The Clare People Archive

ST JOSEPH’S Community College in Kilkee played host to 16 teach- ers from Norway, Spain, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Scotland to mark the end of a three year edu- cational project designed to create links with schools abroad.

The Comenius 1.3 Project con- cluded on April 27 with the launch of www.theinclusiveschool.com – a website to allow partner schools to keep in contact.

School Vice Principal, Sister Mary O’Connell, said that the initiative had been a great success and many of the school’s teachers had benefited from

interaction with colleagues abroad.

At a reception in The Kilkee Bay Hotel to celebrate the success of the project, Hilda McHugh, Assistant Chief Inspector in the Department of Education and Science, also empha- sised the importance of making con- tact and forging relationships with fellow educators.

She reiterated the importance of teachers sharing ideas on best prac- tise in the classroom for the benefit of the whole school community.

Labour Affairs Minister Tony Kil- leen attended the event along with representatives from the education department and Léeargas and mem- bers of the parents’ council and

board of management.

Students entertained the visitors with music, song and dance as did the north Clare Group 2 & A Half Irish.

Several Kilkee teachers travelled and participated in each of the conferences in rotation. These in- cluded Ann Healy, Jean Lorigan, Clodagh Healy-Murphy, Theresa O’Donnellan, Geraldine O’Brien, Syl Barrett, Carmel Deloughery, Theresa McGrath.

St Joseph’s hosted the first meet- ing of the partner schools in October 2004. Each of the partner schools has hosted a three to four day meet- ing since the project began in 2004.

The penultimate meeting was in Ab- erdeen, Scotland in November 2006.

The school has been involved in European Studies projects since 1990 with the emphasis on language, industry and trade.

THE pioneering marine research of the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation in Kilrush will be high- lighted in an RTE documentary this month.

The Estuary: Secret of the Shan- non, which looks at a new system for studying dolphin activity, can be seen on May 11 on RTE One at Pelt} yee

The ‘Getting Wet’ segment of the series was shot over several weeks in August and September last year. It is one of a weekly four part series

which also looks at history, industry and the future of the estuary.

The series began on May 4 and is narrated by actress Brenda Fricker

In the programme Dr Simon Ber- row, Project Leader of the SDWF and PhD student Joanne O’Brien, will outline their work in “acous- wee

‘Historically, dolphins have been studied with visual and surface tech- niques but acoustics is much more powerful. We put a piece of equip- ment called a hydrophone in the estuary off Kilcredaun Point and it sent signals via a cable to a computer

set up in a cow Shed in Carrigaholt. The software can pick up and record dolphin sounds from one or two kil- ometres away, he said.

Ms O’Brien, from Kilrush, will only be the second PhD dedicated to whale and dolphin study in Ireland.

The federation’s research, funded mainly by conservation organisa- tions, community groups and edu- cational grants, is among the first of its kind in Ireland. Dr Berrow is the SDWF’s only core staff member.

“We also made the first attempt to deploy the hydrophones in winter last year. The weather was very bad

so it was a challenge. That would help with construction projects for example so it has commercial apph- cations,’ Dr Berrow added.

Dr Berrow is concerned about the environmental impact that local fac- tories may be having on the estuary’s ecosystem and has written to anyone with an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence to ask for a contribu- tion to the SDWF to fund more staff and research. Just one company, Irish Cement, has expressed an in- terest in giving funding.

The SDWE attracts interested stu- dents from all over Europe.

THERE wasn’t a bad word to be heard around the corridors and class- rooms of Mary Immaculate Sec- ondary School in Lisdoonvarna last week as a year-long project designed to promote consideration in the com- munity came to an end.

The programme, which was called The Promotion of Courtesy Care and Consideration, was organised by the Home School Community Commit- tee and saw students from every class in the school work and think about how their locality could be changed into an even more friendly place.

A major aspect of the programme saw students from the school forge close ties with the people who attend the day care centre for the elderly at the Stella Maris.

This culminated in a special night with Fanore poet and author John O’Donoghue, which was organised by the school in support of the Stella Maris.

“He gave a wonderful talk and raised €1,000, which we were ab- solutely over the moon about,” said Maureen Droney of the Home School Community Committee.

“The money will go to the Stella Maris who are looking to buy a big- ger bus which will allow them to bring more people to the day centre. There is a great demand for the Stella Maris and indeed they are looking to open up for a third day each week.

“We had a lot of people who attend the day centre who came out for the night but there were a few people who would follow John, who trav- elled long distances to be there.”

John was joined on the night by his nephew and tenor with the Lismo- rahaun Singers, Peter O’Donoghue, and Leaving Certificate student Bri- da O’Donoghue, who played violin.

