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CLARE milk producers are about the feel the pinch with the news this week that the Kerry Group is to slash the price they pay to farmers by 22.7 cents per gallon.

The news comes just days after Ire- land’s biggest milk producer, Glan- bia cut their milk price by 3.96 cents per litre.

Chairperson of ICMSA’s Dairy Committee, John O’Leary, described the Kerry Group decision as a terrible blow to Clare farmers and all Kerry suppliers. According to O’Leary, this cut will represents a loss of €11,365

for a full year’s milk production on a 50,000 gallon farm.

“The reality is that Kerry suppli- ers face substantially increased costs and many have made – or are making – massive investments in relation to Nitrates. It is a terrible blow to them to see their Co-op cutting the price by 22.7 cents per gallon in one go,” he said.

‘This kind of drastic cut is in sharp contrast to last year when the Co-op only increased the price by small amounts while the markets were booming. They have been much quicker to cut the price than they were to raise it last year and they

have cut the price just before peak milk production.

“It should be pointed out that Ker- ry’s profits last year were €298 mil- lion and the group indicated this week that earnings will grow again in 2008, an announcement that comes at the same time as they have slashed farmers’ earnings.

“The growth in Kerry’s earnings would appear to be at the expense of milk suppliers. Present figures indi- cate that a 50,000-gallon Kerry sup- plier will be over €13,500 worse off than a Wexford supplier based on a full year’s milk production.

Meanwhile, the IFA’s’ Richard

Kennedy criticised Glanbia for cut- ting their April milk price by 3.96c/ ie

‘“Glanbia is the biggest milk proces- sor in the country with probably the best product mix of all milk proces- sors,” he said.

“It should therefore have been in a particularly good position to hold the April milk price. It is a huge letdown to Glanbia suppliers and the suppli- ers to all other co-ops that this year again Glanbia choose to led milk prices down. We would urge Glan- bia and other co-ops to hold a strong milk price in 2008 to secure farmer confidence and milk supply.”

THE final of the St Josephs School Spanish Point A2 575 was the fea- ture event of the eleven on Saturday nigh’ts Galway Card. Favourite for the €1,200 to the winner contest was the Noel Mullins of Gort trained Miss Fabulous (T6) and the daughter of World Class and Legal Moment was very smartly away out wide and she led by two lengths from Phillip- specialone (T3) on the long run to the bend.

Turning down the back Miss Fabu- lous extended her advantage to four lengths over her rivals and although Ballingown Boy (T2) made _ late headway Miss Fabulous was always in total command as she took the prize for owners Paul Curley and Michael Regan by a length in a time

of 31.79

The second contest was an A5 af- fair in which the Pat Hogan of Ennis owned Aulton George landed some nice wagers as he made virtually all to defeat Paradise Alana (T5) by three lengths in 29.54.

The Seamus Fahy trained son of Droopys Scholes and Dalcash Veva just shaded O’Garney Flo (T3) on the run to the opening bend and as they raced past halfway the gap was half a length.

Rounding the third bend Aulton George railed well and cut of the challenge of O’Garney Flo before pulling clear up the straight for his maiden success.

The third contest was an A3 graded 525 and here the Mrs Marie Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Dame showed both early pace and stam-

ina as she romped home over eight lengths to spare over Stanton (T6) in 29.01.

The daughter of Honcho Clas- sic and Burnpark Circle led by two lengths from Stanton on the run to the opening bend and with trouble among the backmarkers the front two drew clear.

Racing out of the back though Burnpark Dame began to draw clear of Stanton as she opened her account at the fifth attempt.

In the Al graded sixth contest over 525 yards the blue jacketed Tyrur Kerril was smartly away along the inside and although he moved slight- ly wide at the opening corner he still led Flandy (T4) by two length rac- ing towards halfway with Corpo- rate Legend(T6) in third place three lengths further adrift.

