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RESIDENTS who were holding a round-the-clock protest outside a house which was bought by the local authority have moved their marquee.

The protest is continuing at the side of the house in Cullinagh estate on the Ballina side of Lough Derg and it is thought that the marquee may have been moved on foot of a request from Gardai as it had previously been on the street in front of the house.

But the protest is still continuing, sources close to the row have re- vealed.

Residents have been protesting since Tipperary County Council bought the private home to accom- modate a family of ten Travellers at a cost of €465,000.

The protesters have claimed the council is acting outside it’s own pol- icy for housing Travellers by spend- ing such a large sum on an unfinished house and they recently went to court in a bid to stop the council signing a tenancy agreement on the property with the O’Reully family.

High Court Judge Mr Peter Justice Charleton ruled against the residents application for a judicial review on the grounds that members of the

Travelling community have the same rights to be housed as anyone else and as much as he himself had. He also rejected the resident’s applica- tion to prevent the council signing a tenancy agreement before a decision in the review could be made by the High Court.

The residents have been taking fur- ther legal advice and are thought to be considering an appeal but asso- ciation chairman, Paddy Collins said they are not in a position to comment on any developments at the mom- ment. ““We will be guided by our le- gal advice and that is all we can say at present,’ he said.

The O’Reilly family, who are at the centre of the row have been living in the lakeside town for nine years in a number of caravans, a short distance from the property in dispute.

Last night, Tony O’Malley, solicitor for the family also declined to com- ment at present.

He said previously that the O’Reilly’s are “very upset. They have been under a lot of pressure because of this. They are a family which has lived here peacefully for many years. They have helped with community events, their children are going to school in the area.”

BIG crowds and even bigger wheels are expected at the 2008 National Truck show, details of which were announced last week.

The event takes place in the grounds of the Clare Marts Ennis on October 26 and 27. All major trucks, trailer, engines, components and truck parts along with aftermarket products will be on display. Interactive exhibits will also be on site in the extensive auto accessory booth area and there will also be an exhibition by Ireland’s number one stunt riding champion, Mattie Griffin.

Organisers, AMP promoters, are revamping and expanding upon last year’s event. According to a spokes- person for AMP promoters, “The new venue is completely tarmac with plenty of space for each truck to be displayed ensuring all trucks are looking their very best and for the truckers themselves there will be free onsite shower facilities. The National Truck Show 2008 is destined to be- come the greatest truck show Ireland will ever know. Expect things you have never seen before”.

Other activities include top drift- ing exhibition by Prodrift – www. prodriftirl.com, an off road 4×4 chal-

lenge, onsite live musical entertain- ment from The Clare Celts and DJs to keep the truckers and public en- trained.

A charity bungee jump is also planned along with a full range of fun activities for children. Traders or vendors wishing to attend the event are asked to visit Www.am-ennis.ie to download a vendors application form or contact Kevin Mulqueen on 086 O850015 or by email kevin@amp- STOP AN ESS LSe

Last year’s National Truck Show raised money for two organisations involved in providing support to peo- ple whose lives have been affected

ONAL UNOS LOR

A spokesperson added, “AMP Event Promoters would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who gave the National Truck Show 2007 their one hundred present support and also in supporting our chosen charities, the voluntary or- ganisation Aware – Helping to Defeat Depression (www.aware.ie) and Liv- ing Links (www.livinglinks.ie) who provide assertive outreach support to the suicide bereaved”’.

For further information and to keep up to date with the activities and the attractions check out www.amp-en- nis.ie.

There are two solutions other than those suggested by Clare County Council. Remove the rock-armour wall and restore the original right of way that has the disadvantage of ex- posing the general public to golf balls in flight. Once again the real solution is simple and relatively inexpensive. Adequate parking between the golf club road and the L61041 where they

run parallel to each other and to the left of the L61401. A roundabout at the junction of the golf club and the road; remove the rock-armour wall and put in a tunnel under the fairway for approximately 75 metres.

local election.

Last week the Soldiers of Destiny elected Gerry Reidy to secretary of the Comhairle Dail Cheantar, re- placing Martin O’Loughlin who now works for newly elected TD Timmy Dooley.

Patrick Maloney was elected chair-

man and in his absence Michael McTigue got the unenviable task of PRO.

While the officals are firmly in place, speculation is mounting as to who is going forward to one of the hardest elections facing the party.

Ennis Chamber of Commerce CEO Rita McInerney is one of the new faces being suggested for Ennis Town Council. In a chamber that cur- rently has just one woman, the Doon- beg native could double the female gender if elected.

Other names likely to contest the

Ennis Town Council for Fianna Fail include sitting councillors Peter Con- sidine and Tom Glynn and contend- ers John Guerin and Sean Malone.

