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THE Scariff Show will be celebrat- ing 65 years on the go this year, and plans are already afoot to make it the biggest and best show yet.

It’s hoped to hold the landmark event in the showgrounds again this year. A spokeswoman for the show committee said, “Most of our suc- cess is down to the support and en- couragement we receive from our sponsors and the local support of people who come on the day.

“This will be an important show because it is the 65th birthday and we have a couple of members who remember the first Scariff Show, so that will be very special.”

As well as the usual show dance, this year the committee is marking the special birthday with a dinner dance later on in the year.

“We’re hoping to make it bigger and better than ever,’ the spokes-

woman said.

There are loads of activities at the planning stage this year. Last year, the committee introduced bouncy castles, a funfair and some new trade stands along with all the old reliables. The vintage display was a particular hit last year as was the crowning of the Queen of the Plough, a compe- tition kindly sponsored by Michael Ryan of Scariff.

One of the most popular events is the dog show, with lots of novelty classes as well as the usual variety classes and the indoor section has classes for adults and children.

The horse classes include mare and foal, young horses, jumping, show hunter and working hunter, pony classes, side saddle, donkey and sheep sections.

The Donkey Derby, best dressed lady, best dressed child and fancy- dressed child as well as the bonniest baby are all great fun on the day.

THE four quarter-finals of the Broad- way Petfoods A3 525 with €10,000 to the winner were top of the bill at the College Road venue on Saturday last. In Heat 1 the Ger Burke of Mil- town Malbay handled Jacksies Nicki (T3) was all the rage to retain her unbeaten record in the competition in this opening quarter final but she totally missed the break as market ri- val Brother Lee (T6) showed every- one a clean pair of heels to get home in 29.05.

Favourite backers were back on good terms in heat 2 as the Larry

O’Shea owned James Roche trained Gogetemaura(T3) made all to defeat the closing Burnpark Adam owned by Mary Browne of Cree by a length and a quarter in 29.11.

An all graded eleven race pro- gramme greeted racegoers on a miserably wet Thursday night. The best performance of the night came in the A3 graded tenth contest over 525 yards as the Mrs Janet Downes of Killaloe owned Tell Me Skinner showed fine pace down the back straight as he defeated favourite Crown Emperor (T1) by seven and a half lengths in 29.10.

Race 2 was turned into a procession

by the promising looking Carkhills Express (T2) owned by Robert Carkhill of Ennis, who won by 17 and a quarter lengths.

There was a big shock in race three as the outsider of the sextet, the John Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned Ler Fe- derer (T6) came home a length and three parts ahead of Seehan Jake.

Race 4 saw the trap three runner Ry- lane Kewell(Droopys Kewell-Baby Rumble) record an eye catching de- but success by five lengths in 29.27. The Donal Duggan of Newmarket- on-Fergus owned runner led by two lengths from Tyrur Hoban at halfway and although that rival briefly looked

a threat Rylane Kewell pulled right away up the home straight for an em- phatic success.

The Fanore based Gone At Three Syndicate were in top form follow- ing Race 7 as their Last Ace Pot (T1) trained by Seamus Fahy left his ri- vals toiling in his wake as he defeat- ed Tyrur Venus(T2) by six and three quarter lengths in 29.90.

Race 8 saw the John Carey of Kil- rush owned Cracking Crash (Crash- Elmhurst Ellen) taking command at the penultimate corner as he strectched clear for a four and a half length victory in 29.71.

On Friday night’s card, Killaoe

trainer Michael Downes’ good run continued when winning the first race with Tell Me Rocco in a time of 29.72. He later recorded a double in race 9 as Orlov Dolly (T6) owned by his wife Janet proved 3&1/2 lengths to good for the staying on Grandas Mica (T5) in 29.84.

The bumper went to Ballaghboy Crash owned by the ever popular Jerry Moloney of Doora who showed fine early pace and had a six and a half lengths win in 30.80 for the 550 trip. Other Clare winners on the night were Classical Moments for Frank Browne of Quin and Ler Aviator for John Fitzgerald of Kilrush.

COUNTY board delegates will vote ona masters fixtures list that has been drawn up and presented to clubs by a special Structures Committee at to- night’s meeting of the Clare County Board.

Effectively, this is the first time clubs had a major say in competition structures and it follows last year’s backlog of championship hurling games which occurred after the Clare manager, Mike McNamara, called on clubs to defer the second round of the championship as Clare were prepar- ing to play Tipperary in the Munster

Final. This meant some clubs didn’t play any championship game until late August and an avoidance of such problems was one of the key terms of reference for the committee.

The committee, which has five hurl- ing representatives and four football representatives, will point out at to- night’s meeting that they have aimed to ensure that dual clubs will have at least five days between championship games in hurling and football.

