Month: August 2011

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News

Wildlife sanctuary possible in Ennis

AN ALL-IRELAND champion fisherman believes wetlands along a section of the N85 Western Relief Road could be transformed into a wildlife sanctuary. Ennis man Jimmy Allard says he has contacted Ennis Town Council about developing the area of land between Beechpark and the One Mile Inn as a sanctuary.

Jimmy and Clarecastle fisherman Michael Colleran recently released a new batch of 80 mallard ducklings into a lake in the area.

“I wanted to make a sanctuary out of it. It would be a great thing to have especially in the summer,” he says. “We released a few ducks in the lake; about 80 in the last two months. It’s a lovely area to put them in. They have plenty of freedom and room there and it’s grassy and they seem to be getting on well.”

Jimmy also believes that the re-built river wall at Parnell Street car park is too high and is denying children a chance to interact with wildlife.

The wall was built as part of works on the Ennis Flood Relief Scheme, a two-phase project to improve flood defences in the town centre.

The defences are credited with ensuring that large areas of Ennis town centre were not submerged under water when heavy floods hit the town in November 2009.

He says, “The big wall is a problem all the time. You have to lift a child to feed the ducks. It’s a pity you can’t raise the footpath or something. You see a lot of tourists down there trying to take photographs of the field.”

One of Ireland’s most successful fishermen, Jimmy is a three-time All-Ireland fly fishing champion and international gold medal winner. He was the first person to introduce ducks and geese to the River Fergus in 1990 and is currently chairman of the Clare Regional Game Council.

Jimmy believes that apart from a few lakes, it was a bad year for fishing because of the weather.

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News

Ennis made ‘fish pass’ may save fish from extinction

AN ENNIS company has manufactured a new fish pass which could save a number of endangered species of fish from the threat of extinction.

Enform Plastics Limited, which is based in the Doora Industrial Estate, has played a major role in the development of Ireland’s first ever plastic fish pass. The company, which was selected by the MulkearLIFE, helped design and manufacture a series of hardened ABS plastic sheets, each containing of pegs, which would aid the passage of fish upstream.

The project is focussed on helping to preserve the stock of Sea Lamprey in the Shannon but the design could have far-reaching implications for other rivers and other breeds of fish.

“This is a revolutionary design – it is the first time that a plastic fish pass has been designed which can be easily attached to barriers to allow fish like these massive Sea Lamprey to pass successfully upstream,” said Ruairí Ó Conchúir, Project manager with the MulkearLIFE Project.

“Sea Lamprey are under serious threat at the moment and the River Shannon as well as rivers like the Fergus are very important for them. They have suffered a 50 per cent decline in their population numbers and one of the reason for this is man-made barriers which have prevented them from accessing their traditional spawning grounds.”

MulkearLIFE is a new € 1.75 million European Commission funded project which is focussed on the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation. An initial instalment of the passes has proved to be a great success in recent months.

“We have worked with researchers in America, Canada and France to develop the design that would work best for the Sea Lamprey. The easiest way of describing the design is like an inverted egg-box made out of a special type of plastic. Enform Plastic worked with us on the design and manufactured the sheets for us and so far it has proved to be a great success,” continued Ruairí.

“This is a unique design and the first time anything like this has been used in Ireland. We have been making night-time and early morning observations of weirs and that is what proved to us that the design have been very successful. On one of the most recent counts we recorded 170 fish used the wire itself and 140 of them used the fish passes. We are confident that this is proving to be a big success. We know that we can easily adapt this to other rivers.”

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News

Shannon rescue gets RTÉ series

THE men and women of the Irish Coast Guard’s helicopter search and rescue service based in Shannon will be the subject of a major new RTÉ series that begins

RTÉ cameras have been given exclusive access into the Irish Coast Guard’s helicopter Search and Rescue service based in Shannon. Filmed over a number of months, the six-part series follows the rescue crews at Shannon helicopter base, otherwise known as RESCUE 115, as they battle to save lives in one of the most hostile environments in the world.

