Month: June 2009

SIXMILEBRIDGE must have been watching Clarecastle’s battling win over the Blues only two days previ- ous as this was almost a mirror 1m- age of that game. In what was an- other bruising derby, both sides were understrength but after making the Superior start just as they had done against the Magpies, Newmarket faded badly in the second half, only scoring two second half points to again fall to a four point defeat.

A glut of second half dismissals typified a touchy neighbourly con- test as first Anthony Kilmartin and Declan Morey saw the line in contro- versial circumstances just after half- time before Martin Murphy followed late in the game for an off the ball incident involving Wayne Kennedy. Aside from that, the quality was not of the highest standard as both sides repeatedly wasted good scoring op- portunities and for almost fifteen minutes mid-way through the sec- ond half, it appeared that neither side

wanted to win it. That Sixmilebridge finally prevailed came down to the greater need as the home side had not won a game all season and were rooted to the bottom of the Division 1 table.

However, for Newmarket, it was another fine display from Bernard Gaffney that kept them ticking over until the final quarter as the former county player hit all but three of their eleven point total while the Bridge’s main protagonists were midfielder Danny Morey and corner-forward David O’Connor, the latter who turned this tie decisively towards the Bridge with four second half points from play.

It was the Blues who began bright- est though, with Gaffney hitting four early points to give his side a 0-4 to Q-1 lead by the ninth minute. The Bridge battled back though, drawing level by the 19th minute and from there until the break the sides went blow for blow to go in at 9 points apiece, with the only other notable incident an injury time effort on goal

by Declan Morey that just flashed by Kieran Devitt’s left post.

The second half began in dramatic fashion, with a large brawl breaking out near the sideline after Anthony Kilmartin had produced a high chal- lenge on Declan Morey and after things calmed down, referee Ger Hoey decided to dismiss both play- ers. That incident upped the intensity another notch as points from Gaffney and Dominic McMahon were bet- tered by three good passing moves that ended with David O’Connor points for the Bridge.

However, at 0-12 to O-I1 to the home side by the turn of the final quarter, the game entered it’s most fallow period with a plethora of wides on both sides only heighten- ing the tension. In the 55th minute, Newmarket were reduced to thir- teen when Martin Murphy received a straight red and taking advantage of this, the Bridge finished strongly with O’Connor, Christy Griffin and Danny Morey completing the scor- ing to give them a much needed win

and cap off a thoroughly disappoint- ing week for Newmarket.

Townies trounce [Tones at home

THE sixth annual Tour de Burren cycle takes place on Saturday June 20 with a large number of cyclists expected to take part. Last year, over 130 cyclists took part in the challenge and it’s expected that even more will take part in this year’s event.

There are three routes planned with a 160km, 60km and 10km trips all lined up. Registration can be done online and the entry fee is €30.

The 160 km Burnin Burren spin starts at the Sea Front in Bally-

vaughan at 9.30am sharp and takes cyclists out of Ballyvaughan on the Galway road, veering left at Bell- harbour, up Ballaghtdine, up Corker Hill, and on through Carron Village. Taking a right turn at Sheisamor Cross, back towards Ballyvaughan, at the cross a left turn and on towards the Corkscrew Hill – a grade 2 King of the Mountains climb on the FBD Ras.

Next comes Lisdoonvarna, where there is a food stop in the new Pa- vilion Theatre. Cyclists then head for Kilfenora, on to Corofin, En-

nistymon, Lahinch, Liscannor, up by Cliffs of Moher, another grade 2 King of the Mountains Hill. There is a descent into Doolin – food stop at Doolin Community Centre – then on to Ballinalacken, and home via Fanore and Black Head to Bally- vaughan.

CLARE County Enterprise Board has congratulated St. Anne’s Com- munity College, Killaloe who was the overall Clare winner in the Small Business Game competition designed for secondary schools.

St Anne’s Community College had 10 students ranking in the top 20 highest scores on the national leader board of a new flash-based online ed- ucational game where students learn how to run a sports retail store based on retailing football club merchan- dise. This was a fantastic achieve- ment for the students of St. Anne’s and the endeavours and encourage- ment of Ms. Kathleen Egan, Busi- ness Teacher who encouraged and helped the students, certainly paid dividends

St. Anne’s College won a complete set of sports jerseys and socks spon- sored by Clare County Enterprise Board for their remarkable achieve- ment. John Floyd who is a transition year student in St. Anne’s also won the overall individual prize of a top of the range laptop and printer also sponsored by Clare Co. Enterprise Board.

