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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.

THE behaviour of a business class passenger on board a flight forced the aircraft to divert to Shannon air- port on Friday evening.

The 46-year-old passenger, a ga- rage owner in Germany, was travel- ling on board the Condor Airlines flight between Frankfurt and the Dominican Republic when the pilot took the decision to divert to Shan- non after other passengers and cabin crew were verbally abused.

Arising out of the incident, Rainer Wainhart with an address in Munich was brought before a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Friday night.

He was charged with being intoxi- cated and engaging in threatening, insulting or abusive behaviour on board the aircraft.

Inspector John Galvin, prosecuting, said the cabin crew felt it was safer to land, after the passenger made a total nuisance of himself, having had too much to drink.

Garda Kevin Blehein told the court that the defendant had consumed al- cohol and became abusive towards cabin crew and other passengers. “He attempted to stroke a cabin crew member on the arm, which the cabin crew found offensive,” said the ee N Ker

He said the accused pestered cabin crew for alcohol and other passen- gers in his vicinity requested that he not be served any more alcohol.

“He became extremely un co-op- erative and demanded alcohol. He was refused due to his intoxication,” he added.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client was travelling from his native Germany to the Domin1- can Republic, where he was to join

his girlfriend on holidays. The ac- cused, she said, owns a car dealer- ship in Germany and was travelling on business class.

‘He accepts that he drank too much. He wanted to speak to the people beside him. They were very snobby. They didn’t want to talk to him. He felt offended by this,” said Ms Godfrey.

However, she said the defendant was denying that he was “in any way threatening” and said he has no pre- vious convictions in his native coun- try.

The court was told the accused had two small glasses of wine prior to the flight and had another three or four during the flight. These affected him, as he doesn’t normally drink much.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a fine of €100 on one of the charges and took the other into account.

Kilkee tourism take a running jump

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.”

With four weeks to Clare’s crucial Opening championship appearance, the county’s preparations appeared to suffer a significant setback in the last week as injuries to Jonathon Clancy and Gerry O’Grady made their avail- ability for the Munster semi-final clash with either Cork or Tipperary ime Co)v lo)

Clancy sustained a broken fin- ger last week during training with his club, Clarecastle, ahead of the first round tie against Tubber while O’Grady had to be withdrawn af- ter only six minutes in Crusheen’s Group | match with Corofin in Kil- lanena on Sunday after injuring his foot.

Initially, it was rumoured that de- fender O’Grady had broken a bone in his foot but it 1s now thought that the injury is not as bad as first sus- pected.

With the countdown to the Munster championship well underway, man- ager Mike McNamara is hopeful that both players will recover in time to

take their places in the side.

‘Jonathon broke his finger so hope- fully he will be back in harness in three to four weeks which might be cutting it tight, but that would appear to be the prognosis for now.

“With Gerry O’Grady, we are still awaiting the final report but again af- ter the initial reaction, there is now certainly hope that he will take part in the June 21st match.

Wa 0) er: SBMA AEE LMA WE DODLBE-DUR YANO ICE pected so of course, anything less than that would have to give us hope. To lose either of those players would be a horrific loss as both of them are part and parcel of the plans to launch an assault on the Munster champion-

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With more club action scheduled for a fortnight’s time, McNamara says he hopes there will be no further injuries to his squad.

‘As well as the second round of championship matches in two weeks, we also have a series of challenges matches which may take their toll as

well – but we have to go all guns blazing now.

“We must re-address where we stand and we must put ourselves in a

rightful position for June 21. If we can remain injury free for the next couple of weeks, then I can see no reason why we won’t finish the job that we started last year.”

THE picturesque twin towns of Kil- laloe and Ballina are getting ready to look their best ahead of the Fashion Weekend, which takes place from May 22-25.

In the inaugural hosting of what will be an annual event, the Killaloe- Ballina Fashion Week will showcase the sister towns as ideal shopping destinations.

Event organizers Ruth Vaughan, Lorraine Hassett and Grainne Cum- mins explained the aim of the fash- ion week is to showcase Killaloe and Ballina as “one-stop shopping and pampering destinations”’.

Ruth Vaughan explained, “This is a really special place and that’s very much recognised by the population explosion here over recent years, with so many people wanting to live

in and visit Killaloe-Ballina.”

“We are happy to say that not alone are we able to satisfy local fashion needs but so many people from out- side the towns are also now flocking here and availing of what’s on offer,” commented Lorraine Hassett.

Grainne Cummins said, “We just felt that considering we now have so much for people to come here and enjoy, not least in the fashion stakes, it was time to put structure around this by showcasing it all properly so that we maximise the potential of the eda oh

The Fashion Weekend will see participating businesses offering 1n- store promotions, discounts, beauty consultations and free draws, while there will also be face-painting for children (on Friday afternoon from 3- Spm). Participating businesses will display their involvement with

purple and pink balloons outside their premises.

Friday night will also play host to the Fashion and Fun event at The Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe. The evening, which will be built around a fashion show, commences with a champagne and canapés reception, with ladies getting the opportunity to visit the many stands.

Models from the Hilary Thompson Model Agency will display clothing and footwear from local boutiques. There will be prizes for best shoes – sponsored by Rockin Reptile – and also for the best dressed lady.

Ladies will also be treated to wine and finger food during the fashion show, followed by entertainment by Atomic Chicken. Tickets are €30, with raffle proceeds to Killaloe Playground. Champagne has been sponsored by Super Valu, the “Diva’

cocktails by The Lakeside Hotel and wines for the night are kindly spon- sored by Heaney’s Costcutter, Goos- ers Bar and Restaurant and Wines Direct.

Participating business in the Fash- ion Weekend are Lorbees Boutique, Cerise Shoe Boutique, Spirit, Kel – C – Kidz, Forme, Hotspot, Sweetie P’s, The Beauty Boutique, Greene Room, Fine Rags, Shoes 2 Choose, ML’s Hair Studio, Joanne’s Fashion House, Catwalk, Collins Pharmacy and Country Chic.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the event can contact organ- ising committee members Ruth Vaughan of Cerise Shoe Boutique on O61 374384 or 087 9386622; Lor- raine Hassett of Lorbees Boutique on 061 622966 or 087 8513867; or Grainne Commins of Kel – C – Kidz on 061 374429.

Bishop looks at controlling Communion expense

TUBBER’S Derek O’Connor reached another landmark in his remarkable Point-to-Point career in Fermanagh last Friday when becoming the first ever jockey to ride 100 winners in a season.

O’Connor, who has been in the form of his life this season reached this century landmark at the En- niskillen Point-to-Point at Necarne When he guided Greenandredpar- son past the post in first place in a maiden race.

“It was great to reach the 100 win- ners,’ O’Connor told

IRISH farmers are now firmly on election footing following the launch of the IFA’s election manifesto by Padraig Walshe last week. Mean- while, following the closing date for entering the EU Parliament race last Monday, candidates in the EU North Western area have also begun to court the farming vote in earnest.

The IFA will host a series of pub- lic meetings this week in each of the constituencies for the European Par- liament elections.

“The IFA Manifesto outlines the key policy issues on the IFA’s agenda for the European elections,” said Walshe.

“In the three constituencies, the IFA will be meeting candidates to discuss this agenda. Farmers and their families will make their judg- ment on polling day based on the re- sponses we get from the candidates and the political parties.

“For the dairy industry, price and market supports are necessary to sta- bilise dairy market prices and provide a viable income for milk producers. In the wider context, family farming must be protected by creating a floor under commodity markets and main- taining prices at sustainable levels.”

The IFA president said the Govern- ment must deliver immediately on its commitment to sheep farmers that the €29 million in unused CAP Sin-

gle Payment funds will be allocated to alleviate the sheep sector.

“The annual cost of the CAP is equivalent to less than €100 for each European citizen. This is a real value return to EU taxpayers,” said the IFA president.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail’s Pat “The Cope” Gallagher has outlined his at- tention to protect the Common Agri- cultural Policy.

“If I am elected to the European Parliament, I will seek to protect EU financial transfers to Irish farm- ers under the Common Agricultural Policy,’ he said.

“As a result of the CAP Health check 2008 negotiations which were concluded last November, Irish

farmers, rural communities and the Irish food sector are receiving €1.8 billion a year under the CAP for each year between now and 2013.”

Sinn Féin EU candidate Padraig Mac Lochlainn met dairy farmers last week and called for urgent ac- tion to be taken to address the “scan- dal” of low prices paid to dairy farm- ers. “The farm gate price of milk is now just 22c which is around the same as it was 20 years ago,” said MacLochlainn.

“That is absolutely scandalous and clearly unsustainable. I have met with farmers throughout the North West constituency and they are quite rightly demanding a fair price for their product.”

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