The Clare People Archive

UP TO 42 children, clutching hand- made father’s day cards, were col- lected from Ennis Civil Service Créche, by distressed parents on Fri- day evening last.

Just hours before the parents, along with upset staff were told by the De- partment of Finance that the creche was to close in two weeks time.

While worried parents searched for childcare facilities at short notice, the 16 skilled staff, which include two part-time workers, faced into unemployment, many without a re- dundancy programme.

Gathered outside the creche, parents paid tribute to the staff. They were not as satisfied with the Department of Finance, however, who pulled the plug on the civil service creche until they finalised an agreement with a new créche operator.

The department “hope” to have this finalised by October.

Linda Hayes, the current temporary operator of the créche which received the All-Ireland Centre of Excellence Award, said she was happy to contin- ue running the creche until the new operator took over.

Ms Hayes began running the creche on a temporary basis six months ago

when the department failed to attract a full time operator.

Her contract 1s to finish on June 30, but she said she is happy to remain Oy se TH etom enn sre) tor

Spokesperson for the parents Ger- aldine Sullivan said that letter of the closure informed parents on Friday morning as they dropped their chil- dren off.

“It said the consultants would be here all day and next Monday to of- fer us support. So I asked what was the level of support being offered and that was the photocopy of the list of other créches in Ennis which are nearly all full,” she said.

The schoolteacher said she experi- enced a similar situation a number of years ago when Kite ran the créche and parents got two days notice.

Deputy Pat Breen (FG) is demand- ing that the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan review the decision to close the civil service creche in En- he

‘The manner in which this decision was communicated to the parents and staff of the civil service créche is appalling.

‘A Government agency should be leading by example instead of op- erating in this manner,” the deputy said.

WITH diesel prices continuing to Squeeze farm incomes the farm or- ganisation came out fighting this week, attacking ministers and call- ing for pressure to be put on the co- Ops.

First up was ICSA general secretary and Cratloe farmer Eddie Punch who attacked environment minister John Gormley, describing the Green Party leader’s comments that farmers may have to cut their livestock numbers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as “ridiculous”.

“On the one hand we have Minister Smith at the UN World Food Sum-

mit in Rome discussing global food shortages, while on the other hand Minister Gormley is suggesting we reduce our beef production,” he said.

‘“That’s just ridiculous. The beef in- dustry is vital to the Irish economy and any attempt to undermine it will be resisted by ICSA and all farmers.

‘Farmers have been to the fore in protecting the environment, through- out 15 year participation in REPS schemes, as well as implementing the Nitrates Directive. This veiled attack would not be tolerated by any other sector in Ireland and it won’t be tolerated by farmers either.”

Next up was Deputy President and Chairperson of ICMSA’s Dairy Com-

mittee, John O’ Leary, who called for co-op boards to face into making a decision on milk price as quick as possible.

‘Co-ops must at least maintain the April milk price as farmers will sim- ply not absorb a further cut in milk price following the massive drops in April,” he said

“Markets are now beginning to strengthen with dairy product prices increases in the UK, the EU and at world market levelling. In addi- tion, co-op boards simply cannot ignore the fact that input costs have increased substantially this year in particular fertiliser, feed and energy costs.”

ICMSA estimates these additional variable and fixed costs in 2008 at over 4 cent per litre of milk which is equivalent to over €9,000 for a full year’s milk production for a 50,000 gallon milk producer.

“It should be noted that this figure does not include depreciation nor the massive nitrate related investment costs taking place on farms at the present time,” said O’ Leary.

‘Taking account of the increased costs and the drop in milk price for April, farmer margins have been cut by about 10 cent per litre which, for a full year’s milk production represents an income loss of nearly €23,000 for a 50,000 milk producer.”

THE IFA has already set its sites on the next round of the social part- nership talk with President Padraig Walshe putting the Farm Improve- ment Scheme (FIS) as number one on his wish list from the Government.

With more than 5,000 farmers ef- fectively locked out of the scheme al- together Walshe is looking for urgent action coupled with the introduction of a flexible arrangements to allow farmers to complete work under the Farm Waste Management Scheme (FW MS).

Speaking after last week’s first bi-lateral partnership meeting, Mr Walshe said many farmers who ap- plied for the FIS between October 21, 2007 and the closure date of Oc-

tober 31, 2007 had not been approved by the Department of Agriculture to proceed with much-needed invest- ment.

