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CONCERNS over possible injuries to birds in Lough Derg from a new seaplane service have prompted Clare County Council to seek a sci- entific assessment of the plan.

Last year, Harbourair Ireland Ltd announced plans for a _ seaplane service aimed at tourists for the west of Ireland. The company lodged ap- plications with planning authorities in Galway and Clare to allow it land a seaplane in Lough Derg, Galway city docks and the main harbour serving Inis Mor.

The Clare plan attracted wide- spread local opposition, prompting company director Ronan Connolly to comment, “We are not planning to land a jumbo jet here.”

The chances of the venture start- ing during the 2010 tourist season receded yesterday when the Clare Council sought a scientific assess- ment on the impact service will have on birds in Lough Derg, which is a Special Protection Area under the EU Habitats Directive.

According to a submission lodged by the Department of the Environ- ment, Lough Derg is of importance for both breeding and wintering birds and supports a nationally im- portant breeding colony of Common

Tern and is also home to Whooper Swans, Cormorants, Mallards. Coots, Lapwings and Goldeneyes.

Seeking the assessment, the Coun- cil stated it had regard to the site being adjacent to an Special Protec- tion Area on the shoreline of Lough Droge

“Concerns arise that birds are like- ly to be disturbed and possibly in- jured by the operation of seaplanes in Mounsthannon Bay.

“Under the EU Birds and Habitats Directive, there is an obligation to prevent significant disturbances of these and other species and of their habitats and breeding of resting places

“Concerns arise that the develop- ment may have a negative impact on fish species at this location and the assessment should comment on the effect — if any — that the develop- ment as proposed may have on ex- isting species and stock levels.”

Reacting to the council’s request Mr Connolly said the information requested was not too onerous and not the full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that the company had feared.

He admitted that the request for further information made starting up services this summer “a more distant prospect”.

Former politico who hurried himself to the top

IT is said that Bernard McNamara’s success was built on political fail- Woe

Following defeat in the 1981 Gen- eral Election the former county councillor decided to leave behind the world of politics, and moved to Dublin in 1984 to expand the fam- ily building contract business.

SW iteKiomserlaniomscemsleemeberemerm nite local authority described him as ‘a man that wanted to get the job done” and in many cases “border- ing on impatient”’.

He was elected to Clare County Council in 1974, at a ttme when he was working with his father’s com- pany Michael McNamara Construc- tion, having returned from college in Dublin three years previous.

He successfully contested the lo- cal election again in 1979, but his

political demise came in 1981 at the General Election.

He was co-opted on to the Fian- na Fail ticket, at a time when the party’s Clare county councillors were not automatically considered for national politics. It was former schoolteacher Tony Killeen that would later break that barrier.

For Mr McNamara, there were still too many big guns in the run- ning for the Fianna Fail seats, with Brendan Daly, Sylvester Barrett and William (Bill) Loughnane tak- ing the seats comfortably with Fine Gael’s Madeleine Taylor Quinn.

He received 2,676 votes just under one third of the quota.

In a 2006 interview, former mayor of Clare Flan Garvey (FEF), said that the Lisdoonvarna man had “minis- terial potential”.

But he moved too soon for his place in Leinster House, and the

world of politics was moving too Slow for him.

Sitting County Councillor PJ Kelly (FF) began his first day in Clare County Council in 1974 with Mr McNamara and described his former colleague as “enthusiastic” and “not like the rest”’.

“He was a man of few words but came to a conclusion fast, he saw the bigger picture,” said Cllr Kelly.

“After 1981 Bernard Mc felt poli- tics wasn’t the medium for express- ing his talents, and decided to apply them elsewhere instead,’ he added.

Mr McNamara left the world of politics behind at the next lo- cal election in 1984 and moved to Dublin setting up home in Mount Merrion.

There he secured huge private and public contracts for Michael McNa- mara Construction.

Such contracts were not unusual

for this company, which had previ- ously secured the construction of RTE’s sports and social club on its campus in Donnybrook within two years of Bernard McNamara’s re- turn to Clare.

This was soon followed by an ex- tension to Galway hospital.

The company, with Bernard at the helm, built a reputation for high construction standards and a qual- TL AYABUD OPK Oe

Since then the company’s share of state contracts has been sizable, not least among then the €400m Thornton Hall prison complex.

The company, which has a special meaning for Mr McNamara, and has been ringfenced from his cur- rent financial woes also received the contact to build the new Clare County Council offices, and five public-private partnerships (PPPs) with Dublin city council for hous-

ing regeneration.

The Dublin city contracts were eventually terminated however, signalling some of the future finan- cial difficulties faced by Mr McNa- rere ee

Among the other state contracts secured by the Clare man was the extensions to Leinster House and Dublin airport, the millennium wing of the National Gallery of Ireland, and the Ballymun social welfare offices and Garda station.

