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FEARS of an escalation of a violent Traveller feud in Ennis have moved the Bishop of Killaloe to plead for calm.

Dr Willie Walsh said last night he was prepared to engage in media- tion talks in an effort to put an end to long-running bitterness between two conflicting Traveller families.

He made the comment as a senior garda told a court last Friday that he was “very fearful of the outcome of this feud.”

Garda management confirmed they are keeping a close eye on the situa- tion, in the face of a recent flare-up.

Ennis Superintendent John Scanlan said yesterday that gardai “‘are con- tinuing to monitor the situation.”

“We hope that sense would prevail in the situation. A lot of it is mean- ingless,” he said.

The plea by Dr Walsh came in the wake of five members of three fami- lies appearing in court on charges

relating to incidents involving the families last week when they were all remanded in custody.

During the court hearing, gardai expressed concerns that ‘innocent’ members of the public may become embroiled in the feud and objected to bail for the accused.

Bishop Walsh said last night, “I have concerns about the various feuds between different families. I appeal to everybody to desist from anything that might deepen the dif- uo Come

“T have talked to some of the peo- ple involved and I believe there is good reason for concern,” he said.

“Continuation of these bad relation- ships is really destructive to every- body. It is a real loss to everybody,” he said.

“I know there was some efforts of mediation some time ago. I wasn’t involved. I’d certainly be prepared to try to arrange mediation. I’d be open to that. I will try and talk to some of the people,” said Dr Walsh.

THE immediate future of Ennis General Hospital will be known in approximately two weeks when the health capital programme is pub- lished.

Clare’s four TDs said they were hopeful that funding for the hospital would be included in the critical list for this year after meeting with the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, last Thursday. All of Clare’s mayors were also in attendance.

Some months ago senior health of- ficials indicated they did not believe that the funding would materialise with the money being diverted in- stead to St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin.

Minister for State at the Depart- ment of Agriculture Tony Killeen (FF) said that it was obvious from the meeting that the Minister for Health would like the funding to be listed for this year on the National Development Plan HSE capital fund- ing 2006-2011, but ultimately the decision was with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

“T always believed that it would happen as part of that programme, it was only a question of when,” he said.

Fellow Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley said he “was delighted that the minister gave a very positive in- dication that the hospital construc- tion project was on the list”.

He was critical of members of the HSE who, he believed, “tried to put

the project on hold’, favouring Dub- lin projects.

“IT am prepared to monitor this and intervene again to ensure the project finally goes to construction,’ he said.

Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen said he was Satisfied that the delegation final- ly “tied her down to a time frame”.

The deputy believes, however, that the project may not begin construc- tion until 2009, as the proposed ad- dition of a number of isolation wards could delay the process by three to four months.

“I am more confident after the meeting on this occasion because there is a lot of pressure coming from Fianna Fail councillors coming close

to the local and European elections,” he said.

Deputy Joe Carey (FG) said that the minister must adhere to the time frame of two weeks as given.

“The minister has now given us a set timescale of two weeks. She must now honour this. I will be holding the Government to account in Dail Eireann to finally deliver this much promised redevelopment of Ennis General Hospital.”

He also rejected HSE claims that recommendations of the report on the C-difficile outbreak could cause further delays.

THE Clare Youth Service will be vying for the community’s support as the closing date for the Better Ire- land Awards draws closer.

The Kilrush service is one of three from west Clare hoping to secure the €10,000 prize.

The service is being recognised for the support and guidance it provides to young people in the west Clare or TOLD

Overseen by two full-time youth workers, Louise McMahon and Adriona Meere, and one part-time worker, Shane Mulvey, the group is also assisted by staff that help out on AWB UsstAbN ED Oye FS ESe

Kilrush Youth Project has a number of sub projects including The Kil- rush Garda Youth Diversion Project, The Kilrush Youth Project, Kilrush Youth Club, Kilrush Youth Café and the Good Neighbour Project.

The youth project is based around the John Paul Estate and caters for young people between the ages of 12

and 19.

“The types of activities we do are junior and senior boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer and games, fishing, art projects, hip hop dancing and gar- dening projects. We also have the use of a house on the estate where we provide a drop-in-and-chill-out space where young people can go at specific times each week,” said youth worker Louise McMahon.

“The junior boys have recently competed in a soccer tournament hosted by Cloughleigh Youth Club in Ennis in which one of our players won player of the tournament.

“We are currently preparing for our upcoming summer programme of events, including our three-day sum- mer camp to be held in July.

“Two of our young people have progressed through to the final of West Clare’s Got Talent this Satur- day, May 17,” she said.

The Clare Youth Service also pro- vides support for the Kilrush Youth Club and its leaders.

“Volunteers are very important to

the Clare Youth Service and are al- ways welcome.

