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THERE were just eight races down for decision at Galway Track on Fri- day last with a 9pm start time due to the Connacht v London Irish Euro- pean Challange Cup Game.

| XerHAUOuoMea'(o) 11 MRO)OMMAOL om DUIS LMM ce Kom Ole Al graded seventh contest over 525 yards in which Mine Direct (T3) and Rob The Five (T4) both came away well and matched strides to the open- ing bend where the Frank Browne of Quin owned Mine Direct took a length out of his rival to lead turn- ing down the back. Racing down the back the son of Honcho Classic and Belindas Hill despite running a luit- tle wide extended his advanatage as

he raced to his eighth career success by one and three quarter lengths over the gallant Rob The Five in 28.99.

As the traps rose in race four an- other Frank Browne runner Mine Direct headed straight for the in- side crowding those on his inner but this manouvre only allowed the striped jacketed Beaney Baby to en- joy aclear passage to the bend on the wide outside. Despite running wide again at the second bend the Charlie Wheeler trained daughter of Black Shaw and Ballygur Ivy extended her advantage down the back straight to one of four lengths as she eventually raced to her second career victory by two and three quarter lengths over Mine Direct in 29.12.

The Thursday night programme at the Stadium was the rescheduled card from the previous Thursday night which was abandoned due to weather damage of the Hare system,

Race Two was a S6 graded sprint over the extended sprint trip of 350 yards where the John Quinn of Gort owned Fast Fit Wok (Knockabout Wok-Fast Fit Nikita) readily made all to defeat Cracking Star (T5) by three quarters of a length in 19.37.

The winner showed good pace to the bend and although the runner up threw down a determined challange off the home bend the result was never in doubt.

The bumper was an A5 graded af- fair in which the trap three runner

Rushaun Dasher owned by Helen O’Brien of Miltown Malbay looked set to score his sixth career success for most of the journey as having seen off the challanges of Dark Eyed Major (T5) and Guaire Motion (T4) he loked home for all money turning for home until the Tony Fahy trained Cllonlish Lisa (T6) came from the clouds in the final fifty yards to gain a neck success for owners the T-J Med Syndicate in 29.70.

Saturday night’s card was a gala benefit meeting in aid of Solerno Girls Secondary School. A huge at- tendance was present on the night which was the culmination of a mas- sive fund-raising drive by the schools parents association which saw the

€100,000 target passed on the night.

The feature contest of the night was the AO graded seventh contest over the testing 575 yard trip as the traps rose Mi Fastinfurious (T1) was very smartky away but he moved towards the middle of the track on the run up as Swintford Mylo (T5) showed good pace on the outside to lead at the opening corner. Turning down the back the Pauline McDonnell owned Swinford Mylo led by three lengths from Summerfield Gift (T4) and the pair began to draw clear approaching the penultimate bend.

Turning for home Swinford Mylo led by a length as Summerfiled Gift launched one last effort but *’Mylo”’ lasted it out by half a length in 31.39.

CLARE County Council has claimed that it had no option but to apply for the committal of a Crusheen pen- sioner, when he continued to deny it access to his land for necessary works.

In a statement the local authority said that at all times it “endeavoured to reach agreement” with Oliver Clune on the purchase price of land it was to acquire under a compulsive purchase order.

It said it “commenced the arbitra- tion process to resolve this issue which will result in an independent assessment of the property value.

The access issue is now within the control of the Court.”

The council came into contact with the Crusheen farmer as part of its proposal to provide a road link be- tween the Gort Road and the Tulla Road in Ennis.

The purpose of this road is to 1m- prove significantly traffic flows in the Northern area of the town and also provide “safe and proper access to the Shannon Development Informa- tion Age Park” located at the Gort Neyer

To carry out this project that council said it had to acquire approximately 1.7 acres of land from Mr Clune.

“Negotiations took place with Mr.

Clune regarding purchase price and other matters. Unfortunately, agree- ment could not be reached on the purchase price. In addition to the disagreement on purchase price Mr Clune also disagreed in principle with the provision of his land as detailed for the purpose of Phase I of the road network,’ the council spokesperson said.

The council then moved to Com- pulsory Purchase powers to acquire the necessary lands from the land- owner in June 2005.

The Compulsory Purchase Order was confirmed on August 26, 2005.

The council was still seeking to agree a purchase price with Mr

Clune.

The council requested that the mat- ter be referred to arbitration and the arbitration process in relation to the purchase price is still underway as far as Clare County Council is con- Ou iere

“In pursuance of the councils statu- tory duty as Road Authority the council decided to enter on the lands in December 2007 for the purpose of measurement and survey. Council employees were prevented from car- rying out the work by the landown- er,’ said the spokesperson.

