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FIRST we had the World Ploughing Championships, now we have the World Holstein Friesian Federation SroyaKo rere

Less than two years after staging one of the worlds biggest interna- tional farming events, Ireland will play host to another following the announcement that the World Hol- stein Friesian Federation Conference which will be held in Ireland from October 9 to 11. The Minister for Ag- riculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan, last week announced funding of €100,000 towards the cost of staging the 2008 event.

It is the first time for this event to be held in Ireland. The Minis-

ter congratulated the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) in suc- ceeding in getting such a prestigious event to Ireland.

The Conference, which is_ held World Cup style every four years, will welcome delegates from over 40 member countries of the World Holstein Friesian Federation togeth- er with a large number of observers from Ireland and around the world.

The Conference will include a two- day scientific programme at Killar- ney and a one-day Livestock Show of pedigree dairy animals at Millsteet.

The Minister said that Irish Hol- Stein Friesian farmers, who consist- ently breed top quality animals, will be able to showcase to an interna- tional audience the high standards

OM Gr- LAO om) RcroLONDIToMGL UUM Re) ILON am ole) DOTS achieved in Ireland.

“My Department has _ invested heavily during the past decade in developing a top class cattle breed- ing infrastructure through the estab- lishment of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation,” she said.

The Conference not only provides an ideal opportunity to showcase the developments in cattle breeding in Ireland but also enables the promo- tion of our vibrant dairy industry to a global audience.

“The Conference will provide a timely international marketing plat- form for Irish Holstein-Friesian cat- tle and an opportunity to add value to the sector by creating export op- portunities for Irish Holstein-Frie-

sian genetics, through the sale of genetically superior live cattle, their semen, ova and embryos,’ she con- tinued.

Ui SCORN a eT ree arte hmelse Tt the mainstay of the dairy sector for many years now. Our dairy sector continues to grow in terms of value of output and last year dairy exports increased by 13 per cent to €2.36 billion, making it the most important sector of our agri-food industry.

Concluding, the Minister congratu- lated the Organising Committee on their efforts to date in planning for a successful Conference. She wished them well with the event and hoped that visitors to the South West of Ire- land will have an enjoyable and fruit- UU CE hYs

FARMERS across Clare are being urged to consider renovating farm outbuildings on their lands.

Clare County Council’s Conserva- tion Officer said that a newly intro- duced grant aid scheme ensured that a number of traditional farm build- ings, which contribute to the visual landscape and are of historical and architectural value, would be main- tained into the future.

The Heritage Council will oper- ate the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme for REPS4 farmers, on be- half of the Department of Agricul- ture, Fisheries and Food.

“There is a significant gap in aware-

ness when it comes to our agricultur- al heritage despite its fundamental impact on the socio-economic de- velopment of this county throughout the last number of centuries,’ said Clare conservation officer Risteard Ua Croinin.

“It is imperative that we do not lose sight of the fact that agriculture has played a significant role in County Clare’s history.

“The many hundreds of outbuild- ings located on the county’s farms are a cogent reminder of this long as- sociation with the land. The scheme for REPS 4 farmers, therefore, presents an ideal opportunity to pre- serve these buildings.

“Most farm buildings constructed

prior to 1940 are stone structures and feature a slate, thatch or galvanised roof. Therefore, most of the build- ings being targeted by the scheme range between 60 and 400 years old.”

One of the main criteria of the scheme is whether a building im- proves the appearance of the land- scape. The criteria also state that the quality of the proposed building works must be of a high standard. For example, slated buildings must be renovated using natural quarry slate and hydraulic lime must be used in place of cement.

“The scheme also requires that all repaired buildings must be utilised by farmers in their day-to-day work.

This should be looked upon posi- tively by farmers who will enjoy real practical benefits out of undertaking repair work on the buildings,’ con- tinued Mr Ua Croinin.

‘Anyone wishing to apply for grant aid funding under the scheme must provide still photographs of the in- terior and exterior of the building in eLbCeri ale) eF

“These photographs should focus specifically on the parts of the build- ing in need of repair.”

The closing date for receipt of ap- plication is Monday, 31st March, 2008. For more information on the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme contact the Grants Office, Heritage Council, Kilkenny, at 056-7770777.

