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IT WAS a tale of two teams, two managements too.

Clare players and the backroom of Paidi O Sé, Vincent O’Connor and Kieran Kelleher made a hasty retreat to the dressing room. They wanted out of Cusack Park after the end of what has been a very disappointing year for Clare football.

Apart from the early National League wins over Carlow and Lei- trim, it was a harrowing year, poll- forked by some very disappinting displays.

Take your pick: Monaghan in Cu- sack Park, Roscommon in Hyde Park and worst of all Waterford in Fraher Field. Throw in this Tommy Mur- phy Cup semi-final before a couple of hundred, hence the rush for the dressing room.

Antrim were in no hurry. Play- ers gathered at midfield — first they warmed down, then manager Enda Gormley talked about the road to Croke Park.

Antrim are on that Dublin road and this was a big win, went Gormley’s line as his side exacted some revenge for their defeat to Clare in an All-Ire- land qualifier in Casement Park last year.

Then Gormley broke away to field questions and talked about the importance of this victory for the development of Antrim football. “Certainly at half-time we had a lot of work to do,” admitted the former Tyrone star.

“Clare definitely had the lions share of possession in the first half when

we got caught too deep at times. But in the second half our defence did very well and coped with what Clare could throw at us. We broke well from defence and set up some great attacks.

“A big this for us was midfield in the second half. Joe Quinn put on a great display in the middle of the park and fielded eight or nine ereat balls. That gave us a platform. We were putting good ball into the spaces and forwards ran on to it very well,” he added.

And, no forward impressed more than Conor McGourty who finished with a personal tally of 1-5. Gormley wasn’t surprised. “Conor McGourty is an outstanding talent and we knew that this performance was in him. He’s just one of a number of out- standing players in this team.

“We take a lot of heart from this result and are looking forward to the final. It’s great for these lads. It’s a long time since these footballers played a game in Croke Park. Many people have made little of the Tommy Murphy Cup but for this team and its development it’s very important.

“It’s a big stepping stone — we’ve said that we’re using this year’s Tom- my Murphy Cup to build for next year’s National League campaign. The fellas have responded really well and we’re looking forward to our day out in Croker.”

Clare, meanwhile, look towards a very uncertain future.

SATURDAY proved that the Gods must be smiling down on Tony Con- sidine at the moment.

After seeing his Clare team top their qualifying group, narrowly beating favourites Galway along the way, Considine even avoided the re- lentless downpour which marred the Opening stages of the Laois game on Saturday after being barred to the stand after what he admitted himself was “an altercation in the Antrim game’ and instead had the luxury of watching his other mentors feel the brunt of the apocalyptic attack. And it was this severe deluge which he attributed to Clare’s inconsistent performance after the Laois match on Saturday.

“It was a desperate game really but the conditions were absolutely brutal. I suppose it was a day for lifeguards really, it wasn’t a day for hurling. It was like a day at the beach or some- thing. I’m glad I wasn’t on the field today because I kept dry but the hur- leys were twisting in the guys’ hands when hitting the ball. I know we missed a lot of frees and we missed them last week as well and that is a major concern but I suppose at least we were getting shots in. Basically, we wouldn’t beat anyone like that. Let’s be honest, it was a poor game.”

Considine and his fellow selectors have had to endure some serious se- lection headaches in recent weeks due to a mounting injury list and again on Saturday, Clare were required to make two further alterations to the starting line-up due to injuries to Kevin Dilleen and Gerry Quinn sus- tained in the Galway game.

“It’s a major concern about Kevin, a major concern about Bernard Gaff-

ney. Conor Plunkett had an injury and Fergal Lynch had an injury so you don’t like fellas getting injured coming into the championship. If you have to have injuries, I suppose you would prefer them early on in the year but we tend to be getting them now so hopefully things will improve but I would definitely rule Gerry Quinn out at this stage, I don’t think there is any hope.”

