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that it was estab- lishing “a review of practices and procedures at Cappahard Long Stay Residence,’ on the Tulla Road, En- ah

The inquiry into care at the resi- dence, which cares for patients who are mentally ill, follows complaints made by members of Gerald Finn’s family from Kilrush.

The 69-year-old was admitted to Cappahard Lodge in December 2005 suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and angina. It is believed that some of his family members raised more than 70 complaints relating to care of the pensioner during his stay at the home. Mr Finn died at the home on June 6, 2007.

Following his death, his funeral notice broadcast on local radio asked for donations in lieu of flowers to go towards the nursing home and the

Alzheimer’s Society.

In a brief statement last night the HSE West confirmed that the inves- tigation would be undertaken. It is expected to take place over the next few weeks.

‘The terms of reference are current- ly being drafted and it is hoped that it will commence shortly,” the HSE statement said. It also confirmed that the review of practices was being chaired by Dr. Donald Lyons, from the Mental Welfare Commission in Scotland.

Dr Lyons has been director of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland since October 2003. Until then he was a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry and a Medical Manager in Glasgow. He is a member of the National Implementation Steering Group for the Adults with Incapac- ity (Scotland) Act 2000 and 1s also a spokesperson for the Royal College of Psychiatrists on this Act.

Cappahard Lodge was formerly a privately run nursing home, but a number of years ago was purchased by the then Mid Western Health Board to enhance elderly care serv- ices in the county.

THE new mayor of Clare was quick to put her mark on her term in office, as she vowed to tackle one of the most contentious issues facing Clare Soliiia Seale

Just minutes after she made history by becoming the first woman elected to the chair of the local authority, the straight talking politician told the members that she would like to see the planning issue in the county re- solved.

‘At the start of the council in 2004, we promised an audit of planning. I would like to see that being carried out by an independent academic, who would give us a report in a set period of time.

“It we continue to have that frac- tious issue over the council for the coming year we will do untold dam- age to the council.

“IT would ask everyone to take a deep breath, stand back from plan- ning and see if we can sort plan- ny b ayo

As one of just two female members in Clare County Council, Councillor McCarthy is well aware of the chal- lenges facing women in politics hav- ing been first elected to the council When she was the mother of three boys under six.

‘Women make up 50 per cent of the population and the council chamber should reflect society. I would ask women to look at politics as a ca-

reer,’ she said.

The newly elected mayor was also conscious of the need for a secure future at Shannon Airport and told

her fellow colleagues “it beholds us all to recognise the sacrifices of the employees.”

In front of a packed public gal-

lery, which included her three sons and her father John O’Connell, Cllr McCarthy was nominated as the first citizen of Clare by fellow Independ- ent councillor Martin Lafferty.

In his nomination Cllr Lafferty paid tribute to the councillors deep involvement in community affairs, and named just some of her political achievements including being one of the first women elected to the coun- cil, first female chair of SPC, her service to the health board and other political authorities.

He described her as a good con- tributor to the council and “sharp on Cle oy rome

Seconding her nomination Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said, “I think the pinnacle of her career in local gov- ernment is here today.”

The first female mayor of Clare in the 107 years of the council was elected unopposed and with the support of all the councillors in the chamber.

In congratulating his replacement, outgoing mayor Cllr Flan Garvey quipped, “I will go down in history as the first mayor of Clare to kiss the incoming mayor.”

ENNIS National School’s eco- friendly reputation has been further enhanced after winning the best-kept school’s competition.

The annual event run by Ennis Town Council aims to promote ereater public awareness in educa- tion among the general public, with a special focus on children, with help from their parents, teachers and communities.

Adjudicators were impressed by the school’s embrace of a number of litter awareness initiatives. Students and teachers worked together on a series of projects and litter preven- tion schemes.

Projects carried out have included the provision of recycling bins in schools, segregating rubbish and other waste materials projects.

The school also worked hard to ad- dress other issues such as graffiti, chewing gum and dealing with litter black spots.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of Ennis Town Council, new Deputy Mayor of Ennis Peter Consi- dine congratulated Ennis National on their success in the competition. He also said he hoped more schools would take part next year.

“It was good to see the schools up here last week for the Tidy Schools competition. It’s obviously important that schools encourage environmen- tal responsibility and many are doing

so. Although I would hope that more of the schools would take the oppor- tunity to take part next year”.

