The Clare People Archive

SPARKS will fly as members of an Ennis dance school prepare to head to America to take on the world’s best.

Ten members of Sparks dance school will travel to Los Angeles next year to compete in World Dance Excellence – an international festival for young dancers.

The ten students, who range in age from 7 to 25, have been selected for the Irish team that will compete at the event, which takes place in the Californian city in March 2008.

The competition is sure to be in- tense with dancers from 50 states in America and 15 countries around

the world taking part. Team Ireland comprises students from Dublin and Belfast.

The hard work starts now for the students who will be taking their dancing skills to the streets of Ennis in search of sponsorship.

A number of fundraising events are already in the pipeline to help the students on their way to LA.

Sparks eymnrrertoyen Lourdes O’Donoghue said she is delighted that the students from the school have been selected on Team Ireland for the second year in a row.

Sparks has been in existence for 12 years in Ennis and is firmly es- tablished as one of the premier dance schools in Ireland.

In that time Sparks students have regularly competed in national and international finals, amassing a glit- tering array of prizes along the way.

The school has ten All-Ireland first place wins, three second place world titles and numerous other individual and pairs titles to its name.

Sparks hip-hop dance school is the only modern dance school in Clare doing exams for all ages in hip hop and freestyle.

Lourdes O’ Donoghue is a qualified dance instructor and judge, and has a team of student champions at hip hop, freestyle and funky tap.

Away from competitive action, the school has become a fixture on the Christmas panto scene, regularly

collaborating with the Ennis based Pantaloons group.

The Sparks team and instructors that will travel to Los Angeles to compete at World Dance Excellence are: Aidan Walsh (7), Barefield Na- tional School; Ava Mahony (18) Colaiste Mhuire; Saoirse Mulcahy (7) Ennis National School; Maeve Curry (20) Knapogue Castle; Ha- zel Grassie (15) Gort Community College; Wilson Chung (18) Peter Marks; Hazel O’ Doherty (21) Limer- ick Institute of Technology; Oskarina O’Sullivan (10) Clarecastle National School; Lauren O’Shea (12) Knocka- nean National School; Laura Jane Allis (25) Sparks Instructor; Lourdes O’ Donoghue (Sparks Principal).

THERE is anger and frustration among the rank and file of the sol- diers of destiny in Clare and along the west coast, with some long serv- ing members of the Fianna Fail party proposing to resign if “things do not change”.

A motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach was unanimously passed by the Ennis No | Cumman last week, by members who just months before canvassed for the party lead- er.

Now with the Aer Lingus crisis pointing to an uncertain future for the economy of the future and the death knell sounding in the distance for A and E services at Ennis Gen- eral Hospital, the grass roots of the main Government party are begin- ning to revolt.

Former Ennis Town Councillor Michael Guilfoyle, who proposed the motion of no confidence, said, “If things don’t sort themselves out I’ll be gone.”

The Ennis man, who has been a member of the party for 35 years,

said, “I defended Bertie at the doors before the election and when we needed Bertie he wasn’t to be found.

‘There was no one reason (for the motion), just years of frustration for people like myself who feel we are no longer being listened to.”

Ennis Town Councillor Tom Glynn (FF) said most people felt there was now a Sell out of the west but he did not feel resigning from the party was the way forward for him despite his erowing frustration.

“I think you are better off fighting from within than without. They can

ignore me even more from without,’ he said.

Meanwhile “angry and frustrated” Fianna Fail councillors from Burton Port in Donegal to Caherciveen in Kerry gathered in Oranmore to dis- cuss how they would ensure that the Aer Lingus crisis remained on the Government’s agenda.

Organised by Clare councillors Pat Daly, Peter Considine and Bernard Hanrahan, the 60 to 70 councillors in attendance set up the Fianna Fail Western Councillors’ Alliance.

“We believe that the Programme

for Government is not being rolled out in an even manner,’ Cllr Consti- dine told

MENTION the words pop or rock band manager and the image that springs to mind is that of a middle- aged, middle spreading man in a suit or a judge on a dodgy reality TV show with a penchant for creating boy bands.

Which makes it all the more sur- prising to learn that a 15-year-old female Mountshannon student has landed the gig that promoters twice her age would give their platinum ODES we

Hannah Ryan has been commis- sioned by Cork-based teenage gig company, Blast Base, to organise their events in Clare.

