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SIX years of hard voluntary work, responding to call-outs in every kind of foul weather at every hour of the night and day, reaped rewards in Kil- laloe last week when the local rescue team officially became operational as Irelands first inland waterways coast guard unit.

The former Killaloe/Ballina Search and Rescue unit became the Killaloe Coast Guard, when Director Des- ignate of the coast guard, Mr Chris Reynolds formally launched — the service on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the IRCG said the decision was taken to set up its first inland waterways unit in Killa- loe due to the level of traffic and risk on Lough Derg which has 17 public

marinas, four ferry companies, two major water leisure activity centres and 3,500 cruiser hires in 2006. In 2004 10,000 boats passed through Portumna bridge and the estimated total carrying capacity on Lough Derg is 6,437 persons.

The new unit continues to be housed in the ESB site in Killaloe.

To prepare the team for going fully operation, the coast guard replaced their original boats with ‘D’ class in- flatable boat with 40 HP engines for use on local rivers and shallow lakes and a new 7.5m rigid inflatable boat with twin 90 HP 4 stroke engines, GPS, radio, chart plotter, self right- ing system and automated identifica- tion system. This craft can do 30 plus knots, operate in all weathers and rescue up to nine people at a time. To

launch these boats the team has also been given a 4×4 jeep fitted with blue lights and sirens.

Training was also given in first aid, pyrotechnics, radio procedures, search training and advanced boat skills. Additional equipment consist- ing of personal protective equipment, generators, lights, radios, medical stock, stretchers and spinal boards have also been issued to the unit to assist them in their search and rescue work.

The area officer of the team is Michael Quigley. Its deputy area Of- ficer 1s Denis Dillon.

Launching the service, Chris Rey- nolds said the former search and res- cue service was “run on a voluntary basis by the local community doing sterling work in raising public aware-

ness of water safety and in respond- ing to those in peril in the waters”’.

He added that as volunteers of the coast guard units “you are only too well aware of the dangers of the wa- ter. You serve your community in a most hazardous environment per- forming tasks that often take their toll on you emotionally and physi- or Nh ae

“IT wish to thank all 19 volun- teer members of the Killaloe team for their dedication and hard work in training and operations led by Michael Quigley, Area Officer, with the assistance of Dennis Dillon, Deputy Area Officer.”

over the weekend, Tim Crowe said he was “shocked” when he heard while on holidays that Tony Considine had been axed as Clare manager.

“There were huge similarities with the methodology used by Aer Lingus in Shannon. People on holidays, no consultation with the parties involved and no opportunity to put the other side of the argument. Just guillotined without the right of reply or appeal.”

He has now called on the people of Clare to stand up and be counted in a bid to allow Considine put forward his side of the story to the board.

“IT would appeal to all the wonder- ful people who support Tony Consi- dine and his management team to go to their clubs and demand that their views are represented and that natu- ral justice prevails.”

Continuing his statement, he felt

that time for a new dawn in Clare GAA and called for a total clearout of all officials in a bid to start afresh for the sake of hurling in Clare.

“I think when Tony is given an op- portunity to defend himself to the clubs of Clare, it would be very con- structive to the future of the GAA in Clare that the management would step aside along with the county board officers. A new beginning for Clare GAA must be born with a group of people who have vision, ability and no agendas. They must put in place a progressive structure to lead Clare forward to a brighter future. Because as my old history teacher told me “Absolute power cor- rupts absolutely’.”

On hearing the board’s decision on Wednesday, Crowe felt that the out- going management had only two op- tions open to them.

“First was to walk away and sec- ond was to stand up for our right to continue the fight that we have been

fighting since a certain player walked out of the panel and all hell broke loose. We have decided to fight to the end to establish our right to de- fend ourselves and put our case to the Clare County Board and to the peo- ple of Clare who privately supported our stance throughout this year at the various attempts to remove us.”

The Sixmilebridge mentor went on to defend Considine’s management and coaching methods which were questioned in certain circles during the year.

“IT have been involved in manage- ment and coaching of inter-county teams and club teams for thirty years and I must say without a shadow of a doubt that the coaching and organi- sational ability of Tony is right up there with the best. The support and co-operation he received from the players was excellent. Of course, it’s only natural that you have disgrun- tled players in any sport who don’t make the starting team. That hap-

pens in all sports, that’s just natural self-disappointment.”

