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AS the primary school summer hol1- days loom close, bookings are cur- rently being taken for a variety of summer camps in the Shannon area.

One of the main camps this sum- mer is being run by the local youth office. The office has provided sum- mer activities for children, aged be- tween nine and 13, for more than 30

years.

This year, five days of summer camp have been planned and will go ahead between July 1 and 5, at the Respond Community Building, R1- neanna View.

The camp is offered to young peo- ple in Shannon and the surrounding areas of Cratloe, Sixmilebridge and Newmarket-on-Fergus.

The summer camp activities on of-

fer will include arts and crafts, inflat- able fun day, storytelling, quizzes, bowling, quasar, soccer, swimming, day trips to Lahinch Seaworld and Ailwee Cave. It also offers young volunteers aged 17 and over from the area a chance to train and become a leader for the duration of the camp.

The camp costs €65 for the five days, while family rates are also available on request.

Applications will be accepted un- til Friday, June 27. Two registration days will take place, between 4pm and 7pm, this Thursday and Friday (June 12 and 13).

Local businesses EI Electronics and Schwarz Pharma will sponsor the summer camp this year.

For further information on the camp or to obtain booking forms, phone 061 364318.

CLARE has distinguished itself once again in the Blue Flag environmental awards scheme.

Blue Flags have been awarded to Cappa Pier, Kilkee, White Stand/ Miltown Malbay, White Strand/ Doonbeg, Fanore and Lahinch as well as Mountshannon and Ballycug- geran on Lough Derg.

The Blue Flag is an international award for beach excellence. It 1s presented to beaches which have ex- cellent water quality, which provide a range of services and which fulfil other specified criteria including en- vironmental management and educa- tion.

Details of the award winners for 2008 were revealed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley on Monday.

This is the 20th year in which the Blue Flag programme has operated in Ireland. Blue Flags were awarded this year to 78 bathing areas and two marinas. This is a decrease of

three from the total of 83 awarded in 2007.

The minister noted that it was “dis- appointing for all when flags were lost especially as a large effort has been put into the Blue Flag programme at all of these locations”.

The losses are due to deterioration

in water quality in some areas, which resulted largely from the heavy rain- fall that we experienced last year. The Blue Flag scheme is operated by the Foundation for Environmen- tal Education (FEE), a non-Govern- mental organisation. The criteria for the award of Blue Flags, which are

determined by FEE, relate to water quality, facilities for visitors, beach management including litter control, environmental information and dis- OE NaB ELON DLAC

FEE operates through national bod- ies who are responsible for the ad- ministration of the Blue Flag scheme in their countries. The scheme in Ire- land is administered by An Taisce. The administering bodies inspect beaches and conduct an initial as- sessment of applications for Flags based on the previous year’s bathing water quality results and compliance with the other criteria of the scheme.

They are assisted in this task by a national jury comprised of members with appropriate qualifications/ex- pertise in environmental, conserva- tion, marine, and consumer interest areas. The recommendations from each national jury are subsequently assessed by FEE’s International jury, which determines actual Blue Flag AMEE OK

ON Friday last all four Clare TDs – two Fianna Fail and two Fine Gael – campaigned together around the county.

Minister of State Tony Killeen has urged the people of Clare to support the Lisbon Reform Treaty while he also criticised ‘No’ campaigners for making claims that had zero basis in ele

“It is now only a matter of days to polling in a referendum that will make a huge difference to the direc-

tion of our country. I believe that the only way that our country can grow, prosper and provide opportunities for our people is to be at the heart of the European Union,” the Junior Agriculture Minister said.

‘I know that many people are con- fused about what is involved in the Lisbon Reform Treaty. Part of this is because they are hearing claim and counter-claim from both sides. A lot of this has been a deliberate tactic by groups like Youth Defence, Sinn Fein and Libertas which are making claims that have zero basis in fact.

For example, they claimed that the treaty undermined our tax policies even though every independent body which has examined this has said ex- actly the opposite.”

Opposition TD Pat Breen (FG) was in the unusual position of supporting the Government stance.

“A ‘No’ vote will do nothing for our tax autonomy, do nothing for our independent defence policy, do noth- ing for workers rights, do nothing for our farmers and nothing for Ireland’s capacity to develop new opportuni- ties for our people,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Ire- land’s only regional agency has warned that the Lisbon Treaty is too important an issue for the people of the mid west not to take time to be- come informed about it.

“A “Yes’ vote for the Lisbon Treaty referendum is vital for Ireland. By supporting this treaty we will be supporting Ireland’s position as a global economic player and failure to do so will result in this position being eroded and undermined,” said John Brassil, Chairman Shannon Development.

“There seems to be a view out there that people are voting ‘no’ because they are not sure of what the treaty is about. This is too important an issue not to take the time to get informed. I would strongly urge everyone who 1s unsure to take time to understand the treaty. There is plenty of information out there.

“We are all in businesses of one type or another and therefore the re- sponsibility for ensuring the future prosperity of the business communi- ty in Ireland rests in all our hands,” he said.

