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AN Ennis-based residents’ associa- tion has claimed that the high percent- age of rental properties in their estate is contributing to the ongoing anti-so- cial behaviour problem in the area.

Dun na hInse Residents Associa- tion, in an objection to plans to con- struct 26 terraced homes at Lahinch Road, Ennis, point out that Dun na hInse is primarily a rented estate, with 60 per cent rental property, mostly with absentee landlords.

The objection states, “This has re-

sulted in an ongoing litter problem, ongoing anti-social behaviour and subsequent devaluing of properties.” The residents association has writ- ten numerous letters to Ennis Town Council in this regard. They argue that the impact of 26 more housing units will exacerbate this existing so- cial problem, should the proposed de- velopment of townhouses go ahead. “This has been the trend in all the new estates nationally and we do not intend that our area further deteriorates due to lack of vision, management and responsibility by

our planners. It is incumbent on us as residents to object strong to this development given the history of de- velopment.”

The residents’ association point out that Dun na hInse consists of 131 houses, with Brookville accounting for 40 homes. The residents point out that “what is now a green area, scarce in Ennis town, will be saturated with an additional 26 units…Houses, con- crete walls and railings are not a sub- stitute for green spaces in an already high density environment.

In a separate objection, the Brookville

Residents Association claims that there are no amenities for children. They ask, “What can be more conducive to anti-social behaviour than adding more houses to this already high den- sity area with only one area to serve three housing estates?

“We feel that the combined units of Brookville and Dun na hInse al- ready constitute a high density area with enough social problems of their own. Adding more houses can only increase the problem.”

A decision is due on the application later this year.

THE developers of a proposed hous- ing development in Lahinch have successfully argued that 1s not viable to retain the route of the West Clare Railway that lies close to the devel- opment.

This follows Clare County Coun- cil giving the go-ahead to Patricia Stackpoole to build eight homes on Station Road in Lahinch.

The council had expressed con- cerns over the scheme’s impact on

the West Clare Railway, pointing out that it is policy of the council to only permit development on or adjacent to the west Clare plan that will not con- flict with the policy.

The council stated that, “The pro- posed plan includes for a number of building unit and their rear gardens to be built over the line of the west Clare railway. Please address this matter by way of revised proposals.”

However, in response, consultants for Ms Stackepoole stated that, ““The line of the railway to the east and

west of the site as indicated on the at- tached map has been fully obscured and built over by numerous different ownerships for an extensive period of time

“Clearly, it is not possible that the line of the railway can be developed in this area as parts of a recreational route to achieve this objective. The rationale of maintaining the area of that line traversing the site does not therefore appear to be viable.”

In the planner’s report recommend- ing that planning permission be

eranted, the planner agreed with the developers that it was not possible to utilise the route of the West Clare Railway as a recreational route due to the amount of private land interest AN Cevercm seem eeuuleloe

The planner stated that the provi- sion of a walking route will prove extremely difficult and will require the acquisition of land and houses.

In its formal order, the Council gave the plan the go-ahead as the site is zoned as residential in the North Clare Area Plan, the intended use

of the proposed land and would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.

The proposal attracted a lot of local Opposition and the ultimate arbiters of the merits of the application look set to be An Bord Pleanala.

In one of the objections that reflects local feeling over the plan, Marie O’Donoghue stated that, “Lahinch is a seaside village and haphazard backland development of this nature and size constitutes over-density and Waaey Deny Ac 1H (O)n ae

THE effects of Open Skies on the operation of Shannon Airport is al- ready being felt with reduced serv- ice on the transatlantic this coming winter.

According to the mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia McCarthy, the number of transatlantic services – not includ- ing Aer Lingus routes – will decrease from 35 to 23 this coming winter.

This follows moves by American Airlines, Continental Airlines and Delta Airlines to reduce services.

With the attention in the region focused on the Shannon-Heathrow slots in recent weeks, Cllr McCarthy said that it is very important that no further transatlantic services are lost.

Cllr McCarthy also accused Aer Lingus of having an anti-Shannon agenda that is apparent in its opera- tion of the transatlantic routes.

Having returned from the Irish Fest at Milwaukee as part of a del- egation promoting County Clare, Cllr McCarthy said, “We did our job which was promoting Clare and

routes into Clare and it is dreadful to be selling an airline even though you know that they have stabbed you in the back.

