Topics

[Senior Football]

Might as well start this as we're near the end of the various championships. The Ros and Mayo contingent can proceed to take over from here.

Senior Football
QFs - 4th November
Tourlestrane (Sligo) v Breaffy or Ballintubber (Mayo)
Clann na Gael (Roscommon) v Fulham Irish or Tir Conaill Gaels (London)

SFs - 11th November
Aughawillan (Leitrim) v Mayo/Sligo
Galway v Roscommon/London

Final - 25th November

Intermediate Football

QF - 3rd November
Fenagh or Annaduff (Leitrim) v Curry or Shamrock Gaels (Sligo)

SFs - 10th November
An Spideal or Micheal Breathnach (Galway) v Belmullet or Burrishoole (Mayo)
Fuerty or Oran (Roscommon) v Sligo/Leitrim

Final - TBC

Junior Football

QF - 3rd November
Easkey (Sligo) v Glenfarne/Kilty (Leitrim)

SFs - 10th November
Kilglass Gaels (Roscommon) v Clonbur (Galway)
Balla (Mayo) v Sligo/Leitrim

Senior Hurling


Intermediate Hurling

QF - 29th October
Tooreen (Mayo) v Athleague (Roscommon)

SF - 10/11 November
St Gabriels (London) v Mayo/Roscommon

F - 18th November
Galway v winners

Junior Hurling

SF - 29th October
Sligo v Leitrim

F - TBC
Galway v Sligo/Leitrim

Sligo:
SFC
Tourlestrane

IFC
Curry v Shamrock Gaels

JFC
Easkey

SHC
Calry/St. Joseph's v Naomh Eoin
Coolera/Strandhill v Easkey

Leitrim:
SFC
Aughawillan

IFC
Fenagh v Annaduff

JFC
Glenfarne/Kilty

SHC

Mayo:
SFC
Breaffy v Ballintubber

IFC
Belmullet v Burrishoole

JFC
Balla

SHC
Tooreen

Roscommon:
SFC
Clann na Gael

IFC
Fuerty v Oran

JFC
Clann na Gael v Kilglass Gaels - latter are through to Connacht

SHC
Athleague

Galway:
SFC
Annaghdown v Corofin
Mountbellew v Salthill

IFC
An Spideal v Michael Breathnach

JFC
Clonbur

SHC
Sarsfields v Castlegar
Loughrea v Cappataggle
Liam Mellows v Tynagh Abbey Duniry
St Thomas v Gort or Clarinbridge

IHC
Meelick/Eyrecourt v Kilconieron
Oranmore v Kinvara or Rahoon/Newcastle

JHC


London:
SFC
Fulham Irish v Tir Conaill Gaels

SHC
St Gabriels

GAA to give the GPA €6 million per annum as part of new agreement.

25/07/2016 - 13:01:17

The GAA will provide the GPA with over €6 million per annum over three years (2017-19) as part of their new framework agreement – a jump of almost two and a half times the value of their current deal, writes John Fogarty.

In a new initiative, 15% of the GAA's net central commercial revenue (media coverage,
sponsorship, franchising, licensing) will be handed over to the official players body. In 2015, that figure was €2m but €2.5m is the minimum guaranteed.

A total of €1.2m per annum will go towards players' nutritional expenses, while the GAA have guaranteed an additional €800,000 per year for player services.

Inter-county players' mileage rates will also increase from 50 cent per mile to between 62.5 and 65 cent per mile with a maximum cost of €1.5m. As of present, county boards pay players' mileage but Croke Park will now distribute the expenses.

A figure of €200,000 will be set aside for surgical interventions for former inter-county players.

Outside of mileage expenses, the GAA's interim agreement with the GPA is currently worth approximately €2m.

Providing Central Council rubberstamps the deal, the GPA will also be entitled to submit one motion to Congress as well as an increase of their Congress representation to two delegates. A new working group involving players and officials will also be established to examine demands on players with their proposals going forward to Central Council by the middle of next year.

"Our inter-county players make a special contribution to the Association in so many ways," said GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail. "The increased commitment involved in playing our games at inter-county level has been commonly acknowledged for some time. We are serious about the welfare of our players and will continue to work with the GPA to safeguard that welfare."

GPA president Dermot Earley remarked: "By pledging to support the needs of county players and recognising the increasingly challenging environment in which they operate, the GAA has taken a very important step in securing their future wellbeing."

