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BUNRATTY Search and Rescue has just wound down after a particularly quiet year, in terms of rescue opera- tions.

It responded to just two alerts over the past 12 months, which is calm in comparison with previous years. It was one of the quietest years since the group was established in 1989.

One of the operations resulted in the body of a woman being recov-

ered in Limerick in November, while three men were rescued in the other incident earlier this year.

“We were out for 23 days in the search for the woman. Apart from those two incidents, we were quiet,” said treasurer of Bunratty Search and Rescue, Bob Potter.

However, although their services were not regularly required, the 23 members of the club were busy throughout the year as regular train- ing is part and parcel of its work.

“The training is important. Over the years, there were times when bodies were found while we were out training,” said Mr Potter.

It costs in the region of €20,000 to run the club annually and fundrais- ing is essential for its survival. A col- lection at Shannon town centre prior to Christmas yielded €4,000, while almost €3,000 was raised by gardai from Clare during their annual cycle for charity earlier this year.

The club held its New Year’s Eve

party in the Creamery Bar last week and the proceeds of the night went to WeCome tUloy

“Local support is important,” said Mr Potter.

IN one of his last official EU actions confirmed before the Christmas break, Clare TD and Junior Minis- ter at the Department of Agriculture, Tony Killeen, announced a total of €202 million in fishing quotas for Ireland in 2009.

This announcement came after weeks of negotiations at EU level and represents an increase of five per cent on last years figures.

The Hague Preferences again came under sustained attack from several Member States this year and their re- moval had been identified as a real risk with serious consequences for Ireland.

The preferences, agreed by Heads

of State in 1976, give Ireland addi- tional quota in certain species and are a fundamental part of relative stability. They give Ireland a bigger share of the traditional stocks around Ireland, if they are at low levels. They have become increasingly im- portant to Ireland as quotas of fish that fishermen are allowed to catch have decreased.

“The Hague Preferences almost doubled Ireland’s cod quota in the Celtic Sea and increased the cod quota in the Irish Sea by some 40 per cent,” said Minister Killeen.

“I cannot emphasise enough the difficulty we faced on a number of fronts in regard to the Hague Prefer- ences and I am both pleased and re- lieved that we have been successful

in our efforts to defend an issue of critical importance for Irish fisher- neoee

“IT am delighted to have been suc- cessful in delivering a_ balanced package of fishing opportunities for our fishermen in what were ex- tremely difficult negotiations. I have worked closely with our Industry Representatives, the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF), over the past number of weeks and especially dur- ing the negotiations to ensure that where possible Ireland’s priorities were delivered.”

One of the major objectives of Ire- land was the roll over of the Prawn quota in The Irish and Celtic seas. This was virtually achieved with the reduction being rolled back from the

proposed 15 per cent to just 2 per oom

‘This year we faced a severe range of cuts across many of the commer- cial stocks that our fleet are reliant on,” he continued.

‘After careful consideration of the Scientific advice for these stocks, I sought increases on the proposed quotas where I was satisfied that the state of the stock could sustain high- er catch level.

“IT accepted cuts on stocks where the science was strong and created cause for concern. In the final pack- age, a balance has been struck that will give our fishermen, whitefish opportunities to the value of €202 million for 2009 from €194 million on 2008.”

ae AM rl (oO eC MED M OTIC EranLE

THE racing season is once more coming under the spell of Tubber jockey Derek O’Connor. His latest feats on the saddle came over Christ- mas when he rode the massive total of ten winners throughout the festive period.

Four of those came on the track — including Leopardstown, Limerick, Tramore and Navan – while the re- maining six came, amazingly, at one meeting in Dromohane, just outside Mallow in County Cork.

There was an historic element to his six winners at the Cork course, as O’Connor became only the third jockey to complete such a feat. On the day, O’Connor had ten rides and his 60% success rate meant he was pleased on his way back to Clare while those who backed him on the day were just as happy.

“Anybody who’d been on me that day would have left with a smile on their face for sure,” he said on Mon- day. “It was a great day definitely. But I’d great support as well from trainers and owners and when you think about it, you wouldn’t be able to manage something like that with- out that kind of support.”

JS Oyobeu oom abNOM Yee D) maelemssQuomcitce nificant considering he had been out of action for six weeks after he dislo- cated his shoulder at Roscommon on November 2.

“I’m delighted with the way things have gone since I came back,’ he added. “The season is only a couple of months old and I’ve been missing for a fair chunk of that but after the

Christmas run I’m up to 20 winners, which is decent enough for this time of year.”

The highlight of that Christmas run came at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day when he landed the €30,000 Bumper.

‘There was a bit of pressure going into that one. A packed house and big purse and an important race, but thankfully everything went right and we got the result we were looking for.”

O’Connor will remain on the point

to point circuit for the coming weeks and months in a bid to continue the winning streak he has built up and maintain the Christmas momentum.

