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INAGH man Flan Garvey will this week become the first person ever to obtain a degree from a college that he is also in charge of. Besides being a member of Clare County Council, Garvey is chairman of the govern- ing body of Tralee IT and will this week be conferred with a degree for his research work on the Inagh and Kilnamona parish.

Flan has just completed a 400 page thesis which is the culmination of 3 years research into the long and proud history of the area.

‘“‘T have huge a whole host of sources in compiling this information. I have trawled through the national archives in Dublin and have also been through the records left by the six schools which used to operate in the parish,” said the Fianna Fail councillor.

“We had two creameries in the parish long ago which are now both gone. Those creameries tell the story of the parish in a very interesting way. There used to be 300 farmers in Inagh creamery alone in the 1940s, now the creamery is gone and there are only three farmers left in the area who are producing milk.”

As well as utilising a myriad histor- ical and biographical records on the locality, Flan also conducted a series of interviews with elderly people liv- bOTcaB DOO atomOr-DuLIOE

“The research goes back very far. I studied a soil analysis taken in the parish which traces how the geogra- phy of the area has developed over the centuries. So, unless you go back and talk to God you can’t go back any farther than that,” he continued.

“I tracked the history of the vari- ous invaders who came into this part of Clare and the history of the monks who came to Inagh back in

the 1640’s. I have interview old peo- ple and young people about different things which have gone on in the par- ish. I interviewed an 98 years old man last week to get his memories of the area.” Once he graduates, Flan hopes to publish the book as the definitive history of the parish of Inagh.

“Once I finish up the thesis I think I will take a break for it for awhile but after that I do intend to publish it,’ he Leyslw pel eterem

“I don’t have any exact time frame or even a name in mind yet but it would be great to publish it in due course.”

INCOMING president of the INTO, Corofin native Declan Kelleher lashed out at budget measures which will affect class sizes in his presi- dential speech at the weekend and he was supported by Bishop of Killaloe, Willie Walsh.

Speaking to 450 delegates at the Presidential dinner in the Falls Ho- tel in Ennistymon, Kelleher said he “could not allow the week to go by without reference to the devastating, and savage attack on the education of

our four to 12-year-olds by Minister Brian Lenihan aided by Education Minister O’ Keeffe.”

He described a post-budget state- ment that cut backs would have no negative effects on primary school children as “mind boggling. What planet is the Minister for Education living on? Promoting four year olds from being in the second largest pri- mary classes on the entire continent of Europe to being in the largest and most overcrowded of all is a direct negation of all that the vital years of early childhood education in our in-

fant classes stand for,’ he said.

He asked how it would be possible to educate primary school children “in herds” and still get them to real- ise their potential.

“And how do you protect the child with special needs, with learning dif- ficulties or the child without English as a first language in the context of overcrowded, stifling, unsafe and un- hygienic classrooms?”’

Wishing the new INTO president well in his office, Bishop Walsh said that the “last week has radically al- tered the landscape in relation to the

economy .

‘The fear is that the budgetary con- straints will have a hugely negative impact on the provision of primary education. I am particularly aware of the immensely valuable work that our teachers have provided through language support for our new Irish. Our schools and teachers have of- ten been the first face of welcome to this country. Equally they have often been among the first providers of in- tegration into the local communities. I fear greatly that this work will be hampered and diminished.”

RESIDENTS of an entire terrace in Ennis have taken the unusual step of seeking to have their homes zoned for commercial development to in- crease their market value.

The owners of 33 homes along Steele’s Terrace, opposite the court- house and Fairgreen, have lodged a submission with Clare County Coun- cil to have their homes rezoned to

allow small-scale commercial activ- ity take place and have employed a planning consultant to advance their case.

In a comprehensive submission, the council has been told that when Steele’s Terrace was originally zoned for residential purposes, the houses were occupied by indigenous fami- Wty

This is not the case today as most of the houses are rented to transient

occupiers so the need to retain resi- dential usage for families is not as great. A small number of the houses are used as medical offices since the early 1990s.

“The terrace is now on the town- side of a substantial retail land use at Sheil’s and beside prime land at Kelly’s corner which will be redevel- oped for commercial purposes. It is also opposite the courthouse, which has been redeveloped.

‘The general pattern of the develop- ment has changed substantially over the last number of years and there is a local demand for small offices for solicitors, accountants similar to Bindon Street.

‘The houses in Steele’s Terrace are old and were built to different resi- dential expectations. They cannot compete with modern purpose built residential acccommodation from the point of view of bedroom space, toilet accommodation, general stor- age and living space.

‘The terrace is part of the archi- tectural heritage of the town and its use for office/residential accommo- dation would not adversely impact on this designation. A similar situa- tion obtains in Bindon Street and the character of the street has not been compromised by its commercial land use.

