The Clare People Archive

NO VENUE in Clare has been granted permission to host civil partnerships between same-sex couples despite a number of civil marriages between heterosexual couples having already taken place in the county.

North Clare lesbian couple Bernadette Kenny and Heidi Hummel became Clare’s first same-sex civil partnership earlier this year but were prevented from hosting a ceremony in Clare because they were told that it would take more than two years for a officer to be free to come to Clare to perform the ceremony.

Despite this however, Management at the Cliffs of Moher have confirmed to The Clare People that a heterosexual American couple were allowed to celebrate a civil marriage at the world famous tourist site in June of this year – just six months after the civil partnership and civil marriage legislation came into effect.

The procedure for having a samesex civil partnership and a heterosexual civil marriage outside of a registry office is the exact same and requires an officer from the Civil Registration Service in Limerick to inspect the venue for health and safety reasons before the go-ahead can be given.

“If we had wanted to use a venue in north Clare or somewhere in the Burren it would have been a two year waiting time – and we were no prepared to wait for that long,” Bernadette Kenny told The Clare People yesterday. “They have a big backlog at the moment but it meant that we had to have our ceremony at the back end of a hospital in Limerick. There is no venue in Clare which is registered for this sort of ceremony.

“It would have been great to do it at the Cliffs of Moher or some other location up in the Burren but it would have taken so much time. There is so much paperwork involved already, especially if one person has already been married and then divorced. So of the rules governing this are very antiquated.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Social Protection has confirmed that no civil partnerships registered in County Clare to date.

“A venue may only be approved at each individual request from a couple. As no civil partnership has been registered to have taken place in County Clare there is no venue approved for County Clare,” said the spokesman. The Clare People contacted the Civil Registration Service in Limerick in relation to this but no response was received at the time of going to press.

ST VINCENT de Paul has appealed to the people of Clare to donate whatever they can in the run-up to Christmas. Donations vary from cash, vouchers, hampers, clothes, toys and non-perishable goods.

Over the coming days, businesses across the county will receive letters from the organisation requesting donations to help cash-strapped families.

The president of St Vincent de Paul in Clare, Cathal Oakes, said that this year, teenagers’ clothing is particularly in demand.

“We are looking for all clothes, particularly teenagers’ clothes. We are finding it quite difficult to get them. Also, if people are dropping in foodstuffs, we prefer non-perishable,” said Cathal. “People are always very generous,” he said.

“Toys are very good but most of the time we prefer to give out vouchers. We give out vouchers all year round. With vouchers, people can buy what they want,” he added.

He said that while people have been very kind and give what they can to the organisation, the amount of goods received is down this year, in the face of increasing demand from those struggling to make ends meet.

“The exact figures on the general collections are down a little bit, but that’s to be expected. People are still amazing. We are still holding our own. The shop is our key source of funding. It is run very, very well,” he said.

In recent years, the organisation has expanded and teams have been set up across the county. Currently there are around 140 volunteers working in Clare, while 45 visitation teams liaise with those who require home visits. Teams also work in the hostel, the shop and work specifically on education.

“We have teams all over the county, including Kilrush, Killaloe, Newmarket, Shannon, Clarecastle and in east Clare. They all operate by fundraising locally, under the umbrella of Clare. It is hard to make money in east Clare and there are a lot of requests there, but the overall Clare area backs each one individually,” said Cathal.

He said that people are looking for assistance for a variety of reasons such as inability to pay bills, car maintenance or to buy clothes and food.

“There is a big increase in the number of people with debt on multiple levels, for example the ESB bill isn’t paid or the mortgage goes into arrears or the car insurance isn’t paid,” said Cathal.

The organisation is renting an extra room for December to store the goods that are donated in the run-up to Christmas. Those wishing to drop in items can do so at the St Vincent de Paul shop on Parnell Street, Ennis.

ALL commercial waste produced in County Clare will have to be hauled outside the county from this Friday following the closure of the Central Waste Management in Inagh.

From this Friday, November 25, the landfill at Ballyduff beg will be closed to all commercial waste, with only waste for recycling and a small amount of domestic landfill waste accepted. This means that commercial producers in Ennis will now face a 145-kilometre round-trip to Gortadroma in south west Limerick or a 180-kilometre round-trip to the Green Star facility in Ballinasloe to properly dispose of their waste.

