New Claddagh projects responding to COVID-19
The Government of Ireland COVID-19 Response Fund for Irish Communities Abroad has provided a grant to Claddagh to fund two new projects with Irish Seniors. Over the next five months we’ll be running: 1. a project to train our Seniors to be confident using apps which can keep them connected with loved ones. Trainers will teach our members how to use video conferencing programs like Zoom and Skype, messaging services like WhatsApp or Viber and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram 2. a project to record oral histories from our Seniors. These stories will be compiled into a book, as well as audio archives, to be housed by the State Library and featured on our website and social media. We are excited to spend time with our Seniors during COVID-19 and to highlight their history of emigration from Ireland. Claddagh would love to hear from you if you are interested in participating in either of these projects. Numbers will be limited so please express interest early if you’re keen to be involved. You can register your interest by contacting Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on admin@claddagh.org.au/08 9249 9213. Alternatively you can email seniors@claddagh. org.au to put your name down for either of these projects.
Claddagh Seniors The Claddagh Seniors subcommittee are busy making plans for the time when the group can meet up in person again. Last month the Seniors subcommittee along with Claddagh volunteers met to print and post copies of the May/June Irish Scene magazine. Many of Claddagh Seniors group were not able to access the digitalonly version of the last issue of the magazine and they had expressed their disappointment at missing out on their favourite reading! So, the Seniors subcommittee jumped into action and posted out over 100 copies of the Irish Scene. We’ve had lots of thank you calls from delighted Seniors who were pleased to read the paper copy of the magazine.
Support the Claddagh Association To those who already support the Claddagh Association in a myriad of ways - thank you so much. If you are interested in becoming a new Claddagh supporter, we welcome you in whatever capacity you can support us. New members can join up at any time. Online signup is available here: and our membership subscription is just $10 per year. We are always open to new volunteers and would love to hear from you if you have time to volunteer with us. contact Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on admin@claddagh.org.au/08 9249 9213 for details. We also appreciate it when you like and share our social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This increases our visibility and helps us to reach those who most need to hear about Claddagh. If you are in the position to contribute financially this would be gratefully received for our support work. Your taxdeductible donation will help Claddagh continue its work in support of Irish people in difficult circumstances here in WA. Donations can be made at our GiveNow page: www.givenow.com.au/thecladdaghassociation or via bank transfer to Claddagh’s account. The details are: Bank: Commonwealth Bank Account name: The Claddagh Association BSB: 066153 Account no: 10771928 Ref: Your initial & surname +DON THE IRISH SCENE | 61
