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KILLALOE has been a ‘foodie’ destination for many years, but this week will see the opening of what may well become another jewel in the crown of gourmet delights in the town.

Nine years as a chef with the famed Cherry Tree restaurant and many awards later, Mark Anderson is due to open his own business in Killaloe in partnership with his fiancee, Go- sia Bublewicz.

When Gravitas, Purveyors of Fine Foods, opens this week it will be the latest in a number of gourmet and ar- tisan shops to open in Killaloe with one aim in common, to bring excel- lent produce to customers without

fleecing them.

“IT want to have the kind of shop we knew when we were young, somewhere you could go in and buy fresh fish, poultry and other produce. That kind of place, where quality mattered, has been lost to us and it needs to be brought back. But organ- ic doesn’t have to mean expensive, we re very aware of that. ”

The shop will stock carefully sourced fresh fish, organic and free range poultry, ready meals which will be cooked in the kitchen behind the shop and home-produced sauces and chowder.

Mark and Gosia will still keep up the fish stall they have been running in the farmers’ market on Sundays. “It’s a more relaxed way to talk to

our customers and it’s well support- ed, so why stop?” Mark said.

Gravitas will open in Bridge Street and not far away, on Royal Parade, Andrew Lofthouse is seeing custom grow for his wine store and Italian deli, Ponte Vecchio.

He agrees with Mark that people “want good food at reasonable pric- es. Andrew, who grew up in Italy, supplies specially-sourced Italian gourmet delights and customers who drop in to buy their hams and cheese usually can’t resist the temptation to sit and sip a great coffee or a glass of Nero d’Avola.

Keeping it in the family, Laura Kilkenny, who trained under Mark in The Cherry Tree, is feeding east Clare with her artisan breads, cakes,

quiches and other tempting morsels from The Wooden Spoon on Con- vent Hill.

“We try to supply food that is tasty, healthy and a bit different. People are becoming more concerned with what they eat. I have customers who come from as far away as Nenagh. One comes to buy for herself and brings a list of orders from her friends and neighbours. People are coming to Killaloe now to shop for good food and good ingredients.”

THAT goals win matches is an over- used cliché when it comes to sport, but there isn’t a better phrase to describe the influence of Clooney/ Quin’s hat-trick of goals on the end result of this Junior A football final.

Clooney/Quin last won this title in 2004 and five years later they were certainly up for capturing it again. From the thrown-in controlled ag- gression and determination could be seen in the 15 players sporting the green and red jerseys.

It would be unfair to claim Kilfeno- ra were not psyched up for this game but the extra sense of self-belief the mid-Clare men had, dragged them over the line in a winning position.

As always in finals a certain number of players come to the fore. That was the case for both sides.

For Clooney man of the match Cil- lian Duggan was one of their heroes on the day. This year has seen Dug- gan shine as the hero on a number of occasions with his club’s senior hurl- ing team but also in his role on the All-Ireland winning U2] Clare team. After this game one could clearly see he is equally effective in the large ball game.

Duggan lined out at centre-forward

but he played almost in centre-back. He covered huge spaces and was key to some of the strength shown by the Clooney defence. It was fitting it was he that caught the dangerous ball into the Clooney/Quin box as Kilfenora chased a goal in the final moments. His clearance at the end set up Fergal Lynch to knock over the final insur- ance point to leave four between the sides.

Kilfenora fought hard and their key player brought them to the edge of victory also. Killian Malone was their star forward and free taker. His total of seven frees kept his team in the game. Sometimes kickers of placed balls receive too much praise but some of his efforts with the out- side of his boot would be admired by any kicker in any sport.

Aidan Malone opened the scoring for Kilfenora after seven minutes. This score was quickly cancelled out by a superb kick by midfielder Fer- gal Lynch, but Kilfenora through Pat Connole retook the lead again from the resulting kick-out. A competitive game was certainly in the offing.

With just over 15 minutes elapsed, Clooney/Quin took their first goal. John Earls’ wayward effort for a point landed in the hands of Dug- gan. He burst past a few defenders

before hand passing over to the un- marked Ciaran Quinn who palmed the ball into the net. Momentum had switched again.

It took ten more minutes for Kil- fenora who were beginning to gain control to get back level on a score of 1-1 to O-4 with their points com- ing from Malone and full-forward Austin Kelly. Malone and John Earls then exchanged frees just before nor- mal time in the first-half concluded. Injury-time however allowed one more score in the half with an excel- lent point by centre-forward Connole giving his side a one-point margin at WDNR ASAI E

The start of the second-half in many ways ruined Kilfenora’s chances of a win. In the opening five minutes they did not convert their good start into scores. Four scoreable chances were sent wide and they lost by four points. Finals don’t allow for these margins ORONO r

Clooney/Quin then stole their second goal of the afternoon. Re- plcement Cathal Egan reacted first when a 45 was not properly cleared.

