The Clare People Archive

FAILTE Ireland has pledged to spend €9 million this year to try to get more tourists to come to the Midwest region and to spend longer here once they arrive.

The cash injection comes as figures were released which show that overseas visitors spend less and stay for shorter times than visitors to any of the country’s other six tourism regions.

Failte Ireland research shows that overseas visitors spend €261 on average.

This is in comparison to the south-west, where the average visitor spends €413 and the west where the spend is €368.

And while visitors to the Midwest stay an average 3.7 nights, visitors to the west stick around for 5.3 nights and spend an average of six nights when they visit the south-west.

The money will be used for marketing, business supports, training and backing Shannon Development. Now management consultants,Mayday have been engaged by Failte Ireland to set up a network of workshops for people in the tourism industry.

The workshops are to start straight away and participants in the courses are promised they will improve their business performance, get greater visibility in the marketplace, increase their productivity, achieve higher standards and better customer value and greatly increase confidence in their management skills.

THE number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made to Clare County Council dropped by 18 per cent last year, while the council’s refusal rate increased by 19 per cent in the same period.

Comprehensive statistics provided by the council’s Freedom of Information Unit reveal that since its inception, the council has received 522 requests during the eight-year operation of the legislation. However, over the past five years, the number of requests has almost halved, from the high of 97 in 2001 to 55 last year – a drop of 43 per cent. The council’s refusal rate has fluctuated over the past five years with the average, over the eight-year operation of the scheme, at 32 per cent.

The figures show that of the 38 decisions made, grants were made in 12 decisions, nine were part-granted, while 17 were refused. Over the eight years, the council department which has been the subject of most FOI requests has been Planning, receiving 23 per cent.

Environment received 19.5 per cent, and Housing 15 per cent. Forty-five appeals were made internally against decisions to refuse or part-refuse.

At this month’s adjourned council meeting, the decision to refuse details of bonus payments to the County Manager and Directors of Service prompted Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) to claim that there was a creeping culture of secrecy in the public sector.

A NORTH Clare-based legal firm faces the prospect of having to demolish an extension to offices it built without planning permission.

Clare County Council has refused planning permission to Chambers & Co to retain an extension to its offices on Parliament Street, Ennistymon.

Already, the council has served a Warning Letter on the firm after finding that the extension was built without planning in Ennistymon’s Architectural Conservation Area (ACA).

In response, the company lodged plans to retain the development. However, the plan provoked opposition from the company’s neighbours on Parliament Street, Sean and Carmel Conway.

In their objection, the Conways told the council, “This extension has had a very serious and detrimental effect on our home, our privacy and our natural light.

“This illegal development by Chambers & Co solicitors has resulted in the virtual loss of light to a substantial part of the upstairs of our house.

“Prior, we benefited from sunlight for much of the morning and early afternoon. Now, we have virtually no daylight and do not benefit from sunlight. The structure built is not appropriate or suitable for Ennistymon, a town that has a wealth of history and tradition.

“This development is built with no consideration whatsoever to the obvious effect it was going to have on our home.”

The council opted to refuse planning permission following a recommendation by the council’s conservation officer, Risteard Ua Cronin, who stated that the development will set an unwelcome precedent in the town.

Mr Ua Cronin was also critical of the visual design and materials of the structure.

In its decision, the council ruled that the proposed development, by reason of scale and location in close proximity to the side boundaries of the site and to private gardens and windows of neighbours, would lead to overshadowing of these properties and loss of light.

The council ruled that the proposal would therefore seriously ignore the residential amenities of adjacent properties and be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.

The council also pointed out that the proposed development was located within an ACA, where it was council policy to conserve the character and appearance of the area.

The council stated that the proposal would seriously injure the visual amenities of the area.

It is now open to Chambers & Co to appeal the council’s decision to An Bord Pleanála.

A 20-YEAR-OLD man who heard allegations that his sister had been subjected to lurid comments, carried out a “frenzied attack” on a jeep outside the home of the alleged aggressor.

