The Clare People Archive

LIMERICK City Council was yes- terday accused of seeking to achieve a boundary extension by stealth through purchasing houses for peo- ple on its housing list in south-east ETc

Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley said the policy was “unacceptable” and that the council’s actions had the potential to create local authority ghettos.

“Clare County Council carefully implements a housing policy of en- suring there is a spread of local au- thority tenants in housing estates in the interests of social harmony.

‘However, if Limerick City Coun- cil is purchasing in these areas you won’t get the balance right. What Limerick City Council is doing is en- tirely wrong. It is not acceptable and should not be seen as a solution to the

problems that Limerick City Council eke

“Where do you stop with this? Will Limerick City Council be able to purchase homes in Dublin? The mat- ter needs to be regulated and legisla- tion may be needed.”

Clare County Council has written to the Limerick City Council Man- ager, [om Mackey, on the matter.

The Clare letter asked to know Where the houses had been pur- chased.

In response, Mr Mackey stated, “You will appreciate that in the inter- ests of both protecting people’s right to privacy and in promoting social integration, it would not be appropri- ate for me to make public the details requested by your council.”

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) of Meelick said, “If Limerick City Council is ex- porting into Clare the small minority of families that have been causing

trouble, it would be met with staunch Opposition.

“However, as a councillor in the area, I would be the first to welcome genuine people into the community fabric in south-east Clare.

“It is regrettable that Limerick City Council could not have been more honest and forthright in relation to its policy.”

Describing Limerick City Council’s attitude as “cavalier”, Cllr Crowe said that he believed that Limerick City Council had purchased up to seven homes in Westbury.

“I believe that the city council has enquired about purchasing homes in Clonlara, Meelick, Parteen and Ard- nacrusha,” he said.

Cllr Crowe said that he had request- ed Limerick City Council to provide details of the number of homes it had purchased in Clare, but that the city council had refused.

SR ETHEL Normoyle’s heart is so big you’d wonder where she finds room for any other vital organs in tes mm BUS W AB Bes BO Non

She is clearly very uncomfortable when people describe her as “a liv- ing saint” or most often the “Mother Theresa of South Africa”.

The Lissycasey woman will look at you in bemusement and say “but I met Mother Theresa – she was a truly wonderful woman.”

Yet every person who meets Ethel will say there is a light about her, a huge ability to comfort, to pay atten- tion and to make the person she is speaking to feel like the only person in the universe.

When Ethel Normoyle told her family in Lissycasey she was going to join the Litthke Company of Mary, there were – according to those who know her – a few disbelieving eye- brows raised.

The attractive young woman who loved singing and the company of her friends and neighbours seemed an unlikely candidate for the veil, it TST BLO

When she was asked to go to Africa as a trained nurse, she has no hesita- tion in admitting she didn’t want to leave her beloved county Clare.

“My family predicted I’d last six months”, she says, looking back on more than 30 years in Africa.

Ethel’s first posting in Africa was to Pretoria and while this was a chal- lenging post, her next assignment left her totally at a loss at first.

She arrived in the township out- side Port Elizabeth and was totally stunned by the extent of the poverty and the need.

In 1988 she had no base, no build-

ing, no introduction and no blueprint for how to proceed.

A white woman in Apartheid South Africa, walking among people living in dire poverty in shacks, she was taking a huge personal risk.

“IT just kept coming back and talk- ing to people. I wore my veil in those days to try to let people know I was not siding with whites who support- ed Apartheid,’ says Ethel.

Her first breakthrough was when a township woman who had a tree

in the yard beside her shack offered Ethel the use of the tree.

“IT wondered at the time, what use can I make of a tree? Then summer came and I saw just how important a tree is in giving shade.”

She began with a small school for the children under that tree and moved on to set up a clinic in a metal container.

Shortly afterwards, sympathetic members of the business community in Port Elizabeth built three rooms

for her in the township and that was the beginning of Missionvale.

Over the years, she has suffered personal physical and verbal attack, being forced out of her home by white neighbours who didn’t want people from the township calling to a door in their neighbourhood.