Finally, he pondered why ‘Tony Considine was removed and singled out in a year in which results on the field were no worse than previous years.“Tony’s results were on par with any team since °97. The fitness, discipline and coaching of the team was of an excellent standard. The support of the players wasn’t in ques- tion. Was it that he stood for good over evil or was there a rump in the county board that wanted to control them and manage the manager but couldn’t achieve that goal?

“The question must also be asked ‘1f Paidi O Sé continued as manager of the football team, would he have been sacked or would his results, coaching, discipline and fitness levels

and player support be acceptable?”’

THE Mol an Oige Group has made a last-ditch attempt to secure State recognition for the upcoming school year by directly appealing to Junior Minister, Tony Killeen and other politicians in the country to inter- vene in the saga.

The Mol an Oige Steiner School in Ennistymon and Raheen Wood Steiner School in Tuamgraney have encountered several hurdles in rela- tion to securing State recognition for the upcoming year.

Now, with the new school year less than two weeks away, Secretary of the Mol an Oige Group, Mary Fahey has told Minister Killeen and other local politicians in a letter, “With over 50 students enrolled in the new school for September, and still no decision from our minister, what are we supposed to do now?

“We ask you to voice our concerns directly to Minister Hanafin and help bring about a positive resolution for

all involved.”

If the schools can secure state rec- ognition, they will be the first Steiner primary school to receive recognition and this will result in the department paying teachers’ salaries and remove the need for the schools to continu- ally fundraise and parents to pay fees for their children’s education.

In the letter to Minister Killeen and the other politicians, Ms Fahey States, ““Here we are with two weeks left until school re-opens, and a new Mol an Oige multi-denominational primary school has yet to be recog- nised by the Minister for Education.

“We understand the minister 1s concerned about the proposed new Mol an Oige multi-denominational primary school and its compliance with department requirements due to its Steiner ethos”.

A Department of Education spokes- man said the schools’ application re- mains under consideration but could not give a date as to when a decision will be made.

FURTHER questionmarks were placed over the future of Council- lor Brian Meaney within the Green Party, arising from the Shannon Aer Lingus crisis yesterday.

Last Thursday, Cllr Meaney met with Green Party leader, John Gorm- ley at the Temple Gate Hotel to out- line the concerns of the region over the Aer Lingus decision to end the Shannon-Heathrow service.

Cllr Meaney was accompanied

at the meeting by Chairman of the Shannon Regional Tourism Board, Michael Houlihan, Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) and tourism rep- resentatives, Michael Vaughan and Mary Gleason.

Prior to the meeting, Cllr Meaney confirmed that he was considering his future in the Green Party.

“If the Green Party is complicit in a Government decision that un- dermines the economic stability of the west, I will be unable to remain a member of the Green Party,” said

ST eras

In a letter to Minister Gormley prior to the meeting, Cllr Meaney said, “I have been a loyal, hard-work- ing, founding member of the Green Party here in Clare. I have stood for the Greens at every election in Clare since 1997.

“IT have no difficulty in supporting the Green Party in Government im- plementing hard but necessary deci- sions. I cannot support a non-inter- ventionist policy by a Government of decisions that tear the heart out of

services that promote employment and act as a counter measure to runa- way development in the east.”

Speaking yesterday, Cllr Meaney said, “Everything 1s still at issue. I am not making any further statement on that matter. I will wait and see what happens in January.”

Cllr Meaney said that he was not happy with the lip service Clare Government TDs are paying on the issue. “I am also not happy that with the establishment of the high level departmental committee.

“It is straight from

THE issue over the appointment of a new Clare senior football manage- ment may have been on the under- card to the hurling debate but it is hoped that by the September meeting in Carron a candidate will be found.

After receiving nominations from the various football clubs around the

county, the chairman was asked how many people were currently in the picture, to which he indicated that out of six nominations, four of those would be serious contenders for the job.

