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SINGER Vincent Di Placido fulfills a lifelong ambition this week with the release of his self-titled debut album.

The album launch takes place at the West County Hotel, Ennis tomorrow night (October 28) at 8pm. A lyric tenor, Vincent’s album sees him per- form songs that draw heavily on his Italian and Irish background.

Vincent’s mother, Nora, is origi- nally from Ennis while his father Vincenzo Snr hails from the Italian town of Cassino.

Cre abercam eno mBbemm erenDelelesncdemMAUye lots his family lived for a while, Vincent was surrounded my music.

“There was always music in the house. I remember listening to peo- ple like Frank Sinatra, Mario Lanza, really great singers,’ he says.

Vincent moved to Ennis in 1992. A keen singer from an early age, he started to perform with local singing groups like the Ennis Musical Soci- ety and the Cathedral Choir.

One of his most memorable mo- ments on stage occurred in 1994 when he performed solo at the ordi- nation of Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Wil- lie Walsh.

“IT was very lucky. I kept getting these really good parts with the musical society and the choir. I got to sing at the ordination of Willie Walsh. I was very lucky to get these opportunities,” he says.

Vincent continues, “I sang at peo- ple’s weddings as well. People were always very nice, saying that I should record that album. It’s very flattering to hear people say that, naturally I’d be a very shy kind of person. I had always wanted to record an album. It had been ongoing thing but it was

something I was always putting on the long finger. Last year I decided to bite the bullet, get some money to- gether and just do it.”

Vincent says that he also received great support for the project from his fiancé Aoife. The album was recorded in September 2008 at St Columba’s Church, Ennis and fea- tures contributions from local musi- cians including Nigel Bridge (piano), Maeve de Buitlér (harp). Vincent says the combination of the location and quality of the musicians really

enhanced the quality of the record- ing.

“The natural acoustics there were amazing. We recorded last Septem- ber. We got it done quite quickly. Initially we were just going in to test the recording but once we started we decided “why not do the whole thing’. The musicians were so good. They really cared about the process. It really shows what you can achieve with good musicians,” he says.

Vincent is also well known to peo- ple in Ennis from his job as manager

of the local branch of Xtra-Vision, Where he has worked since 1997. And though he says he’s not quite ready to give up the day job for a full time singing career, Vincent says he is proud to have finally finished the album.

“Tm proud of it. Organising the music, overseeing the production. It’s great to have done it,” says Vincent.

HALLOWEEN is coming late to En- nis this year with the largest extreme and experimental electronic music event ever to take place in County ETc

Never Stop The Madness is being organised by Lisdoonvarna based two piece Drugzilla and will feature some of the best of European under- ground and alternative music. The event, which will take place in The

Lifford on November 7, is one of the largest events of it’s type organised in Ireland this year and should attract a large following to Clare from sur- rounding counties and even further afield.

Never Stop The Madness has been raising a large amount of interest across the water with the UK inva- sion being led by DJ Pinhead, Hare- wire and Captain Chaos. Spanish band Black Starr Finale will also be making an appearance as will Irish

hard drum and bass gabber Rowan Lee Brains alongside Drugzilla.

The night is being organised by Drugzilla front-man, The Human Jigsaw, who is hopeful that Never Stop The Madness could become an annual or even more regular event. Plans are also in place to bring some even bigger names to Ennis in the coming months and weeks.

Drugzilla formed in Lisdoonvarna in 2007 and quickly build up the largest fanbase of any extreme elec-

tronic act on the Internet. Bringing a strange mix of Buckfast fueled extreme beats and foul mouth mer- riment they played a storming set at I Hate Trance in the UK alongside some of the best acts in the European Speedcore scene.

Last year Drugzilla were named as

A SPECIAL open day takes place on Sunday, November at the River Lodge Health and Fitness Club at the Auburn Lodge on the Gort Road.

The event takes place to celebrate the third anniversary of the centre and as part of the occasion, members and non-members alike will have an opportunity to take part in free class- es, meet the instructors and talk to an on-site nutritionist. Food will also be available and anybody who joins on the day will be able to avail of a spe- cial discounted membership rate.

“Tt’s sure to be a great day,” says Riv- er Lodge Manager Gerry O’ Halloran. ‘‘Aside from the fun factor though we want to get across that when it comes to planning your health and fitness this is one priority that should be on top of your list of things to do. We’ve taken these points, and many more into consideration, when it comes to offering our members the best facil1- ties and personal attention any where in the mid west.”