This move is the result of a decision made by Clare County Council in December of 2010 not to open a fourth cell at the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff beg. The decision was made when projected figures from the council revealed that the landfill centre would become a loss-making venture in the years to come.

The revised figures are a result of the economic slowdown which saw a dramatic drop in the amount of waste being produced by the construction sector – resulting in a large drop in the price paid for disposing of landfill waste.

This dramatic drop in the price received for properly disposing of landfill also means that the Central Waste Management Facility in Bal- lyduff beg will be a loss-making venture for Clare County Council over its entire life-time and not the cashcow that some had described it as.

“A resolution was passed by the elected members of Clare County Council in late 2010 not to develop phase 4 of the facility once phase 3 had been completed,” said Paul Moroney, Senior Engineer with Clare County Council at Ballyduff beg.

“Phase 3 is scheduled to be completed by the end of this week. As a result, and in accordance with the resolution passed by councillors, the landfill will close to commercial customers.

“Small quantities of domestic waste will continue to be accepted from members of the public at the Ballyduff beg facility. The recycling centre will remain operational as normal.”

The Ballyduff beg facility has been a controvertial point for the people of Inagh for a number of years with a number of local residents complaining about smells and vermon activity at the facility.

Clare County Council was sited by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for breaches of its license on a number of occasions in recent years.

The Central Waste Management Facility in Ballyduff beg will remain open to all domestic customers from Tuesday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and on Saturdays from 8.30am to 1pm.

A NEW outreach centre for rape victims is being opened in Ennis, in response to demand from clients throughout the county.

That’s according to Rape Crisis Midwest, which will officially open its Ennis centre on the Clon Road at 4pm on Friday.

Demand for services in the midwest is significant, with 15 new calls received every week at its Limerick headquarters.

“This is in response to demand. We have delivering a service to the people of Clare since we opened up in the 1980s. We have found that people found the trip to Limerick quite hard, particularly those coming from the west,” said the director of fundraising with the organisation, Verena Tarpey.

The new centre will be operated on a part-time basis, two days a week; counselling services will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays by appointment. “Not only will there be long-term counselling but it will also provide support counselling for the family of a victim of a sexual attack. We also do court accompaniments,” said Ms Tarpey.

The waiting list for clients currently stands at four months, but those in need of immediate assistance are taken as priority.

“I think that more people are coming in looking for help. There is more awareness. There is also more awareness of the fact it is not something to be ashamed of either,” she said.

Fundraising will be crucial to the survival of the Ennis outreach centre. “We are receiving no government funding to pay for the overheads in Ennis such as rent and computer services. We get core funding for our service in Limerick. We made a huge decision to open it (Ennis). It is needed. We are relying on the goodwill of the people of Ennis,” she said.

“We have to stretch our resources. We want to do it to make the service accessible to the people of Clare,” she said.

The organisation is piloting a new education programme for transition year students in a number of schools in the mid-west, including Coláiste Mhuire in Ennis.

“We are piloting it in the mid-west and it is a first for Rape Crisis Midwest,” said Ms Tarpey.

“We felt that a pilot programme such as this would be beneficial to students. It educates them in relation to different aspects of the law of sexual offences and how alcohol can affect people,” she said.

“Students in particular would not necessarily want to avail of long-term counselling but they are aware of the different services that are available in the mid-west,” she added.

A 68-YEAR-OLD north Clare woman who has been working as a carer for 20 years is to be forced to retire at the end of 2011 – because she is too old for the job.

Lahinch native Bridie Kennedy, has written a letter to newly elected President of Ireland Michael D Higgins who, at 70 years of age, would also be forced to retire five years ago if he worked as a carer.

Bridie has been looking after a neighbour who suffers from Alzhe- imer’s Disease for the past four years. Before that she worked in a local nursing home for more than 15 years. She received a letter last month informing her that she would be forced to retire at the end of the year. Bridie is employed by Clarecare and says that organisation has been very supportive of her position.

“I’ve been doing this for 20 years and it is very rewarding work. I wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl of 18 years, I would have made a really good nurse,” she said.

“I think it is a real shame what is being done. This new rule has just come in and according to it I should have stopped working when I was 65. One of the reason why I went for the interview with Clarecare is that there was no upper age limit. Clarecare have been very good to work for – I don’t know what a lot of people would do without them.

