The Clare People Archive

THE number of incidents responded to by the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard increased by 25 per cent last year. The Doolin Unit responded to a total of 30 incidents in 2007 compared to 24 throughout 2006. This increase in coast guard activ- ity has been mirrored throughout the country with overall incidents increasing by 8.5 per cent year-on-

year in 2007. According to figures released last week, incidents involv- ing the Coast Guard increased from 1807 in 2006 to 1961 last year.

Indeed the number of incidents has increased steadily in each of the last 8 years, growing from 1718 in 2000.

Last year’s rise mainly involved adventure sports with surfing, diving and caving incidents increasing by 31 per cent, 120 per cent and 400 per cent respectively.

‘Adventure sports are becoming the norm all over the place. If you look at Aileen’s wave under the Cliffs, peo- ple are surfing that now the same as if they were surfing in the beach in Lahinch,” said Matty Shannon of Doolin Coast Guard.

“People are getting into more ex- treme adventure sports. They get the newest technology and the newest equipment but that doesn’t mean that a accident won’t happen.

“There are so many different things that contribute to an accident, a lot of the time it is just luck.”

Mr Shannon has called for people to take more personal responsibility before they put themselves in harm’s WENA

“People never think that it will happen to them, they think that ac- cidents only happen to other people. People have to be responsible for themselves, we are a response serv-

ice. We are a response service and we are volunteers. We cannot be in the station all day every day waiting for something to happen. So people must realise that it will take 15 or 20 minutes for us to get to them. They need to take responsibility for this themselves,” he said.

The coast guard figures also show a 75 per cent increase in incidents in- volving shore anglers and 38 per cent increase in nuisance calls.

A COUPLE who struck a ‘secret’ High Court settlement with Clare County Council in relation to a plan- ning application could be in line for a €2 million windfall.

Last year, the council granted plan- ning permission for a €7.5 million 31 unit housing development to Ber- nard Madigan and Mary Keane. The two had instituted High Court legal

proceedings against the council af- ter the local authority refused plan- ning for a previous application for 31 homes at the same site outside Inagh in April 2006.

Last year, the council finally grant- ed permission for the revised devel- opment proposal and the site has now been put up for sale, with a €2 mil- lion price guide from John Vaughan Auctioneers.

The council granted for the plan

having regard to the zoning of the land, the intended use of the proposed land and the pattern of development in the area, concluding that it would not seriously injure the amenities of the area and be in accordance with proper planning and development.

At the council’s March meeting, County Solicitor John Shaw (pictured right) declined to reveal the contents of the High Court outcome relating to the planning application that was turned down at the site.

In response to a motion by Cllr PJ Kelly (FF), Mr Shaw said that the matter “is one in which you will be aware there is aconfidentiality agree- ment which has not been waived by the other side.

“The case is settled. I am still not at liberty to disclose the terms of settle-

ment in an open manner. I am happy to discuss same and disclose them in detail to individual councillors pri- vately or at a closed meeting of the council in committee.

“Councillors will be aware that I have offered this facility previously and whilst I want to be as open as possible with members of the coun- cil I do have an obligation to protect the confidentiality of this agreement. In this regard and in an effort to be of assistance to the councillors I can say that ultimately there was no financial loss to the council.”

According to Vaughan’s website, the 4.9 acres site includes planning for eight detached, 14 semi-detached and nine terraced houses. It states: “This land is located in Inagh vil- lage and within walking distance of

all amenities offered by this village. This is a flat site which would allow for easy development. All services are available close to the land.”

THERE was bad news for Shannon Airport this week with the announce- ment that planned new flights to the US have been scrapped.

Maryland based operators Kenny Tours had planned to set up a link between Shannon and a number of US airports, including Niagara Falls International in North America.

Other airports which would have been part of the plan included Chica- go Rockford International, 68 miles

North-West of Chicago and Mid America St Louis.

Kenny tours had planned to start operations on the routes from June.

But the operators have now drawn back from opening the routes citing the weak dollar, high fuel prices and difficulties in securing aircraft for the Shamrock Express charter serv- oe

The company has not ruled out the possibility of reviewing the situation next year, sources in the industry have said.

It’s believed they are now looking at a longer lead-in time for the other routes, pencilling in a date in 2009 to allow time for marketing and to sign deals with US and Irish travel com- panies. Sources have also said this would also depend on factors such as fuel prices and airport charges and the opening up of the routes which is still by no means certain.

Meanwhile, airport director, Mar- tin Moroney, has said that despite the economic slump he is confident that transatlantic numbers will hold

up over the coming months. He said he believes that the airport has suc- cessfully managed the crisis of Aer Lingus pulling out of the Shannon to Heathrow route.

