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THERE was a major boost this week for two health service providers in east Clare with the announcement that they are getting combined fund- ing of ©700,000.

The Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Health Service Executive (HSE) have grant- ed funds totalling €140k and ©560k to An Ghrianan in Bridgetown and Scariff Health Centre respectively.

The funds allocated to An Ghri- anan, at Brookside Lodge, Bridget- own, O’Brien’s Bridge, will be used to provide and install play equipment and a safe ground surface, as well as to give the grounds a thorough makeover.

Meanwhile, the money that has been allocated for Scariff Health Centre will be used to provide a new extension, rewiring, roof repairs, re- furbishment of grounds and a clini- oN Koleyeemy sls emi Ke): txon

Welcoming the announcement of the grants, Minister of State Tony Killeen said he was confident that the new round of funding for health projects would make a significant contribution towards the health and wellbeing of the CLAR communities in O’Briens Bridge and Scariff.

The Junior Agriculture Minister said, “The two projects that will re- ceive funding through the new HSE CLAR Programme are important to each of the local communities

involved and support the Govern- ment’s commitment to improving the quality of life in rural areas.

“The programme is an excellent example of effective cross-depart- mental and cross agency co-opera- tion that will help improve health services in rural areas.”

Minister Killeen said that the funds would help to develop, refurbish and improve health centres and facilities in each of the local communities in- volved.

PART time council workers – all women – who have been told they can no longer have the advantage of working flexi-time have taken a case against the local authority.

The 21 members of IMPACT work- ing for Clare County Council have initiated legal proceedings, through the Rights Commissioner service, on the grounds of discrimination against part-time staff as full-time staff are still allowed to avail of flexi-time.

IMPACT has initiated proceedings on behalf of the affected workers, under legislation introduced to en- sure that part-time and full-time em- ployees are treated equally.

The county council maintains that managers are finding it impossible

to roster to ensure coverage with the large numbers of part-time staff em- ployed.

IMPACT assistant general secre- tary Andy Pike said that, “all our affected members are women who need the ability to work flexibly in order to take their children to school, care for elderly relatives, or meet other family commitments”.

He added that by removing flex1- time entitlements for part-time workers, “the council could prevent the public from accessing services during key periods of the day. Many services, accessible to the public from 9am and later in the day, had been provided by part-time employ- ees who were able to come to work early and stay later under the terms of the scheme.”

THE women of Clare are more cul- tured than their male counterparts – that’s if a survey on the county’s public libraries is anything to go by.

According to the second nation- wide survey of library users, women frequent public libraries in Clare on a much more regular basis than men, with 65% of library users surveyed being women – the only significant difference was among users of the

Local Studies centre where an equal number of men and women use the facility.

Carried out during September 2007, more than 33,000 adult library users in 369 branch and mobile h- braries asked what they visited the library for and what they thought of the service.

The number of questionnaires dis- tributed in each county was deter- mined by the number of library visits by adults that were recorded in each

county during one week in June 2007. 6,478 adults visited libraries in Clare that week and on that basis, 1,093 questionnaires were distributed and completed in libraries throughout the county in September 2007. Asked their opinion of the Clare library service, users appeared very happy with 95% rating the service as either very good or good. 38% of users in Clare visit the li- brary once a week while 17% use the service once a fortnight.

Reflecting the high concentration of internet use in the Clare public li- brary system, 78% used a computer during their visit, 42% used email and 57% used the internet.

When asked what they did when they visited the library ,57% stated they borrowed books. 49% said they came to find something out, 27% read a newspaper or magazine while 78% used a computer.

66% of users surveyed were in full or part-time employment or looking

after the home. 11% of users were either full-time or part-time students with 13% of users being retired and 6% unemployed.

77% of those surveyed stated that library membership charges were about right and 68% stated that over- due charges were about right.

The survey follows the launch in June of a Department of the Environ- ment report on public libraries which set outs the priorities for the service over the next five years.

