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CLARE growing organic sector is set for a boost following the an- nouncement of a multi-million euro campaign to promote organic and lo- cally grown food.

With more then 8 farmers mar- kets already in operation around the county, Clare has one of Ireland’s fastest growing organic sectors. It is hoped that this new initiative, the first major promotion of organic food in the the EU, will greatly increase the numbers attending farmers mar- kets and growing local organic pro- duce.

The move has been welcomed by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

Trevor Sargent, who welcomed the launch of the new campaign.

The new campaign, whose slogan is “Organic farming – good for na- ture, good for you’, aims to inform consumers about the meaning and benefits of organic farming and food production.

The web-based campaign will focus on increasing consumer awareness and recognition of organic products, and especially on young people and children to carry the organic idea into the future.

According to Sargent, the launch of this campaign 1s indeed timely for Ireland. He said that the Programme for Government sets down an ambi- tious target of 5 per cent of the land area to be under organic production

by 2012.

“At present Ireland is at 1 per cent, with over 43,000 hectares being farmed organically,” he said.

“In April Minister Sargent launched the Department’s Organic Farming Action Plan 2008-2012 in response to the Government commitment. Ac- cess to information is a key driver in the development of the organic sec- tor and this new website will be a very useful addition.”

In the last few years, the number of organic operators – farmers, produc- ers, processors and importers – has erown strongly. In 2005, there was a total of 182,305 of these operators in the EU-25, a 13.4 per cent increase from 2004.

In recent years, the European or-

ganic retail market has experienced strong growth of between 5 and 30 per cent, depending on the coun- try. Increasing consumer demand is strengthening the organic market and giving farmers and processors new opportunities.

The European Commission will present the Campaign at the upcom- ing National Organic Food Confer- ence on September 4th 2008 in the Waterford Institute of Technology.

The Commission also announced a competition to develop a new EU organic farming logo that is due to become mandatory on all organic pre-packaged food from July 2010.

For more information on the Or- ganic Farming Campaign check out www.organic-farming.europa.eu.

THE popular Miltown Malbay week- ly farmer’s market is staying put for the foreseeable future.

Despite claims last week by a mar- ket member that accessibility to the market was problematic, it has been hailed as an ideal location with shop- pers and market officials coming out in support of Miltown’s newest shop- ping experience.

The farmer’s market found its home on the edge of the original Fair Green in the recently restored Miltown Business Centre in Miltown Malbay during the May bank holiday

weekend

Although it is just three months old it is already attracting locals and tourists to that part of town every Friday evening from 4.30pm to 7pm.

The stalls are set up on a Friday af- ternoon inside the original stonewalls which flanked the market green. The cobbled stone courtyard, with tradi- tional shop fronts and lighting, cre- ates an idealistic atmosphere for a vibrant, bustling, intimate market.

The colourful umbrellas of stall holders coupled with the delicious smell of fresh baking entice shoppers to browse among the stalls and many of them linger for the chat.

Local people are particularly pleased with the new market and Fri- day evenings in the Miltown Busi- ness Centre have become a regular, social gathering for many.

“Stall holders are pleased with the venue as the enclosed, Victorian style courtyard provides shelter from the west Clare weather while retaining the authenticity of an outdoor mar- ket. The stall holders are very grate- ful that the Miltown Business Centre welcomed them, free of charge to hold their market in such an ideal location,” said Hilary Gleeson, Rural Development Officer at EIRI Corca BE ONONEE

The market stalls provide a variety of fare such as farmhouse cheeses, sun dried tomatoes, home baking and confectionary, local vegetables, summer fruits, plants and delicious, hot crepes.

The new farmer’s market in the Miltown Business Centre is always encouraging more local food produc- ers especially vegetables, meat, poul- try and fish to join by contacting Ms Gleeson at 9056611 or 086 8235598 or local baker and stall holder Cora O’Grady on 087 1354192.

CLARE people are adapting to the recession by looking for deals on in- ternet shopping sites, a new survey has revealed.

The county has topped an All-Ire- land survey of internet shoppers in terms of the amount of computer software, health and beauty products and hi-fi equipment bought using the eBay website.

According to the Head of Products at eBay Ireland, Eamonn Galvin, the recent downturn in the economy has led to many Clare people turning to the website in search of a good deal.

“It is very interesting to see how well Clare has done – I’m not sure of the reasons for it, maybe it’s to do with Ennis and the good connectivity but certainly Clare People are amaz- ingly active on eBay,” he said.

“One of the big difference between e-bay in Clare and markets like

America is that the people in Clare seems to use it more to buy every day items that they could easily get in the local shops. In America it’s a lot about collectibles – we do have good sales on them in Clare but we also have great sales on mainstream items like clothes and accessories, computers, home electronics.

