Category: Uncategorized

AFTER almost twenty years, the Kil- fenora branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann has been reformed.

At a recent meeting the following officers were elected to plan a pro- gramme of activities for the branch – Mrs Phil McMahon (President); John Morgan (Chairman); Julie Nea (Secretary); Noel O’Donohue (Treas- urer); Mathew Griffey (PRO) and Sharon Howley (Youth Officer).

The meeting was attended by of- ficers of the county CCE board who

offered every help in setting up the branch.

It was decided to hold a series of concerts with local musicians, sing- ers and dancers starting on Friday next, December 5 in Kilfenora Hall at 8.00 sharp when three generations of Kilfenora traditional entertainers will perform on this very special oc- casion.

To make it an enjoyable night, the new committee hope it will be well supported and give a platform for young musicians, singers and danc- ers to perform .

THE owner of a timber firm lost his life in an industrial accident in east Clare, when a machine he was work- ing on overturned on him.

Noel Reilly (49) – a native of Cavan but who had lived in Feakle – died at Lough Graney Stakes at Leighurd, Caher, on the morning of August 6 last, an inquest into his death has heard.

Mr Reilly’s first cousin Sean Mc- Donnell told Ennis Coroner’s Court he received a phone call from An- thony Naughton, telling him that Mr Reilly was trapped under a machine. He went to the plant, where he saw Mr Reilly’s body trapped under a machine.

Another witness, Seamus Naugh- ton, said that Mr Reilly had been loading trailers with timber waste for about an hour that morning. At one stage, Mr Naughton glanced over his shoulder and saw the top of the arm of a machine moving in a way that wasn’t right. He then saw the ma-

chine capsizing.

“T went down and touched Noel. His face was purple and I knew he was dead,” he said.

Garda Pat McGrath told the in- quest that gardai attended the scene of the accident that morning. Gardai had been told that the owner of the plant had been thrown from a H1- tachi tracker machine and had died. Three employees were on the site at the time.

Pathologist Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy carried out a post mortem examina- tion on Mr Reilly’s body. She said that death was due to cardio respira- tory arrest, secondary to traumatic WN elove-len(emerMUneMDAY IEDM (oKe

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the ac- cident was “very tragic and sad” and said the only possible verdict was one of accidental death.

She said it must have been particu- larly traumatic for the workers who saw the accident happening, but were powerless to do anything about it. The jury returned a verdict of ac- cidental death.

that doctors are over-prescribing antibiotics as patients continue to look for a quick fix for common ill- nesses. “Patients may not be aware that antibiotics are not appropriate as a treatment for the common cold or

a flu virus. They are effective only against bacterial infections. We need to give antibiotics the respect they deserve and take them only when absolutely necessary; otherwise we are putting lives at risk, not only for patients today but also for future gen- erations. If you are prescribed antibi- otics by your doctor, it is important to take them exactly as prescribed,” he said.

Mr Hillery said that many GPs are very busy with large patient attend- ance and they do not necessarily have the time to carry out the in-depth ex-

aminations they would like.

“Doctors prescribe antibiotics as a means to an end,” he said.

“There is a school of thought out there that antibiotics are prescribed to stop a patient getting a secondary infection.”

This does not work he said.

Patients also put pressure on doc- tors to prescribe antibiotics he said.

“I think when patients go to the doctor they put pressure on to get something. People almost expect an antibiotic,’ he added.

The negative consequences of us-

ing antibiotics inappropriately ex- tends beyond the individual patient impacting on society as a whole re- sulting in the spread of “superbugs” such as MRSA. “Superbugs” are a consequence of more and more bac- teria becoming resistant to common- ly used antibiotics. Ireland has the second highest rate of VRE (a group of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics) in Europe.

“If in doubt patients should visit their local pharmacist who can ad- vise them on whether a visit to the doctor is necessary or if the patient

can manage their symptoms ef- fectively without antibiotics,’ Mr Hillery said.

A survey carried out by pharma- cists at the “Over 50s Show” found that 37 per cent of people would visit a doctor if they had a cold or flu and one in four admitted they have failed to take a full course of antibiotics in the past, therefore risking a recur- rence of the illness.

