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THE welcome mat is being dusted down and celebrations planned for the army of Clare volunteers bound for South Africa to build a hospice.

On board are 180 of the 200 vol- unteers needed for the Building of Hope project for Lissycasey nun, Sr Ethel Normoyle.

Thousands of South Africa’s poor- est people live in the Port Elizabeth township mostly in huts and shacks made from waste corrugated and tin sheeting.

Unemployment runs at more than 70 per cent while seven in ten people are infected with the AIDS virus.

The hospice will give township residents a place to end their days in dignity as well as providing a centre where people can learn positive ways of caring for their own health.

Builders, plasterers, carpenters, electricians, and general helpers will be working flat out for ten-day stints at a time to get the project sorted in 40 days.

People have been hard at work fund raising the €3,000 per head neces- sary for the trip and in Purcell’s Bar, in Ruan on January 6 there will be a special night of trad and the auction of a valuable painting.

The ever popular Sharon Shannon will be joined by the famous Begley

family from west Kerry, including Brendan, Cormac, Niall and Owen. A fantastic night of traditional music is guaranteed.

Hot food will be served on the night and a painting by local Artist Peter Daffy of Corofin will be raffled dur- ing the night along with many more fabulous prizes.

Tickets costs €15 and are available from Purcell’s Bar or by calling An- nette at 086 3294982 or Mary at 086 3332780.

There are still places available on the trip for people willing to travel between February 14 and 25 and de- tails of accommodation, flights and transfers have now been finalised, said Olive Halpin, one of the Clare organisers of the trip.

“We would appeal now to anyone who has money outstanding to get it to us immediately,’ added Ms Halpin.

“The people of Missionvale are so excited about us coming to give them some help,” said Maureen McCarthy, another of the Clare organisers of the vale

Bishop Willie Walsh and Ennis priest Fr Tom Hogan will be along to lend support to the crews.

Anyone who would like to fund raise or even come along on the trip should call Olive on 087 6994599 or Maureen on 087 7803808.

THERE is growing concern in rela- tion to the number of private rented houses which appear derelict in Shannon town. Several residents have raised concerns about the is- sue and have asked for a report on the numbers of derelict houses to be compiled.

The matter has been raised by In- dependent councillor Patricia Mc- Carthy, who has called for a progress report to be presented on derelict sites which are under investigation.

“A number of derelict sites have been creating a nuisance. There is a growing concern about the number

of private rented houses which are derelict or there could be someone living in them and there is an air of dereliction about them,’ said Cllr McCarthy.

In response to the motion, Clare County Council Acting Senior Ex- ecutive Officer, Myles Carey out- lined the latest situation, regarding numbers of derelict houses in the redwa ee

He stated that during the 12 months of 2007, nine properties have been removed from the derelict sites reg- ister, “in that the owners complied in full with the requirements of the statutory notices as issued”.

These properties represent single

dwellings in various housing devel- opments in the town.

Five or six other properties were identified as derelict but through correspondence with the owners, they were all rendered non-derelict, even before being included in the register through the co-operation of the owners. These were also single dwellings in various housing devel- opments.

One of the buildings removed from the register, having been rendered non-derelict, was the old ESB site in Shannon.

The council said a number of sites in the Drumgeely, Tradaree and Foyle Park areas are considered der-

elict and are being followed up.

‘In a number of cases, the owners are or have applied for planning per- missions and in most cases the own- ers have had recent correspondence with the gardai. These will be fol- lowed up under the provisions of the act,” stated Mr Carey.

“One property is currently under investigation and a report is awaited. This is a single dwelling in a hous- ing development,’ he added.

However Cllr McCarthy said the council still hadn’t “identified which ones they have moved on”’.

“The council can prosecute and make people render them non-der- elict,” said Cllr McCarthy.

ONE of Clare’s most senior local politicians has just been awarded a new honour.

Long-serving county council- lor Flan Garvey was unanimously elected chairman of the Institutes of Technology in Ireland by the cathao- irligh of the 13 Institutes of Technol- ogy at their recent annual general meeting.

Speaking after his election, Cllr Garvey said he regarded it “as a great honour for myself and my family and for the Clare Vocational Education Committee.”

