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CLARE fire services have advised people carrying out controlled burn- ing to always notify the service.

This follows a spate of gorse fires in the county, including ones which occurred in the Connolly-Lissycasey area.

Fire services were called out to at- tend two gorse fires in the area on April 19. Five units of the Fire Bri- gade — two from Ennis, two from Ennistymon and one from Kilrush — were called to the scene.

A large area of open ground was on fire but was brought under control by the fire brigade, who were assisted by members of Coullte along with a number of local volunteers. The long spell of dry weather meant the fire spread quickly and this, combined with changing wind directions, made working conditions extremely dif- ficult.

“If people are carrying out con- trolled burning, then it should be in a controlled manner and the Fire Control Centre (999/112) should be notified with the details,” said Tom Burke, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer, adding that just a few items could be burnt.

“While Coillte personnel and our- selves generally work in groups, both to be more effective and also for safety, especially during dusk hours,

members of the public that assist may yao lms KO) UCOdWAB OBESE

“If members of the public and land- owners are assisting Coillte and the fire service, they should be accom- panying these personnel at all times to ensure proper co-ordination of re- sources to deal with these incidents,” he said.

Meanwhile, environmentalists are counting the costs of more than 20 bog fires that broke out in Gort and Surrounding areas last week. The fires, which fire services described as the most serious in memory, are be- lieved to have been started by land- owners burning gorse on their land.

The worst of the fires took place in Peterswell, between Gort and Loughrea, with every available unit from Gort, Loughrea, Portumna, Athenry and Tuam called in to battle the blaze.

Ecologists are this week begin- ning to assess the level of damage sustained by the bogland areas as a result of the fire. Depending on the severity of the blaze, fire can have a mixed effect on a bogland habitat.

A sustained heavy blaze can cause irreversible damage to the living peat layer of a bog, essentially destroying the entire bog ecosystem.

However, a less serious fire can ac- tually promote new growth on bog land and prevent trees from encroach- ing and taking over bog areas.

A CLARE motorcyclist is threat- ening to take the county council to court over what he describes as “wil- fully dangerous roadworks”.

Mountshannon resident Ciaran Ma- cAodh came close to serious injury at the weekend when his motorbike skidded out of control after he drove across gravel which had been thrown up on the road surface from road- works on the opposite side.

The accident happened at Cloon- tymweenagh on the road between Scariff and Mountshannon.

“I saw the roadwork warning signs and slowed right down but the gravel dressing that the council put on the other side where the works are go- ing on wasn’t rolled into the road. Cars driving over it threw up stones, which went all over the road on the side I was driving. There was noth- ing for the bike to grip on — it was just sliding,” he said.

MacAodh was thrown from his bike and the bike went spiralling away.

He was treated in the accident and emergency department for injuries to his wrist and said that he was still unsure what damage was done to the bike.

“There was a car coming in the other direction and it was just as well that I wasn’t going any faster because

I could have ended up under that car. This happens all the time with road- works. The council never considers what happens to a bike when it hits loose gravel.

“Cars can cope but not bikes. I’m sick of it and I’m going to court this time,’ he added.

A spokesman for Clare County Council’s roadworks section said that surface dressings like this were “always rolled”’.

He added that there was “always signs imposing a temporary speed limit and warning about roadworks. Nowadays, health and safety issues are all important and every precau- tion is taken to warn motorists and prevent accidents”.

A spokesman for the Tulla area of- fice of the local authority confirmed that the work at Cloontymweenagh are part of a major roadworks pro- gramme, which will be ongoing in the favourable weather conditions.

The spokesman said that the council tooks certain measures when putting down the temporary surface.

The procedure was a “normal part of the construction process.

“The stones are there to form a base for the final surface. There’s not much can be done, aS some stones are thrown up by car wheels as the temporary surface is driven on,’ he explained.

has learned.

Their action could include day-long work stoppages, if a resolution can- not be reached by this Friday, May ay

In a joint statement released late

last night, the Irish Nurses Organi- sation (INO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) ex- pressed their “deep disappointment and frustration” at the progress be- ing made at talks between the un- ions and the National Implementa- tion Body (NIB).

“In view of this lack of progress… we have decided to advise all local co-ordinating committees that in the absence of meaningful propos-

als capable of resolving this dispute, to prepare for escalation of the cam- paign before the end of this week,” read the joint statement.

It was also agreed that executive committees of both unions would meet at 11 am on Thursday morning next to review the existing situation.