Blast Base organise and promote alcohol-free events with live bands and DJ’s in Cork, which have be- come hugely successful with young music fans.

Hannah came to their attention when she got involved in a Cork gig on behalf of the Clare band which she manages, Marble Chips.

‘They had only spoken to me on the phone and we discussed me organis- ing Clare gigs for them. When they invited me down for an interview, I think it was a bit of a shock, but when we had talked and I told them what I’d done in the past they agreed to go ahead,” said Hannah.

Hannah organised her first music event at just 13 years of age, when

she staged a Battle of the Bands, organising venues, sound, lighting sponsorship and prizes.

“It turned out to be the biggest bat- tle of the bands held in Clare up to then, with musicians coming from all over,’ said Hannah.

She has organised 17 gigs for her band Marble Chips since she took them on in August and not in any shabby old venues, but settings in- cluding Glor and the Half Moon Theatre in Cork.

And now a second band have ap- proached her to manage them, Schism and that’s while she is still studying with the Steiner-based Alpha Project and taking FETAC exams.

But the first hurdle she has to tackle

to put on the Blastbase gigs in Clare is to find venues.

“These are no-alcohol events, and a lot of places are not willing to close their bars for the night so we need other venues like halls or clubs if this is to happen.”

Anyone who might have a venue on offer for Hannah’s new project should call her on 085 1589498.

FOR decades, Irish people have been flocking to Yoga lessons as a way of destressing, improving mental and physical health or just relaxing.

But now a Clonlara teacher, who used a Yoga approach to having her own children, is helping women have a healthier, more holistic experience of pregnancy and childbirth.

And once baby is born, he or she can come to class with mum.

Paulette Egan is teaching the Birth Light method of enjoying pregnancy and childbirth in Killaloe and is also running mother and baby classes.

Mother of four Paulette knows what she’s talking about having learned the method and used it for the birth of her own children, avoiding any need for drugs or epidurals.

While medical procedures have undoubtedly made having babies safer, many women feel their experi- ence of pregnancy and childbirth has been taken out of their hands or that there’s no choice beyond putting up with pain or taking drugs in labour.

“What Yoga teaches are simple positions and breath techniques that put women in touch with their bodies and their babies throughout pregnan- cy and when it comes to giving birth, make it a much easier and more en- joyable experience.”

The method and exercises can be done from 16 weeks into pregnancy and help expectant women to have a better understanding and to experi- ence what is happening to their bod- les in a positive way.

For instance, Paulette says “later in pregnancy many women say they

have trouble getting a breath. Yoga teaches good posture which creates more space to breath’.

The techniques also help with high blood-pressure, backache, sciatica and many other discomforts associ- ated with being a lady in waiting.

Among the movements taught at classes are rocking movements to soothe the developing baby, leg strengthening exercises to help dur- ing labour and pelvic floor exercises that help during the final stages of labour.

“Most importantly, this helps women to focus on what is happen- ing during pregnancy and to connect with the growing baby.”

And afterwards, women who want to continue learning more about Yoga can include their newborns in post-natal classes, which also include

coffee mornings so that women can meet and socialise.

Paulette sends surveys to all the women who have attended her pre- natal classes and gets a very positive response.

“They all say they got benefit from it,” she said.

The pre-natal Yoga classes are start- ing in Killaloe on Thursday nights from 6.50pm to 8.20pm on Convent Hill and the mother and baby classes Start up again on Friday mornings between 10.30am and noon.

Anyone interested can contact Pau- lette on 086 3183646.

A MAJOR clean-up and renovation of an east Clare cemetery by will- ing locals has borne fruit. Kilavoher cemetery now has a new gate, re- paired walls and a name plaque.

In addition, secretary of the Meel- ick-Parteen Graveyard Commit- tee, Councillor Cathal Crowe, said, “Anti-social behaviour at the Kilavo- her cemetery has ceased.”

The graveyard committee was set up after reports that the area was be-

ing used for drinking and anti-social behaviour. Committee members Fr Fred McDonald, Mike Crowe, Ca- thal Crowe, Ray Armstron, Seamus Spaight, Packie Cronin, George White, Martin Manning and Bernard McNa- mara took on the project and now the cemetery is ship-shape again.

