The Clare People Archive

PROMOTING Scattery Island as a heritage and tourist attraction, while informing people of its rich and varied history, is the main aim of the newly formed Scattery Island Tourist Group.

The dedicated group is rooted in a VEC course and grew to include local business people and the farming community, as well as receiving support from the Head of the History Department at the University of Limerick, Dr Bernadette Whelan.

Rita McCarthy of the Scattery Island Tourist Group said the organisation has four main objectives.

Firstly, the group want to make the island’s terrain more accessible. Local farmer and member of the group, Thomas Burke explained that the island has become overgrown in parts and work is especially needed around the Battery. He said the group are proposing to build a path or roadway all the way to the Battery that would pass through the vacated village, and open up these areas for tourists.

The historical and tourism group has already begun talks with the OPW, the state body responsible for the island and have outlined their hopes for the historical site.

Improving access on to the island has also become a priority for the group. Making the history and heritage of Scattery Island available to everyone is something it is also working on. The members are preparing a written history of the island going back long before St Senan and up to the present day.

The final aim for the group is to promote the island locally, nationally and internationally and to encourage people to visit this unique and unspoilt part of West Clare.

Ms McCarthy explained that the island will be of great interest to those with an interest in various histories, including early Christian history, military history and maritime history. The island will also play a central role for The Gathering, as the group believe this is an ideal opportunity to bring the eyes of the Diaspora firmly onto the historical attraction.

Group member Nicki Power has dtarted work on a database of ancestors of those who once called Scattery Island home, so they can be invited to a special Gathering weekend. From July 12 to 14, ex-pats, locals and visitors will be welcomed to the island. A reenactment and a photography exhibition are being organised to showcase memories from the past. Visitors will also be able to take part in a historical tour of the island and watch the currach races from the island to the mainland.

Dr Whelan, who is working with the group to develop the island’s history, described Scattery as “a microcosm of Irish history”.

“You have a very valuable asset that has not been desecrated or interrupted,” she said.

ENNIS Town Council says it is working on a solution to traffic problems that have arisen following the installation of new traffic lights in the town centre.

Lights were installed at Station Road and Clare Road as part of works on the € 2.5 million Ennis inner relief road.

Concerns have been raised over the impact traffic lights on the Clare Road have had on traffic flows through Ennis.

The issue was raised at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council. According to Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind), the lights lead to major traffic jams on the Mill Road and Clare Road during the Christmas period.

Traffic lights on the Clare Road were down for a number of days during December following a fault in the electrical control unit.

Cllr Neylon told the meeting that traffic flowed more freely when the lights were down.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said a filter lane is required on Station Road to allow cars to turn into Dunnes Stores.

Cllr Neylon said a similar system is also required to improve traffic flow on the Clare Road. Cllr Neylon urged the council to consider switching off the lights until new road markings are put in place.

Officials from Ennis Town Council are due to meet this week with the company that designed the traffic lights in order to discuss issues that have arisen with the system.

Town Engineer Eamon O’Dea yesterday acknowledged problems had emerged as a result of the new system.

He said difficulties have arisen at non-peak traffic periods. Mr O’Dea explained that drivers approaching traffic lights sometimes do not drive over underground sensor lines, a mechanism that sends a message to the lights to change colour.

He told the meeting that the council are addressing sequencing problems in order to improve traffic flows on the Clare Road.

IT WAS not all bad news for Shannon in the Airport Feasibility Study Commissioned by Irish Aid, however the light at the end of the tunnel was quite dim.

It outlined a potential opening for the airport in EU civil protection.

However the EU civil protection is in its infancy and most member states “are not yet fully on board” with civil protection.

According to the report, an EU civil protection role for Shannon Airport presents a more attractive risk/benefit ratio that the other three roles because the potential European disaster sites are closer the reports author maintains.

It also ascertained that Shannon’s neutral peripheral site could be useful in certain circumstances, and it could fit into the ongoing trends at EU level to strengthen civil protection co-ordination and response capabilities.

Setting up an EC civil protection base in Shannon would also be more cost effective than any of the other roles. The study argues that civil protection also shows as higher variable than other roles because European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has not yet defined its civil protection policy direction and is exploring various options.

