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FIRST we had the World Ploughing Championships, now we have the World Holstein Friesian Federation SroyaKo rere

Less than two years after staging one of the worlds biggest interna- tional farming events, Ireland will play host to another following the announcement that the World Hol- stein Friesian Federation Conference which will be held in Ireland from October 9 to 11. The Minister for Ag- riculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan, last week announced funding of €100,000 towards the cost of staging the 2008 event.

It is the first time for this event to be held in Ireland. The Minis-

ter congratulated the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) in suc- ceeding in getting such a prestigious event to Ireland.

The Conference, which is_ held World Cup style every four years, will welcome delegates from over 40 member countries of the World Holstein Friesian Federation togeth- er with a large number of observers from Ireland and around the world.

The Conference will include a two- day scientific programme at Killar- ney and a one-day Livestock Show of pedigree dairy animals at Millsteet.

The Minister said that Irish Hol- Stein Friesian farmers, who consist- ently breed top quality animals, will be able to showcase to an interna- tional audience the high standards

OM Gr- LAO om) RcroLONDIToMGL UUM Re) ILON am ole) DOTS achieved in Ireland.

“My Department has _ invested heavily during the past decade in developing a top class cattle breed- ing infrastructure through the estab- lishment of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation,” she said.

The Conference not only provides an ideal opportunity to showcase the developments in cattle breeding in Ireland but also enables the promo- tion of our vibrant dairy industry to a global audience.

“The Conference will provide a timely international marketing plat- form for Irish Holstein-Friesian cat- tle and an opportunity to add value to the sector by creating export op- portunities for Irish Holstein-Frie-

sian genetics, through the sale of genetically superior live cattle, their semen, ova and embryos,’ she con- tinued.

Ui SCORN a eT ree arte hmelse Tt the mainstay of the dairy sector for many years now. Our dairy sector continues to grow in terms of value of output and last year dairy exports increased by 13 per cent to €2.36 billion, making it the most important sector of our agri-food industry.

Concluding, the Minister congratu- lated the Organising Committee on their efforts to date in planning for a successful Conference. She wished them well with the event and hoped that visitors to the South West of Ire- land will have an enjoyable and fruit- UU CE hYs

AN eight-month jail term has been handed down to a man who lashed out at two cars in Kilkishen, caus- ing more than €3,500 damage in the Reet

Before Tulla District Court was James Delaney (21), of Waterpark Heights, Ennis, charged with damag- ing two cars, on May 20, 2007.

Garda Michael Mulryan told the court that when he arrived on the

scene, a row was in progress, involv- ing two men and two women.

He said two cars which were near- by had been damaged. The owners approached the garda and told them that Delaney was the culprit.

He said that the accused was intox1- cated and had his shirt off.

The owner of one of the cars, Tommy Bentley, told the court he heard commotion outside his house. He looked out and saw a row taking je e-leror

He said that more than €3,000 damage had been done to his car.

He said his two young children were also looking out the window and saw the incident.

Ms Godfrey apologised to Mr Bentley on behalf of her client. He replied, “I know that but this car is after costing me €3,000.”

Denise Marsh, whose car was also damaged by Delaney, said she looked out the window of her home and saw the accused “circling the cars.

He was pounding on my car. He kicked out with his legs.” €240 dam- age was caused to her car.

The court was told that the total damage to the cars amounted to €3,561.54. Ms Godfrey said her cli- ent “had something of a blow-out.”

Judge Joseph Mangan jailed De- laney for eight months and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

He was unable to meet the recog- nisances of €2,000 and was taken to prison.

RELIEF is in sight for long-suffer- ing residents of St Louis Villas in Killaloe after a local councillor was promised that works will be done to alleviate flooding in the area.

Cllr Tony O’Brien asked the en- gineering section of Clare County Council what could be done as the area has been badly flooded on a number of occasion in recent times.

“I asked that they explore getting funding for the project under the housing regeneration programme. People have put up with a lot in those houses because of flooding and it has to be sorted,’ the councillor said.

Senior Executive Engineer, Sean

Lenihan told the councillor that works will be done to stop the flood- waters rising in the villas.

He told Cllr O’Brien that funding would be found and the works com- pleted. The councillor was also given good news on a number of other mat- ters he raised in relation to the lake- side town.

“T’ve also been given assurances that work will be carried out on re- surfacing the road between the GAA field and Ballheigue Bridge. It has been completely worn away and it’s in a terrible state.”

There was also good news for east Clare councillor Pascal Fitzgerald who had asked that additional light- ing be put in place at the top of Par-

teen village “as this is a health and safety hazard at night”.

Mr Lenihan said that “following an inspection, I am satisfied that the necessary lighting infrastructure is in place in the area referred to. I will however, follow up to ensure that all lamps are working and if higher wattage bulbs are required to 1m- prove the situation there.”

