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ENNIS Town Council has rejected plans by a housing association to se- cure planning permission for a five storey apartment block adjacent to Ennis Tennis and Badmintion Club.

Earlier this year, Cluid Housing As- sociation lodged plans to construct 21 one bedroom apartments and six two bedroom apartments.

However, the proposal prompted stiff opposition from the Ennis Ten- nis and Badminton Club and local

residents with the tennis club raising child protection concerns.

In its objection, the Ennis Tennis and Badminton Club states: “With a large junior membership, the club has rigorous child protection schemes. Consequently, units with views over- looking children at play is of serious concern to all members.”

In a comprehensive refusal, the council has stated that the scale, massing, height and excessive site coverage would result in over-devel- opment of the restricted site.

The council also concluded that the proposal would compete visu- ally with the Cornmarket building and Waterville House, would detract from the character for the setting of Waterville House

Officials also ruled that it failed to respect its context and contravene the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

“The proposed development would adversely affect the setting of the protected structure and would be contrary to the proper planning

and sustainable development of the area.”

The council also refused planning permission after ruling that the site coverage, scale, massing, height and proximity would constitute over development, would result in over- looking and over-shadowing of adja- cent residential buildings and would seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity.

“The proposed development there- fore would materially contravene a policy of the Ennis and Environs

Development Plan 2003 and the zon- ing objective for the area which 1s to protect residential amenity.”

The council also refused planning due to the proposal’s “layout and den- sity and consequent lack of private Open space to serve the residential units would result in a sub-standard form of development which would seriously injure the amenity of future occupants”.

It is now open to Cluid Housing Association to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

THE people of Shannon are being asked to support the local gymnastics club, in its search for a new home.

The club was formed five years ago and currently has more than 100 children on its books.

Since its formation, the club has en- joyed no shortage of success, both on local and national levels.

One of its members, Becky O’Donnnell recently travelled to Po- land with the Irish squad 1n the Euro- pean Cup, where she came 10th. She has also taken part in the national Community Games finals in Mosney over the past few years, where she

has won one gold, two bronze and two silver medals.

Becky, along with Grainne Hen- nessy, Dara Moan and Molly Night- ingale, have represented the club on the national squad.

Young boys and girls travel from all over the county, to take part in gymnastics at the club. The Shannon club is the only club in the region to specialise in tumbling, which attracts the interest of several young people.

However, despite its success, the club has no home and does not ben- efit from much funding.

The club avails of facilities at the local leisure centre, but would dearly love to have a base to call its own.

Becky’s mother Ita – who 1s a mem- ber of the club’s fundraising commit- tee – said local fundraising is essen- tial for the club’s existence.

“We don’t get any funding. We did get a sports grant six months ago, but we don’t get any national funding. A lot of other sports get funding but the gymnastics don’t. The parents have to organise the fundraising,’ said tee

She is hopeful that the people of the town will continue to support the club in its quest for a home that they can call their own.

“We are looking for a suitable premises but it is expensive. It 1s bril- liant for the children to have such an

activity. The people of Shannon have been great,” she said.

The club was formed by Elaine Ryan, whose work and dedication is crucial.

‘Elaine gives great dedication to the club. Six months ago when we had no equipment, Elaine used to take the children to Cavan, where there is a very good tumbling club. She did it in her own time,” said Ita.

A DAY of colour and culture was held for new Clare and Limerick people in Limerick at the weekend with dance, music and art delighting all who visited it.

The New Young Festival featured African dance, music, art and much more in a day which celebrated the

differences and similarities between African people and their new Irish neighbours. The event was organ- ised by the Igbo Union, Ireland and was One of a number of activities de- signed to promote understanding and co-operation.

Attending the event were the may- ors of Ennis and Limerick, council- lors and TDs and the Nigerian Am-

bassador to Ireland.

The event featured works of art, dancing, song, traditions and culture of the many African nations repre- sented in Ireland.

A spokesman said that the day showcased offerings from Africa people who have settled in Ireland to work or study as well as those seek- ing asylum or refugee status.

FIFTEEN groups in Shannon have applied for community grants un- der the town council’s annual grants scheme.

The initiative is geared towards projects which are designed to im- prove the quality of life for the peo- ple of Shannon. The projects which qualify for funding must show a clear community focus.