‘Volunteers receive leader and oth- er types of training from the Clare Youth Service in order to set up and run the youth club programme of events and activities for the year,” added Ms McMahon.

Kilrush Youth Club have seven volunteers in total who organise and run Kilrush Youth Club includ- ing Shirley Gilligan, Paddy Honan, Kathleen Hannon, Caroline Hanra- han, Sue Metham, Mary McInerney and Linda Burke.

Paddy was nominated and won a Volunteer Award this year for “direct work with young people”.

The youth club also organises a number of outings and events every year.

Work is ongoing at the moment at the Kilrush Youth Centre in prepara- tion for the opening of a new youth café in Kilrush.

A group of young people from the area have formed a committee and meet regularly with the Kilrush

Youth Club volunteers and _ local youth workers to plan and prepare for the opening of the space.

The young people have also can- vassed locally for extra funding to complete this project.

The Good Neighbour Project 1s specifically for the younger children on the John Paul Estate from about five years and up.

Clubs are held in the community centre on the estate for them about twice a week.

Those wishing to vote for the Kiul- rush Youth Service can do so by tex- ting KilrushA or KilkeeA to 53099.

aVO MEK) CIB Ree AU oLO MAU UMD Koh IUO LM O mE! donation to the service – even if they don’t win the €10,000 prize.

CLARECASTLE National School recently advertised a call for submis- sions from artists for the creation of a new public art project for the school.

The art project is to be funded un- der the Department of Education’s percent for Art Scheme and was advertised nationally and interna- tionally through press and specialist visual artists’ publications. Enquir- ies about the project was widespread with many artists from outside Ire- land expressing keen interest. A site visit for those interested in submit-

ting a proposal was arranged by the school’s Public Art Subcommittee, chaired by Tim Ryan and on May 12 the published deadline, fourteen sub- missions were received from artists from all over Ireland and Canada.

In order to engage as many mem- bers of the broad school community in the selection process, the school committee invited members of the public to view and to give feedback on the submissions which were on display,in the school hall, during First Holy Communion day on Sat- urday last. The result was a very energetic and unusual open day at

Clarecastle National School. Adults and children enthusiastically viewed and discussed each individual pro- posal and registered their preference by selecting the work they felt might be most suited to the context of the school and its surrounding area in Clarecastle. Initial feedback from the public remarked on the high standard of the proposed work and also on the degree of individuality and vision therein.

Ultimately, the final selection of the chosen proposal rests with the school’s Public Art Subcommittee but committee members will care-

fully examine feedback from adults and children who registered their preference through the process of public engagement.

Another opportunity for those in- terested in viewing the proposals is to be had this Thursday, May 22nd, when the school, once again, opens its doors to the community of Clare- castle and invites the public to visit and to give feedback on the submit- ted proposals.

Further information from Mon1- ca Spencer, Project Manager, 087 9930553, spencermonica@eircom. om

AN Ennis man sought more than €500,000 for his objection against a €40 million residential development to be withdrawn.

Last week, An Bord Pleandala re- fused planning permission to Joe Mc- Namara to develop 147 homes on the Golf Links Road. The appeals board upheld the appeal by John Madden of Glencairn House, Hermitage, against Clare County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the proposal.

However, in documentation now released by An Bord Pleanala, it has emerged that Mr Madden sought €550,000 for himself to construct a flood defence system on his lands near the development site and a sepa-

rate payment of €50,000 for Caher- calla Community Hospice to with- draw his appeal.

A series of eight meetings were held between the two sides – all at the instigation of the developers – but no money was handed over and, as a result, the appeal was not withdrawn. Mr Madden stated last week that he felt vindicated it had been upheld.

In a letter to the board on behalf of the developers, Joe McNamara and Paul O’Brien, solicitors McMahon O’Brien and Downes stated that the demand for €550,000 for the with- drawal of the appeal was the second time that such a demand was made by Mr Madden.

They claimed he sought €170,000 for the withdrawal of an objection against a previous housing applica-

tion on the same site by the same developers.

The legal firm said this was to be used to construct a barrier against flooding if planning was obtained, but if planning was not obtained, the money was to be retained personally by Mr Madden.

In relation to the €50,000 sought for Cahercalla Hospice, the legal firm states, “The seeking to justify a pay- ment request for a hospice because of the appellant’s admiration of the Trojan work they do there is another example of the appellant’s misguided purpose of the planning process. It is not there to facilitate the extraction of funds from developers to make payments to charities.”

The documentation also shows that Ennis builder, Liam O’Doherty

agreed to purchase the lands from McNamara and O’Brien in 2006 sub- ject to planning.

