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SHARON Shannon made a musical return to her old school in Ennis last week when she performed alongside students at Colaiste Muire.

The Ruan born accordionist was joined on the day by Minster for Ed- ucation and Science, Batt O’ Keefe

The purpose of their visit was to mark Shannon’s donation of a CD of traditional music and songbook, which the department will distribute to every school.

Colaiste Muire’s traditional musi- cians played for the invited guests and afterwards, Shannon joined the students on stage for a short concert.

Last Monday saw Shannon’s im- mense contribution to Irish music honoured with a civic reception host- ed by Clare County Council.

“A Civic Reception is the highest accolade at the disposal of Clare County Council for any individual, group or organisation and one that is – for Sharon Shannon – thoroughly deserved,’ stated the Mayor of Clare Councillor Tony Mulcahy. ;

Addressing those gathered at Aras Contae and Chlair in Ennis, the May- or said, “By demonstrating her most wonderful talent as an accordionist, Sharon has brought great acclaim to the Irish traditional music scene, County Clare and those who have had the pleasure of working with her down through the years. Sharon’s versatility as a musician 1s one of her most outstanding traits and is widely recognised by the global music in- dustry.”

Shannon, who began her record- ing career in 1989, is best known for her collaborations with some of the biggest names in the Irish and glo- bal music industry, including Bono,

Sinead O’Connor, Jackson Browne, John Prine, Steve Earle, Mark Knop- fler, The RTE Concert Orchestra, The Chieftains, The Waterboys, Wil- lie Nelson, Nigel Kennedy, Alisson Krauss and Shane MacGowan.

Her self-titled 1991 album remains the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released while she

became the youngest person ever to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Meteor Awards. Sharon Shannon has played festi- vals all over Europe including Wo- mad and Glastonbury in 2009, and has recently completed a sell-out UK tour and Irish nationwide tour with guests including Shane MacGowan,

Mundy and Dessie O’ Halloran. Her new album Saints And Scoun- drels was released last Friday.

Owabunga! Surfers hit by wave of ear infections

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.

THE Shannon Family Resource Cen- tre has announced a packed schedule of community events which will take place over the next few months. The autumn programme, which was an- nounced last week, included a host of regular events ranging from arts and craft, to health and childcare.

SU slome-DeeUU AW ApucN(OlUNKComeroNlnEomERyZ ON (C81 is located in the Respond Commu- nity Centre in Rineanna View, has been providing a number of essential services for the people of Shannon for the last number of years.

Along with the ongoing weekly events, the centre will also host a number of special day-long events

over the next couple of weeks.

On October 15, the centre will host a Breast Health Day featuring two guest speakers from Breast Cen- tre Limerick Regional and Cervi- cal Check. Fiona Treacy, Screening Promotion Officer from the Cervical Check in Limerick and Mags Sulli- van from the Breast Centre in Lim- erick Regional Hospital will be there to speak to people and answer any questions which people may have.

The day, which will begin at 10am, is open to all and will include some dancing and also some tea, coffee and scones.

The centre will also host a mental health information day to mark Men- tal Health Week 2009. On October 7,

the centre will host a day of events all based on the theme of friendship and community.

The day will open with tea and freshly made pancakes, followed by a willow weaving workshop and drama for children.

At 7.30pm the Mayor of Shannon, Sean McLoughlin, will open the evening events which include a talk from Brother Gabriel from Moyross followed by an open discussion and a live singing performance.

Other regular events on the autumn programme include an arts circle on Monday mornings between 10am to 12 noon and an evening art class on Monday evening between 7pm to wae 008

In addition to this the Homework Club will operate for two afternoons a week (Tuesday and Wednesday), a Sit and Knit Women’s Group on Tuesday evenings from 7.30pm to 10pm and a free confidential coun- selling service on Wednesday morn- Thea

Other events include Toddler’s Inc, Le Cheile International Club, Breast Feeding support group, comput- ers for the over 55s, computers for Traveller men, Cook It and a Travel- ler women’s physical education pro- eramme.

For more information about any of these events contact Barbara at the Shannon Family Resource Centre on 061 707600.

