Month: February 2008

CARERS from Clare will finally get an opportunity to outline their re- quirements to the most senior person in the Health Service Executive.

The Chief Executive Officer of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, will address the Caring for Carers Ireland 17th Annual Respite Break and Conference this March in the Clare Inn.

Professor Drumm, who has reiter- ated his commitment to community care and supporting people in the home since he was appointed CEO,

will hear the realities facing the country’s 161,000 carers.

The outcome of this year’s confer- ence, entitled “The Future of Long term Care in the Community: How to meet the needs of the Family Carer”, will be significant in the composi- tion of the National Carers’ Strategy 2008 to 2016.

Also addressing the gathering will be Laverne McGuiness, the HSE’s National Director for Primary Com- munity and Continuing Care, Marian Harkin MEP, Brigid Barron, Founder President, Eurocarers; Helen Kelly, Chairperson of Caring for Carers,

Clare and Mary McMahon, the chief executive of Caring for Carers, Ire- land.

Caring for Carers was originally formed in Clare. It has since expand- ed to an all Ireland and European body, giving a voice to those often to busy and stressed to speak up for themselves.

Attendance at the conference on March 7 to 9 will include more than 500 Family Carers drawn from Car- ing for Carers Ireland national net- work of 90 Carers Groups through- out Ireland.

“Family Carers experience high

levels of stress and financial difficul- ties. Many express fears around their abilities to continue to provide care,” a spokesperson for the organisation said.

This conference will provide an opportunity for carers to report their need for services and support to sus- tain caring in the home into the fu- ture. The outcomes will be reported to the interdepartmental working eroup, which is tasked to develop a National Strategy for Family Carers aligned with *““Towards 2016”, which will set out the Government’s vision in relation to all family carers.

CLARE people are being forced into extensive fundraising activity in order to bridge the gaps in the HSE speech and language service for children with Downs Syndrome in Clare.

Despite the appointment of addi- tional speech and language therapists for the county, the Clare Branch of Downs Syndrome Ireland admit that there are still some Clare children who have never been seen by a HSE therapist.

‘Because there is such a gap in speech therapy for a lot of people, with a lot of kids and adults never having had any speech therapy from the HSE, we try and alleviate that by part funding a speech therapist along with the family,” said Margaret Dix- on, secretary of the Clare branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.

“It is very important that these children get early intervention, from birth right up to six years old. This time forms the seeds of how they will develop into adulthood. If they get this, they will find it a little bit

easier in school and the whole way up along.

“Besides supporting people with Downs Syndrome, the local branch also run a number of activities to help the families of those effected.

“It’s very important to have support eroups. It’s areal help. If you’re a new parent, to be able to talk to someone who is a parent for a couple of years in a great thing,’ said John O’Brien who four year old daughter Megan suffers from Downs Syndrome.

The Clare Branch of Down Syn- drome Ireland will hold it’s AGM

on March 6 in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. The Arch Club social club for sufferers takes place in Ennis every Saturday evening – contact 065 6824565 for more info.

Resent fundraising includes €7,500 raised by Deirdre Rafferty, Collette O’Brien, Carol O’ Reilly and Martina Ryan at the Dublin Marathon and €1500 raised by the Ennis Leisure Centre.

LAST Tuesday marked a major milestone for one of Irelands most successful and enduring farming or- ganisations.

February 19 marked the 50th an- niversary of the enactment of the legislation providing for the estab- lishment of An Foras Taluntais, the Agriculture Research Institute which now forms part of Teagasc.

A series of nationwide events are planned throughout the year to cel- ebrate the achievements in agricul- ture and food research over the last fifty years.

The establishment and develop- ment of AFT under the leadership of the late Dr Tom Walsh coincided

with a period of revolutionary think- ing in national economic policy.

‘The research carried out, first by AFT, and more recently by Teagasc, has provided a firm scientific founda- tion for modern agriculture and the dynamic food industry we have in Ireland today,” said Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc.

“A great deal has been achieved over the last 50 years and this is in no small part due to the high quality people recruited into the organisa- tion and who have worked tirelessly for the benefit of Irish agriculture.”

Major milestones have been achieved in agriculture research in the past and Teagasc continues to provide the technological base ena- bling the industry to adapt to ongo-

ing changes in policy.

“Irish producers and processors must confront ever greater challeng- es in the global marketplace and the existence of a strong research func- tion fully integrated with advisory and training services is an essential component of that future,’ continued Professor Boyle.

