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BUSINESS representatives meeting with Aer Lingus chief executive Der- mot Mannion last Friday remained bullish despite Mr Mannion’s insist- ence that the decision to transfer to Belfast would not be reversed.

Mr Mannion met with Government ministers, local TDs, councillors, members of the Shannon Airport Au- thority, representatives of IBEC and the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance. He was adamant that while he under- stood the concerns of people in the mid-west, Aer Lingus would be press-

ing ahead with the move to Belfast.

“We have gone into a tremendous amount of detail internally about how we Slice up the Heathrow slots. A considerable amount of time has been spent before we came to this difficult decision.”

Mr Mannion added, “The Govern- ment has said what the Government has said. It’s expressed its disappoint- ment to the decision.”

Solicitor and Atlantic Connectivity Alliance member, Michael Houlihan said the body presented a very strong case to Aer Lingus bosses.

He said, “They will have to reflect

on what they heard. They are under no illusions whatsoever that there will be challenges down the line, not only here but in the EU. The slots issue 1s something that will be seri- ously looked at by the EU, in relation to the manner in which they are dealt it. They are very seriously wrong and contrary to competition law.”

The Executive Chairman of Shan- non Airport, Pat Shanahan said he had a full and frank exchange of views with Mr Mannion.

‘We have been trying to engage Aer Lingus for some time on the econom- ics of their overall operations in Shan-

non. Assurances were, however, also given by Mr Mannion in relation to the continuation of Aer Lingus’ trans- atlantic services and we intend to find whatever means possible to make them profitable and sustainable in the Koyateai tou se eae

Following his own meeting with Dermot Mannion and John Sharman, the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance Chairman John Brassil said, ““The bat- tle to reverse the Aer Lingus decision to abandon their Shannon-Heathrow service is only beginning. We men- tioned to them that this commercial decision is fraught with mistakes.”

THE HSE has this week admitted that there is an internationally recog- nised difficulty in recruiting medical scientists with a specialty in cytology, vital in accessing cervical screens.

The admission comes as a Limerick woman, Elaine Price, reported how she had to wait 19 weeks for the re- sults of a follow-up smear in autumn 2006.

During a routine smear in 2005, CN2 cells (pre-cancerous cells) were found and she was told she would re- quire a colposcopy — a scraping of the cervix. Her doctor told her that an appointment would take weeks so she went private. Her follow-up smear in September 2006 took 19 weeks for a result. Both smears were sent to the cytology laboratory at University Hospital Galway.

All smears taken at the Mid West- ern Regional Hospital Limerick are sent to University Hospital Galway for analysis, while a portion of GPs from the mid-west send smears from their patients to the same hospital. The remaining GPs in the mid-west are directed to send the smears to Dublin.

A spokesperson for the HSE said that last year the cytology labora- tory at University Hospital Galway converted from the conventional cer- vical smear technology to a liquid-

based technology.

“This technology is in keeping with best international practice. This con- version involved a significant body of work and commitment from eve- ryone working in the laboratory. The process to convert the technology was a complicated one and it began in February 2006 and was complet- ed ahead of schedule at the end of paul etes

“All staff in the laboratory required training in the use of this new tech- nology and for the period of that training last year there was on aver- age a turn-around time of 10 to 12 weeks at the most. That has now been reduced and cervical smears are reported on within the four-week timeframe.”

The cytology laboratory at UHG is currently located in a prefabricated building which, according to the health service, “is of no relevance in terms of its functionality. The hospi- tal is at present finalising a brief for the development of a new laboratory for submission to the HSE Capital Projects Steering Group.

“The national required turnaround time is four weeks for a cervical Smear, from the time it 1s received in the laboratory to when the report on the smear is issued. Since the end of June 2007, smears . . . are reported on within this four-week timeframe,’ mel END a elereR

THE people of Wisconsin will be dancing to the sounds and rhythms of Gort, this winter as the Changing Colours CD has been included in an elite group of Irish music productions which will be added to the Milwau- kee Library of Music.

