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FOR dual clubs, it is always hard to get the balance right. How do you de- ploy resources to seriously compete in hurling and football, without one team harming the prospects of the other?

Clubs like Doora Barefield and Wolfe Tones have an obvious prefer- ence for hurling. In Eire Og, the split is more evenly proportioned. And O’Callaghan’s Mills? Hurling would probably win a majority, but, when you’re junior football team starts winning county titles and contest- ing Munster finals, it tilts the balance oy sateayy eel

The club’s chairman Joe Cooney, though, hopes that under new man- ager Pat Donnellan, the club’s hurlers can steal back some of the limelight.

“Pat Donnellan, is totally commit- ted to the hurling. He’d be hoping that they give more commitment to the hurling this year than the foot- ball, which in fairness to the last cou- ple of years they did give great com- mitment to the football. We achieved great things in the football and we’d be hoping now over the next year or two to try and turn around and achieve those things in the hurling as well.”

Cooney juggled the dual roles last year of chairman and manager when,

after a very promising start, the Mills failed to qualify from their group.

A win over Wolfe Tones was fol- lowed by a disappointing loss to Eire Og. The signs were encouraging ear- ly on against Sixmulebridge, but, the Mills waned and ended up ten-point losers.

The two months gap between the first and second rounds, Cooney believes, checked any momentum, gained from beating Wolfe Tones.

“The thing was, and I said it after the Wolfe Tones game, the big break wasn’t going to help us. When you have to wait ten weeks for your next match, it wasn’t going to help us and it didn’t help us. It was very hard to keep it going for the ten weeks. We were just flat against Eire Og, we weren’t up for it”.

Keeping interest and enthusiasm alive during the idle summer weeks, is an age old problem for club man- agers. The problem is keenly felt by rural clubs, battling against declin- ing population numbers.

“It’s definitely getting harder and even talking to other clubs around east Clare, they are finding it hard to keep training going. The numbers are not there. It’s getting tougher, year after year.”

Cooney readily accepts, that in a group that includes Kilmaley and Clarecastle, the Mills are up against

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But there are reasons for optimism. Patrick Donnellan has emerged as a hurler of county standard. Conor Cooney, Joe’s son and the middle brother of the three Cooney boys on the Mills team, started corner back on the Waterford IT team, that won the Fitzgibbon cup.

If they need any extra reason to be- lieve, the Mills need only have a chat with the neighbours.

“Without a doubt Tulla were an ex- ample to all clubs in East Clare, with what they achieved last year, without a doubt. There is great credit due to them. No one gave them a chance halfway through the championship, of not alone winning the champi- onship, but even getting out of the group. When Killaloe beat them in Scariff, everyone wrote them off. They are an example to every club in east Clare. My belief is this year’s championship will be very keenly contested, on account of what Tulla did last year. Other clubs are saying to themselves, if Tulla can do it, why can’t we do it”.

Role models within and around them. Time again for the Mills to walk the line.

THE outspoken co-founder of a ru- ral-rights group has told a high level Oireachtas committee that a root and branch review of An Bord Pleanala is needed.

Issuing a plea to the Oireachtas’s Environment Committee to overhaul An Bord Pleanala, Kilbaha-based, Jim Connolly said he didn’t know why Irish society had handed re- sponsibility for major decisions on everything from single houses to gas pipelines and motorways to a group of ten people who were not account- able to anybody.

Demanding that the membership of the board be more representative of Irish society and not top-heavy with planners, Mr Connolly said if planning appeals were decided by a specific and narrow group of profes- sionally trained persons – planners, in this case – it would be a case of planners looking at planners look- ing at planners all the way along the line.

“Such a system would not be in line with what was originally in- tended, regardless of how one views the role of planners. That is why we have suggested this matter be dealt with by means of a root and branch review of An Bord Pleanala which was established 30 years ago when Ireland was different. Everything has

changed since.”

“The standard of housing that ex- isted and still exists throughout ru- ral Ireland is small, cold, damp and substandard in every way. Therefore, people are entitled to modern hous- ing.