This statement however also argues against such a role for Shannon Airport any time soon, as there is disagreement between different Eu- ropean bodies on the precise role of civil protection and any resolution will take time.

Ireland has provided some resources such as flood management experts in response to requests from other European states which strengthens the Shannon cause although dimming that light again is the National Directorate’s description of Ireland as “not a major player” relative to other states such as Germany, France and the UK.

The Shannon Feasibility Study maintains however, “While the specifics are by no means decided, an EU civil protection role for Shannon Airport may potentially represent better value for money, particularly because there are no clear service providers with whom to compete.”

THERE is no role for Shannon Airport and its facilities in the international humanitarian relief effort, according to a feasibility report carried out by Irish Aid.

Plans to use the airport as a hub for storing aid material and medicine, and as an emergency training ground were included in the Programme for Government but rejected in the report by Ireland’s official overseas development programme.

According to the report, the 42 stakeholders from 27 different organisations showed a minimal degree of interest in using the airport as either an aid hub or an emergency training centre as they considered the airport fraught with “expected high cost and uncertainty”.

The cost of running an international aid storage hub at Shannon International Airport for just one year would be the equivalent of providing humanitarian aid to more than 23,000 people.

The humanitarian aid organisations consulted also maintained there was no major gap in the existing structures.

The stakeholders consulted did not see Shannon Airport as a strong site to fill a humanitarian role nor did they believe their organisation “would use, manage or fund such a role”.

The report stated that physical locations are primarily chosen due to cost, ease of access and proximity to disaster affected areas.

The majority of humanitarian headquarters are located in or near major donor capitals or other strategic cities.

Many humanitarian actors also pre-position supplies close to commonly affected areas to enable faster response time and less expenditure on transportation costs.

The report outlined deployment costs when delivering emergency humanitarian aid from Shannon compared to other countries with hubs.

The air cost per tonne from Shannon to Cameroon for example was 337 per cent more expensive than the cheapest option available, and 389 per cent more expensive in delivering goods to Haiti.

In its overall rating of the four possible roles proposed for the airport under the humanitarian umbrella, the pre-positioning of relief items and medical items at the airport was rated at 31 per cent and 39 per cent effectively.

A training centre was given a 53 per cent rating, while an EU Civil Protection base was given a 57 per cent rating.

While it was estimated that the benefits outweighted the risks of the role of a training centre in Shannon, the difference was marginal.

According to the feasibility study, many humanitarian actors saw the airport’s distance from major commercial traffic routes as inconvenient for participant travel.

It also seemed redundant to them to develop a centre in Europe when the greater focus is on Africa and Asia.

The start up cost and the need to attract an external training provider also led to this role for Shannon Airport being declined.

“This analysis leads the team to conclude that it does not presently see a role for Shannon Airport that adds clear value to the international humanitarian relief effort,” the author said.

“It should be noted that there is little doubt about the commitment of Shannon Airport and its various stakeholders to developing a new role for the site. Unfortunately, geography, costs, and existing structures do not make Shannon Airport an ideal location for humanitarian functions.”

THE shock closure of Woodstock Hotel last Friday after less than an hour’s notice was given to many full-time and part-time staff represents the second time in four years that the four star hotel has shut its doors.

In October 2008 the collapse of the Dunne Hotel Group that once owned seven hotels around the country, from Waterford City up as far as Ballina in Mayo, led to Woodstock’s demise before it re-opened in 2008 under new management.

The hotel was built during the Celtic Tiger years and first opened its doors in 2000 and was acquired by the Dunne Group in 2004 as it expanded its portfolio of hotels from the Two Mile Inn in Meelick to include six more in a chain of hotels.

The primarily Clare-based hotel chain had three hotels in the county – the Two Mile Inn, the Bunratty Shamrock and Woodstock – while it also owned Patrick Punch’s Hotel in Limerick, the Fitzwilton Hotel in Waterford, the Clybaun Hotel in Galway and the Ridgepool Hotel in Ballina.

The family-owned business had revenues of more than € 36m in 2006 and has properties valued at € 86m, but two years later, after a downturn in business that was attributed to a fall-off in visitors from America, the business collapsed.

