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Fleadh decision set for Saturday

WHO will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013 is no longer a two-horse race, with Derry back in the running alongside Ennis and Sligo.Hopes that Ennis would become the host town for the prestigious competition were given a lift when the Ulster council of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann decided to reject Derry’s bid. However, at a meeting of the Ulster council on Tuesday evening, the decision not to endorse Derry’s bid was reversed. The Derry branch of Comhaltas had appealed against the decision of the organisation’s Ulster Council not to put the city forward as host. Saturday marks the decision day for which bid will come out on top and be named the host town, with the Ennis group optimistic that the Fleadh will be brought back to the Banner.Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann delegates from across the country will gather in Dublin on Saturday for the secret ballot vote to decide on where Fleadh 2013 will go.Ennis lost out on its bid …

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Over 100 submissions received

OVER 100 written submission were received from the public and organisations as part of the public consultation process for the new €100million Northern Relief Road, Clare County Council has revealed.Senior engineer Tom Tiernan stressed any further submissions will be considered in detail concerning the emerged preferred route.Mr Tiernan reiterated the process facilitating selection of the Preferred Route Corridor for the project and further stages of its development is clearly set out through regulation and is designed to facilitate public consultation in an open and transparent manner.  He explained that extensive research, survey work, investigations and so on were carried out by consultants throughout the Constraints Study Area and the information gathered in association with submissions received from the general public in 2010 led to the publication of a number of feasible route options in June 2011. At that time, a public consultation event was held in the Greenhills Hotel, Limerick and this was followed by a four-week public consultation period.“Throughout …

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Three Doolin Pier options for consideration

THREE different options for the controversial development of Doolin Pier, costing an estimated €5 million, were presented to interested parties at a public consultation meeting on Wednesday last.Clare County Council had obtained planning permission for the construction of the long-awaited new Doolin Pier about 75m to the west of the existing pier under the Part 8 process.However, this was challenged by objectors who successfully argued the proposed development should have been accompanied by an environmental impact statement (EIS).The council is also considering the proposed extension of the existing pier or the possible construction of a new pier to the north of the existing one.Plans for the new pier have proven to be very divisive in the past and prompted a huge number of objections during the statutory planning process from a number of surfing organisations.However, the need for a new pier was also staunchly supported by several local organisations and local residents, who have expressed concern about the delay in …

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Institutes discuss new technological university

SOUTH Galway third-level students could have the option of attending a new technological university within the next few years if an innovative educational proposal gets the green light.Five institutes of technology in the Border, Midlands and West (BMW) Regions are at an advanced stage in discussions regarding the establishment of a technological university.Pending Government approval, a Border Midlands West Technological University (BMW TU) would create the largest higher education institution in the State with 27,000 students.A steering group comprising the presidents and senior staff of Athlone, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny and Sligo Institutes of Technology is directing the negotiations.AIT president, Professor Ciarán O’Catháin, said the institutes were looking to create a differentiated institution, one that will be known for the excellence of its teaching and learning and for its close collaboration with industry. “Such a technological university will be much more than the sum of its parts, it will be a powerful agent of change in higher education for all the …

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Young gymnast makes Irish squad

  THE sporting career of teenager Jane Taylor is moving forward in leaps and bounds after the young gymnast was selected for the Junior Irish National Gymnastics squad.The 14-year-old is the first from the Ennis Gymnastic Club to qualify for the national team. Jane, who trains 16 hours a week, said, “I’m delighted to have made the team. Gymnastics is a great sport and I’ve been involved with it since I was eight. It all started when I was doing cartwheels around the house. As part of the national squad I will have to go to Dublin four or five times a year for training and I expect there will be some big competitions after that. Gymnastics is a great all-round sport and I’ve made some great friends through it.”Jane, a student of Coláiste Muire, made the team following her performance at the National Team Championships. She is now set to compete in the Celtic Cup in Dublin, where Ennis …

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Acupuncture clinic helps fertility problems

A GALWAY woman who experienced great difficulty conceiving a second child has used her own personal experience to open a dedicated fertility medical acupuncture clinic in Oranmore.Brenda Aylmer didn’t have any major difficulty getting pregnant for her first child, who is now six years of age, but found herself unexpectedly among 60% of couples who experience difficulties conceiving again, despite having one or two more children.Brenda recalls she went through an extremely difficult period when she realised it wasn’t going to be plain sailing second time round.“It was a shock to the system and it took a while to come to terms with. We had no problems with the first and when you have one child and you see the joy that it brings, you want a second one. This presented its own challenges when difficulties emerged having spent about two and a half years trying to get pregnant.“Mentally, it was a very tough, frustrating and challenging time. You need …

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Finding homes in Tulla for preloved goods and animals

SECOND Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) have recently opened a second-hand shop in Tulla to help raise funds for the charity so that it can continue to rescue animals and find good homes for them. SCAR rescues all manner of animals and was responsible for rescuing and finding a home for a lame fox found in the Tulla area last year after she was turned in to the local veterinary office. The animal was dubbed Ms Erica Fox and was taken in and cared for by a family in County Limerick who had two other pet foxes. Frances Murphy runs SCAR currently and explains how the opening of this shop and others in the county will help them not only to continue their service but also help employ people. “Our donations are down and these second-hand shops are the way to go. Limerick animal welfare currently has three. We have two in Shannon and it is our intention to open one …

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Roads project could bridge €63m investment

Providing a new Shannon crossing and associated link roads in Killaloe and Ballina could “bridge” a total investment of €63 million, a local Minister of State has claimed.Minister for Public Transport and Commuter Affairs, Alan Kelly estimates the construction of a new bridge linking Ballina and Killaloe, a Killaloe Bypass and upgrading of the Ballina to Birdhill regional road costing over €40.6m could deliver an overall €63m boost to the local economy, between construction and the savings on journey times.Minister Kelly made the claim after Transport Minister Leo Varadkar approved the allocation of €500,000 to Clare County Council allowing the River Shannon Crossing Project to be brought forward to An Bord Pleanála for consideration.Minister Varadkar approved the publication of the Statutory Orders by Clare County Council for the construction of the Killaloe Bypass (€11.93m), the Shannon Bridge Crossing (€12m), Killaloe Bypass (€11.93m) and upgrading works costing €16.6m on the existing regional road linking Ballina and Birdhill last July.“This will progress …

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