Earley, Limerick's Seamus Hickey (GPA secretary) as well as GPA officers Richie Hogan and Paul Flynn were part of the GPA's negotiating team.

Was logging in to see what was new in that thread and I see it's disappeared. How so?

Would be hopeful of a similar sized thread as the Mayo/Derry or Dubs/Tyrone threads on this one, well never mind....

Need to get off to a good start, so a comfortable win and a good display by the forwards would be ideal. Word is encouraging about the new regime, not what I'd expected. Still it's only January so a long way to go before we can judge them better. The trips to Clare, Antrim and Wicklow will be real tests of the team's character, and we'd need to win two of those probably, provided the Germans' border raid doesn't come off.

Team is named for Sunday. Sligonian: Care to notice that something, erm, isn't quite right about the panel?


The Sligo Manager Kevin Walsh has named his team which will line out against Kilkenny in Markievicz Park on this Sunday February 1st throw in at 2-30pm The First Round of the National League Division 4

                                                 Phillip Greene

Charlie Harrison (Capt)            Noel McGuire                       Brendan Phillips
St John's                                    Easkey                                      Eastern Harps

Jonathan Davey                        Michael McNamara                    Paul McGovern   
St Mary's                                    St John's                                 Eastern Harps                                                                             
                         Eugene Mullen                                Sean Davey
                           Easkey                                              Curry

Gary Gaughan                          Eamon O'Hara                        Kenneth Sweeney
Tourlestrane                              Tourlestrane                                Geevagh

Dermot McTiernan                    Keith Raymond                     Adrian Marren
Ballymote                                   Calry/St Joseph's                             Curry

SUBS
Jason Farrell
Neil Ewing
Barry Kivelhan
Pat Naughton
Tony Taylor
Stephen Gilmartin
Alan Costello
Shane Stenson
David Kelly


Mayo lads- fill yer boots.

And Farrell gets dropped after being in goals for the FBD games. Another Spring of Greene howlers awaits I guess. A few questionable selections, such as the ongoing problems at CHB and midfield (though we're not blessed with many options available to us, Taylor will be in early methinks). Raymond didn't convince against Galway but he gets another shot at it anyway. Anyone offering a spread on how long O'Hara survives until his inevitable yellow card? Having just seen who's got our game, I'll call it for 0-10, and we'll probably finish up with 12-13. Yes Vincent Neary is about to torture us again, just as well it's against Kilkenny then.

Won't pass further comment, don't speak ill, etc.:


Former Minister O'Brien dies aged 91
Thursday, 18 December 2008 22:11

The death has taken place of the former Cabinet minister and journalist Conor Cruise O'Brien.

Mr O'Brien, who was 91, served as Minister for Posts and Telegraph during the Fine Gael/Labour coalition in the 1970s.

Mr O'Brien was also a civil servant, a UN official, a writer, an academic and a newspaper editor.
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He studied History and Literature in Trinity College and was the author of books, including States of Ireland, which examined the relationship between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland.

His plays include Murderous Angels and King Herald Explains.

He joined the civil service at 25, before later going to external affairs and then becoming a delegate to the UN Assembly.

In 1969, he was elected to the Dáil as a member of the Labour Party and he became the party's spokesman on Northern Ireland.

He became Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in 1973 but lost his seat in 1977.

Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore said he was greatly saddened by Mr O'Brien's death.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has expressed his condolences to the family of Mr O'Brien, who he said was a leading figure in Irish life in many spheres since the 1960s.

'(He) was blessed with a strong intellect and he was a man of strong convictions. I never doubted his sincerity or his commitment to a better and more peaceful Ireland,' Mr Cowen added.

According to p.ie anyway. Looks like the old anti-Haughey crowd are getting off the stage, twas inevitable really:

Link: http://www.politics.ie/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=41149

The real Ronaldo that is, what a player in his prime:

Ronaldo Career Virtually Over

The career of Milan striker Ronaldo is virtually over after it was confirmed that he has completely severed the tendon in his left knee.

Ronaldo collapsed in the penalty area in agony just minutes after coming on as a substitute in tonight's 1-1 draw with Livorno.

El Fenomeno was stretchered off the pitch in serious distress and he was in floods of tears.

The seriousness of the situation could be seen immediately as the Milan players were clearly shaken up by what they had seen.

Ronaldo was immediately rushed to hospital where tests revealed that he had completely severed the tendon in his left knee.

