The Clare People Archive

A NEW era for Clare GAA was ush- ered in at the Auburn Lodge Hotel in Ennis last Saturday as a new county

board executive was elected, while outgoing voluntary secretary Pat Fit- zgerald officially assumed the role in a full-time capacity.

Before a packed attendance, new

chairman Michael O’Neill looked to the future, while paying tribute to those who have gone before him. He

was formally proposed for the top job in Clare GAA by his Ballyea club-

mate Tom McInerney and seconded by Clondegad’s Seamus O’Reilly.

“We face major challenges ahead,” said O’Neill, “but we face them with energy and enthusiasm and I will not be found wanting when it comes to giving the level of leadership that is required for my position,’ he added.

“The best way forward is to draw up a Strategic plan that embraces all aspects of the GAA structures within the county. This plan will take a lit- tle time but it is vital to the future workings of the association within the county.

“Everything I have mentioned can only be achieved by inclusiveness. This means everyone having an input from grassroots level to county board and national level. Working together we can achieve our goals and I will no stone unturned in our quest for success on and off the field of play,” added O’Neill.

His vice-chairman for 2008 will be Lissycasey’s Johnny Hill — the out- going Development Officer defeated Tony O’Brien of Smith O’Briens by 99 votes to 69. In the two contests for positions on the executive, Ger Hickey from Feakle defeated Clare- castle’s Martin Reynolds by 131 to 34, while Corofin’s Tom Burke beat Domhnall O Loinsigh by 127 to 41 in the contest for Oifigeach Gaeilge. Burke, along with Michael O’Connor (Crusheen) and Ger Hickey make up the three new members of the county board executive for 2008.

A CLARE politician has accused the HSE of telling lies in its response to a query from Kilrush Town Council.

Outspoken Councillor Deirdre Cul- ligan (Ind) was reacting to a response to a query about the future of Ennis General Hospital and its services, presented to councillors at their De- cember meeting. In the letter the HSE reiterated its statement that the mam- mography unit at Ennis would not be recommissioned.

It said its decision was driven by the “need to provide the best possible clinical practices for patients in the mid-west”.

The letter added that, as a stand- alone unit, Ennis would not have the benefits and protections of a centre of excellence with the associated “checks and balances”.

Cllr Culligan asked, “If the mam- mography machine at Ennis General Hospital is not to be recommissioned, why does the planning application for the re-development of the hospital make provision for a Mammography Unit at the Hospital – with separate offices for two radiologists?

“The HSE refuses to accept that dig- ital mammogram equipment at Ennis would enable women to have the con- venience of having a mammogram in Ennis – and it could be relayed digit- ally for analysis by teams working at

the cancer centre,’ she said.

“It 1s worth noting that Prof Tom Keane, who 1s heading up the cancer programme, has said he accepts the case of localised cancer services sup- porting the cancer centres.”

The town council also asked the HSE what its plans were for the hos- pital. The HSE replied that it had en- gaged an “independent management consultant” to review the services and visit the hospitals in the mid-west. In addition to site visits, a number of fact finding interviews were held with consultant representation from each of the hospitals, senior nurses, GP representatives, ambulance, risk management staff were interviewed.

“Individuals or bodies were encour- aged to forward written submissions in relation to the scope of the current and future service activity for consid- eration. The management consultants are currently finalising their report,” the HSE said.

“The HSE reneged on public under- takings that the Teamwork consult- ants (independent consultants) would consult widely with all stake-holders. SW sleavas nate Mm sl Oe MnO elomm elo yo)lesDemere)ecuseNI tee for just 30 minutes. It is com- pletely untrue to claim Teamwork invited public submissions – no pub- lic notices inviting submissions were advertised,” said Cllr Culligan.

“I don’t agree with that response. I think it is a heap of lies.”

DISBELIEF, amazement, agony, glory turned into depression. Just some of the expressions used to de- scribe the Clare Junior team’s year in review. Camogie in Clare enjoyed new heights in popularity as the Jun- ior team forged its way to an All-Ire- land final appearance in Croke Park. The coverage that camogie got this year opened the minds of many to the game and the girls playing it.

