The Clare People Archive

THE Shannon Homework Club, which provides assistance for pri- mary school children, has just been relaunched for the coming year.

The club, which was set up three years ago, is hosted by the Family Resource Centre at Rineanna View.

Twenty-six children, between the ages of five and 12, attend the pro- gramme four days every week, and engage in a variety of activities.

The project is funded by the Health Service Executive, under the Travel- ler Health Initiative, and the focus 1s on healthy eating, while there is also an emphasis on physical exercise.

The Cul Kids Club meets on Mon- day and Tuesday evenings, while the homework club meets every Wednes-

day and Thursday evening.

SW ileMeDAVIOr-lOh (cmp rMOnhrsle (cre mB DOMNU(olO mE. way as all children get the opportu- nity to do their homework and also take part in activities.

Barbara Molloy co-ordinates the Monday and Tuesday groups and facilitates visits by the children to places of interest in Shannon, such as the fire station or leisure centre. The children also get the opportunity to engage in activities such as arts and crafts, drama and music.

Debbie O’Halloran-Browne co-or- dinates the homework section of the programme. She said the programme was initially set up in response to lo- cal feedback.

‘Members of the community iden- tified a need for an after schools club that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg.

It ran initially as a pilot scheme for one day a week. It then went to two days a week and the homework club was added as a result of feedback from children, last year,’ she said.

A number of children who are members of the Travelling commu- nity attend the club every week and this has greatly pleased the organ- isers. “It 1s about integration. They are keen to. be involved,’ said Ms O’Halloran-Browne.

“We were surprised by the feed- back. Children felt there was a lot going on at home and wanted to do their homework in a club like this,” she said.

Given that the club has gone from strength to strength over the past three years, its organisers are keen to attract volunteers.

“This programme has been a huge success with minimum input. We are depending on volunteers and fund- ing,’ she added.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact the Family Resource Centre in Shannon, where application forms are available.

“You need two references. Let us know why you would like to get involved and if you have child pro- tection training, that would be a bo- nus. Training will be offered,’ she added.

THE people of Shannon are being urged to take part in a walk around scenic parts of the town, to mark Mental Health Awareness week, on Thursday evening.

“Because there is so much going on in Clare already to mark Mental Health Awareness week, we decided to organise a walk,” said organiser

Regine Steward, who is a commu- nity development worker with the Shannon Family Resource Centre.

“We just want to promote positive well-being and being active in a sub- tle way. Mental health doesn’t have the same connotation for everybody. We are trying to make it simple, like a social event,” she added.

Ms Steward said the possibility of running a mental health programme

in Shannon is also under considera- none

She is also encouraging members of the community to avail of the drop-in facility at the Shannon Fam- ily Resource Centre.

“We are hoping to open the centre to the community. People can drop in for information, to attend classes or to avail of a range of services,’ she Cr nLGe

“It is just a way of communicating with people and is for those who feel isolated and who don’t know what is going on in the community. We want people to join in the community spir- it,’ she added.

The meeting point for Thursday’s walk will be the Shannon Family Resource Centre and the walk will get underway at 6.30pm and will last for one hour.

THE little students and their teach- ers at Tuamgraney National School will this month be celebrating hav- ing room to breathe with the official opening of their new school exten- sion.

Schoolwork last year was often a bit of a squash for the youngsters, who were attending classes squeezed into what had been the library and computer room. The teachers had to dismantle the library and stow away the books and computers because the school was so stuck for space.

That was before the new extension went up, giving Tuamgraney two new classrooms and a full-time re- source room.

“It was funded by the Department of Education and cost more than €200,000 but it has really made a huge difference to the school,’ said Board of Management treasurer and parent of pupils at the school, Regine Roskam.

The school has 80 pupils, three full time teachers and a resource teacher and the extra space in the two storey extension will also be used for after- school classes in speech and drama

and French.

But while the spatial challenges have been largely solved for the present, parents, teachers and pu- pils are looking forward to next year when they will have an teacher allo- cated to them.

“We have 80 children enrolled at present. If we had just five more, we would have got another teacher but with 80, we won’t get that new mem- ber of staff until next year. To solve the problem for now, the eleven chil- dren in third class are floating. In the morning they join the first and sec- ond classes, so there are 36 children

in the class and in the afternoon they switch to go in with the fourth and sixth classes which gives us 31 kids in one room. It’s not ideal but it’s the best we can do until next year when we get another teacher,” said Regine

The board also had to get busy on fund-raising ideas as the original 1895 school building needed re-plas- tering and repairs to roof and win- dows when the new extension was ene im

‘“We’re very happy to have the new space and now the teachers can re-es- tablish the library in the room which they had to use for classes,” she said.

