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THE blueprint outlining the devel- opment of Kilrush during the next six years will come before Kilrush Town Council next month for its seal of approval.

The public consultation process for the Kilrush Development Plan 2008 to 2014 closed on January 4.

Five submissions were received from members of the public regard- ing the plan.

Concerns have been expressed however that the 2006 Census may hamper development in the town and the development plan must counter- act this and encourage development.

“There are those of us who dis- pute the Census 2006 figures which

show a slight three per cent decrease in population from the census 2002 figures,’ said Cllr Tom Prenderville (FF).

“The inaccuracy of that Census 2006 short-changed our town in terms of investment in that it pre- sented a false account on the state of economic planning and develop- ment of Kilrush. Yet we note in the Kilrush Town Development Plan a projected population increase of 11 per cent over the next six years and a 25 per cent population increase to 3,245 by 2020.

“It 1s interesting to note the projec- tions of the last Clare County Coun- cil Housing Strategy 2007-2012, which predicted that Kilrush would only need an additional 274 housing

units in 2020. Present figures availa- ble from planning applications would appear to refute that assertion.”

The Kilrush councillor said the pro- posal for a multi million-euro water- front development at the marina adds confidence to the town, but the town plan must set an overall strategy for proper planning, sustainable devel- opment and gainful employment.

Cllr Liam Looney (FF) said, “I do hope we get a lot more support from national organisations and agencies than we have been. We haven’t got a lot of support from the IDA or other bodies,” he said.

Acting Senior Planner, John Brad- ley reassured the council that there were sufficient zoned lands in the new plan to provide for the needs

of the town. He said the plan seeks to improve services and attractions within the town so as to maintain the town’s vibrance and curb urban drift to the adjoining countryside.

The senior planner also said the plan could stimulate the competi- tiveness of the local economy, pro- vide upgraded services, promote ur- ban renewal and the regeneration of brown field sites, complete the regen- eration of John Paul Estate, optimise the benefits of the MANS Broadband service, and facilitate and promote the development of the marina.

“If the above objectives can be achieved during the lifetime of the new Development Plan, Kilrush town will face a very positive fu- ture,’ he said.

ANOTHER ledge climbed and the summit of the McGrath Cup is com- ing into sight. Flanked by Kieran Kelliher and James Hanrahan, Frank Doherty, the leader of this group of men with the future of Clare foot- ball in their hands, is making for the dressing room in Cooraclare.

Alone on the plains of West Clare, the Galwayman says he’s satisfied that things are moving in the right direction.

“T hope people can see a little im- provement as we go along,” he says. “You have to remember that these players have been kicked around the place for the past number of years and their own self-worth was at an all time low. When I came in at the start, lads were fumbling the ball and it was difficult to get through even some basic drills. They’re train- ing hard now, there’s a smile on their face and there’s a buzz amongst them. They’re a good bunch of lads, a genu- ine bunch, but they’re been through the mill over the last few years. Now, hopefully, things are turning slowly and gradually.”

Doherty is transparent and honest. Unveiling the manager’s opinions on his team’s progression isn’t laced with the cryptic (football) or dismiss- ive (hurling) post-match comments that pockmarked Clare’s early GAA season last year. For that alone, let us be thankful.

‘The mindset at the moment is 1m- proving. You could see lads not want- ing it at the start, but having won the last two games, lads are starting to show for the ball and that’s great. The longer we can stay in the McGrath Cup the better, it brings us closer to Carlow in the league.”

As that game on February 3 edges closer, Doherty’s aim is to pin down a starting 15.

“I can see probably 11 or 12 guys from last week and this that will start the league. There’s maybe three plac- es that I haven’t seen enough of to make my mind up on. We’ve brought on a lot of young lads and nobody can say we’re not giving them a chance. We’re over two thirds of the way there with the team that played last week and this week and that’s down to games. It’s about filling in the rest of the spaces now.”

And on Sunday’s performance?

“UL beat Clare by a few points last year so you’re talking about some- thing like a twelve point turnaround. I believe we could have won it by another four or five scores with a bit more composure in the final third of the field.

