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TWO west Clare schools are to benefit by as much as €15,000 from the out- door facilities enhancement scheme.

St Joseph’s National School in Mil- town Malbay and Kilmaley National School have received €7,500 each for work on their playgrounds and out- door facilities.

The money allocated is to go to- wards projects such as upgrading of grass and tarmacadam areas where OIC E

The schools are two of only three from the county to benefit from the grant – Drumcreehy National School

was also awarded funds.

Goal posts, nets, basketball hoops, and other sporting equipment are also supplied through the scheme as are other recreational facilities for out- door play areas.

Minister of State and Clare TD Tony Killeen has welcomed the an- nouncement that these Clare National Schools have received funding under the CLAR programme.

“The CLAR Primary School Out- door Play Facilities Enhancement Scheme is a jointly funded scheme aimed at improving outdoor play fa- cilities in small rural primary schools in CLAR areas,” he said.

‘This scheme has been very suc- cessful so far, with hundreds of pri- mary school children in Clare now benefitting from the new equipment and improved facilities. We all know that good play facilities in schools are absolutely necessary, so I am delight- ed that the schoolchildren in the Kil- maley, Miltown Malbay and Drum- creehy areas are going to benefit from this scheme,” he said.

CLAR and the Department of Edu- CP THCO)O EAH OCC MNS LOn(o) Com AIIM RU ICM Mm Oot cent of the cost of projects being un- dertaken by schools. This figure is supplemented by a 25 per cent con- tribution from local sources up to a

maximum of €10,000. Expenditure in excess of €10,000 must be funded entirely from local sources.

According to Minister Killeen, the latest allocation follows on from simi- lar allocations, under the CLAR Pri- mary School Outdoor Play Facilities Enhancement Scheme, made earlier this year. In 2007, funding has been allocated to schools in Baltard, Dan- gan, Cloonanaha, Doonbeg, Ballyea, Clondrinagh, Inagh and Knockerra.

“This latest round of funding dis- plays the Government’s commitment to improving outdoor play facilities in small rural primary schools in CLAR areas.”

ANGRY Aer Lingus passengers tak- ing flights between Shannon and Heathrow this week flayed Aer Lin- gus management for their decision to axe the connection.

Mike Spellacy from Shannon, who used the service regularly for busi- ness before his recent retirement, described the decision as “dreadful. People will just stop doing business with this part of the country. No-one is going to come here unless they can get in and out in a day and, whatever chance there is of British business connections finding another way, if people need an onward connection, they just won’t be able to get it.”

“Crazy. Lunatic. Absurd. It’s not like they’re losing money. These flights are bloody expensive yet you still have to book weeks in advance,” said Michael Ryan, who travels sev- eral times a year to see family in Tip- OLEAN

He arrived with his sister, Carol and daughter, Rebecca and says that because his visits are for family rea- sons, he will have to find another FN

“From Shannon, I’m in Tipperary in 40 minutes. But Gatwick isn’t at all convenient. I suppose we’ll be coming into Dublin and making our way down.”

Frank Fahy from Mayo makes the journey through Shannon on busi- ness several times a year. “I can’t believe they’re going to close this route. How is anyone going to get from London to the west of Ireland without a Heathrow-Shannon link? It’s a terrible blow to business people who need that connection.”

Frank Fahy from Mayo is a regu- lar user of the route and says that he “can’t believe they would stop flying from Shannon. There’s no way I can use Shannon for business flights if I can’t get into Heathrow.”

Colin Barton, whose family is from Mayo, is living in London and says that he and hundreds of other people of Irish descent living in London will be at a complete loss for getting to the west now.

‘This was easily the most conven- ient way home for me and for a lot of other people living in London.

“By pulling that route from the air- port, Aer Lingus are pulling up the route. And Aer Lingus needn’t think that people will follow them to Bel- fast or Dublin. For business travellers who need to be able to connect inter- nationally, this is terrible but people travelling in their own time will opt for the cheaper carriers.”

Businessman Donan Kelly says he will simply “go elsewhere” to do business instead of going to Galway but added that he is “very angered” at the decision.

Margaret Doyle from Carrick-on- Suir makes a point of flying out of Shannon whenever she goes away and is a regular traveller, currently taking a year’s career break to see the world.

“IT come to Ennis to my daughter’s house and fly out of Shannon but, un- less I can get into Heathrow to con- nect with other flights and particu- larly long-haul destinations, then I’ll have to go from somewhere else”’.

