The Clare People Archive

LISCANNOR man Thomas Buckley, leads the way at the half-way point in this year’s Biland National Karting Championship. With five races under his belt, Buckley leads the standings by three points from second place David Yamamoto.

After winning the first race in the Series, Thomas has claimed three second place finishes and one fifth place finish. The season has taken a summer break but Thomas is hopeful of continuing his impressive second season when racing starts again in August.

“There are some hard-core racers taking part in this years. There are about 10 or 12 racers who are really in contention to win each race,” said Thomas.

“It’s very tight at the top. At the moment there is just two points be- tween myself and David but it’s even closer than that. At the end of the season each racer is allowed to drop his worst result from the final com- petition. So if we both drop out worst results at this stage I am only a point ahead.

“Tt’s quite now of the national championship for the next few months. There will be a number of

two day plate races taking place but they don’t count towards the national championship.

“Once August comes around again the races will be coming quick and Jeo me ex- 0 0

Thomas’ lead in this years compe- tition has been built on consistency. With four different drivers winning the five races to date his ability to get close to the front on a regular basis is paying dividends.

‘Three of the last four races are on tracks that we know well and have raced already this year so that is a good sign. There is only one really unknown track,” continued Thomas,

who represented Ireland in the World Biland Championship in Brazil last year.

“The good thing is that we have been on the pace in every track – we haven’t had any really poor results. In the last two races in particular, we have finished second but we were only a few hundreds of a second off the first place.

“We haven’t heard what is going to happen with the World Champion- ship yet this year but I’m sure it will be taking place later in the season. I would hope to get as far as the world final again this year.” Thomas is sponsored by Lahinch Surf Shop.

OANA Seems Rehm GcusaITMAYcapnt Ennistymon’s Mol an Oige Steiner School on Friday to officiate over one of the last events ever to take place at its current location.

After years of campaigning, the school finally received Department of Education status this year and will move into a new premises on the grounds of the Falls Hotel from September.

Griffin warmed up for Clare’s clash against Limerick by putting the chil- dren of Mol an Oige threw their pac- es on the school’s annual sports day.

“We are delighted at how things have turned out. A lot of us have

been in the school since the very start. When we started off first with eleven students and one teacher we would have been very happy to thing that after three years we would have almost 80 students, department rec- ognition, four full-time teachers and a full-time learning support teacher,” said teacher Una Ni Ghairbhith.

“We didn’t know that this would happen. We are very happy that the school has taken root in the com- munity and is fulfilling a need that is there in the community for this type of education.”

This Wednesday the school will have it’s final day of classes in Data Display before they move to their new school next September.

“There is a lot of work to be done over the summer in getting the new school ready. We will be spending a lot of time making the whole place homely for the students,’ continued Una.

“We will have four classroom and a staff/resource room down in the Falls. We will be starting the moving work in the next coupe of weeks.

“At the moment we have 78 stu- dents pre-enrolled in the school for next year.

“It’s great to move on but it will be sad too to leave our home here be- hind. We really would like to thank all the people who have helped us over the last three years. We have been here in Data Display the whole

time and they have been wonderful. We have had a great space and have been able to decorate and use it ex- actly to our own needs.

“The school that is opening up in September will be a continuation of this school but it will be at a new premises and things will be that bit different. We probably wont have to do as much fundraising, but of course the fundraising was a great social occasion for the locals here. I’ve already had a few people saying please don’t stop the concerts.”

TWO men from north Clare will next month take on the world’s most challenging road race in an effort to raise money for charity. Andy Bash- er and Sean Walshe will tackle the Mongol Rally, which takes drivers cross country through thousands of miles from London to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

The rally leaves Hyde Park in Lon- don on July 19, after which drivers are allowed to choose their own route to Mongolia. Only 200 cars are tak- ing part in this year’s event – chosen from the 40,000 plus who applied to make the journey.

The race is limited to | litre cars and the lads will be using a 1991 Nis-

san Micra on their fundraising trip.