“It’s the point to points that I’m in- terested in really. That’s what I’ll be concentrating on for the next while

and hopefully Pl be able to build on the Christmas form.”

ALLEGATIONS that a Kilrush man was intimidated and offered cash to drop charges in relation to an alleged assault on Christmas Eve have been made this week.

The claim came yesterday in the case of two young men charged in connec- tion with an incident in the west Clare town on Christmas Eve. Gardai have launched an investigation into the claims and said that the victim of the alleged assault was in fear of going to court yesterday.

Eamon Hall (20), of Wood Road, Kilrush, is accused of stealing a car at Burton Street car park in the town, last Wednesday, December 24.

Another man, Simon Rogers (19), of Willow Green, Kilrush, 1s accused of assaulting the owner of the car caus- bOrea er U OEE

He is also accused of allowing him- self to be carried in a stolen car and damaging another car in Kilrush, on the same date.

Airport traffic figures nosedive

THE operators of the Shannon Le1- Sure Centre, where workers have been told that they will be laid off for 21 weeks from next week while a major refurbishment project is un- dertaken, have warned SIPTU of the implications for the future viability of the facility if the works do not go ahead.

SIPTU has already asked that the €1.2m refurbishment plan “be shelved pending discussion on alter- native arrangements which would ac- commodate both staff and patrons”.

The centre’s 15 staff are due to be laid off for 21 weeks from next Mon- day while the work 1s undertaken.

While SIPTU has demanded that the work be put on hold, the board of the centre has warned of the serious implications for the long-term viabil- ity of the leisure centre if the works do not go ahead as planned.

A letter to SIPTU stated, “The board’s position continues to be that the only viable option is to com- mence the renovations and exten- sion on January 5 to ensure the long term viability of centre, guarantee employment into the future, and en- sure that the community continues to have affordable, modern recreation EYOVU BLO oxna

SIPTU Branch Secretary Mary

O’Donnell said, “This centre is fund- ed largely by public contributions and the public purse and we do not believe that it is in the public interest that people who are not affected fi- nancially by this decision should cast aside these loyal employees onto the public social system, while public funds are spent on renovation.”

A spokesperson for the leisure cen- tre said they thought “long and hard about this” before deciding it was the best option from a health and safety perspective.

‘Health and safety issues have to be our primary concern. We can- not have such major works going on while we have staff and clients in the oluun Counersam

Under the plan, the building con- tract will take 20 weeks while the centre will be closed for 21 weeks to allow time to prepare for the reopen- ing. If the works were allowed to go on while the facility was open to the public, it would take 30 weeks and cost up to €200,000 more, money which centre management say “we just don’t have”’.

The board of the centre has restat- ed, “This €1.2m refurbishment is a major investment in the facility and the town and it safeguards jobs at the centre for the future.”

SIPTU say its position is un- changed.

MUNSTER were not the only ones to pull off a victory when they defeated Clermont Auvergne in Thomond aeuseonleny

When Jerry Flannery pushed over Marcus Horan to give Munster the lead in those fateful final minutes, neither player knew that their actions were going to determine much more than the result of the game.

If that had not happened, then Paul Rossiter would not have been able to go through with his plan to propose to Olive McNamara, daughter of Clare County Manager and Scariff publican, Michael McNamara.

“Thank God for Horan, only for him I would have had to wait until another night and [ had it all planned. When he went over he saved my life, if they had lost I wouldn’t have been able to go through with it,” Paul said immediately after the big moment.

When the TMO finally gave the try over the ref-link, he turned to Olive and proposed in the middle of the mayhem that was going on all around Weloseen

“T was stunned for a minute. I re- member seeing the sparkle of the ring and then it made sense. He was be- side himself until the try was given. In fact, he was acting very strangely all day and I was wondering what was wrong with him, but then it all made sense,” said a delighted Olive.

Paul and Olive have been going out for seven months or so and had discussed getting engaged but hadn’t

made any concrete plans.

Olive is a garda stationed in Nenagh and Paul lives near New Ross and plays rugby with New Ross RFC but has been an avid Munster supporter for many years. Saturday was his 70th Munster match. Knowing that they were coming up for the game, Paul pre-arranged it secretly with the jeweller during the week that a ring which Olive had admired would be ready.

After he proposed and Olive ac- cepted, Paul grabbed professional photographer, Richard Leonard who had been working at the match, to

record the big moment with a picture on the pitch.

The happy couple haven’t yet set a date but are thinking of some time towards the end of 2010.

“It was kind of ironic that we got engaged at a rugby match when my dad is so involved with hurling but When he played for Waterpark in Waterford, we watched rugby every Sunday,” said Olive.

Government called on to help US Irish

THE first tentative steps have been taken towards the formation of what could be a new force in Clare foot- ball – a senior football champion- ship alliance between O’Curry’s and Naomh Eoin.