The award is the second time this year Ennis National has been com- mended for pursuing environmen- tally friendly policies.

Earlier this year this school was awarded green flag status. Green Schools committee. Through that they undertook a review of the

school’s waste management practic- es and surveyed the condition of the school and it’s surroundings.

Under the guidance of teachers John Kearney and Anne Flanagan, pupils embraced the Green School’s ethos by introducing a number of en- vironmentally friendly procedures.

These included composting, a bat- tery collection point an environmen- tal newspaper and regular clean ups

of the public car park.

The Green Flag, which is an in- ternationally recognized status, is awarded by An Taisce to schools who undertake the Green-Schools programme

It aims to help students apply what they have learned about environmen- tal awareness in their day-to-day lives both at school and in their own homes.

RETURNING to the old traditional fleadh scene resulted 1n an economic boom for Kilmihil.

Even the questionable weather did not manage to dampen the enthusi- asm of the 15,000 people that crowd- ed into the west Clare village during IW NemWiere) Corte

Keen to bring music and enter- tainment back to the fleadh as well as strong competition, organisers of the Clare fleadh were overwhelmed with the support of the local people and the benefit of the festival to the town.

Local businessman Gerry Johnston

described the event as an overwhelm- ing SUCCESS.

“It was a great economic success for the village. It was good for retail and pubs,” he said.

The organising committee praised the support of the community and the street entertainment.

“We decided to have an old style fleadh. In the last ten years there had been an increase in the focus on com- petition, so this time a lot of people were Surprised to see so much around the place,’ said Vanessa Millar.

Local people provided free B and B for the musicians that arrived for the weekend to bring the music to the bars and streets.

The other six days of the week how- ever the Shannon based councillor IS dedicated to the community, with the belief that the community is an ex- tension of family and knowing what

concerns a family helps understand the plight of a community.

It was while caring for her young family that Patricia first became in- terested in the world of politics.

Having given up her job to be at home, Patricia laughs as she remem- bers her attempt at being a house- BE Kon

““T hate house work,” she said. Like many families in the 1970s she was looking at the pay cheque and the amount of taxes being paid every Neto) e

She continuously brought the issue up with her late husband, Denis, who eventually called her bluff.

‘He told me to do something about it,” she laughed, “So I did.”

The young mother got involved

with the Labour Party. She believed it was her natural political home. Fianna Fail was in government for 16 years and it was associated with a lot of the poverty and hardship of the time.

‘I never considered Fine Gael,” she SrHKOe

In 1977 the outspoken party mem- ber argued that the party should run a candidate in the General Election. When no one else stood up to the mark, the young woman did it her- self.

Although not elected to Dail Eire- ann she was elected to Clare County Council in 1979.

She chuckles as she remembers how she brought her youngest son for his six-week check up, before spend-

ing the afternoon on the hustings.

This was a mother looking for change.

It is her family, in-laws and beloved late husband Denis that she credits with keeping her feet firmly on the eround and her life of politics on the road.

Despite coming from the Convent of Mercy, Kilrush, the school that produced the county’s first two fe- male councillors, Patricia had no in- tentions of engaging in a life of poli- tics in those formative years.

After leaving school she worked in DeBeers and moved to Shannon when she married the late Denis McCarthy. Her eyes light up as she mentions Shannon and her beloved husband.

While admitting home is where her family is and acknowledging that the first two Clare towns will always be part of her life, she said Shannon in- stantly felt like home.

‘When I moved to Shannon I had a sense of place, a sense of town and a sense of freedom. We were Settling in with other young families,” she said.

As the new mayor talks of her de- parted husband her tenses change between present and past.

For her he is never far away, and the advice and support he gave her throughout their marriage echoes near her still.

“We were very lucky,” she said, “and I realise not everyone was that lucky.”

99

STUDENTS at St Clare’s school have been enjoying the new sensory garden, which has been officially opened by Dr Willie Walsh.

The garden, designed by John Mc- Carthy in conjunction with the staff and pupils, is set in a glorious sunny position. It is specially designed to children uninhibited access around the garden that allows them to dis- cover something new at every turn. Children in electric wheelchairs are free to roam and to enjoy all the beauty of the garden. The design of the garden is such that certain areas are specially planted to appeal to the sense of sound, while other areas ap- peal to the sense of touch.

There are four pergolas in the gar- den and in future years an abundance of trailing plants will provide shade and colour to the garden.