“We were going well enough and lads got into the comfort zone again and lads started trying out these silly 40 50 yard screamers. I’d rather be more productive in the last third and use the ball properly to get ourselves into a scoring position, but you’d have to be satisfied overall.

A good solid performance in the first half is what did it for us and against a fairly strong wind that was positive. Lads took their scores clini- cally and we were well on top.”

POOR load factors on the new Shan- non-Dublin route have prompted Ry- anair to pull the service less than six weeks after it was launched.

The new route was launched on No- vember 28 last but passengers were yesterday informed that the service is to be abandoned from February 4 next.

All passengers who have booked tickets on or after that date are to be fully refunded, with a brief Ryanair

statement confirming that the route has been pulled following “an opera- tional review”.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia Mc- Carthy (Ind) said, “The decision is not unexpected as the load factors on the flights were low.”

She added, “One wonders about all the talk from people wanting the route as it was not supported. Ryanair doesn’t hang around when routes are making losses.”

Fianna Fail TD, Timmy Dooley said, “It is a blow at one level but I

understand that it hasn’t been utilised in any real way. This has happened with every other carrier who has tried to make a success of the route.

“There is a good train network in place now and people obviously fac- tor in the time spent in the airport at either end and I’m not sure that the flight times were convenient to peo- ple.”

Passengers are now greeted by a large billboard erected by Ryanair saying ‘Welcome to Ryanair coun- try’ and on Sunday, Ryanair chief ex-

ecutive, Michael O’Leary denied that Shannon was becoming over-reliant on Ryanair.

In place of the Dublin route, Rya- nair has launched a_ three-times weekly service to Palma in Majorca, ensuring that the number of Ryanair routes served from Shannon remains at 31. Two million people are expect- ed to fly on Ryanair services out of Shannon this year.

At the airport on Sunday to give out free flights to all passengers on the final Aer Lingus Heathrow flight

out of Shannon, Mr O’Leary said, “If you look at some of the coverage of the Shannon issue, you would swear that Shannon is closing today. It is not. In six months time, no one will even notice that Aer Lingus is gone.”

He added, “Shannon is going to finish up with more routes and more traffic after the Aer Lingus pull-out and we have to get that message aCrOSS.””

He said, “Closing a profitable route from Shannon at a time when the air- line is losing money 1s nuts.”

SURFS up in Miltown Malbay for hundreds of international surfers as the seaside town has become on of the newest and coolest places in Eu- rope for surfers.

So good are the waves at Spanish Point that Ennisman and long time surfer Pat Keane along with his wife Orshlaith (sic) have moved there to live and open a surf shop.

The owner of “White-water Surf Company” lays the popularity of the area with the quality of the waves and the fact “it is less hectic than La- hinch”’.

The high price of property in Lahi- nch is also benefiting Miltown Mal- bay as keen surfers are buying homes

and moving there instead.

The town is also lively throughout winter making it attractive for those keen on the sport that is at its peek during the cold windy months.

“IT know a number of people who have opted for Miltown because of the price of houses,” said Pat.

Surfers traditionally ride the waves around the reef near the Armada Hotel. This area remains popular as it has middle and outside reef and a very good point break.

“If the swell is from the north, coming from Iceland, it bypasses La- hinch to Spanish Point. So you could have a flat day in Lahinch and good waves here,” explained Pat.

While the reef remains popular a number of other “obscure waves”

have become popular with top surf- ers especially at White Strand Point and have featured on the cover of a number of English magazines.

There is a budding body board scene also in Spanish Point.

“There are plenty of waves around Spanish Point that would rate with the most challenging,” said the keen Uae

As all the well known waves have become crowded surfers who com- pete at a higher level, and are not content with regular waves seek deleyenmelelm

The top surfers will challenge themselves on these waves but will not go past their own ability and risk their lives, according to Pat.

“It 1s extremely rare to see a surf-

er in difficulty, I don’t think I ever have.”

While September, October and November are popular because the waves are high and the water reason- ably warm there are a group of surf- ers that will surf all year around.

