Tag Archives: Mid West Simon

CLAIMS that people have been seen injecting “in broad daylight” as well as “public urination and worse” in an Ennis lane-way have led residents to petition for the closure of a right of way. The concerns of residents of Dalcassian Park and Upper Turnpike Road were relayed at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where it was alleged that anti-social behaviour has been on the increase at the lane-way since a change in management at the Laurel Lodge hostel. According to Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy 62 out of 67 households closest to the lane-way to the rear of the Turnpike Road have signed the petition urging the council to extinguish the public right of way. She outlined that residents have experienced “ongoing intimidation”, detailing an incident where gardaí had to be called to deal with a number of men drunk and disorderly in the lane. “This is a very settled community with a lot of older people and they …

ARDNACRUSHA was the starting point for the highly successful second annual charity cycle organised by O’Neill Industrial to highlight the issue of homelessness.  The event, in aid of Mid-West Simon, saw 75 cyclists set out from South East Clare at 9am and cover 75 kilometres through Broadford, Mountshannon and down to Killaloe.  A warm sunny day created ideal conditions and made the scenery all the more beautiful along the shores of Lough Derg.  Organisers expressed “a massive thank you” to all the cyclists and volunteers as well as BikeMarshals.ie and St John’s Ambulance for keeping everyone safe and making the day such a success. The cycle ended at 2pm with a barbeque at McMahon’s Bar Ardnacrusha, with a vibrant atmosphere and glorious sunshine. Michael O’Neill, Sales Director at O’Neill Industrial said the organisation was pleased to support Mid-West Simon. “We are absolutely delighted with the charity cycle, such was the demand, that I had to close the online Eventbrite bookings a week …

FOUNDER of the Snámhaí Sásta swimming group in Spanish Point, June Curtin is hoping to raise €50,000 for Mid West Simon by Christmas. She has recorded a song with CDs on sale around the county right now, while on Wednesday she started swimming three times a day at Spanish Point, repeating her successful 2020 fundraiser. Speaking about the song, June says, “The Snámhái Sásta community and I recorded a single in Martin O’Malley’s studio outside Miltown Malbay. It’s a Tommy Fleming song, Don’t Give Up Till It’s Over, we had 1,000 CDs printed and they’re available in Ennis and all around Clare. All of the proceeds will go to the Mid West Simon Community.” On Wednesday she began her fundraising swims which will continue over the next three weeks and builds on what she did this time last year. “Last year I swam three times a day from December 1 to December 21 at 9.15, 1.15 and 4.15, every day, …

Clann Nua project had successful trial in Limerick AN innovative project aimed at tackling an accommodation shortage for single homeless people has been introduced to Clare. Mid-West Simon Community over the past few weeks has worked with Clare County Council to introduce the Tenancy Sustainment project throughout Ennis. Clann Nua meaning New Family was developed by Mid-West Simon Community in response to the shortage of single unit property which is resulting in single people having to remain in emergency accommodation for longer than necessary. Jackie Bonfield, CEO of Mid-West Simon Community said, “Clann Nua provides the opportunity for two or more previously homeless people to share one permanent rental housing unit. “These are acquired through CAS/RAS funding or through the Clare County Council long-term social lease with a private landlord.” Mid-West Simon started the initiative in the summer of 2020 with the backing of Limerick City and County Council and showing great success the programme is now being rolled out …

AN appeal to support homeless people in Clare and other parts of the Mid West has had a “phenomenal” response according to organisers. Mid West Simon joined forces with Bus Éireann recently with a ‘Fill a Bus’ appeal, seeking contributions for the vulnerable, homeless and those at risk of homelessness in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary this Christmas. More than 1,000 items were donated to fill bus parked up in Limerick last Thursday. The ‘Fill a Bus Food Appeal’ has been a “fantastic success” according to Jackie Bonfield, CEO of Mid West Simon. “The response from the people of Limerick has been phenomenal and the bus was filled to the brim with basic food staples, Christmas treats, toiletries and household goods. I would like to sincerely thank all those who contributed and especially to Bus Éireann staff for organizing this wonderful initiative and for helping out on the day. Please know that many adults and children have benefited from the …

POLL-topper Violet-Anne Wynne has pledged to donate her estimated rent arrears of €12,000 to a mental health charity following her eviction from social housing a few years ago. The Kilrush-based mother-of-five created a political sensation by becoming the first Sinn Féin candidate to win a Dáil seat in almost 100 years after securing 8,987 first preferences in the General Election. Rural Resettlement Ireland (RRI) took a case against Violet-Anne Wynne and her partner John Montaine to respond to a claim notice issued for the sum of €12,126 being the amount of four years’ rent arrears up to June 3rd, 2016, according to court documents. RRI were granted a decree for the repossession of one of their dwellings in Tullycrine, Kilrush by Ennis District Court on July 28, 2017 with a two month stay. A weekly rent of €63.64 was set under a letting agreement dated December 1, 2011 and the family remained in the Tullycrine house until December 2017. Ms …

Employment Affairs & Social Protection Minister, Regina Doherty has urged local charities to avail of the food products that are made available for people in need, through the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD). The Minister was on a visit to the FoodCloud Hubs facility that stores such food products and manages their distribution. She met with representatives of a number of charities that already avail of the EU initiative through FEAD and heard their views on its benefits for financially disadvantaged people. The total value of FEAD up to 2020 in Ireland is €26.7m, €4 m of which comes from the Irish Exchequer. Almost two-thirds of the funding is applied to the provision of food with the remaining going to the provision of basic material assistance. Minister Doherty said, “In addition to the provision of food aid, my department is working with partner organisations to deliver basic material aid. For example, using FEAD funding, the Mid-West …

MID West Simon, who operate food banks in Ennis and Kilrush, said double income families are increasingly availing of their services. In addition, 550 people in the county are having some or all of their food supplied by the food banks. Mid West Simon general manager, Jackie Bonfield, told The Clare Champion that families with students about to attend third level are amongst those who are now using food banks and she is encouraging people in similar circumstances to also do so. “In recent months, we have had a number of double and middle income families, with both parents working, getting in touch with us. This is particularly relevant at the moment because families who have teenagers about to start at third level are feeling the financial strain. People who are finding it difficult to manage rent, mortgage repayments and other bills are often double income families,” Jackie Bonfield revealed. “We have recently secured food with long shelf-life and we …