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G-Day close for the ‘Bridge

SIXMILEBRIDGE has won its way to the final of a TG4’s G-Day Competition to see what town in Ireland is most willing to embrace the Irish language. The group from the village are now within touching distance of the € 40,000 final prize after the completion of last week’s task saw them reach the final three in the competition.

The TG4 cameras were in Sixmilebridge on Friday as the local group pitted their wits against Cong from Mayo to see who could make the best Irish language website.

“We were given an envelope at 10am on Friday morning and that contained a task which had to be completed before 7pm that evening – all using Irish. We had to get a website together in a day, all through the Irish language,” said Brendan Walsh from the Sixmilebridge group.

“We were successful in the task against Cong – I think we were successful because we focused on the village and the spirit of the village. We had blogs and links to local organisation and I think that it was that community focus that won it for us.”

On September 28, the Sixmilebridge Group will take on the two remaining villages in the competition’s semi-final, with the last two groups standing to go head to head in October.

“We haven’t a clue what we are going to be asked to do. We are always given a task to do and after the task someone has to speak on behalf of the group. Anne Marie Holland had to go to Dublin to speak for us on Sunday – she was grilled on the boardroom about what we did and why we did it. She was grilled but she did a great job.”

The series will be screen on TG4 in January. The Sixmilebridge committee are spokesperson Anne Marie Holland, Brendan Walsh, Seamus Walsh, PJ Fitzpatrick and Sean Ward.

“Ón uair a chuir an baile seo isteach ar an gComórtas G atá á eagrú ag TG4, tá an-dul chun chinn déanta ag an gcoiste chun labhairt na Gaeilge a spreagadh i measc an phobail. Ar dtús, bhí seasca pharóiste sa chomórtas ach de hAoine seo chaite ní raibh ach sé chinn fágtha. Ansin tugadh tasc don choiste suíomh-idirlín a chruthú as Gaeilge. Más maith leat an toradh a f heiceáil, níl le déanamh agat ach cliceáil ar sixmilebridgelegaeilge.com. Ar aon nós bhí na moltóirí thar a bheith sásta agus anois táimid sa leath-chraobh.

“Tá an choiste an-bhuíoch do chuile grupa a chabhraigh linn go dtí seo agus beidh an tacaíocht iontach céanna ag teastáil ar an 28ú lá de Meán Fhomhair sa leath chraobh. Bígí linn,” arsa PJ Fitzpatrick.

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Tulla plans for performance venue

THE Fleadh may not be coming to Clare but that hasn’t stopped Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann from pressing ahead with plans for a major new performance venue in Tulla.

The group are seeking planning permission to develop a 260-seater performance / multifunctional space at the former Sisters of Mercy Primary School within the curtilage of Tulla Convent, a protected structure.

Comhaltas is seeking permission for the demolition of the existing cloakroom block, cookery room and garden shelter to the rear of the school building.

The development would involved the refurbishment of the building and construction of a two-storey extension of 599sqm to the rear and sides of the existing two-storey building to include a performance/multifunctional space with seating for 260 people, associated toilets, changing rooms, stores, bar, kitchen and reception, a foyer, 2 no. multipurpose rooms and basement plant room.

Comhlatas are seeking a change of use at the building at Chapel Street from educational to performance and community.

The proposed development would also include the provision of a new vehicular and pedestrian entrance from main street, associated signage, provision of 8 no. car parking spaces and 9 no. bicycle spaces, associated landscaping and site boundary treatment.

According to documents lodged with Clare County Council, “The convent, which is no longer in use, was donated to Comhaltas by the Sisters of Mercy.”

The application states, “Tulla Comhaltas branch was founded in 1957 to facilitate the extraordinary amount of music, song and dancing which was taking place. It then hosted the 1958 Co. Fleadh Cheoil.”

In the application Comhaltas highlight a ‘lack of facilities’ as one of the reasons for developing the new venue.

