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THE 220 people who attended the Ennis Chamber Annual President’s Dinner in Dromoland Castle on Fri- day night heard a spirited defence of Shannon Airport from Chamber President John Madden.

Mr Madden called on all public representatives and election candi- dates to secure from the Govern- ment the promised debt-free status for the airport, along with the nec- essary marketing budget to allow the airport to succeed in an Open Skies environment.

He said he is hopeful that airport staff will accept the revised restruc- turing offer. He stated that if the restructuring package is agreed, Government must then guarantee that Shannon is properly and rapidly constituted as an independent entity with debt-free status, as promised in crystal-clear language by the former Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan.

“The marketing plan proposed by the Mid West Regional Authority must then be agreed by Government. This includes the provision of €44 million for marketing the airport and a further €9 million for route devel- opment,’ he added.

He also said that the Chamber is actively promoting the concept of a Festival Co-ordinating office for En- nis, and expressed concern about re-

cent closures of businesses in Ennis.

Guest speaker was Mary Ann O’Brien, of Lily O’Brien’s Choco- lates, who was awarded the title of Image Businesswoman of the Year this February.

Ms O’Brien spoke about the work of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation,

which she and her husband Jonathan Irwin set up to provide help for fami- lies with children up to the age of four who have severe developmental delay and require extended care.

The Foundation, a registered char- ity, raises money to provide care and acts as an advocate for the families.

The inspiration for the Foundation came from their son Jack Irwin, who was born healthy in 1996, but suf- fered an invasive trauma two days later. There were no services to care for him, and the family looked after him at home with the help of many JGuLOILO KS

In the past 10 years, the Foundation has helped over 700 children. Cur- rently it is assisting eight children in Clare and 11 in Limerick.

Auctioneer Philip O’Reilly spoke about the work of Gorta, the Free- dom from Hunger Council of Ireland, which his company 1s supporting.

Mr O’Reilly then held an auction to raise funds for both charities. In the space of a few minutes, the eight items donated by local and other companies were disposed of for €6,500.

TRIBUTES were paid last week to Mary O’Loghlin, former teacher and musical inspiration at Scoil Mhuire in Ennistymon, who retired from teaching last June. Mary returned to Scoil Mhuire one last time last Fri- day, where she was presented with a painting to mark her retirement.

Over the last three decades, Mary has been heavily involved in the mu- sical development of Scoil Mhuire. She has inspired countless musicals and recitals and put many students on the course to a lifetime of musical enjoyment.

“Mary was ahead of her time. She exposed us to a variety of musical

styles. She crossed musical bounda- ries, experimenting all the time, and I think that this was her most precious attribute,’ said a former student.

“No-one was better at finding, ex- pecting and demanding brilliance. Thank you, Mary, for the lifelong love of music — the welcome release from the books and the precious school memories.”

As a young teacher, Mary arrived in Ennistymon with a vision of a school which nurtured musical talent of the young.

“The magnitude of Scoil Mhuire’s musical achievement under her lead- ership is well known — year after year, her utter fearlessness in taking on enormous tasks, or at least tasks

that seemed enormous to the rest of us, was quite amazing,’ said Scoil Mhuire teacher, Mary O’ Flaherty. ‘As the absolute excellence of the end-product was of paramount im- portance to her, she demanded the highest standards in musicals which could only have been described as amazing. Though there were a few hell-raising moments for us of little faith, the students followed her with doe-eyed devotion and delivered out- standing performances.’ Throughout her career, Mary had a dedication which was recognised by all the students who learned under her. Indeed, months after her retire- ment, she 1s still involved with the musical development in the school,

helping to prepare the school choir before they sang at a tribute night to Irish Olympiad, Ronnie Delaney, in Dublin last December.

“We practiced in school, at her home and in dingy backstage rooms,’ continued one former student.

‘At competition, when she appeared before the choir, it was without sheet music. She had the uncanny ability to control the entire choir with one hand.”

IRELAND will host a major Agri- cultural Biotechnology International Conference for the very first time in August of 2008.

The conference, which was an- nounced by Teagasc last week, will provide a forum for internationally renowned speakers to address the challenges facing the global biotech- nology industry.

The contract to securing this event for Ireland was signed over the week- end by Professor Jimmy Burke, Head of Teagasc Crops Research Centre.

“This conference offers a great platform to showcase our grow- ing life sciences industries. Various technology Foresight reports for Ire- land have identified biotechnology as one of the core technologies which our country and Irish industry must now embrace,” said Mr Burke.