He is a former chairman of Clare VEC and served as Mayor of Clare for a term. He was vice-president for two years of the Irish Vocational Ed-

ucation Association, the national ad- ministrative body of city and county vocational education committees. He is also chairman of Tralee Insti- tute of Technology where is also a student, studying for an MA degree.

A native of Ballyea, Inagh, he was educated at Gorbofearna National School, Inagh; St Flannan’s College, Ennis; St Patrick’s Training College, Drumcondra; UCD and UCG where he obtained a BA and D Dip in 1972- 23

He taught in Mary Queen of An- gels, Ballyfermot, Dublin, from 1963 to 1965, Gortbofearna National School from 1965 to 1973 and Inagh National School from 1973 to 2000, being principal of both schools.

THOUSANDS of music lovers will visit Sixmilebridge for the ninth an- nual Winter Music Weekend, which takes place between Friday, January 11 and Sunday, January 13.

The festival of music will feature a wide range of music including blues, classical, jazz, bluegrass, set danc- ing, morris dancing, folk and trad.

This year, one of the main attrac- tions will be the mandolin concert

on Friday night, which will feature Simon Mayor and Hilary James, at the Courthouse venue. Simon Mayor is one of the world’s foremost man- dolinists and composers and will travel from the UK for this gig.

Among the other attractions will include an appearance by the Niall Toner band, in an acoustic concert, on Saturday evening, also at the Courthouse.

The Mill Bar will play host to the Cork-based Two Time Polka on Sat-

urday night and the North Cregg Tra- ditional Group from Cork on Sunday evening. For the first time this year, the Klezmer Jewish Band will play at the festival.

The festival will be spread among seven premises in Sixmilebridge – the courthouse, church, GAA club and four pubs – while the morris dancers will perform on the streets.

Organiser Brendan Walsh said there have been phone calls from interested music lovers from all over

the country and overseas and hopes are high that last year’s attendance figure of 3,000 will be surpassed.

“We have a big contingent com- ing from Germany and from France, while the core group of people will come from locals, along with people from Ennis, south Galway and Lim- erick,” he said.

The event is supported by Failte Ireland. For more information con- tact Brendan on 0868464509 or view the website on Www.wmw.ie.

THE University of Limerick is seek- ing to have the imposition of over €300,000 in levies waived on its new Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.

Last month, Clare County Council gave the university the go-ahead for the centre at Garraun, Clonlara, but imposed a charge of €304,000 in levies towards the provision of pub- lic infrastructure.

However, the university has now appealed the imposition of the con- ditions to An Bord Pleanala.

UL claim that “the development is located on the Clare Campus of the university and deliberately so to celebrate the rich tradition of Clare music and dance through learning, accreditation and research”’.

The university state that it 1s cur- rently seeking to raise over €6mil- lion and the UL foundation is plan- ning to raise this amount in Clare.

Donors have expressed interest in funding the project for its “connec- tion with the deepest roots of Clare culture and for the longevity which universities bring to great tradi- WON ae

The appeal states that the imposi-

tion of development contributions would impede the viability of the project and contradict the spirit and letter of the scheme by applying commercial levies to non-commer- cial voluntary work. The develop- ment 1s not intended for profit or gain, but would be a major contribu- tor to the social and educational life of the campus and the area.

“The project is dependent on volun- tary donations to go ahead. Donors both in the US and at home normally attach a condition to the making of donations that the State should at least match the amount of the private donation.Donors have been persuad- ed to make an exception in this case but the imposition of statutory lev- ies or contributions would dent their gsoodwill.

The building will house the univer- sity’s Irish World Music Academy under Michael O’Suilleabhain and be solely dedicated to education.

The university maintains that it should be exempt from this charge as they are a voluntary organisation and the development is to be used for social, recreational and education purposes and not for profit or gain

A decision is due on the appeal in the new year.

THERE was plenty of festive cheer in west Clare on Christmas morning as hundreds took part in the tradi- tional Christmas Day swims.

The largest crowd gathered in Mil- town Malbay.

More than 120 people braved the elements at the White Strand in aid of the Mid West Cancer Unit in Lim- erick.

Describing the swim now in its 15th year as “excellent”, participant Tony Cogan believed it wasn’t as cold as other years.

More than 200 people gathered to

watch the fun in Spanish Point, and enjoy some warm festive drinks.

While it rained just before and after the charity swim, the only time the swimmers got wet was when they hit the water.

In Kilkee the swim is in its 25th year.