The 31-year-old has already suffered this injury twice before, first in 1998 and then in 2000. In total these kept him out of the game for the best part of three years.

With this in mind, and also considering the fact that reports yesterday suggested that he was already considering retirement at the end of the season, it seems highly likely that the great career of Ronaldo has come to an end.

Seeing as 2 and 4 have their own, sure why not one for Div 3 too?

A wide open division, hard to call it in relation both to promotion as well as relegation, some decent sides who have enjoyed reasonably good form (or success for some, ahem ) in contention. So many possiblities here, will Sligo manage to build on last year's achievements? Can Louth get back up a division after a close relegation last year? Does Down's McKenna Cup form suggest a promising year ahead for the 'aristocrats'? Can Fermanagh rediscover the form of 2004 under new management? Similiarly can Wexford and Limerick end their current decline and restore their own form of recent years? Whose scalp will Laythrum claim, and how many near-misses will they have? And does anybody care about Longford?

Round-by-round is as follows:

Round 1

02.02.08 (Sat) @ 7.00pm

Newry: An Dún 1-12 Sligeach 2-5

03.02.08 (Sun) @ 2.30pm

Páirc na nGael: Luimneach 1-10 An Lú 0-9
Carrick-on-Shannon: Liatroim PvP Fear Manach
Wexford Park: Loch Garman 3-8 Longfort 1-9

Round 2

17.02.08 (Sun) @ 2.30pm

Pearse Park: Longfort v Liatroim
Drogheda: An Lú v An Dún
Lisnaskea: Fear Manach v Luimneach
Markievicz Park: Sligeach v Loch Garman

Round 3

02.03.08 (Sun) @ 2.30pm

Sligeach v Luimneach
Longfort v Fear Manach
Loch Garman v An Dún
An Lú v Liatroim

Round 4

15.03.008 (Sat) @ 7.00pm

An Dún v Longfort

16.03.08 (Sun) @ 2.30pm

Fear Manach v An Lú
Liatroim v Sligeach
Luimneach v Loch Garman

Round 5

29.03.08 (Sat) @ 7.00pm

An Dún v Luimneach

30.03.08 (Sun) @ 2.30pm

Sligeach v Fear Manach
Longfort v An Lú
Loch Garman v Liatroim

Round 6

06.04.2008 (Sun) @ 2.30pm

Fear Manach v Loch Garman
Luimneach v Longfort
Liatroim v An Dún
An Lú v Sligeach

Round 7

13.04.08 (Sun) @ 2.30pm

An Dún v Fear Manach
Luimneach v Liatroim
Longfort v Sligeach
Loch Garman v An Lú


From the Connacht champions' perspective, it's looking like a tough campaign in store. Four away ties, including daunting and cross-country travels to Down and Louth, a last-day trip to Longford, and the short journey to Carrick to resume league hostilities after a long time apart (must be early 90's if even that). Can't see us getting anything from the border duo, Longford possibly (may depend on who needs what by then) and Leitrim will be tight, but we could shade it. The home games are hard to know, I'd see us taking Limerick, and possibly Wexford too. Fermanagh is anyone's guess. Mid-table safety will be the likely outcome, can't see us gaining promotion, and I believe that honour will go to Louth and Down instead.

I'm not going to hazard a guess at the two to fall, but Leitrim will need to get on the right side of those close calls, though to be fair they were not far from being in Div 2 this year. Might as well have been there, because that other crowd will be coming straight back down anyway.

Joe Dolan dies after sudden illness

Wednesday, 26 December 2007 17:11

The singer and entertainer Joe Dolan has died at the Mater private hospital in Dublin.

He was taken ill at his home in Foxrock last night and died just after 3pm this afternoon from a suspected brain haemorrhage.

Mr Dolan, from Mullingar in Westmeath, had enjoyed musical success in Ireland and around the world for over 40 years.

With his band the Drifters his first chart success came in Ireland with 'The Answer to Everything' in 1964 but he is best perhaps known for songs 'Good Looking Woman' and 'Make Me an Island'.

Mr Dolan, who was in his late 60s and one of five children, was recently forced to cancel a number of Christmas concerts because of illness but he was at home in Foxrock in Dublin last night when he was taken ill.

Surrounded by his family he passed away after suffering a suspected brain haemorrhage just after 3pm.

