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New help programme for offenders

A programme designed to rehabilitate criminal offenders, the first of its kind in the country, has been designed by an Ennis-based psychotherapist.Johanna Treacy has designed RIOTS, (Reintegrating Offenders to Society) and the programme has led to her being shortlisted to take part in the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland bootcamp.This week, she will be vying for a place on this year’s Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Social Impact Programme, with a total fund of €500,000 up for grabs.The Social Impact Programme sought applications from individuals developing new, big ideas to address the social and environmental challenges we face in Ireland.Johanna explained that the idea for RIOTS came to her when she studied mediation and conflict intervention in Maynooth.“I always had an interest in people and behaviour, since I’m qualified as a career counsellor, clinical hypnotherapist, life coach and psychotherapist. While studying for the MA, I became very interested in the fact that the conventional methods to criminal justice were undeniably insufficient. The most recent …

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Howard visits US Irish Cultural Centre

Ennis Town Councillor Mary Howard made a big hit with the Phoenix/Ennis Sister City Commission at the Phoenix Irish Cultural and Learning Centre after the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Arizona.The parade had over 70 entries that stretched two miles. The Sonora Band that came up from Mexico was outstanding.  Los San Patricios de Arizona, which is an organisation that supports the more than 150-year-old friendship between the Irish and Mexican people, took first prize with over 20 cowboy (Chorros) horsemen and 14 costumed ladies riding sidesaddle (Escaramusa).  The American flag, led the Los San Patricios entry followed by the flag of Ireland, the flag of Mexico and then the famous Irish St Patrick Battalion flag of the Mexican American War of 1846. The St Patrick’s Battalion Commander, John Riley, was born in Galway and the St Patrick’s Battalion is celebrated annually in Galway, Ireland, Mexico City and now Phoenix, Arizona. They fought valiantly in Mexico over the boundary line …

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Input sought for vision of Ennis

THE first steps towards developing a vision for the future of Ennis are set to take place this week. The people of the town are being encouraged to take part in what has been dubbed a ‘community visioning’, where they will be able to directly contribute to a strategy for how the town will develop socially and economically over the next decade.Local people can make their ideas heard at a number of world cafés and public-space events to take place next week and also online and on twitter.Ennis Town Council recently sanctioned a research team from the University of Limerick’s Practicum programme to carry out community research asking what the people of Ennis would like their town to look like by 2020. The project is supported by the Clare Active Citizenship Network.The world cafés will take place on Thursday, March 31 at 7pm in the offices of Ennis Town Council, Drumbiggle; Friday, April 1 at 10.30am in the same location …

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Council in search of new library site

PLANS for a new library in the town are once again on the agenda, with Clare County Council seeking expressions of interest from the public in identifying a site.It is proposed that the site, or existing completed building, be used for the redevelopment of the main public library and headquarters for Clare Library Service in Ennis.The present library service in Ennis consists of a public library, local studies centre and library headquarters, dispersed across three separate sites at Harmony Row and Mill Road. “The intention is to locate all three services in a new, single location greenfield or brownfield site in the centre of Ennis. The existing locations will be vacated and may be offered as part of the terms of any agreement,” said a spokesperson for the council.A site of 1,600 to 1,800m2 is required or alternatively an existing building with a floor area of up to 4,000m2. “Proximity to the centre of Ennis and the network of schools …

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Killaloe to turn pink for annual walk

A BALLINA-based father-of-two has pledged to participate in a cancer charity walk after his wife lost an eight-year battle with breast cancer.Bobby Reynolds will join up to 1,000 women for the second annual Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk in aid of Action Breast Cancer on May 28. His wife, Michelle, 35, died in October 2009.“All through Michelle’s cancer journey, we had outstanding support from Action Breast Cancer, right up to homecare nurses and nightcare nurses in the last few days of her life and that was a wonderful support.“Our outcome wasn’t what we would have liked but not everyone gets beaten by breast cancer. That’s part of the message that we want to get out and Action Breast Cancer is certainly leading the charge in that regard,” he said.Event organisers are hoping to double participation levels from last year’s hugely successful inaugural event, when 550 took part and raised over €80,000 for Action Breast Cancer.For the organising committee, the event is …

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UL asked to stop students causing havoc

THE University of Limerick has been requested to increase its efforts to prevent a “sizeable minority” of students from causing havoc in neighbouring housing estates.Plassey Residents’ Association chairman, Joseph O’Shea, has asked UL professor Don Barry to address the behaviour of students engaging in anti-social behaviour in Milford Grange, Milford Close, Hazelwood and Elm Park.“The main problem is the pattern of binge drinking adopted by many students who, in order to save money, buy cheap spirits and beer, bring it to their house or flat, get fairly drunk and head for pubs or clubs to top up and meet equally drunk companions.“They are rowdy, destructive and threatening as they head out around 10pm and are worse on the way back from midnight to 4am. On the way back, they urinate and defecate in public, strip aerials, hubcaps and mirrors from cars, remove street signs, overturn bins, throw eggs at cars and houses, smash bottles and drink glasses on the road …

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Celebrating wearing the green and 60 years of marriage

ST Patrick’s Day marked the 60th wedding anniversary of Tony and Mary McCormack, who have been living in Shannon for the last 42 years.Celebrations took place to mark the event and Mary said she had enjoyed their diamond anniversary. “We had the wedding in London and we’re here in Shannon for 42 years now. We celebrated on St Patrick’s Day and we had a lovely time. There were a good few people there, relations and friends.”The couple have received an invitation to visit President Mary McAleese on March 31 and she sent them a letter and signed photograph in honour of the anniversary.The two met at a céilí on the Holloway Road and after going out for three years, they got married. Tony worked in a number of jobs but he still retains a fondness for Shannon company EI. “I really enjoyed working for EI. The pay wasn’t great but we were making a product that was saving lives and …

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