The Clare People Archive

CLARE’S newly elected TD’s and Senators are to meet with the Ennis Chamber of Commerce to give an account of themselves and their in- tentions towards issues raised in the chamber’s pre-election manifesto.

Topping the agenda of matters under scrutiny will be the future of Shan- LO) aU bu oem

At the June Monthly Executive Meeting of Ennis Chamber, the board unanimously supported Shannon Town Council in their recent call on the Irish Government to apply to the

European Union for a Public Service Obligation for Shannon Airport. This would enable the airport to at- tract airlines to offer regional serv- ices to Dublin, Belfast and Cork. “Such services are vitally impor- tant in strengthening the airport and would be of huge benefit to business

and commerce in the mid-west’, said chamber CEO, Rita McInerney. Ennis Chamber published its elec- tion manifesto prior to the general election and issued it to all twelve Clare candidates. The first item in this document was Shannon Airport, because, Ms McInerney said, of its

significance as the driver of growth for balanced regional development. “Ennis Chamber plans to meet with the newly elected Clare TDs when a new government has been formed and also with the new Clare senators once appointed to discuss the mani- festo further”, Ms McInerney said.

FORMER senator and newly elected TD, Timmy Dooley, has admitted that his party colleagues in Clare are facing an “uphill” battle in the up- coming Seanad election.

Looking forward to his first term as a ITD, the east Clare Fianna Fail deputy, was predicating a busy time ahead amid fears that his party would not return two senators from the banner county to replace himself and outgoing Senator Brendan Daly.

“It will be more difficult (work- ing in the 30th Dail). In the last ad- ministration we had four Oireachtas members. We now have two,” he said referring to himself and outgoing Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Ono

“We are hopeful that the Seanad will deliver two for us to balance it out but that is going to be an uphill battle with the way the Seanad cam- paign is going,’ he said, just hours before Senator Daly removed his name from the Seanad race.

The most Fianna Fail in Clare can now achieve is one Seanad seat if Cllr Pat Daly is elected. A Taoi- seach’s nomination could secure a second but this 1s thought very un- likely to happen.

“So it is going to be a big job of work for us to try to cover the county and manage the issues that are there,” he said.

Fianna Fail are expected to lose ap- proximately one senator from each panel in the upcoming election due to the make up of the council and the party’s losses in the last local elec- tions.

Poll topper Dooley does not see himself as a junior minister in the upcoming Dail and has resigned himself to the backbenches.

“IT see myself as an active back- bencher working obviously to deliv- erer for the people that have elected me and I think that as a back bench- er, I can work effectively in the same way many back benchers before me have done in the past, having access to government ministers, having a weekly parliamentary party meeting chaired by the Taoiseach addressing the issues together with my colleague Tony Killeen.”

FORTY eight per cent more men in Clare die by suicide each year than the national average.

Death by suicide is the number one cause of death among young Irish men with 12.4 men per 100,000 dy- ing this way every year. In Clare the figure is as high as 18.4 men per 100,000.

The death among women in Clare by suicide is half that of the national average with 6.2 women per 100,000 OND Eom HOBIE WE

The earliest figures from the cen- tral statistics office show that just two people of Clare residence died from suicide in 1980.

In 1985 this number had multiplied by more than five bringing the total number of deaths to 11. In 2005 15 people died from suicide in Clare.

Ireland has an alarmingly high rate of suicide – the fifth highest suicide rate in Europe among 15 to 25 year olds.

The highest rate of suicide is found among young men aged under 35 years – accounting for approximately

40 per cent of all Irish suicides. In general, men are reluctant to seek professional advice to help them cope with difficulties.

The often taboo subject of suicide 1s now being tackled by a new national mental health promotion campaign called “Tough Times”.

This campaign aims to reduce the large number of deaths by suicide by raising awareness of the alternative options available to young people in crisis. It will use a combination of television advertising, poster cam- paign, online marketing and pres- ence at festivals and concerts, radio, newspaper and magazine features to communicate its key message; that everyone goes through tough times and answers are out there.

