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FARMERS from all over the county began last week to benefit from ad- vanced payments under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme.

Nationwide some €533 million, representing a 50 per cent advanced payment, was made available to farmers from last Tuesday.

“T am particularly pleased that these payments, worth in excess of €533 million, have begun issuing today to some 113,500 farmers,” said the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan.

The payments are being made six weeks earlier than would otherwise be the case as a result of the success- ful outcome of her request to Com-

missioner Fischer Boel for an ad- vance payment in 2007 in response to the bad weather situation over the summer and the resultant farmer cash flow needs.

Minister Coughlan confirmed that advance payments would continue issuing up until November 30, with balancing payments issuing from | DY—fersia loro an

“While payments will continue to issue as individual cases become clear, | would again urge anybody who has received correspondence from my department highlighting problems in relation to their appli- cation, to respond without delay as, by doing so, these cases can then be processed to finality and payments issued,’ she continued.

“To date, over €231 million has been paid out under DAS, to about 94,000 farmers. DAS payments con- tinue to issue as cases are cleared and again, I urge farmers to respond to outstanding correspondence.

“In order to facilitate those farm- ers with specific queries relating to their SPS/DAS payments, I have had dedicated Lo-call numbers allocated in my department.”

Clare and Limerick farmers who wish to learn more should call KORY Perma evi Comm Or-U Asch ams eD we oes ers should call 1890 200502 and Tipperary farmers should call 1890 pm) e728

Meanwhile, Mary Coughlan has announced changes to the REPS sys- tem which she claims will make it

easier for farmers to move to REPS 4. Coughlan has confirmed that REPS 3 farmers who want to switch over to REPS 4 will now have two months after their anniversary dates to submit REPS 4 plans.

Up to now, farmers moving over to REPS 4 before their existing con- tracts were finished would have had to get their REPS 4 applications in before their anniversary dates.

“Getting the Commission to clear REPS 4 took a bit longer than we had hoped. So it was early August before I could launch the new scheme. At that stage we still had to finalise all the documentation, and much work had to be done to update the REPS system which planners use to pre- pare the maps,” she said.

RESIDENTS living close to a dan- gerous bend in Kilmurry are infuri- ated that Clare County Council is not making funds available for the provi- sion of footpaths in the locality.

At an area meeting of Clare County Council last week, Cllr John Crowe suggested that footpaths in Kilmurry eTom KALA Le0 8

Executive Engineer with the coun- cil, Michael Healy’s response was simple. He pointed out that the funds were not available. “At present, Clare County Council is not in a position to provide additional footpaths in Kil- murry village,” he said.

He pointed out that his estimate for providing 330 metres of a two-me-

tre wide footpath between Neenan’s grocery shop and the entrance to the housing estate on the regional R462 would be almost €70,000.

The estimated cost of a footpath, with associated lighting along the Kilmurry to Enagh road, would be €53,750.

‘The only finance available to con- struct footpaths in Kilmurry is un- der the Discretionary Improvement Grant. In 2007, the total allocation for maintenance and provision of footpaths under this grant for the whole of the Shannon electoral area was €55,000. This money is being spent in heavily populated areas such as Shannon, Sixmilebridge and New- market-on-Fergus, where the need is greatest. Iam unable to provide foot-

paths in Kilmurry because the funds are simply unavailable.”

He went on to say that the “limited” funds available to him for footpaths will go towards Shannon, Newmar- ket-on-Fergus and Sixmilebridge, for the foreseeable future.

Local resident, Mairead Guest, who lives close to a notoriously danger- ous bend on the road, is angered by what she says is the council’s neglect of Kilmurry.

“Tam very annoyed. We are forgot- ten about. How come it is going to cost €100,000 to put footpaths in place?

“We were hoping for something. We organised a petition last year, but still nothing is being done. It will just take somebody to be killed be-

fore they do anything.

“When they are collecting money, we are included in the Sixmilebridge area, but when there is money being spent, we are always left out,’ said Ms Guest.

