East Clare

SMALL acts of kindness can make a big difference to a person living with dementia, according to Limerick dementia advisor, Sean Donal O’Shea. Mr O’Shea urges any family member who is caring for a person with dementia to contact their local dementia advisor. He also believes a person should also contact their local general practitioner who will know the family and their circumstances. “There is a dementia advisor in every county now. Six or seven years ago, there were only eight dementia advisors in the country. Now we have 31. This shows the Government is listening,” he said. “I have been lobbying with the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland since 2007. There was nothing in budget after budget. In the most recent budget, ringfenced dementia funding has been provided, which is very valuable. “It is the small things that are the big things for a person with dementia. Covid-19 was an eye-opener for everyone when we were all locked in to …

Growing up in a twin community straddling two counties has helped a World Dance Championship entrant to take part in Rose of Tralee selection conventions in successive years. Tara Brady, Ballina, will participate in the Tipperary Rose selection in the Anner Hotel on March 24, a week before she will be competing in the World Dance Championships. Last year, Ms Brady (23) participated in the Clare Rose competition following encouragement from her uncle, Eddie O’Gorman, Killaloe. “It was a fabulous experience. I met so many intelligent, brilliant, funny girls. I would probably have never met them only for the Clare Rose because they all came from different backgrounds and age groups,” she said. “I am still in contact with some of those girls today. I would encourage any woman who is thinking about entering the Rose competition to go for it. “You learn a lot about yourself and it is a great confidence builder. The whole emphasis is on the …

    An Ardnacrusha third-level student scooped €3,000 as part of a prestigious prize to help her academic pursuits. Eva McMahon (21) was one of the three University of Limerick students from the Faculty of Science and Engineering who received prestigious awards from Regeneron Ireland. Ms McMahon, Kate Storan from Dooradoyle and Anna Feenan from Carrigaline were presented with their awards at a special ceremony in Regeneron’s Industrial Operations and Production Supply (IOPS) facility in Raheen, Limerick recently. Students from the University of Limerick were given the unique opportunity to compete for awards in Quality Control, Manufacturing, or Engineering, depending on their specific field of study. The students were tasked with the exciting challenge of developing a project based on a topic provided by Regeneron. They presented their work to a group of business representatives, followed by an interactive question and answer session, allowing them to engage directly with Regeneron colleagues. The three award winners received a paid internship at …

Ballina Handball Club has installed a new defibrillator costing an estimated €1,600 on the outside wall of their handball alley for the benefit of the club and residents. This latest initiative is part of the club’s drive to increase the provision of facilities for the benefit of the local national school and the local community. The first part of this drive was the introduction of dads and lads as well as mothers and others in the handball alley to encourage people to engage in a fun physical exercise without the commitment of training for or entering a competition. This started about three weeks ago and already it is proving very popular with people who never played handball previously. Teaming up with Defibs for Life in Nenagh, the club contacted this organisation who was delighted to supply a defibrillator on the proviso they would receive a donation. Club Chairman, Paddy Collins explained a defibrillator is essential for a club and the …

As a lone parent raising four children on her own and a house renter, Fiona Levie knows what it is like to struggle financially before overcoming several obstacles to become a business consultant and lecturer. Experiencing the highs and lows in business has steeled the Mountshannon resident for the rough and tumble of local politics before she decided to contest the next Local Elections in the Killaloe Municipal District. Her husband is now classified as a missing person, leaving her in an unusual and difficult limbo. Ms Levie explained that she moved to Spain for six years with her husband and young family after they were offered an opportunity to take over a yacht brokerage. Following the death of her father, she returned to Ireland in late 2010, but her husband remained in Spain, leaving her to raise their children on her own without his support. “I came back with nothing and had to start all over again as a …

AN EAST Clare non profit seed bank has branched out to Áras an Uachtaráin after presenting president Michael D Higgins with a special tree in memory of his dog. Irish Seed Savers Association received the presidential seal of approval recently after a Lough Key Crab tree was planted at Áras an Uachtaráin in memory of the beloved Bernese Mountain Dog, Bród owned by President Higgins and his wife, Sabina. President Higgins expressed his gratitude for the meaningful gesture from the Irish Seed Savers Association, emphasising the importance of preserving Ireland’s agricultural heritage. The planting of the Lough Key Crab tree at Áras an Uachtaráin serves as a poignant tribute to Bród and contributes to the protection of Ireland’s apple tree heritage. Four members of the ISSA attended the planting ceremony including Communications Development Co-ordinator, Gillian Lattimore, Executive Director, Elaine Bradley, Orchard Team members, Marie Collins, Scariff, and Anne English. Áras an Uachtaráin Head Gardener, Robert Norris showed the ISSA the …

AN Ardnacrusha speech and language therapist, who was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD at the age of 25, is hoping to follow in the footsteps of a former Leaving Certificate classmate at the Miss Ireland final next month. Miss Clare, Céira Moroney (27) is looking forward to participating in various Miss Ireland events over the coming weeks before the final in the Crown Plaza Hotel, Dublin on November 4. They include a sports day, an online makeup challenge, a modeling round, and head-to-head public speaking. Reigning Miss Ireland Doctor Ivanna McMahon, from Barefield who is Dyslexic, is an ambassador for Dyslexic Ireland, worked in the GP Scheme at Tralee General Hospital throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, before she was crowned the 75th Miss Ireland at a ceremony in Castlebar last year. Dr Ivanna entered the competition as Miss Munster 2022 but left with the Miss Ireland title. Interestingly, Céira Moroney was a Leaving Certificate classmate of Ms McMahon at Limerick Tutorial …

More than two thirds of couples are meeting online, according to the author of a new book “Third Time Lucky at Table L2”. The increasing popularity of online dating has prompted a Broadford woman to provide a guide with useful tips to navigate what can be a “quagmire” for those who are ill-prepared to distinguish between a virtual lothario and a genuine lover. It is a book about internet dating, demonstrating what to expect when looking for love online interspersed with true stories of romantic adventures and misadventures. The book will be launched in the Washer Woman, Ballina, Killaloe on Saturday, September 2, at 7.30pm. Now living in Ballina, Killaloe, her book has a happy ending as she chronicles how she found love just across the river with her current partner. “I was at a wedding recently where the couple met on “Plenty of Fish”, which was where I met my partner, Kerry Blake, who is in my final chapter,” …