The Clare People Archive

CUSACK PARK will hold no fear for Kerry minor manager John Kennedy. As the Clare senior football manag- er for three seasons this decade, he familarised himself with every blade of grass at Clare headquarters and although this is his first competitive return since he left the post in Octo- ber 2005, the memories of his time in Clare are still vivid.

“IT had some good days and some

bad ones in Cusack Park” recalls the former All-Ireland winner, “but I must say looking back on my three years in Clare that we put in a big effort – Dave Loughman, Frankie Griffin and myself. There are some great people there. We had a certain amount of success and there were a few disappointing performances also, but it’s always nice to go back and meet guys that I knew on a regu- lar basis and return to familiar sur- roundings. I made great friendships

in my time there and certainly that’s what sport is about. Winning is one thing but I suppose it’s the friend- ships you make and the contacts and they are there forever and it’s in years to come that they will become more important.”

Although Kennedy admits that he doesn’t know too much about the current Clare minor side, through his Banner contacts, he knows the man- agement well and considers Michael Considine and his team among the

best in the country.

“You’re always confident but cau- tious. I would know James Murrihy particularly well and also Michael Considine. These guys are as good as you’ll get anywhere and I’m not just saying that because it’s Clare. They prepare professionally and I know they are putting in a big effort. They have played a huge number of challenges games and in terms of preparations, they won’t be found ween bate

“We’re ready for a real tough bat- tle against Clare because we played them last year in a challenge and pipped us by a point and quite a number of those are underage this year. You’d know by the approach they had that day that they have left no stone unturned and this will be no different. So we’re certainly treating Clare with respect. We are expect- ing areal battle and we are certainly not looking beyond Cusack Park on Wednesday evening.”

EARLIER this year, Colin Lynch met and addressed the 2008 Clare minor panel for the first time. Af- ter the meeting had finished, the panel and management had decided on their goal for the year. The aim would be Croke Park. Anything less would be interpreted as an opportu- nity lost and just by mentioning the country’s top stadium, this group had already lifted expectations in Clare football.

Michael Considine looks back over the past few months and says that all the negativity that has surrounded football in this county is unneces- sary, but he believes it’s up to those involved at the coalface to rid Clare of that mindset.

“We’ve got to stop feeling sorry for ourselves in Clare,’ says Considine. ‘“We’ve got to raise the bar and that’s down to ourselves. Clare teams have to be going out wanting to get to Munster finals, wanting to get to All Ireland quarter finals. Until we start thinking that we’re good enough to raise the bar and until we get rid of that negativity we’re never going to 20 forward.”

Look across the country and you’ll find that no team at this level has pre- pared better. Considine, along with James Murrihy and Colm Collins have covered all bases. Former Ker- ry goalkeeper Declan O’ Keeffe was brought in to add another dimension to goalkeeping training, Collins has been involved in improving fitness since the beginning of October and all players have had ongoing access to training facilities over the past seven months.

So far, over 50 sessions have been logged and according to Considine, every player has shown application and dedication.

“We sat down back in September and October and decided that we were going to put pride back in the jersey. For too long lads have been getting it too easy. When they go out in championship games with 10 min- utes to go they’re blowing up, they’re hiding.

‘“That’s one thing that we can guar- antee – that the 15 guys who go out against Kerry in Cusack Park will have earned their Clare shirt.”

Though it’s Kerry, the objective doesn’t shift. Play well and progress. Despite the safety net that exists — the team that loses on Wednesday goes

into a Munster Final playoff, with the first game scheduled for April 16 — Considine says that Clare are go- ing out to win at all costs tomorrow night.

“T don’t buy into this theory that it doesn’t matter if we win on Wednes- day. My view is that we’re going out to beat Kerry and I believe we’re good enough to beat Kerry.

“The bottom line is we’ve put in a savage effort. Just think about tt: 50 sessions since October 5. These young fellas have given their hearts and souls to the county jersey and if you base it on the fact that you get out of it what you put in, then we’re in with more than a fighting chance.”

Undoubtedly, a Kerry scalp — on the back of the Under 21 win over Kerry last year — would provide growing

evidence that a core group of tal- ented players are coming through the grades. Ensuring they remain inter- ested and ensuring the incentives ex- ist then becomes the aim.

“We’ve got to make it attractive for players. We’ve got to have a profes- sional set-up and fellas have to be looked after. I can’t complain with the minor set-up, because anything we ve asked for we got it.