The planner’s report on the rezon- ing application states that “rezoning to permit commercial uses would in effect be extending the town centre along a 300 metre finger of develop- ment fronting the Gort Road. The draft plan has already rezoned two terraces on Carmody Street to permit commercial uses suited to this type of property”’.

The report concludes that the ter- race be retained for predominantly residential use.

SW elemnterDme(crersCoIROemseomerrlncu ens be made by members of Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council.

DESPITE an ancient tradition of us- ing herbal medicine in north Clare, the area has been without a practic- ing herbalist for many years now. All that is about to change however with the arrival of herbalist Lisa Guinan, who has just launched a new practice in Ennistymon.

A Dubliner by birth, Lisa has strong connections with the north of the county and will join the growing team of alternative healers working out of St Bridget’s Homeopathy and Healing Centre on Main Street.

‘IT have always had a great connec- tion with Clare. I have two sisters

living down here for years so I have been coming down here for years. It’s been in my mind to come here for years so I figured that now was the time to take the plunge,” she said.

“I am herbalist and I also do naturopathy. There is no-one else practicing as a herbalist in north Clare, in fact I think that I may be the only herbalist practicing in all of Clare at the moment. I work out of St Bridget’s Healing Centre in Ennisty- mon along with a whole host of other natural healers.”

A qualified herbalist and naturo- path, Lisa is registered with The Irish Register of Herbalists and the Association of Naturopathic Practi-

tioners.

She is also affiliated with The Na- tional Herbal Council responsible for the quality and standardisation of herbalist practitioners in the coun- try. “With herbalism you are treating the whole person and not the illness. So someone might come into me with a skin problem, but I wont just look skin because the root problem could be with the liver perhaps, they might have too much toxins in the blood,” she continued.

“So because we are treating the whole person we can always make an improvement, no matter what is wrong. It can also be good to treat

people who don’t have any specific illness, they just don’t have much en- ergy or are feeling lethargic.

‘They may have some smaller di- gestive problems that we could help with. I treat people by giving them a herbal formula. A patient will come in and I will spend an hour or more with them going through their his- re ays

“Depending on what they say I will put together a liquid herbal formula for them. These formulas are unique to each person and targeted to give them exactly what they need.”

For more information contact Lisa at 0877531023 or lisahar@gmail. one

THE proposed outsourcing of cabin crew on Aer Lingus transatlantic flights will not directly affect the number of American tourists who use Shannon Airport, according to a leading tourism spokesman.

This outsourcing, which is part of the massive cost saving plan pro- posed by management last week, would see American based cabin crew employed on the flights with only pilots to be based in Shannon.

According to Lahinch hotelier and local spokesperson for the Irish Ho-

tel federation, Michael Vaughan the proposal may have impacted on the old Aer Lingus model, but will not adversely affect the new low-cost model.

“Aer Lingus has always used the image of being an Irish airline to attract business, especially from America. | think if outsourcing of cabin crew does take place then they really won’t be able to say that any- more,’ he said.

“They have adopted the low cost model and one of the assumptions of this model is that the person re- ally doesn’t mind who brings them to

their destination as long as they can get there for the price they want. In the older model for Aer Lingus this might have been an issue but I’m not sure that if will have an impact Ce) A

Mr Vaughan believes that the worst case scenario for tourism in the re- gion is if no agreement is reached between unions and the airline and a “wind down” of services comes into effect.

“I see this as a HR issue for Aer Lingus. They have to get their cost base right and negotiate with the un- ions. At present we don’t believe that

there is any threat to their transatlan- tic service out of Shannon barring a situation where we cannot come to some agreement. If this is the situa- tion I would assume that there will be some sort of wind down of serv- ices and that would have a damaging effect on the region, there is no doubt about that,’ he continued.

“That said it is quite possible that other airlines would see a possible opportunity in that. I know that Delta and Continental are quite happy with their activity of late and may just see an opportunity for themselves there.

“T am always conscious of the fact

that there are people’s jobs at stake here in Shannon, but in my position I must take a wider view. We have been hostages to fortune in Shannon for so long now. It’s like there has been a sword hanging over us for years now and there is a feeling within the busi- ness community that it is time to get the house in order in Shannon and go forward positively into the future in- stead of going forward with a chip on our shoulder about one thing or the other. In a perverse sort of way this may be a golden opportunity to en- Sure proper services in Shannon for the future.”

CLARE beef farmers will save hun- dreds of euro next year following the decision to introduce the new 48-month rule for BSE testing. The new approach to BSE testing was an- nounced by the Department of Ag- riculture last month but it was last week announced that the new testing regime would be introduced from January 1, 2009.

