The Clare People Archive

EXACTLY 160 years after he ar- rived in Kilrush dedicating his life to saving the poor of west Clare, Cap- tain Arthur Edward Kennedy was honoured by the local people.

At a ceremony on Sunday a bust of the late poor law inspector was un- veiled in the Vandeleur Garden, the home place of the family believed to have him removed from the town in Keel 0p

Fr John O’Shea donated the bust to Kilrush Town Council from Western aUUee tere

Captain Kennedy is regarded as a hero of the famine years in Kilrush.

Born in Down in 1809 he studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and after- wards, his military career saw him posted to Corfu and Canada as a

captain in the 68th Regiment. He re- turned to Ireland and took up an ap- pointment with the Poor Law Com- mission, arriving in Kilrush in 1847.

When he arrived in the west Clare capital he was made aware of 6,000 notices to quit served and is quoted as saying the “whole district seemed swept of food” and he believed “a third of the population would be without food at Christmas, two thirds starving before February and by May 1848, there would be a total starvation.”

His first task was to deal with the overcrowding in the workhouse. There was room for 800 inmates in the workhouse but demand had swelled as evictions continued dur- ing the summer and autumn of 1847.

By November, 1,100 people were inmates at the workhouse, many of

these weakened by disease. Kennedy set about providing additional houses to deal with the influx and for a fin- ish he had opened six extra units.

Paying tribute to the local hero mayor of Kilrush Cllr Tom Clyne (Ind) said, “Kennedy was a profes- sional, a government official carry- ing out his instruction to the letter of the law. But he did not conform to the non-caring officialdom of the era. He was deeply upset by the events he witnessed every day, and he involved himself in all aspects of the fight to combat the hunger, disease, and (CFA Mm A ercLemWe: om ec Dee lor-UiLMmOLONM ENTS NA le eVee bss one

“Kennedy loathed the landlords in the area, and made some power- ful enemies, most notably Colonel Crofton Moore Vandeleur. He was involved in an incident with Vande-

leur in which he challenged him to duel.”

It is thought that Kennedy’s ene- mies in Kilrush may have influences his transfer from Kilrush to Kilken- ny in September 1850.

In a last gesture of humanitarian- ism he and his family donated clothes and other items to the local clergy for distribution to the poor.

After he left Kilrush, he had a long and international diplomatic career serving as governor of Gambia, Si- erra Leone, Western Australia, Van- couver Island, West Africa and Hong Kong. Kennedy returned to Aus- tralia in 1877 as governor of Queens- land. He never forgot his time in west Clare and is known to have sent money from Western Australia to Fr Moran CC for the poor of Kilrush in Keeley

ENNIS based estate agency O’ Do- lan & Partners is lending its support to anew campaign for better services for children with Down’s syndrome. The firm, which has offices in Gal- way and Ennis, has joined the Mak- ing Galway Proud Initiative’s 2007 campaign for speech and occupa- tional therapy for Voices For Galway (Down Syndrome Galway Branch). O’Dolan & Partners will host a fund-

raising walk and swim called *Cario- sa’s Walk and Swim’, in an effort to raise awareness and much needed funds to help shorten the four and a half year waiting list for speech and occupational therapy in Galway. Cariosa Williams, who gives her name to this fundraising event, is a four month-old girl with Down’s Syndrome. O’Dolan & Partners in- spired by the little girl and her family are also using this walk to celebrate Cariosa. As Barry Kelly of O’ Dolan

& Partners explained “for the past four years O’ Dolan & Partners have watched the great work that Making Galway Proud has done for the local community. The concept for the in1- tiative is quite unique in that it con- centrates on low profile causes each year in Galway, and yet again they have chosen a cause that has other- wise been totally ignored. We are delighted to be able to do something for speech and occupational therapy in Galway.” Voices For Galway is

an inspirational group of parents who have come together to do some- thing themselves about the wait- ing list for speech and occupational therapy. The Making Galway Proud Initiative, now in its fourth year, is currently preparing for the Making Galway Proud Ball, which will take place on Saturday, October 6. To reg- ister for Cariosa’s Walk or for further information, contact O’Dolan and Partners in Ennis on 065 6864957 or Galway 091 865000.

THE first phase of the recently launched ‘Ennis Environmental Challenge’got underway at the week- end, when residents’ associations in the town took part in clean up days organised by Ennis Town Council. One of the main objectives of the Challenge is to generate a commu- nity wide responsibility and owner- ship for the appearance and tidiness of Ennis by raising awareness of the negative impact of litter.

