October 2001

DRAMA fans are set for a great treat in Carnmore Centre this month when
Compantas Lir stage their highly successful Supper Theatre.
The event which features two plays and as well as a meal and wine has been a tremendous success over the past decade

This year the Supper Theatre will be held on Oct 16, 17 and 18 and already the demand for tickets is hotting up.
The tickets are maintained at £7.50 each ‹ tremendous value when one takes into consideration the standard of drama and the meal and wines served at the half time interval. The tickets are available from committee members.
This year the two plays are produced by Brid Conneely and Lilyann Hannon and are guaranteed to entertain the 700 or so who are lucky enough to get tickets for the event.
Muldoon's Oriental Cafe which was written by Seamus Burke is produced by
Brid Conneely.

The play is set in Larry and Biddy Muldoon's front room which has been transformed into the dining room of Muldoon's Oriental Cafe.
Larry has his own menu, but does not bargain for the strange clientele that comes into the cafe. The play stars Mike Hession, Carmel Kenny, Paddy Greaney, Patsy Cahalan, Michael Fleming, Kevin Duffy, Maire Kavanagh and Simon Kavanagh.
The second play Brian Friel's Losers is directed by Lilyann Hannon and stars Eddie Fitzgerald, Liz Hession, Patricia Carton and Evelyn Casserly, with stage management by Christopher Carton.

This play looks at two couples: As Mag and Joe live for the future Andy and Hanna dwell on the past. This pair in their prime court on the couch, rebel against the rosary and hide passion with poetry in an attempt to avoid the watchful eye of St Philomena.
From the blatant youth and energy of Mag and Joe to the hilarity of the covert courtship between Andy and Hanna, this fascinating study of human relationships has immense appeal for both young and old alike.

The Compantas Lir supper theatre is the main fundraiser for the group's
activities for the year ahead and on each of the three nights, there will
be a large number of prizes to be won in the raffle.
The group will be embarking on their preparations for the All-Ireland
three-act circuit in the next ten weeks.

For more information on the supper theatre and other aspects of Compantas
Lir, contact chairman Seamus McNulty at (091) 798862

The fund-raising calendar is now with the printers and will be ready later in the month. Thanks to all the local businesses who generously gave sponsorship. The committee are launching it in the meeting room of the Centre on Tuesday the 23d October. The calendar will be available at £5 each. All are welcome to the launch. Watch local shops for further details.

MONTHLY UPDATE ON MORTUARY CHAPEL MEETING ROOM/CAR PARKING PROJECT
The amount contributed in the monthly envelopes during the month of September as £6,656 bringing the total amount contributed in the eleven months since fund raising began last November to £93,198.

A TOUCH OF HUMOUR
The priest at our church experienced some technical problems with the sound system one Sunday. Instead of beginning the service with “The Lord be with you,” as usual, he said: “There’s something wrong with the microphone.” Not hearing this, the congregation responded, “And also with you.”

Why do married women find dieting more difficult than single women?
When single women come home, they look at what’s in the fridge and go to bed. When married women come home, they look at what’s in bed and go to the fridge.

Bhí an céad leath go han mhaith. Ach ní raibh Padraic Joyce go han mhaith sa chéad leath mar bhí an ghrian á dhalladh agus chic sé an liathróid amach thar an líne. Bhí na foirne ar chomhscór ag leath ama. Bhí an dara leath go hiontach. Fuair an Mhí cic pianóis. Chic Trevor Giles an pianóis ach chuaigh an liathróid amach thar an líne. Thosaigh muinntur na Gaillimhe ag béiceadh. Bhí díoma ar mhuinntur an Mhí. Bhí siad ina dtost.Bhí Padraic Joyce ar fheabhas agus ghnóthaigh sé deich gcuilín.Thaispeáin an réiteoir cárta buí do chúpla peileadóirí. Fuair Nigel Nestor cárta dearg.Béigean dó dul go dtí an taobh líne. Nuair a bhí an cluiche thart bhí an bua ag Gaillimh agus ghlac Gary Fahy,an captaen, corn Sam Mhic Uidhir. Bhí an scór seacht gcuilín déag in aghaidh ocht gcuilín. Nuair a bhí an oráid thart rith beirt duine ón bhfoireann timpeall na páirce leis an gcorn. Fuair peileadóirí na Gaillimhe bonn óir agus fuair peileadóirí an Mhí bonn airgid. Thosaigh foireann na Gaillimhe agus daoine ón Gaillimh ag ceiliúradh.