Surfers in the area also avail of Doughmore in Doonbeg, and it be- comes a haven of long boards in the summer.

‘In the summer when the rest is flat you would get small waves there. It picks up waves when other places don’t,” said the surf shop owner.

ANYONE who travelled to Meelick on Sunday expecting to see Mike McNamara and Davy Fitzgerald pro- duce some public display of affec- tion would have been disappointed. Last week, when it became appar- ent that Cork would not be fielding a team against LIT, the media focus switched to Davy Fitzgerald and his return to the Clare panel under Mc- Namara.

In order to counteract this and to nip the hype in the bud, the two men spoke on radio on Friday to publi- cally announce their intentions.

While the result overwhelmingly favoured LIT, after the game, both managers expressed opinions that were contrary to the scoreboard.

Firstly, McNamara was positive in defeat, recognising that LIT are in a far more advanced state of prepara- tion as they bid to defend their Fitz- gibbon title next month.

“It’s their August now. In our Au- gust I think we will be snapping them balls up nicely as well. So you would also have to look at that. On the bright side, some of the better players on the opposition today were members of the panel so that’s some brightness in a bit of gloom.

“You probably learn more from losing than you doing from winning. Last week, everything was flying and points were going over from differ- ent angles but we tried a whole new bunch again today. It’s particularly up to the younger members to show what they have or haven’t in January, February, March and April so in that sense all wasn’t lost. It’s nice to see Tony Carmody back in the frame, way off the pace of course but he has to be shoved out at this stage and get ready for the months ahead.”

Due to some college involvement from a Clare perspective and opting to experiment with the new players, Clare were clearly understrength but

McNamara believes that the young players have to be given a chance if Clare are to unearth new talent for the season ahead.

‘Everybody who takes part in the training regime has to get games and has to show what they have. So it’s just another step along the way and it’s going to be a long and a difficult task. There is a hump there which is high and we have to get to the top of that mountain through thick or thin and days like this along the way are a help.”

On the other side, despite a compre- hensive victory, LIT manager Davy Fitzgerald was not completely satis- fied with his side’s performance.

“That was OK but we won’t win a Fitzgibbon playing like that because Clare were poor today. Clare know they were poor today, very poor.

“Saying that, our goalie made three ereat saves. He made three saves he mightn’t have made on another day and if Clare had got any of those chances, it would have been a dif- ferent game. There is no point in fooling ourselves. Mattie [Ryan] did make two or three good saves and our backs were good but the chances we got we took them while they got chances and they didn’t take them. That would have been a different refelction on the scoreline and I think it’s very important that we say that. They had three or four good chances and our goalie brought off two saves and I don’t know how he pulled them off but he did.”

LIT’s first half performance provid- ed the foundation for their ten point victory. Not daunted by the county opposition, they exposed Clare’s in- experience repeatedly, carving open the defence. Still, Fitzgerald conced- ed that Clare more than matched his side after the restart.

“Clare probably came out and thought that they would take care of us easily enough and it’s hard to change your attitude halfway

through the game. When you are out- side in the field and you are playing a college team, you think that you should be beating them. But when the college team is ripping into you, it’s very hard to change and maybe When Mike got them at half-time, they were a different team. As you saw in the second half, it was way more even and as | say they got a lot more chances in the second half. So I would agree that in the second half, Clare more than held their own.”

Fitzgerald wasn’t thinking about his impending return to the county set-up on Sunday, his immediate fo- cus 1s on his LIT side who are look- ing to win back-to-back Fitzgibbon titles for the first time in the college’s history. So while a ten point victory over Clare was significant, he under- stands that they still have a lot more work to do before they are ready to defend their Fitzgibbon crown.

‘The result didn’t bother me today. The thing I liked about today was the way we played and the fight. We had fight and determination and the lads threw themselves into it. But I know going down playing WIT in Water- ford in the Fitzgibbon, we are going to have our work cut out and I know from this performance we’re going to have to up it again. So don’t, even for one minute, think we’re happy with that, we’re not because I know we could have conceeded two or three goals easily.”

