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IRELAND will host a major Agri- cultural Biotechnology International Conference for the very first time in August of 2008.

The conference, which was an- nounced by Teagasc last week, will provide a forum for internationally renowned speakers to address the challenges facing the global biotech- nology industry.

The contract to securing this event for Ireland was signed over the week- end by Professor Jimmy Burke, Head of Teagasc Crops Research Centre.

“This conference offers a great platform to showcase our grow- ing life sciences industries. Various technology Foresight reports for Ire- land have identified biotechnology as one of the core technologies which our country and Irish industry must now embrace,” said Mr Burke.

‘These reports have also identified the agri-food sector as one that can benefit significantly from the tre- mendous potential offered by mod- ern developments in biotechnology.”

The conference will be the largest agricultural biotech conference in the world in 2008 and provides a unique

opportunity for Irish academia and business sectors to discuss the issues, options and challenges being met by the biotechnology industry.

“The four-day event will offer par- ticipants the opportunity to exchange ideas and hear from a distinguished line-up of internationally-acclaimed speakers,’ continued Mr Burke.

“The conference combines the business of science with the latest discoveries and trends in research and technology development, and gives the research and business com- munity opportunities to meet and ex- change ideas. Sessions on the chal-

lenges and opportunities experienced in Australia, Europe, the US, China and Canada will bring a global per- spective to the discussions.

“Environmental and biofuel ap- plications of biotechnology are also very important. As a world class conference, ABIC 2008 is a must-at- tend event for the industry and those interested in it.”

The venue for next year’s Agricul- tural Biotechnology International Coyote seo enUs) (Oem sllmoom im OLS Campus in Cork City. The confer- ence will run from August 24 to 27, PAU eyes

IT WAS a mixed week for the Min- ister for the Environment, Dick Ro- che, as hours after he announced that an agreement has been reached on a management protocol for planting in areas that are important for the hen harrier, it emerged that the Na- tional Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) has secured a judicial review against him for the alleged failure of the State to prop- erly transpose EU measures for the conservation of birds.

Under the EU Birds Directive Ire- land must designate areas important for particular types of birds as Spe- cial Protection Areas (SAPS). The

National Parks and Wildlife Serv- ice (NPWS), had been considering a number of areas as possible Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas.

Last weeks agreement sees 6 ar- eas being granted Special Protec- tion Areas status including parts of Clare and Galway around the Slieve Aughty Mountains. There is a rela- tively large population of hen har- riers in the Slieve Aughties, with a smaller population located in parts of West Clare.

‘The agreement reached within the Working Group represents a balance between good and sensible environ- mental practice and legitimate desire for sustainable development in these areas,’ said Minister Roche.

“I fully expect that the EU Com- mission will recognize and value the consultative approach that has taken place here and the commit- ment shown by the Forest sector to the conservation requirements for hen harrier.”

Clare General Election candidate, Tony Kileen (FF), also welcomed the decision. “The Slieve Aughty Moun- tains, a common hunting ground for endangered hen harriers, will shortly become one of six areas across Ire- land to be designated as a SPA.”

“The protection of the species has always been a matter of concern for environmentalists and the National Parks and Wildlife Service due to the high level of forestry activity in

the area. However, the introduction of an annual quota of new planting will ensure greater protection for the native hen harriers while allowing for the sustained development of the region.”

Meanwhile, the National Asso- ciation of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) secured a judicial review against Minister Roche last week for the alleged failure of the State to properly transpose EU measures for the conservation of birds.

They claim the High Court action has been brought to stop the licensed hunting of the red grouse and several other protected wild bird species out- side of the game hunting season and during their reproductive cycles.

A MAN who stole a bottle of port and a can of cider from a pub in En- nis has been jailed for 30 days.

Polish national Piotr Baran (31), of Mill Road, Ennis, Baran pleaded guilty to entering Cruise’s bar, Ab- bey Street, Ennis, as a trespasser, with intent to stealing alcohol, last Wednesday, March 28.

