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A SHANNON-based | pharmacist has warned Leaving and Junior Cer- tificate students of the health risks posed by exam stress.

Feidhlim Hillery of the Irish Phar- maceutical Union (IPU) said that stress could cause an increase in a number of minor ailments among students including headaches, stom- ach upsets, diarrhoea or constipation and a flare up of certain conditions Such as eczema, asthma and acne.

Long hours spent revising or cram- ming for exams can lead to insomnia as students find it difficult to switch off from exam preparation. Muscular and joint pain can result from exces- Sive time spent writing or typing on a computer. Pharmacists have issued a safe code to help students minimise some of the symptoms that can be as- sociated with minor ailments result- ing from exam stress.

“Students can be under great pres- sure at exam time and stress mani- fests itself in the body in a number of

ways, both mentally and physically. We would encourage students and/ or their parents to talk to their local pharmacist 1f they have any concerns or want to take precautions in ad- vance of the exams starting. Coping with the exams is stressful enough without the added pressure of deal- ing with uncomfortable symptoms that can be distracting and upset- ting,’ said Mr Hillery.

The code encourages students to drink plenty of water to avoid dehy- dration and to study in a well-venti-

lated room. When eating, students should take small amounts regularly and avoid eating spicy foods.

Asthma sufferers are urged to be extra vigilant and to carry an inhaler Alar V OBB BOL ehe

Those who suffer from hay fever should take steps to ensure that the condition does not flare up during their exams. The safe code advises simple precautionary measures such as keeping doors and windows closed in mid-morning and early evening when pollen levels peak. It also sug-

gests that sufferers apply Vaseline inside the nose to help reduce symp- Ke sene

Mr Hillery added that if stress re- sulted in ongoing problems, students should consult with their local phar- macist.

“Obviously these are just guide- lines and we would recommend a face-to-face consultation with a local pharmacist who can assess whether a student needs further medical inter- vention depending on the nature and severity of a condition.”

THE prices that farmers are receiv- ing for their produce continues to dominate across every sector of the industry this week, with a growing sense of dissatisfaction beginning to eaKO A

Last week, the ICMSA met with senior representatives of Meat In- dustry Ireland and stated clearly to them that the prices being returned to farmers at the present time are unsustainable and threaten the very future of winter finishing in Ireland.

“With significantly increased feed bills, nitrate directive investments and the losses already suffered this year, many farmers who tradition-

ally finished cattle during the winter period will change their system of production,” said Martin McMahon, Clare farmer and chairperson of IC- MSA’s Beef and Cattle Committee.

“These farmers have guaranteed meat plants a year-round supply of beef which has been critical in build- ing up high-value markets. The un- fortunate reality is that these high value markets are, at present, not leading to acceptable prices for win- ter finishers and these farmers are now being effectively penalised for providing the raw material for these markets.”

The ICMSA delegation told Meat Industry Ireland that unless beef prices increase immediately, farmers

will either scale back production or move to a system of finishing ani- mals off grass.

“The hard choice is for the meat plants, to either raise beef prices 1m- mediately or irreparably damage the long-term future of their own busi- ness. Farmers cannot be blamed for this; they cannot continue to supply beef at a loss,’ said McMahon.

Meanwhile, the IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman, Rich- ard Kennedy, has said EU markets for SMP and butter were continuing to be firm, pulling away ahead of even the historically high prices of €2,/00/t for butter and €3,100/t for SMP paid in May by the Irish Dairy Board.

However, only a fraction of this, he says, has been passed back to farm- ae

“EU market quotes have contin- ued to rise for both SMP and butter. I have no doubt that the Irish Dairy Board will reflect this further in- crease, worth a further 4.5c/l over the coming weeks. When they do, this will increase returns to co-ops from the current 38.8c/I to over 43c/l,” he said. “EU market returns have now increased by a total of 15.1c/l (68.7c/ gallon) since last July, of which the IDB has passed on 12.7c/l (58c/gal- lon) so far. Farmers have only been paid, at best, 2.6c/l (12c/gallon) — just about 1/6th of the actual market improvement,” he added.

THE Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, last week an- nounced the publication of the An- nual Review and Outlook for Agri- culture and Food 2006/2007.

“The all-encompassing nature of the agri-food sector 1s very much ev1- denced in this publication,” she said. “It continues to be one of the most important and dynamic indigenous manufacturing elements in the Irish economy, consisting of over 130,000 family farms and around 700 in- dustrial units spread throughout the Coa

“Tt plays a vital role in the Irish economy through provision of direct

as well as indirect employment and constitutes the backbone of rural de- velopment from both an economic and social perspective. The annual review reflects the level of impor- tance and the wide ranging nature of the sector.”

