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THE Interprovincial Championships, that have been sponsored to the tune of over €500,000 by Clare’s Martin Donnelly over the past seven years, are on a “stay of execution” from the GAA’s top brass.

That’s the verdict of Clare’s county secretary Pat Fitzgerald, whose an- nual report praises Donnelly’s sup- port of the series, but hits out at the failure of the GAA authorities’ dedi- cation to the inter-provincial con- cept.

“Through Martin Donnelly’s un- flinching support the Interprovincial Championships are a competition that seems to have been drawing its last breath for the past few years has, almost miraculously, continued to

Survive, says Fitzgerald.

“But [I’m fearful that the compe- tition, which once had supporters streaming through the turnstiles in their droves, is on a stay of execu- tion.

“The GAA at national level has emphasised repeatedly that they are fully behind the inter-provincials but actions do speak louder than words. What it now needs to do is decide on dedicated dates for the competition and then, with sufficient time on their hands, press ahead with a proper and sustained marketing campaign.

“If that is done, the public might start voting with their feet once more and turn out in large numbers as in the days of yore,” adds Fitzgerald.

FEILE na nGael coming to Clare for the first time in 23 years in 2010 has to be the spur for a new referee recruitment drive across the county, according to referees supremo Kevin Walsh.

The Clare Referees Administration Committee chairman will use this Thursday night’s annual Conven- tion to issue a challenge to the clubs

of the county to answer the Féile na nGael call, but providing referees for the under 14 hurling spectacular to be played next June.

The call comes following the ad- mission from Walsh that, on the back of apathy and lack of interest from clubs, 2009 was a disastrous year where recruitment of referees was oy sleroru sleree

“In this the 125th anniversary year of our association it is disappointing

to be reporting that we failed to have a referees course in the county this year,’ admits Walsh. “Due to lack of interest and numbers we were unable to run a foundation course in 2009. “It is intended to rectify this situa- tion for 2010. Every club, but espe- cially those with no referee, or who didn’t bother for the past five or six years will again be given the op- portunity to put their shoulder to the wheel and help. At the end of Febru-

ary and into the beginning of March we hope to run a course and we will need at least 30 recruits for this.”

Walsh is hoping that the carrot of Feile na nGael will be spark new in- terest among clubs.

‘Everyone knows the huge task and undertaking this (Féile na nGael) will requirement,” he says. “Now is the time for your club to step up to the plate and play its part in this ven- melden

“We will need referees and a lot of them. Every club will be taking part in Féile and every club should strive to have a referee and play their part in making this Féile as successful as previous Féiles.

‘The eyes of the country will be on us in every aspect of the game and can your club afford to be the one who is not contributing to the area of refereeing,’ Walsh’s annual report adds.

WHAT to do when recession bites and bites hard?

You could always take the emi- grant’s boat and become another one of the farflung Clare diaspora in some nook or cranny of the globe, but do that and you’d probably find that it’s biting wherever you go to.

Why not go to school on the re- cession instead? Look around the county and beyond and see if there’s a niche business opportunity there, something with recession in mind, but at the same time something that could under the radar of the reces- sion at the same time.

It’s what one enterprising law graduate is about to do this week — it’s not a case of undercutting the bevy of solictors in town by offering legal aid at knockdown prices.

“Knockdown prices yes,’ says Fiona Allen, “but nothing to do with law,” she adds setting out on a ca- reer path totally divergent from the EM

‘I hope and intend to go back into the law,” she says, “but for the time being I think there’s a real niche market out there for vintage design- er clothes in Ennis.

“I know there are other shops out there that you’d call second hand shops, but this is different,” she stresses. “It’s hard to get work in the law at present and I looked at a dif- ferent avenue to explore and came up with this. I always had a huge interest in fashion and felt there was a huge opening in Ennis for a shop that catered for young people interested in vintage and designer clothes at a fraction of what you’d pay on the high street.

“The shop is mixture of vintage used clothes for both men and wom-

en and designer clothes from recent fashion graduates. There are also accessories like shoes, hats and jew- ellery. And all the items are hand- picked, but going around to shops in places like London, Leeds, Bel- fast and Amsterdam — nothing was bought on the internet or from cata- logues,’ she adds.

And, Babylon that’s located in the basement of number two Bank Place also offers something different in

what could be described as a throw- back to different retail times.

