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has learned that a team of runners will carry a flame from the birthplace of Michael Cu- sack in Carron to the birthplace of the GAA in Thurles for the Munster hurling final on July 12.

The torch will be handed to the Munster GAA chairman Jimmy O’Gorman on the pitch before the senior decider. O’Gorman will then light torches for all the heads of the

GAA in the province who will bring back the flame of Cusack back to their own county.

“In association with the Munster Council and the Clare GAA board we have planned the relay torch run- ning from the Michael Cusack Cen- tre to Thurles for Munster Final day. This would be symbolic of Cusack’s own journey to Thurles to found the GAA,” said Martin O’Loghlen of the Michael Cusacks Centre.

“The torch will then be taken from Thurles to all the counties in Mun- ster, again symbolic of the idea of the GAA spreading out from Thurles and the impact of Michael Cusack.”

The Cusack Centre was developed by Michael Cusack Development

Company, a not-for-profit voluntary group formed in November 2003 to restore Michael Cusack’s cottage which had fallen into disrepair.

“We feel passionate about the con- nection between the GAA, Carron and Michael Cusack. We feel that it is important to remember his legacy to the country, not just the foundation of the GAA but his entire legacy,” continued Martin.

‘We have a number of events com- ing up in the next few weeks to mark the 125th anniversary celebrations. We are trying to encourage as many people as possible into the centre during the anniversary so we are providing a special offer for all GAA clubs over the summer months.

“We are working closely with Clare GAA and the Munster Council and on June 20 we will also have a number of activities up at the centre as a special commemoration.”

The special offer will see all GAA clubs being offered a special reduced admission fee of €3 for adults and €2 for children between six and 16 years throughout the summer.

EFFORTS by Kilrush Town Coun- cil to buy out of a contract that has already flushed away €305,185.58 of the council’s money, has been blocked by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

This month’s meeting of the town council was told that central Govern- ment refused to allow it get a loan to buy itself out of the contract for the public Superloo.

Last year the public toilet in the square cost the council €38,325, with an income of just €1,250.

This year the Superloo is to flush another €39,806 down the drain with an estimated income of €1,300. This will see the council losing €38,500 again this year.

The town council are bound to the contract until August 23, 2019. To remove itself from the contract, the council would have to give 12 months’ notice and pay a penalty of 25 per cent of the cost per year re- maining on the contract as well as the cost of having it removed.

Kilrush town clerk, John Corry told the members of the council on Wednesday, “The dilemma this council has is the cost of buying out Web ISe

“We have to remain in budget for the year. We are looking at budget- ing the €120,000 (buy out) for the

next year which would be a huge increase in the annual rate of valua- tion,’ he warned.

“We got a loan for Henry Street, why can’t we get a loan?” asked Cllr Deirdre Culligan (Ind).

“We have approached the depart- ment about a loan and they said no way, said Mr Corry.

‘The rent we are paying for the next three years would pay that (the loan) off with no rate increase,’ argued Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG).

“We all agree it is crazy, but we cannot raise the loan. Can I ask you to go back to the company?” said the mayor, Cllr Liam O’Looney.

Town manager Bernadette Kinsella told the councillors that their options were restricted.

“You either borrow, which there 1s a limit on nationally, or you look at the levies. You also need to consider what other facility do you plan to provide given Kilrush is a heritage town.”

Cllr Culligan pointed out that the council is not required to provide such facilities.

“If the Government is tying our hands and insisting we waste money, it’s no wonder the country is in the state it is in. If they are letting us squander money on a toilet and won’t let us buy ourselves out,” she said.

Cllr McMahon Jones asked for the costing of a small building for a to1- Colm Kom orom chek, armel oy

HOW soon work will begin on the second phase of the rejuvenation project in John Paul Estate depends on funding being available from Hse NM OCovourveeroele

Kilrush Town Council prepared a detailed project brief in October 2008 in respect of a continuation of Remedial Works at the council es- tate.

This brief specifically identified proposed works in terms of specific je atone

It was then submitted to the De- partment of Environment, Heritage and Local Government on Novem- ber 12 last seeking funding under the Remedial Works Programme 2009-2011.

The department requested clarifi-

cation on some points on the sub- mission in late February 2009 and these were immediately responded to by the council.

An inspector from the Department of the Environment then inspected the estate and the proposed works in April 2009.

He suggested some amendments to be made to the council’s brief. These amendments are being final- ised.

“The feedback which I have re- ceived from the DoEHLG is that they would be very positively dis- posed to the continued remedaia- tion of the estate and that it 1s next in line in a group of projects to be approved subject to funding being available,’ Town Clerk John Corry told this month’s meeting of the town council.

CLARE’S only candidate in the Eu- ropean Election Michael McNamara has called for all counties to be al- lowed elect its own local mayor.

The Independent candidate, who believes an overhaul of local govern- ment is long over due has asked can those in the provinces not be trusted to elect the heads of their local gov- Simone ate ome

“While the announcement of a di- rectly elected mayor for Dublin 1s positive for Dublin, one has to won- der why it wasn’t extended beyond the pale, where it is most needed in light of the centralisation of power in this country’, he said. “It does not change the fact that on June 5 coun- cillors will be elected in Clare.” Yet, all executive power is in the hands of the County Manager who is ap- pointed from Dublin. Is this local democracy?” he asked.

