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TEAMS of amateur journalists and photographers from Scoil Mhuire in Ennistymon have taken it upon them- selves to report all of the schools ac- tivities on the Internet.

A new website, located at www. scoil-mhuire.ie, is being updated dai- ly with news and information from the school by this budding group of young reporters.

“Up until last year we had no web- site in the school at all so I came up with the idea more as something for incoming first years to have a look at and find out what the school was like. But since it was set up it has

turned into much more than that,” said teacher Laura Cullen.

“Any event that takes place – wither it be a sports event or a retreat – some- one will write a report about it and we also usually have a student who will take some nice pictures. Most of the work is undertaken by the transi- tion year students but everyone helps out in some way.

“It’s updated pretty much every day which makes it something different from other school website which never really change.”

Besides the news section the web- site also includes a regularly updated school calander and a separate tran- sition year calendar which included

deadlines and reminders on all up- coming assignments.

“It’s great for the girls – they get a nice training in writing and photog- raphy and they get to have their work published as well. We are actually going to set up a photo section in the future where we will able to upload photo albums,’ continued Laura.

“Or aim by the end of the year is to have a team of journalists and a team of photographers who will have es- sentially built this website since the start of the year.

“We are still working at it and try- ing to improve it all the time and the hope is that we can keep make it bet- ter and better throughout the year.”

Some for the recent news items on the site include a presentation by the school Taekwon-Do team to Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin, a third year trip to the Merchant of Venice, a report on a first year basketball match and a heartsaver AED train- ing course for students.

In addition to all of this the website contains a career section with dates for up coming career events, a full prospectus for new students and de- tails for the school parents council.

MUNSTER finals may not be a new experience for Danny Chaplin but this is groundbreaking and unchar- tered territory for his young Broad- ICO) KO MILO (oR

After giving almost a quarter of a century of service as a player and mentor for his native Sixmilebri- dge, his move to Broadford saw him take over the reins in the local club in 2005 and he set about remoulding the then recently relegated side into a senior force once more.

Broadford finally realised that aim three weeks ago against his former side in the incessant rain of Clare- castle but having witnessed what a Munster run did for fellow Clare sides in recent years, his side weren’t just content with county honours.

Two years on from their Munster success, Clooney/Quin were within a whisker of the senior quarter-finals this year and subsequently reached a senior B final while Clonlara’s whirl- wind journey to county senior suc- cess this year proved what a boost a Munster intermediate title can be.

Successive battling displays against Templederry Kenyons and Bruff fol- lowed and now Broadford are only

sixty minutes away from emulating their neighbours achievements over the past two years.

“Our aim at the start of the year was just to win Clare but everything has taken off since. We had three weeks in a row of great results and the whole parish is literally gone mental here. There are flags outside every house and there are kids com- ing down watching training. It has done so much and it has given a lift to everyone.

“I think the character of the team really came to the fore last time against Bruff. We were playing up the hill against the wind and they were after pulling back a seven point lead down to a point and I think that is when the boys really stood up and were counted.”

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Broad- ford this year, however. Twice in the group stages, Parteen had the indian sign over the east Clare side to put their championship ambitions in real peril but if anything, it was the jolt they needed to up the ante and be- come a more resiliant outfit.

‘I said a few things in the dressing room after the Parteen game that day that they didn’t like. They didn’t like hearing them and I didn’t like say-

ing them but in fairness to them, the following Tuesday night, there was twenty eight of them down at train- ing out of twenty nine and that other player was away. You can’t ask for any more than that and they realised that they were the ones who had to do it. We could do no more for them on the sideline, it had to come from the players and in fairness to them, the commitment they have given since that day has been phenomenal.

“They are now like one big unit. I mean we tried to bring in a family aspect to the squad where you are playing for the fella alongside you as much as you are playing for the par- ish and yourself.”

Blarney are Broadford’s opponents in Sunday’s decider after receiving a bye in the semi-finals as the Wa- terford championship was not com- pleted in time.

