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AN BORD Pleanala yesterday gave the green-light for contentious plans for a 64-unit housing estate in the south-east Clare village of Ard- ueeKeva Ut orem

In giving Joe McMahon planning permission to construct the homes, the appeals board ignored the strong recommendation of its own inspector to refuse and local residents’ opposi- tion.

Mr McMahon has been seeking to develop the site since 2006, and first applied for 176 homes at the site.

The application before the board 1s

the third application Mr McMahon made for the site.

However, the inspector in the case concurred with the views of local residents opposed to the plan.

At the end of his 15-page report examining the proposal, the board inspector stated that “whilst there would appear to be no technical bar- riers to a grant of permission in this instances, I have fundamental con- cerns that the scale, form and overall design of the development proposed and its relationship to the broader settlement would represent a poorly conceived and insensitive extension to the settkement which would de-

tract from its overall character and appearance’.

He added, “Whilst recognising that the form and intensity of develop- ment has been modified significantly from the previous application, the reduction in density and the revised form and layout are insufficient in my view to overcome the previous objections to the development.

“The proposed development, by virtue of its scale, design and layout, would constitute a suburban form of housing estate in a rural village which is not designated for major ex- pansion and does not have the range of physical, community, educational

and commercial services or the transport services required to serve such a development.

“The proposal would therefore fail to provide for the orderly, planned de- velopment of Ardnacrusha, seriously injure the character and amenities of the area and would conflict with the zoning objectives of the site,” he concluded.

However, the board over-ruled his strong recommendation to refuse.

It stated, “In deciding not to ac- cept the inspector’s recommenda- tion to refuse permission, the board had particular regard to the planning history of the site and to the reduced

scale of the proposed development and considered that the proposed development would be acceptable on these zoned lands.”

The appeals board gave the pro- posal the go-ahead “having regard to the residential zoning of the site, the pattern of the development in the vic- nity and the scale and layout of the proposed development”.

An Bord Pleanala stated “that the proposal would not seriously in- jure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity, would not be prejudicial to public health and would be acceptable in terms of traf- fic, safety and convenience”.

RECENTLY released figures from the European Student Barometer sur- vey show that Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) students rate their college more highly than students of other Irish and European colleges are ranking their own institutes.

The European Student Barometer is an online student survey which is conducted independently by the re- Search institute, Trendence; it’s the largest survey on career, education and employer topics in Europe. This year, over 195,000 students from more than 775 European institutes in 22 European countries answered the SHAY

In the “evaluation of university/col- lege performance” section of the re- port, LIT students ranked the college above the national and European rat- ings for practical course content, lec- turer/tutor availability and helpful- ness, course content and structure, teaching quality, accommodation availability, assistance with career planning, and inexpensive location.

In terms of practical course content, 86.4 per cent of LIT students believe that the college’s course content is good or better, as opposed to the na- tional average of 73 per cent who be- lieve their college or university have practical course content.

Active learning through a fusion

of theory and practice is a term which LIT has coined to describe the hands-on and practical nature of their programmes, and with statis- tics like this, the college says their programmes, which provide practi- cal learning for students, continue to thrive.

The report also queried students on their top reasons for choosing an institute or college. 62.2 per cent of LIT students said course content and structure are the most important fac- tors when choosing a college or uni- versity course.

Dr Maria Hinfelaar, President of LIT, said these sort of statistics confirm LIT’s choice to introduce exciting new programmes. “We have a great number of new pro- grammes that have been validated and are ready for their first in-take of students in September. These programmes have been developed with industry and professional bod- ies to fill gaps in terms of education provision in Ireland and will have excellent career prospects for these students when they have graduated. Programmes include: Business Stud- ies with Sports Management, Build- ing Surveying, Good Manufacturing Practice & Technology, Investiga- tion Techniques and IT Security, and more. These programmes will be available via direct entry application to LIT in August,” she added.

Get quizzical for Tanzanian orphans

THE coveted Mr Ireland title has made its way to Shannon.

Kamal Ibrahim (23) has achieved the honour, having fought off compe- tition from nine other finalists, at the Strand Hotel in Limerick last week.