Michael Vaughan, of Toormore, Ruan, was accused of causing more than €1,500 criminal damage to a jeep in Newmarket-on-Fergus, on May 1, 2005.

In a related incident, his sister Geraldine Sherlock (30) and another woman, Olivia Cullinan (24), both with addresses at Kilnasoolagh Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus, pleaded guilty to assault, at Ennis Road, Newmarket, on the same date.

Garda Des McAuley told Ennis District Court that a man in his 30s made lurid remarks to the two women in a bar, to which they took offence.

Some time later, as he was walking home, the two women assaulted this man, with “a combination of kicks and fists.” Ms Sherlock took off her shoe and hit him in the face, after he called her a name. The man’s cousin then came along and he, too, was assaulted by the women.

The two women then went to Ms Sherlock’s home, where they met her brother Michael Vaughan. After he was told about the earlier incident, he went to the home of the man who allegedly made the comment, and damaged a jeep, which was parked in the driveway.

According to the garda, the owner of the jeep – the father of the man who allegedly made the comment – had nothing to do with the earlier incident. The total damage caused was €1,625. Gda McAuley said Mr Vaughan’s involvement was “premeditated”.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said Ms Sherlock, a separated mother-of-two, accepted she should never have acted the way she did, and said Ms Cullinan, a single mother, was trying to protect Ms Sherlock. She said Mr Vaughan was extremely upset about what he heard from his sister and her friend. The solicitor said Mr Vaughan had €600 in court, which was paid over, as part of the compensation.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said, “Clearly they (the women) were subjected to some form of provocation.” He dismissed the charges against both, under the Probation of Offenders Act.

He said Mr Vaughan got involved in something that “was effectively none of his business.” He adjourned his case for a month, to allow him to pay the remaining compensation.

IN THE early part of the 20th century a book entitled An Angler’s Paradise was published that charted the immense quality of fishing and scenic beauty that was to be found on the River Fergus system in Clare.

So taken was the writer with the Fergus that he wrote the book in code and disguised any actual locations in order to keep the area secret from fellow fishing enthusiasts.

The book was reissued last year and it coincided with a new initiative aimed at restoring the River Fergus System to its former glory and developing it as a major tourism resource for the county.

At the heart of this planned renewal of the river is the work of the Ennis and District Anglers Association who for the past four years have undertaken the massive project of rehabilitating the fishery, improving access to the waterways and working with local landowners.

According to a study carried out by the Fishery Board in the 1970s Inchiquin Lake was the most densely stocked in Ireland, but fishing returns in the lakes and rivers of the Fergus system have steadily declined.

John Weir, Chairman of the EDAA, said that five years ago the group decided to take action to ensure the river didn’t fall into permanent disrepair.

“The club got together five or six years ago and we said, ‘right, it’s time we do something about this’,” he says.

“And ever since then we have been working away at trying to get it back to its former glory.

“Not only just for fishing but for the town, the local ecology and the tourism potential, the whole lot really.

“It is funny that the book comes out now – it sort of coincides with the rebirth of the EDAA.”

Over the past four years the EDAA have examined the reasons behind the decline in fish stocks and water quality and received a grant from the Heritage Council to hire two fishery scientists to undertake a comprehensive survey of the system.

The scientists found evidence of serious habitat degradation, nitrate and phosphate levels had dramatically increased while spawning grounds had become choked by weeds.

The findings formed the basis of the EDAA’s ten year development to restore the Fergus plan and allowed the club to successfully pursue additional funding from the Heritage Council.

Some of the measures that have been implemented so far included the erection of vortex weirs, bankside pruning and the placement of random boulders.

As a result fish stocks in the Fergus have returned to their highest levels since the seventies and Mr Weir believes that further development of the Fergus will see it become a vital part of Clare’s tourism industry.

“We formulated a five year development plan that involved applying for Leader funding. That funding was more based towards attracting tourism by building more riverwalks.

“It is very much orientated towards tourism. The plan has been done under the advice of the Shannon Regional Fishery Board and Lower Shannon Trout and Coarse Fisheries Development Societies who are coming on board and advising us,” he adds.