The CD, which features musicians and vocalists from all of Gort’s eth- nic groups, was produced by Coole Records to mark Gort’s first multi- cultural music festival, which took place in May.

The Changing Colours Festival, which was organised by the Gort Regional Alliance for Community and Environment (GRACE), proved a great success and is now likely to

become an annual event.

“We want to showcase quality products and the Changing Colours CD is really stunning,’ said Marilyn Goughan, Galway County Council’s Art Officer.

“The production quality on the CD is fantastic and it really manages to encompass the cultural diversity that has become such a great part of Gort and Galway as whole.

“We have collected CDs and bro- chures from festivals all over the county and will be giving them to people who are attending the Mil- waukee Irish Fest. A number of cop- ies of the Changing Colours CD will also be left in the Music Archive in Milwaukee,” added Marilyn.

‘People from a number of Ameri-

can festivals will be in attendance and the hope is that we will be able to attract people to our festivals and also to forge links between festivals on both sides of the Atlantic,’ she SrHLGe

Coole Records was set up by GRACE founder Niamh Clune, as a community music label which aims at drawing together the best of lo- OF NEE: NCoelemr-bee mm oynO da leubercammelcssemaualaemee| platform for success.

The label is backed by a wealth of musical experience and talent in- cluding locals Tim Howarth, Hayato, Aleisha Shimizu and Niamh Clune herself.

Tim has been writing and record- ing music professionally for over 10 years and also does sound recording

for the BBC in the UK. Hayato has featured in bands at festivals around the UK and has a wealth of recording experience in bass, double bass, flute and guitar.

Aleisha is a contemporary vocal- ist, song-writer, producer and vo- cal teacher. She also holds a ‘Music with Visual and Performance Art’ honours degree from University of Brighton.

Niamh enjoyed a successful musical career in London in the *70s working with a range of successful producers including Mutt Lange (Shania Twain and AC/DC), Tony Clarke (Moody Blues) and Todd Rundgren (Tom Robinson).

The Changing Colours CD can be found on www.coolerecords.com

THE decision by Aer Lingus to halt its Shannon-Heathrow service and transfer to Belfast’s Aldergrove Air- port has been described as the “dying kick for the midwest”.

Mayor of Ennis, Tommy Brennan was speaking at a special meeting of Ennis Town Council convened to discuss the implications of Aer Lin- gus’s controversial decision.

He also said that cross-party politi- cal support was critical to securing the future of Shannon as a strong in- CLUE Neon aKSe

Councillors present at the meeting said unless the Heathrow service was retained, there would be dire conse- quences for industry and ancillary Services in the mid-west.

The council will also write to the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Aer Lingus to protest the move.

Cllr Brennan said, “None of the Dail can be found. This was made up with Paisley and there is nothing that suggests otherwise. We cannot afford to lose the flight to Heathrow, otherwise we might as well close down the mid-west and west coast

completely.”

Fianna Fail councillor Tom Glynn said, “We have to protect those slots in Heathrow.

“They have an obligation to cus- tomers and businesses who helped set up industry in the region.”

Fine Gael councillor Mary Coote- Ryan said it was a “black day for Shannon”.

Cllr Taiwoo Matthew questioned the decision to terminate the profit- able Shannon-Heathrow route.

“I don’t see the economic benefit for Aer Lingus to go from a position Where they had a monopoly to one

where they will be in competition. It could be devastating for the region,” he said.

Independent councillor Frankie Neylon challenged the Green Party to stand up to Fianna Fail.

“When it comes to birds and by- passes, the Greens are everywhere. But now they don’t seem to want to know about it. They were going to be the watchdogs for Fianna Fail. Now it’s time for them to prove their eyKeyee none

Fianna Fail councillor Peter Con- sidine questioned the legality of the decision to transfer to Belfast.