‘These reports have also identified the agri-food sector as one that can benefit significantly from the tre- mendous potential offered by mod- ern developments in biotechnology.”

The conference will be the largest agricultural biotech conference in the world in 2008 and provides a unique

opportunity for Irish academia and business sectors to discuss the issues, options and challenges being met by the biotechnology industry.

“The four-day event will offer par- ticipants the opportunity to exchange ideas and hear from a distinguished line-up of internationally-acclaimed speakers,’ continued Mr Burke.

“The conference combines the business of science with the latest discoveries and trends in research and technology development, and gives the research and business com- munity opportunities to meet and ex- change ideas. Sessions on the chal-

lenges and opportunities experienced in Australia, Europe, the US, China and Canada will bring a global per- spective to the discussions.

“Environmental and biofuel ap- plications of biotechnology are also very important. As a world class conference, ABIC 2008 is a must-at- tend event for the industry and those interested in it.”

The venue for next year’s Agricul- tural Biotechnology International Coyote seo enUs) (Oem sllmoom im OLS Campus in Cork City. The confer- ence will run from August 24 to 27, PAU eyes

ESSENTIAL road safety work and the creation of a park-and-ride serv- ice for Doolin were the main topics up for discussion at a public meeting held in the village last night.

Local politicians and non-elected members of Clare County Coun- cil were invited to attend the meet- ing, which was organised by Doolin Tourism Committee.

Speaking ahead of last night’s meet- ing, Niall O’Dwyer of the Doolin Tourism Committee outlined some of the main topics up for discussion.

“There is a huge volume of tourists coming to Doolin every year, far more than a lot of people would believe. We have been neglected by Clare County Council,” said Mr O’ Dwyer.

“There is a need in the short term

for some emergency road works to take place. The roads are very dan- gerous, some areas have no speed limit and tourists are afraid to walk on the roads in the evenings. There has been a number of near misses.”

Clare County Council are currently awaiting the granting of a foreshore licence from the Department of the Environment before work can com- mence on a planned sewage system in Doolin.

A three-year delay in the granting of the licence has prevented the local authority from undertaking repairs on the Fisher Street area of Doolin where damage to footpaths and roads is now causing a health and safety hazard.

“We are waiting to speak to the council and see what their view on it is,’ continued Mr O’Dwyer, before last night’s meeting.

‘There are plans for the creation of a park-and-ride service from Doolin and Liscannor to the Cliffs of Moher and we want to see what the council’s views are on that and how it will be operated.”

The Doolin group has received Support from a number of local county councillors who have asked representatives of the group to make a presentation to the next local area meeting of Clare County Council.

“I would be calling on the council to put temporary works in place, for the safety of locals and tourists,” said Cllr Martin Conway (FG). Regardless of whether they will have to be dug up again in 12 or 18 months, some essential works are needed now.”

For a full report on last night’s public meeting, check out

WHAT was once nothing more than a distant memory, is now becoming a reality in North Clare as basketball is once again capturing the imagina- tion of the whole region. This week, hundreds of people, young and old, have been taking to the court in dif- ferent events as the big ball once again takes hold.

Gone are the heady days of the 80’s and National League Basketball but in their place the Clare Cascaders are beginning to emerge.

The reformed junior club has gone from strength to strength over the last two years and now boasts more than 120 members drawn from all over the north Clare area.

“We started in mid September with an introductory coaching course, some teachers and some parents. For

the first time this year we participate in the north Munster League at U-12 and U-14 boys and girls. We have six really dedicated coaches who put an awful lot into the club,’ said coach Mary Gleeson.

“The are coming from Inagh, La- hinch, Lisdoonvarna and Kilshanny down as far as Corofin and Kilnaboy. There is huge potential for clubs to be set up all over Clare. A group of kids from Kildysart came to us won- dering how to go about setting up a club. We helped them as best we could and they have now secured a hall that they can play in. We would like to encourage clubs to be set up all over the county and to help in whatever way we can.

“There is a great social element to the club as well. We have run a few teenagers disco which have been hugely successful. We’ve never had

any bit of trouble from any of the kids. Not at discos, not on trips away. They are involved in every part of the club. They have a real ownership of the club.”

After weeks of competition, the Cascaders emerged victorious over the Leopards in the final of the Lor- can O’Connor Cup which took place on Friday.

Meanwhile, the 15th Annual Frank Gallery Memorial Basketball Tour- nament will take place this weekend at the Ennistymon Community Cen- tre. The tournament commemorates the memory of Frank Gallery, who was a pivotal member of the Clare- mont Admirals national league club in the 80’s.

