Month: July 2012

IN THE last year Clare Suicide Bereavement Support has received more calls than ever before.

Spokesperson for the voluntary group Owen O’Mahony cannot be sure however if the increase in numbers can be attributed to an increase in deaths or the change in the group’s name from Living Links in the past 12 months.

Either way the organisation is proving a necessary support in County Clare as more people seek out its service.

The group is run completely by volunteers and provides one to one befriending at home or at an agreed location, family support and a healing programme. A monthly group support meeting is also held.

“We don’t approach people we feel that is intrusive. We wait for people to contact us,” explained Mr O’Mahony, adding it was essential that the bereaved know this help was available.

He said while people eventually learn to go on and live their lives the most difficult issues to resolve for most is the question “why”.

“They really don’t find an answer to it but they learn to take up activities and live again,” he added.

As many as eight volunteers work for the service which now has a premises in the Roslevan Shopping Centre, Ennis.

Mr O’Mahony stresses that the volunteers are not councillors but will help someone find such support if it is required.

Mostly people get a lot off their chest through the service and begin a healing process.

“People find if they can talk and realise what they are feeling is normal it helps,” explained Mr O’Mahony.

Those wishing to contact Clare Suicide Bereavement Support can do so by calling 086 0565373 or 087 3698315 or get further information on www.claresuicidebereavementsupport.com.

LOCALS say they are frustrated and disheartened following recent vandalism near Barefield village.

Three large concrete flowerpots were damaged at a roundabout near the M18 last Sunday. It followed similar incidents of flowerpots being damaged in the area over the weekend.

Gardaí have been informed of the incidents with members of the Bare- field Tidy Towns Committee blaming the behaviour of boy racers for the damage.

Committee chairman Sean Corcoran explained, “It’s been sort of going on for the past six weeks, cars doing wheelies on the roundabouts and damaging the flowers. Then under the bypass these three concrete pots were smashed.”

Sean says the incidents are a blow to the village’s efforts to do well in the annual Tidy Towns competition.

“We’re disheartened and upset. The guards called out and had a look. The people that are doing this are a bloody nuisance. We’ve been doing work on the roundabouts and the approach roads, planting flowers beds, cutting the grass, to make sure the place looks good. And then along come these people and do this. It really is very, very frustrating.”

The incident couldn’t have happened at a worse time for the committee with judging for the Tidy Towns expected to take place in the coming weeks.

Sean explains, “Judging usually takes place in June or July. That’s what usually happens. So this is a bad time for all this to happen. We had nearly € 2,000 saved from various fundraising events we held in the village like the quiz night. But to buy new pots, we’re almost down to the last few hundred euros. We can only hope that they’ll last.”

The Tidy Towns committee was set up in 2010 with local people volunteering their services. The committee has drawn members from the local community who were eager to roll up their sleeves and help out. Their activities include cleaning stone walls, re-setting grass margins and placing flower baskets around the village.

The project also enjoys close links with Barefield National School and the local Clare Crusaders Clinic.

Sean says, “We’re all doing this on a voluntary basis on our own time. We’re not getting any help from FÁS or anything like that. We’re delighted to do it but when something like this happens, it’s really frustrating.”

THE Banner County’s multicultural community will be celebrated on Saturday at the eighth annual Clare Intercultural Festival.

The festival, which takes place at St Flannan’s College is organised in collaboration with the Clare Women’s Network, Ennis Community Development Project, Clarecare and the Clare Immigrant Support Centre.

The festival’s showpiece event is an intercultural seven-a-side soccer tournament that brings together people from all communities living in Clare.

Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, handball and cricket also for part of a busy sporting programme.

Workshops will include drumming, fun yoga, laughter yoga, qigong and Louise L Hay’s positive thinking, zumba and set dancing.

Fun for children will include an art workshop, drama workshop, face painting, hair braiding and a special visit from Elmo the Clown.

There will be music and poetry from many countries. Mayor of Clare, councillor Pat Daly (FF) will be guest of honour on the day and will present the winning trophies.

Alphonse Basogomba from Clare Intercultural Network said, “Since the festival began in 2005, it has be come a popular gathering of people coming from many different countries and backgrounds and celebrates the enormous diversity of nationalities living in Clare and truly reflects Clare for the global village which it has become.” He added, “Last year the festival attracted people from more than fifty countries including Ireland. This year promises to be an even greater and more popular event. Treat yourself and come along with your friends and families.”

This event is free of charge.