Cllr Fitzgerald also called on the director of services to ensure that new road markings be put in place at Griffins Cross and Larkins Cross, Parteen as soon as possible.

The senior executive engineer said that “the members will be aware that our application for funding under the Low Cost Safety Scheme for 2008

for the much needed improvement works at Griffins Cross was success- ful. These works will be carried out in the coming months.”

He added that regarding Larkins Cross, “it 1S accepted that works are required here due primarily to the large volumes of traffic and re- cent infrastructure carried out in the area. It would not make any sense to upgrade the road surface and then shortly after come back and dig it up to lay water and sewer services. Having said that, I do accept that the works can’t be put off for much long- er. We will be reviewing the situation there shortly and in the meantime, maintenance works will be carried out.”

FARMERS across Clare are being urged to consider renovating farm outbuildings on their lands.

Clare County Council’s Conserva- tion Officer said that a newly intro- duced grant aid scheme ensured that a number of traditional farm build- ings, which contribute to the visual landscape and are of historical and architectural value, would be main- tained into the future.

The Heritage Council will oper- ate the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme for REPS4 farmers, on be- half of the Department of Agricul- ture, Fisheries and Food.

“There is a significant gap in aware-

ness when it comes to our agricultur- al heritage despite its fundamental impact on the socio-economic de- velopment of this county throughout the last number of centuries,’ said Clare conservation officer Risteard Ua Croinin.

“It is imperative that we do not lose sight of the fact that agriculture has played a significant role in County Clare’s history.

“The many hundreds of outbuild- ings located on the county’s farms are a cogent reminder of this long as- sociation with the land. The scheme for REPS 4 farmers, therefore, presents an ideal opportunity to pre- serve these buildings.

“Most farm buildings constructed

prior to 1940 are stone structures and feature a slate, thatch or galvanised roof. Therefore, most of the build- ings being targeted by the scheme range between 60 and 400 years old.”

One of the main criteria of the scheme is whether a building im- proves the appearance of the land- scape. The criteria also state that the quality of the proposed building works must be of a high standard. For example, slated buildings must be renovated using natural quarry slate and hydraulic lime must be used in place of cement.

“The scheme also requires that all repaired buildings must be utilised by farmers in their day-to-day work.

This should be looked upon posi- tively by farmers who will enjoy real practical benefits out of undertaking repair work on the buildings,’ con- tinued Mr Ua Croinin.

‘Anyone wishing to apply for grant aid funding under the scheme must provide still photographs of the in- terior and exterior of the building in eLbCeri ale) eF

“These photographs should focus specifically on the parts of the build- ing in need of repair.”

The closing date for receipt of ap- plication is Monday, 31st March, 2008. For more information on the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme contact the Grants Office, Heritage Council, Kilkenny, at 056-7770777.

FRANK Doherty answered some questions outside the Clare dressing room shortly after the game on Sun- day, standing on the same spot that Paidi O Sé occupied when Waterford knocked Clare out of the champion- ship last May.

Same result for Clare and though the questions haven’t changed for the entirety of this league — essentially it’s been: Where was the game lost, Frank? — Doherty at least saw some progress in the performance.

“I think there was improvement, in fairness. There was a bit more bite and character. At the start of the game we went four one up playing competitive football, and that was pleasing to see. The movement was good, the forwards were good. The younger lads are kind of stepping up to a degree and it’s the older lads who have to step up now. I’ve seen it in some games obviously. But today was an improvement from the An- trim game.”

That’s where the good news story ends, though. Shortly after Clare scored four, Waterford slowly crept back into the game and the manager recognised a handful of key episodes that led to the demise. The missed opportunity before the break and the penalty at the end contributed, he said, but Doherty believed the inju- ries picked up by Gordon Kelly and Daragh Kelly were crucial.

“At the end of the day we have a small pool of players and to lose

Daragh Kelly and Gordon Kelly was a big blow.

You’re talking about two key play- ers. When Daragh was in the team for the McGrath Cup, we didn’t lose a game. When he went out of the team we haven’t won a game.

“And Gordon, of course, is a fine bit of stuff. His loss took two big players out of six in our back line. It was a big turning point in the game.

“T’ve been hoping to move Gordon out to centre back for most of the year and unfortunately I can’t because my hands are tied to a degree in relation to where I can play lads. Daragh was doing reasonably well at centre back until he received that injured and Gordon obviously is himself. He’ll always give you everything.”

The missed goal opportunity?

“Stephen Hickey’s goal chance was like Rory Donnelly’s against An- trim. How many chances do you get in a game? How many times do you need these chance to put them away? You’ve got to take them when the goal is in front of you and that was there again today.

