The Ireland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday has been named and coach Declan Kidney has opted for an unchanged lineup.

Declan Kidney had a full strength squad to choose from having put his big match preparations against the French on ice following the late postponement of the Stade de France encounter.

]]> 1.3549653 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:02:21 +0000 http://www.offalyexpress.ie/faithful_flavour_for_local_producers_at_taste_of_offaly_1_3549578

local artisan food producers will be showcasing their wares on home turf next weekend when they participate in A Taste of Offaly at the Tullamore Court Hotel.

Commencing at 12 noon next Sunday February 26 and running all afternoon the event is an opportunity for food producers to test new flavours and products.

Among the local participants will be Ralph Haslam of Mossfield Cheese, Ballybryan Bronze free range turkeys, Derryvilla Blueberry Farm, Slievebloom Farmhouse Foods (which incorporates the only cranberry farm in Ireland), the award-winning O’Donohue’s Bakery from Tullamore, Ballyshiel Chocolate spreads from Ferbane, organic vegetables from Lough Boora farm, organic oats from Ballard Farm in Kilbeggan, beef and lamb from Deverells Farm Factory Direct, home baked goods from Annaharvey farm and Tyrrells, along with delicious sausages from Pigs on the Green and Tullamore Meats.

Local chef Yvonne Carty of Hey Pesto will also be using ingredients from the area during her cookery demonstrations over the course of the afternoon whle anyone who likes Thai food will welcome the cookery demonstrations during the afternoon by chef Numb of Bang Thai in Loughrey’s of High Street.

A Taste of Offaly will feature over 40 exhibits ranging from gourmet jams to cheese, various types of bread to granola, handmade sausages and fine wines, hand made paper products, crafts and it is truly is a celebration of all things local. The event is co-ordinated by Midlands 103 with the assistance of Offaly Local Development Group and sponsored by JA Lumley & Son Ltd. On the day there will also be cookery demonstrations, sampling opportunities and a chance to try out all the goods before purchasing.

]]> 1.3549578 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:25:25 +0000 http://www.offalyexpress.ie/offaly_gaa_fixtures_weekending_february_25_26_1_3549553

This week’s Offaly GAA Fixtures and results which includes a mouthwatering double header of Leinster Colleges SF A Championship semi-finals in Navan

FIXTURES

Friday

Division 3 Hurling League

Ballycumber: Brosna Gales v Edenderry S Fleming 8pm

Saturday

Leinster Colleges SFC A Semi-finals

Navan: Moate CS v Colaiste Eoin 1pm

Navan: St Mary’s Edenderry v Dundalk Colleges 2.45pm

(First named team at home. All games 3pm)

Division 1 FL

Edenderry v Clara M Carty

Division 1 HL

Doon: Brosna Gaels v Carraig/R/Town B Gavin

Division 2 HL

Birr v Killeigh T Carroll; Coolderry v Ballyskenagh S Whelehan; Killavilla v Killurin D McLoughlin; Shinrone v Crinkle M Walsh; St Rynaghs v Kinnitty P Freeman

Division 3 HL

Seir Kieran v Drumcullen J P Costello; Raheen v Shamrocks N Cooney; Ballinamere v Tullamore C Groome

Sunday

(First named team at home. All games 12pm)

Division 1 HL

Kinnitty v Kilcormac/K D Cooke; Shamrocks v Shinrone N Cooney; Lusmagh v Seir Kieran M Kirwan; Belmont v Birr A Ryan; Tullamore v Ballinamere N Flynn

Division 2 HL

Clara v Drumcullen M Mahon

Division 3 HL

Mountbolus: Kilcormac/K v Coolderry G Connors; Ballycumber: Brosna Gales v Edenderry S Fleming

RESULTS

Division 1 FL

Walsh Island 4-12 Ballycumber 1-8; Ferbane 1-7 Erin Rovers 1-7; Rhode 0-11 Raheen 1-4; St Brigids 3-11 Shamrocks 0-5; Tullamore 2-8 Tubber 1-9

Division 1 HL

Shinrone 2-11 Carrig & Riverstown 0-7

Division 2 FL

St Rynaghs 4-12 Ballycumber 0-11; Ballyfore 2-7 Bracknagh 2-6; Doon 1-11 Durrow 2-6; Gracefield 1-10 Kilclonfert 0-4

Division 3 FL

Cappincur 6-17 Ballinagar 1-10; Tullamore 1-10 Edenderry 1-8; Ballycommon 0-10 Tubber 0-10; Gracefield 1-7 Killiegh 0-5; Clara 4-15 Rhode 0-2

Division 3 HL

Kilcormac / Killoughey 2-15 Drumcullen 2-7

Minor Football League Round 1

St Broughans 3-13 Ballycumber 0-4; Edenderry 3-20 Gracefield 4-8; Na Fianna 4-17 Rhode Og 1-2; Tullamore 2-12 St Vincents 0-12

A|wear will continue to trade as normal in its store in Tullamore following its acquisition by a group of international investors, headed by British businessman Michael Flacks of Flacks Group.

Jim Luby of McStay Luby was appointed as Receiver to A|wear by previous owners Hilco and reached agreement with the international group of investors to sell the business.

The transaction will protect the jobs of the four employees in the Tullamore store.

There are 460 full and part-time staff in the 32 A|wear stores in the Republic of Ireland.

The deal secures the long term viability of the A|wear business and ensures that shoppers in Offaly can continue to enjoy the A|wear product offering.

Michael Flacks, President and CEO of Flacks Group said, “This acquisition is a very positive development for A|wear, its employees and customers. I have been highly impressed by the strength of the A|wear brand, its excellent standing as a leading fashion retailer in this market and its potential for future growth. My colleagues and I are here to develop and grow this business, not shrink it. A|wear has been operating in a challenging trading environment and needs investment and a new strategic direction.

