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TWO west Clare schools are to benefit by as much as €15,000 from the out- door facilities enhancement scheme.

St Joseph’s National School in Mil- town Malbay and Kilmaley National School have received €7,500 each for work on their playgrounds and out- door facilities.

The money allocated is to go to- wards projects such as upgrading of grass and tarmacadam areas where OIC E

The schools are two of only three from the county to benefit from the grant – Drumcreehy National School

was also awarded funds.

Goal posts, nets, basketball hoops, and other sporting equipment are also supplied through the scheme as are other recreational facilities for out- door play areas.

Minister of State and Clare TD Tony Killeen has welcomed the an- nouncement that these Clare National Schools have received funding under the CLAR programme.

“The CLAR Primary School Out- door Play Facilities Enhancement Scheme is a jointly funded scheme aimed at improving outdoor play fa- cilities in small rural primary schools in CLAR areas,” he said.

‘This scheme has been very suc- cessful so far, with hundreds of pri- mary school children in Clare now benefitting from the new equipment and improved facilities. We all know that good play facilities in schools are absolutely necessary, so I am delight- ed that the schoolchildren in the Kil- maley, Miltown Malbay and Drum- creehy areas are going to benefit from this scheme,” he said.

CLAR and the Department of Edu- CP THCO)O EAH OCC MNS LOn(o) Com AIIM RU ICM Mm Oot cent of the cost of projects being un- dertaken by schools. This figure is supplemented by a 25 per cent con- tribution from local sources up to a

maximum of €10,000. Expenditure in excess of €10,000 must be funded entirely from local sources.

According to Minister Killeen, the latest allocation follows on from simi- lar allocations, under the CLAR Pri- mary School Outdoor Play Facilities Enhancement Scheme, made earlier this year. In 2007, funding has been allocated to schools in Baltard, Dan- gan, Cloonanaha, Doonbeg, Ballyea, Clondrinagh, Inagh and Knockerra.

“This latest round of funding dis- plays the Government’s commitment to improving outdoor play facilities in small rural primary schools in CLAR areas.”

ANGRY Aer Lingus passengers tak- ing flights between Shannon and Heathrow this week flayed Aer Lin- gus management for their decision to axe the connection.

Mike Spellacy from Shannon, who used the service regularly for busi- ness before his recent retirement, described the decision as “dreadful. People will just stop doing business with this part of the country. No-one is going to come here unless they can get in and out in a day and, whatever chance there is of British business connections finding another way, if people need an onward connection, they just won’t be able to get it.”

“Crazy. Lunatic. Absurd. It’s not like they’re losing money. These flights are bloody expensive yet you still have to book weeks in advance,” said Michael Ryan, who travels sev- eral times a year to see family in Tip- OLEAN

He arrived with his sister, Carol and daughter, Rebecca and says that because his visits are for family rea- sons, he will have to find another FN

“From Shannon, I’m in Tipperary in 40 minutes. But Gatwick isn’t at all convenient. I suppose we’ll be coming into Dublin and making our way down.”

Frank Fahy from Mayo makes the journey through Shannon on busi- ness several times a year. “I can’t believe they’re going to close this route. How is anyone going to get from London to the west of Ireland without a Heathrow-Shannon link? It’s a terrible blow to business people who need that connection.”

Frank Fahy from Mayo is a regu- lar user of the route and says that he “can’t believe they would stop flying from Shannon. There’s no way I can use Shannon for business flights if I can’t get into Heathrow.”

Colin Barton, whose family is from Mayo, is living in London and says that he and hundreds of other people of Irish descent living in London will be at a complete loss for getting to the west now.

‘This was easily the most conven- ient way home for me and for a lot of other people living in London.

“By pulling that route from the air- port, Aer Lingus are pulling up the route. And Aer Lingus needn’t think that people will follow them to Bel- fast or Dublin. For business travellers who need to be able to connect inter- nationally, this is terrible but people travelling in their own time will opt for the cheaper carriers.”

