Shannon

A TENDER document for the design of the Shannon Venue, a project which is seeking to provide a multi-functional civic and arts venue for the town, is being issued this week. Derek Barrett of Shannon Venue Ltd said that progress is being made. The tender document was issued last week and there’s around three weeks to submit a tender. “We have retained someone to score the applications and we’ll pick a design team. Then they’d have a number of months.  We’ve given an outline of the kind of things we want in it, the spaces we want and what we need,” he said. A target of €7 million has been set for fundraising, which they claim is required to give Shannon the best possible facility. By last November they had raised €700,000 from business sources and a sponsor a seat initiative was launched for the run up to Christmas, with seats available from €1,000. Nameplates carrying messages are to go …

CLARE companies are alert to the benefit of investing in standards, according to the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). The latest figures show that 59 Clare based companies are registered to NSAI standards, as they aim to increase their competitive advantage and thrive in key industries. The NSAI approve a range of standards, including quality, environmental and occupational health and safety. “Today’s figures prove that Clare based companies see the real benefit in standards and as a result of that benefit they are investing in standards for the future of their businesses. Standards are not always noticeable in everyday life but they are there in the background from the medical devices used in hospitals to the car seat you set-up for the school run,” said Maurice Buckley, CEO, NSAI. Standards are applied to businesses of all sizes and just some of the Clare companies registered to NSAI standards include: Element Six Ltd., who are registered to Environmental Management Systems …

HARSH words and some insults were traded at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, as the emotive issue of high commercial rates for businesses was aired yet again. Independent Cathy McCafferty put forward a motion calling on the county council to rescind fees charged at recycling centres, significantly reduce commercial rates and calling on the Minister for either Finance or the Environment to clarify which specific local services the local property tax is supporting. However, her own voting record was queried by Councillor Patricia McCarthy, who noted that the Derry native had backed increasing the town charge for Shannon from what was originally proposed in the draft budget for 2014. Councillor McCafferty was one of a majority of councillors who last month voted to reduce the town charge from 2.11 to 2.06. However, the original proposal from the council executive had been to cut it to 1.90, before a majority of the members opted to up it, to provide …

TO put it very mildly, Shannon’s Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) hasn’t been working that well of late, something proved by the foul smells that have plagued the town. Given its performance, it was somewhat surprising to learn that Clare Council Council have spent close to €3.5 million on it since 2010. Following a motion from Councillor Gerry Flynn, members of Shannon Town Council received a report on the WWTP at their meeting on Tuesday, which had details of the current maintenance contract. The report, prepared by county council water services engineer Sean Ward, stated, “The current contract is for the operation and maintenance of Tradaree Point WWTP, the pumping stations contributing to it and two stormwater pumping stations. The contract was awarded in 2010, based on a competitive tender, for an initial period of two years with the option to renew for a further two years. The contract was renewed in 2012. “Yearly costs from 2010 to date are …

By Owen Ryan WORKS which should help cut out the foul odours that are plaguing Shannon have begun, but Clare County Council have warned that things may get worse before they get better. Interim remedial works began at the Tradaree Point wastewater treatment plant at the weekend. The work will continue into the New Year and aims to reduce sewage-related odours. “Clare County Council wishes to alert residents on a precautionary basis, that odours may be generated during the desludging operation because of the nature of the operation itself,” said a Council spokesman. “Tanks will have to be drained down in sequence, and this may expose solid materials gathered on the floors of the tanks which may be a source of odour while they are being removed. However, even though the operation may cause odours in itself, the overall purpose of the operation is to alleviate odours in the longer term. “The Council has also secured aeration equipment to blow …

WITH the centenary of the 1916 Rising looming, Clare County Council has been urged to take Hastings Cottage under its remit as part of a project linked to Ireland’s commemorations of the Rising and the War of Independence. Hastings Cottage is one of the most historic buildings in Shannon, having been shown on the 1840 Ordnance Survey Map of the area. However, its construction may have been long before that pre-famine date. During the War of Independence Brigadier General Lucas, a senior British officer, was taken captive and held there. One of those guarding him was Major General Michael Brennan, who subsequently led the East Clare Brigade of the IRA. Last year Dúchas na Sionna held an open day at the building, which was attended by descendants of the General. Speaking at last week’s meeting Councillor Duff acknowledged his own involvement with Dúchas na Sionna and said that the heritage group wouldn’t be able to take responsibility for it without …

FIGURES published by the parish show that 634 people have died in Shannon since 2000, with 2013 the year when most deaths were recorded. Speaking to The Clare Champion, parish priest Father Tom Ryan said that the town’s demographics are maturing. “Maybe 30 years ago there would be ten baptisms every Sunday, but now the town is maturing and it’s an ageing town. That’s reflected in the amount of grandparents in the town and even great grandparents which wouldn’t have been there in the past.” It’s not that long ago since the cemetery was put in place at Illaunmanagh. “The cemetery opened in 2001 and a number of years later an extension was sought for it and that’s filling up as well, but there’s still plenty of space available.” The parish was founded on Christmas Eve of 1967, although people had been living in the town for some years before that, as part of the Newmarket on Fergus parish. Number …

A PROPOSAL to sell land at Illaunmanagh to a man who is proposing to develop a crematorium was deferred at Monday’s Clare County Council meeting. Some years ago Tony McMahon and Sean Hillery proposed developing a crematorium there, which would tap a large potential market, as the only ones in the country are in Cork and Dublin. Now Jim Cranwell is looking to extend the period of planning permission for the development and is seeking to buy the lands in question from Clare County Council. The disposal of the land was due to be considered at Monday’s County Council meeting but was deferred. In a report prepared in advance of the meeting, Michael McNamara of Clare County Council stated; “It is proposed to dispose of lands measuring 1.29 acres approximately at Illaunmanagh, Shannon to Jim Cranwell, Doonagore, Doolin, who proposes providing a crematorium on the lands. Planning permission was granted for a crematorium on the lands by An Bord Pleanála …