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this week, it seems as though Wicklow could be in for some winter time blues as they build towards the main business of championship.

“Our supporters will have great expectations for the league, but it’s tried and trusted that Micko is more a championship man than a league man. He seems to turn into a differ- ent man altogether once the champi- onship comes,” said O’Brien.

‘“We’ve blooded a few players in the O’Byrne Cup and will be blooding a few more on Sunday and will be hav- ing areal go to collect a few points, but at the moment we’re aiming at the championship. Having said that it would be nice to get a run in the league.

“We’ll take it as it comes. You nev- er send out any team to lose, that’s for certain. Micko always says that the championship is the main goal, but if we were to make progress in the league and get a settled team wed be happy — at the end of the

day the league is the league because come a winter’s day you can’t match the championship to the league, even though we’ll be going down and trying to get those two points,” he added.

Former All-Star and All-Ireland Club winner with Baltinglass in 1990, O’Brien is in his fourth year as a selector under Mick O’Dwyer, yet still marvels at his boss’ enthusiasm for football that has raised the coun- ty’s football stock to its highest ever

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‘““Micko wants to improve Wicklow right across the board, whether that’s the seniors, under 21s or minors. Even after we gathered on Sunday, Micko was heading off to talk to the Wicklow Vocational Schools team that beat Dublin in the Leinster sem1- final to reach the final.

“He puts the work in with all teams at all ages in the county and with Micko it doesn’t feel like work go- ing out training and he’s full of en-

thusiasm. It’s his fourth year but with Micko every year 1s a new year — where he gets the enthusiasm from, I don’t know, but he’s infectious, loves the game and loves being part of it and it rubs off on everyone.”

And, even allowing for O’Dwyer’s indifference to league _ football, O’Brien is hopeful of making the long journey home to Baltinglass with two league points.

“Both teams are relatively close — conditions in the game two years ago

in Cusack Park were extreme and it was lucky that the game went ahead. Clare were that bit stronger than us on the day.

“With the way the weather has been we wouldn’t be as prepared for the first match as we would have been last year, but the lads we have have been on the panel for the last few years so we hope things work out on the day. We know it will be tough. Clare have new management and they will be hoping to get off to a winning start.”

THE seaside town of Kilkee, received another blow this week with news that its tourist office is to close.

Despite falling tourism figures the popular holiday town had continued to fight to attract visitors to the area, with such projects as the redevelop- ment of the Sweeney Memorial L1i- brary now underway.

The West Clare Economic Task Force has also been working to en- courage tourists west next summer.

However Shannon Development confirmed that the tourist office, which opens during the summer months, will remain closed perma- eA

An information point is to be in- stalled in its place.

The decision to close what has been described as a “valuable resource for the seaside resort and the surround- ing region’, has been made due to NESE DEED RokI Ne BE SLICE

Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said he has written to those responsible in regional tourism to urge them to re- consider this decision.

“T do not believe that now is the time for us to be removing or scal- ing back on our tourist product. This is not a good long-term decision for Kilkee or the region in general, and I would ask Shannon Development to reconsider the closure of this of- fice. The tourist office in Kilkee is a

vital source of information on what to do and see in the area as well as a way for local business, such as ho- tels, guesthouses and restaurants, to promote their products. It’s removal and closure will have an adverse fi- nancial effect on the local region. It is not a good day for west Clare tour- ism,” he said.

‘The wider picture here is one of Government’s inability to properly fund and develop Ireland’s tourist product. A 12 per cent drop in tour- ist visitors to Ireland last year is very worrying. This coupled with the on- going uncertainty over both Ryanair and Aer Lingus and their business through Shannon Airport are placing huge pressure on the tourist industry

in County Clare. This region was promised a marketing fund post open skies to help sustain and develop our tourist sector. Yet that fund has never materialised. With tourist office now closing on this Government’s watch, it gives some indication of the pres- sures the mid-west region is facing.

“Notwithstanding the difficulties the sector faces, I do not believe that closing the Kilkee Tourist Of- fice will have a net gain for the tax- payer in the long run. Symbolically, the closure of this office will undo much good work that has been done in promoting Kilkee in recent years. I would urge Shannon Development to reconsider this announcement,” he said.

