As part of the Mater's educational initiative, aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle for all through improved access to information about illness and its prevention, the hospital's public lecture series continues tomorrow night, focusing on alcohol. Guest speakers are Clodagh O'Sullivan, unit nursing officer, St Vincent's Hospital, and Tony Jordan, addiction counsellor, Stanhope Centre, Dublin. The evening starts at 8 p.m. in the Freeman Auditorium of the hospital and admission is free. The talks will continue each Tuesday evening until April 7th, covering topics including the environment and public health; smoking; exercise and nutrition; stress at work and at home; preparation for retirement.
M.E. sufferers, their carers, relatives and friends, as well as the general public, might be interested in a talk entitled "Red cell shape and blood flow in M.E." by Dr L.O. Simpson tomorrow evening at 7.45 p.m. in the Mount Herbert Hotel, Herbert Road, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Dr Simpson, an expert in haematology who has published research on M.E., will be talking about physical abnormalities he has found in M.E. patients around the world, including Ireland. Admission is £3 for members and their families, others £5. Further details from the Irish M.E./C.F.S. Support Group, P.O. Box 3075, Dublin 2; tel. (01) 2350965.
A Valentine's night theatre evening is being held to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust in the Samuel Beckett Theatre in Trinity College, Dublin next Saturday. The Trinity Players will present Alice In Wonderland with outrageous costumes, in the spirit of a glitzy cabaret, followed by Les Raz in a cabaret of French love songs. Tickets, including champagne and canapes, are £45 each. The funds will go towards establishing a dedicated Cystic Fibrosis Research Laboratory at UCD. For tickets and further details, tel: (01) 2898533.
The Dyspraxia Association was founded in 1995 to raise awareness of the condition, to improve diagnostic services and provide an information and support network for parents. Dyspraxia is a condition that affects children and is characterised by difficulties in thinking out, planning and carrying out sensory/motor tasks. Next Saturday the association is holding a conference in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. Further information from: Sorcha Regan on (01) 4946117 and Aileen Tierney on (01) 2957125.
Sound Access, an innovative education initiative designed to change the relationship between music and sound technology and people with disabilities, is currently inviting disabled people with creative potential to apply for details of a unique arts education programme. This initiative has been developed by the Rehab Group with support from the Horizon Strand of the EU Employment Initiative and the Arts Council. Many disabled people may feel marginalised from the developing career opportunities in the music and sound technology industries. The programme is designed to offer them opportunities in these areas.
Sound Access has three stages: Sound Reach: music and sound workshops in 12 centres nation-wide over 1998 and 1999. Sound Step: a six-week workshop in music and sound, which will start later this month in Dublin. Sound Link: following Sound Step, to run for 10 months and cover all aspects of music history and theory, sound technology and band formation. Although the Sound Link course will initially take place in Dublin, the organisers want to assess the level of national interest with a view to extending it to other parts of the country. For further information, contact Finola McTernan, Sound Access, Clarence House, Clarence Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Tel/Fax (01) 2301303.