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THERE was bad news for Shannon Airport this week with the announce- ment that planned new flights to the US have been scrapped.

Maryland based operators Kenny Tours had planned to set up a link between Shannon and a number of US airports, including Niagara Falls International in North America.

Other airports which would have been part of the plan included Chica- go Rockford International, 68 miles

North-West of Chicago and Mid America St Louis.

Kenny tours had planned to start operations on the routes from June.

But the operators have now drawn back from opening the routes citing the weak dollar, high fuel prices and difficulties in securing aircraft for the Shamrock Express charter serv- oe

The company has not ruled out the possibility of reviewing the situation next year, sources in the industry have said.

It’s believed they are now looking at a longer lead-in time for the other routes, pencilling in a date in 2009 to allow time for marketing and to sign deals with US and Irish travel com- panies. Sources have also said this would also depend on factors such as fuel prices and airport charges and the opening up of the routes which is still by no means certain.

Meanwhile, airport director, Mar- tin Moroney, has said that despite the economic slump he is confident that transatlantic numbers will hold

up over the coming months. He said he believes that the airport has suc- cessfully managed the crisis of Aer Lingus pulling out of the Shannon to Heathrow route.

Mr Moroney said that the new con- nection to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris was being well received by people needing long-haul connec- tions in and out of Shannon.

“It is not all solved but I think the vast majority of customers say the re- placement CityJet service to Charles de Gaulle is fine and we are over

the hump…CityJet and Air France are very happy and they are get- ting a high 70 per cent load factor. Had Heathrow not been replaced it would have been a major loss to the uss :a (0) 0 ae

Mr Moroney said he expected Cit- yJet would grow the Shannon-Paris service, which currently provides two flights a day on a 50-seater air- craft.He added that airport bosses would continue to seek a Heathrow slot and to aquire other hub connec- tions, including Amsterdam.

EVENTS to mark the 20th anniver- sary of the twinning of Ennis and Phoenix aim to increase business and educational links between the two areas. In October, business and poltical representatives will travel to Arizona to celebrate the official twinning of the two towns in 1988. The trip is viewed as a way to pro- mote Ennis as an investment and tourist destination and an opportuni- ty to explore opportunities for trade. One avenue the Ennis delegation are keen to explore is the potential establishment of third level outreach facilities in Ennis through linkages with the University of Phoenix. Aedin Moloney of the Ennis Phoe-

nix Board said, “They will be defi- nitely looking at forming some sort of partnership with the University of Phoenix.

‘These trips, whether representa- tives from Phoenix coming here or us going over there, have always been beneficial, from a tourism and a business standpoint.”

Details of the annual student ex- change programme have also been finalised with three of the four stu- dents already selected to travel to Phoenix in July. Since it began, 52 students from the Ennis and Phoenix areas have participated in the pro- eau-eabenlee

Although, it has been running for the past 20 years, it is only in the last couple of years that it has been open

to schools in Ennis, where the teach- ers select the four students to go.

The students spend three weeks in Phoenix, learning about the city and its culture, meeting with city dig- nitaries and observing the political process at work in the city council and at official functions.

The group will also visit one of America’s best-known landmarks, the Grand Canyon, and visit neigh- bouring states such as California.

The Ennis group will be joined by 80 other students from the 40 towns and cities Phoenix is twinned with.

Ms Moloney said that while there hadn’t been widespread awareness, the exchange programme has helped bolster the relationship between the two communities.

“People that would have gone on the student exchange programme 20 years ago have continued to travel back and forth with their families and that has helped continue the links,” she said.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to visit America, especially with the 20th anniversary coming up, but not that many people seem to know about it. This year in Phoenix they are trying to bring over everyone who has taken part in the programme.”

Preceding that, as has been tradi- tion since the programme began, a group of students from Phoenix will first visit Ennis in June. Last April the Deputy City manager of Phoe- nix, Cynthia Seelhammer, made a four-day visit to Clare.

WITH the days fast counting down to the beginning of the new Depart- ment of Agriculture scheme to cross- check the milk testing by co-ops, the IFA has come in with its support for the initiative.

According to IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Richard Kennedy, the scheme, due to begin on April 1, is in line with the Gov- ernment’s Partnership commitment to the IFA.

This protocol of verification will cover the testing of all constituents used for payment, audit of lab pro- cedures, check calibration of ma- ATEN Tom AMV ICM URANO OComBUch UO LRCMECTo OL! back to farmers. Results of the cross-

checks will be published by the De- partment.

