7 July 2011 Issue 17 - Volume 12 CEMETERY SERVICES & MAINTENANCE
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MAYO MUSICIAN'S SHOW A BIG HIT IN DUBLIN
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s pupils across the northwest take flight from their schools for the summer holidays the endemic issue of prefabs raises its head once again. For over a decade now ‘temporary’ accommodation has been a permanent fixture in schools across the northwest. Over €200 million has been spent renting or purchasing prefabs since the year 2000. For a while Cloonliffen NS in Co. Mayo was in the top ten schools in the country for annual prefab rental, spending over €100,000 a year. This thankfully has been remedied, with new buildings opened in September 2009. In the last 3 years alone nearly €120 million was spent on prefabs. This is despite hundreds of millions of euro being spent annually on school buildings. How can this be? In other education news it was announced in the past week that 40 new schools would be built in the next five years, however only 4 of these would be built in the northwest, 3 in Galway and 1 in Cavan. One hand giveth and other taketh away when it comes to the northwest as the government also plans to close or amalgamate schools with fewer than 50 pupils and 150 school bus routes are to be closed come September for schools with fewer than ten pupils living more than 3km from school. Parents will also have to pay a minimum €50 per child in primary school for a bus service. It looks like the northwest will be forced to do more with a lot less for the future. See pages 10 & 11 for a report on Prefabs in schools
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Staying healthy at music festivals
UNPROTECTED sex, dehydration, sunburn and diarrhoea are the top threats when it comes to the health and safety of people attending music festivals, pharmacists have warned. The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) is urging everyone at-
tending the Oxegen festival this coming weekend to look after their health According to IPU vice president, pharmacist Rory O'Donnell, festival goers should be particularly careful when it comes to sex. "Music festivals and sports
events are generally linked to higher than normal incidents of unprotected sex and we would often note a rise in requests for the morning after pill after such events," he said. He reminded people that normal oral contraception can become ineffective if the person
taking it is suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea. "We're warning people to plan ahead if they believe there is any chance of an unplanned sexual encounter. Condoms are also essential to protect against sexually transmitted infections," Mr O'Donnell said. He also offered advice on other essential items that people may need to bring with them to the festival. "A few small items can help if you do become unwell, such as medication for stomach upsets or diarrhoea and antiseptic cream for bites, stings or cuts. It is also important to have sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and antiseptic hand gel is always handy to have at outdoor events," he added. This year's Oxegen festival runs from July 8-10.
Study shows importance of healthy diet even before getting pregnant The results of a new study have indicated that women hoping to become pregnant should maintain a healthy diet, as a poor diet before conception may affect the future health of their children. According to Danish researchers, poor maternal diet before conception may lead to a reduced birth weight and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity among offspring. The team used an animal model to illustrate the importance of maternal diet even before pregnancy begins. During the study, mice were fed a low protein diet for 10 weeks before conception, but had a normal diet during pregnancy. They subsequently gave birth to offspring that had lower birth weights, showed catch-up
growth after weaning and increased insulin sensitivity. "Low birth weight and catch-up growth is associated with enhanced insulin-sensitivity in young adults. This then deteriorates into insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes with increased age. There is also evidence that male offspring are more likely to develop obesity," explained lead researcher, Anete Dudele, of the University of Aarhus. "If humans respond in the same way as mice to pre-conception diet as well then women should not only consider what they eat during pregnancy, but also before pregnancy if they want to reduce the risk of their future children acquiring lifestyle diseases," Ms Dudele said.
House prices in the Northwest fall
HOUSE prices continued to decline in the second quarter of the year, two new surveys showed this week. Property site MyHome.ie said property prices fell 4% over the three months, bringing the total fall since the peak to
40%. The survey also showed that, based on average mix adjusted asking price, the average house price is now €249,000, compared with €260,000 three months ago. House prices in the North West region have also fallen since the peak. In Connacht, asking prices fell by an average of 5.6% in the second three months of 2011, much larger than the fall of 1.4% between January and March. The average asking price in Sligo in the final quarter of 2010 was €172,000, a fall of €120,000 from the peak. In County Leitrim the average asking price now stands at €145,000 while in County Donegal, the average asking price now stands at over €155,800 Author of the report Annette Hughes, director at DKM Economic Consultants,
said the fall was disappointing but not entirely surprising. "At the moment our best hope for 2011 is that some moderation in the rate of decline in asking prices will begin to emerge over the second half of the year," she said. A separate study from Daft.ie said the average house price was now below €200,000, with asking prices down 5.1 per cent on average during the quarter. The property website puts the national decline at 47 per cent from the peak of the market. Its survey said the average asking price for a home was €196,000 in June. Daft.ie economist Ronan Lyons said some of the factors contributing to this trend were intense competition due to high stock levels, and difficulties in obtaining a mortgage.
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Mayo musician's show a big hit in Dublin
of the show hails from Moygownagh. Fergal Ó Murchú from Moygownagh is the founder and lead singer and accordion player of Ragús, an international production of Irish song and dance. Fergal has enjoyed 300 sold out shows outside of Ireland in the past year and is delighted to be back home performing for the summer months in Dublin. Fergal’s prowess as a solo singer has been well recognised, holding as he does the unique distinction of having been crowned All Ireland Champion on no fewer than 11 occasions, resulting in tremendous demand for guest and professional appearances at home and abroad with the Ragús is an international hit show of authentic Irish music, Chieftains and Dolly Parsong and dance. ton. Not only was Fergal A Mayo musician and singer is the star of one of the most popular shows running in acted as producer and co-musical director Dublin this summer. Ragús, an international of the internationally acclaimed Touring hit show of authentic Irish music, song and show Ragús “A journey to the heart of the dance, can be seen at The Burlington Hotel living tradition”- but is also Founder of until October.And the multitalented young Ragus Teo, the company which presents the Mayo man credited with the huge success now world famous and highly commended
show.The Moygownagh man has been musical Director of the widely acclaimed International touring production of Celtic Legends by the UK based company PELE MELE as well as being co founder of the very successful Trad in the Classroom educational traditional Irish Music programme. Fergal’s range of musical abilities and his charismatic delivery on and off stage, have insured that from as early as the tender age of 13 years, when he embarked on his first international tour, there has been a relentless demand for his services. Inspired by the islanders of Inis Mór, Ragús is an exhibition of energetic, fast moving, traditional Irish music, song and dance. Originating from a traditional past married with a modern twist, audiences will experience an evening of Irish culture through a unique musical production. To celebrate Ragús at The Burlington, attractive package deals will be available to guests who wish to come and stay for a truly traditional live performance. • A one-night special package; including a three course dinner & show plus full Irish breakfast the following morning at Ireland’s most renowned entertainment venue, is 99 pps. • Those who wish to enjoy dinner and show can avail of tickets for 55 pps • Show Only tickets can be purchased for 29. For more information and to make a booking ph: +353 1 6185615 or visit www.ticketmaster.ie
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Transplant girl's father urges protocol review
THE father of a teenager from Ballinamore Co. Leitrim who missed out on a liver transplant last weekend, due to a delay in getting her to London, says there needs to be a review of protocol, to ensure a situation like this never happens again. Maeve McGivern, 14, has been on a waiting list for a transplant for 11 months, and was classified as a high priority nine weeks ago. Her family was contacted on Saturday evening to say a liver had become available in London. The emergency medical support services here told the family that they would co-ordinate transport plans for them and, after a number of options were ruled out, advised them to travel to Strandhill airport to meet up with a Coastguard helicopter. They rushed to the airport in Co Sligo, and arrived before 11pm that night, but it then emerged the journey could take up to four hours. This would mean they would not make it to London in the time available for the liver transplant, and Maeve's father Joe got the call from medics to say that the journey was not going to happen. Her father Joe McGivern said his daughter was devastated and the whole family left deeply upset: "Her life has been on hold and this operation was going to give her back her life. Minister for Health Dr James Reilly has since apologised to the family and said he has asked the Health Information and Quality Authority to investigate the matter and to make recommendations to ensure it never happens again.
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Kids who watch fast food ads eat more fat CHILDREN who watch advertisements for unhealthy food on television are more likely to eat foods that are high in fat and sugar, the results of a new study indicate. In recent years, organisations such as the Irish Heart Foundation, have been calling for greater restrictions to be placed on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children. They argue that this is an important step in the fight against increasing levels of obesity. This latest research by the University of Liverpool in the UK examined the food preferences of 281 children aged between six and 13. The children were shown an episode of a popular cartoon and were then shown it again two weeks later. In each case, the cartoon was preceded by five minutes of commercials - one set showing toy adverts and one showing mainly snacks and fast food. After each showing, the children were given lists of various food items, both branded and unbranded, and asked what they would like to eat.
The study found that after watching the food commercials the children were more likely to pick unhealthy foods. All the children chose more fat-rich and carbohydrate-rich items from the food preference lists compared with those they chose after viewing the toy adverts. The study also found that children who watched television for more than 21 hours a week were more likely to be affected by the food adverts than those children who watched a lesser amount of television. These children also had a significantly greater body mass index (BMI) than those who were less frequent viewers. "Obesity in young children is now a major health concern around the world. Our studies highlight that there are global connections between advertising, food preferences and consumption. This is a beyondbrand effect, increasing children's selections of all unhealthy foods, not just those shown in adverts," insisted one of the researchers, Emma Boyland.
She said that the study clearly demonstrates that children are ‘far more likely to eat unhealthy foods if they watch a lot of television'. "This suggests that it would be beneficial to reduce the amount of television that children watch. These findings also have implications for the regulation of television food advertising to children.A 9pm watershed should be introduced so that children are not exposed to high fat, high sugar and high salt food advertising during popular family viewing," Ms Boyland added. Details of these findings are published in the journal, Pediatrics.