Fifty years ago at the time of AFT’s establishment, over 60 per cent of the total national exports were from agri- culture and production was relatively static for a considerable period. AFT put in place a national programme of agriculture research to underpin the dramatic developments in Irish agriculture, and enabled it to benefit from access to new markets.

AFT initially set out to help farm-

ers increase productivity and income, broadening its research activities over the years as the policy environ- ment, market conditions and latterly erowing consumer demands set new priorities for research.

Representative advisory commit- tees were put in place from the start to ensure that the research programmes would focus on the real problems of the industry. A productive two-way flow of information was established, bringing first-hand knowledge of problems requiring research to AFT.

This speeded up the transmission and adoption of research results and this two-way flow was consolidated with the merger of AFT and ACOT to form Teagasc in 1988.

HIGH heel shoes are proving prob- lematic when negotiating the foot- paths of Kilrush.

That is according to town council- lor Deirdre Culligan (Ind) who high- lighted the need for work to be car- ried out on the footpaths on Henry Street and Toler Street.

“Toler Street just seems to be erod- ing away bit by bit,’ she said.

“Try walking it in high heels.”

Fellow councillor Liam Looney (FF) had his own feelings on the high heels issue. The Kilrush publi- can told this month’s meeting of the council “those high heels destroy

wooden floors”.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) had valuable advice for the Fianna Fail councillor.

“Well, don’t wear them then,” she said.

The debate on the footwear was just part of the discussion on the all im- portant road works programme for the coming year.

Executive Engineer Derek Troy told the councillors that he had hoped to include Toler Street in the roadworks programme for this year, but had second thoughts due to work on the sewerage scheme.

“Like Crawford Street, there is a section of pipe that has to be replaced

for the sewerage scheme so we decid- ed not to do it this year,” he said.

An allocation of €200,000 has been made available for Kilrush road works for this year.

A further €19,000 has been provid- ed for improvement to public light- hates

The roads outlined for work for this year include The Glen, Griffin Road and High Street, Cappagh Village, St Senan’s Terrace, Wood Road, and John Street.

Finances have also been set aside for various areas for general repairs and improvements.

Footpaths that will get a face-lift under the programme include Burton

Street and High Street, Chapel Street, John Street, and Moore Street.

Money has also been allocated for general upkeep and repairs in vari- ous areas in the interest of safety.

Public lighting has long been the bane of the council chamber.

This year there was good news for those walking at night.

Killimer Road; Wilson Road; Limekiln Road; The Glen, Grif- fin Road; Fort Road; Russell’s Lane and Millennium Lane will all benefit from the lights programme.

Cllr Collie Sweeney (Ind) wel- comed the road works outlined.

“I’m quite satisfied with that,’ he Cr nOR

OFFICIALS in Kilrush are planning to extend the John Paul Estate Re- generation Programme following the success of the pilot project.

Officials from Kilrush Town Coun- cil are in critical talks with the De- partment of the Environment this week about expanding the project.

Kilrush Town Clerk Fiona Mooney said, “Our approach to the depart- ment is that we want to be even more ambitious than we were at pilot stage.”

“The department is in a process currently of meeting all housing au- thorities with a view to determining

resource needs for the coming three years. Kilrush Town Council has submitted and stressed the need for a further phase of the John Paul Estate project.

“Tt is likely that housing authorities will be notified of their department allocations by May of 2008,’ she Sr NLGe

“The pilot phase of this project is ahead of schedule and has been marked by positive relations and a high degree of cooperation and fa- cilitation by the local community. The redesign objectives of the pilot phase of increasing security and pri- vacy by the removal of back lanes and derelict open spaces have been

achieved and the quality and specu- lation achieved by the pilot phase is high,” said the clerk.

“Kilrush Town Council officials appreciate the support of the Kil- rush elected members and of the Clare Oireachtas members in terms of convincing the department of the need for the allocation of resources to advance and complete the project for John Paul.

“This support has been very im- portant thus far in what is a long term and strategic programme, and involving social and economic devel- opmental elements as well as physi- cal infrastructural improvements. In this regard, the ongoing support of

the council’s multi-agency partners is also acknowledged and appreci- ated,’ she said.

This pilot phase of the regeneration programme consists of work on 28 existing dwellings in Willow Green and Sycamore Drive.

At this month’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council Ms Mooney told the members that a show house demon- strating the works to date would soon be available for people to visit. The show house will be situated on Wil- low Green.

