Category: Uncategorized

A TOTAL of eight people have died in drowning incidents on the River Fergus since 2004, according to the figures revealed by the water safety officer with Clare County Council.

Liam Griffin addressed members at yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council along with the Chief Fire Officer for Clare, Adrian Kelly. Mr Griffin told the council that in some cases, the drownings were as a result of suicide.

He said, “I don’t think it’s possi- ble to rescue a person when they are

drowning. Unless, you had someone on the scene when it is happening, who is a top class swimmer. People drown in seconds, maybe minutes. When you hear of people getting rescued from rivers, it’s usually be- cause they have hung onto a branch or climbed up onto a bank.”

Mr Griffin outlined to the council the training methods employed to equip volounteers working with the Clare Civil Defence.

He also pledged his support to any review of existing procedures for water safety in Ennis.

“If the council feels there should

be a review, maybe replacing or up- grading water safety equipment, we would support that.”

Mr Griffin also called for people to respect life rings placed on the Fer- gus, saying that abuse and vandalism was a bigger issue in Ennis than any- where else in Clare.

Mr Griffin and Mr Kelly spoke at the council in order to clarify the specific roles of the different ele- ments that make up the rescue serv- ices in Clare.

Their appearance was prompted by comments made by Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) at the September meet-

ing of Ennis Town Council.

At the time Cllr Neylon, told the chamber that he had received a phone call from a member of the Fire serv- ices in Clare, alleging that the chief fire officer threatened to fire staff that entered a river to rescue a person from drowning.

Mr Kelly has since strongly reject- ed making the statement and re-iter- ated his stance in no-uncertain terms MK KOr Ne

“T never said anything like that and I never would,” the chief fire officer Cr ALOR

He said that members of the fire

services are provided with water awareness training and co-ordinate closely with other agencies on oc- casions when a body is reported to have entered the water.

“It is my responsibility to make sure firemen don’t get injured and get home to their wives,’ said Mr th

He added, “We are a fire and res- cue service not a water rescue serv- ice.’ Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine (FF) led tributes to Clare’s rescue services, with Independent council- lor Taiwoo Matthew calling their vo- lounteer work a “noble campaign”’.

SHERRY FitzGerald, Ireland’s larg- est estate agents has announced that the average price of a second-hand property in Ireland fell by 5.9 per cent during the third quarter of 2008. The results for the twelve months to September show a price reduction of 14 per cent.

According to Marian Finnegan, Chief Economist, Sherry FitzGer- ald Group, “The true extent of the market correction is more significant than either figure illustrates. The first evidence of market correction began during the third quarter of

2006. Assuming the market peak occurred in June 2006, this suggests a market correction in Ireland of 16.6 per cent in nominal terms and 26 per cent in real terms over the 27 month period”.

The Cork market recorded price deflation of 4.7 per cent in the quar- ter and 12.7 per cent in the twelve months to September.The results for the Dublin market are even more marked with price reductions of 7.1 per cent in the quarter and 15.7 per cent in the year to September 2008. From a peak in June 2006, the aver- age price of a second-hand property in Dublin has now fallen by 23.4 per

cent in nominal terms or 32.8 percent in real terms.

Marian Finnegan, added, “The lat- est results from the price barometer give a clear picture of the extent of price correction in the second hand market. The price decline originated in the Dublin market during the sum- mer months of 2006 however it was almost twelve months later that the price reductions truly spread to the rest of the country. All areas of the country are now enduring significant price falls with the upper end of the market most affected to date’.

An analysis of the purchaser profile in the year to date reveals that first

time buyers accounted for 38 per cent, compared to 34 per cent during the same period in 2007. Not sur- prisingly investors were less active in the year to date purchasing 10 per cent of the properties traded in the period, compared to 17.6 per cent in the same period in 2007.

The trend of rental inflation which has been a feature of this market dur- ing 2006 and 2007 effectively ended in 2008 with the CPI index of pri- vately owned rents falling by 0.64 per cent in the twelve months to August 2008, compared to an annual average growth of 9.98 per cent in 2007.

Looking to the immediate future,

Ms Finnegan acknowledged that “Activity levels will remain subdued in the coming weeks leading up to the Budget as consumers await the Government’s announcement on October 14th. In the post —budget market other factors should begin to influence consumer sentiment. Not least of which lies in the fact that the combination of the price reductions already present in the market place and the reduction in fixed interest rates in the mortgage market has re- sulted in enhanced affordability in the starter home market with an in- creasing number of properties more affordable to purchase than to rent”’.

ALL kinds of canine carry-on was celebrated in Cratloe last week when the four-legged took over the compe- tition from the usual two legged on Cratloe GAA for the seventh Annual Cratloe Fun Doggie Show.