Around 50 people took part in the swim in Kilkee at 12.30pm.

Due to the low tide, the swim was moved from the traditional point at the slipway to the beach. The event, organised by Kilkee Sub Aqua Club, attracted swimmers of all ages who braved chilly winds and choppy seas.

Half of the proceeds from the sponsored swim event will again go to the Scoil Realt na Mara Astroturf and playground project. Punch was served to swimmers after the event by Eileen Mulcahy of Kilkee Thalas- sotherapy Centre.

The people of Kilrush were out ear- ly this Charistmas Day – at 9.45 am. Despite the early start the tide was on the way out, but the determined swimmers made the most of it.

A huge crowd gathered in the freez- ing cold to watch the 30 swimmers who took to the waters for Kilrush RNLI and Multiple Sclerosis.

Santa Claus also swapped the air

for water and came ashore with the crew of the lifeboat and enjoyed the hot drinks with the locals after a very busy night.

Kildysart was the only fresh water DW bes meme etom ern yA

More than 50 people decided to take to the water of Gortlass Lake at midday.

According to one of the organisers John O’Connor, the conditions for the festive event now in its fifth year, were “reasonably good”’.

Again a crowd gathered to watch the swimmer raise money for the mini marathon cancer fund and enjoy a warm, much appreciated drink.

AGAINST the background of the school water charges row, Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has highlighted the growing crisis of consultant fees for Summer work schemes which are owed by many schools throughout the country.

According to the Clarecastle dep- uty, who is Fine Gael Spokesperson on Juvenile Justice, the latest crisis arose when the Department of Edu-

cation decided to discontinue the summer school works scheme with- out consulting the schools.

The scheme allowed schools to carry out essential works during the summer holidays. In order for schools to apply for the scheme, it was necessary to hire a consultant engineer to prepare submissions. If the application was successful, the consultant’s fees were reimbursed through the scheme.

The situation many schools find

themselves in is that having hired consultants and paid out significant fees, the scheme has been cancelled and the fees remain outstanding. Deputy Carey said it was another example of the Government taking decisions with little regard for the implications of these decisions on the day-to-day running of schools. ‘“T have contacted several schools, who find themselves owing hundreds of euro in consultant fees, with no obvious means to pay for those fees.

One Clare school I spoke to owes over €650, while another owes in the region of €800. Coming at the same time as schools face outrageous wa- ter charges, this is unacceptable. ‘The department set out stringent guidelines for the summer work schemes which required schools to engage consulting engineers in order to be considered under the scheme. They have now cancelled the scheme, but schools abiding by the department’s own rules are out

of pocket significantly.”

Are our schools to foot the bill for the downturn in the economy’?

“IT understand the INTO are pres- ently surveying all schools in the country to find out how many schools have already paid out for consultant fees for projects. I expect them to find that the country’s schools are carrying a huge burden of debt for essential works that may not now even be carried out because of this crazy decision,” he declared.

THE people of Lissycasey are travel- ling en masse to South Africa to sup- port one of their own, as she gives hope to thousands.

Local woman Sr Ethel Normoyle has undertaken to build a hospice and community facility at Mission- vale, Port Elizabeth, where she cares for the poor of its shantytowns.

The Lissycasey native will be joined on the ambitious three-week construction project by three of her nieces and her nephew, as well as al- most a dozen more people from her home parish.

Tom Clancy and Paddy Carmody from Lissycasey were busy with a cake sale last week, as they worked

hard to raise the €3,000 needed to see each of the volunteering build- ers, painters, tillers and helpers to Africa.

The 160 volunteers will travel at different times during the three- week project.

As a bricklayer Tom’s skills will be required from the beginning – Janu- Vaan lon

Building contractor Paddy will make his way over later.

Family support is also on its way with all the Clare volunteers.

St Normoyle’s nieces Grainne Tal- ty, Pamela Normoyle, Cliodhna Tal- ty and her nephew Shane Normoyle, also from Lissycasey, are helping out with the project.

In the 19 years since she moved to

South Africa Sr Normoyle has es- tablished a school, a feeding centre, a clothing centre and a lifeline for people who have nothing.

As well as dealing with crippling poverty the people of South Africa are also coping with an AIDS epi- demic, which has left devastation and orphans in its wake.

More than six in every ten people in the township where Sr Normoyle works, have the virus.

