Tag Archives: ciaran cannon

A MAN who threw dried cow dung at two TDs attending a public meeting in Gort last week has refused to apologise.  The meeting took place at O’Sullivan’s Hotel in Gort on January 4 to air public views on the recent grant of planning permission for a biogas plant close to the town centre. The gathering of around 400 people launched a fundraising campaign to mount a legal challenge. Since the meeting, more than €60,000 has been raised and legal representation secured.  The throwing of dung at Junior Minister Anne Rabbitte and Deputy Ciaran Cannon generated national headlines over the course of the last week, and a Garda investigation is underway. The incident prompted the reissuing of safety guidelines to Oireachtas members and a national debate about the security of public representatives. Farmer Joe Baldwin declined to speak to The Champion but told RTÉ’s Liveline he did not believe he had anything to apologise for. He denied any intention to …

THE long-awaited sewage treatment plant planned for Kinvara is a step closer to becoming a reality after Irish Water confirmed in the past week that it has begun the tendering process for it and also a new sewage pipe network to serve the town. For decades, locals and public representatives have campaigned for a sewage treatment plant for the village. On hearing the news, Fine Gael Deputy Ciarán Cannon said, “We’re almost there and I’m delighted to have received this news from Irish Water. The tendering process for both the new plant and new network has finally begun and Irish Water will be seeking tenders from a preferred panel of contractors, who have already been through a serious process of scrutiny to determine that they are capable of delivering on such a contract. “The people of Kinvara have been very patient while witnessing raw sewage pouring into their beautiful bay on a regular basis. I know that at times they …

The National Careers Skills competition 2014 winners were revealed this week and Leah Ferrigan from Colaiste Muire, Ennis came second in the Transition Year Category for her work experience in veterinary medicine. Sophie Marron and Fionnuala McKay also from Colaiste Muire, were awarded Highly Commended certificates in the McDonald’s-sponsored competition in recognition of their achievements. The National Career Skill Awards, run by www.careersportal.ie and sponsored by McDonald’s Ireland, recognise students who complete career investigations into their chosen area of interest and help equip guidance councillors with information in the area of career skills. Each student must demonstrate their understanding of a chosen career, the educational pathways that lead to it, the most relevant knowledge requirements and the most important transferable skills needed to be successful. Presentations were made by Ciarán Cannon,  Minister for Training & Skills the Department of Education and Skills at an awards ceremony in the Clock Tower

By Nicola Corless EARTHQUAKES close to Ireland and around the world will now be registered at a second-level school in South Galway. A seismometer was recently donated to Seamount College in Kinvara and was unveiled last week in the newly built science laboratory. “The seismometer was donated to us by Kevin Cullen, who is the uncle of one of our teachers here. Ruth Cullen is a geography and Irish teacher and is from Ennis. Her uncle Kevin had the seismometer and it wasn’t in use so he donated it to the school,” explained Maighread Mhic Dhomhnaill, principal of Seamount College. “It is a fantastic addition to the school. As a former geography teacher I am very excited about having a seismometer in the school and it brings the subject very much alive to the students. It won’t just pick up earthquakes off the Irish coast, it will also pick up earthquakes taking place worldwide and will record these on the …

SENATOR Lorraine Higgins has called for the provision of free car parking in Gort and other South and East Galway towns in the lead-up to Christmas to help boost town centre trade. The Labour senator has also urged Galway County Council to provide a public car park in Kinvara to tackle its ongoing problem with a lack of parking. “People are moving past towns like Athenry, Loughrea, Gort and Portumna to shop. Why not have free parking in the towns from now until Christmas, in order to give a much-needed shot in the arm for those businesses. I am proposing this as a potential way to give them a boost before Christmas,” she said. “If we are to make a difference to town centres, particularly if we are to protect our small shops, then free parking is exactly the kind of measure that needs to be introduced in the run-up to Christmas,” Senator Higgins added. According to the Athenry woman, …