This article is from page 8 of the 2006-02-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
MORE and more children as young as seven and eight are being put through rigorous beauty regimes in the run up to their First Holy Communion, according to reports received by The Clare People .
It is not uncommon now for Holy Communion children to have fake tans and make-up applied for their big day, with use of sun beds being reported in extreme cases.
And while tanned holy communicants are the exception rather than the rule in Clare, Ennis beauticians are reporting a growing trend in requests for fake tans and leg waxes for children as young as 10 and 11 years old.
Ennis beautician Martina Costelloe said that she has been approached by mothers of children of Confirmation age, requesting eyebrow re-shaping, waxing and other beauty procedures. With the wide availability of tanning products in shops and chemists, Ms Costelloe says this can also be done at home.
The Ann Levy’s Health and Beauty beautician also confirmed that she knew of cases where children of Communion age had their “tan done”.
She lays the blame with parents, who she says are taking their own vanity out on their children.
Ms Costelloe said that she, like most of her peers, refuses any beauty procedures on girls and young teens, unless there is an unnatural facial hair growth and the child herself has a complex about it.
Demands for hiring hotels, booking limousines and purchasing not one, but two outfits for the day, are also coming from the school yard to already pressurised parents, adding to emotional and financial stress.
The Catholic Church in Clare is attempting to take the focus off the commercialism, with a new programme for First Holy Communion.
“Do this in memory” started as a pilot scheme three years ago and now runs throughout the Diocese of Killaloe. It helps parents with the spiritual development of their children.
Diocesan Advisor of Primary Catholic Schools, Fr Maurice Harmon, told The Clare People that it was based around the Eucharist and parents had the option of becoming involved in 10 Sunday Masses as part of the programme. Each parent also receives information to help prepare their child for Holy Communion and back up what they have learnt at school.
“It’s the child’s day and this can so often get lost in the affluence of the society we live in,” said Fr Harmon.