The news was welcomed by east Clare farmers and Chairperson of the ICMSA Beef and Cattle Com- mittee, Martin McMahon, who says that it will have a major impact on

ie Ve silo ae

“This definite commencement date brings to an end a period of regret- table uncertainty and false starts and we estimate that the savings to farm- ers could be of the order of €8 mil- lion per annum,” he said.

“The new 48-month rule is further concrete evidence that the BSE prob- lem is now firmly in the past and also represents full recognition by the Commission of the excellent system of cattle identification and tractabil- ity which operates in Ireland.

“The new rule removes an unnec- essary cost and irrelevant age cut- off point and provides farmers with

more flexibility regarding the mar- keting of their cattle.”

Speaking on the issue when it was initially announced, Clare TD, Tony Killeen, said that the move would deliver significant savings to farmers who currently pay to have healthy slaughtered animals over 30 months tested for BSE.

“The current testing requirements are unjustified when one considers the significant progress made in re- ducing the incidence of the disease in Ireland, from a high of 333 cases in 2003 to 25 last year and 12 to date in 2008,” he said.

“Tam confident, based on the reduc-

tion in the disease in Ireland and the extensive controls in place, that Ire- land’s application will be approved and that the new testing regime may even be in place from early 2009.

“From the outset of his appoint- ment Minister Brendan Smith has continually identified the increase in the age limit for BSE testing as a priority. One of the first things he did as minister was to write to the EU Commissioner and he has taken every opportunity since to press the Commissioner to increase the age limit, particularly when he had met Commissioner Vassiliou at meetings of the EU Agriculture Council.”

TWO contentious infrastructural projects for Ennis have been shelved as government funding streams start to dry up.

The proposed redevelopment of the market and the Ennis Library project have both been deferred, according to Ennis Town Council’s report on capital projects.

In the case of the market redevel- opment, the report states that “the ouncil has been advised by the De- partment of the Environment that all local authority loans previously sanctioned but which have not been drawn down, have been withdrawn’’.

The report continues, “The impact of this at local level means that the redevelopment of the market must be

deferred. Local authorities have been advised that loan approval can be ap- plied for in 2009″.

The proposal to build a new two- storey library at the post office field has also hit a roadblock. According to the report, Ennis Town Council has been informed “that all library projects which have not reached ten- der approval stage cannot proceed at this time. A new Capital Funding Programme is being prepared by the Department of the Environment for library projects”.

In the past there has been staunch opposition to the re-development of the Post Office Field, a green-field currently zoned amenity, from local community groups and local coun- I oyace

The report states that a concept

plan has been prepared for the Post Office Field.

The re-development of the market, meanwhile, courted opposition from traders operating in the area.

However there has been some movement on seven capital projects. The report states that the completion of the Ennis inner relief road has been “accorded first priority” and has been forwarded to tender stage.

The development of Tim Smythe Park and Clonroad Park has also proceeded to tender stage. Work in the development of the a youth café in Cloughleigh, an indoor facility at Lees Road and the redevelopment of O’ Connell square, has also pro- eressed, though all three projects are subject to government finance.

Meanwhile, the report states “the

acquisition of additional housing stock in 2009 will depend on avail- ability of additional capital funding from the Department of the Environ- ment in 2009”

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said he was disappointed with the delays and with the loss of funding for the market re-development.

Cllr Joe Reidy (FF) said he too was disappointed with the delays but add- ed that it was good to see progress on other projects.

Cllr Tom Glynn (FF) urged the council to formulate a clear and defi- nite plan for the Post Office Field. Town clerk Eddie Power said the council expected to have funds for Tim Smythe Park and the youth café but that funding for Lees Road is “some way down the line”.

NORTH Tipperary County Council have secured a number of undertak- ings from protesters who had been maintaining a blockade close to a house allocated to a ten member family from the travelling commu- nity, the High Court heard yesterday.

The High Court was told that un- dertakings had been given by a group of residents from the town of Ballina that they would not intimidate or as-

sault Council employees or the fam- ily, nor would they interfere with the access to or trespass on the house.

On Monday Mr Justice Paul Gilli- gan, after being informed of the un- dertakings, agreed to adjourn gener- ally injunction proceedings against a number of residents from Cullenagh, Ballina, County Tipperary, from con- tinuing with a blockade of the house fesse u ieee

The protest began early last month when residents discovered that a

house at Cullenagh had been ac- quired by the Council for the purpose of housing the O’Reilly family.

Last week the Council was granted permission by the High Court to no- tify those individuals involved in the blockade of their intention to seek an injunction aimed at restraining the protesters from interfering and tres- passing on the property.

