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FRANK Doherty walks out of the Clare dressing room looking like a man who signed up for a 10 kilome- tre jog but has just been told he’s got two marathons to run.

The job is big, Frank. Bigger, may- be, than anybody ever expected.

For now, he’s still hopeful of entic- ing one or two more players onto the panel and though they’re needed, that invitation after three straight league defeats looks increasingly less se- ductive with every passing week.

That the panel has to be looked at with a sharper, more critical eye is now obvious and Doherty says it’s time to re-assess the value of some of it’s members.

“There are guys who’ll have to be released after today,” he says. “From my own point of view, I’m totally down after that performance and so are the two selectors involved. And so are the players as well.

‘“There’s a lot of cracks out there to be quite honest. There’s no point

painting a rosy picture. People have already spoken about where we are right now and at the moment, we’re down at the bottom. We’re going to have to try and lift the lads and get them up for Waterford on March 2.”

He’s asked about some of the mis- takes Clare were responsible for and says he’s struggling to grasp the quantity of fumbles and dropped or nR

‘The amount of turnovers were un- believeable. I couldn’t count them all myself at times. We haven’t been un- der lights every night of the week to do certain things, but we have trained hard. It’s not an excuse because these are basic errors. We’re talking about club lads at underage, taking balls into tackles with a solo. Hopping a ball in front of a player when you’re about to go into a tackle. It’s basic, basic stuff.”

The cracks that Doherty saw on Saturday are one thing but the length of the road ahead of Clare becomes clear when he speaks of the need to revert to grassroots coaching.

A manager takes a job and expects the base skills to be available, he shouldn’t have to worry about an in- ferior legacy.

“I’ve always said that these guys need to be taught at an early age but we re talking 10 and 12 years of age to be addressing this. If the fututre is going to be bright for Clare — which I hope it will be — then these are things that need to be addressed. The skills have to be there if the next few crops will improve. But from a technical point of view, to be honest, some of the errors out there were schoolboy errors.

“Let’s look at the bigger picture. I’m not here to criticise players. I wouldn’t do that. The guys have abil- ity and they’ve played to the best of their ability. When it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. That’s sport and it’ll knock you on your back every now and then.”

A MAJOR fundraising drive is to be launched, towards the purchase of new equipment for the gaelscoil in S)at-vevaeyen

Management at Gaelscoil Donncha Rua is planning to equip every class- room with interactive whiteboards, which will benefit the young stu- CSTE

It follows on from a recent upgrade of the furniture at the school.

The new equipment will cost up to €20,000 and the people of Shannon are being asked to help out in the fundraising drive.

“This is the first fundraiser we have done since 1992. We want to get state-of-the-art equipment. We had not changed the furniture since 1984, when the school was built,”

said school principal Eamonn Bro- nO

“The boards are computerised and use touch screen technology. They are interactive in that both the teach- ers and children can use them,” said Mr Bromell.

The first fundraiser will be a social night out at the Oakwood Arms Ho- tel, on St Patrick’s night.

“There will be five or six live

bands, followed by a disco on the night. Meals will also be provided,’ said Mr Bromell.

“This is the first in a couple of events that we have planned during the year. It should be a good start,” he said.

Tickets for the nights events cost €25 each and can be _ purchased by contacting the school on O61 363165.

THE IFA have called for an emer- gency of the joint Oireachtas Ag- riculture Committee to take place immediately to help resolve the REPS payment problems which has gripped farmers around the country in recent days.

Newly appointed Clare IFA Presi- dent, Michael Lynch, was in Dublin this week lobbying the four Clare T’D’s on the subject.

“Well the Clare TD’s were sympa- thetic but we are really depending on the Minister and whither she can have an influence in changing things in Brussels. The problem is in Brus-

sels,” he said.

“They have taking a different in- terpretation of how these REPS are to be distributed and for us that is amounting to breaching a contract in relation to REPS 2 and 3. The great majority of REPS farmers in Clare will be effected by this sooner or Fitoe

“We were up in Dublin this week lobbying the Government, the TD’s and the Senators. We were trying too getting across the real problems that these late payments are causing for farmers and try and get Minister Coughlan to rectify the situation.

“This will have a big impact in Clare. More than 2,500 Clare farm-

ers are involved in REPS and the in- come that comes into Clare because of this is in the region of €17 mil- lion. That is a substantial part of the overall income of Clare farmers. An- ything that interferes with payment is going to have a big impact on the farmers themselves and the business they are going.”

Meanwhile, Clare man and ICSA General Secretary, Eddie Punch was part of a delegation from the farm- ing who met with Minister Coughlan and discussed the REPS situation last week.