Mr Moroney said that the new con- nection to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris was being well received by people needing long-haul connec- tions in and out of Shannon.

“It is not all solved but I think the vast majority of customers say the re- placement CityJet service to Charles de Gaulle is fine and we are over

the hump…CityJet and Air France are very happy and they are get- ting a high 70 per cent load factor. Had Heathrow not been replaced it would have been a major loss to the uss :a (0) 0 ae

Mr Moroney said he expected Cit- yJet would grow the Shannon-Paris service, which currently provides two flights a day on a 50-seater air- craft.He added that airport bosses would continue to seek a Heathrow slot and to aquire other hub connec- tions, including Amsterdam.

THE Mid West Regional Authority and Aer Lingus have agreed a joint approach to consolidating and ex- panding the flagship carrier’s trans- atlantic services at Shannon Airport.

During a meeting held in New York last week, both parties put forward a set of proposals for boosting regional support for existing services and de- veloping new business.

Representing Aer Lingus at the meeting in Ireland House, Park Av- enue, were Jack Foley, Executive Vice President in North America; Kate Kiernan, Director of Revenues

& Business Development; and Helen Maguire, Director Consumer Sales.

Councillor Lily Wallace (Chair- person) and Liam Conneally (Direc- tor) represented the Nenagh-based MWRA. Representatives of Clare County Council and Shannon Town Council, including both Mayors, were also present.

Councillor Wallace expressed de- light that Aer Lingus had pledged its commitment to developing trans- atlantic services at Shannon. She acknowledged that this was based on the mid-west’s relevant agencies pulling together to market the region as a desirable tourist destination.

“Aer Lingus indicated that it would be very interested in working with any parties that could assist in 1m- proving load factors on all routes,” she said. “The airline pointed out that it was not involved with destina- tion marketing but would be willing to work with the mid-west region if suitable packages and promotional material could be provided.”

According to Mr Conneally, “Aer Lingus is committed to providing competitive packages for air travel- lers as a result of the region working together to market its attractiveness, as well as developing competitive packages that complement Aer Lin-

gus fares. Such an understanding presents a win-win situation for eve- ryone. ”

Alec Fleming, member of the Re- gional Tourism Board and Desig- nated Manager MWRA, stated, “Aer Lingus were very open and expressed a willingness to open their books. I am especially delighted that they in- dicated they would travel to the mid- west to further discuss how transat- lantic services could be maintained, improved and expanded.

“The mid-west has been presented a tremendous opportunity to work with Aer Lingus, which has expressed its willingness to engage in cooperative

marketing initiatives. I would urge all relevant agencies, and the busi- ness and tourism sectors, to continue to enhance the attractiveness of the region.”

The MWRA, one of Ireland’s eight statutory regions, comprises the ad- ministrative areas of Clare, North Tipperary and Limerick County Councils and Limerick City Council. The authority has 26 elected repre- sentatives and has responsibility to promote the coordinated delivery of public services in the region. It is also Secretariat to the Government-ap- pointed Shannon Airport Marketing Consultative Committee (SAMCC).

STAYING safe at work has paid a double bonus for employees of a company in Clare.

CRH-owned Clare-based com- pany Roadstone Provinces has an- nounced that its employees have raised €10,000 for the Midwest S1- mon Community during the first six months of its partnership with the homelessness charity.

Launched in July last year, the CRH Simon Safety Challenge is an all-island initiative designed to assist the Simon Communities of Ireland’s important work in tackling home- lessness.

For every accident-free quarter (three months) achieved at any Road- stone Provinces company location across the country, a sum of money was donated to the Midwest Simon Community. Company locations that achieve a full accident-free year will have the opportunity to donate an ad- ditional 25 per cent bonus payment on top of the four combined quar-

terly donations, to be awarded at the end of the year.

In the first six months of the CRH Simon Safety Challenge, CRH staff across Ireland raised a total of €328,/44 for the Simon Commu- UI AYA

The challenge is on track to meet its national objective of raising a to- tal of €1 million by the end of June this year.

Speaking at the announcement of the monies raised to date, Michael Keating, CRH Safety Challenge spokesperson said, “There has been a fantastic response to the safety chal- lenge from our staff in Clare, who have really gotten behind the drive to help raise money for the Simon Sreseaveeltvayi nam

According to Sarah Birchett of the Midwest Simon Community, “This CRH-led initiative is a great example of how the business world can link with a charity to help raise awareness and promote a better understanding of a complex social problem like homelessness.”

ENNIS Town Council has been ac- cused of “taking unfair advantage” by demanding over €300,000 in planning levies after “forcing” a fam- ily to lodge a planning application.

