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THE former St Senan’s Church of Ireland in Kilrush was alive once again to the sound of music on Mon- day when it was officially opened as Teach Cheoil, Chill Rois by Senator Labhras O’Murchu.

The Ard Stiurthoir of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann told those at the cermony, “our cultural assets should be an enriching part of the lives of Irish people everywhere, particularly our young people. They should be a living, highly visible and vibrant part of society. They should be eas- ily accessible to all and their unique social, cultural and economic ben- efits should be fully realised by com- munities and individuals throughout

the country and in Irish communities abroad. St Senan’s Church of Ireland, Kilrush now to be known as “Teach Cheoil Chill Rois’ will have a central role in this cultural vision.”

The local branch of comhaltas “Inis Cathaigh Chill Rois” provided musi- cal entertainment for those who at- tended the opening. Kilrush is now a major beneficiary under the new De- velopment Programme of Comhaltas Ceoltdiri Eireann, which is being funded by the Government.

In 2007, Kilrush Community De- velopment Ltd signed over the lease of St Senan’s Church of Ireland to Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.

Kilrush Community Development Ltd (KCDL) operated in Kilrush as a voluntary sector development or-

ganisation for 15 years.

One of the strategic projects under- taken by the group was the restora- tion of St Senan’s Church of Ireland, off Grace Street in Kilrush. The group acquired St Senan’s building from the representative church body of the Church of Ireland for the ben- efit of the community of Kilrush and west Clare. Restoration work was initially undertaken over a number of years through a FAS Community Youth Training Project, sponsored by KCDL.

The remainder of the works have now been completed by comhaltas including the restoration of the mag- nificent stain glass windows.

Teach Cheoil Chill Rois now serves as an outreach centre from Cois na

hAbhna, the Comhaltas Regional Resource Centre in Ennis.

According to Senator O Murchu, “While Comhaltas are conscious of respecting the integrity of this build- ing I feel it is equally important that the facility will be embraced by the local community of Kilrush and west Clare and that appropriate communi- ty groups will have access to it.”

The building has a capacity of 130 seated with a stage area and a small tea/coffee facility.

The board of Teach Cheoil Chill Rois are now planning a programme of events for Summer 2008, which will commence with Seisitin on AYA(ee DaTerXe Eh IVORY APAMO LoS KSTLUD OMRON Mm Batoae take place every Wednesday night through the summer months.

A COUNTY Clare man has been given a twelve year sentence for sexu- ally abusing his two daughters in a County Offaly townland.

The 36-year-old was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury last November, on 10 charges of sexually assaulting them, on dates between September 2001 and De- cember 2004.

The jury returned the guilty ver-

dicts by an 11-1 majority and acquit- ted him on one count following the 14-day trial.

He had been sentenced at the Cen- tral Criminal Court in 1993 to ten years for aggravated sexual assault and burglary and served four years of that term. Judge Desmond Hogan noted his “high-risk of reoffending”’ and imposed a twelve years sentence on each of the ten counts in relation to his daughters, all to run concurrently. He suspended the final two years on

condition he receives sexual offend- ers treatment on release.

“These offences are extremely se- rious and were perpetrated on two young, innocent and vulnerable chil- dren, who were taken advantage of by a father who breached the protection and trust they were entitled to re- ceive, not only as children but as his children,’ said the judge last Friday.

He commended the girls’ mother for acting in “a proper and appropri- ate way in relation to these things”.

Defense counsel, Gerard Groarke BL had asked that sentencing be ad- journed to a later date so the man’s sisters could be in court to which Judge Hogan replied: “I am restrain- ing myself from showing severe irri- tation here.”

‘What difference is it going to make if his sisters are here or not over and above the anguish experienced by the victims?” he asked.

Judge Hogan also rejected a claim that the man was unable to meet with

probation officers because they had tried to visit someone else with the Same name in Wheatfield Prison.

He accepted the prison officers’ ac- count that the man had in fact refused to meet the Probation Service on the occasions when they visited him.

