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AMONG the groups taking part in the Clare People 10k walk/run are the Ennis based organisation, Living Links.

Over the past five years the Liv- ing Links organisation has offered a suicide outreach support service to families and individuals in Clare who have been bereaved by suicide. SU iloKomr-DeomCUUKC NU RAKoNMPAOUD DANN e-BDACeCe! volunteers staffing the service in Ee

In addition to healing programmes volunteers respond to approaches made by a bereaved family or in- dividual and can arrange to meet them inside or outside their homes or

wherever the bereaved person feels most comfortable.

All meeting are conducted in the strictest confidence.

Clare Living Links operates under the auspices of the Health Services Executive. Originally Clare Liv- ing Links formed part of a larger programme that provided Suicide Bereavement Support in Clare, Lim- erick and north Tipperary, but three years ago the service was divided into three separate units by the then Mid Western Health Board.

The service recently concluded an eight week healing programme for those who’s lives have been affected lo\VamcLe bea LO (on

The programme aimed to help

adults who have experienced a death by suicide to find healing and support in a Safe and caring environment and to provide an opportunity of meeting others who have experienced loss by suicide.

The meetings aimed to provide healing through talking and listen- ing in small groups.

A spokesperson for the service explained, “If they want, they can choose to meet one of the service’s volunteers at home or they can come to the centre, or wherever 1s suitable. It’s about giving them the opportu- nity to talk about it.

‘Depending on the need of the per- son there might be one session or they might be a number. There is no

set number”’.

The spokesperson continued, “The aim is to help people talk about their loss and the whole process of be- reavement. There is no set formula for bereaved persons feelings or re- actions. Different people will react in different ways and in a different Ocal ue

Clare Living Links also provide a booklet entitled “You Are Not Alone” which aims to provide in- formation that will be of help in the immediate aftermath of a death by suicide occurring, such as immedi- ate reactions; natural responses pro- cedures in unexpected deaths, sort- ing out your affairs and getting help for you and your children.

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who has cre- ated fear in the community in Shan- non has been sentenced to two years of detention.

The boy pleaded guilty to several charges including damaging a car, entering various premises as a tres- passer and stealing property.

He admitted entering the Shannon Knights pub as a trespasser and steal- ing alcohol and crisps last October. On another occasion, he entered the Same premises and stole five bottles of vodka and three cans of red bull.

He also admitted stealing €40 in cash from a house 1n Shannon in No- vember and stealing a mobile phone from Texaco, Shannon, on Septem- ber 28 last.

The boy was released on bail in April after a court heard that a team of professionals concluded that he should be put back into the commu- nity under a strict regime.

On that occasion his solicitor Eileen Whelan pointed out that the boy had been “caught on time” and she ex- pressed hope that he would “turn out to be a decent citizen”.

She said he had spent two months

in custody and the experience fright- ened him. ‘“He’s got the sharp shock that he needed,” she told the court in April. She said he was using drugs and al- cohol at the time of the offences. The boy was granted bail with con- ditions attached. However, he was brought before the court again after he came to the notice of gardai. Shannon District Court was told on Thursday that the boy re-offended one week after he was allowed out into the community on bail. Defending solicitor, Eileen Whelan, said her client was pleading guilty to

a number of offences.

‘He has been in custody for the last five weeks. He wants this mat- ter to be dealt with today. He is well aware of what he has done. The time in custody has benefited him,’ said Ms Whelan.

‘He is well aware he has caused a fear in the community as a result of his behaviour. He wants to deal with his actions,’ she said.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a two year detention sentence on the boy and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal. He refused a request to backdate the sentence to May.

A TABLE rating the efficiency of shopping centres, which puts Shan- non third from the bottom in the country is seriously flawed, accord- ing to SkyCourt’s manager.

The Crest Shopping Centre pro- ductivity review, published in the na- tional media recently, rates Skycourt third worst of 50 centres rated coun- trywide, coming after the Jetland Shopping Centre in Limerick and the Nutgrove centre in Dublin.

But Pat Kelly, manager of Sky- Court Shannon said that the review ‘is flawed and is based on inaccurate information. Crest has told me that

their survey has estimated the aver- age SkyCourt rent at E60 per sq. ft. In fact, the average rent here is sub- stantially less than that figure and in some cases is almost 60 per cent lower.”

