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AN Bord Pleanala this week ended any prospect of a new McDonalds outlet opening in Ennis in 2005, when it post- poned a decision on a new 85-seater driv-thru restaurant until October next.

The appeals board was due to make a decision on sepa- rate appeals by Green party councillors, Brian Meaney and Donal O’Bearra on Mon- Ch Ws

However, the appeals board has now adjourned any deci- sion until October 12.

The board postponing the decision coincided with Cllr Meaney denying that his op- position to the McDonalds proposal was fuelled by pub- licity-seeking.

Cllr Meaney denied the charge, as it emerged that plans were recently lodged with Ennis Town Council in the Lifford area of Ennis for

a fast-food outlet, but on this occasion, Cllr Meaney did not object to the proposal.

Cllr Meaney said, “I was acting in the public interest in appealing the McDonald’s decision to An Bord Pleanala and it would be marvellous if other public representatives were as pro-active as myself.

“My opposition to the pro- posal stems from McDonalds targeting children in_ their marketing campaigns and the applicant of this other Ennis outlet I’m sure would not have engaged in that type of strat- a Ae

In the application by Don- nacha Keane to convert the former Quality Meats into a fast-food outlet, the Council refused planning.

It stated that due to the close proximity of the premises to nearby houses, the proposed development would result in a material increase in problems of noise and nuisance and

general disturbance for neigh- bouring residents, particularly Lm ESA OL

Last year, the McDonalds’ proposal sparked a national

debate on the impact of fast food on diets, after the Mid- Western Health Board’s Health Promotion Department objected because of concerns

about children’s health.

The Department demanded that McDonalds carry out an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) into possible health impacts on the local population before the applica- tion could be further consid- eee

However, the Health Board soon distanced itself from this objection with the then chief executive, Stiofan de Burca declaring that the objection was a personal statement by the community dieticians fesse ileee

A planning report released by the Town Council earlier this year confirmed that an EIS was not requested.

Cllr Meaney’s appeal con- centrates on the health as- pects of the proposal, while Cllr O’Bearra is concerned with the proposal allegedly breaching the provisions of the Ennis and Environs De- velopment Plan.

HAVING already cele- loye-1 Kore Mec Merey et elecersCeyeMmyaine| the man that captured Sadam Hussein, there was further excitement this week when it was discovered that the pilot of the Discovery Shuttle is of West Clare origin.

Space hero Eileen Col- lins 1s proud of her Irish heritage. The 49-year- old’s grandmother Marie Reidy emigrated from West Clare and settled in a railroad town of Elmira decades ago.

She later married a man named Collins from Cork.

Two generations in 1956 Eileen was born.

Although Eileen was 19 years of age before she was even on a plane, she became the American Air Force’s first female test pilot.

“Eileen Collins is sim- ply the best commander we have,” Nasa senior as- tronaut told Good Morn- ing America.

On ‘Tuesday last she proved her extraordinary ability when she safely guided the spacecraft STS 114, better known as Discovery, to Earth.

Although travelling at 18 times the speed of light, this mother of two

does not believe what she does is dangerous.

““T think it is much safer than what my Irish ances- tors did, travelling across the Athlantic Ocean in a leaky old ship,” she told an Irish American maga- zine.

During her time in the military she earned the rank of lieutenant colonel and several services med- als, but always dreamt of joining the space pro- eramme.

Finally, after 12 years in the army, Nasa invited Eileen to be its first fe- male pilot in 1990.

The rest 1s Space his- Ke) ars

that he was calling for the extra gardai, drafted in from Ennis over the past fort- night, to be maintained permanently in

the west Clare town.

“We still have the extra resources and I will be looking for those resources in the long-term in the Kilrush area,” he said.

However West Clare-based Senator Brendan Daly believes there are suf- ficient resources available in Kilrush and said those responsible for attacking the young women must be charged as a matter of urgency.