Highlights from the series include the rescue of a group of young chil- dren stranded on a boat on the Shannon mud flats, and the dramatic rescue of a crew from a British nuclear submarine.

Even in the darkest nights and roughest seas, the men and women of the Irish Coast Guard continue to do a courageous job. With no second chances this small and efficient band of professionals and volunteers often put themselves in danger for the lives of others. In this episode the crew of Rescue 115 are called when a boat full of young children face danger on the River Shannon.

In another area a man is dangerously close to falling into rough seas and clings to some rocks with the hope of being rescued. And an injured woman on the top of Mount Brandon needs Rescue 115’s assistance.

Members of the Shannon-based rescue service joined Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind), at a special preview of the series in the Old Ground Hotel last week.

The Irish Coast Guard has contracted six medium-lift Sikorsky Search and Rescue helicopters deployed at bases in Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo. The helicopters are designated wheels up from initial notification in 15 minutes during daylight hours and 45 at night. One aircraft is fitted and its crew trained for under slung cargo operations up to 3000kgs and is available on short notice based at Waterford.

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News

‘War or jobs’ is not a real option

THE future of Shannon Airport should not be reliant on the activities of the United States military.

That’s according to the Labour Party’s presidential candidate Michael D Higgins who said last week that he thinks “it’s very wrong to be saying to the people of Clare that you approve war under conditions”.

New figures have shown that almost two million US military personnel have passed through Shannon since 2001.

The figures provided by the UD Department of Defence also suggested that the number of flights and personnel traveling through Shannon more than doubled in 2003 when America began its invasion of Iraq.

Asked on Friday for his views on the US military’s continued use of Shannon, Mr Higgins told The Clare People

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News

Michael D makes a visit home

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Michael D Higgins made a return to the place he calls home when he visited Newmarket-on-Fergus on Friday.

The Labour party’s choice to contest the presidential election opened the Newmarket Village Carnival, which was headlined by Dublin band Republic of Loose.

Mr Higgins was raised by his uncle and aunt at their home in Ballycar and went to school in St Flannan’s College.

He recalled, “It was really where I was reared. My father, my grandfather and great grandfather are all from Ballycar. My sister lives in Shannon. My brother farms in Ballycar in the home place and his nephews are now building their houses there. It is where I have my roots. I was born in Limerick city because my father had his business there before his health broke but I was reared from the age of five in Ballycar. I went to St Flannan’s so my brother and myself went in and out every day. I was 19 when I left Clare. I worked for a few months in Progress International in Shannon and then I took the offer of a job with the ESB in Galway.”

He added, “So then I worked there for two years and then I went to England and went through university in America and then in England. Then I came back to teach and then I decid ed to give myself to the public world and stand for the Labour Party. But Clare is where my roots are.”

Mr Higgins was speaking in Ennis at the opening of the Ennis Guitar School, a new venture started by another Newmarket native, Mike Varden.

Former Horslips guitarist Johnny Fean was among the musicians who performed at the opening.

Mr Higgins, a former Minister for Culture, said “Clare has a rich tradition in traditional and contemporary music and this guitar school will help to develop and advance this. The Ennis Guitar School is an invaluable resource for the people of Ennis and the surrounding area, allowing its students, young and old, experienced and novice, to embrace the power of music and develop their talent.”

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News

Tom calls last orders in Lahinch

LAST orders have been called for legendary Lahinch publican, Tom Frawley, who has been forced to give up working in his beloved pub because of ill health. Tom, who at 91 years-old was the oldest working publican in Ireland has been forced to call time on his working life after spending the last number of months at a nursing home in Liscannor.

Tom has worked in his world famous pub for more than 80 years having first began to help his mother behind the counter at the age of just 7 years.

Categories
Sport

Unconvincing Crusheen book spot in last eight

Crusheen 0-16 – Ballyea 1-08 at Cusack Park, Ennis

FOR THE second successive year, it was an uncomfortable ride before Crusheen finally overcame a stubborn Ballyea challenge.

