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THE highlight of the past weeks greyhound racing was the win of ‘Knappogue Roy- al’ in the final of the Galway Hurling Board A4 stake at the Galway track on Friday night.

The dog had been a good servant to owner Martin McDermot of Kilrush, win- ning some valuable races over the summer months and collected a cheque of €2,000 on this occasion. ‘Larch- ill Wood’ owned by Ciara Donoghue of Ennis took his chance after coming in as a reserve in trap 2 to win ina

time of 29.32 on Thursday night.

The final of the A5 Stake takes place this week, and also looking forward to a stake final at the weekend will be a long time supporter of the game Tom Flanna- gan of Ennistymon. His dog ‘Mythical Flyer’ secured his spot in the final after dead heating for first place in race 3. Race 7 on Thursday night’s card went to ‘Aulton Nikiata’ owned by Pat Hog- an of Barefield, the winners time was 30.96 seconds for the 550 yards trip. Excite- ment also continues this coming weekend for Ennis

man Frankie Sheehan. His dogs ‘Sheehans Cottage’ and ‘Joint Cottage’ did enough in there respective races on Fri- day and Saturday night and are now in line to collect big prize money.

‘Baby Lleyton’ owned by Bertie and Mary O’Doherty of Ennis was Clare’s only winner at the College Road venue on Saturday night. This was the dogs first win housed in trap one, the win- ners time was 29.78 *Lisnac- ulla Dream’ owned by Gerry Lang of Ballyea and ‘Rex the Rocket’ will also be in the line up at the Loughrea Hurling Club A3 Stake Final

this coming weekend.

Seamus and Aidan Dug- gan of Ennis kept the Clare flag flying at Limerick on Thursday night, winning race 2 with ‘Plenty of early’ in a time of 29.56. The same partnership returned on Sat- urday night with ‘Castleweir’ to finish second in the Tote retention scheme. There is €10,000 to the winner here and the Ennis lads will be hoping to maintain they’re interest over the coming weeks. Sixty dogs went to traps for the first round heats on Saturday night.

AN ENNIS man who 1s alleged to have threatened he would ‘get’ a garda when he was off-duty, has had public order charges against him dismissed.

David Gormley (19), with an ad- dress at Maiville, Kilrush road, En- nis, was charged with the offences in Ennis on March 17 of this year.

Garda Stephen Hession _ told Kildysart court that the accused was shouting at Parnell Street, at 10pm on the night 1n question.

“He appeared to be intoxicated and was very aggressive,’ said Gda Hession.

The court was told that he refused to give the garda his address and when asked for it, said, “Why the *** do | have to give you my ad- dress. I’1] get you when your hat and ID is off”.

When asked to leave the area, the accused started making threats at the garda, the court heard. “As he was walking through the Market area, he kept shouting and making threats at me. He said ‘I’ll get you

without the hat’’, said Gda Hes- sion.

Defending solicitor John Casey said his client was going home, along the Kilrush Road, as he had been ordered to do, but the garda continued to follow him and this frustrated the defendant. “He will admit he told you to f*** off. He was going home if you would leave him to go home,” said the solicitor.

But the garda said the accused

made “numerous, very specific threats” to get him while he was Oe RrelIAs

Mr Gormley told the court that the garda called him “a little sh**” and he gave a bit of abuse back. He admitted saying he would have “no problem finding” the garda any time. ‘He was telling me to go home but he wouldn’t let me go home,” said the accused.

Mr Casey said there was some doubt about what happened and said the onus was on the State to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Judge Joseph Mangan dismissed the charges against Mr Gormley.

OFFICIAL figures for one- off houses have been con- sistently over-estimated, according to a rural rights campaigner.

Prof Seamus Caulfield of the Irish Rural Dwellers As- sociation said that while 49 per cent of Clare’s popula- tion currently lived in the Open countryside, an aver- age of only 38 per cent of the planning permissions granted over the past year had been for one-off rural houses.

