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THURSDAY night’s Galway Card at Galway Greyhound Stadium was backboned by the heats of a number of Sweepstakes – the finals of which will take place on Saturday.

In the opening semi final of the Bothar A3 Stake the PJ Fahy owned Tyrur Kim a daughter of Crash and Tyrur Tina was confidently expected to add to her opening round success as she ran from her favoured inside berth. And she certainly did not let her followers down as she stayed on really strongly to hold off the late rally of the striped jacketed Hello Sbubseon

In the second semi final there were reserves in traps three and six but as the traps rose it was the trap five runner Carhugar Bobsie that broke

best and he lead around the opening corner from Malbay Bart with Ross- cahill Pascal in third place turning down the far side.

Racing past the halfway mark the Michael Downes of Killaloe trained Carhugar Bobsie (Premier County- Blonde Lotto) set sail for home and as he rouned the penultimate bend he held a race winning three length ad- vantage over Malbay Bart as Sharons Baby moved in to third spot.

But Carhugar Bobsie was in com- mand for his owners, the Clare Con- nection Syndicate from Quin, and he won by over three lengths in 29.10.

The opening two contests of the night were both over the minimum trip of 325 yards and in the opener for SIO graders the Fiona/Kevin Troy of Kilkee owned West Clare Gael showed his rivals a clean pair of

heels throughout as he galloped clear to win.

The third contest was an A5 graded 525 yard contest for which the trap two runner Stonehall Mist for the Caseys of Newmarket went to traps the 6/4 favourite but she never count- ed as the white jacketed Shyan Yank (Mustang Yank-Shyan Chill) showed a decent turn of early toe to lead by three lengths and won comfortably Aner

Race ten on the card was heat number two of the 550 Stake where trap five runner Bold Teddy was away smartly and he led up on the outside from Cat Woman on the long run up with O’Garney Gold improving in to third place as they turned down the back straight. In the end, it was the Mrs Helen Coffey of Sixmilebridge owned O’Garney Gold (Droopys

Woods-O’Garney Mist) who was out in front by a length and she re- ally stuck to her guns up the sraight to win in 30.76.

There was a huge buzz of anticipa- tion around the stadium on Saturday as the top bitches in the country bat- tled for a place in the €26,000 to the winner final of the Tyrur Ted Cham- pion Bitch Stake.

Unfortunately, one of the leading fancies for outright victory in the Competition, Shinguan Stan, was an absentee due to a virus but there were also other nine runners which sadly saw two of the heats reduced to four runner contests.

Once again the sponsors repre- sentetive Tyrur Nadine (Droopys Scholes-Tyrur Fiona) was the focus of attention. But racing down the back’ Nadine’ led by three lengths

from Express Smasher with Florys Atrraction in third place. Racing out of the back tbough the leader pulled out more as she raced cleaar to book her place in the decider from Express Smasher in a superb time of 29.96 . The draw for the €26,000 final is as follows:

1. LETHAL FRANKIE

2. NEWBRIDGE JEWEL

3. STRANGFORD KATIE

4. EXPRESS SMASHER

5. FOREST BABY

6. TYRUR NADINE

The third contest on the night an A2 eraded 525 saw the Martin Cronin/ Jack Markham of Ennis owned Crag- brien Magic(T1) deliver a most 1m- pressive performance as he romped to a seven length victory over Bal- Were (ou

THE Construction Industry Federa- tion (CIF) last night described plans by Clare County Council to more than quadruple new house levies as ‘unjustified and unsustainable’.

As part of the draft developer con- tribution scheme 2008-2011, the council is proposing a 400 per cent increase on levies for houses on zoned land, going up from the cur- rent rate of €5,000 to €21,360.

Currently, house-builders con- structing homes on unzoned land pay €4.180 and under the council’s new scheme, the development levy will more than double to €12,456.

Those seeking to build holiday homes are facing a 300 per cent in-

crease in levies, going from €9,500 to €27,050 per home.

The levies are imposed by the council on house builders to finance water, sewerage, road and com- munity infrastructure and must be paid before houses are occupied. In the past four years, the council has raised €34 million from the scheme. However, in the revised scheme, the council is seeking to raise €101 mil- lion over the next four years.

The draft document is to go before the council next Monday and CIF spokesman, Conor O’Connell yester- day outlined the federation’s opposi- tion to the scheme when he said that the increase will add eight per cent to the price of houses in Clare.

Mr O’Connell said that the lev-

ies are another form of taxation. Mr O’Connell said that the CIF would be lobbying councillors to outline its serious concerns in relation to the scheme.

The scheme is unlikely to get passed in its current form, with Cllr Patrick Keane (FF) representing the views of a number of councillors when he said that the “charges place on unfair burden on young couples wishing to construct a new home”.