Kennedy commented that while this new protocol was welcome, it was only the first step in raising the standards of Irish milk testing to in- ternational best practice, paving the way for full accreditation of central, independent milk testing laborato- ju Coe

“I believe this move will help focus the minds of all in the dairy industry on the importance of proper stand- ards in milk testing, from sample taking, all the way to the returning of results to both farmers and proc- essors, he said.

‘However, I see it as merely the first step towards world-class ISO 17025 accreditation of a small number of

centralised milk laboratories, shared by all milk processors, which could easily be established on an independ- ent footing.”

Kennedy said the chances of achieving fully accredited, and ulti- mately independent, milk testing in one or a few central laboratories for all of Ireland’s milk have never been aoa Koa

“Dairygold have committed to out- sourcing their milk testing needs to a fully accredited third party lab by 2009,” he said.

“The West Cork Co-ops have de- cided to centralise all their milk test- ing into one, accredited laboratory. Connacht Gold are preparing to in- vest in new, accredited facilities and are willing to share those with other

neighbouring co-ops. The Chair- man of Lakeland Co-op has publicly expressed his support for a single, world-class milk testing lab.

‘Many other co-ops have declared to us they were seriously looking into accreditation for milk testing, and an increasing number of them have now recognised the importance for farm management purposes as well as accuracy of results, of testing every collection.

‘These strands all go in the right direction, but now they must come together. Co-ops must agree to share the use of a small number of fully accredited, world class standard fa- cilities – eventually ensuring that those are operated independently,’ Kennedy concluded.

A COUPLE who struck a ‘secret’ High Court settlement with Clare County Council in relation to a plan- ning application could be in line for a €2 million windfall.

Last year, the council granted plan- ning permission for a €7.5 million 31 unit housing development to Ber- nard Madigan and Mary Keane. The two had instituted High Court legal

proceedings against the council af- ter the local authority refused plan- ning for a previous application for 31 homes at the same site outside Inagh in April 2006.

Last year, the council finally grant- ed permission for the revised devel- opment proposal and the site has now been put up for sale, with a €2 mil- lion price guide from John Vaughan Auctioneers.

The council granted for the plan

having regard to the zoning of the land, the intended use of the proposed land and the pattern of development in the area, concluding that it would not seriously injure the amenities of the area and be in accordance with proper planning and development.

At the council’s March meeting, County Solicitor John Shaw (pictured right) declined to reveal the contents of the High Court outcome relating to the planning application that was turned down at the site.

In response to a motion by Cllr PJ Kelly (FF), Mr Shaw said that the matter “is one in which you will be aware there is aconfidentiality agree- ment which has not been waived by the other side.

“The case is settled. I am still not at liberty to disclose the terms of settle-

ment in an open manner. I am happy to discuss same and disclose them in detail to individual councillors pri- vately or at a closed meeting of the council in committee.

“Councillors will be aware that I have offered this facility previously and whilst I want to be as open as possible with members of the coun- cil I do have an obligation to protect the confidentiality of this agreement. In this regard and in an effort to be of assistance to the councillors I can say that ultimately there was no financial loss to the council.”

According to Vaughan’s website, the 4.9 acres site includes planning for eight detached, 14 semi-detached and nine terraced houses. It states: “This land is located in Inagh vil- lage and within walking distance of

all amenities offered by this village. This is a flat site which would allow for easy development. All services are available close to the land.”

TULLA residents are being asked to buy a brick and help build play facili- ties which will have local children jumping for joy for years to come.

Planning permission has now been granted for the development of a play area after a year of work by a com- mittee of parents sick of travelling miles to find a see-saw, and commu- nity representatives who want better facilities in the village.

“We take children to Shannon, Loughrae, Portumna – anywhere. There’s just nothing in east Clare,” said committee member and parent, Jim O’Sullivan.

“The need for the development of community facilities, especially playgrounds and amenities for young people, is a prominent concern for the developing communities in not just Tulla but all of east Clare.”

€110,000 in grant money has been made available for the playground but another €40,000 is needed to make the youngsters’ dream a real- ity.

The committee members are hope- ful that kids will be swinging, slid- ing, running and climbing before the summer is over and with that in mind, they are asking locals to buy a notional brick to make up the cash needed.

“We were very fortunate and very thankful to Mick Kehoe for donating the site to us,” said Jim.

“Unfortunately equipment you find in a domestic garden is not robust enough to give decades of service in a public playground. A two-seat swing set costs €2,600 but adding in the required safety surfacing brings the cost of a swing set to over €5,000 and that is before other major items such as the ground-works, fencing and footpaths are paid for.”