As the leader approached the third bend the distress signals were out and the Conor Flanagan of Ennisty- mon owned Flandy (Fortune

Mike-Mythical Cracker) swept past on the rail before he raced clear to win by over five lengths in 29.08

The concluding race of the night went to the Colm and Oran Fitzger- ald of Kilrush owned Fitzler Joker a son of Barnane Bit and Black Show who was smartly away from his trap six berth as he led Corrib Star (T5) bytwo lengths rounding the opening two bends. Racing down the back the sextet were in Indian file as Fitzler Joker set sail for the judge chased all the way by Corib Star but at the line the advantage was still over two lengths in favour of Fitzler Joker in SYA Le

Friday night’s card was an all grad-

ed 11 race programme with the con- cluding three 575 yard contests being the three heats of the Tully National School A4 Stake..In the opening heat the Johnny Burke of Tubber trained Drumline Tom topped the market but he was moderately enough away as Rob The Five (T2) and Bold Ted- dy (T6) led the field to the opening corner.

Racing down the back Rob The Five led by two lengths from the wide running Bold Teddy with Ca- poola Savings (T4) improving from rear.

Racing around the home turn the Ollie Burke trained Rob The Five (Droopys Vieri-Iwotensfive) railed well and although Capoola Savings was closing with every stride the line came in time for Rob The Five by three quarters of a length in 32.27.

SOME of Kilrush’s most prominent businessmen have questioned the procedure used by the two local au- thorities when they purchased a €1.4 million derelict site for their new civic offices.

Following the meeting of Kilrush Town Council, local developer Mark Reidy said it appeared that the elect-

ed members’ opinions did not seem to matter as “the decision was made at a higher level, without taking into account the rate-payers who are the backbone of this town”.

He said, “There is no reason why they couldn’t have purchased this on an option agreement, undertaken a feasibility study, applied for plan- ning permission and then have a de- layed closing.”

Businessman Joe Whelan, who at- tended the local authority meeting, said, “If I was to operate my business like that cuckoo operation carried out there this evening, I wouldn’t be here five minutes.”

Fellow businessman Paul Coady said the meeting clouded the issues around how the building would be paid for, rather than clearing up any questions they may have had.

“In fairness, we want development for the town and we accept there may be a need for civic offices,” he said.

Mr Coady who is chairman of the Kilrush Chamber of Commerce, said he was not speaking on behalf of the chamber, which would be issuing a full statement once it had obtained the information necessary to make an informed decision.

A special meeting of the chamber executive took place on Thursday morning last. “It 1s a project we cer- tainly have no grave objection to but we need the information on how it is going to be funded,’ said Mr Coady in his only reference to that meeting.

Meanwhile, Mr Reidy has ques- tioned the feasibility of the project. He said that he had offered the coun- cil 7,000 square foot of office space at the Quay Mill development, fully fin- ished, for €1.6 million and his offered was declined. He said that he also of- fered to rent the office space to Clare County Council and Kilrush Town Council for €14 per square foot.

The renovation of Inis Cathaigh is estimated to cost up to €5 million.

Mr Reidy denied he had a vested interest in objecting to the lack of a feasibility plan in place to buy and develop Inis Cathaigh. He said he has since sold the development, and has only a minor interest in the busi- ness now.

can reveal that three drivers in the county have amassed 12 penalty points and, as a result, have been banned from driv- ing for six months.

Twenty drivers have received 10 points each, two have received nine points, 61 motorists have amassed eight points, while seven drivers have got seven points each.

279 drivers have received six points, while 32 motorists have earned five points. One driver has four penalty points, while 48 Clare motorists have

received three points.

The single biggest amount of driv- ers – 7,142 – have two points, while 146 drivers have one point each, bringing the total number of drivers to 9,001.

Drivers who receive 12 points with- in three years are then banned from driving for six months.

Penalty points apply to 36 offences, including careless driving, crossing a continuous white line, not wearing a seatbelt and speeding.

