Month: June 2007

PRIDE overruled disappointment as Clare camogie representatives, Sixmilebridge were desperately un- lucky not to qualify from a extremely difficult group. They accounted for themselves well throughout, display- ing some terrific camogie on their way to winning two of of their three eroup games and were only outdone by two points in their final game against the eventual finalists, Mil- ford, which 1s a barometer of how far the bridge team could have gone had they overcome the fancied Cork champions.

The Bridge side were in a tough eroup with Kilmanagh, their Kil- kenny hosts who Sixmilebridge ac- counted for in their opening game on Friday evening on a score line of Sixmilebridge 7-4 to O-l. Scor- ers for Sixmilebridge in this game were Mairead Hyland (4-02), Alison Quinlan (2-0), Sinead Tuohy (1-0), Chloe Morey and Rachel O’Halloran (O-1) each.

On Saturday morning, the Dublin Champions St. Lachtain’s provided the opposition and once again, Sixmi- lebridge came out on top in this one 5-05 to 1-04. Sixmilebridge’s scor- ers were Mairead Hyland (3-3), Katie Liddy & Alison Quinlan (1-0) each and Rachel O’ Halloran (0-2).

In the final group game, Sixmi- lebridge were up against Milford, the Cork champions, who were also unbeaten at this point so this game would decide who would qualify from the group. A tough, tight game was played out between these two

and indeed, it was level at half time 1-1 apiece. Unfortunately, Sixmile- bridge just came out on the losing side, as the game finished Sixmile- bridge 2-2 to Milford’s 2-4. Alison Quinlan and Mairead Hyland scored (1-0) each and Rachel O’Halloran

and Chloe Morey (0-1) a piece in this game.

Sixmilebridge were understandably disappointed but were overwhelmed by the welcome and courtesy of their Kilkenny hosts who even had their county representatives, Eddie Bren-

nan and Jackie Tyrell entertain the Sixmilebrdige squad on Saturday evening.

Afterwards, Club Secretary, Ni- amh McInerney was quick to point out how well the team had done and that the quality of their play through- out was outstanding. Niamh went on to congratulate the girls, stressing that the club was very proud of all the girls and how they had acquitted themselves. “A lot of hard work had gone into this and the girls played very well, we are very proud of each and every one of them and if the final of this competition is anything like the last game we played in the com- petition, it will be a good one”.

Sarsfields from Galway were the eventual champions, seeing off Sixmilebridge’s group opponents, Milford by 2-8 to 1-3.

THE 2007 U-12 A Championship fi- nal will take place this Tuesday, June 19th in Clarecastle GAA grounds with a 7.00pm throw in. Contesting this year’s final will be the holders The Banner Ladies from Ennis and last year’s Clare B champions the Newmarket Ladies.

This should be a great game of foot- ball as both teams are sprinkled with an array of up and coming young stars. When both teams met earlier

in the championship Newmarket-on- Fergus won with a decisive 2-6 to 2-1 scoreline in what was a thrilling game. County U-12 stars Orlaith Lynch (The Banner) and Niki Kaiser (Newmarket) are expected to play major roles in this eagerly awaited contest.

The game will be refereed by Or- laith Griffin of Fergus Rovers and parents and supporters of both teams are urged to turn out in great num- bers to give support to two excellent teams.

THE CLARE roads will play home to bigtime international cycling later this year during the Tour of Ireland Stage Race that takes place from Au- gust 22 to 26.

Stage three of the flagship cycling event in Ireland will take in the 35 miles from Killaloe to Ennis giving cycling enthusiasts an opportunity to see some leading professionals 1n ac- nen

Ciaran Power and David O’ Loughlin have been named in the Navigators Insurance cycle team. The Irish duo will ride the UCI 2.1 ranked inaugu- ral event sponsored by Failte Ireland in the team announced by Director Sportif Ed Beamon this week. The other riders named in the seven-man U.S based outfit are Kristian House, Hilton Clarke, Valeriy Kobzarenko, Sergey Lagutin and Phil Zayicek.