He has now won the right to com- pete in the Mr World competition in Korea in September, while he has also secured a €25,000 contract with a top modelling agency in Dublin. A native of Thomondgate in Limerick, Kamal currently lives in Shannon with his Polish-born girlfriend, An- eta, who is an airhostess with Rya- ene

Kamal was born in Limerick, but his exotic looks are due to his mother hailing from Italy and his father from Nigeria.

Kamal works as a security supervi- sor in the Trinity Rooms in Limer- ick. He has also modelled with the Celia Holman Lee agency in Limer- ick for the past five years. Up until six months ago, he also worked as a recruitment consultant.

He thoroughly enjoys modelling and was thrilled to win the Mr Ire- land title. He will now avail of a

€25,000 contract with John Comp- ton modelling agency in Dublin.

He represented Clare in the Mr Ire- land competition, but did not rate his chances of winning the contest.

“I entered only four weeks before it started. I wasn’t in it to win. I was

in it for the experience. However, as I learned more about it, it changed and I was preparing myself for it,” he said.

“The competition was based on physique and looks, while character and personality were important,” he added.

Participants had to model three dif- ferent outfits and engage in a ques- tions and answers session with the judges. Everyone was judged on a points-based system and Kamal was the outright winner in the end.

As he savours the success, Kamal will now prepare for the Mr World

contest. He will spend four weeks in Korea for the competition. “I am go- ing to be training to get into shape. There will be a lot more gym and a lot more dieting. There will be a lot of work with my agent with regard to public speaking,” he said.

He is optimistic about his chances of success in Korea.

“IT am over the moon. I am really focused on what it is I want to do. I have every intention of going to Mr World and winning it and bringing it back,” he enthused.

THERE was some good signs for the local construction industry last week with the news that Cleary Develop- ments has just signed one of the larg- est construction deals of the year.

The company, which was found- ed my Miltown Malbay man John Cleary Snr, is to build a new private hospital in Cork for Sheehan Medi- cal – the group who own the Black- rock Clinic in Dublin and the Gal- way Clinic.

Cleary already employ some 80

people in the development with a further 90 subcontractors due to be brought on board in the coming weeks. With such a big project, the positive effects will be felt as far away as Clare.

‘The company was founded by my father, John Snr, who came from farming stock outside of Miltown Malbay,” said John Cleary Jnr.

“The company has been grow- ing well over the years and we have completed developments totalling around 250 to date. This projects is a major contract for us and will see the

construction of a 1,400 square foot hospital in Cork.

“The company has it’s roots in Clare and we are always looking to provide opportunity for Clare-based businesses and builder whenever we can. We have a number of people from Clare working for our compa- ny but, as well as that, we try to use Clare contractors whenever we can.

“Ennis Lifts for example have been contracted to provide all the lifts for this hospital – a contract which is worth in the region of €400,000. Whelan’s were also heavily involved

in the early stages of construction, and provided all the pre-cast con- crete work in a contract worth more Were oe mpsesbelONe

“We still have a house up in Mil- town Malbay, and we are always up there at the weekend to go fishing or just enjoy the area.”

Besides creating almost 160 jobs during construction, the new hos- pital will also create 350 new posi- tions when the hospital is officially opened next April. This will consist of at least 75 doctors on site with some 100 ancillary staff.

FEARS for jobs and services were raised afresh at Aer Lingus in Shan- non this week, with news that the airline are looking at ways to save another €130 million in spending cuts.

Company chairman, Colm Bar- rington revealed the need for more savings at a meeting involving pilots who want to see the Shannon/New York route restored.

He told pilots of the need for more cuts after they offered to work free for a month if the airline would re-

Store the Shannon route, and the Dublin San Francisco route.

Further changes are thought to be on the way with the company’s in- coming chief executive, Christopher Mueller due to join the airline on September 1, a full month ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has today said that the news that Aer Lingus is working ona plan to target costs, including trans- atlantic services, will be a worry to the mid-west region.