Offending drivers are issued with fixed charge notices and if they pay the fine, the points are added to their licenses. However, they can contest their cases in court and, if success- ful, the points will not be added to NCJ P mB BLO eoe

The single biggest offence commit- ted by Clare drivers over the past two years was speeding. 8,360 drivers were caught for this. 1,075 drivers were caught for not wearing their seat belts, while 715 were detected driv- ing while using their mobile phones. 324 drivers in Clare received points for crossing continuous or broken white lines.

The next most significant offence was drivers failing to obey traffic lights (174), followed by failure to comply with traffic signs (121).

Several Clare drivers were also caught for overtaking, driving with- out reasonable consideration, fail- ing to stop before spot lines and not ensuring children were wearing seat ere) LiSe

The head of the Clare Garda Divi- sion Traffic Corps, Inspector John Galvin said it was disheartening that sO many drivers were ignoring the road traffic legislation.

“It is disappointing to see that peo- ple are continuing to breach the laws, despite the enforcement and public campaigns. It is putting people’s lives at risk,” he said.

“We are continuing to enforce the regulations. All gardai are doing it throughout the division,” added In- spector Galvin.

‘Expect to see us on the roads,” he WEN e Eee b

As part of a nationwide crackdown on motoring offences, the traffic corps in the Clare division increased significantly in size last year.

KILLALOBE’S playground plans got a boost this week with news that the project have been allocated €60,000 towards the cost of providing the fa- TIA

Local councillor, Tony O’ Brien (FF) proposed at a meeting of the Killaloe area committee last week that the money be given to the project.

The council members had been

asked how they wanted to divide up a total allocation for the coming year of €83,000 under the county coun- cil’s playground funding scheme.

The members were told that next year would be the last year for this particular scheme and any other groups ready to go should get there applications in before the end of this year to be in with a chance of fund- ing.

Cllr O’Brien told the meeting that

he wanted to secure the funding for the group, who have been making massive efforts in their bid to provide a play facility for the town.

“They are a very progressive group and they are ably supported by a number of organisations in the area. The project will cost a total of about €150,000 and there is a significant drive to fundraise by the local com- munity,” he said.

Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald (Lab) sec-

onded Cllr O’Brien’s motion. “They are doing a marvellous job,’ he said.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) asked whether the remaining €23,000 in funding was in danger of going else- where if the local authority bounda- ries were redrawn after the Boundary Commission publishes its report this month. The meeting was told that it is understood that no changes would come into effect until the next local Ae BO) ITS

IT WAS a busy week for young farm- ers organisation Macra who help their AGM in Carlow and elected a number of new national officers. The new Macra na Feirme national executive was elected at the National AGM in the Dolmen Hotel in Carlow last Saturday evening. Michael Gow- ing from Laois has been re-elected National Chairman, with Anita Meagher from Waterford being re- elected National Secretary and Dara Kavanagh from Wicklow taking up the role of National Treasurer.

The newly elected National Coun- cil for the 2008/2010 term was inau-

gurated at the AGM. Chairpersons and members of Macra’s three sub- committees – Agricultural Affairs; Rural Affairs and Member Services and Competitions – will be elected at the next national council meeting.

Speaking at the event, national president Catherine Buckley thanked the many sponsors and congratulated the organising committee in Carlow Macra for successfully coordinating the day’s proceedings.

Also during the meeting the young farmers organisation formally adopt- ed new Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures. The Macra presi- dent stated that she believes these guidelines and procedures are vital

as many of its clubs around Ireland host and organise a variety of events and initiatives in local communi- ties at which children are present. Furthermore, Macra membership is open to 17 year olds, and in the eyes of the law, such persons are deemed to be ‘children’.

In her keynote address at the Macra na Feirme AGM, Ms Buckley said that the organisation continues to be progressive and responsive to the needs of all its members. “We want to send out a clear message that Macra na Feirme 1s a caring and safe organisation for young people,” she Crate

‘We consider ourselves as the voice

of young farmers and a strong advo- cate for the benefit of rural youth. These guideline and _ procedures demonstrate to young people and society at large that Macra takes its responsibilities seriously, and wishes to safeguard its members.

