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IT’S ALWAYS the little things that mess up the best laid plans. Like for- getting to pack your runners before going on holidays. Or falling over the dog the night before the race. Or — my personal favourite — that nagging hot rubbing feeling in your runner that tells you that you’re getting a blister 15 minutes into your run. What to do — stop? Take your sock off? Keep go- ing in the hope it’ll go away?

As with almost everything in life, prevention is the best cure. Know- ing the risk factors for developing a blister is the best way of avoiding one developing in the first place. Three factors make a blister — heat, pressure and friction. Some heat is- sues you can’t control, like the tem- perature of the day. Others you can, for example choosing a shoe with a large amount of mesh in the upper, and making sure your feet are cool and dry before putting your runners on by having a cold footbath and dry- ing your feet thoroughly.

Anything that intensifies rubbing can start a blister, including a faster pace, poor-fitting shoes and foot ab- normalities. There are lots of tips out there on runner forums, blogs and websites on avoiding blisters. Some

of them sensible — good fitting shoes, seamless socks, keep skin from dry- ing out but don’t let get sweaty. Some seem a bit OTT – one ultra runner ad- vises Slathering the feet in Vaseline, putting on a pair of pop socks and then normal running socks. Some (from a renowned but obviously non- running podiatrist) are impractical — stop in mid-race, have a shower and dry the feet thoroughly.

Where we Chartered Physiothera- pists as health professionals can help in the area of blister prevention is advise on foot abnormalities and bio- mechanical problems. If you have, for example, a low arched foot or poor knee muscle control your foot contact with the ground will be dif- ferent from someone who does not have these issues. If you are getting persistent problems with blisters visit your local Chartered Physiothera-

Oe To show that your local Chartered Physiotherapists are behind you

were going to be there for you on the 28th in Lees Road. A team of lo- cal pphysios will be providing free pre and post race massage, stretches and injury advice. We’ve been pro- viding this service since the start of the Clare People 10k and we’ve had hugely positive feedback.

AFTER decades of unsuccessful campaigning, progress has _ finally been made on the provision of a sew- erage facility in Doolin.

Clare County Council yesterday announced that they have purchased a site on which they now intend to build a sewerage treatment plant.

“IT am delighted that progress has been made on this issue. The fund- ing for this project has been avail- able for a long time and we have hit stumbling blocks going back over the foreshore licence.

“IT would now call on the council to make movements on the planning of this as soon as possible,” said Cllr Richard Nagle (FF).

‘People in Doolin have been look-

ing for footpaths and public lighting over the last number of years and all of that has been held up because of the sewerage.

“Hopefully now that situation can be pushed forward.”

The focus will now turn to central government to make extra funding available for the project.

“IT know one business person in the area who has to spent thousands and thousands of euro shiping waste away from Doolin.

“As it stands at the moment, the price per unit for non-commercial developments is prohibitate,” said Cllr Martin Lafferty (IND).

Cllr Lafferty continued on to say, “The way I see it, the funding from central government will have to be increased.”

AS THE school year comes to a close, 300 young Burren experts are preparing to graduate from primary schools all over north Clare and south Galway.

Kinvara-based not-for-profit organ- isation Burrenbeo has been operating its Eco-Beo education programme in 10 national schools for the past six years.

The programme is designed to help the young people of the Burren dis- cover their own unique heritage.

Eco-Beo is made possible because of money raised through the Burren Business Network (BBN) and groups like Burren Connect. The BBN aims

to bring eco-tourism to life on a lo- cal scale by getting local businesses involved in promoting the unique ecology of the Burren and attracting tourism as a result.

“This summer we will have a few hundred new Burren experts graduat- ing from schools in Kinvara, Doorus, New Quay, Boston, Tubber, Corofin, Kilnaboy, Kilshanny and Kilfenora,” said Ann O’Connor of Burrenbeo.

“Next year, other schools will get the benefit of the 20-week course which is made possible by the peo- ple involved in the Burren Business Network. This is the essence of sus- tainable tourism whereby tourists, through the businesses they use, are helping to sustain local communities

and their heritage.”

Burrenbeo first began in 2002 as a high-quality website guide to the Burren and its ecology. The site, which is located at www.burrenbeo. com, now gets a quarter of a million visitors each year who generate al- most four million hits.

Over the years, it has developed into the leading agency for promoting the Burren as an eco-tourist location.

