Month: September 2008

STREET signs should be put in place in west Clare – but only if they are spelt correctly.

That was the message delivered at a meeting of Kilrush area councillors yesterday evening.

The issue was raised by Councillor Pat Keane (FF), who called for Clare County Council to ensure all streets and lane-ways in town and villages are properly named and identified.

“If a shop opens, the next thing 1s the street 1s named after the shop,’ he said.

He said it was important to ensure

the names were inscribed in both English and Irish.

He was told by Executive Engineer Eamon O’Dea that the council, in conjunction with tidy town and vil- lage groups, would arrange the erec- tion of street and laneway names, subject to funding being made avail- able.

Councillor Tom Prendeville then made one request – that the names be spelt correctly.

“Would ye do a bit of research into it and make sure they are spelt properly? There is nothing as bad as putting up something in wrought iron and it is spelt wrong,” he said.

BUSINESSES in Miltown Malbay claim that they are suffering a ma- jor downturn in trade as a result of a new traffic management system introduced by Clare County Council earlier this year.

SW item iteaw Mm uscateElOCOyrPay ZOU eM erKw eros the introduction of half-hour park- ing bays as well as the employment a part-time traffic warden, will be reviewed by Clare County Council later this year.

Councillors claimed at yesterday’s Ennistymon Area meeting of Clare County Council to have been con- tacted by a number of local business- es who Say they are suffering as a di- rect result of the half hour parking.

“It is having an impact locally. One businessman was saying that his business was down by about 30 per cent because people do not have the time to get into his premises and have a meal without the fear of God being in them,” said Martin Conway Cn 63}

“We need to look at increasing this, possibly to two hour parking,’

Clare County Council has asked the people of Miltown Malbay to hold a public meeting to create a unified lo- cal approach to traffic management in the town. The council will also examine the possibility of increas- ing the hours worked by the traffic warden.

“Tt is inevitable there would be dif- ficulties in implementing a traffic management plan in Miltown be- cause this is a new thing,” said Cllr

Richard Nagle (FF).

This traffic plan is working to pro- vide parking for people, but we need to insure that the warden continues to work on the town or all the good work will be lost. If that happens we will revert back to the chaos that was there before.”

Council officials indicated that pub- lic consultation was undertaken be- fore a parking strategy for the town was developed and that the public would be allowed input into the re- view, later this year.

THERE were times when Kilmurry Ibrickane looked irresistible. The Wheel that they’ve used this past generation and more was turning nicely; Shane Hickey in his debut as permanent captain was having a blinder; Odran O’ Dwyer was charg- ing through tackles; Noel Downes was showing that fleetness of foot

and class that should have him as a fixture and fitting in Clare teams for years to come.

All this with a bench top heavy with Munster club medal winners. It looked as if Kilmurry could cruise to a comfortable victory, but somehow manager Micheal McDermott knew it would never happen.

“Wolfe Tones are a very good team and we knew it would be close,’ Mc-

Dermott said seconds after his side had weathered Wolfe Tones’ sec- ond half comeback. “We knew they would come at us in the second half — they were put out of the hurling championship last week and this is all that was left for them, so we knew they were going to give it a right lash. We showed a lot of character, a lot of fight and a lot of heart to hold out when we were reduced to 14 men.

That’s what championship football is all about.

“From our point of view the timing of the goal was superb — it gave us that little bit of breathing space going into the second half. It was a big turn- ing point when Declan Callinan got the goal. I’ve always said that when you get to this stage of the champion- ship it’s goals that win games.”

Now for Kilkee, something that

McDermott relishes. “We’re two very evenly matched teams. There’s nothing between us, which was proved when we drew in the first round. They seem to be a bogey team going back a few years, so hopefully the draw we got might eliminate that kind of fear. You are going to have a rip-roaring contest with two teams going hammer and tongs at each oth- er to try and to a county final.”

THE feature race on the card at Galway on Friday night was the fi- nal of the Playing For Life A2 525. The prize crossed the border into Clare, with the appropriately named Drimeen Border taking the honours.

