Tag Archives: Scariff Community College

PROGRESS with the provision of additional classrooms at an East Clare secondary school is moving as quickly as possible, the Minister for Education has said. Minister Norma Foley gave the assurance on the long-awaited new rooms, which will include facilities for practical work, in response to a question from Deputy Cathal Crowe. The Meelick man raised the issue in the Dáil, asking for an update and timeline on the works. In response, Minister Foley confirmed that, under Project 2040, under her Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme two new mainstream classrooms are to be provided as well as a metalwork room and a woodwork room. She confirmed that the project has been “devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare ETB (LCETB)”. “In respect of Scariff Community College, the project was approved in February 2017 and proceeded through the various stages of the architectural planning process thereafter,” Minister Foley outlined. “A Stage 1/2A report was received in May 2018 in that respect and …

A CLARE-BASED driver education programme has launched Ireland’s very first e-scooter safety course which is set to be rolled out in schools across the country. The Irish School of Excellence, founded by Clare native Kieran O’Brien, has joined forces with Bird, a leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, to launch the course. The announcement of the new programme comes just weeks after the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind highlighted the hazards caused by e-scooters, calling for a ban on their use on footpaths and a reduced speed limit of 12km/h among other proposals. Mr O’Brien, CEO and founder of ISOE, explained that when it came to setting up the new course he was moved by the organisations’ statements to the Oireachtas Committee on Transport highlighting their concerns about e-scooters. “We were going to add e-scooter training as part of our overall driver education programme in schools, Mr O’Brien …

A MOUNTSHANNON man’s cutting-edge research into positive uses for waste plastics, has secured more than a quarter of a million euro in backing from the Welsh government. Dr Alvin Orbaek White, who works at Swansea University, has pioneered a technology that changes waste plastic into valuable compounds for the energy industries, reducing plastics pollution in the process. The research will be instrumental in addressing the global transition to more efficient, cleaner energy resources and providing a new life for waste plastics, keeping them out of land and sea. A past pupil of Waldorf Steiner School in Raheen and later, Scariff Community College, he credits his inspirational work with the passion instilled in him by a number of his former teachers. “I had some great teachers. At Scariff Community College, TJ O’Halloran was really passionate about Science, and Pat Sweeney instilled a love of Maths.” His college years were spent at NUI Galway where he undertook his Bachelor’s degree, before obtaining …

LOCAL geography has come to life for second years at Scariff Community College, where students are making a submission to a review of the County Development Plan. Under the guidance of teacher Darina Sheridan and with support from Carmel Brislane, a planner with the council, the students are making their voices heard on the future of the school’s catchment area of Scariff, Mountshannon and Whitegate. Geography teacher Darina sees the call for submissions to the plan, which will cover 2022-2028, as an opportunity for some real-world learning. “I had looked that the plan previously with a Transition Year (TY) group and realised that there was potential here for the students to look at their own areas and to get to know then and what kind of amenities they would like to see,” she explained. Working with Clare County Council, Darina began to develop practical exercises built around the submission. “We have had Zoom calls with Carmel, which were great,” she …

FOR a young actor, being in lock-down while some of your highest-profile work graces screens around the world, must be something of an anti-climax. For Frank Blake, the enforced isolation in his native Tuamgraney, during the height of the buzz around Normal People, is not without its advantages, however. Frank, who plays the complex character of Alan in the adaptation of the award-nominated novel by Sally Rooney, has been using the time to explore his own screen-writing abilities. Given that his great aunt, Edna O’Brien, is one of the country’s greatest living authors, it’s probably a safe bet that he has more than a little literary talent. Now based in Dublin, the actor has been clocking up significant screen and stage roles, including a part in Druid’s landmark production of Richard III. He returned to East Clare shortly before the lock-down was announced, and just as the BBC3’s Normal People, directed by Lenny Abrahamson, was set for a stratospheric launch. …

Sean McNamara’s involvement in the promotion of Gaelic Games won’t surprise anyone that knows his family. His father Mickey has given long service both with his native O’Callaghan’s Mills club, where he served in many administative roles over the years, including that of club secretary and also with inter-firm GAA in Clare when an employee of SPS Shannon. He is also particularly well-known for his work in the promotion of scór at county, provincial and national levels. Sean has also served his home club in many capacities while, in recent years, his main GAA involvement has been with Scariff Community College, where he has taken charge of many teams since joining the teaching staff almost a decade ago. He now manages a senior side he has seen progress through the various age groups over the past five years. “Our captain, Michael Hynes, captained the school to a Munster U-15 D title and many of that team went on to claim …

[doptg id=”65″]Scariff singer, Sarah McTernan says she is “overwhelmed” to reach the final of the Voice of Ireland, as she never dreamed she would get this far in the competition. The former Scariff Community College student received a rousing welcome home from family, friends and supporters when she came back to her apartment with her coach, Rachel Stevens on Tuesday afternoon. Her most voiciferous fans on team Rachel chanted “Sarah, Sarah” as we walked up the steps of her apartment in Cathedral Court, Ennis with her team coach. Rachel and Sarah enjoyed tea and refreshments with her mother, Sinead and grandmother, Margaret in the company of her house mates at their apartment. Sinead presented Rachel with a tin whistle as a symbol of her daughter’s musical talent and to recognise Clare’s perceived status locally as the home of Irish traditional music. Rachel’s housemates also gave Rachel a Clare jersey with team Rachel written on the back of it to illustrate …

IT has been 20 years since Grease, the musical, was performed by Scariff Community College students and almost 10 years since they last performed a musical but, this November, the T-Birds and Pink Ladies return to the school stage. Scariff Community College’s forthcoming production of the ever popular Grease is directed and choreographed by former East Clare Musical Society director, Tim Landers, with musical direction by Johnny O’Brien. It takes place in Scariff Community College Hall from Thursday, November 13 to Saturday, November 15 and will offer audiences an entertaining evening, full of song, dance and comedy, performed by more than 90 of East Clare’s finest young talents. Taking on the leading roles are Trudy McGonigle as Sandy and Paddy Walsh as Danny. The Pink Ladies are played by Amber Meskell (Rizzo), Alannah Marsh (Frenchy), Fiona Hogan (Jan) and Rachel Allen (Marty), while Rachel Glass plays Patty. The T-Birds are Shane Corry (Keneckie), Josh Maloney (Doody), Oran Treacy (Roger) and …