ICSA president Malcolm Thomp- son, Gabriel Gilmartin, rural de- velopment chairman and Ivor Kil-

patrick, deputy rural development chairman also attended the meeting.

According to ICSA report the or- ganisation impressed upon the de- partment officials the urgency of the situation, which could potentially adversely affect 55,000 farmers at a time when beef, sheep and suck- ler farmers are struggling to break VCE

The ICSA also threatened to raise the matter with EU agriculture com- missioner Mariann Fischer Boel and said that said that disillusioned farm- ers would be hard—pressed to vote yes for EU treaty reform when they feel that the EU clearly treats them with contempt.

ON THE lengthy trek from Belfast to Limerick, Jody Gormley, former Tyrone footballer and current An- trim manager looked ahead to the Clare challenge and believed his side would find some resistence in Ennis.

VSS UUh CBMs ae aee day night well past midnight, before trevelling to Cusack Park on Satur- day morning and walking all over Clare later that afternoon. The ease of Antrim’s victory eventually sur- prised Gormley.

“The opposition was poor but we weren’t to know that coming down the road,” he said on Saturday. “Our fellas are working hard at the minute and you could see that out there. It’s

a long journey up the road, but we’ll be going back with a smile on our faces.”

The movement of Antrim and their ability to string passes together pleased the manager. “Early on in the first half we had some great moves that ended up with scores, we’re making progress which is what it’s all about. Clare gave us a tough game here last year in the Tommy Murphy Cup and we prepared for this chal- SONSXomMWA LOMO otclmmexeNoatommne meee DU ITC ma

Having also beaten Wicklow and Kilkenny to date, Antrim have the foundation to emerge from Division 4 and according to Gormley, the mo- tivation is there to progress.

‘We had a poor season last year and we re treating every game as though

we have to win it. The Tommy Mur- phy Cup threw us a lifeline because it gelled players together for the rest of the season. It worked well for us. Boys knuckled down and we’ve con- tinued to train hard over the winter. We’re glad to get onto the grass and we’ve started well but we’ve Offaly next and a lot of people are saying Offaly shouldn’t be in Division 4, that they’re too good for this divi- sion. And I’d imagine Offaly will be a step above the three teams we’ve played so far. They’re a big, strong team with some very powerful for- wards, so that’ll be a new challenge for us.”

Off Gormley goes for the journey home. A different set of ambitions than those he left behind in Clare.

AUSSIE rockers AC/DC famously declared “it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll’, and new band CMC will discover just what it takes when they compete against other new bands in Dublin next eeKeyeiaee

The Clare band will not only be judged on their musical capability, but also on their ability to success- fully co-ordinate all the elements that go into making a live rock show.

Seven steps up – a nationwide mu- sic competition for young people, is a competition with a difference. The aim is to provide young bands with an insight and practical knowledge of the music industry.

CMC were elected top of Clare’s youth bands at a recent Clare Youth Service gig. Before they hit the road to perform alongside some of Ire- land’s best up and coming bands, CMC will be performing on Satur- day February 23 at a gig in Ennis.

Other acts taking the stage in the youth centre on the night include “A star called Henry, the Alan Rooney Experience, The Elastic Band, Dara O Loughlin and Ceile Varley”.

CMC will then go on to compete against 17 other winning acts from around the country in Dublin at the Seven Steps Up awards day on March.

The acts will be judged not only on their musical ability but on the efforts of a full back-up team which

include media, stage crew, and PR eroup made up of over 20 musicians from the competition all working to support and promote the band in the Dublin gig.

CMC will have the chance to play their demo and be mentored by mu- sic industry professionals.

The winners of the overall compe- tition in Dublin will have the chance to make a professionally recorded album, featuring the other acts from their region.

Ceile Varley an acoustic performer involved in the project, said the com- petition provided a great opportunity for young musicians.

She said “This competition is an amazing opportunity for young mu- sicians – both for the winning act and

for the music and media team. Eve- rything is organised by young peo- ple, which means that we gain valu- able information on setting up gigs and managing bands.

Ceile explained “We learn how to promote bands and musical events, giving us an insight into the music industry.

“Everyone involved is working ex- tremely hard for this so come to the Youth Centre and support us – we guarantee an exciting night”

CMC play in the Clare Youth Serv- ice, Ennis on February 23, from 7- 9.30pm. The cost of entry is €5 and all over 15’s welcome. As with all other events the gig 1s drug and alco- hol free. For more information con- tact Jean Tierney 065-6845356

MINISTER of State Tony Killeen has given fresh hope to the possibil- ity of a train station being provided at Crusheen along the route of the Western Rail Corridor.

