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A MAJOR sports and coaching sem- inar will take place in the new con- ference facilities at Thomond Park on Thursday 23rd October. Kilkenny Hurling Manager, Brian Cody and Munster Rugby coach, Tony McGa- han will be among the high profile line up of speakers for the second an- nual Mid West Coaching and Team Performance Conference.

The seminar 1s aimed at everyone interested in the sports development of young people such as coaches, trainers and parents. The event is organised through the BDO Simp- son Xavier Get BACk Challenge in association with the Mid West Local Sports Partnerships.

The first running of the event was a sell out last year and this year has attracted a very high profile panel of experts to discuss advances in coach- ing, motivation and nutrition.

In addition to Brian Cody and Tony McGahan other speakers will in- clude Professor Niall Moyna, Head of School of Health and Human Per- formance in DCU and Sharon Ma- digan, Performance Nutritionist for the Olympic Council of Ireland. The event will be chaired by the Univer- sity of Limerick’s Director of Sport, David Mahedy. A panel discussion will take place with all speakers following their individual presenta- tions.

Speaking at the launch of the semi- nar, BDO Simpson Xavier Managing Partner, Brian McGann explained “the event is part of BDO Get BACk Challenge programme to raise funds to increase participation in sport among children in addition to our commitment to contributing funds to Hospice cancer care in the Mid West. One of the elements of the BDO Get BACk Challenge is help in the area of coach education across all codes throughout the region. The event is organised based on a one to ten

principle. We felt if we could com- municate to 500 coaches and they passed some nugget of information to ten children then the effect of the seminar would be to benefit SOOO bi Coleone

He added “after three years of run- ning the BDO Get BACk Challenge we will have contributed a total of €500,000 to fund Hospice cancer care throughout the Mid West, in- cluding Cahercalla Hospice, and

various programmes for children in sporting disadvantaged areas. This year we were privileged to be joined by three time Tour de France win- ner Greg LeMond in our fundrais- ing efforts demonstrating the role sport plays in contributing to such Cr Nona

The event will be hosted in the new Thomond Park conference facility which has a capacity of 500 peo- ple. John Sweeney, Coordinator of

Clare Sports Partnership explained ‘Thomond Park will be a fitting ven- ue to host some of the leading coach- ing experts in Ireland for the second hosting of this event. We are delight- ed to welcome the managers of the current Heineken European Cup and All Ireland Hurling champions in ad- dition to the nutritional adviser to the successful Irish boxers at the Olym- pics. Professor Niall Moyna was one of the most talked about speakers at

our event last year with his hugely thought provoking presentation on attitudes to children in sport.

John Sweeney added “we under- took a review of last years event and identified the key information gaps that existed for coaches in the Mid West. With the support of the BDO Get BACk Challenge we are now in a position to provide a sustained programme of coach education and access to the leading thinkers in the areas of coaching, nutrition, sports motivation and team development. The region has never had access to such a high calibre of speakers and anyone with some level of interest in sport or coaching will benefit from AAO NOD N Toa

All proceeds from the event go to the BDO Get BACk Challenge sport- ing disadvantaged fund administered by the Local Sports Partnership. The event is organised in association with a range of event partners that include AIB, Bank of Ireland, Bloxham Stockbrokers, GECAS, Doonbeg Golf Club, Hegarty Metals, Kemmy Business School UL, Leahy & Part- ners Solicitors, Limerick Southside & Northside Regeneration Agency and Sweeney McGann Solicitors.

The event is strictly admission by pre booked ticket only. Bookings can be made through the Thomond Park box office on 061 421100. Tickets are on sale at €20 each or clubs can avail of the special club offer of six tickets for a €100.

Registration starts at 7pm with the first speaker at 7.30pm sharp. Last year’s event was a complete sell out so early booking 1s advisable.