The town clerk also asked the councillors for their support as nego- tiations with the department began, which she received en mass.

eaKeleiomayael take over responsibility for the float from a team of transition years stu- dent from Scoil Mhuire in Ennisty- mon who yesterday push the float from Miltown to Ennistymon. Leaving from the Falls Hotel before 10, the Clare People group expect to arrive in Kilfenora before noon where they will take part in the Ted- Fest parade. Following the parade they will leave on the second part of their journey and are expected to ar- rive in Doolin before 5pm. TedFest will continue in Kilfenora this evening with the staging of the

first ever All-Ireland Blondes-only Snakes and Ladders Championship, acoustic Karaoke with the singing Postman, the All-Ireland Open Elvis lookalike contest, the Lovely Girls Contest and the Pat Mustard Memo- rial night featuring Mrs O’Reilly and the Hairy Babies.

The Kilfenora Community Hall will be the setting on Tuesday evening for an informal public chat with Father

Ted creators Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews.

Wednesday will see the ‘Ted Trail which will take in the Paro- chial House, the Chinese pub, Mrs O’Reillys house, the Song For Eu- rope waterfall and the caravan park jgxoeem see

Kilfenora’s place in Fr Ted folklore will be insured at the festival when Graham Linehan and Arthur Math-

ews will unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the event at the Kil- fenora Community Centre. Organisers are looking for a busi- ness interested in sponsoring the plague. Anyone interested should contact Janet at 087 6277000.

ENNISTYMON students in have gone horse mad after making history for the town in the Hoofprints show- jumping inter-school challenge.

The craze started at an Irish nation- al schools event in Ballinasloe after a local team was the first ever from Ennistymon to enter. On January 23, students from the CBS Ennistymon and Scoil Mhuire joined together and formed a team to enter the na- tional show-jumping event.

“IT was out doing a hunt and was talking to kids that had been involved in the Hoofprints events before through their schools so I thought

that it would be good to put the idea forward to the students at school,” said CBS teacher Aisling Haugh.

In this competition there is usu- ally divisions or groups that separate beginners, such as the Ennistymon team, from teams that have entered in the event previously.

Due to this year being the first year it was held in the Creagh Equestrian Center in Ballinasloe it was made into one group which made it diffi- cult for all the novice groups to do well. “Next year I believe that the team will do better as every year will be more experience for the stu- dents therefore they will be getting better every time they go,” said CBS

teacher Aisling Haugh.

“Currently there are second to fifth years involved and it is open to all years aS we hope to have as many available as possible next year.”

The people involved in the event from the CBS Ennistymon were Brendan Collins fifth year and Ca- thal McMahon second year while the people involved from the Scoil Mhuire were Aoife Haugh and Jean Kelleher both from fourth year.

“The pupils performed well con- sidering it was their first time in the event and also had fun, so it was a good day over all,’ commented the teacher on the day as a whole.

The pupils enjoyed the day they de-

cided to stay longer and do the indi- vidual class ride in the end.

Participation from both schools was a good point in itself as it shows the ability of the two schools to work together. The group intends to hold a sponsored ride in the coming school terms for team fundraising.

“This year there is a lot of interest so I though of fundraising for cloth- ing for the team next year,” said Ais- ling Haugh.

“IT see good potential for the schools teams in the future if this interest continues in the events.”

The schools team is participating in upcoming events in Kilkenny, Wick- low and Claregalway.

BALLY VAUGHAN poet on artist, Frank Golden launched his latest book of poetry at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan on Saturday evening.

The book, entitled In Daily Accord, is a Selection of short poems written on a daily basis over a twenty month period.

Golden came to the idea after un- dertaking a series of daily drawings, where he undertook a series a daily sketches over a prolonged period of time.

He began to write the series of short poems on his birthday, May 16 2003,

and continued to add a poem each day for more than two years.

“Sometime the poems are quite de- scriptive, and other times they can be much more personal. But as with anything done over such a length of time, certain voices, personalities, locales and dramas crop up and play WaLesbeKToy Atos @)ULIMOMN SLomST-NT OD

‘Because you are writing every day, things that happen during your day can often appear. So, if I had gone for a walk on Black Head one day, likely as not that will crop figure in a poem in one way of another. Over the course of the years I wrote some 1000 poems, so the book is just a se- lection of this work.”

The poems are loosely based on Haiku and Senryu forms with the book following a roughly seasonal order, with poems from each month being grouped together.

Frank was joined at the launch by fellow readers Valerie Whelan and John Doorty while a musical back- drop was provided by composer An- drew Collins.

‘There are introspective and they are questioning, they are more like distillations than a real narrative. I guess, there 1s a since of a life, lived on a daily basis,’ he continued.

“The thing about these poems is that they are very small in nature, so it was difficult to know how we could

present them in a public setting. I de- cided to have Valerie and Frank who would read a slightly altered version of the poem and create an inverted echo for each poem.