While John was the top scorer in Clare, he also achieved the honour

of attaining the highest score of the business game nationally, beating off strong competition from hundred of players from numerous second level schools all over Ireland.

In the process of playing the busi- ness game, students experience the start-up and management of a busi- ness, learning both from their mis- takes and from their successes. It can be used in class as a fun, interac- tive way to learn about a variety of

concepts from across the school cur- ueeleueee

For further information log on to www.businessgame.ie or contact Clare Co. Enterprise Board on 065- 6841922.

DNG O’Sullivan Hurley has put the stunning show house at the Gort Na Coulle development at Ballynote, Kilrush, on the market priced at €250,000.

Also available in this very attrac- tive, low-density development of only eight houses is a detached prop- erty priced at €239,000 and a semi- detached, priced at €210,000.

The showhouse offers particularly good value for money as it has been fully finished to a very high standard and is very tastefully decorated.

Built by ANC Construction Devel- opments, Gort Na Coille comprises four detached and four semi detached houses located on the Kilimer Road within easy reach of Kilrush town and all local amenities.

The area is renowned for sport and leisure facilities, including a superb yacht marina in the town, golf cours- es, fishing and the wonderful Vanda- leur Gardens, which are within stroll- ing distance of this development.

The internal accommodation in these houses is particularly spacious, with well-proportioned rooms, mak- ing them ideal family homes. The detached house extends to 1800 sq. ft. of floor space.

Features include a cut roof with Stairs access to the attic space, which

also has a Velux window. The houses are painted externally, while inside the ceilings are painted. There are timber, oak veneered internal doors and architraves, while the stairs is made from red deal.

Other finishes include a tarmac drive, PVC double glazed windows, and the gardens are top soiled and

raked. The developers are also offer- ing generous PC sums for the kitchen and reception room fireplace.

For further information contact DNG O’Sullivan Hurley on: 065 68 40200.

58 The Hawthorns, is a beautifully presented three-bedroom (three bathroom) end property, overlooking a large and well-maintained green area, located just off the Limerick Road, close to the bypass.

On the books with Costelloe Estate Agents, this property is priced to sell at €199,500.

The selling agent said, “It is in walk-in condition and occupies a private site with a lovely south-fac- ing rear garden, with two patio areas which are sun traps in the afternoon and evening.”

This family home offers high standard finishes, including a mix of timber, carpet and tiled flooring,

a quality fitted kitchen, utility and wardrobe units and partially tiled bathrooms.

The spacious accommodation ex- tends to 110.5 sq. metres. (1,090 sq. ft.) and comprises an entrance hall, living room, kitchen/dining room, utility and guest WC – all on the ground floor.

Upstairs, the large master bedroom runs the width of the house and fea- tures extensive built-in wardrobes and a large en-suite, with a further two bedrooms and the family bath- room also on this level.

The property is being sold with in- tegrated electrics, curtains and light fittings and a garden shed.

BALLY VAUGHAN residents have told Clare County Council they want to keep the water supply they have and only use the new €5 million scheme currently under construction as a back-up.

The Ballyvaughan Development Committee has been campaigning for two years to have the new scheme abandoned. Less than a month ago, Clare County Council confirmed its commitment to finishing the scheme which will connect the local supply to Lickeen Lake in Ennistymon and decommissioning the indigenous supply at Newtown.

The new scheme is being construct- ed to allow the council to maintain the supply to Ballyvaughan within EU drinking water standards.

But residents of the area don’t want the new scheme and say their exist- ing water is just fine.

A spokesman for the committee said that the Likeen Lake source “measure for measure at many levels falls short of the quality of our own water’.

At a meeting last week, residents unanimously passed a_ resolution which has been sent to Clare County Council, calling for the existing Bal- lyvaughan water supply to “be up- graded to a level of complete accept- ability by Clare County Council, in accordance with EU standards” and that “Clare County Council commit to the upkeep and maintenance of

that supply in accordance with EU standards”.

The group also called for the ex- isting supply be channelled via a separate pipe other than the Lake Lickeen supply and that “this newly upgraded indigenous supply serve as

the primary water supply for the Bal- lyvaughan community” and that “an appropriate interchange valve system be inserted in the respective supply lines so as to facilitate their function as mutually operating auxiliary sup- plies in the event of back-up being

needed for either supply”.

Above: The proposed Ballyvaughan water scheme has come in for criti- cism from residents.

