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MORE than 360 deaths associated with Covid-19 have been recorded in the Mid-West since the start of the pandemic a year ago, new figures have revealed. There were 10,502 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Limerick, 4,597 in Clare, and 2,326 in North Tipperary on February 28 last. In total, 17,425 cases recorded in the Mid-West between March 4, 2020 and February 28, 2021. The majority of these cases were recorded in 2021—8,903 in January, and 1,613 in February. As of February 28, there have been 364 confirmed and possible deaths associated with the virus in the Mid-West region, with an age range of 42 to 105 years. While the 14-day incidence of the virus in the Banner has fallen from 322% on February 10 to 77% this week, the HSE has appealed to people to continue their work suppressing the virus while the vaccination programme is rolled out. According to figures produced by the National Disease Surveillance Centre, there were …

THE Burren Ecotourism Network is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of growth, achievements and awards which have seen it become a worldwide leader in sustainable tourism. The network which now consists of nearly 70 tourism businesses has grown from 18 founding members when it was launched by Darina Allen and then Mayor of Clare, Councillor Christy Curtin at Gregans Castle Hotel on March 3, 2011.   Members range from operators like Burren Fine Wine & Foods and Marie McGauran’s Burren Walks to iconic tourist attractions such as the Cliffs of Moher. Businesses include those from hospitality, food, farming, activities, culture and heritage sectors, all committed to sustainable tourism in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark. During the 10 years that followed the network continued to develop, with new members joining and initiatives in food and sustainability. This has contributed to the tourism group being widely regarded as ‘best in class’, with regular invitations to share the Burren story …

THE O’Brien’s Bridge Trail Head and Canoe Trail Project is to benefit from government funding of €200,000, it has been announced. Minister Heather Humphreys announced the funding of 38 projects under Measure 2 of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The scheme provides funding for the development, promotion and maintenance of outdoor amenities such as trails, walkways, cycleways, and blueways. Deputy Joe Carey welcomed the allocation saying, “This is fantastic news for the community of O’Brien’s Bridge. This funding will enable the local community to develop much needed amenities on the River Shannon which will be used by residents and visitors alike.” The project will provide a series of four canoe trails together with a trail head at O’Brien’s Bridge. Visitors and users will be able to access O’Brien’s Bridge via a floating pontoon jetty.  The Clarecastle-based TD paid tribute to the huge efforts made by local community leaders and residents who worked closely with Clare County Council to advance the …

A POSTMASTER and local councillor has accused Bank of Ireland of “piggybacking on the State,” in its deal which the bank says is designed to cushion the blow of branches closures in Miltown Malbay, Kilkee, Tulla and elsewhere. Last Monday, in tandem with announcing the shutting of over 100 branches, Bank of Ireland outlined a new deal to allow its customers to do their financial business in post offices. Councillor Shane Talty, who is postmaster in Ennistymon and Lahinch, described the planned closures as “regressive”. “There’s a report from consultants Grant Thornton recommending an annual €17 million Public Service Obligation (PSO) commitment to the post office network,” he said. “The bank is piggybacking on the State and the fact that it will ultimately have responsibility to support services. The bank is abandoning the community and the State will be left holding the post office network in its lap. The transaction fee to postmasters will not sustain the network.” Deputy Michael …

A FUNDING shortfall is threatening the work of Bedford Row Clare, a project designed to help prisoners to avoid reoffending. The most recently available figures, dating to 2019, show there were 124 people in prison with Clare addresses, with many more people affected by the imprisonment of family members. While the need remains consistently high, the Bedford Row project, which has an office at Centrepoint Business Park in Ennis, has seen its staffing and funds reduced since the onset of the pandemic. “We had a full-time worker supported by part-time volunteers, as well as resources from our founders, the Bedford Row Family Project in Limerick,” outlined Frank Gunter, a retired Garda Superintendent. “We now have one part-time staff member only, working to respond to the needs of people in prison and their families. The pandemic has made their situation more complex and it’s a very challenging time for them.” Mr Gunter, who is the chairperson of Bedford Row Clare and …

Gardaí were called to disperse a group of young people who had were allegedly drinking and gathering together contrary to public health guidelines in a Clare town on Saturday night. Once gardaí arrived on the scene in Killaloe, young people fled before they could be cautioned, leaving a picnic table full of empty bottles of alcohol. A spokesman for Killaloe Gardaí confirmed there were about 20 youths when gardaí arrived in the Ballina Quay area around 7.30pm in response to complaints from members of the public. He said the young teenagers ran off in different directions and gardaí carried out further mobile patrols, which ensured there was no further incidents of this kind. While no on-the-spot fines were issued to youths following this incident, he confirmed gardaí have issued fines to people who refused to comply with public health guidelines in other parts of the county. He said gardaí normally issued fines when people refused to comply with their instructions …

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 …