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AUGUST may have been a wash-out, but one hardy group of cyclists have been out on the road braving the ele- ments. For the past two months the Ennis Parish Team and Friends have travelled the highways and byways of Clare through wind and rain as they prepare for the fifth annual Ennis Parish charity cycle.

The 19 strong team will hope that all the hard work pays off when they set of from Ennis next Saturday (Au- Paul mel ODE

The 70 mile route takes the team from Ennis Cathedral to Limerick, on to Birdhill, across to Killaloe and home to Ennis.

On arrival back in Ennis, the cy- clists will head to the Kingfisher Let-

sure Centre in the West County Hotel for a well earned swim and jacuzzi, as Kingfisher have very generously allowed all cyclists the use of their facilities.

This year the proceeds of their ef- forts will go to Cuan an Chlair, the new housing and daycare centre which will be built on 15.5 acres of land at Cahercalla, donated by the Diocese of Killaloe. Cuan an Chlair Phase | will see the development of a daycare centre to cater for 60 people daily and the construction of 12 in- dividual houses. This development is expected to cost €2 million.

Phase two will see the conversion of the old farm yard buildings, adjacent to Cahercalla Hospital to provide a café, meeting rooms, a garden and other appropriate facilities. It is esti-

mated that delivery of phase two will cost in the region of €1.5 million

A committee has been set up to oversee the project and they will be holding a number of fundraising events over the next year.

Previous cycles have raised money for the a variety of projects, includ- ing the restoration of the Cathedral spire. Last year, the Ennis parish team took to the road to highlght the work of Fr Jackie Sharpe, a Holy Ghost Missionary, who has worked in the African country of Gambia for over 42 years

The cyclists taking part are: Tik- ki Daly, Fr Martin Blake, Maura Brooks, Fr Damien Nolan, JJ Coun1- han, Fr Jerry Carey, Ed McMahon, Damian Lavin, Senan McDermott, Fr Tom Hogan, Paul Kelly, Fr John

Molloy, Kevin Keane, John Brody, John Casey, Mary Curley, Charlie O’Meara, Kevin Duffy and Kieran Moroney.

You can support the team by col- lectiing a sponsorship card from the Parish Office or by donating spon- sorship to the cyclists as they set of Oye AeterPUM OLED UTA Ys

The cyclists depart from Ennis Ca- thedral, Saturday an 9am and hope for plenty of support to see them off.

THE hopes of County Clare now sit squarely on the shoulders of 27-year- old farmer Des Quinlivin, who will represent the county at this years FBD Young Farmer of the Year Competition.

The young dairy farmer was last week announced as this year repre- sentative for this years competition, which is ran by Macra na Feirme in partnership with the IFA.

Des will pit his wits against the cream of young farmers from all over the country in the national final, which takes place in the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny on September | and 2nd.

The final adjudicating panel will include Bertie Ahern as Chairperson of the adjucation panel, Willie Fahy (IFAC Chief Executive), Dr Seamus Crosse (Director of Agriculture Re- search at Teagasc), Donal Fitzgibbon (Business and Community Training Consultant), Justin McCarthy (Live- stock editor, Irish Farmers Journal) and former Macra na Feirme presi- dents Seamus Phelan and Joe Healy.

The aim of this prestigious compett- tion, run by Macra na Feirme in part- nership with the IFA, is to recognise and reward the top young farmers in the country. Entrants are judged according to a number of criteria i1n- cluding farm business initiative and innovation, levels of farm efficiency

and enterprise quality, farm safety and environmental protection aware- ness, as well as agricultural knowl- edge and community involvement.

Des will now go forward to com- pete for the national prize of travel bursary worth €2,500 euro and €1,000 euro spending money.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Mac- ra’s Agricultural Affairs committee, Eddie O’Donnell, last week wel- comed a reduction in the price of milk quota in the priority pool un- der the Milk Quota Trading Scheme announced by Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith together with allow- ing individual access to milk quota for partners in Milk Production Part- nerships.

O’Donnell said it was an important step forward for the dairy industry that partners in Milk Production Partnership are treated as individu- als for the purpose of accessing milk quota from the milk quota exchange and priority pool.

“Individual access to acquire milk quota coupled with opening up of partnerships to non dairy farmers and allowing farm managers enter partnerships will make partnership farming more accessible and help attract new blood into the industry,” he said.

‘“‘Macra had consistently lobbied for the creation of new partnership arrangements to attract young peo- ple into the industry.”

IT hasn’t been a long hot summer, but summer nonetheless. And now that it’s over and the evenings are closing in it’s time for the soccer bof- fins around the county to come out of deCoJDupeDloloomercIN(O)EE

Suitably sated by the action from the European Championships and Olympic Games, in which Spain and Argentina prevailed, the big kick-off to the Clare League Premier Divi- sion is penciled in for this Sunday, weather permitting of course.

