The Clare People Archive

THE focus of Europe will be on Gort this week as an RTE documentary on the town’s Brazilian population takes centre stage at the Prix Europa, Europe’s foremost media and televi- sion awards ceremony.

The documentary, entitled ‘Lit- tle Brazil, Gort, Ireland’ – one of eight Irish entries to have made the final shortlist – was first screened on October 5, 2006.

The documentary paints a portrait of Brazilian immigrant life in Ire- land in general and has a particular focus on how Gort has coped with

the huge influx of South American workers and their families.

Gort’s Brazilian story started 10 years ago when the town of Villa Fabril, a small rural village in cen- tral Brazil, was devastated by the collapse of their local meat plant, owned by the major international beef company Reibol.

More than 900 men and women were left with no work and the plant’s closure triggered a massive wave of emigration that would in time com- pletely transform everyday life in the market town of Gort.

Within months of the shutdown the company’s Cork-born export man-

ager Jerry O’Callaghan had stepped in and set in train a series of events that would change forever the lives of many of the redundant workers and their families.

At first, just a trickle of young men left from Villa Fabril, but within a year a rapidly growing exodus of Brazilian emigrants was _ heading for Ireland to work not just in meat factories but on farms, building sites, shops, factories and nursing homes.

The documentary, which was pro- duced by Caroline Bleahen and presented by Jim Fahy, tells a some- times heart-warming, at times heart- breaking, story of the first genera-

tion of factory workers who set out to build new lives for themselves in Ireland.

Filmed in Brazil and south Galway, the documentary is both a portrait of Brazilian immigrant life in Ireland today – mirroring many of the past experiences of Irish emigrants to England and the US – and an analysis of how the town has coped with such a huge influx of South American workers and their families.

The documentary will represent Ireland in the Prix Europa Iris cat- egory at the awards, which take place from October 13 to 20 in Berlin and Potsdam in Germany.

A KILRUSH councillor has called on the minister for education and sci- ence and the minister for transport to introduce a module on road safety on the SPHE curriculum in second level schools.

Councillor Collie Sweeney (in- dependent) claims that the module could help save lives, as the number of young people being killed on the country’s roads is an unacceptable tragedy.

The town councillor said that fig-

ures he received from the depart- ment of transport showed that more young men and women are dying on the road than any other category.

Between 2001 and 2005 fifty 16 to 20-year-olds were killed in traffic ac- cidents. As many as 30 people aged between 21 and 25 lost their lives in the same manner during the same period of time.

““Itis time to get the message home,” said Cllr Sweeney and he maintain the best way to do that is through the schools.

“On our news bulletins we are

treated to a daily dose of carnage and human self destruction on our roads. Have we grown indifferent to the number of young men in particular who are fatally injured on our roads and whose deaths bring huge tragedy and loss to their families,” he said. “This year alone 253 people have lost their lives on Irish roads. Almost 100 of these relate to young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Even those who do survive will be wheelchair bound for the rest of their lives. Those who are maimed and in- jured are placing a big strain on our

health and emergency services.”

“T believe that it 1s an education matter. Schools have an important role to play in educating our young people about safe driving. Cars are lethal weapons. Young people think the tragedy only knocks on the neighbour’s door.”

This unfortunately is untrue. Many decent families have had their lives turned upside down by an early morning knock on the door.

The killing and dying must end now.

KILRUSH Town Council is to hon- our one of the town’s daughters when they welcome the mayor of Clare to its December meeting.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy (Ind), a native of the west Clare capital 1s to be guest of honour at the last meeting of the year.

News of her attendance was greeted with unanimous good wishes by the members of the council, but the father of the council Cllr Jack Nolan (Ind) was not happy with one of the pre- vious chairpersons of Clare County Council visiting a Kilrush meeting.

Cllr Nolan said that when he was

chairman of the town council the then chairman of the county council, who is now a Clare TD, was invited to attend.

The longest serving member of the town council said he would not be happy to see junior Minister Tony Killeen visit the town council criti- cising his response to the removal of the Shannon Heathrow slots to Bel- jee

“Tam very disappointed in our Dail representatives that they have not put their shoulder to the wheel for Shan- non. It was not the shareholders that elected them, it wasn’t Bertie Ahern, it was us – the people,’ said Cllr No- Eten

Cllr Nolan said he was delighted that Cllr McCarthy had agreed to at- tend the meeting however.

