Category: Uncategorized

THE challenges facing suckling beef production and in particular the pro- duction of weanlings will be top of the agenda at a Clare Teagasc Semi- nar which takes place in the Auburn Lodge Hotel this evening at 8pm. This seminar is taking place at a critical time for farmers in suckling with the fall of about €100 per head in weanling prices and a drop of over 25 per cent in weanling exports. This has resulted in a squeeze on margins and while we can expect an improvement in prices in the years ahead the implementation of effi- cient practices at farm level will be essential to achieve a reward for the

time and labour spent in weanling production.

‘This Seminar will enable farmers to get the best advice on increasing the value of output and reducing the costs of production in suckling which are the key factors that determine profit,’ said Gerard MacMahon, ‘Tea- gasc Area Manager.

“With the increase in concentrate prices, we will need to get a greater proportion of live weight gain from grass – a feed that Ireland can pro- duce better and cheaper than any- where else in Europe.”

Better breeding through the use of ICBF breeding programmes enables farmers to identify the best bulls both AI and stock bulls to produce

high quality weanlings.

It also identifies the best cows from which to breed replacements. The biggest overhead cost in suckling is that of keeping the suckler cow. Strategies to reduce the over-win- tering costs of suckler cows will be outlined.

Meanwhile, Clare IFA in associa- tion with Clare Marts, Teagasc and ICBF will hold an information meet- ing at Ennis Mart on Monday, De- cember 10, at 8pm.

The important forum will cover all aspects of the €80 Suckler Cow Yel tessa len

“There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed and questions an- swered as a lot of farmers are only

receiving poor third hand informa- tion,’ said County IFA Chairman, Seamus Murphy.

“It is essential that weanling pro- ducers in Clare maximise on this scheme as it is the only life line to maintaining suckler cow numbers in the county.”

John Bryan, National Chairman IFA Livestock Committee, will ad- dress the meeting and cover all as- pects of the scheme and there will also be a presentation from Vivian Silke of Teagasc on beef produc- tion in Clare and a presentation from Sean Coughlan ICBF on their involvement in the scheme and the necessity for animal events record- ing going forward.

ENNIS Town Manager Tom Cough- lan has rejected claims of a cover up in the aftermath of the fire that de- stroyed Bredin’s Hardware store.

Reacting to comments made by Independent Councillor Frankie Neylon, Mr Coughlan said the coun- cil had not misled the public on the problems associated with water pres- sure in the area and that council of- ficials had been upfront and honest.

Town Engineer Tom Tiernan said he resented the fact that the integrity of council staff had been called into question and the talk of a cover up.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council Mr Tiernan said, “The response to some of what I said at the time was upsetting and surprising. The integrity of my staff was called into question and I resent that.

He added, “I am particularly dis- appointed that words like cover-up were used. I resent that. I could say a lot more about what was said on the airwaves’.

Mr Tiernan also acknowledged problems existed with water pressure in the town.

Mr Coughlan said, “I don’t see

any cover up. We have given you the facts as they are. There has been no cover up in this council. We are only running away from facts if we cover

ye]

oe

Fire destroyed Bredin’s hardware on the Station Road after a blaze erupted at the premises on Novem- ber 7. Fire units from Ennis with as- sistance from units from Shannon,

Scariff and Ennistymon brought the blaze control.

At yesterday’s meeting Cllr Neylon re-iterated his view that had water pressure been sufficient, the building

could have been saved.

“We can cover it up all we want but anybody who was out on the road that morning would have noticed the lack of water. I was amazed at the decision to let it burn out. The bottom line that morning was water Kee Rome

After presenting a report on the Fire Service’s response to the fire, Chief Fire Officer Adrian Kelly admitted there had been problems with water pressure and defended the decision made to contain the fire and restrict it from spreading to nearby buildings.

He told the meeting, “The decision was made to contain the fire and not let it spread. Where there are lives at stake we would take a different ap- proach”.

The council also unanimously backed a motion to support Clare County Council’s request for a water tanker for Ennis.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the council had failed in its responsa- bility to provide a satisfactory water

supply.

THE grave of two infant sisters who died two years ago has been severely damaged by vandals.

The incident occurred two weeks ago in Quilty graveyard at the grave- side of Neola and Nova O’ Loughlin.

Thieves removed a stone from the grave and also destroyed pictures, a wreath and presents left by parents Patrick and Sharon O’ Loughlin.

Patrick’s sister discovered the dam- age on a visit to the grave two weeks

ago. The family repaired some of the damage caused to the grave only to return a day later to find the grave had again been disturbed.

Patrick O’Loughlin, who lives in Quilty, explained the family were shocked with the extent of the dam- age.