Con (onmsslomanunleUbelcans(OUse-DUMBDOMNele counties local authorities, difficult decisions will have to be made in the months and years after the upcoming election. Indeed they are already be- ing made as we see from news from the Roads Section. There decisions must be made by democratically elected representatives who have to answer to the electorate for their de- C1Sions.”’

“There is general agreement on the need for greater accountability in government but at the moment it remains just a slogan to glibly throw out. Accountability has to begin somewhere. All politics is local, the say. So it has to begin locally,’ he Sr nLe

“In the time spent campaigning throughout the constituency, since my late entry to the race, one issue has stood out in the vast and var- ied constituency. That is a sense of increasing alienation from govern- ment, including local government, by citizens and community groups. This growing chasm is very worrying and needs to be bridged,” he added.

‘Perhaps, the answer is less local government with greater power and a more regional approach. I think that the people of Clare feel a strong affinity with Munster. Indeed the re- cent Clare FM poll where the major- ity felt that the voters of Clare are not adequately represented in being part of the North and West European Par- liament Constituency is noteworthy in this regard.”

Bishop looks at controlling Communion expense

THERE’S a certain symmetry to 1996 that has caught the attention of Wolfe Tones’ Johnny Markham. Back in the mid-90s, when Clare hurling in general was riding the crest of a wave, Wolfe Tones made huge inroads in the domestic game.

In 1995, the year when the sport caught fire in this county, the club from Shannon picked up a Junior A title. It probably passed un-noticed in most hurling communities outside the airport town, which, consider- ing the summer that had just passed, wasn’t surprising.

The thing was, the club used that win not just as a foundation for the following season but used it as a springboard for the big prize.

Half a dozen players from that Jun- ior A winning side made the step up to the senior panel the following year and helped the club to their first ever county title.

This year, with a Junior A success behind them last season, Markham hopes the portents are favourable once more.

“Landing the Junior A last year certainly was a boost to us,” he says.

“Winning a title, no matter what level it’s at, does a couple of things. It gives players valuable experience in the latter stages of a competition and it gives them confidence as well. So we’re looking to bring through a few lads from last year’s Junior A side. We’d be hopeful of three or four making the move to senior and hav- ing a good championship this year.”

The Clare Cup has _ provided Markham with that platform. So far, he’s used a handful of last year’s Jun- ior As in the league and he’s been 1m- pressed with what he’s seen so far.

‘“That’s been our philosophy in the league, to bring those lads in and give them an opportunity, give them a chance to gain some more experi- ence. We didn’t start off too well in the league, but we’ve been steady since the first game. So yeah, I’d say we’ve found two or three guys who can add something to our team come the championship.”

Come this weekend, there will be a couple of notable absentees from the Wolfe Tones outfit. Given the trend towards emigration in Clare these past few months, most clubs have been affected 1n some way or another. Wolfe Tones are no differ-

ent but luckily, they’ve lost only one player to foreign soils, though it’s an influential one in the guise of Der- mot O’ Rourke.

Retirements have come by as well, Denis Riordan and Paul O’Rourke have hung up the boots and this year is the first in what seems like an age that Brian Lohan won’t tog out in the club colours.

“It’s almost impossible to replace a player of Brian’s standing,’ contin- ues Markham. “He’s been an inspi- ration and a leader to the lads on and off the field but it’s up to us to keep those qualities now. We have plenty of other lads who are well capable of being leaders and they’ll stand up and bring the younger lads through re) a

Though the club may have been quiet on the underage scene in recent times, Markham sees good work being done at root level, something which he says is both inspiring for the senior players and crucial to en- sure a conveyor belt of talent emerg- es to feed the senior teams down the line.

“We haven’t competed at some lev- els for a while, but there’s tremen- dous effort being put in, especially at

Under 8 and Under 10 level. And the hope is that this will put us in a posi- tion to get back to the top in terms of underage competition, where we feel we belong.”

As with any club, striking the bal- ance is the key — keeping a focus on the emerging talent and prodding the senior standard bearers forward. This year, a good run in the championship would ensure the younger members of the club will retain a strong focus themselves.

THE likelihood of a Crusheen stop being included in the Western Rail Corridor now looks unlikely in the short term following the omission of a platform from a new planning ap- plication lodged by Iarnrod Eireann.

Late last month the rail company lodged a planning application with Clare County Council for the con- struction of a bridge over the Limer- ick-Galway Railway line at Crusheen along with a new agricultural access road, site clearance, earthworks, bridge and pavement construction.

The omission from this application of platform works now makes it very unlikely that Iarnrod Eireann plan to develop a stop in Crusheen in the near future.

The Crusheen stop on the Western Rail Corridor was mentioned at last month’s West on Track AGM and lo- cals are still hopeful that a stop will be introduced sooner or later.

