Category: Uncategorized

ENNIS man Rob Kiely has the hon- our of leading his country at the World Ultimate and Guts Champion- ship (WUGC) in Canada in August.

Rob has been chosen as one of Ire- land’s four captains for the event, the world cup of Frisbee throwing.

More than 100 teams from 30 coun- tries will compete for the title from August 2 to 9.

Ireland will be represented by two teams in the Open and Women’s categories, at the championships or- ganised by the World Flying Disk Association (WFDA). Rob ts a sea-

soned ultimate Frisbee international, having represented his country on four occasions. Before departing for Vancouver, Rob said the memories of one of Ireland’s greatest sporting achievements fired his ambition to represent his country.

“Having the opportunity to repre- sent Ireland is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a young lad watch- ing Italia ‘90 on the big screen in the Roslevan,’ said Rob.

The Ennis native also hopes, that just like Jack Charlton’s team, Ireland can again cause a few upsets. “I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in four national squads up to now, and

as one of this year’s captains, Ill be looking to get the most out of myself and our squad to bring Ireland to new heights at the world level, and take a scalp or two along the way.

“I’m particularly looking forward to the challenge of facing Switzer- land again, and hopefully this time coming out on top.”

Both Irish teams have completed an intensive training programme over the past six months, compris- ing of fitness, skill-based and set piece training. The teams have both competed in a number of prepara- tion events. At a recent tournament in Amsterdam, featuring the best

teams in Europe, the Irish Women’s team achieved runners-up placings, after the first final appearance for an Irish Women’s Team. The Open team faced a number of European teams at an event in Berlin and achieved im- pressive victories over Germany and Holland.

The Open team is seeded 10th of a division of 19 teams, and will travel to Vancouver full of confidence fol- lowing strong performances in the lead-up to the competition.

The Irish women are seeded 12th of 15 and are fired up to make an im- pression on only their second world championship.

ANOTHER step along the way to bringing Clare closer to claiming a spot in their second successive AlIl- Ireland final. That’s the way Clare are regarding this win over Antrim. While it’s the common sense ap- proach of one game at a time, there is no denying that the true wish is there to rid the ghosts of last year’s final defeat at the hands of Derry. Winning the Division 2 league fi- nal was a significant step on that re- covery ladder and now securing the semi-final spot has Clare’s top side another rung on the way with just 60

minutes and Laois between the Ban- ner and that second last spot with the last step obviously being Deirdre Murphy taking to the first step of the Hogan Stand on September 14.

‘“That’s the hope and dream but the team will settle down now to prepar- ing for that challange’, according to team manager Colm Hanley. “We were happy with the performance at the weekend but what has been better is that we have had more of a chal- lange on the way to this semi-final and with every outing we have im- proved as a unit”.

Antrim put up a stiff challange to the Banner on Sunday and had just one point between the teams with just 10 minutes remaining. “Yes it was a real test of the team’s charac- ter but they have steadied themselves this year and in sticking to the game plan don’t panic and have hurled clever out of the tight situations this year. That’s what really seems to have stood to them since last year, we have learned the hard way to hurl to the end and never give up. With still room for improvement and the squad still not fully fit this for the moment is a nice place to be in.”

A ROBBERY in Shannon has de- prived a young man of his social life, a court heard yesterday.

Christopher McGorrian (19), of Rossbracken, Shannon, pleaded guilty to robbing Stuart Talbot of a gold chain and bracelet and robbing Andrew Brennan of ©25, on Septem- ber 2, 2007.

Garda Michael McGreal told Ennis Circuit Court that Mr Talbot and Mr Brennan were looking for a “control- led substance. In order to purchase the controlled substance they met the accused. There was no purchase made.”

He said that an arrangement was made whereby the two men, the ac- cused and another “unknown person”

went to the Cronan area of Shannon, in a car being driven by Mr Talbot.

“Mr McGorrian exited the car with Mr Brennan in a laneway in the environs of a shop. It was there the accused demanded €25 from Mr Brennan and in the process of hand- ing over the money he assaulted Mr Brennan. He punched him in the mouth,” said the garda.

He said the accused then returned to the car. Mr Talbot became aware that something was “amiss” and the accused chased him. He caught up with him and tore his jewellery from avbene

“The accused shouted to him, ‘I have a blade. When I catch you, I’m going to stab you’,” said the garda.

The court was told that Mr Bren- nan did not wish to go to court as he

feared the accused would recognise him. As a result of the punch to his mouth, dental treatment, at a cost of almost €11,000, would be required, the court heard.

“He won’t go out on his own. He doesn’t goes out in Shannon since. He suffers from psoriasis. His condi- tion has worsened considerably since these events,’ said the garda.

Judge Carroll Moran asked what was behind the incident relating to Mr Brennan and the garda said, “Quite simply to rob him, to take his money. That is all.”

