The Clare People Archive

The hotel is set to be transformed into a picture of a bygone era, with

the help of Fun Ireland, one of coun- tries foremost event management companies, and will offer all attend- ing a night full of twists and turns, with champagne, food and cocktails to remember.

Last years event was an incredible success raising a massive €46,000 for two charities, the Tony Griffin Foundation, and the Miltown Senior yoke

This year organisers are hoping to repeat this success with the funds being divided between the Miltown Resource Centre which hosts many worthwhile local groups such as the

senior citizens, youthreach and li- brary, and the palliative care team of Milford Hospice.

Committee Member, John Burke, said, “The event this year should be just as enjoyable as last year. We have completely changed the theme, decor, prizes, band and dj, to vary the night for people attending from last year, and the primary focus again is to ensure everyone experi- ences a night to remember, while we as acommittee commit to preserving the money raised for the good causes deserving it.”

Last year the event caused quiet

a stir when the auction started and items as varying as an Omega James Bond watch, signed jerseys, luxury golf breaks, and bull calves, reached creat figures.

Returning as auctioneer for this years event, Cormac O’Sullivan said, “Tam really excited about this years auction. I believe there is again as varying and as novel a Selection of items up, and I look forward to see the faces around the room when the hammer strikes.”

Tickets for the John Burke Com- memorative Ball are available through Armada Hotel reception.

FUTURE developments in Kil- rush on land which borders or cuts through a planned amenity between Vandeleur and Cappa will have to give space over to a public walkway.

The town council has been working towards creating a public walkway in the beautiful surrounds of the woods and bordering the river and has al- ready factored it into a development which is underway. And the walkway will be further developed by having it as part of future developments,

town council members were told.

The plan was discussed at a meet- ing of the Kilrush Town Council af- ter Cllr Liam O’Looney (FF) asked if there was any update on the mon- ies sought to do a feasibility study on toe LON chs

He told the meeting that the walk would be “a fabulous amenity, both for locals and for visitors”.

In areply to the councillor, Siobhan O’Keefe, Senior Staff Officer said that the town council has already submitted an application under the Failte Ireland-Historic Trails Fund-

ing Initiative, seeking funding to de- velop two sign-posted historic trails, the first around the core of Kilrush Town and the second an extended town trail, incorporating Cappa and the Vandeleur Gardens and Woods.

While no money has been sought to carry out a feasibility study, the council would remain alert to any opportunity to apply for funds.

Meanwhile, a preliminary assess- ment of the proposed walkway has identified the south side of the river as the most appropriate side for the development.

“The potential of the river and the wood in terms of amenity value for the town is acknowledged,’ the senior staff officer said. “It is now intended to submit a request to the council architect to prepare a design concept that will guide the future development of this proposed walk- way, she added. “Kilrush Town Council will also continue to factor in this proposed walkway into future planning applications similar to that currently coming to a conclusion at “The Manse’ development,’ she added.

A NEW initiative, which challenges children to read as many books as they can, has been met with great en- thusiasm in Kilmihil.

For the first time this year, the lo- cal national school has taken part in the readathon, which is organised by Clare County Library and is support- ed by An Garda Siochana.

The project is renowned across the country and the children in Kilmihil were keen to get in on the act this

year.

And, if they do something in Kilm- ihil, they like to do it well, as during a five-month spell, 100 children read no less than 6,000 books.

Although this amount was well short of the numbers recorded by children in other schools in the coun- ty, everyone in Kilmihil was well proud of their achievement, given WOLD LOM CRM OOC OD MBOOT-N(OloIMC NIDA YA

School principal Carmel Cough- lan praised the efforts of everybody involved and said every child thor-

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‘Every book read was logged in log books. Our big aim was to ensure that each child read books relevant to his/her age,” said Ms Coughlan.

“The kids got a kick out of it and we are trying to get them to keep reading. It was well worth it and has encouraged the children to keep reading,’ she added.

She paid tribute to the library for facilitating the project and making the books available and to teacher Yvonne Conway, who co-ordinated

the initiative in the school. She was also delighted with the co-operation of local gardai, who spoke to chil- dren about the importance of read- ing, during a visit to the school while the project was ongoing.

WITH an average of 20 deaths and more than 3,000 accidents reported on farms each year, farming 1s cur- rently one of Ireland most hazardous professions. Next Tuesday, April 29, EIRI Corca Baiscinn in Kilkee will host a tractor skills course day aimed at young people between the ages of 14 and 16.

