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yester- day that the statement put forward by east Clare organisation Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) was both “inaccurate and misrepresents Coillte’s position’. “The reality is that Coillte are cur- rently conducting a comprehensive

and detailed review of the sustaina- bility of its forestry activities on sen- sitive western peatlands in a project called the Western Peatland Project,” he said.

“The results from this review clearly show that the vast majority of coniferous plantations owned and managed by Coillte along the west coast of Ireland are in fact commer- cially, socially and environmentally sustainable.”

“These plantations will continue to provide much needed sources of income and work to local rural com- munities now and in the future.

“The review also indicates that a significant area of coniferous planta- tions along the west coast of Ireland are on sensitive western peatlands and may be more suited to alterna- tive management practices which do not involve commercial timber pro- duction.

“Research in this area is ongoing and definitive decisions regarding Coullte policy will only be made in the light of increased scientific knowledge and in consultation and agreement with the Forest Service, other relevant statutory bodies and stakeholders.”

A ONE-WAY traffic system is being considered for the town of Scariff to ease the traffic congestion which is blocking the streets there on a regu- lar basis.

Councillor Colm Wiley was told, in answer to a question he posed at last week’s area council meeting about means of alleviating the snarl-ups, that various methods are being con- sidered. These include making the village one-way, putting down double

yellow lines and introducing parking restrictions at pressure points.

“There will have to be negotiations locally about a one-way system. There can be a lot of resistance to that. But we would also hope that a new shopping complex development which is coming on-stream for Scar- iff will provide extra parking,’ the councillor said.

He added that he is also asking the local authority to buy up land if it be- comes available to create parking for the town.

Meanwhile, the councillor was giv- en good news in relation to a number of problems in Tuamgraney.

Recent severe flooding near the school had created a hazard for cars and pedestrians alike, Councillor AAU CCA Yat BCG

He was told by Council Engineer, Sean Lenihan, that the problem was with a stretch of drain which had col- lapsed underground, leaving the wa- ter nowhere to go.

This is to be repaired in the near future, the engineer said.

‘“l’m very pleased to hear this. There was a considerable amount of water on the road near the school which was terrible for people trying to avoid getting soaked and a hazard for cars that had to drive through it.”

And ugly, heavy wires to provide street light will soon be redundant in Tuamgraney, Councillor Wiley was Ke) (en

The overhead wires and their poles are to be decomissioned in favour of underground wiring and silver metal lampstandards.

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who has com- mitted a string of offences in Shan- non got “a sharp shock” when he spent two months in custody, his so- licitor told a court.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to damaging a car and a number of of- fences relating to the theft of alcohol.

He admitted entering the Shannon Knights pub as a trespasser and steal- ing alcohol and crisps, last October.

On another occasion, he entered the same premises and stole five bottles of vodka and three cans of red bull.

He also admitted stealing €40 in cash from a house in Shannon in No- vember and stealing a mobile phone from Texaco, Shannon, on Septem- lo mPA NE

Defending solicitor Eileen Whelan said her client was using drugs and alcohol at the time of the offences.

She said that a Probation report on the accused, presented to the court, was very positive and concluded that he should be let back into the com- munity.

Ms Whelan said that teachers, psy-

chiatrists, psychologists and various social workers have come together to recommend the boy be put back into the community, albeit under a very strict regime.

‘He has been caught in time. One would hope he would turn out to be a decent citizen,” added the solicitor.

‘He has been in custody for two months. He doesn’t sleep well. He is frightened of it. He’s got the sharp Shock that he needed,’ she added. She said her client would be willing to move out of Shannon, if he was ordered to do so.

Inspector Tom Kennedy, prosecut- ing, said the State would not wish to stand in the way of progress.

“If these recommendations can be advanced, I wouldn’t oppose that,” |atemncrc (On

Compensation, to cover the dam- age to a car and the cost of the stolen items, was presented to the court.

The boy was remanded on bail, with conditions attached, including that he comply with the conditions of the Probation services, sign on daily at Shannon garda station, abide by acurfew and stay away from two named youths in Shannon.

FINE Gael leader, Enda Kenny, told his party delegates that the Fianna Fail/PD coalition is a Gov- ernment of waiting. Waiting for hospital beds, waiting for care for people with disability, waiting for justice for victims of crime.

But on his first public appearance at the Ard Fheis in Citywest at the weekend, it was Enda who kept the faithful waiting.