Woodstock Hotel went into examinership in June 2008 before a liquidator was appointed with the closure of the hotel in October of that year. It then re-opened in March 2008 as a result of a new partnership with Ennis hotelier Noel Mulhaire and Wyndham Worldwide, which operated a number of UK hotel franchises.

The new Woodstock Hotel, which initially created 45 jobs, operated under the group Fortmere Hotels, Ireland, while more recently was part of the Grand National Hotels and resorted that included 16 hotels around the country.

NEW figures show a reduction in the number of people arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Clare during Christmas 2012.

Gardaí arrested 12 people between December 17, 2012, and January 6, 2013, compared to 15 people during the same period 12 months ago.

No fatal traffic accidents occurred during Christmas but there were five non-serious injury traffic accidents, an increase of four on the same period last year.

Road accident statistics released by the Clare Garda Davison also showed that there were 36 incidents of material damage to vehicles during Christmas 2012.

Chief Supt of the Clare Garda Division, John Kerin, welcomed the drop in the number of drink driving arrests.

However he described as “disap- pointing” the arrest of five people on New Years Day on suspicion of drink driving.

Gardaí are investigating burglaries, thefts and incidents of criminal damage that took place across Clare between December and January.

But overall Mr Kerin said the Christmas period had passed off without any serious violent incidents.

After a year in which Gardaí were forced to deal with a number of high profile public order disturbances, Chief Supt Kerin said December 2012 was “one of the quietest Christmases in a long time”.

Sergeant Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer, thanked members of the public for the help provided to Gardaí over the past 12 months.

He said, “I wish to thank all those people who assisted the Gardaí throughout the year as without their help our job would be much more difficult to perform.”

CLARE has the fourth highest number of Gathering events in Ireland – with only Dublin, Cork and Galway currently hosting more.

A total of 130 Clare events have already been officially registered as part of the Gathering with more likely over the coming weeks and months.

These events combine a mixture of annual events which have been revamped or expanded to coincide with the Gathering and brand new events. Some of the new events include The Concertina Cruinniú which is com- ing to Miltown Malbay in February, the Stephen Roche Atlantic Challenge in Lahinch this March and the Burren Tolkien Symposium which will take place in Ballyvaughan and Lisdoonvarna in May.

Other notable Gathering events include the long-awaited return of the Festival of Finn to Corofin in May and Wavemaster Surf and Music International Gathering at Spanish Point with the Stunning and Sharon Shannon already confirmed on the line-up.

The Arts Office at Clare County Council have organised a number of training events for local group who are involved in the Gathering.

These events will take place in Ennis on February 2, Kilrush on February 9, Shannon of February 16, Ennis on February 23, Killaloe on March 2 and Ennistymon on March 9.

“The Gathering is having a big impact on the arts in Clare this year on a number of levels. Many festivals and events are viewing the Gathering as a platform to showcase the work they do annually and are looking to attract new audiences to their events. The support for Gathering events information sessions, networking opportunities are very valuable to arts festivals and events in terms of promoting themselves and making new connections in the county,” said Siobhan Mulcahy, Clare Arts Office.

“I think 2013 will be a positive year for the arts in Clare in terms of festivals and events. The publicity and excitement surrounding the Gathering is invigorating the arts sector. It will once again be a challenging year for individual artists in terms of exhibition sales, and performances, but hopefully the rising tide will gather all boats and we can all look forward to more positive times ahead,” she added.

For more information on the Gathering training events and to book a place contact Monica Meehan at mmeehan@clarecoco.ie or call 065 6846228.

ENNIS has been deemed ‘Clean to European norms’ in the 2012 litter survey from business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL). Ennis, in 27th position, was among 13 towns out of 42 to receive the designation, with a further 22 classed as ‘cleaner than European norms’.

The report on Ennis by An Taisce, who are charged with conducting the surveys, stated, “A great improvement at Ennis compared to the earlier survey in 2012 when there were two seriously littered sites. This time there were none and eight out of the 10 sites surveyed got the top litter grade, including all four approach roads.

“Significant improvement was recorded at the Quin approach road previously it had been in quite a poor state – not so this time around.”

Dr Tom Cavanagh, Chairman of IBAL, added, “This is a significant result. Ten years ago, when measuring started, only two towns/cities in Ireland were deemed to have reached this standard.