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ROSCOMMON Hospital is to change from having a 24-hour major A&E service to a 24-hour urgent care centre for minor injuries, Health Minister James Reilly has told the Dail. Answering questions about the future of the hospital, the Minister said services being provided at Roscommon currently were unsafe. He said it was accepting serious trauma cases and heart attack and stroke patients, yet it had no orthopaedic surgeon or vascular surgeon. The emergency department at the hospital only saw 30 patients a day and there was concern about the low volume of patients going through.The Minister said there were difficulties in providing supervised training for junior doctors who worked there. Acute surgery and major A&E are expected to cease at Roscommon Hospital shortly, but the HSE has yet to clarify the extent and timescale of the downscaling of services there. The Minister said the HSE was to submit a plan for the future safe provision of services at Roscommon by the end of this week. Dr Reilly said he wanted Roscommon A&E to move to providing a 24-hour urgent care unit for minor injuries, and this would be staffed by hospital doctors from 8am to 8pm, with a GP out-ofhours service provided outside these hours. He said additional ambulance cover would be provided. Responding to Sinn Fein's Caoimhgin O'Caolain, the Minister said the hospital had been deemed not safe by clinicians and by HIQA, and he was seeking to make it safe. He said as minister and as a doctor, he could not stand over unsafe practices in any setting. The Minister admitted to independent deputy Ming Flanagan that he had not
Roscommon Hospital
been made aware until recently that services at Roscommon were unsafe. He said he believed local hospitals still had an important part to play in health services. On the junior doctor shortage, the Minister said some progress had been made in recruiting NCHDs for the July 11 deadline. He said 221 junior doctor posts for the July 11 staff changeover had now been filled, leaving 254 vacancies. The Minister said he was not yet in a position to say how many of these would be filled, but recruitment would continue after the July 11 changeover date. He said he would have a better idea next week of the likely number of posts to be filled, but it was not likely that all of them would be filled. He said smaller hospitals would be likely to be affected most from the junior doctor shortage. Meanwhile, the Minister announced he planned to establish a new non-consultant senior hospital specialist grade to help meet medical manpower needs. These posts would be filled by doctors who had completed hospital training and they could eventually become consultants. The Minister also announced that he is to establish a forum to address medical manpower needs.
regionalnews Knockmore strongmen retain title
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Calleary welcomes planned reduction in term of bankruptcy
KNOCKMORE strongmen, Lakehill Tug of War team, made it three in-a-row of 720kg national titles when they defeated Club Boley at the second round of the National Tug of War Championships in Ballycullane, Co Wexford, Saturday. The bronze went to Killylough from Co Monaghan and Donoughmore from Co Cork defeated Slaneysiders from Wexford to win the Division 2 title. The Lakehill tream will get a rapturous reception when they host the next round, featuring the 680kg championship, at the Ballina Agricultural Show on July 10.
Fáil Justice FIANNA Spokesperson and Mayo based Deputy Dara Calleary has welcomed proposed legislation published by the Government today that will see a reduction in the term of bankruptcy from 12 to 5 years. The decision to reduce the bankruptcy terms was originally brought forward by the previous Government in the Civil Law Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2010. However the Dáil was dissolved before the Bill passed through all stages. Deputy Calleary said, “I am pleased to see that the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has adopted the key proposals of the previous Government to strengthen family law maintenance orders and cut the term of bankruptcy. “The Civil Law Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2011 published today provides a first step towards more com-
prehensive reform of bank- to a fear of failure and thus imruptcy. Under existing laws, peding potential entrepreneurs. anyone who becomes bank- I look forward to examining rupt in Ireland faces a 12-year this Bill in detail and debating it waiting period to be dis- in the Dáil.” charged from bankruptcy, compared with just 12 months in the UK. This Bill will reduce the 12 year term to 5 years.” “This is a welcome step towards wider reform of our insolvency legislation. Our current bankruptcy laws are more severe than similar laws elsewhere. There are concerns that the severity of our laws may be contributing Dara Calleary
Mayo's first Bump and Beyond Expo for parents
Terisina Fitzpatrick, Acubirth, with her son Michael and Léon Fahy, mykidstime.ie with her son, Ryan, preparing for Mayo’s First Bump & Beyond Expo which takes place in Castlebar, Sunday 4th September.
AN exciting new event for new and expecting parents is taking place in the Event Centre at Breaffy House Hotel Resort this September. Mayo’s first ever Bump & Beyond Expo will showcase local businesses, health professionals and community groups with products, information and advice for pregnant mums, babies and young children. The Expo will take place on Sunday, 4th September, from 12-5pm at the Event Centre in Breaffy House Hotel Resort, Castlebar. Admission is free. The Bump & Baby Expo has been organised by Léon Fahy, Mykidstime.ie. Mykidstime.ie is an information website aimed at parents and their children. Whether you are looking for clubs and classes, family-friendly places to stay or simply somewhere new to take the kids, mykid-
stime.ie will provide you with that information in one easy to use location Léon explains: “The Bump & Beyond show gives new and expecting parents the chance to meet up, find out about the latest products and hopefully pick up some useful tips from our experts. “There will be lots of local businesses attending the Bump & Beyond Expo to demonstrate their products on the day and we hope lots of parents and parents-to-be will come along to this great free event. "We will have a goody bag for the mums and a raffle will be drawn with a huge range of prizes”, adds Léon. For further information about the Bump & Beyond Expo, contact Léon Fahy on 087 2935444 or email leon.fahy@mykidstime.ie
Boots jobs boost for Ballina
THE Ballina retail sector is to receive a jobs boost with the news that Boots is to open one of its pharmacy and healthcare stores in Ballina town centre. Boots has lodged a planning application with Ballina Town Council to make alterations to the former EBS premises, located between the library and Heatons on Pearse Street, and a decision is expected from planners before the end of August. Boots opened its second Mayo store in Castlebar in May this year, employing 22 staff, and the expectation in Ballina is that a similar number of jobs will be created in the town which is an unemployment blackspot.
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EU Commission may take the Irish Government to Court over V.R.T.
Marian Harkin
“I believe this decision by the European Commission is a just and fair decision as certain categories of persons are put in an impossible situation with their freedom of movement restricted by the current application of Vehicle Registration Tax law”. This was stated by Marian Harkin following confirmation by the Commission of their intention to institute proceedings against Ireland in this case. This situation has arisen because of a petition to the European Parliament by Ryan Stewart which outlines the situation whereby students from the Republic of Ireland studying in Northern Ireland have their freedom of movement rights infringed by the application of V.R.T legislation. There have been many complaints to the Parliament and Commission regarding the imposition of V.R.T. but the response was always the same- it is within the jurisdiction of the member states. However this complaint is different because the Commission believe Ireland is in breach of the Treaties by its current stance in regard to the aforementioned petition.
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The case hinges on the fact that an Irish student studying in Northern Ireland cannot legally drive an Irish Registered car in Northern Ireland. This is because they cannot get insurance in Northern Ireland, unless they pay U.K. car tax. However, if they drive a U.K. registered car that is correctly taxed and insured in Northern Ireland they cannot travel home at weekends or mid term as they are not compliant with Irish Vehicle Registration Tax law. They run the very real risk of having their car seized and even if their car is not seized they are still breaking the law. While this is not a general exemption it may be that it would apply to any person who is temporarily resident in Northern Ireland, for work or other purposes but who also travels to the Republic on a regular basis.There is no doubt but certain V.R.T. regulations in place discriminate against those living in border areas in particular and this case may solve some of those problems. Ryan Stewart has put forward a strong case, the Commission agrees and we await outcomes, Marian Harkin concluded.
Arlene Arkinson disappearance back in news
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A schoolgirl from Co Tyrone who disappeared after attending a disco in Bundoran Co Donegal, on the night she disappeared back in 1994 is at the centre of another legal wrangle after convicted child killer and rapist Robert Howard launched a legal challenge through his legal team to the holding of an inquest into the death of the then aged 15 year old teenager. Howard is seeking to judicially review the senior coroner’s decision to examine events surrounding the disappearance of Arlene Arkinson in 1994. His barrister, Karen Quinlivan, has claimed it involved a “subtext” of seeking to undermine the not guilty verdict returned against him. Arlene, from Castlederg, Co Tyrone, was just 15 when she vanished after attending a disco in
Bundoran. Her body has never been found, but she is widely accepted as having been killed. Howard (67), who formerly lived near her home, was charged with her murder but was acquitted at trial in 2005. The jury did not know Arlene Arkinson that by then he was already serving life for raping and killing 14-yearold Hanna Williams from Deptford, south London. Howard’s legal team unsuccessfully sought reporting restrictions at the outset of his application for leave to seek judicial review.
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Prefabs will still be
S
ince 2008 119 million has been spent renting prefabs in Irish schools, 27 million in 2010, 39 million in 2009 and 53 million in 2008. In the period 2000 – 2006 80 million was spent on prefab rental and purchase meaning that since 2000 over 200 million has been spent on prefabs, an utter waste. How did this come about? Especially considering the vast capital investments over the past decade. 4.7 billion has been spent on capital investments in school buildings since 1998. Some 600 million is projected to be spent this year and the previous government planned a further 3.1 billion investment by 2016. That’s an investment of nearly 8,500 million over 18 years and yet still, 27 million was spent last year renting prefabricated buildings because of a lack of classroom space. In the programme for government Fine Gael and Labour promise that, “The objective of this Government will be to progressively phase out the inefficient renting of school prefabs.” The implication here is that prefabs are being used because of a flaw that can be fixed. How would they do it? They promise to prioritise school building in a new National Development Plan for 2012-2019, though it seems unlikely they could do better than the previous government’s pledged 3.1 billion. In the short-term they pledged to negotiate rental contracts so as to maximise value for money. They also plan to devolve capital investment decisions to individual schools to better identify need. Shared Educational Campuses will be used in areas with rapidly expanding populations.
