Month: May 2008

THE deadline for entries for the first ever Burren Marathon Challenge is fast approaching – and event organ- isers are expecting a great crowd to turn up for this historic walking event.

The marathon, which takes place on Saturday May 24, will take in some of Ireland’s most spectacular NEMA

Crossing the heart of the Burren, walkers will trek from Ballyvaughan to Fanore through the Cahir Valley before returning to Ballyvaughan via Blackhead.

The deadline for entries is this Sat-

urday, May 10.

“Preparations are all in place and we are delighted with all the support we are getting locally – from the resi- dents and the farmers to all the peo- ple who have come on board to do stewarding for the day,’ said Mary O’Brien from the Ballyvaughan-Fa- noe Walking Club.

“We need at least 30 stewards on the day and I’m delighted to say that we have the most of them already. We will be looking for help. To make this a success we will need lots of help on the ground on the day but we are getting great support.

“We’d love for as many people to get involved as possible – we really

want this to be a event for the whole locality.

“Entries have been coming in the whole time but in the last 10 days or so the pace has really upped. We will do our best to take any entries after the closing date but we really would like to avoid that if at all possible for logistics reasons – so that everyone can have a T-shirt and so that we can have everything ordered and printed Ko) mn na om eth VA

The marathon has been organised by the Ballyvaughan Fanore Walk- ing Club with the support of Clare Sports Partnership, the Atlantis Group including the Burren Coast Hotel and various local businesses.

Registration for the event takes place on Friday May 23 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and on Saturday May 24 from 6.30am to 8.30am at the con- ference Centre of the Burren Coast sloroe

Each participant has a choice of full, half or mini marathon. All three challenges start at the Burren Coast Hotel in Ballyvaughan at 9am sharp and all three routes will take you back to the finish line at the Burren Coast Hotel for an evening of enter- Bb On eetes OL

For more information or to down- load an entry form check out www. ballyvaughanfanorewalkingclub. com.

CREATING energy awareness has earned a school in Sixmilebridge major honours – its second ever PARI E ENE

St Finnachta’s National School won the flag, after it put in a major effort in relation to energy saving.

The previous green flag was achieved in 2006, after the school focused on targeting litter and waste. For the second flag, their task was to focus on energy while not forgetting to take care of litter and waste.

A committee of staff and students at the school, along with local tidy towns committee member Rita Higgins, put together a plan for the

project.

“We began by carrying out a sur- vey on heating and electricity in the homes. There were two different surveys and the results were very in- teresting. We found that most homes use oil for home heating, followed by solid fuel and then gas,” said teacher, Frances Downes.

“The most used electrical appli- ances in homes were chargers of all descriptions,” she said.

Under the initiative, the school as- sessed its oil and electricity usage over previous years and then put measures in place to save energy.

“We checked our expenditure one year later to see if things had 1m- proved. We did very well on oil. We

had halved the oil bill in the school. We had turned down the heating by one degree. Even though the school got bigger, we reduced the amount of electricity used. This was partly due to things like closing the doors and turning off lights when we weren’t using them,” she said.

She paid tribute to the students at the school, who showed a great inter- est in their environment.

“There were energy wardens in every class, to keep an eye on things,” said Ms Downes.

While everyone enjoyed being in- volved, it also took a huge effort on the administrative side of things. An application, submitted to An Taisce, included details on all the work car-

ried out at the school. This contained graphs and descriptions of the work involved.

A representative from An Taisce visited the school and spoke of the importance of keeping the environ- ment clean. The good news that the green flag was to be presented to the school was relayed in January, but it was not unveiled until last week.

Hopes are high that the school can now make it three-1n-a-row and earn its next flag in 2010.

“We will be going for it again in two years’ time, when the theme will be water,” said Ms Downes.

Every effort will be made to ensure that the impeccable standards are again met, with the next project.

A SHANNON woman who special- ises in physical therapy is expanding her business, to incorporate pilates.

Caroline Hannan from ‘Tradaree found that many of her physical ther- apy clients would benefit from doing pilates and decided to organise class- es in Shannon and Sixmilebridge.

She felt that while treating muscle injuries and back pain was of huge benefit to clients, they also needed some type of rehabilitation in order to facilitate a full recovery.

“Pilates is an excellent treatment method for muscle injuries and back problems. The pilates exercises can be modified to fit the needs of each client,’ she said.

Caroline is extremely busy as she works at Halifax Insurance during the day and organises pilates classes in the evenings. As a physical thera- pist, she treats injuries including chronic neck and back pain, sciatica and sports injuries.

She has worked with the Sixmileb- ridge senior hurling team for the past two years.

Caroline has specialised in physi- cal therapy for the past two years. She was awarded her qualification with the Pilates Institute through the National Training Centre in Dublin.

