Month: July 2009

SMALL businesses allowed the Celtic Tiger to grow and prosper and now they have to be supported.

That was the message from a finan- cial services expert in the wake of the Government Independent Review of Credit Availability for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Graham Byrne, Bibby Financial Services Ireland sales director, said that while it is welcome news that the Government has realised the 1m- portance of freeing-up credit for the SME sector, the report highlights that there is more to be done.

“Irish SMEs underpinned the growth of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ and it’s vital we continue to support them while Ireland, like the rest of the world, strives to navigate its way out of the recessionary maze.

“The good news is that the report shows there has been some improve- ment by the major lenders to assist the SME sector, however, anecdotal- ly we know this continues to fall well short of the mark and more measures are needed to ensure SMEs have adequate finance to enable them to weather the current economic SKeyu 00

Byrne said he believes that the Government needs to go further and “build its recommendations into ac- tions, following some of the steps taken by other European Govern- rns NLS

Such actions, he said should ensure a stricter enforcement of late pay- ment legislation, setting up a task- force to assist SMEs making funding applications, a viable and affordable credit insurance scheme and _ the introduction of a government loan guarantee scheme for SMEs.

“With the report highlighting that refusals for new credit are predomi- nately related to working capital re- quirements to address revenue cuts and a slow down in collecting out- standing payments from debtors, it’s clear there is a growing appetite for greater funding flexibility.

‘Indeed, with Bibby’s own research showing the recession has led 69 per cent of business owners to keep a closer eye on their finances, it’s 1m- portant SMEs are aware of all the options available as the economic forecast improves.”

Byrne said that alternative forms of funding outside of traditional overdraft facilities, such as invoice finance, “can provide a vital and ef- fective way of managing cash flow. Indeed, these alternative solutions continue to grow in popularity. Last year saw 52,000 businesses in Ire- land and the UK use invoice finance and this looks set to grow throughout 2009 as increasing numbers of Irish businesses realise it’s an acceptable and credible form of business finance and one worth embracing.”

Sonny spins tales of Corofin life

CLARE dairy farmers received a vital lifeline last week with the an- nouncement that EU Council of Agriculture Ministers decision to extend SMP and butter intervention into 2010.

The move was welcomed by the IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman, Richard Kennedy, who said that it was absolutely critical to preserve a longer term floor under dairy markets and that a “different approach” would need to be taken by the EU Commission in the future.

“We need support measures which will help boost demand to speed up dairy price recovery, and ultimately

lift producer prices,” he said.

“The council have now agreed to the Commission’s proposal to extend butter and SMP intervention from 31st August to 28th February 2010, so that there is now a very secure floor to dairy markets right into 2010.

“This must be welcomed, because markets bottoming out is the pre- condition to any recovery. However, the EU Commission now must go further, and put forward, in its July 22 report, measures to boost dairy demand and help lift prices.

“In my recent meeting with the EU Director for Common Market Or- ganisations for agricultural products, Mr Hermanus Vesteylen, I empha- sised just how important a more ag-

gressive export refund policy would be in promoting greater demand. “Also critical would be the reacti- vation of the casein, feed, and pas- try and ice-cream schemes which in past years have aided hundreds of thousands of tonnes of skimmed milk, skimmed milk powder and butterfat.” Meanwhile, the Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith, last week welcomed the Commission rec- ognition of Irish concerns in relation to the implementation of electronic identification (EID) in sheep. According to the minister, he has “pressed” the EU Commission on these issues and is glad that he has been effective in winning “signifi- cant concessions” that he says will

ease the burden on the sector in 1m- plementing EID.

These were approved by Member States at this week’s Standing Com- mittee on the Food Chain and Ani- mal Health (SCOFCAH).

Under the new regulation, all lamb intended for slaughter and under 12 months old can now be exempted from EID. Furthermore, where these lambs are subsequently retained for breeding purposes they can then be tagged with an EID device at the sec- ond holding.

The minister said that he will con- tinue to impress on the Commission and his European colleagues at the council his view that EID should proceed in a voluntary capacity.

YOUNG Ruan angler, Paul Norton, returned home last week after help- ing the Irish U-16 team to the silver medal at an international competition THOMA EN ene

Norton was one of the mainstays of the Irish team, beating his direct competitors from England, Scotland and Wales on both days of competi- n(n

His performance was enough to lift the Irish team to second overall.