The “Buy A Brick’ campaign in- volves donating €100 or whatever people can afford. The donation will go directly towards the building cost and everyone who buys a brick will

get a certificate to display.

‘People can buy a brick for them- selves or for friends and family. You can dedicate a brick for a special oc- casion anniversary, birthday or a me- morial for a loved one,’ said Jim.

“We recognise the fact that 100 is a lot of money for some families to donate so we would gladly welcome any contribution that people can make,” he added.

The playground committee would also welcome the support of any companies in the area who could make a corporate donation.

The committee will launch their campaign in the courthouse on Wednesday, April 2 at 8pm.

AN TAISCE has re-affirmed its op- position to the planned €10 million plan for an explosives factory on the Shannon Estuary.

A decision is expected in relation to the current plan in the next number of weeks. A previous planning ap- plication was refused by An Bord Pleanala.

It is now almost two years since Shannon Explosives submitted re- vised plans for an explosives factory at Cahercon pier in Kildysart. The company has already furnished the

council with substantial further 1n- formation. However, An Taisce, the Kildysart

Explosives Factory Opposition Group (KEFOG) and others oppose the project.

In a submission on the latest in- formation lodged by Shannon Ex- plosives, An Taisce’s Heritage Of- ficer, Ian Lumley states, ““We do not consider that the applicants have re- solved the key conflict posed by this development with the policy provi- sions of the West Clare Local Area Plan, 2003, including the specific ob- jectives for Kildysart to develop the

harbour area as a local amenity, tour- ism and leisure facility which will contribute to the tourism product.

‘No need has been identified for an additional explosives manufacturing facility in Ireland or no argument has been advanced that the capacity of the existing permitted manufactur- ing facility near Enfield in County Meath is not adequate to meet na- tional needs. . .

“We consider that the site because of its location sensitivity is, irrespec- tive of any proposal for an explosives factory, unsuitable for quarrying be- cause of its topography and relation

to this sensitive part of the Shannon Estuary. For this reason and in view of the unsuitability of the site on lo- cation grounds, we do not consider it necessary to comment on the other specific issues submitted by the ap- plicant, including the revised habitat and bat assessment. We recommend that this application be refused.”

In their objection, KEPOG state, “Development and day to day use of this land will be curtailed by the applicant. This is unacceptable. Pub- lic perception of the dangers of ex- plosives must be taken into account when considering the issue.

THE number of incidents responded to by the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard increased by 25 per cent last year. The Doolin Unit responded to a total of 30 incidents in 2007 compared to 24 throughout 2006. This increase in coast guard activ- ity has been mirrored throughout the country with overall incidents increasing by 8.5 per cent year-on-

year in 2007. According to figures released last week, incidents involv- ing the Coast Guard increased from 1807 in 2006 to 1961 last year.

Indeed the number of incidents has increased steadily in each of the last 8 years, growing from 1718 in 2000.

Last year’s rise mainly involved adventure sports with surfing, diving and caving incidents increasing by 31 per cent, 120 per cent and 400 per cent respectively.

‘Adventure sports are becoming the norm all over the place. If you look at Aileen’s wave under the Cliffs, peo- ple are surfing that now the same as if they were surfing in the beach in Lahinch,” said Matty Shannon of Doolin Coast Guard.

“People are getting into more ex- treme adventure sports. They get the newest technology and the newest equipment but that doesn’t mean that a accident won’t happen.

“There are so many different things that contribute to an accident, a lot of the time it is just luck.”

Mr Shannon has called for people to take more personal responsibility before they put themselves in harm’s WENA

“People never think that it will happen to them, they think that ac- cidents only happen to other people. People have to be responsible for themselves, we are a response serv-

ice. We are a response service and we are volunteers. We cannot be in the station all day every day waiting for something to happen. So people must realise that it will take 15 or 20 minutes for us to get to them. They need to take responsibility for this themselves,” he said.

The coast guard figures also show a 75 per cent increase in incidents in- volving shore anglers and 38 per cent increase in nuisance calls.

MOTORISTS in the Killaloe and Scariff electoral areas will see more than €7.73 million spent on upgrad- ing and maintaining their national and non-national road network this year.

With funding under the national and non-national roadworks pro- gramme coupled with council re- sources, the Killaloe electoral area will be spending €935,000 on res- toration works and the Scariff elec- toral area will be spending €2.124

million.

€455,000 has been allocated to maintenance and surface dressing of roads in the Killaloe area while Scariff will spend €655,000 on the same works.

A grant of €/750,000 has been made available for improvements to the Tulla to Kilkishen road under the specific works programme.

Six roads in Killaloe and seven in Scarf will be funded under the dis- cretionary improvement grants at a cost of €150,000 and €100,000 re- spectively.