“They are new people who can’t get their mortgages. Their hearts are broken because they are being re- fused. From driving around Ireland, some people say they are shocked at houses painted in white, blue, green and so on.

“They should have driven around the country 30 years ago when there was nothing but dereliction and houses falling down.

“What a wonderful thing it is and it lifts my heart to see development in rural areas and to think people are being properly housed at long last in spite of the begrudgers. Our hearts go out to our young people who can- not build.

aU ec Nevevbercm betsy olelkOym sla Wle BLO) KC! Pleanala is on record as saying there should be no housing in the country- side. This statement has huge impli- cations not alone for any element of fair and impartial treatment for cases being appealed, but is also in direct conflict with Government policy.”

“It appears the board is an exten- sion of the Department of the En- vironment which gets whatever it wants,’ Mr Connolly concluded.

MULLAGH National School has maintained its French connection again this year, as its pupils con- tinue to learn French from a native speaker.

Taking over the role of ensuring these west Clare students have a third language is Monsieur Frederic Charrier.

Mullagh National School has been included in the Department of Edu- cation and Science Modern Lan- guage Initiative for the past number of years and, as part of this, French is taught to pupils in the school.

Last year Swedish born Hulda Schorling taught French to the pupils in Mullagh while she lived in rural west Clare, miles away from the busy streets of Paris where she studied.

School Principal Sean McMahon is

aware of the added dimension these young French-speaking teachers bring to the school.

‘The school has been fortunate this particular year to avail of an EU Lin- gua language initiative. This Europe- an community programme promotes teacher mobility throughout the EU as well as helping children learn the language of their fellow Europeans from a native speaker,’ he said.

Since September 2007 Monsieur Charrier has taken over the baton from Ms Schorling and has been teaching French to the pupuls.

He has also immersed himself in life in Mullagh and is enjoying the experience.

The young Frenchman has a partic- ular love for the traditional music so often heard in the area, as well as the rural landscape that surrounds him in his temporary new locale.

“The children and staff in return have welcomed Frederic into their school community and shared not only his native language but also French cuisine, games and litera- ture. They are, however, particularly proud of the recent Munster victory over French club Toulouse,’ said Mr McMahon.

Under the Department of Educa- tion and Science Modern Language Initiative, the progressive Mullagh National School is a pilot school for the teaching of French.

Pupils in Mullagh have embraced the opportunity to learn French, expanding not only their language skills but also their understanding and appreciation of other European GI TRE Kone

Arising from this project Mullagh National School has also got involved in a Leargas sponsored Comenius

Project facilitating international teaching through a Comenius Lan- guage Assistantship.

This is aimed at giving future teach- ers the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the European di- mension to teaching and learning, to enhance their knowledge of foreign languages, other European countries and their education systems and to improve their teaching skills.

It was in this capacity Ms Schorling taught in Mullagh.

A CHANCE to help out in one of Africa’s most troubled regions was enough to persuade Ennis woman Sarah Geraghty to spend her summer bem Ose: beler-m

On June 10, 23-year-old Sarah will catch a flight to Nairobi, Kenya be- fore boarding a bus without suspen- sion for a 17-hour trek to neighbour- ing Uganda.

Her destination is Gulu, in the northern part of the country. There, along with four other Irish voloun- teers, Sarah will work with staff from the Gulu Medical Research Centre, in one of the region’s many Internally Displaced Camps (IDC).

The camps are home to thousands

forced to leave their homes as a result of fighting between the Lords Resist- ance Army and the Ugandan govern- ment that has flared since 1986.

Sarah is currently in her third year studying Social Care in the Water- ford Institute of Technology.

Her duties in Gulu will involve counseling AIDS victims, helping at the clinic and distributing clothes and food.

Sarah is expecting a massive cul- ture shock when she gets to Africa.

‘A friend was over there a few years ago and that’s how I heard about it. She told me it’s going to be massive culture but a great experience. She told me it would take a while to get used to everything, the culture, the scenery the way people are treated”.

Doctors with the Gulu Medical Re- search Centre are conducting a study on sexual and gender-based violence in the IDCs. Sarah will contribute by helping to compile data.

