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MENTION the words pop or rock band manager and the image that springs to mind is that of a middle- aged, middle spreading man in a suit or a judge on a dodgy reality TV show with a penchant for creating boy bands.

Which makes it all the more sur- prising to learn that a 15-year-old female Mountshannon student has landed the gig that promoters twice her age would give their platinum ODES we

Hannah Ryan has been commis- sioned by Cork-based teenage gig company, Blast Base, to organise their events in Clare.

Blast Base organise and promote alcohol-free events with live bands and DJ’s in Cork, which have be- come hugely successful with young music fans.

Hannah came to their attention when she got involved in a Cork gig on behalf of the Clare band which she manages, Marble Chips.

‘They had only spoken to me on the phone and we discussed me organis- ing Clare gigs for them. When they invited me down for an interview, I think it was a bit of a shock, but when we had talked and I told them what I’d done in the past they agreed to go ahead,” said Hannah.

Hannah organised her first music event at just 13 years of age, when

she staged a Battle of the Bands, organising venues, sound, lighting sponsorship and prizes.

“It turned out to be the biggest bat- tle of the bands held in Clare up to then, with musicians coming from all over,’ said Hannah.

She has organised 17 gigs for her band Marble Chips since she took them on in August and not in any shabby old venues, but settings in- cluding Glor and the Half Moon Theatre in Cork.

And now a second band have ap- proached her to manage them, Schism and that’s while she is still studying with the Steiner-based Alpha Project and taking FETAC exams.

But the first hurdle she has to tackle

to put on the Blastbase gigs in Clare is to find venues.

“These are no-alcohol events, and a lot of places are not willing to close their bars for the night so we need other venues like halls or clubs if this is to happen.”

Anyone who might have a venue on offer for Hannah’s new project should call her on 085 1589498.

UNIVERSITY College Dublin was the venue for the 58th Annual Meet- ing of the European Association for Animal Production held on Sunday, August 26 which was opened by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Mr John Browne, ID.

Addressing the more than 800 Eu- ropean delegates, the Minister stated that “investment in research is piv- otal in ensuring that we meet future challenges facing the agriculture and food sector”’.

He congratulated the Scientific Committee for capturing such a noteworthy theme as “Sustainable Animal Production – Meeting the

Challenges for Quality Food. Sus- tainability presents a challenge for all concerned.” The Minister continued: “A challenge for researchers to pro- vide the best science based knowl- edge for cost effective sustainable and animal welfare friendly animal production, a challenge for farmers to deliver quality produce at com- petitive prices in an environmentally sustainable way, and, most of all, a challenge to all involved along the whole food chain from the farm to the fork to have a unified approach to ensuring the highest food safety and quality standards are achieved.”

The minister told delegates that the Irish Government has greatly increased its funding for research in recent years. Last year Strategy

for Science Technology and Innova- tion, which will run until 2013, was launched. “This Strategy,’ he said, “sets out the roadmap whereby Ire- land can develop as a knowledge based economy, and it explicitly recognises that the development of a sustainable agriculture and food sec- tor and bio economy is vital to our national economic well-being.” The Strategy foresees a doubling of both research funding and in the number of PhD’s produced.

‘This 1s not a doubling for the sake of it,’ said the minister, “but rather a vision of building a capability among the best young people to fuel the knowledge economy.”

Continuing the minister said that the Department of Agriculture and

Food is the primary funding agency for agricultural and food research in Ireland.

It provides core funding to Teagasc, the National Institute for Research, Advice and Education in Agriculture and Food, as well as funding through competitive programmes for which Teagasc and the third level institutes compete. The minister pointed out that these programmes provide sig- nificant funding for research in the animal bio-sciences.

In conclusion, the Minister hoped that the delegates would not only get a flavour of what is happening in re- search in Ireland, but that they would also have an opportunity to capture some of the sights, sounds and tastes of Ireland during their stay.

CLARE’S connections with the Shell to Sea organisation were strength- ened over the weekend with a large crowd turning out in Doolin for the second traditional concert in support of the organisation. The concert took place in the Russell Cultural Centre in Doolin and was the main fundraising for the organisation in Clare this year. A number of high profile local musi- cians including Davy Spillane, Jackie Daly, Ado Morris, Michael Hynes, Peter Griffin, Terry Bingham and Yvonne Casey, all offered their services for the evening. A similarly success- ful fundraising concert took place in Doolin in the summer of 2005. Clare has one of the strongest local branches of the Shell to Sea organi- sation, with membership in the coun- ty now fourth highest in the country

after Galway, Dublin and Mayo.

