This article is from page 26 of the 2011-02-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
STUDENTS from Ennis Community College will set sail on the River Fergus in April after taking a lead role in a new currach-building project.
Working alongside members of the Fergus Rowing Club, James Madigan and Richard O’Donohue of the West Clare Currach Club, 11 first and second year students have spent the past week building a currach.
The pinnacle of the project will be the official launch of the boat as it embarks from the River Fergus in Clarecastle and makes its maiden voyage west of the Shannon.
Teacher Vivien Arthur-Grogan explained, “The project is cross-cur- ricular in nature and the benefits are admirable. Students who normally would have no hands-on knowledge or no previous point of reference to such a craft are responding excitedly.
The 11 students involved are Jordan Slattery, James Slattery, Ethan McNevin, Shaun Brody, Eoghan McInerney, Michael Daly, Brendan Molloy, Roisín Peoples, Toheeb Tolulope, Sylvia Kielak and Corey Hayes.
Vivien added, “The project provides an ideal forum to engage students from a multitude of nationalities and cultures to engage in team building exercises, benefiting them in countless ways.” I a m Ge r r y Wa ls he , a n e le c t r ic ia n b y t r a d e a nd for m e r c ont r a c t or who e m p loye d 7 m e n. I a m a s king for your num b e r 1 vot e or 2 nd p r e fe r e nc e if you ha ve a lr e a d y d e c id e d on your 1 s t p r e fe r e nc e . In t he p a s t I ha ve c a m p a ig ne d t o ke e p Ennis Ge ne r a l Hos p it a l op e n wit h full s e r vic e s , a nd c a m p a ig ne d a g a ins t t he b a il out wit h NAMA a nd Lis b on r e fe r e nd um , I a m a ls o a g a ins t t he c ur r e nt b a il out of p r iva t e b a nk d e b t . I d e c id e d t o r un a s a c a nd id a t e in t he Ge ne r a l Ele c t ion b e c a us e I a m d is g us t e d wit h t he c or r up t ion wit hin t he p olit ic a l s ys t e m . If e le c t e d I will b r ing hone s t y a nd a c c ount a b ilit y t o t he Dá il a nd will b e a s t r ong fig ht e r for t he p e op le of Cla r e a nd t he ir ne e d s . I will fig ht t o ke e p Ennis A & E a c ut e s e r vic e op e n a nd c a m p a ig n for t he Links Ca r g o hub a nd d e ve lop m e nt of t he Sha nnon r e g ion wit h a r a il link t o t he a ir p or t . I will a ls o d e ve lop a loa n s c he m e t o a s s is t our Fa r m e r s , s e lf-e m p loye d a nd s m a ll b us ine s s e s , not for g e t t ing our fis he r m e n. I found e d a n a nt i-c or r up t ion or g a nis a t ion wit h t he we b s it e www. s p ir it -of-t r ut h. or g whe r e I p ub lis he d a ud io a nd d oc um e nt e d e vid e nc e t o s how a c onne c t ion b e t we e n Ir is h s old ie r s a nd t he b uying of a r m s on t he b la c k-m a r ke t . I wa s t he m a in wit ne s s who e xp os e d t he s e ir r e g ula r it ie s a nd wis he d t o c onfr ont De fe nc e Minis t e r Tony Kille e n a s t o why he r e le a s e d a m ilit a r y r e p or t wit hout int e r vie wing m e t he m a in wit ne s s wit h e vid e nc e . I a ls o p ub lic ly c r it ic iz e d t he c ove r up of c hild a b us e wit hin t he Polit ic a l a nd St a t e b od ie s a nd p ub lic ly r e a d c or r e s p ond e nc e fr om a s e nior Ga r d a whe r e he c la im e d he c ould not look in his offic ia l file s r e la t ing t o t he s e m a t t e r s b e c a us e he wa s not in Cla r e in 2 0 0 8 . If e le c t e d t o t he Dá il I will b e a wa t c h d og for t his Count y a nd Count r y a nd will c onfr ont t he c or r up t p olit ic ia ns , b a nke r s a nd wha t e ve r d a r k s e c r e t s t his c or r up t s ys t e m ha s b ur ie d . I ur g e you t he p e op le of Cla r e , if you wa nt r e a l c ha ng e t o s t op vot ing for t he s a m e old c r onie s a nd g ive m e a nd ot he r ne w Ind e p e nd e nt s your Vot e s o we c a n he lp b uild a Ne w Ir e la nd .