“We see excellent potential to work with homegrown Irish designers, to develop the online side of the business and to grow the A|wear brand internationally. We have a strong team and significant financial support from our new ownership structure, which also brings with it vast international retail expertise and experience. We look forward to working with the management team and staff at A|wear and its suppliers – we have a common goal and look forward to delivering on the potential that lies ahead.”

St Mary’s of Edenderry secured the final place in the semi-final line up of the Leinster Colleges ‘A’ championship when they overcame Athlone Community College by a comfortable eight point margin at Páirc Chiaráin in Athlone on Friday afternoon.

Athlone CC 1-5

St Marys, Edenderry 1-13

They now advance to meet Dundalk Colleges at the semi final stage of the competition, with both sides hoping to progress to a final where either Coláiste Eoin of Dublin or Moate Community School will be the opposition.

After a strong performance in the North Leinster League and some very good displays in their early championship outings against the Marist of Athlone and Ardscoil na Tríonaide of Athy, Edenderry were well fancied to clear this hurdle of the competition. However they made very hard work of matters, particularly in the early stages of this game.

See this week’s Offaly Express for full report

The 2011 Offaly GAA Senior Footballer of the Year Richie Dalton picked up another award last weekend when he was chosen as Edenderry GAA Club Senior Footballer of the Year.

The Edenderry captain was a key factor in The Reds return to the top kicking vital points in the final as his side overcame Clara. He is currently recovering from injury and his presence is being greatly missed at inter-county level.

A double award winner on the night was another Offaly panelist who has missed time this year through injury. David Hanlon was chosen as the U-21 Footballer of the Year and he also brought home the award for Junior Hurler of the Year.

The Awards night was held in the Hamlet Hotel in Johnstown and with over 250 attending, a great night was had by all. The club would like to thank John O’Neill and all the staff at the Hamlet as well as everyone who supported the club by attending.

The award recipients on the night were:

Minor ladies Player of the Year: Aisling O’Connor

Minor Player of the Year: Sean Doyle

U-21 Player of the Year: David Hanlon

Junior footballer of the Year: John Gorman

Junior hurler of the Year: David Hanlon

Senior ladies player of the Year: Aoife O’Neill

Senior player of the Year: Richie Dalton

Club Person of the Year: Pat Cullen

Supporter of the Year: Noel Guing

Hall of Fame: Liam Moran

See this week’s Offaly Express (February 22) for extensive photographic coverage

See this week’s Offaly Express for your full page poster which is part of 7 pages of dedicated coverage.

Ulstr Bank All Ireland Junior Cup Final stats

Tries

Tullamore: 0

Monivea: 0

Penalties Scored

Tullamore: 0

Monivea: 1

Drop Goals

Tullamore: 3 (Colin Draper, Aaron Deverell, David Clavin)

Monivea: 0

Penalties Awarded

Tullamore: 8

Monivea: 8

Line-outs

Tullamore: 11

Monivea: 10

Own line-outs lost

Tullamore: 2

Monivea: 0

Scrums Awarded

Tullamore: 14

Monivea: 15

Sin Binnings

Tullamore: 1

Monivea: 1

(Small margin for error)

Tullamore became the first team to win multiple All Ireland Junior Cup titles when they overcame Monivea in the final in Dubarry Park last Saturday.

It was Tullamore’s third appearance in the final since 2008 and it was their second win having overcome Navan in the final in 2009 on the same ground.

This win however was secured in somewhat unconventional fashion as three drop goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second-half from three different players proved the difference as Tullamore held on for a deserved 9-3 win that should have been more comfortable given the raft of try scoring opportunities they created.

For Monivea it was their second consecutive defeat in the final having lost out to Crosshaven in the 2011 decider.

While Tullamore celebrated their win on Saturday night, they did so knowing that for them the season is far from over.

This weekend their attention returns to the Leinster League where they are currently in second place, five points adrift of Skerries with two gam s remaining.

They travel to third place Enniscorthy who and they must win and get a bonus point if they are going to put pressure on Skerries for the last day of the season.

Skerries play Coolmine in a North County Dublin derby and their last match is at home against Garda who may be fighting for their survival in this competitive league. Tullamore finish their campaign in Spollenstown against Coolmine.

Tullamore have some injury concerns following last week’s hard hitting cup final with hooker Cian Glennon the biggest doubt.

While three drop goals were enough to win the Cup Final last weekend, Tullamore need tries in their coming games and either Coolmine or Garda to do them a favour if they are to finally claim the Leinster League title to put with their cup crowns

See Pages 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 50 of this week’s for extensive and unmatched coverage of Tullamore ‘s win in the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup Final

SINGER Brendan Keeley is looking forward to the next stage of ‘The Voice of Ireland’ as he took another step closer to perhaps securing the show’s lucrative prize of a recording contract with Universal Records.

On Sunday’s head-to-head battle show Brendan was pitted against Waterford contestant, Neil McGrath and saw the duo perform Irish ballad, ‘Dirty Old Town’ as they both battled for a place in the next round of the show.

The Tullamore performer is absolutely delighted to move to the live shows having gotten through the battle stages of the competition as he felt this stage was ‘very scary’. “I did feel I had a good enough chance on Sunday night with all my experience.”

He is now looking forward to the live shows, which will Brendan as part of team Kennedy go up against team Bressie, on March 4 next.

Meanwhile, speaking on Sunday’s show, the 51 year old admitted that the song was “well out of his comfort zone” and wouldn’t be a song that he would normally perform if he was given a choice. “But, I will give it all I have got,” he enthused.

And, that he did as his coach, Brian Kennedy, chose him to progress to the next stage of the singing competition.

Speaking on the show, Kennedy described Brendan as a “world wary” kind of guy and said that there was “something in the way he delivers” his songs.

Before his performance, Brendan pointed out that it was different when it is a competition. I’ve never been in a competition before. And, that is a leveller between myself and Neil,” he added. Kian Egan, one of the show’s four coaches, was slightly critical of the song choice for the Tullamore singer. “I felt neither guys got to show off their actual abilities as singers. Brendan, you have an amazing voice but I didn’t get to hear it.”