A NEW information booklet for school leavers was launched yesterday by Clare’s 2011 minor winning captain and Munster minor hurler of the year Tony Kelly

The booklet has been produced by The Citizens Information Service (CIS) in Clare to address what they say is a “serious lack of knowledge amongst school leavers about their rights and responsibilities when they first take up paid employment”.

Paul Woulfe, CIS Manager, explains, “With many young people after leaving school and now entering first time employment it is important they are aware of a wide range of employment and equality legislation that has been enacted to protect them.”

Speaking at the launch, Tony Kelly said, “It is really important that young people have access to information when they need it. This resource pack and booklet is filling a vital role in ensuring that young people are aware of their rights across a variety of topics.”

He encouraged young people to make sure they are informed whether its leaving home for the first time as a third-level student and renting accommodation or pursuing another option such as the world of work.

Mr Woulfe says, “We also receive a significant number of calls from people who have no idea as to how their tax or PRSI contributions will be calculated or even as to whether or not their employer will be making these contributions on their behalf.”

“You should receive a pay slip with your wages/salary, which indicates tax, PRSI and union dues deducted from your wages.

“At the end of the tax year you should receive a Form P60 which indicates how much you earned, how much tax you paid, how much PRSI and the number and class of PRSI contributions. This is an important document, which you should keep and will be required by the tax office when you go to claim tax back.” Copies of the booklet are available from your local Citizens Information Centre,” he added.

ANGLERS, beach users and ferry operators in the North Clare area are on high alert following satellite imagery which shows a large swell of sea algae approaching the Clare coast. The large bloom contains a phytoplankton known as Karenia which makes the water appear a reddish colour and is harmful to shell fish and bottom feeding fish.

The bloom is harmless to humans but can cause major fish deaths by cutting off sunlight to shellfish and other species which live at the bottom of the water.

The bloom can also disrupt boats and sea anglers by tangling up turbines and fishing lines.

Unlike river or lake algae bloom, which are often the result of man made pollution or run off from farm land, blooms of sea algae are naturally accruing.

However, it is rare that a large bloom like this would come ashore on the Irish west Coast at this time of year.

The presence of this bloom is being blamed on the redirection of the Gulf Stream south of its normal position this year – a change which is also partially to blame of the unseasonable wet and cold summer that we have experienced to date.

The bloom last week forced the closure of two beaches in Donegal and North Clare locals are keeping a keen eye on the sea waters, especially in Galway Bay.

“The bloom is just another element of the unusual summer that we have had this year as a result of the Gulf Stream positioning itself more southerly than we would expect,” said James Linnane of the Lisdoonvarna/ Fanore Sea Angling Club.

“This has resulted in lower sea temperatures but also in increased onshore winds. These wind can create bigger than normal swells so the club has to be very very careful to study the weather before we host a sea angling event this year.”

CLARE women are waiting longer than ever before to give birth to their first child with the average age of a first-time mother in the county now almost 31 years old. This means that Clare mothers are amongst the oldest in the country with only Galway and Cork City recording older first time mother.

New figures produced by the Cen- tral Statistic Office show that only 30 teenage births took place in the county last year with more mothers giving birth between the age of 30 and 40 than between 15 and 30.

According to the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, the number of babies born to teenagers has dropped by 44 per cent over the last 10 years. This represents the lowest level of teenage pregnancies since the foundation of the organisation.

“It is welcome that we are seeing a decline in the number of births to teenagers. This year for the first time, we have evidence from a number of sources that indicates why the birth rate for teenagers has declined,” said Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency.

“There have been improvements in sex education, the age of first sex is stable at 17 years of age for men and increased slightly for women to 18 years of age. Ninety per cent of young people are using contracep- tion when they have sex for the first time and 80 per cent of young people use contraception every time they have sex.”

A total of 1,748 children were born to Clare-based parents last year or just under five new babies per day. Of these babies 887 were male with just 861 females babies being born. The birth rate in Clare last year was 14.9, which was well below the Munster average of 15.5 and the national average which was 16.3.

