Month: March 2007

GERRY Dunleavy was back in Doo- lin last week to help launch details for this year’s Michael Dunleavy Walk which will take place on April ey

The walk, which is now in its fifth year, 1S dedicated to the memory of Gerry’s young son Michael, who died aged just eight, because of an inoperable brain tumour.

The group, which has raised more than €90,000 for the Irish Cancer Society over the last four years, are hoping that this year’s event will be

the most successful to date.

“We are really hoping to push it this year. This is the fifth anniver- sary of the walk so we want to pull out all the stops. We want to make it the biggest walk ever,” said organiser Mary O’Connor. “It will be the same route as usual. We will start at the Russell Centre and people can have their choice of two routes, one of five miles or one of a shorter distance.

‘All the money raised goes towards the Irish Cancer Society. We try to channel the money towards child- hood cancer and research. We also save a good part of the money raised

to help local children who are suffer- ing from different illnesses.”

The Michael Dunleavy Foundation was established by Gerry and Toni Dunleavy in Boston in 2002. Doo- lin native Gerry and his Dublin-born Toni set up the charity following the death of their son Michael in Amer1- ca on December 28, 2002.

“We hope that our fundraiser will be an important element in the fight against cancer and brain tumours,” continued Mary. “Technology is moving at breakneck speed towards finding the cause of this disease but it requires a big investment that now

one of us could afford. But together we can help to hasten the day that a cure for cancer would be found.”

The money raised will be used pri- marily in the area of research into childhood cancer and in the support of affected families. A portion of this money also goes to help fund special- ists nurses who work on a one-to-one basis with child suffers of cancer.

Anyone interested in taking part in the walk can contact Mary on 087 9080412. A special bank account for all donations has been set up at the Bank of Ireland in Ennistymon, Ac- count number 32884701.

THE artistic endeavors of more than 300 Clare children was celebrated this week at the Pol an Ionain cave in Doolin where the inaugural chil- dren’s Christmas art competition was judged.

After much deliberation, Oscar Healy from Cratloe came out on top in the competition which was crammed with quality work from all entrants.

“We did Santa Clause at the cave this year and as part of that we in- vited all the children who visited to take part in the art competition. We couldn’t get over the response, we

had 300 entrants from children all over Clare, it was really amazing,” said Helen Browne of Pol an Ionain.

“It was really interesting to see all the different things that the children could conjure up just with their 1m- aginations.”

The competition was judged by three arts school graduates who de- cided that Oscar’s drawing was the best of the hundred of entrants in a close competition.

“It was so difficult, they were all very good but there were six or seven pieces that were just excellent,’ con- tinued Helen.

‘He has created a scene which is based inside the cave. The stalac-

tite is in the background and in the foreground is Santa and two or three elves. The whole drawing is really fantastic, very well done.”

Pol an Ionain has been going from strength to strength since it opened less than one year ago.

“The cave has been going very well. We are operating a park and ride service from Bruach na Halla to the cave. This is to keep any disturbance of the natural environment of the area to an absolute minimum. It also means that only groups of 20 visit the cave at a time which makes it both a very intimate and eco-friendly expe- rience,’ continued Helen.

“We are open at weekends at the

moment and we will be opening full time after Paddy’s Day. It’s a great experience and allows people to view a sculpture of nature which has been in the making for millions of years.” The cave, which boasts the world’s largest free-hanging stalactite, was discovered in 1959 and was devel- oped using non-explosive drilling techniques to protect the ecology of the cave and its surrounding area.

Kildysart Community Focus ree been working to provide Elderly Care and Childcare facilities for the

area.

The hardworking team is await- ing the decision of the council on its planning application to extend the community centre for Elderly Day Care facilities later this month.

The new childcare facility is planned as a stand-alone facility be- side the community centre.

The funding will now help with this massive undertaking by the local community to provide much needed community services to the growing town and the neighbouring commu- nities of Labasheeda, Cranny, Lissy- casey, Ballynacally and Coolmeen.

Plans are in place for a half crest

childcare building include a créche for toddlers, a playschool, and an af- ter schools service.

Mr Kelly said that once the facility is up and running parents will be able to leave their child in the centre after maternity leave, with the knowledge that the child can return there every day until they go to school.

To date the group has received €50,000 from the Dormant accounts for the elderly care facility and com- puters from the Department of the Taoiseach.

Furniture has also been bought ready for the new Elderly Care Cen- tre, if and when it gets the green light

from the local planning authority.

