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Cooney proves he’s no ordinary Joe

WHILE election fever swept through the county on Saturday, this crunch tie had a fever of it’s own, namely the fight to avoid the drop from the top division.

The polls weren’t favourable for e1- ther candidate entering this game. St Joseph’s had only one win from their four outings while Inagh/Kilnamona were turned away from every door, not having tasted a competitive vic- tory in nine months but with only half the Clare Cup campaign com- pleted, there was still ample time to canvas for points.

Like a bloody battle for the final Seat, it was aclose run affair and even ended in controversy as St Joseph’s had a last minute goal ruled out for a square ball, a score that would have handed them both crucial points.

Both sides were without key mem- bers of their squad, with the home side shy of seven of the team that started against Clonlara in the cham- pionship the previous weekend along with county senior Tony Carmody who didn’t play that game while St

Joseph’s were missing eight from their win over Sixmilebridge. As a result, the quality suffered in what was a scrappy seesaw affair before Inagh/Kilnamona eventually edged the contest with a superior finale to top the poll.

At 0-2 to 0-2 after eleven minutes, contrasting finishing finally sparked the game into life, with St Joseph’s goalkeeper Paul Madden produc- ing a excellent diving save to deny Shane Griffin while down the other end only three minutes later, full-for- ward Seanie McMahon was more ef- ficient, latching on to a Colm Mullen pass to pull past the onrushing Ea- mon Scanlon to give his side an early advantage.

Inagh/Kilnamona_ didn’t panic however, and even though a plethora of wides followed for the remain- ing 18 minutes of the half, the home side still managed to come within a point of St Joseph’s by the break with points from David Hegarty and Shane Griffin.

Inagh/Kilnamona built on that re- newed confidence on the resumption, grabbing a crucial goal after only two

minutes when Joe Griffin shrugged off two challenges before slamming the ball to the net from close range.

However, within ten minutes, that advantage had been overturned, this time with Mullen the finisher, gather- ing a Paul Morrissey ball inside to hit to the net from close range, putting his side 2-4 to 1-5 ahead.

It should have inspired St Joseph’s but similar to the first half, they were not to score for the final 18 minutes of the half and while they tallied up the wides, Inagh/Kilnamona slowly chipped away at their two point lead. They cancelled it out by the turn of the final quarter through substitute Sean Arthur and Joe Griffin be- fore taking up the ascendency with a Gannon Free in the 50th minute and an Eugene Cullinan point only a minute short of the hour.

It looked to have secured Inagh/Ki- namona the seat but like any good election battle, there was almost a twist in the tale when St Joseph’s produced one final attack up the right, going from Mullen, through Mike Cullian to Damien Kennedy in the corner and when he flashed

his shot across the square, substitute Shane O’Grady dived in at the back post to flick it over the line. However, the celebrations were short lived as the presiding officer Tom Stackpool deemed it to be a square ball. St Joseph’s appealed for a recount, how- ever, the returning officer’s decision was final as Inagh/Kilnamona were deemed elected on the final count.

FIANNA FAIL must pay closer at- tention to the concerns and views of grassroots members if they are avoid future election disasters.

That was the view of PJ Ryan on Sunday after his election in the Shan- non Electoral Area. An independent candidate, Mr Ryan was elected on the final count of the afternoon with a total of 1524 votes after transfers – his first preference vote increased from 700 last time out to 1013.

A long serving member of Fianna Fail, Cllr Ryan stood as a party can- didate in the 2004 local elections.

However after he was passed over by headquarters as a candidate this time around, Cllr Ryan opted to run as an independent.

Echoing the sentiments expressed by many unhappy Fianna Fail coun- cillors at the count centre in the West County Hotel, Cllr Ryan said,

“That’s the major problem, that headquarters haven’t listened to the grassroots. They’ve made a lot of mistakes in this election” said Cllr RAEN

He continued, “They had no can- didate in Shannon and they’ve ended up on Shannon Town Council with- out any Fianna Fail candidate. That’s the major problem there. Headquar- ters need to listen to members on the eround. They know whats happening locally. They should have listened to the people on the ground. They might get the message now”.

Despite his strong Fianna Fail links, Cllr Ryan said he would remain an independent voice in the Council

chamber. “I’m elected independent and [ll be independent when I’m elected, simple as that”.

A relieved Cllr Ryan admitted it had been a difficult decision to run as an independent candidate.

