The Clare People Archive

NEW figures show that east Clare is the part of the county hardest hit by the recession.

Live register figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) yes- terday, show that there has been a 91 per cent rise in unemployment in the east Clare area.

Overall, between February of this year and February 2008, the numbers receiving welfare in the Tulla Social Welfare Office serving east Clare has increased from 610 to 1,168.

This compares to a 76 per cent in- crease across the county where the numbers on the live register have increased from 5,072 to 8,932 in the space of 12 months.

The figures from Ennis show there has been a 74 per cent increase go- ing from 2,946 in February 2008 to 5,136 in February 2009.

The figures for the north Clare area show that there was also a 74 per cent increase with the numbers on the live register increasing from 807 to 1,348.

The statistics relating to west Clare

show that the numbers in Kilrush on the live register increased from 709 to 1,216 — arise of 71 per cent.

Reacting to the figures yesterday, east Clare councillor, Cllr Colm W1- ley (FF) said, “These figures are of real concern and it is very serious. The indications are that it is going to get worse and I don’t know what exactly can be done about it at this stage.”

Cllr Wiley said that the companies located in east Clare, including Finsa and Olympus Diagnostica, “are hold- ing their own, but Finsa would be

vulnerable as it depends so much on the construction industry”.

Killaloe-based Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) also expressed his concern over the figures. He said, “East Clare is predominantly a tourist area and, in a world recession, they are the jobs most at threat.

“T would hope now that any tour- ism projects that are being proposed would be located in east Clare. | would also call on all the support agencies to provide assistance to any people considering start-up business- es in the area.”

IRISH companies are operating in economic circumstances that have never been seen before, and facing severe challenges in terms of both securing their business and retain- ing jobs. Maintaining and growing exports is critical.

Enterprise Ireland is looking to mo- bilise all of its national and interna- tional resources and 1s working with clients to help them address two key priorities right now – securing the vi- ability of their business, and maxim- ising their potential for growth.

Enterprise Ireland is running a special series of business workshops throughout the country for exporting client companies to help them ad- dress three key areas that can have a real impact on their ability to weath- er the current harsh trading environ- ment:

KEEPING crime patterns under re- view and creating a multi-faceted approach to tackling crime will be among the chief priorities for the Joint Policing Committee for the county.

The committee, which met for the first time yesterday, will consist of the county’s four TDs, council offi- cials, gardai, several councillors and community representatives.

‘The important thing is we keep under review the level and pattern of crime and anti-social behaviour and things like the misuse of alcohol and drugs,” said Cllr Joe Arkins, who is the chairman of the group.

‘Every corner of the county is rep- resented,’ he added.

He said that members of the public will be invited to some of the meet- ings, where they will be given the scope to express their views on issues of concern.

Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley said the forum would be “very useful. It will give gardai and politicians from across the county an opportunity to discuss issues of relevance to them. It has to be seen as a forum for devel- oping policy across the county.

“It is going to be a two-way proc- ess. Gardai and local people will work together towards a satisfactory outcome. Gardai need assistance in developing policy at a local level, for example with the county council to

develop speed limits in certain ar- eas,” said Deputy Dooley.

Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said he is hopeful the committee’s formation will be worthwhile.

“I’d be hopeful it would be opened up to the public. I think it will be a useful forum and will sort out issues in the county,” he said.

Cllr Pat Hayes (Fianna Fail) has been appointed vice-chairman of the committee. The other councillors on the committee are Bernard Han- rahan, Flan Garvey, Patrick Keane, Tony O’Brien, Cathal Crowe and

Pat McMahon (all Fianna Fail); Paul Murphy, Oliver Garry, John McIner- ney and Joe Cooney (all Fine Gael); Pascal Fitzgerald (Labour); Inde- pendent councillor Martin Lafferty and Brian Meaney (Green Party).

The current mayor of Clare, Cllr Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) is also a member of the committee by virtue of being mayor.

County Manager Alec Fleming and Director of Services with the county council Tom Coughlan are also on the committee. The commu- nity members on the committee are

Stephen Walsh (East Clare Area Net- work) and Paul Gaughran and Rich- ard Cahill (Shannon Area Network).

The committee will meet every quarter and the next meeting will take place in July.

Car break-in arrests

RENEWED calls have been made for the Government to abolish its new air travel tax in a bid to protect hundreds of jobs in Shannon and Dublin airports.

Independent councillor and former Mayor of Clare, Patricia McCarthy issued the plea in response to Rya- nair’s renewed pledge to reverse its decision to axe services at the air- ports should the Government decide to abolish the €10 tax.

Ryanair called on the Government to scrap its flat rate €10 travel tax, which is due to be introduced on April | next.

“This tax will further devastate traffic and tourism at the Irish airports, and will result in major cuts to Ryanair’s flights, schedules and traffic at Cork and Shannon airports,” a spokesman for the airline said.

Ryanair recently announced its decision to reduce services at the airports with the expected loss of at least 300 jobs and a fall of two mil- lion passengers. The low-cost car- rier has publicly blamed the negative impact of the departure tax on travel bookings as the primary reason for its move. Cllr McCarthy said the Government must now immediately clarify whether it intends to remove

or at least reduce the tax.