Other local traditional musicians who entertained the crowd in Doolin included Kevin Griffin, Danny Burke, Ogie Doyle, Ted Mc Cormack, Peadar O’Reilly, Eimer Howley, Gerry Shan- non, Ger Hoyne, Tess Mc Govern, Geraldine and Shane Mc Gowan, Ian Lambe, Niall Sheedy

and Paul Stafford. Meanwhile, a good number of Clare people will travel to Bellanaboy this Fri- day, September 12, to take part in a sit- down protest outside the gates of the Shell

facility. According to local spokesperson, Sean

Harrington, the pur-

pose of this demon-

stration is to highlight,

“the natural resources

of Ireland which have

been given away to Shell, Statoil and

others in a deal that means we pay the

market rate to the multi-nationals for what should be ours.”

THERE is anger and frustration among the rank and file of the sol- diers of destiny in Clare and along the west coast, with some long serv- ing members of the Fianna Fail party proposing to resign if “things do not change”.

A motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach was unanimously passed by the Ennis No | Cumman last week, by members who just months before canvassed for the party lead- er.

Now with the Aer Lingus crisis pointing to an uncertain future for the economy of the future and the death knell sounding in the distance for A and E services at Ennis Gen- eral Hospital, the grass roots of the main Government party are begin- ning to revolt.

Former Ennis Town Councillor Michael Guilfoyle, who proposed the motion of no confidence, said, “If things don’t sort themselves out I’ll be gone.”

The Ennis man, who has been a member of the party for 35 years,

said, “I defended Bertie at the doors before the election and when we needed Bertie he wasn’t to be found.

‘There was no one reason (for the motion), just years of frustration for people like myself who feel we are no longer being listened to.”

Ennis Town Councillor Tom Glynn (FF) said most people felt there was now a Sell out of the west but he did not feel resigning from the party was the way forward for him despite his erowing frustration.

“I think you are better off fighting from within than without. They can

ignore me even more from without,’ he said.

Meanwhile “angry and frustrated” Fianna Fail councillors from Burton Port in Donegal to Caherciveen in Kerry gathered in Oranmore to dis- cuss how they would ensure that the Aer Lingus crisis remained on the Government’s agenda.

Organised by Clare councillors Pat Daly, Peter Considine and Bernard Hanrahan, the 60 to 70 councillors in attendance set up the Fianna Fail Western Councillors’ Alliance.

“We believe that the Programme

for Government is not being rolled out in an even manner,’ Cllr Consti- dine told

MACRA NA FEIRME’S national president, Catherine Buckley be- lieves education is the way forward in farming.

Speaking at the launch of the Tea- gasc programme for Adult and Life Long Learning she said providing “the best possible educational oppor- tunities to farmers would be the key to giving Irish agriculture a competi- tive advantage in the future.”

The Macra president pointed out that her organisation had long been involved in campaigning for 1im- provements in agricultural educa-

tion standards and she welcomed the fact that the existing 180 hour course will, in the coming year, be replaced with the new advanced certificate in agriculture. “While the new course will require a greater commitment from participants, it will leave them far better equipped to deal with the demands of modern farming. This new course will create a pathway for young farmers to acquire a broader and more life-long agricultural edu- cation,’ she said.

Ms Buckley pointed out that while it was vital that Teagasc continued to develop top-class specialised cours- es targeted at full-time farmers, she

said that Macra also fully supported the provision of agricultural training courses to part-time farmers or those who could not attend agricultural college.

“The responsibilities and pressures on so called part-time farmers are just as onerous as those on farmers with no off-farm employment and it is important for the future of the industry that this category of farmer has access to properly structured training,’ she said.

The leader of the young farmers’ or- ganisation said that in addition to the formal courses offered by Teagasc, the importance of various discussion

group Sessions, also facilitated by the organisation, should not be under-es- UbeereInoren

“In the last 12 months, Macra has established a number of specialised discussion groups for young farmers around the country which are facili- tated by professional Teagasc advis- ae

“The demand for this type of edu- cational opportunity has been huge as it provides a chance for young like-minded farmers to meet and net- work with others in the industry, and in turn assists them in making bet- ter decisions in relation to the future growth of their business,’ she said.

