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KILRUSH Town Council have be- gun work on a new blueprint for the erowing town.

This month its town councillors agreed to move forward a new town plan to draft stage.

A report was presented to the members in February outlining the out come of the pre-draft pubic con- sultation process for their considera- soe

The councillors then took part in a workshop to discuss the report fully prior to giving any direction to the manager in relation to the drafting of the plan.

The workshop focussed on discus- sion of the issues raised by the writ- ten submissions and observations made by the public.

The council adopted the manag- er’s recommendations subject to six amendments.

Fifty submissions were received from the public for the draft cover- ing wide spectra of social, commer- cial and economic development.

Formally proposing the prepara- tion of the draft proposal Cllr Tom Prenderville (FF) said the new de- velopment plan encapsulates the council’s vision of where the west Clare capital will be in 2013.

“Kilrush is most fortunate in hav-

ing an infrastructure capable of sustaining a population of 10,000. Recent residential, retail and com- mercial development undertaken in the urban area have been undertaken in this knowledge and has placed the town in a most advantageous position in attracting inward invest- ment,” he said.

‘This council rejoices in the record number of submissions received to date in the KTDP review process. It indicates a welcome interest by po- tential investors and developers in the native place.

“We celebrate this new-found op- timism that permeates the local economy. Kilrush, to all intents and

purposes, stands on the threshold of prosperity. Current retail and com- mercial proposals underway give credence to this happy state of affairs in Kilrush,’ said Cllr Prenderville.

‘There is an onus to frame a devel- opment plan that sustains, supports and facilitates an inclusive society. The provision of adequate social ed- ucational, and recreational services must form a core vision in the plan,” he added.

The preparation of the draft propos- als will take 12 weeks to complete.

The resulting Kilrush Town De- velopment Plan will cover the years 2008 to 2013, and it is hoped it will be adopted by October this year.

CLARE County Council has refused planning permission for a housing development in west Clare because it interferes with the defunct west OE Teoma Dea e ha eneler

The planning authority refused outline planning permission to M&S Bond for outline planning permis- sion for 16 homes at Dough, Kilkee.

The council made its ruling after an objection was lodged against the proposal by the West Clare Railway

company and the council’s Conser- vation Officer, Risteard UaCronin.

Mr Ua Cronin said, 1n an internal memo now released with the deci- sion, that “it appears from the draw- ings that it is proposed to construct the homes on the former west Clare DOME RYas DDO Loa

He said, “This appears very inap- propriate as plans are very much advanced to provide a steam railway service between Kilkee and Kilrush which will require this section of the line to be protected for this pur- eNom

Mr UaCronin pointed out that the line was protected through the Clare County Development and the West Orewa ter walle

The planner’s report points out that the “development is located on the line of the old west Clare railway where it is the policy to safeguard the route of the railway and to con- serve and promote it as a transport corridor for public use”’.

It ruled that the plan would be prej- udicial to the proper planning and development of the area.

“The proposed development rep-

resents piecemeal haphazard, dis- orderly development and conflicts with the long-term sustainable and comprehensive development of these lands.”

According to Jackie Whelan of the West Clare Railway Company, “This application would allow for the de- struction of part of the original track bed of the west Clare railway in or- der to provide a road access to the site.

“We have understood that the track bed of the development may take place upon it unless the development

is of a heritage and recreational na- ture, leaving the whole, existing way open to the general public for recrea- tional walking, riding, cycling pur- Leon mel Ken

“Indeed, two citizens have, during the past 12 months, fallen foul of this directive and have been required to replace the track bed that they in- tended to, and partly, destroyed.

“We believe that our plans are in accordance with the council’s inten- tion for the line and that the track bed of the railway should be left alone,” said Mr Whelan.

A NEW project being organised at Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna is helping to revo- lutionise the relationship between young people and the rest of the community in North Clare.

The project culminated last week in Promoting Courtesy, Care and Con- sideration week which saw students from the school organising a series of events involving members of the wider community.

One of the main focuses was a post- er, painting and poetry competition which attracted hundreds of entries from primary schools, community groups and individuals from all over north Clare.

The inspiration for this initiative came from a committee set up last

year which included students, teach- ers, parents, community representa- tives as-well-as project leader Mau- reen Droney.

“One of the thing that came from the group was the Courtesy Care and Consideration. It has been going for a number of months now but this week is really the culmination of all of that work,’ said Maureen.

“We all worked together on how we would involved the community with the students and we came up with the poster or painting and poetry com- petitions. We wanted to create an awareness. To try and understand the needs of other people. Consideration is the best way to describe it.”

One of the areas specifically fo- cused on was the relationship be- tween young people and the elderly. The group has forged a connection

with the Stella Maris day care centre in Lisdoonvarna and last Wednes- day and Thursday students from the school entertained the people there with a collection of music and danc- ing.

