APRIL 2002

CHANCE FOR LOCALS TO SEE COMPÁNTAS LIR IN LUXURIOUS SURROUNDINGS
COMPANTAS LIR’S fantastic production of the three-act comedy Professor Tim will have a two-night run in Galway’s Town Hall Theatre on Sunday April 21 and Monday April 22.

This is the third time that the Claregalway-Carnmore group will perform on what is acknowledged to be the best stage in the west of Ireland.
The play by George Shields has been picking up awards across the country for the past month on the All-Ireland drama circuit and was a great hit when it played to a packed house at the Claregalway Festival of Drama last month.

However, the good news for locals who missed out on that performance is that tickets are now on sale at the Town Hall Box office at 12 euro each.
The directorial debut of Malachy Noone was rightly honoured and acknowledged at the Claregalway festival of Drama and at many other festivals around the country and his dedication and attention to details was evident as the play picked up acting, set, costume and stagecrew awards.
This year was always going to be tougher than others because many groups were performing the plays they had been rehearsing last year when the foot and mouth crisis forced the cancellation of the circuit, but Comopantas Lir once again resisted the temptation to put winning above entertainment and once again have staged a new play as they have done for all of the 20 years of their existence.

Their excellence has made the name of Claregalway synonomous with good drama and the group are greeted with enthusiasm wherever they go around the country.

Starring the hugely talented and experienced Philip Cribbin in the title role, the play tells the story of two families who come together to arrange a match for a daughter Peggy (played with aplomb by Triona Dunleavy).
Her parents played by Fidelma O’Rourke and Paddy Greaney play the archetypal domineering wife and hen-pecked husband, while the debonaire Vincent Moran is once again the dashing hero.

The second family is played by Mike Hession as a councillor, revelling in his acting role after years of directorial success at the All-Irelands; Mary Booth resplendent in furs; and Padraig O’Connell as the gombeen son. Simon Kavanagh is also excellent as the local auctioneer.

However, the stars of the show are Evelyn Casserly and Eddie Fitzgerald who have brought down the houses on the circuit with Evelyn’s impromptu stripping act, encouraged by the bould Eddie.

The set for the show has been designed by Regis Golding. Tony Broderick, John Brennan, John Whelan and newcomer to the group Remi Duga, who is on work experience from France in Geraghtys’.

Makeup and costumes are overseen by Ann Moran, Sile Mannion and Bernadette Prendergast, while the stage crew of Kevin Duffy, Declan Varley, Seamus McNulty and Patsy Cahalan is led by Carmel Kenny. Lighting is by Francis and Adrian Moran, while sound is by Thomas Maguire.

Tickets for Professor Tim are available from the Town Hall Theatre at (091) 569777.

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RESTAURANT REVIEW - THE ABBEY, CLAREGALWAY

We had the pleasure of dining out in the Abbey Restaurant recently and it was a perfect ending to a perfect day. Before our meal, we had a drink in the Summerfield Lounge, whilst perusing our menu. At this stage of the evening, music over the speakers would have been welcome, as we were all talked out during the day! The proprietor Julie McKenna told us speakers had been broken and were being attended to. The Abbey Restaurant has changed hands and names many times over the years and was always open to criticism. Personally, I have to say we had the most delightful, faultless meal ever. The restaurant is upstairs over the Summerfield Bar. The sound of Andrea Bochelli greeted us on arrival (I am a big fan!). The room is simply furnished and the walls are decorated with the works of local artists, of which we are proud. Our hostess Corle greeted us warmly and graciously, and showed us to a table discreetly placed overlooking Claregalway village. For a moment, I imagined myself in a restaurant in Greece, such was the atmosphere and décor of the restaurant.
The menu was extensive and tantalising and the service second to none. Presentation was extremely professional and appealing - one wanted to try everything!! In fact, between us all, we did try everything and savoured it all!! Who is the chef, the creator of this divine food?

We enjoyed our meal so much, we returned a week later for pub grub and were not disappointed, except for the lack of music!
We availed of the March Special which was a three course dinner very moderately priced at €20 each. I have no doubt but that we will return as often as the pocket allows!