Despite increased international competition agri-food exports reach- ing a record level of more than €8 billion in 2006.

Within the export sector, there were notable increases of 26 per cent for beverages, 14 per cent for beef and 10 per cent for prepared foods. Overall, the agri-food industry is estimated to account for 9.8 per cent of total ex- ports, 8.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 8.1 per cent of

employment.

“The food, drink and _ tobacco (FDT) sector continues to play a vital role in the Irish economy. It remains one of the largest indigenous indus- tries both in terms of manufacturing and consumer spend,’ continued the minister.

The FDT sector, with just over 15 per cent of units located in Dublin, exhibits a wider regional spread than the manufacturing sector as a whole where one quarter of units are con- centrated in and around the capital.

Among Irish enterprises the FDT sector has consistently outperformed the manufacturing sector as a whole in terms of the proportion of expend- iture attributable to Irish goods and

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This is highlighted by the fact that Irish Economic Expenditure (IEE) accounts for over 75 per cent of ex- penditure in the FDT sector com- pared with less than 50 per cent for the overall manufacturing sector.

Coughlan emphasised the Govern- ment’s commitment to the sector with public expenditure of €2.9 bil- lion in 2006.

She believes that the National De- velopment Plan (NDP) and Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 will ensure that adequate resources are made available for improving the structure and competitiveness of the Sector, in line with the vision set out in the Agri-Vision 2015 Action Plan.

PHILIP O’Reilly Property Plus has just taken on the sale of a develop- ment site with full planning permis- sion in the heart of Ruan, which they say will “truly change the shape of the village”.

The corner site, located in the cen- tre of Ruan, is on the market with full planning permission in place for five houses, three first floor apartments, a bar and off-licence, two retail outlets, 24 car parking spaces anda service treatment plant.

According to the selling agent, “the

development site is ideally situated in the heart of Ruan, approximately 12km north of Ennis town centre. The property forms a pivotal position within the village, at the main Ennis Road and Toonagh Road junction. Ruan – a rural picturesque vil- lage, currently offers its residents

two pubs, a grocery shop, a primary school and a church. The village has grown considerably in recent years due to its close proximity to Ennis and further growth is anticipated.

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LAHINCH residents are fearful that the resort will become like the Costa Del Sol with large scale monolithic apartment blocks running along the beach front.

Lahinch Community Council is backing local objections against a five-storey apartment block planned for Lahinch promenade.

Developer Seamus Carroll is seek- ing to build a €3 million complex that involves the existing McDon- alds amusement arcade. He wants to construct a five-storey building, including 20 apartments, 18 duplex units and six ground floor retail units overlooking Lahinch promenade.

In its objection, Lahinch Commu- nity Council state, “The erection of thirty six residential apartments and six retail units in a dense develop- ment will place an intolerable bur- den upon the sewerage facilities in Lahinch which are already a source of grave concern. I would draw your attention to the fact that on a constant basis on the Main Street and Kettle Street, Lahinch, the smell of raw sewerage is a constant problem.

The objection adds, “Lahinch is a renowned tourist location and is a place of outstanding scenic beauty. Over the last number of years, Clare County Council has granted plan-

ning permission to a number of large developments which have not been adequately maintained and have de- tracted from the beauty and heritage of the surrounding area.”

The community council adds, “The creation of six retail outlets at the proposed development will cause a significant increase in traffic for which inadequate consideration has been given in the developers applica- tion.

“The construction of a development with the capacity to house 36 resi- dential apartments together with six retail outlets and parking facilities 1s, given its scale, size and bulk, entirely inappropriate for the promenade.

“The number of apartments and retail outlets to be built on the site raises serious concerns regarding the density of the development given the limited size and location of the site upon which the development is to be constructed.

Even the family who sold the site to Mr Carroll have expressed concerns about the proposal to the council.

In a submission to the planning authority, Eric, Mary and Isobel Mc- Donald stated, “The upper floors of the development have been reconfig- ured as such that there will be sub- stantial overlooking of my clients’ private apartment at the first floor of their property.”

THE circumstances surrounding the death of a north Clare man were recalled at an inquest last week, ex- actly one year after the fatal accident which claimed his life.

Michael Nagle (59), a stonema- son, from Caherbarnagh, Liscannor, died in a single-vehicle accident, in Kilshanny, on May 29, 2006.

