News

THE parents of Aoife Johnston who died at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), after waiting 12 hours on a chair while dying of sepsis, told her inquest today they watched her die despite “begging” staff to help, reports David Raleigh. James and Carol Johnston gave emotional and harrowing evidence at Limerick Coroner’s Court of the final moments of their 16-year-old daughter’s death, on December 19, 2022. James Johnston wept and held his face in his hands as he told the inquest that, despite his pleadings for assistance for his daughter, UHL staff “kept given Aoife paracetamol, and putting ice packs on her legs” but that “they just weren’t really helping, there was no help”. Mr Johnston said Aoife had awoken at their home on Saturday, December 17, in “great form” but she became “unwell” around midday, and “took some paracetamol and returned to bed”. Around 3.30pm Aoife vomited and Mr Johnston made an appointment at locum GP service Shannodoc for 4.50pm …

TUAMGRANEY historian and author Dr Tomás Mac Conmara is set to spend time in the US state of Arkansas, where he will work with the Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas to help build a project to document the memories and tradition of the Irish American community living there. The project is being funded by the Irish Abroad Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate of Ireland, Austin, who have invited Dr Mac Conmara to bring his expertise in the field of oral heritage stateside. Dr Mac Conmara is recognised as one of Ireland’s leading oral historians, with multiple national projects including with the Local Government Management Agency, Dublin Port, the National Museum of Ireland, the Defence Forces, as well as several local authorities. The project in Arkansas is called Deep Memories: The Arkansas Irish Oral Heritage Project and aims to digitally record, preserve and disseminate the unique memories, testimony and tradition of members of the Irish American …

Plans are underway in Kilrush to restore the former Mars Cinema building to its former glory with Clare County Council confirming the site is to be evaluated for potential re-development. Following a public tender process, the Council have commissioned a private tourism consultancy, Tourism Development International (TDI) for advice, and a feasibility study of the site commenced in January. An Cathaoirleach for West Clare Municipal District, Councillor Ian Lynch (Ind) has said he hopes a public meeting to be held in Kilrush in early summer will outline the study’s findings and seek community feedback on the emerging concepts for the former cinema. The Council says the aim of the study is to examine if there is a market opportunity to develop a viable attraction or business at the buildings and lands, for the benefit of the local community and visitors alike. And it maintains a future concept plan for Mars Cinema must be fully informed by the local economic context …

An Ennis EU candidate has raised a few eyebrows with the phraseology he used to describe President Michael D Higgins as “The National Leprechaun” and the “performing flea of Irish politics” in a recent tweet on social media. Commenting on a story headlined “President: It is not essential to own a home”, Michael Leahy stated on X (formerly twitter): “The National Leprechaun, the performing flea of Irish politics, he who must be listened to, strikes again. The only way we can be free from the predations of the state is property ownership. “They will come after your property, either by constitutional attack or using the judges.” The Irish Freedom Party chairman is contesting the Ireland South constituency in the European Parliament elections on June 7. Deputy Michael McNamara said he disagreed with President Higgins’ views on home ownership because if anyone owns a dwelling, it is easy to say you don’t need to own one. “Many people across Europe even …

A seven-year old boy has died after getting into difficulty in a swimming pool at a hotel in south east county Clare. Garda sources confirmed the boy was rushed by ambulance from the Leisure Centre at the Lakeside Hotel & Leisure Centre, which overlooks the picturesque towns of Ballina and Killaloe, Saturday afternoon. The boy was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick where he was later pronounced dead. In response to queries, a Garda spokesman said: “Gardaí and emergency services responded to an incident at a swimming pool on a premises in Killaloe shortly before 3pm on Saturday, April 20th, 2024.” “A 7-year-old boy was transported from the scene to University Hospital Limerick, where he was later pronounced deceased.” “The local coroner has been notified, and arrangements are being made for a post-mortem examination” It’s understood the boy was recovered from the water unconscious and efforts were desperately made to try and save his life at the poolside. Garda …

A commemoration for Titanic bugler, Percy Fletcher who was newly married to a West Clare woman took when he died in the disaster 112 years ago, took place last Sunday at Tooting in London. The young 25-year-old man tragically died when the ocean liner struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912. A mere three months previously, he had married a Kilrush woman called Mary Meaney at St Gregory’s Catholic Church in Wandsworth. Local historian and county Tyrone native, Geoff Simmons had put out an appeal in March via local Clare media and social media for descendants of Mary Meaney’s to attend the unveiling of an historic blue plaque in Percy’s honour at his former home at 26, Lessingham Avenue on April 14, the eve of the anniversary of the ship’s sinking. Mr Simmons had hoped The Cliffs of Doneen would be sung on the day in recognition of Mary and the …

THE Limerick to Ennis railway line is set to reopen this weekend Iarnród Éireann has announced. Confirmation of the planned re-opening has come in a week when chair of North Clare Labour Denis Vaughan said the month-long closure due to flooding at Ballycar would “make Percy French rise up from his grave and write another comic song”. The line has been closed since March 18 however the flood waters have now receded, and final inspections and patrols will take place over the coming days prior to reopening on Saturday afternoon say Iarnród Éireann. The service is due to resume from 4pm this Saturday. Bus transfers will remain in operation between Limerick and Ennis in both directions until Saturday afternoon. On Saturday, the following services will operate: 18:15hrs Limerick to Galway; 19:50hrs Limerick to Galway; 20:30hrs Limerick to Ennis; 17:25hrs Ennis to Limerick; 17:50hrs Galway to Limerick; 18:45hrs Galway to Ennis; 21:10hrs Ennis to Limerick. A full service will operate from …

IT has now been confirmed that Tesco is coming back to Shannon Town Centre after a 16 year absence. The retailer will actually be returning to the area of the Centre where it was once based, with the reopening set to happen in the near future. Shannon Town Centre manager Kacper Zybert said that the deal has been concluded with Tesco. “It has been confirmed, everything has been set up, they will be here shortly,” he said. He said that the final date of Tesco opening hasn’t been established yet. “It depends on a few things, I don’t have the date yet,” he said. “What’s happening at the moment is that Dealz has to be moved and until we have the unit finished for Dealz then they can’t come in.” However he hoped it will be very soon, potentially by the end of April. “We have the Dealz unit nearly ready. All we have to do is glaze the windows …