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THE developers of the €200 mil- lion Westpark development in the Shannon Free Zone have told Clare County Council the zoning of its site is out-dated and fails to address the contemporary issues facing modern business campuses.

The site is currently zoned ‘com- mercial’ but the owners of the 38 acre parkland site have told the Council that the ‘commercial’ zon-

ing should be changed to ‘enterprise and employment’ which would allow for the development of a variety of industries and allow the campus to adapt quickly and appropriately to changing market demands.

There are currently 700 people em- ployed in the business campus and in a submission on the Council’s South Clare Development Plan, Westpark say the main premise of their sub- mission is to secure a more flexible, dynamic and all emcompassing zon-

ing policy for the area.

“It is our contention that the zon- ing objectives and land use policies are overly restrictive, stifle business developments and do not allow the area to adapt to changing economic and market demands quickly”, their submission states.

Westpark is also seeking that the zoning would allow the development of apart hotel suites on the site.

“The lands are currently being un- der utilised and are ill-equipped to

meet changing market demands in a timely and efficient manner due to the prescriptive planning policies that relate to the site as present.

“The current economic climate suggests that it is becoming increas- ingly difficult to attract foreign in- vestment into Ireland, as the global market becomes more competitive. With this in mind, it is essential that innovative and adaptable enterprise zones are promoted so that compe- titeness is not hampered.

“Westpark would benefit enor- mously from a policy approach that promoted ancillary and supporting business uses within the traditional enterprise zones, as is now common practice throughout modern business campuses”

The submission states that the ra- tionale for providing the apart-hotels is that they “would act as a major pull factor for companies looking to invest in Shannon as they could pro- vide high quality accommodation.”

FARMING groups and opposition politicians joined in criticising the negative effects that the budget will have on agriculture with particular concern being voiced over cutbacks to the early retirement, waste man- agement, suckler cow and disadvan- taged area schemes.

Stating that it was time for the backbenchers in Fianna Fail to stand up and be counted, Clare Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen asked if they would continue with the old Fianna Fail double-speak, saying one thing in the constituency and the opposite when they come to the Dail?

Referring to the Farm Waste Management Scheme, he said many farmers fear that they will not be paid because the allocation for the scheme has already been spent this year. He urged the Government to make a case to the European Com- mission on extreme hardship. Oth- erwise, the farmers of Clare and elsewhere will pay a huge price for its inaction in not protecting the ag- ricultural industry.

His party colleague, Deputy Joe Carey accused the Government of sidelining Ireland’s farming commu- nity and forgetting their needs.

The early retirement scheme, de- signed to give farmers who had

worked hard all their lives a small reimbursement at retirement, was been abandoned. The installation aid for young people beginning their farming careers was also scrapped at a time when there was a need to retain as many young farmers on the land as possible.

A 10% increase in rainfall was recorded at Shannon in the first 10 months of the year and it would have been entirely appropriate for the Government to extend the deadline for the Farm Waste Management Scheme by six months. Fine Gael through a private members motion sought this extension but it was de- feated as Fianna Fail and the govern- ment voted against it.

ICSA rural development chair- man Gabriel Gilmartin warned that budget cutbacks would be a central issue in next year’s local and Euro- pean elections.

He said the cuts in Disadvantaged Area payments and the halving of the Suckler Cow Welfare scheme were grave news for farmers. The average farmer in the west of Ireland farming 45 hectares of average land, with 40 cows was now facing a loss of €2,655 p/a on top of the one per- cent income levy. This compared with a banker earning €100,000, who would be only €1,000 worse off as aresult of the budget.

A WOMAN whose running career began in Shannon is returning to the town to encourage others to take to the track.

Deirdre Daly-Cahill, has, over the past three years, encouraged doz- ens of women to take up running, through her Meet and Train sessions in Ennis.

She selflessly gave of her time and organised weekly meetings on a vol- untary basis, since 2006. Now, under the auspices of the Clare Sports Part- nership, Deirdre takes a Meet and Train running group in Ennis every Monday night. The Ennis group started five weeks ago and there has been a phenomenal response, with more than 60 women attending every week. Given the resounding success of the Ennis initiative, Clare Sports Partnership co-ordinator John Sweeney decided to organise a pilot project in Shannon, starting tomor- row, Wednesday, at 8pm.

The group will meet at the Shan- non Development office at SkyCourt and will walk/run a one-mile loop, passing St Patrick’s Comprehensive School, the garda station and back to the starting point. The route is fully lit.

Deirdre emphasised that women of all ages and fitness levels are wel- come to attend.

‘The Meet and Train caters for all levels of fitness, from the walker that wishes to progress to jogging and to the jogger who wishes to run a 10k without stopping,” she said.