According to school principal Anne Walshe, “there is much to see and do in this wonderful space. We are pleased that it will integrate with the curriculum at the school. Not only will the children use the garden to study nature and the environment but there are many opportunities to use the garden for learning about orien- teering and following directions”

The Board of Management of St. Clare’s School acquired the land from Ennis Town Council around 18 months ago. This new garden is sited on a portion of land located between the school and a former halting.

The land was zoned as recreational and the board set about planning something unique that was specially designed to meet the needs of chil- dren and young teenagers with spe- EU aerere nce

John Costelloe, chairperson of the board, was the driving force behind the project. He was there from start to finish, ensuring the successful completion of a long-term project.

The first task was to put in twenty extra parking spaces for staff and parents but the real vision of the board was to provide a recreational area for the children. This comprises of a playing pitch for football, a play area for climbing and exploring and finally a sensory garden.

Anne said, “The board of manage-

ment would like to thank all those who helped them to build this gar- den. In particular the Clare Federa- tion for Special Needs who gave a loan towards the purchase of the land and other voluntary groups including the Ennis Lions Club, Ennis and Dis- trict Soroptomists, Wings, Miltown Malbay walking club and PJ Harvey of New York.”

She added, “We know that this gar- den, playground and football pitch will get much use and give endless fun and enjoyment to children with Special Needs for many years to come. As it grows and matures it will become a most beautiful and indeed spiritual place and a lasting tribute to all those involved and to our special needs children”’.

ENNIS Green Party councillor Don- al O’Bearra has claimed that there is no need to zone further land for housing in Ennis.

He made his comments following a workshop on planning and rezoning with planners which heard that there was already enough zoned land.

Councillors and planners have been holding workshops to adjudicate on 168 submissions on planning and rezoning in the county. The next workshop will be held tomorrow (Wednesday). The first workshop with councillors dealt with the first 13 submissions.

Cllr O’Bearra told The Clare Peo- ple yesterday: “The planners ex- plained that there is already enough land already zoned and I would be- lieve that when there is enough room within the Serviced Land Initiative (SLI) why do we need to zone more land for housing?

‘There is a need to get critical mass in order to get bus routes in place and that can’t be done if we continue to rezone lands.”

Cllr O’Bearra added: “I will be accepting the advice of the plan- ners that we don’t need to zone these lands because there is no need for it. The common good has to take prec- edence here and we must get away from the car-dependent culture that we have at the moment.

“The more land we zone for hous- ing in the outskirts of Ennis, the more car dependent we will be.”

The rezonings proposed for the En- nis and Environs Development Plan are to come before the July meeting of Clare County Council next Mon- day where councillors will be able to give directions to the County Man- ager, Alec Fleming on the various submissions before them.

Cllr O’Bearra alleged that planners were bullied into making rezoning decisions by councillors when draw- ing up the existing Ennis and Envi- rons Development Plan.

Asked if any such activity had tak- en place this time, Cllr O’Bearra said

4 y

no.

In total, developers seeking to prof- it from the property boom are seek- ing to rezone a total of 1,720 acres of land around Ennis to residential, mixed use, commercial and indus- were

The developers are seeking to re- zone 1,247 acres of land for hous- ing, 150 acres for mixed-use devel- opment, 115 acres for commercial development, 57 acres for industrial and 97 acres for low density residen- tial zoning.

A 23-Y EAR old Clarecastle man has been charged in connection with an alleged knife attack on a man in En- nis last week.

It is alleged that the accused, Alan Kerins, burgled a mobile phone shop and acquired a knife there. Accord- ing to the State, he then robbed a man at knifepoint, at Ardlea, on the Lim- erick Road, shortly after midnight.

Kerins, of Church Drive, Clarecas- tle, is accused of assaulting James Fenton causing him harm, at Limer- ick Road, Ennis, in the early hours of last Wednesday, June 27.

He also faces a charge of entering

RD Mobile Phones on O’Connell Street, Ennis, as a trespasser.