“Most of this work is linked to other investments under the FWMS as well as investments to modernise and improve efficiency on farms,” he Sr NIGe

“In relation to the FWMS, as many as 33,000 farmers had yet to com- plete work under the scheme and the December 31 deadline to finish work is totally unreasonable.

“We need a flexible arrangements to be put in place to allow any farmer who has started work to be eligible for the 60 per cent grant when work is completed.”

Mr Walshe raised IFA’s serious concerns over the failure of the De-

partment of Agriculture to increase standard costs in line with the in- creased cost of structural steel, con- crete and labour.

“I would like to remind the Gov- ernment of their commitment in the charter of rights that costings would increase each year in line with gener- al building costs. Failure to do this is imposing higher net investment costs on farmers,” he continued.

A further meeting of partnership is planned for next week when IFA expect a Government response to the farm grant issues, and other demands set out in IFA’s submission.

Meanwhile, IFA countryside chair- man David Wilkinson has reacted angrily to Department of Commu- nication confirmation through the Freedom of Information Act that the

National Broadband Scheme was not getting priority attention.

“Rural homes and businesses are already years behind the rest of Eu- rope when it comes to the availability of affordable broadband. It is totally unacceptable that at times there was nobody working on ensuring that this essential initaitive is rolled out across the country,’ he said.

“It is vital that this Government investment in rural broadband is prioritised so that every rural home and business has access to affordable broadband as quickly as _ possible. The Minister for Communications, Eamon Ryan, must ensure that this scandalous neglect within his depart- ment of a vital initiative 1s addressed and now has an obligation to deliver the rural broadband scheme ASAP.”

LISCANNOR man Thomas Buckley, leads the way at the half-way point in this year’s Biland National Karting Championship. With five races under his belt, Buckley leads the standings by three points from second place David Yamamoto.

After winning the first race in the Series, Thomas has claimed three second place finishes and one fifth place finish. The season has taken a summer break but Thomas is hopeful of continuing his impressive second season when racing starts again in August.

“There are some hard-core racers taking part in this years. There are about 10 or 12 racers who are really in contention to win each race,” said Thomas.

“It’s very tight at the top. At the moment there is just two points be- tween myself and David but it’s even closer than that. At the end of the season each racer is allowed to drop his worst result from the final com- petition. So if we both drop out worst results at this stage I am only a point ahead.

“Tt’s quite now of the national championship for the next few months. There will be a number of

two day plate races taking place but they don’t count towards the national championship.

“Once August comes around again the races will be coming quick and Jeo me ex- 0 0

Thomas’ lead in this years compe- tition has been built on consistency. With four different drivers winning the five races to date his ability to get close to the front on a regular basis is paying dividends.

‘Three of the last four races are on tracks that we know well and have raced already this year so that is a good sign. There is only one really unknown track,” continued Thomas,

who represented Ireland in the World Biland Championship in Brazil last year.

“The good thing is that we have been on the pace in every track – we haven’t had any really poor results. In the last two races in particular, we have finished second but we were only a few hundreds of a second off the first place.

“We haven’t heard what is going to happen with the World Champion- ship yet this year but I’m sure it will be taking place later in the season. I would hope to get as far as the world final again this year.” Thomas is sponsored by Lahinch Surf Shop.

OANA Seems Rehm GcusaITMAYcapnt Ennistymon’s Mol an Oige Steiner School on Friday to officiate over one of the last events ever to take place at its current location.

After years of campaigning, the school finally received Department of Education status this year and will move into a new premises on the grounds of the Falls Hotel from September.

Griffin warmed up for Clare’s clash against Limerick by putting the chil- dren of Mol an Oige threw their pac- es on the school’s annual sports day.

“We are delighted at how things have turned out. A lot of us have

been in the school since the very start. When we started off first with eleven students and one teacher we would have been very happy to thing that after three years we would have almost 80 students, department rec- ognition, four full-time teachers and a full-time learning support teacher,” said teacher Una Ni Ghairbhith.

“We didn’t know that this would happen. We are very happy that the school has taken root in the com- munity and is fulfilling a need that is there in the community for this type of education.”