An INO spokesperson confirmed that this review would involve con- sidering daily work stoppages na- tionwide.

Wel Sree lia acwreuon oes (CoeKEo.¢olou ce enced its busiest week in many years with each of Clare’s seven fire sta- tions responding to a series of gorse, bog and forest fires over a wide area.

To the week ending April 20, fire crews responded to more than 30 gorse and forest fires across Clare spending. They spent almost 60 hours tackling the blazes over hun- dreds of acres.

The weekend rain brought a wel- come respite, helping to bring many

fires under control and extinguishing others. Fire crews hope continuing rain will prevent fires from restarting although it is feared that the worst of the gorse fire season 1s yet to come.

Units of the brigade from different stations were called to some of the fires.

The most severe took up to seven hours to bring under control. Less threatening fires were allowed burn out. The fires were at Kilmaley, Whitegate, Mountshannon, Kilfeno- ra, Broadford, Doonbeg and Mo- yasta.

Clare County Fire Service was un- able to confirm the actual causes of the fires in Clare.

It is thought that in some cases lo- cal farmers began to burn off gorse on their lands and these fires got out of control. However, the hot weath- er probably caused the majority of NB Kee

The fire authority has warned that burning of gorse on lands is prohib- ited between March | and August 31 each year. According to Clare Coun- ty Fire Service Chief Officer Adrian Kelly, “Landowners have a special

responsibility to preserve the coun- tryside, its landscape and its wildlife. They should take reasonable precau- tions to ensure that uncontrolled fires do not occur on their property be- tween March and September.”

Clare County Council’s fire author- ity has laid down very strict guide- lines. “Where farmers are burning scrub/vegetation, they must in all cases inform the fire service at least one day before burning, giving the location, time and duration of burn- ing,’ Chief Kelly said.

Speaking about the public involve-

ment in assisting to fight fires on lands, Adrian Kelly said, “While Coillte personnel and ourselves gen- erally work in groups, both to be more effective and also for safety es- pecially during dusk hours, members of the public that assist may not do deh

“They must also be co-ordinated. If members of the public/landown- ers are assisting Coillte/Fire Service, they should accompany these per- sonnel at all times to ensure proper co-ordination of resources to deal with these incidents.”

THE Department of the Environ- ment has raised concerns about fur- ther development on a floodplain on the outskirts of Ennis. Department officials were reacting to a planning application to Clare County Council by Gareth Kelly.

Mr Kelly has applied for plan- ning permission for a water supply scheme to facilitate the develop- ment of lands at Bunnow, Doora, Skehanagh and Clareabbey.

Officials say that major develop- ment in this low-lying coastal flood- plain area is likely to require up- graded flood defences in the future.

According to the department, this will raise the likelihood of addition- al negative impacts on the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and on sensitive species and wetland sys- tems in the area.

Mr Kelly has applied to have a total of 150 acres of land rezoned from low density housing to resi-

dential, commercial and to remove the flood risk designation.

In response, the council has stated that there is no identified need for additional zoning for development to meet the needs of the plan.

The Department of the Environ- ment has called for a detailed ex- amination of the Kelly application, through the drawing up an Environ- mental Impact Statement (EIS).

“The proposed development is located in and near Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conser- vation (SAC) and on its own and in combination with other plans and projects in the area is likely to have significant negative impacts on the SAC and its conservation objec- tives, including a range of species protected under Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive.

“Significant impacts on the SAC and on Annex II species, including otter, salmon, Lesser Horseshoe Bat and Marsh Fritillary are likely as a result of habitat loss, fragmentation

and degradation, including as a re- sult of changes 1n hydrology and wa- ter quality and a result of increased noise, light and disturbance.

“The proposed development be- cause of its nature, size and location and its association with other major developments in this area — pro- posed, permitted and under con- struction — is likely to have a signifi- cant impact on the environment.”

It goes on, “The site and associat- ed proposed development lands are low-lying and are known to flood extensively.

“A hydrological assessment and flood risk assessment will be re- quired to assess the likely cumula- tive impacts on the hydrology of the area and the need to redevelop or upgrade the flood defence work and the tidal barrage at Clarecastle in the future.”

Officials warn that “the flood risk assessment should be based on ex- treme flood events taking climate and sea level changes into account.”

AN application has been lodged with Clare County Council to rezone al- most 100 acres at Barefield for hous- ing, commercial and community use.