Stating that the development “should not be discounted”, the Clare TD said Iarnrodd Eireann had not ruled out the proposal and “would consider any evidence to suggest that such a development would be war- ranted”.

In a letter to Minister Killeen, Iarn- rod Eireann chief executive Dick Fearn said that the reopening of the Crusheen station was not included in the reopening of the Ennis to Athen- ry line because of the very limited

development forecast for Crusheen in Clare County Council’s North Clare Local Area Plan 2005.”

Minister Killeen said he reminded the CEO that detailed additional in- formation has been collated by the local community, with assistance from Clare County Council, regard- ing the potential future use of the proposed rail stop. This information along with undertakings relating to the provision of adequate car parking CUTE U em OEIC BROMINE cot have been submitted to Iarnrdéd Eire- EMOvOe

“In light of this new information, I have requested the company to re- view the potential for the establish- ment of a rail stop at Crusheen”, he SrALGe

The minister said he had also re- ceived confirmation from larnrod Eireann that it would be keen to work with developers who would fund a Station scheme, as is the case at a number of locations elsewhere on the national rail network. ;

“Recent reports that Iarnrod Eire- ann has categorically ruled out the future opening of arail stop at Crush- een could not have been further from the truth.

“The company has expressed its willingness to consider any evidence supporting the establishment of a rail stop at Crusheen, as part of sched- uled passenger services between En- OVA BaLG aN H Slo) OD ae

He added that there remained a strong case for the provision of a rail

stop in Crusheen.

‘Two stops are being provided for between Gort and Athenry and none on the very long stretch of railway between Ennis to Gort.

‘“Crusheen is an ideal location for people coming from Ruan, Corofin, Tubber, Boston and elsewhere in North Clare as well as Tulla and oth- er areas of East Clare’, Mr Killeen concluded.

Track renewal works on the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor project started late last year and are expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete.

Once completed, an expected seven trains per day will travel from Ennis to Athenry with stops at Gort, Ardra- han and Craughwell.

A BRIGHT future is forecast for AskMoby.com after the Ennis based company made a major impact at the world’s largest communications show in Barcelona.

The Ennis firm has developed de- tailed accurate digital weather fore- casting and is now targeting the glo- bal mobile phone market after taking part in Barcelona.

Located in the Ballymaley Indus- trial Park, AskMoby.com has devel- oped a global reputation providing detailed weather forecast and analy- sis for a variety of industries.

AskMoby.com is a free weather forecast service from Nowcasting International based in Ballymaley.

It is designed for mobile phones providing a forecast for the area in which the receiver is located and re- lated to the specific activity picked by users, who should log onto www. askmoby.com on their mobile phones and click the appropriate choices. Hourly forecasts are provided and there are choices of detailed maps, Synoptic charts and satellite pic- RUN KeNe

Minister for Trade Enterprise and Employment Micheal Martin, TD was on hand in Barcelona to support the efforts of AskMoby.com to tar- get new markets. More than 60,000 delegates from the top international mobile phone networks attended the World Mobile Congress.

Paying tribute to the companies

team of 12 people at the Ballymaley Industrial Park Minister Martin said they had developed a cutting edge product which has huge potential worldwide.”

“The mobile phone sector is one of the fasting growing in Ireland with exports doubling since 2005 to €280 million. Companies such as AskMoby are at the forefront of our efforts to remain at the forefront of this rapidly growing industry. The Clare based company already has a worldwide reputation for providing high tech weather forecasts for oil and gas sector as well as shipping. It is now delivering forecasts to mobile phones. The forecasts can be as spe- cific and detailed as the user wants.”

Minster Martin said the reputation

of companies like AskMoby.com was an important factor in Ireland’s ability to compete in the global tel- ecommunications market place. ‘“AskMoby is one of 21 Irish firms who made important contacts with the world’s leading mobile phone networks in Barcelona. They trav- elled to congress with the support of Enterprise Ireland.”

“Such companies are important if we are to ensure that we continue delivering quality jobs for people in communities across Clare and around the country’, concluded Min- ister Martin.

WATER levels covering the flooded Ennis to Limerick rail line rose this weekend, despite almost two weeks without rain.

It now looks like the estimated 600 Clare commuters who use the serv- ice each day will face a further two

weeks’ wait before normal service will be restored.

Commuters have been forced to use bus transfers for more than a week, following severe flooding of sections of the track as a result of heavy rain earlier this month.

Some of the flooding is more than 17 inches in depth with little or no

drop reported to date.

“We are still monitoring the situ- ation closely and it appears that the flooding is starting to level out at least. We recorded a quarter-inch rise in water levels on the track over the weekend,” said business develop- ment manager with larnrod Eireann in Limerick, Jim Gallivan.

