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THE mix of foreign languages in Kilkee’s Stella Maris Hotel is grow- ing but it’s not because of the rapidly rising ratio of non-national workers that are now in the tourism trade.

“Italian is the latest language we have around the place,” says Ann Haugh, who took over the hotel nine years ago and has just doubled bed- room numbers to 20 in a major refur- bishment that added on a new restau- rant and cellar bar.

The Italians have joined German and Polish engineers engaged on the massive re-fit of the Moneypoint power station to bring down emis-

sions in the world-wide war against global warming.

Recalling that the building of Moneypoint cushioned the Kilkee resort through lean tourism years in the 1980s, Haugh said, “The power station 1s a mainstay of year-round LUIS UNL ISe

“We only close on Christmas Day and besides the Moneypoint engi- neers, the rest of the off-season trade comes from business travellers. In the summer peak, it’s back to the tra- ditional summer visitor business.”

Being a family-run business is the key to keeping the hotel operating throughout the year, the mother of four explains. Having managed a res-

taurant before, she and her butcher husband Martin took over the hotel. “I can turn my hand to cooking the breakfast and other meals in the less pressurised time of the year.” Daughter Michelle (27) not only co- manages the hotel with her mother but also set up the website for the business. Eldest son Eoin (23) looks after the bar and becomes boss to his father, who helps out at weekends. Even though their younger daugh- ters are not directly involved in the hotel, they get called into action whenever they are at home. Twenty-one-year-old Orla is train- ing to be a flight attendant with Ryanair while 18-year-old Emma is

going to be around the place for the next year because she injured her spine in just her second day at col- lege in Sligo.

“T only realised how much time the hotel takes up when all the re- furbishment was going on,’ Haugh confesses.

“Even though I was looking after the building programme most of the day, we had a normal family life the rest of the time. But that has all just gone since the hotel got back on Le ae

It helps that the pace and pressures are much reduced in the low season. “We still employ 14 people though,” Haugh adds.

WHILE most students were putting their feet up over the Halloween mid-term, 31 students and 4 teachers from the CBS secondary school in Ennistymon were tasting the atmos- phere and culture of northern Italy.

The tour, which was led my Mr Meehan, Ms Molloy, Mr Galvin and Ms Ahern, look in some of the worlds most famous artistic and cul- tural sites in the Italian cities of Flor- ence, Venice and Milan.

“We started off in Florence. We went to all the Cathedrals and say the Statue of David and a lot artistic stuff

like that. The bus driver then brought us up to a place where we could look out over the whole city and take pic- tures,’ said Leaving Cert student, Enda Slattery from Ennistymon.

The group then paid a visit to the Ferrari museum before relaxing for the rest of the day in a theme park.

“It’s one of the biggest theme parks in Europe. They have rolercoasters, waterrides and all that kind of stuff. That evening we went to Verona and did a treasure hunt,’ said Eamon Flynn from Miltown.

“We were split into teams and given clues to bring us to the famous parts of the city, like the Romeo and Juliet

balcony, and eventually you ended up in the main square. My team won the treasure hunt, we were there about an hour before the rest of them.”

After Verona, the group made their way to Venice before returning to the big city lights of Milan.

“On Monday we went to Venice, we had to go in on a boat. We got gondolas and walked through differ- ent parts of the city. We fed the pi- geons and had a tour guide around the place,’ said Leaving Certificate student, Daniel Mullins, from En- nistymon.

“The first thing we did in Milan was go to the San Siro. We had a

tour of the stadium and went into the dressing rooms. Then we went into the main part of the town and into this open cathedral with all these expensive shops in it,” continued Ca- thal McMahon from Miltown.

The tour proved a great success and learning experience for all who went.

‘‘[ had a great time there and I think I learned a bit. We went to a lot of places that we would have read about in out history,” said second year, Laurance Egan. “There was a few of us who had been to Italy before but for some of the lads this would have been their first time in a plane.”

THERE was good news for the Irish beef sector last week with the news that the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, Lulama Xingwana, had lift the ban on the importation of Irish beef. The ban, which has been in place since 2001, was lifted as a result of recommendation by South African experts who visited Ireland ETI ayeele

Commenting on the news, Irish Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, said that the positive news was the result of intensive efforts at political, diplomatic and technical Aon

She said that the Department of

Agriculture and the Irish Embassy in Pretoria have been working very closely on this issue for a number of years. During November 2006 the minister and her experts had a number of high-level meetings with South African cabinet members and their officials.

‘This is a very welcome decision as South Africa has been a traditional market for Irish beef. The decision by the competent authorities in the Republic of South Africa to re-open their market to Irish beef was taken following a detailed examination of the rigorous controls applied and reflects the high standards of food safety controls in place in Ireland,” she said.