Judge Moran said, “I have to take a serious view of this and consider imposing a sentence.”

He adjourned it until later this week and remanded McGorrian in custo- dy.

THE Irish Petrol Retailers Associa- tion (IPRA) and retail representative body, RGDATA have come together to oppose plans by TESCO for a pet- rol filling station in the west Clare town of Kilrush.

Earlier this year, the retail giant lodged plans for a four island petrol station outside its new TESCO store.

However, the move has provoked an angry reaction from local petrol owners.

Now, in a new submission from the IPRA state, “The proposed scheme,

in particular the retailing and petrol filling uses, would directly impact upon the planning polices and ob- jectives for this local community as set out in the statutory development eae

They state, “The effect of creat- ing an unregulated — in policy terms — petrol filling station on the site would duplicate needlessly land uses already provided for in this local community and more importantly already acknowledged to be located at a more appropriate position by the adopted development plan.

“The applicant has provided no

evidence as to why the subject lands Should now take on the effective role, of an additional petrol filling station, when neither the land use zoning, nor the established land use here, would support such a change

“The current proposal conflicts with a number of policies as set out in the Kilrush Town Council includ- ing the need to maintain the vital- ity and viability of existing centres, the location of such activities and in terms of minimising the demand for AoE

“This instant application would re- sult in the direct opposite.

In its submission, RGDATA states that it “believes that building a four island petrol filling station at the ex- isting station Tesco supermarket de- velopment which is an edge of centre site would have an adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Kilrush town centre”.

In summary, RGDATA respect- fully submits that this application Should be refused, because it is not consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of Kil- rush Town centre.

A decision is expected on the appli- cation later this year.

CLARECASTLE woman bBreige Scanlan is getting into shape as she prepares for the New York City Mar- athon.

61-year-old Breige will run 26 miles through the streets of New York in November.

She is taking on the gruelling chal- lenge to raise money for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

In the meantime, Breige has em- barked on a strict training regime.

Breige explained, “I wanted to do something and I thought running a marathon would be a lovely way to start my sixties. I’m really starting to think seriously about it now. I go for arun in Raheen Woods three times a week and every day I do a jog from

Clarecastle to the roundabout down by the Clare Inn”.

Unsurprisingly, Breige believes in the importance of a healthy lifestyle. She worked in health care for over 35 years, first as a registered gener- al nurse and then as a public health TOS aSoR

She puts her own high fitness levels down to Chi Running, a technique that stimulates immense mental focus to combat the wear and tear caused by running.

Breige’s life changed dramatically when, in 1979, she moved to Bang- ladesh to work with the aid agency Sonteoue

It was there, in the slums and vil- lages, working with the sick and the poor that Breige first became aware of the healing potential of the body.

“IT was there for two years and it was where I first came in contact with natural healing. Here there was all these people who were very sick and who didn’t have access to differ- ent medicines but were still surviv- ing’. She adds, “I really believe that people need to be more committed to staying healthy. People should have a greater reasonability for looking after themselves. We can’t be relying on the HSE and all these big institu- tions or taking injections for every- thing. Its down to the individual.”

In 1985 Breige moved to New York where she lived for 20 years. She is familiar with the sights and sounds of the Big Apple and her training regime was based around one of the city’s most famous landmarks.

“Ttis a totally different place. I used

to do my training in Central Park. A circle of that 1s six miles and I con- vinced myself that if I could do three of them, I could definitely do a mara- ste) s a

Breige returned to live in Ireland in 2005. She now practices reflexology at her home in Clarecastle. Refelxol- ogy is a gentle preventative health care measure that relies on the body’s own healing ability.

Before hitting New York Breige must raise €5,000. In order reach that goal, Breige is offering reflexol- ogy sessions in return for donations. For further information contact Breige at 065 6847255.

MORE than a third of all road traffic cases brought to the district court last year were struck out – for the second year running.

Last year, 6,175 cases were brought to court; 2,358 of which were struck out. An additional 268 cases were dismissed, while 99 defendants had jail or detention sentences imposed.

According to figures just published by the Courts Service, prison or de- tention terms were imposed in less than one eighth of all assault and public order cases.

The figures show that 843 assault and public order cases were dealt

with in the district court throughout the county last year.

Just 104 of those cases resulted in jail being handed down. 175 of them were struck out, while fines were im- posed in another 175 of the cases.

55 drugs cases were brought to the district court last year. Just nine of those resulted in prison sentences being imposed.

Most of the drugs cases were either struck out or taken into consideration ALN O MON elo Me Et: DEohe

287 cases of larceny were dealt with; 49 of which resulted in defend- ants going to jail.

The overwhelming majority of sex- ual offences were either struck out or

taken into consideration by the judge. 13 cases were taken. Six were taken into account, five were struck out, while a jail term was imposed in one and another defendant was fined.

