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THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of less than five additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare and nine additional deaths related to Covid-19. Four deaths occurred in March, three occurred in February and one in January*. The median age of those who died was 82 years and the age range was 69-94 years. There has been a total of 4,405 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Thursday, March 4, the HPSC has been notified of 522 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 222,169** confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 275 are men / 243 are women 67% are under 45 years of age The median age is 33 years old 280 in Dublin, 28 in Meath, 28 in Kildare, 26 in Cork and 19 in Donegal and the remaining 141 cases are spread across 19 other counties***. As of 8am today, 426 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of …

HOLY Island and the Ardnacrusha hydro-electric power station have been identified as catalysts for development across the East and South East Clare regions in a new masterplan developed for the promotion of tourism along the River Shannon. The Shannon Tourism Masterplan was launched on Tuesday, after being commissioned by Waterways Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, and supported by Clare County Council along with nine other local authorities. The document proposes an investment of over €76 million in visitor facilities, along the river, up to 2030. Clare features in a Lower Shannon Discovery Zone which runs from Portumna to Limerick. Among the ‘hero products’ of this zone is Inis Cealtra. According to the masterplan, the monastic island will “form a core element of the emerging Pilgrim Way, offering clusters of early Medieval monastic sites of exceptional interest… at Limerick, Killaloe, Tuamgraney, Inis Cealtra, Johnstown, Lorrha and Portunma”. The new masterplan also underlines the importance of the proposed Shannon Greenway which will link …

ONE of the leading voices in the Irish Point to Point scene is Newmarket’s Ger Hannon, who is well known to all those who attend the grass roots events throughout the region. A regular commentator both on the track and on the airwaves, he is among the cohort who are looking forward to having regular race meetings back up and running once more. Following Government advice, point to point racing was halted on January 13 with hopes initially expressed that action could return on March 5. The most recent Government update on Level 5 restrictions put paid to that, with April 5 now being the date after which it is hoped that racing can resume once more between the flags. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board is understood to be in talks with Horse Racing Ireland aimed at alleviating the backlog of young horses needing a run, and Hannon agrees that the knock-on effect from grass roots level will permeate throughout …

THE Killaloe Diocese has defended moving ahead with a Columbarium Chapel at Ennis Cathedral, which it says will help with an increase in cremations, while it will not put any financial burden on the parish or diocese. A columbarium is a structure to accommodate the cremated ashes of former parishioners and planning permission for one  has already been granted for the former Mortuary Chapel of Ss Peter & Paul Cathedral; it will be able to accommodate the ashes of 240 deceased people. Parishioners had contacted the Clare Champion with a range of concerns about the plans, including about consultation and cost. In a statement subsequently given to the Champion, the diocese pointed to the need to adjust to the change in funeral practices. “There is an increasing shortage of burial places at the present time and this is particularly true in the larger urban centres of population such as Ennis,” stated the diocese. “While the primary responsibility for the provision …

A POPULAR and critical phenomenon since the publication of The Spinning Heart in 2012, Donal Ryan will be the subject of the Ennis Book Club Festival’s Bookclub Meet and Greet event on Saturday. It’s a chance for readers to have some face time with the author, as he talks about his latest novel Strange Flowers, with the conversation to be facilitated by a Festival committee member. Since publication last year Strange Flowers has proved hugely popular with readers and won glowing reviews from critics, as all Ryan’s earlier novels have. “It’s always a worry when you put a book into the world, you don’t know what way it’s going to go, but it’s been great, it’s selling well, it was great to win the novel of the year award, it’s a great feeling because it’s voted by readers, so it’s extra special,” says the Tipperary man. The themes of Strange Flowers include loss, alienation, the redemptive power of love, while …

THE Government has given the green light for a new walk and cycle route that will eventually link Clarecastle to Ennis and on to the planned West Clare Greenway Local TD Joe Carey welcomed the allocation of €200,000 under the Government’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme Measure 2 to the River Fergus Walk & Cycle project, saying he is “overjoyed” the first phase of the cycle and walking route has been approved”. The Clarecastle-based TD recounted how he has lobbied his colleagues in government on the project for several years, including Minister for the OPW Patrick O’Donovan who visited the area in December 2020. The Fine Gael deputy said: “This is really exciting news for the community. The River Fergus Walk & Cycle will be a fantastic amenity that residents, commuter and visitors to the area will enjoy for generations to come.” It has been several years since the Clarecastle Community Development Ltd (CCDL) and Ennis Chamber identified the opportunity to …

MORE Clare patients are at risk of dying from non Covid-19 illnesses due to the “shocking”  increase in in-patients waiting lists in the region and the cancellation of surgery in acute hospitals, local councillors have claimed, HSE West Forum member, Councillor Cillian Murphy has expressed concern about the unaccounted impact of Covid-19 on health services over the coming years in the wake of the “shocking”  hike in in-patient waiting lists from 4,798 in Jan 2020 to 7,114 in Jan 2021. This includes 2,504 patients waiting for treatment in University Hospital Limerick (UHL); 1,416 in St John’s Hospital, Limerick; 1,721 in Nenagh Hospital; 604 in Ennis Hospital and 869 in Croom Orthopaedic Hospital last January. Out-patients lists also grew dramatically from 47,134 in Jan 2020 to 56,261 during the same period. There were 44,464 out-patients waiting for treatment in UHL last January; 6,904 in Croom Orthopaedic Hospital; 2,011 in Ennis Hospital; 1,288 in Nenagh Hospital and 1,594 in St John’s Hospital. …

APPROACHING his 68th birthday, Padraig Howley is a late starter as an Instagram influencer, but in less than a fortnight his journey to veganism has seen him gain over 66,000 followers. On his account you can watch Padraig discuss the vegan foods he is choosing and preparing, while he frequently gives the viewers a song. A self employed welder and farmer, he says that going vegan hasn’t been easy, but he is seeing the benefits already. “Look it, it’s tough, there’s no point in saying it isn’t, but I’m going to stick with it a while and see how I get on. I’m learning and I’m getting a lot of help. “Anything new like that is tough but I have to do it for health reasons. I was told to give up dairy, but my daughter said why don’t you go vegan, so I’m doing it. “I think it’s going to get easier because a lot of people are contacting …