One of the most significant dates to be tied down is the opening round of the hurling championship. The committee had initially proposed that Rounds | and 2 of the hurling

championship would take place on the weekends of May 16/17 and May 30/31, but were asked by the Clare management to change the dates to May 9/10 and May 23/24. As this would require altering the Clare Cup Fourth Round, the committee have suggested playing the opening two rounds on consecutive weekends in May. Tonight, delegates will get the Opportunity to discuss these dates further. If Clare win the Munster Senior Hurling Championship, the third round of the club championship will go ahead on the weekend of July 18/19 and should that not come to pass, those games will take place on

August 15/16.

In terms of club leagues, the com- mittee proposes to begin the Clare Cup in March and the Cusack Cup the final weekend of February.

However, due to inter-county ac- tion, the second round isn’t sched- uled until March 29.

In relation to the football club championship, the opening round is

scheduled for June 20 with games involving dual clubs, where neces- sary, scheduled for six days later.

In the proposal submitted to clubs, the committee pointed out that while all would accept that it 1s preferable to play club hurling and football in

summer months, “it is extremely dif- ficult to plan club games during these months.

“The playing of club leagues and championships in a meaningful and competitive way will require a posi- tive approach and a certain degree of flexibility and goodwill on the part of all involved.”

The recommendations are expected to be generally accepted by delegates and discussions on the recommen- dations will form the main talking point at tonight’s meetings.

Meanwhile, the draw for the Under 21 hurling championship will also take place at tonight’s meeting.

LAST Sunday, Clare played Kerry in a challenge to give the newer play- ers an opportunity to impress ahead of the league and the youngsters re- sponded with a comfortable victory. However, Mike McNamara and his team plan to cut the 38 man panel be- fore the league, with approximately four or five players making way.

It also includes captain Brian O’Connell who returns later in the month. The current 38 man panel is as follows:

IT was the easiest task possible for Kevin Walsh — a rookie manager with two points there to be hoovered up against hapless Kilkenny last SLUICE NZ

The next seven games, however, represent an altogether different challenge for Walsh, starting with Clare on Sunday.

“Clare had a great win against Carlow so this 1s a real test for us,” Walsh told

A 48-year-old east Clare man said yesterday that a Garda Complaints Tribunal decision requiring him to resign from the force 11 years ago has destroyed his life.

And he claimed that his troubles began when he became unpopular with his superiors after he alleged that Gardai could have prevented the triple murder carried out by the late Brendan O’Donnell in April 1994. He said he alerted senior officers to the dangers posed by O’Donnell before he embarked on his murder spree.

Speaking exclusively to

The company which is bringing 50 new jobs to Shannon, Melcut Cutting Tools Ltd (Shannon) is a subsidiary of US based SGS Tools Ltd, part of the Manufacturers Group Interna- tional which employs approximately 400 people and has operations in the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan and China.

As part of its Shannon operation Melcut will focus exclusively on the development of customised cutting tool manufacture and establishing the Melcut brand name in the U.S and Canadian and Europe.

Melcut plans to develop a leading edge manufacturing facility at Shan- non which will involve a €2m capital investment programme.

The company’s unique mix of me- chanical and CNC machining skills sets will contribute to their com- petitive manufacturing capability at Shannon.

Two company _ representatives joined the Shannon Development team and the Tanaiste for the an- nouncement during the publication of the Shannon Development Annual figures yesterday.

They were joined by Minister Tony Kileen and Deputy Timmy Dooley

at the briefing in the Shannon Park hotel at Shannon airport.

The Tanaiste continued, “The deci- sion by Melcut, a global leader in its field, to establish 50 jobs at Shannon and undertake a ©2 million capital investment programme, is a strong vote of confidence in the facilities and skilled work force at Shannon Free Zone. Shannon Development’s securing of the Melcut investment shows the competitiveness and rel- evance of Shannon Free Zone in our drive to stimulate regional economic growth.” she said.

Welcoming the jobs announcement Vincent Cunnane, chief executive Shannon Development said, “The establishment of Melcut at Shannon Free Zone mirrors the continuous reinvention which Shannon Develop- ment has had to undertake to main- tain the Free Zone’s position as one of Ireland’s leading business parks.

A SERIOUS incident involving an aircraft carrying US military per- sonnel from Shannon Airport to the US has been blamed on improper TPOT-BDOURoAT-N Aeon

It was discovered that three small parts were missing from the jets horizontal stabilizer which malfunc- tioned in flight.

The incident occurred on May 2, 2007 when an Omni Air Internation- al DC10-30 jet experienced the mal-

function of its horizontal stabilizer causing the nose to pitch downwards “ageressively”’.

The jet had commenced its descent in to Atlanta International Airport when the incident occurred.

The flight had left Shannon Airport at 3.30am en route to Atlanta on a non-scheduled passenger flight for the US Government.

The jet was operating under con- tract to the US Air Mobility Com- mand and was carrying 306 people including 294 US military person-

nel.