It was by no means a convincing display from the county champions but at this stage of the competition, a win is a win and Crusheen gave further creedence to their defence of the title by securing top spot in the group and a coveted place in the last eight.

Despite a nervy third quarter when a Tony Kelly-led Ballyea threatened to upset Crusheen’s final group outing, the holders led from start to finish and were 0-9 to 0-3 ahead at the break, thanks to the experience of David Forde (3), Gerry O’Grady (2) and Gearoid O’Donnell (1).

0-6 to 0-1 clear by the 27th minute, Crusheen’s nine first half wides kept Ballyea in the game and it might have proved costly when Kelly’s free from 45 metres dropped around the square but Kevin Sheehan’s effort just went the wrong side of the crossbar.

Former county captain Gerry O’Grady had a pull saved at the other end before the half was completed but he did make amends with the final two points of the half to give his side a six point interval cushion.

Sick of moral victories, the young Ballyea side went for the jugular on the restart, with 1-1 inside the opening three minutes through a Kelly free and a goal for substitute Francie O’Reilly. That pair would also pick off a brace of points around the turn of the final quarter to reduce the deficit to only the minimum as the game was swinging in the balance

Crusheen dug deep, introduced Conor O’Donnell and county senior captain Paddy Vaughan and finished strongly with the last four points of the game through Fergus Kennedy, Paddy Meaney, Vaughan and Gearoid O’Donnell as Ballyea frustratingly tired once more despite emptying the bench.

It means that Crusheen top the group and move a step closer to be the first side to retain a senior championship in 12 years while Ballyea frustratingly go in the oppositie direction and will contest the relegation play-offs, despite another encouraging performance.

Crusheen
Donal Tuohy (7), John Brigdale (7), Cronan Dillon (7),Alan Brigdale (7), Ciaran O’Doherty (7), Cian Dillon (7), Cathal Dillon (7), Shaun Dillon (6) (0-1), Fergus Kennedy (8) (0-1), Jamie Fitzgibbon (6), Joe Meaney (7) (0-2f), David Forde (8) (0-4), Paddy Meaney (7) (0-2), Gerry O’Grady (7) (0-2), Gearoid O’Donnell (8) (0-3)

Subs
Conor O’Donnell (6) for S. Dillon (43 mins), PaddyVaughan (6) (0-1f) for J. Meaney (49 mins)

Ballyea
Shane O’Neill (7), Declan Keane (6), Paul Flanagan (8), James Murphy (6), Cathal O’Connor (7), Gearoid O’Connell (7), Cathal Doohan (8), Paddy O’Connell (7) Tony Kelly (8) (0-5 3f),Tony Griffin (7), Niall Keane (7) (0-1), Niall Deasy (6), Brian Murphy (6), Kevin Sheehan (6) (0-1), Francie Neylon (6)

Subs
Eamon Griffin (6) for J. Murphy (21 mins), Francie O’Reilly (7) (1-1) for B. Murphy (HT),Alan Carrig (6) for O’Connor (41 mins), Frankie Griffin for Neylon (51 mins, inj), Donal Chambers for Doohan (54 mins, inj)

Man of the Match
David Forde (Crusheen) Referee Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)

Categories
Sport

Dominant Kilmaley lead procession

Kilmaley 1-19 – Clooney/Quin 0-10 at Cusack Park, Ennis

IF at first you don’t succeed, try and try again – that motto stood for Kilmaley on the double in this fourth round clash in Cusack Park on Saturday evening, something they came out on the right side of thanks to this comprehensive double scores win.

First and foremost they were out for a rare championship victory after drawing their opening two games; secondly, as the first half of this game wore on, they were out for a goal, with one finally coming their way on the stroke of half-time.

And, when Eoin Enright flashed to the net from ten yards, Kilmaley finally put four missed goal opportunities behind them with a goal that tipped the balance firmly in their favour and from which they never looked back.

