The Clare People Archive

VOLUNTEERS are the unsung heroes of Clare, whose work is vital to a host of organisations around the county who are making a huge impact on the daily lives of people across the county.

On National Volunteer Day last Fri- day, this spirit of volunteerism was hailed by Mary Morrissey, the driving force behind the development of the Clarecastle Daycare Centre that’s a model for other elderly care centres around the county.

“You couldn’t find words to describe them and how good and how important volunteers are. There is tremen- dous work being done out there by volunteers in Clare,” she said. “We have volunteers and they’re coming in for the last 10 years. They are unsung heroes. Three artists giving their time; they’re from every walk of life and they come in because they love the elderly.

“The elderly benefit an awful lot from the love they get from them and they get that back. Volunteers are wonderful people,” she added.

The Clarecastle Daycare Centre co-ordinator made her comments when taking part in Volunteer Day in Ennis on Friday, during which a host of voluntary, community and healthcare organisations enjoyed a unique celebration built around the county capital’s sculpture trail.

“We dressed up the sculpture in the Parnell Street carpark,” Ms Morrissey revealed. “It was a great idea that Sharon Meany and Dolores O’Halloran came up with. It was just to show what voluntary groups are doing. Knitting was the theme. We had to dress the sculptures. Each person had a sculpture to do and everything we had on display was made in the daycare centre, made by the elderly with the help of volunteers.

“It was a great idea, a wonderful way of bringing volunteerism out to the people. People don’t realise what’s going on everyday in centres around the county because of the work of volunteers,” she added.

Others groups to take part in the Ennis celebratations were the Clare Haven House, Caring for Carers, Clare Crusaders, Carrigoran, Cahercalla and the Kilmaley Daycare Centre.

CLAIMS that the cost of parking charges is “crippling” businesses in Ennis have been rejected by the Ennis Town Manager.

Ger Dollard was speaking at a debate on parking at yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.

The discussion was prompted by a motion tabled by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) who called on the council to “urgently review public car parking usage” in Ennis.

Mr Dollard said a review of car parking in Ennis commenced in autumn 2010 and resulted in the introduction of the 2011 on-street payand-display and car park byelaws on March 21.

He said the 2008 Ennis Car Parking Study had made a number of recommendations. In a report, Mr Dollard stated that the council had implemented seven short term measures aimed at improving parking in Ennis, including: discouraging long-stay parking within 100m of Abbey Street; re-designation of 39 long-stay spaces in Friars Walk for use as short-stay parking only; and reviewing the use of Bindon Street and the extension of two-hour-maximum stay zone to Market Place and Friars Walk.

Mr Dollard stated that supply currently exceeds demand at the Friars Walk car-park.

Reacting to a comment from Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) that “car parking is crippling businesses”, Mr Dollard said, “I wouldn’t accept the suggestion that the price of car parking is crippling business in Ennis”.

Mr Dollard said the debate on parking in Ennis had initially focused on the shortage of spaces but had now shifted to cost.

He said that just three sources of funding are available to local authorities: government funding, commercial rates and parking charges. He added, “If all of your income streams are under pressure, you are limited about what you can do.”

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind), dismissed the impact parking charges are having on local businesses. He said that the cost of shopping in Ennis is expensive, adding, “I don’t think Ennis is a cheap place”. Cllr Guilfoyle said the “doom and gloom (in Ennis) is blamed on car parking charges in the town”.

Cllr Flynn said he put forward the motion to stimulate debate on parking. He said businesses are down 50 per cent to 60 per cent on their Saturday trade.

Cllr Peter Considine requested that a report comparing parking charges in Ennis with 10 other similar sized towns be provided to councilors in advance of their annual budget estimates meeting. Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) claimed people are boycotting the Friars Walk car park.

SEVEN cubic metres of grease were recently removed from a wastewater pumping station in Ennis, a meeting has heard.

The grease had built up over a two-year period at the Francis Street pumping station. Town Engineer Eamon O’Dea revealed the detail at yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council

Mr O’Dea’s comments prompted Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) to remark, “Europe has a problem with Greece but Ennis has a problem with grease.”

In a report to councillors, Mr O’Dea stated that “the difficulty with the build up of grease in sewers and pumping stations has increased over the last number of years and has resulted in greater maintenance costs”.

Mr O’Dea was responding to a motion tabled by Cllr Paul O’Shea. Cllr O’Shea had called for an inspection of the sewage system servicing the Fioruisce estate.

