Kilrush Students Dig Deep For Biodiversity Week

Staff and students at Kilrush Community School have been busily transforming the green lawns around their school into a haven for wildlife ahead of the inaugural Kilrush Biodiversity Week, which takes place from Monday, 23 April to Sunday, 29 April 2012.

The programme of events will celebrate the many aspects of Biodiversity in Kilrush and its environs from family days out in beautiful natural amenities to information and discussions about threats to biodiversity. 

As part of the inaugural initiative, students and their teachers at Kilrush Community School will host a public wildlife gardening exhibition on Saturday, April 28th from 2:30 PM. 

It is anticipated that the schools’ biodiversity garden will feature at least six different habitat areas. They include the planting of hundreds of native hedgerow and trees, which have been selected for wildlife interest and habitat value. They include Hawthorn, Holly, Guilder rose, Hazel, Crab apple, Alder, Bird cherry and Rowan.

A 20m-by-20m native woodland habitat also is proposed featuring a selection of tall native trees including Oak, Ash, Blackthorn, Yew Aspen and Hazel. It is proposed that when the woodland develops in about 5 years time, bluebells, primroses and ramsons will be planted to develop an attractive woodland ground flora.

Meanwhile, a herb bed is being developed along with a raised school vegetable garden. Other habitats being developed include butterfly patches, woodland glades and marshes.

Commenting on the project, Shane Casey, Biodiversity Officer with Clare County Council, said: “It is wonderful to see how enthusiastic the students are, and there has been a huge support from the staff, parents, local community and businesses, as well as environmental organisations such as CELT and Coillte who have donated a huge amount of plants and trees.”

According to Shane Casey: “The take home message for Kilrush Biodiversity Weekend is that Biodiversity is not some incomprehensible scientific discipline, but rather the ordinary plants and animals we see outside our windows and on our doorsteps every day. 

Mr. Casey that that Kilrush Biodiversity Week coincides with the preparation of the Kilrush Development Plan 2014-2020, which he said “will have a significant focus on amenity, biodiversity and green infrastructure.”   

“It is projects like that being developed by Kilrush Community School that will help enhance the local community and make Kilrush a more attractive town to live and work in, as well as visit”, he explained.

OTHER EVENTS:

A full programme of public events will be held on the weekend of April 28-29.  There will be an early start on Saturday morning with a Dawn Chorus Walk in Vandeleur Woods at 5:30 AM.   A Moth Exhibition and Bug Hunt for children takes place in the Vandeleur Woods from 10:00 AM, followed by a composting demonstration at 1pm and a guided tour of the beautiful Vandeleur Walled Gardens.  At 2:30 PM, Kilrush Secondary School will host a Wildlife Gardening Exhibition, while the day will concluded with a late night bat walk in Vandeleur Woods at 9:30 PM.

On Sunday 29 April, the focus will turn to the Shannon Estuary when a discounted price for Dolphin Watching Boat Trips will be available to members of the public (to avail of the offer contact Geraldine on 065 9051327, quoting Kilrush Biodiversity Week). Meanwhile, Inland Fisheries Ireland will be inviting people to enjoy the marine touch pools at on Cappa Pier at 12:00 PM, and participate in a seashore walk from 4pm to discover the abundance of nature along the estuary from seaweed to waders.

Burren Festivals Unite For Summer 2012

Six popular festivals and sporting events in north Clare that were previously promoted individually were today united under one banner with the launch of Burren Festivals 2012.

Organisers estimate that the events will lead to a combined footfall of 14,000 and 6,300 bed nights in the region, worth approximately €2.5million to the local economy during May and June.

The six events include the Brehon Law Weekend (May Bank Holiday Weekend), Burren in Bloom (May), Burren Marathon Challenge (May 26th), Féile an tSamhraidh (June Bank Holiday Weekend), Ballyvaughan Races (June 17th) and An Post Tour de Burren (June 23rd).

