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IN what’s been a hectic few weeks at Park AFC, the Shannon club had double celebrations this week with the opening of a new dressing room facility coupled with the 35th anni- versary of the founding of the club. It comes on the back of the School- boy Awards, attended by FAI CEO John Delaney and despite some bad weather over the weekend, a large turnout was present for the unveiling of the facilities.

Three of the club’s founding mem- bers – Brian “Tosh’ Collins, Martin McGuane and Ted Germaine — were present and expressed their delight at the progress the club has made.

Also on the day Joe O’ Donnell was made an honorary life member of the club. Speaking at the opening, Chair-

man of Park AFC, Peter Webb paid tribute to the effort that was put in to get the facilities completed, saying Karen Dunne and Damien Nolan had put in a great deal of work through- out the whole project. Joe O’ Donnell was also made an honorary life mem- ber of the club and later that evening, the anniversary celebrations kicked off in the Shannon Knights, where Gareth Quirke was named Player of the Season for 2006/2007 and Dam- ien Nolan was named Club Person of the Year.

For photos of the opening, the re- cent schoolboy awards and more see www.parkafc.com

THE new €2.7 million extension to Cahercalla Community Hospital of- ficially opened its doors in Ennis on JDulerne

The development at Cahercalla Community Hospice and Nursing Home will bring the number of beds at the facility to 129, consisting of 103. nursing home/convalescence beds; lO hospice beds, seven set- down hospice beds and nine beds for the day surgery and out-patients clinic.

The facility provides a_ state-of- the-art hospice unit with 10 private rooms, social space looking out onto gardens, a family room which can provide overnight accommodation for relatives of patients and a kitchen.

Ten further beds are being pro- vided for the nursing home and the seven beds, which previously served as hospice beds, are now to be used as step-down hospice beds.

The extension was officially opened by Minister for Older People, Maire Hoctor.

Paying tribute to the dedication of

all volunteers who contributed to the project, Ms Hoctor said the extension could only serve to enhance Caher- calla’s already excellent reputation. She said, “I would like to acknowl- edge the generosity in terms of time and money invested by all those in these fundraising activities. I am deeply impressed by the commit- ment and dedication of all those working here. I congratulate each and every one of you involved in this development. The increased capacity will allow Cahercalla to build on its good name and, most importantly,

enhance its caring role and make a difference to the lives of even more individuals and families.”

Demand for hospice care has been a key feature of the growth of the hospital and its services. In 1999, the number of hospice admissions was 50 and that figure had risen to 70 per year by 2002. To date, over 1,000 people have received hospice care at Cr toerlee

Fr Harry Bohan, Chairman of the Board of Directors said Cahercalla Community Hospital said, “A com- munity 1s looking after its own by

providing within reach services for our ailing and old. The quality of the services here at Cahercalla 1s re- flected in the number of admissions from counties Sligo, Mayo, Kerry, ANIC Me Blo) oo e-v as

Cahercalla is chosen because pa- tients can be treated faster than in their own areas. So the process at Cahercalla is easing the waiting lists pressures on other areas.”

Built by O’Brien’s Builders of Mil- town Malbay, construction started on the extension in November 2006 and was completed in December 2007.

THE people of north Clare are being offered the chance to take advantage of the newly refurbished community space in Kilfenora.

The newly upgraded Kilfenora Community Centre will be formally re-opened this Friday evening and the centres committee is inviting lo- cal people along to see what the cen- tre has to offer.

“We already have badminton, set dancing, youth club, music, trad for teens, step dancing and we have the fitness club. There is lots on already but if anyone out there is interested in any other activities the should get in contact with myself or any mem- ber of the committee and we’d love

to help out,’ said chairperson, Pat aerator

“We also have a long tradition of boxing here in the hall. It’s been going here for years and they have achieved a lot of success over that apes lone

The hall committee has secured a number of grants for the hall, most notably a €30,000 grant from Clare County Council through the Com- munity Capital Scheme and has un- dergone fundraising activities.

The hope now is that the venue can become self financing before the end of the year.

‘We have done well with the grants and got some help from the local businesses. Our main fundraiser for the hall is our bring-and-buy sale

which takes place at Christmas. We use that to finance insurance, light and heat costs,” continued Pat.

“We hope that the hall can become self financing by the end of this year. We are looking at introducing a nom- inal fee, maybe a euro per head per hour, which would cover the basics of heat and light. Hopefully, if we get enough people involved we wont need to go fundraising anymore, it will be able to fund itself.”

Local councillor, Joe Arkins (FG) said the council funding was partly as a result of an increase in social hous- ing in the area over recent years.

