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A FIRST of a kind art gallery ded1- cated solely to photography is to open in Kilrush this week.

On Thursday night well known Kil- rush solicitor Eugene O’Kelly, along with his wife Felicity, will see their dream come true when their purpose built gallery opens to the public.

The NatureQuest Gallery of Fine Art Photography will feature the work of some of the best-known pho-

tographers in the county.

Among the work on display is that of Christy McNamara. Much of this work has never been seen in Ireland before. A lot of it from New York and Los Angeles, will be on display.

Dave Dakin and Carsten Krieger, who have made Loop Head their home, will also be using the space to display their works.

The gallery will be dedicated to providing exceptional images of west Clare by predominately west Clare

photographers.

Mr O’Kelly, himself an accom- plished amateur photographer, has championed the promotion of pho- tography as a fine art form and this gallery is dedicated specifically to photography and will be innovative in that commitment.

It will also provide sculpture rep- resentative of artists and subjects of west Clare.

Kilbaha artist Seamus Connolly’s work will be on display from the

opening night.

NatureQuest Gallery, located on Burton Street just off Market Square in Kilrush, has been developed from the historic buildings of the But- termarket and offers state of the art lighting, and a professional gallery atmosphere.

The opening reception will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday night and will be launched by Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dol- phin Group.

DESIGN plans for the redevelopment of Fahy Hall are close to completion according to the Doora Barefield parish pastoral council.

At a public meeting held in Fahy Hall last week, residents viewed drawings by architect Victor Leyden and were invited to make their own submissions.

A new church, community facilities including a children’s playground and a new hall are proposed on the three-acre site.

Concern over the lack of commu- nity facilities initiated the drive to redevelop Fahy Hall.

Fr Michael McNamara explained

that the greater facilties were needed to service the growing population in the Roslevan area.

“There are roughly over 1,000 houses in the area and that works out at around 3,000 people, according to the Ennis and Environs Develop- ment plan. A lot of the land has been zoned housing. One of the biggest complaints has been that there is no social facilities,” he said.

Fr McNamara said funding for the majority of the work has already been secured.

“It looks like we have money avail- able. The cost to the local commu- nity would be about one third of the estimated total cost. Until we get planning permission we won’t be

able to put a proper figure on it,” said Deer ee

This is the third version drawn up for the redevelopment of Fahy Hall. Fr McNamara is confident that this part of the process is nearing com- pletion.

‘“We’ve had progress. People have been invited to submit their thoughts and suggestions on the plans. This is the third professional plan that we have had drawn up. People have had a good chance to look at it and ex- amine. We feel the plan that is there at the moments is fairly close to the final plan,” he said.

‘At the moment the sooner we can progress the better. A lot of the back- ground has been done. The commit-

tee have been told the financial re- sources are available,’ he added.

A cornerstone of traditional Irish music and culture, Fahy Hall has been home to the Doora Barefield branch of Comhaltas Ceolto6iri Euir- eann since 1972.

In the late 1970’s the decision was taken that the branch should look for a permanent home. Colm Fahy, a member of the branch, very kindly donated the site for the hall, and it has been home to the Doora Barefield branch ever since, becoming a focal point in the community ever since.

Members of the Doora Barefield branch together with friends and neighbours built the hall on a volun- FD AYA Oy SC

HOPE springs eternal for the resi- dents of Crusheen this week follow- ing the confirmation that Iarnrod Eireann will reexamine the possibil- ity of building a stop for the Western Rail Corridor in the village, months after ruling out the proposal.

It has emerged that, following a meeting with the Crusheen Devel- opment Association last month, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamaon O’Cuiv (FF), has urged the rail company to

reconsider its position on the Crush- een stop.

Responding to a Dail question from Clare TD Pat Breen (FG), Minis- ter O’Cuiv said that CLAR fund- ing could be made available for the project.

“I met a delegation regarding Crusheen station on Friday, May 16. I indicated that in discussions with Jarnr6d Eireann, further proposals had been requested from them in re- FVe Te) MaKOMnd Cem enim ise Um Goue lee under the CLAR programme,” said Minister O’Cuiv.