‘We did a price survey on a number of products from mainstream retail- ers and eBay and some prices are up to 72 per cent cheaper on eBay, with the average being about 42 per cent cheaper on e-bay. With the current economic climate people are going online more and looking for bar- eT eae

Clare shoppers also came second behind Wexford in the amount of home furnishing bought per head of population which the county came third in both the amount of books and computers bought using the eBay website.

WHILE French President Nicolas Sarkozy may not have won too many Irish friends as a result of his stance on the Lisbon Treaty, his standing within the farming community has skyrocketed this week following the breakdown of the World Trade Or- ganisation talks.

IFA president Padraig Walshe last week credited the French and current EU president with defending Irish and EU farmers and in particular the Irish Beef Sector.

Speaking following the breakdown of WTO talks in Geneva last week, the IFA president was heavily criti- cal of EU commissioner Peter Man-

delson and said that the collapse was a good thing for all sectors of Irish society.

“T want to dispel the notion that the country had missed out on an oppor- tunity as a result of the collapse of the talks. Instead, the entire country had been spared from a damaging agreement that offered no gains for the industrial or services sectors and would have cost <4 billion in losses in the agriculture and food indus- tries,’ he said. “Peter Mandelson may be a re- nowned politician, but he was an inept negotiator. I would like to re- iterated my call on the Tanaiste to support the French in now tearing up the EU WTO offer as the other parties have walked away from the table.” Reacting to the WTO collapse, Tanaiste and Minister for Enter- prise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, said that Ireland must continue to asset it’s interests in the talks process. “Irish ministers have used every opportunity, whether through meet- ings of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council or bilat- erally with various countries, includ- ing the French Presidency of the EU as well as the EU Commission, to assert Ireland’s interests,’ said the former agriculture minister. “Tam disappointment that it has not been possible for the WTO to agree a new deal but I acknowledge that the negotiations represented a very com- plex process covering a wide range of areas.” Current Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, said that throughout the long series of meetings, he had continued to ex- press the Government’s strong con- cerns about the agriculture propos- als and, in particular, the potential impact of the proposals on the Irish beef sector. Since 2004, the Minister for Agri- culture ensured that Ireland played a central role, along with a number of like-minded countries, 1n protecting the interests of European agricul- nehden

THE world famous Artane Band for- ever linked in the GAA psyche with All-Ireland Sundays will now bring its marching music to Kilkee.

As part of a series of concerts or- ganised by the Kilkee Civic Trust to bring entertainment to the seaside town during the peak summer season while also helping local voluntary or- ganisations. The band, in it’s red and blue uniform, will play Kilkee Parish

Church on Thursday next at 8pm in aid of the local GAA club.

St Senan’s GAA Club is one of the best-known senior football clubs in the county.

With 150 members and numerous players, the funds raised will go to- wards general funds for the club.

The Artane band under the musi- cal direction of Ronan O’Reilly will be joined for part of the programme by the Kilkee Parish Choir under the direction of Choir Mistress, Peggy

Us

O’Reilly said, “’We are delighted to be playing for the first time in the wonderful resort town of Kilkee and to bring a little of the Croke Park at- mosphere to help raise funds for the local GAA club, St Senan’s.”

The programme will feature some well-known pieces from the light classical, the musicals and a newly arranged Irish medley.

Continuing with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Richard Har-

ris’s 1968 hit MacArthur Park, the band will play its own rendition of this classic in a special arrangement by the director.

The concert which is part of the Kilkee Civic Trust summer series 1s presented in association with Sum- mer Music on the Shannon, another County Clare based initiative, cur- rently underway in UCH, Limerick.

Tickets can be purchased from Wil- liams Pharmacy and Nolan’s Delica- tessen Kilkee and on the door.

THE number of cases prosecuted in the Circuit Court in Ennis in 2006 fell significantly, according to figures released by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Twenty-eight cases were dealt with in 2006, which is a decrease on 41 in 2005. It is a further drop on the figure of 49 in 2004.

2006 recorded a remarkably low rate of convictions by juries in the county – just two juries decided to

convict. This was a huge drop on 12 convictions in 2005, while there was just one conviction recorded in 2004.

Of the cases that went to trial in 2006, three defendants were ac- quitted by juries. The figure was four in 2005 and two in 2004.

The high rate of guilty pleas en- tered in the Circuit Court in Ennis continued in 2006, with 23 defend- ants entering pleas. This was on a par with the figure for the previous year – 24 – and a significant drop of

aa ewAelers

The figures contained in the DPP’s annual report show that 89 per cent of cases finalised in 2006 resulted in convictions. The figure was 88 percent in 2005 and 86 per cent the previous year. This high figure took into account the high rate of guilty pleas entered, prior Komnur-e

Meanwhile, 44 complaints were made against gardai in the Clare Division in 2006, which was a sig- nificant rise on the figure for 2005,

when 31 complaints were made. Previously the highest figure was 43, in 2003.

