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SPEAKING following a study tour to Italy in association with An Bord Bia, Clare farmer and Chairperson of ICMSA’s Beef and Committee, Martin McMahon, said that the Ital- ian market currently presents valu- able and worthwhile opportunity to increase the value of Irish weanlings and must be developed to its maxi- mum potential.

Following visits to a number of feedlots and discussions with many Italian farmers, many of whom are already buying Irish weanlings, Mc- Mahon said that the prices received for Italian cattle are well above the Irish price with some farmers receiv- ing up to €3.60 per kg liveweight.

Given these prices, Italian farmers assured the ICMSA Chairman that they will buy a lot of Irish weanlings if they can get the appropriate type of cattle and would not hesitate to pay a premium price to Irish sellers.

McMahon said that the Italian buy- ers were pleased with the cattle from Ireland this year, but he warned that if we were to develop this market, it is important that suckler farmers produce cattle to Italian specifica- tions.

“If this 1s to be achieved, the role that Bord Bia and Teagasc will have to play is informing farmers on the type of cattle required for this mar- ket in order to achieve maximum value,” he said.

“At a difficult time of low margins

for suckler farmers, the Italian wean- ling market certainly provides an op- portunity to enhance suckler farmer income and it must be pursued.”

Meanwhile, Clare dairy farmers will have the opportunity to meet leading New Zealand fertility ex- pert, Scott McDougall, at a special meeting on dairy breeding and fer- tility in the Radisson SAS, Limerick on Thursday, December 13.

Scott McDougall, who leads the re- search and development team at the Animal Health Centre in the heart of New Zealand’s dairying territory, will be joined on the platform by some of Ireland’s foremost authori- ties on breeding and fertility of live- stock.

The high-powered panel includes

Par Dillon and John Mee from Moorepark, Michael Diskin from Teagasc Athenry and Teagasc dairy specialist, George Ramsbottom. Doreen Corridan from Dairygold AI as well as Mark Crowe and Finbar Mulligan from UCD will also par- ticipate.

The meeting runs from 9.15am to 4pm. Clare farmers unable to attend the Limerick meeting can go to a meeting featuring the same panel in the Silversprings Moran Hotel, Cork on Wednesday, December 12 at the same starting time.

To reserve a place at either meeting, contact Event Plus at 01 2302591, e- mail info@eventplus.ie. Registration fee, which including lunch and cof- fee, 1s €55.

A HIGHLY cosmopolitan group of adult learners, including Polish Rus- sian and Croatian nationals, received their certificates at a special ceremo- UNAS DOW BI OD ON KB Keero NLU AZ

The awards were the end result of courses delivered by Clare Adult Basic Education Service (CABES), an arm of County Clare Vocational Education Committee’s Adult and Community Education Service.

The 147 strong group of certifi- cate recipients was the largest in the county to have gone through assess- ment.

Dr Sean Conlan, head of the Adult and Community Education Service, who presented the certificates, said that the high number was another milestone for the service.

He complimented the courses par- ticipants on their courage to return to education and upskilling themselves in various subjects while juggling with their other commitments.

He said his service providers were delighted to be in a position to of- fer such wide-ranging courses to an ever-growing international popula- tion in the county as well as indig- enous residents.

Recipients of certificates were

participants in CABES programmes in Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre, Clarecare Primary Health- care and various CABES courses.

Karl Quinn, co-ordinator of Eng- lish Language Programmes, who was master of ceremonies, pointed out that the range of subjects cov- ered included English for speakers of other languages, child develop- ment and play, learning skills, com- puter literacy, computer applications, communications, food and nutrition, food and cookery and understanding POLKoRGUDLAUUEAUO KONE

The courses were certified by the Further Education and _ Training Awards Council of Ireland.

CABES delivers one-to-one and group tuition to learners wishing to improve their skills in reading, writ- ing, spelling and basic maths as well many other subjects. Themed litera- cy classes allow learners to explore a subject while improving their liter- acy. Themed classes include stained glass, preparation for the driver the- ory test, computers, woodwork, arts, crafts and cookery.

