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IF 2007 showed us anything, it was that anything is possible. This time last season, only the wisest sage would have predicted that Tulla would win the county championship. And at that, such a prediction would probably have been laughed at.

What it means is that with dawn coming over this year’s champion- ship, there are at least a dozen teams who will figure they can emulate Tulla and their achievements of ’07. And why not?

Only a few days had passed after the county final last year and Tulla captain Michael Murphy was fielding phone calls from clubs all over Clare wondering what the secret to their success was. What could he say? He

told them the truth. That Tulla put in one big, honest effort. That no player shirked any responsibility. On a pan- el that realistically had less than 20 players capable of mixing it at senior level, that was crucial.

Tulla also knew their limits. They had a handful of players with sub- lime skill, but the bulk had to hurl with passion and commitment. That was the most evident characteristic throughout their group games and even more so as the knock-out stage progressed.

For every player, there comes a turn- ing point in the season. For some, it was Tulla’s honest meeting in a local restaurant when a few home truths were told but for most, it was the at- mosphere in the dressing room prior to a game that most clubs would have

simply seen as fulfilling a fixture.

That game took place in Sixmileb- ridge in the middle of the Clare Cup —a competition that Tulla weren’t ex- actly setting on fire. That day, they were missing some players but they were asked for honesty, they were asked could they put pride back in Tulla, pride that had been missing for a number of years.

The players responded, they went out and hurled with honesty and they prevailed. From there, the momen- tum began to build and confidence began to seep in.

When the county final arrived, they had beaten two established teams and it suited Tulla that they were go- ing into the game against a team who also had zero big-day experience.

It’s almost eight months since that

game was played. Afterwards, there was a feeling among those with no stake in the game that the occasion didn’t live up to expectations, that the hurling was static. Fair point then, but eight months on, nobody remembers the type of game it was. All that’s recalled, is the novelty and hope that Tulla brought.

Now, for Tulla, it’s a matter of maintaining that momentum and those standards and given the group they’re in, that won’t be easy.

For the other 19 teams, it’s all about playing with that honesty that Tulla personified throughout 2007.

DEFENDING Cork City marathon champion, Tracey Guilfoyle had to settle for second place yesterday as she completed the 26.2 mile course in a time of 3.01.22 hours.

The race was won with an out- standing display of front running by Lucy Brennan from Sligo in 2.54.47 hours.

Guilfoyle, running for Kilnaboy

AC, said she was relatively satisfied with her performance adding that she has raced against Brennan previous- ly and was aware the race would set off at a fast pace. The Sligo woman broke from the leaders within the first mile and stayed away until the tape. Guilfoyle was unable to stick with the fast pace, but held her sec- ond place throughout the race. She passed through the ten mile mark in a time of 66 minutes and complet-

ed the first half of the race in 1.28 hours.

Sinead Ni Chonchuir, Eagle AC, was third in 3.01.52 hours.

It wasn’t all bad news, however, as the Kilnaboy athlete took home the ladies 040 prize.

The senior men’s race was won by Roy Fahy, East Cork AC, in 2.33.55 hours. He was followed home in second spot by Eoin O’Connell, Cork Triathlon Club, and Cathal

O’Connell, St Finbarrs AC, was third.

The first relay team home was Rivergold Road Runners, which in- cluded last year’s men’s winner Alan O’Shea. The team covered the dis- tance in 2.23.38 hours.

Around 8,000 people went to the starting line for the second annual Cork City marathon, and there were also 600 relay teams, one including legend Sonia O’Sullivan.

A MAJOR rethink on how retail business in Shannon is developing is urgently needed, according to the newly appointed president of the lo- cal Chamber of Commerce.

Jan Barrett, who is vice-president for international operations at Avo- cent in Shannon, has just been ap- pointed at the helm of the business body.

The Galway native, who been in- volved with the chamber for the past five years, joined Cybex in 1999 and remained with the company when it merged with Apex to form Avocent three years later.