A record 760 entries made sure that Judges JP Dillion, Limerick 95 FM and Robert Kelly, Irish Cocker Spaniel Club were kept on their toes awarding first to fourth place rosettes. The winner of each of the 20 classes was brought back into the judging ring to compete for the Show Dog 2008 and that proved to be Sean Kelly from Newmarket, who was

presented with the Robert Manning Memorial Trophy on behalf of his golden retriever Max. The trophy 1s sponsored annually by the Munster Dog Training and Behaviour School who also organised the dog show classes.

The pony rides and the face paint- ing were a great attraction with the youngsters while there was great competition for the prizes to be had at the long puck, sliothar through the hole, penalties and football through the tyre. The golf putting exasper- ated many and even the best of golf- ers had trouble putting the ball un- der the watchful eye of Donal Ryan. Spotty and Henry, the two miniature

ponies had all scratching their heads as they tried to guess the ponies com- bined weight. Brendan Madigan was the lucky winner of the ‘Guess How Many Sweets In The Jar and Win The Lot’ competition. The book stall was a hive of activity and the barbeque and tea rooms kept visitors fed and watered. The new car park laid in the grounds of the GAA ensured that there was plenty of car parking under the watchful eyes of the attendants marshalled by Dennis Conroy.

The pet photography studio was kept busy and while talented cam- eraman Brendan Coleman captured portraits of many a man and his best friend.

“Tt was a terrific afternoon of fun for all who attended and the committee are delighted with the funds raised in aid of the community sports hall,” a spokeswoman for the committe said. “The hall was open and everyone agreed that it is a wonderful asset to the community. The committee want to sincerely thank all who helped out on the day along with our wonderful sponsors to make the seventh An- nual Cratloe Doggie Show the best ever yet and already look forward to PAU Oe

CLARE handball had a mixed week- end — defeat was the county’s lot at adult level, but there was glory for the underage brigade at under 12/13 and under 14/15 level.

Declan Frawley (Clarecastle) was defeated in the All-Ireland Junior Singles semi-final by the experienced Ollie Conway of Galway. After tak- ing the first game 21-19, Frawley, Clare’s last hope of big alley silver- ware this year, went down 6-21 and 9-21.

However, there was success on the double for Clare’s juvenile hand- ballers on Saturday at Tuamgraney as they claimed both the under 12/13 and under 14/15 ‘team-of-six’ Mun- ster titles against Tipperary opposi- nova

The under 12/13 squad consisted of Patrick Fitzgerald (Tuamgraney) Niall Bolton Colin Corbett (Tulla), Cian Crimmins (Newmarket), Fergal Coughlan (Clooney), Colin Crehan

and Padraig McNamara (both Kil- kishen). Despite a strong fight from Tipp, who won the first two games, the Clare lads powered back to take eto AUER

The under 14/15 team had a slightly more straight forward route to vic- tory and seemed to always be in control of the overall match with a team including Killian McNamara, Christopher Philpott (both Kilkish- en), Ciaran Malone (Tuamgraney), Evan Corbett (Tulla), Barry McMa- hon (O’Callaghan’s Mills) and Peter Duggan (Clooney). Both sets of Mun- ster Champions now face All-Ireland semi-finals this weekend at venues that have yet to be confirmed.

The Clare under 16/17’s will aim to make it a hat-trick of Munster team titles when they play their Munster final against Waterford this week.

Also this weekend, Clooney pair Paula Loughnane and Shaunagh O’Brien play their All-Ireland Girls Under 15 Doubles Final against Kilkenny’s Marie Walsh and Demi

Donovan. The final is fixed for this Saturday in Crinkle, Offaly.

The Girls Under 13-17 Inter-pro- vincial Championships were held in Roscommon on Saturday. Played on a ‘team-of-ten’ aggregate basis, Munster were eventually defeated by the Connacht team in the final. Representing Clare on the Munster team were Lisa Loughnane, Paula Loughnane, Shaunagh O’Brien and Alana O’Brien (all Clooney).

NOTE: The AGM of Clare County Handball Board takes place Monday October 13, at John Minogue’s, Tul- la, at 8.30pm sharp.

FOCUS in the mid-west needs to be on positive developments which the region has seen and building on those successes, the new mid-west president of IBEC says.

Despite a disastrous year for tour- ism, the Cityjet Shannon to Charles deGaulle route is so successful that the airline is planning to double it’s capacity and everything that can be done to boost tourism in the region must be done. This was the key mes- sage delivered by incoming presi- dent, Dr Maria Hinfelaar at the AGM of the regional body last week.

