The Clare People Archive

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.

A NUMBER of sites have been iden- tified by the Office of Public Works (OPW) as potentially suitable for Ennis Educate ‘Together National School, according to Clare TD Tony Ona

The recently appointed Junior En- vironment and Energy Minister also expressed confidence that a perma- nent school site would shortly be sourced.

According to Mi£nister Killeen, “The Department of Education and Science recently requested the Of- fice of Public Works to source a site for Ennis Educate Together National School. On foot of advertising, a

number of proposals were received and the OPW is presently awaiting a technical assessment report on the suitability of proposed sites.

“Minister for Education and Sci- ence, Mary Hanafin has informed me that every effort is being made to locate a suitable site for the school,” he added.

In a letter to Minister Killeen, the Minister for Education and Science wrote, “When a suitable site is se- cured the project will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

“I am acutely aware of the long- standing efforts by the school board and parents of children attending the

facility to secure a permanent school site. I would now urge the OPW to present a list of suitable sites as quickly as possible,” concluded Min- ister Killeen.

Ennis Educate Together National School, which is based on the Gort Road, 1s co-educational and children are taught from junior infants up to sixth class.

The school has been engaged in a long running dispute with Clare County Council over a permanent site for the school.

Meanwhile, Minister Killeen has received confirmation from the De- partment of Education and Science that building and maintenance works at 26 primary and _ post-primary

schools across Clare will commence over the coming weeks. The funding allocated to Clare schools, under the Summer Works Scheme, is approxi- mately €2.1m.

Minister Killeen said, “Under this year’s Summer Works Scheme 19 lo- cal National Schools and seven Post- Primary Schools will benefit from projects to upgrade buildings and ELON n alee

‘The developments that have been sanctioned relate to electrical, main- tenance and conversion works.

“These projects will be of great benefit to the schools concerned and I commend the Department of Edu- cation and Science for its work in this area.”

AN ENNIS based teacher who spe- cializes in fostering a love of music in young and newborn children has been recognized by a high profile in- ternational award.

Finola Ryan has been named a ‘Maestro’ by Kindermusik Interna- tional, one of the world’s leading mu- sic and movement programmes.

Finola teaches Kindermusik in Glor and Maoin Cheol an Chlair, from newborn children up to seven years old.

The Maestro award recognizes ex- cellence in teachers who continue to pursue child development education.

“The Kindermusik Maestro has a

mission: helping children become better learners and helping parents understand how to help them reach their highest potential,’ said Michael Dougherty, CEO at Kindermusik In- ternational.

Finola is one of 5,000 licensed edu- cators in the world who use Kinder- musik’s music and movement cur- ju Cete eee

She began providing Kindermusik at Maoin Cheoil in 2006. Today Fi- nola teaches the learning program to over 60 families and also works for the Mid Western Health Board

In the last year, Finola has extended her program in Glor to cater for “Kin- dermusik Village” classes, which are for newborns to 18 months and

“Kindermusik Our Time” which is for children aged 18 months to three years, as well as Saturday morning “Kindermusik Imagine That’ for three to fives and “Young Child” classes from five to seven. Finola’s “Young Child” recently performed at Glor.

A graduate of the University Col- lege Cork, Finola said she was very surprised to learn she had won the award.

She said, “I’m both surprised and thrilled to receive the Maestro Award” Finola explained the merits of the programme to young children.

‘Kindermusik is a unique learning experience.

The many songs and activities in

Kindermusik class enhance a child’s total development by strengthening physical, emotional, social and cog- nitive skills at a very early age,” Fi- jae) e-Mr-Lelelere!

“Kindermusik believes a_ child’s most important teacher is his or her parent. That’s why we are one of the very few programs that include parents in activities with their chil- oes

Finola’s program continues at Glor next week, July 9 to 13 with “Adven- tures” summer camps for ages three to five and five to seven.

Contact Glor box office on 065 6843103 or see www.kindermusik- withfinola.com for more information about Kindermusik.

A CRITICAL need for afford- able housing in Shannon town has prompted Clare County Council to compile a proposal for the construc- tion of a 60-house development.

