The Clare People Archive

CLARE Heritage Office, in associa- tion with the Notice Nature campaign and the Clare Biodiversity Group, held the first ever Clare biodiversity seminar at Clare Museum last week.

The event features discussions on a range of issues from designated sites in Clare, native trees and hedgerows, and biodiversity at a local and na- tional level.

Newly-appointed Clare Biodiver- sity Officer, John Murphy opened the seminar with an introduction to biodiversity in the county.

Following that, renowned ecologist Janice Fuller addressed those in at- tendance about ‘Buds of the Banner: A Guide to Growing Native Trees

and Shrubs in Clare’, which was recently published by Clare County Council in conjunction with Rural Resource Development.

The seminar also featured Lorraine Fitzgerald of the Notice Nature cam- paign and David Lyons, Acting Dis- trict Conservation Officer (ADCO) and ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), who will provide a presentation on the various designated biodiversity sites in Clare.

“This biodiversity event aims to outline the unique combination of wild places, beautiful scenery and all life forms that make Clare a unique county that is enriched with biodiversity,’ said Clare Biodiversity Officer, John Murphy.

“Biodiversity provides us with a ereat variety of products and serv- eLearn

“It gives us food, fuel, medicines, building materials and our beautiful countryside, landscapes and ocean. It also helps to purify our air and wa- ter, and to stabilise our soil.

“It provides for tourism and rec- reational activities, walking, cy- cling, angling, boating and bird- and whale-watching. The conservation of biodiversity is life enhancing and is of economic, cultural social and health value.”

Clare became the first county in Ireland to produce a local biodiver- sity action plan when the Clare Bio- diversity Action Plan was launched in May 2006.

Clare 1s also the first county to have a local biological records centre and has been acknowledged as the lead- ing example for biodiversity protec- tion and promotion.

“The interest in biodiversity issues has been growing steadily in County Clare over the last number of years. This is particularly evident in the amount of individuals and commu- nity groups now actively engaged in its protection and promotion,’ said Tomas Mac Conmara, the acting heritage officer with Clare County Council.

The seminar provides an oppor- tunity to discuss biodiversity on a broad level and also to disseminate awareness about issues concerning biodiversity in the county.”

A KILKEE woman will lead four cyclists on the long Bothar from Stillorgan to Clare on May 5 in sup- port of the third world development ZIXeBLOas

Ann Power said that she decided to do something for charity and a “coast to coast” cycle jumped out at her even though she was a not a regu- lar cyclist.

“I’m from Kilkee so I thought I would see if I could cycle the 180 miles down and I asked a few peo- ple if they would be interested. The

others would have a bit more experi- ence. One of them was in a club and has cycled a good bit. I started train- ing in October especially for this.”

Ann, a nurse who has lived in Dub- lin for 13 years, outlined the team’s eruelling training regime.

“It has been very tough. I had to buy a new bike and everything. I work Monday to Friday and I get up every Sunday at 8am to train. We’ve gone as far as Naas a few times on the old N7 road. I watch the signs and when you see the kilometres going down it is a great incentive. It keeps you go- ing,” she said.

The self-confessed amateurs – Ann’s husband Mick Vine and col- leagues Theresa McEvoy and Im- elda Redmond – will cycle as far as Nenagh on the day before continuing to Kilkee on May 6. Ann said that the support from family and col- leagues has been brilliant.

“My parents and everyone down in Clare think it’s a great thing we’re doing. Lots of people are amazed by it because they reckon it will be quite tough with the winds coming from the west. How it goes will de- pend on the weather. That will be a huge factor.”

“We will definitely finish it, no mat- ter what. I would never do something like this if 1t wasn’t a challenge. You just have to get motivated. But I am looking forward to hanging up my bike for a few weeks and staying in on Sundays.

‘“Bothar is a great charity and very hands on. We haven’t counted up what we’ve raised so far but there was no target so anything will be a bonus,” she added.

If you would like to support the coast to coast cycle, donations can be made to Bank of Ireland account number 65862912, sort code 901335.

RUGBY has broken into the GAA stronghold of west Clare.

Munster’s newest rugby club West Clare Warriors RFC was formed in February to give boys and girls from Miltown Malbay and Mullagh areas an opportunity to play rugby. Al- ready over 70 children are attending training sessions.