The well travelled grandmother says that she dreads going to Dublin to fly as it’s “such terrible hassle.”

A KILRUSH man who played for 52 clubs in 11 cities and in four countries was honoured by his native county in Chicago last night (Monday).

Hailed a “true GAA legend” PJ O’Dea who played both football and hurling with Clare, Munster and Lon- don was presented with an engraved plaque by the Clare Tourist Council at Chicago’s historic Gaelic Park.

Known affectionately in Chicago as ‘The Man From Clare’, PJ was born in Kilrush and won his first county medal in 1939.

He represented Clare in minor, junior and senior hurling and also played senior football with Clare and with the Munster teams in 1951 and ays

Before moving to Dublin to play with Sean McDermott’s, PJ lined out in attack with Treaty Sarsfields of Limerick collecting both senior

hurling and football winner’s med- als. He then went to England and played with the Holy Rosary club in Birmingham and won an All-Ireland hurling medal with Warwickshire. From there he immigrated to the US where he played hurling and football in Toronto, Los Angeles, San Fran- cisco and New York City.

He finally settled down in the ‘Windy City’ with his wife Mary.

Despite the many injuries he re- ceived during his 30-year playing career, PJ lined out for the Chicago- based Shannon Rangers Erin’s Own and St Mel’s club.

The Chairman of Clare GAA Michael McDonagh described the Kilrush man as a “stalwart of the GAA in America’.

“PJ O’Dea remains a proud west Clare man to this day and the entire county is delighted to see that he is finally being officially recognised for his invaluable contribution to the

GAA.”

Speaking during the function at Gaelic Park, Mr O’Dea said he was honoured that a delegation from Clare had travelled to meet with members of the Irish community in Chicago.

Mr. O’Dea added that his love for Gaelic Games went with him wher- ever he travelled and that he re- mained passionate about hurling and football.

Commenting on a playing career that spanned three decades, he ex- plained, “Medals were not important to me, I was just happy to have my health and play the games.”

According to Cllr. Flan Garvey, Cathaoirleach of the Clare Tourist Council, “PJ is seen as a father-fig- ure by Chicago’s Irish population, in particular by people from County Clare. He has worked selflessly for decades to assist the many thousands of Irish people who have travelled

to this area in search of new begin- nings. He is also highly regarded by Chicago Mayor Richard M Daley.”

“PJ never misses an All-Ireland at home and travels every year. He 1s considered by many as the sports- man supreme and is one of the great- est living ambassadors for Gaelic Games and the Clare Tourist Coun- cil feel strongly that PJ should be honoured by his native county,’ he said.

PJ was presented with a piece of sculpture that included an inscrip- tion from the poem “The Spirit of the Bannermen”’.

“We have household names who have played our games, from the Burren to Doon Lake, George Com- erford, Considines, Goggles Doyle, Jimmy Smith and Larry Blake. We had Tommy Doyle and PJ O’Dea, Jordan’s dash and dare. With spirit of the Bannermen, in the storied County Clare.”

ALMOST 500 pilots at Aer Lingus are to stage a two-day strike next week in protest at the airline’s plan to employ pilots at its new Belfast base at lower pay rates.

Next week’s strike will affect all Aer Lingus services.

Staff at Aer Lingus in Shannon are “furious” at the way they heard of the loss of the Heathrow flights, and are now concerned that the transatlantic flights will follow the same fate.

Workers say they first heard ru- mours about the loss of the slots from Dublin.

‘Mike’, one of the employees who did not want to publish his full name, checked the Aer Lingus website.

“On the Thursday night/Friday morning, I checked the Aer Lingus website. Normally, it goes way ahead into next year.”

He picked the date of March 30, 2008, which is in the summer sched- ule, but could not get a flight out of Syat-vepeleyey

“The proof was already on the Aer Lingus website that Thursday,” he PHO

“It also wasn’t available on the Shannon Airport website, so who told who what is a very intriguing Lb a (eye

“It was a done deal by the time we were advised of it officially on Tuesday morning here at the meet- ing,’ said Geraldine Morrissey, who has more than 30 years’ experience working with the company.

There is still no summer schedule finalised for transatlantic flights ac- cording to staff, and they now fear that the Chicago route 1s at risk.

“We have huge concerns over the Atlantic. We could be in here in a few months’ time, hanging on with our fingernails to the last airplane leaving the airport. That is what we will be doing,” said Brian Slattery, ground operations.