Currently, 165 people are on the waiting list for affordable housing in S)ar-vepeeyen

With this statistic in mind, Clare County Council has proposed to build 60 houses – comprising 45 three-bed dwellings and 15 two-bed houses – at Cluain Airne. The site in question is 5.29 acres in size, which means there would be 11 houses on approximately one acre of land. It has been zoned residential and a fea-

sibility study has been carried out, outlining its suitability for housing.

A design team has been appointed for the project and residents in Shan- non have been invited to a meeting, to discuss the plans, at the Oakwood Arms Hotel, on Monday, July 9 next.

Architect Colm Yelland, who is on the design team, said he was optimis- tic the development would enhance the existing scheme at Cluain Airne, where there are 178 houses.

‘We have looked at the regeneration of the overall area, carefully looking at the integration of the scheme into existing street patterns,” he said.

He said that the creation of play- ground spaces has been considered,

While the possibility of building three-bed and four-bed units reflect- ed the needs for such housing.

He said that access to the estate would be mainly independent to the access to the existing estate.

Councilor Gerry Flynn said he be- lieved that 60 houses was excessive.

“I feel the quantity of 60 is too much. The number of 40, I’d be open to negotiation. I’ll dig my heels in. There’s already 178 in Cluain Airne and 167 in Tradaree Court. That’s a lot of houses in a particularly tight area,’ he said.

Dick Pyne, of Clare County Coun- cil, who attended a meeting with Shannon Town councillors on the proposed development, last week

said,

“Economically, it has to be justi- fied for the department and the peo- ple who are going to buy them. Eco- nomically we need 60 houses. It’s won’t fly at 40. There is no point in trying it.”

The meeting was told that a bill of €1.3 million for roads and water Services would have to be met, while the project was being constructed.

Cllr Greg Duff (Labour) said it was important to tackle the affordable housing waiting lists, but the people living in Cluain Airne shouldn’t be forced to suffer as a result.

Cllr Geraldine Lambert (FF) said the main problem with the proposal was access.

NEWLY elected Mayor of Shan- non, Councillor Sean McLoughlin (FG), anticipates a busy year for his first outing as town ambassador but is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

His first priority, after his election at the council AGM last Tuesday evening, is to begin work on getting an ambulance for use in Shannon.

“The big issue that I’ll be pushing for, as chairman of the ambulance committee, is the possibility of one of these for the town. We have none and we are looking for one of those new Emergency Response Units with trained medics in the next 12 months.”

Along with emergency services,

other plans include a tourism forum, a town boundary extension and gain- ing support for Public Service Obli- gation (PSO) for selected Shannon Airport routes.

“As we all know, there are a lot of people passing through Shannon dur- ing the tourist season but not enough staying overnight. Later on in the year, I am hoping to have some sort of tourism forum with B&B, hotel- iers and other people with a lifelong interest in tourism so we can discuss ways of encouraging visitors to stay for longer,” said Cllr McLoughlin.

It is hoped that the Government will apply to the European Commis- sion for PSOs on behalf of the air- port, which would compensate pro- viders if they provided essential but unprofitable routes such as a daily

commuter flight to Dublin.

“The airport is very important in terms of infrastucture and jobs so along with pushing for a PSO motion we are going to do everything we can to keep US flights coming into Shan- non,’ he said.

He added that a proposal to extend the Shannon boundary has been sent away for Government approval and he is optimistic that the town will soon be bigger and better.

A new green paper on local govern- ment later this year is due to suggest upgrading the status of town councils to full rateable authorities and Cllr McLoughlin said that he is “look- ing forward” to this development for Shannon.

He paid tribute to outgoing mayor, ClUlr Tony McMahon (Lab) and also

congratulated Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind), on his election.

Cllr McLoughlin was elected for the first time in 2004 having been heavily involved with Fine Gael for some years.

He celebrated his new appointment with wife Catherine, son Michael, daughter Marie and grandson Mat- thew among others.

He said that with the support of col- leagues and staff, he was confident facing the challenges ahead and that he would do his best for the people of Shannon.

A LARGE group of residents of the Cluain Airne estate have expressed their concerns about a proposal for a new affordable housing development of 60 homes on their doorstep.

Residents are particularly worried about access, parking and the possi- bility of anti-social behaviour among other issues, according to the secre- tary of a committee set up in opposi- tion to the plans.

Nicole Murphy said that existing problems with access and parking in the area would get worse if the devel-

opment went ahead.

