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ORGANISERS are hoping that a bumper programme will attract the crowds for the 14th annual Ennis Trad Festival.

This year’s event takes place from November 8 to 12 across numerous venues in the town. The festival fea- tures free day and night sessions with afternoon, evening and night con- certs, recitals, singing, workshops, presentations, CD launches and the ever-popular Trad Disco.

Legendary accordion player and composer Finbar Dwyer will open the festivities on November 8. Finbar, who recently returned to performing after a break of 17 years, will be ac- companied by Brian McGrath.

On Friday night Four Men & A Dog will unleash their highly ener- getic repertoire on the festival.

The band comprises Cathal Hayden (fiddle), Donal Murphy (accordion), Gino Lupari (bodhran, vocals), Ger- ry O’Connor (banjo) and Kevin Do- herty (guitar, vocals).

Workshops dominate Saturday’s events, with classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced level given by the some well-known names in music and dance. A new addition to last year’s festival was the trad-themed table quiz, which will test knowledge of trad musicians, records, CDs and trad triviality.

This year will see the presentation of the Ennis Trad Festival Gradam Ceol to concertina player Sonny

Murray. Sonny, from Knockalough, Kilmihil, is one of the many fine concertina players who have hailed from the area including Solus Lillis, Bernard Sullivan, Tom McCarthy and 2005 Gradam recipient Tom Ore

Sonny lives in Ennis and has had a major influence on the Ennis music scene over the years and this pres- entation is a fitting compliment to a man regarded as a master.

A new feature of this year’s festival is the Ard Gasce na mBuinte Senior Ceili Band competition, which will be adjudicated by a panel of four ad- judicators and audience.

Some of the best bands in Ireland and abroad, such as The Thatch, Tribes and Ceolteori na Mainstreach,

will compete. The night’s festivities will be recorded for Ceili House.

There will be many CD launch- es during the festival events this year including artists such as Kane O’ Rourke and Geraldine Bradley.

The guiding ethos for organisers since the festival’s inception has been to bring musicians of all generations and styles to Ennis to share their tunes, songs and steps in a relaxed session environment.

A spokesperson for the festival said, “The festival committee has orchestrated the sessions to allow Opportunities for artists to perform with others that they wouldn’t nor- mally get to meet. Accordingly a great social dimension is always Ooo) OI Mr B SDRC UAE:

THE Atlantic Connectivity Alliance (ACA) has expressed outrage over Transport Minister Noel Dempsey’s decision to tell Government’s repre- sentatives on the Board of Aer Lin- gus to block the transfer of Heathrow slots out of Cork and Dublin airports but not Shannon.

“The Atlantic Connectivity Alli- ance is outraged by a completely dis- criminatory decision by the minister.

We welcome that Dublin or Cork would not have to endure what this region is now faced with but the min- ister’s commitment to these airports’ future 1s hypocritical in the context of inaction on Shannon. It is an ad- mission of failure in relation to Gov- ernment’s handling of the Shannon issue at the same time,’ said ACA Vice Chairperson Ken Sullivan.

The Alliance say that the move is an acceptance on the part of the Gov- ernment that “it can intervene, that it

should intervene and is ready to in- tervene but on behalf of Dublin and Cork, which we welcome, but not Shannon. If the Minister can order Government representatives on the board of Aer Lingus to do this for Cork and Dublin, then he can and should do it for Shannon.”

The ACA says that they have high- lighted the “real threat that is now exposed to our sister regions. Es- sentially, what the Government is proposing to do is protect Cork and

Dublin and leave our region, which accounts for 20 per cent of the GDP, without any connectivity to the world’s most important airport hub and immediate onward access to key international markets.”

The ACA’s attack on the minis- ter’s decision came after it was an- nounced that British carrier BMI had walked away from negotiations with the Shannon Airport management to fly between Shannon and Heathrow.

Shannon management said _ that “British Midlands has stated it is not in a position over the coming months to commit resources to take up the very generous incentives on the Shannon-Heathrow route offered by management at Shannon Airport.”

“Shannon Airport accepts it is now highly unlikely that an alternative Shannon-Heathrow service will be secured by next January”.

The statement stressed that airport management was keeping lines of communication open with British Midlands in anticipation that it may revisit this decision in 2008.

THE establishment of a school bus run would ensure all young people in Shannon can get easy access to school.

That’s according to local Fianna Fail councillor Geraldine Lambert, who is calling on the Department of Education to set up a school bus Service, in the town.

