IRD Duhallow
Community News

The South Eastern Duhallow Community Forum held a meeting on Wednesday 11^th June 2003 in the Glen Theatre. This meeting saw the re-election of Billy Murphy (Lyre) and John Sheehan (Aubane) to the main board of IRD Duhallow. Congratulations to them both and many thanks for their work and energy in community development. John Moynihan, Chairperson of IRD Duhallow, emphasised the promotion of co-operation between communities and volunteers and stated that the Community Forum provided a valuable opportunity for individuals and groups to meet and network.

Please note that under the Waste Management Act 1996, people found burning household and garden waste in domestic fireplaces, open fires or by using any type of burner in their gardens or elsewhere can be prosecuted. Burning of waste causes environmental pollution and is also a source of annoyance to persons in the adjoining locality.

At the recent conference "Recycling – The New Economy", which was held in Mallow, the speakers provided an interesting insight into how successfully community-based recycling ventures can operate. There is huge scope for the development of furniture recycling and paper-based recycling initiatives here in Ireland.

IRD Duhallow would like to hear from interested communities and individuals who would like to explore the feasibility of establishing small-scale operations in the Duhallow area. For further information, please contact Isobel Fletcher at 029-60633.

Are you a childminder looking after children in your own home or thinking about setting up a childminding business? If so, this course could be just for you. It is a FETAC Level II accredited course on Childminding Professional Practice, which will provide participants with the skills, knowledge and attitude to enable them to provide a Family Home-Based Childcare Service to a professional standard.

The course of thirty hours duration will be run by the FÁS Training Centre, Monavalley, Tralee. It will take place one evening per week over ten weeks. The venue has yet to be decided and the course fee will be €150. Subsidies may be available. For further information, please contact Isobel Fletcher at 029-60633.

Would you like to establish a Parent and Toddler Group in your area? Interested parents, grandparents and childminders who would like the opportunity to meet and provide a stimulating environment for their young toddlers from the Rathmore / Gneeveguilla area should contact Isobel Fletcher at 029-60633.

Are you interested in being a member of a Support Network for parents of twins or triplets? Would you like to meet other parents from the area for informal support and networking? If so, contact Denise Quinlan from Kerry County Childcare Committee on 066-7181582 or Isobel Fletcher in IRD Duhallow at 029-60633.

The Lone Parent Network continues to meet regularly. If you are a lone parent why not contact Carmel and come along to one of the meetings? We aim to provide the highest standard of support and to nurture dynamic change from within. For further information, contact Carmel Galvin at 029-60633.

This purpose-built childcare facility will be opening on the

1^st September 2003 and will cater for infants from three months of age to teenagers.

If you are an employer currently planning on recruiting extra staff for the summer months, then you will benefit greatly from IRD Duhallow’s free recruitment service. At the job centre we have a number of CVs on file of young, hard-working people who are very eager to acquire appropriate work for the summer. We will filter CVs, facilitate the setting up of the interview process and assist you any way we can. If you are interested in the above service please do not hesitate to contact Marie O’Regan at 029-60633.

1. one in the Boherbue area as a catering assistant,

2. one in the Kanturk area as a Park Attendant.

The positions are based on a 19.50-hour week. Applicants must be over twenty-five years of age and be unemployed for at least twelve months. For more information please contact Paddy O’Connor at 029-60633.

DART was successfully launched by Mr. Gerard Collins MEP on Friday 6^th June. Thanks to everyone who came and who contributed in whatever way on the day. Special thanks to Duhallow Community Food Services and the musicians from Bruach na Carraige for their food and entertainment.

The following D.A.R.T. service is fully operational:

Kanturk-Banteer-Lyre-Nadd-Banteer-Kanturk 10.15/11.00

Kanturk-Banteer-Lyre-Nadd-Banteer-Kanturk 2.00/2.45

Cullen-Millstreet 9.30/10.30

Millstreet-Cullen 12.30/1.30

Kanturk-Cecilstown-Castlemagner 9.15/9.45

Kanturk-Cecilstown-Castlemagner 12.20/1.00

Meelin-Newmarket 10.15/11.00

Newmarket-Meelin 1.20/2.05

Kanturk-Kilbrin-Kanturk 10.00/10.35

Kanturk-Kilbrin-Kanturk 1.00/1.35

At the moment research is being carried out in other communities within the Duhallow Region to propose routes. If you or your community would like to avail of the services: Transport to local town/village, After School Service, or Duhallow Community Rural Meals Service in your local Community Centre, contact Yvonne Flynn at 029-60648.

Transport has recently been set up for Rockchapel Senior Citizens Club, the route runs every second Friday to Rockchapel Community Centre. Door-to-Door service is available. If your Senior Citizens Club would like transport on a regular basis, please contact Yvonne Flynn at 029-60648.

During July and August Comhaltas are hosting traditional seisiúns at their Rockchapel and Freemount Branches:
Rockchapel on Tuesdays at 9p.m.
Freemount on Wednesdays at 9p.m.
Admission is €7.00
All are welcome and a great evening of entertainment is guaranteed!

Under the Millennium Partnership Fund for Third Level Education, IRD Duhallow will be offering Study Supports for Third Level Students taking Autumn Exams. Any student from Duhallow, enrolled in a University, Institute of Technology or on a PLC course and due to sit exams in August or September should contact IRD Duhallow as soon as they get their summer exam results to find out how to access these supports. For more information, please contact Michelle Melia at 029–60633.

When you have finished use of the service, please forward statements of accounts to Linda Deady detailing the cost of the service to you. The Focal Farmer Programme is reaching the end of a three-year funding period this year and priority will be given to those who forward invoices first. If you have any queries do not hesitate to contact Linda Deady at 029-60633.

We would like to amend a mistake, which appeared in last month’s newsletter. One of the women included in the forthcoming calendar on Duhallow Women, Julia O’Leary (née Clifford) appeared incorrectly. Her name should have read Julia Clifford (née Murphy).

Women to be included are:

If you would be interested in providing an outlet for the sale of this publication or if you would like to purchase a copy, please contact Kathryn O’Donnell at 029-60633.