AN ENVIRONMENTAL Impact Statement (EIS) into the proposed construction of a new pier in Doo- lin has indicated that the pier in its planned location will have little impact on the surfing wave at Crab Island but could have some impact on the lesser used wave at Ballaghaline Point. The EIS, which run to almost 500 pages, was completed by Malachy Walsh and Partners and commissioned by Clare County Council. The statement was required following an objection by a number of lo- cal surfers and the Lahinch-based West Coast Surf Club to the Part 8 planning permission granted to the project by Clare County Council in January of February of last year. According to the report, the development will have some “residual impacts” on tidal currents in the area but the changes that the impact will take place in front of or beside the new pier were “slight”. “The impact of the proposed development on Crab Island waves is not significant on water levels at and below mean high water neap and is only potentially significant at the highest water levels for the longer swell waves,” reads the EIS. “Impacts at waves approaching Ballaghaline Point are greater than at Crab Island but for the majority of wave periods and water levels are either not significant or occupy the borderline between not significant and potentially significant. “Increases in wave heights in the vicinity of the surfer’s access are low for low water levels, and only become potentially significant towards higher tide levels. Impacts on wave driven currents are minor significant.” The EIS in full has now been submitted for the approval of An Bord Pleanála. Submission can still be made to the planning authority in relation to the EIS so a final decision on the future of the development is not expected until later this year. Providing the planning application is approved, construction work on the pier is not likely to begin until early in the new year. Tue17July12

THE MUNSTERGROUP Clare Community Games competed in the Munster Community Games finals in U.L. on Sat last. They participated in Basketball, Camogie, Futsal, Gaelic Football, Hardcourt Tennis, Rugby, Judo, Rounders, Skittles, Soccer & Volleyball. For the outdoor games the conditions were difficult while the weather was dry the playing pitches were extremely wet. All teams put in a great effort. Some of the matches were extremely close.

Clare brought home 1 Individual and 5 team gold. While 4 teamsa brought home silver. The gold medal winners now have the opportunity to represent Clare in the National Finals in Athlone in August.

The Judo, Soccer & Volleyball are on 17th-19th August. Tag Rgby & Rounders are on 24th-26th August. R esult s 1st place Judo – Open Roisín Cahill – Doora/Barefield Rounders Boys U-15 – Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry – Jason Loughnane, Brian O’Sullivan, Charlie Carmody, Cathal Lynch, Jamie Lyons, Ronan Tuohy, Cian McInerney, Gavin Fawl, Eanna Chaplin, Tadhg Donnellan, Shane Flynn, Patrick Mulready Soccer Girls U-15 – Ennis St Johns Niamh O Brien, Aoife Glavin, Laura Brown, Orla Waters, Fridaous Karimu, Aoife Mcnamara, Rebecca Windall, Marese Hayes, Nina Jobonska, Natalia Fankucenska, Katie Kenneally, Sinead Mulcahy, Lauren Keane, Alma Conway, Katie Shannon Tag Rugby U-14 – Quin/Clooney – Kate Taylor, Ellie Rochford, Jennifer O’Neill, Darragh Ryan, David Rochford, Conor O’Brien, Barry Loughnane, Daniel Griffin, Mary Connelly, Eoghan O’Brien, Conor Mahon, Rachel Begg Volleyball Boys – Quin/Clooney – Fergal Coughlan, Connor Mahon, Douglas Reddan, Paul Reynolds, Colm Harrison, Eimhin Dunne, Sean Hehir, Eanna Barry, Brendan Dolan Volleyball Girls – Doora/Barefield – Gabrielade Silvo, Niamh Courtney, Claire Purcell, Sarah Jane O’Connell, Anna Courtney, Ali McCarthy, Mia Norton, Caitriona Ni Riordain, Orla Purcell, Emma Purcell, Enya Feerick 2nd place Basketball mixed U-11 – Quin/ Clooney – Cliodhna Ryan, Kirsty Begg, Alice Larkin, Juliette Cantwell, Sara Hassett, David Barbotin, Adam Deegan, Martin Fiain, Colm Cassidy Futsol Girls U-13 – Miltown Malbay – Aine Keane, Eimear Keane, Aoife Hehir, Grainne Meade, Aisling Clancy, Grainne Lynch,, Aine Talty, Niamh Blake Gaelic Football U-12 Girls – Doora/Barefield – Niamh O’Keeffe,Muireann Collins, Irene Neylon, Aoibhinn O’Loughlin, Trease McAuliffe, Laura McDonnell, Saidbh Kelleher, Aisling, Reidy, Chloe Towey, Amy Lenihan, Anna Lynch, Aisling Hannon, Shauna Murphy, Roisin Dixon, Maebh O’Connor, Gail Norton, Mia Norton, Saoirse O’Donoghue, Sally Brogan, Emily Fanning Hardcourt Tennis U-13 – Ennis St Johns – Shauna Kearney, Edith Kearney, Emilia Kovale, Tomiwa Mattheu, Conall Moore, Emmunale

A CLARE businessman is hoping to bring jobs back to his home county through a new internet business. South Clare businessman, Paul Hall, is looking to recruit three Clare reps straight away and plan to employ more than 20 others in coming months by creating a call centre in the county.

