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A PLANNING row continues be- tween two Lahinch-based business- man over plans to extend premises in the town.

Earlier this year, plans by Olan O’Connor to extend Flanagan’s pub in Lahinch were opposed local re- tailer Pat Kenny. The plan is now before An Bord Pleanala.

Now, Mr Kenny has an application before Clare County Council to ex- tend a retail premises on the Main Street but Mr O’Connor has object- ed.

In his objection Mr O’Connor

states, “I am generally supportive of development that would add, and be beneficial, to the commercial vitality of the town centre.

“However, I have serious concerns that the development, as proposed, will have a negative impact on my property and will also constitute an inappropriate precedent for similar forms of development in the future for the centre of Lahinch.

‘“T have recently applied for permis- sion for an extension to Flanagan’s Bar. This application was granted by the council. However, it has been ap- pealed by the current applicant for a variety of reasons and the matter is

currently under the consideration of An Bord Pleanala…

“His current application is effec- tively providing 100 per cent site coverage and the envelope of the building is being provided up to the boundary with all neighbours.

“It is clear that the applicant is seek- ing to provide the maximum amount of retail floor space at this location without any recourse as to how this proposal will affect the amenities of neighbouring properties or proper re- gard given to how the retail units will function…

“Mr Kenny is now proposing to build right up to his site boundaries

and provide a two-storey building with pitched roof at a location where previously only single storey devel- opment was in place. This will un- doubtedly have an adverse impact on the amenities of adjoining proper- Hone

“The developed as proposed by Mr Kenny would clearly have an adverse impact on my property and the amenities. Again, I would like to stress that I am not anti-develop- ment but I do have grave reservations regarding the nature of the current proposal.”

A decision is due on the application later this year.

KINCORA Macra, founded in No- vember 2003, is based in the Ballina/ Killaloe area and attracts members from surrounding areas including Bridgetown, Ogonnelloe, Scarriff, Feakle, Ballinahinch and Whitegate.

The club has a current membership of 35 and this year had the honour of been chosen as one of the final 12 clubs in the AIB Club of the Year Sroyeayereisisceyee

This competition is designed to award the most dynamic and active clubs in the country.

As a relatively new club, adjudica- tors were impressed with the level of involvement and commitment Kincora club members had shown to

competitions and festivals through- out the year. The Macra na Feirme Leadership Training Programme is hugely important to the organisation and has been acknowledged by many of today’s leaders as the foundation for future careers.

Kincora members have taken part in club, county and national training programmes and are proud to have members on both the county com- mittee and national executive.

Learning the skill of oratory is a key area in the club’s programme and members competed in the na- tional debating and impromptu speaking competitions. Links were made with the local Toastmasters Clubs and Janice Mooney, PRO of Kincora branch, would like to thank

Toastmasters for all the help and ad- vice members were given.

Farming members of Macra na Feirme were kept up to date through- out the year through discussion eroups, young farmer development groups, seminars and competitions. Key areas, which members compet- ed in were The Bord Bia Stock judg- ing Competition, The Alltech Silage Competition and FBD Farm skills Competition.

Every member has an opportunity to travel with Macra and take part in exchanges with other clubs. Recently Kincora members have travelled to Edinburgh, Brussels, Paris and they are discussing the 2008 programme.

Kincora members had a very suc- cessful year at various festivals, with

three ladies from Kincora chosen to represent Clare in the Blue Jeans Festival, The International Miuiss Macra Festival and ‘Queen of the Land Festival’.

Macra is a democratic organisa- tion and every member is entitled to his or her opinion at club meetings. The success of Kincora Club was in the collective responsibility of all the members in the running of it. It was not in the individual skill of one person but in the way members sup- ported and worked with each other.

STUDENTS at St Anne’s school in Ennis did their bit for People in Need on Friday when they took part in a sponsored walk.

63 pupils participated in the walk which took place at Lees Road, help- ing to collect €3,225 in the process.

St Anne’s is a recognised school, which enrolls pupils from age four to 18.

The school caters for pupils with mild general disabilities and also students with more complex learn- ing needs. St Anne’s is financed by the Department of Education and Noto een

The broad range of learning the school provides is tailored to meet the individual needs and each pupil in the school has an individual edu- cation plan.

In this way, the many services the school provides such as music therapy, wood technology, aquatics, horse-riding and cookery, can be harnessed to provide as broad a cur- riculum and learning experience as possible for all pupils.

As they progress through junior and senior cycle at post primary lev- el, St Anne’s students have received FETAC awards with some going on to take exams in Junior and Leaving Certificate applied.

Recently appointed principal Sarah Barnes said the school was eager to give back after benefiting from gen- erous contributions from People in Need in the past.