“But to keep moving forward the right structures have to be in place. There was a lot of talk about the Un- der 15 set-up this year. No mentor moved from the Under 14 to Under 15 SO we’ve a new Set-up coming in who don’t really know the players and it means the players aren’t as comfort- able. ““What happens then is you can lose three or four players through the

net and that’s not good enough. You have to keep the continuity. Once you’ve a relationship built up, you stay with them and move up along the line.”

With a reasonably tight base of players to work with, the directive given to potential dual players to chose between hurling and football could have had a negative effect on preparations. Considine rolled with it though.

“The [minor] hurling management made their decision that lads would have to make their choice. My think- ing on it is that lads should have the opportunity to play both codes up to minor. I think in a county like Clare if we had lost some of those lads [dual players], it would have been a serious blow to our team.

‘Now, I’m sure that them three guys are a loss to the hurling side, but good luck to the hurling management, they stuck to their beliefs and they believe they’re in contention for All Ireland honours. If that pans out, then they’ Il have been proved right.”

Last year, Considine watched from the sideline as his Clare side were beaten by Limerick after a replay. A dozen of that team are in conten- tion to start this year. Stronger, wiser and just as focused. A win tomor- row night would be reward in itself for Clare’s persistence and effort. A win that could be the first step on that road to Croke Park.

AN ALL graded eleven-race pro- eramme greeted racegoers at Gal- way Greyhound Stadium on Thurs- day with the two semi-finals of the Outback Kennels A4 525 the twin KorHAU Ken

In the first semi final the Jerry Maloney of Clarecastle owned Bal- laghboy Cool (Big Daddy Cool-Sues Beauty) stormed home up the outside to run down the leaders to defeat Georges St. Girl 1n29.35.

In the second semi final the Luke Kilcoyne owned Ougham Light re- ally brightened up proceedings as he scorched around the track in a superb 28.94 to put himself in prime posi-

tion for outright success in the com- petition. Ballyea Nikita for Johnnie Maher of Kilmaley runs from trap two in the final could also have a say in matters.

The opening contest was an N3 eraded 525-yard contest for young- sters and it was won in trap to line fashion by the Martin Keane of Kilmihil owned Tiro who cmfort- ably made all to defeat the gambled on Big Bamboo by seven lengths in 29.89. The second was an S10 325 and following a pretty level break Belcarra Duke led briefly be- fore the Mary Kennedy of Lisheen owned Clonmore Honcho took over along the inside rail to lead by three lengths racing to the opening corner

Where there was trouble among the py TO ep nthe Bu.Couce

But up front Clonmore Honcho (Honcho Classic-Clonmors Classic) strode clear to defeat Belcarra Duke by six lengths in 18.43.

The fifth contest was for A8 graded runners and on the run to the open- ing corner it was the blue jacketed Shetland Sue that held the call from Clonmore Misty with Missthebus in third place as they turned down the back straight. Racing past halfway Missthebus went to the front and quickly went three lengths clear and as they began the swing for home and and as the leader faltered, the Miss Allanna Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Lamie got up on the line

for a neck success in 29.82.

The Brownes were in the winner’s enclosure in the feature event on Friday night, as the David Browne owned Burnpark Duke in trap three came away first. Up front though Burnpark Duke was throwing down the gauntlet to the chasing pack as he opened up a fine lead racing to the penultimate corner. Boho Phoebe shaded the second spot but the ‘duke’ was gone beyond recall as he won by over 10 lengths in 30.15

Race ten on the night was for A2 graders over 525 yards and here a very closely bunched field raced to the Opening corner covered by less than two lengths with the trap four runner Coomlogane Ronan at the head of af-

fairs turning down the back straight. Passing halfway Coomlogane Ronan led by five lengths and the Noel Mul- lins of Gort trained runner got on top to win going away by three lengths haa

The seventh contest was for A4 eraders and from traps it was the Aine McGuire of Mullagh owned Clounlaheen Lad who was away smartly to lead at the opening cor- ner. Racing along the back Clounla- heen Lad led from Around The Bend with Bodyshop Direct in third as they swung out of the back straight. Racing off the home turn the Joe and Alan Fahy owned Around The Bend swung wide and cut down the leader for a two-length success.

AMBITIOUS plans for a new hotel on the Main Street of the north Clare resort of Lahinch have been given the go-ahead.

Clare County Council has given William Stackpoole the go-ahead to construct the 16-room hotel in spite of opposition from Pat Kenny of Main Street, Lahinch and Donal Kenny of Kenny Woollen Mills.