IT WON’T be launched by cracking a bottle of champagne on the stern and the people who built it won’t need to spend their life savings to get afloat, but the currach which was un- der construction in Scariff last week is a model which has served coastal fishermen for thousands of years.

Nine enthusiastic amatuers have come together to learn how to make a sailboat that can take to the waters without having to spend a rock star’s ransom.

Instructor, James Madigan from

Lissycasey learned currach building at his grandfather’s knee and now he is passing on the skill to the mixed bunch, which includes people with physical and mental challenges and CE scheme participants.

Brother’s of Charity worker, Rich- ard Collins explained that the boat is ‘a currach on the style of the Don- egal Dunfanahy boats. It’s a project that gets people together, talking and working towards a common aim. At the end of it there will be a boat built for about ©250 that you can take in and out of the water easily and drive away with it on the roof-rack of the

car rather than having to spend thou- sands to have a bit of sailing time on the lake.”

The money for the project came from the Adult Community Educa- tion Grants scheme and when fin- ished, the vessel will be 16 feet long and covered with canvas and tar in the traditional way.

“We got the timber and picked wil- low for the ribs. We’re going to put a sail on it as well. Although currachs are traditionally sea-going boats, there were certainly some types used on lakes, usually covered with cow or horse hide,’ explained Richard,

whose passion is building boats in the ancient tradition and who has started a club in west Clare which 1s now entering and wining races inter- nationally.

When the boat is finished, a grand launch is planned and “possibly a bit of a pilgrimage to Holy Island”.

So far, the group hasn’t decided what will happen with the finished boat. “We’ll probably sell it back to the people who built it for a nominal fee and then they will all have use of it but I’ve a feeling there may be more of these boats built in Scariff,”’ said Richard.

ALL kinds of canine carry-on was celebrated in Cratloe last week when the four-legged took over the compe- tition from the usual two legged on Cratloe GAA for the seventh Annual Cratloe Fun Doggie Show.

A record 760 entries made sure that Judges JP Dillion, Limerick 95 FM and Robert Kelly, Irish Cocker Spaniel Club were kept on their toes awarding first to fourth place rosettes. The winner of each of the 20 classes was brought back into the judging ring to compete for the Show Dog 2008 and that proved to be Sean Kelly from Newmarket, who was

presented with the Robert Manning Memorial Trophy on behalf of his golden retriever Max. The trophy 1s sponsored annually by the Munster Dog Training and Behaviour School who also organised the dog show classes.

The pony rides and the face paint- ing were a great attraction with the youngsters while there was great competition for the prizes to be had at the long puck, sliothar through the hole, penalties and football through the tyre. The golf putting exasper- ated many and even the best of golf- ers had trouble putting the ball un- der the watchful eye of Donal Ryan. Spotty and Henry, the two miniature

ponies had all scratching their heads as they tried to guess the ponies com- bined weight. Brendan Madigan was the lucky winner of the ‘Guess How Many Sweets In The Jar and Win The Lot’ competition. The book stall was a hive of activity and the barbeque and tea rooms kept visitors fed and watered. The new car park laid in the grounds of the GAA ensured that there was plenty of car parking under the watchful eyes of the attendants marshalled by Dennis Conroy.

The pet photography studio was kept busy and while talented cam- eraman Brendan Coleman captured portraits of many a man and his best friend.

“Tt was a terrific afternoon of fun for all who attended and the committee are delighted with the funds raised in aid of the community sports hall,” a spokeswoman for the committe said. “The hall was open and everyone agreed that it is a wonderful asset to the community. The committee want to sincerely thank all who helped out on the day along with our wonderful sponsors to make the seventh An- nual Cratloe Doggie Show the best ever yet and already look forward to PAU Oe

IT’S been two years in the planning but this week, the contractors will fi- nally get to work on a playground for youngsters in O’Brien’s Bridge.

Fund-raising, grants and a lot of hard work went into the scheme which will allow parents and children enjoy fun in the fresh air without having to get in the car and drive into Ballina or CRISTO

The local community got stuck in to support fund-raisers including a race night, a quiz night and a chilly St Stephen’s Day swim in the river.

