Regional

A SHANNON Banks pensioner has written a new book on the trials and tribulations of his childhood, growing up in Limerick City in the poverty-stricken ’40s and ’50s.I Remember Well was officially launched by RTÉ Mid-West correspondent Cathy Halloran in Leamy’s Old School, Hartstonge Street, Limerick recently.Writing about his childhood memories fulfilled a life-long ambition for 75-year-old Kevin Egan.There are some similarities to Angela’s Ashes, the 1996 memoir by the Irish-American author, Frank McCourt. Interestingly, when Kevin got a job with Eason’s in Limerick, he worked for a period with Frank’s brother, Mick, and knew Malachy and Alfie.Kevin’s detailed description of everyday life helps the reader to relive a world of hardship, poverty and ill health in a simpler, more innocent Ireland, where the Catholic Church was at the height of its powers.Instead of modern technology, such as television, mobile phones and computer games, Kevin and his friends enjoyed playing games in the street and the park, as well as …

RONAN Scully has spent the past 22 years working in the developing world, having lived in varying areas in that time, while working for the Irish charity Self Help Africa. Ronan, whose family hail from Spancilhill, recently completed the Great Ethiopian Run and told The Clare Champion about the influence his work has had on his life. “I have worked in the developing world for the past 22 years living in Calcutta in India for three years and then three years in Angola in Africa, also some time in Sierra Leone, Kenya and Ethiopia and a little time in Malawi. I work for the Irish charity Self Help Africa. I have something of a vested interest in what happens in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. It’s a connection that started way back in 1984, when the images from Michael Buerk’s BBC report on the famine prompted me to change my own life and begin a career that has seen …

PLANNING permission has been granted for the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant at Quin Gardens, Quin following a resolution passed at the December meeting of Clare County Council that the local authority proceed with the project.

BURREN Connect was established in November 2006 to develop sustainable tourism and environmental protection of the Burren. It immediately began work to achieve Geopark status for the area. “The reason we decided to do it is because Geoparks are regions that have very good quality natural and heritage features. In these locations, conservation and awareness are going hand in hand with economic development and tourism. We thought that would work for the Burren,” Carol Gleeson explained.According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), a Geopark is an area with geological heritage of international significance and where heritage is being used to promote the sustainable development of the local communities who live there.Those living there balance stunning views of a unique landscape with the sometimes stifling rules and regulations that come with its official classifications. They were not, therefore, rash in their enthusiasm for a new title for the Burren. Getting the backing of local people required a convincing …

THE Blake’s Corner saga took a new twist recently when Clare County Council revealed it could not install a pedestrian crossing in the area because proposals for the future of the junction would involve a change to the road alignment.Fine Gael Councillor Bill Slattery enquired at the recent North Clare area meeting whether or not the council plans to install pedestrian crossings in Ennistymon, while Fianna Fáil’s Richard Nagle called on the local authority to arrange to put in place pedestrian crossings at Church Street, Parliament Street, Main Street and at the bridge in the town.However, a written response from Clare County Council revealed it is not possible to construct pedestrian crossings in the vicinity of Blake’s Corner until after the completion of work on the junction, which cannot begin until after a Part 8 planning application is filed.“Clare County Council recognise the need for pedestrian crossings at Ennistymon and they form part of the plans for traffic management in …

Women’s Aid recently revealed women experiencing domestic violence are disclosing the extra stress of the festive period triggers more frequent and at times more severe abuse at home. Ahead of Christmas, Gort Family Resource Centre is highlighting recent changes in legislation which mean people in abusive relationships have more legal protection than before.“We all know how stressful it can be at Christmas and while it can be a trigger for domestic violence, unfortunately domestic violence is something that occurs all year round and it can happen to any woman, regardless of their socio-economic status, so rich or poor, it could happen to you,” said Annie Rozario, coordinator of Gort FRC.“We really want to get across to people though that there is now more protection than ever. There have been changes in the law, which came into force in August but really haven’t been well publicised,” she continued.To get this information into the public domain, the Family Resource centres in Galway …

The National Roads Authority is to begin looking for backing for the Gort to Tuam motorway, it was announced this week. Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, said on Tuesday the Government has approved a funding mechanism for multi-million euro road projects in Dublin and County Wicklow.Work is set to start next year on upgrading the Newlands Cross bottleneck on the main Dublin to Cork/Limerick road, while the N11 between Arklow and Rathnew will also be upgraded to four lanes. Funding of more than €100 million will be provided under a Public Private Partnership involving a significant contribution from the European Investment Bank and Bank of Ireland, in the first such arrangement for road projects for a number of years.Construction is to start next year on both projects and is due to be completed by 2014, at which stage the repayments will commence. Minister Varadkar said financing these projects is very welcome “at a time when PPP projects …

BALLYNACALLY’S Geraldine Kelly has recently returned from a trip to Ethiopia with the international children’s charity, Plan Ireland.While in East Africa, Geraldine witnessed first hand the impact emergency relief provided by the organisation is having on those affected by the current food crisis in the region.Ethiopia, and the Horn of Africa region in general, came into focus earlier this year when there was widespread media coverage of the urgent food crisis and drought that took hold of the region. Plan Ireland is an international children’s charity with a substantial long-term presence in Ethiopia.Geraldine, who is director of the business consultancy Xi Ventures, has been a board member of Plan Ireland since 2008 and was keen to visit the region to see the work being done, especially in the areas of education, food security, energy projects and microfinance.“Plan Ireland has been working on the ground in Ethiopia since 1974, so we are firmly established there and our support of women and …