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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.”

THE pressure was solely on New- market to perform. It’s been twelve weeks since they last played a championship game, an intermina- bly lengthly period to sift through the wreckage of their disappointing opening defeat to Wolfe Tones and the abject performance that baffled their supporters in the opening game of the championship.

In the interim, there had been several Clare Cup games but this was the first opportunity to rouse their championship aspirations and stake a claim for a quarter-final place that many took as a given at the start of the season.

Ballyea on the other hand had nothing to lose. Ever since the draw was made, nobody gave them a chance in a group that comprised of last year’s county champions Tulla, 2006 champions Wolfe Tones, 2006 finalists Newmarket and the newly amalgamated force of Inagh/ Kilnamona,

And they had this no-hopers tag affixed, despite possessing two- thirds of the side that reached the 2003 county final.

In the end, it played out as expected. Newmarket eased to a seven point victory despite not having to overly extend themselves but while the two points was all that was important on this occasion, they will need to be much more ruthless if they are to emerge from the group.

As expected, Ballyea threw everything at the Blues and indeed

made life difficult for them for long periods but what essentially separated these sides was the extra sprinkling of guile and experience that Newmarket possessed.

Their distribution was slicker, their hurling that bit faster and although this display won’t have © struck immediate panic into their group rivals who were well represented along the barrier in Clareabbey, it was enough to get them on the road and shake off any rustiness that a prolonged break inevitably brings.

Besides that, there was only one real striking aspect lacking in Newmarket’s armoury — the absence of sufficient clinical forwards.

Enda Kelly and Padraig Kilmartin’s movement and_ strength were important, Shane O’Brien impressed intermittently and Colin Ryan looked threatening when introduced but with Paudie Collin’s unerring accuracy propping them up for the majority, there was a distinct staleness to the forward line.

It appeared to hamper Newmarket’s performance over the hour and prevented them from making a real statement of intent in this demanding group.

Fundamentally, the game turned in first half injury time when Paudie Collin’s long free broke in the square and Enda Kelly was the first to react to pull to the net.

Up to that point, Ballyea had matched the Blues point for point despite playing into a slight breeze and if they had held that momentum until the break, it could have inspired

a real battle in the second period.

However, Ballyea tired late in the half and sandwiched by two superb Paudie Collins points from play, Newmarket also fired a warning shot in the 28th minute when a move involving Jim McInerney and Padraig Kilmartin fell to corner-forward Martin Murphy but although his pull beat goalkeeper Shane O’Neill, full- back Kevin Sheehan was on hand to block the shot.

Ballyea didn’t heed that caution however and three minutes later, Kelly grabbed the goal that gave his

side a five point half-time cushion and essential provided the foundation for victory.

Ballyea were always chasing the game after that and with free-taker Ivan Kilbane their main source for scores, they never really threatened Kieran Devitt’s goalmouth. Kilbane put over the opening score of the second period in the 33rd but settled by that goal before half-time,

Newmarket began to stretch their muscles and four unanswered points through Jim McInerney, Shane O’Brien, Dominic McMahon and a Collins free had them eight clear by the 42nd minute.

Ballyea had to reshuffle the pack and cleverly pushed Tony Griffin to full-forward and the county senior almost changed the game.

Griffin won two consecutive frees in a minute that Kilbane converted to reduce the deficit to six but crucially, Ballyea failed to take advantage of a goal opportunity only a minute later when Donal Chambers handpassed over the defence to the onrushing Griffin.

The pass was just too long and Brian Clancy got back to clear the danger and put the ball out for a ’65 which Kilbane converted.

That was as close as Ballyea would get as Newmarket regained control of the game and tacked over four more points to ease their nerves.

Ballyea did have an opportunity to grab a consolation goal deep into injury time when Brian Chambers was fouled and Shane O’Neill came up to take the resulting 21 yard free. However, the goalkeeper’s effort crashed off the crossbar and rebounded high to safety and Ambrose Heagney blew for full-time amid some obvious frustration from Ballyea who are now realistically out of the running for 2008.

Meanwhile, this result means that Newmarket expectantly throw their hat into the ring for qualification but they will realise that they will have to improve considerably for the mammoth impending challenges of Tulla and Inagh/Kilnamona.

The county champions are up next but the Blues shouldn’t require any extra motivation for that tie as it was Tulla who unceremoniously turfed them out of the championship last year. If that quarter-final clash is anything to go by, carrying passengers cannot be an option for Newmarket from here on in.

PLANS by Clare hurling star Davy Fitzgerald to construct a €4 million boutique hotel near Shannon Air- port could be rejected because of concerns over the privacy of people praying for family and friends at a nearby cemetery.

With only days to go before the Sixmilebridge man oversees Water- ford’s challenge in the All-Ireland final, An Taisce has lodged a sub- mission on his plans to demolish the

Bellsfort Inn pub and function room and replace it with a two-storey 23- bedroom hotel with a bar and func- tion room.

The proposed development is to take place three miles from the air- port on a country road linking New- market-on-Fergus and Shannon.

An Taisce state that part of the ho- tel will be overlooking an adjacent graveyard and feel that this would impose on the privacy of those pray- ing at graves.

The proposed hotel development is

located near a ring-fort and it is like- ly that it will be put on hold to allow Mr Fitzgerald submit an archaeologi- cal assessment on the likely impact oye aelomubercaKoyum

The Department of the Environ- ment is recommending that the archaeological assessment should define the buffer zone which would preserve the setting and visual amen- LAO) MAROC om Kee

“The proposed location of the ho- tel building may have a significant visual impact. If this is found to be

the case, then a change of design and a reduction in scale of development may be requested,’ the department stated.