WEIRD and wonderful recipes that would have made Willie Wonka a happy man were submitted in droves to Scariff Library for their ‘Invent A Chocolate Bar’ competition.

Youngsters who came up with com- binations both tasty and startling were in to win a feast of chocolate for their efforts.

The competition ran to celebrate Roald Dahl Day on September 13, , and Tuamgraney-based Wilde Irish Chocolates stepped up to sponsor the prize.

Children were asked to imagine they were inventing a chocolate bar for Willy Wonka.

“We had some amazing suggestions and some really inventive ones,” said librarian, Carol….

“One suggestion was for a family bar, with different flavours and bits so that everyone could have their favourite. Another was for a Credit Crunch bar — that was a very popular one and then there were ones involv- ing slugs and bits of grass. They re- ally got going with it.”

But having read all the suggestions, the library staff had to pick a winner and it was Sean O’Rourke, Mount- Shannon, with the Celtic Credit Crunch Bar.

The suggestions were so creative that they couldn’t be left at that and there was a second prize for Liam O’Sullivan, Lisdoonvarna, with his Wildely Wicked bar. Third went to Rhian Quigley, Newport, with Runa- way Rasins.

There were consolation prizes for: Wackiest Bar – Rowan Powell, Miltown Malbay for Willy Wonka’s Seaweed Surprise

Most Thoughful Bar – Turlough O’Cinneide, Scariff for Our Family Brn

Best Artwork – Hazel Sturton, Tuamgraney for What Kids Want (WKW)

Cutest Bar – Andrew Cahir Whelan, Ennis for Ba-ba Bar

Funniest Bar – Anne Marie Flanagan, Ennis for Giggle Goo Most Do-able at Home Bar – Shane Walsh, Ogonelloe for Wonky Bar

Wilde Irish Chocolate will now create a limited edition chocolate bar inspired by the winning entry.

Wilde Irish Chocolates have been producing top quality artisan choco- late from their base in Tuamgraney

for 11 years now. Patricia Farrell and her husband Con are passionate about chocolate and the love shows.

“This is not something produced by pushing buttons on a machine and pouring stuff into a mould — this is a product that people get involved with. It’s all made by hand, we’re constantly working on the flavours and combinations and the human touch shows in the tatse,”’ said Patri- Ore

The chocolate sounds as good as it tastes, the most popular being dark chocolate with vanilla and cherry. They have branched out into gift

boxes and fudge, also handmade products.

With four people employed, the ac- colade of Good Food Ireland mem- bership, ten awards behind them and a gold medal for their Fairtrade Or- ganic chocolate, Wilde has a bright future. They have also just opened a shop in Doolin and they are about to launch a new website.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen met the next generation of west Clare voters yesterday (Monday) evening when he formally opened the new créche in Kilrush.

The purpose-build state of the art unit has already been accepted into the new free preschool scheme – Ear- ly Childhood Care and Education Scheme – introduced by Mr Cowen’s Crouse

The childcare facility, Cuan Samh, not only serves the Adult and Com- munity Learning Centre, on the Co- oraclare road, but it 1s also open to the public.

Seven people, including a cook are employed by the service, a number that will grow as more families avail of the service.

The creche opened on September 7 and replaces earlier childcare facili- ties housed in a prefabricated build- ing at the centre.

Moving from seasonal to full day care, the facility was funded through the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-10 capital fund administered by POBAL on behalf of the office of the minister for chil- dren.

Manager Bernie Kelly explained that Cuan Samh can also provide af- ter school services.

The full day care centre caters for children from three months to five years with age-specific rooms for babies, wobblers, toddlers and pre- school children.

“We believe in providing highly nutritious, good quality meals on site in the purpose built kitchen run by a qualified cook,” she said.

A varied menu using fresh, local produce is provided for all of the children using the service.

Cuan Samh also boasts an outdoor

play area.

Aobhan Haverty, Head of the County Adult and Community Edu- cation Service, run by Clare Voca- tional Education Committee, who oversaw the project throughout, on the committee’s behalf, said that the enclosed outdoor play area has a va- riety of surfaces and age-appropriate

equipment where children are given the opportunity for adventurous out- door and indoor play daily.