A RELATIVELY one-sided affair as an experimental Waterford side had 12 points to spare over an equally new look Clare side on Sunday. Wa- terford were sharp, focused and ea- ger to impress while a lifeless Clare looked like a side that had executed their pre-match routine up the nearby Knockmealdown Mountains.

In such circumstances, you would expect the winning manager to be glowing but as he watched his play- ers warm-down in the centre of the field after the game, Davy Fitzgerald was agitated, sensing that his former team-mates Ger O’Loughlin, Danny Chaplin and Liam Doyle had cagily refused to show their full hand. And in his typically passionate manner, he wasn’t about to keep his suspi- cions to himself.

“You can’t take anything from that game because Clare, in my opinion, did not try. Last Tuesday night they worked very hard and they were un- real last Tuesday night. The way they worked, the way they battled was unreal. I’m not fooled at all by that. That’s only mind games and I’m not into that so we came out, we played the game and I just don’t feel that they worked hard and that’s only my honest opinion. I know that there’s way more in Clare than that without a shadow of a doubt.

“The game last Tuesday night, they blocked and tackled and hassled and harried. Can you tell me that they blocked and tackled outside there? No.

“Listen, we did what we had to do and that’s fine but I’m not fooled. If they say that there are no mind games, then that’s rubbish, they did not go flat out there.”

Delving further, was he angry at Clare’s supposed tactics?

“We came to play a game and I’d like to have got more tackles and whatever, but I’m sure we will get them on June 7. I know myself be- ing from Clare what they are capa- ble of and I just feel they are capable of a bit more than what they showed there. All I am saying is we are read- ing nothing into that and we are ex- pecting an avalanche on June 7, we know what it’s going to be like. But at the same time, we had to come out and try to play the game today and we tried to play it.

“T just don’t believe in rubbish. I think you can’t tell me if you were at the game last Tuesday night that it was the same as today. You cannot. They put tackles into the Tipp lads, I was down there and I saw it my- self. I was waiting for that today and I didn’t see it. Did I learn anything today? No. Don’t be fooled.”

Such was Fitzgerald’s frustration that he couldn’t even fully evaluate his own side’s performance in such a lob sided clash.

““Isn’t it easy be good when you are not being tackled as hard? That’s what I’m saying to you. I will put it to you this way. Even Sparrow’s emo- tion on the sideline today compared to last week was totally different and I watched it closely. Last Tues-

day night, he was non-stop moving up and down the sideline, keeping the players going. Today I think you saw it yourself, not a word. I’m not an idiot. I’m not going to read into it like that so at the end of the day we won the game, that’s grand and we will play the final next week. I suppose for us, the National League starts in three weeks time and we know be- ing without seven or eight of the lads, we are going to have to work hard but I think my lads will work hard. We will be up against it in a lot of games but we will work hard. There are some great young lads there, ab- solutely fantastic but we will be up against it missing so many.”

However, it wasn’t long before the conversation reverted to Clare and Whether or not they simply rolled over ahead of the sides’ Munster championship semi-final on the June Bank Holiday Monday.

“T’m not saying that, I’m just say- ing why didn’t they tackle as hard as they did last Tuesday night? That’s all I’m saying, I just don’t feel they did it. They can say what they like, I don’t care. I saw the difference last Tuesday night compared to today. The way I looked at it, no-one is go- ing to learn anything for next June because we are missing a number of players, they are missing a number of players so what is it? Why waste a Sunday and just come down – let’s have a good game, that was the way I was taking it but at the same time, you have got to respect whatever way they want to do it, they do it and that’s the bottom line and we will do

the job we have got to do.

“The one thing I am very sure about, I know the lads that are over them they are very shrewd guys and I know that we will be in for an ab- solute dinger of a game come June. I know that, ’’m under no illusions whatsoever and we know that there will only be a point in it either way.”

Minutes later, Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin stepped out of the Clare dressing room blissfully unaware of his counterparts comments.

