Designed
and Maintained by Niall Farrell
© Nuacht Chláir
Hello and welcome
to our Jan/Feb. issue of Nuacht Chláir . It was great to visit Claregalway
National School on their Green
Flag Open Day recently and to see all that can be done with recycled material.
I got rid of our wheel-a-bin around September last year (somewhat apprehensively
I might add), but am glad to report I do not miss it at all. I purchased Ryan’s
recycling bags and Wheel-a-bin bags and did my bit for the environment!! Initially,
I had boxes all over the place segregating this and that, but after a while
I put everything for recycling into one big box and then separated them into
appropriate bags. The Ryan bags are collected the first Thursday of every month
and the wheel-a-bin bags are collected every Tuesday (same day as bins). I leave
a wheel-a-bin bag out approx. twice a month, so the savings are enormous. I
also purchased a compost bin from the County Council and use this for my vegetable
peelings, etc. Hazardous waste is collected separately from various collection
points around the country. Next collection at Claregalway Leisure Centre on
Saturday February 23rd from 9—11 a.m. This would include batteries, flourescent
tubes, medicines, inks, disinfectants, cleaning agents, anti-freeze, make-up,
etc.
We are all part of the environment and need to do our bit for it. Try
it, if it works for me, it will certainly work for you. Let’s see
more bags on the road!!
Until next time, Josette.
CLAREGALWAY NS GREEN FLAG OPEN DAY
Claregalway National School held their Green Flag Open Day on Thursday, January 31st last and it was a huge success. Parents and the general community were invited along to see the amount of recycling carried out in the school. The hard work and sheer ingenuity of all involved drew many admiring gasps from spectators—not many of us realised how much could be recycled. We saw robots, football stadiums, carts, riding stables, pencil holders, telephones, tool boxes, doll houses, power plant, c.d. holders, Claregalway village, Eyre Square blueprint and the list goes on and on—all made from recycable material. It was a thoroughly enjoyable visit and gave us all food for thought. As one logo went “recycling is in, so pop it in”. Credit goes to Ms. Walsh for initiating the whole concept and for encouraging the children in such a positive way. Recycling will be an everyday occurrence with this generation and we can all learn from them. Well done to all involved.
Skin
Care & Aromatherapy Clinic,
Kiniska, Claregalway (091) 798485 and
Main Street, Clarinbridge.
Tel: (091) 776824, Mobile: 087-6783733.
Aromatherapy
in relation to chemotherapy: Chemotherapy for cancer is treatment
with cytotoxic drugs. It can have an affect on the white blood cells,
which help to protect the body from bacteria by fighting infection. This
can result in the person being more susceptible to contracting colds and
other infections. Vaporising essential oils at home that have bactericidal
and antiseptic properties such as eucalyptus, lemon, tea tree and lavendar
will give the body some protection against airborne bacteria. These oils
could also be vaporised in a working environment.
For further information, contact Evelyn Kitt (091-798485 or 087-6783733
Welcome to
a new year in the garden. Like everybody else I am looking forward to
a new year and watching everything burst into life again. Gardening is
a great activity to escape from the stresses of life and watch nature
in its many forms—be that to see bulbs push their way through from
bare earth and cheer us with their spectacular blooms, to birds foraging
on the floor between plants and then head for your peanut feeders, to
the hedgehog gathering leaves for his bed, or watching plants buds swell
and then burst open into leaf again. So get out and get active—great
aerobic exercise! Don’t look upon the garden as a chore but a hobby.
Many people are turned off gardening by spending 2-3 hours cutting a lawn,
if it is that big, buy a ride on lawnmower or buy a share in one with
one or two friends or neighbours. That will cut down on your workload
and not be as boring. Don’t leave all your gardening to the last
minute or one or two times a year. Spend an hour or two twice a fortnight
and it won’t build up, this will be more rewarding and relaxing as
well.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
CHECK LIST
Finally,
looking around people’s gardens, two plants that have been outstanding
this year are one very well known and the other unknown. Heathers are
in everyones gardens, but at this bleak time of year they offer colour
like no other plant, are cheap to buy, easy to grow and grat ground cover.