According to the Health and Safety Authority, one in five deaths which occur on Irish farms involves chil- dren. In addition to this, almost half of these deaths involve tractors and other types of machinery.

In response to this alarming sta- tistic, Farm Family Support Service

and Farm Relief Services will run a safety course in Kilkee next week. The Safe Tractor Driving Skills course 1S aimed at young teenagers who are at particular risk from farm accidents.

The objective of the training day 1s to improve basic skills on the trac- tor and make parents and teenagers aware of the dangers involved in tractor and machinery usage, outline the legal requirements of tractor and machinery used by teenagers up to 16 years old and outline an approach to practical training which should be provided by a parent or guardian.

The course agenda includes safety checks before starting, setting up a good driving position, safe driving,

hitching the tractor to other imple- ments, operating trailed machinery from the tractor, checking the terrain and practical driving skill.

Each participant will drive the trac- tor with trailer around a specifically designed course and receive tips and corrections where necessary. The training day will also include basic first aid training, where each par- ticipant will learn the basic skills in first aid but with particular attention to common farm accidents such as cuts and bleeding, electrocution and eva

EIRI Corca Baiscinn provides a Farm Family Support Service to farmers in the west Clare area.

The Farm Family Support Service

at EIRI also provides free, confiden- tial advice and assistance on farm assist, social welfare entitlements, starting a new business, training for off-farm employment, farm en- terprises, farm finance management and information on schemes.

On completion of the course each participant will also receive a certifi- cate of achievement. The course will be run on Tuesday, April 29, from 9.30am to 4pm at Kilrush Mart.

The course costs €60 but families in receipt of farm assist will be enti- tled to a discount. Places are limited to 12 so early booking is essential. Please contact Hilary Gleeson at EIRI Corca Baiscinn on 065 9056611 Oy OL Lom WR hreF

AN event at Holy Family National School to celebrate diversity has re- ceived a ringing endorsement from the new president of the Irish Na- tional Teachers Organisation.

Declan Kelleher was speaking at an event to mark Intercultural Week at the Ennis school.

There are 37 different nationalities attending the Holy Family including children from Argentina, the Phil- ippines, Moldova, Brazil, Nigeria, Poland, Latvia and the Czech Re- public.

Each country was represented at events during the week, with children showcasing aspects of their culture such as traditional songs, costumes and dance routines.

Mr Kelleher said the Holy Family had played an important role in help-

ing newcomer children integrate into the local community.

He said, “As one of the foremost Clare schools in welcoming and em- bracing so many newcomer children to the county, I wish to publicly ac- knowledge the immense contribu- tion of the Holy Family senior and junior school.

“In years to come this school and many other primary schools throughout Clare will rejoice in their achievements as they see our new Irish citizens make extraordinary contributions to every facet of Irish life including sports, the arts, in- dustry, education and innovation at every level. Primary education can take a bow.”

Mr Kelleher said that despite little initial Government support, primary schools had responded with vision to the changes in Irish society.

He said, “If 15 years ago anybody were to be told that by the year 2008 the pupil population of an Irish pro- vincial town primary school would include children from 37 different nationalities they would undoubtedly have been scoffed at.

“Yet this is exactly what became the reality for Holy Family National School, Ennis and indeed for many more primary schools throughout the island.”

Mr Kelleher continued, ““The man- ner in which schools adapted to the change and welcomed newcomer children into their pupil communi- ties has been one of the greatest un- sung and uncelebrated successes of Irish primary education.

“The fact that the change was ac- complished in a largely unsupported manner makes the achievement all the more laudable. Government reac-

tion to the tidal wave of change which Swept over our primary schools was tardy and recognition of the huge lin- guistic and cultural challenges which our schools faced was by and large ignored.”

Mr Kelleher singled out the role played by Catholic managed schools in embracing change. “In particular the reaction of Catholic managed primary schools was both exempla- ry and exceptional to new pupils of every religion and none were made unwelcome.

‘This was exactly as it should have been and today I want to acknowl- edge the extraordinary contribution that primary schools have made to- wards the creation of a new, diverse, multicultural Ireland where all new- comers can aspire to having their culture and contribution recognised, affirmed and valued.”

