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A WEBSITE, linking those involved in the tourism sector in Shannon, 1s being set up, in an effort to ensure the town benefits more from the in- flux of visitors to the region.

The website is the brainchild of the mayor of Shannon, Councillor Sean McLoughlin (FG), who included the project as one of his aims when he was elected mayor last year.

He feels that tourists coming in to Shannon should spend longer peri- ods of time in the town. He believes that if the incentive was there, tour- ists would spend more than just one night in the town, after they fly into

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He said that positive feedback was generated from a meeting on the is- sue earlier this year.

“There was a good response. We are setting up a dedicated website for Shannon, so that people can stay in Shannon. The idea is to keep peo- ple in Shannon for longer than one night,” he said.

“I feel that people who use the airport generally stay in Shannon for one night. They fly in and are gone the following morning. Shan- non hasn’t been getting its fair share of the trade. We need to let people know we have a town here and nice facilities.

“Shannon is well located. People could take bus and coach tours to places such as the Cliffs of Moher, Ailwee Caves or St John’s Castle in Limerick. Shannon 1s just a half hour drive from those places. It is a good place to base yourself for a couple of days,” he added.

“We are hoping to tie up with all the other agencies in the county. If we can get all the agencies working together, we can all link together,’ he said.

He said the ultimate aim is that the Shannon area will benefit from the establishment of the website.

‘We hope to be able to attract more people into Shannon and that they

can stay longer,’ he stressed.

Among the services he hopes to link through the website include bed and breakfasts, hotels, restaurants, coach and car hire firms and taxis, in Shannon and surrounding areas.

So how will the website work, once it is up and running?

“Anybody involved in tourism in the area is invited to take space on the website,’ he said.

Councillor McLoughlin and Paddy Halton — who was the grand mar- shall at the St Patrick’s Day parade in Shannon last month — have been working on the website and will an- nounce details of its launch within weeks.

MUNSTER’S employment outlook is holding strong according to the latest figures from workforce management solutions, Manpower Ireland.

The survey shows that 11 per cent of Munster employers are predicting they will hire more staff in the com- ing quarter. This is eight per cent up in quarter Over-quarter-results but a decrease of 11 per cent on last year’s JURA Koe

Construction industry employers anticipate an optimistic quarter-over- quarter improvement in hiring activ-

ity with an eight per cent increase during the second quarter of the year, representing a slight decline of three per cent on last year’s figures.

Conducted quarterly, the Man- power Employment Outlook Survey measures employers’ intentions to increase or decrease their workforces and gathers data from 55,199 employ- ers across the world each quarter.

Regional employment is expected to be strongest in Ulster and Mun- ster, both of which recorded an opti- mistic employment outlook of 12 per cent and 11 per cent respectively for the second quarter of the year.

The pharmaceutical industry re- corded the strongest hiring outlook of 21 per cent followed by employers in the transport, storage and commu- nication sector, who are predicting a hiring outlook of 18 per cent over the next three months.

Manpower Ireland Managing Di- rector Jason Kennedy said the results were reassuring for the Irish economy as a whole. In spite of many warnings and gloomy forecasts the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, which speaks to employers directly, has shown that many employers are feel- ing positive about the future growth

of their companies.

Even in the construction industry which has been the focus of much controversy in the last six months, eight per cent of all employers are planning on hiring more staff in the coming quarter.

The percentage of employers ex- pecting to reduce staff in the coming months is in line with the average from previous quarters. This suggests that while the rate of job creation has dropped this will be balanced against the fact that employers are not reduc- ing their respective workforces to any greater extent than before.

THE PLAYGROUND at Cappa will oLoMmm XCM ND OTSMMM sD. qe: More 001 0)00Ccs 0mm DOCG mz) facelift before the summer.

Members of Kilrush Town Council were given the good news at their meeting last week after Councillor Liam O’Looney (FF) asked that the playground be extended.

“As a father with young children

myself, I go there regularly and this is a facility which serves the com- munity very well. But three or four of the little activities that were there have been taken away. There’s now only one baby swing and there are long queues to use it. It wouldn’t take much to put an extra couple of swings in, for instance.”

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) supported Councillor O’Looney and

asked whether there could be money sourced from the playground grants scheme to help.

Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) said that he feels that a “town the size of Kil- rush should have another playground. Could we look at developing one in Vandeleur?”’