Cllr Joe Reidy had expressed an in- terest in contesting Ennis East in the county council elections along side Cllrs Pat Daly and Bernard Hanra- ete

In the second new constituency of Ennis West Cllr Considine is to be joined by Gareth Green son of former councillor Raymond Green. Green was proposed by the Kilna- mona Cumann, which 1s now part of

SHAVeVESMA A Koni

With Cllr Flan Garvey likely to stand down in the reduced constitu- ency of Ennistymon, it is unlikely that any Inagh candidate will be put forward with Kilnamona gone to En- Oh

Instead former councillor Michael Hillary is proposed to run in Ennisty- mon, as the boundary change brings in more of what would be considered his traditional area around Miltown Malbay. Former Chairperson of the Ennistymon Comhairle Cheantair Mary Crawford is also being pro-

posed for the Ennistymon area.

With the Kilrush electoral area, like Ennistymon losing a seat all sitting councillors are likely to be proposed for Fianna Fail.

In Shannon, the town has yet to propose a candidate. Meanwhile Sixmilebridge has nominated former council candidate PJ Ryan and new candidate Pascal Lenihan to contest the newly expanded electoral area.

Sitting Fianna Fail County Coun- cillor Pat McMahon and Robert Frost have been nominated by Newmarket- on-Fergus.

CALLS have been made for extra gardai for east Clare after a spate of crimes left cars wrecked and homes vandalised in recent days.

The various incidents – which ap- pear not to be connected – came to a head in the early hours of Friday morning when shots were fired at a house in Clonuchtere.

Last week residents in the Meelick area were shocked at a spate of as- saults and attacks which left three

cars damaged and the windows of two houses shattered.

Local councillor Cathal Crowe(FF) said there is an element of intimida- tion and people who had property damaged had not reported the matter to gardai.

“There have been assaults and threats around Clonlara and a number of very aggessive crimes. The shoot- ing incident doesn’t appear to have any connection but it takes things to a whole new level,’ he said.

Meanwhile, local Labour council-

lor, Pascal Fitzgerald said that people in the area are “shocked” by recent developments which have left prop- erty and vehicles badly damaged.

“This is a lovely area and people here don’t deserve to be in fear of this kind of behaviour,” he said.

Both councillors are calling for ex- tra policing after the attacks.

“We are in close proximity to a big city but this is a country area and we can’t allow a spread of the kind of crimes that are plaguing urban ar- eas,” Cllr Fitzgerald said.

THE speed demons of Ennis will re- unite in the town later this month to feN oo) ecko deColb ume lerbetommmlbeelO) OF

Members of the Wheels Within Wheels project will gather in Ennis on Saturday, October 18, to receive an award for their exploits in Mon- dello Park earlier this year.

Wheels Within Wheels has devel- oped over the years as a collabora- tive effort between local motorbike enthusiasts and organisations pro- moting adult education and lifelong learning.

Previous projects included restor- ing vintage motorbikes from scrap to highlight the work done by the Sim- ply Said, an annual publication of

writings by adult learners attending classes with Clare Adult Basic Edu- cation Service.

Other charities to have benefited from events organised by Wheels Within Wheels include St Luke’s Hospital, Dublin, Cahercalla Hospi- tal, Steps Youth club and the RNLI lifeboat service.

The group’s latest endeavor took them to the home of Irish motor rac- ing, Mondello Park on August 9, to take part in a fastest lap challenge against a contingent from the Rebel County, the Cork Tornadoes.

The Wheels Within Wheels team comprised of Jimmy Meere, Cathal Meere, Keith Meere, Jacko McMa- hon, Dr Sean Conlon, Adult Educa- tion Officer and representatives from

Clare VEC.

The bike used was a 1980s Java moped, restored to prefect working order by Jimmy, Dermot Kelleher and Michael Considine, and nick- named the Speed Demon.

It was ridden by Cathal Meere, ad- vised on the day by his brother Keith, the 2007 Southern Centre champion, and, at just 21 already regarded as one of the most talented performers on the circuit.

Heavy rainfall played havoc with preparations, but despite the less than ideal racing conditions, Cathal Meere raced around the track in a Mondello record book time of three minutes 18 seconds.

To mark the achievement, the team will be presented with a trophy, de-

signed by Jacko McMahon and local welder Gerry Hanrahan, at the Mon- dello Challenge Presentation night on October 18 at Mickey Kerin’s bar, Lifford Ennis.

The presentation will be made by Jim McMahon and Chris Withy- combe, two men who have been part of the Wheels Within Wheels project and who earlier this year climbed the ten peaks of the McGillycuddy Reeks, in the process raising €7,/00 for the Friend’s of St Luke’s Hospital, Dublin.

The action in Mickey’s kicks off at 9pm. There will be plenty of music and all are welcome to attend. For enquiries contact Jimmy Meere 086 0834753 or Jacko McMahon 086 0680759.

the response time to emergency call outs in Clare took more than one hour in 35 cases dur- ing the first four months of that year. The HSE then claimed that the loca- tion of the call in relation to the near- est available ambulance at the time of the call or the difficulty in finding a location due to incorrect directions or a wrong address could be behind WeoRelo EAE The availability of ambulances came to the fore again in the past

year when three west Clare babies were born on the side of the road or traumatic emergency circumstances at home.

The unavailability of an ambulance in Kilrush on the busy August Bank Holiday weekend again raised ques- tions about the recourses of the serv- ice.

That weekend – one of the busiest for the west of the county – the am- bulance service in Kilrush was with- drawn and was covered by Ennis 44 kilometres away.

