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GALLAGHERS in Kilkishen is not know for silence on a lively Saturday or Sunday night but last weekend, a bit of hush was required – at least for a while – in the bar.

The popular pub has become home to the Sixmilebridge Folk Club and the club got together some of it’s core players on Sunday to record the ses- sion for posterity.

Furthermore club members who joined in have a chance to become recording stars.

“It’s our tenth anniversary and we re hoping to put together a double

CD from the best of the sessions last Sunday and tracks donated by artists who have performed at our Winter Music Weekends,’ said Brendan Walsh, club chairman.

The club has grown to having al- most 300 people on the mailing list for events such as the Winter Music weekend and regular concert nights are frequently sell-outs with up to 70 people showing up.

“Our regular club nights, which are starting back in Galaghers on Sep- tember 20 and we usually get a good crowd for those. There are about 250 people who give us great support and during the Winter Weekend,

nearly 3,000 people turn up for the various concerts and sessions’, said Brendan.

The recording in Gallagher’s was expertly done by Pat Costello, whose job it now is to take it away for edit- ing.

It will be a tough job to pick tracks for the CD, said Brendan “but we’re not going to make any promises about what will be included – the fairest thing is just to see what turned out best”.

The CD will be ready for launch, Brendan hopes, in early December, before the Winter Music Weekend and proceeds will go towards help-

ing to meet the club’s expenses.

The club will meet for sessions eve- ry Sunday night at Gallaghers from September 20, starting at 7pm to al- low younger musicians to take part. Musicians, singers and listeners are all welcome.

AVENUE served notice to all other teams in the division that they’ll be a real force to be reckoned with this term, while Corofin Harps learned in this baptism of fire that nothing will come easy in the top flight.

It was as one-sided as the scoreline suggests, with the Avenue killing this game off and collecting the three points on offer thanks to a blistering first half in which they bagged a hat- trick of goals.

And it was their deadly duo up front in the persons of Barry Nugent and Mikey Mahony who did the damage in both halves, bagging a brace of goals each to give newly promoted Corofin a very inauspicious debut in the premier division.

And, in getting off to a perfect start, Avenue, who last won the league ti- tle back in 2004, played some of the stylish football they seem to have had a patent on in Clare over the past 25 years.

Corofin on this day had no answers and were fighting a losing battle from as early as the eight minute when Ave- neue hit the front. The breakthrough goal came from a Set-piece — a corner being headed home by Barry Nugent to get Avenue off to a flier.

Nugent doubled his and Avenue’s tally by the 20th minute — his sec- ond coming at the end of beautiful move in which Avenue showed the full breath of the footballing pow- ers. It started on the left side of mid- field — the ball was then transferred infield and out to the right flank to the elusive Mikey Mahony, who gave an inch perfect centre to Nugent and

he slammed to the net. Any hope of | Brendan Rochford got on the end of

a Corofin recovery was killed off before the half-time whistle when

a cross from the right to head in at the far post. It got worse for Corofin

in the second half — this time it was Mikey Mahony, the main provider of goals in the first half, who turned

poacher.

Mahony, who was top scorer in last year’s league bagged his side’s fourth in the 62nd minute, while he rounded off his morning’s work six minutes from time when he showed a clear pair of heels to the Corofin defence and then slotted the ball home from ten yards.

Corofin’s only cheer came when Gavin Dinan finally pierced the stonewall Avenue defence to score what was a mere consolation goal 20 minutes into the half. That brought the game back to 4-1, but a couple of missed after Dinan’s strike ended the slim hopes they had of a miraculous recovery.

Then enter the game’s marquee players Mikey Mahoney to put four between them at the end.

ENNIS Fashion Week organisers are calling on all businesses that have an interest in getting more visitors and shoppers to Ennis to become involved in the second annual Ennis SAN (ONM Los) e

The fashion extravaganza takes place this year from Saturday, Octo- ber 18, to Saturday, October 25. The initiative was devised by Promote Ennis, which is a public/private part- nership, to promote Ennis through- out Ireland and further a field.

“The event promises to be a big draw again this year, with a fam- ily orientated fashion show, in- Store events, health and motivation evening, movie night, and the style and glamour awards.

“Businesses will also have an op-

portunity to be profiled in the Ennis Fashion Week brochure as well as on a new website on fashion and beauty in Ennis which will highlight what they have to offer on an ongoing basis,” a spokeswoman for Promote Syavavicmcy-b(ee

Each participating business will have the opportunity to nominate the person they think most epitomises style and glamour for them.