A year ago, Ms Guest expressed her concerns about the dangers of a bend, close to her home.

While the council has put danger signs in place, she remains unhappy with the situation.

“Signs were put up and already one has been damaged. We still hear the screeches of brakes there at night. The road has been widened coming up to my house and that has made everything faster coming into the bend. It is worse than it had been previously,” she said.

that the group feels that Aer Lingus has been in breech of European leg- islation namely article 95/93.

The group have pointed to a section of the 1993 regulation which says that “slots may be freely exchanged between air carriers from one route or type of service to another, by mu- tual agreement or as a result of a total or partial take-over or unilaterally.” This is called “flexibility mecha- Tbh ee Mae

The regulation goes on to clarify that the use of flexibility 1s limited

and cannot be used for slots to routes considered “vital” for the economic development of the region where the airport is located. Mr Geraghty said the group would also be asking if any impact study of the region had been done by the airline.

“We will also ask if the grandfather rights follow the route of the airline,” he said.

The group will ask the European public representatives if a mediator can be ap- pointed to help re- solve the difficulty at Shannon.

“We will be telling them that last year the Irish government owned the company

which holds he Irish airports slots to health. It sold 75 per cent of this company holding 25 per cent for strategic interest. The company is not trying to remove the route on one hand while the government is can- vassing support for a new company to acquire new slots from the very same co-ordinated airport on the other,’ he said.

THIRTY FIVE years of music and dance were celebrated Friday night When musicians and singers from across Clare gathered in Fahy Hall.

A cornerstone of traditional Irish music and culture, Fahy Hall has been home to the Doora Barefield of Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann since PA

Before eventually settling on Fahy Hall, the first meeting of the branch was held in the old parochial house of the Greengrove in Roslevan. After that the branch led a sort of nomadic existence, meeting up in different houses in the local area.

The branch then moved up to Bob-

by Kennedy’s house on the Tulla Road and from there to Scanlon’s near Gaurus Mills.

In the late 70s the decision was taken that the branch should look for a permanent home. Colm Fahy, a member of the Branch, very kindly donated the site for the hall, and it has been home to the Doora Bare- field branch ever since, becoming a focal point in the community in the ROSE

Members of the branch together with friends and neighbours built the hall on a voluntary basis.

Frank Custy, who was then County Chairman gave the branch great en- couragement and funds were raised through ceils in Toonagh hall, a sil-

ver circle, raffles, sales of work etc.

The County Council also gave a grant towards the hall. Music and set dancing classes and sesiuins were the main activities in the hall in the early years with the Youth Club and step dancing classes coming on stream later on.

The hall has also been ussed for Saturday evening mass for some years now.

The first officers of the branch were chairman Lot O’Halloran, sec- retary Mary McNamara, treasurer Phil Nugent. Of the original mem- bers involved when the branch was established, three are still involved today, Mary O’Halloran and Joe and Mary Keary. The present officers of

the branch are chairman John Ly- ons, secretary Clare Deloughrey and treasurer Marjorie Molloy.

Friday night saw many former members and friends reunite and re- mains about the craic had at all the ceilis and sesiuns down the years.

The bill contained some of the best known singers and musicians in Clare. Those taking part includ- ed Tara Breen, Christy McNamara, Paddy Canny with his grandchildren and Denis Liddy’s ul5 ceili who came second at the All-Ireland in Tullamore.

Singers included Joe Keary and Michael O’Brien. The occasion was presided over by MC for the night Joe Queally.

tribute to ‘the greatest goalman that ever clutched a ball’ has that affect on Tulla folk.

There was much more of the same near Dr Daly’s windswept hill on Sunday night, on the grand stage erected for the occasion of Tulla’s triumphant homecoming opposite

Corbett’s Menswear.

All because in wake of Tulla’s historic re-emergence as a hurling force, Karl Quinn took the micro- phone and pelted out

A MAN who died suddenly at his Ennis home had an enlarged heart, three times normal weight.