Just curious to know how much is being charged for petrol and diesel around the country, given the hike in prices last week. Up by about 7c around Sligo, an utter rip-off, but it could be the case that the Rally might give them an excuse to charge high for the week ahead.

From my travels, the following prices were noted (NB my interest is in diesel, so I'm not 100% certain of the petrol):

Sligo town - 121.9 for both, across the board. Didn't see the off-bypass ones though, but I suspect it's no different. Were generally 114 a week ago.
Collooney - 121.9, up from 112 last week.
Ballymote- a rare case, the diesel is dearer than petrol, 121.9 to 120.9. Up by 9c in diesel's case, a bit less for petrol.
Tubbercurry - Doohan's is 117-115 for P-D, the cheapest i've seen in SO, while the station on the Curry side is 2c dearer. Not sure how much that's up though. Didn't see McCarrick's.
Ballina - the station on the Cross road is 117-115 for P-D, while there's another one there nearer the town 2c higher. Others appear to be higher still.
Crossmolina - around 119-117 IIRC in the station on the Belmullet side.
Belmullet - 120-119 for P-D, that being the one on the Bangor road. One on that peninsula side not showing prices, like the station in Bangor.

Apparently Ballinamore is around 116 for petrol, while Carrick isn't much dearer. I'd expect the one in Castlebaldwin would be reasonable too, but one wonders about that. 

Prior to the increase, Galway city was around 116 for both, while Tuam was about 4-5c cheaper. Ballindine was dirt cheap for diesel - all three stations at 107, with the petrol not too much higher. Apparently Claremorris was around that figure too. But they will all be higher now of course.

Any other prices of note? NB for conversion purposes, £1 = €1.42 at present, or €1 = £0.70.

From the Racing Post:

Curlin's runaway success overshadowed by fatal
George Washington injury

by PA Sport staff


GEORGE WASHINGTON'S Breeders' Cup Classic bid ended in tragedy as he suffered a fatal injury in a race won in brilliant fashion by Curlin at Monmouth Park.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old showed up handily early in the $5million contest, which was run on mud-splattereddirt track, but soon began to struggle.

As Curlin powered away to beat Hard Spun, George Washington's rider Mick Kinane dismounted his horse, who was quickly attended by racecourse veterinary staff.

He could not be saved, however, and the decision was taken to have him humanely destroyed.

O'Brien's wife Anne-Marie was in floods of tears on the rail and was then consoled by her husband as the family walked back into the paddock.

On-course veterinarian and equine joint expert Dr Wayne McIlwraith said George Washington suffered an open fracture of both sesamoid bones.

Dr McIlwraith added: "The decision was made very quickly. The injury was bad and Aidan O'Brien made the request for euthanisation. He was with the horse."

George Washingtonwas never far from the headlines throughout his mercurial career.

An emphatic winner of last year's 2,000 Guineas, he was then beaten by Araafa in the Irish equivalent in heavy ground.

However, O'Brien used all his skills to return the son of Danehill to his very best and he gained his revenge on his Irish Guineas conqueror in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot - a race which saw him crowned as the champion three-year-old miler.

He was then sent off to stud and was obviously a very popular proposition for breeders, but it was discovered very early that he was only managing to get a small percentage of his mares in foal.

He was sensationally returned to training, a move which saw leading Classic prospect Holy Roman Emperor retired early to take his place in the breeding sheds.

It is fair to say that George Washington has only shown flashes of his brilliance this season, but still offered enough to suggest he had retained plenty of ability.

He was not beaten far in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and Prix du Moulin at Longchamp and always sparked excitement and interest wherever he ran.

Monmouth Park 10.35

1 Curlin (Robby Albarado) 9-2
2 Hard Spun (Mario Pino) 8-1
3 Awesome Gem (David Flores) 33-1
9 ran

1-1 currently at the Lane, but that's not the main story, as Jol is heading out the door:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2741245.ece

Seen this posted on AFR earlier, a picture of Sam Allardyce photoshopped with impunity. Some real creativity to be found:

The thread:
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=277996
The youtube compliation:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gWPOthMJOb8

Didn't see this one coming I have to say. Hard to know who will take the reigns now, just bloody great news that. From the county's site:



It is with regret that I have to inform you that Tommy Breheny will not continue as Manager of the Sligo Senior Team for 2008.

His reason for this is due to his commitment to work and his family.

While I was very disappointed on hearing this news it was equally hard on Tommy to relay it.