She explained, “There is a lot of violence against women in the camps and there are a lot of reasons for this. There are no jobs; people just spend their days in these camps, bored and with nothing to do. Because they have no role men struggle to express their masculinity. It’s a vicious cycle. The doctors are hoping to find a link between the violence towards women and HIV, which is a problem particu- larly in that part of Africa”.

Tensions between the opposing fac- tions have eased though child abduc- tions remain a danger.

Sarah is both nervous and excited loyeltl mst swt Oy

“It’s exciting, I suppose, but it’s also nerve-wracking at the same time. I’ve been told that its one of those things that will really open my eyes. We have it very easy over here com- pared to the lives people have over there. It’s good to be able to go out help people.”

Before setting off Sarah will hold a fundraiser in the Barge Rooms, Ennis on Friday June 6. Tickets are €10 and are available from the Barge Rooms with plenty of music and food on the night.

“T’ve had great support, from my family and loads of others like Ken from Realprint. It should be a good night”’.

TESTING times are ahead for 1,233 Clare students sitting the Leaving Certificate and 1,304 who are facing the Junior Certificate examinations from tomorrow.

And parents are being asked to keep their own cool when it comes to helping their children.

A spokesman for the Department of Education said that expert advice is for parents to “try to stay calm to help keep their children calm, par- ticularly for parents whose child is sitting a State examination for the first time. It can often be that the parents are almost as anxious as the

students.”

Other tips for helping youngsters cope with the stressful time include ensuring they eat healthy food and get enough sleep and some fresh air.

Health experts have also warned that swotting and stress can lead to an upsurge of complaints.

Long hours spent revising can lead to insomnia as students find it diffi- cult to switch off from exam prepa- ration. Muscular and joint pain can result from excessive time spent writing or typing on a computer.

For those suffering from condi- tions such as asthma, the trying time can make it worse and they should carry inhalers at all times. Pharma-

cists say that keeping windows and doors closed midmorning and early evening can help reduce reactions in students suffering from hayfever.

The first paper in the Leaving Cer- tificate will be English, while the Applied Leaving Certificate candi- dates will begin with English and Communications. Junior Certificate students will also be sitting their English exam.

Tests for the Leaving Certificate continue until June 20 when the last paper will be applied mathematics and Junior Certificate students will down pens on June 19 when Latin and classical studies are the last ex- ams to be taken.

A SIXMILEBRIDGE doctor is part of local opposition to plans for a €55 million residential development in what is Clare’s fastest growing vil- lage.

Earlier this year, Cormac Quigley lodged plans to construct 221 residen- tial units in the south-east Clare vil- lage. The proposal is one of a number of large-scale planning applications planned for Sixmilebridge.

According to the 2006 census, the population of Sixmilebridge exceed- ed 2,000 for the first time in living memory.

Dr Padraic McKenna is one of a number of residents of Ashview Drive in the village to have lodged an individual objection, while the Ashview Drive Residents Associa- tion have also objected to the devel- opment.

In his objection, Dr McKenna claimed that Sixmiulebridge was growing too quickly for the local in- frastructure.

“The roads, services, local facilities and amenities and local infrastruc- ture would not be able to support such a development. It will mean that families will have to travel to Shan- non, Ennis or Limerick for schools ANNO Mr Dee CoevIBlene

“This development is not in line with proper planning requirements for a small town like Sixmilebridge, as it will comprise housing units only. There are no proposals for a playground, créches, parks or play- ing pitches. These types of facilities are essential for the families who are to reside in the new development and the town as a whole.

“Sixmilebridge has very poor local transport. Its connectivity with Shan- non, Limerick and Ennis is very poor. In this context, building a large hous- ing estate to house hundreds more persons in the town is ludicrous.

“Sixmilebridge is really a rural area. The development proposes a high-density urban or suburban-style development which is completely un- suitable for the town. Such a devel- opment is more suitable for Limerick or Ennis. The development would adversely affect what is a rural area and would damage the character of the town,’ Dr McKenna objection concludes.