Once, she was kidnapped and stabbed. The plucky daughter of Lis- sycasey fought off her attackers, and drove herself to hospital after being stabbed through the lung.

The love she has for people shines out of her.

She rarely talks to anyone with touching them, and she distributes hugs with genuine joy.

Her attenae is always tuned to be- ing helpful and when a deadline is approaching for stories to be sent to

FOR the last six months, the people of Clare have been turning out in droves to support every possible kind of fundraiser to help send the volun- teers to South Africa on the Building of Hope Project.

There is, as yet no final figure for the amount raised through the hun- dreds of events which were arranged across the length and breath of the county and further afield.

While those travelling to Mission- vale for the project were required to raise €3,000 apiece to cover the costs of their travel and accommoda- tion, as well as a contribution to the cost of the building, most raised far in excess of that.

One volunteer raised almost €29,000 and many raised more than €10,000 as the generosity of the Clare spirit overflowed.

“It’s unbelievable the amount of money that came out of one county”, said one of the project organisers, Olive Halpin. “Every single per- son in Clare must have contributed in some way. So much has already

come in and it’s still coming in. Peo- ple in Clare have been incredibly supportive.

The fund-raising events were as ingenious as they were useful. One volunteers company colleagues held a “guess who’s bum it 1s’, competi- tion, with photos of colleagues’ der- rieres.

All manner of items were auc- tioned, from pieces of art and furni- ture to the services of a fine stallion.

Another volunteer even auctioned his wife’s kisses!

Then there were the companies who contributed cash and all-impor- tant time off for their staff.

Lourda Doyle, said her employers, Isevier allow two days for taking part in voluntary work, called Care DEES

“I received a fantastic €1000 do- nation from Brenda Curtin MD of Elsevier. Gerry Gallagher organised a quiz at Christmas this collected €430. Liza raised €395 and I raised €900 in sponsorship from friends and colleagues in the company. They were brilliant’, said Lourda.

When all the cash is accounted

for, it’s expected that the full cost of the building of the care centre and hospice at Missionvale will be re- deemed.

But with a population of €125,000 in the township, living in the worst imaginable conditions and devastat- ed by disease, there is always a call on the Missionvale purse.

On-going support and funding is needed and Clare fundraisers are soon to set about a campaign to get standing orders to help run the school and the newly built centre.

The last thing which the final volun- teers did before they left Missionvale was to walk the ground and plant a tree, where it’s hoped the Irish will return again in 2010 to build homes for AIDS orphans.

THEY said that it couldn’t be done, the people who know about big building projects. But more than 170 determined Irish

people and eight weeks of hard labour, sweat and blood later, the Banner was celebrating in South Africa as the new care centre and hospice at Missionvale in Port Elizabeth was handed over to Sr

Ethel Normoyle, to bring hope, comfort and dignity to the pov- erty and disease stricken people of the township.

THE ability of Ennis to achieve a rise in population to 38,000 by 2015 is under serious threat due to the current inability of the town’s infra- structure to allow new housing de- velopments.

That is the view of Green Party councillor, Brian Meaney who made his comment yesterday after Ennis Town Council raised doubts over granting planning permission to 133 houses on the northern outskirts of Ennis due to the current capacity of the Ennis sewage system.

The background issues paper on the drawing up of a new Ennis Develop- ment plan anticipates that there will be a population of 38,000 in Ennis by 2015.

However, the local council has now adopted a policy of not granting planning permission to only portions of large scale development due to the incapacity of the town’s sewage treatment plants to cater for the de- velopments.

Currently, a new €75 million sew- age treatment plant to be built in the Clareabbey area and the council must source €30 million of the cost

through developer contributions.

Ennis Town Manager, Tom Tiernan said recently that it may not be until complete until 2102.

However, in the meantime, Cllr Meaney expressed concerns that the growth of Ennis will be stymied and the town will not reach its 2015 pop- ulation target due to shortcomings in the local infrastructure.