Garda Andy Monaghan told the court he arrested the accused at the Queen’s Hotel, Ennis, at 11.20am that morning. When charged, he had

nothing to say.

Defending solicitor Gearoid Wil- liams said his client has a serious drink problem.

He said he went into the hotel and this particular bar was being cleaned. He went behind the bar and took a bottle of port and a can of cider, val- ued at €7.40.

Judge Joseph Mangan said he would remand the accused in custo- dy to appear at Ennis District Court on Friday.

Mr Williams replied, “I am charged with stealing €7 worth of drink.

The €7 wasn’t even lost. The door was open, I went in… it is so minor it would be entirely inappropriate to remand (the accused) in custody.”

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a four month jail sentence. The solici- tor asked for this to be suspended.

“This man has just taken €7 worth. The facts that have been proved against him is he did this… A person with a clean record gets four months bear no ee

The judge later reduced the jail term to 30 days and fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.

A POLISH national who imported drugs to Ireland for himself and his friends has been jailed for four naLOyeL Ae tce

Polish native Arthur Wypijew- sky (26), who lives in Ennis, pleaded guilty to possession of amphetamine and herbal cannabis and possession of amphetamine for the purpose of sale or supply, at a house on the Limerick Road, Ennis, on November 6 last.

Sergeant John Brennan told Ennis District Court he became aware on November 3 that a package, destined for a house at The Hawthorns, Ennis, had been intercepted by Customs at Dublin Airport.

He obtained a search warrant and subsequently carried out a search of the house.

He found a package there and in- spected it. It contained illegal drugs. These were amphetamines, valued at €3,500, and herbal cannabis, valued 1 eto

The defendant admitted to gardai that the parcel which had arrived from Poland was his.

Defending solicitor William Cahir told the court the package wasn’t ad- dress to his client.

“The address was correct but the name didn’t exist,” he said.

Mr Cahir said his client made ad- missions which “greatly enhanced the case” against him.

“Without it, it would have been a very difficult investigation,” he said, and the garda accepted that.

The solicitor said, “It wouldn’t have been a high brow commercial Operation, an industrial operation as such.”

Sgt Brennan said, “It wouldn’t have been a hugely well organised plan. . . It was significant enough. The drugs were well concealed. Unfortunately for him, they were detected coming through.”

“This man was sourcing illegal drugs in his home country and bring- ing them in. It is my belief they were

for himself and his friends from Po- land who are living here,’ said the yum

Mr Cahir said by pleading guilty, his client saved the State consider- ably trouble and expense.

Wypiewsky has been living in Ireland, on and off, since 2003 and works in a fast food restaurant. He previously spent a year in the army in Poland.

“He wasn’t working last summer and had returned to Poland. He met up with colleagues of his, which unfortunately presented an opportu- nity for him to make some money. Foolishly he followed this through and imported drugs into Ireland,” he said. “He accepts what he did was stupid and reckless,” he said.

He said that the accused’s girl- friend is due to give birth next month and has been hospitalised, due to complications.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a four-month jail term and fixed recog- nisances in the event of an appeal.

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who has com- mitted a string of offences in Shan- non got “a sharp shock” when he spent two months in custody, his so- licitor told a court.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to damaging a car and a number of of- fences relating to the theft of alcohol.

He admitted entering the Shannon Knights pub as a trespasser and steal- ing alcohol and crisps, last October.

On another occasion, he entered the same premises and stole five bottles of vodka and three cans of red bull.

He also admitted stealing €40 in cash from a house in Shannon in No- vember and stealing a mobile phone from Texaco, Shannon, on Septem- lo mPA NE

Defending solicitor Eileen Whelan said her client was using drugs and alcohol at the time of the offences.

She said that a Probation report on the accused, presented to the court, was very positive and concluded that he should be let back into the com- munity.

Ms Whelan said that teachers, psy-

chiatrists, psychologists and various social workers have come together to recommend the boy be put back into the community, albeit under a very strict regime.