He said that the survey also claimed that footfall Ge numbers of shoppers visiting a centre) is falling through- out the country. The opposite is the case at SkyCourt where footfall has increased by an average of 10/15 per cent per annum over three years.

“It 1s regrettable that Crest didn’t check the basic figures with us before publishing their review. As a result, their assessment of SkyCourt is both inaccurate and unfair,” he said.

MARY Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna is celebrat- ing huge success by several students in the Northern Ireland Young Scien- tist Competition held in Belfast last Neto)

Fifth year student Laura Sims won first prize in her age category for the project ‘Mobile phone signal strength and topography ’- the second time she has won a prize for her sci- entific skills.

Matthew Egan and Kevin Theasby were runners up in their age category with ‘Relationship between Japanese Knotweed and soil type’.

Diarmaid O’ Donoghue was award- ed the Queens University Award for Biological Sciences for his project ‘The efficiency of seed dispersal’

and a fourth group of Amie Barrett, Sinead McNamara and Megan Byrne also took part with “The dispersal patterns of Patella vulgate on north Clare shores’.

The supervisor of the projects, Ge- ography teacher John Sims, said that his daughter and the other students had done the school proud.

‘This was the sixth year that we have taken part in the competition and we have never come away with- out a prize of some sort. All of these projects were picked because they also did well in the Irish competition. It takes passion and hard work to get everything done. It really helps kids to think outside the box.”

He added that one of the judges had complimented 17 year-old Laura on a particularly good project.

‘She worked on it since last August

and it was very intense because she had to physically map out the grid on foot and the terrain is not great. She used a mapping program called Geo- graphical Information Systems being piloted at the school by NUI May- nooth and the coverage she got was second to none. The results could be very useful, as could those of all of the other projects.”

Mr Sims said that Kevin, Mat- thew and Diarmaid had to do a crash course in the more advanced school curriculum to learn techniques like soil sample collection.

“They were in the junior category and started work in September. The Irish competition is early in the year SO work was very heavy over Christ- mas. Aside from the actual projects, they had to type up reports of up to 50 pages.

He added that the fourth project, in a category with a higher number of participants, could still get a ‘Highly Commended’ honour.

“IT have worked at the school since 1989 and past students often refer to the Young Scientist as a very useful experience. A lot of kids knew how to do reports and project work at col- lege later, which 1s a great plus.”

The students used a mix of labora- tory and field work as well as a wide variety of research methods.

After the summer, a new batch of young scientists will begin work at the school.

just before his name was read into the 30th Dail as a Clare Fine Gael TD he reflected on how he was his own verb

“Sometimes people look at you as walking in your father’s footsteps. It is hard to come out of that shadow as well and develop your own niche. I’ve done that through my work in Clare County Council and I estab- lished my own vote throughout the Ennis area. I got the biggest vote in the Ennis area in the last general election and that was a testament to my hard work and dedication on be- half of the people in the Ennis area in particular,’ he said.

Once on the plinth of Leinster House he was joined by his fiancée Grace and the flash bulbs dazzled.

Fellow Clare TD, Pat Breen (FG), spoke briefly with his new colleague before moving on.

This was Carey’s day, there would be time enough again for the inevi- table political jostling for the lime- bhedaie

This was a day Carey dreamed

about but until the previous day feared he may not see. He had been dogged with a viral illness and had just been discharged from hospital. While other new TDs. arrived with an entourage of supporters and friends, the rest of his family made up his support group including his father Donal who had travelled with

him the night before.

ad AR LUM OOT- TMU ODKMMDOSToM ERIM (oo eI didn’t know whether I would be able to come or even a few days ago so thanks be to God I’m able to be here today and put my best foot forward and the business starts today.

“Given that I wasn’t in great health I didn’t go about organising a big

razzmatazz entrance to the Dail. Over the coming months I will be organising such a visit for my sup- porters, friends and family to come to Dail Eireann,” he explained.

“T am delighted to be here today. God gave me the strength to be here today and I am very grateful for that.

“T really am looking forward to it. It is a new challenge and I have the energy ability and drive to work at this for the people of County Clare,” he said.