“Unless new sewerage infrastruc- ture can be put in place, planners will be unable to plan Ennis on a sustain- able basis.

“It has been clearly flagged that the sewage capacity is exhausted,” he

Sr nLe

Cllr Meaney made his comments arising from the town council putting a plan by Keco Ltd on hold.

The construction firm is seeking to build 133 homes near Ballycorey on the northern outskirts of Ennis.

In its letter to the developers, the council states, “The Planning Au- thority has concerns at present re- garding the capacity of the main sewage treatment plant at Clonroad- more to accommodate large housing developments.

A decision is due on the planning application later this year.

THE West County Hotel was the venue last week for the 2008 Teagasc clare Dairy Seminar.

The meeting was chaired by Paddy Rynne, Teagasc adviser, who opened the meeting by reflecting on what was an exceptionally good year for the dairy industry in 2007.

The seminar was designed as a fo- rum to now look forward to the pos- sibilities and indeed challenges for the future of the industry.

Teagasc Specialist, John Norris, gave an in-depth review on dairy farm returns in 2007 based on profit

monitor analysis which showed that net profit increased by an average of over 7 cents/litre. He also considers that the prospects for 2008 are very positive with the current price likely to be maintained and the possibility of a 2 per cent increase in quotas. He did however point out that costs are increasing and that this rise could be in the region of 2.5 cents/litre, so he cautioned farmers to keep a close eye on costs.

The second presentation of the evening was delivered by Don Crow- ley who focussed on the whole area of mastitis control and keeping so- matic cell counts (SCC) low, so as to

avoid penalties on milk price.

He stressed the importance of hav- ing machinery serviced annually, and highlighted the absolute necessi- ty to have liners changed every 2500 milking or at least twice a year.

Frank Buckley spoke about the cur- rent trial work that is ongoing in the area of crossbreeding the dairy herd, which involves mainly Holstein Frie- sian cows being crossed with Jersey and Norwegian Red.

He outlined what crossbreds were delivering in real terms especially in the whole area of fertility, and he said how this may well be a very real op- tion as a “quick fix” solution in herds

with extreme fertility problems.

The final speaker on the night was Aidan Bugler who outlined some of the urgent requirements for farm- ers under the nitrates directive. He pointed out that derogation farms (those over 1/Okgs Organic Nitro- gen per hectare) required fertiliser records to be completed for 2007 and returned to the Department of Agri- culture by the March 1.

These farms also require a fertiliser plan be prepared for 2008 showing the maximum amount of Phosphorus and Nitrogen that may be applied. This plan must be prepared by the March | and retained on farm.

FIFTY seven students from County Clare were presented with FETAC Level 6 Agricultural certificates by Teagasc Area Manager, Gerard Mc- Mahon, at the Auburn Lodge Hotel last week.

Education and training are neces- sary for the future of farming and in- centives such as Stamp Duty Relief on the transfer of farm property to a young trainer farmer, Grant on Farm Structures, Installation Aid Scheme, and Early Retirement Scheme.

Farming is a very demanding ca- reer requiring a broad and extensive range of skills, from animal hus- bandry, grassland management, ma- chinery operation and financial man- agement skills, while also complying with animal welfare, traceability and health and safety regulations.

The FETAC Certificate in Farming aims to continue with the process of education in the rural community. Surveys show that a high proportion of those who complete Agricultural training go on to be successful farm- ae

They are more prepared to adopt the better farming practices of re- cent times in housing, milk record- ing, breeding policy, using AI and re-seeding.

McMahon congratulated all stu- dents and especially the 6 prize win- ners, Sean Rodgers from Crusheen who won the FBD Award, Student of the Year and O’Connor Cup, Patrick Rosengrave from Barefield who won the Cattle Production Award spon- sored by Clare Marts, Daniel Has- sett from Quin who won the Dairy Husbandry Award sponsored by Kerry Agri Business, Nuala Mc-

Donnell from Kilnamona who won the ACC Bank Environment Award, Mark Casey from Newmarket who won the Farm Management Award sponsored by Allied Irish Bank and Ciaran Coneely from Ennistymon who won the Farm Planning Award sponsored by Teagasc.

