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PREPARATIONS are well un- derway for the 2008 Ennistymon Family Festival which kicks off on Thursday, July 17. This year’s show, which runs until July 20, will see an expanded range of activities with a wider variety of activities and events for all ages.

“The festival has been a traditional thing here for a long time but petered out for some reason. Then about four years ago myself, Marie Daly, Wil- lie Daly and Pat Tierney said let’s try again,’ said Marian Cliff of the Ennistymon Family Festival Com-

mittee.

“We have managed to get a lot more people involved this year and we have been filling up the days. The whole idea of the festival is that it 1s supposed to be good craic. The guys will take things like the tug of war and the races very seriously, but at the end of the day, it will be all good fun.”

This year’s festival will include workshops for children, a fun fun, baking competition, a youth art com- petition, a primary school disco, a tug of war contest, stretcher race, barman’s race, donkey derby and the Joe Burke Memorial 7-a-side Soccer

tournament.

This year’s festival will also include Clare’s first ever baby-rave.

“We heard of one that was held up in Dublin. It’s for moms and dads and babies from O up to 4 years old. It’s literally a rave for babies. They come in and everyone gets to dance and have some fun,” continued Mar- ian.

‘The music is always a big part of it. Paddy Mulcahy from Lahinch has once again organised a great line-up of music. The line-up is still being completed but so far Paddy has put together a great line-up. We will also be staging a new band competition

on the Saturday of the festival.

‘There is still time for people to get involved if they have events in mind. People should just give me a buzz if they have something that they think would be a good addition. This year we are also getting local business to sponsor events. So far Cathleen’s Laundrette have said they will spon- sor the soccer competition while Unglert’s Bakery and Conway’s have also come up trumps with great sponsorship.”

Anyone interested in getting in- volved or sponsoring an event should contact Marian on (086) 8782617.

“A MOMENT of absolute stupidity” was how a Solicitor referred to an in- cident in which her client punched a garda in the face.

The remark was made in court in the case of Flan Ginnane (26), of Quay Road, Kildysart, who was

charged with assaulting Garda Alan Kelly, at Abbey Street, Ennis, in the early hours of March 3 last.

Defending solicitor Siobhan Mc- Mahon said her client was pleading cuilty.

Garda Kelly told Ennis District Court last Friday that he was dealing with Ginnane’s friends and he got in-

volved.

‘‘He punched me in the face. He ran off. I caught up with him,” said the eee

He said the accused apologised that night and again the following day.

Ms McMahon said that when her chent saw gardai approaching, he tried to intervene to help one of his

friends who was younger than him.

“Tt was a moment of absolute stu- pidity that led to this situation. He is petrified by the whole situation,” said the solicitor.

She said her client is a “genuinely decent person” who was highly thought of in his local community, where he had a deep involvement in

oh Osa0ae

“Tt is totally out of character,” she said.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a two-month jail term. But he will sub- stitute this with 240 hours commu- nity service if the accused is found suitable. He adjourned the case until next month.

yesterday that the recent dramatic rise in the cost of diesel has increased his costs by almost 20 per cent, meaning that he is now operating at a loss.

“It’s an absolute joke that the Gov- ernment can just merrily take their percentage. They are going to have to take a cut. At the moment the Gov-

ernment of Ireland is getting more for the oil than the Arabs are get- ting for selling it. That doesn’t make Sense to me,” he said.

‘The fishermen in France and in other European countries all get a big cut on the tax on diesel. There has to be some way in capping the amount of money that the Govern- ment is taking on this. The business is not sustainable at current prices. So either I’m going to have to put up prices drastically or the price of diesel is going to have to be brought down somehow. I cant keep doing it under the current situation.”

Like many other Clare boat owners, Mr Aston was forced out of the com-

mercial fishing business a number and years ago. He took advantage of Government funding made available from Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) to diversify into chartered sea angling.

“IT was commercially fishing here in Carraigaholt until about five years ago and at that time we would have been the biggest boat fishing out of Clare. But it just wasn’t viable for us to keep going,” he said.

