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DOCTORS in Clare have reported an increase in the numbers coming to them seeking a second opinion, following the two recent misdiagno- sis at Ennis General Hospital.

Last week the Health Service Exec- utive issued a statement urging peo-

ple who are concerned about tests carried out at Ennis General Hospital to contact their local GP and arrange for a new test to be carried out.

One west Clare doctor believes that while there is concern among the pa- tients she is seeing, there is faith in Ennis General Hospital.

“T have had some people 1n to me in

the last week who are worried and if they are worried then they have the right to be re-tested,”’ said the doctor, who asked not to be identified. ‘There 1s concern in the area, but I would stop short of saying that there is panic. The key thing 1s, if people are not sure then the best thing for them to do is get it checked again, for

peace of mind if nothing else.”

However, Ennistymon based doc- tor, Gerry Wheeler said that to date, he has not been contacted by anyone concerning a re-test.

“The HSE sent around a form last week telling anyone who is unsure or who has concerns over a test to have a recheck. They also advised anyone

in that situation to contact their local GP,’ he said.

“To date however, I have not been contacted by anyone from the area who has concerns. I don’t know whether that means that no one in this area has worries over the situa- tion or not but factually, no-one has contacted me so far.”

THE ACHIEVEMENTS of young people who took up the challenge of getting an education will be cel- ebrated this week at a special awards ceremony in Spanish Point.

The Clare VEC Youthreach Awards night, which takes place every three years, will be held in the Armada Hotel on October 2 at 7pm and eve- ryone is invited.

A lucky thirteen sucessful students will be presented with their awards in areas ranging from Applied Leav- ing Certificate studies to Food and Nutrition, Interpersonal Skills and modules such as Maths and English.

The Youthreach Programme was set up in Ennistymon in 1990 in the Community centre and from there moved to a vacant office and work

space in a local factory, Data Display in 1992.

When the VTOS programme fin- ished in the old vocational school in Milltown Malbay in June 1996, the Youthreach programme moved from Ennistymon into the rent-free build- ing in Miltown Malbay.

The Ennistymon/Doolin/Lidoon- varna students were then transported by bus to the centre. Students also came from Miltown Malbay, Quilty and Mullagh.

And since then, dozens of young people who have either left school early or decided to pursue a differ- ent route than that of the standard secondary school education have availed of learning and training op- portunities with Youthreach.

‘As well as the academic subjects we offer vocational training a sup-

port through jobs skills training, work experience interview skills and personal development,’ said co-ord1- nator, Josephine Dempsey.

Young people usually come to Youthreach from school but some have ventured out into the world of work and decided to return to im- prove their abilities and qualifica- tions and in turn, their job opportu- nities.

As well as being helped to find their niche by the scheme’s two career guidance teachers, the young peo- ple are catered for in small classes, working at their own level.

“We have very good working rela- tionships with employers and schools in the area, so we can also give sup- port once they have completed their studies and training and we track what is happening with the students

when they leave,” said Josephine.

A glance at the results of all that hard work for this year’s Youthreach graduates shows that the plan works. All have either found employment or are continuing their studies, with one student gone on to college.

“We usually have a 100 per cent take-up with people either finding employment or going on to further education,” said Josephine.

The awards night will be for those students who completed their sub- jects in 2007 and 2008.

Anyone who would like further information about the opportunities available with Youthreach or any of the VEC courses can get details in the Adult Education handbook from libraries or post offices or by email from yrmilltownmalbay@eircom. ate

A BID to promote awareness of breast cancer lies behind the Create A Cure event in the West County Hotel on Friday, October 10.

A cheese and wine reception will be followed by a pottery and paint- ing session where participants will craft their own ceramic design.

The ladies-only event continues with music courtesy of the band Happy Days. Vouchers and goodie bags will also be handed out on the pubrea al

But the main reason for putting on

the event, as outlined by organiser Siobhan Tierney, is to raise money for breast cancer charities in Ireland and promote awareness of the dis- ease.

“IT have not been directly affected by cancer, but everyone knows some- body that has,” said Siobhan. She continues, “Awareness was the main reason for doing it, more so than rais- ing the money. The more women that are aware, the better. Early detection is hugely important.”

