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SATURDAY proved that the Gods must be smiling down on Tony Con- sidine at the moment.

After seeing his Clare team top their qualifying group, narrowly beating favourites Galway along the way, Considine even avoided the re- lentless downpour which marred the Opening stages of the Laois game on Saturday after being barred to the stand after what he admitted himself was “an altercation in the Antrim game’ and instead had the luxury of watching his other mentors feel the brunt of the apocalyptic attack. And it was this severe deluge which he attributed to Clare’s inconsistent performance after the Laois match on Saturday.

“It was a desperate game really but the conditions were absolutely brutal. I suppose it was a day for lifeguards really, it wasn’t a day for hurling. It was like a day at the beach or some- thing. I’m glad I wasn’t on the field today because I kept dry but the hur- leys were twisting in the guys’ hands when hitting the ball. I know we missed a lot of frees and we missed them last week as well and that is a major concern but I suppose at least we were getting shots in. Basically, we wouldn’t beat anyone like that. Let’s be honest, it was a poor game.”

Considine and his fellow selectors have had to endure some serious se- lection headaches in recent weeks due to a mounting injury list and again on Saturday, Clare were required to make two further alterations to the starting line-up due to injuries to Kevin Dilleen and Gerry Quinn sus- tained in the Galway game.

“It’s a major concern about Kevin, a major concern about Bernard Gaff-

ney. Conor Plunkett had an injury and Fergal Lynch had an injury so you don’t like fellas getting injured coming into the championship. If you have to have injuries, I suppose you would prefer them early on in the year but we tend to be getting them now so hopefully things will improve but I would definitely rule Gerry Quinn out at this stage, I don’t think there is any hope.”

So now that Clare have topped the eroup to qualify for a quarter-final place against neighbours Limerick, surely he feels that Clare are finally where he wanted them to be at this stage of the season?

“I didn’t want to come this route | can tell you, I wanted to go the other route but we are now in the quarter- final and I suppose that’s where we wanted to be but look, we are com- plete outsiders. You would have to say that today with a performance like that. You know, there are eight teams left in it now and we are prob- ably the outsiders of the eight at the moment but we will have to improve an awful, awful lot on the perform- ance of today. Everyone was saying that last Saturday was a bad enough game as well and maybe the 1m- provement will come in a week or two, I don’t know.”

It is debatable whether drawing neighbours Limerick in the quarter- final was the most desirable option but regardless of that fact, Clare can have no better assessor of Limer- ick hurling than the Cratloeman in preparation for that match as Consi- dine spent two years as manager of Limerick side Garryspillane, guid- ing them to a senior final in his first year in 2004 before clinching the club’s first ever senior championship in 2005.

“T had a couple of great years in Limerick hurling and I suppose they are like ourselves, they are trying to make the breakthrough as well. Lim- erick have been the team of the year in the Munster championship so far really. They have played very well, they had three terrific games with Tipperary and they went down then and played Waterford and I don’t think they were a nine point worse team than Waterford. No way at all. I suppose only in the last five or six minutes that Waterford just got a few goals and Limerick lost their way a bit. But Limerick are a really good team and at the moment, you would have to say that Limerick are com- plete favourites to win.”

An additional intriguing ingredient to the mix is that Considine could well have been on the opposition bench on July 29 as he was offered the role as Limerick manager last October and only after a failure to agree final terms with the county board, Consi- dine was offered the Clare manager’s position in an attempt to guide Clare in a new direction.

“We won’t talk about that now,’ he said. “Everybody knows about that but look, there is a good man- agement team in Limerick now. Fair play to them, they have done a good job this year and it will be a great occasion when Clare and Limerick meet. It’s always a great occasion. As I said at the Galway game last week, there will be houses divided. I should know, I even have family divided for the Limerick game.”

Let the real games begin.

PEOPLE who live in rural areas all their lives are being turned into urban dwellers who can’t get permission to build homes, it has been claimed. Speaking on a motion he tabled for last night’s county council meeting, Cllr Joe Arkins(FG) said that people, “who have been brought up and lived their lives in rural areas, surrounded by green fields are being urbanised because this council has drawn a line around their homes and re-zoned.” The councillor wanted the county

development plan interpreted as, he Said, was discussed with a former senior planner, to ensure that people who enjoyed the status of local rural person status should not have that status “eliminated by virtue of re- zoning the area of their birth”’.

The councillor said that much of the land which had been rezoned “will not be developed in the lifetime of this plan. Meanwhile, sites are sell- ing for figures that resemble foreign mobile phone numbers. It’s virtually impossible to buy a site.”