“During the year, the students vis- ited the elderly people and this gave them great life. You would even feel it on the streets that there was a real community spirit,’ continued Mau- reen.

“Next year, we will be focusing ona different theme. We will have a little break now and decide what to look at next year. We still hope to have a Courtesy, Care and Consideration week next year but the main focus will be somewhere else.”

Throughout the school year, the entire school community of Mary Immaculate took part in some way with a variety of events involving the

Courtesy, Care and Consideration Programme.

Teachers spoke about politeness and ethics in relation to their own subjects, each class drew up a char- ter of good behaviour, a poetry com- petition took place and a different poem was read aloud on the school intercom each morning to serve as a thought for the day.

AFTER a long and peaceful win- ter, Ballyvaughan has well and truly woken in the last week as the Burren in Bloom Ballyvaughan Celebration breathed fresh life and energy into the village.

Now in its third year, Burren in Bloom is beginning to carve out a name for itself as one of Ireland’s foremost nature-based festivals.

“It started over three years ago, when a man called Padraig Cleary suggested that we start doing more in Ballyvaughan to promote the area to tourists. Out of that came the Burren

in Bloom and the Christmas market,” said Jim McCarthy, chairperson of the Burren in Bloom committee.

“The original concept was not to have a festival but more of a celebra- tion of the spring and the flowers of the Burren. We started hanging the May bush on the doors as a way of welcoming the spring and warding off any evil spirits.”

A key element of Burren in Bloom is a series of illustrated talks which take place throughout the month at the Burren College of Art in Bally- vaughan. Following good turnouts for both John Kirby of the Burren- Life Project and John Murphy of

Birdwatch Ireland during the week, expectation is growing that this will be one of the best attended and most exciting series to date.

Gordon D’Arcy of the Burren College of Art will host a talk this evening, Tuesday, May 8, on the sub- ject of songbirds and the Burren.

Other to appear over the next few weeks include David Lyons, James Moran, Mary Angela Keane, Sharon Parr and Brendan Dunford.

“T always think that for something like this to really catch on takes about five years or more.

“This is just our third year and things are building nicely. We have

had inquiries this year from the UK and New York as well as all around Ireland,’ continued Mr McCarthy.

“It’s working well, people are grad- ually getting to know the name. We know that people are staying longer in the village and, with the bank hol1- day weekend, things are really start- ing to get going.”

The celebration will also include a number of guided walking events in the Burren, Irish music nights, a jazz quartet and a whole series of nature related events building to the Buds of May Barbecue on May 26. For more information check out www.bally- vaughanireland.com

A TALENT fulfilled is a joy for all the world. The life and talent of one of traditional music’s best loved young musicians, Joseph Browne, is to be further celebrated by the first ever series of musical bursaries offered to young musicians in his name, it was announced this week.

These bursaries, which are open to all young traditional musicians in Clare and Galway, come as a result of money raised during this first an- nual Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music which took place in Gort earlier this year.

A Crusheen native, Joseph Browne tragically lost his life in 2005.

Two bursaries to attend the Meitheal Residential Summer School in July of this year, as well as three bursaries to attend the 2008 Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music in February 2008, are on offer.

Young musicians of 13 years of age and over are invited to submit appli- cation for the two Meitheal Residen- tial Summer School bursaries.

Each applicant should include a written presentation of less than 1,200 words entitled ‘Me and My Music’.

This application should outline the applicant’s musical journey, includ- ing past musical experiences, mu- sical influences, important people in his/her musical life, what music means to the applicant now and where it could go in the future.

Young musicians who wish to ap- ply for this bursary should also sub- mit a recording of their own playing on tape or CD.

Meanwhile, there are three bursa- ries on offer for next year’s Joseph Browne Spring School of Tradition- ZV MAY RUS Com ders sel matbemRKe)ee Malco) aee ary 14 to 16, 2008.

The competition is open to all

ages, with one bursary each being awarded to seven- to 10-year-olds, 11l- to 14-year-olds and 15- to 19- year-olds.

Each applicant is asked to submit a written presentation of up to 800 words entitled “Me and My Music’ while a recording 1s not required.

All applicants should send their presentation to the Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music, Cnoc Maol, Crusheen, on or before Wednesday, May 9, 2007 with name, address, contact number and age.

For further information, contact 087 0674335 or www.josephbrowne. oes

IT all began last year with an idea. An idea which has slowly blossomed over the past few months into a beau- tiful relationship between young and old.

Ennistymon Hospital’s Ragainre Room has played host to an inter- generational project, co-ordinated by local artist Sara Foust, between the elderly women visiting the day cen- tre and nine transition year students from Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon.

The project, entitled Women’s Work, aimed to unearth the women’s youth through the art of conversa- tion. Most students focused on a par- ticular aspect of life back then, such as butter-making and herbal cures, while others created photo journals of the project and drew portraits of the women.