Frank has been living in the Bur- ren for some twenty years, and has been resident in Ballyvaughan for the bulk of that time. It has been a productive period for him, seeing the publication of four books of poems, a novel and a number of exhibitions of his paintings.

SPRING continues to awaken in north Clare with a number of artistic ventured taking place in north Clare and south Galway in the coming Neto) .e

On March 1, Rahaly Castle in Gort will be the venue for a Night of Mu- sic and Storytelling in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.

Organised by the Spirit of Voice, the evening will include featuring music from Café Kinvara including instrumental performances from Eu- rope, Russia, South America and Af- rica, songs from Ireland and French and American jazz and folk.

Other highlights include Australian storyteller Matthew Noone who will

use African drums, Indian lutes and the odd touch of rockin guitar which creates a sensory experience of the myths and folk tales.

MC for the evening is Gort Slam Poet Marty Mulligan of Electric Pic- nic and Glastonbury fame.

Limited seats so advance at €20 from the Gallery Cafe Hostel in Gort on 091 630630.

Meanwhile, The Gallery of the Bur- ren College of Art in Ballyvaughan is currently hosting an exhibition of Irish works entitled Peer-to-Peer.

The exhibition is the culmination of a portrait project involving the artists and mentors in the Kilkenny Collective for Arts Talent (KCAT). In an environment where the learn- ing between mentor and studio art-

ists goes both ways, this exhibition visually highlights those involved.

All the artists picked names from a hat in order to determine their sub- ject, then began the challenge of de- ciding how to portray and represent their peer.

There were no restrictions on meth- od or materials, and work produced includes print, paint, woodcut, stitch, sculpture and collage. An integral part of the process was the free-flow- ing interaction between each artist and subject, communicating styles and intentions for their work.

KCAT is a research partner in the Arts Council’s Touring Experiment. The show has traveled to Kilkenny Design Centre, Airfield Trust, Garter Lane Arts Centre Waterford, Aras

Eanna Inis Oirr before arriving at the Burren College of Art Clare.

KCAT is a Camphill project pio- neering inclusive arts and adult edu- cation programmes. It currently runs a FETAC Level 5 Art Course funded by Kilkenny VEC for people from different backgrounds and an Arts Council funded Studio where pro- fessional artists with special needs work in an inclusive environment.

It also run a FETAC Level 5 Thea- tre Performance Course based on the same inclusive ideas.

The work in this exhibition goes on tour and is in principle not for sale. However those interested can contact KCAT on 056-7755115 or check out www.burrencollege.ie for more de- NOES

EAST Clare’s potential as a centre for horticulture was given a further boost this week with the news that Tuamgraney company, Glenbrook Nursery Ltd was to receive funding under the Government’s National Development Plan (2007-2013).

The Raheen company, which 1s op- erated by Philip Moreau, will receive some €15,000 to invest in the pro- duction of nursery crops.

This is the latest in a line of good news stories for the company, having last year put up a great showing at the annual National Amenity Horti- CHUN AU oma Ne BKC he

The awards are run by Horticulture

Ireland and Bord Bia.

Glenbrook Nursery was the only Clare company to pick up an award in the award’s Nursery Quality Pro- eramme.

This voluntary quality assurance scheme is designed to assist Irish nurseries reach best practice in com- mercial nursery crop production and management systems. It sets out a code of practice for the efficient run- ning of a nursery business and pro- vides a standard against which nurs- ery businesses are evaluated.

Commenting on last week grant allocation, Clare Minister of State, Tony Killeen, said the Grant Scheme for the Development of the Horti- culture Sector continued to provide

wonderful opportunities for Clare crop producers to make on-farm in- vestments.

“Since 2000, there has been a year on year increase in the level of inter- est in the scheme, which reflects the high degree of confidence among Clare’s producers in the future of the Sector,’ he said.

“I would encourage shoppers to support local producers who are striving to meet the highest stand- ards. By supporting them we are making an investment in our own community.

“IT would also like to compliment the two local applicants who have been successful in the grant scheme announced by my colleague Mr

Trevor Sargent TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special re- sponsibility for horticulture.”

The grant aid provided under the scheme covers all areas of the horti- cultural production sector, including mushrooms, protected crops, nursery crops, field vegetables, soft fruits, soft apples and even bee-keeping.

Horticultural output in Ireland is now valued at over €300 million and retail sales are an estimated €650 nSpON BONER

There was also celebrations in north Clare this week as a grower of protected crops in Belharbour was granted some €7,000 under the scheme.