SATURDAY night’s Galway Card was an all sponsored gala fundrais- ing event in aid of the Clare Hurlers Support Group and all credit to the organisers on a most professionally presented programme of events.

One of the highlights of the night was the appearance of Irish Derby and and Champion Stakes hero Shel- bourne Aston who paraded prior to the feature event which was the Lev- el Pitch and Sleepwell Ltd AO graded apy

In this race the PJ Fahy-owned popular veteren Tyrur Lee (Brett Lee-Tyrur Dee) went to traps a warm order and he didn’t dissappoint as he stayed on dourley to defeat Swinford Mylo(T4) by a length and three parts in 31.43. The winner was headed to the opening bend by All Heart but he saved valuable ground by railing tightly and he set sail for home turn- ing down the back. Racing around the home turn Swinford Mylo began to close slightly but Tyrur Lee would not be denied as he won has first race as a father as he sired a litter of nine whelped by Tyrur Lisa the previous day.

In the A2 graded ninth contest the Johnny Maher of Kilmaley owned Clonfeigh Nikita showed great de- termination as she landed her fourth career success by three lengths over the always prominent Jackie Legs in 29.04. The winner was only a length down on Jackie Legs at the

Opening corner despite missing the break slightly. Racing past halfway the daughter of Honcho Classic and Clonmore Nikita launched her chal- lenge on the inside. Hitting the front rounding the third bend she stayed on gamely on the run home for vic- reas

There was a right touch landed in the A4 graded sixth contest over 525 yards as the Pat Curtin trained Spot The Man (Yeah Man-Own Clas- sic) who was backed from 6/4 to 2/5 came home five lengths clear of Clas- sical Moment (T3) in 29.02.

The Lawrence Meaney of Kilrush owned winner though had a little luck on his side at the opening bend where he collided with the runner up and Hard Shoulder (T4) but he managed to come off best after the loluteayey

Once he set sail for home down the back the money was always leaving the layers satchels as she strode home alone and land the touch in style and the Derby winning trainer was not finished yet as the Meaney clan were again this time it was Michael and Claire Meaney owned Ban Diamond completed a double for the kennel in the concluding A3 graded 525.

In this race Ban Diamond (Smok- ing Ban-Droopys Diamond) made just about all to defeat Ballaghboy Cool (T6) by three parts of a length in 29.11. The pair were both away well with the blue jacketed Ban Diamond railing tightly around the opening two bend s to lead by four

lengths passing halfway. Despite running wide all along the back straight though Ballaghboy Cool re- ally began to motor from the home turn but the line just came in time for Ban Diamond.

The fourth contest was an A5 grad- ed 525 and as the field raced to the Opening corner Zoies Joy (T6) led the way from Ler Nadal (T3) with Clune Hincho (T4) in third place. Rounding the second bend the John Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned Ler Nadal moved a clear second on the inside of Zoies Joy before sweeping to the front approaching the penulti- mate corner and the son of Barnane Bill and Black Shaw strode clear to defeat Cooldarragha (T2) by 5&1/2 lengths in 29.50.

The sixth was an A5 graded 525 in which the trap two runner Mine Magic showed fine early pace to lead by three lengths at the opening bend as the *’jolly’’ Montpelier (T6) found herself only fourth after a tardy Start.

Racing down the back Mine Magic led by four lengths from the Mrs Stella Flanagan of Ennisymon owned Dromoher Ferm who hails from a strong staying litter and the daughter of Spiral Nikita and Mythical Crack- er came wide up the straight to get up for a half length victory in 29.28.

The opening contest for A9 graders over the 525 yard trip resulted in a dead heat between the pace setting Mine Ruby (Tl) owned by Frank Browne of Quin and the Master John

McDonagh owned favourite Tyrone Sally (T2). Mine Ruby was smartly away and led to halfway from Ferry- side Snowey (T6) with Tyriorn Sally in third place. Still three length in front turning for home Mine Ruby tied up close home as Tyrorn Sally got up to share the spoils.

