Category: Uncategorized

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

oy aaa

YOUNG SONGBIRDS from Crat- loe National School are raising their voices with children from all over the country to perform in a gala concert. On March 26, more than 350 chil- dren gathered in St Pauls Church in Dooradoyle to practice their songs for the National Childrens Choir. Under the stewardship of conduc- tor Eileen Fitzgerald, the children

hit the high notes with pieces from Beethoven, Mozart, the musicals, Sean nos and even a bit of Abba thrown 1n.

Seven primary schools from coun- ties Clare and Limerick are involved and joining them are Cratloe pupils, Jack Kearney, Maria Sheahan and Gillian O’ Donovan.

All the hard work culminates in a Show in the Concert Hall at the Uni- versity of Limerick.

This year, the childrens’ sweet me- lodious sounds will be heard on May pay

Collette Davis on piano and the Dolmen Quartet are providing the instrumental accompaniment.

The National Children’s Choir has been in existence since 1985. Chil- dren from all parts of the country in fourth, fifth and sixth classes are free to join the choir, where they learn a specific repertoire, and participate in

a regional concert. The objective has always been to foster a love of choral singing among primary school chil- Clone

Also taking part in the gala con- cert are St Pauls National School, Dooradoyle, Tineteriffe National School, Cappamore, Ballylanders National School, Ballyvaughan Na- tional school, Scoil an Spiorad Nao- imh, Roxboro and Murroe National School.

SEVEN first round heats of the Oran- more Maree Soccer Club dominated Thursday’s card where the perform- ances here were very good for this event.

John Sloyan’s Ballycrissane Lass was the fastest of the first round here as she really put on a good perform- ance when running away with heat Web ustee

Nearest on the clock again was the Davy Curtin trained Tom And Gerry who took the last heat of the night in the 11th race. Corker Man in trap three was the early leader but Tom

And Gerry in trap five was always a danger and taking the lead off the last bend this well bred fellow pow- ered on from here to beat Corker by over six lengths in a time of 29.19 seconds. The slow starting Flans Fancy was back for third.

Heat one kicked off in the fifth race and here the Martin O’Brien trained Hotfoot Lorrimer made all to get the ball rolling in this stake. Breaking well from trap three. Hot- foot was chased all the way by trap one Carhue Charmer and trap two Pinegrove Glory, but he was never in any trouble and galloped on to beat Carhue by three and a half lengths in

a time of 29.48 seconds. Pinegrove was just under two lengths back for Wen bKee

Another trap to line effort from Gort came about in heat four as the Noel Mullins trained Malbay Bart in trap two put another career best run to take this one.

Coming away well this fellow shot clear of trap four Salthill Swirl early on and ran on from here to beat him by six lengths in a time of 29.32 sec- onds. The slow starting Pony Mile in trap one was just under two lengths oy: 1O) Qu KO MmnOvE KOE

Evans Machine in trap three came away fastest in heat five and led early

but went slightly off at the second bend where trap one Connemara took over and led down the back straight. Trap five Riverside Spice was third here with Evans in front of him in MUD M OMAR BDA TeAKO Stakes

On the run off the last bend Evans made a go back at Connemara but the Sean Hunt trained tracker held on and took this by half a length in a time of 29.69 seconds. Evans was second with Riverside staying on for third.

A pups 525 saw the Paul & PJ Coon- ey owned Lantern Legacy just held on for this one. Taking the lead by the first bend from trap five Lantern

was followed all the way by Twins Allo who made an effort to get up on the leader on the run for the line but Lantern held on to beat Twins by a neck in a time of 29.94 seconds.

A real close one came about in the second race as the Peter Divilly owned Crafty Presento in trap three took this one albeit in slower style. Botox Blue was the leader most of the ways from trap six followed by Crafty and Waterlane Style in trap four. On the run to the line four of them formed a line and in a good finish Crafty got up there to pip Wa- terlane by a neck in a time of 30.28 seconds.

TWO Fianna Fail councillors are keeping their fingers crossed that a little-known oil company may strike it lucky in remote Siberia. According to Clare County Coun- cil’s Ethics Registrar, Cllr PJ Kelly and Cllr Michael Kelly both have shares in PetroNeft Resources plc. The registrar shows that Cllr Kelly purchased 8,/50 shares, at 32 cents a share, last October, following a con- versation with his Tubber colleague. The registrar doesn’t say how many shares Cllr Michael Kelly has in Pet- ronNeft, but it does state that Cllr

Kelly also has shares in Providence Resources, the Gresham Hotel, Bal- timore Technologies and a pharma- ceutical company called Alltralel. Cllr Michael Kelly was unavailable for comment yesterday. However, Cllr PJ Kelly said that buying the shares was like betting on a horse. “After a chat with Michael, I said that I would take a chance. For the amount of shares I bought, I won’t be getting rich from it,” he said. According to the chairman’s report from the most recent accounts of Pet- roNeft, Mr G. David GaMer said, “It is 18 months since the concept of Pet- roNeft Resources plc was developed

and started to become a reality. Now the company is fully structured and funded, has a clearly defined path to production from the two proven oil fields and has an exploration sched- ule to expand the reserve base.”