On the run to the opening bend Drimeen Border trained in Tubber by John Burke just held the call from Killuran Gorm (T2) who moved off the rail rounding the bend allow- ing Ms Fireparker (T1) slip through along the inside to take over in front entering the back straight.

Racing down the back Ms Firepark- er led by three lengths from Drimeen Border who began to close between the final two bends though. Turning for home the leader was searching for the line as Drimmen Border put in a turbo charged finish to gain the day by a neck in 29.20.

The seventh was an A3 grade 525 and as the traps rose the striped jack- eted

Unique Pose (T6) came away very smartly and despite heading straight for the inside rail the daughter of

Droopys Kewell and Reknay led by two lengths

from Free Toll (T5) rounding the opening two bends. Racing past the halfway mark the Ciara Malone of Liscannor owned Unique Pose held a three length advantage over her ri- vals and although she looked vuner- able for a stride or two turning in she defeated Birr Chris (T4) by three and quarter lengths in 29.21.

The semi finals of the Galway Hurl- ing Board A5 Stake were also down for

decision and in the opening semi final the Kevin Callinan of Kilmihil owned Shyan

Digital (T1) headed the market and the son of Digital and Shyan Anna- belle also headed his five rivals on the run to the opening bend where although he ran a little off the rail he led by two lengths from Forever Black (T2) entering the back straight. Approaching the home turn Forever Black closed to within a length on the inner but Shyan Digital kept on for a half length win in 29.57.

The fifth was an SO graded sprint over the 350 yard extended sprint trip

and after Battlefield(T1) had broken best to lead early on the inside the black jacketed Gowerhass Hope(T4) swept by on the run to the opening corner to lead from the improving Cushcallow Rebel(T5) on the out- side.

Racing around the crown of the bend Cushcallow Rebel moved quite wide allowing Gowerhass Hope to slightly extend his lead and the son of Top Honcho and Conies Kate just had a neck to spare at the line in a slick 19.05.

The fourth contest was an S2 grad- ed 350 in which trap two was vacant and as the traps rose West Clare Gael (T3) came away like the win and led by three lengths racing to- wards the opening bend from Crafty Cebato(T6) and Mysterious Molly (T1). As the leader swung for home Mysterious Molly switched to the outside to deliver her challenge up the straight but the Fiona and Kevin Troy of Kilkee owned West Clare Gael(Tucks Mein-Querrin Razor) just lasted it out in front to the line for a neck success in 19.27 .

Thursday night’s Galway card fea-

tured the semi finals of the Croi New York Marathon A3 575 In the second semi final the trap four runner Sars- field Lass showed the best pace on the run to the opening bend from Kid Mullins (T6) on her outside.

Turning down the back the pair were locked in combat as Cool Re- minder (T5) tried to close in third place.Approaching the penultimate corner Kid Mullins took a slight lead but as they turned for home the Michael Browne of Kilrush owned Sarsfield Lass(Droopys Vieri-Meg- ans Friend) was back in front as she won by a length in 31.99.

In the A4 graded eighth contest the Noel Moroney of Mullagh owned Tiermana Fly (T2) led at the second bend before holding the determined challenge of Garraun Maldini(T5) by 1/2 a length in 29.64.The win- ner got a dream un on the rail at the opening bend as early leader Scat- tery Vieri left a gap on the rail. Rac- ing down the back Tiermana Fly held the call as the challengers loomed on all sides but Tiermana Fly held them all at bay up the straight.

The third contest was an S6 graded

350 yarder and as the traps rose Kil- luran Vieri (T5) was very smartly into his stride and he led by three lengths from Bofin Squire(T3) racing to the opening bend. Rounding the bend the Donal Cooney of Broadford owned son of Droopys Vieri extend- ed his advantage to six lengths over his rivals as he stormed to an eight length success in 19.43.

