The Clare People Archive

THE PRESIDENT of the IFA John Dillon has this week urged farm- ers to continue to hold out for bet- ter prices from factories. Mr Dillon congratulated farmers for their recent ‘strength’ in resisting the lower prices being quoted by some factories. ‘Farmers are getting much stronger and tougher at resisting lower quoted prices from the meat factories,” said Mr Dillon. “Farmers are holding out, and factories are finding themselves

having to pay up to €2.52/kg (90p/Ib) to get cattle

this week.”

As farmers resist lower prices, cheaper cattle be-

come more difficult for factories to come by. This forces factories to raise their prices.

According to Mr Dillon, “the cattle supplies are much tighter this week and factory agents are chas- ing cattle at farm level. There is very strong resistance to the lower factory quotes of €2.46/kg (88p/ lb) and agents are being forced to pay prices to €2.52/kg (90p/Ib).”

He went on to say that prices of as high as €2.63/kg (94p/Ib) has been paid for heifers in Ireland this

week. He also said that cow prices have also risen with €2.13/kg (76p/lb) available and top prices of €2.24/kg (80p/Ib) being paid.

TWO budding Ennis mountain- eers scaled the heights of suc- cess recently when they trekked to the top of Croagh Patrick.

Darragh Ryan (8) and brother Ben (4) completed the climb while on a family holiday to Mayo in July.

Along with their mother Cath- erine, the two brothers braved the elements and the slippy rocky road to make it up the Pb ae

The family made the ascent on Wednesday July 27, just before the annual ‘Reek Sunday’ pil- erimage.

Darragh and Ben confounded the expectations of other walk- ers by completing the climb.

‘People were saying that we wouldn’t complete it because it was too slippy and the fact that I was on my own, it would be too much for the little lad,” explains Gr Ti etormneter

Such comments only spurred on the lads who reached the summit in two hours and fifty minutes.

Walking with the aid of their sturdy reek sticks, the boys were delighted with their achieve- ment. They made light work of

the arduous trek, with Ben even singing all the way up.

“It was great, there was no stopping them and Ben was

singing ‘Skip to my Lou my dar- ling,” said Catherine on Friday.

Catherine, who works with the Clare Sports Partnership, is a keen walker and has competed in two marathons.

A few weeks before Croagh Patrick, she had climbed Mul- laghmore.

Darragh is in 3rd class while Ben is preparing for his first year in school. Both attend Knocka- neen primary school.

This year over 20,000 people gathered in Mayo for the annual ‘Reek Sunday’ pilgrimage.

As 1s traditional, many of the pilgrims made the climb bare- foot.

This year marked the cente- nary of the church built at the top of the mountain.

Naturally Catherine is very proud of the boys, who now have their sights set on the ultimate climb.

“I thought for the two of them it was a great achievement to successfully climb the mountain so they are saying Mt Everest is next!” said Catherine.

MEMBERS of the Ennis based Centre for Inde- pendent Living (CIL) have echoed a statement made this week by the People With Disability’s in Ireland (PWDI), that greater efforts should be made to make public transport more accessible.

The call comes as members of the CIL prepare to travel to Strasbourg in September as part of European-wide initiative to raise the issue of dis- ability with the EU.

The ‘Strasbourg Freedom Drive 2005’ will bring together 600 people from around Europe who will stage a major disability rights rally at the European Parliament in Strasbourg from September 5-8. 58 people will travel from Ire- land, with six people representing Clare.

According to Thomas Connole, who will lead the Clare delegation in Strasbourg, more needs to be done to make the transport service more accessible for people with disabilities.

“We were trying to lobby for a low floor bus for the use of people with disabilities between Ennis and Limerick but Bus Eireann kept saying there was engineering difficulties with the road. The trains are also very inaccessible to people with disabilities especially if you are in a wheelchair,” said Thomas on Friday.

Reports carried out by the National Disability Authority (NDA) showed that there is an extra

burden placed on a person living with disability, because of the extra costs associated with dis- ability.

This week the PW DI recommended that a pay- ment be made to disabled people to cover rising AUS COIS

“There is also talk now that taxi drivers are go- ing to introduce a fuel surcharge and the mobil- ity allowance I get at the moment won’t cover that,” explains Thomas.

Accessible transport is just one issue that the group hopes to highlight in Strasbourg.

The CIL are part of a larger European-wide movement known as the European Network of Independent Living (ENIL), who have three key demands that they would like to see met at Stras- bourg.

These include; stopping the drift towards insti- tutionalisation, the provision of a European-wide funding for personal assistance and to pass a res- olution stating that 5% of Overseas Development Aid be given to community development projects for disabled people in developing countries.

According to Dermot Hayes of the CIL, the issue of personal assistance remains hugely im- portant in Clare.