CSO figures had wrongly and consistently overstated the number of one-off hous- es by including houses in the

back gardens of Dublin city and all other cities and towns as one-off houses, for statis- tical purposes, he claimed.

Echoing Prof Caulfield, Independent MEP Marian Harkin said that planning decisions in Clare did not reflect the rural population of the county, or the need to preserve viable population in the rural areas.

She said it was essential to preserve the balance be- tween urban and rural popu- ETH Toyatce

“Tt is a major scandal that the people who have the greatest input into produc- ing our planning laws, have not even known the correct

statistics of the number and type of houses being built in the country,” she said.

Despite this, planning reg- ulations and guidelines had been produced, which were geared to restricting the preservation of viable rural population and pressuring people to live in towns and villages, she said.

“Recent CSO figures have revealed that for the first quarter of 2005, a higher percentage of plan- ning permissions for one-off houses were granted in the Dun Laoire/Rathdown area of Dublin city than in the whole of County Clare – a patently ludicrous situation”, said MEP Harkin.

Ms Harkin said that a sub- stantial campaign sustained by some national media and “influencers” had led to the creation and maintenance of a prejudice against grant- ing planning permission for one-off houses, in every county of Ireland including ETc

“This situation must be changed by insisting on the creation of an accurate ba- sis for housing statistics and analysis produced by the CSO and the Economic and Social Research Institute, so that planning regulations and planning decision are in future based on facts rather than the present fantasy,’ she said.

ENNIS’ Tricia Mangan will be the key figure on the Irish ladies golf team on their history-making mission in Dundalk this week as they attempt to win the Home Internationals for the third consecutive year.

Irish champion Mangan, who is in the form of her life and currently ranked number nine in Europe, 1s joined on the eight woman Irish team by Shannon’s Heather Nolan.

Ireland have not won on home soil since 1907, but with an ever improving side, the Irish are quietly con- fident of lifting the trophy for a third time following wins at Cruden Bay in 2003 and Royal Porthcawl in Auer

“We were very happy with our practice over this ex- cellent parkland course last week” commented team captain Sheena O’Brien-Kenney.

“We know our opposition will be stronger than ever this year but we’re most excited to have the opportu- nity to challenge for an unprecedented three-in-a-row. A good team morale added to the expected healthy home support will help tip the balance in our favour”

she added.

England look most likely to upset Ireland’s plans and hope to avenge last year’s first day defeat by Ireland which saw them finish the tournament tied second BLAS E: Doh

THE Shannon Airport Authority and the Department of Transport have declined to make any comment about the suspension of a member of the airport’s Police Fire and Rescue Service, following an incident dur- ing arecent security audit at the air- sour

Sources have confirmed that the suspension is not related to the much publicised security breach at Shannon last May, when an inspec- tor from the Transport Department managed to carry a Swiss Army knife undetected through the main passenger security check.

The airport police officer at the centre of that incident has not been reprimanded.

Well-informed airport sources have confirmed that one of the two inspectors who carried out last May’s audit, and who is a regular visitor to Shannon, recently observed an

airport police officer conducting a search of a trolley used by a contract cleaning company at the airport.

The search was carried out prior to the contract worker and the trol- ley, which contained cleaning mate- rials and towels, being allowed enter a secure area.

It 1s understood that the inspec- tor was not happy with the search, as She observed it. As a result, the of- ficer has been suspended from duty.

An airport source said, “really, the officer was suspended for something which did not happen, but should have, as opposed to something which did happen. It is not related to any breach of security as such. He just didn’t search the trolley prop- erly. Nothing was found in the trol- ley in fairness, but we all have to be careful.”

In a statement, the Shannon Air- port Authority stated, “the Author- ity does not comment on specifics of security matters at the Airport, nor

on internal disciplinary matters.

“We continue to treat all aspects of security at Shannon Airport with the utmost seriousness.”

A Department for ‘Transport spokesperson said, “It is entirely a matter for the Shannon Airport Au- thority. We would have no comment to make on such matters.”

