Nagarhope

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Happy New Year one and all,

The usual apologetic paragraph to begin with. It has been two months since my last email to all you Nagarhopians, and for good reason. Tadhg, my older brother visited for 6 weeks in November and December and boy did he keep me on my toes. Rarely a minute went by in that time where we weren’t on some mission or other. I’m glad to say there was also leisure time in that period; we took in a five day trek and also a trip to the Eastern Terai close to the Indian border to visit Dhurba’s family home.

Hallowe’en night saw a massive fundraising effort in Lucan Sarsfields GAA club. It was a successful fancy dress / mock wedding fundraiser that has to date pulled in €7,000 for Nagarhope Ireland. A million thanks to Tadhg, Una, Grainne, Aoife, Niamh and everyone else involved in all aspects of the night.

Tadhg flew out a week later to Nepal without the knowledge that a collection was being made in both his and Fintan’s (youngest brother) honour. They trained the Lucan Sarsfields Senior Camogie team last year, and to thank the lads, Audrey Murtagh and Co. decided to give a donation to Nagarhope. It was used specifically for a government school in Nagarkot, where 150 pairs of shoes and socks as well as 100 quality school bags were dished out to children without these items. I pass this school everyday on the way to my own school, and I saw so many kids carrying books in their hands and walking in only flip-flops, right through the bitter Himalayan winter. Many thanks to Audrey and all the girls for their kind contributions, over 200 underprivileged children have directly benefited from your generosity and thoughtfulness.

Nagarhope Nepal, still, is in the process of registration. The new communist-led government of Nepal has scrapped and abolished the one office in Nepal that accounted for all Ngo’s (non-governmental organisations) – The Social Welfare Council, and has transferred the workload to the finance ministry, a move they hope will be able to keep track of all the foreign spending in Nepal. Which all sounds well and good, but puts us on the backburner a little. We were at the stage where we were happy with proceedings, and now we will almost certainly have to rework our constitution to suit this new change. Ce la vie say the Maoists.

A couple of other fundraisers are due a special mention. An aunt of mine, Maureen Ryan of Athy, collected a sizeable amount through the Dominican Laity Group, Athy branch by holding a successful coffee-morning in Athy in October. I did ask myself how much a coffee morning could raise, and I was answered with the words “Over three and a half thousand euros”. This all after being told that the recession we find ourselves in has left people with nothing to give anymore. People’s hearts are not in recession. Thanks Maureen and co.

The carpentry school Nagarhope has been planning is ready to go. When I return to Nepal in early February 09, one carpenter and a few young men will start to produce school desks, blackboards, benches, whiteboards, specifically for schools. It will be done on a donation-basis, basically government and under funded schools will be provided with these facilities. We have been in contact with some local schools close to Nagarkot and we will do a test run with one of them and see how little we can produce them for. To hire a fully trained carpenter who will teach the handful of boys will cost only €3.25 per day. It will also cost us to buy the wood and transport it to schools. A little more research is needed but we are confident that by March, rural and under funded schools will be benefiting.

ELVIS - The Way It Was. Featuring Kevin Doyle
Friday 30th January 2009
Westmanstown Garda Club
Tickets €20
In aid of Doc Clandillon’s Charity, Nagarhope
Tickets available from
Niamh Clandillon 6241328
Tadhg 087-9225103
Doc 086-8217502
Please text your orders, ring, email us at niamhclandillon@hotmail.com
or call to 191 Beech Park.

If there’s nobody in, please drop a note in the door and we’ll get back to you.

I’m home, and will be there on the night with photos and stories from Nepal. It promises to be a big night and hoping you can all come. Limited tickets only.

I wish you all a peaceful New Year. Peace love and happiness to one and all

Doc Clandillon - Sunday 28th December 28, 2008