B.A.G.

Issue 1

March 1997

(Comments to burrenag@iol.ie)

Newsletter is Back!

One of the concrete decisions that was made at a recent B.A.G conference (see Conference Notes) was that the Newsletter should be revived. So it's back as "B.A.G. News".

Conference Notes

On the 8th of March 1997 the Burren Action Group held a "conference" in the Temple Gate Hotel. Among the aims were to re-energise, consider our position present and future and address problems within the Group. It was a chance for everyone to have their say about where we are going.

Leo Hallisey kindly travelled down from Renvyle to act as facilitator, which he carried off with his usual style and grace. Memories were revived of the start of the campaign when Leo turned up at a meeting and gave great guidance, hope and direction to the fledgling Burren Action Group.

A series of workshops were organised with the aim of airing problems and coming up with concrete proposals for improvements. The following is a list of the proposals which came out of the conference. If anyone who was there feels that anything is missed below get in touch and it will go in the next B.A.G. News.

  1. There was discussion of whether BAG is a single issue group or whether we should be taking on some of the other problems in the Burren. The consensus was that one of the reasons for our success and survival in the past was the fact that we remain focused on the Mullaghmore issue. There was doubt as to whether there is the energy to broaden the approach. The duty to the plaintiffs in the court case was reiterated. There was, however a great deal of support for the idea of carrying on in some form after the Mullaghmore issue is resolved and also some debate about whether we should operate under the same name or find a new form.

  2. The informal structure of the Group was considered as an asset and should be retained. It both allows flexibility and unsettles the opposition.

  3. Newsletter is to be revived. It should allow information exchange and announce meeting and agendas.

  4. The group should avoid specific political allegiances. We should respond in a pragmatic matter to what is on offer as the political situation evolves coming up to the election.

  5. More social events are needed to retain the interest and contacts of those supporters who are not directly involved in the various sub-groups. A pub quiz or similar event should be organised within the next six weeks. Having social events that fall on regular dates should be considered so that everything does not have to be announced by post.

  6. The public Acre Launch dates were fixed for the 7th and 8th of April, with one launch in Dublin and one local.

  7. In the early days there were working sessions at the meetings. In parallel with the meeting or afterwards people could get together to carry out jobs of work. This practice should be revived.

  8. Some people's attendance at events is constrained by child care responsibilities. Hence the Group loses out on their talents. Crèche facilities are needed.

  9. Jack O'Sullivan is to comment on behalf of BAG on the OPW response to CCC request for further information. But there should be individual responses to the Council as well.

  10. The Group should maintain contacts with local action groups. Without detracting from our own energy we should be able to offer advice and expertise if requested.

  11. An opportunity was missed in not issuing congratulations to the farming organisations in their successful negotiations with the Government for compensation for losses incurred under the Habitats Directive. This type of support will be needed by farmers if we are to evolve sustainable agricultural systems.

  12. The possibility of obtaining "official" funding should be investigated. This might come through FAS, Government or EU.

  13. A number of sub-groups exist within BAG. Their members are listed below. Please note that these are not "exclusive". If you want to make a contribution contact a member to see what is happening. If your name is left off one of these let us know.

    1. Planning : Lelia Doolan, Finola McNamara, Michael Miller, Joe Saunders, Emer Colleran, Ute Bohnsack, Mike Neylon, Paul Theasby, Cyril O'Cerin

    2. Fundraising : Gabriel Casey, Suzanne Linnane, Dermot Hayes, Dave Riordan, Pat Wall, Helen O'Sullivan, Phil Moloney,

    3. Newsletter: Dermot Hayes, Joe Saunders, Brendan O'Donohue, Michael Miller

    4. PR Group : Joe Saunders, Lelia Doolan, Cyril O'Cerin, Finola McNamara, Emer Colleran, Mike Neylon

OPW respond to Clare Co. Council request for Further Information.

There are several curious aspects to the correspondence currently taking place between the Clare Co. Council and the OPW.

Clare County Council have refused to allow the OPW a place to dump partially treated sewage from the Mullaghmore centre. They are arguing that as a discharge licence has already been granted for the site that it should be used.

The OPW have linked funding promises for centres in Corofin and Kilfenora to the granting of planning permission for the Mullaghmore centre. If planning permission is refused they have threatened to reconsider the "nature and scale" of their commitment to the village based centres. This could be interpreted as an attempt to interfere with the planning process. Martin Lafferty (MCC Labour) has pointed this out publicly in the Clare Champion as have we ourselves.

Next Meeting

24-3-97 , 8:00pm
Linnanes, Kilfenora

There will be working session of letter writing to the Clare County Council re: OPW responses to CCC request for further information.

Agenda items:

  1. Approaches to bringing in new members to Group.
  2. Brochure distribution.
  3. Acre public launch
  4. Political situation update.
  5. Discussion of social event planning.
  6. Discussion of crèche facilities.
  7. Making contacts with other local action groups.
  8. Congratulating the farmers on successes re. habitats directive.
  9. Seeking "official" funding.
  10. Spreading the workload.

Web Site

BAG web site is up and running at http://www.iol.ie/~burrenag/ with e mail at burrenag@iol.ie

Patrick Formally Signs Over the Acre

At a ceremony at the conference Patrick McCormac formally signed over his acre to the Burren Acre Co. Ltd. Fr. John O'Donohue thanked Patrick on behalf of the Group. Patrick was presented with a painting by Cyril O'Cerin. Once again thanks from all to Patrick for his generosity.

WWF Win Case in Europe

On 5 March 1997 there was a judgement given in the WWF - v - European Commission. WWF had challenged refusal of the Commission to release papers relating to the decision to allow structural funding for the Mullaghmore Centre. While they did not manage to win the general principle of full access to files of this nature they were able to show that the Commission was wrong not to release the Mullaghmore information without giving adequate reasons. The Commission may appeal the decision, but if they don't then we can expect another huge bundle of papers to trawl through relating to those strange decisions about which we could find out so little.

Auction and Sale of Goods

An auction and sale of work is planned for May 4th in Kilfenora. There will also be a cake sale, raffle, wheel of fortune and music for all - and a mystery celebrity. We are aiming for to raise 3-4,000 pounds. Once again we are appealing to all for donations, and especially the arts and crafts community who have given such whole-hearted support. Bear it in mind during spring cleaning. (contact Liam Kirwan 065-32970 or Gabriel Casey 065-74768)

Burren Acre Brochure Ready!!

The long running saga of the brochure is over. Five thousand copies are printed and ready. Many thanks to all concerned but there must be a special congratulations to the work of Cyril, who spent a weekend doing the final editing of the text, and to Lelia who organised the design, layout and printing - in record time - to have it ready for the conference.

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