‘He has been caught in time. One would hope he would turn out to be a decent citizen,” added the solicitor.

‘He has been in custody for two months. He doesn’t sleep well. He is frightened of it. He’s got the sharp Shock that he needed,’ she added. She said her client would be willing to move out of Shannon, if he was ordered to do so.

Inspector Tom Kennedy, prosecut- ing, said the State would not wish to stand in the way of progress.

“If these recommendations can be advanced, I wouldn’t oppose that,” |atemncrc (On

Compensation, to cover the dam- age to a car and the cost of the stolen items, was presented to the court.

The boy was remanded on bail, with conditions attached, including that he comply with the conditions of the Probation services, sign on daily at Shannon garda station, abide by acurfew and stay away from two named youths in Shannon.

ALLEGATIONS that the family of an Ennis heroin addict have been intimidated by a drug dealer were made in court yesterday.

The claim by an Ennis solicitor came in the case of Cathal Mulcaire (25), who was sentenced to four months in jail, after he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin, for

sale or supply, on May 25 last year.

Ennis District Court was told that Mulcaire, of Apt 1, Chapel Lane, En- nis, brought a bar of cannabis resin – valued at €1,750 – on a bus from Limerick to Clare, with the intention of exchanging it with a dealer for four bags of heroin.

His solicitor Tara Godfrey said the incident arose from her client’s ad- diction to heroin.

“My client would have gone to Limerick for the bar of cannabis, to give to his suppliers for the purposes of getting the four bags of heroin,’ said the solicitor.

“He obtained this bar of cannabis, not for the purpose of supply, rather it was to get the heroin which he craved so badly,” she added.

Garda Stephen Hession told the court the accused co-operated with

the investigation, but did not tell gardai who the source was.

Ms Godfrey said, “My client was in fear in relation to the source. The people who were to have received this bar visited his father, his brother and his elderly grandmother. His father eventually came up with the money and had to pay. The entire family were intimidated.”

Judge Joseph Mangan asked Inspec-

tor Tom Kennedy, prosecuting, was that the first time this allegation had come to the notice of the Prosecution. Inspector Kennedy said it was.

The judge asked, “Can I take it it will be fully investigated?” and was told it would be.

He jailed Mulcaire for four months, to run consecutively to a ten-month term he is currently serving for an- other offence.

THE 37th Anniversary of the Kil- murry Ibrickane/North Clare Ath- letic Club and the Michael Egan Me- morial four mile road race attracted a very big turnout of athletes.

Gerry Ryan, Galway City Harriers, retained his title for the third year in a row and ran three seconds faster than last year with a time of 19.42 minutes. In the ladies race Veronica Colleran, Ennis Track Club, record- ing a big win in 24.04 minutes.

Over 100 competitors went to the start and over the first mile Seamus Power, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, led out with Gerry Ryan, Gal- way City Harriers, on his shoulder. SSCA ootlMmOebne lcd cMmOloMBEDuciMm DODD (omBDD 5.05 minutes with Dermot Galvin, St John’s a few metres off the lead.

Gerry Ryan made his way to the front and turning off the Miltown Malbay Road he began to pull away from Power.

Ryan was always looking to make a big move and he went through the two mile mark in 10.10 minutes, the three mile mark in 15.15 minutes.

With the wind to his back and all down hill to the finish he put in a blistering last mile to take this title for the third year 1n a row with a time of 19.42 minutes.

Seamus Power ran a good race to finish second in 20.06 minutes, with the 2003 champion Galvin, St John’s, making a great recovery over the fi- nal two miles to take third place in 20.30 minutes.

Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare won the team title and the Michael Egan Shield with Seamus Power, Donal Howley, James Kenny, Tho- mas Garrahy coming in for a total of 47pts.

The masters O40 title went to Pat Nugent who finished in the top ten with a time of 22.05 minutes.