Some good varieties are Erica ‘Arthur Johnson’, Erica Silberschmeke,
Erica Westwood yellow, Erica Vivellii, Erica Rosalie, Erica Kramers Red,
Erica King George, Erica Snow Queen, and all of these are lime tolerant
varieties.
The unknown plant is Hammamellis Mollis Pallida or witchhazel. This has
spidery type flowers at this time of year that are fragrant and resistant
to frost. They come in a range of colours from red, orange to yellow,
yellow being the best.
Did You Know? Weather has an affect on the size and shape at garden spiders webs. In windy weather the spiders build smaller webs with fewer spirals of silk spaced further apart. When the weather is warmer and there is more food about, the spiders build larger webs, increasing the size of their snare. When the level of humidity goes down, so does the size of the web. So a big spiders web and a red sky at night, is it a sign of good weather coming?!!!
That’s
if for now,
Happy gardening,
Bosco McDermott, Jnr.,
Glynn’s Garden Centre & Fruit & Veg.,
Lydican. Tel: 091-799135
Congratulations
to the following couples to whom the stork delivered babies—
Noreen and Des Devaney, Lakeview—baby girl Rachel, born October 2001.
Julie and Malachy Noone, Crusheen—baby boy Oisín, born November
2001.
Carol and Kieran Duggan, Cregboy - baby boy in December 2001—a brother
for Ross.
Martina and Frank Staunton, Cahergowan—baby girl Niamh, born 17th
December 2001.
Mary and Tom Newell, Montiagh—baby boy Thomas, born 27th December
2001.
Congratulations
to Maura Davitt and Steve Green who were married in Fenore, Co. Clare
on the 19th January and are now living in Kiniska, Claregalway.
Congratulations and best wishes to Berneice Hughes, Cahergowan who got
married to Anthony Collins, Mervue on the 28th December 2001.
Recent Deaths
John Holland, Cloonbiggeen, January 2002
Andy McCallen, Lakeview, January 2002.
Julia Walshe, Gortatleva, January 2002.
Ethnic
Style
The style you choose should be a combination of the style of the house
and your taste rather than current fashions or the previous owner’s
taste. It helps if you live in a house for awhile before deciding a style
or making any major structural changes. This is not always possible. You
can use just one style throughout the house or you can have various ones
in different rooms. The type of atmosphere that you like in the kitchen
may not be what you want in the sitting room. You can also mix and match
different styles in the one room, but this should be done with caution
or you could end with a muddle. It is not different pieces of furniture
that makes the look, but it’s the way things come together, the background
(colours and materials) and type of accessories used with them.
There are numerous styles to choose from, but they can be divided into four major themes and a fifth which I will call “others” which includes those that don’t fit into the main categories. Country Style – within this style you have Cottage, Farmhouse, French Country, Scandinavian, Laura Ashley styles etc. It is an easy and relaxing style, it brings a sense of countryside into a home. Traditional Classical Style is the one that has its roots in the past, borrowing freely from Victorian, Edwardian, and Georgian – the big house. Contemporary Style is inspired by the best traditions of the past, but with a distinctly up-to-date flavour. Those that I categorise under Other Styles e.g. are Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Mediterranean, Minimalist, etc.
The Ethnic Style is influenced by patterns, motifs and handicrafts from non-industrialised cultures. It draws its ideas from Africa, India, China, Latin America and other exotic locations. The look is a combination of natural material, simple practicality and bold use of pattern and colour. Many basic elements of the style – rugs, textiles, decorative objects and even furniture – are handmade; a change from most mass-produced items. It is a relaxed and spontaneous look with the human touch. Holidays abroad can be used to create this style, have fun trawling through local markets or visit artisans’ workshops. It might encourage you to go on trips further a field to find some exciting items. You may already have an item from a holiday, so take it down from the attic and use it as a basis for a new look for the room. The good news is you don’t have to wander too far to find the items to create this look, many are available in local shops. You can also find things at antique shops or fairs. Mass produced fabrics, wall-coverings and accessories are influenced by ethnic theme, so these can be used with more authentic pieces.