THE majority of employers agree that training and skills development is a ALE ERCLo)eayoLeyelos tL MEO MNMSLomeleayodle)oyeatonle of a business in today’s fast moving economic environment. Training and skill’s development serve to motivate and engage staff and build moral within the team all which positively impacts on the bottom line.

Clare Campus Skillnet 1s promot- ed by Clare College of Further and Higher Education Ltd, and has been established to address the training and skills needs amongst businesses in all sectors and industries. It aims to provide flexibility, innovative, clear and succinct certified training programmes at affordable prices while developing networking prac- tices amongst network members.

Clare Campus Skillnet provides op- portunities for:

e Business co-operation, alliances and networks

e Substantially reduced Business Training Costs

e Business to achieve economies of scale, scope and speed in the devel- opment and delivery of training

e Learning from others and share best practice

e The creation of strategic alliances in your area

¢ Growth and personal development of your workforce

¢ New business opportunities

Why become involved?

¢ Highest quality FETAC/HETAC accredited. training delivered by expert

e Credits awarded for training pro- grammes completed

¢ Opportunity to collect credit towards a Qualification

e Practical and workbased projects

incorporated into training pro- erammes

e Accreditation of prior learning where appropriate.

What’s involved?

¢ Minimum 60 per cent subsidised DeeDb Ope NTSs

¢ Networking opportunities for companies and businesses to share best practice

e Certified Training on the National Framework for Qualifications

e The practice is in line with recom- mendations of the 5th expert skills group-to increase numbers of people in the workforce in Clare with qualifications from level four to nine on the NFQ.

e This is Enterprise working for En- terprise-Clare Campus Skillnet will be run by the steering committee chosen from member companies

e Members identify training require- ments, appropriate intervention, supported by a professional network nervereRexo we

Sinead Mellett is the new network manager, she has a number of years experience working on international research in the area of learning and small and medium enterprises, she has a Masters in Technology Man- agement from the University of Lim- erick and is completing a PhD in the area of eLearning and small medium enterprises.

Ina Reddan, network administrator, worked for many years in Shannon Development in both a Project and Marketing capacity in Small Busi- ness Development.

For further information contact Adult Education Centre, Clon- road Business Park, Ennis. Sine- ad Mellett, Network Manager, sinead@clarecampus.org or Ina Reddan, Network Administrator, inareddan@clarecampus.org.

ANGLERS are being asked to help scientists to determine whether re- ports of two rare species of fish are anything more than tall fisherman’s tales.

Scientists fear that Lough Derg has lost two species – gillaroo trout and pollan – both of which have inhabited the lake since the last Ice Age.

Shannon Regional Fisheries Board marine biologist, Dr Fran Igoe has said that there is a real possibility that gillaroo trout no longer exist in

Lough Derg.

Appeals to anglers over the past two years to report any catches of the fish have produced nothing.

Despite co-operation to help find the two species from all of the an- gling clubs in Lough Derg, there have been just two pollan netted as part of a fish biodiversity study of the ENC

Dr Igoe said that reports in old an- gling literature point to the gillaroo being common in the lake 100 years ago. He wants to determine why they are so scarce today and what has

happened to account for this.

Dr Igoe 1s appealing to anglers who land trout which have a gillaroo ap- pearance to freeze a sample of mus- cle tissue so that his team can test it to determine whether or not it is the rare species.

The doctor is director of the Lough Derg Native Fish Biodiversity Project which is looking at ways of protect- ing uniquely genetic trout and pollan in the lake.

Dr Paulo Prodohl, a geneticist with Queen’s University in Belfast who is also involved in the project, says that

the Lough Derg pollan appear to be a unique species but the tiny number of sightings would raise the spectre OMe, cans TeLe Levee

Algal bloom has been fingered as the possible culprit behind declining fish numbers. The toxic bloom caus- es a reduction in the oxygen content of the water which can lead to fish and isy

According to marine biologist Dr Dan Munchin, rising lake tempera- tures associated with global warming are also creating conditions which are difficult for native species.

NEXT month Clare County Coun- cil faces its first ever prosecution by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for alleged non-compliance with the terms of its waste licence at the Central Waste Management Fa- cility in Ballyduff Beg in Inagh.