That strike which was teed up by a brilliant overhead flick from Seamus Hurley helped Kilmaley into a 1-6 to 0-7 lead, an advantage they pressed home with a vengeance on the turnover when outscoring a dispirited and disjointed Clooney/Quin side by 013 to 0-4.

It was a procession, so much so that long before the end yet another underachieving year for Clooney/Quin at senior level had arrived – their fifth since graduating from the intermediate ranks as a Munster championship winning team.

They had no winning demenour about them on this day, despite a positive opening that saw them moved 03 to 0-1 clear by the seventh minute after Sean Conheady and a couple of Peter Duggan frees got them going.

However, the reality was that these opening salvos represented the height of Clooney/Quin’s day once Kilmaley settled down and picked off points through Michael O’Neill (2), Brian McMahon and Niall McGuane to tie things up at 0-4 apiece by the 15th minute.

And Kilmaley could have been out of sight at half-time thanks to the many goal opportunities that came their way. Niall McGuane, Seamus Hurley, Eoin Enright and Diarmuid McMahon all had chances as they laid siege on Clooney/Quin’s goal only to get nothing for their efforts.

Undeterred, points via Colin Lynch and an Alan Markham free moved them 0-6 to 0-4 clear by the 23rd minute before Martin Duggan and Fergal Lynch hit back to level matters as the game drifted into injury time.

However, the initiative was firmly with Kilmaley by the break after Hurley’s audacious overhead flick, was gathered by Eoin Enright and he blasted to the net. A Peter Duggan free did peg it back to a 1-6 to 0-7 game at the interval, but Kilmaley’s determination to finally land a championship win ultimately over- whelmed a limp Clooney/Quin side in the second half.

Midfielder Kenneth Kennedy was the man, setting the tone for his side’s domination with three points inside the first ten minutes as they turned the screw on a Clooney/Quin side that rapidly began to lose heart, application and interest.

Indeed, this game was over by the 45th minute, by which time Kilmaley had hit seven points without reply to move 1-13 to 0-7 clear as Kennedy continued to lord it around midfield and on the scoreboard.

A couple of points from Martin and Peter Duggan did stem the tide by the 50th minute, but three more Kennedy points to bring his tally to seven for half and another by John Cabey put them 11 clear and out of sight as Kilmaley revelled in the freedom of finally knowing that they were going to win a championship game.

It was exhibition stuff in the end as Eoin O’Malley and Colin McGuane tacked on points to leave a dozen between the sides in the end.

Clooney/ Quin
Damian O’Halloran (7), Joe O’Loughlin (7), Conor Harrison (7), Shane McNamara (6), Donncha Murphy (6), Cillian Duggan (7), Enda Harrison (6), Sean Conheady (7) (0-1), Mike McNamara (6), Martin Duggan (7) (0-2),Adrian Fleming (6), John

Earls (7) (0-1), Michael Daffy (7), Fergal Lynch (7) (0-2), Peter Duggan (7) (0-3f).

Subs
Cathal Egan (6) for Fleming [Half-Time], Padraig Ward (6) for Mike McNamara [44 Mins], Seamus Conroy (6) for Earls [22 Mins].

Kilmaley
Kieran Dillon (7), Martin O’Connor (7),Anthony Cahill (7), Colin McGuane (7) (0-1), Noel Casey (7),Alan Markham(7) Capt. (0-1f), Conor McMahon (7), Kenneth Kennedy (8) (0-8, 4f, one 65), Colin Lynch (7) (0-1), Diarmuid McMahon (7), Brian McMahon (7) (0-1), Michael O’Neill (7) (03), Eoin Enright (7) (1-0), Seamus Hurley (7) (0-1), Niall McGuane (7) (0-1).

Subs
Conor Neylon (6) for Enright [54 Mins], John Cabey (7) (0-1) for McGuane [54 Mins], Eoin O’Malley (6) (0-1) for Lynch [58 Mins], Declan Clancy (6) for O’Neill [59 Mins], John Clohessy for O’Connor [60 Mins].

