Month: July 2007

MACRA na Feirme National Presi- dent, Catherine Buckley, is pushing for an annual increase of 5 per cent in Ireland’s national quota, to be al- located to new and recent entrants to dairying.

Buckley, who has become the first ever female president of the Young Farmers Organisation, feels that a radical shake up in the system is needed to attract more young farm- ers into the sector. “If we are to at-

tract young people into the industry we need radical changes.

“The targeting of an increased quota to new and recent entrants is required to allow the farmers who are the future of the dairy industry to rapidly expand their businesses in the years ahead and to prepare for an environment where we will no longer have milk quotas,” she said.

“This additional quota would be purely a license to produce rather than an asset and the quota should be allocated nationally and completely

separately from the milk quota ex- change.”

Ireland currently has a competitive advantage in dairying and Buck- ley has called on the Department of Agriculture to effect change and restructure the dairy industry before the abolition of milk quotas.

“Dairy farming is a very labour intensive and tying occupation and young people must see the prospect of proper rewards for their time if they are to commit themselves to the Sector,” she said.

“Under Social Partnership, the Government is committed to fa- cilitating and promoting farm part- nerships. In this context, the Gov- ernment must ensure that, where practicable, schemes and rules shall act to encourage and promote farm- ing in partnership in the interests of efficiency and competitiveness.”

Macra believe more steps to en- courage partnerships, including the introduction of an individual limit for young farmers in New Entrant Parent Partnerships are required.

EUROPEAN Ombudsman, Niki- foros Diamandouros, looks set to spend a lot of time in Ireland over the next few months, as it was revealed last week that at least three Irish Farming Organisation have lodged official complaints with his office. The ICMSA and Farmers for Fair- ness in Europe (FFE), lodged a join complaint with the Ombudsman, tar- geting both the European Commis- sion and the Council of the European Union on grounds of maladministra- tion by failing to ban Brazilian beef imports. The complaint, which was drawn up in ICMSA Head Office, centres on what ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, has described as ‘the

incontrovertible evidence’ that the failure to ban beef imports from Bra- Zil is in breach of EC law.

“We think we have identified the Commission’s vulnerable spot on this issue, which infuriates us all. The European Ombudsman _ func- tions in a similar way to the ombuds- men in member states – he must now undertake a full investigation of all the trails and reports drawn up by the Commission — including any that are as yet unpublished. He must then present his report with recommenda- tions to the European Parliament”, said Mr. Cahill.

The complaint is to be issued in the name of FFE and the presidents of the 12 associated farm organiza- tions, and according to Mr. Cahill the

‘wriggle-room’ that the Commission have been using on the issue of Bra- Zilian beef will be severely circum- scribed by the formal complaint.”

The formal complaint is a double- Whammy in that the ICMSA/FFE complaint will also argue that the maladministration on the question of Brazilian imports coupled with the onerous regulations imposed on na- tive European beef farmers amounts to an infringement of the rights of those farmers as European citizens as established and guaranteed by the European Court of Justice under the Treaty that established the European Community.

As a part of the FFE, the ICSA has also echoed the dissatisfaction of the ICMSA with the situation surround-

ing Brazilian beef. “The Commis- sion 1s failing in its legal duty to EU citizens by continuing to allow beef imports from Brazil,’ said ICSA President Malcolm Thompson.

“The combined efforts of the or- ganisations within the FFE are tar- geted at forcing the Commission to act on the clear veterinary evidence and other information collected by the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Union arising from nu- merous official missions undertaken by that office.

In addition, FFE is confident that the Ombudsman will have to factor- in to his deliberations the complete ban on Brazilian beef imports oper- ated by both the US and Australia,” stated Mr. Thompson.

THE recently elected president of Shannon and District Lions Club has said he would like to see more peo- ple join the organisation stating that the work the club does is as vital as ever to local communities.

Councillor Gerry Flynn’s transi- tion to the position of president has not been an easy one following a re- cent family tragedy which forced the cancellation of his formal appoint- ment on President’s Night as a mark of respect. Gerry’s work as president and the work of the club have how- ever continued.

