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THE people of Miltown Malbay have always been proud of where they are from, and now the respect they have shown their local environment and their senior citizens is being recog- nised nationally.

The Senior Laichtin Naofa in the West Clare Family Resource Cen- tre is the only project in west Clare being considered in the All-Ireland competition Pride of Place.

Pride of Place started in 2003 and is an all-island competition directed towards recognising the improve- ments of local communities to create his Comm owe CoM OO MN elcsNUE-D Ror.

The competition encourages peo- ple to come together to enjoy all that

is good about their area as well as change or improve certain aspects of their community.

The competition is hosted by Co- operation Ireland under its Local Authority Programme in conjunction with the all-island Local Authority Steering Forum comprising officials from authorities in all of the island of Ireland.

This year three new single-issue categories have been added to the competition – including Services for the Elderly. It is in this category that Seanoiri Laichtin Naofa is being considered for the €2,000 prize and trophy.

This unique low-cost service pro- vides social care for senior citizens in the area through a voluntary agency.

It offers a wide range of services to approximately 60 senior citizens every week such as library services, IT learning opportunities, medical support, leisure and meals daily.

Local County Councillor Christy Curtin (Ind) said, “This service is open for social networking for a group of people otherwise isolated.

“Tt is sustainable and as it operates as a low cost facility, this makes it at- tractive to further development.”

He paid tribute to the Local Ac- tive Retirement Association and ICA guild; bean an ti Cait Ni Loingsigh, the six volunteers, the three FAS workers and Clarecare.

‘This is amodel project on a low op- erating cost and minimum overheads fulfilling a significant social need in

a disadvantage rural area,” said Cllr Curtin. The concept behind the Pride of Place competition is very simple – to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community groups make to society.

This basic element of community recognition makes the competition unique. Past entrants in Pride of Place have included groups involved in a wide variety of activities across the social spectrum. The common thread is the impact and difference these activities have made in peo- ples’ lives- just as Seanoiri Laichtin Naofa has.

ATLANTIS Development Ltd has withdrawn planning applications for two separate park and ride fa- cilities serving the Cliffs of Moher – just hours before a final decision on planning was due from Clare County Council.

The company has also lodged fresh planning applications for the con- struction of park and ride facilities at the same locations – at Coogyulla, Doolin and in Main Street, Liscan- nor.

The new application lodged by At- lantis for the park and ride service in Liscannor consists of a considerably smaller development than the origi- nal application which was withdrawn last week.

The proposed extension and up- gerade of hostel accommodation

at Egan’s Pub has been virtually halved.

Instead of the 14 bedroom hostel and eight apartments originally pro- posed, the new application consists of a seven bedroom hostel and five apartments.

The proposed demolition of a number of structures located be- tween Egan’s and McHugh’s Pub in the village has also been abandoned in favour of altering the existing SSM CRON KeNe

The new application for the Coogy- ulla park and ride in Doolin is simi- lar to that previously applied for.

A spokesperson for Atlantis Devel- opment Ltd told

PLANS by An Garda Siochana to re- align the make-up of garda divisions to county boundaries could have critical implications for policing in parts of east Clare if the changes are implemented as expected next Janu- ae

There are also concerns for the fu- ture of the recently established traf- fic corps in Killaloe which covers a large section of the N7 national pri- mary route.

At present, garda divisions are not restricted to county boundaries

and in many cases comprise areas of more than one county. Under the plan, areas of Clare covered by Lim- erick City will return to the Clare division while parts of Tipperary, currently part of the Clare garda di- vision, will be part of the Tipperary CU AsrSS ete

East Clare Labour Councillor Pas- cal Fitzgerald says any plan to re- draw divisional borders would not be satisfactory unless adequate garda resources are provided in his area.

“At present, there is a large part of east Clare covered from Henry Street station in Limerick. As it 1s,

with over 12,000 people living in the Westbury and Shannon Banks area, we often have to wait 20 minutes for a squad car to travel less than four kilometres from the city.