AN EAST Clare man has won his planning battle to secure planning permission for a home for the carer of his 16-year daughter who has cer- ebral palsy.

Mike Keegan from Caher in east Clare has secured planning retention for the home despite Clare County Council refusing permission and an An Bord Pleanala inspector recom- mending refusal.

According to the appeal lodged by

Mr Keegan, he is the single parent of the girl who is also a wheelchair isto

The inspector’s report states that Mr Keegan obtained planning per- mission for the main house and then built a small annexe with a view for retention as a carer’s annexe.

The report states: “In terms of be- ing injurious to the amenities of oth- er residential property in the vicinity, the nearest neighbour is 90m away and cannot see anything of the an- nex. The annexe and the main house

are both owned by Mr Keegan and will always be both functionally and physically linked together.”

Mr Keegan lodged letters of support from a senior clinical psychologist at the Health Service Executive West, a senior occupational therapist at Clare Children’s Services, a coordinator of East Clare Community Support Ltd, a coordinator of the Disabled People of Clare and a network support of- ficer with Clare Network of People with Disabilities in Ireland.

The council refused permission last

March to the development stating that the proposed development would be viewed as an independent dwell- ing house which would seriously in- jure the amenities of other residential properties in the vicinity.

The inspector recommended that the proposed development would be viewed as an independent dwell- ing house which would create an undesirable density of development, presenting an overcrowded and dis- orderly appearance thereby seriously injuring the amenities of other resi-

dential properties in the vicinity.

However, the board disregarded the inspector’s recommendation stating that the carer’s annexe proposed for retention was generally compatible with the policies in the development plan and would not seriously injure the amenities of the area.

As aresult, the appeals board ruled that having regard to the nature of the building, it 1s considered that the proposal would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of prop- erty in the vicinity.

SPARKS will fly as members of an Ennis dance school prepare to head to America to take on the world’s best.

Ten members of Sparks dance school will travel to Los Angeles next year to compete in World Dance Excellence – an international festival for young dancers.

The ten students, who range in age from 7 to 25, have been selected for the Irish team that will compete at the event, which takes place in the Californian city in March 2008.

The competition is sure to be in- tense with dancers from 50 states in America and 15 countries around

the world taking part. Team Ireland comprises students from Dublin and Belfast.

The hard work starts now for the students who will be taking their dancing skills to the streets of Ennis in search of sponsorship.

A number of fundraising events are already in the pipeline to help the students on their way to LA.

Sparks eymnrrertoyen Lourdes O’Donoghue said she is delighted that the students from the school have been selected on Team Ireland for the second year in a row.

Sparks has been in existence for 12 years in Ennis and is firmly es- tablished as one of the premier dance schools in Ireland.

In that time Sparks students have regularly competed in national and international finals, amassing a glit- tering array of prizes along the way.

The school has ten All-Ireland first place wins, three second place world titles and numerous other individual and pairs titles to its name.

Sparks hip-hop dance school is the only modern dance school in Clare doing exams for all ages in hip hop and freestyle.

Lourdes O’ Donoghue is a qualified dance instructor and judge, and has a team of student champions at hip hop, freestyle and funky tap.

Away from competitive action, the school has become a fixture on the Christmas panto scene, regularly

collaborating with the Ennis based Pantaloons group.

The Sparks team and instructors that will travel to Los Angeles to compete at World Dance Excellence are: Aidan Walsh (7), Barefield Na- tional School; Ava Mahony (18) Colaiste Mhuire; Saoirse Mulcahy (7) Ennis National School; Maeve Curry (20) Knapogue Castle; Ha- zel Grassie (15) Gort Community College; Wilson Chung (18) Peter Marks; Hazel O’ Doherty (21) Limer- ick Institute of Technology; Oskarina O’Sullivan (10) Clarecastle National School; Lauren O’Shea (12) Knocka- nean National School; Laura Jane Allis (25) Sparks Instructor; Lourdes O’ Donoghue (Sparks Principal).

THE CPSSL will be running U8 and U1O blitzes at the following locations this Friday Night: Fern Celtic’s pitch and Ennistymon CBS from 6.30pm to 8pm and Lees Road Astro Turf from 6pm to 7pm. There will be close to 80 kids in action at each venue, along with parents, and spervisors.

