Tributes have been paid to an “exceptionally talented” Limerick soccer player who died following a jet ski incident south of Killaloe bridge on Wednesday evening. Wassiou Ayawe has been described as a very skilful Limerick FC underage soccer player who was blessed with an infectious smile and happy demeanour. The young man was recovered by the Killaloe Ballina Search and Recovery Dive Unit at 6.45pm and was pronounced dead at the scene following a multi-agency response involving emergency services. Following early enquiries, An Garda Síochána are currently treating this matter as a tragic accident. Councillor Tony O’Brien, who is chairman of the Killaloe Ballina Search and Recovery Unit, said there was a great sense of shock in Killaloe and Ballina when news emerged on Wednesday evening that a young person had lost his life. “His death brought a dark cloud over the area last night. He came out to enjoy the amenities of the river and lost his life …

  The body of a young man has been recovered from the River Shannon in Killaloe on Wednesday evening following a major multi-agency search and recovery operation. It is understood a 19 year-old man from Limerick City fell from a jet-ski into the water, drifted for a while and then went underwater close to the ESB Mill Yard near an area known locally as Between the Waters. There are unconfirmed reports that other people on the jet-ski managed to swim ashore to safety. The young man was recovered by the Killaloe Ballina Search and Recovery Dive Unit at 6.45pm and was pronounced dead at the scene. Following early enquiries, An Garda Síochána are currently treating this matter as a tragic accident. Killaloe Coast Guard was tasked at 5.05pm on Wednesday afternoon and launched two vessels -a D-class and Rib in the lake at around 5.25pm. Two ambulances from the National Ambulance Service arrived to the incident – one remained Between …

  A major search and recovery operation is underway in Killaloe after a young man fell from a jet-ski into the River Shannon and failed to come back up to the surface. It is understood the alarm was raised on Wednesday afternoon at about 5.20pm when a man, who is believed to be from Limerick City fell into the water just off an ESB building a short distance from Killaloe Bridge. Killaloe Coast Guard arrived quickly on the scene and launched a vessel on to the water near an area known locally as Between the Waters, which was cordoned off from vehicular traffic to facilitate the arrival of a Clare Fire Services fire tender and fire truck with local fire service personnel. Two ambulances arrived to the incident – one remained in a car parking space Between the Waters and the other vehicle was stationed near Ballina public toilets for a period of time. The Rescue 115 helicopter from Shannon …

A GROUP of Shannon swimmers will make a big splash for a Clare charity this Thursday by aiming to complete 150 kilometres in the pool, which is the equivalent of the length of the coast of Clare for charity. Swim coaches in the Shannon Swimming and Leisure Centre have organised people to swim the distance from Doolin to Shannon in their own swimming pool and in other pools. The charity swim will take about 6,000 lengths of a 25-metre pool to complete the necessary 81 nautical miles. It will be completed from 12 noon on Thursday, May 25 to Friday, May 26 in Shannon Swimming and Leisure Centre and other swimming pools. Ennis Voices for Autism, which is a support group of parents of Autistic children, started providing subsidised one-to-one swimming lessons in the Shannon Leisure Centre in the summer of 2017. These lessons have proven to be extremely popular, helping a very large number of Autistic children to become comfortable …

    RESIDENTS from Inch and Kilmaley have vowed to continue a road blockade near a new asylum-seeker centre in their locality. As the peaceful demonstration outside Magowna House enters its fourth day, it looks like protesters are determined to continue manning the approach road to the hotel on a rota basis to try and stop the arrival of more asylum-seekers. Integration Minister Roderick O’Gorman told Clare Oireachtas members on Wednesday he has no plans to close the new controversial asylum-seeker centre near Inch, which has prompted a road blockade from frustrated local residents. During an online meeting with Clare Dáil deputies and senators, Minister O’Gorman said he would not close the centre due to pressures on the government’s reception and integration system. The Minister’s stance has been criticised by householders who feel “let down” by the comments he made to Clare Oireachtas members. A statement on behalf of the protestors was read out at the entrance to Magowna House …

THE lack of transport, a public footpath, recreational and other facilities near a hotel in Inch make it unsuitable to accommodate  asylum-seekers, local residents have claimed. A variety of concerns were raised with Clare County Council officials at a meeting with residents from Inch and Kilmaley on Tuesday morning following the arrival of 34 international protection applicants on Monday night. The refugees were greeted with what locals say was a “peaceful protest” on approach roads leading to Magowna House on Monday night. Residents vented their frustration during the meeting in the council chamber with the Department of Integration over the lack of any consultation with them before the international protection applicants were accommodated in three self-catering cottages. Householders claimed the Magowna House Hotel and complex is not a suitable place for refugees as “there is nothing for them to do” during the day in the absence of any public transport. Council chief executive officer, Pat Dowling pledged the council would …

A SPECIAL treat is in store for East Clare children when the Easter Bunny visits local playgrounds this Saturday. In addition to having their photograph taken with the Easter Bunny, children will receive an Easter Egg in five different playgrounds. What makes this initiative even sweeter is the fact that all donations will be collected for Ennis Voices for Autism (EVA) as part of their Easter Fundraiser. The Easter Bunny, aka Tina O’Loughlin from Broadford, will conduct a whistle-stop tour of the following playgrounds – O’Brien’s Bridge at 11am; Killaloe at 12 noon; Scariff at 1pm; Tulla at 2pm and Broadford at 3pm on Saturday, April 8. Last year, all the funds raised from this event went to Clare Crusaders, and this year EVA are delighted to be chosen as the beneficiary. The bucket collectors will include Ann Hickey, Lourda Doyle, Triona Cooney and Francis Ryan. In January 2012, a group of parents came together and formed EVA to support …

COUNCILLOR Ann Norton still feels sick in her stomach seven years after recalling a “horrendous” experience in University Hospital Limerick when a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) was allegedly placed on her daughter’s medical file without their consent. While Nicole Norton (25), who is a wheelchair user with Cerebral Palsy, is still very distressed over this incident, she felt strongly this had to be challenged to ensure no other vulnerable patient or family will experience what she and her mother went through in UHL back in April 2016. A hospital consultant appeared before a medical inquiry over his direction that Nicole Norton did not have the capacity to decide herself if she should be resuscitated in the event of a cardiac arrest. Dr Hassan Zaid was accused of poor professional performance at Irish Medical Council’s (IMC) fitness-to-practise committee following two separate complaints submitted by Ann and Nicole within weeks of this “distressing” incident. Following a screening process, the IMC decided …