“This is a very minor change and indications are that the amount of flooding is starting to level off. The water at the moment is 17 inches above the track level and we will have to wait for that to subside before service can be restored.

“The next few days should tell a lot. We have had two weeks of fairly good weather but the major rivers are still very full with water around the oe) Aaa

Meanwhile,

TEACHERS and students at Clare Music Makers will be looking to build on 14 years of achievement and acclaim at the Feis Ceoil in March.

IN 1993, founding directors And- rea Creech and Tony Ovenell accept- ed the first classes of young classical music students into the new Ennis music school, Clare Music Makers (CMM).

In the 15 years since that date there have been many changes in the teaching staff and hundreds of new students. Many of these stu- dents have moved on to national and international post secondary music schools and into music teaching and performance careers.

Consistent however has been the erowing national reputation of Ennis and CMM as centre of excellence in teaching music.

Each year CMM students, at all performing levels, have been award- ed a high number of honours at major Irish festivals, including Féile Lu- inmi (Limerick), Feis Maitt) (Cork) and Feis Ceoil (Dublin).

There was further national rec- ognition of CMM’s high standards at recent festivals in Limerick and Cork for students of Danette Eddy (violin), Tanja Fritschi (flute), Fred Hannford (brass), Marta Lalek (vio- lin), Michael Joyce (piano), Teddy McCoy (flute) and Catriona Moloney (violin).

Flute players entering Feile Luinmi

included Sinead McAteer, under 16 silver medal, Madeleine Arkins, un- der 14 gold medal, Alice Twomey, under 14 bronze medal, Eimear Ca- sey, under 12 silver medal and Orla Bredin, highly commended in the under 12 category.

Violinists entering Feéeile Luimni included Crea Sullivan, under 9 gold medal. Crea shared the bronze med- al with Hannah Bredin in the under 11 category and Heidi O’Dwyer was highly commended in this same cat- egory.

Abbie O’Sullivan won the silver medal and Emerald Kennedy was commended in the under 13.

Michelle Heffernan won the silver medal in the under 15. Michelle also received the silver medal and Bron-

wyn Power won the gold medal in the prestigious Bernard Cup. Cellist Hannah Ryan was awarded the silver medal in the under 15 category.

Trumpet player Roisin Phelan re- ceived the gold medal in the under 14 category and pianist Donal McHugh received the gold medal in the under 17 category.

In addition Donal was awarded third place in the under 17 category Feis Maitu in Cork.

At the same competition, CMM v1- olin students Crea Sullivan won the silver medal in the under 9 catego- ry. Abbie Sullivan won silver in the under 13 and Darelle Colleran was awarded a certificate in the under 13. Michelle Heffernan won a silver medal in the under 15 category.

aETSMR OU Tes Ona neren A price check carried out by north Clare county councillor, Martin Con- way (FG), revealed that a single one- way ticket from Maynooth to Dublin costs just €3, compared to a fare of €8.60 from Ennis to Limerick. This is despite both journeys covering roughly the same distance and run- ning high levels of occupancy. In addition to this, a day return ticket from Maynooth to Dublin

coast €5.40 compared to €15.70 for the same type of ticket on the Ennis to Limerick line.

“This is a clear example of double standards for people living in Clare and is not encouraging people to take the environmental option. If it was a private company operating the rail service, it would be a different story but this service is funded by all the tax-payers in the country, not just the people in Dublin,” said Cllr Soe

“What we have here is a situation where the taxpayer in the east of the country 1s effectively getting a dis- count compared to the taxpayer in Clare. This is a public State-spon-

sored body. There should be no argu- ment about this. It’s a criminal situ- ation, totally unbelievable when you consider the amount of people who use this service.”

Responding to the survey, business development manager with larnrod Eireann in Limerick, Jim Gallivan, claimed that rates on the Ennis-Lim- erick line compared favourable to bus charges on the route.

“We feel that this survey is not comparing like with like. They are different categories of stations. The Maynooth to Dublin service is an in- ter-urban service while the Ennis to Limerick service 1s an inter-city serv- ice,’ he said. “The rates we have on

the Ennis to Limerick service com- pare well to the bus service between Ennis and Limerick and the route has proved very popular to date.”

Cllr Conway has called for a pay- per-kilometre system to be intro- duced. ““Irain fares throughout the country should be charged on a per- kilometre basis, not discriminating against people in different parts on the country,’ he said yesterday.

“If we are talking about real equity in this situation, this is the only way that we can continue. I am now call- ing on Minister Tony Kileen and his colleague Timmy Dooley to raise this matter with Noel Dempsey as a matter of urgency.”