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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.”

THERE were 17 suspected suicides in Clare last year, according to provi- sional figures provided by the Clare County Coroner’s Office. Sixteen of the deceased were male.

This is an increase on the 13 lives lost through suicide in 2006 and 10 in 2005. It also eclipses the 12 road deaths in Clare last year.

The figures show that in 2007 – for the second year running – suicide in Clare was a predominantly rural- based phenomenon, with I1 of the 17 suspected suicides taking place in rural Clare.

In relation to the profile of those af- fected, the figures show that young males were the most vulnerable. Those aged in their 20s were most likely to commit suicide, with six men in this age bracket losing their Taerse

Three men in their 30s, 40s and SOs also lost their lives through suicides.

Two suspected suicides occurred at the Cliffs of Moher. In contrast, there were none at the cliffs during 2006 or 2005, though there were four sus- pected suicides there in 2004.

The figures also show that the largest proportion of suicides took

place, once more, during the summer rnaKeyeld else

Last year, over a third of the total number of suicides (six) occurred during the month of June. There were two in May and two in July.

Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosa- jee Bhamjee said that it was worry- ing that the numbers of suicides are

increasing in Clare.

“It 1s a source of concern and | would say to people that there 1s help available and for friends or family to intervene on a friend or a family member’s behalf if they feel that they are in trouble,” he said.

“I feel that there isn’t enough of an emphasis on older people being vul- nerable to suicide. Often older peo- ple won’t go for help and their de- pressions can be prolonged and quite deep. But these suicides are prevent- able if help is sought.”

Dr Bhamjee also called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to have in place more resources to deal with mental health issues and to pro- vide quicker access to services for those requiring assistance.

On suicide being an almost exclu- sively male phenomenon in Clare last year, Dr Bhamjee said: “Men don’t seek help because of pride and because they have difficulty talking about their feelings.”

The Samaritans in Ennis can be contacted on 6829777.

VISITORS to Tulla next week will be able to go away with a piece of the past as well as having a look at the future of art in east Clare.

In conjunction with a ‘Percent for Art’ project commissioned by the Clare Arts Office, resident artist, Kathleen Moroney will open her stu- dio at The Stables to the public on select Saturdays during January and February.

Kathleen was given the opportunity by the arts office to create a project that would reflect her local surround- ings at the studios.

The themes that have inspired Kath- leen’s work to date reflect on gradual change and the passage of time. This

current project, entitled ‘2nd Gen- eration’ 1s in direct response to the transition of the stables into artist’s studios.

The facility was lovingly restored under the eagle eye of award-win- ning local architect, Siobhan Mul- cachy and has been running for two years now.

The building was originally the stables for the local great house and now rising artists are awarded leas- es of studio space to help them get SIDE Kslee

“In recent time a number of public buildings in Tulla have been success- fully renovated and continue to func- tion in a new capacity. These build- ings serve as a visual timeline that unites the past with the present,” said

Kathleen.

For her project, Kathleen is using the old cobblestones from the site, ‘as a metaphor to reflect change”’.

She is currently making plaster moulds of a number of the stones and in the coming weeks will re-create them in porcelain clay and fire them in the kiln to create a bone-like ce- ramic cobblestone, that will resemble the original — “the ‘2nd Generation of the stone”, she explained.

Kathleen is particularly interested in the cobblestones as they were part of the original structure, dating from 1817, containing tangible traces of the past.

While this project is ongoing, Kath- leen will welcome visitors to view the process and participate. Her stu-

dio will be open to the public from 11.00am to 4.00pm on seven con- secutive Saturdays: January 12, 19, 26 and February 2, 9, 16, 26.

The project will culminate with an exhibition of the porcelain cobble- stones in the Studio Gallery on the last weekend in March.

“Visitors to The Stables on this weekend and throughout the event, will be invited to take away one of the porcelain cobblestones, a symbol of the past and present,” Kathleen told

ENNIS Town Council has declined to sell its stake in Clare FM, turning down an offer of €10,000 for 500 shares. On Monday the nine-member council rejected the offer, opting in- stead to hold onto the shares.

There were also calls from council- lors for the jobs of the station’s 30 staff to be protected in the event of a takeover.

Mayor of Ennis, Tommy Brennan proposed that the council reject the offer. He said the local authority would be better served by retaining

its shareholding.

“I propose that we hold onto the shares. With another company set to take over Clare FM, the shares are going to get even bigger,’ he said.

Cllr Brennan’s motion, seconded by Fianna Fail councillor Joe Reidy, received unanimous backing. Fianna Fail councillor Tom Glynn said the rights of workers in Clare FM must be protected in the event of a takeo- ver.

“Tm not sure that we can do any- thing to guarantee the rights of work- ers. I would like to see employees in Clare FM protected and they would

be looked after,’ he said.

Fine Gael Clir Johnny Flynn called for Clare jobs to be protected.

Ennis Town Council originally purchased the shares for €500. The recent offer for the shares was set in a letter addressed to the council by Michael Evans, Chairman of Clare Community Radio Holdings plc.

It states that “the number of shares registered in your name amounts to 500 and therefore the total consid- eration for your shareholding will be circa €10,000”’.

The offer values shares at €20 each.

The letter continues, “The Com- pany is recommending acceptance of the offer which is conditional on the Offeror receiving acceptances from holders of not less than 95 per cent of the Ordinary Issued Share Capital of the Company.”

The proposed sale comes against the backdrop of growing profits and listenership figures for Clare FM. It would benefit a number of political and business figures across Clare who were part of a successful share drive in the early 90s.

Clare FM is currently the subject of an offer from Radio Kerry.

ENNIS has again fared poorly in the latest litter survey by Irish Business Against Litter (BAL). Ennis finished in 31st position out of 50 areas surveyed and was deemed moderately littered in a report compiled by An Taisce. ‘There has been little change in En- nis since it was surveyed earlier in 2007. While half of the sites surveyed got the highest litter classification, there were a couple with moderate levels of litter which could easily be improved with a little extra care and attention, such as the Crescent at Mc- Namara Park and the N68 Kilrush/

Kilkee/Killimer approach road.”

The area around the Ennis Leisure Centre and the N18 Limerick ap- proach road came in for particularly harsh criticism from An Taisce.

The report states, “By far the most heavily littered site was Ennis Leisure Centre. The recycle facility was re- sponsible for the very poor litter rating. It had been used as a dumping ground and was a complete mess. The N18 Limerick approach road had a serious litter problem – there were heavy levels of a wide variety of litter throughout a stretch of road that could and should have been so much better.”

An Taisce surveyed 10 areas in and

around Ennis. The Gort approach road is, according to the report, “clean to European norms”’.

The report states, “This was a clean and welcoming approach into Ennis. The overall impression was of an area which is carefully maintained and there was some colourful plant- ing which was in good condition.”

The report also reflected favourably on the N85 approach road and Cusack Lawn. Of the N85 approach road, the report states, “This was an excellent approach road into Ennis – there was plenty of colourful planting and the road surface/markings/signage were all in very good condition.”

The Crescent at McNamara Park was found to be moderately littered with the report stating, “With a lit- tle extra effort, this residential area could easily get the highest litter clas- sification. Some small scatterings of food-related litter took away from an otherwise well maintained site.”

The same was also said of the N68 Kilrush/Kilkee/Killimer approach road which was also found to be moderately littered.

The report stated, “Not much effort is required to bring this site up to a clean site. Most of the road was clear of litter but was let down by casually dropped litter.”