LOCAL NEWS PAGE ARCHIVES
August 2005
Is the River Clodiagh the worst treated river in Ireland?
All year long, waste run off from the Clonaslee Water Treatment Plant, spills daily into the Clodiagh just across from the Lodge in the village.
This waste water is heavily laden with sediment and chemicals from the filtration process, and leaves a layer of scum coating the River bed.
No wildlife can live in this toxic mess,4 dead trout could be seen there yesterday [June 23 2005].
Surely this run-off is illegal?
Ireland has agreed to improve its waterways under an EU directive,but the Clodiagh dies.
The killer blow is struck each Summer as a 2 mile section of the River dries up, due to water intake for our drinking, home and industrial needs.
For most of the year the Clodiagh gladly gives herself to our increasing human needs,but the intake station does not take into account the seasonal variations in water quantity.
In the summer months, with less rainfall, there is less water in our rivers, yet the intake guzzles every drop of the Clodiagh.
Suddenly the rich natural habitat of the river bed becomes the killing fields of Clonaslee.
Millions of insects, invertebrates, amphibians, animals and fish are left to die, their source of life disappearing down a pipe in the Brittas Woods.
Can this yearly genocide of our wildlife be allowed to continue?
During the summer, the Clodiagh must be the saddest wreck of a river in the country.
She is bright and young up in Barradoos,flowing out of the mountains,over rocks and stones,through the heather, in the wildlife richness of the Slieve Blooms.She catches the sunlight through the conifers in the quiet of Brittas Woods.
Then she is forced down a pipe,all her life giving water ends for 2 miles.leaving a dry,lifeless river bed,in what should be our best amenity area, only minutes from the village.
The river trickles back out of a pipe just metres from the bridge in the village.You can stand and watch the dirty water gushing from the pipe most times,any day.Lifeless and toxic, she leaves a trail of scum for all to see, and yet worse is to befall her below Killart, where human waste spills over from the over used Waste Treatment Unit.
Is this anyway to treat one of our natural assets?
In most towns and villages rivers are treated with respect,they are cared for,cleaned,re-stocked with fish,made into tourist attractions.
In Clonaslee we have turned our backs on the Clodiagh.We ignore her pain.
She is dying every day now.
She needs us now and we must help her.
What can we do?
We must stop the river from drying up.It has to be un-lawfull.
This wanton destruction of a natural habitat must break every Environmental and Wildlife Act we have.
We must stop the scum waste water from entering the Clodiagh at the village[or anywhere]
We cannot allow this to continue.
We must rant and rave, make our voices be heard
We must make our Local Authority become aware of the Clodiaghs dire situation.There are fishery boards,Duchas,The EPA.The Heritage Council,etc….
Lets call them all.
We have begun a “Save the Clodiagh Campaign”.This river needs all the help it can get.
If you have any suggestions, any ideas, or just want to voice your support.You can contact us as follows:
e-mail: info@clonaslee.net
or phone J.Kennedy at 0502 48685.
CASTLECUFFE NATIONAL SCHOOL EXTENSION.
In 2003 with an increase in students and a third teacher, Castlecuffe National School had become too small. A quarter acre was acquired and as a temporary measure a pre-fab school room was erected. A retaining wall was funded and constructed by the families of students. The Board of Management applied to the Dept of Education for an extension.
With a newly introduced pilot scheme (March 2004) Castlecuffe got its extension. The Dept provides the money while the Board of Management provided the architect and later the contractor. Contractor Martin Kelly from Rosenallis was awarded the job.
Project consists of
· 2 New Classrooms (with 2 toilets each)
· 1 Teachers Room
· 1 Resource Room
· 1 Office
plus renovating old 2 rooms – into 1 classroom (with 2 toilets), also upgrading of heating and electrical work.
The work is expected to be complete in June 2005, ready for the new school year in September 05. The grand opening will take place in the Autumn.
As with any new developments there will have to be a certain amount of “FUND-RAISING”.
We will keep you updated on events as they happen.
STILL WAITING ON EXTENSION TO CLONASLEE NATIONAL SCHOOL
A new 4 classroom extension is still in the design phase at the Dept of Education.
Clonaslee BNS and GNS amalgamated back in 1999 to begin this process.The 4 classroom extension is favoured over a new School building,as we get to keep the original 1907 Girls National School,which is a treasured heritage building of our village.
April 2005
RESTORER OF HISTORIC GARDENS IS NEW OWNER OF BRITTAS HOUSE
The ghosts of Brittas can breathe a sigh of relief
Their former home and gardens will be painstakingly restored to their former grandeur.
Mr Glen Thomas recently purchased Brittas House from Mrs J.Daly.USA.Mr Thomas,a native of Tullamore and who now resides in a restored Church in Blacklion,has worked at restoring historic gardens for years.Trained at the Botanical Gardens,he has re-created fine gardens in Dublin and in the UK.
He is currently removing years of undergrowth and ivy in his Brittas Gardens.
Brittas is home to some of the finest mature trees in Ireland including huge Thuja,a very tall Redwood,magnificent Beech,Oak,Chestnut and Sycamore,and a massive red flowering Rhododendron.
Brittas House Victorian Wing was only 63 years built when a fire broke out in June 1942 and destroyed its interiors and roof.The walls fell in after.Seat of the O’Dunne family since 1653 the last male,Francis Plunket died in 1878 at an early age,leaving behind 2 infant daughters.They left Brittas for the last time in 1926.The house was bought by Mr J.Daly after the fire.
The house and gardens are a dangerous site at the moment,but Mr Thomas is ready and willing to meet with anyone who has some history of Brittas.He is also keen to purchase any stone work or iron work that may suit his restoration project.