The nominees in turn will be invit- ed to attend the gala awards night on Friday, October 24, which last year saw celebrity stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick as one of the judges.

Participating businesses will re- ceive a free ticket to the style and glamour awards night.

Applications are available at Ennis Chamber, 54 O’Connell Street, 065 684 2988.

INTERFERENCE with radar equip- ment at Shannon airport could signal the end to plans by a Cork-based com- pany for the construction of a wind farm in the Sixmilebridge area.

Last week Clare County Council granted planning permission to Cork- based firm, C Wind Ltd to construct a 200 ft high test mast at Knocknaur- ha Hill, Oatfield, Sixmilebridge for a period of 15 months.

But the company may not get fur- ther than the test stage as the Irish

Aviation Authority (IAA) has in- formed the council that they opppose the proposal and request that plan- ning permission not be granted for a windfarm at the location.

The IAA say their opposition is based on the potential interference the windfarm would have on radar installations operated by the Shan- non airport traffic control.

The council granted planning per- mission for the test mast because of the rural nature of the site; the intend- ed use of the proposed test mast and the provisions of the Clare County

Development Plan. The local author- ity also concluded that the wind farm would not injure the amenities of the area.

However, the local authority made it clear that the planning permission does not infer a favourable response on a subsequent application for a wind-farm.

Elsewhere, west Clare may be about to get its third wind farm with EirEn- ergy lodging planning permission for a 200 ft high test mast at Crossmore, Knockalough.

Wind speeds will be tested before

a decision is made on lodging plans for a windfarm in the area.The devel- oper in this case has the advantage that no wind farm in this area has the potential to interfere with Shannon airport.

A decision is due on this applica- tion later this year.

To date, there are only two wind- farms operating in Clare, one at Monmore near Kilrush and a second near the mid-Clare village of Con- nolly and plans are currently before the council for an extension to that WAnNele-Dueee

ROYAL Portrush confirmed their elite status in women’s club golf win- ning their fourth title 1n just six years after defeating The Island in the final of the 2008 SUZUKI Senior Cup at Galway Golf Club on Saturday.

Having already won back-to-back titles from 2003 to 2005, the northern side were beaten at the Irish semi-fi- nals by Irish winners Cork in 2006 and in last year’s final by first-time winners Ennis, at Milltown.

It was a disappointing defence of the title for Ennis, as they bowed out at the quarter-final stage on Saturday when they were beaten by Kilkenny by 3 1/2 to 1 1/2.

All this after the day started so well for Ennis when Sarah Cunningham in the lead singles scored a great 4 and 2 win over former Irish cham- pions and Irish international Eileen Rose Power.

However, it was Ennis’ only victory as Pamela Murphy, Maura McNicho- las and Ciara Pender were all defeat- ed, while Daindra O’Connell halved

her match. The quarter-final swung decisively in Kilkenny’s favour when Ann Smee beat Maura McNicholas after a titanic struggle — the match went all the way to the 19th before Smee prevailed.

The Ennis side showed a number of changes in personnel from the side that won the title in such thrilling fashion on the corresponding week- end last year. Tricia McDonnell and Valerie Hassett didn’t play.

In the final Royal Portrush scored a 4-1 win over The Island.

DESPITE gloomy economic predic- tions, Clare students are bucking the trend with employment of University of Limerick graduates at the highest level in more than a decade.

As the University of Limerick cel- ebrates four days of conferring cere- monies which will see 2,326 students graduate – many of them from Clare – UL President, Professor Don Barry has welcomed the positive results of a recent UL graduate survey which indicate an increase in demand for UL graduates by employers.

More of those who get jobs are tak- ing up employment in the mid-west rather than having to uproot and move to work, the survey shows.

The information is based on the results of a recent survey, which records the current status of more than 2,500 graduates who completed full-time courses in UL during the year 2007.

74 per cent of UL graduates find employment within a few months of graduation, the survey shows. This is the highest employment rate since 1995 and records an increase of five per cent from last year.

The employment figure includes those working in Ireland and over- seas, with 67 per cent employed in Ireland and seven per cent overseas.

The most popular region of employ- ment is the mid-west which accounts for 35 per cent of jobs, followed by Dublin, at 33 per cent. This reflects a

considerable shift in graduate prefer- ences in recent years as more gradu- ates choose to remain in the mid- west, the survey found.

“Graduate emigration has been consistently low over the past dec- ade, reflecting the range and quality of graduate employment opportuni- ties in Ireland.

