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A NEW handbook encourages fami- lies to continue their involvement with children in care.

The Family Advocacy services in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary have developed a handbook for fam1- lies who have children in the care of

the Health Services Executive (HSE). The book was launched in Limerick in April, by Kevin O’Farrell, child- care manager with the HSE.

The purpose of the advocacy serv- ice 1s to Support families to continue their involvement with their children in care. The service is volountary and confidential to any family member who wishes to avail of it.

The advocacy workers offer fami- lies help and a listening ear on a one to one basis or in a group Setting.

A spokesperson for the service said there are numerous reason why chil- dren go into care.

“It is important to acknowledge that

children go into care for many differ- ent reasons for example, sickness in the home, bereavement or finding life’s circumstances difficult to cope with,” she said.

The spokesperson added that the process can be difficult for all parties involved: “When a child goes into the care of the HSE it is a difficult time for both parents and children. Parents may feel isolated, confused, alone or angry because others don’t under- stand what they are going through.

“The reason this book was devel- oped was to respond to the huge need for support, information and advice for parents whose children go into

care. The involvement, the input and the interest of many of the parents in developing this book has been vital.”

Many of the parents who use the ad- vocacy services attended the launch of the book and shared some person- al feelings on what this service meant Komdsloene

The booklet gives clear information to families who have children in the care of the HSE. It explains parent’s rights, what parents can do in relation to their child in care and what kind of help is available. The advocacy serv- ices can be contacted at Clare Ad- vocacy Service, Clarecare Harmony Row, Ennis.

CREATING energy awareness has earned a school in Sixmilebridge major honours – its second ever PARI E ENE

St Finnachta’s National School won the flag, after it put in a major effort in relation to energy saving.

The previous green flag was achieved in 2006, after the school focused on targeting litter and waste. For the second flag, their task was to focus on energy while not forgetting to take care of litter and waste.

A committee of staff and students at the school, along with local tidy towns committee member Rita Higgins, put together a plan for the

project.

“We began by carrying out a sur- vey on heating and electricity in the homes. There were two different surveys and the results were very in- teresting. We found that most homes use oil for home heating, followed by solid fuel and then gas,” said teacher, Frances Downes.

“The most used electrical appli- ances in homes were chargers of all descriptions,” she said.

Under the initiative, the school as- sessed its oil and electricity usage over previous years and then put measures in place to save energy.

“We checked our expenditure one year later to see if things had 1m- proved. We did very well on oil. We

had halved the oil bill in the school. We had turned down the heating by one degree. Even though the school got bigger, we reduced the amount of electricity used. This was partly due to things like closing the doors and turning off lights when we weren’t using them,” she said.

She paid tribute to the students at the school, who showed a great inter- est in their environment.

“There were energy wardens in every class, to keep an eye on things,” said Ms Downes.

While everyone enjoyed being in- volved, it also took a huge effort on the administrative side of things. An application, submitted to An Taisce, included details on all the work car-

ried out at the school. This contained graphs and descriptions of the work involved.

A representative from An Taisce visited the school and spoke of the importance of keeping the environ- ment clean. The good news that the green flag was to be presented to the school was relayed in January, but it was not unveiled until last week.

Hopes are high that the school can now make it three-1n-a-row and earn its next flag in 2010.

“We will be going for it again in two years’ time, when the theme will be water,” said Ms Downes.

Every effort will be made to ensure that the impeccable standards are again met, with the next project.

ALMOST €24.5 million has been allocated to support the 2008 social housing programme in Clare, with €2 million going to Traveller-spe- cific accommodation in the year.

The 2008 allocation represents a €2 million increase on the figure provided to Clare Local Authorities last year.

The biggest share of the funding will go to the local authority hous- ing programme which has been al- located €18 million with a further €4.25 million going to improvement works.

Welcoming the increased alloca- tion, Clare Minister of State, Tony Killeen said the money will enable the local authority to continue with its house-building programmes

which delivered approximately 120 starts and completions in 2007.

“The county also has an ambitious programme of improvement works relating to existing local author- ity estates with extensive works to be undertaken in John Paul Estate, Kilrush and Inis Eagla in Shannon amongst others. The allocation for this work has almost tripled to €4.2 million,” he said.