“Tough Times” encourages young people to realise that it’s normal to experience difficult times and that, however small or big the problem, there are help and support options available. It points young people to- wards www.spunout.ie, which pro- vides fact sheets on a range of health and lifestyle issues, signposts users to relevant help services.

A NEW policy has gone before mem- bers of Clare Council County aimed at channelling investment across se- lected towns in the county.

In the paper put before the council’s Special Policy Committee on Eco- nomic Development by Liam Con- neally last Friday, he revealed that the council is currently liaising with Shannon Development in relation to the potential for additional economic development on Shannon Develop-

ment owned lands at Kildysart, En- nis, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay.

The SPC is under the chairman- ship of Clir Richard Nagle (FF).

Mr Conneally said, “It has been Clare County Council policy not to duplicate the process of acquiring lands for economic development in towns where Shannon Development already have a significant land bank. Shannon Development is in posses- sion of 750 acres of industrial lands in the county and four million sq ft of floor space. The council is con-

scious that its work must provide ad- ditionality instead of duplication in the area of economic development promotion.

‘The towns considered most suit- able for this type of approach are Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush, Killaloe, Scariff and Ennistymon owing to particular to their size, their poten- tial for population growth and the requirement in these areas for prop- erty solutions for growing small and medium indigenous enterprises.

He added, “In those instances

where large tracts of land have been zoned, the acquisition of smaller sections of the land holding with maximum road frontage are being advanced.

“The acquisition of the lands will require the availability of a seed fund to acquire the land bank essential to further the model set out.”

Mr Conneally also revealed that in order to kick start the initiative in Ennis, a site located to the south of the town currently zoned ‘other set- tlement land’ was been considered

in regard to its suitability to cater for small growing enterprises requiring property solutions.

In relation to Kilrush the council confirmed that it was in possession of two acres of industrial land at Kil- ubtsee

Mr Conneally said, “The coun- cil has recently partnered Kilrush Town Council, Shannon Develop- ment, Leader, Eiri Corca Bascinn in a feasibility study funded by Leader to audit community facilities 1n west OE ikne

ONE of Shannon’s longest serving companies and biggest employers, Molex Ireland Ltd, returned to profit last year with gains of €2.8 million after tax.

The company announced last week that it would consolidate its opera- tions at Shannon by closing down its Cork-based plant with the loss of over 100 jobs. In response to reports that up to 50 jobs could be lost from its Shannon plant, Molex Ireland has stated that it has begun a month long

consultation phase with all of its em- ployees. A company statement said: “Until the review period is complete, no further information or comment on the extent of possible changes is available or possible at this time.” The profit was recorded in the company’s latest returns to the Companies Office and contrast with losses of €3.5 million in 2005. The accounts also showed that the com- pany’s turnover rose to €122 million last year from €113 million in 2005. According to a statement attached to the accounts, “the directors expect

the general level of activity to con- tinue for the foreseeable future”’.

The loss in 2005 was partly attrib- utable to restructuring costs of €1 million. During that year the num- bers involved in production at Molex dropped from 497 to 433.

Restructuring continued at the com- pany last year at a cost of €443,000.

The company’s operating profit of €2.8 million after tax was helped by a dividend of €5.5 million giving a retained profit of €5.7 million at the end of March last year.

‘The turnover grew by over 8 per

cent in the year with most of the erowth originating in EU markets. Growth was achieved in a market- place that continued to be competi- tive.

Cost of sales grew by over 7 per cent reflecting the increased costs of production and purchasing manu- factured product during the year,’ it continued.

The statement added that directors did not propose the payment of a div- idend for the year.