So now that Clare have topped the eroup to qualify for a quarter-final place against neighbours Limerick, surely he feels that Clare are finally where he wanted them to be at this stage of the season?

“I didn’t want to come this route | can tell you, I wanted to go the other route but we are now in the quarter- final and I suppose that’s where we wanted to be but look, we are com- plete outsiders. You would have to say that today with a performance like that. You know, there are eight teams left in it now and we are prob- ably the outsiders of the eight at the moment but we will have to improve an awful, awful lot on the perform- ance of today. Everyone was saying that last Saturday was a bad enough game as well and maybe the 1m- provement will come in a week or two, I don’t know.”

It is debatable whether drawing neighbours Limerick in the quarter- final was the most desirable option but regardless of that fact, Clare can have no better assessor of Limer- ick hurling than the Cratloeman in preparation for that match as Consi- dine spent two years as manager of Limerick side Garryspillane, guid- ing them to a senior final in his first year in 2004 before clinching the club’s first ever senior championship in 2005.

“T had a couple of great years in Limerick hurling and I suppose they are like ourselves, they are trying to make the breakthrough as well. Lim- erick have been the team of the year in the Munster championship so far really. They have played very well, they had three terrific games with Tipperary and they went down then and played Waterford and I don’t think they were a nine point worse team than Waterford. No way at all. I suppose only in the last five or six minutes that Waterford just got a few goals and Limerick lost their way a bit. But Limerick are a really good team and at the moment, you would have to say that Limerick are com- plete favourites to win.”

An additional intriguing ingredient to the mix is that Considine could well have been on the opposition bench on July 29 as he was offered the role as Limerick manager last October and only after a failure to agree final terms with the county board, Consi- dine was offered the Clare manager’s position in an attempt to guide Clare in a new direction.

“We won’t talk about that now,’ he said. “Everybody knows about that but look, there is a good man- agement team in Limerick now. Fair play to them, they have done a good job this year and it will be a great occasion when Clare and Limerick meet. It’s always a great occasion. As I said at the Galway game last week, there will be houses divided. I should know, I even have family divided for the Limerick game.”

Let the real games begin.

THE race is on to claim a place in Ire- land’s first ever official holy well tour which will be headed up by broad- caster, Donncha O’Dulaing. Clare people are being asked to nominate

their local well to become part of the tour which is raising money for third world charity Bothar.

“T am delighted to be able to lend my support doing what I love best, meeting people, discovering Ireland and all it has to offer. Almost every

part of Ireland has at least one holy well and the well’s water is believed by many to have healing properties,” said O’Dulaing.

“There are over 3000 wells in Ire- land, more than in any other country in the world , so I am encouraging

people to rediscover them and focus on making history present by raising funds for Bothar.”

O’Dulaing will be travelling all over Ireland on a holy well trail and member of the public are invited to get in touch with him by e-mailing failte @rte.ie.

Holy wells exist in most counties of Ireland.

While many of the old wells have fallen into disrepair, interest in the history and heritage associated with these ancient sites has been revived and there are many people now ac- tively attempting to restore them.

All funds raised will go directly to Bothar projects in the develop- ing world. Bothar give people the eift of a-food-and-income producing animal, together with the training & veterinary back-up necessary to look AVACoOMmAOt-Lmr-bOpbeet-0

Each family that receives an ani- mal must promise to ‘pass-on’ the gift of livestock by donating the first female offspring born to their animal to another needy family that 1s also involved in the Bothar programme.

Through this ‘pass-on’ tradition, the gift multiplies and has the power to help an entire community over many years.

Produce from the animals in the form of milk and honey, cheese and eggs can provide a family with a vi- tally important daily source of nu- trition. Any surplus produce can be sold to earn a little money for other foodstuffs, clothing, medicine and necessities.

The greatest dream of most devel- oping world families is to send their children to school to get an education and get a chance to break out of the cycle of poverty – a living gift from Bothar gives each family an oppor- tunity to do just that.

For further information on the holy well trail tune into Donncha’s ‘Fail- te’ Programme on Saturday evening at 10.0.5pm on RTE Radio 1.