This Wednesday the school will have it’s final day of classes in Data Display before they move to their new school next September.

“There is a lot of work to be done over the summer in getting the new school ready. We will be spending a lot of time making the whole place homely for the students,’ continued Una.

“We will have four classroom and a staff/resource room down in the Falls. We will be starting the moving work in the next coupe of weeks.

“At the moment we have 78 stu- dents pre-enrolled in the school for next year.

“It’s great to move on but it will be sad too to leave our home here be- hind. We really would like to thank all the people who have helped us over the last three years. We have been here in Data Display the whole

time and they have been wonderful. We have had a great space and have been able to decorate and use it ex- actly to our own needs.

“The school that is opening up in September will be a continuation of this school but it will be at a new premises and things will be that bit different. We probably wont have to do as much fundraising, but of course the fundraising was a great social occasion for the locals here. I’ve already had a few people saying please don’t stop the concerts.”

TWO men from north Clare will next month take on the world’s most challenging road race in an effort to raise money for charity. Andy Bash- er and Sean Walshe will tackle the Mongol Rally, which takes drivers cross country through thousands of miles from London to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

The rally leaves Hyde Park in Lon- don on July 19, after which drivers are allowed to choose their own route to Mongolia. Only 200 cars are tak- ing part in this year’s event – chosen from the 40,000 plus who applied to make the journey.

The race is limited to | litre cars and the lads will be using a 1991 Nis-

san Micra on their fundraising trip.

‘Every team that takes part has to raise at least 1,000 pounds sterling for charity but obviously we want to raise a lot more than that,” said aUKOWe

“Different teams have different ways that they manage it but we de- cided right from the very start that we would be paying for the trip 100 per cent ourselves so that everything we raise will go to our charity cho- sen charity which is Christina Nobel Children’s Charity.”

The Christina Nobel Charity is an Irish charity which works with the thousands of children who live in poverty on the streets in Mongolia.

‘Ulaanbaatar is actually the coldest city in the world. It is constantly mi-

nus 40 during the winter and the con- ditions are terrible for the children. Most of them have to live down the Sewers,’ said Sean.

“Christina Nobel works out there providing first aid and medical at- tention for the street children. The government won’t let charities give out food because they think it will encourage the kids to come out onto the street. She has set up an orphan- age and a charitable hospital for the people there.

“Christina Nobel has one of the lowest administration percentages of any charity so almost all the money donated goes straight to the people who need it.”

This Friday the latest installment of North Clare’s regular clubnight, the

Funkion Room, will take place with all money made on the night going to Andy and Sean’s journey.

Pet Tong (London) and Tokin White Boy (Limerick) will be in residence for the night in Cliffs of Moher Hotel in Liscannor.

For more details or to sponsor the lads contact Sean at 085 7201494 or donate money to a specially set up account at the Ennistymon AIB, sort code 93-51-58, account number One Tes OOP

NORTH Clare man David Mee is this week making final preparations for an eight week long aid trip to Jed abi byoyeynetere

Later this month David will travel with international aid organisation SERVE to the Filipino capital Ma- nilla before undertaking a number a number of aid missions on different parts of the island.

His work will include working with and teaching poor children, visit- ing hospitals and even working with children who have been imprisoned.

He is one of 14 Irish people who will be travelling to the Philippines this year. The groups leaves on June

29 and will spend a total of eight weeks working on the islands before returning home on August 20.

“We will be spending the first week in the capital Manilla where we will get some introduction into the way of life in the Philippines and a briefing on some of the work in which we will be doing,” said David.

‘Then we will be put in pairs and sent of to different regions to engage in all kinds of projects with the locals. We will spend about three weeks in out first area, then three more weeks in another area before we head back to Manilla for the final week.”

Over the last few months David has undertaken a number of fundraising activities raising more than €2,500

for the poor children in the Philip- obey

“I would really like to make a huge thanks to all those who sponsored me and helped me out when I was getting ready for this, the students in Mary Immaculate College, everyone who helped with the ceili, all those who helped with the raffle and all my NONE As

“The fundraising started with a raffle in Lisdoonvarna which raised €400 but we also had a legwaxing night in Charlie Malone’s Pub in Limerick which raised €500 and we raised €600 from external events. The most money raised came from the ceili in Kilfenora which raised more than €1,500.