Newmarket Celtic are defending the title they won last year from their closest challengers Avenue United and Lifford. The new teams on the Premier block for this season are Corofin Harps, the Clare Cup cham- pions in 2005 and 2006, and Bridge United who were Premier champions in 2006 before being relegated the following season.

Newmarket have a difficult opening tie this weekend when they travel to the Micho Russell Centre in Doolin to take on Burren United — the north Clare side are in their second season in the top flight having consolidated their position in their debut year last year under manager Donie Garrihy.

The north Clare flag is also being flown by Moher Celtic, the unlucki- est team over the past number of sea- sons having come desperately close to winning both the Premier title and the Cup.

Like every year Avenue United will be one of the teams to beat — win- ning tradition alone built up over 25 years means that they won’t be

far away, while Lifford have been the other standardbearers from the county capital over the past number of years.

Bunratty will be hoping to build on their cup run last year that only ended in defeat to Rock Rovers, while Bridge Celtic who were cham- pions in 2005/06 will aim to put their poor 2006/07 campaign behind

them. Then there’s Rineanna Rov- ers, cup semi-finalists last year who are a match for any team on their day — especially on their home turf on the back road from Newmarket to SJar-vepeeyee

A IOKM sponsored walk in aid of the Clare Branch of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland takes place in Ennis on Sunday, August 31.

The walk commences at lpm from the Less Road Sports and Amenity Park, finishing at the same venue.

Branch secretary Grainne Flynn said that they were thrilled with the success of the event last year and hoped to do even better this year, with the help of the people in Clare.

The money raised will go towards enabling the Clare branch continue

to provide free support groups for people with diabetes and their fami- lies and to other local activities such as diabetes screenings and education and awareness meetings.

The money will also go towards helping the Diabetes Federation of Ireland run CODE – Community Orientated Diabetes Education, a structured education programme for people with Type 2 diabetes, which the federation initiated in 2007.

CODE provides its participants with one-to-one education on how to manage their diabetes and aims to improve their quality of life.

Anna Clarke, Health Promotion and Research Manager of the Diabe- tes Federation of Ireland explained CODE provides vital support to peo- ple with diabetes,

“The philosophy of the CODE pro- gramme is based on empowerment, empathy and self-efficacy; it supports people with diabetes through group learning and participation. CODE encourages participants to become confident in their diabetes self-care management and aims to improve quality of life through informed de- aT (oye sek: lennon

The second CODE programme for

Clare is scheduled for early Septem- ber and anyone wishing to participate in this successful programme should contact Elaine Newell, 087 2174227 with your details.

The walk marks the main focus of a major fundraising drive launched by the Clare branch in June. Organ- isers are hoping that, like last year, big crowds will turn out in support of the event.

For more information on all branch activities and events, 10k sponsor- ship cards or on volunteering on the day, call 087 6415747 or email clarebranchdfi@ gmail.com.

HARVEST season is officially on hold as a result of the poor weather. That was the message coming from Teagasc last week who urged Clare farmers to hold off on the harvest un- til the condition improve.

The farming advisory body has urged farmers to give priority to harvesting the most valuable crops first like malting barley, milling wheat and seed crops. They also sug- gest that farmers should have drying equipment ready to go when condi- tions are suitable for cutting and to take every opportunity to cut.

‘Farmers need to prepare machin- ery now for travelling under poorer

ground conditions, so that the har- vesting opportunities can be availed of when they arise,’ said a Teagasc spokesperson.

‘Machinery such as combines, si- lage harvesters, tractors, trailers, and balers can all operate more effec- tively under poorer soil conditions by making modifications to the tyres on these vehicles. Ground pressure can be reduced by fitting larger tyres, working at lower tyre pressures or possibly fitting dual wheels.

“On some livestock farms, dairy cows and beef cattle have been re- housed due to flooding of grassland and to avoid further poaching of the land and subsequent deterioration of grass utilisation.”

On dairy farms Teagasc are recom- mending that a flexible approach to grazing during this period be adopt- ed. Preferably graze paddocks with lower covers, provide larger grazing areas to livestock, offer fresh grass after each milking and use back fences to protect grazed areas.

Recent Teagasc research at Moore- park has shown that on/off grazing (allowing cow’s access to grass for a limited time) is an approach that can be used to maintain cows at grass during periods of wet weather similar to what we are now experi- encing.

To sustain high levels of perform- ance from grass, cows should be given 3-4 hours access to grass after

each milking. There is no require- ment to supplement these cows with additional feed while they are in- doors if farm covers are on, or above target. On drystock farms, Teagasc are recommending that producers move livestock to higher ground and drier fields to reduce poaching and to consider re-housing livestock, es- pecially bulls, if grazing conditions deteriorate further. The wet summer may also lead to an increased risk of liver fluke in sheep.