The application states, “For an organisation which celebrated our 50th anniversary four years ago. It is long overdue a home for Tulla Comhaltas. Currently they rent accommodation in St Joseph’s Secondary School, St Moculla’s National School, Tulla courthouse and the backroom of Minogue’s bar.” It continues, “The need a proper forum for teaching and practice and for high quality tourist presentations. They have a huge archival material, recordings, and photographs etc, which are currently stored in boxes in committee mem- ber’s homes. These need to be conserved and made accessible to all.”

The document states, “It is also envisaged that this will be a major tourist facility and an important resource for teaching and researching the distinctive East Clare style as exemplified by performers such as Martin Hayes and Mary McNamara.”

Comhaltas state that by re-developing the building, they hope to “bring life and music and activity back to the now abandoned school building, which educates, entertains and enlightens as it did in the past”.

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Time for ‘difficult decisions’

KILRUSH Town Council has warned that “difficult decisions” will have to be made if the local authority is to ensure that it plays its part in the timetable laid down by the IMF for Ireland’s National Recovery Plan.

This warning has been sounded out by Kilrush Town Clerk John Corry in a comprehensive financial report for the year up to June 30, with some ratepapers described in the west Clare capital described as “very problematic”.

And, by way of confronting the problem of unpaid rates that are now running at an unprecedent level of 69 per cent, the council has warned that it may be forced to pursue people through the courts.

“The report highlights issues of concern in relation to the overall funding of Kilrush Town Council,” said Mr Corry is introducing his report. “Payments by customers continues to be very problematic. Rates collection at 30th June, 2011 stood at 31% in comparison to 39% at 30th June, 2010.

“Kilrush Town Council is dependent on rates income to maintain its operations as it represents 38.4% of Annual Income. The slowing payment pattern highlighted above has resulted in a considerable negative impact on cash flow.

“Kilrush Town Council is acutely aware of the commercial difficulties which rate payers are experiencing, and has adopted a practical approach in terms of payment plans to facilitate rate payers. However, where customers fail to engage to deal with amounts outstanding, recovery of the debt by legal means becomes necessary,” said Mr Corry.

The Town Council’s financial situation, brought on by unpaid rates has been exacerbated by a sharp rise in the arrears in housing rents in the first six months of the year as compared with the corresponding period last year.

“Arrears in housing rents have increased significantly since the beginning of the year,” reported Mr Corry, added that “rent collection at June 30 was 80 per cent in comparison to 87 per cent at the end of June, 2010. This increases reflects the current economic climate, but also impacts on cash flow to Kilrush Town Council”.

And, it’s the council’s warning that the Government “circular 3/2009 requires every local authority to ensure that its revenue account remains in balance for 2011 and consequently total expenditure must equal total income” that has opened up the live possibility of legal action being taken to ensure the books are balanced.

“This report highlights the difficulties that are facing Kilrush Town Council as we embark on the 2012 budget preparation process,” said Mr Corry. “Performance against budget is constantly monitored and managed. Difficult decisions have to be made to ensure that our current deficit can be eliminated,” he added.

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‘Don’t shorten the summer hols’

THE Department of Education stands indicted of hitting the Clare economy where it matters most in the pockets of tourism interests around the county owing to the controversy surrounding the early return to school for many from both inside and outside the county.

That was the verdict delivered by Councillor Gabriel Keating as he demanded that the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn revise the school holiday period so that families with children can remain at resorts until the end of August.

“Efforts to extend the tourism season in Clare are being thwarted by schools re-opening in August,” claimed Cllr Keating.

“Tourism is the backbone of many of our local communities with an estimated 3,000 people employed in the industry here in the county and it’s up to the Minister for Education to realise this,” he added.

The west Clare councillor pointed out the irony of the fact that the Government is talking about creating jobs – yet at the same time giving the imprimatur to the Department of Education to effectively put paid to thousands of jobs.

“One of the few areas which creates employment during the summer season especially for students who rely on this income to pay for their schools costs is tourism. The early return of those students to schools is threatening the survival of many of these tourism employers,” said Cllr Keating.