Cllr. Tommy Brennan, Mayor of Ennis said, “Ennis Environmental Challenge is an opportunity to pro- mote the attractiveness of Ennis as a place to live, work, visit and invest. The initiative taken by the Coun- cil is more than an environmental campaign. With the co-operation of the entire community the image and profile of Ennis can be enhanced lo- cally, nationally and internationally.” Eddie Power, Acting Director of Services said, “Particular attention has been focused on Abbey Street, O’Connell Street, O’Connell Square, High Street and Parnell Street. The Council Litter Wardens have been patrolling these areas and commu- nicating the litter awareness message to the general public. Enforcement of the Litter Pollution laws is ongo- ing through the issue of on the spot JUDE

He added, “Council staff have been deployed to these town centre streets and have had a visible presence in re- cent weeks. The business premises in this core area of the town are pro- moting this environmental initiative by displaying the Ennis Environ-

mental Challenge logo and slogan – Your Town, Your Environment, Your Responsibility.

Street surveys undertaken indicate that cigarette ends continue to be a matter for attention.

The Council has acquired a vacuum/ blower that facilitates the removal of cigarette ends and small pieces of lit- ter. However, the challenge remains for the public to act responsibly in the disposal of such litter and this is particularly important in the run up to the adjudication of the National

Tidy Towns Competition 2007”.

The ‘Ennis Environmental Chal- lenge’ will feature a range of waste prevention initiatives including the introduction of litter free zones, the employment of extra resources and the use of mobile CCTV cameras in designated areas, such as housing es- tates and public areas, as an enforce- ment measure to combat littering and indiscriminate dumping.

Other measures being introduced by Ennis Town Council include the operation of a revised cleaning

schedule, the provision of colourful floral displays and hanging baskets throughout the town, hosting of an awareness campaign in national and secondary schools, and the produc- tion of a promotional/educational video on the ‘Ennis Environmental Challenge’.

Members of the public are also re- minded that Minister for the Envi- ronment and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, has just announced an increase in litter fines from €125.00 to €150.00.

AMBITIOUS plans to demolish a number of buildings and construct a three-storey commercial develop- ment in Ennis’s Market Place area have come under fire.

Ennis Town Council is due to make a decision next month on the plan by Atlantic Enterprises for the develop- ment at the junction of Market Place and Garraunakilla Lane.

The development comprises a res- taurant on three floors. However, in a strident objection against the pro- posal, local resident, Pauline Killeen states, “The proposal to provide what is in effect a four-storey tower build- ing on a very prominent corner site

and gateway to Ennis town centre 1s not in keeping with the general scale of buildings in the area.

“In both design, scale and material, the design is inappropriate for any part of the Ennis town architectural conservation area and to allow these unique buildings, streetscapes and the late mediaeval townscape to be dominated by concrete tower blocks would serve to detract from the vis- ual amenity and architectural integ- rity of the old town of Ennis.

“I believe that this overbearing development has the potential to do irreparable damage to a very attrac- tive county town, which has evolved in a pleasing manner over eight cen- aU lohe

“The height and scale of the pro- posed development would dominate this part of the townscape for genera- tions into the future.

‘The area around the proposed de- velopment is characterised by two- storey developments of modest scale of residential and mixed-use devel- opment.

“While I accept that it 1s often nec- essary for developers to maximise property they buy to make them via- ble in economic and planning terms, such developments should take due cognizance of the character and in- tegrity of the surrounding building with a relationship between the old ZN ICOM O olom eLoaWas KOU nNts1em

“While allowing for variety, the

development should complement the original surrounding in terms of scale, detail and materials. this pro- posal fails to do this…

“I consider that the applicant has missed the opportunity to create a new building of high quality on the site, whether of contemporary design or otherwise.

“The result is both inappropriate and unacceptable. While the redevel- opment of the site will contribute sig- nificantly to its urban setting, and is being actively sought by the council, I do not consider that this should be at the expense of the visual environ- ment and residential amenities of the area and of future occupants of the development.”

A REVIVAL in the property market to safeguard the jobs of thousands of Clare construction workers after the annual “builders holiday” looks unlikely this week following spec- tacular losses on the Irish stock ex- oh atebetexen

In the last seven days, €8 billion has been wiped off the ISEQ index of Irish shares, with companies en- gaged in the housing market, such as banks and major contractors, the worst hit.