The club was officially launched in Spanish Point by Bob McConkey,

Senior Vice-President of Munster Rugby and present were representa- tives of other Clare clubs. As part of the celebrations the Heineken Cup won by Munster last year visited lo- cal schools in the area and was re- ceived with great enthusiasm.

President of the Warriors is local Miltown Malbay publican David Hillery cousin of another famous President, Dr Paddy Hillery former President of Ireland. His wife Ca- triona is club treasurer.

The officers are all delighted with the support the new club has received from the public.

“Its fantastic to see the huge num- bers turning up for training and its great to see the youth of west Clare getting the opportunity to play rug- by,” said David Hillery.

Former Shannon RFC player Paddy Hayes who is Club Youth Officer said: “our club is enabling the young boys and girls to participate in a game that has never been as popular

as now with the success of Munster and our Irish rugby team.”

Other high profile Munster rugby officials present at the launch cel- ebrations were John Noonan, John King and Gerry Quaid.

in the Quilty Tavern at 9pm on May 5 will go towards a commemorative weekend for the last week in Sep-

tember.

PJ, who plays and tours with Séa- mus Shannon, said that the heroic rescue of the crew of French ship Leon XIII in October 1907 had in- spired generations.

“In a huge storm, the ship got stuck in a reef off the coast of Quilty and all rescue attempts failed. So the fishermen of Quilty had a go at it and they rescued them. It was the talk of the world and people came from everywhere to see and meet

them. Money donated at the time was later used to build the Star of the Sea Church.”

He added that reaction to the song, which has been played on Clare FM and is on sale locally and in Ennis, has been very positive.

“I did a lot of research when I wrote the song last January and it tells the proper story of what happened. It was very much a local job and we re- corded it in Malbay Studios. People seem to like it anyway. The launch

will have well-known guests like Kitty Hayes and David Culligan and maybe a surprise or two.”

PJ, originally from Mullagh, said that plans for the commemoration weekend and possibly a dedicatory plaque have not been finalised but there is already some interest in the event.

“Lots of the ancestors of the fish- ermen are still around. We are even expecting people to come home from abroad for it,” he said.

THE Kilrush Parish Finance Com- mittee is hoping to tee off the next stage in fundraising for the refur- bishment of St Senan’s Church with a golf classic on May 4.

It 1s hoped that the tournament, which will be held at Kilrush Golf Club, will raise £10,000 towards the massive €5.2 million renovation of the church.

Pat Shannon, chairman of the fi- nance committee, listed out the extensive work that must be done before the church is finished in late Summer.

“A new roof is needed, the stained glass windows have been removed for repair and storm glazing and

the stone around the Rose Window has been re-cut. New central heat- ing is needed, the altar has been re- positioned and there is a new front entrance, boiler house and toilet fa- cilities. It is a complete upgrade,” he Sr AKOe

Mr Shannon added that the project has been several years in the making with a two year planning delay and appeals to An Bord Pleanala slowing down the building but not the fund- enh b Ores

He said that the continuing local contribution to the project has been excellent.

“We have raised nearly €2 million in the last few years. The house to house collections and general appeal raised €200,000 alone. We have a

parish draw and lotto as well. Dif- ferent organisations in the parish have also had their own money-rais- ing activities. We got some private donations and bequests in wills too. There has been a big drive in the lo- cal community.”

The committee has borrowed the remaining €3 million and has ap- pealed to the Government for fund- ing to make up the shortfall.

“We applied to the Department of the Environment for grants. We met with the Taoiseach and Ministers Cowen and O Cuiv. We already re- ceived verbal support from them but as yet there has been no financial as- sistance,’ he added.

Parish services have been held in the community hall since Septem-

ber, but Mr Shannon said that the church’s structure already shows an rboah ey en{er0 slo 01

‘The interior has dried out tremen- dously. From what we’ve seen so far St Senan’s will be one of the finest church buildings in the diocese, if not in the country.”

It costs €500 to enter a team in the golf classic and anyone interested can contact Denis Nagle on 065 9051138. Donations can also be sent to Father Michael Sheedy, The Paro- chial House, Toler Street in Kilrush.

which has been compiled by Gerald Kennedy to mark the 40th anniver- sary of the club.

Superstars of Irish football such as Ronnie Whelan and Packie Bon- nar were in north Clare earlier this month to help mark the historic day for the club.

