Month: May 2009

IRISH farmers are now firmly on election footing following the launch of the IFA’s election manifesto by Padraig Walshe last week. Mean- while, following the closing date for entering the EU Parliament race last Monday, candidates in the EU North Western area have also begun to court the farming vote in earnest.

The IFA will host a series of pub- lic meetings this week in each of the constituencies for the European Par- liament elections.

“The IFA Manifesto outlines the key policy issues on the IFA’s agenda for the European elections,” said Walshe.

“In the three constituencies, the IFA will be meeting candidates to discuss this agenda. Farmers and their families will make their judg- ment on polling day based on the re- sponses we get from the candidates and the political parties.

“For the dairy industry, price and market supports are necessary to sta- bilise dairy market prices and provide a viable income for milk producers. In the wider context, family farming must be protected by creating a floor under commodity markets and main- taining prices at sustainable levels.”

The IFA president said the Govern- ment must deliver immediately on its commitment to sheep farmers that the €29 million in unused CAP Sin-

gle Payment funds will be allocated to alleviate the sheep sector.

“The annual cost of the CAP is equivalent to less than €100 for each European citizen. This is a real value return to EU taxpayers,” said the IFA president.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail’s Pat “The Cope” Gallagher has outlined his at- tention to protect the Common Agri- cultural Policy.

“If I am elected to the European Parliament, I will seek to protect EU financial transfers to Irish farm- ers under the Common Agricultural Policy,’ he said.

“As a result of the CAP Health check 2008 negotiations which were concluded last November, Irish

farmers, rural communities and the Irish food sector are receiving €1.8 billion a year under the CAP for each year between now and 2013.”

Sinn Féin EU candidate Padraig Mac Lochlainn met dairy farmers last week and called for urgent ac- tion to be taken to address the “scan- dal” of low prices paid to dairy farm- ers. “The farm gate price of milk is now just 22c which is around the same as it was 20 years ago,” said MacLochlainn.

“That is absolutely scandalous and clearly unsustainable. I have met with farmers throughout the North West constituency and they are quite rightly demanding a fair price for their product.”

THE picturesque twin towns of Kil- laloe and Ballina are getting ready to look their best ahead of the Fashion Weekend, which takes place from May 22-25.

In the inaugural hosting of what will be an annual event, the Killaloe- Ballina Fashion Week will showcase the sister towns as ideal shopping destinations.

Event organizers Ruth Vaughan, Lorraine Hassett and Grainne Cum- mins explained the aim of the fash- ion week is to showcase Killaloe and Ballina as “one-stop shopping and pampering destinations”’.

Ruth Vaughan explained, “This is a really special place and that’s very much recognised by the population explosion here over recent years, with so many people wanting to live

in and visit Killaloe-Ballina.”

“We are happy to say that not alone are we able to satisfy local fashion needs but so many people from out- side the towns are also now flocking here and availing of what’s on offer,” commented Lorraine Hassett.

Grainne Cummins said, “We just felt that considering we now have so much for people to come here and enjoy, not least in the fashion stakes, it was time to put structure around this by showcasing it all properly so that we maximise the potential of the eda oh

The Fashion Weekend will see participating businesses offering 1n- store promotions, discounts, beauty consultations and free draws, while there will also be face-painting for children (on Friday afternoon from 3- Spm). Participating businesses will display their involvement with

purple and pink balloons outside their premises.

Friday night will also play host to the Fashion and Fun event at The Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe. The evening, which will be built around a fashion show, commences with a champagne and canapés reception, with ladies getting the opportunity to visit the many stands.

Models from the Hilary Thompson Model Agency will display clothing and footwear from local boutiques. There will be prizes for best shoes – sponsored by Rockin Reptile – and also for the best dressed lady.

Ladies will also be treated to wine and finger food during the fashion show, followed by entertainment by Atomic Chicken. Tickets are €30, with raffle proceeds to Killaloe Playground. Champagne has been sponsored by Super Valu, the “Diva’

cocktails by The Lakeside Hotel and wines for the night are kindly spon- sored by Heaney’s Costcutter, Goos- ers Bar and Restaurant and Wines Direct.

Participating business in the Fash- ion Weekend are Lorbees Boutique, Cerise Shoe Boutique, Spirit, Kel – C – Kidz, Forme, Hotspot, Sweetie P’s, The Beauty Boutique, Greene Room, Fine Rags, Shoes 2 Choose, ML’s Hair Studio, Joanne’s Fashion House, Catwalk, Collins Pharmacy and Country Chic.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the event can contact organ- ising committee members Ruth Vaughan of Cerise Shoe Boutique on O61 374384 or 087 9386622; Lor- raine Hassett of Lorbees Boutique on 061 622966 or 087 8513867; or Grainne Commins of Kel – C – Kidz on 061 374429.

