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TALK of internal dirty tricks have left a slight cloud over the celebra- tions of Clare Fine Gael this week- NOR

With no specifics given, the 1s- sue became apparent late on Friday evening at the count centre in the West County Hotel.

During her interview with local ra- dio station Clare FM shortly after her arrival Fine Gael candidate Council- lor Madeline Taylor-Quinn alluded to all not been well among the Fine Gael candidates.

She poignantly paid tribute to her county council colleagues, candi-

dates Tony Mulcahy and Joe Carey.

Later in the interview when asked if there was a dirty tricks campaign, the seasoned politician said, “No doubt there was an element at certain levels, but it is not the place to go into it now.”

She refused to be drawn on the issue later in the night and again yesterday (Monday), but she did not retract her accusations. The former TD refused to be drawn any further on the issue.

Re-elected TD Pat Breen was ada- mant that his party colleague was not referring to him.

When he arrived in the West Coun- ty, he told waiting reporters that he had fought a clean campaign.

“I don’t know what Madeleine was on about. I don’t think it was me,” he Said.

Four candidates running in the four-seater Clare constituency had caused inter-party difficulty from the SFB

Both Deputy Breen and Cllr Tony Mulcahy had been selected at con- vention last May, with Cllr Taylor- Quinn and Joe Carey added by head- quarters at a later stage.

Deputy Breen publicly opposed the strategy, but he had to admit that the it worked when he was returned with running mate Joe Carey.

“My view was that a two or three candidate strategy was the best thing

to win two seats. My task always was to get two seats for the party and on this occasion the four-candidate strategy has worked well, because independent candidate James Breen lost so many votes.

“It’s astonishing that someone could lose over half of his first pref- erence vote. It goes to show you that no seat is safe.”

When asked how the strategy im- pacted on her election result, Cllr Taylor-Quinn said, “With four candi- dates one knew that the vote would be divided up.”

She said she was happy however that the party had increased its vote in Clare by 11 per cent.

AS the Hunt Season comes to a close this weekend, one north Clare trainer can look back at a very successful last few months over the fences. In his debut season as a trainer, Tub- ber’s John Staunton has made great advances, winning a number of com- petitions along the western seaboard from Cork up to Galway.

John has hunting in his blood, as both his father and grandfather schooled him in the art from a young age. With horses always around, it was no real surprise that the training came so naturally to him.

“We had a couple of thoroughbred. I started off with my own and then a couple of lads asked me to take on theirs. It started just a year ago so it

is happening very quickly,” he said.

“T ran two horses properly this year but I had a couple more getting them ready and a few breakers that prob- ably won’t run until the harvest. Pier Deal won the point-to-point up in Bellclare, which is up near Tuam and Volcanic Rock won down in Cork.

“The competition that Pier Deal won would have been against horses from all over Galway and Sligo, the competition in Cork was an open competition so any horse of the right age could enter. So there was good competition in both races. It’s hard to win any race with a horse.”

John has developed a technique for getting the best out of his horses by training them up in the heart of the Burren.

“It’s the same as any sport, you get

them as fit as you can. You start them off slowly, build them up and then get them as fit as possible. After that you school them, get them jumping fences. We try to school them in as many different places as we can. You could school them at home but the more places you go to the better. It smartens them up, makes them better able to tackle different situations,’ he Cr HTOR

“We would usually start off with the road work. About six weeks of road work and build it up from there. You can see when they are starting to get fit and then you need to go away to school them from there. The more places that you can get them schooled the better. There’s no point having them fit if they can’t jump.”

John is in the process of complet-

ing a number of new features at his stables including a walker, sheds and a two and a half furlong long glass gallop.

“It’s a all weather glass gallop for exercising the horses. Even around here the rock is too sheer, in the win- ter time the horses would be cutting into it and they might get injured. It’s about 2 1/2 furlongs all the way around it,” he said.

“It has been a big investment but if you are going at it you have to go at it right.

