Madeline Mc Aleer, an Ennis resident has combined her experiences of working in the community sector, running her own business and the advances in information technology to set up www.clarefocus.ie , an innovative, interactive, networking web-site for the community, social and business sectors in Co. Clare.
The web-site features original photography from around the county and has a simple layout which means that information on a wide range of events and activities is easy to find.
The web-site was set up to act as a one-stop shop for events and activities. It covers business, social and community events, meetings, seminars, conferences, training, work, funding and volunteering opportunities, entertainment, festivals, clubs, trad sessions, cinema, dancing, comedy, theatre, children’s events.
Individuals, locals, community groups, businesses, indigenous and foreign tourists can all access the information they need, but just as importantly anyone can submit information and events to the site, promoting their activities and organisations.
Ms McAleer believes that there is so much happening in Co. Clare that isn’t being highlighted. – there is a daily, weekly, monthly and annual calendar of events – at any time the highlights on the home page show the wealth and variety of what’s on in Co. Clare, for any one day the highlights could include: a drama festival in Doonbeg, free talk on homeopathy in Ennistymon, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations around the County, Clare Archaeological and Historical society lecture at the Museum in Ennis, Heritage Inchicronan – Cúirt sa Cistin in the community centre in Crusheen, Al Andar Flamenco show in Glor, opening of the Advanced Chiropractic Clinic, Roselvan, Ennis,Ennis Singer’s Club, Jet FM – Shannon Community Radio station, organic gardening in Bridgetown, currach regattas in west Clare, films, and The Three Tenors in concert.
Clare Focus users can also sign up for a free weekly e-newsletter which highlights the up-coming events listed on the site or they can search by event type.
For Madeline researching, developing, testing the website and bringing the
project from an idea to the stage where it is now up and running, has been a lengthy process - the development and testing phases lasted two years. The development would not have been possible without community group subscriptions and the support of local agencies and organisations such as the County Enterprise Board and a financial award from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.
Speaking at the Social Entrepreneurs Awards ceremony, Mary Davis, the chairperson of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship said “Social entrepreneurs must be given the same type of public and private sector support and recognition that business entrepreneurs are currently receiving in this country. We need to support both equally.”
Sean Coughlan, managing director of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, stated; “Everyone in Co. Clare will now benefit from the local and national support shown to the social entrepreneurship in Co. Clare, which has resulted in the development of Clare Focus. Clare focus is giving the people of Clare the opportunity to be in touch with what’s happening in their County and to showcase the county to the world. This is exactly what SEI aims to foster in communities - projects which are good ideas, entrepreneurial and which will improve people’s experiences and the social capital in society - so we were delighted to support Madeline in her venture and congratulate her on her success”, he said.
Congratulating Madeline on her initiative to set up such an informative website, Cllr Patricia McCarthy, Mayor of Clare said “it is obvious from the format, layout, and content that Madeline has drawn on her experience of working with communities and in the voluntary sector to deliver a consumer friendly, informative web-site. Continuing Cllr McCarthy said that the site is a showcase of what Clare has to offer to both tourists and locals. Such painstaking attention to detail demonstrates a love of and a commitment to her adopted county”, the Mayor concluded.
Commenting on the website, Maureen Keane, manager of the Clare Family Resource Centre said, “This web-site not only looks good, it covers community events; community job vacancies; volunteer and funding opportunities;
Chairperson of the Clare Community Forum, Richard Cahill praised the web-site, “ the Clare Community Forum’s slogan is that – ‘we are the voice of the community and voluntary sector in Clare’ and as such the CCF is delighted to support Clare Focus, as it adds great impetus to that voice and gives people working in the community and voluntary sector another way of accessing and disseminating information”
“The introduction of a local, information website and e-newsletter, is a great new resource for the county,” said Paul Woulfe, manager of the Citizen’s Information Network of Centres in County Clare. “We recognize that information is the key to decision making, empowerment and full participation in society for people – so giving people access to this range of up-to-date, local community and social information is very worthwhile.”
Other agencies have been quick to see the advantages of using information technology on their project. Josephine Keavney, manager of the Disabled People of Clare (DPOC) said “The website and weekly e-newsletter are fantastic – the problem of accessing timely, regularly updated information on events in the community and voluntary sector has been an unnecessary barrier for people with disabilities – Clare Focus will help ensure that this is no longer the case.”
“Clare Focus is a great idea! It’s a really well designed web site that gives you a quick way to find out what is going on in Co. Clare; everything from shows and book clubs to community meetings on the most important issues facing people around the County. It is a very valuable new source of information for the county, congratulations on getting it up and running!” said Sue Targett manager of Eiri Corca Bascinn, a community development agency based in Kilkee.
Welcoming the new venture, Siobhan Mulchacy, Clare Arts Officer said, “The development of a web based promotional initiative covering all facets of life in the community is a very welcome addition to the county at large, and in particular to the further development and promotion of the Arts to a wider audience at local level. The website will allow local communities to promote themselves and their events further and raise the profile of the myriad Arts events happening at any one time in the county”.
A former Ennis resident Camille Williams, remarked "I moved to Dublin some years ago and when I was planning trips back to Clare, it was difficult to find out what was happening - until Clare Focus. Now, with a click of a button I can see at a glance what’s on, from cultural events to community activities, and I have signed up for the weekly e-newsletter so I can plan my visit before I arrive. When I am in Clare, there’s a feature on the site that allows me to check out ‘what’s on to-day’. What a brilliant time-saving idea! Why have we waited so long for such an innovative project? I think it will become an essential part of the lives of Clare people and visitors to their vibrant county. This facility should be available at every tourist location - it means that I will be coming back to Clare more often. Thank you to Madeline McAleer and the agencies that supported her in this unique venture. Well Done County Clare!
