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HAVE you ever heard of Motown’? No, nothing to do with soul music, but a nickname given by a PR man to the area around the start of the Naas Road in Dublin which is proliferated by car companies.

The first car importer you hit when you make your way to ‘Motown’ from Dublin city centre is the Gowan Group. Recently I tested Citroen’s first SUV, the C-Crosser, now it’s the turn of Peugeot, the other company in the Gowan Group, to eventually get in on the SUV act with their new mL UrE

The 4007 is built on the same plat- form as Citroen’s C-Crosser and Mitsubishi’s Outlander. So it’s a tough call to make and ultimately it will come down to the brand you are loyal to. The entry price for the Peu- geot and Citroen is similar, while the Outlander is slightly cheaper.

I drove a black 4007 and I must say it looked very impressive. The front headlamps would do any sports car justice and the two silver roof rails definitely do add to the SUV effect.

Women are supposed to wear black to make them look slim; indeed I’ve known a few men to opt for black for similar reasons. But there is no need to try and make the 4007 look slim as it’s very neat especially the rear end. The only place you will see any colour other than black in the 4007 is the rear door, where there is a nice

touch of chrome as you open it. To be fair there 1S also a touch of chrome inside.

Like all SUVs, the 4007 is very There are no problems with any pil-

high and the seating position gives you an excellent view of the road.

lars to hide your view and overall I think it makes for very safe driving.

In the cabin everything is well laid out and decent size knobs are provid- ed for the radio. The back seat could hold three well built adults, whether they are wearing black or not.

I won’t say that the diesel was very noisy, but there is no doubt you will know straight away that it is a diesel. In some other diesels I have driven recently you would have to double check to see if it was petrol or diesel they were so quiet.

But diesel is the new black as eve- rybody wants one to cut down on the COQ2 emissions and avail of the ben- efits of Mr Cowen’s recent budget. Therefore you might like to wait un- til July 1 for the best deals.

I drove the ST version which gives you an option of five or seven seats and goodies like cruise control and MP3 player. Like most SUVs if you opt for seven seats there is very little luggage space left. You can switch from two-wheel to four-wheel drive by means of a switch located near the gear lever. I didn’t get an opportunity to drive the 4007 off-road but it felt like it could handle any terrain.

Prices start at €40,200 for the 4007 five-seat SR model and go up to €47,395 for the top of the range seven seater. All are powered by a 2.2 litre diesel engines. Peugeot say they expect to sell between 150 to 200 units in Ireland this year.

A LONG running battle which Car- rigoran Nursing Home and _ local residents in the Newmarket-on-Fer- gus area have waged to prevent a 100 foot high mast from going ahead has EDU (oreR

An Bord Pleanala has overruled the recommendation of its own inspector to refuse telecommunications com- pany “three” planning permission for the proposal.

Last year, Clare County Council refused planning permission after

it concluded that all options for the co-location of the mast had not been maximised.

In their initial objection, Carrigoran Nursing Home, through Sr Christina Murphy, said, “Our nursing home is within 200 metres of the proposed mast. The nursing home has 152 beds and a staff in excess of 70 people.

“The residents range from short- stay medical care to ages in excess of 80 years of age. In this, patients will have a range of illnesses includ- ing Alzeimer’s.

“Our mother house in the US 1s

extremely concerned, particularly of the health hazard created by the development and of the high level of energies emitting from the develop- ment.:

However, in its appeal, “3” stated: “We believe that it has been demon- strated that a rigorous search of the area was undertaken by “3” before nominating the appeal site as the pre- ferred option in terms of coverage, acquisition and planning issues.

In his recommendation, the board inspector stated that the proposal would not reliably accommodate fu-

ture telecommunication installation, would be needlessly intrusive in the area and would not be in accordance with the proper planning and sustain- able development of the area. However, the inspector’s recom- mendation was overturned after the board of An Bord Pleanala consid- ered the national strategy regarding the improvement of mobile commu- nications services. Its decision was also based on the guidelines relating to telecommunications antennae and support structures and the location of the proposed development on a site

which did not come within the scope of specific restrictions with regard to development in scenic areas.

The board ruled that the plan would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicin- ity, would not be prejudicial to public health and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sus- tainable development of the area.

It stated that it decided not to ac- cept the inspector’s recommendation to refuse permission, noting the lack of landscape designation and the dis- tance to residential properties.

can confirm that Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club, which occupies a prestigious and valuable site overlooking the River Fergus, has been approached by a developer, with a view to buy.

