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ONE of Clare’s and indeed the mid- west’s best known hotels, the West County Hotel, Ennis will this year celebrate 40 years of being at the social and business heart of Coun- ty Clare. The landmark hotel was opened as a twenty bedroom opera- tion in 1968 and was the culmination of a vision by its founding Directors Michael and Christina Lynch.

Since then it has evolved over the years to become a 152 bedroom ho-

tel with large banqueting, conference and leisure facilities. Over the years the hotel has been a tremendous as- set to tourism in the County being the venue for the World Irish Danc- ing Competitions, International L1- ons Club Conference and All Ireland Darts Competition to name but a few events.

Looking forward, the hotels propri- etor and Managing Director Michael B. Lynch believes that the hotels edge of centre location to the town of Ennis will dawn a new and inter-

esting future for the hotel. The West County is currently very active in the conference and event markets and its strategy 1s to bring and create large National and International events for Ennis with the West County at their fe) Ken

SW slomectbe mee) (oe) e:18 (er moaLo tlm Bel mole a spectacular banquet in March, de- tails of which will emerge over the coming weeks. In addition to cel- ebrate the milestone of 40 years in business the hotel also plans to re-in- troduce for a limited time during the

year some old favorites like Saturday night dining and dancing, Club Oasis and the year’s celebrations will cul- minate with a gala Mistletoe Ball on New Year’s Eve.

The West County Hotel is a mem- ber of the Lynch Hotel Group which has hotels in Clare, Mayo, Limerick and Dublin.

CLARE County Council has reject- ed plans for a €10 million windfarm between the east Clare villages of Tulla and Feakle, close to the setting for one of the most celebrated poems in Irish literature.

The proposal by Ventus Energy sought to develop eight turbines in the vicinity of Lough Graney to sup- ply electricity to 22,000 homes.

The lake was the literary backdrop for Brian Merriman’s epic poem, ‘The Midnight Court’, which was written in 1780.

As part of the plan, the developers sought to remove 425 acres of forest ele lelOee

However, the plan encountered widespread opposition across the east Clare area and the Department of the Environment also expressed concern.

Ironically, it is the designation of a large tract of land on Slieve Aughty as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds — being opposed by local farmers and landowners — which in part led to the council refusing plan- ning permission for the proposal.

The council refused planning per- mission as it had concerns over the impact the development would have on the hen harrier, particularly in light of the designation of the area as an SPA.

The Clare County Development Plan goes against granting planning permission in areas that are likely to have significant adverse ecological impacts.

The council also stated that the pro- posed development had the potential to have a serious ecological impact on the SPA by virtue of the proposed removal of an extensive expanse of trees and the disturbance and loss to natural habitats.

In one objection, the Centre for Environmental Living and Train- ing (CELT) claimed that houses and farm prices in the vicinity of the wind farm would drop by 20 per cent.

The plan was also opposed by a eroup of east Clare-based artists, including Aosdana member, Joe Comerford who pointed out that the county planners had worked for many years to protect the landscape heritage of east Clare with good rea- son. The group sais they hoped this precious resource would not be dis- carded so easily.

In a separate objection, Mairin Kel- ly pointed out that “the cumulative effect of the turbines in combination with the existing communications mast on Maghera would be to alter the landscape character from remote upland to semi-industrial”.

The developers now have the op- tion of appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

THREE wins out of three at Coora- clare and it didn’t take long for talk to spread of the possibility of mov- ing the league opener against Carlow back west.

In all probability, that game will be played in Cusack Park as expected, but on Monday evening, definite confirmation from the county board wasn’t available.

“We’ll wait and see what develops with the venue over the week,” said

Frank Doherty after the game. “Co- oraclare has been a happy hunting ground for us lately and I’ve always been of the opinion that if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.”

If the Carlow or any league game was to be moved to Cooraclare, then the grounds are well capable of hold- ing any potential crowd.

For the past three weekends, the traffic flow has been superb, the pitch has been up to standard given the time of year and with plenty of parking space, it could cope with any

following that the footballers would bring.