“The hall at Kilfenora was badly in need of upgrading and is used by many orginisations in the commu- nity. The north Clare area committee

considered a number of worthwhile proposals. The members agreed on the Kilfenora proposal because it clearly met the criteria of the Social and Community Capital Scheme,” he said

The hall will be officially reopened this Friday, March 14, at 7pm. Any- one interested in organising or taking part in activities in the hall should contact Pat Keane on 086 8127903.

AN elderly man, who was seriously injured in a fire at his home near Feakle last week, has died in hospital in the second fatal house fire in the county in less than week.

Brendan McNamara (73) of Magh- erabawn, Feakle died at University College Hospital Galway on Friday evening from injuries he sustained in a fire at his home last weekend. Mr McNamara was related to a 79 year woman who died in a fire at her home near O’Callaghans Mills last Wednesday night.

WZ Da CONE Reekcverc MUI e-DDaUsLO mB ODRCMB DONEC ries as he was trying to light the fire in his living room possibly using a flammable liquid. The fire got of control setting the pensioner’s cloth- ing alight. He was rushed to Ennis General Hospital for treatment but was later transferred to UCHG where he passed away on Friday evening – almost a week after the incident.

Mr Namara was a cousin of Mary ‘Molly’ Carey who died after she

reportedly re-entered her burning home at Clonloum House, O’ Cal- laghans Mills last Wednesday and attempted to extinguish the fire her- self. She was overcome by smoke and died at the scene.

The popular local woman is sur- vived by two sons and a daughter. A week before her death, she was elect- ed President of the O’ Callaghans Mills Fianna Fail cumann.

Mr McNamara’s funeral took place yesterday (Monday) following 11.30 mass at St Mary’s Church in Feakle. Both victims lived just 18 kilometres from each other.

Local councillor Pat Hayes said, “We were shocked by Molly Carey’s death on Wednesday but to hear of the passing of Brendan McNamara at the weekend is a double tragedy for both communities and their fami- lies. Brendan was a great traditional singer and would travel to many of the regular local sessions. He par- ticipated in the Feakle Traditional Music Festival and everyone looked forward to his singing.

FUNDRAISING targets at Caher- calla Community Hospital are set to rise to €500,000 per year.

Speaking at the opening of the new €2.7 million extension at Cahercalla on Friday, fundraising co-ordina- tor Mary Moloney said a decision had been made to increase the target from €300,000 to €500,000.

She said, “All in all, we estimate that there are about 1,000 people giving time and effort in voluntary Support to the cause and its funding. With hospice care expanded to 10 beds, each of which costs €75,000 in overheads, the fundraising target has now increased from €300,000 to half a million euro per year.

“This presents us with an immense challenge and we are now, more than

ever, dependent on our volunteers, supporters and fundraisers to rise to this enormous task with us.”

Ms Moloney also revealed some of the unusual approaches to giving she has encountered in her seven years as fundraising co-ordinator for the Cahercalla hospice initiative. Caher- calla and a children’s hospital both benefitted substantially when a cou- ple decided to mark the occasion by donating their wedding gifts to the two good causes of their choice.

She said, “People are also making happy occasions a time for giving and thinking of those whose lives have been plunged into sadness.”

The mainstay support for Cahercal- la Hospice is the weekly draw which has been running for seven years and is supported by over 1,400 people every week.

FINAL parades are being made across the Burren region for St Pad- dy’s Day with a number of quality parades in store for locals. Both Gort and Fanore are getting in early by hosting their parades before the big day itself.

Recognised as one of the smallest but best parades in the county, the Fanore Parade will take place on Saturday, March 15, from 12.30pm. The parade will assembly in the car park of Fanore Beach before making it’s way through the village.

Anyone interested in taking part should contact Kevin McCormack or

Anne Pilkington locally.

Parade fever hits Gort on Sunday loth March and the parade organi- sational committee are appealing for helpers to act as stewards for the day. The parade has grown in recent years and more help is now needed to make sure that everything goes off smoothly.

It has also been announced that Gort native and Galway hurling leg- end, Sylvie Linnane, will act as mar- shall for this years event.

The Band of the 4th Western Bri- gade have also been confirmed for the parade as has St Patrick’s Pipe Band from Tulla under conductor Sean Leamy.

The parade will start with the blessing of the shamrock outside the church immediately after 12.15pm mass before the shamrock is distrib- uted to members of the Gort Reserve Defence Force.

The parade will proceed through the Square and after going through Bridge Street, children’s groups will turn right at Supermac’s Corner and return via Church Walk.