The O45 title went to TJ Whyte, Tuam, in 22.51 minutes and a close second was James Kenny, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, with Michael Quinlivan, Tulla, third.

The O50 title went to the man in top form, Eugene Moynihan, Mar- ian. Hew was ninth overall with a winning time of 22.00 minutes. The O55 title went to Martin McEvilly,

Galway City Harriers, with Roger Rush, Tuam, winning the O60 title.

Donal Howley, Kilmurry Ibrick- ane/North Clare, once again pro- duced another big performance in the junior mens race to cross the fin- ishing line in 13th place.

The ladies race is always very com- petitive with over 30 ladies going to the start.

Veronica Colleran, Ennis ‘Track Club, set out at a very fast pace and went through the first mile in 6.06 minutes. Moving along nicely as they made their way into a slight head wind Sue Garrahy, Kilmurry Ibrick- ane/North Clare, Marian, Burke, St Mary’s, Ann Murray, Mayo, Sharon Rynne, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, were all working hard.

At the two mile mark Colleran had gone well clear and had the rest of the field strung out behind her.

Colleran produced a strong per- formance from start to finish to cross the finishing line seven seconds faster than 2006 with a time of 24.06 min- utes with the master O40 Munster road champion Sue Garrahy taking second place in 26.57 minutes. Third

was Marian Burke in 27.18 minutes.

Ann Murray, Mayo, captured the masters O35 title ahead of Michelle O’Mahoney, Kilmurry Ibrickane/ North Clare, and Hilda O’Connor, Ennis Track Club.

Rose Enright, St Mary’s, won the O40 title in 28.20 minutes from Marie Fennessy and Christine Or- gan, both Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare.Maura Falsey, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, was the lead- ing masters athlete O45 with Hannah Kelly and Bernie Kelly, both Galway City Harriers, second and third. The O50 title went to Cushla Murphy He- hir, Marian.

The junior ladies race saw Sharon Rynne, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, running her first ever four miler, produce a professional per- formance with a winning time of 27.56 minutes from Becky Hand, Dooneen.

Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare ladies team placed well to take the team title with a total of 26pts. Sue Garrahy, Sharon Rynne, Michelle O’Mahoney, Maura Falsey scored for them.

SEVEN first round heats of the Oran- more Maree Soccer Club dominated Thursday’s card where the perform- ances here were very good for this event.

John Sloyan’s Ballycrissane Lass was the fastest of the first round here as she really put on a good perform- ance when running away with heat Web ustee

Nearest on the clock again was the Davy Curtin trained Tom And Gerry who took the last heat of the night in the 11th race. Corker Man in trap three was the early leader but Tom

And Gerry in trap five was always a danger and taking the lead off the last bend this well bred fellow pow- ered on from here to beat Corker by over six lengths in a time of 29.19 seconds. The slow starting Flans Fancy was back for third.

Heat one kicked off in the fifth race and here the Martin O’Brien trained Hotfoot Lorrimer made all to get the ball rolling in this stake. Breaking well from trap three. Hot- foot was chased all the way by trap one Carhue Charmer and trap two Pinegrove Glory, but he was never in any trouble and galloped on to beat Carhue by three and a half lengths in

a time of 29.48 seconds. Pinegrove was just under two lengths back for Wen bKee

Another trap to line effort from Gort came about in heat four as the Noel Mullins trained Malbay Bart in trap two put another career best run to take this one.

Coming away well this fellow shot clear of trap four Salthill Swirl early on and ran on from here to beat him by six lengths in a time of 29.32 sec- onds. The slow starting Pony Mile in trap one was just under two lengths oy: 1O) Qu KO MmnOvE KOE

Evans Machine in trap three came away fastest in heat five and led early

but went slightly off at the second bend where trap one Connemara took over and led down the back straight. Trap five Riverside Spice was third here with Evans in front of him in MUD M OMAR BDA TeAKO Stakes

On the run off the last bend Evans made a go back at Connemara but the Sean Hunt trained tracker held on and took this by half a length in a time of 29.69 seconds. Evans was second with Riverside staying on for third.

