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CLARE County Council’s bid to se- cure millions of euro through naming rights for the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre has been dismissed as a futile exercise and a waste of money.

Local councillor Martin Conway (FG) made the charge after the coun- cil failed to name a single benefactor almost two years after it unveiled the Sol sles alee

In November 2006, the council announced it was seeking donors principally in the US to part with €1 million to have their names attached to the council’s “premium viewing

platforms”, including the famous O’Brien’s Tower overlooking the At- lantic Ocean.

The council was also offering nam- ing rights to seating bollards on the main concourse for €50,000 and seeking €©500,000 for viewing plat- forms on the cliff edge.

Those interested in having a slab named after them at the cliff walk were asked to stump up to €10,000 while anyone tempted by a bench with their name on it would have to shell out up to €25,000.

Also on offer were naming rights for facilities in the cliffs centre rang- ing from €200,000 for the audio-

visual theatre and €100,000 for the interpretative area.

The council has already named the first aid room at the cliffs after Nicho- las Stokes, the young baby who died there in July 2006 and whose parents Delia and Kelly pledged $86,000 for the facility in his memory.

The first aid room doesn’t come within the remit of the council spon- sorship scheme and the website page relating to benefactors showed no names and included outdated infor- mation.

Referring to the lack of response, Cllr Conway said that while he un- derstood the strategy, there was a

need to go back to the drawing board and not be “going around with the begging bowl”.

“The idea was to get soft money from the US, but there is no such thing as soft money and the notion of €25,000 to have your name on a park bench is not something that people have bought into.”

Cllr Conway said that the drive to secure money for the sponsorship scheme was a “futile exercise’.

He added, “It was a waste of money and I would like to know how much money was spent on trying to get the funding. I just don’t think enough thought went into it.”

FEARS that budget airline Ryanair could be planning to pull the plug on routes out of its base in Shannon were calmed this week.

But staff at Aer Lingus are facing several weeks of an agonised wait to see if management are planning to sacrifice jobs or wage rates in the face of massive mid-year losses for the airline.

After announcing that he is drop- ping the East Midlands and Glasgow routes out of Cork last week, mav-

erick airline boss, Michael O’ Leary warned he would do the same thing at Shannon if charges increase there.

The board at Shannon are believed to be upbeat about the prospects for their deal with Ryanair when it comes up for renewal in 2010.

A spokesman for the board said last night that the “Ryanair base at Shannon has performed very well. There’s a very strong and positive working relationship with Ryanair and we look forward to working with the airline beyond 2010”.

O’Leary has blamed rising costs

at Cork for the decision to pull the routes and had warned that any in- crease in costs at Shannon would provoke a similar move.

Meawhile, Aer Lingus workers at the airport still have no idea whether the airline will again look to them to make savings for the company after announcing ۩22.3 million in losses TUOM Natoma Dec] mmc D.@paelO)O LO NTE

SIPTU representatives say they are not going to anticipate any move by the company, but are pointing out that staff have taken the brunt of the cuts in the past and cannot be expect-

ed to solve the difficulties caused by rising oil prices.

There was further speculation about the future of the airline’s trans- atlantic route to Chicago, which flies to Dublin via Shannon.

The airline issued a strong denial that it was considering dropping the route after revelations of falling pas- senger numbers.

Elected representatives have said they don’t trust the airline after it re- moved the Shannon Heathrow slots and transferred them to Belfast.

THE Clare branch of the Samaritans will hold the first of two information evenings this Thursday (Sepetmber 4) at the Old Ground Hotel.

Members of the Samritans will speak on the night and outline the work and duties carried out by the Service.

Another information evening will be held at the same venue on Monday Sepetmber 8.

Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emo-

tional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those, which may lead to suicide.

The organisation is looking for open-minded, non-judgmental peo- ple to get involved with the support Service.

All volounteers receive quality and detailed training before starting. Vol- unteers are shown how to develop the necessary listening skillsrequired. There is a strict code of confidential- ity and callers are given the freedom to talk openly.

90 people currently volunteer with the service in Clare. In previous years, interest has been high and the Samaritans are hoping for another good turnout.

Apart from the telephone the Sa- maritans can also be contacted by text and by email. The text and email services were established with the Samaritans conscience of the fact that different people will use differ- ent methods to contact the service.

A spokesperson for the service ex- plained, “We talk to people about who we are and what we do. We

would be looking for open-minded, non-judgmental people who would be natural listeners who would be prepared to give a commitment. In training we teach people how to de- velop listening skills”

He added, “We would be looking for people who are open-minded and accept other views. We don’t moral- ise or use philosophy or tell people what to do.