With the increased level of building activity on farms this year, Teagasc are advising farmers to take steps to protect new and existing storage tanks from damage caused by rising water levels.

A SHORTAGE of new houses in Clare was predicted yesterday af- ter figures show the number of new house starts is only 29 per cent of what it was five years ago.

Local auctioneer, Dermot McMa- hon of Sherry Fitzgerald McMahon made the prediction after depart- ment figures confirmed that local authorities in Clare have received commencement notices for just 392 houses in the first half of this year.

This compares to the 1,330 com- mencement notices received for the same period in 2004. The figures provided by the Department of the

Environment show that there has been a steady decline in new house starts since 2004.

Last year there were 546 new house starts in the first half of the year and this followed 851 new house starts for the same period in 2006. There were 1,278 new house starts in 2005 and 1,330 in 2004.

Mr McMahon said that the inevita- ble consequence will be a shortage of new homes. Calling for Government intervention to help the first time buyer, he said that this would perco- late to other parts of the market.

“Confidence in the economy is the main thing needed for the housing market to recover,’ he said.

The McMahon auctioneering busi- ness has been in place for over a 100 years, and Mr McMahon said, “There are cycles and they can hurt people and there is a generation for whom this is a new experience.”

Cormac O’Sullivan of O’Sullivan Hurley DNG said that it will be well into 2009 before a significant meas- ure of consumer confidence will re- turn to the market.

He said however that confidence had increased in recent weeks with more viewings and inquiries. “People are holding back but if the prices are right, properties will sell,” he said.

In the past five workings day, his firm recorded four sale agreements.

YOU don’t have to look too hard to find the football and family con- nections that link some of the men behind one of Ennis’ newest busi- enone

Brian Fitzpatrick and Shane Dan- iels donned the red of Eire Og last Friday night as the townies bid to qualify for the knock out stages of the championship.

Pat, a selector and long serving club member, was on the line in En- nistymon as Eire Og did battle with SoKeie

Yet, away from football field, the trio will be seeing a whole lot more of each other in the coming weeks.

That’s because all three are involved in Banner Car Auctions a new busi-

ness located on the Quin Road.

The first of it’s kind in Clare, Ban- ner Car auctions offers car dealer- ships and members of the public the chance to purchase used and second hand cars in an auction setting.

It won’t be the first time Brian Fitzpatrick and Shane Daniels have teamed up this year. In May, both were part of the Rock Rovers panel that won the Clare Cup.

The two men were also members of the Eire Og team that won the sen- ior football championship in 2007 and are playing key roles again this year as the townies bid to lift the Jack Daly trophy. Both have repre- sented Clare at minor and under 21 grades with Shane a member of the Clare senior football panel between 2005-2007.

The involvement of Brian’s father Pat Fitzpatrick, Director of Banner Car Auctions, completes the Eire Og line-up.

Pat, the proprietor of Banner Cars on the Tulla Road has extensive ex- perience in the area having worked for over 40 years in the motor trade.

Brian learned the ropes at the fami- ly business on the Tulla Road but has spent the past few years working as an auctioneer with Ennis based firm Munstergroup.

Shane, a qualified electrician, is looking forward to taking up his new role as salesman with Banner Car Auctions. These maybe difficult times for businesses but Brian Fitz- patrick hopes Banner Car Auctions can buck the prevailing economic nRoITen

“We aim to provide quality cars at excellent prices for both people in the motor trade and the general pub- lic and to provide best possible prices available’, explained Brian.

He added “Car auctions have been successful in England and more re- cently Dublin. We hope the auction will spearhead a new and exciting time for Clare motor enthusiasts and for people in the motor trade. We hope to provide a quality service to the main dealers in selling as well as the general public”.

Banner car auctions opens for busi- ness Saturday, August 30 at 12 noon.

CLARE farmers have been urged to get moving in order to take advan- tage of the fifth Milk Quota Trading Scheme, with applications needing to reach the department by October 31. The new Scheme, which was an- nounced last week by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, will be the first of two Trading Schemes to allocate quota in respect of the 2009/2010 milk quota year.

Clare TD and Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture, Tony Killeen last week urged Clare farm- ers to take advantage of the scheme.

The Scheme will again be run in respect of each Co-op area, and will

be comprised of a priority pool and a market exchange. Sellers will con- tinue to contribute 30 per cent of the total quota offered for sale to the pri- Ou IAYA eee

The individual bid limit for buyers will remain at 80,000 litres, and the method for calculating the market- clearing price, including the 40 per cent price corridor, will remain un- changed.