He pointed out that the facilities at the centre cater for all levels and body types.

‘Whether you’re a fitness virgin, or a seasoned athletic type, you’ll find everything to help you achieve your health and fitness goals at the River Lodge and we have one of the finest gyms in the area.”

He added that the River Lodge have gone to great lengths to ensure their members see results.

“All our instructors are fully quali- fied, and are there to give help, sup-

port and advice to all our members. We have even taken this one step further and offer a free monthly fit- ness review and programme update sO you continue to improve and get the most out of your workout. It’s just

like having your very own personal trainer.

“On top of this we also have a fully- heated pool, regular classes, sauna, Steam room and Jacuzzi as well as beauty treatment rooms.”

The open day continues throughout Sunday.

AVENUE United have been scoring goals for fun in the Premier Division, which in turn has propelled them to the top of the table, taking 18 points from their opening six fixtures. So it was highly anticipated that they would put the visitors to the sword on a wet and miserable day at Lees Road.

From the outset Avenue had all the possession and went in search of an early goal to try and kill off the fix- ture. Avenue were trying to play a one-touch passing game but the pitch and weather conditions were always working against them.

Sean O’Meara had the first gilt edged opportunity when he was put through on goal but Tommy Quinn saved expertly to divert the goal bound shot around the post.

Avenue were applying a lot of pres- sure from set pieces but the Newcas- tlewest defence stood tall and were first to every ball. After the first 15 minutes had passed it was evident that Newcastlewest’s game plan was to stifle the free flowing football of Avenue United.

Although Avenue had the ball at their disposal for most of the match, there was always a concern that New- castlewest could strike a blow on the counter attack.

When Newcastlewest broke, the ball was constantly spread to the left flank where a waiting Tomas Quilli- gan would dart past the back line and try weave his way in on goal.

The ferocious tenacity of Gary Flynn in the middle of the park en- sured that these chances were few and far between. Another low cross from Sean O’Meara was met by Adrian

McDonagh, but once again Quinn thwarted the Avenue attack with a fantastic reflex save, when a goal looked almost certain. David Smyth wrangled his way past every obstacle when the ball was displayed in front of him, and Newcastlewest couldn’t cope with his lightning pace.

At the closing stages of the first- half Smyth dashed down the left hand side and delivered a spectacu- lar cross that really should have been converted by David Herlihy.

The second-half started in the Same fashion as the first, with Av-

enue looking to pounce from the emphatic Smyth, who had a real foothold on the game. Full back Shay Lyons couldn’t contain Smyth and he received a booking for his troubles early into the second half. Earlier fears proved right when Avenue lost the ball in the middle of the pitch, Newcastlewest on the counter attack found Tony Quaid with a long ball, who in turn pulled it back for Quil- ligan to score an absolute peach of a goal. Quilligan had floated in from the left side of the pitch, had spot- ted Barry O’Donnell of his line and

lobbed him from 30 yards out.

A goal worthy of deciding any game, Newcastlewest achieved what they had set out to do and put men behind the ball to ensure Avenue didn’t find an equaliser. Avenue were desperate for a goal and even the in- dustrial movement of Smyth couldn’t breach Tommy Quinn’s goal. Having to resort to long-range efforts it nev- er looked as Avenue would find the equaliser. As the contest came to a close Newcastlewest almost doubled their advantage when Jason Cum- mins got put through one on one with O’Donnell but Cummins struck the foot of the post.

As the final whistle was blown a look of despair was engraved on the Avenue teams faces. Avenue were able to score eight goals last week, but fired blanks today. The team thats steam rolling over its competi- tors in the Premier Division finds themselves out of the FAI Junior Cup already. Have no doubts though, an Avenue team of this class will bounce back.

KILLALOE has been a ‘foodie’ destination for many years, but this week will see the opening of what may well become another jewel in the crown of gourmet delights in the town.

Nine years as a chef with the famed Cherry Tree restaurant and many awards later, Mark Anderson is due to open his own business in Killaloe in partnership with his fiancee, Go- sia Bublewicz.

When Gravitas, Purveyors of Fine Foods, opens this week it will be the latest in a number of gourmet and ar- tisan shops to open in Killaloe with one aim in common, to bring excel- lent produce to customers without

fleecing them.