Mr O’Dea explained, “Clare Coun- ty Council water services area staff monitor this section of sewer each week and the last occasion that difficulties were encountered was Tuesday, September 6 when the council jetter was unsuccessful in fully clearing the sewer and this was done on Thursday, September 8.”

He added, “The primary problem is the build up of grease in the sewer and this has become a more significant issue over the last 12 to 18 months”.

Mr O’Dea said the Council had delivered an advisory sheet to all busi- nesses involved in the production of food in Ennis in regard to their obligations in disposal of grease, oils and fats into the sewer network.

He said the discharging of oils/ grease from frying utensils directly into the sewer is a “particular concern”.

He said the Gort Road recycling centre has a facility for the collection of household cooking oils.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) told the meeting that the grease problems had resulted from people having a “lack of respect for public infrastructure”.

ENNIS Town Council may be forced to spend € 170,000 to demolish and reconstruct a section of a building believed to be the oldest home in Ennis. Town Manager Ger Dollard said yesterday that work is “urgently” required at the derelict McParlands site at the corner of Chapel Lane and Parnell Street.

Scaffolding and hoarding was erected around McParland’s after initial restoration work carried out in November 2009 revealed the 16thcentury building to be in a “danger- ous condition”.

The building, which is a protected structure, is home to a rare triple diamond Jacobean stone chimney that dates to the period 1580-1650AD.

In response to a motion tabled by Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab), Mr Dollard said that the “building has been deteriorating and the short term measures put in place do not render the structure safe on a long term basis”.

Mr Dollard said the Council has taken detailed professional advice from the National Monuments Service. He told the meeting that it is clear that the owner of the property “does not have the financial resources to make the building safe”.

He explained that Ennis Town Council under its statutory powers is obliged to make the structure safe.

He continued, “This will involve the demolition of the gable wall and chimney and reconstruction of same. These works will not return the property to a habitable state but will make the building structurally safe.”

Mr Dollard said that a grant of € 85,000 has been secured to partially cover the cost of the works which he estimated could total € 170,000. Councillors expressed concern at the cost of the project.

Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said that while he acknowledged the importance of historical buildings, “there comes a point when you have to spend your money wisely.”

He said the estimated cost of the works represented a “lot of money down the Jacobean chimney”.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said there was a serious health and safety issue to be addressed at McParlands. Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) expressed concern at spending € 170,000 on a chimney, for which he said there is no tourism benefit.

Mr Dollard admitted that the Council “finds itself in a position that it doesn’t want to be in”. He said the Council might be able to recoup some of the balance of the cost through any future sale of the property or further government grants.

Responding to concerns from Cllr O’Shea that the project will not go out to tender, Mr Dollard said he was happy the project would comply with procurement requirements.

He said the work has to be completed before the end of November in order for the council to avail fully of the € 85,000 grant.

AN ENNIS psychotherapist whose recovery from a brain injury was aided by her work on the Feldankrais Method says the therapy is now providing support to children and adults with disabilities in Clare.

Bernadette Kenny, co-ordinator of Tara Healing Arts Centre (Ennis), is one of the practitioners in Ireland of the Feldankrais method. The centre opened last year and provides a range of movement based therapies and counselling to children and adults.

The Feldankrais method uses movement and function as a gentle non-invasive aid in learning to learn. Bernadette explained that new research and neuro-science has validated the 60-year-old method, which has its own research in the USA, UK and Germany. “My work is scientifically based. It’s just not fully out there yet,” she said.

According to Bernadette the Feldankrais method benefits children and adults with special needs through improvements in walking, language and cognitive development as well as behaviour.

Bernadette has worked in the area of psychotherapy and counselling for 30 years and holds a four-year qualification in the Feldankrais Method. Originally from Ennis, she previously worked in youth services in London. She also spent two years working in Dublin at St Michael’s House, an organisation that provides community-based services to people with intellectual disabilities.

She is currently completing masters at the University of Limerick in Feldankrais and Dance therapy and how they can support learning of children with special needs.

Bernadette had reason to turn to the Feldankrais Method. Four years ago when she suffered an angioma (brain injury). She lost her speech and stability but by applying the lessons she had learned throughout her career, Bernadette made a full recovery.

She recalled, “It helped moderate and kept brain working and learning.”