Máire Ní Allmhuráin,
aon bhlian déag daois
Rang a cúig
S.N Baile Clár na Gaillimhe.

Sanator McDonagh contacted me very promptly and suggested that both he and Cllr. Grealish meet with me to discuss the matter. The Council replied that they were looking into the matter and later wrote stating that, in their opinion, there were adequate safety measure in place, I.e. Signs and Flashing lights. The Gardai did not reply.

During the holidays, I met with Senator McDonagh at the school, where I pointed out the problems and possible solutions. He invited me to bring a deputation to meet with Council members during September, where both he and Cllr. Grealish would give us their full backing.

I then approached the Parent’s Association and asked if some of their members would be willing to accompany me to the meeting. They agreed, as they are also very concerned about safety at the school.

On Monday, September 24th, Malachy Noone, John Carton and I, met with Councillors, Engineers and various other Council staff to discuss our fears. We set out our fears, told of near accidents we had witnessed and offered possible solutions. We also invited all present to come to the school at closing time to see for themselves the situation, as we felt that it needs to be seen to be understood.

In the short-term, it was decided to place a continuous white line in the middle of the road, along with NO OVERTAKING signs and it was requested that parents report to the Gardai anyone seen speeding or overtaking in the vicinity of the school. Also it was agreed to look into, and rectify, any area which becomes flooded in the wet weather and which forces the children to go outside the cars to gain entry to them. The Gardai are also expected to make spot checks outside the school.

In the long-term, it was agreed to carry out a study into the possibility of providing Traffic Calming measures on this dangerous stretch of road.

Parents themselves can of course make things safer by parking more responsibly. Please leave adequate room for the school bus to pull in and collect the children safely. More room would be available for parking if the teachers were allowed to park at right angles to the school wall. However in the mornings, many parents block off this area by parking parallel to the road out at the broken yellow line and abandoning their cars, forcing the teachers to park parallel to the wall themselves, leaving less room for parents at 3 o’clock.
Also, some parents double-park, which is extremely dangerous, as the children have to walk out into the road to get into the cars.
If everyone thought before parking, it would make the area a little safer for all and hopefully prevent what I believe is an accident waiting to happen.

The Councillors are due to get back to our delegation with further news, and I will keep you informed of it. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Senator McDonagh and Councillor Noel Grealish for all their help in this matter.

In the meantime, please drive and park carefully for the sake of all our children.

The History of Halloween
HISTORY
What is Halloween? Is it demons stalking? Witches flying over the full moon on broomsticks and cackling? The word "Halloween" is from All Saints day, All Hallows Eve and Hallow Even. The Celebration of Halloween was originally the New Years Eve of the Celts, the eve of Samhain. It was believed that the Dead or disembodied spirits of those who had died would stalk the earth in search of fresh victims to possess. Villagers would take desperate means to avoid being possessed by the evil spirits stalking the earth on that dark night of OCT 31 they would put out the fires in their homes to make them cold and unwelcome to spirits in search of a soul to posses. They would also dress up in all sorts of scary attire to fool the stalking entities! They would wander the village passing out food and making as much noise as possible to scare away the spooks

CUSTOMS
TRICK OR TREATING: It was thought that after you died, your soul would be stuck in purgatory. To send souls to heaven, people used to go "SOULING" on OCTOBER 31. They would go around all the villages asking for "soul cakes" The relatives of the dead would pass on the "treats" to ensure the promise of prayers for their deceased loved ones and enable their way to heaven. The more "Treats" given the more prayers would be offered. This was one practice that trick or treating was believed to come from. It was also known as "Mischief Night."

