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
FOLLOWING the success of their New Year’s Eve knees up, the Bou- doir Sessions crew bring their col- ourful mix of music and madness back to Ennis.
This time the session’s crew turn their attention to a themed single’s event on Valentine’s night.
So if you want to experience and be a part of an authentic pre-60s party, get down to the upstairs of Brogans, O’Connell Street on Saturday Feb- ruary 14. Cost of entry is 10 euros, doors open at 10 and the show begins SBE gare eke
Ennis based organisers and host- esses on the night, Lesley Ann Hull and Celeste Barnard are thrilled to be offering singles an alternative meeting place to the usual club and pub scene with an opportunity for more socialising from 10pm.
The Boudoir Suite singles dinner party can accommodate twenty sin- gle women and twenty single men from 30 – 45 years of age.
Places are strictly limited and tick- ets are €60pp available in advance only from the vintage shop, Olive (Barrack Street). Early booking is advised. Dress code for the night is vintage/boudoir.
Music kicks off at 10pm courtesy of DJ duo the Boudoir Boys (Elec- tric Picnic 06-08). Oliver Moore and Paul Ryan will be playing upbeat tunes from the 1920s-1950s featur- ing everything from be-bop to bo- ogie-woogie.
According to photographer and stylist Celeste Barnard, an evening of superb entertainment is on the or Neh
‘Joining us in the Boudoir Suite are a host of performers. Comedi- enne Angie Holland Victoria Wood and BBC comedy sketch writer, will loosen us up with her quirky stand- up. Miss Guided and Little Miss
Match will serenade us with their sultry sounds. Also performing is DJ Miss Takeable (Gramophone Disco hostess) playing “songs l’amour,’ she Crate
Film will form another element of the night’s entertainment. The pro- jectionist from the Magic Lantern Film club will flash quirky film and home movie moments from the far- flung corners of the early 20th cen- eats
For further information check: www.boudoirsuite.synthasite.com www.myspace.com/boudoirsessions. com Tel. – 087 2030898 or E-mail – boudoirsuite@ gmail.com
Charity hopes Kenya survives
FIVE Clare villages are celebrat- ing the commencement of work on a wastewater treatment project that has been in the pipeline for more than 40 years.
Clare County Council has signed a €4.3 million contract with Treat- ment System Services Ltd (TSSL) to construct treatment facilities for the villages of Scariff, Tuamgraney and Feakle in east Clare, as well as Quilty and Mullagh in the west of the county.
The contract complements the ex- isting €7 million network contract, which is now nearing completion. Under the contract TSSL will design and build three new treatment, trans- fer and outfall facilities, including a sea outfall at Quilty, on the west coast of Clare. The contractor will then enter a 20-year operation and maintenance period bringing the ultimate value of the contract to €9 million. The scheme will be opera- tional by the end of 2009, and fully commissioned in early 2010. Welcoming the contract signing at Aras Contae An Chlair, Mayor of Clare Cllr Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) expressed her delight that a project that had been on the politi- cal agenda of Clare County Council for over 40 years had finally been brought to fruition.
“I would like to pay tribute to the many current, former and deceased county councillors who have worked
tirelessly to ensure that the depart- ment would sanction this long over- due project.
“IT also wish to compliment the engineering staff of Clare County Council who have always done their utmost to advance the project despite repeated alterations by the Department to the criteria for such schemes,” added the Mayor.
Councillor Taylor Quinn noted that for many years the lack of adequate infrastructure had led to pressure being placed on the rural areas con- cerned in relation to development.
The Mayor explained, “Due to the lack of such vital infrastructure in- creasing numbers of people have ap- plied to the county council for per- mission to build and to provide their own septic tank and water supply. I believe that the completion of work on the schemes will relieve much of this pressure and provide for the
rural regeneration and sustained eco- nomic development of the respective regions.”
Clare County Council has a sig- nificant water services programme underway at present. Water Supply Schemes are nearing completion in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Kilkee, En- nis, and Ballyvaughan. In addition sewerage schemes are underway or nearing completion in Tulla, New- market-on-Fergus and Corofin, with further improvement schemes to start in Quin and Killimer this year.