THE Miunister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, has been accused of reneg- ing on a statement by his predecessor who said Heathrow had a “unique role in ensuring connectivity to and from Ireland.”

“This connectivity is fundamental both to provide connections to and from Dublin as well as to and from the regions,” Minister Martin Cullen said in a statement within the Arti- cles of Association of Aer Lingus.

“The Minister for Transport will not recommend that the Minister for Finance seek to convene an extraor- dinary general meeting to approve

a Slot disposal unless the disposal would result in the slots at London Heathrow falling below the level that is critical to ensuring connectivity to and from Ireland,’ the statement Sr ALGe

Supporters of the airport say that the removal of the flights from Shan- non is removing all connectivity to the west of Ireland and the rest of the ONG b

Legal council for the campaign op- posing the Aer Lingus decision to move the Shannon Heathrow service to Belfast are considering taking le- gal action after studying the Articles of Association.

Lawyers retained by the campaign

are to give an opinion on whether a legal challenge to the decision is fea- sible later in the week.

According to the articles “The Minister for Transport considers that the four London Heathrow slot pairs for service to and from Cork and that four (summer season) and three (winter season) for service to and from Shannon would each be criti- cal to ensuring connectivity to these airports because this is the mini- mum necessary to ensure a spread of flights throughout the day.

“On this the Minister for Finance as a Shareholder in the company (Aer Lingus), acting on the advice of the Minister for Transport, is unlikely to

support a proposed disposal of any slot pair such that there would be less than the existing London Heathrow slots pairs that relate to service be- tween London Heathrow and Cork or Shannon and is likely to request the convening of an extraordinary general meeting, as provided for the Articles of Association, to consider such matter.”

Disposal transaction in defined in the articles of association as “a trans- action pursuant to which any member of the group proposed to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of” the slots.

The transport minister said last week that the four slots at Heathrow were not the be-all and end-all.

THE hills of North Clare will once again be alive to the sound of music this September, as the 14th annual Burren Ramble takes to the moun- tains around Fanore.

Bad musical puns aside, this year’s ramble will feature a very special treat for walkers, as the ‘Lismora- haun Tenors’ will perform at the foot of Slieve Elva.

Following the success of a perform- ance last year by the “Lismorahaun Singers’ in a natural amphitheatre in the heart of the Burren, the ‘Lis- morahaun Tenors’ will take up the

mantle of musical entertainment, entertaining the walkers while they stop for lunch.

The Tenors feature rising star Pe- ter O’Donghue, and special guest Soprano, Naomi O’Connell, both of whom are natives of north Clare, and learned their trade under Archie Simpson with the Lismorahaun Sing- ae

‘Base camp’ for this year’s ramble is O’Donohue’s Pub, Fanore. Regis- tration stars at 12.30pm and the walk will set out around 1.30pm. It’s about a six mile walk in total and this year we will be making our way to Sheve Elva,” said organiser Joe Queally.

“There is a great contrast on the walk between the Burren stone and the bogs.

“The walking route takes in great views over Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. It 1s a very relaxed walk, something that everyone would be able for and it will take in parts of the Burren that most people will nev- er have seen”.

Over the years the Ramble has raised more than €300,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institu- tion (RNLI). “All proceeds from the walk will all to help support the work of the RNLI. There has been so many tragedies and near tragedies

along the Clare coast over the last 12 months and the RNLI really do great work at these times. The sup- port that the RNLI has received from the people of Clare over the years has been great. If you look at someone like Tomsie Sullivan from Lahinch who has been a devoted member of the organisation for 43 years now,’ Loy eT Ube LeCsre MN Letom

Anyone interested in taking part in this year’s ramble can contact Joe for sponsorship cards at 087 6260301. The Burren Ramble takes place on September 9 and is being organised by the Ennis and Lahinch branches of the RNLI.