Now that Clare are our of the com- petition, the focus shifts to the league campaign starting with Galway in Salthill on February 10. Before that, they have challenges with UCG and Portumna, two additional opportuni- ties to test more players and experi- ment before the panel is reduced.

WEST Clare locals have been count- ing the cost of the destruction of part of the sea wall at Cloughauninchy Beach near Quilty which has virtu- ally drained Lough Donnell.

A number of campaigns have taken place over the last two decades for minor works to be carried out to safeguard the model, or salmon weir, which formed part of the sea wall. According to locals, these essential repairs would have cost less than €100,000, while the cost of rebuild- ing the seawall and model could now run into millions.

In environmental terms, Lough Donnell, which is usually the home for wild salmon and trout, is almost totally dry with the Annageragh Riv- er now running directly into the sea. It is yet unclear what impact this will have on wild salmon reaching their natural spawning ground up river.

The lake is also a major feeding ground for thousands of wild birds.

“We have been trying to get this fixed for years. We first tried to get a new model built in the early 80s. Over the past 10 years, we have been consistently on about this,” said local man Bill McNamara.

‘The whole sea wall is now in dan-

ger of going. The tide 1s going straight back into that lake now. What was a 10 feet gap just two week ago is now about 70 metres wide. More and more is being ripped down each time the tide comes in.”

The destruction of the sea wall will also have a major impact on local tourism, with Cloughauninchy Beach being divided in two by the fast-mov- ing water and stones.

“We had a nice bit of work done with the road to the beach last year. Clare County Council tarred and had also agreed to build steps down to the beach when the model was fixed,” said local man Michael Shannon.

‘“T’m concerned primarily about the wildlife in Lough Donnell and the habitats which have been developed there over the last 100 years but from a tourist point of view it 1s very sig- nificant. The beach 1s totally distort- ed now. It’s gone from a lovely beach to a wreck with rocks all over it.

“It used to be a mile long but it has been cut in half. We need the OPW to take responsibility for this now. The longer they wait the bigger the cost will be.”

EARLY intervention for mainte- nance or repairs, ensuring the up keep of council properties and sup- porting local authority tenants 1s the reasoning behind Kilrush Town Greer MCB ilea Wane labour

The local authority will kick off a pilot house inspection programme in February as part of its proactive ap-

proach to tenancy management.

Staff of Kilrush Town Council will be making inspections of a small number of tenanted houses every Veto

The random inspections will be ongoing and the council propose to visit all properties and tenants, over time, annually.

The inspection will involve a checklist assessment of the general

maintenance and upkeep of houses and gardens by tenants.

Fiona Mooney, Town Clerk, said, “We are conscious that most of our tenants comply with all the require- ments in regard to upkeep and this will give an opportunity to acknowl- edge that positive responsibility 1on the part of the majority of our ten- ants.

“Equally, the idea is to pick up on

maintenance and upkeep problems and get these sorted as early as pos- sible for everyone’s sake. So the idea is also to operate as a preventative approach to tenancy management.” Mayor Tom Clyne welcomed the pilot approach adding that a regu- lar routine of checking houses and gardens could have a positive part to play in supporting tenants. Inspections will begin in February.

on January 1, Davy Fitzger- ald confirmed on Friday that he will return to the Clare panel in the com- TP OTSMR ere) Oe

Having parted ways with the Clare set-up under Tony Considine while on the cusp of eclipsing Christy Ring’s championship appearance record, the Sixmilebridge goalkeep- er 1S now Set to resume Clare training next month.

Fitzgerald picked up a serious injury playing for his club in the champion- ship last autumn and says his injured finger “still isn’t 100% right” and that his “doctors think I am mad” to CLoyeTSleCosmBUCLAUDM ON DETSS

“All I want to do is play,” said Fit- zgerald on Clare FM. “I could go out and coach a team and stay writing and make a pile of money, but I’m in-

terested in going out and seeing how the hand will react. I want to give it a right chance.”

His return to the inter-county scene at 36-years-of-age marks one of the highest profile combacks in modern hurling history and represents the first stern test for Philip Brennan, one of Clare’s best performers in the championship last season.