This coupled with the live coverage on the final day and the lead up to it allowed the sporting people of Clare watch and enjoy what was a skilful game of camogie and wait in hope of that elusive All-Ireland title. This seemed to be in the offering as the final few seconds ticked down but the announcement of six minutes of injury time which turned into eight did little for the nerves.

Then within 30 seconds of that eventual full-time whistle the pow- ers that be in Croke Park had to whip the saffron and blue ribbons from the New Ireland Cup and re-adorn it with the red and white of Derry as a last gasp goal denied the girls of the Banner.

Strange as it may seem, this loss

has awoken the plight of camogie to an even greater number of people within the county as support over- flowed in the county. Those who never before batted an eyelid at the mention of camogie were now inter- ested and expressed their wishes for Clare to succeed.

That team, after losing the All-Ire- land, went on to win a Munster title, proving their mettle and gave some consolation to the deserving players.

The management of the Junior team was only established in February and with games fast approaching there was little time for settling down.

The team quickly got into training and markers laid down for all. The team had wins in the League over Kildare, Offaly, Derry, Antrim and a draw with Down which gave them a place in a play-off with Down for the league final. With little between these teams in the last number of years, Down edged this encounter by a one point margin. Clare threw themselves into preparations for the championship and with easy home wins against Antrim and Down, Clare then had a thirteen week wait to the All-Ireland semi-final, after Kildare failed to field and the sem1i- final dates were changed.

Clare were impressive winners over Waterford in that semi-final and faced an All-Ireland final appear- ance with Derry, one point losers the year before. Clare were confident of their ability heading into that final and many will say that they were extremely unfortunate to have lost in the way that they did.

With a young squad of players and six of the panel Under 18, the fu- ture 1S positive for this team. There are no retirements from the team at the moment, there is the return of Laura Linnane and Claire McMa- hon to look forward to and they also possess many strong underage play- ers. This will make competition for places very tough in the coming year which should be extremely beneficial for the Junior team.

This team represented Clare in the Munster Intermediate Final in Octo- ber and while the team was largely comprised of the All-Ireland squad, there were additions to the panel as some were unavailable. Shona En- right, Chloe Morey, Mary Clune, Ci- ara Lynch were all part of that panel and should be amongst those pushing for places this coming year.

Captain Deirdre Murphy and corner forward Claire Commane were both

nominated for All-Stars and although they were unsuccessful in that chal- lenge, the nominations were merited after solid displays from Deirdre at centre back who was a driving force for Clare throughout the campaign. In a position where she was unaccus- tomed to, Deirdre quickly settled in and was easily the best centre back in the Junior Championship.

Claire was Clare’s top scorer and added 1-6 in the All-Ireland fi- nal and received the player of the game award. Just some of the stars that shone through were Catherine O’Loughlin who had had a strong campaign at centre forward and Kate Lynch, Carina Roseingrave who made huge contributions as younger players. Dee Corcoran was very re- liable at full back while behind her Denise Lynch had kept Clare ahead in the semi-final with some fine saves and catches. Aoife Ryan had a great campaign as did Sharon O’ Loughlin, Amy Colleran, Sharon McMahon, Cathy Hally and Jane Scanlon.

The panel was then bolstered by the presence of Siobhan and Fiona Lafferty, Helen McMahon, Aimee McInerney, Aine O’Brien, Stehanie Moloney, Maire O’Halloran, Jane O’Leary, Edel Keating, Aiveen

O’Shea, Aoife Griffen and Rachel Lynch.

Clare are now ready to re-group and are anxious to start into a new campaign. They’re again setting their sights on preparing for a challenge on the All-Ireland title and the hope to lead Clare to the Senior ranks.

this week that she is still optimistic that the mys- tery into her brother’s death will be solved. She has appealed to anyone with information on the killing to come forward. “It seems to have been left there, shelved. There doesn’t seem to be

anything new. It is maddening, gall- ing. You keep thinking you might get a phone call but there is nothing,” said Ms Horgan.

“However we can’t give up hope and we hope that something will happen yet,” she added.

Ms Horgan lives in Ballyheigue, County Kerry and has not had direct contact with gardai probing the death. However her brother, Ray, who re- sides just 100 yards from where Sean lived in Ardnacrusha has liaised with the investigation team. But there has been no breakthrough as of yet.