I asked Tommy to get involved and help us out back in February 2006 and I have to say he was willing and gave nothing but total commitment since then.  He of course got due reward in winning the Connacht Championship this year, but if one was to realise his input one would understand that this success was to happen because his work ethic demanded it.

Tommy had nothing but the best interest of Sligo football at heart and he put this before all else while in charge.

While he has come to a point where he has to take a break I know he will help in the future and from time to time when asked.

I wish to thank him most sincerely for his total commitment to Sligo football for most of the past three years but in particular for the last two years when I sought his expertise.

I also wish to compliment those who gave him help in particular his selectors John Kent and P. J. Laughton.

Sligo football is indebted to Tommy Breheny and on behalf of all of us I wish to thank him most sincerely – I already look forward to a time when he can get involved again.

Mile buicohas, Tomas.

John Murphy

Chairman Sligo County Board.

From our county's website, the draw for the Senior not yet finalised of course. But the Connacht Champions (never thought I'd be saying that) will start their defence in Ruislip:
(I assume the dates for the semis will be June 15th and 22nd, more than likely)

FIXTURES PROGRAMME 2008.

CONNACHT SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

Sunday 11th    May

Pre-Lim.                                                                                              Extra Time     

New York                    Leitrim                        Gaelic Park     

Sunday  18th     May   

Pre Lim                                   

Sunday 25th May                                           

London                       Sligo                            Ruislip

Semi-Finals

Sunday    June                                                 

Sunday     June                                               

FINAL Sunday  13th July                   



Connacht Minor Football Championship

Round Robin:  `

Round 1  Saturday 19th April

Leitrim            v          Roscommon               Carrick on Shannon

Round 2          Saturday  26th April

Roscommon   v          Sligo                            Hyde Park

Round 3          Saturday 3rd May

Sligo                v          Leitrim                        Markievicz Park

Quarter Finals 17th /18th May                       Extra Time if necessary

A:        Winners Round Robin           v          Mayo

B;         Second in Round Robin         v          Galway



Semi-Finals    27/28th June

            Winners A                   v          Losers B

            Winners B                   v          Losers A

Final                13th July



Connacht U-21 Football Championship



Pre Lim;          22nd March                              Extra Time in all games.

            A:        Sligo  v  Galway                     Markievicz Park



Semi-Finals    29th   March

                        Mayo               v          Leitrim            Castlebar

                        A                      v          Roscommon   Markievicz Park/Galway

Final                5/67th April













Connacht Junior Football Championship.



Friday 2nd  May           First named at Home             Extra Time if necessary

Leitrim            v          Sligo                           

Roscommon   v          Mayo



Final:   .



Under 21 'B' Hurling Championship.



Semi-Final.

Sligo                v          Roscommon

Leitrim            v          Mayo

Final:   



AIB CONNACHT CLUB SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP



Pre-Lim           

Sligo                v          Leitrim                                    Markievicz Park

Semi- Finals   

Roscommon   v          Galway

Mayo               v          A



Final:                           

CONNACHT CLUB INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Pre Lim.

A:        Sligo                v          Leitrim

Semi-Finals

Mayo                           v          Roscommon

A                                  v          Galway

FINAL

CONNACHT CLUB JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Semi-Finals

Roscommon               v          Galway

Leitrim                        v          Mayo

Final



AIB CONNACHT CLUB HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Pre-Lim

A:        Sligo                v          Leitrim

B          Roscommon   v          Mayo

Semi-Final.

            A          v          B

Final.

Galway            v          Semi-Final Winners                           Athleague

Former WRC champion is believed to have been killed in a helicopter crash. From BBC:

Rally driver feared dead in crash 
 


Profile of a sporting legend 
Former world rally champion Colin McRae is believed to have been killed along with three others in a helicopter crash near his home in Lanarkshire.
The helicopter, which police believe was owned by Mr McRae, 39, came down at 1610 BST in Jerviswood, about a mile from Lanark, and caught fire.

Strathclyde Police said Colin McRae, a keen pilot, is thought to have been on board with three others.

However formal identification of those killed still has to be carried out.

Strathclyde Police said the damage to the Squirrel aircraft was so bad it was initially unclear how many people had died.

A police statement said: "Around 1610 BST on Saturday, 15 September 2007, emergency services were called to a helicopter crash in Jerviswood, east of the A73 at Lanark.

"There are no survivors."