The Ethnic Style covers a wide range of different effects, so you can tailor it to suit your room. You create the look with a few well-chosen details or you go for the total effect. One way is to choose influences and objects from one particular area e.g. Africa or the Middle East, but it lends itself to mixing accessories, colours and influences from different lands in one scheme. You could blend the ethnic style with the less rustic look, just have a few accessories in a streamlined, modern room.
Surface
– Walls and Floor coverings:
Choose wall colours from the warm or natural part of the spectrum. Creamy
whites with dark-stained woodwork create a tropical feeling. You can go
for earthy shades of terracotta, dull red, russet, ochre etc. A broken
colour paint effect can suggest roughened plaster. Less than perfect wall
surfaces suit this style. Use wallpaper with an ethnic design or broken
colour effect or it you are more adventurous cover the wall with fabric.
Rough plaster brick or stone walls provide a perfect background for displays.
For a bathroom use earthy coloured tiles or plain ones with a few handmade
decorated ones placed randomly or as a border.
This is not the world of the fitted carpet, but if you must use it, use a plain neutral one. Wooden floorboards waxed and sealed or stained with a dark mahogany colour, stone slabs and terracotta tiles are good choices. Natural materials such as coir, sisal, jute, seagrass and rush are very suitable in creating this style. Interesting rugs such as Indian cotton dhurries, kelims, rugs embroidered with animals or Mexican shapes all provide a decorative feature as well as warmth.
Furnishings:
The natural textures and colours of the Ethnic Style combines with the
simplicity of some modern furnishings but avoid fitted units or the coordinated
look. The emphasis is on comfort and informality. Heavily built, freestanding
storage units and chests from Portugal or Mexico can work well as sideboards
or coffee tables. For seating choose a sofa covered in a plain, rugged
cotton fabric or a modern ethnic print. To give the room a sense of the
outdoors use a rattan or bamboo sofa and chairs with deep cushions to
sink into.
The key to window treatments is simplicity. Formal, tailored or elaborate ones are at odds with this look. Simple curtains made from hand-woven or block-printed textiles look good hanging from wooden or wrought iron poles. Natural cane blinds, plain roller blinds or lengths of white muslin can also be used. Wooden Venetian blinds or louvered shutters look right and give light control.
Lighting
/ Accessories:
Simple glass lanterns, table lamps in natural materials with terracotta
or Chinese Ming style bases or brass lampshades with wide, flat shades
all add to the theme of the room. Fabric covered shades in ethnic designs
make a good topping for plain ceramic or pottery bases. Iron wall sconces
on either side of the fireplace give a restful glow. Candles are an obvious
choice for atmosphere and add an exotic touch. Place nightlights in pierced
brass globes or terracotta pots, or big candles on tall iron or wooden
candlesticks. You can make your own ethnic style ones from old staircase
posts.
Accessories are a big part of this style and a room could be designed around these only. You can capture the right mood with carved African animals or heads, Mexican tin ornaments or painted ceramics etc. The charm of these objects is that no two pieces are made exactly the same. A small grouping of tribal carvings and an old cooking pot on a rough wooden table can look charming and has a curiosity value as well. Use African or Indian framed prints, an Indian mosaic mirror over the fireplace or an ethnic bedspread as a throw for a sofa etc. Tropical plants or exotic hothouse specimens e.g. orchids add to the theme.
There is nothing new about the ethnic style, fashions in decoration has always been influenced by foreign elements e.g. French style in the early eighteenth century or Greek motifs in early nineteenth century. With the world becoming a smaller place the crafts and artifacts of different cultures are influencing the latest trends in the furnishing of our homes. Different styles can live happily together, blending into a look that reflects your own individual personality and this is what really matters.
Mary D. Kelly
Decorating Options
(091) 798224.
