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A GROUP of around 35 residents from the Gaurus area of Ennis have raised concerns over plans for a €200 million village on the eastern outskirts of the town.

Last month, Ennis-based construc- tion firm, Crystal Partners lodged plans for the largest ever housing development in Clare seeking plan- ning for 471 residential units in the first phase of a masterplan that would ultimately deliver 700 new homes.

When fully occupied, the first phase of the housing development would almost double the current population of the Doora parish of around 1,500.

The site covers a 95-acre landbank and along with the 471 residential units, the planning application also provides for a creche, neighbour- hood centre with shopping facilities and 14 residential serviced sites. The masterplan also provides for a 16-teacher school and an associated playing field.

However, an objection lodged on behalf of residents of Gaurus/Bal- laghboy/Knockanean highlights se- rious concerns over several aspects of the proposed development which, they claim, is “flawed in its concep- tion and design given the serious dis- regard for proper, evolved, integrated site development and the safety of lo-

cal residents and road users.

“Although, we are not opposed to the development of this property, we ey iTS (6les mm MED. @OKes OCCA VBE ONL OLO)Me-DOLMmOeT:II the size and nature of the scheme be appropriate and that the infrastruc- ture to support current and future populations be put in place”.

On the need for an additional pri- mary school in the area, the residents maintain that the council must ensure a commitment to a further school pri- or to granting planning permission in order to cope with increased demand and ensure that adequate education facilities are available for the grow- ing community.

The residents point out that there

is currently only one primary school in the area, Knockanean National School, which is already overcrowd- ed due to the increased population.

“The density of housing proposed for this development is inappropri- ate to an edge of town location where sufficient building has taken place in the last few years to accommodate for sustainable growth.

A high density development in this area would lead to the destruction of the residential amenities currently enjoyed by home owners as well as future home owners in the area”.

A decision is expected on the appli- cation next month, though with the scale of the development.

FUTURE developments in Kil- rush on land which borders or cuts through a planned amenity between Vandeleur and Cappa will have to give space over to a public walkway.

The town council has been working towards creating a public walkway in the beautiful surrounds of the woods and bordering the river and has al- ready factored it into a development which is underway. And the walkway will be further developed by having it as part of future developments,

town council members were told.

The plan was discussed at a meet- ing of the Kilrush Town Council af- ter Cllr Liam O’Looney (FF) asked if there was any update on the mon- ies sought to do a feasibility study on toe LON chs

He told the meeting that the walk would be “a fabulous amenity, both for locals and for visitors”.

In areply to the councillor, Siobhan O’Keefe, Senior Staff Officer said that the town council has already submitted an application under the Failte Ireland-Historic Trails Fund-

ing Initiative, seeking funding to de- velop two sign-posted historic trails, the first around the core of Kilrush Town and the second an extended town trail, incorporating Cappa and the Vandeleur Gardens and Woods.

While no money has been sought to carry out a feasibility study, the council would remain alert to any opportunity to apply for funds.

Meanwhile, a preliminary assess- ment of the proposed walkway has identified the south side of the river as the most appropriate side for the development.

“The potential of the river and the wood in terms of amenity value for the town is acknowledged,’ the senior staff officer said. “It is now intended to submit a request to the council architect to prepare a design concept that will guide the future development of this proposed walk- way, she added. “Kilrush Town Council will also continue to factor in this proposed walkway into future planning applications similar to that currently coming to a conclusion at “The Manse’ development,’ she added.

FURTHER evidence of a downturn in the Clare housing market emerged yesterday with figures for house completions in the county for the first quarter of this year dropping by Boma tle

The drop in Clare from 556 last year to 346 this year is higher than the national drop of 29 per cent over the same period. The number of house completions in Clare in March was 94 – almost half the 197 output for March of 2007. The completions for March are significantly down on February and January of this year.

152 houses were built in Febru- ary, down 237 on the correspond- ing month last year. The number of homes built in January was 100, down on the 122 built in January 2007.

The downturn in house completions coincides with “reduced reserve” signs being placed on properties around the county. Many sellers are not securing the prices they forecast for their property.

At last night’s meeting of Clare County Council, a number of coun- cillors said the country was now en- tering a recession with the downturn in the housing sector.

Cllr PJ Kelly (FF), Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) and Clir Tommy Bren- nan (FF) all raised the spectre of re- cession when discussing new house levies. NUI Galway economist Prof Alan Ahern also offered a downbeat assessment of the market when he said that property downturns nor- mally lasted five years.

Figures released by Homebond show that the number of new house starts in Limerick, Clare and Tipper- ary for the first quarter of this year is 337. This compares to 1,155 new house starts for the same period last year, a drop of 818 or 71 per cent.