“We were lucky enough to get a di- versification grant from BIM to set up some marine tourism. I know that there are big boats out there that also received Government grant aid that could now easily go out of business. It doesn’t make sense.”

Clare TD and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture with special responsibility for fisheries, Tony Killeen, revealed yesterday that he has requested an early meeting with the European commissioner re- sponsible for fisheries and maritime PNR N Dace

“I am cogently aware of the dif- ficulties being experienced by the fishing industry at local and national level,’ he said.

“IT have requested a meeting with Commissioner Joe Borg to discuss these difficulties. I am aware that the issue will also be discussed at next week’s meeting of the Fisheries Council.”

FARMERS in the heart of the Bur- ren are inching ever closer to taking possession of their heritage and in the process, offering a totally unique tourist product.

Members of the Burren Farmers Eco-Tourism Co-op have already begun hosting a limited amount of farmer led guided heritage tours and the business is set to expand through- out this Summer and into next year.

The philosophy of the co-op is to bring local farmers into the very centre of the tourism product in the Burren. Small groups are taken on tours to some of the real hidden gems of the Burren with local farmers as their guides.

Key to this approach is creating a form of tourism that works with the natural environment and the concept of Leave No Trace.

“What we had here last weekend was the first ever training programme specifically geared for farmers – and all the farmers who took part were members of the Burren Farmers Eco- Tourism Co-op,’ said Ruairi O Con- chuir of the co-op.

‘The farmers were being trained as trainers in the concepts of Leave No Trace. This is about leaving no im- pact on the area where we visit.

“It’s about ideas like walking on du- rable surfaces to minimise erosion, to being careful about how we light fires if we are camping. But it’s about things like not blocking farmers ac-

cess with huge busses or camping in places where you won’t be disturbing the locals.”

A number of themed tours are be- ing designed focussing on local cul- ture, archaeology flora and fauna and interpreting the Burren landscape.

“Farmers have a huge knowledge of their own land. No-one knows it better. The farmers might not always know the Latin names for all of the flora, let’s say, but they have a much deeper, more interesting knowledge. They know the importance of the flora, how they were used in olden times for cures and things like that,” continued Ruairi.

‘Besides the tours there is a de- mand for authentic Burren holiday accommodation in the Burren and

also working farm holidays. Believe it or not there is a demand for people to come here and do traditional farm work.”

Last week each farmers received their Leave No Trace certification and qualified as LNT trainers.

The farmers were joined on the course by interested locals people such as a teachers from the Outdoor Education Centre in Bellharbour. For more information on the guided tours contact burrenecotours@gmail.com.

CLARE on the radar. Two years ago, a sopping, soggy Fitzgerald Stadium housed a little over 6,000 punters for Kerry’s opening game in the 2006 championship. Waterford visited and brought almost as many fans as those that showed up for the home side.

It was late May and one of those days when the mountains behind the stand can only be felt and not seen, when the slate on St Finian’s Hospi- tal beyond the terrace turns black.

Nobody knew it at the time but that wet May afternoon was the begin- ning of Kerry’s shot at what has now become a three-in-a-row possibility.

It was difficult to predict the suc- cess that the two years since then would bring because for parts of that game, Waterford caused problems Kerry and in fact, should have been closer than the eight point winning margin that Kerry recorded. At one stage in the second half, Waterford could have drawn level but Andy Hubbard’s penalty was saved by D1- armuid Murphy and Gary Hurney’s follow-up was brilliantly taken off the line by Seamus Moynihan.

That game is recalled merely as a Starting point for all that has hap- pened for Kerry in 2006 and 2007. Even leaving the All-Ireland of 2004 aside, the current Kerry side has evolved into one of the finest teams to ever play football.

They’re fluid and powerful in at-

tack, composed and dogged in de- fence and since 2006 their approach has again evolutionised the game. Those qualities of power and com- posure were seen several times over the past two seasons but particularly at different stages of the Dublin and Monaghan games last year.

