This article is from page 32 of the 2007-03-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
TWO courses in acupuncture will be on offer at a college in Shannon, starting next month.
Representatives of the College of Medical Acupuncture and Tradition- al Chinese Medicine were in Shan- non over the weekend, to promote its part-time courses, which lead to a licentiate in acupuncture with full professional qualifications.
One of the courses is a one-year course, designed for medical doc- tors, physiotherapists and dentists. The other course runs over three years and is for non-medical, nurs- ing and complementary health prac- titioners.
The courses will start at the end of
April, at the college’s office at Bal- lycasey Park in Shannon.
The college runs courses all over the country, but its office in Shannon is the only centre it actually owns. It is located adjacent to Sang Man’s practice – he lectures on the courses – in Ballycasey. Mr Man is the presi- dent of the Chinese population in Ireland.
The other lecturers on the course are Bruce W Du Ve, John O’Bourke and Eilin Ni Riordain, who all have a huge amount of experience in this area, on an international level.
According Ms Ni Riordain, there has been a huge growth in interest in this particular area over the years.
“We started off in Barrington’s Hospital in 1994. Since then we have
set up a practice in Galway and Ath- lone and in Merrion Square, Dublin,” she said.
“Three years ago, we decided to buy a property and we bought a place in Shannon. The Chinese Ambassa- dor did the official opening for us at Wee ND OOeMMMEC)OLomy-BLOM
The building in Shannon has three classrooms and courses have been run there over the past three years.
“We try to keep class numbers to around 15 or 20. We have doctors, dentists and physiotherapists, tak- ing the one-year course. In the other course there are shopkeepers, thatch- ers, teachers and accountants. We have had a range of professions,” she said.
“This is growing at such a rate it 1s
incredible. The physiotherapists are using it in the hospitals. People are seeing amazing results from this,” she said.
As part of the course, students are invited to visit China, for periods ranging from between one and three months, to the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is affiliated to the college here.
The courses cost €3,500 and fur- ther details, and a prospectus, are available by phoning 090 9678202.