“My sister told me about it and fair play to her she went back with my brother and his girlfriend to tidy it up a bit. They actually found a bit of stone that they hadn’t taken. They shaped it into a heart at the front. But

they came back the next night and de- stroyed it again. They even destroyed the wreath that was laying there.” Patrick explained how presents left by he and his wife to mark their daughter’s birthday were also stolen. “They did a colossal amount of damage. I used to go back there six nights a week to visit the grave. My wife and myself used to leave presents back there for the girls’ birthday. ‘They broke the angels that were on it, and the pictures. They stole water bottles. I was sickened by it.”

Neola and Nova O’Loughlin were both born premature on December 12, 2005 and died the day after their birth.

Patrick said the family was prepar- ing to mark the two-year anniversary of the girl’s death.

‘“That’s what makes it extra hard. They will be gone two years next week and for someone to come along and do that to a child’s grave 1s just awful. It wasn’t the fact that they stole the stone, they could take all of it for I care, it was the fact that they

came back and destroyed the wreath and pictures. That’s what really sick- ened me.”

The grave was the only one dam- aged in the graveyard. Patrick said, “You would clearly know that it was a child’s grave.

“There were two angels on the headstone. In taking the stones they did awful damage.”

The stone that was taken in the rob- bery was a very distinctive marble type stone, salmon and orange in colour.

THE numbers of people aged 15 and over travelling to work each day by car in Clare has increased by 5,213 despite additional expenditure on public transport.

Recent census figures also confirm a trend of fewer people travelling to work by bicycle, on foot or bus in the four years between the 2002 and 2006.

Some 68.7 per cent of people used a car to get to work in 2002, increasing to to 69.7 per cent in 2006.

In 2002, 29,092 people aged over

15 travelled to work by car out of 42,238. This increased in 2006 to 34,265 out of 49,138.

Despite millions of euro being in- vested on the Ennis-Limerick rail line, the census shows that only .22% of the Clare population over 15 use the train to get to work.

The census shows that in 2006, 111 people aged over 15 used the train to get to work. This was five times the number who travelled to work by train in 2002 when only 21 used it. The numbers using the train are ex- pected to increase in 2009 when the Ennis-Galway rail line reopens.

The numbers aged over 15 who get to work by bus has marginally dropped in the four years between the two censuses.

In 2006, 1.7 per cent or 871 people aged over I5 travelled to work by bus; the 2002 census shows that 1.8 per cent or 794 people travelled to work by bus.

The figures also show that the per- centage numbers travelling to work by bicycle has dropped.

In the 2002 Census, 487 or 1.15 per cent of people cycled to work com- pared to one per cent or 536 in 2006.

The number of those getting to

work by foot has dropped from nine per cent or 3,843 to 8.9 per cent or 4,390 people n 2006.

The percentage number of people working at home has dropped from 8.8 per cent or 3,272 in 2002 to 7.3 per cent or 3,598 in 2006.

Clare Green Party councillor, Bri- an Meaney said yesterday that the figures exposed the county’s growing over-reliance on the car.

‘The rise in our reliance on the mo- tor-car is unsustainable and we can’t have a transport system based on fos- sil fuel as we face into the future,’ he said.

KILRUSH area councillors have de- ferred any decision on the controver- sial proposal to close 120 metres of the Caherfeenick Road, Cree, until a draft legal agreement is presented to them.

At last evening’s Kilrush area meet- ing the councillors agreed after some debate to reconvene on Friday De- cember 14 to consider a draft legal agreement drawn up by the council’s legal team and the solicitors working for Doonbeg Golf Club Ltd.

The legal team for both parties are also to be at the meeting.

Just a month ago the members agreed to defer any decision on the controversial proposal until yester- day after a very heated meeting at- teended by the county solicitor John Shaw.

At that meeting Mr Shaw said that any decision made by the councillors would not affect a judicial review currently listed in the High Court.

The proposal which has split the west Clare councillors relates to a right of way on to Doughmore

Beach.

Under the agreement a right of way on to the beach will be handed over to Doonbeg Golf Club Limited in ex- change for alternative access to the beach.

Under the proposal, which must get the approval of the elected members of the complete council, part of the public road at Caherfeenick, Cree, will be extinguished for 120 metres.

The extinguishment will only take place, however, when certain criteria are met by the golf club according to council officials.

Among the commitments is the provision of a car park of 35 spaces constructed to Clare County Coun- cil’s specifications and supervised by the local authority’s staff.

An area of land including the car park and a further estimated .6 acres for 35 more car park spaces must also be transferred into the ownership of Clare County Council.

A new “turn table at the new term1- nal point” on the Caherfeenick road to Clare County Council’s specifica- tion in size and standard must also be constructed and bollards installed.