“If the boundaries are redrawn, we could have to wait half and hour or more for gardai to come from Kil- laloe, 20 kilometres away”.

“If this plan is enforced, I want to see our local station at Ardnacru- sha properly resourced and open 24 hours a day and I will also be de- manding that a sub station of that be opened in the Westbury estate. I have already met with a businessman who

is willing to provide premises for a station in Westbury”, he said.

If the Garda Commissioner’s plan is implemented, it will also mean that Ballina in County Tipperary will be served by Nenagh 20 kilome- tres away even though Killaloe sta- tion 1s located just across the bridge less than a kilometre away.

Killaloe councillor Tony O’Brien (FF) said he would have very serious concerns if any changes would result in a downgrading of the Killaloe sta- tion as any downgrading would seri- ously impact on the level of services being provided.

The back gardens in the housing es- tate have flooded every year prevent- ing children from playing in them and adults enjoying them.

After years of complaining to the local authority and making political representations, chairperson of the local residents association Christine Murphy brought the issue directly to the Kilrush Town Councillors at the June meeting.

During a presentation Ms Murphy said, “This is not the first time we brought this problem to the council.”

She said that when she and her fam- ily became residents of Island View in February 2005 they did not realise the garden was going to be a problem until the following winter. She said the garden flooded and was not fit for human use.

Ms Murphy explained that the resi- dents were told on three separate oc- casions to collect the names and ad- dresses of the householder that had this problem. When they did nothing was done she said.

She said that some people became so frustrated at the delay in an ad- equate response to their plight from the council, that they fixed the gar- den themselves at a cost of more than €2,000.

Speaking this week Cllr O’Gorman said, “Part of these people’s homes are isolated from them and I don’t think that is good enough. I trust it will be done eventually but it must be Pele A ae

during the week to

complain about the disruptions while

local businessman Dick Grant draft-

ed an open letter to County Manager, Alex Fleming on the matter.

In the letter Mr Grant critisised

the timing of the development, the

amount of car parking spaces elimi- nated by construction work and a lack of consultation with locals.

This has prompted north Clare County Councillor Martin Conway (FG), to propose a system which would see council subcontractors prohibited on working in tourist ar- eas during June, July and August.

“This is another development which has been timed badly with the busy summer months,’ said Cllr Conway.

“The Clare County Council have clearly have not taken into account the needs of the local community at this time of the year and there should be a contractual restriction on any further development in tourist areas in the summer months.”

CLARE TD, Joe Carey (FG), last week questioned the status of the F1- anna Fail Government’s pre-Lisbon Treaty Referendum commitment to using Ireland’s veto in the case of WTO proposals that would sell out Irish farming.

“The WTO talks are entering a critical phase and recent days have seen EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson express optimism about a deal. While the Commissioner said yesterday that Europe can’t and won’t accept a deal it cannot defend at home, this will not inspire confi- dence in farmers who are well aware of Mandelson’s long-time stance,’ he

HOR

“Meanwhile, the Minister for Agri- culture has been complaining about the proposals but is failing to put his money where his mouth 1s. If the Minister is as concerned and worried as he says he is about the latest WTO negotiating document on agriculture, then he must unequivocally state that the deal on the table is unacceptable and will be vetoed.

“That was the commitment given by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen in the dying days of the Lisbon Treaty cam- paign and Minister Brendan Smith must confirm it is what he is prepar- ing to do.”

Meanwhile, speaking from Geneva last Thursday, the Tanaiste and Min-

ister for Enterprise, Trade and Em- ployment, Mary Coughlan, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith and the Minister for Trade and Commerce, John McGuin- ness, called for a comprehensive, ambitious and balanced outcome to the current negotiations.

The Ministers confirmed that they have been engaged in robust nego- tiations with key players defending and promoting Irish interests in what are proving to be very difficult trade rec

All three Ministers have been at- tending daily meetings of the EU General Affairs Council (GAERC) as well as a series of bilateral meet- ings with other countries, including

the French EU Presidency, and the EU Commission.