In his early thirties he believes youth is on his side and will be a ereat advantage in working as a TD as will the support and knowledge of VELA slow

“It 1s something we spoke about all right and he will be of great help to me over the coming months and years,” he said.

“I always thought about Dail Eir- eann and representing people. It is a lifetime ambition that I have achieved and it really is a humbling experience,’ he added, explaining that the hours and years he saw his father dedicate to the life did not put him off.

Deputy Carey was visibly subdued, tired and slightly scarred by the ill- ness of the last ten days but was de- termined to be there for the historic opening of the 30th Dail.

Questions or comments that would normally spark the young TD into a familiar, belly laugh and a vigor- ous response were now receiving a knowing smile and a softly spoken, considered, short response.

He was tired but grateful to be there. The celebrations would wait.

RESIDENTS in Doolin have warned that additional holiday homes in the village will result in a “dead” settle- ment for much of the year.

Residents in the resort have lodged an objection with Clare County Council to plans by Bespoke Devel- opment to construct four new holiday homes and a 20 bedroom extension to the existing Tir Gan Ean Hotel.

Bespoke Developments have been to the forefront in the building of holiday homes across Doolin.

A submission made on behalf of the company to the council stated a second phase of the Tir Gan Ean hotel was envisaged, however, the developers were not confident that a hotel development of this size would be economically viable.

It goes on: “However, after operat- ing the 12 bed hotel for the past year, a strong demand for more accommo- dation has been identified and this application reflects the operators’ ereater understanding of the require- ments of the market.”

However, the objection lodged claims that “there is no need for more holiday homes or for more long term rental properties in Doolin at present. There are already 65 holli- day homes built or in the process of

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‘Further development is premature in the absence of a public sewage sys- tem… acting on the precautionary principle, the development is prema- ture. We have no objection in princi- ple to the hotel extension when the public sewage system is installed.

Giving a breakdown of develop- ment in Doolin, the objectors state that there are 38 private homes in Doolin, 30 holiday homes and 28 homes with B&B accommodation.

The residents also point out that there are 35 holiday homes located at the Coogyulla Cross area of Doolin with only nine private residences.

The residents state: “Providing more owner occupied houses would result in a “dead” settlement cluster/ village for much of the year and will do nothing but adversely impact on the existing economy because there are a substantial number of locals de- pendent on a short holiday period to sustain their business. This “organic” economy will be sacrificed if devel- opments of this nature are allowed to Ree e

“The sewage treatment plant is out- side the zoned area and the village settlement boundaries and should not be permitted for this reason.”

A decision is due on the application later this year.

IF YOU want to cross the “Bridge to Health’, Ennistymon may hold the connection you’re looking for with the opening of new local healing and therapy centre.

The centre, officially launched last Saturday, will offer various health and relaxation treatments including reflexology, massage and reiki and classes in belly-dancing and Tai Chi.

The centre will also incorporate a gift shop selling local and outsourced crafts, homewares and jewellery.

Owner Celeste Davis and her hus- band Brian, who met in Miltown Malbay nine years ago, have done extensive work in natural therapy.

“We support the conventional sys- tem too but alternatives can work alongside it. There are often fewer side effects and my husband had great results using natural therapy to treat cancer and chronic illnesses in Sydney. The classes and shop add an extra element. We have had a lot of interest from people who want to come and teach here.”

Ms Davis, originally from Byron

Bay in Australia, said that Ennisty- mon’s Steiner-Waldorf school was a major factor in the family’s move to north Clare and this openness to alternative forms would benefit the Le LUKBE Lee

‘Bridge to Health’ will also offer bioenergy healing- a natural therapy which is rapidly gaining popularity.

“Bioenergy comes from Chinese medicine, where it is used widely in hospitals, and it works with a type of energy called ‘external chi-gung’. We are all surrounded by electro- magnetic fields and illness is outside

as well as in. Bioenergy clears the aura,’ said Ms Davis, adding that its two leading Irish practitioners are from Clare.

She added that she hopes the busi- ness will expand quickly to include counselling and psychotherapy as well as more classes and treatments such as acupuncture.

The centre will be open from 1lam to 7pm daily and later on weekends. It will close on Tuesdays. For more information, call 065 7071968 or 085 1390381.

AS ONE political campaign official- ly ended on Thursday, another began in earnest.