The figures also show that 36 cases were dealt with in the Circuit Crim1- nal Court in Clare last year, while 154 District Court appeals were heard in the Circuit Court, during 2007.

104 cases of sexual offences came before the Circuit Court in Clare last year. There were 10 assault cases, nine drugs matters, eight firearm of- fences, seven larceny/robbery cases, two road traffic cases and one man- slaughter case.

Sentences imposed in the Circuit

Court ranged from community serv- ice and sentences of up to 10 years. 15 defendants received sentences be- tween two and five years, eight were jailed for between two and five years, while one individual received a sen- tence of between five and 10 years. Nine were given suspended sen- tences, two people were fined, while community service was applied in three cases. One case was struck out in the Circuit Court last year.

819 new cases were initiative at En- nis Civil Court last year, which was a substantial increase of 509 in 2006. 65 civil trials, 326 motions and 36 district court civil appeals were dealt with last year.

else terday Jim Power, Chief Economist with the Friends First Organisation said that while the situation is criti- cal in the county, the regeneration of Limerick may offer some light on the keleyZeyee

“The situation in Clare and right across the mid-west is perilous at the moment. One possible source of light is Limerick city and the regen- eration work that is due to take place there over the next months and years. GMA dereTmp tour DU lO (cre mmKO mee rlBNTLUComBatssO BLE could be a real help. But it’s going to get worse before it gets better,’ he Sr nLGe

In a bleak overall assessment, Mr Power noted that key employers such as manufacturing, construction and tourism face a tough time over the next 18 to 24 months.

According to the 2006 census, these sectors employ more than 15,000 people in Clare, or 27.9 per cent of the total employed. One major sec- tor which could grow in the county Thsere Faw (UN LAUD Kee

“Competition internationally has increased while at the same time we are losing ground in terms of manu- facturing competitiveness. I can’t see how manufacturing or construc- tion can lead us out of this current trough,” he continued.

“T would be more upbeat about the prospects for Clare farming. The issue of food safety and food secu-

rity is one that I think will become of greater importance over the next while. So the outlook for quality out- puts in farming should be good. “Clare suffers from a high depend- ency on US tourists and with the de- pression in America, the weakness of the dollar and prices in Ireland, we just don’t represent good value for money for American tourists at the

moment.

“There can be a positive outcome but we need to survive through the next 18 months. I would see the glo- bal subprime crisis working its way through the system next year which should return credit to a more work- able place. We have about 18 months of excess stock in the housing mar- ket to work through so I think it will

be 2010 before we see any kind of meaningful recovery.’

Mr Power’s bleak outlook on the immediate future was echoed by Ae) cTOMM ORC E-TIMES ONO NenmE(cenlbio in LIT’s School of Built Environ- ment.

“IT think the recession could poten- tially hit Clare quite severely due to the adverse trade effects upon a re- gion with a high dependence upon high value added trade via Shannon,” he said.

“The decision to permit the aban- donment of the ‘hub’ status of Shan- non may well exacerbate a reduction in regional competitiveness. Wor- ryingly tourism jobs, especially de- pendent on the USA will also take a vie

“These largely external threats make it imperative that infrastruc- ture spend from central government is maintained on roads, projects such as the tunnel, and higher education. Irish agriculture will also need ro- bust support at the WTO talks, since this staple of the local economy will take on even greater relative signifi- cance in a downturn.”

THE business community in Ennis is seeking further talks with Ennis Town Council ahead of the introduc- tion of new litter byelaws.

The council is tightening the laws on the disposal and storage of litter outside premises in a bid to reduce the amount of litter on the streets, long a source at irritation in the council chamber.

Businesses, however, are concerned at the impact the new byelaws will have. Many of them lack the correct facilities to store rubbish to meet the proposed guidelines.

Rita McInereny, CEO of Ennis

Chamber of Commerce, said that while meetings between businesses and council officials have been con- Structive, further discussions are re- quired.

“The objectives of the byelaws are something that all businesses wel- come and agree on. Everyone ben- efits if the town is cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing. The end result would certainly be welcome and there is no certainly no opposition to that proposal,’ said Ms McInerney.

She added, “The council have been very accommodating so far and have met on a couple of occasions. But there is a lot of concern out there. Businesses are under pressure as it is

and this would make things harder. A lot of businesses don’t have the plan- ning permission for an area to store waste. We would be looking to meet with councillors to put forward sug- gestions and ideas before the byelaws are brought in”

Ms MclInereny said the proposed byelaws have forced businesses to re-evaluate their means of waste disposal and in some cases has even reduced their overall level of waste produced.