“T also indicated that, in this con- text, 1f proposals for Crusheen sta- tion were included, they would be considered in respect of CLAR fund- ing, subject to such funding being available.”

The announcement has been given a cautious welcome by Deputy Breen, saying that it could solve the problem in Crusheen if brought to fruition.

“The local Crusheen community have been very proactive in progress- ing this matter and Clare County Council are very supportive, having agreed to provide the car parking fa-

cilities,’ said Deputy Breen.

“IT welcome the positive signals emanating from Minister O’Cuiv and I hope that when the outstand- ing issues are resolved that budget- ary constraints will not delay this project.

“While there were outstanding is- sues to be resolved, he did indicate that once these issues had been ad- dressed and they re-submitted pro- posals for CLAR Funding in relation to the Western Rail Corridor, which included a stop at Crusheen, he would look favourably on this.”

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.

Lough Graney Youth Club will be flying the flag for east Clare in the Gort branch’s section of the AIB Better Ireland Awards.

The east Clare group will be com- peting against two Gort groups to win the coveted text votes that could see them pocket as much as €10,000.

The youth club, which is in its sec- ond year, has already dared to con- sider how it could spend the gener- ous prize.

“We are delighted with this short listing and if we won the €10,000 we would be able to purchase com- puters and filming equipment for our youth club.

This would enable our young peo- ple to become more involved in the community and also we could do many different projects incorporat- ing other age groups,” said Kathleen McNamara, Chairperson of Lough Graney Youth Club.

“Winning this award would ben- efit the entire community including pre-school, primary school children, after-school, adult education and the older members of our area. In this way our youth would appreciate and value their own community and en- able it to grow more progressively or become community leaders of the JUUAb Kr

“We are in the Clar area of dis- advantage and we do not have any

amenities on hand for our young people. We do not have a commu- nity centre, which is a major disad- vantage for our youth. Also, we have to travel long distances for cinema, etc,” she said.

This does not limit the amount of work the Lough Graney Youth Club do in any given week, however.

Last Saturday, the youth club went to Caher House Estate for a barbeque while that night the Lough Graney Youth Club Singers performed for a pre-exam Mass in Kilclaran Church, which was officiated over by Fr Brendan Quinlivan.

The local, people can support the youth clubs campaign to win the coveted €10,000 by texting GortC

to 53099.

Even if the group don’t win they will receive a donation for every text KAAS Aor b

The two other groups competing for the prize are Ballinderreen Play- group and the Gort No Name Club.

To support the Ballinderreen Play- eroup text GortA to 53099, while you can support the Gort No Name Club by texting GortB to 53099.

All texts must be in before June 6 to count.

THE Government has serious con- cerns about the latest proposals ta- bled last week at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, according to Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Tony Killeen.

The Clare TD made the comments after the Minister for Foreign Af- fairs, Micheal Martin attended his first EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels.

Speaking following the meeting, Minister Martin said that he had grave concerns about the latest WTO

papers on agriculture and non-agri- cultural market access.

‘The risk of serious damage being caused to European agriculture from an unsatisfactory WTO deal must be of grave concern to everyone in Europe, producers and consumers alike,” said Minister Killeen.

“This is particularly the case at a time when food security is looming as, potentially, a major issue for the jaUinet none

“After his first meeting with other European foreign ministers, Minis- ter Martin said that he had serious concerns that new market realities and emerging food security issues

are being ignored in the rush towards an early deal.

‘He made it known that Ireland has profound reservations about the lat- est WTO papers on agriculture and non-agricultural market access. He also agreed with others present who questioned whether the objective grounds currently exist for an early WTO ministerial meeting.

“Minister Martin made it very clear that the obvious imbalance in the present set of proposals makes them unacceptable to Ireland and to others.”

“If it is to be acceptable, a WTO agreement must not undermine Eu-

ropean agriculture. A WTO deal must deliver real benefits to Europe and to developing countries.”