The application for rezoning has been made by Benster Ltd and is one of the 168 submissions made to Clare County Council in relation to the review of the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

However, 1n response to the propos-

al, the Council’s Planning Depart- ment has stated, “There is no iden- tified need to zone additional land residential to meet the future needs of the plan period”.

Separately, an application has been made by Crystal Partners to zone land at Gaurus outside Ennis for a local centre and rezone land from limited residential land or ‘other set- tlement land’ to residential.

The planner’s report states, ““The proposal for a local centre is within a larger site zoned residential, located

south of the Knockanean Road, in the eastern Residential Development Area.

“There are two local centres zoned in this area, one at Roslevan one kilometre to the north west, which is partly developed and one south of the Tulla Road approximately 400 metres to the north, which is not de- veloped.

“In reviewing the plan, account will be taken of the ability of the area to absorb a third local centre, the dis- tance between the local centres and

future population growth.”

As part of its plan for the area, Crystal Partners are in negotiation with Doora Barefield parish and in an update to parishioners state, “Crystal Partners developed land and own Roslevan shopping centre and also have development land at Gaurus.

“On these lands, they have offered to provide a site for a 16-teacher school, a pre-school facility and a hurling pitch as part of their develop- ment proposals for the area — this is subject to planning permission being

granted.”

The update continues that the de- velopers “will continue negotiations with our development group in re- lation to the provision of a church, community hall, children’s play- ground and all weather pitches on the Fahy Hall lands in exchange for part of our lands in this area.”

Discussion on the submissions is to take place between members of En- nis Town Council and Clare County Council in the first two weeks of May.

THE fourth Annual Matt O’Connor memorial open sports were held at Crusheen GAA grounds and there was a huge turnout of juvenile ath- letes from all Clare clubs.

The girls U7 50metres saw Sarah O’Donoghue, Kilnaboy, take vic- tory while Conor Malone, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, won the boys ONE

The first double of the evening went to Clodagh Leonard, Marian, in the

girls U8 where she romped home over 100m and 200m.

Wayne Linnane, St Mary’s, pro- duced two outstanding races in the boys U10 when taking double gold in the 100m and 200m.

Niamh Markham, St Mary’s, re- corded a great double in the girls U13 100m and 600m with Catriona Hennessy, Marian, a very impressive winner of the girls UI5 when taking a treble in the 100m, 800m and jun- ior ladies title.

Conor Neylon, Marian, was in fine

form where he took the junior and senior 100 metre titles, with Hilda O’Connor, Ennis Track Club, taking gold in the masters ladies 100m, and Dermot Moran, St Mary’s, took the masters men O50 title.

The senior ladies 1500metres and the Matt O’Connor Memorial Tro- phy went to Sue Garrahy, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, where she led from start to finish to take the title ahead of Marian Burke, St Mary’s, and a surprise third was Caroline Darcy, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North

Clare, who also got engaged on the day.

The senior mens 1500metres team event saw a very big race from Brian Murphy, Marian, taking the field out at a very good pace over the first two laps. With two laps remaining he had opened up a good lead to take the title from Martin Glynn and Pat Hogan, both Ennis Track Club.

Marian AC retained their team title with Brian Murphy, Fergal Smith- wick, Tom Geraghty for a total of eo ie

ENNIS native Selina Moylan is studying Sports and Business Man- agement in University of New Haven Connecticut. Moylan led Munster under 18’s in the 2003 Gaynor Cup, the same year she picked up the Irish Under 19 player of the year award and was named Irish Under 19 cap- tain. Two years later she started her first season on a soccer scholarship with New Haven.

It can be gruelling combining stud- ies and soccer, but Moylan is loving 1

“A week during the season is pret- ty long. Last year on Monday and Tuesday alone we would have done

three hours training by three o’clock on Tuesday. On Monday I’d go to my classes from 8am to lpm, get an hour break then we have training at 2.30 for 90 mins. On Tuesday I go to class from 8.30am to lpm and then we have training again at 2.30pm. We get one day off a week and that is usually Sunday and we have a mini- mum of two games per week.

“Last season at one point we had seven games over a two week span. Those two weeks were pretty hard because we had to go to class and then travel, then come back and do homework.

“It didn’t take me too long to adjust to playing with American players, but I will say that there are very few

of them that know the game.

“The facilities vary at every school as well. You could go to one school that had state of the art facilities and then you could to another one that barely have a field.