“It has been wonderful to be in- volved the Stella Maris. I’d say it has been a powerful lift to them, but the children will get a lot back from them as well. They are getting a lot back already some of them, with grand parents in the home. It can have a huge positive effect,” she continued.

In the school itself each class and subject, from Business Studies to Home Economics, has been incorpo- rating the theme of consideration.

One of the more interesting ele- ments of this has seen students write a series of poems which are now be- ing used as the ‘thought for the day’

at the school.

“Each day this week the winning poems have been read out by the stu- dents over the intercom,” continued Maureen. “It has been a really suc- cessful part of the programme. We will also be putting a booklet togeth- er of all the poems.”

On Friday March 30 at 8pm, poet John O’Donohue will give a talk in Mary Immaculate Secondary School. Tickets are €10, €5 OAP, with all money raised going to the Stella Maris Day Care Centre.

GORT’S Adrian Feeney became the latest candidate to throw his hat in the ring for the General Election When he announced his candidacy last week.

Feeney, who has been Chairman of Gort Chamber of Commerce since 2004, will run in the hotly contested Galway East constituency as an inde- pendent candidate.

Indeed, Feeney may be one of three non-party candidates to run in this constituency come election time, as Kinvara group RESCUE have not ruled out putting forward a single-issue candidate to campaign for Seamount College. Cairde Cuan Chinn Mhara could still announce a candidate to campaign for a sewer- age treatment facility in Kinvara.

Community issues are likely to form a large part of Feeney’s mani- festo. “These days, our economy is booming. The country is awash with money,’ he said. “I know that with- out the volunteers, many vital com- munity services and facilities simply would not exist.

‘Almost everything requires fund- raising. As chairman of Gort chamber for two years, I know how much time and energy is spent trying to source

funding and fill out grant application forms for community projects. This should not be the responsibility of volunteers or community organisa- tions. It makes no sense to me.

“What are we paying taxes for? Surely if there 1s a need within acom- munity, it should be met by our gov- ernment. Why are we paying twice for the one facility or service?”

This is not Feeney’s first attempt to enter the world of politics as he ran an unsuccessful campaign as an In- dependent Community Candidate in the 2004 local election.

“We elected representatives to speak on our behalf. Public office is about accountability. I am ac- countable to my employer. Who are politicians accountable to, if not to the community? What they have produced is a litany of failures,” he continued.

“Tuam is still without a hospital. Gort is still without a reliable water service. Kinvara still waits for a sew- erage treatment plant. 50,000 gallons of raw sewage pour daily into the waters of a prime tourist area.

‘“Kinvara School is threatened with closure. Farmers spend their time form-filling and dealing with ap- plication procedures for grants and payments.”

THIS week signaled the beginning of a new era at the home of the GAA in Ireland. Michael Cusack’s joined the elite of the footballing world last Saturday week when they officially opened the new floodlighting at Glenn Ciosog.

The grounds new state of the art lighting system and upgraded chang- ing facilities were christened in good fashion with a brace of matches and an evening packed with quality foot- ball.

The GAA’s’ Munster Chairman, John Fogarty,

Council joined

Clare County GAA Board chairman, Michael MacDonagh in flicking the switch and bringing light to football in the centre of the Burren.

“This field was developed 25 years ago with the stand and dressing rooms coming two years later and at that time it would have been one of the finest facilities in the county,” said a club spokesperson.

“Tt will also be very important for the parish. We now have a large room which could be used for all sorts of community events in the parish.”

Liscannor were the big winners on SoMeA COND OTM DEO DITCME: Ae NAM SLES EES Te Corn An Chéad Cup after defeat-

ing Ballyvaughan in the final of the north Clare Senior and Intermediate competition.

Fittingly, it was an underage team from Michael Cusack’s who had the honour of being the first team to claim a victory under the new lights as the under-12’s saw off the chal- lenge of Lisdoonvarna.

“Our numbers are small, like every rural parish, but every child in the area 1s playing football and enjoy- ing it. The floodlights will add to the excitement of it for the children and bring a bit more buzz for them,” con- tinued a club spokesperson.

Meanwhile, just down the road, the

finishing touches are being put on the Michael Cusack’s Centre which will open to the public from Easter Sun- day. The fully restored 18th century cottage of Michael Cusack will be the highlight of the tour for many people while the centre itself will provide a host of information and photographs which is sure to be a must for any GAA fan.

The centre, which was officially opened by GAA President Nick Brennan in November will be open from 10am to 5pm each day dur- ing the Spring. Admission is €5 for adults, €3.50 for children and under 5’s are free.