While she lives at Roslevan, Ennis, Deirdre is no stranger to Shannon. Her mother Christina hailed from Coolmen and her father Michael originally came from Ballyea, just outside Ennis. The family lived in Shannon for a period, when Deirdre was in school.

“History has come full circle. My mother was involved in the running craze in the 1970s and jogged that very same route when a group got to-

gether to keep fit,” she recalled.

While living in Shannon, Deir- dre attended St Conaire’s National School and was taken running by one Ger Loughnane, who taught at that school then. That was when her love of running was born.

“I do remember Ger Loughnane taking us out running. [ also ran with Shannon Athletics Club,” she said.

Although Deirdre gave up running for a number of years while living in London, her passion for the sport re-ignited when she moved to Dublin more than 10 years ago.

“One evening I saw a group of peo- ple out running in Chapelizod. It was the Donore Harriers Meet and Train Group, run by the famous Jim McNa- mara (former Olympian),” she said. Deirdre quickly joined that group and never looked back. Indeed, Jim was her inspiration when she began coaching three years ago. Along with her coaching, Deirdre also runs competitively with Ennis Track Club and ran the Dublin City Marathon

with Clare Crusaders two years ago. Deirdre is also a personal trainer, where she provides one-to-one train- ing from the proverbial couch potato to the fitness fanatic and is available for appointments.

She is optimistic that Meet and Train will take off in Shannon, given the huge interest in fitness among people of all ages.

“Shannon is a progressive town. I believe there would be sufficient in- terest,’ she said.

Anyone interested in joining Deir- dres Meet and Train group should contact Catherine Ryan at Clare Sports Partnership by calling 065 6865434.

ADULTS are buying alcohol for those under the age of 18, while they wait outside off-licenses for them, it has been claimed.

The revelation emerged in court from a 17-year-old girl from Ennis, who said she asked people to buy alcohol for her at three named off- licenses in the town.

The girl is accused of being in- toxicated in public at Abbey Street, Ennis, on May 18 last. Judge Joseph Mangan noted that “Drink seems to be at the root of all these problems.”

Ennis District Court was told on Friday that the young girl accepted that this was the case. Her solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client would be prepared to comply with the Pro- bation services.

Judge Mangan called the girl up before him and asked her where she was getting the alcohol. She said it was being bought in off-licences. ‘‘Any of them,” she said.

Asked to specify, she replied, “Fine Wines; over by MT Pockets; Carry Out. That’s all.”

Judge Mangan asked her, “How do you get drink?” She replied, “People that I hang around with are 18.”

He asked her where she was located when the alcohol was being bought for her. “Waiting outside the offie,” she replied. The judge asked her was it handed to her as the buyers left the off-licences and she said, “Ya.”

Inspector Tom Kennedy then told the court that a recent case in Shan- non had been brought to court, where a young man bought alcohol for a girl who was under 18. The judge asked,

“Is it a case with some people, Hear no evil, See no evil?”

The inspector replied, “We have carried out surveillance. It 1s difficult enough to detect. It is not always as blatant as that.”

The judge placed the girl on proba- tion for 12 months. He ordered her to comply with counselling and treat- ment and undertake to comply with a urine analysis programme.

THE Burren Smokehouse completed a hat trick of success at the recent SHOP 2008 exhibition when the Lis- doonvarna company not only took the awards for best Irish product and best chilled/frozen product but also the top accolade of best overall prod- uct for its Honey Whiskey and Fen- nel Glazed Cold Smoked Organic Salmon .

The exhibition which was staged at the RDS is one of the main trade events of the year for a sector which is valued at an estimated €23.8 bil- lion with exports of €8.62 billion.

Designed for the retail, food and drink sectors to develop new busi- ness, launch new products and net- work, SHOP welcomed over 4,000

focused buyers and decision-makers to the exhibition

Commenting on the Clare compa- ny’s success, Garret Buckley, joint Managing Director, Expo Events, said that winning the overall award was a wonderful accolade for any business as there was huge compe- tition among exhibitors and an ex- tremely high standard. For the Bur- ren Smokehouse to win three awards was a truly outstanding achieve- ment.

THE 35th ICOS National Co-opera- tive conference will be held in Dub- lin’s Citywest conference centre next Monday, November 3 when the key- note address will be given by Agri- culture Minister Brendan Smith.

Sponsored by FBD TRUST, the conference, entitled “Co-operative Business – Ready for 2015 and Be- yond” will have two international speakers who have spearheaded ground breaking campaigns within the co-operative movements in their own countries.

Kees Wantenaar is the Chairman of Campina Co-op in Holland. With a turnover of €4bn from its global op- erations, it is the second largest dairy co-op in Holland. Set to merge with the largest, Friesland Foods, turnover will be in excess of €9bn. Mr Wan- tenaar will be the first Chairman of the newly merged FrieslandCampina when it receives EU Competition clearance.