“Over the past two years the inclement weather and the recession has taken its toll on seaside destinations. For many tourism providers to survive they need to extend the tourist season not shorten it. That is why the early return of students to School in August is having such a big impact on them.

“Heretofore, families would remain on in places like Kilkee, Doonbeg and Quilty until the last week of August. Now, they are packing up around August 14 or 15, because they have to head back to get the children ready to return to School. Not reopening schools until the first week in September would give a welcome break to the tourism providers in the county,” he added.

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Kilrush introduces paid parking

NEW parking regulations have come into effect in Kilrush, following the adoption of the street pay and display parking by-laws for 2011 after the statutory public consultation period entered into by the Town Council.

These new guidelines are that people coming into Kilrush will be allowed a 30-minute period of grace before they have to put a ticket on display – this measure a 15-minute increase for motorists.

However, as part of some wideranging changes to the prices structure for parking, councillors have backed plans to increase residence and business car permits by 300 per cent from € 10 to € 30 per annum, while prices for seven-day and threeday tickets have been fixed at € 20 and € 10 respectively.

This new set of prices came after a lengthy debate at the June monthly meeting of Kilrush Town Council, during which it emerged that the council suffered a € 9,723 loss for its 2010 traffic management plan.

The draft by-laws went on public display for a period of one month from June 24, 2011, to July 25, 2011. A further period of two weeks was allowed for the public to make submissions and this period expired on August 9, 2011. No submission was received during this time.

Agreement for a new pricing structure came after a number of different proposals were put to the meeting by the then Mayor of Kilrush, Liam Williams (FG).

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Sport

Éire Óg retain coveted senior status

Éire Óg 2-06 – Kilmihil 0-10 at Labasheeda

2006 CHAMPIONS Éire Óg preserved their senior football status for 2012 with a hard fought two point win over Kilmihil on Saturday evening. Played in blustery condi- tions, Éíre Óg played with the elements in the opening half and duly dominated for large periods only for poor finishing including seven wides to see them only a point ahead after ten minutes. However, this game would be ul- timately decided by two defensive mistakes by the Kilmihil defence in the 11th and 13th minutes. Firstly a lineball for the west Clare side on their own 13 metre line was intercepted by corner-forward Eoin Glynn to convert to the net. Then just two minutes later, a free kick from the full-back line was again intercepted by Glynn and after a one-two with Sean O’Meara, he cooly slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper. The goals made up for the amount of poor wides as both sides exchanged a flurry of late points to leave the Townies seven clear by the break at 2-4 to 0-3 but would it be enough? Kilmihil resumed full of determination and straight from the whistle, they went on the attack but must have caught Éire Óg’s poor finishing bug as they kicked six wides early in the half. Gradually their forwards began to find their range and as they ate into their opponent’s lead, it became clear that this game was going to go right down to the wire. Kilmihil came in droves and with every passing score, they began to believe as they laid siege to the Éire Óg goal. But the goal that they craved never came, with a Martin O’Leary shot that was parried by goalkeeper Eoin Slattery their best chance and they will now play St Joseph’s Miltown in a final chance at consolidating their senior status.

Éire Óg
Eoin Slattery, Michael O’Regan, Donie Lyne, Saran Butler, Conor Healy,Alan Malone, Dean Ryan, Shane Daniels (0-3f), Brian Frawley, Sean O’Meara (0-1), David Russell, David Monaghan, (0-1f), Eoin Glynn (2-0), Sean Crotty (0-1), Brian McMahon

Subs
Darren O’Neill for Frawley, Darren O’Meara for Monaghan, David Ryan for S. O’Meara

Kilmihil

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Sport

Banner make it four-in-a-row

Banner Ladies 4-19 – Burren Gaels 0-06 at Corofin

THE BANNER Ladies grip on Clare ladies football strengthened even further on Saturday when capturing their fourth successive Under 18A crown. Titles in all grades from Under 14 to senior this year is made all the more impressive when considering that many players on show here were instrumental in more than one of those championships wins. Eva O’Dea, Grainne Nolan, Niamh O’Brien, Aoife Keane and Emma Neylon have taken laurels at Under 14, Féile, Under 16, Minor and Senior while Eve Copley, Orlaith Martin and Emma Kavanagh did likewise except for Senior grade.