Mayoman O’Loughlin has won the Irish championships’ triple-crown by winning senior time-trial, crite-

rium and road race titles. He has is a regular on the Irish national team at major events including the world championships. Ciaran Power, from Waterford is a double Olympian from the Sydney and Athens Olympics. The 31-year-old roadman sprinter is a former overall champion and mul- triple stage winner of the FBD Milk Ras.

ONE season may have only just finished but clubs in Clare face a quick turnaround for the beginning of a new one. The last action of the 2006/07 season took place on May 27 when Fern Celtic defeated Avenue United in the replay of the under 14

cup final.

A month on and a new season of Summer soccer is just around the corner. The first league out of the blocks is the under 11s which is due to get underway on June 28.

The Clare schoolboys soccer league made the decision to switch to sum- mer soccer following positive discus-

sions with Bord na nOg Iomant, Bord na nOg Peil, A formal meeting be- tween then took place in March be- tween all parties at the West County Hotel, Ennis.

A schedule was agreed with no days of the week being used by any more than one competition. It was noted that the re-scheduling of fix-

tures, for genuine reasons can some- times prove necessary, but that where this occurs, the re-arranged fixture will not impinge on the other sports’ designated fixture days. The matter of training and challenge games was discussed. It was agreed that clubs would need to liaise at a local level. The respective committees would

not be involved with this, other than to encourage the officers of clubs to meet to discuss such arrangements. In order to ensure the continued smooth running of fixtures it was agreed that the fixtures secretaries would be in regular contact and fu- ture meetings would take place to re- view how the schedules operates.

Down through the years Mary Im- maculate Secondary School in Lis- doonvarna has proved to be a hotbed of talent when it comes to volleyball and they’re branching out right now and getting their transition year stu-

dents involved in coaching the ac- tion.

A number of trophies have come to the school since the start of the 1980s and this year the transition year stu- dents were began coaching primary school students in their own area.

The programme was run by the

Volleyball Association of Ireland in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council and Women in Sport and was open to transition year girls only. Last November eleven girls from the Lisdoonvarna school participated in a training day followed by further training in January.

In February they began coaching in two primary schools, Lisdoonvarna and Kilshanny and when the training was complete they took on two fur- ther schools, Fanore and Kilfenora. In total about 90 primary school pu- pils received coaching.

The culmination of this initiative 1s

a volleyball blitz organised by these coaches for all students who had tak- en part in the coaching. This blitz is completely organised by the transi- tion year coaches and went ahead on Friday at the Ennistymon Commu- nity Centre where a huge amount of talent was on show from all schools.

ON the weekend of June 30, Ennis will put on a major celebration of life, sport and people with events organised by Ennis Street Festival, Clare Community Games and the Tony Griffin Cycle.

On Saturday morning the Clare hurler and many cyclists will begin the final leg of his epic 7,000 mile

cycle from Canada in aid of cancer research and care from Dublin.

Saturday begins in Ennis with the finals of the Clare Community Games. The event will be preceded with a parade from Station Road in Ennis to the courthouse of the vari- ous areas taking part. It is fitting that Tony was once a competitor in the Community Games Final.

The Ennis Street Festival, which is

an annual event, will take place on Sunday, July 1, from 12pm until late.

A great day of music, dance, work- shops, story telling, magicians, pup- pets, art exhibitions, street entertain- ment, pub gigs and a gig rig in the upper market area between 2pm and 8pm will all take place.

Food will be for sale throughout the day at the market section in Market Place. Sunday will also mark the of-

ficial re-opening of Dan Murphy’s House with Irish music and danc- ing in memory of Johnny Patterson (1840-1889).

Music will continue throughout the evening in Ennis and with a welcome home event for Tony in the West County Hotel taking place later in the evening.

Tony and his group are due to ar- rive back into Ennis at about 4pm

and again everybody is invited to take part in a massive and colourful Siege on Ennis.

Further information on the weekend can be found at www.ennisstreetfes- tival.com and www.tonygriffinfoun- dation.com.

Further information on the Clare Community Games you can contact members of the committee on 087 TOPE

will take place at the Lees Road, Drumcliff, Ennis.