SYMBOLS
BATS: The scary fluttering bat was thought to be associated with vampires who were thought to shape shift into the nocturnal blood drinking bat!
BLACK CAT: During the Mass hysteria of the "Burning Times" witches were said to use the midnight color black cat as a "Familiar"
BONFIRES: During the Celtic new year the ancient villagers would build a big fire and celebrate the coming year and the passing of winter.
JACK-O-LANTERN: An American twist on ancient Celtic tradition of carrying hollowed out vegetables as candle holders and lanterns to ward off evil.

Halloween Jokes
Why do witches fly on brooms? Because vacuum cleaner cords aren’t long enough!
When is it bad luck to meet a black cat? When you’re a mouse!
What do you call a fat Jack-O-Lantern? A plumpkin
Where do baby ghosts go during the day? Dayscare Centres
Which story do all little witches love to hear at bedtime? Ghoul Deluxe and the Three Scares

October, an Samhán ,is the month when we start getting frosts and the days begin to shorten. With this comes the end of the growing season with plants going into dormancy. It is usually a good time to plant new material or for moving existing plants.

Older gardeners will remember back 20 years ago or so when it was a rarity to buy trees or shrubs in pots, only unusual or difficult plants were grown in pots. Everything else was sold bare rooted or rootballed and of course many plants still are sold in this way in Autumn. Bare rooted plants have the soil shaken from the roots when they are lifted, this is done for convenience and ease of transport. Rootballed plants have a ball of soil retained around the roots to reduce stress caused to the plant and to increase its chance of success when replanted. New gardeners may not be aware of the ease with which many trees and shrubs grow from barerooted or rootballed material. The biggest advantage of buying these plants is that they are cheaper than pot grown plants. Bare rooted plants are best planted in Autumn. Because the damp months that follow, most bare rooted plants planted at this time will be nicely established before the weather warms up next Spring. Bare rooted plants can also be planted in Spring of course but Autumn planting is better. While pot grown plants can be planted at any time, even in Summer, if you are prepared to water them. It is also true that even pot grown material establishes best in Autumn. The exception to this would be exposed areas where winter gales could cause damage.

Not all plants can be grown rootballed or bare rooted, it is mostly made up of trees, conifers and hedging type plants. Large trees and conifers generally come rootballed and trees of smaller sizes and hedging generaly come barerooted.
Conifers of all varieties e.g. Thujas, Chamecyparis species all come rootballed. They are larger than potted specimens and always cheaper. Approximately 60-70% of all trees can be got barerooted or rootballed in larger sizes. Hedging of all types can be got barerooted, for example, fuschia, laurels, escallonia, griselinia, beech, hawthorn, etc. The time for all these to be lifted is generally from the end of October onwards until March. Don’t miss out!

The lawns at this time of year generally look a little anaemic so apply an autumn lawn feed to help it recover. If we continue to get this very wet weather, stay off the lawn to avoid any compaction. Reduce the number of cuts and raise the height of cut.

The vegetable garden has little to do now. You could plant spring cabbage and autumn onion sets. Maincrop onions that are beginning to go yellow at the tips can be lifted now. Insert a digging fork under the bulbs and lift them slightly to loosen the roots without breaking them. This will hasten ripening, but don’t bend the tops over as this only invites disease.

Apple trees and other fruit trees are showing their harvest now. People ask how to keep the fruit. You can use trays with open layers and stack them in that or roll up undamaged fruit in a roll or newspaper and keep in a dark cool place. Another way is to put apples in a plastic bag and close the top. This builds up the carbon dioxide in the bag. Put two pinpricks in the bag to prevent excess carbon dioxide. (Carbon dioxide is used in cold stores). Store the fruit in a cool place and the fruit should last. Apples are the best keepers. Finally, feed all fruit trees with sulphate of potash now.