As president of the chamber, he will focus on key areas identified by the chamber over the past few years. These include industry and enter- prise, Shannon Airport, developing retail in Shannon, tourism and phys- er UU Rec KINMOCe RUD Kon

“One thing I want to do is estab- lish what is of major relevance to our members. We will conduct a survey in relation to that,” he pointed out.

The chamber has set up three sub- committees – industry and com- merce, living and working in Shan- non and school and youth career Support – and intends to focus on those over the coming year.

A fourth sub-committee is to be set up, to focus on the development of more retail opportunities in the town.

“In relation to retail, I think there is a big opportunity there. Shan- non has lost out to Ennis and Lim-

erick. Years ago, Athlone lost a lot of shopping power to Mullingar, but then two shopping centres were de- veloped and they found people were coming back into Athlone,’ Mr Bar- rett said.

He said that the masterplan, cur- rently being developed for Shannon, should meet the existing needs.

“It needs to be done in an integrat- ed manner and not just provide the same services that are already there.

“There is no point just taking the same spending power and splitting it between the existing and new stores. There is a lack of fashion. If you di- vide it into the range of services, you can bring the spending power into Shannon,” he said.

He said that the decision by Tesco to close its store in SkyCourt was a major worry for the town.

‘Tesco used to be the anchor ten- ant, who got the feet passing by the doors nearby. With the closure of Tesco, Dunnes is now the anchor tenant and there has been a declin- ingfootfall in the older part of the centre,” he added.

‘There is no anchor tenant down that side of SkyCourt. While we are assured they are talking to a couple of people (prospective tenants), in the meantime, our members are lob- bying us to work with Pat Kelly and company (SkyCourt management) and look for an abatement of rents until that happens,” said Mr Barrett.

A HOUSEMATE of the Howard brothers told the trial that she would not recognise a man she saw talking to Robert outside their house on Sep- tember 26, 2006.

Claire Cahir told the trial last Wednesday that she was living at Ballaghboy, Ennis, on September 26, 2006, with her partner and the Howard brothers, Robert and Niall.

She said that she arrived home shortly after 10.30pm and drove in

the drive.

Asked by Stephen Coughlan, BL, for the Prosecution, did she notice anything, she replied, “There was a gentleman sitting at the door area. He was talking to Robert. Robert was sitting with him.”

She said the gentleman “had his legs out and I said, “God, I nearly drove over your toes’ and I walked into the house.”

Some 10 minutes later, she said Robert went into the house and asked Niall for a cigarette. “He stayed about

a minute. He just went back outside,” she said.

“TI didn’t see anything when I went into the house,” said Ms Cahir.

“I didn’t take much notice. He didn’t look Irish. He had quite sallow skin. That was it,’ she said.

Asked by Mr Coughlan would she recognise the man again, she said, aa fo es

SUSU Sm bi ontromO MNase (Come ME (steno Michael Harold was recognised at Ennistymon Vocational School’s an- nual award ceremony last week.

Mr Harold, who devoted a 40-year career to teaching mathematics and Science in the school, retired four years ago and passed away last month. An image of Mr Harold was included on the cover of the award ceremony’s programme and a minute’s silence was observed in his memory before iW elomre Mise 0 6 om ol oseee TOE

During the ceremony, the senior student of the year was announced as John O’Brien, Ardnaculla, Ennisty- mon, who received the Patrick Com-

NeEN eM aNNe-HKCE

This and four other special awards commemorated students who died while attending the school and one who met tragedy a short while after graduating from the school.

Junior student of the year went to Seamus Crosbie who received the John Kierce Award, while the senior and junior sportspersons of the year award went to Micheal O’Loughlin (Jimmy Considine Award) and Pa Na- gle (Seamus O’Donoghue Award).

The Emer O’Loughlin Award for transition year student of the year, first presented last year, went to Michael McCormack.