Brendan Corcoran (53), a native of Mayo, died at his home at Bishop’s Court on May 17 last. At Ennis Cor- oner’s Court last week, Brendan’s

brother Gerry recalled last seeing him at around 8.45am that morning. He said Brendan, a part-time busi- nessman, had been in “good form”’.

Some 12 hours later, Gerry re- turned home. Brendan was in the kitchen. He called out his name but did not get a response. He touched his forehead and it was cold.

The emergency services were con- tacted and Mr Corcoran was pro- nounced dead at 10.20pm that night.

Garda Michael Sweeney told the inquest he received a call to go to the Corcoran home. When he arrived at the scene, the body of Brendan Corc- oran was lying on the kitchen floor.

Pathologist Dr Peter Fawl carried

out a post mortem examination on the deceased’s body, at Limerick Re- gional Hospital, on May 19.

He said the level of alcohol in his blood was “extremely high” and also noted that his heart was enlarged.

He said, in his opinion, death was due to acute cardiac failure, second- ary to heart disease and coronary

heart disease, in association with the levels of alcohol. “His heart was approximately three times normal weight. That would be the most sig- nificant factor here,’ said Dr Fawl.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said she felt that the appropriate verdict was in accordance with medical evidence and the jury agreed with this.

KILRUSH Town Council is to hon- our one of the town’s daughters when they welcome the mayor of Clare to its December meeting.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy (Ind), a native of the west Clare capital 1s to be guest of honour at the last meeting of the year.

News of her attendance was greeted with unanimous good wishes by the members of the council, but the father of the council Cllr Jack Nolan (Ind) was not happy with one of the pre- vious chairpersons of Clare County Council visiting a Kilrush meeting.

Cllr Nolan said that when he was

chairman of the town council the then chairman of the county council, who is now a Clare TD, was invited to attend.

The longest serving member of the town council said he would not be happy to see junior Minister Tony Killeen visit the town council criti- cising his response to the removal of the Shannon Heathrow slots to Bel- jee

“Tam very disappointed in our Dail representatives that they have not put their shoulder to the wheel for Shan- non. It was not the shareholders that elected them, it wasn’t Bertie Ahern, it was us – the people,’ said Cllr No- Eten

Cllr Nolan said he was delighted that Cllr McCarthy had agreed to at- tend the meeting however.

“T have never seen anyone lead a council like Patricia,” he said.

Cllr Tom Prenderville (FF) said Kilrush was very proud of all its citi- zens and particularly those who had made outstanding contributions to the native place.

“Tt would be fitting for this council to honour the Mayor of Clare Pa- tricia McCarthy. As well as being bred, born and reared in the town, Patricia has never lost her great gra for Kilrush. Although now domicile in Shannon where she has given a lifetime of public service to Shan-

non Town Council and Clare County Council, Patricia has never forgotten her roots.”

Cllr Prenderville and Clare’s first citizen were both pupils at the Con- vent of Mercy in Kilrush at the same wbealee

“As a public representative, Patricia has earned a reputation for her fear- less service on behalf of her constitu- ents. She is a credit to Kilrush and to Clare and as mayor of Clare she has been to the fore in articulating issues that affect the general public,” said Cllr Prenderville.

Cllr Christy O’Malley (FF) de- scribed mayor McCarthy as an advo- cate of the major issues of the day.

A MAN tragically lost his life after he fell from a roof, while painting a friend’s house in Kilfenora.

James Howard (55), of Ballybreen, Kilfenora, died from head injuries, as aresult of a fall at a house on July 31 last.

At Ennis Coroner’s Court last week, Mary Greene said her son Martin had hired Mr Howard to paint his

house, on July 30 last.

The following day she was passing the yard when she thought she heard James on the phone. A short time later, she passed by and saw James lying in a pool of blood.

“What I thought was James talking on the phone was him moaning,” she recalled.

She attempted to put him in the re- covery position. “I did everything I could,” she said.

The deceased’s widow said he had left for work at 8.30am on July 31. He had been due to return home at mid- day as they were to go to the races.