The trial was the first to have had video recorded interviews. It allowed the younger daughter to be inter- viewed informally in a playroom by a psychiatrist and for this to be then played back to the jury.

FULL steam ahead 1s the order from the Tuamgraney Development Asso- ciation as they prepare for the judges from the Pride of Place to visit. The group are currently working hard on their power-point presentation in ad- vance of the visit on July 11.

The first meeting of representatives of more than 10 community groups who will be involved in the Pride of Place presentation was held last Thursday. The group are delighted to have been selected to participate in the project.

The Pride of Place competition is run by Co-operation North and groups put their names forward to participate but not all are chosen.

‘We put our name in the hat and it was a great surprise and honour to be nominated,” said Mary Cassidy, Secretary of the Tuamgraney Devel- opment Association.

At the meeting were representa- tives of various community groups including the basketball and hurling clubs, the heritage group, FAS work- ers, Brigit’s Garden Creche, and Tua- mgraney and Raheen Wood national schools.

The group have been gathering the “before” photos, taken when the de- velopment association set up shop 12 years ago, and matching them against photos of Tuamgraney now as part of the presentation they will make to the judges.

There has been plenty of work go- ing on around the village and envi- rons as well.

After a joint fundraiser with Scar- iff last year in a “Who wants to be a Thousandaire?” night, money was raised for a refurbishment of the me- morial garden. The finishing touches were put to a water feature allowing

water flow under the bridge for the nba MOEN OSs

“We know what needs to be done and what we have to get ready and there’s a lot to do in a short space of time but we’re getting great support and we’ll be ready,” said Mary.

RESIDENTS of Island View estate in Kilrush are this week rejoicing with the council members’ decision to complete works on their trouble- some gardens.

The back gardens in the housing es- tate have flooded every year prevent- ing children from playing in them and adults enjoying them.

After years of complaining to the local authority and making political representations, chairperson of the local residents association Christine Murphy brought the issue directly to the Kilrush town councillors.

During a presentation to this month’s meeting of the council Ms Murphy said, “This is not the first

time we brought this problem to the council.”

She said that when she and her fam- ily became residents of Island View in February 2005 they did not realise the garden was going to be a problem until the following winter.

She said that the garden, like most of her neighbours’, flooded and was not fit for human use.

Ms Murphy explained that the resi- dents were told on three separate oc- casions to collect the names and ad- dresses of the householder that had this problem. When they did nothing was done, she said.

“I don’t know if it is the council making donkeys out of us but there are no donkeys in Island View,” she nee

She said that some people became so frustrated at the delay in an ad- equate response to their plight from the council, that they fixed the gar- den themselves at a cost of more than €2,000.

“It 1s a council problem. They are beautiful houses but the gardens are a joke,” she said.

“In the open plan garden in the front we are not allowed by the coun- cil to put up anything to protect our children at the front. The only place we have to put our children is in the water logged back garden.”

Senior engineer Derek Troy ex- plained that there was no soakage at the back of the houses.

There is also a slant towards some houses, he explained.

He said he would prepare a report on the issue for the next meeting of the council.

Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF) asked the council for their support in get- ting the issue resolved.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) said that the money should be pro- vided for the work.

She said the local authority had al- ready spent money on the new civic offices and were expected to find more, so there should be no problem providing the relatively smaller fund for the work in Island View.

THURSDAY night’s Galway pro- gramme contained the semi-finals of both an A4 and A6 Mini Stakes – the final of which will be run on Satur- day June 28 as part of the Ardrahan GAA Benefit Meeting.

In the first heat of the A4 Stake the Pat Hogan of Ennis owned Aulton George (Droopys Scholes-Dalcash Diva) belied an apparent lack of market confidence as he defeated the reserve Pallasderg Boy (T1) by five lengths in 29.19.

In the second heat the entire com- plexion of the contest changed completely rounding the penulti- mate bend as the eventual winner O’Garney Pearl (T4) swept around the outside of the leaders on her way to her third success from four starts in a time of 29.51.

From traps Eyre Square was away well as usual and he led to halfway where Allflashnocash (T1) took over but he was immediately joined by Confused Jose (T3).

