The Clare People Archive

HAVE you ever heard of Motown’? No, nothing to do with soul music, but a nickname given by a PR man to the area around the start of the Naas Road in Dublin which is proliferated by car companies.

The first car importer you hit when you make your way to ‘Motown’ from Dublin city centre is the Gowan Group. Recently I tested Citroen’s first SUV, the C-Crosser, now it’s the turn of Peugeot, the other company in the Gowan Group, to eventually get in on the SUV act with their new mL UrE

The 4007 is built on the same plat- form as Citroen’s C-Crosser and Mitsubishi’s Outlander. So it’s a tough call to make and ultimately it will come down to the brand you are loyal to. The entry price for the Peu- geot and Citroen is similar, while the Outlander is slightly cheaper.

I drove a black 4007 and I must say it looked very impressive. The front headlamps would do any sports car justice and the two silver roof rails definitely do add to the SUV effect.

Women are supposed to wear black to make them look slim; indeed I’ve known a few men to opt for black for similar reasons. But there is no need to try and make the 4007 look slim as it’s very neat especially the rear end. The only place you will see any colour other than black in the 4007 is the rear door, where there is a nice

touch of chrome as you open it. To be fair there 1S also a touch of chrome inside.

Like all SUVs, the 4007 is very There are no problems with any pil-

high and the seating position gives you an excellent view of the road.

lars to hide your view and overall I think it makes for very safe driving.

In the cabin everything is well laid out and decent size knobs are provid- ed for the radio. The back seat could hold three well built adults, whether they are wearing black or not.

I won’t say that the diesel was very noisy, but there is no doubt you will know straight away that it is a diesel. In some other diesels I have driven recently you would have to double check to see if it was petrol or diesel they were so quiet.

But diesel is the new black as eve- rybody wants one to cut down on the COQ2 emissions and avail of the ben- efits of Mr Cowen’s recent budget. Therefore you might like to wait un- til July 1 for the best deals.

I drove the ST version which gives you an option of five or seven seats and goodies like cruise control and MP3 player. Like most SUVs if you opt for seven seats there is very little luggage space left. You can switch from two-wheel to four-wheel drive by means of a switch located near the gear lever. I didn’t get an opportunity to drive the 4007 off-road but it felt like it could handle any terrain.

Prices start at €40,200 for the 4007 five-seat SR model and go up to €47,395 for the top of the range seven seater. All are powered by a 2.2 litre diesel engines. Peugeot say they expect to sell between 150 to 200 units in Ireland this year.

LIKE all grannies Ouma likes to spoil her grandson and give him some money for sweets. She is one of the few living in the townships of South Africa who has managed to get a government pension.

But in the case of 11 year old Veron, his granny’s kindness is literally kill- ing him. Veron is infected with the AIDS virus and the sweets are play- ing havoc with his blood counts.

Sr Ethel and her care workers are on one of their regular visits to his mother, Rochelle Grootboom.

Rochelle and two of her sisters are also HIV positive. A third has died from the virus.

“Rochelle had a CD4 (blood count) of 22 when we found her. A normal count 1s 500. She should have died’, says Nurse In Charge, Muriel Eskok.

Rochelle is concerned that Veron is getting wild and neglecting his schoolwork. Typical of an I1 year old, he doesn’t like medicine and is not taking his anti-viral medication . The stick-thin woman knows she is too week to force him. It’s too much for Rochelle, who breaks down in ReraN Ce

“lve known Rochelle since she was a little girl. She was one of the chil- dren who came to me when all I had was the loan of a tree to sit under’, says Sr Ethel.

Rochelle is just one of 120,000 people who live in the shantytown.

Every day, the five teams of trained careworkers visit about five clients rele ee

They have around 200 clients at any given time who need to be vis- ited twice a week. The workers dress wounds, check how medication 1s go- ing, treat hypertension, wash out peo- ple mouths — oral thrush and TB are two common diseases among people with the virus — and clean houses when the clients are too sick.

The house where Rochell, her mother, son and her mother’s part- ner live is made of thin wood and measures no more than 18 feet by 30 feet. There are four tiny rooms, no bathroom and they cook on a primus stove. Some shacks are much worse than this one, which is painted and Ore

Township people are often in de- nial about the possibility of having AIDS. “If they are tested early and get the antiviral drugs, they can live for maybe ten or twelve years. If they come late, about two years’, says Muriel.

Six in ten people are infected with the virus. Sr Ethel dosn’t like speak- ing about numbers. “One mother dy- ing of AIDS is too many”, she says.

Rape is common in the townships, based on the myth that having sex with a virgin is a cure. Sr Ethel tells the story of a nine-year old girl who was raped by her uncle. The child be- OF Weslo NNKerelKerO mrs NeLOMONoem

It is the culture than men are disin-

clined to use condoms, thinking it a slur on their masculinity or the faith- fullness of their partners.