“As it 1s, 1f there 1s a match on at the local pitch, the traffic is so bad at the entrance that you often have to reverse around the corner, which is already dangerous.

“The parking situation is crazy too because many houses have more than one car. Some people are parking on the grass areas and this development could mean 120 more cars,” said Ms Murphy.

She said other potential issues of concern include flooding, sewer- age, privacy, the requirement for a percentage of the development to

be council houses and concerns that property values will drop for all of these reasons.

“We all appreciate that people need housing but a lot of the long standing residents will face serious upheav- al. From the plans, it looks like the communal green area will be taken away and yet, all the new houses will have gardens and drives. They want to put a playground and a leisure centre right outside our front doors. How late these will be open? Who will maintain and patrol them and where will these extra people park?” she asked.

Ms Murphy said that out of the 178 houses in the existing development, around 140 residents signed a peti- tion opposing the development, 30 had not yet answered and only an estimated eight so far are happy with the plan.

“We feel that there is probably at least 100 acres elsewhere in the town so why can’t these houses be built on that land?” she said.

She urged all Cluain Airne resi- dents to attend a public meeting on Monday, July 9, at 8pm in the Oak- wood Arms to discuss the develop- ment and possible concerns.

A MAN died on Sunday after he was washed into the sea while fishing at a notoriously dangerous location near Doonbeg where as many as I1 lives have been lost in the past.

The Moldovan national had trav- elled from Limerick along with three friends to go fishing at the Blue Pool between Kilkee and Doonbeg. It 1s thought that he was washed from the rocks by a rogue wave. His body was recovered at around 3pm by mem-

bers of the Kilkee Rescue Unit.

Gardai have confirmed that they are treating the incident as an accident.

The alarm was raised after two of the four men had returned to Lim- erick. They are understood to have gone to Henry Street Garda station to report the incident prompting a search and rescue operation. Gardai say, however, that they do not believe that there is anything sinister in this and said the men returned to Kilkee Fiore

A Garda spokesman confirmed,

“We are treating this incident as a tragic accident. We have spoken to several eyewitnesses who were at the scene as well as the victim’s friends.”

When the alarm was originally raised at 12.45pm an exact location was not known So rescue crews could only stand by waiting for further in- formation. Shortly before 3pm, Kil- kee Marine Rescue Unit was scram- bled to the Blue Pool just south of Doonbeg where they quickly located the body of a man.

The body was later taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where a post mortem ex- amination was carried out yesterday (Monday).

Water Safety Development Of- ficer for Clare County Council, Liam Griffin, has again warned about the dangers of the Blue Pool.

“This 1s a very dangerous location and has been for many years. Several lives have been lost at the Blue Pool in the past. We have erected signs at the location and have repeatedly

advised people to avoid the area be- cause of the dangers there.”

Last November, a 27 year-old man died in front of his wife and child When he was swept into the sea while fishing at the same location. The Latvian man had been living in Athlone and had travelled to the Blue Pool with his wife and eight year-old son when he was washed into the sea before their eyes. Last week, a Hungarian student died tragically af- ter falling from the Cliffs of Moher while taking photographs.

SOMETHING truly remarkable took place in Tubber National School this year. In the seven months be- tween September of 2006 and May of 2007, 17 children from the north Clare school read an amazing 2086 books, or one book for each child every two days.

This sudden addiction to the writ- ten word came through the schools participation in the ‘Transatlantic Reading Challenge. The reading challenge was set up between some 20 school in Clare and a number of school in Canada to encourage stu- dents to read more books.

“Each child was given a reading log at the beginning of the year and this log was used to record each book they read. In total the children of the school read 2086 books. There was 17 pupils involved so that means that in the seven month period from Sep- tember to the end of May, on average 111 books were read per child in the school,’ said a spokesperson from the school.

“We actively encouraged reading this year, we ran a number of ini- tiatives in the school such as paired reading, we got involved in the MS Readathon and we set up a Reading Buddies scheme. It became part of the curriculum but we also encour-

aged them to read from outside of it”

The Reading Buddies Scheme sees children paired off, with each child helping to support his or her partner in their own reading.

“It is an initiative that is used in a lot of schools to promote literacy and to help reluctant readers to read in a comfortable and encouraging envi- ronment. It gives them a support net- work, they can both get together and help one another with any difficult words and with the filling out the log,” continued the spokesperson.