Resources for the courses include a library available to students and an extensive range of adult-based read- ing writing and numeracy materials, including computer software, avail- able on loan.

IT’S shaping up to be a busy festive season for the students of Maoin Cheoil an Chlair and the school’s new director, Hans Boller.

On Saturday, students from the Ennis-based school performed a fundraising concert at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre. It 1s just the first in a series of concerts planned for Christmas.

The main event occurs on Wednes- day, December 12 when respected musician, composer and academic Micheal O’Suilleabhain takes to the stage in Danlann an Chlair.

O’Suilleabhain, chairperson and

co-founder of Maoin Cheoil an Chlair, will be joined by more than 100 students from the school, who will also perform over two nights, December 12 and 23.

Hans Boller, the recently appoint- ed director of Maoin Cheoil, said preparations are well underway for the concert. “Over the two days, we expect there will be over 100-200 students performing. It is the kind of event that takes a lot of work but everyone is looking forward to it.”

Originally from Germany, Boller has lived in Limerick for the past eight years. He was appointed to the post of director after attaining a masters in medieval music from the

University of Limerick. He is look- ing forward to working in Ennis.

“It is going well so far. The main thing is to get the students to per- form, we are trying to have as many performances in the school as pos- sible. We hope to bring a few new teachers to the school so that we can offer new classes.”

The school caters for 380 students with a staff of 17 teachers. Talks are also taking place with Glor about giving students the opportunity to perform in the venue’s foyer space.

“It important, for their own ben- efit, that they get to play regularly. It is something we are looking at and hopefully we will know in the New

Year if it is going to happen”. Then- president Mary Robinson opened Maoin Cheoil an Chlair in 1994. It was the first music school in Ireland to include classical and traditional music on an equal basis.

Founded by Fr Harry Bohan and Prof O Suilleabhain, Maoin Cheoil an Chlair was designed as a model for similar schools in other local au- thority areas and further afield.

Maoin Cheoil an Chlair has close links with the Sionna Academy of Music and Dance (Irish World Music Centre) at the University of Lim- erick and frequently draws on the wide international music education expertise at the university.

TWO Clare artists have just repre- sented Ireland at a major internation- al art fair. SOFA Chicago attracts some of the world’s leading galler- ies and collectors and Nicola Henley and Kathleen Moroney both did ex- ceptionally well.

Nicola creates textile art from her studio in Tuamgraney where she is inspired by birds and their relation- ship with the sea and the sky. She spends a good deal of time studying and drawing their movements before making her textile pieces. Using a combination of dying, painting and screen printing cotton calico, she tex- tures her work with materials such as Japanese paper and silk stitching.

Ceramicist Kathleen Moroney was also a big hit at the Chicago fair. Her two-part ceramic forms are made from slipcast tinted stoneware. El- egantly simple, her work is inspired

by the Japanese appreciation of space. She is based in Kilkishen and recently became involved in an art project in the newly refurbished art- ists studio spaces in Tulla.

With Christmas just around the corner, now is the perfect time to discover the work of these two inspi- rational artists. Both have just been featured in the

A DUBLIN-BASED housing asso- ciation has scaled back its plans for an apartment complex in Ennis town centre in order to overcome local council and resident concerns.

Last September, Ennis Town Coun- cil refused planning permission to Cluid Housing Association for a five storey apartment block adjacent to Ennis Tennis and Badminton Club.

The proposal involved plans to con- struct 21 one bedroom apartments and six two bedroom apartments.

However, Cluid Association 1s now seeking permission to construct three and four storey buildings in the erounds of Waterville House to ac- commodate 14 one bedroom apart- ments and three two bedroom apart- ments.

The housing association is also seeking planning permission for two one-bedroom apartments within Wa- terville House.