Brian Kennedy, however, set aside Kian’s criticism as he chose the 51 year old father of three to move on in the competition.

And, speaking after the announcement, Brendan said that was ‘one of the most nerve racking things I have ever went through in my life’.

AFTER capturing the hearts of thousands of television viewers, no way is the ‘Operation Transformation’ over yet for Edenderry’s Adrian Brereton.

The 40 year old started the RTE health and fitness programme with a 51 inch waist, weighing 18 stone and 11 pounds when he first got on the scales at the start of the series.

However, this week, the pet shop owner broke the 16 stone barrier and registered yet another weight loss.

And, with the eight programme airing tonight (Wednesday, February 22), the audience will see Adrian weighing at 15 stone and 11 1/2 pounds on the show’s concluding episode.

It has certainly been a whirlwind six weeks for the father of four. As well as losing a staggering amount of weight, Adrian has accomplished many other feats including the weekly Curragh Challenge, the commissioning of new family photographs and completing various walks and runs during the programme’s duration.

The support for the Edenderry leader has been phenomenal over the course of the show and he whipped up some what of a frenzy in the north Offaly town.

Songs and poems have even penned in his honour as well as being installed as the first grand marshall of the forthcoming St Patrick’s day parade in the town.

Many of his supporters have credited him with giving Edenderry a lift with his positive attitude and Adrian has warned that in no way is it over as the “feel good mood” continued this week for him.

It was yet another action packed week with Adrian and his fellow leaders finished the 5km run in the Phoenix Park as well as getting their glad rags for the show’s final episode.

“It was great craic altogether,” he enthused.

However, Adrian was quick to say that he has continued on his diet and is keeping up the walking. Talking about the entire experience, Adrian said he was “so lucky” to have even been chosen to appear on the show.

“I have gotten a new body. I got a great chance. I have loved every bit of it. It was a great start.”

He also enthused that his very supportive wife, Anna, has also lost almost two stone during his operation transformation.

To mark the end of the programme, the Edenderry leader is now looking forward to hosting a community party in Edenderry GAA centre this Friday, February 24.

According to Adrian, it is promises to be a great night of celebration with the local community. There also could be a possible appearance on Brendan O’Connor’s Saturday night show this weekend.

Looking to the coming weeks, Adrian now hopes to complete the last 10km of the non stop 100km run being undertaken by Rhode native, Niall Murphy as part of a fundraising effort for Irish Autism Action on April 1 next.

Portarlington Swimming Pool Association paid a special tribute to their longest serving member, Niall McElwaine, at their recent bingo night.

Niall was part of the original committee 50 years ago who dreamed up the idea of an indoor swimming pool for Port, and has played an active role ever since.

At 78, the Donegal native is currently secretary and still swims several times a week in the pool he helped to make a reality.

Niall recalls the difficulties they had persuading the county council to help them built an indoor heated swimming pool.

“The pool was built in 1974 but we had spent twelve years proving to the powers that be that it was a good idea. First it was ‘haven’t you got a river, and a canal?’. Then it was ‘you want it heated, and a roof?’,

“If somebody had given us £5,000 at the time, we would have built an outdoor one. But we got lucky. Bobby Molloy became Minister, he had been a champion swimmer. He set out new guidelines, exactly the things we had been looking for,” he explained.

Niall credits the other members of the committee throughout the years for their constant hard work.

“There was Leo Dempsey. Paddy Burbage and Martin Turley, God rest them. Alo Donegan, who was a world class cyclist. They all wouldn’t take no for an answer,”

The committee raised enough money to buy a field for about £500, where Siac is now, in the 1960’s.

“With a bit of good luck, the planning officer who was a wise man, turned it down because he said it was too far out of the town, and it would be dangerous for children to be walking to it. “Then we had another stroke of luck. Somebody had bought a field for a cattle mart.

“The residents objected and the site was lying idle so the council offered it to us.

“It didn’t look anything then, we had to climb over old walls through nettles and thistles to see it.

“We got it on a long term lease, about seven years into our fundraising,” Niall recalls.

The bingo began as a way to make use of a marquee set up for summer dances in the late 60’s and early 70’s.

“Someone suggested since it was lying idle a few days of the weeks to run bingo there.

“We got chairs from the convent and the tech and borrowed lights, and started it on a Tuesday. That was 42 years ago,” he says.

In 1974 the swimming pool finally opened at a cost of £62,000, £16,000 of which the committee had raised through the bingo, which still continues to be a great source of income to it, as well as a social institution in the town. The pool quickly became part of life for the children of Portarlington and beyond. “We had the most marvellous galas in the late 70’s and the 80’s, for groups from all over Ireland.

“I rememember 500 kids in the pool, they’d be there for five hours, great occasions. The community games were there too,” he says. It produced several gold medal winners in the National Swimming Championships in Mosney, but Niall feels the best contribution is in teaching a whole generation to swim.

“The pool is not like a beach, there’s no great fun without swimming.

“Now the parents who learnt to swim there are bringing their children too, as young as six months old,” Niall says.

He adds that many young people who learned lifeguard skills worked their way through college at the pool, including his own son.

He had plans to retire when the revamped pool was opened four years ago.

“When it was in the process of being built, and we were pestering the politicians, we said when we got there, as soon as the key turned, we would say day day.

“But the secretary resigned, and I was stuck. I’m still here, I’ve invested a lot of my life, so I will stay as long as I still have my health,” he said.

“I was there today, swimming my ten or 15 lengths. When you see the place full of kids, it lifts your heart, there’s no doubt,” he said.

Launched just over one month ago, Hireland yesterday confirmed that the initiative has already received over 2,500 job pledges from businesses all over the country. This is all the more impressive as Hireland had set a 6 month target of 5,000 pledges and is now at the halfway point after little more than a month.

As of yesterday (Tuesday February 21), 589 companies have pledged jobs across a wide range of sectors from software design and development to engineering and pharmaceuticals to sales, marketing and retail and hotel, hospitality and sports leisure.