“I work four hours each day with a neighbour of mine. She is just a five minute walk away and I walked up to her house every day last year during the snow and ice. She is a neighbour and I have known her for years. The family are very upset. They have known me for years and year and having a familiar person there is very important – especially with Alzheimers.”

According to Bridie, being forced to retire is going have a negative impact on her social life as well as her financial situation. “I’ve been working for 50 years and now, all of a sudden, I’ll have nothing to get up in the morning for. It’s just not fair. I’ve never been sick in my life and I’m never tired. It isn’t much money but it’s great to have a few extra pounds coming in every month. More than that though it’s about getting out and meeting people. I love older people and the stories that they tell. I tell my grandchild their stories and he thinks I’m making them up. I will miss that.”

The director of Clarecare Fiachra Hensey confirmed yesterday that the official age of retirement for carers with Clarecare is now 65 years old.

“The official age of retirement is 65 and that is a fact. I have the utmost sympathy for any carers who are in good health and want to keep working. I really do,” he said.

A NEW initiative is underway in Ennis aimed at raising awareness about the increasing incidents of domestic violence.

The Ennis Access Programme is a Local Training Initiative based in Ennis, which is sponsored by the Clare Local Development Company. Members have created a handmade patchwork quilt using only natural fabrics and recycled materials. The quilt is constructed in the form of patchwork and applique in rainbow colours with a black background.

The learners had taken part in several workshops, which were funded by the HSE, which had highlighted the increasing numbers of women suffering from domestic violence locally, nationally and internationally.

Clare Haven, who provide services to women and children affected by domestic violence, state that 174 women have been murdered in Ireland since 1996. It is estimated that 213,000 (one in five) Irish women suffer severe abuse.

In response to the training received, the learners decided they would like to raise the awareness of the increasing incidents of domestic violence and also raise funds to support the vital service provided by Clare Haven.

The quilt will be on display at the Credit Union Office, Friars Walk, Ennis, and the raffle will take place on the December 16.

Tickets will be available from the Ennis Access Programme Training Centre located on the Clon Road Business Park, Clon Road, Ennis. Proceeds will be donated to Clare Haven Services. Tickets are € 2 for one ticket and € 5 for three tickets. For further information contact Ennis Access Programme at 065 6848466.

AN INTERNATIONAL campaign highlighting domestic violence against women will be marked in Clare over the coming weeks, amid increasing numbers of women seeking help.

As part of the 16 Days campaign opposing domestic violence – which runs from November 25 to December 16 – a candlelit ceremony will be held at the friary in Ennis on Thursday, December 1, at 7.30pm.

Candles will be lit in memory of each victim. Sixteen community leaders – such as a member of a sporting organisation, a garda and a community volunteer – will each bring a candle to the altar representing each of the 16 years since the initiative was established.

“It sends out a really strong message that each of their organisations are opposing violence,” said services manager with Clare Haven, Denise Dunne.

“We are commemorating 174 wom- en who have been murdered in Ireland since 1996 (when figures were first collected). 107 of them were murdered in their homes.

“This year, the theme is communities working together on opposing violence against women, such as gardaí, family resource centres, different community-based organisations and people volunteering with the community,” she said.

“In order for us to help women experiencing domestic abuse, we need community support,” said Ms Dunne.

She said that the Clare Haven refuge for women suffering domestic abuse is “full all of the time”, while the outreach centres across the county are experiencing huge demand.

The initiative will get underway on November 25, which is the UN day opposing violence against women, and will conclude on December 10, which is Human Rights Day.

Meanwhile, the local area networks – of Clare, Limerick and north Tipperary – have set up a website, www. midwestvaw.ie, geared towards those working professionally who may encounter violence against women.

“It is around recognising, responding and referring,” said Ms Dunne.

“If somebody presents in front of you asking for help, how do you ask the questions and respond? It is for professionals, people on the ground who meet people through work such as social workers, gps, teachers or anybody who comes across it. It is a resource for them,” she said.

For further information on the 16 Days initiative, phone 065 6842646.

DETAILS have been unveiled of a proposed € 500, 000 upgrade to the Quin wastewater treatment plant.

The project consists of the upgrading of the existing wastewater treatment plant including the provision of additional underground tanks and associated site works to increase capacity from 740 population equivalent (pe) to 1400 pe at Quin Gardens, Quin.