Councillors supported the motion

and detailed how people who had lived in the country could not now get planning permission to build if they wanted to build even a few hun- dred yards down the road.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) described it as, “absurd that a person can have a line drawn around them and be told they are urban when all around them are green fields”.

Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) said that when the council had origi- nally discussed the issue “we were conscious of people coming in and buying up land. Now we have a situ-

ation where local rural people are be- ing actively discriminated against.”

In a reply to the councillors motion, planners said that the result of doing as the councillors had asked would be “to remove any need for any land- owner to show they have current links with the rural community.”

Replying at the meeting, senior planner John Bradley said that what councillors had asked of planners in the past was “to be consistent”.

“You don’t want us flip-flopping. You want to see consistency in deci- sions,” he said.

A TEAM challenge tackled by a Corbally family showed that there ain’t no mountain high enough to stop Clare people.

The four-strong team trekked 75km across the Kerry Mountains, with an enthusiasm that won them Best Team Spirit in the Challenges 4 Charity (C4C) Kerry Challenge 2007.

Trish McElligott, Fanchea Molo-

ney, Michelle Moloney and Pa Molo- ney are local heroes this week after their terrific feat. But the four have more than just teamwork to be proud Oe

They also raised money and aware- ness for this annual event that fund- raises on behalf of DEBRA Ireland and Fighting Blindness.

The trek, which wove through the Kerry Way, Beara and Dingle Pe- ninsulas, tested even the fittest of

the 42 teams taking part. “But each kilometre was met by spirit and en- thusiasm, making for an unbeatable atmosphere,” a spokesman for the event said.

The measure of events success 1s in the €68,000 raised by participants. This money will go to the medical research teams and support groups funded by both charities, and will have a significant impact on their work.

Next up is the sister to the Kerry Challenge, the Wicklow Challenge, taking place this coming September 14 to 16. This event dubbed “Trek with a Twist’ includes fun-based tasks in addition to an extensive three day trek through Glendalough, the Wicklow Way and Powerscourt.

To register or find out more about the event, phone O01 677 6856, go online to www.c4c.ie or e-mail info@c4c.ie.

A NEW International Tour of Ireland Cycle Race was officially launched on Friday by Mayor of Ennis, Tom- my Brennan, at a reception held in the Town Hall.

The race, which passes through Ennis on Friday 24th August, will complete stage 3 of the route at Sta- tion Road near the Old Ground Ho- tel. Stage 3 will also bring cyclists through Kilaloe, Tuamgraney and Moymore.

Approx 112 riders will compete in this five-day nationwide event, tak- ing place from 22nd -26th August. The 864 km race begins in Kilkenny

and will pass through areas of Cork, Kerry and Clare before moving on through Galway.

The event will also bring the cy- clists through many other parts of the South, West and Midland Ireland before, on the 26th August, the vic- torious winner will arrive at Dublin’s Merrion Square.

The event, promoted by The Events Group in association with Shade Tree Sports and substantially funded by Failte Ireland as a means of show- ing the countryside of Ireland as a world class sport and tourism venue, will be covered live on television in a number of countries and will feature some of the top teams and riders in

the world. The race has been ranked 2.1 on the European Tour by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), the world governing body for cycling.

Top European teams have already signed up to enter the inaugural tour including David O’Loughlin and Ci- aran Power (both Navigators Insur- ance), and the successful Irish based Murphy and Gunn team. Invitations have also been extended to other Irish professionals who are part of successful professional teams in Eu- rope and in the USA including Philip Duignam and Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole), David McCann (Coalvita) and current Irish road race champi- on, Paul Griffin (Giant Asia).

PLANNING issues once = again threatened to overshadow last night’s meeting of Clare County Council with councillors engaging in a half hour long shouting match about plans to conduct an audit of planning pro- cedures at the local authority.

Following a heated debate in coun- cil chambers, it was decided that a cross party committee would meet before the next meeting of Clare County Council and draw up the boundaries in which an audit could take place.

Concerns were raised by council- lors as to whether an audit was the best way to proceed and also if any audit could be completed before the next local election.

“I could say to the county manager he doesn’t need any audit, I could bring him in the car up to north Clare and show him houses built that should not have been built.

“T’m all for change in the planning process but we have been promised this over and over again,” said Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind).

Clare’s planning authority was de- scribed as being “an emergency situ-

ation” by north Clare Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) while Labour’s Pascal Fitzgerald raised fears that the audit would take in excess of two years to complete and that the coulcil was “going around in circles’ on the is- sue.