The groups which made the sub- missions have made various requests for funding, ranging from €400 to €2,000. ;

The Gleann an Oir Residents As- sociation is seeking a grant between €1,500 and €2,000. That is the single biggest request. Wolfe Tones

camogie side is seeking €1,500, while the local handball club has requested €1,200. Applications for €1,000 have been made by Clare Ha- ven in Shannon, the Shannon Family Resource Centre, SEED, Shannon Olympic AFC and the Musical So- OAs

Newtown FC is seeking €7/50, While applications for €500 each have been made by three youth projects. Duchas na Sionna has ap- plied for €400 funding.

The local graveyard maintenance committee and Jet FM, Shannon Community Radio, have both applied for unspecified amounts in funding.

Last year, some 15 groups in the town received funding, under this scheme. The size of the grants ranged

from €300 to €500 and the total funding amounted to €5,200.

A number of the projects which re- ceived money last year have applied for funding again this year. Some of the applicants, including Wolfe Tones camogie club and the Fam- ily Resource Centre, did not receive eae OL SM ERS (orb

The grants will be presented at a special function to be held in Shan- non later this year.

Meanwhile, people who encourage others to get involved in sports and other activities, will also be hon- oured, under the annual Liosta na Laochra scheme.

Previously, awards were given to local people who excelled at national and international levels.

Tomas MacCormaic has suggested that people who work behind the scenes should be honoured this year.

This idea was supported by mem- bers of Shannon Town Council.

Cllr Geraldine Lambert (FF) said, “It’s easy to overlook honouring the people behind the scenes. As a town council, it would be a very good move to honour these people.”

Mr MacCormaic said that people honoured in this category must be living in Shannon, or involved with a club which is located “within the functional area of the town.”

Nominations must be made prior to the first week of October. The ‘Laochra’ will be honoured the same night as the presentation of the com- munity grants.

JUST 60 people have applied to fill the 292 posts which have to be filled if Enterprise Ireland is to decentral- ise to Shannon.

The shockingly low figures were revealed as SIPTU called on the Government to abandon plans to de- centralise semi-state bodies.

SIPTU delegates representing al- most 1,600 members in 16 semi-state organisations have called for an end to the Government’s plans to decen- tralise them.

Delegates met in Liberty Hall to hear a report of the Labour Court on a dispute over voluntary decentrali-

sation being linked with promotion. The court had ruled that any reloca- tion must be voluntary. Representa- tives attended from bodies including Enterprise Ireland, Failte Ireland, the National Standards Authority Ireland, the National Roads Author- ity, Bus Eireann, Bord Bia, BIM, the Combat Poverty Agency, the Arts Council and FAS to discuss the rec- ommendation.

Afterwards, SIPTU Regional Sec- retary, Patricia King said the union representatives had “welcomed the acceptance by FAS management and the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, of the Labour Court recom- mendation. The delegates reaffirmed

that their campaign would continue to remove all state agencies from the decentralisation programme.

“We believe that the Labour Court recommendation has highlighted the legitimate concerns of staff and has spelt out very clearly that voluntary means voluntary.

“The court accepted people had legitimate expectations and propri- etorial rights based on their careers with these agencies and cannot be compelled to relocate.”

So far the applications for reloca- tion with Enterprise Ireland have fallen far short of the expectations or the minimum number necessary to make the move.

A spokesman for the Department of Finance, which is handling the whole decentralisation project, said that many of the semi-state bodies had “issues” to be ironed out before the move could take place.

These were generally HR issues of the kind demonstrated in the FAS dispute, he said.

Plan to decentralise the Revenue Commissioners to Kilrush have met with much more success, however. Of a required 50 posts there were 86 applicants and 55 people have now been assigned to the town.

The excess number is explained by the fact that a job-share option was taken up by a number of applicants.

A MUSIC project, open to young people in the Shannon area, has been launched, for the fourth year in suc- ISSO) F

The project, which is run by Clare Youth Service, has been a huge suc- cess over the past three years. Run by local youth workers and a committee of young people, it provides various workshops for those interested in music.

As the project returns this week, its organisers have announced plans for free guitar workshops.

The committee has put together an information brochure about the

workings of the project and the fa- cilities available to young people in the Shannon area.

The project is open to all young people aged between 13 and 21 years, who are interested in learning musi- cal instruments and participating in music workshops. The committee also hopes to begin music apprecia- tion workshops and a listening club in the near future.

The workshops takes place on Fri- days from 6pm to 7pm, in The Re- spond Community Building, Rine- anna View. The workshop is being run by a local guitar teacher Paul O’ Donoghue.

The workshops will begin with

acoustic guitar for the first four to five weeks and then electric guitar will be introduced.