While the April 2 court appearance represents the first ever attempted prosecution of Clare County Council concerning the facility, the issue of Ballyduff Beg has proved one of the most controversial in Clare over the last decade.

The facility was first mooted in February of 1998 when three po- tential sites were identified by Clare County Council for the possible con- struction of a Central Waste Manage- ment Facility. The locations identified were Kilmaley, which was ruled out because of archaeological reasons, Lissycasey and Inagh.

During the summer of 1999, tests were carried out on both sites to judge their environmental and eng!- neering suitability to host the facility, with Ballyduff Beg being determined as most suitable.

In January of 1999, Clare County Council began to compile an Envi- ronmental Impact Statement at the Inagh site and in August of the same year applied to the EPA for a waste

management licence.

Locals were given until October of 2000 to lodge submissions with the EPA concerning the waste manage- ment licence. By the closing date for submissions, a total of 247 separate objections had been received by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Despite the local opposition, the EPA issued a formal proposal to grant the licence in December of

2000. This gave objectors 28 days to lodge any further submissions or the licence would be granted.

One single submission was lodged with the EPA on behalf of all objec- tors. As part of this final submission, an appeal was also made for the EPA to host an oral hearing where the objectors could voice their concerns Clee sh ys

Both the final submission and the

request for an oral hearing was re- jected and on June 13, 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency granted a licence to Clare County Council for the construction of the facility. Work began on the site on October 2001.

In April of 2002, the Community Liaison Committee was established as one of the conditions of the EPA licence. Locals and members of the committee meet each month to dis- cuss issues arising from the operation of the facility.

The Central Waste Management facility officially opened for business in September of 2002. There was no official ribbon cutting ceremony.

A number of non-compliance or- ders have been issued to Clare County Council by the EPA on the operation of the facility. The first was issued during the construction process in re- lation to contaminated run off water while the majority of the subsequent orders have concerned complaints of odour. The last non-compliance order was issued in October of 2007.

The EPA is the only body with the power to instigate high court pro- ceedings to close the waste manage- ment facility.

IN what’s been a hectic few weeks at Park AFC, the Shannon club had double celebrations this week with the opening of a new dressing room facility coupled with the 35th anni- versary of the founding of the club. It comes on the back of the School- boy Awards, attended by FAI CEO John Delaney and despite some bad weather over the weekend, a large turnout was present for the unveiling of the facilities.

Three of the club’s founding mem- bers – Brian “Tosh’ Collins, Martin McGuane and Ted Germaine — were present and expressed their delight at the progress the club has made.

Also on the day Joe O’ Donnell was made an honorary life member of the club. Speaking at the opening, Chair-

man of Park AFC, Peter Webb paid tribute to the effort that was put in to get the facilities completed, saying Karen Dunne and Damien Nolan had put in a great deal of work through- out the whole project. Joe O’ Donnell was also made an honorary life mem- ber of the club and later that evening, the anniversary celebrations kicked off in the Shannon Knights, where Gareth Quirke was named Player of the Season for 2006/2007 and Dam- ien Nolan was named Club Person of the Year.

For photos of the opening, the re- cent schoolboy awards and more see www.parkafc.com

A FORMER Green Party MEP will be in Ennis this week to voice her op- position to her party’s stance on the upcoming EU Treaty.

Patricia McKenna, who contested the leadership of the party with En- vironment Minister John Gormley last year, has criticised the “sheer ar- rogance’”’ shown to the people of Eu- rope by their political leaders.

McKenna is the chairperson of The People’s Movement, an organiza- tion campaigning against the Lisbon

Treaty.

“Regardless of the fact that voters in France and the Netherlands have rejected the EU Constitution, it has been renamed, repackaged and put back on the table as if nothing had happened and we are being told to say yes or Ireland will be isolated.

‘There is almost unanimous agree- ment among EU leaders, including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, that the sub- stance of the rejected Constitution hasn’t changed. The difference be- tween the original Constitution and the present Lisbon Treaty is one of

approach, rather than content.”

McKenna will speak at a public meeting in the West County Hotel this Thursday, March 7, at 8.30pm.