Meanwhile, it has emerged that at least one airport police officer has been asked by management to ex- plain how a well-known Mid-West- based anti-war activist managed to drive undetected through a security post on the main road leading to the airport, before he was observed in the vicinity of the terminal build- ing.

The activist, who is well known to gardai and airport police officers, is understood to have driven through the checkpoint on several occa- sions in recent weeks without being stopped or recognised.

THE Tanaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney will launch a €1.6 million one-stop-shop for children with disabilities, in En- eh

Minister Harney will officially open the newly refurbished Teach Boru on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Hospital, on Friday. Teach Boru has been equipped with state-of- the-art facilities to help identify and support children with special needs. The one-stop-shop service is doing away with the practice of

multiple appointments in count- less locations for children with disabilities and their families.

‘In the past, parents who were concerned about their child’s de- velopment have been left to run round a variety of services, both state and voluntary, in a number of different locations. Follow- ing national and international research and consultation with parents and professionals, we decided on a one-stop-shop ap- proach to provide a seamless service for children from birth to six years,’ said Margaret Galvin,

Project Manager of the Regional SBD Ae) yelolmeoascocmeeUl the professionals now see a child at the same time, in the same room, in Teach Boru. The team also operates an outreach service in Kilrush.

Six early intervention teams will provide services for children from birth to six with develop- mental delay. These will include clinical psychologists, occupa- tional therapists, early interven- tion specialists, physiotherapists and speech and language thera- pists.

THE Chairman of the Clare County Board said it was an “an easy decision to appoint Michael Brenann and Donie Buckley” as joint managers of the Clare Senior Footabllers.

The decision was ratified at a meeting of the Clare County Board on Wednesday night. Their names were put forward after a seven man committee had spent the last month deliberating over who should suc- ceed John Kennedy. Noel Welsh, who seconded the appointment af- ter Robert frost had proposed the motion, said Michael Brennan de- served to be viewed in “the same category as John Maughan”. Both

men currently reside within the county and have previously worked together at NUIG. Michael Bren- nan, a retired army officer, is an ex- Galway footballer who featured in the 1983 All-Ireland final against Dublin. Originally from Kerry, Donie Buckley has been closely in- volved with Clare football for the past 15 years.

He has enjoyed good success as a manager winning county cham- pionships with Miltown Malbay in 1990 and the Faughs in 1994. He also guided Eire Og to an interme- diate championship in 1995. The decision brings to an end weeks of speculation about who was going to be in the Clare hotseat for next term. Ever since Clare’s defeat to

Sligo in the All-Ireland qualifying Series, it had been unclear whether John Kennedy was going to remain in the job. Kennedy stepped down last week, and is now being heavily linked with the vacant managers position in Limerick.

Michael McDonagh paid _trib- ute to Kennedy for his service to Clare football over the past three years. “He was a gentleman from the top of his head to his toes and along with his fellow selectors, we were very lucky to have men who were sO committed to Clare foot- ball”. His sentiments were echoed by John Keane who said that John Kennedy had “made history with Clare by lifting the Tommy Mur- phy Cup in Croke Park”.

RESIDENTS in East Clare have expressed their anger over the dangerous condi- tion of the Athlunkard Road, through Clonlara.

Around 50 local residents carrying placards attended a protest at Clancy’s Cross in

Clonlara, on Monday morn- ing, to highlight what they said was the road’s treacher- ous condition.

The road is to be re-sur- faced following six months of construction work. Last Autumn, Clare Civil Engi- neering commenced work on the laying of pipes for water

mains. Work was expected to be completed by May. But the road has yet to be completely resurfaced.

Locals claim that the road has been made extremely hazardous for pedestrians. According to one resident, cars are forced to drive in the middle of the road in order to avoid potholes.

The poor driving condi- tions have also resulted in a number of accidents and damage to cars, they said. In one instance over €800 worth of damage was done to a car.