“I am appealing to anyone with information, anyone who knows something and if they were afraid to say anything all along, to go to the guards now, five years on,’ she said.

“I know there might be fear in- volved as well. It could be that, but if they went to the guards they would never be known. Is it that they don’t understand what the family is going through?” she asked.

She said she firmly believed some- one was staying quiet and was refus-

ing to disclose information which might lead to the murder being solved.

‘There is not a hope that someone doesn’t know something. It is fright to see an innocent man left there. We don’t even have a proper idea why he was killed. Along with not knowing who, we don’t know why,” she said.

“They (the killers) are out there free. They could do it to anybody else. Have they any conscience at all’? How do you live with that?” she asked.

‘All we know is he was kind and soft-hearted. A lot of people wouldn’t have cars without him. He more or less told them to pay whenever they had money,’ said Ms Horgan.

“It doesn’t get any easier for us. It is like a burden you are carrying around. Maybe if there was some bit of closure it might help, but it is not going to bring him back,” she said.

One month before Sean was gunned down, Limerick nightclub bouncer Brian Fitzgerald was murdered at his home in Corbally, Limerick. Four

men were tried in relation to this case at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin this year. That trial concluded in November. Three of the men were acquitted, while the other, a 24-year- old, was found guilty of murder.

Ms Horgan said the breakthrough in that case left her with some hope that her brother’s killers would be caught.

“Brian Fitzgerald was killed just a month before Sean. We kept hoping that something might come out of Sean’s case, even though they were completely different cases,’ she said.

Mr Poland was born in Portum- na, County Galway and his family moved to Ardnacrusha several years ago. Sean had lived at the family home when he was murdered. His father and brother have since moved back to Clontuskert in east Galway.

CLARE owners enjoyed big suc- cess at an exciting day’s coursing in Cloncullen last Thursday.

Favourite Clare Man was pipped in the final of the South Clare Cup by Valverdes, owned by Anthony and Denis Clohessey and Michael and Martin Madigan from Killimer.

Valverdes had earlier received a bye run to the final after the Clare- castle owned Murty’s Shadow was withdrawn while Clareman edged

out Caeser Mac in the semi-final to book a final spot.

There was success for the SAM syndicate from Clarecastle when Bird’s Baby clinched the Oaks ticket for Clonmel.

Trained by Gerry Holihan for John Quinn, Woodpark Rebel was again in top form, winning out the South Clare All-aged Bitch Stake.

The win over Crafty Montico books a place in the Champion Stake in Clonmel for Woodpark Rebel.

Former Clare hurling manager

Anthony Daly is another who will be heading to Clonmel. Murty’s for One, owned by the ATM syndicate of Anthony and Michael Daly and Tommy Howard had already guar- anteed a place in the Boylesports Derby after winning at the Galway and Oranmore meeting.

Daly, along with fellow owners Stephen and Martin Sheedy will have another interest in Clonmel after the SAM syndicate owned Bird’s Baby beat of stiff competition for a spot in the Clonmel Minealla Oaks.

In the final Bird’s Baby saw off the challenge of the Miltown Malbay owned Dalcash Shannon by three lengths.

The reserve derby was won by the Scattery Syndicate from Kil- limer with Scattery Hyland which beat Siena’s Steel owned by Co- oraclare brothers John and Michael O’ Donoghue.

However there was joy for Coora- clare when Riverdale Honcho won the Cloncullen Stake for one and two course dogs and bitches, for owners

Michael and Fiona Meaney.

Fisherman’s Ace won the final of the working members stake for Kil- kee owner Joe Harte.

THE people of Lissycasey are travel- ling en masse to South Africa to sup- port one of their own, as she gives hope to thousands.

Local woman Sr Ethel Normoyle has undertaken to build a hospice and community facility at Mission- vale, Port Elizabeth, where she cares for the poor of its shantytowns.

The Lissycasey native will be joined on the ambitious three-week construction project by three of her nieces and her nephew, as well as al- most a dozen more people from her home parish.

Tom Clancy and Paddy Carmody from Lissycasey were busy with a cake sale last week, as they worked

hard to raise the €3,000 needed to see each of the volunteering build- ers, painters, tillers and helpers to Africa.

The 160 volunteers will travel at different times during the three- week project.

