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AN INSPIRING video essay has been released by a Doolin dancer, urging people to use creativity and the natural world to support them in these challenging times. In the piece, filmed by Clem McInerney, Tess McGovern, an Irish dancer and teacher, relates how her world came to a stop last March and how she found solace in her native Doolin. The script, which Tess spent several months perfecting, describes the onset of the pandemic and how “waves of worry rose and the darkness set in, like a wild Atlantic storm the challenges grew, under siege by the westerly winds”. “Last March, I was working with the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company who, like all Irish dancers in America would be really busy around St Patrick’s Day,” Tess told The Champion. “It’s a time I would normally be teaching, gigging and lecturing. Then stuff started getting cancelled. The States were slower to go into lockdown but I got back on March 19 …

NINETEEN new cases of Covid-19 have been reported for county Clare this Wednesday, with the 14-day incidence figure reading 149.8 per 100,000 of population. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre reported 566 confirmed new cases of the virus this Tuesday,  bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 221,189. The HSPC also notified of 25 additional deaths related to Covid-19. Five deaths occurred in March, 13 occurred in February and six in occurred January or earlier. There has been a total of 4,357 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. Of the cases notified this Wednesday 280 are men, 284 are female, 68% are under 45 years of age. The median age is 34 years old. Some 233 in Dublin, 37 in Kildare, 30 in Meath, 25 in Donegal, 24 in Westmeath and the remaining 217 cases are spread across all other counties . As of Wednesday morning 489 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 114 are in ICU. There were 29 …

THERE was good news this morning for Clare with the announcement that a financial services company was to create 45 jobs in the county. IQ-EQ, a leading global investor services group, has today announced plans to expand its Irish operations with the launch of a dedicated Funds business in Ireland creating 45 roles in Shannon over the next five years. IQ-EQ provides a comprehensive range of compliance, administration, asset and advisory services to alternative funds, global companies, and private and institutional investors globally. This includes a 135-strong team in Northern Ireland, specialised in fund administration and depositary services, plus third-party alternative investment fund manager (AIFM) platforms in London as well as Luxembourg. IQ-EQ has been active in Ireland for over 30 years, providing a full range of corporate administration and structured finance solutions from its offices in Dublin and Shannon. This move signifies the importance of Ireland as a funds domicile, particularly in light of recent changes to the Irish …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of six additional Covid-19 cases in Clare and one additional death related to Covid-19. This death occurred in January. There has been a total of 4,319* Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Sunday, February 28, the HPSC has been notified of 687 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 220,273** confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 352 are men / 334 are female 71% are under 45 years of age The median age is 30 years old 240 in Dublin, 49 in Limerick, 44 in Offaly, 40 in Galway, 36 in Louth and the remaining 278 cases are spread across 19 other counties***. As of 8am today, 540 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 120 are in ICU. 14 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of February 26, 426,070 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland: 285,780 …

AER Lingus has confirmed it is to lay off all 129 Inflight Service and Ground Operations staff in Shannon Airport from next Monday, March 8, until June 7. The workers will not receive a wage for the duration of this layoff and Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Aviation Cathal Crowe has labelled the move a real blow for the region. “Aer Lingus’s announcement is majorly disappointing and a real blow for its Shannon workers, who have faced almost a year of stress and anxiety about their jobs,” said Deputy Crowe. A statement from the airline referencing the announcement on Friday of its full year results said it showed Aer Lingus recorded an operating of loss of €361m in 2020. “This represents the largest ever loss in the airline’s history and demonstrates the profound impact of Covid-19.  Increased travel restrictions in Ireland and across our network and the subsequent negative impact on demand for travel required us to review our network schedule and …

PLANS by Bank of Ireland to close three branches in Clare have been described as a “body blow”. The bank confirmed today (Monday, March 1) that it is to close its branches in Tulla, Miltown Malbay and Kilkee from the end of September. It comes as part of plans to close 103 across the Republic of Ireland and the North of Ireland. Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley, a Tulla resident, said, “The decision by Bank of Ireland to close three of its branches in Clare is extremely disappointing and represents a significant blow for communities in Tulla, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay. “Older people and the business community will be disproportionately impacted by the decision. For older people many prefer to go into their branch and deal with people rather than use online banking. “The retail, business and hospitality community will be very seriously impacted as they will have to travel much further now to lodge money in county towns – which in some …

NEW figures reveal that three Clare children were forced to spend Christmas Day in a refuge because of domestic abuse in their home. The data, which highlights the added pressure on the refuge operated by Clare Haven during the second lockdown last year, have been described by the service manager as “shocking”. Figures contained in the national report ‘Tracking the Shadow Pandemic – Lockdown 2,’ show that ten women and 17 children were given refuge, safety and security at Clare Haven in the month of November. A further 72 helpline calls were received to the service in that month alone, where we gave emotional support and information to women living with domestic abuse. A total of four women and 13 children were given refuge in December. Over the course of 2020, 88 women were in refuge in Clare up from the 79 in 2019 and 81 in 2018. “Even in an extraordinary time of crisis, these numbers are shocking,” said …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 14 new cases of Covid-19 in Clare and six additional deaths related to COVID-19. All of these deaths occurred in February. The median age of those who died was 63 years and the age range was 41 – 86 years. There has been a total of 4,319 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Saturday, February 27, the HPSC has been notified of 612 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 219,592 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 300 are men / 311 are women 72% are under 45 years of age The median age is 32 years old 289 in Dublin, 45 in Limerick, 34 in Longford, 33 in Galway, 26 in Kildare and the remaining 185 cases are spread across 19 other counties. * As of 8am today, 554 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 133 are in ICU. …