A document circulated to the coun- cillors earlier this year also pointed to “a clear legal grant of a vehicular right of way for emergency vehicles” to be given by the golf club to Clare County Council and this right of way to be three metres wide.

The councillors are to meet again on Friday week to discuss the issues as claims continue that the elected representatives have reneged on a previous agreement to postpone any decision until after an upcoming high court judicial review taken by the golf club against An Bord Pleanala.

THE spirit of volunteerism has been recognised by Shannon Town Coun- cil with the presentation of a series of awards to some of the areas most active volunteer groups.

One of the organisations singled out for recognition was the Shannon Community Games, with the music society, the chess club and the Bea- vers and Scouts also being recog- nised.

“We have been involved in the Community Games for years now and all the people who received awards have been involved for a long time, decades some of them,” said Mary Fitzgerald of the Shannon

Community Games.

“The Community Games are a ereat social outlet for the young peo- ple. Anything that keeps them inter- ested and occupied is of great ben- efit. It’s always a case of keeping the children involved.

“If they don’t find success as an individual they can always become part of a team. If sports doesn’t al- ways suit then there is a whole host of other activities that they can get involved with. It’s all about partici- pation.”

Over the year’s Shannon has pro- duced a host of All-Ireland Champi- on and have always been competitive, especially in chess and swimming. The great work of the group could

not however, be maintained without the help of countless volunteers.

“We have a great tradition here in chess and have produced a lot of All Ireland Champions. We have also had a lot of success with swimming down the years. I think that out first All-Ireland Champion swimmer was Douglas Hyde back in the *80’s,” continued Mary.

“So many people help in so many different areas of it. It’s great to see it, especially these days when peo- ple are so busy. It’s wonderful to see people who are willing to give their time and their talent for the next gen- eration.

“The whole ethos is all about par- ticipation rather than winning. You

never ever want to send a young fella home thinking they have failed somehow. There are so many chil- dren these days that don’t take part in things like this for whatever reason. “One thing that you can say about the children who take part, you never see them in any kind of trouble. It’s all about keeping them interested and occupied. That’s what it’s all about.”

THE number of “non-believers” in Clare has seen a massive increase of over 150 per cent in the past 15 years.

According to the latest statistics on religion from the 2006 Census, the number of people who state that they have “no religion” has jumped from 1,778 in 1991 to 4,680 in 2006 — a jump of 2,902 or 163 per cent.

The number of non-believers makes up 4.2 per cent of the Clare popula- tion of 110,950.

The figures also show that the

number of Roman Catholics has dropped marginally in percentage terms from 89 per cent to 88 per cent, although the numbers of Catholics has increased from 92,340 in 2002 to 98,189 to 2006.

The marginal percentage drop in Catholics comes against the back- ground of scandals for the Roman Catholic church in Ireland during the period between the two censuses showing that the Church remains quite a resilient institution.

The figures show that the Church of Ireland population in percentage terms remains more or less static; the

community by increasing from 1825 in 2002 to 1978 in 2006 accounts for 1.78 per cent of the population.

The number of Muslims in Clare 1s now 728 or .65 per cent with 493 liv- ing in Ennis.

Some 48 Jews live in Clare; during the 1930s and 1940s, there were no Jews recorded in Clare.

The 1961 Census recorded 4 Jews and the numbers in the Jewish com- munity have climbed slowly since.

The figures show that there are 333 Presbyterians in Clare, 332 Method- ists and 3,406 of other stated reli- gions.

According to consultant psychia- trist Dr Moosajee Bhamjee the fig- ures relating to non-believers “show that people are looking at life differ- ently now where church and state are not seen as the controlling institu- tions that they once were”.

Clare’s best-known Muslim added: “The Clare figures offer a micro- cosm of what is taking place in Irish ele iA

“The figures relating to the Mus- lims show that the Clare population is becoming more diverse and that we are all learning to live together,’ he said.

FIVE people were questioned by gardai in Shannon on Friday night following a disturbance earlier at Shannon Airport during which an Airport Police Officer was allegedly AISSALUD Kee b

The incident occurred at around 3pm when the four men and one woman, all from Lithuania but with addresses in Nenagh, County Tipper- ary, allegedly presented themselves in an intoxicated state at a check in

desk prior to their scheduled flight to Kaunas, Lithuania’s second larg- est city.

Airline staff refused to allow the passengers board the aircraft and ar- rangements were made to have their luggage returned to them. The group then agreed to make alternative ar- rangements and fly from Dublin on Saturday. However, a row broke out after their luggage was returned to them and one bag appeared to have been damaged.

