The Clare People Archive

THE majority of Clare’s 847 travellers are living in permanent housing units, while the number of people who describe themselves as Travellers has risen.

According to the 2011 census the travelling community makes up 7.3 of every 1,000 people in the Clare population, a figure that is two per thousand higher than the national average.

In fact the number of travellers now living in Clare has increased by 187 since the last census in 2006 when 660 Clare people registered as members of the travelling community.

In 2006 travellers made up 5.9 per thousand of the Clare population.

According to the 2011 census, as many as 794 members of the travelling community in Clare are resident in permanent homes.

A further 23 are living in caravans or in temporary housing units while a further 30 did not state the type of accommodation they lived in.

There are more women than men from the community registered as living in Clare, with 438 traveller women registered as living in the county and 317 men.

The number of people enumerated as Irish Travellers in Census 2011 increased by 32 per cent from 22,435 to 29, 573, with all counties apart from Limerick and

Waterford showing increases greater than the increase in the general population.

There were 97.8 males for every 100 females within the Irish Traveller population. The equivalent sex ratio for the general population was 98.1.

Irish Traveller numbers increased in every county with the exception of Waterford where the numbers declined by over 7 per cent.

Only 12 per cent of Irish Travellers nationally lived in caravans and mobile homes in 2011. This was a big fall from 2006 when one in four Irish Travellers lived in temporary accommodation.

Almost 84 per cent of the Traveller population live in permanent housing.

CLARE’S population boom over the past 20 years has been highlighted by the 2011 Census returns, which reveal the county now enjoys its biggest population since the 1890s.

The returns published by the Central Statistics Office on Thursday last have revealed that there are now 117,196 people in the county, a figure that’s broken down between 58,898 females and 58,298 males.

This statistic means that for the first time in 140 years there are now officially more females than males in county Clare. The last time this was so was in 1871 Census when females were in the majority, when the breakdown was 74,422 to 73,442.

Meanwhile the overall figure of 117,196 represents the first time since the 1901 Census when there 112,334 people in Clare that the county’s population has broken through the 110,000 barrier.

Over the past 20 years Clare’s population has risen by 27,190, while every Census since 1991 has shown an increase in the numbers of people in the county.

Between the 2006 and 2011 Census returns, Clare’s population increased by 6,396, which represents a 5.3 per cent increase, while the average increase across the country is 8.1 per cent.

The percentage increase in population in Clare represents the lowest increase since the 1996 Census when the number of people in the county jumped by 5.46 per cent. The highest percentage increase occurred in 2002 when the county’s population jumped by 9.9 per cent.

However, the headline grabbing statistic is female to male ratio in the county. The number of females in the county grew substantially in the five years between the 2006 and 2011 Census reports. The number of females grew by 4,098, while male numbers only grew by 2,298 in the same period.

In 1926 Clare’s population dipped below the 100,000 for the first time since official records were kept, with the Census of that year showed that there were only 95,064 people in the county.

From there Clare’s population declined in six successive Census reports from 1936 to 1966, before the a record low population of 73,597 was recorded. At four subsequent Cen sus’ the population increased, with a figure of 91,344 returned in the 1986 Census, before the economic recession of the 1980s saw the population decrease to 90,918 by the time of the 1991 Census.

However, in the last 20 years the county has enjoyed a population explosion, with the number of people in the county increasing by 28 per cent. It wasn’t until the 2002 Census that the county’s population topped 100,000 when that year’s Census revealed a return of 103,333.

THE affects of the building boom have been hammered home with the findings of the 2011 Census, which have revealed that there are now over 11,000 houses in the county with no one living in them.

The official 2011 Census returns which were published by the Central Statistics Office last Thursday revealed that there are now 42, 534 houses occupied in Clare, but that there are 11,782 unoccupied.

These figures mean that the va- cancy rate among houses and flats in the county is now running at nearly 21.2 per cent, 7.5 per cent higher than the national average of 14.7 per cent, with the western seaboard being the worst part of the county affected.