The initiative is being led by Ballyvaughan Development. Group Chairperson Patrick O’Donoghue said: “The launch of Burren Festivals 2012 shows how groups can work together and combine their individual strengths to make all these festivals a massive success. We hope to build upon this for the future.”

The Clare Tourism Forum said the combined marketing of six separate events would generate significant benefits for North Clare and the County as a whole.

Speaking at the launch of Burren Festivals 2012 at Aillwee Cave and Burren Bird of Prey Centre in Ballyvaughan, Forum Chair Barbara Faulkner stated: “The collaborative approach and cross promotion efforts being adopted by the organisers of each of these events will ensure that individual events will benefit while the region itself is promoted to a wider audience.”

Ms. Faulkner noted that the lead set by Burren Festival participants should encourage other event organisers throughout the region to group together to help promote their respective communities and regions.

“In this day and age of increased competition from other tourism markets, there is a real danger that Ireland’s tourism and hospitality businesses may not succeed unless a concerted and united approach is adopted. The Clare Tourism Forum promotes such an approach and congratulates Ballyvaughan Development for developing this initiative, in conjunction with the event organisers,” she added.

According to John Sweeney of Clare Sports Partnership: “We are delighted to once again be involved in two of the festivals in Ballyvaughan this year, namely the Burren Marathon Challenge and the An Post Tour de Burren. We have seen these two events grow over the last 4 years. Both events are now noted nationally as being ranked highly in their disciplines. Locally, they have played a major role in helping to increase physical activity levels to the recommended 30 minutes a day. "

Burren Festivals 2012:
-    The 2012 An Post Tour de Burren takes place on June 23rd and will feature the 12km Family Spin, The 66km Black Head Battle, The Burnin’ Burren 108km Spin and The Fr. Ted's Day Out 162km Spin. See www.tourdeburren.com.
-    Originally started in 1970, The Ballyvaughan Races returned in 2010 after an absence of 35 years. The races offer a fun day out for all the family with attractions to cater for everybody in the picturesque surroundings of Newtown Castle. See www.facebook.com/BallyvaughanRaces.
-    Féile an tSamhraidh (Burren Summer Festival) will take place in Ballyvaughan and Fanore during the June Bank Holiday Weekend. The event will showcase visitor attractions and activities as will feature a range of musical entertainment, including Sean Tyrell, Chris Droney, Swallows Tail Ceili band and Bagatelle, along with a mix of other entertainment. For more visit www.discoverballyvaughan.com/feile.
-    The Burren Marathon Challenge on 26 May features a choice of full, half or mini marathons through the Burren's scenic landscape. See www.clareburrenmarathonchallenge.com.
-    Burren in Bloom, in association with the Burren College of Art and the Burrenbeo Trust, takes place throughout May and features a series of illustrated talks and organised walks, giving people an understanding and appreciation of the Burren and its formation.  See www.burreninbloom.com
-    The annual Burren Law School, held the first weekend in May, aims to recreate the tradition of legal learning associated with the Brehon Law Schools, allowing the past to illuminate the present. See www.burrenlawschool.org.

‘All Signs Lead to Ballyvaughan’ where this  Summer Festivals 2012 were launched at Aillwee Cave, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare including including Burren Law School; May 4-6, Burren in Bloom; May 1-31st, Burren Marathon; May 26th, Feile an tSamhraidh; May 31st-June -4, Tour de Burren; June 23rd, Ballyvaughan Races; June 17th represented by walker Kieran Lynch, equestrian John Queally,  cyclist Olaf O Neill and  Flower Robin Mele,  . Photo:Andrew Downes

Tourism Forum Members To Tour North Clare

Tourism providers from throughout the County will embark on a tour of visitor attractions throughout North Clare next week, as part of an initiative to build referral business within the local sector.

The Clare Tourism Forum has organised the excursion as part of a series of ‘Familiarisation Tours’ that also are taking place in East, West and South Clare during April and May.

The first Familiarisation Tour takes place on Wednesday 25 April when tourism operators visit a range of visitor attractions in North Clare. 

