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PERMISSION has been granted to a telecommunications company to extend a mast in north Clare by 30% Ontower Ireland Limited’s application to install a 6m extension to a 20m lattice telecommunications support structure at Gragan West, Ballyvaughan, was approved by planners. In the application Ontower Ireland says it “has significant commercial relationships with each mobile network operator in the State, namely Three, Vodafone and Meteor/Eir in addition to radio, broadband and emergency communication service providers.” The application also says “Increasing the height of this structure from a 20m lattice tower to a 26m lattice tower will allow this site to accommodate mobile operators and a broadband operator, all above the local tree clutter, thus extending the reach of communication technologies into areas that currently have poor to non existent wireless mobile voice and data services. “The proposed structure will allow existing and future operators to bring a significant improvement in voice and broadband services to the area, particularly Gragans West …

THE Zimmer Biomet team in Shannon and Galway rowed and cycled the equivalent distance of Ireland to Beijing to raise over €20,000 to support sick children, writes Owen Ryan. The company’s contribution will benefit BUMBLEance, an Irish charity devoted to transporting extremely ill children or children with life limiting illnesses to their hospital appointments. This latest fundraiser forms part of an ongoing partnership with BUMBLEance and the Zimmer Biomet team. Prior to the pandemic, the team traditionally completed an annual fundraising cycle from its plant in Shannon to its sister site in Galway. However, this year, in response to COVID restrictions, the team decided to cycle or row approximately 15,000kms, equating to the average distance travelled by the BUMBLEance fleet in Ireland each week. Observing social distancing, the cycling and rowing activities were safely completed either at the employees’ homes or within the company’s plants in Shannon and Galway with all funds raised matched by the company. Brian Conlan, CEO …

CAHERCALLA Community Hospital and Hospice enjoyed a 76% increase in surplus of income over expenditure, according to the directors’ report for the financial year ending December 31, 2020, writes Dan Danaher. This report reveals the surplus for 2020, after providing for depreciation, amounted to €184, 940, up from €104,208 in 2019. The company, which is a not-for-profit organisation, has assets of €11,224,824, while its net assets have increased by €184,940. The report stressed the safety of patients and staff during the Covid-19 pandemic remains the company’s highest priority. “Wherever and whenever we can, we are actively supporting those who continue to have their lives changed or impacted by the virus, and those who are tirelessly and selflessly supporting the affected. “We remain incredibly grateful for the extraordinary efforts that all of our people are making in ensuring business continuity and continued support to our staff and patients.” “We have implemented appropriate contingency and business continuity plans in order to safeguard …

CLARE patients are facing inordinate waiting times for public hospital treatment as 97 patients are without a bed in University Hospital Limerick on Tuesday, the highest number recorded in any Irish hospital since records began. The INMO has once again called on the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to investigate the overcrowding issue at the hospital. Mary Fogarty, INMO Assistant Director of Industrial Relations said the current trolley numbers in University Hospital Limerick are extremely concerning. “Time and time again, University Hospital Limerick is the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland. “Despite major investment in capacity at the hospital, it is making no dent in the consistent overcrowding problem in the hospital. Overcrowding adds stress for staff and worsens patient care. It is high-risk in normal times, but even more so during a pandemic.” “The INMO is once again calling on HIQA to urgently investigate the overcrowding issue in the hospital and make recommendations. “The patients and nurses at University …

THE search for Miss Clare 2022 is now on and organisers of this year’s Miss Ireland competition are urging the women of the Banner to shine like a diamond and get involved. This year marks its 75th Jubilee of the Miss Ireland competition and the search has officially begun for Miss Clare 2022. Selections will run all over the country to find contestants from each county with beauty, poise and personality to take part in the Miss Ireland 2022 competition next summer. The winner from each county will represent their county at the most spectacular ever Diamond Jubilee Miss Ireland show. The winner of each of the county crowns and sashes also enjoy representing their county and title throughout the year at various events, awards and appearances. Full details on how to enter Miss Ireland 2022 are available on www.miss-ireland.ie or on the Miss Ireland App. The finalists of Miss Ireland this year will be put through their paces in a challenging competitive …

THE founder the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) has been sharply critical of the Department of Housing over ongoing delays in access to the financial support scheme.  Further testing is currently being carried out “to satisfy the Department of the linkage between the deterioration of the blockwork and the confirmed presence of pyrite in the samples”, the Council has told The Champion. It follows queries raised by the Department in December, to which the authority responded shortly before Christmas.  Dr Martina Cleary said the Department, which is still the considering the report seeking access to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, is now asking the Council “to look for a needle in a haystack”. She also questioned why the authority did not test its own housing stock at the start of last year, in tandem with the testing of five private homes located across the county.  The Crusheen woman said both the expert engineer and the testing laboratories engaged by …

Independent councillor seeks clarity on efficacy of council housing policy, writes Dan Danaher THE number of new social houses that are planned in Clare over the next two years will reduce the overall numbers seeking a permanent dwelling by about 11%. On December 13, 2021, the total gross need of people requiring housing support was 2,994, which broke down to 1, 372, when about 1,600 who are receiving a Housing Assistant Payment in private rented accommodation are taken from the gross figure. Under the Housing Action Plan 2022 to 2026, it is projected 349 social houses will be delivered in Clare over the next two years. Councillor Gerry Flynn pointed out the provision of new houses in Clare will not make a huge impact on the extensive waiting list for housing support. The Shannon councillor tabled a series of questions at a recent council meeting to try to obtain an accurate assessment of the demand from the public for housing …

CLARECASTLE tenor Dean Power will be among those performing at a special concert next month to celebrate James Joyce’s 140th birthday and the centenary of the publication of Ulysses. The concert on February 1  in the Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire will feature for the first time in Ireland, Geoffrey Molyneux Palmer’s settings of Joyce’s Chamber Music. As well as Dean’s singing, the performance will also feature Mairéad Hurley on piano and Susie Kennedy as the narrator. In 1907, the year of its publication, Palmer wrote to Joyce asking permission to set some poems from Chamber Music. Joyce enthusiastically received the ten songs he was sent and wrote, “I hope you will set all of Chamber Music in time” and “I shall be glad to hear from you and to know that your delicate music is meeting at last with the appreciation it deserves” Joyce tried to arrange publication of the songs on several occasions but Palmer was hesitant and it never happened. The reason for …