At local level the EDAA have produced a workbook based on the Fergus that has been distributed to schools in the Ennis area in order to educate children about the importance of the river.

It is now hoped that the scheme will be rolled out in a more general format to schools throughout the county.

Funding as always is a major issue and having received Leader funding from the Heritage Council the club must now raise matching funds of €25,000.

As part of the fundraising drive the club are organising a flytying night on January 26 in the One Mile Inn where there will be a cover charge of €10. All are welcome.

There are also plans to organise a boat raffle while new and existing members are invited to attend the EDAA AGM which takes place on January 31.

Mr Weir is hoping that the EDAA campaign will continue to be a success and that greater public awareness will lead to the continued revival of an “angler’s paradise.”

“On of the main aims of the club is to promote the environment and to educate people about the potential of the river and what it does for County Clare and for people not to abuse it or to use it as a dumping ground.”

TWO young motorists who raced each other on the dual carriageway between Clare and Limerick, at up to 110 miles per hour, did not realise they had passed out an unmarked garda car.

Before Shannon District Court were Tony Guerin (23), of Ballahadigue, Listowel, and Thomas Dillane (22), of Kilconlea, Abbeyfeale, who were both convicted of dangerous driving, at Moyhill, Cratloe, on November 16, 2005.

Sergeant Dermot O’Connor told the court he was travelling in an unmarked patrol car when he saw two cars travelling in excess of the speed limit, on the Limerick-bound lane.

Both cars completed an overtake on the inside lane, before being stopped by gardaí at Moyhill, Cratloe.

“It was obvious when they overtook the unmarked garda car, they didn’t twig it was an unmarked garda car. There was a bit of a race going on,” said Sgt O’Connor.

Defending solicitor Rachel Dobson said that what happened was “of the utmost stupidity and could have had much more dire consequences” not only for the accused men, but also for other road users.

Guerin, she said, was a butcher in Listowel and as part of his work, travelled throughout parts of Limerick and Kerry. Dillane was an assistant manager in a supermarket in Newcastle and helped to care for a member of his family.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy fined each €1,250, but said that given that there were special reasons, he would not impose a disqualification.

A MAN who threw a bar stool at a publican in a Clarecastle bar has been handed a suspended six month jail sentence.

Jude Bedford (33), of Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, Limerick, threw the stool at Power’s public house, on November 13.

Ennis district court heard the stool missed the publican, but smashed a glass light shade and a number of glasses.

He then threw a glass at the proprietor, but this hit other glasses.

He has since paid compensation for the damage caused and no-one sustained any injuries.

His solicitor said his client had been in that public house earlier that night and some words were exchanged between himself and the bar owner, who are well known to each other.

“Mr Bedford has indicated to me he will undertake not to go near the bar. In fact, Mr Bedford accepts he should not go near any bar,” said the solicitor, who added that his client “broke out” that night, after attending to a dying relative for the three previous nights.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy imposed a six month jail sentence, and suspended it on condition that the accused be of good behaviour for 12 months.

TWO Ennistymon schools have warned Clare County Council that schoolchildrens’ health will be put at risk if a plan to convert the local Convent of Mercy building into an apartment complex proceeds.

The boards of management of both Scoil Mhuire, Convent of Mercy and the Ennistymon Convent Primary School have told the council if the plan proceeds, it will pose a safety threat to the children attending the schools.

In their objection, Scoil Mhuire’s board members state, “the heavy traffic involved at the construction stage of development and the volume of cars that will service the apartments, when occupied, could pose a serious threat to the safety of our students.”

The objection by Scoil Mhuire is supported by opposition from the school’s parent’s association.

“It is with extreme concern that we have learned of the application,” they state.

The parents point out that the school has a policy that children must walk and not be driven the narrow road to the school.

“The reason is safety. It is therefore inconceivable that this proposed development could be favourably considered, particularly with its inclusion of 30 car-park spaces and the inevitable traffic up and down this totally unsuitable access road that this development will generate…it will have extremely serious implications for the safety of all children attending the school.”