“It is incumbent on Government to explain to the Irish public to what ex- tent the air travel tax is more benefi- cial to the economy than the signifi- cant jobs and revenue generated by the Ryanair services in question.

If the Government cannot justify this tax, then it should be held ac- countable for the loss of these jobs,” added Cllr McCarthy.

According to the Shannon-based public representative, ““Whether this is a manufactured excuse for with- drawing services or not, the airline has clearly said it will reverse its decision to axe services and jobs if the tax is

abolished. I believe that the benefits for the economy in having these serv- ices retained at Shannon and Dublin far outweigh the benefits associated with keeping this tax in place.”

Commenting on the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan’s proposal to exclude smaller airports from the travel tax, Kieran O’ Donnell TD (FG Limerick East) said that the exclusion of Shannon is potentially hugely de- structive for the airport, Limerick and the entire mid-west region.

“T will be bringing this up in the Dail and I am calling on the Govern- ment to include Shannon Airport in the proposed exemption,” he said.

Killeen tells of his cancer battle

, edited by Gerard Madden of East Clare Heritage, again provides a valuable insight into unexplored areas of east Clare’s local history.

Michael Coffey, who lives in Mer- seyside, writes about a Clare land

dispute in Ballyvannon, Tuamgraney that came before the House of Lords in 1819, while Alfie O’Brien from Whitegate discusses the Ballinruane estate of Clanricarde, with a map and comments.

Lorna Moloney from Feakle, who lectures in the history department in the University of Limerick writes

about sex and marriage in medieval Thomond. The magnificent stained glass windows of Josh- ua and Harry Clarke in St Flannan’s Church,

Killaloe receive at- tention from Donncha MacGabhann.

Padraig G Lane, a retired history teacher from Rochestown, County Cork has done extensive research on Fenianism, the Land Question, and the Rural Labour Movement and

has contributed an article on Clare rural local organization and constab- ulary intelligence 1881-1901.

Other areas include the Clare Gold Cup by well-known historian, Kieran Sheedy, the killing of civilians by the military in Bodyke in 1817 by Denis Moloney and the coming of electric- ity to Scariff by Michael O’Gorman.

THE NATIONAL Water Activity Centre at Killaloe is celebrating a new arrival this week.

In January the NWAC received an amazing piece of luck when a very kind benefactor decided to donate a yacht to the centre for the training of young people. The centre is used by scouts and sea-scouts from all over the mid-west.

The NWAC camp chief, secretary and quartermaster took a trip to Skibbereen, in County Cork, to see ‘An Ron’ in the flesh and plan how it could be transferred to Lough Derg.

After some discussion it was de- cided to have the boat transferred on a specialist low-loader with inbuilt crane. The boat was lifted on to the truck and An Ron started the long journey to the mid-west. After an overnight stop in Patrickswell, it was at Lough Derg marina for transfer to new waters.

The newly acquired vessel was transferred to the lake by crane and sling and An Ron was soon floating in Lough Derg.

An Ron made it’s maiden voyage in freshwater without a hitch and is now is moored at the NWAC, ready for eager young hands to learn how to crew a Sail vessel.

“When our benefactor offered us the boat, we thought he was giving us a row-boat so we were stunned when we realised what it actually was,” a spokesman for the centre said. “His own children had grown up and he wanted the boat to be put to good use teaching young people, so that was our good luck.”

CLARE County Council has serious concerns over plans to construct a €12 million eight turbine windfarm in an upland area of east Clare.

In December, SWS Energy Ltd lodged plans with the council for the 350 metre high windfarm to the south of the Maghera Mountain range and seven kilometres from Tulla.

In the Environmental Impact State- ment (EIS) lodged with the plan- ning application, SWS Energy Ltd claimed that the potential impacts associated with a wind energy devel- opment of this size and layout could be absorbed and accommodated without significant impairment of the existing environment.

However, the Department of the Environment told Clare County Council that the proposal “on its own and in combination with other plans and projects, had the potential to have significant effects on the Spe- cial Protection Area (SPA) and its conservations objectives.”

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) said it couldn’t sup- port the development as it would be adjacent to Glendree Bog Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and would negatively affect its conserva- tion status by affecting the hydrol- ogy of the site, its biodiversity and its habitat.

Numerous local objections were also lodged against the plan.

In response, the council has put the plan on hold requiring additional further information.

The council stated that, “A number of serious concerns arise in terms of the geotechnical qualities and the stability of the site and the impact that the proposed development, both during construction phases and op- erational phases, may have on this.

The council has also stated that three breeding pairs of Hen Harriers were recorded within five kilometres of the site and that this is significant from a local and national perspec- tive.

The council added that the site is a known roosting site for the Green- land White Fronted goose.

“The proposed development has the potential to have significant ef- fects on the Special Protection Area and/or the Special Area of Conser- vation and their conservation objec- tives. Accordingly, a EU Habitats Directive ‘Appropriate Assessment’ is required by way of further infor- mation.”

In its objection, the IPCC stated that, “With the aim of protecting the rare and threatened blanket bog habitat of Glendreee Bog SAC, the proposed development should not be permitted.

“IPCC would consider approval of this development to be setting a very bad example for nature conserva- tion and could compromise Ireland’s commitment to conserving not only Glendree Bog SAC, but SACs throughout the country.”

East Clare gearing up for St Patrick’s Day