The testament that the virus is

decimating the poor is in the cleared spaces where the shacks of AIDS victims have been burned and in the rows of fresh graves which stand in

the shadown of a large cross on the javeeR

The cross bears the inscription, ‘“Ethel’s People.”

OF THE 125,000 people living in dire poverty in the townships of Port Elizabeth, 60 per cent of them are being helped by a mission started under a tree by one Little Company of Mary nun from Clare.

Missionvale works through joined up thinking, with care workers go- ing out to visit the sick and picking up on other needs, like food or help with claiming a pension and bringing those cases to the food kitchens and the social worker.

In turn the social worker can alert the caregivers that a client of theirs is ill.

Each day, 750 families get a half a loaf and soup at the feeding station

and a further 1,250 families get a food parcel every week.

The clinic on site refers at least 60 new cases each day to Sr Ethel for help with other needs.

Families ‘adopted’ by Sr Ethel have their children’s school transport costs and fees paid as all schools charge fees in South Africa. The family is given two sets of clothing twice a year from clothing donations to Mis- sionvale.

Sr Ethel’s team also ensures that households headed by children where parents have died of AIDS, are fed, get to continue their schooling and are taught basic cooking and house- keeping skills.

The young adults who head these homes in turn help with the centre’s

programme for orphans and vulner- able children. (OVC)

More that 170 children are attend- ing the pre-primary school at any given time and 500 children are giv- en what may be their only meal every day by the OVC.

A total of 74 people have work in the centre’s gardens, craft and car- pentry centres as well as the school, caring and feeding programmes.

Running costs for the centre are €150,000 a year – a pittance in Irish terms but a stunning amount in a country where factory workers earn SOOM: (cle) @

Donations for Missionvale can be sent to Ethel Normoyle Account No: 40354101 Sort Code: 985680 Ulster Bank, Ennis.

SCORES of young Clare adults with Down Syndrome are being denied the chance to fulfil their potential because of the lack of sheltered ac- commodation in the county. According to the Clare Branch of Downs Syndrome Ireland, the pos- sibility for young Clare people to avail of sheltered accommodation is severely limited, with only respite accommodation available.

Pat Hannon is from Sixmilebridge and his 21 year old daughter Orla would avail of sheltered accommo- dation if some were available.

“Orla is older now and we are think- ing about sheltered accommodation but there is little or no sheltered ac- commodation in Clare,” he said.

“It’s next to impossible to get any sheltered accommodation for adults in Clare. The only way you might get it is if you simply were not able to cope at home. But regarding some-

one having a choice to live in shel- tered accommodation, it 1s non-ex- istent.”

According to Margaret Dixon, Sec- retary of the Clare Branch of Downs Syndrome Ireland, there are many Clare people in the same position as Orla.

‘There are a lot of adults in Clare who are in and around Orla’s age who would jump at the chance at sheltered accommodation,” she said.

“IT would say that we would have a

least 20 young people ready to take up houses tomorrow if it was avail- able.”

Orla is currently living at home and training for work with the National Learning Network in Limerick. The work options available to Clare peo- ple with Downs Syndrome will be curtailed in May when the Shan- non Community Workshop will be closed, with the loss of 27 supported employment positions.

“I’d love to live in a house with a few different people. I’d miss living at home but it would be really great to be able to live in a house,” said Orla.

“Tm now in training in Limerick, so I can get a job. I’d like to get a job in a book shop. I had a job once before working in the library in Lim- erick. I’m really looking forward to getting a job and having some money of my own.”

Finding employment locally for someone with Downs Syndrome can be difficult.

“Work is very difficult, it’s not easy to get someone to take on someone with Downs Syndrome,” continued Orla’s father Pat.

“The National Learning Network in Limerick helps a lot, they have helped Orla get placement in jobs Where she can get some experience. But it’s not easy to find.”

CARERS from Clare will finally get an opportunity to outline their re- quirements to the most senior person in the Health Service Executive.

The Chief Executive Officer of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, will address the Caring for Carers Ireland 17th Annual Respite Break and Conference this March in the Clare Inn.

Professor Drumm, who has reiter- ated his commitment to community care and supporting people in the home since he was appointed CEO,

will hear the realities facing the country’s 161,000 carers.

The outcome of this year’s confer- ence, entitled “The Future of Long term Care in the Community: How to meet the needs of the Family Carer”, will be significant in the composi- tion of the National Carers’ Strategy 2008 to 2016.

Also addressing the gathering will be Laverne McGuiness, the HSE’s National Director for Primary Com- munity and Continuing Care, Marian Harkin MEP, Brigid Barron, Founder President, Eurocarers; Helen Kelly, Chairperson of Caring for Carers,

Clare and Mary McMahon, the chief executive of Caring for Carers, Ire- land.