“At the moment there are approximately 72 people waiting for personal assistance that we know of, and we view this as a human rights is-

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LOCAL cyclists will set off from Ennis next week will as part of a charity cycle to raise money for work that has been undertaken on the spire of the Cathedral in Ennis. Thirteen volunteers will travel 80 miles from Ennis to Birr on Saturday August 27 as part of a fund-raising drive to pay for the cost of restoration work on the spire.

All donations are gratefully accepted. Work on the restoration of the spire has been completed at a cost of €1.75m. Last year’s cycle to Cork raised €26000 for the project.

This 1s the second year of the event.

The church has also planned a series of other fundraising initiatives.

An art exhibition 1s planned for Christ- mas while there are also plans for a con- cert in the cathedral.

THE way is now clear for the provision of a privately run three- storey medical centre, which will form part of a new commercial development on the outskirts of Ennis town centre.

The masterplan being driven by T Sheils & Co for the company’s flagship site on the Ennis-Galway Rd also includes the proposed new McDonalds for Ennis, along with a new supermarket and six two-storey retail units.

The ambitious plan will also see the development of underground and overground car-parking fa- cilities, along with a stand-alone petrol station.

The existing showrooms and shop will be demolished.

With an Bord Pleanala giving the medical centre component the go-ahead, the only remaining aspect of the masterplan yet to get the green-light is the McDonalds drive-thru restaurant, where a de- cision 1s expected in October.

However, as part of the condi- tions attached to the permission, the appeals board has ruled that

the medical centre shall not be occupied until the Ennis by-pass is complete in the interests of traffic safety with the by-pass project not expected to be com- plete by April 2007.

The development – when com- plete – 1s expected to further in- crease the value and profits of the Sheils Company.

The Ford dealer, which has out- lets in Ennis, Limerick and Gal- way, recorded a turnover of €32.5 million to the end of October last year employing 60 people.

Ennis Town Council granted planning permission for the med- ical centre earlier this year, how- ever it was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by local resident, Brian Crowe of 79 Elm Park, Gort Rd, Syabavhy

Mr. Crowe claimed that the de- velopment of the medical centre 22 metres from his home is unac- ceptable.

However, T Sheils & Co point- ed out to the appeals board that the development is in close prox- imity to St Joseph’s Hospital and will provide primary care and personal social services.

The company stated: “This is in keeping with the 2001 Health Strategy issued by the Depart- ment of Health and Children.”

They also argued that the pro- posal is not significantly higher than the existing dwellings, nor in close proximity, therefore over- shadowing will not be significant and therefore the proposed devel- opment will not seriously injure residential amenity.

As aresult of the inspector’s de- cision to grant planning permis- sion, the Board ruled that “having regard to the zoning of the site of the proposed development in the current Development Plan for the area and the pattern of develop- ment in the area.

“It 1s considered that the pro- posal would be compatible with other permitted uses, would not seriously injure residential amen- ity and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and con- venience.

“The proposed development would, therefore, be in accord- ance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

YOUNGSTERS in Shannon with a love for music are set to take the stage on Friday evening.

Five bands — Babylon Gigolos, Nix- on’s Mother, The Xenos, Glitterbill and the Starfish & Profound — will perform at the Respond Community Building, Rineanna View, in Shannon between 7

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The event is organised by the Clare Youth Service Shannon Bands Project Committee which aims to provide op- portunities for young people in Shan- non interested in performance.

Two of the bands have been invited from the Ennis Bands Project and the other three are local Shannon bands.

The gig is strictly alcohol and drug Gules

THE TIDY Towns committee in Shannon has hit out at thoughtless individuals who stole plants from pots in two parts of the town.

A huge effort has taken place around the town for the tidy towns competition, adjudication for which has been taking place in re- cent weeks.

The progress has been hindered by the work of people who took the plants. Gold and yellow marigolds were stolen from Rossbracken and red begonias were taken from out- side the Town Hall.

“We were livid. We had to re- place them. A couple of dozen of plants were taken. I just cannot understand how someone could come along and lift them out of their pots. We had to replace them but hopefully the judges weren’t around when the plants were gone,” said acting chairperson of the Tidy

Towns committee Tess Barry.

“We were very disappointed as we wanted them to look good. It isn’t young people who are doing NOD ISMAMECD OL oMAV6 (6 (0x0 B

The act was particularly annoy- ing for the Tidy Towns committee, as effors were being made to im- prove on last year’s performance. Then, while an improvement of six points was scored, the litter section showed a poor performance.

“We did well last year and hope- fully the litter is better this year than last year as a big effort has been made by all of the residents associations, particularly those in Corrib Drive and Fergus,’ added SRSB or huas

SY NToML NOUR Ole) B eae MBDLAKO Mme DKOCOE should be appointed in Shannon, to deal with the general litter problem throughout the town.

The adjudication for the Tidy Towns competition has been com- pleted and the results are due to be

announced in Dublin on Septem- ber 12.

Factors such as overall develop- ment approach, landscaping, wild- life and natural amenities, litter control, tidiness and the condition of residential areas, roads, streets and back areas will all be taken into account.

