The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
MACRA na Feirme, the rural youth organisation is to launch a new Ennistymon Macra branch this week (January 27). It has been more than 20 years since there was such a club in the town and the revival is seen as a major progression for Macra in Clare which is 74 years old this year.
Following on from the successful launch of the Kilrush club in 2019, the launch forms part of the Clare organisation’s five-year plan and will create a better geographical balance to the clubs in the county.
While the new club will be based in Ennistymon, members from all different backgrounds across the surrounding areas of North Clare are welcome and people from non-farming backgrounds are also encouraged to join.
On Wednesday, January 27, in an online launch, Clare Macra will make a short presentation outlining its activities and the benefits of joining. National President Thomas Duffy will be in attendance. Guest speaker on the night will be local resident Ruairí McKiernan who is a passionate champion for active citizenship. Ruairí is the bestselling author of Hitching for Hope, a former presidential appointee to the Council of State, and founder of the SpunOut.ie national youth information website.
Ahead of the launch Chair of Clare Macra, Cillian Griffey urged young people in North Clare to consider joining. “This is a valuable opportunity for young people in North Clare to get involved with a volunteer-led community youth organisation which is open to farmers and non-farmers alike,” he said. “Macra is contributing to the sustainable development of rural communities right across the country, which is even more important in the Covid-19 environment. We in Clare Macra believe we need more organisations for young people and feel the launch of this club will bring huge benefit to local communities in the area.”
The launch of Ennistymon Macra will take place online via Zoom on Wednesday next at 8pm. Details of how to attending are on Facebook.com/claremacranafeirme. More details are available by emailing clare.macra.chair@gmail.com. It is also possible to join online by visiting Macra.ie.
Macra is a youth organisation for people aged 17-35 interested in socialising, travel, sports, community involvement, public speaking, performing arts and agriculture.