The Quin man who has been work- ing with Aer Lingus for 16 year said he was concerned about “unhelpful, misleading comments made by Min- ister Dempsey”.

“Firstly Minister Dempsey has stated that we may be ‘exaggerating the crisis in Shannon caused by Aer Lingus’ decision to axe its Shannon- London-Heathrow route’.

‘He is grossly misleading the pub- lic with this comment and his opin- ion that another airline may take up the route is without research or fact. The huge cost of any precious slot into Heathrow is approximately 20 million pounds sterling, which would deter any new airline from bidding for these slots, slots which we must stress are very hard to acquire and are under control of the British Air- port Authority,” he said.

The workers argue that Dublin Airport is saturated with flights into Heathrow and that not all of those slots are busy.

“Dublin afternoon slots are always light in load,” according to Ms Mor- rissey, who argued that Aer Lin- gus could have taken one of those flights.

“We place this problem right back at the Government. They promised us they were going to enshrine and protect the slots and they did not do it,” said Padraig Geraghty, Aer Lin- gus maintenance.

The Roscommon man moved from

Dublin to Shannon in 1995 so he could live in the west of Ireland, hav- ing worked with the company since IW e

“We are in trouble too — as Aer Lingus take their services out of Shannon, there will be less aircraft to maintain. They then won’t fly the aircraft to Shannon to do the mainte- nance as it won’t be viable.

“This is just a test case. They cer- tainly will go after slots in Cork and Dublin. This is all about money now. It has nothing to do with the Irish people or the Irish assets. They’ll go from Heathrow to JFK direct, they will do anything, but the slots will leave this country, make no mistake they will go,” he said.

The most senior member of the cabin crew in Shannon, John O’Shea, said, “If they can take slots out of Shannon, they can move the Aer Lingus brand to anywhere else. They don’t have to maintain it in Ireland. It is a private company now.

“And this is the type of arrogance they’re coming out with. This is only testing the waters. This is only a drop in the ocean of what Aer Lingus think they can do. They think they have

VETERAN Fianna Fail councillor, Peter Considine, is set for a windfall after lodging plans to construct four homes on his landholding outside Ennis. Ennis’s current deputy mayor, Cllr Considine is seeking outline planning permission to construct four homes at Drumadreheid, Ennis.

Cllr Considine purchased 25 acres of land at Drumadrehid in 1993 and lives at the address.

He is fortunate that the lands are not subject to strict council plan- ning rules that apply to lands in the Open countryside on the outskirts of Clare’s main population centres.

This follows Cllr Considine’s col- leagues in the county council desig- nating the Drumadrehid area a ‘de- velopment cluster’ in the 2003 West Eaves t-te

There are a series of clusters across the county that allow lands, in spite of being located in the open country-

side, be zoned for housing develop- ment. Clusters are usually designated when there are already a number of homes built in the area.

Ironically, because of the council’s tough planning rules in allowing one- off homes in the countryside, Cllr Considine can expect a premium if he decides to sell the sites, if and when planning permission is secured.

An Taisce has made a submission on the plan and has recommended that one of the homes be moved else-

where as there is a ringfort adjacent to site four.

The Department of the Environ- ment has also made a submission on the plan and has recommended that an archaeological impact assessment should be prepared to assess the po- tential impact, if any, on archaeolog!- cal remains in the area where devel- Opment is proposed to take place.

The department has made the rec- ommendation as the development site is within the zone of archaeologi-

cal potential established around the recorded monument, which is subject to statutory protection in the record of monuments and places.

The submission stated, “It should be borne in mind that, if significant archaeological remains are found or there is a significant negative impact, refusal might be recommended and/ or further preservation in situ or by record may be required.”

A decision is due on the application later this year.

THE closing date is fast approaching for applications for grant assistance for community projects under the Shannon Town Council community grant scheme. With just three week left for the receipt of completed ap- plication forms local groups are be- ing urged to get their application in as soon as possible.

The council will consider applica- tions for grant assistance in respect of projects designed to improve the quality of life for the people of Shan- non. The project to be grant aided must show a clear community focus.

“We issue these grants every Sep- tember and October, and groups

from the local community are invited to submit applications for funding,’ said Shannon ‘Town Clerk, Tomas Mac Cormaic.

