Bunratty/Cratloe B  3Lifford B                      0BUNRATTY-Cratloe B took the lead through a Conor Earley goal after 25 minutes, which separated the sides at half-time.

A DOCUMENT that brings together figures on everything from the ratio of men to women in the region to vacant houses, migration, unemployment, education levels, social housing, population growth, fields of employment and quality of life will be launched this week.According to the Mid-West Regional Authority (MWRA), the group behind the Mid-West Regional Profile 2012, the report will encourage investment by local and international companies in the region. The report is the first of its kind undertaken by an Irish regional authority and will form the basis for determining plans and policies for the future of the region, the MWRA claims.Among the profile’s findings is a need to “improve competitiveness and cost-efficiency for alternative transport infrastructure (rail and bus)”. It also highlights a requirement to sustainably increase the population in the Mid-West and to retain its educated population.The report recommends that the Lynx cargo facility be developed at Shannon if “it is to remain a commercially viable entity and a …

THE Old Ground Hotel struck gold at the Shelbourne Hotel on Tuesday evening when Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar presented them with a CIE Tours Award for Best Hotel Service, as voted for by the most important VIPs – their guests.Held annually by CIE Tours International, the awards of excellence are now in their 22nd year of recognising excellence in all areas of tourism. The winners of CIE Awards of Excellence 2011 were chosen from an independent evaluation of questionnaires completed by CIE Tours International Coach Tours customers.A firm favourite with CIE Tours guests, the four-star Old Ground Hotel’s special award for Best Hotel Service is given on the basis of excellence in all areas of service, including housekeeping, waiting staff, reception team and bar staff.The Old Ground Hotel’s owner Allen Flynn is delighted with the accolade. He said, “Awards are always an absolute pleasure to receive but the fact that this award has been won on the basis of …

Avenue United  2Southend            1AVENUE United came from behind to overcome the challenge of Southend from Waterford in the quarter-final of the Munster Youths Cup at Doora on Saturday.

CLARE County Council does not have full title for lands it has agreed to lease to Clare Camogie Board, it has been revealed this week.At the end of 2011, the council agreed a 99-year lease with the camogie board for a pitch for a designated county grounds at the former landfill site in Doora, on the outskirts of Ennis. However, it has since emerged that a portion of that land is not vested in the local authority’s name.Despite this, Clare camogie officials remain confident they will have use of their new pitch this year and plans are advancing towards an official opening in October.When the Doora landfill site was closed a number of years ago, it was decided to develop a number of playing pitches. Now it appears the council had facilitated waste disposal for decades on lands for which it did not have full title.Asked about the transfer of the pitch to Clare Camogie Board, the council said its …

There was a fine turnout of Clare athletes at the Munster juvenile U-9 to U-19 relays, plus the girls’ and boys’ U-12 to U-19 multi-events, which were held in Nenagh Indoor Arena.

THREE Clare County Councillors this week proposed the council initiate a scheme in which it would co-operate in providing finger signs to name local roads.Councillor PJ Kelly, Bill Chambers and Tom McNamara all gave their backing to the proposal. Introducing it, Councillor Kelly said putting numbers on roads without place name signs was “just bizarre” and he said people were being confused.He said not allowing villages on secondary roads to have signs amounted to “discrimination”, while he claimed people visiting Ireland “love the musical names”.The Lissycasey man said the NRA were not being asked to pay for the works but the motion only wanted the council to provide assistance to communities.Councillor McNamara said what was being proposed was local community would work with the local authority to ensure areas can be identified easily. He was critical of the NRA. “The NRA is dictating what we should and shouldn’t do and we can’t promote tourism in beauty spots.”However, Green Party Councillor …

The finals of the Clare boys, youths and ladies (15-17 years) were staged in Ennis last week and while only six finals were contested, a strong county contingent will travel to Nenagh this weekend to contest the Munster championships.