“An allocation of €150,000 has also been made to Ennis Town Council for the completion of its central heating programme. Under this programme, the Department of the Environment provides co-fund- ing for the installation of modern central heating systems into local authority houses. Priority continues to be given to installations for older people,” the minister concluded.

TWO major new recreational facili- ties for young people have opened at the headquarters of Clare Youth Service at Carmody Street Ennis.

Youth Space is a youth café and meeting space for over 15s and Youth Studio offers fully loaded rehearsal and recording facilities to meet the erowing demand fostered by the Clare Youth Service Bands Project.

Both spaces were opened by lead- ing Irish musician and Ennistymon native Joe Wall in Ennis last Tues- day.

Youth Space operates as a Self-serv- ice youth café in a setting designed and fitted out by young people. The

Meeting Space element was designed and refurbished by members of the Garda Youth Diversion Project.

Youth Space is open to all young people aged over 15 years, Wednes- days to Sundays inclusive 3 to 7 and Saturdays 2 to 9. Youth Studio is booked through Brendan on 086 COL ler

Both spaces have already become operational and are attracting up to 200 young people each weekend in the pre-launch phase.

Ennis Youth Worker, Jean Tierney, is delighted at the uptake of the serv- ices So far,

“The new facilities respond directly to needs that young people have been expressing to us for some time. The

atmosphere is terrific so far and we see many benefits arising from these new facilities. Creative ideas, new relationships and simple chill out zones are all happening at the same WU Nelom Noone

As a founding member of the Stun- ning and the Walls, Joe Wall knows how difficult it can be for young bands to find a place to play.

Clearly impressed by the new fa- cilities, Wall said it was important young people had somewhere to go to express themselves.

He said, “I’m totally blown away with this facility. Every town should have something like this.

“Growing up in Ennistymon, we had absolutely nothing like this. We

kicked a ball around the streets and generally hung around not doing very much. Music has a great ability to help people express themselves…. it links across various areas, T.V. Video, filming. It’s absolutely great to have a place where young people can come and express themselves. Well done to all.

Both facilities have been made possible by funding and voluntary efforts of several organisations in- cluding the Lions Club of Ennis, Irish Youth Foundation, Clare VEC, Garda Youth Diversion Projects, HSE (Clare Community Drug and Alcohol Service), Dormant Accounts Fund and the Mid-West Regional Drugs Task Force.

was launched in Kildysart at the weekend.

This is Bernie’s first recording and she is donating all receipts to the lo- cal branch of the Cystic Fibrosis As- sociation of Ireland.

The 16 songs on the album were

inspired by Paradise, a beautiful old estate, west of Ballynacally.

Bernie has a wide range of singing experiences and achievements hav- ing appeared as a guest singer at the Fleadh Nua Singers Club 2007 and at the Ennis Singers Club in 2005. She was the winner of the 2004 AIB You’re a Star competition and is a former member of the Cicilian Music Society, Limerick and of the Ennis Musical Society.

Bernie is the winner of two All-Ire- land Slogadh Sean Nos Competitions under the guidance of tutor, Johnny

McCarthy, NT (Ret) Ballynacally. She was also a winner of under age and senior singing titles at Clare Fleadh Cheoil.

The album was produced and re- corded by Michael O’Brien of the Ennis Singers Club and mastered by Frank Whelan of Comhaltas, Ceolte- oiri, Eireann.

Design was courtesy of Peadar McNamara from the Ennis Singers Club with graphics courtesy of Séan Downes, Congress Information and Opportunity Centre, Ennis.

Album photography was taken by

Mike McMahon, Ballynacally.

Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ire- land is a volunteering charitable or- ganisation, set up in 1963, to increase knowledge and awareness of CF and to give advice and support to people with CF and their families.

Cystic Fibrosis is Ireland’s most common life threatening genetically inherited disease. Approximately 1 in 20 people are carriers of the CF gene, and where two carriers parent a child together, there is a one in four chance of the baby being born with ‘oe

FIVE Clare men and four motorbikes will embark on an arduous journey from Clare to Belarus in June, to highlight the ongoing problems faced by people living in the region.

