This article is from page 30 of the 2008-04-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
A RESIDENTS association in Shan- non has played a key role in buying a defibrillator for a local primary school.
The Gleann an Oir residents as- sociation raised more than €3,000 and bought the defibrillator for St Conaire’s National School, which is located close to the housing estate.
All of the 40 houses in the estate sold tickets for the worthy cause. Not
only did it raise the money, but the initiative also raised the profile of the local residents group, which was formed last year.
The group had hoped to raise €2,000, but when this was surpassed by 50 per cent, they decided to also donate money to the neo natal unit at the maternity hospital in Limerick.
This was in memory of a young baby from the estate who died.
PRO of the residents group, Michelle Hayes explained the think-
ing behind the idea.
“Our chairman Mike Fleming had been talking to people at the school and they said they wanted to raise money for a defibrillator and that was where the idea came from,” said Ms Hayes.
“This will raise the profile of the residents association in the area,” she added.
“It is important to have a defibrilla- tor. A lot of young children die sud- denly and every school should have a
defibrillator,’ added Ms Hayes.
She said that locals are pleased with the success of the residents as- sociation, since its formation.
“The estate is kept very clean and tidy. It is good to have a residents group, for initiatives like tidy towns and grants which may be available,’ she said.
“It is also good to get to know the neighbours as a lot of the residents are young families,’ Ms Hayes add- ed.