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TWO years back, the vista for Clon- lara — even from the most optimistic club patron — couldn’t have seemed so bright.

A fantastic intermediate experience last season backed up by champion- ship and league success this year paints a picture of a club who are destined to stay around competing for more honours for the years to fey neler

And on Sunday, the significance of winning the Clare Cup wasn’t lost on the club’s manager, Jim Gully.

“To be honest about it, there was no real pressure on us going into it. We’d won the county final and that was the major achievement, but in the back of the minds we knew that if we won the Clare Cup as well, it would really copper-fasten the year.

“On top of that, it was great to beat last year’s county champions and having beaten Newmarket again in the semi-final, we knew that nobody could say it was a lucky year for us.

“Tt means that there should be some real recognition for the year now, which is great. Hopefully we’ll be

mentioned up there with the best clubs in the county now and that’s where we want to be.”

The success also ensured the sea- son would end with a sweet taste.

“We were on a bit of a downer after the county final, knowing that we’d be playing in Munster the week after and we weren’t fully tuned in for that game.

“Maybe that’s why we lost but things just didn’t go right for us on the day. SO we wanted to put that right and we knew that the Clare Cup would be a good opportunity to do that.

“But the last two years have been absolutely marvellous and to go out and complete the double has just been the icing on the cake.

“It was our sixth game in six weeks and our seventh in eight weeks and all of those have been important and hard games. But I think that actually stood to us in the end. For the last 20 minutes, the lads stepped it up and you could tell they’d a lot of hurling played. They were sharp and focused and we owned the game in the last few minutes.”

He said defining moment of the game came just before the break,

when Tulla goaled to put themselves in a strong position in the second- half. Even at that, though, Gully knew that if Clonlara could get back into the game, they had the winning mentality to see them through.

“The goal gave Tulla a cushion. It came at a good time for them and not only that, you could say it was the most important score of the game because it really brought them back into things.

“It gave them that bit of belief and that’s vital to any team. They’d missed a few frees in the first half and in a way, that allowed us to be closer to them after that goal.

“But once we got close to them, I knew we’d win. I had faith in the lads and in fairness to them, they pushed on and never looked back.”

Aside from completing the double, the club secured a €4,000 cheque thanks to the win (Tulla, as runners- up, will receive €2,000).

“We haven’t fully decided how were going to use the money, but there’s talk of a player’s fund.”

Considering the season they’ ve just had, it would be the least they de- serve.

€1,035,786 was paid in_ salaries and travelling expenses to the nine person management team of Clare County Council in 2007, according to figures released yesterday.

The news of the payments came as members of the executive came un- der pressure not to accept any per- formance related bonuses on top of their annual salaries this year.

The management team is made up of the county manager, the five direc- tors of services, the county secretary, the head of the human resources de-

partment and the head of the finance eljortasenoele

Figures for 2005 show that the total paid out to the management amount- ed to €843,139. The payments rose to €1,001,297 in 2006.

The figures were revealed at yes- terday’s meeting of Clare County Council, following a motion tabled by north Clare councillor Martin Lafferty (Ind).

Cllr Lafferty welcomed publication by the council of the figures. He said it was disappointing that there was such a high turnover of council staff nationwide.

“What we have seen over the past few years is that guys come into jobs and stay there for seven years and then move. Why wouldn’t they stay for another seven years?” asked Cllr Peouas

Pressed by Cllr Christy Curtain (Ind) to explain the 25 per cent jump in payments between 2005 and 2007, County Manager Alec Fleming said the rise was probably attributable to the fact that some positions on the executive had been unfulfilled for a period of time.

Earlier at the meeting, Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) tabled a motion stat-

ing that council officials should not, in light of the current economic downturn, accept any bonus pay- ments for 2008.

“Are ye going to accept perform- ance related bonuses in light of eve- rything that has happened this year?” questioned Cllr Mulcahy.

County Manager Alec Flemming said that any payments due to offi- cials were being paid in accordance with employment conditions set out by the Department of the Environ- ment, Heritage and Local Govern- ment.

In response to questioning from

Cllr Mulcahy, Mr Fleming did not say whether or not bonuses would be paid to the management team this year. “I’m not going to discuss this. It’s part of pay and conditions. It’s not going to be discussed,” said Mr i (renbbaree

Cllr Martin Conway (FG) support- ed Cllr Mulcahy’s motion. He said he was confident that council officials would not be seeking performance related bonuses.