Cllr Christy O’Malley (FF) said that “it should be a stipulation that when new developments are being

built they should include recreation ELOVU BIBL oy

In reply to Cllr O’Looney’s mo- tion, council officials said that the council “is in the process of seeking quotations from suppliers of play- eround equipment to replace existing equipment that is in poor condition and improve the overall layout and presentation of the play facilities at Cappa.”

When she asked whether this would be done in time for the sum- mer school holidays, Cllr Deirdre Culligan (Ind) was told by Town Clerk, Fiona Mooney, that this was the plan.

“With any contract, we are depend- ent on suppliers and how fast they can provide things but it is our inten- tion to go ahead as fast as possible”, she said.

A MAJOR fundraiser for the devel- opment of the school field in Quin will take place on Friday night.

‘Who wants to be a Thousandaire’ will take place at The Clare Inn ho- tel. The aim of the event is to raise €100,000 for the development of the nCOAKGD

The overall project is costing more than €200,000. While more than half of this has been raised locally,

Friday night’s event is the single big- gest fundraiser for the project.

Contestants will have the opportu- nity to win up to €1,000 on the night, as well as entering a draw for a holi- day worth €750.

The cost of tickets for the event is €15 and they are available at the school office and from parents and members of the organising commit- Koto

The fundraising at the school is not confined to this initiative. The par-

ents association, assisted by school staff, raised almost €2,000 through bag packing in Dunnes Stores re- cently.

This initiative was carried out with the aim of buying a third interactive board for the fourth and fifth class- room.

A churchgate collection generated €500, towards software for the in- teractive boards, while a clean-up af- ter the Point-to-Point in Dromoland added €300 to the school develop-

ment fund.

Elsewhere, two of the school’s young students, Liam Fahy and Cian O’Mara, brought joy to the school when they appeared on national tel- evision on April 1. The duo entered the Fado Fado competition and were shortlisted to appear on RTE televi- sion. Through the competition, which is based on myths and legends, the two were filmed during last summer. The culmination of this was their tel- evision performance.

AER LINGUS plans to enter an ex- tensive codeshare partnership with Star Alliance carrier United Airlines from November has been welcomed by the Shannon Airport Authority as a major boost for the mid-west.

The codeshare, which will cover the Irish airline’s services from Shannon to Boston, Chicago and New York, will provide access to and from the west of Ireland for 200 new destina-

tions across the United States.

United Airlines will also sell seats on Aer Lingus’ transatlantic serv- ices, thereby offering Shannon as a destination from these US cities.

Commenting on the development, Shannon Airport Director Martin Moroney said that the partnership brings another major US airline to the Shannon market and will also consolidate the Aer Lingus winter schedule at Shannon.

“This is very exciting news for

Shannon Airport and this region as it opens up significant new markets across the United States, with the al- liance ensuring one-stop access to over 200 new destinations in the US. OW evi ie-U em or-DusCUir-DUhmBneNOhMEceRonn the full-onset this year of Open Skies and is another boost following the Aer Lingus deal with JetBlue Air- ways Corp earlier this year that will allow customers to book a single res- ervation between Ireland and more than 40 continental US destinations.

‘Both these alliances by Aer Lingus are complemented by the market- ing fund for west of Ireland tourism, aimed at stimulating and promoting a strong identity in the US, so these deals couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Mr Moroney.

“This development brings signifi- cant marketing benefits to Shannon and its hinterland and raises Shan- non’s profile throughout the travel industry in the United States,” said Mr Moloney.

A WEST Clare man died due to a brain infarct the cause of which could not be absolutely determined, an inquest into his death heard yes- KOE As

John J Darcy (68), Main Street, Mullagh, died at Ennis General Hos- pital in the early hours of July 13, 2002.

Solicitor Ger Gannon, representing the Darcy family, put it to Sergeant Joe Hehir of Miltown Malbay Garda Station that there had been an “inci- dent” in the previous 12 months be- fore Mr Darcy had passed away.

Sgt Hehir said there had been an in- vestigation of an assault on Mr Darcy the previous year.

During the assault Mr Darcy had

suffered a broken nose and had re- ceived five stitches. Sgt Hehir said that a complaint had been made in August 2001.

A minor had been dealt with in re- lation to this, under the national Ju- venile Diversion Programme which deals with young offenders by cau- tioning them.

The then superintendent in En- nistymon decided that the young boy be dealt with under the Juvenile Di- version Programme.

Superintendent Gabriel O’Gara pointed out to the inquest that the matter had subsequently been re-in- vestigated by an officer from outside the Clare division.