Mr McNamara was also one of the main landlords to the state, renting accommodation to the De- partment of Justice and Tourism Ireland.

Michael McNamara _ Construc- tion, from which Bernard McNa- mara has resigned, currently has 12 live contracts, with 270 direct employees, and many more on sub contract.

KILMALEY established themselves as the kingpins of Clare camogie after another successful year on the playing field. For the second year in succession, they captured the senior championship and there was also much promise for the future as their minor team also secured a champi- onship for the second time in three years.

However, unlike 2008, they didn’t have it all their own way this year. Newmarket managed to break Kil- maley’s stranglehold of domestic titles with a win over the defending champions at the second attempt. Two high intensity matches could have gone either way but after losing out in both the league and champi- onship finals last year, Newmarket’s added determination saw them re- gain the coveted title.

Unfortunately for the Newmarket Blues, that victory only inspired Kil- maley to re-evaluate their position and refocus for the championship and they duly responded by gaining revenge over their great rivals at the semi-final stage by 3-8 to 2-9 to set up a unique final against an emerging Sixmulebridge side.

The final itself was a dour affair that Kilmaley eventually edged by O- 7 to O-5 in Clarecastle but although defeat was Sixmilebridge’s lot on the day, their potential indicates that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. After all, they have dominated the underage scene in recent years, compiling an impres- sive haul of titles in 2007 (Under 11 ground camogie), Under 12A, Under 14A, Feile, Under 16A and Minor B) and 2008 (Under 11 ground camogie, Feile, Under 16A and Minor A) and with leaders like 16 year old Chloe Morey who was deservedly awarded the Clare FM Player of the Match award at the county final, it seems

only a matter of time before they are back on the winners podium.

2009 was also noteworthy for the introduction of The Glenorma Shield Senior B Competition, donated by the Broadford club. Indeed, it was fit- ting that in the first year, Broadford would make it to the final, however on the day they were comprehensive- ly beaten by Clooney/Quin, inspired by Clare camogie captain Deirdre AY Logo) ens

Due to the unanimous support of

the clubs involved, the Intermediate Loy oaolo1H U8 CO) MCLE RV oLO MAYA 100 MERE CoMmECT: BO NTS structure as 2008. All the teams played each other on a round robin basis for the championship and it proved to be an extremely tight divi- sion with only a point or two divid- ing the top teams. The top four teams entered into the championship semi- finals while the next four entered the shield semi-finals.

There was only one score divid- ing the teams in the two semi-finals.

Corofin had a one point victory over St Josephs while Kilkishen advanced thanks to an extra-time goal against Truagh. Kilkishen, after the disap- pointment of last year’s champion- ship semi-final defeat, eventually took the honours after a great final against last year’s beaten finalists Corofin played in front of a huge crowd in Tulla.

In the Intermediate shield semi finals, Clarecastle overcame White- gate and Scariff managed to see off

neighbours Ogonnelloe. The transfer of Carina Roseingrave from Kilna- mona to Clarecastle proved to be a great asset to Clarecastle and she was instrumental in their final win against Scariff to take the shield.

The Junior League went the way of Feakle who took the honours from Inagh. It was also an important year for Crusheen who entered their first adult team and had two wins against St. Josephs and Eire Og that was not enough for them to reach the final. In the Junior Championship, Inagh got over their disappointment of their league final defeat when they beat Feakle in the semi-final and Killane- na in the final.

So what of 2010? Can Kilmaley make it three-in-a-row? Can New- market build on their league title? Will another year prove beneficial to Sixmilebridge’s young squad? Can Clooney finally make the break- through on the back of their senior B title or will Kilnamona bounce back after a two year absense?

The answer will be revealed in due course but one thing is for certain, it promises to be the most competi- tive senior championship in quite a number of years.

AS Waterford senior hurling manag- er, David Fitzgerald will be trying to plot the downfall of his native county in this year’s Munster senior hurling Semi-final, but at the same time he’ll be trying to plot a successful senior championship year back home in OK

All because the two-time All-Ire- land winner and three-time All Star is set to operate a dual management/ coaching mandate in 2010, having committed to throwing in his lot with Inagh/Kilnamona for a second successive year.

The Waterford supremo linked up with Inagh/Kilnamona last year after Waterford’s exit from the All-Ireland race at the semi-final stage, but club insiders have told The Clare People that Fitzgerald will be with Inagh/ Kilnamona from the word go this

year.