Ennis Coroner’s Court heard last Wednesday that Rita Flaherty worked

in Tully’s bookmakers in Ennistymon on the afternoon in question. She said that Michael Nagle went in and out of the premises a number of times. He seemed to get “very drunk, very quickly” around teatime.

Another man, Michael Murphy, recalled meeting Mr Nagle in a pub in Ennistymon that evening. He said he asked him did he have his car and Mr Nagle replied, “That’s too much information you are looking for.” He said Mr Nagle drank a can of

Heineken and left the pub.

Andrea Guerrer recalled seeing Mr Nagle outside the Holywell res- taurant in Ennistymon, shortly af- ter 8pm. She said he appeared to be fumbling in his pockets and looking at his hands. She was the last person to see him alive.

Daragh Considine said he was driv- ing near the former ESB shop in En- nistymon that evening. A car pulled out in front of him and “was all sides of the road.” He said there was steam

coming out of the car.

“Just before he crashed, he was on the wrong side of the road… The car flipped,” he said.

He said the accident happened at around 8.40pm near the pub in Kilshanny.

Garda Louise Casey attended the scene of the accident. She saw a car on its roof and a man was being put into an ambulance. He was bleed- ing and had severe head injuries, she said. He died in hospital at 9.45pm,

as aresult of his injuries.

Pathologist Dr James O’ Driscoll carried out a post mortem on Mr Na- gle’s body. He noted that death was due to cardiac respiratory failure, as- sociated with an extensive fracture of the skull.

A verdict of accidental death was reached by the jury. Coroner Isobel O’Dea sympathised with the Nagle family and said, “I am conscious of the fact it is just a year and a day since the accident.”

A YOUNG man lost his life after his car veered off the road and hit a sign just moments after he complained about feeling unwell. Peter McGov- ern, (39), a mechanic, from Deco- made, Lissycasey, died in a single- car accident on August 27 last year. Ennis Coroner’s Court heard last week from John Hill who said he met

Mr McGovern, who was his neigh- bour, at a football blitz in Lissycasey that afternoon.

He said Mr McGovern complained of a pain on his right-hand side, low down on the stomach area. He said he suggested to Mr McGovern to get medical attention and he said he would attend Shannondoc.

Martin Bosowsla said he was driv- ing along behind Mr McGovern’s car

on the main road near Lissycasey.

He said Mr McGovern’s car veered onto the hard shoulder on the left- hand side. He said he veered in twice and, at the Maxol filling station, he hit a sign.

Mr McGovern’s wife Marie said he had left their home in Lissycasey on the morning in question to go to Mass.

She later went to the football pitch

with their son and daughter. She saw her husband at the pitch. She was later informed that her husband had been involved in an accident.

Garda David Connolly attended the scene of the accident. He said Mr McGovern’s car was embedded in a sign outside the forecourt of the ga- eh Xen

Pathologist Dr James O’Driscoll carried out a post-mortem examina-

tion on Mr McGovern’s body. He said that death was due to shock and haemorrhage in association with multiple injuries.

“It was possible he had acute cardiac pain while driving along,” he said.

A verdict of accidental death was returned by the jury. Coroner Iso- bel O’ Dea said that Mr McGovern’s death, at such a young age, was “very sad and tragic”.

A 71-YEAR-OLD Cooraclare man lost his life when he was knocked down crossing the road in Lissycasey last year, an inquest has heard.

Father-of-five Sean Gallagher was killed at Decomade, Lissycasey, on the night of April 17, 2006, while on his way to a dancing session, En- nis Coroner’s Court was told last Wednesday.

Sean’s son Shane said he had been at his parents’ home in Kilmacduane, Cooraclare that evening. He said his father, a retired carpenter, left the house to go dancing at the Boree Log pub in Lissycasey at around 9.15pm.

Shane passed that pub at 10pm and saw that a crowd had gathered. He continued on his way home and later heard that there had been an accident, involving a man from Cooraclare.

Shortly after he arrived home, two

gardai arrived at the front door with the devastating news that his father had been killed.

The inquest heard that Patrick Keane went to the Boree Log that night arriving at around 9.55pm. He got out of his car and said he saw Sean Gallagher getting out of his car, on the opposite side of the road. He was standing near the pub when he heard a loud bang behind him.

“T started running. I knew when I

saw him he was dead. People started coming out of the pub,” he said, in his deposition.

