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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.

SEVERAL firemen had eggs, fire- works and bottles thrown at them as they attended bonfires on Hallowe’en night.

The fire services in Clare had 23 call-outs last Wednesday night, 18 of which involved bonfires. This com- pares with an average of three or four incidents on a normal day.

According to the acting Chief Fire Officer, Denis O’Connell, it was a very busy night. Although there were no hoax calls, he said that the behav- iour of a number of individuals cre- ated trouble for firemen.

“Ennis and Shannon fire brigades ran into a lot of difficulty trying to carry out their duties. Fireworks, eggs and bottles were thrown at crews and many firefighters received a lot of verbal abuse over the evening. Ennis fire brigade had bottles and fireworks thrown at them at a bonfire near Oak- wood Drive, Ennis. They received a lot of verbal abuse and had fireworks thrown at them at a bonfire in Quin Gardens, Quin,’ said Mr O’Connell.

“Shannon fire brigade had timber and eggs thrown at them at a bonfire in Rineanna, Shannon and they re- ceived a lot of verbal abuse and had bottles thrown at them at a bonfire in Newmarket-on-Fergus,” he said.

“It is very regrettable that firefight- ers should have to deal with this type of behaviour while carrying out their duty. Fortunately, there were no inju- ries received by any firefighter on the

night,” he added.

In Ennis, a garda was assaulted as he intervened in a dispute in the Mar- ket area of the town on Hallowe’en night. The garda had to receive stitches to a wound on his face, after he was struck.

Gardai say that a number of nui- sance calls were made over the course of the evening. Overall, how- ever the night was “no busier” than any Hallowe’en night.

Meanwhile, locals in Kilkee were angered after 22 steel rims of cars and trucks were left on the beach after bonfires there on Hallowe’en night. While the rims have since been removed, there are still remnants of

car tyres lying on the beach.

Former Mayor Manuel di Lucia said the situation is not acceptable.

‘There are something like 100 coils of wire still there and they are going to cause problems if they are not moved. Some years ago, a young girl cut her hand after the wire became embedded in the sand and she was playing with the sand,” he said.

“It happens every year but this is the worst I have seen it,” he said.

AS OF yesterday, council officials and elected representatives in east Clare have a new home to go to. Staff began the move yesterday from the courthouse to the new coun- cil offices at Mountshannon Road. The Tulla Courthouse, which was home to the council in recent years, is now being leased to the local com- munity development group which will be using the building for various

community activities. The Court will also continue to sit in the court- house.

The new offices in Scariff will also be home to a branch library, and will offer a range of services for the public including payment of house rents, loans, rates, water rates and planning contributions, receipting and processing of all road opening licence applications and distribution of information, application forms and contact details relating to all

Clare County Council services.

The public will also be able to view documents such as County Develop- ment Plans, area plans, register of electors and there will be a planning clinic at which the Local Area Plan- ner will attend on the morning of the fourth Tuesday of each month for pre-planning consultations.

Motor tax online service will be available in the very near future and elected representatives will hold their meetings in the new offices.

“These range of facilities should be a great asset to the people of the east Clare area in availing of services lo- cally,” said Area Officer, Michael McNamara.

The new branch library will be Open as and from the November 12 and will have increased opening hours.

The official opening will take place on Monday, November 19 next and will be performed by the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia McCarthy.

CLARE county football cranks back into gear tonight (Tuesday) with the first training session of the new sea- son, a full two months ahead of last season’s return.

It’s the third manager in as many years for the footballers and while the exact make-up of the league squad won’t be known for a number of weeks, some new additions are likely to be included when the panel is pared down.

The early start brings renewed

Structure, a direction that has been welcomed by players involved under recent appointment Frank Doherty. “Players have had a rough enough time of it over the past couple of sea- sons, maybe they lost their way at times and we decided to get together to bring some guidance back,” said Doherty. “I want to get to know play- ers and know what they’re about. Put faces to names. There’s no point in starting out for the season a couple of weeks after Christmas and maybe a fortnight to go before a McGrath Cup game. The bottom line is that

we want to get belief back in Clare football that’s been missing for the past while.”

With the addition of Kilkenny to the footballers league group, it means the spring will be action filled and if Clare can put together a decent McGrath Cup run, close to a dozen hours of competitive football could be played before the championship Torta DENSE

“It’s important to get some work under the belt at this stage,” adds Doherty. “All going well, the core fitness will increase and the lads

will be able to play at a high tempo throughout the league.”

Some dovetailing for those involved in the Under 21s is also expected.

“In all, I’m hoping for 28 to 30 lads at the first training. Some will be in- volved in Under 21 training and I’d expect a lot to be involved with us as well. On top of that, we have lads involved with Sigerson who won’t be available immediately and there isn’t any issue there. We want the entire panel to know what the game plan is and what’s expected in terms of physical condition.”

THE price of property in Clare con- tinues to fall this Autumn with the latest Permanent TSB/ESRI House Price Index showing a drop of 0.3 per cent month-on-month in September.

This amounts to an average price drop of 3.6 per cent since January of this year and 2.8 per cent since Sep- tember of 2006.

“The market in Clare is static at the moment and the funny thing is that the houses that are moving are the detached houses on the outskirts of towns that are running up €350 thousand,” said Samantha Coote, of Philip O’Reilly Auctioneers in En- Whe

“So our demographic of buyer are people looking for the family home, which would be out of sync with what we would expect.

“I think we are looking at a static price in Clare for the months to come. If we are to see any increase in price, it will be very very slow and minimal coming into May and June of next year.”

Despite claims last week by Niall O’Grady, Head of Marketing at Per- manent TSB, that prices are being

artificially supported by developers add-ons, Ms Coote claims that this is not a factor in Clare.

“That is really not happening in Clare. The prices are not being skewed because of that.

‘ For first time buyers, new devel- opments and second hand houses are now on a par.

“The advice for first time buyers would always have been to get a good second hand house but now they can get the new developments with struc- tural guarantees that will be as full fitted as a second hand house,” she nee

“At the moment we still have a lot of people sitting on the fence. We were snookered in every way; we had the general election, we had the upheaval with the interest rates and now we are heading into budget sea- son again.

“Regardless of what the _ politi- cians say buyers are always hoping that something will come up in the budget so we might see some more stability into the new year.”

The average price paid for a house in Ireland in September now stands at €299,483, compared with €308,179 in September of last year.