The tour will feature a trip on the Doolin2Aran Ferries Cliffs Cruise, as well as visits to Aillwee Cave Birds of Prey Centre, the Poulnabrone Dolmen, Lisdoonvarna and Carron.  The day will conclude with a meet and greet session with other North Clare tourism providers from the region at the Burren Centre in Kilfenora.

According to Barbara Faulkner, Chair of the Clare Tourism Forum: “By broadening their knowledge and experience of other tourism attractions within County Clare, individual operators will be better positioned to promote the wider tourism sector and in doing so accrue the benefits of fellow operators doing likewise.”

Ms. Faulkner explained that the objectives of the Clare Tourism Forum are to represent the best interests of tourism in Clare, to develop and promote a Clare brand, and to serve as a funding mechanism for the ongoing promotion of the County as a visitor destination.  

“Central to the Forum’s success in achieving these goals is the education of our members in terms of the services provided by other operators working within the local sector. Referral business is key to maximising the amount of money and time spent by visitors to Clare”, she added.

Tourism operators interested in joining a tour should contact the Clare Tourism Forum office on 065-6846537 or email ctf@clarecoco.ie. 

For more visit www.clare.ie.

Mayor Says Clare Must Be Reimbursed In Irish Water Move

Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes has said that the proposed establishment of Irish Water by the Government has raised more questions than it has provided answers about the transfer of Clare’s water and wastewater assets from Clare Local Authorities to the independent State owned subsidiary.

Mayor Hayes said the Government had so far “failed” to convince ratepayers of the benefits of such a move, in terms of the level and quality of service that will be provided. He added that serious questions remained over the implications of the transfer for local authority staff.

“If Clare’s water and wastewater infrastructure is transferred to Irish Water it is imperative that the funding invested by Clare ratepayers to develop this asset is returned to the County,” stated Mayor Hayes.

He explained: “Over the years, Clare Local Authorities has made considerable investments in land acquisitions and has taken out loans to facilitate the development and maintenance of Clare’s water and wastewater infrastructure. It is imperative that any expenditure which has been invested by Clare County Council from its own resources in the creation of this considerable infrastructural asset is reimbursed. In addition, the Government must clarify whether Irish Water will assume responsibility for the repayment of any outstanding loans.”

Mayor Hayes noted that the Government’s “drip feeding of information” about the transfer of the country’s water services functions from local authorities to Irish Water had “contributed to considerable misinformation being fed into the public domain about the proposed move.”

“Neither I nor my colleagues at Clare County Council are convinced that Irish Water will provide the same quality of service as provided by Clare Local Authorities. During the adverse weather conditions of 2009 and 2010, Council staff worked around The clock to ensure that disruptions to water services were minimised. We have yet to receive a guarantee from the Government that this same level of service will be delivered to the people of Clare. Furthermore, significant questions exist over what will happen to wastewater scheme contracts that already have been awarded and how they will be managed under the proposed transfer,” he said.

Mayor Hayes said that there also was a serious concern among those employed in the Council’s water services section about future staffing arrangements under the proposed new body.

“No assurances have yet been given to Local Authority staff regarding the implications of the proposed move and what role, if any, they will have to play in Irish Water’s future operations.  The Government has indicated that the establishment of Irish Water will spawn 2,000 long-term construction jobs but has yet to reveal how thousands of other jobs around the country’s 34 Local Authorities will be affected,” the Mayor concluded.

Soccer Legend Puts Best Foot Forward At Lees Road

Leeds United and Republic of Ireland soccer legend, John Giles was in County Clare this week to announce details of a fundraising event for local clubs, schools and community groups next month.

Hundreds of people from throughout the County will participate in the John Giles Foundation Walk of Dreams, which will begin and finish at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park in Ennis on 7th May.  The 5km sponsored walk will take place simultaneously in 20 locations across Ireland, including Limerick City and Galway.

As well as raising funds for the Foundation, the walk also will raise funds for soccer clubs which take part.