Figures for March confirm the con-

tinuing slow-down in house building in the region.

Homebond, which covers 75 per cent of new house registrations, has found only 23 new homes were start- ed in Limerick during last month, a drop on the 194 started in January 2007.

The number of new house starts in Clare dropped from 113 in March 2007 to 55 last year. In Tipperary, the number of new houses built dropped from 138 to 97.

The building industry has attrib- uted the massive downturn in house starts in March to the Easter holidays falling earlier than usual this year.

The hotel is set to be transformed into a picture of a bygone era, with

the help of Fun Ireland, one of coun- tries foremost event management companies, and will offer all attend- ing a night full of twists and turns, with champagne, food and cocktails to remember.

Last years event was an incredible success raising a massive €46,000 for two charities, the Tony Griffin Foundation, and the Miltown Senior yoke

This year organisers are hoping to repeat this success with the funds being divided between the Miltown Resource Centre which hosts many worthwhile local groups such as the

senior citizens, youthreach and li- brary, and the palliative care team of Milford Hospice.

Committee Member, John Burke, said, “The event this year should be just as enjoyable as last year. We have completely changed the theme, decor, prizes, band and dj, to vary the night for people attending from last year, and the primary focus again is to ensure everyone experi- ences a night to remember, while we as acommittee commit to preserving the money raised for the good causes deserving it.”

Last year the event caused quiet

a stir when the auction started and items as varying as an Omega James Bond watch, signed jerseys, luxury golf breaks, and bull calves, reached creat figures.

Returning as auctioneer for this years event, Cormac O’Sullivan said, “Tam really excited about this years auction. I believe there is again as varying and as novel a Selection of items up, and I look forward to see the faces around the room when the hammer strikes.”

Tickets for the John Burke Com- memorative Ball are available through Armada Hotel reception.

under

the Freedom of Information Act. Along with the letter from Mr Ahern last November, representations were

also made by Finance Minister Brian Cowen, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan, Community Affairs Min- ister Eamon O’Cuiv, the then Tour- ism Minister John O’Donoghue, while Minister of State Tony Killeen made six representations.

A letter was sent from the Office of the Taoiseach last November with a printed signature ‘Bertie’ to Minister Mary Hanafin on the application by Mol an Oijige for new school recog- nition. Mr Ahern said he was writ- ing on behalf of Flan Garvey, Inagh, regarding an application by Mol an

Oige for official recognised status.

“T understand that the Lifeways Group, which is seeking the authori- sation, met with officials from your Department in Tullamore, Novem- ber 12, 2007, and were advised that the department would revert to them with their decision. I would be grate- ful if you would let me know the present status in relation to this mat- ter.” Former mayor of Clare, Coun- cillor Flan Garvey is the father of founding teacher of the Mol an Oige school, Una Ni Ghairbhith.

In response, Minister Hanafin said

that her officials met with the prin- cipal of Mol an Oige where the sub- stantive issues relating to the appli- cation were discussed at length

“My officials are currently consid- ering the replies received with a view to making a recommendation to me in the coming days. I will consider these recommendations and the pro- posed patron will be informed of the outcome. I hope this information is of assistance to you.”

Underlining the determined politi- cal campaign by Mol an Ojge to se- cure recognition, 34 separate repre-

sentations were made in response to lobbying from constituents.

Former senator Brendan Daly made the highest number of rep- resentations at seven, followed by Minister Killeen, Minister O Cuiv who made four and former Minister, John O’Donoghue who made three representations and one in his cur- rent position of Ceann Comhairle. Minister Coughlan and Cllr Garvey made two representations, while Minister Cowen, Pat Breen TD, Joe Carey TD, Olwyn Enright TD all made one each.

IARNROD Eireann is being asked to provide a detailed report on its plans to alleviate flooding at Bally- car, which resulted in the Ennis to Limerick rail line being closed for several weeks.

The line at Ballycar was closed during parts of February and March of this year. The flooding affected local residents, where at least three houses were inaccessible for almost a month.

At the time, locals felt that while the rail line closure gained headlines in the media, their concerns were not

THE sounds of castanets, Spanish guitars, and a range of exotic percus- sion instruments, as well as clari- nets, oboes and flutes were all heard around Newmarket-on-Fergus last N(1e) .@

This was due to the presence of musicians from the Conservatorio Francisco Guerrero in Seville. They were guests of the Irish Traditional Music Institute, whose director Deir- dre O’Brien-Vaughan initiated an ex- change between the two schools.

Last October, a group of 20 Irish traditional musicians travelled to Se- ville and performed three concerts

AYOCOD KAT IoL6 b

Traffic including school buses had to take a detour around the Bally- car area as a result of the flooding, while several other vehicles had to be towed from the flood waters.