She added that Cuan Samh, like its sister Ennis créche, Cuan Aire, 1s a member of the National Children’s Nurseries and the curriculum a com- bination of high scope and free play.

Both facilities are notified to the

HSE and inspected annually under the 2006 pre-school regulations, while inspection in respect of food hygiene regulations 1s completed by an environmental health officer.

THE ommission of homes from the Kilrush Town Council register is not just denying people of their right to vote in the local elections, it could also cost the town council thousands of euro in uncollected taxes, and in an extreme case could lead to calls for a re-election of the local author- ity.

According to Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) the incorrect omission of hous- es within the urban boundary from the register could lead to untold dif- ficulties if the issue is not tackled in the near future.

Woodfield estate, on the Kilimer Road, is an example of the Fianna Fail councillor’s claim. The estate is divided by a stream, with the houses to the north in the town council area, and the south in the jurisdiction of the county.

The newly built estate in Ballynote West is, according to Cllr Prendev-

ille, made up of approximately 150 houses. During the last election, less than a dozen of the houses – those facing the road – were included in the town council election.

‘“T am adamant that at least 50 per cent of that estate is lying within the urban area,” he said.

Cllr Prendeville said that between 60 and 70 houses should have been added to the urban register, many of which are second or investment houses. These investment houses would be subject to a second home’s taxes and the councillor calculates this could be worth up to €10,000 to the town council this year.

Cllr Prendeville believes the blame for the mix up lies with the town council.

“People who have local informa- tion were not contacted at the time. The first we knew about it was when we were canvassing for the local elections and people told us they did not have the vote.

“If anyone was to challenge the re- sults in the local election they could be sucessful if they proved people were denied their vote, and the elec- tion would have to be re-run,’ he added.

“Béal na Inbhir estate, on the Shanakyle road, has a number of houses within the urban area as well. Some get a vote, some do not. And

this could happen again if proposed planning for an estate on the Coora- clare Road goes through,” he added.

The Fianna Fail councillor said that the town boundary should be extend- ed to include all people living in the town area.

‘There needs to be a clear demar- cation of the town and county line,’ he said.

DURING September, a host of car enthusiasts, Golf GTI fanatics, rug- by fans, media and VIP guests wit- nessed the unveiling of the new Golf GTI and GTD at an exclusive launch event held at the Pavilion, Leopards- town Racecourse. Special guests on the night, the Leinster Rugby team, tried out the new GIT as they cel- ebrated their recent partnership with Volkswagen before the new season kicks off.

The Leinster contingent includ- ing captain Leo Cullen, new signing Nathan Hines and outhalf Jonath- an Sexton all arrived in their new Volkswagens just two days before their first competitive outing of the season against the Scarlets in the Magners League. The recent pairing of Europe’s number one car brand with the Heineken Cup Champions forms a formidable partnership.

A ‘stig styled’ Mondello stunt driv- er treated lucky guests on the night to a hot lap on the Leopardstown Race Track in the new Golf GTI, while in- doors guests tried out Volkswagen’s new Golf GTI scalextric track. The event featured lots of entertainment

and guests were welcomed with spe- cial Volkswagen cocktails from the signature GTI to the Beetle Juice. Some of Ireland’s top party-goers at- tended the event with models Geor- gia Salpa and Diana Donnelly wel- coming guests.

Commenting on the night, Adam Chamberlain, Head of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen said: “We are delighted with our new partner- ship with the Leinster Rugby Team and very pleased they could be here for the launch of our halo car so close to their first competitive outing of the season. It is a perfect start to what promises to be a great relationship with Leinster.”

The Golf model line-up has grown stronger and better and this sixth generation offers a sporty GTI that maintains the character offered in the mid-nineties generation. The new model is striking with the hon- eycomb radiator grill rounding off a 240 km/h fast GTI that delivers a 210 BHP turbo engine. The Golf GTT 1s joined by the new Golf GTD, whose 170 BHP combined with 5.3 litres per 100km and 139 g/km CO2 makes it the high performance economical al- Cou ILO A Von

A NUMBER of Clare projects are in line for a major funding boost, thanks to an innovative tourism investment scheme which has been established to generate additional tourist num- bers to the mid-Shannon corridor.