The council tried to enter the land in January this year and again in March.

‘As this was resulting in consider- able time delay and unnecessary ex- penditure of public funds the council had no option but to seek a Court Order preventing Mr Clune, his serv- ants or agents from interfering with the legitimate work of the council. This order was duly granted by the Circuit Court on April 24, 2008,” said the local authority.

The council again sought to en- ter the lands in May 2008 but were again prevented from doing so.

“At this point the council, and in ac- cordance with due legal process had no option but to apply to the Circuit Court for an Order of Committal for Mr Clune,’ the council said.

ENNIS Community College has launched an innovative teaching project that could have a major influ- ence on the Irish education system.

Outdoor Resources Brought into Teaching (ORBITAL) was adapted from a programme initiated by Kerry VEC but developed in Clare by the Ennis college in association with the Burren Outdoor Education Centre.

A pilot programme was tested in Ennis on just one class of the new student intake and so successful as to be broadened to the entire school enrolment this year.

Aine Meehan, co-ordinator of En- nis Schools Completion Programme operating from the Community Col- lege, said the project makes use of local resources to supplement what is going on in the classroom.

That way learning becomes more real, especially for students who have special needs or are second- language learners.

She gives the example of how his- tory is taught in the new scheme. Students learning about castles,

monks and knights are taken to the ancient buildings and the milieu of the people they are studying. Anoth- er instance is going to a goat cheese farm to mark Organic Food Week.

Doing time and distance on ULs running track back up maths studies. The completion programme aims to retain students at college through in- ter-agency working.

College principal Matt Power said students are offered the opportunity to experience the curriculum in ac- tion. Archaeological digs in the Bur- ren, visits to UL science week and to the flaggy shores of the Burren are other learning experiences through the academic year. He is so im- pressed by the project as to be hope- ful of expanding it to the rest of the college.

“A wonderful collaboration has emerged between the college and the outside agencies. Basically, it is an extension of the old idea of learning by doing. What may have seemed less interesting and abstract in the classroom becomes exciting and alive when experienced for real during the day trips.

WOMEN are renowned for their ability to multi-task but the ladies that make up the Kilmihil Football team are taking this skill to a whole new level.

A number of years ago when the club needed a new committee, the team members decided it was time the sisters did it for themselves.

So on Sunday when Fiona O’Neill led her team to victory at the clubs first ever Munster Intermediate Championship Final on Sunday, she was not just the centre back, or the captain, she was also the club’s chair- person. Her fellow Ulster Bank col- league Rosemary Currane was not just a forward for the team, but also

club secretary.

These women like so many of the others who are dedicated to club and team have eaten, drank and slept football since last February.

Training began for the team nine months ago and since then the ladies have met three times a week to train.

Many of the dedicated team travel from Limerick, Cork and Dublin to ensure they are at training.

This year the squad of 26, along with management team Damien De- vine and Thomas McMahon were determined to win the county inter- mediate championship, having come so close in the last two years.

Kilmihil Ladies Football Club was re-established in its current format in Re

It started out as an underage club that grew with its members.

In its first year it won an under 14 B and C final. From there its teams went on to win competitions at all ages including Under 16 B and C finals and Minor As and B titles, as well as numerous national school ti- Coxe

At the turn of the century – just eight years ago – a junior team was formed in the club and in the same year they won the junior title.

In 2000 Kilmihil fielded a senior team with Crusheen, called Kilero- nan and reached the county final.

In 2001 Kilmihil won the All Ire- land seven aside and two years later joined Doonebeg to form the senior team Kildoon Gaels that won the

county final.

Next year Kilmihil will reach the senior grade in their own right.

Despite not fielding a team for three years the Ladies club came back to win a Junior League title in 2006.

Despite winning the Intermediate League title too, the championship evaded the team until this year when it beat Shannon Gaels.

Now the Ladies Team are looking forward to next season at senior lev- el, and even more local support.

“Before people were not that in- terested in Ladies Club, but new we have a lot of support. Local spon- sors played a big part this year as we wouldn’t have a lot and would have been scrapping through,” said Rose- nerve

Buena from the province’s stirring 24-16 win over Sale on Sunday afternoon.

“You see Munster in Clonlara,’ re- vealed Horan. “They weren’t given a chance of doing anything, just like we weren’t when we went into Europe. But we had great belief in ourselves and this Clonlara team does to.

“IT saw them play against Crusheen the first day and they showed great character to come back after losing that lead and going behind. It was very gutsy stuff.

“Tl be at the final because I have a weekend off and am not involved in the Magners League game against

Ulster. They’re up against a great Newmarket team but anything can happen on the day. This team plays with no fear – they’re a great bunch of lads and I just hope that they enjoy it and the day doesn’t pass them by.”