Niall Kelly, Chairman of Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club, which is located off the Mill Road, Stressed, ““We don’t have a ‘for sale’ sign on our club, but we are open to approaches and will listen.”

However, while confirming the ap- proach and subsequent meetings with an unnamed developer he added, ‘No decision has been made. We had a conversation and we listened and reported back to the club’s manage- ment and trustees.”

At the club’s 2007 AGM, a decision was taken to establish a development sub-committee.

According to Niall Kelly, “We see ourselves as wanting to provide qual- ity facilities for our members and as such we have developed a programme of phased improvements.”

Asked if those improvements could

involve the sale of the club in favour of a green field site elsewhere in town, plus a cash deal, much like that struck by the GAA with Cusack Park, Niall said, “We haven’t ruled any- thing out, or anything in, at present. We are happy where we are. We have a very contented membership and a great level of volunteerism.

“Our main objective is to ensure an environment that is as comfort- able as possible for our membership. We have given ourselves a year to progress the options that are there, and we intend to explore all op- aloe

He re-iterated, ““We are not closed to listening to people, we are open to suggestions, but as said we don’t have a ‘for sale’ sign on our club.”

Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club currently has over 400 mem- bers and facilities include five state- of-the-art, all-weather, floodlit tennis courts with full-length international size run-back, plus two sprung cham- pionship badminton courts, a bar and lounge area, ladies and gents chang- ing rooms with full shower facilities and ample car parking spaces.

The club, which sits on a scenic riv- erside site, was established in 1893.

NATIONAL honours will be be- stowed on a rural community in east Clare when seven young ladies take part in a All-Ireland talent competi- tion next week.

Seven members of the Lough- geraney Youth Club in Flagmount will participate in a national variety competition, organised by the Youth Council.

The event, which will see the girls sing a variety of songs, will take place in Maynooth on Saturday.

The girls got through to this stage of the competition, having been suc- cessful at both county and regional levels.

The seven – Cassie Comerford, Vasthi Curran, Ciara McNamara, Lorraine Moloney, Alanna Moro-

ney, Caoimhe Ryan, Sharon Keane – will sing a variety of songs, focus- ing mainly on folk and traditional music.

Fiddle player Colin McNamara also got through to the Munster finals, where he did his club proud.

They entered the competition under the auspices of their local youth club, which was set up last year and are tutored by Veronica Ni Chuilleagain from Bodyke.

Chairperson of the youth club Kathleen McNamara said young people are actively encouraged to get involved in events in the local com- munity.

“Young people have a lot to offer in the community. We have a lot of community projects ongoing. It is important for people to have owner- ship of the community,” she said.

“We had nothing in the area for so long, no community centre, no meet- ing point,’ said Ms McNamara.

“What brought the youth club on was having the childcare centre. It gave us a new lease of life,’ she ANOe(cre

“You have to have something for the youth,” she said.

The youth club is headed up by a variety of leaders – both adults and young people in the area. The club has 30 members, aged between 12 and 17.

SW stereo mca vek moter roe DUE ous activities, including fundraising initiatives along with fun events. They took to the streets of Galway last Christmas, where they engaged in carol singing, raising money for the Share A Dream Foundation in the process.

Next weekend’s event in Maynooth will be followed by an activity week- end for the club, from March 7 to 9, when the club visits Petersburg out- door recreation centre in Mayo.

Along with Ms McMahon, among those involve in the running of the club are Hillary Dully (secretary), Regina McCormack (assistant sec- retary), Tom Fitzpatrick (vice chair- man), Mary Kenny (treasurer) and Margaret Curran (assistant treasur- er). A number of youths in the area are represented on the committee – Eoin and Stephen Kenny, Sinead Reilly and Lorraine Moloney.

SINCE Mary Kelly from Tulla land- ed in Africa she has baked more than 4.000 scones.

Having been president of the Ap- ostolic Society for 25 years, Mary says she “always wanted to come to Africa to see what they were all talking about when they came home and made presentations. And I’m not one bit sorry I came — it’s been bril- liant and please God I’ll come back again.”

Mary took up station in the Mis- sionvale kitchen to provide creature comforts for the ravenous volunteers at their tea-breaks.

And when she wasn’t busy turning out Spotted Dick loaves, scones, trea- cle bread and apple tarts she spent

her time teaching the women in the craft center to crochet and knit.

For years, shopkeeper, Maire Talty from Lisseycasey has kept every spare free toy, pencil or colouring crayon that came with a comic.