On a joint statement the Ministers said that the had “very real concerns on Agriculture while working for positive outcomes on manutfactur- ing industry and services which will deliver opportunities for Irish manu- facturing and services companies through better access to world mar- kets and in so doing will secure Irish jobs for years to come.”

Speaking earlier in the week Min- ister Smith said that the WTO ne- gotiations in Geneva were very ac- tive, with a large number of intense meetings and informal contacts, but that there was no guarantee as to the outcome.

CAMERA enthusiasts in Clare can get clicking thanks to the formation of the Ennis Camera and Photo- graphic Society.

Patrick Ryan, Tina Walker and Ni- all Considine established the society as a forum for professional and ama- teur photographers from Ennis, west Clare and north Clare.

All three share a keen interest in photography and were eager to cater for the needs of similar enthusiasts.

Club president Patrick Ryan became aware of the need for a photographic society through discussions with fel- low photographers and artists.

Patrick explained, “Much of pho- tography takes its roots from tradi-

tional art – thus many artists evolve into excellent photographers. They felt that if they had a forum to talk about the more technical aspects of photography – that they too could bring the artistic flair to the group which would benefit everyone”’.

This has certainly proven to be true – with over 20 regular members at- tending the fortnightly meetings. There is an excellent mix of pho- tographers at all levels – from pro- fessionals to members who are just thinking of buying a camera and tal- ented artists.

This has provided for some lively debate during the sessions around the various artistic and technical as- pects of photography.

Club secretary Tina Watkins, her-

self an artist and budding photog- rapher, said, “Having the discussion across all elements of photography from composition to finishing has helped in learning new skills which I can apply to photography and paint- ing alike.’The club is not strictly confined to digital based photogra- phy either. Several members shoot photographs using film and many of the members who have never used film are very keen to understand this traditional approach and apply it to the new digital era.

Members also meet regularly for field trips throughout Clare. The aim is to implement shared ideas and techniques in a real life. Recent outings included visits to Dromore Woods and the Aran Islands. An ex-

hibition of work is also planned for later in the year. It 1s also hoped that the club will play an active role in lo- cal community groups and organiza- tions or centres of learning that are interested in photography.

Many of the members’ work can be viewed at www.enniscameraclub. Lovee mem UOercmaalNemAlbus sme LUO NGlolF-RULE The club meets every two weeks on a Tuesday night in Clarecastle GAA Club House at 8pm, all new mem- bers, regardless of skill or technical ability, are welcome.

The next meeting takes place tonight (Tuesday July 29). Further details are available from Niall Considine at the Ennis Fuji Centre on O’Connell Square, email:niall@photocart.ie or or IR Ole merer-cle eee

YOUNG Brazilians in Gort are be- ing denied access to third level edu- cation in what amounts to an educa- tional apartheid.

Fears have been raised locally that the integration of young Brazilian children could be severely hampered if provisions are not made to allow them to continue their education af- ter the Leaving Certificate.

At present, non-EU nationals must be in full-time residence in the state for a minimum of five years before they can even begin the application process for Irish citizenship.

In addition to this, all non-EU citi- zens must pay fees of up to €3,000 per year to attend university in Ire- land and are not eligible for any form of grant assistance.

This situation has led to a growing number of Gort’s Brazilian commu- nity being forced out of the education system – despite completing their Leaving Certficate and being full- time legal residents in the country.

“What’s going to happen to the kids who are leaving school now – are they going to have to wait for four or five years until their residence can be sorted out? These guys are ready to go, they have worked really hard,

got really good Leaving Certificates and then they are in a dead end situa- tion,” said Frank Murray of the Gort Brazilian Association.

“These kids are the first members in their families to get any education. They are grabbing it with both hands and doing so well in school. This situation just puts them back into a cycle of family poverty.”

Fears have also been raised deny- ing these young Brazilians access to education could have a very negative effect on the integration which is taking place in the community.