The theme of this years parade is myth and legend, and a number ind1- vidual and street theatre entries have already been entered with the chil- dren’s art workshops re-enacting the Little Folk and the Children of Lir.

Entries can either be on foot or on

floats. However entrants are asked not to use long or wide vehicles or throw items from them for reasons of safety. Vintage cars, tractors and a threshing exhibition by Francis Lin- nane will also take place.

After the parade Gort Fire and Res- cue Service under John Lally, Station Officer, will simulate a motor acci- dent rescue scene.

On Saturday, Sean-Nos_ Danc- ing workshops will take place from 10.30am to 4.30pm in the Lady Gre- gory Hotel.

There will also give an exhibition of dancing at a Ceili with music pro- vided by Donie Nolan and Taylor’s Sivese

THE residents of Liscannor have for too long been subjected to the gradu- al and saddening deterioration in the fabric of its community.

That is the view of Liscannor resi- dents who have lodged objections against plans by the Lios Ceannuir Partnership to construct 64 houses on the road leading out of Liscannor to Lahinch.

The objection, lodged by individual residents, claims that the deteriora- tion of Liscannor “has taken place by developers being given free rein to build whatever they wish, wherever I SToAYANY eee

The residents claim that Liscannor has already an excessive number of holiday homes and that a further 265 have recently been granted planning permission

The residents state, “The village is oversupplied with temporary tourist accommodation. This can be clearly seen through a count of existing holi- day homes and backed up by the fact that no premium exists for rentals in Liscannotr…

“Liscannor is rapidly approaching the pressures associated with un- planned tourism development that has taken place in Lahinch.

“Currently, the ratio of holiday homes to permanent residences in

Liscannor is around 7:1, with this figure even higher in the village core itself. Surely, this is a perfect exam- ple of unsustainable development.

“In addition, this type of develop- ment and associated habitation pat- tern is unsustainable for year round businesses, infrastructure and the landscape..

“Liscannor has no wastewater treatment facility and raw sewage is being pumped directly into Liscan- nor bay.”

The objection continues, “This is a travesty and the issue needs to be addressed and at the highest levels within the county council so this can be remedied…

“A strategic development plan for the village is required before any- more tourism based development is eranted…[here is a need for an in- tegrated and community involved planning process — the councils must not repeat the mistakes made in other coastal villages around the country.

“This very resource is being de- graded with the steady dilution of the village character by excessive and in- appropriate developments. . .

“Permitting this development would be detrimental to the land- scape and the subsequent effect on the landscape should be planned and designed in response to the character of the village.”

TWO thousand householders in the Quin and Ennis area will be target- ed, in a fundraising campaign for the primary school in Quin.

A major initiative, aimed at raising more than €200,000 for the Quin school field, 1s well underway.

The Scoil na Mainistreach school development committee has pur- chased a field, at a cost of £100,000. It will cost another €100,000 to de- velop the pitch and the local commu- nity is being asked to help out with the funds.

€140,000 has been collected for the development projects to-date and hopes are high that the remainder will be gathered.

One of the biggest fundraisers, ‘Who wants to be a thousandaire’ was launched at the Monks Well last Thursday night. The event will take place at The Clare Inn on April 18.

The organising committee is seek- ing businesses and professionals in- terested in advertising on the night of the big event. A booklet is currently being designed and will be distribut- ed to more than 2,000 homes in the Quin and Ennis area.

The committee, under the chair- manship of Conor O’Neill, is hoping that the package will encourage many businesses to sponsor the event.

This is a particularly busy time for management, staff and students at the school.

In the past few weeks, a delegation

from the Board of Management held a meeting in Tullamore with officials from the Department of Education, to discuss the current status of the extension to the school.

As a result of this meeting, a long- awaited technical visit has been promised and this will take place within the next few weeks.

While much work is taking place outside of the school walls, the class- rooms have also been buzzing with activity.

Most classes have been taking part in the Wow reading challenge, over the past four months. As part of the challenge, pupils are encouraged to read as many books as possible. The students of Scoil na Mainistreach have read no less than 4,082 books

over the past four months. The read- ing will continue for another month, until the challenge comes to an end.

Meanwhile, the first two interac- tive boards have been installed in the junior and fifth/sixth classrooms.

OW atom olor: due hw-Ducne (osha sloremKOnoeler-nelee teaching and learning in the school. The boards were funded by the par- ents association, much to the delight of parents and pupils alike.

A SMALL island off Kilrush 1s making international headlines as wealthy men and women show an interest in buying their very own is- land.

Hog Island has been on the market for a number of months and accord- ing to the sole agent acting for its American owner there has been a lot of local, national and international interest.

