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More travelled to Heathrow from Shannon than Belfast

LAST week the county A doubles juvenile champonships took place at various venues in the county and culminated with the finals on Satur- day and Sunday in Clarecastle and Clooney.

On Saturday in Clarecastle, it was extra busy as the under 11 league commenced. Three teams took part in a round robin fixture namely Clarecastle A & B and Tuamgraney. All the youngsters who participated on the day showed great potential for the game which is an advantage and encouraging for Clare handball. Clarecastle A bt Clarecastle B by 72- 59 and then they beat Tuamgraney OAL

At the same venue two county dou- bles finals were contested, namely the under 12 A and under 14 A. First up was the under 12 competition in which Fergal and Natasha Coughlan of Clooney took on Padraig McNa- mara and Sean Cotter of O’Callaghan Mills. This contest went down to the wire before the O’Callaghan’s Mills pair won the decisive third game by 15-12.

The under 14 A final was more clearcut with Barry Nash and Patrick Fitzgerald of Tuamgraney beating Colin Crehan and Pat McMahon of O’Callaghan’s Mills on a 15-13, 15-8 scoreline.

The under 13 final was an all

O’Callaghan’s Mills affair, with Sean Donnellan and Ciaran Cooney scor- ing a 15-13 and 15-6 win over Jacob Loughnane and Pat O’Brien.

Second up on the card was the un- der 15 A Doubles final which was contested between Evan Corbett and Niall Bolton of Tulla and Keith Hog- an and Orlaith Duggan of Clooney. It went the Tulla pair’s way on a 21-16, 21-10 scoreline.

The final contest of the day saw the big guns of Newmarket-on-Fergus, Chris Ryan and Liam Clancy take on home favourites Ryan O’Neill and Joe Clune.

The Clooney pair held the early advantage until the scales tipped in Newmarket’s favour when Chris Ryan stepped up a gear to clinch the first game on a 21-17 scoreline.

They then added the second on a 21-15 scoreline to clinch the title. The under 16 doubles final was post- poned due to illness of one of the fey anh olein Key Ece

On the adult scene, Shane and Ciaran Walsh of Tuamgraney pro- gressed in the Junior B provincial championships with a well deserved win over Tipperary.

Clare’s John Nihill of Clooney re- ceived a walkover aganist his oppo- nent and proceeds to the next round in the Masters B singles champion- ships when he takes on John Mc- Donagh from Cork in his semi-final Coe

FIGURES released yesterday show that the numbers travelling on the Aer Lingus Belfast-Heathrow route last year fell 22 per cent short of the numbers that travelled on the Heath- row route from Shannon in 2007.

Provisional statistics released by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show that 257,953 passengers travelled on the Heathrow-Belfast route from January 18 to the end of December.

This compares to the 331,882 pas- sengers on the Shannon-Heathrow route in 2007, which was a 10,594 increase on the 2006 figures.

Last month, Aer Lingus announced the restoration of the Shannon-Hea- throw route from mid-March with a AWA CoROL BIANCO Mis (CSe

Responding to the figures, local county councillor Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said she was not surprised by the figures but the damage Aer Lin- gus did to the region in withdrawing the route was unquantifiable.

“Aer Lingus put a lot of effort into

marketing the Belfast-Heathrow route and the airline was selling tick- ets for £5 which never happened on the Shannon-Heathrow route,’ she SP HLG

The figures indicate that Cork airport was the greatest benefici- ary from the Aer Lingus decision to withdraw the Shannon-Heathrow service with 517,110 travelling on the

Cork-Heathrow route last year com- pared to 470,643 in 2007.

The Belfast-Heathrow _ statistics show that the numbers have been steadily declining since the summer when seasonal factors and the eco- nomic downturn are taken into ac- ore) uh elm

24,817 passengers used the service in September; 24,528 in October; 20,347 in November and 18,967 in December.

Speaking after the restoration of the Shannon-Heathrow service last month, Aer Lingus worker, Brian Slattery said that the company deci- sion to transfer the slots to Belfast “was misguided. It was a bad com- mercial decision. Common _ sense had to prevail and we now need the public support to make these routes AIO Oe ie

He said the restoration of the route was “never mentioned by Aer Lingus management” in the negotiations to achieve cost cutting at Shannon.

2008 will go down in the annals of the club as the year of the breakthrough at senior level — the culmination of a long road travelled since the club had its maiden voyage in 1994.

Under manager Joe Reidy, trainer Gerry Keane and selection commit- tee JJ O’Dea, Patricia Ryan, Dr. Paul McKenna and Pat Crotty the senior team laid down a marker very early on that they meant business.