‘There is a popular misconception that Lions Clubs are elitist and some sort of boys clubs. This is a long way from the truth. We have people from various walks of life in the club and I would love to see many more. There are about 12 of us but I would prefer to see 30. The work is very reward- ing and there is also the social side to the club,” Gerry Flynn said.

‘We have a busy calendar of events already planned for the coming year starting with a golf classic in Octo- ber. We will have our annual Christ- mas food appeal and many other events during the year. The food ap- peal is certainly one of our biggest

and most important events especially at Christmas time,’ he added.

“One thing people may not be aware of is that every single penny collected goes to charity. Not a pen- ny is spent on club administration, that is all paid for by the members. Everything we collect goes to the respective charities and we are very proud of that.”

“It has to be said that there are a lot more areas of society not just the poor who are struggling. We do our best for everyone we can but for dif- ferent reasons, and people might not realise this, even middle-class people are struggling in a way. An obvious

example would be a person requir- ing a wheelchair and because of all the bureaucracy in the HSE, they are waiting for months and months. In the Lions Club, we have purchased and provided wheelchairs for people who need them,” he explained.

“There is a huge deficit in this area. It is a strange thing but poorer people appear to be better catered for than some others. What we try to do is pick up the slack where we can,” he added.

Gerry Flynn has asked anyone in- terested in joining the Shannon and District Lions Club to contact him on 087 2188654.

THE developers of a proposed €1m crematorium in Shannon have resub- mitted their planning application for the project to Clare County Council after withdrawing it at the last minute late last year.

Clare County Council was expect- ed to decide last November whether it would grant permission for the construction of what would have been Ireland’s only crematorium outside of Dublin. A similar facility has since opened in Cork however. The original decision on the future of the development was due on Au- gust 2 last, however just a day earlier the developers were granted a four month extension to their planning application.

At the time, a spokesman for II- launamanagh Ltd said they sought

the extension because they “wished to address some issues raised by the Local Authority”. Clare County Council granted the extension at the time and was due to deliver its deci- sion in November.

At the last minute however, II- launamanagh Ltd withdrew the ap- plication altogether because they required further time to gather other information, including a consultant’s report concerning environment is- sues which was also sought by the council.

IIlaunamanagh Ltd comprises of two local businessmen, former Clare County Councillor Tony McMahon and existing Shannon Town Coun- cillor Sean Hillery.

Company Director Sean Hillery has now confirmed, “The council had been looking for a consultants report on environmental issues re-

lating to the development. We have now resubmitted our application along with the consultants report and we are confident that all the I’s have been dotted and the t’s crossed and that the local authority now has all the information it requires.”

“All we can do now is wait for the decision but I believe that we have allayed all of the fears and concerns of the local community,’ Mr Hillery Sr HLGe

The proposed development, which has been designed by the company that drafted the plans for Newlands Cross Crematorium in Dublin, will be located beside I[llaunamanagh cemetery in Shannon and will com- prise a 12-tonne crematorium unit and furnace. The plans also include a multi-denominational chapel and a garden of remembrance surrounded by an ornate wall where family mem-

bers can enter the cremated remains of their loved ones.

The project has received the full backing of the Parish Priest of Shan- non. Fr Tom Ryan has already stated, “This is something I have welcomed from the very beginning and advo- cated for Shannon since I arrived here as a curate in 1992. From a Catholic perspective, cremation is very acceptable as our understand- ing of death and grief has evolved over the years.”

Mr McMahon, who is also a well- known local undertaker with funeral homes in Shannon, Sixmilebridge and Blackwater, has described the public reaction to the proposed cre- matorium as ‘very positive’.

Councillor Hillery has said the crematorium project is a long-term investment for the people of Munster and surrounding areas.

THE streets of Ennistymon and DFNev tele oMmsU0 Mm olommbecDencycoywee lore mBnelKOmre| movie set next month as shooting be- gins on a new project by acclaimed local filmmaker, Fergus Tigue.