‘“Macra prides itself on its ability to provide a broad range of activities for its members including agriculture, sport, travel, performing arts, public speaking and community involve- ment. Macra is a social outlet for all its members and now with these new child protection guidelines and procedures it provides an even safer, more secure, fun environment for all its members.”

CLARE golf clubs confirmed their quality yesterday when four of the county’s courses were chosen among Ireland’s top 100 courses.

The now established list was com- piled for the latest edition of Golf Digest Ireland and was chosen by a panel of experts.

Lahinch was deemed the leading Clare course and moved up the lad- der from eleventh position to eight due mainly to the growing impact of a major re-modelling by English golf-course architect, Martin Haw- Kron

Shannon Golf Club also received a confidence boost when it made the list for the first time, coming in at number 67. The other two golf courses in Clare to make the list were Doonbeg, which took the 29th spot, and Dromoland Castle, further lo: 1el tres) ROe

For a second-year running, the number one course was listed as

Royal County Down and Portmar- nock’s position of number two 1s also the same as last year.

Further down the order, however, there is some interesting movement in the top ten in which Ballybunion (Old) has climbed from fourth to third.

This means that Adare Manor goes down to number four, but it remains the top-ranked parkland course in the country, by a significant margin. The European Club remains fifth; Waterville remains sixth but the Co Louth links at Baltray has moved up one, to seventh place. Royal Portrush comes in at ninth with tenth place being awarded to the K Club Palmer Course, venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup.

“Movement is evident on this year’s list, due to a massive investment which has seen significant upgrading of a number of courses,’ explained Linton Walsh, managing director, Golf Digest Ireland. “After the pub- lication of last year’s list, the maga-

Zine contacted all of the courses on this island, requesting information on any work that was being under- taken. Replies were received from 53 of these clubs. A member of the panel or a PGA member inspected each of these courses and the im- provements were duly noted during voting on this year’s list.”

The top 100 were selected in groups of ten, which meant, that any course which went close to making the top ten, automatically came into consid- eration for the second ten, and so on down the list.

After a discussion on each group of courses, an individual, written vote was taken, with points being awarded to each course in order of preference, from 10 down to one. The counted votes then determined the order of preference.

KILRUSH Town Councillor, Tom Prendeville (FF) called for an end to any negativity being fed to the press regarding the purchase of a €1.4 mil- lion site for civic offices on Francis Nlstsem

The councillor was speaking at this month’s meeting of the local authority members during which he proposed that the town manager ap- point a design team to draw up a plan for the new offices on the site of the former Inis Cathaigh hotel.

‘In what some might see as a quan- tum leap of faith in you, town man-

ager, to deliver a building in line with our dreams, hopes and aspirations for the delivery of a better public serv- ice to the people of Kilrush, we now earnestly request you to appoint the design team as an important first step in our overall objective,” he said.

“In our budget proposal for 2008, this council wisely set aside seed cap- ital to expedite our need for modern civic offices in the west Clare capital. There is also a dire need for some form of a civic art centre to be incorporated into the proposed development.”

Town Manager Bernadette Kin- sella said that the site purchased was a prestigious site and only fitting for

the council.

She said confirmation of the agree- ment to purchase the site was sent to the councillors immediately after the council executive was confident of a deal. “Any such commercial transac- tions had to be conducted in confi- dence,” she said.

The manager said she did not know how much it would cost to renovate the derelict site, but estimated the cost at approximately €5 million.

She was also unsure how the cost would be split between the two local authorities – Clare County Council and Kilrush Town Council. “Subject to sitting down and looking at the

figures, | would presume 50-50,” she ene

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) asked, “Are we looking at higher rates and higher car parking fees?”’

‘I don’t have any answers,” said Ms Kinsella. The effect the cost would have on local rates would be a matter for the members, she added.

Meanwhile, the father of the coun- cil, Cllr Jack Fennell (Ind), said that while he welcomed the new offices, he was “totally against” moving the chamber from the town hall.