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in Ireland after non- melanomatous skin cancer. Accord-

ing to Breast Cancer Ireland, Irish statistics note that breast cancer ac- counts for 28 per cent of all cancers in women in Ireland, with an average of 1726 new diagnosis each year.

Organisations like the Irish Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Ireland are among those working to high- light the issue.

“TI think the kind of work they do is amazing and after the event last year we wanted to support them again”, said Siobhan

Last year’s Create A Cure event attracted 160 people and Siobhan is hoping 250 people will be attendance

in the West County next Friday.

“It was very popular we got great sponsorship from local businesses last year, everyone supported us. I think there was almost €30 worth of vouchers given to each attendee.

“It was good fun last year. There were over 100 women in the room. I think there were only two men, the band.

“Tt was a bit like a Joe Dolan con- cert. It’s a really great, different night out for women”.

Tickets for the event cost €30 and are available from the Craft Box, Quin Road, Business Park.

THE feature race on the card at Galway on Friday night was the fi- nal of the Playing For Life A2 525. The prize crossed the border into Clare, with the appropriately named Drimeen Border taking the honours.

On the run to the opening bend Drimeen Border trained in Tubber by John Burke just held the call from Killuran Gorm (T2) who moved off the rail rounding the bend allow- ing Ms Fireparker (T1) slip through along the inside to take over in front entering the back straight.

Racing down the back Ms Firepark- er led by three lengths from Drimeen Border who began to close between the final two bends though. Turning for home the leader was searching for the line as Drimmen Border put in a turbo charged finish to gain the day by a neck in 29.20.

The seventh was an A3 grade 525 and as the traps rose the striped jack- eted

Unique Pose (T6) came away very smartly and despite heading straight for the inside rail the daughter of

Droopys Kewell and Reknay led by two lengths

from Free Toll (T5) rounding the opening two bends. Racing past the halfway mark the Ciara Malone of Liscannor owned Unique Pose held a three length advantage over her ri- vals and although she looked vuner- able for a stride or two turning in she defeated Birr Chris (T4) by three and quarter lengths in 29.21.

The semi finals of the Galway Hurl- ing Board A5 Stake were also down for

decision and in the opening semi final the Kevin Callinan of Kilmihil owned Shyan

Digital (T1) headed the market and the son of Digital and Shyan Anna- belle also headed his five rivals on the run to the opening bend where although he ran a little off the rail he led by two lengths from Forever Black (T2) entering the back straight. Approaching the home turn Forever Black closed to within a length on the inner but Shyan Digital kept on for a half length win in 29.57.

The fifth was an SO graded sprint over the 350 yard extended sprint trip

and after Battlefield(T1) had broken best to lead early on the inside the black jacketed Gowerhass Hope(T4) swept by on the run to the opening corner to lead from the improving Cushcallow Rebel(T5) on the out- side.

Racing around the crown of the bend Cushcallow Rebel moved quite wide allowing Gowerhass Hope to slightly extend his lead and the son of Top Honcho and Conies Kate just had a neck to spare at the line in a slick 19.05.

The fourth contest was an S2 grad- ed 350 in which trap two was vacant and as the traps rose West Clare Gael (T3) came away like the win and led by three lengths racing to- wards the opening bend from Crafty Cebato(T6) and Mysterious Molly (T1). As the leader swung for home Mysterious Molly switched to the outside to deliver her challenge up the straight but the Fiona and Kevin Troy of Kilkee owned West Clare Gael(Tucks Mein-Querrin Razor) just lasted it out in front to the line for a neck success in 19.27 .

Thursday night’s Galway card fea-

tured the semi finals of the Croi New York Marathon A3 575 In the second semi final the trap four runner Sars- field Lass showed the best pace on the run to the opening bend from Kid Mullins (T6) on her outside.

Turning down the back the pair were locked in combat as Cool Re- minder (T5) tried to close in third place.Approaching the penultimate corner Kid Mullins took a slight lead but as they turned for home the Michael Browne of Kilrush owned Sarsfield Lass(Droopys Vieri-Meg- ans Friend) was back in front as she won by a length in 31.99.

