The Clare People Archive

IN what will be one of his first of- ficial functions since he was con- firmed as the incoming President of the GAA, Christy Cooney will be in O’Callaghan’s Mills next Saturday to officially open the club’s new field, Pairc Naohn Padraig.

The opening will take place at 5.30pm and will be followed by a Clare and Galway hurling challenge game which throws iat 6.30pm.

This should be a competitive and sharp game before both counties face into their All Ireland campaigns and both Mike McNamara and Ger Loughnane have confirmed that they will field strong starting fifteens.

The pitch had been under develop- ment since 2001 and includes a hand-

ball alley and car parking facilities as well as modern dressing rooms. The pitch itself has been up and running for the past two years but Saturday will see the red tape cut officially. At half-time in the senior hurling

challenge, some of the club’s great- est representatives will also be hon- oured. The 1977 intermediate cham- pions of Clare will parade before the crowd and their presence is sure to stir some local passions. This was the same side that then went to the senior final in the same year and failed to take the top prize by a single point.

There are those in the Mills who still say they should have done that unique double 31 years ago, but Sat- urday’s opening, which will draw a large crowd, could herald the begin- ning of a new chapter in the club’s history.

SPORTING ACTIVITY for those with a physical disability has all the advantages of sport for the able body. There are the numerous health benefits, the improvement in physi- cal well being, the joy of achieving difficult goals, the camaraderie of team sports with people of similar disabilities and the ultimate possibil- ity of representing your country at a Paralympic Games.

The ideal of the Paralympic Games is that of a “Parallel Games’ for those with primarily physical disability. It provides a forum for competition amongst the elite disabled athletes

of the world. Athletes must achieve a qualifying standard before being able to take part in a Paralympic Games. Some team sports have pre- qualifying competitions i.e. football. The summer games have a wide range of sports from football to ar- chery, and include athletics, swim- ming, Boccia (like indoor bowls) ta- ble tennis, equestrian dressage, judo, wheelchair rugby, basketball, ten- nis, volleyball amongst many other sports. The winter Games includes alpine discipline like downhill and super G, The athletes have varying degrees of physical disability (as distinct from those with a primarily intellectual disability) including par-

aplegic, quadriplegic, cerebral palsy visual impairment, upper and lower limb amputees and a variety of other physical disabilities. Within each disability group or sport athletes are ‘classified’ according to the level of their disability and then compete against others of similar classification 1.e. those who can walk compared to those who need to use a wheelchair in athletics for athletes with cerebral palsy. The rules of competition are only modified from those that ap- ply to able bodied athletes where this is necessary, such as in athletics for wheelchair users throwing dis- cus, javelin or shot putt where they throw from special adapted chairs or in Swimming where blind swimmers are ‘tapped’ to inform them that they have arrived at the end wall of the pool. All athletes are subject to dop- ing control by WADA rules in the same way as are able bodied athletes and are tested frequently in and out of competition.

The mid west, and County Clare, has a proud record of involvement in Paralympic Sports. At the last Paral- ympics in Athens in 2004 there were 2 Clare men in the Irish Paralympic team, one of whom, Derek Malone, won a medal, and the other, James Murrihy, who plays with the Cer- ebral Palsy Football team. Both are hoping to make the team again for the upcoming Bejing Games later in the summer. Already the search is on for the Paralympian of the future with the launch of the Paralions Pro- eramme for young disabled sports- people which hopes to identify those young people actively interested in sports who have potential for the fu- ture. All physically disabled young people are invited to take part.

The Clare People 10K is the type of opportunity for disabled people to come and try out as you can race if you want or simply take part for the enjoyment of the preparing for and completing the challenge.

Paralympic Athletes have to do a mixture of general conditioning training (strength, flexibility, core stability) and sport specific technique training. The principles of training for strength and endurance train- ing are the same as for able bodied

people. Only small adaptations are required, in strength training in the gym for instance resistance bands or using handles/straps instead of bars for gripping the weight. Most ath- letes train once a day, some twice a day. Disabled athletes benefit greatly from increased physical activity with improvements in strength, co-ordina- tion, general flexibility, better muscle tone control, improved health & self confidence etc. Paralympic athletes have full sports science (medical, physiotherapy, psychology, strength & conditioning and _ physiology) backup.

For further information visit www. pcireland.ie or contact the Paralym- pic Council of Ireland on 01 6251175, Irish Blindsport 01 2020118, Irish Wheelchair Association (Sport) 01 8186400 or Cerebral Palsy Sport 086 yee

Fintan O’Donnell MISCP, MCSP is physio to Irish Paralympic Team 2008 and can be reached in the Ennis Physiotherapy Clinic 065 6840757.

