Lifestyle

FEARS and phobias can have a crippling affect on a person’s life. But according to Moira Geary of Mind Expert Academy, “The good news about phobias is that, as they are learned in a matter of minutes somewhere back in the past, so too can they be successfully treated and unlearned in a very short period of time”.From her Limerick clinic, Moira treats people from all over the Mid-West and nationwide, with some of the most common phobias treated including flying, public speaking, assertiveness at meetings, enclosed spaces, water, needles, driving and spiders.However, Moira has also come across some very unusual phobias, including one client who was afraid of all types of fruit.“While this may seem hilarious,” says Moira, “this phobia has had massive impact on my client’s life, resulting in a physical illness, Scurvy, a deficiency disease due to lack of vitamin C. My client experiences a real fear when in a room where fruit are on display.”The symptoms …

PARISHES in Transition, a collection of essays which has its origins in a conference, under the same title, held at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) two years ago, was launched this week by Bishop of Killaloe, Kieran O’Reilly.The book features contributions from various speakers at the conference, as well as a number of other theologians, pastors and historians. It deals with a number of issues, each representing items on the agenda of any parish community or group of parishes that attempts to explore possible ways forward in the current climate of change and transition. Various topics covered include looking at the church from an historical perspective; looking at current geographical, demographic, social and economic factors, as well as the impact of information technology and its implications for social networks and relationships; the need for leadership in the Church and the necessity for the clustering of parishes if the Church is to survive.The editor of this collection is Dr Eugene Duffy, a …

THE Hogan Stand in Croke Park is named for the Tipperary footballer murdered on Bloody Sunday, the Cusack Stand for the founder of the association and the Davin Stand for the great Tipperary sportsman Maurice Davin.The Nally Stand is unique. It is named for a man who was probably not even a member of the association. He definitely never took part in any games organised by the GAA. However, his athletic activities were instrumental in spreading the desire for a ‘non-establishment’ group to organise athletics in Ireland.In the 1880s, there were a number of bodies organising athletics, none of which welcomed the ordinary people of the country. At local level, sports would have been organised by the landlord and only his guests were invited to take part, the ordinary man in the street was not welcomed.PW Nally was the fourth of eight children born to a reasonably well off landowner and businessman. He was educated at St Jarlath’s College in …

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A SCULPTURE in remembrance of the hundreds of paupers buried in a mass unmarked grave in the old part of Drumcliffe Cemetery is being unveiled and blessed this Sunday.

NINETY years ago three men lost their lives in Doonbeg as the country grappled for Independence. On September 22, 1920, Captain Alan Lendrum, who was the Resident Magistrate in West Clare, was shot dead by the IRA at the railway crossing in Caherfeenick.

Tidy Towns committees from around County Clare were in celebratory mood this week when they were presented with a total of 13 awards at the Shannon Region Tidy Towns awards ceremony in Bunratty.

Things are looking good that Inch man Adrian Rynne, who was born deaf, will have an amazing career ahead of him after graduating from the Limerick School of Art and Design recently. The 26-year-old told The Clare Champion, with sign language through his proud mother Anne-Marie, “I have come a step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming an art teacher for deaf children.”