In the A4 graded eighth contest the Noel Moroney of Mullagh owned Tiermana Fly (T2) led at the second bend before holding the determined challenge of Garraun Maldini(T5) by 1/2 a length in 29.64.The win- ner got a dream un on the rail at the opening bend as early leader Scat- tery Vieri left a gap on the rail. Rac- ing down the back Tiermana Fly held the call as the challengers loomed on all sides but Tiermana Fly held them all at bay up the straight.

The third contest was an S6 graded

350 yarder and as the traps rose Kil- luran Vieri (T5) was very smartly into his stride and he led by three lengths from Bofin Squire(T3) racing to the opening bend. Rounding the bend the Donal Cooney of Broadford owned son of Droopys Vieri extend- ed his advantage to six lengths over his rivals as he stormed to an eight length success in 19.43.

In the A2 graded fourth contest over 550 yards on Saturday night the Master Christioan and Rian Cum- mins of Ennis owned Buddhas Babe overcame two bouts of interfearence as he came home three and three quarter lengths clear of Mi Sonic Gee rimsltk te

The winner was in second place rounding the opening bend when he was knocked sideways and back to fifth spot as Killuran Blue (T5) led the field by two lengths passing halfway. Approaching the third bend the win- ner was once again hampered when the leader suddenly checked leaving Mi Sonic in front but Buddhas Babe swept past early in the straight on his way to a deserved success.

has learned that Cliffs of Moher safety rangers have been questioned by members of the public, who later return when the pa- trol is off duty to commit suicide.

SU ioor-NKeRe HURON MD Or- Tonnes tte ployed at the Cliffs of Moher, with three on duty at any one time. There is aranger presence at the cliffs until 9pm each day.

“We have stopped people and they have come back again later. We would be here until 9pm each evening but people would come back

after that. People might come up and ask us what time we are finishing up for the evening and you don’t know are they just curious or are they planning to come back when we are not around,” said Cliffs ranger Tom Die) aa

“A million people come to the cliffs each year. Eventhough there are lots of signs, a lot of people will move away from the designated walking area.

“We can’t patrol all along the cliffs, and we can’t force someone not to go into certain areas. All we can do is talk to them and usually people are very good about it.”

Mr Doherty, who is also a member of the Doolin Coast Guard, believes that it may not be possible to patrol

the entire cliffs area 24 hours a day.

“I spoke to a girl one day and she just said in passing what a lovely place the cliffs would be to die. She said there was something romantic about it. People would often say that there is a draw to it. I don’t know myself but it there does seem to be something that brings people here.”

“To patrol from all the way from Liscannor to Doolin would take a massive amount of manpower. I mean we would sometimes get a call at 2 in the morning from someone at the cliffs who wanted to say good- bye or leave a message for his fam- UMA

“T don’t know would it work, or even if it would be possible to patrol the whole thing.”

IT’S been a long, sometimes difficult journey for Valentyna Dalifhevska, but she is now looking forward to the next chapter of her life in Ennis.

12 years ago, Valentyna left her home in the Ukraine to move to Ire- land. It was a hard start to life in a new country. Valnetyna’s young son was very ill and needed to be hospi- talised. Over the course of the next year, he underwent 18 operations at hospitals in Dublin and Limerick. The treatment was successful and af- ter a while Valentyna and her young family settled in Ennis. On Sunday, Valentyna opened Valans Bistro, in the Friary Car Park, Ennis.

The bistro specialises in serving mainly eastern European food but the menu also includes many famil- iar dishes.

After the trials of her early years in Ireland, Valentyan is delighted to be opening her own business in her new home.

“It was very difficult for us when we came here first. My son was very sick, he was in hospital a lot. He 1s still living in Ennis and he is doing fine now and my daughter is has just finished school.”

Valentyna worked for a while as chef’s assistant in Ukraine. It has always been her dream to open her own restaurant.

“We will be serving eastern Eu-

ropean food, Russian food but also we will cook Irish meat, Irish food. There are a lot of Russian type res- taurants in Dublin and Limerick. This is my idea, to open a restaurant in Ennis. It is my dream to do it”.

