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 …
Read More »School a ‘risky situation’ for unvaccinated teachers
Teachers’ representatives alarmed over plight of pregnant teachers THE Clare chair of a major teaching union has said she has received calls from pregnant, unvaccinated members suffering from severe anxiety at the prospect of having to return to the classroom. Kate Hehir of St Michael’s Community College in Kilmihil said teachers, who cannot be vaccinated until they are 14 weeks pregnant, have been contacting her about the added stress of being required by The Department of Education to teach in person as the new school year begins. “I have had calls for women who cannot sleep at night due to the stress,” the Clare Chair of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) said. “These are not teachers who are looking to make trouble. In some cases, they might have had repeated IVF treatments or recurrent miscarriages. “These are women who deserve far better protection and to be allowed to work remotely until they are immunised and I can’t understand why …
Read More »Scholarship success for Kilmihil’s Anna Marie
A FORMER student of St Michael’s Community College, Kilmihil, has secured a college scholarship worth €20,000. Last week, Dr Martin Naughton and his wife Carmel announced the winners of the 2020 Naughton Foundation Scholarship Awards giving Anna Marie Meaney a welcome boost for her third-level studies. Anna Marie has accepted a place at National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG), where she is currently studying Biomedical Science. The West Clare woman joins 35 exceptional Irish students who were awarded third-level scholarships in the areas of engineering, science, technology and maths. Anna Marie will receive her funding award in tranches of €5,000, over the four years of her studies. As part of the awards scheme, St Michael’s Community College will also receive €1,000 to support science education. Clare has a proven track record in the awards competition, with Caitríona Ní Riordáin from Colaiste Mhuire, Ennis, taking last year’s top prize. Traditionally the awards are presented by founding patrons, Dr and Mrs Naughton, …
Read More »Local schools give gum the boot
A NATIONWIDE schools’ campaign to raise student awareness of littering is being supported by St Michael’s Community College, Kilmihil and Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna. The Gum Litter Taskforce team visited both schools recently to deliver the Bin It! message. It features an actor-led workshop visiting secondary schools across the participating local authority areas. The workshop is geared towards first year students and explores littering and social responsibility. This is the 11th year the ‘Bin it!’ campaign has toured Ireland and to date over 45,242 students have taken part, with 6,024 attending one of the 63 workshops that ran in 2016 alone. Chairman of the GLT, Paul Kelly said, “The overall aim of the Gum Litter Taskforce campaign has always been to exact a behaviour change amongst the proportion of the public that dispose of chewing gum incorrectly. The Bin It! tour has proven to be an extremely effective, fun and interactive means of getting the important GLT gum disposal message to younger audiences. …
Read More »Hair erasing experience for Kilmihil students
ELEVEN St Michael’s Community College, Kilmihil, fifth-year LCVP pupils, guided by their LCVP teacher, Claire Davoren, recently decided to organise a Shave Or Dye event in their school to raise awareness and funds for the Donal Walsh Livelife Foundation. Forty-eight students took part in the Shave Or Dye. Earlier this month, Elma Walsh, mother of Donal, visited St Michael’s Community College to be presented with a cheque for €1,400. She spoke to the students about the work the foundation does, trying to improve hospice care for teenagers. The fun started in January, when students brainstormed various ideas and, through a group discussion, decided on the Shave Or Dye fundraiser. “Jobs were allocated to all members and a time schedule was agreed on. Every week, we checked our progress against our plan and, if someone was finding it difficult to complete their task, as a group, we discussed other options to help them achieve their aim. “It was a team effort …
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