The students worked with several

different groups of women from Liscannor, Carran, New Quay, Moy, Lahinch, Quilty, Corofin, Inagh and Lisdoonvarna.

The women, all of whom were over 65, enjoyed their time spent with the students.

“Oh yes, I think it is a good experi- ence, especially as you get older. It puts your mind right thinking back. We had a great time,’ said Nancy O’Connor and Margaret Connors from New Quay.

“You remember things you thought you had forgotten all about. We told the girls stories that we wouldn’t have told anybody else.”

The project was very beneficial for the women as it allowed them to re-examine certain aspects of their youth which became tantamount to Reminiscence Therapy. This process has proved very successful in helping to stimulate memory and as a guard

against feelings of isolation and de- pression.

The students themselves also devel- oped a great rapport with the elderly wey eatsa ee

“Looking back on the project, I’m really glad I did it and I know that all the girls are because it’s changed our view on the elderly,’ said Maura Garrihy, a transition-year student from Scoil Mhuire.

“I think we all have more respect for them now and this project really bridged the gap between the genera- alee

The project received funding from the Arts Office of Clare County Council and LEADER and was filmed by local filmmaker, Fergus Taige. DVDs will be on sale by Sep- tember to raise money for another project.

‘There was a real sense of joy evi- dent throughout the project,’ said

Mary Lucas, Diversional Therapist at the Ennistymon Hospital.

‘The intergenerational projects are always a success because there is a special bond between the young and the old which is important in our so- ciety. Hopefully there will be more. Perhaps next time it will be focused on the men.”

A week-long exhibition of the stu- dents’ work will take place in the En- nistymon Courthouse Gallery from Thursday, May 17.

OLD friends gathered last week for Ennis Town Council’s senior citizens night as uncertainty hung over the future provision of services for the town’s elderly community.

According to Independent Council- lor Frankie Neylon more needs to be done to cater for the senior citizens of Ennis.

Many of those that attended on Wednesday avail of meal services provided on weekdays at the CYMS hall.

However, according to Cllr Neylon the continuation of this service has been placed in jeopardy due to the potential sale of the building.

He said people were disappointed with the current situation.

“People are very disappointed that the Parish Council are considering selling the CYMS Hall in Chapel Lane. They are also looking at sell- ing the scout hall.”

Ennis Town Council has already conducted a registry search to de- termine ownership of the two build- Tbh eae

Cllr Neylon said, “There is no reg- istered owner of the CY MS hall. The scout hall was registered by the Par- ish council six or seven years ago. The people of Ennis collected money for the scout hall and they should be notified before anything happens. It belongs to the people of Ennis.”

He also repeated calls for the de- velopment of a day-care centre in the ROD e0k

‘There is a major need for a facility

in Ennis. The parish council have to tell us what their plans are for both halls. We need to know if a new cen- tre is going to be built on one of the current sites. I have invited them to come to the council to discuss the matter”’.

Wednesday night marked the tenth anniversary of the annual event host- ed by the council.

Bishop Willie Walsh and Mayor of Ennis Joe Reidy were among those who attended. Voluntary organisa- tions that provide services for the town’s elderly community were well represented on the night. They in- cluded members of the Cloughleigh and Turnpike Resident’s Association and the senior citizens club.

First hosted in 1997 the event was organised to salute the contributions

made by such groups and by the eld- erly to enhancing community life in J Syav Avie

Cllr Neylon explained, “It was done to give something back to senior citi- zens who make such a great contri- bution to Ennis. In particular around the time of the Tidy Towns judging, they are the ones making sure the ar- eas and estates are kept tidy and look well. It was a great night and as they were going out the door they were al- ready talking about next year. Eddie Power and the staff did a great job.”

FINE Gael TD Pat Breen has called on the Government to fix a date to which they will commit to for the rollout of CCTV for Ennis following four years of broken promises.

Deputy Breen said CCTV had orig- inally been promised in 2003, then in 2004 and again in 2006.

Ennis has been included in the latest roll out of the scheme announced by the Department of Justice in April.

Deputy Breen said a firm timetable for the installation of CCTV in Ennis must be set out.

“What I would like to know 1s the answer to a simple question, when does the minister expect that closed circuit television system will be op- erational for Ennis?

“The latest promise on this critical deterrent to crime is that over €7.5m has been provided in the Garda Vote for 2007 for CCTV projects for 17 areas including Ennis, but no com- pletion date is being provided. Can the minister or the country’s Oire- achtas members even make an elec- tion promise on this?”

Minister McDowell gave an assur- ance in 2003 that “planning for the

installation of a CCTV system for Ennis is scheduled to commence later this year [2003]”, and in 2004 “that planning for the installation of the CCTV systems in Phase 3, in- cluding Ennis, is scheduled to com- mence later this year [2004]”.