In the second contest for A7 grad- ed dogs the Jerry Maloney of Doo- ra owned Ballaghboy Crash (T6) showed a huge improvement in form as he made all the running to de- feat the reserve Easter Cottage (T5) by five and three quarter lengths in 29.44 to get off the mark at the third attempt.

The winner a son of Crash and Sues Beauty was away well as he outpaced the favourite Finnigans Local (T3) to the opening bend . Clear passing halfway he was never in any danger of defeat as Easter Cottage got the better of the battle for second spot.

The A3 graded third contest the Frank Casey of Newmarket on Fer- gus owned Stonehall Pride a son of Droopys Woods and O,Garney Mist came home nine lengths clear of his rivals in a time of 29.51.

The winner trailed the pace setting Mine Cash (T3) racing to the open- ing bend but with the benefit of the inside line he hit the front turning down the back. As Stonehall Pride straightened up to run down the back the was plenty of bunching behind which allow the leader a virtual solo from halfway.

On a great night for the Banner

County one of the most popular owners from the county tasted suc- cess in the A3 graded tenth contest when the PJ O’Halloran of Kilrush owned Scattery Vier1 (Droopys Vi- eri-Cranky Criss) came a second time to lead close home for a half length success over Kilscan Teddy (T3) in 29.50.

The winner led on the run up before he was joined and passed by Glen- gar Joe(T4) turning down the back. Rounding the third bend the leader checked slightly and this allowed Scattery Vieri to challenge again off the home turn and he stuck his neck out gamely up the straight to land the prize.

through the Freedom Of Information Act show that one of the options considered by the Elec-

toral Boundary Committee was to increase the Scarriff area to a five Seater.

This would have been achieved by adding the areas of Clareabbey, Doo- ra, Quin, Clooney, Spancilhil and Kiltraghtis from the Ennis area and transferring Killuran and Carrow- baun to the Killaloe electoral area.

Under this arrangement, Ennis and Ennistymon would have lost a seat

each and Killaloe would have gained VORorcoe Meelilanelee

However, the Committee opted to abolish the Scarriff area as its terms of reference ‘no longer permit three seater electoral areas save in very ex- ceptional circumstances’. It has now been merged into the Killaloe area with the Shannon electoral area also gaining a Seat.

Ennis has been divided into two

separate areas and increased the number of seats by two with Kilrush and Ennistymon losing out.

The committee decided that split- ting the town offered the best solu- tion as it “respects the reality that Ennis continues to be a strong focal point for its hinterland to the east and west”.

One of two Fianna Fail councillors in the Scariff area, Cllr Pat Hayes

said he didn’t wish to focus on the ‘what if?’ scenario and preferred to concentrate on the reality of Scarriff now being included in the Killaloe electoral area.

Confirming that he will be putting his name forward for the local elec- tions, he said it was important there was a high turnout in rural areas in order for local councillors to be re- NDA oLe

SECONDS after the final whis- tle sounds, Tommy Curtin springs from the dugout and is enveloped in a small ocean of Liscannor bod- ies. Between the thick mist that has cloaked the field and the celebrations going on around him, he’s difficult to pinpoint but suddenly he shuffles off to the side of the festive group where you catch him and ask for two min- utes of his time.

Face beaming, he says he’ll give you ten.

You ask him was he concerned in that extraordinary second-half when it looked like Doonbeg had sucked the momentum from Liscannor.

He pauses for a minute, gathers his breath and tells you that yes, there’s no point saying other otherwise, he was anxi0us.

“I’d have to say I was worried al- right. They got the goal, they went ahead then by two points, got it up to three and there wasn’t a whole load of time left.

“But deep down I still had faith. At half-time, I knew we hadn’t got go- ing. We’d only kicked a couple of points and I sat the lads down and said that we hadn’t brought the inten- sity that a semi-final of a champion- ship deserved. It was put up to them that they had to come back out and improve.”