The county’s population increased by five per cent between 2006 and 2011, but despite the upward graph that gives the county the highest population it has had in over a century, there are more houses than ever vacant.

This can be directly attributed to the building boom that took place in the county – with one statistic emerging from the Census returns being that there are more vacant family homes in the county now than there are vacant holiday homes.

The numbers of vacant houses is 5,936, while there are a further 1,236 flats unoccupied, while the number of holiday homes in the county stands at 4,610.

The Census figures revealed that the number of new housing stock in Clare increased by 14 per cent in between the 2006 and 2011 censuses, which means that Clare house builds ran ahead of the national average of 13.3 per cent.

However, the breakdown of these figures have also revealed that this in housing numbers has contributed to a sharper increase in the number of vacant dwellings around the county.

A map of the county produced by the CSO shows that vacancy rates in west and north Clare are now run ning at over 25 per cent.

Only seven other counties have higher rates of vacant housing than in Clare, with Leitrim topping the league table with 30.4 per cent, while within Munster, Kerry on 26.5 per cent is the county with a higher rating than Clare.

GROWTH to the middle and eastern part of the county and depopulation in the west and north Clare. These were the two contrasting tales told by the official release of the 2011 Census of Population for Clare by the Central Statistics Office last week.

In the map of the county that’s carried above, the vast tracks of land that are coloured white represent areas where the population has decreased, going against the overall trend in the county that saw population jump by 6,396 over the space of five years to over a 100-year high of 117,196.

The census figures are broken down by electoral district, rather than on a parish to parish basis, the statistics revealing that many parts of west and north Clare are now in the grip of a big population decline.

Tullig on the Loophead peninsula is one of the worst hit in west Clare, with its population declining by 16 per cent in five years.

Cahermurphy in the parish of Kilmihil saw its population decrease by 10.9 per cent, Mullagh’s dropped by 7.4 per cent while up in north Clare, Carran’s population declined by 8.7 per cent.

However, not all parts of the west and north were hit – Doonbeg’s population is on the rise as, with 60 more people living there when compared to the last census, which represents a jump of 8.6 per cent, while nearby Dromellihy in Cooraclare saw its population jump by 10.1 per cent.

The same is true of Clondegad, which enjoyed something a surge in population over five years as a 23.9 per cent increase translating into 124 extra people living there.

The urban area of Kilrush saw its population decline by 4.4 per cent, but it was a different story in Kilrush rural as the population grew by 20.5 per cent.

This growth also took place in Kilmihil, which created headlines recently because of the extent of the emigration from the parish actually experienced a population increase of 8.1 per cent. In north Clare the area of Killaspuglonane increased its population by 20 per cent.

The biggest increase in west or north Clare was experienced in Liscannor, which saw its population increase 282 to 374, which represents 32.7 per cent.

However, it’s further east that the biggest increases in terms of numbers are to be seen.

The Ennis urban area actually saw its population decline by 9.8 per cent, in the Ennis rural electoral area an in the outlying parishes there was a big increase.

Ennis rural increased by 6.5 per cent, while along the western corridor this upward trend was mirrored in many places. Crusheen’s population jumped by 20.1 per cent, Doora by 18.5 per cent, the Newgrove area of Doora-Barefield parish by 32.6 per cent, Newmarket-on-Fergus by 6.1 per cent, Mountievers and Castlecrine in Sixmilebridge by 35.5 per cent and 24.8 per cent respectively, Quin by 38.7 per cent, while the biggest percentage shift in the county occurred in Cappavilla in east Clare with the increase from 674 to 1,038 representing 54 per cent.

A CASE of alleged assault on a GAA field in Shannon last year has been brought before Ennis District Court.

Daniel O’Halloran (25) of Liscullane, O’Callaghan’s Mills is charged with assault contrary to section three of the non fatal offences against the person act. The charge relates to an alleged incident at a Clare senior hurling club championship match played at Tullyvarraga, Shannon on May 28 (2011). At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Inspector John Galvin said that Mr O’Halloran made no reply to charge after caution.