Earlier this year, Ennis Town Council granted Michelle Madden planning permission to redevelop the family-run furniture showrooms at Station Road, Ennis.

Mrs Madden lodged the application

after the council issued a Compulso- ry Purchase Order (CPO) for lands at the address to facilitate the develop- ment of the Ennis inner relief road.

However, the local business family were shocked after the local author- ity demanded €332,020 in levies if they wished to proceed with the de- velopment.

The family face a bill of €255,500 for car-parking facilities although the council don’t plan to provide car- parking in the area. The council is

also demanding €76,520 for a con- tribution to public facilities benefit- ing the development.

It is not known how much money the Maddens received in compensa- tion for the CPO.

However, consultants for Mrs Mad- den state in an appeal lodged to An Bord Pleanala seeking to delete the council’s financial demands, that the council “is taking unfair advantage of the situation”.

The consultants state that “Mrs

Madden has been forced to apply for planning permission in this instance and that all financial contributions should be dispensed with in this or Won

‘No allowance has been made for the fact that Mrs Madden’s business premises is long in existence. No al- lowance has been made for the dem- olition of existing areas of the build- ing and no allowance for the fact that substantial areas of the building are to be retained and compromised by the demolition to allow the CPO to proceed and further compromised by the resultant development”

The consultants states that Mrs Madden has been compelled to apply for the application by the actions of the council.

In response, Ennis Town Council has told An Bord Pleanala that the contributions were calculated in good faith, properly applied and that there was “no exemption from develop- ment contributions in circumstances where there is a CPO on site.”

The council asks, “Why should one development not be charged for parking when other businesses who extend their floor area or build new are charged for parking as per the scheme or provide it on site.”

They argue that the application has to be dealt with as an issue that is completely independent of any road development proposals.

A decision is due on the appeal later this year.

yesterday that a number of “malicious” letters and e-mails directed both and himself

and the centre had been circulated anonymously to people in the Irish arts community.

The Western Writers Centre will this weekend host the Forge, Gort’s first ever literary festival.

“People from Dublin have been coming up to me thinking that we are running a mad-house down here in the west. This correspondence is malicious and it is damaging,” said Mr Johnson.

“We have heard from people in the Arts Council that it is having a dam- aging effect. Everything this person

says in these letters and e-mails is a lie but I guess that if you throw enough mud some will stick.

“Over the last four year both myself and the Western Writers Centre has been the subject of this anonymous correspondence sent to a variety of different people in the art commu- nity and beyond. Last year, for exam- ple, I was due to take up a residence at the Princess Grace Irish Library of Monaco and they received some of this anonymous correspondence about me and the centre.”

Fears have been raised, however,

that bad publicity as a result of the smear campaign may make the west less attractive to writers.

“The intent of this is to frustrate me and the work of the centre,’ contin- ued Mr Johnson.

“The Arts Council have received these letters, they know what going on as does the county council. A lot of important people in the artistic community have seen these letters and they are damaging. It’s mali- cious, it creates a bad impression of art in the west and some investiga- tion needs to take place.”

ENGLISH clubs are battling it out for the signature of talented Newmarket Celtic goalkeeper Shane Cusack.

Fifteen-year-old Cusack spent last week on trial at Colchester City, where he played against Cork City. It’s the fifth time in the past year he has travelled to play for the Champi- onship outfit.

Others too are monitoring Cusack’s progress, with Leicester City among the clubs keen to secure his services. Leicester know a bit about keepers, having famously given Peter Shilton his start in professional football.

Interest in the 6’3” stopper first emerged following his performances for Clare in the 2006 Kennedy Cup.

He travelled to Colchester in Au- gust 2007 and since then has trained with the club’s first team and started a match in a friendly tie against lower league opposition.

The East Anglian club were impressed with Cusack’s ob- vious physical at-

tributes, sound hands and booming goal kicks.

If, as anticipated, Cusack does make

the move, he would sign a two-year

apprenticeship contract and learn his trade on the club’s Youths Training Scheme (YTS).

Cusack wore the number one shirt for Clare squads at under 14, under 15, under 16 and at

youth level.

This season he made his debut at senior lev- el, between the posts for his hometown club Newmarket Celtic.

A graduate of the eV acm oniCom(ouse my itbee ster Emerging ‘Talent Programme at Lees Road, Cusack caught the eyes of English scouts for his perform-

ances at Ireland’s Premier underage tournament, the Kennedy Cup. Cusack’s rapid progress through the

ranks highlights the massive strides

made in recent years at grassroots level in Clare soccer. Shane’s father Seamus, is proud of his son’s com- mitment to playing at the highest lev- el. “That was the fifth time he was over. It’s a pretty tough schedule over there. You have to be really commit- ted to make it.”

