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“We would have been very disap- pointed with our Munster final per- formance in 2008. We felt we should have and could have done a lot better than we did. We really have to make that good for the Clare supporters

who were there that day, the support- ers we felt we let down. We’re going to make that good and that’s our am- bition for the year. Our ambition now is to contest another Munster final and on this occasion to win it,’ Mc- Namara revealed.

“The bar is there. It’s held by Kil- kenny and held high. That’s what we have to attain and that’s what we have to achieve.

“We have levelled off what I used to determine the slide, now we can look with renewed optimism to what hope- fully will be a good league campaign and then an excellent championship campaign. It couldn’t be better. We train and train hard for big days and

big match days and we couldn’t ask for better than a Munster semi-final clash against either Cork or Tipper- ary, he added.

And, in sounding a bullishly confi- dent note for the year ahead, McNa- mara also revealed that youth will be given its fling throughout the season.

“There are some of last year’s panel that we didn’t bring back for a va- riety of reasons. There are a whole new range of people there. There is an open ended panel, with 10 or 12 players who haven’t appeared at sen- ior inter-county level before. We’re hoping that half a dozen of those will represent the county into the future.”

“We saw with the Under 21s last

year some very exciting new talents emerging. They were a very very good 21 team and a refusal to be beaten was written all over them, particularly against Cork in Cork.

‘“There’s excitement there and it’s up to us to target it and while it may not come to the fore immediately, certainly most of the new talent will be appearing and re-appearing through the league and through the championship with one eye to the fu- ture,’ added McNamara.

FINAL financial figures are expected to show that Lahinch Golf Club suf- fered a loss of €600,000 in 2008.

The number of golfers playing green fee rounds at the world famous golf course declined steeply in 2008 to 12,000, from a high in 2002 of Rol OeF

Since 2006 there has also been a 40 per cent drop in golfing tours visiting Lahinch. The figures are contained in Lahinch Golf Club’s Christmas newsletter to its members.

Club captain and Council Chairper- son, Padraig McInerney wrote, “As you are well aware, these are major recessionary times that we now live in. Lahinch Golf Club is not immune and has been hit by a large reduction in the number of green fee rounds being played during the year, mainly by our American friends.

He added, “These are down from a high of 19,600 in 2002 to 12,000 in 2008. This means that income for 2008 is well down and will result in losses for the year ended December 31 of £600,000 approximately.

“Tour operators golf rounds are down from 5,650 in 2006 to 3,450 in 2008 (40 per cent). The clubhouse refurbishment was deferred for these reasons and will be revisited once we have some stability. We expect these trends to continue into 2009 and we will be budgeting for further reduc- Wey e

Mr McInerney also outlines how the club plans to tackle the problem

of falling tourist numbers.

“Going forward, the council have agreed to tackle these problems in three ways: 1) We are conducting a major review of the club’s overhead, work practices and contract agree- ments to see where savings can be made; 2) We are reviewing our mar- keting strategy with a view to stabi- lizing and maximizing our green fee income; 3) We are also reviewing all categories of club membership, vis a vis the value we have to offer our existing members and prospective

members.”

Lahinch Golf Club opened its doors to 22 new members in 2008. Welcoming the new members Mr McInerney explained the new en- trants are “made up of seven spouses and siblings of existing members, nine brothers and sisters of existing members, five from the immediate locality and one, not from the afore- mentioned localities.”

Plan for Traveller accommodation ‘bodes ill

AHEAD of the four day National Hunt Festival at Leopardstown, which begins on Friday, St Stephen’s Day, trainer Willie Mullins has con- firmed he could run_ stablemates Cousin Vinny and Hurricane Fly in the same race for the second time in a month.

The possibility of the two meeting could arrive on Saturday as over the weekend, Mullins said that there was “every possibility” that Cousin Vin- ny will run.

Last year, Cousin Vinny was the first horse to complete the Chelten- ham and Punchestown bumper dou- ble and Mullins confirmed that is he does go on Saturday, it wouldn’t pose a problem to the trainer if he and Hurricane Fly run in the same race.

“Cousin Vinny’s hurdling debut was very pleasing and he obviously has loads of speed as you need that to win three bumpers,” said Mullins. ‘“He’s won on good ground and on soft ground but his best form is on good ground.”

Mullins also stated that Hurricane Fly has had some invaluable experi- ence of late. “He had a lot of expert- ence form his runs in the spring,” he continued. “He stepped back to two miles last time but two and a half miles isn’t a problem either as he was second in a Grade One and won a

Grade Three over that trip.”

Meanwhile, over the weekend, the big news from Thurles was that odds on favourite Solwhit failed to land the Jockey Hotel Hurdle on Sunday.

With Paddy Flood on board, Nine- tieth Minute was steered to success despite Charles Byrnes’ Solwhit go- ing to the track priced at 1-3.

To Flood’s credit, though, Ninetieth Minute looked to be in control of the race from start to finish and despite a strong fight from Solwhit, he was un- able to get ahead in the race and ulti- mately lost by three parts of a length at the line.