She said it would be a cost effective means of addressing over-capacity and under-capacity in the schools.

Currently, St Aidan’s and St Co- naire’s Primary Schools are full to

capacity, while spaces exist in St Senan’s and St Tola’s.

St Aidan’s and St Conaire’s are lo- cated in the Tullyvarraga and Bally- casey areas, where there have been significant developments in house constructions over the years.

As a result, some children in those areas cannot gain access to those schools, due to over-capacity, while other schools in other parts of the town have spaces available.

The problem lies in the fact that some families do not have access to transport to bring their children across the town, to other schools.

Cllr Lambert said a simple solution to the problem could be found, if a bus route was set up.

“There are calls to build new schools and extensions. Some par- ents at the Ballycasey end bring their children to St Tola’s and St Senan’s, but some don’t have access. A bus should be provided to bring the chil- dren to the schools which are not full,” said Clr Lambert.

She said that a similar situation exists at second-level, where St Caimin’s is full, while there are spaces available in St Patrick’s Com- prehensive School.

“There 1s capacity at St Patrick’s, which is a mile from St Caimin’s.

‘There is pressure at one end of the town and capacity at the other end. It is too far for the children to walk. There is probably a need to look for a new school at a later stage. For now, why not take a cost effective method and put on a school bus from one end of the town to the other,” she said.

“The Department of Education should look at innovative ways, in- stead of sticking to a rigid rule. You would put on a bus for ten years for what you would pay for an exten- sion,’ she said.

The former president of the IMO was referring to the HSE announce- ment about cancer care during the week.

“In one paragraph, they talk about the orderly planned transfer of pa- tient care which will take place over

the next nine to 12 months. And d1- rectly underneath it, they say that as a consequence the following hospi- tals are to cease these proceedures with immediate affect and a long list that includes Ennis.

“I fear for Ennis hospital and I am familiar with the ‘golden hour’ and the far reaches of west Clare,’ Dr Roan UAYARy-B (OR

““T don’t believe that when and if the centre of excellence is up and run- ning in Limerick that people will want to see the A and E close here in Ennis as I believe you are still going to have the geographical difficulties.

“And certainly there is a lot to be said at being able to stablise a pa- tient, intervene at a level if necessary and maybe oviate ther necessity to travel,’ he added. “Nobody would be reasured by what is happening in the health service.”

Dr Reilly said that the minister’s vi- sion of a GP-led accident and emer- gency could work but man power would prove problematic.

“And I haven’t noticed the towns of west Clare or Ennis overbrimming with GPs who are stretched to the limit to do what they are doing at the minute as it is.

“Now, if she was to double those numbers, I would have no problem. I would say yes, these are very skilled clinicians who are making a very valuable contribution,” he said.

ENNIS St Johns Community Games have gone online with the launch of the organisation’s new website.

The website will provide up to date information on competitions and a comprehensive results services. It will also serve as a valuable resource tool and photographic archive, de- tailing the long history of Ennis St John.

The website was launched recently by Mayor of Ennis, Tommy Brennan at the Clare Museum. In his speech Mr Brennan congratulated the work of the committee and highlighted for praise the immense work done by volunteers to benefit the children in sport and other activities associated

with the community games.

Other speakers on the night includ- ed Eddie Power, Town Clerk, Coun- cillor Pat Daly, Councillor Mary Coote Ryan, Graham Meekins, Na- tional Officer Community Games and Joe Lynch, Chairman of Ennis St Johns Community Games, Fianna Fail TD, Timmy Dooley, Fine Gael TD, Joe Carey, Rev Bob Hanna and Rose Meekins, Mary Lenihan and Ann Chaplain representing the Com- munity Games county executive.

Local schools and sports clubs also attended the launch as did members of the Ennis St Johns under 10 mixed relay team and Tony Odubote, who won gold at the National finals in Mosney.

Most interest on the night centered

on results and sport star awards, which date from 1976 to 2006 and were compiled by John and Cecilia O’Sullivan, founder members of En- nis Community Games.

The first Clare Community Games were held in August 1971 when the county athletics finals were held in Cusack Park Ennis.

In that opening year, the new com- munity at Shannon made its mark by sweeping the majority of the titles.

Community Games in Clare has flourished in the interim thanks to expanded activity, which now in- volves 40 different areas, and the investment of time, energy and or- ganizational resources by committed voluntary groups.

The concerted community effort

behind Community Games in Clare has yielded rich rewards and contin- ues to add to its reputation with new initiatives, which are setting new standards for the rest of the country.