She explained her decision to ex- pand her business: “There were four or five people who came back to me with issues. I felt I was referring them on to pilates so I decided to get into teaching pilates myself. I love it. My aim is to get into it full-time,” she added.

“The classes are very mixed and cater for all ages,” she added.

Caroline is well-known in Shannon, not least for her involvement with the special needs youth club, of which she is one of the main organisers.

The pilates classes take place on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at the leisure centre in Shannon and on Thursdays at the old courthouse in Sixmilebridge, between 7pm and Spm.

If you are interested in joining one of Caroline’s pilates class- es, phone her on O87 6163384, or alternatively, email her at carneuromuscular@yahoo.co.uk.

THE opportunities available through the family resource centre in Shan- non are set to dramatically expand, due to a number of key appointments in recent months.

That was the message relayed by the outgoing chairperson, at the an- nual general meeting last week.

Trish Fallon-Barry was replaced as chairperson by Greg Duff.

In her outgoing speech, Ms Fal- lon-Barry said the centre went “from strength to strength” during the past year.

“In many ways this was a year of transition. The year began with no co-ordinator in place, though we did have tremendous commitment from the voluntary board and the admin- istrator,’ she said.

She said that despite the absence of a co-ordinator, the work plan was completed with the assistance of some outside voluntary support and some paid consultancy work.

The appointment of an _ out-of- schools co-ordinator, a full-time co-ordinator and a part-time devel- opment worker will augur well for the centre and ultimately the entire community.

“With these staff in place for this year, the opportunities and work of the centre is expected to increase dramatically in the coming year,’ she said.

“The voluntary board underwent changes in membership due to vari- ous other commitments of individual members. However through success- ful active recruitment and training, the result is a much consolidated

board of directors committed to the work going forward,’ said Ms Fal- lon-Barry.

“Work has recently been done on the current plan and members of the board have visited at least one other centre and undergone various pieces of training,” she added.

She said that ongoing projects, in- cluding out-of-schools and parent- and-toddler groups, have continued to flourish at the centre.

A new homework club is also being initiated, under the auspices of the centre. This will cater for both set- tled and Traveller children.

‘The centre continues to support and foster the needs of the communi- ty by facilitating interest groups with use of rooms, while the Le Cheile In- ternational Club fosters the integra- tion of foreign nationals,’ she said.

“In the case of Le Cheile Interna- tional Club, the centre is not merely assisting with the provision of a ven- ue, but is grateful that much-needed Support and encouragement on the eround has been forthcoming from the co-ordinator Marie Rowland,” she added.

“Groups have been integrated pro- viding mutual support when possi- ble, for example, out-of-school chil- dren providing art work with various themes,” she said.

IT’S taken almost ten years to be- come a reality but the determination of a few people backed by a whole community was being celebrated in Tulla at the weekend.

The people of Tulla came out to see the official opening of their new soc- cer pitches and clubhouse, on what was once a bog field in Cragg.

The aim to get a facility, which is second to none started with Christ- mas raffles 10 years ago.

€3 a ticket didn’t seem a lot at the time, but over 10 years the raffle brought in €100,000.

Five years into the plan, the pitch committee found a piece of land to suit the purpose and their ambitions were helped along with some fund- ing from the National Lottery.

“That was great but we still had €750,000 to fundraise,’ said Tulla United’s Michael Moloney.

“But all credit to Denis Cory, Mike Hoey, Stephan Brady and the com- mittee. They were the people who worked all the way to make this a re- ality and the people of Tulla were so generous and supportive. There was unbelievable work done but it would never have happened without Denis and the committee,” said Michael.

200 people linked to the club sup- ported the development, committing €20 a month to a club draw for three and a half years.

And there were also thousandaires, coffee mornings and sponsored all- sorts to boost the fund.

The result is two of the finest sand- based pitches anywhere in the coun- try, one which is floodlit.

There is a clubhouse which will allow players to change in comfort, space for meetings to take place, gear to be stored and a proper park- ing facility.

For the 100 under age and 50 adult players, it makes all the difference.

The facilities were officially opened by John Delaney, CEO of the FAI on Saturday after a dedicated Mass and parade through the town, led by the Tulla Pipe Band.

“This is a shining example of what community spirit can do,” said Michael.

‘“We’re hoping now that these fa- cilities will act as a magnet for peo- ple who want to play the game and for people who don’t have a club and we’ll be focusing on blitzes for the seven to Il age group, getting more youngsters involved. Now we have these facilities we can do these things,” said Michael.

A NEW club for teenagers in Scariff is giving youngsters a chance to let it all out and to learn forms of self-ex- pression they might never otherwise sa

Youth Express, a spin-off from the Every Moment Counts youth club, allows younger members to get to- gether, play music, talk to each other and learn new crafts and other crea- tive carry-on.