The initiation of the Frank Gallery tournament in 1992 has helped to keep alive the relationship between former team-mates and the memory

of Frank who died tragically in a car accident.

The clubs juvenile section will play for the Frank Kilkenny Memorial trophy on Saturday, for which former players will return from Poland, Ro- mania, Lithuania, Latvia, England, Canada and Australia.

The action will begin at 12.30pm and will be followed by a presenta- tions and buffet at the Falls Hotel.

Anyone interested in starting a club in their own area can telephone Stephen Leigh at 065 7071729.

IT WAS a mixed week for the Min- ister for the Environment, Dick Ro- che, as hours after he announced that an agreement has been reached on a management protocol for planting in areas that are important for the hen harrier, it emerged that the Na- tional Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) has secured a judicial review against him for the alleged failure of the State to prop- erly transpose EU measures for the conservation of birds.

Under the EU Birds Directive Ire- land must designate areas important for particular types of birds as Spe- cial Protection Areas (SAPS). The

National Parks and Wildlife Serv- ice (NPWS), had been considering a number of areas as possible Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas.

Last weeks agreement sees 6 ar- eas being granted Special Protec- tion Areas status including parts of Clare and Galway around the Slieve Aughty Mountains. There is a rela- tively large population of hen har- riers in the Slieve Aughties, with a smaller population located in parts of West Clare.

‘The agreement reached within the Working Group represents a balance between good and sensible environ- mental practice and legitimate desire for sustainable development in these areas,’ said Minister Roche.

“I fully expect that the EU Com- mission will recognize and value the consultative approach that has taken place here and the commit- ment shown by the Forest sector to the conservation requirements for hen harrier.”

Clare General Election candidate, Tony Kileen (FF), also welcomed the decision. “The Slieve Aughty Moun- tains, a common hunting ground for endangered hen harriers, will shortly become one of six areas across Ire- land to be designated as a SPA.”

“The protection of the species has always been a matter of concern for environmentalists and the National Parks and Wildlife Service due to the high level of forestry activity in

the area. However, the introduction of an annual quota of new planting will ensure greater protection for the native hen harriers while allowing for the sustained development of the region.”

Meanwhile, the National Asso- ciation of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) secured a judicial review against Minister Roche last week for the alleged failure of the State to properly transpose EU measures for the conservation of birds.

They claim the High Court action has been brought to stop the licensed hunting of the red grouse and several other protected wild bird species out- side of the game hunting season and during their reproductive cycles.

THE Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Michael Starrett, has called for the immediate introduction of a management plan for the Burren.

Mr Starrett was reacting to a report outlining the damage being done both to the ecosystem and archaeol- ogy of the Burren as a result of the marked increase in scrub encroach- ment in the area over the last number of decades.

“IT am calling for the urgent intro- duction of a national landscape man- agement plan for places like the Bur- ren, The Tara Skryne Valley and the Cooley Peninsula,’ said Mr Starrett.

“Urgent action needs to be taken to manage these changes as they have an incremental effect which is dev- astating to the delicate landscape and ecosystems of the Burren.”

According to the report hazel and blackthorn scrub encroachment in the Burren is increasing at an esti- mated annual rate of 4.4 per cent. The report also found that scrub was found to be damaging sites at a structural and sub-surface level and putting historically and environmen- UIA ARo PRSTLO ROMS Ihr: B LSS

The study called for a proper land- scape-level management plan for the archaeology of the Burren to be put in place and a full archaeologi-

cal survey of the Burren to be con- ducted at an estimated cost of €1.25 million.

At present the BurrenLIFE organi- sation is undertaking the largest ever clearance of scrub ever undertaken in the Burren.

Meanwhile, the Burren Trust has called for a more strategic approach to the management of the Burren to be taken.

The organisation has this week is- sued a call for submissions on the merits of a more integrated, long term, strategic approach to the man- agement of the Burren.

The conservationist organisation is calling on locals to review a docu- ment entitled

THE newly-appointed head of the Ennistymon Garda District is to meet with publicans in north Clare, in an effort to stamp out public disor- der in tourist towns during the sum- nerosupesleyelaeny

Carlow native Noel Clarke has suc- ceeded Eamon Dolan as Ennistymon Superintendent.

This is his first job in rural polic- ing, having been based in Dublin throughout his career in the force. He spent the past 11 years working in the Crime and Security section of Garda Headquarters. Prior to that, he worked in the Central Detective Unit and also worked 1n Coolock and Dalkey.

