EMERGENCY services in East Clare have united to spearhead a fundraiser initiated by former RTE broadcaster Charlie Bird. The former news reporter has been hailed as an “inspiration” as despite his personal battle with Motor Neurone disease he will climb Croagh Patrick on Sunday, April 3. His heart-rending Late Late interview has been cited by some of the local blue light emergency representatives who are supporting his courageous fund raising drive by climbing 1,745 feet to Moylussa a few miles from Killaloe, starting at 11am on April 3. Members of An Garda Siochána, the Clare Fire and Rescue Service, Killaloe Coast Guard and the National Ambulance Service are all supporting the “Climb for Charlie”. Suggested donations are €10 per person or €25 per family. All proceeds from the Croagh Patrick Climb and other associated events will be split between the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) and Pieta House. Kieran Ruane, who is a member of An Garda Siochána, said …

THERE has been a 33% hike in the number of young Clare people waiting for appointments from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) over the last three years, according to newly published HSE figures. The health authority was asked at the HSE West Forum by Councillor Cillian Murphy to provide a breakdown of the number of young Clare people awaiting appointments with CAMHS for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Fianna Fáil Councillor was told that the total number of Clare people waiting for this service increased from 61 at the end of 2019 to 82 at the end of 2021. At the end of 2019, 43 children and adolescents were waiting up to three months; 14 were waiting from three to six months; three were waiting six to nine months and one was waiting nine to 12 months. The numbers waiting at the end of 2020 increased to 74 with 31 waiting up to three months; …

PLANS are being put in place by the HSE to deal with the huge influx of Ukrainian refugees that have arrived and are expected to continue coming into Ireland over the coming weeks in the wake of the Russian invasion. Galway councillor Evelyn Parsons has asked the HSE West what preparations it is making to receive, treat and provide medical services for the expected arrival of Ukrainian refugees. With reports that between 20,000 and 150,000 Ukrainian people, mainly women and children may come to Ireland, Councillor Parsons requested an update from HSE officials at a recent HSE West Forum meeting concerning what additional resources are being made available to deal with the health needs of this huge influx of people. The Independent Councillor raised questions about Covid-19 vaccinations; psychological services and translation services and whether any facilities were being put in place to hire qualified Ukrainian medical people to work in the Irish health service. The HSE has stated that …

THE early decommissioning of an ESB wind farm in South Galway could result in an overall taxpayer bill of up to €70 million, a local lobby group has claimed. Following a lump sum fine of €5 million and a daily fine of €15,000 plus legal costs imposed by the European Court of Justice ruling in November 2019, the Derrybrien Wind Farm has now incurred a bill of €17,845,7779 for the state. The penalties were levied after it found Ireland had failed to comply with a previous court ruling in relation to the wind farm where a landslide occurred during construction in 2003. David Murray from the South Galway Flood Relief Committee estimates when fines, early decommissioning accounting for a €10 million loss annually over the life time of the wind farm, consultants fees and resolution of turbary right are factored in, the final bill and loss of earnings could be in the region of €70 million. The ESB, through its …

THE provision of out-of-hours GP services in the Mid-West will be examined as part of a wider strategic review of general practice, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler has announced. Responding to questions in the Seanad from Senator Martin Conway, Minister Butler stated preparatory work for this review has already started this year. Since the emergence of Covid-19, the HSE provided out-of-hours co-operatives with a support grant to ensure continuity of care. Minister Butler confirmed funding for Shannondoc was increased to over €6.8 million in 2020. “Where there is increased demand in certain areas, Shannondoc can provide support from other treatment centres, to ensure services are provided where needed most,” said Minister Butler. “The service is demand-led, and the HSE has advised that Shannondoc has continued to meet the targets for urgent and routine calls set out under its service level agreement. “The Government is committed to increasing the number of GPs working nationwide and …

A group of soldiers have joined forces with a Killaloe-based sergeant and his Limerick colleague to raise funds for two hospitals that provided excellent care for their two premature babies. LIEUTENANT Jonathan Hughes, 12 Infantry Battalion and Sergeant Eddie O’Brien, 1 Central Medical Unit will hold a fundraiser titled “Marching for the Maternities” in conjunction with the Regeneron Great Limerick Run half marathon on May 1 next. This event will raise funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) and Coombe Women and Infants’ Hospital, Dublin. A platoon of between 30 and 40 officers and soldiers representing every corps and every barracks in the Defence Forces will complete the run in uniform, wearing chest rig and day sack, carrying 14 kg (30 lbs). Simultaneously, members of the 119 Infantry Battalion serving in UNIFIL United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon will also be “Marching for the Maternities” by completing various distances carrying the same weight. …

NO new acute, sub-acute or ICU beds will be opened in the Mid-West this year, according to HSE figures released to Independent Clare Deputy Michael McNamara. In response to Deputy McNamara’s Parliamentary Question, the HSE’s Acute Operations department confirmed none of the six hospitals in the UL Hospitals’ Group will receive any of the 411 acute and 36 ICU beds scheduled to be opened this year subject to staffing and completion of some capital works. “The provision of additional bed capacity on its own will not resolve the overcrowding problems at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), but the delivery of new acute, sub-acute and ICU beds should certainly be part of the solution,” stated Deputy McNamara, who described the exclusion of all six hospitals in Clare, Limerick, and north Tipperary as “disgraceful”. “UHL is the most consistently overcrowded hospital in the country having recorded 76,000 attendances in 2021, up 16% compared to 2020 and up 7% on 2019, and with 91 …

MORE than 1,000 residents in Cratloe, Bunratty, Ardnacrusha and Meelick will be forced to live in the shadow of “overpowering wind turbines” up to 1,600 feet above sea level if wind developments proceed on picturesque Clare Hills. That’s according to Gerry Ryan, who is very concerned over the planning designation of an area stretching from Cratloe on the western slopes of Gallows Hill across to Ardnacrusha in the East, as suitable for “strategic large scale wind turbines.” For countless generations, Mr Ryan said Clare people have enjoyed the beautiful views of Gallows Hill, Woodcock Hill and Ballycar Hill from Bunratty, Sixmilebridge, Ardnacrusha, Shannon to name but a few areas. “This beautiful backdrop is now under threat and the views from iconic attractions such as Bunratty Castle, Cratloe Woods, 12 O Clock Hills and countless other areas of Clare will be destroyed forever by the construction of 178 metre high wind turbines. “A conservative count of the homes either within the …