August 2005
Is the River Clodiagh the worst treated river in Ireland?
All year long, waste run off from the Clonaslee Water Treatment Plant, spills daily into the Clodiagh just across from the Lodge in the village.
This waste water is heavily laden with sediment and chemicals from the filtration process, and leaves a layer of scum coating the River bed.
No wildlife can live in this toxic mess,4 dead trout could be seen there yesterday [June 23 2005].
Surely this run-off is illegal?
Ireland has agreed to improve its waterways under an EU directive,but the Clodiagh dies.
The killer blow is struck each Summer as a 2 mile section of the River dries up, due to water intake for our drinking, home and industrial needs.
For most of the year the Clodiagh gladly gives herself to our increasing human needs,but the intake station does not take into account the seasonal variations in water quantity.
In the summer months, with less rainfall, there is less water in our rivers, yet the intake guzzles every drop of the Clodiagh.
Suddenly the rich natural habitat of the river bed becomes the killing fields of Clonaslee.
Millions of insects, invertebrates, amphibians, animals and fish are left to die, their source of life disappearing down a pipe in the Brittas Woods.
Can this yearly genocide of our wildlife be allowed to continue?
During the summer, the Clodiagh must be the saddest wreck of a river in the country.
She is bright and young up in Barradoos,flowing out of the mountains,over rocks and stones,through the heather, in the wildlife richness of the Slieve Blooms.She catches the sunlight through the conifers in the quiet of Brittas Woods.
Then she is forced down a pipe,all her life giving water ends for 2 miles.leaving a dry,lifeless river bed,in what should be our best amenity area, only minutes from the village.
The river trickles back out of a pipe just metres from the bridge in the village.You can stand and watch the dirty water gushing from the pipe most times,any day.Lifeless and toxic, she leaves a trail of scum for all to see, and yet worse is to befall her below Killart, where human waste spills over from the over used Waste Treatment Unit.
Is this anyway to treat one of our natural assets?
In most towns and villages rivers are treated with respect,they are cared for,cleaned,re-stocked with fish,made into tourist attractions.
In Clonaslee we have turned our backs on the Clodiagh.We ignore her pain.
She is dying every day now.
She needs us now and we must help her.
What can we do?
We must stop the river from drying up.It has to be un-lawfull.
This wanton destruction of a natural habitat must break every Environmental and Wildlife Act we have.
We must stop the scum waste water from entering the Clodiagh at the village[or anywhere]
We cannot allow this to continue.
We must rant and rave, make our voices be heard
We must make our Local Authority become aware of the Clodiaghs dire situation.There are fishery boards,Duchas,The EPA.The Heritage Council,etc….
Lets call them all.
We have begun a “Save the Clodiagh Campaign”.This river needs all the help it can get.
If you have any suggestions, any ideas, or just want to voice your support.You can contact us as follows:
e-mail: info@clonaslee.net
or phone J.Kennedy at 0502 48685.
CASTLECUFFE NATIONAL SCHOOL EXTENSION.
In 2003 with an increase in students and a third teacher, Castlecuffe National School had become too small. A quarter acre was acquired and as a temporary measure a pre-fab school room was erected. A retaining wall was funded and constructed by the families of students. The Board of Management applied to the Dept of Education for an extension.
With a newly introduced pilot scheme (March 2004) Castlecuffe got its extension. The Dept provides the money while the Board of Management provided the architect and later the contractor. Contractor Martin Kelly from Rosenallis was awarded the job.
Project consists of
· 2 New Classrooms (with 2 toilets each)
· 1 Teachers Room
· 1 Resource Room
· 1 Office
plus renovating old 2 rooms – into 1 classroom (with 2 toilets), also upgrading of heating and electrical work.
The work is expected to be complete in June 2005, ready for the new school year in September 05. The grand opening will take place in the Autumn.
As with any new developments there will have to be a certain amount of “FUND-RAISING”.
We will keep you updated on events as they happen.
STILL WAITING ON EXTENSION TO CLONASLEE NATIONAL SCHOOL
A new 4 classroom extension is still in the design phase at the Dept of Education.
Clonaslee BNS and GNS amalgamated back in 1999 to begin this process.The 4 classroom extension is favoured over a new School building,as we get to keep the original 1907 Girls National School,which is a treasured heritage building of our village.
April 2005
RESTORER OF HISTORIC GARDENS IS NEW OWNER OF BRITTAS HOUSE
The ghosts of Brittas can breathe a sigh of relief
Their former home and gardens will be painstakingly restored to their former grandeur.
Mr Glen Thomas recently purchased Brittas House from Mrs J.Daly.USA.Mr Thomas,a native of Tullamore and who now resides in a restored Church in Blacklion,has worked at restoring historic gardens for years.Trained at the Botanical Gardens,he has re-created fine gardens in Dublin and in the UK.
He is currently removing years of undergrowth and ivy in his Brittas Gardens.
Brittas is home to some of the finest mature trees in Ireland including huge Thuja,a very tall Redwood,magnificent Beech,Oak,Chestnut and Sycamore,and a massive red flowering Rhododendron.
Brittas House Victorian Wing was only 63 years built when a fire broke out in June 1942 and destroyed its interiors and roof.The walls fell in after.Seat of the O’Dunne family since 1653 the last male,Francis Plunket died in 1878 at an early age,leaving behind 2 infant daughters.They left Brittas for the last time in 1926.The house was bought by Mr J.Daly after the fire.
The house and gardens are a dangerous site at the moment,but Mr Thomas is ready and willing to meet with anyone who has some history of Brittas.He is also keen to purchase any stone work or iron work that may suit his restoration project.
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