The Little Company of Mary nun, who trained in St John’s Hospital in Limerick, is now preparing to build a hospice and community resource centre to help give a better quality of life to people infected with AIDS.

Already more than €100,000 has been fundraised to buy all the nec-

essary materials for the new facility, which will have 18 beds for patients, as well as facilities to educate peo- ple suffering from the virus in how best to care for themselves and their families.

To build the new centre, a team of 200 people are needed between Jan- uary 16 and February 26, staying ten days at a time.

Volunteers will be put up in a ho- tel in Port Elizabeth and the €3,000 which they have to raise to join the team covers all flights, meals ac- commodation and transfers for the oNmer Way

THE Clare Citizens information Centres are advising local shoppers that their consumer rights don’t go away if they are tempted by bargains in the New Year sales.

With the New Year sales taking erip of the county, the network of advice centres receive a lot of que- ries from shoppers in relation to their consumer rights at this time of year. Their basic message 1s that if a sales item turns out to be faulty, the shop must offer a refund, repair or replacement. According to Informa- tion Service manager, Paul Woulfe, some shops put up signs during their sales along the lines of ‘No money refunded’, “No refunds during sales’, ‘No exchange’ or ‘No liability ac- cepted for faulty goods’.

‘These signs can give the impres- sion that you don’t have certain consumer rights. So the shop may be committing an offence in using them, and could face prosecution.

“If goods turn out to be faulty, consumers are entitled to ask for a refund, replacement or repair. If the shop still refuses to give you one of these three options, report it to the Director of Consumer Affairs. You are not entitled to an exchange (or

a refund or a credit note) simply be- cause you change your mind about something you’ve bought. So double- check the shop’s refund policy before buying anything in the sales’, added Paul Woulfle

‘Some shops do allow you to ex- change goods that you’ve had second thoughts about, but remember that it is at their discretion and they do this as a goodwill gesture. If the product is faulty, you are entitled to a replace- ment, a repair or a full refund. You don’t have to take a credit note, even if the shop assistant insists, “this is our policy’.

“Stock with a reduced price in the winter sales must have been on offer for the advertised original price for at least a month before the price was KeLeLU(eolem

‘For example, shops are not al- lowed to have a label or sign on a product saying ‘reduced by 30 per cent’ if this 1s the first time that they are Selling this particular product. If you lose your receipt, your rights still apply. The shop is entitled to see proof of purchase, but this can be a credit card bill or a bank statement,” Mr Woulfe explained.

CLARE owners enjoyed big suc- cess at an exciting day’s coursing in Cloncullen last Thursday.

Favourite Clare Man was pipped in the final of the South Clare Cup by Valverdes, owned by Anthony and Denis Clohessey and Michael and Martin Madigan from Killimer.

Valverdes had earlier received a bye run to the final after the Clare- castle owned Murty’s Shadow was withdrawn while Clareman edged

out Caeser Mac in the semi-final to book a final spot.

There was success for the SAM syndicate from Clarecastle when Bird’s Baby clinched the Oaks ticket for Clonmel.

Trained by Gerry Holihan for John Quinn, Woodpark Rebel was again in top form, winning out the South Clare All-aged Bitch Stake.

The win over Crafty Montico books a place in the Champion Stake in Clonmel for Woodpark Rebel.

Former Clare hurling manager

Anthony Daly is another who will be heading to Clonmel. Murty’s for One, owned by the ATM syndicate of Anthony and Michael Daly and Tommy Howard had already guar- anteed a place in the Boylesports Derby after winning at the Galway and Oranmore meeting.

Daly, along with fellow owners Stephen and Martin Sheedy will have another interest in Clonmel after the SAM syndicate owned Bird’s Baby beat of stiff competition for a spot in the Clonmel Minealla Oaks.

In the final Bird’s Baby saw off the challenge of the Miltown Malbay owned Dalcash Shannon by three lengths.

The reserve derby was won by the Scattery Syndicate from Kil- limer with Scattery Hyland which beat Siena’s Steel owned by Co- oraclare brothers John and Michael O’ Donoghue.

However there was joy for Coora- clare when Riverdale Honcho won the Cloncullen Stake for one and two course dogs and bitches, for owners

Michael and Fiona Meaney.

Fisherman’s Ace won the final of the working members stake for Kil- kee owner Joe Harte.