She has been asked to speak by the Ennis-based Irish Drivers As- sociation, who are also opposing the treaty.

“The blatant conspiracy by EU gov- ernments to deny their electorates the right to vote on this treaty is an affront to democracy,’ she continued.

“EU leaders openly admit that they have taken the rejected EU constitu- tion and renamed and repackaged

it in an unreadable format. Giscard D’Estaing said that public opinion will be led to adopt, without know- ing it, the proposals that we dare not present to them directly.

“All the earlier proposals will be in a new text, but will be hidden and disguised in some way. What was al- ready difficult to understand will be- come utterly incomprehensible, but the substance has been retained.”

Meanwhile, Ms McKenna will be back in Ennis on Monday, March 10 to debate Clare TD, Timmy Dooley (FF) on the treaty.

The pair will take part in a public meeting in The Old Ground Hotel next Monday, March 10, at 7pm.

Deputy Dooley is the vice chair- man of the Joint Oireachtas Com- mittee on European Affairs and will argue in in favour of the treaty.

Other members of the National Forum On Europe, on which is rep- resented all the political parties and leading national organisations, are expected to attend. Copies of the fo- rum’s recently-launched

THE ‘closed shop’ that prohibits over 400 Clare taxi and hackney drivers from operating out of Shannon Air- port could be at an end.

This follows the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, Kathleen Doyle, seeking a meeting with the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) over the op- eration of airport by-laws that ensure that there is no conventional taxi- rank at Shannon Airport and instead passengers seeking a taxi must hire a hackney cab based at Shannon.

In spite of the massive growth in passengers at Shannon in recent years, only 34 hackney cabs operate out of the airport.

Ms Doyle is to meet with SAA offi- cials next week to discuss the present arrangements at the airport and has flatly denied a claim by the SAA that the commission has outlined its sat- isfaction that the current operation adequately meets the needs of Shan- non’s passengers.

In a statement, Mr Doyle confirmed that the commission is seeking “‘clar- ification from airport management as to whether or not a policy exists which excludes taxis from operation at Shannon airport”.

Since the deregulation of the taxi-

business in November 2000, the number of licences has increased four-fold to 467 in Clare.

Deputy Timmy Dooley (FF) — who raised the issue with Ms Doyle and the Competition Authority last month — said yesterday, “I’m happy that the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation is taking an interest in the issue.”

Ennis based-taxi-driver, John Ka- vanagh has lobbied on behalf of Clare and mid-west-based taxi driv- ers for the current system at Shannon to be abolished.

He said, “We are very encouraged and hopeful by what the taxi com- missioner has had to say and that the jPACereL BU OTSMMAOE-T MB OTK oleio) IMDM EcRT elem

He added, “Taxi drivers in Clare are on the breadline and are being discriminated against because of this ENYA

“The taxi regulator states that the whole of Clare is a metred areas, yet the airport authority takes a different a (oa

Yesterday, the SAA declined to say how many new licences have been issued in recent years, stating only that the numbers have increased ‘slightly’.

A spokesman for the SAA declined to comment on the situation ahead of the meeting with the taxi regulator.

THURSDAY night’s Galway Card at Galway Greyhound Stadium was backboned by the heats of a number of Sweepstakes – the finals of which will take place on Saturday.

In the opening semi final of the Bothar A3 Stake the PJ Fahy owned Tyrur Kim a daughter of Crash and Tyrur Tina was confidently expected to add to her opening round success as she ran from her favoured inside berth. And she certainly did not let her followers down as she stayed on really strongly to hold off the late rally of the striped jacketed Hello Sbubseon

In the second semi final there were reserves in traps three and six but as the traps rose it was the trap five runner Carhugar Bobsie that broke

best and he lead around the opening corner from Malbay Bart with Ross- cahill Pascal in third place turning down the far side.

Racing past the halfway mark the Michael Downes of Killaloe trained Carhugar Bobsie (Premier County- Blonde Lotto) set sail for home and as he rouned the penultimate bend he held a race winning three length ad- vantage over Malbay Bart as Sharons Baby moved in to third spot.

But Carhugar Bobsie was in com- mand for his owners, the Clare Con- nection Syndicate from Quin, and he won by over three lengths in 29.10.

