The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
AN initiative from the office of the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council is looking to celebrate kindness and good deeds done by members of the public around the county during the pandemic to date.
Cathaoirleach Mary Howard is inviting Clare people to nominate fellow citizens for recognition as ‘Clare Covid Heroes’ for the help and support they have provided to others during Covid-19.
Councillor Howard said the idea is to provide recognition for people who have helped others, with no expectation of any reward. “This initiative is about celebrating the ‘everyday heroes’ all around us who have been quietly helping and supporting others during the past year under the various Covid-19 restrictions.
“From providing practical assistance, such as ordering online shopping for older relatives and neighbours, to offering emotional support, perhaps through socially distanced visits or video and phone call check-ins, people in our communities have really been there for each other. Little gestures can mean a lot, and can have a big impact on the lives of others. The past year has been very challenging in all sorts of ways. But the response of people in Clare to support and be there for each other has been commendable, indeed heroic.”
Regarding the type of things that people have done for each other, the county’s first citizen added, “It’s about someone getting the paper every day, someone fixing a gate, someone just being there that you can depend on. Over the last 14 months we have seen people going to extraordinary lengths to support others and to ensure they don’t feel left out. It has been a very lonely and isolating time for the whole community. People have been extraordinarily kind and thoughtful and those are the people that I want to be recognised. Somebody who brought you the paper every day, who made sure you had enough fuel throughout the winter, someone who would pick up your groceries or your medicine, the person that made a difference to you.”
She added, “We know staff working in our frontline services have gone beyond all our expectations in meeting the Covid-19 challenge, and they can count on our ongoing support and boundless gratitude. This initiative, however, is about recognising the everyday efforts of people who are not providing professional services but have been doing little things to help others. Simple gestures such as these are so important in minimising loneliness and isolation, especially among vulnerable people.
“Their inspiring contribution to the community response throughout Covid-19 is to be commended. I invite people in Clare to nominate fellow members of the community who have made an impact on their lives that may quietly have gone unnoticed but that deserve to be recognised.‘Covid Heroes’ are all around us, and as Cathaoirleach I want to thank and congratulate people for the good deeds they have done,” she concluded.
Nominations of 150 words or less may be made by post to ‘Clare Covid Heroes’, Office of the Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, or by email to cathaoirleach@clarecoco.ie.
All nominations will be reviewed and considered by the ‘Clare Covid Heroes’ panel.
Those selected will receive a special certificate of commendation from the Cathaoirleach. For further information visit: https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/competitions/clare-covid-heroes/default.html
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
