This article is from page 30 of the 2007-06-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
A PROJECT which has had a quiet existence in Shannon for the past 40 years was introduced to the wider community in the town last week.
The Sheltered Community Work- shops provide people with intellec- tual mental disabilities with an outlet that they would not otherwise have.
Through the project, hundreds of people – whose ages vary from 39 to 70 – work in a socially inclusive training environment, at the Indus- trial Estate in Shannon. They hail from all over the Munster region.
The group has been in existence for four decades, but has gone un- noticed by much of the community in Shannon, during that time.
Last week its co-ordinators decided to introduce the group and its work to the local community, through an open day at the Sean Lemass library in the town.
“The open day turned out very well. The aim was to get the people more involved in the community in which they live,’ said co-ordinator Martina Halpin.
‘People didn’t even know the work- shop and the disability centre was here. I was surprised by that,’ she added.
Art work, put together by members of the group, was put on display, for the open day.
Over the past 10 years, the group has mainly worked with Irish Coun- try Pottery, while some of its mem- bers have also worked in the restau- rant, located on the same premises. Their pottery is sold throughout the country and has grown in popularity in recent years.
Training, through Clare Adult Education Centre as well as through the FAS Community Employment Scheme, takes place on a regular ba- Sy
“We have done extensive training over time. The main focus of the workshops is to give people with mental intellectual disabilities an en- vironment where they feel included and it also puts something back into society, said Ms Halpin.
‘They produce the pottery here and are learning a lot at the same time,’
added Ms Halpin.
“If they didn’t have this place, they wouldn’t have any place. It is a home for them. It gives them an independ- ence,’ she said.
‘For over 40 years, the many train- ees within the workshop have seri-
ously contributed to the economic growth of Shannon town, bringing a beautiful selection of tableware, decorative lamps to the Irish and in- ternational markets,’ she added. More than 100 pieces of pottery will be displayed at the Sean Lemass
library during the month of June. These are the work of the commu- nity employment participants.