Kilfenora needed to fight again and they did. They grabbed the next two points without reply to get them- selves back into the game again.

Then Lynch woke up again and re- ally ended Kilfenora’s challenge with the third and final goal of the game. One on one with the keeper he was never going to miss and he drove the

ball into the top corner.

Surely it was over and they would definitely die now, but they still re- fused to give in. Malone showed great composure to convert four frees in a row to leave only a goal between the teams.

A tense finish arrived but Clooney Quin through Lynch got the final score on the counter.

THE whereabouts of three Clare Traveller families ordered to leave the roads of the county last Friday are unknown today, following unsuc- cessful attempts to contact them.

The families, Connie and Mary O’Donoghue and their two sons, John and Tilda Mongans and their three children and Michael and Anne O’Donoghue and their seven children, have been unsuccessful in trying to gain rented accommodation in Clare for the last six months.

During that time, two of the fami- lies have had their homes impound- ed, while they have also been denied access to Clare County Council’s temporary halting site in Ennis.

The difficulty seems to have arisen between Clare County Council and authorities in Northern Ireland over a temporary site, which one of the family’s attempted to get access to in Northern Ireland.

“Connie and Mary O’Donoghue tried to gain access to a temporary site in the north of Ireland to visit re- lations of their’s who were sick. They

were never able to stay in the bay for even one night and their name has been completely withdrawn from that but it is still causing problems for them,’ said Clare Traveller cam- paigner, Heather Rosen, on behalf of WeCom EROODEWTA

“Their home is in Clare, all of their family is from Clare and they have all lived in Clare for the vast major- ity of their life but still they cannot manage to get even a temporary place to stay.

‘In their present situation, the order banning them from the roadsides of

County Clare is effectively banning them from the county altogether. They don’t have anywhere else to Xone Contact has also been made with the Northern Irish Human Rights Commission in an attempt to bring a resolution to the current impasse.

Meanwhile, Clare County Council has spoken out about a number of re- ported incidents of antisocial behav- ior at the local authority’s halting site in Deerpark in Ennistymon.

“In recent weeks, a number of inci- dents have been reported in the vicin-

ity of the Deerpark Group Housing at St John’s estate. These incidents are a matter of concern to the council. These and any other reports will be investigated and followed up by the council, in line with our policies and procedures on estate management,’ said a spokesperson from Housing Social and Cultural Services at Clare County Council.

‘The council has had a number of contacts with the Deerpark Residents Association in recent weeks and the council has affirmed this commit- ment directly to the association.”

TO say that the weather was inclem- ent is the understatment of the hurl- ing year — this was a dog of an after- noon for hurling with wind and rain that made hurling a lottery. Harsh on both sides when you consider what was at stake.

But, even in the adversity of the weather and the prospect of relega- tion to the intermediate ranks that faced both, there was some humour to proceedings that will be talked about long after the result 1s forgot- coon

Tom Stackpool has issued plenty of yellow and red cards in his day, but

this was the day when the players struck back. When his yellow card flew out of hand and flew 30 yards on the wind, it was eventually picked up by Scariff’s Michael Moroney who raced towards Stackpool and lifted the yellow in mock fashion.

It lifted the gloom somewhat, for this was a depressing enough en- counter. Scariff could have lost it in the end because the force was most with Ogonnelloe in the end as they drew level with a Peter O’Brien 65 in the 58th minute.

However, had Scariff lost this one and endured the ignominy of relega- tion, it would have been totally self- inflicted. They hit 16 wides over the

hour to Ogonelloe’s seven — a statis- tic that tells its own story.

The rot set in the first-half when Scariff put 11 shots astray when playing with the breeze. It meant they had to be content with going in at the break only 0-4 to O-3 ahead. Three John McKenna frees had Ogonnel- loe in a great position with the wind to come, while Scariff’s pionts form Ross Horan (2), Michael Scanlan and the lead point from Kenny McNama- ra in the 25th minute barely seemed enough for the second-half.

However, the game’s complexion changed totally a minute after half- time when a low a cross-field pull from Kenny McNamara was added

to brilliantly by Alfie Rodgers for a Scariff goal.

It was the cushion the needed to butress themselves for the inevitable Ogonnelloe onslaught. Two pointed frees from Peter O’Brien by the 38th minute and a point from play by Eoin Sheedy in the 41st reduced the gap to a point, before Ross Horan put Scar- iff two clear once more in the 45th minute.

The last ten minutes belonged to Ogonnelloe as they knuckled down to try and save their the senior sta- tus they’ve enjoyed since 1995. They did that for one day at least thanks two more Peter O’Brien points that AN rer

In the end both were thankful to live another day.