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counterparts in South Africa had worked intensively on the technical documentation to facilitate trade and the necessary veterinary certificate had also been agreed.

Minister Coughlan also noted that senior veterinary officials from both sides have discussed detailed pro- posals for exchanges of skills and personnel to share best practice and experience in facing common chal- lenges in the food industry. Both Governments see the agri-food sec- tor as an important area with signifi- cant potential for trade growth and the creation of quality employment.

Senior experts will meet shortly to discuss an action plan on skills de- velopment.

Meanwhile, Minister Coughlan last

week welcomed the publication by the EU Commission of the Food and Veterinary Office mission to Brazil.

Coughlan said that this report will be very helpful in the overall process of ensuring equivalence. The minis- ter added that she was now calling for a discussion on the report within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

A further FVO mission is taking place this month and Commissioner Kyprianou, who is responsible for health and consumer protection, has stated publicly that he will not hesi- tate to take appropriate protection measures if a product imported from a third country represents a risk for the health of EU consumers, live- stock or plants.

YOUNG people from north Clare and beyond are being offered the chance to get a taste of what tradi- tional music was like in the days before sessions in pubs became the norm.

The first in a new monthly series of trad sessions for teenagers took place in Kilfenora Community Centre ear- her this month. The sessions, which are ran by Peadar O’Reilly, aim to get the young people learning and playing full sets together in a hall atmosphere.

‘The whole idea is to get them all learning sets of tunes together as a eroup. To make it as relaxed as we

can and have a bit of craic with it. A lot of people can play a tune here or there but what we want to do is to get them playing whole sets together,” said Peadar.

“We are calling it trad for teens but we had a few who were younger and a few who were older. All are wel- come. It’s about getting the music out of the pub scene and into a hall. There was great accoustic in the hall. Anyone is welcome to come in and listen if they want to. So hopefully it will grow.

“It started last week and we didn’t really know what to expect. Just af- ter 12, about seven or eight young people walked in. They aged from around nine to 20 or thereabouts,” he

continued.

“It took a bit to get us all in tune together but once we did, we played a few gorgeous sets. We had two con- certina’s, four fiddles and myself on the flute.

“It was the first time we had given it a go. Those who came enjoyed it, so they are going to come back again and hopefully it will grow from there.”

A Dubliner by birth, Peadar came to traditional music late and learned in the evenings while working as a driver for Dublin Bus. He later moved to north Clare and now teach- es tin whistle and flute.

“I remember when I used to go to classes in Ceolthais when I would be

finished my route. The eldest student in the class at that time would have been about seven or eight, and for them to see this man walking down in a bus drivers uniform to learn with them,” he said. “I spent about two years learning and then moved down here in about 1985.”

Trad for Teens will takes place on the first Sunday of each month be- tween 12 noon and Ipm in the com- munity centre in Kilfenora. For more information, call Dympna on 065 O1erer10 R208

CLARE has a new champion to cel- ebrate this week with the news that a farmer from Sixmiulebridge has be- come the WE Lloyd Cup Champion for flocks of 31 to 60 Suffolk ewes at an international competition held in England.

Aidan Collins, from Rossroe in Sixmilebridge outshone flocks from all across the United Kingdom and Ireland to take the much coveted top prize from flocks of 31 to 60 ewes as well as taking the reserve title in the overall flock competition.

Indeed this is the second that Aidan has come in as overall reserve cham- pion, having last achieving this feat on his last entry to the competition

in 2000. This year he was piped at the post by four times overall winner Robbie Wilson of Strathisla in Aber- deenshire.

Aidan, who started his Cragroe flock 18 years ago in 1989 said he is delighted with the win, but is still chasing the ultimate gold cup.

“We are delighted, but of course I would still like to go that one step further and claim the gold cup,” he Sr AKGE

“We have had a tremendous year with a number of champions and re- serve at other Society sales also.”

The Gold Cup for overall champion last came to Ireland in 2003 when Tom Bailey took the trophy.

Indeed, this has been a highly suc- cessful year for the Sixmilebridge

farmers as he has already produced the female champion, reserve cham- pion and reserve overall champion at the Roscrea sale.

The flock also took the trophy for the best progeny group, with their most influential ram, Solwaybank Granger. Other prizes included re- serve to Robbie Wilson in three more sections namely flock ewes, stud rams and best ewe lambs.

There was victory on the double for Collins at the event as Aidan’s father, Sean Collins, received the tankard as one of the two top shepherds.

The family farm 300 acres of land in Sixmilebridge and in addition to the pedigree Suffolks they run a dairy herd of some 70 cows, plus beef cattle.

Acer Du oMO(OUTSA O1Cece MAUI ONO OComMT oUt am LE is a great honour,’ admits Sean.