Before the count – Tally Timeline

IT was a case of third time lucky for Cathy McCafferty. The Sinn Féin member finally achieved her dream as she claimed the seventh seat on Shannon Town Council. The Derry native failed in her attempt to get elected in 1999 and 2004, but her luck changed this time around.

McCafferty — who has lived in Shannon for the past 24 years — lost by just eight votes in 2004, but felt that her more energetic campaign this year was the telling factor in winning her seat. McCafferty picked up 244 first preferences and was elected in the fourth count, having received transfers which brought her to 393 votes.

“Tam absolutely over the moon. I cant believe I’ve done it at last,” she SrnLO

Her success is no surprise as she was expected to pick up the lion’s share of the Sinn Féin vote in Shan- non, after Mike McKee — an In- dependent candidate but a former member of Sinn Féin — decided not to seek re-election.

However, she dismissed suggestions that she benefited from Mr McKee’s decision. “There’s a big Sinn Fein vote in Shannon. I don’t think that interfered with it at all. I only lost by eight votes last time around and I put in a bigger campaign this time. I started last August,” she said.

Another new face on the council will be Fine Gael’s Mary Brennan, who took the fifth seat, having se- cured 252 first preferences. She was elected on the third count, with 384 votes — four above the surplus of 380 — in her first election.

Brennan, a native of Mayo, has lived in Shannon for more than two decades and works in the health cen- tre in the town.

The mother-of-three was shocked to learn that 252 people had voted ome

“T couldn’t even think of 54 who would vote for me. I didn’t under- Stand all the transfers,” said the new- comer to politics.

‘“T have had a ball, from the start to finish. I really didn’t think I had that much of a hope,” she said.

Her decision to run in the election came after her friend Councillor

Tony Mulcahy suggested it to her.

“Tony asked me at a wedding. I thought he was having me on. I’ve al- ways been interested 1n community. I felt a bit of new blood wouldn’t go astray,’ she said.

Although Labour increased their vote from 10 to 15 per cent, it wasn’t enough to gain a seat as their third

candidate Polish native Anna Ku- likowska did poorly, with just 37 first RACES Gee

Sitting councillor Tony McMahon won the fourth seat, while Greg Duff was also returned to the council, tak- ing the sixth seat.

“Labour would have expected to increase this time with the backlash there against Fianna Fail. We got a very good increase so we are quite happy,’ said McMahon.

‘We ran a third person for two rea- sons. The Labour party wanted to run a female candidate and to give the new Irish population the oppor- tunity to vote for a candidate,’ he added.

McMahon had, in the past, threat- ened to quit the Labour party, ex- pressing frustration with the lead- ership. However, he told

REMEDIAL works on a bridge con- structed as part of the €200 million Ennis bypass and which has been found to be “unstable” are expected to take a further four months despite being originally scheduled to finish two months ago.

Last November, Gama _ Strabag Construction, who built the Ennis bypass, told Clare County Council that it needed to carry out essential urgent repairs to the western abut- ment of one of the bridges on the N85 Western Relief Road which is part of the N18 Ennis bypass. Gama re- ported that excess movement had oc- curred on the abutment to the bridge that spans the River Fergus.

The company stated that essential works “would be required to ensure the long-term durability of the bridge and to ease maintenance require- ments in the medium to long term for NTomCIOMELOLAU Dom

The works have resulted in traffic being cut to one lane in each direc- tion on the dual-carriageway while a reduced speed limit has also been implemented at the location. The work was due to be completed on March 29 but the council has now confirmed that it could take a further four months.

A statement issued by the coun- cil maintains that during the design phase of the project, it had been en- visaged that some movement of the abutment on the River Fergus Bridge

would take place after construction was completed and this was catered for in the design and construction of the structure. Since opening of the dual-carriageway link road, however, the movement has been greater than that envisaged by the contractor and their designer.

‘The weather has had a much more significant adverse influence on in- vestigative and resolution related works on the site than originally en- visaged. There are also some very complex design-related issues which have had to be overcome. Satisfac-

tory progress is being made and at this stage it is envisaged that resolu- tion works will be completed on site within the next three to four months,” the statement concluded.

The work is being undertaken after very large deposits of relatively poor quality material were encountered in the vicinity of the bridge, particu- larly on the west side of the river. The contractor and designer are now un- dertaking a foundation solution for the western support abutment which involves concrete piles up to 25 me- tres deep.

A council spokesperson confirmed that the local authority will not incur the costs associated with the reme- dial works while Gama will not be subjected to any financial penalty as a result of the additional works.