Many people ask what colour can they put into their containers at this time of the year. The first thing to bear in mind is there isn’t the same choice as there is in summer and winter bedding generally does not give as much colour or show as summer bedding. However in my opinion winter bedding stands out more so, particularly as everything is so dull and bare in the winter months. The following is a list of plants suitable for winter colour—winter pansies, polyanthus, winter flowering heathers, chrysanthemums, skimmias, carex evergold, variegated ivies, cyclamens, violas, wallflowers, winter and spring flowering bulbs.

Bulbs bring me to my next piece. Every spring I get asked “is it too late to plant daffodils and tulips “?. In general, it is. You may still buy some pots of them but it is too late to plant the bulbs themselves. So get planting and there is a huge range of varieties available now. Daffodils are the perennial favourites, the earliest starting in February going right into May with later varieties. There are dwarf narcissi types for very windy locations or for tubs, some examples are ‘tete a tete’, Jetfire, ‘Rip Van Winkle’, etc. Snowdrops need no introduction, but plant in a rich free draining soil. Tulips are best left for planting until last, to help prevent slug damage. When the foliage comes out, protect from slugs with slug pellets or in an organic way by scattering ashes from the fire on the soil around them. Hyacinths come in two forms, one for planting out into the garden and one especially prepared so as to flower indoors for Christmas, both having great scents. Hyacinths for Christmas can be planted early, singly or in a group of the same colour. Place them in a dark, cool place in moist garden compost and the buds will begin to appear after a couple of weeks. Bring them into the light to green them up and enjoy the flowers after that.

Many people plant bulbs in lawns or fields, described as naturalizing bulbs. Place the bulbs (usually daffodils) in natural drifts in the grass and plant them 5-7 inches apart. Either lift a turf with a spade and plant several bulbs underneath or use a bulb planter to excavate a plug of soil, plant the bulbs and replace the plug.

Planting depths for bulbs is roughly three times its own size, down in the soil, more or less, does not really matter. Bulbs are cheap, come up when you least expect them, return every year and multiply in numbers, so they are a bright and cheerful way of brightening up your garden and giving you an indication.

That’s it for now, Happy Gardening.
Bosco McDermott, Jnr.,
Glynn’s Garden Centre and Fruit & Veg.
Lydican.

Special News
Congratulations to the following couples who got married recently:
Caroline Murphy of Cregboy and Kenneth Folan of Knocknacarra on the 15th September Rachel Cribbin, Cahergowan, and Captain Barry O’Loughlin of Corofin on the 27th September.

Congratulations to Gerri and Philip McManus, Rockwood on the birth of their baby daughter on the 14th September—a sister for John, Eimear and Martin.

Congratulations also to Anne-Marie and Ronan McDonagh, Riveroaks, on the birth of their baby son—a brother for Cian

Birthday wishes to Niall Farrell, Cregboy on the 10th October. Have a good day Niall!!

Recent Deaths
Jimmy Leonard, Carnmore.
Winnie Qualter, Gortcloonmore.
Patrick Duggan, Bawnmore.
Baby Shane Norman, Knockdoe, Claregalway.

Skin Care & Aromatherapy Clinic,
Kiniska, Claregalway and Main Street, Clarinbridge.
091-798485/776824
Hair and Scalp Massage—Stress has a detrimental affect on our physical and mental wellbeing, therefore a scalp massage is your chance to take on the healing and restorative powers of deep relaxation.
Muscles are relaxed which results in increasing blood flow, thus supplying the scalp with nutrients.
It promotes relaxation and reduces stress. This massage can be carried out by yourself at home or attend your beauty therapist.
Use coconut oil or olive oil to massage the scalp and then using your fingers massage the scalp to loosen it. Pay particular attention to the base of the skull by circling your thumbs along the hairline, leave the oil on your scalp for a couple of hours before washing it thoroughly to remove all traces of oil. A teaspoon of cider vinegar for dark hair and lemon juice for fine hair added to your final rinse will restore sheen afterwards.