Solicitor for O’Halloran, Patrick Moroney, told the Court that he had written to Shannon Garda Station for full disclosure.

Asked by Judge Patrick Durcan about jurisdiction of the case, Insp Galvin said there “may be a development.”

Judge Durcan remanded Mr O’Halloran on continuing bail to appear again on April 25. Judge Durcan said instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) are required in order to determine jurisdiction of the case.

A NEW book of essays by Clare man and former diplomat, Con Howard, was recently launched in Dublin.

Mr Howard, who is credited with helping create close ties between Ireland and influential American politicians such as Ted Kennedy, was honoured at an event in the Arts Club, Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, last month. The book was launched by retired diplomat Sean Donlon.

Originally from Dysert, Mr Howard attended St Flannan’s College before joining the diplomatic corps. Apart from his career in the civil service, Mr Howard is well known for founding the Merriman Summer School, the St Brendan Society and the Irish Australian Society.

Friend and Clare-based poet, Brian Mooney, who attended the book launch in Dublin, said Mr Howard was a man of “brilliant ideas”. He continued, “In all cases he had a knack of co-opting appropriate people of money and influence to the cause thus enabling the projects to flourish. Thus Ted Heath, the English Prime Minister, was coopted to the Brendan Society. Sidney Nolan, the artist, became one of the main drivers of the Irish Australian Society. And Con himself was instrumental in having him present a ‘Wild Goose’ collection of his paintings to the nation which now hang in the Museum of Modern Art.”

He added, “His courting of the great and the famous led to things of greater moment. For example, Sean Donlon deemed his work in cultivating people like (Ted) Kennedy and Tip O’Neill in America as responsible for the special relationship that now exists between Ireland and the White House. And he also credited him with creating the aura within which the whole new relationship between Ireland and England has taken place, as a result of his work in the consulate in England.”

Mr Mooney said, “To become involved with Con Howard was an experience people would never forget. One of the essayists suggests in the book that the Irish Government should declare a two minute period of pandemonium on the anniversary of his death!”

TWO West Clare women are setting up a support group for people suffering from the little known condition fibromyalgia.

The condition, which is on the arthritis spectrum, affects people physically, mentally and socially.

Support from other people with the condition is essential for those who believe they are suffering alone, and up until now no such support group has existed in the county.

When Doonbeg woman Bernie Sexton was diagnosed with the condition she had never heard of it before.

She believes it affected her for many years before she sought treatment and then took another year for doctors to diagnose fibromyalgia. Ms Sexton explained that it is a very difficult condition to diagnose as it does not present in blood tests or x-rays.

It is also a very individual condition affecting everyone differently.

This can make it very difficult to explain to others and for others to sympathise she said.

Chronic pains in the muscles, fatigue, sleep problems, and painful tender points are just some of the symptoms that affect those with the condition.

Bernie’s symptoms made it difficult for her to continue working so she retrained as a librarian, a job she finds allows her to move when she needs to and sit when it is required.

“I found when I was diagnosed I was very isolated. I would have loved to have had a group in the early days,” she said. Bernie was not alone in her belief that a support group was needed in the county.

Margaret Labrum was having the same idea and together the women are setting up the West Clare fibromyalgia support group, which will service the whole county.

Ms Labrum, who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2008, said the support group would not only raise awareness of the condition but also provide information, support and shared experiences among members.

She said for many people at the beginning it feels like they are going insane, as their symptoms don’t add up. She like many with fibromyalgia, has chronic pain, which can prevent her from living her life the way she would like.

“You can go at that level for a while and be fine and then something triggers a flair up and the pain is too much to carry on.”

The first meeting of the group will take place at 11am in the Kilrush Family Resource Centre on April 19 and all are welcome to attend. Further information is available from the founders of the group on 087 838 3499 or 087 6528769.

TWO local authorities have announced their intentions to draw up a master plan to re-develop the Watery Road area of Ennis.