Businessman Donan Kelly says he will simply “go elsewhere” to do business instead of going to Galway but added that he is “very angered” at the decision.

Margaret Doyle from Carrick-on- Suir makes a point of flying out of Shannon whenever she goes away and is a regular traveller, currently taking a year’s career break to see the world.

“IT come to Ennis to my daughter’s house and fly out of Shannon but, un- less I can get into Heathrow to con- nect with other flights and particu- larly long-haul destinations, then I’ll have to go from somewhere else”’.

The well travelled grandmother says that she dreads going to Dublin to fly as it’s “such terrible hassle.”

A KILRUSH man who played for 52 clubs in 11 cities and in four countries was honoured by his native county in Chicago last night (Monday).

Hailed a “true GAA legend” PJ O’Dea who played both football and hurling with Clare, Munster and Lon- don was presented with an engraved plaque by the Clare Tourist Council at Chicago’s historic Gaelic Park.

Known affectionately in Chicago as ‘The Man From Clare’, PJ was born in Kilrush and won his first county medal in 1939.

He represented Clare in minor, junior and senior hurling and also played senior football with Clare and with the Munster teams in 1951 and ays

Before moving to Dublin to play with Sean McDermott’s, PJ lined out in attack with Treaty Sarsfields of Limerick collecting both senior

hurling and football winner’s med- als. He then went to England and played with the Holy Rosary club in Birmingham and won an All-Ireland hurling medal with Warwickshire. From there he immigrated to the US where he played hurling and football in Toronto, Los Angeles, San Fran- cisco and New York City.

He finally settled down in the ‘Windy City’ with his wife Mary.

Despite the many injuries he re- ceived during his 30-year playing career, PJ lined out for the Chicago- based Shannon Rangers Erin’s Own and St Mel’s club.

The Chairman of Clare GAA Michael McDonagh described the Kilrush man as a “stalwart of the GAA in America’.

“PJ O’Dea remains a proud west Clare man to this day and the entire county is delighted to see that he is finally being officially recognised for his invaluable contribution to the

GAA.”

Speaking during the function at Gaelic Park, Mr O’Dea said he was honoured that a delegation from Clare had travelled to meet with members of the Irish community in Chicago.

Mr. O’Dea added that his love for Gaelic Games went with him wher- ever he travelled and that he re- mained passionate about hurling and football.

Commenting on a playing career that spanned three decades, he ex- plained, “Medals were not important to me, I was just happy to have my health and play the games.”

According to Cllr. Flan Garvey, Cathaoirleach of the Clare Tourist Council, “PJ is seen as a father-fig- ure by Chicago’s Irish population, in particular by people from County Clare. He has worked selflessly for decades to assist the many thousands of Irish people who have travelled

to this area in search of new begin- nings. He is also highly regarded by Chicago Mayor Richard M Daley.”

“PJ never misses an All-Ireland at home and travels every year. He 1s considered by many as the sports- man supreme and is one of the great- est living ambassadors for Gaelic Games and the Clare Tourist Coun- cil feel strongly that PJ should be honoured by his native county,’ he said.

PJ was presented with a piece of sculpture that included an inscrip- tion from the poem “The Spirit of the Bannermen”’.

“We have household names who have played our games, from the Burren to Doon Lake, George Com- erford, Considines, Goggles Doyle, Jimmy Smith and Larry Blake. We had Tommy Doyle and PJ O’Dea, Jordan’s dash and dare. With spirit of the Bannermen, in the storied County Clare.”

ALMOST 500 pilots at Aer Lingus are to stage a two-day strike next week in protest at the airline’s plan to employ pilots at its new Belfast base at lower pay rates.

Next week’s strike will affect all Aer Lingus services.

Staff at Aer Lingus in Shannon are “furious” at the way they heard of the loss of the Heathrow flights, and are now concerned that the transatlantic flights will follow the same fate.

Workers say they first heard ru- mours about the loss of the slots from Dublin.