In a hard-hitting objection against the planning application lodged by William Stackpoole, Pat Kenny claimed, “This proposed develop- ment is over-build of the worst kind. This is a village. This site is a cottage with a small yard and some outhous- es. The proposal to build 16 apart- ments, restaurant, bar and reception areas on this small site is ludicrous and has already been refused by An Bord Pleanala.”

Mr Kenny states, “This develop- ment does not materially differ from the previous application that was re- fused by An Bord Pleanala. The cur- rent proposal shows only cosmetic differences from the previously re- fused plan and none of the root issues of the refusal have been addressed.

“The construction of this un- derground car-park will certainly compromise the structure of Kenny Woollen Mills and Avondale Apart- ment Block to the south of the devel- opment.”

In his objection, Donal Kenny stat- ed, “I own a building, Kenny Wool- len Mills, directly south of the site. This proposed development would seriously devalue my property.

My building is being overlooked by this proposed development. We will have windows facing directly into apartments and commercial areas. Privacy 1s compromised.”

However, in the planner’s report, the council planner stated, “It is considered that the proposed three- storey building is of an appropriate scale for the main street of Lahi- nch, having regard to the respective heights of the adjacent buildings to the north, Shamrock Inn and south, Kenny’s Woollen Mills.”

The council gave the plan the go- ahead taking into account the urban setting and concluded that it would not seriously injure the amenities of the area and be in accordance with the proper planning and development of the area.

CLARE COUNTY Council yester- day granted planning permission for contentious plans to construct a €10 million explosives plant along the shore of the Shannon estuary.

In the county’s longest running planning saga, the council gave Shan- non Explosives Ltd the go-ahead to construct the plant at Cahercon pier, GTC Ay am

However, the council decision 1s unlikely to be the last move and the decision is to be appealed by An Bord Pleanala by opponents of the scheme.

The Kildysart Explosives Factory Opposition Group (KEFOG) yester- day confirmed that they would be ap- pealing the decision and stated that, if necessary, the group would take a legal challenge to stop the plan from proceeding.

Confirming that they will be seek- ing an oral hearing in the case, the spokesman said, “We have opposed the plan for seven and a half years and will oppose it for another seven and a half years if necessary.”

Plans were first lodged for the scheme in 1999 and the council gave the plan the go-ahead in January UE

The decision was appealed by op- ponents and An Bord Pleanala re- fused planning permission in March 2003.

Without a sod being turned on the scheme, the Whelan Group has al- ready spent almost €7 million on the Ke) (elm

When operational, the plant will provide employment for close to 35 people and contribute €3 million an- nually to the local economy.

An Taisce, the Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) and local resi-

dents, including (KEFOG), objected.

A spokesman for the Whelan Group which owns Shannon Explosives Ltd said that they welcome the decision.

The spokesman for KEFOG said, “We are not in the least surprised by the council’s decision because it has never taken any of our views on lexey-VKeR

“It is just passing the parcel to An Bord Pleanala.”

He said that one of the conditions for the development involves road widening and one of the owners of the land is a member of KEFOG and will not sell the land to allow Shan- non Explosives Ltd widen the route.

Shannon Explosives has also to se- cure a foreshore license as part of the planning application. He said, “The bottom line is that 1f it becomes nec- essary, we will take a legal challenge. We have taken it before and we do have the capacity and will to do so.”

— was quizmaster for the tense and action-packed two-and-a-half hour final. This was the 17th Credit Unions quiz and Doolin took vic- tory in the Under-13 competition. The team was made up of Keelan McMahon, David Nagle, Orla Burke and David Sims.

After five rounds, they trailed the leaders by three points. At the 10th round, they were one point behind the current leaders (Ennis National

School).

In the 11th round, they got six clear points and were catapulted into the lead. And in the last round, if they scored three points they were tied; but four or more points meant they had won. They scored five points and were the clear and final winners.

Winning team members each re- ceived a Sony PSP and commemo- rative salver, while their school re- ceived €1,270 and the Credit Unions Schools Quiz cup. Every finalist also received a special certificate marking their achievement and a fun gift-bag filled with goodies.

Uel Adair, President of the Irish League of Credit Unions, presented the winning teams with their prizes.

“It’s always exciting for us in the Credit Union movement to see an event like this.

“Here are great teams of young people who have shown that hard work and a great team spirit can tri- umph when it matters,” he said.

