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PLANS for a €30 million retail park for Shannon have been turned down. Clare County Council ruled that the plan would be premature pending the preparation of a masterplan for the area.

Last year Greenbrand Investments and Sean Halpin lodged plans to de- velop a mixed-use retail park devel- opment consisting of a DIY anchor store, garden centre, three retail warehouses, 10 retail units, eight of- fice units and one department store.

The council refused planning per- mission for the proposal as it would

materially contravene the South-East Clare Economic Plan.

The report also stated that the “over- all layout and design of the proposed development fails to exploit opportu- nity for development of a key-site in a manner which relates satisfactorily to its siting as a prominent location on the approach to Shannon. There- fore, the proposal seriously injures the visual amenities”.

According to developers the project, located at Smithstown with 15,777m2 in gross floor retail space and 1,336m2 in office space, would “promote growth in a sustainable manner by concentrating develop-

ment in an area adjacent to the town oe) Kemet

They also claimed that their pro- posal “would improve the socio-eco- nomic profile of Shannon and will create additional jobs representing a significant boost to the local econo- neha

A decision was due on the applica- tion in June of last year but the devel- opers requested a year long extension for the council to consider it.

The developers deferred a decision on the application after a planner’s report into the project recommended refusing permission on two grounds.

The developers failed to convince

the planners, while the public con- sultation phase for the drawing up of a Shannon area masterplan will start in a few weeks.

The proposal attracted a number of objections. The promoters of the €135 million redevelopment of Shannon also expressed concern.

The Shannon Town Centre Man- agement Company stressed that it was not opposed to appropriate retail development but said that to “dis- perse the focus of department stores and other large floorplates from the defined core area” was inappropriate with redevelopment still in the early SE Toe

THE closure of a west Clare school left the local electorate without a lo- cal polling station for last month’s General Election.

Leitrim National School provided a polling booth for the locality dur- ing the 2004 Local and European Elections, but for last month’s Gen- eral Election the people living in town lands around Leitrim had to travel to Kilmihil and Cree.

Clare county councillor Christy Curtin (Ind) is aggrieved that the council were not informed of the

change of venue for these electors.

CUE Gitta ec Desmmcninceet:ICccmmser-beumr-l on proximately 130 of the Leitrim electorate had their voting rights in Cree, with the remaining 113 voting in Kilmihil.

The members of Clare County Council adopted a polling scheme, which sets out polling places for each Electoral Division in the coun- ty in June 2006. Leitrim was in- cluded on this list.

However the returning officer has the right to change a polling station if there are any difficulties with the station.

Cllr Curtain accepts this, but feels the council who adopt the “polling scheme” should be informed of such Ost berxone

‘“T reserve the right to be informed if not consulted in the first instance of any change to the polling scheme adopted in 2006. Leitrim National School was not used as a polling place at the recent General Election with the result that voters were dis- patched to Kilmihil National School and Cree National School.

“T would suggest that an additional polling booth should have been available at each of these polling

stations for the convenience of these displaced voters. The democratic process in any part of Clare must be sustained and buttressed with all the necessary facilities,’ said Cllr Grae-sb

A spokesperson from the office of the returning officer said that Lei- trim National School was not used as a polling station for three rea- sons.

Firstly the building is no longer being used as a primary school, sec- ondly it is in the process of being sold, and thirdly it has no electric- ity, she said.

SHOPPERS in Kilrush could soon have their parking fees paid for them under a new scheme draw up by the Chamber of Commerce.

The proposal from the chamber is that a new type of parking ticket would be brought in with a detach- able portion which drivers can then bring with them to be given a refund in participating shops.

The meeting of Kilrush Town Council at which the proposal was

presented heard that individual busi- nesses would set their own ceiling on how much customers have to spend to get their parking fee back.

And the chamber has said it will contribute €1,350 – one third of the cost of redesigning and reprint- ing tickets – if the town council will come on board and pay for the rest.

In a letter outlining the proposal, the council said that the move would attract more business into the town and would be supported by cham- ber members, making parking discs

more readily available and increas- ing revenue for the council.

Cllr Stephan O’Gorman described the proposal as “a very positive initi- ative and very community oriented.”

Cllr Liam O’Looney said that there was “a big onus on every business in the town to participate. The real winner here is the customer and it could make the difference between a person shopping in Kilrush or some- where else.”

Councillor Marian McMahon- Jones said that while she welcomed

the initiative, she was saddened to think that businesses which didn’t participate would lose out. “It’s busi- nesses that are paying for the parking now’, she said.

Cllr Deirdre Culligan said that she would “hate to see the cost of this added to any item being bought. I’d hate to think that pensioners or peo- ple who don’t have cars will have to pay 30 or 40 cents more because of this initiative.”

The council members voted in fa- vour of the initiative.