Decorating the Dining Room area
With changing lifestyles, hectic and conflicting timetables, lack of space etc. all have contributed to the decline of the separate dining room in recent decades. Once it was the heart of the home, but in modern homes the kitchen has replaced it. Whether you have a separate dining room or it’s part of the kitchen or living room, even it the family only eats together occasionally and you rarely entertain, your dining area needs to be practical and comfortable. Nothing is more disturbing to eating comfort than being in a passage route, having to pull in your chair to let someone past. The dining area should also be close to where the food is prepared. A pleasant view adds to the enjoyment of food, so try to place the table near French doors or a window, where it also benefits from natural light.
Before you decide to site or decorate your dining area consider your family’s eating habits and whether you entertain or not. Consider the number that needs to be accommodated and their ages. Fancy décor may be not such a good idea with small children. Will the room be used during the day or just at night? If you are into entertaining, do you like to have large or small groups, do you like it to formal or informal, and what type of mood to you want to create? A dining room that can be dressed up for special occasions, yet serve the everyday needs of the family can work well.

A separate dining room allows you to escape from the everyday things and to relax over a meal with family or friends. For special occasions, it allows you to bring out e.g. the good china or to decorate the table in a special way. You can be more adventurous with the décor on a dining room than e.g. in a bedroom or living room, where you spend longer periods of time. If it’s only used at night you don’t have to worry about natural light. You could use colours like reds. If you have well-proportioned windows, you can create a grand windows treatment with swags and tails. For convenience the room should be close to the kitchen and in particular a room leading off the kitchen is ideal for family meals and more formal entertaining. If you don’t have a throughway, a serving hatch is a good idea.

A kitchen / dining area combination is very popular at the moment and is less formal and more family orientated than the separate dining room. Family meals maybe the only time everyone is together so it’s important the setting is convenient, enjoyable and relaxing as possible, you don’t want people worrying about spills etc. You have access to the cooking area, food, cutlery etc. If space permits you could partition off the dining area with e.g. a counter-top unit, which could also be used as a breakfast bar. Use colour to co-ordinate the décor and soft furnishings, therefore creating a separate identify for dining.

A living room / dining area can also work well, particularly where a dividing wall has been removed. If possible have the dining area at the end nearest the kitchen. Having the dining area with the living room is a sensible arrangement and can provide comfortable surroundings for mealtimes. It can also provide extra place to study, do paperwork etc. between meals. The room’s shape may suggest the site of the dining area e.g. alcove formed by a bay window. If the room is big enough it may be worth creating a visual break between the two areas. You could do this with e.g. a freestanding double fronted cabinet or open shelving system. Change in floor level could also be used. The lower level for the seating area and upper level for dining.
You can approach the decorating in two ways. The first is to keep everything simple and use a single range of colours, fabrics etc. for both areas, this will create a sense of space. Or you could emphasise the difference between the living and dining areas with subtle contrasts, but avoid decorating the two areas in very different styles or it will look visually confused. A dual-purpose room is worth considering if the dining room is underused. You could have a study/dining room where the table could double as desk, or have a folding table with a sofa bed, which could act as a dining/guest room. A conservatory would also make a wonderful dining area particularly on a warm evening.

Surface – Wall and Floor Covering:
The type of floor covering you use will depend on the style of dining area, but it makes good sense to go for a robust one, because with eating, you have the risk of food spills. A family room will have to stand up to daily wear and tear, more than a formal dining room. To create an easy-going styles choose flooring which is neutral in colour and easy to keep clean e.g. wood-strip flooring or polished floorboards. A living room / dining area can have the same flooring throughout for a roomy look with a rug or two to give identity to the separate areas or have the carpet in the living section. Keep the colours tonally close as possible for a chic look. It may be possible to use carpet in a separate dining room. Wall-to-wall carpeting muffles sound and provides comfort and warmth underfoot. Rich colours are very dramatic and help create a sense of intimacy. You could use all-over patterned one or a plain coloured carpet with a border. A washable cotton rug under a dining table offers some protection to the carpet. Terracotta tiles or vinyl are other options for a dining area, but keep in mind the noise of wooden chairs on a hard floor, particularly if there aren’t other soft surfaces in the room.