With an estimated 1,200 people at the McGrath Cup Final on Sunday, things ran seamlessly again and the professional attitude to hosting county games is down to two dozen volunteers who show up and lend a aE DaXe mM RcsAbU EDU AYA

No reason why the field and those who tend it shouldn’t be rewarded with a league game there this year. In their own interests and in the in- terests of Clare football.

A DECISION by a motorist to over- take on acontinuous white line would have led to a fatality were it not for the vigilance of another driver who pulled in to create space.

That was the view expressed by a garda, during evidence in a court case in Kilkee last week.

Darren Grant (22), of Marian Es- tate, Kilkee, pleaded guilty to dan- gerous driving, at Lisdeen, Kilkee, on August 7, 2007.

Garda Charlie Killeen told Kilkee District Court that he came on the scene on the night in question.

He said that Grant, who was travel- ling in the direction of Kilkee, was overtaking a car on a continuous white line. The car he was overtak- ing managed to manoeuvre.

“It happened on a hill crest where the road was veering to the left, on a continuous white line,’ said Gda Ona

‘Had the other car not been able to manoeuvre, we would have been

dealing with a head on collision and we would probably be dealing with a fatality,’ said the garda.

Defending solicitor Eugene O’ Kelly said his client was an inexperienced driver. He said he “misjudged” the speed at which the car in front of him was travelling. He was afraid he was going to hit the rear of that car and “took the chance of overtaking,” said Mr O’Kelly.

He said as he commenced the ma- noeuvre, the other car came around the bend in the opposite direction.

He accepted that there could have been “a very Serious accident” were it not for the ability of the car in front of Grant’s car to pull in and create space.

“TV’d ask you not to deal with this case on what might have happened. There were no fatalities. ’’d ask you to deal with it on the basis of how he was driving,’ said the solicitor.

Judge Joseph Mangan disqualified Grant from driving for a year and fined him €1,000. He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

KILLALOB’S twin town in Wiscon- sin is inviting all and sundry to join in their all singing, all dancing cel- ebration of St Patrick’s Day

The City of New London – known as the city of New Dublin for the week around the Patrick’s Day fes- tival – is getting set to paint the town ate te

The Shamrock Club, which rep- resents those of Irish descent and those who wish they were, sent a del-

egation to the Shannonside town last year at the invite of local councillor, Tony O’Brien.

The reception which the visitors got copper fastened their decision to get the twinning process underway.

The annual parade and Irish Festi- val will kick off on March 15.

The week-long celebration of all things Irish kicks off on Monday March 10 when the “Leprechauns” officially change the name of the city from New London to New Dublin. On Tuesday, March 11 it’s Hooligan’s

Day the official beginning of all area restaurants serving corned beef and cabbage – some serving as much as 1,500 pounds over the week.

Other events planned include Irish singing at the city apartments for the elderly and an evening of Irish enter- tainment.

As well an Irish céili on the Fri- day while on the same night the residents of the city will say farewell to Michael Finnegan as his Wacky Wake makes it’s way to various es- tablishments in the area, including

Pup’s Irish Pub.

On Saturday, March 15 the Irish Fest tent opens with lots of Irish mu- sic followed by a Grand Parade fol- lowed by more music.

“Any one from Killaloe or Clare who wants to visit will be assured of a warm welcome,’ a spokesperson for the festival organisers said.

For more information on the “New Dublin’ week-long St Patrick’s Day festival log on to www.newdublin. com or Wwww.newlondonchamber. oro) e0

POSITIONING himself on the half- way line on the stand side of Mac- Donagh Park, Donal Madden was the picture of frustration on Sunday. His arm in a sling hidden beneath his Clonlara tracksuit after breaking a finger in a challenge game against LIT the week before, it was obvious from his movements that he was hit- ting every ball internally but knew he could not effect the game whatsoev- er. He beckoned encouragement and advise but as the game slipped away from Clonlara’s grasp, the tracksuit top came off as he ran up and down the line in the hope of motivating the players. In the end, the expected comeback never came and _ after- wards outside the dressing rooms, he conveyed his frustration and disap- pointment of the day’s events as he analysed the game.