Memories are precious and I thank Corle and her staff for a most wonderful memory of a special day.
Josette

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SPECIAL NEWS
Welcome to baby Emer Lenihan, Lakeview, daughter for Andrea and Tom and sister to Stephen and Ciara, born on the 2nd February 2002.

Welcome also to baby Emma Jane, to Sinead and Michael John Murphy, Gortatcleva, a sister for Clodagh.

Congratulations to Brendan Grealish, Carnmore, on receiving his pilot's licence. Wishing you many years of safe flying.

RECENT DEATHS
Tom Reilly, Cloon
Mary Carr, Gortatleva

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PLEXUS BIO ENERGY
Plexus Bio Energy involves the manipulation and balancing of energies both within and around the human being. These energies are in continuous flow through the body through various energy channels (chakras). These energies vibrate through the body electrically and are responsible for unlocking the coding of regeneration and development within the human being, which is a process that begins within the womb and continues throughout our life.
If the flow of this energy becomes blocked, imbalanced or disturbed in any way, it has an automatic effect on the emotional, mental, spiritual and physical body, meaning the body will not function normally and disease will set in.
In the Plexus Bio Energy clinics, the aim of the therapist is to locate these energy disturbances using a series of hand movements to scan the energy field (aura) which surrounds the body. This energy field is the blueprint of the human being and it reflects the state of the patient who is being treated. It is important to note that these energies can be photographed and measured, it also has been accepted by the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.).

When the therapist has scanned the auro and located the energy disturbance this is not just physical. The therapist is also picking up emotional, mental or spiritual disturbances as well, simply because of the interconnection of every element of the human being which can not be separated. Having advised the patient of same,, the therapist proceeds through another series of movements to release and correct these disturbances.
The treatment is carried out privately over four days in a relaxing environment with special relaxation music in the background. As the treatment is being carried out the patient may feel heat, tingling, coolness or pulling sensation, this is just part of the energy balancing on release taking place. On the second or third day, some patients experience this cleansing out or release as if their conditions were worsening but it is all part of the healing process and it does not last for more than a short period. The worsening of symptoms is usually a prelude to full health.

The Plexus Bio Energy system aims to create a climate to allow you, the individual to achieve full health and to maintain that health. Most importantly Plexus Bio Energy urges people to take back control and responsibility for their own health and life and advices them, that it requires time, effort, knowledge and understanding.
Plexus Bio Energy can treat all diseases and has proved very successful.
The Plexus Bio-Energy Clinic in Merchants Road, Galway and Lower Market Street, Ennis, Co. Clare form Ireland's only Institute of Bio-Energy. Michael O'Doherty and Tom Griffin (Bio Energy Consultants) demonstrated this system on the Late Late Show and created the biggest response to any health issue on television.

All Enquiries to Tom Griffin at (091) 568855 and Michael O'Doherty at (092) 40068

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Skin Care & Aromatherapy Clinic,
Kiniska, Claregalway (091) 798485 and
Main Street, Clarinbridge.
Tel: (091) 776824, Mobile: 087-6783733.

Indian Head Massage
Benefits:
Muscles are relaxed which results in increasing blood flow and the supply of nutrients.
Promotes relaxation and reduces stress.
Eyestrain, headaches and migraines and relieved.
Revitalises circulation to the roots of the hair which helps promote hair growth and delays signs of greying.
Stimulates lymphatic drainage and reducing puffiness in the face.

For more information, contact Evelyn Kitt at above telephone numbers.

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Claregalway Leisure Centre A.G.M.