Deputy Carey said, “The airline industry is facing a difficult period,

and Aer Lingus is no exception. But what I would ask is that key services and routes are safeguarded from any cost cutting measures. In particu- lar, the transatlantic services from Shannon have served Ireland and the mid- west well for generations. These routes are very important for business and tourism. I believe that once the US economy begins to pull out of recession, Ireland’s connec- tivity will again be a major factor in attracting inward investment to the mid-west region.”

He added, “We cannot allow deci- sions to be made now in a knee-jerk

fashion that will affect the region in the long run. I would hope in their current financial re-assessments that Aer Lingus management has learned from the Shannon-Heathrow affair. Those flights were pulled as a result of short-term thinking and now that the route has been returned, it has proved financially viable. Transat- lantic routes are profitable, if mar- keted and timetabled in the right manner. These routes are vital for business interests in the region.” The Mid West Regional Author- ity has pledged that the airport and tourism development are to remain

at the top of their agenda for the coming year.

Newly elected chairman Cllr Leo Walsh (FG) said that the authority is “determined to get on with its work” despite the threat of being scrapped under the recommendations of An Bord Snip Nua.

“We are involved in a big push in promoting tourism whether it 1s bringing visitors in through Shan- non or growing domestic tourism, and we are currently looking at ini- tiatives at Lough Derg, for example, that will be great for people who are interested in boating and fishing.”

Clare Shell protester jailed

that they will not be operating the Government drugs dispensing scheme.

A spokesperson for Tulla Phar- macy said they would not be co- operating with the HSE, while at Keating’s Pharmacy in Corbally said they would also be opting out of the scheme.

“Our name may be on the list of pharmacies operating the scheme

but we advised the HSE directly, and then through our union, that we wouldn’t be participating,” a spokesman for the pharmacy said. ‘These are divide and conquer tac- tics,” he said.

Sean Collins Pharmacy in Killa- loe is listed and will be operating the scheme.

“It’s a difficult situation. How do you tell Mrs Murphy, who comes in every month for her blood pressure tablets, that this month you won’t be dispensing them?” a spokesman Sree

The other east Clare pharmacy on the HSE list, the Green Cross in Killaloe could not be contacted to confirm whether or not they will be participating in the scheme.

Meanwhile Age Action Ireland is urging all older people who are on regular medication to take steps, as a matter of priority, to ensure they are not adversely affected by the pharmacist’s dispute.

“It is important that older people act to ensure that the dispute does not impact on their supply of med1- cation,’ Age Action spokesman,

Eamon Timmins said. “For people in rural areas it may mean organis- ing a lift to the pharmacist and ar- ranging transport to an alternative pharmacist. We would urge fami- lies and neighbours to help those who do not have public transport.”

The group is also advising that people, in parts of the country Where the HSE is _ establishing its own pharmacies to meet local needs, should also make themselves aware of the location of these serv- ices at www.hse.ie or by phoning the HSE information line 1850 24

1850.

‘But it is important that people do not put off this decision until the day they go to fill their prescrip- tion; act today to ensure you can continue normally with your medi- cation,’ Mr Timmins said.

Age Action has also urged the HSE to ensure that its contingency plans prioritise older people who are house-bound and/or live in re- mote rural areas without public transport. He has also urged both sides to recommence talks so that a solution can be found.

CLARE’S championship challenge came to a grinding halt on Satur- day as an experienced Wexford side eased to a comfortable victory in east Clare. Essentially this was a straight semi-final play-off as both sides had started the day on level points in the eroup, the 2007 All-Ireland champi- ons led from start to finish and gave Clare another hurling lesson of the standard required at the top level. Wexford’s smooth interplay and scoring ability up front were the main differences between the sides and Clare, aside from a gritty second quarter, were never allowed to settle into their stride. The margin could have been greater too only for anoth- er superb display from centre-back Deirdre Murphy who never threw in the towel at any stage and in truth, the entire defensive unit coped admi- rably considering that the game was predominantly played in their half. Clare were also tactically naive, especially in the first half with the aid of a stiff breeze that blew to- wards Tuamgraney as they opted to use Claire Commane as a third mid- fielder. While it did work to an extent as the Corofin player gathered a lot of possession, it also took away any threat close to goal as the majority of Clare’s supply went straight down the centre to the spare Wexford player. In a period when Clare were firmly on top and battling to get back into the game, this was hurling suicide and seemed an impulsive tactic to Wexford’s bright start of five un- answered points. Also if Clare had

rehearsed it beforehand, they would have surely been drilled to play eve- rything down the wings and keep the ball away from the spare player at full-back.