AN independent advocacy service for people with intellectual disabili- ties has been launched in Clare.

The Citizens Information Centre in Clare has appointed Greg Duff to the post, which is geared towards reach- ing out to those with intellectual dis- ALOU LW Coe

Mr Duff previously held the post as advocacy resource officer with the Citizens Information Service in Limerick and Tipperary and will slot into this new post.

“This post is geared towards peo- ple with intellectual disabilities who have issues. Like every person in society, they should be allowed to ac hieve their full potential. People want independent living,” he said.

“Previously I was building the ca- pacity of advocacy into companies by supporting the staff and volun- teers. Now I will be doing the advo-

cacy myself,” he added.

In his new post, Mr Duff – who lives in Shannon and is a member of the local town council – will be working one-on-one with those with intellectual disabilities.

“People with intellectual disabili- ties just want the same opportunities as everybody else,’ he added.

“We need to identify if there are gaps where we can compliment what is there,’ said Mr Duff.

He will be based in Ennis, but will build up contacts throughout the county.

The Manger of the Citizens Infor- mation Centre in the county, Paul Woulfe said the new post will ensure everybody has a voice.

“This is a specialist service, mak- ing sure their interests are put first and foremost,’ said Mr Woulfe.

“Initially he will work with clients from the Brothers of Charity,’ added Mr Woulfe.

A KIN VARA teenager has been cho- sen from more than 39 million peo- ple to travel the world at the expense of social networking website Bebo.

Roxanne MHughes-Monteiro was last week picked as one of six young people, plucked from every corner of the globe, who will take part in a 6 month long Big Brother style online competition.

The Gap Year will follow the six Bebo travellers on a globe-trotting journey that will be documented on the site through video diaries, blogs and photos.

“We are trying to get Bebo users to engage with us. When we’re in cer- tain areas we’re hoping people will recommend places to go and things

to do,” said Roxanne.

Roxanne, who has just turned 19, qualified for the competition by tak- ing part in an interactive audition process which involved the creation of a video postcard about her dream gap year.

Hughes-Monteiro is the only Irish participant in the series and she will be joined by Canadian Andre Tar- diff, New Zealander Lewis Whaitir1, American Cara Cioni, Dave Brett from the UK and Amy O’Connor from Australia.

The series is being produced by Endemol, the company responsible for reality shows such as Big Brother and Fear Factor. The Gap Year group begins its journey on May 21 at a lo- cation yet to be announced.

“The Gap Year is the first truly interactive reality series, giving Be- boers a unqiue layer of interactivity — the chance to literally steer the fate of the contestants’ global journeys,” said Bebo president Joanna Shields.

“International events on the travel agenda include Rio Carnival in Bra- zil, the Chinese New Year in China and the Full Moon Party in Thai- land,”

‘Each contestant will face an array of challenges, watched by Bebo us- ers who will also be able to commu- nicate with them and vote in weekly polls which will directly influence how the journeys unravel.”

Roxanne was already on a year out between school and college as she was Saving up to study in New York. Bebo users will keep up with Rox- anne and the rest of the globetrotters by tuning into the series online www. bebo.com/thegapyear

Roxanne’s own page is available on www.bebo.com/RoxanneHugheslIre- land.

last week com- plaining that anti-social behaviour, and joyriding in particular, is forcing the early closure of Dromore Woods and Nature Reserve.

These claims have been refuted by a local NPWS spokeswoman, who did reveal that a number of cars have been broken into at the woods in re- cent times and that it had been used as a “racetrack” for joyriders in the past.

‘There has been some cars broken into out in the park but that is not the

reason that it is being closed at 7pm. The gates are closed at 7pm because they close the gates in Coole Park at 7pm. The decision was made so as to make the two parks uniform,” said Emma Glandville of the NPWS.

‘In the summer we close the gates at 7pm and in the winter we close them at 5pm. That’s the way it’s al- ways been.

“There are two people who’s job it is to take down those barriers and it would not be fair on them to have them going out later in the evening.

“There was a problem with joyrid- ing in the past but we put ramps in and that put paid to that. We have had young people going in and using it as a racetrack.”

Ms Glandville also confirmed that decisions on the opening hours of Dromore Park was not taken locally.

However, a national spokesman for

the NPWS declined to comment on the matter and also refused to con- firm that the NPWS had any role to play regarding the administration of Dromore Woods.

This is not the first time that the issue of antisocial behaviour have emerged in relation to Dromore Woods.