The awards were presented by chairman of the school’s board of

management, Cllr Flan Garvey, school principal Enda Byrt, and a number of teachers. The event was co-ordinated by teacher Halimah Heaslip and the student council.

Music to entertain the big number of students, parents and staff was provided by Shona Long, Seamus Crosbie, Cathal Hogan, Mairead Fahy, Gavin Coughlan, Seamus Scholand, Shane Sexton and Sinéad RST rededee

Enda Byrt congratulated students and staff on a very successful and busy year and told the parents that they could be justifiably proud of everyone who was nominated for an award as well as those who were eventually chosen for awards.

He reminded the attendance that the school’s award concept was root- ed in two fundamental ideals – do your best and show respect.

“Ours is a small school and one in which we pride ourselves in concern for students and in our efforts to help them maximise their social and per- sonal qualities while under the care of the school,” he said.

‘“T would also like to recognise the very dedicated teaching and support staff who prided themselves in hav- ing a care and concern for students that extended far beyond the class- room door.

“T hoped that this continued to be the foundation on which the school’s success 1s based.”

IF TULLA’S explosive run to the county title taught the rest of the championship anything last year, it is that any side are currently capable of winning the Canon Hamilton. It wasn’t strength in numbers or pre- vious underage success that steered the east Clare side to victory, as they only used 18 players during the seven games and had only a minor cham- pionship in 2000 to show for their underage endeavours. No, ‘Tulla’s transformation was in attitude not personnel — a self-belief carved out by aruthless determination and stub- born unwillingness not to be beaten.

That criteria alone will inspire oth- er similar unfancied teams to organ- ise and develop with similar intent. Tulla were a Senior B side only the year before but due to the restructur- ing of the senior championship last year, the senior B sides were elevated to the top tier. The new format was so designed, that in time the so- called weaker sides would improve and develop by playing stronger op- position on a regular basis. Obvious- ly Tulla hadn’t read the script as they marauded their way to glory, leaving several notable casualties lying in their wake.

Tulla’s triumph was a huge blow to the traditionally strong sides who

now fear a similar uprising from the rest of the perceived underdogs. There have been grumblings that it was a reflection on how bad hurling in Clare had gone that Tulla were al- lowed to dominate but those acidic remarks only mask their own failings and inability to handle Tulla’s uncom- promising style. Crusheen, Clarecas- tle, and Newmarket-on-Fergus will all feel they left it behind them last year. A combination of complacency and lack of physical strength cost each of those sides dearly and Tulla deserved full credit for assessing the vunerability of the opposition and exploiting the gap which opened up in front of them.

The same predicament manisfests itself this year. With no outstanding team in the top tier, the champion- ship is wide open once again. The heirarchy at the top still remains the same with Newmarket, Clarecastle, Crusheen and Wolfe Tones standing out from the pack as favourites but unlike the English Premiership’s big four, they are by no means guaran- teed their status in those positions. After last year, Tulla and Sixmileb- ridge have significantly climbed the pecking order and the amalgamation of Inagh and Kilnamona also has the potential to provide another future superpower. Cratloe, Corofin and Kilmaley are knocking at the door as

well but there are only eight places available after the group stages and in that regard, the make-up of the draw this year was very significant.

Examining the evidence, Group | is a veritable lottery. Aside from Bal- lyea who are not as far advanced as the others, Tulla, Wolfe Tones, New- market and Inagh/Kilnamona are all capable of beating each other. Un- doubtedly this “Group of Death’ will go right down to the last fixtures in September with Newmarket to pos- sibly shade the group and the experi- ence of the Shannon side to ensure they advance with them.

