Category: Uncategorized

FIANNA Fail TD Timmy Dooley has welcomed the sanctioning of some €10 million in funding sup- ports for schools and pre-schools in disadvantaged areas.

The funding comes under the Dor- mant Accounts Fund and the Rapid Leverage Fund and will enable up to 100 schools designated under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme to

achieve Digital School Status, the upgrading of facilities in up to 200 feeder pre-schools for DEIS schools, and the continuation of the library enhancement programme in up to 130 DEIS schools.

A proportion of the funding will also be directly sanctioned to 20 DEIS Limerick schools, to enable them to remain open after hours, at weekends and during holidays.

“This funding will support three main measures in DEIS schools in

Clare and all over the country. All DEIS schools will soon be informed how they can apply for funding un- der these schemes.”

With regard to the Library En- hancement Scheme, schools who have already applied for funding under the first round of funding last year will now have their application reviewed, the Deputy was told.

“There were so many applications first time around that there are a number of outstanding applications.”

IT WAS business as usual at Shan- non Airport yesterday despite it be- ing the date on which the Shannon stopover officially ended.

But while yesterday was the offi- cial date for the Open Skies agree- ment to take full effect, the impact of the ending of the stopover actually struck late last year.

A spokesman for Aer Rianta said there was “nothing done and no statements issued to mark the end- ing of the stopover because it had already ended”’.

A schedule of landing one flight in Shannon for every three flights land-

ed in Dublin over an 18-month pe- riod was put in place under the Open Skies talks. This came into operation in the winter 06/07 schedule.

Subsequently, a number of airlines fulfilled their obligations under the schedule and stopped landing at Shannon. American Airlines was one and it ceased its routes into Shannon while continuing to fly into Dublin last year.

“We have already had the impact of it. There will be nothing different in the scheduling next week than there was last week,’ the spokesman said.

He added that Aer Rianta are “very happy that post-Open Skies, we still have seven routes to the US with

Continental, Delta with two routes, USA Airways and Aer Lingus with three cities”.

Open Skies is the agreement be- tween the EU and US that will allow EU-based airlines to fly from any city in the EU to any city in the US and vice versa. It has lifted long-standing restrictions on what routes airlines can fly between the two areas.

Proponents say the deal will boost competition, increase flight frequen- cies, reduce fares and create jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.

But tourism and business interests in the region are concerned that the ending of the stopover, combined with a weak dollar, has already im-

pacted on business.

Hoteliers in Clare are reporting losses of up to one third of their US business bookings for this year and the Irish Tourism Industry Confed- eration is predicting that 250,000 bednights will be lost in the region over the first year of Open Skies. It will take up to three years to recover those bednights, the confederation said.

However, Deputy Tony Kileen said that the introduction of a US customs and border protection post at Shan- non would boost transatlantic traffic.

‘| think the facility will far outweigh the potential losses under Open Skies in the long term,” he said.

PEOPLE from north Clare and south Galway are being offered the oppor- tunity to get some free, and possibly life saving, advice on the dangers of cancer. On Monday, April 14, the Community Information Service mobile unit will be in Ballyvaughan with a trained nurse on board from llam and 3pm.

Access to the mobile unit is free to all and has been organised by the Marie Keating Foundation and the Ballyvaughan Medical Centre.

“We will have a trained nurse here all day who will be answering ques- tions and talking to anyone who

wants to come along and have a few words. The nurse will have some prosthetics to show how important early detection really is,” said Ailish Lawlor of the Ballyvaughan Medical Centre.

“This is aimed at men and women of every age. Anyone from the gen- eral community who would like to learn more about how best to guard against cancer should come along.

“In fact, this month the Marie Keating Foundation is focusing on prostate cancer so we are hoping for a large turnout of men.

“This type of facility 1s especially important for people in a rural area where it may be a little bit more dif-

ficult for people to get this type of medical screening.”

The trained nurse will speak to locals in the strictest of confidence and will also be able to provide take- home information leaflets and infor- mation on each of the key cancers to be aware of.

The nurse will also provide advice on healthy lifestyle options and work with prosthetic teaching aids to high- light the importance of early detec- nO

The Marie Keating Foundation which was established in 1998 fol- lowing the death from Cancer of Marie, mother of Ronan Keating. The foundation aims to raise aware-

ness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and early detection in reduc- ing the risk of cancer.

The foundation was established in1- tially to try and bring an end to breast cancer but has since widened it’s fo- cus to a number of different types of cancer in both men and women.

They focus predominantly on can- cers that can be prevented through lifestyle changes and early detection and their stated ultimate goal is for a future free from cancer. The founda- tion offers this drop-in service free of charge to the public.