“The only catch that Paul insists on is that people be on time. Partici- pants are invited to be ready to learn at 6pm sharp. Also, if you don’t have a guitar its still ok to show up as ar- rangements have been made to pro- vide additional guitars for use at the workshop only,” said Shannon youth worker, Cathal Dillon.

The committee is in the process of recruiting other performers from the area to do workshops in drums and vocals also. This should be made available at a later stage.

Meanwhile, the Shannon Youth

Club has re-opened, following the summer break.

The club runs at The Respond Com- munity Building, Rineanna View, every Tuesday night, from 7pm to whet

The club is open to all secondary school students aged between 13 and 16 in Shannon but places are restrict- ed to 40, due to limited hall space.

The club is currently recruiting volunteers for the posts of assistant leader and activity leaders within the club. Clare Youth Service provides training and full support is given to all leaders by the leader in charge. The posts are open to those over the age of 18.

THE scramble to build business parks around Ennis continues with new plans for a €10 million park near the 12th century Clareabbey.

Plans have been lodged by David Costelloe to develop 74 light indus- trial units.

The proposed development has a total floor area of 25,876 sq metres and is located in the townland of Clonroadmore.

An application by Michael Lynch Ltd for a new road to open up the lands in the area is currently before Ennis Town Council and has encoun- tered local opposition.

The planner’s report lodged with the Clareabbey Business Park states that the proposed development will

be in excess of 103 metres from the Clareabbey structure and that “the buffer will afford adequate protec- tion to the abbey and protect its his- torical setting”’.

The report states that “the proposed development effectively seeks to pro- vide an extension to the Clonroad- more industrial estate”.

The report states, “The proposed development has been carefully de- signed from the project concept tak- ing account of all relevant factors including market demand, planning policy and site constraints and op- portunities.

“It 1s considered that the proposed development will make a positive contribution to the community of Ennis, providing for much needed employment and industry, in ac-

cordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

It continues, ““The exact intended users of the units have not been yet decided. However, it is anticipated that such units would attract users such as carpenters, electricians, till- ers, building contractors or car re- OND ESe

“Traditionally, these users would have operated in uncontrolled en- vironments to the rear of houses in the countryside or in converted ga- rages/sheds as there were no suitable or appropriate alternatives available. The proposed development seeks to address this deficiency and provide for small light industrial units in a planned and controlled environ- ment.”

The site is zoned “other settlement land’. The planner’s report states that “the proposed development of light industrial use at this location will provide additional employment for this rapidly growing and expanding residential area and will also directly compliment the existing Clonroad- more industrial estate which is now fully occupied”.

In relation to the archaeological impact of the development, the de- veloper’s consultants state that the proposed site “has very little or no direct archaeological consequence and taking into account the com- bined results of various research and tests, no further archaeological work is required at this location”’.

A decision is due on the application later this year.

NOSTALGIA was in the air for a Shannon woman last week, when she took up a teaching post in the school she attended 22 years ago.

Joanne O’Sullivan (nee Meehan) was a first year student at St Caimin’s Community School, when it first opened its doors in 1985. Now, 22 years on, she returns to the school as a special needs teacher.

The 34-year-old has now joined a number of her own former teachers Omen om even

Joanne is thrilled with her new job, in somewhat familiar surroundings.

“T’ve had plenty of jobs, but this is the most welcoming place I have ever worked. It is brilliant,” she said.

“11 or 12 of the teachers that taught me are still on the staff. They are still exactly the same,’ she added.

“*T have never felt so comfortable in any place,’ she said.

“When I was in school, I had never had a desire to have a career. The principal Mary Hanley wanted me to be a teacher,’ she laughed.

Nine of her relations are students in the school, so there is something of a family feeling at work.

Joanne left school at 17 and later married her childhood sweetheart Don O’Sullivan. The couple have since had three boys – DJ (9), Adam (7) and Cian (5) – and Joanne decided to take up a full-time job this year. Cian also started primary school last week.

Joanne substituted in St Conaire’s primary school for the past few years and 1s now re-adjusting to the sur-

roundings at St Caimin’s.

There is one key difference how- ever. The old St Caimin’s school building has since been replaced and Joanne is getting used to the new loleunKebuetss

She also plans to assist in training the school’s camogie team, having starred in the sport when she was in school. One familiar face on the staff for Joanne is Deborah Dalgarno. She was in Joanne’s class and is the school’s secretary.