With such championship winning knowhow surging through their side, they were red hot favourites for another historic honour and while Burren Gaels made the Banner fight for every inch in the first half, a dipping ball on the 13th minute from the Banner’s Rebecca Culligan found the net from which the Northerners never recovered and the Banner went on to claim their fourth successive Minor A title.

Difficult weather conditions dampened the flow of the game from the outset but fighting a headwind, the Banner had registered five points from four of the six forwards, Eva O’Dea’s opener, Sister Niamh’s two points from frees, Orlaith Lynch and Karen Roche all picked off points before the Gaels Niamh Considine put one up on the board. The indomitable Niamh O’Dea tacked on another two points, one from a free and as the Burren Gaels found their flow, they put some nice passages of play together down the left wing inspired by captain Fiona Loughman at centre-back, Joanne Howley at wing-back, Niamh Considine at centre-forward, midfielder Roisin Howley, and forwards Katie Connole and Niamh Carrucan, they all registered consecutive scores except for one interjection by Banner poacher Orlaith Lynch. At twenty five min- utes gone, The Banner still hadn’t really pulled away from the Gaels, protecting a two point cushion and it was all to play for. Captain Aoife Martin and Rebecca Culligan played impeccably at midfield to snuff out any further incursions into Banner territory and after Niamh O’Dea had pointed again, Rebecca Culligan’s 30 metre shot scraped the underside of the cross-bar, surprising custodian Kanisha Flanagan and bringing a ray of sunshine to the Banner side just as Damien Fox sent the teams in for their half time rest in the middle of a terrible squall.

The Banner Ladies defence had weathered some heavy pressure in the first half and the half back line in particular Niamh Walsh, Aoibheann Malone and Sinead O’Keeffe did very well with a lot of ball coming in on the breeze. Another sign of dominance in the first half came in the confidence from senior championship winning captain Laurie Ryan when the lines parted as she steamrolled a path from one 20 metre line to the other on a number of occasions.

The game restarted with the wind behind the Banner and they maximised the advantage to the limit. O’Dea opened her second half tally with a pointed free but time and again her distribution to corner-forwards Orlaith Lynch and Karen Roche caused havoc for Amy O’Brien, Niamh Tierney and Amy Cassidy in the Burren Gaels full back line. In a frantic third quarter, Lynch would point and rocket in two goals and then Roche would goal and point three time from play. With no real response, O’Dea controlled the proceedings in the Burren Gaels half and added a further three points to her tally. The Banner’s Aoibheann Malone had her hands full with Roisin Howley but was never more than an arms length away and rarely leaked a ball into full backline Niamh Cahill, Helen Hehir and Laurie Ryan. Malone was to cap a great performance with the last point of the game.

Several of the Banner lineout had two and three previous Minor A titles in the bag and the experience of this proved too much for any team in division one. Ryan, O’Dea, Hehir, N. Cahill, Walsh, O’Shea, Martin and K. Cahill will all move on after three years service at this grade and are already established senior players. They, including Culligan, now get ready for their participation in the Munster Clubs first round meeting with Cappawhite of Tipperary on October 1. They leave Culligan, Roche, Lynch, E O’Dea, Malone, Nolan, Keane, to form the core of a great minor panel into next year and with Emma Neylon, Elaine Casey (injured), Eve Copley, Niamh O’Brien, Shauna O’Connor, Orlaith Martin and Emma Kavanagh all subbing for the game, they bring their experience in 2012.