THE men behind some of Ennis’ most enduring landmarks will be re- membered at a special ceremony in Dublin next week.

Labour leaders from the first En- nis guilds in 1701 to the present day will be honoured in Connolly House, Dublin on May I.

The event will be attended by members of the Congress Informa- tion and Opportunity Centre, Ennis, Minster of State Tony Killeen, Presi- dent of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, Declan Kelleher and Vice President of the Teachers Union of Ireland, Don Ryan.

In all six prominent figures from the labour movement in Clare will

be remembered.

SU ilar Deomm AUD eE-DesmmeyeeulssMmO MW ayuloF| (1803-1864); = Michael §Consid- ine (1814-1884); William O’Brien (1881-1884); Michael McNamara (1863-1947); Patrick J McNamara (1890-1967) and Patrick Hogan (1886-1969).

As chairman of the congregated trades of Ennis, Michael Considine organised the erection of the Daniel O’Connell monument in Ennis in 1867 and the Manchester Martyrs Memorial in 1881.

William Smith O’Brien was a founding patron of the Ennis Me- chanics Institute in 1829 beside Springfield house.

That building later became the Clare Unemployment Resource Cen-

tre (1991-1995) and later the Con- eress Information and Opportunity Centre (1995-2008).

The mechanics institute encour- aged scientific and technical educa- tion to advance industry. William Smith O’Brien served as an MP for Ennis from 1826-1831.

William O’Brien was the son of James Connolly, who established the first branch of the ITGWU in Clare at Dromoland in 1918. O’Brien was general secretary of the ITGWU from 1924 to 1946 and organised the United Trades Council in Ennis in 1918.

Michael McNamara was a founder and president of the Ennis and Dis- trict Labourers association in 1910 and after fighting in the second

Boer War, he served on Ennis Urban Council from 1914 to 1920.

His son Patrick J McNamara was the Clare County Secretary of the Irish volounteers and later the na- tional Irish volounteers. He served 31 years on Ennis Urban District Council between 1920 and 1967.

In a long political career Patrick Hogan served variously as an Irish volounteer, Gaelic league activist, Clare county councillor, Dail deputy, Senator and Ceann Comharle of Dail Eireann between (1951-1967). A na- tive of Kilmaley he later moved to Dublin.

As an active ITGWU official he de- fended workers during the construc- tion of Ardnacrusha hydro-electric station and Shannon Airport.

THE Irish League of Credit Unions Ce) COKSBLecwe-DeDOLet-N excselosecD mae lcrolnb Orem aleydl weekend in the University Concert Hall in Limerick.

Over 1,500 delegates and other members will gather for the two day meeting at which they will review progress of the credit union move- ment in Ireland to date and plan for future developments.

Membership of Ireland’s 521 credit unions stands at 2.9 million peo- ple with savings of €13.4 billion. The Limerick/Clare chapter of 31

different credit unions comprises 177,244 members with savings of over €704.35 million and loans of €344.25 million.

“Having successfully agreed new lending limits for credit unions with Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, we can now offer larger loans over longer periods to our members. So we are facing the future with even greater confidence and making plans for even better service for our mem- bers,” said Uel Adair, President of the Irish League of Credit Unions.

“With exciting new services and products in the pipeline, credit un-

ions are looking forward to even greater Success aS a movement than we ve enjoyed so far. Ordinary peo- ple can now get the money they need to help them properly plan their own and their family’s lives.”

Delegates will also be able to see and discuss the latest support and management services available to credit unions at a special exhibi- tion running in conjunction with the AGM.

The first credit unions in Clare, Sts Peter and Paul’s Credit Union in Clarecastle and St Francis Credit Union in Ennis, were established in

July 1966. Around the same time, the first and, so far, only industrial credit union in Clare was formed by employees of the Shannon Free Air- port Development Co. Ltd.

Since its earliest days, the Limer- ick/Clare chapter has played a sig- nificant role in credit union develop- ments. It has been represented on the board of the Irish League of Credit Unions since 1964 by Fred Fennessy, Kit McDonald, Frank Canny and Tony Cullinan. Mr Canny served as president of the league between 1985 and 1987 and Mr Cullinan between 1995 and 1996.

THE Citizens Information Service launched its Polish information serv- ice last Friday in the Queen’s Hotel, [Syeyevay

The Ennis and Scariff offices are providing a trained Polish informa- tion assistant to deal with clients who do not a have good command of English.