That’s according to the Garda Complaints Board annual report, which was published last week. It also showed that up to May 8, 2007, seven complaints were made against gardai in Clare.

The complaints board ceased to accept new complaints on that date. The Garda Ombudsman Commis- sion took over that role, when it was Set up.

THE Mayor of Clare has expressed disappointment that more wasn’t done by gardai to remove over 60 caravans that took over the main car park at Kilkee over the bank holiday weekend.

Up to 250 members of the Travel- ling community converged on the

west Clare resort late on Friday and many were still there on Monday night. The group took over the whole of the main seaside carpark, restrict- ing access to the slipway and local dive centre and reducing parking spaces in the town by up to half. Mayor Madeleine Taylor Quinn said that while the county council had done all in its power to have the

caravans removed, she was very dis- appointed that a personal commit- ment she received from senior gardai was not delivered on.

“What happened in Kilkee during one of the busiest holiday periods of the year is totally illegal and I thought it would be dealt with by the gardai accordingly. The council offered to cover the cost of the towing company

to remove the vehicles. Despite com- mitting to removing the caravans, the gardai have not done so.”

A garda spokesman confirmed that some of the Travellers moved on voluntarily but couldn’t comment on whether others would be moved forcibly.

“We have noted the registrations of the offending vehicles. We are pursu- ing the matter further and prosecu- tions may follow”.

While six families left on Sunday, they were quickly replaced by ten more caravans. On Monday, more vehicles left the town but as many as 60 remained despite threats from gardai of being forcibly removed and having their vehicles impounded.

Human and animal faeces, litter and broken glass have also made the area a health and safety risk, accord- ing to locals.

Kilkee Marine Rescue Service PRO Manuel DiLucia said they were very concerned about access to the slipway while business at the local dive centre was decimated and the operators were forced to close their café and juice bar.

WHEN Crack’d Spoon Theatre was formed just over 12 months ago the fledging theatre group promised to introduce new forms of theatre to west Clare.

The Kilkee group has delivered on that promise as it brings the first taste of physical theatre by a Clare group to west Clare.

Influenced by local artist and Ger- man native Astrid Adler the latest production draws from the European Experience of Theatre.

The mime artist, who now lives in Monmore was part of the group that led a workshops held in Kilrush through May and June.

She worked with the production team comprising of Rob Hopkins who concentrated on improvisa-

tion and co-founder Mick Daly who worked on Group Dynamics.

A powerful creative force was un- leashed at the workshops and the result was a series of interconnected sketches drawing on physical theatre techniques and using light and shad- ow to create strange and wonderful atmospheres.

Working on this the group made up of actors, professional theatre producers and members of the local community put together the produc- tion “The Trip” – which according to Mr Hopkins “takes a side way look at the tourist experience 1n west Orem

In the process of developing the show the group started to experiment with the stage as a black box, and created a black box theatre.

“We got away from talking and

guided tours, and gave people a more physical experience of what hap- pens,’ he said.

The play consists of comedy sketches without or with minimised dialogue, elements of dance, pup- petry and song.

With this form of theatre objects come to life and animals appear as if by magic.

“We fish, birdspot, cliff walk and coach tour in the company of this enigmatic troupe who give the West Clare Experience a surreal twist,” said Mr Hopkins.

“Tt is slightly farcical or slightly bi- zarre.”

The show will take place in the Kilkee Community Centre on Fri- day next, August 8, and the follow- ing Friday, August 15, having re- ceived its first outing on Friday last.

Door opens at 8pm with curtain at oe) 9) 008

Crack’d Spoon Theatre plans to take the show on the road in Septem- ber or October.

The advantageous theatre company planned an old fashioned variety show just two months after it was formed in July 2007.

The brainchild of Kilkee thespians Kenneth Blowers and Mick Daly, the company achieved its goal then and is Just as determined to reach the new goal it has now set itself.

ALMOST 40 per cent of objections lodged nationally against special des- ignation areas for the protected bird, the Hen Harrier, have been lodged in County Clare.

In a Dail response, the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley stated that across the country 804 objections against Special Protec- tion Area (SPA) designation have been received by his department in relation to six areas with 744 being declared valid.

Minister Gormley confirmed that in relation to plans to designate an SPA in the Slieve Aughty mountains on north-east Clare, his department has received a total of 238 objec- tions.