BUDGET airline, Ryanair is “on target” to deliver on it’s promise to bring in excess of 1.9 million pas- sengers to Shannon in 2009, airport director Martin Moroney revealed eer Ne

However the airport authority was not being drawn on claims by mav- erick airline boss, Michael O’Leary that he could in the future be flying people across the Atlantic, using Shannon as a base, for as little as ten bucks.

O’Leary was in Shannon last week to announce two new routes and 26 more weekly flights from Shannon Airport from November.

Ryanair will base a sixth aircraft in Shannon which will allow it to launch two new routes to Frankfurt- Hahn and Newcastle and 26 more weekly frequencies to destinations like Bristol, Edinburgh and Paris.

This sixth aircraft, which is a fur- ther €70 million investment by Rya- nair in Shannon, will generate more than 100 more jobs at the airport this NA Us Koa

SU ilexor coe Bibtdelnm sel Moura r me ReLee more passengers each week through the airport.

Ata press conference, O’Leary said that he is scanning the skies for air- craft to suit long-haul trips.

Predicting that if he can get the aircraft, “the motorways around Shannon will be jammed with peo-

ple looking for $10 (€6.80) flights. We would empty Dublin Airport of transatlantic passengers and nothing would give me more pleasure.”

O’Leary said that he is consider- ing setting up the transatlantic hub in Shannon, but only if he can get air- Coe-VA e-em d slow wed sl moe lee

He told reporters that he needs the recession “to go on a bit longer and be a bit more severe”.

Ryanair’s Chief Financial Officer, Howard Millar has said that any long-haul venture would not be un- dertaken by Ryanair itself but by a new company.

To accommodate the new routes and increased frequencies of flights, O’Leary said, Ryanair will discon- tinue flying the Shannon-East Mid- lands route and reduce frequencies on the Shannon-Luton route from October 31.

In welcoming the news, Martin Moroney, Airport Director said, “We are delighted that Ryanair 1s expand- ing its base at Shannon. In what has been a challenging year, these ad- ditional services will boost our pas- senger numbers and see Ryanair on target to deliver over 1.9 million pas- sengers to Shannon in 2009.

He continued, “These services offer an additional opportunity for tourism promotion in the west of Ireland. We look forward to working with them in achieving that aim and thank them for their renewed commitment to Shannon and the mid-west.”

A NEWMARKET-ON-Fergus lec- turer has scooped a top accolade at the University of Limerick.

Dr Caoilfhionn Ni Bheachain (Vaughan) has been awarded the University of Limerick Teaching Ex- cellence Award for 2008. The award, a silver medal, was based on feed- back from her students and her col- leagues at the university.

Caoilfhionn lectures in commu- nications at the Kemmy Business School and has taught at the univer- sity for the past seven years.

She was brought up in Newmar- ket-on-Fergus, where teaching, mu- sic and sport were prevalent in her family. Her late father Brendan (who

died three years ago) was heavily involved in the GAA was the prin- cipal of St Senan’s National School in Shannon. Her mother Deirdre O’Brien-Vaughan is a music teacher in Newmarket-on-Fergus. Caoilf- hionn’s brother Donnacha is also teaching, in Poland.

Caoilfhionn was educated at St Senan’s National School and then at St Caimin’s Community School in Shannon. She then studied English and Archaeology at Trinity College Dublin and then did her PhD in Eng- lish at NUI, Galway.

She was thrilled to be nominated for this award and subsequently emerge as the winner.

“T am delighted to get it. It is a love- ly thing. I was shortlisted, based on

student evaluations and observations from my peers. The board then went through a short list,” she said.

Given that her students had a say in who won the award, her methods of teaching undoubtedly played a cru- cial role in her success.

“A lot of it would be teaching phi- losophy, with emphasis on relation- ships within the classroom. Relation- ships are based on mutual respect and mutual learning; not just dictat- ing to students,” she said.