“It’s not just clothes on rails,” says Allen, “but it’s like a shop/house with antique furniture, Victorian china and a burning fire going, etc. It’s a little bit different to your or- dinary retail experience. It’s off the beaten track and what people will be able to buy are distintive one-off pieces that you wouldn’t see any- Where else and I’m really looking

forward to the opening this Saturday where there’ll be plenty wine, the burning hot fire and those clothes at knockdown prices.”

A GROUP of students in Ennis have been learning about all aspects of German culture as part of their lat- est project.

12 young people, currently en- rolled in the Clare Youth Service’s Leaving Cert Applied Programme (LCA), will take part in a Ger- man cake sell in Ennis tomorrow (Wednesday, December 9).

Students from the LCA (1) group will be in the market area of town from 10am to 3pm selling cakes.

Money raised at the event will go

towards funding projects with Clare Youth Service.

Since starting the programme in September, the students have been learning about German language PN IOMeUUI ADDER

‘“They’re studying German so we thought it would be a good idea to do a German cake sale. They’ve been learning about German cul- ture, German music, German books, the country, all sorts of things, so this ties into it,” explained teacher, Laura Griffin.

“This LCA programme will finish in 2011, they’re just a new group at

this stage. They are a good group, but we’ll find out good they are next week,” joked Laura.

She hopes that the event will be boosted by the high presence of Christmas shoppers in Ennis.

“We’re hoping people will come along a buy the cakes. I think the bigger ones will cost around €5. All the money will go back to the Clare Youth Service to run projects. They’ll be down in the market and we ve got a little stall set up.”

She continued, “The LCA (2) group have produced a number of calendars and they will be selling

them around town. They are setting up three little stalls and again all the money will go towards the Clare Youth Service.

The LCA is a recognised Leaving Certificate from the Department of Education. It encourages students to apply their knowledge, skills and experiences acquired on the pro- gramme, in preparation for future work, and/or further education.

The programme is a full-time two- year course and is divided into four sessions over the two-year period. These sessions are sub-divided into periods of study known as modules.

REMEDIAL works need to be car- ried out on culverts in Shannon but will be expensive and a source of funding will have to be identified for oO US

That was the message delivered from Clare County Council last week, after Councillor Gerry Flynn (Independent) called for a _ pro- gramme to be set up to tackle flood- ing in some parts of Shannon.

‘As it stands, some parts of Shan- non are between four and six inches under water. There is a deficiency in our system,” he said, at a meet- ing of Shannon Town Council, last ‘Tuesday.

He said that in the past, the Office of Public Works patrolled the river banks every week, but that has been reduced to fortnightly checks.

“The Government has failed the community. We need to be more vigilant than most in Shannon. We have flash flooding,” he said.

He was told that remedial works

will be undertaken, in conjunction with road resurfacing, in relation to slit channels.

“Given the extent of works re- quired, however, the costs are likely to be significant and will take years to complete unless funding sepa- rate from that provided in the Road Works Programme is made avail- able,’ stated senior executive engi- neer Eugene O’Shea, in a written response.

Fine Gael Councillor Tony Mulc- ahy said the people of Shannon are very thankful that they were not forced to contend with the same del- uge that Ennis was subjected to. He said that the recent flooding crisis in the county was “absolutely and ut- terly well managed”.

Independent Councillor Patricia McCarthy said it is important that the storm drains are cleaned out on a regular basis.

“We escaped relatively unscathed and we would like that to continue. Prevention is always the best rem- edy,’ she said.

Labour Councillor Tony McMahon said, “We are in a very vulnerable position in Shannon. We could have a very serious situation in Shannon. That has to be remembered. There is a very definite need to be alert and to be aware.”

The mayor of Shannon, Council- lor Sean McLoughlin (Fine Gael) said, ““We don’t know how lucky we were in Shannon in that we were not flooded.”

County Manager Tom Coughlan, who attended the town council meet- ing, said he was happy that Shannon escaped the flooding crisis. He said he is in the process of preparing re- ports on the flooding in the county. One of those will address “where we go from here and that will contain reference to Shannon”.

He said that an increase in roads grants, to deal with flooding preven- tion, will be sought.

DOZENS of senior citizens from Newmarket-on-Fergus gathered on Sunday for their annual Christmas party.

The Christmas bash is generally one of the highlights of the year for mature residents in the Newmarket- on-Fergus area and this year was no different.