During the period of her son’s ill- ness, Valentyna received support from campaigner Adi Roche. Roche is the founder of the Children’s Cher- nobyl Project (CCP) and has worked tirelessly over the past 20 years to provide aid to the children of Belarus and the Ukraine.

Roche along with the former Presi- dent of Ireland, Mary Robinson, championed Valentyna’s case for staying in Ireland when she faced deportation.

So, by way of thanking Roche, Valentyna turned the opening day of her business into a fundraiser. Food at Valans Bistro was free but custom- ers were asked to make donations to the CCP.

“She (Adi Roche) helps a lot of chil- dren in Belarus but also sick children in Ukraine. I wanted to do something to pay them back. I wanted to do something from my heart”.

Valentyna feels she has really set- tled in Ennis, where she calls home.

‘It is the best town in the world. I have settled down for good. I can still visit my family in Ukraine but I love this country. I can start my life again from the first page. My children are happy and I am happy.”

The Citizens Information Service will host an information seminar on wills, inheritance and tax at the Temple Gate Hotel Ennis on Monday September 29 at 8pm.

The event which is open to every- one and free of charge will explain the steps to drawing up a will and will also discuss the legal situation where a person dies intestate. There will be a detailed consideration of the tax implications on gifts and in- heritances and the various reliefs and exemptions that are available.

The information evening will also address the rights of spouses and children to the estate of a deceased person and the issue of legal compe- tence in making a will.

Research undertaken by Amarach Research for the Irish Banking Fed- eration (IBF) indicates that only 45% of all adults have made a will; and among those who have not, only 21% intend to do so in the next 12 months. and only one in five intend to make a will in the next 12 months

Paul Woulfe Manager of the Citi- zens Information Service believes that for Irish consumers property- based wealth has made the issue of drawing up wills more urgent than ever because legacies can be conten- tious and having a will simplifies matters for those you leave behind. The costs should not be excessive and can be invaluable when offset by the benefit of exercising personal

planned choice and control in your affairs while also likely reducing tax liabilities.”

‘Everyone who has both property and loved ones should have a will. The reality of the human condition cannot be denied. Do you want your property ultimately to be distributed in accordance with your wishes or a forty-year-old statute? Arrange to see a solicitor today. Make a will. It won’t kill you!” added Paul Wolfe

Catriona O Connor BCL LLM Dip Property Tax with Kerin, Hickman & O Donnell Solicitors will discus the legal formalities to be satisfied when drafting a valid will. She will also consider the limitations on a person’s freedom to dispose of their property as they wish in a will and what happens to a person’s property where they die without having made a will. Also discussed will be the various steps involved in adminis- tering an estate and explain what the role of an executor 1s 1n this process. She will explain the tax implications for beneficiaries of inheriting prop- erty and detail the various reliefs and exemptions that could be availed of in order to minimise any potential tax liability.

For further information on your rights and entitlements you can contact your local Citizens Infor- mation Centre who offer a free and confidential service by phone and to personal callers at any of their of- fices throughout the county Tel : 065 6841221

THERE were times when Kilmurry Ibrickane looked irresistible. The Wheel that they’ve used this past generation and more was turning nicely; Shane Hickey in his debut as permanent captain was having a blinder; Odran O’ Dwyer was charg- ing through tackles; Noel Downes was showing that fleetness of foot

and class that should have him as a fixture and fitting in Clare teams for years to come.

All this with a bench top heavy with Munster club medal winners. It looked as if Kilmurry could cruise to a comfortable victory, but somehow manager Micheal McDermott knew it would never happen.

“Wolfe Tones are a very good team and we knew it would be close,’ Mc-

Dermott said seconds after his side had weathered Wolfe Tones’ sec- ond half comeback. “We knew they would come at us in the second half — they were put out of the hurling championship last week and this is all that was left for them, so we knew they were going to give it a right lash. We showed a lot of character, a lot of fight and a lot of heart to hold out when we were reduced to 14 men.

That’s what championship football is all about.

“From our point of view the timing of the goal was superb — it gave us that little bit of breathing space going into the second half. It was a big turn- ing point when Declan Callinan got the goal. I’ve always said that when you get to this stage of the champion- ship it’s goals that win games.”

