Home For Christmas
Many local households were delighted to welcome home family members from abroad or from all parts of Ireland over the week-end. The downturn in the Irish economy saw substantial numbers of young local people emigrate in search of work in recent years but thankfully many managed to make it home at this time of year to celebrate the festive season with family and friends.
Church Services
Parishioners have been informed to changes to week-end mass times from January which will see mass in Kilnaboy at 8.00pm on Saturday evening, in Corofin at 11.30am on Sunday and at Rath at 7.00pm on Sunday evening. This arrangement will be reviewed after a six month trial period.
Seasonal Hunt
The Clare Hunt makes its annual visit to Corofin on St. Stephen’s Day maintaining a tradition which has lasted for more than fifty years. The hunt adds great colour and excitement which provides many locals either as participants or spectators with an exciting post-Christmas activity. The hunt members always appreciate the great co-operation which they receive from local landowners. However the very heavy rain and considerable flooding experienced in the Corofin area in recent days may well restrict the preferred route somewhat on Thursday.
Charities Benefit
One of the big successes locally in this the year of The Gathering was the Willbrook School Reunion held in October. An offshoot of that event saw the organisers receive a number of generous donations from former pupils. The money donated has benefited two charities namely Corofin Senior Citizens and Pieta House. Both the reunion committee and the charities involved greatly appreciate the donations received.
Gabriel’s Encore
The tremendous success of the recent production of ‘The Two Loves of Gabriel Foley’ by Corofin Dramatic Society which was held at the GLOR Theatre in Ennis had prompted calls for an encore from very many people who didn’t have the opportunity to see it on the first occasion. At a meeting of the dramatic society on Friday night it was agreed to stage the play for two more nights at the Ennis venue in January. As a result Gabriel will again appear at GLOR on Tuesday and Wednesday January 21st and 22nd 2014.
School Success
The annual gamble organised by the Scoil Mhuire Parent’s Committee on Sunday last was one of the most successful to date with almost 30 teams competing. The event attracted teams from all over North Clare as well as local participants. The organisers are very grateful to everyone who supported the cause as well as to the Daffy family who hosted the event.
Election Candidate
The change to the constituency boundaries for the forthcoming local elections has seen huge moves in the local political landscape with part of the Kilnaboy parish, Tubber and Ruan all now included in the East Clare constituency. Meanwhile Corofin finds itself in a West Clare constituency which stretches from Ballyvaughan to Loop Head and eastwards to Kiladysart. The changes have seen both sitting county councillors Michael Kelly, Tubber and Joe Arkins, Ruan removed from the area which they have served for several years. With an obvious vacuum left in Corofin and North Clare in general local Corofin Development Association Chairman Gerard Kennedy was approached to stand on behalf of Fine Gael and has been added to their ticket for next year’s elections.
Soccer Academy
While Corofin Harps has not been involved in the Clare Schoolboy’s Soccer League for the past couple of seasons great work is being done locally at underage level by a number of parents and former players to ensure that the club is once more involved in countywide competition in the near future. The local soccer academy has around thirty members drawn from seven neighbouring North Clare parishes. A presentation ceremony was held recently for players who received certificates and footballs while last year’s u-7 team were presented with trophies. There is a closed season for the young footballers until January when training will again resume. The club would welcome new players for their u-7 and u-9 squads and anyone interested should contact Kevin O’Rourke on 086-3355042.
Field Trusteeship
As part of their mandate from the local community CHAF Ltd. the local hall and field development group are now attempting to regulate the trusteeship of the local sportsfield. The situation regarding the ownership of the community field has been in doubt for several years following the deaths of the original trustees of the property. CHAF has made application to the Commissioner for Charitable Trusts to become trustees of the field on behalf of the Corofin community. As part of this process a public notice has been on display at St. Bridget’s Church, Corofin informing the community on the situation and anyone interested can get the details there.
ICA Social
Corofin ICA Guild will hold its annual social at Teach Ui Dalaigh on this Saturday December 28th. Music for the occasion is being supplied by The Ramblers and a great night is assured.