The captain told investigators that while flying at 13,000 feet and de- celerating to 250 knots, the autopilot out of trim light uluminated and re- mained on for five to six seconds.

The autopilot was then disengaged while the flight controls were guarded in anticipation of a change in pitch.

The official investigation carried out by National Transportation Safe- ty Board (NTSB) in the US and just published, has stated that as a result of the malfunction of the horizontal

stabilizer, the airplane pitched “ag- gressively” nose down and that a “demanding amount of elevator back pressure was required to maintain level flight’.

The captain declared an emergen- os The NTSB investigation concluded, “The omission of the parts resulted in fatigue failure of another pin and shear failure of the single installed pin. This prevented output of the horizontal stabilizer drive assembly being transmitted to acme screws of

the horizontal stabilizer (tail plane),” the report states.

The probe also established that the horizontal stabilizer drive assembly was overhauled on April 30, 1999 and installed in the airplane on April 23 2006.

The airplane had accumulated 2,421 hours and 473 cycles since the overhauled assembly was installed however no write-ups regarding the stabilizer trim had been made by crew members of flights during the ORO erO UNI TARO OE RAE

AN American businesswoman has do- nated money to help fund this year’s Russell Weekend of traditional music in Doolin. Details of the 15th annual festival, which takes place later this month, were announced yesterday, with the best of local music talent al- ready lined up to take part.

The donation came from Boston woman Denise von Mering, whose grandfather Thomas Joseph Shannon was born in Doolin and was a close neighbour of the Russell family.

Denise has made the donation in his memory and to help enhance and promote the traditional musical herit- age of Doolin.

“IT am drawn to Clare, to the place of story, song and dance that my grandfather spoke of so fondly,” said Ms Von Mering.

“T loved my grandfather very much and knew him well, but it wasn’t un- til I went to Doolin and experienced the Micho Festival that I realised who he really was, how the music and the landscape had defined him and kept a part of him wild and free to the end of his days.

“I know that he would be delighted to think that, in some small way, he was still a part of the musical herit- age in Doolin.”

This year’s festival runs from Feb- ruary 20 to 23, with one of the main highlights, the Russell Concert tak- ing place on the afternoon of Satur- day, February 21.

This year, the concert features Liadan as well as an impressive line-up of local musicians, includ- ing The Fiddle Case (Eoin O’ Neill; Quentin Cooper; Eimer Howley and Jon O’Connell); Seoda (lan Keane and friends); Michael Hynes, Den- nis Liddy and Jack Talty; Terry Bingham, Yvonne Casey, Adam and Dave Shapiro; Paddy Neylon; Aidan Vaughan and Pat Costello.

On Sunday, February 22 at lpm the Anniversary Remembrance Mass for the Russells will take place at Doo- lin Church to the accompaniment of hymns and songs from the Doolin

church choir. It will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rus- sell grave, with songs of farewell and tunes in memory of the dead.

Full details of the _ festi- val are available by e-mailing info@michorussellweekend.ie, call- ing 065 7074595 or by logging onto www.michorussellweekend.ie

STRATEGIES for taxi services in Ennis should be designed by Ennis Town Council and not by taxi driv- ers, a meeting has heard.

Councillor Frankie Neylon (Ind) told yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council that the initia- tive for developing new and addition- al taxi ranks had to come from the local authority.

‘I don’t know do we want taxi driv- ers to make decisions on taxi ranks in the town. When we moved the rank we discussed it all extensively with the drivers and traders in Par- nell Street,’ said Cllr Neylon.

He added, “I’d like to see the design

done by the designers and not by the taxi drivers. If it was up to the taxi drivers, they’d probably have a little space set aside for a blanket to lie down on.”

Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine said the council had enjoyed a strong partnership with taxi drivers and their representatives.

Cllr Neylon said that when work in the Parnell Street car park was complete taxi drivers would be “de- lighted”’.

Members were discussing a motion put forward by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) calling for the council to “ur- gently prepare a taxi rank strategy for Ennis”.

In response, Town Clerk Eddie

Power said an assessment on the pro- vision of part-time/night-time ranks in key locations in Ennis was cur- rently being carried out.

He added, “It 1s not intended to reduce the capacity of the taxi rank in Parnell Street car park, nor it is proposed to revise or alter its payout. You will be aware that the designa- tion and provision of the taxi rank in this location was considered to be the optimum location and was subject to two public consultation processes. The process of adopting byelaws to designate the taxi rank involved pub- lic consultation and furthermore the physical works were also subject to public consultation in accordance with Part VIII of the planning and

development regulations.”

Mr Power said, “Consideration of designating additional permanent full-time ranks will take place at a later stage following completion of the assessment.”

Town Manager Tom Coughlan said that it was his understanding that matters related to taxi services had been dealt with at the council’s an- LUE Melb Cohe