FITZPATRICK & Co are currently selling a Retail Unit in the Bru na Sionna development in Shannon, Clare. In a superb central location adjacent to SkyCourt Shopping Cen- tre and within easy reach of Shan- non International Airport and Shan- non Free Zone, Bru na Sionna when completed, will consist of approx. 230 residential units, 11 commercial

units and car parking.

Under construction by Paddy Burke Builders Ltd. and available through Fitzpatrick & Company is a 205 sq. m. prime ground floor unit with full planning permission for Retail use.

The unit will be ideally located within the Bru na Sionna develop- ment with adjacent parking.

For further details, please contact Rory Fitzpatrick at 061 361118.

IT HAS been almost a century since the Kelly family began selling peri- winkles and seagrass to holiday makers on the Kilkee seafront and the tradition remains strong today as the stall prepares for another hectic SLebeavenoe

Frank Kelly, one of the third gener- ation to keep up the family tradition, said that his grandmother was one of the first to sell the local delicacy.

“My grandmother, Katie Kelly and a friend of hers called Ellie Halloran, started the stall nearly a hundred years ago now. At the time they were using pony cars and they would push

them up to the beach with a white sheet thrown over the contents. They sold the periwinkles to customers from the back. There would have been very few people in the business at that time,” he said.

He said that he believes the starting year to be the year that the Titanic sank, 1912.

“My father, Michael Kelly who was a local councillor for 20 years, took it up after his mother. I have been running the stall now for 20 years as well and I hope that my niece, Nora Kelly who helps me out on it now, will take it over after me.”

Observing decades of change from a prominent spot on the strand line,

Frank described the transformation of Kilkee.

“The town has really changed be- cause of all the new buildings. I think that it’s not as good now because it’s more expensive. In the summer years ago, the town used to packed every day and not just weekends.”

The Kelly stall, the longest in busi- ness in Kilkee, has had many famous customers according to Frank’s col- lection of photographs.

“Richard Harris was a great friend of mine. He used to come and see my grandmother and he knew all my un- cles. Anytime he came to Kilkee he would drop by. The storyteller Ea- monn Kelly and Phil Coulter and his

wife have been down,” said Frank.

‘Winkle picking can be a hard slog in peak times but Frank hopes to keep the tradition going for another 100 years.

“We pick them up near Loop Head and other places and cook them in the family home. We pick the seagrass locally and dry it under the sun. We go out either very early in the evening with the tides and it is tough work. It has always been a family thing and I hope my niece will carry it on. That was my grandmother’s wish before she died.”

MORE than 200 farmers could be forced off the Rural Social Scheme in Ireland before the end of the year, according to a survey released last week by the ICMSA Rural Develop- ment Committee.

Chairperson of the ICMSA Ru- ral Development Committee, John O’Donnell, stated that he believes the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is a crucial measure for rural Ireland.

The scheme, which was introduced in 2004, helps to maintain farming in certain parts of the country. This is done by providing income sup- port to farmers who are currently in receipt of long-term social welfare

payments. It has also enhanced rural communities, through maintaining and improving local amenities, as well as delivering a range of other OMIA one

“Although there are over 200 on the waiting list nationally, in cer- tain parts of the country there are as many as 20 on the list, which would mean that 20 farmers could be forced to step down from the RSS in a sin- gle county,’ he said.

“The Leader companies _inter- viewed confirmed to ICMSA that they have stopped recruiting partici- pants for the RSS to avoid increasing the waiting list.”

O’Donnell also explained why over 200 participants in the scheme could

face the chop. The RSS is based on the FAS Community Employment Scheme and has many of the same terms and conditions.

‘Participation in the scheme is on an annual basis and the individual must therefore continue to be eligible for the scheme annually.

“However, 1n an area where there is a waiting list, after spending three years on the scheme, an individual could be forced to leave the scheme to accommodate the waiting list. Since the scheme has been in opera- tion since 2004, this is the first year that we will see this clause being UEtere

“The RSS has become a crucial scheme for the 2,600 families partic-

ipating in it and the rural communi- ties that they live in,” he continued.

“The earnings from the RSS now constitute a large proportion of these 2,600 familie’s household income. A certain level of dependence will have been built on this income and the threat of taking it away from some of the participants is not acceptable. Some RSS workers have also built up a certain level of social dependence over the last three years working on the scheme.