In the A2 graded fourth contest over 550 yards on Saturday night the Master Christioan and Rian Cum- mins of Ennis owned Buddhas Babe overcame two bouts of interfearence as he came home three and three quarter lengths clear of Mi Sonic Gee rimsltk te

The winner was in second place rounding the opening bend when he was knocked sideways and back to fifth spot as Killuran Blue (T5) led the field by two lengths passing halfway. Approaching the third bend the win- ner was once again hampered when the leader suddenly checked leaving Mi Sonic in front but Buddhas Babe swept past early in the straight on his way to a deserved success.

IT may not make it to the Guinness Book of Records, but here in Clare it is probably the longest running gar- den fete in the county.

The Friends of Clare Mental Health Services will hold their Annual Gar- den Fete on the grounds of Our La- dy’s Hospital, Ennis on Sunday next, September 28. This is the fifteenth year in a row that the fete has taken

place in the grounds of the former hospital.

Our Lady’s Hospital closed in 2002, yet staff and friends of Clare Mental Health Service still continue the tradition of the fete. The money raised is used for client-based activi- ties both in the community and resi- dential units. Proceeds are also used to provide clients with essentials or comforts, which are not covered by healthcare or social welfare funding.

THE reputation of Ennis Hospital lies in tatters this morning, after it emerged that a second cancer patient was misdiagnosed at the hospital. The family of Edel Kelly (26) from Kilrush have called on Health Min- ister Mary Harney to resign. The call comes after mother-of-two Edel died from cancer in June, having been misdiagnosed at Ennis General in

December 2006. She suffered from cancer in her breast, liver and bones.

Edel’s parents John and Una said questions must be answered by those responsible for the misdiagnosis at Ennis General.

The Kellys took the decision to air their grievances after learning of the misdiagnosis of Ennis resident Ann Moriarty. She died from breast can- ten N Oe UMM NTR Det mmole MESA os MEALS all-clear at Ennis General. Her hus-

band Karl Henry went public a fort- night ago and last night reiterated his calls for a full independent enquiry into practices at Ennis General.

He strongly fears that further mis- diagnosis cases will emerge.

“IT wasn’t expecting another situa- tion quite as appalling as that of Edel Kelly appears to be,’ he said.

The HSE said his wife’s case was an isolated one, but the Edel Kelly case proved otherwise. He said this

left him feeling “angry and bitter”. ‘The claim that my wife’s case was an isolated one has a particularly hollow ring to it,” he added. But he said he would not support calls for Minister Harney to resign.

TOMMY ‘Tubridy is more accus- tomed to big days than any man involved with the Doonbeg senior team. He goes back all the way to the 1972 minor county final win with Clohanes, while in his playing days in the black and white he won seven county championships.

Now, he’s one game away from guiding the Magpies back to the big

day for the first time in seven years — the longest ever gap in the long village between county final appear- ances since they started blazing their trail in the storied final win over En- nis Faughs in ’55.

However, Tubridy has known his share of disappointments too and was taking nothing for granted at the end of their facile enough 2-11 to 1-5 quarter-final win over Ennistymon. Instead, he sounded a somewhat pes-

simistic note.

“It was a good win, but I was dis- appointed with the performance overall. We have to up it if we’re to progress to the final. That’s how I feel about it,” he said.

‘“Ennistymon put it up to us at vari- ous stages of the game and I’d have to say that I’m disappointed with the performances of some of the players. The goals were vital for us and at the end of the day they were the differ-

ence for us. We have a few injuries and hopefully they’ll be cleared up before the semi-final.”

Liscannor await in that semi-final — a team that was dismantled by the Magpies in their final group game by Ce Leone noen

It suggests easy pickings in the penultimate round, but Tubridy is taking nothing for granted. It’s no wonder as Doonbeg have lost their last three semi-finals — to Eire Og in

2004 and ’06 and St Senan’s Kilkee heey

“We had a big win over them the last day. They conceded a few soft goals but that won’t happen the next day. It is really up for grabs and that’s the way we’re looking at it.

“We’re getting ready for a tough one. Playing Liscannor is always a tough game for Doonbeg but we’ll be up for it.”

A lot done, but more to do.