Lees Road will have many side shows with set dancing, The Puppets, The Heads, face painting, and Skate Boarding so come along a make it a family day in the Lees Road.

This will see many charities ben- efit from this event. The Clare Haven and Clare Youth Services are the two main charities and with over 600 competitors taking part last year, this year this race will hopefully reach the 1,000 mark.

With the race starting in Lees Road via the main gate turning right and towards the Lahinch Road, onto the Maid of Erin roundabout which will be the three kilometre mark, pass the

Colaiste Mhuire, turning left at the Club Bridge, Kelly’s Corner, pass- ing the Hospital Gate (4k mark) on out the Gort Road via Sheils Garage, Cois na hAbhanna. This is the half way mark and there will be a water station at the Auburn Lodge Hotel.

Ohetwebertcas (Jame Ceum or DUNs-VOt-mr-NNCMO\Vos the narrow the bridge to Drumcliff, leaving Drumcliff graveyard on your left the course heads back onto Lees Road and back in the main gate.

The finish is at car park after the clubhouse in Lees Road.

Their will be a host of top class ath- letes taking part and the pre-race fa- vourite will be last years title holder Gerry Ryan, Galway City Harriers, and this time he will have the former World Marathon Record Holder Ste- ve Jones from Wales for company.

Jones broke the world record in 1983 for the marathon in Chigago with a time of 2.08.18 hours. He also

won the London Marathon and won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Gra tlene

Brian Murphy, Marian, who has prepared very well over the last few weeks has this course completed on numerous occasions will be the man to watch along with the European Master Champion Eugene Moyni- han, Marian.

Also in contention will be Patrick Enright from Cratloe and Sports- world AC in Dublin the masters will be well contested with Pat Hogan, Ennis Track Club, Michael Harvey, James Kenny, Kilmurry I[brickane/ North Clare, Frank Garrihy, Ennis Track Club, and Dermot Moran, St Mary’s, will all contest their major OF NK xO) woe

The ladies race will be run over the Same distance and this will be a well contested affair between the Cork City Marathon Champion ‘Tracy

Guilfoyle, Kilnaboy, and last years champion Veronica Colleran, Ennis Track Club, and another big road runner Loretta Duggan, St Mary’s, winner of the Clare Mountain Hill Climb.

Also in contention will be Ciara Hassett from Quin now running with Rathfarnham AC Dublin, Marion O’Loughlin, Deirdre Daly, Ida Han- rahan, Hilda O’Connor Marie Carey all Ennis Track Club, Marie Fen- nessy, Michelle O’Halloran, Maura Falsey all Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, Marian Burke St Marys, Hil- lary Cunningham St Marys.

Their will be prizes for the first ten men and ladies; the first three mas- ters men O35, O40, O45, OS0 and O60; the first three junior men and ladies; the first three masters ladies O35, O40, O45, O50 and O60; plus Wheelchair. All Participants who finish the 10k will be presented with

a medal.

LISCANNOR open sports day held in Liscannor Community Sports field attracted a huge crowd of ath- letes turned out in big numbers and all races were well contested with many fine doubles recorded.

Shauna Fitzhenry, Kilmurry [brick- ane/North Clare, captured the first double of the day when taking gold in the girls U6 60m and 80m with Gavin Power, Kilmurry Ibrickane/ North Clare, also took double gold in the boys U6 60m and 80m.

Nicole Doherty, Kilmurry Ibrick- ane/North Clare, was a very impres- sive winner in the girls U8 60m and 200 metres and in the girls U10 Cli- odhna Blake, St John’s, gave a fine display of front running to take dou- ble gold medals in the 100 metres and 300 metres with Brian Leyden, Kil- murry Ibrickane/North Clare, win- ning the Liscannor National School

Confined 100 metres U10 and he also took gold in the 300m.

The boys U12 saw Barry Fitz- patrick, Olympic Harriers, come away with a double gold in the 100m and 300m and in the boys U14 Kieran Roche, Liscannor, taking the 100m and 600m with Niamh Murray, Lis- cannor, winning the girls U18 Kick Fada and 600 metres and in the boys U18 John Kerin, Liscannor, taking gold in the 100m and Puck Fada.