Cllr Conway also called for the council to examine what measures could be taken to curtail the cost of overtime payments.

A REMARKABLE irrigation project in Ethopia has been described by Bunratty woman Marinella Raftery as ‘a huge boost to the area’, as she embarked on a campaign to raise funding and build the profile of Self Help Africa over the autumn months

The positive impact that the Irish development agency is having was underlined when an Irish delega- tion visited a 20 year old irrigation scheme and found a community that had been transformed by the project.

Visitors to Ethiopia with Self Help Africa learned that an irrigation project developed with funding from Bob Geldof’s Band Aid in the late 1980s was still thriving, and 23,000 families in the region were earning a livelihood from the venture.

‘People talk about the importance of lasting development, but the peo- ple who travelled to Ethiopia were

able to see the impact that a scheme undertaken 20 years ago, was still having today’, said Ms Raftery

“I am going to encourage people to support Self Help Africa over the coming weeks, and it is great to be able to tell them that the projects work, and that empowering African people to help themselves, Self Help is able to transform the lives of the continent’s rural poor permanently.”

The Irish visitors who met with rep- resentatives of the Band Aid funded ‘Adami Tulu Farmers Co-Opera- tive’ heard that the group’s numbers had grown from 480 members to a present level of nearly 23,000, and farmers were producing surplus quantities of food every year.

Ms Raftery is currently involved in organising events and co-ordinat- ing a programme of fund-raising activities in Clare. To find out more visit www.sandwichday.ie, or e-mail Marinela on Clare@selfhelpafrica.

PARENTS, students and community leaders in Kilrush are taking on the fight against illegal drugs by sup- porting and informing young people in the town.

The Local Education Commit- tee in Kilrush made up of students and parents from Kilrush Commu- nity School and St. Senan’s Primary school have joined with interested Students, teachers, Home School Community Liaisons and other local community agencies to put together a full week of programmes and ac- tivities on drug awareness as part of the campaign. The theme is “The Evil of Drugs”.

With the gardai and the local com- munity support group such as the Kilrush Family Resource Centre ad- mitting that there is a problem with drugs and under-age alcohol in the west Clare area, facts and figures

relating to the problem remain anec- olor eYF

The Regional Drug Task Force for the mid-west is currently gathering information in the town, but read- ily admit the information through surveys on such a topic is not neces- sarily as accurate as the information discussed within the teenage peer group.

The most up to date information available to those fighting drugs use in Kilrush is that collected nationally by the Health Research Board.

According to its research three per cent of 15 to 34 year olds reported us- ing cocaine last year. Ecstasy use has remained stable in the country with 2.4 per cent of young adults using the drug in the past year compared to 2.3 per cent the previous year.

Amphetamine use in Ireland is very low at less than half a per cent, but Ireland represents one per cent of problem opiate users.

The week long drug information week in Kilrush beginning on No- vember 24 will provide more infor- Tpar-HaCoyem-H Oe Mr-Ce Mrs (eor

The week will feature expert views, guest speakers, exhibitions and read- ings and will culminate on Friday 28 with an “Alcohol Free Night at the Pub”.

Competitions were held at Kilrush Community School and St. Senan’s Primary School in categories of creative art, essay, poetry and rap. Exhibitions, readings and activities are planned for the week at both schools.

On Monday there will be a Drug Awareness Information Night at Kil- rush Community School from 8pm with speakers Det. Garda Seamus McMahon and Anna O’Neil from Slainte. Representatives from the ‘No Name Club” will be available with information. During the week people are invited to visit the schools

to view art, hear readings and Rap and to view other exhibitions.

On Friday from 6pm to 8pm the ‘Alcohol Free Night at the Pub” held in the Galleon Pub in Cappa, Kilrush will celebrate a sober night out.

Awards will be presented to win- ners of the competitions, and a bro- chure with information on local serv- ices, phone numbers, where to go for more infomation will be available. This brochure has been put together by students and will be launched on the night. There will be a table quiz and a disco, and food will be provid- ed. Soft drinks, minerals and non- alcoholic drinks will be available to OLUNKe EE Kor

This community project is a com- bined effort and is being funded by the Mid-west Regional Drug Task Force with time, talent and addition- al resources provided by schools, in- dividuals, businesses and the Kilrush Family Resource Centre.

