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EMOTIONS ran high at a meeting in Ennis on Friday night last when homeowners affected by pyrite voiced concern that they are still not eligible to apply for State redress. One homeowner, among the crowd of over 50 who attended, shared her story and appealed for action for the hundreds like her in Clare. She said she is particularly concerned over discussion in the media about the burden that the revised €2.2 billion Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme will put on the tax payer. “I have been a PAYE worker all my life,” she said. “I pay tax for very little in return, because I look at the health system and I look at the schooling system. I have two kids with ADHD and I have to fight for everything. “Can I boycott my taxes? Or will I end up in jail? “When I hear people saying, ‘Oh, we can’t fund this [scheme] with the taxpayer’s money… Jesus Christ, we’re …

Taoiseach lauds ‘revolutionary leader’ at DeValera Commemoration THE legacy left by founding leader of Fianna Fáil Éamon de Valera was lauded by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, at the 40th annual commemoration of his statute in Ennis on Sunday. Following his release from prison in June 1917, de Valera was elected Sinn Féin deputy for East Clare. During the Civil War of 1922 – 23, de Valera supported the anti-Treaty Republicans. De Valera was arrested on August 15 1923, under the Public Safety Act, as he was about to make a speech at Ennis and was imprisoned until July 1924. Despite his imprisonment, Clare elected de Valera top of the poll in the 1923 General Election. He continued to represent Clare for the rest of his active political career. In a wide-ranging oration, Mr Martin stated the life of Eamon de Valera was one of overcoming adversity and remarkable achievement. “His positive legacy remains strong, and remains central to achieving progress …

TO MARK the 100th anniversary of the Glenwood Ambush the local memorial committee have produced a Centenary Book, which is now on sale in the run up to Christmas.  The publication contains a number of versions of what actually happened on ambush day January 20, 1921, and the later reprisals by the Black and Tans. There are some details also of a number of the participating volunteers, in as much as was possible to get the information. These include Martin ‘Neighbour’ McNamara, Joe Clancy, Tom McGrath, Mattie McGrath, James Hogan, Paddy McCarthy, Jackie Ryan, Jimmy McInerney, Miko Neville, Dinny Minogue, Mick Moloney, Mick Shaughnessy, Tom McInerney, Michael Cleary, Peter St Ledger, Dan Lenihan, Joseph McNamara, Tadhg McGrath, Mick O’Dea, Paddy Quinn, Jack O’Grady. Jack Egan, Jack Curley, Tom McMahon, John Joe McNamara, Jack Quinn and Michael Quinn.  The publication also includes a number of very informative and readable articles, including ‘The Combatants in the War of Independence’ by Michael McNamara; …

IF the wind on Tuesday had been just a little worse Storm Barra could have done much more damage, West Clare businessman Kevin Heapes feels. He runs Pure Camping in Querrin and operates his own weather station on the site, which recorded a gust of 126.7km on Tuesday afternoon. “I publish it on the web, where anyone can look at it. It’s useful for campers coming down, they might be in an office in Dublin and wondering what it’s like in west Clare. At the same time I’d have interest in the weather and its’ great watching the gusts and seeing what’s happening, especially on a day like Tuesday.” When that speed was reached Clare hadn’t even reached red alert status, but thankfully things didn’t deteriorate as the afternoon went on. “We got those gusts around 2pm and we didn’t go into red alert until 4pm, so I was thinking it’s either come early or it’s going to be very …

DEEP disappointment was expressed, at a meeting in Ennis of homeowners affected by pyrite at the fact the revised grant scheme makes no mention of this county. Despite the submission of a detailed technical report by the council in July and assurances in August from the Housing Minister that Clare would be given access to the grant within “a matter of weeks”, homeowners here are still waiting. More than 50 people gathered for the event which was also attended by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor PJ Ryan, deputies Joe Carey and Cathal Crowe and senators Timmy Dooley and Martin Conway. For Clare Pyrite Action Group’s second public meeting of the year, the tables were turned as members took the top table and politicians sat in the audience. High on the agenda was the revised Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, unveiled on November 30 and still confined to Mayo and Donegal. “Clare is nowhere in this scheme,” said Dr Martina Cleary, …

IT isn’t child’s play for youngsters living in the Limerick Road area of Ennis with a “dearth” of family friendly facilities in the locality, a meeting of local councillors has been told. Councillor Mary Howard, speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District called for a suitable site to be identified to provide a playground or other facilities suitable for small children. The councillor told how she had been approached separately by young mothers who are not local to the town, now living along the Limerick Road. “Their husbands are working out of town and have the car with them and there is no-where for the mothers to bring their children.” She said that amenities such as Lees Road and Tim Smythe Park are too far to walk unless the weather is good. She acknowledged the “great work” of the council in setting up community playgrounds, and suggested that new playgrounds could be included under planning conditions for any …

SERIOUS questions have been raised over the council’s application to have the defective blocks grant extended to Clare, The Champion has learned. Despite an assurance from the Housing Minister in August that a decision would be made within “a matter of weeks”, his Department is challenging several aspects of the council’s submission. In November, Minister Darragh O’Brien told Clare Oireachtas members his Department’s concerns were not “insurmountable”. However, a letter issued on Monday poses far-reaching questions. The document queries whether pyrite is the only cause of damage to the five homes tested. “It is unclear whether the presence of pyrite has manifested itself in structural wall damage, or if the walls are damaged either wholly or partially by another cause,” the seven-page letter states. The document adds that while the technical report has confirmed excessive amounts of pyrite, “it has not been stated however that the damage which has been documented has manifested due to the presence of reactive pyrite, …

ACCLAIMED singer-songwriter Susan O’Neill has been inspiring students of Ennistymon Vocational School to write and perform a song on the subject of mental health and wellbeing. The talented Ennis woman who performs as SON, who was recently honoured at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, has been guiding 24 transition year (TY) students as part of a project that will culminate in a live performance at Dolan’s in Limerick next month. Traditional fiddler player Michelle Fahy-Rynne, who teaches Biology and Science at the school, has been one of the driving forces of the project. “We were invited by Music Generation Clare to take part in the More than Music project which is funded through the Active Inclusion Support Service,” Michelle outlined. “The aim is to collaborate with Susan to write and stage an original song. On January 14, the group will perform at Dolan’s as part of the ‘To the Moon’ charity concert organised by Karl Daly of the social …