She added, “Talking to operators and people there, it seems that Aer Lingus is operating an anti-Shan- non agenda. I have been saying that for years, but people came up to me and told me Aer Lingus are offering routes where it is cheaper to fly to Dublin rather than Shannon from US destinations.

‘Another person who was trying to fly to Shannon was told by an Aer

Lingus employee that Dublin was the airlines’s preferred destination and said that it was easy to get from Dublin to the west coast.”

Speaking earlier this summer, the executive chairman of the Shan- non Airport Authority (SAA), Pat Shanahan sounded an upbeat note on the future of Atlantic services when he said that the SAA is aim- ing to increase its transatlantic pas- senger base by 300,000 in the years after the ending of the Shannon Stop-over.

The phased ending of the stop-

over will come fully into force next April with the introduction of full Open Skies.

Currently, the number of North America bound passengers from Shannon is 700,000.

Executive chairman of the SAA, Pat Shanahan said: “In the first cou- ple of years of Open Skies, we may see a Slight dip in the transaltantic traffic going through Shannon and it may dip from 700,000 to 650,000, but I believe that the volume of traf- fic coming into Ireland with Open Skies will increase.

A €50,000 weekend drugs seizure was the biggest ever haul to be found in a house in Shannon.

The assortment of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, ecstacy and canna- bis, was uncovered by gardai during raids on two houses in the town on Friday night.

A mixture of drugs, consisting

mainly of cocaine, but also including quantities of ecstacy and heroin, was seized at a house in Inis Ealga. The value of that haul is estimated to be €47,000. Several thousands of euro was also found at that house, which is a local authority dwelling.

A quantity of cannabis resin, with an estimated value of ©5000, was Seized at a rented house in the Cro- nan area of the town.

The raids were carried out simulta- neously on the houses — in an op- eration involving local plain clothes and uniformed gardai, backed up by members of the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit — at around 7.30pm.

Two young men, in their early 20s, were arrested at the houses, under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and were questioned at Shannon Garda Station overnight. They were released with-

out charge on Saturday evening and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

Gardai, meanwhile, will continue to investigate the matter, while the drugs have been sent for analysis to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Dublin.

“This is the largest haul of drugs found in a house search in Shannon. It was significant. We believe the drugs, or the majority of them, were

destined for the local market,’ said a garda spokesman.

“We would be concerned about the amount of hard drugs making their way into the area,” he added.

‘We are determined to keep on top of the problem. Further searches and investigations will be carried out in Shannon, on a day-to-day basis, in an effort to combat the spread of drugs,” added the garda.

RESIDENTS in the tourist village of Bunratty are demanding that plans for a large extension to a quarry in the village be limited to a 12-15 year period.

A decision is due on the application by Roadstone Provinces Limited later this month and, in a fresh sub- mission, local residents claim that the operation of the quarry is having significant adverse effects.

They state, “We are tolerant of the quarry operation and the submis- sions we make are not unreasonable — insofar as we don’t request the closure of the activity. However, we must request that a buffer zone of at least 200 metres is strictly enforced between our residential boundaries and the active quarry area.”

It goes on, “As residents, we put our health and safety first, the amenity value of our area second and finally

consider the scope for expansion of the area.”

Hence, they request “the limit of 12-15 years for the permission and the request for a community liaison group .

The residents are seeking that the conditions that the council impose “will provide for the protection of the local residents and their amen- ity, and the protection of the tourist resource in Bunratty”.

The residents are also demanding that the council insert a condition that “within six months of the date of this permission, the developer shall establish a local consultative eroup to include representatives of the developer and members and rep- resentatives of the local community and landed interests. The group shall constitute a forum to address op- erational issues of the quarry which are considered to impact upon local amenity”.

THE countdown is on to Ireland’s first ever outdoor painting competi- tion, which takes place in the Burren Painting Centre this weekend. Outdoor painting competitions or ‘paint-outs’ have became popular in America in recent years but this is the first one which has ever been organised on this side of the Atlantic. The competition sees a large group of artists gather together on one day to paint and offer different artistic takes on the same moment in time. “It’s an opportunity for good ama- teur artists to come together and

paint for one day. Each person who comes to the day will have their can- vas or paper stamped in the morning and they will be sent out to three lo- cations around Lisdoonvarna’’, ex- plained Chris O’ Neill of the Burren Painting Centre.

“At the moment we have about 30 artists registered, but people can still sign up until Friday. When they reg- ister on Saturday morning we will give them the three secret locations where the painting will take place.”