Michael Barrett, Neilus Shannon, James O’Donoghue and Gearoid Conroy, all from the Ennis area, will travel on four motorbikes from Clare to the exclusion zone, which still re- mains around the Chernobyl nuclear enim

As well as raising awareness, the lads hope to raise €10,000 for the Burren Chernobyl project.

The Burren Chernobyl Project

(BCP) was established in 1993 to help with the child victims of the fallout from the Chernobyl reactor explosion. Many projects have been carried out to assist the children and their families who are enduring the effects of exposure to radiation and the other social and economic prob- lems facing them in Belarus.

The Chernobyl reactor accident occurred on April 26, 1986, at the nuclear power plant in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union).

It is regarded as the worst nuclear accident in the history of nuclear power, producing a plume of radio- active debris that drifted over parts of the western Soviet Union, Eastern

Europe, Scandinavia, UK, and east- SUmONyee

30,000 people died in the initial aftermath of the blast and over five million people were exposed to ra- diation.

One of the organizers, Michael Barrett has worked in the region and witnessed first hand the devastating impact of radiation poisoning.

He said, “Saturday was the 22nd anniversary of the explosion at the Chernobyl power plant. It is to the credit of the people of Clare of the assistance provided by groups like the Burren Chernobyl project.

‘“T have worked in the region in the past and it has left an indelible im-

pression on me, the suffering of the people living in the region is getting worse, aS, with time more cancers are presenting and it is important that those of us that can assist are re- minded of the need to do so”.

In order to raise money, a poker classic to be held in the Copper Jug, Lifford Road, Ennis on Friday May 2 at 9.30pm.

All sponsorship will be gratefully accepted and cards are now avail- able.

Donations and _ other sponsor- ships and offers of assistance can be made directly to the Burren Cherno- byl Project at 7071130 or to Michael Barrett on 086 8198992.

A GROUP of 20 young Clare people will travel to Sydney in July to cel- ebrate World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI.

The annual event, which takes place in a different location each year, gives young people from all over the world a chance to celebrate and speak about their faith with each Oo) i aterm

“World Youth Day is a gathering of people from all over the world. It has taken place all over the world. The Limerick and the Killaloe dio- cese have travelled together for the

last couple of year,’ said Deirdre Convey, local organiser and Deputy Principal of St Don Bosco’s School in Kildysart.

“The highlight of the week would be on the Saturday night when the Pope attends for a vigil and then on Sunday morning when he says Mass. There is a designated park area and the young people all camp there in their sleeping bags.

“There could be as many as a mil- lion young people at that event. At the moment we have 20 signed up and ready to go from Killaloe and 25 from Limerick. We have our quota of people but if there are people still in-

terested we could squeeze one or two more people in if they really want to attend.”

Because of the location of this year’s World Youth Day, cost has be- come a real factor for the people who wish to attend.

“It is going to be expensive all right. At the moment we are look- ing at €2,500 for flight and accom- modation. But some people are go- ing to stay on afterwards and make a holiday out of it as well,’ continued Deirdre.

“We are hoping that parishes will Support the people who are go- ing from their own locality. The

age group is from 18 to 35, and the younger ones would not have that kind of money to put to something like this but they may do a bit of fun- draising themselves.

“When people come back there is a real change in them. The trip gives them a positive way of expressing their faith and when they return it is something that they can share with the whole community.

“So it is a really positive experience for all concerned.”

To find out more about World Youth Day or to enquire about booking one of those last few spots to Sydney con- tact Deirdre on 065 6834461.

THE ties between two clubs steeped in similar, yet slightly different Gael- ic traditions, will be strengthened next weekend when Eire Og, Ennis host Beauly from the Scottish high- lands.

A 50 strong contingent from the Beauly club are traveling to Ennis to renew acquaintances with Eire Og.

Last year Eire Og held the distinc- tion of being the only GAA club in Ireland to be invited by Beauly to take part in the Highland games, a series of annual events held in Scot- land that celebrate aspects of gaelic and Scottish culture.

The links between the two clubs go back to 2005 when Eire Og’s Féile winning under 15 team traveled to Inverness to take part in a regional Shinty tournament.

Eire Og played Bewly under com- promise rules with the Ennis side winning 3-2. In 2005, the club won North Division One but due to league reconstruction remained in this divi- sion along with sides from the dis- banded National League One.