“Ireland wants a WTO agreement as much as any other member state but it must be fair and balanced in re- spect of what the EU is being asked to concede and what it is receiving in return.

“Minister Martin and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, are determined to continue working with other mem- ber states so as to ensure that any outcome to these negotiations will not result in our key interests being sacrificed.”

PROMOTING from’ within has served Clarecastle well. Two county titles in the last four years, testifies to that.

After landing the championship in 2005 during his two years as man- ager, Ger Ward stepped aside in 2007 for Fergie Tuohy. Then in 2008 the baton returned to Tommy Howard who was a county final winning manager in 2003.

Managers come and managers go, but the transition is always a smooth one. In Clarecastle, you shouldn’t confuse change with upheaval.

Every year there are plenty of strong candidates. But when one is selected to lead, the club coalesces around a common goal — winning the cham- ey Coyetsieul oy

There isn’t time for factions or rivalry. Unity, manager Tommy Howard agrees, has been a source of strength for the club.

“We don’t have major showdowns or votes at the beginning of the year”, says Howard, “At the beginning of the year, I indicated an interest in being involved, and the club seemed to be happy to accept me. When it comes to my time to give it up, someone else will pick up the baton

and go. That’s just the way it seems to happen. It’s healthy for the club as well, in fairness.”

Being able to select from such a deep pool gives a Clarecastle formi- dable edge off the pitch. New man- agers, having played for the club, are already attuned to the fierce expecta- tion to win.

Howard, manager when the mag- pies won their 10th county title in 2003, understands this can be a dou- ble-edged sword.

“I think Clarecastle would be known as being parochial to say the least. There is great pride and great passion in the place. Playing for your club and being involved as a mentor is seen as a great honour. It brings pressure. The expectation is always high from the supporters and that’s part of the enjoyment of it as well. It’s an honour to be involved and to be able to give it time and to have a

go at it. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t and you have to live with the consequences.”

2007 was a year when that didn’t go to plan. After beating Wolfe Tones in the quarter final, Clarecastle were outmaneuvered and, dare you say it, outfought by Tulla in the semi final.

‘To get to the semi final was a great achievement in one respect. Tulla went on and they won the champion- ship, so they proved to be credible champions. They beat everyone they had to beat along the way and they did it with a bit of style.”

Howard 1s concerned that Clarecas- tle have “leaked goals at critical stag- es” in the Clare Cup. More pressing though, are the injuries to key players like Derek Quinn. The club’s leading marksmen will miss the group stages due to a serious ankle injury.

Darragh Moloney, another forward from whom much is expected is una-

vailable, but for different reasons. He is preparing for his Leaving Cert.

“Derek Quinn would be massive loss to any setup. In a county where good forwards are a rare commodity, he’s a massive loss to us, massive’’.

Clarecastle’s opponents in group 3 include old rivals Kilmaley and Eire Og. The game against the townies sees Howard pit his wits against his brother in-law and Eire Og manager, John Russell.

“Whatever way that falls. I’m sure they will be a bit of ribbing, wheth- er I was involved or not’, laughs Howard.

Not that there is much time for fun and games. The serious business be- gins now.

ONE of the biggest construction companies in the mid-west tripled its profits before tax to €1.6 million, ac- cording to the most recent accounts filed with the companies office. Accounts to the end of September 2006, show that the Michael Lynch (Group) Ltd increased its profits be-

fore tax from €507,000 in 2005 to €1.6 million in 2006.

Last week, An Bord Pleanala gave the company the go-ahead for a large-scale housing development at Lifford in Ennis which should go some way towards making up for failing to secure a planning permis- sion for a €50 million retail park at Clonroadmore.

The Ennis company almost dou- bled its turnover going up from €27 million to €42 million, underlining the money-generating capacity of the firm during the building boom.

The accounts show that the group’s operating profit was €2.1 mullion in 2006 — up from €1.52 million in 2005 – and retained profit combined with shareholders’ equity funds

amounted to over €8 million.

