Confirmation was administered to the children of Ruan School on Saturday August 8, in St. Mary’s Church, Ruan at 11am. The children who received the Sacrament from Fr. Pat  O’Neill were Conor Parnell, Cormac Ryan, Evan O’Donoghue, Joe Meaney, Joshua Ryan, Lee White, Oisin Punch, Pearce Wynne, Rory Meaney, Javier Gomez, Aoibheann Le Cathelinais, Aoibheann O’Toole, Ava Quirke, Ciara Punch, Cliodhna Jones and Kya Mounsey.  Principal, Cyril Lyons, was their teacher.

At two o’clock Saturday afternoon it was the turn of the children from Toonagh School,  Blaithin Barry, Sarah Browne, Ronan Barry, Daniel Clancy, Grace Corcoran, James Cullinan, Alice Cummins, Clarissa Gilmore, Leah Griffin, Daniel Guineans, Sean Healy, Ethan Lucas, Billy Marrinan, Tara Moroney, Cathal Noonan, Ellen O’Leary, Lennon Rushton and Jamie Ryan. Their teacher was Claire Cullinan. 

Monica Morgan and Michael Hennessy provided the singing and music for both ceremonies, after which the school had laid on an ice-cream van, which went down a treat with everyone, given that the weather was so beautiful on the day.

Down Syndrome Clare's annual Tour De Munster cycle fundraiser was another huge success thanks to the wonderful people who helped and supported it over the weekend. A very special mention to some fantastic young musicians Eimear and Holly O'Loughlin, Aoife Mcinerney, Tierna Casey, Sarah Jane O Halloran, Rachel Mahoney, Niamh Lynch, Mary Hanrahan and Lily Price, along with their organiser Geraldine Cahir, who entertained the cyclists and crowds at O’Connell Square in Ennis on the day. The support of all who contributed, in any way, to the fundraiser is hugely appreciated, as these monies will be used throughout the year for various activities for children with Downs Syndrome such as speech therapy, horse riding classes, home tutoring, mother and toddler group, music therapy and informative talks for parents.

The local Camogie teams, u14s, u18s and the adult team were on the losing side of their games last week, however, they were happy to be out, meeting their friends, playing their games in the fresh air. During this pandemic, it’s these occasions that bring a sense of ‘normality’ to life for which everyone is grateful.