“Here’s hoping that Ennis will be even cleaner than the average European town in 2013, the year of the Gathering,” he added.

The survey gave grade Bs to Ennis National School and the Railway Station.

According to IBAL, the Kilrush Road creates a “positive first impression” of Ennis.

On the Quin Road, the report states, “There was a significant improvement recorded at this site, especially at the bridge area. Hope- fully this high standard can now be maintained.”

Holy Family Junior and Senior School is described as a “great site”. The report states, “the extensive grass area was in very good condition and the planters were a lovely feature – all aspects of the site surveyed were in good order.”

On McHugh Villas, the report states, “A low density residential area which was well laid out – the grass area was nicely kept with colourful planting and mature trees – a top ranking site throughout.”

THE number of patients waiting on trolleys at Ennis General Hospital had fallen back to just one yesterday (Monday) following pressure on staff and facilities over the Christmas period.

Just last Thursday as many as 11 people were waiting on trolleys at the County Clare hospital, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

However as children returned to school yesterday and most people were back at work, life returned to “normal” at the hospital.

Meanwhile a blanket ban has been imposed on visitors to the area’s biggest hospital – The Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick – as a result of the winter vomiting bug (Noroviro).

Visiting to all wards at the hospital is prohibited with the exception of critically ill patients, but visitors must first contact nursing staff before they visit critically ill patients.

Parents and guardians only are permitted in the Children’s Ark and children should be kept away from all areas of the hospital.

“The hospital regrets this inconvenience but it is necessary at this time to prevent the spread of these illnesses to both patients and staff. Where appropriate, mobile phone contact between families should be considered as an alternative to visiting,” a spokesperson.

The hospital is also asking the public that only genuine emergencies should present at the Emergency Department (ED) and that where possible people should consult their GP before coming to the ED.

The vomiting bug is highly contagious and is in the community in County Clare as well as Limerick.

Norovirus does not usually cause serious illness, but it is very easily spread. People who contract it can be infectious for 48 hours after they recover.

The principal symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and generally begin very suddenly with nausea followed by projectile vomiting.

While there is a ban on visiting in Limerick, people can still visit patients in Ennis General Hospital during visiting hours.

LOCAL arts groups and festival organisers in Clare face a challenging 2013, despite a slight increase in funding for the county under the Arts Council’s Festival and Events Scheme.

Clare’s funding under the first round of the Festival and Events Scheme (formally the Small Arts Festivals Scheme) rose from € 20,500 in 2012 to € 24,500 in 2013. Despite this increase, the amount of money being awarded to individual festivals under the scheme has decreased, with an extra festival being added to the funding list.

This has resulted in flagship events such as the Iniscealtra Arts Festival (down 22.2 per cent) and the Ennis Book Club Festival (down 5.8 per cent) losing valuable funding. If this trend is continued into the second round of funding it could have a negative impact on another dozen festivals throughout the county.

This funding also represents a decrease of almost 58 per cent from the € 57,100 awarded to Clare festivals under the first round of the Small Arts Festivals Scheme on 2007.

According to County Clare Arts Officer, Siobhan Mulcahy, the local arts community have shown great resilience in the face of recent quotes.

“I think the cuts have been more challenging than damaging. Obviously, they impact on the quantity of programming that takes place but, inevitably, the quality of the artistic product has been maintained throughout the county, thanks in many instances to the tireless work of volunteer festival organisers and the work of individual artists,” she said.

“The increase in the number of festivals funded reflects the diversity of quality arts practice in the county. Festivals, as well as most arts practitioners, are realistic in terms of the current financial state of the country and in what they can aspire to with the limited resources available to them.

“For many, the success of getting funding from the Arts Council is a reflection on the quality of the festival and this augurs well to lever funds from other resources at local and national level.”

There were also cuts to Clare artists under the Touring and Dissemination of Work Scheme. Two Clare groups, trad/folk group Guidewires and Nicola Henley of the Wise Ways Projects, received combined funding of € 37, 500 under this scheme last year. No Clare artists received under the first round of funding this year.

Funding news on Clare’s main Arts Council funded projects, such as Glór and the Willie Clancy Summer School, is expected in the coming weeks.