The Clare People Archive

THE operators of the Shannon Le1- Sure Centre, where workers have been told that they will be laid off for 21 weeks from next week while a major refurbishment project is un- dertaken, have warned SIPTU of the implications for the future viability of the facility if the works do not go ahead.

SIPTU has already asked that the €1.2m refurbishment plan “be shelved pending discussion on alter- native arrangements which would ac- commodate both staff and patrons”.

The centre’s 15 staff are due to be laid off for 21 weeks from next Mon- day while the work 1s undertaken.

While SIPTU has demanded that the work be put on hold, the board of the centre has warned of the serious implications for the long-term viabil- ity of the leisure centre if the works do not go ahead as planned.

A letter to SIPTU stated, “The board’s position continues to be that the only viable option is to com- mence the renovations and exten- sion on January 5 to ensure the long term viability of centre, guarantee employment into the future, and en- sure that the community continues to have affordable, modern recreation EYOVU BLO oxna

SIPTU Branch Secretary Mary

O’Donnell said, “This centre is fund- ed largely by public contributions and the public purse and we do not believe that it is in the public interest that people who are not affected fi- nancially by this decision should cast aside these loyal employees onto the public social system, while public funds are spent on renovation.”

A spokesperson for the leisure cen- tre said they thought “long and hard about this” before deciding it was the best option from a health and safety perspective.

‘Health and safety issues have to be our primary concern. We can- not have such major works going on while we have staff and clients in the oluun Counersam

Under the plan, the building con- tract will take 20 weeks while the centre will be closed for 21 weeks to allow time to prepare for the reopen- ing. If the works were allowed to go on while the facility was open to the public, it would take 30 weeks and cost up to €200,000 more, money which centre management say “we just don’t have”’.

The board of the centre has restat- ed, “This €1.2m refurbishment is a major investment in the facility and the town and it safeguards jobs at the centre for the future.”

SIPTU say its position is un- changed.

Airport traffic figures nosedive

ALLEGATIONS that a Kilrush man was intimidated and offered cash to drop charges in relation to an alleged assault on Christmas Eve have been made this week.

The claim came yesterday in the case of two young men charged in connec- tion with an incident in the west Clare town on Christmas Eve. Gardai have launched an investigation into the claims and said that the victim of the alleged assault was in fear of going to court yesterday.

Eamon Hall (20), of Wood Road, Kilrush, is accused of stealing a car at Burton Street car park in the town, last Wednesday, December 24.

Another man, Simon Rogers (19), of Willow Green, Kilrush, 1s accused of assaulting the owner of the car caus- bOrea er U OEE

He is also accused of allowing him- self to be carried in a stolen car and damaging another car in Kilrush, on the same date.

HOPES in Eire Og hurling circles that Ogonnelloe were about to hand them a Christmas present of staying up at senior level for the 2009 cham- pionship season have been quashed WOM Wiere) © a

Word was rife within Eire Og ranks that Ogonnelloe were on the cusp of lodging an application with the Clare County Board to be regraded from senior to intermediate level for 2009.

Depleted playing numbers and the possible transfer of a couple of high profile players from the club were thought to be at the root of such a move by the east Clare club that has punched above its weight at senior level for the past decade.

However, speaking to

THERE was one election at the 2008 GAA convention — for the five places up for grabs among seven contestants for honour of joining board chairman Michael O’Neill and secretary Pat Fitzgerald as delegates to the 2009 GAA Congress.

Robert Frost (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Noel Walsh (St Joseph’s Mailtown), Syl O’Connor (Sixmilebridge), Ger Hickey (Feakle) and John O’Sullivan (Ruan) were the candidates who won out, with board vice-chairman John-

ny Hill (Lissycasey) and longtime Congress delegate Gabriel Keating (Naomh Eoin) losing out. Meanwhile, only one position on the Clare County Board team re- mains vacant, as convention failed to election a Youth Officer. Both Michael O’Connor (Crusheen) and Sean O’Halloran (Bodyke) were nominated for the position, but de- clined to let their names go forward. “It would be very selfish of me to allow my name go forward. I have the position of cathaoirleach of Bord na nOg Jomaint and the job of youth

officer 1s a very important position. I decline my name going forward,” said Sean O’ Halloran.