A letter from John Casey & Co so- licitors shows that Mr O’Doherty met with Mr Madden where he confirmed the requirement of a €585,000 pay- ment to him and a €50,000 to Caher- calla hospice.

The submissions by the developers was aimed at having Mr Madden’s appeal dismissed on the grounds that the appeal was being brought solely for the purpose of securing the pay- ment of money and gifts – a claim firmly rejected by Mr Madden.

However, the appeals board judged the appeal on its merits and found in favour of Mr Madden, though none of the reasons to refuse planning re- lated to flooding.

CLARE County Council and Ennis Town Council are prohibiting major new housing schemes in the town be- cause the public sewage works are in too poor a state to cope with further ESET Ken

The councils have refused planning for three big residential develop- ments in the last week including one at Gaurus which was to be the coun- ty’s largest ever housing scheme. De- velopments at Knockaderry on the Tulla Road and at Ballycorey on the Galway Road were also blocked.

Deficiencies in the sewage works and, in particular, at the main treat- ment plant at Clonroadmore, was the main reason given for the refusals.

“The capacity of this plant is now stretched to the extent that it would be inappropriate to approve any fur- ther significant developments which

would be dependent on it,” said Tom Tiernan, Ennis Town Engineer.

A €75 m replacement plant at Clareabbey, is not expected to be op- erational until 2012, raising the pros- pect that major developments will be constrained until then.

JUST days after the proposed N18 Gort-Crusheen bypass looked dead in the water, the Department of Trans- port has somehow come up with the cash to keep the project afloat.

Speaking last Friday in Galway, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon O’Cuiv said that he had received a firm com- mitment that construction works on the entire N18 upgrade, including the Gort bypass, would commence early next year.

Construction on the long muted by- pass was scheduled to begin in the first half of this year, and some 170 Clare and Galway farmers have en- tered into a negotiations for the com- pulsory purchase of land needed.

]Sr-Nu DCs SOU EcMmOeCOOLNeMmE OO CoMmBN EIB Ceyer-D Roads Authority (NRA) confirmed that they would not be in a position to begin work on the Gort bypass this year as planned because of a lack

of funds.

This sparked fears in the local farm- ing community the NRA and both Clare and Galway County Councils would attempt to undercut the price already offered to farmers.

Under the compulsory purchase order process, the NRA has frozen the value of the compensation for the land. The IFA’s Roads Project Team Leader, Jer Bergin, last week hosted a meeting of landowners effected by the bypass.

“This new road will affect the live- lihoods of over 170 landowners and will involve the construction of over 24 kilometers of new road,” he said.

However, the National Roads Au- thority confirmed that €20 million has been provided for works on the N-18 in 2008. They also confirmed that the bulk of this money will go towards land purchase. The remain- der will be spent on site surveys, an archaeological study of the route and advance work projects.

, the non-consult- ant doctor who was working in the surgery department at Ennis General received the fifth highest payment in overtime last year in the mid-west

region.

The doctor was one of three Clare- based junior doctors in the top twen- ty overtime earners in the mid-west last year.

All in the top 20 were junior doc- tors and the top earner was a registrar at the Ear, Nose and Throat Depart- ment at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick who received more than €100,000 in overtime.

The other Clare doctors to feature includes a second registrar at En-

nis General Hospital who received €72,982 and a third doctor working at St Joseph’s Hospital who received €64,081. Four junior doctors re- ceived more than €90,000 in over- time in the region.

The EU Working Time Direc- tive – which seeks to limit the hours worked by junior doctors – is due to come into force next year and it was the basis of the HSE producing the Hanly report in 2003.

Eleven of top twenty overtime earn-

ers are based in Limerick. Last year, the overtime bill for the mid-west region across all sectors in the HSE amounted to €17.35 million while in Clare, the overtime bill last year amounted to €2.938 million.

The overtime bill has been creep- ing up steadily since 2004 when €16 million was paid in the mid-west and €2.696 million was paid in County SEK

The FOI figures also show that the overall wage bill for the HSE in the

mid-west last year was €380 mil- lion- representing an increase of 26 per cent on the wage bill of €300 million in 2004.

The Clare figures show that the HSE wage bill for the county in- creased from €59 million in 2004 to €73 million in 2007 – an increase of 23.7 per cent.

The annual HSE wage bill under- lines the massive contribution the HSE makes to the local and regional economy each year.

CLARE milk producers are about the feel the pinch with the news this week that the Kerry Group is to slash the price they pay to farmers by 22.7 cents per gallon.

The news comes just days after Ire- land’s biggest milk producer, Glan- bia cut their milk price by 3.96 cents per litre.

Chairperson of ICMSA’s Dairy Committee, John O’Leary, described the Kerry Group decision as a terrible blow to Clare farmers and all Kerry suppliers. According to O’Leary, this cut will represents a loss of €11,365

for a full year’s milk production on a 50,000 gallon farm.