Kieran Burns, Seamus Considine, Kevin Doyle (all Doonbeg), Mark Casey (Newmarket), James Com- mane, Alfred Morgan, Greg O’ Leary (all Ennistymon), Kevin Crowley (Ballynacally), Michael Cullinan (Toonagh), Derek Daly (New Quay), John Downes (Kilmurry McMahon), Padraig Gallagher (Mullagh), Patrick Garry, Gerard Kelly (Kildysart), Gerry Gleeson, Sean Rodgers, (Crusheen), Daniel Hassett (Quin), Colm Hickey, Darragh Vaughan (Broadford), Eoin Malone, Ciaran Malone (Ennis), Paul McCarthy

(Miltown Malbay), Nuala McDon- nell (Kilnamona), Paul McTiernan (Scariff), Joe Moloney (O’Brien’s Bridge), Michael Montgomery, (Quilty), Brian O’Connor (Labash- eeda), Ivan O’Driscoll (Fanore) and Patrick Roseingrave (Barefield) all picked up Advanced Certificates in aN au (CUNAUb ues

Padraig Boland, Michael Browne, Paul Browne, Denis Clair, Padraig Clancy, Ciaran Coneely, Dermot Considine, David Crowe, Martin Enright, Michael Eustace, Cronan Forde, Oliver Galllagher, Donal Harte, Denis Lee, Brian McInerney, Nial Meade, Noel Meaney, Elizabeth Mee, Eamon Meehan, John Mescall, David Minogue, Keith Mungovan, Richard Nagle, Brendan Quinn, Sean Reidy,James Rynne, Daniel Sammon and Sean Torpey picked up 180 Hour Certificates.

GROUP water schemes in west Clare are to benefit from the single big- gest allocation for upgrading of the schemes.

Cahermurphy (near Kilmiuhil), Glenmore/Kiltumper (also near Kilmihil), and Mountrivers (near Doonbeg) are all part of a €1.8 mil- lion investment by the Department of the Environment and Local Govern- ment.

An additional €1.5 million will be used to complete work on the four eroup water schemes involved in the bundled treatment plant project Dysart/Toonagh, Killone, Kilmaley Inagh and Lissycasey).

The west Clare water schemes are also to benefit from the €1.3 million for upgrading schemes.

Farrihy (between Kilkee and Doonbeg), Lisheenfruir (nearly sure itis near Lissycasey), Loophead Ross Section, and Moyasta are to benefit under this scheme.

Making the announcement on Fri- day Clare’s, Minister of State for Environment and Energy Tony Kil- leen said that Clare had received an allocation of €5.5 million under the 2008 Rural Water Programme.

Speaking in Claregalway, where he launched his department’s annual programme, Minister Killeen said that the grant aid, which represents a 50 per cent increase on last year’s

allocation, would fund a wide range of schemes all over Clare.

“T am delighted to be able to pro- vide funding to support Clare Coun- ty Council’s ambitious and compre- hensive work programme for 2008,” he said.

“When the upgrading is completed the schemes will be taken over by Clare County Council and will be- come part of the public water sup- ply network. A further €900,000 is going to Clare County Council in response to the proposals to intro- duce improvements to a significant number of small public water and sewerage schemes around the coun- ty,’ he explained.

Minister Killeen said that the top

priority in 2008 must remain on ad- dressing water quality problems in the county’s privately sourced group water supplies.

“Clare’s allocation will ensure that the county will remain to the fore in the national drive to eliminate sub- standard rural water supplies.

“The headway made in dealing with substandard water supplies has only been possible through their hard work, dedication and spirit of partnership. I would particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of group scheme activists who, for nearly half a century, have worked tirelessly for the betterment of their neighbours and communities,’ the minister said.

MILTOWN Malbay is leading the way in innovative ideas for rural liv- ing.