“I don’t know if Stephen tried to take the net out with that shot. It would have been better to side foot it into the back of the net and a goal then would have put us in the as- cendency. We would have been in the driving seat. It was a game that would have taken a different aspect in the second half.”

The penalty?

“I think Joe jumped into the for- ward more than he tried to claim the

ball. Then [just before the penalty] David Connole was unlucky. He ran into the back of a player and that was a silly free to give away in a danger- ous position. For a while we were in the game and the lads that came onto the team tried their best, but we are where we are.’

Again, Doherty came back to the positives of the performance and with Kilkenny on the horizon, the first two points of the season are surely within grasp.

“There was more determination overall. Still, the cuteness that will win you games wasn’t there and some of the lads took the wrong de- cisions at times.

“Sean Collins drove on and hit men twice his size and he was a contender for man of the match. There’s still a lot of work to do and hopefully we’ ll get guys back off the treatment table and we’ll be that bit stronger and that bit more street-wise the next time.”

told the story of a couple who ran into difficulty and their child was subsequently taken

from them.

The drama occurred at a mo- tel, where Philly Phillips (Hickey) W010 .

FIFTY seven students from County Clare were presented with FETAC Level 6 Agricultural certificates by Teagasc Area Manager, Gerard Mc- Mahon, at the Auburn Lodge Hotel last week.

Education and training are neces- sary for the future of farming and in- centives such as Stamp Duty Relief on the transfer of farm property to a young trainer farmer, Grant on Farm Structures, Installation Aid Scheme, and Early Retirement Scheme.

Farming is a very demanding ca- reer requiring a broad and extensive range of skills, from animal hus- bandry, grassland management, ma- chinery operation and financial man- agement skills, while also complying with animal welfare, traceability and health and safety regulations.

The FETAC Certificate in Farming aims to continue with the process of education in the rural community. Surveys show that a high proportion of those who complete Agricultural training go on to be successful farm- ae

They are more prepared to adopt the better farming practices of re- cent times in housing, milk record- ing, breeding policy, using AI and re-seeding.

McMahon congratulated all stu- dents and especially the 6 prize win- ners, Sean Rodgers from Crusheen who won the FBD Award, Student of the Year and O’Connor Cup, Patrick Rosengrave from Barefield who won the Cattle Production Award spon- sored by Clare Marts, Daniel Has- sett from Quin who won the Dairy Husbandry Award sponsored by Kerry Agri Business, Nuala Mc-

Donnell from Kilnamona who won the ACC Bank Environment Award, Mark Casey from Newmarket who won the Farm Management Award sponsored by Allied Irish Bank and Ciaran Coneely from Ennistymon who won the Farm Planning Award sponsored by Teagasc.

Kieran Burns, Seamus Considine, Kevin Doyle (all Doonbeg), Mark Casey (Newmarket), James Com- mane, Alfred Morgan, Greg O’ Leary (all Ennistymon), Kevin Crowley (Ballynacally), Michael Cullinan (Toonagh), Derek Daly (New Quay), John Downes (Kilmurry McMahon), Padraig Gallagher (Mullagh), Patrick Garry, Gerard Kelly (Kildysart), Gerry Gleeson, Sean Rodgers, (Crusheen), Daniel Hassett (Quin), Colm Hickey, Darragh Vaughan (Broadford), Eoin Malone, Ciaran Malone (Ennis), Paul McCarthy

(Miltown Malbay), Nuala McDon- nell (Kilnamona), Paul McTiernan (Scariff), Joe Moloney (O’Brien’s Bridge), Michael Montgomery, (Quilty), Brian O’Connor (Labash- eeda), Ivan O’Driscoll (Fanore) and Patrick Roseingrave (Barefield) all picked up Advanced Certificates in aN au (CUNAUb ues

Padraig Boland, Michael Browne, Paul Browne, Denis Clair, Padraig Clancy, Ciaran Coneely, Dermot Considine, David Crowe, Martin Enright, Michael Eustace, Cronan Forde, Oliver Galllagher, Donal Harte, Denis Lee, Brian McInerney, Nial Meade, Noel Meaney, Elizabeth Mee, Eamon Meehan, John Mescall, David Minogue, Keith Mungovan, Richard Nagle, Brendan Quinn, Sean Reidy,James Rynne, Daniel Sammon and Sean Torpey picked up 180 Hour Certificates.

A FORMER Green Party MEP will be in Ennis this week to voice her op- position to her party’s stance on the upcoming EU Treaty.

Patricia McKenna, who contested the leadership of the party with En- vironment Minister John Gormley last year, has criticised the “sheer ar- rogance’”’ shown to the people of Eu- rope by their political leaders.

McKenna is the chairperson of The People’s Movement, an organiza- tion campaigning against the Lisbon

Treaty.