‘It has been an extremely difficult tourism season. The number of tour- ists on the ground and the level of spend and income in the region is down on last year. The region has witnessed a significant drop in bed nights with US golf business to the region down significantly. There is little doubt that access to Ireland, particularly for US visitors through Heathrow was very beneficial to the region and we have lost significantly there,’ Dr Hinfelaar said.

“In the midst of all these impeding factors, everything possible must be done to protect the industry. There are a number of positive develop- ments regionally, which give rise to

optimism for the future,” she said, pointing to the success of the twice daily Cityjet service.

But while it is recognised that this connection to Charles de Gaulle “is a major achievement more connectiv- ity is needed. We know that Shannon Airport and its partners are work- ing hard to achieve this and given the current difficulties in the airline industry this will be a challenging task,’ she noted.

Upbeat about the future of the re- gion, Dr Hinfelaar said, ‘We are looking forward to Shannon becom- ing the first airport in Europe with full US pre-clearance facilities. It will give us a unique and competitive advantage, which must be capitalised on,’ Dr Hinfelaar added.

The IBEC president also pointed to opportunities which could be de- veloped between Shannon and the Middle and Far East and the need to strengthen US relations.

“It is time to focus on what we have; several of Ireland’s top attrac- tions, major industrial players and educational institutions are based here. A positive attitude is needed and is one that will pay dividends,” Dr Hinfelaar said.

ALLEGATIONS of an odour ema- nating from the landfill site in Inagh are too serious to be heard in the dis- trict court – a judge has ruled.

Judge Joseph Mangan declined ju- risdiction in the case of the Environ- mental Protection Agency against Clare County Council.

The council faces two summonses alleging that an odour emanated

from the landfill site between August and November 2007. Solicitor for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Gearodid Williams told En- nistymon District Court last week that the issue was whether the court would accept jurisdiction.

He explained that the case related to odours emanating from the land- fill site in Inagh.

“The council is operating a landfill on foot of a licence from the EPA,’

he said. One of the conditions was that there would not be any odour from the facility.

Mr Williams said the EPA was of the view that the matter be dealt with summarily, in the district court, where fines of up to €3,000 and/or a year in prison could be imposed in the event of a conviction.

“The allegations of odours are on a level that the EPA did not consider sufficiently serious to be tried on in-

dictment (in the circuit court), added the solicitor.

He said the EPA does not have the power to prosecute matters on indict- ment, in the circuit court. If jurisdic- tion were to be declined in the district court, the order would be for the case to be struck out and then referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“The question is, is this sufficiently Serious for the matter to be tried on indictment? . . . The EPA believes it

is not. If jurisdiction is not accepted, the EPA does not have a role in pros- ecuting it,” said Mr Williams.

However, Judge Joseph Mangan said he was declining jurisdiction. “It is too serious of a nature to come un- der the ambit of the penalties stated,” said the judge. He then struck out the matter.

The matter is now out of the hands of the EPA and will be referred to the DB) ae

IT WON’T be launched by cracking a bottle of champagne on the stern and the people who built it won’t need to spend their life savings to get afloat, but the currach which was un- der construction in Scariff last week is a model which has served coastal fishermen for thousands of years.

Nine enthusiastic amatuers have come together to learn how to make a sailboat that can take to the waters without having to spend a rock star’s ransom.

Instructor, James Madigan from

Lissycasey learned currach building at his grandfather’s knee and now he is passing on the skill to the mixed bunch, which includes people with physical and mental challenges and CE scheme participants.

Brother’s of Charity worker, Rich- ard Collins explained that the boat is ‘a currach on the style of the Don- egal Dunfanahy boats. It’s a project that gets people together, talking and working towards a common aim. At the end of it there will be a boat built for about ©250 that you can take in and out of the water easily and drive away with it on the roof-rack of the

car rather than having to spend thou- sands to have a bit of sailing time on the lake.”

The money for the project came from the Adult Community Educa- tion Grants scheme and when fin- ished, the vessel will be 16 feet long and covered with canvas and tar in the traditional way.

“We got the timber and picked wil- low for the ribs. We’re going to put a sail on it as well. Although currachs are traditionally sea-going boats, there were certainly some types used on lakes, usually covered with cow or horse hide,’ explained Richard,

whose passion is building boats in the ancient tradition and who has started a club in west Clare which 1s now entering and wining races inter- nationally.

When the boat is finished, a grand launch is planned and “possibly a bit of a pilgrimage to Holy Island”.

So far, the group hasn’t decided what will happen with the finished boat. “We’ll probably sell it back to the people who built it for a nominal fee and then they will all have use of it but I’ve a feeling there may be more of these boats built in Scariff,”’ said Richard.