Undefeated in the senior league the team progressed to a final victory over West Clare Gaels and team cap- tain Michelle Delaney became the first Banner Ladies player to lift a Clare senior trophy.

More was to come however with the club remaining undefeated through- out the Eleven-A-Side Championship which culminated with a Banner La- dies victory over Fergus Rovers on a 4-5 to 2-2 score line.

The Banner Ladies then entered the All Ireland Intermediate Sevens Championship and despite not hav- ing the services of their Clare county panellists the team went all the way to the All Ireland Shield final and were decidedly unlucky to lose to

Cork divisional side Beara on a 4-4 to 4-6 score line.

But best was served last with the crowning glory of the senior county final win over West Clare Gaels. In the group stages victories were

Secured over Miltown, West Clare Gaels and Cooraclare to earn a sem1- final spot. Crusheen were the semi- final opponents and the Banner la- dies emerged victorious on a 4-15 to 3-4 score line.

The club had reached only its sec- ond senior final ever and this time there was to be no regrets as the Banner Ladies overcame final op- ponents West Clare Gaels by 2-10 to Q-8. It was a magnificent sight to see

Michelle Delaney raise the county championship trophy in the spiritual home of Clare ladies football in Co- Oe A elu

TWO Miltown Malbay couples have called for a doctor’s surgery to be closed down as soon as possible.

James and Pauline McMahon and Brendan and Doreen Hughes of Ballard Road made the call as part of their appeal against a decision to grant a two-year planning permis- sion to Dr Maura O’Meara.

Dr O’Meara secured planning re- tention for the surgery from Clare County Council in the face of local Opposition.

In their appeal, the objectors state that the decision to grant a permis- sion “seems to have been made, not on good planning practice but on the grounds that a medical centre was in Operation and was necessary.

“We are of the opinion that if this medical centre is allowed to operate for a further two years, then it will be almost impossible to close down. A commercial enterprise of this nature is not suitable for a wholly residen- tial area. We strongly object to this development even on a temporary basis.”

They also claim that the develop- ment has already interfered with

their quality of life and ask that it be closed as soon as possible.

“This objection is not of a personal nature. We have no desire to harm the practice of either doctor nor to interfere with the medical care of the patients. We feel that the medi- cal centre is located in the wrong place and will devalue properties to the point where they will become un- saleable. The estate is not designed nor laid out to cater for the volume of traffic that would be generated by such an operation.”

The planner’s report noted a sub- mission from Maura O’Meara stat- ing “that this was the only building suitable to her needs as a doctor’s surgery, which was bought after much searching in the area”.

The planner stated, “While I do have some concerns in relation to the location of the surgery this far from the village, I note that such facilities are needed to serve both the village and the rural hinterland.”

The council granted planning per- mission on the basis that the proposed development would not seriously in- jure the amenities of the area.

A decision is due on the appeal later this year.

The Banner raised once more in 2008

A CLAREMAN who is to be hon- oured as part of the Muintir an Chlair celebrations of 50 years in business has said he was “stunned’ to be nominated.

Martin Corry a native of Cree, now living in Lucan in Dublin has been working with the association for all of those 50 years, as well as be- ing involved in promoting the Irish language, scouting groups, active re- tirement groups, the pastoral council and fund-raising for good causes.

Now retired, Martin has been stud- ying for a degree in Celtic and Irish studies and enjoys walking, having trekked in Peru two years ago and having walked the 144 miles of the Mid Clare Way to raise cash for a fel- low Clare citizen, Sr Ethel Normoyle, who runs the Missionvale Centre in South Africa.

‘IT was stunned and honoured to be nominated, considering the calibre of people who have been given the award before me. I’ve been involved in a lot of things but as a member of a team,’ said Martin.

The presentation will take place on January 28 at Muintir an Chlair’s an- nual dinner in the Red Cow.

Also being honoured on the night 1s musician, Frank Custy, who will be given a Hall of Fame award.

Attending the 50th birthday cel- ebrations will be more than 200 members of the association as well as patron, Bishop Willie Walshe and

the Deputy Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Se one

An invitation has also been sent to all surviving former Clare Person of the Year award winners.

During the year, the association has been involved in a number of ac- tivities including the raising €4,000 for the palliative care section at En- nistymon Hospital and €1,400 for Sr Normoyle – also a former recipient of the Clare Person of the Year award

– through a table quiz.

The association meets on the sec- ond Thursday of every month in the Garda Club in Harrington Street and new members are always welcome.