Last month, locals called for Clare County Council, Iarnrod Eireann and the local farmers to get together and decide what to do for the wider area, in an effort to address the mat- ter.

Last week, local councillor Pat Mc- Mahon (FF) called for Iarnréd Eire- ann to provide an up-to-date report on the flooding situation.

Using a pun amongst his comments

and a number of workshops, show- casing Irish music and singing.

Last week was the return part of the exchange, as 16 Spanish musi- cians and teachers were hosted by the families of the students who went to Spain.

The visitors performed two con- certs and presented a number of workshops in the local primary school.

The local children were delighted with the school performance and some of the eager pupils joined in the Flaminco dancing.

On Saturday night the Spanish mu-

to a Shannon area meeting of C;are County Council Mr McMahon said, “IT am delighted to see Irish Rail back on track. I see that the Board of Works were supposed to do a progress report. The problem hasn’t gone away.

“If that heavy rain came back in the next few years, the problem would come back. The landowners have suffered a grave loss of their land on a regular basis. The other aspect would be people who live on the Bal- lycar road, where they are cut off. It would be very important for Irish Rail to focus on this,” said Cllr Mc- Mahon.

sicians performed in a very well at- tended concert at the Clare Inn.

Music aside, the visitors enjoyed a variety of other activities as their hosts ensured they had a trip to re- nateseslolese

During their stay they were taken to see the Burren, the Cliffs of Mo- her and Bunratty and even though the temperature here was almost twenty degrees lower than it was in Seville when they left, they were overwhelmed by the warmth of the Irish hospitality, and returned home vowing to return.

Ms O’Brien-Vaughan plans to con-

‘People tend to forget pain when it disappears, but this is long-term and a long-term solution is needed,’ he PALO

Independent Councillor Gerry JSP AYSeve MMO CrIMmUYelcoO Mm Oso \ Lehi out mm \e-00I Corridor is opened, “the viability of the service to Limerick may be af- fected if we don’t have the link”’.

Cllr John Crowe (FG) said it is im- portant to get it right and ensure the link 1s maintained.

“So many millions are pumped into the Western Rail Corridor. If this section 1s going to create problems like that, it is going to be a waste,” he said.

tinue and develop the concept of cultural and educational exchanges, which she sees as having great ben- efits for the school, the students and the local community.

A TOTAL OF eight north-Clare pri- mary schools lodged strenuous ob- jections to attempts by Mol an Oige Steiner school in Ennistymon to se- cure state recognition.

According to records’ released through the Freedom of Information Act, a total of 52 objections were lodged against the new school – made up of boards of management, school

principals, teachers and parents from primary schools based in and around Ennistymon, Kilshanny, Kilfenora, Doolin, Lahinch and Moy.

The objections came from Convent Primary School, Ennistymon, Clou- na National School, Furglan Nation- al School, Doolin National School, Kilshanny National School, Lahinch Scoil Mhuire, Scoil losef Maigh and St Fachnan’s and St Attracta’s Na- tional School at Kilfenora.

The greatest amount of opposition in numerical terms came from the Burren village of Kilfenora where 22 objections were received, while three priests, Fr Pat Rabbitte, Fr Joseph Roche and Rev Sean McHugh in their role as chairmen of schools’ board of management were also par- ty to school objections.

However, the objections to the school were outnumbered three to one by those in favour after Mol an

Oige encouraged a_ letter-writing campaign in order to secure a posi- tive response from the Department of Education.

151 submissions were received in favour of the school application and these are made up of community supporters (64), parent/family (42), school/teacher 16, business person (5), public representatives (3) while those ‘not clear’ were 21.

Public representatives to write in

favour of the Mol an Oige bid in- cluded Deputy Timmy Dooley and Councillor Flan Garvey.

The bid for recognition by Raheen Wood Steiner school in Tuamgraney received only one objection, while 76 submissions were received in favour.

However, internal departmental memos show that no consideration was given to the various concerns expressed by the schools in relation to the application from Mol an Oige.

FIVE years after the first plans were put in place, the first sod will finally be turned on a €1.2 million multi-pronged community project in Sixmilebridge, later this week.

The site on the Shannon road will, within the next three years, house a community centre, playground, childcare facility and daycare centre for the elderly.

Those facilities are currently of- JC UL MED UOMO DU BKK ER (o) OL Uo MEE-D ILO MEE Te main aim behind the project is to en- sure top-class facilities are available, all on the one site.

The sod-turning on Thursday, by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pa- tricia McCarthy (Independent) will

pave the way for the development of the first prong of the project, the playground portion of the site.