Games never pass Munster by these days, something Horan and company proved on Sunday afternoon when assuming control of Pool One in their defence of the Heineken Cup.

“The pressure was on us,’ admits Horan, “because if we hadn’t got a result the wheels could have come off. And after seeing what Sale did to Clermont we knew we were up against it.

“We realised it was all or nothing. If we lost it was going to be very dif- ficult to come out of the group. We hadn’t performed in the first game. We knew that and our support- ers knew that, so we had to deliver. It was do or die stuff and we came through it.”

Do or die – just like Sunday’s coun- ty final will be. And it will be every bit as competitive as Munster v Sale.

YOUNG Clare farmers will have plenty to talk about as they make their way to the Macra National Ral- ly which takes place in Galway this weekend.

Last week, chairman of Macra na Feirme’s Agricultural Affairs com- mittee, Eddie O’Donnell described the decision to suspend the Young Farmer Installation Aid scheme as a move “beyond belief” for young Veto ne

“Suspending a scheme that is 42 per cent EU co-funded and agreed under Social Partnership to run from 2007 to 2013 at a total budget of 68 million is totally contrary to the Government’s policy of supporting

young farmers starting out in agri- culture,” he said.

“The Government is supporting Start up business in this budget with tax breaks, yet the Government is taking away supports for start up businesses in the one industry that is the backbone of the rural economy.”

According to O’Donnell there are many young farmers who are in the process of taking over farms or start- ing up in their own right and were making preparations to apply to the No slot alen

Meanwhile, National President, Catherine Buckley, welcomed the re- newal of Stamp Duty and Stock Re- lief in last weeks budget which she said will continue to be of benefit to young farmers.

“The extension of Stamp Duty re- lief up to 2013 is a crucial incentive in encouraging the early transfer of land to committed and progressive young trained farmers,’ she said.

‘The exemption is worth nearly 20 million per annum to young farmers and will be worth million over the lifetime of the renewal.”

Young Clare farmers will travel in force to the Macra na Feirme annual conference, or ‘Rally’ as it 1s more fondly known, which takes place in Salthill this weekend.

The conference will be officially launched by Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith, on Friday evening while a major highlight will be the Bord Bia Beef and Sheep Stock judg- ing Finals, which are being held in

Mountbellew Agriculture College.

Mid Clare Macra club will rep- resent County Clare in The Farm- ers Journal Know Your Agriculture Quiz Final, followed by a black and white theme night.

A host of activities will take place all weekend with a number of Clare clubs taking part.

Brendan Collins from The Bur- ren Macra club is in the final 12 for the Best New Member Competition while Mid Clare Macra Club will represent County Clare in The Na- tional Finals of Ladies and Gents Football which will be held on Sun- day in NUI, Galway.

For more information on Clare Macra, please contact Rose on 086 3169785. www.macra.ie

A CAMPAIGN launched in Ennis last week, aims to improve water safety measures for children.

The development of drowning prevention standards was discussed when the Examiners of Irish Water Safety held their Annual Confer- ence in Ennis. Over one hundred attendees from around the country reviewed current approaches and de- veloped new strategies to reduce this needless waste of life.

The conference opened as new fig- ures reveal that 16 children aged 14

and under have drowned in Ireland, in the last five years.

The conference discussed all spheres of water safety in a bid to re- duce the tragic fact that 156 drowned in Ireland in 2007. The conference also focused on the dangers present- ed by inland waterways, the most common location of drowning inci- (nls

That is an area of water safety that resonates particularly with Ennis in light of recent figures, which reveal that nine people have drowned on the River Fergus in the past four years.

The latest tragedy occurred last

week, when the body of a man was recovered from the river, near Knoxs Bridge, on Tuesday.

The man is thought to be in his ear- ly 40s and is believed to originally be of Eastern European descent.

Speaking recently, Liam Griffin, Water Safety Officer with Clare County Council, re-iterated calls for people to respect life rings placed on the Fergus, saying that abuse and vandalism was a bigger issue in En- nis than anywhere else in Clare.

Mr Griffin said he would also sup- port a review of the current plan outlining existing water safety pro-

cedures for Ennis.

The vast majority of drowning inci- dents – along with many other aquatic injuries – are preventable, according to Irish Water Safety council. Wa- ter safety plays a key role in signifi- cantly reducing aquatic injuries and drowning through its’ education and promotion programmes.

Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Lo- cal Government, Michael Kitt T.D. launched “Aqua Attack”, a workbook awareness programme packed with water safety tips and exercises for children.

“Tell them to wait until next year, until I win it,” he told his grandmoth- er Kay.