The film, which is entitled Sea- side Stories, combines the skills of a number of professionals based in Clare and Dublin with a group of young and talented local actors.

Seaside Stories is set in a coastal Irish town and tells the entwined sto- ries of a number of the local inhabit- ants.

Many of the younger actors became involved in the film after taking part in a series of open workshop hosted by Fergus earlier this year.

Written by Fergus, the story has evolved through these workshops as well as through improvised rehears- als held with the actors and could now develop into a three film series.

“The improvisation and the work- shops is beginning to feed the writ- ing that I am doing. The ideas are really coming from the people I am working with. As soon as you start delving into things, people start tell- ing you stories,” he said.

“T would like to evolve some sort of an operation out of this where-by we continue to run the workshops right the way through the winter. It’s not just about making film, it’s about hu- man development. You give the kids skills that will help them in life and you give them a sort of self aware-

ea

Talented youngsters Aileen Mur- phy, Maura Garrihy, Evan Philips, Caolainn O’Dwyer and Fionn Burke will join local professionals Gerry Howard, Michael Canavan and Ber- nard Dowd alongside a number of Dublin based actors in the produc- nee

Fergus is based at the Courthouse Gallery in Ennistymon where he shares studio space with a number of other artists. One of these artists, Sara Faust, is producing Seaside Sto- ries.

“[’m going a lot of work on the practical side of the production, keeping an eye of things for the crea- tive team,” she said.

‘Fergus has a system in place where

everyone in the team gets to contrib- ute to the creative process. So I have my input on how things seem to me script-wise or in those sorts of areas. And I’m sure I’ll be having my two cents worth here and there.”

Shooting for Seaside Stories will take place in a number of locations around Lahinch, Liscannor and En- nistymon from August 12 to August WF

KINVARA is gearing itself up for the highlight of it’s busy tourist sea- son as the Crinniu na mBad prepares to take over next week. The festival, which runs this year from August 9 to 12, attracts thousands of boat lov- ers from across Ireland as well as a number of European countries.

The Crinnia celebrated Kinvara’s long and proud boating history. In years gone by the village was a trad- ing centre where food stuff, turf and other goods could be traded with the people of the Aran Islands.

Each summer a fleet of Galway Hookers and Currachs would ferry

supplies back and forth from the Is- lands to the mainland at Kinvara.

“At this stage the Crinniu has grown into one of Ireland’s biggest and most important festivals. It had become part of our heritage,” said organiser Michael Brogan.

“Itis very important to continue it to make sure that the tradition does not die out. It gives the people who own these boats something to have their boats ready for. This year we should have boats from the UK and France and we are hoping to get some trad1- tional boats from Spain, Norway and Denmark over for next year.”

Michael made history himself last year as he was part of a crew who

conquered both the icy North West and North East passages aboard the yacht the Northabout.

The first race of this year’s Crin- niu will see a fleet of boats sail from the docks in Galway city and down the coast to Kinvara on Friday after- noon. Formally known as the Cladd- agh Cup, this race has been renamed the Mikey Lynskey Memorial Cup to mark his tragic passing earlier this year.

In it’s 29 year history, the Crinniu has developed a reputation for it’s commemorative posters. This years posters features one of Galways old boatman, Pat Jennings, who is now 90 years old and still involved in

keeping the boating tradition alive.

An exhibition of photography fea- turing the last three decades of the Crinniu also takes place at the Gal- way museum throughout the festi- val.

The first Crinnid na mBad took place in 1979 and has been growing steadily ever since. The original con- cept for the festival came from local man Tony Moylan, who organised the Crinniu as a means of maintain- ing Kinvara’s connection with it’s baiting heritage.

This years festival is once again sponsored by Irish owned company Cityjet. For more check out www. kinvara.com/cnb.

IF you have ever wanted to prove just how strong you really are, then the Gort Show is the place for you this SUT Ter Naa Urea bk Oe

Strong men and women will be de- scending on Community Centre and Community School Grounds to take part in the first ever Carry the Guin- ness Barrel Competition ever held in Ireland.