“We’ve raised more than €20,000

to date and we still have €10,000 to raise but it’s great to see work start- ing,’ said playground committee member, Caroline Whelan.

A €71,000 grant from Clare County Council’s playground grants scheme has brought the cash in the kitty to €102,000. There is another St Stephen’s Day swim, a duck race and a country and western night in the offing to raise more cash. The playground was needed for the area to service the twin villages of O’Brien’s Bridge and Montpelier and also Bridgetown.

“Last year we counted over 261 children in the above areas. In recent

years we have had a increase in traffic passing through the village and need- ed somewhere safe for our children to play,’ said Caroline.

“There was an episode last year when two young children wandered off. If there had been play facilities in the area things like this would not happen.”

Included in the playground equip- ment will be toddler and older chil- dren’s swings, a spring seesaw, a spe- cial needs roundabout, a bird’s nest swing, a three-tower toddler multi play unit and a five-tower senior play unit. The playground will be fenced in with bow top fencing. The ten-

der was awarded to Cavanagh Play- ground Equipment who are based in Roscrea.

“We still need to fundraise so if an- yone is willing to take the plunge on St Stephen’s Day, we would like them to contact any member of the play- ground committee,’ said Caroline. She added that the O’Brien’s Bridge Community Group and Playground Committee “would like to express thanks to all the support we have re- ceived from the local community and various business’s in the area and if anyone wishes to make a donation to the fund please contact any of the committee or community group.”

PREPARATIONS are nearing com- pletion for this year’s Cooley-Collins Traditional Music Festival which take place in Gort later this month. This year is the 24th staging of the festival, which commemorates the lives of local musicians Joe Cooley and Ciaran Collins.

Festivities will be officially opened by Ciaran Hanrahan of RTE in Cooley’s Lodge in Peterswell on the evening of October 24.

Saturday will see improver music classes from Joe Burke, Nuala Hehir, Mary Bergin, Denis Liddy, Ciaran Hanrahan, Eamon Cotter and Jack

Talty at the Gort Community Centre, comhra Gaeilge and children’s work- shops at Coole Park.

The Cooley-Collins Festival is one of the final traditional music festivals of the year and attracts large num- bers to the area to soak up the last of WeComciUbO Sb OSTo) MEAUDOToCE

“There is a feat of music going on at this years festival. We will have music by Mary McNamara at the opening along with the Tulla Young Ceili group and a ceili with the Four Courts at the end of the night,” said organiser Mary Coen.

“The highlight of the festival is the gala concert which takes place on Saturday evening. This year we will

have Joe Burke and Ann Conroy- Burke, Nuala Hehir, Jodie Moran and the Shaskeen Band as well the local musicians. The Tulla Ceili band will also have a ceili that evening and we will have music in the square on Sunday. The last ceilis will come on Sunday and Monday with Matt Cun- ningham and Donie Nolan.”

As soon as this years festival is finished, thoughts will turn to next years 25th anniversary festival.

“Tt has changed a lot since the early days of the festival. I have been in- volved for more than 18 years now but it has changed a lot,’ continued Mary.

“It’s been growing year on year and

there are so many festivals out there now that you have to keep up the standards. We will be pulling out all the stops for next year.

“We will be inviting back al the people who formed the first festival and we are really hoping to get the people who took part in the first ever gala concert. It would be great if anyone who knew Cooley or Collins to get in touch. It should be a great year.”

The festival takes place from October 24 to 27. Anyone inter- ested in sponsoring the festival or pre-book a class should contact Mary on 086 3623765 or e-mail maryteresacoen @eircom.net.

LAHINCH woman Tessa O’Connor has returned from Belarus with a message of thanks for all the people of north Clare who have contributed to the work of the Burren Chernobyl Project.

Earlier this year she organised a charity sandcastle building compe- tition, with all the money raised go- ing towards works on the Cherven and ‘Tarasiki projects. Tessa has just spent four week in Belarus, working with the people there effected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

“Thanks to everyone who helped with the sandcastle building compe- tition – it wouldn’t be possible to help

the people out there if it wasn’t for people generosity,’ said Tessa.