THE Ennis-based company, Mangan Brothers Wholesalers, is once again the top locally owned company in Clare according to a new survey.

Mangan Brothers, measured in terms of business size, 1s one of 24 Clare-based companies listed in Ire- land’s top 1,000 companies.

The company came in at 219 on the list with a turnover of €192 mil- lion to the end of 2005 while Cement Roadstone Holdings (CRH) was once again the top ranked company with a turnover of €18 billion.

Employing 263 people, Mangan

Brothers enjoys a comparatively low profile and has outlets in Galway, Tullamore, Sligo and Letterkenny. Its headquarters are located at Ashline on Ennis’s Kilrush Road.

It was one of only four locally owned companies in the 24 firms featured in the survey.

The top Clare-based multi-national is Tyco Electronics in Shannon with a €1 billion turnover to the end of September 2005 and 285 Clare em- ployees.

Tyco Electronics is one of 13 com- panies based in the Shannon Free Zone that feature in the survey.

The next largest firm in the Shan-

non Free Zone, Element Six — for- merly De Beers — is ranked 198 on the list.

Element Six had a turnover of €214 million in 2005 – a loss of €7 million – and employed 533 people.

Other companies that appeared in the top five included the US-owned computer parts menufacturer Avo- Cone

Avocent had a turnover of €166 million to the end of 2006 including a profit of €36 million. The company employs 170 people.

Molex Ireland was at number six with a turnover of €122 million to the end of June 2006 and a profit of

around €3 million.

Other top ten companies included Roche Ireland with a turnover of €118 million, Enterasys Network with a turnover of €117 million and GE Commercial Services with a €112 million turnover.

Other companies on the list includ- ed: RSA Security Ireland, Shannon Engine Support, Finsa Forest Prod- ucts, Brian McCarthy Contractors Ltd, Whelan Limestone Quarries, Olympus Diagnostica, Clare Marts, EI Electronics, Shannon Aerospace, GE Sensing, Organic Lens, Lynch Hotels, Schwarz Pharma, Microsemi and T Sheils.

SEVERAL years ago Kildysart Cul- tural Festival Committee set about the task of providing a multi-age playground and associated ameni- ties for the children of the parish and surrounding hinterland. The Quay Road field where the playground is situated was entrusted to the people of Kildysart parish by the Killaloe Diocesan Trust for which the com- mittee is eternally grateful. A state of the art playground ideally located in the heart of the village now caters

for 0-6 year olds, 6-12 year olds and 12 years and upwards in a safe envi- ronment.

The project entailed the raising of funds in excess of €100,000 volun- tarily through the running of our an- nual cultural festival. Clare County Council provided a grant of €60,000 towards the cost of some of the equipment. As the project neared fruition the committee realised that further funds were required and thus a novel method of raising the neces- sary monies was instigated.

This is the “Buy a Brick’ campaign.

It entails the purchase of a brick at a cost of €50 inscribed with a fam- ily name and town-land or in com- memoration of a deceased family member. The bricks are then used to pave the walkways throughout the playground. It has proved a tremen- dous success to-date and has enabled the participation of many, including those living abroad, to make a tan- gible contribution to their own local- ity.

The installation of the equipment, the laying of the safety matting and the landscaping has only been pos-

sible due to the generous voluntary labour provided by many in the lo- cal community. The pathways and shrubberies enhance the _ overall appeal of this picturesque village amenity.

The festival committee, under the chairmanship of Fintan Ginnane, would like to acknowledge with ap- preciation our sponsors and the tire- less volunteers without whom the dream would never have been real- ised and we look forward to provid- ing many hours of fun for the chil- dren of the area and for posterity.

LISCANNOR open sports day held in Liscannor Community Sports field attracted a huge crowd of ath- letes turned out in big numbers and all races were well contested with many fine doubles recorded.

Shauna Fitzhenry, Kilmurry [brick- ane/North Clare, captured the first double of the day when taking gold in the girls U6 60m and 80m with Gavin Power, Kilmurry Ibrickane/ North Clare, also took double gold in the boys U6 60m and 80m.

Nicole Doherty, Kilmurry Ibrick- ane/North Clare, was a very impres- sive winner in the girls U8 60m and 200 metres and in the girls U10 Cli- odhna Blake, St John’s, gave a fine display of front running to take dou- ble gold medals in the 100 metres and 300 metres with Brian Leyden, Kil- murry Ibrickane/North Clare, win- ning the Liscannor National School

Confined 100 metres U10 and he also took gold in the 300m.

The boys U12 saw Barry Fitz- patrick, Olympic Harriers, come away with a double gold in the 100m and 300m and in the boys U14 Kieran Roche, Liscannor, taking the 100m and 600m with Niamh Murray, Lis- cannor, winning the girls U18 Kick Fada and 600 metres and in the boys U18 John Kerin, Liscannor, taking gold in the 100m and Puck Fada.