“This clearly demonstrates that Irish graduates prefer to work in Ire- land, assuming they can find suitable work,’ Professor Barry said.

“Major graduate employers delib- erately target UL graduates because of their combination of intellectual abilities, personal qualities and rel- evant work experience.

“As a result, the employment rate of UL graduates is significantly higher

than the national average,’ the UL President said.

High employment is a feature across all disciplines with graduates from 30 UL degree courses register- ing zero unemployment.

Graduates in health science dis- ciplines, including nursing, physi- otherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, had the highest employment record.

The survey shows that 18 per cent of the class of 2007 went on to do some form of postgraduate study or research.

Salary levels were also recorded and the average starting salary is in the region of €28,000 with more than 20 per cent of graduates earning salaries in excess of €33,000.

MAYOR of Shannon Gerry Flynn (Ind) last evening launched the cam- paign by Shannon Senior Citizens Club to raise much-needed funds with the help of brother and sister team Seamus and Suzanne Tyler.

The Tylers will take part in the Dublin City Marathon on October 27, in aid of the local organisation that provides support and entertain- ment to the people of Shannon.

For those that would like to learn more about the organisation, can at- tend an open day on Friday next at the organisation’s centre in Purcell

ae

As well as a raffle and bring and buy sale, refreshments will also be served.

The Shannon Senior Citizen’s Club was the brain child of a number of local people in 1980, when Shan- non had a mostly young population travelling to the town from around the county for much needed employ- ment.

As a result of the demographics of the population, the senior citizens who were in the minority often felt isolated and so the club was formed.

Now as the population ages, the need for the club has become even

more apparent.

Initially the plans for the club were to provide a congenial meeting place where senior citizens could meet old friends and make new ones.

The club has expanded significantly from this initial ambition as it cur- rently provides more than 60 three- course meals twice a week.

These meals on wheels are deliv- ered by unsung but essential volun- teers.

Important events in members’ lives are not forgotten with birthday cakes provided on special days, members with disabilities are provided with a taxi service door to door, and holi-

days to the seaside are provided eve- ry year with the assistance of Clare- Care.

Weekend breaks are catered for, and visits to other clubs in Clare and Limerick are the norm.

Members of the busy club avail of Services at the local leisure club, take part in gentle exercises, and visit the chiropodist every Wednesday.

The club continues to function thanks to sponsorship, donations and the work of volunteers.

In the coming months the people of Shannon will be asked to assist he club by sponsoring the two athletes taking part in the marathon.

WITH this year’s Munster 60×30 championships now well under way, Clare players have experienced mixed fortunes in the latest Munster first-round matches, while the next fortnight sees numerous fixtures of interest including the start of Mun- ster juvenile championships _ this weekend.

At Under 21 grade, Cathal Han- non scored an impressive win over David Hickey of Waterford, putting him through to a Munster semi-final clash against Cork’s Thomas O’ Neill which the Clareman duly won.

After narrowly losing out in the first game (19-21), Hannon powered back to take the next two games 21-17 and 21-10, becoming the first Clareman into a Munster 60×30 fi- nal this year. Hannon now takes on Waterford’s David Walsh in the final this Thursday and is due in action again Monday night when he part- ners Shane Hayes for their Under 21 Doubles semi final.

Thursday night last saw a Munster Championship quarter-final dou- ble-header at Tuamgraney as Fergal Coughlan (Clooney) opened his Jun- ior B Singles account with an impres- sive 21-16, 21-7 win over Limerick’s

Patrick Frawley.

Coughlan was in semi-final action in Hospital las tnight against Wa- terford and the final is fixed for this Thursday, on the same bill as the U- 21 Singles final.

Tommorrow night (Wednesday) will see Shannon’s John Cawley take on John Herlihy of Cork in the Sil- ver Masters A Singles semi-final at Hospital (8.00pm). Also on Wednes- day, Clarecastle brothers Declan and Liam Frawley are in action in their Junior Doubles quarter-final against

Kerry or Limerick at Broadford at 8.00pm with the winners due in a semi-final two nights later.

Next Tuesday night, Shane Walsh and Fergal Coughlan travel to Ballina for a Junior B Doubles quarter-final against Kevin Kennedy and Declan NS Aeyn

On the underage front, Clare’s 2008 60×30 challenge gets under way this Friday at Munster semi-final stage.