However, it wasn’t a total negative experience for Byrnes as Dromin Hill Echo, with Lenny Flynn on board, landed the Molony Cup Handicap Chase in emphatic fashion.

Afterwards, Byrnes also confirmed that he will go at Leopardstown and Limerick and will most likely go to Limerick under a mandatory pen- alty.

There was further positive news for Byrnes when his 50-1 shot Bit of a Devil took the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Two out, Bit of a Devil took control of the race and bombed home in what was a first winner for jockey Justin AY Lora) ens

THERE was one election at the 2008 GAA convention — for the five places up for grabs among seven contestants for honour of joining board chairman Michael O’Neill and secretary Pat Fitzgerald as delegates to the 2009 GAA Congress.

Robert Frost (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Noel Walsh (St Joseph’s Mailtown), Syl O’Connor (Sixmilebridge), Ger Hickey (Feakle) and John O’Sullivan (Ruan) were the candidates who won out, with board vice-chairman John-

ny Hill (Lissycasey) and longtime Congress delegate Gabriel Keating (Naomh Eoin) losing out. Meanwhile, only one position on the Clare County Board team re- mains vacant, as convention failed to election a Youth Officer. Both Michael O’Connor (Crusheen) and Sean O’Halloran (Bodyke) were nominated for the position, but de- clined to let their names go forward. “It would be very selfish of me to allow my name go forward. I have the position of cathaoirleach of Bord na nOg Jomaint and the job of youth

officer 1s a very important position. I decline my name going forward,” said Sean O’ Halloran.

‘Sean has a lot to offer as youth of- ficer and I would hope that he would re-consider,’ said secretary Pat Fit- zgerald.

“IT too an important a position to be dual mandated,’ responded O’Halloran. “It is a crucial position, especially in the modern era with the development of our games. I believe that the position should stand on its own merits. On that basis I won’t al- low my name go forward.”

HOPES in Eire Og hurling circles that Ogonnelloe were about to hand them a Christmas present of staying up at senior level for the 2009 cham- pionship season have been quashed WOM Wiere) © a

Word was rife within Eire Og ranks that Ogonnelloe were on the cusp of lodging an application with the Clare County Board to be regraded from senior to intermediate level for 2009.

Depleted playing numbers and the possible transfer of a couple of high profile players from the club were thought to be at the root of such a move by the east Clare club that has punched above its weight at senior level for the past decade.

However, speaking to

PROTESTERS in Ennis served a re- minder to Clare TDs on Friday that cutbacks in education spending have not been forgotten about.

Just over three months after Min- ister for Finance Brian Lenihan announced a raft of controversial budget measures, parents at Ennis CBS took to the streets to voice their anger at the cuts.

Members of the Parents’ Associa- tion of Ennis CBS visited the offices of Clare’s government representatives on Friday last where they handed in letters outlining the implications of the proposed budget cutbacks on pu- pils of the CBS.

They also urged TDs to support parent’s calls to reverse the decision’s taken in October’s budget.

According to a statement released by Ennis CBS, the school will lose three teachers if the cutbacks pro- ceed as planned.

“The loss of a teacher due to the increased pupil teacher ration of 28:1 will impact on class sizes and it may be necessary to split classes. This will happen in a situation where a number of pupils in the CBS are already in classes exceeding 30+ pupils. We do not hold the Principal or Board of Management culpable for this situation’, declares the state- ment.

School representatives say Ennis CBS will lose two English language support teachers and will be heavily impacted by funding cuts.

According to the school this in- cludes a loss of €1270 for learning Support and resource grants for pu- pils with special needs; a reduction in Traveller education funding with a resulting loss of €3000 to the school; the abolition of the free book scheme which equals a loss of €1724.50 and the abolition of funding for the local library which supports the school class libraries, resulting in a loss of funding to CBS of €2540.00.

Parents and teachers are also con- cerned by the cut in funding for pri- mary school building by 5%, point-

ing to rising costs in electricity, phone, fuel etc.

The statement concludes, ““Parents/ guardians are concerned that, despite a capital allocation in the Budget, we are no nearer to obtaining a new premises despite acknowledgment at political and educational level of the need for a new school”.

“DANGEROUS and irresponsible” is how the GPs of the county have de- scribed plans by the HSE to remove 24-hour acute surgical services from Ennis General Hospital from April iF

The removal of the services will not just downgrade the hospital’s serv- ices but it will also lead to the end of 24-hour accident and emergency services at the county’s hospital, ac- cording to the doctors.

Chairman of the Clare Faculty of the Irish College of General Practi- tioners, Michael Harty said, “The re- moval of 24-hour surgical services at MWRH-Ennis will lead in sequence to the loss of anaesthetic on call serv- ices, intensive care and coronary care services, all acute medical emergen-

cy services, and finally the discon- tinuation of all in patient admissions and casualty services. By removing surgical services, the HSE will be re- moving the key-stone which supports all other services and will lead to the domino collapse of all acute services at MWRH-Ennis.”