‘We have a fantastic staff and won- derful pupils in here at St Anne’s. I know that the school has benefited generously from People in Need in the past. But this year it’s our turn to change things around and give something back. A sponsored walk was organised and all the pupils participated in this. On the day of the walk 63 pupils collected €3,225 with more to come.”

The sponsored walk was one of nu- merous events organized in Ennis for

People in Need.

The Clare Branch of Network Ire- land organized a cocktail event for People In Need on Friday in Rogue’s Bar & Restaurant, Ennis. The Lif- ford bar hosted a slave auction.

Coffee mornings were held in Clarecare and the Chapel Lane com- munity centre while students at St Claire’s school are organizing a Hal- loween sing-a-long.

CLARE is on the brink of bread shortages this winter with skyrock- eting overheads threatening to put many bakeries out of business.

The price of wheat and flour in Ire- land increased by 70 per cent in the 12 months from September 2006 to September 2007, with a further 30 per cent increase reported over the last six weeks alone.

“We have already seen a number of bakeries close over the past few years because of cost pressures. Considering this recent spate of cost

increases, I would not be surprised to see more casualties, as businesses can’t continue to absorb these kinds of cost increases,’ said Paul Kelly, of the Irish Bread Bakers Association. “The bakery sector is of significant importance to the Irish economy, employing over 4,000 individuals throughout the country. The cost of doing business in today’s market is becoming increasingly difficult.” These unprecedented increases are as aresult of a combination of factors all connected with global warming. European grain crops were deci- mated this year as a result of drought

in the south and too much rain in the north. Fear of global warming has also cause hundreds of thousands of farmers worldwide to abandon tradi- tional crops in favour of bio-fuels.

“It’s cheaper to burn the grain as fuel than it is to change it into food. The Americans have set targets on bio-fuel and it is unlikely that they will back down on them,” said Sea- mus Murphy, head of the IFA in Ee

“If you look back a few years, we had grain mountain in Europe. The EU changed their policy and all of these stores disappeared and that is

what’s driving the cost increases.

‘The reaction from farmers will be to produce more grain, so hopefully over the next few years grain sup- plies will come back a bit.

“This is providing that there is no major incident in a grain producing ote as

“Whatever about the chance of a grain shortage, from a farming point of view the pig, chicken and beef farmers cannot take this rise in the cost of grain; especially the pig farm- ers, they have been loosing money on every pig they have sold after the last few months.”

THE first ever Ennis Style and Glam- our Awards took place on Thursday last at the Old Ground Hotel. It was the highlight event of Ennis Fashion Week, an event organised to height- en the awareness of Ennis as the bou- tique capital of Ireland. Lisa Fitzpatrick, celebrity stylist, brought a touch of glamour to the night, together with her fellow judg- es, PJ Gibbons and Edward Alex Fit- zgerald.

Lisa was impressed, “For a first time event I was absolutely bowled over by the effortless glamour at En-

nis Fashion Week and by the sheer professionalism of all involved.”

The pinnacle of the evening was the awards ceremony where judges had a very difficult task choosing a BUONO e

Bernie Garry, from Cooraclare was named the Most Stylish Person at Ennis Fashion Week. A mother of one and a nurse by profession, Bernie wore a black and white halterneck dress and a fur stole.

Ennis Fashion Week Most Glamor- ous Person 2007 is Marie Slattery from Ballymaley, who is head of sales and marketing with Shannon Heritage. She has always worked in

tourism and previously worked with Delta Airlines.

The Ennis Fashion Week Design Student Style Award 2007 went to Siobhan O’Callaghan for her crea- tion, Urban Warrior.

Her design was inspired by the ar- chitecture of Ennis and also Quin Abbey, creating a look that com- municated the unique and complex landmark that spans and typifies Tem Nioay

The dramatic fabric mix worked into the dress represents medieval architecture and all its intricacies.

Siobhan is currently studying in The Limerick College of Art and

Design.

The Ennis Fashion Week Up-Style Hair Award went to Creative Edge for the best interpretation in relation to the student design titled Blathan- na. The hairstyle had autumnal flow- ers interwoven into the hair. A col- laboration by Caroline, Marie and Fiona at Creative Edge.

The Ennis Fashion Week Make- Up Award went to Aveda CSpa and Medi CSpa for their interpretation of Student Design titled Urban Warrior It was truly an artistic creation and had the absolute wow factor created by Claire Connellan at Aveda CSpa and Medi CSpa.

THE absence of a garda on beat pa- trol in Crusheen is contributing to a rise in anti-social behaviour in the village, according to locals.

The local Garda station has been vacant for a number of years due to various issues concerning accessibil- ity to the building.