At their meetings between 7pm and 9pm behind Brian and Joe’s Café,

the young girls – for girls they all are – are creating a stained glass mosa- ic under the tutorship of Natalie El Baba.

The project is funded by the Arts Section of Clare County Council and the finished stained glass will be put on display during the Iniscealtra Fes- Mee

Learning expression through dance and music is also on the cards for the 13 to 17 year olds.

“This is a place where they can express themselves in an informal way which is impossible for them

in school,’ said youth worker Tracy Boyle

“They are all learning from each other.”

For Youth Express member Re- becca Doyle the club nights are a chance to “do stuff we like to do and talk about things – share our experi- Co Neren ae

Una Moir says the club is “about being there for each other and sup- porting each other”.

Elli Ford-Elliot says that the club is “the only place we can really open up to people – it’s a chance to talk

things out and it’s confidential”.

Catriona Godbold says it’s “a great way to make friends” while Emma- Lee Talbot says the club night are “really great and good fun”.

Youth leader Sam Talbot says the club “allows the girls to express their feelings freely in a safe environ- jeatoslmae

Next on the club’s activity list are belly dancing classes – which will also be open to mums and guard- lans – and the “Cop On” programme, which deals with the topic of not get- ting yourself known to the gardai.

MAKING banners for a Banner fes- tival is what youngsters are up to this week in Mountshannon.

Weve @ barca busCe(oJmmmatom sColiOVGUU MBB ITO MELOr tion of artists Nicola Henley and Melanie Jones, are twenty school children aged between nine and 12 from Mountshannon and Whitegate.

Their job is to prepare the silk- screen printed banners which will adorn the streets of the village for the up-coming Iniscealtra Festival of the Art from May 23 to June 1.

“They’re making a very fine job of it – the banners are beautiful and we look forward to seeing them hung for the festival,” said Nicola.

The banners will have plenty to

shout about this year as the festival has a programme full of spectacle and colour with something for eve- ryone.

The official opening of the week long festival by Theo Dorgan, re- nowned poet, writer, broadcaster and member of Aosdana and the Arts Council takes place on May 24.

With music, drama and dance per- formances from local and visiting eroups, some of the highlights of this year’s festival include musical performances by Eoin O’Neill, Orla Harrington and John Feely to name Ulm: IB AYA

There will be film night, a free storytelling family event and an art exhibition which will be opened by well known artist Charles Harper.

The Fishbowl Youth Group will present an acoustic evening of enter- tainment; music, poetry, prose and dance in a candle-lit café style set- ting. Visiting German students and young people from The Alfa Project school will work with artists to cre- ate a sculptural riverside installation for the festival on the river bank from Scariff Harbour to Lough Derg.

Also planned are a ceili with The Four Courts Ceili Band, weekend classes and workshops in sean nos dancing, traditional music and sing- ing and adding some cultural variety, an African drumming workshop.

Also being launched during the festival is ‘Does It Grow Corn?’, the feasibility study to determine the need for a new community/arts cen-

tre for Mountshannon.

One of the most unusual events will be the family boat building course. Families – or groups – get to build a real wooden boat over the bank holi- day weekend and then take it home. The boats will be assembled from pre-cut kits under the supervision of two experienced boat builders. All the boats made will be launched at the harbour, communally, at the end of the weekend.

More details of the line up of events will feature in

STUDENTS at Clarecastle National School rolled up their sleeves for the annual spring clean, to help the school’s bid for another green flag.

As part of Environmental Action Week, staff and student students took part in a major clean up of the school and the surrounding grounds.

The work didn’t end there with stu- dents helping to further enhance the appearance of the school by potting new plants.

Clarecastle National School has already firmly established its green credentials with a number of envi- ronmental initiatives.

The school’s commitment to en- couraging greater awareness of green issues has been acknowledged through the awarding of two green flags.

Everyone in Clarecastle now hopes that efforts of the last few months will be recognised with a third green ne hee

The aim of Green-Schools is to increase students’ and participant awareness of environmental issues through classroom studies and to transfer this knowledge into positive environmental action in the school and, also, in the wider community.

Schools that have successfully completed all the elements of the

JO) ROy:a eH ANUS Oem T Rem RU DRO Lo(OME NO lem Osteo te Flag. This award has now become a well-recognised eco-label. The award has to be renewed every two years.

The Green Schools initiative has gone from strength to strength since it was launched in Ireland in 1997.

Eleven award ceremonies are be- ing held this month. Over 2000 Irish schools are registered for the pro- eramme, representing over 49 per cent of all the schools in the coun- (ry.

290 children attend Clarecastle Na- tional School, representing a number of different nationalities.