Clare did manage to score their only three scores of the game through Sharon O’Loughlin (2) and Fiona Lafferty during this period but with the majority of the forward line below par, essentially they needed a goal to instill some belief but in truth, it never looked like coming due to Wexford’s extra defender.

Instead, Wexford simply soaked up the pressure, weathered the storm and tacked on a brace of points before the breakthrough to lead by O-7 to O-3. With the stong breeze to come, Wex- ford would have been quite content

with their lofty position but it was only when Michelle Hearne weaved through the Clare defence for Wex- ford’s first goal in the 39th minute that Clare’s heads finally began to drop. The home side received sev- eral warning signs on the restart with Josie Dwyer’s pull going just wide of the post, Katrina Parrock’s effort grazing the top of the crossbar while Una Leacy’s shot was saved by Clare goalkeeper Denise Lynch. However she could do nothing about the goal as Parrock attracted several defend- ers before offloading to Hearne who shipped a tackle before rifling to the net from close range.

That goal sucked the life out of Clare’s challenge and for the remain- der, it was damage limitation stuff

for the home side who rarely got out of their own half. Five more points would be added before Wexford’s second goal, a carbon copy of the first as substitute Lenny Holohan played in the unmarked Parrock to goal in the 56th minute. Clare prayed for the final whistle but had to en- dure a brace of Kate Kelly points first before realising that eventuality as Wexford march on to a semi-final meeting with defedning champions Cork.

Hardly the way Clare would have wanted to end their campaign but it was never expected to be anything other than a difficult first season back at the top level.

How they actually take those les- sons on board will be much more

significant for Clare’s long term de- velopment.

THE death has occurred of one of Ireland’s most respected medical professionals, Dr Harry Counihan.

A former chairman of the Rich- mond Hospital, Dr Counihan was the son of Molly and Dr JH Counihan, a former GP in Ennis. His uncle Dick was also a doctor in Kil-

Mets ep

Born in 1918, Dr

Counihan was educat- ed at Clongowes Col- lege and UCD medical school and in 1946, was appointed consult- ant phyisician to the Richmond — Hospital. He was a founder mem- ber of the Consultative Council of Tuberculo- sis at a time when the condition was rampant in Ireland.

In an extensive and distinguished medical career, Dr Counihan was also a former President of the Royal Academy of Medicine and the Irish Tuberculosis Society and Vice Presi- dent of the Medical Council at its in- auguration in 1974.

As well as making an important contribution to the health service in Ireland, Dr Counihan also played a key role in developing health serv- ices in Iraq.

In the early 1980s, he became med- ical director of the Parc-run Ibn Al- Bitar Hospital in Baghdad.

He was a founder member of the Rehab institute and in 1999 was named as one of the People of the ETc lye tlie

Dr Counihan was also actively in- volved with the Irish Medical Or-

ganisation and worked as editor of the Irish Medical Journal.

Dr Counihan died peacefully at St Vin- cent’s LORRY Hospital, Dublin, sur- rounded by his family and in the excellent care of the staff.

He was the beloved husband of the late Eileen and loving fa- ther of Mary, Claire, Joan, Henry, Eileen

and the late Michael, Catherine and Jane; loving grandfather of Matthew, Martha and James (McGann), Neil, Tom, John and Joe (Bailes), Conor, Rachel and Alice (McKinney), Clodagh and Harry (Counihan), Roger, Georgia and Rosie (Kelly).

He will be sadly missed by his sis- ters and brothers; Sr Mary (Loreto), Dr Frank, Roger, Honor and Ruth, daughter-in-law, sons-in-law, nieces, sister-in-law, extended family, rela- OAVor er LGM BU (ONO KS