Month: April 2011

IT’S HOPED that up to 1,000 women will turn out pretty in pink next month for the second Clare walk to raise awareness of and cash for breast cancer support services.

The second annual Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk will take place through the picturesque town of Killaloe and around the stunning shores of Lough Derg on May 28.

The 10k walks starts out at the Lakeside Hotel and winds around the lake finishing at the hotel again.

Last year, 550 people turned up to join in the inaugural event in Killaloe, and the town showed its support by businesses decorating their windows in Pink, households hanging out pink flags and even bras and every walker dressing in pink. A toatl of € 80,000 was raised for Action Breast Cancer. A spokeswoman for the organisers said that there is “an enormous sense of solidarity among women and men on the issue. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer. The walk is an opportunity to show support for loved ones who are affected by breast cancer.”

To register to take part log on to www.pinkribbonwalk.ie. The site also includes tips on training, keeping fit, fundraising ideas and details of upcoming events.

PUPILS who have promoted road safety in their schools have had their efforts recognised by Clare County Council.

The council runs a Junior School Warden Scheme, through which students from primary schools across the county are trained by gardaí. Under the scheme, the students play the role of the lollipop lady in that they help their classmates and friends to cross the road safely before and after school.

The scheme has been in existence for several years and has been stepped up in Clare, under the guidance of the council’s road safety officer Barry Keating.

The students in seven schools involved in the scheme were awarded with certificates at a function in one of the participating schools, Sixmilebridge National School, last week. The event was aimed at ensuring students were made aware of the importance of their role in the scheme.

The participating schools are St Senan’s, Clonlara; St Senan’s, Shannon; St Conaire’s, Shannon; St John’s, Cratloe; Kilkishen National School; Connolly National School and Sixmilebridge National School. The fifth- and sixth-class pupils in the schools lead the project. In total, 230 students are involved in the scheme across the county. There are up to 50 involved in the larger schools, with 15 or 20 pupils in the smaller schools.

“It is the same as the Adult School Warden scheme,” said Barry Keating. “It was very prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s. We don’t have an Adult School Warden in every school, so that gives students the opportunity to do it,” he added.

“They are trained by Sergeant Daragh Molloy, who instructs them in exactly what they have to do. Every day they are out there, they have to have an adult with them,” said Mr Keating.

Last week’s event not only promoted the valuable scheme, but also gave students the chance to learn from others.

“It was the first time we brought them all together and gave everyone an opportunity to demonstrate their skills. They learn from each other,” he said.

“From a road safety point of view, it provides a valuable service for the schools and it gives students a great grounding in road safety,” he added.

Any other schools interested in getting involved in the scheme should contact the council’s road safety section. “For any school that wishes to get involved in the scheme, there has to be infrastructure in place like footpaths, so that children can cross to a safe environment,” said Mr Keating.

IN PLEDGING to take the fight for education to the floor of the Oireachtas, Clare Seanad Éireann hopeful Declan Kelleher has accused the new Government of making rural Ireland the “soft target” for cutbacks.

The Corofin National School principal has told The Clare People this week that as a member of the Upper House of the Oireachtas he would “interrogate” and “embarrass” the Government on its commitments to rural Ireland if it dares to press ahead with the controversial McCarthy Report provision calling for every school under 50 pupils to be either shut down or amalgamated.

“Closing schools is not prioritising rural and regional development,” blasted Mr Kelleher.

“In fact closing schools is downgrading rural infrastructure.

“My role will be to stand up and embarrass the Government, to interrogate the Government. The Government are looking at the easiest way to save additional funding and rural areas are soft target,” added Mr Kelleher.

A YOUNG Clare singer is promoting the county in a major exhibition which has just opened in London.

15-year-old Ben Escorcio became a household name in the Banner County when he reached the finals of the All Ireland Talent Show last year.

But his latest venture is bringing the county to a wider British audience who can see a video of him singing beneath the stalagtite in the Doolin Cave.

The video is part of a project by well-known artist Dorothy Cross, who is currently exhibiting in the prestigious Fritch Street gallery in London.

Dorothy had seen Ben sing with the Lismorahaun Singers two years previously. “When we finally met, she told me she had been wanting to do a project with me since then,” Ben told The Clare People .

The two met for the first time when Ben’s singing teacher, Archie Simpson, introduced him to Dorothy and they went for a day out to see the cave.

“The stalagtite was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen. It was in the cave that Dorothy got the idea for the video,” he said.

Doolin Cave co-operated with the plan and closed the cave for the day, building a platform for Ben to stand on while he was filmed singing.