The AGM of Claregalway Leisure was held in the Centre on March 5th at 9p.m.The following committee was elected, and is comprised of representatives of the various groups using the hall on a regular basis, as well as ordinary members:
Carol Steven (chairman), Tony Clarke (vice-chairman), Siobhán Lynskey (secretary), Gerry Mooney, Hugh Farrell, Mary Forde (badminton), Maura Harte (basketball), Patricia Carton (representing Claregalway National School), Ann King and Gabriel Kearney (Youth Club), Ger Brett and Paddy Barry.
In her chairman's address, Carol Steven thanked all the committee members for their hard work during the year. Special thanks were noted to outgoing members Mary Reidy, Hubert Newell, Margaret Kearney and Ita O'Reilly (outgoing treasurer). At a subsequent meeting Helen O'Connell joined the committee and has agreed to act as treasurer. The Centre has gone from strength to strength over the past year. It is in a healthy financial position,, largely due to the fact there is almost full uptake on the usage. Groups using the hall in the past year include basketball, badminton, indoor soccer, indoor cricket, karate, indoor training for undr tens in Gaelic football (commjnity games), scouts, and various meetings in the upstairs meeting room. The local national school also has the use of the Centre. Over the summer several summer camps are based there also. The local Drama Festival takes place there, as also do several feiseanna during the year. The centre has also been maintained to a high standard, thanks to the committee, and also to the Fás team.

It has been an ongoing aim of the committee to update and refurbish the showers/toilets and kitchen area. A sub-committee comprising of Carol Steven, Tony Clarke, Siobhán Lynskey, Hugh Farrell, Hubert Newell, and Peter Lynskey have been working for some months putting together a refurbishment plan, in conjuction with the committee itself. This plan has now been submitted to Roinn na Gaeltachta, and the committee are awaitng the outcome. No matter what grant may be given, the committee are aware that it will not cover the whole cost of the project, and fundraising has been ongoing throughout the year.
A table quiz was held, and the local calendar which the committee brought out was extremely succcessful. Thanks to Gerry Mooney's great talents as a photographer, it has been much in demand, with ove 850 copies being sold. Thanks are due to all the sponsors who contributed so generously, to all the retail outlets who stocked the calendars, and to the various people who sold it. The other major fundraisers, bag packing, and the annual Craft Fair made a major contribution to the running costs of the hall, which are considerable.
An update on the progress of the refurbishments will be given in future Nuacht Chlaírs.

Siobhán Lynskey.

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HAY FEVER TREATMENTS
As many as 12 % of the population are believed to suffer from hay fever, and the incidence is thought to be increasing. Non-prescription treatments for hay fever are available in both oral and topical formulations. Antihistamines, decongestants and topical steroids are the main treatments used to combat the symptoms.
Antihistamines: Antihistamines are generally effective in controlling symptoms of hayfever, including sneezing, nasal itching, rhinorrhoea (‘runny nose’) and to a lesser extent, allergic conjunctivitis. They are regarded as the treatment of choice. For maximum effect antihistamines should be taken when symptoms are expected rather than after they have started if possible. Antihistamines available without prescription include Zirtek and Clarityn, which are non-sedative and Piriton, which may cause drowsiness. If you are taking any other medication you should tell the pharmacist or consult your doctor.
Nasal Preparations: The products available include decongestant drops or sprays, corticosteroid sprays and sodium cromoglycate. Corticosteroids inhibit the response of the body to allergen exposure and are effective in relieving all nasal symptoms including congestion. If symptoms are already present when treatment is started it may take several days before an effect is noticed and weeks before full relief is obtained. Decongestant preparations are useful to begin treatment when the nose is badly blocked. Sodium cromoglycate is a useful prophylactic agent and is available as eye drops- e.g. Opticrom or Vividrin eye drops.
To assist selection, oral antihistamines- the non sedative products are taken once daily while Piriton (sedating) is taken up to four times a day, they are the common first line treatment. If nasal congestion is severe nasal products should be considered and for severe eye symptoms sodium cromyglcate eye drops are useful.

John Duffy MPSI Claregalway Pharmacy.

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A Touch of Humour
Middle age is whan your age starts showing around your middle.

Middle age is when your wife tells you to pull in your stomach and you already have.

Middle age is … when you need to have a rest after tying your shoelaces.

You know you're middle-aged when the dog lets you get to the stick first.

At fifty you still get the urge - but can't remember what for …

Age only matter when one is aging. Now that you have arrived at a great age, you might just as well be 20.

Old men like to give good advice in order to console themselves for not being any longer able to set bad examples.

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