To a tremendous build-up from the podium and a standing ovation from the delegates, the doors of the conference chamber were thrown wide open for Enda to make a grand

entrance. And there he was, gone!

The only form which filled the doorway was that of a startled hotel waiter, who was all but blinded by press photographers’ flash bulbs as they tried to capture what should have been a dramatic moment.

The leader had missed his cue to bound purposefully through the door. Eh…..opps!

To ripples of embarrassed laugh- ter, the doors were closed again and the paparazzi re-focused. It was to be another three minutes before the Fine Gael boss actu- ally arrived to deliver his opening speech on how, in Government, he would put an end to waiting.

PLEAS have gone out to Clare Coun- ty Council to put safety measures in place at a school before a car ploughs into a child.

In a chilling warning to the local authority, principal of Scoil Mhuire National school in Meelick, Dan Gra- ham, said it will be “too late when a four-foot coffin is being lowered into the ground and people are laying flowers on the roadside. Something is always done after a tragedy but that will be no comfort to a child’s griev- TbOrcap ec Ree DOA VAM

The entrance to Scoil Mhuire Na-

tional School is situated on a deadly bend, where cars regularly slam into rele emelealss

Some years ago, a driver was killed when his car went out of control and hit the front gate of the school.

The tragedy happened during the summer when there were no children around but Dan fears that a similar tragedy “is waiting to happen when children, staff and parents are walk- Tbeycaelel mae

“The road is used as a rat-run by motorists rushing to work and throughout the day. All it takes is for a five-year-old to step out and, between the poor visibility and the

speeds these cars are doing, that will be it. Over.”

The school’s request for a lollipop lady has been turned down. “I’ve been here 23 years and this needs to be tackled now. It’s urgent and if there is a fatality, then the council will be responsible,” the principal said.

Dan says he cannot understand why neighbouring Parteen National School “has all kinds of safety mark- ings and precautions, which is what should happen. Yet they are on a side road and we are on a very busy main road and we can get can noth- ing done”.

Local councillor, Cathal Crowe, 1s

a teacher at the school, which has 15 staff and 146 pupils.

He is calling on the local authority to put a footpath and safety railing in front of the main gate.

‘Almost three years ago, flashing lights were erected approximately 100 metres either side of the school gate. These lights tell the law-abid- ing motorist to slow down but they do very little to protect the school chil- dren and passing pedestrians from speeding cars,” he said.

“I feel that a footpath running the length of the bend and linking the school to the church would go along way to making the road safer for all.

ALLEGATIONS that the family of an Ennis heroin addict have been intimidated by a drug dealer were made in court yesterday.

The claim by an Ennis solicitor came in the case of Cathal Mulcaire (25), who was sentenced to four months in jail, after he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin, for

sale or supply, on May 25 last year.

Ennis District Court was told that Mulcaire, of Apt 1, Chapel Lane, En- nis, brought a bar of cannabis resin – valued at €1,750 – on a bus from Limerick to Clare, with the intention of exchanging it with a dealer for four bags of heroin.

His solicitor Tara Godfrey said the incident arose from her client’s ad- diction to heroin.

“My client would have gone to Limerick for the bar of cannabis, to give to his suppliers for the purposes of getting the four bags of heroin,’ said the solicitor.

“He obtained this bar of cannabis, not for the purpose of supply, rather it was to get the heroin which he craved so badly,” she added.

Garda Stephen Hession told the court the accused co-operated with

the investigation, but did not tell gardai who the source was.

Ms Godfrey said, “My client was in fear in relation to the source. The people who were to have received this bar visited his father, his brother and his elderly grandmother. His father eventually came up with the money and had to pay. The entire family were intimidated.”

Judge Joseph Mangan asked Inspec-

tor Tom Kennedy, prosecuting, was that the first time this allegation had come to the notice of the Prosecution. Inspector Kennedy said it was.

The judge asked, “Can I take it it will be fully investigated?” and was told it would be.

He jailed Mulcaire for four months, to run consecutively to a ten-month term he is currently serving for an- other offence.

CLARE’S four Fine Gael general election candidates are confident that between them they can bring home two seats for their party.

At the weekend’s Ard Fheis, Councillor Joe Carey raised the is- sue of Open Skies when he spoke on a motion on regional develop- eetoolm

He told a packed room that the present Government were using a “scattergun” approach to regional development.