Against Monaghan, the ball was never passed laterally in their own half and against Dublin, only very

rarely. During both games, they dic- tated the pace at key moments as time was running out and they man- aged to score goals at crucial times. It’s unfair to say that the Clare chal- lenge doesn’t register on the Kerry radar this week and that alone, high- lights the approach in the county. Twenty years ago and as recent as ten — even including ’°92 -, Clare was seen as little more than something to

swat away.

Now, there are senior players who genuinely feel as though they’re play- ing for their place on the panel, not to mind the team. Two weeks back, a handful of Kerry players were gath- ered for extra training in Killarney. It was a backflip to Mick O’Dwyer’s days but shows that Kerry are taking the Clare challenge on board, if for no other reason than to nail down places for later in the year.

“There are potential pitfalls out there. I have always maintained that,” sayS Kerry manager Pat O’Shea. “Look at Wicklow beating Kildare in the Leinster championship. Look at Fermanagh beating Monaghan. They are two prime examples of teams getting turned over unexpectedly this season.

“*T have said that to the lads and they know that. Clare will come down here with nothing to lose and they will be full of confidence after their win against Waterford.

“Tt’s a tricky tie for us because we will, obviously, be that bit ring rusty while Clare will have the benefit of their game against Waterford. But the bottom line is this is a match that we are treating very seriously, like we do with all our games. If we don’t perform then there is a good chance that Clare will beat us. We have to be at our best.”

Down the tracks, the prospect of that third title looms, strange as it sounds considering that only two

years ago, the prospects of any coun- ty achieving back-to-back titles was considered slim.

“Being honest, we haven’t spoken about that [the three-in-a-row bid] in training and we don’t have any say in regards to what people write and what people say. All we can do is concentrate on our own game and take it match by match, one step at PIB une lee

‘“That’s what we did last year and we see no reason to change a win- ning formula. The only match on our horizon is Sunday’s against Clare.

“We try to make sure that the panel is stronger every year and I think that the Under-21’s All-Ireland win is a big boost.

“The league was encouraging also with a lot of players making a claim for starting spots so the task for me 1s to now find the best balanced 15 that can Start.”

“There were times in the league when we saw the fight, heart and hunger that a team that wants to be successful needs. It was very heart- ab eehee

“These lads have always proved that they can rise to the occasion, and they will have to do that against Clare. That’s the first step in what we hope will be a long journey.”

SPENDING more money to keep the profile of the Shannon region top of the list for travellers is the only way to beat the tourism slump.

The Government and tourism agen- cies need to come up with €6 million in promotional cash for next year – in excess of the €10 million spent on national marketing – to keep us on the tourism radar.

Those were two of the major find- ings of a new report which takes a first look at the state of tourism in the region under Open Skies.

Commissioned by Shannon Devel- opment and the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, “Shannon, Gateway

to the West – A Short Term Market- ing Perspective” argues that Ireland recovered faster from the travel slump in the wake on 9/11 than any other European country thanks to our aggressive marketing campaign. Prepared by Tourism and Transport Consult International (TTC), the re- port calls for a list of actions to com- bat fall off of between 10 and 30 per cent in visitor numbers to the region. The action plan should include Gov- ernment commitment to extra finance for the “Discover Ireland’s Wonder- ful West” campaign for at least two more years, the establishment of a US Customs and Border Protection full pre-clearance unit at Shannon Air- port, increased marketing support for

European routes and continued work to secure all existing transatlantic routes at Shannon.

Delivering better value to visitors and continuing investments to create reasons to visit the region, are also a priority.

Asked at the launch of the report in Adare Manor last week how the Government could be persuaded to put more money in at a time when the economy is cooling, Dick Bourke, Chairman of the TTC said the Gov- ernment will get back what they put in many times over.

“The exchequer take on tourism rev- enue is 48 cents in every Euro. That’s €2.6 billion per annum. We are ask- ing for a drop in the ocean. There are

17,/00 businesses which make up the tourism industry in this country. They support employment for over a quarter of a million people.”

John King, Heritage and Tourism Director of Shannon Development, said that the immediate challenge facing the region was securing exist- ing access and related services in dif- ficult times.

“Many of the current problems fac- ing the sector will diminish in time and Shannon and the west must re- main positioned to take full advan- tage of this recovery.

