Month: January 2008

A COMMUNITY group based in Shannon which celebrates its 10th birthday this year is planning to expand its role, so that it can lend a hand to the elderly.

The Shannon Social Economy Maintenance Services Limited cur- rently provides support to a wide va- riety of groups, including the primary schools in the town and surrounding areas, the Shannon tidy towns com- mittee and local GAA clubs.

Among its work includes the provi- sion of a cleaning service, painting, decorating and recycling and general Crue ED nereaenu latory

Last week, it was one of 11 projects

in the county to receive funding un- der the national Community Serv- ices Programme.

The money allocated to the Shan- non group, which is based at St To- la’s National School, will maintain employment for one manager and five full time workers.

Currently 10 people are employed full-time along with a number of part-time staff. Manager Christy Shannon is hoping its remit can be extended.

“We are hoping to employ more people and provide a service for the elderly, where we can clean windows and do painting and decorating,’ he Sr AKGe

“We are doing our best to provide

as much employment as possible. Shannon has good employment, but people can find it difficult to get into the psyche of employment,” said Mr SJeEDevOee ;

“Initially we started off with FAS and we now deal with different de- partments. In the early days, we em- ployed people aged 35 and over, who were long-term unemployed. Now the employees don’t have to be on the live register.

“We reskill people and help them to get back to work or to move to bet- ter employment,” said Mr Shannon.

Several staff have worked on the initiative since its inception 10 years ago and during this time have built up a good rapport with the schools

in the area. The organisers collect a minimal fee from each school and organisation it works with.

In addition, the Government fund- ing is crucially important, in order that the group continues to operate for the benefit of the local commu- nity.

“We work hand in hand with the principals and Boards of Manage- ment and staff in the schools and it all works out well,” he said.

Welcoming the announcement of the funding last week, Clare Muin- ister for State Tony Killeen said, ‘These necessary funds importantly recognise the voluntary effort of lo- cal community groups throughout Ireland.”

AS OUR year on Pemba Island, Tanzania, draws to a close we look back and marvel at the vast range of places, people, activities and emotions that have filled our lives in 2007. For us, it has been a privilege and the opportunity of a lifetime to live among the people here. They have taught us much.

This year, we learned that poverty sets a lot of limits for people but it doesn’t crush their spirit. Despite the daily struggle to put food on the table, our neighbours greet each other with a big smile every morning and children play happily all day long with a burst ball or the sand on the roadside.

This year, we learned that people of

the Muslim faith are not all terrorists despite their bad press in the West. The most popular greeting on the is- land is ‘Salama’ which means peace.

We have never seen violence on the street or even on the sports field and bad language doesn’t feature here. We have discovered that they are a polite, disciplined, prayerful people and they have much to teach us.

We learned that sport is universal and unites people throughout the world. The Premiership has reached Pemba, with shopfronts sporting such names as Highbury Fashions and Everton Café.

When the young men train for the local soccer club the older men sit for hours watching them and, as they walk home from training in their bare feet, they are escorted by troops

of youngsters who feel privileged to accompany their heroes.

This year, we learned that we are all brothers and sisters on this planet and more alike than different. Whether black or white, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, Muslim or Christian, we all share a common life experience.

Emotionally, we are exactly alike. The same things make us laugh and cry. We love and hate and get angry about the same things. We all worry when our children are sick but there is delight when Man Utd win.

But we have also learned that things are not as simple as they seem and everyone has their own story. Behind the large, open-eyed smile of a hand- some brown child there lie layers of little victories over hunger, poverty,

hardship and failure. We have also learned that a toasted cheese sand- wich can taste good anywhere, it is possible to be understood in Swa- hili with a very small vocabulary and water is a greater necessity than electricity. We have learned that the Irish people are incredibly generous, we still wonder at the magic of email and texts, that a juicy pineapple can put many problems in perspective and friends are a precious gift.

THE driving force in_ Bridget Sweeney’s life is her “Burrenview’ bed and breakfast business in Bally- vaughan and she proved it when pick- ing up her latest award last month.

On her way to an end-of-year awards function for the Tourism Learning Network, her car broke down. Yet just a few weeks before she had won a new car in a national newspaper competition. But Bridget opted to convert the car prize into cash, which she invested in the com- fort of her guests rather than her own driving convenience.

Not even the breakdown halted Bridget. Still stained with oil and

erime when she finally arrived in Limerick’s Castletroy Park Hotel, she was stunned to learn that she was one of three award winners chosen from the 25-strong membership of the Clare Tourism Learning Network.

Winning ways are nothing new to Bridget, from Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, who was the leader of an award-winning customer care team in the telecoms industry before she used the proceeds of an early retire- ment package to finance her dream of running a B&B in the Burren.

She took on the job of project manager for the conversion and refurbishment of ‘Burrenview’ which opened in 2006 and was an award winner within its first year.