The Ennis Tennis and Badminton Club lodged a strident objection to the previous scheme pointing out that “with a large junior membership, the club has rigorous child protection schemes. Consequently, units with views overlooking children at play is of serious concern to all members”.

In a subsequent refusal, the council stated that due to the scale, massing, height and excessive site coverage

would result 1n over-development of the restricted site.

The council concluded that the pro- posal would compete visually with the Cornmarket building and Water- ville House, would detract from the character for the setting of Water- ville House and would fail to respect its context and contravene the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

The council also refused planning permission after ruling that the de- velopment would result in over-look- ing and over-shadowing of adjacent residential buildings and would seri- ously injure the amenities of prop- erty in the vicinity.

“The proposed development there- fore would materially contravene a policy of the Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2003 and the zon- ing objective for the area which 1s to protect residential amenity.”

The council also refused planning due to the proposal’s “layout and den- sity and consequent lack of private Open space to serve the residential units would result in a sub-standard form of development which would seriously injure the amenity of future occupants. The council found that inadequate on-site parking would re- sult in over-development of the site. Rather than appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanala, Cluid Housing Assocation lodged revised plans to overcome the council’s concerns.

PUPILS at Ennis Educate Together have been learning about the work done by aid organisations in troubled parts of the world.

32 children from fourth and fifth class took part in the Irish Aid Our World Global Schools Awards pro- eau benuentes

Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, is the Government of Ire- land’s programme of assistance to developing countries and was set up in 1974. Ireland’s development co- operation policy is an integral part of Ireland’s wider foreign policy. Through Irish Aid, the people of

Ireland support development work in many countries (€813 million in 2006).

For the past few years Irish Aid has run the Irish Aid Our World Global Schools’ Awards programme for all primary schools in both the north and south of Ireland. The overall purpose of the programme Is to raise awareness among Irish students of the lives of children of a similar age in the developing world. By taking part in this programme, children can learn how Ireland works with these countries not as providers of charity but as partners for development.

Yesterday pupils presented their work to their parents and teachers at

the school.

Teacher Maurette Stack explained how the children explored the many ways poverty impacts on a region and the type of work carried out by aid agencies.

She said, ““They learned about a lot of countries like Nicaragua, Hondu- ras, Ethiopia. They had to look at dif- ferent aspects of poverty like water quality and education and the work of charities alleviate these problems. One aspect of it is to raise aware- ness about poverty and charity in the wider community so that’s why we invited in the parents.

The Irish Aid Our World Global Schools’ Awards programme pro-

vides a great opportunity to channel curiosity about the world and con- cern for others into practical action. In past years, hundreds of schools and thousands of children have taken part in this project.

It culminates with an awards day in Dublin where a national panel of judges selects the most impressive entries from schools countrywide.

This year once again there will be a fantastic final event held in Dublin, Where the most outstanding entries will be invited to attend and receive an award and will find out which school will receive the Irish Aid Our World Global Schools’ Awards tro-

phy.

AN AVERAGE crowd showed up on Thursday night in Galway and they saw Ballyheane Queen get away fast- est in the fourth 525 yards Tiermana Fly in trap three wasn’t far behind and took over off the second bend as Fast Fit Enda in trap six moved into third spot. From here these two led the way right up to the line where the Noel Moroney of West Clare owned Tiermana held off Ballyheane Queen by a length in a time of 29.58. Fast Fit Enda was seven lengths back for third spot.

Pat Hogans of Quilty owned Tro- mora Promise in trap five and Keith Bumblebee in trap two shared the

lead up to the first bend in the sixth race over 525 yards. Tromora took a tumble here and this left Bumblebee in front down the back straight. From here the Paul Burke trained Keith Bumblebee ran on to beat trap three Finch Hill by over six lengths in a time of 29.96.

Fastest time of the night came from the David Browne of Kilrush owned Burnpark Duke who came in as a re- serve in the tenth race and took this from trap one.