‘Every team that takes part has to raise at least 1,000 pounds sterling for charity but obviously we want to raise a lot more than that,” said aUKOWe

“Different teams have different ways that they manage it but we de- cided right from the very start that we would be paying for the trip 100 per cent ourselves so that everything we raise will go to our charity cho- sen charity which is Christina Nobel Children’s Charity.”

The Christina Nobel Charity is an Irish charity which works with the thousands of children who live in poverty on the streets in Mongolia.

‘Ulaanbaatar is actually the coldest city in the world. It is constantly mi-

nus 40 during the winter and the con- ditions are terrible for the children. Most of them have to live down the Sewers,’ said Sean.

“Christina Nobel works out there providing first aid and medical at- tention for the street children. The government won’t let charities give out food because they think it will encourage the kids to come out onto the street. She has set up an orphan- age and a charitable hospital for the people there.

“Christina Nobel has one of the lowest administration percentages of any charity so almost all the money donated goes straight to the people who need it.”

This Friday the latest installment of North Clare’s regular clubnight, the

Funkion Room, will take place with all money made on the night going to Andy and Sean’s journey.

Pet Tong (London) and Tokin White Boy (Limerick) will be in residence for the night in Cliffs of Moher Hotel in Liscannor.

For more details or to sponsor the lads contact Sean at 085 7201494 or donate money to a specially set up account at the Ennistymon AIB, sort code 93-51-58, account number One Tes OOP

NORTH Clare man David Mee is this week making final preparations for an eight week long aid trip to Jed abi byoyeynetere

Later this month David will travel with international aid organisation SERVE to the Filipino capital Ma- nilla before undertaking a number a number of aid missions on different parts of the island.

His work will include working with and teaching poor children, visit- ing hospitals and even working with children who have been imprisoned.

He is one of 14 Irish people who will be travelling to the Philippines this year. The groups leaves on June

29 and will spend a total of eight weeks working on the islands before returning home on August 20.

“We will be spending the first week in the capital Manilla where we will get some introduction into the way of life in the Philippines and a briefing on some of the work in which we will be doing,” said David.

‘Then we will be put in pairs and sent of to different regions to engage in all kinds of projects with the locals. We will spend about three weeks in out first area, then three more weeks in another area before we head back to Manilla for the final week.”

Over the last few months David has undertaken a number of fundraising activities raising more than €2,500

for the poor children in the Philip- obey

“I would really like to make a huge thanks to all those who sponsored me and helped me out when I was getting ready for this, the students in Mary Immaculate College, everyone who helped with the ceili, all those who helped with the raffle and all my NONE As

“The fundraising started with a raffle in Lisdoonvarna which raised €400 but we also had a legwaxing night in Charlie Malone’s Pub in Limerick which raised €500 and we raised €600 from external events. The most money raised came from the ceili in Kilfenora which raised more than €1,500.

“When I get over there I will be teaching children between the ages of 3 and 7, working in disadvan- taged communities, visiting prisons and working as advocates on behalf of the children in those prisons and we will also be visiting hospitals and leporsoriums.”

SERVE is a voluntary group which is a partnership between the Re- demptorists, young Irish adults and communities and agencies in the de- veloping world.

One of the main aims is to fund supports for sustainable development projects and global citizenship pro- grammes. For more check out www. To Mien (e

MONTHS of good work and dili- gence by the students of a Shannon primary school have proved fruit- ful, as they have won their very first eau Tm IETS

St Aidan’s National School has been awarded a green flag, following months of preparation and anticipa- tion, during which waste and litter levels were reduced significantly.

Last week, the school raised its

green flag at a special ceremony which was organised by the insti- gator of the project, Brenda Clarke, while class teacher Patrice Hayes also played a key role in the project.

Every student at the school was involved in the project and all the efforts were rewarded with an out- door school concert which included contributions in song, dance, poetry and acting from the various classes. Many of the compositions were orig- inal and had a green theme.

And in keeping with the theme the school went green for the day with the children encouraged to wear green for the special occasion.

The seeds for the project were sown last October, when the 278 pupils at the school planted a bulb each in the school garden.