“We have about €5,000 to give out each year, for any community based organisations like the soccer clubs and drama groups. Each successful application would receive between €300 and €500 to be spent on com- munity projects.”

Applications are open to organisa- tions, voluntary groups and residents associations within the functional area of Shannon Town Council. The project must be directly related to special community projects, artistic proposals or projects which generate civic pride and involve local people

in the improvement of the town.

“The funding is open to all kinds of groups and every application is judged on it’s own merits. Groups like Clare Haven Services in Shan- non would receive funding from it for their work with women. It’s not just for sports and youth groups, it’s right across the board,’ continued Tomas.

“All groups need to do is submit an application stating what their project is and what they plan to do with the jne Ke) ely ae

Before grant assistance 1s awarded all applications must submit where applicable, documentation detailing fully the project content together with details of costs plans and sup-

porting documentation and agree to acknowledge appropriately the town council’s contribution.

Applicants must show that the project is well planned and give in- dications of potential future uses of the project. The town councillors’ decision will be influenced by the amount of applicant’s own resources contributed to the project.

Greeley LOM (c)uommncae-Telmmr-B(elcle mmm previous years and who have failed to return documented proof of ex- penditure will not be considered for grant aid in 2007.

Application forms are available from the office of the Town Clerk, Town Hall, Gort Road, Shannon. Telephone 061 362319.

A WELL-KNOWN Clare business- man faces the prospect of having to demolish a helipad he built without planning permission near the seaside resort of Lahinch.

This follows An Bord Pleanala re- fusing planning permission for Mr Seamus Lynch to retain the helipad after it concluded that helicopters us- ing the helipad could give rise to col- lisions with protected birds.

In it’s decision, the board stated that proposed retention of a helipad on the site would give rise to undue conflict and collision risk for protected spe- cies, would impact upon the ecologi- cal importance of the River Inagh and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The board also ruled that the re- tention of the development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard due to the nature of the development and the resultant disturbance to drivers by reason of helicopter take-offs and landings at this location.

Mr Lynch’s holiday home is located across the road from the helipad and, earlier this year, the council refused planning permission to Mr Lynch af- ter opposition was voiced against the retention application by adjoining landowner and local businessman, Eamon Slattery.

Mr Lynch lodged the planning ap- plication last year after receiving a warning letter from the council al- leging that the helipad is an unau- thorised development.

The Department of the Environ- ment pointed out that the Inagh es- tuary and tidal section of the river

are feeding grounds for hundreds of wintering birds.

In its submission to the appeals board, An Taisce stated that inad- equate justification to retain the fa- cility has been presented due to the level of helicopter activity and direct habitats loss, the helipad will ad- versely affect the ecological integrity of the site and the many rare species for which it is designated and thus its retention should not be permitted.

The board’s inspector in the case stated that the proposed development would be contrary to the proper plan- ning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to zoning of the site, its proximity to the Europe- an Designation of the River Inagh as a candidate Special Area of Conser- vation and proposed Natural Herit- age Area and its location on a scenic route within county Clare.

In the appeal lodged, consultants for Mr Lynch pointed out that the helipad has been in existence for six years and is only used at weekends during summer months. He claims it has not attracted any objection from neighbouring residents located across the road to the north and does not impact on their amenity or deval- ue their property in the vicinity.

Mr Lynch stated that he intends to plant hedgerows along the boundary of the site in order to mitigate against disturbance and it does not signifi- cantly impact on a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The appeal states, “The helipad has been in existence for six years and was constructed without the knowl- edge that planning was required. It is important to note that the helipad as operated for the past six years with- out any objection.”

WORKERS and union leaders at Shannon were today bracing them- selves for the worst, as they waited for the arrival of Aer Lingus boss, Dermot Mannion, who was expected to announce the ending of all the air- line’s Shannon Heathrow flights. Word was out at the weekend that the airline plans to move it’s impor- tant Heathrow slots to Belfast, where major incentive packages are on of-

fer.

Last night, SIPTU official, Tony O’Carroll said the pulling of the route would be a major blow and confirmed there are serious concerns for jobs, particularly in the ground crew and cabin crew areas.

“We were opposed to the privatisa- tion of Aer Lingus all along. We said that we could see no benefits for this area from it and this just bears that out. If all four flights are gone that’s 26 flights a week – that’s a very heavy

loss,” said Carroll.

The union official said that while there 1s serious concern for jobs, the number in danger will depend on a lot of factors.