“Hopefully things will have started before the end of the year,’ said Mr Ths

Meanwhile Lissycasey has also got the green light from the Minister for Children as he allocated just over €900,000 for childcare facilities there. Welcoming the announcement Senator Brendan Daly (FF) said that childcare facilities were very impor- tant to the area.

“It 1s important to have proper fa- cilities for children in those early formative years. I would be keen to see these projects develop as soon as possible.”

BUDDING artists from the John Paul Estate have received much ac- claim for their work on display in the Kilrush Credit Union.

Offers to buy works from the exhi- bition were politely declined by the artists however as the work was very personal and of sentimental value to the creators.

In total eight young people from the local authority estate worked on pieces of MDF board to create the vibrant works of art.

The 13 to 16 year olds got involved in the project through the Kilrush Youth Centre during the summer.

The project was all their own idea. Supporting the young people the Clare Youth Service hired Ennis

based artists Martin and Giordana to help the enthusiastic group.

While the young people guided the project the professional artists helped with technique.

Entitled “MDF Stencil and Free- style Art” the project saw the young people use their names as the main focus of the work.

They then painted pictures around the name to express who they were.

The group also painted a sign for their “chill out house” on the estate Where they meet up a few times a week to do exactly what it said – atte

“T couldn’t believe it when I saw it (the work). They are very talented,” said Karen Casey who just recently took over the role of youth worker in Kilrush from Owen O’Meara Daly.

Mr O’Meara Daly bravely included his work in the exhibition also.

The first exhibition of the group’s work was in the Community Centre in John Paul Estate.

Family and friends of the group along with business people from the west Clare capital were invited to at- tend the first night.

From that showing Eiri Corca Baiscin and the Credit Union sug- gested that the work should be taken to the town centre for exhibiting.

Once on display in the Credit Un- ion, the work received many admir- ing comments and requests to pur- chase some of the pictures.

The pictures were far too personal for parting with however.

One of the pieces of course will be on display continuously – the “Chill

Out House” piece.

The group that meet here take part in soccer and other sports. They also enjoy cooking classes and taking part in the walking trips.

The services provided by the Kil- rush Youth Centre for between 20 and 25 young people is for those aged between 12 and 17 years.

The service is aimed at the target eroup, and helps the young people with their open social development.

KILRUSH Marina is quickly becom- ing the focal point for yacht racers and enthusiasts around the country, even before the announcement of the €50 million investment into the sur- rounding lands.

At the request of Trinity College Dublin the Western Yacht Club, Kil- rush hosted the 2007 Irish Universi- WUE TIED a OHO GROIN eO Mh Te tional team Racing Championships, just a short few weeks ago.

The IUSA Nationals consist of 25 sailing teams from participating Irish Universities and third level Colleges competing in three days of dinghy

racing. This race then goes towards deciding which team will go to the World Team Racing Championships to be held in La Rochelle, France this year.

A Celtic flavour was brought to the IUSA Nationals in 2007 by the at- tendance of a number of teams from Scottish Universities.

A total of 150 sailors participated in Kilrush and competed in 176 races over the three days all of which were comfortably completed in courses laid out within the confines of Kil- rush Creek Marina.

It is estimated that the IUSA Na- tionals 2007 was worth €60,000 to the West Clare economy, a welcome

injection of funds to the town consid- ering it is off-season for tourists.

The event provided a colourful spectacle over the three days of rac- ing as each race consisted of two teams of three firefly dinghies with each team’s dinghies having differ- ent coloured sails.

Large numbers of people viewed the event from the Marina Gates causeway and from lands around the marina itself.

A major logistical effort consisting of the running of 60 races a day at three minutes intervals each, and the daily on-water transportation of up to 600 sailors from the marina pontoons to the race area, was successfully co-

ordinated by the Western Yacht Club with the help of its many members.

The Naval Service Reserve located in Kilrush, through its assistance, provided a unique Naval and profes- sional aspect to the event.

The event was a major success and approaches have already been made with regard to the hosting of the Na- tionals or a similar event in 2008.

Trinity College won the overall oLeynel oer eI ele) NF

BREAK out the maracas and shake those hips, its salsa time in Ennis.

One of the country’s most thrilling live salsa bands are coming to Ennis this Friday (March 9). Galway’s own Cuba Libre take to the stage in their new monthly residency at the heart of Ennis town centre in The Old Ground Hotel.

This eight piece band, which boasts two percussionists, piano and a pow- erhouse brass section 1s fronted by re- nowned vocalist Andres Martorell.