‘Sean has a lot to offer as youth of- ficer and I would hope that he would re-consider,’ said secretary Pat Fit- zgerald.

“IT too an important a position to be dual mandated,’ responded O’Halloran. “It is a crucial position, especially in the modern era with the development of our games. I believe that the position should stand on its own merits. On that basis I won’t al- low my name go forward.”

AHEAD of the four day National Hunt Festival at Leopardstown, which begins on Friday, St Stephen’s Day, trainer Willie Mullins has con- firmed he could run_ stablemates Cousin Vinny and Hurricane Fly in the same race for the second time in a month.

The possibility of the two meeting could arrive on Saturday as over the weekend, Mullins said that there was “every possibility” that Cousin Vin- ny will run.

Last year, Cousin Vinny was the first horse to complete the Chelten- ham and Punchestown bumper dou- ble and Mullins confirmed that is he does go on Saturday, it wouldn’t pose a problem to the trainer if he and Hurricane Fly run in the same race.

“Cousin Vinny’s hurdling debut was very pleasing and he obviously has loads of speed as you need that to win three bumpers,” said Mullins. ‘“He’s won on good ground and on soft ground but his best form is on good ground.”

Mullins also stated that Hurricane Fly has had some invaluable experi- ence of late. “He had a lot of expert- ence form his runs in the spring,” he continued. “He stepped back to two miles last time but two and a half miles isn’t a problem either as he was second in a Grade One and won a

Grade Three over that trip.”

Meanwhile, over the weekend, the big news from Thurles was that odds on favourite Solwhit failed to land the Jockey Hotel Hurdle on Sunday.

With Paddy Flood on board, Nine- tieth Minute was steered to success despite Charles Byrnes’ Solwhit go- ing to the track priced at 1-3.

To Flood’s credit, though, Ninetieth Minute looked to be in control of the race from start to finish and despite a strong fight from Solwhit, he was un- able to get ahead in the race and ulti- mately lost by three parts of a length at the line.

However, it wasn’t a total negative experience for Byrnes as Dromin Hill Echo, with Lenny Flynn on board, landed the Molony Cup Handicap Chase in emphatic fashion.

Afterwards, Byrnes also confirmed that he will go at Leopardstown and Limerick and will most likely go to Limerick under a mandatory pen- alty.

There was further positive news for Byrnes when his 50-1 shot Bit of a Devil took the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Two out, Bit of a Devil took control of the race and bombed home in what was a first winner for jockey Justin AY Lora) ens

Plan for Traveller accommodation ‘bodes ill

Traveller families in need of permanent homes

DOMINIC Considine, founder and chief executive of Loyaltybuild, the Ennis-based marketing loyalty com- pany which has been acquired by US firm, Affinion for a sum believed to be in the region of €25muillion.

A native of Kilmihil, Mr Considine will remain as chief executive of the company which employs about 70 staff devising and managing market- ing loyalty programmes on behalf of client companies.

Other shareholders in Loyalty- build, which was established by Mr Considine as Shannon Showcase in 1999, are Sean Lyne and Domhnal Slattery, who are also investors in

MAJOR increases in payments to elderly people are needed if they are to cope with the recession, with many retired people living on the poverty line as it is, it was claimed this week.

Age Action West is calling on the Government to act to prevent wide- spread poverty among older people living on a fixed income.

James Reddiough of Age Action explained that a weekly income of €203 1s considered to be the line be- low which people are living in pov- Saas

‘Most people living on a state pen- sion are living on between €219 and €232 per week. That close to the poverty line and when you consider that’s to clothe, feed themselves, pay bills and in rural areas, pay for their own transport that’s not a lot of mon-

ey.” Said James.

Age Action wants increases in the State pension, the Living Alone AI- lowance and other entitlements such as the €10 fuel allowance to help pensioners make ends meet.

There are between 1,500 and 2,000 additional deaths each winter, com- pared to the summer, many of whom are older people who die because they cannot afford to keep them- selves warm,’ Age Action chief ex- ecutive Robin Webster said. “Lives could be saved by increasing the fuel allowance paid to the poorest pen- sioners.’”’