General
Some young people know at an early stage what they would like to be -
a teacher, an engineer, a salesperson, a bus-driver perhaps - but there
are many who have no definite ideas about the kind of work they would
like to do. One of the principal needs of young people in Choosing a Career
is information on the opportunities available and awareness of their own
qualities, skills and potential. The information provided in this series
covers a wide range of careers, the kind of work each involves and how
to set about qualifying for them. They are intended to help people in
Choosing a Career. Further research should be made into specific details
of your chosen career.
Good decisions are based on good information. Towards the end of their
third year or in Transition Year in second-level schools most young people
face the first big decision of their lives - the choice of school subjects
which can affect the choice of a career. The choice is important because,
once made, it affects the course of their working lives.
In order to make an informed decision it is essential to know the subject requirement for your chosen career. The most common mistakes made in choosing subjects are (a) not opting for a modern foreign language and (b) not opting for a science subject. It is, therefore, important to find out which subjects are required for your chosen career. Even though in modern conditions it may be easier to change occupations and to re-train, it is important to choose wisely at the beginning in order to avoid wasting years at a job which is not the right one for a particular individual. Ideally, the chosen job should bring personal satisfaction and pride and the opportunity for full development of the individual's talents; the job should also be contributing something worthwhile to the Community.
Points
about Choosing a Career
In Choosing a Career you must take into consideration a number of factors:
what employment opportunities are available, what you would like to do,
what your talents and attainments in school examinations are, what your
family and financial circumstances are and whether you are in a position,
for instance, to take a professional course of training in a technical
college or University. Other factors to be considered are general intelligence,
physique and talent. Remember that human beings are versatile and very
few people are so made that they can only be happy in one particular occupation.
Most people are capable of doing any one of a number of different jobs
with some success and satisfaction, provided the jobs give scope to the
individual's qualities and gifts. For instance, the same qualities that
are required to be a Scientist may be used in a career as a Laboratory
Technician or a Pharmacist, while an understanding and sympathetic personality
could lead one to a career in social work, nursing, public relations or
personnel work.
How to
set about Choosing a Career
A good way to approach the problem would be to list on one side your tastes
and talents: Which school subjects are you best at? Do you write well?
Are you artistic? Do you get on well with people? Do you work best with
a group or do you like to work alone on an exercise or a problem? Are
you a leader, the kind of person your classmates pick as prefect or team
captain, etc? Would you like outdoor or indoor, manual or desk work?
Against this,
list the careers that at first glance interest you and the educational
qualifications and any particular personal qualities required for each
of them. By comparing your two lists you should be able to narrow down
the choice of occupations which you consider would suit you.
Begin drawing up these lists from Junior Certificate year onwards and
update them often during Senior Cycle. This will help the decision-making
process in your final year.
Now study the various career leaflets, noting the entry qualifications required, the work involved and the training you would have to undergo either before starting or while at work. Your first source of advice should be your parents. If you are attending a secondary or vocational school in which there is a Guidance Counsellor you may seek his/her advice. Second Level schools generally give guidance to students in the choice of courses and careers. You will also have to consider, with the help of the school's advisers and your parents, such questions as whether you would be able for any necessary training, the cost of University or similar training in some careers and, if you do not live in a city or large town, whether it would be possible for you to attend such courses of study or training and if you would qualify for grants. The question of whether employment in certain kinds of work does in fact exist at home or whether it is confined to certain areas, large centres of population, etc, must be faced. Opportunities to study/train abroad must also be considered.
Career
Options for Girls
In the past, jobs were often divided into 'men's work' and 'women's work'.
This has meant that young women, in particular, often do not consider
all the possible career options open to them. Non-traditional areas of
work such as the various trades (e.g. electrician, tool-maker, mechanic),
engineering or electronics offer a wide choice of interesting and well-paid
careers. Remember, check out all the options. School
Guidance
and Counselling Service
Students in most second-level schools, whether Secondary, Vocational or
Comprehensive, will have the benefit of an educational and vocational
guidance service, provided by the school and monitored by the Department
of Education's Psychological Service.