Other winners included Robert H Wilson from North Dorlaithers in Aberdeenshire who took the Bris- tol Gold Cup for Champion Flock, the Sainsbury Cup for Best Ewe Lambs, the Howard Peel Cup for Best Stud Rams, the Bonnington in Bloomsbury Salver for Best flock of ewes and the Keeble Cup for flocks of 61 to LOO ewes and Stewart Dun- can from Gamrie in Banff who took the John Long Cup for flocks of 20 to 30 ewes. The event was judged by Midlands breeders David Inman and Merrick Pinny.

SHANNON Airport and Aer Lingus will undoubtedly be on the lips of those who attend the 19th Annual National Tourism Conference, which takes place in Ennistymon’s Falls Hotel on November 23 and 24.

The Clare Tourist Council in con- junction with Clare County Council, have organised the conference which this year will have media darling and Ryanair Chief, Michael O’Leary, as it’s keynote speaker.

This year’s conference, which is entitled entitled “Tourism for Chang- ing Lifestyles’, will attract delegates from all over the island of Ireland including representatives of Failte Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation,

Shannon Development, Shannon Heritage and the Clare Tourism Fo- rum.

“Mr O’Leary’s eagerly anticipat- ed keynote speech comes at a time when the west of Ireland faces losing its strategically important link with Heathrow, as a result of Aer Lingus recent decision to remove the service from Shannon,’ said former Mayor of Clare and Conference Chairper- son, Flan Garvey.

“The Ryanair Chief Executive’s decision to address the event shows that he is concerned about the move and the importance of maintaining permanent and quality connectivity with international hubs.

“During his talk, entitled “Options and Opportunities for Changing

Lifestyle’, Mr OLeary will refer to Ryanair’s commitment to develop- ing further business at Shannon. His speech also coincides with the launch of the airline’s new daily Shannon to Dublin service.”

Other major speakers to address the conference include Mary Owens, Failte Ireland’s Manager of Educa- tion Policy, who will discuss the role played by education and training in supporting the future development of Irish tourism, Joe Horan, Coun- ty Manager, South Dublin County Council and Marie Slattery, Sales and Marketing Manager, Shannon elute: txen

The conference sessions will be chaired by Alderman PJ McAvoy of Ballymena Borough Council, Alder-

man Frank Campbell of Balymoney Borough Council and Cllr Michael McCarey of Cavan County Council.

“Along with our co-organisers Clare County Council, we have wit- nessed some dramatic changes with- in the tourism sector over the past 19 years. Now, more than ever before, the industry has to reinvent itself if it is to sustain growth in the tourism sector,’ said Conference Secretary, Kathleen Cahill.

“Since our first conference in 1989 the sector has become more turbulent and increasingly price-conscious. Therefore, it 1s incumbent upon all individuals and organisations in- volved in tourism to get involved in the promotion of the entire sector all over the island of Ireland.”

CALLS were made last night for more parking spaces for disabled drivers, wider parking berths and bigger fines for able-bodied people who abuse the spaces.

Clir Pascal Fitzgerald (Lab), who asked for a full report on whether additional spaces will be made avail- able, said Clare was “the only county in which there are no markings in bays which allow space for people in wheelchairs to get out of their cars.

“Get a wheelchair and see if you

can get in and out of your car in the space available – you won’t.

“People park right up against cars parked in disabled spaces. We need bigger bays, more spaces and better markings,” he said.

Clir Martin Conway(FG) said he supported Cllr Fitzgerald. Those Spaces which were painted in light blue in Clare “fare easily distinguish- able. They should all be painted in that colour in future and we need to look at increasing fines for people who abuse those spaces”’.

Cllr Joe Arkins(FG) said that he

agreed that the spaces should be painted an obvious colour, but added that he was concerned that there were no penalities for people who abused disabled spaces in hotels and other private locations.

Council Director of Service, Tom Carey, told the meeting that the lo- cal authority was constantly revising the number of spaces which it could make available for parking for driv- ers and passengers with a disability.

The council has completed a coun- ty-wide audit on the whole area of the needs of people with disabilities and

accessibility of council properties and lands. He added that he would expect some funding to be made available of foot of the findings.

“We want to assure the members that everything that can be done will be done to ensure that people with disability can have access,” he said.

In a relation motion, Cllr Pat Mc- Mahon (FF) called on the authority that issues disabled parking permits to ensure “they are issued to people who have a genuine need for same.

“There are able-bodied people us- ing these permits,” he said.

THE achievements of — two Newmarket-on-Fergus people in ploughing circles has been recognised by their official organisation.

Sinead Corbett from Stonehall and Louis Quinn from Lemenagh were both recognised at the Clare Plough- ing Association function that was held at Carrygerry House on Friday aphca ale

Sinead gained national headlines

when she won an All-Ireland title in the National Ploughing Champion- ships in Tullamore earlier this year.