Her curriculum focuses on the workings of communications and marketing. “Students get to reflect a lot on their skills and there is a lot of personal development,” she added.

Her love for her work has stood to her, not just in winning this award,

but also in her everyday teaching.

“It’s a subject I love teaching. I am very lucky. I am interested in non- traditional spaces for learning,’ she said.

While Caoilfhionn is dedicated to her teaching, she is also immersed in rq he: Re UM MCC T-Dme-lOLW AVAL Aloe mnv CoM OOO UE versity. She is involved in running the farmers’ market at the university, while she is also a member of the environmental committee. This en- sures that she enjoys a busy life, bal- ancing work and leisure activities.

A THIEF with a fondness for flowers is being hunted in Shannon, after a church altar was robbed of its flow- ers last week.

The mystery thief walked into St John and Paul’s Church in Shannon last Thursday morning and walked away with two bunches of chrysan- themums.

The absence of the flowers was not- ed as the St Aidan’s National School Mass was about to get underway at llam. The flowers were put in place by the sacristan Sharon Murray the previous night and the church did not open until 9am on Thursday.

SW ie ICe AJ ikem NICK TON ae santhemums were taken, complete with their plastic containers, but the pedestals on which they stood re- mained in place.

It was initially thought that they were moved as no-one could imagine that a thief could lay hands on some- thing so seemingly insignificant.

Given that their value amounted to no more than €30, the sacristan was amazed at what happened.

“It is baffling. I have never heard of it in my life. To go up to the altar and take them was horrible. If it hap- pened during the school year, you would say it was a dare, but the chil- dren are back at school now,” said Ms Murray.

“My parents were sacristans before me and in 28 years, no-one has eve- ry swiped flowers. Money has been taken before, but not flowers,’ she added.

The matter was not reported to gardai and given that the flowers are probably well withered at this stage, there is little hope of their recovery!

TANAISTE Mary Coughlan has launched a new tourism website as part of a €2 million Shannon De- velopment initiative aimed at es- tablishing the Shannon Region as a world-class destination for walking, cycling, water-based and other out- door activity pursuits.

The €2 million support package is to encourage product promoters develop new and upgrade existing activity trails. The new website pro- vides information including detailed directions and maps for trails, such as walking, cycling, mountain bik- ing, equestrian, canoeing, surfing, scuba diving available around Clare and the Shannon Region.

Visitors to the www.shannonre- giontrails.ie website can download detailed walking and cycling maps. It provides contact details for trail- friendly accommodation providers and activity operators, as well as outlining the benefits of trails, and events listings.

The programme involves branding

a network of trails to highest inter- national standards. Other initiatives include two new brochures on surf- ing and canoeing.

Launching the website, Munister

Coughlan said it had the potential to generate additional visitor spend in less developed rural areas. Shan- non was always at the forefront of tourism product development and

the website would be a tremendous resource.

“Many of the new trails require access to the countryside and this would not be possible without the

support and good will of landown- ers and this co-operation must be ac- knowledged”, the Tanaiste said.

Shannon Development Tourism Di- rector John King said over 511,000 overseas visitors participate in walk- ing holidays in Ireland and spend almost €340 million each year and almost 102,000 cyclists holiday here and spend almost €80 million.

“The website provides operators with an opportunity to participate in international web based market- ing campaigns. We have already implemented a branding system and launched a trail-friendly accommo- dation initiative earlier in 2008 and we will continue to work with vari- ous groups to upgrade existing trails and develop new ones,’ said Flan Quilligan, Shannon Development Tourism Project Executive.

A MAN suspected of attacking his cousin with a hatchet, slept with a machete in his pillow case, it has been alleged in court.

The revelation came in the case of Anthony McDonagh (22), of Wa- terpark View, Ennis, who has been charged with assault causing harm to his second cousin David McDon- agh (24), at Browne’s hair salon, The Market, Ennis, on September 18 last.

He appeared before Kilrush Dis- trict Court last Wednesday, having been arrested the previous day. Bail was refused after gardai voiced grave concerns to the court.