WHEN parents, friends and past pupils visited St Joseph’s National School, Miltown Malbay on Thurs- day evening last they would have been forgiven for thinking they were in a new school.

Thanks to work carried out in the school during the summer holidays the west Clare national school got a complete make over.

The 122 children who now attend the school have comfortable class-

rooms, a larger play area and a more environmentally-friendly school.

Under the Department of Educa- tion’s Summer Works Scheme a to- tal new heating system with hot and cold running water was installed.

SU ieme OL MNeKRCO oh MinsrKeen and all new toilets installed.

New wheelchair accessible toilets and a wheelchair ramp were also installed, and there was a total re- furbishment of the learning support classroom.

There are now new floors through-

out the corridors and toilets, a com- plete repainting of the inside of the school has taken place, and a new concrete area added to the front of the school.

As well as the refurbishment of the office and the two resource teaching rooms, new and extra internet points were added to all the rooms.

The roof was also repaired and new solar panels added, making the school environmentally friendly.

The Milltown Malbay National School has five mainstream teachers,

one learning support, a SNA, one RTT, and one resource teacher.

On Thursday evening last, the Board of Management at the school held an open evening. During the evening the school was blessed by V Rev Séamus Mullin. Those attend- ing enjoyed music and refreshments AVEO MW DKOKS

NO-ONE needs to tell Whitegate how difficult it is to win an Inter- mediate championship. Thwarted in their two previous attempts in the latter stages of the competition since their relegation from senior in 2006, the added frustration of watching the eventual champions Clonlara and Broadford settle so well at the sen- ior grade made them even more de- termined to finally succeed this time around. It made Sunday’s victory all the sweeter, safe in the knowledge that they had finally regained their senior status.

“We are delighted,’ admitted man- ager Matthew Quirke. “It’s a very hard championship to win, there is no doubt about it. We came down from senior three years ago and we fought hard every year, but Broadford beat us last year and Killanena beat us the previous year so after being there or thereabouts in that time, it’s great to finally get up.”

Captain Patrick ‘Magoo’ Minogue echoed those sentiments of a long road to victory.

“When you drop down from senior, it’s very hard to regroup and get back going again. We found it very hard again this year and there was a big effort put in by the three lads and thankfully it paid off today.

“We have had three hard years now and have put a huge effort into winning this championship. Today. Feakle threw everything at us in the

first-half and we were fierce lucky to go in at half-time ahead, but thank- fully in the second-half, our big lads stood up, Brendan [Bugler] and Tho- mas [Holland] in the half-back line and luckily enough, we got there in the end.”

Similar to every team’s struggle for success, there is always a turning

point in the season, a nadir that forces a side to refocus their challenge and for Quirke, it was the reality check of their opening round defeat to En- nistymon.

“We have put in a huge effort this year. We got beaten in the first round by Ennistymon and that was definite- ly the turning point of the season for

us. It really shook up the players and the management. Up until that point, we though we were better than we were and it helped us to refocus. That is not to downgrade Ennistymon in any way but that defeat definitely turned us around.”

From that point on, Whitegate were a totally transformed side, achiev-

ing promotion to the top tier of the Clare Cup before storming through the remainder of the group stages of the championship. Further obstacles were put in their path when they were drawn in the same side as Eire Og and Killanena for the business end of the championship but while they were impressive against the Townies, they found Killanena a much bigger stumbling block.

“We were fierce lucky” explained Minogue, “especially in the semi-fi- nal against Killanena. In the last 15 minutes, we were staring defeat in the face but we got the breaks and came back and it was the same today. We got the breaks in the second-half and took them.”

The celebrations may have to be cut short in the village this week though as Whitegate’s Munster adventure begins against Tipperary champions Carrick Davins. Following on from Clooney/Quin, Clonlara and Broad- ford’s impressive runs in the com- petition, Minogue is optimistic that Whitegate can follow suit.

“We haven’t looked past today but hopefully now we can go on and represent Clare as well as the other teams over the last few years.”

Now that they have finally got the intermediate monkey off the backs, anything else will be a bonus.

GHOSTS, ghouls and witches will be out in Kilfenora this Halloween night in support of the work of Clare Crusaders.

The Burren Community and Social Group have organised a Spooky Barn Dance for Vaughan’s Barn on Octo- ber 31, with all the money raised go- ing towards providing much needed help for special need children around ETc

The Clare Crusaders currently help more than 100 children get access to critical therapies and unfortunately their waiting list of applicants is erowing. At present the group re-

ceives no Government funding with more than €200,000 being required annually to continue to fund its serv- ose

“We provide physio, speech and language therapy, reflexology and we also have a Montessori teacher. We are at the stage now with the cut- backs in the health service that a lot of people are not getting the help that they need on a weekly basis. We are doing our best to provide as much of this as we can,’ said Ann Norton of the Clare Crusaders.