Locals also complained that traffic lights were placed at inconvenient positions dur- ing the construction process, and that they were treated in a discourteous manner. The job of resurfacing the road was left out when the original contract for the project was drawn up, and has only come up for tender this summer.

“We wanted to show our solidarity with the residents of East Clare on this issue,” said Cllr Cathal Crowe who attended the protest along with fellow councillors John McInerney, Pascal Fitzgerald and Pat Breen TD and John O’Sullivan TD Limerick East

PLANS to build the long-delayed €25m sewage plant at Clareabbey, Ennis, have taken a major step for- ward, it was confirmed this week.

A developer has dropped a series of objections against Compulsory Purchase Orders for the plant, made by Clare County Council.

The new plant will replace the creaking system already serving Ennis’s fast-increasing population and help reduce pollution into the River Fergus. It will cater for a pop- ulation of 50,000.

Earlier this year, the bid to de-

velop the sewage treatment plant was Stalled after the Killaloe Di- ocesan Trust and local landowner, Peter Anthony Liddy objected to the CPO in its current form going ahead.

The Trust subsequently sold 35 acres of land to a property devel- oper for €8.5 million and the de- veloper took on the objection.

The objections lodged resulted in An Bord Pleanala calling an oral hearing into the case held on Tues- day, September 6. However, County Engineer Tom Carey confirmed this week that the two objections were withdrawn at the oral hearing.

Mr Carey said that it was hoped that work would proceed on the new system next year. Currently, the contract documents are with the Department of the Environment and the Council is awaiting their go-ahead to proceed.

With the 35 acres of land being sold for €8.5 million, it is expected to cost the Council over €2 million to compulsorily acquire the lands.

The Environmental Impact State- ment (EIS) into the scheme was published at the end of 2002 and planning permission was secured for the proposal last year.

The EIS states that a ‘do noth-

ing’ option in relation to the current sewage works “is not viable” and “the existing problems will be ex- acerbated over the next few years as increasing demands are put on the drainage system and treated plants due to expanded environment”.

The EIS also point out that the failure to put in place the proposed new water treatment plant will re- sult in the Council contravening the EU Council Directive concering waste-water treatment.

In his objection, Peter Anthony Liddy described the Council’s CPO as “ill-conceived, uninformed and Ure ALN koe

THERE was no playing politics with the Clare County Council Play Pol- cy when it came before the members of the council yesterday.

Supporting the policy, the council- lors present suggested that the play- ground plan could reduce a prevalent ‘“yob culture’ and prevent anti-social behaviour in the future.

The plan includes a long awaited and much welcomed Skateboard Park for the town of Ennis.

The county council plans to apply to the Department of the Environ- ment for funding for the Skateboard Park in the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Facility, in Ennis.

A representative group of parents of skateboarders must in the interim develop a safe solution as part of the application.

The play policy, which was pre- sented to the council by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), also states funds of up to €2 million should be provided for playgrounds over the next four years.

Some €300,000 of the annual budget will go towards a playground in each of the electoral areas, while

the remaining €200,000 will ensure playgrounds for areas in need.

The new policy also proposes that in residential developments of more

than six houses, developers should be required to make provision for a hard surface play area and for active recreation.

This met with some concern from the County Manager, who said that the burden of this section of the poli- cy “might just be a little to high.”

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) was adamant however, that the funding should be found and the policy in its entirety, implemented. She said the council had shied away from such a policy for too long.

The Shannon councillor said that anti-social behaviour was getting worse. Early intervention with such facilities would help prevent a “yob culture”.

‘We have to go for it and hope we meet our aspirations,” she said.

Meanwhile, the council is to apply for funding through a department playground grant scheme.

Should this funding become avail- able the council considers Bally- vaughan and Kildysart play ground committees in a position to respond immediately to the funding. If these two communities are not in a position to draw down the possible funding, it will go to Lisdoonvarna, in the case of Ballyvaughan being unable to ac- cept, and Sixmilebridge, if Kildysart is not in a position to avail of it.