Employment
Services (FÁS)
For the most part the information in this series sets out basic details
on careers throughout the country. For information on job opportunities
in particular careers in your own district you should approach the local
FÁS Office where the staff will be able to advise you.
Where
to go for Further Information
In many of the career leaflets you will find the titles and addresses
of professional institutes, trade associations, colleges of training and
education, major employer bodies, etc., who will be prepared to answer
specific enquiries or to furnish more detailed information to young people
interested in particular careers.
Information supplied by FÁS.
News from
your Local Councillor - Noel Grealish
Roadworks
As Galway County Council get their roadworks programme for 2002 underway,
Councillor Noel Grealish has welcomed the proposed 'early starts' in the
Parish which include surface restorations at Crusheeny towards Loughgeorge,
Gortagooey / Cloonbiggin, and Waterview while road reconstruction works
gets underway at Liscananann and the N84 Loughgeorge valued at over Euro
350,000, these works will make a significant difference for all traffics
in the area and bring with them the potential for much safer driving conditions.
R339
The R339 road between Carnmore Cross and Galway gets a great boost with
the announcement that, as part of new package of road grants from the
Junior Minister at the Department of Environment, Robert Molloy T.D.,
over Euro 550,000 is being spent by the Council on continuing works in
this and other areas.
Public
Lights
Having used up the last of his most recent discretionary funds allocation
from the County Council in the installation of a further six public lights,
Councillor Grealish is now awaiting his new allocation so as to ensure
that his commitment to improving the case of poorly lit areas in the parish
continues . Cllr. Grealish hopes to visit various areas throughout the
electoral area over the coming weeks in his efforts to set new priority
lists for inclusion in the public lighting programme while he would welcome
suggestions from individuals and groups as to their particular needs.
N17
Councillor Grealish told the Nuacht Chláir that he is delighted
to see that bollards are now in place along the N17 as it will improve
immensely the driving conditions for the many thousands who use this road
every day. Their installation is of particular importance to the residents
and landowners adjoining the main road as they go about their daily business.
New Area
Office
As was announced just before Christmas, the Parish got a wonderful boost
with the announcement that the new Galway County Council Area Office is
to be located in Claregalway village. Their decision was arrived at after
considerable discussion and representations from within the electoral
while the next step of the plan is that the Council will buy a suitable
site so as to allow them build the new office and while this is underway
a temporary office is to be located at Lackagh. Once finalised, Cllr.
Grealish will bring details of the temporary arrangement to readers.
For appointments or to contact Cllr. Noel Grealish. MCC. PC 'phone 091 794991 or 087 2648607
The congratulations of all were conveyed to the U-10 Community Games team who won out in Connacht, qualified for the All-Ireland series in Mosney and lost narrowly in the final. Special tributes were paid to the team selectors and organisers.
Hon. Secretary Padraig O’Connell circulated his report and outlined the Intermediate, Junior B, U-21 and Minor team performances. Special thanks was conveyed to the team managers and selectors, Roddy Grealish, Gerry Higgins, Michael Prendergast, Mick O’Connell (trainer) and Sean Flanagan, the Junior B and Minor team manager.
There was a lengthy discussion on the perennial clash of football and hurling fixures and on how the problem can be resolved. The meeting was informed that a calendar of fixtures for both football and hurling is being drawn up and that should ease matters; we hope so.
Hon. Treasurer Nigel Donovan reported on the club’s finances and thanked main sponsors GK Developments and Ignatius Foy for their generosity. He thanked the additional sponsors to whom the club is deeply indebted for financing club gear. All the age groups have been fitted out in the club strip. Membership subscriptions are now due and the deadline is February 28th.
Team reports were given by Roddy Grealish, Seán Flanagan, Padraig O’Connell, Tony Stephens, Tony Clarke and Jim Gavin.
Officers elected for 2002: Chairman: Seán Dunleavy; Vice-Chairman, Paul Concannon; Secretary Padraig O’Connell; Treasurer, Richard Donovan; Registrar, Paul Concannon; P.R.O., Seán Flanagan.
Designed
and Maintained by Niall Farrell
© Nuacht Chláir