“IT want to have the kind of shop we knew when we were young, somewhere you could go in and buy fresh fish, poultry and other produce. That kind of place, where quality mattered, has been lost to us and it needs to be brought back. But organ- ic doesn’t have to mean expensive, we re very aware of that. ”

The shop will stock carefully sourced fresh fish, organic and free range poultry, ready meals which will be cooked in the kitchen behind the shop and home-produced sauces and chowder.

Mark and Gosia will still keep up the fish stall they have been running in the farmers’ market on Sundays. “It’s a more relaxed way to talk to

our customers and it’s well support- ed, so why stop?” Mark said.

Gravitas will open in Bridge Street and not far away, on Royal Parade, Andrew Lofthouse is seeing custom grow for his wine store and Italian deli, Ponte Vecchio.

He agrees with Mark that people “want good food at reasonable pric- es. Andrew, who grew up in Italy, supplies specially-sourced Italian gourmet delights and customers who drop in to buy their hams and cheese usually can’t resist the temptation to sit and sip a great coffee or a glass of Nero d’Avola.

Keeping it in the family, Laura Kilkenny, who trained under Mark in The Cherry Tree, is feeding east Clare with her artisan breads, cakes,

quiches and other tempting morsels from The Wooden Spoon on Con- vent Hill.

“We try to supply food that is tasty, healthy and a bit different. People are becoming more concerned with what they eat. I have customers who come from as far away as Nenagh. One comes to buy for herself and brings a list of orders from her friends and neighbours. People are coming to Killaloe now to shop for good food and good ingredients.”

THAT goals win matches is an over- used cliché when it comes to sport, but there isn’t a better phrase to describe the influence of Clooney/ Quin’s hat-trick of goals on the end result of this Junior A football final.

Clooney/Quin last won this title in 2004 and five years later they were certainly up for capturing it again. From the thrown-in controlled ag- gression and determination could be seen in the 15 players sporting the green and red jerseys.

It would be unfair to claim Kilfeno- ra were not psyched up for this game but the extra sense of self-belief the mid-Clare men had, dragged them over the line in a winning position.

As always in finals a certain number of players come to the fore. That was the case for both sides.

For Clooney man of the match Cil- lian Duggan was one of their heroes on the day. This year has seen Dug- gan shine as the hero on a number of occasions with his club’s senior hurl- ing team but also in his role on the All-Ireland winning U2] Clare team. After this game one could clearly see he is equally effective in the large ball game.

Duggan lined out at centre-forward

but he played almost in centre-back. He covered huge spaces and was key to some of the strength shown by the Clooney defence. It was fitting it was he that caught the dangerous ball into the Clooney/Quin box as Kilfenora chased a goal in the final moments. His clearance at the end set up Fergal Lynch to knock over the final insur- ance point to leave four between the sides.

Kilfenora fought hard and their key player brought them to the edge of victory also. Killian Malone was their star forward and free taker. His total of seven frees kept his team in the game. Sometimes kickers of placed balls receive too much praise but some of his efforts with the out- side of his boot would be admired by any kicker in any sport.

Aidan Malone opened the scoring for Kilfenora after seven minutes. This score was quickly cancelled out by a superb kick by midfielder Fer- gal Lynch, but Kilfenora through Pat Connole retook the lead again from the resulting kick-out. A competitive game was certainly in the offing.

With just over 15 minutes elapsed, Clooney/Quin took their first goal. John Earls’ wayward effort for a point landed in the hands of Dug- gan. He burst past a few defenders

before hand passing over to the un- marked Ciaran Quinn who palmed the ball into the net. Momentum had switched again.

It took ten more minutes for Kil- fenora who were beginning to gain control to get back level on a score of 1-1 to O-4 with their points com- ing from Malone and full-forward Austin Kelly. Malone and John Earls then exchanged frees just before nor- mal time in the first-half concluded. Injury-time however allowed one more score in the half with an excel- lent point by centre-forward Connole giving his side a one-point margin at WDNR ASAI E

The start of the second-half in many ways ruined Kilfenora’s chances of a win. In the opening five minutes they did not convert their good start into scores. Four scoreable chances were sent wide and they lost by four points. Finals don’t allow for these margins ORONO r

Clooney/Quin then stole their second goal of the afternoon. Re- plcement Cathal Egan reacted first when a 45 was not properly cleared.