FORMER leader of the Green party and the newest member of the De- partment of Agriculture, Trevor Sar- gent, this week made his first official statement since entering government by urging consumers to look at or- ganic foods.

Speaking at the launch of Bord Bia’s “Think Organic” summer cam- paign, the newly appointed Minister for Food and Horticulture at the De- partment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, reminded consumers that everyone benefits from buying pro- duce in season.

“The benefits to the consumer and

the Irish producer are obvious, but there is also a much wider effect in terms of worldwide sustainabil- ity and reducing unnecessary food miles which are a significant factor in climate change,” he said.

“Consumers have an important role also in supporting organic produc- tion. When shopping it is important to buy in season organic food but also to check that produce has a label from one of the three registered Irish organic certification bodies as well as a producer licence number, Irish organic farmers operate to the high- est standard.”

The campaign, which runs un- til July 15, aims to continue rais-

ing consumer awareness of organic food, how to recognise it when shop- ping and where to buy it. Market- ing activities during the campaign will include outdoor advertising and consumer information leaflets with tips and recipes as well as informa- tion about local farmers market, box scheme deliveries and farm shops.

“The development of the organic sector 1S a priority in the new Pro- eramme for Government,” continued Sargent.

“A key objective is to grow the amount of certified organic produc- tion in Ireland from less than 1 per cent to 5 per cent of overall agricul- tural output. As 75 per cent of organ-

ic food consumed here is imported much of this growth will also mean many opportunities for import sub- stitution.”

Minister Sargent also confirmed that National Organic Week will be held this year from Monday, October PIR KOW Ze

“The success of the National Or- ganic Week depends upon the full involvement at local and regional level of as many organic producers and processors as possible,’ he con- tinued. “I’m calling on all organic producers and processors to play their part this year to make the very most of it.”

FARM safety took centre stage this week with a number of organisation launching awareness campaigns aim- ing at preventing tragedies on Irish farms over the summer months.

Despite the weather, summer work on farms across the county has been continuing into late in the evening with farmers anxious to take advan- tage of any break in the weather.

Last week the IFA and the Road Safety Authority got together to launch a joint road safety strategy aimed at ensuring the safety of farm- MASP IMCLENN OTN oe

All road users were warned to ex- pect an increase in the number of agricultural vehicles using the roads

over the next few months and the IFA and RSA have called for increased vigilance for all.

‘I am advising farmers to be safety conscious whenever bringing a farm vehicle onto the public road,” said IFA President, Padraig Walshe

‘Farmers should be aware of traf- fic building up behind them and keep left where possible to allow other vehicles pass safely. I would appeal to other road users to show patience when encountering farm machinery on the road. With understanding on both sides, the roads can be safer for everybody’, he added.

Road users are being advised to watch out for tractors, trailers and other farm machinery exiting from fields and farm yards and to exercise

caution when travelling behind or meeting such vehicles on the public road.

Drivers of agricultural vehicles are also being reminded that they are governed by road traffic laws on driver licensing, insurance, standards in relation to vehicle roadworthiness, vehicle lighting and motor tax.

“Your driving mirror must provide an adequate view of the road to the rear.

“Do not carry a passenger unless the tractor is equipped to carry one and the trailer should not be used for transporting people unless it has pro- vision for carrying them,” said Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority.

“All agricultural vehicles must have proper working brakes on both trac-

tor and trailer units and must be fit- ted with lights, reflectors and indica- tors. In addition a vehicle should not be loaded in such a way that would make it unstable on the road, and beware of low bridges, overhanging trees, overhead cables and uneven road surfaces which could cause the load to shift and possibly overturn.”

Meanwhile, an internationally re- nowned expert on accident preven- tion will speak at the forthcoming National Seminar on Occupational Safety and Health in Agriculture.

Dr Juha Suutarinen of Agrifood Research, Finland will outline the key findings of a major study in Fin- land on the relationships between farm management and causes of farm accidents.