Sergeant Frank Naughton went to the scene of the accident that night. He said the body of a man was on the ground on the road on the Ennis side of the pub. He was told he had been struck by a car as he crossed the road.

Pathologist Dr Peter Fawl carried out an autopsy on the body of Mr Gallagher at Limerick Regional Hos-

pital. He said his opinion was that Mr Gallagher died due to shock, second- ary to multiple injuries, consistent with having been involved in a road traffic accident.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea suggested a verdict of accidental death and the jury agreed with this recommenda- tion. She expressed sympathy to the Gallagher family. ““To come on and see the accident must have been hor- rific,” she said.

CLARE jockey Kieren Fallon takes his fight for racing justice to the Brit- ish High Court this Tuesday in a bid to have fixing allegations levelled against him by City of London Police thrown out.

Lawyers representing the Ballinru- an legend, who is six times champion jockey in England and a three-time Epsom Derby winner, are confident OE DE AAU NTSANO LemOd OT-DuUcXoiMO DRANK oLem

This would clear the way for Fal- lon’s return to the saddle on the Brit- ish circuit for the Aidan O’Brien sta- ble. It comes in the same week that he’s due to return to action in Ireland at this Thursday’s seven-race card in

Tipperary after serving a six-month ban for failing a drugs test.

In July 2006, Fallon, along with seven others, was charged with con- spiring to defraud the internet bet- ting exchange, Betfair. They were charged with “offences relating to allegations of fixing the outcome of horse races between December l, 2002, and September 2, 2004, and money laundering”.

Fallon’s license to ride was sus- pended by the British Jockey Club who imposed a ban on riding on Brit- ish tracks until his trial for “allega- tions of race fixing” is over. This trial is due to take place in September.

However, Fallon’s exile from racing was extended to a worldwide ban last

November when the French racing authority, France Galop, suspended him after testing positive for a pro- hibited substance.

Throughout this turbulent period, the Coolmore Stud operation – who retained Fallon’s services to ride for the Aidan O’Brien stable in Bally- doyle – have remained loyal, backing his fight against British injustice.

“We remain very supportive of K1- eren,’ said Coolmore’s Michael Ta- bor. ““We always have been, and we still are. Obviously people are talk- ing, everyone seems to have a point of view, but I can assure you we are unanimous. Nothing has changed.

“When things go wrong, that’s when you have to show strength, to

keep on the straight and narrow. He’s over 21, like all of us. We all have to take responsibility for our ac- tions. We are all still with him. We feel very sympathetic. If we didn’t, it would be over,’ he added.

Fallon himself says he has plenty of reason to look forward. “I have really good people around me and I can’t wait to get back,” he says.

The comeback happens this week — in Ireland, then Britain he hopes, then the world. The greatest jockey of his generation is raring to go.

CONCERNS have been expressed that the announcement by Dell of a global reduction in jobs could have far reaching consequences for the economy of the Midwest.

As well as the 3,000 jobs created directly by Dell in Limerick, a fur- ther 20,000 reliant on the success of the company in the Midwest region remain under threat.

Thousands of jobs in sub-supply companies throughout the Midwest are reliant on Dell business for sur- vival.

The expectation that 450 Dell jobs in Ireland are to go within 12 months has sent shock waves through the business community in the Shannon Kosta (eye

The Chief Executive of the Cham- ber of Commerce in Limerick, Maria Kelly, has said the announcement by Dell of a global reduction in jobs is a cause for concern in Limerick and the wider Midwest region.

She said some sort of announcement was expected from Dell to realign its global business after it was overtaken as the number one PC manufacturer in the world by Hewlett Packard.

It is anticipated that some cuts are

likely to be achieved by leaving po- sitions vacant and voluntary redun- CP bates tee

The company also employs 1,500 people in Cherrywood in South, County Dublin.

Dell is expected to cut its Irish workforce by up to 450 over the coming 12 months as part of a global drive to cut costs.

Last week, the company announced that it is to shed 8,800 jobs world- wide, amounting to about 10 per cent of its global workforce.

In a statement, the company’s Chief Executive, Michael Dell, said the re- dundancies would be across all re- gions and departments.

However, the company stressed that no final decision had been made on the number of job losses in Ireland.

The company will open a second factory in Europe this autumn at Lodz in Poland. Dell has stated that the Lodz facility is being opened to complement existing operations in Limerick. Dell’s second European factory, at Lodz in Poland, will open this autumn.

The company has always main- tained that facility would comple- ment the Limerick operation rather than replace it.