“They probably got the goal that we needed. Darach (Honan) reck- ons the ball wasn’t wide but I felt it was wide being honest about it. They got the goal, we didn’t and that’s the difference between winning and los- ing. Personally I am just absolutely eutted. To be standing there on the sideline and to have absolutely no influence, it’s very, very hard and it’s probably one of the hardest days I have ever had in sport. It’s been a tough week and things had been go- ing well for us and I was hurling rea- sonably well but the whole thing just

blew up. It’s a pity because they are a great bunch of young fellas but the be all and end all is about the senior hurling next year. We lost today but I would like to wish Tommy Larkins the best of luck and probably the bet- ter team won being honest.”

Madden had further reason to be disappointed in not playing any part on Sunday. Along with missing his new club’s most historic day, the former Tulla player also has an un- tenable link with the Galway side as his father Paddy would have played for Tommy Larkins but he was still disapponted for the Clonlara play- ers and mentors who had put a lot of work into their successful year.

“There is a very narrow line be- tween winning and losing, it’s a game of inches. They got the break today. I’ve seen Tommy Larkins hurling about three times all year and they only played to about 70% of what they are capable of and hope- fully they will do themselves justice in Croke Park. Even chatting to Cyril Farrell there, they weren’t happy with their performance, we are not happy with ours but we can have no regrets because lads gave it their best. There are a great group of players and men- tors in Clonlara and hopefully this won’t be the end of this team.

“The lads are absolutely gutted and it’s not everyday that you get the chance to go on and represent your county and an opportunity to play in Croke Park. I’m fierce disappointed

for Niall Hogan and Jim Gully and these guys. We have trained for 150 times this year and Niall Hogan prob- ably did everyone of them himself. I’m just fierce gutted for that guy, he is a great guy.”

Croke park would certainly have been a fitting finale to a superb year for Clonlara but although Madden has famously played there before in the All-Ireland minor final of 1997, he is sure that the young stars of Clonlara will get their chance to play at GAA headquarters in the future.

“We are looking forward to next year and maybe I am pushing on or whatever and | may never again get a chance to play in Croke Park but I have no doubt that Domhnall O’Donovan, John Conlon, Darach Honan and Nicholas O’Connell will get to play in Croke Park and hopefully wearing a Clare jersey or maybe even a Clonlara jersey. I can’t see why they won’t go on to play in Croke Park.”

SW ilomCCeea Vo ncy-le Ceo MOO OOM AUD UNTocO Mme this year’s senior championship and the Clonlara’s prospects for the year ahead to which he quipped.

“Looking forward to it. Hopefully we ll get Tulla in the first round.”

IN THE greater scheme of things this year, the merit of the McGrath Cup has yet to be valued. By the time the championship comes around, if Clare have bounced out of Division 4, maybe we’ll look back at this cold and wet month of January and say the tournament provided the perfect launch pad for Frank Doherty.

On the flipside, should Clare linger along the fat midriff of the lowest rung on the ladder, the McGrath Cup will drift into the shadow of insig- nificance.

Time and results will tell and for now, all we have are the past four games to linger on. Without Cork or Kerry competing, the competition was open up for the likes of Clare to take advantage and that’s what

they’ve done. As Frank Doherty has been saying since the UCC game at Miltown just after Christmas, com- petitive games are worth any number of training sessions and reaching the final was more important than win- ub bayean |

But the manner in which Clare overcame Limerick, Doherty says, was of huge significance.

“I’ve seen us play a lot better than that and maybe the occasion got to lads, maybe there were some nerves, but we showed spirit there at the end. And maybe that’s a spirit that wasn’t there before. I’m delighted for the lads that we won because the opportunity of getting silverware doesn’t come about too often. It’s a great result be- cause Limerick had their homework done, they stopped us playing down the middle but we hung in.”

Doherty was speaking out in the middle of the field and at his back Michael O’Shea was lifting the Mc- GCre-tism Other

Just after the final whistle sounded, Doherty clambered onto the pitch, slapped his players and told them it would be the “first of many.” It’s that positive thinking that has seeped into the attitude this year.

