Councillors declare their interests

FULL-time and part-time farming is the most common occupation among Clare county councillors, who have outlined their property and shareholdings in the latest declaration of interests.
Councillors are obliged to complete an annual statement detailing their profession, involvement with land development, any other paid job, land ownership, directorships, gifts including foreign travel, which were provided on a commercial basis or property gifted to them free of charge.
It includes local authority contracts, work as a political public affairs lobbyist, any shareholding or investments in a company or enterprise that doesn’t relate to land or any business or dealing in development land if the aggregate value of the holding exceeded €12,697 at any time during the appropriate period.
n Councillor Johnny Flynn is a retired chief fire officer at Limerick County Council and is currently a civil engineer, who is involved with West Clare Renewable Energy, Atlantic Force Wind Energy and Atlantic Force Hydro.
In addition to his family home and nearby old cottage on a site at Verdant Hill, Ennis, he owns a family holiday home in Lahinch and another rental property in the seaside resort.
He is a shareholder of Sixmilebridge Mart and Harbour Flights Limited, Enspire Renewable Technology and the Gort Road pharmacy, T/A Flynn’s Pharmacy, where he is also a director.
He stated in his declaration of interests that Enspire provided a rainwater contract to Clare VEC for Scariff Community College.
In addition to his farm in Tubber, Councillor Michael Kelly has shares in the Standard Life Insurance Company, AIB Bank, Providence Oil Exploration and international diamond mining company, Botswana Diamonds.
Councillor Kelly said the value of the shares is over €12,000 and declined to comment any further.
Councillor Joe Arkins owns about 70 acres in total in three different holdings in Ruan. The former Clare psychiatric nurse is also a director of two non-for-profit committees – the Clare Childcare Committee and the Lisdoonvarna Fáilte Committee.
Councillor Michael Begley, who is a planning consultant with Planning Consultancy and Planning Services, Clonlara declared seven acres of unused agricultural land at Newtown, Clonlara.
Former Clare Independent Deputy, Councillor James Breen runs a small family 40-acre farm at Ballyknock, Kilnamona and owns a house at Steele’s Terrace, Ennis.
In addition to her family home in 13 Caragh Park, Shannon, Councillor Patricia McCarthy has a neighbouring property and another house in Drumgeely, which are all in family use.
She is a director of the Shannon Swimming and Leisure Centre, Clare Haven Services, Gort Road, Ennis and the NTACC, Custom House, Dublin, which is an advisory body to the Minister for the Environment.
n Councillor Séan McLoughlin, who is a taxi-driver, owns a family home at 36 Corrib Drive and another property at 36 Cluain Airne, Shannon, which is rented. He is also a director of the Shannon Leisure Centre.
Councillor Pat Burke, who is a farmer in Whitegate, is also a director of Clare Marts, Quin Road, Ennis.
Retired publican Councillor Pat McMahon owns about 40 acres of land at Ballinacraggy, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Retired psychiatric nurse, Councillor Tom McNamara has 100 acres of agricultural land at Kilmaley.
Councillor Richard Nagle, who is a retired secondary school teacher, owns land at Lahinch Road, Ennistymon. He is also a director of Lahinch Seaworld.
Councillor PJ Ryan is an oil distributor in Sixmilebridge, where he also has land at Moygalla.
Councillor Joe Cooney is a building contractor based at Ballymcdonnell, Bodyke and is a company director of East Clare Construction.
Councillor Oliver Garry owns and is a shareholder of Abbey Contractors Limited, Kildysart and is also a landowner in Kildysart.
Councillor Michael Hillery owns 38 acres of land at Legard South, Spanish Point, as well as two holiday houses in Dough and Legard South, Spanish Point for short-term letting.
Councillor Tony Mulqueen owns a garden centre at the Centrepoint Business Park, Orchard Lane, Ennis, where he also rents some property units and owns a 3.5 acre site at Manusmore, Cappahard, Tulla Road.
Councillor John Crowe owns the O’Graney Centre, The Square, Sixmilebridge, as well as land at Cappa South and Shannon Road, Sixmilebridge and is a director of Rathdawn Limited, The Square, Sixmilebrige.
Former Mayor of Clare, Councillor Christy Curtin is a part-time farmer and retired secondary school teacher, who has a small holding of 10.52 hectares including farmyards, a dwelling house, garage and stores on a .33 hectare site at Clonbony, Leaguard South and Breaffa South, Miltown Malbay.
Councillor Curtin also declared his representational allows of €16,724, which his colleagues are also entitled to claim. He owns 100 Clare FM shares and 40 £1 shares in Clare Marts.
He is a member of the West Clare Community and Education Centre Limited, which manages the West Clare Resource Centre at Miltown Malbay. This provides 15 different services in health, leisure, education and social services in West Clare.
“I personally contributed 700 hours a year on a voluntary basis with no payment,” he stated.
Councillor Gerry Flynn has property at Dernish Lawn, Shannon and 14 Town Centre, Shannon, both of which are in family use.
Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald runs the Wuthering Heights public house in Kilmore, Broadford and owns his house at Coolderry, Ardnacrusha.
Some of the councillors who are full-time or part-time farmers, including Councillors Michael Kelly, Pat Burke, Paul Murphy, Sonny Scanlan, Bill Slattery and Bill Chambers, opted not to disclose the amount of land they owned for their occupation.
Councillor P J Kelly, who is a retired secondary school teacher and horse breeder, also included his water-divining skills in a section for other professions. He also has land at Lissycasey, where he conducts equestrian activities.
Apart from their family home, Councillors Tommy Brennan, Gabriel Keating, Brian Meaney and Pat Daly stated they had nothing to declare in each of the 10 categories. Councillor Cathal Crowe, who is a primary school teacher in Parteen, also declared no declarable interest.
The only thing Councillor Pat Keane declared was his voluntary involvement as a director with the Kilkee Housing Association.