Half of all the money raised will go directly to the fundraising clubs and organisations, while the remaining funds will be subject to a grant application process with money being distributed to sporting and community projects that achieve the aims of the Foundation.

Over 600 people participated in the inaugural Clare Walk of Dreams at Lees Road in 2011 resulting in thousands of Euro being raised for local clubs, schools and community groups.  A further three Clare soccer clubs benefited from the funding application process, namely Mountshannon Celtic (€300), Shannon Town (€1,000) and Tulla FC (€5,000). 

John Giles said the purpose of the upcoming fundraiser is to facilitate positive social change by using the power of football to build community cohesion, promote health, and encourage lifelong participation and learning.

Speaking at Lees Road, the RTE soccer pundit stated: “I grew up, like many of us did, playing on the street. We were just having fun and had never heard of professional football. I never dreamt of where it would take me, or realised what a difference the sport was making to our community. Today it’s a different story, with different rules, and now more than ever people at risk need our support.”

Event co-ordinator and former Clare and District Soccer League Chairman, Jim Madden said he was confident that this year’s Walk would attract even greater numbers of people than the inaugural event in 2011.

“Over 600 people from Clare’s 35 Schoolboys and Junior clubs came out to support last year’s walk.  In fact, the family day out was one of the best attended of all the Walk of Dreams events taking place throughout Ireland. We were also grateful to the support of the Gardai, Fire Service, Civil Defence and Ennis Brass Band who helped to make the 2011 Walk of Dreams a huge success.”

Mr. Madden noted that the 2012 walk would once again raise funds for club and community soccer projects throughout Clare.  “The aim of the Walk is to help raise funds to develop the facilities and services that soccer clubs can offer their community as well as contributing to other important local initiatives. Clubs, schools and community groups that sign up to the ‘Walk of Dreams’ will receive a fundraising pack with 50 per cent of all monies raised going to the local club and 50 per cent to the John Giles Foundation to be reinvested in the local community.”

Commenting ahead of the May 7th walk, Tim Forde of Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park said: “We are delighted to be able to support this event, especially considering the funds raised will be going back into the grassroots of club football and community projects involving the game.”

“The Walk of Dreams will take place over a 5-kilometre route that will begin and finish at Lees Road. Many of those participating in the walk will already be very familiar with the complex as Lees Road hosts over 300 competitive soccer games each year, not to mention the hundreds of people who use our facilities to train each week,” added Mr. Forde.

Applications for 2012 funding will be open from Monday 2nd July to Friday 31st August. The Foundation's website, including details of the Walk of Dreams at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Park in Ennis, can be accessed via www.johngilesfoundation.com.

Clare County Council Backs Rezoning of Lands at Stonehall

Fine Gael Senate Spokesman on Energy, Communications and Natural Resources, Tony Mulcahy has welcomed a decision by members of Clare County Council to back the rezoning of lands at Stonehall, near Newmarket on Fergus, to facilitate the development of a large-scale renewable energy projects.

The majority of Clare’s 32 Elected Members this evening voted in favour of rezoning an 80-acre tract of land at Stonehall, which was has been included in the Shannon Town & Environs Local Area Plan 2012-2018.

Senator Mulcahy said the move paved the way for third parties to develop green energy projects in line with the objectives for Shannon set out in the Clare County Development Plan.

“I wish to congratulate Clare County Council for its vision in facilitating the creation of a green energy valley that provides a reliable source of energy for Shannon Town, including the Airport and Free Zone. I also want to compliment the Council’s Elected Members, interested third parties and residents of Stonehall who contributed to today’s decision”, stated the Shannon-based Senator.

Senator Mulcahy said he supported one particular project that has already been earmarked for Stonehall, pending a successful application to the planning authority. 

“I have met with Carbon Sole Group on numerous occasions in recent months.  I believe that the company’s proposal to develop a 70MW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility at Stonehall would help to create and sustain hundreds of jobs directly throughout the region, as well as provide a clean, cheap and reliable source of energy to the surrounding hinterland, attracting employment intensive investment to the District Heat Network.”