SW sviM es molomabesbevrercmustaulr DUN me Vols the next three weeks at different ven- ex

Secondly, Monday night at 7pm and

8pm. The start of the FAI Regional Emerging Talent Programme will take place at the Auburn Lodge.

This is a education/training pro- gramme for the highest standard players in the Limerick/Clare/North Tipp region between the ages of 14 and 17.

Clare is represented by 10 players and head coaches in the centre are Declan Farmer and myself.

The centre is based at Lees Road every monday night from 7pm to O9pm from September 24 to March

oF

You are more than welcome to at- tend information night – and then maybe we can plan some regular media coverage of the center, player profiles, coach profiles, match fea- tures, etc over the course of the train- ing schedule.

The FAI Regional Centres are the next step from Kennedy Cup and are the foundations of our underage international squads and eventually will act as a source of the majority of the Eircom League players.

ENNIS Town Council has rejected plans by a housing association to se- cure planning permission for a five storey apartment block adjacent to Ennis Tennis and Badmintion Club.

Earlier this year, Cluid Housing As- sociation lodged plans to construct 21 one bedroom apartments and six two bedroom apartments.

However, the proposal prompted stiff opposition from the Ennis Ten- nis and Badminton Club and local

residents with the tennis club raising child protection concerns.

In its objection, the Ennis Tennis and Badminton Club states: “With a large junior membership, the club has rigorous child protection schemes. Consequently, units with views over- looking children at play is of serious concern to all members.”

In a comprehensive refusal, the council has stated that the scale, massing, height and excessive site coverage would result in over-devel- opment of the restricted site.

The council also concluded that the proposal would compete visu- ally with the Cornmarket building and Waterville House, would detract from the character for the setting of Waterville House

Officials also ruled that it failed to respect its context and contravene the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

“The proposed development would adversely affect the setting of the protected structure and would be contrary to the proper planning

and sustainable development of the area.”

The council also refused planning permission after ruling that the site coverage, scale, massing, height and proximity would constitute over development, would result in over- looking and over-shadowing of adja- cent residential buildings and would seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity.

“The proposed development there- fore would materially contravene a policy of the Ennis and Environs

Development Plan 2003 and the zon- ing objective for the area which 1s to protect residential amenity.”

The council also refused planning due to the proposal’s “layout and den- sity and consequent lack of private Open space to serve the residential units would result in a sub-standard form of development which would seriously injure the amenity of future occupants”.

It is now open to Cluid Housing Association to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

THE people of Shannon are being asked to support the local gymnastics club, in its search for a new home.

The club was formed five years ago and currently has more than 100 children on its books.

Since its formation, the club has en- joyed no shortage of success, both on local and national levels.

One of its members, Becky O’Donnnell recently travelled to Po- land with the Irish squad 1n the Euro- pean Cup, where she came 10th. She has also taken part in the national Community Games finals in Mosney over the past few years, where she

has won one gold, two bronze and two silver medals.

Becky, along with Grainne Hen- nessy, Dara Moan and Molly Night- ingale, have represented the club on the national squad.

Young boys and girls travel from all over the county, to take part in gymnastics at the club. The Shannon club is the only club in the region to specialise in tumbling, which attracts the interest of several young people.

However, despite its success, the club has no home and does not ben- efit from much funding.

The club avails of facilities at the local leisure centre, but would dearly love to have a base to call its own.

Becky’s mother Ita – who 1s a mem- ber of the club’s fundraising commit- tee – said local fundraising is essen- tial for the club’s existence.

“We don’t get any funding. We did get a sports grant six months ago, but we don’t get any national funding. A lot of other sports get funding but the gymnastics don’t. The parents have to organise the fundraising,’ said tee

She is hopeful that the people of the town will continue to support the club in its quest for a home that they can call their own.

“We are looking for a suitable premises but it is expensive. It 1s bril- liant for the children to have such an

activity. The people of Shannon have been great,” she said.

The club was formed by Elaine Ryan, whose work and dedication is crucial.

‘Elaine gives great dedication to the club. Six months ago when we had no equipment, Elaine used to take the children to Cavan, where there is a very good tumbling club. She did it in her own time,” said Ita.