Killeen Welcomes Restoration Of Pensions For Farm Women

Minister Tony Killeen has welcomed Government’s decision to restore the State Contributory Pension to farm women.

The Clare T.D. and former Junior Agriculture Minister commented: “I warmly welcome Minister for Social and Family Affairs Eamon O’Cuiv’s announcement that the decision in relation to the withdrawal or reduction of State Pension (Contributory) from certain people who had availed of commercial partnership arrangements, has been rescinded.”

He continued: “I am delighted that, based on further legal advice, it has been possible for the Government to make this decision. Minister O’Cuiv is aware of the distress this issue was causing and I am pleased that he has brought the matter to a satisfactory conclusion”.

“This decision will be backdated to the date on which State Pensions were withdrawn or reduced and all arrears due will be paid. Overpayments will no longer be sought. Applications received or applications refused before 31 December 2009 will be dealt with under the legislation at that time. This process will be completed within the next four weeks. Applications received from 1 January 2010 will be processed under current legislation”, added Minister Killeen.

NAMA Member To Address Limerick Business Event

A member of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) board will address local SME’s at a business and networking event in Kilmallock on Monday, 19 April next.

Rathkeale native and NAMA member Brian McEnery (pictured), who set up the corporate recovery section of Horwarth Bastown Charleton, will be joined by John Ahern of Indaver Ireland at the event, entitled “Your County Your Call - Building Future Business Opportunities in Kilmallock and District”.

The seminar, which is organised by the County Limerick Enterprise Board in association with Kilmallock Partnership, is the second in a series of business and networking events being held throughout County Limerick.

The events provide expert advice on issues including Starting a Business, Sales and Marketing for Beginners, Taxation for Self-Employed, Developing an Internet Business, Time Management in a Small Business, Credit Control and Financial Management for the Owner Manager.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Limerick County Enterprise Board CEO Ned Toomey said: “The event is for anyone interested in starting or growing a business, particularly in the Kilmallock region. The speakers on the night include Brian McEnery who will be talking about Nama and business recovery. The second speaker is John Ahern, Managing Director of Indaver Ireland, who have been very innovative in the waste to energy business market in recent years. He will be speaking about future trends in the alternative energy market.”

“Kilmallock Partnership who have come up with the idea for the event, hope that people might get ideas about possible alternative energy areas in which they can develop a business or learn from Brian McEnery’s corporate recovery experience if their business is struggling”, added Mr. Toomey.

Over 20 Limerick County businesses were supported by Limerick County Enterprise Board through grant aid in 2009, representing a 270,000 euro investment in small business in the county. The Board also co-funded and supported the development of five Enterprise Centres in Croom, Dromcollogher, Broadford, Ballylanders and Kilmallock.

Kilmallock Partnership comprises trader representatives and various county agencies, including Limerick County Council, who voluntarily meet to develop community and business projects in Kilmallock and surrounding district.

“Your County Your Call - Building Future Business Opportunities in Kilmallock and District” takes place in The Deebert House Hotel, Kilmallock, from 7.00-9.30pm on Monday April 19th. For further information contact the Limerick County Enterprise Board on 061-496520 or visit: www.lcoeb.ie.

Sliabh Aughty Profiled In New Book

A new book that profiles the landscape, history, folklore and people of Ireland’s largest but least known mountain ranges will officially be launched by Minister of Defence Tony Killeen T.D. this evening.

‘Sliabh Aughty Ramble’ will be officially launched at The Mountshannon Hotel at 8.30pm. The 180-page, indexed publication features 120 illustrations and includes the first ever coloured index map of the region.

Sliabh Aughty covers over 250 square miles in East Clare and South Galway. The highest peak in the mountain range is Maghera which rises to 400m (1,314ft).

The book’s author Ger Madden, who also is Chairman of the Tuamgraney-based East Clare Heritage Centre, described the publication as a unique account of the region’s rich and varied history.

He said: “The book takes the form of a diary with an insert for each of the 365 days of the year. The inserts include information on the origins of local townland names, traditions, historic figures, folklore and fakelore stories, and poetry and other literary works relating to Sliabh Aughty.

Mr. Madden noted that the tourism potential of the Sliabh Aughty region has never been fully exploited, despite presenting a unique opportunity for enterprise creation and the economic regeneration of South Galway and East Clare.

“It is not promoted or referred to in tourism brochures and even the cartographers have on occasion omitted it from maps. This unique and beautiful landscape is waiting to be discovered by the discerning traveller”, explained the Scariff native.

“Sliabh Aughty boasts a spider’s web of boirins, paths and roads in one of the most scenic parts of Ireland. Poet Pádraig Colum noted in ‘An Old Woman’ that the roads of Sliabh Aughty, are neither graced ‘by house or bush’ only by ‘the crying wind and the lonesome hush.’ The full-colour, attached map with index will make the journey all the more pleasurable. Sliabh Aughty also hosts numerous megalithic burial tombs and is home to the poet Brian Merriman and Biddy Early, the Wise Woman of Clare.”

“I hope my book will highlight everything that the Sliabh Aughty region has to offer to both locals and visitors alike”, added Mr. Madden.

Commenting ahead of the book launch, Minister for Defence and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen underlined the importance of documenting regions of historic and cultural significance. Minister Killeen noted: “This book provides the most in-depth account of the Sliabh Aughty region ever produced. Gerard Madden has spent many years compiling information that will both enlighten and fasciate those who read it.”

“I come from the Burren region which is similar in many respects to Sliabh Aughty in terms of heritage, culture, tradition, landscape and people. I can understand how important this publication is regarding the promotion of the region. I would like to congratulate the author on his work and look forward to seeing an increase in visitor numbers to South Galway and East Clare as a result”, added Minister Killeen.

‘Sliabh Aughty Ramble - Musings on the folklore, history, landscape and literature of the region’ will be on sale at the Scéal Eile Books in Ennis and selected outlets throughout East Clare and South Galway, as well as at the Aughty Gathering in Gort on April 17th next.