The Clare People Archive

SQUALLS of rain did nothing to spoil the festival fun in Killaloe at the weekend as visitors turned out in droves to enjoy the annual Brian Boru celebrations.

A packed programme of events in- cluding a fireworks display, a gig-rig, a treasure hunt and a pig on a spit went ahead undaunted, John Grimes of the festival organising commit- tee said. “We were delighted with the turnout. The town was packed all weekend and we got very posi- tive feedback from the people who or bn alse

“Particularly with the weather be- ing the way it was, we were worried that people might not come out but they did and it all worked out really well – we didn’t have to cancel any- debeetcam

There was all the fun and colour of the parade as well as power-boat and dragon-boat racing.

The Lakeside Hotel are very in- volved in this year’s festival and organised a treasure hunt, the Brian Boru Quest, based on the sort of clues given in the Da Vinci Code.

And the food and cooking fair which proved so popular last year went ahead again as festival goers sampled local culinary delights.

And the beautiful young things turned out for Killaloe’s answer to Oxygen on Saturday night when the Plectrum music festival, organised by the local youth club, was in full swing.

The Féis Ceoil also proved to be a huge success and the quality and variety of music on offer all over the town meant there was something for everyone to listen to.

SCHOOL OF HAIRDRESSING

MUSIC lovers from all over the world have turned their attention on Miltown Malbay this week for the Willie Clancy Summer School. As the summer school approaches it’s 5Oth year in operation, thousands of music lovers have descended on west Clare for what is the highlight of many peoples traditional music year.

Almost 1,000 musicians and danc- ers, young and old will attend classes on each day of the school – with mil- lions of euro likely to be generated for local businesses.

Some of the remaining highlights include tonight’s whistle and flute recital featuring Mary Bergin, Paul McGrattan and a host of others, a lecture by Len Graham on the Ulster song tradition in English on Wednes- day night and a night of old style dancing led by Michael Tubridy on Thursday night.

On Friday night Noel Hill and Mar- ty O’Keeffe will host a concertina recital while on Saturday the Ceol- choirm Mhor will feature a top class line-up of traditional musicians, like- ly to be the highlight of the week.

Meanwhile, those not fortunate enough to be able to make it up to Miltown Malbay for the week can still get a flavour of the festivi- ties by tuning into RTE Raidio na

Gaeltachta will be broadcasting live from the festival all week.

Indeed, Raidio na Gaeltachta have a long association with the festival, having broadcast live from Miltown Malbay each year since the festival started back in 1973.

‘There were no live broadcasts in the early days, but that changed in the eighties with improvements in technology,’ said Meaiti Jo Shéa- muis, Music Editor at RTE Raidi6 na EF YOlerel alee

“I remembers broadcasting live from a national school six miles out- side Miltown Malbay, Scoil Naisiun- ta Sliabh na Leice, because it was the most elevated place they could find — which we needed to be able to get a good signal.

“I remember on another occasion recording a traditional singer in out- door toilets, as it was too windy to record in the open air. As technology improved, live broadcasts were pos- sible from the town, and Raidio na Gaeltachta used to broadcast from a caravan situated outside the hall.

AER LINGUS hopes to increase services on the Shannon-London Heathrow service within a matter of weeks.

The airline recommenced flights on the route at the end of March with a morning and evening flight each way but reduced capacity ensured it was the least popular service for passen- gers travelling to London during the months of April and May.

An Aer Lingus spokesman said the Shannon-Heathrow route “is performing well and is in line with our other bases in Dublin, Cork and Belfast”.

The question of additional flights on the Shannon-Heathrow route “is subject to securing the slot. We don’t have it nailed down, but we expect to confirm it very soon”.

The confirmation could come about in a matter of weeks.

Figures from the UK Civil Avia- tion Authority show that because of the limited capacity, a total of 11,381 travelled on the Shannon-Heath- row route during the month of April — its first month back in service. This compares to 44,820 travelling to Heathrow from Cork during the Same month and the 137,233 travel- ling to Heathrow from Dublin.

23,/78 travelled on the Ryanair service to London Stansted during April and a further 16,246 travelled on the Ryanair service to Gatwick the same month.

11,838 travelled on the Aer Lingus Shannon-Heathrow service in May and this compares to 24,536 flying with Ryanair to London Stansted and 17,160 to London Gatwick.

The Aer Lingus decision to end the Shannon-Heathrow service in August 2007 provoked a storm of protest in the Dail and the mid-west region.

Fianna Fail TD, Timmy Dooley said yesterday that the addition of new flights on the Shannon-Heath- row route “will significantly add to the level of passenger traffic on the route”’.

“At the moment, the time slots are

not good. The first flight 1s at around Qam and the business community would need a much earlier flight.”

He said the addition of a mid-morn- ing flight would allow transatlan- tic passengers coming into London make an onward connection to Shan- tee

‘At the moment, the flights are good on a point to point basis, but the new schedule will bring about more suit- able times,” he predicted.

Council barriers cause disruption

THE case of four people charged in connection with a row outside Ennis Courthouse last month will be heard in September.

The four initially appeared before Ennis District Court on June 8 last, following a row earlier that day and re-appeared in court last Friday.

