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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.

THE president of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) said yesterday that it was a legitimate part of the political process that politi- cians would make representations on behalf of a new school seeking state recognition.

Corofin primary school principal and newly elected INTO President Declan Kelleher was commenting after it emerged that An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern and Minister for Fi- nance, Brian Cowen were just two of a number of senior politicians that made representations on behalf of Mol an Oige Steiner school.

“Everyone can make representa- tions to politicians. INTO has no difficulty with Mol an Oijge secur- ing recognition provided that every school in north Clare is properly re- sourced. We have no difficulty with diversity within the system provided that the school adheres to the prima- ry school curriculum,” he said.

THE power of music is being chan- nelled to help people both musically and spiritually in Kinvara. Profes- sional psychotherapist and musician, Eileen Keane is preparing to launch a a range of new workshops which she hopes will help people with their singing as well as in their general Wate

“TI was running voice training class- es when I used to live in Dublin. But strange things started to happen, a lot of different things started to come up from people through the classes. Stuff about their schooling or the

music or their life,’ said Eileen.

“So I started to move towards that side of things. I work as a psycho- therapist and I developed these work- shops out of that and the music. It’s not therapy and it’s not voice training – but it’s a bit of both.”

The workshops have been designed as ameans of voice training, but also as a way of helping people relax and rediscover their inner voice.

“It’s about freedom of expression, about people developing a creative relationship with themselves,’ con- tinued Eileen.

“A lot of people are really blocked in terms of music. Maybe people

who were told not to sing in choirs when they were young and they got the idea into their heads that they weren’t able to sing.

“What I find is that these people are usually the people with the most interesting voices. They have voices that the people in the choir were just not able to manage but with a little work their voices can be really really POL Kosu eI BD OTS

“It’s about having fun and being free. There is an element of stress relief in it. If you tend to get stressed out abut your voice, not just in sing- ing but in public speaking as well, then this could help you.

‘There is also an element of com- munal singing and chanting. That can be a very cleansing experience for people. It can be a really nice space for people to come together hia

Eileen is hoping to make these classes into regular events and is also available for on to one consultations.

The day long voice workshop takes place in Kinvara on Sunday April 27. The workshop will run from |lam to Spm and costs €85.

For more information on the work- shops or to book a place contact Eileen on 085 7779474 or e-mail eileenpkeane@ gmail.com.

CLARE BASED writer Nuala O Faolain revealed over the weekend that she has cancer and will soon die. In an emotionally charged interview, the Lahinch based journalist and author revealed that she learned of the diagnosed six weeks ago in New York.

The cancer, which began in her lungs but has now spread to her brain and liver, is incurable and Ms O Faolain has turned down the option OMe Toate

Ms O Faolain owns a house in Bar- tra outside Lahinch and has lived between Clare and New York for the last two decades. ;

During those years, Ms O Faolain spent much of her time in Lahinch

with fellow journalist Nell McCaf- ferty and was a regular contributor to the Merriman Summer School in Lisdoonvarna.

“T lived for years with Nell McCaf- ferty and lets say 12 of those were the greatest fun and I owe so much to them and in fact, as far as I am con- cerned, Irish women owe so much to Nell and I was dead lucky to live with her. But then again it ended up not so hot, but now it is my great pleasure to be in email contact with Nell and to thank her,’ she told RTE radio.

“Let poor human beings believe what they want, but to me its (the af- terlife) meaningless. I waited on the radio the other day to hear poor John O’ Donoghue, knowing that he is very important to many people, but to me it is utterly meaningless.

“And yet I want to mention one thing that you might play at the end, particularly for dying people, some- thing I picked up little bits here and there about Ireland, largely at the Merriman Summer School, which is one of the great things in my life.

“It’s a song I heard a few years ago called Thois I Lar an Glanna. It’s a kind of modern song sung by Albert Fry and other Donegal singers. And the last two lines are two things, ask- ing God up there in the heavens, even though you don’t believe in him, to send you back even though you know it can’t happen. Those two things sum up where I am now.”

€83,000 will be spent by Ennis Town Council to slow down speed- ing drivers in Ennis.

That is the amount allocated to traffic calming works in Ennis under the council’s Draft Programme for Special Roadworks 2008.

In addition to outstanding works for 2007, the locations targeted in the programme are Hermitage, Shalee Drive, John Paul Avenue, Gordon Drive, Turnpike Road, Drehid- nagower, laneway beside St Josephs, Collins Park, Summerhill, Connolly Villas and Bridge Court.

However, despite concerns from local residents, traffic calming meas-

ures will not be installed in Ivy Road. A speed survey conducted by Ennis Town Council found speed limits in the area were not high enough to warrant the introduction of traffic management controls. Inbound, the total number of vehicles surveyed was 442.

The average speed recorded for vehicles travelling into Ivy Hill was found to be 36km/hour and the 85th percentile speed was recorded at 46.02km/hour. Outbound, the total number of vehicles surveyed was Tyee

The average speed recorded was 39km/hour and the 85th percentile speed was 49.55km/h.

The 85th percentile mark is the

speed below which 85 per cent of the vehicles were travelling and is a method used in determining the need for traffic controls.

The survey was carried out over a 24-hour period between 4pm on Jan- uary 10 and 4pm on January 11

In his report Town Engineer Tom Tiernan stated that as the 85th per- centile didn’t exceed 50km/h, in e1- ther inbound or outbound situations, traffic calming measures wasn’t jus- abELsee

In total, €720,500 is available to the council to implement the road- works programme.

It is proposed to spend €150,000 on road surfacing works at 10 locations around Ennis at Corrovorrin Grove;

Cappalawn, Roslevan, Laneway at Dalcassian Park; Avondale, Kilrush Road; Castlewood Park; College Green (A); College Green (B); Clau- reen Drive; Road by Golf Club; Lane at rear of Lifford Road.

A total of €145,000 has been allo- cated for footpath upgrading works while a total of €150,000 has been set aside to cover loan charges and CCAS hea eec Dele mr: Delea OED mYmere Nims Colm Nelom ENT.) stage of the Ennis inner relief road.

Ennis’ laneways will also get a makeover with the upgrade of Chap- el Lane and Cookes Lane. The next phase of the scheme involves the laneways linking the pedestrian sec- tion of Parnell Street with the Parnell street car park.