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THE people of Sixmilebridge and Kilmurry are being encouraged to attend the parish mission which will get underway on Sunday.

The six-day programme will spring into action on Sunday evening and will continue through until Friday. A number of events for young and old people will be part of the programme throughout the week.

According to the organisers, the event is about welcome, renewal and

community in Sixmilebridge and aims to involve everybody. A group of 50 people gathered last week and they were divided into groups, where they travelled to homes in the par- ish and encouraged people to attend some of the events throughout the ete

Organiser David Deighan said there have been huge changes in the parish in recent years and this will be reflected during the mission.

“So many new people have come to live in the parish, while others

have lived in the parish all their lives, or come here over the years. It is all about bonding together, in an annual event. We have a new par- ish priest – Fr Harry Bohan – and the church has been redeveloped in re- cent years. A lot of things have hap- pened,” he said.

The mission will be led by Fr Tony Flannery and teacher Ann O’Toole. Fr Flannery is a Redemptorist priest who is well known for his human- ity and is a man gifted in connect- ing Christian values to real life. Ms

O’Toole is a young person who has taken time away from the classroom to participate in the mission work.

“The Mission guarantees at least a welcome to all to come. Every per- son in the parish is invited to take a little time out and come a along,’ said Mr Deighan.

“Hopefully we will have a full church every night,” he added.

The mission will start on Sunday evening with an opening celebration and welcome. Christ the Healer is the title of Monday’s event, while the

Rite of Reconciliation will take place on Tuesday evening. Young people are being encouraged to attend Youth Night on Wednesday while the par- ish’s deceased will be remembered on Thursday night. There will be a finale and close of mission on Friday night. All of the events will start at 7.30pm, with the final night’s events getting underway at 7pm.

During the Mission Week there will be daily morning Mass in Sixmileb- ridge Church at 7am and 10am and in Kilmurry Church at 8.30am.

THE ATHLETICS Association of Ireland in association with Sligo AC will stage the National Senior and Junior Inter Club Cross Country on Saturday, March 10.

There will be four races on the programme starting at lpm with the junior ladies 6,000 metres, followed by the junior men’s 8,000 metres, at

1.30 pm, the senior ladies 8,000 me- tres at 2.15pm the final race of the afternoon will be the senior men’s 12,000 metres at 2.45pm.

The senior ladies will see a big number of new names 1n action with local athlete, Mary Cullen, Sligo AC, taking on the new up and coming star, Fionualla Britton, Sli Chulainn AC, Wicklow. She was the European U23 silver medal winner in Spain

last December and she will be the big pre-race favourite.

Also contesting the title will be Jolene Byrne, Donore Harriers, Rosemary Ryan, Bilboa, Marie Mc- Cambridge, Dundrum South Dublin, Niamh O’Sullivan, Riocht, and Orla O’ Mahoney from Ennis now running with Raheny Shamrocks, Dublin.

The senior men’s race will be the highlight of the day with all the

top middle distance athletes going to the starting line. Mark Christie, Mullingar Harriers, will start as fa- vourite along with Garry Murray, St Malachy’s, David Kelly, Sligo, Mark Kenneally, Clonliffe Harriers, and two former national champions, Seamus Power, Kilmurry Ibrickane/ North Clare, and Peter Matthews, Dundrum South Dublin, also look- ing for top spots.

AER LINGUS staff at Shannon may have to adopt a range of new work practices, following recommenda- tions from the Labour Relations Commission.

The LRC yesterday released its rec- onebaelesslee-T allele Rene (ore mel Moon ODNITcMmNals long-running dispute between unions and management.

The airline has been told to discuss cost-cutting practices with staff in- stead of seeking to impose them on a unilateral basis. The Labour Rela- tions Commission also recommend- ed staff be compensated for loss of earnings or annual leave.

The court states that where loss of

holidays or earnings result from the new measures, compensation should be paid. The precise level of compen- sation is likely to be the subject of further negotiations to be completed within four weeks.

However, it was also recommended that major changes in work practices would have to be implemented if cost cuts were to be achieved at the air- line.

The changes have been the source of a serious dispute between unions and management, which almost re- sulted in strike action.

LRC Chairman Kevin Duffy said he was satisfied that the current situ- ation warranted the implementation of measures to bring about further

cost savings and efficiencies.