“When these factors are coupled with the huge benefit that the scheme has delivered to rural communities, there 1s a very strong argument to actually increase the places on the scheme.”

THE tourism season has been ex- tended by two weeks, members of Kilrush Town Council have been told.

They were listening to a presenta- tion from marketing and develop- ment officer, Siobhan Garvey or what has been done to promote the town and boost tourism.

She told the meeting that it has been officially recognised that the season has started early, “about two weeks early. The tourist information office is going to open early this year

to facilitate the visitors”.

The town council also plans to re- print 50,000 copies of an updated brochure featuring local activities, sights, accomodation, restaurants, pubs and service for visitors as well as giving them a handy map of the locality.

The brochure is being provided as a partnership project with local tour- ism providers and the Town Coun- cil.

The brochures will be ready by the end of the month, she told council members.

Among the other activities which

Siobhan has been involved in were re-developemnt of the town website, www.kilrush.ie which is expected to go live by the end of the month, she told the council.

Kilrush was also represented at the London St Patrick’s Day parade and literature for the town was available on the Shannon Development stalls at the Holiday World Shows in Bel- fast, Dublin and Limerick.

A postcard is also being produced with CANTATA funding promoting nine heritage centres in Clare and offering discount for visitors to the na Kehe

Kilrush adverstisments have also been included in national tourism publications including

THE spring has hardly had a chance to get its feet under itself but the summer show season is rearing its head over the horizon. The tradition- al first show of the year takes place in Ennistymon over the bank holiday weekend and preparations are al- ready well under way.

The North West Clare Agricultural Show, which will take place at the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon on June 2 and 3, has been going from strength to strength in recent years.

‘“Ennistymon has always been re- garded very highly in the horsing circles. It comes so early in the year

that it can be a very important show to win,’ said Maurice Harvey.

“If they win at Ennistymon, it sets them up for the year. They get a good name and it can lead to them winning more and more throughout the year.

“The quality of cattle has been in- creasingly steady in recent years but the quantity hasn’t. The show has been able to attract cattle from as far away aS Mayo and the quality is ex- cellent. The flip side of this is that it tends to discourage some of the lo- cals from taking part.”

Closing date for entries in all cat- egories 1s this Thursday, May 24, and no late entries will be accepted.

“The showjumping will take place

all day on Saturday. The biggest at- traction of this will be the Amateur Derby which is sponsored by West Clare Saddlery,” continued Maurice.

“This offers prizes all the way down to sixth place and will be the real highlight of Saturday. It is a very exciting competition.”

The show is celebrating its 31st an- niversary this year and a number of interesting new additions look set to draw a large crowd, both of exhibi- tors and the general public.

“Along with the agricultural sec- tions, there are also a lot of other sections for people. The children’s art competition has been a great suc- cess 1n recent years so, for the first

time, this year we are going to open up that competition to all ages. We are very hopeful that this will prove very popular,” continued Maurice.

The show, in its current guise, has been taking place each year since 1976 but an annual agricultural show has been in existence in Ennistymon since 1960.

For more information, contact show secretary Josephine Blackwell at 7071121.

THE tourism stock of east Clare of- ficially soared this week, as one of the finest waterside walking routes in the country was formally opened in picturesque O’Briensbridge.

Some 16 km of walkway, and a number of shorter routes, were for- mally unveiled to the public at a joint celebration by the O’Briensbridge Community Group and Shannon De- velopment.

The route has been painstakingly and lovingly carved out by the lo- cal voluntary group over four years with the assistance of State, semi- State, local authority and voluntary financial support at a total cost of €222,000.

Many walkers and athletes alike have already grown to love the set- ting that begins and ends in the vil-

lage and in between meanders along the banks of the Shannon before joining the Errinagh Canal.

Speaking at a celebration dinner at the Old Mill Bar, O’Briensbridge fol- lowing the launch, chairman of the O’Briensbridge Community Group Michael Murtagh said that the fin- ished walk now formally unveiled has been a labour of love and well worth the many long hours dedicated by the band of local volunteers.