“We want to promote education and awareness and, more than any- thing else, to show the really positive contribution that local farmers give to the area,” continued Ann.

“We are working hard to improve visitor management in the Burren and offer visitors a better tourist ex-

perience. The key to this is giving them top-quality and easily acces- sible information about the area and what they are seeing.

“The overall goal is to promote the Burren as a haven for eco-tourism, a place for ecologically and socially responsible, nature-based tourism that fosters appreciation and under- standing and most importantly con- tribute to the local community and economy.’

Beside the development of the Bur- renbeo website, Burrenbeo has also created an award winning CD-Rom on the Burren and opened a free re- source centre in Cafebeo in Kinvara. For more on Burrenbeo, check out www.burrenbeo.com

A MULTI-MILLION euro construc- tion project in Kilrush is on the verge of collapse following the revelation that sub-contractors on the site have not been paid since before Christ- ate he

According to union representatives, more than €100,000 is now owed to a number of contractors working on the construction of a private nursing home on the Killimer Road in Kil- rush with one painting sub-contrac- tor alone owed €46,000.

In addition to this, two plastering sub-contractors are reportedly also owed more than €41,000 between Wetoeen

An all out strike was avoided yes- terday, Monday, May 26, when over- all contractors Siteline Construction Company Ltd from Limerick, made commitments to pay sub-contractors any arrears before the close of busi-

ness tomorrow, Wednesday, May 28.

Unions have agreed to postpone a picket schedued to take place yester- day until after the Wednesday dead- line.

“A strike may be the only means that we have left in this case, the de- velopment is practically finished and once it is completed we have very Iit- tle leeway,” said Paddy Kenneally of the Clare Plasters Union.

“People would have major reser- vations about the situation with this development. Sub-contractors have been told before that they are about to get paid and it hasn’t happened so we will just have to wait and see.

“The current building climate is very difficult for everyone and it’s nearly impossible for sub-contrac- tors who have to pay their employees to keep going when they are not be- ing paid themselves. People are very worried.

“We are very hopeful that this situ-

ation will be sorted out to everyone’s satisfaction as soon as possible. All our members want is to work and to be paid for the work that they do.”

CLARE County Council has been accused of gerrymandering – result- ing in thousands of people in the Miltown Malbay area being disen- franchised. The claim was made at last night’s Ennistymon meeting of Clare County Council, following a motion from Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) calling for the local authority to have a permanent focus in the town.

‘IT know the programme of area of- fices that was agreed by the council has now been completed. We need to look beyond that and especially at the case of Miltown Malbay,” he said.

“The people of Miltown Malbay feel that they have been bypassed by Clare County Council. They have lost their electorial area and they feel

that they have lost all their standing.

“We need to have some sort of presence in the town, if not full-time then at least some of the time. Clare County Council needs to have a pres- ence there. I’m asking the director to provide feasability of providing some sort of a service in the town.”

Cllr Martin Lafferty (IND) claims that Miltown Malbay has been un- der-represented for almost a decade.

“T believe that they were gerry- mandered and very badly gerryman- dered,” he said. “We are waiting for this famous independent commis- sion to report. I don’t believe that there was ever an independent com- mission. The people of Miltown have not yet realised they received a real shot back in 1999. With one swoop of a pen, it was gone.”

A FIXTURE of the summer, the Clare Youth Service’s (CYS) sum- mer camp is expected to draw the crowds again this year.

CYS’ hugely popular Summer Camp in Ennis will take place from July 7-11 in Ennis Community Col- lege, offering active and creative fun to young people aged 9 to 13 years.

The summer camp aims to offer each child that participates a range of experiences, an opportunity to meet new friends, take part in a wide

range of activities.

This year’s proragmme offers chil- dren to partake in a wide range of activities that promote physical ac- tivity. It includes swimming, bowl- ing, treasure trails, sports and a lot more ensuring there is something for each child.

The camp promises a variety of ac- tivities each day with action, excite- ment, new experiences and a chance to make some new friends in a safe SOMATKeye neste ILm

The total cost of the programme is € 50 but places are limited. To en-

sure a place for your child, phone or call into the Clare Youth Service for an application form.

Completed forms and cheques should be sent to Jean Tierney, Clare Youth Service, Carmody Street, En- ah

The camp also offers leadership op- portunities and skills development to volunteers age 17 and over.

