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DESPITE the Doolin branch of the Irish Coastguard recording it’s high- est ever call-out figures in 2008, it now seem likely that the long await- ed modern facility for the lifeboats 1s at least three years away.

The matter was raised in the Dail last week when Fine Gael TD, Pat Breen said that he “hoped and prayed” that that facilities would be put in place as soon as possible.

“All that we know at the moment is that negotiations are still ongoing with the landowner and these nego- tiations are at a very advanced stage. We also know that the funding has been put aside by the Office of Public Works for the purchase of the site in Doolin in 2009,” said Matty Shan- non of the Doolin Coastguard.

“We are hopeful that it will happen sooner rather than later. Once we get the site the next challenge will be to get financing for a building, which could be another campaign in itself.”

“While an agreement for the pur- chase of a site looks likely to be completed in 2009, no funding 1s currently allocated for the construc- tion of a rescue centre.”

Speaking in Dail Eireann last week Clare TD Pat Breen said that, “this volunteer group 1s operating out of a building that is no bigger than an average garden shed. I hope and pray

that a proper facility will be put in place in the new year. Is it right that they should be forced to battle the poor infrastructure while they go about their life-saving work?”

The Doolin branch of the Irish Coastguard responded to 43 call out to date in 2008, 50 per cent more than last year.

“It’s seems that people are more aware of the rescue organisation that are operating around the county and are more aware of people be- ing in the sea. People are becoming more vigilant of the whole situation. We did have a number of situations where people spotted a buoy in the

sea and we were called out. They were rough seas at the time but it’s better to go out and rescue a buoy than if people don’t ring in if there was an emergency.

“This does create a disturbance for the team member because they are being called more often. But as long as people are aware then that is the main thing. What is more im- portant than people being aware of other people in the water is if people were very vigilant of their own safety while in the water.

COUNTY Board secretary Pat Fit- zgerald has put it up to the clubs of the county to decide on the next move in relation to Cusack Park.

It was the clubs that 12 months ago voted overwhelmingly for the sell- ing of Cusack Park for development and building a new stadium on the outskirts of Ennis — now in light of planning permission setbacks they’re being asked whether it would be pru- dent to revert to the original 2003 blueprint for the redevelopment of Cusack Park.

This question on whether the county board, with the mandate of the clubs, should finally abandon all hopes of cashing in on the potential development value of the nine-acre Cusack Park site in Ennis, will be formally put before delegates to this Thursday’s convention in the Auburn Lodge Hotel.

“The decision that now faces the clubs is where to next,” Pat Fitzger- ald has said in his first annual report to a Clare GAA Convention as full- time secretary. “Cusack Park is in a dilapidated condition, badly in need of a facelift. Do we retrieve the plans proposed by former county chair- man, Fr Michael McNamara and in- vest substantial resources, anything up to €10 million, in upgrading Cu- sack Park or do we bide our time and try with a renewed bid in a few years

to relocate to a new greenfield site? I would welcome the views of the clubs on this.”

Fitzgerald’s move to hand the con-

troversial Cusack Park subject back to the clubs comes only two weeks after former county board vice- chairman, Michael Lee, claimed that

the clubs wanted the existing Cusack Park site to be redeveloped in the first place.

“Five years ago we had the man-

date of the clubs,” said Lee, “‘and that mandate was to redevelop Cusack Park and try and get ten acres close to Ennis to develop a state of the art facility for training, not a farm of land in Tulla as they have now.

“T, as chairman of the fundrais- ing committee, with county board chairman Fr Michael McNamara had secured charitable status for the development that would allow tax re- lief in relation to subscription for the development. We had a financial pro- gramme in place. We were hoping to get €750,000 in lottery funding and Munster Council and Central Coun- cil grants to slot in the project. If I had been elected chairman it would have been finished a long time ago. We were financially set up to do the job and had the mandate to do it, but that mandate was changed. A mis- take was made.

“It is still an ideal venue and can be for the next 20 years. Then the next generation can look into where they want to go with Cusack Park,’ Lee told

CLARE County Council is to carry out upgrade works on two treatment plants to boost sewage capacity in Syavauksy

Senior executive engineer Walter Walshe told last Wednesday’s budget meeting of Clare County Council that work at a site in Clonroadmore, Ennis should be completed by Sep- tember 2009.

The move comes as progress con- tinues to be slow on the long mooted

Ennis Clarecastle main drainage scheme. The project, which would add extra sewage capacity in Ennis, was first proposed in 1995.