This involves combining a number of individual schools into one campus so resources can be shared. It also pledges to make local authorities provide Educational Impact As-
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sessments when zoning residential areas so as to ensure educational needs are met beforehand. Finally they intend to transfer ownership of school buildings to the state from the 18 religious groups named in the Ryan Report. Certainly this all seems like good news. However it all boils down to one thing; Prefabs aren’t going anywhere. Prioritising new school buildings is all well and good, but hundreds of millions of euro is being spent and has been for a decade and still the prefabs persist. The number of schools is too low as it is, never mind the ones already in existence with inadequate classroom numbers. The idea that savings can be achieved by negotiating better contracts holds little water. Sure there will be savings, but small and the cost of prefabs isn’t the problem; it is that
they are being used in such large numbers. That local councils don’t allow for future educational needs when zoning residential land is appalling, and a good measure for the far future when house rebuilding starts again, but is not much help right now. What the government isn’t saying is that prefabs won’t be going anywhere because there is a vast amount of money still to be spent on new school buildings. Years of under-investment and poor planning means prefabs will have to be a part of schools building policy, well into the future. The reason? Simply, massive population growth and lack of department planning. In 1998 the Department of Education predicted that student numbers would continue to decline into the future based on a low birth rate and low inward migration.
here years from now The Commission for School Accommodation in a report, published in February of this year, estimates that 2,285 classrooms will be needed to accommodate for this increase. In July of last year the FF-Green government announced they would spend 3.1 billion on building new schools and classrooms. Even with that investment they envisaged teaching 10,000 pupils in prefabs. Another problem is the length of time it takes to identify and prioritise individual need because decision-making is centralised in Dublin. Once a school gets the go ahead to gain funding they have to go through a sixstage design process.There are currently 247 schools across the country in one of these stages and there are 51 schools where construction is ongoing. Importantly for the northwest, the Commission on School Accommodation’s report prioritises economy of scale and areas of high population growth. Capital investment in schools yields greater returns the larger the school gets. As a result future capital investment will tend towards large population centres, while rural schools retain prefabs. Hence the small schools spending review. The government plans to close and amalgamate many schools with fewer than 50 pupils. Parents can therefore look forward to better facilities in larger schools but further away than the usual local national school. The fact is, prefabs will be here to stay till years of underinvestment is compensated for and then, only when investment catches up with population growth. Any suggestions to the contrary are papering over that fact. It was predicted that by 2020 there would have to be school closures and amalgamations as a result of low student numbers. Between 1985 and 1995, the number of primary school pupils fell from 566,289 to 478,692. In 1998 it was projected that the number of primary school pupils would continue to fall by up to 150,000 in the following 18 years up to 2016, to about 312,000. However the Celtic Tiger changed all that. The primary school population is now over half a million. Immigration shot up and more importantly the birth rate halted its decline since 1980 at about 50,000 births a year and surged to about 75,000 a year in 2010. This
meant that department of education projections which envisaged school closures and amalgamations, now had to provide for massive investment in new classrooms in existing schools and also new schools in areas experiencing massive population increases, especially in the commuter belt around Dublin. Something that they had not anticipated and were therefore wholly unprepared for. And now the CSO predict that the primary school population will increase by a further 64,000 by 2018 to 569,500, a scant seven years away. By 2016 secondary school numbers are expected to rise by nearly 30,000 to 188,200.
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Heritage Day Lunch to raise money for Ballina Arts Centre
Sligo Secondary Students climb Kilamanjaro
Pictured at last year's event: Sean Walsh (Director, Ballina Arts Centre) and Cllr. Michelle Mulherin (Chairperson, Ballina Arts Centre), with the Ice House's Joanna and Vivien.
BALLINA residents are justly proud of their spanking new Arts Centre, which has an array of activities in full swing and will be officially opened later this year. However, the fund-raising campaign must continue and 150,000 must be raised from the local community to supplement the large measure of public funding from both central and local government. During Ballina Salmon Festival’s
Heritage Day a special gourmet lunch will take place at the Ice House Hotel (Wed., July 13th), starting at 12 noon.This is now an annual attraction and the food will be prepared by the hotel’s award-winning chef, Gavin O’Rourke. Cost will be 50.00 for three courses, with wine and will be just what’s needed to complement the heritage day festivities. The Arts Centre, which “opened
The Dock Carrick on Shannon presents Gato Azul MUSIC Network presents Gato Azul and invites you to enjoy a night this July 7 and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine at the launch of Leitrim Design House’s new exhibition ‘Adornment’ from 7pm. The event will be followed by the wonderful Gato Azul in the candle lit ambience of The Dock's cafe style performance space and all for just 15. Having performed live on John Kelly’s Lyric FM show from Limerick for National Music Day on April 8 this year, Gato Azul is an exciting instrumental quartet offering music ranging from Brazil to Bulgaria via the Mediterranean and using jazz improv to unify these diverse musical languages. Gato Azul is the latest project from Dublin-based Italian Francesco Turrisi who appeared in Carrick Water Music’s 2009 Festival with the groups Tarab and Yurodny.Turrisi is developing a reputation as an accordionist and frame drummer par excellence to match his well documented piano capabilities. He has collaborated with jazz artists such as Dave Liebman and Jean Toussaint and world music artists such as Pepe el Habichuela, Lucilla Galeazzi and Andrea Piccioni. Also featured is Michael Coady on double bass, who performed for many years with the great Louis Stewart, and also with artists such as Peter Bernstein and Scott Hamilton and leads his own quartet between Dublin and London.
for business” earlier this summer, is attracting much attention with its 240-seat auditorium, visual arts exhibitions area, rehearsal spaces, dance studio, many dressing rooms and beautiful views over the Moy. Many events to date have been “sell-outs”, but to maintain the momentum local contributions will be necessary for some time. The Ice House lunch event deserves support.
ELEVEN courageous Sligo students last week set off for Africa to climb the imposing 2,000 feet climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. The climb is the culmination of twelve months of training and fundraising for the eight boys and three girls from Coláiste Muire in Ballymote. All money raised from the Sligo students’ expedition will go towards the Irish Cancer Society, North West Hospice, Meningitis Ireland and Alzheimer's Ireland. The eleven climbers are Kevin Coleman, Garrett Lavin, Michael Faney Glenn Devlin, Eric Wheeler, Ronán MacTiernan, Louise Ellis, Diarmaid Heffernan, Emir Coyle and Norwegian native Joanne Strand. A past pupil, Sean Wynne completed the climb in 2009 and suggested the climb as an exciting possible project for the pupils.
Medals for Sligo’s Megan at World Transplant Games
SEVENTEEN year old Megan Fahy from Tonnaphubble, Sligo, has done her home county proud by winning the Silver medal in the 100-meter sprint at 18th World Transplant Games held in Gothenburg, Sweden. Megan also won a
bronze medal for a 4 x 100 meter relay race along with teammates Liza Nikkinen, Sinead McGovern and Angela Sherlock. Megan had a kidney transplant last year and has significantly and quickly progressed
since receiving the life saving surgery, and certainly proved this in Gothenburg. Understandably Megan was nervous before the race but didn’t let it deter her, she said: “I was really nervous before the run, but they were good nerves. I didn’t talk to anyone this morning; I just needed to focus by myself. While I was running, I just looked straight ahead and told myself that I can do it. I am thrilled!” This is Ireland’s biggest ever team competing at the World Transplant Games. The Irish team of 33 athletes range in age from nine to over 70 and are among 1,100 athletes from over 50 countries who participated in the Games. The team returned home to a hero’s welcome in Dublin Airport, greeted by friends, family, supporters and special guest Transplant Surgeon and former Dublin Footballer, David Hickey. The 33 members of Transplant Team Ireland brought home a massive haul of 36 medals, comprising 12 Gold, 12 Silver and 12 Bronze.
Each student involved had to raise 4,000 each before they could travel, which covered their travel costs and accommodation in Tanzania. Deputy principal Michelle McDermott said the group had a great work ethic when it came to fundraising. “Come hail, rain, shine, they were out and about collecting money and training”. She said they even climbed Croagh Patrick in the snow to help build their fitness. “This has been a wonderful journey for our students and their hard work will hopefully pay off this week as they ascend Kilimanjaro over six and a half days and descend in one and a half days. She thanked all who have supported the climbing venture over the past year. Fundraising activities included a school walk, non-uniform days, table quiz and selling.
Gardai investigating Sligo and Donegal burglaries
GARDAI in Sligo are investigating a spate of break-ins in the north Sligo and south Donegal areas on Friday July 1. A total of eight houses were broken into in the Drumcliff, Cliffoney, Castlegall, Grange and Laghey areas. The incidents happened between 12 and 3.30 pm on Friday afternoon with three of the burglaries taking place in Drumcliff and two in Laghey. All the houses were unoccupied at the time with quantities of cash and jewellery taken. In each case the intruder or intruders broke windows and doors to gain entry to the houses. Gardai are looking for information on a lime green Renault with a Northern Ireland registration containing the letter SIL, which was reportedly seen in the area at the time. People are also being warned not to keep quantities of cash in their homes. Anyone with information can contact Sligo Garda station on 071 914 2031.
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FESTIVITIES TO SURROUND RALLY WEEKEND
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Members of the Connacht Motor Club at the Launch of the Sligo Stages Rally. The Rally will take place on Saturday the 9th of July with a ceremonial start in Sligo City Centre on Friday evening. Photo: James Burke/www.jamesburke.biz
ringing the ceremonial start of the Quinn Body Repairs and Recovery / Sligo Park Hotel – Sligo Stages Rally into the heat of the city, by the banks of the Garavougue will set the scene for a weekend of motorsport. It will be a relaxed opportunity to view the rally cars and meet the crews in a less competitive environment and as the rally cars present in pristine condition. The ramp located on Rockwood Parade will give enthusiasts and supporters the opportunity to view the top starters and local crews as they chat with local radio personalities broadcasting live. After the cars have undergone scrutiny at Colooney, the crews will make their way down Pearse Road, entering O Connell Street, then turning into Tobergal lane before lining up on the picturesque Rockwood Parade .Ocean fm will begin the warm up going out live from 7pm with the first crews crossing the start ramp at 8pm .On Sunday morning the first of the 141 crews will leave parc ferme at the Sligo Retail Park , Carraroe at 8.45 to undertake a challenging three stages run three times. Service is located in Colooney where crews will return between loops.The first car is due back at rally Headquarters on Saturday evening at 17.25. In advance of the event Scrutiny takes place on Friday evening July 8th at the North West Business Park in Colooney, where all cars undergo rigorous checks on all the safety features within the car .Constant updates during the run to Saturday July 9th will be carried on the club website and on the Sligo Stages Rally facebook page . The prizegiving celebrations takes place in Sligo Park Hotel on Saturday Night when following presentation of awards Hugo and Off the Kuff will entertain the crowd and a Disco afterwards Tickets will be available on the door.