In 1971, Clare’s first Community Games team had a total of 71 ath- ei roh

Now almost 37 years later, Com- munity Games in the county involves some 12,000 people taking part in over 40 different activities and, with up to 1000 volunteers organizing events. Clare sends an average of 250 qualifiers to the National Finals annually.

The new website was sponsored and designed by Fanore Software and can be found at www.enniscom- munitygames.org.

ENNIS’ Valerie Hassett will fly the Clare flag on the Irish team that contests the Irish Seniors Home In- ternationals this week. Hassett won her place on the team after finishing joint-ninth behind Alison Murdoch in the Irish Seniors Strokeplay Champi- onship in Ennis early last month. Hassett was a member of the Ennis Senior Cup team that made history

in the centenary year of the club by winning the All-Ireland title for the first time thanks to a 3 1/2 to 1 1/2 win over Royal Portrush in the final at Miltown.

The Irish team in full that will compete in the Home Internationals at Royal Tara from this Tuesday to Thursday reads as follows:

Carmel Cahill (Hermitage) Valerie Hassett (Ennis) Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine)

Eileen MacMullan (Donegal) Mary McKenna (Donabate) Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) Sheena O’Brien Kenney (Grange) Reserve: Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) Team Captain: Rhona Fanagan (Milltown) Team Manager: Roma English CR Taite

Meanwhile, Gort were denied AlIl- Ireland glory at the weekend when they had to give second best to En-

niscorthy in the AA Insurance Jun- ior Foursomes final in Athlone GC. They were beaten by 2 1/2 to | 1/2. The scores were as follows:

Teresa Gill and Josephine Cummins halved with Ann Nolan and Joan Millar

Josie Collins and Celine Fahey

lost to Julie McCarthy and Pauline Byrne by 2 holes

Maureen Brennan and Margaret Whelan lost to Michele Browne and

Ursula Cousins 7&5

MEMBERS of Clare’s large Nige- rian community gathered in Ennis over the weekend to celebrate Niger- 1a’s day of independence.

A parade around the town and a full programme of song and dance reflecting the African country’s rich cultural heritage and history were held to mark 47 years of Nigerian independence.

The events were organised by the

Association of Nigerian Community in Clare and supported by the recent- ly formed Clare Immigrant Support Service (CISC).

Formerly the Irish Refugee Coun- cil, the CISC is steered by vari- ous agencies in Clare who have an interest and duty to support services for the immigrant community to facilitate and support integration in the area.

Ennis has one of the largest Nige- rian communities in Ireland, with an

estimated 600 ex-pats living around the area.

JSF-VU CMON KM or Dum O SoM EOUr DOME DOOE bassador to Ireland, Her Excellency Mandu Ekpo Ekong-Omaghomi, visited Ennis and highlighted the role played by Nigerians living in the town. She reserved particular praise for Taiwo Matthew, who in 2005 made history when he was elected to Ennis Town Council.

At the time, Mrs Ekong-Omaghomi said that the example of Ennis, as a

model of cultural integration, should be copied by other towns around the country.

Located on the west coast of Af- rica, Nigeria has a population of more than 140 million people, which includes 250 different ethnic groups.

In 1992 it began the transition to c1- vilian government folowing 23 years under a military regime. The transi- tion has not been an easy one, with ethnic rivalries and sectarian con- flicts continuing to flare.

WHEREVER Anthony Daly’s ca- reer path has taken him over the years, success has invariably fol- lowed. Whether it was with his na- tive club Clarecastle or with Clare, Daly always led from the front and this weekend, he hopes to add anoth- er title when he takes charge of Kil- moyley in the Kerry County Senior Hurling Championship final against Lixnaw.

Kilmoyley, along with fierce ri- vals Ballyduff, are the aristocrats of Kerry hurling but despite winning four-in-a-row from 2001 to 2004, they have since fallen on hard times due largely to their ageing side. John Meyler was the man in charge dur- ing that successful era at the begin- ning of the decade, but after getting the Wexford senior job last year, the club went in search of Daly who had himself left the Clare position.

The way it turned out was ironic really as Daly’s Clare inadvertently played a part in the vacant position in Wexford after beating them in two successive All-Ireland quarter-finals, thus opening the door for Meyler.