‘Mike’, one of the employees who did not want to publish his full name, checked the Aer Lingus website.

“On the Thursday night/Friday morning, I checked the Aer Lingus website. Normally, it goes way ahead into next year.”

He picked the date of March 30, 2008, which is in the summer sched- ule, but could not get a flight out of Syat-vepeleyey

“The proof was already on the Aer Lingus website that Thursday,” he PHO

“It also wasn’t available on the Shannon Airport website, so who told who what is a very intriguing Lb a (eye

“It was a done deal by the time we were advised of it officially on Tuesday morning here at the meet- ing,’ said Geraldine Morrissey, who has more than 30 years’ experience working with the company.

There is still no summer schedule finalised for transatlantic flights ac- cording to staff, and they now fear that the Chicago route 1s at risk.

“We have huge concerns over the Atlantic. We could be in here in a few months’ time, hanging on with our fingernails to the last airplane leaving the airport. That is what we will be doing,” said Brian Slattery, ground operations.

The Quin man who has been work- ing with Aer Lingus for 16 year said he was concerned about “unhelpful, misleading comments made by Min- ister Dempsey”.

“Firstly Minister Dempsey has stated that we may be ‘exaggerating the crisis in Shannon caused by Aer Lingus’ decision to axe its Shannon- London-Heathrow route’.

‘He is grossly misleading the pub- lic with this comment and his opin- ion that another airline may take up the route is without research or fact. The huge cost of any precious slot into Heathrow is approximately 20 million pounds sterling, which would deter any new airline from bidding for these slots, slots which we must stress are very hard to acquire and are under control of the British Air- port Authority,” he said.

The workers argue that Dublin Airport is saturated with flights into Heathrow and that not all of those slots are busy.

“Dublin afternoon slots are always light in load,” according to Ms Mor- rissey, who argued that Aer Lin- gus could have taken one of those flights.

“We place this problem right back at the Government. They promised us they were going to enshrine and protect the slots and they did not do it,” said Padraig Geraghty, Aer Lin- gus maintenance.

The Roscommon man moved from

Dublin to Shannon in 1995 so he could live in the west of Ireland, hav- ing worked with the company since IW e

“We are in trouble too — as Aer Lingus take their services out of Shannon, there will be less aircraft to maintain. They then won’t fly the aircraft to Shannon to do the mainte- nance as it won’t be viable.

“This is just a test case. They cer- tainly will go after slots in Cork and Dublin. This is all about money now. It has nothing to do with the Irish people or the Irish assets. They’ll go from Heathrow to JFK direct, they will do anything, but the slots will leave this country, make no mistake they will go,” he said.

The most senior member of the cabin crew in Shannon, John O’Shea, said, “If they can take slots out of Shannon, they can move the Aer Lingus brand to anywhere else. They don’t have to maintain it in Ireland. It is a private company now.

“And this is the type of arrogance they’re coming out with. This is only testing the waters. This is only a drop in the ocean of what Aer Lingus think they can do. They think they have

CLARE’S most senior politician, Minister for State Tony Killeen (FF), said he does not see the return of the Aer Lingus slots to Shannon unless a new deal is negotiated.

“I haven’t given up hope that Aer Lingus will look at the business ar- gument anew,” he said.

“But I don’t see that Aer Lingus will come back as things stand. It would only come back if it could show shareholders a better business arrangement had been agreed.”

The Minister for State at the De- partment of the Environment pointed to the failure of Aer Lingus manage- ment in its argument that the profit margins out of Shannon were low.

He said that claims of a high load factor and a low profit margin points to the failure of management at the airline.

Minister Killeen said however, “I don’t think we are in a position to rule out options.”

Minister Killeen, who in the early 1990s resigned the party whip over the ending of the compulsory Shan- non stopover, does not believe that

this move is necessary this time.

‘| have seen no evidece that resign- ing by anyone at any level would have services restored,” he said.