Man of the Match
Kenneth Kennedy (Kilmaley) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)

Categories
Sport

Magpies get their revenge on Tones

Clarecastle 4-17 – Wolfe Tones 0-15 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

ELEPHANTS are renowned for their memory and it appears that Magpies don’t forget easily either as they exacted full revenge on Wolfe Tones for their comprehensive defeat two years ago at the same venue. That 5-11 to 2-10 defeat back in September 2009 put Clarecastle in the relegation play-offs for the first time in their history while Saturday’s reverse means that the Shannon side are now in the unwelcome relegation dogfight themselves, regardless of their final round result.

In similar circumstances to that last championship meeting, it was goals that effectively decided the tie with a first half individual effort from Conor O’Gorman added to in the second half by further majors for debutant David Green, Man-of-the-Match Eamon Callinan and Tyrone Kearse as the Magpies finished strongly.

That O’Gorman effort after only seven minutes was the deciding score of the opening half as the sides went toe to toe for the majority. Eamon Callinan was unerring from frees, Danny Scanlon made the difference when moved to midfield while at the other end, county minor Aaron Cunningham, Kevin McCafferty and John Guilfoyle were causing the Magpies problems as they held a slender 1-10 to 0-11 interval lead.

There was no doubt about the result in the second period however as the Magpies more balanced side turned the screw on their vastly understrength opponents. Clarecastle, without goalkeeper John Casey, former county seniors Conor Plun – kett and Derek Quinn, Ollie Plunkett, Aaron Considine, Mark McNamara and Jamie O’Connor themselves, eased clear through a Jonathan Clancy brace before their second goal arrived in the 40th minute.

It stemmed from a Darragh Moloney delivery to Green who turned his marker Patsy Keyes and found the top left corner of the net to push his side six clear. With that, the Tones dropped their heads a little and they were punished further when Eamon Callinan flicked a Clancy high delivery to the net while Kearse completed the rout five minutes later.

Victory eased any relegation worries for the Magpies and secured a senior B place while Wolfe Tones will have an anxious wait before deciding their fate in the relegation lottery over the coming weeks.

Clarecastle
Donnagh Murphy (7), Seanie Moloney (7), Stephen O’Halloran (7), Kevin Clohessy (7), Fearghus Ryan (7), Patrick Kelly (7), Danny Scanlon (8), Jonathan Clancy (8) (0-3), Eric Flynn (7), Eamon Callinan (8) (1-10 7f), Kieran O’Dwyer (7), Darragh Moloney (7), Conor O’Gorman (8) (1-2), David Green (7) (1-0),Tyrone Kearse (7) (1-2)

Wolfe Tones
Ronan Hehir (6), Eamon O’Neill (6), Patsy Keyes (6), Brendan Hughes (7), Shane Chambers (6), Bobby McPhillips (7) (0-2 1f, 1’65), Barry Loughnane (7), John Guilfoyle (8) (0-3), Joe McGauley (6), Kevin McCafferty (7), Daithi O’Connell (6),Aaron Cunningham(8) (0-5), Stephen McInerney (7) (0-1), Gary Leahy (7) (0-2), Garret McPhillips (6) (0-2 1f)

Subs
Paul Hogan (6) for Hehir (8 mins, inj), Richie Lillis (7) for Chambers (46 mins), Mark Regan (6) for McGauley (47 mins), Paul Walsh (6) for G. McPhillips (48 mins), Niall Murphy for O’Neill (56 mins)

Man of the Match
Eamon Callinan (Clarecastle) Referee Ger Lyons (Ruan)