For more information contact Bal- lyvaughan Medical Centre on 065 ira iUeRy

CLARE’S ladies football season be- gins in earnest this Sunday when the county team face their first acid test against Down in the Suzuki National league semi-final.

Clare’s performance in this game will be a good barometer as to whether or not further progress has been achieved this year in the devel- opment of the county panel. Should Clare win on Sunday not only will the team gain a place in the Division 2 final against either Waterford or Donegal (which will be televised live on TG4) but they will also be guar- anteed a place in Division | of the Suzuki league for the 2009 season as both finalists are automatically pro- moted.

Manager Deirdre Murphy has brought Clare a long way since she took over the reins in January 2006.

In 2005 Clare had failed to fulfil some fixtures but upon her appoint- ment Deirdre and her management team set about reversing the fortunes of the Clare county team and had success in winning the Munster Jun- ior championship and the 2006 Su- Zuki Division 3 league in her maiden year.

The aim for 2007 was to be com- petitive in Division 2 of the national league and to make every effort to secure the newly created Intermedi- ate championship or at least a final place. While they succeeded in their league ambitions they again came up agonisingly short of reaching Croke Park with again a single point semi final loss to another eventual winner ateatee

The All Ireland Intermediate championship title is the obvious fo- cus of Clare’s ambition in 2008 but Sunday’s game will be an important stepping stone in the development of the squad. Down operate as a senior county for championship purposes and have been mixing it with the best of Ulster teams at this level for a

number of years. While they will be favourites to progress against their intermediate rated rivals, Down will still enter this game with caution as they will realise that Clare are a team with ambition this year.

In their four games to date in the 2008 series Down have had good wins over Fermanagh, Tipperary and Longford while they drew away to Donegal. They’ve also scored a massive 12-54 in their four games to date in the current league so clearly they are ateam on form. Defensively Down have conceded 7-23 and Clare will hope to exploit their tendency to concede goals even when dominat- ing games.

Clare should have their strongest panel for selection on Sunday and it will be interesting to see the first fif- teen. Clare’s defence has been shaky at times but the return to the squad of Sinéad Eustace of Coolmeen and also the Banner’s Sarah Hoey mak- ing herself available for selection should help matters in this depart- ment as the season progresses. Vital to Clare’s success however will be a

fully fit Tammy Hehir and ex-Gal- way star Michelle Delaney is another player who could have a major influ- ence in determining Sunday’s out- come. She’s easily playing her best football in years and is really making an impression in the county scene this year.

Sunday’s encounter has all the in- eredients of a thriller with a big prize at stake for the winners and if Clare play to their full potential they have every chance of overcoming their northern opponents

THE retail core of Newmarket-on- Fergus will suffer if a new €10 mil- lion mixed-use development proceeds on the periphery of the village.

That is the view of a Newmarket resident, Patrick J Hannon, in re- sponse to plans by Tom Lavelle and Adrian Callanan to construct 56 units at Boheraroan, Newmarket-on- Fergus.

The plan by the two includes 16 commercial units, 22 duplex apart- ments, 11 apartments, a medical fa- cility and six office units.

However, Mr Hannon of Lough- lash, Newmarket, who is the owner of lands at the rear of the proposed development, has lodged an objec- HCOemr-hexc BD ets nL

Mr Hannon points out, “No details are submitted with the application as to the retail impact the proposal will have on the village of Newmarket- on-Fergus.

“As elsewhere, out-of-centre retail developments should not be allowed as this development is likely to lead to a reduction in the range of local facilities in the town that will affect the diversity of shops and lead to a

loss of general retailing from the vil- lage centre.”

Mr Hannon also contends that the scale of the proposed development will have adverse implications in preserving the existing character of the 18th-century streetscape and roadways within the village of New- market.

“Despite the vibrancy of the town, there is evidence of vacancy both in housing and commercial.

“Development of additional units on the periphery of the town will contribute to further vacancy levels within the village, thereby weaken-

ing the existing vitality of the vil- FTexone

Mr Hannon claims, “The site is functionally detached from the vil- lage centre.

“The linkage is totally dependent on the adjoins development proceed- ing. Therefore, this development is premature until the adjoining devel- opment commences.”

He states, “The proposed develop- ment would introduce a development with a mass, scale and height which would be substantially and detrimen- tally at odds with the defining char- acter of the area.”

IT COULD be described as bringing art to the people, or at the very least encouraging the local population to embrace art. Whatever category you might choose, it’s happening this Saturday in Tulla thanks to an annual initiative by Clare Arts Office.