Paul has won the exclusive contract to roll out the award-winning kid’s website www.whatson4littleones.ie, in Ireland. The website, which has four companion sites aimed at different age groups, has been a great success in America, Austrailia and the UK since it was set up in 2006.

Paul decided to take on this new business, after the recession hit his old business Unitech Ireland, which supplied equipment to the hotel sector.

“The sites have become really very popular in other countries and there is no reason why they won’t catch on here in just the same way. The sites are up and running at the moment but the next step is to get reps on the ground all over Ireland to begin to build up a client base for the service,” Paul told The Clare People .

“We set up the site so the client can just log in and update the site whenever they like with the different events that they have going on. So the site becomes a one-stop-shop for locals and tourists who want to know the different things that they can do in their locality. We are looking to hire two or three people in the Clare area as soon as possible but the hope is to set up a call centre locally in the months ahead.”

The website were first launched in the UK in 2006 but have spread to America and Australia in recent years. The Irish business has four different websites – aimed at “little ones”, school kids, kids parties and the adult site – whatson4me.ie.

The sites are inter-connected to allow people to find exactly what local event would suit their children or themselves. The Irish site is also connected ot the foreign versions meaning that tourists coming from the UK, America and Australia can plan their activities in Ireland before they arrive here.

To apply for the Clare positions email a CV to Paul on info@whatson4.ie.

James (Jamie) WALL
of Ballynote, Kilrush, Clare. Peacefully. Laid to rest in Old Shanakyle Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Delia (Brigid) MANGAN, (née
McNamara)

FOUR architects from the University of Limerick have been living and working in the village of Crusheen for the past week as part of one of the most unique architectural projects ever undertaken in the county.

The four architects will remain in the community until this Sunday, July 22, meeting the local community and immersing themselves in the life of the village. At the end of their stay in the village, the four will complete a design for the Crusheen Community Centre, which is currently being redeveloped by the local community.

The four architects set up outside of mass in the village on Sunday and will host an open evening in the village later this evening – where local people can see how the design is progressing and suggests possible changes and additions. The four are also working in an open office where any member of the local community is invited to call around at ant time and make suggestions for the makeup of the new centre.

This is the first time that this sort of “live-in” approach has been taken to a community project in Ireland. It is hoped that this will produce a unique building, tailored exactly to the needs of the local community.

“A group was set up in Crusheen last March to tackle the situation with the community centre in Crusheen – which is no longer fit for purpose. The community has grown massively in the last 10 to 15 years and the current centre is an old school building, which was first built in 1884. The centre is still being used by the local community but really a new building is needed,” said Keith Walsh of the Crusheen Community Centre group.

“We wanted to come up with a really good design for the centre, something that would produce the best building for the local community, so we approached UL who formed a partnership called ‘Start-Design Crusheen’, which is four, fourth-year architects who have agreed to live and immerse themselves in the local community out there and then design us a community centre that exactly fits our needs.”

The architects of the Start-Design Crusheen group have been living with members of the local community in Crusheen since last Friday, July 13. Part of the inspiration behind the design team is to find a way that they can use their skills in Ireland in the current economic climate and not be forced to emigrate.

“Part of this is about creating a path for us to be employed in Ireland in the future. This project is partly a means for us to overcome our urge to emigrate,” said architect Colin Dorgan. “We all have different approaches to how we work and we jumped at the chance to do this once the Crusheen group got in contact. We are here to get a feel for the place and the people and that will help the design of the centre in the long term. We want to meet with everyone who is using the building now and anyone who might want to use it in the future.

“We met with people after mass yesterday (Sunday) and spoke to anyone who would talk to us about the centre,” he added.

The group are working in an open studio at the site of the old dispensary in Crusheen and would be happy to speak with anyone who would like to have an input into the project. Local people living abroad are also asked to visit their website startdesigncrusheen.tk and give their opinion on the centre.

“It is an open studio and we want people to come in and take part in the design for the centre. We want to show the difference between architects really getting involved in a community project and people maybe paying a visit to the site and doing all the work somewhere else,” said architect Ray McGreal.

“Two of us are staying with the parish priest in Crusheen and two of us are being put up by the Fogarty’s – just next to the studio. So you couldn’t be more in the local community. This is a community centre for the local community and everything we do will have that in mind.”

Ray and Colin are being aided in the project by fellow architects Diarmaid Upton and Ronan O’Dea. The group are also being mentored by Peter Carr, architecture professor at the University of Limerick.

The group will finish their work by completing a full design for the Crusheen Community Centre and to apply for initial planning permission with Clare County Council.

The open evening will take place tonight (Tuesday, July 17) at the Crusheen Community Centre.