Both sides have welcomed the recommendations, but stated more would be needed to bring about a to- tal resolution.

Michael Halpenny, SIPTU Nation- al Industrial Secretary, said the LRC had clearly indicated in its findings that Aer Lingus had compromised existing work agreements and the se- curity of future agreements.

He said SIPTU’s disputes’ commit- tee would meet again to discuss the document.

Aer Lingus Chief Executive Der- mot Mannion welcomed the input of the LRC but added, “Much remains to be done and management remains committed to addressing the real

commercial issues that the company faces and ensuring unnecessary cost is removed from the business.”

The court is recommending that staff who currently get 26 or more days of annual leave per year should relinquish two days. Staff entitled to 23, 24 or 25 days should relinquish one day. Greater flexibility over shift arrangements is also recommended, as is the elimination of the practice of working through breaks and fin- ishing early.

SIPTU shop stewards at Aer Lin- gus are meeting on Thursday morn- ing to consider the Labour Court Recommendation on the company’s Programme for Continuous Improve- ment 2007.

THE generosity of a group of Shan- non workers is set to greatly enhance the lives of several children in the mid-west.

Workers at Genworth Financial in the Industrial Estate in Shannon raised €6,/00, through a variety of events last year. They have donated this money to The Blue Box Crea- tive Learning Centre.

The Blue Box is an innovative charity, which provides support to young people and their families,

through creative therapies.

Genworth selected The Blue Box as its charity partner for 2006. A committee of six people organised various events and everybody was keen to get involved, in some way.

Among the fundraisers organised included a Valentine’s Day cake sale, children’s art competition on St Patrick’s Day, a mini marathon, table quiz and Christmas card com- petition. Groups of staff also took part in a 10k in Limerick walk last SLennapas lore

Committee member Toni McDon-

agh said the 300-strong staff at the company are keen to help various charities.

“We adopt a different charity every year and try to raise funds through- out the year,” she said.

“The art competition involved the children of people who work here. Everybody gets involved,” she said.

The organisers were thrilled to raise so much money. The aim is to collect €5,000 every year, but this was surpassed last year.

“We aim for €5,000. If we get more than that, it is a bonus. We

were very proud to have supported The Blue Box. We aim to reach out in our community, give back to 1m- portant local causes and have lots of fun along the way,” said Ms McDon- agh.

Last year, the Blue Box was chosen after a vote. Staff were all invited to make suggestions on who should benefit from the money raised throughout the year and The Blue Box came up trumps last year.

This year, the staff have voted to make donations to Bluebell ABA, which is a pre-school for autistic

children in the mid-west.

‘Parents have got together and set up the pre-school. It is based in Ra- heen, Limerick. We heard about it, through work and picked it out, to donate our money raised this year,’ added Ms McDonagh.

Bluebell opened its doors in March 2004 and caters for autistic children homey vue Ceber be

Its aim is to help move children into mainstream education and the staff at Genworth are optimistic that their effort will go a long way in helping those children.

A NORTH Clare man died as a re- sult of smoke inhalation, after he fell asleep near a gas cooker at his home, an inquest has heard.

John Flanagan (39) died as a result of a fire at the family home, at Lis- doony East, two miles from Kilfeno- ra, on April 9 last year.

Mr Flanagan, a labourer, died at the farmhouse, which was more than 100 years old.

The fire was noticed by a neighbour who was tending to cattle, but it was not possible to get into the house and save the man.

Frances Flanagan recalled being at the family home that afternoon. Her parents, Micheal and Tess, had gone to Dublin that day, for an Easter break. She said her brother John took food out of the freezer and said he would cook it later. She and Michael later went to Kilshanny to get ciga- rettes. They had a drink there and

later, as they travelled home, the house was completely ablaze.

Her brother Michael recalled that as they were leaving Kilshanny, they received a phone call, indicating that their house was on fire. He didn’t be- lieve it at first.

He said his brother John had in- tended to cook a fry and there was a second-hand gas cooker in the house, which the family had acquired a short time earlier.

Martin Neylon met John earlier that day and said they were to move cattle the following day.

‘John’s last words to me were “See

you in the morning’,” he said.

Later, he saw smoke coming from the house. He could see the slates on the roof cracking from the heat. At that stage, the house was completely in flames and there was “no way” anyone could go near it.