With over 3.6 million people using Shannon Airport last year, the former Clare goalkeeper will be hoping that his new venture will be able to attract some of this traffic.

The plan is already facing an objec- tion from Seamus and Anne Ryan, Fairfield, Lemanaghmore, Newmar- ket who claim that “nothing in the development proposal indicates that

it makes any contribution to the lo- cal area, or presents a demonstrable need for this type of development”’.

The Ryans have asked the council to refuse permission for the hotel be- cause of overdevelopment of the site, which will “generate traffic hazards and give rise to serious negative im- pact on the environment.”

“The proposed development is monumental in the context of the site area and in the context of existing buildings.” A decision is due on the application next week.

THE Board of Shannon Swimming & Leisure Ltd must bridge a shortfall of €300,000 to finance a €1.3 mil- lion redevelopment of the Shannon SR icemereesl eo.

Board member, Councillor Patricia McCarthy is confident the shortfall can be met as €1 million has already been generated through National Lottery funding, local fundraising and a proposed loan.

Cllr McCarthy was speaking yes- terday after the publication of the Shannon Centre’s latest accounts show that it is the only community- owned leisure complex in Clare with

a positive balance.

Lahinch Seaworld has accumulated losses of over €500,000 while Kil- kee Seaworld is also in the red.

However, the Shannon Swim- ming & Leisure Ltd accounts show that turnover increased by nine per cent in 2007, rising from 55,000 to ol) 01007

While costs increased from €515,000 in 2006 to €527,000 last year, the leisure centre was still in a position to report a profit for the sec- ond year in a row.

A surplus of €74,000 allowed the centre eliminate its accumulated losses and return an overall surplus of €49,000.

The accounts show €139,000 cash at bank and equity funds of €244,000.

The company has 13 employees and Staff costs are €293,000.

Commenting on the figures, Cllr McCarthy said that the performance of the centre over the past year has been brought about by a lot of hard work.

“Finances are reasonably healthy, but we are going to have higher costs with electricity and oil prices going up. The centre is a valuable resource for the entire community.”

Commenting on the redevelopment plans for the centre, Cllr McCarthy Said it would include tennis courts, a

skateboard park and a gym, as well as the retiling of the pool.

She said the National Lottery had provided €350,000 in_ funding, while €250,000 has been generated through fundraising with a further €400,000 to be raised through a bank loan.

Construction will take place on a phased basis and the board will de- cide which part of the project will be first developed.

Cllr McCarthy the shortfall in fund- ing for the new development would be bridged through fundraising.

WHERE David Fitzgerald and Kil- kenny are concerned, the Sixmile- bridge man has had no luck what- soever this decade. Just look at his track record. The senior All-Ireland final of 2002, the quarter-final replay defeat of 2004 and the semi-final loss in 2006 that was to be his last championship game in the saffron and blue. He did return this year to a heroe’s welcome in his native Sixmi- lebridge in March, again against the Cats but it was the same result as Richie Power (2) and Eddie Brennan grabbed three goals to narrowly sink the Banner.

The ‘Kilkenny factor’ followed Fitzgerald into management as well

as WIT edged out his LIT side after extra, extra-time in the Fitzgibbon Cup Final with Ballyhale Shamrocks forward Eoin Reid grabbing the de- cisive winning goal after twice drag- ging his side level earlier on to send the game into extra-time.

That streak continued on Sunday as Kilkenny claimed their third suc- cessive Minor A camogie title at the expense of Clare and while trainer Fitzgerald admits that Kilkenny deserved the win, he still feels that there is a lot of potential in this Clare side.

“They were the better side alright on the day. I don’t think we played to the potential we can play to and may- be the day got to us or whatever but certainly Kilkenny have won three

All-Irelands and are a fantastic team. There is more in our girls for definite and we showed that in patches there today.

“Listen, the referee wouldn’t have made a difference at the end of the day but she was an absolute disgrace out there. We wouldn’t have won the game but all you want is fair play at the end of the day and she wasn’t acer

“In saying that, I have to hold my hands up and say that I am delight- ed with our girls. They battled well and we came back and probably the second goal killed us. We were ab- solutely just battling back to within five points and we were unlucky not to get a break for a goal but they got one up the far side of the field and

that was it. The game was over after Were

Despite his obvious disappoint- ment, the two time All-Ireland win- ner is adament that these players are destined to lead Clare camogie to the next level.

“Let’s be honest, Kilkenny were winning senior All-Irelands a few years back for fun. Clare are Jun- ior. A lot of these girls are coming onto the Junior team and they will bring Clare up to senior, I’m posi- tive of that. And we will be compet- ing at senior level in a few years if they are handled properly. And that’s very important that they are handled properly and not overtrained or over- worked. These girls deserve to play in their own age group and given a

right chance at that, that’s very im- portant and they will progress then WAC oo mn ee: |e

Fitzgerald has the perfect opportu- nity this weekend to quash his Kil- kenny hex when his Waterford side take on Kilkenny in the All-Ireland senior hurling final. A game that has the Sixmilebridge man buzzing with anticipation.

‘“Let’s see what happens this week. I’m looking forward to it and I’m more motivated than ever. You can’t say what will happen because you are standing on the sideline and you are helpless so let’s see. We are not given a chance but you never know.”

After his luckless past against Kil- kenny, it’s almost become a personal mission.