According to the service’s man- ager, Paul Woulfe, the most common queries relate to employment issues, income support and child benefit.

The Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia McCarthy, performed the launch of the service. Fr Tomasz Dauszkie-

wicz, chaplain to the Polish commu- nity in Clare provided a blessing.

“Integration not segregation is the key to a successful multi-cultural so- ciety, said Mayor McCarthy.

Integration should not mean for- getting your own country, language, culture or heritage. These are what form character and personality. Un- fortunately for many, economic cir- cumstances mean having to leave one’s family and country in order to seek employment.

“It is important that in bringing the language and traditions of home to a new country they do not become a barrier to integration and self ad- vancement. Rather they can enrich

your new community as you actively participate in local activities.

“The difficulties associated with setting up home in a strange country cannot be underestimated. Irish peo- ple are well aware of difficulties and obstacles,” said Mayor McCarthy.

“The Polish information service will provide information on rights and entithements. Equally impor- tantly the centre will also provide a listening ear and voice offering en- couragement, assistance and support as required.” she said.

Representatives of the Polish com- munity from across the county at- tended the launch.

Mr Woulfe outlined a number of

initiatives to meet the information needs of foreign nationals in the county. These include a dedicated advocacy service to assist with em- ployment and social welfare appeals and documents translated in various languages on the web.

Ola Szostak, the new information officer, 1s providing these initiatives.

THE principal and staff of the Con- vent Primary school in Ennistymon have criticised the approach by Mol an Oige in trying to entice pupils to its school.

In submissions to the Department of Education, Sr Rosari Ni Bhriain and “concerned staff members” outlined their opposition to the ap- plication by Mol an Ojige to secure Kreeyea Tv LB (ONE

Mol an Oige needed 51 pupils to be enrolled by last September as part of the process to secure recognition.

However, Sr Ni Bhriain and the staff members claimed in December 2006 that statistics indicated only 1.5 per cent of the combined enrolment of two local schools have opted to attend Mol an Oige over a two year period. This translated to two out of 134 pupils.

The objection went on to state that Mol an Oige was imposing itself

upon the local community who held the current educational system “in high esteem and acknowledge by their action that there is sufficient CTR IA ae

‘The statistics shows there is a low level of local community support for Mol an Oige in Ennistymon.

“The majority of parents feel that the future of education in the town is best served by maintaining the al- ready existing schools. _

“Support for Mol an Oige is dwin- dling at an unprecedented rate due in particular to the unethical approach used by Mol an Ojige to entice local pupils to their school.

“Such an approach is both unpro- fessional and shows little respect or regard for the existing schools.

“The unwritten code of practice amongst all primary schools in the county is that such open days are held in May or June when the intake for the upcoming school year is en- rolled.”

MOST OF the teachers in the exist- ing Steiner schools in Ennistymon and Tuamgraney do not have the re- quired qualifications and would not be eligible to seek employment in the new schools that have will State rec- ognition.

That was the admission made by the patron body, Lifeways Ireland Ltd of Mol an Oige Steiner School and Raheen Wood Steiner school at

a meeting with the Department of Education officials last June.

According to records released through the Freedom of Information Act, the department secured guaran- tees that the proposed schools would commence the teaching of formal reading in senior infants and that Lifeways Ireland accepted the need for the use of standardised assess- ment in the primary schools.

A department memo last January recommended that recognition be

refused for the schools as they didn’t provide a “sufficiently clear commit- ment to provide Primary Curriculum 1999 to pupils”.

It was only after an oral hearing in March of last year that the schools won over the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC).

However, records show that in February, the NSAC requested the department to withdraw the offer of an oral hearing due to the Clare VEC being ruled out as a patron body.

It was urged to complete the delib- erative process by the department and arising from the oral hearing, the NSAC reported they were satis- fied the schools were committed to delivering the curriculum required of national schools”.

The inspectorate responded that there wasn’t any “pedagogical rea- sons to reject the recommendations of the NSAC”.

The department granted one year’s recognition with permanent recog-

nition contingent on the outcomes of comprehensive inspection of the schools.

“The provisional recognition status of each school will be reviewed be- fore August 3, 2009 and the minister may extend the period of provisional recognition or withdraw recognition entirely or grant permanent recogni- tion to either or both schools.”

A separate department memo noted that the process yielded little by way of public response.