Connectivity, marketing and tour- ism product development will remain key to this aspiration,’ Mr King add- ed.

PAINTBRUSHES at the ready, the second annual Outdoor Landscape Painting Competition will be held on Saturday July 19 in Lisdoonvarna.

Encouraged by the success of last year’s historic event, the Burren Painting Centre has decided to em- bark on the second year of the out- door landscape painting competi- tion.

The competition aims to attract amateur artists from the four corners of Ireland to paint the scenery of Lis- doonvarna and the Burren.

The sponsorship from local busi- nesses has doubled from the first

year with €6,000 going to the prizes and events. The overall winner will receive a cash prize of €500 in addi- tion to a 3 day painting course break at the Burren Painting Centre in Lis- eKereyenienu eter

The first event in 2007 was an un- tried and untested excursion into the unknown. However, 30 artists ap- peared, painted and won prizes. A fun day was had by all. This year the competition will be the core of an art weekend, with other events offering an attractive 3 days for people inter- SAI KexO OME NO Coer- Du BSE

An oil painting demonstration by Fergal Flanagan will be held in the newly renovated town hall in Lis-

doonvarna in the early evening of Friday July 18.

Flanagan is an established well known oil painter from Wicklow and should prove an interesting speaker. This will be followed by the official opening of an art exhibition, curated by local artist Doreen Drennan.

The exhibits will include selected works from seven local professional artists that paint in The Burren area.

On Saturday July 19 the competi- tors will open with registration in Lisdoonvarna National School hall. Competitors will be asked to choose to paint in one of three different cat- egories, oils or acrylics, watercolour, or mixed media.

They will then be given three loca- tions to choose from and a map to help them on their way. At the end OMAN AToMOE-NiANelca am SU MKcIRUDU IEA SINOMNOLSIDN pieces of finished work.

The following morning the two judges Rosemary Carr and Charles Harper will set about the scrutiny of the work. During that Sunday morning Frank Sanford will conduct a drawing workshop at the Burren Painting Centre. This will be fol- lowed by the prize giving lunch.

Entry forms and details of the com- petition are available from Chris O’ Neill, The Burren Painting Centre, Lisdoonvarna, info@burrenpainting centre.com or phone 065-7074208.

PEOPLE are being encouraged to get out and show their support for two local charities at a major fundraiser TbO BIN OD NSC (cle) e

Orgainsed by the Clare Classic and Vintage Club, a vintage show at the Showgrounds on June 15, aims to raise money for Clare Haven Serv- ices and Cystic Fibrosis Children’s Light of Hope.

The show will kick off at noon with a display of vintage cars, trucks, and machinery, together with lots of fun events for the family, a mini-digger competition and a hay trashing event. Burren Birds of Prey, golf putting, tractor balancing, a crushed car com- petition, music, raffles and some sur- prises will also feature.

The Clare Classic and Vintage Club started in 2003 with a close- knit group of vintage and classic car

enthusiasts. Over the years,the club has grown, and now, in 2008, has ex- panded to over 100 members. Along with classic cars, the club also dis- plays vans tractors and other vintage pieces of machinery.

Each year the club hosts four main events – the spring and summer runs, the Anthony Barry Memorial Run and the Vintage Show.

Cystic Fibrosis Children’s Light of Hope was set up in August 2005 as a charitable organisation to aid research towards finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

According to organisation member Linda Drennan one of the main aims is awareness. She said, “There is a very dedicated team working with Light of Hope. We are always trying to promote awareness of Cystic Fi- brosis. It is Ireland’s most commonly inherited genetic children’s disease”.

Cystic Fibrosis is a disease which

affects the lungs and pancreas, caus- ing life threatening lung infections and the inability to digest food prop- erly. Cystic Fibrosis does not have to be in the family. It can occur when two carriers meet and their children inherit a defective gene from each parent. Large doses of antibiotics and frequent hospital stays are common among Cystic Fibrosis sufferers. Clare Haven Services was set up in 1995 to provide emergency accom- modation, support and information to women and their children living with domestic violence and abuse. Clare Haven offers a variety of services including a 24-hour confi- dential helpline 065 6822435, a drop- in centre at Munster House, Gort Road, outreach clinics in Shannon, Kilrush, Scariff and Ennistymon, the insights educational programme for women, court accompaniment as well as a refuge where women and

children can safely and comfortably live. More information can be seen on www.clarehaven.ie.