“Some people are saying 100 jobs will go here because Aer Lingus plan to create 100 jobs in Belfast but that doesn’t necessarily follow. Ground crew will still be needed here.”

The SIPTU official added that jobs at the airport are a major concern but the move also casts a shadow over

business prospects in the region and the jobs which depend on those busi- nesses. “There will be no carrier serv- icing the route now from Shannon and no flights for business people. Ryanair will have London to themselves.”

A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Authority said they could not comment last night in advance of an announcement. It is understood that there is extreme concern at the loss of revenue and the loss of the route to Shannon.

THE body of a male, believed to be the 19-year-old Dublin youth miss- ing since early yesterday morning at Lahinch, was recovered last night at the seaside resort.

Shortly after 7pm last night, dur- ing the course of an extensive shore- line search, local volunteers discov- ered the body in a rocky area at the southern end of Lahinch beach in close proximity to where the man is believed to have entered the water yesterday. Gardai were waiting last night to formally identify the man.

According to a Garda spokesman, the 19-year-old from Clontarf went for a swim at low tide at around 4.10

yesterday morning after a night out in Lahinch.

The spokesman said that the youth entered the water with two friends, but he failed to come out of the wa- ter. Sea conditions at the time were calm, with one to two foot waves in the bay.

The youth was staying with friends in Lahinch for the bank holiday weekend and the alarm was raised when he didn’t return, sparking the rescue effort involving the Shannon- based Coastguard helicopter and the Doolin and Kilkee coastguard units.

Early yesterday morning, the youth’s friends watched on from the promenade in Lahinch as two boats were launched to comb Lahinch bay

for the youth’s body, while members of the Doolin coastguard and local lifeguards conducted a_ shoreline search. The Garda spokesman said that the youth’s parents travelled down from Dublin to Lahinch to be NiO BLomNTOLs) Loe

At low-tide yesterday evening, the comprehensive’ shoreline search was launched, involving the youth’s friends, members of the coastguard units and local volunteers.

Earlier, Mattie Shannon of the Doolin Coastguard said, “I would be fairly confident that we will locate the body as the bay is an enclosed area. I would also like to thank eve- ryone involved in the search.”

Mr Shannon said that the brown

colour of the water, brought about by the Inagh river flowing into the sea, was hampering the recovery effort.

Also involved in the search were members of Lahinch Search and Res- cue team, the Civil Defence in Ennis, the Red Cross and local people.

Local member of Clare County Council, Martin Conway said, “It is a tragedy for the young man and his family.”

Yesterday’s drowning is the third to occur on Clare’s coastline this sum- nao

Aneast Clare man drowned at Span- ish Point in June, while a Moldovan man drowned at the notorious Blue Pool between Kilkee and Doonbeg on July 1.

that the county has been “‘let down” by Aer Lingus and said that the move has come as a complete sur- WU er ‘Here we are, going out to Milwau- kee next week, working very hard promoting Shannon Airport and Aer Lingus and we see this. We need them

to level with us, we need to have some confidence in our national carrier, in Aer Lingus,” said Paddy Maher of the Clare Tourism Council.

“With the London route, we feel that we have been let down by Aer Lingus. They have given commit- ments on other routes but the loss of the London route is a real blow.

“We are putting a lot of effort into prompting their flights, and the flights of other carriers, and this news 1s re- ally disappointing. To be honest, we were not prepared for this. It is a real blow.”

The move is likely to have major re- percussions for the county’s business sector, with early indications already

suggesting that a number of compa- nies may be force to relocate.

“There is a lot of business to be done between here and London and getting in and out of London is very important for that. This is going to put that under pressure,” he continued.

“There is a large business class customer base who used that route to do business. These people would use hotels in Shannon and Ennis and they are almost always repeat customers.”

Interim Chief Executive of Shan- non Chamber of Commerce, Laurie O’Connor, said the ending of Aer Lingus’s Shannon-Heathrow route would be “a big blow for business in detom uses (Onan

“We would get behind local busi- ness people who are very worried about this situation that appears to be unfolding — we are cautious to com- ment ahead of any official notification but certainly such a cessation would negatively impact the region and the west of Ireland,” she said.

Meanwhile, Cllr Martin Conway (FG) has called for an emergency county council meeting to be called to deal with the issue.

‘A delegation from the council need to seek a meeting with the minister on this. The government still has a 25 per cent stake in Aer Lingus and we need them to start using this influence,” he eee