This article is from page 28 of the 2008-01-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 28 JPG
A NEW service aimed at maintain- ing and providing links with people who feel cut off from their local community was launched in Ennis last week.
The Clare Talking Social Club was launched in the Woodstock Hotel on Thursday last by the Mayor of Clare Patricia McCarthy; Pauline Mc- Naughton, chairperson of the Sunset Foundation; and Fr Tom Hogan, ad- ministrator of Ennis Parish.
The idea for the Clare Talking So-
cial Club was conceived by the Sun- set Foundation, a Clare-based group established just over two years ago.
The service is maintained by Pauline Naughton and Sunset Foun- dation co-coordinator Patrick Mur- phy. So far the service has contacted 64 people and it has been well re- ceived in the local community.
Patrick Murphy explained why the Sunset Foundation set up the serv- or
‘There are an awful lot of peo- ple out there who are on their own. They might be living in the middle
of a few hundred houses but they are still isolated. So we made a few calls to people and we got good feedback so we decided to make it a regular den beteae
Patrick added, “I usually do three days a week and Pauline Naughton would do two. So far we’ve made around 64 calls. People do appreci- ate it.
“We make contact with all differ- ent types of people. Elderly people living on their own or two brothers living on their own.
“It might be the case that no one
calls them or checks in with them, so that is what we do.”
The Sunset Foundation was found- ed in 2005 by Ennis man Patrick Murphy and Michael McInerney from Sixmilebridge as an awareness eroup for visually impaired people.
It now boasts over 50 members and is regularly involved in organising charity events and outings.
Last summer, the Sunset Founda- tion sent 30 blind and visually im- paired people to Lourdes.
The Clare Talking Social Club can be contacted at 065 6824875.