Breaking News

A GARDA investigation has commenced after a man was found with serious injuries in Ennis last night. At around 9pm the emergency services were summoned after the man, who is understood to be in his thirties, was found unconscious at a location on Clon Road, between the Quin Road roundabout and the junction for Toberteascáin. He was taken to hospital in Limerick and is understood to be in a serious condition. Gardai have been making enquiries in the area and anyone with information is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.

MORE hands are needed to help Clare Youth Service pack shoeboxes in their efforts to contribute to Team Hope’s shoebox appeal that assists vulnerable young people in Africa and Eastern Europe this Christmas. The shoeboxes will be filled with items for personal use such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap and hairbrushes as well clothing items such as socks, gloves and hats. Boxes will be specifically designed for different age groups. The young people will be putting the shoeboxes together on Friday, October 29 at 2pm in the Ennis Youth Centre on Carmody Street. If you can lend a hand to help wrap some shoeboxes, get in contact with youth worker Jorien on 085 804 1633 or csprojects@clareyouthservice.org. and help spread the joy.

A CLARE woman’s experience of cancer screening services during the pandemic has been described in the Dail as “a living nightmare”. The woman, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form cancer after an 18-month wait for routine screening, had her case highlighted by Deputy Violet Anne Wynne during a series of statements on Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “She was not informed that screening had stopped,” Deputy Wynne said, referring to the pausing of BreastCheck services during the pandemic. “She has attended her mammogram every year. However, the service just stopped and she did not have access to a mammogram for 18 months. Worse still, she was not notified, there was no consultation or communication and no information was inputted on the website.” The Sinn Fein representative said that would have gone for private screening but “was left in the dark battling rising anxiety”. “She knew something was wrong and eventually, a ball of nerves, she went to her doctor,” Deputy …

The Junior A Hurling Final between Ogonnelloe and Crusheen which was down for decision this weekend has now been postponed, writes Ivan Smyth. The decision comes after the accidental death on holiday in Spain of Ogonnelloe’s Gerard McMahon, a son of Pat and Carmel. Gerard had just had just returned home from a six-month tour of duty with the 63rd Infantry Group in Syria. Speaking on the decision to postpone the game, Ogonnelloe manager Alan Maher believes the correct decision was made. “Gerard is coming home so we couldn’t go ahead with the game. His removal is on Saturday afternoon and the funeral is on Sunday so we had no choice. Hurling hasn’t been to the forefront of our minds recently for obvious reasons so we are just trying to rally around and look after the family.” Maher also thanked Crusheen for their understanding of the situation as the clubs and the county board will be working together to find …

THE Cuban Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Hugo Ramos Milanes, will be the speaker at an event in North Clare next week. On Thursday, October 28 at 8.30pm in Hotel Doolin the ambassador will speak about Cuba’s place in the modern world, including the country’s links with Clare and its work in helping fight Covid-19. Denis Vaughan of the North Clare Labour Party is urging people to come along to what he describes as a “very interesting evening”, adding, “Cuba is a fascinating story and Ambassador Milanes is an inspirational speaker”. “His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Hugo Ramos Milanes will discuss Cuba’s place in the modern world, its struggle for independence similar to Ireland, Cuba’s amazing medical help to 15 countries in fighting the Covid Virus, Ireland – Cuba relations and Che Guevara’s visit to Clare in the 1960s.” Denis continues, “Could we in Ireland survive if we had 11 million people and were embargoed illegally for the last 60 years by the USA? …

A PROBE into the conduct of eight Gardai in the Midwest is “tearing many lives apart”, Clare’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) was told this week. Deputy Cathal Crowe urged the Garda Commissioner, who attended the meeting on Monday (October 18), to engage more effectively on the issue. Deputy Crowe recently raised, in the Dail, the suspension last November of eight Gardaí, as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in public office in Munster. The investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) centres on claims that Gardaí did not pursue enquiries into alleged road traffic offences against a number of individuals. At this week’s JPC meeting, the Meelick TD repeated many of his criticisms of the handling of the investigation. In advance of the meeting, he had tabled a question for Commissioner Drew Harris, asking if the principle of discretion is still part of the training at the Garda College in Templemore. After the Commissioner explained that …

MAJOR developments are underway at Dr Daly Memorial Park in Tulla, with the start of a project to build a sports pavilion and viewing stand. This is an impressive and modern, multi-purpose sports and recreational facility. It consists of an 860-seater viewing stand, gym, meeting rooms, medical treatment room, press commentary box, kitchen/canteen, changing rooms and toilets. The development was designed and is being constructed and part-funded by Q-Con Building and Civil Engineers. The facility will be open for the 2022 GAA season. To finance the project, Tulla GAA Club is organising a ‘Seat for Life’ fundraiser. This fundraiser is an opportunity for people to have their names inscribed on a Permanent Plaque Scroll, displayed at the sports pavilion. A ‘Seat for Life’ allows anyone to dedicate a seat to themselves, a deceased GAA follower or someone they know who would like to be associated with assisting with financing the construction of the stand. Dr Daly Memorial Park in Tulla …

RESIDENTS and staff in a Cratloe Nursing Home have remained free from Covid-19 up to August 18 last, according to a new report from an independent health watchdog. There were 32 residents living in Sancta Maria Nursing Home, Gallows Hill, Cratloe, when inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) conducted an inspection last August. The centre was deemed compliant with regulations on persons in charge, contract for provision of services, visits, individual assessment and care plan, health care, and residents’ rights. It was found to be substantially compliant with standards on staffing, training and staff development, records, governance and management, complaints procedure, infection control, fire precautions, individual assessment and care plan, and protection. The inspector had concerns that the entire centre and equipment could not be cleaned to the standard required during a Covid-19 pandemic by one housekeeping staff member. On the day of inspection there was one housekeeper whose duties included cleaning, laundry and assisting with kitchen …