AS THE county board and the clubs of Clare continue their search for a new football manager at tonight’s board meeting, news that Seamus Clancy has ruled himself out of the race will have strengthened the body of opinion calling for the reinstate- ment of Donie Buckley.

It is thought that over the past few days Clancy made known to the county board his wishes not to be considered for the position.

The former All-Star was widely touted as one of the best options for the county due to his experience both as a player and manager and because of his forthright and honest views of Clare’s dismal season.

His withdrawal means there’s one less option for Clare right now and on the back of this weekend’s club championship showing, the county needs as many options as possible.

It was another weekend of sub- standard club championship football in which the quality was low and the scores were even lower. It took 272 minutes for the first championship goal this year, with a total of four goals altogether in round one.

Goals apart, the points tallies are just as unimpressive and paint a wor- rying picture of the state of Clare football at present.

After two complete rounds of the senior championship, only four sides managed to get into double point fig- ures and kick more than nine points over an hour.

In the first round, Shannon Gaels

managed ten points and Wolfe Tones scored eleven. In the second round, Cooraclare kicked eleven points while Lissycasey notched up ten. It means that out of 32 opportunities over the 16 games so far, the magical figure of ten points was only reached four times.

On Saturday, Liscannor managed to beat one of the favourites for the championship by scoring only five points against a Doonbeg side that managed only three points — all from suueKy

It harks back to the dark days of Clare football when county champi- onships were won on meagre score- lines.

On top of this, the so-called top teams are not exactly leading by ex- ample. Defending champions Eire Og again stuttered and stumbled to victory for the second week running and notched up 14 wides in the proc- ess, while Shannon Gaels went under to an unfancied Ennistymon outfit.

Elsewhere, St Joseph’s Miultown couldn’t even put a point on the board in their second-half against Eire Og and St Breckans went 34 minutes without raising a white flag.

On this showing, perhaps other op- tions may go by the wayside in the quest for a new manager.

THE make-up of the strategic alli- ance group that will fight the decision to axe the Aer Lingus Shannon/Hea- throw connection will be unveiled later today.

And as business, tourism and work- ers’ groups throw their weight behind the six names to be revealed, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary is on his way to Shannon for a press conference at which he will outline the airline’s response to the Aer Lingus decision to abandon its Shannon-Heathrow flights.

As the crisis deepened, there was

no response from Aer Lingus to air- port boss Pat Shanahan’s offer to re- duce landing charges for the airline on the route.

Business leaders were yesterday predicting major job and investment losses if Shannon loses its Heathrow slots.

Chairman of the Regional Tourism Board, Michael Houlihan addressed an emergency meeting of Clare Coun- ty Council last night and said, “This is the most serious threat to this area that has happened in my lifetime. All the investment and proposals that have gone into tourism will be set to nought if this happens.”

He added that the tourism industry has “invested millions of euro on the presumption of connectivity. This is the most serious issue that we have ever had to deal with. We cannot have our slots stolen from us.”

There are more than 110 companies employing almost 7,000 people in the Shannon Free Zone and a further 4,000 jobs planned for the area with the completion of Westpark in 2009.

Business leaders are predicting that current and future jobs are under threat as they depend on the connec- tivity which can only be provided by a Heathrow connection for London.

Ken Sullivan, General Manager with Element Six said that between 15 and 20 staff and clients of the in- dustrial diamond company use the e(crLdnKO) Ao es CoA LAM (cle) ©

“This company will have a very uncertain future in Shannon if an alternative carrier is not found. The Shannon operations require con- stant travel to and from all parts of the world and 90 per cent of this is routed through Heathrow.”

Already, projects worth €100 mil- lion for the region have been shelved by Dromoland Castle hotel and golf club, Doonbeg Golf Club and the Flynn Hotel Group.

THE galleries of north Clare will be a hive of activity this month with two major exhibitions due to launch.

