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THE first Clare patients will be treated in the new Outpatients’ Department (OPD) for Ennis Hospital from today (Monday). With a total floor space of 1,300 square metres, the new OPD in Ennis has 15 clinical rooms, in addition to a phlebotomy bay, four waiting areas, offices and staff changing rooms. The new department, which has an equipping allocation of €900,000 for 2021, will allow for the relocation of services such as cardiac rehabilitation and, later this year, radiology and general x-ray. All activity in the OPD is scheduled and operates on an appointment-only basis. Situated at Westpoint Retail Park on the Kilrush Road, the new department will initially house the services currently based in Ennis Hospital, and also allow for the expansion of outpatient services into the future and a better patient experience. Greater capacity, in addition to facilities that are future-proofed with ongoing advances in telehealth, will assist with efforts to reduce waiting periods and manage waiting lists. …

A NUMBER of Clare people have fallen victim to online and phone scams during the week, including a fake car sale on Facebook. A man paid €6,000 to an English bank account for a car that had been advertised on a Facebook page. The €6,000 payment was also to cover delivery of the car. However, the car never arrived and he has since failed to make contact with the seller. Crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks also notified of two women who received a text purporting to be from Bank of Ireland notifying them that there had been financial outgoing requests made on their accounts. “I too got the same text,” said Sgt Brooks, “even though I don’t have an account with BOI. “It asks the person to follow a link which unfortunately the two ladies did and they then realised that a substantial amount of money had been taken from their accounts.” Another man who applied online for a …

THE Green Party influence in government has been blamed for a lack of funding to address safety concerns at a junction on the main arterial route into East Clare. News that the Department of Transport is prioritising Active Travel funds over grants for specific road schemes angered members of the Killaloe Municipal District this week, when they learned that a large-scale application for works at Henchey’s Cross on the R352 had been refused. The matter was raised by Councillor Pat Hayes after The Schedule of Municipal District Works for 2021 was outlined at a district meeting this week. The Killaloe Cathaoirleach welcomed the allocation of €100,000 this year and sought clarity on what last year’s figure of €150,000 had been used for. “A man rang me just the other day to ask if somebody needed to die at this junction before action is taken,” the Fianna Fáil member said. “There was another serious incident there lately and the situation needs …

SHANNON Group have sought tenders for the design of a new cargo hub. There has already been speculation that Shannon is close to agreeing a deal that would see Amazon open a facility close to the airport, and the new cargo hub could potentially facilitate that. The cargo hub which tenders are being sought for, would be on a four acre, undeveloped site next to the ASL hangar, along the approach road towards the airport. Shannon plans to develop a 29,708 square metre distribution facility, with a 3,767 square foot office facility. Earlier this year Shannon Group refused to comment on the discussions it had with Amazon, but in a statement it drew attention to its cargo plans. “Shannon Group is uniquely positioned in that it has a significant supply of landside/airside development sites suitable for distribution of goods by both air and road. Shannon Group has delivered 1 million sq ft of new and refurbished aviation, office and manufacturing …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 12 additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare with 13 additional deaths related to Covid-19. Of the deaths reported today, 12 occurred in March.* The median age of those who died was 77 years. The age range was 51-93.There has been a total of 4,666 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Saturday March 27, the HPSC has been notified of 604 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 234,541 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 299 are men / 298 are women 77% are under 45 years of age The median age is 27 years old 224 in Dublin, 45 in Donegal, 36 in Kildare, 34 in Limerick, 26 in Tipperary and the remaining 239 cases are spread across 20 other counties**. As of 8am today, 322 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 66 are in ICU. 18 additional hospitalisations in …

A joint venture between the Clare hurling and camogie fraternity will see the new Club Clare supporters group using funds to support both codes in the county. The initiative was launched last week with a new committee in place, with all proceeds from the group going toward the development of hurling and camogie at all levels in Clare. The committee includes former Minister of Defence Tony Killeen (Corofin) as secretary with former All Ireland winner Frank Lohan (Wolfe Tones) Clare camogie legend Deirdre Murphy (Clooney-Quin) and two time National League winner Johnny Callinan (Clarecastle) also part of the group. A statement on the groups website outlines that “Club Clare is committed to raising funds and support for its inter-county hurling and camogie teams at all levels. We operate separately from, but in regular consultation with, both County Boards and every euro raised by Club Clare goes directly to providing support, equipment and services so that all Clare squads can perform …

A PLANNING application has been lodged for a major residential development in Kilrush. The application, which has been made by A & M Tubridy, seeks to convert the old Convent structure at Back Road, Kilrush. It seeks permission to upgrade the existing stairways, install two lifts and develop 30 apartments. It also seeks to demolish part of an existing outbuilding, reduce ground levels and construct 20 new semi detached dwellings. The old convent is a protected structure and was used as a school for decades. Since education ceased there in the 1990s, it has been out of use. According to the application, the gross floor space of the existing building is 3705 metres square and this would be extended by another 230m2. Half of the apartments would be one beds and the other half two beds, while the houses would all be three beds. One hundred and seventeen parking spaces would be provided. According to the documents submitted, the applicants …

THE Burren will be the only Clare site proposed by the local authority for inclusion on a global list of outstanding heritage locations. The council confirmed to The Champion that an application is currently being made to keep The Burren on Ireland’s Tentative List. This means it could eventually go forward for potential future nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List, joining the likes of Brú na Bóinne and Skellig Micheal. “Neither Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) nor Cahercommaun Ringfort are at present under consideration by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in this round of nominations,” a council statement said. It added that the council is committed to “keeping this under review”. The news has met an angry response from Deputy Michael McNamara who previously called for the three Clare sites to be put forward, as well as Scattery Island (Inis Cathaigh) and Mooghaun Hillfort. “It beggars belief that the council would purchase Holy Island and a venue …