As part of the scheme, the council is targeting 1,400 house buyers each year over the next four years to fi- nance its capital spend.

IT looks like another busy week for students at Barefield National school as they prepare to highlight the bene- fits of an active and healthy lifestyle.

After a month where the school continued its drive for green flag sta- tus with a series of environmentally friendly initiatives, staff and students will take part in another important promotional campaign.

Pupils from Barefield National School will this week join the list of schools nationwide who are cel- ebrating Active School Week. For the school this means increasing the amount of time spent on PE and

physical activity and highlighting the benefits of an active lifestyle.

According to teacher Peadar Mc- Mahon that means a number of ac- tivities running throughout the week including an infant programme which involves different events every day culminating in a Blitz on Friday March 7.

First class pupils are taking the whole thing very seriously by organ- ising a survey on physical activity, which will focus on their favour- ite activities and how to promote a healthier lifestyle for all the family. Of course, the events next week in Barefield National School will in- volve students from different nation-

alities and even the language teacher has been drafted in to explain the intricacies of cricket amongst many other things!

Active School Week is the high- light of the Active School Awards 2008 which is a nationwide search for the schools who best incorporate physical activity into their school CEMA

The Awards, which are now in their fourth year, are funded by the De- partment of Education and Science and entries are assessed on a region- al basis and then a short list will be invited to the National Celebration Event in May 2008 where the win- ners receive cash prizes.

The closing date for submissions is April 4 and those interested in participating should log onto www. activeschoolawards.ie

The Active Schools Awards for 2008 was launched by Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Education and Sci- ence at St Clare’s Primary School, Harold’s Cross, Dublin on Friday 18th January._

The main aim of this initiative is to raise the profile of PE and co-curric- ular physical activity in the context of the introduction of the Primary J SCUiw ue levee mr-DeCeMdsComMiebeN OME OaVelle PE syllabus and to promote lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity.

THEY said that it couldn’t be done, the people who know about big building projects. But more than 170 determined Irish

people and eight weeks of hard labour, sweat and blood later, the Banner was celebrating in South Africa as the new care centre and hospice at Missionvale in Port Elizabeth was handed over to Sr

Ethel Normoyle, to bring hope, comfort and dignity to the pov- erty and disease stricken people of the township.

A QUESTION mark hangs over Clare County Council’s plan to re- alise €300,000 from the sale of a rundown toilet block with panoramic views of Lahinch bay.

The sale of the site on which the toilet block is located, at the south- ern end of Lahinch prom, is expected to be a major financial contributor to the council’s plans to upgrade the re- sort’s promenade, including facilities for surfers.

However, the council has as yet been unable to confirm title on the dilapidated toilet block despite its in- vestigations into the property going back to late 2004.

“Investigations regarding title for property were commenced in late 2004 and the process for first reg- istration was commenced in late 2005.

“This process involves mapping, proofs and statements and I cannot say at this time how long more it will take. We are in constant contact with the Land Registry through the coun- cil’s solicitor and the property will be advertised for sale on completion of the registration process,’ accord- ing to acouncil spokeswoman.

“This is an application for first registration and this generally takes longer than a normal transfer of title. The council has responded fully to

all queries raised to date and must await the outcome of the registration 0) Kel ees Se

Cllr Martin Conway (FG) expressed his support for the proposed sale.

“The toilet block has not been used- for over five years and we are told the site may realise up to €300,000 if put on the open market.

“IT would always caution against the council selling its assets, but the sce- nario put to councillors is the sale of the toilet block is necessary in order to finance the upgrading of the beach facilities. It is a superb site with unri- valled views of Lahinch Bay.”

Only last Friday, the council signed a €234,000 contract to construct a new lifeguard station at Lahinch. A number of other developments for the prom are currently at design stage and will culminate in the prepara- tion of an overall masterplan for the beach and promenade at Lahinch.

Along with the lifeguard station, the masterplan includes a new serv- ices building incorporating toilets and showers, and improvements in traffic management and car parking.

The council spokeswoman con- firmed that last year, the council col- lected almost €200,000 in parking fees at Lahinch. In 2006, the amount received was €168,000. The monies from the parking fees are to go to- wards the financing of the Lahinch prom project.

THE number of new homes expected to be completed in County Clare this year is expected to be halved. Statistics released by the Depart- ment of the Environment yesterday show further evidence of a downturn in the housing sector with the number of house starts down by almost half last year with the anticipated knock on in house completions this year in

the county.

According to the figures, the number of house commencements last year in Clare was 960 with the number of commencements in the fi- nal quarter to 239.