He is accused of handling a stolen wallet containing €90 cash and bank cards, handling four stolen mobile phones, a bluetooth headset and a display phone also on the same date.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told En- nis District Court on Thursday that it would be alleged the accused broke into the phone shop and took a number of phones and a Stanley any 8 Ker

“Then, just off the Limerick Road, Mr Fenton was walking on Ardlea Road when he was suddenly ac- costed from behind by Mr Kerins. Mr Kerins pulled a Stanley knife and

demanded that he produce his wal- let. In the course of the struggle, Mr Fenton was knocked to the ground. He had no choice but to hand over the wallet, which contained €90,” | stemncreB(em

The injured man sustained a knife injury to the abdomen which wasn’t “very serious.” He also received inju- ries to the back of the head and arm.

“The State will be seeking a remand in custody because of the seriousness of the charges and the weight of ev1- dence the State will be advancing in relation to proving those charges,” he SrHIGE

‘There is concern 1n relation to his (Kerins’s) behaviour,’ he added.

He said that Kerins had previously failed to answer bail on several oc- casions.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey ap- plied for bail, “on very stringent con- ditions.”

She said her client would be taking ‘‘a certain course” in relation to some OME AA oMO ERE MoKe

Judge Joseph Mangan said he was declining jurisdiction on all four charges and ordered that a book of evidence be prepared for the Circuit Colitan

He adjourned the case until later this week and ordered the State to in- form the court on the adjourned date when the book will be ready.

THE first open days ever to take place on conservation farms in Ire- land took place in the Burren over the weekend. On Friday and Satur- day, the BurrenLIFE Project hosted two such open days in premises on Slieve Carron Nature Reserve.

The days, which were open to the public, was part of the project’s awareness campaign a saw large crowds turn out for a series of dem- onstrations. The main focus of the open days was to highlight the work of the BurrenLIFE Project in the field.

“The project has achieved much in the first three years of operation. The

most important aspect has been the establishment of strong and durable partnership with the local farming community of the Burren,” said the Project’s Finance and Operations Officer, Ruairi O Conchuir.

“Detailed farm management plans are being implemented on each of the participating farms in conjunc- tion and in co-operation with the farmer concerned.

“The area now actively farmed for conservation covers in excess of 2,400 hectares of Burren SAC land. This figure is above the original tar- get set by the Project with the Euro- pean Commission.”

The main objective of Farm Dem- onstration Days, according to O

Conchuir, will be to highlight the work of the BurrenLIFE Project in the field.

‘We aimed to ensure those present at the events are given a compre- hensive overview and real picture of the work being undertaken on LIFE farms and the key role played by LIFE farmers,” continued O Con- Onttew

“The following aspects in _par- ticular were highlighted, farming for conservation in practice, animal health on conservation grassland areas, grazing regimes to support farming, the use of supplementary feed, targeted scrub removal and treatments and the treatment of re- erowth; conservation grade Burren

beef and lamb, habitat assessment work on SAC areas.”

One of the main aims of the project is to help protect the Burren’s pre- cious limestone payment by finding was to encourage farmers to farm in the traditional way, where animals are housed outside in the Winter months. These cattle and sheep help to keep down the scrub and brush and prevent it from taking over and destroying the natural Burren land- scape.

BurrenLIFE 1s a partnership-based, EU funded, project which aims to develop a new model for sustainable agriculture in the Burren. For more details on the project contact 065 708900 or on Www.burrenlife.com.

that it would be the end of this month, at least, before it opens.

“It will be late July at the earliest before the Limerick Road to Lahi- nch Road part of the scheme is com- plete.

“IT gave the date for completion of the works at the June meeting in good faith, based on the programme presented to the council. All we can do is express disappointment and continue to encourage the contrac- Ko)

In his written response at the June meeting, Mr Carey stated that the current completion date for the Whole of the works “is around the end of August”.

But he confirmed yesterday that the date has been revised to “well into

Yee] tos 00 lelo) mae

The eastern part of the by pass was opened last January diverting thou- sands of vehicles from Ennis each day.

However, without the final two phases of the scheme yet to open, En- nis is continuing to experience traffic snarl-ups with the thousands of cars going to west and north Clare each day.

Mr Carey said that the priority in constructing the final phases of the scheme was completing the rounda- bouts.

“This work is inevitably complex as it involves a high level of under- ground services, including Bord Gais, water and sewerage. It is a ted1- ous process.”

Mr Carey said that the council was quite happy with the work that had been completed by the contractor, GAMA Construction. He said, “It 1s a good project. It isn’t a quality issue, it is a timing issue.

“They (GAMA Construction) know the conditions and we know the con- ditions of the contract.”

The 97-page contract for the Ennis by pass project seen by