Category: Uncategorized

THERE was an air of gloom around Ardfinnan on Saturday afternoon for anyone in the Clare corner — some of those who made the journey were just standing around afterwards and talking in hushed tones.

You didn’t need to hear them, be- cause their body language said it all. They had started out the National League campaign with a pep in their step after the successful McGrath Cup campaign — they had hope for the future, but it was replaced by a feeling of hopelessness come 4pm on SY TAU KOE Ds

“Not now lads,’ was manager Frank Doherty’s stay-away sound- bite to the press as they closed in for a few words after the game. Instead, Doherty held in powder for the dress- ing room and his player’s ears only.

While there was anger welling

within Clare after the final whistle of the Carlow game, it was replaced here by something sombre. Manager, selectors and players just walked off the field resigned to the fact that they’re rooted to the bottom of foot- ball’s basement with London and OT ath

Captain Michael O’Shea, whose goal in the eighth minute should have teed Clare up victory was dumb- founded by it all. “After we scored 1- 2 without reply we seemed to change tactics. We seemed to fall apart,’ he PHO

‘The second half we just didn’t play at all. We won very little around the middle of the field and found it very hard up front and gave away a few handy frees. They kept popping them over and we just couldn’t haul them back for a finish.

“It’s not good enough to come any- where near the top of Division 4. We

started well and even for the 20 min- utes before half-time we had plenty of possession to pull away if we made it count on the scoreboard. We just didn’t seem to click up front.

“Eighty per cent of the breaks, we probably lost them and it cost us the game. If you don’t win around the middle of the field, you’re in serious trouble and we didn’t win around the middle. It’s hard to put a finger on it, whether it was lads not getting in there or just being unlucky. At the end of the day it’s up to every half- forward and half-back to get in there and get the breaks. We just didn’t do dake ne

They’ ll have to start doing it against Antrim or the losing streak will con- tinue next Saturday.

LEARNER drivers who want to take their test in Ennis will have to wait three times longer than drivers in other parts of the country.

The wait for a test in Ennis is cur- rently an average of thirty weeks, in comparison to centres in neighbour- ing Limerick where the wait is just

11 weeks.

Other centres in Donegal, Ath- lone, Cavan, Carrick-on-Shannon, Letterkenny, Monaghan, Mulingar, Sligo and Nenagh have waiting lists of just nine and eleven weeks to sit a test.

But Shannon, once one of the worst centres in the country for waiting lists, has now reduced its list to 22

weeks.

Ennis is in fifth place in the coun- try for L-Plate drivers getting into the test car.

The worst 1s Clifden where would- be full license holders have to wait 40 weeks for a test. In Birr, there is a 36 week queue, in Dublin’s Raheny the wait 1s 35 weeks while Roscommon and Wicklow learners have 31 weeks

to practice their driving skills. Heavy goods vehicle license ap- plicants fare better. They can get a test in Ennis in just 14 weeks and in 19 weeks in Shannon. The amount of time that learner drivers have to practice their hill-stars and three point turns may well be reflected in the pass rate in the Ennis centre. Some 63.7 per cent of drivers who

sit the test there can lay claim to a full driving licence. The only place in the country where test drivers do better is Buncrana, where 64.7 per- cent of drivers pass. Shannon boasts a similarly high pass rate, with more than six in ten drivers who sit the test there walking away with a full h- cence, according to figures from the Road Safety Authority.

THE people of Shannon are unclear about what services are available to them at the local health clinic.

That was the message delivered at a meeting between town councillors and two Health Service Executive Chie lecim ase

HSE General Manager in Primary, Community and Continuing Care, Chris Monaghan and Senior Execu- tive Officer in Community Services, Esther Conlon, attended a meeting of Shannon Town Council last Tues- day.

Independent councillor Gerry Flynn asked about the frequency or availability of a range of services,

including a family planning clinic, blood testing facilities for the elder- ly, dental, speech therapy and physi- otherapy services.

Cllr Flynn said, “Your PR is a dis- aster. There is no link for me. What I want is somebody at the end of the phone to say there is a problem there. The connection 1s gone.”

He said if the current trend contin- ues, he would be calling for the abo- lition of the HSE and “go back to the way things were”.

Cllr Sean Hillery (FF) said he regularly hears concerns relating to home help for older people.

‘The work is there. The people are in need. Ye must not have enough people to help,” he said.

Mr Monaghan said he agreed, add- ing, “We don’t have any additional re- sources to put in. There are restraints on what we can actually deliver.”

“We simply do not have enough resources to deliver home help pack- ages to everybody who needs them.

“We are developing primary care teams to provide additional services within a local community setting,” said Mr Monaghan.

In December, in response to que- ries from councillors, the Health Service Executive sent a letter to the town council, outlining the range of services on offer at Shannon.