TULLA had a big day out in Galway on Friday as the card included the semi-finals of the local Community School’s Al 525. Carhugar Bobsie, own by the Clare Connection Syn- dicate got home in the first heat in Oe

History was also made on the night when the first race to be run over the maxi marathon trip of 1010 yards was held. The event was the Tarmon National School Buster Stake and it saw the Conor Flanagan of En- nistymon owned Flandy (T1) run out a most authoritive winner by nine ited debe eelo Roe

Proceedings commenced with an N3 graded 525 yard contest in which trap one was vacant but it was the outside drawn runners that occupied the first three places as the Francis Browne of Quin-owned Mine Cash (Velvet Cash-Jumeirah Jess) came home three lengths clear.

Race number three was an S5 graded sprint over the extended trip

of 350 yards and the Mrs Mary and Michael Liddane of Kilrush-owned Gowerhass Hill took the spoils by three-parts of a length in 19.49.

Race eight at the Galway venue on Saturday night was an A3 525 yard contest and once again the Bridget Hehir owned and Michael Malone trained Friskey Whiskey(Crash- Knockdine Lady) from Miltown Malbay led his rivals a merry dance home in 29.05.

Race number three was an A5 grad- ed contest won by the Mary Callinan owned Blue Loof in 29.70.

The sixth contest at the College Road venue on Thursday night was an A6 affair in which the James & Frank Casey of Newmarket-on-Fer- gus owned Stonehall Mist held off the late challenge of Rathorpe Jim (T1) up the straight to win by a neck in 29.98.

Race seven was an A5 graded con- test went to Master Jack – the Luke Browne of Ballyea owned runner stayed on well for a two and a quarter length win from Whatwasilike (T4)

hel OR OSE

The opening contest on an extreme- ly cold evening was an A& graded 525 in which the Paddy Madigan of Killimer owned Clune Honcho (T1) broke her maiden tag at the eighth attempt in winning by four lengths from Moving Up (T3) in 29.88.

In the A7 graded fourth contest over 525 yards the Anne Carey of Cooraclare owned Buffalo Bash gained ample compensation for an unlucky debut effort when he came home eight lengths clear of Fast Fit Bertie (T6) in 29.59.

CLARE finance professionals have given a guarded welcome to the Gov- ernment’s decision to become guar- antors for the banks.

Some are welcoming it as a means to make borrowing money easier while others hope it will reinstate confidence in the economy.

Mortgage adviser, Iggy Duffy of IFG Mortgages in Ennis described the decision as “one of the best re- sponses in the EU to the problem. It was vital to keep the economy

working and functioning. The conse- quences of letting a bank collapse are unthinkable. It will bring confidence in the economy and will make it a bit easier for ordinary people to access credit to buy a house or a car – the ordinary things”.

Duffy is also hopeful that an eased credit situation “will allow business- es to borrow and expand. That means more jobs and that’s good news for the economy.”

Financial advisor, Donal Carey be- lieves the real impact of the decision will be seen someway down the line.

“The banks won’t change their lend- ing criteria until they have seen the full implications of the legislation. But there is still money available if you meet their criteria. That criteria might be a bit tighter but that may not be any harm”’.

He feels that what is needed now is a confidence boost and hopefully the budget will bring that. It’s good the Government has stepped in to pro- tect the ordinary punters’ savings but this is the second time that the State has moved to save at least one of the banks and they should respond by

giving something back to their cus- tomers and taking a smaller profit’.

He says that a move which would help the building trade in the budget would be one that would benefit the wider economy.

‘A lot of people are employed in the building trade and anything which will put confidence back in the prop- erty market is good. There has been a fall in house prices but that is re- ally putting house prices where they ought to be. A couple on a reasonable income can now get a loan to buy a house in Ennis’, he said.

AN Taisce has joined the campaign to stop Dublin taking water from the Shannon.

North Tipperary branch spokes- man Paddy Mackey – who is also a member of the Save Our Lough Derg (SOLD) group – has warned that ex- tracting water for Dublin could seri- ously threaten fish plants and other species.

A controversial proposal to extract water from the Shannon system to help meet the capital’s needs has met with mixed reactions.

Last week, when Clare County councillors discussed the proposal, ClUlr Colm Wiley(FF) said that Clare should “help Dublin out if the water is needed. We could use any compen- sation money paid to drain farmland that is under water and put as much back again into the system”.

Mr Mackey described the proposed water extraction as “a smash and grab raid..while we are the ones left with the responsibility of trying to protect the ecological quality of Lough Derg and achieve good water quality by the 2015 deadline set under the EU water Framework Directive.”