The meeting heard that work on the scheme is not expected to begin until 2010. Walter Walshe, senior execu- tive engineer, told the meeting that the process had been delayed in re- cent months pending completion of a cost/benefit analysis report.

‘Hopefully by the end of the year, we can finalise it and send it to the department.”

Cllr Tommy Brennan said the de- lays had negatively impacted on LoynaueassKoE DMO Coa Zed o)oyeeCornmnO me ONNNKS

He said, “There is to be no move- ment on the plant until 2010. What will people do in the meantime? We’ve been reduced to a situation where not even one more house can plug into the main sewer”’.

“Go ahead for this plant was given in 2002. Its high time the department were brought to book on this. How can you pay for something with de- velopment charges, if you can’t let

people develop”, added Cllr Bren- TENOR

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) called for the council executive to give a strong commitment to the Ennis Clarecastle Main drainage scheme.

“Development in the town is mori- bund. Even if we had a full time boom we would not be able to take advantage,” said Cllr Meaney.

Director of services David Timlin said assessments were still being carried out on the Ennis Clarecas- tle main drainage scheme. “There

is a very strong commitment from the executive to the project. We are looking for funding from the depart- ment”, said Mr Timlin.

Clare County Council estimates that it will spend over €22 million on water services for the county next year. That 1s an increase of almost €3 million from the estimated 2008 figure.

Deputy county manager Noreen Fitzgerald expenditure had _ swal- lowed up a large part of the council’s finances in recent years.

TWO Clare clubs are determined to take the fight to retain the Interpro- vincial hurling and football competti- tions on the GAA calendar to Central Council level, even though full-time secretary Pat Fitzgerald claims that the series now “faces a doomsday Nero tte CO ee

The commitment of both the St Joseph’s Miltown and Crusheen clubs to the Interprovincials — formerly known as the Railway Cups — that date from 1927 will be brought to the floor of Thursday’s annual conven- tion in the Auburn Lodge.

Both have tabled motions in a bid to give another strand to the long-run- ning Clare campaign to safeguard the competition and ensure that it forms an integral part of the annual GAA calendar.

Former GAA presidential candidate Noel Walsh from Miltown has been a Interpro loyalist for many years — championing the competition at local, provincial and national level — while Martin Donnelly from Co- oraclare has pumped over €500,000 into sponsoring it over the last five years.

The St Joseph’s Miltown motion reads: “That incoming Uachtaran appoint a Task Force to recommend and advice to aid the promotion and advancement of the Interprovincial Hurling and Football Champion- ethene

The Crusheen motion reads: “That the Railway Cups Interprovincial Hurling/Football competitions be retained and in particular hurling, where there is no international com- petition for players to express them- selves.

The competition to be played over

one weekend with the All-Ireland hurling and footballers winners host- ing the competition with financial Support from sponsors and Croke Park. This competition could be played early in the year before the start of all National Leagues if pos- sible.”

However, county board secretary Pat Fitzgerald paints a bleak picture on the future of the competition. ‘For the past few years I have con-

sistently expressed my reservations and questioned the commitment of Croke Park to the Martin Donnelly Interprovincial Championships.

“Is the end nigh? Reflecting on the Interprovincials over the past few years, one cannot but arrive at the conclusion that there is apathy in many quarters to the continuation of the series.

‘They appear to be on a stay of ex- ecution. It’s 1s difficult to see Martin

Donnelly continue to bankroll the much-maligned competition when the level of cooperation isn’t what it should be.

‘To me it seems there is an indiffer- ent attitude within the GAA hierar- chy towards the interpros and as long as that remains the former Railway Cup faces a doomsday scenario”.

THE involvement of local people will be key if the work of the new- ly launched Burren Trust is to be a success. The trust was officially launched by botanist David Bellamy on Thursday, and the world famous botanist stressed the importance of the involvement of local people. Trust organiser and founder of Bur- renBeo, Brendan Dunford said that membership of the trust is open to all and that each member will be given a say into how the organisation is man-

aged.

“We see this as a first for Ireland, in fact I don’t know of any project exactly like this is existence,’ said Professor Dunford.

“We would see this as broadening out on the work that BurrenBeo has been working on for year. We would like to see this work branching out and involving more and more peo- eter

“We really want the membership to get involved. We had more than 200 people in Ballyvaughan for the launch and everybody was chipping

in and helping out. We need people to come forward with their ideas and drive this project forward.” Professor Bellamy said that the trust could become a model for envi- ronmental protection worldwide. “The happiest day of my life was the day that I got married but to be here to launch his project is the sec- ond happiest. I just could not have said no to coming here,” he said. “This is the best piece of karst landscapes in all of Europe and it is in great danger. It could be loved to death but it could be loved back to

life again.

