Lifestyle

UL Hospitals’ Group is seeking to strengthen its relationships with patients by setting up a new patient council. The purpose of a patient council is to establish a group of people who have an interest in the hospital group to plan and advise on improving services for patients and families who use any of the six hospitals across the group. The objective is to include people from Clare, Tipperary and Limerick, who are interested in a wide range of specialities and who have experiences of different services as patients or family members. “Establishing partnerships with patients and their families is essential to improving the quality, safety and cost effectiveness of health care in the mid west region. The group value the unique experiences that patients have and we are looking for their feedback to continuously improve the services we provide”. “The idea of the patient council is to offer patients the opportunity to become involved as active partners with the …

MY mate Daisy is causing a bit of a ripple in the newspaper community. Last week’s episode of The Local Eye saw Daisy having a break at The Twelve Hotel in Barna, County Galway and visiting Bubbles and Barks Doggy Day Spa. Most people don’t know Daisy’s story and why she is Ireland’s only canine columnist and Clare Champion mascot. This little white terrier is an ancient Scottish breed and is part of a breed type ‘trio’, West Highland white or Westie for short; the Cairn terrier, the red coloured cousin, and the black cousin, the Scottish terrier or Scottie. The Scottie and the Westie dogs are familiar mascots of Black & White Scotch Whisky. The West Highland White terrier originated in Scotland and was used for hunting fox, badger, otter and for killing vermin such as rats. There’s not much evidence to determine the exact history of the Westie but many believe the breed can be traced back to …

KILKEE man, Peadar King is about to return to TV screens, with the ninth series of What In The World?, which explores issues in various parts of the developing world. At this stage, they have covered 50 countries and this series covers matters in Venezuela, El Salvador, Libya and Western Sahara. The plight of Western Sahara is something that very few people in Ireland will know much about, but it has had a dire recent history. “Western Sahara is a country people know very little about in West Africa because, for the last 40 years, it has been occupied by Morocco. In 1975, the Sahrawi people, the indigenous people of Western Sahara, fled in the face of the onslaught of the Moroccan army and they now live in a refugee camp in south-western Algeria. Over 100,000 of them have been living in refugee camps for the last 40 years and it’s a story that gets very little attention,” Peadar explained. …

A TV travel programme featuring County Clare and the Wild Atlantic Way has scooped a top award in Italy. The prestigious media award was presented by the Adutei (Associazione dei Delegati Ufficiali del Turismo Estero in Italia – the association of foreign tourist boards in Italy) in Rome this week. The awards recognise the best in Italian radio and TV travel broadcasts – and Alle Falde del Kilimangiaro, the most popular travel programme in Italy, was awarded first prize for an episode highlighting the Wild Atlantic Way. Tourism Ireland in Milan invited camerawoman Annapia Chico to come and explore the Wild Atlantic Way in spring 2014, for the Alle Falde del Kilimangiaro show, which airs on the national TV station, RAI Tre. She filmed in counties Galway and Clare. To view the winning Alle Falde del Kilimangiaro episode, click here. Niamh Kinsella, Tourism Ireland’s manager Italy, said, “We are absolutely delighted that the Alle Falde del Kilimangiaro show highlighting Clare and the Wild Atlantic Way has been singled out for this prestigious award. Tourism Ireland has …

Kerry native, Maureen Cronin, is rapidly approaching her 100th birthday but she comes into the ‘Champion offices without fail every Thursday. She comes in to drop in her unique poetry and to have the chat. Hear Maureen tell her story on ‘The Local Eye’ on RTÉ 1 this Thursday evening at 7.30pm.

THE damage problem drinking does is most clearly seen in the amount of time being spent on it by health agencies, the social care system and the gardaí, but it’s much harder to quantify the harm it does to the family and friends of those who are alcoholics. For every person with a drink problem, it is estimated that there are at least five other people who live with degrees of uncertainty, deceit, financial insecurity, fear of violence, emotional or physical abuse. Dealing with someone else’s abuse of alcohol can be frightening and confusing and can leave a long shadow over a person’s life. Al-Anon is an organisation that offers support for those who are affected by problem drinkers, offering understanding and encouragement. It has been in existence for over 60 years and on Thursday, November 26, it will hold an open night at 8pm at the Ennis Parish Centre on Station Road. This week, in advance of that meeting, …

CARING for an elderly parent or loved one presents a number of difficulties. Many people struggle, especially when it comes to providing older people with enough time, support and loving care during the harsh winter months. Cathal O’Neill, operations manager of Home Instead Senior Care in Clare, talks about how you can help the elderly this winter. “We all need to work together to ensure that everyone is kept safe and warm during the winter. You should check on friends and neighbours, who may be struggling in the cold. Okay, we all might feel a little awkward turning up to a neighbour’s house uninvited these days but what is the worst that can happen? “It’s no harm to call in with some cake or biscuits and let the person know you are only a phonecall away if needed. This can be a fantastic support to seniors or people living on their own,” he said. During winter months, elderly people are more prone …

Episode two of the RTÉ 1 series on local newspapers will air this Thursday at 7.00pm. Over six weeks, the series follows the fortunes of three local newspapers, The Clare Champion, The Mayo News and The Munster Express. This episode sees Daisy, the ‘Champion mascot, going to Barna to get a blueberry facial and mud bath at Bubbles and Barks Dog Spa, before checking in to review The Twelve Hotel as a dog-friendly hotel. Check out the trailer below and don’t forget to tune in.