This will later be followed by the development of the childcare facil- ity and then the elderly unit, both of which are awaiting the final funding NORE ene eLRe

It is hoped that a community hall will be built on the site, at a later Stage.

The project is being developed under the auspices of the Bridge Complex, which acquired the site. PRO Marelen Cadogan said there is a great sense of anticipation for the commencement of the work.

“Finally, after all the waiting, we will have the sod-turning and the diggers will move in,” said Ms Ca-

Foyer hee

Clare County Council allocated grant aid for the playground and the playground committee raised local funding to build what is expected to be a state-of-the-art playground.

Ms Cadogan said the fourth part of the project, the community hall, will be necessary, as there is pressure for space for rooms in the old courthouse building at present.

“The meeting rooms in the court- house are booked out at the moment. We are going to keep them there until we get to build the new centre. There is a need for more space,” she added.

Allied to Government funding, several thousands of euro was raised in Sixmilebridge and surrounding

Aare ASe

This project would not have been possible, were it not for those contri- le LULBKOyEtSE

“Locally, people have been very good. There is a great feeling about it at this stage,” said Ms Cadogan.

“This 1s a momentous occasion in our village and a testimony to the hard work and dedication of volun- teers who want to give something back to the community they live in,” she added.

The local group is also hoping to get Family Resource Centre status, which will give it a more structured working title.

“We are hoping to get that status. That will give us a structure then,” she said.

THE principal and chairman of Kilshanny primary school told the Department of Education that there were not enough children in north Clare to sustain a new school.

Outlining their opposition to the application by Mol an Oige for new school status, principal, Mary Mc- Namara and chairman of the school’s board of management, Fr Peter Rab- bitte stated that their school had 38 pupils on roll and this was made up of children within the catchment area and further afield, drawn by an inclusive enrolment policy that tran- scended social background, religious belief and ethnic origin.

“We feel there are not enough chil- dren in north Clare to sustain a new school as well as maintain current enrolment levels in existing schools. In an area like Kilshanny, which has already seen its shop and post office close, the school is a focal point for the community and provides children with a sense of identity, so important in a rapidly, changing society.

“We query the status of the pro- posed school — is it Steiner or mul- ti-denominational or both. We also query the involvement of the VEC in primary education.

Another objection lodged by Doolin National School principal, Michelle Moroney and board of management chairman, Fr Peter Rabbitte ex-

pressed concern that losing some pu- pils would lead to the loss of future positions within the school.

‘At present, we have 79 on our roll and in September 2007, we are hope- ful at having 80, which will lead to the creation of an extra mainstream position within our school. We are all teaching three class groupings, which is a serious challenge for any teacher. Hopefully, we will have a fourth mainstream teacher shortly which will make teaching more man- ageable for all. Should we lose just one pupil to Mol an Oige, we will not achieve this.”

Gaelscoil losaif Naofa in Moy also stated that since Mol an Oige com- menced operating on a voluntary basis, five children transferred from Gaelscoil Maigh during September PAU Oey

Two more pupils had since indicat- ed their intention to transfer and the school’s potential enrolment contin- ued to be affected negatively.

In a separate submission, school principal, Michael O Conchuir said there was a locally held percep- tion that there will be an emphasis on teaching through the medium of Irish. The name itself would suggest deh

‘As a Gaelscoil serving the same proposed catchment area, we feel that the establishment of a similar medium school is totally unneces- sary, he said.

THE Brothers of Charity in Clare will benefit financially from a char- ity event which will take place in Shannon next month.

The Mayor’s Ball, scheduled for the Oakwood Arms Hotel on May 17, will be in aid of the Brothers of Charity and the Shannon Flyers Spe- cial Olympic Club.

The money raised from the event will go to both charities and such do-

nations go towards providing much- need facilities.

Although the Brothers of Char- ity is funded by the Health Service Executive and the Department of the Environment, other donations are es- sential, as the group supports some 170 adults with disabilities across the county.

According to the Chief Executive of the Brothers of Charity in Clare, Mary Feely, this funding is being earmarked for the provision of vital

OMIA one

“What we usually do with funding like this is to help with the changeo- ver to support people from a group situation to an individualised life- style.

“The other big thing we use fund- raising money for 1s to support peo- ple to get their own homes,” said Ms roa

‘The money would support people to have holidays and decorate their homes and undergo radical changes,”

she added.

Given that this particular fund- ing is coming from an initiative in Shannon, some of the money will go towards improving life for people in Shannon. The Brothers of Char- ity has one respite house in the town and up to 10 people in the Shannon area benefit from respite.

The ball will be one of the final offi- cial functions of Cllr Sean McLough- lin, before his term as mayor comes to a close in June.