This article is from page 1 of the 2006-12-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
CLARE people have been digging deep to help a Lisseycasey nun build a hospice for AIDS victims who are dying in rusty shacks.
And they’ll be digging deeper still when 100 volunteers grab their tools and fly to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, next year to build a legacy from the Banner County.
The measure of Clare support for the work of Sr Ethel Normoyle was highlighted on Monday when she was named as Clare Person of the Year. She will be presented with the award at a function hosted by the Clare Association in Dublin next February.
Hearing the news in South Africa, Sr Normoyle said she felt, “honoured and humbled. It is Clare people who have stood beside me all my years in Africa”.
Clare wome Olive Halpin and Maureen Halpin-McCarthy are organising a mass descent of builders, plumbers and electricians to build Sr Ethel’s Hospice at MissionVale, a shantytown on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth.
Every day the Clare nun and her helpers feed thousands, as well as providing healthcare, education and community services to people who have nothing.
Recently, Olive and Maureen organised a charity ball in the Auburn Lodge which raised €52,000. Added to other funds raised, including a recent sponsored hack in Lisseycasey, there is still €80,000 to go to fund the building of the hospice.
With cash coming in, Olive and Maureen are now preparing to launch an appeal to have 100 or more Irish tradespeople fly to South Africa and build the hospice.
“Sr Ethel’s wish is to build a hospice which will give a bed to people dying from AIDS during their final days.”