According to Bernadette interest in her work as increased among parents who have been hit by the withdrawal of State supports for children with disabilities. She said her ultimate aim is to establish Tara Healing Arts as a non-profit organisation. “Everyone has the right to treatment.”

Bernadette will hold a talk about the Feldankrais Method at the Auburn Lodge, Ennis, on Friday, October 21, at 8pm.

A MAJOR breakthrough in the teaching of the Irish language for infants has been heralded this week thanks to an innovative idea pioneered by a primary school teacher in Ennis.

Séonaidh Ní Shíomóin, who teaches in Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg on the Gort Road, is the author of a groundbreaking new series of Irish language books called Ár Scéalta which have been released by the publisher Coiscéim and distributed nationwide.

Dublin-born Ní Shíomóin has taught in Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg since 2004 and came across the idea of a series of illustrated Irish language starter book when she realised there was a gap in the market.

“It can be hard on some parents trying to help their kids read in a language they can’t understand,” Ní Shíomóin told The Clare People . “That’s why the pictures in this book are so important. The story can be understood by looking at the pictures or reading the Irish text so that child and parent can have an easy, enjoyable reading experience through Ireland’s native langauge.”

Apart from being released nationwide, the books will also be distributed in Puerto Rico in Spanish translations.

The illustrator, Karen Dietrich has vast experience in dealing with minority language childrens books, has been co-operating with Ní Shíomóin to create these vibrant and colourful children’s picture books.

This new series will be aimed at making a fun, cool and enjoyable way for children aged four to seven years to read with their parents. There will be ten books released in the first series with two more series to come.

“I got the idea for the story when I saw how much love children seem to have for their pets. The story follows a boy and his dog on some funny and whacky adventures,” she revelaed.

“This is the first series of three to be launched this week and will be available for purchase from Carroll Education Ltd. and all local bookshops,” Ní Shíomóin added.

PROJECTED figures about consumer spending and population growth in the Ennis area contained in the Mid West Retail Strategy have been described as “cuckoo”.

The criticisms were aired at a meeting organised by Ennis Chamber of Commerce to discuss the proposed variation to the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

Cllr Flynn told the meeting that the Mid West Retail Strategy, which is to be adopted under the proposed variation, had “seriously overestimated” spending levels, the impact of internet shopping and the amount of retail floor space required in Ennis over the lifetime of the plan.

According to the strategy, Cllr Flynn said, € 33 million was spent by tourists in Clare last year with € 28 million of the total figure being spent in Ennis.

Describing the figures as “absolute rubbish”, Cllr Flynn said the strategy did not take into account the impact of the economic downturn on busi- nesses in Ennis.

“They are absolute cuckoo figures on population and spend,” the Ennis town councillor added.

He said the Mid West Regional Authority, the body that drew up the strategy, had based their assumptions on 75 phone interviews.

He said the catchment area for Ennis businesses had been estimated at 53,000 people. Cllr Flynn said the strategy had been drawn up to save Limerick City.

He explained, “The information is based on assumptions and estimates that are flawed.”

Cllr Flynn told the meeting that he had seen an article in a pet industry publication concerning the problems of businesses in Ennis. “Even the dogs in the street know,” he added.

Businessman Peter Moylan (Ennis Cash Company) said there had been a steep decline in the number of tourists visiting Ennis over the past three years.

Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said Ennis town centre is “decaying”, adding that parking is a big issue.

THE development of a world class tourism attraction would bring more people to Ennis and offer a boost to the town centre, a meeting as heard.

That was the view of John O’Connor of Custy’s music shop who claimed the lack of a major tourist attraction is hurting Ennis. Mr O’Connor, who was a founding member of the Shannon Wings campaign that attracted 5,000 online messages of support for Shannon Airport, was speaking at public meeting in Ennis last week.

Mr O’Connor said there were sociological and economic reasons behind people’s decision to spend money at large shopping developments rather than in city / town centres.

He said that in his view the other issue affecting Ennis was the lack of a “major tourism attraction”, which he said would ensure people spend time in the town centre.

Relocating the Irish Cultural Pavillion to a two-acre site adjacent to Ennis Garda Station and the Franciscan Friary has been put forward as the type of initiative that could bring more tourists to Ennis.

The pavilion plan, which was one of the most popular attractions at Expo Park in China, was suggested by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG). Cllr Flynn recently asked Ennis Town Council to identify a suitable site in advance of making an application to locate the building and its exhibition permanently in Ennis.