‘“T have been around the world four times already this year and I believe that what is going on here could be- come a great model for sites all over the world.

“If we brand the Burren we can have farmers who will produce beau- tiful cheese, beautiful beef and beau- tiful lamb.

“We have to choose what we do wisely. The real wisdom here 1s with the local people and fortunately big governments are scared of the people on the ground.”

Bellamy riles green Meaney

AFTER weeks of honing perform- ances, songs and dance routines, the East Clare Musical Society are ready to delight audiences with their latest production. “Some Like It Hot”.

After two years of highly success- ful shows, with ‘God Bless Archie Dean’ and ‘Oaklahoma” the talented troupe is back.

Some Like It Hot, based on the screenplay by Billy Wilder tells the story of two struggling musicians, Joe and Jerry, in 1920’s Chicago. Lady Luck isn’t on their side and when they witness the “Valentine Massacre” involving Spats and his Gang their fate 1s sealed ,unless they get out of town fast. They rush to join a band, however, they have to use all their talents to fit in with “Sweet Sue and her Society Syncopaters” as they head for sunny Miami.

Thinking they’ve landed in heaven, Joe and Jerry soon realise that hiding out at the beach isn’t going to be easy, especially with the irresistible Sugar around. Things just go from bad to worse with hilarious results!

This heartwarming comedy guar- antees to have audiences in stitches.

Jerry 1s played by Shay O’Neill, Joe is played by Paul Conroy, Sugar is played by Sandra O’Farrell, along with a cast of over 30 from East Orie

Tickets are priced at €15 for adults and €8 for under 18’s and are avail- able from Roger’s Centra, Scar- iff, _McKeogh’s Londis, Ballina, MV ‘Touhy’s, Coose, or they can be booked by phoning Doreen on 087 PAN Se leree

The show runs at Scariff Commu- nity Hall from December 11 to 14.

Robin has, in previous years organ- ised fairs in The West County and Buratty, but this was the first time he had something going literally on his doorstep.

The lovely thing about shopping for antiques is that “whether some- one has a tenner to spend or twenty thousand, there’s always something affordable.” said Robin.

And with more than a dozen deal- ers putting out their stalls, there was plenty of fun for bargain hunters and treasure-spotters.

Lovers of contemporary Irish art had a treat at specialist, Louis Walshe of “Treasures’ stall, where there were originals on offer with prices starting at €400. Irish art dealer, Robert De- lahunty was also on hand and with a stall full of “fabulous and fantastical clocks” timepiece dealer, Michael Cunnane kept business ticking over nicely.

For the princely entrance fee of €3.50 bargain hunters were wafted along with steaming mugs of mulled wine and the delights of all things ancient and venerable.

Describing the event as “small but exclusive,’ Robin said it was “nice to have something close to home for people to browse, or buy Christmas presents or add to their collections.”

It was a small event in terms of the Luxury Collection fair in October in the K Club, where the glitteratti gathered to see Boodles diamonds, a €20 million collection of jewels from Sotheby’s or the full range of classic Bentley’s and Harley David- sons.

But good things come in small par- cels and there were plenty of small parcels carried away from the Lake- side that will be treasured as much as any sparkler when they are opened on Christmas morning.

Ronan Judge & Andrew Hamilton

PEDESTRIANISATION of the main shopping streets, Sunday shopping and late night opening are some of the measures being introduced next week in an effort to boost Christmas shopping in Ennis.

The town centre will be traffic free on Saturday 13, Saturday 20, Sunday 21 and Wednesday, December 24 from llam to 6pm.

The main retail outlets will be open for Sunday shopping on December 14, 21 and 28 while there will be late opening on Thursday 18, Friday 19, Monday 22 and Tuesday, December 23. Shops will reopen after Christ- mas on Saturday, December 27.

Ennis Town Council and Ennis Chamber are encouraging custom- ers to park n’shop on the pedestri- anised days by parking in the town

centre public car parks and walking to the car-free areas of Abbey Street, O’Connell Square and O’Connell Nisteem

On pedestrianised days, access can be gained from Francis Street by turning right onto Lower Abbey Street and into Abbey Street car park – making it easy for traffic to circle the town centre to get to any destina- tion.

In addition to the town car parks, the Holy Family School and Ennis National School will be opening their car parks at a cost of €3 per day.

Details of the availability of park- ing and access for traffic on pedes- trianised days are outlined in the at- tached map.