The five-bedroom B&B with dis- ability access in all en-suite rooms won a ‘Welcome Award’ from Failte Ireland as well as getting a ‘highly recommended’ endorsement from Family Homes of Ireland.

Before she opened her doors to paying guests, Bridget conducted a series of test-runs to weed out any problems or shortcomings for her as a newcomer to the tourist trade. She invited well-travelled friends and family to visit and provide feedback.

“They told me what they thought of how I greeted them on arrival, how I informed them about what was on offer in the area, the comfort of the bedrooms and the quality of the breakfast,” she said.

Bridget’s winning ways have also helped to fit out Burrenview. She has a flair for dreaming up winning slo- gans. Her prize from one competition provided the furniture for the patio looking out over the Burren, while light fittings and an aquarium were also won in slogan competitions.

Bridget received her ‘Tourism Learning Network award for her achievement in developing a boutique bed and breakfast venture at New- town, Ballyvaughan. Other winners presented with their awards by Clare Mayor, Councillor Patricia McCa- rthy, were Davnet Cronin O’Brien of Clonlara Equestrian Centre and John Davoren of Caherconnell Fort in the Burren.4

THERE’S still time to start 2008 in a healthy and charitable fashion — just by taking part in the fifth annual New Year’s Charity Walk, which takes place this Sunday, January 13, in Toonagh.

The walk, which is organised each year by Breda McCullough, allows walkers to take three distinct routes designed to suit every level of fit- ness.

All the proceeds from this year’s walk will go towards equipment for St Clare’s School, which will help to prepare some of the county’s most

dedicated young athletes to take part in the Special Olympics movement.

“The Special Olympics is expand- ing all the time and we are hoping to raise enough money to fund new equipment and gear for the young children in all the different events. It will allow them to keep being involved and more and more children are getting involved all the time,” said Ms McCullough.

“I organise a different fundraiser each year for local charities. In the past I have raised money for things like the Clarecastle Day Care Cen- tre and for the Clare Branch of the Sunset Foundation.

“The walk starts in Toonagh Hall and finishes there as well. We have a two-mile, a three-mile and a six-and- a-half mile walk, so we have some- thing to suit everyone.

“It’s a beautiful walk, it goes around by Dysert Church, Dysert Castle and the high cross as well. You have the old monastery and the graveyard up there, so besides being a lovely walk there is a lot of interesting things for people to see.”

Registration for the race takes place from 11.30am at Toonagh Hall on Sunday morning, with the walk itself set to start at 12.30pm. Launching this year’s walk will be Mary’s son,

Conrad, who has himself already gained both national and interna- tional success as part of the Special Olympics movement.

“We don’t have sponsorship cards SO we are asking people to just come along on the day itself. It’s usually three euro to walk but people can donate whatever they want. Altogeth- er, we are hoping to raise as much as €3,500,” added Ms McCullough.

“My son Conrad, who is involved in the Special Olympics, is a special needs child in St Clare’s School. He usually comes along and starts the race and also likes to help out a lot on the day.”

THE kind (and brave) hearts of the people of north Clare were very much to the fore over the festive season with a host of charity events.

Over the past two weeks thousands have cycled, ran, walked and plunged into the icy waters of the Atlantic in aid of a variety of good causes.

On Sunday, a good crowd turned out in Fanore to take part in the sixth annual charity 10k walk in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society. All funds from this year’s walk will go towards help- ing to develop and extend day care, home care and respite services in the Orem Keale)F

A few hours later, Sharon Shannon and the Begley family took to the stage in Purcells Bar in Ruan to help raise some much-needed money for Sr Ethel Normoyle’s Building for Hope project in South Africa.

Another person raising money for the trip to Africa is Corofin’s Gerry Daffy, who hosted a successful golf classic in Woodstock on Saturday. There is still time to support Gerry, as a song and storytelling night takes place in Bofey Quinns in Corofin this Friday, January 11, before he flies out to South Africa next Monday.

Terrible weather conditions could not stop around 200 people from taking part in the Burren Char-

ity Challenge on December 29. All proceeds from this year’s challenge are going to CancerCare West and Tallaght Breast Unit in Dublin.

The main winners on the day were Eoghan Considine (Galway Triath- lon) and Aideen McCarthy (Lim- erick Triathlon) who won the men’s and women duathlon (40km cycle and 10km walk) and Gerald Daly (Whitegate) and Marie Carey (Ennis Track Club) who took the man’s and women’s 10k competition respec- tively.

Even on Christmas Day hundreds turned out for charitable events all over north Clare.

A huge crowd of close to 200

swimmers took to the cold waters of Liscannor bay for the annual Christ- mas Day swim.

The swim, which is the largest and longest running charity swim in Clare, was this year organised in aid of the Clare Crusaders and in memory of Howard Flannery.

