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NURSING homes across Clare to from benefit from a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), secured after a fundraising drive coordinated by the Midwest Hospital Campaign. The initiative was prompted by concern at the start of the pandemic about the difficulty in accessing supplies of PPE, particularly for nursing homes and other congregated settings. “The donation will be especially important now that visiting has begun once again at nursing homes and there’s even more demand for PPE,” said Noeleen Moran, one of the coordinators. Some of the PPE was sourced through a network of contacts for manufacturers in Poland, while more was handmade by hundreds of individual volunteers and groups across Clare, including the Irish Countrywomen’s’ Association (ICA). Hilary Tonge of the Midwest Hospital Campaign said the effort to secure PPE had involved many groups and individuals from across the county. “When the pandemic was declared, there was a huge fear that there would not be enough PPE,” she said. …

MINISTER of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan met with Shannon Group management at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park on Wednesday morning, with the key tourist destination still due to close at the end of the month. He described the talks as “very useful” and Shannon Group representatives were also quite happy with how they had gone. Afterwards Mr Noonan said he couldn’t confirm that Shannon Group will receive the multi million support package it says it requires to keep going into the autumn. “It’s not my call, I’m here in relaiton specifically to heritage and the heritage of Bunratty. That’s a wider cabinet and government decision and it’ll be framed around the budgetary process. Again, I will make my own representations through that process on what I see is required from the heritage aspect, but it’s a bigger question for Government at this stage.” He said that Government are dealing with a unique situation and are trying to give what …

THE latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) today (Friday, August 14) show nine newly confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Clare. There have been a further 5 in Limerick and the national total for today, nationally, is 67. There have been no new deaths reported to the There has now been a total of 1,774 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Thursday (August 13), the HPSC has been notified of 67 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 26,995* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today; 35 are men / 32 are women 70% are under 45 years of age 38 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case 16 cases have been identified as community transmission 18 in Dublin, 17 in Kildare, 9 in Clare, 5 in Limerick, and the rest of the 18 cases are in Carlow, Cork, Donegal, Laois, …

INAGH based Senator Róisín Garvey has apologised after comments she made about Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin in a Whatsapp group. Reports emerged last week that after Eamon Ryan, who Ms Garvey supported, had defeated Ms Martin in the Green Party leadership contest, she wrote, “She tried to bring him down and failed. F*** her, a win is a win. Well done everyone”. In a statement to the Clare Champion Ms Garvey said that there is no animosity between herself and the party’s deputy leader. “Myself and Catherine Martin have always got on and we still get on well and have moved past that comment from a few weeks ago. In fact she has taken up my invite to holiday in Clare and has accepted the offer and I will be showing her and her family around our beautiful county the week after next. As Minister for Tourism it is great she has decided to holiday in Clare.” She …

FIVE new cases of Covid-19 are among a total of 92 confirmed today (Thursday, August 13) by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). Eight cases have been confirmed in Limerick. There have been no new deaths reported. There has now been a total of 1,774 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Wednesday August 12, the HPSC has been notified of 92 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 26,929 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today; • 43 are men / 48 are women • 72% are under 45 years of age • 43 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case • 12 cases have been identified as community transmission • 24 in Dublin, 24 in Kildare, 8 in Limerick, 6 in Carlow, 6 in Kilkenny, 5 in Meath, 5 in Clare, and remaining 14 cases are in Cork, Donegal, Kerry, Laois, Louth, …

MUNSTER Rugby said this afternoon (Thursday, August 13), they have been assisting an Academy player within the wider training squad who has tested positive for Covid-19. A statement said that, “As a precautionary measure the squad and Academy did not train today at the HPC and Thomond Park”. The club said the individual concerned immediately self-isolated on development of symptoms on Sunday last, and that HSE have been contacted and the contact tracing process has commenced. “In taking all precautions, Munster Rugby have immediately identified five Academy players and one senior player as potential close contacts from social and household settings and the six players have already commenced self-isolating,” their statement said. “The province will await further guidance from the HSE in this regard.” The senior squad will return to the HPC on Monday to complete the third phase of the IRFU’s routine PCR testing and resume preparations for the Guinness PRO14 encounter against Leinster. Test results will be released …

ORGANISERS of this year’s Ennis Trad Fest, which was due to be held in the county capital this November, have announced that the event has been cancelled. This is the latest high profile event in the county to be affected by Covid-19. In a statement on social media, the organising committee stated they were “very disappointed” to announce the cancellation of the festival. “We waited as long as we could, hoping that we could once again welcome you all to Ennis this year. Unfortunately, considering the current circumstances regarding Covid-19, we feel this is the correct decision to keep everyone safe.” While the Ennis Trad Fest will not be going ahead in 2020, the committee have announced they are planning “something special for you all to enjoy online” over the same weekend the festival was due to take place, November 13 to 16. The committee also acknowledged Clare County Council for their support.

A BATHING advisory notice has been lifted at Lahinch, inside the last half hour (Wednesday, August 12). The temporary notice had been put in place on the advice of the HSE, following recent heavy rainfall. In a statement, Clare County Council said that the bathing restriction had been lifted after analysis and on the advice of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The authority also advised that the safest place to swim is at lifeguarded locations. More information is available from Clare County Council’s environment section on 065-6846331 / enviroff@clarecoco.ie and visit www.beaches.ie