East Clare

A PROPERTY developer is appealing Clare County Council’s request for a development contribution of almost €125,000 in respect of a proposal to complete a housing scheme in Kilkishen on the basis it amounts to “double charging”.Jim Woods Building Contractor Ltd, based in Newmarket-on-Fergus, was granted planning permission to construct 16 houses at the Cluain na Laoi estate in Kilkishen on March 30 last.The local authority attached 24 planning conditions to the grant of planning permission and condition 24 forms the subject of an appeal to An Bórd Pleanála by the applicant.This condition requires the developer to pay a contribution of €124,984.32 in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting the development.In an appeal document lodged with An Bord Pleanála, the applicant claims the development contribution levied amounts to “double charging” as “development contributions have already been paid in full under the terms of a previous planning permission”.The applicant explained in the appeal document that the 16 units for which planning …

A PUBLIC meeting will be held in McNamara’s Bar in Scariff on Monday next to discuss the proposed closure of the local Teagasc centre at the end of the year. According to local county councillor, Joe Cooney, the Teagasc office in Scariff is to be closed at the end of 2011 ending over 100 years of this advisory service in the region. This proposed closure has arisen due to government cutbacks in the body’s funding as well as the recruitment ban imposed on the public service and has lead to the decision in 2009, by Teagasc, to undertake a process of closing regional offices. Councillor Cooney has stated that this decision “should be subject to substantial review”.Teagasc is proposing to relocate the services offered at its Scariff office into its facility in Ennis by 2012 but the move is being opposed by local representatives who have acknowledged the need for the office to remain in situ.The Scariff office has 450 …

LEADER funding of more than €150,000 has been allocated to Tulla Community Council for the development of an AstroTurf pitch facility in the village. This project was undertaken by Tulla Community Council in conjunction with the local soccer club, who have been working on it for the past year and a half and it is currently an advanced stage.Chairman of the community council, Jim O’Sullivan has said the funding means that the pitch could be open for use by this autumn, all going well. The community council applied for the funding under LEADER last summer but found out on Friday through Deputy Joe Carey that the allocation had been granted. “We had heard that the funding might be coming through and I got a call to say it was happening on Friday. Everything else is ready to rock and roll and with this allocation, it will definitely be up and ready for the autumn when it is used and needed. …

Love is in the air this week with all eyes on the British royal wedding on Friday. Will and Kate’s nuptials aren’t the only ones worth paying attention to though as, closer to home, there is chemistry in Tulla where a local pharmacist and a mechanic will tie the knot at their own “Royal Wedding” in aid of Tulla Comhaltas Cultural Centre.The event has been organised to raise funds for the development of The Tulla Comhaltas Cultural Centre, which has come about due to the donation of the convent and girls primary school in Tulla by The Sisters of Mercy to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Labhrás O’Murchú, director general of Comhaltas said “This was a very generous gesture on the part of the nuns who have made such a huge contribution to the educational and cultural life of Ireland. This will be reflected in the plans for the convent and school buildings” Plans are now being prepared to develop the convent …

An ambitious entrepreneur who impressed judges on the first season of RTÉ’s Dragons’ Den was back on television screens again this Easter Sunday.Whitegate’s Deirdre Collins who created the Dee’s Eat Well, Be Happy range of wholefood burgers featured in the upcoming Dragons’ Den on Tour series.As part of the programme’s 2011 line-up, show producers are highlighting some of the most successful businesses that emerged from the first two series of RTÉ Dragons’ Den.The new programme saw Deirdre offer inspiration and advice to the next wave of self-starting entrepreneurs who are keen to follow in her footsteps by pursuing their own unique business ideas. Deirdre says being back on the show was both an enjoyable and useful experience, “It’s difficult to believe that just over one year ago I was standing in front of the dragons ‘pitching’ my business concept and outlining my vision for expanding the company. It’s been an exciting few years since then and it’s genuinely been full …

A Canadian radio broadcaster is to visit East Clare this weekend with a view to obtaining background information on the Scariff Martyrs for use in a forthcoming documentary.

Broadford man, Joe Burke sustained a bite to his hand and had several lucky escapes from the jaws of a feisty otter who wasn’t afraid to chase off the six foot farmer, as a rescue attempt turned nasty in Tulla this week.

PRESIDENTIAL candidate, renowned Joycean scholar and civil rights campaigner, Senator David Norris has been confirmed to open the 16th annual Iniscealtra Festival of Arts.The annual festival, held in Mountshannon from May 28 to June 6, has a host of events lined up, not least the visit of Senator Norris and this year it is themed on The Voice.Among the special guests to attend the festival will be an unusual character that stands 30 foot tall.In a magnificent afternoon event at Mountshannon Harbour, Small World Theatre from Wales will bring Bran the Blessed, a 30ft puppet, the biggest ever human powered giant in the world, to the festival.Bran is an ancient Welsh hero, as well as a mythological god of bards and poetry and is said to have brought Christianity to Britain following his captivity in Rome. There are many tales of Bran’s links with Ireland, where he met his death fighting alongside Irish princes and his body scattered far and …