“My coach is Brendan Faherty. He is only in his 20’s so he 1s still pretty young and he is still learning, he is a very good coach though. He went over to England to college so he knows the game really well. Soccer is his life, that’s all that needs to be said about him.

“T don’t really keep that much of an eye on the game back home when I’m away. Brendan will tell me about it because he keeps an eye on it. But other than that not really.

“IT would like to see Noel King (Irish ladies manager) give some of the younger players a chance to make it and not just call them in just to make up numbers.

‘I do know that he has given a few of the girls a chance, but there are a lot of us that know we are good enough to play in the team. That is SOMO MUNI OeLBUNToaae

Moylan has certainly made her mark in the US. She has been named on the NSCAA adidas Women’s soc- cer All-America team, which basi- cally means the league picked her in their top 11 players last season. An- other honour for the girl from Ennis who is sure to pick up more as her career progresses.

RIGHT after the game, they were dancing like they’d just won the lot- tery. Inagh/Kilnamona upset the odds and Paddy McGuane was lost in a sea of celebrations. Just after the cup was lifted, he threw his mind back over a rip-roaring game.

“The goal scored by Brendan Long straight after Newmarket’s goal was vital as we were giving a message that we would not lie down against them. Our defence was tremendous to a man with our fast forwards com- ing into the game in the second half. A huge factor in our win was the training of the two squads together all year displaying the unity between the clubs.”He said the plans on how to tackle the final were made well in advance and the unity in the squad was a Springboard to Sunday’s suc- cess.

“On Wednesday night the two panels were training and Donal Ca- hir and I asked the Kilnamona lads to stay on for a few minutes to dis- cuss the Under 21C final on Friday evening and every Inagh man stayed to listen and offer support. The fact that Fergal Keane congratulated the Inagh mentors Noel Hehir and Tom Hogan after we won the C title on Friday showed the respect that now exists between the two clubs and the fantastic work that is being carried out by all mentors in the two clubs”.

Even though they had their eyes firmly set on capturing the title last week, they were taking it just one game at a time all season. It was an approach that worked.

“We took every game in the two erades as the next game to win. No talk ever took place about winning titles. The smaller clubs have players of the highest standards and when

they can join together, they can dis- play this quality. Just because a club is low on numbers does not mean they do not have players as good as those from the strongly populated clubs.”

He also paid tribute to the team they had just beaten.

‘Newmarket played their part in what I hope and feel was a great game to view and we applaud them for their brilliance as champions over the last three years. We modeled our- selves on their high standards and applied our own requirements to achieve the ultimate success. We still won’t get carried away bit I have to say well done to a fantastic bunch of men from the parish”.

IT WAS a big strike for the small man. Inagh and Kilnamona joined forces once more on Sunday and took the catapult to Newmarket-on- Fergus.

David and Goliath stuff. Hard work and belief won through in the end and when the game was done with, the amalgamation had their first ever Under-21 A title.

Newmarket were striving to be- come only the second club ever to secure four titles on the trot — Feakle

did it back in the *80s — but in the end their firepower ran out.

The second half of this game had everything. The champions surging ahead, the underdogs fighting back. Another surge by Newmarket before Inagh/Kilnamona finally got their teeth around the game and rattled off six points in the last ten minutes. Newmarket had only a point to show for the closing stages of the final, before Bernard Gaffney whipped in a bullet from 21-yards. It was saved by Inagh/Kilnamona captain Patrick Kelly in the goal, but David Barrett

flicked the return into the net.

It was a one point game and injury time had just begun. In truth, Inagh/ Kilnamona never looked like leaving it behind them once they flourished in the final quarter but it was breath- less stuff all around.

As a crowd was gathering on the field to see Kelly collect the trophy, County Board chairman Michael McDonagh gushed, “this must be the best game of hurling we’ve seen all season.”

He was right. Out on the field, with the crowd spilling all around him,

Paddy McGuane — who had a major hand in Kilnamona winning the C ti- tle earlier in the weekend — said the day should be seen as a shot in the arm for the smaller clubs of Clare.

“They [smaller clubs] have play- ers of the highest standard and when they can join together, they can put in displays of this quality. Just because a club is low on numbers doesn’t mean they don’t have players as good as those from the strongly populated clubs.”

It should point the way forward for the senior championship to come.

Nothing was taken for granted by the amalgamation as they marched through the season. Step by step until the annexed the big gun on Sunday.

Crusheen were the other big win- ners of the weekend. After a strong start, Broadford died away in the Under 21B final and Crusheen took it easily in the end.