In fact the local response has been so encouraging that the Government has decided to extend the closing date for applications to the Mid-Shannon Tourism Investment scheme, which is administered by Shannon Devel- opment and Failte Ireland.

The scheme was launched last year to provide tax incentives to stimulate investment in tourism attractions and facilities in the Mid-Shannon Corri- dor which includes Clare, Tipperary, Offaly, Galway, Roscommon and Westmeath. One of the primary ob- jectives is that all applications must generate additional tourist visits to this area which has a shortage of ac- tivities and attractions for visitors.

Last week the €10 million Old- court Tourist Resort in Terryglass and the Cloughjordan Village Eco- Hostel and Learning Centre became the the first projects to be approved for funding under the scheme.

Mid-Shannon Tourism Infrastruc- ture Board chairman Tom Hyland said both projects were an excellent fit for the overall objective to stimu- late the development of innovative and sustainable tourism products in the mid-Shannon area.

‘Failte Ireland and Shannon Devel- opment have heavily promoted the scheme since its launch in June 2008, and now have a pipeline of projects whose final applications are current- ly being prepared for submission to the Board’, he said.

Shannon Development chief execu- tive Dr Vincent Cunnane said they were encouraged by the level of in- terest from other potential promot- ace

“It is already bringing tangible and lasting benefits to the area, and the entrepreneurial business people who emerge as a result of the Scheme can be assured of Shannon Devel- Opment’s support in developing and

promoting their new businesses,” he Sr nLGe

Projects eligible under the new scheme include; education tourism facilities, visitor attractions, cultural facilities, wellness and self devel- opment facilities and amenities, fa- cilities for water-sports activities, outdoor activity centres, equestrian facilities, certain restaurants and cafés, boat rental and inland cruising facilities, training facilities for ad- venture centres and registered holi- day camps. They can be new projects

or refurbishment to existing ones.

Relief is available by way of capi- tal allowances over seven years for qualifying construction and refur- bishment expenditure. Capital al- lowance will be granted at a rate of 15 per cent per year for the first six years and 10 per cent for the seventh year. The qualifying period of the scheme ends on the May 31, 2013, but applications must be made by May 31, 2010.

Details can be viewed and down- loaded at www.failteireland.ie, www.

shannondevelopment.ie/tourism or Wwww.arts-sports-tourism.gov.ie

A CAMPAIGN to remove hundreds of mini-dolmens from the Burren will be instigated by the Burren Con- nect Project and Clare County Coun- cil later this year.

For years, tourists visiting the Bur- ren have constructed mini-dolmen to commemorate their visit to the na- tional park.

The structures, which are modelled on life-sized dolmens such as the one at Poulnabrone in Carron, are usu- ally less than two foot in height but a number of much larger ones have been built over the years.

A new environmental maintenance programme aimed at removing the mini-dolmens will be launched at Ballyallaban near Ballyvaughan this Wednesday.

Fifth- and sixth-class students of Ballyvaughan and _ Lisdoonvarna primary schools will safely remove a number of mini-dolmens at the launch, along with a number of lo- cal landowners and officials from the Burren Connect Project and Clare County Council.

In the past, both Clare County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have turned a blind eye to the practice but, as a result of increased visitor numbers to the area, experts now believe that the practice may cause irreparable damage to the landscape in the locality.

The Poulnabrone dolmen, which is the most famous Bronze Age burial

site in the country, has become an iconic symbol of Ireland in recent years.

However, Poulnabrone itself was “built” back in 1985 following a cracking of the eastern portal stone which caused the entire tomb to col- lapse.

Excavations which took place at this time found that between 16 and 22 adults and six children were bur- ied under the monument. Personal items buried with the dead included a polished stone axe, a bone pendant,

quartz crystals, weapons and pottery.

In the Bronze Age, around 1,/00 BC, a newborn baby was buried in the portico, just outside the entrance.

With its dominating presence on the surrounding landscape, experts believe that the dolmen must have remained a centre for ceremony and ritual in the Burren until well into the Celtic period.