GREATER responsibility should be conferred on individual electoral ar- eas in order to enhance the delivery of services within the county.

That’s according to west Clare councillor Christy Curtin (Ind), who says electoral areas should be given a more expanded role in the decision making process.

He called on the county manager to outline his system of monitoring for the delivery of council services and management guidance within each electoral area.

Cllr Curtain stated, “The electoral area is the key unit within the coun-

cil for the implementation of policy decisions and the delivery services throughout the county. It embraces a defined landmass and its own charac- teristics and infrastructural needs”.

He added that the role and influ- ence of specific electoral areas had diminished since their creation eight years ago.

“However, its role has been limited and restricted since the creation of electoral areas in 1999 due primarily to the absence of a planning services clinic and a management ethos and co-ordination in each area. In this case, I strongly advocate that in or- der to redress the situation, the man- ager would as a matter or urgency

review the present arrangements for an expanded role and a mechanism for a broadened engagement with the communities of each electoral area.”

Clare County Council says the de- livery of services is constantly moni- tored.

According to Michael McNamara, Senior Executive Engineer, “There is a system of regular management team meetings which monitors the delivery of services from both a functional and a geographic perspec- tive.

“The annual budget, which in- cludes a report from the county man- ager on each of the services, sets out the programmes and the targets to be

delivered in the following year. This is supplemented by performance indicators across each programme ea cele yoy

“If circumstances do not allow for the delivery of a particular work programme, the members would be informed of the circumstances pre- vailing as regards that programme. Directors of services are delegated functions as area co-ordinators/man- agers. The area co-ordinator/manag- er 1s responsible for co-ordinating all services in their assigned electoral area, he said.

Clare County Council has six elec- toral areas – Ennis, Killaloe, Kilrush, Scariff, Ennistymon and Shannon.

A BREAKTHROUGH is hoped for this afternoon in the talks between management and unions at Shannon Airport on the Airport Authority’s restructuring plan. A SIPTU ballot last month rejected the deal from the authority, which offered average payments to staff taking voluntary redundancy of €100,000.

Staff choosing to stay on would also receive a loyalty bonus, but the plan would require a major overhaul of work practices with the outsourc- ing of many Services and turning shops and restaurant facilities over to Jee-NNON oy

Since then, there have been what are being described as “exploratory meetings” under the auspices of the

Labour Relations Commission on a number of occasions.

The last meeting, on Thursday of last week, went on until 4am and it 1s hoped that the intensive discussions will produce results when the sides meet again today.

While nothing is certain about the Outcome of what are very detailed talks, covering wide-ranging issues including work practices and pen- sions, it is understood that there was a positive atmosphere at the end of Thursday’s marathon session. Attend- ing the talks were union representa- tives, members of the airport authority and members of SIGNAL, the airport workers’ representative group.

The sides sit down again together today at 10.30am, but it will be mid- afternoon before any breakthrough

which might be achieved is expected to be announced. Meanwhile, talks at the Labour Court between SIPTU and Aer Lingus management on the airline’s Programme for Continuous Improvement are also ongoing.

Discussions centre on a Labour Court recommendation on the plan and are covering issues such as cut- backs in leave and overtime pay and reductions in payments for bank holi- day work.

The union is expected to make a strong case for compensation for workers affected although manage- ment argue that the changes are a ne- cessity for the future of the airline.

There was good news for Shannon Airport this week, with passenger fig- ures since the start of the year up 11 per cent on the same period last year.

AN invading Japanese Army will descend on the old FCA barracks of Slough Hall in Lahinch next week. Fear not however, this merry army comes not to fight and kill but in- stead to sing and dance.

The Ennistymon Choral Society will stage Gilbert and Sullivan’s M1- kado from March 22 to 25 and this years production promises to be one of the best in recent year. This is the third time in its 34 year history that the society will perform the Mikado and there are some members who have been involved in all three pro- ductions.

The group was founded by Fr Ned Crosbie in 1974 and their first pro- duction was HMS Pinafore.

“The group has been going bril- liantly ever since. There is so much talent in the group. Our catch- ment area goes from Ballyvaughan down to Miltown and over as far as Corofin,” said one of the organisers.

‘This whole area is so rich in mu- sic and the quality of the singers is fantastic. When we can produce a full Gilbert and Sullivan musical from within our own ranks it is re- ally amazing. And the young singers just keep coming and coming, we are really blessed with a lot of talent and dedication.”

Getting young people involved in musicals is one of the main aims of the society and they work with hun- dreds of local young people each year, sharing with them the joy of music and acting on stage.

“We encourage the school and young people to get involved. We run an art competition for all the local schools and exhibit their work during the production. They come in then for the matinee and they love it. We also have several transition years in out society from the Christian Broth- ers, the Vocational School and the Convent,’ she continued.