World's longest bridge opens to traffic
Cyril Donlon receiving sponsorship from Dominic Quinn of Quinn Body Repairs & Recovery
The Qingdao Haiwan Bridge is the Worlds Longest Bridge over Water.
STRETCHING across the wide blue waters of Jiaozhou bay, the vast Y-shaped bridge connects the booming Northern port city of Qingdao with an airport built on a nearby island and the industrial suburb of Huangdao. The first motorists to roll onto the bridge’s six-lane, 110ft-wide, highway halved their journey time to the other side of the bay to just 30 minutes. While the bridge will eventually charge cars 50 yuan (6 ) for the crossing, for a month the drive will be free. While traffic on the bridge was sparse on its opening, city officials predicted that 30,000 cars a day would eventually cross it each day. Built in just four years at a cost of 9.5 billion, the sheer scale of the bridge reveals
the advances made by Chinese engineers in recent years. No longer dependent on western expertise for such sophisticated projects, the six-lane road bridge is supported by more than 5,200 columns and was designed by the Shandong Gausu Group. When it opens to traffic later this year, the bridge is expected to carry over 30,000 cars a day and will cut the commute between the city of Qingdao and the sprawling suburb of Huangdao by between 20 and 30 minutes. At least 10,000 workers toiled in two teams around the clock to build the bridge, which was constructed from opposite ends and connected in the middle.
Arthur O Dea of Sligo Park Hotel presenting sponsorship to Cyril Donlon of Connacht Motor Club
Junior Achievement 2010/2011
Pictured are employees from Abbott's diagnostic facility in Sligo receiving certificates for their volunteering as part of Junior Achievement 2010/2011. Junior Achievement is an organisation that partners volunteers from businesses with local schools to teach business and life skills programmes to students. Back Row left to right: Paul Walsh, James Roughneen, Colin Byrne, Mary McLoughlin and Conor Murphy. Middle Row left to right: Siobhan Kelly, Junior Achievement; Della Clancy, Junior Achievement: Patricia Friel, Junior Achievement; and Peter Keating, Abbott Front Row left to right: Brenda Gordon, Joanne Higgins, Orlagh Kelly and Geraldine Scully. Photo: James Burke
Hopes and Dreams Montessori Graduation Day
Enda Hughes
Stefan McMahon
Joshua Mooney
Thomas Nooney
Shane Branley
Aleksandra Szvloyzyska
Adam Gordon
Hopes and Dreams, Cartron Heights, Sligo had a very successful Graduation Ceremony on 30 May 2011. Although it was very sad for the team to say goodbye to the children it was a great day for the children and they all look forward to their first day in big school in September. We wish them every success and look forward to their visit in their school uniforms in their first week of term.
Tara Hallissy
Lauren Kelly
Tom and Brian McCabe
Aivars Zalkalns
Maja Pietrzyk
TV host rides bike naked
A popular Chinese TV host is riding a bicycle naked to encourage people to lead a low carbon lifestyle. Ou Zhihang, a host at Guangdong TV station, is already famous for doing pushups naked at various well-known locations. His latest stunt was to pose for pictures while riding his bike naked on the bank of the Zhujiang River in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. "I want to promote environmental protection and low-carbon life via an extreme but also effective way, which is the nude body language," he explained. Some people have criticised him for performing his naked stunts in out-of-the-way locations and urged him to pose in the city centre. But Ou said: "I am a shy person in public. That's why even in my pictures I never show my private parts."
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Professor slammed for robbery book
A college professor has criticised for asking his students to plan robberies at 21 different banks and
then published the results in a book. Lecturer Armin Blasbichler, from
Innsbruck University, Austria, wanted architecture students to utilise the building's weaknesses to
beat security systems. The stunt produced a substantial backlash from the banks that were featured in the book, according to the Austrian Times newspaper. "It was astonishingly irresponsible. This book is now a blueprint for every violent criminal in the city," said one. Another said he was genuinely amazed about the feasibility of some of the so called 'emergency plans'. Mr Blasbichler said: "We didn't want to steal anything. The purpose was for the students to get an eye for the architecture of the buildings. "Architects have a unique way of thinking and anticipating potentials over and over again and we wanted the students to apply that process. "We didn't want to cause any harm to the banks, quite the contrary. With the hypothetical scenarios produced, we acted in the service of the security of the banks."
Department of Vehicles bans 'obscene' number plate A shaving razor made from meteorite metal and sapphire blades has gone on sale - for more than £60,000. The $100,000 Zafirro Iridium features solid white sapphire blades which the company claims will "last forever". They are sharpened using high-energy, ionized particles to create an edge less than 100 atoms in width, 5,000 times smaller than the width of a hair. While the handle is made primarily from iridium, one of the rarest and strongest metals in existence. Apart from the extended life, the blades offer additional advantages over conventional steel blades; they are hypoallergenic, impervious to oxidation and corrosion, and very sharp. Iridium, derived almost exclusively from meteorites, is 10 times more rare than platinum. It is primarily used by the aerospace industry for components such as rocket engines where durability is critical. It is so rare that the company will produce only 99 of the Iridium line. "Our goal in founding Zafirro was to take a quantum leap forward in razor technology, to build the sharpest blade ever made and make it last forever," said Hayden Hamilton, CEO of the Portland, Oregon-based company.
A man from Chesterfield was ordered to remove a naughty number plate by the DVLA, even though he bought it from their website. Alan Clarke, 49, paid £399 for the plate 'BO11 LUX' and fitted it to his new Range Rover. His friends and family found the cheeky plate hilarious but the laughter was short-lived when, six weeks later, Clarke received a letter from the DVLA ordering him to remove it. The organisation said the plate was "causing offence" and threatened Clarke with a fine of up to £1,000. According to The Daily Mail, he said: "It's absolutely ludicrous. I saw it on the DVLA website last November and thought it would be a bit of fun to put it on my new car. "[The DVLA] are threatening to criminalise me. But they are a government agency and they put the plate on their own website for anyone to buy so it's 100 per cent legal. I can't imagine why anyone would be offended by it." Clarke said he thought it was
the police who may have reported the plate to the DVLA. A spokesman for the DVLA told The Daily Mail: "DVLA tries to identify combinations that may
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cause offence, and on the rare occasion where potentially offensive numbers slip through the net, steps are taken to withdraw the registration number.
"This particular registration plate has been withdrawn, therefore it is an offence for the driver to still be displaying it. He would receive a refund for the plate."
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Call to broadcast Olympics in 3D
THE London 2012 Games should be broadcast in 3D, Panasonic UK's managing director Keith Evans has said. The Olympic sponsor believes it could be a key technology in the same way there was a big push for HD viewing at the Beijing Games. Mr Evans said: "If the Olympic Games are not broadcast in 3D then we miss an opportunity to take viewing of a huge global event to another level because 3D is such another high level of viewing." He noted that demand would be affected by whether the official broadcaster wanted to opt for 3D. For Panasonic it would mean installing and managing 3D equipment on site and in broadcast suites. Mr Evans said: "We would love for the Games to be broadcast in 3D. We are pushing hard for it to be broadcast in 3D. We have the technology." With 3D TVs only recently coming on to the market, many homes may not have the equipment to view the high-quality images. The success of films such as Avatar has made 3D popular but sport may be the content to help bring 3D into the home, it is predicted. There is still a lack of content to watch in 3D as is the case with all new formats. Mr Evans said: "There are companies like Panasonic who are trying things in conjunction with broadcasters to try and make it better."
Cyber-charge teenager granted bail A teenager accused of attempting to hack the website of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has been released on conditional bail. The 19-year-old is accused of taking part in a conspiracy to attack sites including those of Soca and the British Phonographic Industry. Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith granted him bail on the condition that he observes a curfew between 9am and 7pm, is electronically tagged and only leaves the house in the company of one of his parents. He is not allowed to access the internet or possess any devices capable of going online. Cleary was arrested on Monday June 20 as part of a Scotland Yard and FBI probe into LulzSec, a group which claims responsibility for hacking attempts on Soca, the US Senate and the CIA. He is charged with conspiring with other people on or before that date to create a remotely controlled network of zombie computers, known as a "botnet", to carry out distributed denial of service attacks, where websites are flooded with traffic to make them crash.On Monday, his mother Rita spoke in court to say she would agree to any bail conditions imposed. Describing her son as "my life", she said: "I'm aware that I'm his best friend as well as his mother, because he's reclusive." He must live and sleep each night at his home address according to the bail conditions, and agree to allow police access to the house to make sure that he is obeying the rules.
science news & technology
New rules to cut EU mobile charges NEW mobile phone charge regulations have come into force meaning it will be cheaper to make and receive calls while abroad in the EU. The European Commission enforced cuts will see mobile phone roaming charges capped at 32p per minute (excluding VAT) for calls made while overseas - down from 35p - and 10p per minute for receiving calls. The move is part of the commission's goal to close the gap between domestic and "foreign" call rates to virtually nothing by 2015. Compulsory maximum roaming rates were first imposed on mobile network operators four years ago to tackle what the Commission called the "roaming rip-off" - mobile network operators were said to be making profits of more than 200% for mobile calls made while in another EU country, and 300% or 400% for calls received. A legal claim by the networks that the Commission was exceeding its powers failed last year, and rates fell further. The additional price drop - for consumers opting for the EU-regulated "Eurotariff"- means mobile roaming charges are about 75% cheaper on average than they were six years ago when the
Commission first urged operators to cut their rates voluntarily. Existing rules to prevent bill shocks for using the internet via mobile while abroad remain operators must apply an automatic 50 euro (ÂŁ45) cut-off limit on accounts unless the customer explicitly agrees otherwise. Action by Brussels against high roaming charges has been one of the most popular consumer-driven moves by the EU, but its temporary roaming rules expire next summer. The EU's Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes admitted that, despite the cuts, the
problem of a lack of open competition in the market remained, with operators generally charging at the top of the price cap. "We have to tackle roaming problems at the root with a longlasting structural approach. The Commission will therefore be coming forward very shortly with comprehensive new proposals for long-term solutions to address the underlying problem of lack of competition in roaming markets." The Commission says its aim remains to reduce the difference between mobile phone charges at home and while abroad to "almost zero" by 2015.
