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A LEADING A&E Consultant has claimed that many people who die from cardiac arrest or sudden car- diac death do so because not enough lay-people know basic CPR (Cardi- opulmonary Resuscitation).

Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Mid-West Regional Hospitals in Limerick and Ennis, Dr Cathal O’Donnell said, “We have a dismal outcome from cardiac arrest or sud- den cardiac death. Less than five per cent survive and on average, 14 people die from cardiac arrest every 24 hours. Many of them die because they don’t get CPR or a defi- brillator to them in the first four to five minutes.”

Dr O’Donnell, who is also Chair- man of the RESUS 2007, a confer- ence and skills showcase held in Limerick at the weekend added, “Irish lay-people do not know how to do basic CPR and this is the main reason that people die. Many more would survive if everyone could do CPR properly”.

The annual event aims to increase survival for cardiac arrest, trauma resuscitation, road traffic accidents and poisonings. 400 providers from

in-hospital and pre-hospital services as well as the voluntary ambulance sector gathered to hear national and international speakers outline cut- ting edge advances in resuscitation science and to see them in action

simulating emergency medicine pro- cedures in recreated A&E scenarios.

World renowned resuscitation ex- pert, Professor Douglas Chamber- lain of Cardiff University said that “In the absence of such life saving

community action, people will con- tinue to die. International research shows that heart attack victims who get CPR have a better outcome than those who are first defibrillated. Hand compression can sustain life

for 60 minutes. It is vital that more people are taught this life saving ey ReLeere LUN Kome

Ennisman, Dr Brian Maurer, Medical Director of the Irish Heart Foundation echoed a call for govern- ment action. “There are a number of challenges for the Government in improving the health outcomes of those in need of acute emergency care in Ireland. Making CPR train- ing part of the school curriculum would make a huge difference. The Irish Heart foundation has requested a meeting with Mary Hanafin, Min- ister for Education, to discuss the development of CPR training within schools”, he said.

Chief Superintendent John Farrelly of the Garda Traffic Corps outlined the success of the recent ‘random breath testing’ initiative which had saved 72 lives this year alone. More than 400 drivers are caught through random testing every week and the commitment to further reduce blood alcohol levels will save even more lives, he claimed.

THE Burren Connect Project and Burrenbeo have launched an educa- tion programme aimed at opening up the Burren Region’s vast and varied heritage to primary school students.

The Eco-Beo education programme will be delivered between next Janu- ary and June to eight national schools in North Clare and South Galway, offering over 200 primary school students and their teachers a unique insight into the Burren’s world fa- mous karst landscape.

The primary schools participating in the 2008 programme are Kinvara,

Kilnaboy, New Quay, Corofin, Kil- fenora, Doorus, Kilshanny and ‘Tub- ber with additional funding being sought to extend the course to other Burren schools in 2008 and 2009.

The launch of the programme took place at The Michael Cusack Centre in Carron, where course tutors, spon- sors and participating teachers came together to finalise details.

It was announced that over the 10- week duration of the course, par- ticipants would learn about various aspects of the Burren – its animals, plants, monuments, landscape and culture – through a series of colour- ful classoom presentations.

This will be followed by weekly quizzes, e-newsletters and assign- ments.

Professional course tutors, all of whom are experts in their individual areas, will deliver each module. Stu- dents will be taken on a Burren field trip, where they will have the oppor- tunity to put their new found knowl- edge to the test.

Eimer McCarthy of the Burren Connect Project said that the theme of the Eco-Beo education programme would be ‘My Burren Heritage’ to increase awareness and appreciation of the heritage of the Burren among the children who live in this special

place.

The Eco-Beo concept was original- ly developed by Burrenbeo, which introduced the programme to six Burren schools in 2004.

The Burren Connect Project, for- merly known as the ‘Environmental Protection of the Burren through Visitor Management Initiative’, is funded by the Failte Ireland Devel- opment Fund, Clare County Coun- cil, Shannon Development, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Bur- renbeo and is working to link com- munities, environment and tourism to conserve the Burren.

Carol Gleeson, Project Manager,

explained, “The key aim of the project is to ensure the sustainable use of the Burren as a tourism des- tination, through a co-ordinated ap- proach to visitor management and environmental protection.”

The Burren Connect Project is presently progressing a number of other initiatives, including a series of traffic management plans, and driv- ing, cycling and walking routes.

The project is implementing con- servation programmes at Poulnab- rone Dolmen and Fanore beach, as well as exploring the potential for the development of eco-tourism in the Burren.

SHANNON based US-owned multi- national, Mentor Graphics increased the size of its business last year to $381 million.

However, the company endured a loss of $10.6 million at the end of paul eTes

The Shannon subsidiary — which employs 333 people — is part of Men- tor Graphics Corporation, which was established in 1981 with headquar- ters in Oregon.