“This win is going to stand to lads,” he said. ““We’re unbeaten in ’08 and that’s something we’ll take. You saw a good crowd of supporters showing up here and they saw a team with heart and soul. Maybe it wasn’t the greatest game, but Clare can play better. Four games in four week- ends might have taken its toll, but we freshened things up. Colm Dillon came on and livened things.

“I thought we dominated things in

the second-half and drove at Lim- erick. We got the bit of luck, David [Tubridy] is a cool customer and he knows where the net is. We practice penalties and if we don’t get another for the rest of the year, then it’s al- ready paid off.”

And the incident that led to that eae IAYAs

“Ah,” Doherty smiles, “the ref had a great game. Fair play.” Enough said.

At the other end of the field, Mick- ey Ned O’Sullivan stands beneath the dressing-room balcony and has a different opinion on the penalty. O’Sullivan is one of football’s great thinkers and you can imaging him dissecting the incident — and the wider implications it might have on football — on his long drive back to Kenmare.

“T didn’t think it was a penalty,” he

says straight up. “It was very, very unfair. Football 1s now becoming about referees and it should be about players. I mean, that [the incident that led to the penalty] was a 50-50 ball.

‘“That’s how we coach a goalkeeper to come out for a ball. My job is to coach and I’m not going to criticise the referee, but it was a mickey- mouse decision. We train hard and it’s difficult to lose like that. I won’t blame the referee though — we had our chances and we didn’t take them.”

He drifts back to the dressing room, the incident still swirling in his head. O’Sullivan has seen enough though to realise that a McGrath Cup doesn’t make a spring.

Doherty realises that too. He knows Clare have just reached the foot of the mountain. Getting to Base Camp One is the next step.

ALLEGATIONS that a war was threatened between locals in Kilmi- hil and Polish people living in the vil- lage were heard in court last week.

The suggestion that a local man pledged to start up a war between the Irish and the Polish was made at Kil- kee District Court on Tuesday.

The revelations came in the case of Robert Jernokow (22), formerly of Church Street, Kilmihil, who plead- ed guilty to possession of a knife and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, at Main Street, Kilmihil, on August 13, 2006.

Garda Paddy Coughlan told Kilkee District Court that Jernokow was in-

volved in an altercation with locals from Kilmihil, at 3.20am.

“In a pub earlier, a dispute arose over a game of pool. They decided to take matters into their own hands,” said the garda.

He said that the accused held “the sharp side” of a knife to the throat of a local man, for five seconds.

Garda Coughlan said the accused told gardai he had previously carried out a job on a house nearby and knew there was a knife in the front garden of the house.

“He didn’t have the knife in the pub. He acquired it after the initial row, he said.

Defending solicitor Eugene O’Kelly said there had been an incident be-

tween Polish individuals and a local family in Kilmhil previously.

Garda Coughlan said that while he was aware there had been a previous incident, it had not been reported to gardai.

Mr O’Kelly said that his client and a number of other Polish men rented a house and a local family resented this. The solicitor said his client would allege that a member of the lo- cal family threatened to kill “all the Polish in the house”’.

Mr O’Kelly said the accused would say that the door of the house had been kicked in. In July 2006, he said a member of the local family had said he was “going to kill us and start a war between the Polish and

the Irish.”

Mr O’Kelly said his client came to Ireland to work in July 2006.

He said he was living in the house in Kilmihil just one week when the windows were broken and the door was kicked in. He said he had been intimidated twice by a local man.

He said his client heard that another Polish man had been hit by a local man and he “snapped.”

‘He knew the knife had been in the garden he had been working on. He got the knife and produced it and said he wanted no further trouble. It was a very foolish thing to do. He didn’t have the experience to go to gardai. He felt if he gave a stern, strict warn- ing to people that would be the end

of it,’ he said.

‘He couldn’t stand the intimidation in Kilmihil any longer so he moved to Limerick. He has no wish to return to Kilmihil,’ said the solicitor.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that gardai made enquiries of the Polish police, who said that Jer- nakow was known to them in relation to several thefts, breaking and enter- ing, punishable threats, damaging property, forgery of a document and causing bodily injury.