Shannon scored 233 points last year. Quin scored 234, Sixmileb- ridge scored 223 and Newmarket- on-Fergus won 212 points. Efforts have been made in each of these ar- eas and all will be hoping for good results this year.

Meanwhile, judging for the best- kept estates will take place in Shan- non this weekend. The Inis Ealga and Ballycaseymore Residents Associations are both entered. The newly-formed Rossbracken Residents Association is expected to enter the competition next year, having missed out on this year’s deadline.

THE second annual Seisiun na hHireann, a festival of traditional Irish music, will take place in Quin at the end of September. Tra- ditional music events will take place in four pubs in the village over the week- end — Malachy’s, The Abbey Tavern, The Vil- lage Inn and The Monks Well Inn.

The event follows on from a hugely successful inaugural festival last year. This year’s prize fund has

increased to €8,000, while pubs taking part will also be presented with plaques.

In total, 18 groups of renowned and upcoming musicians took part last year, with O’Connor’s pub in Doolin emerging as the overall winners. Enquiries have been flowing in for this year’s festival, with entries from all over the world.

In addition to the com- petitions, there will also be open sessions in the pubs over the weekend and a ceili in the local com-

munity hall on Saturday night.

‘The festival is open to people of all ages. We have had enquiries from people as far away as New York. There will be good vari- ety, with song and dance, along with an element of humour. There will be something for everyone,’ said organiser Eileen Has- sett.

The event will be offi- cially launched on Satur- day, September 3, with an open air event at Malachy’s bar.

IN RESPONSE to concerns expressed by local _ resi- dents, An Bord Pleanala this week turned down planning permission for contentious plans to provide accommo- dation for students at Drum- geely, Shannon.

Earlier this year, Anthony Fitzpatrick was refused plan- ning permission by Clare County Council for 32 accom- modation units at Drumgeely after strong opposition by lo- cal residents.

Along with the 32 units, Mr Fitzpatrick also lodged plans for a basement car parking area for 54 spaces and two tennis courts which are to be constructed over the car park area.

In response to the Coun- cil decision, Mr Fitzpatrick lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala, claiming that he is providing substantial com- munity facilities within the area in line with Ministerial Directives and National Strat- egy and that the scheme will serve to facilitate the College of Hotel and Catering Man- agement.

Mr Fitzpatrick also claimed

that the design of the develop- ment is respectful of the sur- rounding built form and fur- ther claimed that the Council has not given fair considera- tion of the application, nor the planned strategic development of residential and community uses in this area.

However, in submissions made to An Bord Pleanala by Drumgeely Residents Asso- ciation and Derek Barrett, it is claimed there is no comfort that the units will not be sold as private apartments. They also express concern over the disruption caused by construc- tion of the apartments.

However, in his assessment, the Board Inspector concluded that the proposal would be a material contravention of the Development Plan.

The Inspector also stated that he was “extremely con- cerned” with the proposal for access into the proposed de- velopment, and the proposal for car parking within the scheme.

In refusing planning per- mission, the appeals board ruled that proposed develop- ment constitutes overdevelop- ment of this central area of Open space within an estab-

lished residential scheme. The proposed development would result in a significant and un- acceptable loss of amenity within this residential area, and would have a significant and adverse impact on the res- idential amenity of the area. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of detour acre

It also ruled that the pro- posed development is located on lands zoned primarily to conserve and enhance land for Open space and amenity pur- poses in the South Clare Eco- nomic Corridor Local Area Plan. The proposed develop- ment would materially contra- vene this zoning objective.

The Board also found that the proposed tennis courts, having regard to their prox- imity to a number of the apartments, would seriously injure the amenities of future residents by reason of noise and general disturbance. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and_= sus- tainable development of the

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A CLARE village which has undergone a population explosion has three fewer gardai than it had when just 150 people Tere dats) Ken

There is now just one garda on duty in Quin and he can be called to Shannon to assist there if the need arises.

A car burned out in the middle of the village on Sunday night is just one ex- ample of why more gardai are needed to protect and patrol the village, which has grown from 150 inhabitants to more than 1,000, locals say.

“When I was young, this village had four gardai. Now we have just one and he is regularly called away to duties elsewhere.

“The garda we have does a very good job, but he can’t be two places at once,” said Sonny Scanlan, Fine Gael Council- lor for Quin and Deputy Mayor.

‘This is one of the fastest growing ar- eas in Clare and we need more gardai.

“We would also like to see any extra garda brought-in, living in the area,” said the councillor.

Cllr Scanlan said that locals and their representatives have waged a long cam- paign for more policing in the town.

“The Government promised to pro- vide 2,000 extra gardai but there has been no sign of any coming here.

“I have spoken to senior officers and they tell me they believe we will not have another member sanctioned for Quin,” said Cllr Scanlan.

The councillor added that it was someone from outside the Quin area who was responsible for the arson at- tack on the car.

“But you do not know what will hap- pen from day to day and we need more gardai,” Cllr Scanlan said.