The club has an historic rivalry with near neighbours, Lovat and this is marked every year with the annual New Year fixture, the Lovat Cup

Beauly arrive in Ennis on Friday and will take in a Cusack Cup game

between Eire oy: and O’Currys.

Beauly play Eire Og in shinty at 3pm on Saturday in the grounds of St Flannans. The following day, both teams will then play in a swap sticks match whereby, players from Beauly will use hurleys while Eire Og will play with shinty sticks.

The Scottish club will also get the opportunity to see a game of hurling when Eire Og take on Ogonnolloe, ONO LETITer Nie

Presentations to mark the occasion will take place in the Eire Og club- house on Saturday night.

Eire Og PRO Ursula Guillfoyle said that the visit of Beuly provides a rare opportunity to see a Gaelic sport that

in recent years, has suffered from a decline in popularity.

“We’ve had a good relationship with them since our under 15s were over there so they are delighted to be coming over. It was very special for Eire Og to be invited over for the Highland games”.

“There are very few Shinty clubs left in Scotland, its been kind of on the decline. It’s good that we have this link between the two clubs. Long may it last. Over in Scotland the visit has been getting a lot of at- tention. There has been good interest in it so far. It’s a good opportunity to see a match and to raise the profile of Shinty”.

THE first year boys at Kilrush Com- munity School have plenty to cel- ebrate, having won a bronze medal at the All-Ireland Basketball Finals in Tipperary last week.

As a result of beating teams from Clare, Limerick and Kerry, Kilrush went to the finals representing the south west region.

In their pool they found themselves up against De La Salle, Wicklow and Magherfelt, winners of the south east

and north regions respectively.

A superb team performance saw Kilrush defeat De La Salle on a scoreline 39-16.

Magherfelt proved to be a tougher opposition but some outstanding rebounding by Ben Nolan and ex- ceptional performances from Kevin Looney and Cian Murray saw Kil- rush defeat the Northern boys on a scoreline of 31-24.

As winners of their pool, Kilrush went through to the All-Ireland semi-final where they took on the

team from Cnoc Mhuire, Granard, winners of the midlands region.

In what was a very tight game, Kil- rush held the lead for the first three quarters of the game, only to be pipped in the final quarter.

According to coach, Suzanne Whe- lan the Kilrush lads “played some terrific basketball in this game, with every member of the team playing his part with great heart and deter- mination”.

She added that they “have been a ereat group of youngsters to work

with and they should be very proud of their All-Ireland bronze medal in their first year”.

The team members were presented with their medals by martin Hehir of Basketball Ireland, who remarked how great it was to see Kilrush Com- munity School back in the All-Ire- land Finals again.

“YOU have ruined my life.” That was the stark message yesterday from a 60-year-old woman to the knife- wielding drug addict who viciously attacked her.

A court heard how Jean Nolan is in fear of leaving her home alone after a nightmare attack in broad daylight in Shannon.

It was revealed that a bench war- rant had been issued for her attack- er’s arrest when he failed to turn up for sentencing at Ennis Circuit Court at the end of 2006.

He had robbed two other women — aged 75 and 23 — in Ennis in Septem- ber 2004 and was due to have those matters finalised in 2006.

Robert Nestor (27), originally from Hermitage, Ennis and also with an address at Elm House, Drumgeely, Shannon, admitted robbing €110 cash from Ms Nolan at Dun an Or1r, Shannon on November 20 last. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife, in the course of robbing the

cash.

Detective Sergeant Michael Houli- han told the court yesterday that Ms Nolan was walking home from work at 2pm when she noticed someone following her.

She heard a low murmur behind her and a man jumped out in front of her.

“He was wearing a hoodie pulled tightly around his head. She resisted by holding on to her handbag. She was pulled forcibly and knocked to the ground. She noticed the accused was holding a knife,” he said.

“I believe he repeatedly swung the knife at her. There was evidence of that on her coat and also on the in- jury she had,” he said.

Ms Nolan sustained a finger injury, for which she received five stitches.

A number of witnesses were swift- ly on the scene and pursued Nestor. When gardai arrived, he was hiding in a Shed in a nearby housing estate.