This article is from page 30 of the 2009-09-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
JUST a week after the extension to Obair in Newmarket-on-Fergus was officially opened, the organisation is planning to expand again.
The community service already provides numerous services to the people of the village, and is now hoping to open a café in the town and expand its meals on wheels Service.
Obair was founded 16 years ago through the hard work of the late
Brendan O’Regan and former parish priest Cannon Ruben Butler.
What started out as a small office in the village has now grown to ca- ter for what manager Pat Cronin de- scribed as “people from the cradle to the grave”’.
A créche was eventually added to the office and in the last few months this creche was extended again.
An after school room to cater for the after school service was also added, as was a café building.
While the after school service is up
and running, Mr Cronin said the aim now 1s to get funding that will allow for the full furnishing of the café and the employment of staff.
Plans are also in place to expand the ‘meals on wheels’ service. Cur- rently 70 meals are delivered to the people in Newmarket-on-Fergus every week.
With the kitchen in the new café open, Obair will be able to expand not only the number of meals it de- livers but the geographical area it caters for.
Meanwhile the after school service is going from strength to strength. Children are collected from school every day at 2.45pm and taken to the facility. There they have dinner and do their homework before chilling O)ULMB NIM elomncec Deaton wKOLeeeR
As well as the créche, after schools Service, meals on wheels and the prospect of a café, Obair also has an environmental programme, a meet- ing place for the elderly and com- munity care services. It employs 36 people.