A SIXMILEBRIDGE man_ who braved a mixture of weather condi- tions and ran an ultra marathon for charity has raised almost €6,500.

Pat O’Keeffe undertook the mam- moth task of running the 39.3 mile ultra marathon in Connemara, in an effort to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House at Crumlin Chil- dren’s Hospital, in April.

Pat, who lives 1n Quin and works in the army, based in Limerick, was de- lighted with his time of seven hours, 10 minutes and 12 seconds. He was equally pleased with the €6,483.61 that he raised for his efforts.

He was keen to run as much of the race as he could and managed to run virtually all of it.

“T ran most of it,’ he laughed. “There were about three miles of very high climbs at the end that I walked.

“T enjoyed it. I wasn’t as sore as I thought I would be. About 110 of us did the ultra and we had our own lit- tle group,” he said.

He faced a mixture of elements during the race, with snow, wind, rain and a bit of sun all featuring on STM Or RA

“To get to the finish was great. The last mile was brilliant, but the weath- er was cat. For the first mile we had snow, then there was wind for a lot of

it and a bit of rain, followed by love- ly sun, then wind and then another shower of snow,” he recalled.

Given that he has suffered severe back pain over the past four years, his achievement was all the more impressive. Pat ran his first marathon in Dublin in 1988 and has ran three others since then.

Last summer, he and a group of colleagues took to the bicycles and cycled from Shannon to Limerick, raising €5,000 in the process, also for Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

The fundraising was dedicated to a young Limerick girl, Sophie Mulc- ahy, who underwent several heart operations at the Crumlin hospital. While she was in hospital, her par- ents stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, which provides a supportive environment for families. Sophie’s father Liam works alongside Pat in the army.

And he doesn’t intend to rest on his laurels in the future. Pat has already pledged to take part in next year’s ultra marathon challenge in Conne- nerb eee

“I’ve entered for next year. I entered a week afterwards. I did it for char- ity this year. Next year, Ill do it for myself and hope to better my time,” he enthused.

His task would not have been pos- sible without the help of his family, friends and work colleagues, along

with everybody who donated money towards the fund.

“It’s amazing the amount of good- will that is out there. I stood outside the pharmacy at Dunnes Stores one Saturday and collected €892 that day alone, despite the fact there was another collection taking place the

same day. It was amazing,” he said.

TWO 15-year-old boys were “ush- ered down a laneway” in Ennis be- fore one was assaulted and the other had his mobile phone robbed, it has been alleged.

Raymond Constable (21) of O’Malley Park, Southill, Limerick, appeared before Ennis District Court last Friday, accused of robbing a mo- bile phone from one youth and as- saulting another, on April 10 last.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said that

the DPP had directed summary dis- posal of the case in the district court. Judge Joseph Mangan said he needed to make a determination on jurisdic- tion and sought an outline of the al- leged facts.

Inspector Kennedy said that the State would allege that two 15-year old boys were at Kelly’s Corner in Ennis at around 9pm.

He said the two met with the ac- cused and were “ushered down a laneway at the back of Fairways eT Aan

He said that one of the boys had his mobile phone “forcibly taken from him by Mr Constable” while he also had €8 taken from his pocket.

He said the phone, valued at €100, was later recovered but had been damaged.

He said that the other 15-year-old was assaulted by the accused, de- scribing the incident as a “minor as- SPOOL ae

Judge Mangan said he would ac- cept jurisdiction.

Inspector Kennedy told the court

that Mr Constable had previously ap- peared in court in April charged with handling stolen property.

He said that charge was being with- oles Mane

However, when he had _ been charged with that offence, a number of bail conditions had been imposed, including that the accused stay out of SEI

“A breach of that was detected. I’m asking for more stringent bail cond1- tions,’ said Inspector Kennedy.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey

said her client admitted he had come to Ennis to visit his mother. She asked the court to take this into con- sideration.

However, Judge Mangan replied, “The charges before the court are very serious charges and it is with some reluctance I’ve accepted juris- diction.”

JS Coir HUG Nat-T MUD MN Nelom-LeCeUIolO MMU: DOL KerG| to visit his mother, he should have in- formed gardai.

He remanded him in custody to re- appear in court later this month.

THE effort to defeat the Lisbon Trea- ty is the largest political campaign ever undertaken by Republican Sinn Fein in Clare, according to a party spokesman.

With more than 15,000 houses vis- ited in the Ennis area alone, the party believe that the ‘No’ campaign is set to be a successful one.

“We feel confident at this stage that the ‘No’ campaign will win the day. The response that we have got has been brilliant so far. We have been all over the county and the response from people on the doorsteps has been great,’ said Paddy Kenneally, Clare head of Republican Sinn Féin.

The party claims to have serious reservations about the security of the State and it’s neutrality should the treaty be passed.

“This treaty lays the foundations for a Super European army and will be a big challenge to Ireland neutral- ity,’ he said.

“It will also be the end of Irish farming as it will open up trade

agreements with Brazil, Argentina and New Zealand which will supply the markets of Europe with cheap but inferior meat. Irish farmers will suf- fer for this for years to come.”