According to a report by former Town Clerk Eddie Power, the site could be considered for major cultural / heritage attraction.

The report states, “The lands are zoned ‘Commercial 1 Town Centre’ in the Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2008-2014 as varied, where it is the policy of the council to allow for a broad range of facilities and services which fulfill a function as a focus for both the community and public transport.”

The report continues, “In this respect the lands are open to consideration to a variety of uses, residential, office, retail etc.

This would include a tourism / cultural venture having regards to the proximity of the site to the Franciscan Abbey.

“Development restriction may apply with regards to the impact any development would have on the adjacent Franciscan Abbey to the west of the site. Archaeological examination would be required,” Mr Power adds.

Mr Power states the lands are being offered for sale at a price “reflecting their commercial development”.

The report concludes that subject to issues surrounding access and traffic management being satisfactorily resolved, “it could be considered a suitable location for a major cultural heritage attraction”.

PARKING, or the lack of, is never far from the debate when the health of businesses in Ennis is being discussed. And last Tuesday’s meeting to discuss proposed changes to the Ennis and Environs Development was no exception.

The issue arose when former Mayor of Ennis, councillor Frankie Neylon (Ind), claimed he hadn’t been able to secure free parking for his ‘Super Tuesday’ initiative because the President of Ennis Chamber of Commerce, John Dillane was not in the country.

Super Tuesday took place in Ennis earlier this month. Cllr Neylon put forward the idea as a means of promoting local businesses and encouraging shoppers into the town.

Speaking in the Old Ground Hotel, Cllr Neylon claimed he had wanted parking charges to be suspended for the day. However, he said that when he raised the matter with officials at Ennis Town Council he was told a decision could not be taken because Mr Dillane was in China. This claim was immediately rejected by both Chamber Vice President Brian O’Neill and Chamber CEO Rita McInerney.

Speaking last Wednesday, Ms McInerney confirmed that while Mr Dillane had been away on holidays at the start of September, he returned to the town on September 3, three days before Super Tuesday.

She explained, “He [Mr Dillane] was never contacted about anything to do with free parking and neither was I.” Ms McInerney also confirmed that Mr Dillane had not been in China at the time. The discussion prompted further calls for changes to the system of parking charges in Ennis, which businesses say is essential to bringing more shoppers to the town centre.

Ms McInerney said the introduc- tion of free parking in Limerick city in the lead up to Christmas last year had been a “huge success”. She said councillors had already started calling on Limerick City Council to repeat the policy this year. Aoife Madden, Chairperson of Ennis Development Forum, claimed the high cost of parking is turning shoppers away from Ennis. Addressing local councillors, she said, “If ye can bring down the cost of parking it would bring the people back into town.”

THE current site of Ennis National School would be more suitable for large retail developments than a location away from the town centre, a meeting has heard.

The school is due to move from its present location on Kilrush Road to a new site at Ashline with construction work due to commence this autumn.

In addition to 32 classrooms, the building will include rooms for our reading class, special education teachers and library. The building will have an energy rating and a level of disability access, which is ahead of current regulations. Facilities for sport will include a full-size sports hall with dressing rooms and a playing pitch.

The current site was put forward as an alternative to a proposed major urban development at lands at Tobertascáin and the Limerick Road, at a meeting in Ennis last week.

Organised by Ennis Chamber of Commerce, the meeting was held to discuss a proposed variation to the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

Vice President of Ennis Chamber, Brian O’Neill said the Chamber favoured the development of smaller scale developments located closer to the town centre.

Mayor of Ennis Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) questioned the suitability of Ennis National School as location for a major retail development.

He said there were questions to be asked over how the site could accommodate heavy traffic flows.

Referring to the suggestion of Ennis National School, Cllr Guilfoyle said, “If you’re going to mention something, mention something that works.”

Responding to Cllr Guilfoyle’s comments, Ennis based architect and urban planner Michael Leahy, said a full assessment would have to be carried out at Ennis National School before any definitive answer could be given. Mr Leahy, who prepared Ennis Chamber’s submission on the proposed variation to the Ennis and Environs Development Plan, told the meeting that the possibility of constructing a shopping centre at the Ennis National site could not be ruled for traffic reasons alone.

“There are always engineering solutions to engineering problems,” he said.

Asked about other town centre locations for potential new shopping centres, Mr Leahy said Cusack Park had been mentioned as a possibility.

“There are definitely sites that are closer to the town centre that could be used,” he added.