The competition, as you might ex- pect, involves carrying the barrel of Guinness as far possible and was the brainchild of Gort man Noel Cor- less. This year show will also feature a Senior and Novice Sheaf Throw-

ing competition, which will test the strength of anyone who survives the barrel challenge.

Entries in the indoor show classes are now closed but last minute entries will be taken at the show from llam for horses, ponies and donkeys, lpm for the dog show and from 1.30pm for the cat show.

Entries will also be taken at 2pm for the new Pet Corner. The classes are Cutest Pet and The Pet, Show Queen would like to take home. The Pet Corner is confined to small pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs.

One of the highlights of this year’s Show will be the final of the new All-Ireland Amateur Painting Cham-

pionship. Finalists in this Champion- ship have already qualified at twen- ty-three shows held throughout the 32 counties.

This will be the first time for Gort to hold a final of an All-Ireland com- petition. The qualifying paintings will be displayed on the stage in the Community Centre. The champion- ship was devised by Amanda Nor- ton, new secretary of Gort Show and is being held in conjunction with the Irish Shows Association of which Gort Show is a member.

The Poultry section has expanded greatly over the years and is one of the most interesting parts of the show. In addition to the competi-

tive classes, Derek and Tracey Pul- lein, Gortavoher, Tubber will display a sample of their unusual poultry and ducks, including such breeds as Rhode Island Reds, Light Sussex, Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Leghorns, Anconas and Pekens. Tracey is the National Secretary of the Irish Poul- try Society.

All attending will be able to re-live times olden times by viewing the dis- play of vintage cars, tractors, farm and static machinery. The vintage display is always well supported by members of the Western Veteran and Vintage Motor Club, based in Gal- way, and by members of the Clare Classic and Vintage Club.

FINAL preparation are being made for this year’s Merriman Summer School which takes place in Lisdoon- varna from August 19 to 25.

This year’s school marks the 40th Anniversary of the event and is enti- tled Changed Utterly? Ireland 1967- 2007. The school brings thousand of extra tourists to north Clare each year and 1s now and essential part of the local tourism scene.

‘That week is a quite week around Lisdoonvarna. Holiday makers are starting to go home and September hasn’t hit. The Summer School is very important for the tourism of the area,’ said local organiser, Marian O’Callaghan.

“It is a very high profile event and it gives Lisdoonvarna a lot of very pos- itive publicity all over the country. It shows people that there is more to Lisdoonvarna, that it’s not all about September.

The school will be directed this year by well-known broadcaster and arts consultant, Doireann Ni Bhriain, and focuses on the massive changes that have taken place in Ireland over the last four decades.

“One of the highlights of this year school will be a concert by the Lis- morahaun Singers in Corpus Christi Church in Lisdoonvarna on August POAC) e mA Ebert

“This concert will feature Naomi O’Connell who began her singing with the Lismorahaun and has gone

on to win countless prizes.”

The school will be opened this year by eminent historian, Professor Gearoid O Tuathaigh of NUI Galway, who will set the tone for the week of debate, discussion, music, poetry, set dancing and general good fun.

Other highlights include a discus- sion on the changed role of the Irish female involving Nuala O’Faolain, Anne Enright and Marian Finucane, an examination of Ireland’s new- found wealth by economist, John Bradley and former Minister of State, Eithne Fitzgerald.

As the week draws to a close, Irish Times journalist and commentator, Fintan O’Toole and historian Di- armuid Ferriter will take a look at how the lessons of the past might in-

form our future on the island.

A series of local history seminars will also profile some local historical personalities including George Un- thank McNamara by Dr Peter Har- bison, Thomas Johnson Westropp by Maire Ashe Fitzgerald, Brendan O’Regan by Bernard Share while Conor Keane will look at Curious examples of Gaelic signage and place-names in Clare.

For more information check out WwWww.merriman.ie

OI ANA ae Ms lH eCOLUMB Re ReoNeclBOemseN what one candidate has dubbed the “exclusive club” of the Seanad for the first time since 1965.