Sixmilebridge appear to be a step above the others in Group 2 but it should be a scramble for the second spot with Cratloe or maybe even SoKeyimole nates

Despite their recent downward spi- ral of results, Clarecastle’s side are championship hardened and _ they should top Group 3 with Kilmaley to advance with them while the final group has only one alteration from last year with intermediate cham- pions Clonlara replacing Tulla. As the most prominent side, Crusheen should again claim the top spot and the rest will all be confident of claim- ing the coveted second spot. If this group existed last year, Scariff would be favourites but not anymore as they have really struggled to muster even

a glimmer of form this season. Clon- lara have the potential but their small squad will be severely hampered by the Leaving Cert and players go- ing abroad. It means Ogonnelloe or Smith O’Briens look most likely to make the step up, but their inconsist- ency should mean that they will have to be satisfied with just a quarter-fi- nal appearance.

Depending on the draw of course, Newmarket, Sixmilebridge, Clare- castle and Crusheen should all progress to the semi-final with per- haps the Blues and the Magpies to re- new old acquantances in what would be an intriguing decider. Going on early season form alone, Newmarket appear to have the slight edge over their neighbours but they have been favourites for a number of seasons now and only have a county final apearance in 2006 to show for all their efforts and potential. As last year demonstrated, early season form has little significance when it comes to the championship. Maybe this year, the form book should be consigned to the shredder. Pulling a name out of a hat is probably a bet- ter method of yielding the winning candidate.

ON SATURDAY evening just af- ter 6pm Clare GAA president, John Hanly, was sitting on the bench that lies near the Magpie pub in Clarecas- aloe

He hadn’t got his thumb out look- ing for a lift, but you knew he was waiting for a lift. It was destination Ruan – the only place to be for old hurlers on Saturday night.

They came from near and far – Hanly and Michael Slattery from Clarecastle, Whitegate’s Naoise Jordan, Bishop Willie Walsh, Cyril Lyons from Ruan, Pa Howard from over the road in Tubber, Tony Red- dan all the way from Tipperary.

All were there to honour one of

Clare and Ireland’s greatest ever hurlers – Jimmy Smyth. To be com- memorated at all is a signal honour, but its extra-special when that hon- our is conferred by your own.

That’s what Ruan GAA club did on Saturday evening, unveiling a plaque they commissioned noted sculptor Mike McTigue to craft in honour of Smyth, their greatest hurling son.

The piece of sculpture told the story – the Harty and All-Ireland Colleges successes, the eight Railway Cups, the Oireachtas, county champion- ships and much more.

No All-Ireland medal, but as All- Ireland winner Cyril Lyons and many other said on Saturday: “greatness is not judged by All-Ireland medal’.

Jimmy Smyth is one of the great-

est players to play the game – Christy Ring said so himself. He’s even had a stamp issued in his honour by An eye

The stamp of greatness was there when An Post was known the Posts and ‘Telegraphs.

THE decision by Aer Lingus to with- draw its Shannon/Heathrow service last summer continues to cause grave concern to businesses in the mid- west.

That’s according to the new presi- dent of the Shannon Chamber of GreysbeRCcMe EVIE ST DUKChMER, Zeemote

ployed at Avocent.

Avocent, which designs and manu- factures PC components, outsources work to Eastern Europe and its head- quarters is located in Alabama in the US. The company is linked to sever- al other countries including France, Hungary, Malysia and Singapore.

“Shannon Airport and the whole connectivity issues 1s very important

for Avocent. We are very dependent on customers coming in to us through Heathrow and are very dependent on connectivity to the US. It is critical for a company like us and we are only a medium-sized company,” said Mr Barrett.

He said that the united effort by a myriad of groups in the mid-west when it emerged that Aer Lingus was

to withdraw its Shannon/Heathrow service last August was encouraging. However Government didn’t listen. “Locally, everybody pulled togeth- er very well. Unfortunately we didn’t seem to have a desire on the part of the Government to act,” said Mr Bar- rett, who is a qualified accountant. “The one thing I learned from the Heathrow issue is that any one in-

dividual organisation working by itself 1s a lone voice. It is important for groups to work together, like the Connectivity Alliance, Shannon De- velopment and Clare County Council. They can come together and speak with a unified voice. That’s when we get far more attention. There is a significant worry about the pullout of Aer Lingus,” Mr Barrett said.