The 2007 total compares to the 1,801 house starts in Clare in 2006 – a drop of 46 per cent and it continues part of a downward trend.

In 2004, there were 2,370 house starts in Clare and this was followed

by 2,156 house starts in 2005.

The low number of house starts in Clare last year will have a knock- on effect on the number of house completions in Clare in 2008 as the building sector responds to the cur- rent oversupply in the market.

Another aspect of the current over- supply in the market is the large number of homes that were complet- ed in Clare last year.

Figures from the Department of the

Environment show that 2,286 homes were completed in Clare last year — the second highest figure ever.

The figure is 16 per cent down on the 2,727 houses built in 2006. Fig- ures for 2005 show that 2,174 homes were built; in 2004, 1,831 homes were built; in 2003, 1,679 homes were constructed.

Additional evidence of a slow-down in construction show that lOO homes were completed in Clare in January

of this year — down on the 122 total for January 2007.

Further highlighting the number of house starts slowing to a trickle, Homebond recorded only six house starts across Clare in December.

Homebond record an estimated of 75 per cent of new house starts across the country and the six starts in Clare in December is a drop of 83 per cent on the 36 houses starts in December 2006 in Clare.

INTEGRATION and community will form the key themes of an Afro- Irish festival of music planned for Ennis in March.

The main aim of the Afro-Irish gospel extravaganza, details of which were revealed last week, seeks to bring together Ennis’ African and Irish communities through music.

Taking place on Saturday, March 22, the event will feature a host of traditional African and Irish musi- GETS

Organised by the Ennis _ based Foundation Ministries, the concert at elor will feature performances from the Children of Soweto Group, the Ennis Youth Choir, Mary Ayo Tade,

James Kilbane and many other art- ists and choirs from abroad.

Event organiser and singer Chinwe Obadeyi explained Easter was cho- sen specifically as the ideal time to bring the two communities together.

She said, “It 1s important that in- tegration takes place in Ennis. We were trying to think what would be the best way of bringing Irish and Africans’ together and we though the best was through music. Music is the best way to it. I saw that when I launched my cd in Ennis”.

She continued “Easter is a good time to do it because it 1s such an im- portant time for people with a Chris- tian faith. Irish and African people share very strong religious beliefs and hopefully we can use this occa-

sion as an united force”’.

A prominent member of Ennis’s African community, Obadey1 moved to Ennis from Nigeria eight years ago.

Having completed her education in Ireland at the University of Limerick, Obadeyi released her debut album, Beyond the Sky, in Ennis two years ago.

She is a founding member of the Foundation Ministries Church and is also an active member of the African Forum in Ireland.

She said the concert will celebrate aspects of African and Irish culture.

“There will be music, dance, Afro- beats, Irish set dancing, everything. The African community has been made very welcome in Ennis and

we want to give something back to the town. This is one of showing that appreciation. In the future maybe we ll organise exhibitions, or fash- ion shows, but for we are focusing on music. It is a great way to show USD IA Vaan

Mayor of Clare Patricia McCarthy and Mayor of Ennis Tommy Bren- nan are both being invited to open the event. Obadeyi urged people in Ennis to come out and support the event.

“We have got great support from people. It’s going to be a great night and the best way people in Ennis can show their support is by com- ing along. This is the only way it can work. We need the presence of Ennis people to make the event a success”.

FOR the last six months, the people of Clare have been turning out in droves to support every possible kind of fundraiser to help send the volun- teers to South Africa on the Building of Hope Project.

There is, as yet no final figure for the amount raised through the hun- dreds of events which were arranged across the length and breath of the county and further afield.

While those travelling to Mission- vale for the project were required to raise €3,000 apiece to cover the costs of their travel and accommoda- tion, as well as a contribution to the cost of the building, most raised far in excess of that.

One volunteer raised almost €29,000 and many raised more than €10,000 as the generosity of the Clare spirit overflowed.

“It’s unbelievable the amount of money that came out of one county”, said one of the project organisers, Olive Halpin. “Every single per- son in Clare must have contributed in some way. So much has already

come in and it’s still coming in. Peo- ple in Clare have been incredibly supportive.

The fund-raising events were as ingenious as they were useful. One volunteers company colleagues held a “guess who’s bum it 1s’, competi- tion, with photos of colleagues’ der- rieres.

All manner of items were auc- tioned, from pieces of art and furni- ture to the services of a fine stallion.

Another volunteer even auctioned his wife’s kisses!

Then there were the companies who contributed cash and all-impor- tant time off for their staff.

Lourda Doyle, said her employers, Isevier allow two days for taking part in voluntary work, called Care DEES

“I received a fantastic €1000 do- nation from Brenda Curtin MD of Elsevier. Gerry Gallagher organised a quiz at Christmas this collected €430. Liza raised €395 and I raised €900 in sponsorship from friends and colleagues in the company. They were brilliant’, said Lourda.

