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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.

THUGGERY, allied to intimidation, is preventing people going out walk- ing in Shannon at night-time, it has eLoeMO EBEDAee

The suggestions came during a de- bate last week among Shannon town councillors on anti-social behaviour.

A number of the local elected representatives expressed concerns about anti-social behaviour, with one councillor, Sean Hillery, stating that he no longer walks at night, given the intimidation around the town.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy (In- dependent) asked for an update on the implementation of the by-laws on

drinking in public places.

She was told that four people were summoned to-date for breaches of the by-law – three in 2006 and one last year.

“We are all aware about the amount of drinking done in open areas. It is visibly on the increase. Now, more than ever, these by-laws should be called into force,’ said Cllr McCa- ua OWs

“Gardai should use their powers. Certainly the evidence is there to show the by-laws are not used,” she AYO Ce(eren

Councillor Gerry Flynn (Independ- ent) said there were problems in the town and while some of it was due to

alcohol, a lot of it was as a result of “thuggish behaviour”.

“There is something happening in Shannon at the moment and it isn’t good. We need to arrest it, pardon the pun, before it goes any further,” lntemcy-B(e

Fianna Fail councillor Sean Hillery said he no longer walks at night, be- cause he is aware of the “intimidat- ing attitude of some groups”.

“There is a lack of respect for the law. I’ve given up walking at night and I loved walking. You hear so much of this. It’s the attitudes of these groups to the law,” the council- lor said.

Councillor Tony McMahon agreed

that “people are afraid to go walk- rhea

“In a town like Shannon, we shouldn’t have this attitude prevail- ing. If we are going to have thuggery to the extent that we cannot go out of our homes at night, we have reached a very Serious state,” he said.

The mayor of Shannon, councillor Sean McLoughlin (Fine Gael) said, “There is anti-social behaviour all over town. We need to work with the gardai.”

He called for a meeting between councillors and senior gardai in the town, to discuss anti-social behav- iour issues and other such matters in SJervepeceyee

THE physical and logistical chal- lenges that faced Kilrush Town Council when it embarked on the pi- lot phase of the reyuvenation of John Paul Estate paled into insignificance this week when local families got their first view of the newly reno- vated houses.

One who was on the coal face of the development from the start was the town clerk, Fiona Mooney.

“It was a case of how would we overcome the design mistakes that were there from the start,’ she said.

The first challenge facing the coun- cil was to remove the notorious back lanes to the houses.

Ms Mooney said that while some residents were initially concerned about how they would access the back of their houses, it soon became apparent that the security and privacy their removal would achieve would far outweigh the other difficulties.

The other major physical changes were the derelict spaces that had been left and the block of houses that had been built in what could easily have been an open public area.

She also paid tribute to the build-

ers, Martin Fitzgibbon Builders.

“This long term regeneration project is about more than the indi- vidual houses, it is about people tak- ing pride in their area and standing up for the positives in the commu- nity,’ said Ms Mooney.

She said that the houses in the pilot part of this project now have secure back gardens and boundaries.

There were more than physical boundaries to overcome for the town clerk and the council staff.

“We had to relocate households while the work was carried out.

‘We met with nothing but positivity

from people,’ said the town clerk.

“It was a leap of faith for people and we were So impressed with the leap of faith they took,” she said.

“We hope it has paid off for them.”

The pilot phase of the John Paul Estate Remedial Works Scheme cov- ered almost one quarter of the entire estate and now the council are hop- ing to get the support of central Gov- ernment so they can finish the estate as soon as possible.

The show house at Willow Green will be open for viewings until March 14, Monday-Saturday (1lam to lpm) and Sunday 9 (2pm to 4pm).

IT WAS easy to see which dressing room each team occupied. One was awash with well wishers and report- ers buzzing around the door while the other had more of a funeral at- mosphere and the door remained closed. It took 25 minutes for any movement from the Clare dressing rooms, understandable really after such a disappointing result. This was the first time this year that Clare had finished so poorly in the league and a “Where are we going’ meeting was patently necessary to clear the air.

Richie Bennis was the first to ad- dress the media, complementing his side’s spirit and noting that Clare “genuinely accepted the result as in- evitable” long before the final whis- Co

In contrast, Mike McNamara was obviously disappointed and lament- ed Clare’s lack of experience which he felt was the deciding factor in the game.

“It was disappointing but the ex- perience of Limerick really showed. They showed why they were in an All-Ireland final last year and in gen- eral terms that was the same team. They are much further down the road than us. For all practical purposes we have a mountain to climb, we knew that starting off and we know it now and we are going to have days like this. The stats of the game will be very interesting when I see them. I would imagine we won as much pos- session as them but our team game and our team plan has to be looked at and addressed.”

Clare shot 16 wides over the 70 minutes, ten of those in the first half when Clare were clearly on top and McNamara rued thoses misses which he felt were predominantly struck at crucial periods of the game.

“I suppose it’s an area of concern rather an area which we would be proud of. To shoot 16 wides means that at least something is happening right but some of those wides were at vital times and a couple of very, very important frees which are bread and butter to our free-taker went wrong on the day and it cost us dearly.”

With Clare not utilising the wind to the maximum, Limerick took full advantage in the second half and overall, had far more options than Clare. This was proved by the fact that Limerick had 11 different scor- ers, including four of their substitutes while Clare had only six scorers over the 70 minutes. McNamara cited their inexperience and anxiety as a reason for their eventual subsidence and lamented the lack of underage success in the county which contin- ues to affect the senior side.