A committee with the task to come back with the new manager was then ratified. It will be made up of the chairman Michael McDonagh,

Tom Downes who will chair the committee, PJ McGuane, Michael O’Doherty, Colm Collins and Joe Garry. Peter O’Connell was also appointed but later withdrew his in- volvement from the committee. Meanwhile, Cooraclare man Joe Garry was returned as county un- der 21 manager along with selectors Odran O’Dwyer, Peadar McMahon,

Brendan Reilly, John Joe McMahon and Michael Madigan. Garry also mentioned the lack of facilities avail- able to the under 21 squad, citing Ballyline as the only option available to them. In reply, the chairman out- lined the several pitches which will soon be ready for use by the county board, singling out Clarecastle’s two new fields as possible alternatives.

KILKEE was at the centre of a health scare this week, as a young holiday- maker was taken to Ennis General Hospital suffering from a life-threat- ening form of meningitis.

The Limerick teen, who was d1i- agnosed with the deadly and highly contagious form of meningitis at the Seaside resort, 1s now out of ICU and believed to be recovering well.

A spokesperson for the HSE said the 17-year-old was “stable and com- fortable”. Family and friends who had been in contact with the girl, from Crecora, County Limerick, were given antibiotics as a precau- tion and the public health depart- ment of the HSE notified.

“There were 269 cases of bacte- rial meningitis detected in the mid-

west over the past eight years. Dur- ing the period 1998-2003, a total of 11 people who contracted bacterial meningitis in the mid-west died as a result,’ a spokesperson of the HSE Mid West.

There have been no fatalities from the disease between 2004 and 2006, according to the HSE.

The disease, which infects fluid in the spinal cord and around the brain, TSM Busre1nere MMU lH OMr-DeL Ble) Ce) Bl ee

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis include stiff neck, rash, drowsiness, fever, cold hands and feet and abnor- mal skin colouring.

All cases of suspected bacterial meningitis and meningococcal dis- ease must be reported to the Depart- ment of Public Health.

An area medical officer then inves- tigates each case.

A NEW farming initiative, aimed at saving the ancient Burren goats from extinction, was launch in Carron last week. The BurrenLIFE Project (BLP) has established a trial scheme, where they will transform one Bur- ren farm into a sanctuary for the goats.

The long-term survival of the rare indigenous Irish goats has been put in jeopardy in recent years due to interbreeding with local abandoned goats and culling.

The goats can cause problems for Burren farmers by spoiling grass- lands and knocking walls, caus-

ing penalties for the farmers under REPS.

Large herds of goats roam and graze in the Burren but only a frac- tion of these are ancient Irish goats.

In recent years the explosive growth in the population of feral goats in the Burren has resulted in the culling of large numbers of goats by local farmers and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, who are concerned about the impact of goat browsing on tree species.

While there is general agreement on the need for managed culls of fe- ral goats to sustainable population levels, there are concerns that ran- dom culling could spell the end for

the few remaining individuals of the old Irish breed of goat.

The objective of the BLP 1s to de- velop a new model for sustainable agriculture in the Burren in order to conserve the sensitive Burren habi- tat.

As part of its work with 20 local Life-farmers, the BLP is working with one local farmer to erect a se- cure 22 acre enclosure within which itis hoped that a breeding population of old irish goats may be kept.

This pilot project will not only sup- port the conservation of the goats, but will also allow the BLP to moni- tor the impact of these feral goats on scrub and grasslands, and look at

their use as a ‘conservation grazing’ tool. ;

According to Ruairi O Conchuir of the BLP, the project is being under- taken on the farm of LIFE farmer, Patrick McCormack, with support from the project going to erect suit- able fencing and to supply water fa- cilities for the goats.

Goats have a long association with the Burren. Excavations at Poulnab- rone Dolman uncovered goat bones, indicating that these were an impor- tant part of the mixed farm systems of the Stone Age, over 5,000 years ago. For more information on this and other BLP work check out www. ebeMuCOUENCoMCCe)eeF

IN THE twelve months since the Environmental Protection Agen- cy (EPA) launched its “Dump the Dumpers” phone line, 32 calls have been registered from Clare with most of them related to fly-tipping, illegal landfill and illegal dumping.

Nationally, 2,184 calls had been received on the illegal dumping line to the end of July with EPA Envi- ronmental Enforcement Director Dara Lynott describing it as a valu- able mechanism for the public to re-

port illegal waste activities.