“THERE 1s no doubt that the Hanley proposals are alive and well and that the people of Clare are its first vic- anon

Those were the words of Clare Deputy Pat Breen (FG) in the Dail on Wednesday after news broke that there would no longer be a mammog- raphy service in the county.

“IT am reliably informed that unit was fully installed and ready to be recommissioned. The problem with the service is simply that there was no consultant radiologist employed at the hospital who was willing to

interpret and report on the mammo- grams, he said

“Prior to the refurbishment, this work was carried out by the HSE in Limerick Regional Hospital, but the service was discontinued. Why was the HSE not up-front with the peo- ple of Clare before the election?” he AIS .Cor6 B

“The HSE said this decision would cause inconvenience for the women of Clare but that those in north Clare could avail of services in Galway rather than make the long journey to Limerick. Did the HSE give any consideration to the women of west Clare, who will have to travel up to

100 miles to avail of the new serv- ice?” he asked.

Clare minister for state Tony Kil- leen (FF) said he was prepared to argue the case for retention of such services at acute hospitals rather than centralising services.

“Tam concerned about the loss of breast screening services at Ennis General Hospital and the impact it will have on the level of service be- ing received by Clare patients.

‘Any evidence I have seen, on the one hand, saying the centralisation of services is best is more than coun- tered by alternate evidence suggest- ing that the provision of local serv-

ices 1s best.

“IT am not entirely convinced that this decision will benefit the people of Clare in the long term”, added Minister Killeen.

Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley said that the HSE needed to clearly set out how it planned to manage the trans- fer to Galway and Limerick of some 400 women each year.

“It’s now time the HSE set out clearly the measures it intends to take to upgrade procedures in Limerick and Galway, particularly in light of a recent failure in Limerick to diag- nose a previous screened patient with breast cancer.”

THE General Secretary of the Psy- chiatric Nurses’ Association (PNA) staunchly defended the standards and staff at Cappahard Lodge during the heated radio debate last Friday.

Des Kavanagh said: “We are talk- ing here about a unit that the health service 1s particularly proud of.”

He added that PNA nurses wel- comed any investigation “as an op- portunity to prove to all and sundry that the care we provide is of the op- timum”’.

He also criticised Ms Flanagan’s

decision to go public with her com- plaint before the investigation was finished.

“We have felt for a long time that we are caught in the middle of an in- ter-family row… what Ms Flanagan is doing is trying to use information and rumour to create an impression of Cappahard that is totally inappro- wrANKon

It is unfair to people who have family members there because it puts concerns in their minds that their relatives are under stress or duress or threat and there 1s nothing further from the truth.”

THE HSE ordered an external inde- pendent review into the treatment of patients at Cappahard Lodge, Ennis last May following concerns raised by a number of parties including Sree

A separate Garda investigation is also under way following complaints made by family members of Kilrush man Gerard Finn relating to his treat- ment and care at the home.

The 69-year-old, who died last month, was admitted to the home in December 2005 with Alzheimer’s

and angina.

During an “extended period of time” some of his family members made a number of complaints to the HSE regarding his care at Cappahard Lodge.

The complaints were investigated by the Clinical Director and Direc- tor of Nursing, Clare Mental Health Services under the HSE Trust in Care policy document which is designed to deal with allegations of abuse.

The first part of this investigation process began on September 5 last year and concluded on January 8 last. The complainants were informed of

the findings.

This “screening process” found that no abusive actions had taken place and that “nursing and medical care provided for Mr. Finn was ap- propriate”.

The HSE said that as a result no further investigation was warranted:

“These findings were communicat- ed to the family members together with the appeal procedures and con- tact details of the appeals officer. The appeal process was not availed of by family members,’ the HSE said in a lengthy statement.

Following the Trust in Care inves-

tigation the HSE continued to re- ceive complaints from some family members, however, in relation to Mr. Finn’s ongoing treatment and care.

