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THE parents of the late Laura Brennan have spoken of their pride at the impact of her campaigning and of the comfort they receive from knowing how many lives will be saved through a vaccination programme named in her memory. They were speaking as Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced the opening of the HSE’s online registration portal for the Laura Brennan HPV (human papilloma virus) Vaccination Catch-Up Programme. Eligible people can register on www.hpv.ie for an appointment for a free vaccine which will be administered through HSE vaccination clinics and schools. The programme is supported by Bernie and Larry Brennan, parents of the late Laura Brennan who campaigned for higher uptake of the HPV vaccine before her death from cervical cancer in 2019, aged 26. Free HPV vaccines will be offered to all boys and girls in second-level education who were previously eligible to receive the vaccine and who have not yet received it.  It is also open to young women up to …

CLARE County Council insists it requires the full €15 million government funding package to ensure the proposed transfer of Shannon Heritage sites proceeds. The council has consistently argued that assuming ownership of Shannon Heritage sites can’t have any significant impact on services or commercial rates in Clare, which it believes demonstrates their case for the full funding package it has requested. In order to secure the future of the heritage assets and employees, the Department of Housing told the Clare Champion the Shannon Airport Group has had extensive engagement with the relevant local authorities since early 2021. “Shannon Airport Group continues to engage with Clare County Council in relation to the proposed transfer of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle, and Cliffs of Moher Retail Outlet. “As part of its engagement with the Shannon Airport Group, Clare County Council identified a funding gap for which it sought Government assistance to enable it to take over the sites. The …

As many as 10 Traveller families may be involved in violent feuds in Ennis, a court has heard. At Ennis district court, solicitor Tara Godfrey said she had been told by a garda that up to “10 Traveller families” are involved in different feuds. Ms Godfrey was representing a 41-year-old Ennis man who gardaí allege is one of the “main aggressors and instigators” in one of the feuds. Patrick McDonagh, a married father of eight with an address at Dun Na hÍnse, Lahinch Road, Ennis, appeared in court charged in connection with a violent incident in the Considine Road area of Cloughleigh on Tuesday night, December 13. McDonagh, faces two charges of criminal damage and a further charge of producing a weapon during the course of an offence, contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. Judge Mary Larkin refused McDonagh’s application for bail and remanded him in custody. Detective Garda Brendan Rouine of Ennis garda station …

A WEST Clare couple have lent their voices to this winter’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) fundraising campaign that shows the sacrifices made by volunteers each Christmas. As the RNLI launches its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, the search and rescue charity is highlighting the volunteers who will be on call over the festive season to save lives at sea. Kilrush couple, Pa Ryan and Liezel Brand both volunteer on the lifeboats but this Christmas only Pa will be on call, as Liezel gave birth to their son Conor, earlier this year. Pa and many more volunteers around the country may have to sacrifice their precious family time over the festive season to save others this Christmas. That is a very real possibility, as over the past five years, RNLI lifeboats have launched 55 times in Ireland during the festive period, bringing 44 people to safety. Liezel Brand came to Clare from Robin Island in South Africa and joined the lifeboat …

Record high attendances at the Emergency Department (ED) in University Hospital Limerick in recent days have led management to cancel all but the most urgent elective surgery and outpatient diagnostics at the hospital this Monday. The unprecedented level of ED attendance is driven by a surge in patients with respiratory infections, including COVID-19, flu and RSV, and significant numbers of people with trauma injuries resulting from slips and trips on the ice over recent days. Yesterday saw 221 people attending the ED, and 251 on Saturday: the busiest weekend ever recorded at the hospital. This morning’s decision, taken in line with our Escalation Plan, includes the redeployment of medical staff to the ED, and the transfer of appropriate trauma patients to Croom Orthopaedic Hospital for treatment. A spokesperson for UL Hospitals Group said, “We have been directly contacting all patients with surgery or diagnostics appointments scheduled for today, and these appointments will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity. We apologise …

CLARE County Council carries out regular checks on retailers of solid fuels to ensure they comply with regulations surrounding the selling of smoky fuels, a spokesperson for the council has said. Responding to concerns highlighted about the quality of air in Ennis, Clare County Council stated, “At present, Ireland has an established network of stations to monitor air quality which are configured to meet the requirements of the European Union CAFE (Clean Air For Europe) Directive. “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the designated competent authority for the implementation of all Irish and European Union (EU) ambient air quality legislation. “The EPA is also the specified monitoring and reporting body under this legislation. The EPA manages and co-ordinates current ambient air monitoring activities in co-operation with local authorities and other state bodies, complying with strict sampling and reporting requirements. “Currently there is 1 No. CAFE Air Monitoring site situated in Ennis in the former Ennis Town Council complex in Drumbiggle. “The …

Are you a qualified Dietitian, and eligible for CORU registration? HSE Mid West Community Healthcare is hiring permanent Basic Grade & Senior Dietitians to work with adults and children in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary.   HSE Mid West Community Healthcare has immediate vacancies for full-time and part-time Senior Dietitians and Basic Grade Dietitians. Successful applicants will join one of our dynamic multidisciplinary community-based teams to deliver dietitian-led one-to-one clinics and group education to adults and children. They will work in well-equipped Health Care Centres throughout the Mid West. There are currently vacancies available in a number of specialities including Adults, Paediatrics, Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes, Adult Weight Management, Care of Older Persons Rehabilitation Services, Mental Health and Health Promotion and Improvement. What our Dietitians enjoy about working in our service: “Our work helps keep people out of hospital” “There is an extremely supportive and knowledgeable team” “I improve peoples’ quality of life every day by delivering active and preventative care” …

A BID has been made to have the local authority take over a sewage treatment plan in Kilmurry so that lands in the village might not be dezoned for development. A motion was tabled by the Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Alan O’Callaghan, calling for the local authority to take over the plant for the Ballymulcashel housing estate. “I have talked to a builder,” he told the November district meeting. “Some years ago, a pilot project was undertaken and work done and a whole new system put in. The plant is brand new and fully funded. It is unfortunate that it is still in private ownership. We may need to take it on, or Irish Water won’t entertain it. In my view, it has to come into local authority ownership.” Councillor O’Callaghan explained that under national guidelines informing the forthcoming development plan, lands that will not be serviced in the lifetime of the plan, must be dezoned for …