She said “It certainly has forced businesses to take a good, hard look at what they are doing, which is no harm. I know some people have sig- nificantly cut down on the amount

of waste they are producing. In one instance, a business has reduced their waste from 13 bins to 4 bins. Businesses are investing in crushers and bailers and different systems of disposing waste. But there are still genuine cases out there, where there is still an issue about where people are going to put their bins.”

She added, “So far there has been problems with suggestions; one per- son’s point of view against some- one else’s. It might be a case that we might have to look at bringing in different bins for different busi- nesses. The problems vary, depend- ing on whether you are talking about a small or large business”.

A FAMOUS victory for Clare last night as they totally outclassed hot favourites Cork in the Cadbury Mun- ster U21 hurling semi-final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, setting up a final meet- ing with Tipperary on Wednesday Nelo)

This was a brilliant display by the Banner boys who no doubt will sav- iour this victory especially as the counties meet at senior level in a few days time. The home side tried eve- rything to turn the tide, but such was the solid performance from the visi- tors, there was very little they could do.

Clare were on top all over. Note- worthy though was the contribution of full forward Caimin Morey who finished with a very healthy 1-8 while outside him wearing the number 11 shirt Ger Arthur swung over three magnificent points in the second half (four in all). They pulled the strings too at midfield where Damien Browne and Nicky O’Connell stood out, and a very solid defensive per- formance yielded just 1-5 from the Rebels, that goal came right at the ler Tdee

A brilliant first half display by the Saffron and Blue resulted in an in- terval 1-9 t O-5 lead, and it was no more than they deserved. They were

literally on top in all sectors conse- quently it was a lacklustre Cork who had three county seniors on their side — Cathal Naughton, Patrick Cronin and Patrick Horgan. They only man- aged one point from play in the open-

ing 30 minutes, which came from corner forward Stephen Moylan on three minutes.

GUE Tees eben ore marcanlaeubetcmcle-DamLUD ESC ing ahead by three points after five minutes with full forward Morey fir-

ing over a pair of frees and a beauti- ful long-range effort from midfielder Browne. They increased this advan- tage to 0-6 to 0-3 before a splendid lengthy delivery from O’Connell out around the middle of the park was whipped to the net by Morey to put them comfortably ahead by five points with 10 minutes to go to the eee

Twice they denied Cork goal op- portunities when firstly goalkeeper Donal Tuohy came off his line and then Gary O’Connell stopped a blis- tering shot from Naughton. The visi- tors finished the half strongly with a trio of points from Arthur, Morey and Colin Ryan who had switched from the corner to full forward.

Significantly, Clare maintained that momentum for the new half. They gained valuable breathing space when a Horgan penalty was expertly saved by outstanding keeper Donal Tuohy. And when Eamon Glynn darted out of defence to find Arthur, you could sense something special was about to happen. The sides swapped points, but entering the final quarter, Clare had raced 1-15 to 0-9 in front.

O’Connell and James McInerney pushed on from the half back line, and some impressive shooting from Morey, John Conlon, Sean Collins and sub Conor Tierney ensuring there was no way back for Cork.

Clare were ahead now by more than double scores before Horgan finally got through for a late, late consola- tion goal.

FROM bungie bulls to bouncy cas- tles, from lazer zone to hotshot foot- ball, from circus shows to puppet acts, Scariff GAA Park will see the biggest ever Family Fun Day on the upcoming August Bank Holiday Sat- urday as part of the Scariff Harbour OMe IE

According to Karena O’Brien, one of the organisers of the fun day and member of the Harbour Festival Committee, “The GAA field will literally come alive with a line-up of activities and entertainment on a scale never seen before in Scariff, suitable for children of all ages and set to exceed the amazing success of last year’s event’.

Mayo-based fun company, “Toons & Balloons’ returns to Scariff this year to deliver the festival’s dream AVE CCUKs eMC MCAVoINLMM ALN OMB AUUI EE: DOLOMNSY-H(cIRY a high priority for everybody. In ad- dition to the bouncing castles and inflatable games, an exciting fun- packed interactive laser game arena will be set up in an 1,000 sq.ft self- contained covered space. Another

new dimension is a fast-moving com- petitive pony race called the ‘Pony Hop’.

The amazing Franzini Brothers who describe themselves as devilish- ly handsome west Kerry Italians will perform their spectacular antics with a 40 minute interactive circus skills Show, ‘Deathwish’. These heroes of the Irish circus scene will carry out death-defying stunts and so-what magic giving a hugely comic edge to their whole performance.

Marie Barrett, another member of the organising committee agrees there will be an air of magic on chil- dren’s day not just with the Fran- zini Brothers but also with the Dog & String Theatre Company. “Their hand puppets, shadow puppets and life size figures will engage children in a lively interaction with the world of imagination,’ she said.

This year Scariff sees the return on Sunday, August 3, of the much-loved ‘Armagh Rhymers’.