prevents invasive cancer of the cer- vix or if a booster injection will be required in the future.

YOUNG people interested in music in the Shannon area are being chal- lenged to take part in a musical bat- tle, during which they can showcase Wd eCoy Dame DCooeLm

‘The Battle of the Bands’ compe- tition is being organised by Clare Youth Service in conjunction with the Shannon Music Project.

Open to all musical genres and all young bands, aged between 15 and 25, the competition will take place on Saturday, November 29, in New- market-on-Fergus hall.

Shannon Music Project was set up

to offer young people in Shannon the Support they need to develop their musical talents and provide them with a space to practice, perform and showcase their talents in their com- munity.

This is the first time that the Shan- non Music Project has organised such a competition. It is the latest in a series of well-organised initiatives run by the youth office in the town, which seeks to encourage young peo- ple in every way.

The youth office focuses on assist- ing young people to get the best out of their lives, through a diverse range of activities, competitions and social

events.

Local youth work worker, Cathal Dillon is hoping for a large turnout of bands, given the huge level of in- terest in music in the area.

“We hope that youth bands in Shannon will see this as a chance to showcase their talents and hopefully win the top prize title of Best Band in Shannon 2008,” said Mr Dillon.

While participation will be at the centre of the competition, there will be the added incentive for ambi- tious potential music stars, as there are prizes on offer on the day. Com- petitors will attempt to win the ‘Best Band in Shannon 2008’ or ‘Best

Original Song! award.

The winning band will receive an inaugural trophy, while the runners- up will receive five free music prac- tice sessions valued at €100. The third-placed team will win a €50 voucher for Roxy Records in Shan- nevae

Entry is by completed application form and these are available from music teachers at St Caimin’s and St Patrick’s Comprehensive School in Shannon and from Shannon Youth Office in Rineanna View.

Full information on the rules of the competition and eligibility can be found on the application form.