“The reality is that Kerry suppli- ers face substantially increased costs and many have made – or are making – massive investments in relation to Nitrates. It is a terrible blow to them to see their Co-op cutting the price by 22.7 cents per gallon in one go,” he said.

‘This kind of drastic cut is in sharp contrast to last year when the Co-op only increased the price by small amounts while the markets were booming. They have been much quicker to cut the price than they were to raise it last year and they

have cut the price just before peak milk production.

“It should be pointed out that Ker- ry’s profits last year were €298 mil- lion and the group indicated this week that earnings will grow again in 2008, an announcement that comes at the same time as they have slashed farmers’ earnings.

“The growth in Kerry’s earnings would appear to be at the expense of milk suppliers. Present figures indi- cate that a 50,000-gallon Kerry sup- plier will be over €13,500 worse off than a Wexford supplier based on a full year’s milk production.

Meanwhile, the IFA’s’ Richard

Kennedy criticised Glanbia for cut- ting their April milk price by 3.96c/ ie

‘“Glanbia is the biggest milk proces- sor in the country with probably the best product mix of all milk proces- sors,” he said.

“It should therefore have been in a particularly good position to hold the April milk price. It is a huge letdown to Glanbia suppliers and the suppli- ers to all other co-ops that this year again Glanbia choose to led milk prices down. We would urge Glan- bia and other co-ops to hold a strong milk price in 2008 to secure farmer confidence and milk supply.”

THE final of the St Josephs School Spanish Point A2 575 was the fea- ture event of the eleven on Saturday nigh’ts Galway Card. Favourite for the €1,200 to the winner contest was the Noel Mullins of Gort trained Miss Fabulous (T6) and the daughter of World Class and Legal Moment was very smartly away out wide and she led by two lengths from Phillip- specialone (T3) on the long run to the bend.

Turning down the back Miss Fabu- lous extended her advantage to four lengths over her rivals and although Ballingown Boy (T2) made _ late headway Miss Fabulous was always in total command as she took the prize for owners Paul Curley and Michael Regan by a length in a time

of 31.79

The second contest was an A5 af- fair in which the Pat Hogan of Ennis owned Aulton George landed some nice wagers as he made virtually all to defeat Paradise Alana (T5) by three lengths in 29.54.

The Seamus Fahy trained son of Droopys Scholes and Dalcash Veva just shaded O’Garney Flo (T3) on the run to the opening bend and as they raced past halfway the gap was half a length.

Rounding the third bend Aulton George railed well and cut of the challenge of O’Garney Flo before pulling clear up the straight for his maiden success.

The third contest was an A3 graded 525 and here the Mrs Marie Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Dame showed both early pace and stam-

ina as she romped home over eight lengths to spare over Stanton (T6) in 29.01.

The daughter of Honcho Clas- sic and Burnpark Circle led by two lengths from Stanton on the run to the opening bend and with trouble among the backmarkers the front two drew clear.

Racing out of the back though Burnpark Dame began to draw clear of Stanton as she opened her account at the fifth attempt.

In the Al graded sixth contest over 525 yards the blue jacketed Tyrur Kerril was smartly away along the inside and although he moved slight- ly wide at the opening corner he still led Flandy (T4) by two length rac- ing towards halfway with Corpo- rate Legend(T6) in third place three lengths further adrift.

As the leader approached the third bend the distress signals were out and the Conor Flanagan of Ennisty- mon owned Flandy (Fortune

Mike-Mythical Cracker) swept past on the rail before he raced clear to win by over five lengths in 29.08

The concluding race of the night went to the Colm and Oran Fitzger- ald of Kilrush owned Fitzler Joker a son of Barnane Bit and Black Show who was smartly away from his trap six berth as he led Corrib Star (T5) bytwo lengths rounding the opening two bends. Racing down the back the sextet were in Indian file as Fitzler Joker set sail for the judge chased all the way by Corib Star but at the line the advantage was still over two lengths in favour of Fitzler Joker in SYA Le

Friday night’s card was an all grad-

ed 11 race programme with the con- cluding three 575 yard contests being the three heats of the Tully National School A4 Stake..In the opening heat the Johnny Burke of Tubber trained Drumline Tom topped the market but he was moderately enough away as Rob The Five (T2) and Bold Ted- dy (T6) led the field to the opening corner.

Racing down the back Rob The Five led by two lengths from the wide running Bold Teddy with Ca- poola Savings (T4) improving from rear.

Racing around the home turn the Ollie Burke trained Rob The Five (Droopys Vieri-Iwotensfive) railed well and although Capoola Savings was closing with every stride the line came in time for Rob The Five by three quarters of a length in 32.27.