“The principal business risks and uncertainties faced by the company

in the future are currency risks in dealing with entities with non-Euro denominated currencies as well as the possible effect on sales volumes and margins of end user market de- velopments in relation to new prod- ucts giving rise to product obsoles- cence and loss of competitiveness,’ the statement concluded.

The company’s gross profit in- creased from €12 million in 2004 to €14 million last year.

Molex Ireland Ltd was established in 1971 at Shannon as the first Euro- pean facility for Molex.

THE sustained protest by councillors against Clare County Council’s strict planning rules is having minimal 1m- pact on the council’s refusal rate for one-off homes.

New council figures show that in- dividuals were more likely to be suc- cessful in securing planning permis- sion in 2003 than last year despite continuing councillor complaints over the enforcement of planning MUN he

Planning continues to dominate the local authority’s monthly meetings, however, the council’s Director for Planning, Bernadette Kinsella, has revealed that the refusal rate for one off homes last year was 25 per cent compared to a 19 per cent refusal rate in 2003.

In response to a motion tabled by Cllr PJ Kelly CFF), Ms Kinsella re- vealed that in 200,6 204 out of 828 applications for one-off homes were Kod AUESLorOR

Along with the 25 per cent refused, a further 198 or 23 per cent were withdrawn giving an overall failure rate of 48 per cent.

In relation to statistics for one-off homes for 2003, Ms Kinsella said that of 917 applications for one-off homes, 176 or 19 per cent were re- fused. The statistics show that a

further 191 or 20 per cent were re- fused giving an overall total of 39 per cent.

Meanwhile the EU Commission could remove the non-local ban from the Clare County Development Plan.

The commission is expected to an- nounce within the month that many of the restrictions in Irish county CLAVe) Le) eyeatorelam ole Delcme-Dacms DUleseecU MUbOLe(on European law.

It finds that the provisions con- cerned are discriminatory, dispro- portionate and constitute restrictions on the free movement of capital and the freedom of establishment guar- anteed by the European treaties.

Leader of the Fianna Fail group at the council, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) said: “I have highlighted the illegality of these rules a number of times at the council.”

Jim Connolly of the Irish Rural Dwellers Association said that the EU Commission’s move to scrap the “non-local” rule would “undoubted- ly result in a wave of compensation claims from those who have been denied their natural right to build a house”.

He said: “This will put into the halfpenny place any form of com- pensation claims against illegal gov- ernment Acts up until now because of the extent of the value of the assets that the people have been denied.

HE’S BEEN involved with all strands of inter-county hurling bar senior and Kevin Kennedy has decided this will be his last stand, his final year. Understandably, he wants to go out with an explosion on the field and a fifth Munster Final with a Clare side would provide reward in itself.

Back in ’97 and °98, Kennedy was involved with the Clare minors when they reached the provincial decider. He was there in ’99 with the Under- 21s and two years later with the in- termediates. It’s familiar territory by now, but he knows the path to the big stage 1s speckled with tricky encoun- ters and Clare’s next task arrives on Sunday and a meeting with an un- known Waterford side.

It’s nothing new of course and Kennedy understands it is his lot as inermediate boss to encounter sides about whom not much is known. It’s a pitfall nonetheless.

“We’re wary because Waterford haven’t played a game all year and all through my involvement with Clare

sides, I haven’t come up against Waterford too often,” he says. “The only time I was with Clare when we played Waterford was with the mi- nors in 1996.”

It was the win against Cork that earned Kennedy a second shot against Waterford and that day, in front of a skeleton crowd in Semple Stadium, Clare delivered a match winning performance in the second half. Mark Flaherty impressed in front of the posts and ended up with eight points, Damien Kennedy began to take charge around the middle and John Reddan gave a match winning display at centre-back.

“We conceded 1-1 in two minutes against Cork and at that stage you might have thought our fellas would wilt. Other Clare teams at this grade might have done at that stage but not these guys. They’re winners. I’ve had intermediate teams in the past but you can see these guys are good, honest hurlers. I intentionally stayed away from involving Under-21s or fringe senior players because I want- ed a tight and committed squad. It’s a

small panel but it’s close-knit.”

