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THE Mid West Regional Authority and Aer Lingus have agreed a joint approach to consolidating and ex- panding the flagship carrier’s trans- atlantic services at Shannon Airport.

During a meeting held in New York last week, both parties put forward a set of proposals for boosting regional support for existing services and de- veloping new business.

Representing Aer Lingus at the meeting in Ireland House, Park Av- enue, were Jack Foley, Executive Vice President in North America; Kate Kiernan, Director of Revenues

& Business Development; and Helen Maguire, Director Consumer Sales.

Councillor Lily Wallace (Chair- person) and Liam Conneally (Direc- tor) represented the Nenagh-based MWRA. Representatives of Clare County Council and Shannon Town Council, including both Mayors, were also present.

Councillor Wallace expressed de- light that Aer Lingus had pledged its commitment to developing trans- atlantic services at Shannon. She acknowledged that this was based on the mid-west’s relevant agencies pulling together to market the region as a desirable tourist destination.

“Aer Lingus indicated that it would be very interested in working with any parties that could assist in 1m- proving load factors on all routes,” she said. “The airline pointed out that it was not involved with destina- tion marketing but would be willing to work with the mid-west region if suitable packages and promotional material could be provided.”

According to Mr Conneally, “Aer Lingus is committed to providing competitive packages for air travel- lers as a result of the region working together to market its attractiveness, as well as developing competitive packages that complement Aer Lin-

gus fares. Such an understanding presents a win-win situation for eve- ryone. ”

Alec Fleming, member of the Re- gional Tourism Board and Desig- nated Manager MWRA, stated, “Aer Lingus were very open and expressed a willingness to open their books. I am especially delighted that they in- dicated they would travel to the mid- west to further discuss how transat- lantic services could be maintained, improved and expanded.

“The mid-west has been presented a tremendous opportunity to work with Aer Lingus, which has expressed its willingness to engage in cooperative

marketing initiatives. I would urge all relevant agencies, and the busi- ness and tourism sectors, to continue to enhance the attractiveness of the region.”

The MWRA, one of Ireland’s eight statutory regions, comprises the ad- ministrative areas of Clare, North Tipperary and Limerick County Councils and Limerick City Council. The authority has 26 elected repre- sentatives and has responsibility to promote the coordinated delivery of public services in the region. It is also Secretariat to the Government-ap- pointed Shannon Airport Marketing Consultative Committee (SAMCC).

ENNIS’ popular farmer’s market has re-opened, with traders promoting sustainability and green living.

The market has resumed for its fifth year at its usual location in the Upper Market Street car park on Fridays from 8am to 2pm.

This year traders are advocat- ing the benefits of eating fresh, lo- cal produce and minimising one’s carbon footprint by buying locally produced food. According to baker Mary Gray, there are sound environ- mental reasons for supporting farm-

er’s markets.

She explained, “The fresher the food the better it is for us, no artifi- cial preservatives. The less the food travels the less transport is involved and therefore less environmental 1m- pact.

“The money spent goes in to the local economy. And the fewer steps between us and the producer means less chance of dilution of quality.”

The market has been up and run- ning since 2004 and consists of a eroup of dedicated food producers and traders with a wide range of lo- cal, artisan and organic foods includ-

ing meats, cheeses and local honey, to name but a few. Most of the pro- duce is sourced in Clare with some coming from nearby Tipperary.

Mary explained that, apart from the easy access to fresh produce, the interaction between consumer and producer is one of the main reasons why farmer’s markets have grown in popularity

“When I began selling at the En- nis farmer’s market, I was struck by the number of customers of the older generation who brought regularly,’ she said. “Farmer’s markets seemed to have a reputation for being a bit

alternative, so it was interesting to hear why these older customers were so loyal.

‘Two reasons stood out. First, peo- ple who grew up in an era before shopping was dominated by super- markets really enjoy talking to the producers and being able to ask ques- tions about the produce. Secondly and more importantly, people really like to buy food that tastes “like food used to taste’.”

The market begins at 8am, a deci- sion popular with many customers who prefer to do their shopping on their way to work.

THERE was mounting speculation yesterday that the proposed €7.2 million sale of Clare FM to Radio Kerry had fallen through.

The rumoured collapse of the sale will disappoint hundreds of share- holders across the county who were set for small windfalls as a result of investing in the station in the early Les

The shareholders last had contact from the station’s board in Decem- ber when they were told that the sta- tion had decided to accept a €20 per share offer from Radio Kerry.

In a letter to shareholders, the chair- man of Clare Community Radio Holdings plc, Michael Evans, stated that the sale was conditional on 95 per cent shareholder approval.

Mr Evans stated that the sale should be completed by the end of March mau eres

However, there has been no further communication from the board to shareholders since then.

One major shareholder said yes- terday, “I understand that the deal has fallen through and this has been communicated to the Clare FM board, though we have heard nothing official as yet.”

Both sides are declining to com- ment. The Clare FM chief executive, Liam O’Shea, failed to respond to

e-mailed queries on the matter last Thursday and Friday, while Radio Kerry also failed to return a phone query.

However, even if the deal has col- lapsed, it will alert others in the marketplace that the station is up for grabs. It is believed that Radio Kerry was not the only station interested in purchasing Clare FM.

If the deal has fallen through, the station’s senior management and the CPIM SDrmeE-DesveAAmny some;

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.