‘We are there to listen. Confidenti- ality is hugely important. We recog- nise the fact that people are given the freedom to talk in safety.”

TO celebrate National Organic Week, St. Tola’s Organic Farm will host a farm open day on September Key

National Organic Week will take place from September 15 to 21 and a host of events, including a tasting session at Wilde’s Organic Choco- late, will take place throughout County Clare to celebrate it.

The week, funded by the Depart- ment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and co-ordinated by Bord Bia, aims to continue to raise consumer awareness of organic food, how to

recognise it and where to buy it.

St Tola goat’s cheese has been made in Inagh since the early 1980’s. Originally made by Meg and Der- rick Gordon, the business was taken over by their neighbour Siobhan Ni Ghairbhith in 1999.

Since then, new premises have been built, the process has been brought up to the highest standards and in 2001, St. Tola became a registered organic producer with IOFGA, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association.

Both the farm and the cheesemak- ing operation are inspected individu- ally, by IOFGA inspectors, twice a

year.

Although more expensive and la- bour intensive than conventional farming, organic farming promotes principles and methods which co-ex- ist with natural ecosystems to help protect and enhance the environ- ment.

The 65-acre organic farm (none of which is treated with any fertilisers) provides herb rich grass and hay for the goats.

They also receive a supplement of organic grains for the winter, the price of which is around three times that of conventional feed.

In 2007 St Tola’s won Overall Best

Product at the National Organic Awards and Overall Cheese Cham- pion at the Irish National Cheese Awards.

The farm has won a Gold Medal at the Great Taste Awards and further prizes are hoped with the results of the World Cheese Awards in Dublin and the British Cheese Awards in Wales announced in September.

Teresa Brophy, head of Home Mar- kets Bord Bia, commented, ““Nation- al Organic Week encourages people to buy locally produced food but it also provides a great opportunity for consumers to learn about the origins of their food.”

A CLONLARA company has been ordered to pay more than €5,000 in redundancy money by the Employ- ment Appeals Tribunal.

A case for redundancy payments was made against Bellisle Proper- ties Limited, Bellisle, Clonlara by employees, Damien Leo, 2 Belf- 1eld Crescent, Faranshone, Limer- ick; Brendan Rainsford, Aranleigh, Lower Meelick; Barry O’Sullivan,

‘“Fermoyle’, Bartleystown, Clonlara; Andrew John Dolbear, Merlin, Bal- lysimon Road, County Limerick; Barry O’Connell, 23 Derryvinna, Clonlara and Thomas O’Connell, 23 Derryvinna, Clonlara.

All six gave details of their claims to the tribunal. The members of the tribunal heard they had all worked for the Clonlara company, some on a number of different sites.

They had been let go between Octo- ber and December last year after be-

ing told there was no more work for them, the tribunal heard.

In his sworn evidence, Andrew John Dolbear told the tribunal that the re- spondent company had approached him the previous week offering him his job back. He said that he had not responded to that job offer as he had not wanted to affect his claim be- fore the tribunal and he confirmed that he wished to proceed with his redundancy claim. When originally let go, Dolbear said, he asked about

redundancy and holiday money and the owner’s brother had told him that redundancy and holiday money was not his department. He had heard nothing more from the respondent company until last week when they offered him a job.

The tribunal was satisfied that the respondent had been properly noti- fied of the hearings. However, there was no appearance by them or on Web mL olo eT ee

Accepting the uncontested evi-

dence of the six former employees, the tribunal awarded Damien Leo €535, the equivalent of one weeks pay. Brendan Rainsford was awarded £628.86, Barry O’Sullivan €650, Andrew John Dolbear €1,278, Bar- ry O’Connell €627.39 and Thomas O’Connell €1,500.

The awards were made subject to the appellants having been in insur- able employment under the Social Welfare Acts during the relevant pe- riod.

THE only people that don’t look for- ward to the Dan Furey weekend in Labasheeda are the school children because just as the Rose of Tralee hails the end of the summer holidays, the approach of this set-dancing weekend means a return to school.

For everyone else the first week- end in September has for the last 13 years been known as the Annual Dan Furey Weekend of Set Dancing in Labasheeda.

The fancy dress and float parade take the sting out of the September blues for the children every year and this year promises to be no differ- ele

The parade takes place on Sunday next at 1.30pm followed by an after-

noon céili with Johnny Reidy Céili Band at 3pm.