Not to be outdone, just as Clare’s oldest Christmas Day swim was coming to a close in Lahinch, Clare’s newest event was just beginning in Doolin.

A good-sized crowd of hardy souls took to the waters around Doolin in an effort to help raise money for the St Breckans GAA Club Field Devel- opment Committee.

ALMOST a decade after the pro- posal was first mooted, Clare County Council is set to move into its new €27 million headquarters before the end of the month.

Already, the council’s various di- rectorates are making the logistical moves to transfer staff to the new HQ for January 23. Michael McNa- mara & Co builders aim to meet the project deadline of having the new HQ completed by this month. The

council’s former HQ was demolished in June 2006.

The county’s mayor, Cllr Patri- cia McCarthy, said last night: “It is looking very impressive and I’m confident that the council’s Febru- WA Vap 8 Oleco1 BU OTSMM UUM oloms O(o) COMBE OREO CoMDIToAYY Council chamber.

“T would hope that the new head- quarters will act as a focal point, not just for Ennis but for the county. The previous headquarters were dreadful and now for the first time in many years, all the council staff will be

under one roof.”

Cllr McCarthy added: “The new HQ will provide excellent facilities and are a vast improvement on what has gone before.”

The complex deal with Michael McNamara & Co allows the coun- cil to buy back the building over 35 years. Cllr McCarthy said: “It is a complicated deal, but it was the only way the council could achieve the construction of a new headquarters because we couldn’t continue paying the exorbitant rents for offices in En-

eae

She said that the new HQ will be eco-friendly, and she hoped it would act as a one-stop shop for industrial- ists touring Clare.

Over the past two years the Coun- cil’s 900 employees have been based in offices located at various venues resulting in inconvenience for cus- tomers and staff alike.

While the provision of the new headquarters will form just a small part of the McNamara construction portfolio this year, the project will

undoubtedly have some sentimental value for Bernard McNamara, chief executive of Michael McNamara & Co, Ireland’s fourth largest construc- tion company.

The company was established by Bernard’s late father, Michael in the 1940s. Bernard served as a council- lor from 1974 to 1985, when he opted not to run for re-election due to his growing business commitments. He also unsuccessfully contested the 1981 General Election for Fianna Fail, polling 2,676 votes.

FOUR motorists and their passen- gers had lucky escapes when three separate traffic accidents occurred within minutes of each other on the same stretch of the Ennis bypass on Saturday morning.

The incidents occurred shortly af- ter 8.15am on the main N18, near the townland of Ballymacahill, af- ter a shower of hailstones fell on an already freezing road. All four driv- ers were taken by surprise and were fortunate to escape without being injured.

Two crashes occurred on the north- bound route while the third happened only yards away on the southbound EWaYehe

Units of the fire brigade and ambu-

lance service from Ennis rushed to the scene and discovered the sepa- rate incidents on opposite sides of the dual-carriageway.

One vehicle left the road and trav- elled across a grass verge before col- liding with a timber fence while a second mounted a ditch before over- turning. Both had lost control in the treacherous conditions and were ex- tensively damaged.

While neither car could be driven afterwards their occupants escaped unscathed. There were no passengers in either car.

It is understood that one of the drivers later travelled to Belfast by jo) e-b alee

In the third incident, two cars trav- elling towards Limerick collided after skidding on another patch of

frozen hailstone. There was a sole occupant in one of the vehicles while the second car was carrying a family of four.

The roadway was closed for a short time while emergency services dealt with the incidents. Ambulance per- sonnel examined those involved: no one was injured and none required hospitalisation.

Garda patrol cars were positioned at opposite ends of the bypass, at Latoon and Barefield, to warn mo- torists of the accidents ahead and the dangerous driving conditions. By about 9.30am the scenes had been cleared and the dual-carriageway GUD Kere) ele nleer

The crashes occurred the day after unexpected snow showers caused havoc on Clare roads. Forecasters

had warned of “some snow in hilly areas’. However, heavy snow show- ers fell across the county, resulting in extremely dangerous dangerous conditions and dozens of minor ac- cidents.

Gale force winds on Sunday led to several problems for drivers yester- day. A fallen tree near Corofin re- sulted in the road being impassable for several hours.

There were also reports of fallen trees on the road between Inagh and Miltown Malbay and in the Kilna- mona area. They were cleared within hours.

St Joseph’s Secondary School in Spanish Point was closed yesterday, as a result of severe flooding in the area. Despite the high winds, the ESB noted no power outages in Clare.

ENNIS has again fared poorly in the latest litter survey by Irish Business Against Litter (BAL). Ennis finished in 31st position out of 50 areas surveyed and was deemed moderately littered in a report compiled by An Taisce. ‘There has been little change in En- nis since it was surveyed earlier in 2007. While half of the sites surveyed got the highest litter classification, there were a couple with moderate levels of litter which could easily be improved with a little extra care and attention, such as the Crescent at Mc- Namara Park and the N68 Kilrush/

Kilkee/Killimer approach road.”