New Fianna Fail TD Timmy Doo- ley said he “would reserve all op- tions” when asked if he would resign his seat if the Government did not secure vital Heathrow slot for Shan- non airport.

Deputy Dooley, said, “the Govern- ment has a duty to protect the indus-

trial base of this region. While the Government seems to be indicating a lack of responsibility in the move by Aer Lingus to Belfast, it clearly is a matter for the Government to resolve under its commitment to regional de- velopment.”

“If this requires emergency legisla- tion then this should happen now,” he Sr nKOe

“In order to protect and underpin Government policy on balanced re- gional development and to protect the industry and tourism base of the region the Government must act now to ring fence direct connectivity.”

“The air bridge between Shannon and Heathrow is equally important as the new Limerick Tunnel or the West Link toll bridge on the East Coast.

“The government needs to act ina manner that would take ownership of the access route in the same way as it purchased the West Link toll bridge. This is absolutely critical now in or- der to give confidence and stability to the business community in the mid west region”.

WITH festival season at its peak last weekend in west Clare as Cooraclare, Kilmihil and Kildysart were provid- ing family fun despite the weather, this week sees other festivals com- mittees stepping up a gear for final preparations while others are con- sidering the success of this year’s endeavour.

One of the first west Clare festivals of the summer season was the Pea- dar Clancy Festival. Organisers of this year’s festival, one of the most successful to date, were busy pub-

lishing the final results of the many competitions of the weekend.

The colourful parade showed great enthusiasm and effort by the commu- nity, but there was one that stood out and declared overall winner – “The Dunlock Bay Drug Seizure’.

Coolmeen National School were kings of the sea as they won the chil- dren’s section for “Pirates of the Car- ibbean”. The “Spice Girls” made up of the Normoyle family and friends were awarded for “best effort” while PJ Kelly’s “the Allis Chalmers” won most cultural.

Mike Murphy and friends were

awarded for their “Prison Break” as it was acclaimed the most humorous, with the “Dunlock Bay Drug Sei- Zure’ also winning most topical.

Brendan Price – Moyrala – made it into the “Hall of Fame”.

One parade however did not a fes- tival make.

“Thomas Coffey’s Team won the under-14 fun blitz, with team Clond- rina winning the senior competition. The sports day saw everyone from waddling toddlers to human wheel- barrows winning prizes.

There were crawling races, egg and spoons races for under-13s and un-

der-8s, three-legged races, married men and married women races. There were three bonny baby com- petitions and other field events in- cluding finding the most glamorous granny in the area – Sile Pass. Among the more gruesome of the competitions was the “Bush Tucker Trials” which saw Mike Murphy and Rory Quinn tucking in for success. “The committee would like to thank everybody who helped to make the weekend such a success, especially all the volunteers who worked very hard at the various events,’ a spokes- person for the committee said.

MORE than 300 representatives of the western seaboard’s biggest busi- nesses, tourism concerns, unions and politicians came together on Friday with one message for Aer Lingus — hands off our Shannon slots.

Among the powerful names to con- tend with at a closed but reportedly heated two-hour meeting in the Park Inn at the airport on Friday were GE, Element Six, Westpark, Aughinish Alumina, Digital River and Lufthan- 8

Smaller business interests were also represented. Among these were the Old Ground Hotel and Limerick Travel.

The trade unions turned out in force with representatives of SIPTU, Aer Lingus workers and IMPACT and the Limerick Institute of Technology were also present.

The meeting was also attended by politicians from each of the regions affected, including Minister Moira Hoctor, MEPs Marian Harkin and Sean O’Neachtain, deputies Timmy Dooley, Michael Noonan, Dan Nev- ille, Jan O’Sullivan, John Cregan, Peter Power, Jiummy Deenihan, Tom Hayes and Noel Coonan, as well as elected councillors from Clare, Lim- erick and Tipperary.

A spokesperson for Shannon De- velopment, which organised the meeting, said it was a “mark of the seriousness with which this decision is regarded that such high-profile business people have taken so much

time out to be here in person and the huge attendance is reflective of the concern that people feel on the 1s- sue.”