“We started off about five years ago with the idea of putting this book together. An awful lot of work

was done back then in gathering old match reports, photos and any kind of memorabilia together. As the 40th anniversary began to come closer, we decided that we really should get moving and put the book together,’ said Gerry Kennedy.

“We didn’t realise how much work would be involved in doing it. The collection is fairly comprehensive, but there were one or two things that were difficult to find. I remember taking some photographs myself in the early days but the quality was so poor in those days that not a lot of them survived. Older photographs were one of the hardest things to

track down.

“We were getting lots of bits and pieces all the time and while there was some few things that we weren’t able to include, I’m not sure we could have made it any bigger or more comprehensive. We were lucky in the early days that soccer was treated as a bit of a novelty sport and, because of that, it got a lot of coverage in the media at that time.”

The books track the evolution of the club since its foundation at New- town United in 1967 up until its latest incarnation as Corofin Harps.

“We have got great feedback from old members of the club. It brings

back great memories for them. But equally for the young people, they get to look back and see where the club has come from and how it has developed into what it is today,” con- tinued Gerry.

“In fact, there is really something in the book for anyone who has an interest in sport in Clare. The club has had a lot of ups and downs over the years and it has not always been smooth sailing.”

The book is available at a cost of €15 from O’Callaghan’s Newsa- gents in Corofin. Alternatively, you can contact Gerry Kennedy at 086 3478050 for more details.

LAHINCH’S reputation as Clare’s Mecca for new and original music continues to grow with the news of a band who are taking an original slant at performing and making music.

The Navigators are a local four- piece who have taken up residence in Flanaghan’s Bar in Lahinch on Wednesday evenings. The band fea- tures a mountain of musical talent in- cluding famed uilleann piper, Davy Spillane, who plays electric guitar, Ogi Doyle on drums, Mark Farrelly on keys and synth and Blendi Kras- niqi on precession.

They play a mixture of jazz, blues and funk with the inclusion of a few contemporary electronic sounds.

The original thing about them, how- ever, 1s that they do not write songs; instead, they improvise their music each night.

“We are friends and neighbours who live here. We’re not here just for the summer, we are here for a long time. We’re almost like a social club. We love playing the kind of music that we play. We’re not doing it to impress people, we are doing it to impress ourselves. It’s unrehearsed but it’s deliberately unrehearsed,” said Davy Spillane.

“There is a real thrill 1n it. There 1s a great journey to go into a night of three hours of music when you don’t know what you are going to do. There is a real fear, it’s fantastic. Really challenging. The crowd are looking

at us and we are looking back, not re- ally knowing what to do.”

While the music is unscripted, a great deal of work goes into mak- ing the three-hour gigs happen each week. Every performance is record- ed, listened to and discussed by the band who strive to make each night better than the previous one.

This process of making music al- lows the audience the chance to wit- ness, and even effect, original music as it is being made.

“We try to avoid learning music but instead navigate ourselves through the music. That’s why we are the navigators,” said Mark Farrelly.

“We have a theme as a band. We have bits and pieces of music that we like and they develop naturally, but

we don’t rehearse. We are trying to get away from the structured, framed music.

“We respond to the crowd. When the crowd start cheering and are into it, we do tend to push it farther. As the people start getting into it and the energy rises, the music starts to get aul elome

The Navigators play in Flanaghan’s Bar in Lahinch each Wednesday aneeaal

STUDENTS at Ennis Community College have been doing their bit to raise money for some of the world’s poorest people.

The school recently handed over a cheque worth almost €3,500 to Tro- caire after taking part in the organi- Zation’s annual 24-hour fast.

The students join the 15,000 other students nationwide that take part in Trocaire’s RTE 2fm 24-Hour Fast every year. This year’s fast helped raise essential funds for Trocaire’s long-term development projects in the world’s poorest countries.

The fast focused on India this year, where millions of people live in pov- erty, with little or no access to educa- tion or healthcare.

Despite the economic expansions of India in recent years, an estimated

27 million people still live in poverty in the two regions where Trocaire works. Many of the communities Troécaire supports are living without a clean water supply, without access to education and without the chance tO go.

Last year about 20,000 people over- all, raised over €lmillion through the fast for Trocaire’s long-term de- velopment programmes worldwide.

Teacher Catriona McNicholas said the students were eager to take part in the fast.

