Support growing for anti-fracking group

People from all over the county have joined Clare Fracking Concerned, with over 90 people subscribing to the group despite it only being in its infancy.

The group was set up to look and deal with the concerns people in Clare have over the potential risks of fracking (hydraulic fracturing) and to become fully informed on this method of extracting gas from shale rock and the government’s process of dealing with exploration licences. Furthermore, the group aims to empower local communities to take control of what happens in their area with regards to the possibility of fracking.
English company Enegi Oil has been granted licensing options to analyse land in West Clare with a view to fracking.
Clare Fracking Concerned chairperson Susan Griffin stated it can take one to three million gallons of water to frack a well, which can be done up to 12 times. Ms Griffin warned up to 500 chemicals  be added to water in the fracking process, which in turn can lead to contamination of drinking water supplies and surface water.
“While some extra jobs may be available during the productive life of wells, these will be given to specifically trained people, mostly brought in by companies.
“West Clare’s agriculture and tourism value could be threatened and property value in a drilling area will fall dramatically,” she said.
Clare county councillors will hear a presentation on fracking by Aiden McLoughlin, who will also propose a resolution on banning fracking in Clare on January 9 next. Councillors in County Roscommon recently passed a ban on fracking in their county. An East Clare group concerned about the environmental impact of this process will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, January 3, 8pm at Whotsit’s Cafe on Main Street, Scariff.
There have been screenings of Gasland, an Oscar-nominated documentary on fracking, and information evenings in West and East Clare. Stalls have been set up in towns to get information on fracking to a wider audience and there have been a series of interviews carried in the media.
“Even just the possibility that fracking could ever be carried out in the county raised huge concerns among anyone who has ever heard of it,” said Róisín ní Ghairbhith, a group spokesperson in the North Clare area. When we learnt public consultation would only be carried out officially by the Government at a much later stage – after the oil company, Enegi Oil, would apply for a fracking licence – it was decided that we would have to take it on ourselves to inform the public. 
“It is vital farmers and landowners are fully informed before they make any decisions to allow a company access or lease their land.”
Information leaflets on fracking will be sent to all houses in West Clare next week and Clare Fracking Concerned will give a 10-minute presentation at the January meeting of Clare County Council.
“We will be asking councillors to consider a proposal and vote afterwards to support a total ban on fracking in the county. Though we understand that a vote in support of a ban on fracking by the councillors does not automatically mean there will be a ban, at least we know the public representatives of the county are actually representing the public’s opinion on this issue,” added Ms Ghairbhith.
There will be a number of free screenings of Gasland and a short briefing on fracking at Keane’s Bar Carrigaholt on this Thursday at 8pm; Murphy Black’s Butter Market Café, on Wednesday next at 7pm; The Lighthouse Inn, Kilbaha on Friday, January 6 at 8pm; Kenny’s Bar, Lahinch on Sunday, January 8 at 8pm; Kildysart Hall on Friday, January 20 at 8pm and Fanny O’Dea’s, Lissycasey, on Thursday, January 26 at 8pm.
For more information, contact clarefrack@gmail.com.