Past experience has shown that the Summer Programme is a richly re- warding experience for participants and young volunteers, as well as be- ing a great community resource.

The Youth Service attributes the continued success of the programmes to the dedicated contribution of these volunteers, many of whom return over several years, often taking an- nual leave from work to help out. For further information please contact Jean Tierney on 065-6845350.

This year’s CYS summer camps will take place in the grounds of Ennnis Community College. A spokesper- son thanked the College for provid- ing assistance, “Clare Youth Service would like to thank Ennis Commu- nity College for their support”

TRACES of the poison ricin were found during a search of Essam Eid’s cell in Limerick prison in April 2007.

The traces were found in a contact lens case under his bed, according to the prosecution, and the find was made on foot of intelligence from the sdk

“It was taken for testing by the army and was found to contain the ricin poison,” said Prosecutor Tom

O’Connell.

“That in a context where poison- ing had been discussed as one of the methods of assassination. The case against Mr Eid, the prosecution says, is an overwhelming case,” the Pros- ecutor said.

Mr O’Connell told the listening jury that the “conspiracy was hatched” between August | and September 26, 2006.

“A conspiracy is in essence an agreement between two or more per- sons to do an unlawful act. It will be

the State’s case that the conspiracy was to kill these three persons,” he nee

Included in the information to be presented to the jury will be evi- dence from the FBI, who carried out investigations in Las Vegas, details of computer and phone traffic and statements made by several people.

Mr O’Connell told the court that Essam Eid claimed to know Sharon Collins and “claimed to be her lover and that she had paid for tickets for him to come to Ireland”.

He said that an Irish soldier came upon ‘hitmanforhire’ on the internet and after email exchanges, Tony Lu- ciano rang him and asked him could he get him a gun in Ireland. The sol- dier panicked and said it wasn’t him who had sent the emails, but that it was a flatmate.

Mr O’Connell told the jury that after the alleged burglary and de- mand for cash from Robert Howard, he spoke to his father PJ, who at the time was on a boat with Sharon Col- lins in Spain.

“Later that night, Sharon Collins told PJ for the first time about Mar- ia Marconi, who was tutoring her about becoming a novelist,” said Mr O’Connell.

He said she told Mr Howard that Ms Marconi had visited Ennis.

“There is no trace of Maria Mar- coni. She has disappeared off a com- puter, even though she said she had been in almost daily contact.

“The prosecution regards this as a fabulous lie. She is a phantom,’ he said.

MAKING the change from a life of 24-7 work and constant travel to one of walking the dog and tending to the garden every day would be consid- ered traumatic in anyone’s life, but for former TD Brendan Daly change or Ne slommyal ems stom (0) oy

One year into retirement the Coor- aclare man is beginning to “unwind” in his native parish and become ac- customed to this next stage in his Tate

Change had always been part of the deal when he entered politics.

First he, and his family, had to get use to life as a TD.

“When you are elected you are thrown in the deep end and you have to fend for yourself and then it all changed again when you are made a minister,’ he said.

His wife Patricia helped to keep it

all in perspective however.

‘When I came home with the State car Patricia said you go in one door and out another. She was very practi- cal about it all,’ he said.

‘One week the red carpet was rolled out for you the next week someone else was walking on it and you had to stand back.”

It is just 12 months since the last election and although he is no longer a full time politician he said he can- not yet leave behind completely the different issues and people that made up the last 34 years of his life.

“Unwinding after 34 years of high power activity, it takes a while to get back to what other people would call normal activity,” he said.

The former Fianna Fail TD and senator said he missed the travelling and his work in Europe.

“It is not possible yet to completely switch off. I wouldn’t like to totally

abandon issues I was involved with over the years and the people that supported me.”

He continues to follow closely the world of politics and current affairs. He is particularly interested in the development of west Clare, Ennis General Hospital, Shannon Airport and the Lisbon Treaty.

The former TD praised the Ennis hospital for finally discovering that his wife had a broken ankle after two years of misdiagnosis and lack of diagnosis in so called centres of excellence.

Daly was elected to the Dail in 1973 when fellow Clare man the late president Paddy Hillary went to Eu- rope as Ireland’s commissioner.

He remains committed to Europe and is hoping that the Lisbon Treaty will be accepted by the people of Ire- land.

“I try to remind myself that I did

my best for 34 years in Leinster House.”