Congratulating the winners and all the finalists on their dedication and achievements, Mr Adair added that, ‘For the past 17 years, we have organ- ised and funded our quiz to help stim- ulate children’s curiosity about the world around them, as well as helping them to develop their research, social- ising and teamwork skills.”

AS THE EU treaty referendum draws ever closer, Clare TD, Timmy Dooley (FF) has warned Clare farm- ers that he believes a no vote would seriously harm Clare farming com- munities.

“Treland always has issues to deal with of a national importance in Eu- rope. But we must deal with these is- sues from a position of strength and not from a position of weakness,’ he said.

“A No vote against this treaty would weaken Ireland’s future negotiating capacity at a European level.

For example, the Common Agri- cultural Policy for the period 2009 – 2013 is being reviewed over the

next six to eight months under the forthcoming French Presidency of the European Union.

“From an Irish viewpoint, there are a number of serious issues in the context of this CAP review that we want dealt with during this review OKO en cee

According to Dooley, a no vote against this EU treaty will weaken Ireland’s negotiating hand during this CAP review process.

“I would also like to remind farm- ers that Libertas, which is leading the No campaign with Sinn Fein against this treaty, wants to destroy the Common Agricultural Policy in its entirety,” he continued.

“IT am not satisfied that Peter Man- delson is adequately dealing with

Irish concerns in the context of the Doha round of World Trade Talks. His negotiating approach has been an unbalanced one. The Irish beef industry is the fourth largest beef industry in the world after America, Brazil and Australia.

“We must continue to impress upon Peter Mandelson that his negotiat- ing strategy is simply a wrong one. At the last meeting of EU Agricul- ture Ministers, 20 countries out of 27 spoke out against his negotiating strategy.

“This round of WTO talks has been going on for the past six years in Ge- neva and these talks are not without difficulty.

“No WTO deal can be secured un- less there is an agreement on what 1s

known as non-agricultural market CCAS

“The EU has asked that Brazil, China and India open up their mar- kets to imports of goods and services from the developing world but the ef- forts of the EU have been met with strong opposition from these three countries to date.

“Between the years 2007 and 2013 Irish farmers and rural Irish commu- nities are receiving €12.2 billion in financial support from the European Union for the operation of the annual single farm payment and a variety of other different programmes includ- ing the rural environment protection scheme, on farm investment, re-for- estation initiatives and the disadvan- taged area programme.”

MACRA NA FEIRME has launched a scathing attack on the latest de- velopments coming from the World Trade Organisation talks, saying it would devastate the Irish agriculture industry.

Ms Buckley pointed out that the future of agriculture in this country was very much dependent on the out- come of the forthcoming WTO nego- tiations and warned that freer world trade is likely to lead to international food markets becoming like interna- tional energy markets, where low- cost economies could dominate and control world food markets through OPEC, like cartels.

“On the one hand, Europe under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) wants a European agricultural sec- tor based on a multifunctional model and with a commitment to encourage and make it easier for young people to enter the agri-food sector. Yet on the other hand, EU Trade Commis- sioner Mandelson is determined to dismantle and destroy the agricul- tural industry for young farmers.” she said.

GiecoNehmrecomat Ammo o mee EU farm holdings are run by farm- ers over 55 years of age and this situation will deteriorate further if Commissioner Mandelson is left to demolish the CAP, as young farmers who are responsible for the future of

the European farming sector will not select agriculture as a livelihood.

“Young farmers are just as fo- cussed as any other business people. They weigh up the return for their investment of labour and capital and, if it does not stack up, they won’t stay farming purely for the love of the land,” said Buckley.

“If this deal is to proceed, why would young people select agricul- ture as a career choice?”

Buckley said it was clear that Mr Mandelson has exceeded his mandate from the European Commission and is making disastrous blunders in the ongoing negotiations. The leader of the young farmer organisation, said that Mr Mandelson appeared deter-

mined to pursue a reckless strategy, of maximising market access for European companies involved in industry and services, while simulta- neously selling out on the EU agri- cultural sector.

‘“‘Mandelson’s open door policy will mean a race to the bottom on produc- tion standards, as the market will ul- timately be left to imports.”

“It is absolutely vital that the EU retains its own clean, safe food sup- ply, produced only under conditions acceptable to EU citizens. One only has to look at recent developments such as Foot and Mouth in South America and Bird Flu, to see the importance of being self sufficient when it comes to food.”