He said, “Oh I’m delighted. I’m ab- solutely delighted. The thing was I had to keep battling away. It’s been

a very long haul but the result was good”

Cllr Ryan added, “I was an awful long time with the Fianna Fail or- ganisation. It was a long time to be involved with the party. It was a big step to break, a big decision to break. But I suppose at the end of the day it paid off. I still would say that at the

end of the day that it’s about people. It’s not about parties.”

Clir Ryan said he was looking for- ward to working for the people of the Shannon electoral area.

He said, “Ah yeah, the hard work Starts now. Ah, I’m well used to working in the community and [ll battle away. We’ve got a playground

to build in Cratloe. We’ve got a day- care centre for the elderly to build in Sixmulebridge and a playground to build in Kilkishen”’.

FOR Donie Buckley Sunday after- noon on Ennis’ Causeway wasn’t about the past – the way that Clare football had let go a man who had given so much voluntary work for club and county for nearly two dec- AYalohe

It wasn’t about Donie Buckley v Clare – that’s in the past, this was the present and it was all about trying to do his bit to guide Limerick into a provincial decider.

What’s done was done, but Buckley was quick to admit that manning the line on this day was different than another day during his year and a bit with the Shannonsiders.

“It was very difficult for me today,’ he revealed. “I know a lot of these Clare players and they are great play- ers – the service the likes of Conor Whelan, David Russell and Mike O’Shea have given Clare, they’ve been great servants.

‘When I was involved with Michael

Brennan in Clare, we introduced a number of those players. They’re fantastic footballers and Clare will bounce back. I know that.

“We got the rub of the green today. We got a great start but Clare came back very well at us. I think at the end of the day I think our experi- ence from Division 3 where we lost a number of games by a point gave us the determination to get through,” he added.

The former Clare manager was the most energetic of all the mentors manning the sideline – kicking every ball with his players, roaring instruc- tions from start to finish, making regular excursions over the white line with new instructions for battle.

He was most active after Clare had reeled in Limerick in the first half, while he admitted that the half-time break gave his side the chance to gather their thoughts and take up the battle anew.

‘We put our shoulder to the wheel in the second half. It’s all about at-

titude,’ he revealed.

“Clare came out with all guns blaz- ing – they were a very well prepared team under Frank Doherty, James Hanrahan and Kieran Kelleher. We were just lucky that we got it right in tom ntee

“The turning point of the game was where Dermot O’Brien made a great catch but coming out we turned it over and got a crucial point.

“We came up here today as favour- ites but Clare gave us a great game. We’re looking at a Munster final now and it’s going to be Cork or Kerry. That was our target at the start of the year.”

Beating Clare was also a target and it was mission accomplished for Do- nie Buckley.

Clare’s loss has definitely been Limerick’s gain.

MICHAEL Hillery cut an emotional figure in the West County Hotel on Saturday night.

It was for himself after five years out of elected office in a place called the political wilderness; it was for his family that’s steeped in this game of chance called politics like no other clan in Clare; it was for his late uncle Paddy who was his guiding light, in life, in death and always.

No wonder there was more than a hint of a tear or two, or maybe more as he passed the winning post just before 10pm when returning officer Michael McNamara uttered the words he had waited five years to hear: “As Michael Hillery has exceeded the quota, I deem him elected”.

Hillery knew many hours before that he was on the way back to elected politics, and to say he was glad was an understatement, but it wasn’t the Hillery way to be demonstrative and jump around, even if he was jumping around inside as he took a few sec- onds out from the maelstrom around him to explain the meaning of it all.

“It means an awful to me. For myself and being part of a political family. Trying to make sure that the Hillery name continued to have a role in politics meant a huge amount to me. I was desperate to keep the Hillery name up there and to the forefront of the political system,’ he said.

“Thad 19 years done before I lost my seat in 2004. After thinking about it for a while I decided I’d have another go and I started working towards that by doing a lot of community work. I

worked my way back — that work has paid off for me in this election.

“There was always Hillery in poli- tics, whether in the Dail, the Sen- ate, the presidency or in local coun- cils. I wanted to make sure that that still was the case after this election. Keeping on the Hillery political dy- nasty was huge for me.

“There was great goodwill on the doorstep — that feeling from people

that they owed it to the Hillery name to have a Hillery elected. I am grate- ful for that and very proud of that and the place that the Hillery name has in politics.