The closing date for tenders issued by An Garda Siochana for CCTV systems passed on April 24. En- nis is one of nine towns along with Drogheda, Tallaght, Mullingar, Wa- terford, Portlaoise, Kilkenny, Sligo, Castlebar, included in the scheme.

Deputy Breen added that last year he was assured by the minister that a

CCTV system would be running “in priority locations, including Ennis, by the end of 2006”.

“It seems to be beyond the remit of this minister and this Government to give a clear commitment to a firm timetable for any substantial project.

“CCTV is a crucial plank in fight against anti-social behavior, vandal- ism and street violence. It is totally unacceptable that we can have this approach to the most basic projects.

“The whole affair again exposes the Government’s failure to project manage even when it is for a rela- tively modest project.”

REMEDIAL works, costing €4.5 million, will be carried out on 100 lo- cal authority houses in Shannon.

Forty-eight houses in the Inis Ealga area and 53 former Shannon Develop- ment houses will be upgraded, under a Clare County Council scheme, the details of which have just been an- nounced. The work on the dwellings is likely to start later this year.

The cost of the works to the Inis Ealga homes will come to €2.4 mil- lion, while work on the former Shan- non Development homes will cost €2.1 million. The project will be

funded by the Department of the En- vironment, Heritage and Local Gov- ernment.

The scheme is being carried out un- der the Government’s policy of ‘de- livering homes, sustaining communi- ties’, and will be delivered as part of the overall regeneration and develop- ment of Shannon town.

The remedial works to the Inis Ealga houses will involve both inter- nal and external improvements. The houses, which were built in 1984, will be rewired. Smoke alarms will be in- Stalled in the kitchens and bedrooms, while the kitchen units will also be replaced.

Clare County Council’s housing staff Nora Keane and Tony McNama- ra outlined details of the scheme, at a meeting of Shannon ‘Town Council FNM isle .@

Mr McNamara said that the propos- als are a result of surveys which were carried out over a number of years.

“We hope to be going to tender as soon as possible. There are some is- sues in relation to fencing at the back of Inis Ealga,” he said.

He said that 15 kitchens will be re- placed, which are of poor or average fey sTebialeyer

Independent councillor Patricia Mc- Carthy said he would welcome the

investment in the houses and asked When the work is likely to com- nates (een

Ms Keane said the best case scenar- 10 will be a start date of October.

Cllr McCarthy said that down- Stairs toilets should be installed in the former Shannon Development homes.

Independent councillor Gerry Flynn said he had hoped Rossbracken houses would also be improved and pointed out that the schemes are “fabulous”’.

A number of councillors expressed concern that houses in ‘Tradaree Court were not included under the current programme.

PROPOSALS to develop a cricket eround in Shannon have been given the backing of councillors in the ie)”a0

Last week, a representative of the Munster Cricket Union Executive committee wrote to the town clerk Tomas MacCormaic, regarding the provision of a facility.

In the letter, Chris Thomas said there are more than 200 people of numerous differing communities within Ennis and Shannon, who have a keen interest in playing the game.

He said that the town council has offered the use of a facility at the back of the comprehensive school,

for playing cricket.

“I believe the area is formally iden- tified as RB and zoned for commer- cial/residential use. Unfortunately, in its current status, the area 1s not suit- able for playing the game and those wishing to use the facility do not in- dividually have the resources to pro- pose and undertake the development of same to an appropriate level,’ he Sr HLGe

“We would like to propose the de- velopment of the area into a safe and maintained facility that will serve the purposes of interested groups and the recreational demands of the greater community,’ added Mr Tho- Te TeIse

He said he believed the proposed

development would have a positive impact on the surrounding environ- ment and its current uses and would serve the needs of those who are keen to play cricket, following the success of the Irish cricket team in the recent world cup.

Councillor Tony Mulcahy (FG) said the group “obviously want to put down a more permanent structure in the area. We have to try to accom- modate all sport”.

He said it would be “pointless” to kit out an area which is zoned com- mercial/retail and said that there is a big open green space in the Cuil Cais area, which may be suitable for ule com

Independent

councillor Patricia

McCarthy said the area between Tra- daree Court and Cill Cais would be a suitable area.

“We sometimes forget we had a cricket club here many moons ago,” she said.

Cllr Greg Duff (Labour) said that councillors should be supportive of the proposal. “We should take posi- tive action to show we are welcoming of every community and support,” he said.

Shannon town manager Ger Dol- lard said it was “good to see such a positive proposal which is well thought out. Perhaps there are other locations which could be looked at. The all-weather pitch is not used at the moment,” he said.