The Cork side accounted for Antho- ny Daly’s Kilmoyley in the quarter- final, a team who were fancied to go far in this year’s provincial race and while Chaplin admits to not knowing too much about Blarney, he acknowl- edges the significance of this unique opportunity for his Broadford side.

‘There are 32 teams in the interme- diate championship in Cork so you

don’t win it easily. The only thing I know about them is that they have been in the semi-final three years in a row so they have been knocking on the door for a while and they are a very good side I believe.

“But we are concentrating on our- selves. Ninety per cent of our players will probably never be in a Munster final again. This is our chance and they don’t come around too often so we are trying to stress that. Not to get too overawed by the occasion but keep their feet on the ground and give their all. We would just like to emu- late Clooney-Quin and Clonlara.

“IT was involved with the ‘Bridge years ago and I remember we won a Munster club in 1995 and different Clare clubs won it in 796, ’97, ’98 and “99 and we were back in it in 2000.

“IT remember before that game, it was the one thing we said that we were not going to be the club that loses it for Clare and in that respect, Broadford don’t want to be the club that loses the Munster intermediate championship for Clare and that is not to put too much pressure on the players as the same time.”

A LITHUANIAN man who was spotted “fool acting’ down Seafield beach in his jeep has been convicted of dangerous driving and banned from driving for two years.

Tomas Salaka (27), of Aughantee- roe, Ennis, pleaded guilty to danger- ous driving, arising out of an incident at Seafield beach, Quilty.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told Milltown Malbay District Court that the defendant was driving his jeep – with two passengers – along the beach at Seafield, when he was spot-

ted by an onlooker.

He said he drove along the grass first and then onto the beach.

He said it would appear the accused took a phone call while driving and then did a handbrake turn, causing the jeep to flip over. He said the ac- tions of the accused could have led to tragic consequences.

“He was fool acting down the beach,” he said.

Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client was working in Cree at the time. On the date in question, he went to Seafield beach, which was completely clear.

“There was no-one else on the beach. He got a_ phone call to go back to work, hence the talking on the phone. He then tried to get back up on the grass, but missed his turn and the jeep flipped over,” he said.

He said the girl who received inju- ries in the accident was recovering AB

Mr Hassett said that while a plea to dangerous driving was being en- tered, “I’d say it’s very much on the lower scale in this type of case.”

He said his client had no previous convictions either in Ireland or in his native Lithuania.

OPPOSITION continues to grow among local residents in Ballina- Killaloe following the lodging of a planning application by developers to build a high-rise apartment com- plex at the Derg marina.

Now an information evening or- ganised in opposition to the planning application has been arranged by the Ballina Marina Action Group for 8pm on Thursday, November 27 at the Lakeside Hotel, Ballina.

Reacting to the planning applica- tion, BMAG spokesperson, Joe Ca- halane said today, “There is consid- erable unease here toward the marina development proposals. This project is masquerading as a marina devel- opment when it is, to all intents and purposes, a massive apartment com- plex rising to five storeys at its high- est point. We are urging all those concerned with the developer’s pro- posals to turn out in force at the pub- lic meeting in Lakeside Hotel.”

The deadline for acceptance of planning objections to the proposals is Friday, December 5.

Mr Cahalane said that “the design and scale is completely at odds with

the sustainable development of a heritage town and would be more at home in the Dublin Docklands than in the tranquil setting of Ballina and GTI elena

The developers of the €60 mil- lion Shoreline marina, housing and commercial development, Eclipse Developments had said they would have further public consultation on the plan, after they had filed for plan- ning permission.

The developers say the plan will create 70 jobs when finished, en- hance public amenities for visitors and locals in Killaloe and Ballina and bring a €6 million annual spend to the area and extend the tourism season.

Locals are also concerned that the proposed marina is abounds a Spe- cial Protection Area (SPA), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a National Heritage Area (NHA) in a recognised heritage town.