The opening of the 30th Dail may have signalled that the General Elec- tion was well and truly over, but for many the campaign had just begun.

Early on Thursday Clare Seanad

hopefuls Cllr Pat Daly (FF) and Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) arrived in Dub- lin canvassing for votes and nomina- tions.

This was like shooting fish in a barrel. Almost all of the Seanad members they would need to can- vass would be only one place that day with many of the country’s vote yielding councillors not far behind.

At llam while the newly elected Dail members assembled for Mass, canvassers from all over also assem- bled. In Buswell’s Hotel, Cllr Mulc- ahy had strategically placed himself inside the door, cup of tea in one hand, list of councillors in the other.

He was hoping for a parliamentary nomination having received the nod from Clare Fine Gael.

Cllr Daly arrived soon after. Hav- ing already received a nomination, he was now looking for votes for the Labour Panel.

The assistant to Tony Killeen had already canvassed most of Munster but the Dail seemed the ideal loca- tion before he started moving north.

Then Clare’s only sitting senator, Brendan Daly (FF), met briefly with

his colleagues in the famous political hotel. Senator Daly was also seeking a Seanad nomination before begin- ning his tour of the country canvass- ing votes.

Cllr John Crowe (FG) 1s to date Clare’s only other candidate seeking election to the upper house, having secured a nomination for the Indus- trial and Commercial panel.

CLARE Mayor Flan Garvey will meet with Nova Scotia’s tourism minister this week to discuss the possibility of establishing a direct air link between the

west of Ireland and

the Canadian prov-

nNeon

The Shannon-

Halifax link was

first proposed last

August when the

two public’ rep-

resentatives met

at the Milwaukee

Irish Festival in

Wisconsin. It 1s anticipated that this week’s meet-

ing will lead to a submission being made to a transat- lantic carrier regarding the proposed os ats (Len

Commenting on the proposal, Minister Len Goucher, a former em- ployee of Air Canada, said that the establishment of a direct flight from Nova Scotia to the West of Ireland would be of huge benefit to both re- gions.

“I would love to see a direct air link being established between our provincial capital of Halifax and

Shannon. Air Canada currently flies from Halifax to London but it is my intention to push for a similar service directly into Ireland,” he said. Mayor Garvey highlighted the cul- tural links between Nova Scotia and Ireland and _ said that a direct air service would not only serve to ce- ment these links but would provide a platform to boost tourism on _ both sides of the Atlan- non Nova Scotia 1s located on Cana- da’s south-eastern coast and is the country’s second smallest province with a population on just under one million people. Thousands of Irish people emigrated to the region dur- ing the 18th and 19th centuries. An estimated 500-1000 Nova Scotians are fluent Irish speakers. Most of these live in Antigonish County or on Cape Breton Island. Mayor Garvey is scheduled to meet with Minister Goucher in Halifax on Friday.

CONCERNED residents rb O’Callaghan’s Mills and Kilkishen are joining forces for a charity walk/ cycle to raise money for a defibrilla- tor unit for each village.

The event will be on Sunday, June 24, and will cover the distance be- tween the two villages, starting from Kilkishen at 6pm. People are asked to make a donation of any sum when registering to take part or simply do-

nate funds if not.

The target 1s at least €6,000 to cov- er the cost of both machines. Train- ing for up to 15 people is included in the price but further training costs 40 te

Local man Martin McMahon ex- plained that with the nearest hospi- tals in Ennis and Limerick, demand for local lifesaving measures was stronger than ever.

“We had two meetings- one in each village- and everyone thought that

it was a great idea. It might never be needed but if it saved one life it would be worth it. We saw commu- nities like Mountshannon and White- gate getting defibrillators as well as a large number in Limerick and we felt that it was time to do so ourselves. I would recommend that every village get one.”

The Red Cross will be enlisted to provide training and insurance and anyone can learn to save a life.

“T have gotten a lot of calls from peo-

ple interested in training to use them. It hasn’t been decided yet where we will put them but they will be kept centrally. In O’Callaghan’s Mills, we are lucky that the school, church, community centre and playing fields are all very close together.”

Mr McMahon added that donations from Overseas are welcome and also appealed for sponsors to come for- ward.

For more information, phone 086 “ORI oe