“I think any time you arrive with a new team and fresh faces, there is bound to be a nervousness in their play and there is. While we bemoan the fact that underage talent and un- derage success isn’t there, on days like today you can see that. You can see that the confidence you have with winning at Minor and Under 21 just isn’t there and we will have to build that and then build it into them and whatever it takes we will have to do. There is very little difference be- tween the teams in Munster, some are further down the road in preparation than others. There were times today that Limerick still looked like they were on holidays and yet they came back and finished so strongly and got some marvelous long range scores and you know if we were able to get a few of those, then I’d say we’d have finished up with a very tight match.

‘Again, that’s a nervousness in the

play which we will have to work on. We had four forwards there today re- ally who are only starting. Tony Car- mody is after a major operation and irrespective of how he plays or how he looks on the day, we need him in June so we have to take our chanc- es. Mark (Flaherty) maybe isn’t the Mark we have seen but it is a big step up again and you are now play- ing the top players and as I have said already, you can see why Limerick were in the All-Ireland final.”

With qualification to the latter stag- es of the league slowly slipping away, McNamara remained defiant that there is still two games left but that the player’s progress was ultimately more important to the greater goal of the championship in June.

“We have two matches left, we have four points to play for yet and if we get those four points then we will be in a quarter-final. It’s more important that we see progress and it’s more important that the players who are coming on stream that they start to show form and championship form as the year goes on.”

That progress will have to start on Sunday against leaders Tipperary for McNamara’s first game at Clare headquarters where nothing less than a win will do if Clare are to ad- NE TITOCOR

A DECISION by the Shannon town manager to recommend funding for a skateboard area in the town has prompted two sports groups to also make submissions.

Ger Dollard told town councillors at a meeting in February that he would recommend the provision of €50,000 towards the project, which will open near the leisure centre.

Over the past few years, money has been set aside for community ini- tiatives. €100,000 had accumulated and he said he would be suggesting that €50,000 of this be considered for the leisure centre.

The Wolfe Tones camogie club and Newtown FC both made submissions for funding, in letters to the town clerk ‘Tomas MacCormaic.

In its letter, Wolfe Tones said it

was applying for €34,000 from the €100,000 fund, towards the develop- ment of a new car park and associ- ated civil works.

In his letter, Brendan Wall of New- town FC applied for €12,000.

“Our facilities in Ballycasey have been vastly underfunded by any grant schemes and despite having spent over €400,000, only approxi- mately €50,000 has been grant aid- ed,” he said.

“The facility currently caters for all age groups from seven years of age to 18 and also facilitates two men’s teams and a women’s team. We cur- rently field seven teams in the under- age bracket for an eight-month play- ing season,” said Mr Wall.

Councillor Gerry Flynn (Ind) pro- posed that a special meeting take place, to decide how the letters should be dealt with.

Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) said it was important to give both applications “courtesy and deal with them prop- erly”.

Labour councillor Tony McMahon said some mechanism should be put in place, to decide how the money was going to be distributed.

Councillor Geraldine Lambert (FF) said the development fund was established several years ago.

“Vd support having a meeting to decide on the terms of reference,” she said. Cllr Sean Hillery (FF) agreed with this.

Mr Dollard said the community fund was set up initially with the aim of contributing to projects for the community.

He said that money was put aside every year and every five years, the town council could contribute to projects.

“Td still fully stand behind that (€50,000 for the skateboard area). A lot has been made from the fact the money is going for the centre. It’s not funding towards the development of the leisure centre. It’s towards a skate park,” he said.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said the leisure centre “has no intention of getting involved in any contro- versy. We put a request in for money. The town council has agreed. The leisure centre is concerned about the amount of damage and ill feeling. The leisure centre is quite content to withdraw the application and let the town council provide a skateboard park.”

A suggestion by Councillor Geral- dine Lambert, that the applications be deferred until a private meeting of councillors at a later stage, was or eu loee

derelindslomea eel oy

which is as yet in its infancy will look

into tourism in the area and identify

any actions that may improve the in- CliamtA

The task force will also be charged

with progressing an economic devel- opment strategy for the region.

Covering a geographical area from Kildysart to Loop Head and north as far as Miltown Malbay Cllr Cham- bers said the main function of the task force will be to encourage in- dustry into west Clare.

He said it is vital that the Clare side of the Shannon estuary is developed and maintained and that the pier off Moneypoint is currently working at 25 per cent capacity.

“Kilkee to Loop Head is the finest scenery in Europe and that is not ex- aggerating. There is great potential,” he said.

“The long-term objective is to get people to settle in west Clare.”

The idea of a new task force was first mooted at a Kilrush Town Coun- cil meeting.

Town councillor Liam O’Looney (FF) said that the previous proved successful and folded only after it reached the three goals set for it

The first goal was to encourage broadband into the west Clare capi- tal, which was achieved.

Decentralisation was the second goal with came to fruition last year when the Revenue offices moved into Cappa.

The third goal set for the town was to source a much-needed hotel. Since then sites for a hotel have been iden- tified and interest shown by some ey ba Olen

“The task force should be es- tablished to organise sustainable

jobs for the area,” said Councillor O’Looney.

The West Clare Economic Task Force is made up of the seven Kil- rush area county councillors, the mayor of Kilrush, mayor of Kilkee, Kilrush and Kilkee Chambers of Commerce, Leader, FAS, Eiri Corca Baiscinn, Shannon Development, the County Enterprise Board, the VEC and the ESB.