Arising from that investigation, a file was submitted to the DPP. The DPP said that the initial decision to

caution the minor, under the Diver- sion programme, was the correct de- cision.

The solicitor pointed out that Mr Darcy received treatment for his nose injury twice, the second of which was some days before he died.

State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy carried out a post-mortem examination on Mr Darcy’s body on July 13, 2002. She pointed out that he had received surgery for a nose injury in September 2001. He was readmitted to hospital in June 2002 for further corrective surgery, which was deemed a success. He returned home and was brought back to hos- pital some days later as he fell un- conscious. He remained unconscious until his death.

She said that death was due to pul-

monary thrombo embolism, due to deep vein thrombosis, due to immo- bility, which was due to brain stem damage.

“When he left hospital (on June 20, 2002) he appeared to be fit and healthy,” said Professor Cassidy.

However, she said, “Some cata- strophic event” had taken place prior to him losing consciousness. She said that one possibility was that he had suffered a small heart attack but “this diagnosis cannot be confirmed.”

She said that the State Patholo- gist for Northern Ireland, Professor Crane, had come to “similar con- clusions as myself, in that it was unlikely there was a direct associa- tion between the last surgery and his subsequent collapse and the develop- ment of the brain stem condition that

led to his death.”

Professor Cassidy said, “There’s little certainty as to the brain injury that led to his death. It’s undeter- mined.”

The solicitor put it to her, “The cause of death is the real problem. There is no certainty about that from the point of view of the Darcy fam- 7 A

Prof Cassidy replied, “It is most likely this could have occurred at any time, without any of the preced- ing events but that is as much as I can SNA

She said she could not be sure what caused the “catastrophic event that led to death’.

County Coroner Isobel O’Dea ad- journed the remainder of the inquest until a later date.

THE countdown is on for all north Clare romantics, a special Moonlight to Midnight walk will take place on the Flaggy Shore in north Clare later this week.

The walk, which will take place on April 18, will be undertaken in complete darkness except for the moonlight and a few guiding torches placed along the way to add atmos- je) aster

All the money from the event will go towards the Irish Red Cross.

“It is going to be a very relaxed, kind of serene night. We will have no light, no nothing. The full moon is out that night so we are going to meet at the Flaggy Shore at half nine and we are going to start rambling at 10,” said organiser Joe Queally.

“It’s about four and a half miles of a ramble, maybe five. Just to add a bit of extra atmosphere to the occasion we are going to have a few old fash- ioned lanterns placed along the way.

“We are going to have music on the beach as well. As people pass by in the moonlight we have a flute player

and a violin player going as well. They are just to help to get the stones talking and get the ocean talking as well. We are hoping it’s going to be a bit of a fairytale night.

“It would be a great night for peo- ple to look to renew old friendships, a night to help the Red Cross or for young people just to get out there and enjoy themselves, to hold hands and EN e

“It’s not a long walk and we will be taking it very handy as well. More of a stroll. We will be keeping the group fairly together, no one will be flying

off in front, but we want people to have their privacy to be together in the group.

“It’s a nice relaxing walk for eve- ryone. It would be a great walk for people who want to walk it on their own, clear their head and find peace in their head. It should be a very spe- cial night.”

All people need to do to take part is to get a sponsorship card from Joe and collect €100 worth of sponsor- ship for the Red Cross. For more in- formation or to collect a sponsorship card, contact Joe on 087 6260301.

THE newly elected President of Lim- erick Chamber of Commerce 1s not only living in Clare but has identified a closer working relationship with the Banner County as a key factor in driving the future development of the mid-west Region.

Sean Lally, whose home is in Bun- ratty, 18S managing partner of the Clarion Hotel in Limerick and he succeeded Shannon Airport Author- ity member and Westpark business campus Director, Reg Freake to the Presidency.

Speaking about his upcoming year in office, Mr. Lally said one of his priorities will be to highlight the many positive aspects of the Limer- ick Shannon region from both a busi- ness and tourism perspective.

“In spite of tales of economic slow down we are seeing unprecedented levels of construction taking place in the region.

“The Shannon ‘Tunnel Project, linking Clare and Limerick at an estimated cost of €500m, is due for completion within the next two years and is the largest infrastructural de- velopment ever commissioned by the State outside the capital.”