According to a report prepared by senior planner Gordon Daly, the proposed development will serve the needs of Quin village and its environs into the future.

The report states that Quin village has a projected population target of 789 persons by 2017.

A flood risk assessment states that the “site is designated as being located within flood zone A and B hence this site has been identified as being at risk of flooding”.

The report states that the proposed works will not give rise to increased flooding at the site.

The report states, “It is noted that that the risk of flooding would be from the adjacent River Rine. The wastewater treatment facility is already present and operating within a flood risk area – the same therefore is cur rently at risk of flooding.”

It continues, “The report from water services dated 20/10/11 that the proposed works will not reduce the potential of the site to flood but will, in the event that this occurs by reason of the design of the new plant, reduce the potential of the plant contaminating flood waters. Having regard to the established use of the site as a wastewater treat ment plant and having regard to the works proposed it is considered that the works will not give risk to an increased chance of flooding at the site.”

With regard to the impact on the visual amenities of the area, the report states that the “proposed works will not impact to any significant degree on the visual amenities of the area”.

Local Fine Gael councillor Sonny Scanlan welcomed the project saying it was needed in the area.

ALLSOP Space has just announced details of its final property auction to take place on Wednesday, November 30. Amongst the 112 lots there will be four Clare sites.

There are two sites at Connolly village up for sale: Lot 33 is a 1.5 acre site at Connolly Village and has a reserve not to exceed € 10k; and Lot 44 is a larger 2.5 acre site at Connolly Village, Ennis, with a reserve not to exceed € 17, 500.

Lot 74 is a freehold derelict building on a 0.93 acres site at Pound Lane/Mill Street, Ennis, with a reserve not to exceed € 55k.

Lot 89 is a site on Childers Road in Ennis with a reserve not to exceed € 7.5k (the lowest reserve featured to date this year). The site is offered with planning permission for a retail unit and two apartments.

The final auction of the year features a broad range of property from 24 of the 26 counties. For the year to date, Allsop Space have sold 214 out of 231 lots raising a total of € 40 million. According to director Stephen McCarthy, “The November auction will pave the way for 2012. We plan to feature more lots at each individual auction next year. Whilst there were suggestions that our September auction was ‘less successful’ than the first two auctions, the figures speak for themselves. € 10 million was realized, with the vast majority of lots successfully selling on the day. Over 80 per cent of those buying at auction are without bank finance which highlights that there are still plenty of investors in a position to invest in real estate in this country.” The Allsop Space Property Auction will take place on Wednesday, November 30, at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.

ENNIS Musical Society are aiming to take the stress out of Christmas shopping by hosting a ‘Favours Auction’ at the Old Ground Hotel on Thursday, December 1.

The society’s Favours Auction will offer a range of items in one place for those searching for interesting Christmas gift ideas.

“This is a new venture for us in Ennis Musical Society,” explained chairperson, Kaye Gaynor.

She added, “For those unfamiliar with the idea of a Favours Auction, it does exactly what it says on the tin. Members of the society will offer favours for auction to the public as part of an event to raise funds for our upcoming production of ‘The Sound of Music’.”

Ms Gaynor said, “We’re a talented bunch in Ennis Musical Society. People will have witnessed the talent of our members on stage; now they get the chance to see what we can produce off-stage as well. The whole theme of the event is taking some of the stress out of Christmas preparations while also trying to raise a few all important euro for the society.”

Without revealing the full extent of what will be on offer, Ms Gaynor said prospective buyers can expect something a little bit different from a regular Christmas present. She added, “We’ll have good quality gifts for sale, ranging from the practical to the savoury to the sporty to the artistic. There’ll be plenty of Christmas goodies, the chance to have one-toone singing lessons with one of Ireland’s most celebrated sopranos, the offer of somebody to cook in your home or to have your house made spotless before the Christmas. We’ll have a couple of items of interest for golf enthusiasts, support for individuals thinking about their direction in life, beauty treatments, pieces of art and a couple of items that will make Christmas really special for children this year.”

While the Ennis Musical Society is keen to use the event as a fundraiser, Ms Gaynor said that members are also clear that this will be an enjoyable event.

She explained, “There’ll be music and food and on the night and our own auctioneer, Cormac O’Sullivan, will help make this a fun occasion while also doing his utmost to loosen the purse-strings of all the prospective buyers.”

The auction will get underway at 8pm.