“IT wouldn’t expect him to say any- thing different,’ he responded with a smile. “No, we came down genuinely to give a good account of ourselves but we were just very flat today and just didn’t play any brand of hurling

at all. So we will put our hands up and say ‘look we have to recognise that we have an awful lot of work between now and June in the league and we will take heart from the other games we played in the competition as well’. I suppose the other side of it is that we are very much trying to settle on a team as well, we are try- ing out five or six lads every match so it’s not a settled team. That’s not an excuse, we were just very poor today.

“It was a wake up call I suppose. We were well and truly outclassed in nearly every position but I sup- pose from our own point of view, we have got a bit out of the Waterford Crystal. We were decent against Tip-

perary, we were very honest and we tried hard and in also in our first day out against WIT, we were very hon- est but today we just came up against a very smart and sharp team and we were a good bit behind. Don’t anyone underestimate that we have a moun- tain to climb if we are going to com- pete with them in June but that’s the task we have. So hopefully we will get there.”

With the championship firmly in mind, O’Loughlin is very wary of Clare and Waterford’s contrasting National League fixture list, however he also feels that playing in Division 2 should not be detrimental to Clare’s chances in this year’s Munster cham- eyCoyetsieul oy

‘There is no doubt about it, Water- ford will get three or four very good games in the league and we probably won’t have that but that’s the position we are in. We will have to go looking for matches that we will be playing top class teams in challenge matches but I think what we have to do is pre- pare ourselves to the best of our abil- ity and if we do that, we should be a match for most counties.”

Whether intentional or not, 1t seems the mind games have already begun ahead of the Munster championship. It may be over four months away but for two determined managers, realis- tically it will be never far from their thoughts.

WHAT better way to spend Valen- tine’s Day than amidst the breath- taking scenery of north Clare. More than 500 people are expected to turn out for the annual sponsored 10k walk organised by the Clare Branch of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, which takes place in Fanore on Feb- ruary 14.

The annual walk, which usually happens on the first Sunday of the new year, was postponed this year because of the poor weather condi- tions but organisers are confident that a large crowd will still come along and show its support.

Now in its eighth year, the walk has become a charity institution in the north Clare area.

Sponsorship cards are still available locally or from the Alzheimer Socie- ty office in Ennis, but people are also encouraged to come along on the day and donate what they can.

“We have had great support from people in Clare, Galway and Lim- erick and all over getting behind the walk for the last eight years and it’s been a pleasure to do it.

“It’s a very nice walk. It goes from the main road to the green road and then it goes to the grass green road up in Fanore. There is a lovely view out over the sea and over all the Burren,”

said co-organiser, Gerry Howard.

““Tt’s a nice relaxed walk. We have a great celebration on the day with traditional music, dancing and sing- ing in O’Donoghue’s Pub after the walk. We have a great evening after ro

AS in previous years, all proceeds from the walk will go to improve and extend both daycare, homecare and respite services for the Clare branch of the Alzheimer Society.

‘There are very few families who haven’t had some sort of brush with it – either Dementia or Alzheimer’s. When you are organising something like this, you are very much pushing an open door with people. Anyone

who has had experience of it is al- ways great when it comes to pitching in,’ continued Gerry.

“Every bob we make goes into the services in County Clare – there isn’t anything at all spent on administra- tion or anything like that.”

This year’s walk will take place from 12.30pm on Sunday, Feb- ruary 14, starting and _ finishing O’Donoghue’s Pub in Fanore.

Sponsorship cards are still availa- ble from the Alzheimer Society local office at Unit 17 Clonroad Business Park, Ennis on 065 6868621.

Cards are also available locally from Gerard Howard and Brendan Cusack.

GARDA reinforcements had to be brought in during a domestic dispute at a house on the outskirts of Ennis town, a court has heard.

Thomas Quinn (36), of Ashline, Kilrush Road, Ennis, was convicted of breaching the peace at his home on August 11, 2009.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told Ennis District Court on Friday that gardai were called to a disturbance at the house.

He said that a woman had a large cut to her head and wounds to her body.