Detective Garda Niall Kampff car- ried out a technical examination of the scene. He said the heat intensity was such that it caused the plaster to fall from the walls.

He said it seemed likely that flames from the gas cooker spread to the curtains and then to the wooden ceil- ing, before spreading throughout the house. “It has been suggested to me he may have fallen asleep. I suggest that he did.”

Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy, who carried out a post-mortem examination on the deceased’s body, said death was likely to have been from smoke inha- lation. Coroner Isobel O’ Dea (above) said she was satisfied that the cause of death was accidental.

THE roads and byways of east Clare have been humming with the rich sound of singing over the last few months as a group of interested peo- ple have established a new commu- nity choir in Scaruf.

The inspiration for the group came after a visit from Archie Simpson of the Lismorahaun Singers last year which saw the north Clare based voice teacher offer a singing work- shop for the locals.

So popular was the work-shop that another workshop was organised

with Kate Daly, also from the Lis- morahaun Singers.

“We really like it and a couple of us came together with the idea of start- ing a singing group of our own,’ said Carla Bauer, one of the organisers.

‘In October we organised a second workshop, this time with Kate Daly. It was so popular, about 25 or 30 people turned up and after that we have been continuing the group on our own steam.

“We call it a choir but at the mo- ment it is more like a singing group really. We are hoping to one day to erow to become a choir.”

Carla is currently studying a mas- ters degree in Community Music in UL while her co-organiser Cather- ine Patience is a professional voice coach.

“We have a good mixture of people – there are a few teenagers as well as a mixture of men and women. We really try to stay open to everything that the members want to do,” con- tinued Carla.

“We enjoy examining different styles and different songs and every idea that is put forward is very wel- come. Overall though, it’s isn’t so much like a church choir, so far any-

way. It is more lively like a Baptist choir or something like that.”

Carla is currently hosting a series of six workshops with the group through her University of Limerick fo) actos

“We are going to experiment a bit during the workshops,” said Carla. “We will try a few different vocal exercises and see how we get on. We also want to introduce differ- ent rhythms and some instruments. Hopefully at the end of it we will come up with something original.”

Anyone interested in learning more can contact Carla at 061 – 921633.

AMERICAN Airlines has = an- nounced it plans to reinstate direct daily services from Shannon to its Chicago hub throughout the 2007 summer schedule.

The move will mean boosting car- go capacity from Ireland and bring- ing important revenue into the Clare airport.

The new direct services from Shan- non will start on May | using B7/57 aircraft to complement the airline’s existing daily B767 Dublin-Chicago

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The latter will now operate direct once again as they did in summer 2006, dropping their winter 2006 Shannon stop.

A spokeswoman for the Airport Authority said that the decision by AA 1s to be welcomed. “It shows that they believe there is a market here for the direct flight and that they have confidence in us. We are very happy with the announcement.”

Fine Gael TD Pat Breen has wel- comed the news from American Air- lines that it will be increasing cargo

capacity from Shannon. Deputy Breen said the announcement was “a vote of confidence in Shannon by the US-owned airline and demonstrated the potential of the cargo business between the US and Shannon.”

All American Airline flights from Ireland arrive midway through the same day, allowing for fast transfers onto its extensive US network, or ur- gent local deliveries.

American Airlines Cargo is rep- resented in Ireland by IAM, whose MD Ian McCool says, “2007 has got off to a flying start for American

THE Government remains commit- ted to increasing resources for spe- cial education and reducing primary school class sizes, according to Min- ister for Labour Affairs and Clare TD, Tony Killeen. The Mu£nister’s comments follow the announcement by Minister for Education and Sci- ence, Mary Hanafin, TD that over €3.6m has been approved for build- ing projects in 10 schools around Orie

Minister Killeen continued, “To- day’s announcement, which has been made under the devolved accommo- dation programmes, enables Clare’s schools to manage their own projects in delivering on additional accom- modation they themselves have iden- tified as being required. The funding allocation of €3,612,000 will allow

Airlines Cargo in Ireland, with new traffic from new agents.

‘The decision to maintain the Shan- non service during winter 2006 paid off handsomely. Although capacity was reduced, the agents in the west still had a daily service throughout the last quarter peak period, without the need to truck to Dublin.