Racing around the third bend though the Bernard Coffey of Sixmi- lebridge owned O’Garney Pearl swept by them all to win going away in style.

SU slomndeveKeMmcsocUMmBnter-) my (osm COME ele Martin Keane of Kilmihil owned Ask who made it a double on the night for her owner as she railed on the final two bends as she defeated Dunsallagh Jake (T1) in 29.51.

Races five through to seven were the three semi finals of the Adrahan GAA Club A6 525 Mini Stake and in the opening semi final the Frank Browne of Quin owned Mine Magic enjoyed a welcome change of fortune as She just held the late thrust of new- comer Alva Vieri (T5) by a neck in PROOF

The winner broke smartly and led around the opening two bends from Selecta Solar (T6). Passing halfway the lead was three lengths as Alva Vier took up the pursuit of the pace setting daughter of Honcho Classic and Belindas Hill but Mine Magic was not to be denied this time as she registered her second career victory.

The third semi final also developed into a match from an early stage as the trap three runner Mi Jackson led by two lengths from Tiro (T6) racing to the opening bend.

Racing down the back the Martin Keane of Kilmihil owned Tiro (Hon- cho Classic-Nebraska) joined issue on the rail as Mi Jackson raced wide approaching the penultimate cor- ner. Racing around the crown of the home bend Tiro began to assert and he stayed on well forvictory in 29.53

The opening contest on Friday night’s card was an A4 graded 525 and from traps the well backed Clon- temple Boss (T5) was away quite smartly and the son of Petes Boss led by a length from Glengar Susie (T1) at the opening bend.

Turning down the back the Michael Downes of Killaloe trained pace set- ter extended his advantage to three lengths as San Matias (T4) went a clear second.

Rounding the final two bends Clon- temple Boss was in command as he kept on well to defeat Westerly Gale (T3) in 29.58

The ninth was an A6 affair and rounding the opening bend the trap two runner Ler Aviator was gifted a five length advantage courtesy of trouble among the chasing pack. Ap- proaching the third bend though the leader’s stride began to shorten as Rylane Express led the pursuit.

Off the home turn the lead was down to a length and close home the Donie Duggan of Newmarket-on- Fergus owned Rylane Express hit the front to defeat the fast-finishing Tromora Express by 3/4 of a length bane ee

In the A3 graded eighth contest the entire field were covered by just over a length approaching the open- ing corner where the blue jacketed Tiermana Fly for Noel Moroney of Mullagh just managed to get around in front along the rail and lead by a length from Rafas Red (T6) turning down the back straight Tiermana Fly led by a length and although he never really shook off the persistent Rafs Red he always looked like winning which he did in 29.51

KEVIN Kennedy couldn’t hide his disappointment as he leaned against the wall outside the Clare dressing room. The manager quickly identi- fied the moment the game turned against Clare, David Moloney’s 47th minute goal for Limerick.

Clare had made a solid start to the second half and led by a point, playing against a strong breeze. But

Moloney’s goal totally altered the flow of the contest.

“We gave away a goal at a stage of the game where we were on top. That was a crucial point of the game. We missed frees. I’m not blaming any freetaker, there was a swirling wind out there. It was a bad day for freetakers. It didn’t go for our lads. That goal was the turning point,’ said Kennedy.

Still, the manager was more than

pleased by the commitment given by the panel throughout the season and felt Limerick’s greater experience gave them a slight edge on the day. “We had 20 or 25 fellas there this year and they gave it everything. We are very proud of them. They gave everything to the jersey and they gave everything while they were playing. Limerick had a second string out there. They are very experienced fellas. We just didn’t get the breaks

today and that what happens.” Kennedy was particularly im- pressed by the way his side got about their business in the second half and offered special mention for Damien Browne, who made his first champi- onship appearance this summer. ‘We upped our game in the second half. We brought on young Damien Browne from Cratloe and he made big difference in midfield. We haven’t seen Damien all year, he’s been doing

exams for the last couple of days.