The chairman’s statement said that the company was to set out a fast- track to purchase a licence for “one of the best packages of known oil fields and prospects to became avail- able in the West Siberian Oil and Gas Basin in a long time”.

The licenced area is extensive at 4,991 square kms, setting up the potential for a ‘core area’, with long- term production and an extensive ex-

ploration base for future discoveries.

The statement went on, “The first year of the company’s existence has been an exciting time. The next 12 months promises to be equally excit- ing. “By July of 2007, it is hoped that the company will be able to take the decision to begin field and infrastruc- ture development, leading to produc- tion in 2008.”

The only other councillors to have shares in companies are Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG), who has shares in Ballycasey Dev Ltd and Cllr Oliver Garry (FG), who has shares in Ab- bey Contractors Ltd.

COLLEAGUES and friends of Shan- non Town Clerk Tomas MacCormaic gathered last week, to mark his 25 years in his job.

Tomas joined with his colleagues for a night out, under the pretence that the reason for the celebration was the birth of his granddaugh- ter Aoife. Aoife is the newly-born daughter of Tomas’ son Padraig, who works alongside his father at Shan- non Town Hall.

“They decided they would catch me out. The Town Manager Ger Dol- lard raised a glass and said ‘Every- one knows why we are here, except one person…that was me,” laughed Tomas.

A native of Kilkishen, Tomas first began working in Shannon 54 years ago. He worked in the duty free sec- tion of Shannon airport and with tex- tile company Lana Knit for a number of years.

“T cycled in to Shannon for my first three years working in Shannon,’ he recalled.

He and his wife Eithne (who passed away in 1994) had nine children and the cost of rearing them prompted Tomas to take up a part-time post as Town Clerk, in 1982.

“T did it initially to supplement the income. Now I am doing it as a hob- by. I enjoy it tremendously. I wouldn’t do it otherwise,” he said.

“I go to the States every year, with the mayor, as a representative and I

go to different parts of the country. I love it. There are occasions when you have bad days, but there are not Kolo meek DALVOvMnAal sss MMB A oMCT-BLCE

Tomas is very outgoing and his fa- vourite part of the job is mingling with people in Shannon.

‘The best part is working with the community. You feel as if you are doing something with the communi- ty. All of my nine children are living and working in Shannon,” he said.

‘I have seen several changes over the years. The biggest change was in 1959, when Shannon Development was formed and industry came to the place. Before that, it was just the air- port,’ he said.

“The take over by Clare County Council three years ago was a huge

thing for the town and for the coun- cil. Ideally the town should have been given full town council status, like Ennis and Kilrush,’ he said.

Tomas leads a very busy life. He enjoys around of golf and is very in- volved with Wolfe Tones GAA club. He is a former chairman of the Youth Council and has been involved with various residents associations in Shannon over the years.

Tomas was presented with a piece of Genesis, in the form of an owl, to mark the milestone, which he proudly displays on his office desk at Shannon Town Hall.

CLARE’S most prolific jockey, Ki- eran Fallon issued a battlecry this week when he said he was raring to go with the weeks ticking down to his return to the racecourse in June. The six time champion jockey will be allowed race in Britian in early summer having failed a drugs test in France last year.

At present, his licence has been suspended pending a corruption case set to be heard in the autumn.

In the interim, the Clare man is keeping himself fit and ticking over. The break from competitive action may even have sharpened his desire and could prolong his time in the saddle.

‘Towards the end I wasn’t riding as sharp as I can,” he said. “I rode some bad races. In a way, this time might work to my advantage. I had started to feel a little bit bored. I was only concentrating on the big races.”

His omission from the sport at

the moment isn’t the first time he’s courted controversy. In 1994 he was banned for six months after pulling another rider from a horse but his time away has always driven him on to further success. Since then, he’s had major wins on Kris Kin, Ouya Board and Alexandrova.

He said once he gets back to racing he’s going to appreciate the experi- ence a lot more for his absence. “I’m not using any energy now,’ he add- ed. “Maybe because of that I might get an extra year or two more than I would have done had I been going all over the place.”

Fallon concedes that there were moments when he began to worry.

“T was worried at the start,” he said. ‘For one, I didn’t think I would have a job. But now I feel I have so much to look forward to. I have really good people around me and I can’t wait to get back in June.”

He hasn’t long more to wait and racing will be more colourful and competitive because of him.

MINISTERS have raised doubts over the findings of an independ- ent review by Irish Rail consultants, dealing with the likely costs of the Ennis to Athenry railway line.

The review claims that only 600 people a day will use the line and that it could lose up to €12 million in its first five years.

Speaking in Athenry last week, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon O Cuiv questioned the accuracy of the fig- ures used in the consultants report.

“Look at the number of homes which are being built or planned to

be built. 300 to 400 passengers are already using the Ennis-Limerick line, even though there are only two stations open on it at present,’ said elo cODEODISI Kose

“What will those numbers be like when this service into Galway opens up fully, with stops at many stations along the route including Gort, Ar- drahan, Craughwell and the Oran- more station which will also be re- opening?, he asked.