FEARS have been expressed that the Clare County Board’s desire to em- brace technology through having an up-to-date website could lead to the board being held to ransom by un- scrupulous web designers.

That was the claim made by county board secretary Pat Fitzgerald af- ter Wolfe Tones delegate Joe Kelly requested that for the coming sea- son up-to-date league tables posted weekly on claregaa.ie.

However, in response Fitzgerald pointed out that this could prove too costly in the short-term, while he also claimed that handing over the responsibility for updating the web- site to an outside authority could ex- pose the board to longterm financial loss.

“My concern is that if you hand something like that to a company

that in two years time it could cost this board about €10,000,” said Fit- zgerald.

“Tt would be irresponsible for me to

put a board or a group in the future in the hands of somebody that can hold you to ransom. Our view, it 1s a bit over the top to give that money

to build the software, but it does give you independence, it does give the Clare County Board jurisdiction over their future going forward.

“We could hand over control of it to an outside body who in my opin- ion, when they get it all up and run- ning, could charge telephone figures. It would be irresponsible for us as a board to allow that to happen,” he added.

The new Clare GAA website only went online early last year, but since then has had many teething prob- lems. The site fails to provide contact details and information relating to club secretaries, something that was included in the original claregaa.ie site that was taken down off the web last year.

THE proposed new Graduated Driv- ers License could bring an end to a host of youth related events in rural Clare – with a night-time curfew for drivers and age restriction for pas- sengers now being considered.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) last week announced a period of pub- lic consultation on the details of the proposed license.

While stating that safety was pri- mary, young farmers group Macra Na Feirme, called for a balanced approach to be taken to ensure that young people in rural Clare can have a safe social life.

Other proposed elements of the new license include a zero alcohol limit, increase in the penalty points and a restriction of the power of the car.

“The first thing to say about this new license is that safety is the most important thing,’ said Ivan Hayes, head of Macra in Clare.

“That said it is very hard to see how a curfew on young drivers would be possible. It would be impossible to enforce and unworkable for young

people in rural areas.

“We had a Macra social event in Ennis on Saturday night. There were a lot of young people there from dif- ferent parts of the county. There were two brothers who drove to the event and brought a full car with them. One brother drove in and the other was designated driver – he didn’t drink and drove all of them home.

“If there was a curfew then situa- tions like this, when people are act- ing responsibly would not be able to take place.

“Having said all of that however, the most important thing is road safety. We need to improve this but at the same time not make things un- duly difficulty for rural young peo- ple,” he said.

Macra na Feirme national president Catherine Buckley called for any measures suggested by the RSA to be debated to see if they are practical to implement.

Ms Buckley said that as well as using enforcement, the RSA should also use “the carrot approach” to en- courage young drivers to be respon- sible road users.

A major new fundraising drive among the Clare GAA public will be necessary to pay for redevelopment works at Cusack Park, delegates to last Thursday night’s special meeting of the county board heard.

As the county board continues to consider its options after the En- nis Town Council decision to turn down a re-zoning application for the Cusack Park site, county board sec- retary Pat Fitzgerald revealed that “fundraising” was the only way to pay for remedial works at the county grounds in the short-term.

“We are doing the drainage again — it only lasts for a certain amount of time. It is going to be an expensive one,” warned Fitzgerald. “I think we will be putting another fundraising drive in place — that’s the only way it can be done. The money isn’t there, end of story. Once you do anything in a structural situation the money has to be found,” he added.

This plea for financial help harks back to the County Grounds fund- raising drive of 30 years ago when a £200,000 investment in Cusack Park was made possible thanks to a Debenture Loan Scheme among the public that had a target of raising £50,000.

Meanwhile, county board chairman Michael O’Neill revealed work on Cusack Park is an ongoing project, but stressed that the board was still keen to explore the possibility of finding a new site within the Ennis catchment area to develop a new Cu- sack Park.

“We have done some remedial work

on the pitch itself,’ he revealed. “We will have to carry out a lot of work there in the next month to six weeks. We don’t even have that length of time to have the park ready for some big matches in the National League. We have to spend a few pounds, that’s the way it Is.

“We haven’t moved too far yet on looking for other grounds within the environs of Ennis, but we are look-

ing at other potential sites as we were asked to do so by the Ennis Town Sonia

“We are pursuing that, but it is fair to say that we are living in differ- ent times that we were this time last year, but we’re not going to give up on anything. You can take it that Cu- sack Park will be quite good before the year is out and will be well wor- thy of playing matches on it. That’s

all I have to say on the park,’ O’ Neill added.