Caring for Carers was originally formed in Clare. It has since expand- ed to an all Ireland and European body, giving a voice to those often to busy and stressed to speak up for themselves.

Attendance at the conference on March 7 to 9 will include more than 500 Family Carers drawn from Car- ing for Carers Ireland national net- work of 90 Carers Groups through- out Ireland.

“Family Carers experience high

levels of stress and financial difficul- ties. Many express fears around their abilities to continue to provide care,” a spokesperson for the organisation said.

This conference will provide an opportunity for carers to report their need for services and support to sus- tain caring in the home into the fu- ture. The outcomes will be reported to the interdepartmental working eroup, which is tasked to develop a National Strategy for Family Carers aligned with *““Towards 2016”, which will set out the Government’s vision in relation to all family carers.

CLARE people are being forced into extensive fundraising activity in order to bridge the gaps in the HSE speech and language service for children with Downs Syndrome in Clare.

Despite the appointment of addi- tional speech and language therapists for the county, the Clare Branch of Downs Syndrome Ireland admit that there are still some Clare children who have never been seen by a HSE therapist.

‘Because there is such a gap in speech therapy for a lot of people, with a lot of kids and adults never having had any speech therapy from the HSE, we try and alleviate that by part funding a speech therapist along with the family,” said Margaret Dix- on, secretary of the Clare branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.

“It is very important that these children get early intervention, from birth right up to six years old. This time forms the seeds of how they will develop into adulthood. If they get this, they will find it a little bit

easier in school and the whole way up along.

“Besides supporting people with Downs Syndrome, the local branch also run a number of activities to help the families of those effected.

“It’s very important to have support eroups. It’s areal help. If you’re a new parent, to be able to talk to someone who is a parent for a couple of years in a great thing,’ said John O’Brien who four year old daughter Megan suffers from Downs Syndrome.

The Clare Branch of Down Syn- drome Ireland will hold it’s AGM

on March 6 in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. The Arch Club social club for sufferers takes place in Ennis every Saturday evening – contact 065 6824565 for more info.

Resent fundraising includes €7,500 raised by Deirdre Rafferty, Collette O’Brien, Carol O’ Reilly and Martina Ryan at the Dublin Marathon and €1500 raised by the Ennis Leisure Centre.

LAST Tuesday marked a major milestone for one of Irelands most successful and enduring farming or- ganisations.

February 19 marked the 50th an- niversary of the enactment of the legislation providing for the estab- lishment of An Foras Taluntais, the Agriculture Research Institute which now forms part of Teagasc.

A series of nationwide events are planned throughout the year to cel- ebrate the achievements in agricul- ture and food research over the last fifty years.

The establishment and develop- ment of AFT under the leadership of the late Dr Tom Walsh coincided

with a period of revolutionary think- ing in national economic policy.

‘The research carried out, first by AFT, and more recently by Teagasc, has provided a firm scientific founda- tion for modern agriculture and the dynamic food industry we have in Ireland today,” said Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc.

“A great deal has been achieved over the last 50 years and this is in no small part due to the high quality people recruited into the organisa- tion and who have worked tirelessly for the benefit of Irish agriculture.”

Major milestones have been achieved in agriculture research in the past and Teagasc continues to provide the technological base ena- bling the industry to adapt to ongo-

ing changes in policy.

“Irish producers and processors must confront ever greater challeng- es in the global marketplace and the existence of a strong research func- tion fully integrated with advisory and training services is an essential component of that future,’ continued Professor Boyle.

Fifty years ago at the time of AFT’s establishment, over 60 per cent of the total national exports were from agri- culture and production was relatively static for a considerable period. AFT put in place a national programme of agriculture research to underpin the dramatic developments in Irish agriculture, and enabled it to benefit from access to new markets.

AFT initially set out to help farm-

ers increase productivity and income, broadening its research activities over the years as the policy environ- ment, market conditions and latterly erowing consumer demands set new priorities for research.

Representative advisory commit- tees were put in place from the start to ensure that the research programmes would focus on the real problems of the industry. A productive two-way flow of information was established, bringing first-hand knowledge of problems requiring research to AFT.

This speeded up the transmission and adoption of research results and this two-way flow was consolidated with the merger of AFT and ACOT to form Teagasc in 1988.

HIGH heel shoes are proving prob- lematic when negotiating the foot- paths of Kilrush.

That is according to town council- lor Deirdre Culligan (Ind) who high- lighted the need for work to be car- ried out on the footpaths on Henry Street and Toler Street.

“Toler Street just seems to be erod- ing away bit by bit,’ she said.

“Try walking it in high heels.”