Also speaking 1s Blue Read, Chair- man of Fonterra Shareholders Coun- cil, New Zealand. The council is an independent body from the board of Fonterra and the role is to review and

monitor the board’s performance as well as to represent the interests of shareholders in the Co-op.

Irish Co-ops can learn important lessons from Mr Read’s address, es- pecially on the issues of Governance and the representation of sharehold- ers’ interests along with Fonterra’s role in developing directors and shareholder representatives to carry out their roles in the Co-op.

Also speaking will be Tom O’Mahony, Chief Executive of Ori- gin Enterprises – a major player in the Agri Nutrition sector in Ireland, UK and Poland; John Tyrrell, Direc-

tor General of ICOS focusing on the future challenges facing co-ops and Ray Doyle, ICOS Livestock Services Executive addressing issues on Car- bon and Climate changes for proces- sors and producers.

The conference is expected to be fully attended because of such high profile speakers.

The Irish Co-operative industry is facing difficult challenges, the aim of the ICOS conference is to support those businesses and their members to plan and proactively lead the Irish Co-op agribusiness sector in meet- ing those challenges.

THE founder of one of the leading Lovie alee mmr TIC MOM BDO ab NsounIty companies in the western region has reiterated his commitment to build- ing a hotel in Kilrush and developing the marina.

Louis Keating of Kilmihil based L and M Keating Ltd, was speaking at the launch of the company’s biggest ever development in Kilrush — The Merchants Quay Business Quarter.

‘This is our first job in the town as developers. Generally we see our- selves as contractors, we generally tender for work, sign contract and carry out work on time,” he told the packed room at the development’s launch.

“These offices are part of a larger development which consisted of apartments, offices, hotel and a multi storey car park. The apartments at this stage are built. We acquired the

project in the past few months and we have now completed the offices and we do intend if possible at all, to proceed with the hotel and with the car park.

‘I suppose in the current economic climate, its unlikely in the next few months that we will be commencing work on the hotel but we are very aware that Kilrush really needs a hotel, and I know all of the bodies in the town are very supportive of a hotel,” he told the mix of business people and politicians.

“In fact everywhere I go I am al- ways asked, any move on the hotel?” he added.

‘As people may be aware we also have involvement with the marina in Kilrush. Our company together with another company are the preferred bidders to develop the marina.

“Now we have quite ambitious plans, again they are on the back burner to some degree at the mo-

ment but we are still actually talking to Shannon Development and I am quiet confident that we will carry out our development dreams in the ma- rina, and I think this would be a great boost for the town,” he said.

Merchants Quay has been hailed as Kilrush’s landmark building with office and commercial unit available for sale or lease.

Mr Keating also pointed out that the units are one of the few tax-des- ignated properties in the country.

Dentist Dr Niall McCarthy has al- ready decided to take up residence in the building.

Ten years ago Louis Keating went through the old mills – then boarded up and closed – that make up the new state of the art development.

“Today is part of a new life for these building and I hope they are just as noisy as ever they were with just as many people working here, and that they are as important a part of Kil-

rush as they always were,” he said.

“Vd like to acknowledge the vi- sion of Mark and Dermot Reidy who started off this project,’ he added be- fore thanking all those that worked on the development.

He added a special word of ap- preciation to the new development’s neighbours Charles and Edel Glynn for their patience during the two and a half years work.

Mayor of Clare Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) congratulated Mr Keating and thanked him for the amount of employment his company brought to west Clare.

‘He is a very humble man who does a very good job and we really are proud of him,” she said.

A WOMAN threatened to kill four gardai during a stand-off at her home on the outskirts of Ennis, it has been alleged.

Caitriona Barker (37), of Bridge Court, Roslevan, Ennis, is accused of threatening to kill or harm a garda sergeant and three gardai, on May 14, 2007. She is also accused of pro-

ducing a knife, on the same date.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told En- nis District Court that gardai were called to the home of the accused at 1.40am. The front door was open and the accused was staggering on the street. He said she appeared she be 1n a distressed state.

“It will be alleged she produced a knife from behind her back and threatened the guards she would kill

them and herself,” he said.

‘There was a stand-off for a short period before gardai overpowered her and took possession of the knife. Gardai were not injured,” he said.

He said Ms Barker was disorien- tated and fell over a flowerpot.

Judge Joseph Mangan (right) said he was declining jurisdiction. The case will be sent forward to the Cir- cuit Court.

IT’S top marks all round for the lead- ing tourism enterprises of the region and the accolade has come from the most important source of all – the Kes ae

In what was the most detailed sur- vey of customer satisfaction in the Mid West, over 5,500 visitors gave their verdict on tourism attractions, hotels, restaurants, retail operations, activity centres and hostels.