Not as well known as its close neighbour Scattery Island, Hog Is- land lies on the Shannon Estuary just a half mile from Cappa Pier.

Islands along the west coast don’t come cheap however. Also known as Inis Beg, it has an asking price in ex- cess of half a million euro.

The 53-acre – at high tide – island was believed to have been inhabited by a family before the famine in 1837, but its only occupants now are a herd of wild goats.

An American family purchased the Island in 1972 from Major Wilson who also owned Scattery Island and Castletown in County Kildare.

“We are informed that Hog Island, unlike its neighbour, Scattery Island, has no environmental or _ histori- cal attributes of note, and therefore

should not have the same restrictions as to development,” said auctioneer Helen Cassidy.

While it is not clear if the island is covered by specific development re- Strictions it is part of the River Shan- non and River Fergus Estuary, which is a Special Protected Area.

Local County Councillor Tom Prenderville (FF) would be keen to see the island maintained as a herit- age site without any development.

“IT would not be very enthusiastic about a dwelling going up there. We need to preserve those areas,’ he Sr ALG

What any prospective buyer would

be sure of is that the island is locat- ed in an area of outstanding scenic beauty, close to amenities and is a private area of unspoilt tranquillity.

The highest peak is 14 metres, from which the rest of the low-lying island is visible. The northern and eastern shores of the island are largely com- posed of storm beach where there 1s evidence of winged plover, and low earth cliffs are evident in the western and southern coastline.

At the north of the island spits have formed and a well-developed salt marsh is found, providing food for swallows. There are no trees on the TSIEN eXeb

AFTER the flooring disappoint- ment of Sunday’s nine point defeat to Limerick, Clare need an immedi- ate reaction. Fortunately, the Banner have only a few days to dwell on the circumstances of that second half ca- pitulation with the visit of Tipperary to Ennis for their first game in Cu- sack Park this year.

The deficiencies in the Clare side were blatently obvious for all to see last Sunday but a lack of options due to injuries has limited Mike McNa- mara’s ability to remedy the situation in the short term at least. Consistency in their line-up has been hampered by an assembly line of injuries and as a result, some players are forced to occupy unnatural positions for the OF NU Ton

Darragh Clancy filled the full-back role well against Laois but since has been dogged by injury. The half- back line has seen 7 different players fill the positions in the three league games with Clancy, Gerry Quinn and Brendan Bugler starting against Gal- way, a whole new line of Pat Donnel- lan, Conor Plunkett and James MclIn- erney lining out against Laois a week later while it was McInerney, Tommy Holland and Donnellan who took to the field on Sunday. All have done reasonably well but again that lack of consistency has damaged their un-

derstanding.

However, it 1s the forward line which is the cause of most concern, a problem area which has dogged the county for over a decade now. On Sunday, there was an obvious lack of strength and scoring prowess which ultimately cost Clare dearly. Fergal Lynch seemed to be the man to fill the problematic centre-forward spot after a superb display against Laois but a hand injury suffered in the Kilkenny challenge last week meant he only made a brief appear- ance on Sunday. Tony Carmody and Jonathan Clancy both impressed in the half-forward line and Niall Gilli- gan proved a threat in the corner but again the key position of full-forward remains open for challenge and per- haps the return of Declan O’Rourke can provide some power in the for- wards.

Allis not lost as Clare still have the return of Tony Griffin and Diarmuid McMahon to come but it is hoped ercLamm oO) Amn O (COME OO SKOMR BOOM LUN BE(e(oOII competition for places.

On the other hand, Tipperary are still unbeaten in the league after three games. The Premier county already have the Waterford Crystal Trophy to show for their efforts and new manager Liam Sheedy have in- stilled a freshness in the squad which has complemented their ever grow- ing assembly line of young talent.

While Eoin Kelly still takes centre stage in the forward line scoring 2- 26 in their three games to date with Offaly, Limerick and Galway, there are also a whole host of fresh for- wards vying for places. Pat Keswick (1-2), Lar Corbett (0-3), P Bourke (O- 3), Seamus Callinan (1-4), J O’Brien (O-3), Ryan O’Dwyer (0-2), Willie Ryan (0-1) and Hugh Maloney (0-1) have all influenced the scoreboard so far giving them several options for Sunday’s encounter. Add in free scoring midfield find Shane McGrath and centre-back Conor O’Mahony who has converted seven points from placed balls and it is easy to see why Tipperary are riding high at the top of the division.

A large crowd is expected for what should be a showdown on Sunday but essentially, the performance will be just as important as the result. An- other heavy defeat could be detri- mental to Clare’s confidence but Tip- perary should be stronger and come away with another two points.