Furthermore, there has been a swift translation from pledges to jobs with 150 having commenced jobs already that were pledged on Hireland.ie. By recruiting more people into the business, a company will experience immediate and direct benefits. It lets customers know they can expect a better service, staff will be rewarded with a greater division of labour and enhanced output and it also sends a strong message to competitors by investing in the business.

Hireland is a volunteer, not-for-profit group that has developed a national communications initiative to encourage employers to hire one of the thousands of skilled people who are currently out of work. It came about in February 2011 after a kitchen table conversation between a group of friends, who had lost other friends to emigration. Since then, it has grown to include students and people from the business, marketing and media community, all of whom have given their time and skills for free simply because they want to see the creation of jobs for the thousands of unemployed skilled workers in Ireland.

Hireland wants to draw on the power of the collective and act as a catalyst to stimulate job creation. It’s about a positive, confident movement, where one job will lead to another if Irish businesses get on board and pledge a job.

Even though Hireland only officially launched last month, it has already inspired a sister initiative in the United States of America, UhireUS which was announced at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York in September 2011.

All roads are leading to Abbeyleix for this weekend’s Birr and District Motor clubs annual tarmac stages rally. The Abbeyleix Manor Hotel sponsored event kicks off the first round of the Rally Championships on Sunday morning.

There is a cracking entry list which consists of five World Rally cars and two Super 2000 cars in the top ten. Blasting away at the front of the pack this weekend will be number one seeded Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullay (Subaru WRC). Monaghan crew Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru WRC) are at number two with Carragalines Brian O’Mahony/John Higgins making their second appearance in a McKinstry run (Subaru Imprezza WRC )at number 3. Robert Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman will make history this weekend being the first crew to tackle a Birr event in a Super 2000 rally car in their Skoda Fabia S2000 at 4.

There is a strong local contingent part taking in this event with Templemore crew Paul O’Brien/John Kinihan (no 38 )competing in a newly built class 11 Honda Civic followed closely by Nenaghs Andrew Slattery/Shaun Forde (Subaru Imprezza). The class 13 battle continues with William Cavanagh/Oliva Cowen, Eoin Woods/TBA, John Cavanagh/John Nolan and Kieran Guinan/Alan Higgins all driving Ford Escort Mk2s.

Durrows Oliver Stanley/Edward Thompson will be out in their newly built Ford Focus, followed by Mark Kane also in a new car a Mk2 Escort. Nenaghs Davey Forde/Cecil Doak will be out in their class 15 Subaru Imprezza. Ballacollas Mark Kirwin will be co-driving for Joey Carroll in a Citroen C2R2, while brother Brian will be driving his Peugeot 206.

Borris-in-Ossory’s Frank Dwyer is swapping the passenger seat for the driver’s seat for this year’s rally driving his Ford Ka with Barry Foyle doing an opposite swap and navigating for Tommy Kelly in a Honda Civic. Keith Murray will navigate David Fitzsimons in a class 13 escort with Robert Lewis returning to the stages after a two year absence.

Finally help is also required and anyone intending on marshalling or helping out in any way is asked to contact Ger on (087-2156419). Rally programmes will also be available in Rathdowney, Durrow and Abbeyleix from Friday. The club would also like to wish Clerk of the Course Bill Ryan and his team the very best of luck in the running of the rally this weekend .Rember safety first, Keep The Race In Its Place and please obey all Rally Marshalls. For More information log on to www.Birrmotorclub.com.

teen models showed their dance moves and catwalk prowess at St Mary’s Youth Club recently at the Moves Like Jagger fashion show which raised funds for St Vincent de Paul and the youth club’s new P2B Youth Café.

The event was a major success and attracted widespread compliments for the manner in which the youthful models behaved, for the stunning set (again created by the youth centre’s wonderful volunteers Mark Quinlan and Simon Farrell) - which incorporated festive red and white balloons and for the lively pace of the evening.

In fact one member of the audience described it as the “best fashion show ever”.

See this week’s Offaly Express for full report and two pages of photographic coverage

outspoken Edenderry Town Councillor Noel Cribbin slammed his County Council colleagues for not speaking out at a recent County Council meeting when the subject of the Ambulance Dispatch Point in Edenderry was discussed.

“There are six County Councillors representing the area of Edenderry, but only two of them spoke at that meeting. The four councillors who said nothing should be ashamed of themselves. They are a dead loss.”

Cllr Cribbin added that he was very disappointed with the follow up from Offaly County Council officials. “This has been seven years in the planning. The country is being asked to bend over backwards in these difficult times, but the only ones not doing that are the County Council.”

Town Council Cathaoirleach Jim Murrin said it was the responsibility of the HSE to sort out the matter.

Cllr John Foley said “we can huff and puff all we want, but the onus is on the HSE to sort this out. The only way to get things done is to get people on side.”

Cllr Fergus McDonnell added that he would not accept what was being said until he saw all the documentation. “If any other outfit had been involved in this process it would have been completed by now.”

Cllr Cribbin said he knew it was a HSE problem, but he felt that the Council could have “extended the hand of friendship” to the HSE.

“THE pips are beginning to squeak in a lot of areas. People are under enormous pressure,” conceded Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Pat Rabbitte at the Laois/Offaly Labour Party annual constituency meeting last Friday night where Tullamore’s David Whelan was elected Chairperson.

Referring to the enconomy, Minister Rabbitte said his belief was people would tolerate the pressure - “provided they can see some light at the end of the tunnel.”

But he admitted, “Some of the things that Labour have to stomach are very hard to stomach, I have to say.”

The attendance also included Minister of State for Transport and Tourism Alan Kelly, Senator John Whelan, Edenderry Town Councillor Declan Leddin and Tullamore Town Councillor Lar Byrne.

The venue was the Portlaoise Resource Centre in the sprawling Knockmay housing estate, territory long cultivated by Sinn Fein’s Deputy Brian Stanley.

