New representatives for Ennis Rapid

FIVE community representatives have been appointed to Ennis Rapid Community Assembly.

Preparations had been made over the past month for the first formal election of community representatives to Ennis Rapid but five nominated candidates were appointed on Tuesday without a vote being cast, as the number of candidates equalled the number of vacant seats. The election planned for Thursday, April 22 will not now go ahead.
The five new representatives are Eileen Courtney, Dalcassian Park; Mairéad Lavery, John Paul Avenue; Maureen Hand, Stonecourt; Tara Skerritt, Clancy Park and Felix Omorodion, Shallee Drive, Cloughleigh.
They will join other community activists and volunteers on the Community Assembly in strengthening Rapid-supported organisations.
Eileen Courtney has been living in Dalcassian Park for over 25 years. She was in the residents association for a number of years and worked as a house parent with the Brothers of Charity for many years. She also worked as a bus driver for the Alzheimers Society and Enable Ireland. She is currently working for a charitable organisation in Ennis.
Mairéad Lavery is currently a second-year business and tourism VTOS student. She was previously involved in the estate’s residents association. She was formerly on the board of management of Cloughleigh National School and on the committee of Cloughleigh Boy Scouts and was involved in the project that resulted in the building of Cloughleigh Community Centre. Her husband John is heavily involved in soccer in Ennis and was one of the founding members of Cloughleigh Celtic and Cloughleigh Schoolboys Soccer. She has lived in Ennis all of her life and is one of the well-known Kenny family.
Maureen Hand has lived in Stonecourt since 1996. She has a huge interest in community development and has worked in various roles over a long period. She is a qualified community development worker and has worked in Ennis West Partners and in Ennis Community Development Project. She currently works on a FÁS scheme as a support secretary to Dermot Hayes in the Clare branch of People with Disabilities Ireland.
Tara Skerritt lives in Clancy Park and is secretary of the residents association. She has been working to highlight the concerns and needs of her area for many years.
Felix Omorodion lives in Shalee Drive and has been living in Ennis for eight years. He is a Nigerian native and a member of the African Association in Ennis. He has organised African and Nigerian events for other members of his community for a number of years. He was instrumental in having an African mass in Ennis and he also organises get-togethers for other African nationals, including events on Nigerian independence day. He was working in Banta in Limerick for a few years but was made redundant last year.
Michael Neylon, the coordinator of the Rapid programme, welcomed the new appointments and stated “their expertise, community knowledge and contribution to the various Rapid projects will benefit the area in the years to come”.
The various Rapid-supported organisations work in the Rapid community with young people (Park United Soccer Club and Ennis West Judo Club); older people (Young at Heart Association) and Community Services (Rapid Community Bus Company).
The Community Assembly has plans to develop further community groups in the areas of environment, education, family support, health and community safety.
“These organisations will contribute to the social fabric and quality of life of the community and will prosper long after particular programmes have run their lifetime. These will be the long-term contribution of the Rapid Programme to the community. Their success rests on the voluntary commitment of the Rapid Community Assembly,” Mr Neylon added.