Responding to these remarks, May- or Patricia McCarthy (Ind), said that no planning files would be ommited from the investigation by the auditor.

“The purpose of the audit is not to pick which cases to examine and which ones not. Every file would be examined by a specific person and that person would give us a report,’

she said.

“At least we will have something solid to talk about. An academic would quickly be able to look through the system and find out if files were missing.

“We need to try and find a balance between what the elected members and the planning officials are saying.

‘However, I did not say that all discussions on planning would stop while this was going ahead.”

Delegates are now to be chosen for an eight person cross-party commit- tee to decide how the audit will oper- a1 Ken

THE Tuamgraney Development As- sociation has condemned the lack of progress by Clare County Council in addressing serious problems with water, pathways, road surfaces and safety in the town.

Association PRO, Margaret O’Meara, said that although resi- dents have raised over €91,000 to- wards local improvements the au- thorities have not been as generous in addressing long-term issues.

Council representatives were invit- ed to a public meeting last Tuesday but were unable to attend. Instead, Senior Executive Engineer Sean Lenihan, outlined upcoming work in

“NO molset-n ee

The email advised that a collapsed pipe causing “flooding opposite Has- setts” had been indentified for repair, further footpath repairs are depend- ent on funding and resurfacing and signage improvement will soon SEC a

It added that tenders for a water/ sewerage scheme will be decided later this summer but as it will cover several areas it 1s up to contractors where and when it will start.

He offered to arrange a meeting ata later date and Ms O’Meara acknowIl- edged this but added that phrases such as “in the coming weeks” were too vague.

“The road surface is appalling and

at the meeting we had a slideshow of 64 photographs showing potholes and dangerous footpaths. There is inadequate signage for our one-way system among other things. An au- dit by the national school showed that over 100 heavy goods vehicles pass by it a day and there is no pe- destrian crossing and no proper sig- nage. We’re afraid some child will be killed.”

Businesses have also complained about water pressure, sewerage and minor issues like the irregularity of road sweeping.

She added that there have been “mixed messages” about work and problems have arisen such as a traf- fic island having to be continually

moved- issues that could be avoided if plans were made “in consultation, not in isolation”.

TDA Chairman, Damien Heaney and other voluntary groups are call- ing for less “reassurance” and more action.

“The council have said that coun- cillors will collaborate with us and they are. Some work has also been done but there 1s still no proper time- frame or budget. We feel that there should be a concrete plan. It’s very frustrating because we have devel- oped the memorial park, done land- scaping and put up fences and signs. Everyone is trying to do the best for the village that they love,’ said Ms O’Meara.

TWO. separate developments op- posed by local residents in Doolin have been refused planning permis- sion.

Clare County Council refused plan- ning permission to Finbarr Tierney to develop six permanent homes. The planning authority also expressed “serious concerns” in relation to a proposed hotel extension in Doolin.

In their opposition against the planned 20 bedroom extension to the existing Tir Gan Ean Hotel, which also includes four new holiday homes, local residents stated that ad- ditional holiday homes in the village would result in a “dead” settlement for much of the year.

The objection also claimed that “there 1s no need for more holiday homes or for more long term rental properties in Doolin at present. There are already 65 holiday homes built or in the process of being built.”

‘Further development is premature in the absence of public sewage sys- tem… acting on the precautionary principle, the development is prema- ture. We have no objection in princi- ple to the hotel extension when the public sewage system is installed,” it added.

In putting the proposal on hold,

the council stated: “The planning authority has serious concerns with regard to the design and height of the proposed development and its proxi- mate location to the adjacent build- ings to the south-west. Please submit revised plans.”

Separately, the council refused planning for six permanent homes at Coogyulla in Doolin, which was also opposed by local residents who claimed that the proposal was premature in the absence of public sewerage facilities. Residents also argued that there is an over-supply of holiday homes in the area.

The proposal was refused on a number of grounds including con- cerns “with regard to the high water table and the poor percolation prop- erties of the soil on this site, it 1s con- sidered that the proposed develop- ment site would be unsuitable for the disposal of domestic effluent.

“Having regard to the suburban design and layout of the proposed dwelling units, it is considered that the proposal would be out of charac- ter with the existing pattern of devel- opment in the vicinity and of future occupants.’

The council also ruled that the “proposed development would set an undesirable precedent for other such developments in the area”.

THE Ballyduff Beg Liaison Com- mittee are to receive advanced notice of all reports relating to the Central Waste Management Facility in Inagh, it was decided at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council.