Wild Honey, the fourth ‘Burren Annual’, opens in the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan this Satur- day, August 18. Curated by Michael Dempsey, this year’s exhibition fo- cusses on the urban/rural divide and the position of the west of Ireland as a central driving force in forming the identity of the modern Irish.

The exhibition is to be opened by Mike Fitzpatrick, Director/Curator of Limerick City Art Gallery, and

runs daily until September 29.

It will feature work by Stephen Brandes, Dorothy Cross, Blaise Drummond, Patrick Hall, Ronnie Hughes, Fergus Martin, William McKeown, Isabel Nolan and Niamh O’Malley, all artists who have at some stage based their work outside The Pale.

Meanwhile, US Democratic Con- eressman, John Yarmuth, was in La- hinch last Saturday to launch a new exhibition by Pat and Jan Maher at Kenny’s Lahinch Art Gallery.

The Kentucky congressman has be- come a regular visitor to west Clare in recent years and is a member of

Doonbeg Golf Club.

Pat Maher is an accomplished painter in oils and watercolours. He has won a number of awards for his paintings, which capture the essence of the lovely southern Irish coun- tryside through a variety of themes, ranging from Sweeping evocations of the landscape around his home near Tullow, County Carlow, to more inti- mate interiors and still-life studies.

His latest exhibition, entitled °*Pic- tures of Clare and Other Stories’, will show in Lahinch until August 25 and features a collection of paintings of Lahinch and surrounding areas.

Joining Pat for this exhibition will

be his wife Jan, who will be exhibit- ing arange of watercolours as well as pen, ink and graphite drawings.

Jan trained at Epsom School of Art, UK where her tutors included distin- guished watercolourist Leslie Worth. Following a period working as a graphic designer in the 1970s she has concentrated on fine art since 1980, and has found an increasing demand for both her meticulous drawings, and her luminous watercolour land- scape and floral paintings.

The exhibition will run daily until August 25. A selection of the art can be viewed on www.lahinchartgal- lery.com.

CALLS for the resignation of Fianna Fail ministers, the holding of an Aer Lingus EGM and for councillors to protest at the airport with banners came from an emergency meeting of the council last night.

Councillor Madeleine Taylor-Quinn proposed a motion on behalf on the Fine Gael members at the emergency meeting called by Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia McCarthy.

She called on the Minister for Fi- nance “to immediately call an EGM of Aer Lingus to discuss the matter and reverse this decision.”

She said that despite having a spa- tial strategy “the Government is about to allow the withdrawl of these critical slots which provide vital con- nectivity”.

Her colleague, Cllr Joe Arkins further proposed that if the slots are withdrawn that the Government lead a legal challenge to the decision.

He described news that a new route may be on the way to Paris as a “smoke and mirrors exercise’,

The Fine Gael members also asked that the council seek an immediate meeting with the Taoiseach on the matter, while Mayor Mccarthy told the meeting that she has made con- tact with all of the mayors in Tipper- ary, Limerick and Galway to seek a

joint meeting with the Fianna Fail leader.

Labour councillor, Pascal Fitzger- ald, called on the “mid-west minis- ters to state publicly that they will resign if these slots are taken from Shannon. People’s livelihoods are at stake and the Government is doing yatelee vb sree

Cllr Colm Wiley (FF) said that “calling does nothing. What I am proposing is that two members of this council go to the airport with placards and protest until we get what we want and rotate the protest so that there are members of this council there at all times until this 1s resolved.”

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) accused the Government of having “no function- al regional policy” while Fianna Fail councillor, Richard Nagle, said that the “only satisfactory outcome to this is the retention of our slots into Heathrow”.

He said the Fianna Fail councillors have jointly sent letters to the minis- ters for transport, tourism and trade and employment outlining the poten- tial seriousness of the consequences of the decision.

He said that the council “should call on the Taoiseach to recall his minis- ters and set up and interdepartmental eroup to deal with what can only be described as a crisis for this region.”