“At the beginning of the summer it was brought to my attention that the cemetery was being used for drink- ing parties. It was also alleged that the cemetery has been the scene of debauchery and vandalism. I was

even informed by one local resident that rocks were pelted at an old head- Stone,’ Councillor Crowe said.

The work actually began more than two years ago when the committee took a conscious decision to clean up Kilavoher cemetery.

The historic cemetery was “in very poor condition and briars had grown up to above head height’ said Cllr SOW

Some graves in the cemetery date back to the late 18th century.

“Summer 2005 was the first time in

a long time that many of these graves has seen the light of day. At the time of our major clean-up, many passers- by remarked that they never knew that a cemetery was beneath all the briars and weeds. Since our clean-up operation in 2005, the cemetery has been maintained to a high standard by local volunteers,’ the councillor said.

He called on anyone who witnesses further anti-social behaviour to report it to either a member of the Grave- yards Committee or the Gardai.

VITAL financial services are once again available in Kilmaley follow- ing the opening of a new credit union sub station.

Credit union staff officially opened the new substation at O’Brien’s Country Store on Friday. The station will offer a wide range of financial services including pensions, savings and loan applications to people and businesses in the area.

The station is opening on a Six month trial period and will be manned by credit union staff every Friday.

Staff at O’Brien’s will be available

to offer assistance for transactions made during the week. Shop staff will not have access to any account information, which will remain strictly confidential.

The new service 1s a welcome boost to the community. In November 2006 An Post downgraded postal services in Kilmaley from a full post office to a post point.

It came as a major blow, particularly to older members of the community. The post office fulfilled numerous functions. It allowed people to pay ESB bills, collect pension payments, children’s allowance payments and parcels.

Lawrence O’Brien, manager of

O’Brien’s Country Stores explained the impact of the closure.

“It was a very busy post office and it was a Surprise when they closed it down. We have a lot of elderly people coming in and we handle a lot of pen- sions. When the service was down- graded, people couldn’t collect their pensions directly from us. It made it hard for elderly people. They had to rely on a neighbour or a friend who was going into Ennis. Even dog li- censes and gun licenses you couldn’t do them anymore”’.

Mr. O’Brien approached the credit union four months ago about the pos- sibility of meeting the need created by the downgrading of postal serv-

eense

Although the service is operating on a trial period, he is hopeful the substation will become permanent.

“It is important for rural communi- ties like Kilmaley to have access to such services. It can be difficult for some people to travel into Ennis dur- ing the week. The credit union really responded to the idea. It would be great to see this happening in other parts of Clare”.

THE closure of four well-known businesses in the seaside town of Kilkee has been described as a co- incident and is not a reflection on the prosperity of the town.

The proprietors of the four estab- lished businesses closed their doors for the last time last week for per- sonal reasons.

One of the businesses that are no longer in operation is Nolan’s Butch- er’s. The family butchers served the people of Kilkee for five genera- ao els

This was one of two family busi- nesses on O’Curry’s Street to close on that fateful weekend.

Collins’ Pharmacy also closed leav- ing the seaside town with only one pharmacy.

Meehan’s Bakery on the Strand Line ceased selling fresh breads and cakes and closed its doors.

Kilkee was also left with just one petrol station following the closure of Dough Motors on the Kilrush Road.

Known locally as Burke’s garage the closure means that the west Clare peninsula has now just two filling stations – one in Kilkee and the old

Bella Creamery between Cross and Carrigaholt.

Kilkee Chamber of Commerce spokesman John Willliams describe the four closures as sad but co-inci- dental.

“None of them closed due to a lack of prosperity in the town. In the four cases they closed for personal cir- cumstances, it was just a co-incident that they all came together,” he said.

“It is like any other town. Places are closing down and opening up.”

The Kilkee pharmacist was also upbeat about the summer seasons, despite the rain.

“It wasn’t the best of season, but it wasn’t he worst of seasons either. Kilkee has a traditional following, and the same people return every year,’ he said.

Mr Williams said it was also hard to judge if the late change in the weather for the better meant a more boisterous September than usual.

He said the Cois Fhairraige festival brought more than 4,500 people to the town and an added boost to the local economy.

