The  St. Stephen’s Day Turkey Trot will take place for ALL THE FAMILY from Waterpark House, Drumbiggle, Ennis at 12 noon on Dec 26th. The Annual event,  which is run by Marian Athletic Club, in conjunction with Ennis Town Council has grown in numbers year on year, and the organisers are hoping that this year will be the biggest yet.

This year, the proceeds from this FAMILY event will go to St Anne’s School, and the RNLI LIFEBOATS.

So come on down for 11.45am and push the buggy, walk,  jog with the dog, or run for 2 great causes.

Miraculously, the downpours ceased last Wednesday, for at least long enough to allow the annual flowerbed clean-up, in and around the Shannon area. Each year, Olive Boohan, Tess Barry and their Tidy Towns Committee seek assistance from McDonald’s staff in preparing rockeries and flower-beds for the summer season. And as always, David, Pretham and Lucas are delighted to refresh their gardening skills

We believe that our jobs and our restaurants should be accessible to everyone, regardless of any impairment or disability.

In terms of recruitment, as an Equal Opportunities Employer, we welcome enquiries from everyone. We embrace Diversity, recognising that everyone is not the same. We value the differences and we run our business and serve our customers accordingly.

We work closely with Clare Supported Employment Services (C.S.E.S.) in our recruitment and selection process, and look forward to a strong relationship with CSES into the future.

In both our Shannon and Ennis restaurants, we constantly endeavour to improve our facilities, ensuring that our McDonald’s is a place where everyone can visit easily and feel welcome.

Three years ago, C.S.E.S. encouraged McDonald’s Shannon to participate in the O2 Ability Awards.

Examining all aspects of employment, the Awards recognise progressive attitudes, in those organisations that see disability and diversity as a corporate asset and key to success
The O2 Ability Awards are the first Irish business awards for best practice in the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities.

In 2006, McDonald’s Shannon received a Top 50 placement in the O2 Ability Awards.

In 2007, McDonald’s Shannon was the Overall National Winner for the Best Small Company in Ireland Award

In 2010, McDonald’s Ennis scooped the coveted award for Overall Best Customer Service in Ireland

www.claresupportedemployment.ie

Ennis Tidy Towns completed its annual clean-up recently, and 10 staff members from the McDonald’s Drive Thru ‘mucked in’ to assist local residents, An Garda Siochana, the Tidy Towns Committee and the local Civil Defence.

Focus now switches to Shannon, where local staff members there will do the annual flower bed clean-up and pruning at the local roundabouts.

In 2010, the customers from McDonald’s Ennis and McDonald’s Shannon contributed a total of €4540 from the instore collection boxes and spinners to the Ronald Mc Donald House , built on the grounds of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin .

The house, containing 20 ensuite family bedrooms, opened in 2004, and provides a home away from home for families of children requiring long-term hospital treatment

Ronald McDonald Houses around the world offer families a way to stay together, in proximity to the treatment hospital, and be comfortable and cared for during their stay.

Since opening, the Ronald House in Crumlin has been home to 84 families from Co. Clare

McDonald’s customers donate money to RMHC by way of ‘spinners’ and collection boxes located in the many McDonald’s stores all around Ireland.

McDonald’s Clare also contributes the proceeds of World Children’s Day directly to RMHC each November.

The Ronald McDonald House Charity of Ireland

Now customers in McDonald’s Ennis and McDonald’s Shannon can enjoy free internet surfing in our restaurants. Just collect a Wi-Fi card with any purchase, and follow the instructions.

And as County Clare gears up for the visit of Muhammad Ali, McDonald’s in Ennis and Shannon are gearing up to facilitate the world’s media with free broadband connectivity.

In the Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2010, the world’s best cities, regions and attractions are listed, with County Clare recommended as one of the best places in the world to explore on two wheels. Other destinations also on the list include the San Juan Islands in the US, La Farola in Cuba and Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Italy.
Flan Quilligan of Shannon Development said that a lot of money has been put into cycling in Clare and that inclusion in the guide should attract more visitors.
“Under the Shannon Development led €2 million Shannon Region Trails programme a number of new tourism cycling routes and tracks were developed in recent times.
“Currently 102,000 overseas visitors participate in cycling holidays in Ireland annually generating €78 million in annual revenue.  The fact that the Lonely Planet Guide recommends that County Clare should be on every cyclist’s wish list is a great endorsement of our product.”

McDonald’s Restauants in Co. Clare are ideally situated for cyclists, in both Ennis and Shannon. Both stores provide specific and secure bicycle parking and the fact that both restaurants offer free WiFi connectivity to customers makes it an ideal pit-stop while visiting Co. Clare.