Across the world, the company em- ploys 3,500 people and it is a tech- nology leader in electronic design automation, providing products and services used by companies world- wide in the design of the electronic content of their products.

The Shannon arm of the Mentor Graphics is an International Services and Distribution centre for Informa- tion Technology, Order Fulfillment, Finance, Purchasing, Facilities, Con- sulting, Customer Support, Legal and Human Resources for the European,

Middle Eastern and Asian business.

The accounts show that the turno- ver increased from $336 million to $381 million, while the cost of sales increased from $279 million to $313 wave en Ceyer

This resulted in the gross profit increasing from $57 million to $67 million, while the company’s oper- ating expenses increases from $50 million to $67 million.

This resulted in the company’s ‘op- erating profit’ going down from $6 million to $33,000.

The company remains in good fi- nancial health with the company having $26 million in cash in bank.

The accounts also show that there was a drop in the numbers employed at the company in 2006 with num- bers declining from 367 to 333 with 17 less people employed in produc- tion and 17 less in administration.

This resulted in staff costs being re- duced from $33 million to $32 mil- lion. The remuneration for directors during 2006 was $294,000.

According to a statement accom-

panying the accounts, the principal activities of the Mentor Graphics are the research, development and the manufacture of software and the dis- tribution of its software and services throughout the world.

Mentor Graphics (Ireland) localises and distributes software and services in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Asia/Pacific mar- oe

“It is the intention of the directors to continue to develop the current ac- tivities of the company.

A NEW Irish eco-friendly retail chain offering printer cartridge re- filling services is set to open in Ennis in January.

Dublin based retail chain Cartridge Green has recently announced am- bitious nationwide expansion plans that includes a new outlet on Abbey Street, Ennis. This store, which will be located beside Enzos Takeaway, is expected to open at end of January and will be run by local business- man, Gerard Kelly and his business partner Jim McAnespie.

Cartridge Green aims to educate their customers to have a positive im- pact on the environment by helping them reuse and recycle their printer cartridges. Local businesses can also benefit from the environmental and cost savings associated with printer cartridge refilling. “We strongly em- phasise the recycling angle and we

will educate our customers about how they can save money doing this” Kelly said. All refilled cartridges are produced in store.

“We use the latest technology to refill each cartridge which ensures a high quality product everytime,’ McAnespie added.

Cartridge Green will also offer competitively priced printing serv- ices as well as stationary and office supplies with over 20,000 products available to order online via www. cartridgegreen.ie or instore.

Cartridge Green has established six stores in Dublin and Tipperary since it launched in September, and will open up to seven more by April 2008 with a further 20 coming online.

THE number of house completions in County Clare for the first 10 months of this year are down almost 20 per cent on the corresponding period last year.

Figures from the Department of the Environment show that to the end of October, the number of house com- pletions in Clare totalled 1,825 down on the 2218 for the first ten months last year.

The drop of 393 in the number of house completions represents a 17 per cent drop on house completions last year.

The figures show that for the first three quarters of this year, house completions were down 20 per cent on last year.

The figures has shown that house building has slowed down through- out the year. In the first quarter, the number of house completions was 556, in the second quarter the number dropped to 539 and from July to Sep-

tember, the numbers dropped to 475.

Last year, house building in Clare reached a peak of 2,/27 completions and the annual total was steadily in- creasing since 2001.

The figures show that 1,487 homes were complete in 2001, in 2002, this rose to 1,466; in 2003, this rose to 1,679 and in 2004, this rose to 1,831 before reaching 2174 in 2005.

According to local auctioneer, Cor- mac O’Sullivan of DNG O’Sullivan Hurley said, “Much of the reason for the downturn in completions is increase in interest rates and uncer- tainty in the market.”

Mr O’Sullivan forecast that there may be a shortage of new homes around the Ennis area next year due to the drop in housing completions.

He added, “Some of the major sites being built by Keco Construction Ltd and Danny Devine Construc- tion have not seen any major hit in sales because they are producing an excellent product. Houses area being produced to a very high standard to a

very high specification.

“Developers that produced finished houses to a shabby standard two or three years ago are not getting away A 1H0 mlm DON ee sOKoe

Mr O’Sullivan described the move in last week’s Budget to reduce stamp duty as a good move. He said, “Any move that will save the purchaser money is a good change and this will have a positive impact on the hous- ing market. At the moment, there is excellent value in the second hand market.”

THE Clare County Handball Board appointed a new manager, Matthew McMahon, to the post after their board AGM at the weekend.

At a lively meeting at the Clooney club, the game received a full as- sessment of its development in the county and it was agreed that despite competitive success and high num- bers playing handball, it would take more effort, particularly in terms of finance, to ensure handball had a safe standing in Clare.