Detective Garda Jarlath Fahy told

the court he believed that the inci- dent at the hair salon was part of an ongoing feud between two families.

“At 3 o’clock last Thursday, David McDonagh was sitting in a barber’s shop when he was struck twice on the head with a hatchet and beaten with an iron bar,” said Dt Gda Fahy.

He said there had also been previ- ous incidents in July. On one occa- sion, the accused, Anthony McDon- agh was attacked by a number of men with a machete and wheel brace while he trained at a gym in Ennis. On another occasion, shots were fired through the McDonagh home at Waterpark View. A loaded sawn-off shotgun was subsequently found in a laneway near the house.

He told the court that a machete was found in a pillowcase in the accused man’s bed when he was arrested on Tuesday morning.

He said that while gardai were not suggesting this was used in last Thursday’s incident, “we are saying he had it. The likes of that may be used in further incidents”.

“If bail is granted, the feud will es- calate and somebody will get injured or worse,” he said.

However, defending solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client – who is unemployed – has no previous con- victions and has no history of failing to answer bail. “There is no fear of flight. He has just finished the Ap- plied Leaving Cert. He’s going no-

where,’ he said.

He said his client was denying that he was involved in the hatchet in- cident and would be contesting the charge.

“He said he was at home. He is de- nying being involved in it,” said Mr Hassett. He said it would be a “total injustice” if his client was kept in custody.

Det Gda Fahy then said, “The in- jured party has made a statement identifying Anthony McDonagh as the man who struck him.”

However Judge Joseph Mangan re- fused bail and remanded the accused in custody.

He will re-appear in court next month.

THE people of Shannon are being urged to get behind the Wolfe Tones junior hurling team in Saturday’s ‘A’ nue

Although the senior hurling and football teams have been knocked out of the championships, the club is now hoping that the junior hurlers can claim silverware. The junior Cs have already won their champion-

ship this year.

Should victory be achieved over O’Callaghan’s Mills on Saturday, it will be bittersweet, as the Tones have competed in three of the last four fi- nals – but without any success.

They will be looking to the likes of captain Sean Condren, Darren O’Connell at corner-back, Gary Leahy and free-taker Jamie Walker to lead them to success in the final.

“We are appealing to people to

come out and support the team. We want to do it this year,’ said club PRO, Amanda Hogan.

Although the build-up to the game has been subdued, hopes are high that hundreds of people from Shan- non will head to Sixmilebridge for the big match.

Despite the disappointment expe- rienced by the senior teams, there is plenty of optimism that they will bounce back.

“We were quite disappointed with the seniors. It was the first time in ages they didn’t get outside the group, but the footballers are young yet and their day will come further down the line,” added the PRO.

The club is also planning to open its own shop, selling merchandise, in October. It will be located at the Wolfe Tones GAA clubhouse and will open a number of nights every Neto

A CRATLOE businessman has launched a new online networking site which uses innovative technol- ogy to help businesses find new cus- tomers and suppliers.

The online service, known as TransActions.1ie, continuously matches companies that need each other, explains Managing Director, Des Crosbie.

‘In practice, this means that each company is notified by email of new potential customers who require their product or service. They are also no- tified about suppliers who can fulfil their specific business needs.”

Stating that the service is “purely for business networking’, as op- posed to social networking, he says that business networking, whether in

person or online, can take time and can sometimes yield poor results. TransActions.ie solves this problem using unique matching functional- ity. Unlike other online networks, users won’t have to spend time con- necting to people they already know, but are almost instantly connected to companies that they need and can do LUKE Nee LNOE

The site, which has only been live a little over a month, is steadily in- creasing in popularity. It has member companies throughout Ireland in sec- tors as diverse as printing, construc- tion, financial services and transpor- tation which range from sole traders to multinational corporations.

A one year subscription 1s currently free of charge, but this will only be available for a limited time on www. TransActions.1e.