Fellow councillor Liam Looney (FF) had his own feelings on the high heels issue. The Kilrush publi- can told this month’s meeting of the council “those high heels destroy

wooden floors”.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) had valuable advice for the Fianna Fail councillor.

“Well, don’t wear them then,” she said.

The debate on the footwear was just part of the discussion on the all im- portant road works programme for the coming year.

Executive Engineer Derek Troy told the councillors that he had hoped to include Toler Street in the roadworks programme for this year, but had second thoughts due to work on the sewerage scheme.

“Like Crawford Street, there is a section of pipe that has to be replaced

for the sewerage scheme so we decid- ed not to do it this year,” he said.

An allocation of €200,000 has been made available for Kilrush road works for this year.

A further €19,000 has been provid- ed for improvement to public light- hates

The roads outlined for work for this year include The Glen, Griffin Road and High Street, Cappagh Village, St Senan’s Terrace, Wood Road, and John Street.

Finances have also been set aside for various areas for general repairs and improvements.

Footpaths that will get a face-lift under the programme include Burton

Street and High Street, Chapel Street, John Street, and Moore Street.

Money has also been allocated for general upkeep and repairs in vari- ous areas in the interest of safety.

Public lighting has long been the bane of the council chamber.

This year there was good news for those walking at night.

Killimer Road; Wilson Road; Limekiln Road; The Glen, Grif- fin Road; Fort Road; Russell’s Lane and Millennium Lane will all benefit from the lights programme.

Cllr Collie Sweeney (Ind) wel- comed the road works outlined.

“I’m quite satisfied with that,’ he Cr nOR

OFFICIALS in Kilrush are planning to extend the John Paul Estate Re- generation Programme following the success of the pilot project.

Officials from Kilrush Town Coun- cil are in critical talks with the De- partment of the Environment this week about expanding the project.

Kilrush Town Clerk Fiona Mooney said, “Our approach to the depart- ment is that we want to be even more ambitious than we were at pilot stage.”

“The department is in a process currently of meeting all housing au- thorities with a view to determining

resource needs for the coming three years. Kilrush Town Council has submitted and stressed the need for a further phase of the John Paul Estate project.

“Tt is likely that housing authorities will be notified of their department allocations by May of 2008,’ she Sr NLGe

“The pilot phase of this project is ahead of schedule and has been marked by positive relations and a high degree of cooperation and fa- cilitation by the local community. The redesign objectives of the pilot phase of increasing security and pri- vacy by the removal of back lanes and derelict open spaces have been

achieved and the quality and specu- lation achieved by the pilot phase is high,” said the clerk.

“Kilrush Town Council officials appreciate the support of the Kil- rush elected members and of the Clare Oireachtas members in terms of convincing the department of the need for the allocation of resources to advance and complete the project for John Paul.

“This support has been very im- portant thus far in what is a long term and strategic programme, and involving social and economic devel- opmental elements as well as physi- cal infrastructural improvements. In this regard, the ongoing support of

the council’s multi-agency partners is also acknowledged and appreci- ated,’ she said.

This pilot phase of the regeneration programme consists of work on 28 existing dwellings in Willow Green and Sycamore Drive.

At this month’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council Ms Mooney told the members that a show house demon- strating the works to date would soon be available for people to visit. The show house will be situated on Wil- low Green.

The town clerk also asked the councillors for their support as nego- tiations with the department began, which she received en mass.

eaKeleiomayael take over responsibility for the float from a team of transition years stu- dent from Scoil Mhuire in Ennisty- mon who yesterday push the float from Miltown to Ennistymon. Leaving from the Falls Hotel before 10, the Clare People group expect to arrive in Kilfenora before noon where they will take part in the Ted- Fest parade. Following the parade they will leave on the second part of their journey and are expected to ar- rive in Doolin before 5pm. TedFest will continue in Kilfenora this evening with the staging of the

first ever All-Ireland Blondes-only Snakes and Ladders Championship, acoustic Karaoke with the singing Postman, the All-Ireland Open Elvis lookalike contest, the Lovely Girls Contest and the Pat Mustard Memo- rial night featuring Mrs O’Reilly and the Hairy Babies.

The Kilfenora Community Hall will be the setting on Tuesday evening for an informal public chat with Father

Ted creators Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews.

Wednesday will see the ‘Ted Trail which will take in the Paro- chial House, the Chinese pub, Mrs O’Reillys house, the Song For Eu- rope waterfall and the caravan park jgxoeem see

Kilfenora’s place in Fr Ted folklore will be insured at the festival when Graham Linehan and Arthur Math-

ews will unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the event at the Kil- fenora Community Centre. Organisers are looking for a busi- ness interested in sponsoring the plague. Anyone interested should contact Janet at 087 6277000.