Dr Harty was speaking after in- formal meetings between GP rep- resentatives from Clare and north Tipperary and the project manager appointed to over see the recommen- dations of the review of acute serv- ices in the mid-west also know as the teamwork report.

The report is expected to be pub- lished in January, with its recom- mendations to be implemented in rule

“No provision has been made to provide alternative services in Ennis

or additional services in Limerick Regional Hospital, which is already unable to cope with its existing work load. Ambulance personnel will not be able to safely supply the addi- tional services required,” warned Dr eEvua‘e

“The general practitioners funda- mentally oppose and object to this poorly thought out dismantling of acute services in Clare, at a time when the alternative being offered is already over stretched and full to ca- pacity,” said the Clare doctors’ repre- sentative. “This change is not safe or sensible,” he said.

“Our understanding is that the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limer- ick is functioning beyond its means. It does not have the capacity to deal with the extra workload. There is a problem with the structure in Limer-

ick to deal with an influx of patients and how they will be processed,” said Dr Harty.

“The dismantling of acute services has been planned and is being im- plemented without any consultation with the general practitioners or the patients of the county.

“This administrative decision 1s founded on financial savings and is not based on quality of care issues or the principals of safe and sensible medical practice,” he said.

A HE spokesperson said, “The HSE is currently working on de- tailed plans to address patient safety concerns in the mid-west, which are already in the public domain. The in- tention is to communicate fully with the key stakeholders as soon as this process is complete and this includes general practitioners.”

THE chambers of commerce in the mid-west have come out in force to welcome the news that the Heathrow slots are to return to Shannon.

The American Chamber of Com- merce mid west region has welcomed the news saying that the region must now capitalise on the opportunities this, and other recent developments at the Airport present.

Chairman Bill Doherty, © said; “Shannon Airport, with connectiv- ity to both Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle, together with daily transat- lantic flights and the strong presence

of Ryanair is at its strongest for many years. Business and tourism inter- ests, working together with the man- agement at Shannon Airport must now capitalise on the opportunities presented by daily connectivity to two of the busiest airports in Europe as well as the granting of full Cus- toms and Border Protection (CBP) pre-clearance facilities for transat- lantic services to the US. *

He added that the “pre-clearance facilities at Shannon will make it easier for airlines to do business in Ireland and will save time for busi- ness people travelling between Ire- land and the US. It also opens other

opportunities for the airport in terms of attracting corporate aviation and freight services to Shannon to avail of this facility.”

Ennis Chamber CEO, Rita MclIner- ney, said that the announcement is “a major boost for business in this re- gion. We’re absolutely delighted and we would hope that it might increase from two slots to four again.”

And she urged business people to “come out and support the route. A lot of people may have made other ar- rangements by now, and while we’re not impressed with what Aer Lingus did, we should support the service now as a business community.

Particularly with the early morning flight out and the evening return, this route was very successful before it was pulled.”

President of Limerick Chamber Sean Lally stated, “We are delight- ed to welcome Aer Lingus back to Shannon Airport. This is something which we have continued to lobby for on behalf of our members since the routes were discontinued 12 months ago.

“The restoration of these flights is a clear indicator that the region has both the critical mass and com- mercial viability to warrant their re- ate

INDUSTRY and_ business _repre- sentatives have been predicting a lift in the region’s fortunes as a result of the return of the Heathrow routes to SJetvepeleyee

IBEC Mid West Director Mr Chris O’Donovan said “The restoration of this connection is a huge boost to the Mid West. It restores an essential link to one of the world’s most important airport hubs giving the region truly international access.”

He said that in the past few months, there has been a dramatic downturn in the regional economy. “Some of our top employers have reduced the numbers employed and are facing huge uncertainty in markets in 2009. Today’s news is a welcome boost to confidence in the region and we wel- come the Aer Lingus commitment to Shannon as a base for both long and short haul flights in the future.”

“Shannon Development warmly welcomes the announcement by Aer Lingus to go back on the Shan- non-Heathrow route. This route is a critical part of the west of Ireland’s economic infrastructure, particularly for the tourism and industry sectors. Over the years the Heathrow service has been essential in enticing foreign direct investment, new indiginous in- dustries, and tourists to the West of Ireland.

John Brassil, Chairman Shannon Development and Chairman ACA

(Atlantic Connectivity Alliance said that Shannon Development actively works with Aer Lingus, City Jet and Ryanair on all of their UK and European air services into Shannon Airport.

“In this difficult economic climate we will be redoubling our efforts and would ask all business and tourism interests in the region to get behind the Heathrow route,” he said.

The Irish Hotels Federation Shan- non Branch chairman, Michael Vaughan, said hoteliers and _ busi- nesses in the west have always been convinced about the viability of the route, which clearly makes sound business sense. We are glad that Aer Lingus staff and management recently negotiated new operational terms that have precipitated the re- turn of the service. We look forward

to working closely with the company to promote the service to the benefit of the region and local economy.”