Trap five Glenbrack Ali was the leader here from the start and kept going until off the last bend where Burnpark who was in second spot all the way launched a challenge and took over on the run for the line to

score by just over a length in a time of 29.09.

Glanbrack was second with Ash- field Romeo nearly five lengths back for third.

Trainer on form on the night was was Kinvara owner John McDonagh who notched up a fine double as his Cables Bluebell and Kiowa came in on the night. Bluebell kicked off this in the second race over 325 yards as this lady led from start to finish to get her first win on her third start.

It was the same story for Cable Kio- wa in trap four in the eighth over 525 yards as this lady made all to take this one in a time of 29.93.

Kieran Connolly was on the mark in the fifth race over 325 yards as his

Caislean Dubh got back into the win- ning groove. Coming away well from trap two this fellow showed some good early pace and led from here to beat trap three Roscahill Rocket by just under four lengths in a time of 18.17.

A trap to line effort came about in the seventh race as the Rose Kelly trained Mi Hercules made all to im- pressively take this 525. Breaking fast from trap two his fellow was always in control and ran on to beat trap one Pass The Lady by over nine lengths in a time of 29.31.

A real strong performance came from the Davy Curtin trained Glean- nrue Amy ran on very powerfully to take the ninth race over 525 yards.

Rineen Beauty in trap five led early here but was passed along the back straight by trap four Cracking Mal. Going into the third bend the strong running Gleannrue burst between these to in game fashion and from here she ran on to beat trap six Cork- er Hill by nearly four lengths in a time of 29.36.

Seamus Fahy was on the mark in the bumper over 550 yards as his Corporate Legend in trap two took this to keep his excellent career record going. Taking the lead off the second bend this fellow shrugged off the challenge of trap one Light Paws White and ran on from here to beat her by three and a half lengths in a time of 30.67.

that the council is hopeful that it will be open “a week or so” before Christmas.

“There are, however, a couple of weather dependent activities that need to be completed and if things went bad in that respect we may have difficulties,” he said.

The Ennis bypass from Barefield to the Limerick dual carriageway opened ahead of time last January.

The remaining parts of the projects have all run behind time.

Ennis Chamber of Commerce CEO Rita McInerney said that it would be great if the link roads were open up to two weekends before Christmas.

“I believe it will help the businesses for the bypass to be open. It is impor- tant for access around the town that these sections are opened.”

The chamber CEO said that it was also important that the link roads were finished off well with footpaths and lighting.

“People enjoy walking and cycling on the link roads as a leisure activ- ity,’ she said.

Ms McInerney said that the link

roads were also important to the vis- ual impact of the town.

‘“T expect that these roads would be finished to a high standard. It is im- portant that they are finished prop- erly as it gives a good impression on the approach to the town,” she said.

This weekend also saw the first weekend of the pedestrianisation of the town centre for Christmas shop- pers. Retailers had mixed fortunes with many blaming the bad weather for sales. Late last week the Ennis Chamber of Commerce asked the council to postpone the pedestriani- sation when the stormy weather was predicted. The council had already advertised the closure of the roads,

so it had to go ahead.

Ms McInerney said that next week when the Christmas lights are switched on it would bring an even more festive feel to the centre of the town and be more inviting to shop- OL uCR

The CEO also suggested that a change to the barriers stopping cars from entering the centre of the town would also help. The barriers used last week gave the impression that the roads were closed off completely and an alternative should be consid- Kerem

The Holy Family National School will also be opening its car park from next weekend at €3 per day.

THE Raheen Wood Steiner School held it’s twentieth advent fair at the weekend and local people turned out in force to support it and to pick up some unusual Christmas gifts.

Stalls laden down with handcrafts and hand-made decorations as well as lots of food stalls offering good- ies of every kind did a brisk trade for the day.

It was a real family day out and the youngsters enjoyed puppet shows and story telling.

“It’s a real celebration,” said Prin- cipal, Pierce O’Sheil, who tried his hand at storytelling.