He is now hoping that legislation relating to the internet he worked on before the election will come to frui- tion in this new Dail.

Although he enjoyed politics and misses it from time to time he said, “in political life it sometimes felt that life was going in reverse rather dereDO MOM c-0 Klee

“It took about 20 years to get the government offices to Kilrush. It took a long time for that to happen, it doesn’t take that long for a head of cabbage to grow,’ he said referring to his garden.

“T now have more time for myself, home and the garden and I go to the beach every day with Ross, the red setter.”

CONCERN is mounting over the im- pact construction work in the Parnell Street car park is having on public ENC AA

Town Manager Tom Coughlan told last Wednesday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, that any risk to the public would be examined.

He said ‘I understand that busi- nesses in the area fell discommoded by the work but at the same casual flooding is also having a big impact on the town.

“We would be concerned about public safety in the area and we will get someone to look at it”.

It followed concerns raised in the chamber over the effect work on the

upper section of the Ennis Flood Re- lief scheme is having on businesses on the area.

Independent councillor Frankie Nylon said ‘I would be very worried about customers walking so near a construction site. From what I have heard the traffic situation there is going to get worse. In a few months time, there will be delivery trucks bringing cement and steel. This is at a time when we want to get shoppers into the town”.

Fianna Fail councillor Tom Glynn said, “Several safety issues have been raised and there are merits in looking at the proposals out there”’

It is unlikely though that the Coun- cil will consider allocating areas in the town as temporary taxi ranks

during peak hours.

Town Clerk Eddie Power told the meeting that any such proposal would require the passing of byelaws.

Town Engineer Tom Tiernan said “Unfortunately, you have to break eges if you want to make an ome- lette and unfortunately there has to be an inconvenience. O’Connell Square was found to be unsuitable for a taxi rank. We don’t want to bring that back on ourselves. The biggest inconvenience is that 40% of the parking spaces are compromised for a number of months and for that I do sympathise”.

Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn said, “Business people in Parnell Street are paying rates and are loos- ing about 40 car parking spaces. It

is very difficult for them. There are three or four shops in the area that are already talking about closing Keyan ae

Green party councillor Donal O’Bearra said the work had already caused serious environmental dam- age. “The rate of attrition of trees is fairly one way. People put faith in the OPW and it is not unreasonable that they work together with the pub- lic. They hacked down all the trees on one side of the bank. We should write to the OPW to ask what their plans are to protect the trees”.

Town Engineer Tom Tiernan said, following completion of the work, the area would be returned to its original condition “except in an up- graded state”.

ROBERT Howard told the trial yes- terday (Monday) that following a series of phone calls, he arranged a meeting with the man who had called to his house seeking €100,000 to cancel the contracts on the three Taerse

He told the court that “Tony’ phoned him at around 12.15pm on September 27 – the day after he had called to his

house – and again at 4.45pm.

“At 12.15 he asked me what time I finished work at and had I started getting the money together. I said, ‘The usual time’,’ said Mr Howard.

He said that during the 4.45pm phone call, ‘Tony’ asked to meet at the bus station at 5.15pm.

Mr Howard said he suggested an alternative location, the Queen’s Ho- oe

Asked by prosecution Counsel Tom

O’Connell had he been in touch with the gardai during this time, he said, “Yes I was.”

He said he went to the Queen’s Ho- tel, as arranged, and sat in the bar. He received another phone call from ‘Tony’ at 5.40pm, telling him to go to the bathroom to meet a lady and she would count the money.

“TI told him, no, I wouldn’t go,” said Mr Howard.

“T contacted Detective Garda (Jar-

lath) Fahy and in turn he told me to go to the lobby of the toilets to meet this lady. I did,’ said Mr Howard.

He said the woman was in her late 40s or early 50s with dark hair and wore a leather jacket.

“She said, ‘Have you got the enve- lope?’ I said, “Have you got the com- puter?’”’ he told the trial.

“At that stage, a plain-clothes garda came past the lobby and she took off,’ said Mr Howard.

Asked had he seen the woman pre- viously, he said, “A few minutes ear- lier I might have seen the lady in the hotel walking past me.” He had never seen her before that day.

He said he never received calls from “Tony’ after that and all the calls made to him were on his mo- bile phone. Much of yesterday was taken up with legal argument, in the absence of the jury and the trial con- tinues this (Tuesday) morning.