“All of the therapy that we provide is free to the children and their fami- lies. All of the money that we get from events like the barn dance goes

straight into the fund for the children as our overheads are very low. So the children get the benefits of these types of fundraisers.

“In the last weeks and months, we are getting more and more photo- graphs from people who are looking for therapy for their children. We are finding it quite demanding at the HepUOLUL Kon

“We don’t get any Government funding at the minute so the only way that we can survive is from fun- draising events such as this one and donations from relatives or compa- Woe

‘“That’s why is it so amazing when a group from the Burren Community

and Social Group comes to you with an event already organised. It’s won- derful that people see what the clinic is doing for the children and want to help. We are very grateful for that.”

Music for the Spooky Barn Dance will be provided by Country Fever NOLO MreKebesUIS OO KIN LEK ME toe

The Burren Community and Social Group is a new organisation which aims to organise and promote social, charity and community events in the whole Burren region.

Anyone interested in getting in- volved with the Burren Community and Social Group or the Spooky Barn Dance should ring on 087 1346443.

ARGUABLY the biggest talking point of the championship draw for 2010 that was broadcast live on RTE last Thursday night is the meeting of Clare and Waterford at the semi-final stage of next season’s Munster cham- eyCoyeh ony oy

The game will see Davy Fitzger- ald manage a Waterford side against Clare with the prize on offer a place in the Munster final. The draw pitted Cold ae: Blo) oloe-Daran eo som be mmnels Opening round with the winners set to play Limerick.

For Clare, it represents a decent chance to make the Munster final and considering the rumblings that are currently on-going, it could pro-

vide the required incentive to ensure things are sorted out sooner rather Wer vOm Eee

The draw has also been kind to the footballers with Waterford also on the cards. The winner of that Clare/ Waterford tie will meet Limerick in a Munster semi-final.

In 2007, though, Clare football hit one of its lowest ebbs when the county went down by two points to Waterford in Fraher Field, Dun- garvan. Paidi O Sé was over the team at that stage but Clare failed to hit the heights they would have expected to reach under the Kerryman.

With no manager in place in Clare at the moment following the depar- ture of Galway native Frank Doherty, the draw against Waterford should

also provide an incentive for play- ers and the incoming management to work together to ensure Clare get past the first championship hurdle. Anthony Daly’s Dublin will also be relatively pleased with their draw for 2010. Having reached the Leinster Final this year, Daly will be confi-

dent of getting off to as positive start again in 2010.

His side will line out in the Leinster Quarter-Final against the winners of Carlow and Laois in a game they would expect to win. If they over- come that challenge, though, they will have the difficult task of taking

on Kilkenny in the Leinster semi fi- nal.

Gardai concerned over drug use

RESIDENTS in the Francis Street area of Ennis are forced to contend with mayhem, due to the actions of late-night revellers who are urinating and vomiting all over the place.

The comments from a member of the residents association were made at Ennis District Court on Friday, during an application for a dance li- cence for The Queen’s Hotel.

While the speaker did not raise an objection to the licence being grant-

ed, grave concerns were expressed about the behaviour of patrons leav- ing late-night premises.

“We are not objecting to the l- cence. We have a problem with anti- social behaviour that takes place on our street between 3 and 4am. The majority of the people have been liv- ing there for 70 or 80 years,” said the resident. She said that some people urinate and vomit all over the place. ‘We take pride in our street and we look after each other. We want it con- trolled,’ she said.

She said that litter is thrown through boxes, cables are damaged and trees are vandalised. “There is ongoing mayhem. We shouldn’t have to toler- ate this,” she said.

Asked by Judge Joseph Mangan had gardai been informed about this, she said they had. Inspector John Galvin then told the court that the area is po- liced daily and nightly by gardai and issues are dealt with as they arise.

The judge asked him was there an inordinate amount of anti-social be- haviour. Inspector Galvin said that

when there are in the region of 1,500 people on the streets in a small area, there is going to be some level of anti-social behaviour. The judge said, ‘Maybe there would be less problems so if the number was smaller.” Solicitor for the Queen’s Hotel, Ma- rina Keane, pointed out that the res1- dents were not lodging an objection to the licence being granted. She said that the manager of the premises has met with residents and has undertak- en to meet them again. She said her clients would consider proposals put

forward by residents.

Ms Keane said that her clients would make every effort to ensure residents were inconvenienced as lit- tle as possible. She said there are four other licensed premises in the vicin- ity and it would be unfair to say that all the problems were generated from one premises.

Judge Mangan adjourned the appli- cation until next month and told the residents spokeswoman she would have to make up her mind whether she was objecting to the licence.