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been informed and will carry out a full inquiry.

Police have been conducting a full scene examination and area search.


There were no survivors of the crash on the outskirts of Lanark

The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed that its own helicopter had been despatched to the scene along with three ambulance crews and the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service was in attendance.

An RAF helicopter was also put on stand-by to assist.

A spokesman for the British Airports Authority said the helicopter did not come from Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports, but its flight path is still unknown.

Colin McRae won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1995 driving a Subaru, becoming the first Briton to win the title.

He also was runner-up in 1996, 1997 and 2001.

He is married to Alison and has two children, Hollie and Johnny.

From RTE.ie:

Shelbourne announce death of Ollie Byrne
Sunday, 26 August 2007 14:06
Shelbourne Football Club has announced the death of Chief Executive and majority shareholder Ollie Byrne.

One of Irish footballs most colourful and controversial characters, Byrne had been battling illness lately, and died at Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross at 4am this morning.

Byrne played football for UCD, but asthma forced him off the field. He joined the board of Shelbourne in 1976, while also working as a music promoter, handling acts like Deep Purple, Phil Lynott and Joe Cocker.

In the late 1980s, Byrne along with businessman Tony Donnelly took charge of Shelbourne and set about reversing the fortunes of a club in serious decline.

Under Byrne the club have won six League Championships, four FAI Cups, one League Cup and came close to competing in the group stages of the Champions League.

Byrne had been admitted to hospital in January complaining of severe head and chest pains.

[Three telemasts get planning green light]

Just wondering what other's views are on our wonderful planning appeals authority, which IMHO appears to be as corrupt as hell. In the few last few weeks we have had a number of planning applications in Sligo, refused by the Council, now overturned by ABP, including four telephone masts. The story from the Champion two weeks ago accounts for three of them:

Three telemasts get planning green light

Wednesday July 18 2007

An Bord Pleanala has given the go-ahead for controversial telecommunication masts at three separate locations in County Sligo.Planning permission for the structures was refused by Sligo County Council because the proposals were contrary to the policy of the County Development Plan that telecommunications masts are not located within 1km of smaller towns and 400m of private dw

By Leo Gray

An Bord Pleanala has given the go-ahead for controversial telecommunication masts at three separate locations in County Sligo.
Planning permission for the structures was refused by Sligo County Council because the proposals were contrary to the policy of the County Development Plan that telecommunications masts are not located within 1km of smaller towns and 400m of private dwellings.
However, the Planning Appeals Board has overturned the decision of the County Council Council and granted planning permission for the structures.

Permission has been granted to the ESB for a 20 metre high structure at its existing sub-station in Tubbercurry while 02 Communications (Ire) Ltd have received permission for 30m lattice structures at Lisananny More, Ballymote, and Castleview, Drumfin.
Objections against the developments at Tubbercurry and Ballymote had been lodged with Sligo County Council by local residents and landowners.

The planning authority refused planning permission for all three structures but these decisions were appealed to An Bord Pleanala by the applicants.

In the case of the ESB development at Tubbercurry, An Bord Pleanala's planning inspector recommended that planning permission be refused.

The inspector pointed out that the site was some 700 metres from the town centre and on the edge of an established and growing residential area that included a nursing home and a school.

It was national and local policy that telecommunications masts should only be located within a small town or village or within a residential area, where the site was one of last resort and it had been clearly demonstrated to be so.
The inspector said she was not satisfied that the information presented clearly demonstrated that a rigourous examination was carried out and all potential sites were assessed and the information submitted allowed for independent verification of the facts made in support of the site.

She also considered that the design of the proposed pole was unlikely to facilitate co-location and said she would be concerned that the solid brown pole would be visually obtrusive and set a precedent for similar development on the site.
In deciding not to accept the inspector's recommendation to refuse permission, An Bord Pleanala said it had particular regard to the relevant Government guidelines whereby a location within a site already developed for utilities was favoured and noted that the current site was within an ESB compound.

The Board did not consider the development would be visually obtrusive, particularly given its scale and location, and was satisfied that reasonable efforts had been made to locate on other existing support structures.
Compliance

The Board considered that subject to compliance with a number of conditions, the proposed development would not be visually obtrusive or seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience.

The application for planning permission was made by the ESB on behalf of Hutchinson 3G and a letter lodged with the application indicated that Vodafone, Fastcom Broadband and Magnet Networks would also be interested in using the site.
In regard to the O2 Communications proposals at Ballymote and Drumfin, the planning inspector recommended that planning permission be granted in both cases.