‘Now that we have additional ca- pacity once again, the loyalty we have built up will certainly help us to win a larger market share.”

Sixty per cent of AA cargo from Ireland now flies on the airline’s di-

for the provision of additional class- rooms and rooms for special edu- cation, therefore contributing to a reduction in class sizes. The various projects, which have been identified by the schools in question, will also lead to a modernisation of school buildings and facilities.”

Minister Killeen said he was de- lighted to learn that St Flannan’s National School in Inagh is to benefit from today’s announcement.

“St Flannan’s National School cur- rently boasts a first-class autism unit which provides an invaluable serv- ice to Inagh and surrounding areas. I] have made numerous representa- tions on behalf of the school in the past and I am delighted to see that it is to benefit under the Government’s permanent accommodation scheme, ’

rect flights, although [AM continues to offer additional capacity using nightly express road feeders to the airline’s London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester gateways, from which AA operates a total of 129 flights per week to the USA.

American Airlines is the world’s largest airline. American, American Eagle and the American Connection airlines serve 250 cities in more than 40 countries with more than 4,000 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 air- evan

Minister Killeen said.

“Under the Small Schools Scheme, there is a good geographical spread of schools. The funding alloca- tion will allow for modernisation works to take place at Rineen Na- tional School, Ruan Central National School, Kilnamona National School, Clooney National School, Clondri- nagh National School, Ballycar Na- tional School, St Augustine’s Nation- al School in Kilshanny, St Cronan’s National School and Cree National School.

‘All the schools approved for fund- ing under these initiatives will be contacted directly by the Building Unit of the Department of Educa- tion and Science,’ Minister Killeen AYO CO(oren

THIS meeting sizzled at times. It gave in-fighting a whole new face. Two internal rows in Clare GAA were the main reasons why the first floor ballroom of the West County Hotel housed more delegates than usual.

Robert Frost and PJ McGuane were seen as having backed away from giving their support to John Reidy at the recent Munster Council meeting. That was confrontation number one.

But most delegates were there for the latest installment of what’s now becoming a weekly drama. The Tony Considine/David Fitzgerald stand- off. That’s essentially why the meet- ing had swelled to over twice its nor- mal size.

Just before things got underway, one wry delegate turned his head and out of the side of his mouth you could hear him say, “there wouldn’t be this many people staring at a car crash.”

At one stage, things got so bad the chairman of the board said he was considering his future as a member

of the board.

And then, just over half an hour into things, most got to hear what they came for. Michael McDonagh read a short letter written by Tony Sroyets ern sten

It prompted Paschal Russell to walk to the front of the room and in his hands he had another letter. He said he wanted everybody to hear what he was ready to read out. It was all about to unfold.

At the top of the room, the Clare- castle chairman read a two-minute statement from his clubman Ger Ward, outlining the reasons why Ward tendered his resignation and the manner in which it happened.

It was a precise, thought out state- ment and one that Ward never be- lieved he would have to pen so early into his term as Clare selector.

For the previous two weeks, he had remained silent. Despite phone calls — including several from this news- paper — he has refused to be drawn on the issue.

But on Thursday, it was time to put the whole affair to bed. He wrote of

principles and values and said his own weren’t part of the management thinking for Clare hurling at the mo- ment.

Importantly and with detail, he drew attention to his final departure from the management team and said he heard his resignation had been accepted in the media over a week later.

A meeting to resolve some of the issues between Considine and Ward was scheduled for The Old Ground on February 21 but the manager nev- er Showed up, Ward said.

The no show was sending out a clear message, just as Tim Crowe’s subsequent comments have sent out a message to those who have departed the set-up. The road back in is being blocked and the management must believe this is the best way forward.

What they won’t be pleased with is what happened next. The odd deci- sion was taken to appoint a facilita- tor in a row that the county board had already admitted it was unable to solve.

Putting a facilitator in place at this

late stage, over a month after Fit- zgerald left training, will only stoke things further. Unbelievably, the same delegates who lambasted the media for needlessly fuelling the de- bate were themselves putting timber on the fire.

If they didn’t know that, then they don’t know Tony Considine and they certainly don’t know hurling. No manager wants outside interference. Particularly a manager such as Con- sidine who has been extremely con- crete in his actions to date.