The wall treatment will also depend on the style and mood you want to create. If you are decorating a separate room, you have more options, as you are not restricted by the décor of the surrounding areas e.g. the kitchen or living room. Since the dining room is not a place that is used for long periods every day, you can go for a more striking decorating scheme. Intense colours and rich patterns make a dramatic background for entertaining and will look well at night. Wallpaper creates a cosy quality. Natural prints with leaves, stems or flowers look well in a room, which over looks a garden. To create a period style install reproduction moldings, cornices, and ceiling centrepieces, but only if the room can take them. If the room is small it may be better to have a soft modern style or just use one reproduction feature.

Furnishings:
Buying dining furniture is a big investment so shop around before you purchase. The dining table is the centrepiece of dining room/area, so it should be given a lot of consideration. They come in a lot of styles, shapes and sizes. You have round, oval, square, and rectangular shapes. In a small room, a round table can seat more, it also allows for conversation. In a bigger room the choice can be a rectangular or oval table, but make sure it’s not too big for the space. Dining chairs needn’t match the table but they should be in keeping with its style. You need somewhere to store crockery, cutlery, glasses etc. A traditional sideboard, dresser or modern units are all possible choices and they can also double as serving tables.

Lighting / Accessories:
Using different light sources in a dining room/area is a good idea. Combine a central light over the dining table with discreet side lighting. Softer secondary light can come from table lamps placed on a sideboard or dresser. Fit lights with dimmers to create atmosphere and don’t forget the charm of real candlelight. Decorating the table with tableware and accessories can be great fun. Colourful tablecloths or tablemats hide a multitude of sins – a cheap table can be disguised with a long, bright cloth and made a feature of it for a special occasion. A fresh flower arrangement adds to the atmosphere, but keep it low so people can see and talk to each other.

Eating should be an enjoyable experience, a time for families and friends to sit together. Balancing a tray in front of the TV or eating at the breakfast bar is ok for snacks, but it is no way to enjoy food on a regular basis.

EDITORIAL
The events of Tuesday, September 11th will remain indelible on people’s minds as one of the worst tragedies of modern time. The terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York and on the Pentagon in Washington rendered people speechless and reeling with shock. The world will never be the same again. People have become fearful of further terrorist attacks. Retaliation will achieve nothing but more grief and heartache— “An eye for an eye only leads to more blindness.”

However, September was not all doom and gloom, especially for Galway Football fans. The Galway Footballers did us all proud when they brought home the Sam Maguire for a second time in four years, despite going in as the “underdogs” against the favourites to win—Meath. It was a brilliant game and the excitement was second to none on their arrival back to Galway where they were greeted with bonfires and rapturous cheering by their devoted fans. Well done to all. Can we hope for an encore next year?!!!
Until next time,
Josette

CHOOSING A CAREER - ELECTRICIAN
The Work of an Electrician
Electricians are employed chiefly in the installation and maintenance of electrical apparatus and equipment. Electricians employed by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) engage in electrical power supply. Electricians employed by electrical contractors are usually engaged in the installation of lighting, heating and power equipment and the repair of existing equipment and appliances. Those in industrial employment are generally engaged in the maintenance and repair of factory plant, machinery and generating equipment.
In the past this has been primarily a male career. FÁS would like to actively encourage young women to consider this area of employment.

Apprenticeship
The trade is designated for Apprenticeship Training and as such is governed by the Statutory Apprenticeship rules which have been made by FÁS.

Entry Requirements
In order to become an apprentice a candidate must:
be at least sixteen years of age on the commencement date of his/her apprenticeship.
have at least a Grade D in any five subjects in the Junior Certificate Examination (or approved equivalent), or satisfactorily complete a FÁS Pre-Apprenticeship Course.
have passed a Colour Vision Test approved by FÁS.