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“I always thought there would be someone coming over with an empty Suitcase sometime’, said Maire who is also Ethel’s sister.

She struck pay-dirt with the group she was travelling to Africa with. Everyone loaded up with a dozen or so bags of toys for the Missionvale Santa to distribute at Christmas.

Dr Rory O’Keeffe left his practice in Ennis for the entire eight weeks to deal with the cuts, bruises, hyper- tension, heat exaustion and swollen limbs of the volunteers. When he

is not being called on to doctor, he plays with the township children.

Another volunteer shouldn’t be alive to be here, having been serious- ly ill, but he’s wearing his trademark straw hat and weilding power tools.

As they leave each day, volunteers bring bags of sweets for the children who wait in droves at the gates.

One volunteer had his passport and money stolen before he even left the airport. Within minutes, the group organised a whip-round and the money was replaced.

Every morning, volunteers squirrel away rolls, sausages and bread from their hotel breakfast so the African workers will have something to eat.

The litany of little acts of heroism goes on. But then, they are all he- Keen

A PROTECTED seal, that defied death, will be released back into the wild at Seafield Beach in Quilty this SUTer AA

Kringle was discovered on New Year’s Eve at Merchants Quay, Lim- erick, significantly under weight, dehydrated, with serious bite marks and a painful cracked tooth.

The grey seal pup, who is a protect- ed species, was to become part of a Munster wide rescue.

The four-week-old seal was discov- ered by a family waiting to attend the skating rink in the Potato, who con- tacted the LSPCA.

The little pup was then taken by the LSPCA to the vet, before being transported by the Limerick Animal Welfare (LAW) to Cork wildlife res- cuer Chelsea Collins.

Kringle was treated with fluids, an-

tibiotics and pain relief.

His wounds were most likely inflict- ed by an adult male seal (or “bull’’) in an attempt to force him away from his mother, who had probably come into season.

Kringle was cared for by Ms Col- lins in Carrigaline until he was well enough to be transferred to the Irish Seal Sanctuary in Dublin. Kringle has been recuperating at the seal sanctu- ary in recent weeks and regaining his strength on a diet of fresh fish. He has now made a complete recov- ery. The Irish Seal Sanctuary will be releasing Kringle into the sea at 3pm on Sunday at Seafield Beach near the village of Quilty. This will be a pub- lic event and all are welcome. Those who go to Quilty to see Kringle on his way are asked to keep all dogs in cars until he is safely at sea.

AN BORD Pleanala has given Par- teen GAA club permission to extend its club facilities, despite concerns of a board inspector that the develop- ment could prove dangerous for local children.

Clare County Council approved the club’s plan last year. Subsequently, the inspector advised that the de- velopment would generate extra car traffic which would pose a risk to lo- cal children.

The inspector’s advice came after residents from Westbury appealed Clare County Council’s ruling.

Video evidence of congestion near the site, which residents submitted with their objection, contributed to the inspector’s decision.

“The local residents are obviously concerned with the impact of this

extra car traffic on their amenity and own freedom of movement,” the in- spector stated.

“It is evident that road safety and especially the safety of children is uppermost in their minds. It 1s not so much the objective degree of danger to children that is at issue here.

“Even the reasonable apprehen- sion of danger and the consequential degree to which children’s freedom to play unsupervised out of doors is constrained is a material consid- eration and one which must be taken into account in any proper planning assessment of the merits of the devel- opment.

“T conclude on the second main is- sue that the proposed development would create a degree of danger and disturbance, as perceived by local residents.”

However, the board over-ruled the

inspection stating that the proposal would not seriously injure the ameni- ties of the area or of property in the vicinity.

The board stated, “In deciding not to accept the inspector’s recom- mendation to refuse permission, the board concurred with the planning authority’s conclusion that the pro- posed facilities are complementary to the existing established use of the site as a Sports/recreation facility and would contribute to its continuing development and beneficial value to HeComyraCOCormmeevec vee LeUID IR VAM

Furthermore, having particular re- gard to the nature and scale of the additional facilities proposed, the board considered that the vehicular traffic movements likely to be gener- ated would not significantly alter the existing intensity of usage of roads in the vicinity.

THE Department of the Environ- ment has stated that a €100 million plan to convert a Killaloe health spa into one of the country’s leading re- sorts could have a negative impact on the Lough Derg Special Protection Area (SPA).

Former Killaloe doctor Paschal Carmody and his wife, Dr Freida Carmody sold Tinarana House to Limerick developers, Joe Hanrahan and John Shee in a multi-million euro deal.