The judging panel includes Irish painter Rosemary Carr and water colour expert Charles Harper. Paint- ers will be allowed to enter two

paintings either in oil and acrylic, pure water colour or mixed media, pastel and gouache.

‘People can paint all day, as long as they have their entries with us by 6pm on Saturday evening. I would say most people will enter one paint- ing but I know of people who have told me that they will be entering two, usually one water colour and one acrylic.” Following the competi- tion and judging a prize-giving lunch will take place in the King Thomand Hotel on Sunday September 2, from lpm to 3pm. Prizes will be presented to the winning artists by Lady Alison Rosse of Birr Castle.

The Burren Painting Centre was established in 1974 and has been at- tracting budding artists from Ireland, Europe and America to the Burren since then. Courses are run each year in Lisdoonvarna, from May to Au- cust, with ‘away trips’ organised in April and October to various parts of the world.

The Outdoor Landscape Paint- ing Competition will take place on September 1. Registration will take place at the National School, Lis- doonvarna from 8:30am to 10am. For more information contact the Burren Painting Centre in Lisdoonvarna on NEOs

FOR Clare traditional musicians Tullamore was the place to be last weekend as over 250,000 people congregated in the Offaly capital for the 56th running of Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.

This year’s event, back in the mid- lands after a number of years, revived memories of the first ever All-Ireland Fleadh that took place in Mullingar back in 1951.

And Clare musicians who have dis- tinguished themselves at All-Ireland Fleadhs since the great contests be- tween the Tulla and Kilfenora bands brought more glory to the county, scooping titles across a range of competitions.

Those in the winners enclosure in- cluded: Tara Breen and Cathal Mac An Ri in the Senior Duet compe- tion; David McCarthy, Accordion under 12; Keith O’Loughlin, under 15 Mandolin; Aisling Lyons, under 12 Harp; Emer Arkins in Lilting and Irish Singing and Tig na Coille in the under 18 Céili Band competition.

The Clare success stories didn’t end there. Many other performers were also on the podium over the week- Ne

Tig na Coille were second in the 12-to-15-year-old Céili Band com- petition, while Burren were third. Burren also scooped second in the Grupa Ceoil compeition.

Tara Breen was second in the un- der 18 Fiddle; Dermot Sheedy was runner up in the under 18 drums; Tara Howley third in under 15 Uil- leann Pipes; Emer Arkins/Brian and Keith O’Loughlin third in under 18 Trio; Sean and Gerard Kennedy/ Aine Griffey third in under 12 Trio; Cres sToymyn Ue. Cui MscubKe MBO MBLY BIO UF-Dahve Fergal Breen third in Pipes Slow Airs; Bronwyn Power third in Fiddle under 18 and Martin Breen third in Senior Accompaniment.

THE hidden life of Michael Cusack will be the subject of a series of half-hour talks taking place over the next few day in Carron. The talks, which take place at the newly opened Michael Cusack Centre, have been organised to coincide with this year’s National Heritage Week.

While much is known about the sporting achievements of Carron’s most famous son, comparatively lit- tle is known about his interesting and often times, tragic life outside the GAA.

“We will specifically focus on parts of his private life rather than just the GAA aspect to it. A lot of people don’t realise that his early life story

is very much intertwined with edu- cation and living up here in the Bur- ren,’ said Paddy Maher of the Carron Oise

Also under scrutiny will be his later years, which involved a lot of fam- ily tragedy, but also saw him lead a fascinating life in Dublin, where he met up with James Joyce and was involved with the revival of the Irish language. Also explored will be his quite liberal opinions of labour and how people were treated.

“He had a quite open-minded atti- tude on the way that life should be lived in Ireland,’ said Paddy Maher.

The lectures will take place throughout Heritage Week at 3pm daily and will last for approximately half an hour. The admission cost of

€2.50 includes a visit to the restored Cusack homestead. The Michael Cu- sack Centre has enjoyed great success since in opened in Easter with some 5,000 registered visitors to date.

‘We have been delighted with visi- tor numbers over the last couple of months. So far it has predominately been Irish people who have visited, but we have also had a few trial schools packages, which will be a big thing from September,” contin- ued Paddy.