“When I get over there I will be teaching children between the ages of 3 and 7, working in disadvan- taged communities, visiting prisons and working as advocates on behalf of the children in those prisons and we will also be visiting hospitals and leporsoriums.”

SERVE is a voluntary group which is a partnership between the Re- demptorists, young Irish adults and communities and agencies in the de- veloping world.

One of the main aims is to fund supports for sustainable development projects and global citizenship pro- grammes. For more check out www. To Mien (e

MONTHS of good work and dili- gence by the students of a Shannon primary school have proved fruit- ful, as they have won their very first eau Tm IETS

St Aidan’s National School has been awarded a green flag, following months of preparation and anticipa- tion, during which waste and litter levels were reduced significantly.

Last week, the school raised its

green flag at a special ceremony which was organised by the insti- gator of the project, Brenda Clarke, while class teacher Patrice Hayes also played a key role in the project.

Every student at the school was involved in the project and all the efforts were rewarded with an out- door school concert which included contributions in song, dance, poetry and acting from the various classes. Many of the compositions were orig- inal and had a green theme.

And in keeping with the theme the school went green for the day with the children encouraged to wear green for the special occasion.

The seeds for the project were sown last October, when the 278 pupils at the school planted a bulb each in the school garden.

A proposal, compiled by the sixth class pupils in October, stated, “It would be an honour, not only for the school, but for us pupils, to be known as the eight classes who helped St

Aidan’s receive their first green flag. It would make us all very proud. To see St Conaire’s and St Tola’s win the green flag for the fifth or sixth time makes us fade into the background but no, not this year. The pupils and teachers are very determined. We have to make a number of sacrifices but when we get that green flag it will be worth it.”

The determination paid off and the students and staff savoured the happy atmosphere last week.

THE Baha’i community in Shannon is currently engaging in a wide vari- ety of events in the local area, geared towards people of all ages.

The group, which is growing in size in Shannon having been set up 15 years ago, runs children’s classes every week, along with junior youth study circles.

The classes are open to children from all backgrounds and all faiths.

Study groups focusing on ‘Reflec-

tions on the life of the Spirit’ are springing up throughout the country, with one starting in Shannon short- M4

According to the Baha’i communi- ty, these courses are designed to as- sist in the awakening of the spiritual life of the individual.

Other Baha’ activites in the area includes regular devotional meet- ings, Holy Day celebrations and in- formation evenings.

Plans are also afoot to establish a youth group for young people aged

between 12 and 15.

“It will be animated by youth. It will really make the young people think and take responsibility for their environment,” said Trish Fallon-Bar- ry, who is the secretary of the Baha’i community in Shannon.

According to Ms Fallon-Barry, all of the events are open to everybody.

We welcome the participation of members of the wider community,’ she said.

Ms Fallon-Barry was one of four people from across the county who

represented Clare at the recent elec- tion in Dublin of the nine-member National Assembly of the Baha’i faith.

One of the main issues up for the discussion at the conference was the position of their persecuted fellow Sylora kw tem bectee

Information on the Bahai com- munity and its principles can be found on www.bahai.ie, by emailing bahainfo@iol.ie or by phoning the Baha’i community in the Shannon area on 061 362715.

has scooped a major medi- cal journalism award, ahead of stiff competition from writers and broad- casters in the national media.

Claire Gallagher won the Young Irish Journalist of the Year award, winning a specially commissioned sculpture by leading silversmith Sea- mus Gill as well as a financial prize, at the seventh annual GlaxoSmithK- line Irish Medical Media Awards.

Gallagher won the award for her sensitive treatment of the controversy surrounding breast cancer screening services in Clare.

Announcing the win, chairman of the judging panel and MC, Dr John Bowman said she won the award “for her sensitive treatment of the contro- versy around breast screening serv- ices in Clare and for well-researched articles which provided her readers with all sides of the argument”.

This is the latest in a long line of awards for the newspaper, which is celebrating the third anniversary of its first edition this week.

The newspaper’s managing editor, Gerry Collison, paid tribute to Gal- lagher’s standard of journalism in the publication.

“Claire is an extremely dedicated and talented journalist. She constant- ly raises the bar in terms of journal- istic excellence with her work. We

have a very talented, hard-working staff of whom we are very proud,’ he said.