Kilkee tourism take a running jump

WALKERS, runners and joggers are being encouraged to take part in a 10k event in Shannon next month — in aid of Milford Hospice and Ca- hercalla Community Hospital and J Coyj oy (eer

The Midwest 10K, on Sunday, June 7 (2pm), is being organised by Shan- non resident Peter Webb, in memory of two of his siblings who died at Mil- ford Hospice. His brother Mike died at Christmas, while his sister Eileen died in the hospice four years ago.

Having seen the success of the 10K – organised by Derek Barrett of Peach Recruitment – over the years,

Mr Webb felt that there would be sufficient interest in the town in such an event, this year.

He saw at first hand the good work being done at Milford Hospice and this prompted him to set about or- ganising this event.

“Any kind of money we can raise at all will help out. I have been there [at Milford Hospice] quite a bit. The work they do is fantastic. I just want- ed to help out in some way,” said Mr Webb, who is chairman of Park AFC soccer club in Shannon.

Mr Webb decided to organise the event himself, after efforts to get the support of soccer clubs in Clare and Limerick failed.

“We had the support of the Clare and Limerick leagues’ management committees. They had endorsed the idea and thought it was great. We then sent letters to the clubs and only four or five responded,” he said.

He said that while the lack of sup- port disappointed him, he was still keen to organise the event.

“We are hoping to get the support of Shannon and surrounding regions. It is for a good cause, which a lot of people in Clare and Limerick are af- fected by,” he said.

“Tt is more about the fundraising than anything else,” he added. He said that depending on how successful this event is, it may become a regular fix-

ture in the calendar every year.

The route will vary from the tradi- tional Peach 10K route in that it will start at Shannon Credit Union and will conclude at Lidl supermarket.

It will move down past Texaco, Shannon Town Hall, out onto the new road and back up by St Caimin’s Community School.

While most of the route will be flat, there will be a couple of hills — Tul- lyglass Hill and Drumgeely Hill will form part of the route.

Entrants should register for this event online, on the website www. midwestlOk.com, and fundraising forms will then be sent out. There is no entry fee for this event.

THREE Clare schools have been acknowledged for their roles in pro- moting a cleaner and better environ- ment.

Colaiste Muire, Ennis, Doora Na- tional School and Holy Family Na- tional School, Ennis have all been awarded Green Flags by Minster for the Environment, Heritage and Local

Government, John Gormley.

Mr Gormley raised the flags at the three schools during a visit to Ennis last week.

Doora National School was the first port of call for the minister. Staff and students there have been work- ing tirelessly to achieve green flag status. With the formation of a Green Schools committee, students under- took a comprehensive audit of all

the school’s waste. The committee set out a plan to drastically cut paper and other types of waste around the school. Waste paper is now shred- ded and given to the local Equestrian Centre and dog kennels run by the Clare branch of the Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA).

Students also maintained gardens and developed a system for getting

rid of old batteries.

At Colaiste Muire, staff and stu- dents have also been engaged in a determined effort to reduce waste. Speaking after Minster Gormley had raised the Green Flag, teacher Sa- rah Griffin paid tribute to the efforts of the students and said the school was already aiming to win a second Green Flag.

Songs and celebration were very much the order of the day at Holy Family National School where stu- dents displayed their keen knowledge of environmental issues to Minster Corunna

Speaking at O’Connell Square af- ter the Green Flag ceremony, Mr Gormley praised the efforts of all the schools. “It’s always a great privi- lege to go from school to school. The Green Schools, I think, is one of the best aspects of my job. I really en- joyed coming to Clare to Colaiste Muire, Doora National School and Holy Family. That was fantastic; the singing was fantastic. Just to listen to the kids talk about the environment and their enthusiasm always inspires me,” he said.

The Green Schools programme is an international education programme, which helps students to recognise the importance of environmental issues. In Ireland, the programme is administered by An Taisce. The Green Schools initiative has gone from strength to strength since it was launched in Ireland in 1997.

CLARE Pharmacist Mary-Jo Duffy was honoured as the winner of the Pharmacist Contribution to the Community Award at the 2009 He- lix Health Irish Pharmacist Awards, last week.

The Ennis pharmacist was present- ed with her award at a ceremony held at the Mansion House, Dublin.

Nine awards were presented on the night, recognising professionals from Counties Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway and Mayo who have all dem- onstrated excellence in their field.

Speaking at the awards, Howard Beggs, CEO of Helix Health said,

‘“Tonight’s awards are just a snapshot of the hard work and dedication hun- dred of pharmacists are demonstrat- ing throughout the country on a daily basis in community, hospital and re- search settings.

“The role of the pharmacist has ex- panded greatly in recent years, they are no longer just dispensaries but instead vital points of contact, ad- vice and assistance.”