“The general belief is that there is sufficient evidence that would enable

charges to be brought against the peo- ple involved in the incident . The time for talking is over and action must be taken. Gardai must allay the fears of the public and press charges. They must take action very soon before it turns into a situation where lives will be lost. There is no place for anarchy in Kil- ruth

Another prominent member of the local community, who did not wish to be named, compared Kilrush to ‘Little Belfast’ and said a group of youths were continuing to intimidate people to pre- vent them making statements against Weloseee

The Garda Representative Associa- tion (GRA) in Clare has called for an additional ten gardai to be deployed to Kilrush permanently and will raise the issue at the GRA Executive meeting next month.

“Obviously there are not enough re- sources in Kilrush. Gardai have been temporarily transferred there, but the trouble starts when they are not left there. Gardai are badly needed in Kil- rush, but we need what we have in En- nis,’ said GRA spokesman Tom Keane.

SUCCESSFUL prosecutions have been brought under the Litter Pollution Act against a Shannon- based company and a Cratloe couple.

Mid-West Tyres Ltd, Trading as Mid-West Tyres and Batteries Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shan- non, were fined €200 at Shannon District court on July 21 for a breach of the act.

The court heard that a notice bearing the com- pany name, details and the services it offers was posted on an ESB pole in Shannon Town Centre on March 7 of this year.

After hearing the evidence, Judge Joseph Man- gan ordered the company to pay the fine within one

month.

In a separate matter, Thomas and Siobhan Glee- son of Pigeon Hill in Cratloe pleaded guilty in the Shannon court to a breach of the Litter Pollution ae

The offence took place on April 26 at Portdrine in Cratloe. The court heard that an inspector who went to the site owned by the Gleesons found rub- bish burning on the site.

The defendants did not hold a waste licence, the court was told.

Judge Mangan fined each of the defendants €50 and awarded costs against them, totalling €750 Crea e

THREE BEDROOM

, which formed part of Shannon De- velopment’s proposed 10 year plan from 2005 to 2015 lodged with the Minister, the company sought to develop an At- lantic Economic zone that added Galway city and county to the current area it had responsibility for.

Instead of adopting the plan, Minister Micheal Martin has withdrawn any re- maining enterprise activities operated by Shannon Development, while its tourism promotion activities may also face the chop in a government shake-up of the structures promoting Irish tourism.

In a proposed new mandate for the

company, the company will be given an enhanced, though undefined, regional economic development role with a spe- cific emphasis on addressing the needs of the less developed parts of the Shannon Korea) 0F

Unions at Shannon Development, SIP- TU and the National Union of Journal- ists (NUJ) have agreed not to co-oper- ate with changes to bring about the new rn atW NOEs Kom

In the plan put forward the Board of Shannon Development, the company states that by 2015, it will have attracted an additional two million visitors per an- num, three million passengers through Shannon and Galway airports, along with an additional 25,000 tonnes in freight per annum.

It also states that Shannon will have 40 global destinations by 2015, while output per person will be 100% of the nation- al average and there will be pervasive broadband across the region.

Other highlights of the company’s plan include an international trade centre and international casino in the Limerick/ Shannon area; an international health

clinic in Limerick and a bio-pharma project in Limerick county.

The plan also envisages the establish- ment of an agile logistics hub at Shannon and a series of Burren initiatives, along with other tourism initiatives around Clare.

The company describes its 10 year plan as “an uncompromising drive’ to make sure that the Atlantic Economic Zone 1s recognised as one of the most forward- thinking and exciting regions in the world for people, investors and visitors.

Shannon Development stated that it would use the company’s asset base – without recourse to the Exchequer – to deliver an Atlantic Development Fund of €200m (over ten years) to finance eco- nomic infrastructure, seed strategic flag- ship projects and invest in commercial activities which will replenish the fund.

On the benefits of the plan, the docu- ment states that for people, it will offer challenging work opportunities; high quality of life, global connectivity and an integrated internal transport system, world class services and excellent educa- tional institutions.

SELF CONTAINED

FURIOUS traders in the Merchants Quay area of Ennis are demanding that something be done to improve the upkeep of the area.

They claim that the cobblestone streets are unsafe and have been the cause of accidents. Indeed Ennis Town Council has refused to col- lect rubbish in the area as they also consider is a safety issue with the cobblestone streets. As there is no refuse service for residents living in apartments, rubbish is often dumped in the streets. The overall poor con- dition of the area, traders believe, has led to a downturn in trade and in some instances has forced some businessess to close down.