As a bricklayer Tom’s skills will be required from the beginning – Janu- Vaan lon

Building contractor Paddy will make his way over later.

Family support is also on its way with all the Clare volunteers.

St Normoyle’s nieces Grainne Tal- ty, Pamela Normoyle, Cliodhna Tal- ty and her nephew Shane Normoyle, also from Lissycasey, are helping out with the project.

In the 19 years since she moved to

South Africa Sr Normoyle has es- tablished a school, a feeding centre, a clothing centre and a lifeline for people who have nothing.

As well as dealing with crippling poverty the people of South Africa are also coping with an AIDS epi- demic, which has left devastation and orphans in its wake.

More than six in every ten people in the township where Sr Normoyle works, have the virus.

The Little Company of Mary nun, who trained in St John’s Hospital in Limerick, is now preparing to build a hospice and community resource centre to help give a better quality of life to people infected with AIDS.

Already more than €100,000 has been fundraised to buy all the nec-

essary materials for the new facility, which will have 18 beds for patients, as well as facilities to educate peo- ple suffering from the virus in how best to care for themselves and their families.

To build the new centre, a team of 200 people are needed between Jan- uary 16 and February 26, staying ten days at a time.

Volunteers will be put up in a ho- tel in Port Elizabeth and the €3,000 which they have to raise to join the team covers all flights, meals ac- commodation and transfers for the oNmer Way

THERE was plenty of festive cheer in west Clare on Christmas morning as hundreds took part in the tradi- tional Christmas Day swims.

The largest crowd gathered in Mil- town Malbay.

More than 120 people braved the elements at the White Strand in aid of the Mid West Cancer Unit in Lim- erick.

Describing the swim now in its 15th year as “excellent”, participant Tony Cogan believed it wasn’t as cold as other years.

More than 200 people gathered to

watch the fun in Spanish Point, and enjoy some warm festive drinks.

While it rained just before and after the charity swim, the only time the swimmers got wet was when they hit the water.

In Kilkee the swim is in its 25th year.

Around 50 people took part in the swim in Kilkee at 12.30pm.

Due to the low tide, the swim was moved from the traditional point at the slipway to the beach. The event, organised by Kilkee Sub Aqua Club, attracted swimmers of all ages who braved chilly winds and choppy seas.

Half of the proceeds from the sponsored swim event will again go to the Scoil Realt na Mara Astroturf and playground project. Punch was served to swimmers after the event by Eileen Mulcahy of Kilkee Thalas- sotherapy Centre.

The people of Kilrush were out ear- ly this Charistmas Day – at 9.45 am. Despite the early start the tide was on the way out, but the determined swimmers made the most of it.

A huge crowd gathered in the freez- ing cold to watch the 30 swimmers who took to the waters for Kilrush RNLI and Multiple Sclerosis.

Santa Claus also swapped the air

for water and came ashore with the crew of the lifeboat and enjoyed the hot drinks with the locals after a very busy night.

Kildysart was the only fresh water DW bes meme etom ern yA

More than 50 people decided to take to the water of Gortlass Lake at midday.

According to one of the organisers John O’Connor, the conditions for the festive event now in its fifth year, were “reasonably good”’.

Again a crowd gathered to watch the swimmer raise money for the mini marathon cancer fund and enjoy a warm, much appreciated drink.

THOUSANDS of music lovers will visit Sixmilebridge for the ninth an- nual Winter Music Weekend, which takes place between Friday, January 11 and Sunday, January 13.

The festival of music will feature a wide range of music including blues, classical, jazz, bluegrass, set danc- ing, morris dancing, folk and trad.

This year, one of the main attrac- tions will be the mandolin concert

on Friday night, which will feature Simon Mayor and Hilary James, at the Courthouse venue. Simon Mayor is one of the world’s foremost man- dolinists and composers and will travel from the UK for this gig.

Among the other attractions will include an appearance by the Niall Toner band, in an acoustic concert, on Saturday evening, also at the Courthouse.

The Mill Bar will play host to the Cork-based Two Time Polka on Sat-

urday night and the North Cregg Tra- ditional Group from Cork on Sunday evening. For the first time this year, the Klezmer Jewish Band will play at the festival.