Mr Cahalane stated that the local residents had asked for a detailed copy of the marina plan and for the model of the development to be put on display in the area but claimed that neither of these requests were complied with.

SIXTH class students got a glimpse of day-to-day life in a secondary school in Ennis last week.

Timetables, German classes and bells ringing on the hour were just some of the newer aspects of school life experienced by pupils from Holy Family senior school taking part in a week-long pilot scheme in Colaiste Muire.

“We forget sometimes,” explained Colaiste Muire principal, “that for students coming in from primary school even something like a bell ringing in the middle of the morning is something completely different from what they are used to”’.

The scheme, initiated by Colaiste

Muire, allowed pupils from Holy Family to sample the routine of changing classes that they will be- come very familiar with over the next few years.

It is hoped that the experience will, in part, help smooth the transition from primary to secondary level education.

Over the course of the week, the students from Holy Family sat in on, among others, classes in foreign lan- guages like German and home eco- nomics.

As part of a broader approach to ease the transition, first year and leaving cert students guided their primary school counterparts through the process of switching classes and explained the kinds of extra-cur-

ricular activities on offer at Colaiste Muire.

Ms Pound said, “The aim was to offer them an experience of what secondary school is all about. We had our first years and leaving certs explain about class timetables and changing classes because when you are in primary school, you have the one teacher and you mainly stay in the one classroom”.

“Of course many primary school children will have sisters and broth- ers in second level education so they’ll know in a way what to expect. But we hope that through the pilot scheme, we can show them the ropes and explain what second level is all lerele lie

Parents will get the opportunity

to have their input to the scheme at open meetings to be held at Colaiste Muire.

“So far the feedback we have re- ceived has been very positive’, ex- plained Ms Pound.

She added, “The experience seems to have been beneficial to the stu- dents involved and it is something that we would look at continuing in the future”’.

SOME of Clare’s most talented voic- es will be at the Cliffs of Moher this December to raise money for a very worthy cause.

The Clare Tenors, Kate Daly, Helen Houlihan, Ruth Kelly and Mary Howard will all perform at the new Cliffs of Moher Centre to raise money for the Clare Branch of the NaN E

“I think this is about giving people the chance to support the lifeboats. Even over the last 12 months the Clare coast have had awful tragedies

and people want to support the life- boats and the work that they do,” said Joe Queally of the RNLI.

“There is a lovely line-up for the concert – it’s our own people in our own place and everyone is giving their time free for the lifeboats, as are the people from the Cliffs of Mo- her.

“The cliffs is one of the most vis- ited sites in the world and they now have a stunning venue for people to host events like this.”

Restaurant facilities at the Cliffs of Moher will stay open later to allow concert goers to have some food and

a drink before the show.

‘People can go up and have a glass of wine and a meal if they like and then come in for the concert. The restaurant itself is giving a donation to the RNLI from the night,” contin- LUTer6 Nn (Olen

“One of the things that makes this so special is that most of the sing- ers are from Archie Simpson’s fa- mous Lismourahaun Choir. Both the Clare tenors, Dean Power and Peter O’Donoghue, are making great strides with their own singing ca- reers while Kate Daly and Ruth Kel- ly are very talented and they were all

hatched out of that choir.

“The concert kicks off at 8.30pm and we will be all finished before 10.30pm so it will be a lovely two hours for everyone.”

While everyone is offering their Services free for this concert, Pat McDonagh of Supermacs has do- nated €1,000 towards the general running costs and expenses of the evening.

Tickets for the concert are availa- ble directly from the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Centre at 065 7086141 and from Record Rack in Ennis at 065 6820769.

A MAN who drove his fist through the windscreen of a garda car in Mil- town Malbay has been handed a two- month jail term.

Michael Mongans (27), of Lis- cannor Road, Lahinch, admitted a charge of criminal damage and also pleaded guilty to two charges under the Public Order Act.

Sergeant Joe Hehir told Miltown Malbay District Court that he en- countered a dispute between the de-

fendant and his wife, at Main Street, Miltown Malbay, at 11.30pm on Jan- uary 26 last. They then turned to go into a bar.