The 3:2 ratio on the distribution of priority pool quota between young farmers and category | producers will be retained, as will the option for sellers in certain Co-op areas to sell at one or two cent per litre less than their original offer price.

“The main changes arise in the administration of the priority pool.

The maximum price at which quota is traded in the priority pool will be reduced to 10 cent per litre, unless the exchange price for that Co-op area drops below 10 cent, in which case the priority pool price will be the same as the exchange price,’ he said.

“In addition, participants in Milk Production Partnerships, whether new entrants or long-standing milk producers, will have access to quo- ta in their own right as individuals, whether on the basis that they are under 35 years of age or that their existing quota is less than 350,000 litres. Farm Managers participating in partnerships with established milk producers will have access to quota on the same basis.”

Meanwhile, it was confirmed last week that Clare’s REPS farmers un- able to spread slurry on their land due to the recent inclement weather conditions have been given a Six- week extension of the REPS slurry- spreading deadline.

According to Minister Killeen the measure applies to farmers in REPS 2 and REPS 3 who are required to have spread all the slurry produced during the winter housing period by 31 August.

“The atrocious weather conditions, particularly in County Clare and the Midwest Region, of the past two months have made it extremely dif- ficult for some local REPS farmers to get their slurry spread by the end of this month,” he said.

CLARE musicians were among the top prizewinners at the 2008 Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann in Tullamore over the weekend. Ruan fiddle player Eimear Arkins took home one of the competition’s major individual prizes by coming first in the under 18 fiddle slow airs.

Eimear has 11 All-Ireland med- als and holds solo All-Ireland titles in Fiddle Slow Airs, English Sing- ing, Sean Nos Singing, Lilting and Comhra, as well as Bands and Grupa Ceoil.

Eimear had toured with Comhaltas in the 2007 Tour of Ireland and the 2008 Tour of Britain. She will be touring with Comhaltas in the 2008 North American tour during October no. ;

Eimear is also a member of Inis Og Ceili band who won the prestigious under 18 bands competition.

Other individual Clare winners in Tullamore included Aisling Hunt representing the Tulla branch of com- haltas in the under 12-button accor- dion; Siobhain Ni Ogain represent- ing the Corofin branch in the senior whistle category and Fergal Breen from the Doora-Barefield branch in the under 12 ulieann pipes.

Clare performed well across the cat- egories. The banner enjoyed success

in the under 12 instrumental groups section with Grupa Ceoil Burren and Grupa Ceoil Tigh na Coille finishing second and third respectively.

There was also a strong Clare showing in the dance competitions. St Mary’s took first place in the un- der 12 all-girls. In the mixed under 12-category St Joseph’s finished in third position while in the mixed un- der 15s St Michaels took first place.

The other west Clare set dancers taking part in the All-Ireland senior competition, Diabhliocht na hOige, also did the county proud by finish- ing second behind the other Clare set Kincora.

A KILRUSH area councillor has warned that more money will have to be allocated to hedge cutting in the west, if a major accident is to be avoided.

Concerned councillor Oliver Garry (FG) said a mere €40,000 had been allocated to cutting hedges on all re- gional and local roads in west Clare, which he estimates at 1,000 km.

Clare County Council carries out all of its heavy growth hedge cutting between the months of September and April. Verge cutting can take place year around.

This year the policy of the coun-

cil is to cut all the national and sec- ondary roads, junctions and long bends on regional roads, dangerous junctions on local county roads, ap- proaches to towns and villages and amenity locations.

Cllr Garry said that school routes were also once a priority.

‘There 1s no visibility around bends and people are inclined to keep to the centre of the road. It is a danger for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and truck drivers,’ he said.

‘There is a huge risk of accidents or people being knocked down.

“You have a lot of people walk- ing for exercise in the evenings,’ he Sr nLOe

‘The council are forcing farmers to cut the hedges but they are only cut- ting them from the inside. On a three to four metre wide road you have a danger of hedges closing them in.

“We will have a major problem if more money is not put into this.”

He said the cost of cutting hedges is estimated at €180 per kilometre and argued that the allocated funds will run out soon.

“The problem is that the money is not there to cut all the hedges on ru- ral roads, unless it comes out of other road maintenance grants.”

There is a separate fund for nation- al roads and urban areas.

‘Rural people should be treated the

same as people living in urban areas and those living on national roads. We as rural people pay our taxes and as such get the same service,’ he said.

“Why can’t we have the same stand- ard in rural areas as in urban areas,” he said.

“T feel very strongly that there should be a more significant alloca- tion put aside for hedge cutting.”

The Fine Gael councillor said that just €200,000 is set aside to cut the hedges on rural and secondary roads throughout the county

“We need double that funding to give any form of decent standard of service to those roads.”