Lifestyle

RUAN kidney dialysis patient, Mary Griffin was “shocked” when she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at the age of 57. The mother of six, who will be on dialysis five years at the end of April, is still waiting for that all-important call for a new kidney, which would utterly transform her quality of life. Urging people to support the annual Organ Donor Awareness Week campaign, which runs from March 29 to April 5, she also requested support for all fundraising activities undertaken by the Clare branch of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA). Two years before Ms Griffin was officially diagnosed, she wasn’t feeling, sleeping or eating well and was complaining about discomfort in her stomach. She underwent a number of tests  but they didn’t detect any stomach problems. In October 2008, she went into hospital and was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at St John’s Hospital, Limerick, due to getting kidney infections. Her kidneys were functioning at 33% …

A BAREFIELD mother has revealed how her family has gained some comfort following the sudden tragic death of her husband, after his two kidneys were donated to a mother of six children. Bridie Purcell, of Ballyduff, Barefield, her son and three daughters were left devastated when Michael Purcell (67) died suddenly following an aneurysm in the brain on January 3, 2012. Affectionately known as Buddy, the father-of-four was  sorting a bale of silage with his friend, John Whelan, when he collapsed suddenly. Within an hour of babysitting her grandchildren, Bridie, who was 57 at the time, got a call to  leave the house, as Michael had been taken by ambulance. “I met him on the side of the road in an ambulance. I knew when I got into the ambulance that his eyes were dilated. Technically, he was on life support until they decided he was going downhill. “A team was waiting on standby at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin after …

We’re going to need considerably bigger buns… Some clips from the final rehearsals for Ennis Player’s production of Calendar Girls at Glór. Starting tonight (Wednesday) it runs until Saturday. Proceeds to aid four local charities.

By CAROL BYRNE THE new Dublin Coach service which started motoring recently from Ennis to the capital will result in up to 50 permanent jobs when the company wheels out its new Quicktours packages from Ennis. Speaking at the launch of the newly extended service, Dublin Coach owner and Kilrush native John O’Sullivan said he views Ennis as a “tourism hub”. At the event held at the Templegate Hotel on Thursday it was highlighted that the route created a gateway between Ennis, Limerick, Kildare and Dublin enabling the free flow of visitors and greater partnership between each location. “Ultimately this service provides Ennis and Clare with the platform to maximise on the increased arriving into Shannon and Dublin Airport but equally the domestic consumer who is responsible for the greatest volume,” a spokesperson for Dublin Coach. It is envisaged that the new service will result in up to 50 permanent jobs when the company rolls out their new Quicktours packages …

By CAROL BYRNE UP to 17 members of Ennis Garda Station, including the county’s Chief Superintendent, participated in a shave or dye event in aid of the Irish Cancer Society on Friday. The Ennis station is one of the few garda stations to have embarked on a shave or dye event, since the initiative began. Organised by community garda Deirdre O’Doherty the decision was made to theme the shave or dye in line with Ennis being the first town to secure a purple flag status. As a result those getting their hair dyed will have it dyed purple. Speaking about Friday’s initiative Garda O’Doherty said, “The main reason for organising it is because of the amount of people who have been touched by cancer. Even through our own station, a number of people have been touched by it. I was approached by one of my colleagues, who said I would be the one to take it on. I had thought …

CLARE darts received another timely boost last week when the county side captured the National shield title at the West County hotel. Pipped by a single point in their group for championship honours, had beaten Meath, Cork, Louth and Roscommon but lost narrowly to Waterford In the shield they defeated Kilkenny, Tipperary and Mayo to set up a final meeting with Waterford and this time Clare were the victors. The County’s B team suffered defeat in the Provincial final. In the past twelve months, the A team has reached the semi-finals of the West Coast and Cork tournaments. On their way to the title Eoin Lahiff (Kilrush) checked out on 167, James Youdell (Ennistymon) checked out on 134, Adrian Ford (Ennis) had a 154 checkout and Brendan Casey (Kilrush) had a 114 checkout. Brendan will be a member of the Irish team in the European youths cup in Austria on July 1 next. The members of the Clare A team which …

PARTEEN National School in South-East Clare has won the prestigious Limerick Choral Festival 2014 for primary schools for the second successive year. The competition, part of the Limerick City of Culture Year, was held in the Redemptorist Church, South Circular Road and 12 choirs competed before an appreciative audience made up mostly of parents and friends. The 70-pupil Parteen choir received a very impressive 92 marks, followed by St Nessan’s National School, County Limerick with an equally impressive 90 marks and highly commended was Cor Chriost Rí, Caherdavin, Limerick with 89 marks. Announcing the results, the adjudicator, Dr Marion Doherty Hayden, formerly head of music, St Partick’s, Drumcondra, described the winners’ performance as “very polished, a lovely balance, the long notes were magical and the diction was excellent”. The second adjudicator was Mr Kevin O Carroll from Waterford, a freelance musician and teacher. Parteen choir also won the adjudicators’ award at the end of the festival. Fr Tom Carroll, PP …

By Dan Danaher A young Sixmilebridge woman wowed MEPs with an “impressive” power presentation with the need to create employment for adults with Down Syndrome. Orla Hannon (27), who is chairperson of Down Syndrome Ireland and represented Ireland in the European Parliament, in Brussels for World Down Syndrome Day on Friday. Fine Gael MEP, Jim Higgins praised Ms Hannon for her “impressive” presentation to members of the European parliament, which highlighted the need to create employment opportunities so that adults with Down Syndrome can take their place in society. Friday, marks the nineth anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day, which has been incredibly successful in creating global awareness about Down Syndrome and also of the contribution made by people with Down Syndrome to our society. The Fine Gael MEP said that it was an absolute honour to meet Orla and her mother Marian Hannon. “At just 27 years Orla is a very young and inspirational leader. She wowed MEPs by …