ORGANISATIONS opposing the proposed 456-hectare deep-sea fish farm off the North Clare coast have this week countered claims made by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the body behind the project.

THERE are currently 40 unfinished housing estates in Ennis, with the local authority demanding developers “step up to the plate” while insisting it is “not acceptable” to walk away.

THE West Clare Development Co-operative Society Ltd will look for tenders next week for the construction of a multi-use building in Carrigaholt. Planning permission has already been obtained and the site is in the square, looking across at the village pier. It is located within 10 feet of the water, when the tide is in.

HUNDREDS of Clare primary school pupils will receive fire safety awareness lessons during the coming months under a programme being administered by Clare County Fire and Rescue Service.

  LAST Sunday’s County Clare Hunt point-to-point meeting attracted a good crowd to the well-appointed lands of Dermot and Jennifer Linnane at Belharbour, where Newmarket-on-Fergus trainer/rider James Conheady struck gold when guiding Cnoc Na Gcon, owned by his father Michael, to victory in the confined maiden. A market drifter from 6/1 out to 10/1, Cnoc Na Gcon, who had finished second to subsequent dual winner Imjoeking in this event 12 months earlier, edged to the front on the downhill run to the final and found plenty when required to beat the Derek O’Connor-ridden runner-up Manor Court by a length. A delighted Conheady junior outlined, “We felt this horse was unlucky in this race 12 months ago and it was always our intention to come back this year and try to win it. He’s a good, tough horse and kept on well today when he had to. We’ll probably go for a winners’ race somewhere with him now.” There was also …

The North Munster Schools Cross Country Championships were held in very cold and damp weather conditions at the Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry, Limerick. Clare athletes dominated all eight races, delivering outstanding individual performances, with five winning gold.

Killaloe trainer, Michael Downes notched an impressive double at Galway on Saturday night where Dick’s Worldbound left rivals in a spin in the feature contest on the card, the concluding A0-graded 550.

Bumper crowds and excellent coursing over the three days but yet Clonmel ended in an anti climax as Thomas the Tank took the Boylesports.com Derby glory without having to raise a gallop in the final.