An external review was then com- missioned prior to Mr Finn’s death in June.

‘Those members of Mr Finn’s fam- ily wishing to make submissions to the review team will be contacted and will be invited to do so,” said a HSE spokesperson.

The HSE said it would also be co- operating fully with the Garda inves- tigation.

Cappahard Lodge on the Tulla Road

is a community residence providing long term care for clients of Clare Mental Health Services. The home is inspected by the Mental Health Commission on an annual basis.

The review will be chaired by Dr Donald Lyons, Mental Welfare Com- mission of Scotland and will involve an examination of “Processes and Protocols relating to both the clini- cal and administrative management of the unit’.

Relatives and other stakeholders are to be contacted and asked to make TU leyseb hwy Oy ele

A NEW International Tour of Ireland Cycle Race was officially launched on Friday by Mayor of Ennis, Tom- my Brennan, at a reception held in the Town Hall.

The race, which passes through Ennis on Friday 24th August, will complete stage 3 of the route at Sta- tion Road near the Old Ground Ho- tel. Stage 3 will also bring cyclists through Kilaloe, Tuamgraney and Moymore.

Approx 112 riders will compete in this five-day nationwide event, tak- ing place from 22nd -26th August. The 864 km race begins in Kilkenny

and will pass through areas of Cork, Kerry and Clare before moving on through Galway.

The event will also bring the cy- clists through many other parts of the South, West and Midland Ireland before, on the 26th August, the vic- torious winner will arrive at Dublin’s Merrion Square.

The event, promoted by The Events Group in association with Shade Tree Sports and substantially funded by Failte Ireland as a means of show- ing the countryside of Ireland as a world class sport and tourism venue, will be covered live on television in a number of countries and will feature some of the top teams and riders in

the world. The race has been ranked 2.1 on the European Tour by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), the world governing body for cycling.

Top European teams have already signed up to enter the inaugural tour including David O’Loughlin and Ci- aran Power (both Navigators Insur- ance), and the successful Irish based Murphy and Gunn team. Invitations have also been extended to other Irish professionals who are part of successful professional teams in Eu- rope and in the USA including Philip Duignam and Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole), David McCann (Coalvita) and current Irish road race champi- on, Paul Griffin (Giant Asia).

TWO. separate developments op- posed by local residents in Doolin have been refused planning permis- sion.

Clare County Council refused plan- ning permission to Finbarr Tierney to develop six permanent homes. The planning authority also expressed “serious concerns” in relation to a proposed hotel extension in Doolin.

In their opposition against the planned 20 bedroom extension to the existing Tir Gan Ean Hotel, which also includes four new holiday homes, local residents stated that ad- ditional holiday homes in the village would result in a “dead” settlement for much of the year.

The objection also claimed that “there 1s no need for more holiday homes or for more long term rental properties in Doolin at present. There are already 65 holiday homes built or in the process of being built.”

‘Further development is premature in the absence of public sewage sys- tem… acting on the precautionary principle, the development is prema- ture. We have no objection in princi- ple to the hotel extension when the public sewage system is installed,” it added.

In putting the proposal on hold,

the council stated: “The planning authority has serious concerns with regard to the design and height of the proposed development and its proxi- mate location to the adjacent build- ings to the south-west. Please submit revised plans.”

Separately, the council refused planning for six permanent homes at Coogyulla in Doolin, which was also opposed by local residents who claimed that the proposal was premature in the absence of public sewerage facilities. Residents also argued that there is an over-supply of holiday homes in the area.

The proposal was refused on a number of grounds including con- cerns “with regard to the high water table and the poor percolation prop- erties of the soil on this site, it 1s con- sidered that the proposed develop- ment site would be unsuitable for the disposal of domestic effluent.

“Having regard to the suburban design and layout of the proposed dwelling units, it is considered that the proposal would be out of charac- ter with the existing pattern of devel- opment in the vicinity and of future occupants.’

The council also ruled that the “proposed development would set an undesirable precedent for other such developments in the area”.