Fianna Fail councillor Geraldine Lambert said she was surprised at how comprehensive the list was.

“If there is a perception out there that services aren’t being provided, that needs to be addressed,’ she CrHOR

However Mr Monaghan said that while he would take on board the queries, he couldn’t comment on 1n- dividual aspects.

“If there are issues or queries, write to us. If we are in a position to an- Swer, we will,” he said.

He said that HSE staff meet Oire- achtas members on a quarterly basis and issues could be raised at those meetings.

Ms Conlon told councillors that ophthalmic, physiotherapy and den- tal services are all carried out at the clinic.

DARK clouds are once again begin- ning to gather over farming in Ire- land the spectre of the World Trade Organisation looming large on the KeyuyZevne

Speaking last week, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan asked that particular attention be focussed on recent WTO developments which she described as being “of great concern’ to her.

Her fears were echoed by ICSA president Malcolm Thompson who said he had “grave concern” over the WTO.

“WTO negotiators seem hell bent on getting a deal and are quite pre-

pared to throw EU agriculture to the wolves,” he said. There will be considerable difficulty 1n convinc- ing farmers that the EU is acting in farmers’ best interests, especially if Commissioner Mandelson delivers a deal which goes beyond his negotiat- ing mandate. Of even greater concern is the fact that Ireland seems to have little or no control over the negoti- ating process. Farmers are increas- ingly concerned that too much of our autonomy has been lost to European bureaucrats, and will need strong re- assurances before accepting the Ref- erendum on the Reform Treaty.

“It will not be easy to persuade farmers of the merits of greater in- stitutional efficiency in the EU deci-

sion making process if the EU insti- tutions sell out agriculture at WTO,” he warned.

Meanwhile, the ICMSA have warned of an “agriculture catastro- phe” if WTO proposals are agreed.

‘“There’s no point any more in adopting a ‘“wait-and-see’ attitude on the subject of WTO,” said ICMSA President Jackie Cahill.

“Every time the process stops or breaks-down, it simply resumes again at a starting point that is even more disadvantageous than the orig- inal point of difference. Vital Irish economic interests are in imminent danger of being sacrificed.

“Despite repeated efforts by the Irish Government – and here, we

must acknowledge the personal ef- forts of Minister Coughlan and her team – unelected EU bureaucrats are about to broker what amounts to a catastrophic sell-out at WTO.

“The time has now come for the Taoiseach to point out to the Presi- dent of the European Commission – in the strongest terms possible – that EU Commissioner Mandelson does not have a mandate for the offers he is apparently now making on behalf of the EU.”

Gr NIURSTCCM der lMersmBEseoIlMCEh Amilo push for a deal has been noticeably increased and that Commissioner Mandelson continues to offer con- cession after concession on the agri- cultural front.

IT IS true to say that football in Clare again finds itself in troubled waters – this only a couple of weeks after real hope was floating around big ball country that a new era could be at hand.

The mood of positivity that wrapped itself around the county’s footballers came on the back of the county’s first McGrath Cup success in six years. Suddenly, in the wake of two very disappointing league performances against Carlow and Tipperary, the time for a reality check is here and now.

It’s going to be a very long haul back up the ladder for Clare football, probably one that won’t be achieved by many of the current generation of inter-county players.

And, it will take infrastructural change as well. No new trainer/man- ager/management team can wave a magic wand and wish away Clare’s football ills. The structures have to change whereby footballers in Clare are getting more games.

Success won’t come in the short- term – it will be a longterm thing and players and management should realise that. Looking at their history books might even teach them a thing or two, give them some confidence even, as they face into the Antrim game and sterner challenges that lie ahead against Offaly and Wicklow.

When John Maughan came to Clare in 1990, his first league game in charge was against Tipperary and Clare went down just as badly as they did last Saturday. They lost their sec- ond game too.

“We set ourselves the target of win- ning a couple of games in the league and we did that in the latter stages of the competition. It was the road to success,’ recalled Maughan.

Clare have to believe, even in the darkness of defeat to Carlow and Tipperary that they can go down a similar road. If they don’t Clare foot- ball will consigned to Divsion 4 for a while yet.

It’s up to the players, because there’s only so much that management can do. Many players were highly critical of the Paidi O Sé regime last year, wrongly blaming bad management for bad performances.

There’s been good management since November, with training up to five nights a week. Bad performances can’t be blamed on bad management now. It’s up to the players now.

A MAN who conned people into donating money for cancer research, under the pretence that he had suf- fered from cancer, has been jailed for eae lane leyeleelse

Arthur Boland (29), of 1A, No 46 Whitestrand Park, Galway, faced 30 charges relating to incidents in 11 different premises in Ennis and Ssixmilebridge between December |, 2007 and January 21, 2008.

