Month: May 2008

THE oldest resident in the Drum- geely area of Shannon was the toast of the local primary school last week. Louis Quinlivan was chosen by the students and staff at St Sen- an’s National School to raise their green flag, much to the delight of everybody.

The school had the unique honour of obtaining its fifth green flag from An Taisce following an intensive ef-

fort to do their bit for the environ- ment. Mr Quinlivan was one of the original residents of Corrib Drive and over the years has played a key role in the tidy towns committee in the town. He and his wife Margaret are well-known in their local area.

According to school principal Sally O’Neull, it was appropriate that Mr Quinlivan would raise the flag.

“The last time we invited Eanna Ni Lamhna to the school and this time we decided to keep it local,” said Ms

O’ Neill.

The flag was won as a result of ef- forts from all 102 pupils at the school, under the guidance of green schools co-ordinator Margaret Murphy.

“It’s not just the green flag. It is linked up with everything that’s go- ing on here,” said Ms O’Neill.

For each flag a different theme prevails and this year’s theme was focused on reducing our carbon footprint. The themes of the previ- ous four green flags were also part

of this year’s campaign – ‘Reduce, reuse, recycle’ was the theme for the first flag; “Reduce, reclaim’ was the second flag’s theme; ‘Energy – save a little, it means a lot’ was the theme for the third flag while the school won its fourth flag two years ago on the theme, ‘Water is light, protect it’.

A NEW initiative which encourages young children to do their homework is proving a phenomenal success in Shannon.

The local family resource centre has set up a Kool Kids Club, which is also known as a Homework Club.

It is the first time that the centre, which was set up eight years ago, has organised an initiative like this. It is also one of three local groups in Shannon nominated for the AIB Bet- ter Ireland Awards, which presents an opportunity to win €10,000.

The club runs two afternoons every week, on Wednesdays and Thurs-

days. It is funded by the Health Serv- ice Executive through the traveller health initiative and is organised by Debbie O’Halloran-Browne.

The co-ordinator of the fam- ily resource centre, Marie Rowland, pointed out that it was the children themselves who saw the need for this facility.

‘An evaluation was done with chil- dren in our activity club and from that evaluation we decided to run a pilot programme. It is very success- ful. It is very well attended,’ said Ms Rowland.

On arrival, the children are provid- ed with healthy snacks, after which they do their homework and then

play games. This ensures the project is a combination of education, health NCO Moot U Kee

“They are encouraged with their work and are supported by a number of volunteers,” said Ms Rowland.

“We find that the children are here from 3.15pm wanting to do their homework,” she said.

‘This is the first time the family re- source centre has done this and the feedback in the local community has been great,” she added.

Given that this initiative is support- ed by the Traveller Health Initiative, integration is key to its success.

“Tt is all about integration,” said Ms Rowland.

Fifteen young children attend the club and other spaces could be made available if additional volunteers are KOMEDI KCC

SUsloeel elem mclen enc tl bap DON senercam Vole unteers to assist them with their activities. Full training in childcare protection will be provided to volun- teers, who will be just asked to com- mit to a few hours a week.

Anyone interested in _ helping out should contact Debbie on 061 Uroue

SRO VOlrem Kem NsleROllomsmsNewAUEs maior ter Ireland Awards, text SHANNON, followed by B to 53099. The voting lines opened on May 6 and remain active until June 6.

THE fundraising towards a major project at Scoil na Mainistreach in Quin is reaching its final stages fol- lowing a hugely successful Who wants to be a Thousandaire? event. More than €60,000 was raised as a result of the evening which was held at The Clare Inn hotel last month. The event was the culmination of

much work by the school develop- ment committee. Proceeds go to- wards development of a school field. The overall project is costing more than €200,000, most of which has been pledged. The school is encour- aging those who have pledged money to honour their commitments, so that the project can come to fruition. While the thousandaire evening was mainly geared towards the

adults the pupils were not forgotten. The school organised a children’s Who wants to be a Thousandaire? show. Contestants Mr Lynch, Emer Moynihan, Siobhan Frain, Conor Mahon and Dearbhla Holohan all played a role in ensuring everyone savoured the atmosphere.

Elsewhere, the school has contin- ued to earn plaudits in sporting cir- cles. Most notable among these was

Quin winning the community games swimming competition which was held at the Ennis Leisure Centre. Wins were achieved by Aoife Deane, Hannah O’Brien, Briana Fennell, Cathal Browne, Sarah O’Reilly, Or- laith O’Neill, Michael Corry and Eoin Beirne.

The enrolment evening for new stu- dents to the school will take place on May 29.