He said the accused asked gardai to leave the house and became ex- tremely agitated.

“He kept saying to his wife, * You are not going to complain, are you?’,” said Inspector Gallagher.

He said that a broken shovel was found in a room in the house.

The court was told that garda rein- forcements had to be called in and it took three gardai to restrain the ac- Leer

The court heard that Quinn has a string of previous convictions.

Defending solicitor Andrew Darcy told the court that there has been a lot of tragedy in his client’s family in Kero nN DON Tere

“There have been two suicide at- tempts recently in his immediately family. His first cousin died tragi- cally last week,” he said.

Referring to the offence before the court, Mr Darcy said his client had been off drink and drugs for a number of years, but had indulged on this occasion, resulting in a domestic situation.

The defendant’s wife Margaret told the court that the incident was “out of character.”

‘“He’s a very good husband; a very good father. He was only after losing a sister at 39.

“He lost a nephew at 31. It was too much,” she said.

She said that she and her husband “are getting on like a house on fire now.”

“T’ve got six kids. If Thomas goes to prison, I don’t know how I’d man- age,” she said.

Judge Timothy Lucey said, “Even though she doesn’t make a lot of it, I think it was a serious incident that required gardai to be called.”

“Anybody who defies the gardai, that aggravates the whole thing. He made it difficult for everybody. It merits a suspended sentence. He’s got to watch himself and make sure he doesn’t lose the head,” said the judge.

He imposed a three-month jail sen- tence, suspended for a year, on con- dition that he keep the peace for that period of time.

A LITTLE taste of Italy is now be- ing cooked to order every night in Doolin following the opening of the La Strana Coppia Restaurant in the village.

The new restaurant, which is owned and managed by chef pair Carlo Sa- gnotti and Ornella Testa, opened last month and, despite the recession, it has been proving that there is always an appetite for good food in north Clare. They promise a mixture of simple and complex foods, all taken from their native region of Piedmon- te and their home town Turin.

“It’s the cuisine of the poor and the cuisine of the kings. Torino and Pied- monte, our native land, was the first capital of Italy in 1860 and the home of the Savoia royal family, crowned by the Alps high mountains where poor people lived. In the restaurant people will discover completely new dishes, with daring and unusual com- binations of ingredients you’ve never tasted in Ireland,’ said Carlo.

Carlo and Ornella moved to Ire- land last year and spent a number of months searching out the perfect lo- cation. Despite the difficult econom- ic conditions, they are hopeful their new venture will be a success.

“We were looking for a place in Ire- land that would suit all of our needs and our ideas and I think Doolin was always the place. After all we both love Doolin so we were happy to find a place here,” continued Carlo.

“We moved to Ireland back in June and since then we have been look- ing around, trying to find the perfect je e-Terer

“We think we have found it now. We have a very big menu, both dish-

es that people might know but also some more unusual recipes.

“We are optimistic about the res- taurant. We know that we are selling good authentic Italian food. We have imported it directly from Italy so we believe in what we are doing. So ina way it doesn’t matter if we are opti- mistic or not.

“But of course we are optimistic. We believe that it might be slow, but we think that we can have a good place in Doolin with this restaurant, because of the quality of our food. We won’t be an Italian takeaway serving just pizza and things like that. It’s all about the quality of the food.”

For more about La Strana Coppia

or to read a sample menu check out http://italianrestaurantdoolin.com or ring 087 7465982.

THERE’S a great thirst in Tulla for cups of tea, coffee and, later in the day, something a bit stronger.

Friends and neighbours will be drinking up on Friday, February 12 when local women, Kay Madden and Lavender Wright have their an- nual ‘open house’ serving cuppas in a good cause.

Kay and her friend and neighbour, Lavender, have been hosting a coffee day in Main Street for 12 years now in aid of the Clare 250 Cancer Cen- tre to raise funds to send patients to Lourdes.

Kay is modest about the amount raised last year because the pair don’t like anyone calling to feel un- der pressure to donate any specific amount.

‘“Let’s just say it was a significant amount and it sent a good number of people to Lourdes. We just put a box by the door and people can donate any amount they want. We just keep the tea and coffee coming. We want it to be another great community day,” said Kay.