That they did. The vigour and force they applied for 25 minutes after the break was almost tangible. They scavenged for breaks, closed space and defended from the front but most of all, they didn’t once show any signs of panic.

Even after Doonbeg shook the net, Liscannor held their nerve and be- lieved that the football they played to bring them into contention would allow them breast the finishing tape ahead of Doonbeg.

Though Doonbeg continued to push every central Liscannor attack out wide towards the sidelines, Lis- cannor, contrary to the belief before the game, kicked well in front of the posts to claw back the deficit and

spring the win.

“We looked on the second-half as the time to step up. We said, look, were in a decent position to go back out and face the elements. In the group game, it was a different

situation at half-time and maybe we showed some complacency that day.

“That wasn’t going to happen here. We said we’d leave everything we had on the fields and in fairness to these lads, that’s exactly what they did.”

As he travelled to Miltown in the early afternoon rain of Saturday, Cur- tin’s confidence was rising. It wasn’t an arrogance or conceit, just a sense of contentment that the work logged since the summer began would tip the balance.

‘“We’ve put in an amount of train- ing and I just felt wed step it up today. So I did feel a certain con- fidence and that’s nothing against Doonbeg. They’re a fantastic side as they showed, but I had faith in these lads. We’ve had a couple of lads out injured and they were in the mind of the 15 lads who started as well.

“It’s an amazing feeling to get toa county final. It’s such a small parish, it must be one of the smallest foot- balling parishes in the country and it’s great for everybody involved to have that crack at the title.

“But look. We’ve still won nothing. We’re back to basics again in a couple of days, back training and we’re go- ing to be focused on the final. That’s the one we’ve got to get over now.”

One mountain scaled, another peak in the distance. With Curtin ready for this final ascent, Liscannor should have the energy and enthusiasm to reach the top.

THE mist was down in Miltown, but football folk from Liscannor could see as far as the promised land of a county final. Six weeks previously at the same ground when they were beaten by 3-10 to 0-9 by Doonbeg, it was very hard to see it happening.

But, Liscannor’s spirit was willing. Back then and in subsequent games against Lissycasey and Eire Og and in this second crack at mighty Doon- beg. Kieran Considine admitted as much afterwards.

“It came from a bit of honesty,” he revealed. “We asked for fellas to stand up and be counted and they did that. We went a goal down against the run of play today. Doonbeg were cheering and felt they were half way there, but this group of players are

very strong mentally. We’ve been around a very long time.

“People were probably saying that with all the wides in the first half we were back to the Liscannor of old. We got refocused at half-time and tried to work the ball into scoring po- sitions. We got good scores. I think we showed today what we’re capable of. People write us off. We’re a small parish and we have a lot of heart,’ he added.

Selector Pat Murphy touched on this same spirit and the fact that they were written off before the champi- onship started and before this game. “There were four teams left in the competition before today and we were still 10 to 1 to win the champi- onship. That drove on the boys.

““T think they were on about a wed- ding in Doonbeg and they wanted

the county final brought forward. I was sitting below at a meeting in Ennis when I heard about it. I came back and told the lads that all they were talking about in Doonbeg was the wedding and that everyone was saying that we wouldn’t be involved in the county final, that we were in- terfering with a wedding. They gave their answer to that out there.”

And they hope to provide more an- swers in the county final. “We a have a few weeks now to get the injuries right, put our heads back down again. There’s more in us. We’ve improved with every game and we can improve again,’ said Kieran Considine.

No one doubts him.

SHERRY FitzGerald, Ireland’s larg- est estate agents has announced that the average price of a second-hand property in Ireland fell by 5.9 per cent during the third quarter of 2008. The results for the twelve months to September show a price reduction of 14 per cent.