“The company has informed me that it has selected Shannon as a possible location for the CHP, due to its close proximity to forested regions where bio-fuel could be sourced but also due to the size and layout of the town with respect to industrial & commercial areas that will benefit from future foreign direct investment (FDI) attracted to a Carbon Neutral Zone, as the town will be no longer reliant on fossil fuels and associated thermal energy price fluctuations,” he said.

Senator Mulcahy noted: “The rezoning decision allows the Carbon Sole Group Ltd, the technology delivery partners Green Exergy AB (Swedish company experienced in delivering efficient clean CHP) and other third parties interested in developing green energy projects in Shannon to progress their plans, and in doing so give Shannon town and its environs a valuable opportunity to secure both long-term energy security and a low carbon future.”

Senator Mulcahy said plans to develop the facility were already at an advanced stage.   He commented: “Carbon Sole Group’s grid connection application for a Shannon Biomass HeCHP has been deemed completed by ESB Networks and Eirgrid. The company is awaiting a decision from the Commission for Energy Regulation on priority despatch as per SEM market decisions, in line with renewable electricity and heat targets. The decision requires further clarity on the efficiency certification process with respect to “useable heat” as when distributed through district heat networks in order to facilitate extra capacity to attract future employment to Shannon and the regeneration of the industrial and commercial estates.”

Senator Mulcahy continued: “As spokesperson for The Oireachtas Committee on Energy & Natural Resources I have met with Sean Daly (CEO of Carbon Sole Group Ltd) and Rolf Lindgren (Vice President of Green Exergy AB). It is clear that both parties have the proven ability to deliver world-class biomass High Efficiency Combined Heat & Power and related green energy infrastructure/district heat network.”
   
“These investments in green energy and infrastructure will deliver increased GDP whilst reducing CO₂ emissions as proven in Sweden, a win-win for the Midwest region. More importantly, this is an investment in job intensive green energy, built on farming and forestry supply chains. This process will deliver direct employment in the operations and full-time equivalents in harvesting, haulage, installation of the district heating (DH) network, heat exchangers and servicing of such, further downstream attracting FDI to a sustainable regional carbon neutral economy,” Senator Mulcahy concluded.

L.I.T. Duo Named ‘Ambassadors Of The Year’

L-R: Dr Vincent Cunnane (CEO, Shannon Development), Michael Noonan T.D. (Minister for Finance), Padraig Kirby, Dr Fergal Barry, Jerald Cavanagh (all LIT), Tony Brazil (Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau) and Karen Brosnahan (Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau). Photograph Kieran Clancy.

 

Participants in a unique sports and business ambassadors programme, currently being rolled out in counties Clare, Limerick, Offaly and Tipperary, helped bring more than 35 million euro into the Shannon Region during 2010 and 2011. 

That is according to Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau who this week honoured 50 participants of the Conference & Sports Ambassadors Programme.

Among the award recipients were “Ambassadors of the Year”, Jerald Cavanagh and Padraig Kirby of Limerick Institute of Technology Library, who were honoured for their attempts to deliver key business tourism for Limerick. The duo have brought more than €2m worth of business to the greater Limerick area by organising major international conferences  on behalf of L.I.T.

The Conference & Sports Ambassadors Programme was introduced two years ago to increase the Region’s share of the lucrative national and international sports tourism market. Since then, 300 ambassadors have been actively working with the Bureau and Shannon Development to help attract thousands of people to the region through a range of business and sports events.

Commenting on the background to the Programme, Mr. Tony Brazil, Chair of The Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau explained: “The Ambassadors programme was devised to increase the Shannon Region’s share of the lucrative internationals sports and business tourism markets. People from around the Shannon Region counties of Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and South Offaly, involved in sporting and business activities at any level, were asked to become an Ambassador. The Programme has so far received a tremendous response.”