Twenty minutes later, he said he separated the two on the street. How- ever, the accused tried to get to his wife on three occasions. “I restrained him. He was agitated. He told me to f*** off and that he hated the guards,” said Sgt Hehir.

He summoned assistance and as the accused was brought to a garda patrol car, he drove his fist through

the back window. Damage, worth almost €500, was caused to the car and Mongans has since paid this. Sgt Hehir said that the accused had been bound to the peace at the time, arising out of a previous matter. Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said there had been tensions between her client and his wife at the time, which had since been cleared up. She said the accused was “exces- sively drunk” that night and now wanted to put the matter behind him. She said that her client’s family was

the subject of intimidation, arising out of incidents between his family and another family in Ennis between October 2007 and May 2008.

She said that while her client did not play a role in the incidents, he has been forced to move from Ennis to Cork. She said the incident before the court occurred right in the mid- dle of the dispute between the two e-NenBN BLoKe

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a two-month jail term and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

AN INCREASE in the number of cases of mumps reported this year has led to questions about the suc- cess of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination programme.

There has been an estimated 800 cases in Ireland this year.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) continues to monitor the growing number.

Almost 60 per cent of reported cases are in the 10 to 24 year age group.

Mostindividuals affected by mumps either never received or received just one dose of MMR vaccine.

The up take of MMR vaccine is not

even at 90 per cent in Ireland. Na- tionally the uptake is at 89 per cent with a larger up take in the mid-west at 91 per cent.

Despite the higher uptake in the Clare area it is still not high enough to render the population immune.

“If you have a 95 per cent uptake in the vaccine you have herd immunity as it does not replicate,” explained Dr Rose Fitzgerald, Specialist in Public health Medicines.

‘There is a possibly only 80 to 90 per cent of the population covered,’ she said.

The MMR vaccine has a history of bad publicity as question marks re- mained over the vaccine following the Wakefield report.

In 1998, British gastroenterologist Dr Andrew Wakefield published a pa- per suggesting a possible association between childhoods MMR immu- nisation, bowel disease and autism. The Lancet, one of the world’s top medical journals, published Wake- field’s study. Later, however, they called the study “fatally flawed.”

Since 2001 the number receiving the vaccine has increased as the re- port according to Dr Fitzgerald was discredited.

In 2001 less than 70 per cent of the population were receiving the vac- cine, but the number is now up to 89 per cent nationally and 91 per cent for the mid-west.

The history of the MMR vaccine

dates back to the rubella vaccine given to girls in the 1970s. A vaccine against mumps was given to boys.

In 1985 a measles only vaccine was introduced. By 1988 it was decided to combine all of the vaccines and give them to both genders.

In 1992 it was decided to give a sec- ond MMR vaccination to children at two years of age instead of the rubel- la vaccine for girls. In 2001 the age of the second or booster vaccine was changed to four or five years of age.

“If you give 100 per cent of the population MMR 90 per cent will be effective,” explained Dr Fitzgerald.

“By giving the second one (injec- tion) you get 90 per cent of the 10 per cent which is 99 per cent coverage.

You will still have one per cent not covered.”

The HSE face the difficulty that they do no know what per centage of the population have had both inocu- lations.

“IN the early days of the MMR in 1988 it was a new vaccine and did not have a very good record so we don’t know how many are covered,’ said Dr Fitzgerald.

In 2007 142 cases of mumps were recorded, 427 in 2006 and 1079 cas- es in 2005 which was due to a na- tionwide outbreak that year. Several mumps outbreaks have been notified in third level colleges and in schools, both primary and second-level this year.

TEENAGERS were exposed to the deadly reality of dangerous driving at a hard-hitting presentation on road safety in Ennis last Thursday.

Graphic images of injury, sober- ing personal recollections and inter- views with the families, victims and perpetrators of road traffic accidents formed part of the ‘Lifesaver Project’, which was staged in two sections in Glor, Ennis.