A BOOKLET detailing the results of Europe’s foremost large-scale audit of farm machinery will be launched at Clare Museum in Ennis on next Monday, April 14.

Produced by Clare County Coun- cil and east Clare-based consultants Minogue Associates, Antique Farm Machinery of County Clare tells the social story of the county’s farm ma- chinery from the early 1800s to the aL Oks

The Clare Heritage section secured funding from the Heritage Council and Clare County Council to under- take the project last year, as part of the implementation of the Clare Her- itage Plan 2003-2007.

“I am delighted to see that the lo-

cal authority has played its part in establishing a framework for docu- menting unprotected early agricul- tural machinery, which played a sig- nificant role in the socio-economic development of this country over the last number of centuries,” said Ber- nadette Kinsella, Director of Serv- ices, Economic Development and Planning, Clare County Council.

“The west of Ireland is tradition- ally an agricultural region and this tradition has bequeathed a signifi- cant amount of farm machinery dat- ing from the late 19th and early to mid-twentieth centuries.

“Therefore, it 1s imperative that we develop a strategy for the conserva- tion and posterity of such items as seed drills, harrows, ploughs and rollers, horse carts, and harvesting

and haymaking machinery.”

Commenting on the audit, Cllr Pat Hayes, Chairperson of the Clare Heritage Forum, said that there is a sionificant gap in awareness when it comes to our agricultural heritage despite its fundamental impact on the socio-economic development of this country over the last number of centuries.

‘The Clare Heritage Forum is con- fident that this audit and its subse- quent promotion will help address that gap in Clare and also provide an effective template that can be used on a national and international lev- el,” he said.

‘For example, local authority herit- age offices in Galway and Donegal have already followed our lead by undertaking similar studies.

“We are confident that this au- dit will achieve its main objective, which is to uniquely inform as to the historical, geographical, eco- nomic and even scientific develop- ment of agricultural machinery in one county.”

Following the launch of the audit, 10,000 summary booklets will be made available at schools, libraries, museums and heritage centres across County Clare.

Dr Hugh Maguire of the Heritage Council will launch Antique Farm Machinery of County Clare at Clare Museum at 7.30pm on Monday, April 14.

The launch will also include an il- lustrated presentation on The Devel- opment of Clare Farm Machinery, 1800-1950.

KILNAMONA’S Nuala McDonnell last week walked away with a Certif- icate of Merit from the Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year Competition in Dublin.

Nuala, who hails from Cloongowna in Kilnamona was the only woman to make it into the closing stages of the competition.

She was one of six students to be presented with the certificates of merit by the Minister for Agricul- ture, Mary Coughlan, at the Dublin ceremony last Thursday.

Others to receive certificate were Maurice Bates representing the Port- laoise course, Thomas Mather from Kildare representing Gurteen Col- lege, James Gaffney from Ballyroe

east and Pallaskenry College, Joseph Keenehan from Roscommon repre- senting the Mountbellew College, Patrick Cronin from Cork represent- ing Clonbakilty College and Dermot Daly from ‘Tuam representing the Athenry course.

The overall prize for Student of the Year went to Monaghan farmer Eoin Kerr who represented the Teagasc Agricultural College in Ballyhaise.

After his Leaving Certificate, Eoin completed his FETAC Level 5 and 6 Certificate in Agriculture in Bally- haise Agriculture College, and com- pleted his work placement in New Zealand.

He is likely to enter a partnership with his father at an early date, as a means of expanding their dairy en- terprise. The home farm 1s already

a well established dairy farm of 180 acres, 105 cows and 460,000 litres of milk quota.

“I would like to congratulate all of the students here today on the awards they are receiving. They have clearly excelled in their respective courses,’ said Teagasc director, Professor Ger- ry Boyle.

“We in Teagasc are continuous- ly evaluating our education pro- erammes to ensure they meet the needs of the farmers of the future.

“We have looked at the delivery of courses to provide more flexibility to accommodate the modern student. We have looked at the course con- tent to ensure it equips the students of today and the farmers of tomor- row, and we are looking to prioritise the capital invested in our education

facilities in the future.”

Peter Fogarty from Wexford was presented with the second runner-up award by Minister Coughlan while William Doogan from Donegal re- ceived the third runner-up award.

“There is renewed interest in ag- ricultural education with numbers increasing despite the decline in the number of full-time farmers. De- mand for part-time courses is also strong,’ Director of Education and Development with Teagasc, Donal Ora