The area around the Ennis Leisure Centre and the N18 Limerick ap- proach road came in for particularly harsh criticism from An Taisce.

The report states, “By far the most heavily littered site was Ennis Leisure Centre. The recycle facility was re- sponsible for the very poor litter rating. It had been used as a dumping ground and was a complete mess. The N18 Limerick approach road had a serious litter problem – there were heavy levels of a wide variety of litter throughout a stretch of road that could and should have been so much better.”

An Taisce surveyed 10 areas in and

around Ennis. The Gort approach road is, according to the report, “clean to European norms”’.

The report states, “This was a clean and welcoming approach into Ennis. The overall impression was of an area which is carefully maintained and there was some colourful plant- ing which was in good condition.”

The report also reflected favourably on the N85 approach road and Cusack Lawn. Of the N85 approach road, the report states, “This was an excellent approach road into Ennis – there was plenty of colourful planting and the road surface/markings/signage were all in very good condition.”

The Crescent at McNamara Park was found to be moderately littered with the report stating, “With a lit- tle extra effort, this residential area could easily get the highest litter clas- sification. Some small scatterings of food-related litter took away from an otherwise well maintained site.”

The same was also said of the N68 Kilrush/Kilkee/Killimer approach road which was also found to be moderately littered.

The report stated, “Not much effort is required to bring this site up to a clean site. Most of the road was clear of litter but was let down by casually dropped litter.”

THERE were 17 suspected suicides in Clare last year, according to provi- sional figures provided by the Clare County Coroner’s Office. Sixteen of the deceased were male.

This is an increase on the 13 lives lost through suicide in 2006 and 10 in 2005. It also eclipses the 12 road deaths in Clare last year.

The figures show that in 2007 – for the second year running – suicide in Clare was a predominantly rural- based phenomenon, with I1 of the 17 suspected suicides taking place in rural Clare.

In relation to the profile of those af- fected, the figures show that young males were the most vulnerable. Those aged in their 20s were most likely to commit suicide, with six men in this age bracket losing their Taerse

Three men in their 30s, 40s and SOs also lost their lives through suicides.

Two suspected suicides occurred at the Cliffs of Moher. In contrast, there were none at the cliffs during 2006 or 2005, though there were four sus- pected suicides there in 2004.

The figures also show that the largest proportion of suicides took

place, once more, during the summer rnaKeyeld else

Last year, over a third of the total number of suicides (six) occurred during the month of June. There were two in May and two in July.

Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosa- jee Bhamjee said that it was worry- ing that the numbers of suicides are

increasing in Clare.

“It 1s a source of concern and | would say to people that there 1s help available and for friends or family to intervene on a friend or a family member’s behalf if they feel that they are in trouble,” he said.

“I feel that there isn’t enough of an emphasis on older people being vul- nerable to suicide. Often older peo- ple won’t go for help and their de- pressions can be prolonged and quite deep. But these suicides are prevent- able if help is sought.”

Dr Bhamjee also called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to have in place more resources to deal with mental health issues and to pro- vide quicker access to services for those requiring assistance.

On suicide being an almost exclu- sively male phenomenon in Clare last year, Dr Bhamjee said: “Men don’t seek help because of pride and because they have difficulty talking about their feelings.”

The Samaritans in Ennis can be contacted on 6829777.

THE Bishop of Killaloe has defended the role of the immigrant population in the diocese, amid suggestions that they are abusing the welfare system.

Speaking at Mass in Ennis on Sun- day to mark Immigrant Day, Dr Wil- lie Walsh said views that non-nation- als are abusing the welfare system are simply not true.

He said that a small number of immigrants do use the system and suggestions — that this figure was sionificant were exaggerated.

He said he be- lieves that many

foreign nation- als will return to their native

Shores, as the economy experi- ences adownturn. Those working in the construction industry in Clare, holm oy Dus (CUUE- TOMMY BOE RMUUM OM OLO)eeloMm EEE ing lost their jobs, said Dr Walsh.

He made his comments as people from 20 nationalities took part in a Mass at Ennis Cathedral on Sunday, to mark Immigrant Day.

‘There is no doubt a small number have come to use our welfare system. No doubt a small number of Irish people abuse the welfare system too. Any suggestion that a large propor- tion of the immigrant population are here to abuse the system is simply not true,” he said.

“Immigrants have made an enor- mous contribution to the economy over the past 10 years. The vast ma- jority of them, of the age, are work- ing. There is solid evidence there to indicate that the vast majority of our immigrants have made a solid con-

tribution to the economy,’ Dr Walsh told