Public order issues emerge in re-

sorts like Lahinch and Miltown Mal- bay during the summer and the new Supt is acutely aware of this.

“We are not against people enjoying themselves but they have to respect the views of others. It is my intention Komp Oe leroy SUNOM Ab O1B OCS ucEaWLeler FIN (OO Ts and proprietors of licensed premises and discuss how we work together on reducing the problems of public order. It will be all of us working to- gether, not them and us,” he said.

“Our job is to prevent it and when we detect it, we bring it to the courts. The courts here and Judge Mangan have taken a strong line and we real- ise that. That is encouraging and that is what people want and expect. We don’t have a major public order prob- lem, but we have public order issues. Publicans have a responsibility and

we have a responsibility. It is a part- nership approach,” he said.

He is satisfied that sufficient re- sources are at his disposal, to deal with any issues that may emerge.

“We review policing on a weekly and monthly basis,” he said.

The new Supt is also mindful of the fact that many suicides have taken place in the Cliffs of Moher over the years.

“We have to be prepared for those issues. We will police it and we will deal with everything that comes along. If somebody decides to com- mit suicide, we are there on behalf of the Coroner to meet with the vari- ous agencies and we will put those in contact with the deceased rela- tives. There is very little we can do to prevent that type of action. They

are high profiled and get a lot of pub- licity and are tragedies for families. We have to deal with it as sensitively as we can,” he said.

He is keen to ensure gardai in his district continue to maintain a good relationship with the public. “The most important thing here is cus- tomer satisfaction and public confi- dence,’ he said.

Supt Clarke is one of a number of changes to garda management in Clare, in recent months. Chief Supt Gerry Mahon, Supt John Scanlan (Ennis) and Supt Declan Brogan (Kilrush) have all taken up their posts since the start of the year. He has worked with all of them previ- ously. “It is not as if I am a stranger coming to work with strangers,” he said.

A MAN who stole a bottle of port and a can of cider from a pub in En- nis has been jailed for 30 days.

Polish national Piotr Baran (31), of Mill Road, Ennis, Baran pleaded guilty to entering Cruise’s bar, Ab- bey Street, Ennis, as a trespasser, with intent to stealing alcohol, last Wednesday, March 28.

Garda Andy Monaghan told the court he arrested the accused at the Queen’s Hotel, Ennis, at 11.20am that morning. When charged, he had

nothing to say.

Defending solicitor Gearoid Wil- liams said his client has a serious drink problem.

He said he went into the hotel and this particular bar was being cleaned. He went behind the bar and took a bottle of port and a can of cider, val- ued at €7.40.

Judge Joseph Mangan said he would remand the accused in custo- dy to appear at Ennis District Court on Friday.

Mr Williams replied, “I am charged with stealing €7 worth of drink.

The €7 wasn’t even lost. The door was open, I went in… it is so minor it would be entirely inappropriate to remand (the accused) in custody.”

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a four month jail sentence. The solici- tor asked for this to be suspended.

“This man has just taken €7 worth. The facts that have been proved against him is he did this… A person with a clean record gets four months bear no ee

The judge later reduced the jail term to 30 days and fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.

RELIEF is in sight for residents of Aughanteeroe after Ennis Town Council approved a flood protection scheme for the area.

Residents living in the area had cam- paigned for a barrier to be installed at the rear of the estate. This followed concerns over the ease of access to a section of the river Fergus.

The new measures were unani- mously approved by members at last night’s monthly meeting of the coun- cil. They include the construction of an embankment or reinforced con- crete wall to facilitate flood defence requirements along the boundary of the Aughanteeroe housing scheme

along the River Fergus. The 450-me- tre structure will include the provision of a new railing along the top of the proposed embankment.

The report prepared by Barry and Partners indicates that the project is necessary to protect the housing es- tate and environs from the estimated design flood.

The council received one submis- sion from Mr John O’Connor who proposed that the “western end of the new barrier should be a reinforced concrete wall topped with a steel fence similar to that used in other parts, thereby preventing children from ac- cessing the river’. He also queried whether the “contractor engaged to cut grass be reluctant to bring equip-

ment on the embankment”.

In response, the council stated that “the two points made are reasonable and, pending approval of the scheme, the two points will be raised with the consultants who are dealing with the detailed design of the scheme with a view to dealing with them as effec- tively as possible”’.

Town Engineer ‘Tom Tiernan told members that the project would go to tender as soon as possible.

He said, “We will monitor from time to time, even though it is not in the public charge. We will keep an eye on it.”

Councillor Frankie Neylon (ind) praised the positive response of the council to the matter.