“He made a big difference when he came into midfield. That’s why the wind didn’t seem to be a factor because we were on top for the first 10-15 minutes. We had five or six at- tacks but we didn’t get anything out of them. That was it. Limerick were slightly better than us, slightly more accomplished than us. We’re disap- pointed but we’re still proud of the lads,” he added.

A YOUNG east Clare band who have played all over Ireland are about to make their debut in Clare ahead of recording a live album here. Parteen-based Verfield – whose sin- gle “Nerves” hit number two in the independent Irish download charts – are playing Brandons on June 28. The band which features Paddy Murphy on bass, Andrew Quinn on drums and Alan Donnelly on guitar and vocals has been earning a huge

following in the Midwest. They cel- ebrated winning the JD Set, one of the biggest band competitions in the country in Dolan’s in Limerick re- one

‘“Verfield have proven that they are a band dedicated to hard work both on and off the stage and are gearing up for a busy 2008 with an EP and live album both due to be released in August of this year,” said manager Paul Hannon.

The band recorded their EP in Grouse Lodge studios in Meath and

want to build a following in Clare ahead of recording a live album akon

As well as being important to their fans, both the EP and the live album will be tools in the band’s armoury for the battle to get a good record- ing deal.

Together for two years now, the boys “play a style of music that to date has been compared to a broad variety of artists such as Muse, Manic Street Preachers, System of a Down and many more. The truth 1s,

however, that Verfield’s music 1s in- definable, taking largely from early blues and blending it seamlessly with the energy of modern rock.”

On Saturday Verfield descend upon the town of Ennis for the first time. Coming off the back of hugely suc- cessful gigs in An Pucan Galway, The Night Owl Tipperary, The Por- terhouse Bray and Alfies Dublin

The band are planning a ninety minute high-energy showcase that “music lovers can’t afford to miss’, said Paul.

KILRUSH Chamber of Commerce has asked its members not to pay rates to Kilrush Town Council until questions about the sale and payment of new civic offices are answered.

After weeks of controversy sur- rounding the purchase of the former site of the Inis Cathaigh hotel by Kilrush Town Council and Clare County Council for civic offices, the chamber of commerce has issued a statement outlining its stance of the whole issue.

Prior to this business people in the town had raised concerns about how the money would be found to pay for the €1.4 million site and later for the estimated €5 million necessary to refurbish it.

The issue was discussed in depth at the chamber’s monthly meeting on June 5 and following on from that meeting a motion was passed ask- ing all the chamber members to de- fer payment of their rates to Kilrush Town Council until questions raised in recent letters from the chamber to the local council were answered in full and to the organisation’s satis- faction.

“Kilrush Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of a large group of business people in Kilrush and the surrounding areas, who have the social and economic develop- ment of Kilrush at the top of their list of priorities,’ the statement issued by president of the chamber Paul Coady read.

“We welcome and applaud the pro-

posal to provide the Kilrush Munici- pal Area with New Civic Offices, but have major concerns as to how such a project would be funded. To date we have asked the Kilrush Town Council three pertinent questions re- lating to this proposed development in a letter dated May 17: what is the likely impact of this project on the rate payers of Kilrush?; what provi- sion for parking will be made, if any, in the proposed development?; what is to become of our fine town hall building?”

The chamber of commerce said that the reply received on June 3, made it “none the wiser and failed to shed any light on developments, in fact it has clouded the issue further”.

At its June meeting the chamber also agreed that as many members as

possible would attend the next Kil- rush Town Council meeting on June 12, to show support and solidarity for Kilrush Chamber of Commerce and its concerns regarding the project. This highly charged meeting was at- tended by a large contingent of con- cerned members and ratepayers.

Members of the chamber have also written individually to the town clerk and town manager seeking a reply to the questions asked.

“Kilrush Chamber of Commerce has had a long standing, good work- ing relationship with Kilrush Town Council and calls on Kilrush Town Council to answer the questions raised in a forthright and transpar- ent manner before this project is pro- gressed any further,’ the statement concluded.