So, it continues for a number of rea- sons but mainly it continues because nobody has come out and drawn a clear line under the whole thing. No- body has pulled the plug.

What happened on Thursday night just muddies the waters even more. As it stated, the board’s role 1s to en- sure the welfare of Clare GAA. In that case, it should back off and leave Considine run the team the way he sees fit.

It should realise facilitators are for politics and this isn’t a game where men wear suits.

AN east Clare school has scored top marks in areport issued by the De- partment of Education and Science.

Ballybrohan National School was characterised as having a ‘warm child-friendly atmosphere’ and praised for the high standards achieved by pupils in language, lit- eracy and mathematics.

The school is also commended for the very good quality of teaching and learning in evidence and the delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum.

However the report also notes that with enrolment numbers expected to rise in the immediate future, there will be further pressure on the school to expand.

Ballybrohan was one of 144 pri- mary and post primary schools sur- veyed nationwide.

Ballybrohan National School is a four-teacher co-educational primary school situated approximately half way between the towns of Scariff and Killaloe. The school is under the patronage of the Catholic bishop of the diocese of Killaloe.

The report states “the school mis- sion statement, as well as reflecting its Catholic ethos, also promotes partnership between the school, par- ents and the wider community in an atmosphere of mutual respect”.

The school serves mainly the fami- lies living locally and the number of pupils now attending stands at 105. The school also has a class for pupils

on the autistic spectrum with four pupils presently in attendance.

During the evaluation, the inspec- tors held pre-evaluation meetings with the principal, the teachers, the school’s board of management, and representatives of the parents’ as- sociation. The evaluation was con- ducted over a number of days during which inspectors visited classrooms and observed teaching and learning.

It also comments on the relation- ship between school management and the parents association.

‘Parents have been involved in the formation of a number of school pol- icies particularly in the areas of be- haviour, enrolment and homework.”

“The parents’ association officers stated that parents are made welcome

in the school and it was reported that the concerns of the members of the association are dealt with promptly by teachers and board of manage- ment. Communication among the as- sociation, the board of management and the teachers is satisfactory.”

The report recommends “that greater emphasis be placed on the development of the local History and Geography, and the use of informa- tion and communications technology (ICT) as a tool in the investigation and presentation of findings should be further expanded”.

‘“Post-evaluation meetings were held with the staff and board of man- agement where the draft findings and recommendations of the evaluation were presented and discussed.”

CLARE’S county manager, Alec Fleming, has written to the National Roads Authority (NRA) to recom- mend that it proceed with developing a contentious road through the vil- lage of Kilnamona.

The controversy surrounding the route selection for the upgrading of the N85 Ennis to Inagh road has dogged Clare County Council since last November.

A motion by Deputy Mayor Coun-

cillor Brian Meaney that the council proceed with the so-called ‘Purple Route’ precipitated heated debate at the council over a succession of meetings on council procedure.

A recommendation that the coun- cil adopt the “Purple Route’ was re- jected by councillors in 2005 who instead opted for the ‘Red Route’ which would have less disturbance on farmers’ land along the route.

However, the NRA is only willing to fund the ‘Purple Route’ as it is the only route that meets with standard

criteria for road investment.

The issue remained stalled until Cllr Meaney tabled his motion last November and, as a result of the con- troversy, Mr Fleming has sent off a nine-page memo to Karina Downes, Regional Manager with the NRA out- lining the background to the current situation. In it, Mr Fleming admits that he should never have brought the report for approval before the coun- cillors in 2005.

In the letter — circulated to council- lors — Mr Fleming states, “From my

perspective as County Manager, I now realise that our action in bring- ing the draft route selection report before the council was not a neces- sary part of the process.

“In appointing consultants to carry out a constraints study and a route selection report including public con- sultation, the council was essentially acting on behalf of the NRA.

“It is, therefore, appropriate for me as County Manager to consider the route selection report and provided that I am satisfied with it, to submit

it to the authority along with the completed phase three route selec- tion questionnaire. It then becomes a matter for the authority to consider and approve the report if appropri- aioe

“It would then become a proposal from the NRA. It is at that stage that the local authority, in its capacity as a roads authority, 1s empowered under Section 22 of the Roads Act to make representations to the NRA.

Mr Fleming now asks the NRA to proceed with the ‘Purple Route’.