“We went to the children’s orphan- age in Cherven for awhile and then on to Tirasiki, which is an adult in- stitution. It’s a miserable looking place, all blue and white, and with a very cold, institutionalized feel- ing. We really to give each person a different colour bedroom, and make them feel that they had somewhere of their own. The different colours are great for them, even that simple change helps to bring them out of themselves.”

Tessa has been involved in the Bur- ren Chernobyl Project for a number of years. Indeed, her latest trip was her fourth journey to Belarus.

‘My mum has been involved with the Burren group for a while and I think it was back in 1993 when we started getting children with us dur- ing the summer. We had a child called Sergi over with us from the Cherven orphanage and when they were no longer allowed to come over here, myself and a friend of mine decided to go over and visit them 1n- Stead,” she said.

“There is great satisfaction from being over there. They give you love so willingly. These people out there are in a really bad situation and even if you do something really small for them, the reaction is incredible. It’s gives you a real sense of perspective about your own life.”

For more information or to make

a donation check out Wwww.bur- renchernobyl.ie or contact the of- fice on 065 7071130 or e-mail office @burrenchernobyl.ie

COME to sing or come to listen – the Kilnaboy X-PO is pioneering a new venture that will brighten up Monday evenings for local music lovers this winter.

The singers club is the first in a host of new projects started at the former post office since it was taken over by the local community last month.

Young and old have been making their way to the revamped post office each Monday for an evening of mu- sic, tea and catching up with friends and neighbours.

“We started off by saying it was a singers and players club but we soon found out that there was a lot of peo- ple who wanted to come and listen. So we have changed it into a singers, players and listeners club,” said Phil Gaston of the X-PO.

“We have a real wide range of age groups. We have some older people who have been involved in choirs down the years but we also have a few younger people and a young singer-songwriter from Ennistymon who is playing a lot of newer music.

“Everyone plays or sings what they like. It not about the quality of what

is sang but more so about the partici- pation.

“We have people who have come who say that they can’t sing but after an hour they have decided that they have no problem singing and have joined in with the rest.”

Along with the singers club, the X- PO 1s also hosting a range of commu- nity events including set dancing, an Irish conversation evening, mapping and history group, the local Macra, music teaching, a coffee morning and drawing classes.

The idea of the project is to protect the community interaction and fel-

lowship that existed in the building when it was a post office.

“We had a few of the old school songs there last week and all of the sudden there were all of these memo- ries about school days years ago and great banter back and forth,’ contin- ued Phil.

“Music is a great medium for trig- gering memories. If someone asks you about a song they almost always have a story to go with it. It’s a great way of getting chat going with a group.”

For more information on the X-PO e-mail xpo.kilnaboy@ gmail.com.

THE awards just keep on rolling in for Lisdoonvarna’s Burren Smoke- house, which last week claimed its third major national prize in as many weeks. The smokehouse brought back two category awards, as well as the overall Grand Prix award from the SHOP 2008 Final in Dublin last week. The undoubted star of the event was the smokehouse’s newest product, smoked salmon with honey, whiskey and fennel glaze.

This new recipe was conceived as a means of bringing an uniquely Irish flavour to the smoked salmon.

“We couldn’t believe it; to get one award was something else but then the second and third awards was just unbelievable. To get the award for best product in show was really spe- cial,” said Birgitta.

‘There was such huge competition out there and we feel very fortunate. It’s great recognition, not just myself but for the whole team in the Burren Smokehouse. It’s the whole package that was being judged – the original product, all that we do to in terms of flavouring as well as the final pres- entation.

‘We wanted to come up with some- thing which was uniquely Irish. Pre-

serving salmon with honey is an old Irish tradition – both in terms of pre- serving and improving the flavour. We wanted to create a really Irish product, and something that really had its own character and flavour. It worked really well, the judges really loved the salmon.”

The smokehouse has won a number of high profile awards in recent time, most notably two Gold Medals at this years Great Taste Awards.

“It is satisfying, we have been working on product range a lot this year, coming up with new ideas and widening the range more and more. This makes it more attractive for the

customers who come to our shop and for the shops that we stock,” contin- ued Birgitta.

‘They can now choose more differ- ent flavours than ever before. When you marinate the salmon it makes it even more palatable for people. It’s about giving people something dif- ferent. People are getting into new flavours and they like to widen their experiences more and more.”

The smokehouse won the award for the best Irish product and the over- all award for the best item on shop at SHOP 2008. The SHOP awards are organised by a collective of some of Ireland largest food retailers.