The matter was previously raised in a Dail debate by current Minister for State at the Department of Agricul- ture, Trevor Sargent (GP).

Responding to these allegations, the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, former Clare TD Sile de Valera, confirmed that the woods had suffered “continuous and unac- ceptable incidences of vandalism’.

She also confirmed that, at that time, the woods stayed open until 9.30pm in the summer and 7.30pm in the winter.

TWO Clare fundraisers have set themselves a target of €5,000 for St Luke’s Hospital, Dublin, in the Reeks Challenge.

The reeks are those famous McGil- lycuddy mountains in Kerry and the challenge is to climb four of them on Sunday, May 25, a most appropriate choice of date since it’s the feast of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ).

The latest examples of great Clare tradition of volunteerism are Jim McMahon of Ennis and Kerry na- tive, Chris Whittencome who now lives in Tulla.

Jim told the attendance at a func- tion to launch the fundraising in the Ennis Adult and Community Educa- tion Centre, Clonroad Business Park, that he was motivated dually: by the death of his father, Brendan (Lahi- nch Road), from cancer a year ago, and his own brush with a form of the disease in his early 20s.

Wheels Within Wheels Motorbike Project was the catalyst for the Ennis event, presenting a Bike Night of in- formation on building bikes, racing,

grasstrack racing, motocross and the like, all inspired and got together by another McMahon, Jacko from Mar- ian Avenue, Ennis, himself a formi- dable fundraiser for various causes.

Enthusiastically hosting the occa- sion was the Education Officer of Clare Vocational Education Com- mittee, Dr Sean Conlan (latterly the head of Clare Adult and Com- munity Education Service) and a dedicated biker for 30 years when a priest friend gave him a motorcycle that would take him to Dublin and Maynooth for his initial third-level lectures.

There too to lend their support to the Reeks Climb campaign were the chairman of Clare Vocational Education Committee, Cllr. Tommy Brennan, along with fellow Town Cllr Johnny Flynn and County Cllr Pat Daly, something that was deeply appreciated by the St Luke’s cam- paigners.

A group of participants from Clare last week completed a seven week HSA Approved First Aid Course run by the Limerick Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The Course was run in the local Head- quarters of the St John Ambulance Brigade in Parnell St. in Limerick, on Tuesday evenings from 7.00pm to 10.00pm. The Deputy Mayor of Lim- erick Clr. Gerry McLaughlin and the P.R.O. of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Ursula Stokes presented the First Aid Certificate to a total of 24 People on the night, which came from Clare and Limerick.

The Deputy Mayor Clr. Gerry McLaughlin congratulated all the participants for their attendance and Graduating with flying colours with the HSA Approved First Aid Course

which is valid for three years. He gave particular praise to the 7 peo- ple from Clare who travelled long distances to complete the Course. He thanked them and encouraged them to continue to help out in their local communities when the need arises. The Superintendent of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Philip Tuohy congratulated the class not alone on completing the 18 hour course, but also graduating with the HSA Certi- fication valid for three years. He paid tribute to the major effort that each and every one of the participants had to make after completing an eight hour day at work, home, or college, and then having to attend for another three hours every Tuesday evening, for seven weeks. Mr. Tuohy said he hoped it was a pleasant and informa- tive time and that the class would have retained some of the informa-

tion that was given; he also asked that the class continue to read the First Aid Manual and to hold small practice sessions between them- selves where possible. Congratula- tions and Certificates were awarded on Elizabeth Murray Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, Teresa Nihill, and Bridget Conlon from Clonlara, who were un- able to attend the presentation.

The St. John Ambulance run First Aid Courses at different intervals thoughtout the year, further infor- mation can be obtained by contact- ing them on 061-412480, or email at styjohnambulancelimerick@hotmail. com

STXMILEBRIDGE is set to become Clare’s fastest growing village with planning applications before Clare County Council valued at over €130 million set to transform the local community.

According to the 2006 census, the population of Sixmilebridge ex- ceeded 2,000 for the first time in liv- ing memory with the the population registered at 2,029, representing an increase of 15.7% on the previous

ere

Now, in a development expected to increase the size of the village even further, Cormac Quigley is seeking to construct a €55 million develop- ment comprising of 221 residential UUObLRSE

The plan involves 75 two bedroom duplex units; 38 three bedroom semi- detached dwellings; 25 three bed- room townhouses; 22 three bedroom duplex units; 34 two bedroom garden apartment units; 10 one bedroom garden apartment units;10 three bed-

room stepdown garden apartments; 6 three bedroom detached dwellings and three four bedroom detached OM ob b areas

Mr Quigley is also proposing a creche as part of the project.