The plan is to be drawn up in response to concerns over local authority housing in the area. Yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council heard that of the six houses on Watery Road, two are occupied while four are vacant and boarded up.

Both Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council are to meet with landowners to discuss the plan.

In a letter to the council, Fiona Mooney Acting Senior Executive Officer, Housing, Cultural and Emergency Services with Clare County Council, outlined the council’s intention for the area.

She stated, “As discussed this council considers that a long term and sustainable resolution to the various housing, community and environmental issues must be developed. It is the intention of the Housing Department to assign an architectural resource in quarter two of 2012 to begin with a process of developing a Master Plan for the Watery Road area.”

Ms Mooney continued, “This proposed Master Plan will facilitate inputs from adjacent landowners, Clare County Council, Ennis Town Council and local resident’s groups. It is proposed that the Master Plan, once developed, will be presented to both Clare County Council and En- nis Town Council for consideration and incorporation into the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.”

Town clerk Leonard Cleary told the meeting that of the six local authority houses, two are occupied while four are currently vacant.

He said that Clare County Council is currently in the process of preparing a submission for the Department of the Environment to seek funding for the plan.

Mr Cleary described the process as “fairly complex” but said a commitment had been made to move on the plan by April. He said, “The current arrangement and provision is not satisfactory.” Welcoming the plan, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said residents in the Watery Road area had “put up with a lot” over the years.

CLARE’S most westerly Garda Station closed at the weekend.

The West Clare village of Carrigaholt is now without a Garda Station for the first time since the formation of the force.

The station in the Kilrush Garda district was one of 29 nationally to close at the weekend, and the only station in County Clare to be vacated under the current cuts.

H o w e v e r Garda Chief S u p e r i n t e n d ent John Kerins predicted further closures in the coming years, during the January meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC).

The small village station in Carrigaholt fell victim to a drop in Garda personnel due to an employment freeze and mass retirements, and the ever-tightening Garda budget.

The Carrigaholt area will continue to be patrolled by gardaí from Kilrush and Kilkee.

Meanwhile the chief superintendent, in conjunction with the local superintendent – Gerry Wall, are planning to reassign gardaí from Kilrush to the smaller sub-stations in the area on a part-time basis. These gardaí will man the stations, such as Labasheeda and Doonbeg, at advertised hours a few days a week. Chief Supt Kerins reassured members of the JPC that he did not believe the policing service would be affected. Gardaí have also highlighted the importance of community and neighbourhood watch schemes in rural areas.

ENNIS Town Council is considering the introduction of waste byelaws to combat the problem of illegal dumping around the town.

Councillors and officials are to meet with members of Clare County Council’s Environment Section to see if the byelaws could be introduced on a countywide basis.

It follows a motion submitted by Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn at yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.

Cllr Flynn stated that household waste byelaws are needed, as nearly 50 per cent of Clare householders do not avail of a waste collection service. He told the meeting that the problem of fly tipping and dumping has become too prevalent in and around Ennis.

He said that 47,000 tonnes of waste are produced in Clare each year. Cllr Flynn added, “People should be responsible and should deal with their waste in a responsible manner.”

He said Ennis had been “badly affected” by fly tipping while dumping is “destroying” the approach roads into the town.

There was broad support for the proposal from all councillors present at yesterday’s meeting.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) described the motion as timely, adding that he had seen 80 plastic bags of rubbish in the garden of one house in Ennis.

Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) said the amount of household rubbish being dumped is “shocking”.

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) said that while byelaws might be necessary, the council had to be careful not to target people who bring their rubbish directly to the dump because they can longer afford to pay for a waste collection service.

Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said it is “dreadful” to see people dumping rubbish in fields and roads around Ennis. She suggested that in order to help people who can’t afford to pay for waste collection, the council should place public skips at locations around the town.

However there were objections to this proposal. Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said skips in town had previously become dumps.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said that while byelaws are a good idea, he was “wary” of the proposal. Cllr Brennan told the meeting that a lot of the rubbish dumping in Ennis, is not being done by people from the town.