Ms Drennan added, “We are de- lighted that the Clare Classic and Vintage Club are supporting our- selves and Clare Haven.

“June 15 is Father’s Day and we look forward to welcoming a large number of families for a great day out while supporting two worthy lo- cal charities.”

THIS Saturday the women of Gort will rekindle a flame first lit more than 60 years ago. At 3pm the door of the new ICA hall will be thrown open and the public will be invited in to help open the guild’s newly refur- bished building and mark 60 years of the organisation in the area.

The two-story building is the end product of decades of effort. In 1948, two members of the guild approached the local bank looking for a small loan to purchase a rundown cottage on Boland’s Lane. £49 was all it’s cost, but the guild put forward their only employed members for fear they

would be turned down.

‘In those days times were very hard and they had to put in a lot of hard work to pay off the money,” said guild president Nell Giblin.

WON DA Lor UC Mm EIN o) mm NOL SO OME NO Toy Van per: R ote aged to get a second building but over the years they fell into a very bad state. We decided that the only thing to do was to knock and rebuild. So we had to spend six years looking for the deeds to the property before we started building, and now the whole thing has been completed.”

The work was made possible thanks to grants from CLAR, Galway Rural Development and Galway County Council. In addition to this the guild

have raised more than €60,000 to date to meet the shortfall.

With a first rate facility now in place the ICA would like to open the building to the wider community.

“We have a mothers and toddlers group in here at the moment and it is a lovely space for them. The mu- sic school, Coole Music, also use this space sometimes as does the parade committee,” said guild PRO Anne Burke.

“We would love for more things like that to take place in here. We re- ally see this as a valuable community resource. It’s not just for the ICA, we are the holding body but other groups can get a benefit from it too.”

To coincide with the launch a book to commemorate 60 years of the guild is also being launched. The book features memories from the lo- cal ICA throughout the decades and is available locally at a cost of €10.

The official opening of the new hall will take place this Saturday June 14, at 3pm. All are welcome.

THE Ennis Farmer’s Market is the subject of the RTE programme “Fresh from the Farmers’ Market’, to be aired tomorrow night.

Presenter and food writer Clodagh McKenna visited Ennis on a wet and windy day last October.

Ms McKenna interviewed some of the traders and then cooked a Greek style dish using organic lamb, cu- cumber, scallions, garlic, mint, sun dried tomatoes an olive oul – all pur- chased in the farmers’ market.

She also talked with customers about the appeal of farmers’ mar- kets. One customer from Ruan tells the show, “People should realise what good value the market is. For example, I always buy a bag or two of mixed salad leaves. I wash them and store in the fridge where they last all week, whereas the bags from the su- permarket cost more and the leaves start to go brown once you open the bag. I know that the market salad has been picked that morning, has not been sprayed with any chemical and has not travelled thousands of miles

to get to me”.

The farmers’ market has been up and running since 2004 and consists of a group of dedicated food produc- ers and traders with a wide range of local, artisan and organic foods. Most of the produce is sourced in Clare with some coming from near- by Tipperary.

The market runs on Friday morning in the upper market car park (oppo- site Meere’s Butchers) from 8am to 2pm. This year traders are advocat- ing to customers, the benefits to the environment of eating fresh, local

produce and minimising their carbon footprint.

Another regular customer tells the show, “I really look forward to Fri- day evenings because I know I will have something delicious to eat from the Farmer’s Market.

Today I have a quiche, some local goats cheese, salad and I also have a beautiful bunch of flowers, some new potatoes and an apple tart for Sun- day lunch and some Brussels sprout plants and duck eggs for my dad.”

The programme goes out on RTE 1 tomorrow night (June 11) at 7.30pm.