AS Doonbeg and Ennistymon filed onto the Miltown pitch on Saturday evening, Tommy Curtin had the lib- erty to sit back and take in the quar- ter-final meeting that would throw forward Liscannor’s opponents in Wem OONEIOITADE

Before that game began, though, Curtin said he was impressed with

Liscannor’s performance, particu- larly their application in seeing off the challenge of pre-match favourites Eire Og.

“We had a quick work there and were delighted with the victory,” he said. “Going into the game, to be honest, we had a few injury prob- lems. But to be fair to the lads, they really stuck at it over the hour.”

He also acknowledged the fact that

Liscannor weren’t given a real fight- ing chance beforehand, but said that was understandable.

“In fairness, it was always going to be a tough game. We were playing against a team that was in the county final these past two seasons and a team that won the championship two years ago.

‘So they’re a good side, a very good side, and we knew we’d have to play

some good football if we were going to come through it.

“We train with a very small panel and we have to believe that in every game, there’s always hope. We train that way and we play that way and we literally have to take every game as it comes.

“But as I said, the lads knuckled down. Our centre-forward was in- jured going into this and he’s a bright

prospect for the future and the lads got stuck in for him.

‘Eire Og would have been the firm favourites going into the game but our ball retention was very good to- day and we were hungry as well. But the game of football is so simple and that’s the way you have to play it.”

With that Tommy stood back to watch the second game unfold.

JAMES Hanrahan’s return to his na- tive club this year has had a profound effect on the footballing fortunes of St Joseph’s. Last year, uncertainites over the senior management struc- ture left their footballers with little preparation approaching the champ1- onship but his switch from Eire Og, after a successful stint both on and

off the field, has given St Joseph’s much needed guidance this year.

The emphasis at senior level was on youth and bringing through the un- doubted underage talent that exists in Wome bee

Ten of that senior side were eligi- ble for Saturday’s replay against the current holders Kilmurry Ibrickane and it was that added experience and balance that Hanrahan felt eventual

won the club it’s first Under 21 cham- pionship.

“I thought we played well and de- served it on the day. We played some excellent football.

“We probably knew coming in that fellas were disappointed from the last day and I don’t think it was that we didn’t win the game the last day, I think they were more disappointed that we didn’t play well so we turned

that around today.

“We moved the ball a little bit quicker. A lot of fellas have played Under 21 games when we haven’t played well whereas in the senior, we have been playing at a different pace so I think we brought that pace into the game tonight and I think that was the difference.”

Hunger was a key factor in Satur- day’s victory. An appetite that Han-

rahan explains has accumulated from being on the losing side too many times at underage level

“We have had so much heartbreak in the last few years losing underage finals so maybe if they had won a couple of those they would have been as hungry as they were out there to- day but you could see that they want- ed to win and that was the difference between the teams.”

THE government should use the budget to intervene in the ailing housing market, according to a Clare property expert.

Philip O’Reilly, Managing Direc- tor of Philip O’Reilly Property Plus, says that while any upswing re- mains largely dependent on market conditions, certain areas, including the large amount of vacant hous- ing stock, must be addressed in the forthcoming Budget.

Mr O’Reilly says financial incen- tives should be provided to first time buyers to restore confidence in a housing market where values have fallen. “One area they should be looking at and doing something about is encouraging first time buy- ers to purchase unoccupied housing stock. This could bring a lot of new entrants into the market’, he said.

“If you take any house that costs €300,000, included in that is VAT of €39,000. Why not introduce a

scheme whereby €10,000 of that fig- ure would be made available to first time buyers. It could be limited to a certain time period, say for people who sign up for it before June 1”’.

Any interference on a micro level must also be balanced against mar- ket conditions and other macro-level events, said Mr O’Reilly.

“At one level, with the housing market under pressure, there are cer- tain things that need to take place at a microeconomic level, because if something isn’t done, it could have substantial implications for employ- ment and other areas”.

‘There is a limit to what kind of in- terference could take place that would have a positive impact on the hous- ing market. There are a lot of other forces at work, the credit crunch, the difficulties faced by the building trade. We shouldn’t be talking about €5,000 or lower figures, it has to be €10,000”, said Mr. O’Reilly.