A collaborative effort between Clare County Council, the Gardai, Clare Fire and Rescue Services and the Health Services Executive, ‘Life- saver’ aimed to encourage young people to adopt a more responsible attitude to driving.

Barry Keating, road safety of- ficer with Clare County Council ex- plained, “This project has already

been proven to be a very effective way of getting the road safety mes- sage across and encouraging a more responsible attitude towards driving behaviour.”

The audience on Thursday was roughly 500 students representing 15 secondary schools from across ETc

For the first section of Lifesaver, members of the rescue services re- created the scene of a two-vehicle fatal traffic accident.

The second half of the presentation took place inside the auditorium at Glor. Videos of road safety adverts and interviews with people affected by road traffic accidents were mixed with individual talks from members of the emergency services.

Garda Tony Miniter of the Traffic Corps informed the audience that 248 people had been killed in road

traffic accidents so far this year. He said the highest percentage of those people killed were aged between 16- 30.

“Now you might say that given all the statistics there 1s probably only a small chance ye will take any of this on board. It might be small chance, but it is a chance’, said Garda Minit- ae

Keith Mullane, an advanced para- medic working in Limerick, said young drivers needed to take a more responsible attitude to driving.

‘Our attitude collectively stinks”, said Mr Mullane. He added “You have to minimise your chances of be- ing in an accident….There is some- thing very, very wrong about putting the body of a young person into a fridge”’.

Gearoid Blake, Station Officer at Ennis Fire Station said the majority

of his work as a Fireman involved road traffic accidents. He described the scene of a typical accident. “You hear screaming that just explodes inside your head. You smell battery acid. You get a sort of metallic smell from all the blood. You smell vom- it. You smell beer, that’s one thing you’ll nearly always get the smell of…Afterwards, when you have to clean up the car, you find teeth, bits of flesh and bits of brain’.

Dr Cathal O’Donnell, a consultant in emergency medicine attached to Limerick and Ennis, told the audi- ence to be aware of the consequences of drink driving. “Don’t’ be killed because of someone else’s stupidity”, |stemncy-5 (6

I CAME to Hauycan in 1997 and since then I have been greatly en- riched by it’s warmth, hospitality and the variety of it’s cultures. Lo- cated at the foothills of the Andes, on the outskirts of Lima, Huaycan is a rocky and sandy area which has only been inhabited since 1984 – when people fled political violence NOLO MXo1RO (ore DONEC oer D Ror.

I gradually came to know these

people and their reality. Many of them had suffered and continue to suffer from great poverty, social exclusion and violence – especially against women.

As I made friends with the local children, I began to invite them to workshops in subjects such as draw- ing, dancing and even setting up a Christmas crib. I got to know more and more families and invited the lo- cal women to Tai Chi classes.

Eventually different classes emerged and women began to travel from outside of the area to attend. In 2000 the time seemed right to set up a women’s centre.

We rented a room called Warmi Wasi or The Woman’s House and be- gan training in self esteem and the prevention and treatment of violence against women. With the help of a psychologist and three local women, a Human Development Programme began to emerge.

By the end 2002 we were renting a

bigger centre and a number of new programmes had been established. In 2004, a programme was started in a local secondary school geared to- wards the prevention of gender vio- lence, which set the foundations for a more complete programme in other secondary schools.

Over the years a number of people have learned to read and write while other have successfully learn to make bags, jewelry or candles for sale.

The training of women leaders is now needed and we hope to integrate this into our project in the coming years.

To have our own centre, and not have to rent, has been a huge dream for all of us. September 26 of this year was a great day for all of us as our new centre was blessed and in- augurated.

There was great rejoicing and ex- pressions of gratitude towards for the great efforts made by the many friends in Inagh, Corofin and all over

Clare. All of our efforts over here are made possible by your help back in Ireland.

A special thanks also to Cllr Flan Garvey, who helped raise more than €10,000 for the project through his mayoral ball.