“The acoustics were just amazing. It was a great experience.” Ben said.

The five-minute video is now part of the artist’s show in London.

“It’s great promotion for Clare. People get to see the cave and the stalagtite and may well want to see more,” said Sandy Escorcio, Ben’s mother.

Ben got a private viewing before the exhibition opened.

The success of getting to the finals of the All Ireland Talent Show was “a fantatsic experience” which has opened doors for Ben. And the St Flannan’s student is still determined to pursue a career in music.

“The way my voice is going, it will be tenor. I would really love to have a career in the music industry. That would be just fantatsic,” he said.

FIFTY students from Scoil Chríost Rí, Cloughleigh, were among a host of performers who turned out to mark Love Live Music Day in Ennis on Friday.

The group included teacher David McMahon’s fourth class, the Blazing Bows Ensemble, who were performing in public for the first time with the Scoil Chriost Rí Band. Mr McMahon said the group have been learning violin as part of their school curriculum since September. He added, “They have been practicing very hard to be ready today.”

The event was one of several in Clare marking Love Live Music Day, an initiative by National Music Network, a celebration of all forms of music in Ireland through free nationwide music events which aims to promote access to live music for all. Other Ennis events included a performance of music by Bach at the Clare Museum and a lunchtime trad session at the County Council offices.

The combined group played a varied repertoire including traditional Irish tunes, film themes and blues numbers. Mary Fagin, visiting from Meath, was one of many onlookers who enjoyed the impromptu performance. “Today was a great day to be in Ennis. As I stepped out of the Temple Gate, I was serenaded by this wonderful music. The double bass player was great and the accordion solo from Titanic was brilliant,” she said.

Karen Vaughan, director of the school band, was delighted with the performance of her young musicians. “They are a very dedicated, enthusiastic bunch to work with. It is encouraging to see them engaging with their local community,” she said.

Fiona Power, principal, said, “I am very proud of the students. All the musicians will soon be busy preparing for their next event – the Scoil Chriost Ri Intercultural day at the end of May.”

Further information on the Blazing Bows music programme at the school can be found at www.blazingbows.blogspot.com, which is run by music instructor Cathy Desmond. Ms Desmond is the director of the Swinging Strings project in Ennis National School. The blog documenting the success of the Swinging Strings project was nominated for a prize at the Irish Blog Awards.

IRISH Rail is planning a clampdown on passengers who buy discount offpeak tickets to travel from Clare to Dublin and other destinations.

With the train service between Ennis, Sixmilebridge and Limerick becoming an increasingly popular way for people to head for the capital for sporting and music events, or just for a weekend away, passengers are also taking advantage of the off-peak bargains available in rail travel.

But those who try to cheat the system by booking off-peak on-line and then travelling on peak-service trains on those tickets are facing fines of € 100 as well as having to cough up for the ticket they were supposed to buy.

Fares to Dublin are available online at discount rates on the Friday 5.30am, 10am, 11am and 20.55pm services. But with those fares costing either € 10 or € 15, many passengers are trying to pay the minimum while hitching a ride on the busiest trains.

A spokeswoman for Irish Rail said that when a passenger “reserves a ticket on a particular train it’s not transferable to another service. If you want to use that ticket on another train then you are obliged to pay a surcharge of € 20.”

Irish Rail have placed ticket checkers on trains and passengers found trying to use their discount tickets on full-fare routes face having to pay a fine of € 100 as well as the full cost of the ticket they need to travel on that service.

“Revenue protection and fare evasion is something we take very seriously and we have invested a lot in that area to ensure that it is effective,” the spokeswoman said.

A NEW Clare group which aims to support and give a voice to people who choose not to eat meat is growing in numbers with every meeting.

The Clare Veg Group is a meet-up group offering a space for vegetarians, vegans and aspiring vegetarians. “Our primary aim is to enrich the lives of vegetarians by providing knowledge, inspiration and support. We’re innovative folk and we’re developing programmes to make alternative lifestyles easier, fairer and more fun” said one of the foundermembers, Julie Hyde.

Julie and her friend Audrey Shanala, both vegetarians, formed the group last November and attendances have grown bigger with each meeting.

“We welcome vegetarians, vegans and people who want to know more about vegetarianism,” said Julie.

The group has different activities each month, and have had talks from various speakers, gone out to dinner and organised ‘pot luck’ evenings where everyone brings food to share.

“We felt there was a lack of support and awareness about vegetarians in Clare. We exchange information, talk about where’s good to eat vegetarian food, exchange information, talk about animal rights issue, food production – things we’re concerned about and generally socialize,” Julie explained.

