Joan McGeorge
Rita McInerney
 john Smith,
Michael Flanagan,
Jim Clancy,
 Murt McInerney
Francis O’ Dea

We take this opportunity to wish you a belated Happy New Year and briefly update you on matters concerning our involvement in recent times.

 Christmas Lights & Party

 Once again the impact of the Christmas lights and decorations in creating a seasonal festive atmosphere was noted by locals, young and old, and visitors to the village. We thank you for your contributions towards helping to defray the cost of this event which was €1500.          

 We organised a very successful  Christmas party for the children of the five schools in our parish. This was attended by many parents and was regarded by all as a great success. This year with the co-operation of the teachers, the party was held in the Community Hall. Needless to say, Santa came and we also hired a DJ which added to the occasion. The Naíonra had a special visit from Santa with individual gifts for all children. The total cost of these events was €800. Should you have any suggestions for next year’s party or the lighting arrangement, your views would be welcome. Contact Nuala on 065 9055288.

Development Plan for village

During the year D.C.D. Ltd. in conjunction with Clare Co Council and Shannon Development applied to Fáilte Ireland for substantial funding under the National Development Plan for a variety of improvements in our parish. We were pleased to have successfully secured 100% support from Shannon Regional Fisheries Board and Doonbeg Golf Club towards promoting our application. The application was very detailed and required a lot of professional input. It is available in the Doonbeg Development Office should anybody wish to see it.

 Heritage

We also successfully applied to the Heritage Council for funding towards a Biodiversity Project in the Lake and the Corcass area on the Killard road. This was a two phase project. We have achieved the first phase and we have erected two Display Boards showing many

aspects of local wildlife with coloured aerial views of Doonbeg Lough and Doonbeg Bay. One is located in the Fairgreen and the other one is at the Inver on the Killard road. Due to technical difficulties, regrettably, we are unable to proceed with phase two at the moment.

Heritage Council Project

We have again sponsored an innovative parishioner who has made an application to the Heritage Council of Ireland, for 2009 Funding to restore the  Doonmore Church of Ireland Cemetery, opposite the football field.

Tidy Towns

Our gallant Tidy Towns Committee has once again managed to increase the number of points awarded by the National Adjudicators for 2008. This handful of core workers must be congratulated on the great work they are doing. They have recently erected a tunnel in the village where they grow their own plants and they have also designed and constructed a very successful watering system which is used to water the plants when they are located outdoors. We extend our gratitude to the people who gave the tunnel, the site for the tunnel, the watering tank and the locals who set up the automatic watering system - all free gratis. We earnestly invite more parishioners to assist with this work which helps to make the village a much nicer place.  For further information contact Carmel on 0861692316

Lotto

The Doonbeg Lotto is divided between the Community Hall, Football Club and Doonbeg Community Development. It is the main source of income for Doonbeg Development which funded our Christmas Event for all schools, Christmas lighting and trees, Tidy Towns activities and FÁS Scheme as well as part funding the running of the Doonbeg Development office. We are grateful to all sellers and those who help on Monday nights. Annual membership can be purchased from DCD office for €90. New sellers always welcome. Contact Francis O’ Dea  on 086 8298025

 Mountrivers Sewerage

Due to the initiative of DCD, the Mountrivers sewerage scheme is now in progress.

       Planning

Due to concerns expressed last year in respect of the number of large scale Planning Applications in the immediate vicinity of the village we deemed it necessary to employ the services of a Planning Consultant who prepared and lodged submissions to the Planning Department on our behalf. We have also had consultations with officials of the Planning Section in Clare County Council and one of the developers who sought meetings with us pertaining to relevant matters in his development.

 Arising from the Planning Approval in respect of  this development  which permitted the construction of a footpath one and a half metres wide along the bridge in the village which would reduce the width  of the bridge by 1/3, we carried out a survey with regard to the impact it would have on traffic.

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As a result of the negative impact it would have, it was decided that this condition of the Planning Approval should be appealed to An Board Pleanála.  Furthermore, we submitted plans with our appeal for an alternative footbridge which would eliminate traffic hazards and reduce the potential damage to the bridge which is a protected structure. We are awaiting the outcome of the appeal.

Social  Housing

Doonbeg Community Development Ltd. is at an advanced legal stage with preparatory work securing the site adjacent to the Church which was the former residence of the parish curate. The intention is to build eight social housing units in conjunction with the Social Housing Section of Clare Co. Council and the Dept. of the Environment and Local Government. These would accommodate  any local senior citizens or local returned emigrants who wish to live in the area. 

Bealaha Renewal Group

 Formed in August 2005, aiming to enhance the village of Bealaha and surrounding areas including “Kennedy's Cross”, “The Leacht”, “Moroney’s turn” and the graveyards of Farrihy and Kiltenane. We have two workers under the Rural Social Scheme and work has been completed in the Church, car park and on graveyard walls. To all involved, we would like to say a big “Thank You”. 

Clare Local Development Company

This Company which was set up by the Minister for the Gaeltacht and Rural Development is responsible for administrating Rural Schemes. We are pleased to inform you that two members of Doonbeg Community Development have been appointed to the board of the Clare Local Development Company, namely Willie Hanrahan and Rita McInerney.

 Community Employment

Doonbeg Community Development Ltd. continue to sponsor the FÁS Scheme and the Rural Social Scheme for Doonbeg and is therefore responsible for all participants who provide the community with an excellent service. In recent times our jurisdiction was extended and we now have participants in Mullagh and at Radio Corca Baiscinn in Kilkee.

Finally, we are proud of the fact that we operate as a transparent Limited Company with prescribed Articles of Associations. We are also conscious of our obligation to hand on to future generations the scale, traditions, culture and heritage of Doonbeg Village that we have been fortunate to inherit. In that regard we invite organisations and individuals of like mind to join with us in preserving these values.

“Together we conquer divided we fall”