Kilfenora needed to fight again and they did. They grabbed the next two points without reply to get them- selves back into the game again.

Then Lynch woke up again and re- ally ended Kilfenora’s challenge with the third and final goal of the game. One on one with the keeper he was never going to miss and he drove the

ball into the top corner.

Surely it was over and they would definitely die now, but they still re- fused to give in. Malone showed great composure to convert four frees in a row to leave only a goal between the teams.

A tense finish arrived but Clooney Quin through Lynch got the final score on the counter.

THE whereabouts of three Clare Traveller families ordered to leave the roads of the county last Friday are unknown today, following unsuc- cessful attempts to contact them.

The families, Connie and Mary O’Donoghue and their two sons, John and Tilda Mongans and their three children and Michael and Anne O’Donoghue and their seven children, have been unsuccessful in trying to gain rented accommodation in Clare for the last six months.

During that time, two of the fami- lies have had their homes impound- ed, while they have also been denied access to Clare County Council’s temporary halting site in Ennis.

The difficulty seems to have arisen between Clare County Council and authorities in Northern Ireland over a temporary site, which one of the family’s attempted to get access to in Northern Ireland.

“Connie and Mary O’Donoghue tried to gain access to a temporary site in the north of Ireland to visit re- lations of their’s who were sick. They

were never able to stay in the bay for even one night and their name has been completely withdrawn from that but it is still causing problems for them,’ said Clare Traveller cam- paigner, Heather Rosen, on behalf of WeCom EROODEWTA

“Their home is in Clare, all of their family is from Clare and they have all lived in Clare for the vast major- ity of their life but still they cannot manage to get even a temporary place to stay.

‘In their present situation, the order banning them from the roadsides of

County Clare is effectively banning them from the county altogether. They don’t have anywhere else to Xone Contact has also been made with the Northern Irish Human Rights Commission in an attempt to bring a resolution to the current impasse.

Meanwhile, Clare County Council has spoken out about a number of re- ported incidents of antisocial behav- ior at the local authority’s halting site in Deerpark in Ennistymon.

“In recent weeks, a number of inci- dents have been reported in the vicin-

ity of the Deerpark Group Housing at St John’s estate. These incidents are a matter of concern to the council. These and any other reports will be investigated and followed up by the council, in line with our policies and procedures on estate management,’ said a spokesperson from Housing Social and Cultural Services at Clare County Council.

‘The council has had a number of contacts with the Deerpark Residents Association in recent weeks and the council has affirmed this commit- ment directly to the association.”

TO say that the weather was inclem- ent is the understatment of the hurl- ing year — this was a dog of an after- noon for hurling with wind and rain that made hurling a lottery. Harsh on both sides when you consider what was at stake.

But, even in the adversity of the weather and the prospect of relega- tion to the intermediate ranks that faced both, there was some humour to proceedings that will be talked about long after the result 1s forgot- coon

Tom Stackpool has issued plenty of yellow and red cards in his day, but

this was the day when the players struck back. When his yellow card flew out of hand and flew 30 yards on the wind, it was eventually picked up by Scariff’s Michael Moroney who raced towards Stackpool and lifted the yellow in mock fashion.

It lifted the gloom somewhat, for this was a depressing enough en- counter. Scariff could have lost it in the end because the force was most with Ogonnelloe in the end as they drew level with a Peter O’Brien 65 in the 58th minute.

However, had Scariff lost this one and endured the ignominy of relega- tion, it would have been totally self- inflicted. They hit 16 wides over the

hour to Ogonelloe’s seven — a statis- tic that tells its own story.

The rot set in the first-half when Scariff put 11 shots astray when playing with the breeze. It meant they had to be content with going in at the break only 0-4 to O-3 ahead. Three John McKenna frees had Ogonnel- loe in a great position with the wind to come, while Scariff’s pionts form Ross Horan (2), Michael Scanlan and the lead point from Kenny McNama- ra in the 25th minute barely seemed enough for the second-half.

However, the game’s complexion changed totally a minute after half- time when a low a cross-field pull from Kenny McNamara was added

to brilliantly by Alfie Rodgers for a Scariff goal.

It was the cushion the needed to butress themselves for the inevitable Ogonnelloe onslaught. Two pointed frees from Peter O’Brien by the 38th minute and a point from play by Eoin Sheedy in the 41st reduced the gap to a point, before Ross Horan put Scar- iff two clear once more in the 45th minute.