Pope tweets for the first time POPE Benedict XVI has tweeted for the first time, announcing the launch of a Vatican news information portal. Benedict's tweet on Tuesday read: "Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI". The portal www.news.va for the first time aggregates information from the Vatican's various print, online, radio and television media. It's the latest effort by the Vatican to bring its evangelising message to a greater, internet-savvy audience and follows forays into Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Benedict put the site online himself by tapping an iPad, said Thaddeus Jones, project coordinator and an official with the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Moments later the pope sent the tweet. The 84-year-old pontiff was then shown the portal and its features in greater detail. Mr Jones described him as "interested and impressed", and "clearly enjoying it". "He was clearly in awe at the
new technology," said Mr Jones. "It's a lighter moment but also an important one, it marks a new way of communicating." Benedict has been bedevilled by communications woes during much of his six-year papacy, much of it the fault of a large Vatican bu-
reaucracy that does not always communicate well internally. Officials hope the new portal, while mostly designed to provide Vatican news in an easy-to-use setting to the outside world, might also improve the Vatican's own internal communications by sharing
information. The portal was launched for the feast day of St Peter and Paul, which falls on June 29, but officially begins with a vesper service June 28. Wednesday also marks the 60th anniversary of Benedict's ordination as a priest.
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naturalhealth By Megan Fennell
The information provided to you on this page is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice and it is important that you do not make medical decisions without first consulting your doctor or other healthcare professional.
6 Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms What is psoriatic arthritis? Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic condition in which the immune system attacks the body, causing joint pain and other symptoms. It tends to develop in people with psoriasis. "The most important thing for these patients is early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease," says Elaine Husni, MD, vice chair of the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases at the Cleveland Clinic. Many symptoms mimic other conditions or arthritis types, so psoriatic arthritis can be missed or misdiagnosed.
are diagnosed simultaneously. The severity of psoriasis doesn’t predict psoriatic arthritis. Some psoriasis symptoms are so mild or easy to overlook that people can be mistakenly diagnosed with osteoarthritis or other types of arthritis.
Here are some risk factors and symptoms. Age and gender Psoriatic arthritis can show up at any age (even in children), but it appears most fre-
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quently between 30 and 50. There are five types and men and women are equally likely to get it. About 1 million people in the U.S. have psoriatic arthritis, but there’s no single blood test for it. (There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis and jointpain conditions, including fibromyalgia, gout, degenerative joint disease, and bursitis.) The most common is osteoarthritis. About 27 million Americans have this type, which is caused by wear and tear of the joints, not an immune reaction. Scaly skin Up to 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that results in scaly skin patches. As many as 30% of people with psoriasis eventually develop psoriatic arthritis. For most people, psoriasis symptoms occur about 5 to 10 years before arthritis. In some cases, the arthritis shows up first. In 10% of people, psoriasis and arthritis
Joint trouble People with psoriatic arthritis may experience stiff, painful joints that are red and warm to the touch. Morning stiffness can be a particular problem. Such joint problems can be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis, which is also caused by an autoimmune attack, says Dr. Husni. Like other autoimmune conditions, symptoms tend to flare and subside, only to flare again later on. Psoriatic arthritis is incurable, but treatable. Symptoms can be mild or severe, and may lead to joint destruction, which can require joint replacement surgery.
Asymmetrical pain Although not always the case, psoriatic arthritis tends to affect large joints in the legs, like the knees and ankles, or the fingertips. The pain is often asymmetrical; one knee may be affected but not the other. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis is often symmetrical, affecting both wrists at the same time, for example. There are five subtypes of psoriatic arthritis. Four are asymmetrical, and they account for about 80% of cases, says Stephen Paget, MD, rheumatologist and physician-in-chief emeritus at Hospital for Special SurCIGARETTE? gery, in New York City.
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Swollen fingers Dactylitis, or swelling in the fingers and toes, occurs in about 40% of patients
with psoriatic arthritis. Because this symptom is much less common in other types of arthritis, it can help doctors distinguish between psoriatic arthritis and other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Dactylitis is caused by inflammation of the entire tendon that runs along the fingers or toes. Such "sausage" toes or fingers can occur before someone even has joint problems. Foot pain Psoriatic arthritis can cause pain and swelling beyond the joints. Enthesitis is inflammation of an area where a tendon or ligament connects to bone. If it happens in the foot, it can be misdiagnosed asplantar fasciitis or heel spur, both of which tend to arise from overuse or injury. People with rheumatoid arthritis may also have foot pain, as do those with lupus, another autoimmune condition. Psoriatic arthritis can look like, or be associated with, gout, an arthritis that causes joint pain, often in the big toes.
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Mothers Play Important Role in Recovery From Mental Illness By Megan Fennell NEGATIVE family attitudes can have an adverse effect on recovery from mental illness, according to a new study. Researchers found that although family members, particularly mothers, often provide much needed support for the mentally ill, they can also be the source of negative attitudes that stigmatize these patients and impede their recovery. “Negative attitudes of family
members have the potential to affect the ways that mentally ill persons view themselves, adversely influencing the likelihood of recovery from the illness,” the study’s lead researcher, Fred Markowitz, a Northern Illinois University professor of sociology, said in a news release from the American Sociological Association. “In short, what mom thinks matters,” added Markowitz. “It’s a chain of effects that unfolds.”
The study, published in the June issue of Social Psychology Quarterly, analysed 129 mothers of adult children diagnosed with schizophrenia over the course of 18 months. “We found that when those with mental illness exhibited greater levels of initial symptoms, lower self-confidence and quality of life, their mothers tended to view them in more stigmatized terms — for example, seeing them as ‘incompetent,’
‘unpredictable’ and ‘unreliable,’” said Markowitz. When their mothers held these views, the mentally ill patients were more likely to see themselves in the same light, he explained. The researchers also found that when the mentally ill adopted their relatives’ stigmatizing perceptions, their symptoms worsened and their self-esteem dropped along with their quality of life. “Our study is part of research that is starting to more fully examine how stigma affects the self-concept and identity of those with mental illness,” Markowitz noted. The study’s authors concluded that no matter how well-intentioned a mentally ill person’s relatives are, stigmatizing attitudes of family members have potentially detrimental effects on a mental patient’s ability to recover. “It is, to a certain extent, a social-psychological process,” explained Markowitz. “The ways in which people, including family members and service providers, think about persons with mental illness affect the beliefs and actions of the individuals with mental illness, in turn shaping the trajectory of recovery.”
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0212
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Counselling for people with addictions eg. Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling • Relapse Programme • One-to-one Counselling • Referral system for private clients to White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre • Addiction and General counselling available Afternoon, evening and weekend appointments available
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New socialist group founded in Geneva May 6. Following the Czar's savage response to unrest in Russia and Poland, seven eastern European socialist parties have joined together to plan a common strategy. The parties, which include those from Poland, Georgia, Finland and Armenia, have set up a general fighting committee with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Among the demands is one for constituent assemblies in Poland, Armenia and Russia itself. Howeer, the weak link in this revolutionary chain may prove to be Poland. Following a Warsaw May Day strike, Polish socialists urged workers to return to work, explaining that the time was not yet ripe for revolution.
blast past from the
200,000 Russians Killed at Mukden
MAR 10. In a 12-day battle Japan has inflicted an historic and unprecedented defeat on the Russian army of Manchuria. General Kuropatkin's army of 200,000 men no longer exists as a fighting force. The only question now is what proportion of his battered units can be got to safety in Tie-ling. Total destruction or surrender are the grim alternatives now facing the surrounded Russian soldiers It is now two days since the Russian centre was smashed by an irresistible infantry assault which followed a formidable barrage from massed artillery. General Kuropatkin was forced to make a stand with his right wing at Fushun where the Russian troops conducted an obstinate but doomed defence. Marshal Oyama, the Japanese commander, reported last night that the enemy was surrounded and in full retreat. Casualties on both sides are estimated to be as many as 200,000 dead. The battle is without doubt the bloodiest engagement of the war to date. In a gesture towards the native Chinese population, Marshal Oyama ordered his troops not to occupy the ancient capital near Mukden, which is the birthplace of the imperial dynasty. Steps were taken to protect its imperial tombs. From the front today there are reports that Japanese forces are pursuing the enemy and have forced them into retreat towards the Tie pass, three days' march to the north. Fleeing troops have abandoned more than 100 artillery pieces, including all heavy guns and other equipment. So great is the scale of the disaster that the Russian commanders can no longer conceal it. General Kuropatkin finally had to report to St Petersburg that he was compelled to retreat. Although the Czar's government still claims it has no intention of ending the war, there have been antiwar demonstrations in the capital and news from the front will no doubt increase their scale. From the provinces come reports of disturbances.