Another local development, pro- posed by Fordmount Development, is awaiting a decision from the coun- cil planners. This is for a mixed- use scheme comprising residential, retail, community and commercial units on a nine-acre site bounded by the Limerick Road.

ete tle lived with his elderly brother for half the year from 2002, before moving into the family home permanently. Mr Dempsey claims that the house, which is built on boggy land approxi- mately 20 feet from the road, was se- cure up until 2002 when the road was upgraded.

He said that the heavy traffic that used the road then caused the house to shake and the house to crack.

The Environmental Health Officer with the HSE and two engineering reports commissioned by Mr Demp- sey and his late brother point to a house in serious disrepair.

“While the dwelling is obviously unfit for human habitation at this stage. I would also have concerns for Mr Dempsey’s safety while he is occupying the house,” the environ- mental health officer said in a letter to Clare County Council in April PAU

The house is visibly subsiding with the walls coming apart at the corners and also separating from the ceiling by approximately 30mm.

‘In two areas of the house the prob- lems are so severe that there is dan- ger of collapse. It 1s doubtful if it is economically advisable to attempt to shore up or repair these dangerous areas,’ the letter said.

“IT would recommend that Mr Dempsey be provided with alterna- tive housing preferably in a location of his choosing but alternatively oth-

er options should be fully explored,” the Environmental Health Officer had advised a month earlier.

An engineering report commis- sioned by Mr Dempsey this year said that “vibrations can be felt underfoot with the passing of heavy traffic’ and ‘settlement appears to be related to the increase heavy traffic’.

“The end result is that the main body of the house is 375mm out of level. The flat roof extension to the rear 18 225mm out of level. With the settlement, various cracks have opened up throughout the structure and the roof has developed a hump- backed appearance. Walls have be- come off plumb by up to 125 mm. The floors have broken and become off level due to that upward pressure from the subsoil,’ it said.

Mr Dempsey said he has repeatedly asked the council to put a weight re- Striction on the road, but to no avail.

A spokesperson for Clare County Council confirmed that the local au- thority carried out dilapidation sur- veys on four houses on the stretch of road in question last week, before any work was to begin.

Consultant engineers on behalf of the local authority carried out an internal and external dilapidation survey in two of the four houses, and an external survey on the remaining two, including Mr Dempsey’s.

The council spokesperson said that Mr Dempsey refused access to his home when the council’s consultant engineers called to carry out the sur- vey, so they could only analyse the outside of the house.

An internal survey is necessary to examine the foundations and to get a full picture of a subsidence.

The council were also unable to put “tell tales” into the cracks, which measure any changes.

Mr Dempsey told

TRADITIONAL African and Irish musicians will join together for a special concert in Ennis on June 14. Organised by the Pastor Bright Martey from the Global Revival Evangelistic Ministry (GREM), tick- ets for the event are now on sale. Among the names taking to the stage in Cois na hAbhna are singer Kate Purcell, singer Amo Ghana, Evelyn Bamfo, the Ennis Gospel Choir and the GREM praise team. The event is being organised to

raise money for the Ennis based Eee SE Moroes (eee

Clare Haven women’s refuge opened its doors in Ennis in 2002 and over the years has provided a place of safety and a range of sup- ports to hundreds of women and children who were made homeless due to domestic violence.

Clare Haven Services refuge has been shortlisted as one of the local deserving children’s projects in con- tention for the €10,000 prize from AIB Ennis through the Better Ire- land Programme.

The branch will award €10,000 to the local project that tops the poll in a public text vote which has contin- ued over a four-week period from May 6 to June 6.

Anyone who would like to regis- ter their support for the charity can simply text ENNIS followed by B to 53099 by Friday, June 6.

The award is part of AIB’s Better Ireland Programme which supports children with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities and also chil- dren affected by drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness or a lack of ac-

cess to mainstream education due to poverty.

Pastor Bright Martey who started the GREM in March 2005 said “We want to do a concert and we want to do it right. I have always said that if I was going to put on a concert then I would do it right. I am very busy at the moment; we have bands com- ing over from Holland. Hopefully we will get a good crowd in Cois na hAbhna.”

For further information and ticket reservations contact 087 2919619 or log onto www.brightmartey.com.