McInerney Construction, which was founded in Clare more that 100

years ago, has lost more than 20 per cent of its share value in the last seven weeks while Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland have lost 19 per cent and 14 per cent respectively in the same period.

Last Thursday, 24 hours before the start of the annual builders’ holiday, was the worst single-day loss in the Irish stock market since America in- vaded Irag in March of 2003.

“Obviously, it would be a concern. The people in the industry such as the banks and the big construction firms have been hit the hardest,’ said a Limerick-based stockbroker. ‘There is a lot happening on a global

scale that is having an effect but the housing market is having an impact.

‘People have been selling out their interests because they think the Celt- ic Tiger is finished. There is a lot of nervousness out there.”

Industry insiders have predicted 35,000 job losses in the construction industry this year, with as many as 3,000 in Clare alone.

“I know that people are being laid off right across the sector. We will have no idea exactly how many have been let go until the end of the build- ers’ holiday on Monday, August 13,” said Paddy Kenneally, President of the Clare Plasterers Union.

‘When they are let go, builders will try and get work from other compa- nies but everyone is in the same boat. It’s inevitable that a lot of jobs will be lost.

“All you have to do is look at the towns around the county. There was building going on everywhere this time last year but now there is noth- ing.

“Builders are not due any redun- dancy unless they have been with a company for seven or eight years. It’s the nature of the business that work- ers move around all the time so most will only be getting two weeks of holiday pay.”

PLANS have been lodged with Clare County Council to develop a centre for the Irish World Academy of Mu- sic and Dance.

The academy — which is part of the University of Limerick (UL) campus — is to form part of the campus that now is located near SOE Teen mm rele northern shores of the Shannon in south-east OE

The accom- modation is to include two performance theatres, music practice rooms, computer and research suites,

Me supported

by studio class-

rooms, academic and administration offices.

The academy, formerly known as the Irish World Music Centre, offers a suite of taught MA courses and a BA and graduate diploma in music and dance related subject areas.

The academy has an international reputation and a report on the acade-

my concluded, “The visionary nature of the centre reinforces the vital con- tribution that song, music and dance make to communities locally as well as internationally.”

The move to construct the academy further increased UL’s foothold on the Clare side of the River Shannon.

Five years ago, the college se- cured planning permission for the first phase of its ambitious plans in Clare when it received the go-ahead for a student village for 500 students.

The develop- ment also includ- ed the provision of a bridge across the River Shan- Wteyee

Also included in the masterplan

for the 100-acre site was a health and science building and three research institutes.

A decision is expected on the latest planning application later this year.

AN EAST Clare-based company has lodged plans for a wind farm which would supply up to half of the com- pany’s energy costs.

Its planning application to Clare County Council states that Olympus Diagnostica is “seeking a solution which would meet a portion 40-50 per cent of our electrical base load using alternative energy”.

The height of the proposed turbine is 200 ft high. The company points out that this is “half the size of the industry norm”.

The company states that it will con- sume all the energy from the wind turbine and that “there is no need for a grid connection”. It points out that “the proposal doesn’t lie within any recognised flight path of the Whoop- er Swan and the Greenland White Fronted Goose”’.

The company based near O’Callaghan’s Mills covers a broad spectrum of needs ranging from mi- croscope systems for life and mate- rial science, to high-performance analytical systems and reagents for clinical laboratories. It serves most- ly large and medium size hospitals, commercial clinical laboratories and blood banks.

In a submission lodged with the plan, the company states: “The ra- tionale for this project has its roots

in spiralling energy costs which are set by international markets and impact severely for two reasons: the wide fluctuation in energy costs which make financial planning more difficult and the underlying trend is upwards.”

Stressing its adherence to “Corpo- rate Social Responsibility”, Olympus points out that it has already reduced its greenhouse emissions by putting in place a wood chip burner instead of oil, so also creating a locally-based market for wood-chip.

The company states that the noise emissions from the wind-turbine would be lower than similar sized turbines. It suggests that the Clare County Development Plan has deemed the location “a suitable area for wind energy’ and doesn’t have any scenic or environmentally sensi- tive designations.”

The company also states that it has held a number of local meetings and has relocated the wind-turbine from its original location in response to lo- cal concerns. A second public meet- ing was held, although residents to the north east of the site stated that the new option would have a greater visual impact on them. However, the submission points out that this site 1s the last option open to Olympus that would allow the company comply fully with all the planning regula- tions.

THE HSE has this week announced that a 15-station satellite dialysis unit for the Midwest will be up and run- ning within the next six months.