While most of the issues have been resolved, a problem regarding the site map is the latest reason for the building to be unoccupied.

The Garda responsible for Crush- een currently works out of Ennis

Garda station. Locals believe this is not good enough and say that, given the growth in population, a garda must be based in the village.

Local residents are concerned that levels of anti-social behaviour in the village have increased in recent weeks.

Groups of young men are congre- gating in new housing estates includ- ing Inchicronan and Brodagh View and are proving a nuisance for resi- Cla e

Several residents have complained to Ennis Garda Station. While gardai have called to the area, locals believe

that the lack of a garda stationed there is adding to their woes. One resident, who did not wish to be named, de- scribed recent behaviour:

“They knocked on doors, threw eggs at houses and hurled abuse and threats at residents, who live here with young families. This is most notable when there is activity at the local pub. It has been going on for a while. It is uncalled for. | am very concerned about it,’ said the resi- dent.

“It is frightening. Crusheen is lo- cated in a commuter area, accessible to Galway, Limerick and Gort and is

a nice residential area, with people getting on with their daily lives,’ she SrHKG

Clare Garda Representative Asso- ciation spokesman, Tom Keane, is concerned that the problem has per- sisted for so long.

“The station 1s furnished, but we can’t take possession of it until the problem of the site map is sorted. How do we expect to have policing when we don’t have a garda station?” he asked.

“You are bound to have anti-social behaviour if you don’t have a garda in situ,” said Garda Keane.

NEIGHBOURS of Brian Fitzgerald have told the trial how they woke up of the night of his death to hear gun- shots.

One woman, Monica McElvanney, said she was awakened at 3.37 am to hear someone shouting out “Oh God ona

Almost immediately she heard two or three shots. There was a gap of around 30 seconds before another two or three shots sounded. She said

she stayed in bed terrified.

Another witness, Mary Mannix, said she woke up just after 3.30am hearing four or six shots. She heard a man crying or shouting out “help me, I’m being shot at.”

Patrick Healy said he had been leav- ing a friend’s house on the street. At around lam, he saw a “filthy dirty” red Ford Mondeo driving slowly down the road.

He could see the driver who he described as a “stocky, bald man”. He became suspicious when the car

made an awkward three-point turn, but when he went towards the car to get a better look it sped away.

Another neighbour, Paul O’ Byrne, said he was awakened by the sound of shots, at around 3.45am. He got up to phone the gardai and saw a man walking past the window wearing a white motorcycle helmet with the visor down over his face. He heard someone shouting “hurry up” but wasn’t sure if it was the man he had ore tb

Elaine Murphy was also awak-

ened by the sound of gun shots. She looked out of the window and saw a man wearing a light coloured helmet and dark clothes walking away from the Fitzgerald’s house.

A few minutes later she saw some- one sprinting out of the estate “out of the corner of my eye” and a second man walking out of the estate. She noted again he was wearing a light coloured helmet and dark clothes. She said she thought at first this man was injured but now wasn’t sure. He was holding a gun.

The trial heard that gardai recov- ered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from the bed of the Mulcair River in Anacotty.

Detective Garda John Higgins said the weapon was a Czech made weapon which had been reactivated for normal use.

He told the court he had examined the victim’s jeep, finding a canister of CS gas, a steel baton and a throw- ing knife in a leather sheath. He said he had found no sign of a handgun in the jeep.

CLARE farmer and chairperson of ICMSA’s Beef and Cattle Com- mittee Martin McMahon has called for streamlining of the Suckler Cow SYo tesa elon

Speaking following a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food on the new Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme, he said he welcomes the introduc- tion of the scheme but pointed out that a number of small amendments to the detailed rules would make the scheme more attractive to farmers.

“ICMSA believes that some of the recording deadlines set down by the department are excessive and unnec- essary and should be amended. For example, each calf born will neces- sitate a farmer having to notify the

department on five separate occa- sions regarding certain events based on strict deadlines. It is possible and sensible to greatly streamline that level of recording and still meet the department’s objectives,” he said.

‘For example, instead of writing to the department on the date the ani- mal was disbudded, that information should be included in the calf regis- tration form, thus eliminating at least one set of unnecessary paperwork. Excessive form-filling has become the bane of many a farmer’s exist- ence and we need a conscious effort to avoid pointless replication.”

In addition, the ICMSA is propos- ing that calves born after September 1, 2007 should be eligible for this scheme while the department has confirmed that the scheme is open to all farmers irrespective of whether

they were in suckler farming in the past or not.

“The scheme is a welcome develop- ment for the suckler herd but we will require more initiatives if we are to maintain a sustainable suckler cow herd in Ireland,” said McMahon.