A third of those polled said they would visit their pharmacist if they were experiencing cold or flu symp- eyeate

A LONG-STANDING promise to a school principal in Quin was ful- filled last week when Tomas O Sio- chain, former principal of Scoil na Mainistreach planted an alder tree in memory of his predecessor, Frank Gordon, who was principal of Scoil na Mainistreach in the 1960s.

Frank Gordon was a member of Muintir na Tire and a prominent member of the Fine Gael party. He passed on his love of nature to gener- ations of local schoolchildren and, in recognition of this, one of his pupils, Frances Conroy promised to plant a tree in his memory.

The Green school committee of Scoil na Mainistreach chose to plant this particular tree as 2008 has been designated the year of the alder. Al- ders are sturdy and fast-growing,

even in acidic and damaged sites. They are common to Ireland and can be used as a producer of simple oy (ols eaten

Tomas O Siochain spoke of the links between Frank Gordon and the present Green School Commit- tee in their love for the environment and the promotion of a greener and cleaner community.

Tomas also presented the school with a newspaper article from

THE work of a Clare art graduate has been on display at the ‘Best in Show’ exhibition in The Digital Hub in Dublin last week.

Ivan Twohig from Inagh is a gradu- ate of the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and, earlier this year, he was chosen by The Digital Hub to participate in its annual “Best in Show’ exhibition.

‘Best in Show’ is an art exhibition with a difference. Rather than paint- ings and sculptures, it features dig- ital media work produced by gradu- ates of colleges throughout Ireland and the UK.

The exhibits use sounds and im- ages, gaming technologies, music, animation and advertising tools to depict topics ranging from the need for privacy to the golden age of silent cinema.

Ivan graduated with a BA in Fine Art in 2004 and, in 2008, completed his MA in Art in the Digital World at the NCAD. In addition to his in- volvement in “Best in Show’, he has exhibited both nationally and in- ternationally. In 2007, he received the first Tulca Residency award and was awarded artist in residence at the new IMOCA (Irish Museum of Contemporary Art) studio in Dublin beer

For the ‘Best in Show’ exhibition,

The Digital Hub chose a piece by Ivan called “The Fall’, which is made up of life-sized paper figures, sus- pended and falling from the ceiling of the gallery. As they fall, fluores- cent lights illuminate the figures. The piece is influenced by his interest in architecture and the way in which digital technologies are impacting on the conception and creation of built environments. It was previously on display at the Glor Arts Centre in Ennis.

According to Elaine Parsons of The Digital Hub, who curates the ‘Best in Show’ exhibition, the idea for the show came about because of the difficulties faced by art graduates in establishing themselves as serious AMIS Ice

“One of the biggest challenges faced by graduates like Ivan is taking that leap from being a student to be- ing taken seriously as an artist,’ she said. “The feedback we were getting was that it was difficult for gradu- ates to find opportunities to exhibit in a professional gallery environ- ment. Because of this, The Digital Hub established ‘Best in Show’ to give graduates the chance to exhibit at professional level and help them meet key figures in the art industry”.

FRUSTRATION has once again been expressed at the ongoing delays in the provision of a sewerage system in Doolin.

Responding to a motion put for- ward by Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) at yesterday’s meeting of the Ennisty- mon electoral area, it has emerged that there are a number of hurdles yet to be overcome before a system could be put out to tender.

According to the official reply by Walter Walshe of water services at Clare County Council, work on ob- taining Part Eight certificate for the site has yet to begin.

“The Part Eight process will com- mence as soon as the assimilative ca- pacity report is available,” it said.

“If the site proves suitable through the Part Eight and other statutory process, it will be necessary to seek approval from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to this amended scheme proposal before proceeding to tender SET Xon

The delay in the Doolin Sewage Scheme has resulted in much frustra- tion in the area and prompted locals to set up an action group.

“The people from Doolin are very disappointed with this situation. I mean, is there any progress at all on

this issue?” asked Cllr Martin Laf- ferty (Ind).

“The people of Doolin are highly despondent with this whole situation. We would fully support any effort that is made to provide any sewage scheme in Doolin.”

There was some good news, how- ever, with the confirmation of the progress made on the Ballyvaughan Sewage Scheme.

“A draft foreshore license has been issued for the Ballyvaughan Sewage Scheme. The council has commented on this draft and the final licence is now awaited,’ said the reply from the water services at Clare County Council.

