A BID by one of the country’s surviving Green Party public representatives that cyclists be exempt from one-way directions on certain streets in Ennis has hit the buffers.

A CHIEF fire officer yesterday appealed for people to exercise caution in wild land after a record year of fires.

THE members of Ennis Town Council last night agreed to request the Office of Public Works (OPW) to investigate the possibility of purchasing a town centre site co-owned by developer Bernard McNamara for a knock-down price.

PLANNING permission has been given for a €40 million private hospital on the outskirts of Ennis after councillors overwhelmingly voted through a rezoning to accommodate the proposal.

BOXING legend Muhammad Ali’s Ennis relatives yesterday joined with former world boxing champion Barry McGuigan to celebrate Ali’s historic visit to Ennis one year ago.

LEGENDARY boxing commentator Bob Sheridan will be guest speaker at an event marking the first anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s visit to Ennis.

DUBLIN city council is to trial solar-powered bins that can hold up to eight times as much as regular bins and send a text via a sim card to collection operators when they are full.

CLARE County Council is set to reject a 12-year blueprint for the development of the midwest.

IRELAND’S joint second place in the opening leg of the Samsung Super League was as good as could be hoped for, but the fact it was shared with Switzerland and the US dented the value of the performance in terms of points gained.

A NUMBER of internationally renowned authors have been confirmed as participants in the Ennis Book Club Festival 2008, details of which were announced today.

Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney confirmed today that Ennis General Hospital in County Clare is to benefit from a consultant-led Accident and Emergency service but will lose its 24 hour A+E status in the long term.

Chef d'Equipe Tommy Brennan tonight (Saturday) announced the jumping order for the Irish team in Sunday afternoon's Nations' Cup competition in Hamina, Finland.

A jubilant Chef d'Equipe Tommy Brennan announced Ireland's triumph in the Austrian Nations' Cup in Linz this afternoon when the team of Conor Swail, Commandant Gerry Flynn, Ryan Crumley and Shane Breen proved unstoppable in both rounds, finishing on 12 faults, with Italy the nearest challengers on 24 faults.

SHOW jumper Peter Charles yesterday said he would “rule nothing in, or, nothing out” when asked of speculation he is about to change nationality.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) Jumping Committee yesterday came out in support of Irish show jumping team manager Robert Splaine in his dispute with rider Jessica Kürten.

AN air of expectation more so than optimism permeated the select group at the Equestrian Federation of Ireland’s (EFI) presentation of its jumping committee last Monday.

ROBERT SPLAINE was yesterday officially installed as the manager to the Irish showjumping team and he said his priorities were to stay in the Samsung Nations Cup Super League and to finish in the top five of September’s World Equestrian games, thus qualifying for the Bejing Olympics.

THE plans of Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) secretary general Dan Butler for Irish international participation this year are coming to fruition.

BRITISH show jumping legend Malcolm Pyrah is one of five candidates in the frame to become the next Irish show jumping team manager.

YOUNG Event rider Dairine Kennedy saw victory slip from her grasp in the dying seconds of the feature two star class at the Isuzu International Horse Trials in Dartfield yesterday.

“ONE of the better ones” was Kevin Babington’s description this week of his superb win in Sunday’s La Baule Grand Prix with the ever-reliable Carling King.

IRELAND’S Olympic long-listed rider, Austin O’Connor, is hoping his trip across the Irish Sea will reap dividends when he competes at Dartfield horse trials in Galway this week.

IRELAND’S depleted eventing team achieved their goal of qualifying for next year’s Olympics when finishing fourth yesterday at the conclusion of the Failte Ireland/IFG European Championships.

THE squad charged with carrying the Irish flag in next week’s European Eventing Championships in Punchestown was named this week following a final outing in Annaharvey.

A HUGE surge in tourist numbers is expected next month as one of the world’s biggest equestrian events comes to Co Kildare.

A 20-YEAR-OLD Irishman who suffered serious head injuries in an unprovoked attack in the US has regained consciousness after being in a coma for almost a week.

A DISTRAUGHT family is hoping their youngest son will regain consciousness and be able to celebrate his 21st birthday in a fortnight’s time.

A Dublin club selection managed by Frankie Roebuck and Tommy Brennan will take on Australia in an International Rules game on October 9.

Sligo 2-13 2-04 Leitrim

Sligo 0-11 0-10 Down