“As far aS we are concerned the campaign continues. We keep in regular contact with the relevant authorities and ministers and at the moment there is no update on the sit- uation. But we are still hopeful,” said Mike O’Doherty, chairperson of the Crusheen Development Association.

“It was mentioned at the West on Track conference last month and we are committed to continuing the campaign. We do recognise that we are now in very different economic times than we were just a short time ago, but we also recognise that the

need for a stop at Crusheen has not declined.”

Last month the rail company indi- cated that it would be pressing for- ward with the instigation of the Gal- way to Ennis section of the rail line this summer, even if the Gort rail station is not completed on time.

Jarnrod Eireann later confirmed that it did expect the Gort station on time.

Meanwhile, a number of critical factors must be put in place over the coming months to ensure that the maximum number of passengers take-up the Western Rail Corridor.

According to Lisa McAllister, Chief Executive of the Western De- velopment Commission, quality park and ride facilities are essential to the Ube ENE eots

“Schedules and timetables must be devised to meet consumer demand. Quality rolling stock, good park and ride facilities, and creative pricing and effective marketing to promote the new rail services will be the final ingredients in delivering a service that caters for customer demand,” SJ alemcrenten

Ennis schools lose two principals

“EFFECTIVELY all we are being promised is more of the same but Il do it a bit better.”

This 1s how Clare’s only candidate in the Ireland North West European Election appraised the other candi- dates in the field.

Scariff man Michael McNamara, is critical of the lack of ideas and debate surrounding the European elections, the economy and the local elections.

The barrister and farmer, admits he is coming to the European race a little late and has a huge challenge to overcome as an Independent can- didate, but is determined to open up the debate on Europe, Ireland’s place in Europe and the future of Govern- ment in Ireland.

Asked why he has put his name forward in the three-seat constitu- ency, which is made up of counties from every province in Ireland, Mr McNamara said, “Because I have to. I believe there is complete disil- lusionment in Ireland with National politics. A change in Government will not change that but a change in

governance.

‘There is a danger because of disil- lusionment people will reject the Eu- ropean Project as a protest. I believe that is why a lot of people voted No to the Lisbon Treaty.

“The problem with European law is not how it is made in Europe but how it is applied in Ireland.”

He gave the example of the contro- versial water and nitrates directives.

Mr McNamara said that Irish farm- ers are being forced to spread slurry in waterlogged fields before October Ry

In Northern Ireland, the British government secured derogation, so farmers have until January | to com- OC Kom CUM EAL ©

Both sets of farmers are working on the same island and in the same climate, yet the Irish Government failed farmers south of the border in this regard, he maintains.

Mr McNamara also believes in strengthening the local authorities, but maintains we do not need as many councillors or councils as we presently have in Ireland.

The Clare man began his cam- paigning last weekend.

FIANNA Fail added its second can- didate to the Ireland North West ticket at the 11th hour amid much disquiet from the Pascal Mooney camp.

Just hours before the close of nomi- nations, Minister for State and Don- egal South West TD Pat “the Cope” Gallagher (FF) declared as a candi- date after weeks of speculation.

He joined former senator Mooney on the ticket, vacated by sitting MEP Sean O Neachtain.

The Galway-based MEP and Mooney were selected to represent the party, but O Neachtain later withdrew his name citing ill health.

Fianna Fail failed to find a candi- date in the southern half of the vast constituency of Ireland North West,

and yesterday announced former MEP and junior Minister Gallagher as the second candidate.

The news was not welcomed in the Mooney camp, as supporters be- lieved that both men would be look- ing for votes in the north.

Announcing his candidature Min- ister Gallagher said, “We must maximise funding opportunities from Europe which is supporting Irish economic recovery through a number of different positive initia- UAVore

“Now more than ever, Ireland needs to elect people who will be able to work in Europe on a range of different policy issues that will sup- port Irish economic recovery.

“The European Union is to the forefront in helping Ireland to pull out of economic recession.”

The junior minister served in the European Parliament before be- tween 1994 and 2002.

He said that both himself and Mr Mooney must work together to win back the Fianna Fail seat in Ireland oye fenie

The former senator, 1s an award- winning broadcaster and journalist and a native of Drumshanbo, Coun- ty Leitrim.

Mr Mooney said he will fight to protect the farming and fishing in- dustry and push for better job crea- tion and tourism through EU sup- port. He said he will also fight to protect Ireland’s cultural, linguistic and national diversities within the European Union and for increased financial support for Irish small and medium-size enterprises.

The former senator has served on

a number of European bodies in- cluding the Council of Europe and the WEU Parliamentary Assembly. He presented several reports to the Council of Europe including ‘Wom- en’s Participation in Elections’ and ‘Europe’s response to Humanitarian Disasters’ in association with the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

He is co-author of “Women in Parliament’, now the benchmark publication acknowledging the role played by Irish women in the politi- cal process since the foundation of Some EI Koe

Mr Mooney was the first Irishman to be elected chairman of the Coun- cil of Europe Human Rights Com- mittee and has also served on the Joint House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Forum on Europe.