In May 2001 Ennis Town Council, stated in a letter to solicitors acting on behalf of the traders, that there was safety issues to be resolved in relation to the cobblestreet surface. Mr Desmond Houlihan who is the developer of Merchants Quay, in- dicated to the council the situation would be rectified and that he no longer wished the council to take the scheme into its charge. Local trad- ers point out that very little has been done in the interveening period.

Despite paying rates to both the council and the developer they say

no services are being provided to Weloveee

In 2003 traders were served with enforcement notices for non-compli- ance with planning conditions at- tatched to the granting of planning permission in 1991, by Ennis Town Council. Both the traders and the

developer were threatened with legal action if they failed to comply with the notices. Since these notices were sent out no action has been taken. Traders feel they are being vic- timised as the planning conditions were laid out in 1991 and they only signed the leases for the premises

in 1996. Tony Muffett is the owner of “Patricias International Fashions’ in Merchants Quay which is due to close down.

‘ T ask the question that why is it that the enforcement notice was is- sued in 2003, we are now in 2005 and no action has been taken against the developer by the enforcement section of Clare County Council” he said on Thursday.

He went onto add that the poor condition of the area “is causing a blighting of the street. It 1s expen- sive enough with rates. We are being forced to pay the council and they won’t even come down the street as they consider there is a safety 1s- sue with it. The rubbish overhead 1s being deposited on the streets and somebody needs to take action”’.

The Mayor of Ennis, Frankie Ney- lon, has called on Mr. Houlihan to hold discussions with the traders.

“T would be expecting Mr Houli- han, being the landlord would sit down with the traders. They are the people who are paying the rents and who have the leases. If their busi- nesses aren’t successful there is only one way to go and that is to leave. That would be a huge problem for the centre of the town and I wouldn’t like to see it happen” said Cllr Ney- lon.

bedroom semi detached three to let in Ballycasey Shannon. Contact 087-6856038

WHETHER it is comedy or classical music, there is something for everybody at Glor this autumn.

Comedian Pat Shortt will bring his brand new show “You Won’t Get Away With That Here” to Ennis.

It will run from November 3-5. Des Bishop will also be dropping by as will Irish comedian Connor Gallen who will appear on September 1.

For the past 4 years, Glor has attract- ed some of the top names in the music industry to Ennis.

This autumn is no different.

One of America’s foremost singer songwriters John Prine will play Glor on November 11.

Other big names to appear will be Damien Dempsey, John Spillane, Flook, and Bell X1.

Highly rated Dublin outfit “the Gug- genheim Grotto’ will perform their first headline show in Glor in September.

Clive Barnes will join veteran per- former Freddie White on September 2.

The inimitable Furey Brothers featur- ing Davey Arthur, Grada and Noelie McDonnell complete an eclectic musi- oF bDatest lop

Classical tastes will also be catered for with an extensive musical progamme.

Flautist Carol McGonnell will be joined by pianist Finghin Collins and

Catherine Leonard on the violin in Sep- tember.

Ballet Ireland return in November, when they perform “Diaghiliev and The Red Shoes’ as a tribute to Ballet Russe.

One of the highlights of the program me is sure to be a performance by U.K. theatre company ‘Fidget Feet’ on Sep- tember 2.

Combining elements of circus, dance and aerial acrobatics, it promises to be a dazzling display.

The simmering tensions of New Or- leans will be brought to the stage when the Keegan theatre group perform “A Streetcar Named Desire” in late Sep- tember.

Clare-based theatre group ‘Brion- gloid’ open the theatre season with ‘Failte Romhat a Mhairtin’ and “Dun na mBan tri Thine’.

Other highlights include, London Classic Theatre’s production of Hugh Leonard’s “Love in the Title’ and Blue Raincoat Theatre Company’s “the Bald Soprano’.

Glor’s ever-popular film club, returns on September 18.

As always the programme includes the very best in English and foreign lan- guage cinema.

The season kicks have with ‘My Sum- mer of Love’ and continues with *Vodka Lemmon’ and slick Hungarian thriller, ‘Kontrol’.