A native of Uruguay, he has worked with some of the most influential names in modern Salsa circles such as Eddy Pe Alver.

Musical director Stefano Mus- covi has collaborated with Europe’s top Latin acts such Oche Rios who played at the 7Oth birthday of jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. It promises to be a terrific night featuring the music of Latin legends such as Ru- bens Blades, Oscar D’leon.

The concert is being organised in order to raise funds for the Ennis Street festival which takes place July 1. Festival organiser Ana Bella AlI- varez says people can expect a great vprcaalme elm

‘They have been playing in Galway

for years and they are really popular. It’s mostly Cuban music with lots of dancing, lots of people shaking their hips!”

This will be the second year of the Ennis Street Festival which brought colour and a carnival atmosphere to the market area last summer. Or- ganisers say this years event will be bigger with more acts while there are also plans to launch a festival web- Site

“T received a lot of encouragement from local people who had asked me to organise the festival last year. This year it will be bigger, there’ll be en- tertainment around the town, music and dance workshops and a stage with live music. I’m really looking forward to it, its really exciting”

She continues, “We would like to take this opportunity to call on local artists to collaborate with their own work or with ideas for the festival. For those interested, please call 065 6893966/086 3096096 or email us at ennisstreetfestival@eircom.net.”

Anyone wishing to make a dona- tion can do so at account number AIB 935387/063 91089.

TWO childcare groups in Clare are celebrating this week, after being successful in their applications for funding.

The Department of Health and Children announced that the Inis- cealtra Preschool in Mountshannon and Bridget’s Garden Group in Tua- mgraney are to be given €1,000,000 and €600,000 respectively.

The Mountshannon facility cur- rently provides care facilities for up to 45 children from a pre-fab on the national school grounds.

The creche is run under the aus- pices of the Mountshannon Com- munity Council and chairman, Paul Bugler, said the cash will be a mas-

sive boost.

“This will allow us to move ahead with plans to expand the facility and to hopefully have purpose built ac- commodation. There is a real need in this area for childcare, both in terms of affordability and availability,” said Paul.

“For some parents who work in Limerick or Shannon it can mean hav- ing to shift children out at 6.30am. A lot of grandparents are stepping in to fill the breach and some of them are feeling the pressure. We need locally available pre-school and afterschool or Kone

The money will allow the facility, which has been in the very capable hands of Veronica Bleach for almost four years, to expand the hours dur-

ing which care can be provided, as well as provide better facilities.

Currently, the childcare facil- ity caters for up to 45 children for a number of hours each day but the new building will allow the service expand to include after school care up to national school age.

Meanwhile, the Bridget’s Garden community childcare facility is also planning to spend it’s €600,000 al- location on accommodation.

The group has been in existence for seven years, catered for more than 80 children in that time and has had to move four times in that period.

They cater for babies from six months old to children of four.

The facility is currently operating in Bodyke but it is hoped that now a

permanent home can be secured for Bridgets Garden.

Co-Founder of the facility, Lina Pelaez said that everyone involved was “delighted” to hear the grant was approved.

“It is very emotional to have the work that is being done recognised. We had such great help with the ap- plication from the Ennis Childcare Committee and the work done by parents has been amazing. There was such a lot of work involved in making the application and parents are not professional form-fillers but they really worked at it.”

AN east Clare school has scored top marks in areport issued by the De- partment of Education and Science.

Ballybrohan National School was characterised as having a ‘warm child-friendly atmosphere’ and praised for the high standards achieved by pupils in language, lit- eracy and mathematics.

The school is also commended for the very good quality of teaching and learning in evidence and the delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum.

However the report also notes that with enrolment numbers expected to rise in the immediate future, there will be further pressure on the school to expand.

Ballybrohan was one of 144 pri- mary and post primary schools sur- veyed nationwide.

Ballybrohan National School is a four-teacher co-educational primary school situated approximately half way between the towns of Scariff and Killaloe. The school is under the patronage of the Catholic bishop of the diocese of Killaloe.

The report states “the school mis- sion statement, as well as reflecting its Catholic ethos, also promotes partnership between the school, par- ents and the wider community in an atmosphere of mutual respect”.

The school serves mainly the fami- lies living locally and the number of pupils now attending stands at 105. The school also has a class for pupils

on the autistic spectrum with four pupils presently in attendance.

During the evaluation, the inspec- tors held pre-evaluation meetings with the principal, the teachers, the school’s board of management, and representatives of the parents’ as- sociation. The evaluation was con- ducted over a number of days during which inspectors visited classrooms and observed teaching and learning.