In a report on the Ballymote appeal, the inspector noted that the site was in a rural area and that up to four dwellings were within 400m of the mast.

There was, she said, no substantive evidence that adverse health effects could occur if people were exposed to non-ionising radiation below the levels endorsed by ICNIRP. The Assessment of Compliance submitted indicated that the level of radiation would be insignificant and complied with guidelines.

Acceptable

"In view of the limited number of dwellings in the vicinity of the site, the absence of opportunities for co-location, I am satisfied that the proposed development is acceptable in principle", said the inspector.

She also considered that the proposed mast, which was located beside a group of trees, would not be visually obtrusive as viewed from the main roads in the area.

The mast will give Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) coverage to the Dublin/Sligo railway between Collooney and Boyle as well as to Ballymote town and surrounding areas.

In recommending planning permission for the O2 Communications mast at Castleview, Drumfin, the planning inspector said that in view of the limited number of dwellings in the area, she was satisfied that the proposed development was acceptable in principle.

Furthermore, she considered that the proposed mast, which would be grouped visually with a number of ESB pylons, was acceptable in terms of visual amenity, given the nature and designation of the surrounding landscape and the limited views available of the proposed mast.

The mast will give Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) coverage to the N4 between Collooney and Castlebaldwin.

As highlighted there, one of the applications was rejected by ABP's own inspector, yet it was approved, and this is a worryingly common outcome. In the week this article was published, another mast was given the green light, not very far from our area, indeed overlooking it in one sense. This was refused TWICE by SCC, went to ABP, as with the Tubber mast, the inspector advised against it, and yet it was granted, for reasons amongst others being that it wasn't located on the summit of the hill it will be erected on, which is of little comfort to anyone in this area.

But that didn't take the biscuit, no that was devoured last week, in the case of this application:

06/57: Carrowhubbock South, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo. (#220845)

Sligo County Council

211 no. houses, 3 no. retail units, creche, new road, carparking for 424 no. cars, retention and refurbishment of existing farm buildings, landscaping and all associated site works.

Case reference: 21 220845

Case type: Planning Appeal

Applicant: ----- (Applicant)

EIS required: No

Parties
Appellant: -----
Decision: Grant permission with revised conditions


This had been granted by SCC somehow (when the local area plan's projected no of housing developments was already exceeded), but went to ABP. Again, the Inspector recommended it should be refused, for a very good reason - it was an excessive development and would not constitute proper sustainable development in Enniscrone. And ABP said? Plough ahead lads.

For Stephenite and others, you may know Enniscrone is a popular coastal resort out near Ballina, and has been a nice small village in that time. However the wonderful housing boom has left the area with more houses than people, thanks to all the many holiday homes built. And now another 200+ are heading their way, leaving Enniscrone to join Coolaney, Collooney, Ballisodare, Ballymote, Dromahair etc. as towns/villages in the county and surrounds, to have been turned into little playthings for developers to build at their convenience. No doubt the boys are working the oracle once more this week.

And the other thing is - if you happen to be a rural club who plan to develop a pitch and training facility, in conjunction with the county board, you will be objected to by, in chief, a person who doesn't live where they say so, and will be subsequently turned down. No doubt we'll have to go through this process whenever we get our plans in motion, while the same folks allow the local town to sprawl at an enormous rate.

Well lads, lassies and langers, how will this one go? A repeat of the qualifier in Portlaoise two years ago, I guess both teams have improved since then, we have for sure, although the forwards aren't as reliable as one would like. Need to get the free-taking sorted in particular, Masters will be knocking them over with little fuss at the other end, so any misses will be costly. Would have regarded Cork as the ones to avoid, but the Louth game didn't convince me, whereas Meath showed more promise that day. We'll be tight and tenacious, even though HQ is slightly bigger than the Hyde, but Cork were really rattled by us in Portlaoise that day, and were not in a comfortable position, prior to a fluke goal that killed us off. Will be a tough tie, but it isn't beyond us. Prediction - Cork by 17, we'll try to keep the ball kicked out at least.

I suspect a similiar thread may have appeared here at some stage, but can anyone help me with regard to what laptops would be the best performance and value? My current one is going on a long term work-to-rule so it's time to invest I guess. Any ideas, preferably under the €1,000 mark?