Argued Minister Rabbitte, “It’s an unprecedented period in history. If we don’t comply, they (IMF/EU) won’t sign the cheque.” He went on, “We are depending on the kindness of strangers to fund our Gardai, nurses and prison officers. Fianna Fail in 2010 ceded our sovereignty to outside sources. It’s ironic - Fianna Fail surrendering our national sovereignty.

“We got a new Government a year ago. We did not get a new economy. I get very irritated when I hear people saying we cannot keep blaming the previous Government for the mess. We still have the mess. We are stuck with the debt. Vincent Brown and his panel can say we can turn the key and walk away--but look at Greece.”

On a brighter note, Minister Rabbitte said we had a functioning economy with an 1.8m-strong workforce. People were better educated. We had a great deal of advantages.

“I am absolutely satisified that our economy will grow faster than any similar economy if the euro crisis is resolved,” he said. “We have to get the stabilization of the euro.” On property tax, he said Ireland was the only EU country without one.

The Minister continued, “What I would say to people who are finding it difficult, is that we cannot turn it (economy) around as quickly as we would like. We can’t have the investment now that was the case in the past when the Government could go to the market and source money ourselves.”

He concluded, “Our objective is to wave goodbye to the IMF at Dublin airport.”

‘Heaven Sent’

There was a perception in Laois/Offaly that Labour had an “agenda against the Catholic Church,” a speaker claimed and Minister Rabbitte replied, “You can never help what people’s perceptions area. It just strikes me that that the decision to close the Vatican embassy is heaven sent for the media.”

Senator Extolled

Minister Rabbitte extolled local Senator John Whelan and pointed to Senator Whelan’s impressive general election peformance in “what was not propitious territory for Labour.”

The Minister described the Senator as a “diligent attender and hard worker in Leinster House.”

Labour officers

Officers elected at Laois/Offaly Labour party annual consituency meeting: Chairman, David Whelan, Tullamore; Vice Chairman, Noel Tuohy, Portlaoise; Secretary, Lisa Delaney, Mountmellick; Treasurer, Joe Murphy, Portlaoise; Asst Treasurer, Paddy Doheny, Tullamore; Constituency Delegate, Margaret Guijt-Lalor, Portarlington; Youth Officer, Noel Tuohy Jnr, Portlaoise; Women’s Officer, Grainne Corcoran, Portlaoise.

CALLS have been made for a six month rate exemption for new businesses starting up in Tullamore.

Cllr Molly Buckley put forward the motion to the February meeting of Tullamore Town Council calling for the exemption. “Every day we are seeing businesses closing. The heart of the town is going out of it. We have to look at this for new businesses, on a phased basis.”

Supporting Cllr Buckley’s motion, Cllr Tony McCormack suggested that it it could be done on an incremental basis.

“Businesses are suffering badly particularly in the town centre. Anything, we can do to create an atmosphere. It is an extra cost for them. Unfortunately, it is part of our funding basis and the issue will have to be looked at nationally. We need to do something to get business into the town. We have to start somewhere.”

Cllr Buckley pointed out, “We want to get the heart back into the town.” Ruth McNally, SEO of Tullamore Town Council, explained that there are national regulations, set in law, governing the issue of rates.

However, she said that she has spoken with other Town Clerks on the issue and there appears to be a business incentives schemes working in some towns, which could go some way to help businesses. “However, in terms of just deciding to wave it [rates], it can’t just be done.”

Cllr Buckley proposed that the Council should look at this business incentive scheme. “It is worth exploring it for the businesses in the town,” she said.

Ireland’s rugby squad finally get the opportunity to bounce back from the opening Six Nations defeat to Wales this week.

Declan Kidney has a full strength squad to choose from having put his big match preparations against the French on ice following the late postponement of the Stade de France encounter.

No major changes are expected this weekend for the visit of the Italy.

The XJ220 remains the fastest Jaguar ever produced and when launched in 1992 and, at 213mph, had the highest maximum speed of any production car. Constructed using advanced aluminium honeycomb, the car was immensely strong and, despite its size, weighed just 1,470 kg.

Originally conceived as a concept car, the XJ220 debuted at the 1988 British Motor Show. Designed by Keith Helfet, the car was signed off for production in December 1989 with TWR selected as the partner for the project.

Powered by a 3.5-litre, twin turbo V6, the XJ220 channelled its drive through the 18-inch Speedline rear wheels shod in specially developed 345/35 Bridgestone Expedia tyres via a five-speed gearbox and an AP Racing twin-plate clutch. The XJ220 developed 550 PS and 475 lbs ft of torque to allow it to accelerate to 60mph in under four seconds. Braking was supplied by a set of AP Racing discs and four pot callipers.

Built by hand in an all-new factory in Bloxham, Oxfordshire, prototype 001 was completed in 1990 while car 002 achieved 186 mph at Bruntingthorpe in September of the same year. The first customer car was completed in June 1992 with a retail price of £470,000.

Production ceased in 1994, by which time 275 cars had been built.

The silver car in attendance at the recent Jaguar Experience Day held at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon is chassis 004, one of 10 pre-production vehicles. This example was used for extensive tyre and high speed testing at Fort Stockton, Texas, in 1991. Andy Wallace achieved a maximum speed of 213 mph in the car during the testing process.

Once these duties were completed the car was converted to race specification and was campaigned by Justin Law in the British GT Cup. On being retired from racing it was returned to its standard, road-going specification.

The yellow car is an XJ220 S - chassis ‘220-803’. This is the very first XJ220 S, built using spare parts from the Le Mans cars, including single-piece carbon fibre front and rear clamshells, revised springs and dampers and a claimed 700 PS. The luxurious interior of the road car was dropped in favour of Kevlar bucket seats and pared down, carbon trim.

The car was unveiled at the Autosport Show in 1993.

