Tag Archives: charity

IT’S certainly good ‘nudes’ for four local charities following the amazing success of the Ennis Players production of Calendar Girls. A fantastic €31,000 has been raised over the play’s four-night run in Glór, with the amount expected to rise even further. Ennis Players are the donating proceeds to Cahercalla Hospice, Sláinte an Chláir Cancer Centre; the West Clare Mini Marathon Cancer Centre and the Alzheimer’s Day Care Centre in Ennis. [doptg id=”6″] According to Ennis Players, the show was such a success that they have not ruled out returning their 40th anniversary production to the stage.  Chairperson Jackie Scanlan said, “The cast and crew need a much-deserved break but, who knows, we might just look at running it for two nights in October or November. In the meantime, we will be concentrating on our annual supper theatre in The Old Ground Hotel. To those lucky enough to get tickets for the Calendar Girls, we thank you for your continued support …

SUPPORTING an amazing 55 charities since its foundation in 1964, the Ennis and District Soroptimist Club have been at the forefront of charitable fundraising for five decades. A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the organisation was held in Ennis at the weekend, with current president Deirdre Power O’Donnell describing it as a “wonderful occasion.” Guest speaker at the event in the Old Ground Hotel was Minister of State for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan, with an address by Soroptimist National President Noreen Walshe. There were attendances not only from local members, past and present, but also representatives from ten other Soroptimist clubs around Ireland. Deirdre, daughter of founding member Maura Power, recalled how her mother and the other founders Peg Ruttle, Tras Honan, Marie O’Gorman and Ann O’Driscoll started the organisation 50 years ago. And she said that the spirit that encouraged the founders to work for the good of the local community continues on in the organisation’s current …

JESSICA QUINN THE Clare Champion is more used to bringing the county the news, however now we are getting behind the nudes. The Ennis Players latest production will be Calendar Girls, based on the true story of eleven WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund England. And The ‘Champion are supporting their performances in Glór, which will raise funds for not one, but four local charities. The Ennis Players are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their revival, launching their charity production of the fastest selling play in British history at a special meeting this week. The Calendar Girls story was famously made into a film staring Helen Mirren and was subsequently adapted for the stage by Tim Firth, spending the last five years entertaining audiences all over the world. And in the spirit of the original Calendar Girls, the Ennis Players have agreed to donate all proceeds from this production to …

A REQUEST made to members of the national GAA referees panel to highlight an awareness of cancer Clare referee Rory Hickey had his head shaved at the Éire Óg clubhouse. “Back in the autumn, the members of the national referees group were asked to do something to heighten an awareness of cancer. Some of the lads participated in a fundraiser in November and others are doing their project now,” the Ennis man told The Clare Champion. “In conjunction with Micheál Malone from D Barber shop in Francis Street, we decided to participate in a shave and dye project,” explained the Éire Óg GAA clubman, who had his head dyed on Monday last. At Thursday’s event, Rory and Micheál completed the project. “Unfortunately, everyone we speak to has a cancer-related story. Even in our own club, we have had some cancer-related losses over the years,” said Rory, adding that he lost an uncle to cancer in the not too distant past. …

THE Clare branch of the Samaritans are about to begin their 2014 recruitment drive, with three information selection events taking place next week. The first will be held next Tuesday night, at 7.30pm, in the Shannon College of Hotel Management. The second is on Thursday, January 23 at 7.30pm in the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis, while the third is at the same venue on Saturday, January 25 at 11am. Samaritans volunteers come from a wide variety of age groups and backgrounds and more information on what is involved in volunteering will be made available. The Samaritans provide confidential, emotional support to people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including feelings that may lead to suicide. They are available 24/7, 365 days a year. In Clare they are based on the Kilrush Road, Ennis and have had a presence in the Banner County since the early 1980s. All who do go on to become Samaritans volunteers will take part in …