Tag Archives: Irish Red Cross

VOLUNTEERS with the Irish Red Cross in Clare completed more than 8,000 hours helping the people of Clare last year, with the organisation vowing to continue supporting those in need into 2021 despite Covid-19, However, in order to achieve this the Irish Red Cross will need the people of Clare to help them, with the organisation making a renewed appeal for support in their ongoing fundraising efforts. An online fundraising campaign has been launched aiming to raise €20,000 for the Red Cross in Clare, with just over €2,200 pledged so far. James Lafferty, Irish Red Cross Clare Area Treasurer and Community Support Officer paid tribute to the organisation’s volunteers and loyal supporters as he urged members of the public and local businesses to get behind the Red Cross. “Despite Covid-19  which hit all of us in March 2020 and which is getting a whole lot worse at this time at the start of 2021 we plan to continue supporting the …

CLARE engineer Micheál (Mick) Ryan, who died tragically in a plane crash in Ethiopia last year, has been posthumously named the Humanitarian of the Year by the Irish Red Cross. The Lahinch man was named as the winner of the award at Wednesday’s virtual Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards, with his wife, Naoise Ryan, accepting the award on his behalf. Mick, who lost his life in an Ethopian Airlines flight last year, had dedicated his life to humanitarian work overseas. During his career, Mick worked tirelessly to ensure that vulnerable people in remote parts of the world had access to food and were protected from flooding and other disasters. Speaking of the win, Naoise said, “This award means so much to us and my only regret is that Mick isn’t here to accept it himself, I know he would be so humbled by it. To me it’s recognition of the person that he was, he was a humanitarian in every …

IRISH Red Cross members in the Clare area have recorded 3,240 voluntary hours since the beginning of Covid-19.   The dedicated volunteers in the county’s four branches have been busier than ever since the beginning of the pandemic, despite Covid-related restrictions curtailing many of their usual duties. In the wake of national volunteering week last week, the Irish Red Cross are asking the people of Clare to consider becoming an Irish Red Cross volunteer to help support the vulnerable in their community.   James Lafferty, Ennis Branch Community Support Officer, says that while there was an influx of volunteers during Ireland’s first lockdown, many of those volunteers have since returned to their day jobs and don’t have as much time to deliver groceries, collect prescriptions or transport people to routine appointments.    “I know some people think you need special skills to be a volunteer but every pair of hands is appreciated and drivers with a D license are especially needed at the moment to help with transporting people …

COVID-19 may have resulted in lock-down and the cancellation of events throughout the county, however the Clare branch of the Irish Red Cross has continued its vital support of the community. Even with the pandemic, the branch’s community transport service, which brings people from all over the county to medical appointments, has helped more people than it did in 2018. In order to support the organisation’s work, the need for a second community support vehicle has been identified with the numbers currently being turned away greater than those being helped. James Lafferty, Treasurer and Community Support Officer explains, “The amount of people we have been helping has been unreal, we’ve been a lot busier since Covid.” However in order to achieve this the Clare branch have to raise funds and they are urging the people of the county to support the effort. James explains that due to Covid-19 the popular Tour of Clare fundraiser had to be postponed, and has …

THE Irish Red Cross in Clare have made an appeal to the public to support an online fundraiser as Covid-19 restrictions have put a stop to their usual collections. During the crisis the local organisation’s community support transports have continued to run for essential medical trips only, along with their HSE assists, however funds have dropped significantly. According to James Lafferty, treasurer of Irish Red Cross Clare, “Our volunteers are working harder than ever to make sure you all stay safe during Covid-19”. He is appealing to the public to continue to support them in maintaining the transport service for people in need by donating to their go fundme page. “During these tough times our collections which help keep our fleet on the road have stopped and we are continuing to help the community. Please help us by making a small donation to keep the vehicles running. We need your support so we can continue supporting the people of County …

Projects and organisations in Clare are to receive funding totalling €80,530 from National Lottery grants. Acquired Brian Injury Ireland (formerly The Peter Bradley Foundation) is set to receive €20,000 towards the cost of purchasing a transport vehicle. Kilmaley Daycare Centre has been allocated €25,000 towards the cost of purchasing a replacement bus. Rehabcare Ennis has been awarded €18,000 to go towards purchasing a wheelchair-accessible bus, while the Irish Red Cross Clare Area Committee is to receive €10,000 to be used towards funding the cost of a support vehicle or ambulance. In Ennistymon, the North West Clare Family Resource Centre has been given €4,960 to develop a men’s shed project. Arthritis Ireland will receive €25,700, which will go towards funding weekly Tai Chi classes in Newmarket-on-Fergus. Fine Gael Deputy Joe Carey said the grants allocated by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, will make a big difference. “National Lottery funding is allocated to groups and organisations involved in the provision of …