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Top Munster award for paint retailers

A MAN who was caught taking ma- terial from a plant in Shannon im- mediately put it back, a court has heard.

Seamus McAllister (41), of East Singland Road, Garryowen, Limer- ick, admitted a charge of burglary at Boart Longyear, Shannon Industrial Estate, on January 13 last.

Shannon District Court heard that a generator, drill, halogen lamp, seven rolls of copper and a vice were taken

from the premises.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the accused was seen putting the items into a vehicle, but then returned them. The incident oc- curred on a Sunday afternoon.

“Nothing was in fact taken. It would appear the defendant was in the process of taking the material,’ he said.

Defending solicitor Ted McCarthy said the generator was small and the items could be purchased quite cheaply.

“He accepts what he did was wrong,’ he said. “He has not been before the courts in 15 years. Dur- ing that time, he has turned himself around,” he added.

He said his client thought the build- ing was derelict.

Inspector Kennedy accepted that the accused had fully co-operated. Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a fine of €400.

Frances graduates with flying colours

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

CLARE’S former mayor, Cllr Patri- cia McCarthy (Ind) last night hit out at what she called a vindictive and malicious campaign that sought to discredit her as a public representa- tive. She was commenting after an independent commission ruled that she has no case to answer in rela- tion to the allocation of €50,000 by Shannon Town Council to the local OU Comer NB Ken

The investigation by the Standards in Public Office Commission was in response to a complaint by Wolfe Tones Camogie Club over the alloca- tion of funding to Shannon Leisure Centre for a skateboard park and ten-

nis court.

Cllr McCarthy is a director of the leisure centre and grant allocations from a number of local authorities have been on hold pending the out- come of the investigation.

However, the Standards in Public Office Commission has stated that there was no basis on which to initi- ate an investigation under the Ethics Act as none of the alleged contraven- tions was “a specified act”.

Last night Cllr McCarthy said she was delighted the process was com- plete and that there was no case to answer.

“T have maintained my silence for over 10 months in the face of inac- curate statements, accusations and

innuendo circulating freely about me because I knew I had done nothing wrong and to allow the process prove exactly that.

“Knowing I was innocent of all charges levelled against me did not lessen the anxiety and stress that my family and I have been placed under in recent months. For those who did not know me, it must have seemed strange that I should elect to remain silent and unresponsive to each base- less charge levelled publicly against me but I hope that they would now see that justice has been done, and my stand vindicated.

Cllr McCarthy stated that for the past 30 years she had at all times sought to represent the people of

Shannon openly and honestly.

“My involvement in the leisure centre, is part of that commitment, and one from which I do not seek or gain personal benefit, as has been confirmed by the Standards in Pub- lic Office Commission. This it would appear is an alien concept for certain politicians whose only objective ap- pears to be self advancement and have no hesitation in using character assassination as a means of self-pro- motion.”

She said it was an unfortunate con- sequence that this baseless accusa- tion had put in jeopardy the ability of every local authority to deal with applications for financial assistance under various schemes.

LABASHEEDA Community Pride has won the mid-west regional Tidy Towns biodiversity award with the Notice Nature campaign highlight- ing the efforts of the Labasheeda community in fostering birdlife.

Projects undertaken by the Labash- eeda group included the planting of native trees; construction of bird hide for bird watching; erection of an information unit illustrating the birds that visit the area.

“It is easy to be aware of nature when you live in an area so rich in biodiversity and local heritage.

The community in Labasheeda are conscious not to let progress dis- turb the natural beauty around us,” said Liam Woulfe, Labasheeda Tidy Towns Committee.

Since 2006, the Tidy Towns compe- tition has included a special category on wildlife and natural amenities for Tidy Towns initiatives which foster biodiversity and the natural environ- ment.

PU stom Nel nero: inbecoma Ne TKO mB ROAWEDKOKS actions taken to conserve, enhance and create local wildlife areas such as ponds and hedgerows.

“Treland’s biodiversity enhances the health and wellbeing of eve- ryone on this island. We should all play our part in protecting the natural environment for our benefit and for that of generations to come. You may never have considered that you could play an important part in protecting biodiversity, but the vol- unteers on Tidy Towns committees around Ireland have shown that you can,’ said Emma El-Sahn, Notice Nature spokesperson.

The Tidy Towns Biodiversity ‘No- tice Nature’ Award is sponsored by the National Parks and Wildlife Service as part of the Notice Nature campaign.

Notice Nature is Ireland’s public awareness campaign on biodiversity and aims to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and to en- courage everyone to play their part in protecting it.

A BOOK depicting what is consid- ered the Mecca of Irish traditional musicians was launched in Spanish- point on Thursday.

‘Music and Light – Ceol agus So- las” is a collection of black and white photographs from the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay.

For photographer Tony Kearns the book is a celebration of the Summer School, as he dedicated 17 years to photographing the comings and go- ings at the world famous weeklong events.

Since it first began in 1973 the Wil- lie Clancy Summer School has been a very important event in the tradi- tional Irish music calendar,

Named after the world renowned and revered uilleann piper, the sum- mer school is held every July in his hometown.

Kearns said he was determined to dedicating himself to documenting the activities and the participant of the Willie Clancy week in a lively and sympathetic way.

An archivist by nature, Tony is also inspired by the visual possibilities and compositions that present them-

selves naturally when people gather to play music together.

Working in formal and spontaneous situations, he attempts to convey the moods, personalities ad complexities of the musicians and their music in the images.

The 130 black and white photo- graphs capture local musicians as well as the thousands that flock to the west Clare town every year to the many classes, lectures and recitals and to play in and listen to the many sessions that spring up in the local- ity.

Tony Kerns s not a local to Mill-

town Malbay although the Dubliner has spent every summer in the town during the festival since 1991.

He has documented all aspects of the summer school in his photo- graphs which he has exhibit over the years and used in calendars.

His latest book was published with the assistance of funding from the Deis Traditional Arts Initiative un- der the aegis of the Arts Council of Tee NaXer