DERBY champion Shelbourne As- ton got his challenge for the 2008 Mardoc Holdings Golden Jacket off to the perfect start when winning his first round heat at the Galway Track on Saturday night in a time of 31.29.

Shelbourne Aston was always up with the pace after a decent start from trap three and hit the front on the fourth bend en route to a three length victory over The Other Sonic, with Slick Spiral two lengths back in third.

Sponsor Denis O’Connell had a first round double while Broadacres Turbo produced the run of the night as he coasted home in 31.10.

Run of the night was produced by the Graham Holland trained Shel-

bourne record holder, Broadacres Turbo in heat eight.

The strong running black was fast into stride from trap two and proved five lengths too strong for the ever- green Tyrur Laurel in a brilliant time of 31.10 – the fastest of the year so far.

Faithful Laura in trap 5 was three- lengths back for third.

The event started in race two with the Gerry O’Donoghue trained She- rie taking the opening heat. She led from the opening bend for a neck verdict over the fast finishing The Other Achill in 31.81, with Doonbeg Selmi meelemALvor.|

half length back in third.

The brilliant veteran Tyrur Lee in trap two was the first winner for PJ Fahy when leading all the way to

win the second heat in a fast 31.23. Tyrur was fast into stride and led all the way for a near six length verdict over trap

6 Riverside Honcho with Elouisa in trap four taking third spot.

Ollie Bray’s 2007 Puppy Derby hero Royal Treason was a decisive winner of Heat 3 from the outside box. Droopys Teabag in trap three led early here but the strong running Bray charge took it up on the third bend and went on to beat Skywalker Dream and Droopys Teabag by two and a quarter lengths and likewise respectively in 31.25.

Sponsor Denis O’Connell had the perfect start to his stake when, along with son Cian, he had a first round double.

First winner for them was Mardocs

Heinze in trap two of heat four. He grabbed an early advantage and led all to beat trap four Ask Amy by two and a half lengths in 31.40, with Shaneboy Sophia a length back in third. Recent Irish Grand National winner Distant Legend proved his versatility with an impressive run in heat five. Julie Power’s dog in trap five broke fast and always led when beating the trap one reserve Skywalkers Angel by a length and three parts in 31.36. It was just over a length back to Swintord Mylo in third spot. Holland was also on the mark with Full Bloom in trap four who got up late to win heat six in 31.46. Shel- bourne Denny in trap two cut out the running but Full Bloom came through fast to snatch victory by

three parts of a length. It was over six lengths back to trap three Mar- docs Nani in third.

Next out for the O’Connell’s, Mar- docs O Shea, won what was billed as the race of the night, heat seven, in 31.50. North West Derby winner Target Kewell in trap two cut out the running but Mardocs O Shea in trap three powered past on the fourth bend and went on to beat the staying Lemon Zamora in trap four and Tar- get Kewell by a length and the same.

Holland was also on the mark with Full Bloom when the son of Late Late Show and Tamna Rose got up late to win heat six in 31.46.

College Causeway did not take his place in heat 10 and in his absence Nawhobberthadda in trap six com- pleted a double for owner P.J. Fahy.

MARK O’Connell was first out of the Kilmihil dressing room before the start of the game – it was the same when the side returned to the field after half-time.

You could call it the captain’s pro- tocol and prerogative, but there was no custom and practice dictating that he be the first player back in the room NACo) MnO OlomeeeD ONL oe

He was though – maybe it was by chance, or maybe he wanted to be alone with his thoughts for a couple of seconds before the storm descend-

ed on the calm of an empty room.

Once there he talked about the sig- nificance of the victory for Kilmihil, modestly eschewing any reference to his own barnstorming display that made him a shoo-in for man-of-the- match.

“We came back to Kilmihil after the Ballysteen game last Sunday, en- joyed ourselves and then were back training on Tuesday night and were determined to give it areal go against St Finbarr’s,’ he said as the first of the slaps rained down on his back.