This added to the local population significantly for the past week and it was therefore hard to judge what 1m-

LIVING life to the full is the under- lying ethos of the soon to be formed focal point for older people in west OE

Members of the Kilrush Family Resource Centre (FRC) in conjunc- tion with retired people in the area have being working on a proposal for a number of activities to take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fri- days. Viv Rooney from the Kilrush FRC is keen to remind those availing of the programme that “nothing is written in stone and they don’t have to do anything they don’t want to.”

People are free to come along and take part in some of the morning ac-

tivities, or evening activities, or drop in for a chat or a game of cards.

It is not necessary to avail of the lunch although one will be provided.

The new activity programme fund- ed under the Dormant Accounts will Support and encourage older people in the community to interact with each other and to participate in ac- tivities that will be of benefit to them not only physically but also mentally. “The Kilrush Family Resource Cen- tre wish to provide a focal point for older people of both sexes who are retired and in the 55 plus age group, to meet and engage in education, cul- tural and sporting activities, to pro- mote the spirit of self-help and inde- pendence and to encourage members

to use their energy, skills, knowledge and experience to benefit each other and the community, to encourage a positive attitude to ageing and retire- ment,’ said Ms Rooney.

‘We know that older people are in- terested in participating in activities and that they are very interested in all aspects of community life and na- tional decisions that affect them. We will offer facilitators and equipment to enable them to broaden their in- terests and connect with their neigh- bours.”

‘As the population of older people is growing we believe it is important to offer them the opportunities to stay involved in community life, keep fit and healthy through developing new

relationships and thus preventing ru- ral isolation,’ she said.

Part of the daily activity will be taught by a Go for Life facilitator this will help to improve the overall well being and physical fitness of the seniors.

The Kilrush FRC are encouraging people to come to the open morn- ing on Wednesday September 12 at 10.30am to discuss the activities they would like to participate in.

Meanwhile the Tea Dances are continuing for the winter the next one is on September 23 in Knock- erra Hall at 3pm. Transport or any other information about any of these programmes are available from Viv Rooney on 065-9052173.

RYANAIR confirmed last night that it has submitted its appeal to the Eu- ropean Court of First Instance (CFI) in Luxembourg against what the air- line describes as “the EU Commis- sion’s unlawful and politically moti- vated decision to prohibit its merger with Aer Lingus.”

The low-fares airline had made an offer of €2.80 per share to acquire Aer Lingus following the former national airline’s floatation last Oc- tober.

Ryanair was required to seek ap- proval for clearance of the deal from the European Commission. The Commission blocked the merger.

“As a result, Aer Lingus sharehold- ers have suffered a 58 per cent col- lapse in their interim profits and a

share price fall to €2.50”, a Ryanair statement issued last night said.

Speaking last night, Ryanair’s Head of Regulatory Affairs, Jim Callaghan, said: “We have filed our appeal with the CFI today asking them to overturn the Commission’s unlawful and politically motivated decision to block Ryanair’s merger with Aer Lingus.

“This merger, which accounts for less than 5 per cent of the EU air transport market was clearly pro- competition and would have been the first merger in history to guarantee fare reductions, which would have saved European consumers more than €100m per annum. The Com- mission made several manifest errors in its assessment of the merger and ignored evidence from Ryanair dem- onstrating the numerous benefits that

the merger would bring to consum- ers and increased competition with the high fares Mega Carriers. At the same time, the Commission ac- cepted, without question, misleading and factually inaccurate submissions from the Irish Government and Aer Lingus, both of whom were clearly trying to block the merger.”

He said that the airline “also of- fered unprecedented commitments to the Commission to address any possible competition concerns, in- cluding giving up more than half of Aer Lingus’ Dublin-Heathrow Slots, as well as over 1,700 additional weekly slots — several times what has been offered in any previous airline merger.”

THE online petition to retain Aer Lingus’s Shannon-Heathrow slots now has more than 13,760 signa- UN KeNe

The petition which features on the Shannon Action Group website calls on the board of Aer Lingus to reverse

its decision to cancel all four daily flights to Heathrow from Shannon as of next January in the interests of the region.

Meanwhile, Comhar Sustainable Development Council has said that the cost of greenhouse gas emissions and access to airports will influence the future sustainability of the air

travel industry.

In a commentary just published the council chairman, Professor Frank Convery, said that the recent focus on Heathrow landing slots and the Aer Lingus move to Belfast brought into sharp focus the link between airport success and access to a trav- elling population.