“Paddy Hillery was my idol — I looked up to him and what he had achieved. I felt that if I could get back in a year after he passed away it would be further recognition of what he had done in the county and

the country. I’d say that he gave me a helping hand from above,” he added.

Of that Cllr Michael Hillery was convinced.

THEY say you’ve got to buy a ticket if you want to have a chance. Well, Clare bought a ticket on Sunday but didn’t take their chance. No surpris- es then to find the subject of missed frees occupying the mind of Frank Doherty in the aftermath of Clare’s defeat to Limerick in the Munster semi-final.

Level at half time after a massively encouraging finish to the first half, Clare dropped off after the break and let Limerick creep three points clear. Clare compounded their poor start by missing kickable frees.

Needless to say, the Clare manager looked a frustrated man, standing outside the dressing rooms in Cusack Park.

‘Frees cost you games. It cost us today. We missed three or four frees and we lost by four points in the end,” stated Doherty afterwards.

He continued, “You’ve got to put frees from 45 yards in over the bar. That was a factor obviously. They got the start we didn’t want them to get

in the second half. They got two or three points. They did basically the same to us in the first half. We had to make sure that wasn’t going to hap- pen in the second half and it didn’t. It was more a case of us making slop- py balls ourselves rather than them working great scores, or anything like that. That was disappointing as well. But look it we tried as hard as we could. That’s really it”.

Doherty was full of praise for his team’s attitude, particularly that of Timmy Ryan, but added that the ex- ertions of the first half had maybe left his side a little short on energy after the break.

He said, “He tried his dannest. He was outstanding. I dunno, maybe ye guys know Timmy a lot longer than I do. People are saying, why would you go with Timmy Ryan. But other people haven’t seen him over the last five or six weeks. People criticize players and selections and so on and so forth in relation to who should be out there. But people don’t see what goes on behind closed doors. Gor- don Kelly and Graham Kelly drove

us on. Maybe they got a little tired. Dean was caught early on. He’s an- other lad who was absolutely flying DOM ORDO ODEN Toaee

Over the past 12 months Doherty’s public comments have often been fla- voured with references to the limited amount of players available to him and his selectors.

Injuries and the issue of players declining to link up with the county team were subjects again touched on by Doherty on Sunday.

“You have to remember today that were missing a couple of serious players in my opinion like John Hay- es and David Connolle. They’re lads who will drive you on from there. And if the whole county was availa- ble to the management team it might have been a different ball game to- day altogether. What you have, you work with and you do your best with. And I believe we’ve got as much as we possibly can out of them.”

ELECTION results for Ennis Town Council have revealed a massive loss in support for Fianna Fail.

The percentage breakdown of first preference votes cast in Clare’s larg- est urban area shows that support for the party has shrunk from 32.72 per cent in 2004 to 13.74 per cent in 2009. Support for Fine Gael in Ennis has jumped from 20.41 per cent in 2004 to 35.61 per cent in 2009.

The election of Brian Meaney kept the Green Party vote relatively intact

at 7.43 per cent in 2009 compared to 7.78 per cent in 2004.

Independent candidates again fared well with the percentage jumping from 28.35 per cent in 2004 to 35.05 per cent in 2009.

The striking decline in votes for Fi- anna Fail ensured that the party went from a position of having three seats in the last Ennis Town Council to just one.

One of those sitting councillors Joe Reidy did not stand as a candidate. Outgoing Mayor of Ennis, Peter Con- sidine, reclaimed his seat on the last

count. Cllr Considine’s total of 700 votes was 74 below the quota but was high enough for him to be elected.

Another sitting councillor, Tom Glynn, was not so fortunate. He lost his seat to Labour Party candidate Paul O’Shea on the Lith and final felt

Mr Glynn, who was first elected to Ennis Town Council in 1999, was eliminated from the election process on a total of 545 votes.

Speaking at the election count cen- tre in Waterpark House on Saturday, Mr Glynn said that voters had been

determined to send a message of change to the government.

“T felt from the word go it was go- ing to be difficult,” he said.

“Out on the track for the last month, I sort of knew it. Every third or fourth door I was told “Look, it’s nothing personal but you’ve got the wrong colours, you’re wearing the wrong jersey.’

He added, “People wanted to take this opportunity to show the govern- ment the level of their frustration. I do believe that we weren’t the real targets. But that’s democracy and

they had the right to do that.

“I suppose I was told 10 months ago that if I wanted the be re-elected, I would have to think about going in- dependent. But I’m part of the team. I’m a team player, the ups and the downs,’ revealed Mr Glynn.