A pups 525 saw the Paul & PJ Coon- ey owned Lantern Legacy just held on for this one. Taking the lead by the first bend from trap five Lantern

was followed all the way by Twins Allo who made an effort to get up on the leader on the run for the line but Lantern held on to beat Twins by a neck in a time of 29.94 seconds.

A real close one came about in the second race as the Peter Divilly owned Crafty Presento in trap three took this one albeit in slower style. Botox Blue was the leader most of the ways from trap six followed by Crafty and Waterlane Style in trap four. On the run to the line four of them formed a line and in a good finish Crafty got up there to pip Wa- terlane by a neck in a time of 30.28 seconds.

CLARE’S most prolific jockey, Ki- eran Fallon issued a battlecry this week when he said he was raring to go with the weeks ticking down to his return to the racecourse in June. The six time champion jockey will be allowed race in Britian in early summer having failed a drugs test in France last year.

At present, his licence has been suspended pending a corruption case set to be heard in the autumn.

In the interim, the Clare man is keeping himself fit and ticking over. The break from competitive action may even have sharpened his desire and could prolong his time in the saddle.

‘Towards the end I wasn’t riding as sharp as I can,” he said. “I rode some bad races. In a way, this time might work to my advantage. I had started to feel a little bit bored. I was only concentrating on the big races.”

His omission from the sport at

the moment isn’t the first time he’s courted controversy. In 1994 he was banned for six months after pulling another rider from a horse but his time away has always driven him on to further success. Since then, he’s had major wins on Kris Kin, Ouya Board and Alexandrova.

He said once he gets back to racing he’s going to appreciate the experi- ence a lot more for his absence. “I’m not using any energy now,’ he add- ed. “Maybe because of that I might get an extra year or two more than I would have done had I been going all over the place.”

Fallon concedes that there were moments when he began to worry.

“T was worried at the start,” he said. ‘For one, I didn’t think I would have a job. But now I feel I have so much to look forward to. I have really good people around me and I can’t wait to get back in June.”

He hasn’t long more to wait and racing will be more colourful and competitive because of him.

LONDON in the league — not the game to set football pulses racing for Paidi O Sé or anyone associated with Clare. It meant this game was always going to be the undercard in the inter-county doubleheader at headquarters. ;

And so it was for Paidi O Sé who must have taken a few seconds out during the game to reflect life on the undercard when he has been used to topping the bill for over 30 years now.

Such was life in Cusack Park in a game that was nothing more than a fixture to be fulfilled for Clare, a game to try and rack up points and

goals to boost their scoring rate.

That’s what happened in this mis match. Clare could have won by 20 points but had to be content with a 13-point advantage when Chris Donnellan — brother of All-Ireland winner Michael — flashed home two goals in the final minutes.

It bothered Paidi, but not unduly as he reflected afterwards on a mis- sion accomplished. “Good win, good win,’ went his opening gambit.

“It was a very difficult game to prepare for. It was a game we had to win, score difference came into the equation as well but we didn’t look PAM LOTT MAA

“Certainly they didn’t play well in the second half and I can understand

that. It’s a difficult game to play. You have a game put away at half time and you go out and try to do it again in the second half and that was dif- ficult.

“We just wanted to get the game out of the way and play our remain- ing game, hoping that we can beat Longford,’ he added.

Longford in two weeks time in Pearse Stadium. Paidi’s successor as manager of Kerry, Jack O’Connor, went up there three years ago and came away with nothing. In victory over London, Paidi put it up to his players.

“The whole thing rests on the Longford game now,’ he said, “‘and that’s going to be good for the team. We just have to go out and win the bloody thing now and give us a chance to stay up.”

With that Paidi was away, still standing with Longford to come. With the long journey to Ventry ahead of him, he didn’t stay for all the hurling game, to find out that his footballers are the only Clare team still standing in the league.