The “Dump the Dumpers” service was designed to encourage report- ing of illegal dumping of waste or of abandoned illegal dumps via a 24 hour call save telephone number – 1850 365 121. This information is followed up and checked by the enforcement authorities – local au- thorities, the EPA’s Office of En- vironmental Enforcement and the Gardai – through the Environmental Enforcement Network.

While information can be provid- ed anonymously, callers are encour-

aged to leave contact details so that clarification can be sought if nec- essary and so that feedback can be provided to the caller if requested.

This allows the enforcement au- thorities to gather information about illegal waste activity and to act on this information.

Sp.4 o.oo u lo Com UUMOlAmeeleNeuCocm Iles as England and Scotland suggests that a national phone-line for report- ing illegal waste activity is and will continue to be a central plank in the fight against illegal waste activity.

Serious incidents of illegal dump-

ing are reported immediately to the Gardai and the relevant local authority so that activities can be investigated as appropriate. These include, for example, the contents of a 40 foot trailer being dumped in a field or the dumping of diesel laun- dering waste.

This phone line complements and builds on existing local authority litter hotlines and offers the public a single point of contact to report in- formation about the more serious in- cidents of illegal dumping of waste, both past and present.

A MAN with 93 previous convic- tions, who stole cash to feed his her- oin habit has been jailed for a year.

Michael McNamara (33), of Row- an Court, Kennedy Park, Limerick, stole three purses from an office at Avoca handweavers, Bunratty, last March.

McNamara, a father-of-three, also stole €60 cash from the Texaco fill- ing station, Ennis, on March 19 last.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told Ennis District Court yesterday that McNamara stole money from the till at the Texaco garage and ran out of the shop.

He took off in the direction of Lim- erick and was intercepted by gardai.

The money was recovered.

Relating to the stolen purses, In- spector Gallagher said the accused brought gardai to two scenes, where the purses were found.

Defending solicitor John Herbert said his client began to use heroin a number of years ago and was “taken in grip of it.”

He pointed out that there was a

“hapless” element to the crimes be- fore the court.

“The stealing was in order to feed his addiction,” said the solicitor.

He asked the court to take the ac- cused’s circumstances into account, as he is “taking steps to address his difficulties.” Judge Leo Malone im- posed two six-month jail terms, to run consecutively.

AS THE summer begins to slowly wind down, Coole Park will be a hive of activity over the next few weeks with a range of free events for all shapes and sizes.

Events kick off in ghoulish fashion tonight, when the Galway Bat Group will host a Bat Walk in the park, meeting up at 8pm weather permit- ting.

A range of events to mark National Heritage Week, starting this week- end, will follow tonight’s talk.

“We have about eight of the nine species of bats in Ireland living here in Coole. The Galway Bat Group

will be coming along on the night with bat detectors which can detect the different sounds that the bats make,” said Hilda Mac Lochlainn, Head Guide with Nation Parks and Wildlife Service at Coole Park. ‘They will tell us what the species are that we are listening to and see- ing and in what direction they can be found. It’s a really great event for children and all the family. They get to see the bats and they also get to hear the bats through the detector.” The centrepiece of this year’s Her- itage Week Programme at Coole will be a pair of multi-media exhibition. The first, a film of Lady Gregory and Coole Park and a multi-media exhi-

bition on Coole ‘through the eyes of Me and Nu’ — the granddaughters of Lady Gregory – will take place all day Sunday August 26 and Septem- ber 2. On Saturday September 1, an award winning short-film by the stu- dents of Tubber National School will also be shown.

“We try to have a mix of events for all age groups and tastes. We try to focus on the history of Coole as well as focusing on the natural beauty and uniqueness of the area,’ continued Hilda.

“It was a project where national schools are asked to make a short- film on their area and Tubber decided to look at school and education in the

past. Part of it was recorded in Tub- ber and some of it was also recorded here in Coole.

‘The entered the Clare competition which they won so we are delighted to have a special screening of the film on Saturday, September 1. We are hoping to have some of the peo- ple who were involved in making it, here so they can talk a bit about it and answer questions.”

All of these activities are free of charge and are organised by the Na- tional Parks and Wildlife Service with help from the Friends of Coole and the Heritage Office of Galway County Council. For more contact O91 631804.