In that year the late Dermot Honan (FF) was elected to the upper house taking the seat vacated after his fa- ther TV’s death in 1954.

Since then there has been a F’- anna Fail or Fine Gael senator from OE Ncer

With the unlikely exception that the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will name a

Clare politician among his chosen 11 nominees for the upper house of the Oireachtas, Clare, like Limerick, will remain without a senator for the next five years.

Clare County Councillors John Crowe (FG) and Pat Daly (FF) failed to be elected to the Seanad following six weeks and 11,000 miles each of campaigning.

Cllr Daly, who works for junior minister Tony Killeen said he be- lieved that “to win a seat you have to take an existing senator out of the exclusive club.”

“You could take Daniel O’Connell out of the square quicker than you could take out a senator.”

The Ennis councillor said he was disappointed not to get a place on the 11-seat Labour Panel, but believed he got a respectable vote.

“The way I view it over 90 per cent of the senators remain in their seats. I was trying to bring a fresh face to the senate,’ he said.

“TI thought I would have been an as- set and another voice for the people of Clare.”

He said he was not likely to run

again for the upper house, but said he should never say never.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Cllr Crowe was within a few votes of being elected to the nine seater Industrial and Commercial Panel. The Sixmi- lebridge man who was one of 36 con- testing the panel was eliminated in the 25th count.

His elimination secured the seat for Fine Gael’s Paul Coughlan from Ker- ry. “It was marvellous to have stayed in so long,’ said Cllr Crowe. “It was a fair challenge but I enjoyed every bit of it. Clare is well got all over the

country and it is well known.”

The Fine Gael councillor has not ruled out campaigning for a Seanad seat again.

“Politics is like a drug. The more you get the more you want,’ he said.

The councillor said he had no re- egrets on a personal level running for the Seanad.

“I was proud to represent the county and represent the party,’ he said.

“The one regret I have is that we don’t have a senator of the county. I’m not only disappointed for our- selves but for the county,’ he added.

BORD na gCon says that Meelick residents should not be overly dis- appointed about the decision not to go ahead with the €15 million new ereyhound racing stadium in their area.

CEO of the Greyhound Board, Adrian Neilan said that the decision “moves the project a few miles up the road. But what has to be stressed 1s that this will be a Mecca for people who go racing. It will be a fantastic ee usa ae

The CEO said that the new stadium – which is now to be located at the old Limerick racecourse site – will still be a boost for Meelick in terms

of jobs and spin-off business from tom bee. @

The problem with the Meelick site, he said. Was that it would be land- locked until 2010 when the new road connection will be complete. “Until then we couldn’t even get construc- tion machinery in to get started. It was a very long delay.”

It’s just over a year since it was an- nounced that Meelick was to get the new stadium on a site near the Two Mile Inn.

The stadium design incorporated bar and restaurant facilities and a play area for children.

Subsequently, when the board ap- plied to Clare Country Council for planning permission, the local au-

thority asked for further informa- nto

It became clear at that stage that there would be a number of difficul- ties with the Meelick site.

But local councillor, Cathal Crowe said he is “bitterly disappointed. I recently organised a meeting in En- nis where local landowners, council road engineers and plunging staff and the Clare county manager were present. The non-attendance of a Bord na gCon official at this meet- ing signified to me that they had lost interest in the Lansdowne site. Many of the obstacles to the development of the stadium were discussed in depth at this meeting and I left in an optimistic mood that plans could be

progressed.

Cllr Crowe added that he believed that the location would not impede on the rural character of Meelick in TOA E NA

“Road frontage on the main Limer- ick – Ennis dual carriageway would have provided ease of access to the facility and a focal point for grey- hound enthusiasts from both Clare and Limerick to meet.

“The greyhound industry has thrived in recent years and one has only to look at the phenomenal suc- cess of the greyhound stadia at Cork, Shelbourne and Dundalk to see the scope of positive impact that this facility could have had on the local- ra A