Clare County Councillors have again voted in favour of selling a site in Shannon to allow for the construction of a crematorium. The plan has been the subject of strong opposition by local residents, but last evening it received the backing of County Councillors who initially agreed to sell the site in question last April. The Council had already agreed to sell the 1.3 acre site at Illaunamanagh to businessman Jim Cranwell, but contracts remain unsigned for the 140 thousand euro deal. The delay allowed Shannon area councillors to hold a special meeting on the matter last month, and during this they voted against the sale of the land. Last evening (Monday, March 7th), however, in a sometimes fractious meeting, the deal was agreed upon following another vote by local representatives. Residents who oppose the crematorium say the site in question is too small, and that they will continue to fight the plans. Gavin spoke to Pat Madden, a member of Concerned Shannon Residents, who was disappointed with the outcome. Gavin also spoke to Shannon Sinn Fein Councillor Mike McKee, who is in favour of the crematorium.
It’s claimed a plebiscite of residents would have to be held to change the spellings of Clare town and village names on road signs. Lahinch, Ennistymon, Corofin, Kildysart and Scarriff are among the areas here where complaints have been made about inaccurate spellings on road signs, as well as concerns that this could be confusing for tourists. However, Ordinance Survey Ireland say they’re obliged to use the older spellings of placenames, and that a change would require a vote of the people. In correspondence with Clare County Council, Ordinance Survey Ireland (OSI) says it’s verified the spellings of ‘Ennistimon’, ‘Lehinch’, ‘Ballyvaghan’, ‘Corrofin’, ‘Killinaboy’ and ‘Killadysert’. It says names cannot be changed without a plebiscite (as happened in the case of Daingean Ui Chuis) and without such a vote, must be spelled according to their English version “as listed in the original Name Book or in subsequent Statute Instrument”. Councillor Mary Howard spoke to Gavin about the issue.
Dr Nollaig O Muraile, Irish place-names expert and recently retired from Roinn na Gaeilge, Nuig, spoke on the show about the place-names controversy. Nollaig was Placenames Officer with the Ordinance Survey of Ireland from 1972 to 1993. Clare will be the featured county in Logainm on TG4 tonight (Tuesday, March 8th) at 8pm. The series that looks at the meaning of place names around the country and tonight Twin headed Wolf perform ‘Spancil Hill’ and Caife Suas (Ennis) customers tell us where they’re from and what place names mean. Logainm is a 26-part series celebrating and exploring the place names of Ireland. Much of Ireland’s history is locked up in its place names. They are a unique aspect of Ireland’s shared culture and heritage. There are millions of place names all over the island, from the field behind your house, to the four provinces of Ireland. Each of them has its own story to unfold, each has a distinctive sense of place. The series also showcases popular songs and ballads that have become synonymous with the places and usually romanticised in them.
Next on the show, Gavin was joined by John Lowe, The Money Doctor. John spoke about the Forbes Rich List, Credit Union mortgages, property prices being on the rise, and Irish Life payouts 2015.
It’s reported this week (Monday, March 7th) that Ireland may join the space race with a satellite of its own. The vessel would provide information on fisheries protection, land use or coastal studies. The Irish Space Industry Group was formed last year to advance the idea, which could require in the region of 5 million euro for it to become a reality. The group has opened a call for ideas for the project and these must be submitted by March 24th. More information is available at irishspaceindustrygroup.com. Professor Lorraine Hanlon, member of the UCD Space Science Group, spoke on the show this morning about the project.
Next on the show, Betty Devanney, Tidy Towns Co-ordinator, and Tommy Comerford, Chairperson of Doonbeg Tidy Towns, spoke about a Clare Tidy Towns information evening. The event will take place tonight (Tuesday, March 8th) at 5.30 in the Council Chamber at Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis. The event is hosted by Clare County Council and will acknowledge the positive work that Tidy Townds Groups are doing across the County, in voluntary capacity, to enhance the county’s towns and villages. Speakers will include Cathaoirleach James Breen; Chief Executive Tom Coughlan, Tidy Towns Adjudicator Lorraine Power, Doonbeg Tidy Towns Chairperson Tommy Comerford, Clarecastle Tidy Towns Chairperson Christy Leydon, and Billy Flynn, Ecologist & Biodiversity Expert. The evening will conclude with a questions and answers session.
Later we heard from Frankie Coote, Clare County Dog Warden.
Clare Ladies Cycling Club will hold their second annual ‘Turas na mBan’ on April 23 in support of Clare Youth Services. The routes are 40k and 80k. The launch of the Turas takes place tonight (Tuesday, March 8th) at 8pm at the Old Ground Hotel by Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, James Breen. Margaret Kennelly, from the Clare Ladies Cycling Club and Margaret Slatter, form Clare Youth Services; spoke to Gavin about the event.
Today (Tuesday, March 8th) is International Women’s Day, and Elaine Dalty the Co-ordinator of Clare Women’s Network joined Gavin on the show to speak about it..
Next on the show, Gavin spoke to a maths teacher who has been shortlisted for a Global Teaching Prize. Colin Hegarty, a former accountant whose mother is from Lissycasey is in line for a $1 million teaching award. Colin Hegarty who took a £40,000 pay cut when he quit his accountancy job to become a teacher has been shortlisted for a major international prize. The Varkey Foundation Global Teacher prize is an annual 1 million dollar award given to teachers who have made an outstanding contribution to their profession. Colin Hegarty set up a website that can help other teachers to teach maths. The website, HegartyMaths at mathswebsite.com, which he has taken a year-long sabbatical from his job to develop with the aid of the charity Shone, is used by 5,000 children a day in 200 different territories around the world. He refines the website through an internship programme that involves 20 GCSE and A-level maths students trialling the maths questions. Colin was the first person in his family to go to university and gained a first-class honours degree from Oxford in maths.
