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Margaret, 100 waits on vaccine with no sign of mobile unit

WHILE many people in their 60s have been vaccinated at this stage, the wait goes on for Margaret Morgan, who will turn 101 on June 1. Margaret’s daughter Peggy says that bringing her to Kilrush or Ennis for a vaccine is not possible and she really hopes her mother can be seen to soon. She has raised questions over the mobile vaccine unit that has been promised, without a specific date. “She’ll be 101 on June 1 and she’s still waiting for her vaccine. I was talking on the radio about it, but I haven’t heard anything from the HSE to tell you the truth. They’re all saying please God it’ll be soon, but when?” Peggy herself has already been vaccinated. “I’m her full time carer and I have my two injections got, and all her care assistants have them got, the public health nurse has them got. “I have made calls to her GP and it’s all about the …

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Restaurant owner’s screams scare off knife-wielding thief

THE proprietor of a Shannon Chinese restaurant has described how she saw off an armed robber who paid an unwelcome visit. Cindy Lin was seated behind the counter at her restaurant on the night of Saturday, April 17, when the would-be robber made his move at around 10.10pm. “At that time there were no customers here, no orders. I was sitting at the back of the counter, playing with my phone. A young boy came running in, he had a knife and he said ‘give me your f***ing money’ and I saw the knife. I was screaming loud, trying to call the chef in the kitchen. He dropped the knife, I think maybe he was scared too, this was a young boy.” She ran from the scene, while the robber picked up the knife and took off. Two men who had been working in the kitchen, one of whom was her husband, ran after him, but couldn’t catch up. “I …

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Flying Finn claims new national record at Irish Olympic Trials

A Lough Derg swimmer scaled the heights at the Irish National Team trials by recording his first individual senior record. Dominating the 400 metre Freestyle Final in an impressive performance, Finn McGeever finished on 3.52.83 in the Irish National Swimming Championship, which smashed Northern Ireland’s Jack McMillian’s 2019 record of 3.53.31 In fact, the Ballina swimmer achieved success on the double with his second place finish in the semi-final and third place in the final of the 200 metre freestyle, placing him in a strong position to secure a coveted place on the Irish 4×200 metre relay team for the next Olympics Games. Interestingly, the main focus of Finn’s ambitions wasn’t the 400 metre freestyle but the 200 metre freestyle in his efforts to win one of the hotly-contested spots on the Irish men’s 4×200 metre relay team. The members and substitutes of the Irish men’s 4×200 metre relay team was due to be officially announced on Wednesday. Selection is …

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569 additional cases of Covid-19 confirmed

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of three additional deaths related to Covid-19. There has been a total of 4,906 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Friday, April 30, the HPSC has been notified of 569 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There has now been a total of 249,437* confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 268 are men / 290 are women 78% are under 45 years of age The median age is 26 years old As of 8am today, 123 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 41 are in ICU. 5 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of April 29, 2021, 1,527,844 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland: 1,097,742 people have received their first dose 430,102 people have received their second dose

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Estate with 30kph zone is being abused as ‘rat run’

A RESIDENTIAL area of Ennis which had been a pilot location for 30kph speed limit zones is being used as a rat run with “unbelievable” speed. Increasing traffic has lead to local fears of potential accidents in Castlewood Park and residents are seeking the erection of speed ramps at the entrance and exit to their estate. Councillor Mark Nestor highlighted the issue at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where senior executive engineer Eamonn O’Dea confirmed a review will be carried out while also stressing the need for driver behaviour change. “Residents are very much concerned that the area is being used as a rat run to get from one estate to a main shopping area of the town quickly,” said Councillor Nestor. He added that the level of on-street parking is adding to the danger. “A lot of residents there don’t have their own driveway and there are quite a lot of children living in the area. “What …

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Carey quizzes minister over lack of funding for Kilmihil park

DISAPPOINTMENT has been expressed by Clare’s Fine Gael TD over a lack of funding for this county in the latest roll-out of a multi-million euro rural regeneration fund. Commenting on the €75 million allocation unveiled earlier this month, Deputy Joe Carey said he was particularly disappointed at the lack of funding for People’s Park in Kilmihil. Addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands, Deputy Carey noted the benefits the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) had previously brought to Clare, but said there was concern at the lack of an allocation in the latest funding round. Congratulating Minister Heather Humphreys on “an ambitious rural policy,” Deputy Carey said it was clear the government was committed to rural Ireland. “We have done really well in recent years in County Clare,” he acknowledged. “There is a significant project in Ennistymon, where a digital hub is being created. It has been a great success. We …

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Publican hopeful, but cautious ahead of latest Covid-19 announcement

WHILE some Covid-19 restrictions are about to be lifted, Ennis publican Darragh McAllister feels it could be a little while yet before pubs are back. “We’re looking forward to Thursday to see what will be said,” Mr McAllister told The Champion. “The general reopening is on the way now, but I’d be very cautious about getting anyone’s hopes up just yet.” Some people may have been surprised to see takeaway pints being sold over the last week, but it is in order, Darragh explained. “Every seven-day licence is also an off-licence, and as off-licences for the duration of the pandemic have been considered essential retail, anyone with a licence can trade. “Now, it’s not particularly viable for everyone. Most of the stock you normally sell in a pub you wouldn’t find the same things in an off-licence, you’d be talking about buying in stock in the hope that people would come to you instead of going to the place they …

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Extra beds fail to impact UHL overcrowding issue

PRESSURE is growing on the UL Hospitals’ Group to address chronic overcrowding at University of Limerick (UHL) amid calls for an external review to establish why the addition of almost 100 beds hasn’t had the desired impact. The number of patients on trolleys in UHL has reached 81 in recent weeks; there were 52 patients waiting for a bed on Friday and 44 on Wednesday. Responding to Clare Champion queries, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) confirmed it is closely monitoring information related to large numbers of patients in UHL’s emergency department. HIQA said it is awaiting a response on the issue from the group. The Clare Champion has learned the HSE has told the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation it is viewing the overcrowding as a serious issue and has sought a response from the group. The union has requested HIQA to conduct an external inquiry to establish why overcrowding is so high in UHL and to make …

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