“T have never seen anyone lead a council like Patricia,” he said.

Cllr Tom Prenderville (FF) said Kilrush was very proud of all its citi- zens and particularly those who had made outstanding contributions to the native place.

“Tt would be fitting for this council to honour the Mayor of Clare Pa- tricia McCarthy. As well as being bred, born and reared in the town, Patricia has never lost her great gra for Kilrush. Although now domicile in Shannon where she has given a lifetime of public service to Shan-

non Town Council and Clare County Council, Patricia has never forgotten her roots.”

Cllr Prenderville and Clare’s first citizen were both pupils at the Con- vent of Mercy in Kilrush at the same wbealee

“As a public representative, Patricia has earned a reputation for her fear- less service on behalf of her constitu- ents. She is a credit to Kilrush and to Clare and as mayor of Clare she has been to the fore in articulating issues that affect the general public,” said Cllr Prenderville.

Cllr Christy O’Malley (FF) de- scribed mayor McCarthy as an advo- cate of the major issues of the day.

THE Western Yacht Club in Kilrush is mid-way through its “October Se- ries” following a year of success on the high seas.

With “Chieftain” named Yacht of the Year and “The Spirit of Kil- rush” coming in second behind the Ger O’Rourke Chietain yacht in the Round Ireland Yacht Race last year – the profile of the 180 year old club has grown enormously.

This year’s Shannon Ferry Group

Western Yacht Club October Series is also proving very successful.

The series began on October 7 and will conclude in Saturday, October PAR

This is the final event of the Du- barry WIORA super league for yacht clubs.

The Rinvella Plate will be awarded to the yacht, which in the opinion of the race committee has given the best performance of all yachts in the series under the IRC system.

Overall prizes will be presented at

the WYC dinner on Saturday, Octo- ber 27 at the Harbour Restaurant.

The first race of the series took place in what was described as ideal conditions, clear blue skies and 10- knot force three south winds.

A total of 16 yachts participated from Clifden Boat Club, Tarbert Sailing Club, Foynes Yacht Club and of course the home club – Western Yacht Club.

“The officer of the day, Commo- dore Randal Counihan set a chal- lenging course west of Scattery Is-

land for the four classes which tested their sailing techniques to the limit. The weather conditions were favour- able and two races were held,’ said PRO of the club Charles Glynn.

The Western Yacht Club is based in the Kilrush Marina, which provides 120 pontoon berths, which has excel- lent facilities for all its visitors.

The yacht club will celebrate its 180th birthday shortly after Christ- mas as it was established at a special meeting in the area on February 6, ReW2on

THE LACK of facilities for teenagers and older children in the Westbury and Shannon Banks area of Clare is getting youngsters into trouble, a lo- oF: ere) Une Ces US lOvum ery eT seee

Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald is to table a motion for the county council that land be set aside for the building of community centres, sports fields and other facilities which would get young people off the streets.

He is also going to press the local authority to take a unit in the new Westbury centre to open library fa- cilities.

“Parents and teenagers themselves

have come to me saying there’s nothing for them to do. There are no community centres where they could start a youth club, no library facilities where they can access free Internet or borrow books and not enough playing fields or sports facili- ties. They end up hanging around the streets, getting involved in anti-so- cial behaviour,’ Cllr Fitzgerald said.

While progress has been made towards getting playgrounds in the Parteen and Meelick areas and Cor- bally United and the various GAA clubs cater for those interested in GAA and soccer, there are no other sports facilities.

‘There’s nowhere for teenagers to

go to play a game of pool or have a place to meet off the streets. The council is giving permission after permission to build housing estates but they are not putting aside land for community centres or playing fields. This is what is needed and what I will be pushing for.”

Cllr Fitzgerald said he also wants more funding and easier access to grants for community centres and leisure activities.

Cllr Fitzgerald said that he will also be asking the council to look at taking the last remaining empty unit in Westbury for a library. “There is no proper access to library facilities here,’ he said.

While he wants to see younger teenagers off the streets and out of trouble, the Labour councillor also wants to stop older teenagers from drinking in public.

“Tl be talking to the gardai and the county council about enforcing the by-laws on drinking in public places.

