The curtain comes down on another coursing season, with a number of Clare challengers for both the JP McManus Irish Cup and a very competitive Select All-Age Bitch Stake at the Limerick Racecourse at Greenmount, Patrickswell, this coming weekend.The meeting will mark the end of the racing career of four-time cup winner, Windfarm Eiscir, who will be among the challengers for the Irish Cup and his connections, owner Clare Eustace, Ennis and trainer Pat Curtin, are hoping that he will bow out in style. A qualifier for the Champion Stakes last year and unlucky not to make the eight qualifiers this season, Windfarm Eiscir can beat the best on his day. From his base at Monard Stud, trainer Pat Curtin reports the fawn son of Bexhill Eoin-Windfarm Lady in fine form for his opening round clash with the Gerry Holian-trained Star Chaser in the first quarter. Should he get through, Windfarm Eiscir could have a second-round date with this year’s …

ENNIS Chamber and Ennis Development Forum are to facilitate a meeting for interested parties to outline the appeals process after developers behind the controversial €30million retail development lodged an appeal to the planning refusal with An Bord Pleanála.

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Clare owners landed as total of 10 races over two nights at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium last weekend.Cooraclare owner, Tommie Gallagher came close to bringing off the feature race on Friday night when his Good Slick was beaten by a short head. This was an A3 550 final in which Outback Kirsty, in trap five, and Springwell Mandy, in four, disputed the advantage on the long run to the opening bend, where Good Slick, in trap one, and Comeonthebanner both made ground on either side of the leaders. Good Slick and Springwell Mandy led Comeonthebanner by a length as they headed down the back but the locally owned Comeonthebanner made ground rounding the second-last bend to lead by a length turning for home. Off the bend though, the son of Head Bound and Maroochydore swung wide but held out to beat Good Slick in 30.91.The concluding three 550 yard contests were semi-finals of an A5 mini stake and the …

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Editorial

EMOTIONALLY charged images of a woman in deep pain being denied permission to attend her own father’s funeral and Syrian protestors coming under fire from Israeli troops all form part of Keith Walsh and Jill Beardsworth’s new documentary Apples of the Golan.