Lifestyle

THERE is an old Greek proverb: A civilisation flourishes when people plant trees under which they will never sit. It neatly sums up the double benefit of volunteering. The ‘giver’ ends up being on the receiving end of a deeply positive and life-affirming experience.I believe passionately in the power of the meitheal. This means people working together for the greater good in a spirit of social solidarity and civic responsibility. If we can harness the sum of our people’s talents, we are unstoppable as a nation. Recovery means harnessing the potential of Irish men and women of every age and ability.Volunteers come from every background and from every walk of life. Volunteering is not just the preserve of those with time or energy to spare. This is not just true in my own organisation of Special Olympics but across the whole range of voluntary organisations.I recently bumped into an old acquaintance I had not seen in almost five years. While …

CLARE pupils proved they were top of the class when they received awards for achievement and contribution to their academies during their time in second-level education.A scroll and silver medal were presented by Clare Vocational Education Committee to the pupils in each of its eight academies with highest 2010 Leaving Certificate results and a similar merit award went to the Leaving Certificate pupils nominated for outstanding participation and contribution during their time in each of these centres of education.Another round of awards went to Junior Certificate pupils for excellence of results in that examination in 2010. Parents, family members and friends gathered for the presentations in Woodstock Hotel, Ennis. The principals and in some instances the vice-principals or other senior staff of the eight academies introduced the Leaving Certificate and merit award winners and recited citations grounding their selection. Also, 20 pupils from around the county, double that of 2009, were presented with ­certificates recognising A grade achievement at higher …

Their parents were in Shannon with them, and Aisling said she was looking forward to a new start. “We’re going to Toronto, I’m a bit nervous but it’ll be fun when we get there.”Canada has more to offer than Ireland, she feels. “There are no jobs here and I don’t think there’s anything to entice young people to stay here either. The dole is not enough to live on and there are much more opportunities in Toronto.”They won’t be heading completely into the unknown, as they have some contacts in Toronto. “We have some friends that we’re staying with and they’ve done really well over the last year.”While Aisling’s mother was quite tearful as they went headed for the departure gate, her father Pat felt she was doing the right thing. “I think she’s lucky to be going. She can come home next month if she wants to,” he said.Eamon Chalke was heading back to London, where he has been …

AN Ennis couple had a very special reason to celebrate the new year as they welcomed their newborn son into the world, the first Clare baby to be born this year. Emer Cleary gave birth to baby John Francis Cleary at the Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick at 1.45am on January 1, weighing in at 10lb 9oz.Proud parents John and Emer from Garran na Coille, Ennis, were thrilled to introduce their new addition to the family and to big brother Michael, who is nearly three.Emer described the new baby as their “little darling”, saying he has been “really good” since being brought home from hospital.Emer’s mother, Frances O’Reilly, was among the many well-wishers congratulating the pair and she was delighted that they named their new son after her.Emer explained that John Francis was due on Christmas Day but arrived a week late. She described the labour as “grand”.“I had a c-section the first time so it was great to be …

AFTER being touched by the stories of people losing their jobs in the recession, a team of local volunteers have come together in a pro-active way to launch a website aimed at helping unemployed people in Clare.

Sr Peig O’Rourke, a Presentation sister from Lissycasey, is working among the poor of Peru. She shares her experiences with Mags Gargan of The Irish Catholic.

“It’s looking crook,” said Daniel CrokeBedad, it’s cruke, me lad,For never since the banks went brokeHas seasons been so bad.”

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