]]> 1.3535557 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:40:41 +0000 http://www.offalyexpress.ie/up_the_airy_mountain_1_3524972

The forecast said no rain, but a steady drizzle still fell for much of Sunday morning in Kinnitty last week. The enthusiastic group of seasoned walkers who met at Kinnitty Community Centre weren’t put out by the damp day, kitted with gear like gaiters, waterproofs, raincovers for their rucksacks, metal walking poles and woolly hats.

The Slieve Bloom Walking Club are experiencing a surge in popularity, and have doubled the number of guided walks they provide every weekend. Lynda Kiernan put on her walking boots to find out what the attraction is

Leader for this walk was Gerry Hanlon from Mountmellick. No fancy equipment for him, a stout hazel stick and welly boots were enough for the shopkeeper, who has a reputation for powering on over any mountain, without any need for rest or food.

With gaiters (leg covers) kindly loaned to us by Ann Lanigan, rural recreation officer with Laois Partnership, myself and my friend were ready to join the convoy up to Glendine West. The group of 35 - head counted on the way out, but rather worryingly, not on the way home - set off at 11am for a hike that would take almost four hours to complete.

Our route initially followed the Glendine river, occasionally crossing through it, slowly climbing through ancient dripping forests coated in thick moss. There is a real ‘lord of the rings’ atmosphere in these woods. There are no paths here, just small tags tied in trees to stop everyone getting lost. The going can be rough, definitely unsuitable for small children, but the child is still alive in every one of these walkers, who happily splashed through the river, and slipped and slid their way down muddy inclines.

One of the walkers was Sr Ríona McHugh, who at 69 years old, was still well able for the pace.

“I am very fit. I spent my childhood jumping over gates, it’s a challenge, I would be afraid of knees though,” she said.

Originally from Galway, she says she has been somewhat converted from the sea to the mountains.

“I love thinking back and imagining life in the mountains, and wondering why and how they left,” she said.

The mountains are dotted with abandoned dwellings, tumbled down stone houses now cloaked in soft green moss. One we passed has a headstone made from the fireplace mantle, with the date 1868 carved on it. Someone spotted a native red squirrel in the trees, and Gerry explained that they are more common now since the pine marten has been reintroduced, a predator of the larger, once dominant grey squirrel.

We left the cover of the woods, and began a climb up to the top of Fear Bréag, a 345 metre hill coated in blanket bog, heathers and mosses, one of the areas in the Slieve Blooms protected as a SAC - Special Area of Conservation.

The name means ‘hardy man’ or ‘wolf man’, as 250 years ago these mountains were home to packs of wolves. Now there’s just wild goats and deer.

“There are still some stone boley huts up here, for farmers who would bring their cattle up in the summer, and stay with them to protect them from the wolves,” explained Gerry.

Up to a few years ago, locals still travelled by cart up here to cut their turf. The 4 foot high walls of black cutaway bog are still visible, but spongy sphagnum moss is again coating the ground, soaked in water, the perfect recipe for a new bog in a few millennia.

“This place brings you back in time. It hasn’t changed much since the famine. The old tracks are still there, nature’s taking them back now,” Gerry says.

At the top of the hill, a striped post and a quick rest await. The view is spectacular enough, but on a clear day the lakes of the Shannon can be seen from here.

Many of the walkers have a keen knowledge and love for the flora and fauna of the Slieve Blooms, like retired teacher Gloria Carter from Ballyfin, who points out the aptly named ‘devils matchstick’ lichen, and ‘drowned kitten moss’.

The colours of the terrain constantly change, with stretches of brown heathers turning to rust coloured mooregrasses. We don’t stay long at the exposed top of Fear Bréag, but begin the long trek down towards the shelter of the woods, for a much needed rest and lunch.

Out come the flasks and sandwiches, some even have foldout seatpads. A married couple from Birr tell me they have been enjoying the walks for ten years now, while two friends, Siobhán and Kathleen from Ballacolla started a year ago.

“We are completely addicted. It’s the peace, the connection with nature. Your thoughts can get so far away from normal humdrum life,” says Kathleen, who got the wrong shoes to start with, but now is kitted out for all conditions.

“You’re guaranteed a good walk with Gerry. There’s many a Sunday i went home and said ‘never again’,” she laughs.

We continued on downhill completing the looped walk. The landscape changes from high pine Coillte forests to small cleared fields and copses of birch trees, crossing back over the Glendine river.

The walks are occasionally used as training for bigger adventures, explains Paul Dunne, who is also a walk leader.

“We got three teachers from Dublin last year who were training to go to Peru. Two others were training for the Alps,” he said.

By the time we got back to our cars, clouds of mist had drifted down over the hills. the cold and wet had soaked in, and all dispersed quickly to get back to the comforts of home. Not a day for the faint hearted, but definitely one to repeat.

See www.slievebloom.ie for more.

It has been well known as an award-winning new car since its UK launch in January 2008, but now the Fiat 500 is attacting used car honours too. The multi-award winning city car was last night (15 February) crowned Used Car of the Year at the glittering AM Awards in Birmingham.

The car’s cute looks, excellent residual values and widespread popularity were all praised by the award’s judges, while special mention was made of the speed at which 500s are sold on as used vehicles.

“Single handedly re-invigorating the Fiat brand since its introduction to the market in 2008, the popularity of the Fiat 500 has not waned, enjoying massive popularity on the used market,” says Jeremy Bennett, editor, AM. “Demand for the car is still strong, ensuring 500s only share brief encounters with dealer forecourts before being whisked away to customers looking for fun in a cute and funky little package.

“With part-exchange values at £4,500 to £5,500 after three years, depending on the model, the 500 depreciates extremely slowly for a small car.”

“Fiat 500 has been a wonderful success story for us over the last four years or so, both as a new buy and as a used car,” says Jonny Miller, group remarketing manager, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. “Its ‘must have’ looks, reliability, character and fuel efficiency, have all helped to ensure its residual values are kept high, which is good news for owners and dealers.”

Available with a choice of ultra-low emissions Euro 5 engines: 85bhp 0.9-litre TwinAir, 69bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol, and 95 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel, the Fiat 500 can be ordered in a number of different trim levels – Pop, Sport, Lounge, TwinAir, TwinAir Plus and TwinAir Lounge.