DETAILS of the up-coming county fleadh, which will be held in Tulla were unveiled to a huge crowd of musicians and guests at the fleadh launch last week.

Toes were tapping as performers gave everyone gathered in the court- house a sneak preview of the talent that would be on display in more than 80 competitions and concerts.

A gala concert on the gig-rig on Sunday, June 22 will feature both the Tulla and the Kilfenora Céili Bands and there are concerts planned for the courthouse as well as informal sessions in the village all weekend.

It is 5O years since Tulla hosted its last county fleadh and plans have

been laid to make the event from June 18 to 22 unforgettable.

Amongst those present for the launch were Liam Cleary of Liam Cleary Motors, Ennis and Damien Siggins of Roche (Ireland) Limited who were representing the main Sponsors.

Breda McNamara, Chairperson of Tulla comhaltas welcomed everyone and introduced the various speakers including Pat Brosnan, Chairman of Clare County Board of Comhaltas, Joe O’Connor, Comhaltas Reachtaire and Tom Conheady the fleadh chair- yretenee

Pat Brosnan accepted presentation of the cups which will be awarded as prizes. These were the Leamy Cup, the Kitty Leyden Cup, the Molo-

ney Cup, the Jack Murphy Cup, the Maureen O’Connell Cup, the Pat O’ Halloran Cup and the Andy Mac- namara Shield.

Joe O’Connor told the gathering that he was “delighted to be back in Tulla again. Last year, they celebrat- ed 50 years of comhaltas in Tulla and if that was anything to go by, we can look forward to a fantastic fleadh.”

Tom Conheady thanked the spon- sors. “We are very grateful to them. Without them, we couldn’t provide the programmes we will be provid- ing in June and again in September for the trad festival.”

After speeches and presentations, the gathering was treated to per- formances from the Tulla Under 15 Céili Band, Sorchadha Costelloe the

current under 12 fiddle All Ireland Champion, Andrew MacNamara on accordion and Mark Donellan on fid- oR

Concertina player Kate McNamara who is to launch her first CD at the fleadh, played along with her brother Gearoid, sister Amy and Michael Landers.

Also on stage were Seamus Buglar on accordion, Paddy O’Donoghue on flute and Pat Mullins on fiddle accompanied by Joan Culloo on pi- ano, Vincent Griffin, Mary Corry and John Lyons accompanied by his daughter Aisling on harp.

There was also music performed at the event by the Trad for Teens group and songs from Robbie and Sean McMahon.

MOUNTSHANNON is the desti- nation this coming week for lovers of arts and culture as the Inisceal- tra Festival of the Arts kicks off on May 24. The official opening of the week long event will be officiated by Theo Dorgan, renowned poet, writer, broadcaster and member of Aosdana and the Arts Council

With music, drama and dance per- formances from local and visiting groups, some of the highlights of this year’s festival include musical

performances by Eoin O’Neill, Orla Harrington and John Feely to name but a few.

Also on the agenda for the festi- val is a family boat-building course with the completed kit-boats be- ing launched at the end, a riverside sculpture trail with free boat-trips to view it, concerts, an art exhibition, sean-nos dancing, pub sessions, and film presentations from the Midnight Court film society.

There will be a free storytelling family event as well as dance and music presentations and a creative

writer’s workshop.

This year’s theme of “Community / Muintir” invites the whole com- munity to become involved in the activities which run from May 23 UNOS UM LUDO loaen

Announcing the programme, fes- tival director Nicola Henley said, ‘This year we have a fantastic vari- ety of events; hot air balloon making, African drumming workshops, riv- erside sculptures and boat building.

“We also have the reopening of the old village forge, and some wonder- ful pieces of art on loan from the

Outsiders collection at IMMA.”

On Sunday, June 1, the Aistear in Mountshannon will come alive with a Green Fare hosted by members of CELT, the Irish Seed Savers, and the Alfa project. Metalwork, stone carving, wood and willow skills will mingle with African drumming, Salsa, Capoeira, Bellydancing and nee) Ree

Full details of all then events on the 2008 Iniscealtra Festival of Arts pro- eramme are available on the official website www.iniscealtra-artsfestival. Outs

THE Killaloe/Ballina Youth Initia- tive has been shortlisted as one of the local deserving children’s projects in contention for a €10,000 award from AIB Killaloe through the Better Ire- land Programme.

The branch will award €10,000 to the local project that tops the poll in a public text vote over a four-week period from May 6 to June 6.

The local community can text Kil- laloe B to 53099 to vote for the youth rea colt Op

The award is part of AIB’s pro- gramme which supports children with disabilities and also children affected by drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness or a lack of access to mainstream education due to pov- uae

Set up in 2004, the initiative caters

for youngsters aged 13 to 16 years.