“Regardless of the fact that voters in France and the Netherlands have rejected the EU Constitution, it has been renamed, repackaged and put back on the table as if nothing had happened and we are being told to say yes or Ireland will be isolated.

‘There is almost unanimous agree- ment among EU leaders, including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, that the sub- stance of the rejected Constitution hasn’t changed. The difference be- tween the original Constitution and the present Lisbon Treaty is one of

approach, rather than content.”

McKenna will speak at a public meeting in the West County Hotel this Thursday, March 7, at 8.30pm.

She has been asked to speak by the Ennis-based Irish Drivers As- sociation, who are also opposing the treaty.

“The blatant conspiracy by EU gov- ernments to deny their electorates the right to vote on this treaty is an affront to democracy,’ she continued.

“EU leaders openly admit that they have taken the rejected EU constitu- tion and renamed and repackaged

it in an unreadable format. Giscard D’Estaing said that public opinion will be led to adopt, without know- ing it, the proposals that we dare not present to them directly.

“All the earlier proposals will be in a new text, but will be hidden and disguised in some way. What was al- ready difficult to understand will be- come utterly incomprehensible, but the substance has been retained.”

Meanwhile, Ms McKenna will be back in Ennis on Monday, March 10 to debate Clare TD, Timmy Dooley (FF) on the treaty.

The pair will take part in a public meeting in The Old Ground Hotel next Monday, March 10, at 7pm.

Deputy Dooley is the vice chair- man of the Joint Oireachtas Com- mittee on European Affairs and will argue in in favour of the treaty.

Other members of the National Forum On Europe, on which is rep- resented all the political parties and leading national organisations, are expected to attend. Copies of the fo- rum’s recently-launched

CLARE’S bid to overturn last year’s controversial decision to end the Open Draw in the Munster Senior Football Championship was quashed at the Munster Council convention last Friday night, but it didn’t stop Noel Walsh from venting his views on the subject.

The former Munster Council chair- man and GAA presidential candidate, who has been an Open Draw loyalist over the past 40 years, launched a

broadside against Munster Council rulers over the decision to seed Kerry and Cork to meet in the 2008 provin- cial decider.

“In the interests of fairness there should be an Open Draw,” Walsh told delegates to the annual conven- tion in the West County Hotel in En- nis. “In every other province there is an Open Draw. It would give players from the four weaker counties an opportunity of playing in a Munster football final.

‘There was great finance taken in

by the council when the Open Draw was there from 1991. Under the seed- ed draw, there was only one gate and that was the Munster final between Kerry and Cork,” he added.

Walsh made his comments, despite the fact that a Clare motion calling for “the Senior Football Champion- ship in Munster in 2009 to be run on the basis of an Open Draw” was ruled out of order.

“We wont have any discussion because the motion is out of order,” confirmed secretary, Simon Moro-

ney to delegates.

“This decision was arrived demo- cratically and on the night the vote was taken the counties voted the way they were instructed to,’ added chairman Jimmy O’Gorman from Waterford.

However, Walsh countered by say- ing “while democracy is important, justice 1s more important”’.

A MASSIVE community effort is underway in Ennis as preparations continue for St Patrick’s Day.

The showpiece of the day, the St Patrick’s Day Parade will commence at 11 am from the courthouse.

The parade in Ennis in recent years has attracted large crowds of onlook- ers and has grown in popularity as a community event. Stilt walkers will also be at the parade to entertain the onlookers with their own form of pe- destrianisation.

The theme of this year “event is cel-

ebration, providing participant with plenty of scope for imagination.

The traditional blessing of the shamrock will take place before 12.15 mass at the Ss Peter and Paul Cathedral.

The party continues after the pa- rade is ended, when in conjunction with celebrations taking place for Seachtain na Gaeilge, a massive street céili is planned for O’Connell Square.

Town Clerk Eddie Power explained the street entertainment will be a major feature of the day, before and after the parade itself.

He said, “I am delighted to an- nounce that Ennis Gospel Choir will perform in O’Connell Square before the parade from 10.20am to llam. The choir recently performed in Glor to much acclaim and have given per- formances in Cork, Killarney and Limerick. The choir will perform a variety of well known songs and will appeal to a wide audience”.

“We are also arranging a Street Session in Lifford before the parade commences. Traditional musicians from Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann will entertain the waiting crowds in advance of the parade. A stage will

be in place as was done prior to last year’s parade which raised the pro- file of the musicians while improving sound and vision for the onlookers present,” he said.

Power continued, “Ceoltoiri na Mainistreach, a new céili band from Ennis, were formed by a group of very talented musicians from the En- nis area.

‘They first came together for the Clare Fleadh and went from there to Munster and on to the All Ireland competition in Letterkenny. This promises to be enjoyable for all the family.”