Lifestyle

The Midwestern Cancer Information and Support Centre at University Hospital Limerick has commenced its ‘Strides for Life’ Programme, a 15 week walking programme developed by the Irish Cancer Society for cancer survivors. The Cancer Information and Support Centre, located in the grounds of the University Hospital Limerick offers patients and their families’ practical information and emotional support in a friendly environment. Twenty cancer survivors from across the Midwest have signed up to take part in the ‘Strides for Life’ programme, which was developed specifically by the Irish Cancer Society for cancer support services around the country. ‘Strides for Life’ brings participants through a structured walking programme, gradually increasing fitness and training over its course. The programme aims to bring the individual to a level of fitness where they can help reduce their risk of a recurrence of the cancer and improve their health and quality of life. A key part of ‘Strides for Life’ is the role which programme volunteers …

The third round of the Clare senior football championship produced its fair share of surprise results not least the elimination of Kilmurry-Ibrickane who lost out to Ennistymon at Cusack Park on Sunday. The winners showed from an early stage that it would take a big effort to stop them from marching on. They led by three points at half time and held this advantage throughout the third quarter. Kilmurry made a number of changes and this helped them get back into contention and they drew level inside the final ten minutes before a superb Ennistymon move ended with corner back Enda Ralph shooting to the net for the game’s only goal which helped them to a 1-9 to 0-9 victory. On Saturday in Cooraclare, O’Currys proved too strong for a fancied Lissycasey side and scored a merited one point win, 0-7 to 0-6. The winners dominated the opening half and were full value for their 0-6 to 0-1 half time …

LOOKING at an old photograph from the 1950s and reminiscing about the skiffle group that he formed with his three childhood friends, Tony Mulvey’s eyes sparkle as he recalls the memories. Tony says the photograph of the group, called the Drifters, was taken by his late brother, Frankie, a priest based in Cardiff since 1959, who died in August last year. “The picture was taken in the laneway between myself and Tom Quinn’s house at Clonroad, Ennis in 1957, I’d say,” he says. “Skiffle was in vogue at the time and there were a few skiffle groups in Ennis.” Tony says a skiffle group had a steel washboard that was used for the rhythm section and a tea-chest that was converted into a bass. “There were a number of skiffle groups in Ennis there at that time around the ’57, ’58 period and there were a lot of skiffle competitions going on,” Tony recalls. “It was kind of the start …

Top designer, Paul Costelloe is to be honoured for his contribution to the Irish fashion industry, as part of  Ennis Fashion Week 2015, a festival of fashion, beauty and health. Businesses are invited to participate in Ennis Fashion Week to work together in promoting Ennis as the boutique capital of Ireland. Ennis Fashion Week aims to raise the profile of the town’s independent and unique shopping experience at national and local levels and attract people to the town. The schedule of events for 2015 will kick off with the official opening, Hats and High Tea, on Sunday, September 20 at Glór where attendees can enjoy an afternoon of fabulous hats and accessories from Ireland’s top milliners and designers. Fashion on the Rails, a unique boutique fashion show on a privately booked Intercity train, will depart Ennis Train Station on Thursday evening (24), with an after party planned for Taylor’s Bar, The Market. The Clare and Irish Fashion Designers Showcase and inaugural EFW Business …

MAIRÉAD Considine can’t help but admit to clear pride at the fact that Moyasta will host up to 70 traditional music musicians this weekend for the 13th Crotty Galvin Festival. Her native townland, Shragh, is just a couple of miles away and it was while at primary school there that her love of music was honed. Mairéad attributes this to Yvonne Griffin, who taught her at Shragh National School. “She is definitely responsible for me playing and she is probably responsible for my career path as well. She was such an influence and so passionate. She used to teach me at break time,” Mairéad, who teaches at Ennistymon National School, recalled. This weekend’s festival commemorates the seismic contribution made to traditional music by the Crotty brothers and Nell Galvin. “Growing up, Peadar would have been one of the musicians you would have wanted to play beside. I would also have known of his younger brother, PJ. When you’re young, you …

ONE person per day was rescued by a lifeguard in Clare last month, as 32 people were rescued during July. A total of 16 people were rescued from the water, the highest number in July for any county nationwide and Clare’s water safety officer, Claire McGrath, has praised the tremendous work of lifeguards. The figures published by Irish Water Safety also confirmed that a further 16 people were rescued from crafts, while there were 16 children who were reported as being lost for a period of time. Irish Water Safety said more than 1,100 accidents were prevented, as a result of positive actions by lifeguards. Speaking to The Clare Champion, Ms McGrath said it was a testament to the dedicated work of lifeguards in the county that more than 1,100 accidents were prevented and so many people were rescued. “The beaches in Clare are extremely busy and the lifeguards do a tremendous job,” she said. “We have a number of lifeguards …

August has been a really busy month at The Hogsprickle. A young hoglet about three-months-old was found near St Flannan’s with a nasty strimmer injury, which had caused a gaping wound along his back and the poor little guy had to have an emergency operation. Unfortunately, due to the extent of his wounds, he lost his fight. Two other hedgehogs came in with hind leg and foot injuries and again emergency operations were needed. These guys are doing well and will be ready for release in a few weeks. We also had a call about a female hedgehog who had fallen into a cattle grid. She had been there for perhaps a week or so and was very dehydrated and thin, she wasn’t expected to live the night. She had emergency fluids and treatment and after a day or so, she was eating and drinking well. She has put on weight and has had an injury on her hind leg …

Famous travel and adventure show, The Road Less Travelled, stopped off in Clare this week as they toured Ireland. Presented by explorer and adventurer, Jonathan Legg and broadcast to an audience of up to six million, the show travelled the country, as the presenter and crew filmed an episode for their upcoming fourth season. The team followed a route, drawn up by Fáilte Ireland, to showcase Irish food and drink, along with some new and unusual experiences on offer across the country. In Clare, the crew took in Doolin, Ennistymon and visited the Cliffs of Moher. Describing their experience in Ireland, Jonathan said,”The food in Ireland was a highlight. Once you put a forkful in your mouth it immediately impresses.After speaking with some of the country’s top chefs I understand why. Irish chefs are taking real pride in locally sourcing their food and the quality of the ingredients comes directly from the quality of the land on which it was …