The premises named on the charge Sheets included five bars, a hotel, an auctioneers, an insurance firm,

florists, a convenience store and a newsagents.

He admitted all 30 offences, but 11 of those were later struck out, after the judge noted that the euro symbol was absent from the charge sheets.

Boland admitted 18 charges of dishonestly, by deception, inducing people to contribute money with the intention of making gain for himself. The sums of money donated ranged between €2 and €20.

He also pleaded guilty to 12 charg- es of using a false instrument with the intention of inducing a person to accept it as genuine.

Garda Christopher Whyte told Ennis District Court on Friday that €945 was collected on the sponsor- ship cards, in the Ennis area. €81 of this could be traced back to those who donated.

Boland, he said, entered several premises in Ennis, where he pro- duced a letter stating that he was col- lecting money for cancer.

He stated that he had permission to collect the money and presented sponsorship cards for people to fill out. However the charity mentioned by Boland did not exist, said Gda Whyte.

‘There is a charitable organisation in Limerick, but it is not affiliated with any kind of cards, as it deals with corporate sponsorship,’ said the garda.

Garda Tracey Stanley, of Sixmileb- ridge, told the court that Boland told those who he sought money from in Sixmilebridge that he was a cancer sufferer himself.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Boland had 37 previous convictions. These include deception offences in Mayo and Tipperary and theft in Sligo and Harristown.

Boland’s solicitor Tara Godfrey

said he was pleading guilty to all stb e ene

“His life is somewhat barren. His relationship with his partner is Strained because of this,” she said.

‘He is willing to look into what is motivating him in this,” she said.

Boland accepted that a prison term was “almost inevitable,’ she said.

She pointed out that the sums of money included on the charge sheets were relatively small – €81 in Ennis and €85 in Sixmilebridge.

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

THE first sod on a multi-million euro community project in Sixmilebridge will be turned within weeks.

The development of a playground will be the first part of an overall plan which will include a creche, daycare centre and a community hall.

The initiative, located on the Shan- non Road in Sixmilebridge, is organ- ised under the auspices of The Bridge Complex in Sixmilebridge.

Local funding, allied to financial

assistance from Clare County Coun- cil and Government funds, helped cover the costs of the initiative, which has been on the cards for a number of years.

While the playground will be con- structed within months, it will take some years before the final prong of this project is completed.

The Bridge Complex is currently based at the old courthouse building, but will move to the community hall, when it is completed.

PRO of the Bridge Complex Mare-

len Cadogan said while the wheel was 1n motion for some time, the ac- tual building work is poised to get underway within weeks.

‘People will actually be able to see the digger on the site, which is the start of the next phase,’ said Ms Ca- dogan.

€10,000 of the funds for the play- ground was raised in the local area, while the remainder was granted in funding. It will feature state-of-the art equipment and will be located on a secure Site.

When completed, the facility will be run by the local community and will be a huge asset for the people of Sixmilebridge, where the population has grown substantially.

The official website of the Bridge Complex, www.bridgecomplex.ie, will be launched by Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley, on Friday evening, in the old courthouse building, at oy oeee

“It will give people the chance to come and ask questions,’ said Ms Cadogan.

AER LINGUS flights could be erounded if union members go ahead with threats of industrial action at the end of the month.

The largest union at the airline, SIPTU, has said it will not rule out a fresh ballot for industrial action if management forces through cost cut- ting measures on February 24.

The craft group of unions at Aer Lingus announced it was withdraw- ing from what it described as the “charade” of talks with management, before SIPTU made its warning.

In early January, the airline and

SIPTU had reached agreement in principal on how savings of €10 mil- lion could be achieved. The airline says the cuts are vital to its future. But no progress has been made since WeoOe

At the weekend the airline’s deputy chief executive, Niall Walsh, wrote to the union to tell them that cost cuts must be implemented by February 24 at the latest, with all negotiations concluded by February 22.

He said that the “urgency to agree, implement and realise the savings is more and more pressing” amid “weakening economic conditions and continued high fuel costs”.

A SIPTU spokeswoman, Teresa Hancock, said that her union wants the airline to adopt alternatives to reducing take-home pay and annual Eee sl ala espa orn nce

“SIPTU will not accept the com- pany unilaterally implementing any change to current terms and condi- tions. Should this occur, it will be viewed as a provocative act.”

Meanwhile, the craft group of un- ions has withdrawn from talks with management, claiming that Aer Lin- gus has withheld a pay settlement which was agreed as part of the na- tional wage agreement since Octo- ber.

“This whole episode of talks has been a charade” said Brian Gormley of the Unite trade union and chair- man of the craft workers’ group.