And with a starting price of just £9960 OTR for the 1.2 Pop, the Fiat 500 represents outstanding value for money.

The Chairman of the ICMSA Taxation Committee, Mr. Lorcan McCabe, has stated that although Finance Bill 2012 provided for a number of welcome incentives announced in Budget 2012, he believed it was a missed opportunity in terms of addressing some anomalies in the taxation system that weren’t addressed in Budget 2012.

While Mr Mc Cabe welcomed the fact that Minister Noonan exempted from Capital Gains Tax those compensation payments to turf cutters for giving up the right to cut turf in Special Areas of Conservation, he observed that a similar exemption should be extended to individuals wishing to purchase land close to their holdings in order to consolidate their farm enterprise.

He stated that current Government policy is effectively penalizing any farmer wishing to consolidate his/her holdings in order to grow and expand their business.

ICMSA believes that Capital Gains Tax Rollover Relief should be introduced on a limited basis to allow for farm consolidation and parcel swaps for individuals wishing to expand their enterprise.

ICMSA believes that it is crucial that full-time farmers wishing to enlarge their holding to grow their farm business into a viable unit must be allowed to do so with the minimum application of Stamp Duty and he expressed his disappointment that the Finance Bill did not reintroduce Farm Consolidation Stamp Duty Relief.

Proposals in the Finance Bill to offset the increased costs of the Carbon Tax have been described as insufficient and unworkable.

IFA President John Bryan commented, “There was a clear commitment given in the Programme for Government that farm diesel would be exempt from any further increases in the Carbon Tax. This has not been honoured, and the proposals for a double income tax deduction for farmers arising from the increased costs will not give full cost recovery.”

IFA has developed proposals to allow for a full recovery of the cost increase through point-of-sale deduction and through a direct refund for VAT registered farmers. The proposals must be included before the Act is finalised.

Commenting on other elements of the Finance Bill, Mr Bryan continued, “The proposals to strengthen the enforcement role for the Revenue Commissioners to combat illegal fuel trade are positive. IFA has argued strongly that the existing marker system for Agricultural Diesel must be retained and strengthened and these proposals support our position.”

He continued, “The proposed limitation of the enhanced stock relief to Milk Production Partnerships only is unfair and discriminates against partnerships operating across other farming enterprises. All registered farm partnerships should be able to avail of this additional relief.

“The Carbon Tax is simply an increased cost on agricultural production. IFA is looking for Government to honour its commitment to farmers and ensure that costs arising from the increase can be fully recovered and in a simple manner,” he concluded.

Tom Doyle has been elected Chairman of the IFA National Farm Business Committee. He succeeds James Kane, who has completed his four-year term.

He is a livestock and tillage farmer from Gorey, Co Wexford.

Mr Doyle said his priorities on taking over as Chairman are to ensure there is equitable treatment for farmers in the taxation system and the availability of credit for the agriculture sector. In particular, he re-iterated IFA’s opposition to any proposals to include productive assets when assessing eligibility for 3rd-level education grants.

He identified his first task as IFA’s submission to the Department of Finance ahead of the publication of the Finance Bill next month.

Tom Doyle said he would be highlighting bank credit issues, including access to credit at competitive rates for farm customers, and the need for banks to deal constructively with credit difficulties.

PEUGEOT’S 206CC was successful beyond the company’s most optimistic projections and its 207CC replacement aimed to continue its dominance of the small cabriolet market.

Steve Walker checks out this improved version.

The British have an irrational love of convertible cars. Just look at how many of them there are on the roads then at our average rainfall figures and you’ll have all the evidence you need of that.

Peugeot has tapped into this yearning for wind-in-the-hair travel more successfully than most manufacturers with its range of affordable folding hard-top models and today’s 207CC is aiming to fight off competition from a number of pretenders to its throne.

When launching the 207CC in 2007, Peugeot aimed to retain the basic ingredients of its 206CC predecessor but at the same time, improve virtually every aspect of this landmark car.

It did so, but the end result seemed a little clinical compared with more characterful rivals like MINI’s Convertible. Hence a series of styling revisions aimed at injecting a little street presence into an impressively designed package - and the model we look at here.

The 206CC from Peugeot can rightfully claim to have popularised the folding hard-top roof in the modern car market and the 207CC is the caretaker of that noble bloodline.

Today, folding metal roofs are everywhere but before the 206CC, if you wanted one you had to get a rather expensive Mercedes or dig way back into the annals of motoring history for one of the old classics that chanced its arm with such an arrangement.

By now, they’re certain to be rather more expensive than the Merc.

Keen drivers won’t thank the 206CC for its efforts in making complex overhead metalwork the preferred choice over lightweight canvas.

Fans of budget convertible cars, however, have taken the security and durability of the folding hard-top to heart.

You’d better like 1.6-litre engines because the 207CC has three of them and that’s as far as the choice goes.

At least there’s some decent variety within this outwardly samey line-up.

The entry-level petrol engine is a 120bhp normally-aspirated 1.6-litre designed in partnership with BMW no less.

This is the engine that will rack up most sales and the only one on offer with automatic transmission.

It’s also a variant of the next engine in the line-up, the 150bhp turbo 1.6, albeit shorn of the turbocharger.

Nevertheless it still looks quite punchy, delivering its maximum power at 6,000rpm and its peak torque figure of 163Nm at 4,250rpm.

The 150bhp turbocharged variant gets THP (turbo high pressure) branding and features a beefy peak torque figure of 244Nm from only 1,400rpm.

The twin scroll turbo and variable valve timing system combines with direct injection to offer a decent compromise between performance and fuel economy.

Finally, there’s a 1.6-litre HDi diesel with 110bhp and identical torque to the turbocharged petrol unit.

The extra weight of the 207CC’s roof mechanism blunts the performance of the car compared to 207 hatchback models using the same engines.