“Corporate tax in Ireland is the envy of all of Europe and this is one of the main reasons why multination- als invest here. We believe that the EU intends to bring our tax levels in line with the rest of the EU, which will effectively double our tax rate.”

“We believe that the multinationals are going to leave Ireland if this takes place and look for cheaper business in countries in Asia and Africa.”

Mr Kenneally also hit out at a number of elected representative for advocating a treaty that they admit not to having read.

“The main political parties of the State are asking people to vote yes even though they admit that there are no benefits from it and that many of them haven’t even read it.”

“They tell us that there’s a veto on several issues. But they have not told us that this veto can be overturned by a board of EU minsters.”

A STATE-OF-THE-ART playschool and after school facility is to open in Hurler’s Cross in September.

Catering for children in the local areas of Hurler’s Cross, Ballycasey, Bunratty and Shannon, MHurler’s Cross Playschool will be run by local resident, Ann Marie Griffin Morris- eas

She has worked in Baby Bops play- school in Limerick for a number of years, having previously worked in Roches Stores department store in Limerick city for 15 years.

Over the past few years, she has completed the FETAC Level 5 in childcare and FETAC Level 6 in school age childcare.

The mother-of-two has built on to her family home, to incorporate the new business.

“It’s an extension on to my own house. There is huge open space and plenty of parking. We are located within a three minute drive of Clon- money National School,” she said.

She felt there was a need for a new playschool, given the increasing pop- ulation in the area in recent years.

“Three new housing estates have gone in since I moved out here eight years ago. The area has been expand- ing rapidly,” she said.

Although born in Limerick, Ann Marie has strong links with Clare. She has many close relations in the county, including Clare senior hurler Tony Griffin who 1s her first cousin.

Numbers attending the after school facility will be limited to 10, while the playschool can cater for 20.

“Tt will take a couple of years to get to that capacity. I’m hoping to have seven or eight in the playschool for the first year or two,” she said.

The facilities available at the new school include hard and soft outdoor areas, toilets, sand and water play areas. There will be an array of edu- cational toys which will enhance the

development of the young children.

The school is part-funded by the National Development Plan.

It will open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm. After school care will also be provided, with drop-off and collection from Clonmoney Na- tional School.

For bookings or queries regarding

the playschool or after school facility contact Ann Marie on 061 360555.

AN ENNIS family whose home was burnt down a fortnight ago has been forced to move to temporary illegal accommodation in Limerick, the family’s solicitor has claimed.

The Mongans’ family home at Shalee Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis was extensively damaged by fire on Saturday, May 24.

The revelation came as two mem- bers of the family appeared in court last Friday, charged in connection with an incident in Ennis last Octo- ber.

Christy Mongans Senior (49) and Jim Mongans (18), of Shalee Drive, were charged with violent disorder, at Cloughleigh, Ennis, on October 11 last year.

Garda Dominic Regan told Ennis District Court last Friday that he met both men by appointment on May 25 ENe

In reply to charge Mr Mongan

Senior replied, “I was not involved” while Jim Mongans did not reply to charge after caution, said the garda.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said Mr Mongans Senior was not in ous

“He is unwell. He suffers from ser1- ous heart problems. The family home was burnt down recently and they are staying in temporary illegal accom- modation in Limerick,” she said.

She said Mr Mongans Senior’s doc- tor confirmed to her that he had not been in regular attendance, due to his ill health.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said he would accept what Ms Godfrey had to say.

The case was adjourned until Sep- tember.

THE HEAD of the IFA in Clare has said that he has every confidence that the government will deliver on it’s promise to veto any World Trade Organisation (WTO) deal if it was negative to Irish farming.

Following last week’s agreement between IFA President Padraig Walshe and Taoiseach Brian Cowen on WTO, Clare IFA head Michael Lynch has urged all Clare farmers to vote yes on Thursday.

“The IFA has always favoured in- volvement in Europe. Our protest was always about the WTO and once we have the commitment on that then we are in favour of the treaty,’ said Mr Lynch.

“We feel that we have a guarantee; it was given in public and we would expect this to be honoured. – no mat- ter who is in power.”

“We expect that farming interests would be defended as the mainstay of the rural community in Ireland”.

Mr Lynch did admit however that despite his organisations protests, the treaty has very little to do with levuscupetse

““T don’t see it having a major influ- ence one way or the other on farm- ing. It seems to be more about the general running of Europe and mak- ing it easier to manage all the coun- tries,’ he said

“We had tried every means neces- sary to get the government to use the veto on world trade before we made the Lisbon Treaty a farming issue.”

“We had numerous meetings and

numerous protests and yet the gov- ernment wasn’t willing to move.”

“Anytime you get an election peo- ple do use it strategically to defend their position and that is what we had to do.”

‘This was really a backs to the wall job for Irish farming, we did what we really had to do. We had no alterna- tive but to put whatever pressure we could on the government on this.”

“At local levels we had commit- ments from both government and op- positions at county council level and I failed to understand how the gov- ernment failed to give a commitment for so long when their representa- tives on the ground were calling on them to do so. At the end of the day it was a last resort but it was what we had to do.”

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.