Mr David Kennedy SC for the Council told the court the situation had become very inflamed. He said

glue had been placed in the house’s locks, the electricity had been cut off and the council employees attending the property were in fear of being in- timidated by those maintaining the blockade.

The O’Reilly family consists of the parents and their eight children, some of whom had special needs and were currently residing in a mobile home on the side of the road with no toilet facilities and no electricity.

The family are from the locality

and have been on the housing list since 2000.

Since the dispute began last Sep- tember a number of residents had en- tered the council’s offices in Nenagh and verbally abused people there resulting in the gardai being called. The residents had been outside the house at Cullenagh since September Rees

The council intends to have the family move into the house as soon as possible.

CALLS have been made for the hugely successful duty-free compa- ny, Aer Rianta International, (ARI) to plough back some of its profits to market Shannon Airport, where the duty-free concept was born.

As the airport faces the loss of 280 Aer Lingus jobs, a former senior management figure with ARI has said it’s payback time for the com- pany, which made pre-tax profits of €291 million in the 12 months to the end of 2007.

This was a huge increase on the €17.5 million filed with the compa- nies office for the previous year.

The company, which is based at Shannon Airport, paid ©230 million in dividends last year to its parent group, the Dublin Airport Authority and repaid €98 million to the DAA. Sales from ARI’s duty free shops in Russia, the Middle East, Europe and North America rose by 58 per cent to €69 million.

The Commonwealth of Independ- ent States – Russia and it’s former territories – accounted for €64.8 million of ARI’s turnover and their next biggest revenue contributor, the Middle East, generated sales of €2.4 million. Europe brought in €1.6 mil- lion of sales and North America was last in line with sales of €214,000.

Now a former senior management

figure, who was closely involved in setting up much of ARI’s business, has called for some of the money to be ploughed back into marketing the airport where the duty-free concept Veh o0) 60

He believes that “between 10 and 20 per cent” of ARI’s profits should be used to help Shannon in these troubled times.

There was no-one from the DAA available to comment on the proposal but it is understood that the authority would not see any compunction on ARI to contribute to any Shannon airport marketing drive.

The ARI is a company in it’s own right and apart from being based at Shannon has no other direct connec- tion with the airport.

Another company is responsible for running the duty-free shops at Shan- non, Dublin and Cork airports.

However, many supporters of the airport would see the ARI’s success as being at least in part due to the Clare facility being the first home of duty free.

In 1951 the first airport duty-free liquor shop was opened. It started as a ship’s store where airline stewards purchased supplies for re-sale to pas- sengers when the aircraft became ~Npuee) uae

Later, passengers were allowed to buy drink and tobacco at duty-free prices on a restricted basis.

CLARE dairy farmers turned out in force for two farm walks last week held on the farms of Paddy Harvey, Brisla, Cooraclare and Patrick Mur- phy, Cornmallow, Quin. The two farmers were selected as new moni- tor farms this year, and serve an es- sential role in recording production data and costs trends on farms as part of the Teagasc/Kerry Agribusiness focus on farm profit programme.

The main theme of the walks was centered on performance and costs on the farms, as well as managing grass and grazing under difficult conditions as fodder budgeting for the coming winter.

Ger Courtney, Teagasc monitor farm programme coordinator, gave an in-depth run down on perform- ance of the farms in terms of milk supplied, costs of production and the breeding within the herds with particular attention to the herd’s EBI and calving patterns.

He also explained how farmers can estimate their own fodder situation and gave advice on how supplemen- tation can be used to ensure adequate feed is available for the upcoming winter period.

Aidan Bugler, Local Dairy Adviser covered the area of grass budgeting on each farm illustrating the impor- tance of having a plan for managing grass in the autumn with the aim of

keeping grass in the cows diet for as long as possible, while at the same time ensuring enough grass is car- ried over for next spring.

He acknowledged that the weather conditions this autumn have made building up grass very difficult. How- ever he was anxious to show how the two farms had taken corrective action early by feeding some silage and meal which will help maximize OF Acer Nimes ehh

Tom Gleeson, Local Dairy Advis- er, covered the area of soil fertility and stressed the need for regular soil sampling as a must if farmers are to have any chance of keeping costs un- der control. This he said is particu- larly true this year considering that

the costs of fertilizers have increased so dramatically in recent times. The need to keep soils limed and maxi- mizing the benefits of slurry were seen by Tom as an essential part of nutrient management on farms.

Rina Sayers, MVB Moorepark, covered the area of herd health with particular emphasis on BVD and IBR infections in herds. Her main message was prevention is better than cure and she stressed the need for on farm biosecurity measures as the best way to protect your herd from infection.