It’s still pleasantly nippy though, regardless of the engine choice, with even the diesel managing a 0-60mph sprint of under 11s.

The turbocharged petrol engine records an 8.6s sprint time and a 129mph top speed.

The 207CC is a capable cruiser but the absence of a fixed roof can be felt as the body flexes when cornered quickly.

This is hardly a disaster and Peugeot’s effort remains among the best supermini-based convertibles from a driver’s point of view. Engine refinement is also very good.

Peugeot has tweaked the look of today’s 207CC, toning down the sometimes controversial front end styling that has been rolled out across its model range in recent years.

The lines are better integrated around the nose but the main point of reference is that the fog lights which were mounted on the edge of the enormous grille are now housed in their own cutaway sections on either side.

At the rear, LED taillights are an upmarket touch but visually, the overall feel of the car isn’t dramatically different.

The styling is still markedly more cohesive with the roof down than when it’s up.

The standard 207 interior is carried over to the CC model. It’s not the most impressive in the supermini sector from a design or quality perspective but upgraded trim materials that only make it onto plusher 207 cars are standard on the CC and help spruce it up a bit.

There’s also a more modern control panel for the ventilation system on the latest cars.

A retractable metal roof makes packaging a nightmare and although the 207CC copes as well as any hard-top convertible of this size, rear legroom is still in short supply.

The boot is just 187 litres with the roof down but on the plus side, there’s ample space for front seat occupants and holding a button down for 25 seconds is enough to raise or lower the canopy.

Sport and GT trim levels are available, with the Sport getting 16” alloy wheels, air-conditioning, remote central locking and electric windows with full one-touch operation of the driver’s window.

There’s also ABS brakes with brakeforce distribution and brake assist.

For a premium of around £1,500, the GT model adds 17” alloy wheels, ESP stability control and a number of other features.

Hyundai’s i10 has built a formidable reputation as one of the very best affordable small cars. The revised range boasts smarter styling, new engines and an eco-focused Blue model with CO2 emissions of just 99g/km.

The Hyundai i10 has been a very strong contender in the city car segment offering impressive standards of quality and design backed-up by the generous specification you expect from Hyundai and that famous five-year warranty. Now the facelifted little car is on an efficiency drive with an all-new 1.0-litre engine, start-stop technology and a fashionably eco-tweaked green version called, naturally enough, the Blue.

With just 68bhp at its disposal, the new 1.0 i10 Blue just about wings ‘frisky’ in the confines of an urban environment but its rather feeble looking 0-62mph time of 14.8s is actually a whole second quicker than the old 1.1 could manage. Like that car, it struggles a bit out of town but the new three-pot motor is a sweet engine with an engaging off-beat soundtrack that’s fun to work hard. And the precise action of the five-speed gearbox means it’s no chore keeping it on the boil. That said, the updated 1.2 powerplant with 85bhp makes life considerably more relaxed behind the wheel and adds to the fun quotient by actually putting a little heat into a surprisingly nifty chassis. And with a combined consumption of 61.4mpg and CO2 emission of just 108 g/km, you’re hardly going to be branded a climate criminal.

The i10’s cabin design has also been subjected to some tidying but remains simple and appealing. The vibrancy and ingenuity that characterises the best small car interiors doesn’t appear to be in evidence but Hyundai looks to have concentrated on getting the fundamentals right.

The safety-first approach should help maintain the brand’s steady forward momentum. The revised range is divided into four trim grades - Blue, Classic, Active and Style. As before, all models get air conditioning, four electric windows, power steering, central locking, tinted glass, four airbags and a six-speaker CD/radio stereo, but new to the standard kit list is a dedicated connection for your iPod as well as non-Apple MP3 players. The items that make the Blue ‘Blue’ consist of low rolling resistance tyres, an Eco Drive indicator that tells you the most efficient time to change gear, and Hyundai’s ISG stop-start system.

Town car buyers aren’t going short of choice at the moment. Small, economical vehicles that can help motorists sidestep the worst of the environmental taxation burden are very much in vogue and if they can do so with some design flair and a little bit of cheekiness thrown in, well, so much the better. Hyundai’s refreshed i10 might lack the sparkle to seduce the nation’s urban trendies but it continues to put a definite tick in the boxes marked quality, practicality and value.

IT’S expected that Offaly VEC headquarter offices will remain open for some time and the approach to re-deployment of its staff will be “measured and considered”, according to the latest news from the Education Minister.

Laois/Offaly TD, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy received information about the future of the VEC committee, following the decision by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, TD to re-locate that the headquarters of the new Education and Training Board to Portlaoise.

In response to a Dail question, she was advised that a range of factors were considered including the need to ensure that the location of a VEC headquarters will, to the greatest extent possible, facilitate staff redeployment under a redeployment scheme within the context of the Croke Park Agreement and the need to operate at lowest cost having regard to the accommodation available in existing locations.

Redeployment of staff from Tullamore to Portlaoise is possible under the Croke Park agreement and it is expected that headquarters staff of Co Offaly VEC will move to the designated headquarters location in Portlaoise as soon as feasible. However it is anticipated that the office in Tullamore will remain open for some time and that the approach to redeployment will be measured and considered.

In the reply to the local Deputy, the Minister pointed out it will be a matter for the CEO of the new Education and Training Board to work through and judge what the best approach is to ensure the optimum approach to service delivery while the establishment of SOLAS is also likely to have a bearing on the precise arrangements to be made.

The detail in relation to the use or disposal of existing property interests in Tullamore, following the move of staff to the newly designated headquarters in Portlaoise, will be worked through by the Department in conjunction with the VECs involved and the new merged body when established.

“I have been advised by Minister Quinn that while his decision is final he will not be forcing any one size fits all approach to staff deployment and office accommodation by the new Education and Training Boards. The new board will be receptive to any reasonable and sensible arrangements that are the best fit for the needs of the areas for which they are responsible. I hope that the excellent and well equipped building in Tullamore will continue to be used for training purposes and see a place for Solas there.”

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