A proposal, compiled by the sixth class pupils in October, stated, “It would be an honour, not only for the school, but for us pupils, to be known as the eight classes who helped St

Aidan’s receive their first green flag. It would make us all very proud. To see St Conaire’s and St Tola’s win the green flag for the fifth or sixth time makes us fade into the background but no, not this year. The pupils and teachers are very determined. We have to make a number of sacrifices but when we get that green flag it will be worth it.”

The determination paid off and the students and staff savoured the happy atmosphere last week.

THE Baha’i community in Shannon is currently engaging in a wide vari- ety of events in the local area, geared towards people of all ages.

The group, which is growing in size in Shannon having been set up 15 years ago, runs children’s classes every week, along with junior youth study circles.

The classes are open to children from all backgrounds and all faiths.

Study groups focusing on ‘Reflec-

tions on the life of the Spirit’ are springing up throughout the country, with one starting in Shannon short- M4

According to the Baha’i communi- ty, these courses are designed to as- sist in the awakening of the spiritual life of the individual.

Other Baha’ activites in the area includes regular devotional meet- ings, Holy Day celebrations and in- formation evenings.

Plans are also afoot to establish a youth group for young people aged

between 12 and 15.

“It will be animated by youth. It will really make the young people think and take responsibility for their environment,” said Trish Fallon-Bar- ry, who is the secretary of the Baha’i community in Shannon.

According to Ms Fallon-Barry, all of the events are open to everybody.

We welcome the participation of members of the wider community,’ she said.

Ms Fallon-Barry was one of four people from across the county who

represented Clare at the recent elec- tion in Dublin of the nine-member National Assembly of the Baha’i faith.

One of the main issues up for the discussion at the conference was the position of their persecuted fellow Sylora kw tem bectee

Information on the Bahai com- munity and its principles can be found on www.bahai.ie, by emailing bahainfo@iol.ie or by phoning the Baha’i community in the Shannon area on 061 362715.

has scooped a major medi- cal journalism award, ahead of stiff competition from writers and broad- casters in the national media.

Claire Gallagher won the Young Irish Journalist of the Year award, winning a specially commissioned sculpture by leading silversmith Sea- mus Gill as well as a financial prize, at the seventh annual GlaxoSmithK- line Irish Medical Media Awards.

Gallagher won the award for her sensitive treatment of the controversy surrounding breast cancer screening services in Clare.

Announcing the win, chairman of the judging panel and MC, Dr John Bowman said she won the award “for her sensitive treatment of the contro- versy around breast screening serv- ices in Clare and for well-researched articles which provided her readers with all sides of the argument”.

This is the latest in a long line of awards for the newspaper, which is celebrating the third anniversary of its first edition this week.

The newspaper’s managing editor, Gerry Collison, paid tribute to Gal- lagher’s standard of journalism in the publication.

“Claire is an extremely dedicated and talented journalist. She constant- ly raises the bar in terms of journal- istic excellence with her work. We

have a very talented, hard-working staff of whom we are very proud,’ he said.

THE family of murdered Clare wom- an Emer O’Loughlin have begun a campaign to bring the Ennistymon woman’s killer to justice.

To mark the third anniversary of Emer’s killing, her sister Pam – now based in the UK – and her brother Raymond have appealed to the pub- lic to help solve the long-running mystery.

The pair have compiled a video fea- turing images of Emer and details of how members of the public can come forward with any information that might be of assistance. The video has received almost 2,000 viewings since it was uploaded on the Youtube website just seven weeks ago.

As part of the campaign a Facebook site has also been created in which members of the public are warned against taking action into their own hands.

“The third anniversary of my little sister’s murder has just passed. Her killer is still out there shielded and helped to escape by his family and friends. Myself and my brother have decided to do our best to achieve via the Internet what Interpol, the gardai and the Irish media have failed to do and that’s track him down,” it says.

“There are hundreds of people on these lists and they know hundreds of other people, maybe someone might spot him. It is a long shot but it is the only shot we have. Remember, this is a call for information leading

to an arrest and not for action.”

