Tag Archives: Cuan An Chlair

A COMMUNITY leader has been lauded for her inspirational work spearheading the provision of a €8.5 million sheltered housing complex in Ennis. Pauline McNamara (72) has been awarded the Margaret O’Leary achievement in community housing for her work with Cuan an Chláir. This award is designed to recognise the achievements and commitment to housing by voluntary board members, individuals or local authority representatives demonstrating a high level of leadership in housing delivery and management over a sustained period. “The award is for all of the committee. It is great to win an award, but my focus is on the next project. What has been achieved by the whole committee is marvellous,” Pauline said. In his nomination submission Cuan an Chláir director, Willie Moloney described Ms McNamara as someone who “nourishes and protects dreams through bad days until she brings them to sunshine and light”. Mr Moloney outlined their chairperson has been the driving force behind the initiative from the start …

WHEN Wexford native, Sr Carmel Kehoe moved to West Clare over three decades ago, it wasn’t so much a new departure, as another stopping-off point along the road less travelled. A member of the Community of the Sisters of St John of God, Carmel has always taken an independent approach to her work. As someone who is passionate about art, writing and all things creative, she also developed the habit of documenting her extraordinary life and has just published a memoir. Much of the book deals with Carmel’s life and times in Clare, where she is well known and much loved for her teaching and community activities. Carmel’s busy life has seen her work in hospital chaplaincy, teaching, and has even involved a short, but successful, stint as a jockey. “That was as part of a fundraiser for people in religious life,” Carmel recalled. “I was asked to get involved and, even though I had never won anything in my …

The announcement by the HSE that it is to support Cuan An Chlair Ltd so that it can open its day care centre has been described by Junior Minister Pat Breen as a huge vote of confidence in the company. “The HSE is to provide €170,000 so that the new day care centre on the grounds of Cahercalla in Ennis can now open. This funding will allow the centre to open and respond to up to 60 people per day for an initial period of one year. During this time the HSE will work to secure the more permanent funding beds. “Cuan an Chlair will provide an essential service to older people in our community, and I am confident its daycare centre has become an integral part of the lives of so many people in the Ennis area,” he added, said Mr Breen. Mr Breen added, “The centre will not only provides a social outlet for older people but it …