And, Fitzgerald won’t be alone, as former Clare senior camogie manag- er Bertie Sherlock from Toomevara, is also a member of the Iangh/Kilna- mona backroom team for the coming season as they bid to make the big breakthrough at senior champion-

ship level. It will be Inagh/Kilnamona’s third championship season, following

their formation in late 2007 when the Inagh and Kilnamona clubs joined forces under the one banner. In 2008 they got off to a flier when beating reigning county champions Tulla in the first round and went on to reach the knockout stages before being beaten by St Joseph’s Door-a-Bare- field in the quarter-final. Last year they reached the same stage before being edged out by Kilmaley.

AFTER two years of fundraising, the first 50 of the 200 volunteers with the Building of Hope Project have arrived in Kenya.

Fr Martin Keane is pictured laying the foundation stone for the training centre which the Clare volunteers will build over the next eight weeks.

Celebrating Mass for the newly arrived volunteers on Sunday, Fr Martin told them that the founda- tions were made not just of sand and mortar, but of the hope that will help rebuild lives.

The Cranny priest ministers to the poorest of Mombasa’s people in his parish of Migombani.

The centre will be a place where they aquire work skills and qualifi- cations which can rescue them from a life of degradation and hunger.

THE issues of fixtures will be ad- dressed at the upcoming Ladies Football convention. According to the Secretary, Michael Fitzpatrick, fixtures continue to be a problem, particularly at minor level.

“Again this competition [minor] did not finish until November because some clubs did not stick to the fixture plan,” he points out in his report that will be delivered at the annual con- vention on Tuesday.

He said he feels the Junior A cham-

pionship should be played before the B, the intermediate before the junior and senior before the intermediate.

He added that the fixtures com- mittee must look at rule 339 of the official guide of 2007 or rule 347 of 2009, which states ‘A team failing to fulfil a championship fixture may forefit its place in the competition and the game may be awarded to its opponents.”

He also pointed out that the team is liable to a suspension of six months. “As we are on rules another which we may have to look at for 2010 is

rule 156 of 2007 which states that the county committee may fine a club for not attending county board meetings.”

In his report, the secretary points out that some clubs are inclined to play unregistered players at under- age. “This is a very dangerous habit, as if a player should receive an injury and are not registered, they are not covered.”

As part of his report, he will also go through, in detail, the on field mat- ters of ladies football in Clare, which experienced a very successful year.

A CLARE woman yesterday told a court that she had a “volatile” rela- tionship with the man accused of raping her at gunpoint.

She revealed she “stopped count- NOTA DACs OOOO MB DO CommO OCoummO TUN] left her house during the first year of their relationship because “it was getting ridiculous”.

A 44-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three counts of rape, two counts of anal rape, two counts of oral rape and one count each of false imprison-

ment, threatening to kill by shooting, threatening to disfigure with a knife, ageravated burglary and possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life. He pleaded guilty in December 2008 to assaulting the woman but CLSeDCe Me OUIABU NISMO MMU BINOME NO CoMEcAIDO yA UE| the offences are alleged to have oc- curred at her Clare home on Septem- ber 9, 2007.

Under cross-examination yester- day, the woman agreed that there were many “fallings out” between her and her ex-partner which were generally followed by their love life resuming.

She denied she was drunk during their first argument around Christ- mas 2004 shortly after he had moved in with her and she had told him she “felt” pregnant with their child.

She denied she hit the man with a brush on that occasion but admitted throwing one at him around the time of the alleged rape when he turned up at her house without her consent.

It was put to the woman that gardai intervened during another “furious argument” with the accused about selling property on eBay around eight months after the birth of their oF

The woman agreed the accused phoned gardai after she had kicked some of the property arranged on the living room floor, but explained she did no damage and smashed her own vase against the kitchen wall in reac- tion to the Garda summons.

She said that she and the accused had been in financial trouble at the time and that she was “extremely an- noyed” with him selling the property since he had already spent the sales money on a motorbike and used car.

She said a neighbour dropped her baby back to the house after she locked her ex-partner outside and

when gardai arrived he “gave them the impression” she’d locked both fa- ther and child out.

She agreed that gardai let her choose between letting the child stay with a social worker or giving the baby to her partner for the night.

She agreed she had been drinking earlier that day but denied she was drunk. She said it was Garda duty to call a social worker when responding to domestic incidents where there al- cohol is involved.

The trial continues before Mr Jus- tice Paul Carney and a jury of seven women and four men.

THE value of an insightful analyst is immeasurable. That’s why in the lead up to Kilmurry Ibrickane’s All-Ire- land quarter-final clash with Tir Cho- naill Gaels in the Emerald Grounds in Ruislip this weekend, Paul Hehir’s vast knowledge into both sides can- not be overestimated.