It also comments on the relation- ship between school management and the parents association.

‘Parents have been involved in the formation of a number of school pol- icies particularly in the areas of be- haviour, enrolment and homework.”

“The parents’ association officers stated that parents are made welcome

in the school and it was reported that the concerns of the members of the association are dealt with promptly by teachers and board of manage- ment. Communication among the as- sociation, the board of management and the teachers is satisfactory.”

The report recommends “that greater emphasis be placed on the development of the local History and Geography, and the use of informa- tion and communications technology (ICT) as a tool in the investigation and presentation of findings should be further expanded”.

‘“Post-evaluation meetings were held with the staff and board of man- agement where the draft findings and recommendations of the evaluation were presented and discussed.”

THE roads and byways of east Clare have been humming with the rich sound of singing over the last few months as a group of interested peo- ple have established a new commu- nity choir in Scaruf.

The inspiration for the group came after a visit from Archie Simpson of the Lismorahaun Singers last year which saw the north Clare based voice teacher offer a singing work- shop for the locals.

So popular was the work-shop that another workshop was organised

with Kate Daly, also from the Lis- morahaun Singers.

“We really like it and a couple of us came together with the idea of start- ing a singing group of our own,’ said Carla Bauer, one of the organisers.

‘In October we organised a second workshop, this time with Kate Daly. It was so popular, about 25 or 30 people turned up and after that we have been continuing the group on our own steam.

“We call it a choir but at the mo- ment it is more like a singing group really. We are hoping to one day to erow to become a choir.”

Carla is currently studying a mas- ters degree in Community Music in UL while her co-organiser Cather- ine Patience is a professional voice coach.

“We have a good mixture of people – there are a few teenagers as well as a mixture of men and women. We really try to stay open to everything that the members want to do,” con- tinued Carla.

“We enjoy examining different styles and different songs and every idea that is put forward is very wel- come. Overall though, it’s isn’t so much like a church choir, so far any-

way. It is more lively like a Baptist choir or something like that.”

Carla is currently hosting a series of six workshops with the group through her University of Limerick fo) actos

“We are going to experiment a bit during the workshops,” said Carla. “We will try a few different vocal exercises and see how we get on. We also want to introduce differ- ent rhythms and some instruments. Hopefully at the end of it we will come up with something original.”

Anyone interested in learning more can contact Carla at 061 – 921633.

AER LINGUS staff at Shannon may have to adopt a range of new work practices, following recommenda- tions from the Labour Relations Commission.

The LRC yesterday released its rec- onebaelesslee-T allele Rene (ore mel Moon ODNITcMmNals long-running dispute between unions and management.

The airline has been told to discuss cost-cutting practices with staff in- stead of seeking to impose them on a unilateral basis. The Labour Rela- tions Commission also recommend- ed staff be compensated for loss of earnings or annual leave.

The court states that where loss of

holidays or earnings result from the new measures, compensation should be paid. The precise level of compen- sation is likely to be the subject of further negotiations to be completed within four weeks.

However, it was also recommended that major changes in work practices would have to be implemented if cost cuts were to be achieved at the air- line.

The changes have been the source of a serious dispute between unions and management, which almost re- sulted in strike action.

LRC Chairman Kevin Duffy said he was satisfied that the current situ- ation warranted the implementation of measures to bring about further

cost savings and efficiencies.

Both sides have welcomed the recommendations, but stated more would be needed to bring about a to- tal resolution.

Michael Halpenny, SIPTU Nation- al Industrial Secretary, said the LRC had clearly indicated in its findings that Aer Lingus had compromised existing work agreements and the se- curity of future agreements.

He said SIPTU’s disputes’ commit- tee would meet again to discuss the document.

Aer Lingus Chief Executive Der- mot Mannion welcomed the input of the LRC but added, “Much remains to be done and management remains committed to addressing the real

commercial issues that the company faces and ensuring unnecessary cost is removed from the business.”

The court is recommending that staff who currently get 26 or more days of annual leave per year should relinquish two days. Staff entitled to 23, 24 or 25 days should relinquish one day. Greater flexibility over shift arrangements is also recommended, as is the elimination of the practice of working through breaks and fin- ishing early.

SIPTU shop stewards at Aer Lin- gus are meeting on Thursday morn- ing to consider the Labour Court Recommendation on the company’s Programme for Continuous Improve- ment 2007.