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MINISTER Rúairí Quinn addressed the Teachers Union of Ireland’s (TUI) annual conference on Wednesday and its president Bernie Ruane, a teacher at St Patrick’s Comprehensive in Shannon, said he received a relatively warm welcome.“He got a good reception. Delegates were very polite to the minister. They applauded certain parts of what he had to say. He outlined the economic realities of the country and he said that in relation to educational change, he realised it wouldn’t be wise to rush too far ahead too quickly and that he would consult with teachers and practitioners. He talked a bit about third level and the importance of having a very good third-level system to attract industry here. He spoke about the huge amount of money that the country owes and that the Troika were demanding that more money be taken from the education system.”Despite this, she said the minister was told squarely that industrial action is likely to follow any cut to …

A COUNTY Clare principal and senior member of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) in the county has accused the Government of having “failed abysmally to protect the vulnerable in our society”.Sean McMahon was speaking following the Minister for Education’s address at the INTO annual congress, which took place this week in Killarney. Mr McMahon also warned that the proposals in the recent budget will see the “destabilisation and potentially the closure over time of one-third of all small, mostly rural, primary schools”.INTO members reacted with outrage to cuts in education contained in the Budget, saying that “small primary schools and education generally is being asked to pay the price for the Government’s austerity policies”.The minister faced a protest from teachers in relation to small schools when he addressed the INTO congress. He responded by saying that small schools cannot be immune from austerity measures arising from the reality of current budgetary realities. He spoke of the necessity to make …

THE success of the Shannon College of Hotel Management in bringing in students from China can be replicated in the agriculture/food science sector if a new education hub is developed in the Mid-West, according to Mayor of Clare Pat Hayes.

CRATLOE native Daniel Keane lost his life 100 years ago when RMS Titanic struck an iceberg just South of Newfoundland.The 35-year-old, who was originally from Gallows Hill, was working as a tram conductor in Donnybrook, in Dublin and made the journey to Cobh, County Cork where he boarded Titanic in the hope of travelling to St Louis in Missouri.His grandniece, Ita Cusack, from Ballyliddane, Cratloe explained how Daniel came to her grandmother’s home in Ballyliddane for a family get-together to send him off before he made the journey to Cobh.“He came home to Clare before he left and he had a party in my grandmother’s house, Bridget King (née Keane), she was a sister to him, on the night before he left. He had a very valuable bicycle, which he left to a cousin. He also wore a belt tied around his waist that had sovereigns sewn onto it. We don’t know why he was travelling because he had a …

GARDAÍ have been contacted after people began scaling the fence of the all-weather pitch at Lees Road recently, with Ennis Town Council town clerk Leonard Cleary warning “this won’t be tolerated”.He was speaking as Mayor of Ennis Councillor Michael Guilfoyle raised concerns about what he described as “health and safety issues” at both Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park and Tim Smythe Park. However, town manager Ger Dollard has insisted the facilities are safe, but that people need to use them correctly.At a recent meeting of Ennis Town Council, Councillor Guilfoyle told how he “took pity on the grounds man” when he saw a number of people climb the fence surrounding the all-weather pitch. He added that people have also been seen on the running track going in the wrong direction.While he welcomed the provision of recreational facilities in the town, he called for signage to be put in place highlighting what is and is not allowed.“I have every sympathy …

SINN Féin TD Martin Ferris was the guest speaker at this year’s 1916 commemoration in Ennis. There was a large turnout of party members and supporters and a special welcome was extended to the relatives of one of the men buried in the republican plot in Drumcliffe Cemetery and others who lost relatives in the republican movement.In his oration the Kerry North/West Limerick deputy said, “We are here to remember the men and women who fought in 1916. I especially want to welcome the relatives of our fallen comrades who are here with us today. We remember their vision, courage, determination and commitment – commitment to justice for all and the common good. The Proclamation of the Republic was revolutionary in its time and is still revolutionary today.”He added, “This state in its early decades ensured hundreds of thousands had to emigrate, that the poor were not educated properly, that the elderly were condemned to institutional homes and women and …

A NUMBER of crossroads in South-East Clare have been condemned as potential “accident blackspots” by a local county councillor.Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald has warned a number of crossroads are a cause of concern for locals who are witnessing first hand the increase in traffic volumes.The crossroads pinpointed are Connor’s Cross, also known as Griffin’s or Clancy’s Cross, and Barry’s Cross. Residents are also concerned about the narrow Blackwater Bridge and Browne’s corner in Parteen village.Locals have expressed their views to Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald, while a mobile speed van regularly parked at the entrance to Corbally Football Club on the Killaloe Road has also come in for criticism.Councillor Fitzgerald said, “The ever-increasing traffic from East Clare and Tipperary to Limerick means that these locations need upgraded signage and Connor’s Cross leading to Parteen village from the Killaloe road now needs a mini roundabout”.He has put motions before Clare County Council regarding proper signage for Blackwater Bridge where there is a great need …

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has been asked to conduct an urgent review of all infection-control procedures, to reduce the risk of cross-contamination from the transfer of vulnerable elderly Clare patients from acute hospitals to nursing homes.The call was made this week by HSE West Forum member, Councillor Brian Meaney, in the wake of public concern about the deaths of six elderly people at a Donegal private nursing home from influenza A (H3) over a 10-day period.He queried the extent of screening for viruses and bacterial infections of elderly patients being transferred from Ennis Hospital and the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick to public and private nursing homes throughout the county.The HSE confirmed screening protocols are in place for specific alert organisms, while public nursing homes in Clare have comprehensive infection control policies in place around training, surveillance and audit.The Green Party councillor said it is vital that any patient who contracts any hospital-acquired infection, such as the winter vomiting bug …