Banner
Orla Hennessy, Laurie Ryan, Niamh Cahill, Helen Hehir, Sinead O’Keeffe, Katie Cahill, NiamhWalsh,Aoife Martin (Capt), Rebecca Culligan, Eva O’Dea, Niamh O’Dea, Grainne Nolan, Karen Roche,Aoife Keane, Orlaith Lynch, Suzie O’Shea, Shauna O’Connor, Niamh O’Brien, Eve Copley,Aoibheann Malone, Emma Neylon, Orlaith Martin, Emma Kavanagh, Meghan Fitzgerald.

Management
JJ O’Dea, Louise Henchy,Alan Copley.

Burren Gaels
Kanisha Flanagan,Amy O’Brien, NiamhTierney,Amy Cassidy, Caolinn McCormack, Fiona Loughman (Capt), Joanne Howley, Kayleigh McCormack, Roisin Howley, Megan Byrne, Niamh Considine, Katie Connole, Niamh Carrucan,Amy Moloney, Lisa O’Brien. Roisin Kelly, Leanne Lafferty, Shannon McCormack, Sarah O’Gorman, Ella Barrett.

Management
Anthony Geraghty, David Flanagan, Patsy Carrucan, Deirdre Jordan, Mark Mulqueeny.

Referee
Damien Fox (WolfeTones)

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Sport

Avenue stamp authority

Avenue United 5 – Mountshannon Celtic 1 at Lees Road, Ennis

AVENUE United got their league campaign of to a flyer with a convincing victory over newly promoted Mountshannon Celtic on Sunday.

Centre forward Mikey Mahony was the main man for the Clare Cup champions, bagging a second half hat trick to take the game beyond Celtic. After a strong start, Avenue led 20 at half time. The home side added another goal before Mountshannon struck back from the penalty spot. That goal prompted the visitor’s best spell of the game. Mountshannon twice hit the post while Avenue goalkeeper John Healy was forced into a great save. However Avenue’s greater firepower ultimately proved decisive. David McCarthy gave his side the lead after 15 minutes but despite creating a number of opportunities, Avenue had to wait until the closing stages of the half to double their advantage. They did so when a David Smyth cross was well turned home by Sean Corry. After failing to find the net in the first half, Mahony got of the mark shortly after the re-start. The striker shook off the attentions of the Mountshannon defence to bury a shot to the top corner. The visitors were handed a lifeline when Keith Finnerty was taken down inside the box and Martin McNamara tucked away the penalty. Celtic applied some pressure but Avenue swiftly re-asserted their authority. Mahony bagged his second to make it 4-1 before completing his hat-trick late on.

Avenue United
John Healy, MatthewNugent, Con Collins, David Russell, Dylan Casey, David Smyth, Pa Wilson, Gary Flynn, David McCarthy, Sean Corry, Mikey Mahony

Subs

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Sport

Kirby and Donnellan on form

IT WAS a case of mixed fortunes for Clare on Weekend 1 of All-Ireland 60×30 adult All-Ireland finals as the Banner County claimed two out of three finals contested, while Clare players will again feature in three deciders this Saturday. In Ballina last Sunday, Pat Donellan was made to work before claiming the Golden Masters B Singles title. Playing Eamon Purcell of Kilkenny, the Kilkishen man got off to a great start and took the first game 21-9. Purcell had the better of the second game to win 21-13 to set up a deciding third game which went all the way to the wire, Donellan showing the greater nerve to come out on top by the tightest margin, 21-20. Also in Ballina, the evergreen John Kirby had a very straight-forward win over Kildare’s Dermot Howard, winning the Ruby Masters Singles decider 21-4, 210. In Roscommon on the same day, Edel O’Grady and Ashling Fitzgerald took on Westmeath’s Aoife McCarthy and Niamh Egan in the Ladies Junior Doubles final. Dominating the early stages, the Tuamgraney pair won the first game 21-10 and, holding a healthy lead in the second, looked set for victory. The Westmeath girls, McCarthy in particular, staged a dramatic comeback to win 21-19 and continued their momentum and were on top for most of the third game, winning 21-10.