From 12 to 5 pm the Tulla Stables Studios are hosting an Open Day, in conjunction with Kathleen Moroney’s ‘Second Generation’ exhibition.

Currently, there are six artists working in the studios – Mairin Kel- ly, John Hanrahan, Kathleen Moro- ney, Sandra Hurley, Patrick McHugh and Peter Sheahan. Their work en- compasses a variety of disciplines: painting, sculpture, photography and basket making.

“This open day is an excellent op- portunity to visit the artists spaces and see both finished work and work in progress,” revealed a spokesper- son for Clare Arts Office.

Kathleen Moroney’s ‘Second Gen- eration’ exhibition was commis- sioned by Clare Arts Office in rec- ognition of the transformation of the stables into studios.

Over the last three months, Kath- leen has created 191 white porcelain cobblestones, replicas of the original cobblestones found during the reno- vation of the stables into artist stu- Chey

The cobblestones were part of the original structure and date back to 1817, and Kathleen has created a por- celain stone to mark each year from the opening of the original stables

to the present day. Throughout the month of February, she welcomed visitors to her studio to become part of the project by participating in the making of the cobblestones.

“This exhibition is a temporary work of public art, as the cobble- stones will be on display in her stu- dio on Saturday only, before being dispersed into the local community.

“Visitors to the exhibition will be invited to take away one of the porce- lain cobblestones; the second genera- tion of the stone, a symbol of the past and the present,’ said the Clare Arts Office spokesperson.

Owned by Clare County Council, the studio is a resource for all art- ists of all disciplines. It comprises six studios with full services includ- ing provision for broadband, exhibi-

tion space and parking set around a courtyard in a converted stone 19th century stable building which had been derelict for many years.

The original building was bought by Clare County Council in 1950 and had been used as a store until it was restored and developed into an arts facility by the Arts Office of Clare County Council with support from Clare County Council and the De- partment of Arts, Sports and Tour- 008

Last year the Tulla Stables Studio was named the Best Public Building in Ireland. The title was bestowed on the studio at the annual Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) awards hosted by RTE pre- senter Miriam O’Callaghan at the Burlington Hotel.

FOUR physiotherapy students from Clare will travel to Kathmandu in Nepal at the beginning of May to participate in voluntary work in two orphanages.

Orla Kelly (pictured right), Tommy Finucane, Cathal Lyons and Lonan Hughes are in their third year of study in the University of Limerick and will spend a month helping chil- dren with disabilities in the Disabled Newlife Centre orphanage and the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation or- ed etaverehtxen

Orla from Cree, Tommy from Meelick and Cathal from Kilrush have all completed work placements in pediatrics in Ennis, which has en- couraged their interest in this type of work. Orla, who currently plays for the Clare ladies football team, has expressed a strong interest in work- ing with children in the future.

Tommy and Cathal are currently

planning a research project as part of the course in the pediatrics area. Both are also keenly involved in GAA, with Cathal playing for Clare U-21 footballers and Tommy with Meelick in hurling and football.

Lonan, from Kilmaley, hasn’t had the opportunity to work in pediatrics and is interested in gaining some ex- perience in this area.

“T think it’s a great opportunity for us to learn and gain experience, but also to help these children by offer- ing our skills, bringing out money/ equipment and raising awareness of the orphanages,” he said.

The Disabled Newlife Centre pro- vides care and education for 30 chil- dren with physical disabilities who have been abandoned by their fami- lies. Their disabilities range from po- lio to severe burns.

The Muscular Dystrophy Founda- tion provides care to 106 children affected by muscular dystrophy and aims to raise awareness of the dis-

ease, and improve the care services for sufferers and support for the fam- ilies in Nepal.

If you would like to support the Students, donations can be made to any Ulster Bank branch into the ac- count number 10397924, sort code eel Lem 1ep

THE Diocese of Killaloe has taken a major step to advance plans for a new Ennis national school and, ultimate- ly, to secure a €40 million windfall.

The diocese, under Bishop Willie Walsh, has lodged plans with Ennis Town Council for an access road that will open up its valuable land bank at Ashline on the Kilrush Road in Sab av Ese

The 85 acres of land were rezoned in 2006 in order to facilitate the relo- cation of Ennis National School.

The diocese 1s proposing to con- struct 590 houses which would place a €150 million value on the develop- eeloole

The diocese would secure the €40 million through the sale of the site.

Since the council rezoned the lands, progress on the construction of the school has been slow.

However, the development of the road is vital to the relocation a Sep- tember target is in place to have the road constructed.