The opening two contests of the night were both over the minimum trip of 325 yards and in the opener for SIO graders the Fiona/Kevin Troy of Kilkee owned West Clare Gael showed his rivals a clean pair of

heels throughout as he galloped clear to win.

The third contest was an A5 graded 525 yard contest for which the trap two runner Stonehall Mist for the Caseys of Newmarket went to traps the 6/4 favourite but she never count- ed as the white jacketed Shyan Yank (Mustang Yank-Shyan Chill) showed a decent turn of early toe to lead by three lengths and won comfortably Aner

Race ten on the card was heat number two of the 550 Stake where trap five runner Bold Teddy was away smartly and he led up on the outside from Cat Woman on the long run up with O’Garney Gold improving in to third place as they turned down the back straight. In the end, it was the Mrs Helen Coffey of Sixmilebridge owned O’Garney Gold (Droopys

Woods-O’Garney Mist) who was out in front by a length and she re- ally stuck to her guns up the sraight to win in 30.76.

There was a huge buzz of anticipa- tion around the stadium on Saturday as the top bitches in the country bat- tled for a place in the €26,000 to the winner final of the Tyrur Ted Cham- pion Bitch Stake.

Unfortunately, one of the leading fancies for outright victory in the Competition, Shinguan Stan, was an absentee due to a virus but there were also other nine runners which sadly saw two of the heats reduced to four runner contests.

Once again the sponsors repre- sentetive Tyrur Nadine (Droopys Scholes-Tyrur Fiona) was the focus of attention. But racing down the back’ Nadine’ led by three lengths

from Express Smasher with Florys Atrraction in third place. Racing out of the back tbough the leader pulled out more as she raced cleaar to book her place in the decider from Express Smasher in a superb time of 29.96 . The draw for the €26,000 final is as follows:

1. LETHAL FRANKIE

2. NEWBRIDGE JEWEL

3. STRANGFORD KATIE

4. EXPRESS SMASHER

5. FOREST BABY

6. TYRUR NADINE

The third contest on the night an A2 eraded 525 saw the Martin Cronin/ Jack Markham of Ennis owned Crag- brien Magic(T1) deliver a most 1m- pressive performance as he romped to a seven length victory over Bal- Were (ou

A QUESTION mark hangs over Clare County Council’s plan to re- alise €300,000 from the sale of a rundown toilet block with panoramic views of Lahinch bay.

The sale of the site on which the toilet block is located, at the south- ern end of Lahinch prom, is expected to be a major financial contributor to the council’s plans to upgrade the re- sort’s promenade, including facilities for surfers.

However, the council has as yet been unable to confirm title on the dilapidated toilet block despite its in- vestigations into the property going back to late 2004.

“Investigations regarding title for property were commenced in late 2004 and the process for first reg- istration was commenced in late 2005.

“This process involves mapping, proofs and statements and I cannot say at this time how long more it will take. We are in constant contact with the Land Registry through the coun- cil’s solicitor and the property will be advertised for sale on completion of the registration process,’ accord- ing to acouncil spokeswoman.

“This is an application for first registration and this generally takes longer than a normal transfer of title. The council has responded fully to

all queries raised to date and must await the outcome of the registration 0) Kel ees Se

Cllr Martin Conway (FG) expressed his support for the proposed sale.

“The toilet block has not been used- for over five years and we are told the site may realise up to €300,000 if put on the open market.

“IT would always caution against the council selling its assets, but the sce- nario put to councillors is the sale of the toilet block is necessary in order to finance the upgrading of the beach facilities. It is a superb site with unri- valled views of Lahinch Bay.”

Only last Friday, the council signed a €234,000 contract to construct a new lifeguard station at Lahinch. A number of other developments for the prom are currently at design stage and will culminate in the prepara- tion of an overall masterplan for the beach and promenade at Lahinch.

Along with the lifeguard station, the masterplan includes a new serv- ices building incorporating toilets and showers, and improvements in traffic management and car parking.

The council spokeswoman con- firmed that last year, the council col- lected almost €200,000 in parking fees at Lahinch. In 2006, the amount received was €168,000. The monies from the parking fees are to go to- wards the financing of the Lahinch prom project.