The last ten minutes belonged to Ogonnelloe as they knuckled down to try and save their the senior sta- tus they’ve enjoyed since 1995. They did that for one day at least thanks two more Peter O’Brien points that AN rer

In the end both were thankful to live another day.

WHEN parents, friends and past pupils visited St Joseph’s National School, Miltown Malbay on Thurs- day evening last they would have been forgiven for thinking they were in a new school.

Thanks to work carried out in the school during the summer holidays the west Clare national school got a complete make over.

The 122 children who now attend the school have comfortable class-

rooms, a larger play area and a more environmentally-friendly school.

Under the Department of Educa- tion’s Summer Works Scheme a to- tal new heating system with hot and cold running water was installed.

SU ieme OL MNeKRCO oh MinsrKeen and all new toilets installed.

New wheelchair accessible toilets and a wheelchair ramp were also installed, and there was a total re- furbishment of the learning support classroom.

There are now new floors through-

out the corridors and toilets, a com- plete repainting of the inside of the school has taken place, and a new concrete area added to the front of the school.

As well as the refurbishment of the office and the two resource teaching rooms, new and extra internet points were added to all the rooms.

The roof was also repaired and new solar panels added, making the school environmentally friendly.

The Milltown Malbay National School has five mainstream teachers,

one learning support, a SNA, one RTT, and one resource teacher.

On Thursday evening last, the Board of Management at the school held an open evening. During the evening the school was blessed by V Rev Séamus Mullin. Those attend- ing enjoyed music and refreshments AVEO MW DKOKS

NO-ONE needs to tell Whitegate how difficult it is to win an Inter- mediate championship. Thwarted in their two previous attempts in the latter stages of the competition since their relegation from senior in 2006, the added frustration of watching the eventual champions Clonlara and Broadford settle so well at the sen- ior grade made them even more de- termined to finally succeed this time around. It made Sunday’s victory all the sweeter, safe in the knowledge that they had finally regained their senior status.

“We are delighted,’ admitted man- ager Matthew Quirke. “It’s a very hard championship to win, there is no doubt about it. We came down from senior three years ago and we fought hard every year, but Broadford beat us last year and Killanena beat us the previous year so after being there or thereabouts in that time, it’s great to finally get up.”

Captain Patrick ‘Magoo’ Minogue echoed those sentiments of a long road to victory.

“When you drop down from senior, it’s very hard to regroup and get back going again. We found it very hard again this year and there was a big effort put in by the three lads and thankfully it paid off today.

“We have had three hard years now and have put a huge effort into winning this championship. Today. Feakle threw everything at us in the

first-half and we were fierce lucky to go in at half-time ahead, but thank- fully in the second-half, our big lads stood up, Brendan [Bugler] and Tho- mas [Holland] in the half-back line and luckily enough, we got there in the end.”

Similar to every team’s struggle for success, there is always a turning

point in the season, a nadir that forces a side to refocus their challenge and for Quirke, it was the reality check of their opening round defeat to En- nistymon.

“We have put in a huge effort this year. We got beaten in the first round by Ennistymon and that was definite- ly the turning point of the season for

us. It really shook up the players and the management. Up until that point, we though we were better than we were and it helped us to refocus. That is not to downgrade Ennistymon in any way but that defeat definitely turned us around.”

From that point on, Whitegate were a totally transformed side, achiev-

ing promotion to the top tier of the Clare Cup before storming through the remainder of the group stages of the championship. Further obstacles were put in their path when they were drawn in the same side as Eire Og and Killanena for the business end of the championship but while they were impressive against the Townies, they found Killanena a much bigger stumbling block.

“We were fierce lucky” explained Minogue, “especially in the semi-fi- nal against Killanena. In the last 15 minutes, we were staring defeat in the face but we got the breaks and came back and it was the same today. We got the breaks in the second-half and took them.”

The celebrations may have to be cut short in the village this week though as Whitegate’s Munster adventure begins against Tipperary champions Carrick Davins. Following on from Clooney/Quin, Clonlara and Broad- ford’s impressive runs in the com- petition, Minogue is optimistic that Whitegate can follow suit.

“We haven’t looked past today but hopefully now we can go on and represent Clare as well as the other teams over the last few years.”

Now that they have finally got the intermediate monkey off the backs, anything else will be a bonus.