The festival will be spread among seven premises in Sixmilebridge – the courthouse, church, GAA club and four pubs – while the morris dancers will perform on the streets.

Organiser Brendan Walsh said there have been phone calls from interested music lovers from all over

the country and overseas and hopes are high that last year’s attendance figure of 3,000 will be surpassed.

“We have a big contingent com- ing from Germany and from France, while the core group of people will come from locals, along with people from Ennis, south Galway and Lim- erick,” he said.

The event is supported by Failte Ireland. For more information con- tact Brendan on 0868464509 or view the website on Www.wmw.ie.

THERE is growing concern in rela- tion to the number of private rented houses which appear derelict in Shannon town. Several residents have raised concerns about the is- sue and have asked for a report on the numbers of derelict houses to be compiled.

The matter has been raised by In- dependent councillor Patricia Mc- Carthy, who has called for a progress report to be presented on derelict sites which are under investigation.

“A number of derelict sites have been creating a nuisance. There is a growing concern about the number

of private rented houses which are derelict or there could be someone living in them and there is an air of dereliction about them,’ said Cllr McCarthy.

In response to the motion, Clare County Council Acting Senior Ex- ecutive Officer, Myles Carey out- lined the latest situation, regarding numbers of derelict houses in the redwa ee

He stated that during the 12 months of 2007, nine properties have been removed from the derelict sites reg- ister, “in that the owners complied in full with the requirements of the statutory notices as issued”.

These properties represent single

dwellings in various housing devel- opments in the town.

Five or six other properties were identified as derelict but through correspondence with the owners, they were all rendered non-derelict, even before being included in the register through the co-operation of the owners. These were also single dwellings in various housing devel- opments.

One of the buildings removed from the register, having been rendered non-derelict, was the old ESB site in Shannon.

The council said a number of sites in the Drumgeely, Tradaree and Foyle Park areas are considered der-

elict and are being followed up.

‘In a number of cases, the owners are or have applied for planning per- missions and in most cases the own- ers have had recent correspondence with the gardai. These will be fol- lowed up under the provisions of the act,” stated Mr Carey.

“One property is currently under investigation and a report is awaited. This is a single dwelling in a hous- ing development,’ he added.

However Cllr McCarthy said the council still hadn’t “identified which ones they have moved on”’.

“The council can prosecute and make people render them non-der- elict,” said Cllr McCarthy.

THE highlight of the underage bas- ketball year in Ennistymon took place last Friday with the final of the Lorcan O’Connor Cup.

The cup, which is contested each winter between mixed U12 teams from the Clare Cascaders Club, is played in memory of the late Lorcan O’Connor who was one of Ennisty- mon _ basketball’s biggest support- ers from its early days back in the Toes

This years final was won by the Celtics, who scored a dramatic ex- tra time victory over the Cobras. The winning team included Laoise

Bucholz, Ciara O’Connell, Aisling O’Connell, Shane Doyle and John Dillon and was coached by U17 play- er Sean Devitt.

“Lorcan would have been one of the original founders of the club, that’s going back 53 years now. In those days they used to play all of their basketball in the old market house which is where the Holywell is now. It was the old market house where people would bring their pro- duce but when ever it was empty they would be inside in it playing basket- ball,” said Vincent Leigh of the Clare Cascaders.

‘From the early 60s right the whole way along Lorcan would have been

a great supporter of the club. He was heavily involved in getting the com- munity centre up and running and was a great supporter. He especially loved getting young people involved hie ned

Meanwhile, on January 5, the club will invite outside teams to take part in the Frank Kilkenny Cup for the first ttme. Clubs from Shannon, Lim- erick and Galway will make their way to Ennistymon for the UI7 com- petition which has up to now been contested by teams from the Cascad- ers Club.

‘Frank was a member of the Ad- mirals National League team back in the ‘80s and was a great club worker

over the years. This is the first year that we are inviting outside teams to take part.

“It will be good to open up that competition and hopefully it will catch on and we could invite more clubs next year and the year after.”

On January 20, the girls U14 and U16 teams will host a series of matches in Ennistymon. A number of boys involved in the U17 team are also now half way through a referee qualification course being hosted in Dublin.

All going well members of the eroup will be fully qualified referees before the summer comes around again.