Her achievement was _particu- larly significant, given that she won a traditionally male-dominated oyeal oles ielOyee

The expertise in ploughing in the Corbett family goes back several decades. Sinead’s grandfather John Corbett won a similar competition in 1960, while her father Frank also scooped honours in 1997 and 2003.

“The Clare Ploughing Association is delighted with her success. It is a great achievement for a girl from a county like Clare, where tillage wouldn’t be a major farming activ- ity,’ said PRO of the association, PJ Raven

Louis Quinn, who is the cur- rent president of the Ploughing Association in the county, was also delighted to be honoured at the event.

He has been a member of the group

for more than 50 years and has put in Trojan work during that time to ensure the group has stayed together and been progressive in the local community.

Over the five decades of his involve- ment he has won numerous prizes in various competitions.

‘He is a very dedicated man. He spent a number of years in the UK, but has never lost his ties with the Clare Ploughing Association,” said Mr Ryan.

OVERALL crime in Clare has fallen by four per cent so far this year, while there has been a massive increase of 28 per cent in public order offences.

Figures relayed to members of Clare County Council by the head of the Clare Garda Division yesterday also revealed that drug detection had risen by 4.3 per cent.

The number of drink driving de- tections have also risen by 14.5 per cent, to 481, while 14 anti-social be- haviour orders (ASBQOs) have been served by gardai in Clare since the measure came into effect at the be-

ginning of the year.

So far this year, there have been 1,265 detections for public order which is up 28 per cent on the figure for the same period last year. Crime detection rates in Clare are 44 per Cone

Chief Supt Gerry Mahon said that criminals who travel from place to place are being targeted, in particular. ‘They come from Limerick, they come from Dublin, they come from Galway, they come from Eastern Europe. That’s the trend this year,” he said.

He said the spread of drugs is a live issue in Clare and is being closely as- sessed. ““That’s an issue we are look-

ing at closely. Crime and drugs are hand in hand. One causes the other,” he said.

He confirmed that CCTV will be installed on the streets of Ennis in April, while the initiative in Kilrush came into effect last year.

He also told councillors that addi- tional funding has been provided to fight organised crime under Opera- tion Anvil.

Additional resources have been pumped in to deal with road traffic accidents and the traffic corps has in- creased in personnel from 12 to 28.

A number of councillors expressed concern about the levels of Garda re-

sources, while others felt community policing was lacking in rural areas.

The drugs scourge was also men- tioned and Chief Supt Mahon reas- sured councillors that the newly ap- pointed detective inspector would address this issue as one of his first briefs.

Kevin Moynihan is the first garda ever to hold the rank of detective in- spector in Clare.

Responding to concerns raised by Clir Tony O’Brien (FF) about sparse Garda resources in Killaloe, the Garda chief said that an additional detective and five gardai had been appointed in that area.

TWELVE months after it was closed for €2 million of refurbishments, the Texaco filling station in Shannon has been re-opened for business.

Manager Darragh O’Connor closed the garage and convenience store in October 2006 with a view to over- Jer LUObeercap ie

Although a planning issue resulted in the work being put on hold for a number of months, it has been com- pleted and is now open for business.

The premises is part of the Sky- Court complex and Texaco have leased the site from the town centre management company.

The delay came about after Sky-

Court refused consent for the devel- opment. However, it later changed its position, meaning that the work could proceed.

The existing building was knocked to the ground and a totally new building put in its place. A Spar con- venience store has been built which is four times the size of the previ- ous shop. Upstairs there are offices, a canteen, staff toilets and a storage area. The new express shop sells a wide variety of foods, drinks and newspapers.

It incorporates a deli, smoothie bar, hot food counter and wine area, along with a sizeable general grocery section. There is also a car wash and car valeting business on the premis-

es, while coal and briquettes are also available.

The manager is delighted that the expansion has been completed.

“We are trying to create a one- stop shop in Shannon. We will be launching a range of takeaway evening meals and lunchtime menus. Our food goes from 7am to 7.30pm, which isn’t the usual run-of-the-mill deli,” he said.

The opening hours will be from 7am to llpm, seven days a week.

The O’Connor family have been in business in Shannon for 30 years. Darragh took over the running of the filling station from his parents 10 years ago.

“I felt that petrol stations were

closing down everywhere because the margins on petrol have disappeared. You have to make your money in the shop itself. It is all geared around convenience,” said O’Connor.

He is indebted to the people of Shannon, who have been loyal to his business and showed patience during the closure.

“Business has been absolutely fantastic. The goodwill from the lo- cals in Shannon has been wonderful so I say thanks to the people of the town for standing by me during the renovations,’ he said.

The re-opening of the business has seen staff numbers increase from 12 to 20 and Mr O’Connor said he was delighted with this.