“We are working on a couple of initiatives over the next three years. We are looking at creating more in- teractive facilities for kids when they come to visit. We are look at creat- ing an all weather pitch where young people, and indeed older people, can

go and test their skills in football and ova bberee

We also want to finish the inside of Michael Cusack cottage, includ- ing the restoration of some famine artifacts plus, we are looking at the possibility of hosting coaching semi- nars during the winter. We are look- ing at running sports physiology and general coaching courses for people involved in the coaching side of the GAA.”

For further information contact the Michael Cusack Centre on 065 eee

THE horrific death endured by Ennis hackney driver Liam Moloney two- and-a-half years ago, was recalled at the inquest into his death last week.

Ennis Coroner’s Court heard details of Mr Moloney’s final journey, on the evening he met his brutal end, on February 11, 2005.

The jury which heard details of the death agreed that he had been the victim of a murder and brought in a verdict in accordance with this.

The inquest heard from Shirley Conway, who worked at the office of Ennis Cabs, on the date in question.

She said the last call she gave Mr Moloney was at 7.14pm, on the evening of his death. That fare was to Clarecastle.

“Liam was in great form. He was due to work through the night, until 4 or 5 in the morning,” said Ms Con- ee

Hugh Hehir was the last fare Mr Moloney brought home that night, prior to him picking up Anthony Keath

Mr Hehir recalled going to the of- fice of Ennis Cabs, to get a taxi.

He said a man in his late 50s emerged from a back office and to- gether they walked to Mr Moloney’s

eb

‘He sounded like a townie. He seemed to know a lot of people around the town,” he said.

Mr Moloney drove Mr Hehir home to Clarecastle, arriving at around 7.30pm.

The following day, Mr Hehir heard that somebody had been killed in Ruan and he only realised who it was when he saw his face on the televi- sion.

John Cullinan, who had rented land at Port, Ruan, at the time, made the grim discovery of Mr Moloney’s body, at around 2.30pm on the after- noon after the murder.

“I saw that it was a human body,’ he said. He phoned his wife and she 1m- mediately contacted the emergency services.

The deceased’s brother Derry Moloney identified the body at Lim- erick Regional Hospital, on February eel tey

The inquest heard that he walked around his brother’s body several times, in shock.

“Tnitially I could not identify the body of my brother Liam, due to the head injuries. I walked around the body again and then identified it as my brother Liam,” the inquest heard.

Detective Sergeant Michael Molo-

ney, who attended the scene of the murder, said the deceased appeared to have had significant injuries to the head and throat.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis carried out a post mortem ex- amination on the deceased’s body.

He said Mr Moloney’s skull had been severely fractured. He had sus- tained multiple blows from a chop- ping type weapon, either a machete, meat cleaver or axe.

He had also received multiple lac- erations to the hands and fingers.

Death, he said, was due to blunt force trauma to the head, with cut throat injuries a contributory cause.

WHILE the tourist trade in the rest of the country is starting to get qui- et, Lisdoonvarna is shaping up for a September invasion with the start of this year’s Matchmaking Festival.

The festival, which attracts thou- sands to north Clare each September, opens this weekend with the annual race meeting in Doolin.

“We have three days of racing – Fri- day afternoon, Saturday and Sunday. It brings in a whole different section of people to the festival. The local farmers let the jockeys board their horses on their farms, so everyone is really supportive ,’ said Mark Flana-

gan, Festival Organiser.

‘The focus for the second weekend is on country and western music. We have some great country and western music groups in the town and all the different hotels and pubs will host some great music.

The music carries on all the time, all the way through the festival. There will be a lot of music and danc- ing going on during the day with the first dance of the day taking place at 12 noon at the Spa Wells throughout September.”

During the third, fourth and fifth weekends of the festival the work of local matchmaker Willie Daly really gets going. He sets up shop in the

Matchmaker Bar and helps to match singles together.

“This year we have found that we have never had as many booking and enquiries. The phones have been hop- ping in all the hotels, there is a huge interest in this year’s event,” said Festival Organiser, Marcus White.

“The vast majority of the people who come are Irish. A lot of them come on the weekends but what we have done over the last few years is to put on a lot of midweek dancing too. A lot of couples would to that – it’s not just a singles event, a lot of couple come for the music and the dancing.”

The reputation of the Matchmak-

ing Festival has grown so much that Marcus has been invited to Singa- pore to give a talk on matchmaking later this year.

The grand final of the Matchmak- ing Festival as always is the crowning of Mr. Lisdoonvarna and the Queen of the Burren, which sees the most eligible gentleman and lady awarded the coveted titles.