And he predicted that the walk will be one of the real gems of east Clare tourism over the coming years, par- ticularly with walking holidays now emerging as one of the growth areas of the tourism sector.

“There were times when we were banging on doors looking for fund- ing for this that we thought we would never see this day but now that we have, it has been more than worth

every bead of sweat,” said Michael.

“When you see what has been achieved here you really get a sense of a job well done and it is a tribute to all in our community, not just those in this official voluntary group. This 1s a diamond of a walk and you couldn’t have a better place to start and finish it than in what we believe is one of the prettiest villages in the country, O’ Briensbridge.

He added that without the help of the many volunteers and the sup- port from State and semi-State spon- sors, “this would not have happened and to one and all we say a big thank Wo) ae

The walks — all are colour coded with arrow sign-posts – vary from the longest Green Loop, which travels all the way from O’Briensbridge to Par- Korey mr-H OO mDy-1ee

There are shorter treks within the

system, including the Blue Loop, which links early with the Erri- nagh Canal and brings walkers back around to O’Briensbridge at a total distance of just 5 km The red loop, meanwhile, carries on to the village of Clonlara, returning to O’Briensbridge along the Errinagh Canal in an overall trek of 10 km.

Work on the ambitious project be- gan back in 2003 and has been fund- ed by Waterways Ireland, €27,000; Shannon Development, €11,000; Clare County Council €87,000, Leader Group, €26,000; Conserva- tion Volunteers, €2,000; Heritage Council, €26,000; ESB, <€18,000; O’Briensbridge Community Group, orm OOF

THE HSE Mid West said that it could not comment “at this stage on the out- come of the review” of acute hospital Services in the mid west, “as the re- view is not yet completed”.

In a letter to the chairman of the En- nis General Hospital, the HSE said that as the scope of the review has

been extended to incorporate changes currently underway in primary, com- munity and continuing care services, the completion date has been extended and is not expected to be ready for some weeks yet.”

It was expected that the review would be published in April but the day is now more likely to be late May.

“This review will identify an overall

model of acute hospital care and also take account of developing needs in the area of pre-hospital emergency care and the transformation programme underway in primary, community and continuing care Services.”

An invitation to tender for the review was issued last December and the consultants appointed were Horwarth Consulting Ireland, in association with

SR ed aU Eder ontonlmelo mel Gore Meanwhile, the plans for the develop- ment of Ennis General Hospital were lodged with Ennis Town Council on Monday. The development consists of the demolition of existing single-sto- rey extensions and the original chapel to the rear of the main hospital and the provision of a new two-storey exten- sion incorporating the new A&E unit.

AFTER 20 years waiting for this day a little inclement weather was never going to dampen the joy of the teach- ers, pupils and parishioners of Clon- lara as Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen opened a €1.1 million extension of Conlara National school on Wednesday afternoon last.

The extension, which services one of the biggest rural national schools in the county, sees Clonlara receive three new classrooms, three learning Support rooms, a staff room and an administrative office.

Clonlara National school has grown to house in 2007 a huge total of 334 pupils with 15 teachers and other support staff. Bishop Willie Walshe was on hand to bless the new build- ing in the presence of Father Brendan Cleary chairperson of the board of management along with board mem- bers.

School principal and Clare minor hurling team manager PJ Fitzpatrick said that it was the culmination of many years effort, lobbying and promises that finally led to this great day for the school.

The school has grown to be recog-

nised as one of the best centres of formative education in the region and was in dire need of this extension.

It will service the needs of an ever erowing hinterland population wise. Fitzpatrick thanked the architect Dermot Merry for “the excellent design and management of construc- none

He reserved special praise for the construction firm of Kerlim Building Ltd who went about their business in a “quiet considerate way considering the pupils and staff alike”. The effi- ciency of Kerlim must also be noted according to the school principal as

“the project was finished two months ahead of schedule”’.

PJ also thanked all the local contri- butions that helped to fund the con- struction after the 95 per cent fund- ing was granted from central funds.

After the formalities a reception was held in the new premises for guests and parishioners alike to cel- ebrate another success for Clonlara eynenee