The Clare People Archive

THE Clare Tourism Council has pre- dicted that the county’s tourism in- dustry will receive a major boost in 2009 – driven mostly by the return of American visitors.

The council, which held its annual conference in Ennistymon last week, believes that a combination of factors including Ryanair entering the low- cost transatlantic market, will boost American visitor number on 2009.

According to chairperson of Clare Tourism Council, Flan Garvey, the election of Barack Obama and the rising value of the dollar will en- courage American’s to travel.

“We have also had hints that Michael O’Leary and company will be getting into the transatlantic mar- ket out of Shannon and doing it ina low cost model compared to what is there at the moment,” he said.

‘The pre-clearance issue is vital as a part of this, we will be the first air- port in Europe which has this and the onus is on us to focus on what is right and not what is wrong.

“We need to get those flight in from Europe, through Shannon, and then off to North America again. We will have this for a full year ahead of Dublin Airport and if we can all work together we can really make this happen. This is a golden op- portunity which we have never had before.”

The conference was addressed by a number of high profile speakers in-

cluding Alan Clarke, CEO Northern Irish Tourist Board, Paul O’Toole CEO of Failte Ireland and Martin Moroney, head of the Shannon Air- port Authority.

“Everybody acknowledges that we are going through a rough time at the minute but this is a time for reflec- tion and planning for a future which is going to be better,’ continued Cllr Garvey (FF).

‘People are pretty optimistic about next year. They are cuts to certain ar-

eas this year but we are well placed, even with Open Skies, to capacity of markets that we have already estab- lished.

“The Clare Tourist Council has been here since 1961 and in that time we have done countless promotions in Milwaukee and London and all over the world. We have a share of the market now that we would not have if we hadn’t been out there over the years.”

Others to attend the conference

included the Ambassador from the south African country of Lesotho, who was the first representative from an African country to address the Clare Tourist Forum. Also present were US _ television personality, Stephanie Abrams and a delegation from Ennistymon’s twinned towns in Greece and Italy.

US visitors ‘will return in 2009’

Kids rejoice as sod turned on Tulla playground

A MAN with 32 previous convic- tions has been handed a one-month detention sentence after he punched a garda patrol car on the day of his child’s christening.

Barry O’Brien (21), of Burton Street, Kilrush, was convicted of a public order offence, arising out of an incident at O’Curry Street, Kil- kee, on June 15 last.

Kilkee District Court heard that that accused told a garda, “Don’t you {***ing come near me or I’|I take the head off you.”

His solicitor Eugene O’Kelly said his client had christened his child that day and accepted it was an ap- palling way to end what should have been a very happy day.

“The biggest penalty he faces is that he has spoiled what should have been a most happy occasion,” he said.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a one-month detention sentence and fixed a bond in the event of an ap- oer

Garda car attack

FIANNA Fail is facing the possible collapse of it’s vote in next year’s lo- cal elections – as the county’s 6,000 farmers are on the verge of turning their back on the party.

More than 7,500 farmers attended a protest rally in Ennis on Sunday when farmers were urged to vote with their feet and reject the govern- ment candidates at next year’s local election.

An estimated 4,000 Clare farmers ANA KepOCOLerO MN SCoMB ECD UN AMANO (CKomm OO CoME DUTY] Farmers Association’s Deputy Presi- dent, Derek Deane, urged them to “give the government their answer” at next year’s election.

THE weekend action involving the Kilmihil ladies and men in All-Ire- land and provincial final action re- spectively will prove to be a family affairs in many ways. That’s because of the links between the two sides.

Where to start!

The three O’Hallorans, Lorraine, Joan and Denise, on the ladies team are sisters of Enda who has made a telling contribution to the men’s team when introduced as a substitute in the county final, provincial quar- ter-final and semi-final.

Keith Considine was also a signifi- cant sub in Kilmihil’s victory over the “Barrs last day out — he’s a broth- er of the two stars of the Kilmihil ladies attack in the persons of Ailish and Eimear Considine.

Edel McMahon is a daughter of the team trainer James McMahon, while Karl Downes, who is wing-back on the men’s team is a brother of Una and Colette Downes.

Una Downes is one of two mem- bers of the Kilmihil team involved with the county intermediate team that reached the All-Ireland final this year. Downes, was a member of the Kildoon Gaels team that won the senior championship back in 2003,

That team was an amalgamation of Kimihil and Doonbeg and five years on there’s a strong Doonbeg connec- tion with Kilmihil’s march to the All-Ireland final. Edel Conway, Sa- rah Cahill, Yvonne Downes, Linda Russell and Mairéad Nugent are the Doonbeg contingent on the Kilmihil panel.

‘“There’s a great atmosphere build- ing up in Kilmihil this week,” says Una Downes. “All the shops have bunting up and as the countdown to the two final starts. The build-up has been great with the two teams look- ing forward to finals.

“At the start of year when we began training we weren’t thinking of an All-Ireland. We didn’t expect to be here but we’ve worked very hard. In all are games since the county final we’ve come from behind, so in this final we’ll be hoping to make a bet- ter start.”

Frances graduates with flying colours

Top Munster award for paint retailers

Ballyea GAA in good heart