The competition took place in Wales last weekend and featured the best

sea anglers from each country going head to head in team competition.

“There was a bit of work involved in getting there. I started off by getting on the Munster team and after that I fished in the inter-provincials. The top five from the inter-provincials made it onto the Irish team,” he said.

‘There were four countries taking part and each country had an U-16, U-21 and senior team.

‘There were a lot of fishermen tak- ing part but I was in a zone against one U-16 angler from England, Scot- land and Wales.

‘‘T managed to win the zone on both

days which was great. It’s a team competition and we won the silver medal when all the scores were put together. We fish as a team, this is nothing to do with individuals, it’s all about the team.”

Paul was the only Clare representa- tive on the team and was joined by young anglers from Waterford and Dublin. The angler fished from the beach with dogfish, flounder and tur- bot the main fish on offer.

‘There is a good bit of beach fishing in Clare. There is a nice bit of rock fishing around Fanore and we would fish in Lahinch in the night time as

well as Fanore beach or Spanish Point. It’s not just in Clare either, I travel around a good bit with my Dad and fish in different counties,” he continued.

“T am very happy at how things turned out. It was great experi- ence over there. I would really like to thank everyone who sponsored me and helped me along the way. I couldn’t do it without their help.

“Next year I will be in the U-21 section which will be exciting. I will have to start from the bottom and fish my way up all over again but hope- fully I can do that.”

KILRUSH’S longest running art club is preparing for its annual art exhibi- tion.

Although the exact set up date of the club is not clearly recorded, members believe that this is the Kilrush Art Club’s 20th exhibition.

The exhibition which usually co-in- cided with the Eigse Mrs Crotty Fes-

tival, will take place this year from July 30 to August 21.

Founding members and new citi- zens make up this dynamic group with a variety of subjects and tech- niques.

The paintings include acrylic, oul, water and ink and are available for sale in a wide range of prices.

The works that make up the 2009 exhibition feature scenery, abstract,

humans and animals.

As many as 60 pieces make up this exhibition from 10 artists living lo- cally.

Group organiser Pauline Dunleavy said that a number of people follow this annual exhibition faithfully.

Most if not all of the scenery paint- ings are inspired locally.

“You can’t go outside the scenery in west Clare. It is breathtaking,”

said Ms Dunleavy.

All new members are encouraged to join the sociable and friendly club by contacting Pauline in Anchor Crafts, Kilrush.

The exhibition will be officially opened on July 30, in the Kilrush Library, with a wine and cheese re- ception.

The exhibition will run until Au- gust 21.

VISITORS to Killaloe will be able to follow in the footsteps of Brian Boru on a signposted trail that will help them enjoy the historic sites of the town.

County councillors who gathered last week for the first meeting of the new Killaloe Electoral Area Com- mittee of the council were told that funding has been made available under Bord Failte’s Historic Towns initiative for the scheme.

As part of a nationwide push to 1m- prove tourism facilities, each county was asked to nominate an historic town where a trail could be marked out to lead visitors to the historic

sites.

In Killaloe, trails which give visi- tors two options have been selected.

Both will start between the waters and 11 points of interest, including Brian Boru’s fort and St Flannan’s Catherdral, will be signposted and have information boards erected next to them.

Officials at the meeting told coun- cillors that the full walk will be 4.5km, with an option to cut across for a shorter circuit.

Historians have already researched all the necessary information for the routes and the project is now going to tender for the manufacturing of the signs.

There will be a pubic consultation

on which information should be in- cluded on the boards, the meeting was told.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) said that he hoped that footpaths and hedg- ing would be kept in order along the route and he asked whether it was possible to make it all wheelchair accessible.

ClUlr Pascal Fitzgerald (Labour) complimented the officials on hav- ing the route “very well laid out” and Cllr Pat Hayes (Labour) said it was “very welcome to get a bit of funding to improve our tourism facilities but we need to follow on to see if there is any funding for Twomilegate.”

Independent councillor, Michael Begley said he hoped the trails and

signs would be maintained “so they will look as good in ten years time as they do now”.

The councillors were told that the place-names on the fingerboards will be printed in Irish as well as English and Cllr Crowe also asked that par- ticular care be taken to get the cor- rect Irish spelling of place-names as mistakes have already been made in some areas.