The unit is a response to what the Irish Kidney Association has de- scribed as a crisis in the dialysis Service.

The Haemodialysis Unit at the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick has been unable to take any new pa- tients for the last number of months due to overcrowding.

Renal patients were instead sent to Tullamore, Tralee and Galway.

This week the HSE said that it had been working to provide the addi- tional capacity needed to enable pa- tients receive their dialysis as near as possible to their homes.

As part of that work a short term, 15-station satellite dialysis unit has been commissioned for Limerick.

A tender competition was held for the provision of the unit and the suc- cessful company has been notified within the last week.

The new facility is expected to

be operational within the next six months, according to the HSE.

Patients treated in the satellite unit will remain under the care of the referring consultant and multidisci- plinary team from the regional hos- pital.

SU ilem eR Sa seme slepeeComKen one Busnr-)| patients to Galway in the interim.

‘As a further measure and because of the urgent needs of this area in the Short term, the HSE has entered into a further contract with a dialysis pro- vider in Galway which will be able to accept mid-west patients imme-

diately and will help to avoid more protracted travel times for mid-west patients to Dublin and elsewhere,” a HSE spokespersons said.

“While we regret the inconven- lence that this travel imposes on some patients in the short term, we are confident that it will provide sig- nificant relief for the particular pa- tients affected while we are working on achieving self-sufficiency for the region over the next six months.”

‘Because of the urgent need for ad- ditional capacity the HSE has also funded a home dialysis programme

for medically suitable patients in the Limerick area as an alternative to hospital dialysis.”

As part of its long term plan the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick is currently developing a capital plan for an extension, which will expand the existing dialysis unit in Doora- doyle to 25 stations.

Each year in Ireland about 170 peo- ple reach the “end-stage” of renal failure and need treatment to replace their non-functioning kidneys. Ap- proximately 30 Clare people require dialysis three times a week.

AN BORD Pleanala has overturned a ruling by its own inspectors and Clare County Council to give the go- ahead for a contentious holiday home development near Lahinch.

Last year, Clare County Council re- fused permission on grounds linked to the famous west Clare railway that has been defunct for over 40 years.

Tom O’Keeffe of Roslevan, Ennis had lodged plans with the council to construct 20 holiday homes at Creg,

Lahinch with the plan later being re- duced to 12.

However, the council refused plan- ning permission on three grounds including that a number of the homes would be built over the line of the west Clare railway.

The North Clare Area Plan 2005 states that developments should only be allowed on or adjacent to the west Clare railway which will not conflict with or restrict the recreational po- tential of the line.

In his appeal, Mr O’Keeffe point-

ed out that the railway bridge to the south-east was removed presumably by the council some 40 or 50 years ago and that over the years, the west Clare railway has been ploughed out across the subject site and was not now visible except for the bridge abutment and a small area adjacent to it.

The west Clare railway — immortal- ised in song by Percy French — was closed by the Government in 196] with the 27-mile line from Ennis to Miltown Malbay losing £23,000 per

annum.

However, the council’s view was endorsed by the board inspector who recommended refusal on four sepa- rate grounds with one of those re- lated to the preservation of the west Eee eee

The inspector was overruled, An Bord Pleanala recommending instead that planning permission be granted as the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicin- ity, would be acceptable in terms of

traffic safety and convenience and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sus- tainable development of the area.

The board explained, “In deciding not to accept the inspector’s recom- mendation to refuse permission, the board took account of the zoning of the site, the final design and the in- formation received in response to the section 132 notice.”

The board also ruled out one home that was located across the route of the west Clare railway.

CLARE had a strong representation at this year’s Lancome Irish Girls Close Championships that went ahead at Ballinasloe last week.

Day one opened on Wednesday and conditions proved blustery and windy throughout the course.

Renowned competitor Sarah Cun- ningham of Ennis enjoyed a suc- cessful opening round and advanced to the next phase of the tournament playing some solid golf.

Ciara Pender, also of Ennis, had a very memorable day and holed out

on the difficult par three eighth on her way to victory over Tara Grib- ben. There weren’t too many surpris- es on Wednesday, but unfortunately from a Clare point of view, Diandra O’Connell, who travelled to the Gal- way course in fine form and full of hope, was beaten by Zarah O’Reilly.

As the week wore on, Sarah Cun- ningham was the only Clare repre- sentative to make it to the semi final stage but she was pipped on the third play off hole. It was Kate Gallagher who put an end to Cunningham’s challenge and she went on to take the top prize.