In a press conference held after the meeting, business and union repre- sentatives announced they intend to form an alliance and elect a steering committee of six key people repre- senting the various sectors to orches- trate a campaign and ensure there is a Shannon-Heathrow route going forward.

Shannon Development’s John Brasil said that the strategic alliance group will look at every possible solution. It will be calling for an EGM of Aer Lingus shareholders to ask that the decision be reversed.

It will also be calling on the Gov- ernment to issue a statement in sup- port of the Shannon Region and it will be seeking to have the Dail re- called.

“Key information in support of our cause is being put together by IBEC and we want everyone affected to write to the Taoiseach and the min- ister,’ said Brasil.

He said that all of the concerns at- tending the meeting were 100 per cent supportive of the decision the fight the ending of the Heathrow slots.

“The overriding concern is_ that we have to find a solution. We can no longer go from crisis to crisis in Shannon’.

Michael Houlihan, lawyer and Chairman of the regional tourism board, said the possibility of mount-

ing a legal challenge to the decision is also being examined.

Brian O’Connell, Chief Execu- tive of Westpark and Chairman of Atlantic Way, said that while it was certain that current jobs are being endangered by the decision, it is the creation of future employment and investment in the region which is also causing major concern.

‘The severance of these slots is the collapsing of a bridge — I am asking the Taoiseach and the Government to re-build that bridge, not just to protect the thousands of jobs in the region but to ensure that we can con- tinue to grow and attract investment and job creation.”

Ken Sullivan of Element Six said that there has been “incredulity” in the business community over the decision while David Silk of Nortel said his directors “see this as being one of the most significant issues we’ve had to deal with since setting up here.

“We bring 150 customers in through Shannon every year. The way we market ourselves with regard to ac- cessibiliity to Shannon via Heathrow is vital.”

Pat Shanahan told the gathered me- dia that the board of Shannon Air- port had met on Friday morning and looked at costs which Aer Lingus have in Shannon.

“If these costs are addressed by Aer Lingus and the airport addresses the landing charges in Shannon, then I believe there is an extra saving of €4 million on the route,’ he said.

CLARE County Council have yield- ed to public pressure and deferred closing the N67 Ballyvaughan to Lis- doonvarna road until after the busy September season in Lisdoonvarna. More than forty objections were lodged with the local authority fol- lowing plans to close the road for ten months, starting in early August. The road, which included Cork- screw Hill and is north Clare’s main tourism artery, will now be closed to

through traffic from October I, and will remain shut until May of 2008.

“Tt had been originally due to start on August 8, but we have now de- ferred the work until October,’ said Joe Spellissy from the road section of Clare County Council.

‘Most of the people who made sub- mission to us said that the main part of their business takes place between May and October. With this in mind we decided that deferring the work on the road would be the most pru- dent thing to do.

Local traffic will be accommodat- ed during the road closure and the council have committed to opening the road during the evening hours whenever possible.

A call had also been made for the local authority to put a stop-go traffic light system in place instead of clos- ing the road but this plan was reject- ed on health and safety grounds.

“It is my understanding that it is not possible to operate a traffic light sys- tem on this road because the road is too narrow. It is for health and safety

reasons,’ continued Mr Spellissey.

“Both emergency traffic and local traffic will be accommodated. In ad- dition to this we hope to be able to open the road between 8pm at night and 7.30am in the morning whenever possible.”

While the road works are in place, a diversion will operate for all non- resident traffic travelling from Bally- vaughan to Lisdoonvarna. The pro- posed route will increase the mileage from Ballyvaughan to Doolin from 14 to more than 40 miles, adding

more than an hour to the daily com- mute time for people living in north Clare and working in Galway.

The road works are to facilitate the connection of the new Lisdoonvarna Water Supply and the North Clare Regional Water Treatment Plant to the Ballyvaughan water supply.