True to his word the 16-year-old won the competition in Old Trafford WORN ore

This was no mean feat as he beat off stiff competition from all over Europe, including the German teen- ager that piped him at the post last year.

Now the Killimer teenager is pre- paring to take part in the World

Skills Final, as a result of his win.

The international competition will take place on November | in the Cliff Training ground – the Manchester United and England training ground in Manchester.

Ruairi will also play on the Old Trafford pitch before the Manchester United home game against Hull City, and the winners of the world skills finals will be presented to the fans at half time. With his strong determ1- nation and winning attitude Ruairi’s family and team-mates are hoping that he is among the winners.

Living in Kilmihil with his grand- parents Sennan and Kay Honan (nee Gallagher) who are originally from Burton Street Kilrush, Ruairi is ded- icated sports man.

For the past three years he has made the trip to Manchester to take part in the World Skills Final.

The avid Manchester United fan 1s currently playing with the Money- point under 16 team and has been a constant team member with Mon- eypoint AFC from the under 11 age ea celel oy

Ruairi has won Clare league and Cup medals at various age levels over those years with Moneypoint AFC. Ruairi has also been a member of the Clare County Soccer Squad at various age levels.

His proud grandmother Kaye paid tribute to the young soccer star.

‘He is a great kid and very moti- vated,” she said.

Although he is also a keen golfer

and enjoys chess, Ruairi is now dedi- cating most of his spare time to prac- ticing his skills.

The fifth year student from Kilrush Community College can be seen training alone in the “field in Killim- er’ in the evening and at weekends.

A spokesperson from Moneypoint FC also wished the young soccer player well as he prepares to fly to Manchester with his grandparents on October 31.

And who knows if he wins we might just get another picture and interview.

FOLLOWING on from their All-Ire- land Junior success last month, Clare camogie is on the cusp of moving up the senior ranks for 2009. At a met- ing of the Cumann Camdogaiochta na nGael in Croke Park on Monday there was support for a proposal from the Clare Camogie Executive to move up to senior.

After several meetings over the past number of weeks, including a forum with the players, the executive felt that it was in the best interests of the future of the game in the county that

Clare should enter two teams, one at senior and one at intermediate level in 2009.

Official sanction for the move would allow for an operating panel of up to 40 players, ensuring that more play- ers will get championship experience and further develop the standard of camogie in the county.

With a new management team due to be ratified by the December Coun- ty Board meeting, this move to em- brace senior competition is deemed to be a progressive step on the road to future development for the emerg- ing county.

BRENDAN Smith record as Minis- ter for Agriculture has been placed under the spotlight in the fall out from last week early budget. With the farming organisations in agree- ment that farmers took the hardest hit of all sectors in the budget, Fine Gael have labelled Minister Smith as ‘the weakest link’ around the cabinet table.

Speaking in the aftermath of Tues- day’s budget, the minister pointed to the €3.2 billion that would be spent on supporting the farming, food, fisheries and forestry next year.

This will be cold comfort to many farmers with overall spending down by 2.6 per cent and payments to dis-

advantaged areas and the suckler cow schemes facing reductions while no new applications would be accepted for the Early Retirement and Young Farmer Installation Schemes.

More worringly, the IFA now be- lieve that there will be a shortfall of €400 million in farm schemes next year.

IFA leader Padraig Walshe said the budget was particularly damaging to the drystock sector and disadvan- taged areas.

Meanwhile, ICSA president Mal- colm Thompson said that there was a sense of shock and horror that farmers were being made to bear the brunt of cutbacks in the Department of Agriculture.

“Minister Smith gave us the im-

pression from his statement that the priority was spending on the produc- tive capacity of the agri-food sector,’ said Mr Thompson. “The reality is that those at the cold face of pro- ductivity, the farmers, were the ones feeling the pain.”

Despite the general negative senti- ment, Clare TD and Minster of State in the Department of Agriculture, Tony Killeen, pointed to a number of positives.

“While there are reductions in the budgets of the Marine Institute, BIM and the SFPA, the seafood process- ing sector, which is recognised by Dr Noel Cawley in his “Steering A New Course Report” as a growth area, has doubled its budget,” he said.

“A further €1.46 million has been

set aside specifically to support com- pliance of fisheries and aquaculture with respect to activities in Natura 2000 sites.

In addition to this €5 million has been made available for aquacul- ture development while funding has been provided to enable the success- ful completion of the current De- commissioning of Fishing Vessels Scheme.

“I welcomed the prospect of the synergies and opportunities that will result from the integration of seafood marketing and promotion with the State’s food marketing body, Bord Bia, while BIM will retain the over- all role in driving the Cawley Report on the development of the Irish sea- food industry,” he said.