Categories
Sport

‘Bridge maintain perfect record

Sixmilebridge 1-14 – O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-08 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THE Bridge are building – bigtime, a fact of hurling life they hammered home once more after this local derby encounter with O’Callaghan’s Mills that opened Sunday afternoon’s fare at Clare GAA headquarters. What harm that it was their second championship match in five days – such an inconvenience proved no obstacle as they brushed aside the challenge of their near neighbours to make sure of their passage to the last eight. And, in the process it was their fourth win in a row, following on victories earlier in the campaign against Clarecastle, Wolfe Tones and Tulla. They secured the points here thanks to a sustained burst in the second half when within the space of eight minutes from the start of the final quarter they hit the Mills with 1-3 without reply to move 1-11 to 0-6 clear. It was winning of the game, with Tony Carmody’s brilliant 47th minute goal being the pivotal score as the ‘Bridge finally sprinted clear of a dogged Mills side that was left to rue their profligacy at the start of the second half when they hit four wides in succession when the sides were locked at 0-4 apiece. The first half was an even affair as the initiative ebbed both ways – firstly the ‘Bridge were on the front foot with points via a Niall Gilligan free and efforts from play by Tony Carmody and Danny Morey putting them 0-3 to no score ahead after eight minutes. However, thanks to Adrian Flaherty’s accuracy from placed balls when he landed frees in the 13th and 21st minutes the Mills played their way back into things, while James McMahon then levelled matters with their first from play in the 27th minute. Niall Gilligan and Alan Duggan then traded points before the break to leave matters delicately poised for the second half. Páidí Fitzpatrick put in an outstanding hour for the ‘Bridge in the first half, but on the turnover it was the Mills who looked the likelier side, only for those four wides in the first four minutes to haunt their progress. This was especially true when the ‘Bridge flexed their scoring muscles once more with three-in-a-row after Tony Carmody and Alan Duggan had swapped points by the 37th minute. An effort from play by Fennessy, followed by two Gilligan points had the ‘Bridge 0-8 to 0-5 clear before Adrian Flaherty pegged them back with another free in the 44th minutes. But, in the end it was as close as the Mills would get – they only managed two more points in the remaining 15 minutes thanks to a consolsation scores from Fergus Donovan and Gary Neville as they could lit- tle to do to stem the ‘Bridge tide that tacked on 1-6 in the same period. Jamie Shanahan’s first of the hour at the three-quarter stage put three between the sides, while Carmody’s goal was followed up by points from John Fennessy, and Seadna Morey by the 53rd minutes to leave the championship favourites 1-11 to 0-6 clear and coasting. And they had the final say too when points by Gilligan and Pa Sheehan left them nine clear and winners as they liked – yet again, with the scare they received on day one against Clarecastle now firmly behind them as they inch closer to a first county title in nine years. They’re the team to beat on the evidence of everything the group stages has thrown up thus far.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy (7),Tadhg Keogh (7),Aidan Quilligan (8), Paul Fitzpatrick (7), Barry O’Connor (7), Paidí Fitzpatrick (8), Robert Conlon (6), Shane Golden (7), John Fennessy (7) (0-2), Seadna Morey (7) (0-1),Tony Carmody (8) (1-2), Declan Morey (6), Jamie Shanahan (7) (0-1), Niall Gilligan (8) Capt (0-5, 2f), Danny Morey (7) (0-1).

Subs
Pa Sheehan (7) (0-2) for Conlon, David O’Connor (6) for Declan Morey.

O’Callaghan’s Mills
John Cooney (7), Sean O’Gorman (7), Conor Cooney (8), Gerry Cooney (7), Ger Frost (7), Patrick Donnellan (8), Bryan Donnellan (7), Jonathon Lyons (7), James McMahon (7) (0-1), Gary Neville (7) (0-1f), Declan Donovan (6), Adrian Donovan (6),Adrian Flaherty (7) (0-3f), Niall Donovan (6),Alan Duggan (8) (0-2).

Subs
Fergus Donovan (7) for Declan Donovan, Eoghan Pewter (6) Niall Donovan, Kevin O’Callaghan (6) for Lyons

Man of the Match
Paidi Fitzpatrick (Sixmilebridge) Referee KevinWalsh (WolfeTones)