Transport minister, Martin Cullen has confirmed that Irish Rail’s busi- ness case anticipates that the line will lose €2.4 million per annum.

Minister Cullen gave the go-ahead for re-opening the €106 million En-

nis to Athenry rail-link, despite Irish Rail stating that it didn’t meet the eco- nomic criteria required for approval of large-scale capital projects.

‘‘An independent review of the busi- ness case for that project indicated that Irish Rail may have underesti- mated the likely demand somewhat, which would tend to overstate the estimated deficit,’ said Minister Cul- len.

“The extent of the subvention re- quired to meet the deficit will be- come clear when services commence operation. At that stage, the subven- tion required will be determined in the context of the overall subvention requirements of Irish Rail and CIE.

This is determined annually, as part of the estimates and budgetary proc- Con

Clare’s Green Party candidate Bri- an Meaney has called on all parties to continue to support the Ennis to yall ilosst marae eb iten

“It 1s important that the operation of the service is fully supported by government. There is no business that has a model that delivers profits in its first year,’ he said.

“There has to be a long-term com- mitment from all players and I have no doubt that the line north of Ennis will be an economic success and be as viable as the Ennis to Limerick rail line,” he added.

THE IFA looks set to go to war with the Department of the Environment once more over the controversial ni- trate regulations.

Speaking in Cork late last week IFA President, Padraig Walshe, slammed the Department of the Environment for it’s “complete inaction” on the 1s- sue and for failing to introduce the necessary legislation and publish de- tails of the nitrates derogation, which are long overdue.

The IFA President has written to the Minster for the Environment, Dick Roche, calling on him to hon- our the commitment given to farmers in the Sustaining Progress Partner- ship Agreement and to immediately

transpose the nitrates derogation into Irish Law.

“The nitrates regulations limit stocking levels to 0.8 livestock units per acre while the introduction of the derogation would increase this stocking rate to 1.2 livestock units per acre,” he said.

“It is completely unacceptable that the derogation, which was approved at a meeting of the EU Nitrates Com- mittee in Brussels almost five months ago, has still not being signed into Irish legislation today.

“More than over 16,000 farmers are affected by the Government’s indecision on this serious issue and these farmers are now extremely concerned about the cross-compli- ance implications which may face

a etoy00 a

Walshe contrasted the energy and resources committed by the Gov- ernment to Farm Inspections last November and December with the indifference and inaction now being shown on this important issue for Dunno ace

“Commercial farmers find them- selves in a limbo, not knowing the stocking levels they can carry for 2007, even though it is now March and farmers are making herd man- agement and breeding decisions for this coming year.

“Minister Roche must sign the ni- trates derogation into law immedi- ately.”

The IFA leader is due to meet with the Minister for the Environment,

Dick Roche, on this issue early this week.

The issue of nitrates first erupted last year with the farming organi- sation finding themselves at logger- heads with the Department of the Environment over the instigation of strict EU limits on the amount of nitrates and phosphates that farmers elt eter

This resulted in major divisions in the farming community with the IFA and Macra na Feirme withdrawing support for Teagasc over their role in the controversy.

The nitrate scandal also saw the IFA withdraw from the social part- nerships negations before Christmas before eventually returning when a number of concessions were made

THE Clare Community Games Cross Country U1O relays and U13 1200 metres were held on the lands of John and Brid Collins, Kilnaboy, at the weekend. Ennistymon/Lahi- nch/Liscannor captured the girls U10 4 x 250 metres relay with Killenana/ Flagmount taking the boys title.

Laura Egan, Kilmihil, won the girls U13 cross country with Doora/Bare- field taking the team title and Conor Madigan, Kilrush, a very impressive winner of the boys U13 title. Killane- na/Flagmount took the team award.

The girls U10 4 x 250 metres relay saw five teams going to the finals. Ennistymon/Liscannor/Lahinch came from third spot over the final 50 metres to capture the gold medals from Carrigaholt/Cross with Cloon- ey/Quin taking the bronze.

The boys U10 relay had seven teams on the starting line and at the final change-over Kuillenana/Flagmount had a slight advantage. They held on

to take the gold medals.

The girls U13 1200 metres saw over 40 competitors taking part. There was a good contest with Niamh Markham, Kilmurry McMahon, tak- ing the big field out at a blistering pace. In close pursuit were Orlagh Flanagan, Miltown Malbay, Laura Egan, Kilmihil, Claudia Loughnane, Kilkishen, Shauna Mullane, Corofin/ Kilnaboy, Jean Clancy, Doonbeg, and Meabh Hogan, Doora/Barefield. Into the final lap Flanagan took the lead only to be passed by Egan who ran on to take the win.

The boys U13 1200 metres saw Tadgh Lillis, Cooraclare/Cree, set a very lively pace with Ryan Taylor, Clooney/Quin, David Conroy, Doo- ra/Barefield, Dylan Quirke, Clare- castle/Ballyea, and three Killenana/ Flagmount athletes Padraig Brady, Todd Kelsey, and Martin Glynn all well tucked in behind.

Over the final lap Conor Madigan moved to the front and raced away to AUN O AYA