Separately, Fordmount Develop- ment have recently lodged further information on plans for a mixed-use scheme comprising residential, retail, community and commercial uses on a nine acre site bounded by the Lim- erick Road. This plan involves retail floorspace of 13,367 sq.m and 79

residential units.

The retail aspect of the project in- volves a convenience anchor store; 9 retail units; an off-licence; an office/ commercial/community suite; 5 non- retail services units; a bar/restaurant; a bank facility; a hot food take-away and a creche as well as 389 sqm. an- cillary floorspace.

There is also provision for 276 car parking spaces.

These applications coincide with a proposal to develop the village’s first hotel while Clare hurler, Niall Gil-

ligan has also lodged planning ap- plications aimed at revitalizing the village centre.

Rinn Construction Ltd has already secured planning permission for 33 homes and is seeking approval for a further 32.

The local national school is already trying to cope with the rapid scale of expansion and secured planning per- mission for a temporary classroom last year, while the local GAA and soccer clubs are also expanding their facilities.

THE founder of the Irish Rural Dwellers Association, Jim Connolly has complained to County Manager, Alec Fleming about a verbal attack on him by a senior council planner.

Last month, Scottish-born planner Bill Sansum responding to a claim from Mr Connolly (below) that ru- ral dwellers are suffering from an imported “British ideology in the planning system” said that as a for- eign national and planner working in Clare, he took strong exception to this sort of “gratuitous, offensive and paranoid drivel’.

Mr Connolly has now written to Mr Fleming and the Ombudsman stating that any attack of this kind made by a local authority employee on a mem- ber of the public was in breach of the code of conduct for employees and brought the Council into disrepute ‘‘as well as shattering any confidence in the planning system vis-a-vis fair- ness and impartiality”.

“As a private citizen pursuing my

democratic right to lobby for legisla- tive change in planning and to public- ly challenge what the IRDA contend is a historically accurate planning ideology of forced urbanisation on rural Ireland which has its origins in the UK, I object in the strongest pos- sible terms to the personal attacks made about me in newspapers by planners employed by local authori- (one

“T also refer to the Ombudsman’s Guide to Standards of Best Practise for Public Servants which “clarifies citizens rights and the principles of good administration which include objectivity and impartiality and the need to avoid unfair discrimina- wo) eae

“It is not just a damning indictment of the planning process that indi- vidual planners are permitted to vent their spleen in the media on private citizens going about their legitimate, democratic pursuits, but confirms the behaviour of many planners as being personal, autocratic, arrogant and unaccountable.

In his comments last month, Mr Sansum said that by attacking local authority planners in this way and as a soft target, Mr Connolly did the IRDA no credit whatsoever.”

Mr Sansum said that the IRDA’s arguments in favour of loosening up the rules for more one-off hous- ing in rural areas don’t stack up as Government policy was moving the other way.”

He said that as a professional plan- ner, he was accountable to Irish law and Irish guidelines on planning.

AN BORD PLEANALA has ig- nored the objections of a number of residents’ associations to give the go-ahead for a €45 million housing development near the O’Keeffe oil depot in Ennis.

Dismissing objections from _ resi- dents in Pine Grove, Oak Park, Wil- low Park, Tobarkeel and Drehid- nagower Road against the 241 house

plan by Michael Lynch Ltd, the ap- peals board also overruled the strong recommendation of its own inspec- tor to refuse the application on four separate counts.

Two years ago, Ennis Town Council granted permission for the scheme at Drehidnagower Road, Lifford, and an inspector’s report into the appeal was delivered in January of last year.

However, in finally making its de- cision on the appeal, the Board has

significantly reduced the number of units in the proposal due to concerns over the impact the development will have on the Ennis floodplain.

The Board ruled that five apartment blocks be omitted and 28 terraced TO leehe

In her report, the inspector said the development was contrary to the En- nis Development Plan because of its excessive density, its inappropriate urban style site layout and its nega-

tive impact on existing houses.

She recommended refusal on the basis that the development didn’t take account of the basic principles of good urban design; would result in a substandard form of development with diminished on site residential amenity; would be out of character and visually obtrusive in the town- scape, with consequent serious injury to the visual amenities of the area.

In deciding not to accept the In-

spector’s recommendation to refuse permission, the Board had regard to the location and zoning of the lands in Ennis and considered that the modifications required addressed the Inspector’s concerns in relation to flooding, traffic safety and the order- ly development of adjoining lands.

The proposed development would, therefore, be 1n accordance with the proper planning and sustainable de- velopment of the area.