According to Marian Finnegan, Chief Economist, Sherry FitzGer- ald Group, “The true extent of the market correction is more significant than either figure illustrates. The first evidence of market correction began during the third quarter of

2006. Assuming the market peak occurred in June 2006, this suggests a market correction in Ireland of 16.6 per cent in nominal terms and 26 per cent in real terms over the 27 month period”.

The Cork market recorded price deflation of 4.7 per cent in the quar- ter and 12.7 per cent in the twelve months to September.The results for the Dublin market are even more marked with price reductions of 7.1 per cent in the quarter and 15.7 per cent in the year to September 2008. From a peak in June 2006, the aver- age price of a second-hand property in Dublin has now fallen by 23.4 per

cent in nominal terms or 32.8 percent in real terms.

Marian Finnegan, added, “The lat- est results from the price barometer give a clear picture of the extent of price correction in the second hand market. The price decline originated in the Dublin market during the sum- mer months of 2006 however it was almost twelve months later that the price reductions truly spread to the rest of the country. All areas of the country are now enduring significant price falls with the upper end of the market most affected to date’.

An analysis of the purchaser profile in the year to date reveals that first

time buyers accounted for 38 per cent, compared to 34 per cent during the same period in 2007. Not sur- prisingly investors were less active in the year to date purchasing 10 per cent of the properties traded in the period, compared to 17.6 per cent in the same period in 2007.

The trend of rental inflation which has been a feature of this market dur- ing 2006 and 2007 effectively ended in 2008 with the CPI index of pri- vately owned rents falling by 0.64 per cent in the twelve months to August 2008, compared to an annual average growth of 9.98 per cent in 2007.

Looking to the immediate future,

Ms Finnegan acknowledged that “Activity levels will remain subdued in the coming weeks leading up to the Budget as consumers await the Government’s announcement on October 14th. In the post —budget market other factors should begin to influence consumer sentiment. Not least of which lies in the fact that the combination of the price reductions already present in the market place and the reduction in fixed interest rates in the mortgage market has re- sulted in enhanced affordability in the starter home market with an in- creasing number of properties more affordable to purchase than to rent”’.

ALLEGATIONS of an odour ema- nating from the landfill site in Inagh are too serious to be heard in the dis- trict court – a judge has ruled.

Judge Joseph Mangan declined ju- risdiction in the case of the Environ- mental Protection Agency against Clare County Council.

The council faces two summonses alleging that an odour emanated

from the landfill site between August and November 2007. Solicitor for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Gearodid Williams told En- nistymon District Court last week that the issue was whether the court would accept jurisdiction.

He explained that the case related to odours emanating from the land- fill site in Inagh.

“The council is operating a landfill on foot of a licence from the EPA,’

he said. One of the conditions was that there would not be any odour from the facility.

Mr Williams said the EPA was of the view that the matter be dealt with summarily, in the district court, where fines of up to €3,000 and/or a year in prison could be imposed in the event of a conviction.

“The allegations of odours are on a level that the EPA did not consider sufficiently serious to be tried on in-

dictment (in the circuit court), added the solicitor.

He said the EPA does not have the power to prosecute matters on indict- ment, in the circuit court. If jurisdic- tion were to be declined in the district court, the order would be for the case to be struck out and then referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“The question is, is this sufficiently Serious for the matter to be tried on indictment? . . . The EPA believes it

is not. If jurisdiction is not accepted, the EPA does not have a role in pros- ecuting it,” said Mr Williams.

However, Judge Joseph Mangan said he was declining jurisdiction. “It is too serious of a nature to come un- der the ambit of the penalties stated,” said the judge. He then struck out the matter.

The matter is now out of the hands of the EPA and will be referred to the DB) ae

AN Taisce has joined the campaign to stop Dublin taking water from the Shannon.

North Tipperary branch spokes- man Paddy Mackey – who is also a member of the Save Our Lough Derg (SOLD) group – has warned that ex- tracting water for Dublin could seri- ously threaten fish plants and other species.