Meanwhile, the ICMSA has also said compensation for animals killed by diseases is out of line with current market realities.

Given the recent rise in livestock value, the levels of compensation available under the Live Valuation Scheme and associated TB/Brucel- losis Schemes are now out of line with actual losses.

“As every farmer will know, the val- ue of dairy stock has increased con- siderably this year and ICMSA be- lieves that the guideline figures used by the Department of Agriculture,

Fisheries & Food for TB/Brucellosis valuations have not kept pace,” said Dominic Cronin, chairperson of [C- MSA’s Dairy Committee.

‘For example, the guideline figures for first and second lactation cows have not increased at all for certain categories since last April, while the most a category has increased is by €200.

“That does not at all reflect the re- ality on the ground, where the prices paid by farmers have increased by substantially more and ICMSA is now calling on the department to im- mediately revise their guideline pric- es upwards to reflect the true value of dairy stock at this time.”

GARDENING the way our grand- parents might have done it is making a comeback.

A community garden in east Clare is providing inspiration for many local people who had never turned their hand to growing their own fruit and vegetables before.

Brendan Sanders is part of the esroup which set up the community garden two years ago and now that it has been so successful, he hopes to see a project on a larger scale get off the ground with a community allot- ment of a few acres.

The garden became possible thanks to the generosity of a local woman, Mary Henchy, who owned one eight of an acre of land behind Brian and Joe’s Café in Scarif.

She wanted to see some use made

of it rather than simply keeping the grass and weeds under control and she offered it to the intrepid garden- ing group.

‘Four people got together initially to set up the garden project,’ said Brendan. “It’s a place where people can come and work in the garden or learn about growing plants and veg- etables or just come and sit.”

Local people drop in from time to time to get advice on growing or to see what is being done in the garden and some come to help.

It is also used by clients of the Brother’s of Charity.

The gardeners also cultivate me- dicinal and culinary herbs and trees, making it a woodland garden.

One day a week, it’s the setting for a sculpture workshop.

“We had two local girls in their twenties drop in last week. They

were very interested in learning how to grow their own food and they’ve agreed to come and work with us. We also get older people coming in and they tell us how there was always a bit of land on their parent’s farms where vegetables and fruit were grown for the house,” said Brendan.

Parents often call at weekends with their children to show them around and school groups come in from time to time.

The Alpha Project, an alternative second-level education project, has a module on gardening on it’s curricu- lum and the youngsters involved do the module in the garden.

“It’s a way of bringing different sections of the community together, doing something which 1s sustain- able and productive,” said Brendan.

Recently, a community composting facility has been started in the gar-

den with funding from Agenda 21 for a compost bin and two wormer- ies. Nearby households were given plastic composting buckets and they bring their compostable waste which will be put to use as garden fertiliser once it has been broken down.

“We’re hoping in the future that this idea will expand and that we will be able to get a larger piece of land for people to work as a community allot- ment, where crops could be grown on a small scale and more people would get involved,’ said Brendan.

THE Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Cough- lan, has urged all Clare farmers who want to join REPS for the first time in 2008 to have their plans properly prepared before the 2008 closing date for the Single Payment Scheme application.

This is because a change in EU rules means that, from next year, applications for agri-environment payments like REPS must be made before the Single Payment applica- tion deadline.

Farmers starting REPS 4 contracts

this year are not affected by the new requirement. “In practice, the new rules from 2008 mean that if you are a first-time REPS applicant, you must submit a REPS 4 plan before the Sin- gle Payment application deadline if you are to receive your REPS pay- ment in the calendar year,’ Minister Coughlan said.

“If your REPS 4 plan is received after the 2008 Single Payment ap- plication deadline, we can start your REPS contract the following month but we can’t pay you until you have made a payment application in the following year.

“It will only affect you in your first

year in REPS. The first payment will be backdated to the start of your contract and your other payments will go out linked to your REPS an- niversary as they have always done in the past.”

The minister stressed that the great majority of farmers who are already in REPS will be unaffected by the change. The old system can continue to operate for farmers who remain in REPS 3.

Farmers in REPS 3 who intend to switch over to REPS 4 will need to put in a payment application for REPS before the 2008 Single Pay- ment application deadline, but their

first REPS 4 payment will issue in the normal timeframe linked to the commencement date of their new oe) ele relolm

“My officials argued at length against the commission’s proposal to change the rules as they did not best suit Ireland’s all-year REPS ap- plication open period,’ added the PODUNUR Kom

“However, I am determined to Operate the new system in as sim- ple and straightforward a way as possible, and my officials will be meeting the farming organisations shortly to discuss the practicalities for 2008.”