These people are over 18 and legal- ly allowed to buy drink but they’re drinking in public and causing trou- ble. They should be warned the first time they’re caught doing it and fined the second time. It’s intimidating for a lot of people to see groups of youths drunk. At best it’s a nuisance, causing noise and litter.”

TUAMGRANEY residents have mounted a campaign to stop eircom removing the last standing phone box in their village.

A small notice was recently posted in the box, which has stood at the centre of the village for years, in- forming locals that the box is soon tO go.

“Not everyone has a mobile phone. There are elderly people here who have never used a mobile and never

will,” said Tuamgraney Develop- ment Association Chairman, Dami- en Heaney.

“It’s also used by tourists in sum- mer and by some children. It’s good to have it there,’ he added.

Campaigners to keep the phone in the village point out that if someone runs out of credit, a phone call costs just a few cents while the minimum payment for credit is €10.

Tourists who regularly use the box in summer are happy to have the op- tion of paying directly for the call

rather than face huge roaming charg- es, said Damien.

“We have quite a few foreign stu- dents and it’s a very useful facility for them,” the Community Develop- ment Chairman added.

The development association has written to eircom asking why the phone needs to be removed and are awaiting response.

Meanwhile, locals have started a petition to keep the facility, which 1s available for signing in The Graney.

“The problem is that if you have a

facility like this, once it’s taken away you never get it back,’ said Damien.

“Tf it’s not broken, don’t fix it and if it’s working perfectly don’t take it away, he added.

A GROUP of Scariff youngsters, concerned with the importance of human rights on a global scale are organising an arts festival in their area to celebrate One World Week.

Members of the Fishbowl Youth Club are no strangers to getting in- volved with international humanitar- lan causes.

Since its foundation in 2002, young people involved in the club have been working on different international youth projects.

“The members are a group of young people who are working to enhance their lives with challenges that mean something to them’, said Sophie Ehrenfeld, one of the festival organisers.

In recent years, Fishbowl members have participated in several interna- tional youth exchanges, as well as travelling to Mississippi to join in “The Giving Circle” which helped rebuild the destroyed area after hur- ricane Katrina.

One member went to Zambia and another helped in South Africa in an

Aids education programme.

The youngsters have also fund- raised themselves for the trips.

This year during the One World Week, November 19 to 25, club members are organising an arts fes- tival with the theme of human rights, power and justice.

They are being joined by five vol- unteers from different countries of the EU, funded by Leargas through the European “Youth in Action” pro- eramme.

The festival’s main aims are to bring local communities together by

using different forms of art.

“We are inviting local schools, youth clubs and young artists to work and think together about the topic,” said Sophie through use of photog- raphy, music, theatre, puppet shows, performances and short films.

“Although the festival will be or- ganised by youngsters, we would like to address the programmes to every age group, said Sophie.

AS THE property market cools down, the offers from developers are heating up. This week sees the launch of one of the most innovative offers in the marketplace, by local devel- oper Padraig Howard of Drumquin Construction Ltd. The offer centres on €100,000 cash back for a buyer of one of the remaining 15 units at Gort Leamhan, Roslevan.

Padraig Howard, managing direc- tor of Drumquin Construction ex-

plained, “We are offering a one in 15 chance to purchasers of the final houses on Gort Leamhan to win €100,000. Another lucky purchaser will win €20,000 and everyone will win a weekend break.”

As the draw is scheduled to take place on December 20, someone will have a very happy Christmas.

The 15 units include a three-bed- room townhouse at €260,000, nine four-bedroom semi-detached units which range in price from €285,000 to €299,500 depending on location

within the development and five de- tached houses from €340,000 to €365,000.

According to selling agent Kieran Murphy of ERA Leyden, “These homes offer spacious modern living just minutes from local amenities. Also, the nearby Ennis bypass inter- change makes these properties ideal for commuters to Shannon, Limerick or Galway.”

Asked about terms and conditions, Kieran Murphy said, “To qualify, purchasers need to have their finance

ready to go and will need to be con- tractually bound to the purchase.”

Gort Leamhan has one of the high- est-spec finishes of all of the new developments in Ennis and, impor- tantly, are amongst the most spa- cious houses to come on the market for some time.

Finishes include tiling, fitted kitch- en and flooring and the internal walls will be painted, concrete floors at ground and first-floor level to reduce noise and generous PC sum allow- AWN Gene

“The energy rating we _ have achieved is 40 per cent above the newly introduced Government stand- ard and we have installed highly effi- cient heating systems, plus intelligent radiators,’ said Mr Howard.

