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A SUCCESSFUL weekend at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Donegal saw Clare musicians and dancers take home a total of nine All-Ireland titles and 158 medals.

The biggest wins went to young Alisa Mc- Mahon from Tradraighe CCE, who won two All-Ireland titles in the under-12 Rogha Gleas eM NeM wk-by oy

Corofin’s Eimear Arkin took one gold med- al, along with several silver and bronze, for her Comhra Gaeilge.

Cathal Mac An Ri agus Tara Breen won

the Ceol Beirte and Siobhan Hogan won the senior flute competition. ;

In the group competitions, Inis Og claimed the under 18 Banna Cheoil competition, while the under-15 Grupa Cheoil title was won by the Burren Group.

Mullagh won the under-18 set dancing com- petition and Craobh na Coradh took home the senior Grupa Cheoil title.

But there was disappointment for Turlough- more Ceili as they once again came second in the senior Banna Cheoil.

A prize winners evening will take place in Cois na hAbhna in Ennis on September 17.

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THE Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, has said that Garda resources to combat anti-social behaviour in Kilrush will be kept under review, but in the context of demands countrywide.

According to a letter from the Commissioner’s office to Clare’s Minister for La- bour Affairs, Tony Killeen “the needs of the Kilrush District will be fully con- sidered within the context of the overall needs of the Garda Districts throughout the country.”

Garda numbers in Kilrush have increased by 16.6 per cent in the last seven years. There were 35 members of the force, of all ranks, in GUT ar ote lameatomn one mmoymmed hy compared to 30 in January 1, 1998.

The letter also stated that four superintendents had been allocated to the West Clare district over the past eight years.

He outlined a number of initiatives implemented by the Clare Division over the last year.

“Operation Acid” was initiated to stop incidents of

intimidation and criminal damage in Kilrush in late 2004 and earlier this year.

“Operation Night watch” was implemented in each urban centre throughout the county on weekend nights, to ensure public order and anti-social behaviour was addressed.

“Strict enforcement of Liquor licensing laws and the inspection of licensed premises during opening hours for underage drinking coupled with an increase in foot patrol presence has helped reduce incidents of public disorder,’ he said.

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A GARDA was kicked in the face and a man was bitten on the ear, in a incident out- side a nightclub in Ballina, Killaloe, in the early hours of Sunday. A melee broke out at around 2am in what has been described as “a highly volatile situation.”

Two men – aged 19 and 26 – were arrested, before being released without charge. One was a local and the other from Limerick.

It’s believed that the incident was started after a bottle was thrown down a stairs and a crowd gathered. The man who received the ear injury was taken to hospital where he was detained overnight.

“Things could have been far worse if gardai were not there when the incident oc- curred. A large crowd had gathered and one incident led to another. Two people broke away from the group and one person was assaulted,” said a Garda spokesman.

IRONING SERVICE

PEOPLE in Clare are 1.1 times more likely to live in poverty compared to the rest of the country.

According to a Combat Poverty report, the Midwest is at the highest risk of poverty in the country, with those living in Limerick City 1.3 times more likely to live in poverty.

The study used a combined meas- ure that looked at both income levels and levels of enforced deprivation of basic necessities.

The income level for an adult is defined as below 60 per cent of the average income levels for the popu- lation and basic necessities include the ability to afford adequate cloth- ing, food and fuel.

The report showed that the Banner County’s unemployment rate was be- low the national average of 8.8 per cent, at 7.6 per cent.

The study also reports that more than a fifth of the Clare population have left school with no education or only primary education, while a quarter have third level education.

A total of 34 per cent of the popu- lation are dependant on others for food and shelter.

Meanwhile 3.1 per cent of Clare people are over the age of 65 and liv- ing alone, a figure similar to Limer- ae

The aim of the statistics, gathered through the national census for the report “Mapping Poverty”, is to in- crease the understanding of the loca- tion of poverty. The higher poverty rates were found to be in the Border, Midland and Western regions.

IRONING SERVICE

THE IFA has reacted angrily to claims made by celebrity chef Richard Corrig- an that chicken produced in Ireland are sub standard and “full of antibiotics”.

Chairman of the IFA Poultry Com- mittee Alan Graham has dismissed the claims made by Mr Corrigan as false and incorrect. Mr Graham claimed that there are strict regulations in place when it comes to using animal rem- edies and suggested that Mr Corrigan may simply be trying to drum up pub- licity for his new restaurant.

“A Chicken Quality Assurance Scheme has been in place in this country since January 2003 that sets out strict regulations to safeguard the health and welfare of chicken flocks,” said Mr Graham. “Mr Corrigan may need some publicity for his new restau- rant but he should not abuse a platform afforded to him.”

Richard Corrigan grew up on a 25 acre farm in Meath but now runs the Lindsay House restaurant in London. He has been widely quoted in recent days as urging people not to buy Irish chicken and claiming that badly fed, poorly exercised and full of antibiot- ne

“Tm appalled at the standard of chicken in Ireland. It’s not good enough, people should demand better,” said the celebrity chef. He also claimed that some chickens were “stacked in some shed probably, fed a load of antibiotics and a load of crap.”

The IFA’s Mr Graham went on to challenge Mr Corrigan to examine

the Quality Assurance Scheme. He claimed that if he did he would find over 30 pages of detailed regulations for chicken producing that are aimed at protecting the welfare of chickens and providing consumers with a product that is produced to the highest stand- ards.

‘All houses must have a controlled environment, which ensures that ambi-

ent temperature, air quality and lighting meet the needs of the flock throughout the growing cycle,” said Mr Graham.

He also pointed out that the welfare and health of a flock depends on the implementation of good stock manage- ment and the provision of a suitable environment.

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