A controversial proposal to extract water from the Shannon system to help meet the capital’s needs has met with mixed reactions.

Last week, when Clare County councillors discussed the proposal, ClUlr Colm Wiley(FF) said that Clare should “help Dublin out if the water is needed. We could use any compen- sation money paid to drain farmland that is under water and put as much back again into the system”.

Mr Mackey described the proposed water extraction as “a smash and grab raid..while we are the ones left with the responsibility of trying to protect the ecological quality of Lough Derg and achieve good water quality by the 2015 deadline set under the EU water Framework Directive.”

THE Armada Hotel in Spanish Point will become a refuge from the woes and worries of the economic reces- sion next week-end when guests will be treated to a “Recession Escape” break on the Clare coast.

Guests will be asked to leave their recession gloom at the front door as they arrive for a weekend with a number of unique events lined up on Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11, with a repeat planned for Novem- ber 21 and 22.

The Recession Escape programme will include an in-house newspaper, “Armada News’, which will feature only positive news and ensuring that guests start the day with the ‘feel good’ factor as they enjoy a cham- pagne breakfast

Internal news broadcasts through- out the day will be presented by members of the hotel staff includ-

ing a chef and housekeeper with real news, but good news. A Fortune Tell- er will read palms before dinner and predict all that is positive and happy. Every hour will be Happy Hour over the weekend with pints of Guinness reduced to pre-Celtic Tiger prices.

Guests will receive a gift of an in- spirational book with the Atlantic ocean as their perfect reading back- drop. There will also be complimen- tary advice from a personal trainer who will ensure that guests leave the hotel with a spring in their step

Price of the two-night stay, includ- ing dinner in the Pearl restaurant, is €159 per person and guests will be asked to leave the mobiles and black- berry’s off as well!!

A STRONG, profitable and sustain- able future for our counties fishing industry is what Clare TD, and junior agriculture minister, Tony Killeen, was looking for at last weeks meet- ing of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Killeen was taking part in a discus- sion by ministers marked the start of the debate on the reform CFP, which will see a new policy in place by PAU

‘“T hope that the debate on the CFP will lead to a simplified policy for all the stakeholders concerned. How- ever, I will not support a policy that promotes the concentration of ac- tivity and benefits in the hands of a small number of large companies,”

he said.

“Our aim is for a policy, which maximises the development of all our coastal communities, and for this reason it is vital that quotas and their management are retained under na- tional competence and not moved to a market based mechanism.

“T strongly argued that restrictive days at sea were not necessary for the Celtic Sea south and west coast fish- eries. I argued that alternative meas- ures such as closed areas to protect spawning stock could be as effec- tive.” Ireland also hosted a meeting in Brussels last week on its initia- tive for a pilot project on eliminating discards in fisheries. The meeting brought together the European Com- mission as well as representatives of France and the UK.

“This 1s one of my key priorities as discarding of fish at sea is an 1s- sue which needs to be tackled im- mediately and I am pleased that to- day’s meeting advanced the proposal which I presented to Commissioner Borg recently,” he said.

“T am hopeful that the Commission will consider carefully the detail of our proposed scheme which seeks to work in partnership with industry on providing incentives to reduce the current unacceptable level of dis- cards.”

Meanwhile, Minister Killeen, also last week launched a new online service, Integrated Forest Informa- tion System (IFORIS) Internet.

The new service will allow ap- proved foresters and forestry compa- nies to track online the processing of

Forestry applications that have been submitted to the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

‘The service is the first phase of a planned development for IFORIS In- ternet. The second phase will enable foresters and forestry companies to submit pre-approval applications online on behalf of their clients,’ he nLOe

“This will streamline admuinistra- tion issues for foresters and the For- est Service. The provision of online access to IFORIS for approved for- esters via the Internet is one of the eGovernment initiatives being un- dertaken by the Department as part of its current IT Strategy, and under- pins its commitment to the delivery of improved online services.”