Lifestyle

As the most recent statistics show 15 people in Clare being diagnosed with cancer every week, the countdown is on for Daffodil Day on Friday, March 27. Supported by Dell, this year marks the 28th Daffodil Day, Ireland’s longest running and biggest fundraising day. The society announced a growth in cancer incidence that is sure to have a direct impact on its services; increasing the need for the people in Clare to support Daffodil Day so they can reach their fundraising target of €3.5 million for 2015. Speaking at the launch of Daffodil Day, John McCormack, chief executive officer, Irish Cancer Society said, “Every family in Clare is touched by cancer, and these new figures confirm that cancer rates are growing. As cancer is increasing, so are our efforts to fight it. As the national cancer charity we are working harder to ensure that every family in need of support in Clare has access to our services. To meet the …

STAFF members in St Joseph’s Hospital are planning a ‘crew cut’ for a fundraising event in memory of their former colleague, Anne Fox, who lost her battle with cancer in September 2013. Three of Anne’s former colleagues are stepping forward for the short back and sides by hairdressers from K&G Hair Salon on Parnell Street, at the function in O’Keeffe’s Bar, Lifford, on February 27. But that’s not all. The group, and the 10-year-old niece of one of the volunteers and the daughter of another, will then hand over their tresses to the Rapunzel Foundation to make into wigs for children and adults who suffer from alopecia. Tommy Guilfoyle, Deirdre Allan and her daughter, Mary, who works in Ryan’s Centra, and St Joseph’s colleague, Nuala Casey haven’t had a haircut since last April or May. Tommy’s niece, Ava Burke, aged 10, a pupil in Gaelscoil Micheál Chiosóg, has never had more than a trim. Now she’s prepared to have 14 …

ONE hundred years ago this week, 26-year-old, Private Patrick King, who was born in Kildysart and lived in Turnpike, Ennis, died of “exit wounds” near Bailleul in France. According to information from the Clare Museum, Private King arrived in France with the 2nd battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment on August 14, 1914, just 10 days after war was declared. The South Lancashires were part of the 3rd Division that engaged in winter operations between November 23, 1914 and February 6, 1915. His division was involved in an attack on Wytschaete on December 14, 1914, which had resulted in high casualties. Private King was wounded just a few days before the ending of winter operations and died of his wounds on February 2, 1915, in a hospital close to where he is buried. In 2008, a successful effort was made to reunite Private King’s World War I Victory Medal with its rightful owners, following a Clarecastle man’s discovery that it …

THE Ryan family in Newmarket endured a very difficult emotional rollercoaster in the spring of 2009. The birth of Abbey Ryan, the first granddaughter in their extended family, on March 3, 2009 brought great joy to everyone. However, the death of her father, Pakie, (34) in early April, left a cloud hanging over the entire family. The sports fanatic and Newmarket character would have been 40 on Monday, January 26. During his illness, Pakie received great support from his wife, Frances, relatives, friends and the local community. His father, Christy recalls Pakie repeatedly said there were people much worse off than him, even in the middle of his cancer battle. Two or three years after his death, it struck Christy that Pakie had 34 years of happiness, he was never sick and never in hospital. Frances describes the spring of ’09 as a “battle of emotions”, which was a bit too much for everyone to take in, as there was …

#Digital Clare, a newly-founded digital marketing network for County Clare, reached 3.5 million people after it was launched at an event in the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis this week. The initiative, which has been run under the CLDC programme, Ditigal Animation, funded by LEADER, has been facilitated by Digital Training Institute founder and Apprentice finalist, Joanne Sweeney Burke. Speaking to The Clare Champion, Joanne explained how the network came about. During the first phase of the programme, Joanne conducted digital marketing and social media courses, delivered from June to October, where she trained 125 people in Clare and delivered 90 one-to-one mentoring hours. “We had such a huge response that we felt we were onto something and that there was an appetite there. We then developed phase two, to create something more formal, like a network, so the idea of DigitalClare was born. Everything that CLDC do under Leader is all about scalability. While I’m contracted as a facilitator …

Proposals to require restaurants, takeaways and all food service outlets to post calorie details of all meals on menus have been approved by the Cabinet. The laws will require restaurants, take-aways and food service outlets to post the information alongside the price for all items offered on menus, at the point where the food is ordered, whether at tables or counters. “I am very concerned about levels of overweight and obesity in Ireland. Latest figures indicate that nearly two out of every three adults, and one in four children, are overweight or obese. This presents real risks for health and wellbeing and causes a high percentage of many of the chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes,” Minister Varadkar said. “Giving calorie details on menus is a very simple but effective way of encouraging people to choose a healthier option. Food options can be deceptive. Some salads contain more calories than a burger meal. But if we make the …

Ireland South MEP, Deirdre Clune has cautioned those in the tourist trade not to ignore the fact that the tourism market has gone digital. “Fáilte Ireland research shows that over 73% of holidaymakers to Ireland use the internet for planning a holiday here. What is more interesting is how they are using the internet. According to travel website Tnooz.com, in the first half of 2014, nearly 16% of bookings and 19% of room nights were booked on tablets and smartphones. 41% of web visitors and nearly 38% of page views were generated from non-desktop devices (mobile and tablet). Tourism providers need to optimize their presence in all three channels to provide the best user experience on each device,” said Ms Clune following a meeting of the European Parliament’s Tourism Taskforce. “It is not just about having a website anymore. Small B&Bs, restaurants and tourism providers need a complete online strategy that includes social media, promotions, online bookings and linkages to …

The breathtaking Tulira Castle in Ardrahan, County Galway has been sold, it has been confirmed. The castle, which sits on more than 250 acres, is understood to have been bought by an Irish businessman for in the region of €5.8 million. Celia Lamb, head of country homes, farms and studs with Ganly Walters, described the property as “a national landmark and one of the finest examples of an Irish castle” but would not comment on the identity of the buyer or the final sale price. The property had been on the market since summer 2013 and had generated significant interest, especially among international buyers. “The asking price was €6.5 million. We had varied interest from a few groups of Chinese; we had some Europeans; we had some Americans who nearly went for it and we had Irish interest, interest from the UK and we had one prospective buyer come from Australia to view the property. He had been in Australia …