The group also provides a voice for vegetarians who often get a raw deal in restaurants.

“A lot of restaurants are very cooperative if you ring ahead, but then again, vegetarians are often left with a choice of one token dish. The point is that vegetarians should speak up and not just accept that their only choice for a night out is the dish of pasta. A lot of people who are not vegetarians would order vegetarian food if it’s good.”

Julie turned vegetarian after a spell of health difficulties and studying Aruvedic therapies.

The Clare Veg Group meets every first Thursday of the month at 7pm. For more information email clareveggroup@gmail.com or visit them online at www.clareveggroup. blogspot.com

AN ACCIDENT blackspot in Shannon must be tackled urgently, in an effort to make it more safe.

That’s according to Sinn Fein Councillor Cathy McCafferty, who has called for immediate works to be carried out at the roundabout adjacent to St Patrick’s Comprehensive School.

At a meeting of Shannon Town Council last week, she asked for an update on the measures to be taken to improve safety at the location and she also sought details of a timescale for completion of the works.

In a written response, senior executive engineer Eugene O’Shea stated, “While I am aware of two accidents at this location in recent times, it is not, in my opinion, an accident blackspot.”

He stated that he has requested the council’s design office to look at the junction with a view to examining possible improvements, adding, “Due to resource issues, it has not been possible to-date to progress this matter.”

Cllr McCafferty said she was not happy with the response and said that this issue must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“The reply to me is not adequate at all. I brought this motion forward in September 2009. There is an accident there nearly every week. It is too important. I would like the senior executive engineer to have another look at it,” she said.

Labour Councillor Greg Duff said, “It is a safety issue. There is a repeat of accidents.”

Labour Councillor Tony McMahon said, “It should be ensured that an engineer or a design team should look at it and see can anything be done.”

TEENAGE drinking marred an otherwise celebratory occasion to mark St Patrick’s Day in Shannon.

The organisers of the parade were delighted with the response, which saw more than 30 floats take to the streets. However, teenagers who gathered to drink alcohol dampened spirits somewhat, according to Independent Councillor Patricia McCarthy.

“This year the colour was fantastic. Everybody puts in a big effort to dress up,” she said. However, she said there was disappointment in relation to the behaviour of a small number of youths. “A little sad note was the amount of teenagers that were drinking. We had no control over that. We brought in the by-laws. . . A lot of people were disappointed by that,” said Cllr McCarthy.

“It was a fantabulous day,” remarked the chief organiser of the parade, Councillor Mike Fleming, speaking at a meeting of Shannon Town Council last week.

“There were 30 floats last year and 35 this year. I hope we can get it up by another five floats next year,” said Mr Fleming.

Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn said, “It’s a community family day. Everybody involved in the community comes out and participates.”

Labour Councillor Tony McMahon agreed, saying, “It has become established as a great community day and a great family day. It went very well. We were without a parade for so long. It is great to see it being so well supported.” Fine Gael’s Mary Brennan said, “I think it’s a day that adults can dress up like children. There is no inhibitions.” She said the parade injected “income and life” into the town centre for the day.

ILLEGAL parking on cycleways is forcing cyclists onto the carriageway and blocking visibility at junctions.

That’s according to Shannon Town Council, in response to concerns over public parking and traffic congestion in the vicinity of Bothar Linn in Shannon.

At a meeting of Shannon Town Council last week, Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn asked for the issue to be debated.

In a written response from senior executive engineer Eugene O’Shea, it was stated, “Traffic congestion in this area is not an issue. However, illegal parking of vehicles on cycleways is forcing cyclists onto the carriageway and blocking visibility at junctions.

“Much of this illegal parking oc- curs during school drop-off and pickup as well as patrons of the leisure centre puling up on the cycleway.

“The solution to this problem is for motorists to utilise the drop-off area at the school, the parking facilities provided at the leisure centre or those beside the Gaelscoil as appropriate,” added the council’s statement.

In response, Cllr Flynn said, “I would have to agree with the response from the senior executive en- gineer. For people to park on a cycle lane, we have already established that is illegal.

“This is an overall problem. It is about solutions,” he said.

“There is a potential danger for health and safety,” he said.

Fine Gael Councillor Seán McLoughlin said, “I’d like to see some kind of a plan brought forward.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Cathy Mc- Cafferty said, “Public safety is paramount. This is one of the busiest roads in the town.”

Labour Councillor Greg Duff said that the best should be achieved from cycle lanes in the town, given that efforts were made to obtain them in the first place.

“Cycle lanes . . . We campaigned for them, we got them, we should monitor them in some way that people get the best out of them,” he said.