In their objection, the Board of Management of the Convent Primary School stress that “it is wonderful news that the Convent of Mercy – closed for eight years – is to be developed.

“However, we are very concerned about access to the building as it also the entrance to the primary school and this may create health and safety issues.

The application by Tomas Fitzgerald of Banna Developments was made in 2004. Last year the council stated that it had serious concerns that the proposal would exacerbate the traffic problems.

The council told the applicant: “You are strongly advised to investigate the possibility of providing an alternative access where conflict between cars and pedestrians is significantly reduced.”

The developers suggested an alternative access, however at a meeting towards the end of last year, the council’s road engineering staff stated that they would prefer the original access road.

The consultant has since asked for a meeting between the planner, engineer and the applicant to resolve the issue. A decision on the application is expected at the end of the month.

ONE of the busiest coastal rescue units in the country is set to become a family affair with the wives of two existing volunteers set to join in the coming days.

Confirming the move, Doolin Area Officer with the Irish Coastguard, Mattie Shannon said that the two new members would bring the number in the unit to 22.

Reviewing last year’s activities, Mr Shannon said that the Doolin unit was involved in the recovery of three bodies off the Clare coast last year and 24 call outs. This represented a decrease on the eight bodies recovered and 31 call outs in 2004.

The three bodies recovered were those of the three men, Joe O’Callaghan (34) Michael Doran (31) and Martin Griffin (24), who died after their jeep fell into the sea near Doolin on the October bank holiday weekend.

Last year was the first year in a number of years where no bodies were recovered as a result of people falling off the Cliffs of Moher.

Mr Shannon said that the lower number of call outs last year allowed the unit to carry out more training.

Mr Shannon said that the backbone of the unit were now over 40s: “There is always a need of bringing in new people. The backbone of the unit are 47-48 years old.”

Mr Shannon said that it would take two to three years to train volunteers into their job. The ideal candidate would be someone in their late 20s who was settled in the Doolin area, as the response time to call-outs was vital.

Mr Shannon also stated that he hoped to see progress in the Office of Public Works (OPW) providing a new station for the unit this year.

The existing building used by the unit has no toilet facilities.

A WORKER who was made redundant, only to see his job advertised two weeks later, brought his former employers, Schwarz Pharma before the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

But the company is claiming that former operative, Johnny Purtill, should hand back the €16,800, which he was paid in redundancy money, before his case can be heard.

The Tribunal heard that Mr Purtill was one of 120 people made redundant from the Shannon plant between 2004 and 2005 as part of a rationalisation plan. The company offered a voluntary redundancy package but when they could not achieve enough cuts, a number of employees, including Mr Purtill, suffered compulsory redundancy.

He was paid a total of €16,800 in redundancy payments and signed a waiver, the solicitor for Schwarz Pharma told the Tribunal.

She told the members of the Tribunal that the company is contending that Mr Purtill has no claim “as he signed a waiver which specifically said that the payment was in full and final settlement, after having the benefit of the advice of his union representative.”

And should the Tribunal allow the claim to go ahead, Mr Purtill should hand back the money he was paid as redundancy, the solicitor told the hearing.

Mr Purtill’s solicitor said that his client’s job was advertised just two weeks after he was compelled to leave. “We contend that he was made redundant on the basis of a misrepresentation,” the solicitor said.

“My client’s position was advertised shortly after he was let go and the two people taken on to fill his position were congratulated in the company newsletter.”

Mr Purtill said that “no sooner was he out the door than two people were taken on shortterm contracts without benefits such as holiday or sick pay.”

Schwarz Pharma’s representative said that the two people were taken on “to fill a shortterm need. Mr Purtill himself was offered a similar short term contract later in the year, which he turned down.”

The legal representative asked the Tribunal members to hold that Mr Purtill had no case or, should they decide there was a prima facia case to adjourn the matter until he had returned the money paid to him in redundancy.

The member of the Tribunal said they would consider the matter and issue a written decision to both parties.