On Thursday, while the West Clare Resource Centre was celebrating the launch of its new information CD highlighting the many services pro- vided in the old vocational school, the Spraoi Family Resource Centre is already expanding its service.

After years of dedicated work from a group of volunteers, the family resource centre has opened and is catering for more than 60 local chil- Clone

The centre provides pre-school, af- ter school and a drop off service ca- tering for all age groups of children, and all the varying needs of local

parents.

Just weeks into its existence and an outside playground is already being prepared for the centre.

Manager of Spraoi Patricia Lineen said that people are signing up every day for the service.

It is hoped that the state of the art playground will be up and running within weeks.

Meanwhile a bus service brings children for the after school service to the centre from Rineen, Rock- mount and Annagh national schools.

The children are looked after and can do their homework before being collected by their working parents JE ICooup DOM OOlomen osu beTee

A total of 11 people are employed in the centre, five of them part time.

Leasing the land from the VEC the

Spraoi committee set about building the new unit onto the West Clear Re- course Centre.

The newly finished state-of-the-art family resource building 1s providing a variety of support services to par- ents from the area, including child- care facilities, a homework club, in- ternet café and a meeting room.

The brainchild of a number of lo- cal women, Spraoi Family Resource Centre, has the capacity to care for 80 children in total.

The innovated centre will not just cater for working parents, but will provide a drop off service for parents who wish to go shopping or keep ap- pointments and require a baby-sit- ting service.

The centre contains a baby sleep and awake room for nine babies, 20

‘“waddlers” for children aged nine months to two years and pre-school facilities for 40 children and after school facilities for 20 more chil- Clone

Plans are also in place for summer camps in Spraoi during the holidays in July and August.

The camps will cater for sport and music lovers and will be available to schoolchildren.

SW ilomereyrNCosns ecm KOLO eeMDOM Nsom GcNliRe is also available to the local commu- UIA

Just to prove how far the centre has become part of the local commu- nity in a few short weeks, the chil- dren of Spraoi will take part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Miltown Malbay on March 17.

For information call 065 7079893.

THE people of the Burren are being given their final chance to get their spoke in ahead of the launch of a number of exciting new tourism ini- tiatives in the area.

The Ennistymon based Burren Connect Project is asking for any last suggestions before a range of new projects designed to foster a partner- ship approach to visitor management and environmental protection in the Burren will be unveiled.

Some of the most interesting ideas put forward by the project include the provision of information hubs at various locations throughout the Burren, the creation of designated viewing points for tourists and an

information booklet for hospitality businesses in north Clare and south Cr Ea

“The project team is currently fi- nalising the delivery of a number of programmes on information provi- sion and education, traffic manage- ment, conservation and access at Poulnabrone and Fanore, market research, and investigating the suit- ability of the Burren for designation as a Geopark,” said Carol Gleeson of the Burren Connect Project.

“In 2008 the team will continue fo- cusing efforts on education, training, socio-economic research, develop- ment of trails, traffic management, conservation and amenity projects, and ongoing monitoring and man- agement of developed areas.”

The Burren Connect Project was established in 2006 with funding from the Failte Ireland Development Scheme Fund, in partnership with Clare County Council, Shannon De- velopment, National Parks and Wild- life Service, National Monuments Service and Burrenbeo.

“The issues surrounding the pro- tection and sustainable use of a land- scape are complex and multiple. A truly sustainable approach to tourism can only be achieved with involve- ment and contribution from local communities,’ continued Carol.

“Thus, an important part of the project’s remit is to facilitate such contributions. The project will con- tinue to hold public consultation meetings on issues that have a direct

impact on communities in the Bur- ren.”

Recent public meetings organised by the Burren Connect Project have concentrated on such issues as traf- fic management on the Coast Road, signage and branding.

‘Future meetings will be advertised in local newspapers, parish newslet- ters and on local radio. They will also be posted on the new project website, which will feature a dedicated dis- cussion area, where people can offer suggestions and feedback in an open public forum,” said Carol.