“They were devouring books, I just couldn’t get over it. It really started to gain momentum as it went on. The

children have got a real respect for books and it is a life-long still for them. It’s the road to knowledge but it’s also a road to a more fulfilling and happy life.”

Amazingly for such a small school, Tubber came second of the 20 Clare schools in the competition. To mark their achievement, Chairman of Clare County Council’s Community and Cultural SPC, Councillor Pat Hayes, present a plaque to Lisa Mc- Mahon of Tubber National School last week.

AFTER a long winter break, big time music is returning to Doolin this summer with the relaunch of the Best for the West series of concerts at Magnetic Music.

This years series of 12 events will see some of the country’s most pro- lific musicians and singers descend- ing on the village between now and the beginning of September.

The series opens on Thursday, July 19, with a concert from new folk wizards Beoga. The five-piece tradi- tional band from Antrim was drawn together after jamming in a fero- cious music session at the All-Ire- land Fleadh in August 2002. Their

unique sound features the twin du- eling accordions of Sean Og Graham and Damien McKee, along with four times All-Ireland bodhran champion Eamon Murray and pianist Liam Bradley.

Over the last couple of years Beoga have followed a busy European tour schedule, which included headlining various prestigious festivals includ- ing performances on the Guinness Irish Christmas tour of Austria, the German Irish Folk Festival tour along with Solas and Kevin Burke and the Irish Unplugged Tour of Holland, with the Fureys and Davey Arthur.

The group have just released their second eagerly awaited album Mis-

chief which contains more of their self-composed material, played in their own highly individualistic style.

Following Beoga, Emer Mayock, Donal Siggins and Robert Harris of Afro Celt Sound System fame will bring their eclectic mix of traditional and self penned tunes accompanied by guitar and bodhran to Magnetic Music on Sunday, July 22. Six days later, fiddle and concertina virtuo- So of Riverdance fame, Niamh Ni Charra and Mike Galvin will be live on stage before the free Irish Music Table Quiz on July 29.

Indeed their will be a series of free Irish Music Table Quiz’s through- out the summer with extra events on

August 5 and 12. On August 3, Pad- raic O’Reilly and the Corofin String Quartet will take to the stage with legendary Cork singer songwriter John Spillane performing on the fol- lowing night.

Other concerts include MacDara and Friends on August 10, Niamh Parsons and Graham Dunne on Au- gust 25, Patricia Daly and the Span- ish-Lady Ensemble on August 31 and the Outside Track on August 8.

Doors for all concerts at 9.30pm, families are welcome with small children sitting on the lap free and children from 10 to 14 years half je ulGen

For more information call 7074988 or check out magnetic-music.com.

OUTGOING mayor Councillor Stephen O’Gorman was full of praise for his native town as he wore the chain of office for the last time.

“I could speak all night about how Kilrush is progressing at a very fast rate,’ he said pointing to the many achievements of the town over the past 12 months.

During his reign as mayor, the John Paul Estate resident also faced down anti-social behaviour in his area and suffered the consequences.

In his parting speech he thanked the people of Kilrush “who stood by me in tough times and especially the residents of John Paul Estate’.

It was at the end of his term in of- fice that the Fianna Fail town coun- cillor saw the beginning of the pilot scheme for the regeneration project at John Paul Estate – a project close to his heart.

This was just one of the many things he highlighted as the chang- ing face of Kilrush.

The outgoing mayor pointed to the decentralisation of the Revenue

offices to the west Clare capital ex- pected in a few weeks as just one of the positive changes ahead.

He also spoke of the employment brought to the town by the planned Tesco centre, the Place de Plouzane shopping centre, the development at Glynn’s Mills on Hector Street, and the €40 million investment at the marina.

He welcomed broadband to Kil- rush, the construction work at Quay’s Mills and the opening of the Com- haltas building. He praised the work of the Tidy Towns for securing the

silver medal last year and hoped for news of gold this year.

He told the Annual General Meet- ing of the town council that among his greatest memories from his sec- ond year, aS mayor was the two visits by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to the town and the civic reception for the crew of “the Spirit of Kilrush”.

‘To be born and reared in Kilrush and become mayor of your own town is a great honour,’ he told council- Kovacs

“Working together is the key to the future.”