The four-bedroom semi-detached properties occupy 1,500 sq. ft. The detached properties occupy 1,/50 sq. {t. of floor space and include a garage.

Full details of the Gort Leamhan offer will be featured in next week’s

THE Department of the Environment has stated that a planned €20 million business park near the 12th century Clareabbey should not proceed.

Earlier this year, David Costelloe lodged plans to develop 74 light in- dustrial units with a total floor area of 25,876 sq metres in the townland of Clonroadmore.

In the planner’s report lodged with the scheme, it states that the proposed development will be in excess of 103 metres from the abbey structure and that “the buffer will afford adequate protection to the abbey and protect its historical setting”.

The report states, “The proposed development has been carefully de-

signed from the project concept tak- ing account of all relevant factors including market demand, planning policy and site constraints and op- portunities.

However, a submission from the Department claims that the proposal “would significantly detract from the character, setting and amenity of a major national monument and rec- ommends that planning permission should not be granted”’.

The Department states that from reviewing the documents, they are “are extremely concerned at the po- tential negative visual impact of the proposed development on the char- acter, integrity and setting of Clare falas

The Department point out that

Clareabbey is a National Monument is in the ownership of the Minister. It states, “Any development within the vicinity of this National Monu- ment will also require Ministerial Soon

The Department states, ““The pro- posed development site lies within 100m of the National Monument. The Abbey is one of the most impor- tant Augustinian Foundations in the country and is set at a strategic loca- tion along the River Fergus, close to Clarecastle, an area that has been of pivotal importance during the medi- eval period.”

“The proposed development is for an industrial estate, which would in- clude 74 warehousing units arranged in 12 buildings at an average height

of up to 8.0 metres per unit.

“This large-scale development is inappropriate so close to a site as 1m- portant as Clare Abbey which is sub- ject to the highest level of statutory protection available under the Na- tional Monuments Acts 1930-2004.

“The boundary of the development proposed would be only 100metres from Clare Abbey.

“In our opinion the proposed mitigation measures, including an earthen embankment and planting to ‘screen’ the new development from view of the National Monu- ment, would further detract from the setting and amenity of the National AY Ceyelt baste lime

A decision is due on the application later this year.

A GROUP of landowners have ap- pealed a decision by Clare County Council to give permission for a €10 million retail park on the northern side of Ennis.

In the plan, Keco Development has secured planning permission on a site 3km north east of Ennis that will involved the development of 25 retail units.

According to the promoters of the venture, the development offers a high quality, purpose designed and built retail park to this important gateway; the zoning of the site allows for the uses proposed; this site is well

placed with regards to its proximity to the northern end of the bypass as a link to the rest of Ennis and beyond They claim that the proposal will not have an adverse impact on the town centre of Ennis or any other centre as established in the retail 1m- pact statement and the development will improve the competitiveness of Ennis and the county as a whole in line with the county retail strategy The statement points out, “There is a clear need for this type of develop- ment within the Ennis Environs and this site is available in the short term to meet those needs in conjunction with other retail proposals in the area and will be instrumental in reducing

the flow of bulky goods in the Lim- erick Metropolitan area.”

The owners of the land are John Dillane of Banner Motors, Oliver Walsh of Oliver Walsh Motors, Liam Cleary of Cleary Motors and Enda O’Connor of O’Connor Engineering.

The statement says that Oliver Walsh and Liam Cleary Motors are to relocate from existing out of cen- tre site as the sites no longer meet the requirements of their business.

However, in an appeal lodged by Messrs Byrne, O’Dea, Curran, Mul- lins, Tuohy and Heaslip, they claim that the proposal “clearly presents a serious potential flooding situation to our property, which is of serious con-

cern to us and will result in reduction in property values and affect the ease and enjoyment of these properties”.

They state, “A hydrological impact assessment attached to the applica- tion confirms that the development would encroach on the floodable area of the site, which 1s caused by the Lough, by an amount of eight hectare or approximately 37 per cent of the floodable area.

“The applicant intends to maxim- ise the commercial potential of this site without having due regard to the effect which this will have on our chent’s adjoining properties from a point of view of flooding potential and other considerations as noted