‘Anyone who doubts this team got their answer out there today. What

we produced out there shows what this team is capable of. We knew it was going to be a very tough game, but we trained hard during the week and knew that were were going to be able to take them,” he added to roars of approval from the gathering crowds.

“Conditions were hard out there and every point we got out there was im- portant. They few we got before half time gave us a great lift and then we took from there in the second half.

‘“There’s great credit due to all the players. They really showed out there what this means to them. That’s all

of us who started and the lads that came on to play their part.

“They came at us in the second half but our defence held out. I thought we held on to the ball very well at times in the second half. We had to make sure we didn’t concede a goal. That was important as we tried to de- fend our lead.”

By now O’Connell’s fellow players and supporters had packed the dress- ing room to overflow – the celebra- tions that were destined to carry over into O’Connell’s public house called the Fiddle Head and McNamara’s house that gave the late Declan Mc-

Namara to the 1980 county final win- ning team had started already.

However, above the din, O’Connell summoned a few final words to put the scale of his side’s achievement in context.

“We started in early January, so we re coming up to 11 months train- ing and to be in a Munster final is absolutely fantastic.

“We’re 60 minutes away from win- ning a Munster final and it’s a great position to be in. We’re really look- ing forward to it.”

Happy days for football folk in Garett

MAYOR of Clare, Madeleine Tay- lor-Quinn (FG) was not invited to last Friday’s announcement of US pre-clearance facilities at Shannon Airport, it was revealed yesterday.

In what was described as a “severe slight”, the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey met with a number of Fianna Fail councillors during his visit to the airport but no opposi- tion councillors, including the Mayor Taylor-Quinn, were invited.

Indeed Cllr Taylor-Quinn only heard of the Shannon event during an informal conversation with the minister at the sod turning ceremony for the N18 Gort Crusheen Bypass on Duce hmrnleurnpace

“IT would see this as a severe slight to both the Mayor of Clare and the Mayor of Shannon town,” said Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind), who led the campaign to save the Shannon Hea- throw connection.

“T welcome Councillor McMahon’s meeting with the minister but I have never heard of such a select group of people getting together for a meet- ing. I certainly was not invited to the announcement and I know that the mayor were not invited to the meet- bee lieoe

“If this slight was of the ministers doing or if it was brought about by the management of Shannon Airport then shame on them – we have all supported them whole heatedly dur- ing what as been a very difficult time for the airport.

Commenting on that motion, Cllr Hanrahan (FF) said that no special treatment was shown to Fianna Fail councillors.

‘Invitations were not issued to any- body. Local councillors were invited to meet the minister but no indica- tions were given that there was a ma- jor announcement on the horizon,” he said.

Shannon mayor Cllr Gerry Flynn

(FG) told the council that he was given 45 minutes notice about the announcement and was unable to at- tend because he was “doing real work for his constituents in the offices of Clare County Council in Ennis”.

“T’m delighted that Minister Demp- sey showed that he still knows where Shannon Airport is at all and that the airport was still up and running by the time that he got there,” he said.

“As mayor of Shannon I did get an invitation to the announcement on Friday, I got about 45 minutes notice in fact.”

Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) call for a pro- tocol to be put in place to govern the visits of Government ministers.

CLARE County Council is on a collision course with the National Roads Authority (NRA) after they ignored repeated NRA pleas to tight- en restrictions for one-off homes off national routes.

At a special council meeting last week, senior council planner John Bradley said the decision to allow exceptions for one-homes along na- tional routes in the draft Ennis De- velopment Plan was not consistent with national policy and was going

against NRA policy.

In the draft plan, the council says it will not allow developments on national routes where the maximum speed limit applies.

But there are a number of excep- tions to allow one-off homes for farmers and their own children wish- ing to build a house for their own oc- cupancy.

This has proved too much for the NRA and in a submission to the council, the roads authority says the council policy allows exceptions to the general restriction on access to

national roads.

“The authority requests the inclu- sion of a clearly phrased policy, consistent with official Government policy, outlining the county coun- cil’s position in relation to access to national roads, whereby access to national routes, outside areas where SOkph speed limit applies, will be restricted.

As a result, the NRA requested the council to make amendments to its policies “clearly indicating a restric- tion on direct acccess to national routes outside where a 5Okph speed

limit applies in accordance with of- ficial policy”.