Discretionary maintenance grants of €75,000 have been earmarked in discretionary maintenance for Broadford junction, Drummin and bridge maintenance in the Killaloe area.

In Scariff discretionary mainte- nance funds will be used to do work at Coolready and Dooras at a total cost of €60,000.

Regional route maintenance plans will see €160,000 spent in Killaloe and €220,000 in Scariff while lo- cal route maintenance budgets have been draw up to allocate €272,000

and €559,000 respectively to Killa- loe and Scariff.

The figures are part of a county- wide budget presented to councillors at the last meeting of Clare County Council.

Breakdowns were given for each electoral area and elected members were told that the road works pro- gramme for 2008 has been prepared based on the level of funding provid- ed by means of grants from the De- partment of Transport, the National Roads Authority and also from Clare County Council’s own resources.

TWO of snooker’s greatest legends go head-to-head in an exhibition match in Ennis on Saturday. Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White and Alex ‘Hur- ricane’ Higgins brew up a storm for charity at the West County Hotel. The event has been organised to help raise funds for the Niall Mel- lon Township Trust which was es- tablished in 2002 to provide homes to the impoverished communities in

the townships in South Africa. Three locals from Clarecastle will travel to South Africa later this year to assist in the ongoing work there.

Jimmy White, who has played in Ennis before, has won a total of 23 professional titles. He has also been runner-up six times in the World Championship. As an amateur, he won the 1979 English Amateur Championship and the 1980 World Amateur Championship.

Alex Higgins, from Belfast, was

twice World Champion and twice runner-up. One of the best-known faces in snooker for many years, Hig- gins was famous for his frequent ar- guments, both on and off the snooker table. One of the most serious of these clashes was when he head-butt- ed a tournament official at the UK championship in 1986.

Although the Niall Mellon Town- ship Trust has only been in existence for six years, it is the largest provider of low-cost homes in South Africa,

producing 20% of such houses in Cape Town and 15% in the Gauteng region. Since 2002, over 3000 volun- teers have travelled to work on their projects in South Africa.

Next November, three volunteers from Clarecastle – Fiona Donnellan, Emma Clancy and Amy McEnery – will head to Cape Town South Africa as part of a 2000 strong team to build houses in the Shanty towns.

This weekend’s event will be spon- sored by KECO construction and

the Shannon Masters Snooker Club. Tickets are €25 while VIP passes are available for €50 from the West County or by contacting Kevin on 086-3034043 or Fiona on 086- TOW ieee

VIP tickets will entitle holders to a champagne reception and to meet and greet the players before the match. There will also be an auction on the night for a chance to play a frame against either of the two. The event will begin at 8pm.

CALLS have been made for an all- out ban on jet skis on Clare beaches in order to protect the safety of swim- mers, surfers and other water users. These calls follow recommenda- tions made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board last week in which it was suggested that jet skis should be licensed and those using them should have to undergo mandatory mecbnepeNtes Last Thursday, the board published its report into the death of jetskier Alan Joyce in Mayo in 2006. “IT have been ap- proached on numer- ous occasions over the last 18 months by swimmers, mostly on Lahinch beach, as well as people in west Clare, about the dangers of jet skis. They are rid- ing roughshod in the water and not showing respect to people swimming or to surfers,” said north Clare Coun- ty Councillor, Martin Conway (FG). “It has been suggested that there should be a jet ski licence for any- one who wants to use a jet ski and in order to get the licence you have to go through a certain amount of train- ing. I would go one step farther. We also need to take cognisance of the people who are swimming and surf-

ing and whose safety is being put in jeopardy as a result of these jet skis.

“The jet skis should be banned from areas where people are known to swim and to surf. Really we should have designated areas for jet skies where they wouldn’t be compromis- ing the areas of people who are in- volved in other water sports.”

Cllr Conway suggests that desig- nated areas should be set up where

jetskiers can use the water. “Putting a jet ski into a place where there are a lot of swimmers and surfers is akin to putting a motorbike into a_ playground. If someone is swim- ming and they get hit by a jet ski, they’re gone. There is no second chance with these things,” he continued.

“If you look at Ballyvaughan, there are jet-skis everywhere. Maybe Bal- lyvaughan might be an appropriate place for jet skis. Maybe harbours are a more appropriate place for jet skis but I know that they are also very prevalent in Fanore and Bally- vaughan as well. When you have a situation like that, you have to regu- late it. We have had these by-laws for the dogs on the beach but this is a much more lethal piece of equipment and there don’t seem to be any regu- lations on them.”