Amercians sail to transatlantic win May 29. No other competitors were in sight at eighteen minutes past nine this evening, when the schooner Atlantic sailed through the winning mark off the Lizard to take the German Kaiser's Cup for the New York Yacht Club. Atlantic and the other ten yachts in this great ocean race sailed from Sandy Hook in Connecticut shortly after noon (local time) twelve days ago. Captain Barr, the winning ship's skipper, was delighted with the average speed of 10.5 knots and said that all on board had enjoyed the crossing.
Queen launches appeal for jobless
Bloody Sunday: Czar’s troops kill 500
Jan 22. Loyal strikers marching through St. Petersburg to petition Nov 12. Queen Alexandra today Czar Nicholas II for better condilaunched an appeal for the jobless. tions were shot down today leaving Her Majesty opened it with a permore than 500 dead and many more sonal donation of £2000. In a statewounded. ment issued through Earl de Grey, The slaughter on what is being the Treasurer of her Household, she called "Bloody Sunday" arose from a called on "all charitably disposed march led by Father George Gapon, people in the Empire, both men and a youthful priest who has been the women, to assist me in alleviating impetus behind several strikes. the suffering of the poor starving Gapon spent last week rallying unemployed this winter". workers for a mass march to the The Queen appears to be respondWinter Palace where he hoped to deing to a call by the Prime Minister, liver a petition to the Czar. Arthur Balfour, in his speech last The march, which began at midweek for help for the deserving poor day, was headed by the priest wear- "victims mainly of economic ing his vestments and carrying a causes". It was immediately wel-cross. Others carried icons, flags and comed, though several, like Will the Czar's portrait. Crooks, MP for Poplar, warned Lines of infantry backed by cosagainst demoralising people "by givsacks blocked the way but the proing them charity without work". cession had not expected what More details about the Queen's happened when they moved for Fund may become known later this ward. week, but today Earl de Grey said he The troops had been given firm knew no more than was contained orders to disperse any crowds alin the announcement, and that though the Czar was not actually at Buckingham Palace was probably the Winter Palace. Without warning, the place to send money.
Looking back at the 1900s
and at a distance of only 30 yards, the troops opened fire on men, women and children. The hardpacked snow was stained by crimson blotches. Gapon survived and es-
caped, but other leaders of the march were seized. The events appear to have struck a death blow to the ancient legendary belief that the Czar and the people
were one. He has been presented as the "Little Father" but after today it will be difficult to preserve the fiction. Nor will they futher believe he was kept ignorant of their problems.
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Here is a game that you can play to test your skill. This game will present you with a matrix filled with letters. The objective is to form words by concatenating adjacent letters. Letters that are to the left, right, on top, bottom, or on a diagonal to each other are all acceptable.
SAMPLE PUZZLE Here are some words that can be found in this sample matrix: any chant panel path trench Here are some words that are not valid in this puzzle: chance - uses the 'c' twice chaps - 's' is not adjacent
PUZZLE TIME ACROSS
by Megan Fennell
Funny words in the computer world There are some funny words in the computer world. A brouter is a network bridge and a router combined in a single product. A glyph is a graphic symbol that provides the appearance or form for an alphabetic or numeric font. (“Glyph” is from a Greek word for “carving.”) A moof monster is a vague and indefinable source of trouble for users of information technology. A jughead is a tool used by researchers for searching information on gopher sites. Not gopher the squirrel but the old information retrieval system called Gopher, predecessor to the World Wide Web.
WIN! 25
Most typing was once done by men The keyboard layout as we know it today was invented by Christopher Sholes in 1868. His first typewriters had the letters arranged in alphabetical order but he changed it to the QWERTY arrangement. In 1873, he contracted the Remington Arms Company to build and market the typewriter. It did not sell well for the first 15 years. World’s first video arcade game The first video game was invented by Willy Higginbotham.Willy was no teenage computer wizkid, however. In the early 1940s he worked on advanced radar displays for B28 bombers and went on to work for the Manhattan Project where he designed the timing mechanism for the first atomic bomb. In 1958, bored by the displays of the Brookhaven National Labs annual open-day exhibition, Willy designed a tennis game simulation, the world’s first video game. It was called Tennis For Two. Willy did not take out a patent but even if he had the royalties would have been paid to the US government.
. Or find chiller. (anag.) Stepchildren of Aoife whom she turned into Swans on Lough Derravaragh. (8,2,3) 8. Protection found in popular Mourne location. (6) 9. Pout face up until refreshment appears. (3,2,3) 10. Fry air? No, but reduce its pressure. (6) 12. Get up on hind legs about per can order. (6) 13. Impulses scrambled the last of the Carrickfergus letters. (5) 14.Then avoid by cute diversion around engineering work carrying the Dublin - Belfast rail line over Drogheda. (3,5,7) 19.Tree falls over after a century on Mediterranean island. (5) 20.Threw in at the Gaelic game? (6) 21. Make a quick grab for ants all over the small church. (6) 22. Stretch little Leonard starts, then finishes after note. (8) 23. Salty pool covered up back in Portnoo gallery. (6) 24. Sweet stew clan. (anag.) Limerick market town with a Knights Templars castle built in 1184. (9,4)
DOWN 11.You must see the faithful dog in Glengarriff, I do insist. (4) 12. Ripe conversion of fairy on Greek roundabout. (4) 15. Squirrel's home back in the American garden in pretty Ardmore. (4) 16. Last word in mean fashion. (4) 17. Greasy sun out over U.C. (8) 18. E.g. rang up Sligo village underneath Ben Bulben on the Bundoran road opposite Inishmurray Island. (6) 19. "This goat-footed bard, this half-human visitor to our age from the hag-ridden magic and enchanted woods of ------ antiquity." Baron Keynes - (describing Lloyd George) (6) 21. Soothe in the meandering vales. (5))
2. Oh, lure me in disorder for Bill first proposed and lost by Gladstone in 1885 and passed in 1912. (4,4) 3. "Hail fellow, well met. All ----- and wet: Find out, if you can,Who's master, who's man." Swift. (5) 4. Storeys one knocks to the ground. (6) 5. Recite with a singing voice to nine others in Rosses Point one time. (6) 6. Hour train call. (anag.) Kerry mountain popularly ascended through the Hag's Glen and up the Devil's Ladder to the peak at 3,314 feet. (13) 7. Jests shame pen. (anag.) Irish writer and poet (1880-1950) who wrote 'The Crock of Gold' . (5,8) 9. Owners latch up in neat Mayo village on the Sligo border. (11)
LAST ISSUE’S
ANSWERS
To be in with a chance of winning, fill out the crossword and your your name, telephone number and address and post to Puzzle Time Competition, Northwest Express, Unit 3, Riverview House, Barret Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo. - Good Luck!!
81. pol (1) 82. pom (1) 83. poo (1) 84. tee (1) 85. tel (1) 86. ten (1) 87. tet (1) 88. yam (1) 89. yea (1) 90. yom (1)
71. men (1) 72. met (1) 73. moa (1) 74. mol (1) 75. moo (1) 76. mop (1) 77. nee (1) 78. net (1) 79. ole (1) 80. one (1)
61. eme (1) 62. lam (1) 63. lay (1) 64. lee (1) 65. let (1) 66. loo (1) 67. lop (1) 68. mae (1) 69. may (1) 70. mel (1)
51. pone (2) 52. pool (2) 53. teel (2) 54. teem (2) 55. teen (2) 56. tent (2) 57. ama (1) 58. aye (1) 59. eel (1) 60. elm (1)
41. nett (2) 42. nolo (2) 43. oleo (2) 44. omen (2) 45. ploy (2) 46. poem (2) 47. poet (2) 48. pole (2) 49. polo (2) 50. pome (2)
31. meet (2) 32. melt (2) 33. meno (2) 34. mete (2) 35. mola (2) 36. mole (2) 37. molt (2) 38. mool (2) 39. neem (2) 40. nema (2)
21. lame (2) 22. leet (2) 23. leno (2) 24. lent (2) 25. loam (2) 26. lone (2) 27. loom (2) 28. loop (2) 29. maya (2) 30. mayo (2)
11. loamy (3) 12. loyal (3) 13. melon (3) 14. moola (3) 15. yamen (3) 16. aloe (2) 17. amen (2) 18. elmy (2) 19. enol (2) 20. lama (2)
Name: Address: Telephone number:
1. lament (4) 2. laymen (4) 3. loment (4) 4. mentee (4) 5. mettle (4) 6. molten (4) 7. pomelo (4) 8. telome (4) 9. ament (3) 10. amole (3)
Did you know?
Word Puzzle!
First projection of an image on a screen Joseph Necephore Niepce developed the world’s first photographic image in 1827. In 1839 Frenchman Louis Jacques Daguerre introduces a better photographic process and in the same year Englishman William Fox Talbot discovered the process of using negatives and positives to develop photographs. American George Eastman invented the paper film roll for photography in 1885. In1894 Americans Thomas Edison and W K L Dickson introduced the first film camera. In the next year French brothers Auguste and Louis Lumiere demonstrated a projector system in Paris, screening Sortie des Usines Lumière à Lyon, the first public movie. It was 46 seconds in duration. Oldest clock in the world The Sumerians of Mesopotamia, who is thought to have invented writing in the 4th century BC, based their numerical system on powers of 60 (instead of 100) subdivided into multiples of 10. It was from this system that Sumero-Babylonians developed the time system that we use today: each hour divided into 60 minutes, which are divided into 60 seconds. By the way, there are 31 556 926 seconds in a year.
Who? Where?
0909
Tel: 086 4062404
1210
?