Tinanara Ltd plans to convert the building into an integrated tourism, recreational and commercial devel-

opment. The developers state that 200 jobs will be created when the centre becomes operational, while a further 200 jobs will be generated during the construction phase.

The plan includes the refurbish- ment of Tinarana House; an 18-hole championship golf course; a spa and wellness centre; a 32-bedroom aparthotel; multi-purpose banquet- ing, function/conference facilities; 155 two bedroom short term accom- modation units and an equestrian holiday village

An Environmental Impact State- ment (EIS) is being lodged with the application and Tinarana Ltd are estimating that the resort will con-

tribute €30 million to the regional economy every year and €8 to €10 million to the local economy.

As part of the scoping process for the EIS, the developers contacted the Department of the Environment and An Taisce for their views on the project prior to the plans being lodged.

Inresponse, the department claimed that the development had the poten- tial to have “significant negative impacts on Lough Derg SPA and its conservation objectives, particularly at construction stage.”

The department and An _ Taisce have yet to lodge submissions to Clare County Council.

However the developers maintain that the proposal is a realisation of a unique development opportunity afforded by the natural and historic characteristics of the property.

They say the proposal is similar to the concept of Doonbeg golf club, but unlike Doonbeg is not a green- field development, but is similar to Dromoland Castle in that it will be an extension of an existing commer- cial and tourism related product.

Clare developers, Sean Lyne, who iS an investor in

THE project has become a real fam- ily affair, with husband and wives, mothers and daughters, dads and sons all getting involved.

TJ Talty, wife Maire and their daughter Grainne from Lisseycasey were on-site in South Africa, hand- ing each other paint brushes, ham- mers, saws and cleaning rags.

The Talty’s other daughter, Cliona, was part of an earlier group of volun- teers while their niece and nephew, Paula and Shane had also been work- ing with an earlier team.

Mary Kelly from Tulla was at the airport to see her son, Francis head off in the first wave of volunteers and later she was in the kitchen baking while her daughter, Lourda, was do-

ing everything from carrying water to sealing floors.

Susan Fitzgibbon from Darragh arrived on the project days after her NOIZE stom ae

Christy Ryan from Kilmaley was swinging a hammer alongside his son, Malcolm, and inseperable sis- ters-in-law, Angela and Betty Hayes from Lisseycasey and _ Limerick, were painting as a pair.

Husband and wife team, Bridget and Michael Haugh from Lisseyca- sey slapped mortar on hundreds of bricks and organiser, Maureen Mc- Carthy from Ennis didn’t have too much persuading to do to get her brother, Jody on board.

And Mike from Tulla and his broth- er, Gerard Daffy were joined by their cousin Patrick from Corofin.

CLARE Pharmacist Dr Audrey Kina- han has been appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as one of their worldwide experts. She will act as one of eleven worldwide Scientific experts on WADA’s Pro- hibited List Working Group.

Audrey who, with her husband Brendan Rochford, owns Rochfords Pharmacy in Ennis and Corofin is a recognised expert in the use of medi- cines in sport and has provided ad- vice to athletes and teams for many

rN as

In 2001 Audrey and Brendan set up the award winning website www. eirpharm.com as part of the Ennis Information Age Town Project. As part of this medicines information site, they developed a unique da- tabase where in 2007, over 11,000 Irish athletes, including all senior inter county GAA players, who are subject to drug testing and their doc- tors, can check if their medicine 1s prohibited or permitted in sport. It is

the only such service endorsed by the Irish Sports Council and is available free of charge.

Last year the website had over 300,000 user visits with the online sports database supplying informa- tion to 13,000 unique users. The website forms a key part of the Irish

Sports Council’s education pro- eramme, informing athletes on how best to avail of vital medicines with- out falling foul of strict anti-doping regulations.

The couple also supply sports clas- sifications on medicines to Irish doc- tors through a monthly medical pub- lication on behalf of the Irish Sports Council.

“The Irish Sports Council is de- lighted with WADA’s recognition of the outstanding contribution made by Dr. Audrey Kinahan and Eirpharm” said Dr Una May of the Irish Sports Councils Antidoping Unit.

As part of the appointment, Audrey will be required to attend scientific meetings in WADA’s headquarters in Montreal and in Lausanne, Swit- zerland.

Audrey is a member of the Clare County Enterprise Board, the Clare County Development Board and of the Ennis branch of Soroptimists In- ternational.