Underlining the importance of the company to the local economy, the number of people on payroll was 71 with staff costs for 2006 amounting to €4.8 million.

And the value of the company’s landbank continues to increase with the returns showing that in 2004, the company had development lands val-

ued at €5.7 million. This increased to €12.4 million by September 2005 and to €15 million at the end of Sep- tember 2006.

The accounts stated that the com- pany proposed not to pay a dividend in 2006.

The returns to the companies office list Seamus Lynch and Mary Lynch as directors of the firm.

KILLALOE singer/songwriter K1i- ernan McMullan will help launch a new night for local artists later this evening in Lahinch.

The up and coming east Clare art- ist, who last month signed his first professional contract with American based label One Eleven Records, will be joined on the night by Shan- non’s David Hope, Limerick’s Wal- ter Mitty and the Realists and Lynda Cullen from Cork.

They will all help to launch Clare’s newest free singer songwriter night, The White Horse Sessions, in Ken-

ny’s Village Inn in Lahinch. The evening is being organised by Clare singer/songwriter Louise McMahon and Kenneth Kenny from Kenny’s.

“We want to have a good mixture of acts in the White Horse Session and with Kiernan as well as the other acts I think we have achieved this. We don’t want to have all bands or all singer songwriters – we want to break it up,” said Kenneth.

“Clare has always been very good for musicians and at the moment there is something really good going on in Lahinch. There is a great lit- tle scene here, everyone helps each other out. People are crying out for

the music but they need a stage. Our real aim is to bring the music back to the west.

‘So we were thinking of something we could do here. We thought about an open mic but they’ve been done. We really wanted to get some real talent in, people who are really good. So Louise came up with the idea of the sessions and it has all snowballed from there,’ said Kenneth.

The aim is to create an intimate venue for candlelit sessions through- out the summer. The organisers hope to provides a stage and a listening au- dience for both the cream of up and coming and the established original

Irish and international artists.

The sessions will take place each Tuesday throughout the summer months with plans already being formed to continue the gigs into the winter if the demand is there.

Meanwhile, the next month looks set to be a busy one for Kenneth. Be- sides working on the new album, he plays the Sugar Club in Dublin next Tuesday, June 10, and will be the second artist in

MENTAL health services in Clare are significantly under-funded, ac- cording to the annual report of the Mental Health Commission (MHC) released last week.

The report also pointed to a sig- nificant reduction in the amount of patients admitted involuntarily to in- patient mental health units.

“The Clare Mental Health Service had been proactive in developing a community-based model of care over the five years since the closure of Our Lady’s Hospital,” said a spokes-

person from the Mental Health Com- mission.

“It had sourced external support to further develop the workings of teams and had a written plan based on the national planning document, ‘A Vision for Change’.

“However, Clare faces consider- able challenges in reconfiguring ex- isting nursing resources, introducing health care assistants and accessing funding to achieve appropriate staff- ing levels on all teams.”

The figures, which covered all of 2007, revealed a 25 per cent reduction in the number of involuntary patients

in health care centres since 2005. Na- tionally, just over 2,000 people were involuntarily admitted in 2007.

“2007 was a milestone year for men- tal health services in Ireland. It was the first full year of the implementa- tion of the Mental Health Act 2001 and this has had a significant effect on the delivery of mental health services in Ireland,” said Brid Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of the MHC.

“While we acknowledge _ that changes have taken place in a lot of approved centres, there are a still a number of centres which are not op- erating to best practice. It is the goal

of the commission to continue to pro- mote high standards during 2008 and onwards.”

Despite improvements made in mental health services in 2007, the MHC expressed its concern about the lack of progress in the implemen- tation of the Government’s policy on mental health.

“The implementation of “A Vision for Change’ is necessary so that a modern, comprehensive person-cen- tred model of mental health service provision is available for all of those who need to avail of it,” said Dr Ed- mond O’ Dea, Chairman of the MHC.