Outgoing Chairman John Cawley delivered a detailed address, high- lighting the enormous success of the year just gone and informed the meeting that he was stepping down from the Chair after five years at the to bone

He received great thanks and praise from everyone at all levels of hand- ball in Clare and following his res- ignation, nominations were taken for the vacant position and the only name put forward was that of Matthew Mc-

Mahon from the O’Callaghan’s Mills club.

McMahon was then proposed and seconded as the new Chairman and brings plenty of experience to the position, having been involved in the sport in many areas and successfully helping to secure sponsorship for county players.

The position of secretary was next for discussion and after initailly de- claring his wish to step aside, Tom- my Hegarty of Clarecastle agreed to hold the position for a fourth year.

Willie Roche of Newmarket was then returned unopposed as Treas- urer and also as Munster and Central Council representative. Newmarket’s Mike Kelly stepped down as PRO and Shane Walsh from Tuamgraney was ratified as his successor.

The financial state of the board was one of the major talking points, with concerns raised that handball in Clare is being run on a ‘shoestring budget’ and delegates spoke of the need for serious fundraising in the oy nebeNTSaA orb

A number of delegates also ques- tioned the role of the Clare County GAA Board in this and insisted that the GAA board should take a more active role in providing financial as- sistance.

It was agreed that the handball board would again try to sit down with the new GAA Chairman and full-time secretary when those posi- tions are filled to discuss the matter.

Michael Slattery later addressed the meeting and spoke about the Clare- castle sports complex, informing the meeting that the two alleys in Clare- castle will be closed to handball un- less there is a serious cash injection.

County Juvenile Board was also put in place as a sub-committee of the County Board. Tom Loughnane was elected Chairman of the Juvenile Committee with Fergal Coughlan of Sele a ENO Koel as

Meanwhile, the County Juvenile Leagues are also underway, with huge entry numbers highlighting the current strength of underage hand- ball locally.

LAST Sunday saw the Ennis Kick- boxing send its biggest ever contin- gent of fighters to the Irish Kickbox- ing Federation (IKF) tournament in Oranmore in Galway.

This is the most prestigious Junior tournament on the IKF calender and saw over 150 entrants under the age of 16 competing in four different cat- egories decided on the basis of Gen- der Age Height and Weight.

The Ennis Kickboxing Club under Chief Instructor Tony O’Donnell and junior Instructor Sarah Jane Ryan had 10 fighters competing across the 4 categories. These 10 fighters pro- duced an outstanding result of seven overall winners one joint winner and three runners up.

Overall winners for the Ennis club were Nikiata Doherty (7) who fought

in two different categories on the day winning both, Bonny Doherty, To- mas Mulpeter, Dan Sherlock, Darly Sherlock and Dean Cauley.

14 year old Robert Clair from Kil- rush was declared a joint winner and was unlucky not to get the decision of overall winner.

Jennifer Coote, Sean Ryan and Ju- lie Sherlock finished runners up in their respective categories..

This was a fantastic result for the Ennis club and it bodes well for the future of the club with Tony O’Donnell hoping to turn these tal- ented juniors into Senior all Ireland champions as they progress in their martial arts training.

Ennis Kickboxing Club will reopen after Christmas on Monday the 7th of January all are welcome please contact Tony O Donnell with any queries on 087 2796401.

THE top event at Galway Track on Thursday night was race number ten for A2 graded runners and when the traps rose the trap four runner Every Ones Fancy was first to emerge. As expected he went in search of the rail berth but was held off on the run to the bend by the white jacketed Crag- brien Magic who led by a length from Flintstone Man with Guaire Motion a close third along the rail as they entered the back straight.

Down the back the order remained unchanged until Guaire Motion went for a daring run along the rail at the third bend but he was cut off by Cragbrien Magic forcing home to check and lose valuable ground as

the Martin Cronin/Jack Markham of Ennis owned Cragbrien Magic went clear for a three length success in a time of 29.58

The the Hennellys Bar And Off Li- cence A5 525 First Round Heats were also big on the eleven race card.

The concluding heat developed into a match from halfway with the Claire Donoughue owned Larchill Lite staying on tenaciously to keep out the dogged Millymay by a neck in 30.08.

In race number two the first of the night’s contests over the minimum trip saw the John Clune of Ballan- ruan owned Burren Magic (Micks Magic-Cable Sal) open his account at the first time of asking as he de- feated Attykitt Rainbow (T6) by a

length in 18.18.

The Geraldine Ryan of Kilrush owned Ferryside Miss (Droopys Vieri-Cranky Criss) ran out a deter- mined winner of the fourth contest for A4 graders over the standard 525 yard journey as she held of all chal- lengers to record a half length vic- tory over Clonreddan Lark with the fast finishing Bodyshop Direct just a further length adrift in third place in a time of 29.63.

