Regional

THE amount of green vegetation on the historical crossing between Ballina and Killaloe has been raised by county councillors on both sides of the bridge.Clare and North Tipperary county councillors agreed at a recent joint meeting of the Newport and Killaloe Electoral Area that urgent action needs to be taken to safeguard the integrity of the bridge, which carries huge volumes of traffic on a daily basis.However, councillors couldn’t reach a consensus on the best method of fast-tracking the completion of this project, which has already been discussed at previous joint meetings. Following a lengthy discussion, it was decided the scale and extent of the work needs to be identified, an estimate for the amount of funding provided and decision made on whether or not an application should be made by a community or jointly by the two local authorities.Work costing an estimated €100,000 was originally scheduled to take place in the spring of 2008. However, the possible presence of …

PLANS for the retention of a “thriving business” employing six people in Cratloe have been withdrawn by the applicant, despite securing an extension of time before the planning authority made its final decision. John Gleeson had applied for retention permission for a workshop, mezzanine offices and a septic tank in its existing location in Brickhill West, Cratloe.In a recent letter to the authority, John McMahon of McMahon Conroy Architects and Fire Consultants, Limerick, stated they had a call from the council’s fire department expressing some concerns about the fire requirements within the workshop and noted he had a meeting with Ger Fallon of the fire service to discuss the matter.Following this meeting, Mr McMahon provided two copies of drawings indicating revisions made at the behest of the fire officer.Mr Fallon suggested changes should be made to the planning drawings, which would show preliminary compliance with fire regulations, pending a Fire Safety Certificate application, notably enclosure of internal metal staircase connecting …

A planned €500,000 upgrading of the wastewater treatment plant in Quin is expected to result in the end of  “foul smells” emanating from the existing plant after heavy rain.  Details of the proposed development were outlined at Monday’s meeting of Ennis East Electoral Area councillors, with councillors welcoming the proposals. The proposed development comprises the upgrade of the existing municipal wastewater treatment plant at Quin Gardens and will double the existing plant’s capacity.  The works will increase the capacity of the treatment plant to a population equivalent of 1,400 to serve the needs of Quin village and its environs in the future. Quin village has a projected population target of 789 persons by 2017. The proposal includes a splitter chamber; a storm overflow tank; an aeration tank; a settlement tank and for the removal of existing sludge beds and their replacement with a new sludge tank.A public notice was published in August and a site notice placed on the site. …

A boathouse in Mountshannon has been the subject of five incidents of criminal damage and two burglaries over a seven-year period, according to a local garda sergeant.

A PAINTING discovered in Ennistymon depicting one of the most outspoken priests of the 19th century has been returned to Tipperary more than 140 years after it was removed.The painting was found as author, Tim Boland researched his new book, Fr John Kenyon, The Rebel Priest. The book is the first in-depth study of the career of controversial priest, Fr John Kenyon.Fr Kenyon came to national prominence as a polemicist for the Young Ireland movement and was a long-time friend and confidant of several of its leaders, including John Mitchel. He held controversial views on several subjects, including the contribution of O’Connell to Irish life, the use of physical force and slavery and he was always prepared to defend his views in the public press. His outspoken opinions led him into conflict with his bishop and he was twice suspended from clerical duties.Mr Boland, a retired teacher, explained he was drawn to Fr Kenyon’s story while researching for his masters …

A FORUM aimed at eradicating the stigma of mental illness in rural Ireland will be held in Ennistymon next week.The speakers include Kathleen Lynch, Minister of State with responsibility for disability, older people, equality and mental health and Limerick TD Dan Neville, president of the Irish Association of Suicidology. Well-known Clare speakers are community activist and doctor, Billy O’Connell GP, as well as psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee.“This evening is a public event open to all,” explained event organiser, Ally Carr.“The goal is to eradicate the stigma, which quite sadly is still prevalent with mental illness. Our pre-occupation historically with institutions as a nation has not helped and is still somewhat resonant. With changing cultural and community patterns in rural Ireland we as citizens must address this epidemic,” she added.According to Ms Carr, the forum is to be “an open and honest discussion about depression, anxiety and suicide”.She explained the reasons behind holding the event now. “At any one time at …

SOUTH Galway’s parents, teachers and public representatives are being urged to attend a public meeting on Monday next to discuss difficulties facing schools and the “severe effects” of expected cuts in education as part of this year’s Budget. According to one well-known local educator, children will be forced to learn in “super-size classes” if the Government changes the pupil to teacher ratio from 27:1 to 30:1 as part of Budget 2012.“This meeting will explore the effect of budgetary cuts on the value of education that can be offered by schools and will feature a wide-ranging panel of educators, experts and professionals. It will focus on the situation in the education system today and the results of the cuts to date. It will outline what is to be expected in the future and will be of interest to teachers and parents,” explained Joe Killeen, INTO district representative for Galway and Roscommon. Mr Killeen, principal of Lough Cutra National School, believes any …

COLM O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, visited South Galway on Thursday  last and spoke to students in Gort Community School. Over the past two decades, Gort CS students have worked both inside and outside the classroom to take action and speak out about fundamental human rights concerns. “Working with Amnesty is something we have been doing for a period of time,” explained Junior Certificate student Leanne O’Toole. “This was part of our CSPE project for Junior Cert. We did it as a class,” added Leanne O’Toole, who is from Ardrahan.The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees each person protection for our rights and Gort students have always been at the forefront of tackling both local and global concerns.“In raising awareness of human rights, we looked up the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and learned about all the different rights and how people are deprived of their rights,” explained Leanne. As well as addressing the students, Mr O’Gorman viewed …