CLARE County Council are to paint two listed buildings in Ennistymon bright white with luminous yel- low stripes in an effort to curb the amount of accidents taking place at the location.

Blake’s corner has become infa- mous in recent years as an accident blackspot, with local residents claim- ing that an accident takes place there at least once a week.

The local authority is in the proc- ess of purchasing both Blake’s and neighbouring Linnane’s, located just before the bridge in Ennistymon.

They plan to knock both build- ing and reconstruct them a number of metres back from the road when funding becomes available but, in the meantime, they propose to paint the building luminous colours to make them clearly visible to motorists.

Both buildings are more than 100 years old, have been granted ‘listed’ or protected status by the Office of Public Works and appear on thou- sands of postcards.

The buildings, located three feet below street level, are classic ex- amples of the town’s old-fashioned shop fronts. Indeed, Blake’s earned national notoriety as Ireland’s small- est pub until it closed for business a decade ago.

‘There is a huge problem with cars crashing into those buildings. There are huge volumes of tourists com- ing through there on a daily basis

and they don’t know what is await- ing them when they turn the corner. I am very concerned that there will be a serious accident and that is why I have suggested that reflective paint 1s placed on the walls of the building to alert people that there is a dangerous Situation ahead,’ said Cllr Martin SOE aea CaF

‘This is just a temporary shot-gun measure while the process of moving the building is undertaken. That has

to go through a planning, consulta- tion and funding process. I am real- istic enough to realise that that will take a few years to happen.

“In the meantime, we need to see some progress being made. It’s a bal- ancing act between preserving what is traditional with road safety. In that situation, I will always come down on the side of road safety.”

Council engineer, Donnie Buckley confirmed last week that the local

authority had purchased one of the buildings involved and is at an ad- vanced stage in purchasing the other. The local authority is also to host a meeting in the coming weeks to at- tempt to get the building in question delisted, allowing construction work to take place.

WARNING that Ireland’s green in- frastructure is under threat, the Her- itage Council has launched an action plan to halt the decline of Clare’s biodiversity by awarding funds to five eco-friendly projects throughout the county.

Funding has been awarded to the Clare Bat Group for the conserva- tion of bat species and raising aware- ness with local community groups; the Clare Biodiversity Group for the planting of native trees, fruit trees and wild flowers along newly laid cy- cle lanes; Ennis and District Anglers Association for the restoration of a section of the River Fergus; Tuam- graney Development Association to restore an unmanaged woodland for wildlife; and Lisdoonvarna Commu- nity Centre for work on the Lisdoon- varna Biodiversity Park.

The Heritage Council has award- ed funding of over €7/00,000 to 52 projects around the country that will protect, manage and restore local bio- diversity. The funding is provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The council wants to highlight the importance of wetlands, as well as the damage caused by invasive spe- cies to biodiversity in Ireland. Wet- lands are essential for flood control, pollution control, water supply, and peat lands also serve as vital carbon sinks that could help address climate change. Invasive species are causing problems in our waterways and for- ests, impacting on native biodiversity and affecting water quality.

A South African pondweed sus- pected to have come from a local ornamental garden pond has become established in Lough Corrib, Ire- land’s second largest lake and home to salmon, otter and an internation- ally recognised wild trout fishery. The plant is forming a dense canopy on the lake surface and is blocking out light. This in turn impacts on the native fish and plants in the lake. A task force has been set up to remove the South African pondweed at con- siderable expense.

Other invasive plants such as Rho- dodendron and Gnuant Rhubarb, originally brought in as ornamental garden plants, are causing consider- able damage to native woodlands and the landscape, especially on the west coast.

Meanwhile, zebra mussels (pictured below) are having a serious effect in Lough Derg and waterways along the Shannon and elsewhere, block- ing water pipes and boat engines and affecting native fish species.

Among measures to halt the decline in biodiversity are the planting of na- tive trees, shrubs and flowers; cutting down on household chemicals; plan- ning new developments more sensi- tively as well as preserving wetlands, coastal areas and important habitats. For further information, see www. heritagecouncil.ie.