The third contest for S6 graded sprinters was run in an absolute downpour that seemed to commence in tandem with the traps opening. But it failed to stop the Master Colm/ Oran Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned Ler Thisinthat finally record his maiden success as he defeated the

trap one runner Miss The Story by 1&1/2 lengths in 18.57.

The winner a son of Bucks Honcho and Moveen Dream was winning for the first time in ten attempts and he was away in second place as Miss The Story broke in her usual smart style but the winner readily went past at the opening corner and was always in control from that point to the line.

The concluding sprint of the night was named in honour of Mrs Eileen Gallery who was celebrating her eightieth birthday at the stadium with a wide circle of relatives and friends and the S3 graded contest was a cracker. The Michael Purtill owned Tarbrook Henry showed superb pace to the bend into the teeth of a gale as he came clear to defeat Presixty-

three by 2 lengths in 18.03. The son of Larkhill Jo and Tarbrook Kerry was away smartly and led by two lengths racing to the opening corner and once he grabbed the rail berth as he swung out of the back straight the only question was how far as he gal- loped to success.

The bumper was a graded contest over the 525 yard journey and racing down the back Got Derailed led by a length from Woodgift Supreme as the red jacketed Welton Sue began to close along the inside rail. As the rounded the penultimate corner the Eugene McNamara trained Welton Sue slipped through on the rail and the son of Roanokee and Glassford Dawn went clear for a 4é&1/4 length success over Got Derailed in 30.17.

WITH the older age categories of the Clare Juvenile Handball League now under way, last Thursday evening saw the start of the Under 11 age groups.

In action on the night were three Clooney teams held at the handball complex in Clooney. With action commencing at 6.00pm, Clooney | got off to a flying start when they overcame a very formidable Clooney 3 team on a 55 to 31 score line.

Next saw a real battle between Clooney 2 & 3 respectively with the former coming out on top to claim the win on a 52 to 45 scoreline.

Last but not least, Clooney 1, con- sisting of Fergal & Natasha Cough- lan, Barry Loughnane, Tadgh Shana- han, Emily Moloney and Luke Keane claimed full honours on the night by

claiming victory over Clooney 2 on a 57 to 45 scoreline.

In the under 13 A section, Tulla overcame Kilkishen on a scoreline of 60 to 45, while in the B Category Clooney | were victorious in their two matches, while Tuamgraney de- feated Tulla in their match on a win- ning score of 60 to 40.

Kilkishen 1 came out on top in an all club affair by defeating both Kil- kishen2 and Kilkishen 3 teams. Tua- mgraney also got the better of Kilk- ishen 2 team and ran off winners on a 60 to 19 scoreline.

Finally, but not least there was great news in The Munster Clare Schools Competion which was held at Tulla last Sunday, when Clare retained the A & B titles respectively. This is great news for Juvenile Handball in Clare and proves that handball is still strong at this level.

THE keynote address to the Bord na nOg Convention in the Auburn Lodge Hotel on Thursday night by chairman Sean O’Halloran carried with it a veiled attack on high profile county managers who have criticised underage hurling in the county.

And, it could be that Ger Loughnane was the main target in the line of O’Halloran’s fire, given that earlier this year the former Clare manager lowered his blade on underage struc- tures in Clare.

“When you see a coach with an under 14 team and he’s putting fellas over hurdles and he’s running long laps,’ said Loughnane in a broadside before Galway’s All-Ireland qualifier against Clare in Cusack Park.

‘“There’s no staged development here in Clare. When young lads go from under 14, the next thing they’re

doing senior training. Next thing they’re totally pissed off with this kind of stuff.

“IT see a coach in north Clare and I saw a team he’d been coaching for three years and a least half of them were holding the hurley with the wrong hand on top. This is madness. There is no supervision whatsoever so how are you going to have devel- opment,” added Loughnane.

It wasn’t his first time to launch a scathing attack on underage struc- tures in the county, as he famously told The Clare People in 2005 that “they’re running off games. I think it’s absolutely scandalous that an un- der 14 club team beaten in the cham- pionship in May will not be playing again until next year. It’s a complete joke.

“The worst thing is this — the hurl- ing officer, who is elected in Clare, can be totally incompetent and has

been for the past 10 or 15 years and yet this officer is elected year after year just because he wants a position on the executive.” ;

Two years on, the Bord na nOg Con- vention was when Sean O’Halloran hit back. “It is regrettable in the high- est echelons of team management see fit to castigate underage hurling in this county on a regular basis,” he said in his annual report.

‘Their undoubted ability and exper- tise would be much better served by adopting a more proactive approach to the promotion and development of our games at this tender age.

O’ Halloran the evoked an old Irish proverb when saying “Mar a deir- eann an sean-fhocail ‘Is are scath a

ye]

chéile a mhaireann na daoine’.