A garda spokesman confirmed,

“There was a public order incident at Shannon as a group of passengers who were booked on a Ryanair flight to Kaunas arrived at the check in desk in an intoxicated manner. There was an exchange of words between members of the group and airport staff and one Airport Police Officer was assaulted. The assault was minor in nature but the group were later ar- rested under the Public Order Act.” According to one eyewitness, “They were very rowdy but we couldn’t make out what was going on. Two

Airport Police Officers arrived and tried to calm the situation but that didn’t work. They called for more help but when they asked the group to leave the airport, they wouldn’t. They were eventually removed from the building with their luggage one by one. Then the guards arrived and the five people were handcuffed and RCo he Ale

“When they were removed from the terminal, the door was locked behind them and people had to enter and leave through another door which

was heavily manned by security staff. The argument went on for quite a while,” the eye witness said.

An interpreter was sought by gardai to aid them in their questioning of the five. A garda spokesman confirmed that all five were charged with Pub- lic Order offences and were released on station bail later that evening. It is understood that none of the five was charged with the alleged assault. All five are now due to appear before the next sitting of Shannon District Court in Ennis on December 13.

IT was once a ballroom of romance but in recent years there was little that could be called romantic about Quin Community Hall.

Built in 1940 the hall in it’s hey- day was THE place to be for bright young things who wanted to dance the night away to the sounds of the Swarbriggs or the Indians.

The now draughty hall with it’s plumbing creaking and paint peel- ing 1s about to be restored to glory thanks to hard work fundraising and a €40,000 grant from the Depart-

ment of the Gaeltacht and Rural De- velopment.

€70,000 was raised locally through a very successful members draw.

A refurbishment and planned exten- sion for the hall will be carried out in two phases, according to booking of- ficer at the Quin Community Centre, Sarah Lennon.

“In the first phase, which is what this grant is for, we’ll be making the front of the building totally wheel- chair accessible with a new kitchen and an accessible toilet.”

The work is timely as the Enable Ireland sports group have just begun

using the building for sports prac- tice.

It’s hoped that this part of the refur- bishment can begin shortly and fu- ture plans are to apply for planning permission for a multi-purpose facil- ity in the back of the building.

“Local people were fantastic – they really rowed in to support us in the project,” said Sarah.

And whatever it costs to bring the building up to scratch, it will be money well spent, given the number of groups who use it.

Currently a new youth club has Opened it’s doors on Sundays be-

tween 7pm and 9pm, with youngsters aged 12 to 17 joining. Hip-hop and Irish dance classes are held in the centre, while badminton and other sports are played there.

The centre is also a meeting and functions home to local community groups such as the ICA, the parent and toddler group and the Teakwood Club.

‘“We’re booked well ahead and we expect to stay busy. The population of Quin is growing and there are more clubs starting up all the time. The hall will see plenty of use,” said Sarah.

THE future of Clare’s traditional arts took centre stage last night when peo- ple from all over the county gathered for the third meeting of the Clare Traditional Arts Forum.

The time for talking was over as the enthusiastic group made provisions to assist individuals and organisa- tions in working together on shared projects of interest.

The aim of the forum was to put those involved in the traditional arts in the county in a stronger position

for accessing funding at local and na- tional levels.

Clare people involved or interested in the traditional arts were urged to consolidate the future development of the sector by attending last night’s meeting in the Old Ground Hotel, Spay AvESe

The forum, which was established in 2006, aims to strengthen Clare’s musical tradition by assisting indi- viduals and organisations to work to- gether on shared projects of interest, thereby putting them in a stronger position for accessing funding at lo-

cal and national level.

“While previous meetings have proven to be a great avenue for dis- cussion of issues and ideas, this meeting and future meetings will be focused on putting these ideas into action. Some of these actions are already underway so it is, therefore, important that anyone interested in assisting or facilitating actions would be in attendance in Ennis this evening,’ said Tara Connaghan, Traditional Arts Co-ordinator, Clare County Council.

According to Ms. Connaghan, “The

forum has been set up by the Arts Office of Clare County Council with support from the Arts Council of Ire- land. The role of the Arts Office is to organise meetings, offer support, advice and assistance as required. The forum members determine the activities of the forum.

“The Clare Traditional Arts Forum will open up various opportunities for the traditional arts in Clare where people can get support for ideas or projects they want to undertake,” she added.

The benefits of traditional arts fo- rums and networks are widely known and can be seen in various commun1- ties throughout Ireland. For exam- ple, the Roscommon Traditional Arts Forum – the first of its kind in Ireland – has undertaken various projects including the transmission of tradi- tional arts in primary schools and the production of marketing brochures and an on-line archive.

All traditional musicians, singers, dancers, storytellers, festival or- ganisers, promoters, traditional arts organisations and anyone involved or interested in the traditional arts attended the meeting facilitated by Margaret O’Sullivan of Key Cul- aubeed