The married ladies 100 metres saw over 15 athletes go to the start and Marian Burke, St Marys, had to hold off a stiff challenge from Marie Mor- gan McDonagh, Kilmurry Ibrickane/ North Clare, and Marian O’ Doherty, Liscannor.

The married mens 100metres had Ray Coughlan, Liscannor, come away with a big sprint over the final 30metres to beat Liscannor Football- er Patrick Nagle and Frank McDon- agh both Liscannor.

The big highlight of the day was the Tom Kennedy Sheaf Tossing com- petition and the ladies were the big winners with a great contest over 10 rounds. Marie Morgan McDonagh, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, won with a massive throw and the big crowd were on edge with second and third place finish having to go to 14 throws and Catherine Fitzhenry, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, having to produce a big throw to fin- ish second after a mighty battle with Kathleen Cullinan, Liscannor.

The mens was also another exciting contest to watch with 12 competi- tors and with six big throws Donal Malone, Liscannor, merged as win- ner after a great contest with Ronan Slattery, Liscannor, and third place going to Frank Vaughan, Ennisty- mon.

NEWS that a €30,000 grant has been allocated to help refurbish a GAA building which can then be used by community groups has been warmly welcomed in Killaloe.

Last week, outgoing Environment Munister, Dick Roche announced al- locations of grants under the Social and Community Facilities scheme.

The project to refurbish and im- prove the building on the GAA erounds was granted €30,000 under the scheme.

Other Clare projects which got matching funding were the Shan- non Community Leisure Centre, the respite services for the elderly run by the support group for Raheen Hospi-

tal, Kilfenora Community Hall and the Cooraclare Community Grave- yard.

The money will help provide new windows, plastering, a heating sys- tem and a new kitchen for the build- ing, which will be used by the GAA but which will now also be available for community groups and local meetings.

The club chairman, Naoise Lawlor, said they are “absolutely delighted” with the allocation.

“We had already made a start be- cause we were fund-raising ourselves but this will be a big help. It’s the first time anyone has come forward with this level of financial help.”

The aim of the project is to make the space comfortable for commu-

nity use and this involves putting in a new kitchen, a heating system, plumbing, rewiring, new windows and a total redecoration job.

“There’s a fair bit of work involved. Apart from just doing up the build- ing, you have to provide car parking and public lighting. There’s more involved than you might think. Until now, what we did was to raise some money and get a bit done the wait un- til we had a bit more raised to carry on,” he said.

Naoise said he wants to extend the thanks of all involved in the club to local councillor, Tony O’Brien.

‘He pushed hard for us to get this erant and he’s been very supportive of us. We’re very grateful to him,” the chairman said.

Cllr O’Brien said that he is very pleased that the money has been al- located to the project. “The people involved are putting a huge effort in themselves. And this will be a facility for the whole community Where meetings and activities can take place. We had the application in for the last few months and I’m very pleased it was granted. It’s a project that will make a difference to a lot of voluntary groups in Killaloe,’ he said.

MINISTER for Agriculture, Fisher- ies and Food, Mary Coughlan, has announced the publication of the de- partment’s Annual Report for 2006, saying that the year was “marked by the adoption by Government of a policy framework for the develop- ment of the agri-food sector over the next decade”’.

Some of the most important aspects of farming covered by the report in- cluded rural development, sectoral initiatives, REPS and bioenergy.

In rural development, the minister stated that the agricultural provi- sions of the new partnership, To- wards 2016, which are designed to

address the issues of competitiveness and sustainability, were agreed with the Farming Social Partners.

The partnership includes a com- mitment that exchequer funding of €4.7 billion will be made available for the farm schemes under the Ru- ral Development Programme in the period 2007- 2013.

The Rural Development Plan, par- tially co-funded by the EU, provides for total expenditure of €7.5 billion and will implement a number of measures in the agriculture section of Towards 2016.

The Action Plan for the Future of the Agri-Food Sector was published in March and sets out a new vision for the future of the sector in the light

of the major changes now impacting on it. In order to survive and grow, Ireland’s agri-food industry must be highly competitive on both EU and world markets.

The minister said that a significant number of sectoral initiatives had been announced in 2006, includ- ing major capital investment for the dairy processing sector.

“The Government committed €100 million to the fund, to generate greater efficiencies in the process- ing industry and enable the sector to gain an increasing share of world markets.”

A €50 million investment scheme for the beef and sheepmeat sectors and a €250 million Animal Welfare,

Recording and Breeding Scheme for suckler herds, were both announced.