As word seeped through that Red- dan — captain of the intermediates —turned down the offer of a place on the senior panel this week, Kennedy sensed the will to complete the task in Munster was alive and thriving in his squad.

“I’d love to see these lads get some- thing out of the season. In general, they’re hardworking players who put in a huge amount of effort at club level and it goes unrecognised at inter-county level a lot of the time. Most would have played for Clare at underage so that’s a big plus. They know the ropes. The average age of the panel is in the mid-20s so there’s plenty of scope for players to go on and make a name for themselves at senior level. That’s what we’d be hoping.”

That fifth Munster Final for Kennedy would put those players in the shop window. Since the Cork game just over a fortnight back, they’ve regrouped and focused once more. Last week they played Bor- risoleigh in a challenge. It sprung a

few headaches and a few surprises, but Kennedy was happy with the progress made.

‘Fellas who would normally play well didn’t perform. It’s not a worry because some just can’t get into the right frame of mind for challenges. They know they’ll be judged against Waterford on Sunday.”

Enda Collins is unlikely to start be- cause of an injury to his thumb and the availability of Seanie Moloney — who fractured a thumb – is also a concern to Kennedy. Alan McNa- mara will undergo a fitness test on Wednesday evening but these are the workaday worries of a seasoned manager and Kennedy knows how to cope.

AND so the curtain has finally come down on Clare’s soccer season. Eve- ryone in the County Grounds on Saturday evening were singing from the same hymn sheet. It was some curtain call for fans of the garrison game.

There were many strands to make the occasion. The summer sunshine was one such strand — the biggest advertisement yet that summer soc- cer could be the way to if the game is finally flourish.

The hard sod, shaved to within a couple of inches of its life by dedi- cated groundsman Tommy Austin; the sun on players’ backs. Then came the football, something shy of cham- pagne football but still high on enter-

tainment.

The ingredients were there before- hand. Town versus Country 1s just as compelling in the garrison game as it is in games of the Gael. The spirit of the country against the skill of the townies.

Avenue United. The masters and undisputed kings of Clare soccer over the past quarter of a century. Seven times cup champions, a hat- ful of leagues too, not forgetting the romance of their affairs with the FAI Junior Cup.

It was way back in 1990 when the Avenue Kop set up home on the ter- races of Dalymount Park when the Avenue took on a crack Cherry Or- chard side in the blue riband of the amateur game in Ireland — Europe for that matter as the FAI is the big-

gest knockout competition on the continent.

Alas, it wasn’t to be for the Avenue back then, but their pride of place in the Clare game was secured on that romantic run through Ireland. The players’ place was also secured — John the Man, Johnny Purtill, Ray Casey, Mannix and many more.

John O’Malley and Noelie Purtill are still around the team — the joint- managers patrolled the sideline on Saturday with the same enthusiasm they showed in their playing days.

Barking instructions, giving out, but always encouraging. Preaching a work ethic, but wanting that married with total football at the same time. It’s a townie thing, a skill thing that found expression in Mikie Mahony and many more on the Avenue team.

Mikie seemed born for this day — he dazzled like the summer sun and while the brave Moher defence kept him at bay for most of the game he wasn’t to be denied his moment of glory.

PAV AKO MYL TKCK\, ONG (omc MED EN LUbosloloems Oye joy while the Moher Magpies lay strewn on the pitch. So near and yet so far —1n many ways they were the team of the year in Clare soccer, but bridesmaids at the same time.

Premier League runners-up and now cup runners-up.

Aidan Moloney summed up their torment. The Puddin had given eve- rything, slotted the penalty that had the Magpies dreaming of glory and kept going for 110 minutes.

All for nothing, except for hope that their day will finally come.

It must, but this was Avenue’s. The bluebloods of Clare soccer.