Ratings on every count were very

Dympna O’Callaghan

“The difference in a good and great company is the leadership provided at management level. With three out of four businesses failing once their founder retires, business owners now recognise the need for effective leadership in their companies and are hungry to improve these skills and apply practical leadership ideas which will improve their impact as a leader, straight away,’

That was the message from Mike Gaffney of Galway-based Leader- ship and Management Development company LEAP, when he addressed a Shannon Chamber leadership sem- inar in Shannon last week.

positive with satisfaction on levels of excellent, very good and good reach- ing 80 per cent and over in every case. In no case did visitors register fair or poor ratings above 10 per cent.

“The survey has proved a price- less marketing tool and guide for the future but in a very difficult year, it has shown that the operations taking part in the survey are getting it right as far as customers from all markets are concerned” said Padraig Cleary, Regional Director for the Tourism Learning Network.

Over forty business leaders from the Shannon area attended this lively seminar and went away not only ques- tioning their leadership styles, but assessing their individual strengths and weaknesses as a leader, having been urged to “Know Thyself’.

Helen Downes, interim chief exec- utive, Shannon Chamber, comment- ed: “This event was timely in light of the current economic downturn. The attendees listened intently to Mike Gaffney’s authoritative words. They certainly left with a lot of food for thought knowing that leadership brings clarity to a business and that success is built on this clarity.

Commenting on the high level of at- tendance at the event, Mike Gaffney

The survey was carried out over a ten week period by over 50 members of the Tourism Learning Network as their major 2008 project in the three- year Failte Ireland programme which is now coming to a close.

The highest score recorded in the Survey was in the restaurant sector where the friendliness of staff won ratings of excellent from 65 per cent of those surveyed, with 28 per cent on very good and just short of 6 per cent on good. The combined positive satisfaction ratings for restaurant

added: “LEAP is delighted to be able to help owners with this pertinent challenge. We are delighted with the response we received from the busi- ness community in the Shannon re- gion to this event and we would like to thank everyone at Shannon and District Chamber who contributed to its success.’

The event ended on a positive note when the event’s sponsor, Smart Tel- ecom, offered Shannon and District Chamber members or new customers a 15% discount.

Shannon Chamber will host similar business-focused events in the com- ing months. Details will be posted on the Chamber website www.shan- nonchamber.ie.

customers surveyed came to 99 per one

The retail sector also scored highly with the friendliness experienced by visitors bringing high ratings while friendliness and hospitality also scored highly for participating ho- tels. Value for money and the warmth of welcome also won strong approval el ebO tease

The main shortcomings identified by visitors related to aspects of ho- tels, hostels and activity centres. The combined total of 18 per cent of cus-

tomers who registered fair and poor ratings for hotel bathrooms was the highest level of negative reaction. A further 13 per cent were not entirely happy with their hotel rooms.

Hostels and activity centres scored high on the scale in overall positive reaction from visitors but were found wanting in other aspects. Hostels were given lower levels of satisfac- tion in value for money while ap- proval levels at activity centres were lower in relation to equipment and value for money.

ENNIS greets November with the sound of music as the Ennis Trad Festival reels into life next week.

A fixture on the live music calendar for 15 years, this year’s festival runs from November 6-10.

As always, the festival offers a healthy traditional spread of con- certs, workshops and competitions.

Noel Hill, Tony Linnane, Sean O’Sé and the Turloughmore Ceili band and the Kilfenora Céili Band are just some of the well known names due to perform in Ennis over the week.

Elsewhere classes will be given in playing instruments, singing and CP Tater bates

Flute player and Miltown Malbay native Jon Dodd will give a talk on the care and maintenance of wooden flutes, while Steve Corry, a sound engineer presents a talk on sound engineering and equipment for trad1- tional music on November 8 in the County Museum. The centrepiece of the festival is the Ceili Band com- petition Ard Ghaisce na mBuionta, which takes place on Friday, Novem- ber 7 in the West County Hotel.

The Great Céili Band Challenge

was a big hit at last year’s festival and this year has been expanded to 13 bands. John Rynne, the event or- ganiser explained that this will be a sporting opportunity for several of the best céili bands in Ireland to- day to compete for a first prize of €5,000, in a public setting designed to test their mettle.

Last year’s winners Ceoltoiri na Mainistreach will again be the band to beat out, having finished third in this year’s All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Tullamore.

Second and third place bands will receive €2,000 and €1,000 each and

the competition is set up in a way to ensure that the battle will be hotly and vigorously contested.

Most of the bands have competed, toured and performed at all the high- est level events including Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.

The winners on the night will be decided by votes taken from the au- dience and by four independent adju- dicators. The €15 entry ticket guar- antees a voting paper in addition to a vibrant night of céili band music.

The festival concludes November 10 with a performance by the lively Cape Breton based band, Beolach.