Clare players at the various age groups (under 12-under 17, boys and girls) will meet the winners of Cork

v Waterford quarter-finals at Limer- ick venues this Friday at 7.00pm.

Meanwhile, Ballina Handball Club has tasted much success recently with Ger Coonan winning both Munster Intermediate Singles and Doubles titles. Indeed, Coonan and his part- ner Martin ‘Mags’ McInerney (also Ballina) are in the All-Ireland dou- bles final after a 17-21, 21-10, 21-10 semi-final win over Mayo.

Fergal Collins also reached the Munster Minor Singles final after victory over Limerick’s CJ Fitz- patrick but went down narrowly in the final after a tie-breaker to Fitz- patrick’s Doubles partner, Seamus O’Carroll. After a very comprehen- sive 21-2, 21-10 semi-final win over Mayo’s Stephen Cooney, O’Carroll is now red-hot favourite to claim both Minor Singles and Doubles All-Ire- land titles.

Finally, the Clarecastle Handball AGM takes place next Monday, Sep- tember 7 at the Sports Complex in Clarecastle. All are welcome to at- tend in order to see what the club has to offer.

REVENUES at the Roche pharma- ceutical plant in Clarecastle declined by a third last year with pre-tax profits dropping by three per cent to €26.6 million.

The accounts for the subsidiary of Swiss-owned pharmaceutical giant show revenues dropping from €146 million to €102 million to the end of 2007.

The company blames the drop in revenues to the cessation of the pro- duction of the dI Acid drug in Sep- tember 2006. For almost 30 years, dl Acid was a key product at the Clare- castle plant.

A company spokesman yesterday described 2007 “as a challenging year for the company’. Operating costs in 2007 declined from €119 million to ©81 million last year.

The Irish subsidiary didn’t pay a dividend in 2006, but last year paid €30 million in dividends. This re- sulted in shareholders’ funds at the end of 2007 amounting to €130 mil- lion.

Roche Ireland had accumulated profits of €124 million at the end of 2007.

Staff costs for 242 employees at the plant — down 10 on the 2006 total — were €24.2 million, a drop of €1 million on the 2006 figure.

©6.7 million was set aside for envi- ronmental works at the plant in 2007 and the most recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) audit found the company in compliance with all conditions of its environmental li- cense.

Directors’ aggregate payments last year were ©242,000.

According to the directors’ state- ment, the principal risks and uncer- tainties facing the company include the identification of replacement products for existing group products that come off patent in the coming years.

‘These risks are managed by the Roche Group at a central level,” the

statement added.

“The company is identified as a strategic site by the Roche group and as part of it’s international chemical strategy. The focus continues on dual sourcing of strategic and important products and outsourcing of low val- ue products.

‘The directors intend to work with Roche Group centrally to evaluate further opportunities for the com- pany.”

Dr Frank Cox took over as manag- ing director of the Clarecastle site last April, moving from the sister site in Florence, South Carolina, to replace John Liddy who had held the post for the previous ten years.

A SHANNON town councillor has come under fire for suggesting that the council should refuse to co-oper- ate with a directive which could see local authority tenants from Limer- ick being re-housed in the area.

Cllr Geraldine Lambert warned that the councillors would be branded as bigots if they pass a motion from Cllr Tony Mulcahy that the council “have no hand, act or part in any Regional Housing Policy that would include

the re-location of people from the Limerick City Regeneration Project on OE Kome

“Just think about it – if the words ‘people from Limerick city’ were re- placed with the words “Polish peo- ple” or “Nigerians” there would be uproar’, said Cllr Lambert.

The Fianna Fail councillor said that she is “totally opposed” to opening the door to any of the city’s feuding or criminal element “but you can’t put a blanket ban on an entire geo- graphical area. There are plenty of

decent, honest, hard-working people living in that area. What should be happening is that the three councils should sit down together to discuss housing policy”.

ClUlr Mulcahy will propose at to- night’s meeting “that this Council would ignore the Ministerial Direc- tive from Minister Gormley and have no hand, act or part in any Regional Housing Policy that would include the re-location of people from the Limerick City Regeneration Project to Clare and in particular to Shannon

Region. I would also request that this be communicated to Minister Gorm- ley in the strongest possible terms.”

And he said he is not deterred from speaking on the motion.

“This is a way of allowing Limer- ick to export a problem to Clare. If this goes ahead, it won’t just be a concern for Shannon. There will be people moving into all parts of Clare. We have enough people on our own housing lists and we have our own problems. I don’t see why we should be solving Limerick city’s problem.”