“The aim of this group is to devel- op the capacity and skills of young people, using a using a developmen- tal, interactive and person centred approach that will help them to take control of their own lives,” said youth worker Tracey Doyle.

Not ones to wait for things to come to them, group members have taken part in a joint fund-raising effort with a youth group from Scariff where they pushed a purpose-built bed in the rain from Scariff to Killaloe to provide some funds to help to pay for travel costs to events.

They attended Youth in Action in Croke Park and opened the day by giving a hand drumming perform- ~N Neen

There are some budding dj’s, in their number who took part in a dj- ing workshop in the Belltable Arts

Centre.

Other members recently competed in the county games final, took part in the under 15’s quiz and the un- der 18’s draughts competitions. The competitor in the draughts competi- tion was successful in going forward to the regional finals.

‘We applied for this funding to cre- ate a chill out area for young people living in the area to provide a space to meet friends, watch tv and dvds, develop better IT skills and avail of non formal development education opportunities, enabling social devel- opment for these young people,” said ibe-leors

She recently carried out research in the area with help from transition year students in St Anne’s Commu- nity College to assess the need and demand for a youth and community centre.

“Comments from young people prove the overwhelming need for a space where youth can meet up and partake in activities in a safe and se- cure environment,’ said Tracey.

“A direct quote from one young person was “There should be a youth centre to keep us off the streets, out of trouble and not be bullied into things we do not want to do”.”

Each text vote costs 60 cent and proceeds generated by the text vot- ing for Killaloe/Ballina Youth Initia- tive will be donated directly to the

group.

KILLALOBE’S playground plans got a boost this week with news that the project have been allocated €60,000 towards the cost of providing the fa- TIA

Local councillor, Tony O’ Brien (FF) proposed at a meeting of the Killaloe area committee last week that the money be given to the project.

The council members had been

asked how they wanted to divide up a total allocation for the coming year of €83,000 under the county coun- cil’s playground funding scheme.

The members were told that next year would be the last year for this particular scheme and any other groups ready to go should get there applications in before the end of this year to be in with a chance of fund- ing.

Cllr O’Brien told the meeting that

he wanted to secure the funding for the group, who have been making massive efforts in their bid to provide a play facility for the town.

“They are a very progressive group and they are ably supported by a number of organisations in the area. The project will cost a total of about €150,000 and there is a significant drive to fundraise by the local com- munity,” he said.

Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald (Lab) sec-

onded Cllr O’Brien’s motion. “They are doing a marvellous job,’ he said.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) asked whether the remaining €23,000 in funding was in danger of going else- where if the local authority bounda- ries were redrawn after the Boundary Commission publishes its report this month. The meeting was told that it is understood that no changes would come into effect until the next local Ae BO) ITS

, the non-consult- ant doctor who was working in the surgery department at Ennis General received the fifth highest payment in overtime last year in the mid-west

region.

The doctor was one of three Clare- based junior doctors in the top twen- ty overtime earners in the mid-west last year.

All in the top 20 were junior doc- tors and the top earner was a registrar at the Ear, Nose and Throat Depart- ment at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick who received more than €100,000 in overtime.

The other Clare doctors to feature includes a second registrar at En-

nis General Hospital who received €72,982 and a third doctor working at St Joseph’s Hospital who received €64,081. Four junior doctors re- ceived more than €90,000 in over- time in the region.

The EU Working Time Direc- tive – which seeks to limit the hours worked by junior doctors – is due to come into force next year and it was the basis of the HSE producing the Hanly report in 2003.

Eleven of top twenty overtime earn-

ers are based in Limerick. Last year, the overtime bill for the mid-west region across all sectors in the HSE amounted to €17.35 million while in Clare, the overtime bill last year amounted to €2.938 million.

The overtime bill has been creep- ing up steadily since 2004 when €16 million was paid in the mid-west and €2.696 million was paid in County SEK

The FOI figures also show that the overall wage bill for the HSE in the

mid-west last year was €380 mil- lion- representing an increase of 26 per cent on the wage bill of €300 million in 2004.

The Clare figures show that the HSE wage bill for the county in- creased from €59 million in 2004 to €73 million in 2007 – an increase of 23.7 per cent.

The annual HSE wage bill under- lines the massive contribution the HSE makes to the local and regional economy each year.

THE Clare Youth Service will be vying for the community’s support as the closing date for the Better Ire- land Awards draws closer.

The Kilrush service is one of three from west Clare hoping to secure the €10,000 prize.