Judge Mangan jailed him for six months for the knife offence and six weeks for the public order matter, both sentences to run concurrently. He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

STUDENTS and staff at Scariff Community College are this week celebrating the talent that is spilling over from the school.

National art titles, handball titles, construction and fund-raising chal- lenges and an adventure to Barcelona are just some of the exciting things going on in the school.

When the Applied Leaving Certifi- cate students decided they would do a construction project for their ex- ams, they took on one which would be of practical use to their school.

They came up with the idea of erecting a poly tunnel in the grounds of the school which could be used

like an extra classroom for agricul- tural science students.

The determined dozen had to source the materials, raise the funds to buy it and then erect it.

The tunnel will be used by the stu- dents to grow vegetables and other crops as well as to bring on graftings and cuttings as part of their agricul- tural science course.

As well as providing space for the ovuescau: Reeve som A OCcmm REDON OSIM BON mmerelubOLE towards the school’s bid to win back their Green Schools Flag.

“It’s an extremely practical project which will be of great benefit to their fellow students on the agricultural science course,’ a school spokesman Sr HKOe

While the applied leaving certs are busy digging and building, 37 other students are busy packing their suit- cases for a school trip to Barcelona.

The transition year students are off to the Spanish city to hear Spanish spoken first hand, to look at the ar- chitecture and the museums and to enjoy cultural differences including tasty tapas.

Sporting winners are not forgotten in Scariff either. First year student, Paddy Fitzgerald, took gold recently in the Munster 60 x 30 schools hand- ball competition.

The school itself 1s sponsoring gear for transition year students, Aisling Fitzgerald and Sarah O’Donnell who are into the FBD National Fi-

nal Handball Trials representing schools.

Last but certainly not least in terms of community college pride, is 13- year old Abbie Koomans-Reilly, who took first place in the Energy Effi- ciency for Clare art competition.

Abbie was presented with her prize at a special ceremony by the Mayor of Ennis, Tommy Brennan.

THERE have been obituaries aplen- ty, but Kieren Fallon has vowed to re- turn to racing despite being handed down a worldwide ban of 18 months by French racing’s regulatory author- ity, Galop.

And the controversial but gifted Ballinruan man has looked to fellow legend Lester Piggott for inspiration as he faces into a suspension that will keep off the track until August 2009.

A defiant Fallon spoke about his fu- ture in the sport after his 18-month suspension for failing a dope test at DISFUAS UN CoM EO UEAU MeO NNER MSELere by France Galop.

“It’s just a little setback,” he said. “It’s not a tragedy. Far from it. There’s no doubt [ll bounce back.

It’s very silly of people to talk of re- tirement. I’m young at heart and have many years left. I’ use the duration of the ban to get back on track, and when I do come back I’l! be stronger, both mentally and physically.”

“Jerry Bailey’s career didn’t take off until he was 40, and some of the best American jockeys have come back from drugs bans to compete – and win – at the highest level.

“In Britain, Lester Piggott returned to win a Breeders’ Cup at the age of 54. ’’m 42 – but I don’t feel it. I don’t have many miles on the clock – I’ve been riding good horses for the past 10 years – and I can ride until I am mae

Ironically, Piggott’s comeback was prompted by then Ballydoyle maes- tro, Vincent O’Brien who coaxed

him out or retirement after he served a jail sentence in England for tax evasion.

Now, current bearer of the flame in Ballydoyle, Aidan O’Brien and his paymasters, Coolmore Stud, are re- maining tight lipped on Fallon’s fu- ture as stable jockey.

“This is a personal matter for Ki- eren and for us there is no change. We will continue to use the best available on the day, as before,” Coolmore spokesman Richard Hen- ry revealed after the suspension was handed down.

In December, Fallon was cleared of race-fixing charges that had stopped him racing for 17 months in Britain after a judge threw out the case for lack of evidence. Now, Fallon has spoken for the first time on the ordeal

Omit elem eclebecmser-le

‘From the very first day after my arrest, the three years leading up to the trial were a nightmare for me. But when you consider that my life has been effectively been on hold since September 2004, I’m sure I can get through another 18 months, and hopefully I can turn it around.”