CLARE will play host to the All-Ire- land Currach Championships for the first time ever.

Kilbaha Curragh Club secretary, Eugene Costelloe, announced this week that the championship will be held in the picturesque west Clare village.

The event, will take place on July 12 and July 13 during the Loop Head Gathering Festival.

“It’s the first time ever (the compe- tition 1s to) be held in Clare and it has taken four years of hard work and a

lot of money to achieve this. Crews from Donegal, Aran Islands, Con- nemara, Clare, Kerry and Limerick will take part,” said Mr Costelloe.

“T look forward to two great days racing. I would like to thank the fes- tival committee for giving me the opportunity to hold the All-Ireland Championships in Kilbaha,” he said.

The people from Kilbaha are al- ready preparing for the prestigious event with local crews training for the competition.

The host village hopes to enter a crew in every category.

The tradition of currach racing has

received a new lease of life in the last number of years in west Clare.

Next Sunday, June 8, a currach re- gatta will be held in Kilrush, with another regatta in Carrigaholt the following week on Sunday, June 15.

This year the All-Ireland Champi- onship will be the highlight of the curragh racing year in Clare and fea- tures as part of the successful Loop Head Gathering Festival.

Inspired by the Scattering emigra- tion project, the Loop Head Gather- ing Festival 1s now doing the oppo- site, as it encourages former residents to return to their west Clare home-

land for a week of celebrations.

In its fifth year, the Loop Head fes- tival is a follow on from a smaller event; The weekend festival, Eannach an Clar, which was held on alternate years between Cross and Kilbaha.

Now both communities have joined forces with their peninsula col- leagues to hold the Loop Head festi- val, which is going from strength to strength.

This year’s festival will begin on Friday, July 11 with a céili.

The highlight of the festival this year will be the cultural parade and the currach racing.

MUSIC and food are the dominant themes of Glor’s new summer pro- eau beebetlen

In a departure, for a venue more commonly associated with music and the arts, a farmer’s market will open in Glor later this month.

Beginning on June 24, the mar- ket will be open for business from 10.30am to 2.30pm on the last Tues- day of each month for the remainder of the summer.

The farmer’s market is one of the new features announced in Glor’s new summer programme.

The other main development is the “Sounds of Programme” which will be held each Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, over six succes- sive weeks. The programme starts on Thursday July 24 and over the sum- mer will feature many international, national and local acts.

Thursday evening is themed “All that Jazz’, and will also feature live comedy acts. Friday evenings are be- ing themed “An Enchanted Evening of Opera and Song”. Saturdays have a more traditional flavour with per- formances from some of the top names in Irish traditional music.

Clare ska band Skazz are among

the bands who feature during the six- week programme. This Clare band, formed in early 2006, had been play- ing under the name Doonbeg Swing & Jazz for several years.

Opera and song will be provided by Sandra Oman; Sinead O’ Sullivan, Peter O’Donoghue and Dean Power with Noel Lennon on Piano and Car- mel Griffin on Keyboard. There will also be special guests each week and some “Legends of Swing” specials, featuring the music of the “Brat Pack” era. Concerts will showcase old favourites, music from the mov- ies and popular classics.

Traditional acts to feature include,

Josephine Marsh, banjo player John Carty, Dermot Byrne, Brid Harper and John Joe Kelly of the high-en- ergy band Flook.

David Collopy, Acting Director, Glor, commented, “All of this high calibre entertainment will be pro- vided in a relaxed cabaret style. You can enjoy a glass of wine or a cof- fee and weather permitting our café chefs will cook up a culinary storm with an Al Fresco BBQ.

He continued, “Thankfully, the space at Glor is very flexible, so on the evenings when the gods don’t smile, we can move the dining expe- rience indoors”.