However he did not return home and several attempts to contact him on his mobile phone failed.

Mrs Howard received a call at tea- time that evening, indicating that her husband had been in a bad accident.

He was on a life support machine and died on August 2.

Pathologist Dr Peter Fawl carried out an autopsy on Mr Howard’s body at Limerick Regional Hospital, on August 4.

He said death was due to head in- juries and skull fractures, consistent with having fallen from a height.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the ap- propriate verdict was one of acci- dental death and the jury brought in this verdict. Solicitor for the Howard family, Marie Keane said the acci- dent was “very tragic and took the life of a very kind and decent man”’.

‘He will be a terrible loss to his family and all who knew him,” said Ms Keane.

A KILRUSH councillor has called on the minister for education and sci- ence and the minister for transport to introduce a module on road safety on the SPHE curriculum in second level schools.

Councillor Collie Sweeney (in- dependent) claims that the module could help save lives, as the number of young people being killed on the country’s roads is an unacceptable tragedy.

The town councillor said that fig-

ures he received from the depart- ment of transport showed that more young men and women are dying on the road than any other category.

Between 2001 and 2005 fifty 16 to 20-year-olds were killed in traffic ac- cidents. As many as 30 people aged between 21 and 25 lost their lives in the same manner during the same period of time.

““Itis time to get the message home,” said Cllr Sweeney and he maintain the best way to do that is through the schools.

“On our news bulletins we are

treated to a daily dose of carnage and human self destruction on our roads. Have we grown indifferent to the number of young men in particular who are fatally injured on our roads and whose deaths bring huge tragedy and loss to their families,” he said. “This year alone 253 people have lost their lives on Irish roads. Almost 100 of these relate to young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Even those who do survive will be wheelchair bound for the rest of their lives. Those who are maimed and in- jured are placing a big strain on our

health and emergency services.”

“T believe that it 1s an education matter. Schools have an important role to play in educating our young people about safe driving. Cars are lethal weapons. Young people think the tragedy only knocks on the neighbour’s door.”

This unfortunately is untrue. Many decent families have had their lives turned upside down by an early morning knock on the door.

The killing and dying must end now.

A WOMAN has recalled heartbreak- ing pain, as she saw her husband’s body being swept out to sea, after he was struck by a wave, while fishing in Doonbeg.

Latvian native Olegs Artemjevs (27) drowned after he fell from a rock, while fishing at the Blue Pool, Doonbeg, on November 5 last year.

He had been fishing with his wife Lubova, when the tragedy occurred.

At Ennis Coroner’s Court last week, Lubova recalled travelling from Athlone to Doonbeg, early that morning.

The couple arrived in the west Clare area at 12 noon. The sea was normal and there was no wind.

“My husband started fishing from the rock,” she said, in her deposition to the Coroner’s Court.

“At about 2pm I was watching my husband and my phone rang. I turned around to get it. It was a call from my husband.

“I turned around to the sea again and I saw my husband being swept out to sea. I shouted for help. Two Polish men came,” recalled Lubova.

“I could see my husband. He was wearing chest waders when he went into the water.

I watched him being swept further and further out.

“We rang 999 and we were put on to Marine Rescue. Marine Rescue got to my husband in about five to 10 minutes,’ she said.

Garda Ken O’Day recalled attend- ing Kilkee Rescue Centre that day. He said Mr Artemjevs had sustained cuts to the nose and bruising to the panel

“When he was fishing, he was struck by a wave and pushed out into the sea,” said the garda.

Pathologist Dr Peter Fawl carried out a post mortem examination on the deceased’s body, on November

He concluded that death was due to asphyxia, secondary to drowning.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said “one can only imagine the trauma” suf- fered by Mr Artemjevs’ wife, seeing him being pulled out to sea.

She suggested that the jury bring in a verdict of accidental death and the jury agreed with this.

“It should be acknowledged the tro- jan work being done by the Rescue Services,’ said the coroner.

“The Marine Rescue Services come out in all sorts of weather and provide a great service, as do the gardai,’ she added.