For the uninitiated, Hehir has played at the highest level for both Clare and London, was part of the all conquering Doonbeg side that cap- tured several county titles at the turn of the century as well as a Munster crown in 1998. He has also played a sizeable part of his career for Lon- don side Tara also with brother Sen- an, picking up a London and British championship in 2003. Add in the fact that he played against Tir Cho- naill Gaels in this year’s league final and also represented Doonbeg in the 2008 Clare senior championship and it’s abundantly clear that there is no better judge of this game than Hehir.

First to the strengths and weakness- es of Tir Chonaill Gaels.

“Basically they are a just a well or- ganised club and the best run club in London to be honest with you. They have a good backroom staff with regards to the people running the club and have just got the commit- ment from the players really. Their strength mainly lies with their work- rate coming from the back. Their backs are very good and very tidy and they have a good strong mid- field. Basically the only thing they would be lacking really would be a panel of players. They have got a good 13 or 14 good players whereas the Kilmurry lads would have a good bench which will proably be decisive I reckon on the day.”

Having won four out of the last five London championships, the Gaels have ample experience of All-Ireland

quarter-finals but have been rather

unfortunate not to have advanced further, mainly due to a lack of belief according to Hehir.

“It’s a combination of things re- ally. What it really comes down to, just as in the county team, is whether they believe collectively that they can actually beat a team from home. They have come close in the last few years and it’s never easy for a team that comes over to London whether it’s inter-county or a club match and it would be good for London football in general if they did pull off a shock. Although It wouldn’t really be much of a shock in London because they are a good club team. They have got great backs, a good midfield and as I have said three or four decent for- wards. They are also full of inter-

county experience with lads from Roscommon, Leitrim and Donegal, guys who have played at the highest level back home but it’s just about be- lieving that they can win.”

Kilmurry Ibrickane’s chances of advancing to the semi-final stage have been made all the more difficult by the fact that they will have to take on the perennial London champions in their own back yard, a daunting prospect as Hehir outlines from per- sonal experience.

“Coming over to London is never easy for any team. I know that myself when I came over with Clare. You somehow have it in the back of your head that they are still only based in London and that you should be beat- ing them but any team that comes

over to London never has it handy.”

Still when pushed for a verdict, he gives a slight nod to Kilmurry Ibrickane on their strength of their overall squad.

“IT mean there is no taking away from what Kilmurry Ibrickane have achieved. I think they have only been beaten once in the last two years which says a lot for the quality they have. They have a great youth devel- Opment system coming through and it seems to have extended to the sen- ior team. They have great old heads of Johnny Daly, Odran O’Dwyer and Peter and Michael O’Dwyer as well and then there is the new breed coming through with the likes of Enda Coughlan and Mark McCarthy. There is a great combination and they

seem to mix it very well going all the way up to Micheal McDermott at the atosbene

“At the end of the day, it’s going to be a great game in fairness. They are two good footballing sides, two tough teams and at the end of the day, it’s just going to come down to who wants it more and overall I think that Kilmurry Ibrickane might edge it purely on the strength of the bench they have, despite the massive dent that Odran O’Dwyer’s injury will have.”

THE Slieve Callan Wind Farm will generate more than €750,000 a year for the 30 farmers whose land could form part of the proposed de- velopment. According to documents lodged with Clare County Council last week, the proposed wind farm will generate at least €775,000 for the land owners – who will retain ownership of their land, as well as €40,000 to local community groups and €500,000 for Clare County Council.

This means over the first 20 years of the project the local landowners stand to gain more than €15 million while Clare County Council will benefit to the tune of €10 million.

The proposed development consists of 31 wind turbines, each 80 metres in height and with a three blade ro- tary blade with a diameter of 90 me- BKey

Should this project go ahead in it’s current form it would become the largest wind energy facility on the is- land of Ireland, dwarfing the overall output of the current largest, the Al- tahullion windfarm near Dungiven in Northern Ireland.

According to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) lodged with Clare County Council last week the plant has the ability to generate elec- tricity for 59,189 homes, or roughly the combined number of households in Clare and Limerick City.

This would mean that the entire site would produce roughly the same amount of electricity as the Ard-

nacrusha Hydroelectric plant, which is currently Ireland main source of green energy.

Construction on the site 1s likely to cost in excess of €200 million with more than 40 per cent of this outlay,

or €80 million to be spent in relation to on-site works. It is envisioned that in excess of 250 people will be em- ployed on site during the 18 months of construction.

According to the EIS, the declining population and low socio-economic standing of the Slievecallan study area make it the ideal spot for the de- velopment of such a large scale wind energy facility.

“The analysis of census data for the study area shows that population growth has been significantly lower here than at county and national lev- el, with population decline recorded between 2002 and 2006,” it says.

“Overall, the electoral division that make up the study area were catego- rised as being in the ‘20 per cent most extremely deprived’ and °*20 per cent somewhat deprived’ groupings.”