THE IFA has launched a blistering attack on Kerry Co-Op, accusing the company of ‘pocketing’ the money generated by the upsurge in the mar- ket and not passing anything on to JE Du nN ace

The IFA’s National Dairy Com- mittee Chairman, Richard Kennedy, commented on Wednesday that the May 1.4c/l (6.3c/gal) milk price in- crease by Kerry fell 2c/l (9c/gal) short of the 30c/l +VAT benchmark which co-ops “can easily afford” in the present record dairy market re- aebw ete

Kennedy accused the board of Ker- ry of ‘letting down’ its suppliers by following the deliberately weak tone set by Glanbia and failing to pass

back a much higher price increase. He accused both Kerry and Glan- bia of corporate greed in pocketing most of the market upswing. “Sup- pliers demand their fair share of the massive market improvements. It 1s absolutely legitimate after five years of constant price cuts in view of the huge surge in markets,” he said.

“Yet, so far, most dairy farmers have received less than 20 per cent of the historical return increases of the last 12 months. There are already sions of real anger that they are be- ing cheated of fully justified price increases.

Kerry and Glanbia have now in- creased their milk price by a total of 3.6c/l (16c/gal) and 4c/l (18c/gal) respectively, but both have benefited from IDB SMP/butter increases of

three times as much, at 12.7c/l (58c/ gal), as well as significant equivalent increases on returns for most of their product mix.

“Dairy farmers must not be hood- winked by their first milk price in- creases in over five years — 30c/I is the price they received over 10 years ago. They should demand from their board members a far better milk price than Kerry and Glanbia’s in- crease,’ he continued.

“Farmers cannot afford to leave money on the table in this market up- swing when they have taken the full hit in milk price cuts over the past five years.

“The IFA has called for a 30c/I +VAT May milk price, because it is economically fully justifiable, with current market returns, for co-ops to

pay this price and still improve their own margins. Indeed, markets are continuing to strengthen, and further milk price increases will be justified TbOMMO elem exoye sn batcanneleyelne tne

THE Shannon Airport Authority has moved to expand the airport’s €30 million terminal building to prepare for the end of the Shannon stopover.

The phased ending of the stopover will be complete by April of next year. The Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) is hoping that by then the air- port will have a competitive advan- tage by having in place a full Cus- toms and Border Protection Post.

As a result, the SAA has lodged plans with Clare County Council for a two-storey extension to the existing oomeepnireve

Planning documents lodged with the council state that “the proposed terminal extension is an integral part of Shannon Airport’s physical devel- opment to meet the significant chal- lenges that lay ahead for the airport and in particular the introduction of ‘open skies’ in April 2008.

“The design updates the existing terminal building in a sensitive man- ner, improving the external appear- ance of the older building, as well as the overall function of the terminal.”

The SAA’s consultants believe that the extension will lead to an improved passenger experience at Shannon.

In a statement, the SAA said yes- terday, “Management at Shannon Airport confirmed that the DAA are

currently examining the feasibility of upgrading the current US Immi- gration pre-inspection facility to a Full Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Inspection Post at Shannon.

“Exploratory talks have been held between the DAA, Shannon Airport management, the Department of Transport and the CBP Organisation on the matter. As part of the feasibil- ity study, the airport confirms that they are seeking planning permis- sion to extend the terminal building and carry out alterations to existing sections of the main terminal build- bate

The statement said that “summer 2008 is the target date for the estab- lishment of this facility subject to approval”.

Explaining the significance of the move to put in place a customs facil- ity last month, the SAA’s Executive chairman, Pat Shanahan said, “This means that airlines can fly into any domestic terminal in the US and won’t have to go through the inter- national hubs. That is going to be a major bonus in Shannon and Shan- non would be first airport in Europe to have that facility

‘That is one of our tactics to try to sustain transatlantic traffic.”

A decision is due on the application during the summer.