KILKISHEN proved too strong for Feakle in the Division Three final. Just a point separated the sides at halfway with Kilkishen leading O-5 O-4. Kilkishen though pushed on from there and led from midfield by James Murphy they built up a healthy lead. Murphy ended the day with five points. Cian O’Brien found the net in the 34th minute before Daniel Fleming grabbed the cru- cial goal 10 minutes later, when he coolly slotted home after Murphy’s pass. Feakle captain Eoin

Tuohy drove his team on all day, striking three points. [uohy his Feakle’s first point but Kilkishen hit back strongly with points from James Murphy (2), Clan O’Brien and Paraic MacNamara (2). Evan McMahon pointed for Feakle after the break to tie the game at Q-5 O-5 before Kilkishen pulled clear.

Kilkishen National School Jamie Keane, Niall McNamara, James Beatty, Eamonn Murphy, James McNamara (O-1), Cian O’Brien (1-1), Shauna Fleming, Paraic McNamara (Q-2), James Murphy (O-5), Conor Henry, Daniel Fleming (1-0)

Subs Jamie O’Halloran, David O’Donnell, Ben McLoughlin, Thomas Lynch, Killian Nugent, Cathal Nolan, Michael Cotter, Kate O’Gorman, Clodagh O’Halloran

Feakle National School Michael Burke, Padraig Minogue, James Noonan, Justin Nelson (0-1), Cian Harrington, Eoin Tuohy (0-3), Conn Smyth, Oisin Donnellan, Cathal Linnane, Eric Conway, vlan (eb ialelam (Ona)

Subs Martin Daly, Steven Conway, Enda Noonan, Austin McMahon, James King, Cian Callaghan, Jack Moloney

Player of the Game Paraic McNamara (Kilkishen NS)

A FRUSTRATING game if only be- cause with little between the sides, Clare’s challenge just faded away in the final quarter. Clare had matched Limerick point for point up to that juncture, picking off some impres- sive scores along the way so what were the reasons for this collapse? Well, the goal was obviously crucial, coming as it did in the 42nd minute

from the lively David Moloney when Clare were 0-10 to 0-9 ahead. It gave Limerick renewed confidence and from that point they never looked eae

But it wasn’t the only factor. Sig- nificantly, just as in the Waterford game, Clare had problems in their half-back line and midfield from the off and despite ten different players occupying the five positions includ- ing several substitutions, they never

really resolved the issue. Limerick’s experienced midfield pairing of An- drew Brennan and Alan O’Connor along with wing-forwards David Moloney and Don Hanley were at the heart of all Limerick attacks and Clare’s failure to disrupt the midfield partnership ensured that the sides went in level at the break at eight points apiece despite Clare having the aid of a strong breeze.

Conor Earley was introduced in-

stead of Enda Collins late in the first half but the Tubber man still wasn’t the answer and although he soon moved to midfield, he was replaced late in the game by Clooney-Quin’s Conor Harrisson. Damien Browne was the next to be brought on to fill the void and the Cratloe man did add some industry to the centre but all around him, Clare’s grip on the game was slipping.

Clare did have some impressive per-

formances up front with both Sean Chaplin and Padriag Hickey turn- ing in a hard-working hour but aside from Hickey’s haul of five points and Chaplin’s freetaking, Clare’s other starting forwards only produced one point from play. In contrast all Lim- erick’s forwards scored from open play and that better balance made all the difference in such a tight contest.

Possibly wary of main attraction Ciaran Carey, who’s every touch was greeted by a loud cheer from the Limerick faithful, Clare also failed to puck one ball into the full-forward berth in the first half, starving man- of-the-match from the Waterford game, Padraigh Chaplin but when Hickey moved there in the second half, a better supply yielded two points as Carey allowed Hickey to roam for possession.

TAA Ree Gelato umelon sem seommeloCemmperzue the problems lay however, as after the goal, Clare’s back-line conceed- ed five scoreable frees, four of which were converted and although Clare did try to rally, the needless indisci- pline led to the final nails in Clare’s oy enteF

Much improved from last year but Clare still need to flesh out their op- tions before they are able to seriously challenge for the provincial crown.