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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.”

PAT COSTELLO stood in midfield — panting, out of breath but exhila- rated at the same time as his back was Slapped every few seconds. Men, women and children — all decked in black and red or black and orange slapped his back so hard that he was nearly out on his feet.

A standing count later and he fi- nally summoned up the words to explain his greatest day in Bally- vaughan’s football history that dates back to 1890. “F***ing brilliant,” he said. “Forgive my language but that’s the only way to describe it. It was rine brilliant by them.”

Fitting really. Primal stuff on a day when a football game went to the heart of what the little corner of Clare that is Ballyvaughan and Fanore is about. “It was guts,” said Costello after drawing breath again. “It was determination and it was be- cause of Michael Greene,’ he added.

Michael Greene was the man who died with his boots on, playing a jun- ior game for Ballyvaughan in Doon- beg five years ago. He was young, in

his early forties, and with many more years to give to football in his belov- ed Ballyvaughan and district.

But, that day he was called away, his work done. Immediately the ba- ton passed to those he had nurtured. Those kids just out of Ballyvaughan and Fanore National Schools, those coming up through the ranks of the club. Other officers and mentors in the club. Teachers in the schools too.

‘“Ballyvaughan always wanted to be Senior,’ roared Pat Costello above the din. “It was a vision Michel Greene had for Ballyvaughan. We’ve car- ried on that for Michael Greene and achieved what he set out for us.

‘Michael Greene started with many of those young lads at 12 years of age. We’ve been in 21 county finals — we’ve won 16 of those and drawn two. We’ve won another today day, but this is our greastest day. I can’t believe it.”

It was true though, as the slaps con- tinued to rain down on Pat Costel- lo’s back as he moved from midfield across towards Cusack Park’s Ard Comhairle for the presentation of the Talty Cup.

“The winning of this was two years hard work,” said Costello on his jour- ney. “I said it on the radio that we had a five year plan and | wasn’t bluffing. That’s the truth of it. We had five- year plan but after two years of hard training at intermediate we made it.

‘Today what did it for us was that we kept it. They missed a few chanc- es at the start of the game but we never panicked at all today. We had a younger team with an average age of 22 years and they’ve been training with two years for this.

“We’re going to celebrate this one. It will be the party of all parties.”

The party had already started — it will go on for the rest of the year and beyond thanks to the bragging rights that go with beating their neigh- bours in the biggest game in Bally- vaughan’s history.

Some of the Cusack’s players will join in as they drown their own sor- rows.

AN Ennisman was yesterday charged in connection with the death of a 50- year-old man whose body was found in what gardai described as “compli- cated circumstances” at his Dublin home last week.

Michael Downes (41), originally of Marian Avenue in Ennis, but stated in court to be of no fixed abode, was charged at Dublin District Court with assault causing serious harm to Finbar Dennehy.

Mr Dennehy is believed to have been dead for days before his body was discovered at the Merchamp apartment complex on _ Seafield Road East in Clontarf, north Dub- lin on Wednesday last. He had been stabbed.

Clontarf Garda Sergeant Paul Slat- tery told Judge Hugh O’Donnell that Downes, who was dressed in a grey tracksuit and trainers, had nothing to say when charged.

Downes was arrested at Clontarf GP TKer role 16 Coys mel ms Weer Tee MA oko KOEhYy and charged at 1.05pm.

He was originally arrested in Dub- lin city centre at 8pm on Saturday and was taken in for questioning.

No bail application was made and Judge O’Donnell remanded Downes in custody.

Downes will appear before Clover- hill District Court next Monday, Oc- tober 8, at 10.30am.

Mr Dennehy, who retired from the Cadbury factory in Coolock last year, was found lying on a couch in the sitting room of his apartment. His hands had been tied and there was a plastic bag over his head.

Post mortem examinations showed that Mr Dennehy, a bachelor who lived alone, died from a single stab wound to the stomach.

It is believed he was last seen alive the previous Saturday night or Sun- day morning.

His body was discovered by a neigh- bour who had a key to his apartment and alerted Gardai who launched an extensive investigation which in- cluded examination of CCTV foot- age and forensic evidence from the incident.

FLOODS which drove Clonlara resi- dents out of their homes last winter threaten to engulf their homes again this year – because work on plans to solve the issue will not begin until next February.

Last year, gardens were flooded, residents had to sandbag their homes and an elderly woman had to be tak- en out of her house as floodwaters crept up.

Clonlara residents couldn’t use their own bathrooms as septic tanks and drains were submerged by flood-

water.

The problems started when the SJ aT-NebeLO)OM LeU nl Ms cM Oy-VON qc BEKoI MAY (c1o) es of heavy rains and the ESB control- led sluice gates being opened to let water down the system.

Local councillors were told recent- ly that a solution is being worked on between the Office of Public Works (OPW), the ESB and Clare and Lim- erick County Councils.