Speaking in relation to all the ob- jections received, Minister Gormley said, “Approximately three-quarters of these relate to requests to have land removed from the SPA, with the remainder requesting land to be included.”

Only the Stacks’ to Mullagha- reirk mountains in west County Lim- erick have received more objections at 340.

The largest SPA is the Slieve Aughty mountains and involves the designation of 61,000 hectares where the National Parks and Wildlife Serv- ice (NWPS) believe that 24 pairs of Hen Harrier are present or 17% of the overall Hen Harrier population in Ireland of 130-150 pairs.

The NPWS describe the Slieve Aughty site as one of the top two sites in the country for the species and states “that the main threat to the long-term survival of Hen Har- riers within the site is further affor- estation, which would reduce and

fragment the area of foraging habitat, resulting in possible reductions in breeding density and productivity”.

Minister Gormley said that there is a two-stage process for assessing objections.

The first stage 1s an internal scien- tific review of the area under objec- tion. Following completion of this stage, objectors dissatisfied with the outcome may have their case referred to an independent Appeals Advisory Board.

He added, “Ienvisage that the internal review stage of all objec- tions will be completed by end Sep- tember 2008. The timeframe for the second stage review will depend on the number of cases that are re- ferred to the appeals.”

Earlier this year, the Director of the NWPS, Ms Oonagh Buckley tried to allay landowners by stating that the designation would not affect plans for one-off housing in the area and Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said, “The east Clare area is already experiencing no growth in population and there have been worries that the restriction would further stymie growth.”

THE 39-year-old woman who died in Lahinch last Tuesday after get- ting in to difficulty while attempting to save her son, was originally from east Clare.

Fiona Ring, who lived in Brutf County Limerick, was formerly Fiona McNamara from Broadford. She had gone for a swim on Tuesday evening with her businessman hus- band Diarmuid and their nine-year- OURO ser ae Xeh aN nEl(e.@

It is now believed that the child got in to difficulty while in the water and Mrs Ring shouted at her husband to take the boy ashore. Shortly before 9.30pm, as it had started to get dark, Mr Ring made his way to the beach with the youngster while Mrs Ring followed behind. However, when Mr Ring reached the beach he could see no sign of his wife behind him.

He ran to the prom where he grabbed a lifebelt before returning to the water to try and locate her. Soon afterwards he called 999 on his mobile phone and alerted gardai at Ennistymon who then notified the coastguard.

Within minutes, Lahinch Sea Res- cue had launched a boat while a request was made of a fishing boat which had been in the bay, to assist in the search. The boat made its way towards the shore and used its pow- erful lights to search for the miss- ing woman. Members of the Doolin Coastguard Unit were also scram- bled to the scene where they quickly launched two more boats. The Shan- non-based coastguard helicopter was also sent to assist in the operation.

Members of the Doolin coastguard team spotted the woman in the water at around 10.45pm and lifted her on to their boat where they immediately commenced CPR and _ continued

the procedure until the woman was handed over to the helicopter crew. Doolin Coastguard spokesman Mattie Shannon said, “The crew of the rig spotted the casualty in the water and took her on board. They then transferred the woman to an- other boat which is capable of beach- ing and they transported the victim

directly on to the beach where the helicopter was standing by.”

A medical team was on standby at University Hospital Galway when the helicopter landed at 11.13pm. However the young mother was pro- nounced dead less than twenty min- utes later at 11.30pm.

It is still not clear how she got in

to trouble but rescuers speculated that she may have been taken by sur- prise by the changing tide. It is also thought that Fiona’s surfboard got away from her and she was trying to retrieve it.

A post mortem examination was carried out in Galway on Wednesday while gardai have said a file will be prepared in due course for the county coroner who will hold an inquest in to the tragedy at a later date.

Fiona Ring was prayed for at Mass- es in Broadford on Thursday.

Lahinch is one of a number of Clare beaches which are protected by life- guards during the summer months from llam to 7pm daily. A new 25 foot high lifeguard tower 1s currently under construction and will comprise a look-out tower and first-aid room.

Clare Water Safety Officer Liam Griffin said, “As with all our guard- ed beaches, we have a flag system in place which lets people know when and where it is safe to swim. While Lahinch is a very safe beach, people must also know their own limitations and follow the safety guidelines.”

A year ago this week, a 19-year- old man from Clontarf in Dublin drowned in Lahinch after going swimming in the early hours of the morning. The young man had been staying in the north Clare town for the August bank holiday weekend and went swimming after a night so- cialising.

A fortnight ago, international rugby star Paul O’Connell helped a 22-year- old surfer to safety after her board hit rocks during a rising tide. He lifted the girl to safety after rough seas tossed her on to rocks as she tried to reach the shore.