Now for Kilkee, something that

McDermott relishes. “We’re two very evenly matched teams. There’s nothing between us, which was proved when we drew in the first round. They seem to be a bogey team going back a few years, so hopefully the draw we got might eliminate that kind of fear. You are going to have a rip-roaring contest with two teams going hammer and tongs at each oth- er to try and to a county final.”

CANCER patients who may have been misdiagnosed at Ennis Gen- eral Hospital were last night urged to come forward. The call was made by Karl Henry, the husband of Ann Moriarty, whose cancer was misdi- agnosed at the hospital. Mr Henry reiterated his calls for a full inde- pendent enquiry. Ms Moriarty died from cancer last April, at the age of 53. She had been given the all- clear at Ennis General Hospital, just months earlier.

He made the comment in the wake of another misdiagnosis case emerg- ing over the weekend. 26-year-old Edel Kelly lost her battle with cancer in June, having also been misdiag- nosed previously.

“My concern from day one was there may be others. I wasn’t expect- ing there would be another situation quite as appalling as that of Edel Kelly appears to be,” he said.

“The Department of Health seems to think the people of Ennis and Clare are entitled to a sub-standard health system,” he added.

In the wake of Mr Henry going pub- lic with details of his wife’s misdiag- nosis, the HSE said it was an isolated case. The revelations about the Edel

Kelly case angered him, but he said he is trying to leave those feelings to one side and continue the fight on be- half of his wife.

“That my wife’s case was an isolat- ed one has a particularly hollow ring to it,” he said.

Mr Henry met with the Health Minister Mary Harney last week. Although he did not receive a com- mitment that an independent enquiry would be carried out, he feels that his case was listened to.

“I was reasonably happy. She is now very familiar with the full facts of my wife’s case,” he said.

He will continue to fight for an in- dependent enquiry. “All we have is Ennis investigating Ennis. That is not acceptable,” he said.

The Kellys yesterday called for Minister Harney to resign. However, Mr Henry said he would not support Wee

“IT wouldn’t support calls for the re- moval of the minister that this time. We do need to know what is going on. There are serious failings,” he said.

Both the Kellys and Mr Henry have expressed an interest in meeting up, to discuss their cases.

‘I know the difficulties they are en- countering,” he said.

to every primary school in Northern Ireland.

Jim, who is chairperson of Rural Resettlement Ireland, wrote the book in an effort to help bring communi- ties together and reflect on the posi- tive elements of the human condi- n(n

“I have been involved in humani- tarian work for the whole of my life.

It is of great interest to me and that is what was in my mind when I wrote the book. I believe that there are ba- sic humanitarian principles which are natural to all of us and in a sense they are counter balanced by a number of animal instincts which are in us all as well,” said Jim.

“The book is trying to articulcate these ideas in some acceptable form – in a non-judgmental form which doesn’t mention religion, God or morality – but basic humanitarian principles. It was to help promoting or exploring the better sides of our human nature that I decided to write this book for schools.

“The book starts off with ‘I am a human’ because that is the basic

starting point for all of us.”

The book is illustrated with photo- graphs from St Nicholas’ School in Galway. The school, which houses more than 40 nationalities, was in part the inspiration for the book. Jim hopes that the book might prove a help for people to overcome divisions in society, whether formed around gender, ethnicity or religion.

‘“T approached the Northern Ireland Counsel for Integrated Education be- cause I heard him speaking on the radio one morning. I thought that the ideas in my book might be some- thing that would assist up there, so I sent him a copy of my book.

“I offered to donate one copy of the book to each and every primary

school in Northern Ireland to mark the amazing transformation that has been going on there since the Good Friday Agreement. They were de- lighted to take the book and we have sent off nearly 1,000 books to school sin Northern Ireland,’ he continued.

“IT was shocked to find out that nearly 95 per cent of the schools up there were separate, either Catholic or Protestant. I am delighted that they found the book acceptable and that all the different church authori- ties found it acceptable.

“IT have got some lovely feedback from the book – with cards from some of the children. I’ve got a great response and I’m delighted that I am fulfilling a function there.”