“While the authority considers that none of the exceptions to the re- striction on direct access to national routes listed represent exceptional circumstances, the council are wel- come to review proposals with the authority with a view of establishing an agreed approach,’ the organisa- tion stated.

However, at a behind closed door meeting held last week in Ennis, councillors rejected the NRA sub- HOD EstSI CO) IF

The NRA submission was support- ed by a separate submission from the Department of the Environment.

The department stated: “The na- tional road infrastructure represents a very substantial investment which needs to be protected.

‘In this regard, two issues are of particular concern. Firstly, the ex- emptions are not in line with national policy as set out in the “Development Control Advice and Guidelines’ and ‘Policy and Planning Framework for Roads’ issued by the Department of Environment”.

BEING water safety aware in west Clare is a matter of survival.

With most villages situated close to the sea, estuary or lakes, childhood summers are spent splashing about in the local swimming area.

Staying safe while enjoying the lo- cal amenities 1s a concern for par- OES

Schools in the west Clare area have taken it upon themselves to ensure the local children are prepared deal with many of the hazards associated with water.

As a result PAWS (Primary Aquat- ics Water Safety) programme has be- come part of the school programme in many west Clare schools.

The programme is exclusive to pri- mary school children and is broken up into two parts – land based paws and water based PAWS.

Three schools in west Clare have already completed the programme, Doonbeg National School, Cree Na- tional School and Shragh National School.

The programme taught the children about respecting water and the dan- gers surrounding it.

The teachers took their classes through the first three parts of the award without going near water by discussing and studying the theory of water safety, safe swimming, safety on the farm, and safety on open wa- ae

The pupils also simulated rescues on land, by throwing a rescue rope into a designated area.

Through PAWS pupils not only learn how to swim they also learn to understand and appreciate the water.

The pupils then attended swimming classes with swimming teacher Jen- nifer Mungovan at Quilty Swimming

Pool for a duration of six weeks.

Before receiving their certificates the children had to complete an oral exam and a swimming exam.

Having completed the PAWS pro- gramme the pupils had the ability to swim, interact with others, and be responsible around water.

“The main aim of PAWS is to sig- nificantly reduce the number of our young people lost to drowning each year,’ said Ms Mungovan

ENNIS Town comfortably saw off the challenge of St Brendan’s Park to make the perfect start to their Norton Cup campaign.

The home side dominated through- out, easily over running Park with four goals to spare.

Midfield dynamos Stephen Mc- Gann and Sean Corry grabbed two goals apiece with centre forward Emmanuel Obadeyi completing the scoring with a well-taken effort late in the second half. St Brendan’s Park never really got to grips with their opponents but managed to grab a late consolation goal in the last minute of the second half.

Town had by then well and truly stamped their class on the game. The win sets them up for a second round

clash away to either Bellevue United or Coonagh United.

Its an exciting time all round for Ennis Town. The club hosts its AGM in two weeks time with a wave of new members set to join the club’s management committee.

The coaching staff is set to be ex- panded and new members already include former Kimurry Ibrickane footballer and current selector Mar- tin Keavey who is looking after En- nis Town’s under Ils. Next season the club’s hopes to field teams at un- der 11 (3), under 12 (2), under 15 and under 16.

That would leave Ennis Town on the brink of fielding a team at youths level for the first time 1n the club’s five year history. Plenty of progress then in such a short space of time. And progress was the name of the game

on Saturday as Town were quickly into their stride in Lees Road.

The signs for St Brendan’s were ominous, even from an early stage as Town created a number of early opportunities. The home side didn’t have to wait long to take the lead though. Ten minutes, in fact, had elapsed when Stephen McGann fired Ennis Town in front.

Town doubled their advantage soon after when Sean Corry finished to the net to make it 2-0.

It wasn’t looking good for St Brendan’s. Ennis Town manager Michael Whyte can feel proud of the ruthless edge displayed by his side. There was no letting up from Town. Another Corry strike and a smashing free kick from McGann meant Town went in 4-0 up at the break.

The second half, from a St

Brendan’s perspective, was all about damage limitation.

Town did managed to find the net once more through Obadeyi and the visitors pulled back a late goal through a well taken free kick in the final seconds. It ended 5-1 to Ennis Town who are scheduled to play their second round tie on December 13.