A spokesman for the company de- nied that any action by the 180 craft workers would result in grounding of NbKele NA

But while such action would cause some disruption, the bigger threat would be from the 1,800 members of SIPTU who could bring flights to a halt if they downed tools.

Aer Lingus has told the craft unions eroup that it will implement cost sav- ing initiatives in their areas from February 25 unless talks resume.

ANY chance of making it out of Di- vision 4 rests on this game. Clare, simply, have to win and while the wider picture says that promotion isn’t a necessity this year, a positive result at the weekend is essential if interest levels are to be retained. An- ybody from a county outside of Clare may find it strange, but history has told us that Clare footballers leave a shaky football panel faster than rats SEN oare Sb ON Gb rears) oul Oy

But maybe that attitude is slowly evaporating and if so, then that’s more positive than any top two fin- ish in the league. Under Frank Do- herty, there has been application and dedication and while the results went right in the McGrath Cup, they haven’t followed suit in the league.

Clare were dealt two openers that tested their mettle. They failed both challenges. Should they go down against Antrim on Saturday, then the league is over and the backdoor TImsy ele

But Clare have already secured one advantage. Back in the bad old days of Clare football, the players felt al-

ienated by the board — and we’re not talking of a Cork breakdown here. Multiply that by ten. Simple things were overlooked. Player’s basic ex- penses were cast aside. They paid for their own boots. There was no water in the showers.

If the Cork boys were faced with those obstacles, they’d probably have followed the younger O’Halpins en masse to Australia long ago.

Anyway, the current crop don’t have those worries to occupy their heads. This week, the board made sure the Antrim game goes ahead on Saturday. Antrim made some moves to have it played on Sunday, giving their players the Saturday to make the journey. They don’t have that benefit now.

It might be a logistical advantage, but it’s an advantage all the same and Clare have to capitalise on that. Last week we said that Barry Grogan had to be curtailed if Clare were to stand a chance. He scored O-8 on Satur- day and cut Clare to ribbons. This week, we say Paddy Cunningham is the man to smother. He impressed when he came on against Wicklow in Aughrim and scored 1-3 in the sec- ond half — a game that Antrim won, signalling their potential — and he controlled the attack at the weekend when Kilkenny were hammered by

Antrim.

From a Clare perspective, the re- turned Ger Quinlan provides some needed physical presence in midfield but without the suspended Niall Con- sidine, the half-back line lacks some forward penetration.

Against Antrim, it mightn’t be such a bad thing. Clare will have to tight- en up defensively and for once, stand up and be counted.

A MAN has been acquitted of har- assing his former partner in Shan- non, almost three years ago, at the end of a trial at Ennis Circuit Court. Andrew Mullins (34) of Belfield Gardens, Limerick, and formerly of Kincora Apartments, Shannon, faced one charge of harassment. It was al- leged that he harassed mother-of- two Bernice Galvin at Tullyvarraga and Ballycaseymore, Shannon, on dates between April 4 and 11, 2005. The court heard that the pair had

been in an “extremely stormy” re- lationship for about two years and that Mr Mullins was the father of Ms Galvin’s second daughter who was 19 months old at the time of the al- leged offences.

The relationship had ended in 2004 but Mr Mullins had liberal access to the couple’s daughter.

In her evidence, Ms Galvin said Mr Mullins first approached her at her place of work in Shannon at around Ipm on Monday, April 4, 2005, and that he was extremely agitated.

She said that the accused was roar-

ing at her and she left the shop to speak with him. She said Mr Mul- lins told her he heard Ms Galvin’s brother had held a “big drugs party” at her home on the previous Saturday payhca ole

Ms Galvin also said that later, the defendant had leaned over the coun- ter at the shop where she worked and called her a “drug whore.”

Ms Galvin said she had been out on the night and that her brother had been babysitting her two daughters. When confronted by Mr Mullins about the alleged incident, Ms Galvin

said she would “sort it.”

The court heard evidence of similar alleged incidents over the following days at Ms Galvin’s place of work as well as on the roadway near her mother’s house.

Evidence was also given of a Se- ries of telephone calls between the accused and Ms Galvin which she claimed were also abusive.

Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan, told the court the accused had subjected Ms Galvin to a “sus- tained barrage of abuse” and said “if he (Mr Mullins) had valid concerns

about what happened on that Satur- day night, there were other ways of Ole U Epa teans aie 0 Ws | ne

Defending counsel Elaine Houli- han said that because of the genuine concern her client felt for the safety of his daughter, having heard that a drugs party had been held in the house where she was sleeping, he had honestly believed that he had a “‘rea- sonable excuse” to act in the manner WerelmeComenlem

After deliberating for 50 minutes, the jury returned a unanimous ver- dict of ‘not guilty’.