“Philip Brennan’s performances of class and skill have pushed him to the forefront of goal- ies, not only in Clare, but goalies in Ireland. Philip did a great job last year under pressure and I know the way Mike Mac oper- ates,’ said Fitzgerald on Friday. “He would make no promises.”

Mike McNamara him- self added that Fitzgerald will be given the same

treatment as every other player.

“A fully fit Davy Fitzgerald would make a massive contribution to Clare,” the manager said.

‘The aim of this management team and the ambition of this management team is to stabilise [Clare] and move [Clare] back up the ladder of hurling counties. That’s quite a task and it re- quires all the better players in Clare.

“In that line, David and myself have spoken and hopefully in a week or

two, the medical advice will be that he can return to attempt to regain the strength in his hand.”

Fitzgerald also pointed out that he has kept his counsel on events in 2007.

“Last year, I don’t think I said anything to anyone and I’ve no intention of doing it. It’s in the past.

For me, my county is the most im- portant thing, whether I play or not.”

Speaking in Meelick on Sunday af- ter his LIT side eased past Clare in the Waterford Crystal Cup, Fitzger- ald wouldn’t be drawn further on his return.

“Tl give it a try anyway and see what happens,” he said. “I don’t re- ally want to talk anymore about it. Whatever happens, happens and the most important thing 1s to play. We’ Il leave the talking until later on in the year.”

A CHANGING society that sees more single or separated men on the Clare housing list must be reflected in future council budgets.

This is according to Clare County Councillor Brian Meaney (GP), who says that the increase in the number of marriage break-ups sees more and more men looking for accommoda- tion.

“We have a significant number of single men on the register looking for houses due to the breakdown of marriages and relationships,” Coun- cillor Meaney said.

‘These are not priority and this is something the budget of Clare Coun- ty Council is going to have to reflect Ved sCom RU LAU NK ones

The councillor said in many cases the men were required to leave the family home after the break-up and

continue to pay maintenance.

He said while it was only right that they paid maintenance, the financial pressure saw them on the housing list and requiring distance.

This is a growing sector on the list and a group that he has become more aware of in recent times.

Nora Kaye, from Clare County Council’s housing section, said that there are currently 1,/00 people re- corded on the housing list.

This number, however, also makes provision for the number of people receiving rental supplement who are required to be including on the same iS a

“I would say the actual need 1s clos- er to 800,” said Ms Kaye.

She said that while there were no special provisions made for single men, they could apply for housing, rental supplement and other schemes through the council.

FEBRUARY I has been set as the closing date for the receipt of ap- plications for the second stage of the 2008/2009 Milk Quota Trading NYo terns len

Speaking on Friday, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan, announced the clos- ing date and restated her satisfaction with the outcome of the first stage of the trading scheme.

“I am pleased that the changes made to the operation of the trading

scheme contributed to a very high rate of trade before Christmas. I now want to ensure that the second ex- change is completed before the end of the current milk quota year, and I believe that the February | deadline will facilitate this,’ she said.

“A formal review will therefore not take place at this point, but, as was the case last year, a comprehensive review of the scheme with all stake- holders will take place after the sec- ond exchange has been completed.”

The scheme will once more com- prise a priority pool and a market

exchange. The maximum price for quota from the priority pool will remain at 12 cent per litre, and the maximum quantity available to in- dividual producers will remain at 80,000 litres.

A 3:2 ratio will again apply to the distribution of quota from the prior- ity pool to young farmers and Cat- egory | producers, and the option for sellers to sell at one or two cent per litre below their original offer price will be made available in the same 10 co-op areas as in the first stage.

The minister also took the opportu-

nity to alert milk producers to the ex- istence of a new Milk Quota Trader number, which is a unique identifier that has been assigned to all those who have participated in the trading scheme to date.

Applicants for the first stage of the 2008/2009 scheme will be advised of their Milk Quota Trader number by their co-op in the normal process- ing of the results, and those intend- ing to apply again for the second stage should quote this number on their application forms, in addition to the usual information.