The married ladies 100 metres saw over 15 athletes go to the start and Marian Burke, St Marys, had to hold off a stiff challenge from Marie Mor- gan McDonagh, Kilmurry Ibrickane/ North Clare, and Marian O’ Doherty, Liscannor.

The married mens 100metres had Ray Coughlan, Liscannor, come away with a big sprint over the final 30metres to beat Liscannor Football- er Patrick Nagle and Frank McDon- agh both Liscannor.

The big highlight of the day was the Tom Kennedy Sheaf Tossing com- petition and the ladies were the big winners with a great contest over 10 rounds. Marie Morgan McDonagh, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, won with a massive throw and the big crowd were on edge with second and third place finish having to go to 14 throws and Catherine Fitzhenry, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, having to produce a big throw to fin- ish second after a mighty battle with Kathleen Cullinan, Liscannor.

The mens was also another exciting contest to watch with 12 competi- tors and with six big throws Donal Malone, Liscannor, merged as win- ner after a great contest with Ronan Slattery, Liscannor, and third place going to Frank Vaughan, Ennisty- mon.

SHOPPERS in Kilrush could soon have their parking fees paid for them under a new scheme draw up by the Chamber of Commerce.

The proposal from the chamber is that a new type of parking ticket would be brought in with a detach- able portion which drivers can then bring with them to be given a refund in participating shops.

The meeting of Kilrush Town Council at which the proposal was

presented heard that individual busi- nesses would set their own ceiling on how much customers have to spend to get their parking fee back.

And the chamber has said it will contribute €1,350 – one third of the cost of redesigning and reprint- ing tickets – if the town council will come on board and pay for the rest.

In a letter outlining the proposal, the council said that the move would attract more business into the town and would be supported by cham- ber members, making parking discs

more readily available and increas- ing revenue for the council.

Cllr Stephan O’Gorman described the proposal as “a very positive initi- ative and very community oriented.”

Cllr Liam O’Looney said that there was “a big onus on every business in the town to participate. The real winner here is the customer and it could make the difference between a person shopping in Kilrush or some- where else.”

Councillor Marian McMahon- Jones said that while she welcomed

the initiative, she was saddened to think that businesses which didn’t participate would lose out. “It’s busi- nesses that are paying for the parking now’, she said.

Cllr Deirdre Culligan said that she would “hate to see the cost of this added to any item being bought. I’d hate to think that pensioners or peo- ple who don’t have cars will have to pay 30 or 40 cents more because of this initiative.”

The council members voted in fa- vour of the initiative.

DUMPING of bottles, cardboard and even household rubbish at the recy- cling bins in Kilrush is becoming an eyesore, a health hazard and could nobble the town’s chances in the tidy towns competition.

The matter was highlighted during a discussion at a recent meeting of the town council when councillors Colie Sweeney and Liam O’Looney raised the matter in motions calling for a proper recycling facility for the

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“It’s about time this council got real about recycling. The bottle bank at Place de Plouzane is an utter dis- erace, rats, flies and stray dogs are adding to the public nuisance there.

“Up in Kells and Mullingar they have brand new state of the art re- cycling centres through 75 per cent erants from the Department of the Environment. We have a tip head doubling as a bottle bank.,” Cllr Sweeney said.

Cllr O’Looney said that he had seen

the Kells facility and “it has every- thing. This town is growing and we should apply immediately for grant- aid for this project. We even have suitable land.”

ClUlr Tom Prendeville warned that “if the tidy towns judges go into Place de Plouzane and see the mess in there, we’ll drop by 100 marks”.

Town Clerk Fiona Looney, told the meeting that following a previous discussion about the facility, plans had been made to replace the collec- tion bins with a more modern design

and to reorient them in a block.

A CCTV system is planned to mon- itor the area so that prosecutions can be brought against people who use the recycling facility for dumping.

Councillors told officials that any plan to improve the situation at Place de Plouzane should not be used to side-track plans for a major recycling facility for the town.

It was agreed that an application for funding for such a facility should be drawn up for presentation to the De- partment of the Environment.