During the weekend a _ young woman was killed in a car accident in Kilkee, as well as the usual call outs during the busy peak tourism ereu (elem

A HSE spokesperson yesterday evening confirmed to

FINE Gael in Ennis has vowed to remove what it has described as the Fianna Fail and independent strong- hold over Ennis Town Council.

As the members begin the prepara- tion process for the 2009 local elec- tions, the fighting talk has already ererca sue e

“There is lot of negativity out there for the Government and I am con- vinced we can do well,’ Fine Gael TD Pat Breen told delegates at the Ennis Town Council convention.

“It is a different situation to four years ago. 2009 will be a very differ- ent election and fought very different by the different parties. It is 1mpor- tant for all concerned to get out there

and knock on doors,” he added.

‘People will use this as a mid-term review of the Government and vote against the Government,” said the Clare TD.

Ennis Town Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) also believed that the Fianna Fail and independent strong hold needed to be changed. “Local government should be the opposite to central govern-

ment to force central government to work more effectively,” he said.

Fine Gael member Earl Mulqueen said, “Next year the people of Ennis will get the first chance in five years to say how Ennis town has been run and how it will be run. We need to elect a councillor that will shout stop if the council proposes something that is to the detriment of the town

and the people of the town.”

The consensus of many at the top table was that four seats were not be- yond possibility following the party’s success two years ago.

Chairman Limerick County Coun- cillor Leo Walsh (FG) said he be- lieved that Fine Gael had a “great chance” of securing four of the nine seats in next year’s local election.

THE awards just keep on rolling in for Lisdoonvarna’s Burren Smoke- house, which last week claimed its third major national prize in as many weeks. The smokehouse brought back two category awards, as well as the overall Grand Prix award from the SHOP 2008 Final in Dublin last week. The undoubted star of the event was the smokehouse’s newest product, smoked salmon with honey, whiskey and fennel glaze.

This new recipe was conceived as a means of bringing an uniquely Irish flavour to the smoked salmon.

“We couldn’t believe it; to get one award was something else but then the second and third awards was just unbelievable. To get the award for best product in show was really spe- cial,” said Birgitta.

‘There was such huge competition out there and we feel very fortunate. It’s great recognition, not just myself but for the whole team in the Burren Smokehouse. It’s the whole package that was being judged – the original product, all that we do to in terms of flavouring as well as the final pres- entation.

‘We wanted to come up with some- thing which was uniquely Irish. Pre-

serving salmon with honey is an old Irish tradition – both in terms of pre- serving and improving the flavour. We wanted to create a really Irish product, and something that really had its own character and flavour. It worked really well, the judges really loved the salmon.”

The smokehouse has won a number of high profile awards in recent time, most notably two Gold Medals at this years Great Taste Awards.

“It is satisfying, we have been working on product range a lot this year, coming up with new ideas and widening the range more and more. This makes it more attractive for the

customers who come to our shop and for the shops that we stock,” contin- ued Birgitta.

‘They can now choose more differ- ent flavours than ever before. When you marinate the salmon it makes it even more palatable for people. It’s about giving people something dif- ferent. People are getting into new flavours and they like to widen their experiences more and more.”

The smokehouse won the award for the best Irish product and the over- all award for the best item on shop at SHOP 2008. The SHOP awards are organised by a collective of some of Ireland largest food retailers.

THE national surgical oncology ad- visor has criticised the media for its coverage of the breast cancer misdi- agnosis in Ennis General Hospital. Professor Arnold Hill, consultant surgeon at Beaumont Hospital, told the annual meeting of the Irish Hos- pital Consultants’ Association — that an excessive media focus on a small number of cases made for “a very difficult environment in which to

practice cancer care.”

The cancer specialist revealed that the best cancer centres had a misdi- agnosis rate of 1.6 per cent. Although the mammogram unit at Ennis Hos- pital is now closed it examined 450 women as recently as 2006.

Other women, like the late Ann Mo- riarty, would have undergone x-rays and women like the late Edel Kelly would have undergone biopsies.

According to Professor Hill, even with a perfect cancer diagnosis sys-

tem approximately 25 women with breast cancer would be misdiagnosed every year in Ireland.

Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised that the HSE will use the findings from the HIQA investiga- tion at Ennis, as ammunition to close the hospital.

“My fear is that the HSE may use this report to downgrade the hospi- tal and implement Hanley,” said Fine Gael TD Pat Breen.

Ennis Hospital Development Com-

mittee chairman Ciaran O’Dea was concerned that the report’s terms of reference made presumptions about the hospital.

“It has not been framed to reassure the people of Clare that the recom- mendations issuing from the review will not further erode the services provided by the Mid Western Hospi- tal in Ennis.

‘In the terms of reference there is an apparent assumption that the level of resourcing 1s adequate.

“We would like them to comment on the level of funding and resoursc- ing in the hospital over the past two decades,” he said.

“We also hope the review team would not be narrow in their focus and take into account historical cir- cumstances and the role of manage- ment and government in creation of the current hospital structures.

“We call on them to use the ability to expand the investigation and where required they will investigate.”