The event would not be possible without the fantastic efforts of local volunteers and businesses who help

out on an ongoing basis.

Support is vital for the Christmas party and this year it came in the shape of €500 from the Shannon and District Lions Club, along with spot prizes from various businesses in Newmarket-on-Fergus and Shan- rHTOyee

PRO of the committee, Michelle Quigley, said more and more peo- ple are getting on board, helping out with the club every year.

“The committee has got bigger. Newer members have joined in and

therefore we can carry out extra ac- tivities,’ she said.

There is a lot of goodwill. Because we have a bigger number of people in the committee, we can spread it out. “We have been very lucky to get sponsorship from local businesses and the Lions Club. That helps to make the Christmas party a great Success,’ she said.

Fundraising also plays a role and the committee spearheads various projects, such as bag packs and poker classics.

“A lot of people are living on their own and the Christmas party is their only outlet. It is good for people to meet others that they only meet on these occasions, while they also get to meet new people. It is very much hands on,” she said.

Throughout the year, the club’s members are treated to various trips around the county and they thor- oughly enjoy these tours. More than 50 people travel on those trips, while more than 150 attend the annual Christmas party.

THE spirit of co-operation was shown to be alive and well in New- market-on-Fergus last week when Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire held its annual Christmas Fair.

From 12 midday to 5pm, members of the school and local community flocked to the school hall to admire and purchase a wide variety of items from over 20 talented craftsmen and

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They were spoilt for choice, with goods from chocolates and home baking to handbags and hand-knitted crafts. People could buy yule logs, Christmas wreaths and choose from a huge selection of books.

While the adults perused the many displays, the younger visitors availed of face painting and visited Santa Claus who had made a special ap- pearance on the day.

School principal, Ann McMahon one of the organisers of the popular annual event, expressed a huge ‘thank you’ to all those who supported this year’s fair.

“T would like to sincerely thank the people of Newmarket for their con- tinued support. Thanks also to all the friends who came forward to help with the setting up, as well as the clearing up at the end,” she said.

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used to buy much needed resources for the school, which is celebrating its SOth anniversary this year.

SCHOOL is not the place young- sters usually expect to see Santa so it was a great treat for the pupils at St John’s National School in Cratloe when he turned up at their annual Christmas fair.

There was great excitement as the man himself stepped down with a sackful of presents.

“There was a fabulous atmos- phere,” said Parents Council Chair, Taly Crowe. “I think the adults were as excited as the children, jumping up and down and waving and cheer- ing as he arrived. It was brilliant.”

Of course, Santa’s reindeer have to rest up for their marathon efforts on the big night so local woman, Linda Gleeson volunteered the services of her horse and trap to get Santa to the school.”

The school has an annual fundrais- ing craft fair organised by the parents council, but this year they decided to go all out.

“We invited Santa, who very kind- ly turned up, and as well as the usual crafts, we made it more like a Christ- mas fair. Everyone chipped in and supported it,” said Taly.

Local businesses also chipped in with prizes for the raffle. “We had great support from the businesses here and in Sixmilebridge. Crowe’s supplied baked goods, we got fuel vouchers, we had a round of golf from Dromoland and Shannon; all the business people got on board and the whole community came together for it.”

A native of New York, living in Cratloe for the last two years, Taly said that the response to Santa and the Christmas fair is another exam- ple of the community spirit which constantly amazes her.

“Everyone worked very had to

make the day a success and it was just that. Santa’s grotto was all done up and it looked amazing.”

The school – like all schools – tries to supplement the money they get from the department with various fundraising efforts.

The main drive at present is to buy interactive whiteboards, which are replacing the old-fashioned black- boards.

IT IS officially Christmas time in west Clare, as the biggest town in the area was illuminated with Christmas lights on Saturday.

The lights were put up a little later than usual this year due to the bad weather, and financial restraints meant that they were not expanded this year.

This, however, had little or no af- fect on the Christmas spirit in the west Clare capital, with more people than ever vowing to shop locally this year.

Even Santa arrived in the town on Saturday afternoon last to lend his support to the town.

Carol singers kept the festivities alive until the lights were switched on at 4.30pm, which was followed by a party in The Haven Arms at 9pm.

Chamber of Commerce President, Mark Reidy said that while all busi- nesses are feeling the pinch this year there is a lot of support with more people putting an emphasis on shop- ping locally.