Inspector John Galvin, prosecut- ing, told the court on Friday that one of the accused, John McDonagh Jun- ior (21), of Nashes Boreen, Fairfield, Cork, is accused of damaging a car outside the courthouse, while three others are each facing a public order 8 Ko Neen

Judge Joseph Mangan asked, “Will

the State be saying this incident is part of a feud?”

Inspector Galvin replied, “Yes, it will be, but the property has nothing to do with it.”

Asked was the property caught in the crossfire, Inspector Galvin said, ‘The car was parked in the vicinity of the incident.”

Judge Mangan asked was the car in the wrong place at the wrong time and was told that it was. The judge said he would accept jurisdic- tion of the case in the district court. Inspector Galvin said it would take 90 minutes to hear the case, but the accuseds’ solicitor said it would be likely to take three hours. “We have a lot to say,” she said.

The case was adjourned until Sep- tember. The solicitor then asked for a relaxation of bail conditions, so that her clients could go on holidays during the summer. Judge Mangan said, “Bail conditions are bail con- ditions.” Inspector Galvin then said, “With the present circumstances, if these people were to leave the area it might cool the situation. However I’d like to know the dates they are going and the dates they are coming back.” The application was adjourned until later this week.

A TWO-WEEK jail term has been handed down to a woman was got involved in a scuffle at Ennis court- Ce) btstes

Mother-of-three Margaret McDon- agh (29), of Dun na hInise, Ennis, was charged with engaging in threat- ening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Ennis Courthouse on January 12 last. Ennis District Court heard that the accused was involved in ex- changes, described as “scuffling and shouting” at the courthouse.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client’s maiden name was Mongan and she has married a Mr McDonagh.

“Her parents house was burnt down in Shalee Drive. There was a lot of difficulty between them and

other families. My client spoke out. She shouldn’t have shouted. She shouldn’t have roared. She would maintain they had been under se- vere provocation all day. The entire Mongan family and who they were married to and their children upped sticks and left Ennis. They moved to Cork. They live in caravans on the side of the road. Their entire lives were turned upside down as a result of what had been ongoing. She was at the end of her tether,’ she said.

“She told the other side of this dispute exactly what she thought of them. Unfortunately it wasn’t in very nice English,” added the solicitor.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a 14-day prison sentence and directed the state to inform the HSE of the or- der. He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

Diesel spillage runs into trouble

ALL-IRELAND football and hurl- ing winners are set to share the same stage as the Clare County Board and Munster Council join forces to celebrate GAA 125 in a four-day spectacular that will pay homage to the association’s founding father Michael Cusack.

TALK about a comeback. Ten points down early in the second half, Corofin looked dead and _ buried. Snow, on a sun-drenched peach of an evening in Clareabbey, seemed more likely then a Corofin comeback. Or so we thought.

Corofin stormed back, drew level and even had a chance to win it. After John Keane palmed home the equalising goal, Colm Clancy almost nailed the winner but his shot drifted wide. Clondegad too spurned a great chance when Gary Brennan’s injury time free curled short and wide of the Corofin goal.

A draw will feel like a loss to Clon- degad. They let this one slip. Badly. After the pace and polish that char- acterised much of Clondegad’s first half display all but vanished, Corofin gained a foothold. It was gutsy stuff.

Colm Clancy worked with all the en- ergy of bantamweight boxer. Daragh Clancy won plenty of ball around the middle while Luke O’ Loughlin did a good job policing Gary Brennan.

But the biggest reason for the turnabout in Corofin’s fortunes was the contribution from John Keane. Keane was doing a decent job in midfield before he was relocated to full forward. The decision proved a masterstroke. Keane scored two quick points and hit 1-1 in the final two minutes to complete the come- ere .@

Keane was also centrally involved in the first great chance of the match. Barely 20 seconds had elapsed when he tore through the middle and off- loaded to Neil Killeen who pulled his shot just wide.

We didn’t have to wait long for a

goal though. Kieran Browne released Shane Brennan with a quick free in the third minute. The Clondegad wing forward raced towards goal and found the net with a low drive.

Colm Clancy responded with a point for Corofin but Clondegad pushed four points clear with scores from Paudge McMahon and Kenneth

Keath

The west Clare side had two more great goal chances but first McMa- hon and then Francie Neylon saw their efforts blocked on the line.

Colm Clancy pointed a free in the 18th minute but Clondegad ended the half with a devastating 1-3 burst.

McMahon converted a 45’, Eoin

Griffin lifted over a point before McMahon’s powerfully struck free sailed over the bar. Things were about to get worse for Corofin. On the stroke of half time, Brian Car- rig side-footed home a penalty after McMahon was fouled. At half time, Clondegad led 2-5 to 0-2.

Carrig’s fine point after the break

extended the Clondegad lead to ten points. Corofin released a torrent of substitutes and moved Keane to full forward. He hit two superb points on the turn before Dara Shannon roofed the ball to the back of the net in the 44th minute. Darren Malone and Gary Brennan traded points before Colm Clancy dropped over a free to leave the score 2-7 to 1-6.

Keane bagged his third point of the day before outjumping O’Connell and Kenneth Breen to tap in Daragh Clancy’s thump of a free kick.

That leveled matters at 2-7 apiece. Both sides missed chances to win. A priceless point for Corofin. A point dropped for Clondegad. It’s the only way to look at it.