Friends, neighbours and the wider community are all invited to call to number 23, between 10am and 10pm, for a hot cuppa, soup, lovely home baking and even an Irish coffee.

The two women are no strangers to the seriousness of cancer, having both walked that road ten years ago.

“I was nominated back then to go to Lourdes and I really believe that the strength I got from that trip and all the support and help I got were what turned me around,” said Kay.

Over the last twelve years, Kay and Lavender, with the support of neigh- bours and friends, have raised money every year through the coffee days, car boot sales and donations.

“T really want to thank my neigh- bours and friends. They have been SO supportive to us. They come along and help us set up in the morn- ing, they make the tea and coffee and Irish coffees and at ten at night they help me wrap up. They’re wonderful. They have me where I am today,” said Kay.

Both Kay and Lavender have had to confront dealing with the terrify- ing disease so they know how im- portant care, research and the moral and emotional support offered by the people who take part in the Clare 250 is. Apart from the good cause, the day is an occasion where neigh- bours and friends come to call, sit down and take time out.

“One of the highlights of the day is when the children get off school and they come in. It’s great for the younger people to be part of this

community day.

“We have everyone – older people coming after they’ve collected their pensions and children coming after school – it’s a real community day, a team effort and that’s why it’s so special,” explained Kay.

Clare hits the sweet spot in Lonely Planet guide

BEN Escorcio is going for all Ire- land glory, having already won West Clare’s Got Talent and numerous other competitions in his young life.

He will showcase his singing abil- ity this Sunday evening on the popu- lar RTE television competition, The All Ireland Talent Show.

The teen will not only represent Clare but the whole of Munster when he does battle for judge John Cree- don’s team.

The second-year student in St Flan- nan’s College, Ennis, has not revealed the song he will sing in an effort to

make it to the semi-final, but he is hoping the people of his new home in Milltown Malbay, Clare and Munster will like it.

Born in London, Ben moved to Australia with his parents Sandy and Leo, and his brothers when he was young. He went to school there- and was educated before the family moved to Ireland and settled in Mil- town Malbay.

Ben is no stranger to performing, competition or even television. Last year he won not only the local com- petition West Clare’s Got Talent, but also made it to the final of RTE 1’s ‘Jam the Musical’.

While living in Melbourne, he was part of the largest dramatic society in the city. As well as playing a main role in ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Oliver’, he also had a part especially written into “The Pirates of Penzance’, and won the Guild of Victoria.

On moving to Clare, he continued to work on his singing. Just months in the county, he joined Clare’s famed Lismorahaun singers, and took up singing lessons with the choir’s founder, Archie Simpson.

Then a few short weeks ago, the talented teen auditioned for the All Ireland Talent Show in Cork. On the first day of auditions, John Creeden

put Ben through to his final 16.

“Tt was brilliant. When John said I was through, I could have run and shrieked with joy. Luckily I remem- bered I was on camera,” he laughed.

On day two of the auditions, the judges had to narrow down their se- lection to just eight acts and Ben was once again called up.

‘As soon as we got back home, we began brainstorming for song ideas, with only a few weeks to prepare,” he said.

GARDAI investigating the death of Brian Casey last night issued a fresh appeal for information – in advance of the file on the case being sent to the DPP this week.

The 26-year-old from Lissycasey sustained serious head injuries in an incident in Ennis on St Stephen’s Night and died in hospital two days later. After the file is received by the DPP, a decision will be taken on whether charges will follow.

Two men are charged with as- sault causing harm to Mr Casey, at O’Connell Square, Ennis, on De- cember 26/27. The accused are Har- ry Dinan (29), of Waterpark Heights, Ennis, and his nephew Kevin Dinan (22), of Clarehill, Clarecastle. They were charged on December 28 and re-appeared before Ennis District Court on Friday where they were further remanded in custody to ap- pear again next Friday week.

A team of gardai have been work- ing on the investigation and the case file is nearing completion. Several statements have been taken and CCTV footage from the area has been viewed.