The school now has a two stream

system up to second class and 15 teachers, 12 mainstream teachers and 3 resource teachers.

The pupils receive their education in state of the art classrooms equipped with up to date I.T. resources includ- ing interactive white boards.

The school also houses a library/ computer room, resource area and PE/Multi purpose room in addition to 16 classrooms. Work commenced on the new building in 2006, seven years after procedures were instiagt- ed to secure a new school.

Prefabs were erected for temporary use and the old school was demol- ished apart from the original 1935 building which was retained.

THE Ennis Active Retirement As- sociation celebrates two decades of friendship and civic pride next week- end.

The association marks its 20th an- niversary with special event in the Eire Og clubhouse on Saturday May OF

The Ennis ARA offers people over 55 the chance to engage in educa- tional, social and cultural activities.

The primary aim is to make retire- ment an enjoyable and meaningful part of life. The association attracts members from all walks of life and holds regular talks and demonstra- tions along with classes in dance and kTEOle

Twice a year, in spring and autumn, the ARA organizes two trips abroad.

The association is supported by the Clare VEC, which provides free 10- week courses in arts and crafts dur- ing the winter months.

One of the highlights of the asso- ciation’s long history was a visit by group from the Ennis ARA to Aras an Uachtaran to meet with President Mary McAleese. Association PRO Phil Barrow explained that friend- ship has always been the cornerstone of the association.

“We seek to improve ourselves and our community and to enjoy ourselves while at the same time ap- preciating the fulfillment that comes from the companionship of our members”.

Phil said that the association has proved a helpful first point of contact for new people moving to Ennis.

“It is ideal for people who have just

moved to the town. People might come along to a meeting. Now, not all of them will stay, some will drift away. But the most important thing is that people make friends and they know we are there to help them”.

The Ennis ERA was founded in April 1988 by Fionnula Moran, who was working for Clarecare at the time.

The first meeting was held in the De Valera library Ennis and was at- tended by ten people.

Kevin O’Donoghue was elected as the association’s first chairman. Oth- ers who held the position of Chair- person over the years, were Frank Hanrahan, Michael Coleman and Kitty Begley.

The current committee is made up of Mary Meaney (Chairperson), Alice Coote (Secretary), Mary Rose

McMahon (Treasurer) and Phil Bar- row (PRO).

Over the years membership grew steadily until it topped 100. Current membership stands at 65.

Meetings take place every Tuesday in the offices of Clarecare and new members are always welcome.

Phil said “We have always got great Support over the years. We are very active organisation. All the events we organise are for people who are physically active”.

The programme of events for next Sunday’s celebrations begins with mass at 2pm followed by as night of song and dance at the Eire Og club- Le uites

Phil said “Its really a re-union of old friends that have been involved over the years. We have always tried to help each other”’.

HIDDEN messages reveal a positive attitude in a new exhibition currently on display in Ennis.

Final year arts student Grace O’Hara is the woman behind the work that can be seen in the front window of Mrs Quin’s charity shop in Ennis.

Embroidered in clothes donated by Grace to the shop, are motivational messages and positive mantras. Some of the messages are visible while others are hidden. The items are part of Grace’s final year project for the Limerick School of Art and Design. The items will then go on display in June at the final exhibition to be held

at the St George’s Quay campus.

Describing the technique as similar to that employed by graffiti artists, Grace said, “I embroider onto my own clothes and given them to char- ity shops. The work is anonymous in the sense that it doesn’t bear my name. The only recognizable feature is the style of the stitching used.

Grace continued, “The reward for me is the notion of the buyer sudden- ly finding the message, reading it and holding onto the positive thought. What I am hoping to do is to spread good will or karma and this proc- ess continues when the clothes get passed on again or end up in another charity shop.”

The project developed as a result

of the pressures Grace experienced during her final year of college.

After reading through self-help and motivational books, she felt com- pelled to weave a positive message into her own work.

She said “The origin of my work stems from the personal stresses that we all endure in everyday life. When I was doing research for this project, these positive messages be- came my motivational tools to cope with stress, as did the calming craft of embroidery. It helped to soothe away my worries.”

Grace received important support from her lecturers in Limerick and the staff at Mrs Quin’s Charity shop.

“Lucy and all of the staff at Mrs

Quin’s were very helpful in letting me use the window. My tutors in Limerick, Sean Taylor, Mike Fox and Amanda Dunsmore gave me great help throughout my years in college.”

None of the clothes currently on display are on sale, as they will be used in the June exhibition in Lim- erick. After completing her degree Grace hopes to pursue a career in Koreans

“The nice part about the work is people do not realize they have bought a piece of art until they in- spect the clothes closely or they may just think it was designed that way”.

The work is on display in Mrs Quin’s charity shop until May 12.