This is following the circulation of an independent report on odour

levels at Ballyduff Beg, which was released by Clare County Council to the elected members of the council and the media but not to the liaison Loy nebeeblatoton

“We have had an ongoing problem with odour in the area and most of the community liaison meetings are taken up with discussions on the mat- ter. I was disappointed that a copy of

the report was not there at the last meeting, we are supposed to be mov- ing on this in a spirit of partnership,’ said Clir Joe Arkins (FG).

‘The press had it but the local com- munity did not, that is the issue. If this had been made available to the people of the committee I would have been able to be better informed. Anything that we have that is perti-

nent to the operation of the landfill should be circulated to the laison committee.”

Independent Lisdoonvarna council- lor Martin Lafferty called into ques- tion the same consultant being used by Clare County Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct separate environ- mental audits at Ballyduff Beg.

“The same company is coming back after doing our report are now doing another report for the EPA. I’m not saying anything about this com- pany but consultants can often give a report that reflects favorably on the opinions of the people who are pay- INOTSMn alos pe RMN A CoMCT- BOE

‘Tribute has to be paid to the ac- tion committee in Inagh. At the be- ginning they were laughed at about it but a lot of their fears have proved to be true. The committee has to com- plimented on their vigilance.”

Responding to the motion, Sean Ward of Clare County Council said that odour was the one significant issue that still remained with Bal- lyduff Beg. He also revealed that of- ficials from the local authority had recently visited dumps in Laois and Offaly to study how odour was dealt ALAN Neo KoR

It was also confirmed that plans were in place to use the gas produced by the landfill as a potential source of fuel in the future.

FROM humble beginnings in 1951 in Killaloe, the South East Clare Show has grown to be 1n the elite company of the top ten shows in the country.

And while the show didn’t go ahead in Killaloe after 1957, it has run for 17 years now at it’s revival location in Bridgetown.

Details of this year’s show, which will be held on July 22, were re- vealed at the launch last Friday night and it promises to be a great family and community day out.

There will be 24 classes in the horse show event, which is being or- ganised by Caitriona Bourke. This includes five all Ireland qualifiers and the Limerick lady champion 2007 qualifier.

The 27 classes in the cattle sec- tion are in the hands of Conor Hayes while Michael Hayes is looking af- ter the very popular dog show event. This will have 13 classes including the Gain dog food all Ireland cham- pionship qualifier.

A new addition to this year’s show will be the vintage classic cars, ably

steered by Joe English. Mary Spei- ght, Bernie English and Kate McAu- ley are looking after the home indus- tries section.

There will be nine classes for youngsters as well as lots of fun at the Little Miss and Bonny Baby com- petitions as well as a fancy dress.

And there will be music and carni- val fun for everyone to enjoy on the CEMA

And if any excuse was needed to put on the good frock for the day, there will be a prize for the best dressed lady.

Launching the show, chairman Pat Hayes said that the committee “would like to thank the landowners. Without their help, the show couldn’t go on. We would also like to thank all our sponsors, particularly our main sponsor, Tom Marsh.”

THE knee was heavily bandaged, but it didn’t cost Gerry Quinn a thought as he took on the role of sideline mo- tivator as this game went down to the wire.

Sligo’s Eamon O’ Hara did the same in the Connacht football final the fol- lowing day – kicking every ball after injury forced him from the fray.

Quinn pucked every ball, just like he had when he was out on the field. It was the Corofin/Clarecastle game all over again. That day Quinn was immense at centre-back — he was the same on this day as Clare finally drew a line under the controversies that have dogged their years so far.

That was the gospel according to the vice-captain after the game as he reflected on a new dawn for the team. “After everything that’s happened this year, that win out there was a great boost for ourselves. That vic- tory has put all the past and what’s happened behind us, it’s onwards and upwards.

“We have our fan base again, peo- ple are back behind us and I think beating Galway in the park couldn’t have been much sweeter for us.

“We didn’t perform against Cork in the Munster championship and we knew that there was a lot more in us. Today proved that we have a good team and we’re still in the champion- ship. That’s for sure.

“Going into the game we knew we had nothing to fear from Galway. There’s nothing there that we hadn’t seen before. There’s nothing new We uer

“Overall we knew we were every bit as good as them. The goals came at the right time for us, especially Gilly’s goal.

“We’re aiming high. There’s no reason not to. We are among the top three or four teams in the country. Who knows where we can go from here. We still have a lot of work to do, but it was much better from us. Now we have to finish the job on Sat- urday and beat Laois.”

Quinn aims to be there, wounded knee or not.