“The single best area for cultures to mix is in school. The Brazilian kids

and the locals have been hanging out, playing sports together and getting on the last six years. There are mixed relationships where a Gort youngster will be off to college and their girl- friend of boyfriend just won’t be able to,’ continued Mr Murray.

“We are already creating toler- ance and understanding through the schools and it is working well. Some of these kids have been together for nine years, all their best friends are getting ready to go on to third level and all of a sudden they are told that “we don’t want you”.

“They are being separated and seg- regated and it makes no sense.”

AS the World Trade Organisation talks continue to struggle on this week, the Irish farming organisa- tions have been united in their call for European farmers not to bear the brunt of forcing through a deal.

Speaking over the weekend Irish Farming Association President, Pad- raig Walshe said that the deal should never have even been attempted.

“I think that the conditions never really existed for an agreement in the first place and I think that it is ridicu- lous that this meeting was even held. The approach from the very begin-

ning was wrong,’ he said.

“It looks like it’s on the verge of col- lapse, I believe that it is on the verge of collapse because the condition just don’t exist for an agreement.

These comments were echoes by Macra na Feirme national president Catherine Buckley who said that said young Irish farmers will face extinc- tion under a bad WTO.

‘Mandelson is determined to pur- sue a cavalier strategy to maximise market access for European compa- nies involved in industry and servic- es, while at the same time selling out the EU agricultural sector,” she said.

ICSA president Malcolm Thomp-

son last week said that the EU’s disastrous negotiating tactics at the WTO talks were forcing farmers to give everything and get nothing.

“We need much tougher talk from the Irish government, as part of the Gl4 grouping, to set the record straight,” he said.

“While behind-the-scenes diplo- macy is important, it is vital that the key message is not lost, namely that we are looking at a totally unbal- anced and unacceptable deal.

“So far, Commissioners Mandelson and Fischer Boel have interpreted the lack of a unified, unequivocal and uncompromising statement from the

G14 as giving them a carte-blanche to carry on unhindered with the process of selling out the Irish and EU livestock sectors.”

The ICSA President said that he was absolutely flabbergasted at fail- ure of the General Affairs Council to put the breaks on Peter Mandelson.

“The tentative support offered to the Commission by the Council is in effect giving the go ahead to the WTO sell-out.,’ he said.

“In the current economic circum- stances, any WTO deal will be ca- lamitous not just for farmers but for the country as a whole. At all costs it must be stopped.”

SOME new and some familiar faces return to lead Ennis Musical Society through another season on the stage.

The society recently held its An- nual General Meeting and following that, the new committee reconvened and appointed the following officers.

Chairperson, Anna Monahan; Sec- retary, Jonathan Hopper; Tresurer and PRO, Feargus McEveney; Min- utes secretary, Geraldine Westwood; Patrons secretary, Valerie Torpay; Membership, Jean O’Gara; Librar-

ian, Mary Kelly; Committee mem- bers, Maretta O’Hehir and Paddy Smyth.

The committee chose the ever- popular Show Boat as it’s musical for March 2009 and appointed Con Hughes as producer. The other mem- bers of the production team are Cor- mac McGuinness as musical direc- tor, Mary Curley as chorus mistress and Leon Walsh will act as rehearsal pianist.

Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and lyr- ics by Oscar Hammerstein II and is

based on a best-selling 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. “Ol’ man river’ and ‘Can’t help lovin’ dat man’ are just two of the more well- known songs associated with Show atoy-lm

This is a big show with a beautiful musical score, a strong story line and plenty of scope for individual and chorus participation.

The society is already busy prepar- ing the groundwork for next year and a recruitment drive for new members will commence once the summer is over.

Anyone who is interested in being associated with the show be it on stage or backstage, with costumes or sets, can make contact with any member of the committee.

Meanwhile, Ennis Musical Soci- ety will host a fund raising flag day on Saturday, September 6, when the new season will be launched and work will begin in earnest.

In the meantime, all members and supporters are urged to enjoy what is left of the summer and come back ready and refreshed to go in the New Year.