ClUlr Glynn admitted that Fianna Fail had struggled to attract candi- dates to run in Ennis.

“We’d have begged, stolen or bor- rowed to get another candidate or two. We couldn’t get them and that showed that people weren’t confident in what was going to happen.”

ONE of north Clare’s longest serv- ing schools is now also one of the county’s best equipped following the opening of a new €500,000 exten- sion at Kilnamona National School.

The Bishop of Killaloe, Willie Walsh, officially ushered in a new era for the school alongside parents, teachers, pupils and invited guests in Kilnamona last Friday.

The school, which has been educat- ing local children for more than 120 years, has seen a significant growth in numbers over the last number of years.

“Part of the role of the school Board of Management is to plan for the needs that the school will have going into the future and that is something the previous boards of management did between 2003 and 2007,” said Tony Barrett, Chairperson of the Board of Management.

“We saw that we had a growing school population, we had come back up from a three-teacher school to a five-teacher school. With that in mind we realised that the school building and educational facilities we had weren’t big enough for the erowth projected for the school.”

The extension includes an extra classroom, a resource teaching room, a special needs room, an IT room and extra administrative space. The work was completed by Pat Carmody Gros male noysmaneeem seer

“We really did need something that would bring the school into the 21st century. The school in Kilnamona has been there since 1889, so it’s a very old school,’ continued Tony.

“There are two aspects to any school. This extension has revolu- tionised one aspect, which is the physical school itself. But the second more important aspect is the teachers and teaching quality at the school. You don’t need to have a very mod- ern building to do that well and we have an excellent staff in Kilnamona under the principal, Sean Crowe.

“We were also very careful not to destroy any of the old school and to maintain its original architectural

style – we took great care to marry the new extension onto the older building and the new and the old now sit very comfortably together. “There are so many people who helped to make this possible. First of all the former Board of Management of the school who had the foresight to see that this would be needed, the parents of the parish have also been very supportive of the application, we would also like to thank the De- partment of Education for granting

the funding, the Oireachtas members at the time who supported our appli- cation for funding, our architect Ed- die Grace, Pat Carmody Construc- tion and the Parish of Kilnamona who actually gave us the land that we needed to build this extension on.”

DETAILS have been announced of a concert in aid of the District Day Care Centre, Clarecastle.

Acclaimed singer Sean Keane and his band will perform at the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, Clarecastle on July 19.

The concert is being organised by the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Clarecastle in association with the District Day Care Centre.

The District Day Care Centre in Clarecastle opened in August 1999 following six years of planning, fun- draising and consultation. It was a proud day for the committee to see the first neighbours and friends avail of the new facilities.

The centre caters for 250 people per week and covers a 10-mile radius from Clarecastle. Transportation 1s arranged by minibus. The facility is usually offered one day per week to each person but some may avail of it more often in special circumstances.

Facilities provided at the centre include nursing care, classes and a wide range of social activities.

A meeting held at the centre last Monday highlighted shortfalls in funding for a new state of art and ful- ly complete dementia day care unit.

Chents and staff appealed for the HSE to make funding available for the project.

Maureen Keohane, who has been attending the centre for the past seven years, said, “This is a wonderful fa-

cility. I don’t know how I could man- age without it. Everything is under one roof. The staff are superb, you couldn’t praise them highly enough. I don’t know what Id do if it didn’t exist.”

The unit is designed to facilitate 25 people per day with mild/moderate elentenlete

The services anticipated in the new unit will offer up to dementia suffer- ers more specialised care in an en- vironment that is purpose built for their needs.

Management at the centre say that the new unit will also free up spaces in the existing day care centre which has a waiting list of 40.

The Health Services Executive, mid western region meets the day-to-day

running costs of the centre.

The existing services are operated by agreement between District Day Care Centre Ltd – a voluntary or- ganisation – and the Health Services Executive. The decision to develop the centre by providing a purpose built dementia unit was approved by the HSE.

Galway singer Sean Keane is ap- pearing as part of the bill announced for the 13th annual Céili at the Cross- roads Festival in Clarecastle.

This year’s festival again features performances by a host of local mu- sicians as well as workshops in set dancing and sean nos singing.

The festival concludes on July 26 with a céili at Kerins Cross with mu- sic from the Four Courts Céili Band.

Ennis Anna Prior-itises Galway