Fears had been raised that the road- works could jeopardise this year’s Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festi- val which generates millions of euro for the north Clare tourism industry each year.

FEAKLE’S 20th birthday celebra- tions were a huge success last week, despite the unsettled weather.

More than 6,000 people came to the village to enjoy the music, the

craic and the activities of the 20th festival in the east Clare town.

‘The numbers are up everywhere we look,’ said festival chairman, Gary Pepper.

On the first day of workshops, Gary said, “upwards of 300 people attend-

ed. We had a festival walk for the first time this year and we planned on having about 20 people, walking a bit then stopping off at a house for a session, a glass of wine and some finger food. 140 people turned up. We had to open a few more bottles of

wine and people were sitting out on the grass listening to the Cajun band playing – it was brilliant.”

Gary said that the festival commit- tee are “delighted” with the grow- ing increase in interest in the annual event, which finishes up today.

The festival featured the cream of trad music, song and dance as well as storytelling and singers sessions.

Posters from the festival have be- come collectors items and a feature of this year’s event was an exhibition of posters from all 20 years, along with an art exhibition on the theme of musicians, by local artists.

The festival committee also launched a special limited edition CD, titled “Reeling Through The Years” to mark the important mile- stone.

Among the artists who featured this year were Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill, Seamus Begley and family, Mary MacNamara, Vincent Griffin and the Tulla Ceili Band.

Top visiting acts this year included legendary box player, Joe Burke, all female band Liadain and singer Elanor Shanley.

“Firmly established as one of the best of its kind in the world, the fes- tival attracts genuine music lovers from all corners of the globe, besides providing a platform for local musi- cians to demonstrate their musical heritage, our festival is noted for bringing together musicians from other traditional backgrounds to share in a unique musical experi- ence,’ said Gary

He added that the “continued suc- cess of the festival is sustained through the hard work of its volun- tary committee, its support from local business and the ever-helpful volunteers. Over the years the festi- val has been instrumental not only in the promotion of the distinctive east Clare music style, which has be- come internationally recognised and acclaimed but also the development of tourism in the region. Many who visit the festival make lasting friend- ships and return annually.”

FINAL preparations are being made for this year’s Annual Connemara Pony Show, which takes place in Clifden this weekend. A large Clare contingent is expected at the show, which takes place this year for the Jes Ke NEN ALon

Organisers of the show have claimed that sales of Connemara po- nies could double over the next five years if a proper marketing plan can be implemented. Marketing the Con- nemara Pony at home and abroad is the primary focus of the Connemara Pony Breeders Society.

In 2006 the three main annual pony sales in Clifden Mart yielded a turno-

ver of €5 million. “This is a fantastic achievement,’ said Tom MacLoch- lainn, President of the Connemara Pony Breeders Society.

“However, with the development of a focused marketing plan we believe that this figure can be increased to €10 million by 2012.

According to Padraig Heanue, Manager, Clifden Pony Sales, there iS an ever-increasing interest in the Connemara Pony from a sales per- spective. This year sees the biggest ever entry for a one-day mart with 320 ponies already catalogued for sale at Clifden, this Friday, August 17.

‘There is a very good mix of fillies, in-foal mares, riding ponies, broken

and ridden geldings and young colts from one year upwards. Guide price for a young mare in-foal is between €7,000 and €10,000 while riding ponies, broken and ridden geldings four years and upwards fetch be- tween €3,200 to €5,500,” he said. The temperament, stamina and versatility of the Connemara Pony marks it apart as an unique native breed and a desirable animal for multi-purpose use. The week-long schedule of events from August 13 to 17 includes a mixture of in-hand, performance and educational events that highlight the potential and dis- position of the Connemara Pony. Events throughout the week include loose jumping, dressage demon-

stration and the new worker hunter classes where the ponies will be challenged over a particular course of fences.

A new stallion list will be launched on August 15 while the highlight of the week is undoubtedly Show Day on August 16. Apart from the pony events there will also be a dog-show, domestic arts show, Irish Dancing and a photography competition.