“Throughout the year we will con- tinue to highlight critical areas that will always remain top of our agen- da. This includes priorities such as

the completion of the upgrading of the N18 to Galway by 2010 to en- sure our vision of an economic cor- ridor between Galway and Limerick becomes a reality. The urgent need for improved connectivity to Foynes Port; greater priority to be given to the completion of the Atlantic Road Corridor and the motorway from Limerick to Dublin to be delivered and completed by 2010 as prom- ised.”

“Shannon Airport is a key contribu- tor to the economic prosperity of the region. With 3.6 million passengers passing through it last year it is the second busiest airport in the state. Shannon still reports to the Dublin Airport Authority, a situation which is clearly unsatisfactory if Shannon is to compete in an aviation market that is highly competitive.”

A native of Galway, Sean Lally joined the Board of Limerick Cham- ber in 2006 and 1s also a member of the Irish Hotels Federation and is a Director of Meet Limerick Shannon Conference and Sports Bureau.

He worked in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis during the early 90s and his wife Eliane is from Bunratty where his two children Oisin (9) and Cao- imhe (4) attend the local Wells pri- mary school.

A MEETING today of shop stew- ards at Aer Lingus seems unlikely to halt a stand-off between ground staff and management which could see workers suspended and flights under threat.

Aer Lingus management have set a deadline of 5pm today in Shan- non, Dublin and Cork for the ground crews to accept cost-cutting propos- AS

The 1,800 SIPTU workers em- ployed in ground operations, includ- ing check-in, loading and catering, voted to reject proposals negotiated between union and management by a three-to-one margin last February.

Since then, there have been some

negotiations, but now management has upped the ante by setting the oCer-Ke dbp ates

From 4am tomorrow, staff rostered to come on under the new arrange- ments will be expected to turn up and work with new practices or face Suspension.

The airline’s management has al- ready warned that they will close or outsource certain operations if this doesn’t happen.

Shop stewards representing the workers are due to meet at lunchtime today, but sources close to the two sides are not optimistic of any agree- ment being reached in time.

Management want the workers to Operate new rosters and practices as part of a masterplan to save the air-

line €20 million.

So far, agreement has been reached with most groups, including the pi- etsy

A spokesman for SIPTU said last night that the union’s members rejected the deal in February be- cause “they obviously felt it was too much. The plan includes things like 12 hour shifts, 4am shift starts and split shifts. This is a deal to save the airline €20 million and €10 mil- lion of that is to come from SIPTU members. While that is half the sav- ing and SIPTU represents half the workforce, in general, SIPTU mem- bers are not nearly as well paid as, say pilots, so it is a much bigger sac- rifice that 1s being asked of them.”

The union spokesman said that the

“fact that the company is making money and the top management has publicly said it is going to pay itself a big bonus is not helping matters.”

Last year, Aer Lingus Chief Ex- ecutive Dermot Mannion promised shareholders that he would imple- ment the staff cost savings from the beginning of 2008.

However, so far none of the pro- posed measures have materialised because of ongoing negotiations over new work practices and rostering.

SIPTU’s ground staff members had already voted to take industrial action if changes in working ar- rangements were introduced without agreement.

No-one could be contacted to com- ment in Aer Lingus.

AN all-round community effort in Corofin has played a key role in over €2,000 being collected for a charita- ble organisation.

Corofin national school organised a cake sale in aid of Bothar, an Afri- can-based charity.

The event, co-ordinated by junior infants teacher Eilish O’Connor, in- volved all staff and students at the school and the money raised signifi-

cantly surpassed all expectations.

All 139 students were encouraged to bake cakes and buns and all were sold at the one-day cake sale at the school. School secretary Geraldine Cahill explained the idea behind the fundraiser.

“The junior infants decided that, as their Lenten contribution, they would help others who are less well off than themselves,” said Ms Cahill.

“A curricular was sent to all par- ents, inviting them to get involved

and the response was overwhelming.

“This was the first time this was done to that scale. The whole com- munity got involved, coming and buying cakes, while the children sold raffle tickets on the day. It was an all-round community effort,” she added. Ms O’Connor, supported by the school’s student council, then de- cided to encourage everybody to get involved in the project.

The organisers set a fundraising target of €300, but were overjoyed

when the final tally amounted to €2,170.

Under the Bothar project, live ani- mals are purchased here and sent to villages in Africa. All of the money raised helps improve the lives of those who are deprived of many of the basics in life.

All seven teachers at the school, including acting principal Gareth Heagney, played a role in ensuring the project was a resounding suc- cess.