Discussing her win, Mary-Jo said, “To paraphrase Daniel Day-Lewis ‘| have been completely absorbed into the nobility of the Clare coast- line around me. This is the place that sustains me. This is where I have planted myself. It is a refuge where I

restore myself.’ It has given me much and I am delighted to have given something back.”

The GSK Overall Pharmacist of the Year Award was presented to Tim Delaney of Tallaght and Dr Des Corrigan of Deansgrange was the recipient of the Liz Hebert Lifetime Achievement Award.

An adjudicating panel comprised of respected pharmacists from various branches of the pharmacy profession selected the award winners from three short-listed entries in each cat- egory. The Pharmacist Awards were set up to support the Benevolent Trust Fund of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

PLANNING permission has been granted for a new 138 unit housing development in Ballyhugh just out- side Gort despite the recent down- turn in the local population.

Reddington Construction received the official go ahead last week for the construction of a development including 132 houses and six apart- ment units on the Tubber Road in Gort.

According to figures released in the last census, the population of the town had been increasing rapidly up until 2006.

This increase was brought about in

the main by the massive increase in foreign nationals coming to live in the town.

According to the 2006 census, al- most half of the town’s total popula- tion was made up of foreign nation- als, with 83 per cent of these coming from Brazil.

However, locals believe that the number of foreign nationals living in Gort has dropped in recent times with many members of the Brazilian community leaving Ireland in search OM WON .e

According to housing website, my- home.ie, more then 70 homes are currently on the market in Gort with the capability of accommodating

more than 300 people between them POM KOlecde

The Ballyhugh development was granted planning permission subject to a number of conditions including the construction of a creche and a number of shops in the area and the extension of the public footpath and lighting along the Tubber Road to Ballyhugh.

County planners have also stipu- lated that an archaeologist be em- ployed by the developer during the construction phase.

During the planning application process, environmental group, An Taisce had expressed concern about possible flooding in the area.

THE global downturn in the ship- ping industry could provide an un- likely windfall for County Clare as plans are being devised to use some of the deep water in the Shannon Es- tuary as a temporary holding space for mothballed large ships.

According to research carried out by shipping experts Howe Robinson, the projected over-supply in shipping capacity between Europe and Asia this year will be a massive 450,000 TEU in 2009 or almost half a million twenty-foot equivalent unit.

With a large over supply in vessel capacity also projected between Eu- rope and America, the demand for deep water storage docks for large boats has increased dramatically.

According to north Clare local elec- tion candidate Paddy Kenneally (Re- publican Sinn Féin), County Clare is

uniquely placed to take advantage of this situation.

‘At the moment the major interna- tional shipping and transport com- panies are cutting the size of their fleets because there is a downturn in business. These ships and tankers will have to be placed in safe anchor- ages and now is the time for the local agencies concerned with promoting the Shannon Estuary to make the case for a ship storage facility utilis- ing the deep waterway,” he said.

“There is nothing stopping Ireland making the case for safe anchorage to the international shipping com- panies. The benefit to Clare would come in anchorage fees, supplies and care and maintenance of the stored Sebo

“In the event of an economic up- turn the ships will be re-deployed for international services by their own-

99

Crs.

, and sponsored by Microsoft. Prizes were presented by the Taot-

seach and TG4 star Sile Ni Bhraon- ne

“The competition is open to all Leaving Cert students during the school year and there was a very good response last year. We are de- lighted with the interest being shown in the Irish language by students and the very high quality of the entries,” a spokeswoman for the competition said.

Speaking at the event, the Taoi- seach said he was very encouraged by the standard of Irish-writing tal- ent among young people.

Naming Eimear and the other con- testants individually he said their talents “give great hope for the lan-

guage in the future”’.

The annual overall prize went to Eibhlin Ni Fhionnlaoigh from the Brigidine Secondary School, Moun- trath, County Laois.

A spokeswoman said that staff and fellow-pupils of Eimear’s are “de- lighted for her and very proud of her achievement”.

REMEDIAL works are underway at an aviation fuel farm at Shannon Airport, a court has heard.

This revelation emerged in the case where the operator of Shannon Air- port has admitted failing to take all necessary measures to limit the con- sequences of any major accident at the airport.

In January, lawyers for the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) entered a plea in the case taken by the Health and Safety Authority.

On that occasion, Stephen Cough- lan, BL, for the HSA told the court the charge arose from an inspection by HSA officers of the aviation fuel

farm at Shannon Airport on October PAUL ONE

“A bund was to be in place around the fuel tank but was not in place,’ he said. He said this was in breach of regulations.

An undertaking was given on that occasion that the issue would be ad- Cl eeKioeb

Paul Anthony McDermott, BL for the defendant, told Shannon District Court last Thursday that a contractor entered the site on April 20 last and the remedial works commenced sev- en days later. He said it is anticipated that the works will be completed by September.

The case was adjourned until Feb- ruary 2010.