Kilmoyley are firm favourites to

win on Sunday after comprehen- sively beating Ballyheigue in the semi-final, but Lixnaw managed by another former Clare manager Ea- mon Cregan, will be no pushovers and Daly feels that the game could ome aALoNe

“It’s going to be close. A lot of people are making us favourites on the basis that we have won our two games well, but they won the cham- pionship two years ago so obviously they have a good team as well. Now they haven’t had them together with the football and that, but they won the football semi-final with Feale Rangers last weekend so they will be totally focused on the hurling for the Leto

‘This is one to look forward to any- way because they are die hards down there, they are fanatical about their hurling,” he said.

Daly originally got involved with the club through his love of grey- hounds and as aresult, he knew some of the Kilmoyley board who invited him down last year to give their mi- nors a training session before the m1i- nor final.

When Meyler left, they immediately thought of Daly who had just vacated

the Clare post and from there, the el- ements just seemed to fall in place. However at first glance, the Kiul- moyley job was a huge undertaking as the side had suffered a few very lean years and had a number of play- ers who appeared to be approaching

their end but Daly came in and re- vamped the side, beating bitter rivals Ballyduff in the quarter-final which gave them untold confidence.

As Daly recalled, “It was more a question of trying to reignite the players. There were some of them

that were very good players but had just lost enthusiasm, they’d been on the road so long. But I suppose a new voice was a help and once you got them going and once they started to bind, it came together. But they do have a few new bodies as well.

“There are a few young lads com- ing through and they won last year’s Under 21 and they are in the minor final as well on Sunday. They are a very good club and they really look after their young lads. But I guess there were a few lads there alright that were around the 32-33 age group and were possibly considering chuck- ing it and just decided to give it a lash for the year and so far so good.”

In addition, if Kilmoyley win on Sunday, they will equal Ballyduff’s record of 21 county senior titles, a milestone which they are eager to reach on Sunday and with Daly at the helm, they will conceivably never get a better chance.

CLARE raised the banners again last week as its citizens took to the streets of the county town and capital city hoping to have their voices heard.

On Wednesday, hundreds travelled to Leinster House to urge the Gov- ernment to keep the Shannon-Heath- row link open.

On Thursday, there was a “devas- tating blow” to the county with the announcement that 178 manufactur-

ing jobs were to be lost at the Tyco electronics plant in Shannon spark- ing fear of “a haemorrhaging of the sector in the mid-west”.

On Saturday, almost 5,000 people marched through Ennis demanding that 24-hour consultant led accident and emergency services be retained at the General Hospital.

THE loss of almost 200 jobs in Shan- non has been described as a “devas- tating blow” to the manufacturing sector in the Midwest region.

Tyco Electronics is the fourth com- pany from the Midwest to announce job losses in the last number of weeks.

Last month, a total of 260 jobs were lost in Analog Devices in Limerick, Rothenberger Ireland and Mohawk Europa in Shannon.

On Thursday Tyco announced that it was to shed 178 jobs in its plastic

products manufacturing plant to fac- tories in India, China and Mexico.

A statement from the company said, “the transfer is expected to be completed by September 30, 2009.”

It is believed, however, that the first redundancies will take place early next year.

Mayor of Clare Cllr Patricia Mc- Carthy (Ind) said that business, com- munity and political leaders across the region feared that the recent manufacturing job losses could mark the beginning of a haemorrhaging of jobs in the mid-west.

“The massive uncertainty created

by the potential loss of direct access from Shannon Airport to the interna- tional hub in London-Heathrow has heightened fears that other multina- tionals could follow suit by announc- ing job cuts or plans to relocate else- where,’ she said.

Shannon Mayor Cllr Sean McLoughlin (FG) expressed con- cern that some of those who have lost their jobs will find it difficult to se- cure new employment.

“Many of these workers who have been employed in the manufactur- ing sector for many years will find it difficult to up skill themselves.

Therefore, it is going to be extremely difficult for them to secure new em- ployment in present day high-tech knowledge-based companies.”

He said that the series of recent job losses required immediate Govern- ment intervention.

Tyco Electronics makes products for the motor, aerospace, defence, telecommunications and computer industries.

The company has owned the plant in Shannon since 1999. It was previ- ously known as Raychem which was established in the mid-west in 1978. Tyco said the “transfer of jobs” was

“a result of a strategic analysis to better align our manufacturing re- sources to streamline and improve operating efficiencies.”

A Shannon Development spokes- man described the announcement as a major disappointment and a severe blow for the employees and their families.

“While disappointed with the Tyco decision, which follows a global re- view of their manufacturing facilities worldwide, Shannon Development notes that 20 jobs will be retained by Tyco at Shannon in Research and Development activities.”