The body of Emer O’ Loughlin (23) was discovered in a burnt-out cara- van in Ballyborna close to Tubber, on the Clare/Galway border in April of PAU thy

The chief suspect in the case, a Galway man in his 40s, disappeared some time after the murder and gardai investigated the possibility that he may have fled to the UK.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gort Garda Station at 091 636407. The video tribute to Emer is available to view at www.youtube. com/watch?v=Hm5BJKCKPQ¢g

AN €8.5 million development of housing for the elderly and people with special needs is being planned for Killaloe.

Cluid Housing in association with Clare County Council and North Tip- perary Council are working together on the project at Shantraud.

The proposed development is to be located behind St Anne’s Com- munity College and will include 34 one and two bedroom apartments.

The scheme will provide residents with facilities such as a 24-hour scheme manager, a day care centre, hot meals, care and support services, laundry facilities and medical treat- ment rooms allowing all residents to live a full life which will include daily contact with their neighbours.

Cluid is a dedicated housing as- sociation which provides homes for people on modest incomes.

“Projects such as the one we are proposing allow the elderly to retain their own individual space which is

manageable even with reduced mo- bility,’ a spokesman for Cluid said. “The scheme enables senior citizens to remain as active participating members of society.”

The scheme is for people aged 55 and over or younger people who have a special need. However, the major- ity of tenants are older people or cou- ples who no longer want the expense and worry of maintaining their own house and garden.

While the development is to be lo- cated in Killaloe it will also be open

to applications from Ballina, and from other parts of Clare, Tipperary, and Limerick. People wanting to re- turn from England can also apply as can people from other parts of Ire- land who may have family links with Killaloe or the surrounding area.

An open day will be held in the Lakeside Hotel in Ballina today (Tuesdsay) from 10am to 6pm. Representatives from Cluid will be present on the day to discuss the de- tails of the scheme and to answer any queries interested people may have.

WHETHER you’re competing or just enjoying, this coming weekend is the time to strap on your dancing shoes.

The county fleadh kicks off in Tulla on Thursday and the line up is im- pressive, with a chance to see both the Tulla and the Kilfenora Ceili bands on the gig-rig in the square on Sunday night.

On Thursday night the courthouse is the venue for the gala concert Where Brian Rooney is performing along with Brian McNamara, Tim Collins, Mick Conneely, Lorraine O’Brien and Eoin O’Neill. Sena- tor Labhras O’Murcht, Director of CCE, will officially open the fleadh on the night.

Saturday night is the céili with Andrew McNamara, Mark Donnel- lan and Jim Corry at Minogue’s at LO eeee

Apart from the many competitions, there is plenty of entertainment for visitors throughout the weekend in Tulla.

On Friday night Peadar McNamara and The Ennis Singers will be in the Power House at 9pm while Kate McNamara will launch her cd at Minogue’s.

On Sunday at lpm Robbie McMa- hon can be heard singing Spancil Hill at Teach Ol. Sunday night is the highlight of the festival with a repeat performance of one 50 years ago when the Tulla and Kilfenora Ceili Bands both competed in the streets

of Tulla for the senior céili band title. There will be set dancing with Aidan Vaughan, half set, brush dancers and sean nos dancers on the specially erected platform from 8.30pm.

The timetable for competitions has now been finalised and first up 1s set dancing in St Joseph’s Secondary School on Friday night at 7pm for the under 12 and 12 to 15 age groups. At 8.30pm the 15 to 18 age group and senior groups will compete.

At 9.30am on Saturday morning there will be the grupai cheoil for the under 15s. This is also the time for the under nine and under 12 banjo competitions, accordion under nine, duets under 12, concertina under nine and under 12, harp under nine, fiddle under 12, flute under 12, whis-

tle under 12 and drums under 12.

Céili bands for the 12 to 15 age group are at llam, grupai cheoil for the under 12s are at 2pm while the under 12 céili bands are at 3.30pm.

The full timetable will be available in the fleadh programme or on www. tulltradfestival.com.

Competitions on Sunday morning start at 10am and the aim is to have all competitions finished by 4pm in time for the hurling semi final.

The grupai cheoil for the 15 to 18 age group 1s the first item on the pro- gramme for Sunday followed by the céili band competition for the same age group at llam. The senior céili band competition is at 12pm along with the solo competitions for the under 18 age group.