The All-Ireland Juvenile 60×30 finals were also held last Saturday week where there was disappointment in Cashel for Banner County players in the Boys Under 14 Singles and Girls Under 15 Doubles deciders. Fergal Coughlan (Clooney) was defeated by Wicklow’s Daniel Curry in the third game (9-15, 15-14, 715) while Natasha Coughlan and Michelle Nihill went down against Ashling Maher and Denise Love of Kilkenny (9-15, 13-15).

Roscommon will be the venue this Saturday for three more All-Ireland finals involving Clare players. With a start time of 3.00, Aisling Fitzgerald gets a chance at revenge for her doubles defeat when she plays Aoife McCarthy (Westmeath) in the Ladies Junior Singles decider.

In Golden Masters B Doubles, Pat Donellan will be hoping for a second All-Ireland when he teams up with Stephen McInerney to play Cavan’s Dermot Dolan and Andy Clarke while Ruby Masters Singles champion John Kirby plays the Doubles final with Jimmy Walsh against Pat Ryan and Michael O’Brien of Dublin.

Finally Wexford pair Colin Keeling and Barry Goff caused a slight shock in Williamstown on Saturday when winning the All-Ireland Senior Doubles final on a 21-12, 21-17 scoreline. Cork’s Colm Jordan won the Intermediate Singles final against Gary McConnell of Meath while the Minor Doubles title also went to Wexford, with Dean Corrigan and Cory Murphy victorious over Roscommon.

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McNulty clinches Dunlop championship

MEATH’s, Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC) and his Sligo co-driver, Paul Kiely clinched the Dunlop National Rally Championship with a fine victory in the Ennis based Auburn Lodge Clare Rally.

It was their sixth victory in as many Dunlop outings, on this occasion, they finished 53 seconds in front on the Subaru of Niall Maguire/Barry Goodman (Subaru WRC) with Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru WRC) a distant third.

Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly (Mitsubishi) won the Group N category and the top Modified crew was that of Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity (Ford Escort).

The Dunlop “Drive of the Day” award was won by Mike Quinn/ Grainne McEnery (Ford Escort).

Meanwhile, in the Dunlop Junior Rally Championship, Monaghan’s, Johnno and Padraig Doogan (Ford Escort) finished second and took top points to move into the lead of the series with just one round remaining, remarkably, all three of their championship rivals failed to finish.

On the opening stage near Ruan village, McNulty took a 12 second lead over Niall Maguire, who had no intercom for the last four kilometres as a connection became undone. Kerry’s, Mike Quinn (Escort) with local Clare co-driver, Grainne McEnery slotted into third – five seconds further behind. Kevin Barrett, McNul- ty’s Dunlop Championship rival, was fourth in a top six that also featured the Escort of Wesley Patterson and local hero, Anthony O’Halloran, reunited with his Opel Manta after a lapse of some four years.

On S.S. 2, McNulty moved 27 seconds ahead of Maguire, who was just a second ahead of Barrett. Maguire punched in the best time on the third test.

McNulty arrived at the Gort Road Industrial Estate service halt with a 24 seconds advantage over Maguire. The Dunlop Championship leader was quite relaxed. I’m taking it steady, it is very slippery and greasy out there. We are making some minor suspension adjustments and switching to a cut slick tyre as opposed to the intermediate tyres we had for this first loop.”

Maguire was also quite composed while Barrett, who was 12 seconds behind Maguire, admitted he lost some 15 seconds with an overshoot on the third stage.

One of the drives of the rally was that of Monaghan’s, Josh Moffett, the 19 year old held fourth overall and led the Group N category; he was 14 seconds ahead of his 21 year old brother, Sam, who was seventh in general classification. Sandwiched between them were the Escort duo of Mike Quinn and Wesley Patterson, the latter lost time on the opening test when he caught the spray from Shane Maguire’s Subaru. On the third stage, he also overshot one of the junctions. Meanwhile, Quinn, who occupied fifth overall remarked that the newly fitted Proflex suspension was of great benefit.

Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi) in seventh also had new suspension but was taking time to get accustomed to the handling of the car. Limerick’s, Ed O’Callaghan (Escort), despite an off road excursion after a series of jumps, was eighth; O’Halloran was ninth and Washington James in a Darrian completed the top ten.

A straying horse caused problems on the fourth stage with McNulty being the worse affected by the equine species. He lost time and the lead with Maguire, who also encountered the horse, moving into a seven second lead while Barrett was a further 28 seconds behind. Mike Quinn displaced Josh Moffett in the race for fourth.

McNulty regained top spot with a fine performance on S.S. 5 to move eight seconds ahead of Maguire with Barrett slipping 43 seconds behind Maguire.

At the final service halt, McNulty, who was fastest on S.S. 6, led Maguire by 25 seconds, the latter remarked that he had no brakes for the closing section of the sixth stage. A broken seal was replaced at service although the replacement seal was not the exact fit.

Barrett in third, was a further 35 seconds behind but needed to finish second to keep his Dunlop Championship hopes alive. Following the demise of Josh Moffett, who slid his Mitsubishi off the road following a series of jumps, Wesley Patterson (Escort) moved into fourth. Adjustments to the suspension system transformed Sam Moffett’s Mitsubishi, he occupied fifth and also led Group N. Mike Quinn’s Escort broke the fan belt, having lost the oil coolant, he was hoping that no damage was caused to the engine. Frank Kelly (Escort) set some very strong times to move into seventh overall. The top ten was completed by O’Halloran, Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) and Shane Maguire (Subaru). Washington James retired his Darrian after an off road excursion.

McNulty was quickest on all three stages of the final loop and won by a margin of 53 seconds, it was his sixth win in six Dunlop outings and was enough to clinch the Vard Memorial Trophy. At the finish, he remarked, “I couldn’t have asked for better, the horse was the only moment of concern. We have worked hard at this championship, people also worked hard in the background, we have a great team. Aside from your rivals, you have to cope with the weather, indeed, there are so many things that can go against you, nobody knows that better than myself. I’m delighted.

Maguire took second and Barrett, requiring a second place finish to keep his Dunlop hopes alive, had to be content with third.

The Clare Motor Club “Noel Mc- Cullagh Award” for the fastest clare crew on the day went to Anthony O’Halloran and Charlie McEnery driving their Opel Manta. They also finished third in Class 14.

Club members George Whelan / Noel McMahon won the “Dermot Molloy Award” in their 1.6 Honda Civic. While Ruan’s Martin Casey / Sean Hegarty won the Junior Section in their Honda Civic. Ennis Navigator Grainne McEnery along with Kerry driver Mike Quinn finished second in Class 14 and won the “Dunlop drive of the day” award in their Ford Escort 1.T. McNulty/P. Kiely (SubaruWRC) 1h. 11m. 38s. 2. N. Maguire/B. Goodman (SubaruWRC) 1h. 12m. 31s. 3. K. Barrett/S. Mullally (SubaruWRC) 1h. 14m. 05s.. 4.W. Patterson/M. McGarrity (Ford Escort) 1h. 14m. 27s. 5. M. Quinn/G. McEnery (Ford Escort) 1h. 14m. 47s. 6. S. Moffett/J. O’Reilly (Mitsubishi) 1h. 14m. 58s. 7. F. Kelly/L. Brennan (Escort) 1h. 15m. 15s. 8.A. O’Halloran (Opel Manta) 1h. 16m. 00s. 9. D. Gallagher/R. Moore (Toyota starlet) 1h. 16m. 03s. 10. S. Maguire/C. Foley (Subaru) 1h. 16m. 49s. Dunlop National Rally Championship (Provisional Positions after Round 8): 1.T. McNulty 120pts (Dunlop Champion); 2. S. Moffett 96pts; 3. K. Barrett 92pts; 4. R. Barrable 72pts; 5. N. Maguire 67pts.