The councillors are to meet in workshops to discuss any sugges- tions for the design.

AN Ennis couple have been once more vindicated in their opposition to plans for a mixed-use development on the town’s historic Francis Street.

Last year, Ennis Town Council granted planning permission to Galvin Construction for a mixed-use development on a strategic site at the junction of Francis Street and Clon- road.

The proposal by Galvin Construc- tion Ltd was for the construction of a contemporary office building at the site.

The company had been trying to develop the site for a number of

years, but were stymied in their ef- forts by Vincent and Anne Coffey of Clonroad, who already had an objec- tions against development at the site upheld by An Bord Pleanala.

In 2004, it emerged that the Cof- feys withdrew their objection against an unrelated €20 million housing scheme at the Quin Road, Doora by Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd af- ter the company paid them £85,000 (€107,930) and gave them two free sites.

The Coffeys operate a business adjacent to the site in Doora and ex- pressed concern over the impact the proposal would have on their devel- e)eeonle

They stated that at no time did they approach the developers with the intention of securing payment of money, gifts, consideration of other inducement.

The Coffeys have a material inter- est in the proposed Francis Street development as they own property adjacent to the site and claim that the scale, massing, design and setting is inappropriate and likely to under- mine wider development in the area.

In the assessment of the applica- tion, the board inspector stated that the proposed development accords with the thrust and emphasis of the Development Plan.

“It is, however, noted that both the

county engineer and town engineer have serious reservations about the development being premature given the need for improvements to the Francis Street pumping station and it is anticipated that construction work will commence in 2009.

‘In the circumstances, even though the planning authority do not feel the proposed improvement works have any bearing on the appeal site, it is considered the works could well have an impact on any future development and this needs to be clarified.”

The proposal was refused as the board considered it premature as 1m- provements are to be carried out to the Francis Street pumping station.

THE Killaloe/Ballina Youth Initia- tive has been shortlisted as one of the local deserving children’s projects in contention for a €10,000 award from AIB Killaloe 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 over a four-week period from May 6 to June 6.

The local community can text Kil- laloe B to 53099 to vote for the youth rea colt Op

The award is part of AIB’s pro- gramme which supports children with disabilities and also children affected by drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness or a lack of access to mainstream education due to pov- uae

Set up in 2004, the initiative caters

for youngsters aged 13 to 16 years.

“The aim of this group is to devel- op the capacity and skills of young people, using a using a developmen- tal, interactive and person centred approach that will help them to take control of their own lives,” said youth worker Tracey Doyle.

Not ones to wait for things to come to them, group members have taken part in a joint fund-raising effort with a youth group from Scariff where they pushed a purpose-built bed in the rain from Scariff to Killaloe to provide some funds to help to pay for travel costs to events.

They attended Youth in Action in Croke Park and opened the day by giving a hand drumming perform- ~N Neen

There are some budding dj’s, in their number who took part in a dj- ing workshop in the Belltable Arts

Centre.

Other members recently competed in the county games final, took part in the under 15’s quiz and the un- der 18’s draughts competitions. The competitor in the draughts competi- tion was successful in going forward to the regional finals.

‘We applied for this funding to cre- ate a chill out area for young people living in the area to provide a space to meet friends, watch tv and dvds, develop better IT skills and avail of non formal development education opportunities, enabling social devel- opment for these young people,” said ibe-leors

She recently carried out research in the area with help from transition year students in St Anne’s Commu- nity College to assess the need and demand for a youth and community centre.

“Comments from young people prove the overwhelming need for a space where youth can meet up and partake in activities in a safe and se- cure environment,’ said Tracey.

“A direct quote from one young person was “There should be a youth centre to keep us off the streets, out of trouble and not be bullied into things we do not want to do”.”

Each text vote costs 60 cent and proceeds generated by the text vot- ing for Killaloe/Ballina Youth Initia- tive will be donated directly to the

group.