Tag Archives: Clare Sports Partnership

THE recent Autism Activity GAA Camp held at Cusack Park, Ennis has been hailed a success by the organisers and participants, writes Dan Danaher. Fifty-five children ranging in age from six to 13 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) enjoyed a wide variety of activities including parachute games, ball games, obstacle courses, foam javelin, tug-of-war, hurling and a variation of tag rugby thanks to the assistance of more than 40 coaches, volunteers and helpers during the three days. They were also given the opportunity to play hurling, if they wished during the second hour of the camp. Every morning children were given sensory activities to regulate their sensory needs before the start of the two-hour session. Clare GAA provided about 17 coaches, which included camogie players and ladies’ footballers. Clare Ladies’ footballer, Ellie O’Gorman helped out as a volunteer for the three days. She was joined by Aidan McCarthy, Aine O’Loughlin and Clare footballer Darragh Bohannon, who also visited the camp. …

Clare Local Sports Partnership showcases initiatives to Minster Frank Feighan at Lees Road PROJECTS aimed at ensuring all members of society have an opportunity to take part in physical activity and sport were showcased during a visit of Minister of State Frank Feighan to Ennis last week. The Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy witnessed two of the projects in action which have been led by Clare Sports Partnership while he was at Active Ennis John O’Sullivan Park, Lees Road. John Conroy from Fitness for Fun, led an outdoor exercise class which has become a popular weekly event among older adults. Also, James O’Donohue, disability representative to Clare Sports Partnership, and Liam Casey, a wheelchair user from Ennis also showcased handcycles for those who use wheelchairs. The TD was met by board members and staff of Clare Local Sports Partnership including chairperson to the board, Tim Forde, Councillor Ann Norton, Mayor of …

AN EVENT to mark Pride Month in Clare will offer help to communities and organisations on how they can best support the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. The webinar, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, June 30, will be of interest to LGBTQ+ people, their families and friends and anyone who wants to support them. It is being hosted by Quare Clare and Clare Sports Partnership, and will feature speakers from Belong To, GOSHH and LINC, three of the support and community organisations available to LGBTQ+ people and their friends and families. Guest speaker at the webinar will be Mayo All-Star footballer Fiona McHale, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a PhD researcher in Physical Activity and Health at the University of Limerick (UL). Bernie O’Gorman of Quare Clare noted that a survey conducted earlier this year had highlighted the need for better supports. “An online survey we conducted in March highlighted an urgent need for supports and services for the LGBTQ+ …

ON this National No Smoking Day County Clare is launching a ‘Not Around Us’ campaign. The initiative is being led by Clare County Council’s Healthy Clare team in partnership with a range of stakeholders including the HSE’s QUIT-Mid-West team, Clare Comhairle na nÓg, Clare Children and Young People’s Services Committee, Clare Youth Services, Clare Sports Partnership, Greener Clare and Healthy Ireland. “Not Around Us” is another step Towards a Tobacco and Vape Free Clare by promoting environments where it is easier for those who smoke to quit and stay quit and to help de-normalise smoking for the next generation. The campaign is in response to the government’s national target for a less than 5% smoking prevalence in Ireland by 2025. It is about supporting Chapter 7 of the Tobacco Free Ireland policy – denormalisation of smoking and protection of children and young people. The purpose of Not Around Us is to: • Help protect children and young people from second-hand smoke exposure. • Contribute to the denormalisation of …

THE latest lessons at Scoil Chríost Rí in Ennis have been causing quite a splash among its students. Last week saw 90 primary school students take part in a pilot programme introducing them to kayaking. This is just the first step of a project which is hoped to result in establishment of an Outdoor Adventure Hub at the riverside school which will benefit the entire town. Kayak le Chéile was formed earlier this year by primary school teachers, Jó Mag Fhearadhaigh and Conor Healy, with a view to establishing a club in Ennis which would facilitate access to the River Fergus for water sports. The new club began its ambitious programme with a Level 1 training course for staff members with an interest in kayaking. Nevsail Watersports provided tuition and the course was attended by representatives from Gaelscoil Mhichíl Ciosóg, Clare Youth Services, Scoil Chríost Rí and the local community.  With the support of Clare Sports Partnership, a pilot programme …

  TWO local organisations are seeking six extra volunteer wardens to monitor long distance walking trails in the county. Clare Local Development Company and Clare Sports Partnership are expanding the “Clare Trail Volunteer Warden” programme. Clare has 420km of trails including long distance walking trails like The Burren Way and East Clare Way, looped walking trails Like Lough Avalla Farm Loop and the Ballyvaughan Wood Loop and on-road cycling trails in Loop Head and Doolin. The trails are managed by a variety of local community groups, Clare Local Development Company, Clare Trails ltd, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Coillte. Eoin Hogan, rural recreation officer for Clare explained the biggest challenge with managing an off road trails such as the Lough Avalla Farm Loop, the Burren Way and the East Clare Way is finding out about the issues that might need addressing, such as broken stiles, missing directional sign. “The goal of our initiative is to expand the already successful …

An innovative way of encouraging members of the family to get out and exercise together has been launched by Clare Sports Partnership. The ‘Adventure Walks Clare’ Smartphone App encourages parents and their children to walk or run up to 2.5 km around the town of Ennis and Active Ennis John O’Sullivan Park, Lees Road, whilst playing a treasure hunt game. The seven trails featured on the free app include adventures designed for families with children aged between 6 and 14. Councillor Tom McNamara, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council and Clare Sports Partnership Board member, said, “Innovations like the adventure app are wonderful examples of the initiatives that Clare Sports Partnership uses in order to get more and more people active.” “Anyone who is a parent or guardian of young children know the issues we have in getting our children to walk any distance,” explained John Sweeney, Coordinator, Clare Sports Partnership. He continued, “We are also aware of the growing problem …

Ennis will host the very first Light Up The Night safety campaign event on this Thursday evening. The main focus of this campaign is to educate all vulnerable road users on how to be visible to traffic. The campaign is to ensure that all road users not only wear high visibility clothing but clothing that is reflective also. The campaign will begin at 6pm with a Light Up Your Bike safety workshop on the ground floor of Unit 1 , Westgate Business Park , Kilrush Road (across from World of Wonder). The RSA will be providing free high visibilty and reflective gear, as well as a free set of lights to all vulnerable road users. The workshop will be followed by a cycle of Ennis by-pass or the N85 Western Relief Road. “We are asking the runners and walkers of the Ennis area to put on your high visibility reflective gear and come out  and support this idea and help …