“We had around 61 students from Ennis Community College and the Gaelcholaiste taking part. They came from first year to sixth year, basically anyone who wanted to take part.”

She explained the school had been involved in a number of other fund- raising projects.

“They raised €550 for Daffodil

Day. One of the students went to Chernobyl! with St Joseph’s and some of the students raised €1000 for that nana

Meanwhile, a former student of Ennis Community College has won one of the most prestigious awards in Irish science.

In April, Iris Choi was the winner of the inaugural Rosse medal for graduate research in physics.

Iris won for presentation of her work in Quantum Cryptography. She is a member of the Tyndall Institute and University College Cork.

Ms Choi, originally from Hong Kong, gave details of her work, which seeks to securely encode and transmit information at the quantum arial

The medal commemorates the third Earl of Rosse (Sir William Par- sons KP, PRS) and his contributions

to science. The presentation of the medal was made by the seventh Earl of Rosse, Sir Brendan Parsons.

During the 1840s and starting from virtually first principles, the third Earl of Rosse, Sir William Parsons, designed and implemented the build- ing of the mirrors, tube and mount- ings for a 72 inch reflecting telescope which was the largest in the world at that time and remained so for three quarters of a century.

THE HUGE cost of gas bills to peo- ple living in local authority homes has to be tackled, Shannon council- lors have warned.

Councillor Tony Mulcachy called for alternative heating systems to be used in council homes in the future after hearing from Shannon residents who are “being savaged” by bills of €200 a month and up- wards.

Speaking at a meeting of Shannon town councillors, that by virtue of qualifying for local authority hous- ing “many of these people are on low incomes. They are being cru- cified, seriously struggling to pay these bills. As the local authority which built these houses, we have to come up with ways to ease this”.

He called for the council to con- sider using alternative heating sys- tems such as wood-chip boilers or solar energy in homes which are

built in the future.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy said that in older estates, heating systems were of the dual variety, where a fire could be lit and backboilers used to heat the home.

“When natural gas came along, people were told it was a cheap al- ternative to oil and they assumed that was the case. People assumed that the price of oil was going up, but they didn’t necessarily realise that so was the price of gas. People

need to be educated in the most eco- nomic and efficient use of the gas systems,’ she said.

Town manager Ger Dollard said that with the publication last week of the national energy strategy, lo- cal authorities will be funded to provide energy efficient homes.

He added that the current thinking in designing local authority homes is towards making use of energy sources such as solar power to bring down the cost of energy bills.

ELECTION candidates who park vans festooned with their faces and publicity on double-yellow lines and no parking areas around the county have come in for a hammering from a Shannon town councillor.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy told a recent meeting of the town council that the vans are a menace, the way some of the election workers park Weloeee

“When they are carelessly parked, they are a hazard and there’s no mis- taking that,’ she told the meeting.

“T want to know is the council em- powered to tow them away or do we

contact the gardai or what? There can’t be one rule for parking for some people and another rule for others.”

Cllr McCarthy said that in Shan- non, she is also concerned about the way trucks and cars advertised for sale are parked.

‘“There’s one car for sale parked in a yellow box. I had to go to the petrol station recently in Shannon and there was a big articulated truck parked in the feeder lane. The time before that there were three trucks there – I couldn’t see a thing,” she told the meeting.

Cllr McCarthy said that to the best of her knowledge “these are offenc-

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Cllr Gerry Flynn said that the road to the front of the Oakwood Arms “is a very busy road. We need a filter lane on Bothar Mor. There’s the fill- ing station, the Oakwood and now the recycling centre will be coming on line. I think this is something the roads department can do”, he said.

Shannon’s mayor, Tony McMa- hon, said that he 1s concerned about small, broken areas left on the mar- gins when roads are done.

The areas are uneven and unsight- ly, he said, asking whether finishing these areas could be included in road works. During the roads discussion, members were shown a letter from a resident in Shannon, complaining

that the council had put double-yel- low lines to the rear of his house without consulting him.

Roads engineers told the meeting that no parking spaces were sacri- ficed to the double yellow lines.

Cllr Tony Mulcachy asked wheth- er it be possible to have some form of consultation when these type of changes are being made, possibly by having a leaflet drop.

But Cllr Gerry Flynn said that it would not be practical to do leaflet drops for every double yellow line.

“Where we do address problems by widening roads, then we see people parking in the area, it just makes it ridiculous,” he told the meeting.