Senior Executive Engineer, Sean Lenihan, said that he “cannot say that every part of the trail will be Wheelchair accessible. We’re look- ing at ways to improve accessibility in the towns and villages but Kil- laloe by its nature 1s not fully wheel- chair accessible.”

PERMISSION to come aboard is be- ing extended to visitors and residents in east Clare alike for the Scariff Harbour Festival.

Festival-goers can cruise down the river, spot a kingfisher in the wil- lows, feel the fresh lake breeze and chill out. Or don a safety jacket and helmet, grab a paddle and canoe, and master the river swells.

The more adventurous can have a go at making their own raft.

Water activities like these have been part of the Scariff Harbour Festival programme since it began in 2003 and they continue to top the bill this August bank holiday weekend.

Raft races, with four people to a raft and organised by the Scariff Rugby Club, add a new and fun dimension to being on the river. Setting out from the harbour, contestants will show- case their prowess on the water and create a spectacle guaranteed to en- tertain the less spirited landlubbers!

According to Mike Madden of Scariff Rugby Club, “This is about fun and entertainment and the Rug- by Club’s contribution to the festival. Prizes include Heineken Cup tickets and a trophy, and there will be a bar- becue and live music to round off the Sunday afternoon event,” he said.

Canoeing and kayaking for the ac- tively inclined will be located at the Riverside Park, on the Feakle Road.

Without white water, weirs and rap- ids, the Graney River still challenges experienced enthusiasts and at the same time encourages the novices to explore and experience the water in a special and exhilarating way.

“Waterways Ireland has supported the festival from the beginning. Its

regional office was set up in Scariff through the foresight of the North/ South Ministerial Council and the Arts and Culture Departments North and South following the Good Friday Agreement,” a spokeswoman for the festival organisers said.

‘Free waterbus tours of the Scariff River and Lough Derg during the festival, supported by Waterways Ire- land, is indicative of its commitment to making the river and lake accessi- ble to locals and visitors for pleasure and leisure. Central to the festival’s

concept is the promotion of the com- mercial and tourist potential of the lake and the inland waterways,” the spokeswoman added.

Young anglers from the North and South of Ireland compete each year for the David Ervine Perpetual Tro- phy. This competition, also spon- sored by Waterways Ireland, is in re- membrance of the late David Ervine, Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, who shared a platform with Mark Durkin, Leader of the SDLP, at the opening of the first Scariff Har-

bour Festival in 2003.

In addition to water activities, chil- dren can enjoy workshops on every- thing from circus skills to cheerlead- ing, creative writing and interactive art workshops, topped by an even bigger and better Family Fun Day at the GAA Park on the bank holiday Saturday.

TRANSITION year students of Scariff Community College have been enjoying celebrations to mark the end of their year of delving into subjects other than the regular sylla- eltcy

Staff, parents, siblings and friends of the twenty five enjoyed a night of exhibitions and recollections of the year during which the college’s annu- al magazine was formally launched. A highlight of the occasion was the announcement that one of the stu- dents, Charles O’ Donnell, has scored highest marks in Ireland in the pub- lic access to law module of the tran- sition year’s varied programme.

Transition year class co-ordinator Liam Coyle was delighted and com- pliments were paid to the teacher by Principal Sean Daly for his handling of the far-flung activities to which the class was introduced over an ex- citing year.

Caimin Condren, acclaimed stu- dent of the year for putting in a huge effort, being generally helpful and an organiser of events, spoke for the class to say it had been a wonderful year for all students, a great experi- ence. He expressed their appreciation of all that had been done for them by their teachers and the wider college SEIOE

Meanwhile, Leaving Certificate students at the college got a nice sur- prise at their formal departure cer- emonial.

Each of the class of 58 was present- ed with a crucifix made in Bethlehem of local olive wood as a memento of their time in the college.

The crucifixes were bought for

them by Fr Brendan Quinliven while he was on pilgrimage.

The honour of top stars in the community college’s second annual talent competition went to the tradi- tional music duo of Brian Corry and Gearoid Kelly.

The competition for the John S Kelly (former principal) Cup provid- ed great entertainment for all in the college. In addition to the trophy, the boys received a cheque for €100.

Second and third places fell to sing-

ers Paul Melody and Rebecca Atkin- son who were awarded prizes of €60 and €40 respectively.

For her contribution to this year’s organisation of the event, music teacher Ms Kavanagh was warmly thanked. ‘Naked Bare’ past pupils were special guests and created a wonderfully lively atmosphere to start the show.