In tandem with the roadway ap- plication for the school, the Board

of Management of Ennis National School is examining over 100 sub- missions from firms pitching to be

involved in the construction. An advert was placed in the European Journal in order to assemble a design team.

It will be a 32 class school. Hopes

are that planning permission will be secured to allow construction commence in 2009. This would al- low a new school to be in place in 2010/2011.

A spokesman for the board of man- agement stated that the school had written to the Department of Educa- tion for clarification in relation to the submissions.

As part of the development of the 85 acres, the diocese is providing a couple of sports playing pitches.

Along with the 590 homes, the dio- cese is also proposing the develop- ment of sheltered housing for Caher- calla Hospital. The plan states that the proposal will allow the creation of clearly separate and distinct resi- dential sub-areas, while community facilities will be placed at the centre of the area.

The development of the lands is to be carried out in four phases over a 21-year period with the first phase commencing in 2007-09 with the construction of the school.

THE number of people who secured a divorce in Clare last year increased by 21 per cent on the 2006 figure.

Provisional figures from the Circuit Court office in Ennis show that 100 divorces were granted in Clare year, up 18 on the 82 divorces granted in paul eter

The 2006 figures, in turn, were a 26 per cent drop on the 111 divorces granted in 2005.

The numbers securing divorces

have increased since the start of the decade.

In 2002, 49 divorces were granted; this increased to 64 in 2003. The fig- ure for 2004 was 79.

The provisional figures for last year show that the number of judicial sep- arations sought remained static at 22 when compared to the 2006 figure.

In order for individuals to apply for a divorce, a couple needs to be living separately for four of the previous five years.

Divorce was introduced in Ireland

11 years ago after a narrow majority voted in favour in a referendum.

Speaking on the issue last year, the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh stated that he had “no difficulty with hs U CEA VO neome

Dr Walsh said, “I have no difficulty with the State providing a service for people whose relationship has bro- ken down. | have no difficulty with his U EA nees

“T would still maintain that the ideal of marriage of being a life long lov- ing relationship is what people want

and I will not stand in judgement on people for whom that hasn’t proved possible.

“I don’t know their story and I would not stand in judgement on them so I don’t have difficulty with the State providing a service to people whose relationship has broken down

‘In the past, people stayed in dread- ful relationships, where there was a great deal of violence and no person should be expected to stay in a rela- tionship which is highly abusive in relationship to violence.

‘No person should be expected to stay in a relationship like that. None- theless we can’t deny the fact that the best place is a lifelong loving rela- tionship.

He added, “I still believe that 99 per cent of people entering marriage want to have a life-long relationship. I don’t accept what sometimes people say that ‘people walk out of marriage today without thought’.

‘There may be a very, very tiny mi- nority who walk out of marriage very easily.”

A MAJOR question mark has been thrown over plans to construct a wind turbine that would allow a company supply up to half of its energy needs.

Last month, Clare County Council granted planning permission to Ol- ympus Diagnostica for a 200 ft high wind turbine near O’Callaghan’s Mills.

However, local residents, Mr and Mrs JP Murphy have appealed the council’s decision to An Bord Plean- ala, ensuring that the appeals board will take a fresh look at the applica- nO

In their original objection, the Mur- phys stated: “We wish to voice our concerns with the proposed location of the wind turbine of the above site.

“We are local residents in the area for the past 60 years and we feel that

the decision taken by Olympus to erect the turbine in the position in- dicated on the submitted site plan is inconsiderate to the local landscape and setting of Rosslara Lake and its woodland surroundings

“As highlighted in the council’s development plan, the site for the proposed wind turbine 1s within an area specifically zoned as visually vulnerable and due to the mechani- cal nature of this machine this wind turbine would not be in keeping with the development plan.

“The proposed location of this wind turbine is visually intrusive to the scenic area of Rosslara Lake and if planning is granted, it will have a negative visual impact on the sur- rounding area.

“We feel that the proposed develop- ment should be located to a less vul- nerable/scenic area.”

The company overcame concerns expressed by the council in relation to a device that is designed to scare away bats from the structure.

In their planning application OI- ympus stated that it was “seeking a solution which would meet a portion 40-50 per cent of our electrical base ey Teel berearUiKowIrlO homo tls) ucAtaae

The company said that it would consume all the energy from the wind-turbine and there was no need for a grid connection.

“The rationale for this project has its roots in spiralling energy costs which are set by international mar- kets and impact severely for two rea- sons: the wide fluctuation in energy costs which make financial planning more difficult and the underlying trend is upwards.”

A decision is due on the appeal later this year.