‘“We’ve been getting great support locally for the fair down the years and it’s an important fundraiser for us. It usually brings in between €4.000 and €5,000.”

While no school can ever have enough cash in the bag for all the projects it might want to invest in, fund raising is the lifeblood of the Raheen Wood School, as it still does not have recognition and consequent funding from the department.

“We had a meeting with them two weeks ago and we’re optomistic,”’ said Pierce.

Raheen Wood the founding Stein- er Waldorf School in the Republic of Ireland and has been offering a multi-denominational, child-centred co-education since 1986. The school is situated in mature woodlands near the village of Tuamgraney.

The school caters for for children from kindergarten age (4-6) through the primary classes (7-12), with the option of the ALFA project in nearby Scariff for ongoing secondary level

Steiner education.

The school offers “an academic and practical education for the whole child’, and is part of a rapidly grow- ing international school movement of over 800 schools worldwide. Based on the work of scientist and philoso- pher Rudolf Steiner, the education began in 1919 with the founding of the first Waldorf School in Stuttgart, Germany.

THE Cheltenham Gold Cup may still be over three months away but March 14 is already the most eagerly antici- pated day of the new National Hunt season following Denman’s stunning victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Just a week after his stablemate Kauto Star re-affirmed his position as the best chaser in these islands, Paul Nicholls’ giant seven year-old threw down a gauntlet to the cham- pion that will not be accepted until the two stars clash on the second Fri- day in March.

Carrying top weight of Ilst 12Ibs on soft ground on his first start of the season, the 5/1 chance was expected to need the outing and seemed to face a big task at the weights to emulate the likes of Burrough Hill Lad and Arkle who had previously carried top weight to victory in the prestig- ious early season handicap.

However, last season’s impressive Sun Alliance winner looked a more mature horse in the parade ring and, despite his fitness doubts, he was prominent from the early stages of the 3 IA mile contest under Sam SW steyeer-hy

Once the fast-improving son of Pre- senting assumed control on the far side of the track, he always looked the likely winner as most of his rivals began to struggle, and he came home the hugely impressive eleven lengths winner from Dream Alliance with Character Building and Madison Du Berlais making up the places.

The Willie Mullins trained Snowy Morning was sent off the well-backed 9/2 favourite but he got no further than the seventh fence where he was a faller under Tony McCoy.

Although it was difficult not to get carried away by such an authoritative display, it must be remembered that if Denman is to be considered a gen-

uine Gold Cup contender, he was en- titled to win the Hennessy off a mark of 161 as Kauto Star sill remains the standard bearer on a mark of 179.

Most bookmakers cannot separate the two Paul Nicholls trained horses as 2/1 favourites for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and they will not meet before the Festival as Kauto Star heads to Kempton Park for the King George while Denman will travel to Leopardstown for the Lexus Chase during the Christmas period.

It was business as usual for trainer Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie at Newbury after Inglis Drev- er won the Long Distance Hurdle for the third time despite having to con- tend with another new stable jockey.

After Galway jockeys, Graham Lee and Paddy Brennan, had parted company with the Johnson stable, it was the turn of Cork jockey Denis O’Regan to develop a_ successful association with the World Hurdle champion and the 15/8 favourite only had to be pushed out by O’Regan to register a comfortable four lengths winning margin over Special Envoy.

It was the turn of some Champion Hurdle contenders to make their mark at Newcastle on Saturday where Harchibald was attempting to win his second Fighting Fifth Hurdle since 2004.

Having made an encouraging re- turn to action on the all-weather at Dundalk last month, Noel Meade was quite confident of a return to the Harchibald of old and the eight year- old did not disappoint the Meath trainer under a supremely confident ride from the irrepressible Paul Car- UMS

Having seized the initiative with a fine jump at the last, the controver- sial son of Perugino only had to be kidded home by the stylish Carberry who produced the 4/1 chance with his usual brilliant timing to beat Al Eile and Katchit.