The service is being recognised for the support and guidance it provides to young people in the west Clare or TOLD

Overseen by two full-time youth workers, Louise McMahon and Adriona Meere, and one part-time worker, Shane Mulvey, the group is also assisted by staff that help out on AWB UsstAbN ED Oye FS ESe

Kilrush Youth Project has a number of sub projects including The Kil- rush Garda Youth Diversion Project, The Kilrush Youth Project, Kilrush Youth Club, Kilrush Youth Café and the Good Neighbour Project.

The youth project is based around the John Paul Estate and caters for young people between the ages of 12

and 19.

“The types of activities we do are junior and senior boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer and games, fishing, art projects, hip hop dancing and gar- dening projects. We also have the use of a house on the estate where we provide a drop-in-and-chill-out space where young people can go at specific times each week,” said youth worker Louise McMahon.

“The junior boys have recently competed in a soccer tournament hosted by Cloughleigh Youth Club in Ennis in which one of our players won player of the tournament.

“We are currently preparing for our upcoming summer programme of events, including our three-day sum- mer camp to be held in July.

“Two of our young people have progressed through to the final of West Clare’s Got Talent this Satur- day, May 17,” she said.

The Clare Youth Service also pro- vides support for the Kilrush Youth Club and its leaders.

“Volunteers are very important to

the Clare Youth Service and are al- ways welcome.

‘Volunteers receive leader and oth- er types of training from the Clare Youth Service in order to set up and run the youth club programme of events and activities for the year,” added Ms McMahon.

Kilrush Youth Club have seven volunteers in total who organise and run Kilrush Youth Club includ- ing Shirley Gilligan, Paddy Honan, Kathleen Hannon, Caroline Hanra- han, Sue Metham, Mary McInerney and Linda Burke.

Paddy was nominated and won a Volunteer Award this year for “direct work with young people”.

The youth club also organises a number of outings and events every year.

Work is ongoing at the moment at the Kilrush Youth Centre in prepara- tion for the opening of a new youth café in Kilrush.

A group of young people from the area have formed a committee and meet regularly with the Kilrush

Youth Club volunteers and _ local youth workers to plan and prepare for the opening of the space.

The young people have also can- vassed locally for extra funding to complete this project.

The Good Neighbour Project 1s specifically for the younger children on the John Paul Estate from about five years and up.

Clubs are held in the community centre on the estate for them about twice a week.

Those wishing to vote for the Kiul- rush Youth Service can do so by tex- ting KilrushA or KilkeeA to 53099.

aVO MEK) CIB Ree AU oLO MAU UMD Koh IUO LM O mE! donation to the service – even if they don’t win the €10,000 prize.

MUSIC is in the air in Doonbeg as the “Long Village” prepares for the ninth Doonbeg International Jazz Festival which will take place over the Whit-Weekend – May 30 to June 2.

This successful annual festival promises to be better than ever with a line up of nine bands to suit all tastes. All performances throughout the weekend are free of charge.

This year the festival welcomes some new bands as well as some old favourites.

The Streetrats from Switzerland will give spectators a taste of the

music of Louisiana, with a delicious mix of Blues, Zydeco, Cajun, Jazz and Rock and Roll.

The Jazz Freaks, Dublin, will en- tertain the crowds with Dixieland and Swing.

Renowned for hitting the high notes, this band is sure to provide foot-tapping music for all.

If you are partial to lively old style jazz, smooth latin and some blues, then you will enjoy Big Swing – a five-piece band from Dublin.

If Jamaican ska, reggae and latin music are more to your taste, then look no further than Skazz from Clare, who will be sharing the stage with guest stars “The King of Ska”

Rene van der Reijden from Holland, and “Boots” Bernie Weiler from CSeerrene

Molly O’Mahoney and Norman Collins will delight with their set of the best of Bossa Nova, some swing and blues as well as their romantic lyrics and melody.

The Downtown Jazz Band from Limerick will be making their first appearance at the festival this year. A seven-piece band, they play popu- lar dixieland and swing favourites.

The popular Limerick based trio Idol Bones have a wide repertoire that appeals to all, from swing to salsa.

The festival is pleased to welcome

back The East Coast Jazz Band, from Leinster, who will be entertaining the crowds with their mix of popular jazz from dixieland to swing, bossa nova to blues.

The ninth Doonbeg International Jazz festival will get off to a great start on Friday, May 30, with the official opening and wine reception taking place at the Igoe Inn, Doon- beg at 9pm, accompanied by music from Skazz. From 10pm there will be music at all venues in the village, NOLO MO OCMC BA BIO CoML BOU MOON LBD NLEComNalON] non-stop music throughout the week- end. As well as the scheduled gigs there will be “Jazz Jam” sessions on Saturday and Monday.