“Did anyone ask Dell or any of the multinationals in the west whether they will stay in Ireland when Shannon no longer has year round daily flights to the US after Open Skies? This Government is giving no supports to Shannon,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cllr Pat Breen says that his party’s emphasis on health and law and order issues at the con- ference comes from the feedback from the electorate.

“Just look at Ennis General Hos- pital. We still don’t know whether were going to have a 24-hour A&E department. We’re told plan- ning permission has been lodged, but it’s obvious nothing is going to be done before the election.”

The Clare councillor added that he is “looking forward to the elec-

tion campaign” and said he is con- fident of Fine Gael taking two seats in Clare.

Cllr Tony Mulcahy said that he believes Fine Gael are now ready to provide “credible opposition” to the Fianna Fail/PD coalition.

Cllr Mulcahy also believes that Shannon is among the important issues in Clare and wants to see Shannon supported into a position where it can break away debt free.

“Once there is an agreement in place with the unions what is vital in securing European business is an early morning and late evening connection with Dublin. We need same day accessibility. I don’t see why Shannon could not avail of a re- gional grant for that route under the Public Service Orders funding.”

Madeleine Taylor Quinn said it was “a most energetic, enthusiastic and positive Ard Fheis”.

She added that Enda Kenny gave “a commitment by Fine Gael to bring our public services up to the standard of the economy, its lays out exactly what the people of Ire- land can expect from a Fine Gael Government”.

The Fine Gael leader believes it is time to end the era of broken prom- ises, and for politicians to step up to the line and take responsibility for their actions in Government.”

production.

“It enabled the musical society to make the gesture to the college, one that constitutes a huge contribution to the culture of music there and to the experiences of the students in- volved,’ a spokesman for the college Sr AKOe

“The east Clare region boasts a rich heritage of music-making that has been carefully nurtured and handed down from generation to generation, so that it is still intricately woven into the fabric of life in the area,’ the spokesman added.

“The college is endeavouring to continue this tradition.”

This is bourne out by the fact that music 1s an integral part of the cur- riculum at the college. Up to fifty students currently study the subject at either Junior or Leaving Certifi-

cate level.

And “Music World’, the college of music founded in 1999, which pro- vides tuition in a variety of instru- ments, continues to thrive, with more than 100 students of all ages taking part in the various programmes on offer.

The 265 students, their teachers and support staff returned to their newly refurbished building on February 12 after being in temporary accommo- dation on site for the past 18 months.

The €2.5 million roof replacement and general refurbishment was un- dertaken for health and safety rea- sons after an asbestos roof began to leak. Said Sean Daly, principal, “We had buckets in the corridors gathering the rainwater. It called for a complete redesign of the roof, and

we were very lucky to have Terri as the architect. The way it has been designed has brought so much more light into the building.”

As well as replacing the roof, the school has replaced all the floor cov- erings. The practical rooms have been refurbished and re-equipped, and all the furniture has been replaced.

As an added bonus, the school gained an extra car park, when the temporary car park created while the work was ongoing was turned into a permanent one.

THE 37th Anniversary of the Kil- murry Ibrickane/North Clare Ath- letic Club and the Michael Egan Me- morial four mile road race attracted a very big turnout of athletes.

Gerry Ryan, Galway City Harriers, retained his title for the third year in a row and ran three seconds faster than last year with a time of 19.42 minutes. In the ladies race Veronica Colleran, Ennis Track Club, record- ing a big win in 24.04 minutes.

Over 100 competitors went to the start and over the first mile Seamus Power, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, led out with Gerry Ryan, Gal- way City Harriers, on his shoulder. SSCA ootlMmOebne lcd cMmOloMBEDuciMm DODD (omBDD 5.05 minutes with Dermot Galvin, St John’s a few metres off the lead.

Gerry Ryan made his way to the front and turning off the Miltown Malbay Road he began to pull away from Power.

Ryan was always looking to make a big move and he went through the two mile mark in 10.10 minutes, the three mile mark in 15.15 minutes.

With the wind to his back and all down hill to the finish he put in a blistering last mile to take this title for the third year 1n a row with a time of 19.42 minutes.

Seamus Power ran a good race to finish second in 20.06 minutes, with the 2003 champion Galvin, St John’s, making a great recovery over the fi- nal two miles to take third place in 20.30 minutes.

Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare won the team title and the Michael Egan Shield with Seamus Power, Donal Howley, James Kenny, Tho- mas Garrahy coming in for a total of 47pts.

The masters O40 title went to Pat Nugent who finished in the top ten with a time of 22.05 minutes.

The O45 title went to TJ Whyte, Tuam, in 22.51 minutes and a close second was James Kenny, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, with Michael Quinlivan, Tulla, third.

The O50 title went to the man in top form, Eugene Moynihan, Mar- ian. Hew was ninth overall with a winning time of 22.00 minutes. The O55 title went to Martin McEvilly,

Galway City Harriers, with Roger Rush, Tuam, winning the O60 title.

Donal Howley, Kilmurry Ibrick- ane/North Clare, once again pro- duced another big performance in the junior mens race to cross the fin- ishing line in 13th place.

The ladies race is always very com- petitive with over 30 ladies going to the start.

Veronica Colleran, Ennis ‘Track Club, set out at a very fast pace and went through the first mile in 6.06 minutes. Moving along nicely as they made their way into a slight head wind Sue Garrahy, Kilmurry Ibrick- ane/North Clare, Marian, Burke, St Mary’s, Ann Murray, Mayo, Sharon Rynne, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, were all working hard.

At the two mile mark Colleran had gone well clear and had the rest of the field strung out behind her.

Colleran produced a strong per- formance from start to finish to cross the finishing line seven seconds faster than 2006 with a time of 24.06 min- utes with the master O40 Munster road champion Sue Garrahy taking second place in 26.57 minutes. Third

was Marian Burke in 27.18 minutes.

Ann Murray, Mayo, captured the masters O35 title ahead of Michelle O’Mahoney, Kilmurry Ibrickane/ North Clare, and Hilda O’Connor, Ennis Track Club.

Rose Enright, St Mary’s, won the O40 title in 28.20 minutes from Marie Fennessy and Christine Or- gan, both Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare.Maura Falsey, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, was the lead- ing masters athlete O45 with Hannah Kelly and Bernie Kelly, both Galway City Harriers, second and third. The O50 title went to Cushla Murphy He- hir, Marian.

The junior ladies race saw Sharon Rynne, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, running her first ever four miler, produce a professional per- formance with a winning time of 27.56 minutes from Becky Hand, Dooneen.

Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare ladies team placed well to take the team title with a total of 26pts. Sue Garrahy, Sharon Rynne, Michelle O’Mahoney, Maura Falsey scored for them.

CLARE’S Green Party election can- didate Brian Meaney has slammed Fianna Fail this week claiming the ruling party is dipping into green policy in a bid to secure easy votes ahead of the upcoming election.

He branded what he termed Fianna Fail’s “new found interest in envi- ronmental issues” as a “cynical at- tempt to court the electorate at the A CoAYoraln el ele) en uae

Councillor Meaney then reiterated his party’s stance at national level saying, “Fianna Fail can try to steal our clothes, but they’ll never fit”, and pointed out that exactly a year ago Taoiseach Bertie Ahern addressed the Dail and said, “I am not respon- sible for the state of the planet”.

“It’ll take more than Dick Roche offering to change the light bulbs to convert Fianna Fail to the green agenda. Members of Fianna Fail must realise that their Party requires

root and branch reform 1f it 1s to seri- ously address environmental issues. For ten years they have ignored the need for change, and now with ten weeks to an election, Bertie Ahern is attempting to hoodwink the elec- Keyes Koni

He highlighted a number of local issues that he says show the current Government have not got green pol- icy at heart.

“Under Fianna Fail’s watch the En- nis CIE freight yard was allowed to

close and this further clogs up our roads. Not only that, Ennis Town Council is still pumping raw sew- erage into the Fergus which is no longer considered worth fishing in by serious anglers. The water in En- nis is unreliable and we have regular boil notices. There is not a metre of cycle path in Ennis and we’re the tenth largest town in Ireland. How can the two Finna Fail TD’s in Clare allow this to happen?”

He said that while the Green Party

welcomes a move towards green policy at all levels, he feels recent declarations by Fianna Fail are merely symptoms of “chameleon- like behaviour rather than conver- sion to the cause. In the space of a year we have watched Bertie Ahern mutate from republican to social- ist, and now he’s going through his environmental phase. One can only be deeply cynical about his attempt to wrap the green flag around his

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