Lifestyle

Clare Crusaders Children’s Clinic is launching a major drive to raise up to €150,000 and fomer RTE newscaster, Ann Doyle will be involved in one of the main events. The Barefield clinic needs to raise this money by December to help the charity meet its annual target of €250,000 in public donations. This is a major challenge for the charity to raise the necessary funds for the continuation of services for children with a wide range of disabilities such as Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Despite the lack of any government funding to help defray the cost of its core services, the clinic continues to provide free therapy for over 400 special needs children in the county. The clinic estimates it provides in the region of 10,000 free therapy hours for children during individual and group sessions during the year. In addition to providing one-to-one therapies, the clinic organise regular group …

Evidence of a bronze age settlement has been discovered in South Galway. Recent preliminary investigations have revealed that at least one crannóg, and possibly up to four, may exist on Ballinakill Lake, close to Lough Cutra. The 90-acre lake may also include a causeway linking one of the prehistoric man-made islands to the shoreline. Just one of the crannógs is above the water level in the lake and according to Christy Cunniffe, community archaeologist with Galway County Council, “the submerged features warrant further examination”. The archaeologist also suggested that a seemingly linear rock formation under the water may have been a causeway joining one or more of the crannógs to the shore but added that log-boats may also have been used. “Crannógs would not be that common in South Galway. These are significant. A 90-acre lake with the potential to have at least three crannógs in it and other prehistoric monuments around it, suggests that there was a strong pre-historic …

Áine Mae O’ Mahony, station manager with Kilkee-based Raidió Corca Baiscinn (South West Clare Community Radio), recently celebrated her first year at the helm of one of the most inclusive community radio stations in Ireland. One year in, Áine Mae feels she landed her ideal job, is still enjoying the buzz and is supported by dedicated staff and a dynamic volunteer corp. Áine Mae epitomises a can-do attitude. Previously a successful restaurateur, losing her sight seven years ago meant she had to reinvent herself and refocus her career goals. With a lifelong interest in radio, she returned to education, completed a certificate in radio programming and then a two-year technology course with the National Learning Network. She had found her real passion in radio and got involved initially on a voluntary basis and then worked as a broadcaster and producer with community and commercial radio stations. A temporary producer role with RCB instilled a long-lasting love of community radio. After …

FOR Newmarket-on-Fergus woman, Catherine Coughlan, her voluntary work for Milford Care Centre is time she gives back to the community because of the help and advice that someone close to her received when they needed it most. Catherine is a HR and payroll specialist in EI in Shannon and a volunteer with Milford Care Centre Bereavement Support Service since 2013. This service offers individual and group support to adults and children in the Mid-West who are grieving the death of someone close. Some years ago, someone close to Catherine was struggling to cope and she was at a loss on how to deal with it. “I just felt that I didn’t know what was out there, or where to go,” she explained “but the people he met on his way were so good to him that it made me feel that I just wanted to give something back to the community. So, I studied counselling; I’m still studying it”. Meeting …

America’s most influential Catholic, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, visited County Clare this week. Cardinal Dolan is leading a pilgrimage of Catholics from across the US to Knock Shrine. He arrived at Ireland West Airport on Sunday aboard the first chartered pilgrim flight from the US into the Mayo airport. The 180-strong group visited the Burren and Cliffs of Moher before taking the ferry from Killimer to Tarbert as part of their nine-day itinerary. The Cardinal took time out from his engagements to travel to Ballyvaughan on Tuesday morning to visit a friend of his, local artist Richard Hearns. “Cardinal Dolan has been a great support to me over the years. I was delighted he was in a position to come to Ballyvaughan on this trip and visit me and to see my recent work in the studio,” Richard told The Clare Champion. Richard was born in Beirut and raised in Dublin but has lived in Ballyvaughan …

HISTORY will come alive in The Halfway this week, when a very special recording will take place. Peadar White, whose family have lived on the Clare Road for generations, will be detailing a verbal history of both the Clare Road and The Halfway on this Friday night. He will be recorded, ensuring that the many stories of those who lived and worked in the area over the years will not be forgotten by future generations. Fittingly, the recording will take place at The Halfway and those visiting the venue at 8pm will get a chance to hear the historical stories firsthand. “The whole idea for this came about when I was on walkabouts and I saw signs up saying such and such a pub was so old, and another pub was another age. I said to Frank, my brother, who owns The Halfway, how old is this place? And he said, you do the history and we will find out,” …

Loop Head Lighthouse’s status as a Signature Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way and as one of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland will be promoted over the airwaves throughout the world this weekend. A group of amateur ham radio operators are making their annual visit the lighthouse where they will communicate via radio and Morse code with hundreds of radio clubs worldwide. The Limerick Radio Club, will operate non-stop for 48 hours from this Friday , as part of the 18th annual International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend (ILLW). Clare County Council, along and the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL), is facilitating the operation from Loop Head Lighthouse while the Limerick Radio Club has also received approval from Ireland’s Communications Regulator, Com Reg. The call sign used will be E I 0 L H L.

Anxious about your Leaving Certificate results? The Exam Helpline 2015, provided by the National Parents’ Council Post Primary, will be open to offer advice, information and support when the results are released on Wednesday The 1800 265 165 Freephone helpline will be open from 10am on Wednesday to take calls from students, parents and teachers seeking advice and up to date information on what choices are available to students. The Helpline is sponsored by eircom, supported by the Department of Education and Skills and staffed by members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. The Helpline received thousands of calls last year, helping students make informed decisions about the choices they face and their future career paths. All queries on third level courses, the points system, rechecks, repeats, CAO procedures, apprenticeships and further training options will be dealt with in a professional and confidential manner. The opening hours of HELPLINE 2015 are: Wednesday, August 12: 10am-7pm Thursday, August 13: 10am-7pm Friday, …