“Under the Programme, Shannon Development and the Bureau supported the efforts of Programme Ambassadors by funding site visits, offering guidance and advice and helping to secure funds through the Fáilte Ireland Conference Ambassadors Fund.  The events that were hosted in the Region last year would have otherwise taken place elsewhere in Ireland or Europe were it not for supports that have been put in place by the Programme”, Mr. Brazil stated.

Events held in the Region as a result of the work carried out by Programme Ambassadors have included the European Duathlon Championships in Limerick, the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists Conference, the World Single Speed Cycling Championships at Ballyhoura, the Thurles International Hurling Festival, and the Genealogy & Family History Conference in Clare.

According to Dr Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, “Sports and business  tourism in the Shannon benefits a range of businesses from the accommodation sector, transport services, pubs, and restaurants, right through to visitor attractions, sports facilities, and the retail trade. I would like to compliment all those involved in showcasing the region to sports governing bodies, corporate bodies and charitable organisations through the Ambassador Programme, as in doing so they have helped provide a significant boost the Region’s economy.”

Dr. Cunnane added: “Shannon Development’s approach continues to be proactive and like our Ambassadors we are out there using our contacts and networks to identify new events. We are very fortunate to have the support of the Regional Conference and Sports Bureau which offers a free advice service to anyone trying to bring an event to this Region.”

Addressing this week’s Ambassador Recognition Awards ceremony, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan TD described the Programme as “innovative, just like the Shannon region”. 

Minister Noonan added that the continued success of the Programme centred on the future management and growth of Shannon Airport. He noted that there would be change in the near future at Shannon Airport and said that this change must ‘be embraced’ to allow the region to fulfil its goals.

The Ambassador programme is administered by Karen Brosnahan, Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau and Adam Skerritt, Shannon Development.   Organisations that may view the Shannon Region as a potential event location can contact Karen or Adam on 061-710267 or visit www.conferenceandsportsbureau.com.

L.I.T Brings Third-Level Education To Clare

Limerick Institute of Technology (L.I.T.) has assumed control of the Ennis Regional Learning Centre in what is regarded as a significant boost for the delivery of higher-level education in County Clare.

The project administrator of the renamed ‘LIT Clare - Ennis Learning Centre’ campus, which is one of three facilities providing third-level education in the County, said the move will help to widen participation in higher education in Clare by providing flexible and local access to third-level programmes.

Announcing details of the 2012 Higher Certificate in Business Computing, Anne Griffin said the Centre would seek to provide participants with qualifications in a sector that will continue to require suitably qualified graduates in the years ahead.

According to Ms. Griffin: “The aim of this Higher Certificate programme is to give students an educational experience that will provide them with a knowledge base in a variety of learning streams related to business studies and computer applications. The programme also will provide students with the opportunity to develop skills for lifelong learning.”

An Open Day will be held at the LIT Clare - Ennis Learning Centre, located on the first floor of Clare County Museum building in Ennis, on Tuesday April 24th between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Individuals interested in applying to take part in the 2012 Business Computing course will get an opportunity to meet with lecturers, staff and current students.

The two-year, full-time Higher Certificate course, which is being offered by L.I.T.’s Department of Information Technology, will provide graduates with the opportunity to pursue an Ordinary Degree (level 7) and Honours Degree (level 8) in Business Computing at L.IT. 

“Information Technology is one of the fastest growing professions and our Business Computing course provides students with the business knowledge and IT technical background, through a hands-on approach that provides a real grasp of technology, development tools and paradigms in demand by industry,” explained Ms. Griffin.

She continued: “The course is suitable for school leavers, mature students or those wishing to go back to education, and offers graduates a wide variety of career options in accounts administration, business analysis, software development and data administration.”

The LIT Clare - Ennis Learning Centre was originally named the Ennis Regional Learning Centre, when it was officially launched in 2008. The original facility was an initiative of the Shannon Consortium, an educational partnership between Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee.

Visit www.lit.ie or phone 065-6866844 for further details, including Programme information and entry requirements.