A spokesperson for the college, con- eratulating the winners and runners- up, said they must appreciate fully

the great spirit and fun experienced by all competitors. The “You’re a Star’ competition 1s open to singers, songwriters, dancers, bands, soloists, etc. Rehearsals took place on Thurs- days and Fridays from 4 to 6pm.

A NEW strategy has been unveiled to promote commercial activity in the Ennis area. The document, released by the Ennis Development Forum, targets five sectors of the local econo- my. They are: retail; tourism and hos- pitality; industry, manufacturing and infrastructure; professional services and education.

Five separate groups were estab- lished following the Bright Ideas workshop help in Ennis in April.

The aims include promoting Ennis as an attractive destination for shop- pers, exploiting the full tourism po- tential of the town and dealing with issues such as anti-social behaviour.

Various initiatives, including adver- tising campaigns, the establishment of a Twitter page, “Shopping in En-

nis, schools art competition and a free parking initiative, have already been advanced by forum members.

Details are contained in the latest re- port from the Ennis Development Fo- rum. In it, forum co-ordinator Teresa Dalton states that the group remains disappointed with the response of En- nis Town Council to suggestions it put forward.

“Regardless of the disruption of the recent local elections, the response from ETC on the key Ennis Forum is- sues of rates, water charges, parking, taxis, casual trading and infrastruc- ture continues to be extremely disap- pointing,” she states.

The report continues, “After final- ly securing a meeting with the town councillors on May 12 we made the following points; we asked the coun- cillors to give a five per cent reduc-

tion in rates for prompt payment. The dates for prompt payment have now passed and we have not as yet heard back from the council though, at the time the councillors seemed keen to progress this idea.”

The report continues, “We asked the council to urgently address the infrastructural deficit in Ennis, which is preventing future development of both housing and commercial activ- ity. The council explained that this was a joint matter with Clare County Council but councillors undertook to address this issue.”

Ms Dalton also states that many lo- cal businesses were not in a position to pay “recent massive increases in water rates and we sought a signifi- cant reduction in these water rates”. She adds, “We have not had any re- sponse to this proposal.”

The forum 1s also looking for the 1s- sue of taxi services at Parnell Street car park to be re-examined while the report also states that casual trading byelaws have been “poorly imple- mented”.

The forum is also requesting that the council appoint a small group of coun- cillors to liaise with them as “meet- ings at which there were a very large number of councillors did not tend to get a great deal of business done”’.

A reduction in commercial rates ap- pears unlikely following recent com- ments by town clerk Eddie Power. Mr Power told last week’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council that has rates had already been adopted, there was no “legal scope” to reduce them. However Mr Power added that it could be possible for businesses to pay rates on a phased basis.

THE final countdown to this week- end’s Powerade ‘Never Give Up’ challenge is underway as a Quin man is gearing up to put his name on the marathon map.

23-year-old Trevor Lee is one of just three people across the country selected to take on the Swiss Alpine Challenge in Davos, Switzerland on Sunday.

He decided to give up hurling for a few months and instead concentrate on running the marathon. The past few months have been a whirlwind for Trevor, who works as a chemi-

cal engineer at Roche pharmaceuti- cals in Clarecastle. He has featured prominently in Powerade advertise- ments on RTE television and has subsequently become a recognised face throughout Clare.

He is pleased with his training, which, apart from a few niggly inju- ries, has gone very well. He ran his first ever marathon in the Mourne mountains in County Down last month and was happy with his per- formance on the day, finishing the tough route in just over five hours.

“We came in in the middle of the pack. We were happy with that, but my legs were in bits after it,” he said.

Prior to that he ran a good race in the Clare 10K, in which he finished in the top 100 of some 1,400 partici- pants.

The training has tapered down since that, as he prepares for Sun- day.

The money raised through the chal- lenge will go towards SAD (Sudden Adult Death syndrome) and Trevor is also hoping to raise money for Can- cer Research. He is delighted with the generosity from those who have assisted him through sponsorship.

He is getting used to the celebrity status he has achieved since he first appeared on television.

“The feedback has been good. I’d be shocked by the amount of people who recognise me. The running 1s going well. The hard work is done now. I am trying to keep the legs fresh for Sunday,” he said.

“It has been a great experience and a great laugh. I have made good friends out of it,” he added.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund should email Trevor on trevorleeO3 @ gmail.com.