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Nicole all set for dream girlie day out

A 14-year-old girl from Barefield is set to prove that just because she cannot walk, she can still become a model. Nicole Norton, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is visually impaired, will have her dreams of come true this Friday with the help of the Share a Dream Foundation.As part of her perfect ‘girlie’ day out, Nicole will get a model makeover and photoshoot as well as becoming an honorary Rose at the 2012 Rose of Clare in the West County. Nicole’s mother Ann said, “It was a friend of Nicole, Jennifer, who is physically disabled, who contacted Share a Dream to put Nicole forward. She wanted her to be a model and to go on a shopping spree. Nicole would be very much a girlie girl. I think it’s just brilliant she will get to go and have a day out without any worries. She is just so excited.”Nicole’s dream starts at 9.45am when she, her mum and …

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New principal relishing future challenges

FOR Ennis’ newest school principal, the challenge of guiding Ennis Community College into the future is one he is looking forward to. John Cooke, originally from Thurles, last week took the helm of the secondary school, following in the footsteps of Matt Power who recently retired as school principal.Mr Cooke, who lives in Galway, has been teaching since 1995, and was previously principal of Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara in Galway’s Gaeltacht.“I was at Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara for almost three years, it was a much smaller school in a very rural setting. It was very nice but I just wanted a greater challenge and that’s why I am here. I’m really looking forward to the challenge here, particularly with all of the developments in the school and developments in education in the future. But I’m up to the challenge and I’m looking forward to it,” he said.However, the journey of Ennis Community College isn’t the only one Mr Cooke has …

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Putting the brakes on speeding

SPEEDING in the Gort Road Business Park is set to come to a halt with plans by Ennis Town Council to install ramps. Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council have been engaging with representatives of the Gort Road Business Park Action Committee in a bid to address issues at the park, a major employment location in the town.At a recent meeting of Ennis Town Council, councillors were informed of plans to install ramps similar to those recently installed at Ennis Golf Club.Ger Dollard, Ennis Town Manager outlined that the primary issue addressed in meetings between business park representatives and the local authorities related to the Flood Relief Scheme. The scheme was instigated to deal with issues experienced during the severe flooding in November 2009 when overflow from Lough Girroga resulted in severe flooding at the park. It is now complete, has been tested and is operating satisfactorily.Mr Dollard explained, “During the discussions, an issue was raised regarding the speed …

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Another setback blights Cluain Airne progress

THERE has been yet another setback with the affordable housing scheme at Cluain Airne, as a receiver has been appointed to developers Atlantic Developments Ltd.In May, 2008 councillors voted to allow the development at the site, despite a lot of opposition from residents. While millions have been spent on the development of 22 houses over the last four years ,they are still not ready for habitation.The saga surrounding the houses has caused a lot of anger among the residents, many of whom opposed the proposal, while some local representatives have questioned the spending on it.In a statement to The Clare Champion, Shannon town manager Bernadette Kinsella confirmed work at the site has stopped. “Work on the scheme halted and plant and machinery was removed from the site over the Easter holiday period. The council made immediate contact with the guarantor, Construction Guarantee. Since then, the council and its design team has been in active communication with the guarantor who commenced …

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No council backing to drop road plan

Hopes that Clare County Council would drop its plans for a controversial €120 million motorway crossing through South-East Clare were dashed this week after councillors failed to support a proposal from a county councillor.Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald asked that the council drop its plans to proceed with Phase Two of the Northern Distributor Road and concentrate its efforts on developing the new River Shannon Crossing at Killaloe and upgrading the existing roads between Parteen village and the University of Limerick campus at Garraun.Speaking at a county council meeting on Monday, Councillor Fitzgerald said people were looking for a new road in the middle of the Celtic Tiger when traffic volumes were significantly higher, but it was never built.He questioned the merits of proceeding with the route selection process at this time when there is no money to finance the construction of this route in the short term. He also warned that the current Emerging Preferred Route would destroy Parteen village by …

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Alice puts on her pink walking shoes

A breast cancer survivor living a stone’s throw away from Westbury in South-East Clare, is set to participate in a charity walk to raise funds to fight this life-threatening disease.  Alice O’Farrell from Corbally missed out on last year’s Pink Ribbon Walk, which raised €56,000.“I had contracted breast cancer myself and I was in the middle of chemotherapy. All I could do was come and see the walkers off. This year I’m feeling great and I’m ready to put on those walking shoes myself,” she said.Not only that, but she’s going to bring half of Limerick with her as well. “I hope to run several busses from the city and get a really big Limerick contingent involved in the walk,” she said, adding “They’ll be wearing special Limerick arm bands”.Alice has been tireless in her efforts to raise funds for cancer. Last year, she raised €76,000 for the Mid-Western Development Trust by producing the Hope Calendar in which she, her …

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Corofin to bring their subject to All-Ireland finals

AS COROFIN Drama Group prepare to take their latest play, The Subject was Roses, to the All-Ireland drama finals in Athlone, director John Clancy spoke to The Clare Champion.Corofin Drama Group is the third Clare group to make it to the All-Ireland three-act open drama finals in the competition’s 60-year history. The group competes in the open section, pitting it against some of the country’s most experienced drama groups. The North Clare group wasonly elevated to the open category four years ago, so finding themselves in the final is a major achievement, not to mention surprise.“We won the confined section in 2008 and were automatically elevated to the open. This is just our fourth year in this competition so we would look at getting to the finals as a success in its own right. This is the 60th year of the amateur drama so in that time, just three Clare groups have gotten to the final. Scariff Drama Group won …

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