This year’s Dan Furey’s festival will be officially opened by Mayor of Clare Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) on Friday next at 9.30pm fol- lowed by a céill.

On Saturday the workshops begins Pla Ler-te0

Not surprising, considering the origination of the festival, the first workshop is in set dancing with Mike Mahony followed by step dancing with Michael Tubridy.

At 3pm the céili begins with a com- memorative Mass at 8pm followed lar NON MecI Ee

At 10.30am on Sunday the now traditional visit to James Keane and Dan Furey’s graves will take place followed by the dancing at Kilkerrin

Battery Castle.

A huge crowd is expected for this, not only for the entertainment but because TG4 are recording events for ‘Muintir na Mara’.

The highlight of the festival for many is the parade at 1.30pm with an afternoon and night ceili wrap- O)UeTmbN OMA Lone

Hot meals will be served at St. Ki- eran’s Centre during the festival.

The community centre will also be used for a live screening of the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final between Kilkenny and Waterford.

The popular set dancing festival, the profile of which is raised not just by the hard work of the organising committee but the strong tradition of dancing in the area and the work of Dan Furey and his life long friend

James Keane teaching the Labash- eeda set dances around west Clare.

Since their passing, both Dan Furey and James Keane have become icons for followers of the dancing tradi- tions of the area. They are credited with being the saviours of the tra- ditional dances of Labasheeda. Dan was known far and wide for teaching dancing in the schools of west Clare and latterly came to prominence at WATom ABOU E Com ONE TITCAYAN COUR LAUR

Dan was single-minded in his teaching and dedicated his life to this art form. He was familiar to many in the county not least for his fiddle ac- companiment for the dancers.

Dan and James were firm friends all their lives and Dan learned most of his dances from James’ father Charlie Keane.

YOUNGSTERS at the Corofin Harps club showed last week that they can put their best foot forward and not just to play soccer.

Members as young as five, their older clubmates and parents set out on a sponsored walk to buy kit and equipment for the underage teams.

The little lads needed tracksuits, goals, and footballs – all the paraphe- nalia which will be necessary when they take to the field this coming

season.

The members and their parents set out to cover five miles and have already raised ©2,500 with more money coming in from sponsorship all the time.

“We’re hoping to raise about €5,000 in total from it to kit the kids out properly,’ said manager Keith lee

This will be the first year that the club will have an under eight team and they are also taking part with the under 11 and 12 teams in the soccer

blitz this year.

Soccer aS a game is growing fast in popularity amongst the Corofin youngsters.

Last year, Keith and fellow man- agers, Wille Treacy, Alan Higgins and Alan Cherryman, had just ten youngsters in training with the under -8s. This year, that’s grown to 60.

“We’ve also been invited to take part in the half-time National League game with the Limerick 37 at home in the under-10 blitz,’ said Keith.

The young footie fans have already

been measured for their new kit and are looking forward to having it de- livered while they continue with a busy training schedule on Wednes- days and Saturdays.

‘It will be great to see them kitted out. Everyone made such a huge ef- fort to support the walk and the par- ents are absolutely fantastic. They give 110 per cent.’

STRICT new laws controlling the disposal and storage of litter in En- nis will come into force on Septem- ber 15.

Town Clerk Eddie Power confirmed the enforcement date at yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, as accusations were leveled that the council is turning a blind eye to il- legal dumping in many of it’s own housing estates.

Some businesses are struggling to adapt to the new byelaws with many

premises lacking the appropriate storage space required under the byelaws.

Businesses that fail to comply are open to fines.

Independent councillor Frankie Neylon said the business community was being unfairly targeted when other serious instances of illegal dumping go unpunished.

He said, “I have had people contact me about a certain house being used by a scrap dealer. There is a council owned house across from the house and it is being used as a dump. If the

byelaws can be used to deal with the man in Chapel Lane, they should be able to deal with individuals like that. I want the law to apply to eve- ryone.”

He proposed that CCTV be in- stalled on the council’s property as MOCKS KOE

Independent councillor Tommy Brennan called for a survey to be carried out on the number of busi- nesses operating from council owned houses in Ennis.

He said, “I know it is happening in other places around town, but there

is a truck parked on footpaths in Clancy Park. A child will be killed out on the road one of these days. You have acid leaking out of batter- ies. It ruins the area for other people living there. If you or I, or any mem- ber of the settled community did that, the law would be brought down on top of us.”

Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn said “the council shouldn’t be ham- mering legitimate businesses that are upfront and honest in their dealing ald ema

Town Engineer Tom Tiernan said a

lack of “solid evidence” against al- leged perpetrators had made rigour- ous enforcement almost impossible.

He said, “There are a number of cases out there where there are sus- picions that people are dealing in scrap. If you are to follow these up and pursue them to the fullest extent, that means going to court. If it goes to court you need people to stand up and give solid evidence. And you can understand that people might have certain fears about doing that.”

He added, “If you don’t have evi- dence that won’t stand up, then there

EUGENE Costello has been de- scribed as a “character” – a character with a love of curraghs.

So much so that the Kilkee man, who turned 65-years-old last week was instrumental in reviving curragh racing in the west and bringing the All-Ireland Curragh Racing Cham- pionships to west Clare for the first MESO ol

This after almost 30 years since the once popular sport of curragh racing all but vanished in west Clare.

According to the champion of the curragh, this had as much to do with a lack of interest of a new generation, as it had with the introduction of ex- pensive insurance to run such events and the scourge of emigration.

The curragh however did not dis- appear completely with locals using them from time to time for fishing NIG Moo RUUKO AYN UNO)

‘Many years ago I saw a lone cur- ragh coming in after being out fish- ing all night and it was lovely,’ he said.

Eugene decided to carry out an in- ventory of all the curraghs still left in the west. There were up to nine cur- raghs in Kilrush and five in Kilkee.

“Back in Carrigaholt there was a man making curraghs and he had five or six,’ said Eugene. “There was more than enough to start some- den bercaa

This all happened 15 years ago and since then people have been making more curraghs in Kilkee which are also used by group from around the

west for racing.

Today crews can be found in Kul- baha, Doonbeg, Kilrush, Kilkee and Carrigaholt as curragh racing in GUE Kem ISA alan tetnelcar Kaas.) B

Just last month Kilbaha played host to the All-Ireland Curragh Champi- onships thanks to the hard work of Eugene and the dedicated crews.

“A lot of hard work went into it. It cost up to €11,000 to run it for two days but it was worth it as the cream of curragh racing came from all over the country including west Kerry, Coonagh, Donegal, Galway and the Aran Islands,’ said the man who is no stranger to racing curraghs him- self.

In the 1990s he was part of a suc- cessful crew with the Harte brothers from Kilkee.

“We have the distinction of win- ning the confined race in Kilkee for eight years in row,’ laughed Eugene. “That record won’t be broken in my lifetime.”

“Forty years ago I couldn’t get my place in any crew because there was a lot around, but when it came back I raced.”

Modern record books will show him as a constant in the new age of curragh racing.

LAHINCH’S growing reputation as a top international surfing venue will be further enhanced on September 13 and 14 when the West Coast Surf Club will host the 2008 Longboard Classic which has become one of the most hotly anticipated competitions in the Irish surfing calendar.

Started in 2003, the event — the only of its kind in Ireland — attracts long- boarders from all over Ireland and is particularly resonant in the closing wake of the Bejing Olympics as surf- ing is widely tipped to feature in the 2012 Games.

Ireland – and Lahinch – holds its own on the world stage in terms of the quality of surf available and also given the standard of Irish surfers which is again among the best inter- nationally.

Last year saw a record number of entrants, the overall winner being Garry Hall from Kerry with Ben Hanna from the West Coast Surf Club in second place.

This year’s event is set to attract an even greater response with organ- izers Cliodhna Fawl, Dave Flynn, Alan Black and David Collins over- Whelmed with the level of applica- tions to date.

Stating that the event had attracted a record number of sponsors, Cliodhna Fawl said, ““We’ve always been great- ly impressed with the level of interest and support we’ve attracted since the inaugural event in 2003.

‘In addition to an enthusiastic level of support from local businesses, we’re also delighted that Sony are signed up as a sponsor for this year’s classic.”

Subject to weather conditions and swell, it is anticipated that Septem- ber 13 will see the initial heats and quarter finals run off with the sem1- final and finals being held on the fol- lowing day.

Interested participants may down- load an entry form off the West Coast Surf Club’s website (www.westcoast- surfclub.com) while the deadline for applications sent by post – to Lahinch Surf Shop, Old Promenade, Lahinch, c/o Chodhna Fawl – is Thursday, September 4.

A non-refundable entry fee of €15 is required on application as 1s cur- rent Irish Surfing Association mem- bership.

For further details on the compe- tition contact Cliodhna Fawl 086 3366023, David Collins 087 8036963 or Dave Flynn 087 629 2335, or visit www.westcoastsurfclub.com.