“As soon as this licence is received, the council will examine any statuto- ry or contractual implications of the licence and make necessary amend- ments to the contract documents be- fore submitting them to the depart- ment for approval.”

Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) said that Doolin and Ballyvaughan generate more for the county that most other areas and that it was not right that they should be left in this situation.

Meanwhile, Cllr Martin Conway (FG) has called for all barriers erect- ed in areas where there are water sports being undertaken to be report- ed to the emergency services and the Doolin Coast Guard.

THE weekend action involving the Kilmihil ladies and men in All-Ire- land and provincial final action re- spectively will prove to be a family affairs in many ways. That’s because of the links between the two sides.

Where to start!

The three O’Hallorans, Lorraine, Joan and Denise, on the ladies team are sisters of Enda who has made a telling contribution to the men’s team when introduced as a substitute in the county final, provincial quar- ter-final and semi-final.

Keith Considine was also a signifi- cant sub in Kilmihil’s victory over the “Barrs last day out — he’s a broth- er of the two stars of the Kilmihil ladies attack in the persons of Ailish and Eimear Considine.

Edel McMahon is a daughter of the team trainer James McMahon, while Karl Downes, who is wing-back on the men’s team is a brother of Una and Colette Downes.

Una Downes is one of two mem- bers of the Kilmihil team involved with the county intermediate team that reached the All-Ireland final this year. Downes, was a member of the Kildoon Gaels team that won the senior championship back in 2003,

That team was an amalgamation of Kimihil and Doonbeg and five years on there’s a strong Doonbeg connec- tion with Kilmihil’s march to the All-Ireland final. Edel Conway, Sa- rah Cahill, Yvonne Downes, Linda Russell and Mairéad Nugent are the Doonbeg contingent on the Kilmihil panel.

‘“There’s a great atmosphere build- ing up in Kilmihil this week,” says Una Downes. “All the shops have bunting up and as the countdown to the two final starts. The build-up has been great with the two teams look- ing forward to finals.

“At the start of year when we began training we weren’t thinking of an All-Ireland. We didn’t expect to be here but we’ve worked very hard. In all are games since the county final we’ve come from behind, so in this final we’ll be hoping to make a bet- ter start.”

Break-in at bookies

Ennis parking woes

MEETINGS are taking place this week between SIPTU officials and union members in Aer Lingus after a proposed agreement was hammered out between the sides at the Labour Relations Commission.

An alternative proposal to outsourc- ing has been developed between SIP- TU and Aer Lingus management in talks held under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission. SIP- TU will be consulting with members in advance of any ballot on the new proposals.

The aim is to complete the process before December 4.

There will be no industrial action

or strike action commenced during the process, but if SIPTU members reject the proposal the union man- date remains live and can be acti- vated if the company proceeds with eo) EL Rolen ner baton

Both sides are remaining cautious about revealing any details of the alternative to the management out- sourcing proposal outside union and company circles, but it’s understood that the LRC recommendations af- ter extensive talks will depend on expectations that many staff will choose to accept voluntary severance packages.

The agreement also presumes that a number will leave the company and return under new pay and cond1-

tions.

Staff who stay on current terms of employment will keep their current pay scales, entitlements, overtime rates, annual holidays and shift al- eee

Based on a review of the operation in Shannon, payroll savings will in- clude an overall 35 per cent reduction in staff with staff being employed on new terms and conditions.

A Shannon Handling Unit will be set up to allocate duties in the cargo and ground handling operation and staff will be required to work flex- ibly.

A pay pause will also be in place until July 2010.

The alternative plan will have to be

given approval by the members be- fore the full threat of a strike action, Jobe] OMOrO LEN (CM ODLMNU elem vel UR inett-MOE-RVoll period, can be ruled out.

Meanwhile, there have been sug- gestions that the company may be looking at returning the Heathrow service to Shannon.

Company chairman, Colm Bar- rington, said in a letter to Clare County Council that if the airline can get its cost base right at Shannon and generate sufficient passenger num- bers “we will be prepared to consider PNOMVanepes toa

Recent figures from Belfast show that passenger numbers on the route are falling behind what they had at Shannon by 27 per cent.