“The competition is more intense with improvements in products and Services,’ he said.

The festive lights again this year depict the ‘Spirit of Kilrush’ theme, which entered its second phase last year.

Designing this display for the mari- time town took a lot of planning, with challenges like the width of Francis Street having to be overcome.

The majority of the work for this scheme was completed for Decem- ber 2007.

‘This wouldn’t have been possible without the four main players: Kil- rush Town Council, the Chamber of Commerce, Kilrush Credit Union and the ESB,” said Mr Reidy.

The town is also adding to the fes- tivity with a draw for thousands of euros of prizes.

Everyone that shops in Kilrush can use his or her receipts to enter the draw in the credit union, adding to the incentive to shop in Kilrush this year.

Last month Kilrush Town Council also appealed for people to not only shop locally this year but to also buy tener

CRUSHEEN GAA held their AGM on Saturday last. The meeting was well attended by players and sup- porters.

Both the chairman John O’Malley and secretary Tony McMahon gave a detailed report of the years proceed- ings including club and county. Both reports highlighted the great success of the U21 Clare team, which won both the Munster and All Ireland ti- tles for the first time ever.

The club was honoured and proud to be not only, represented on the panel by 4 of our players but to have one of those players as captain.

The captain was Ciaran O’Doherty and the other three lads were Donal Tuohy, Cian Dillon and Joe Meaney. Gerry O’Grady captained Clare sen- ior hurlers in the early part of the year when they won the Waterford Crystal trophy and Patrick Vaughan an Cathal Dillon were part of that panel also. Unfortunately that was

the only honour that came Clare’s way in 2009.

Seamus O’Sullivan outlined the club’s finances, which thanks to the supporters 200 club and the gener- ous sponsorship of our sponsor Pat O’Donnell, allowed the everyday running of the club to be in credit.

The successful promotion of the 200 club this year is a credit to the very hard work of the committee and the generosity of our supporters. However as was outlined last year the club is in debt due to the drainage project undertaken in 2008 and both the chairman and treasurer thanked and praised the enormous effort that the new fundraising committee, es- tablished at last years AGM, have been putting in to help pay off this debt.

Not only had they managed to re- duce the debt but also have hosted many enjoyable social events bring- ing the community together, very much in the ethos of the GAA.

A member of that committee

thanked all who had helped their work and that included young and old who volunteered (or were “volun- teered”’) their services. She outlined the upcoming events, which included a Christmas Fair, to be held on the 6th Dec and 2 social events over the Christmas period.

Managers of all teams reported on their competitions. Gearoid O’Donnell reported that Crusheen played in their first u21A final in 40 years and he felt that they should have won the competition. Gearoid was reluctant to return as manager again this year but was persuaded to think about it.

Gerry Kennedy, senior manager, said that though it was very disap- pointing not to have reached the later stages of the championship, he was proud of the team. He knew that they had put in a great effort this year and was delighted with the way they had played in the league and continued to the final of the Clare Cup in which they were beaten by Clonlara by one

point.

Crusheen won the senior B and though it was not what the team set out to do it was good to be finishing the year on a winning note. Gerry is unable to continue as manager this year for personal reasons, but Michael Browne, who was trainer last year, has taken over as manager.

Joe Mullins continues as manager of the Junior A hurlers. Colm O’Connor Junior football reported on their very successful year winning their league final and reaching the quarter final of the championship and they too were unlucky not to have gone further in the competition. Colm had requested last year that the team would enter the league in 2009 in order to better prepare for the championship not en- visioning winning the league on the way.

Election of officers: President: Tom McNamara Chairman: Colm O’Connor Vice chairman: Fr Ger NAsh Secretary: Tony McMahon

Assistant secretary: Joanne Meaney ‘Treasurer: Orla O’ Donnell

Child Protection Officer: John Mad- den

PRO: Catherine Brigdale County Board Delegate: O’ Donnell

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Tributes were paid to the outgoing chairman and treasurer for all the work they have put in over the years. Seamus O’Sullivan was on of the main forces behind the establishment and continuance of the very success- ful 200club.

John O’Malley has been an officer of the club for the past 10 years and took over as chairman four years ago when our then chairman, Michael Griffin got ill. Hopefully both he and Seamus will continue their as- sociation with the club in some other eal lon

The chairman John O’Malley fin- ished the meeting, wishing everyone happy christmas prosperous new year.