Seamus praised the input of coaches in Clare and of St Patrick’s Athletic number one and Ennis man Barry Ryan. “Denis Hynes (FAI County Development Officer), Ronnie Pyne and Pat Tarrant have been great as well. Denis was his coach all the way along and he did a few coaching ses- sions with Barry Ryan which were creat.”

IN assuming the reins of power last autumn, Mike McNamara was at pains to point out that Clare’s hurling future lay in a re-building process. It was all about “restoring our pride in Munster” — a soundbite McNamara has used many times in the interven- ing months.

How long that journey takes will only be known with time — in the heat of summer battle, this summer or maybe in summers beyond as Clare bid to mix it at provincial level for the first time 1n many years.

The county has only recorded one victory in the Munster Championship since 1999 — that was on a rainy day by the Lee in 2003 when Tipperary were pummeled into submission.

Breaking that cycle of defeat is McNamara’s main focus, something he’s been eyeing up during Clare’s five-match league campaign that fi- nally ground to a halt in O’Connor Park in Tullamore on Sunday with a spluttering win over Offaly.

However, despite it being a poor league in terms of results, it can be deemed satisfactory in the context of the re-building process. Twenty six players saw duty for Clare in the five games.

Some were tried and trusted, with a spine of players from the Clare 2002 All-Ireland final team still in- tact as McNamara set about blending some new players into the fold. The old hands were players like Frank Lohan, Conor Plunkett, Niall Guil-

ligan, Colin Lynch and Tony Car- mody. The big disappointment was that Gerry Quinn, who emerged as one of Clare’s real on-field leaders in 2007 made only one appearance, while he dropped off the panel after a challenge game against Kilkenny in early March.

Meanwhile, a raft of new players were given their chance to shine. Mark Flaherty was on the panel for a few weeks last year, but this term he started all five games and notched up 5-42. David Barrett recovered from his nightmarish debut of being sent off after a couple of minutes against Galway to play three more games; Tommy Holland played in the last three games, while Ger Arthur, Ca- thal Lafferty and Martin ‘Ogie’ Mur- phy were other league debutants.

Others like Pat Donnellan and Dar- ragh Clancy, who featured on panels past were also given their chance to claim championship jerseys. Now it’s a matter and waiting and see who’ll make the team for the | June clash with Waterford in the Gaelic Grounds.

IT’S been a busy few weeks for Clare handball and there will be more of the same this coming week with Munster finals being played across the various grades.

Having already reached the Mun- ster Under 21 Doubles final with Conor Cooney, Tulla’s Cathal Han- non has claimed the Under 21 Sin- gles title, marking Clare’s first Mun- ster Singles title of the year. It came about when he beat Shane Hayes of Clooney in an all-Clare decider at Newmarket on Friday night.

Ashling Fitzgerald and _ Edel O’Grady, both Tuamgraney, were crowned Munster Minor Ladies Doubles champions after receiving a walkover in the final.

Meanwhile, Declan Frawley of Clarecastle was defeated in the Mun- ster Intermediate Singles final after going down against an in-form Colm Jordan of Cork.

In the Silver Masters °B’ Doubles, Tuamgraney’s Teddy O’Hanlon and Tulla’s Donal Vaughan exited the Munster race when they went down against Limerick’s Jimmy Fanning and Jack Dillon.

There is Munster final action in Galbally tonight (Tuesday) as Tua- mgraney’s PJ Counihan and Jimmy

Walsh take on Michael Jordan and Jim Kennedy of Cork in the Dia- mond Masters °A’ decider.

On the local scene, the second of this year’s Clare League finals was played during the week with Tulla scoring a comprehensive win over Tuamgraney to take the Division 3 title. The winning team was Cathal Hannon, Trevor Vaughan, Sam Ed-

brooke and Aidan Lynch, plus subs used during the year.

Clooney had already claimed the Division 4B title with victory over Tuamgraney while tonight also sees both 4A semi-finals with Shan- non playing O’Callaghans Mills in Clarecastle and Tuamgraney A fac- ing Clarecastle in Tulla.

On Wednesday night the focus

switches to Clarecastle for both Di- vision 2 semis as Tuamgraney and O’Callaghans Mills clash in Court | and Clooney go up against Kilkishen in Court 4. All games are at 8pm.

In juvenile handball, the Banner’s up-and-coming stars kicked off their own Munster Championship cam- paigns over the weekend. Clare were represented from under 12 to under

17, boys and girls, at Munster semi- final stage against Cork opponents generally and Waterford at under 13 girls and under I5 boys.

It proved to be a successful week- end on the whole, with Banner victo- ries in a number of the age-grades.