FREE NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT SUMMER AT BALLYCROY NATIONAL PARK
Dublin City Jazz Orchestra bring their swinging sound to Ballina
0310 0711
Catered for You
OUTDOOR CATERING
The Plover Club for children at the highest mountain in the range, Ballycroy National Park Visitor lie the Scardaun Loughs. Centre will take place every TuesThe Plover Club is suitable for day and Thursday for July and Au- primary school children with an All Events Catered For gust at 2pm. All activities, events interest in wildlife and nature.The and entry to Visitor Centre are activities consist of an introduction Weddings, Communions, Confirmations, Private free of charge. Each session will to the days theme in their dediParties etc start at 2pm and different wildlife cated classroom, then a nature Barrett Mobile: 087-9827298 John will be explored through- walk around the trail and the visithemes Email: jjbarrett50ie@yahoo.ie the two months. out tor centre followed by an arts and www.cateredforyou.net Ballycroy National Park was back at the Visitor es- crafts session tablished in November 1998, it is Centre.Themes include butterflies CARNIVAL MARQUEES contact Niall on 086-1595093 Ireland’s sixth National Park and is and moths, wildflowers, bird milocated on the Western seaboard gration, creepy crawlies and much in northwest Mayo. It comprises of more. 11,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket The events are suitable for pribog and mountainous terrain, cov- mary school aged children. Spaces ering a vast uninhabited and un- are limited. Arrive early to avoid spoilt wilderness dominated by disappointment. Adult must rethe Nephin Beg mountain range. main with child or children for du Between Nephin beg and Slieve ration of activity and activities take Carr, at 721metres above sea level, approximately 2 hours.
OCCASION FOR THAT S PECIAL CASHEL HOUSE HOTEL 4* COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL CONNEMARA, CO. GALWAY , TURF FIRES AND MUCH MORE CANDLELIGHT TEL: 095-31001 www.cashel-house-hotel.com 0209 0209
0809
The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra will bring their swinging big-band sound to the Northwest on Thursday July 14 with a concert at Ballina Arts Centre. The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra was founded in 2007 to enable students at the Ballymun Wind Project to see and hear what a big band would look like as an encouragement to them in their studies. After a performance at the Electric Picnic in 2008 the band has gone from strength to strength performing in Dublin and around the country. The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra is comprised of Ciaran Wilde, Alex Mathias and Kelan Walsh, Rob Geraghty and Nick Roth on saxophones, Raymond Martin, Danny Healy, Eamon Nolan and Mark Adams on Trumpet. Paul Frost on bass trombone and vocals, Karl Ronan, Jim Clarke and Colm O’Hara also on trombone, Phil Ware on piano, Hugh Buckley playing guitar, Cormac O’Brien double bass and Stephen Kelly on drums. Doors: 7.30pm / concert starts: 8pm. Admission: 16 / 14.
Dj
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086-8216484 Book today for a great nights entertainment on your special day scruffy@scruffyentertainment.com
When?
Ballina, Co. Mayo Tel: 086 8773635
Weddings, Private Parties, Communions, etc. Full Packages available, see Website for details
Enniscrone Black Pig Festival back due to huge demand
Beautiful West Sligo resort Enniscrone has much to offer tourists and locals alike this summer and one of the highlights will be the return of the Black Pig Festival which runs from August 4 to 8. The festival celebrates the demise of a fabled wild boar that ran amok in the town and is four days of fun including a carnival, street parades and entertainment , puppet and magic Shows, Beat on the Street , BBQ, Fireworks and much more. For the boys we have a very exciting Soap Box Derby with many prizes. The event also hosts one of the largest Market days to be seen. Every year the festival goes from strength to strength with this year promising to be the best so far.Among the many new aspects to the festival is a 10k fun run
on Mon August 8, a treasure hunt on Sat Aug 6, an all day beach fishing competition and all day kite surfing on also on the Saturday. There is also a very exciting Local Photography and Arts Exhibition being held all week in the Diamond Coast Hotel. For information please contact Dermot Dermot@seasonslodge.ie.There is plenty
going on for children to enjoy, including a Kiddies disco, Mardi Gra, duck races and much more. For more info please contact Joe Queenan 0876214422, Aishling on 0876169423 , or Dorothy 0876694133 To register for the 10k Fun run please email enniscroneeventscommittee@hotmail.com or aishlingruane@hotmail.com
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0910
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The Hawkswell Theatre is offering a rare opportunity to witness a veritable jazz "supergroup" in the intimate surrounds of the Sligo venue. Yellowjackets, an eclectic, electro-acoustic jazz combo and internationally renowned instrumentalists. Sligo Jazz Project is honoured to have been chosen as the Irish host for their historic 30th Anniversary tour, featuring arguably the most popular line up of the band's history. Their new CD "Timeline” is the 21st recording by the 17-time nominated, two time Grammywinning artists. All along, the band has mastered the art of being both accessible and adventurous, with strong grooves and melodies blended in with surprising twists. Calling them a "fusion" band doesn't do the project justice. Haslip comments, "I think it's just how we're wired. We are very passionate about the music, obviously, and we love to listen to everything. It motivates us in many ways. And with that motivation, we are also creatively inspired to continue our progression." Each individual in the Yellowjackets is a world renowned instrumentalist in his own right and their democratic musical approach to composition and arrangements results in an awe-inspiring live set this is an event not to be missed whether you consider yourself a jazz fan or not.
Connaught Amusements - Suppliers of -
Live entertainment and music will rock Castlebar from 21 to 23 July as Castlebar traders in conjunction with ‘Visit Castlebar’ will host the Heart of Castlebar Street Festival, Castlebar Beo Aris. Croi Chaisleán an Bharraigh will coincide with the official opening of the beautiful new street scape in downtown Castlebar, by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny,TD on Saturday, 23 July. Speaking at the launch, Kathryn Brennan, a key organiser said: “This inaugural Street Festival is the perfect opportunity for traders to promote
the beautiful new shopping area in downtown Castlebar and to highlight all that Castlebar has to offer. Bargain hunting shoppers will be delighted with the promotions throughout participating stores on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 July. Mid West Radio will be broadcasting live from the town from 11.00am to 5.30pm on Thursday July 21. On Saturday, July 23 a fantastic line up of artists, markets and entertainers including a live Samba band, puppeteers and many others will take to the pedestrian friendly streets.
0110
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Phone: 353 (0)96 32042 Mobile: 086-2692630 Farmhill, Kincon, Ballina, Co. Mayo www.toonsandballoons.com
Airport Transfers Weddings Stag Nights Hen Nights Christmas Parties Sight Seeing
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Nationwide Service Tel: +353 41 6855873 Mobile: +353 87 781 4814
RED DOOR BOOKSHOP Opening 5th July 2011 22 High Street, Sligo Buy your Primary and Secondary Books early this year to avoid the September rush, while at the same time droping in your unwanted books and uniforms for re-sale. We also stock a large selection of Third Level Books and School Uniforms Open Daily 9.30am to 5.30pm
W
e have teamed up with Mayo Media to offer a lucky reader 2 tickets to the Legend of Gráinne Mhaol! To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the question below and send your answers into us at info@theexpress.ie along with your name, address and telephone number alternatively you can post your entires into us at: Gráinne Mhaol Comp, Northwest Express, Cleveragh Road, Sligo. QUESTION: Name the island in Clew Bay, Co. Mayo associated with Gráinne Mhaol? Good luck!
For Further information phone
086-1080903
e v i t i s o P f o r e w o P “The g” Thinkin by Rachael
Kelly
s and limited employment opportunitie Wet weather, a struggling economy e of negativity. As an eighteen year old I have immersed our country in a wav tive means of improving the downreally think that the quickest, most effec. cast atmosphere is by positive thinkingpositive thinking” has recently inAlthough awareness of “the power of ns a new phenomenon. Arguably the creased dramatically, it is by no mea Shakespeare claimed many centuries ago world’s greatest playwright, William thinking makes it so”. If this is true then that “it is neither good nor bad but n that frown upside down?” just how beneficial is it really to “turthe importance of positive thinking in Psychologists worldwide recognize tual success of “Africa’s Great Son”, Neltoday’s demanding society. The even to ensure the creation of an egalitarian son Mandela in his tireless campaigntheid regime is credited to his positive state free from the segregating apar paign. Despite having been unjustly mind set and genuine belief in his cam isonment in the notorious Robben Issentenced to a period of harsh imprto cower in ignorant submission before land, Mandela courageously refused greatest glory lies not in never falling his unjust leaders, claiming that “the dela’s positive attitude coupled with his but in rising everytime we fall.” Man in his release from prison followed wholehearted determination resulted a South African Republic. The then by his election as First President of of this State and his universal recogninewly acquired apartheid-free status ’s character. tion as a Hero is a tribute to this manCup Finals hosted by South Africa Surely the success of the 2010World tive thinking? portrays excellently the power of posi lt that “no one can make you feel inSimilarly the belief of Eleanor Rooseve onified through the acclaimed characferior without your consent” is pers
ter of Helen Keller. Although blind and the age of just 20months, Kellers dete deaf from and belief that “anything is possible” rmination combined with assistance form her dedicated tuto in Kellerearning an Honour of Bachelor r resulted gree, the first blind person ever to do s Art dewas a prolific author and well travelledso. Keller who a a member of the American Soci politician was whole heartedly opposed to war. alist Party ing been faed with major obstacles, at Despite havage and throughout her life, Keller is such an early garded as one of America’s most couruniversally reageous individuals, both as an author, lecturer, polit who continues to inspire many toda ical activist y. Helen Keller is to me proof of the age-old proverb “if life hands you lemons, you should make lemonade ”. Having recently completed my own cate I firmly believe with Albert Eins Leaving Certifimiddle of difficulty, lies opportunity”tein that “in the endless hours studying and mountain. Having spent s of notes later it is too easy to condemn the Educatio land utilises. Instead I didn’t allow mys n System, Irein self pity or recluse to the study everelf to wallow appreciate the years I have spent in y night I really lifelong friendships I have developed. school and the I genuinely believe in the power of posi and in such severe economic circumsta tive thinking emigration and unemployment have nces where become commonplace I think it is the only way forward. As Charles Dickens your present blessings of which ever reflects one should “reflect upon yman has many”. In doing so you have the power to alter your circumstances to challenges that will inevitably face and avoid becoming a victim you along the way. Recent research gests that thoise with a fundamentallsugbrighter, more optimistic outlook on y life are also more “lucky” ()through winning money or achieving ambition as well as more prepared to deal withs negative situations should they arise than their more pessimistic counterparts. Surely that is proof enough to convince you to turn that frown upsi de down?!