But in a statement, TJ Sherlock of the OPW said that the area has been designated as “an area of special conservation so any works must be capable of being demonstrated to be

essential, not causing avoidable dam- age to the habitat and to minimise any damage that is unavoidable. This has made the process of devising a scheme of works extremely difficult and slow,” he said.

Nor does the OPW have the powers to take on a drainage scheme on the Shannon alone and it needs to carry out that work as an agent of the local authorities and the ESB.

Sherlock added that the works may also require planning permission and this would be dealt with through the local authorities.

“We will also be dependant on any

landowners affected by the proposed works either to allow us to gain ac- cess or deposit materials on their lands but since these works have been locally requested, we don’t an- ticipate that that will be a problem.”

He added that every effort will be made to advance the works as quick- ly as possible.

But local councillor Pascal Fitzger- ald, said that residents “are annoyed. We thought this work would start in September. Now we hear it’s going to be next February at least. If we get severe rain this winter, the same thing could happen again.”

A DOOLIN man was threatened not to “rock the boat” by an official at the Department of Justice or his Thai born wife and daughter would be de- ported.

John Thompson, who has begun legal proceedings against the Taoi- seach, Bertie Ahern, at the European Court of Human Rights in Stras- bourg, was told by the official that his wife Junthira and six-year-old daughter Donna could be deported at any time.

Born in England, Thompson has been living in Doolin for the last 36 years and runs a successful construc- tion company. He has been engaged in a long running process with the Department of Justice, in an effort to secure an Irish visa for his wite.

He has taken the case against the Taoiseach on the grounds that his right to travel has been infringed as a result of the Department of Justice’s refusal to grant Junthira a visa.

All 166 elected members of Dail Eireann will receive letters from the Thompson family outlining their situation later this week.

“The letters explain our situation and have a copy of our marriage certificate, our bank accounts, every- thing in our lives. We have got anoth- er letter for the Minister for Justice, signed by all the parents in Donna’s class in Doolin. We are sending that letter to Bertie Ahern as well,” said Mr Thompson.

“We are going to take the Govern- ment to court in Strasbourg over this, it’s an infringement of my human rights — the right to travel. One guy

from the department said that tech- nically my wife was an illegal im- migrant and she could be thrown out at any minute. He warned us not to

‘rock the boat’.”

The Thompson family have been battling to gain an Irish visa for Junthira for more than a year and a

half, with both the Irish and British Department’s of Justice denying re- sponsibility for the situation.

“We have done everything we have been asked to do but we have been bounced around from one organisa- tion to another. Originally we were told by the Department of Justice that we would have the visa in March 19 last. We waited but there was no visa, continued Mr Thompson.

“I phoned the Department four or five times and I was finally told that we wouldn’t be getting a visa. They told us to contact the British Embas- sy. But of course the British Embassy said that we live in Ireland, so it’s a matter for the Irish authorities.

“Essentially what the Irish authori- ties are telling me is to shag off back to England after 36 years in Doolin. I have been send every which way and told contradicting information over and over again.

Junthira has not been allowed to visit her family since moving to Ire- land early in 2006.

“Treland is good. I love it. To live here is perfect for me, I really like it here in Doolin,” she said.

‘“T have been here 14 or 15 months now and I really like it. For me, I want to live here. But I need to be able to see my family. I miss my fam- ily in Thailand.”

WITH fruit and vegetables being flown halfway around the world to get to the table, east Clare people were pleasantly surprised last week- end to discover that some of the tasti- est produce is still grown just down the road.

In celebration of the home-grown apple, the Seed Savers organisation just outside Scariff played host to nu- merous activities for its Apple Day.

Visitors enjoyed guided tours of their heritage orchards contain- ing more than 200 distinct varieties

of apple. Staff also held tastings throughout the day, juicing some varieties and sharing tips growing apples and creating an orchard or- ganically.

Beekeeper Aoife Ni Giollacoda was also on hand to talk about our native black bee and she provided tastings of her delicious honey.

“Apples have been a feature of Irish life for at least the last three thousand years,’ a spokeswoman for Seedsavers said. “Apple orchards were a feature of most gardens in the past but with the development of commercial orchards, the tradition

of growing many varieties of apples has been lost. Realising the loss of many agricultural plants and fruit trees, the Seed Savers was set up by Anita Hayes in 1991 and with many volunteers they travelled the length and breath of the country locating old orchards to create the native Irish apple collection”.

Now the conservation organisation can offer varieties of apple which were thought to be extinct and peo- ple can buy and plant them in their ee NLC Oe

“Although climate in Ireland is per- fect for growing apples, many of the

apples for sale in your local super- market are the usual granny smiths or New Zealand Braeburns imported at atime of year when Irish apples are in season,” the Seedsavers spokes- woman said. “Locally produced foods provide a number of benefits both for the local community and for the environment as a whole. By mas- sively reducing “food miles’ between producer and consumer, green house gases and other emissions from transport are minimised. Locally produced food also benefits the local economy, providing employment and supporting family farms.”