How to become an Electrician
The trade is designated for Apprenticeship Training and as such is governed by the Statutory Apprenticeship rules which have been made by FÁS.
You must obtain a job as an apprentice with a suitable employer who can offer you the apprenticeship in your chosen occupation and
Your employer must register you with FÁS as an apprentice at the commencement of the apprenticeship. Before seeking the apprenticeship you should:
see the type of work being done in the occupation in which you are interested.
consider participating in a FÁS Pre-Apprenticeship Course which helps prepare you for an apprenticeship. In particular these courses provide practical and theoretical training for women to prepare them to train and work in a traditionally male environment.
ask employers, qualified craftspersons or apprentices about the occupation and career opportunities available.
seek the advice of your parents or guardians and career guidance counsellors as appropriate.To get an apprenticeship you should:
investigate apprentice job opportunities with local employers.
look for apprentice job advertisements in local and national newspapers as many large organisations advertise their apprentice vacancies.
consult with a Career Guidance Teacher or School Principal as some employers recruit through local schools.
advise FÁS so that FÁS can place your name on a list of those interested in apprenticeship. Such lists are made available, on request, to employers who are recruiting apprentices.

Women Apprentices
To help women to enter into apprenticeship training FÁS now offers a Bursary to employers who recruit women apprentices.

Structure of Apprenticeship Training
The apprentice is required to follow a specific course of training and to undergo a series of assessments to confirm that the required standards have been reached.
The apprenticeship consists of seven phases of training both on-the-job with the employer and off-the-job in a FÁS Training Centre or Educational College, as shown below:
Phase 1 On-the-job
Phase 2 Off-the-job
Phase 3 On-the-job
Phase 4 Off-the-job
Phase 5 On-the-job
Phase 6 Off-the-job
Phase 7 On-the-job
Phase 1, On-the-job, is an introduction to apprenticeship, safety, the world of work and an introduction to the basic skills of the occupation.
Phase 2, 4 and 6, Off-the-job, give the apprentice full-time skills training and related education and provide time for practice of the skills.
Phases 3, 5 and 7, On-the-job, entail the practice and further development of the skills learned in the Off-the-job Phases.

Training
Technical Training (Off-the-Job)
This form of training involves learning practical skills together with the theoretical elements including maths, science, drawing and personal development skills.
Apprentices will be required to pass a series of Modular Assessments (tests) throughout this training. These will consist of practical tests, short answer and/or multiple choice knowledge tests and coursework assessments. No fees are payable to attend off-the-job training/education, which are run on a block release basis and where this necessitates living away from home, FÁS will pay travelling expenses and make an allowance towards accommodation expenses.

Practical Training (On-the-Job)
This form of training is with the employer where the apprentice gets practical training and experience of doing the job. In addition to the skills and knowledge gained, the apprentice will develop stamina, confidence and the ability to perform to industrial standards. The apprentice will be assessed on the ability to perform specified tasks to pre-set standards.

Completion and Certification of Apprenticeship
On successful completion of the apprenticeship the apprentice will be awarded the National Craft Certificate which has both national and international recognition.

Normal Promotional Prospects
Opportunities arise from time to time for promotion to supervisor, chargehand or foreperson level. Many persons use an apprenticeship as a first step in proceeding to such occupations as technicians, instructors, teachers, training advisors, managers and owners of businesses. Where apprentices and craftspersons have the necessary ability, initiative and basic qualifications, opportunities are available for advancement. These include advanced technological and management courses which are available in Colleges of Technology, including Regional Technical Colleges, Schools of Management, Professional Institutes, etc.
Persons anxious to advance themselves in their careers are advised to discover for themselves what opportunities are available. Where to go for

Further Information
Further information can be obtained from your local FÁS Office.
More detailed information on Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship Training and the Bursary for Women is contained in the brochures 'A Scheme that Measures Up to Your Needs - Employers', 'A Scheme that Measures Up to Your Needs - Apprentice Applicants' and 'A Bursary Scheme for Women Apprentices'.

It's Supper Time for Compantas Lir	Gardening with Bosco
Claregalway Leisure Centre Calendar	Special News
Monthly Update on Mortuary Chapel	Skin Care and Aromatherapy Clinic
A Touch of Humour	Interior Design - Hints and Tips
Cluiche Ceannais na Eireann	Editorial
Safety at Claregalway N.S.	Choosing a Career - Electrician
The History of Halloween