Three other teachers – Dara Dunne (Metalwork), Niamh McDonnell

(Religion) and Patricia Maguire (English and History) – are also past pupils of the school. Current deputy principal John Cleary has been a member of the teaching staff since the school first opened.

Mary Hanley, who has worked at the school since it opened – she was appointed principal five years ago – is delighted to have the former pupils Om aomE-UEe

“Joanne is like as if she never left the place. We are delighted she is going to help out with the camogie,” she said.

She also pointed out that the parents of 23 of the school’s current students also attended St Caimin’s.

“T was shocked to realise that the parents of so many students attended the school,’ she said.

THE Department of the Environment has claimed that awarding planning permission for a €50 million retail park on the outskirts of Ennis would be contrary to the aims of the EU Habitats Directive.

In its strongest statement yet against the plan by Stephen Harris to construct the retail park, the de- partment stated that if the plan was to receive the green light, “it would result in significant adverse impacts on habitats and species of ecological importance at a regional to national level”.

Clare County Council is to decide on the application later this month. However, 1n its latest submission the National Parks and Wildlife Section (NPWS) of the department raises fresh concerns over the fate of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly at the site.

The butterfly is the only butterfly that is afforded protection under the EU Habitats Directive.

The department state, “Permitting the development in its current form would be contrary to the aims of the Habitats Directive in relation to maintaining the range and distribu- tion of species listed on Annex II and protecting sites or stepping stones of importance for biodiversity.

The department also claim that “the proposed development will re- sult in significant biodiversity losses in terms of wetland habitats of eco- logical value and the loss of a sig- nificant proportion of the remaining Marsh Fritillary population in the Skehanagh/Bunnow area’.

The department also point out that the information submitted by the ap- plicants “is deficient in respect of in- formation on the presence of Marsh Fritillary in the application area and the assessment of the likely signifi- cant impacts of the development on this species and the habitat.

“In line with the precautionary principle, the development should not be permitted in the absence of the necessary information and flood risk assessment. This major defi- ciency cannot be dealt with by way of planning conditions.”

The late intervention by the depart- ment represents a blow to the pros- pects of Mr Harris securing planning permission for the ambitious propos- al. It also signals the intention of the department to appeal any decision to grant to An Bord Pleanala.

The council has already carried out a report on the viability of retail parks around the Ennis area and has designated the Harris proposal as the best suited for development.

IRISH history’s most important painters will feature in an exhibition at the Courthouse Gallery in En- nistymon.

Beginning chronologically with a work by Paul Henry, the exhibition “Not What You’d Expect; Irish paint- ing 1919-2007” includes works from such legendary painters as Gerard Dillon, Jack B. Yeats, Mainie Jellet, Mary Swanzy and Norah McGuin- ness. The selection of exhibited works represents a broad survey of painting practice in Ireland.

Curator Fiona Woods of the Clare Arts Office said, “We are delighted to welcome works from some of Ire- land’s best-known painters, as part

of one of the most high profile art exhibitions ever held in this county. Many of the featured works have been sourced from the collection of the Arts Council of Ireland and Lim- erick City Gallery of Art’s perma- nent collection.”

“The work reaches right up to contemporary times, incorporating a number of genres such as Land- scape, Interior/Still-life, Portraiture, Abstract and Narrative approaches,’ she explained.

To coincide with the exhibition, the Clare Arts Office is organising a se- ries of guided gallery tours, public talks and workshops for artists.

Catherine Marshall, Chief Cura- tor with The Irish Museum of Mod- ern Art, currently on secondment as

Visual Arts touring and Collections Advisor with the Arts Council, will provide the opening talk on Irish Painting.

On Saturday, September 15 En- nis-born artist Mick O’Dea RHA will talk about his work, followed by a closed workshop for artists. The former National College of Art and Design tutor has won numerous awards at national and international Aon

On September 22, Micky Donnelly, a leading contemporary Irish artist and member of Aosdana will give a talk about his work, followed by a closed workshop for artists. Don- nelly has exhibited in many countries around the world.

His work is represented in most of

the important public art collections in Ireland. Every Wednesday, Marie Connole MFA will give tours for school groups, complete with educa- tional material at 1.30 pm. A guided tour for the public will be available at 3pm each Wednesday, or at another time by appointment.

The Fine Art Graduate of The Burren College of Art received the Spiresart Outstanding Student in Art, an accommodation and studio residency award in 2005 and tuition fees bursary in 2006/07 from The Clare Arts Office, and recently The Burren College of Arts Presidents Award.

The exhibition will run until Sep- tember 23, 2007 at The Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon.