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THE majestic view from the Cliffs of Moher stretched all the way to Sanya in the southern Hainan Province of China last week as a delegation from the Cliffs of Moher Experience took part in a special trade mission look- ing for new tourism business.

Representatives from the cliffs, along with a number of other tour- ism partners from around Ireland, were involved in the trade mission which was organised together with Visit Britain and Tourism Ireland in China.

The trip consisted of a number of face-to-face workshops, presenta-

tions and networking events with influential Chinese travel agents, the trade mission provided an excel- lent platform for the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre and other participants to showcase their tourism product and to communicate what is unique about the island of Ireland.

Through the course of the two-day mission, face-to-face meetings were conducted with more than 60 key Chinese decision-makers, encour- aging them to include the island of Ireland in their future holiday pro- eae DOOD ENLACE

‘The majority of overseas tourists to the island of Ireland continue to come from the core markets of Brit-

ain, mainland Europe and North America and, while this will con- tinue, it is important that we expand our focus beyond these markets and look to the long-term opportunities presented by the markets in Asia like China,’ said Jim Paul, Tourism Ire- land’s Head of New and Developing Markets.

“Britain 1s a very popular desti- nation for Chinese travellers, so it makes sense for Tourism Ireland to co-operate with Visit Britain, to tar- get those Chinese visitors travelling to Great Britain and encourage them to visit the island of Ireland as part OM slo pum nul Oe

“Tourism Ireland believes that the

Asian outbound travel market is set for significant growth in the coming years. In particular, China offers sig- nificant business potential for tour- ism enterprises around the island of Ireland. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisa- tion (UNWTO), the Asia-Pacific re- gion will be one of the fastest-grow- ing outbound regions, expanding by more than 6.5 per cent on average over the next I5 years.

“Visitors from markets like China stay twice as long as the average hol- idaymaker, are more likely to travel throughout the island and make a significant economic contribution to numerous tourism sectors.”

A WOMAN has told a court she feared she would be killed after a car came towards her zig-zagging over and back on the road, along the En- nis bypass.

Arising out of the incident, Kath- leen McCarthy (29), of Acha Bhaile, Lahinch Road, Ennis, was charged with driving without due care and consideration, on November 19, 2008. She denied the charge.

Kathleen Gibbons, from Lisdoon- varna, told Ennis District Court on Friday that she was driving on the Ennis bypass, near the Claureen roundabout, on the date in question.

She said she was travelling at a speed of between 45 and 50 mph when she noticed a car coming to- wards her, zig-zagging over and back the road. “First of all I thought it was somebody doing wheelies. I hoped it would straighten up. I thought, ‘I’m going to be dead’,” she recalled.

She said the car moved onto her side of the road and crashed into the side of her car. As a result, Ms Gibbons’ passenger door flew open. The airbag burst and there was blue smoke for a few seconds. She said the incident has “severely damaged my confidence.”

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client lost control of the steering wheel and spent several days in hospital after the crash. She received 21 stitches to the side of her head and suffered internal bleeding.

In a statement to gardai made some time after the accident, the accused said she did not know what had hap- pened.

“All of a sudden the steering wheel went free from me. I had no control,” she told gardai.

The court heard that the accused’s car was examined by the PSV in- spector and this found there were no defects with the steering wheel.

The solicitor said the accused was “driving carefully with all due care. There has to be an element of doubt. It was the middle of the day. It was highly unlikely she would be engag- ing in boy racing tactics.”

Judge Timothy Lucey said there may be another explanation for what had happened and said Ms McCa- rthy “may have had a blow out, but who can tell?”’

‘There is no question but the State have proved their case. There may be other explanations. It’s up to the de- fence to produce any evidence,” said the judge.

He convicted the defendant and fined her €250. He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

He told the solicitor, “If what you are Saying is correct, you should ap- peal it but you’d want to get better proof, better evidence.”

Road funding not nearly enough

ALMOST 500 children in Clare had brushes with the law in 2008, more than 50 of whom were brought be- fore the courts on charges.

Children under the age of 18 are brought to court on a weekly basis on various charges including public or- der, criminal damage, thefts, motor- ing offences, assaults, or occasion- ally on drugs charges. According to a report presented to the Oireachtas last week, 472 children in Clare were referred to the national garda youth diversion programme in 2008. This was down marginally from 2007 when the figure was 492.

The diversion programme aims to deal with children in a manner other than prosecution and under the scheme, cautions are issued, where the child is suitable. It deals with children between the ages of 10 and 18. However, prosecutions are taken in the childrens’ court, when all oth- er options are exhausted. Prosecu- tions were taken against 54 children in 2008; down from 60 the previous year. Formal cautions were issued against 84 children (107 in 2007); information cautions were given to

279 (267 in 2007); while no further action was taken against 34 children (27 in 2007). At the end of the year, 21 cases were still pending.

There were three times the number of boys getting into trouble with the law, when compared with girls. The figures show that, in Clare, 360 boys were referred to the diversion pro- gramme in 2008, compared to 112 girls.

In Clare, there were 616 referrals to the diversion programme in 2008. This is also marginally down on the figure for 2007, when 625 cases were referred on. The difference between the number of referrals and the number of children referred is that some children were responsible for HOLD Lee om usKourDhS

Of the 616 referrals; 107 were not suitable for the diversion programme. Formal cautions were issued in 130 cases, while information cautions were issued in 318 cases. No further action was taken in 32 cases.

Nationally, there was a decrease of 2.4 per cent in the number of children referred to the diversion programme in 2008. A total of 21,412 children were referred to the programme in Autry

RECENTLY I drove a cream version of the new Mini First. It’s very like the Mini One, only cheaper.

It was lovely, but at this stage of my life I’m probably too old for a Mini. The cream colour, did attract many envious glances. But then the curios onlookers could have been saying to themselves ‘what’s that auld fella do- ing driving his daughter’s car?’

However, it’s said that you are never too old for anything in life. The Mini has always been a bit pricey, but this Mini First is very affordable, with starting prices now reduced to at €18,180. And if you want to take ‘to- tal loving care’ of your new Mini, for a once-off payment of €250 you can buy a service and maintenance pack- age called “TLC’ covering the car for five years.

Since taking over Mini nine years ago BMW has retained all the old features and added a few new ones. Now they have introduced their auto stop/start technology where the car cuts out if stopped at traffic lights. You simply start it again by press- ing the clutch. BMW say it definitely saves fuel and C02 emissions are only 128, which equates to €104 road tax.

Those front headlamps seem to be smiling at you as you approach the car. Inside the seating is natu- rally a bit lower than your normal family car. Once seated you cannot but notice the massive speedometer

which dominates the dash. And if the speedometer is not big enough you also get a digital speed counter just above the steering wheel. So no excuse for breaking the speed limit.

The dash is very busy and at first the area could seem like the cockpit of a small airplane, there are so many toggle switches. The controls for the windows are included on the dash, which takes a bit of getting used to. The radio on/off and volume is con- trolled by one simple button and it’s easy enough to scroll up and down the wavelengths.

In the back there is room for two small adults, or maybe three chil-

dren. The leg room for the back seat passengers will depend on the size of the people in the front and how far back the front seats are pushed. The boot is naturally small and no spare wheel, just a repair kit.

You probably remember the old tel- evision ads where they crammed sev- eral people into a Mini. I think the world record is 21 and it was set in Malaysia a few years back.

According to independent UK ex- perts the Mini First should retain 50% of its value after three years or 30,000 miles. Also I think people are always on the look out for a good second hand Mini.

You get a six-speed manual gear- box, but it takes 13.2 seconds to get from zero to 100/kmh. Still on the open road the car can certainly move with the best of them. I drove the 1.4 petrol version, but if you have extra cash to spend there are lots of extras available. The only complaints I got were from family members, who hate two-door cars and the hassle of getting out to allow other passengers enter and exit the rear seats.

So no matter what age you are, have a test drive. If you are young and fe- male you will love it. If you are older like me it might help to bring you back happy memories of your youth.

THE contribution of Bishop Willie Walsh to the diocese of Killaloe was the subject of widespread tributes last week after he submitted his resigna- tion to Pope Benedict on reaching his Rll metaretee ys

Dr Walsh, who has served as Bishop since 1995, is to remain in charge of the diocese for a number of months until a successor is appointed.

Feakle parish priest, Fr Brendan

Quinlivan said: “Bishop Walsh has provided a model for leadership in the 21st century in how he led the di- ocese. He is a true Christian and has been Christ-like in how he interacted with others.”

Fr Quinlivan said that Bishop Walsh stepping down as Bishop “will not only leave a deep void in the diocese, but leave a void in the hierarchy”.

‘As a Christian, Bishop Walsh has tremendous credibility amongst the people and he has lived the Gospel as

he preached it. His affability, warmth and kindness was there for all to see in how he dealt with others.”

“IT cannot speak of him highly enough. He has provided effective and inspiring leadership and _ this came from his deep humanity. Bish- op Walsh has always been available to priests and was never more than a phone call away,” Fr Quinlivan said.

Stating that the diocese had bene- fited from Bishop Walsh’s leadership humility, collaboration, availabil-

ity and affirmation, Ennis priest, Fr Tom Hogan said that “the Holy Spirit came the way of the Diocese of Kil- laloe when Dr. Walsh was appointed Bishop”.

‘We have been blessed by his pres- ence. He has enabled so much to hap- pen. He is a very wholesome man, who is very comfortable with him- self,’ Fr Hogan said.

Parish priest of Shannon, Fr Tom Ryan said that Bishop Walsh becom- ing bishop was one of the greatest

blessings for the diocese in his life- time. He said that Bishop Walsh is a man of deep prayer and is respected and admired throughout the country.

‘He has provided tremendous lead- ership. It was providential that he became bishop when he did. He has given 50 years service to the Church and we will miss him. I am delighted that he is in good health and I wish him the best in his retirement where he can enjoy life at a slower pace. He deserves it.”

THE second Building of Hope team to arrive in Mombassa in Kenya have been starting work at 4am and major progress has been made on the train- ing centre for parishioners of Cranny priest, Fr Martin Keane.

‘The heat is incredible in the after- noon so the volunteers have been get- ting out and on-site extra early to get the job done,” said project organiser, Olive Halpin.

Volunteer Tony McMahon from Lissycasey said that the team effort is “amazing”’.

“From roofing to kerbing, to elec- tronics and anything else that needs to be done, everyone is pitching in. There’s a massive willingness from everyone. Everyone mucks in. And the weather is absolutely roasting.”

Electrician Sean Hull, also from Lissycasey, said that “nearly every- one helped with the roof for the first days and now that that’s done, we’ve split into different groups and started some inside work and putting down pavements. It’s all go.”

The roofing is now finished and some of the rooms have been plas- tered with an amount of kerbing and paving also laid.

Volunteers have also been meeting the people of Fr Martin’s parish and learning how their efforts will change lives of the people of Migombani.

Olive said the Cranny priest is “de- lighted with the work and the people

here are amazed that so many people would make this journey to better their lives. It’s such an amazing ex- perience. The volunteers will never forget it and the people of Migom- bani certainly won’t.”

With one of the most difficult parts of the job now behind them – roof- ing in the blazing sun – the next two groups of volunteers will still have plenty to do, with plumbing tiling more electrics, painting, decorating

and a massive clean-up all to come still.

Many of the volunteers brought specialist tools with them but some of the most ordinary items are the most impossible to get in Mombas- sa, said Olive.

“We’re making a special appeal to anyone coming in the fourth group to try to bring paint rollers and paint trays – we just can’t get them here and the painting will be so much slower

and harder if we don’t have them. Please, please bring some out.”

On February 14, in Ballybeg Com- munity Centre there will be a post- poned “Turkey Trot’ to raise money for volunteer Rob O’Neill. It starts at lpm and everyone is welcome.

THE long-awaited children’s play- ground for Lahinch looks set to get the final go ahead in the coming weeks following unanimous sup- port for a license to be granted to the Lahinch Playground Committee at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Seiee

A local group has been working on a number of proposals to construct a

playground on the promenade area of Lahinch for the last number of years. The group has raised tens of thousands towards the project while funding has also been secured from the council own funding for play- pace Uien

The project had become bogged down with choosing a site for the playground but it now looks almost certain that the green light will be given to construct the playground

on a piece of land belonging to the council supported by Lahinch Sea- (eyule

The local authority will lease a sec- tion of land belonging to Seaworld for £15,000 per year and will in turn licence the operation of the site to the Lahinch Playground Committee for a nominal fee, believed to be €1 per year. Some of this money will be recouped by Clare County Coun- cil through the provision of 12 extra

parking places as part of the devel- opment.

“A huge amount of funding has been raised by the community in Lahinch for this project and we are delighted to be able to proceed with this at last,” said Cllr Richard Nagle ¢3D)

“The playground committee have worked in very close co-operation with the staff here and in Ennis and we are now happy to start this

work.”

Councillor Martin Conway (FG) also complimented the local group on the work they have put in.

“The playground committee have done the rounds in terms of submit- ting the different sites that were up for consideration. They have done great work. This won’t be just a play- ground for the children of Lahinch, it will a playground for all the visitors who come to Lahinch and the people

THE parents of a young Clare school- boy have hailed as “incredible” the impact a special training programme for people with disabilities has had on their son’s life.

Nine-year-old Jack Caldwell and his new best friend, a two-year-old gold- en retriever named Aggie, officially

teamed up at a ceremony in Dublin last week.

Up until a month ago, Jack, who suf- fers from Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, had to use a walking frame to help him move around. The pair were brought together under a scheme operated by Irish Dogs for the Disabled.

Over a period of six to eight months, the charity trains dogs to meet the

needs of its clients.

Aggie has been trained as a stability dog meaning Ennis boy Jack can walk holding her harness on one side and a stick on the other.

In a letter, Jack’s parents John Cald- well and Emer Sherry expressed their delight at the positive impact Aggie has made on their son’s life.

“When we heard that Irish Dogs for the Disabled had identified a suitable dog for him, Jack was motivated to start practicing to walk using tripod walking sticks. Within four weeks, he was confident enough to leave the walking frame at home and just bring his walking sticks to Cork. This was an incredible achievement for a nine- year-old with balance problems and low muscle tone,” they said.

They say that the difference made to Jack’s life as a result of teaming up with Aggie has been “incredible”.

“Aggie is a beautiful two-year-old golden retriever with a lovely calm disposition. Jack adored her from the minute he met her. The difference this has made to Jack 1s incredible. On his second day of training, Jack said to us, ‘I love Aggie because no-one looks at me anymore.’ In his mind, the burden of going out in public with a visible disability had been lifted.”

Irish Dogs for the Disabled aims to assist people with disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and a better quality of life through the provision of specially trained Assistance Dogs.

THE Ennis woman behind a popular Facebook page has said she is over- Wwhelmed by the response it has at- tracted so far.

“You’re a true 30-something from Ennis if you remember…’ invites people to share their memories of growing up in Ennis.

The thread was posted on the social networking site Facebook by local woman Fiona O’Sullivan in early Jan- uary. So far it has attracted over 5,000 comments from the almost 1,000 people who have visited the site.

Fiona said she decided to set up the internet thread after seeing a similar one posted about the Cork town of Carrigaline. “I was using Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family. My husband is from Cork and I saw that there was a Facebook page about growing up in Carrigaline. It had got about 30 hits when I saw it and I thought Ennis could probably do a bit better.”

Fiona said she has been amazed by the popularity of the site.

“T never thought it would be this popular. It’s amazing the amount of people that have been on there. It has

918 friends and over 500 people have posted comments on it. It’s not do- ing so bad. And people are putting up pictures and links to YouTube, which is great. It really adds to it,” she said

‘I’d never heard some of the stories. I’ve laughed an awful lot at some of them. I loved the ones about the old characters from town and the old games like skipping and things like that. I loved the stories about old shops like Bridie Quigley’s chip shop.”

The site has attracted comments from Ennis people now living in various parts of the world. “There

are people living in Dubai and Aus- tralia who have put stories. There are people using it who I wouldn’t have seen in years. It’s great to see people using it to chat and catch up on old mbes lone

One of the Ennis characters re- membered is the late Michael Tier- ney. Fiona has now started a new site calling for a statue to be erected in memory of Mr Tierney in the market area of Ennis.

“It started off as a bit of a laugh but so far about 350 people have logged onto it so it’s getting kind of serious,” she said.