The report emphasied that an “agreement was secured from the European Commission to make ad- vance payments under the Single Payment Scheme, to compensate farmers for the adverse weather con- ditions in late spring and early sum- mer’. Between the months of Octo- ber and December over one billion euro was paid to 118,000 farmers.

The minister pointed out that the development of Bioenergy was a par- ticular priority in 2006

“Provision of €14 million was made to cover a number of initia- tives aimed at encouraging farmers to grow energy crops.”

will take place at the Lees Road, Drumcliff, Ennis.

Lees Road will have many side shows with set dancing, The Puppets, The Heads, face painting, and Skate Boarding so come along a make it a family day in the Lees Road.

This will see many charities ben- efit from this event. The Clare Haven and Clare Youth Services are the two main charities and with over 600 competitors taking part last year, this year this race will hopefully reach the 1,000 mark.

With the race starting in Lees Road via the main gate turning right and towards the Lahinch Road, onto the Maid of Erin roundabout which will be the three kilometre mark, pass the

Colaiste Mhuire, turning left at the Club Bridge, Kelly’s Corner, pass- ing the Hospital Gate (4k mark) on out the Gort Road via Sheils Garage, Cois na hAbhanna. This is the half way mark and there will be a water station at the Auburn Lodge Hotel.

Ohetwebertcas (Jame Ceum or DUNs-VOt-mr-NNCMO\Vos the narrow the bridge to Drumcliff, leaving Drumcliff graveyard on your left the course heads back onto Lees Road and back in the main gate.

The finish is at car park after the clubhouse in Lees Road.

Their will be a host of top class ath- letes taking part and the pre-race fa- vourite will be last years title holder Gerry Ryan, Galway City Harriers, and this time he will have the former World Marathon Record Holder Ste- ve Jones from Wales for company.

Jones broke the world record in 1983 for the marathon in Chigago with a time of 2.08.18 hours. He also

won the London Marathon and won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Gra tlene

Brian Murphy, Marian, who has prepared very well over the last few weeks has this course completed on numerous occasions will be the man to watch along with the European Master Champion Eugene Moyni- han, Marian.

Also in contention will be Patrick Enright from Cratloe and Sports- world AC in Dublin the masters will be well contested with Pat Hogan, Ennis Track Club, Michael Harvey, James Kenny, Kilmurry I[brickane/ North Clare, Frank Garrihy, Ennis Track Club, and Dermot Moran, St Mary’s, will all contest their major OF NK xO) woe

The ladies race will be run over the Same distance and this will be a well contested affair between the Cork City Marathon Champion ‘Tracy

Guilfoyle, Kilnaboy, and last years champion Veronica Colleran, Ennis Track Club, and another big road runner Loretta Duggan, St Mary’s, winner of the Clare Mountain Hill Climb.

Also in contention will be Ciara Hassett from Quin now running with Rathfarnham AC Dublin, Marion O’Loughlin, Deirdre Daly, Ida Han- rahan, Hilda O’Connor Marie Carey all Ennis Track Club, Marie Fen- nessy, Michelle O’Halloran, Maura Falsey all Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, Marian Burke St Marys, Hil- lary Cunningham St Marys.

Their will be prizes for the first ten men and ladies; the first three mas- ters men O35, O40, O45, OS0 and O60; the first three junior men and ladies; the first three masters ladies O35, O40, O45, O50 and O60; plus Wheelchair. All Participants who finish the 10k will be presented with

a medal.

A TOUCH of midsummer madness is coming to Clonlara on Saturday next, June 23.

That’s the day of the first Clonlara Midsummer Festival and there’s go- ing to be heaps of family fun on of- oe

All the action takes place in or around the Angler’s Rest, Doonass from 3pm, starting with a fancy dress parade.

There will be fun and games and

music throughout the day, including seven-a-side football matches be- tween local pubs and ladies football.

The charity event of the day will be a Duck Race and it’s hoped to sell 800 ducks in aid of Milford Hospice. Ducks are already being sold but there will be some available on the day.

Music will be from the set your toes tapping Brendan Hearty Cajun Band who will swing into action around 9pm.

The day is being organised by the

Clonlara ICA but ICA member, Fio- na McKeon stresses that it’s not just about or for the ICA.

“We wanted to organise something that would be fun for the whole com- munity and we want people to come out and join in. We’ve tried to order some nice weather so hopefully, we ll be able to have a barbeque on the day as well as sack and egg and spoon races and fun competitions TTC) aYan de wenan ero

Buskers have also been invited to come along and entertain people at

the event and there promises to be a great atmosphere.

The organisers are hoping this will be the first of many Clonlara Mid- summer Festivals.

“We’re looking forward to a great day out for all the family and we want everyone to come along and have a good time. There’ll be food, fun and music and the charity duck race should raise some money for the hospice. We’re hoping it will be a great community get-together,” said Fiona.