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BEAUTY BEAUTY S ometimes you’ve gotta love super simple style. This girls got it just right. This is a great look to try over the weekend and should only take a couple of minutes! Create a deep side part and tease the crown area for a little volume. Grab sections from the lowest part of your front hairline (near your ears). Braid, rope, or twist them back. Tie it off with a clear elastic. This is amazing with a little natural, messy texture so maybe avoid using a brush on saturday morning and do this before heading to brunch instead. We love it paired with a blazer. Happy weekend!!
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up to 97% of domestic water requirements
Our all new non-pressurised system
conserve energy and utilize natural resources. A rainwater harvest system collects all of the rain run-off from the roof of a structure in order to use it later on. This system usually includes collecting all of the rain off of the roof
by channeling it through the gutters into a container of some sort.This container can be as simple as a barrel, and as complex as a cistern or cement holder.The beauty of this system is that it can be used in urban as well as rural conditions.You can quickly take control of your water supply and replace a large portion of it with your own generated supply. One of the psychological benefits of a rainwater harvesting system is you will start caring more about how you are using water on a day-to-day basis. You will realize how important it is to store it and not waste it. Not only that, you can feel like you are doing something to help the environment as you begin to see your water cache grow. Other than the fact that you will be more attentive to your water usage, there are a variety of other benefits that come from rain harvesting. First of all, rainwater is a relatively clean source of water and on top of that it is completely free. You can freely collect this resource without having to pay extra for it.
SEWAGE
TREATMENT
SYSTEMS
Not only that, the process of installing a system into your home is environmentally responsible as well as personally satsifying. Next, you will be able to control how much water you use. If you live in a city with strict water regulations then this
can be an advantage for you. You will be able to conserve the water when you need it and also promote a sense of self-sufficiency. Other benefits include things that will affect your home. For instance, you will be able to reduce the
amount of storm water runoff that is created on businesses and residences. If you currently have drainage problems at your home then you can eliminate them by collecting the water.You can also use the water to landscape plants and gardens because it is not chlorinated. Also, a rainwater harvesting system can also easily be retrofitted to an existing home or it can be built to match a home being built. With all of the benefits that rainwater harvesting provides, you can see why it is a good idea to invest in a system. You can save money as well as improve the efficiency of your home.What is rainwater harvesting? There are two classes of rainwater harvesting systems: • Systems which collect roof
runoff for household use. • Systems which use in field or adjoining catchment to provide supplemental irrigation for agriculture. Why harvest rainwater? It's a shame to let runoff go to waste when it can be used indoors and/or for irrigation. The benefits of rainwater harvesting can include: • Relief of strain on other water supply • Ability to build or farm in areas with no other water supply • Cleaner water • Increased independence and water security • Lower water supply cost • Reduced flood flows • Reduced topsoil loss • Improved plant growth • Greater sensitivity to and connection with natural cycles
We Sell and Service All Makes and Brands of Sewage Tanks, Water Pumps and Treatment Systems
RAINWATER HARVESTING SEWAGE TREATMENT WATER TREATMENT AND PUMPS Well Drilling and Water Testing Service Available
NATIONWIDE SERVICE Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon Tel: 094-9861869 or 087-8237271 E: eddiepoconnor@gmail.com W: www.ocenvironmental.com
• Water Softening • Well Drilling • Rainwater Harvesting • Water Conservation • Pumps • Group Water Schemes • Drinking Water Filtration • Water Treatment
Rainwater Harvesting • Pumps • Servicing • Well Treatment CALL: 071-9133225 or visit www.grantwater.ie
By Linda Sherlock
W
ith the summer holidays upon us, many parents are scrambling to find fun and inexpensive activities to keep their children busy. Summer camps are a great way for children to stay active and get out of the house during the summer holidays but because many parents will not be able to afford to send their children to too many of these this summer, here are some ways to keep the kids entertained without spending a fortune. Keeping active is important, for both you and your kids, so any sunny or even simply dry day should be taken advantage of.
• Free pony rides on Bob, • Handfeeding • Playground, • A trip on the Tullyboy Express, • Rural life museum, • Straw dive for goodies! Weekly Farm Fun Summercamps from 19th July'
North West Surf School Enniscrone, Co. Sligo Tel: 087-9595556 northwestsurf@gmail.com www.nwsurfschool.com
by rted suppo
suits wet
Visit
Ballymote, Co. Sligo The attraction for all the family at affordable prices. Get close-up with Eagles and enjoy our Touch-zoo!. Gates open 30 mins. earlier. Bird Shows start at 11 and 3 every day
Cycling is a fun and healthy activity you will both enjoy and allows you to include even the very small members of the family, who can ride along in a specialised seat and enjoy the scenery. Why not bring along some sandwiches, your child or children will love the idea of cycling to a certain destination and sitting down to a picnic. Don’t forget the helmets! Children love trying new thing and the summer months are a great time to challenge them to do so. Summer activities with kids should be an opportunity for exploration and enjoyment for the both of you.
With safety gear on, your child could try a new activity like roller skating. Skipping rope is an activity that children love to play with their friends and neighbours, and they certainly are not expensive to buy. A child will nearly always prefer to play any sort of game with youthe parent, than to play with the latest and greatest toy on their own. So save yourself some money and give the gift of your time instead. Getting out playing a game of football or basketball with your child will delight them and cost you nothing, all that fresh air will also tire them out, a winwin situation for you. There are now some great playgrounds and parks throughout the Northwest, with an area for all age groups. Take advantage of this when you can, children love the playground and will nearly always find a companion to play with when there.
Lough Key Forest & Activity Park has the answer
-Browse for those special mementos in the Lough Key Gift Shop -Ramble Along the trees and along the lake shore on one of the many trails throughout the 350 hectres of parkland. Tree Canopy Walk - Old Servant Tunnels - Moylung Tower - Adventure Play Kingdom - Boda Borg - Restaurant - Gift Shop - Caravan and Camping park - Lakeside Walks - Bog Gardens - Forest and Parkland Trails - 19th Century Bridges - Historic Monuments
www.eaglesflying.com
@
Hopes & Dreams Montessori School
-Stroll along Ireland’s first Tree Canopy Walkway on the Lough Key Experience
-Relax with a cup of coffee or tea, overlooking Lough Key in the lakeside Café
Tel: 071-918 9310
on 18-22 July and 25-29 July 10am-3pm
- Enjoy fun filled hours in Boda Borg - a unique activity to Ireland
-Watch the Kids enjoy the stimulating play equipment in Adventure Play Kingdom
It is a good idea to always have a well stocked arts and crafts box for those rainy days; this allows children to use their imagination and creativity and will easily pass an afternoon. An arts and crafts box should contain things like white and coloured paper or card, markers and crayons, colouring books, glue, buttons, string, tissue paper, paints and anything else you might find around the house. If you are short on ideas of what to make with your children, a quick search online will give you plenty of arts and crafts ideas from paper plate faces to jewellery boxes to pen holder cups. Of course watching a bit of TV or a DVD is a great way to kill time on rainy days but they cannot do that all day. Reading is a terrific activity and will benefit them when they go back to school in September. When you can, bring your children to your local library, children love that they can choose whatever they want and will always find something to suit their particular interests and age group. They can entertain themselves with books and will also enjoy having a new bedtime story to read with you if they go to the library
r C e m m u S For 4-10 year oldsamp
Looking for a Day Out with a Difference?
Beat the rain - Now with indoor display area
We are also lucky in the Northwest to have beautiful scenic beaches and plenty of other natural attractions such as forest walks and lakes, so grab the kids and the dog, or even a football and a bucket and spade and get out there in the fresh air. An ice cream treat afterwards is inexpensive and is always welcome! Of course, the dry and sunny days are often short lived, but there are lots of activities you can do indoors. As said, the summer is an ideal time for your child to learn something new so a few trips to your local indoor pool are a great way to pass some time while also learning a new skill.
Birthday Packages Boda Borg or Adventure Play Kingdom with homemade Party Food - Birthday Child goes free!
For more details on all the above please log onto www.loughkey.ie Boyle, Co. Roscommon - Just off the N4 (Sligo - Dublin Road)
www.loughkey.ie Tel +353 71 9673122 Email: info@loughkey.ie
Cartron Heights, Sligo. 071-9144085 www.hopesanddreams.ie
king Music a B Crafts Sports Arts &
Day Trips
often, of course, the main attraction to the local library is that it won’t cost you a cent. Libraries also often have notice boards with local activities for children or sometimes organise workshops or reading events themselves. When all else fails on a rainy day or otherwise, it is always wise to have a back-up plan: board games, Lego and jigsaw puzzles are the old reliables and never seem to go out of fashion. No matter how many games consoles or DVDs a child has, an old classic board game played with you is always an enjoyable activity.
KIDS SURFING CAMPS
Enniscrone Beach, Sligo Weekly: July & August Book Now: Get Surfing this summer
Ph: Linda/Ger 0879716389 / 0857385399 Check our website: www.surfsligo.com e.mail 7thwavesurf@eircom.net
to the Fire Station, Hazelwood & Rosses Point Beach
Your fun-filled week will finish up with a Sports Day and presentation ceremony, with bbq, facepainting, bouncy castle and open air disco.
ALL THIS FOR JUST 75 per week! call 071-9144085 to book your place
Adventure Play Centre Cleveragh Business Park Contact: 071 9135115 for information
Full Day Care Block 8, Clarion Village, Ballytivnan, Sligo TELEPHONE: 071-9194577