Mikado tells the story of Ko-ko (James Barry), a young man who is condemned to death for flirting but is reprieved only to become the lord high executioner. He wants to marry Yum-Yum (Grainne Curtin) but a strolling minstrel comes along and falls in love with her. This minstrel is Nanki-Poo (Michael McCormack), who is also the son of the Mikado (Mark Wright).

“It is a hilarious comedy, it has a ri- diculous plot like all Gilbert and Sul- livan shows. They are as improbably as fairy tales and a lot more fun,’ she continued. “The music is gorgeous and we sing every note which is very unusual for a local society. We have always had all our own principles and we sing every single note on the Ne) Kone

For more information or to book tickets contact 7071828.

A YOUNG man who is accused of driving a noisy sportscar is to bring his car and a mechanic to court, to prove that the noise is not excessive.

Jason O’ Toole, of Drumline, New- market-on-Fergus, appeared before Ennis District Court on Friday, ac- cused of not having an exhaust si- lencer fitted to his Honda Prelude car, at Station Road, Ennis, on August 20 last year.

Garda Cyril Daniels of the Clare Traffic Corps told the court that he stopped the accused on the morning in question. “In my opinion, it was not fitted with an exhaust silencer,” he said.

Mr O’ Toole, who represented him- Self in court, said the car’s exhaust system conformed to Honda stand- ards. He said he later brought the car

to Shannon and Henry Street Garda Stations and the gardai who inspect- ed the car expressed views that the noise was not excessive.

“TI didn’t see any reason to change the exhaust system. That is the stand- ard for a Honda Prelude,” he said. “There was nothing malfunctioning with the exhaust. It is in no way ex- cessive,” he said.

He said he would accept the noise level of his car would be louder than a Ford Mondeo or Ford Focus but added, *““The manufacturers make the cars these ways.”

He told the court that he had carried out research on the matter and had been told that the issue of exceed- ing the decibel limit – 80 decibels – was purely on the basis of opinion. There was no means of carrying out a mechanical test. ““There is no way my car is over 80 decibels. I have re-

searched this,” he said.

Inspector Kevin Moynihan, pros- ecuting, told the court the defendant could call a mechanic to give evi- dence, in his defence. He said that the legislation stated that the opinion of a garda in a given case was relevant.

“The defendant has admitted the noise iS more excessive than any normal car. On the day, Garda Dan- iels was of the opinion the noise was excessive. It is up to you to decide, on the evidence before you,” said Inspector Moynihan to Judge Joseph Mangan.

The judge asked the defendant, “Would you bring the Honda me- chanic to court? … Would you bring the car to court?” and the accused replied, “Yes,” after he had told the court the car was at home.

The judge adjourned the case for a peeKeyeleee

THE anticipated start date for con- struction of the €80 million Car- nelly House nursing home has been thrown into jeopardy by the decision of two local residents to appeal its planning permission.

Last month, the council gave Stam- er Ltd the go-ahead to proceed with Ireland’s first full-scale retirement village at Carnelly.

The company was hoping to be on site by the end of the year, with the facility opened by the end of 2008.

However, two sisters living locally, Maura and Helen O’Donoghue, have appealed against its development.

An Taisce opposed the planning application when the plan was before the council. However, a spokesman confirmed that the organisation had not lodged an appeal.

In their original objection against the development, the O’Donoghues stated, “The proposed development of 150 houses would be located in rural countryside away from village and services.

‘Therefore, it would be inappropri- ate. It would severely impact on the beautiful character of the area which is comprised of woodland and a vari- ety of wildlife undisturbed for many years.”

The O’Donoghues state that the

wildlife includes the red squirrel, deer, birds and woodcock. These would be disturbed for ever and eventually driven out of the area.

Financial director with the Stamer Group, Tim Kelliher said there was already “a high level of interest be- ing shown by potential residents in the development plans”.

He said, “As part of this €80 mil- lion development, in excess of €3 million is to be expended on restor- ing Carnelly House, its currently derelict courtyard, the grounds and woods, as well as comprehensive conservation measures including the accommodation of a small maternity roost for the Lesser Horseshoe Bat specie.”

Mr Kelliher said, “Once the devel- Opment is complete, Carnelly will be home to up to 300 residents and will create over 100 jobs in the local economy. The retirement village will include 95 houses, 40 apartments and a 64-bed continuing care facility.

“Village facilities include a spa with a 12-metre pool and a specially- equipped gym, a shop, restaurant and bar. The 50 acres of open parkland and woods situated to the front and side of Carnelly House will be com- pletely restored and preserved.

“This parkland and woodland set- ting will offer residents a tranquil setting for a relaxed lifestyle.”