When all the cash is accounted

for, it’s expected that the full cost of the building of the care centre and hospice at Missionvale will be re- deemed.

But with a population of €125,000 in the township, living in the worst imaginable conditions and devastat- ed by disease, there is always a call on the Missionvale purse.

On-going support and funding is needed and Clare fundraisers are soon to set about a campaign to get standing orders to help run the school and the newly built centre.

The last thing which the final volun- teers did before they left Missionvale was to walk the ground and plant a tree, where it’s hoped the Irish will return again in 2010 to build homes for AIDS orphans.

LIMERICK are impossible to work out at the moment. From week to week, Richie Bennis has put out varying sides in an effort to unearth new talent but it has been the tim- ing of these alterations which has been most baffling. In their opening clash at home against Laois, Limer- ick used nine of the All-Ireland final side in their comfortable 3-23 to 2- 11 win but only a week later, Bennis just started three as Tipperary took the Shannonsiders apart by 2-20 to 2-9 in Semple Stadium. Then in a

challenge with former strikers Cork last Wednesday, Limerick used 13 of the 20 used in that defeat against Kil- kenny last September.

All this would suggest that Limer- ick are not too interested in the league and are focusing wholly on the cham- pionship but why not be more exper!- mental against strugglers Laois and in the challenge against Cork instead of having his young inexperienced side dismantled in Semple Stadium in the league?

There is always a keen interest in the neighbouring clash between Clare and Limerick so it will be in-

teresting to see which Limerick side Bennis picks for this Sunday’s game. Bennis has always claimed that there is never much between the counties and he has backed that up with the fact that even though Limerick had seven points to spare against the Banner last year in the All-Ireland quarter-final, Clare missed several goal chances which could have made the difference early on.

On the other hand, Mike McNama- ra is certain to put out his strongest available 15. On Sunday, he termed the healthy rivalry between the coun- ties as ‘unique’ but is unquestionably

gunning for the two points to boost the confidence in the side.

Injuries have hampered Clare’s preparations but aside from. that, Sunday’s game against Kilkenny will have given the Banner a posi- tive boost going into this weekend’s game.

Limerick have their injury wor- ries too but can expect chief scorer Andrew O’Shaughnessy back af- ter his Fitzgibbon Cup $action. O’Shaughnessy, who has amassed 4-9 in his two league games to date, was missing last week as Limerick lost by ten points to Cork and his

influence in invaluable to Limerick. For long periods, Limerick more than matched the hurling starved Rebels and it was only after Neil Ro- nan second half goal that Cork even- tually pulled away.

Both sides need a win but it will all come down to which Limerick side takes to the field on Sunday. Clare are clearly more serious about the league and this hunger might be enough to see them edge this battle.

THE Department of Education has dashed the hopes of over 250 fami- lies around Ennis this week by re- fusing to confirm whether Barefield National School has been given the approval to begin work on its long- awaited extension.

The school first put in a bid for funding in 2000 and for the past eight years both management and local families, under the guidance of the Building for the Future com- mittee, initiated fundraising events

which helped raise €31,500 – the re- quired local contribution.

In 2002, John Carr, the General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation agreed that the “school accommodation was se- riously substandard”’.

The department agreed to the ex- tension. Almost €250,000 has al- ready been spent planning the build- ing, which would include eight class rooms, a library, a general purpose room, five special education rooms, improved heating system, staff fa- cilities and playground.

When Minister Mary MHanafin made her selection in 2005, Barefield topped the list of approved primary schools. The Minister stated that “These projects have been identi- fied as priority projects in areas where demand for school places are increasing or current facilities are deemed inadequate to cater for exist- ing needs.”

“It is vitally important that children and teaching staff in our schools have facilities which are suitable to their growing needs,” she said.

But according to the Barefield

Parent’s Council, with some classes housing up to 36 pupils, the needs of their children are not being met – and they will do everything in their power to ensure that the munister does not renege on her intention of including their school in the 2008 School Building Programme to be announced at Easter.

“The school cannot cope in its present form. We have done the plan- ning; the project should be funded as agreed,” said Maeve O’Regan, chair- person of the council.

Timmy Dooley TD (FF) visited the

school yesterday and agreed that re- development should get underway as soon as possible.

‘The current site at Barefield is ab- solutely inadequate for its needs and I will be putting a strong case forward to the department to try to expedite the development process,” he said.

Minister Tony Killeen has also vowed to lend his voice to the cam- Oe ea ne

“T will bring these concerns to the education minister and try to ensure that the project gets included in the Easter announcement,” he said.